Kaieteur News

Sunday February 18, 2018

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Freddie Kissoon replies to Dr. Troy Thomas

APNU/AFC M.P. Richard Allen’s interference in Region One

DEAR EDITOR, I refer to Dr. Troy Thomas letter (“Mindful of serving UGSSA and TIGI,” SN, Feb 17, 2018) in which he responds to my observation that he examines many institutions for dubious governance under the aegis of TIGI but has never pronounced on bad governance at UG. My remarks were not meant to be accusatory. Dr. Thomas has my respect and admiration.

There are too many cowards in this country and that explains Guyana’s brittle moral substance. When persons like Dr. Thomas come forward, they must be welcomed.

There are some grey areas in Dr. Thomas’ response which will have to wait for another time. Suffice it to say I would like to see TIGI cast its net on UG. UG is one of Guyana’s seminal institutions. It ranks very high in the scheme of things when you think of the purpose it serves.

I probably would have ended up in jail or died from starva-

tion if UG didn’t save me, so UG has a special place in my heart. Unfortunately, despite my twenty six years of successive service to UG, the powers that be have never seen it fit to even have a conversation with me on UG, much less ask me if there is any area in which I would be willing to contribute to UG’s continuing existence. That attitude hasn’t bothered me, though I can bravely say I gave Khemraj Ramjattan a piece of mind when we sat to talk for almost an hour in his office.

I have nothing negative to say about Dr. Thomas’s activism, but just hope that TIGI will at some time investigate questionable governance at UG, and I say to Dr. Thomas, the complaints I get are from credible, patriotic staff members of long standing. They are simply worrying. I will conclude with just one example. I have spent the greater part of my life at UG as student and lecturer. As an

The PPP did not...

From page 4 approach to good governance since it hurts development, human and otherwise.

As there continues to be observation of the politicians’ conduct, on both sides, what we need on issues of national import is political maturity, regard for treating all with respect and dignity, recognition and respect for constitutional duties and responsibilities.

The politicians know what is right but when given the confidence of the people to manage their affairs they do wrong. This is why society must continue and intensify its vigilance and hold them to account. We must not be

afraid to speak out, articulate our understanding on any issue, and/or put them in the opposition benches when they fail to conform to practices of good governance and commitments they made when not in government.

Further, as we hold those today in the Executive accountable, including for commitments made while in the Opposition, we must so equally hold those who are today in the Opposition for squandering the privilege given to them by the people to serve in the Executive when they trampled us and mismanaged our resources.

Lincoln Lewis.

academic I know how professorship is acquired. It is hard work with serious publications in peer reviewed journals. I have been told that the type of governance we have at UG sees people getting professorship that would not happen in any self-respecting university. When one has the professor title attached to his/ her academic name, that person’s scholarship must be very formidable.

Your publications must be as long as the Essequibo River. This is one of the most troubling complaints I have received from academics whose integrity I respect. It is in this context, I would wish for TIGI to show some concern as to what is taking place at UG. I wish Dr. Thomas well in his activism and would be willing to respond to any request to help TIGI or TIGI’s research into UG’s style of governance.

Frederick Kissoon

DEAR EDITOR, As the Regional Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of BarimaWaini Region #1, I am extremely concerned with the active participation and involvement of APNU/AFC Coalition geographic Member of Parliament, Richard Allen in the affairs and functions of several state agencies and elected bodies in the Region.

It must be noted that he is not employed in any of those agencies, nor elected to any.

Most recently, I noticed a Guyana Chronicle article “Government tackles low birth registration .

In Region One” which reported in detail on M.P. Allen’s active involvement with the General Registrar’s Office visiting team issuing birth certificates in the Region.

While I commend the work of the Registrar’s Office for reaching out to Region One

with the objective of ensuring the people of the region are registered, I am questioning the transparency and equality of treatment due to M.P. Allen’s apparent “embedding” in the team’s day to day operations and process of the issuance of birth registration.

I have received reports of M.P. Allen personally distributing birth certificates in bulk to people in various communities.

Local Government elections is due this year, birth registration documents are critical for the registration of voters; in the past the Toshaos and other community leaders have been the ones who have worked with the GRO team as they are knowledgeable of the eligibility of residents in their communities.

However, M.P. Allen is accompanying and directing the GRO team as to who

needs birth certificates and subsequent distribution of birth certificates is highly questionable.

In contrast to this, the M.P’s access to such personal and sensitive documents, I can recall that at the RDC at several statutory meetings, representation was made for Toshaos and other community leaders to be entrusted with uplifting and distributing pension books of aged persons in their communities who are from far flung areas or are otherwise unable to travel long distances.

When this recommendation was made by the RDC to the Ministry of Social Protection, it was informed that no individual that is not employed by the Ministry of Social Protection can uplift pension books to distribute, yet councillors of the RDC have seen and received many reports that M.P. Richard Allen is (Continued on page 6)

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C.O.I needed into the process leading up to the imposition of the 1980 constitution

Civil society will never have a voice unless we can separate Govt from State

DEAR EDITOR, As the Coalition Government approaches its third year in office, there is need to examine critically what were their set objectives and to what extent their objectives have been achieved. To commence with constitutional reform was high on the Coalition’s agenda on the electoral trail. However, three years later and the Coalition continues to rule as they (P.P.P) did for 23 years: unconstitutionally and illegally. It has been so far established that periodic elections under the fraudulent 1980 constitution are null and void, and resulted in a state of lawlessness claiming the lives of many Guyanese and the forced migration of half of our population. The Ruling Political Elites of the People’s National Congress (P.N.C), The People’s Progressive Party (P.P.P) and the now (A.P.N.U)+(A.F.C) have been giving away our land and national resources using the 1980 constitution and its illegally

vested power to grant them immunity for crimes they have committed.Guyanese have got to stop being fooled and bullied by these political gangsters. Like the P.P.P, the Coalition has absolutely no intention of making any changes to the constitution that would do away with their despotic powers of the Executive President and the immunity he and his canopy of officials enjoy. The Coalition is engaged in a dangerous enterprise, the stakes are high and the conflict between the aged political forces the P.P.P and the P.N.C is going to result in much racial animosity.

Surely to avoid the calamity that faces the Guyanese Nation a C.O.I into the process leading up to the imposition of the 1980 constitution, commencing with the Rigged Referendum of July 1978 could determine the fate of the nation and the way forward.

Desmond Alli (General Secretary, Guyana United Artists G.U.A)

AFC’s Raphael Trotman is in no position to behave like Merkel DEAR EDITOR, Freddie Kissoon attempted in his article of the 17th February, 2018 to draw an analogy between the Merkel coalition and the AFC’s presence in the Guyana government coalition.

What he did not realize or deliberately neglected was that Merkel’s party is the dominant party in the coalition, and so, as the Chancellor indicated, the junior party will not be allowed to do what it wants in the Finance Ministry.

The same obviously would apply in the

Guyana coalition where the dominant party, the PNC, would not allow its junior partner, the AFC, despite having more Ministries than what they really should have, to do whatever they want even though the PNC has never publicly stated this.

So the AFC’s leader, Raphael Trotman, is in no position as the leader of a junior party in the coalition, behave like Merkel and make statements to that effect simply because they are not the dominant party in the coalition.

Teddy Matthews

When will we move our flood-prone capital?

DEAR EDITOR, There can be no denying that Guyana is prone to flooding; especially Georgetown, which is below sea level. During heavy rainfall certain parts of the city floods.

Flooding undermines your infrastructure, causes financial loss to people and brings with it the risk of water borne diseases.

Isn’t it about time someone take the initia-

tive and decide to move our Capital to the interior as rising sea levels are likely to lead to more flooding?

Or, maybe more investment is needed in irrigation and drainage to get the water off the land as quickly as possible.

The alternative seems to be to sit back and do nothing and await the next flood.

Sean Ori

DEAR EDITOR, The present saga unfolding about the PSA signed between Exxon and the Government of Guyana sends a clear message to Guyanese.

The Government without any consultation with the masses or the hired advisor, Dr Jan Mangal, gave up more concessions and accepted less royalty than any other Country where ExxonMobil found oil.

The PSA revealed that the Govt signed up to repaying from ourresource (oil); Exxon’s cost (unaudited by

us) of US$461million, incurred from since Exxon’s quest for oil in Guyana. It granted duty free concession on everything imported, stops the natural resource minister from visiting the site of production without notifying Exxon seven days in advance, holds the Govt liable for litigation costs for any oil spill or any other grievances that may arise, offers royalty of 2% while the President’s advisor on petroleum tells the Nation that normal royalties paid around theworld is 10 to

20% and more.

The nation is left to wonder if there was any negotiation, or a gun was held to the head of the Minister to sign the PSA that Guyana received.

An Exxon executive, shortly before the PSA wasrevealed in its entirety said that Guyana geot a good deal, considering that we are a “frontier” nation inoil and gas.

The American midwest was considered a Frontier too! Memories of guns and (Continued on page 7)

In both countries, the struggle for true independence and economic justice continues DEAR EDITOR, The ruling African National Congress of Azania (still named South Africa), finally removed Jacob Zuma as president.

Zuma will be remembered as one of Africa’s most inept Heads of State.

He will also be remembered for his shameful collusion with the imperial powers in the destruction of Libya and the brutal killing of one of Africa’s greatest leaders, Muammar Qaddafi.

Like Thabo Mbeki before him, Zuma’s pursuit of neoliberal economic policies has created a new class - a parasitic bureaucratic bourgeoisie, who work hand in hand with transnational and Boer capital to enrich themselves, their families and friends, all the while calling it “Black empowerment”.

Truth be told, Azania has moved from apartheid to neoapartheid. As the great revolutionary Pan-Africanist, Kwame Ture pointed out, “Black visibility and Black faces in high places does not necessarily translate into Black Power”.

Enter Cyril Ramophosa, the new president and one of

the wealthiest men in Africa. Guyanese need to know that Ramophosa was a Director of the Lonmin Mining Company and a senior member of the governing ANC, when in 2012 the South African Security Forces were given the order to shoot workers striking (Continued on page 7)

APNU/AFC M.P....

From page 5 distributing pension books on behalf of the Ministry of Social Protection.

The majority of the councillors are disturbed by and opposed to M.P. Allen’s apparent interference in the operation of these agencies.

May I remind the GRO, the Ministry of Social Protec-

tion and the Ministry of Communities that M.P. Allen is not employed nor does he have any authority to be involved in or to interfere with the functions of these bodies providing services within the region, and, that these bodies must put an immediate halt to his access and interference in the functions of these agencies.

Brentnol Ashley Regional Chairman \Barima-Waini Region#1

Sunday February 18, 2018

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Civil society will never have ...

The CoI needs to work chronologically

From page 6 roses abound from there.

Could the signing of such lopsided PSA be connected to the proverbial “twenty pieces of silver” at work?

While the call to renegotiate the flawed PSA continues to reverberate in the media.

Trotman said”I am not presently advised that government has any intention revisiting that agreement.”

That statement nullifies the gun to head theory.

Whether agitations from the masses or the international community will be successful in pressuringthe Govt to renegotiate the contract is abstract thinking. As it is, the resource curse seems destined forGuyana. Omai was 5%. Exxon is 2%. We are on a downward trajectory in royalty on resources.

A few days ago Dr Jan Mangal, presidential advisor on petroleum said that the people should not letpoliticians decide all by themselves how the oil industry is managed. Echoing similar sentiment was Canadian lawyer Alison Redford at the GIPEX forum saying, “ Be it the SovereignWealth Fund (SWF) or mitigating environmental problems, these are all issues where dialogue must be somethingwhere civil society must have a voice.” Civil society has not been afforded a voice in matters ofnational interest throughout successive regimes since independence.

All the Governments since independence had superimposed themselves on the State in such a perplexingly intertwining manner that the Govt and State appeared as one-the Govt is the State, the State is the Govt. Examples of what Iam talking about is abundant.

(1) NIS is a state institution. The govt of the Day (PPP/C) felt it was their property so with out any consultation or consensus with civic society they invested NIS monies in the Berbice Bridge. Now NIS is struggling to maintain its matured contributors.

(2) Enter APNU/AFC. Guysuco is a state own corporation making a loss yearly.

The Govt felt it waswithin their ambit to close several estates with out consensus or consultation with civil society-contraryto what they had promised. Unfazed by the hardships they are creating for these communities.

(3) The present draft policy states that,” the petroleum resources of Guyana belongs to all its citizens,and represents an asset of intrinsic value which once remove, diminishes the wealth of the nation.”

This is pellucidly simple language. Why should a Government elected by the people refuse to seekconsensus or consultation with the legal owners of a resource (petroleum) before signing a PSA with acompany to extract that resource? No Govt can effectively fulfill its mandate to serve its peoplewithout consultation with civic society on matters of dire importance to its people.

How about article13 of the constitution of Guyana” The principal objective of the system of state is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing opportunities for the participation of the citizens,and their organizations in the management and decision-making processes of the state, with particular emphasison those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well being. ”Who is upholding and protecting the constitution or system of state? Certainly not the one who swore to do so in hisinauguration in 2015!

For the next 40 years nothing will affect our “well being” positively or negatively more than the extraction of our petroleum resources-yet we were not consulted about thePSA. It’s criminal! It needs to be redressed. How do we do that? Will a new party make any difference?I think not.

We need Constitutional Reform – a chance to change the way our MP’s are elected.

Weneed to go back to a constituency basis where we can make our MP’s free men and women responsiveto the people and the common good of the Country, not slaves to a political party as it is now.

The MP’swill in turn be able to hold the Government responsible- seperating state from Government.

Private citizens should be allowed to run for the presidency and Member of parliament if any so desire.

The ballots for MP’s election must not have any party’s name or logo even though candidates may be politically affiliated- the primary objective is to get the people’s representative, not the party’s representative in parliament.

A minister of Govt is part of a political administration and may address parliament, seeking approval for funds or otherwise but should not be a member of parliament, unless elected in a constituency.

Our present parliament is a farce- 360 degrees away from representing the people because their greatest allegiance is to their party,not to the people.

I know its a hard cycle to break. In any election the “die hards” will vote PPP or APNU/AFC as soon as they see the initials orlogo of their favourite party. We need to break the cycle of paramountcy of the parties and replace itwith paramountcy of the people. Naturally the politicians on both side of the divide will never supportthis degree of reform. They all crave power under the present system.

Who wants it? Who will bell the cat? The British High commissioner said CR will only happen if thepeople wants it. Two generations has been lost because the people remain stuck in a mode where theylooked up to the politicians for leadership since the fight against the colonial masters.

That mode hasbeen passed on like a baton in a relay race and this generation is unable to comprehend that thebetrayal continues.

Some will gravitate to any new party in search of solacethe majority will remainsupporters of the two evil (PPP and APNU/AFC) that exists-the independent thinkers will find their numbers too small to make a difference-Guyana will remain in checkmate.

Rudolph Singh

DEAR EDITOR By now many Guyanese would be aware that there was a Counterforce in operation to stem the violent crime wave unleashed on the Guyanese Nation during the period 2002 to 2009.Who exactly were these Counterforces?

Were they vigilantes?

Were they criminals who were fighting a turf war? Were they police officers/army people?

Let us be clear, the extrajudicial killing that occurred were illegal even if it was an attempt to rid Guyana of notorious criminals who had taken up arms against The State to unseat the

democratically elected PPP/C Government.

While I have my reservation about the planned CoI (in that they are being used to continue to play The Blame Game and The Who Pon Top Game) hopefully the Commissions of Inquiry (CoI) will finally provide some answers as to what was going on.

Saying that, the CoI needs to work chronologically so that we all come to an understanding as to what was going on at the time in question.

You need to start at the beginning, not at the end.

Sean Ori

In both countries, the struggle...

From page 6 against Lonmin.

In total, 34 workers were gunned down by police.

Referred to as the Marikana Massacre, this shocking act of State terrorism was eerily reminiscent of actions taken by the White Apartheid Regime of days gone by. A former leader of the National Union of Mineworkers; Ramaphosa, in an email between Lonmin Management and government officials on the day before the massacre, stated, “The terrible events that have unfolded cannot be described as a labour dispute.

They are plainly dastardly criminal acts and must be characterised as such … there needs to be concomitant action to address this situation”.

Ramaphosa was directly responsible for the company’s failure to abide by its commitment to build 5,500 houses for employees, instead completing only three dwellings.

It was this and low wages that the striking workers were protesting.After more than two decades of ANC rule, the majority of Azanians are still without basic necessities, such as decent housing, electricity and healthcare, while the wealth of the country is plundered by foreign capital.

The truth is that the ANC has betrayed their own Freedom Charter, and is quite content to manage a neo-colonial arrangement, facilitating EU and US control of African resources, not unlike the PNCR, who have betrayed the Sophia Dec-

laration, and are also fac i l i t ating the plunder of Guyana’s resources in the name of “Black empowerment”.

Like Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP) here in Guyana, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) under the leadership of former ANC youth leader, Julius Malema, are leading the charge when it comes to resisting neo liberalism and completing the national liberation struggle initiated by the African National Congress, Pan Africanist Congress, Azanian People’s Organization and others.

The EFF is now the thirdlargest party in both houses of Parliament, having received 1,169,259 votes in the 2014 elections.

They dress as miners and maids in parliament to reflect the people they represent.

With more than half a million members and growing, they have relentlessly opposed

Zuma’s corrupt leadership and the ANC’s neo-liberal agenda.

Their battle cry is “economic justice in our lifetime”.

EFF has just issued a statement vowing to oppose Ramophosa, stating that he is every bit as corrupt as Zuma.

In Azania, as in Guyana, Black faces in high places has not translated into liberation for Black people, who remain impoverished, exploited and marginalized, despite the vast wealth of their countries.

In both countries, the struggle for true independence, economic justice, human advancement and dignity in a genuinely multi-cultural society continues.

God willing, our day will come.

Gerald A. Perreira Leader Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)

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Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Ferrari seized as GRA probes suspected remigrant fraud A luxury sports car is sitting in a container at a city wharf after authorities became suspicious.

According to reports, the Ferrari landed in a container a few weeks ago. However, the sports car was held up immediately by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) after some discrepancies over the paper works.

Kaieteur News was told that the vehicle was imported by a woman who had applied for remigrant tax waivers.

However, GRA apparently got wind of possible plan to sell the car to a prominent city auto dealer who has been at the centre of a number of accusation by both GRA and customers.

The matter is being investigated to determine whether the application was above board, among other things.

Under arrangements started in the 90s, Guyanese living abroad wanting to come back and live, can bring back their possessions, including vehicles and furniture once they can prove ownership.

However, there are conditions; the owner must remain in Guyana for more time than abroad over a period of three years. Should the vehicle be sold before three years, the

relevant taxes are calculated and must be paid as a penalty by the owner to GRA. The authority, over the years, has been facing numerous instances of abuse of the remigrant scheme which was introduced to attract Guyanese living abroad to come back and invest.

At least one senior Ministry of Finance official was accused of being part of a scheme to collect monies for those duty free letters, as the

approvals were known.

With millions of dollars involved for clearing sedans and SUVs, any fraud perpetuated has been costing GRA dear.

Over a decade ago, the Government made introduced laws that allow Remigrants to be granted approvals once they fulfill the requirements.

However, there were hundreds of vehicles, especially the high-price SUVs, which came into the country via fake

remigrants. The persons are paid a small fee, come live here for a few months before migrating back.

The vehicle either ends up in the hands of a few crooked auto dealer and others. Since taking office in 2015, the administration had changed management at GRA, the country’s premier tax collection agency.

Scores of vehicles imported under the Remigrant Scheme have been seized, with owners quietly paying the penalties, amounting to millions of dollars in some cases, to GRA. In December alone, Kaieteur News was told, GRA seized at least seven vehicles with more than $50M collected. And those were all

from breaches in the scheme.

GRA has been visiting homes as part of the crackdown to ensure that owners are in the country and are complying. There have reportedly been cases where the vehicles were found elsewhere in the hands of other persons…a breach. Fines were reportedly doled out.

Meanwhile, GRA is continuing to investigate an incident last week where a container of Guzzler juices was reportedly cleared from a Water Street wharf and recorded as food. The incorrect classification, believed to have been deliberate, cost GRA almost $1M. The shipment of juice was seized and a probe is underway. That incident would follow a similar one at another city wharf two weeks ago.

GRA has been fighting rampant corruption with over 100 staffers sent home for wrongdoings and other infractions over the past 18 months.

Legit businesses have been complaining bitterly of the impact of smuggling and collusion, by some GRA staffers, on their operations.

Govt. releases CGX oil contract Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, had promised to release “at least two” other oil agreements by the end of January. January ended without any such release and the Minister said nothing regarding his failure to make good on his promise.

However, yesterday the Ministry of Natural Resources released one other contract.

That is the one inked between Guyana and CGX. The Ministry issued a release saying, “In keeping with the commitment by the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,

the Ministry of Natural Resources has begun the process of releasing Petroleum Agreements, also called Production Sharing Agreements or Contracts (PSA/PSC).

“The PSA between the Government of Guyana and CGX Energy Inc. is now available on the websites of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Over the coming weeks and months, as all aspects for the release are worked out with the Operators, the remaining Agreements will be released in similar fashion.”

Sunday February 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Regulatory body needed to ensure implementation of Local Content …Chatham House Advisor says, “What gets measured, gets done”

By Kiana Wilburg Regardless of how rigorous and ideal some laws or policies may be, if there is no person or body to ensure implantation then it would all be for nothing. The same concept applies to Guyana’s Local Content Policy.

According to Chatham House Oil and Gas Advisor, Anthony Paul, a regulatory body must be in place to ensure there is substantial use of local goods and services.

In a recent interview with Kaieteur News, the Chatham House Advisor said that the draft Local Content Policy

makes provision for this salient recommendation. Paul said that the Policy Framework identifies the need for monitoring, evaluation and reporting when it comes to implementation of Guyana’s Local Content Policy. Paul reiterated that a regulator will have to be responsible for this.

The Oil and Gas expert stated that there are different models which are in use with varying degrees of effectiveness.

The Chatham House Advisor said that in Ghana, by regulations, the Petroleum

Commission is the responsible regulator. He said that the Petroleum Commission has instituted guidelines and procedures for reporting.

He noted that the regulations include targets which are to be achieved. He also revealed that the Commission has a dedicated local content team and work systems that cross different departments.

In the case of Nigeria, Paul noted that a specific agency, The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board) NCDMB), was established by legislation for managing Nigerian Content. Paul

Dem boys seh...

Oil gun give everybody US$40 per month come 2020 Exxon come and every man, woman and child believe dem gun be rich like de Saudis overnight.

Thursday, Soulja Bai address de police.

He talk bout corruption and weeding out de criminals from top to bottom.

Dem boys want he fuh know dat de worst and biggest criminals de world have is dem oil company. Dem boys want he keep he eye pun dem and pun de contract.

Dem deh pulling up oil fuh donkey years in 20 African countries. Now, none of dem African nations better off than they were before.

Soulja Bai got to tek note. He also need to look at he Cabinet Ministers, especially dem top lawyers, he seh he got.

All dem top lawyers ee gat in ee cabinet, Moses, Harmon, Basil, Ramjattan, Trotman either playing dumb or dem sell we out like how dem politicians do in Africa.

Remember de Marriott? It was born out of flowery words and bare scampishness.

Now de govt don’t have a clue how to deal

with dat contract Jagdeo bind us into.

De hotel wukking only to pay Jagdeo and de few investors he inject into the deal.

Is de same situation, we the people gun find ourselves in with ExxonMobil. De only difference is dat de people wouldn’t know how to handle this.

Right now, all yuh hearing from Trotman and de Baccoo is flowery words but is de same scampishness. Like de Marriott, which got only a few benefitting from it, only a few politicians will reap de haag of de oil money.

Guyanese will find demself without a solution wid Exxon just like how de govt can’t find a solution to deal with de Marriott.

Dem boys did some Maths and find out de most every Guyanese will get when oil start coming, is US$40 per month which equal to $8000 Guyana dollar. Yes $8000 Guyana dollars a month. Dat is how rich yuh gun be come 2020 and dem boys going on record saying suh.

Did we hear another figure Exxon?

Talk half and thank Soulja Bai fuh releasing another oil contract.

said that the NCDMB has dedicated teams and has been very effective in transforming the local content landscape in Nigeria.

Closer to home, Paul said that the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries in Trinidad and Tobago is responsible for all aspects of regulating the industry, other than fiscal and environmental.

Paul said that Trinidad and Tobago has some strong regulations requiring local capacity development and local content and for reporting and monitoring performance, but these have not always been robustly applied.

He said that the MEEI does not have dedicated Local Content Personnel, but it has established a multi-stakeholder Permanent Local Content Committee, to oversee implementation of its 2004 Local Content Policy which is aligned with the provisions of the Petroleum Regulations.

The Oil and Gas expert said, “There is an old saying, ‘what gets measured, gets done.’ So it makes sense that Guyanese are made aware of the progress of the policy by having a responsible agency report on measurable out-

Chatham House Oil and Gas Advisor, Anthony Paul comes.”

The Advisor said that unless that agency is somehow empowered to effectively undertake its responsibilities and held accountable to stakeholders, there is no guarantee that monitoring and reporting will be adequately conducted or that the potential benefits will be achieved.

MEANINGFUL INPUT The “substantial” use of local goods and services by oil operators is just one of the

many meaningful features one can expect to see when the nation’s draft Local Content Policy is released once more for consultations.

Paul reminded that the first draft of the Local Content Policy Framework was posted on the Ministry of Natural Resource’s website and shared with a range of stakeholders for feedback.

Several stakeholders provided written comments.

(Continued on page 14)

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Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

GGMC allows Bosai to deny potential state revenue The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has reportedly been allowing Bosai Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc. to stand in the way of potential State revenues.

The agreement that Omai Bauxite Mining Inc, had with the Government gave the company the right to “first refusal.”

This provision in the contract gives the

holding company the right to have first preference on any area of bauxite deposit. Bosai inherited that agreement from Omai.

Kaieteur News understands that over the last few years, applications were made by local and foreign companies to access bauxite deposits located in areas at Wismar, Region Ten. The response given to all these compa-

nies is that Bosai has the right to first refusal and has chosen to keep the area.

The way “right to first refusal” is supposed to work is, whoever owns the right to first refusal, when exercising that right, is supposed to propose to develop the area it chooses to keep.

One source told Kaieteur News, “Bosai is supposed to say, I have the right to first refusal so I am going to develop the area. But this has not been happening. Bosai is holding on to deposits and is not developing the area.”

“They are holding on to this agreement that says they have right to first refusal and so the deposits are there but are not being developed. Other companies can develop but it is not happening because GGMC is not doing what it is supposed to. “ Kaieteur News understands that once interest is expressed in an area, the right to first refusal can only be exercised if the company that holds that right is willing to develop the

area of interest in a reasonable timeframe.

“A company does not have obligation to develop an area that is on the list unless there is interest by another company to develop the said area,” the source explained.

The source continued, “GGMC is supposed to ask Bosai if it wants to develop a mine in the area.

If the company says yes, GGMC is supposed to hold the company to a reasonable timeframe.

But, invariably Bosai has been saying yes, yes, we want to but they never do develop the area. And, GGMC has been allowing the company to get away with this.”

This newspaper understands that another application was turned down as recent as two months ago.

This newspaper would have preferred to have a comment from Commissioner of GGMC, Newell Dennison. However, the public official has made it clear that he is not willing to speak to Kaieteur News.

Relocation of CJIAC’s Departures operations

There will be some changes to the Immigration and Security area of the CJIAC amid the current expansion, the airport said yesterday.

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) is announcing some changes amid the ongoing expansion works.

According to the Timehri Airport, effective from today, the Immigration and Security Operations will be relocated to the former Greeters’ Hall for departing passengers starting at 14:00hrs so as to facilitate the ongoing airport expansion project.

“It is apt to note that the project is progressing smoothly on schedule to the completion date and this is a planned stage of the renova-

tion works to accommodate the construction while maintaining operations of the existing terminal,” CJIA explained. The Drop off/Checkin process remains the same.

“However, passengers will be guided along a corridor to be processed by Immigration Officers, followed by security screening. After the mandatory security checks, passengers will still have the opportunity to shop and browse in the duty free shops, which are also located in the former Greeters Hall area.”

Passengers will then pro-

ceed along another corridor to the Departure Lounge area to await boarding.

“CJIAC apologises for any inconvenience caused and appreciates the travelling public’s continued understanding and support as it expands to better serve them,” the airport said.

The facility, the main airport in the country, is currently being expanded to a longer runway, with new arrivals area and bridges for the aircraft.

US$150M project has been delayed but has been set for completion this year.

New Amsterdam man jailed on gun possession charge A New Amsterdam man who is known to the authorities have been jailed for 2 ½ years on a gun possession charge.

Kenata Simpson, 20, of Lot 13 Tucber Park, New Amsterdam, Berbice appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s court on a

charge of being in possession of a gun without being the holder of a licence.

This was following the discovery of a gun which was found stashed in a fowl pen in the yard where he resided on January 18, 2017.

According to Prosecutor Corporal

Winston Poliah, around 10:00 hrs on the day in question, acting on information, the police swooped down on the premises and conducted a search.

The yard which is well fenced has a fowl pen to the back of the house. The police decided to (Continued on page 12)

Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

OAI saga…

One family should not enjoy sweet of state land, all Guyana must benefit - Former Minister Former Minister of Tr a d e a n d To u r i s m , Manzoor Nadir, is saying that it is prudent for the government to set up a framework to ensure that the country benefits from the use of State lands at

Ogle as opposed to one family.

Nadir made his views known recently via a letter he penned to the editor.

He said that he was following the articles that this newspaper has been pub-

lishing regarding operations at Ogle Airport Inc. (OAI) “and the monopoly position that is occupied by one family.”

Nadir said, “What is happening is a failure of the trust, powered by

greed.”

The former Minister said that his understanding of the evolution of OAI revolves around what he described as one of the progressive experiments in public-private partnerships. He noted that five operators, who benefitted from the “generosity of the state,” through the use of the Ogle aerodrome, formed themselves into a company.

He said that the plan was to have the company have the facility to develop for the benefit of these operators and the industry as a whole.

Nadir noted that it was the State that provided the land and facilitated a loan for OAI as well as invested in necessary equipment.

Nadir said, “The state provided the land through a lease at peppercorn rent and the state also on-lent a two million Euro EU facility to the OAI, interestfree. In addition, the state invested millions of dollars in equipment necessary for the proper operation of the airport.” The former Minister said that how one family has dominated the business activities and grown to have virtually total control of the Ogle Airport is a matter for the partners who were all outmanoeuvered.

But, a matter for government would be to ensure state benefits which will translate to benefits for all Guyanese.

Nadir said, “Government trusted that the spirit of the initial pact would be honoured. I also feel that the original partners operated with a great amount of trust among themselves.

Warning signals went unheeded; the challenges of one of the largest operators and its public spat with OAI are well documented in the media.

The concerns of emerging operators who cannot have accommodation are also made public. In all of this, the state has a responsibility to ensure that OAI stays faithful to the spirit and letter of its agree-

OAI’s Michael Correia ment with the state.”

The Minister said that when the state makes concessions to allow businesses to grow and to power larger economic growth, it does so because it does not want to burden Guyanese businesses with huge, unaffordable initial capital outlays.

He said, “To acquire that amount of land, and the investment in buildings and instruments, would have cost OAI more than US$50M. ”These peppercorn leases were never intended to allow the lessee to extort huge supernormal profits by leasing at astronomical rents to others. Thus, the state has a provision that the lessee must have the state’s approval to sublet to others.”

Nadir noted that if a citizen gets a house lot and wants sell it before x number of years, the house lot owner/buyer has to pay a penalty to the state. I know that an element of market value is applied in calculating this penalty.

The former Minister said that the wrong must be corrected. He even proposed a formula that can be used to correct the wrong.”

Nadir said, “I want to advance a formula to the Lands and Surveys Commission/Ministry of Public Infrastructure where subletting at Ogle is concerned.

Former Minister of Trade and Tourism, Manzoor Nadir

Nicole Correia Let OAI pay an annual processing fee for the sub-letted portions. The annual processing fee would equal:–Proposed sub-letting rent per acre less (-) annual lease rental of $6. ”This way any exorbitant rental fee would come to the state. In addition, the state has to be concerned with maintaining a competitive market economy and guard against monopolies. We have to ensure that the smaller firms in any industry are not challenged with predatory practices. While we still have a long way to go to set and police general principles, we must deal condignly with the specific case that emerges. Moral suasion, while not a panacea, could be a mechanism to start with.”

New Amsterdam man jailed on gun...

From page 10 search the premises ad upon searching the fowl pen discover a .32 semi-automatic Warchester pistol, with a serial number, in a corner of the pen. The man was found hiding close to the pen.

The gun was retrieved and the two occupants were taken into custody.

The man and his mother were at home at the time and they were both taken into custody. The woman was subsequently released.

Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

GTT is ready to partner with the Oil and Gas Industry – CEO at GIPEX GTT’s, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Justin Nedd, during his presentation at the recently concluded GIPEX forum, said, “Our beautiful Guyana is on the precipice of an exciting new era, as an impressive array of the world’s leading energy companies develops its offshore oil and gas fields and marches toward production.

“As with any large infrastructure development

activity, a sustained investment of capital and expertise will be critical in making these projects a success. This infusion of financial and technical resources is exactly the type of commitment that GTT has made in Guyana over an extended period. The company stands ready to partner with the oil and gas industry to ensure its success in Guyana.”

Nedd said that GTT has

pioneered many firsts in Guyana: the modernization of basic telecommunications, the nationwide launch of cellular services, the first high speed broadband network, the deployment of LTE-based fixed wireless services, and the submarine cable that serves as the lifeblood of Internet connectivity for the country.

Additionally, in 2017, GTT launched the nation’s

first fibre-to-the-home network, adding to the advanced and secure fibrebased services that GTT has been providing to businesses for years. All told, the company has invested over US$150M in the development of communications infrastructure and advanced communications and information services in the last 10 years alone.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, a s t h e historically leading private employer and taxpayer to the government, GTT has been a consistent and positive force in the local economy for economic development. The company is a strong partner to the Government and the private sector. It is committed to “Do More” for its customers, so that they can do more in their businesses and personal lives.

“Of note for the oil and gas companies attending GIPEX, the GTT subsea cable is an impressive example of this commitment.”

Built in 2010, the subsea cable currently carries 100% of the nation’s business and private communications traffic that legally transits the nation’s borders, with plenty of additional capacity to spare.

Since its inception, GTT has continued to invest in the cable to expand its initial capacity 50-fold (5000%). The telephone company is committed to continuing to invest in and expand cable capacity to accommodate the nation’s growing communications traffic. “Through access to other subsea and terrestrial cable holdings and partnerships, GTT also provides the diverse redundant fibre paths that ensure always-on connectivity,” said Nedd.

For on-shore needs, GTT is also Guyana’s leading provider of advanced connectivity and information solutions.

One key reason for this is the IP-MPLS network that has been designed for the scalability and high reliability demanded by sophisticated business customers.

Nedd gave the example of the integral role that telecommunications plays in the industry.

Justin Nedd

“One needs to look no further than gold mining in Guyana, with Troy Resources Ltd as an example.

As Troy Resources developed new gold fields, they needed a partner to invest alongside them in building infrastructure to support the new local operations.

“GTT made that commitment, building new towers, connecting them to its advanced fibre network with high capacity microware links, and with ongoing network monitoring & management to ensure high availability.

“GTT moved with speed and strong technical competence, allowing Troy Resources to quickly realize its plans for new development.” He added that “whether it is through the local technical experts that comprise its workforce, or drawing on the best global resources to which GTT also has access, GTT has been steadfast in its commitment to its clients, and the company will bring this commitment to each and every one of its oil & gas partners.”

GTT is also committed to Do More for the communities it serves. In recognition of the ongoing technical and investment leadership of GTT in the Guyanese information & communications technology sector, as well

as the company’s extensive philanthropic investment program, GTT was awarded the 2017 “Large B u s i n e s s o f t h e Ye a r ” honor by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & I n d u s t r y. G T T a l s o r e ceived the 2017 “Corporate Citizenship Award of the Year” for the “Pinktober” initiative, which raised over $4 million toward Breast Cancer Awareness in association with the Guyana Cancer Foundation.

The role of Platinum sponsor at GIPEX is but one example of GTT’s enthusiasm for the important work that the oil and gas c o m p a n i e s a re doing in Guyana, work that the phone company hopes will be an important catalyst for the growth of the country and improvement in the daily lives of our citizens.

“As the oil and gas industry deploys its financial, technical and business resources for the important tasks that lay ahead, know that there is a reliable partner in GTT who is also ready to invest alongside of you to ensure your success.

“You have our commitment to ‘Do More’ in serving as the preferred local communications and information technology partner to the oil and gas industry,” Nedd told those gathered.

Regulator body needed to ensure...

From page 09 The Oil and Gas expert shared that last year, a series of public and private engagements were held with stakeholders in Georgetown, Berbice, Linden and Essequibo.

Paul said that based on feedback from those sessions, the policy draft has been amended and a second draft is being considered by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

He said that some of the meaningful changes include an extended introduction and narrative, intended to provide more con-

text and explanation/education to those unfamiliar with the industry; definitions, including of local individuals and firms and local content; a strategy for implementing the policy; and an approach to developing an implementation plan, inclusive of public education.

The Oil and Gas advisor said that the Ministry is advanced in its review of the updated draft and should be releasing a final version shortly after the appropriate approvals.

Sunday February 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Former Attorney General, Mohamed Shahabuddeen, 86, dies

Judge Dr. Mohamed Shahabuddeen Tributes have been paid to former Attorney General and International Court of Justice (ICJ) Judge, Dr. Mohamed Shahabuddeen who has died at age 86. Dr Shahabuddeen was born at Vreed-en-Hoop on October 7, 1931. He was called to the bar on February 9, 1954 in Middle Temple, London.

He is a recipient of the Order of Excellence, the Order of Roraima and the Caciques Crown of Honour.

Apart from serving as AG and Minister of Legal Affairs and a Magistrate, Dr. Mohamed served as a judge at the International Court of Justice from 1988-1997. In Guyana, Dr. Shahabuddeen

also went into private legal practice, served as Solicitor General and acted as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from time to time.

He also held other senior ministerial positions including First Deputy Prime Minister and Vice President.

He studied law at the University of London, where he completed his Bachelors of Law. He continued studying and at some point completed with the title of Masters of Law. He also passed with the title of Bachelors of Science in Economics. During his further career, he continued to study, which earned him the title Doctor of Philosophy, and the title of Doctor of Laws.

Books penned by him include “The Legal System of Guyana”, (Georgetown, 1973), “Constitutional Development in Guyana 1621 1978”, (Georgetown, 1978) and “Precedent in the World Court, Hersch Lauterpacht Memorial Lectures”, (Cambridge University Press, 1996).

Among some of the papers written by Dr. Shahabuddeen includes, “The Role of the Lawyer in Developing Guyana”, (Georgetown, 1974), “Towards Industrial Justice in Guyana”, (Georgetown, 1974), “Law Reform in Guyana”, Guyana

Basil Williams, Ramjattan, Harmon, Nagamootoo silence deafening on lopsided oil agreement - Ram

Attorney General, Basil Williams

Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram

Local commentators have been unceasing in their effort to bring awareness to the damning loopholes in the oil agreement Guyana signed onto with ExxonMobil.

But the ocean of criticisms that has been flooding the daily newspapers has been met with nothing but silence from the top brass of Cabinet, specifically attorneys-at-law; Joseph Harmon, Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjattan and Basil Williams.

This was recently pointed out by Chartered Accountant and anti-corruption advocate, Chris Ram. In his recent writings Ram said, “It is still hard to accept that serious, responsible and educated national leaders—including five attorneys-at-law (Minister of State Joseph

Harmon, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman and Attorney General, Basil Williams)—can sit in Cabinet more than fifty years after Independence, and one year AFTER the Contractor had made the world’s largest oil find, and agree to trade the future of an entire country and generations to come.”

Ram said that the prevention of some of the most appalling provisions in the contract only required that a single adult in Cabinet read the contract, understand the language and after being conscious of its implications, warn her/his colleagues of its grave and practically lasting consequences for the country.

(Continued on page 71)

Bar Association Review, December 1981, “Refresher Courses: Compulsory or Optional?” Proceedings of the Commonwealth Law Conference, Hong Kong, September 1983.

His recent international appointments include that of Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (June, 1997 – November, 2005); normally in the Appeals Chamber, Vice-

President of the Tribunal from November, 1997 to November, 1999, and again from November, 2001 to February, 2003; Judge, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (Appeals Chamber) – November 1997 to November, 2005; Judge, Permanent Court of Arbitration, since 1998.

Dr. Shahabuddeen was a member of the Guyana delegation to the United Nations (1972), member of the board

of governors, University of Guyana (1963-1965), member of the Council of Legal Education of the Commonwealth (1973-1987), Ambassador to the Guyana/Venezuela Mixed Boundary Commission (19661970), Honorary Life Member, The Indian Society of International Law, Member of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (1983), among others, too, numerous to mention.

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Sunday February 18, 2018

Parliament push for media code of conduct, new security measures The security sub-commit- hopes of producing a plan of tee of the National Assembly action.

- No formal move on code for MPs is reviewing two reports aimed Isaacs, who is advisor to at improving overall security at the Parliament Buildings and a new code to guide media houses covering proceedings.

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, told Kaieteur News that he has prepared two draft reports this year. These are being considered by the committee with

the sub-committee, set about producing the document on security following security breaches during the 2018 Budget process last December.

“The work is proceeding.

I have submitted a report to the sub-committee. I have been asked to submit some additional information which I have done,” Isaacs shared.

The sub-committee is chaired by the Speaker Dr. Barton Scotland and includes coalition Member of Parliament [MP] and Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) MP, Nigel Dharamlall.

“I also developed a code of conduct for the media. It has been submitted to the commit-

tee for review. The committee will work on both documents.

They have asked me to supply additional information and make certain changes,” Isaacs noted.

Asked if there are plans to solicit the views of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) before the media code of conduct gets adopted, Isaacs said that consultations will be held with the GPA when the committee completes its work.

Civil society has called for the establishment of a separate code of conduct for MPs. Isaacs said that he has not been requested by the MPs to establish such a code of conduct.

He said that the Standing Orders address some matters in relation to the conduct of MPs. Isaacs stated that he presented a new draft Standing Orders document to the Speaker last year for his review and subsequent presentation to the Standing orders subcommittee.

“We have worked as a team to propose new standing orders. The Speaker will look at it, discuss it with the Standing Orders Committee and then they will bring it to the National Assembly for adoption. It is a thick document,” Isaacs stated.

Dr. Barton Scotland has repeatedly stated that members were elected to serve the people and should conduct themselves accordingly. The Speaker has questioned the need to implement rules for persons who know what is expected of them.

The first sitting on November 2 following recess was marred by controversial behaviour when PPP MPs waved placards and shouted slogans that drowned out the address by President David Granger. In December, events at the National Assembly drew further criticisms. During the considerations of the 2018 budget estimates, police officers poured into the Parliament

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs Chamber to assist with the removal of PPP MP Juan Edghill who refused to leave the sitting although ordered to do so by the Speaker.

Several PPP MPs who had surrounded Edghill physically clashed with the police during the ordeal. Edghill was suspended and during the following sitting, two plainclothes policemen sat at the press table.

Some of the journalists had complained to the Clerk of the National Assembly about their presence.

Days earlier, a woman in ‘Santa Claus’ attire, entered the Parliament Chamber and attempted to present Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, with an Oxford Dictionary.

Indications are that the woman came in properly dressed and changed her clothes in the MPs bathroom.

Police investigators determined the Santa visit was a prank.

Sunday February 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Former CARICOM SG speaks on deficit implementation within grouping

By Peter Richards KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – The former secretary general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping, Roderick Rainford, on Friday, said he was pleased that many of the decisions taken by regional leaders to deepen the regional integration movement had not been implemented over the years.

Speaking at the University of the West Indies (UWI) “Vice Chancellor’s Forum on the Golding Report on CARICOM-Jamaica Relations,” Rainford, who served as the region’s top public servant between 19892, acknowledged that his position “would shock some people” as he looked at the implementation deficit within the 15-member grouping.

“This issue of the continuous interplay, sometimes tension between the national interests, national perspective and regional interests or regional perspective, and of course it touches on the question of implementation deficit…is a continuous refrain.

“But that tension or interplay between the national and regional in so far as it touches on the implementation deficit also concerns the question of design and many of you might recall that arising out of “Time for Action” report and followed up in later periods out of the Rose Hall Declaration and subsequent exercises, that one of the design challenges that we try to face was the question of a CARICOM Commission”.

He told the forum that was attended by UWI Vice Chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles, the former Jamaica prime minister Bruce Golding, as well as Ambassador Dr Richard Bernal, the UWI provice chancellor for global affairs, that there has been “some misunderstanding of what was intended there”.

“In terms of my own

understanding of what was intended, apart from other things that needed to be done, was to introduce a feature that would improve the chance of better implementation.

“But let me say too that it has been my own personal view, and I had shocked some people by saying so in the past, that we had better be happy that many of the decisions that have not been implemented, we had better be happy that they were in fact not implemented.

“Because to my mind the decisions that have been made over the years had lacked what I called tests of financial feasibility, the tests of political feasibility, the tests of technical feasibility, tests of administrative feasibility”, He said it is a “tall order to be fulfilled and I believe if we had tried vigorously over the years to subject decisions to these tests or have decisions being arrived at to satisfy these tests, you probably would have had fewer decisions to be implemented, but then the implementation would have had a better chance”.

The forum here was discussing the report of the 17-member Commission, chaired by Golding that reviewed the island’s relations within CARICOM and the wider Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) grouping.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who tabled the report in the Jamaica Parliament earlier this month, said the review was not intended to seek an exit from CARICOM and from various regional arrangements, such as the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of goods, services, skills and labour across the Community.

But he said it was intended to undertake a full review of the structure, procedures and practices that

have not worked effectively in the national and regional interest.The Commission was charged with evaluating the effects of Jamaica’s membership in CARICOM, on the country’s economic growth and development, with particular reference to trade in goods and services, investment, international competitiveness and job creation.The report includes 33 recommendations, and has been presented against the background of the establishment of CARICOM in 1973, which involved a communal vision of Caribbean integration, as well as the Revision of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 2001, intended to establish the CSME. Rainford in his presentation to the audience, including those in the region and the wider Caribbean, who were following the forum on the UWI website, spoke also of what he felt was the intention of the CARICOM Commission.

“I have had occasions to say and I think both the West Indian Commission “Time for Action” and other subsequent exercises have noted that in the case of our CARICOM integration movement, the political involvement is intermittent.

“Ministers and heads of government come to periodic meetings then go back to their national spaces to engage with their national interests, national perspectives and the rest is left to the administrative and technocratic personnel to go forward.

“To my mind what has been absent is a continuous political presence, not an intermittent …at the regional level, that would speak to the regional interests and pursue the regional interests at all times, and that to my mind would have helped the implementation process”.

Rainford, who took over the secretary general position from Barbadian Dr. Kurleigh

The Baccoo Speaks These are trying times.

People are trying to improve their economic conditions by undertaking some business activities.

However, there are still people who wait until the business gets going to attack and deprive the budding business of whatever money there is.

On this occasion the attacker would be someone from the neighbourhood and he would be identified. The end result would be

shocking and painful. ** The police are reporting an increase in road accidents and this is due to the continued recklessness of

drivers. The police would find another link to the stolen car racket because one of the crashed vehicles would be a stolen car. ** A quarrel over property would turn violent. One of the parties would insist that he is the rightful owner but the records would show otherwise.

The matter would go to court but this individual would not take kindly to the decision.

King in 1983 at the 10th anniversary summit in Trinidad, told the audience that the political presence would have enabled “to engage in continuous political interface with the member states in a way that the administrative and technical personnel cannot.

“We cannot minimise the role for political persuasion.

These creatures whom we called politicians, we criticise from time to time, they are critical both at national and regional levels,” he said, recalling an instance when during a meeting, “a political insertion on certain critical issues at the right time and in the right mode” helped bring about a solution to a “naughty issue”.

Rainford said on the question of supernationality versus intergovernmentalism “I think it is clear to us that for the most part the promise of the future has to go forward on the basis of inter-governmentalism, but much more streamlined.

He said he strongly believes that the Trinidadbased Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which was established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy

Council as the region’s final court, “is one of the promising institutions of the future, even if it is not used as much as it is because its determinations are authoritative…”

He admitted to being a “little nervous” as to whether the decisions of the CCJ would in fact be respected in the region.

But he did mention two cases, including the CCJ landmark decision involving the Jamaican national Shanique Myrie, who successfully claimed damages against Barbados after she said she was treated unfairly when she arrived at the Grantley Adams Airport in March 2011.

“I think it was very very important for the Community that that case came to the CCJ (and) the CCJ deliberated and handed down a decision,” he said, noting even then the “long delay” by Bridgetown to honour the damages.

He said the other case involved Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana and the implementation of the Common External Tariff (CET) regarding the importation of cement and the role played by the Guyana-based

Former Caricom Secretary General, Roderick Rainford CARICOM Secretariat.

“The decision was taken to suspend (CET) and allow Guyana to import from extraregional sources and there came a point when Trinidad indicated that they were now ready and enable to supply and the suspension should be removed.

“Guyana baulked and the matter went to the CCJ and I was very nervous that if the CCJ decided against Guyana, would Guyana observe the decision, and I was greatly relieved I must say, when Guyana respected the decision of the CCJ on that matter.”

He said the more of these cases coming before the CCJ, “the more you build up the atmosphere where you have an authoritative regional institution that will make a difference to enforcing the rights and obligations under the CCJ, “Rainford said.

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Sunday February 18, 2018

A strange kind of justice

By Michael Jordan I’ve told you some strange stories before, and now I’ll tell you about a case in which a suspected killer and his son both dropped dead, within a five-year span, without anyone laying a finger on them.

And if you’re brushing this off as mere coincidence, let me tell you that one of these men actually drew his last breath on the victim’s death anniversary, and around the same hour that this victim’s body was found.

Justice from a higher power? Death by guilty conscience? I just don’t know, so I’ll just lay out the facts and let you judge.

The victim in this case was a harmless, likeable, elderly woman named Rajkumarie Mahadeo. If you’ve been following my cases, then you may remember her.

Seventy-eight-year-old Mrs. Mahadeo had had her fair share of tragedy. Her husband, Mohabir Mahadeo, was murdered during preelections violence in 1973; her 18-year-old grandson, Trevor Fung, was slain by robbers on February 14, 2004.

But she managed to successfully raise her family, and they, in turn, took every chance to show their appreciation for her sacrifices.

In December 2009, Mrs. Mahadeo received the news that one of her daughters was coming from overseas for the Christmas holidays.

The daughter promised that she would take Mrs. Mahadeo to the US for a vacation. This would be her first

trip to America, and the elderly woman was excited.

“She was like a young kid, all so excited and was sharing the good news,” Devi Fung, one of her daughters, recalled. “Her only concern was who will take care of her beloved cows.”

Rajkumarie Mahadeo lived alone at Lusignan, and was in the habit of rising early to tend to her cows. At around 05:45 hrs on Christmas Eve Day of 2009, Mrs. Mahadeo’s son, who lived nearby, responded to a call from a resident. That call caused him to hurry over to his mother’s house.

There, he found Rajkumarie Mahadeo lying lifeless on the parapet outside her yard. She was still wearing two gold rings and gold earrings, while her two silver bangles were found n e a r b y. T h e s o n r e p o r t edly observed blood in a n e arby pasture where Mahadeo tended to her cows. One of the animals was found entangled in a rope, and a neighbour reportedly suggested that this cow had kicked the elderly woman while she was tending to it.

But not for one minute did the family believe this suggestion.

One grandson who was at the scene saw Mrs. Mahadeo’s silver bangle and slippers on the road, and told the policemen that to him, this indicated that his grandmother and someone had struggled.

A post mortem eventually confirmed the family’s suspicions.

Someone had strangled Rajkumarie

Mahadeo.

But the killer or killers had made no attempt to steal anything. The motive, Mahadeo’s relatives believed then, and still firmly believe, was one of envy and spite.

And it all may have stemmed from an old grievance, when Mrs. Mahadeo provided information on a theft that was committed by a Lusignan resident.

That information led to the resident being jailed, and Mrs. Mahadeo’s relatives believe that the convicted man’s brother, and other family members, harboured a grudge.

According to some of her relatives, the elderly woman had confided that someone in the community was in the habit of stoning her house.

And during a visit a few days before her death, she had told those relatives that a man in the neighbourhood had threatened her life.

They also alleged that during Mrs. Mahadeo’s wake, a resident, whose brother was a ‘junkie,’ told them that his ‘junkie’ sibling had confessed that the man with whom Mahadeo had the dispute had given him rum and money to buy drugs.

This was reportedly given as payment for the ‘junkie’ to threaten Mrs. Mahadeo.

“He (the brother) told us he warned his brother not to go by our mother again,” one of Mahadeo’s daughters said.

“He told us that if he found out that his brother had anything to do with our mother’s death; he would not have anything to do with him again.”

On the day of Mrs. Mahadeo’s funeral, police detained an individual from the family with whom the victim had a dispute. They also arrested the ‘junkie’ who was allegedly paid to harass Mrs. Mahadeo.

Devi Fung said that it was then that “hell broke loose.”

“Our neighbour’s sons went wild, stoning my mother house and threatening to take us down one by one before we left the country.

We were verbally abused by one of the sons in the presence of the police at Vigilance Station.”

But in less than six hours, the first man was reportedly released, while the ‘junkie’ was released after 72 hours.

Mrs. Mahadeo’s relatives allege that it was then that they found out that the son of the man allegedly behind her harassment had considerable influence with the investigators.

“The police said they never had chance to question him. Half an hour later, some big one called and instructed that he be released,” one relative claimed.

And according to this relative, a senior police official from Georgetown had reassured that a report on the case was with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), but an official from the DPP’s office refuted this.

The relative said he again contacted the senior police official, who promised to get back to him, but never did.

Frustrated at the apparent indifference by investigators, Rajkumarie Mahadeo’s relatives posted a reward for information about her death.

“There were a few calls that led to a dead end. The police never actually followed on any of the information given to them. They said the people were only out to get the reward money,” Devi Fung said.

If those men did kill Rajkumarie Mahadeo, it appears that this crime weighed on their consciences and loosened one man’s tongue.

It is alleged that in 2013, a relative of Mahadeo’s overheard the ‘junkie,’ while under the influence of alcohol, admit to killing Mrs. Mahadeo.

The addict is said to have also claimed that the man who was detained with him had acted as a lookout while the crime was being committed.

This information was reportedly passed on to the police, who said that the man had made the claim while he was drunk and “let it go at that”.

But a few months after Mrs. Mahadeo’s death, the number one suspect reportedly “began talking to himself” and eventually dropped dead in a rum shop. It didn’t end there.

“Five years later, Christmas Eve morning of 2014, around the same time that my mother was supposed to have been killed, I found out that the oldest son of the number one suspect died suddenly,” Mahadeo’s daughter, Devi Fung said.

“I never really knew how much connections this fam-

ily had, and how that may have influenced or hindered the investigation into my mother’s death. In fact, I know it did.

In Guyana, it is not about justice, it is who you know and how much bribe you are willing to give.

This is how the justice system works in Guyana. It is all about who you know.”

Devi Fung says she has “mixed feelings” about the strange fate of the suspect and his son .“How do we feel about what happened to the two suspects after our mom passed away?“I really don’t know how to answer that, I personally have mixed feelings. Someone took their two hands and choked the life out of our mother. Who, we don’t know for sure.

“I know the now deceased suspect had paid the junkie to torment and threaten her. Would he, out of envy, also go further to get her killed after he found out she was going on a vacation? Was he that evil?

I do not have the answer. Only God knows the truth. With the death of his oldest son on Christmas Eve morning, five years later, same day as my mom, only not by murder, I don’t know what to think.

“Why not another day?

Why Christmas Eve morning?

I knew this young man as a baby, and the entire family, and even though they did not show us any compassion while we were grieving from the loss of our mother, my heart went out to them.

“I felt the pain his entire family was going through, especially his mother and children. At least they know he died a natural death.

“Every time we think of our mother and the way she died, we know she did not deserve to die that way and have been trying to get answers, so we just can’t help asking: Is the universe trying to send us a message or is it a coincidence? We will never know.”

If you have any further information on this or any other case, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office. We can also be reached on telephone numbers 22-58458, 2258465, 22-58473 or 2258491. You need not disclose your identity.

You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s mjdragon@hotmail.com

Sunday February 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

The PPP was helpful in stopping another Guyanese idiocy I am still sickened at what the PPP became after the death of Cheddi Jagan. I hated what the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabals did to my country, and hope the PPP never rule again.

But as a citizen of Guyana that despairs of what is its essential ontology, I acknowledge that the PPP has helped in stopping another asininity from becoming embedded in this sad, yet comical nation.

Let me quote something relevant to the main argument of this column.

Here is an extract from an email I received last December, and the sender said I am free to use his name.

“Bank s d e m a n d t h a t you provide a proof of address on the envelope. If you think that’s bad, I had an experience at the Anna Regina Branch of GBTI, where I had to present a proof of address to close one of my accounts. So there, I presented one of their bank statements sent to me, it wasn’t even opened.

It was shocking to be told

that they don’t accept mails sent from the said bank as proof of address.

Here was where is almost lost it, in my opinion a mail sent from my bank to you should be the best proof of address, since I’m sure it was no bogus document etc.

The teller was holding out on this, and I told her that I have no other proof of address. She eventually sought advice from her supervisor who also insisted the same thing. Finally, after a number of calls, they accepted their bank statement as proof of address…. These are a few of experiences I have that really not augurs well for our country’s development.

My name is Jose Ferreira.”

This is what this country has become; a land of asininities. This email is just one of hundreds I receive each year depicting the stupid country we live in.

These idiocies have become part of life in Guyana and we accept them. It never occurs to the sad humans in

this land that if just for once we raise our voice in defence of our liberty and dignity, Guyana might join the modern world.

My daughter at the moment has a quote on the fridge door and I would like to reproduce it here. Since it is in the kitchen, my wife and I stare at it all the time Interestingly, it is from a movie actor, Michael J. Fox. He wrote; “One’s dignity may be assaulted, vandalized, and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered.”

Guyanese have surrendered their dignity a long time ago. Even slaves rebelled to save their dignity, but modern days Guyanese are happy to be enslaved.

It was the PPP that first informed the nation that insurance applicants have told the PPP that they were being asked to state their political affiliation.

Two insurance companies have replied and have told the media that their com-

panies are not asking applicants for their political affiliation, because the anti-money laundering verification form that customers have to fill out does not state anything about political party. Indeed the form does not ask for support for or membership of political party.

But that is not the point.

The point is the officer tending to you can ask for that and who says the insurance companies will stop them from doing so.

A situation is going on for years now with the same antimoney laundering document at all financial houses, including all banks, in relation to proof of address.

The anti-money laundering form requires proof of address. There is nothing on that form that stipulates that

proof of address must be an envelope with a post office stamp.

I refer to my column of October 14, 2017 captioned.

“Bank of Guyana about to stop a Guyanese stupidity.”

Here is what I wrote; “Mr. Lall said the central bank has not instructed commercial banks to demand envelopes.

That is a thing of the banks’ own making.

He explained all the central bank did was to lay down the guidelines for the commercial banks to follow, and in those guidelines there is no mention of envelope.

He informed me that the Bank of Guyana is aware of the envelope controversy and is in discussion with the commercial banks about adhering to the AML while making banking customer

Frederick Kissoon friendly. He said from what the bank knows the envelope request seems to be a problem.”

It is interesting to note that the banks are still asking for envelopes with post office stamps and persons allow this assault on their d i g n i t y. O n e h o p e s t h e PPP’s exposure will remove another silly aspect of life in Guyana.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 18, 2018

ICJ is Guyana’s last chance to keep our borders sacrosanct With unholy glee, the minority People’s Progressive Party (PPP) announced that it has filed a lawsuit demanding that the US$18 million signing bonus Guyana received from ExxonMobil be deposited into the national Consolidated Fund.

The suit is mostly directed at Finance Minister, Winston Jordan and the Cabinet, and bears some similarity to one filed by the local chapter of Transparency International.

While Guyana’s laws generally compel authorities to put state revenues into the Consolidated Fund, Minister Jordan and his colleagues were at pains to explain that the money was deliberately set aside to fund the cadre of highly accomplished Attorneys-at-Law and Researchers who will be hired to work on the lifeline of Guyana, the crucial Guyana-Venezuela border case at International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the

Netherlands.

This suit is obviously another gambit by the PPP to disrupt the APNU+AFC’s programmes that bring betterment to the nation’s peoples.

Take note of the fact that it was only in January that the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, announced his decision to send the case to the ICJ for a once and for all settlement, instead of depending on the Good Offices process that had been dragging on for 51 years with no end in sight.

The PPP’s challenge, as usual, is about money and control of it. It also comes in the wake of a rather startling confession by Opposition Leader (and former President) Bharrat Jagdeo.

He had the gumption to tell the nation that while he sat at the helm of this nation, he had given serious consideration to satisfying (appeasing really) Venezuela’s

bullyism by giving to this aggressive, greedy neighbour a portion of our maritime space.

Guyana was truly blessed when Guyanese, sufficiently disgusted by Jagdeo and his rag tag band of politicos, voted that party out in 2015.

We could no longer trust them to safeguard this nation, not our security, not our economy, and definitely not our ability to benefit from our God-given wealth resources.

We got tired of our own moaning and groaning about the PPP government’s inability to tap these resources, and now they give us good reason to believe that they were going to cave under Venezuelan pressure and put all of the Essequibo in serious jeopardy.

Jagdeo continues to smile and extol his patriotic virtues every time he holds a press conference, but how blind could he be to fail to see the people’s disgust? Is he even

… We cannot spare any expense aware that no other Head of State in Guyana’s history has ever considered, much less confessed to planning a giveaway of Guyana’s patrimony, our national sovereignty?

Let’s never forget that the decision to approach the ICJ is meant to put an end to Venezuela’s bullying and intimidation.

It is to bring to a full stop their deliberate attempts to prevent Guyana from achieving any kind of economic upliftment.

One wonders what their real motives were. Was it their intention, like Saddam Hussein in Kuwait, to brazenly steal what the little neighbour has and control their resources? Guyana cannot be a threat to Venezuela in any way. Our nation, like Kuwait, is 100 times smaller, and Venezuela still has possession of the single largest untapped supply of petroleum in the world.

Most Guyanese consider the international boundary settlement of 1899 as perfect, full and final. To a man, we

wait with all 10 fingers and all 10 toes crossed in hope that the ICJ shares our fervency, and that, in their final and binding ruling, we will retain every blade of grass, every drop of water in the Essequibo, every curass and catfish, every barrel of oil, every ounce of gold, every ton of manganese and every single diamond.

It is within this context that we view the PPP’s recent move to the courts as downright treacherous. Their credibility is gone, so they should quit trying to assure anyone that their motives are patriotic.

The outcome of this boundary dispute determines our very being and it must be nonpartisan.

Minister Jordan has explained ad nauseum that the signing bonus from ExxonMobil was deposited since mid-2016 in a special interest-bearing account at the Bank of Guyana, and that it is earmarked to fund Guyana’s representation at the ICJ in the border dispute case.

If it is placed in the Fund, the US$18 million would have to be converted from American to Guyanese currency at one rate, then re-purchased at a much higher rate when the need for it arises.

There is a fairly large difference in the rates at which hard currencies are bought and sold.

And, for as long as the money remains in the special BOG account, it is accruing interest in hard currency that would give us even more funds to hire the brightest and most experienced attorneys and researchers from around the world.

We won’t have a second chance, since the ruling will be binding on all parties.

The clear conclusion on the PPP’s move to the courts is that they are looking to score cheap political points.

Jagdeo talks nationalism then does things that are patently unpatriotic. So, we’ll see him on the western benches of the Chambers after 2020.

Guyanese have had enough of him.

Sunday February 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

My column

President Granger calls out the corrupt police officers

P

resident David Granger’s address to the annual police officers’ conference was revealing.

It highlighted the fact that the head of state was unhappy with the level of corruption in the force. In venting his unhappiness, he apportioned blame from the top to the bottom.

A fish rots from the head, he said. He continued that when one sees corruption at the bottom, it is because it is encouraged from the top. He spoke of senior officers who actually support the corruption by the junior ranks.

Indeed the very police force has been trying to grapple with the corruption to the extent that it sacked a number of corrupt ranks. But at the same time, the very force would simply transfer or demote some of them caught in corrupt acts.

Of interest is the officer who was caught with a quantity of smuggled whisky. Had I been the person caught I would have been prosecuted and probably jailed by now.

This officer is still out there somewhere.

President Granger did not fail to notice this fact.From my point of view, the police are the people who make us sleep at nights without a worry in the world. On occasions they tracked down criminals with unprecedented haste, suggesting that they had a handle on some criminals.

Many who have had brushes with the law say that often, policemen are behind these crimes.

This was the case of the

shooting to death of a businessman in Kitty. It was not long after this businessman was shot that his assailant was arrested.

The policeman making the arrest was up to then the Runner-up Best Cop. This should have been another feather in his cap.

Then the news came that this very policeman was involved in the shooting death.

He was said to be a policeman who gave drugs to people on the road to sell for him.

How could this have happened even as the force was evaluating this policeman?

Someone in the hierarchy had to be aware and was probably a recipient of the spoils.

This is not the only case.

Criminals have accused policemen of running a ring of drug pushers. Some of them even became hired guns for drug lords and big businessmen. Policemen offering protection to business entities is nothing new.

But they have compromised themselves to the extent that if the businessman runs afoul of the law, prosecution is often flawed.

Now we have the dismantling of a ring of carjackers.

At least two ex-policemen are involved to the extent that one of them ha s b e e n charged with armed robbery.

This is a case of a man sworn to serve and to protect the people of Guyana, attacking the very people whom he swore to serve and to protect.

There is the saying that many who enter the force are criminal-minded individuals who merely infiltrate the sys-

tem to learn the skills and how to defeat the very system. Some have used their weapons as tools for hire and collected money from the robberies in which the weapon was used.

Some have actually smuggled weapons from the force and put them on the road, even as t h e i r c o l leagues are in an uphill battle to remove guns from the streets.

President Granger in that address on Thursday said that many of these policemen, through their corruption, caused the death of their colleagues.

He has reasons to deal with corruption in the force.

There was a report of a threat to kill him. A commission found that the investigation was at worst, inept. Senior police officers did not take the threat seriously.

In fact, the police commissioner was tainted.He was on leave but he called a subordinate to release one of the men fingered in the alleged threat.

The commission found that he did not act in the best interest of the force. He will leave the force under a cloud.

If Guyana had a tax system like, for example, the United States, many senior police officers would have been jailed.

They have posh homes that their salary could not buy.

That would suggest that they got money from other sources.

The situation is in the open but this will in no way end the corruption. A woman is charged with killing somebody on the roadway.

It took a long time to get her to court. When she goes, it transpires that evidence was removed from her files.

I am not going to talk to the low level of corruption of policemen demanding payment on the roads in lieu of prosecution for infractions. I am not going to talk about those who take money for no reason at all.

These are the ranks who operate roadblocks.

Guyana is a small society; everything is exposed some time or the other. People talk about calling the police after a robbery but failing to get a response.

Hours later, people would report that a police patrol was not far away. The conclusion is that the very police patrol was in on the robbery.

There was an attempted robbery on Republic Bank.

One of the perpetrators was killed and some others arrested. Among t h o s e a rrested were policemen. We hear that had a security

guard service not been on hand the robbers, had they succeeded, would have escaped, because the policemen would have diverted any chase.Mr. Granger may not be aware of all these things, but he knows that there is corruption.

The unfortunate thing is that there is no credible unit in the force to charge the corrupt among them. Indeed the members of such a unit would be seriously threatened, because one does not squeal on one’s colleagues.

In the United States, there have been reports of the investigative unit being targeted and members even killed.

The solution to the problem therefore lies with the wider society, with people who are privy to information.

Some of them may even feed the corruption.

As the saying goes, not every apple in the barrel is bad.

We have had cases of

Adam Harris A. A. people reporting substantial bribes being offered to them.

Last week, a man was sent to jail for offering money to a Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit officer.

We have had the case of a woman offering millions of dollars to a police rank to botch the prosecution of a relative who was accused of being involved in a murder.

But these few are overshadowed by the majority. President Granger knew what he was saying.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 18, 2018

History shows that Venezuela accepted the 1899 award History records that towards the end of the 19th century, Venezuela sought and obtained the assistance of the United States of America in advancing certain territorial claims against the United Kingdom in right of the then colony of British Guiana. Under a threat of war by the United States, the United Kingdom felt forced to agree with Venezuela, in what came to be known as the Treaty of Washington 1897, to submit the dispute to an international arbitral tribunal.

The tribunal itself consisted of five persons, two representing Venezuela, two representing the United Kingdom and a fifth selected by the other four.

Two senior judges were appointed on behalf of the United Kingdom. Venezuela elected to have as her two representatives on the tribunal, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and another leading member of that same court. The four members chose a distinguished Russian Jurist as the fifth member and the President of the Tribunal.

In keeping with Venezuela’s reliance on American support, Venezuela elected to be represented before the tribunal by a team of four American lawyers including Ex-American President, General Benjamin Harrison and ex-American Secretary of War, General Benjamin Tracy.

After fifty-four days (54) of oral arguments in Paris and the examination of the voluminous historical records, on October 3, 1899 the Tribunal unanimously issued an award laying down the boundary as successive generations of Guyanese and Venezuelans have known it.

The boundary as defined by the award was duly demarcated on the ground by a British/Venezuela Mixed Commission.

It was also delineated on a map signed by representatives of both sides and formally submitted to each government by the Mixed Commission under a joint report dated January 10, 1905.

It is significant that in the course of the demarcation, a suggestion by the Commissioners that due to certain

difficulties of terrain, the boundary in one place might be made to vary a little from that prescribed by the 1899 award, was categorically rejected by the Venezuelan government on the ground that it was necessary to give strict effect to the award. The Venezuelan view prevailed.

TERRITORY LOST Under the 1899 award, Guyana lost the mouths and lower reaches of the Amakura and the Barima as well as the upper reaches of the Cuyuni.

Notwithstanding these losses, we have consistently respected the award in accordance with article 13 of the Treaty of Washington, under which Venezuela and the United Kingdom engaged “to consider the result of the proceedings of the Tribunal of Arbitration as a full, perfect and final settlement of all the questions referred to the Arbitrators”. So too did Venezuela until comparatively recent times.

VENEZUELAACCEPTED THE AWARD Both Venezuela and Great Britain accepted the award of the tribunal and, in keeping

with it, a mixed boundary commission appointed jointly by the two countries, carried out a survey and demarcation, between 1901 and 1905, of the boundary as stipulated by the award with an adjustment based on the British GuianaBrazilian arbitration award.

The resulting boundary line was set out on a map signed by the boundary commissioners in Georgetown, British Guiana, on January 7, 1905. A separate agreement signed three days later by the commissioners stipulated: “That they regard this agreement as having a perfectly official character with respect to the acts and rights of both governments in the territory demarcated. . .” [Agreement Between the British and Venezuelan Boundary Commissioners with Regard to the Map of the Boundary, January 10, 1905] Twenty-six years later, in 1931, a boundary commission made up of representatives from Great Britain, Venezuela and Brazil made special astronomical, geodesical and topographical observations on Mount Roraima so as to fix the specific point where the boundaries of Brazil, Venezuela and British Guiana should meet. Diplomatic notes were exchanged among the three nations on October 7 and November 3, 1932, by which they expressed agreement on the specific location of the trijunction meeting point of the boundaries.

A concrete pyramid marker was soon after erected there.

The matter of the border was

then considered permanently settled.

It was clear from everything that they said and did that Venezuela had accepted the 1899 award as a final settlement of the border controversy. Even as late as 1941, the Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Esteban Gil Borges agreed that the frontier with British Guiana was well defined and was a closed issue.

Borges told the British Representative in Caracas that his government was definitely of the opinion that the Venezuela-British Guiana frontier was final and well defined and that anyone questioning the 1899 award, “had obviously never has access to the archives of his Ministry.’

MR. MALLET PREVOST A relatively junior lawyer on the Venezuelan team was a Mr. Mallet Prevost. Nearly fifty years after the award was given, and after all the other actors in the drama had died, Mallet Prevost left a posthumous note which sought to impugn the validity of the award, on the alleged ground that it was the result of a political deal between the United Kingdom and Russia.

Based on this note from the dead, in 1962 Venezuela raised the issue of the boundary between our two countries at the United Nations and drummed up a whole programme of hostility to Guyana as we moved forward to independence.

It is apposite to note that Mallet Prevost’s posthumous note was examined by schol-

ars, including American historian Clifton Child. Having consulted all the volumes in the British Foreign Office, the verbatim records of the Tribunal, as well as dispatches passing between London, Petrograd (St. Petersburg) and New York during the relevant period, the conclusion he drew from the study was that there was, “not a single document which by the wildest stretch of imagination could be considered to indicate a deal between Great Britain and Russia of the sort suspected by Mr. Mallet Prevost.”

In 1962 the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) which governed British Guiana at that time agreed to certain discussions being held on the subject between Venezuela and the United Kingdom. The government of the day entrusted the discussions to the British Government. The dialogue led to further discussions in later years.

In the light of the posture assumed by Venezuela, it was considered wise shortly before independence to agree to set up a Mixed Commission to examine the matter. The arrangement was set out in the Geneva Agreement which was signed by the three governments concerned namely Venezuela, the United Kingdom and Guyana on February 17, 1966.

Through the years Venezuela has steadfastly refused to produce material or argument in support of her contention that the 1899 Arbitral Award is null and void.

Sunday February 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Anaemia: Understanding “low blood count”

By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

A

naemia or better known as “low blood count” is a condition in which you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues.

It is a worldwide problem and affects approximately 25% of the world’s population.

Preschool aged children and women are more affected than the rest of the population. Having anaemia may make you feel tired and weak.

It can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe. In the severe form it is life-threatening.

WHATARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ANAEMIA? · Common symptoms are due to the reduced amount of oxygen in the body. These include tiredness, having little energy (lethargy), feeling faint and becoming easily breathless. · Less common symptoms include headaches, a ‘thumping heart’ (palpitations), altered taste, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus). · You may look pale. · Various other symptoms may develop, depending on

the underlying cause of the anaemia.

WHATARE THE CAUSES OFANAEMIA? There are many causes of anaemia. These include the following: · A lack of Iron or Iron deficiency anaemia. Iron is needed to form red blood cells which carry oxygen throughout the body. This is the most common cause of anaemia. · Lack of certain vitamins such as folic acid and vitamin B12 · Red blood cell problems, such as thalassaemia, sickle cell anaemia and other causes of haemolytic anaemia. In these conditions the red cells are fragile and break easily in the bloodstream. · Bone marrow problems and leukaemia are uncommon; however, they can cause anaemia. · Other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic kidney disease can also cause anaemia.

Today we will focus on Iron deficiency anaemia given how common it is. It is also the more easily reversible of the causes of anaemia.

WHAT CAUSES IRONDEFICIENCYANAEMIA? The following are some reasons that may lead to a lack of iron and result in iron-defi-

ciency anaemia: · Pregnancy or childhood growth spurts. These are times when iron is needed more than usual because the mother will need more iron to cater for her and the needs of the fetus. · Heavy menstrual periods.

The amount of iron that you eat may not be enough to replace the amount that you lose from heavy periods. · Poor absorption of iron.

This may occur with some gut (intestinal) diseases - for example, coeliac disease and Crohn’s disease. · Bleeding from the gut (intestines). Some conditions of the gut can bleed enough to cause anaemia.

You may not be aware of losing blood this way.

The bleeding may be slow or intermittent and you can pass blood out with your stools (faeces) without noticing. · If you eat a poor or restricted diet. Your diet may not contain enough iron.

HOW CAN I CHECK FORANAEMIA? A simple blood test can measure the amount of haemoglobin in your blood and count the number of red blood cells per millilitre (ml).

Although this test can confirm that you are anaemic, it

does not identify the cause of your anaemia.

Sometimes the underlying cause is obvious. For example, anaemia is common in pregnancy and in women who have heavy menstrual periods.

In these situations, no further tests may be needed and treatment with iron tablets may be advised. Whenever the cause of the anaemia is not clear, further testing to determine the cause is usually advised.

HOW ISANAEMIA TREATED? Some causes of anaemia are more serious than others and it is important to find the reason for anaemia. The treatment of anaemia depends on the underlying cause. For many people this may simply be iron tablets. For others it may be a course of vitamins or other more complex treatments. Patients with severe anaemia, may most likely require blood transfusion to improve.

WHAT ARE SOME FOODS THAT I CAN EAT TO HELP

MYANAEMIA? The amount of iron we need depends on our age and sex. The best sources of iron come from animal products mainly red meat. However, we get a good proportion of iron from non-animal sources too.

Iron sources include: · Liver and kidney: They contain high levels of iron (note that pregnant women should avoid liver). · Red meat and also poultry. · Fish and shellfish - for example sardines, crab, shrimps, tuna, mackerel, bass and trout. · Eggs. · Cereal and cereal products · Wholegrain bread · Nuts and seeds · Green leafy vegetables for example, broccoli, spin-

Dr. Zulfikar Bux ach, watercress and kale. · Beans and pulses for example, baked beans, peas, chickpeas, black-eyed beans and kidney beans. · Dried fruit - for example, raisins, prunes, currants and figs.

If you are constantly tired and weak, get checked for anaemia; it is the kind of tiredness that sleeping can’t fix.

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Kaieteur News

Dr. Mangal is a Guyanese who has spent 18 years in the industry, 13 of them with Chevron working on major oil and gas projects in the United States, West Africa and Asia.

He noted that contracts should always be reviewed as new information becomes available.

Dr. Jan Mangal has said that the PSA can be renegotiated.

MONDAY

SUNDAY SPECIAL Minister restricted to one audit per year Must give ExxonMobil three months written notice of intention to auditContract Under the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that ExxonMobil signed with the Government, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has the right to audit the company’s books.

However, that right was granted along with some very restricting measures.

These measures are outlined in Article 23 and Annex C of the contract. Article 23 is limited and defers to annex C of the contract. Annex C goes more in detail of the accounting and auditing measures.

Annex C has an “Audit and Inspection Rights of Government” clause.

That clause states that the Minister “shall have the right to audit upon ninety (90) days written notice, at his sole cost and expense, accounts and records of the Contractor, maintained hereunder with respect to each Calendar Year within two years from the end of each such year.”` The contract states that the Minister may audit, examine and verify, “at reasonable times during normal business hours but not more than once per Calendar Year, all charges and credits relating to the Contractor’s activities under the Agreement and all books of accounts, accounting entries, material records and inventories, vouchers, payrolls, invoices and any other documents., correspondence and records necessary to audit and verify the charges and credits.”

Sunday February 18, 2018

Minister of Natural Resources ,Raphael Trotman and Exxonmobil Vice President, Erik Oswald During the annual audit, the Minister has the option to review items previously subjected to audit in earlier y e a r s .

However, the contract stipulated that the review shall only be carried out in conjunction with the annual audit for any given year. This can happen “no sooner than twelve (12) months following the previous audit thereof; and only be for the purposes of verifying a matter arising in a later period, which relates to the earlier year(s) in question or as specified in Section 1.5 (b).”

The PSA also states that at the conclusion of each audit, ExxonMobil and the Government shall endeavour to settle outstanding matters and a written report will be issued to the Contractor within 60 days of the conclusion of such audit. “The re-

DR. Jan Mangal, Petroleum Advisor to President David Granger

port shall include all claims arising from such audit.

The Contractor shall reply to the report in writing as soon as possible and in any event not later than sixty (60) days following receipt of the report indicating acceptance or rejection of the audit claim and in the case of a rejection showing explanations thereof.”

It was further stipulated that should the Minister consider that reply requires further investigation on any item therein, the “Minister shall have the right to conduct further investigation in relation to such matter within sixty (60) days of its receipt of Contractor’s reply.”

If within 60 days of the Minister’s further investigation, the Parties are unable to agree to the disposition of the Minister’s audit claim, there shall be arbitration in accordance with the arbitration provisions of the contract.

Over two years now…

Guyana has almost zero capacity to deal with oil and gas –says Gov’t advisor on oil–contends that politicians only think elections to elections It has been more than two years since the coalition administration took up office and there are serious concerns about the lack of capacity to effectively understand the emerging oil and gas sector, especially as oil production is expected to start in another two years.

Dr. Jan Mangal, Petroleum Advisor to President David Granger, underscored the lack of capacity when he discussed the numerous issues circulating that Guyana should extend into oil refinery and should establish a national oil company.

“Guyana has almost zero capacity now for dealing with oil and gas,” Dr. Mangal said during a presentation at the

University of Guyana last Wednesday.

He stated that there are basic things that needed to get done, including the passage of the Petroleum Commission Bill, Sovereign Wealth Fund and a regulatory framework.

“We need technical people in the Ministry of Natural Resources, in GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority), Ministry of Finance and they are not appearing. It’s been over two years now go look at the Ministry of Natural Resources how many foreign technical experts are in there.

Zero,” Dr. Mangal concluded.

Dr. Mangal’s public statements have so far suggested that the 2% royalty in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between ExxonMobil and the Government is not the international norm.

He has also stated that ExxonMobil not paying taxes is also not the international n o r m . ”I am one person. I am one advisor. Guyana can’t rely on one person. Guyana needs to go and pull in a bunch of experts into Government. My intention when I started was to build a team up, but unfortunately resources were not available. We still aim to do that,” Dr. Mangal noted.

In the absence of experts, Dr. Mangal has warned that politicians should not be involved in the management of the oil and gas sector.

He stated that politicians think elections to elections.

He stated that if Guyana takes the path of civil servants managing the industry then changes in Government will not impact the oil industry.

“If politicians are managing your industry, then come election time the industry is going to come to a standstill and six months after the elections, there won’t be anyone working in the industry,” Mangal stated.

Weakness in PSA…Production timeline left to whims of Exxon Mobil– oil giant rakes in billions without producing a single barrel – Nigel Hinds The fact that Guyana will begin to reap benefits from royalties and profit from oil only after ExxonMobil beings production is reason enough to ensure that a production timeline is in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that the country signed with ExxonMobil.

This was noted recently

by Chartered Accountant, Nigel Hinds.

Hinds said that with each discovery of oil ExxonMobil makes offshore Guyana, the company reaps good financial benefits on the stock market.

He said that it is normal for a production timeline to be set in the PSA. “Otherwise, Exxon could continue at infinitum with their exploration of the 6.6 million acres making up the Stabroek Block.”

Hinds said that while Guyana will be desperate to start receiving royalties soonest; “ExxonMobil will have other variables to consider; thus the reason why a production timeline is normally in the PSA. But, of course our unflappable negotiators neglected to include a production timeline in the PSA. The production date seems to be solely at Exxon’s discretion.”

ExxonMobil has already announced that it is poised to begin production by 2020.

However, Hinds said that that date is not binding. He said that there have been many cases where oil companies postponed production due to the world market prices not being optimum at the time.

“The value for Exxon is primarily in the increase of their recoverable reserves and a PSA that favours them, unlike any other PSA ever recorded on this planet,” said Hinds.

Hinds also noted that ExxonMobil held its 2017 Q4 conference call on February 2, 2018 and Guyana was by far the country most mentioned by Jeff Woodbury, Vice President and Investor as he presented the 2017 Q4 update and took questions from

Chartered Accountant Nigel Hinds the analysts. “Exxon representative seemed euphoric during the conference call, about their reserves and prospects in Guyana.”

Exxon has made six discoveries in the deep-water offshore of Guyana. Associated recoverable reserves are now up to 3.2 billion Barrels of oil equivalent.

Exploration in Guyana’s offshore is in an early stage and it is much more probable than possible that Guyana’s recoverable oil reserve will exceed the Ten Billion mark.

Trotman waives Guyana’s sovereign immunity in PSA with ExxonMobil The 2016 Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed

by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, is far worse than the 1999 Agreement signed by former President Janet Jagan.

This was expressed by Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram, as he pointed out what he saw as another worrying provision in the 2016 agreement.

Ram has turned his attention to Article 26 of the contract titled “Sole Expert and A r b i t r a t i o n . ” Ram said that Article 26 has been subject to several changes. Those start with paragraph one which under the 1999 Agreement required the parties to make best efforts to settle disputes but which now only requires the parties to make “reasonable efforts”. This process can last for 60 days after which any party may proceed to have the dispute determined by arbitration.

Ram also noted that references in Article 26.2 of the 1999 Agreement dealing with “sole expert” has been amended and the new Article 26.2 mandatorily requires that “Any claim, demand, cause of action, dispute, or controversy arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its formation, existence, validity, enforceability, performance, termination, or alleged breach (“Dispute”) which cannot be settled amicably by negotiation shall be (Continued on page 33)

Sunday February 18, 2018

From page 32 resolved by arbitration.”

Ram said that his interpretation of the amendment is that the role of a sole expert has been downgraded in the 2016 Agreement in favour of arbitration. “This is certainly a more costly option than sole expert and one must wonder about the reason.” The process requires approaching the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) for arbitration before three arbitrators.

Further, Article 26 requires the Government “to irrevocably waive any claim to immunity for itself, its agencies, its enterprises, and any of its assets”.

According to New World Encyclopedia, immunity confers a status on a person or body that places them above the law and makes that person or body free from otherwise legal obligations such as liability for torts or damages, or prosecution under criminal law for criminal acts.

TUESDAY Marriott almost taken over

by Republic Bank last year -loan payments halved after renegotiations The Marriott Hotel in Kingston, controlled by Government, was on the verge of being taken over by Republic Bank Trinidad last year because of non-payments. But some tough negotiations ended up with the hotel being granted some legroom, Government officials have confirmed.

Opened in early 2015, the 197-room hotel ran into early problems of not making enough money to repay the almost US$27M-plus syndicated loan it took from Republic Bank.

In fact, without the adjoining annex being completed and converted into a casino

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Kaieteur News

Even the landscaping jobs were handled by them.

Atorney-at-Law ,Anil Nandlall to an independent operator, the hotel will never realize a profit, even if all the rooms are filled.

Last year, up to June, the payments due to Republic Bank was a staggering US$2.356M. Operating under tight checks and balances, the Coalition Government was unable to come up with the money in a hurry.

Marriott sources and Government officials over the weekend explained that it has managed half the payments after Republic Bank agreed for restructuring of the loans.

Payments semi-annually now have been brought down from US$1.750M every six months to US$899,000, or almost half.

By 2030, the Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), the special company which owns the facilities, has to repay the US$26.970M it owes to the bank.

Currently, four companies have reportedly shown serious interest in the hotel, in-

cluding the Princess Group at Providence, and one from Suriname.

With inspections of the annex completed by the interest groups, AHI is now moving to have an independent consultant conduct due diligence.

With the renegotiation, the hotel has managed to bring down its interest rates from a hefty nine percent to just over six percent. The administration has been facing pressure to give up the hotel.

In fact, the sale of the hotel is being seen as a means to help the beleaguered Guyana Sugar Corporation, which is badly in need to cash injection to operate its three estates that has remained open. The hotel was birthed under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration with promises of local jobs being created.

However, save for a few contracts for sand and other material, the jobs went mostly to the Shanghai Construction Group and its imported Chinese workers.

Another court case filed to put ExxonMobil US$18M signing bonus in Consolidated Fund Further litigation to force the transfer of the US$18M signing bonus into the consolidated fund has been brought against the APNU+AFC Government. An application to this effect has been filed in the name of Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall.

The proceedings were filed Monday and are fixed for hearing before the Chief Justice on the 13th of March.

The court document seen

by Kaieteur News notes that Nandlall is seeking a declaration from the court that the deposit of US$18M received from ExxonMobil as a Signature Bonus, pursuant to Clause 33 of the Petroleum Sharing Agreement into an account within the Bank of Guyana, designated in writing by the Minister of Finance and not in the Consolidated Fund, is contrary to and in violation of the spirit of Article 216 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Section 38 (i) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Chapter 73:02, Laws of Guyana and is accordingly, unconstitutional, unlawful and illegal.

Nandlall also wants an order directing the Minister of Finance to “forthwith” transfer and deposit into the Consolidated Fund, the said US$18M The grounds of the application are that Nandlall is the former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and that he is a Member of Parliament. It was noted that Nandlall’s parliamentary duties include “the scrutiny of actions and omissions of the Executive Government with a

Atorney-at-Law Christopher ram view to ensure that there is compliance with the Constitution and the laws of Guyana.

The court document stated that Article 216 of the Constitution provides “All revenues or other moneys raised or received by Guyana (not being revenues or other moneys that are payable, by or under an Act of Parliament, into some other fund established for any specific purpose or that may, by or under such an Act, be retained by the authority that received them for the purpose of defraying the expenses of that authority) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Fund”. And, Section 38 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Chapter 73:02, provides, “All public moneys raised or received by the Government shall be credited fully and promptly to the Consolidated Fund, except— moneys credited to an Extra budgetary Fund as stipulated in the enabling legislation establishing that fund; moneys credited to a Deposit Fund.”

Nandlall said that the US$18M fall within the category of “revenues or other monies” contemplated by Article 216 of the Constitution as well as “all public moneys” contemplated by Section 38 (1) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Chapter 73:02, and accordingly, must be credited fully and promptly pay into and form one Consolidated Fund.

WEDNESDAY

Marriott Hotel’s Loan payments were halved last year after renegotiations

Oil Contract reveals…

Guyana agrees to not go after ExxonMobil’s hidden financial records regarding operations here–Clause not found in Agreements of more than 15 countries ExxonMobil has been continuously criticised for burying some of its financial records in nations with strict nondisclosure laws. In fact, several countries have expended millions of dollars in the court system trying to

access such documents.

The frustration experienced in waiting years to access the entity’s records have forced some governments to insert into their Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), clauses which expressly state that all financial records should be available to the government and its auditing parties.

But in Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement, a most interesting turn of events has taken place.

Instead of securing access to all of ExxonMobil’s financial documents, regardless of location, the Government of Guyana agreed to relinquish all rights to go after documents in relation to operations here. In other words, the Government of Guyana has agreed to limit the scope of any audit it may pursue.

The specific clause which speaks to this arrangement is found in Annex C of the PSA which speaks to accounting procedures.

That section outlines the various guidelines the Government, specifically the Minister of Natural Resources must follow in carrying out audits on the company.

While the Minister must give the company three months notice before commencing the audit, Annex C states, “Nothing herein shall entitle the Minister or his auditors to have access to data and records which: I) are subject to statutory restrictions on disclosure or ii) do not relate to petroleum operations; or iii) are not customarily disclosed in auditing practice in the international petroleum industry…”

What has also turned out to be troubling to some local commentators is the fact that the aforementioned clause has not been found in the production sharing agreements of more than 15 countries.

These include but are not limited to Uganda, Indonesia, (Continued on page 34)

PAGE 34

From page 33 China, Tanzania, Angola, Papua New Guinea, Chad, Nigeria, Sudan, Yemen, South Sudan, Mozambique, Kenya and Chad. (To see some of the PSAs of these nations, follow this link: http:// www.oilnewskenya.com/production-sharing-agreementseast-africa/) Another ex-cop, six others held…More stolen cars and parts seized at Kuru Kururu Police appeared to have cracked another major carjacking ring in raids at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Tuesday, arresting an ex-cop and six others and seizing at least two cars and a truck laden with spares.

The ten-hour operation was carried out by ‘A’ Division ranks and concluded around 03.00 hrs Tuesday.

“The suspects are reportedly employed by an ex-policeman, who is in custody along with others assisting with the investigations,” a release stated.

The ranks seized two cars, and a Canter, which is registered to a Barr Street, Kitty resident. It was loaded with the shell of a silver Toyota Spacio and a quantity of vehicle parts.

A release said that vehicle and spares were “suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.”

Tuesday’s operation occurred just three days after police seized several stolen vehicle parts during raids at North Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara and Monument Hill, Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

A former policeman, a husband and wife and four

Kaieteur News

Sunday February 18, 2018

women were detained in that raid. Police believe that the vehicles were stolen during carjackings and stripped of their parts which are being sold.

The raid at North Vryheid’s Lust was carried out by ranks from the Major Crimes Investigation Unit.

They raided the home of a 29year-old taxi driver and his 25year-old wife.

They found several car mirrors—with engraved licence plate numbers—doors, lights, wipers and other vehicle parts for Toyota Allion, Spacio and Premio motor cars.

As a result, the couple was taken into custody after the husband provided police with conflicting stories as to why the suspected stolen vehicle parts were piled up at his residence.

An ex-policeman and four women were detained after police ranks in ‘A’ Division went to a property at Monument Hill, Kuru Kururu and conducted a search during which a quantity of vehicle parts and several vehicles suspected to be stolen or unlawfully obtained were found.

THURSDAY Pres. Granger says…

ExxonMobil contract back with Cabinet Amid growing unhappiness over the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between Government and U.S. oil giant, ExxonMobil, President David Granger Wednesday disclosed that the matter is engaging Cabinet.

The President was asked

by Kaieteur News, specifically, if Government is prepared to review the contract

Some of the stolen Vehicles based on public requests.

“These matters are before Cabinet and it depends on what determination the Cabinet arrives at,” the President responded. He further stated that the contract is an agreement between two parties and ‘these things’ have to be approached very carefully.

“There is no prospect at the present time that it is the

The cover page of the Contract and the signatories

intention of Cabinet to review it, but as I said, it is before Cabinet,” the President stated.

Since the PSA was made public in December last, there have been daily revelations in the media over clauses in the agreement that raise several burning questions relating to the offers ExxonMobil re-

ceived, including 2% royalties, zero taxes on oil production, uncapped tax concessions on imports and the limited powers of related institutions and government agencies to effectively oversee Exxon’s operations.

Social and political commentators have pointed to glaring flaws that led to the conclusion that Guyana got a poor, lopsided oil contract deal by international standards.

At the centre of the whirlwind to renegotiate the contract is Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman whose signature appears on the 2016 PSA on behalf of Government. Last week, Trotman told Kaieteur News that he takes his direction from Cabinet.

Carjacking network crumbling …more vehicles, bikes found; two arrested Police continue to make inroads into a massive carjacking network that appears to comprise gunmen, taxi drivers, bodywork repair operators and individuals with the ability to provide forged documents.

Working through the night on Tuesday, police ranks arrested two more persons and seized two vehicles and two motorcycles, during raids at Yarrowkabra,

Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

A release stated that acting on information, ranks commanded by a senior Officer proceeded to a location at Yarrowkabra and found a black Premio PMM 6979, which is suspected to be stolen.

Shortly after, the team went to another location in Yarrowkabra and arrested a 39 year-old taxi driver on whose premises two dirt bikes (a red and black Honda Tornado and a CRF Honda 150) suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained, were found.“As the search continues, a 22 year-old taxi driver of Chand Sand Road, Timehri, was apparently alerted of the police’s operation and quickly handed over to the police at Timehri, a beige Spacio motor car # PPP 82, which he alleged was given to him to work taxi since last Thursday by a named individual who is in police custody. He (taxi driver) is also arrested,” a release stated.

A police official said that at least 13 people are now in custody. The vehicles are all lodged at the Brickdam Police Station In a ten-hour operation at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden, a team from ‘A’ Division arrested an ex-policeman and six others and seized at least two cars and a truck laden (Continued on page 35)

Sunday February 18, 2018

President David Granger

From page 34 with spares.

Those detained in that raid are reportedly employed by the detained ex-policeman.

The Canter that the police seized was loaded with the shell of a silver Toyota Spacio and a quantity of vehicle parts. A release said that a Barr Street, Kitty resident owns the truck.

According to a senior police official, several people have come forward in the hope of identifying their stolen vehicles.

Second NBS wrongful dismissal lawsuit… Court extends deadline for filing of documents Lawyers engaged in the matter in which former New Building Society (NBS) manager, Kent Vincent, is suing the institution for wrongful dismissal, have been granted additional time to present documents on which the respective parties will rely during the trial.This decision was made during an in-chamber hearing before Chief Justice (Ag) Roxane George, at the High Court Wednesday.

NBS was granted extra time to file the documents in light of the recent retention of Attorney–at-law Devindra Kissoon. NBS was given a February 22 deadline to file the documents. The matter is scheduled to come up again on March 22 Vincent a former NBS Manager had filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the financial institution.

Vincent had faced charges of conspiracy to defraud the NBS of $69M, back in 2007.

He had been charged along with former NBS Chief Executive Officer, Maurice Arjoon, and fellow Manager, Kissoon Baldeo.

The men faced a trial in the Magistrates’ Court. The matter was later dismissed for lack of evidence. Citing irreparable harm from the negative publicity and loss of salaries and benefits, Arjoon and Vincent moved to the High Court to seek redress.

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Kaieteur News

In separate lawsuits, both the former CEO and the Manager each claimed $550 million worth in damages from NBS for the wrongful dismissal.

Arjoon was recently granted judgment by the Court to the tune of some $79 million, six years after the case was initially filed.

Kent Vincent, who is now the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Food for the Poor (Guyana), has been anticipating his day in court.

FRIDAY Opposition prepared to meet Govt. on ExxonMobil contract flaws The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said Thursday it is prepared to discuss the flaws of ExxonMobil Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) should Cabinet decide to move forward with renegotiating the deal through a bipartisan approach.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, made the disclosure at his weekly press conference, a day after President David Granger announced that the 2016 PSA has engaged Cabinet.

“Assuming they review this contract and they have an approach on it and they want to approach it in a bipartisan manner, we would be willing to talk with [Government],” said Jagdeo.

The Opposition Leader was not willing to state support for renegotiating the contract citing political implications of Government accusing the PPP of being against foreign investors.

He said that two approaches can be taken once Government decides to renegotiate the contract. One is for an amicable route where both parties agree to renegotiate.

The other approach ends in a dispute if one party does not agree to come back to the table.“In this circumstance, I believe an amicable approach is the best suited one,” Jagdeo noted.He stated that ExxonMobil has to do what is

best for its shareholders, while the Government’s team must seek the best for Guyanese.

Jagdeo stated that the government should first agree that there are elements of the contract that they could have done better on by admitting also that they did a bad job negotiating the contract.

According to Jagdeo, the problem is that Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has repeatedly made ‘asinine defences’ of the contract although Government incompetently sat at the table and was not prepared enough to negotiate the contract.He repeated a previously held view that expertise was lacking on Guyana’s side of the negotiating table, suggesting that Politicians should not be involved in the future management of the oil and gas sector.

“That is why we called for a nonpartisan approach. Take all the politicians out of the Petroleum Commission. Let’s be arm length. The Petroleum Commission should be purely technically managed and that would be good for long term relations between the country and ExxonMobil,” Jagdeo noted. He also noted that the PPP would support a Motion brought to the National Assembly which seeks to have the contract renegotiated.

You can’t cure corruption by ignoring it – President Granger tells Police Conference “Corruption like a malignant cancer cannot be cured by being ignored.” This was the firm declaration of President David Granger Thursday

as he delivered piercing remarks at the 2018 Police Officers Conference at the Eve Leary Police Officers Mess.

The Head of State wasted no time in amplifying the important role of the Police Force even as he underscored his ‘no tolerance’ stance against corruption within its realm. He, moreover, made it clear to his attentive audience of police ranks of various levels that “if corruption is concealed it will continue…”

The Head of State emphasised Thursday that minuscule action will not suffice in addressing the issue of corruption in the Police Force. As such the President assertively intoned that transferring corrupt officers from one branch to another is certainly not the answer to addressing such challenges within the Force.

The Police Force has overtime had cause to discipline a number of its ranks that have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Among the recent cases is that of Head of the Special Weapons and Tactic [SWAT] Unit, Deputy Superintendent Motie Dookie, who has since been demoted after he became the subject of an alcohol smuggling investigation.

President Granger in considering how the Force has dealt with corrupt officers in the past, underscored that cases of corruption cannot merely be handled by, “posting him from one division to another or demoting him from one rank to another… [this] cannot guarantee that he will change his wicked ways.”

The President asserted Thursday that even “the best

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo efforts of the Office of Professional Responsibility and of the Police Complaints Authority could be undermined by corrupt senior officers who condone the misconduct of their subordinates. They do the Force no good but rather damage the careers and worst yet endanger the lives of other police [ranks] and jeopardise public security,” stressed President Granger.

No penalties exist if ExxonMobil shirks Local Content responsibilities Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with US oil giant, ExxonMobil, has been criticised for having limited or rather, ‘mediocre” provisions in place for local content. But even with the inadequate provisions in

place, no penalties exist if ExxonMobil turns out to be negligent in this regard.

On the other hand, there are several nations which after experiencing the effects of such disregard by oil operators, opted to include in future PSAs, inescapable penalties. Uganda is just one of the many countries in this regard.Uganda’s move towards penalties was due to the findings and recommendations of the Global Witness in relation to PSAs there. The Global Witness is an international body that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide.

According to the body, local content obligations in (Continued on page 36)

Remanded: Shawn Archibald (Left) and Ex policeman Timothy Waldron (right)

PAGE 36

From page 35 contracts and laws seek to ensure that companies employ nationals, train local staff and procure local services. It notes that the intention is that local industries benefit directly from the oil sector and that local people develop the skills to manage the oil sector in future.

The Global Witness noted however, that none of the contracts it examined prior to 2008 for Uganda, set benchmarks or penalties for failure to comply with the local content obligations. The International body noted that other countries have included stricter provisions for the procurement of local goods and services in their PSAs and required that they are verified by the relevant government agencies.

After revealing this, the government of Uganda made swift moves to include penalties in PSAs for failure to comply with local content provisions.

SATURDAY Exposure of lopsided oil contract by locals really eye-opening - TIGI President of the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc.,(TIGI) Dr. Troy Thomas is of the opinion that the level of scrutiny given to the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that Guyana signed with ExxonMobil is indeed a major benefit to the nation.

The transparency advocate said that the benefits highlight the importance of transparency as “if the contract was not made public, no one would have been given the opportunity to scrutinize it.”

Dr. Thomas said that TIGI is proud of its unwavering advocacy for the contract to be made public and is happy that the government took heed.

He opined that the publication of the contract has not erased the wrong done in withholding the contract in the first place, but is a step in the right direction.

Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Guyana and Brazil delegations meeting at State House on February the 9

“It took a long time (for the contract to be made public). The contract was already finalized by the time we got to see it. And there is still another appendix that needs to be published (the Bridging Deed) but at least it is out and that is important so it can be scrutinized, and locals are doing a fine job,” Dr. Thomas asserted.

He said that the level of scrutiny offered, and the details that have been analyzed and made public, prove that “locals have more expertise than we are given credit for.”

Dr. Thomas said that TIGI would be happy if the Government can continue in the right direction of transparency and make all other contracts public. He said if others are made public, they too can be scrutinized and corrections can be made.

Another ex-cop faces court for carjacking -under probe for vehicle theft, fraud

From the evidence, it appears as though a number of former police ranks are part of the recently dismantled carjacking ring.

Yet another ex-cop was charged on Friday for a carjacking he allegedly committed in 2015.

Jason Harry, 26, of 458 Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Particulars of the charge against him allege that on May 26, 2015, at D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown, while armed with a gun, he robbed Phillip King of a Toyota Premio motorcar valued $3.2M, a phone valued $60,000, a pair of slippers and a cologne—all totaling $3.3M. Harry pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison until March 3, when the matter will be called for reports.

During a bail petition for Harry, Attorney-at-Law Melvin Duke told the court that police has no case against his client in the matter that is three years old.

According to the lawyer, at the time of the alleged offence, his client was a member of the Guyana Police Force.

In explaining why Harry was in possession of the suspected stolen motorcars and parts, the lawyer said that his client’s father, who is now deceased, owned a welding shop.

Objecting to bail for the robbery accused was Police Prosecutor Richard Harris, who pointed out that a gun was used to commit the robbery. The prosecutor said that Harry was positively identified by the virtual complainant. Further advancing his objections to bail, the police prosecutor revealed that Harry

is currently being investigated for car theft and fraud, and there is a likelihood of other charges being brought against him.

According to Prosecutor Harris, at the time of his arrest, Harry could not provide police ranks with a reasonable explanation as to why the suspected stolen items were in his custody.

Moreover, the prosecutor stressed that it was Harry along with others who robbed the victim of his belongings.

Harry, Prosecutor Harris added, should not be released on bail based on the possibility that he could tamper with witnesses. These objections were upheld by Magistrate Daly.

GGMC boss refuses to speak to K/News on any matter Head of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Newell Dennison is refusing to talk to Kaieteur News on any matter. He made this clear yesterday during a brief telephone conversation.

The public official did not offer a reason as to why he does not want to speak to this newspaper.

When contacted, Dennison was greeted professionally, and was referred to an article published in Thursday’s edition of the Kaieteur News. The article carried the headline, “GGMC shuns statutory responsibility for best interest of local miners.”

Dennison told the reporter, “I do not know what you are speaking about.”

When the reporter attempted to offer Dennison a synopsis of the referenced article, he asserted, “Do not explain it to me, because I ain’t got any comment on whatever it is.” This newspaper

wanted to speak to Dennison on several issues, these include the matters highlighted in the published article as well as on the role he played in negotiation of the Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) that the Government of Guyana signed with ExxonMobil.

Govt. not forthcoming on border security issues – Opposition Leader The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has accused the coalition administration of not being forthcoming on border security issues.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that the party supports the Government on security and the integrity of the borders.

“I have been President of Guyana for over 12 years and so I am acutely aware of the need for confidentiality in the conduct of border affairs, but I do believe that any Government has to balance the need for confidentiality with the necessity of keeping our public informed,” Jagdeo noted.

In recent months, there have been concerns expressed by citizens and miners living in border communities with represent to foreign gangs operating in the mining districts. The military has debunked these claims.

Jagdeo said that there is need for the public to be informed, particularly when there are enhanced threats.

“I believe that there is an active threat to our territorial integrity and that our Government is not forthcoming enough in addressing that threat and informing the public of the nature of the threat, but it is an enhanced threat and I do not say these words lightly, because I have been president for several years.”

Jagdeo assured that the Government has the PPP’s full support in responding to the threat.

“This doesn’t belong to APNU [A Partnership for National Unity] or to the coalition Government alone...it is the people of this country who would be called upon to defend it,” Jagdeo noted.

Commissioner of GGMC, Newell Dennison

Kaieteur News

THE

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Sunday February 18, 2018

STORY WITHIN THE

Systems, choices and a crackdown on carjacking rings

By Leonard Gildarie

C

all me a cynic or old fashion or whatever. I hate waste. The people of Guyana experienced some tough times. We have managed to build a resilience that has placed us right ahead of the rest of the Caribbean.

The 80s, for some of the older folks, was a time of belt-tightening and lines for basic items, like oil. Guyana Stores and Resaul Maraj, next door to each other on Wa t e r S t r e e t , b e c a m e household names for the lines.

We have done well in slowly building our infrastructure, albeit not as fast as we like. We have experienced corruption and incompetent engineers, and poorly worded local contracts that left us little recourse in penalizing contractors.

Year after year, we hear complaints of poor work, yet the contractors are being blamed. The engineers have to be named and shamed, simple.

This past week, the Ministry of Education announced that it has commenced training of teachers in Region Three for the use of the Education Management Information System (EMIS). It was explained that the software is intended to improve information management and efficiency in schools.

The EMIS will enable teachers, and the Ministry of Education (MOE) policymakers to efficiently manage the education sector data and take effective measures to address key sector issues.

Addressing the opening of the workshop on Wednesday, Minister of Education Nicolette Henry said once there is valid data and information, changes can be made and support is given to implement policies that will transform the education systems. That transformation, she said can, in turn, create high-quality institutes of learning that will regain Guyana's international reputation of producing accomplished,

top-rated students.

Head of the Management Information Systems Unit (MIS), of the ministry, Indar Singh explained software features include enrolment information, attendance, grade book, report card, transcripts, end of year processing, class portal, teacher web pages, parent portal, teacher information, time-tabling, and reporting.

This is big news.

We now have a tool that tells us where the weaknesses are. I am hoping that it can tell which subjects are problematic for students.

Over the last two years, the administration conducted assessments to determine why students were doing poorly in a number of subjects.

A number of projects, as a result, were announced to fix the problems, including more teachers and extra lessons. The problem with that, I humbly submit, is whether we were able to sustain the momentum.

Data is important in determining our development.

Imagine for a second that the local NDC has $5M and for this particular year decided it was going to spend $4.5M to build a bridge that leads to five homes. Imagine that the community needed a market place that cost $4.8M that benefits all 3,000 residents. Which of the projects would take priority?

We have to conduct needs assessment and the findings are what nudge us to the right decisions. In order words, the use of data is what is required to take the decisions that are for the greater good for the country.

By extension, we can liken scenarios where Guyana is planning to go green but still sticks with its fuel-powered generators. What would determine whether we invest in a hydro as against wind turbines or natural gas-fired facilities?

Studies, which take into account reliability and costs, will have to be conducted.

It is how developed countries are doing things.

Japan, for instance, is dealing with a shortage of lands.

Leonard Gildarie Homes are now forced to be smaller and efficient.

Policy makers have to think carefully of where to expand roads, whether a bridge is needed in a certain area and the long term benefits.

By the same vein, the use of data would be helpful in fighting crime.

In recent days, we see police making a major dent in a carjacking ring.

Kaieteur News is reporting that it is believed that more than 100 cars are believed to have been hijacked from owners in the last few months. Shocking to say the least!

The police would have been receiving information.

The fact is, we are learning n o w, i s t h a t f o r m e r policemen were involved in a well-organised ring.

In our society which is so small, the theft of 100-plus cars has to be alarming. How the police managed to move so swiftly, in a number of sustained coordinated strikes, is commendable.

We a l l k n o w t h e importance of community policing.

The Soesdyke/Linden and Timehri area are dotted with many trails and hidden compounds.

We have to figure ways to work closely with our communities. People see things. People hear things.

But people will not talk if there is a suspicion that police are involved.

Surely somebody had to know what was happening there.

Do we have data that would tell us whether the highway is a hotspot for crime? If so, did the police increase patrols or move more resources to that area?

Our use of data to guide the policies that will develop this country has to be grounded in current, up-todate information.

We therefore have to ensure that our systems are upgraded, properly archived and retrieved in a manner that can be readily analysed.

We cannot argue that we don't know. There is tons of information of best practices out there.

Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Sod turned for $228M Finance Minister annex - to house Valuation Office, training room, gym

An architect’s impression of the new annex.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is set to construct a new multimillion-dollar annex at the site of the former sports club of the Guyana National Cooperative Bank at Winter Place and Croal Street in Georgetown.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, on Friday last, turned the sod at the location in the presence of Finance Secretary Dr. Hector Butts and contractor, Courtney Benn.

The annex which stands at a cost of approximately $228M will house the ministry’s training room, a sports complex, a gym and the Camp Street valuation office.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Jordan said the annex has always been a project he wanted to take on board.

Following his appointment as

Finance Minister, among his many plans was the modernisation of the ministry.

“This is a passion of mine because almost all my life, I worked at the Ministry of Finance, with short periods at the State Planning Secretariat.

I know the Ministry of Finance very well.”

According to Minister Jordan, the Finance Ministry should be the premier institution, and while his travels abroad have proven this to be true, the situation is not quite the same in Guyana. It was further explained that he decided to put in place the necessary human resources and systems to improve the conditions of the ministry.

The Minister said with these developments, the population at the Ministry has

grown beyond the building’s capacity and the building is somewhat unsafe structurally.

“You know it is unsafe, because we have added more features to the existing building and we have added more buildings within the yard. We have added more electrical equipment in the building and we have not changed the wiring.”

Minister Jordan said the construction of the annex is coming at an opportune time.

Echoing those sentiments, Finance Secretary, Dr. Hector Butts said the construction of the annex is most welcomed, since it is something that the ministry has been pursuing for some time.

The building is set to be completed by the end of this year.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan turns the sod for the new annex as Finance Secretary Hector Butts and Contractor Courtney Benn look on.

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Sunday February 18, 2018

Mathematician, Professor Ramkissoon, launches autobiography in Guyana

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imed at raising in terest in the STEM subject areas, Professor Emeritus Harold Ramkissoon’s autobiography titled ‘My Journey’ was recently launched here in Guyana. The two-day launch occurred at the Turkeyen and Tain campuses of the University of Guyana [UG] on February 14 and 16, 2018 respectively.

In brief remarks recently, Professor Ramkissoon stated that it is not often that a Mathematician publishes a biography. However, he revealed that he was led to do so because he wanted to motivate students, especially the poor from rural areas who are left behind in STEM education.

His biography was first launched in his homeland Trinidad last year.

Moreover, Guyana is the first country outside of his homeland where this book has been launched. But according to Professor Ramkissoon, in his opinion, Guyana is like his second home, where he has worked with Guyanese scientists for more than two decades.

The recent launch ceremonies were chaired by Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mr. Calvin Bernard at the Turkeyen Campus and

Mr. Phillip Da Silva at the Tain Campus respectively.

Among the notable attendees were UG’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education Mr. Marcel Hutson, students and teachers from several secondary schools and the Cyril Potter College of Education.

The dual events were cohosted by UG and the Ministry of Education. Moreover, in attendance were representatives of a number of schools, all of whom received autographed copies of Professor Ramkissoon’s publication.

Professor Ramkissoon, who currently holds the position of chair of the Caricom Science, Technology and Innovation Committee [CSTIC] and of the University of the West Indies [UWI], has authored and published five books and more than 85 papers. The CSTIC was set up

by Dr. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and Prime Minister responsible for Science, Technology and Innovation in CARICOM. Dr. Mitchell, who is also a mathematician, wrote the foreword of the book, which was read by Ms. Petal Punalall Jetoo, National Science Coor-

Residents of Orealla, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), are excited at the prospect of soon having their own community radio station.

During a visit to the district on Friday, Toshao David Henry noted that “having a radio station in Orealla is a brilliant decision made by the government since it will place Orealla on the national scene.”

Henry added that the station will ensure that residents are kept abreast with the events in the community and other parts of Guyana.

The Chief Captain further noted the Radio Orealla will be beneficial to the area because it will provide an opportunity for residents to showcase/advertise their products and services.

The radio station is to be

commissioned next month and has cost the government approximately $40M - it is 95 percent complete.

It will provide employment opportunity for youths in the area since all the journalists, radio announcers and other technical staff will be selected from the community for training, a Government statement said. Thus far seven persons have already been selected.

Coordinator for Government’s Regional Radio Project, Dr. Rovin Deodat, who was also part of the tour, explained that testing is currently ongoing to ensure that the radio station receives Voice of Guyana.

He said this will be followed by the further selection and training of persons to work in the facility.

The cover of the book dinator within the local Ministry of Education, and also a member of CSTIC. Dr. Dindyal Permaul, Principal of the Guyana School of Agriculture, shared a brief history on the Development of Science and Technology with the audience at the Tain Campus. At the launch ceremony too, Hutson pointed out the importance of Mathematics in developing critical thinking skills and outlined

some of the interventions being undertaken by the Ministry of Education to support curriculum delivery.

Meanwhile, in sharing warm greetings, Professor Ivelaw Griffith at the Turkeyen Campus emphasised the need for the Caribbean to recognise their heroes and stated that persons such as Dave Martins, Dr. Clive Thomas, Dr. Ulric Trotz and many others are

Ms. Adonica Chase receiving an autographed copy of the Autobiography for the Cyril Potter College of Education. examples of heroes not to be forgotten.

UG is at the moment holding a series of lectures during which such heroes are recognised for their sterling contribution at home and abroad.

Professor Ramkissoon was accompanied to the launch ceremonies by his wife and a few other family members. Shortly after the commencement of the ceremony at the Turkeyen

Campus, a minute of silence was observed in honour of the late Professor Lloyd Kunar, one of his colleagues, who is a Diaspora Guyanese and who passed away recently on an official visit to Guyana. Professor Kunar served as a member of the Science and Technology Policy working group that developed the Science and Technology Policy and Master Plan for Guyana in 2011.

Radio Orealla to hit the airwaves soon The building that houses Radio Orealla

40 Orealla Village Toshao, David Henry

Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

No salaries for the year‌

West Berbice security guards plead for intervention

Some of the affected security guards at the meeting.

Security guards throughout West Berbice, Region Five, who are posted primarily at government installations, are up in arms against their employer, and are calling for better working conditions.

The employees have organized themselves into a body, which resulted in a meeting last Thursday at which they were advised of their rights, as well as given the opportunity to air their views on matters affecting them. The meeting took place at a business place, in Number Five Village.

About 80 guards were present at the meeting.

They also discussed how they should deal with the issues affecting them, as well as the best way forward.

Late last year, one security firm gave way to another establishment, and the latter absorbed many of the guards who were employed by the previous company. Things, however, got off to a rocky start, according to the guards.

They claimed the new service immediately “demoralised employees� by offering them a lower wage than that which was paid by the previous employer, and the workers are claiming that

even though they are paid at a reduced rate, there have been many cases where the wages have not been correctly calculated, with people receiving less than they should have gotten, even at the revised rate.

The disgruntled workers claim that the management had informed them that they would be paid on the second Friday of each month, but so far they have received no payment for this year.

One worker reported that he was able to make contact with a senior official in relation to the non-payment wages, and the officer offered to make arrangements to pay him as an individual. But he refused the offer, stating that he was speaking on behalf of all the workers.

The employees, speaking with one voice, also stated that they would want their employer to issue them with pay advice, so that where applicable, people would be able to be aware of their NIS deductions among other things.

They have also noted that the rate of pay currently offered is below the government-recommended minimum, and would want to discuss all the issues with the management. However, they have not been able to have any such discussions, and they are claiming that management seems unwilling to entertain discussion, thereby leading to frustration among the workers. The workers, on the other hand, would want the various issues resolved as soon as possible.

Calls to the office of the security firm went unanswered. A call to a female official on her personal cell was taken. The official promised to have her superiors return a call to Kaieteur News.

The security company has the contract to guard all the schools and health facilities in the West Berbice area.

Sunday February 18, 2018

Onderneeming earmarked for Indian-funded hospital Officials from the Indian Government recently located a site along the Essequibo Coast [Region Two], where a state-of-the-art hospital is to be soon constructed.

The site which is proposed for the new hospital, is located within the vicinity of Onderneeming, less than a mile away from the Suddie Public Hospital.

A visit was made to the site by officials, and a technical team from India, along with the Regional Executive Officer of Region Two, Rupert Hopkinson. According to Chairman of the Region’s health and sanitation committee, Arnold Adams, the hospital is to be funded com-

pletely by the Indian Government, and works are expected to commence soon. This publication was not provided with a definite date for construction, or the cost of the project.

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The Suddie Public Hospital is currently the leading hospital on the Essequibo Coast. This Hospital offers health care to persons living on the coastland, the

Suddie Public Hospital

Pomeroon and even Wakenaam [Region Three].

But being almost two decades old, the hospital has gradually grown unfit in providing the most effective and

sufficient services. Exposed wires and cramped space are just two of the issues plaguing the facility.

One report indicates that a wall of the hospital’s upper

theatre, may be unsafe due to exposed wires. It was also verified that as a result of the cramped space, two mothers at times are required to share a hospital bed.

Labour Dept. records 180 percent increase in prosecutions The Department of Labour, headed by Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Mr. Keith Scott, is adamant that all laws relating to labour must be complied with especially those relating to Industrial Relations and Occupational Safety and Health.

In 2017 there were 458 complaints of labour violations placed before the court, of which over 300 of those cases were prosecuted and closed.

That is representative of a 65 percent closure of cases for that year; a 180 percent increase in prosecutions when compared to 2015. Over $19 million were recovered as a result.

In a statement it was revealed that the Department continues to receive reports of non-compliance and is currently engaging a Region Six security service provider [Integrated Security Services] for reports of paying salaries below the national minimum wage and in other cases with-

holding salaries completely.

Minster Scott; Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Charles Ogle, and Assistant Chief Labour Officer, Mrs. Karen Van Sluytman-Corbin, recently traveled to Region Six New Amsterdam, where they conducted a strategic inspection , accompanied by labour officers in that region . The team also held short meetings with regional officials.

The Minister had previously stated that he is prepared to go to any part of the country to collaborate within the interest of his Ministry or to correct injustices and represent the rights of workers.

While meeting with the Minister, the company indicated that after recently acquiring a contract that was lost by another security service; they are facing administrative difficulties that resulted in several complications.

They were urged to fix those as soon as possible, while the Minister ordered immediate compliance with

the minimum wage. They were also ordered to submit their time and wage sheets to the department for review.

Mr. Neville Nichols, Senior Labour Occupational Safety and Health Officer in charge of Regions Five and Six said that the Labour Department has already began inhouse training with senior supervisors of the security service , so that they would be au fait with the regulations and what is required. This is in addition to several other training programmes planned for both regions.

The Labour laws mediate the relationship between em-

ployers, workers, trade unions and the state.

According to the Department of Labour, it is of immense importance that those laws are adhered to within the best interest of all parties involved.

During a meeting with employees of the security company, they complained of not being able to meet their living expenses, being unable to support their families and having to borrow money just to get by, some employees mentioned that based on varying amounts of money they would receive; they don’t know what their salaries are.

They went on to say that the company should not be Integrated Security, but should be renamed “Integrated Science” for the technicalities involved in computing their salaries.

Ms. Vanessa Hope, who resides in the vicinity of Angoy’s Avenue – New Amsterdam, said she was retained by the guard service after it acquired the security contract of her previous employer, she said in December the company paid her just over $16,000 while she was given $25,000 for January.

She said based on her calculation of the hours she

worked, her salary should be $50,400.

During short meetings with regional officials: Regional Executive Officer, Ms. Kim Williams Stevens; Regional Chairman; Mr. David Armogan, and Mayor, Ms. Winifred Haywood, they were apprised of the reason for the visit by the delegation.

The officials signaled their support for the initiative and conveyed that in addition to standard operations and routine visits conducted by the Department of Labour in Berbice, the visit was necessary and much appreciated.

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Sunday February 18, 2018

8 Small Changes for a Slimmer You in 2018 Air Pollution Can Be Deadly for Seniors

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ven levels of air pol lution deemed “safe” by U.S. government standards may shorten the life spans of seniors, new research suggests.

In fact, hundreds of older Americans may die prematurely each year due to the effects of dirty air, the study found.The finding stems from a computer prediction analysis that correlated fine particle and ozone pollution levels between 2000 and 2012 with death rates on roughly 93 percent of all Americans who were covered by Medicare at the time.

“This is the most comprehensive study of short-term exposure to pollution and mortality to date,” said senior study author Francesca Dominici, co-director of the Harvard Data Science Initiative in Boston.

“We found that the mortality rate increases almost linearly as air pollution increases. Any level of air pollution, no matter how low, is harmful to human health,” Dominici said in a Harvard news release.

During the study period,

22 million people covered by the investigation died.

While the study only found an association, the investigators found that for every tiny incremental increase in either particulate pollution or ozone levels, the daily death rate bumped up between roughly 0.5 and 1 percent.

Though the figures may seem small, Dominici and her colleagues pointed out that it adds up when multiplied across the entire population of American seniors, amounting to more than 7,100 premature deaths over the study period.What’s more, the research team noted that some groups of seniors are even more vulnerable to such exposure, with low-income seniors facing a three times higher risk than more well-off seniors.In a similar vein, women were found to face a 25 percent greater premature death risk following pollution and ozone exposure compared with men. The same was true of nonwhite Americans, relative to their white peers. https://medlineplus.gov/ news/fullstory_170680.html.

It’s that time of year again.

People are rushing to buy gym memberships and cleaning out kitchen cabinets, swearing that this year will be the year they follow through on their resolution to lose weight.

But reaching that goal doesn’t require a complete lifestyle overhaul. Small steps can make a big difference in your body and health.

Here are eight ways to get started: · Break it down. No matter how much you have to lose, changing your lifestyle to lose weight can seem overwhelming. So, don’t look at it all at once, advises nutritionist Samantha Heller, from NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

“Look at it one plate at a time, or even one choice at a time, but start right now, and by this time next month, you’ll see good changes,” she said.

Instead of thinking about how you need to lose 40 pounds, figure out what 5 percent of your body weight is. For a 180-pound person, it’s 9 pounds.

“If you lose 5 percent of your body weight, you can significantly decrease your risk of many diseases, like pre-

diabetes, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, heart disease.

You lower your blood pressure, cholesterol and A1C [a long-term measurement of blood sugar levels], and it’s so much less overwhelming to think about,” Heller noted. · Strive for a negative calorie balance. For years, you’ve probably heard that to lose a pound, you need to eat 3,500 fewer calories (the number of calories in a pound), but research has shown that it’s not necessarily that simple.

Nutritionist Maudene Nelson, from Columbia University Health in New York City, said, “It works mathematically, but it doesn’t work physiologically. The body defends its weight,” she explained. But you do need a negative calorie balance to lose weight — that means you need to take in fewer calories than you use in activity and exercise to lose weight.

Both Nelson and Heller said very low-calorie diets don’t work in the long term because the body goes into starvation mode. “You don’t want to lose weight too quickly, because it scares the body into thinking there’s no food available,” Heller said.

Early Puberty in Girls May Take Mental Health Toll A girl who gets her first menstrual period early in life — possibly as young as 7 — has a greater risk for developing depression and antisocial behaviors that last at least into her 20s, a new study suggests.

“Girls who go through puberty earlier than peers tend to be more psychologically vulnerable during adolescence,” said study lead author Jane Mendle, a clinical psychologist and associate professor of human development at Cornell University.

It hadn’t been clear, though, whether that vulnerability extends past the teen years. That’s where the current study comes in. Mendle and her colleagues followed a group of almost 8,000 young women into their late 20s.

“Girls who went through earlier puberty are still showing higher rates of depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior than their peers well over a decade past adolescence,” Mendle said.

An early first period is a sign of early puberty.

Mendle said there’s no consensus on what constitutes an early first period, but girls in the study got their first period at age 12, on average.

Some girls had their first period as early as 7 years old, though that was rare: Less than 1 percent of the girls had

a first period that young.

However, nearly 7 percent of the girls had their first period at age 10, and 19 percent at age 11, according to the study, published online Dec. 26 in Pediatrics.

The cause of early puberty is generally not known, said Dr. Ellen Selkie, an adolescent medicine specialist with the University of Michigan and author of an editorial accompanying the study.

There’s also no proven way to prevent early puberty, she said.

Mendle said that other research has suggested that obesity or exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may play a role. Such chemicals are found in plastics and flame retardants, she said.

Whatever the cause of early puberty, the new study found that it appears to have lasting consequences.

“Puberty has repercussions for virtually all domains of life,” Mendle said. “Even though it’s a biological transition, it’s accompanied by dramatic changes in social roles and relationships, emotions and how kids think about themselves and others and their place in the world.”

That said, she added that early puberty likely plays only a small role in contributing to depression and antisocial behaviors. And the current

study was not designed to prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

“Even if a girl goes through earlier puberty, it doesn’t mean she will necessarily struggle as an adult in the ways shown in our study,” Mendle said. “It’s an added risk, and one worth paying attention to. But depression and antisocial behavior are complicated and determined by many different factors, aside from when puberty happens.”

Dr. Victor Fornari, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y., said that antisocial behaviors are those that “deviate from the social norms — like violating rules, lying, cheating and other not socially appropriate behavior.” He was not involved with the study.

So how might early puberty contribute to these types of behaviors and depression?Selkie said the connections are probably biological and psychological.

“There’s some thought that early estrogen exposure might increase the risk for depression, but there are also the factors of being different physically from other kids if you experience puberty at an earlier age,” she said.

Carole Filangieri, a clinical neuropsychologist at NYU

Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, N.Y., who was also not part of the study, warned against thinking that early puberty might actually cause the behaviors it was linked to in the new research.

“The danger is thinking that early puberty itself is predictive of these antisocial behaviors,” she said. “Environments growing up, social pressures growing up as women at a much earlier age and being treated in a more adult-like fashion are all part of the larger picture, and we need to look at what’s going on in a girl’s life.”

As an example, Filangieri said, “for a 9-year-old girl, getting wolf-whistled on the street is confusing and upsetting.”As Fornari said: “This study brings attention to the fact that early menarche isn’t just about a girl getting her period. It helps educate parents that they should look for mood and behavior disturbances and get necessary care.”

The earlier treatment is started, the better, he said — no matter what the cause of early puberty might be.

Selkie agreed. “I think the major take-home message for parents about this study is that kids may start developing puberty as early as age 8 or 9, although this is not all children,” she said.

· Plate it.Nelson loves the simplicity of the plate method. Half of your plate should be vegetables, one quarter is protein and one quarter is starch. If you finish your plate, and you’re still hungry, she said be sure to refill your plate in the same way. “Don’t just refill on the mac n’ cheese,” she advised.

In the morning, you can substitute fruit for the veggies. · Identify trouble times. Nelson asks her clients to think about the time of day they have the most trouble with food. Is it the time just before dinner when the kids are clamoring for food and you’re starving and so tired you don’t feel like cooking, so you stop at the fast-food drive-thru. Or is it at night when the house has quieted down and you can finally sit down, maybe with a glass of wine and late-night snack?

“In these times of day, it’s hard to think about how many calories you’re eating. These are times you don’t want to stop and think about self-denial. So plan for these times.

Have healthy snacks ready.

Make sure you have ingredients for a quick meal in the fridge so you don’t have to rely on fast-food,” Nelson suggested. · Add protein to every meal. Protein helps keep your blood sugar levels from spiking and then crashing.

Without at least a little protein in your meal, you’ll be hungry soon after eating because of a fast rise and fall in your blood sugar.

And, Heller said, be sure to have protein at breakfast, too. “Having protein in the morning can really set the stage for a better day — whether it’s eggs or yogurt, nut butter on whole grain toast or apple slices, or even leftovers from the night before,” she explained. · Track it. Both Heller

and Nelson said one of the most important things you can do for losing weight is keeping track of the food you eat.

“It’s not a sexy or exciting thing to do, but it can be informative and helpful,” Heller said, adding that many people are surprised when they write down every bite they take at how much they actually do eat in a day. A food diary can be done with paper and pencil, or you can put technology to work because there are lots of apps for the phone. Examples include myfitnesspal, fitday and seehowyoueat (an app that lets you use pictures to keep your diary).

“You can use your food tracker to see what happened when you did well, or on days you didn’t. If you over-eat one night, you can look back and see that maybe you skipped lunch and were starving. You can use it as a learning tool for the next time,” Heller said. · Don’t drink your calories.

Both experts said people often get empty calories from soda and juice. “It’s just not worth it to drink your calories,” Nelson said. What about adult beverages, such as wine and beer? Nelson said those can be considered part of the plate method. Each drink replaces a starch from your plate. · Rewards.

Nelson said to set yourself up for success by planning rewards. Whether it’s for walking a mile, or for tracking your meals for a week, give yourself more than a pat on the back. It doesn’t have to be a big treat — maybe you could buy that magazine you enjoy but usually don’t purchase, or a special body lotion because it’s pricier than what you normally spend. https://medlineplus.gov/news/ fullstory_170678.html.

Discrimination Affects More Than Just the Victims Discrimination takes a toll not only on a victim’s health but on the well-being of their romantic partners, too, a new study finds.

“We found that when an individual experiences discrimination, they report worse health and depression,” said study leader William Chopik, an assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University.

“However, that’s not the full story — this stress spills over and affects the health of their partner as well.”

The study involved nearly 2,000 couples, 50 to 94 years old, who relayed their experiences with dis-

crimination. They also provided details about their health, symptoms of depression and the level of intimacy or strain in their relationship.

The researchers found that discrimination of any kind — racial, gender or age — had a negative effect on people’s health.

“What matters is that they felt that they were unfairly treated,” Chopik said in a university news release.

“That’s what had the biggest impact on the person’s health.”

However, the discrimination also affected the victim’s spouse or romantic partner, the study found.

Sunday February 18, 2018

Francia Raisa Says Selena Gomez Is Family After Kidney Transplant Francia Raisa has opened up about the kidney transplant that helped save Selena Gomez’s life.

The Grown-ish actress sat down with Harry Connick Jr. for an interview that will air this upcoming Monday, February 19 on Harry and talked about giving her BFF her kidney.

“Well, so our surgery was in June, our fans didn’t find out about it until September,” Francia told Harry (via Just Jared).

“We wanted that privacy.

It was a big surgery. She felt bad about even having me do that because we are just friends, I am not her family or anything. Well, I am now. She has my blood.”

Francia continued, “She felt bad. We just wanted our families around and it was cool because now I have a big family. I lost my grandparents when I was younger…Her grandparents are my grandparents now and so I have this extension of a family and it’s been really amazing.”

Selena and Francia revealed the transplant news in September, sharing a picture from the hospital on Instagram.

“So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health,” Selena wrote to her fans.

“There aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice

by donating her kidney to me.

I am incredibly blessed.”

Talking about the recovery process on Harry, Francia shared, “It’s harder as the donor because we are losing something our body didn’t need to lose, so trying to recover from that and she’s gaining something her body needed. So she’s up and at it immediately and I had a hard time.”

She went on to discuss the surgery and her post-surgery scars.

“I basically have four scars,” she told the host. “It was laparoscopic, those mothers out there who had Csections, I feel you. I don’t know how you take care of a child afterwards. It is crazy! I

couldn’t get up without having someone help me. That was very humbling. I couldn’t take a shower by myself, I had to have someone help me because I couldn’t move.”

She continued, “I’m a very, very active person, so the fact that my doctor said I couldn’t move for two months. Two months, I couldn’t do anything active.

All I could do was walk. That was very hard for me and I have a dog and every day the thing I look forward to is drinking my coffee and walking and I couldn’t do that. It was really, really hard.”

Since the surgery, Francia has proudly displayed her scars on Instagram and on the red carpet.www.eonline.com.

Kanye West Deletes Instagram After His Valentine’s Day Tribute to Kim Kardashian Well, that was fast.

After Kanye West returned to Instagram to send a Valentine’s Day message, the rapper deleted his account.

On Feb. 14, the Grammy-winning artist reactivated his Instagram account and posted a series of photos. The first picture was a card— mostly likely given to him by his wife Kim Kardashian or meant for her—that read, “Happy Valentine’s Day Babe.” Sticking with the Valentine’s Day theme, Kanye then shared more than 30 pictures of celebrity couples.

However, most of the photos showed couples who are no longer together, including Madonna and Sean Penn, Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere and Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt.

Kim returned the favor by sharing a sweet Valentine’s Day message of her own. “I love you to infinity! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!” Kim alongside a picture of her and her hubby.

If Kanye likes to post photos that disappear, maybe he should try Snapchat? www.eonline.com.

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Oprah Winfrey Says God Hasn’t Told Her to Run for President Oprah Winfrey wants to make one thing perfectly clear: She is not running for president.

CBS This Morning aired a teaser from Winfrey’s 60 Minutes Overtime interview on Thursday in which the talk show queen discussed her decision not to run.

Rumors of a presidential bid first started spreading in January after Winfrey won the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2018 Golden Globes.

Upon accepting the honor, Winfrey made a powerful speech about sexual harassment. The speech generated three standing ovations and left many wondering if she would soon launch a campaign.“Are you kidding me? I was just trying to give a good speech,” Winfrey told 60 Minutes Overtimecorrespondent Ann Silvo in the clip. “I was looking for a way to express what was going on in this moment in terms of gender and class and race.”

Winfrey told Silvo she was actually “worried” she would be cut off because she had been told to shorten her speech by three minutes.

And while she wasn’t concerned about running for office, several financiers were interested in her potential candidacy.“I had a lot of wealthy men calling, telling me they would run my campaign and raise $1 billion for me,” she said. “I think that when you have that many people whose opinions you value coming at you, it’s worthy of thinking about.”

Still, Winfrey is convinced she won’t be calling the White House home anytime

soon.“I’ve never looked outside for other people to tell me when I should be making a move. And wouldn’t I know?” she said. “If God actually wanted me to run, wouldn’t God kind of tell me?

And I haven’t heard that.”

Even if she doesn’t serve as commander-in-chief, Winfrey does feel a responsibility to be a voice for the people.

“I do feel that I have a responsibility as a person who has a big voice in this country to use it to promote justice, and kindness and goodwill in the world,” she said, “but it never has felt to me that it was supposed to be political and it still does not feel that to me.”

She also said she feels “humbled” that people believe she can lead the country, but insisted the role is “not in my spirit.”This isn’t the first time Winfrey has

confirmed she’s not running for president. In an interview with InStyle, Winfrey told the magazine she doesn’t “have the DNA for it.” However, Winfrey isn’t staying away from politics completely. In September, CBS broadcasted a roundtable discussion in which Winfrey talked politics with 14 Michigan voters, half of whom voted for President Donald Trump and half of whom did not. She’s having a follow-up conversation with these same people for a special that will air this Sunday.

Having these conversations is where Winfrey feels like she can make a difference.

“That is my great job in the world is that I’m a listener—I’m a really good listener,” she said, “and I’m a connector of ideas and I want people to see themselves in other people’s stories. That’s how I see myself.” www.eonline.com

Black Panther Hits Movie Theatres You know what time it is? Time to see Black Panther on the big screen!

After months of anticipation and more than a few thrilling trailers, movie fans are running to the theatre this weekend to see Marvel’s latest blockbuster.

Michael B. Jordan, Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong’o are just some of the Alist superstars who have already helped make the eighteenth film in the Marvel franchise a success.After all, the film reportedly brought in a whopping $25.2 million in Thursday previews alone.As we celebrate the star-studded film, it’s more than a perfect time to look back at 60 actors you may have forgotten appeared in Marvel’s movies. We want to tell you who shows up in Black Panther, but we’d hate to bring the spoilers this time around.

Black Panther is in theatres now. And brace yourselves moviegoers: The movie is headed toward a historic box office weekend with $200-$205 million sales over a four-day period.www.eonline.com

Kaieteur News

PAGE 60

Sunday February 18, 2018

DACA - The Fight & Uncertainty for Young Immigrants

By Attorney Gail S. Seeram

D

ACA was slated to end on March 5, 2018, but the U.S. District Court recently issued an injunction to prevent its termination.

Nearly 700,000 young immigrants who have no legal status in the U.S. benefit from DACA and have valid employment cards so they can work and attend college. All DACA

recipients have no criminal history and are law-abiding young immigrants who entered the U.S. under the age of 15.

T h e T r u m p administration announced on September 5, 2017, the orderly phase out of the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that was initiated by President Obama.

T h e T r u m p administration has indicated

a willingness to provide some protection to young immigrants, but in exchange, he wants to end Chain Migration (or legal family immigration filed for brother/sister, parents and children over age 21).

To date, no legislation has been introduced or passed extending DACA or ending chain migration.

However, as of January 13, 2018, due to a U.S. District Court decision, U.S. Citizenship &

Immigration Services ( U S C I S ) h a s r e s u med accepting requests to renew a grant of deferred action under DACA. Until further notice, and unless otherwise provided in this guidance, the DACA policy will be operated on the terms in place before it was rescinded on Sept. 5, 2017.

Individuals who were previously granted deferred action under DACA may request renewal with the

appropriate fee or approved fee exemption request.

USCIS is not accepting requests from individuals who have never been granted deferred action under DACA. USCIS will not accept or approve advance parole requests from DACA recipients.

If you previously received DACA and your DACA expired on or after Sept. 5, 2016, you may still file your DACA request as a renewal request.

So, the state of DACA or employment authorization granted to young illegal immigrants is still uncertain, as it is now tied up in U.S. District Court of Appeal.

At the end of the day, there needs to be a permanent solution of benefit granted to young illegal immigrants brought

Gail S. Seeram to the U.S. as minors, by no fault of their own.

Additionally, the issue of 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. also needs to be addressed to grant them legal status and not mass deportation.

E m a i l : Gail@GailLaw.com FREE Consultation – Text or Call 407-292-7730 L i v e C h a t www.MyOrlandoImmigrati onLawyer.com Download our FREE App - Gail Law

Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

AFTER REFUSING TO GIVE $200...

Bus driver shot, chopped, robbed in Plaisance

The stranger asked bus driver Alfred Braithwaite for $200. Braithwaite refused, so the man and two accomplices shot him in the leg, chopped him on the head, and relieved him of his day’s earnings of $17,000.

The brazen attack on Braithwaite, 37, of South Vryheid’s Lust, occurred at around 18:45 hrs on Friday in Victoria Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara. Police have identified the suspects by the aliases ‘Juvenile’, ‘Bang’ and Kevin.’

Braithwaite, who works the Georgetown to Plaisance route, said that he had ceased work for the day and was standing outside his vehicle when an individual approached and asked him for $200.

The driver said that he told the man, “I don’t give away my money when I work hard.”

Another man then came up and remarked, “Dem doan give away money; you got to tek away dem man money.”

“I say, ‘Is jus suh you does tek a man

money?’ and one of them said (to the other) ‘give me, yuh gun leh me shoot dis banna,” Braithwaite said.

Braithwaite said he initially thought the men were joking. But then one of them went to a nearby bus-shed and returned with a cutlass. Braithwaite said he picked up a piece of wood to defend himself. It was then that a third man approached with a handgun and shot him in the right leg. The robbers then took $17,000 from the wounded driver.

Braithwaite said that he managed to ‘hop’ and clamber into his minibus. But as he was driving away, the robber with the cutlass began to hack at the bus, shattering the windscreen, and also chopping Braithwaite to the right side of his head.

The wounded man said that another driver came to his assistance, and drove the vehicle to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted.

The attackers are reportedly still at large.

Murdered Berbice teen's family...

From page 64 space available.

"We had outside toilet and bath and now it inside, so yes, this is much better now, much better now, yes!.”

Her seventeen-year-old daughter also could not contain her joy. "For me, it was very complicated because I had to sleep in one bedroom with everyone and when it's time for me to change, it's confusion, especially during the morning when we gotta go to school. At this house when they are in this bedroom I can go in the other one.”

The Andrews who plant their own vegetables and fruits in their yard and sell as their main source of finance, noted that they are comfortable and grateful, especially to Foster and Food for the Poor for their generosity.

The children are ages one to sixteen with five attending school.

Another beneficiary, Sattie Ramotar, 38, who lost her husband in 2017 after he died at their home in Kilcoy North, Corentyne, Berbice, said her new home has given her hope that things will get better even without her husband at her side.

She is a mother of seven, ages three to twenty-two. She said that she is now comfortable. "We never use to have so much space. Was a little thing we lived in; abee had to sleep, cook and do all thing one place so now when we get this one place now abee feel comfortable."

Ramotar added that the building they lived in before will now be converted into a kitchen. However, it was highlighted that she is currently unable to utilize her indoor toilet and bath facilities since they are without a supply of water.

They are hoping it could be

rectified as soon as possible.

Additionally, one of the single parents who were among the six approved for 2018 said that she lives with her two children at Auchlyne Village, and will see the construction of her two-bedroom house at Liverpool Village.

Winona Grey is currently a cleaner at a Neighbourhood Democratic Council and is paying $5000 a month rent, an amount she said is difficult to pay sometimes, even though small.

But with her new home, she will not be paying any rent. This, she said, will allow her to save the $5000 until she can afford to purchase a computer for her daughter, age 13, to aid in her studies.

The ten families who benefitted from the housing project and are now living comfortably in their new homes are Trevor and Caroline Ramsay of Lightown Village, East Bank, Berbice; Veera Mootoosammy Kissoon and Fizoon Hussain of Liverpool Village; Camilie Sukhai of Lonsdale Village, East Bank Berbice; Bertram and Kanya Andrews, Liverpool; Sattie Ramotar, Kilcoy; Mark and Oslyn Kerr, Fyrish Village; Samantha Samuels of Nurney Village; Rhada Luke of Manchester Village; Abigail and Walter Archibald and their 13 children of Brother's Village; and Doowattie Somar of Hampshire Village.

The six homes approved for 2018 will go to Siskea Grey of Auchlyne Village;, Ramchand Hemchand and Priya Ramu of Chesney Front, Squatting Area; Onieka Lyte of Johanna North, Black Bush Polder; Martin Ramsarack and Rohanie Persaud of No.1 Road; Mandan Mclean and Rookmanie Ramadhar of Block 4.Tain Settlement; and

Jenny Heeralall and Madramootoo Ram of Albion Front, Corentyne, Berbice.

Meanwhile, St. Francis together with the cooperation of the Disabled Community in Region Six also hosted an appreciation ceremony on Friday for Food for the Poor Guyana Inc by the disable community in Region Six. This was done as a thank you for 200 wheelchairs donated over the past year. Requests were also made by the Disabled community for collapsible wheelchairs to facilitate easy transportation.

Many of the special needs persons stressed that it is difficult for them when accessing transportation since many drivers refuse to "pick dem up and exercise patience". Additionally, one of the differently abled children who was present was represented by his father as they requested for a wheelchair with neck support.

Jimeel Davis, Senior Manager, Food for the Poor (Guyana) Inc, stated that the organisation has already approved one such wheelchair to assist the disabled child.

One, he said, will arrive in the coming week.

He also stated that the organisation has already taken into consideration the difficulty the current lot of wheelchairs is imposing and will be upgrading their wheelchair distributions with collapsible ones.

He added that the wheelchair distribution increased three years ago when they partnered with the Free Wheelchairs Mission. He explained that wheelchairs which they give out are the exact size to fit specific recipients.

A new shipment of wheelchairs is expected in June with most of the quantity being folding ones.

PAGE 65

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 18, 2018

$34M boating landing for Supenaam planned

The Supenaam, Region Two landing Boat operators working within the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) district will soon be able to offload their passengers in much better conditions, as consultations commence for the establishment of a $34M boat landing at Supenaam.

The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) and the regional administration. It will see the ministry providing technical recommendations as well as guidance to ensure that the work is properly executed.

According to Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rupert Hopkinson, during the administration’s statutory meeting, a team from the ministry will be present to provide

information and layout of the landing to the council members.

This consultation will afford the members an opportunity to highlight their concerns and offer recommendations concerning the projects.

Hopkinson, who has viewed the layout plan of the project, believes it will receive positive reviews from the regional administration.

He is optimistic that all parties will have an input in the decision-making process since it benefits both the residents and the region as a whole.

The new structure will be equipped with a port for entry and exit and a special area for differently-abled persons as well as the establishment

of an information desk.

The REO emphasised that “at this moment passengers are facing great discomfort whenever the speedboats offload. This has led to poor imaging of the current structure hence the need to reinforce the safety of our residents.”

According to Hopkinson, the landing will play an integral in the development of the region’s tourism sector.

This initiative is one of the many projects slated for the Pomeroon-Supenaam area, as the regional administration aims to ensure the improvement of the physical, social and economic well-being of its residents, by providing quality services for the orderly development of the region.

New ‘E’ Division Headquarters 50% completed

‘E’ Division spanking new state of the art headquarters in Linden is 50% complete.

The new building is being reconstructed inside the compound of the Mackenzie Police Station.

According to Commander, Senior Superintendent Fazil Karimbaskh, work commenced last December; the former structure was demolished and a more modern policing facility, equipped with all modern amenities is being

constructed.

This new building is made possible through an $80 million loan from the Government of Guyana, through the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). ‘E’ Division Commander Fazil Karimbaksh said that the project is expected to take up to five months to be completed. The larger, twostoried facility which is being constructed will measure 135 feet by 45 feet.

Commander Karimbaksh

said that he is satisfied with the work. “The work is going according to schedule.

They’re doing the departments, then they will put the upper flat and the roof.

They’re moving apace; we hope it is completed on time, according to schedule.”

The various departments at the Mackenzie Police Station are currently housed in other buildings in the compound while construction is ongoing.

Sunday February 18, 2018

PAGE 67

Kaieteur News

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

UG seeks participants for Global A closer look at calibration Entrepreneurship Programme

In calibration, a comparison is made between a known measurement and the measurement of the instruments provided by clients or users.

Through this process, the measurement of a user/client equipment is compared with the measurement of a second piece of equipment (the standard).

These standards, traceable to international standards, are kept in a well-controlled environment and are handled carefully to maintain accuracy. The types of measurement standards vary from country to country depending on the needs of industry.

The key objective of calibration is to ensure the accuracy and traceability of instruments are maintained across all companies, industries, sectors and countries.

It is common practice for manufacturers to determine their calibration needs based upon industry requirements, the frequency with which the instrument is used, and the specific application.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), as the National Measurement Institute and custodian of the National Standards, provides critical calibration services to industry.

Instruments submitted to the GNBS are subjected to a pre-calibration test to determine whether they are suitable for calibration. For example, with the calibration of an electronic balance, a weight is placed on the balance at the time of submission to determine whether any adjustment is needed before calibration.

This test also helps to immediately detect any defects that instrument may have. In general use, calibration is often regarded as including the process of adjusting the output or indication on a measurement instrument to agree with value of the applied standard, within a specified accuracy.

However, this is actually the combination of two separate processes: calibration and adjustment. It is important for users of measuring instruments to understand exactly which of these services they require. Calibration technicians must also understand the nature of the instruments they are calibrating and how to perform the calibration.

Calibration is very important. Over time, the results and the accuracy of measuring instruments tend to ‘drift’, particularly when using technologies or measuring parameters which can be affected by

temperature and humidity. To be confident in the results of instruments, there is need to service and maintain them throughout their lifetime for reliable, accurate and repeatable measurements.

It must be re-emphasised that the goal of calibration is to minimise any measurement uncertainty by ensuring the accuracy of testing equipment. Calibration quantifies and controls errors or uncertainties within measurement processes to an acceptable level. In some manufacturing processes, many parameters need to be controlled, including those related to mass, temperature, volume, and pressure. The use of calibrated instruments prior, during and after production allows consistency in products quality.

Today, smart managers understand the implications of using inaccurate instruments to monitor critical parameters.

They calibrated their instruments regularly to prevent consequences that can result is the loss of time, money and capital.

Let the GNBS take care of your calibration needs. For further information, call us on telephone numbers: (592) 2190069, (592) 219-0066 or visit our website: www.gnbsgy.org

The nation’s premier tertiary education institution, the University of Guyana (UG) is seeking participants to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Programme (GEP) slated for July 23 to August 3, at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell in Boston, United States.

Second, third and fourth year students of the University of Guyana are being invited to apply for a place at the GEP, by submitting an essay of not more than 1,500 words detailing their interest in the programme, suitability and intended use of the experience. Accompanying the essay should be curriculum vitae (CV). There is an opening for seven students.

The required documents should be sent to: gep.guyana@gmail.com by March 9. The majority of the trip's expenses will be met through fundraising and sponsorship and finalists will be expected to help raise funds.

The GEP is a two-week course which consists of lectures, class discussions, case studies, group projects such as ideation and technology commercialization, visits to local technology companies and incubators as well as

guest speakers.

The GEP is designed to help students understand the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation in today's global economy and to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset.

Students will get an opportunity to work in inter-disciplinary, multi-cultural environments exploring problem solving techniques, opportunities identification, business concept development and venture planning using standard business model framework and bringing ideas to reality.

The Global Entrepreneurship Programme was started in 2014 and has grown to 670 students from 12 countries attending the two-week sessions in India, China and the US. Students that have participated are from the US, India, China, Japan, Thailand, Haiti, Nigeria, Myanmar, Paki-

stan, Laos and Vietnam, along with seven Guyanese students who attended in 2015 and 2016.

The Institute of International Education (IIE) has named the university’s Global Entrepreneurship Exchange (GE2) programme as the winner of a 2018 IIE Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education.

The Institute of International Education (IIE) created the Heiskell awards in 2001 to promote and honor the most outstanding initiatives that are being conducted in international higher education by IIENetwork member universities and colleges. The GE2 programme will receive the “Best Practice Resource: Study Abroad” award at the IIE’s annual Best Practices in Internationalization Conference in New York City on March 16.

PAGE 68

FOR RENT

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.

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, FREEZERS,SALE OFAC’S TEL:6294946,225-4822 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 House plans and estimates. # 6 1 3 - 5 6 2 8 / sirachenterprises@gmail.com Budhram’s Landscaping & Tree cutting service. Free advice, Free design, Free after care follow up. Tel#626-1044 Automotive servicing and repairs integrity reliability personalized attention Mondays-Fridays: 8:00am4:00pm Saturdays 8:00am2:00pm Checkered Works Garage #666-9719 Drawings of house plan, or if you need estimates, call: 2160671/622-0267/692-8464 Need a land surveyor, we do surveys for: Boundaries, Leases, engineering, cadastral, topo etc. Call: 6622677 Austin Powers Repairs & Services: Regas Fridges, Freezers, AC, Washer, Dryer & Wiring. Lot 114 Brushe Dam Friendship. E.C.D Tel#685-2588/613-1711 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

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

All size solar pannel & batteries lowest price guarantee. check us out @ Boodhoo’s General store @ Parika EBE. New 2 Post car hoists for mechanic shop. Lifting capacity: 4.5 tons. Telephone# 222-1730 6 weeks old, vaccinated dashund pups for sale. Call: 670-2653, 638-8449.

Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231 Plant-closing down sale: potting soil, plant pot, flower plant at Garden Centre, Plantation Schoonard WBD #615-2346/627-3443/15001600 Supari palm, Lipstick, Royal, Foxtail. Exora 4 for $1000 Ficus 4 for $1000. Organic potting soil. Tel: 626-1044 1 3pc Suite - $50,000 1 flat screen TV 42"-$80,000.

Tel#662-9832.

Lenovo desktop with 17" Acer monitor, keyboard and mouse -$35,000. Call: 624-7155 Yamaha outboard motor, 200, 225, 9.9, 40, crank shaft and double control box, all foreign use. Please call: 672-5830 Brand new export quality hand crafted rattan lobby sets.

Sofa & love piece, single & coffee table. $220,000.

Tel#656-0701 (2) Lg red snapper fishing boats, fully equipped ready to work (1) New (1) 4 yrs old. $15,000,000 each. George #6528970 or 674-3735 Enclose canter 3 ton for sale contact: 613-0830,666-2549 1- Caterpillar skid steer 3.2M 1-Leyland daf cement mixer 2.2M 1-canter 3.6M Land at Blankenburg 2.9M Contact #650-0402/603-1402 GT- (3 bedroom)- $18M (3 bedroom) $30M (5 bedroom)$68M EBD (3 bedroom) $12M (4 bedroom) $20M (4 bedroom) $40M Contact: 223-2153/624-7777 ECD (2 bedroom) $6M (3 bedroom) $25M (4 bedroom) $50M WCD (3 bedroom) $5M (3 bedroom) $18M (5 bedroom) $23M. Contact # 223-2153/ 624-7777

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 2 & 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments to rent, long & short term. #666-7820, 6911432 3 bedroom apartment at the back of UG, 2 bedroom in Diamond. Tel#680-5944/ 6564211 Vreed-en-hoop junction.

Lessons place, church, storage bond, office, other.

Call: 603-6400.

Petboy shop at Howes & Ketley streets, Charlestown.

3 bedrooms apartment in close proximity to UG & Teacher training college. $40,000 #6859127 Prime spot (Ground floor) in Athina Building 9 Longden Commerce Street, next to East Coast car park. #225-4714 One bedroom apartment to rent located in Diamond.

Seeta- #615-7209 3/4 bedroom luxurious house G T, E C D , E B D m o d e r n furnishing, AC, generator, parking starting @ 2000US. Contact: #223-2153/624-7777 GT- (1 bedroom)- $60,000, (2 bedroom)- $100,000 ( 3 bedroom)- $160,000 EBD (2 bedroom)-$45,000(2 bedroom)-$80,000(3 bedroom) $140,000. Contact: 223-2153/ 624-7777 ECD (1 bedroom) $50,000 (3 bedroom)-$70,000 (4 bedroom) $200,000 WCD (1 bedroom)-$25,000(2 bedroom)-$60,000(3 bedroom) $200,000. Contact# 223-2153/624-7777

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

- Cosmetology Courses: $90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000.

Call: 647-1773/688-0009

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS) AJ TAXI SERVICE Tel: 2316403/223-6400. 24 hrs 3637 Robb & Cummings street.

Comfort, Safety, Reliable.

WANTED Salesman, good verbal/ excellent attitude, knowledge in stocktaking, computer literate & team player.

Keyfood McDoom.

1 maid for East Bank area. Call: 614-4358 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 (1) Manager to work @ Hotel/ Club on Essequibo coast, previous hotel management an asset. Contact: 500-5923, 676-8764/646-3675 Experienced dump truck drivers to work in the interior.

Kindly contact: 223-7165 for futher details.

We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Parafaite Harmonie, Covent Garden. Legal fees paid.

Tel#656-0701/651-1969 Experience curry cooks, counter servers, drivers, roti/ puri cooks. Apply Hack’s Halaal. 5 Commerce St. Partner needed to invest in gold and diamond mining and river dragger. #697-7708 2 reliable responsible delivery guys for full time deliveries with own motorbikes- Call Tonya: #644-5884 Labourers for wood concession -$5,000 per dayCall: 618-0487 Experienced Sand Truck Driver. Apply to Christine’s Variety Store, Lombard Street or Call 227-8529, 626-8003.

Cashier to work interior must be computer literate. #6181838

EDUCATION CXC adults classes (Business & Science subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Grade 2-6 lessons (slow learners, personal tutor) #690-5008,618-0649 Register your child for after school classes for slow learners in Mathematics, Reading, Phonics, Spelling, etc. Call: 675-4379 Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, Curtains, Floral, Cake decorations. Barr St, Kitty. Tel#670-2653, 638-8449.

Electronic classes beginning March 6th. Enroll early, limited spaces. Abdul Electronics.

Tel: 226-6551/225-0391.

F.WManagement Consultancy is conducting special education needs workshops for parents and teachers. Interested persons call 683-3887/696-3056

VACANCY LAND FOR SALE Hair station & Barber station rental, New market street #638- Parafaite Harmonie $800,000 1106. Experienced persons $1M, $1.2M, $1.5M, $2.6m preferable.

(100ft x 50ft) Second avenue.

Kitchen assistant for interior Tel# 656-0701/651-1969 location. Job entails assisting cooks and generally cleaning. Farm (New scheme) East Bank with reserve. Housing Call: 618-2020. penalties paid. $3.2M Tel# One surveyor to work in the 611-7223/656-0701 interior. Contact: 223-5273 One foreman to work on Prime residential area in interior roads. Contact 223- Schnoord (100ft x 50ft) $2.6M Title ready. Tel# 656-0701/ 5273 One yardman age 30 to 45. 651-1969 Contact: 223-5273 Herstelling New scheme (4th Room attendant, age 25-45 Bridge) on a turn $1.9M Tel# Tel#225-0198 or visit 233 656-0701/651-1969 South road, Lacytown.

One hardworking, willing and Uivlugt (New scheme) first literate personnel for Plant street (100ftx50ft) with reserve shop in Georgetown. Age 25 $3M & 2M Tel # 651-1969/ 656-0701 yrs & over. Tel#652-6837.

PROPERTY FOR SALE House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc. Financing assistance available. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 604-4909 Riumveldt Public Rd (opp Massey) (6) bedroomed house on double lot. (2) apartments with all utilitiesparking, fenced. Call: 2258427/609-7766 Property for sale (1) 3 story building at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 6878445 Lot 15 Public road #2 Village.

West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $20M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 166 4th street, Alexander Village. Tel#691-6201

Parafaite Harmonie (upfront) $1.5M Herstelling $1.8M Farm $3.2M Schnoord residential $2.6M Uivlugt $2.8M Tel# 6560701/611-7223 Eccles New scheme (concrete fence, concrete bridge, land filled) 100ft x 50ft $7M Tel#611-7223/656-0701 7 transported house lots in Bella Dam W.B.D for sale.

Contact#264-2495, 668-0484 Providence New Scheme (High income) 100ft x 50ft $5M Tel#656-0701/651-1969 Front lot Golden Grove. Tel# 671-2025

New building with two apartment downstairs for sale.10 minutes from Georgetown .Call:675-1510/ 613-7964 One top and bottom three bedroom house at Block 12 Non-Pariel, ECD. Tel: 6924881, 229-6236 (1) 2 storey building, 1 Flat concrete on transported land 36ft x 180ft @ Lot 91 Triump Side line dam, Agriculture road $50M neg. Tel:220-7228

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

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 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 Reliable rentals. Cars, SUV at low rate and security deposit special rates for long term. #227-2322/601-2622

Sunday February 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS

WIRSPA CONFERENCE AND CHALLENGES TO RUM INDUSTRY

by PAT DIAL Rum has always been the wine of the Caribbean and has been used and enjoyed by all classes. In the 18th century, it was regarded as a cure-all and was used as a preventative or cure for fevers, colds, bodily pains and abrasions.

It was also a drink used socially and was so attractive in taste that people tended to overindulge in it. Overindulgence has serious effects-- it led to drunkenness, destruction of health, inability to work, neglect of family and social responsibilities and poverty.

The secret of avoiding these negative effects is simple -- use the beverage responsibly and in moderation -- and this has been one of the main injunctions of the Rum Industry and WIRSPA. Indeed, the main rum producers in Guyana, Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) and Banks DIH, have long been appealing to the public to use the beverage in moderation and their appeals have had some success. This could be seen at parties and at festive times where overindulgence in rum is rare.

In fact, most drinkers who become inebriated would have been drinking other liquors than rum. Yet people, quite loosely would attribute any inebriation to rum. The reason for this is that for centuries rum was the only liquor used by the overwhelming majority of West Indians unlike today, when there is a large array of liquors from various countries easily available.

Last week, the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA), one of the oldest inter-West Indian organisations, met in Guyana

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under its Chairman, Mr Komal Samaroo, the Chief Executive Officer of Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL). One of the main themes of Mr Samaroo's opening address which proved to be the keynote of the Conference is that people must drink responsibly.

Religious leaders of the Churches, masjids and mandirs have long been enjoining their members to eschew alcohol, and particularly rum. Now it is ironic, if not revolutionary, that the head of a company which is one of the greatest rum producers in the world and other West Indian producers, should be emphatically advocating the same thing.

In his address, Mr Samaroo mentioned that international demand for premium and super-premium spirits has been growing and this opens a great opportunity for premium rums. DDL for years has been producing the best rums in the world and has been spending vast sums in promoting the Eldorado brand worldwide.

It has been successful in this. El Dorado could be found at all the major airports in the world and the exclusive topof-the-line bars. In fact, in some countries, Guyana is known only by El Dorado.

Another great achievement DDL has made for West Indian rums, it has succeeded in securing "Geographical Indication" after much effort.

This it did in April last year.

Jamaica recently secured it.

This means that foreign producers could not brand their product "Demerara" or "Guyana" since in international trade, Demerara or

Guyana rums is recognised as being produced only in Guyana.

Scores of years ago, Champagne, the famous celebratory French wine, acquired GI status. Champagne wine could only be produced in the Champagne Region of France and this is known and accepted worldwide.

The GI status is very useful in protecting Guyana and West Indian rums since producers in various countries, for example Germany, have been producing brews which they have styled rum.

Eldorado, being the best rums in the world, would be subject to forgeries. Mr Samaroo feels that marketing Guyana and West Indian rums would be protected and enhanced by the use of Geographical Indication.

On the global stage, the Caribbean rum industry is still relatively small. Several Caribbean governments have been working on ways they could help the industry to grow and expand its international markets. One of the greatest inhibitions and challenges to the further growth of Guyana's rum industry is the outdated Laws and Regu-

lations which date from past times and are now inappropriate.

Some effort is being made to adjust these and if such is quickly done, it would greatly help to propel the industry forward.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge was one of the main speakers at the Conference. His observation that 'rum and sugar have been an integral part of the economy and culture of the Caribbean and therefore they are difficult to separate' should be seriously considered by rum producers, now that sugar production in Guyana is contracting.

Mr. Greenidge may be hinting that Rum producers should get involved in sugar production since without

sugar, rum could not be produced, WIRSPA has many challenges but it has taken them on with hope of success: They will study the impact rum has on Society; educate the population to drink responsibly and in moderation; try to have the public understand that drunkenness and overin-

dulgence in drink must not always be placed at the doorstep of rum; have governments rationalize and modernize their Laws and Regulations affecting the Rum Industry; and to try by whatever means they could to keep adequate sugar production in the Caribbean with requisite molasses supplies.

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Sunday February 18, 2018

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Kaieteur News

FEBRUARY IS AFRICAN HISTORY MONTH On December 17, 2017 ACDA began its 25th year of its work of “ seeking an all-round improvement of the African presence both in quality and in all aspects of life and in this way to influence for the better the quality of life in Guyana.”

As a result of our anniversary ACDA’s Theme for 2018 is “Celebrating 25 years o f Activism, Community Development and Servant Leadership.”

Black History Month was started by a Harvard trained historian, Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1925. He observed that in all the educational institutions he had attended no mention was made of African Peoples contribution to world history.

Dr. Woodson believed that unless something was done to rescue African people for history’s oversight Black people would become a “negligible factor in the thought of

Granger to open IDPAD summit 2018 President David Granger has consented to deliver the opening address at the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) Summit 2018 which will take place at the Marriott, Georgetown from March 8-11, 2018. The Summit is facilitated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The clarion call of Guyana’s native son Ivan Van Sertima has been: “We shall follow the trail of the African in Europe, in Asia, and in every corner of the New World, seeking to set the record straight. This is no romantic exploration of antiquities. It is a search for roots.”

IDPAD 2015-2024 was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in a Resolution (68/ 237) adopted on December 23, 2013. The theme of the International Decade is “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development”.

At a Cuffy 250 Annual Forum in 2016, President Granger gave a mandate to African Guyanese organisations to address issues identified in the IDPAD declaration.

IDPAD Summit 2018 is a direct response to the call for a sustained programme to address issues that globally are plaguing the African trail to equality and prosperity.

Resulting from decades of response by African scholarship to this call, the record currently shows that Africans created and lit the trail-head of civilization in Europe, Asia and in every corner of the New World.

However, the African trail currently lacks clear self-defined goals and elements to ensure African sustainability.

It is for the revitalisation and further development of this trail that IDPAD Summit 2018 asks of Africans globally, “Where are we? Where are we going? How are we going to get there?

IDPAD Summit 2018 assembles those of like minds of African ancestry from more than 25 countries who are ready, willing and able to respond with sustained action to these questions. It calls out to all countries in Africa; in the Caribbean, Latin America and North America; and it calls out to Africans wherever the trail of the African has lead in Europe and Asia. It is the first of four biennial summits in a series that ends is 2024. Guyana is the host for 2018 Summit.

IDPAD Summit 2018 will create a global matrix of like minds and initiate, connect and energise them in hubs, institutes or nodes of activities to work to ensure the sustainability of the African.

Activities will cover a varied spectrum of specialty topics relevant to the needs of each hub and in consonance with the needs of the African global matrix.

Topics include but are not limited to human rights, education and culture, health and wellness, information and communications technology, and business and finance.

Following the declarations of the IDPAD Summit 2018 Georgetown the work of each hub/institute is expected to continue until Summit 2020 when each hub will review, share and re-energise to continue its work until Summit 2022. The final summit in this series is planned for 2024 by which time interconnected nodes or hubs of energized activities relevant to the sustainability of the African are expected to be fully functional and contributing to the sustainability of the African globally.

This clarion call therefore, in response to the UN proclamation and to President Granger, is neither for the “romantically” inclined nor the “talk-shop” specialists but for those who are mentally prepared to embark on a global six-year African odyssey and to address with sustained action; “Where we are?

Where are we going? How are we going to get there?”

Basil Williams, Ramjattan, Harmon...

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

From page 15 Ram said that there were certainly Articles in the Contract which required the contribution of the learned Attorney General, “the Government’s chief legal officer, who has so far stayed out of, or been excluded from, the discussion and debate on the Agreement”.

The Chartered Accountant said it would be particularly interesting to benefit from information on his involvement, learning and

contribution, and that of the remaining four attorneys, to the discussion on several articles in the contract which raise serious constitutional issues about the extent to which one government can bind successor governments.

Ram told Kaieteur News that he still finds it unbelievable that the Government which includes five learned lawyers, could sign onto a contract with leaves ExxonMobil exempt from any future changes in law, tax or otherwise.

the world. ACDA joins with Dr. Carter G. Woodson when he stated that there is no such thing as African History what is called African History is really “the missing pages of world history”.

ACDA invites the wider society to its African History Month Programmes at the AKWAABA (Welcome) Centre. Some of the programmes planned are The UJAMAA Challenge where young entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful business persons. Monetary prizes will be awarded. Preparation of CV workshops and

CV writing training in schools for school leavers; Movie at the Princess Cinemas for participants in the Aviation Programme; Final presentation of “Know Thyself Projects”; Prize giving ceremony of the Awareness with Action and Knowledge for Employment (AWARE) Project; African Historical Exhibition; Lectures; Film Shows & presentations.

The exhibition is open to the general public on Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm daily and Saturdays from 10am-2pm.

Further Information: contact ACDA at 225-8420 or write to guyacda@gmail.com

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Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau begins weeklong India visit

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, wave upon their arrival at the Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi, India, yesterday. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) NEW DELHI (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in India yesterday for a weeklong visit aimed at enhancing business ties between the two countries.Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also expected to focus on areas including civil nuclear cooperation, space, defense, energy and education.

Trudeau was received at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a junior agriculture minister. A formal ceremony will be held on Feb. 23 before his talks with Modi, who visited

Canada in April 2015.

“Wheels up for India and a busy visit, focused on creating good jobs and strengthening the deep connection between the people of our two countries,” Trudeau tweeted on Friday before leaving for New Delhi with his family.

Canada has an estimated 1.4 million people of Indian origin.During his visit, Trudeau will meet with top business leaders in Mumbai and visit key Indian monuments, including the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.

At Davos last month,

MUNICH (Reuters) Prime Minister Theresa May made her case yesterday for a new security treaty with the EU from next year, winning support from EU and U.S. officials who agreed the issue was too important to risk getting subsumed in broader Brexit negotiations.

In a speech to Western leaders and officials in Munich, May promised that London would continue to lead military missions and share intelligence if Brussels agreed to a pact “effective from 2019”, the year Britain is due to leave the bloc.

May’s government is using a series of speeches to set out its vision for Britain out-

side the European Union. But the loudest applause during her appearance came when the event’s organiser, German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, said: “Things would be so much easier if you stayed.”

But May was adamant: “We are leaving the EU and there is no question of a second referendum or going back, and I think that’s important,” she told the Munich Security Conference.

“The partnership that we need to create is one that offers UK and EU way to combine our efforts to greatest effect where this is in our shared interest,” May said of her security plan.

while President Donald Trump supported new tariffs on imports, Trudeau and Modi came out forcefully against a drift toward protectionism in the global economy.

In 2017, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and India amounted to $8.4 billion, split equally between exports to and imports from India, according to Indian media.

Canada mainly imports pearls, organic chemicals, pharmaceutical products, textiles, bicycles and motorcycles from India. It exports vegetables, paper, fertilizers, wood pulp, iron and steel and precious stones to India.

May wins backing for EU security pact, timing unclear

Munich (Germany) (AFP) - Moscow yesterday dismissed as “blabber” and “fantasies” allegations that it interfered in the election that brought President Donald Trump to power, denials that drew immediate scorn from US officials.

The traded barbs, made at the Munich Security Conference, came a day after the United States indicted 13 Russians for running a secret campaign to sway the 2016 vote.

“I am amazed that... the Russians come, send someone every year to basically refute the facts,” US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the Munich attendees about the US charges: “So as long as we don’t see facts, everything else is blabber.”

The indictments, which include the first charges laid

by US special counsel Robert Mueller for election interference, detailed a stunning operation launched in 2014 in a bid to sow division and influence American politics “including the presidential election of 2016”.

Mueller alleges that by mid-2016, the campaign — under the direction of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — became focused on boosting Trump and demeaning his rivals in-

US President Donald Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met at the White House in May 2018 (AFP Photo/HO) cluding Democrat Hillary Clinton.

It allegedly involved hundreds of people working in shifts and with a budget of millions of dollars. Three companies were also indicted.

When asked to comment on the charges at the gathering in Germany, Lavrov stressed that US officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, had in the past “denied that any country influenced results of the election”.

Former Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak was equally dismissive when he took to the stage at the top security gathering in Munich.

“We didn’t meddle in the American political life,” said Kislyak, who was posted in Washington when Trump’s White House win stunned the world.

“Whatever allegations are being mounted against us are simply fantasies that are being used for political reasons inside the United States in the fight between different sides of the political divide,” he added.

Kislyak’s own name has popped up in Mueller’s probe as part of his inquiries into contacts between Russia and the Trump team.

Trump meanwhile has seized on the indictments as proof that his campaign team did not conspire with Moscow.“Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for president,” he tweeted Friday.

“The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!”

None of the 13 Russian suspects are in US custody.

Top German diplomat: ‘We no longer recognize our America’

Prime Minister Theresa May

Maldives police arrest 25 after protest demanding leader’s arrest MALE (Reuters) - Maldives police arrested 25 people under a state of emergency, opposition legislators said yesterday, after thousands of protesters gathered a day earlier to call for the detention of the president and release of opposition leaders.

The tiny Indian Ocean archipelago, best known for its luxury hotels and dive resorts, imposed a 15-day state of emergency on Feb. 5 to annul a Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of nine leading opposition figures.

Moscow calls US vote meddling claims ‘blabber’, ‘fantasies’

Shortly after imposing the state of emergency, President Abdulla Yameen’s administration arrested two Supreme Court judges and detained former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on allegations that he solicited bribes to topple the government.

Thousands gathered in locations across the 15 islands in protest on Friday to demand the arrest of the president and the enforcement of the court ruling to free the opposition leaders.

MUNICH (AP) — Germany’s foreign minister slammed the “America first” approach of President Donald Trump’s administration yesterday, saying that close U.S. ties with a strong European Union are as much in Washington’s interest as they are in Europe’s.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told world leaders and defense officials at the Munich Security Conference that with the United States no longer the only indisputable superpower, it makes sense for Washington to count on traditional partners in Europe for help.

At the same time, Gabriel said, it is also clear that European nations need the U.S. if they want to “shape the future and not just endure.”

“Our strength in Europe is not sufficient for this. Neither the EU nor the U.S. can go it alone. We have to count on our friends and our partners,” he said.

Trump’s national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, met

Sigmar Gabriel one-on-one with Gabriel after his speech. McMaster reassured the forum that the United States still is strongly committed to its traditional alliances, but emphasized that “we must all share responsibility.”

“International peace and prosperity depends on all nations,” McMaster said. “For this reason, President Trump has called for stronger alliances and partnerships based

on shared values, shared interests, shared responsibilities and shared burdens.”

Trump has pushed strongly for more NATO nations to live up to commitments to spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense spending.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, whose country is one of the five NATO members that does meet the target, said discussing a common European defense policy with other nations is complicated when they are not playing by the same rules.

He said it’s not appropriate to “have those free riders who live under pax Americana but pretend to be selfsufficient in the context of security.”

“I feel very much pro-European. I would like that we live under pax Europa, but this is not the case. It was not the case for 70 years and it is not the case today,” Morawiecki said.

Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

Govt. and Opposition still at odds over anti-gang legislation PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Government and opposition appeared to be at loggerheads over the length of the sunset clause in an anti-gang legislation that the police said is necessary to combat the rising crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Opposition had failed to provide the necessary twothirds majority needed for the Anti-Gang Bill when it was brought to the parliament late last year but later agreed to have the measure discussed with a view of re-introducing it to Parliament after it came under widespread criticism from the public.But following a meeting here on Friday, Attorney General Faris Al Rawi accused the opposition delegation of indicating “that the clause, be reduced to 18 months, even though the Opposition Leader had suggested two years”.

He said the opposition also suggested that “we go to a Joint Select Committee, which was not on the table at the parliamentary debate.

This took me by surprise.”

But in a statement issued

Attorney General Faris Al Rawi following the talks, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition described the meeting as “a positive step towards arriving at a legislative formula for the passage of critical legislation in the fight against crime that will meet with the approval of both the Government and the Opposition” It said that the Opposition reiterated its call for a sunset clause “of no longer than 24 months.“However there was no agreement on this issue.

The Opposition maintained that the sunset clause is critical in order allow for the Parliament to review the manner in which the legislation is put into effect by law enforcement.”

The statement said that the “insertion of the sunset clause requiring the return of the legislation to the Parliament before the expiration of the time limit is important to ensure that those upon whom draconian powers are conferred do not abuse those powers to the detriment of the citizenry.

“The insistence for the insertion of the sunset ensures that there is a proportionate balance in the public interest of the powers conferred by this legislation,” the statement added.

But Al-Rawi told reporters that for the five years the anti-gang law has been existence, there has been no judicial criticism of the act.

“To have this law die in 18 months would be a tragedy. On the last occasion the Opposition had to review it, but they allowed it to lapse.

Jamaica seeking to reduce neonatal deaths KINGSTON, Jamaica - CMC – The Jamaica government has allocated J$759 million (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) in the 2018-19 national budget to fund the upgrade of health facilities as it seeks to reduce neonatal deaths in the country.

Under the Programme for Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC), designs will be completed for 11 High Dependency Units (HDUs) at six hospitals, as well as procurement of equipment for the HDUs, the Andrew Holness government has indicated.

According to the details of the project outlined in the Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives., other work to be done are the completion of designs for four healthcare facilities and two community hospitals; procurement of laboratory and ultrasound equipment for primary healthcare and community health centres; training of health workers, and research activities; and continuing training for doctors, nurses and other

health professionals to support HDUs. Academic research on the cause and risk factors of premature births will also be undertaken and the Ministry of Health will also carry out national promotional activities for the programme.

The objectives of PROMAC, which is funded by the Jamaica government and the European Union (EU), are geared at reducing the incidence of neonatal deaths due to lack of access to high-dependency care, reducing maternal deaths due to lack of access to emergency obstetrics care, improving the quality of management of high-risk pregnancies at both tertiary and primary healthcare facilities.

PROMAC also seeks to improve the population’s approach to maternal and child health, enhance public awareness and understanding of healthcare processes and patients’ rights, and strengthen the institutional capacity of the ministry and the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).

M&CC'S secret doling out ...

From page 64 staff of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council touched on the issues of outstanding Financial Statem e n t s o f t h e municipalities.

An Auditor General's report had revealed that Georgetown Mayor and City Council had not submitted Financial Statement for 2006-2013 and 2015, during the tenure of Mayor Hamilton Green.

During this period also, Central Government under the previous Government, had been releasing monies to City Council.

McGarrell had explained that the failure of the council to submit these statements is a problem of poor financial management.

He explained that this is a challenge

that has several root causes including the financial standing of the councils to employ the necessary skills, needed for effective management.

“If you do an analysis of the officers holding the position (of) Treasurer in most of the councils, it will let you know that you need to do more work to attract greater skills,” McGarrell said.

He noted that the issue is further exacerbated by the fact that the councils, not the ministry, have the responsibility for appointing these officers.

The Ministry has started discussions with the Auditor General's Office on a strategy to empower the councils to improve their financial management capabilities

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Suriname announces new immigration measures for illegal Chinese nationals PA R A M A R I B O , Suriname - CMC – President Desi Bouterse has announced a significant decrease in the fees paid by illegal Chinese immigrations to regularise their status in the Dutchspeaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country even as the authorities said that they had deported 61 foreigners including 22 Chinese nationals in January.

According to the official figures released here, the authorities also deported 27 Brazilians, nine Guyanese, two Dutch and a Congolese national last month after they failed to regularize their status.Speaking at celebrations to mark the Chinese New Year on Friday, Bouterse said that illegal Chinese nationals would now have a three month period to pay US$2,000 in order to regularise their status.

“We Surinamese people like surprises. In March, April and May it will be US$2,000 and after that US$3,000 again,” said Bouterse.

The announcement was welcomed by prominent legislator, Stephan Tsang, a Chinese descent, who has on

President Desi Bouterse several occasions voiced his concern regarding the legalization process and fees for illegal Chinese immigrants.

Tsang told reporters he was surprised by the move adding “we are happy with the gesture, but I think the amount can go lower”.

When the project ‘Legalization of illegal foreigners’ was launched in September 2017 it was established that nationals from Caribbean and South-American nations would have to pay US$600, while illegal aliens from else-

where, including those from china, were asked to pay US$3,000.

The authorities estimate that as many as 15,000 foreigners reside illegally here.

Foreigners who are illegally in the country are given two years to get their status in order under a “general pardon”.

“The price seems high, but it’s based on what they would have to pay if they were to return to their country to start the process,” Justice and Police Minister, Ferdinand Welzijn, said then at the launch of the project.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Chinese Association, Chen Jin Hua, used the occasion on Friday to urge the authorities to help crack down on the crime against Chinese nationals here.

Over the last several months, several Chineseowned businesses have been robbed and Jin Hua said “we demand more effective measures to prevent crime and heavier sentences to protect the citizens of Suriname”.

Bouterse promised that the government “will try to do a much better job”.

St. Kitts to host regional workshops on crime and security BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CMC – Regional drug stakeholders will meet here later this month to discuss efforts aimed at strengthening the institutional response to crime and security in the Caribbean.

The Guyana-based Caribbean Forum of States (CARIFORUM) Secretariat says the meetings will take place between tomorrow 19 to Friday amid concerns that the Caribbean has been described as a critical and central route between drug producers and large scale consumers, with violence and crime remaining a pressing problem.

The first meeting tomorrow will be attended by the directors of National Drug Councils, who will review, revise and update the 2007 Regional Drug Demand Reduction Strategy.

The two-day meeting will provide for the delegates to be sensitized on the capacitybuilding strategy for Drug Demand Reduction, focusing especially on the on-line training being implemented by the Cooperation Programme on Drugs Policies (COPOLAD) in Latin America and the Caribbean.“In the course of this meeting, they will also be sensitized on the public health

approach for the design and implementation of drug policies, as well the health and social effects of non-medical cannabis use,” CARIFORUM noted in a statement.

It said subsequent to the meeting, directors will also meet from February Wednesday to Friday for a regional workshop on the design and implementation of national drug strategies and plans for the Caribbean.

“This meeting, convened by the CARICOM and CICAD Secretariats, is being held in light of the fact that while some member states have developed national drug strategies and supporting action plans, many still lack these crucial documents, while the strategies of others are about to expire.

The organisers said that a major objective of this workshop is to update the current

strategies in the Caribbean, and/or to support their design and development, where needed, through technical assistance and the promotion of horizontal cooperation.

These events are part of a series of actions being taken in the implementation of the Drug Demand Reduction Component of the Crime and Security Programme.

Earlier this month, representatives benefitted from a one-day technical meeting on the Seventh Round of the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) process.

In addition, senior policy makers and technical staff from a number of line ministries in St. Vincent and the Grenadines benefited from two days of intense training on the establishment of its National Drug Council and on the implementation of the MEM.

Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

PM says Trinidad and Tobago has ISIS cell PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government says there is an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) cell operating in the country as it defended the decision of the police to detain several people over the Carnival celebrations that ended here last week.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley told legislators on Friday that it would have been “folly” to believe that no terrorist activity could happen on the twin-island republic.

“It’s common knowledge across the world that Trinidad and Tobago citizens subscribe to some of the doctrines of ISIS and persons from Trinidad and Tobago have travelled to areas of combat in Iraq and Syria.

Many have been intercepted in Turkey and Britain, some have been returned to Trinidad and Tobago.

“Some are in custody in foreign countries, persons who seek to join ISIS. And in fact, as ISIS has dispersed in Iraq and Syria, that doctrine has now been spread to home-bound activities and therefore we have to be particularly concerned about such persons and the monitoring of such persons is an integral part of our national security,” Rowley said as he answered questions from opposition legislators.

Asked by opposition legislator Bhoe Tewarie, “Is there anything in Trinidad and Tobago that can be considered an ISIS cell or an ISIS satellite?” Rowley replied “…the answer to the question is, yes”He told another opposition legislator that it would be difficult to quantify the number of Trinidad and Tobago nationals who have returned from fighting alongside ISIS members.

“The figure of how many terrorists have returned is a floating figure because not everyone who goes abroad

Dr. Keith Rowley

Bhoe Tewarie

and comes back is deemed to be a terrorist.

“The intent of persons will vary. However, in monitoring people who we have reason to believe pose a threat. I don’t know if it’s 63 or 100 we’re taking steps to ensure all persons so described are adequately monitored.

“It’s not possible to monitor 24 hours a day every citizen, but persons deemed to be such would be monitored.

The guarantee we can give is that security services continue to pay attention to persons who threaten Trinidad and Tobago’s stability,” Rowley said.

He told legislators he isn’t aware of any country in the world including Trinidad and Tobago that is able to have the ability and capacity to monitor communication between an international ISIS operation and a local presence.

“I don’t know any country is able to say that, as the communication is so varied and so technical. There’s an area called the ‘Dark Web’ where it’s said the criminals and terrorists are better able to handle it. But we do have and are improving our own ability to monitor.

“But people who are going down that road of attempting to become effective terrorists are not now only relying on those kinds of

communications. For example, they rely on face to face communications and also other kinds because they know we’re monitoring them.”

He told Parliament that many of them do not use systems as they know they’re being monitored.

“They even use walkie talkies which aren’t on the phone system – they make their own systems. As they’re intent on criminal activity they continue to change their methods,” he said.

The prime minister said that the government became aware of the recent plot to disrupt Carnival 2018 festivities by persons who subscribe to the “kind of behaviour we’ve been accustomed to in the 21st century,” through ongoing monitoring and the support of various stakeholders in the effort to defend our borders against terrorism.

The United States, Canada and Britain had issued warnings informing their nationals of the possible terrorist plot to disrupt the festival and urged them to stay away from crowded areas and to be vigilant.Rowley said the operation to detain several people was led “100 per cent”

by Trinidad and Tobago security personnel, but acknowledged that personnel from other countries did supply support, information and equipment to the effort.

HIV reduction programme gets $758m KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Ministry of Health’s programme to reduce new HIV infections among key populations has been boosted through a $758 million allocation for 2018/19.

The provision has been made in the Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives.

The allocation, under the ‘Support to the National HIV/AIDS Response in Jamaica’ project, will enable the Ministry to develop and implement a joint civil society advocacy plan; conduct situational analysis for the evaluation of services at nine healthcare facilities; and implement measures aimed at addressing stigma and discrimination.

It will also provide for enrollment of at least 16,500 adults and children in antiretroviral

therapy; reach 11,180 female sex workers (FSW) with HIV prevention programmes; and provide HIV testing for 8,000 FSW. In addition, some 14,000 men who have sex with men (MSM) and 4,000 transgender persons (TG) will benefit from HIV protection programmes; while HIV testing and test results will be provided for 11,000 MSM and 3, 600 TG persons.

The programme, which is jointly funded by the Government of Jamaica and the Global Fund, seeks to reduce AIDS-related morbidity and mortality, through effective interventions for targeted populations.

Up to December 2017, over 25,000 persons were reached through prevention programmes, testing, and antiretroviral therapy. (Jamaica Observer)

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Sunday February 18, 2018

Fifties from Hemraj, Barnwell...

From page 81 Wintz past cover and drove him to point for boundaries while Griffith on-drove his DCC club mate for four and whipped him off his legs for another boundary and the 50 was posted in the eighth over.

Griffith was removed by Wintz at 54-1 to bring Taylor to the crease.

Walton pressed on gas and hit Wintz back over his head before hitting Permaul for consecutive boundaries to reach his eighth fifty at this level from 37 balls with fours and a six.

Taylor was content to play the supporting role before dumping Jamaican Lewis for six and hammering him for four to post the 100 in the 23rd over.

The 21-year-old Lewis and bowling in tandem with Adams put the brakes on the scoring and with the score on

127 Taylor tried to clear longon to give Lewis his first wicket.

Clever bowling from Lewis, who flighted the ball nicely along with astute Captaincy from Johnson, orchestrated the demise of McCarthy for a first ball duck.Johnson put Hemraj at forward short leg and Lewis bowled the perfect delivery.

Given a bit of loop, it pitched just outside off and brought McCarthy, Jamaica’s leading batsmen in this tournament, forward. The ball bounced, turned, hit the glove and was taken by Hemraj and Lewis was on a hat-trick.

King joined the well set Walton who dumped Lewis for a straight six to post the 150 in the 32nd over.Walton reached his fourth 50-over century from 101 balls with nine fours and three sixes before he was bowled by

Permaul at 188-4, while King fell two runs later to welljudged catch, running back from cover by Johnson as Adams struck.

When Fabien Allen (9) was stumped off Hemraj, Scorpions had slipped from 127-1 to 205 -8. Williams and Smith joined forces to provide plenty of entertainment for the fans as they waded into Rutherford and Shepherd.

The semis are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday with the Final on Saturday.

Scores: SCORPIONS 264 for eight (Chadwick Walton 104, Odean Smith 32 not out, Steven Taylor 32; Chandrapaul Hemraj 2-22, Ramaal Lewis 2-36).

JAGUARS 213 for six off 38.4 overs (Chandrapaul Hemraj 80, Chris Barnwell 56; Peat Salmon 4-28, Steven Taylor 2-19)

Sunday February 18, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You can count on a very idyllic and romantic day today, Aries. You’re feeling especially warm and sensual, and you tend to view the partner in your life through rose-colored glasses.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Someone who is a student of natural healing may come to visit you and share some ideas today.

GEMINI(May 21–June 20) Books and movies may inspire you to get involved in artistic activities. Your aesthetic sense is very high today, Gemini, and you may be drawing your inspiration from the higher realms.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You could be feeling a bit flush today, Cancer, and therefore you might decide to do a little work on your house. This is more likely to be redecorating than any major repairs LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You’re feeling especially psychically and mystically inclined today, Leo. You might want to read about such matters or attend a lecture or workshop given by someone in the field.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You’re usually a very practical and down-to-Earth person, but today you may be more inclined than usual toward mysticism.

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LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Group activities involving meditation, psychic or spiritual topics, or artistic pursuits are probably very appealing to you right now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You’re normally a very intuitive person, and today you may experience clairvoyance that could rival Jeane Dixon’s. You could be feeling especially attuned to other planes SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your imagination is flying high today, Sagittarius. Your interest in mystical and metaphysical matters is at an all-time high CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Some wonderful news concerning money and career matters could come your way today, Capricorn. Your natural kindness and sympathy for others has led you to make some good friends AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A minor conflict with a romantic partner in the morning is likely to end with a tearful reunion and much reassurance by midafternoon. The end of the day could find the two of you planning a romantic trip abroad PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A raise, commission, or perhaps a chance to invest in the company could be offered to you. Your selfesteem will definitely receive a boost!

GSCL INC Republic Cup to bowl off on March 4 The Georgetown Softball Cricket League INC Annual Republic Cup is set to bowl off on March 4 at several venues in Georgetown.

The tournament will be played in the Open and Over 40 categories.

The Open segment will be played with the small supreme balls, while the Masters division will be played using the big balls. No entrance fee is required.

The competition will culminate on March 4 at Everest Cricket Club. Among the venues earmarked for preliminary matches are Everest CC, Malteenoes SC, GNICSC, GYO and DCC.Regal and Speedboat will be going head

to head in a specially arranged match in preparation for Florida Cup 2 prior to the finals.

Interested teams can contact Mahendra Hardyal on 610-7902 or Russell Jadbeer on 226-4205 or 225-4802 for registration.

Meanwhile, the GSCL INC will be hosting a nationwide softball competition starting in April. Interested teams will be required to fill out forms that will be advertised in the media and submit same to their respective area representatives.

The competition is being organised to resuscitate the sport which has taken a downward step in recent times.

Woods misses cut at Riviera after eight bogeys (Reuters) - A struggling Tiger Woods failed to make the cut at the Genesis Open in California on Friday as he had eight bogeys in a round of five-over-par 76.

The disappointing play left the 14-times major champion at six-over 148, four strokes over the projected cut of +2.“I’ve just got to play more tournaments,” said Woods, making his second start of the PGA Tour season after a year-long absence following back surgery.

Britain’s Graeme McDowell and American Patrick Cantlay shared the clubhouse lead at seven-under 135. Northern Ireland’s McDowell shot a five-under 66, while Cantlay posted a 69.

American Sam Saunders also was at seven-under through 15 holes with countryman Ryan Moore another stroke back after a 68.

Bad light forced play to be abandoned with about 20 players still to finish their second rounds. They will return on Saturday to finish.

Still troubled by his driving and putting, Woods made only three birdies during his

Hanyu defends...

From page 83 early in his programme but regrouped to earn 197.66 points for his free skate and 305.24 overall.

“I know I didn’t do the perfect programme, but I was satisfied with what I did,” Fernandez told reporters.

“It got me an Olympic medal. That’s all I’ve got to say.”

CHEN REBOUNDS, MAKES HISTORY Quadruple jump specialist Nathan Chen rebounded from an error-laden short programme with a historic free skate that put him in the lead before Hanyu, Uno and Fernandez had skated.

The 18-year-old American, who was 17th after the short programme, became the first skater to land six quads at the Olympics to earn 215.08 points, nearly 11 more than his personal best. He finished fifth with a combined total of 297.35.

second round and had more bogeys than scores of par.

Despite his problems, the former world number one committed to play in next week’s Honda Classic in Florida, marking the first time in three years he has entered tournaments on back-to-back weeks.

“I need some tournament rounds,” Woods said of the event near his Florida home.

Despite the problems, Woods said he believed he was progressing in his comeback.

“I haven’t played golf in years,” he said. “I‘m starting to come back and it’s going to take a little time. I am progressing, I‘m starting to get a feel for tournament golf again. I just need to clean up my rounds.”

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From page 75 Runners (SUR) powered his way to victory in the boys 1719 100m clocking 10.89 seconds to finish ahead of Lionel Marks of Hopetown Flames who placed second in 11.09 and third place Umkosi Vancooten of Running Brave 11.23.

Roberts of Running Brave took the top podium spot in the boys 14-16 100m in a time of 11.31 while Osrick Pellew of Ruralites finished second in 11.39 and Denzel Forte of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) third in 11.45.

Raymond of Dechallengers overpowered her rivals to take the girls 1719 100m in a time of 12.17 ahead of Kenisha Phillips of Running Brave 12.20 and Tiffauna Garnett of SUR in 12.74 in that order.

Cassie Small of SUR won the girls 19-19 400m in 58.05 seconds while Kissanna Glen of Dechallengers grabbed the girls 14-16 1500m in a time of 5:22.42; her club mate Kellannie Glen placed second in 5:49.39.

Upper Demerara athlete Bright maintained her dominance on the local scene by winning the girls 14-19 long jump leaping 6.04m, while Toyan Raymond placed second with a jump of 5.75m; Princess Browne of Running Brave was third after clearing 5.58m.

3rd DIGICEL/GFSCA 10/10 Cricket Launched In collaboration with the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), DIGICEL unveiled plans for this year’s 3rd 10/10 Open Cricket competition to bowl off on March 11 next and conclude on April 22nd.

DIGICEL’s Retail Sales Manager – Richard Das, Retail Sales Executive – Seaon Jackman, Public Relations Executive Vidya Sanichara along with GFSCA President Ramchand Ragbeer and Organising Secretary (Essequibo) Khalid Baksh shared details with the media on the cricket which forms part of the telephone giant’s Triple Treat event which is designed to give back to people of the Cinderella County, Sanichara posited.

It was further revealed that the Curry Duck competition and the Stage Show where the company is hoping to have an international Artiste are slated for the semi-

Sunday February 18, 2018

Kaieteur News

finals and final of the competition which would be played on Sunday April 22nd at the Anna Regina Community Center ground.

With a total prize package of One Million dollars up for grabs in the cricket competition, Das noted that they want to make it a lot of fun with preliminary matches set to be contested on the Perseverance Beach.

Eastman reigns supreme to retain title; Hodge, McKay & King also win R&R 46-miler Team Coco’s Hamza Eastman has continued his excellent form at the start of the 2018 season with another clinical finish and successful defence of his R&R International Ltd. 46-mile Road Race title.Braving drenching rain and heavy winds on the West Demerara, Eastman rallied to add the road race title following his triumph in the feature event the day before in the National Park. His winning time of 1:43:14 was a bit slower than last year’s time of 1:31:26 but that is understood given the challenges of the rain and winds.

Some of the riders didn’t stay the course given the challenging weather during the race which pedaled off from the Harbour Bridge, proceeded to Busy Park on the East Bank, Essequibo before returning to the place of origin.Eastman, who won 3 sprint prizes outdueled Paul De Nobrega to the line in a spirited sprint with Deeraj Garbarran taking the 3rd place followed by Romello Crawford, Jamal John and Christopher Griffith in that order. De Nobrega, John and Garbarran also won a sprint prize each.

Adealie Hodge took the junior category in a sprint home from Briton John with Ajay Motilall placing 3rd.

Last year’s masters’ winner, Junior Niles had to settle for the runner-up spot this time around as he was bested

by Warren ‘Forty’ Mc Kay in another sprint home. Alex Mendes took the other podium position.

Mario King is the new king of the mountain bike category, outmaneuvering Shane Bourne to the line.

Monty Parris was the lone Masters Over-60 competitor.

Ten10 Cricket on the Beach Time! The Head Table at yesterday’s 3rd DIGICEL/GFSCA 10/10 Cricket Launch from right, DIGICEL’s Seaon Jackman, Vidya Sanichara and Richard Das; GFSCA’s Ramchand Ragbeer and Khalid Baksh. ran into a speed bump and had be cut short after Vivek Joshi who had already won the 12 seconds class, lost control of his Alteeza and flipped over thrice in the final drag of the 12 seconds category.

Luckily for Joshi who was wearing all his protective gear, he didn’t sustain any injuries after he was repeatedly advised to not enter the final race since he had won the 12 seconds class division already.Joshi’s crash prompted the organisers (GMRSC) to bring the event which was jabbed frequently by intermittent rainfall to an end. A new date will be announced for the meet’s continuation.

At that time, Pankraj Ramdeo had won the 15-seconds class in 15.386 seconds.

Ryan Brijpal reigned supreme in the 14-seconds class with a top time of 14.745 seconds.

Surinamese Nevin Lalbeharie’s time of 13.474 seconds couldn’t be outdone in the 13 seconds class, while Vivek Joshi who won the 12 seconds class had a best time of 12.106 seconds.

Due to the rain which led to the wet surface, the anticipated unlimited class show-

down between Team Mohamed’s Nissan GT-R Goliath and Shawn Persaud’s Toyota Caldina didn’t materialize. However, Mohamed’s excited the patrons with a friendly battle between their pair of Nissan GT-R sports cars.

LeRoy Cort continues good showing in US motorcycle racing Looks for a good 2018 after promising start Guyanese United States based motorcyclist LeRoy Cort, who races with the Championship Cup Series Racing/American Sportbike Racing Association (CCS/ ASRA), has been turning in excellent performances in the North East region, New Hamshire series of racing.

After a good showing at the end of last season, Cort started the 2018 season in Florida with an excellent run.

Cort’s team had signed up for 2 Heavyweight Races which are usually comprised of 750cc and 1000cc knowing very well we would be under power on the 636cc Kawasaki, and the Gran Prix the finale race of the day.

GMRSC’s King of the Strip drag race meet 12 seconds champion Vivek Joshi’s crash curtails event The “King of the Strip” drag race meet that raced off at the South Dakota Circuit

Team Mohamed’s pair of Nissan GT-R sports car.

Race 1 was the Heavyweight Supersport and Cort recorded a 2nd place finish but was bumped up to first after the 1st place finisher was disqualified because of an illegal airbox. Race number two, the Heavyweight Superbike, saw Cort romping to a 2nd Place, while in the final race of the day, the Gran Prix, which turned out to be a great battle to the end, Cort said he ran a bit wide on approach to the finish line to get a better drive on the rider directly in front and hit a cone. However, he still managed to hold on for a 3rd place finish.

You can follow Cort and his team’s accomplishments on Instagram @ridingrehab or Facebook.com/ ridingrehab58.

Slight change to Jumbo Jet Triple Crown race dates Organiser Junior Mohamed has informed that there have been a few changes to the race dates for the first Triple Crown horseracing event in Guyana.

While it may be a slight disappointment to some, it may be a blessing to others

as stables have a few more days to get their thoroughbreds in top shape for the Triple Crown event.

Organised by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Committee and with over $20million in cash prizes up for grabs in the three-day event, and due to start today, the event has been pushed back by about two weeks.

Mohamed informed that the dates have been changed with the first race set for March 4th at the Rising Sun, while the second event will be April 1st at Port Mourant and the 3rd and final race in the series is fixed for April 29th at Rising Sun Turf Club.

The drawing of the grand raffle will be shifted to the final leg on April 29th.

Mohamed informed that for the slight disappointment to the fans, the committee has decided to give away 1000FREE kites for the first 1000 fans that enter the ground on April first.

Any information on the event and changes can be sourced by contacting: Chandu Ramkissoon: 6249063/608-9063/232-0633; Alan Podmore: 232-9115/ 6191909 and Nikita Ross: 6624668.

Sunday February 18, 2018

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Here is a look back at the key events that occurred during the past week on the local sports arena.

ICC women’s world T/20 World Cup launched in Guyana The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Women’s T/ 20 World Cup, which bowls off in the West Indies this November, was launched at Guyana’s Umana Yana in Kingston. Among the attendees of the opening ceremony were the Minister with responsibility for Sports, Dr. George Norton, Cricket West Indies (CWI) Directors Anand Sanasie and Jennifer Nero, among members of government and the local organising committee.

For the first time, the women’s tournament will be a standalone event unlike the last which in which both the West Indies male and female teams participated in 2016.

CWI and tournament director Jennifer Nero noted that, “The tournament will be of great significance as it signals to the world that gender equality is an integral part of ICC and CWI agendas.”

She further posited, “Our (CWI) vision is to bring the Caribbean flavour to successfully host the games. CWI will use this tournament as a springboard to raise children and women’s participation of the sport in the region.”

ICC’s Executive David Richards was unable to attend the opening but shared a video message where he expressed pleasure in the Windies women’s chance of defending their title on home soil.

Minister Norton welcomed the tournament to the shores of Guyana and noted that the sport has come a long way since the inception of professional cricket.

Chanderpaul Hemraj pulls for six during entertaining 80 last night.

Minister Dr. George Norton (with bat) flanked by members of the local organising committee and members of government during the Women’s World T20 launch at the Umana Yana yesterday.

Guyana will host preliminaries and group matches during the tournament that begins on November 4th.

Jaguars beat Scorpions on D/L to reach Super50 semis ST JOHN’S, Antigua, – The Guyana Jaguars beat the Jamaica Scorpions by 4 wickets (with 8 balls remaining) on the Duckworth /Lewis method at Coolidge Cricket Ground to advance to the semifinals of the Regional Super50 tournament in Antigua.

Jamaica Scorpions, opting to bat first, reached 264 for eight off their 50 overs, in the day/night 36th match. Led again by Chadwick Walton, who hit a superb 104, Jamaica looked in good stead to set a decent target. Odean Smith 32 not out and Steven Taylor 32 offered support as Guyana made some inroads in the middle overs. Ramaal Lewis took 2-36 bowling for the Jaguars.

Chasing their target, a few rain interruptions saw the Jaguars being set a revised target of 212 after a good start from the openers.

Chanderpaul Hemraj 80, Christopher Barnwell 56 and Tagenarine Chanderpaul 27 were the main contributors to see the Jaguars home and into the semis. Pete Salmon captured 4-35 bowling for the Scorpions.

Scores: SCORPIONS 264 for eight (Chadwick Walton 104, Odean Smith 32 not out, Steven Taylor 32; Ramaal Lewis 2-36).

Guyana 213/6 (38.4/40

ov, target 212) Chanderpaul Hemraj 80, Christopher Barnwell 56, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 27; Pete Salmon 4-35) Result: Guyana won by 4 wickets (with 8 balls remaining) (D/L method).

Court to supervise BCB elections today at New Amsterdam Town Hall Following court battles and verification process it has been decided that the High Court will be supervising the Berbice Cricket Board elections set for today at the New Amsterdam Town Hall from 11:00 hrs.

The decision was handed down by Justice Navendra Singh in the Berbice High Court on January 30th.

The Court had ordered on December 18th that elections be held in the month of January, but had recalled that

order and replaced it with a new one. Justice Singh had initially ordered the elections which were held on October 8 and which were subsequently deemed fraudulent.

The court order further stated that an Agent of the Court will convene the meeting for the purpose of the election being held.

It went on to mention that the Agent shall verify the presence of the delegates/ representatives of the various clubs and associations from the lists approved by the court.

Such verified delegates/representatives shall then vote for a Returning Officer from among all the persons present in the room.

The Returning Officer shall then conduct the election for the office bearers of the Berbice Cricket Board ( B C B ) .

It went on to state that failing to comply with the terms of the judgment persons will be

in contempt and may be liable to imprisonment of have their assets seized.

Following the holding of the Court ordered elections, on October 8 which incidentally was ordered by Justice Navendra Singh following a lengthy legal process, a number of clubs and association present complained that the elections were not held in a fair and transparent manner. They had taken the matter back to court complaining that the election process had been “fundamentally flawed, unfair and undemocratic,” and that the office-bearers could not have been properly elected.

After the matter was taken back to court Justice Singh had declared the elections held on October 8 “unlawful, null, void, and of no legal effect as the entire election process was fundamentally flawed, unfair and undemocratic”.

There are 11 clubs and

Tyrell Peters (4th from right) crosses the finish line ahead of his rivals to take the boys 17-19 100m. (Photo by Zaheer Mohamed)

three Sub Associations that are expected to vote.

Stewart, Peters, Roberts, Raymond, Bright take top honours at Carifta games trials Akeem Stewart, Tyrell Peters, Deron Roberts, Toyan Raymond and Chantoba Bright braved the weather to top their respective fields when the first day of the Carifta Games trials concluded at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

Stewart of the Guyana Defence Force out-sprinted his rivals to win the men’s +20 100m in a time of 10.53 seconds, while Davin Fraser of the Guyana Police Force placed second in 10.69; Titus Webster of Hopetown United was third in 10.91.

Peters of Super Upcoming (Continued on page 74)

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Skeleton - Yarnold retains skeleton gold, Deas adds British bronze PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Lizzy Yarnold became the first Briton to successfully defend a Winter Olympic title when she claimed the skeleton gold yesterday as Laura Deas took bronze to complete the country’s greatest day in the Winter Games.

Austria’s Janine Flock had seemed set to spoil the party when her impressive third run sent her into the final round in the lead. Yarnold, however, piled on the pressure with a course-record final run and Flock then made a series of mistakes that relegated her from first to fourth.

Germany’s Jacqueline Loelling took the silver.

British women have won medals at every skeleton event since the sport was reintroduced to the Games in 2002 and their two yesterday, along with a bronze for IzzyAtkin earlier in the freestyle skiing slopestyle, meant it is the first time the country has won three Winter Olympic medals in a day - beating their best of two in 1924.

An ecstatic and largely British crowd at the finish line whooped and cheered as an overjoyed Yarnold whipped off her helmet and screamed.

“I love big occasions like this. I love the tension of it all, and the release of tension at the end,” Yarnold told Reuters. “I just could not stop screaming”.

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Kaieteur News

Yarnold broke the track record in her final run to take the title by a huge 0.45 seconds. (Getty Images) Yarnold finished 0.45 seconds ahead of Loelling, who had led after the first two runs, as her blistering track record of 51.46 seconds made the difference.

“It means so much to me,” said Yarnold, who lost her love for the sport following her Sochi success.“At times over the last four years it’s been so hard and I’ve doubted myself and wondered whether I could get back to where I wanted to be but the team never lost faith and that’s why I’m back here today on the podium,” she said.“Honestly after the last few years the aim was to get here to the Olympics, I wasn’t think-

ing about the medals - but to achieve that is the stuff of dreams, as is sharing the podium with Laura who’s been amazing.”

Skeleton races begin with an explosive sprint, with athletes then diving head-first onto a sled which accelerates down the ice at speeds of over 100kph.A minus 14 degrees Celsius wind chill threatened to keep crowds away, but the event has been a popular spectator sport in Pyeongchang following the success of host country South Korea’s Yun Sung-bin, who took the men’s gold on Thursday.

At the finish line, many were entertained by Nigeria’s Simidele Adeagbo, competing as part of her nation’s first Winter Games delegation, who danced cheerfully despite consistently coming last.Although the 36-year-old clocked some of the fastest start times across the four heats, she struggled with the track at Pyeongchang, regularly crashing into walls as she exited curves

Bounty Farm Ltd Handicap Squash Tournament

Fans treated to top class Squash Friday night Day three of the Bounty Farm Ltd Handicap Squash Tournament treated the spectators to top class squash from veterans, seniors and juniors alike.

Nicholas Naraine (-12) contested Joe Mekdeci (2) in the Open category in an exciting three game match which saw Mekdeci demonstrate experience, skill and tactical play in the first game to beat Naraine 15-3. Naraine came out fighting in the second and despite Mekdeci continuing to toil, Nicholas took the second game 15-9.

The third game was scattered with Mekdeci earning points reaching to 10 whilst Naraine climbed into positive points.

Naraine then moved from 1 to 13 in a heartfelt battle, conceded 2 points, then hammered home the vital two points to victory;15-12.

Regan Pollard(-10) and Javid Rahaman(0) had a mixed match with Regan winning the first 11-15, conceding the second 1-15 and coming back with a vengeance in game three for a 15-9 victory.

Category A’s Kirsten Gomes (0) and Demetrius

DeAbreu (-4) displayed skills belying their age, showing the resilience and fortitude the junior players possess in some outstanding rallies.

Kirsten dominated to secure both games in a 15-11, 15-13 win.Another Cat A match of note during Fridays’ play was between James Mekdeci (3) and Madison Fernandes (0).

James was able to step up and validate the results of hard work by triumphing over Madison 15-12, 15-13.

Scores for Friday Evening: Open Category Adam Alves (5) beat Ashley Khalil (-4) 15-6, 15-9.

Alex Cheeks (-2) beat Ian Mekdeci (8) 15-14, 7-15, 15-10 Nicholas Naraine (-12) beat Joe Mekdeci (2) -3-15, 15-9, 15-12 Nyron Joseph (-22) beat Taylor Fernandes (-4) 15-9, 15-5 Category A Abosaide Cadogan (0) beat Shiloh Asregado (11) 15-11, 15-12 Ethan Jonas (-2) beat Joshua Verwey (9) 15-11, 15-9 James Mekdeci (5) beat Madison Fernandes (2) 15-12, 1513 Paige Fernandes (8) beat

Keenan Naraine (13) 15-13, 156 Kirsten Gomes (0) beat Demetrius De Abreu (-4) 1511, 15-13 Louis DaSilva (6) beat Jason Gomes (7) 13-15, 15-14, 15-11 Michael Alphonso (-6) beat Lucas Jonas (2) 15-13, 15-9 Open Category Plate Robert Natiello (10)beat Andrea King (1) 13-15, 15-5, 15-7 Regan Pollard (-10) beat Javid Rahaman (0) 15-11, -1-15, 159 Brian Young (8) beat John Maikoo (8) 15-13, 15-11.

Category A Plate Aishani Persaud (0) beat Kaden Pynaendy (2) 15-7, 1510 Nicholas Verwey (5) beat Monisha Persaud (13) 15-10, 15-13 Zachary Persaud (7) beat Jared Saul (12) 15-7, 15-5 Noah Rahaman (13) beat Grant Fernandes (13)15-12, 15-7 Kamir Khan (7) beat Chad De Abreu (10) 15-8, 15-6 Lajuan Munroe (1) beat Beau Fernandes (11) 12-15, 15-6, 1513 Teija Edwards (11) beat Brenno DaSilva (13) 15-13, 156

Forde for FIFA Executive Football Summit President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde has been invited for the second time by FIFA to make a presentation, this time at the FIFA Executive Football Summit scheduled for Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday.

The 15-minute presentation will center on Guyana’s objectives and projects under the FIFA Forward programme. FIFA has noted that the GFF is a good example of a FIFA member association which has taken a strategic approach to its project submissions.

Forde, who leaves today for Nigeria stated that he would once again make the nation proud.

Wayne Forde