Kaieteur News

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

BLIND TO REALITY

I

n Guyana, many appear to be blind to reality about the current situation in the country. The notion of being blind to reality is nothing new.

It is not about having a physical disability, which is the inability to see or having limited vision or being in complete darkness. Rather, it is blindness due to being aloof, egotistical and elitist.

Many, especially the poor and the working class cannot really see what is happening in the country because they are too busy hustling to put food on the table, paying the bills and sending their children to school. In other words, they are blind to the issues that are affecting them the most.

The love of money may blind many not to think of others or their environment. Others may be blind to reality due to not having a job, hence their poor condition. Racial, ethnic or religious prejudice may blind some of us to the need to accord dignity and respect to persons who merely look different.

There is perhaps more an insidious form of blindness to which we may all be subject. It arises from the institutions or circles we inhabit such as the media, place of work, church group, circle of friends or our role as parents or guardians.

We are blind to these institutions which act to interpret and give order and meaning to the society around us.

They provide us with the mental models and the lenses, which enable us to see, interpret and analyse information about our communities and country at large.

They determine which news sources we consume, or whether we rely on gossip and social media for our information.

Many in the government are blind to the fact that they get into an institutional ‘bubble’ where information is filtered to them.

Their actions and responses and circumscribed, and they gradually lose touch with the masses.

For example, several prominent persons and organisations have exposed some of the flaws in the oil contract between ExxonMobil and the government but instead of trying to renegotiate it, the government has praised ExxonMobil.

Those in authority should recognise the dangers of not being in touch with reality and should take steps to periodically recalibrate their lenses and allow fresh information and insight to reach them.

The present administration needs to get in touch with its constituents on a regular basis to know their concerns and not just at elections or when they are engaged in protests to repair their roads or the lack of adequate potable water.

They need to engage honestly with the views of the masses, which are not consistent with their own in order to understand what is shaping their thinking and their behaviour. Our leaders need to get into the various communities to see and experience what citizens are experiencing.

They have to avoid being imprisoned by the mental models, which may be fixed by their beliefs, politics or their ideology.

But there is one lens which ought to remain constant and clear to them and that is to be aware of the people’s needs and attend to them.

When viewing through those lenses, they are more likely to be in touch and not be blind to reality and would be able to understand any situation the people are dealing with.

There are mental models, which are functional in a way, that they help us to classify and make sense of people and events around the world relatively quickly. But, they can also lead to us to a kind of blindness that would not make us look inward on ourselves.

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

A cavalier attitude and lack of concern about two very important issues DEAR EDITOR, It is rather unfortunate that Minister Amna Ally views the matter regarding the discontinuation of the columns at the Chronicle as a “little issue” that is being blown out of proportion.

(Demerara Waves March 19, 2018). I hope she reflects a little more on what that statement betrays and perhaps retracts it.

First, the statement betrays a cavalier attitude to a pivotal aspect of good governance—government’s respect for right to free expression and political dissent within the ambit of the law.

How can the Minister refer to a situation where an editor tells members of the board of the newspaper that his removal of two columnists was motivated by external “pressure” as a “little issue.”? (See Stabroek News, March 19: Board member Ruel Johnson disagrees that Chronicle EIC can fire Columnists) The Minister seems not to be concerned about what that “little” issue means in the bigger scheme of things— that it calls into question the

government’s sated promise to desist from turning the state-media into partisan mouth pieces of the government. This response by the Minister plays right into the hands of the government’s detractors and critics who hammer home the message every day that the government is authoritarian.

One of the trademarks of authoritarian governments is their cavalier dismissal of charges of human rights abuses and branding those who make those charges as enemies of the State.

The second important take-away from the Minister’s comments is her lack of concern that a partner in government may be contemplating removing itself from the Coalition.

How can a spokesperson of a government and Coalition with a tiny majority in the National Assembly not be worried that there is grave dissatisfaction within the coalition? The strength of the Coalition is its jointness. Yet the Minister is saying that she is not worried that one partner is so dissatisfied that

some of its leaders are raising the possibility of leaving.

This is precisely what my colleague, Tacuma Ogunseye, is raising as an overriding issue—the scant consideration and respect for WPA’s concerns. Her comments can be read two ways. On the one hand she seems to be suggesting that the WPA is not serious about putting this matter of leaving on the agenda. On that she is very wrong.

The matter of leaving has always been on the party’s agenda—from the day we agreed to form APNU with the PNC. It was suppressed in the interest of the collective and the country. We considered all the benefits and the risks, including the fact that we may at some point have to confront the hard question of leaving. WPA is not as naïve as some people think we are.

The Minister’s lack of worry could also be read as her party’s view that the WPA’s exit would not adversely affect APNU and the Coalition. I know that that simplistic narrative is being pedaled in some quarters— that

the so-called small parties brought nothing, so if they leave it wouldn’t affect the Coalition.The Coalition won the election in 2015 because a small majority of the electorate perceived that a coalition of parties stood a better chance of defeating the incumbent PPP and returning the country to normalcy.

None of the individual parties—PNC, AFC, WPA or the others—could have achieved that feat on its own.

And my knowledge of Guyanese politics tells me that any rupturing of that coalition would work to the disadvantage of the Coalition at the next election. It is my view that only a fraction of the Coalition’s votes is influenced directly by the individual parties.

I am very sure that half of the Coalition voters voted for APNU and APNU+AFC. Towards that end I am equally certain that any credible poll would show that APNU and the Coalition are more popular than the individual parties.

Guyanese vote race, but they are not stupid.

David Hinds

The job of the police is not an easy one DEAR EDITOR, On Thursday March 15, 2018, there was an exchange of gunfire between the police and suspected bandits at the Georgetown Seawall. Three persons - including two who were on the police radar - died.

Since then, there have been conflicting reports in the media and elsewhere as to what actually took place. Some relatives of the dead men are perturbed over the whole issue and are seeking justice outside of the police environment.

The debate on the use of force - including deadly force - rages. I am not au fait with all the facts in relation to the shooting, therefore I cannot say if the action of the police was justified or not.

Let me be pellucid. I hold no brief for anyone. I have an abiding interest in law enforcement. Hence, my regular letters to the editor.

As a retired senior police officer, I am aware that the work of the police is a dangerous one and can be unthankful at times. Sometimes the police are left in a quandary. Damned if they do and damned if they do not do.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police sets the following guidelines for police officers: “A police officer will never employ unnecessary force or violence and will only use such force in the discharge of duty as is reasonable in all circumstances.

Force should be used only with the greatest restraint and only after discussion, negotiation and persuasion have been found to be inappropriate or ineffective.

“While the use of force is occasionally unavoidable, every police officer will refrain from applying the necessary inflection of pain and suffering and will never engage in cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment to any person. The job of the police is not an easy one. Death lurks around the next corner.”

I can recall during 1996, I chaired the closing session for a course for police sergeants at Police Headquarters. Commissioner of Police Laurie Lewis delivered the closing address. Among the things he mentioned was that when a policeman leaves his home to go on duty he does not know if he will return home alive.

Six hours later, bandits riddled his rank constable 16418 Adrian Williams called ‘Big Six’ with bullets, not far from the East La Penitence Police Outpost. He died on the spot.

He was the only child for his mother, who had passed child-bearing age. I subsequently asked Commissioner Lewis not to utter those words again.

During the last crime wave 2002-2008 which was described as ‘The Troubles’, a total of 26 policemen were

killed. Top Cop Floyd Mc Donald had the sad task of constantly attending funerals and paying tribute to his fallen heroes rather than giving out awards.

The use of excessive force has always been difficult. The use of force, including deadly force, is sometimes a necessary part of the job, but determining what is reasonable is highly subjective. In the landmark case in relation to the use of force, Graham vs Conner (1989) the Court held that the calculus of reasonableness must allow for the fact that the police are often force to make split-second judgements - in circumstances that are tense, uncer-

tain, and are rapidly evolving - about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.

According to Nowicki, “The standard according to this decision is the ‘reasonable objective officer.’”

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre (FLETC) Use Of Force Model has five levels:Level One is the Compliant Level where no use of force is usually reasonable.

Level Two is the Resistive (Passive) Level where the suspect does not follow the officers’ commands. Force options here include guiding or directing the subject (Continued on page 5)

Learn Creolese?

DEAR EDITOR, There has not really been a serious debate about the merits of learning Guyanese Creolese at University level.

English Language is the international language of business, so we should really be focusing on learning English at a higher level. We should also be encouraging the learning of Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish to facilitate trade with South America.

When Microsoft wants a computer programmer they do not ask for Creolese speakers.

Learning Creolese is a waste of time and valuable resources. What is it supposed to do, teach us National Pride?

In any event there are various Creolese Dialects, so which one will they be promoting?

For the next 25 years at least (while the oil is flowing) Guyanese will need to converse in English (possibly American English) to promote trade. The rest of the world are not about to learn Guyanese Creolese.

Yours Faithfully Sean Ori

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

I urge people to take an interest in our Articles of this kind can play an important role patrimony and our future generations DEAR EDITOR, DEAR EDITOR, A Demerara Waves article of March 11, 2018 reports that Head of NICIL’s Sugar Special Purpose Unit, Mr Colvin Heath-London said to a meeting in New York that large swathes of lands in several locations along the coast, which are owned by the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo), would soon be available for sale.

Mr Heath-London, according to the article, said that the lands would be available for real estate development to cater for the expected oil boom.

For me it is upsetting that the Government has taken a

decision to sell such valuable lands which form part of our patrimony and were developed to the point they are by our forefathers and foremothers, and belong to the people of Guyana. More so, the lands to a large extent, the article intimated, would be sold to overseas-based Guyanese or foreign nationals.

This is not the best approach. The world is replete of examples where such ventures have seen locals being on the losing end.

But important as that factor is, it also seems that no consideration is being given to provide displaced sugar workers with lands for them

to engage in farming or livestock rearing, as it is seen that excess lands are to be sold. It has been widely reported that not necessarily all the displaced workers would be reemployed when the estates identified for divestment are sold.

And in the case of Wales, the possibility of resuming sugar production is slim.

The much-spoken-about GuySuCo training ventures are having negligible impact, as was seen from the company’s presentation at the recent Moray House activity. Clearly, some special arrangement needs to be put in place to address this lot of workers.

My unpleasant encounter with an arrogant police officer DEAR EDITOR, My friends could not have understood why I allowed him to get to me so much. I had to explain that it had more to do with the fact that he was wearing Khaki uniform indicating that he holds a senior position in the Guyana Police Force.

How could such an arrogant individual be given the privilege to represent the Guyana Police Force at that level?

Deputy Superintendent K. Wilson wasted a simple but good opportunity to be a fine ambassador of the force.

So this is what happened. On Saturday evening I went to a café on North Road. I spent a maximum of 10 minutes in the café. By the time I got out, a police patrol vehicle had blocked my exit from the parking spot. Wilson was outside the vehicle having a casual conversation with a civilian and only the driver

was in the vehicle.

One of my female friends who was a little inebriated yelled, “they got to make haste and move for us to come out.” I, taking into consideration that she was intoxicated, cautioned her that she should be careful - the way she was speaking to the officer. My caution was loud enough for Wilson to hear.

Nevertheless, he said, “let them wait.”

I then approached Wilson respectfully and asked him to just let the driver of the vehicle pull up a little so I could drive out.

He was adamant. “No,” was his reply. He then turned to the driver and said, “look, if was that man went behind them they would have had to wait, so let them wait.” I then tried to see his name that was pinned onto his uniform. Wilson turned his chest square and said, “You see, get a good look.”

Wilson did not care that I am a taxpayer contributing to his salary.

Wilson did not care that I am a woman who does not want to be just hanging on the road while robberies are high and ranks and officers like him are incapable of making me feel safe.

Wilson did not care that there were many other civilians including the one he was talking to, who were watching his conduct.

Wilson did not see that as an opportunity to make one step to rebuild a good relationship with the public. I do not know what he saw.

However, about five minutes after consciously denying me, when he probably thought he must have proven his point, Wilson went into the vehicle and they left.

Indeed he did not have us waiting too long, but my point is that it was all unnecessary.

Abena Rockcliffe

Can somebody please help the residents of Archer Street?

DEAR EDITOR, Residents of Archer Street - that runs between No 2 and Cumberland Villages at the head of East Canje - are pleading on the relevant authorities to assist them with a street that can be called passable.

On the hottest day, the street is always filled with water. According to residents, the street has not been rehabilitated for close to 10 years. The more than almost 100 residents that live in the street are pleading with the relevant authorities - including the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Regional Admin-

istration and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council - to assist them to have a better life.

Even if it doesn’t rain the holes are so big they resemble craters and are so filled with water that the residents find it very difficult to use. I reiterate that the street - which is joined

by Bristol Street and leads to Health Centre Street - is always filled with water.

The drains have not been dug for years and residents are at times confronted by reptiles. Can somebody please help the residents of Archer Street?

Samuel Whyte

It is accepted that some amount of work would be required, but isn’t it more costly not to do anything.

The workers and their families are Guyanese and should not be left out in the cold. The Government, GuySuCo and the SPU have an obligation to these people.

The more one thinks about what Mr London is reported to have said in New York, the more I believe this Government should tread carefully and not make mistakes it seems prone to.

I urge people to take an interest in our patrimony and our future generations.

Yours sincerely, Liebert Alleyne

I wish to congratulate you, your journalist Ms Shevon Nedd for the page 12 report in today’s Kaieteur News (March 19, 2018) and especially Ms Alecia Patterson, for her courage in speaking frankly and publicly on the depression she suffered which, as the headline stated, “almost made me kill my daughter.”

I hope her testimony will mean that the judge, jury, prosecutor, police, lawyers and other legal-minded personnel, and members of the public will refrain from treating Ms Hofosawa Rutherford as a criminal who attempted to kill herself and who killed her two small children, Hodaciea and Jabari. We still do not yet have an adequate complement of mental health professionals with the education, training, understanding, life experience, and compassion that our country desperately needs. We still have a perverted view of what constitutes justice. We still fail to grasp that violence begets violence. While much, much, much more is needed from many, many, many quarters at domestic and public levels, articles of this kind can play an important role in raising our mental health awareness.

Thanks and Praises, Bonita Harris

Pomeroon-Supenaam region has entered uncharted territory DEAR EDITOR, As a lecturer in Economics since 1989, I would often tell my students that there is no mystery in underdevelopment and no mystery either, as to why nations are poor.

One explanation of what contributes to our poverty and underdevelopment are some observations at the recent Public Accounts Committee Hearings with the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region, and how Regions in Guyana are made to operate: Responsibility without authority.

With the appointment of Regional Ministers, more than three decades ago, Guyana embraced the notion of Regionalism. So it is not unreasonable to expect that by now

most conditions for Regions to function effectively would have been put in place. How can a Region grow and prosper without decentralization of important functions?

Laws and Policies must be obeyed. But, why must there be a law, in the first place, that prevents a Regional Executive Officer and his/her management team from deciding and implementing at the level of the Region, the construction of a bus shed for residents in the Region, or that a Health Centre should be extended to allow for better delivery of health services to its residents, or have the authority to employ a Clerk to advance development in the Region?

Why a broken landing,

the only access to a school, should wait for approval from some official, centrally located, in the nation’s capital, burdened with his/her own tasks? Therein lies one explanation of our underdevelopment and poverty, as a nation.

I recall when I accepted this position of Regional Executive Officer I was told: “Take ownership of your Region. Don’t bring problems to us – bring solutions. I reminded one of my principals of those words, that served me as guiding principles, I must admit, until now.

I am mortified by the waste of needed resources utilized to facilitate the Public Accounts Committee Hearings (Continued on page 6 )

The job of the police is not ...

From page 4 through hands-on techniques.Level Three is the Resistive (Active) Level, which occurs when a suspect actively resists arrest. Level Three force options include manipulation or restraints, leverage techniques, pressure points or even OC (pepper) spray, with a warning given under proper circumstances.

Level Four is the Assaultive (bodily harm) Level - a direct physical attack on an officer or others.

Appropriate force options at this level include strikes with hands, fists, elbows or knees; baton strikes; and

forcefully directing the subject to the ground. Level Five is Assaultive (serious bodily harm or death) Level, where the appropriate response would be deadly force.Nowicki who is a Useof-force expert posits, “There are three rules relating to the use of force by any officer.

Rule number one is that you go home the same way when you went to work: ALIVE. Rule number two is you don’t go to prison. Rule number three is you keep your job. If your use of force is reason-

able, you protect yourself, your agency, the community and even your assailant. But when in doubt, always remember rule number one.”

Yours faithfully Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

Recklessness, incompetency and indifference now threaten to defend the US than the standards that the fishermen and their fami- competence displays a reckthe fishing industry inclination government. Yet the protec- America required. Guyana had lies are collateral damage. As less disregard for the welfare DEAR EDITOR, The Ministers of Agriculture and Public Health are responsible for the loss of the fish export market to America.

They are unequivocally guilty of dereliction of duty. The APNU+AFC coalition destroyed the sugar industry leaving thousands unemployed and depriving Guyana of much-needed foreign currency. These so-called administrators weakened the rice industry. Now they threaten the fishing industry, leaving thousands of fishermen fearful of their and their families’ future.

There are already reports of fishermen putting away their boats, since they are finding it difficult to make ends meet. The thriving fishing industry is now feeling the blight of the recklessness and incompetence of the APNU+AFC coalition. Export of various fish species to America represents a major part of the fishing industry.

Success of the fishing industry is unequivocally linked to export. With that market essentially shut down

since February 2018, hard times have already descended on the industry.

While successful, the fishing industry is not unlike sugar and rice. Even when both of these industries were doing well, most of the people who depended on them, depend on weekly wages - living from payday-to-payday. Similarly, fishermen are generally people living from paydayto-payday. But, like sugar workers and rice farmers, the fishermen have been abandoned, floating in dangerous waters, by a reckless, incompetent and uncaring government.

The US Government banned export of Siluriformes fish and shrimp from Guyana into the US from February 3, 2018. The US demanded that regulations pertaining to fish inspection in Guyana must conform to inspections at US ports. The only response from the Guyana government is that this represents a “protectionist” policy of the US Government.

I have not the slightest

tionist provisions of US trade policies are not new. Periodically, new provisions are introduced, and countries like Guyana find ways to overcome these unfair trade policies. On several occasions during my time as Minister of Health and Minister of Agriculture, we had to update our regulations, including inspection regulations, in order to maintain our fish export to America.

In this instance, America wanted us to ensure that there was a presence of inspectors, documentation detailing verification of each step in the sanitation and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) process, and documentation specifying how the industry manages adulterated catfish products.

These are not new requirements for Guyana. To varying extents, Guyana has had to meet these standards in the past. Guyana’s inspection system has been designed to meet European Union (EU) standard. Previously, these standards were more onerous

Pomeroon-Supenaam region..

Frome page 5 - the ostentation and dramatization, described in another section of the media, March 13, 2018, with such words as “face off”, “show down”,” berated” and “slammed”.

The Public Accounts Committee should be aware that it is dealing with Administrative Heads of Regions, who are worthy of respect, if only because of the responsibilities they shoulder and the fact they must return to their Regions following these Hearings and be able to command respect as government functionaries, after they were “slammed and berated”. This kind of language, not only debases the respect for these officials, but also interferes with their effectiveness.

This letter was precipitated, firstly, by an audit query, that funds from the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region’s Current allocations were used to execute Capital projects.

While we understand that the use of Current allocations to fund Capital projects is acceptable but must first obtain the permission of the Minister of Finance, we would like to state that the six projects, undertaken from the Region’s 2017 savings of $250 million were responses to emergencies. Significantly, these savings were made possible through responsible spending and prudent management controls by the Regional Administration. This is a historic accomplishment that deserves commendation from all

Guyana.

For even an experienced Economist cannot accurately predict the level of development this country will realize if every government Budget Agency should replicate this performance.

The real accomplishment from the savings from the budgetary allocations of Region Two should not only be seen in the quantifiable terms, but also in terms of the potential development. Half a Billion Dollars in savings realized during the life of the current Administration must therefore be seen in that broad economic sense. The performance of the Region will ultimately lead to greater wealth and well-being for future generations.

We are of the opinion that the Public Accounts Committee acted correctly in ordering the swift audit to ensure Government money is well spent, if indeed it felt something was amiss. But we are delighted that our actions brought relief to residents in the Region, and that the major infraction was Misallocation (not Misappropriation) of funds.

Keep in mind, though, that when money is properly spent, development takes place. But the reverse happens when money is not well spent.

The challenge for the Public Accounts Committee and the Audit office, known only a few days ago for its unprecedented swiftness, is to revisit the previous years, particu-

larly 2013 and 2014, where the Region itself uncovered cases where hundreds of millions of dollars in payments were made to a few, with little evidence of development commensurate with such spending.

I appreciate the public support and we are delighted, that the Region came to the aid of the children and teachers at Liberty, Pomeroon River, where Head teacher Pansy Garraway-Allen reported to the media that the “all-female staff had to stick their skirts in their tights during low tide and pull up the boats which was very strenuous to us as females.”

If applying sanctions on Region Two officials will set Guyana on course for real and serious development, well, let it be. I do not wish to prejudice the decision of the Public Accounts Committee.

The Public Accounts Committee and the Audit Office must to do their work unhindered and “without fear or favour”.

But I must now place before the Guyanese taxpayers, that as Regional Executive Officer, my own research uncovered that many laws were broken in “prior years”, and so these august bodies, given their current positions, are now compelled to revisit their own work, with similar swiftness, to recover, what I will describe as, the “loss of potential development” of our Nation.

Rupert Hopkinson Regional Executive Officer, Region Two

updated our standards to meet the EU standards as part of the European Partnership Agreement.

As our export partners expand and increase their trade requirements, Guyana has sought to meet them in order to maintain our markets.

Even if the new standards were intended to be protectionist, clearly, the government of Guyana failed to respond to new demands from an important stakeholder.

These are doable things, and Guyana has shown a capacity to meet such demands in the past. In this instance, the US Government gave Guyana notice since November 2015, more than 18 months before the provisions were to become effective, in May 2017.

In fact, the US extended the deadline to February 3, 2018. We simply ignored the warnings from America. Now

boats become idle and more Guyanese become unemployed, there is a deafening silence from the APNU+AFC government.

The Ministers of Agriculture and Public Health are missing in action, as usual.

These two ministries have important roles in ensuring Guyana is export-ready for fish and fish products. In fact, the new food bill that was passed by Guyana’s parliament in 2017 was intended to strengthen these regulations.

Were these ministers even aware of the new policies or were they caught sleeping at the wheel again?

At no point did Guyana attempt to meet the conditions demanded by America. This is sheer recklessness. At no point did the Minister ever caution fishermen that there is an impending disaster and that they would not be able to export their catch. Such in-

of the fishermen and their families, and for Guyana’s trade earnings. The question then is: who is right? Is the loss of the fish export to America because of protectionist policies of the US or is it the incompetence of the Guyana Government?

The Americans insist that the demands made were not intended for Guyanese fishermen, but for fishing industries in all countries exporting fish to America. They claimed that the policies that they warned countries about since November 2015 were intended for the protection of the world’s waterways and marine life.The Americans have advised that these regulations are within the capacities of countries like Guyana to meet and that the country has shown previously that it is capable to make adjustments. In fact, America appeared to (Continued on page 7)

That wind turbine DEAR EDITOR, I have previously voiced approval of Minister Patterson as being the most energetic and purposeful minister in the government.

But now on reading his official nonsense, I may have to rethink. In my rethinking I see possible political dislike.

It may be that the owners of the Classic Hotel are not committed supporters, so it naturally follows they would face official frustration.

Why can’t the government clear hurdles and give willing assistance to get the turbine running? That wishy-washy excuse, to wit “…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,” speaks loudly of the nondesire to allow the turbine to work.

Here in Toronto we have had many, many grid connections via solar panels and in lickity-split time.

As a past government official, I can point

to the pertinent words that indicate a refusal to facilitate and to give permission, and these are; JUDICIOUS, FEASIBILITY, DETAILED, COSTLY, RELIABLE, SAFETY. Sorry for you Classic Hotel owners, your goose is cooked. Just go ahead with your turbine. Get the technicians to limit the power generation (it can be done) and run lines to all the neighbours after getting them to sign a utilization agreement.

You do not have to sign any agreement with the inefficient and uncooperative GPL. Their problem should not be your problem. Their inefficiency should not restrict you in what is a good, sensible, efficient operation.

This is typical double-speak that politicians engage in ... we will generate more reliable electricity at fair prices ,but wait, bear in mind it is WE and not YOU! And that comes after the fact!!

I am very disappointed in Minister Patterson and now I have to rethink my admiration of him.

Carl Veecock

DEAR EDITOR, I have protested in the street, participated in TV programmes and written dozens of letters against extra-judicial killings - because of the questions that exist behind such actions, and the answers that emerge, but above all, because there must be a line that separates the criminal culture and that of an important arm of the law, in this case the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

In the recent case of the seawall fatal shooting, nothing adds to support the Police statement that justifies the execution of these three men, who to the point of their deaths were ‘suspects’ and not ‘bandits’.

The laziness of my colleagues in the media can be a contributing factor to an escalation to the worst case scenario, and sections of the media did contribute to where we have been before in the 1990’s to the mid 2000’s.

The Police Force under this current APNUAFC administration has made progressive leaps away from the criminalisation of the GPF

that occurred under the disturbing darkness of the PPP administrations. This incident, however, seems senseless from the Police’s presentation of facts, against what is logically evident. There are ugly precedents in the past that this incident can fit into, including ‘Bounty Hunting’ and financed grudge assassinations, among others, though there may be a more simple, but tragic reason. That these men were on the seawall under surveillance, which places them enveloped in the jurisdiction of the Police.

That development did not seem to have occurred; this is a questionable incident that indicates retrogression to the panic treatment of crime, or to some of the elements that led and were encouraged - towards the criminalisation of sections of the Force, especially under Jagdeo, of horrible custom practices that have been listed, and that should never be allowed to rise again. This incident requires an inquest to determine answers.

Barrington Braithwaite

Three bandits killed...

But how, and why?

The Rich and the Useless DEAR EDITOR, Here’s to the square pegs in round holes.

The ones who aren’t fond of constructive criticism and are readily available to attack even when the critics are silent …paranoia.

You will remember the emotional “jokers” response by one of our Ministers when KN published article upon article decrying the horrendous oil contract signed. To top it all off with icing was another one who said Oil will outlive gold and will more or less replace it as one of our foreign exports ……well , well , well …what leaders we have!

Here’s how you will judge your ruling party who makes decisions without any strategic thinking or plans in place: With just about three quarter million heads on eighty three thousand square miles of greenery and waterways, we still don’t have jobs, clean drinking water, daily electricity and the greens in our markets keep going up and up and up, and yet no sight of a plan to make it easier on the peasants of this beautiful land.

Look at these facts: Tanzania’s population = 55 and a half million; Guyana = three quarter million Tanzania number of Cabinet Ministers total 26; Guyana = 26

France with a population of almost 67 Million people only has 16 cabinet Ministers Tanzania president’s international trips for 2016 and 2017 = 5 in total David Granger’s international trips for 2015 alone were over 5…Don’t guess what it was in 2016 and you’ll drop dead with 2017!

Tanzania President’s salary = US$4000; China President =US$2000; India Prime Minister = US$2,500; Guyana’s President =US$10,000 Tanzania’s population below the poverty line is 22%; Guyana = 35% Tanzania’s homicide rate is 7 per 100,000; Guyana’s is 20 per 100,000. By the time they leave if they ever, it will probably hit 28.

This is how we map our route for disaster.

The sad thing is, there is no change in sight for the better. Ask any Minister where progress has been made in terms of savings and growth …Growth in crime only.

By the way, every Tanzanian Cabinet Minster will be medically treated at local hospitals and if a foreign hospital is the choice, it will not be covered by the Government …Food for thought.

Harry B Ontario, Canada

The legal case to void the presidential term-limit provision is now far stronger DEAR EDITOR, After listening to the entire video stream of the presidential term-limit case (The Attorney General of Guyana, Raphael Trotman v Cedric Richardson), argued before the CCJ last week, I can only conclude that the CCJ will find it extremely difficult to reject the arguments put forward on behalf of Richardson.

Recall that Richardson is claiming that Act 17 of 2000 (which amended Article 90 of our constitution) unconstitutionally restricts his rights as a citizen to elect Bharrat Jagdeo (or, in principle, whomever he wishes) for president, because it imposes a two-terms limit.

In this forum, I had expressed disagreement with the ruling of former CJ Chang, who found in favour of Richardson. I had contended, and still so do, that his ruling is an example of judicial overreach, by taking the High Court far outside its remit into the inherently political minefield—best left to the legislature—of what is good or bad for democracy. The Guyana Court of Appeal however later upheld the High Court decision. But on what grounds, I cannot exactly say, since I have not read the opinion (where are our court websites?).

However, the brilliant and intellectually nimble presentation before the CCJ by TT lawyer Mendez, on behalf of Richardson, made clear that the opinion of former CJ Chang has been abandoned in favour of a simpler, legally tight, and political-free argument.

As Mendez emphatically argued, the CCJ has no need to reach the question of

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

whether imposing a term limit makes Guyana more democratic or less democratic (as our High Court did and as a few CCJ judges were pressing him to do). Instead, the only question for the CCJ to consider, he offered, is whether the term-limit provision undermines the sovereignty (supremacy) of the people by imposing conditions, set by others, on who could and could not represent them. True, he conceded, Article 9 does say that the people exercise this sovereignty “through their representatives”.

But, he counterpunched, in what to me is the prize-winning argument in this case. It is not for the representatives (by passing Act 17 of 2000 in the National Assembly) to tell the sovereign people for whom they can and cannot vote in any scenario; it is for the people themselves to so restrict themselves in a referendum.

In other words, it is wrong for the constitution to state that sovereignty belongs to

the people, then flip-flop to say that somebody else, external to them (their representatives, in this case), can restrict that right to exercise that sovereignty. As a rough analogy, telling someone he is fully in charge is inconsistent with you then instructing him what he can and cannot do.

In so arguing, Mendez has shifted the gaze from Article 1 (Guyana is a democratic state) to Article 9 (Sovereignty belongs to the people).

One sensed from the questions posed to Mendez by several of the CCJ justices that they initially saw nothing fundamentally wrong with term limits. The President of the CCJ even mentioned that he too can only serve one term. But by the end, Mendez’ intellectual tenacity and expert presentation skills may have swayed the bench in favour of his client, Richardson. The country, therefore, is more than likely to see a Jagdeo candidacy in 2020.

Yours faithfully, Sherwood Lowe

Recklessness, ...

From page 6 have offered technical assistance to Guyana to meet the new regulations. Other countries did so and export of their fish to America has not been affected. The Guyana government must act with alacrity to ensure that this glitch is temporary, and that before long we would meet the new standards that America wants. They are doable and do not require provisions that are too onerous.Let us remember the struggle of the rice farmers after May 2015 when APNU+AFC ineptitude allowed Guyana to lose the Venezuela rice market. In that case, the rice industry struggled and has not fully recovered.

If we cannot recover the American export market for our fish, it will prove disastrous for our fishermen and our economy.

In a country where COIs have become the go-to response for government, a COI is necessary. The Ministers of Public Health and Agriculture are guilty of dereliction of duty.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

ExxonMobil’s partner, Hess never filed a financial statement in Guyana All companies, whether incorporated locally, or incorporated abroad but registered locally, are required to file an annual report together with financial statements.

Such financial statements should provide reliable information for users, including regulators.

ExxonMobil is represented by three companies as the contractor for the Stabroek Block: Esso, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, and Hess.

Chartered accountant and Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram, said that at a minimum, before accepting the pre-contract costs of US$460,237,918, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman should have verified it with the December 2015 audited financial statements of the three companies.

He said that these documents should have been filed with the public authorities.

Ram said that he had already gone down the road in checking for these statements.

However, his attempts were impeded when he could

Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram not have found a single financial statement for Hess.

Ram said that he is now assured that the government made no attempts at cross checking the pre-contract costs submitted by the contractor.

“It is difficult to see how this could have been done since the public records show that only Esso and CNOOC had complied with the requirement for the filing of records.

What Trotman would have realised was that the other Contractor – Hess Corporation – has never filed a single financial statement or annual report with the Commercial Registry! Surely, this is elementary stuff, which requires basic knowledge and common sense,” said Ram. Ram said too, that, “The 2016 financial statements of Esso reported that in 2014 it had entered into farm-out arrangements with Hess and CNOOC/Nexen and that Government approval was still pending, i.e. two years later.

CNOOC reported the relationship differently, describing it as Joint Arrangement.”

“To complicate matters further, Hess which did not make any local filings, reported to its international stockholders that it had acquired a ‘working interest’, which is another term for farm-out.

To add further to the complexity, in 2008, Esso had entered into an Assignment Agreement and Farm-out Agreements, which would have also had financial implications.”

Xerox, Acer laptops, Camcorder & other equipment donated to the Guyana Police Force

U

nited States Am bassador, Perry Holloway, through the United States Embassy yesterday donated equipment worth US$20,000 to the Guyana Police Force’s Strategic Planning Unit (SPU) to further assist the Unit.

“This is just one of the most recent forms of assistance that the U.S. Government has provided through the Caribbean Basin Security initiative in furtherance of our efforts to increase justice sector capacity in Guyana,” the Ambassador said.

Acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, at the handing over yesterday said the donation speaks to the collaboration between the United States and the British High Commission in Guyana.

He said that the GPF recently had training for persons in the Strategic Planning Unit of the Guyana Police Force.

The Unit has already begun to do works, which will lead to much needed reform in the Guyana Police Force.

“Through the collaboration between the British High Commission and Amb a s s a d o r H o l l o w a y, w e have seen further work being done which is now realised,” Ramnarine said.

Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine and US Ambassador Perry Holloway at the handing over yesterday.

“Through donations like this, the US Embassy commits itself to assisting the Government of Guyana’s law enforcement institutions to promote the development of an accountable and professional criminal justice system,” Holloway said.

“We hold citizen security as paramount and applaud

the government and the Strategic Planning Unit’s effort to reform Guyana’s security sector,” he added.

The items donated are one 50-inch Samsung smart TV, one Xeron printer, one Espon projector, one Camcorder, Espon scanner, two Acer Laptop, one key safe box and two tablets.

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

World Water Forum …

P

resident David Granger called on governments and the World Water Forum to “take action” to protect and preserve the Guiana Shield.

Guyana’s Head of State issued this call to action at the opening of the 8th World Water Forum on Monday in Brasilia.

President Granger who is the only Caribbean leader to address the opening, stressed the need to protect and preserve the Guiana Shield, an area, which encompasses all of Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and parts of Brazil, and Venezuela.

During his address, President Granger recommended a three-point action agenda calling for collaboration among neighbours who share rivers and the conservation of water resources.

“The protection of the world’s freshwater sources is essential to global water security,” he said.

“This World Water Forum is encouraged to continue to introduce initiatives to protect these resources, particularly the rivers of the Guiana Shield,” President Granger stressed.

Speaking to them on WWF theme “Sharing Water”, President Granger highlighted the importance of rivers for the security of states.

Guyana shares watery boundaries with many of its neighbours.

President Granger pointed to the fact that Guyana and Brazil share river boundaries. “The management of trans boundary water courses must promote cooperation and collaboration rather than confrontation and conflict,” he added.

To this end, the Guyanese leader said waterways and rivers must be protected from pollution.

He linked the impact of pollution on the economic and social well-being of citi-

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

Granger outlines 3-point agenda to conserve water resources

zens. “The protection of the sources of the world’s fresh water sources is essential to ensuring citizens’ entitlement to water,” President Granger said.

President of World Water Forum, Benedito Braga, told the opening ceremony that challenges caused by water scarcity present the unique opportunity to have dialogue.

“This forum must prove that sharing a river basin is not a burden but represents an opportunity for dialogue and an opportunity for better governance,” Braga said.

He pointed to the opportunities provided by the World Water Forum to provide water sensitive decisions and solutions.

“The World Water Forum is a place for us to build robust policy together; to achieve water security is not a lonely battle,” Braga said.

“Water security hinges upon the existence of financial resources to address water related issues,” the WWF President said.

The Caribbean through the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association, (CWWA), the Caribbean Development Bank, (CDB) and the Inter-American Development Bank, (IDB) is hoping to coordinate financing and investment for the water sector in the region.

CWWA is hoping to do this through its Caribbean Strategic Plan for Water.

“Here in (Brazil), we are presenting elements of the plan and we are hoping that we can convene a donor group meeting,” Aquing said, “to have them take a look at the opportunities to supporting the implementation of the plan at the regional level.”

The Caribbean is looking to have a coordinated approach to addressing water as a resource in the region through this 8th World Water Forum.

Brazil meeting

President Granger and Minister Trotman being escorted on the Red Carpet

Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman, had a bilateral meeting with a Brazilian delegation headed by Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Mr. Fernando Coelho Filho.

President David Granger met with a South Korean delegation led by the Prime Minister of South Korea, Mr. Lee Nak-yon on the sidelines of the World Water Forum in Brasilia.

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 22

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;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 PASSPORT, PERMANENT & VISITOR VISA APPLICATION, PROFESSIONAL IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT – SABITA IMMIGRATION SERVICES. CALL: 613-3920/625-3767.

Kaieteur News

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

Tel#220-1716 Corner property at 2006 Festival City Entrance. Call 665-3622, 670-8799,601-3933 Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231 Gold & Diamond land, to buy or rent. Giving out work ground #225-7026/622-0036

FOR RENT

WANTED

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

Senior Diesel mechanic to work in Georgetown. Tel# 2271717 1 cook to cook vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods in the interior #699-4718

Business place to rent at Anna Catherina WCD, Contact #690-0205 Call between 10:30 am to 8:00 pm

(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 Truck drivers High & Low range to work in Georgetown. Tel#227-1717

(1) bedroom & (2) bedroom apartment, New bottom flat @ Lot 2043 Plot C Herstelling New scheme. #667-1947/6947248

Carpenters wanted to work in Linden. #615-7526/602-9469

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 TOLET One fully furnished apartment to rent in South Riumveldt $25,000 weekly. #694-7817, 668-0306

EDUCATION

VEHICLE FOR SALE

CXC adults classes (Business & Science subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Grade 2-6 lessons (slow learners, personal tutor) #690-5008,618-0649

1 Blue Toyota Noah 2004. Price $2.8M Contact: 628-9844/2660711 One 2002 Toyota Tacoma for sale, stick shift, four wheel drive. Tel#662-6151/669-5400 Nissan Bluebird,Raum. #6640802 1- TwinsteerDoubleaxle Leyland DAF 4- LeylandDAF Flatbed tray 30ft 10- Guysuco Lorries 1 DAF engine. owner migrating #228-5655, 649-8449

Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, Curtains, Floral, Cake decorations.

Barr St, Kitty. Tel#670-2653, 638-8449.

Kids Easter Computer Classes $4000 2 weeks of fun learning. MicroGraphics Vreed-en-hoop #264-3057 Computerized accounting, Quickbooks, Peachtree, POS $35,000 Diploma in Computers 9 courses $40,000 MicroGraphics Vreed-enhoop #264-3057 Study in Canada/USA 100% Acceptance Registration for September, 2018 MicroGraphics Vreed-enhoop #264-3057/613-4354

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

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

Call: 647-1773/688-0009

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

Business spaces, top & bottom flat located @ 177 Charlotte and Alexander, Georgetown: #644-3555/6893462 PROPERTY FOR SALE 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 Property for sale (1) 3 story building at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687-8445

Wanted experience hire car taxi drivers at Ramada Princess Hotel. Tel#265-7076/616-5419 Mature experience family to live in & work at Resort at Parika. Call: 231-0363 between (8:30am-4:30pm) Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am4:15pm Looking for cash & best price on land in: Parafaite Harmonie, Uivlugt, Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Farm. Call: 604-6724 Looking to buy a house or empty land, Preferences-EBD Public road. Buyer #1917-6225810/694-3331

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS) LAND FOR SALE Sophia, Parfaite, Land of Canaan, Diamond, Hadfield, Princess, Howes, Supply wharf, Houston, Herstelling. #231-2199/618-7483 18,731 acres mining land Gold & Diamond Mazaruni $5,000,000 USD Contact: 6951356, 687-8445 Parafaite Harmonie ten year up $3M, $1.5M Main road $2M Uivlugt $2.5M Eccles $6M Tuschen. Call #666-2326 PEN PAL Overseas Indian Male seeks female age 30/35 yrs, write to M.D 7475 Goreway Drive #47 Mississauga Ontario L4T 3T3 Canada.

VACANCY Driver/Purchaser. Contact: 223-5273/74 Welder. Contact: 223-5273/ 74

Attempted murder accused freed of robbing Tower Suites accountant An attempted murder accused who is currently out on High Court bail, pending trial for attempting to a businessman, Neezam Khan, yesterday got three matters dismissed against him by Senior Magistrate Dylon Bess in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Curtis Vasconcellos, 25, of Lot 26 Third Street, Alberttown, was on trial in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for robbery underarms, unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a loaded firearm.

Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd who represented the defendant throughout the trial had made a no case

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

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.

Experienced hair dresser and cosmetologist. Contact: 2250115/623-6550/623-6555 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 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 Female cleaner for office in Eccles. Call: 233-2745.

Porters. apply in person Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling.

One male janitor. Apply in Person to Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling.

Attempted Murder Accused: Curtis Vasconcellos submission on his client behalf.

Throughout the trial, police witnesses brought video footage, which did not show the defendant being the rider on the motorcycle, neither did it show the defendant being in possession of a firearm.

Todd contended that the only evidence the police had against his client was the alleged caution statement, but throughout the trial they were unable to establish whether the caution statement whether the caution statement was given freely and voluntarily, since he client was beaten to sign the statements.

The Magistrate at the end of the trial dismissed the matter due to insufficient evidence since the court was not satisfied that the statement was given freely and voluntarily.

It is alleged that on December 14, 2016 at Main Street, Vasconcellos and Jason Howard unlawfully and malicious discharged a loaded firearm at Persaud with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.

It is further alleged that on the same day, at the same location they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Persaud with intent to maim or disfigure him.

It was also alleged that on December 14, 2016 at Main Street, while in the company of others and armed with guns they robbed Baldeo Seegobin, an accountant at Tower Suites, of $2.9M, a cheque book, a hard drive, a comb, a bottle of perfume among other items- to the value of nearly $3 million.

According to reports, Vasconcellos and Jason Howard were captured by police during a hide speed chase after the robbery.

The police said that the (Continued on page 24)

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

Kitty’s roundabout takes shape

Works ongoing at the roundabout area Engineer for the contractor, Johnny Raghubir It is but one of the several projects in place to ease the growing congestion problem, but authorities are banking on it heavily to reduce the headaches for commuters coming to the city from the East Coast of Demerara.

The Kitty roundabout project is expected to significantly reduce waiting time for traffic at the Vlissengen Road head at the Kitty seawall area. That junction with its traffic lights has long been seen as a bottleneck area with traffic buildup at peak periods in the morning and evening.

The introduction of the roundabout was floated after a huge sinkhole appeared at

the junction in late 2016, forcing emergency works.

Workers found a collapsed drainage pipe and after repairs, work was started in earnest on developing the roundabout.

A contract, to the tune of $78.9M was awarded, at the beginning of the year, to S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services.

According to the company’s engineer, Johnny Raghubir, work on the roundabout is well under way and on schedule.

While the idea is new to Guyana, roundabouts are normal in a number of Caribbean countries and the more developed ones.

It will see traffic using two lanes to go around the roundabout merging into three bypasses that will be c o n s t r u c t e d .

Ragbubir said that works were started on February 26 and it appears will be completed well within the six months.

At the centre of the roundabout will be a closed circle. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure will determine how they will beautify it.

Yesterday, according to senior MPI’s engineer, Sherod Parkinson, who is overseeing the project, there are also plans to place cameras in the area for security purpose.

More than one week ago, it was reported that the roundabout section was 15 percent completed and that works were being executed in three major sections.

It will include filter lanes from Vlissengen Road to Carifesta Avenue; filter lanes from Carifesta Avenue to the seawall and filter lanes from Kitty Public Road to Vlissengen Road.

It is the plan to construct all of the exterior lanes, then the centre of the intersection with minimum disruption to traffic. During the last phase of the project, construction will commence on the centre of the intersection, during this period, traffic will be diverted into the lanes that would have been completed.

Parkinson stressed that

the aim is to have the flow of vehicles run simultaneously with the works so that drivers will not be greatly discomforted.

There are a number of other projects that Government has been targeting as part of holistic plan to improve traffic flow.

Across the West Demerara area, a major project is set to be completed this year on the West Coast roadway that included widening, drainage and markings while on the East Coast, there is extension of the four-lane highway by

done by a Chinese firm.

On the East Berbice area, there is resurfacing of the East Bank Berbice road.

To help reduce congestion on the East Bank/ West Bank Demerara areas, Government is pursuing the construction of a new river crossing with overhead passes and new roads.

To complement this, a new road linking East Bank Demerara to Ogle is also underway.

Guyana is registering around 10,000 vehicles annually with congestion being a major headache.

GWI dismantles fence encroaching on Lamaha Canal Reserve

Soldiers found guilty of stealing milk, butter

GWI workers dismantling the fence

Richard Charles and Kevin Fitz Three members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who were charged for stealing a quantity of milk and butter from base Camp Ayanganna, was yesterday fined $100,000 each. In default, they will serve one year imprisonment.

They were found guilty of the charge.

This ruling was handed down yesterday

by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts at the conclusion of the trial.

Victor Logan, 27, of Hadfield Street, Georgetown; Kevin Fitz, also 27, of West Ruimveldt, and Richard Charles, 26, had all

denied the allegation which stated that between February 13 and February 14 at Base Camp Ayanganna, they stole 11 bags of twokilogram milk powder valued $153,890 and several boxes of butter worth $57,400, property of the GDF. The Magistrate ruled that there was sufficient evidence led by Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh throughout the trial and she found the three accused men guilty of the offence.

According to reports, the three men were caught with the stolen items in a vehicle while they were leaving Camp Ayanganna.

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) yesterday dismantled a fence, which was found to be encroaching on 66 feet of the company’s reserve near the Lamaha Canal in Georgetown.

That section of the reserve measured 149 feet by 181 feet in 2015 but as of yesterday had a measurement of 149 feet by 118 feet.

GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van WestCharles, who was on site as workers dismantled the fence, said that the company cannot encourage such a level of encroachment, which he described as ‘lawless.’

He pointed out that it has been a long battle with residents regarding intrusions on the reserve and an attempt was made to meet with them in 2016 but they were a ‘no show.’

According to him, the utility will be taking action straight along the Lamaha Canal.

In the latter part of 2015, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council had decided to use the unoccupied portion of land for a “Green” park.

However, GWI reached out and indicated that it was interested in erecting a corporate office on the said land and the parties arrived at a mutual understanding. At that time, there was a zinc fence erected behind the last house towards Sheriff Street in Georgetown.

It was indicated to the occupier, Mr. Peter Ramsaroop, that the issues surrounding ownership and occupancy will be addressed and communicated to the residents who were on the reserve. Recently, it became

noticeable that the fence behind the last house had moved to take in more land.

The Lamaha Canal is utilised by GWI’s Shelter-Belt Water Treatment plant, and Regional Manager of Georgetown, Mr. Curtis Niles said that removing the illegal structures will allow the company to provide a better quality of water to residents of the capital city.

He explained that there are blockages and the illegal structures will hinder the cleaning of the intake of water from the canal, thus affecting water quality. According to him, removing the illegal structures will also allow the utility to function more efficiently, since access to clean the canal properly will result in the use of less chemicals for treatment of the water.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

Trump bans U.S. purchases of Venezuelan Cryptocurrency (Bloomberg) President Donald Trump has banned U.S. purchases of a cryptocurrency the Venezuelan government is rolling out, as part of a campaign to pressure the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Trump issued an order yesterday prohibiting U.S. citizens from engaging in transactions using the oilbacked currency, called the Petro. He authorized Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to issue any necessary regulations to enforce his order.

Maduro created the currency to try to salvage his country’s failing economy, where inflation is estimated to spiral to 13,000 percent this year.

The ban complicates the Maduro government’s efforts to boost its foreign reserves

through a digital token.

Venezuela’s offering accepted transactions in U.S. dollars and euros, meaning that Venezuelan citizens are forbidden from participating given a ban on buying foreign currency.

“It’s a pretty big blow,” said Russ Dallen, the managing director at Caracas Capital.

“Since most cryptocurrencies are not actually backed by anything real, cryptocurrency speculation is based on the greater fool theory — I can buy this at $100 because there is someone who is a bigger idiot who is going to buy it at $200.

When you take the U.S. out of that equation, you reduce the interest and potential for that speculation.”

New Sanctions Mnuchin met with other finance ministers yesterday at

the G20 conference in Buenos Aires to discuss the situation in Venezuela. His department also announced sanctions on four more current and former Venezuela government officials, according to a statement posted on Treasury’s website.

The sanctioned officials are Willian Antonio Contreras, the vice minister of internal commerce; Nelson Reinaldo Lepaje Salazar, who is acting as head of the office of the national treasury, according to the U.S.; Americo Alex Mata Garcia, an alternate director on the board of the National Bank of Housing and Habitat; and Carlos Alberto Rotondaro Cova, the former president of the board of directors of the Venezuela Institute of Social Security.

“President Maduro deci-

Authorities target “illegals”...

From page 9 we have linked up with Citizenship. Because of what has been reported to us. We have been receiving information.”

Among some of the issues was the illegal squatting on reserves that has been set aside to build a bridge across the Puruni River. Lands earmarked for a police outpost and health centre have also been taken over illegally.

Mines officers have discovered persons selling rice and flours and burning gold with the dangerous mercury nearby.

To stem the reported human trafficking, Minister Broomes disclosed that GGMC has set aside a budget targeting prevention and partnership. The campaign involves posters.

Businesses issued with licences have to now sign on declarations for Certificates of Registrations, which indicate what workers on present in the mining areas and for what purpose.

The reason is to have businesses take direct responsibilities if they happen to be

caught in human trafficking.

“You can't take people to sell food and then put the girl in room next door with men.”

With regards to the raid Friday, Broomes disclosed that two days before a small team was quietly dispatched to the area to gather information.

They managed to visit the various businesses and found 17 women coming from Venezuela, Brazil and even the Dominican Republic- none had work permit. When the raid was carried out on Friday, the women had disappeared.

Nine buildings were boarded up. They have breaches in the licences, which said they can't sublet.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being paid for those subletting, Broomes said. The Minister warned that GGMC will take actions if the closed buildings are reopened without permission.

“They may want to run to the media or call someone.

GGMC must be supported and we have to allow them to do their work.”

Broomes also pointed out

that in places like Brazil, illegal mining and squatting result in equipment being burned and seized and the guilty parties jailed. This will not happen in a hurry here as this government is focused on regularisation, she said.

There are 26 other landings in the mining areas that will see similar exercise, the minister warned. There are also others that are cropping up.

“The ministry and GGMC are saying that you need to put your house in order. We cannot continue to have the chaos that we met when we came in office to continue. There must be compliance.”

The investigations in the Puruni Landing raid will see a report, which could come within a week, Broomes said.

“We have to support getting the extractive sector to where it belongs. We have to support GGMC and its work.”

With gold the biggest foreign currency earner for Guyana, there have been challenges, including smuggling, bad roads, and illegal mining.

Prices have been high in recent months.

Attempted murder ...

From page 22 accountant had recently returned from making a substantial withdrawal from a city bank and was about to disembark his vehicle in front of the hotel, when he was approached by one of the men.

One of them discharged a round at the vehicle, shattering the window screen.

The bullet grazed the security guard, who was sitting in the vehicle behind the accountant.

According to information, the bandits snatched the bag containing the cash and escaped on a waiting motorcycle.

A mobile patrol pursued the two accused, who tried to elude police and ended up in the Sussex Street Canal in the vicinity of North East La Penitence.

Howard pleaded guilty to the charges and is currently serving a five-year sentence.

mated the Venezuelan economy and spurred a humanitarian crisis. Instead of correcting course to avoid further catastrophe, the Maduro regime is attempting to circumvent sanctions through the Petro digital currency – a ploy that Venezuela’s democraticallyelected National Assembly has denounced and Treasury has cautioned U.S. persons to avoid,” Mnuchin said in a statement.

In his meeting with his international counterparts, Mnuchin said, “we discussed how to achieve our shared objectives of restoring Venezuelan democracy, combating the kleptocracy of the Maduro regime, and responding to the humanitarian crisis caused by Maduro’s economic policy.”

A press official for Venezuela’s Information Ministry declined to comment In August, the Trump administration barred the trading of new debt issued by Venezuela’s government and state-owned oil company in U.S. markets amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the oil-rich nation.

The U.S. government has been weighing sanctions on Venezuela’s all-important oil sector before the nation’s presidential election on May 20.

That would be a potentially crippling blow to the Maduro government, which depends almost exclusively on crude sales to sustain what’s left of the economy.

The Treasury Department warned investors in January to steer clear of the digital

currency, calling it “another attempt to prop up the Maduro regime, while further looting the resources of the Venezuelan people.”

Vice President Mike Pence will pressure Maduro’s government in a speech Wednesday to a session of the Organization of American States, his office said.

“The Vice President will call on all members to increase pressure on the Maduro regime to restore the country’s democracy and address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Venezuela,” Pence’s spokeswoman, Alyssa Farah, said Monday in a statement.

Trump plans to attend the Summit of the Americas in Lima next month, where his administration is likely to highlight its efforts to isolate the Venezuelan government.

Retired jurist sworn in as TT’s first female Head of State PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Retired jurist Paula-Mae Weekes was sworn in yesterday as Trinidad and Tobago’s first female head of state and called on citizens not to allow her” to walk alone” as she sought a new light for the country during her term in office.

Soon after she was sworn into office by Chief Justice Ivor Archie, the retired former Court of Appeal judge said it “falls to each President to define his or her own role” in the absence of a constitutional guidance.

Weekes, 59, also indicated that she wanted to be known as a “humble first servant with a mandate to render service with enthusiasm” and was assuming office aware of the ills facing the country.

She told the audience that included outgoing President Anthony Carmona, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley at the open air ceremony at the Queen’s Park Savannah on the outskirts of the capital, that she herself been witness to some of those ills including the theft of her vehicles and having to wait long periods with family members for health care.

In addition, she also made it clear that she was aware of the troubles being experienced on the sea bridge between the Trinidad and Tobago.But the sixth President of Trinidad and Tobago since the island attained its Republican status in 1976, told the audience that she never allowed such obstacles to prevent her from moving forward and as a result was counting on the entire coun-

President Paula-Mae Weekes at her inauguration at Queen Park’s Savannah (CNC3 TV photo) try to shine a light that would pave the way for a better future.She said her destiny and that of the population was now “inexplicably linked’ and recall the fact “that many experts, real and armchair in positions high and low beset us round with dismal stories.

“They tell us that Trinidad and Tobago is perilously close to the point of no return. Crime, corruption, racism, dismal public services and an ineffective judicial system among other problems…that all hope is lost. That we will soon be, if we are not there already a failed state, however defined.”But she said that the country could respond by adopting two choices including one where “we can lament.

Blame, criticise and allow …despair to overwhelm us or…we can consciously and intentionally choose the alternative”.She said the country should not wish for, or just pray for the alternative “but make up a hard mind to

mobilise forces and resources to step out boldly and make Trinidad and Tobago a better place and our children.

“None of us blind or foolish enough to deny that Trinidad and Tobago is going through dark times,” she said, but urged citizens to accompany her on her mission “to infect each and every one of you with a bright and positive spirit as we try to turn our beloved nation into what it ought to have been and still can be”.

She urged citizens to “confront the darkness and declare that it will not take over. It is a tenant of most major religions that light triumphs over darkness.

“Light always serves a purpose, it directs ships to safe harbours, it illuminates our path, it can lead the way.

It purifies and exposes hidden dangers and promote clear vision and if legend is to be believe it even repels vampires, goblins…that try to daunt our spirit”.

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

Palestinian President attacks Hamas, calls U.S. ambassador ‘son of a dog’ RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday called the U.S. ambassador to Israel a “son of a dog” because of his support for Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Abbas, speaking at a Palestinian leadership gathering, also blamed Hamas for a bomb attack last week on the convoy of Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Gaza, remarks that threatened reconciliation efforts with the Islamist group.

The Palestinian leader accused Ambassador David Friedman of defending Israeli settlers in the West Bank by saying that they were building on “their land”. The slur drew rebukes from the diplomat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In an angry tone, Abbas said: “The son of dog says they build on their land? He is a settler, and his family are settlers, and he is the U.S. ambassador in Tel Aviv. What should we expect from him?”

Friedman, a strong supporter of Israel’s settler movement, was an early and enthusiastic advocate of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Dec. 6 decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to move the U.S. embassy there.

Friedman responded dur-

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gestures as he speaks during a meeting with the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank yesterday. (Palestinian President Office (PPO)/Handout via REUTERS) ing a speech in Jerusalem to a conference on combating global anti-Semitism, saying: “His response was to refer to me as son of a dog. AntiSemitism or political discourse? Not for me to judge, I leave that all up to you.”

U.S. Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt issued a statement calling Abbas’ comment “highly inappropriate.”

He said the Palestinian leader needed “to choose between hateful rhetoric and concrete and practical efforts to improve the quality of life of his people.”

Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem delighted the Israeli government but infuriated Palestinians, who have staged regular protests since then.Israel regards Jerusalem as its eternal and indivisible capital, although that is not recognised internationally.

Palestinians feel equally strongly, saying that East Jerusalem must be the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Peace talks aimed at finding a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict have stalled, while Israeli settlement expansion has

continued.Netanyahu said Trump’s decisions on Jerusalem appeared to have brought Abbas to the point of making a verbal attacks on a U.S. official. “For the first time in decades, the U.S. administration has stopped spoiling the Palestinian leaders and tells them: enough is enough,” Netanyahu said on Twitter. “Apparently the shock of the truth has caused them to lose it.”

BLAME FOR BOMBING Addressing the rancour between Hamas and Fatah, Abbas said there had been

“zero” progress in reconciliation, citing efforts to bring a power-sharing deal to bear on the crossings out of the Gaza Strip and on security within the enclave.

Relations have grown even worse since Hamdallah and Palestinian security chief Majid Faraj’s convoy was attacked by a roadside bomb in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on March 13. They were uninjured.“We congratulate the two big brothers (Hamdallah and Faraj) that they are safe after the sinful and despicable attack that

was carried out against them by the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip,” Abbas said.

He offered no evidence of Hamas’ involvement but said he did not trust Hamas to investigate the incident honestly.“We do not want investigation from them, we do not want information from them and we do not want anything from them because we know exactly that they, the Hamas movement, were the ones who committed this incident,” he said.Abbas said Hamas would have to give up control of Gaza or risk taking full responsibility for the enclave and its two million residents without any help from his Western-backed Palestinian Authority.“In my capacity as the president of the Palestinian people I have tolerated much in order to regain unity and unite the homeland and I was met with rejection by Hamas and their illegitimate authority,” he said.Hamas called his comments irresponsible and said they aimed to “burn bridges and reinforce divisions.” The group has previously denied involvement in the bombing.Fatah and Hamas have tried for years to come to an accommodation over running the Gaza Strip, but have repeatedly failed to implement deals mainly brokered by Egypt.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

Trump ‘enthusiastic’ about reaching NAFTA deal, says Canada’s PM OTTAWA (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be “enthusiastic” about coming to an agreement on NAFTA, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday amid signs the pace of talks is accelerating.

Mexican and U.S. officials earlier this month pushed to speed up the pro-

cess to update the North American Free Trade Agreement, though Trump has repeatedly threatened to terminate the $1.2 trillion trade pact unless Canada and Mexico agree to far-reaching U.S. demands for changes.

Trump has also ratcheted up tensions by tying the suspension of new U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs for Canada

and Mexico to a successful NAFTA renegotiation.

Canada and Mexico say they view the two issues as separate.

“We’re renegotiating NAFTA, we’ve seen from the President he’s enthusiastic about getting to a deal,” Trudeau said during a panel discussion.

Negotiators are due to

meet in the United States for an eighth round of talks in April. All three sides cite the need to avoid interfering with Mexico’s presidential elections in July as a reason to move quickly.

In a sign the tempo might indeed be picking up, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland held a meeting with U.S. Trade Represen-

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. tative Robert Lighthizer in Washington last week that lasted four hours rather than the scheduled 60 minutes, said a Canadian source familiar with the talks.

“He just came really ready to work ... There is a growing willingness from the Americans and the Mexicans to try to do as much as possible over the course of the next few weeks,” said the source, who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the situation.

At the end of the seventh round in Mexico City on March 5, Lighthizer floated the idea of reaching an agreement “in principle” in coming weeks.

Mexico’s economy minister last week said that if the three nations did not finish up the talks by the end of April, the process would drag on at least until the end of the year.

Trudeau said a spike in protectionism globally played on people’s fears over the future and their jobs, but could be alleviated by creating trade pacts that guaranteed better labor standards and quality of life.

“There’s a worry as we face a time of transition,” Trudeau said. “There are some places where a narrative of ‘Let’s close and protect ourselves’ can be a very compelling political narrative.”

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

After landslide re-election, Russia’s Putin tells West: I don’t want arms race MOSCOW (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a softer tone towards the West yesterday after winning his biggest ever election victory, saying he had no desire for an arms race and would do everything he could to resolve differences with other countries.

Putin’s victory, which comes at a time when his relations with the West are on a hostile trajectory, will extend his political dominance of Russia by six years to 2024. That will make him the longest-serving ruler since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and has raised Western fears of spiralling confrontation.

But Putin, 65, used a Kremlin meeting with the candidates he soundly defeated in Sunday’s election to signal his desire to focus on domestic, not international, matters, and to try to raise living standards by investing more in education, infrastructure and health while reducing defence spending.

“Nobody plans to accelerate an arms race,” said Putin.

“We will do everything to

resolve all the differences with our partners using political and diplomatic channels.”

His comments, which are likely to be heard with some scepticism in the West following years of confrontation, mark a change in tone after a bellicose election campaign during which Putin unveiled new nuclear weapons he said could strike almost any point in the world..

German Chancellor Angela Merkel wished Putin success and called for more dialogue.

But Russia is currently at odds with the West over Syria and Ukraine; allegations of cyber attacks and meddling in foreign elections; and the poisoning in Britain of a former Russian spy and his daughter.

As a result, relations with the West have hit a postCold-War low.

FREE AND FAIR? With nearly 100 percent of the votes counted, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that Putin, who has run Russia as president or prime minister since 1999, had won 76.69 percent of the vote.

With more than 56 million votes, it was Putin’s biggest ever win and the largest by any post-Soviet Russian leader.

But the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a rights watchdog, said restrictions on fundamental freedoms, as well as on candidate registration, had restricted the scope for political engagement and crimped competition.

“Choice without real competition, as we have seen here, is not real choice,” the OSCE said in a statement.

The CEC said earlier on Monday it had not registered any serious complaints of violations.

Backed by state TV and the ruling party, and credited with an approval rating of around 80 percent, Putin faced no credible threat from a field of seven challengers.

His nearest rival, Communist Party candidate Pavel Grudinin, won 11.8 percent while nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky got 5.6 percent.

His most vocal opponent, anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny, was barred from running.

Navalny, who had called on voters to boycott the election, urged his supporters not to lose heart and said his campaign had succeeded in lowering the turnout, accusing authorities of being forced to falsify the numbers.

EXIT STRATEGY? Near-final figures put turnout at 67.7 percent, just shy of the 70 percent the Kremlin was reported to have been aiming for before the vote.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down suggestions that tensions with the West had boosted turnout, saying the result showed that Russians were united behind Putin’s plans to develop the country.

He said Putin would spend the day fielding calls of congratulation, meeting supporters, and holding talks with the losing candidates.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was among the first to offer his congratulations to Putin, but Heiko Maas, Germany’s new foreign minister, questioned whether there had been fair political competition.

German Chancellor An-

gela Merkel later told Putin: “It is more important than ever that we pursue dialogue and promote relations between our countries and peoples,” according to a German government statement.

Putin also spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan by phone.

Macron wished Russia and its people success in modernising the country, while Erdogan spoke with Putin about joint efforts by Moscow and Ankara to resolve the Syria crisis.

A White House spokesman said the United States was not surprised by the outcome of the election a n d n o p h o n e c a l l w as scheduled between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.

How long Putin wants to stay in power remains uncertain.

The constitution limits the president to two successive terms, obliging him to step down at the end of his new mandate.

Asked after his re-election if he would run for yet another term in the future, Putin laughed off the idea.

“Let’s count. What, do you think I will sit (in power) until I’m 100 years old?” he said, calling the question “funny”.Although Putin has six years to consider a possible successor, uncertainty about his future is a potential source of instability in a fractious ruling elite that only he can keep in check.

“The longer he stays in power, the harder it will be to exit,” said Andrei Kolesnikov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, a think-tank. “How can he abandon such a complicated system, which is essentially his personal project?”

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

CARICOM observing elections in Antigua and Barbuda

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – A 10 member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Electoral Mission (CEOM) has arrived here to monitor tomorrow’s general election.

The team, headed by the Chief Elections Officer in Guyana, Keith Lowenfield, includes members from the Bahamas, Barbados; Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

“The role of the CEOM is to observe the electoral process, collect qualitative and quantitative information regarding the voting process and the results to facilitate the preparation of a final report on the general elections of Antigua and Barbuda,” Lowenfield said in a statement.

He said the mission has held talks with officials of the Antigua and Barbuda Elec-

toral Commission (ABEC) as well as representatives of the various political parties contesting the poll.

“The CEOM will continue to observe the pre-election period and on Election Day monitor activities in most of the constituencies including the opening of the polls through to the tabulation and announcement of the results.”

Lowenfield said that fol-

lowing the election day activities, a preliminary statement will be issued outlining the mission’s initial assessment of the electoral process, before submitting a final report to CARICOM S e c retary General Irwin LaRocque.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne called the general election more than a year ahead of the constitutional deadline.

Tuesday March 20 ,2018

Brazil police arrest Catholic bishop in graft probe: Globo TV SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian police yesterday arrested the Bishop of Formosa, Jose Ribeiro, on allegations that he, along with other Catholic clergymen, stole about 2 million reais ($608,000) from church coffers, according to a report on the website of Globo TV. A spokeswoman for the Goias state prosecutor’s office said that some clergymen were arrested in Formosa but would not confirm their names.

Globo, citing police, reported that along with Ribeiro, authorities arrested four priests and a vicar general in connection to the case. The Diocese of Formosa did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Jamaica’s new Top Cop sworn in KINGSTON, Jamaica (Jamaica Observer) — Major General Antony Anderson began his first day as Commissioner of Police, after taking the Oath of Office yesterday.

“Decked in his uniform, the Commissioner of Police was quickly sworn in by Bishop Dr Gary Welsh, Justice of the Peace and Assistant Commissioner of Police, followed by a briefing session with area and section commanders,” stated the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Corporate Communication Unit in a release yesterday.

Anderson is replacing George Quallo, who was appointed on April 18 last year, but decided to retire last month after his relationship with National Security Minister Robert Montague soured.

Tuesday March 20, 2018

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

McIlroy blitzes Bay Hill back nine to end title drought (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy staged a spectacular back nine charge to claim a three shot victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday, collecting his first PGA Tour win since 2016 and putting himself among the redhot favorites for the U.S. Masters.Two back of overnight leader Henrik Stenson when the day began, McIlroy overhauled the Swede with a brilliant error-free final round eight-under 64.

The Northern Irishman hit five birdies over his last six holes, including a nervewracking clutch 25-foot birdie at the 18th to clinch his first PGA Tour title since the 2016 Tour championships.

“I kept saying the last few weeks, I wasn’t that far away and it just takes something to click into place,” McIlroy said in a greenside interview.

“Something clicked into place with my game and obviously something clicked into place in my putting and this is the result.

“It’s so nice to see everything come together finally.”

McIlroy arrived in Orlando with plenty of concern over the state of his game having missed the cut in two of his four PGA Tour starts this year with his best result a tie for 20th.

After Sunday’s round, though, the Northern Irishman was right back in the conversation about who will win next month’s U.S. Masters at Augusta, where he will have another chance to complete his collection of all four major titles.McIlroy strung together four consistent subpar rounds for an 18-under 270 total and a three shot victory over American Bryson

DeChambeau (68).

Briton Justin Rose (67) finished alone in third while Stenson (71) faded to fourth.

Tiger Woods, an eighttime winner at Bay Hill, had a 69 to cap another solid comeback effort and finished in a tie for fifth.

“OWN HISTORY” After a tense afternoon at Bay Hill Golf Club, McIlroy had looked poised for an uneventful finish when he stepped onto the 18th tee with a three shot lead.

But before McIlroy could get to his second shot, DeChambeau turned up the pressure with an eagle at 16 to trim the advantage to one.

McIlroy, however, had the answer and rolled in a 25footer for birdie at the last, triggering a roar from the massive gallery and a huge fist pump from the Northern Irishman.

Tuesday March 20, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Be prepared today, Aries. A longtime dream regarding your career may finally become a reality. At first you might not believe it, fighting the news in order to avoid possible disappointment TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You tend to be your own worst critic, Taurus, and today you're more likely to be that way. Recent setbacks on the job might find you harboring doubts about your own capabilities.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today could be a strange day where money is concerned, Gemini. You might not be sure exactly where you stand financially CANCER (June 21–July 22) Unsafe conditions could exist around the house, Cancer, which may result in accidents if they aren't rectified. Some may not be readily apparent, so warn family members to be careful.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Leo, one or more of your coworkers could appear to be rather upset or depressed on the job today, and this is likely to affect your own efficiency.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Profligate spending in the past may come back to haunt you now with regard to money, Virgo. There could be blocks in receiving funds you were expecting or an unexpected but necessary expense could come

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Boredom and restlessness may plague you today, Libra.

You could feel the need to break loose from the ties that bind you to mundane affairs, to run away and seek adventure, although you aren't certain what kind of adventure!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is a good day to read, study, attend a class, or otherwise acquire new information.

You may discover something new about a subject that really interests you SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Worries about money could be uppermost in your mind today, Sagittarius. You may have suffered some financial setbacks and wonder how you can muster enough funds to get over the hump.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Setbacks on the job might have you a little depressed and worried. Don't worry, Capricorn; all will be well. Think of this as a challenge to overcome.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Sudden events that come to you via TV, newspapers, or the Internet, could shake up long-cherished belief systems today, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A task that you've been working on for a long time could come to a standstill today due to circumstances beyond your control.

The win was McIlroy’s first at the event and 14th PGA Tour title. (Getty Images) “I’ve seen Tiger making this one enough times, so I was just trying to emulate that,” said McIlroy.

“Just to be able to create my own little bit of history at the 18th green here is pretty special and I’m just really proud of myself to have hung in there over the last few months.“The last time I won a PGA Tour event was the day Mr. Palmer passed away and so it’s a little bit ironic I come here and win.”

McIlroy’s dramatics overshadowed another patented charge from Woods, who had put himself within one shot of the lead with four to play.

Decked out in his familiar final round red, Woods mixed six birdies with a single bo-

Triumphant Osaka...

From page 30 and I had to keep making the right decisions.”Osaka had defeated former grand slam champion Maria Sharapova, fifth seed Karolina Pliskova and then world number one Simona Halep on her way to the title and the $1,340,860 first place money.

“It was hard for me to get my nerves in check in the first game, especially since - I don’t know why I decided to serve first,” Osaka said.

“We were playing some long points, and I wasn’t really trying to hit hard today, because I felt like it would be better for her to take my pace.

“I wanted her to do whatever she wanted to do, and I was just going to sit back and see what she does. I feel like I wasn’t that aggressive today.

I was just more consistent.”

Williams lost to sister Venus at Indian Wells in the third match of her return after having a child and is likely to face Osaka for the first time on Wednesday, the third day’s play in the women’s draw in Miami.

gey through his opening 13 holes but watched his charge fizzle with back-to-back bogeys at 16 and 17.

While it was disappointing end to promising week, the 14-times major winner will take away plenty of positives as he looks ahead to next month’s U.S. Masters.

Still in the early stages of his comeback from spinal fusion surgery and years of back issues, Woods result offered more evidence that he

is getting close to his old form coming on the heels of a runner-up finish last Sunday at the Valspar.

“I felt pretty good out there, I hit the ball probably a little bit better than I did last week,” said Woods.

“This golf course affords the opportunity to go ahead and stretch it out a little bit, the greens were really smooth and really fast and I felt like I really putted well the entire week.”

PAGE 30

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Kaieteur News

Jamaica’s Blake sees Commonwealth Games as step to build on Bolt’s legacy MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Next month’s Commonwealth Games will be Yohan Blake’s chance to build on Usain Bolt’s “legacy” and step out of the track great’s shadow, the former 100 meters world champion said yesterday.

Bolt retired last year with eight Olympic and 11 world championship gold medals to his name, leaving his former training partner Blake to carry the flame for Jamaica.

“Usain Bolt has left his legacy for us to carry on and that’s what we want to do,” Blake told local media after landing in Australia for the April 4-15 Games on the Gold Coast.

“That’s what I want, to start with the Commonwealths, to take over the dominance of the sprinting world.”

The 28-year-old Blake won his only individual global title in the 100m at the 2011 world championships when Bolt was disqualified in the final, but has three other gold medals as a member of the Jamaican 4x100m relay team.

He has yet to win any kind of medal at the Commonwealth Games but Bolt, who ran the relay at his only Commonwealths appearance in Glasgow four years ago, joked there would be trouble if Blake

India win tri-series after Karthik blitz in tense final

Yohan Blake (Europress/AFP) did not succeed when the athletics program begins April 8.

“Usain Bolt was at the track in Jamaica before I left,” said Blake. “He said, ‘if you don’t win there is going to be problems’.

“I don’t have a Commonwealth medal. It’s very important for me to have one in my trophy case.”

Blake, who finished fourth in the 100m at the Rio Olympics, was in top form last year heading into the world championships in London and qualified third fastest for the final.

However, he was shut out of the medals by Bolt, who

took bronze behind winner Justin Gatlin and Christian Coleman. Blake also failed to make the 200m final in a surprise.

The absence of Canada’s Andre De Grasse makes Blake a leading contender in both the sprints, though he will have stiff competition in the 100 from Adam Gemili, the Glasgow silver medalist, and another Englishman in Zharnel Hughes in the 200.

“It will be a better year this one and I want the Commonwealth Games to set the year up for me,” Blake said.

“We are ready to go. My body is great. Australia is where it all begins.”

Triumphant Osaka draws Serena Williams in first round at Miami

Out walked Dinesh Karthik and smashed the ball to all parts.

Nevertheless, India needed five off the final ball to win... ©Associated Press COLOMBO (Reuters) India survived late drama in a pulsating final to clinch the Twenty20 tri-series after Dinesh Karthik smashed the final ball for a six to secure their thrilling four-wicket victory against a gallant Bangladesh side yesterday.

With India needing 34 runs off the last two overs, Karthik hammered 29 not out off just eight deliveries, his third six sealing India’s third, and the most hard-earned, victory over Bangladesh in the tournament.

Put into bat, Bangladesh made 166-8, a total they owe largely to number three batsman Sabbir Rahman who made 77 after their top order collapsed.

Chasing 167 to win, India lost openers Shikhar Dhawan and number three Suresh Raina early but skipper Rohit Sharma batted comfortably to score 56 and keep India’s chase on track.

He and KL Rahul (24) found it easy going against the Bangladesh bowlers until Sharma went for a fatal slog-

sweep of Nazmul Islam, departing with three sixes and four boundaries to his name.

Mustafizur Rahman then bowled a masterly 18th over, when his first five balls at Vijay Shankar yielded only one run and Manish Pandey (28) perished off the sixth trying to accelerate the contest.

Next man in Karthik exploded immediately, hitting the first ball he faced for a six and plundering 22 runs off that over from Rubel Hossain to turn the match on its head.

Needing 12 runs off the last over from Soumya Sarkar, Shankar fell to the fifth delivery with India still five runs away.

Karthik nonchalantly hit the final ball for a six to trigger wild celebration by a young India team which had rested regular skipper Virat Kohli and stumper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, among others.

Interim captain Sharma had earlier opted to bowl after winning the toss, influenced partly by the fact that chasing teams had won five of the six matches prior to the

final.

Bangladesh suffered early jolts and slumped to 68 for four midway through their innings after leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (3-18) struck three blows, dismissing Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim.

Sabbir took the onus on himself to rescue Bangladesh and he got some support from Mahmudulla who made 21.

Even though wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Sabbir brought up his halfcentury off 37 balls to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Paceman Jaydev Unadkat struck twice in the penultimate over of the Bangladesh innings, dismissing Sabbir and Rubel Hossain.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz made 19 not out off seven balls to help Bangladesh cross the 150-mark.

Scores: India 168 for 6 (Rohit 56, Karthik 29*) beat Bangladesh 166 for 8 (Sabbir 77, Chahal 3-18) by four wickets.

Naomi Osaka (Photo: Zoe Meyers/The Desert Sun) (Reuters) - Indian Wells champion Naomi Osaka will have little time to celebrate in her first career victory with the Japanese drawing eighttime champion Serena Williams in the first round of next week’s Miami Open.

Osaka scored a commanding 6-3 6-2 victory over Russian Daria Kasatkina in a battle of 20-year-olds at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Sunday.

“I was extremely stressed and extremely nervous, but

my plan was to fake that I’m very calm,” Osaka told reporters.

“I just knew that she was going to fight for every point, too, so I couldn’t afford to lose points based on nerves, (Continued on page 25)

Most of the runs came off Sabbir Rahman’s bat as he struck 77 off 50 bals ©AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena

Tuesday March 20, 2018

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U-15 League – Berbice FA

Orella Falcons win back to back; NA United and Arsenal also triumph The first round four match of the Berbice leg of the GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U-15 Intra Association League between Orealla Falcons and Young Strikers scheduled for Saturday last at the Scottsburg Ground, Corriverton ended with Orealla Falcons gaining a walk over from Young Strikers for the second consecutive fixture.

In the second of the double header, Corriverton Links suffered their first defeat, losing by a 2-1 margin to arch rivals Orealla Falcons.

Links suffered early setbacks when Brett Sarius struck in the 8th minute, pouncing on a spilled ball after Links’ custodian Simeon Shepherd failed to gather cleanly.

Xavier Andrews added the second, beating Shepherd on his first post in the 13th minute. With the Links now playing catch-up, the Orealla lads defended as though their lives depended upon it. Their stout defending lasted up until the 43rd minute when Links through Terry Adams slammed one home from a throw-in which was headed across the Falcons’ goal within the 18 yards box.

The win for Orealla Falcons has placed them in the lead. Over at the Esplanade Park on Sunday, the opening match of three saw Arsenal whipping Hopetown United Rangers 5-1. Rangers drew first blood with a Danta Barker goal in the 12th minute.

Jafari ’Bangi’ Adams (right) and Jaren Fontinelle – Arsenal FC Arsenal equalised through the first of Jafari Adams’ helmet-trick in the 13th minute as the first half ended 1-1. Adams picked up where he left off to slam home two more goals in the 48th and 52nd minutes having received very good support from his midfield. Jaren Fontinelle scored in the 54th after which Adams completed his tally in the 59th minute. The following eleven minutes saw the Hopetown lads holding Arsenal at bay until the final whistle was blown.

Hearts of Oak won via the walk over route from East Bank Gunners, while the next encounter was an enthralling clash where Cougars went down to the rampaging New Amsterdam United, 6-0.

The Cougars defence were unable to contain the lanky Charles Williams who hammered in a hat-trick in the 6th, 12th and 22nd minutes.

An own goal by Cougars defender Curtis Cort under pressure in the 32nd minute accounted for their fourth goal.

The match was closed out

From right, Charles Williams, Niquan Samuels and Jamal Lyte – New Amsterdam United.

Teams Orealla Falcons N A United Cougars Corriverton Links Monedderlust Arsenal Hearts of Oak Rosignol United Young Strikers Hopetown East Bank Gunners

P 5 4 4 4 3 4 3 2 4 4 4

by efforts from Nicquan Samuels in the 58th and Jamal Lyte in the 61st minute. The

Latest Points Standings W D L 5 0 0 4 0 0 3 0 1 3 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 4 other scheduled match between Monedderlust and Rosignol United at the #5

F 24 17 15 10 9 7 1 0 0 1 0

A 1 0 6 2 1 10 5 7 8 19 27

GD Pts +23 15 +17 12 +9 9 +8 9 +8 6 -3 6 -4 3 -7 0 -8 0 -18 0 -27 0

ground has been rescheduled for this weekend along with other fixtures.

‘Outrageous’ Ronaldo has Messi in his sights MADRID (Reuters) - After an uncharacteristically slow start to the season which provoked questions about his longevity, Cristiano Ronaldo has roared back to life with a torrent of goals and now has La Liga’s top scorer award in his sights.

On a weekend to savour for strikers around Europe, Ronaldo followed the lead of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi by plundering four goals in his side’s thrilling 6-3 win over Girona on Sunday.

His goal-fest against Girona lifted Ronaldo above Barcelona’s Luis Suarez as second top scorer in La Liga and he moved within three of Lionel Messi, his eternal rival for goal records and individual awards over the last decade.

“Cristiano is three goals from Messi and I hope he can become the top scorer because it’s very important to him,” Real coach Zinedine Zidane said.

Ronaldo leads the way in Europe in current form, blasting in 21 goals in his last 11 games in all competitions. With 18 goals this year, Ronaldo has scored more times in

Messi is still La Liga’s top scorer but Ronaldo is just three behind after a recent hot streak. (Reuters) the league in 2018 than Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea and is only one shy of Serie A leaders Juventus.

The 33-year-old Portuguese also moved up to ninth in the list of top scorers in Europe, trailing front-runner Salah by six goals.

Ronaldo’s insatiable recent form is unrecognisable from his medio-

cre record in the first five months of the campaign.

Banned for pushing a referee in the Spanish Super Cup in August, Ronaldo missed Real’s first four Liga games and struggled to get up to speed on his return, ending 2017 with only four league goals to his name for the season.

“His form is outrageous,” Real

Ronaldo has hit 18 goals in his last nine La Liga outings and is in the hunt for the Golden Boot. (EPA) defender Nacho said.

“It’s true that at the start of the season, given the amount of games he missed, he wasn’t very sharp. But that was strange. Right now he is helping the team a lot and we can all see the effect he is having on us.”

Ronaldo’s resurgence mirrors how he hit his peak at the back end of last season when, with the help

of sitting out the occasional away game, he fired Real to a double of La Liga and the Champions League.

Their title hopes are long gone but they have every chance of winning a third consecutive European Cup. Real meet Juventus in the quarter-finals after dispatching Paris St Germain 5-2 on aggregate in the last 16 with three goals from Ronaldo.

PAGE 32

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Kaieteur News

Keeve Allicock and ‘Superman’ Scott’s slams century as MSC thump GNIC SC by 162 runs Lewis claim CAC qualifiers Bronze Jeremiah Scott struck a fine century as Malteenoes Sports Club defeated Guyana National Industrial Corporation Sports Club (GNICSC) by 162 runs when the Georgetown Cricket Association New Building Society Second Division 40-over tournament continued on Sunday last.

Scott’s century guided MSC to 326-7 off their allotted 40 overs, batting first at GNISC SC ground.

After being reduced to 313, Scott and Keifer Naughton steadied the innings with level-headed batting as they put on 114 for the fourth wicket before Naughton was

Jeremiah Scott caught off Shane Brown for 54 which contained six fours and two sixes. Scott then added 108 for the fifth-wicket

with Simeon Sam who was dismissed for 31.

Scott continued to time the ball well and hammered 16 fours and two sixes before he was bowled by Marcel Mentore for 116. Ntini Permaul chipped in with 24 as Brown finished with 2-39.

In reply, GNISC SC were restricted to 21-3 before Tavin Collins and Leswell George gave them hope with a fourthwicket stand of 77. But when Collins fell for a top score of 50 and George departed for 30, the rest of the bating failed to offer any resistance as GNIC SC were bowled out for 164 in 31.4 overs.

(Zaheer Mohamed)

Neymar and Co heading for Tottenham as they prepare for Russia World Cup

The Brazil squad will use Tottenham facilities during their preparation for the World Cup. (Reuters) Daily Mail - Brazil have signed an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur to use the Premier League club’s facilities ahead of this year’s World Cup in Russia.The five-times World Cup winners will train in London for friendlies against Croatia on June 3, at an English venue yet to be decided, and Austria on June 10 in Vienna.‘In addition to the friendlies, a partnership has been made official with Tottenham FC, who will make their facilities available for training as from May 28,’ the Bra-

zilian football confederation said in a statement.‘The selecao will have a gym, swimming pool and two official-size football pitches available to them as well as a recently built hotel inside the training centre.’

Brazil kick off their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 17 before facing Costa Rica and Serbia in Group E.They play friendlies against World Cup hosts Russia in Moscow on Friday and reigning champions Germany in Berlin four days later

Persaud’s century, Haywood five-wkt haul guide UG to innings victory A fine unbeaten century from Mahendra Persaud coupled by a five-wicket haul from Dennis Haywood handed University of Guyana (UG) an innings and 102-run victory over Ace Warriors when the Georgetown Cricket Association Noble House Sea Foods Second Division two-day tournament continued last weekend.

A c e Wa r r i o r s b a t t e d first and were sent packing for 91 in 23.1 overs at the Gandhi Youth Organisation ground. D. Lall made 26 as Pavindralall Persaud claimed 4-25 and Haywood 3-31.

Mahendra Persaud then crafted an even century to guide UG to 255-5 declared in reply. Godfrey Matthews

supported with 43, while Dave Singh got 29; Lall took 2-68.

Trailing by 164, Ace Warriors were skittled for 62 in their second turn at the crease. Selwin Collier scored 24 as Haywood bagged 5-24 with some controlled bowling, while Pravindralall Persaud snared 2-38.

(Zaheer Mohamed)

Apart from qualifying for the CAC Games in Barranquilla, Colombia during the July-August period, the duo of Keeve Allicock and Colin ‘Superman’ Lewis won Bronze medals at the qualifying tournament in Mexico last week. The pair and Coach Terrence Poole would have had achieved the ultimate desired result of qualifying for the CAC and also medaling at this event. Pitted against top class opponents, Lewis and Allicock acquitted themselves well to come out with medals at the event.

Both fighters lost their

semifinal matches in the Tijuana, Mexico hosted qualifiers. Superman Lewis lost with by a split decision, which according to many including head of the Guyana Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle, Lewis should have won by a unanimous verdict against Eduardo Sanchez of Costa Rica. Allicock on the other hand lost to Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez who is also ranked number one in the world.

Fighting as a Flyweight, Allicock showed his tremendous worth by tackling the Cuban Bantamweight Olympic champ and world number

one.

No easy feat as Allicock matched him pound for pound and punch for punch, which speaks volumes of the determination of this talented young fighter, who hails from the Albouystown area.

Both are now headed for the Commonwealth Games in Australia and this Mexico sojourn would have been excellent preparation for the pair. They would certainly be looking to better their medal haul in Australia and the CAC events. The boxers and Coach Return home this afternoon.

Del Potro ends Federer’s streak to win Indian Wells title (Reuters) - Juan Martin del Potro saved three match points in a thrilling final at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday before handing world number one Roger Federer his first loss of the year and claiming his maiden Masters 1000 title.

The Argentine stunned a raucous Indian Wells crowd that had been loudly backing Federer to continue his winning streak and secure the biggest win in the nine years since his U.S. Open title triumph with a 6-4 6-7(8) 7-6(2) victory.

Federer, the defending champion, had chalked up 17 consecutive wins in 2018, a run which included his 20th grand slam title at the Australian Open, but was unable to outlast his determined 29year-old opponent.

Del Potro was considered a genuine threat to Federer’s dominance of the game when he won at Flushing Meadows in 2009 but has been dogged since by a series of wrist problems which almost ended his career.

“I’m still shaking I’m so nervous. It’s difficult to describe with words, it’s like a dream,” del Potro said on court after extending his own winning streak to 11 matches.

“I’ve been working hard to get this, and I did it after all my problems, all my surgeries. I can’t believe I’m here and winning a Masters 1000, beating Roger. It’s amazing.”

Beating Federer has never been easy - del Potro had succeeded just six times in 24 previous attempts - and the nailbiting final lasted almost three hours with both players taking occasional issue with the chair umpire.

Del Potro arrived in the Californian desert on the back of a title win in Acapulco but had far from a smooth ride

Juan Martin del Potro beat Roger Federer at Indian Wells.

(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun) against an agitated Federer, who simply would not give up on his quest for a sixth Indian Wells title.

The Argentine seized the opening set and had a match point in the second set tie break but misfired on a forehand - usually his most dependable weapon - to allow the 36-year-old Swiss back into the match.

“I was thinking about (that) forehand miss the entire time,” del Potro said.

With Federer on top 6-5 in the second set tie break, he appeared to fire an ace to clinch the set, but a late challenge by del Potro overturned the call and the Swiss was double faulted.

An annoyed Federer barked at the umpire during a changeover and, fired up by his grievance, took the second set to even up the con-

test before pushing del Potro to the limits in the final stanza.

The third set went with serve until Federer blasted a cross-court winner to break del Potro’s serve and take a 5-4 advantage - breaking a run of 32 consecutive service game wins for the Argentine.

The Swiss maestro served for the set, and the title, but del Potro dug deep to save three match points, two at 4015 down, before breaking back to send the stanza to a tiebreak, which the Argentine dominated.

“I lost my serve a little bit, and then he was clean and I wasn’t. And then it goes very quickly in the breaker,” Federer said.

“As close as it can be sometimes when you’re not feeling it or momentum has shifted, it’s just crazy how it can go the other way.”

Tuesday March 20, 2018

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

Audacious Samuels stuns Zimbabwe to keep alive Windies hopes HARARE, Zimbabwe, CMC – Marlon Samuels countered Brendan Taylor’s spectacular 10th One-Day International hundred with an audacious half-century as West Indies completed their fifth highest run chase in OneDay Internationals, to beat Zimbabwe by four wickets and haul themselves back into contention for a spot in next year’s World Cup in England.

Facing a must-win scenario at Harare Sports Club, West Indies overhauled the hosts’ impressive 289 with an over to spare, with the righthanded Samuels unfurling a Man-of-the-Match top score of 86.

He got support from the stylish Shai Hope who weighed in with 76 while opener Evin Lewis struck 64, as West Indies pulled off the highest run chase of the ICC World Cup qualifiers.

Impressive 21-year-old fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani (2-36) and legspinner Graeme Cremer (2-63) both picked up two wickets apiece but were unable to prevent West Indies clinching the crucial win.

Earlier, Taylor stroked a magnificent 138 – his 10th ODI hundred – while opener Solomon Mire got

45 and Sean Williams 34, to help give the innings momentum on a good pitch after they had opted to bat first.

Captain and seamer Jason Holder was outstanding with four for 35 from 10 overs while new-ball partner Kemar Roach claimed three for 55 and rookie pacer Keemo Paul, two for 55.

With the victory, West Indies climbed from third to the top of the standings with six points with one match remaining against Scotland.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, slipped to second place – one point behind – with one match remaining against United Arab Emirates on Thursday, while Scotland lie third also on five points.

West Indies made early inroads when they reduced Zimbabwe to 28 for two in the sixth over, with Holder having left-hander Cephas Zhuwao caught at short fine leg by Keemo Paul without scoring and then sending back Hamilton Masakadza for seven to a catch at the wicket.

However, Taylor came to his side’s aid by anchoring three successive half-century stands to put the innings back in good shape.

First, he put on 51 for the third wicket with Craig Ervine

Top Badminton players to attend training camp Top National Badminton players Priyanna Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra will be attending a High Tech Badminton Training Camp “Road to Barranquilla” in Ciudad de Guatemala from March 21 to April 22, 2018.

The Camp organized by the Panam Sports and Badminton Panam Confederation and endorsed by the Guyana Olympic Association will see World Ranked Players from the Panam Region taking part. Guyanese players taking part also were chosen because Guyana’s Narayan & Priyanna Ramdhani are in the world rankings in the Badminton World Federation listing and because of this we were given two spots to attend this Camp. Narayan is scheduled to be at the Commonwealth Games in Australia 2018 therefore Guyana’s number 2 ranked player Jonathan Mangra was sent in his place.

This Camp will benefit the Guyanese Players as it will give them more ranking points and a place in the CAC Games scheduled to take place in Colombia in July 2018.

Priyanna Ramdhani (right) and Jonathan Mangra.

(14) before adding 76 with Williams and a further 79 with Sikandar Raza (22).

All told, the 32-year-old Taylor struck 20 fours and two sixes in a 124-ball knock before perishing in the 44th over, skying a heave at Roach to cover where Ashley Nurse held a difficult catch.

Needing to win to stay in the qualifiers, West Indies got a solid start as Lewis and veteran Chris Gayle (17) posted 38 off 35 balls for the first wicket.

The left-handed Gayle looked ominous in belting two sixes – back-to-back straight hits off off-spinner Sikandar Raza in the fourth over – but fell to a catch by Kyle Jarvis running in from third man after miscuing a slash at Muzarabani in the sixth over.

Any hopes Zimbabwe harboured of making further inroads were then dashed as Lewis, Hope and Samuels combined to put the contest firmly in the Windies favour.

Lewis struck seven fours and a six off 75 balls, adding 72 for the second wicket with Hope, before driving a return catch to Sikandar Raza in the 22nd over.Hope found an ally in Samuels and together they posted a fabulous 135 for the third wicket to put the result seemingly beyond doubt.

Samuels was at his absolute best, stamping his authority on the innings with six fours and four sixes in 80 balls at the crease, while Hope faced 97 deliveries and counted five fours and a six.

With the required run rate having climbed to nearly eight an over, Samuels released the pressure by slamming Sikandar Raza for two successive straight sixes in the 36th over which cost 18 runs, before raising his 29th ODI half-century in the following over off 54 balls.

Brendan Taylor celebrates his century, Zimbabwe v West Indies, World Cup Qualifiers, Harare, March 19, 2018 © ICC/Getty Images He then ripped into Cremer in the 39th with a pair of straight sixes and a similar boundary as the over leaked 19 runs.

Against the run of play, he edged Muzarabani behind in the 44th over, triggering a slide which saw the Windies dramatically lose four wickets for 20 runs in the space of just 12 balls Hope holed out to a low catch at deep mid-wicket by Sikandar Raza in the 45th over off left-arm spinner Williams and in a moment of madness in the 46th over from Cremer, Holder (6) picked out long off while Shimron Hetmyer (13) was stumped missing a wild heave, to leave the Windies tottering on 265 for six .

H o w e v e r, Rovman Powell (15 not out) and Nurse (8 not out) spared the Windies blushes in an unbroken 25-run, seventh wicket stand which saw their side over the line.

Easter Vacation Swimming Programme 2018 starts Monday The Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission will conduct its annual Easter Swimming Programme during March 26 to April 6, 2018 at the National Aquatic Centre commencing 09:00hrs daily.

Interested persons are requested to make contact with Ms. Desiree Cummings at the Colgrain Pool, Camp Street, Georgetown on telephone number 226-0387 or Mr. Wilton Spencer at the Na-

tional Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal on telephone number 222-1306, for the necessary information, between the hours of 08:30hrs – 16:30hrs.

Please be advised the target Age group for this programme is – 6 to 11 years old.It is important for parents to walk with their children’s birth certificates at the time of registration, while a fee of $500 per person will be charged.

Children will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

PAGE 34

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Kaieteur News

GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 League – EBFA

Timehri consolidate at the top; Soesdyke needle Agricola, KK Warriors edge Mocha Timehri Panthers has further consolidated their hold on the East Bank Football Association leg of the GFF/ Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 Intra Association League when they hammered Samatta Point/Kaneville on Sunday when day-15 of action was contested at the Timehri Red Ground on Sunday last.

The home team posted their seventh consecutive win with another dismissive performance, trouncing their opponents 8-0 led by Neron Barrow who blasted a hattrick. Agricola Red Triangle lost their second match in as many days going down to Soesdyke Falcons by the lone goal of that encounter which was scored by Tyrone Burnette in the 20th minute.

Kuru Kururu Warriors also continued their good form with win number six which has taken them to the third place overall behind Agricola in second and with the same points but better goal difference.

The Warriors edged Mocha Champs 2-1coming from behind, while the other match saw Friendship All Stars taking full points from Grove Hi

Tech which did not show up for their final match of the league.

Mocha had taken the lead on 16 minutes when Genesis Lewis found the back of the nets. Kuru Kururu Warriors never panicked and drew level in the 25th minute through a John Fredericks goal. The winning strike came off the boot of the Warriors’ leading forward, Kevon Scott in the 45th minute, his eight goal of the league.

But it was the Timehri boys which continued their marvelous run of form with another vintage performance.

Their 8-0 triumph was crafted by the collective works of Neron Barrow who scored in the 57th, 64th and 68th minutes.

Samatta Point put up a solid fight in the first half as they only let in one goal which came in the 29th minute off the boot of their Captain, Prince Forde. But it was the second half that Samatta Point’s focus fell away and Timehri took total control of proceedings.

Their leading scorer, Ishmael Pulsarran (11 goals) converted in the 34th minute, Paul Roberts (45th), Yohance

Lethal Force! Timehri Panthers’marksmen From right, Neron Barrow, Shaquon Caleb, Paul Roberts, Prince Forde, Yohance Reynolds and Ishmael Pulsarran.

Tyrone Burnette Soesdyke Falcons Team Timehri Agricola Kuru Kururu Grove Diamond Upsetters Swan FC Herstelling Mocha Friendship Samatta Point/KV Soesdyke Diamond United Reynolds (58th) and Shaquon Caleb in the 63rd minute be-

P 9 9 9 11 10 8 9 8 10 8 10 7

W 8 6 6 5 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 0

Latest Points Standings L D F 1 0 41 2 1 24 2 1 18 2 4 12 4 2 13 3 1 20 4 1 27 3 2 10 7 0 7 4 2 9 7 1 12 7 0 2

ing the other contributors.

Grove have completed its

A 4 7 10 11 12 7 16 7 19 24 22 57

quota of 11 matches.

Matches will continue

GD +37 +17 +7 +1 +1 +13 +11 +3 -12 -15 -11 -55

Points 24 19 19 19 14 13 13 11 9 8 6 0

this weekend at the same venue.

GDF gain last-minute draw with Buxton United, Den Amstel beat Victoria Kings 2-1 GFF Elite League

By Sean Devers Up until the last minute of full time a vastly improved Buxton United seemed heading to an upset 1-nil win against defending Champions Guyana Defence Force (GDF) before Amos Ramsay found the back of the net in the 90th minute as the GFF’s Elite League continued with a double header at the GDF ground on Sunday night.

In the feature game, GDF, third on the points table with 13 points behind West Tigers (16) and Fruta Conquerors (15), quickly found out that Buxton United were a vastly improved side based on their recent form coming into this game.

The East Coast side outplayed the fitter Soldiers with better organised passing and tight defence, while playing a more technical brand of football which seemed to catch the Army team off guard.

Denver Dennis opened Buxton’s account in the 32nd minute when he scored from a direct free kick and the Buxtonians had things their

own way for most of the first half which ended with them leading 1-nil.

As the game progressed GDF upped the tempo and began to move forward a lot more than they did in the first stanza and as the time ticked away Buxton United strengthened their back line and seemed intent on protecting their one goal lead by playing out time.

In desperate surges, the Soldiers made increasingly concerted raids on goal as valuable time was going to waste.

GDF peppered National U-21 Keeper, 21-year-old Goalie, Olandy Cromwell, who had an excellent night between the uprights.

GDF had their best chance to equalize when a free kick missed the ‘wall’ and was well saved by Cromwell who made about four or five brilliant saves in last three minutes of the match.

But as they say in Guyanese parlance, ‘pressure does buss pipe’ and Cromwell was finally beaten by Ramsay from close range in 90th

Denver Dennis (left) and Amos Ramsay scored in the 1-1-draw between Buxton United and the GDF. minute to the relief of the GDF fans who would have been disappointed by Sunday’s performance from the reigning Champions. The draw moved GDF to 14 points.

In the evening’s opening game which ebbed and flowed with little to separate the performances of either team, West Demerara’s Den Amstel, enjoyed a slightly higher percentage of ball possession to beat Victoria Kings 2-1 after being 1-1 at half-time.

Watched by a fair size crowd with cold winds blowing across the ground from the Atlantic Ocean, the intensity was good in an evenly matched first period in which, after a nice build-up, Gideon Payne scored from inside the box in the 30th minute.

But 12 minutes later Aubrey Gibson caught Den Amstel napping with a counterattack at a time when the West Demerara unit were

Gideon Payne and Delon Lanferman scored a goal each for Den Amstel in t heir 2-1 win against Victoria Kings on Sunday night at the GDF ground. enjoying more possession, to score the equaliser after another good build-up.

In a game which was punctuated by plenty of counterattacks and transitions neither side managed to dominate and at half-time at a venue where the lights were not of the highest quality, it was Den Amstel 1, Victoria Kings 1.

The early part of the second half saw Victoria Kings showing more

momentum and against the run of play Delon Lanferman fired in the winner in the 79th minute.

Victoria Kings best chance of making it 2-2 came when a powerful shot low down was tipped around the poles by custodian Jermaine Cumberbatch and when the final whistle was blown the game ended the team from the West side showing they were the best side on the night with a 2-1 win.