Kaieteur News

Monday October 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil’s effects on Guyana’s environment will be under scrutiny Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell

The Audit Office of Guyana is steadily improving to meet the growing need for accountability and transparency in Guyana.

To this extent, Auditor General, Deodat Sharma has announced that he is gearing to begin carrying out environmental audits.

Sharma said that the office is aiming to look at “means of preserving our environment especially to protect our endangered sea turtle, birds and animals, as we enter the production of oil.

As such we intend to carry out several environmental audits and this will be in compliance with the fourth ‘E’ of auditing. Sharma outlined the four ‘E’s of auditing to be economy, efficiency, effectiveness and environment.

He told Kaieteur News that the environmental audit is a type of performance audit.

“It is a report on the environment and maybe if the gas and oil regulation is completed, we can examine it to

see that there are provisions to protect our species.”

Sharma said that there will be great focus on provisions by companies for the prevention of oil spills “because that would be a huge issue.”

To carry out the task ahead, Sharma said that the Audit Office will not need more staffers but current staffers will definitely need more training.

He said that he has already started training staff members. Sharma disclosed that he sent six people to India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme and they have been participating in the environmental auditing.

“So they are aware of what is going on.”

Also, as the captain of the ship, Sharma said that he too is trained to do performance auditing, “so I am now forced to move towards, I have it in my horizon but I have to bring it forward now.”

The Auditor General said that while he is already preparing, he is aware that there is much to be done. Sharma said that that he cannot say

- As Audit Office gears to begin environmental audits as yet about all the details of what the audit will take on.

However, he expecting to roll out the service early next year.

He said that performance audit takes a year and then the auditors will have to check back to see if the recommendations have been implemented.

Already, there has been noted that Guyana needs to place more emphasis on the protection of the environment.

ExxonMobil, in its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), claims that the possibility of an oil spill is not very high.

However, it said that there is a 10 percent chance that in the event of a spill, oil will reach the coast of Guyana where 90 percent of its population sits.

ExxonMobil inferred that because of the purported ‘slim’ chance of an oil spill, detailed response measures are not needed. However, with

a two percent possibility of occurring, the practice around the world is that oil companies are made to cater in detail for disasters. And indeed, the impact of an oil spill will be major for Guyana and its neighbours.

There is also nothing in the EIA that speaks to how Guyana’s neighbours will be compensated. What was clear is that ExxonMobil did not commit to bearing the legal or financial responsibility in the event of a disaster.

There is a possibility that neighbouring countries, when environmental damage occurs, can move against Guyana. If the burden is left to bear by Guyana, the country may have to pay damages equivalent to years of oil revenues.

ExxonMobil’s EIA also offers no compensation to fishermen and other Guyanese who are most likely to be affected in the case of an oil

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma spill.

The EIA has little or no information on the role to be played by relevant stakeholders as it pertains to consultations, training and quick response measures.

In the event of an oil spill, there is no oversight mechanism in place to oversee the remedial action taken by the company.

The EIA noted that the light nature of the Liza field crude oil, and the region’s warm waters would help minimize the severity of a spill.

“Accounting for these fac-

tors, the modeling indicates only a five to 10 percent probability of any oil reaching the Guyana coast.”

However, Exxon admitted that a spill at a Liza well would likely impact marine resources found near the well.

ExxonMobil has been known to be associated with some of the world’s most horrific oil spills. One such example is what happened in Alaska, United States.

In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez slammed into a reef and spilled more than 11 million gallons of crude oil into the cold, clear waters of Alaska. Those waters, referred to as ‘Prince William Sound’ were deemed one of the “last best places” on Earth.

The oil charged through Prince William Sound and out into the Gulf of Alaska. The damage spread more than 1,300 miles of some of the most remote, wild shorelines in America.

The amount of oil spilled can fill 125 Olympic size swimming pools. Four deaths were directly associated with clean up efforts.

Minimum of five years needed to get GRA at 90% level of efficiency - Entity now operating at 35 percent By: Kiana Wilburg The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has some of the nation’s most qualified citizens. But even with a labour force that exceeds 1000 recruits and employment costs over $2B, this entity has been operating at an efficiency level that is less than six percent for years. It was only recently that the tax authority was able to jump to 35 percent.

Even though this is a small accomplishment, it is nothing that the GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia is impressed with. He told Kaieteur News that there are a number of issues preventing the agency from operating at the optimal level. As such, it will take quite some time before the tax authority can realise its true potential.

When he took over the post, some 14 months ago, Statia said he was eager to set the entity on the right track.

He was keeping abreast with the daily news and had a fair idea of the areas that needed the most work, or so he thought. Upon becoming Commissioner General, Statia got a rude awakening.

“The entire infrastructure was in disrepair. The floors including the Commissioner

GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia General’s office, flooded when it rained. There was paper everywhere. The IT system called TRIPS kept tripping.

The taxpaying public had to sit in tents and be subjected to the elements of the weather, with no AC or fans.

The working conditions at branch offices and wharves were even worse. All of this led to low staff morale, an absentee ratio exceeding 35 percent, staff being treated for mold and other associated illnesses, bribery, collusion and corrupt practices, and of course inefficient tax collection.”

The Commissioner General asserted that the Author-

ity had among its cadres, more graduates than a similar private sector size company, yet was working below its capacity.

“When an OTA (Office of Technical Assistance of the United States Department of the Treasury) team visited in August 2016, they reported that GRA as a tax agency was operating at a five percent level of efficiency. Suffice to say that one year later, the same team has reported that the efficiency level has since risen to 35 percent. They have however advised that it will take a minimum of five years to get the system to the 90 percent desirable level of efficiency.”

Statia said that this time period may mean that he might not see that “promised land,” since as said on many occasions, should he be incapable

of meeting the goals and objectives that he was employed and set out to do, he will be the first to say “goodbye.”

To achieve this future level of efficiency, Statia asserted that it would necessitate a partnership of all stakeholders of which the private sector should and continue to play an integral part.

TAX REFORM COMMISSION FINDINGS The Tax Reform Commission, which was established by the Granger administration, had also found several reasons which prevented the tax authority from operating at an optimal level.

In its 2016 report to the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, the Tax Reform Committee of which the GRA Commissioner General was a member, reflected that the main

weaknesses in the Guyana tax system include an excessive amount of exemptions, significant evasion and avoidance, low administrative capacity, a relatively narrow tax base, high effective tax rates in certain sectors, and a failure to achieve the desired amount of equity.

It goes on further to say that, “The high incidence of evasion relates to those companies and individuals who use various devices to evade the several taxes imposed on them by law.

There is also a very large underground economy, made up of both unincorporated firms, employing various evasion and avoidance practices, and self-employed persons of various skills and occupations. In addition, smuggling is rampant because of the thousands of miles of

unpatrolled borders.”

The Tax Reform Commission also reported that the failure to capture more operatives into the tax net is partly related to the relatively low capacity of the Guyana Revenue Authority in terms of trained and skilled personnel, the absence of or failure to use information technology to capture common and relevant information regarding taxpayers and a common and adequate data base; and a level of professionalism that is not sufficiently high to resist various forms of bribery.

In addition, in the past administration, the Commission noted that there has been such political intervention/ interference at GRA that it prevented the officers from conducting their duties in a fair and non-partisan manner.

Monday October 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Minister Allicock has turned Slowe’s recommendations a blind eye to this violation must be implemented DEAR EDITOR, The residents of the Parikwaranau Village located in South-Central Rupununi, Region 9 (Upper Takatu – Upper Essequibo) are highly concerned that a known cattle rancher has taken over and fenced a portion of their titled village lands without their consent. This matter was brought to the attention of the Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Sydney Allicock about a year ago by the village council but to date nothing has been done.

The residents are claiming that while Minister Allicock has recently addressed the land boundaries of villages in the North Rupununi, he is deliberately refusing to

address the Parikwaranau titled land encroachment by the known rancher which he is fully aware of. Villagers said that both Ministers Allicock and George Norton recently visited the Parikwaranau Village on 14th September, 2017 and informed villagers on their arrival that their visit is not to deal with land issues but to address other issues.

Minister Allicock instead advised residents to take their land problem to the Land Commission of Inquiry (COI) and who should be invited to the village. The residents are of the opinion that their current land problem is not one for the Land COI to solve but the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs

(MOIPA).

The residents said that they will not be taking their village problem to the Land COI neither will the commission be invited into the village.

The Parikwaranau village residents are extremely disappointed over Minister Allicock’s refusal to settle their land problem with the known cattle rancher. They are wondering if it is a conflict of interest situation, then Minister Garrido-Lowe or a specially appointed person should take over. In the meanwhile, the problem is currently affecting the strategic development of the Parikwaranau Village Peter Persaud

A dangerous misconception of Human Resource Management DEAR EDITOR, In his comments on my recent letter to the media on repatriates, ‘Kassem’, a regular commentator on letters to the editor declared: “HRM job is a piece of kake” compared to others. I assume that ‘kake’ was a typo for cake as in the usual expression of simplicity: ‘a piece of cake’; I also hope that he did not deliberately mean our colloquial miasmatic ‘kaka’ or even the New Zealand parrot because some HRM officials might be talking like the bird. In any event, as an experienced and seriously committed HRM professional, I take umbrage to such an uninformed, unbridled affront to a critical and demanding profession.

Kassem might be excused if, as it appears, his experience was limited to the simple ‘record keeping’ aspects of HRM; however, he and others like him need to know that Human Resource Management is as serious a discipline as any other; it’s primary base is in the behavioral sciences which is as demanding as any other discipline.

Formal qualifications in HRM require tertiary qualifications and post-graduate

training lasting as long as any other discipline.

The fact that it is a new professional discipline relative to engineering, medicine, law etc, etc does not diminish its status or demands or impact on organizations and businesses.

The business world, the fields of institutional, governmental and nongovernmental organizations are increasingly realizing the uniquely important and critical role of the human factor in their various spheres of operation; those who fail to do so soon realise the folly of their insensitivity.

I would not be surprised if the foregoing is seen as self-serving but I cannot ignore the years of positive feedback I have had from colleagues in other professions virtually across the world who have acknowledged the valuable and critical inputs from myself and teams of other HRM professionals that I have had the pleasure of leading.

Besides, I do not think that the type of derogatory, belittling comments by Kassem should go unchallenged in light of the valueadded necessarily associated with the HRM profession.

NowrangPersaud

Iran continues to persecute and imprison Baha’i leaders DEAR EDITOR, The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) welcomes the release of the Baha’i leader, Mahvash Sabet, who was unjustly imprisoned in Iran for 10 years on the sole basis of her religion. The Centre calls for the immediate release of the six other Baha’i leaders, who have all been imprisoned in Iran since 2008, and an end to the state-led persecution of the Baha’i community.

All seven of these individuals, including Mahvash, were unjustly imprisoned to begin with, and should not have spent one day in prison, let alone 10 years. The Iranian Baha’i community is one of the most persecuted religious

minorities in Iran. Members of the faith are forbidden to publicly practice their religion, are routinely denied employment and education, suffer the confiscation of their property and the closing of their businesses, and its leaders are imprisoned. There are currently some ninety members of the Baha’i faith in prison in Iran due to the practice of their religion.

May 15, 2017, marked the ninth anniversary of the imprisonment of seven leaders of Iran’s Baha’i community — Jamaloddin Khanjani, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Saeid Rezaie, Fariba Kamalabadi, Vahid Tizfahm, Afif Naeimi, and Mahvash Sabet. The “Baha’i 7" were each sentenced to 20 years

in prison on sham national security-related charges before their sentences were reduced to 10 years upon appeal.

The United Nations has condemned Iran’s persecution of its Baha’i community. According to Article 25 of the Charter on Citizens’ Rights, which Iranian president Rouhani signed in December 2016, which states “Citizens have freedom of thought.

Inquisition is prohibited, and no one can be persecuted merely for his or her beliefs.”

However, Baha’i leaders have noted that the persecution of the Baha’i community has actually increased during the Rouhani administration.

Rooplall Dudhnath

DEAR EDITOR, Although not officially released for public consumption by the Government, many recommendations from the Paul Slowe’s CoI are now public knowledge. Several persons have posited their views on the issues in the print and electronic media and elsewhere. It is a good topic to start a conversation with or even an argument. Issues and concerns that originate from the inquiry have the potentials to rock very foundation of discipline in the Guyana Police Force. However, it has its parallel dating back some years ago. President Hugh Desmond Hoyte had ordered an inquiry into the operations of the Guyana Prison Service. When asked why he did not implement many of the recommendations of the CoI, President Hoyte said that he could not afford the haemorrhage. End of the matter!

Years later, we experienced deadly and devastating effects of not implementing many of those recommendations. The Government of Guyana may find itself in a conundrum dammed if it does; dammed if it does not act on the recommendations. Those recommendations that I have seen, have constitutional, strategic, tactical, operational and other implications. If put into action, they

are likely to shatter the very foundation of the GPF! Apparently, the GPF is like the West Indies Cricket Team. There is no strength on the bench. According to Viv Richards, the lights are on but no one is going to the party. In terms of strategic, tactical and operational command, we appear to be scraping the barrel from top to bottom. It may be more.

Unprecedented activities require unprecedented actions. Let us not fall in the same trap like we did with the GPS. Let the chips fall where they may, even if there will be some amount of bloodletting.

Let there be the transfusion. The process may be painful but it is required to purify the body. It is in the best interest of the GPF and will go a far way towards the law enforcement officers delivering a higher quality of service to the government and citizens of Guyana they swore to serve and protect. There is hope.

Remember, behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining. The clouds will soon roll by.

Wow! Why are some things in Guyana so inherently incredible?

Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

Ravi Dev may be underestimating the value of the return passage DEAR EDITOR, I refer to Ravi Dev letter Kaieteur News on September 20, 2017 entitled “We need to become more conversant with our history.”

In his letter, he said ‘Mr Williams’ citations debunk the claim by some that Indian immigrants were ‘pampered’ by the planters and ‘given’ free land. The minuscule acreage acquired by them via this route was in EXCHANGE for the cost of a passage back to India they were owed through the terms of their indentureship. As I demonstrated, the value of the land for the exchange was on the average half of what the passage would have cost.’

Excuse the derogatory term but the following is an exact quotation of the records of the day: “Of the Coolie residents whose time had expired in 1850 and 1851, the greater part eagerly agreed to remain in the country for five, or three years longer, on receiving bounties of fifty and thirty dollars each, while many of those who returned to India declared their intention of coming back again to

Demerara.” Demerara after fifteen years of freedom” T. Bosworth 1853, pages 56-57. At ten cents a day, thirty dollars was more than the wages for a year of work.

In an earlier letter in Kaieteur News on September 20, 2017 entitled “Can the Indian Guyanese speak for justice?” he said ‘Of the 163,964 Indian immigrants that remained in Guyana a mere 2,653 (1.6%) exchanged their return passage worth $60/each for land worth an average of $30.45 each.’

Thirty dollars of land was large enough to grow rice as noticed in the following quotation: “Some notice should be paid to the considerable exhibit of rice by the free East Indian immigrants, recently and very wisely placed at Huis t’Dieren, where they received a grant of land in lieu of their passage back to India due to them at the expiration of their of indenture.” Timerhi Journal, Vol. 1, 1882, page 108. The amount of land needed for rice growing is more than ‘miniscule acreage.’

Kingsley Williams

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Kaieteur News

Monday October 02, 2017

What passes these days for political What is it about the constitution administration is laughable at its best that we don’t understand?

DEAR EDITOR, So the Grangeradministration will spend upwards of US$200 million dollars for a bridge across the Demerara that will be closed twice a day to allow ships to pass. Yes, I am not kidding!

After Burnham built a retractable bridge 40 years ago, 1977, the PNC lead coalition will build a bridge in 2018 with the same archaic feature. They are saying that the bridge is different because vehicles will be allowed to remain on the bridge when it retracts.

What passes these days for political administration is laughable at best and downright retarded at worse.

Just imaging that with the ever expanding growth and development on the West Bank and Coast of the Demerara; with the constant importation of vehicles; with the additional expansion that will come when because of the oil find, people will be able to import even more vehicles, this government is building a bridge that grinds traffic to a complete halt for 2 to 4 hours every day.

The country really can expect no better after all even the feasibility study was crooked. First the contract was awarded to one entity, and then it was withdrawn and handed to a Coalition crony. Then the government said that the IDB has funded the study, and then they said that it was actually the (broke) government that paid the $146 million to a PNC lackey. With this level of

underhandedness, there must be a resultant level of ineptness and shortsightedness.

Let me here note that these are the very things they highlighted to aid them in removing the crooked PPP. Now they are caught with the things. Not that they would answer. Autocratic rulers don’t take time to answer to their citizens. But if they would answer, the United Republican Party (URP) would like to ask a few questions of the government.

1. How long do you plan to keep the new bridge for?

2. Do you plan to eventually build a bridge that does not retract? If so, When?

3. If you have to borrow money or partner with an investor to build this design, why not put some more money and build a bridge that does not retract and that you never have to worry about again?

This government is so confused that they even have the population confused. Do you know that there are folks who are arguing with me that the proposed bridge will not have to open for ships to pass? And some people who are arguing the loudest are the APNU supporters. Even they can’t believe that their leaders could be this dumb.

This government keeps highlighting Guyana’s potential from the oil and gas sectors. Now let’s work with that in mind. If Linden does get an oil refinery, as some are pushing for, and if bauxite is

smelted there: both of which are now possible because of the local oil find. Can you imagine the substantial increase in maritime traffic along that Demerara River? It would mean that the traffic delays would then double or quadruple, or they will have to be more openings of the bridge, to allow for the increase in traffic.

Either way, the approved design of the bridge is a backwards steep or as my aunt used to say, “Ayah dotish.” I live on the West side at Vreed-en-Hoop, and one of the most unnerving things is to have to remember to check the bridge schedule.

Another really unconvincing thing is sitting in that traffic – sometimes for more than an hour – waiting for the bridge to reopen so that you can get on with your business.

I would like to say unequivocally that a URP government or substantial representation in the parliament, will immediately take steps at making a crossing across the Demerara a permanent one. If the Coalition government goes ahead with this backwards bridge design, we will make a permanent bridge fixture an item on our 2020 platform.

That is how strongly we are opposed to this crooked design. Which causes me to wonder: If the government has to change this design, what happens to the $146 million us dollars? Does it remain with the crony?

Dr. Vishnu Bandhu Leader, URP

Factors contributing to police brutality DEAR EDITOR, I refer to my previous letter on police brutality KN, Oct, 1). One of the conditions that give rise to police brutality is frustration. When the police are not able to reduce the crime rate significantly over an extended period, protest from the business community, politicians, professionals and common folks become loud and constant. Interest groups turn to the letters column of newspapers for airing their dissatisfaction, anti-crime marches are organized and TV talk shows dedicate considerable time to addressing the issue. This forces the police to respond.

The police administration upbraids the junior ranks for not being vigilant and tough.

The junior ranks hit the road filled with angry and anxious to get their hands on those they perceive as law breakers on whom they can take out their frustration. Another reason for police brutality is

their sense of pride. Yes! You heard me right.

When a police officer attempts to make an arrest and the youth runs, forcing the police, with heavy boots and uncomfortable caps to pursue, watched by a laughing crowd (Guyanese laugh at the strangest things), the police feel humiliated and God save the soul of that youth if caught. Running after a suspect, is demeaning to the police. As a youth growing-up in a poor area I knew that one would suffer a worse faith at the hands of the police if you make him run - appear less in control, ‘less cool.’

The youth who does not run and make himself available for arrest, even if he protests rudely and with profanity laden language will be treated civilly, well at least better than the guy who runs and make the police run.

There is so much more that could be said on this issue of cause, for example peer

pressure is also a contributing factor. However, space will not allow for further discourse of this issue. We must move on and discuss the second duty of criminal justice students – Offering advice on what citizens can do to reduce the chances of being subject of police brutality.

The first advice for citizens is, when approached by the police be respectful, address the police as Officer or Sir such courtesy tend to disarm police ranks, forcing them to behave in a manner worthy of such respectful salutation. There is some truth in the saying that in your company, people behave in the manner that you make them feel is acceptable. Learn from the people of the USA, where it seems, every parent teach their children to be respectful when stopped by the police.

They know that whether that child lives or die could be Continued on page 7

DEAR EDITOR, Having read Mike Persaud’s letter, “We need a return to a Westminster model constitution.” 28th September, they are some germane issues that cannot be ignored.

1. The call for a return to a constitution that would “have a president with limited powers and subject to a rule of law,” where in the former such require furthering contextualising given that Guyana is a sovereign nation and not subject to the Crown or any other external power, in the latter the present Constitution subject the president to the rule of law.

Presently circulating in the public domain is the oral and written ruling of acting Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire attending to the interpretation of the qualifying criteria to be among the List of Nominees to be considered for the GECOM Chairman (Article 161). The Court was asked to adjudicate on this matter given conflicting opinions by President Granger and others.

Were the president above the rule of law, Madame Chief Justice would have thrown out the case and said whatever the office holder does is right and that person’s action is immune from legal interpretation and accountability.

The GECOM ruling also puts context to Article 182 “Immunities of the President” where the society has been misled into thinking the office holders can do whatever he or she wants unrestrained by laws, time-honoured principles, and ethical practices. The GECOM evidence, in addition to previous similar rulings, by now should have nullified the argument that the president is above the rule of law, yet this misperception or propaganda continues to hold sway.

2. Persaud said “We need a constitution to strengthen the independence of state institutions – the judiciary, Elections Commission, etc.”

The debate on the composition of the commissioners can be argued, but the body of itself is independent and operates within the confine of the Constitution and any Act of Parliament (Article 162).

Regarding The Judicature, Article 122A expressly addresses its independence. Accordingly, at “(1) All courts and all persons presiding over the courts shall exercise their function independently of the control and direction of any other person or authority; and shall be free and independent from political, executive and any other form of direction

and control.” This is as clear as it can get, most notably so with the use of “shall” as qualifier of the independence of this branch.

To the David Granger/ Moses Nagamotoo Government’s credit, the move to provide the judiciary with economic independence in the National Budget is a progressive stance in ensuring Article 122A (2) that reinforces its autonomy/ independence and addresses its funding and management.

3. It is Persaud’s view there is need for a constitution to provide for “impeachment” of the president. This very request does not require a new constitution for it already exists in the present constitution. Article 94 “Removal of President for violation of Constitution or gross misconduct” satisfies the desire to impeach the office holder if and when necessary.

We need constitutional education like yesterday and at the risk of being seen as belabouring the point this society is not being served where absence of knowledge, education and enforcement of the Constitution is driving the discussions for reform or a new constitution. The desire to pursue blindly will get us all into deeper trouble.

Lincoln Lewis

The President should be careful of his reliance on oil DEAR EDITOR, President David Granger, according to a report appearing on news website – Newsroom, during a function he attended in New York is reported to have described sugar and the other traditional economic sectors in derogatory terms.

The President, if the report is accurate, has made a very bold statement and one which, in my view, says a lot about him and his Government.

As Guyanese, we learnt that we should never curse the bridge that you walk on.

But the President, through his utterances, has done exactly what we were told we should never do.

Our traditional economic sectors, which the President has described as the six sisters, have served us well and continue to remain relevant. In fact two of them – rice and sugar – are the only sustainable industries that our country possesses, now more than half a century after independence.

From the report, the

President says we should look forward to oil and gas which would be transformational.

But it seems the President, his large Cabinet and the Administration’s several dozen advisors have not been reading the news.

Certainly had they done so, they would have read about the growing resistance and the moves by quite a few countries to turn away from fossil fuel to electric vehicles, with some nations hoping to have such a transformation in just about 20 years from now.

Just a few months ago, investment guru Dennis Gartman admitted in an interview that petroleum is “a worthless commodity”.

Gartman went on to say “that crude oil, over the course of the next 20 to 40 years, is going to be a worthless commodity… it will be supplanted by something else.”

Moreover, website Oilnow.gy revealed in an article on September 23, 2017 – Bank account for every

baby, free education and better infrastructure; Guyanese vision for oil money mixed – that oil revenues are “projected to be close to one million US dollars per day”.

In other words, oil will only earn us U$365M. Such sum is woefully inadequate to bring the “transformation” Guyanese need and require. I urge President Granger and his Government not to cast aside the ‘six sisters’ and place our dreams, hopes, aspirations and our future in oil.

It is a very slippery slope and as the experience of Trinidad and Tobago and Venezeula is showing us, sole dependency on oil is far from being a panacea.

As famed Caribbean economist and winner of the Noble Prize for Economics, Sir Arthur Lewis has taught us, let us maintain our existing sectors as we seek to diversify and build our economies. I urge President Granger and his very large team to stop being dotards.

Patricia Persaud

Monday October 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Sugar union calling strikes to undermine GuySuCo DEAR EDITOR, It is with much regret that the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) expresses its disappointment with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union’s (GAWU) unwillingness to keep the doors of the Corporation open.

GAWU has organised a number of strike action across the industry during the past two weeks. One would have thought that the cries from the Union about keeping the doors of the Corporation open would be supported by corresponding behaviour; however, sadly, this request is not reflected in its behaviour.

This is a very critical point for GuySuCo. The Management is working tirelessly to bring stability to the business. Having spent millions of dollars on repairs and maintenance during the Out-of-Crop period, all of its good efforts are being stymied by a Union that has

not evolved with time.

On Monday 18 September, 2017, employees from the Rose Hall Estate were on strike, demanding to cut and stack canes for bell loading, while this demand was being made, there were 120 punts of canes on the ground to be loaded by the bell loaders. Further, the area where they were working was not bell loader-friendly due to the high dam beds and they were well aware of this. The strike lasted one day.

On Tuesday 19 September, 2017, another set of employees were on strike at Albion Estate. The reason stated was to express their dissatisfaction to the Corporation’s inability to pay wages on Friday September 15. They were also demanding a definite word in regards to their payment on Friday September 22.This strike was called even though the Corporation informed GAWU and other stakeholders that the

Lessons to be learnt from the Archibald tragedy DEAR EDITOR, The horrific assault and subsequent cruel death of young Leonard Archibald was so chilling there can be no doubt as to the level of depravity of the alleged accused.

But what is even more baffling and utterly incomprehensible is the silence and intransigence of the community, who from all accounts was fully cognizant and aware of the goings-on and what took place in the house where young Archibald was taken and where he never was to be seen alive again. For their silence and turning a Nelson’s eye one of their own paid the ultimate price.

There are many lessons to be taken away from this sordid episode for other communities to take heed and note. We need to be each other’s keepers. My deepest condolences to the grieving mother, family members and relatives of Leonard Archibald. May he rest in peace!

Shamshun Mohamed

Factors contributing to...

From page 6 decided by how he/she addresses the police.

Secondly, when stopped by the police do not run, they will beat the hell out of you if caught. Remember what I said about the police hating to have to chase on foot. As a youth I grew-up in a poor area, I know the value of this advice. Finally, always keep your cell phone on record when talking to a police officer. You might not be able to film the encounter (usually this is done by a passer -by).

But the next best thing is a record of the exchange.

The police when physically abusing a citizen are inclined to be loud and resort to the use of a liberal dose of expletives. It is as if they need to work themselves into a frenzy in order to do the dastardly deed. In the absence of some kind of recording it becomes the police word against yours.

Judges will throw out such cases for lack of evidence.

Mr. Editor, while there are some good members of the police force these are sufficient bad ones to make it likely that at some point in time, as a citizen, you will encounter one. If you are poor the likeliness increases.

Coming from poverty I care about how poor people are treated, and I am conscious that police wrath is almost always directed at the poor.

And sometimes being innocent is no protection.

The Trinidadian calypsonian – Flashy Dan, in one of his calypsos reminds us: “Is de ghetto bandits who getting de licks. Cause de white-collar ones’ link-up with politics” So, meh poor brothers and sisters, wah – ever yuh race or ethnicity, from one ghetto man to another, I care bout you, and, dis letter is fo you.

Claudius Prince

payment would have been delayed and continued to provide constant updates.

On that same day, another group of employees from Blairmont Estate were on strike, the reason provided was, poor burning of canes.

On Wednesday 20 September, 2017, employees from Rose Hall Estate were on strike, claiming that they were told that payment of their wages will not be made on the said day as was promised, this was despite the fact of being assured that wages for the week ending 15 September, would have been paid that same day. On Thursday, 21 September, 2017, employees from Skeldon Estate were on strike demanding to be paid obstacle payment; this was despite that fact that work assigned to them was not completed.

On that same day, employees from Albion

Estate called another strike, demanding confirmation from management that wages will be paid on Friday 22 September, 2017. On Friday 22 September, 2017 employees from Skeldon Estate, again took strike action for the second day demanding to be paid obstacle payment, although they did not complete task given to them.

Also employees from Uitvlugt Estate struke claiming that they were informed by their Union (GAWU) that no wages will be paid on Friday 22 September, 2017. This was done even though the estate management assured the employees that they would be paid their wages today.

Skeldon Estate started its only crop for the year on this week and while a wise approach would have been for GAWU to encourage the

employees to make the best of the crop, the Union instead, called a strike on the first day of the crop.

These strikes suggest a systematic plan by GAWU to frustrate efforts to achieve the targets for this crop and that of the industry. What the Corporation would like the Union to recognize, is that the sugar world has changed and is changing rapidly, hence if GAWU continues with its systematic anti-business, anti-growth and antiprogress rules of engagement, GuySuCo will continue to be uncompetitive.

The time has come for GAWU to decide whether the Union is for the sustainability of the sugar industry or is against it! But it cannot continue to advocate for sustainability of the industry, without corresponding behaviour.

The Corporation is

encouraging employees to examine the state of the industry as well as the response from the Union and to come to a determination as to whether they will support their employer to ensure a successful Second Crop or not.

Finally, it is important to note that wages for the week ending 15 September, was paid at all estates on Wednesday 20 September, and wages for the week ending Friday 22 September, was paid today. As of today, all payments to employees are up-to-date; the delayed payment last week was the exception and not the norm in the Corporation.

Audreyanna Thomas Senior Communications Officer Communications Department Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo)

It is a fact that the PPP’s Government performed well DEAR EDITOR, According to the Bank of Guyana’s Key Macro Economic Indicator, Guyana enjoyed nine consecutive years of economic expansion under the PPP/C, averaging 4.6 percent; despite severe global economic and financial crisis that have seen the collapse of other economies around the world. Guyana was indeed on the rise with the fastest growing economy in the Caribbean. But this was short-lived.

In 2015, under the APNU+AFC, Real Growth dropped to 3 percent although the Bank of Guyana in its 2014 Annual Report; projected the Guyana economy to grow by 5.3 percent.

But without the prudent management of the PPP/C, the Guyana economy has been on the decline since, and continues to limp along as evidenced by the meagre 2.2 percent expansion in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) posted for the first half of 2017 (Source: Bank of Guyana and Ministry of Finance).

This precipitous decline was not because they were clearing out drug money from the economy or because they inherited a b a n k r u p t e c o n o m y, b u t r a t h e r, because of ineptitude, bad leadership and poor policies.

I have nothing but empathy for the likes of Jerrick Rutherford who feel

they have an obligation to parrot the lies of the APNU+AFC propaganda machine without knowing the facts, for I have walked that road before. But the fact is, Guyanese were much better off under the PPP/C and all this talk of a ‘better life’ under the APNU+AFC has been nothing but an elusive dream to Guyanese who voted for ‘change’.

Undoubtedly, the Guyana economy is once again in serious crisis. But don’t take my word for it.

The following was taken from a rare Kaieteur News Editorial of July 8, 2017: “Many, including the opposition, have already expressed their disgust over the 50 percent increase in salaries of some Ministers who were in office less than three months, the $1.2 billion D’Urban Park project, and the millions spent in tuition fees for two junior ministers.

So, there is no need in revisiting such reckless spending of the taxpayers’ money, except to say that the President and his cabinet should lead by example and end the wasteful spending that they have foisted on the nation. It is worthy to point out that all this is happening, at the same time the government is closing several sugar estates and putting thousands of sugar workers on the breadline.

If the people thought that such extravagant spending was bad enough,

the government has made a public spectacle of itself with the rental of a house for $500,000 per month for a Minister…

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, ministerial perks and benefits, especially the frequent overseas trips by ministers during the past two years have put a dent in the country’s finances.

This contradicts the criticisms leveled against the last administration by this government when it was in opposition. This lack of transparency and accountability could tarnish the government’s image.

We are under no illusion that the government should stop spending or that everything should come to a screeching halt because of the economy which is in dire straits, but the nation is steep in debt, its GDP has declined, imports have increased while exports have reduced, and except f o r t h e m i n i n g s e c t o r, production in the other sectors has fallen sharply.

It simply does not help matters for the government to continue to borrow and pile up more debt at this stage. A careful look at the 2017-2018 estimates shows that the government will spend more than 60 percent of its GDP to service the national debt. It means that in the absence of anything short of a miracle, there will not be enough funds to improve education or provide adequate health care and social services to the

people… In these difficult times when the livelihood of many, especially the poor, is seriously threatened, it seems as though there is no end in sight to the reckless spending of the taxpayers’ money by the Granger administration. It seems that we are condemned to repeat the mistakes of our errant past.”

The Editorial forgot to mention the rental of a drug bond for $12.5 million monthly; the approximately $40 million it cost taxpayers to renovate Prime Minister Nagamootoo’s official residence; $20 million for the Office of the Prime Minister: Over $10 million in furniture for the PM’s office; $22 million budgeted for his new luxury vehicle; and the tens of millions being spent to renovate the Ministry of the Presidency and the construction of the presidential green wall.

It must also be noted that the Kaieteur News is no friend of Bharrat Jagdeo or the PPP/C, but I respect the frankness and honesty of this editorial in holding the government accountable for the reckless way they are spending taxpayers’ money.

I was asked to use ‘accurate facts and statistics’. But now that I’ve done so, would this really change the perception that Jerrick Rutherford has of the PPP? Or would he remain a pathetic apologist for the PNC/APNU. Harry Gill PPP Member of Parliament

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Monday October 02, 2017

Monday October 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Many more Brazilian fugitives believed working in interior There are many more Brazilians who are working in Guyana’s mining sector that are wanted in their homeland for murder and other serious crimes, a source with close links to the sector said yesterday.

The source said that many of these individuals have used the wealth they have amassed in Guyana to acquire licenced firearms and other benefits that Guyanese have not been able to access through legal channels.

The source is not surprised at the revelation that one such Brazilian, the recently executed Siviomar Antônio de Oliveira, was a fugitive from justice and was living here under a false identity.

And the informant suggested that efforts by the present administration to screen foreigners seeking to work and acquire claims have come too late to stem the tide of dangerous individuals who

- worrying influx of young Columbian women have slipped under the radar.

“They (past and previous administrations) should done this a long time ago,” the informant said.

“Many of these people are married and have kids here. What would happen to the kids (if you send the parents back?”

The source who spoke to Kaieteur News has close links to some Brazilians who have reportedly confided that they have committed serious crimes and cannot risk returning home.

“One man confided that he had murdered another man over his wife. A lot of the women are also wanted in Brazil for crimes.”

The source indicated that under the guise of mining, some of these individuals are into the ‘business’ of drug trafficking. They also use their wealth to bribe their way out

of trouble, according to the source, who pointed to two Brazilian women, who allegedly paid their way out of Trafficking In Persons (TIP) charges. Another woman, the source alleged, was released after being found with illegal firearms.

The source also expressed concern about what was said to be a large influx of “very young” Columbian women, who appear to be taking over the sex trade in the interior locations.

In the wake of the revelations about de Oliveira, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan had indicated on Saturday that foreigners seeking to work in the mining sector, will now face intense scrutiny into their backgrounds.

Ramjattan disclosed that an investigation by the police into the slain man’s

DEM BOYS SEH

Dem politicians really stupid When people seh politicians stupid dem ain’t joking. Dem have a few bright ones but most of dem stupid.

How else people can explain a politician telling people that he gun fix de Skeldon sugar factory wid he bare hands when all dem mechanic know that you must have tools?

How a politician gun tell people that mek sure everybody get a house and right in front de people face he tekking de land and giving it to he friends? De same politician tell de nation that he running a democracy and de next thing you know de Americans tek way he Ministers visa.

Dem boys seh that dem know bout leaders who know dem limitations suh dem does surround demself wid bright people. Burnham use to do that. He know that dem had lawyers more bright that him suh he hire dem. He government has Sonny Ramphal, Mohamed Shahabuddeen, Fred Wills and Keith Massiah.

Desmond Hoyte know bout people who really understand foreign policy suh he h a d R a s h l e i g h Jackson as he Foreign

Affairs Minister. Jagdeo had Rohee fuh years. Is only when de Americans tek way he visa that Jagdeo move him to Home Affairs.

But even in that position he couldn’t tell a criminal from a honest man.

When Jagdeo realise that things was getting out of hand he call de Queen of England, to ask she how she does mek out. De Queen tell him that she does mek sure that wise people hold government office.

Jagdeo ask she how she can tell if somebody wise and de Queen tell him that he must ask dem a question and from de answer he can know if dem wise. She call she Prime Minister, Theresa May, and ask her this question.

You mother and father got a child. Is not you brother or you sister. Is who?” Right away Theresa May answer, “Is me.” De Queen tun to Jagdeo and nod she head.

That is when Jagdeo come home and call Luncheon.

“You mother and father got a child. Is not you brother or you sister. Is who?”

Luncheon blink. He ask fuh couple minutes and he run and Call Soulja Bai. He ask de question and Soulja Bai answer, “Is me.”

Luncheon run back to Jagdeo and tell him that de answer is Soulja Bai. Jagdeo shake he head and seh.

“Luncheon. You is a fool. De answer is Theresa May.” Talk half and don’t ask who stupid.

background appears to confirm reports about de Oliveira. The executed man, also called “Lorão,” is said to have killed his first wife, and murdered some of his fellow inmates while in a Brazilian jail.

“He was believed to be Antonio Da Silva, and it’s now being realised that he is not the good character he seemed to be,” Ranjattan had told Kaieteur News.

“What is (now) known is that we have a criminal who murdered, and who was murdered, and we now have to get those who murdered him. We have a fair idea who the criminals are, and we will ask the Brazilian authorities to help,” Ramjattan said.

He expressed concern that other “bad characters” like de Oliveira, may be living under the radar in Guyana.

“We will have to be extra careful about these people now. I am very concerned about this revelation.

“We now have to do a major recheck of those persons, and have to maybe change how Brazilians are getting mining concessions, what checks are done before he got his gun licences.

“We have to check if

Murdered Brazilian, Antonio Da Saliva there are bad characters here; we will have to get the Interpol arrangement (of background checks) and their fingerprints (checked). We will have to do these things and work along more with the Brazilian authorities.”

But he conceded that screening these individuals will be challenging, “especially when they change their names and put out new IDs.” De Oliveira’s secret life unraveled last week after he was executed by a gang of gunmen who had tied him up and tortured him after invading his Akaiwanna, Cuyuni mining camp last

Tuesday.

Kaieteur News understands that two of the attackers and the victim were once neighbours, when the businessman lived in Brazil.

The third suspect is a former employee of the dredge owner, and the fourth is reportedly an “assassin” from Suriname who was hired by his former neighbours.

The identity of the fifth suspect is unclear.

De Oliveira was convicted of killing his ex-wife, Luzia Rodrigues Ramos, in the municipality of Caracaraí in 2004. He was also implicated in “executions inside the Monte Cristo Agricultural Penitentiary, when he was arrested by Operation Bastille in 2008. The authorities investigated the death of detainees within the prison system,” a report seen by Kaieteur News stated.

“He escaped in 2011 and had never been located by Roraima Police.”

In Guyana, where he had been reportedly living following his escape, “Lorão” acquired vast claims in the Cuyuni area, reportedly operating some 19 dredges.

He had some 120 Brazilians in his employ. He had recently purchased a parking lot in Alberttown, Georgetown.

Monday October 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Monday October 02, 2017

Mabaruma’s Green Park to be commissioned by mid-October With efforts to beautify the new town of Mabaruma, the Town Council is working towards completing its Green Park project by mid-October, 2017 .

According to Mabaruma Mayor, Henry Smith, President David Granger is expected to visit the region to plant the first tree in the park.

This, he said, is also in keeping with the current countrywide tree planting exercise.

Smith explained that the park aims to benefit families within the Hosororo, Bumbury, Kuriabo and Wainaina areas.

“Inside the park, we will have some lights, seats and fruit trees. Trees indigenous to the region like soursop, mango, guava and avocado. We will also have flowering plants in concrete boxes, and lights powered by solar panels,” Smith said.

He also noted a sanitary block was commissioned specifically for persons using the park.

Alongside the park, a playground is under construction. The Mayor explained that the ground will be named after a well-known sportsman of the region, Augustine Solomon.

Contractors at the site of the green park

Augustine Solomon, sports stalwart of Mabaruma Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke with Solomon who recalled that in previous years, his father William Solomon, was also actively involved in sports within the region, and as a result, he followed in his footsteps.

“We had a ground up by the school (North West Secondary), but we had to give it up for the school…they (the government) told us they will find another spot for the ground, and now we have that spot,” Solomon said. He is honoured to have the ground

named after him.

Solomon explained he is actively involved in cricket, football, volleyball and other sporting acti v i t i e s w i t h young lads in the region, and believes the commissioning of the new ground will boost sports within the region, allowing more youths to represent the district.

On October 21, 2015, Mabaruma was officially declared a town, along with Bartica and Lethem.

A drawing of the proposed green park

Ministerial Task Force to donate lumber to hurricane-devastated islands The Ministerial Task Force, overseeing the provision of aid to the recent hurricane-ravaged islands, is expected to donate 300 tons of lumber to countries in the Region.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo disclosed the information at the launch of Agriculture month 2017.

A DPI release stated that he was at the time remarking on Guyana’s good fortune to have a number of natural resources and to not have been affected directly by the hurricanes. He shared his

view that the disasters came as a result of the destruction of the ozone layer, due to the poor habits of mankind.

The Prime Minister said the Ministerial Task Force is soliciting assistance from the private sector, the government and the community at large to respond to Caribbean countries affected by the hurricanes.

“We have dispatched foods and medicines and soon some 300 tons of lumber and other hardware to help in the rebuilding effort in some of these islands,” he

said.

He added, “We have to be the reservoir of hope in Guyana. The reservoir that tells our Caribbean people, that when you are in need we will be there to help you.

Agriculture month gives us an opportunity to reflect on our potential.”

Over the past few months, islands in the Caribbean including Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Maarten, Tortola and Puerto Rico were devastated by Hurricanes Maria and Irma and are currently trying to recover.

Monday October 02, 2017

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Swallowing and smuggling: Guyana's cocaine mules Cocaine smugglers continue to find all manner of creative ways to smuggle the drug past the watchful eyes of Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks who are stationed at the Cheddi Jagan and Eugene F. Correira International Airports.

The more desperate ones literally put their lives on the line by swallowing cocainefilled pellets as a means of passing undetected through security checkpoints at these airports.

In May 2014, four persons including a six-year-old died after unknowingly drinking cocaine-laced SSS tonic.

It has been quite an unfortunate year for drug-swallowers.

At least three men were apprehended after they were observed sweating profusely and acting suspiciously.

They were taken to the hospital where x-rays confirmed that there were strange objects in their bodies. They later excreted pellets containing cocaine.

They were all jailed after pleading guilty to trafficking in narcotics.

EAISON LEBLANC LeBlanc was jailed for four years and fined $5.1M after he appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore on June 7, and admitted to swallowing 71 pellets filled with cocaine.

The 35-year-old of 101 Ogle Street, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, admitted that between July 3 and July 4 at Woodlands Hospital, he had in his possession 774 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

On June 3, LeBlanc was an outgoing passenger at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle East Coast Demerara, destined for Barbados.

After observing LeBlanc sweating profusely and acting in a suspicious manner, CANU ranks apprehended and escorted him to the hospital where an x-ray revealed that he had pellet-like objects in his abdominal cavity.

JAILED: Randolph Muir JAILED: Eaison Leblanc He was given a laxative and excreted the pellets.

Before sentencing was passed on him, LeBlanc told the Magistrate, “I am sorry for what happened.”

RANDOLPH MUIR He was also an outgoing passenger to Barbados. But at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport when he approached the checkpoint area, he began acting in a suspicious manner.

Upon questioning Muir, also known as ‘Roach’, he admitted to swallowing 72 pellets filled with cocaine. He was taken to the hospital where an x-ray confirmed that he had indeed ingested foreign objects which he later excreted.

On June 21, Muir of Lot 3 Enterprise, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara appeared before Magistrate Azore and admitted that between June 18 and June 19 at Woodlands Hospital he had in his possession 592 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

He was jailed for three

JAILED: Julius Fidel years and fined $1.5M. Muir revealed that someone has promised him US$1,700 to traffick the illicit substance.

JULIUS FIDEL Like the other two traffickers, Fidel, of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara was sent to prison for four years and fined $2.5M after confessing to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan that he swallowed 114 pellets laced

with cocaine.

During his court appearance on September 19, the father of four said that he opted to traffic cocaine because he is experiencing financial difficulties and needed the extra money to send his children to school.

A lawyer for the accused had stressed that his client, who fathers an autistic child, is the sole earner for his family.

It was on September 12, that Fidel went to CJIA, where he was scheduled to board a Fly Jamaica flight destined for Canada. But as he approached the scanner, CANU ranks observed him acting suspiciously and began questioning him.

Based on his responses, the ranks escorted Fidel to the hospital where an x-ray confirmed that he had peculiar objects in his body.

He subsequently excreted the pellets which contained 960 grams of cocaine during different intervals while hospitalized.

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Monday October 02, 2017

Guyana has always been a fugitive’s haven The revelation that prominent and recently-murdered Brazilian miner Antonio Da Silva was actually a notorious killer named Siviomar Antônio de Oliveira, has raised alarm bells among Guyanese.

Many are now wondering how many more dangerous criminals might be unknowingly in their midst.

But Guyana has always been a fugitive’s haven, even when this nation was a British colony.

THE MAN FROM DEVIL’S ISLAND One of Guyana’s most popular fugitives was a Frenchman named Henri Charriere, (also called ‘Papillion,’ for the butterfly tattoo on his chest).

According to Charriere’s popular biography ‘Papillion,’ he was condemned in 1931 for a crime he did not commit. He allegedly made several daring escapes from prison, and was eventually shipped to the penal settlement off French Guiana called ‘Devil’s Island.’

While this story is disputed by some, ‘Papillion’ claimed that he eventually escaped by floating on sacks of coconuts.

Stopping briefly in Trinidad, Charriere later settled in British Guiana; reportedly owning a restaurant in Water Street and earning a living by putting tattoos on the bodies on young women.

A best-selling book on his life was made into the popular movie Papillion, which starred Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.

ABDUL MALIK,

Trinidadian killer, Abdul Malik. He was caught hiding in a coal pit in Guyana; was hanged for murdering his cousin CHARISMATIC KILLER It was in Guyana, too, that the manhunt for a brutal Trinidadian killer came to an end.

It began in February, 1972, with a visit to these shores by Trinidad-born Black power advocate Michael DeFreitas, also known as Michael X and Abdul Malik. However, while here, news reached Guyana that Malik’s posh Christie Gardens home, located in a commune that he had established, had been razed by a mystery fire.

Police, checking the premises, unearthed two bodies in Malik’s yard. The victims, hacked to death, were identified as Gail Ann Benson, the daughter of Conservative MP Leonard F. Plugge, and 25year-old Joseph Skerrit, a barber, and cousin of Malik’s.

Gail Ann Benson: Hacked to death and buried near Malik’s house By this time, Malik, who had stayed in a popular Georgetown hotel, had disappeared. A hot tip that Malik was hiding out in Linden yielded no results. But they were not far off the trail. Malik was found hiding in a coal pit on the Soesdyke/ Linden highway.

He was escorted back to Trinidad, where he was tried and eventually hanged in 1975 for Skerritt’s murder.

BASHING IN HEADS WITH AHAMMER Like Malik, a former US army paratrooper found out that the Soesdyke/Linden backlands were no safe haven.

That man was Steven King, a Guyanese, who had killed two store employees.

On October 30, 1990, in Saginaw County, in the state of Michigan. 30-year-old

Henri Charriere, the Devil’s Island escapee, who lived in Guyana King, bashed in the heads of Bertha Aldridge, 18, and George Bowles, 23, with a hammer.

He then took US$40 from the cash register and fled the scene.

King then disappeared.

Police in the US told counterparts in Guyana that the killer might have fled to his former homeland.

The local cops learned that King was hiding out in the backlands off the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

At nightfall, in almost total darkness, an informant led the team of detectives to a small clearing in which a cot had been set up. A man was lying on the cot. He appeared to be fast asleep.

While one man guarded the reluctant informant, four other ranks pounced upon the sleeping man, who awoke with a scream. The captive was Steven King. A search of the camp revealed several months’ supply of canned food.

In April 1992, Steven King was extradited to the US. On January 3, 1993, Steven King was found guilty of murder.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

MURDERINGTHE WRONG GIRL On Friday, March 22, 1996, a Guyanese woman, Linda Jairam and her husband, Gregory Grayson, were rudely awakened by banging at the front door of their Almond Street, Queenstown home.

The visitors identified themselves as ranks from the Guyana Police Force and demanded that the occupants open.

Grayson, an American citizen, eventually opened and several policemen entered.

“Are you John Anthony Diaz?” one of the policemen asked.

Grayson said that he was not.

“Are you Gregory Grayson?” the officer then asked.

When Linda Jairam’s husband confirmed that he was indeed Grayson, the officer said: “That’s the person we want.”

Linda Jairam then listened

Killer John Diaz, and his Guyanese wife incredulously as the policemen informed Grayson that they had an arrest warrant for him for murder.

What Linda Jairam had not known was that her American husband’s real name was John Anthony Diaz, and he had killed a woman named Dawn Brown in the States.

Back in the summer of 1991, John Anthony Diaz was living in Cape Cod and was employed as a physical therapist aide while attending Springfield College.

During this time he started dating a young Caucasian woman named Kimberlee Brown Goldstein.

But in the spring of 1992, Diaz’s girlfriend told him that she wanted to break off the relationship. In May of 1992, the ex-girlfriend began dating another man who she would eventually marry.

On May 11, 1993, Diaz purchased a Glock .40 calibre semi-automatic handgun and Black Talon ammunition.

On July 10, 1993, the exgirlfriend, Kimberlee Brown Goldstein, held her bridal shower at her mother’s home in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Also in attendance was Kimberlee’s sister, Dawn Brown. That evening, the sister went out for refreshments and ice cream with her boyfriend and her teenage nephew.

The three returned at around 23:00 hrs.

Around the same time, Diaz, who was apparently stalking his girlfriend, was also outside the premises.

On spotting the blondehaired woman, Diaz stood a foot away from the victim, pointed his Glock semi-automatic handgun at her head, called out his girlfriend’s name, and fired.

Leaving the mortally wounded woman on the ground, Diaz drove his vehicle to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Using a false passport and $10,000, he boarded a flight, and eventually arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

On July 13, 1993, from his hotel room in Malaysia, he telephoned a friend who lived in Hyannis, Massachusetts, to confirm whether his ex-girl-

friend was dead.

Diaz was shocked to learn that Kimberlee was very much alive.

Kimberlee’s sister, Dawn Brown, had recently dyed her hair blonde. That blonde hair made Dawn Brown look just like Kimberlee, the sister with whom Diaz was obsessed.

John Anthony Diaz had killed the wrong sister.

On being told of his mistake, Diaz reportedly told the friend: “I am not fit to live.”

Now a fugitive from justice, Diaz left Malaysia and travelled though several countries before arriving in Guyana on September 30, 1993. He met and married Linda Jairam. He got a job. He made friends, among them some members of the Guyana Police Force with whom he trained at a weightlifting gym.

For almost three years, Linda and the man she knew as Gregory Grayson lived happily in Almond Street with Jairam’s two children.

But on one fateful night in March 1996, the producers of the popular television series ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ aired a story about a woman who was mistakenly slain by her sister’s ex-boyfriend.

A photograph of the killer identified him as John Anthony Diaz.

The programme was broadcast on a local television station and someone who was watching it recognised the photograph as that of Gregory Grayson.

The Massachusetts State Police were informed of Diaz’s whereabouts and notified the Guyanese authorities of his presence in the country.

On March 22, 1996, after obtaining an arrest warrant, ranks from the Guyana Police Force swooped on the Almond Street home where Diaz was staying and arrested him.

On April 22, 1996, Diaz was transported to the Timehri Airport, and turned over to the Massachusetts State Police.

Despite a strong defence, a jury eventually convicted John Anthony Diaz of murder in the first degree. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. An appeal for a retrial was denied.

Monday October 02, 2017

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Female entrepreneurs to partake in global summit set for India Three female entrepreneurs have been selected to represent Guyana at the upcoming eighth annual Global Entrepreneur Summit (GES) to be held from November 28 to 30 in Hyderabad, India.

Those who will be participating in this gathering of emerging entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders from around the world are Abbigale Loncke, Founder/ CEO of Community Health Care (CHC) Agency; Arifa Mohamed, Founder of iMED Guyana and Jubilante` Cutting President of the Guyana Animation Network (GAN).

This year’s summit is being held under the theme, ‘Women First, Prosperity for All, highlighting the critical role women play in fostering

global growth and prosperity.’

The summit will be hosted for the first time in South Asia and will highlight India’s enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.

At GES 2017, over 1,500 attendees, including entrepreneurs, investors, educators, government officials and business representatives will showcase the full measure of the entrepreneurial talent from diverse backgrounds across the world.

Through networking, mentoring and workshops, the GES empowers entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, build partnerships, secure funding and create innovative products and services that will transform societies for better t o m o r r o w ,

Headmaster Harrinarine is...

(From page 17) School in 2010. He then became Headmaster in 2014.

Harrinarine notes that the students there are respectful, courteous and disciplined. He is extremely pleased at how far he has come and is determined to father 600 more students to the pinnacle of success on an annual basis.

PROUD MASHRAMANI WINNER While he is a disciplined and dedicated head teacher, Harrinarine also has an entertaining side. He is a lover of Guyana’s Mashramani celebrations. It therefore comes as no surprise that he recently entered the Mashramani 2018 theme competition. And guess what? He won!

His proposed theme was, “Let’s cooperate and celebrate Republic 48.”

Harrinarine has several awards and certificates for his accomplishments but this win certainly means the world to him.

Guyana’s Community-based tourism impresses....

(From page 16) practice,” Minister Allicock said.

Importantly, the Minister pointed out that CBT is a concept that keeps the community’s culture alive, and noted that, “The language, the stories and the handicraft and the old ways like having a bonfire and hearing stories from way back when.”

Additionally, he observed that many Guyanese are unaware of the true beauty and potential of their country. However, he opined with CBT, “that is slowly changing and we know that it will continue to improve.”

Clara Chandra, Logistics Manager of GTA, noted that Guyana has been leading the way in CBT. Chandra said that the Barbados team visited three key Indigenous communities namely, Rewa, Surama, and Kaibarupaii because they have received C2 recognition for their sustainable tourism projects.

She noted that “We wanted them to come and experience… we need them to understand what it is we have to offer…”

Group member, Eion Proverbs, enthused “my gosh this country is absolutely breath-taking and I love it”. He added that the ‘Fam trip’ is beneficial since he is building relationships with persons from the GTA and also experiencing the chance of a lifetime to visit Guyana’s interior. Proverbs said he will return to Barbados to draft packages so that Barbadians can visit Guyana and in turn, Guyanese visit Barbados.

Andera Kedungan, Product Officer for the Barbados Tourism Authority said: “It has been fantastic, a really wonderful experience. I am doing things that I won’t normally do. In Barbados, we do not have this type of product.” She added that the Authority had heard extensively about CBT, hence coming on the trip so that they can adopt some of Guyana’s best practices. Kedungan noted that her country does not have the vast infrastructure like Guyana in relation to CBT, but said that the Authority will be seeking more expert advice in the future to develop their BCT product.

While at Surama, the team was treated to cultural presentations by various Indigenous groups. The team departs for Barbados on Sunday. (a DPI feature)

w w w. g e s 2 0 1 7 . g o v. i n / about.html said.

Loncke successfully participated in the 2016 Young Leaders of the America’s Initiative (YLAI) and was among a group of participants that met Former US President Barrack Obama, in Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative Summit (APEC).

CHC was birthed about two years ago after Loncke struggled to find home care for her grandfather.

Realizing that this was a problem faced by many families, she started the agency which provides personal care, companionship, housekeeping, medication reminders, meal preparation and if requested live in care for the elderly. It has also created employment for young women.

Headed by Cutting, GAN,

which has been operating officially for a year, is a nonprofit organization driven by animation, youth, creativity,

Photo taken from the U.S. Embassy Guyana FaceBook page

the arts and digital media.

Cutting, a former student of the Bishop’s High School became interested in anima-

tion in 2013, after partaking in the CARICOM Girls in Information and Communication (Continued on page 22)

Monday October 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

Political row erupts over aid to hurricane battered countries

Opposition Leader Dr. Denzil Douglas (left) and Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris (File Photo) BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CMC – A political row has erupted over aid to countries battered by Hurricanes Irma and Maria with the government and the main opposition St. Kitts-Nevis labour Party (SKNLP) trading words as to the sincerity behind the aid packages.

In a statement, the government of Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris has described as “unfortunate” the statements made by Opposition Leader Dr. Denzil Douglas regarding the twin island Federation’s aid package to Antigua and Barbuda, The British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and St Maarten and Dominica.

The government has accused Douglas of “shamelessly” attempting “to sully the country’s image and sow division among Caribbean countries in the pursuit of narrow, self-serving partisan political interests.

Douglas has described the government’s action as” unconscionable, unfriendly, selfish, uncaring and reprehensible”, and aimed at undermining the efforts of Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda to recover from the hurricanes.

“Today…the government of St Kitts and Nevis led by Dr Timothy Harris has sunk to the lowest low in a manner that is most unconscionable and calculated to undermine the desperate recovery efforts that are underway in Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda to restore those countries’ operations and the lives of their citizens to a state of normalcy as quickly as possible,” Douglas said.

Following the passage of the two hurricanes that left trails of death and destruction , the St. Kitts-Nevis

government announced the establishment of a short-term Hurricane Relief Fund by adding a third investment option under the Citizenship

by Investment Programme (CIP), which it said ‘is its sovereign right”.

Under this initiative which will be for only six months, foreign investors under the CIP can make a nonrefundable contribution of US$150,000.

The government said funding raised under this new vehicle will help meet the estimated EC$140 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) bill which it now faces to rehabilitate key public infrastructure which suffered damage during the two hurricanes.

“The Team Unity Administration is hoping to raise sufficient funding to provide additional support for disaster relief efforts in nearby islands which suffered far greater damage.

In an address to the nation last weekend, Prime Minister Harris announced an initial monetary contribution of EC$2.5million to support disaster relief efforts in Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, The British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and St Maarten. The largest single amount — $1 million — is going to Dominica, which was devastated by Maria last week,” the government statement noted.

It said that Douglas has sought to portray the government as engaging “in a hostile act against Dominica and seeking to undermine recovery efforts there and in Barbuda, which suffered extensive damage as a result of Hurricane Maria.

“Subjected to scrutiny, the statement does not pass

the test of rationality.

Fortunately, many rightthinking and patriotic citizens have seen Dr. Douglas’ ploy and have strongly condemned this naked and shameful display of political opportunism by a man who has not yet come to terms with the fact that his political season has come to an end,” the statement noted.

But Douglas has hit back, noting that in making the case for the aid initiative, the prime minister has reported that two category five hurricanes have made landfall in St. Kitts and Nevis causing phenomenal devastation to homes, businesses and key infrastructure in the country.

“While it must be said with certainty that our country has in fact experienced two hurricanes recently, why our prime minister would want to mislead the entire world as to the directness of the impact of these hurricanes and the extent of the damage caused is truly beyond me,” Douglas said.

Douglas said Prime Minister Harris is attempting to “raise money on fake news” instead of painting “an honest picture of the state of affairs” in the twin island federation.

“This dishonest and extremely selfish conduct on the part the prime minister can do nothing but serve to woefully undermine confidence of the international community in any information coming from official sources in our country,” he said.

But the government has said in this challenging point in Caribbean history,” what our region needs more than ever is unity rather than division.

PAGE 21

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Kaieteur News

Monday October 02, 2017

Female entrepreneurs to partake...

VACANCY Experienced s a l e s m a n , generaldomestic , p o r t e r . Apply with hand written application & recommendation @ Keyfood, McDoom Village.

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

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

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535.

INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Eagle’s: Re-gas –low prices, washing machine repairs, gas stove, plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966

Foxtail, Supari, Royal Palm @ $1,000. Ficus & Exora 4 for $1,000. Organic potting soil.

Crotoons- Tel: 626-1044

I N S TA L L AT I O N S , REPAIRSAND PARTS FOR AC, FRIDGE, WASHING MACHINE, STOVE ETC: CALL NICK 627-3206, 6301600 Khemraj & Sons landscaping & Plant nursery: clearing of land, treating & molding plants, cutting & removing big tree & removing- Call: 627-5969 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

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).

Cook/ Baker for interior.

Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020

WANTED 1 cosmetologist, must be all rounded. Call: 647-1773.

Live-in handyman to look over,must have experience in ca r p e n t r y, p l u m b i n g , gardening.Call:690-5300, 691-3999 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665

Porters, ripsaw,re-saw &moulder operator, woodmizer operator. Eccles Industrial Site EBD. Call Richard 609-7675/674-1705/ 233-2614 Immediate vacancy exists for one male security to work nights only at MeadowbankCall: 231-1408 between 8am1pm

Labourer to work men and women in cabbage farm.

Experience needed- Call: 6956139, 674-5052

25LBS 7", 25LBS 8" and 25LBS 10" nylon seine (fishing net)- Call: 670-3912

Field supervisor to work in Georgetown must have valid motorcycle license- Tel: 2271717

Gold and Diamond land for sale or giving out work ground. Call:690-5300,6526894

Receptionist, age 2348yrs. Must be able to work shift. 233 South Road- Tel: 225-0198

Only experience garbage truck drivers for Mack trucks &Labourers, only serious persons need to apply- Call: 670-7920

Sale! Laptops and desktop computers from $45,000.

Small laptops $25,000- call Future-Tech 231-2206, 6602010

One delivery guy with motorcycle- Call: 225-7933 or visit 172 Sheriff Street.

One professional seamstress.

Working experience will be an asset.

Send application to: Lot 67 Dennis Street, CampbellvilleTel: 672-4695

30’ feet Aluminum jet boat with spares- Call: 6427898

Aluminum windows & doors at the best prices.

Chenfeng Aluminum @ Lot 11 Public road Eccles, EBD- Call: 696-8688, 6828378 1 Queen size spring filled mattress & bed, 1 double door upright sankey cooler, 1 upright parker cooler, tables & chairs (snackette)Call: 690-4300 PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove/Diamond , 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence- Call: 660-1353, 216-4338 3- Bedrooms flat house @ Blankenburg $10.9M , $2.9M Down payment, $64,000 monthly installment Also house lots available $2.9MContact# 650-0402/ 603-1402

Vacancy exists for 1 experienced pharmacy assistant to work at a reputable pharmacy in Diamond, EBD- Call: 696-5098 CANTER DRIVER/ SALESMAN, MINIMUM 3 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE, FACTORY A S S I S T A N T , SECURITYGUARDSCALL: 266- 4427 Experienced qualified teachers for Secondary Dept. @ Canadian School, Diamond.

Send resume to email:davidsukhdeo@ gmail.com

1 flat 3 bedrooms concrete house & land at block 8 Tuschen Ho u s i n g Scheme- Call: 627-5969

SALON

EDUCATION Day Care and Pre-K classes available in Diamond Call Canadian School 2166921,216-6922

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

-CosmetologyCourses:$120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000.

Call: 647-1773/660-5257

Register your child for after school classes for slow learners in Mathematics, Reading, Phonics, Spelling, etc. Call: 675-4379

TO LET 1 Flat two bedrooms concrete house fully grilled & overhead tank at samatta Point Grove, EBD- Call: 621-0090 Bachelor / Studio apartment,Durban and Halley Sts, single person. $30,000 Call:690-5300 / 6913999 Camp St. area middle & upper floor for office,school/other type of business. Call Richard 6097675,674-1705,233-2614

1 Male to look after layer birds in the Interior- Call: 665-3421

VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pitbull – Call: 650-7501 One black 4 door Raptor for sale 2013 year- Call: 670-7920 1 Mack Truck- Call: 2271245, 225-0680, 225-06811 Sale: Mazda 2006 series PRR $800,000 negotiable- Call: 615-3303

1 Experience driver to work in Interior. Must have license for Car/van/canter- Tel: 665-3421

Male office clerk over 25 years, preferable East Bank area- Call: 629-9450 Experienced salesgirl at Christine’s Variety, Lombard Street- Call: 227-8529 Females 20-45 years to work in Office @ Meadowbank.

Must have Maths & English with 3yrs experience- Tel: 231-1408, 642-9191 One experienced driver to work @ Meadowbank 25 years and older, must have lorry license- 231-1408, 642-9191 Industrial Electrician to work in Georgetown, applicant kindly make contact #623-2274 Male Accounts Clerk, age 25-55- Call: 629-9450

LAND FOR SALE 10 & 30 ACRES OF LAND AT YARROWKABRA, LINDEN SOESDYKE HIGHWAY. CREEKAVAILABLE-TEL:6635524, 264-2967 One double plot of farm land for sale at Parika Naamryck Backdam, E.B.E (27.8 acres)- Call: 612-5441, 658-5128 Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M, $3.5M, $2M, $1.6M, main road business spot $3.5M, Herstelling $2.5M, $3.5M, Tuschen $2.5MCall: 604-6724, 686-9608 Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M, $3.5M (50x 100), 10 years up $3.5M, Herstelling $2.2M, $3.5M, Tuschen $2.3M- Call: 666-2326

Salesgirls & porters, apply with written application @ 1E Dennis & Middleton Streets, Campbellville.

One private tutor for grade 5 student- Please Call: 6007388 Female to work at car wash, apartment building, shop 1828yrs.Livingin GeorgetownCall: 646-5754, 660-5003, 2267231 One person to bake & make roti &puri from 6:30-9:30 Contact Snackette @ Charlotte & Wellington Streets, Lacytown.

Waitress for bar- Call: 6122522

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

(From page 19) Technology (ICT) day.

GAN’s focus is backed by the mission to provide and optimize local opportunities for children and youth, freelancers, digital content creators, animators, producers, directors, artists, students and other members of Guyana’s creative community. iMED Guyana which is slated to be launched next year, is Guyana’s first on-demand doctor, an app that will enable people to access licensed care practitioners in an affordable way.

Mohamed’s healthcare and life science start up aims at improving lives through checkups, making diagnosis and even prescribing medications.

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D$1200US. Call 647-1773 Place for rent, can be used as an office/ restaurant at Lot 1C Hydronie Parika, E.B.E- Call: 665-6138, 630-5962 Apartment building for short term rental- Call: 6465754, 660-5003, 226-7231 Space preferably for office or apartment for single occupancy @ McDoom public road- Tel:664-8150 1- two bedrooms bottom flat apartment, Eccles Park, EBD. Very clean, tiled toilet & bath inside $50,000- Tel: 648-7004

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By Herbal Remedies.

Tel:676-5924, 611-5586

Monday October 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

Violence erupts as Catalans vote on split from Spain BARCELONA (Reuters) - Spanish riot police burst into polling stations across Catalonia yesterday, confiscating ballot boxes and voting papers to try to halt a banned referendum on a split from Spain as Madrid asserted its authority over the rebel region.

The Mayor of the regional capital Barcelona Ada Colau issued a statement demanding “an immediate end to police charges against the defenceless population”.

Madrid said its police had acted in a proportionate manner.

Police broke down doors to force entry into voting stations as Catalans shouted “Out with the occupying forces!” and sang the anthem of the wealthy northeastern region.

In one incident in Barcelona, police fired rubber bullets.

Officers in riot gear hit people with batons and forcibly removed would-be voters, including women and the elderly, from polling stations. Catalan officials said over 460 people had been injured in the police crackdown and the Spanish Interior Ministry said 12 police had been hurt.

Central government’s representative in Catalonia Enric Millo, referring to police action, told a news conference: “We have been made to do something we didn’t want to do.”

The referendum, declared illegal by Spain’s central government, has thrown the country into its worst constitutional crisis in decades and deepened a centuries-old rift between Madrid and Barcelona.

It remained unclear what action the Catalan government might take. However much voting takes place, a “yes” result is likely, given that

most of those who support independence are expected to cast ballots while most of those against it are not Despite the police action, hundredsstrong queues of people formed in cities and villages throughout the region to cast their votes. At one Barcelona polling station, elderly people and those with children entered first.

“I‘m so pleased because despite all the hurdles they’ve put up, I’ve managed to vote,” said Teresa, a 72-year-old pensioner in Barcelona who had stood in line for six hours.

The ballot will have no legal status as it has been blocked by Spain’s Constitutional Court and Madrid for being at odds with the 1978 constitution.

A minority of around 40 percent of Catalans support independence, polls show, although a majority want to hold a referendum on the issue. The region of 7.5 million people has an economy larger than that of Portugal.

Differences were apparent in the conduct of the national Civil Guard and the regional police, Mossos. In Catalonia’s proindependence heartland north of Barcelona, the Catalan force made little attempt to remove people from polling stations.

Organisers had asked voters to turn out before dawn, hoping for large crowds to be the world’s first image of voting day.

“This is a great opportunity. I’ve waited 80 years for this,” said 92-year-old Ramon Jordana, a former taxi driver waiting to vote in Sant Pere de Torello, a town in the foothills of the Pyrenees and a pro-independence bastion.

Demonstartors face riot police outside a polling station for the banned independence referendum in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday.

REUTERS/Susana Vera

Anti-government chants ring out on anniversary of Ethiopian festival deaths BISHOFTU, Ethiopia (Reuters) - Hundreds of people chanting antigovernment slogans marched in the central Ethiopian town of Bishoftu yesterday at a religious festival where a stampede triggered by a police move to quell protests killed dozens of people last year.

The incident during the annual Irreecha festival in Bishoftu, which lies 40 km (25

miles) south of the capital Addis Ababa, marked the bloodiest period in unrest that plagued the Horn of Africa country for months in 2015 and 2016.

Authorities at the time said 55 had died in the stampede, while dissidents put the toll at around 150.

Yesterday, thousands of people attended the thanksgiving event that marks the end of the rainy

season, a majority clad in red, black and white attire - the Oromiya region’s flag.

Although the lakeside event ended without any violence, anti-government slogans rang out soon after the ceremony began.

“Down, down EPRDF!” dissidents chanted in small groups as they marched towards the town’s centre, referring to Ethiopia’s ruling party.

PAGE 23

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Monday October 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

Reckless spending is a disease Guyana should - former Petrotrin Chairman cure before it creeps in

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell Former Chairman of the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Petrotrin), Donald Baldeosingh has warned that Guyana can shoot itself in the foot if it mismanages the revenues to be received from the oil and gas industry.

He said that while it is fact that Guyana will be earning way more than it ever has through oil and gas, wise economics is still key to sustained development. This was during an interview with this newspaper.

“The temptation is often for the state to use the money that it receives and subsidize everything else. That, in my opinion, is the mistake that Trinidad and Tobago made.

So we knew we have all this money from gas and what we did was pay people to do every little thing.”

Baldeosingh noted that more than 50 percent of Trinidad and Tobago’s national budget accounts for transfers and subsidies. He said that this is way too high a percentage for the country’s own good, “it is like taking the revenue that we earning

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin

Former Petrotrin Chairman, Donald Baldeosingh

and feeding inefficient operations.”

Baldeosingh presented a case in point. “Our water company loses about 50 percent of its water through leaks; so what we did, we built two desalination plants and we are desalinating the sea water and making it into drinking water and pumping that into the system.”

“Even though we losing we are producing more so that it doesn’t matter we are losing though the leaks we are still producing enough that we can supply the population.”

Baldeosingh said that that is not the wisest course of

action. “We should not be doing that; we should be fixing the leaks; we should not be desalinating the water when we have so much fresh water in Trinidad. But because we have money we could do those crazy things.”

Already, some ministers are seeing the need to guard against wasteful and lavish spending.

At least one Minister, Dominic Gaskin has noted that there is a need for Guyana to guard against “chaotic spending.”

Caribbean-Central American Action (CCAA) recently hosted a conference at the

Marriott Hotel. The conference attracted a theme, “The transformational economy: perspectives and opportunities for the private sector.”

Gaskin, the Minister of Business, noted that just the single Liza-1 well could add about 15 percent to Guyana’s GDP in the first year of production. “We could see double digit growth for a number of years in a row.

Whatever the numbers are, we are anticipating unprecedented levels of economic growth and there needs to be a strong commitment to a clear developmental pathway so that growth brings development and not just chaotic spending and over consump-

tion.”

Gaskin said that that is the very reason why the government is formulating a Green State Development Strategy.

He said that the strategy will guide Guyana towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Minister noted that there is currently a draft framework document in circulation that outlines the general principles and the central themes around which the strategy will be structured. He said that the strategy is supposed to be completed by the middle of 2018.

According to Minister

Gaskin, the Green State Development Strategy will help Guyana to avoid the pitfalls associated with newly introduced oil revenues. He said that it will give the Guyanese people the confidence needed to make sound decisions for their long-term well-being, and it will let investors know the direction of the country and its economy.

“And this last one is very important because this is precisely what we want to see happen. There are key sectors such as agriculture and agroprocessing, forestry products and tourism that can make a much greater contribution to the national economy with the right investments.”

Region Four has highest number of child sex abuse cases Director of Child Services, Ann Greene has said that Region Four has recorded the highest number of reported child sexual abuse in the country.

The CPA Director was at the time addressing a forum on the topic of child sexual on the occasion of Child Pro-

tection Week observed recently.

She noted that statistics reflect that Region Four has recorded the highest number of reported child sexual abuse cases, since it has the largest population of all the regions.

Region Two has been re-

corded as having the highest rate of child sexual abuse cases.

The Directo r emphasised that 424 child sexual abuse cases were reported for the first half of the year, noting that there many more, may have gone unreported.

Monday October 02, 2017

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Partnership between GRA and Business sector essential - Tax Chief Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia believes that it is crucial to ensure a feedback loop exists between the tax agency and business leaders.

Statia expressed that this is necessary so that GRA can know what proposals are being actively considered and the business community can be aware of any potential tax implications and opportunities that may result.

According to Statia, it is only by establishing proactive communication in this manner that a business can achieve a holistic view of the true cost of investment and business opportunities.

And it is for this reason he said that GRA welcomes and

supports a Public-Private Partnership initiative.

The Attorney-at-Law stated that the onus is on the

business organizations to give adequate support and advice to its members, and to make representations on their behalf at every forum, and to the various ministries.

He opined that such representations should be accompanied by facts and proper analyses, not surmisations. He commented that this will go a long way in minimizing conflict and improving efficiency.

Furthermore, the Commissioner General believes that it is not just changes within the business that tax teams are required to be considered. He said that there are a multitude of external influences that are affecting the tax landscape.

In this regard, Statia

each other.

A 26 year old female resident who was in the vicinity was shot in her left foot.

She is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in a stable condition.

GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia

Drunk cop knocks down female motorcyclist

An intoxicated police constable was taken into custody after knocking down a 44-year-old female motorcyclist about 14:30hrs yesterday on the Ruimveldt Public Road.

Police identified the victim as Gem Simone Hall of Lot 22 Walker Terrace Street, Castello Housing Scheme.

According to a release, the police rank was driving motor car PSS 4303 north on the Ruimveldt Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate when he struck down the motorcyclist.

Police said that a breathalyzer test done on the police constable found him to be over the legal alcohol consumption limit.

The police said that all documents for the vehicle are expired.

Meanwhile, police are investigating an incident in which a woman was shot in the foot at around 21:00hrs on Saturday, at Agricola, East Bank Demerara.

A release stated that two men, both armed with handguns had an argument, during which they discharged rounds at

related that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project, for instance, aims to address cases where multinational companies shifting profits to lower tax jurisdictions and thereby contributed to erosion of the tax base.

Statia shared that this new tax framework, which will likely be adopted in one form or another by over 100

countries, is expected to impact many businesses engaged in cross-border trade and operating in multiple jurisdictions.

The Commissioner General expressed that tax is a key factor that could affect the profitability and efficiency of the new smart factories, supply chains, and product offerings being considered. Despite the inherent complexities of the global tax system, Statia

commented that through careful, early tax planning and effective communication between all stakeholders, maximum use can be made of the opportunities that exist.

The tax chief stated that the GRA need not and would not be a barrier to these opportunities. “We are committed to this partnership, and assure you that we will do our part to ensure success,� Statia concluded.

PAGE 26

Monday October 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

TT economy remains growth challenged – Central Bank PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) says the local economy remains growthchallenged at present even as it acknowledged that early signs of improvement have appeared in the energy sector, as exploration activity picked up in the third quarter and output of natural gas is expected to rise with the coming on-stream of the Juniper project.

In its latest Monetary Policy Announcement, the CBTT said that growth in energy and energy-related production is expected to eventually pull up activity in other non-energy sectors which is still subdued.

“Available indicators on construction and distribution point to continued sluggishness in these areas, while official statistics however suggest that the unemployment rate has remained relatively steady at just under four per cent on average in 2016,” the CBTT added.

The CBTT said that the economic environment in both advanced and emerging economies continues to improve, with generally positive growth being recorded and inflation approaching target ranges, noting that within this context, authorities in some advanced nations have begun to more actively address monetary policy normalization.

In the US, the Federal Reserve will gradually reduce its holdings of securities starting October 2017, and there is anticipation that another hike in the Fed Fund’s rate will occur this December. There are signals that the Bank of England may also increase interest rates within the next few months,” the CBTT said.

It said that in the rest of the world, particularly in Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean, geopolitical tensions and recent natural disasters have put severe strains on

public and private sector economic management.

The CBTT said that the rate of increase in general prices in Trinidad and Tobago has stayed low.

Data from the Central Statistical Office point to headline inflation of just 1.4 per cent in July 2017, with core inflation, which excludes food prices, also at 1.4 per cent.

It said that the average for both these measures over the year to July was 2.2 and 2.1 per cent respectively. Food inflation measured 1.4 per cent in July 2017 compared to 0.5 per cent in June.

Interest rates in the banking system have remained virtually unchanged for the year so far.

The CBTT said the strongest loan categories in July 2017 were for consumers – 4.1 per cent growth year-on year – including the sub components for real estate mortgages and credit cards, while credit to businesses rose by just 0.3 per cent.

Liquidity in the commercial banking system remained steady in the third quarter of 2017 with banks’ excess reserves at the Central Bank averaging around TT$2.8 to TT$3 billion (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) There was a small increase in the TT-US interest rate differential on 3-month Treasuries from 14 to 16 basis points between July and mid-September 2017.

The CBTT said that it continues to note the very narrow TT-US differential and the prospect of US rate rises at the end of the year.

At the same time, it said it observed that the nascent signs of recovery in the energy sector had not yet translated into a boost to other sectors and that inflationary pressures were currently not substantial.

Antigua not letting US ‘off the hook’ in WTO case GENEVA - CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it has no intention of letting the United States “off the hook” for its internationally-binding obligation to allow internet gaming into the country until fair compensation is paid for the 14 years of damage done to the island’s economy.

Antigua and Barbuda’s lead negotiator, Sir Ronald Sanders, made the statement as he addressed the Wo r l d Tr a d e Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) late last week.

Sir Ronald told the DSB, comprising over 100 countries, that “it continues to be most unfortunate that, despite 14 long years of deprivation, Antigua and Barbuda has to appear before this body, year after year, to report that the United States has not seen it possible to offer fair and equitable terms to my small country for the significant losses in trade revenues that it has suffered as a result of US violation of the General

Sir Ronald Sanders Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)”.

He also rejected a US submission that it had offered Antigua “a broad range of useful suggestions to settle this dispute in November 2013” but that the government ignored it “before finally indicating that it was not acceptable”.

Sir Ronald pointed out that successive Antigua and Barbuda governments had refused the offer because it did not add up to two million US dollars when the trade

losses to the country in the matter totalled well over US$200 million.

The envoy told the DSB that when “the US makes a fair, equitable and just offer to Antigua and Barbuda for the extreme harm done to our economy” Antigua will release the US from its legal obligation” consistent with the rules of the WTO. Sir Ronald said that over the 14 years of its trade losses, Antigua and Barbuda “has in no way taken any hostile or retaliatory action against the US. He said that “the contrary is the truth”, adding that “over that same period, the US enjoyed a trade surplus with Antigua and Barbuda of two billion US dollars.

The Antigua and Barbuda diplomat also advised the WTO body of the extreme financial difficulties that his government now faces to rebuild the sister island of Barbuda that was decimated

by Hurricane Irma and to maintain residents of Barbuda who had to be evacuated to Antigua.

Monday October 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Monday October 02, 2017

Barbados to host InterAmerican conference of Ministers of Labour WASHINGTON - CMC – Barbados will host the 20th Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labour (IACNL) in December, according to a statement issued by the Organization of American States (OAS).

It said that an agreement for hosting the December 7-8 conference was signed here with the Barbados Permanent Representative, Selwin Hart, who indicated that his government has proposed as the theme for the conference “Building on our achievements and advancing towards social justice, decent work and sustainable development in the Americas.”

The OAS said the topics to be addressed at the meeting include better coordination between education, training and labour; the implementation

of Goal 8 of the 2030 United Nations’ Agenda for Sustainable Development; and the issue of gender equality and ensuring labour rights and opportunities for vulnerable populations.

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro said that more than 25 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean are unemployed, and over 130 million people work in the informal economy.

“This means they have insecure and precarious jobs, which impede their ability to build sustainable livelihoods,” he said.

He that despite the challenges, “willingness to cooperate and to find common solutions is unquestionable, which makes the issues to be addressed at this upcoming Ministerial all the more important”.

Monday October 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

TRUMP TO TOP U.S. DIPLOMAT - U.S. lawmakers urge President Don’t bother talking to North Korea to ‘get to work’ on Puerto Rico

President Donald Trump (left) and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday dismissed the prospect of talks with North Korea as a waste of time a day after his own secretary of state said the United States was maintaining open lines of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man,” Trump wrote on Twitter, using his sarcastic nickname for Kim and seeming to contradict the top U.S. diplomat.

Trump, who has traded insults and threats with Kim in recent weeks amid escalating tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs, later tweeted that his White House predecessors, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, had all “failed” on North Korea by “Being nice to Rocket Man,” “So why would it work now?” he asked.

Kim succeeded his father, Kim Jong Il, as North Korean leader in 2011, during Obama’s administration.

Previous presidents negotiated with Pyongyang but ultimately failed to prevent it from pressing ahead with its internationally

condemned weapons programmes.

Tillerson disclosed on Saturday that the United States was directly communicating with North Korea on its nuclear and missile programs but that Pyongyang had shown no interest in dialogue.

“Save your energy Rex, we’ll do what has to be done!”

Trump said.

Tillerson said during a trip to China that the United States had multiple direct channels of communication with Pyongyang, the first such disclosure from the Trump administration, and that it was probing North Korea to see whether it was interested in dialogue.

A senior Trump administration official, asked for clarification about Trump’s yesterday morning tweets, played down the significance of the communication channels.

“At a time when North Korea is continuing its provocations, the president does not think now is the time to negotiate with them,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official also said that to the extent that diplomatic channels exist between Washington and Pyongyang, they are aimed at securing the return of Americans detained

by North Korea.

R.C. Hammond, an adviser to Tillerson, denied that his boss had been undercut by Trump’s tweets and rejected any suggestion that the secretary of state should resign.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert made a similar point yesterday.

“Diplomatic channels are open for Kim Jong Un for now. They won’t be open forever,” she wrote on Twitter.

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, wrote on Twitter: “If Tillerson is wasting his time, it’s only because his boss fails to understand the catastrophic consequences of war on Korean Peninsula.”

Trump’s rhetoric on North Korea has run the gamut, from personal attacks on Kim to veiled military threats, from a denial of any interest in talks to an insistence that he would prefer a diplomatic solution.

After announcing new U.S. sanctions on North Korea last month, he acknowledged diplomacy was still possible, asking: “Why not?”. But he has also frequently declared that he had military options at its disposal, although U.S. officials and outside experts have long said a U.S. strike on North Korea would risk massive casualties.

Knifeman yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’ shot dead after killing two women MARSEILLE, France/PARIS (Reuters) Two women were stabbed to death and their assailant shot dead by a soldier in the southern French port city of Marseille yesterday in what officials described as a “likely terrorist act”.

Police sources said the suspect had shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest) in Arabic as he attacked the women, aged 17 and 20, at Marseille’s main railway station.

Two police sources said one had her throat slit while the other was stabbed in the chest and stomach.

An Islamic State militant was responsible

for the attack, the group’s Amaq news agency said.

The assailant was shot dead by a soldier from a military Sentinelle patrol, a force deployed across the country as part of a state of emergency declared after Islamist attacks that began almost two years ago.

“We have until now managed to avoid such dramatic incidents (in Marseille). I think it was a terrorist attack and the individual who was killed seems to have had several identities,” Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin told reporters.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers urged President Donald Trump yesterday to stop sniping at Puerto Ricans and get to work helping them recover from a devastating hurricane, two days before he was to visit the island, where people remained without food, water or power.

The Republican president said his government was doing a “great job” to help Puerto Rico recover from Hurricane Maria and took a new swipe at critics who said he had been slow to aid the island, where the power grid was destroyed 12 days ago.

“We have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico. Outside of the Fake News or politically motivated ingrates,” he said in a Twitter post.

Trump has intensified his praise of the federal response in the U.S. territory after the mayor of the capital made clear those efforts fell short and American media continued to broadcast images of the havoc and suffering on the island that belied his words.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told CBS’ “Face the Nation” the relief effort so far has been “slow footed, disorganized and not adequate.”

“The president, instead of tweeting against the mayor of San Juan who’s watching her people die and just made a plea for help, ought to roll up his sleeves and get to work here,” he said.

Senator Bernie Sanders, a

Bernie Sanders Democratic presidential contender in 2016, said on CNN Trump’s attacks from his “fancy golf club” on the struggling mayor of a destroyed city were “unspeakable.”

“I don’t know what world Trump is living in,” he said.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican, urged an end to the political finger pointing.

“Every minute we spend in the political realm bickering with one another over who’s doing what, or who’s wrong, or who didn’t do right is a minute of energy and time that we’re not spending trying to get the response right,” Rubio told CBS. At a briefing in San Juan, Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello reported that fuel and food supplies had begun to arrive in Puerto Rico. “We still need to do much more,” he said.

The Trump administration has been on the defensive since Friday when Cruz

Chuck Schumer

Marco Rubio pounded the acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke over her comment that the federal response in Puerto Rico was “a good news story.”

Trump accused the mayor of acting on behalf of Democrats. Yesterday, his representatives fanned out over the morning television news shows to chastise the tenacious Cruz.

Under pressure, PM May says she can steer Britain through Brexit MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) Apologising for losing her Conservative Party’s majority at a June election, Prime Minister Theresa May responded to her critics yesterday by saying she had the right strategy to lead Britain and win a Brexit deal.

May, who has faced calls from within her party to step down, wants to use the Conservatives’ annual conference in the northern English city of Manchester this week to try to reset her agenda, offering money to students and those people she once described as “just about managing” in Britain.

In an interview with BBC television, she dismissed talk of rifts among top ministers, saying they were united on their programme and more importantly Brexit. That came a day after foreign minister Boris Johnson, perhaps May’s biggest rival, set out four personal red lines in the complex talks with the EU. But with thousands of protesters just outside the conference centre gates demanding Britain stay in the European Union, May has a long way to go to unite not only her governing party, but also the country after last year’s divisive referendum vote.

“We’ve listened to the message that came from that (June) election. But I’ve been very

clear, I called the election, I led the campaign, I take my responsibility and I‘m sorry that some very good members of parliament lost their seats,” May said in an appeal to those party members still angry over the vote.

“What I have is a cabinet that is united in the mission of this government ... and agreed on the approach that we took in Florence,” May said about a speech she made in Italy last month to try to kickstart Brexit talks that had all but stalled.

“Boris is absolutely behind the Florence speech and the line that we have taken.”

Arriving at the conference, Johnson was quick to say he was loyal to the prime minister.

But he has yet to comment further on his four red lines, which include a transition period of no longer than two years, that he set out on the eve of the conference in what his critics said was a clear move to pressure May. Minster after minister appealed for unity from a party deeply disillusioned by the June election, with several saying the only way to win back voters was to challenge the growing appeal of the main opposition Labour Party directly.

“I think one of the problems we have at the moment and what kind of rankles with me a little bit is that we have got to stop talking about the party,” trade minister Liam Fox told an event.

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Monday October 02, 2017

Sharma’s ton takes India to win against Australia

Rohit Sharma was at his six-hitting best again, crunching five of them©BCCI (Reuters) - Opening batsman Rohit Sharma smashed 125 to guide India to a convincing seven-wicket win against Australia in the fifth and final one-day international in Nagpur yesterday, for a 4-1 series victory.

Chasing 243, the hosts cantered to their target with over seven overs remaining as Australia’s listless bowling attack failed to pose any serious challenge.

Australia lost the first three ODIs of the series to concede an unassailable 3-0

lead but regained some pride with a 21-run win in the fourth match at Bengaluru.

They would have wanted to gain some momentum with another victory ahead of the three-match Twenty20 series, starting on Saturday, but a clinical performance from India barely gave them an opportunity.

Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, who completed his third consecutive halfcentury, gave India a rollicking start with an opening stand of 124 before the latter was out for 61.

It was Sharma’s 14th hundred in the 50-over format and he brought it up with a massive six over mid-wicket against paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile.

The stylish right-handed batsman, who had scored 71 and 65 in the last two matches, hit 11 fours and five sixes in his 109-ball knock.

Sharma and captain Virat Kohli (39) added 99 in their second wicket partnership to take India to the brink of victory before both were out caught in the deep in the same over to leg-spinner Adam Zampa.

Earlier, Australia failed to build on a solid start from their openers and finished on 242

Cardiff Half Marathon: Course record set as Kenyans dominate in Wales BBC Sport - Kenya’s John Lotiang won the men’s race at the Cardiff Half Marathon, beating defending champion Shadrack Kimining in a course record of one hour 47 seconds.

Kipkemboi Kiprono completed a Kenyan 1-2-3, with Wales’ Dewi Griffiths fourth in a personal best time of 1:01.31.

Edith Chelimo also set a course record as she won the women’s race, with Dorcas Kimeli and Beatrice Mutai completing another Kenyan clean sweep.

Melissa Nichols and Richie Powell won the wheelchair races.

The event drew a record entry of 25,000,

made up of elite, club and charity runners.

“It was pretty fast from the start,” said 26year-old Griffiths, a three-time Welsh marathon champion “The race organisers asked for a fast pace so it was just about how long I could stick with it really and go as hard and fast as I can.

“I knew I was in great shape, I’ve PB-ed over the past couple of weeks and it’s another PB today.

“The crowds were great, the support was great. It was a great event again.”

Jenny Nesbitt took the Welsh national title - run alongside the main event - finishing in a personal best time of 01:13:23.

NBA sends memo to teams offering...

From page 32 The league has sent multiple memos to teams about ways to engage their community and make a difference rather than just a statement. The majority of the memo sent Friday is the same — it talks about having conversations within the organization, from ownership through the front office and to the players, and finding ways to be active not just protest.

On media day this week, a number of players (and a few coaches) were direct and very critical of President Donald Trump, who has made kneeling at NFL games an issue.

Stephen Curry and LeBron James were front and center both criticizing the president on social media and on Sports Illustrated’s “unity” cover. Some NBA owners have concerns about alienating supporters of the president and the NBA has several teams in very red states.

While the memo, when read in its entirety, is not a top-down, authoritarian document,

however the parts released may come off that way to players. In some way the leak of the memo made it more powerful a statement to take a knee (or leave during the anthem, as the LA Sparks of the WNBA have done through the playoffs) and even more defiant an act.

Players taking a knee or leaving the floor during an anthem an NBA game would cause a media firestorm and fuel talking heads — particularly on the political right, who can stir their base with this issue — but it would not have the same impact among NBA fans as it did in NFL stadiums. As we have noted many times before, NBA fans trend younger, more urban, and more multicultural than NFL fans.

Most NBA fans would look at guys kneeling during the anthem and nod, not boo. Also, it should be noted that the NBA owns the WNBA and there has been no punishment of the Sparks for their anthem protests.

Will NBA fans see guys protesting on Saturday? It’s going to be interesting.

for nine after winning the toss and opting to bat.

David Warner followed up his match-winning knock of 124 in the last ODI with a fine 53 and added 66 with Aaron Finch in a brisk opening stand.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya dismissed Finch for 32 to break the dangerous stand, who had combined in a partnership of 231 to set up Australia’s win in the last encounter.

Australia were moving along nicely at 100-1 but then suffered a mini collapse, losing captain Steve Smith, Warner and Peter Handscomb in quick succession to be reduced to 118-4.

India’s spinners pulled back the scoring rate with left-arm spinner Axar Patel the most devastating, finishing with three for 38.

India pace duo Jasprit Bumrah (2-51) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also bowled accurately during the closing overs to restrict Australia, and made up for

Travis Head hauled Australia past 200 before being bowled trying to hit Axar Patel across the line ©BCCI their average opening spells.

Scores: India 243 for 3 (Rohit 125, Rahane 61)

beat Australia 242 for 9 (Warner 53, Stoinis 46, Axar 3-38) by seven wickets.

South Africa need seven wickets to win opening test POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa need seven wickets on the last day to secure victory in the first test and go ahead in the two-match series as Bangladesh struggled on a rain-curtailed fourth day at Senwes Park on Sunday.

Morne Morkel snagged two wickets in the first over of Bangladesh’s second innings and they were 49 for three at stumps, still 375 runs shy of an improbable victory.

South Africa, who had started the day 54-2, declared their second innings on 247 for six, with captain Faf du Plessis scoring 81 and Temba Bavuma 71.

A partnership of 142 between the pair pushed along the scoring rate as South Africa sought to set Bangladesh a large target, but still give themselves enough time to bowl them out on a pitch that has proven lifeless.

Two breaks for rain hastened the decision to declare and when Morkel bowled Tamim Iqbal with the fourth ball of the opening over and then had Mominul Haque trapped leg before two balls later, it seemed all was going to plan for the home team.

Mominul had consulted with Imrul Kayes about reviewing the decision to give him out but was persuaded not do so, only for television

Morne Morkel is elated after pinning Mominul Haque lbw. (AFP) replays to show Morkel’s delivery was headed well down off and that the umpire had made a poor decision.

Morkel then removed the middle stump of Mustafizur Rahman with the second ball of his next over only for TV to show he had bowled a no-ball, reinstating the batsman.

It means Morkel now holds the world record of 14 test dismissals being overturned because his foot was over the bowling crease.

To add to the ignominy, he was later taken to hospital with a side strain that could

rule him out of the rest of the series.

Imrul was the third wicket to fall as he was caught behind off the spin bowling of Keshav Maharaj for 32.

Captain Mustafizur, not out on 16, and Liton Das will resume on the last day with survival uppermost on the visitors’ agenda.

Scores: Bangladesh 320 and 49 for 3 (Mushfiqur 16*, Morkel 2-19) need another 375 runs to beat South Africa 496 for 3 dec and 247 for 6 dec (Du Plessis 81, Bavuma 71, Mominul 3-27, Mustafizur 2-30).

Monday October 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

7th Annual Courts 10k…

Cleveland Forde wins 6th Open title; Ashanti Scott is women’s champion

Cleveland Forde (right) received a hamper, the championship trophy and $100,000 from COURTS’ commercial Director Joel Persico.

As expected, Cleveland “The little Kenyan” Forde blew away the competition to win his 6th COURTS 10k Male Open road race title in a time of 33 minutes 37 seconds, while Ashanti Scott won the female Open division in 43 minutes 8 seconds yesterday morning.

The 7th edition of this event saw a record number of participants taking the 10k route that started and finished at the COURTS Guyana Inc. Main Street branch at 6:15hrs.

The Male Open division saw a repeat of last year’s podium finish as road race king Cleveland Forde was followed by Winston Missigher (33 minutes 45 seconds) who had a photo finish ahead of Cleveland Thomas (33minutes 46 seconds).

Ashanti Scott finished over 2 minutes ahead of 2nd place Leyanna Charles (45 minutes 38 seconds) and 3rd place Joanna Archer (46 minutes 05 seconds) in the Women’s Open division. Alisha Fortune predictably was the top female Over-35 athlete and finished in a time of 51 minutes 37 seconds in the female veteran’s race. Cyrleen Phillips was 2nd followed by Carla Adams and Indira Singh 4th.

There were three age categories for the veteran’s men. Michael Davidson won the 40-50 years division, Gary Hartog was unmatched in the 51-60 years race, while Llewellyn Gardner was on top in the Men’s Over 60 category.

Rickie Williams (35m 05s) won the Boys 16-19 category ahead of South American Youth Games bronze medalist, Anfernee Headecker (35m 58s) and Delroy Leitch (36m 52s) who finished third.

Meanwhile, Maria Urquart copped the Girls 16-19 crown, finishing over 3 minutes ahead of Ann Ignacio who finished second and Sheama Tyrell was the third Under-20 young woman to finish the race.

A special 1-mile event was held for Under16 participants. Alex Hartog (5m 47s) was the boys champion followed closely by Troy Stephen (5m 50s) and Nkruma Hutson (6m 10s) in third place.

Meanwhile, the diminutive Keshawna Harding won the girl’s 1600m (1 mile) in 6 minutes 6 seconds. Shauntell Venture (6m 27s) proudly crossed the line for a 2nd place finish, while Deshawna Harding (6m 28s) was third.

Joel Persico presents Women’s Open champion Ashanti Scott with the 1st place trophy.

Minister George Norton hands over the female Over-35 1st place trophy to winner Alicia Fortune.

Some NFL players kneel again despite Trump’s fresh call for protests to end

Three Miami Dolphins players defy Trump order to stand during anthem.

LONDON (Reuters) - Some National Football League players knelt again yesterday when the U.S. national anthem was played before

a game in London, defying U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed call to end their protest over racial injustice.

The Fox television network’s broadcast of the day’s first game, at Wembley Stadium, showed three members of the Miami Dolphins kneeling as U.S. music star Darius Rucker performed “The Star Spangled Banner.”

All of the other uniformed Dolphins players and their opponents, the New Orleans Saints, were standing, many with their right hands over their chests.

The three players who had knelt stood for the British anthem “God Save the Queen,” which was also performed before the game.

On the eve of yesterday’s 14 NFL games, Trump on Saturday renewed his sharp criticism of players who have refused to stand during the pregame ceremony.

“Very important that NFL players STAND tomorrow, and always, for the playing of our National Anthem,” Trump posted on Twitter.

“Respect our Flag and our Country!”

On Sept. 22, he had touched off

a national controversy that has enveloped the country’s most popular sports league.

Some African-American players adopted the symbolic gesture of kneeling during the anthem over the last year to protest against racial disparities in the U.S. criminal justice system.

Outside Wembley Stadium, not all British fans supported the players’ protests.

“I think everyone has the right to protest, but I think you have to choose your stage wisely,” said Laura Williams, who works in healthcare. “I think you risk upsetting more people than it’s worth.”

However, Mark Dodson, an engineer, said the protests were “absolutely a global initiative” and “a sign of solidarity between different races, different backgrounds, different everything basically, which is great to see.”

On Tuesday, Trump called on the

NFL to ban players from kneeling in protest at games while the national anthem is played.

“The NFL has all sorts of rules and regulations,” he wrote. “The only way out for them is to set a rule that you can’t kneel during our National Anthem!”

And on Thursday, Trump continued the crusade, drawing a rebuke from the NFL after he said football team owners feared their players.

The Republican president told “Fox & Friends” that he was friends with many NFL team owners, and they were “in a box” over how to handle the kneeling protests.

“They say: ‘We are in a situation where we have to do something,’” Trump said. “I think they’re afraid of their players, you want to know the truth. And I think it’s disgraceful.” He did not elaborate.

The NFL rejected the president’s remarks as not factual. Trump also called for fans to boycott NFL games.

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Monday October 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

GAPF/Fitness Express Raw Nationals

Lisa Oudit (Buddy’s) and Vijai Rahim (Hardcore Barbell Club) are Overall winners Buddy’s Gym’s Lisa Oudit copped the Overall Best Lifter award on the distaff side, while Berbice’ Vijai Rahim of the Hadcore Barbell Club achieved a similar feat among the males when the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) held its Fitness Express sponsored RAW Nationals yesterday at the Saints Stanislaus College, Brickdam, Georgetown.

Upper Demerara Barbel Club’s Colin ‘Mr. Clean’ C h e s n e y, o n e o f t h e strongest men in the land, reminded all of that, once again when he squatted his way to 700lbs to set the platform for his eventual triumph in the 120kg Male Masters 1 and Open divisions.

Oudit, competing in the 84kg category did not only dominate her fellow peers to win her category, but did so in style as she set new Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift and Total records in the process.

Rahim, who has continues to improve by leaps and bounds stepped up to the 74kg class and took the top spot ahead of Donnell Perry of Life Fitness Gym. Oudit set a new National 84kg Squat Record of 130.5kg to erase the previous standard set by Jackey Toney. Her new Bench Press Record of 60.5kg is better than the previous best held

by Jackey Toney. Oudit also set new standards for Deadlift and Total which were also previously held by Jackey Toney. The new Deadlift record is 135.5, while the new Total record is 326.5.

Also setting new records yesterday was Total Fitness Gym’s Arif Immamdeen who competed in the 66kg class where he set new Junior National Squat, Deadlift and Total records, erasing his old marks in the process.

His new Squat record now stands at 175kg, Deadlift record is now 215kg, while the Total record is now 485kg.

Following are the other results on the day: 72kg Female Junior 1st Place Grace Babb (Tower Gym), 72kg Female Open 1st Place Grace Babb (Tower Gym), 72kg Female Open 2nd Place Indra Mekdeci (Buddy’s Gym), 72kg Female Open 3rd Place Blossom Babb (Tower Gym).

53kg Male Junior 1st Place Neezam Deepan (Fitness Gym), 53kg Male Open 1st Place NeezamDeepan (Fitness Gym), 59kg Male Open 1st Place Navindra Tamasar (Total Fitness Gym), 59kg Male Open 2nd Place Dwayne Welch (Buddy’s Gym), 66kg Male Junior 1st place ArifImmadeen (Total Fitness Gym), 66kg Male Open 1st Place Derran Harris (Hardcore Gym), 66kg Male Open 2nd Place Arif Immadeen (Total Fitness Gym), 74kg Male Open 1st place Vijai Rahim (Hardcore barbell Club), 74kg Male Open 2nd place Donnell Perry (Life Fitness Gym).

83kg Male Junior 1st place Johnny Seecharran (Life Gym), 83kg Male Sub Junior 1st place Brandon Badal (Life Gym), 83kg Male Open 1st Place Hardat Tarson (Hardcore Barbell Club), 83kg Male Open 2nd Place Phillip Romalho (Buddy’s Gym), 83kg Male Open 3rd Place Vickram Panday (Hardcore Barbell Club), 93kg Male Master 2, 1st Place Joseph Stoll (Buddy’s Gym), 93kg Male Open 1st Place FerozeHussain (Buddy’s Gym), 93kg Male Open 2nd Place Joseph Stoll (Buddy’s Gym), 105kg Male Open 1st Place Christopher Richards (Tower Gym), 120kg Male Master 1, 1st Place Colin Chesney (Upper Demerara Barbell Club), 120kg Male Open 1st Place Colin Chesney (Upper Demerara Barbell Club).

North Ruimveldt hammer...

From page 34 Game-6 Dave and Celena AllStars-6 vs West Back Road2 Dave and Celina’s Scorers Donovan Francis-7th, 12th, 15th and 19th Rawle Gittens-9th Kenard Simon-14th West Back Road Scorers Josephius Charles-13th Ned Fraser-17th Game-7

Bent Street-0 vs Albouystown-A-1 Moses Gritten-4th Game-8 Back Circle-5 vs Alexander Village-1 Back Circle Scorers Jermaine Beckles-3rd and 11th Stephon McLean-12th and 16th Sylvester Richardson15th Alexander Scorer Sheldon Fletcher-7th

NBA sends memo to teams offering suggestions, reminding of rule to stand for anthem NBC Sports - The NBA has a rule that players have to stand — “in a dignified manner” — for the national anthem.

With the first NBA exhibition games this weekend, and a lot of players who feel that locking arms as was done a year ago may not be enough of a statement, the league — from ownership through the league office, the players union, and of course the players themselves — are discussing how to deal with the wish to protest.

With that, the NBA sent a memo to teams both offering suggestions on engaging the community, ideas such as addressing fans before games, and noting the NBA’s rule players have to stand for the anthem, reports Zach Lowe of ESPN. (NBC Sports also has obtained that memo.)

The memo, distributed by deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, instructs teams that “the league office will determine how to deal with any possible instance in which a player, coach, or trainer does not stand for the anthem.” The memo states that individual teams “do not have the discretion to waive” the rule that players, coaches and staff must stand for

the anthem. The league has the discretion to discipline players who violate the rule…

In the memo, Tatum suggests teams might address the current political climate by having players and coaches give a joint pregame address at their first home games.

“This could include a message of unity and how the team is committed to bringing the community together this season,” the memo states. The memo also suggests teams might prepare a video tribute or public service announcement featuring “team leadership speaking about the issues they care about.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said this on Thursday at a press conference.

“On the anthem specifically, we have a rule that requires our players to stand for the anthem. It’s been a rule as long as I’ve been involved with the league, and my expectation is that our players will continue to stand for the anthem.”

It should be noted this is a league issue, not one where teams have discretion.

Continued on page 30

Monday October 02, 2017

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Kaieteur News

GCB/CGI 3-day Franchise League

Lower Corentyne register emphatic win over East Coast Johnson, Smith & Permaul shine with the ball

Ramnarine Chatura fends at a quick short ball from Raun Johnson who took 2-19 & 6-36 yesterday.

By Sean Devers Led by incisive fast bowling by Raun Johnson and Nail Smith, Lower Corentyne registered their third win on the penultimate day of their GCB/CGI threeday Franchise League cricket match when they beat East Coast by an innings and 141 runs at Lusignan yesterday.

Resuming on their overnight score of 343-3, Lower Corentyne batted for 35 minutes before declaring on 405-7 off 109.3 overs. Kelvon Anderson progressed to 120 with nine fours, while Seon Hetymer made 48.

Kumar Bishundyal (4-51) and Amir Khan (2-71) did the damage for East Coast who fell for 97 in reply as only Ramnarine Chatura, who three fours and a six in 33 offered resistance.

Veerasammy Permaul finished with 4-22, pacer Nail Smith 3-28 and Raun Johnson 2-19 were the architects of

destruction.

Following-on East Bank reached 167 with Amir Khan (50), Kamesh Yadram (31) and Chatura (26) showing fight.

Johnson (6-36), Kassim Khan (2-57), Smith (1-33) and Permaul (1-37) were the wicket takers in the second innings.

When play resumed in sultry conditions yesterday, Anderson added 17 to first day score with two fours, one of which was possibly the shot of the match; an impeccably timed and placed cover drive off Chanderpaul Hemraj before he was dismissed to Khan at 365-4.

Hetymer began on 29 and hit Bishundyal for six before he was stumped off Bishundyal at 396-6, while Devon Clements (4) was removed by Khan at 377-5, while Veerasammy Permaul hit Khan for consecutive sixes to bring up the 400.

When Permaul (17) ran

past one from Bishundyal and was stumped at which time the declaration was made.

When East Coast began their reply, Brian Sattuar (2) was LBW to Nail Smith and Gavin Boodwah (2) caught off Raun Johnson off consecutive balls to leave on them on 2-4.

Bhaskar Yadram (9) was sent packing by Smith at 24-3 before Joshua Persaud counter-attacked the bouncers by hooking Smith just over the head of Johnson at long-leg for six and pulled the next ball for four as he fought fire with fire on track which offered good carry for the pacers.

Kamesh Yadram (0) had his stumps knocked out when changed his length at 44-5.

When Persaud (17) misshit a sweep in Permaul’s second over and was caught

by Smith on the mid-wicket boundary at 48-6 East Coast were in real danger.

Chanderpaul Hemraj miscues a hook off the lively Nail Smith at Lusignan yesterday.

Ramnarine Chatura used his feet and dispatched leftarm spinner Kasim Khan for a one-bounce boundary over long-on and along Amir Khan survived to Lunch with East Coast wobbling on the ropes at 65-6, needing another 140 to avoid an innings defeat.

After the interval the last four wickets tumbled for 32 runs as Jonathon Foo bowled Kumar Bishundyal (10) at 657 before Permaul had Amir Khan (10) stumped, trapped Chatura LBW and Royston Simon for a duck to end the innings.

Asked to follow-on, with a deficit of 308, East Bank lost Sattuar for a duck as Smith struck at 10-1 before Boodwah threw his around and hit three fours and a six before Johnson got rid of him at 33-2.

Hemraj (5) edged Johnson to slip at 39-3, while Johnson got rid of Persaud for a duck at 41-4, Bhaskar Yadram hit

three fours in 16 before he edge him to Devon Clements at first slip eight minutes before Tea and the home team were crumbling at 50-5.

After Tea, which was taken with the score on 52-5, Chatura and Kamesh Yadram both looked determined to offer fight and Chatura played an impeccable cover drive off Kassim Khan which galloped to the boundary.

The 18-year-old Chatura (26) dominated the stand before punched Khan and the ball rebounded from the silly mid-off fielder for Gajanand Singh at slip to take the catch to leave the score on 89-6 and end the promising 39-run stand.

Yadram, who played the

supporting role with Chatura, played three elegant off side drives off Permaul which all went for boundaries but was soon taken at leg-slip off Khan at 112-7.

Amir Khan pounced on a short ball from Johnson, sliced it to the backward point boundary and blasted Kassim Khan for an on-side boundary before Bishundyal (9) at 1458 to give Johnson his second five-wicket in the tournament.

Cordell Mars (0) never suggested permanence and was bowled by Johnson without addition to the score.

Amir Khan lofted Kassim Khan for two sixes before he was last out, caught on the boundary as Kassim finished the game in two days.

Wins for Essequibo and Georgetown

Anthony Adams

Ashmead Nedd

Essequibo maintained their lead at the top of the points table with a 169-run win over Upper Corentyne, while Georgetown defeated West Demerara by six wickets when the fifth round Cricket Guyana Inc Jaguars three-day league concluded yesterday.

At Port Mourant, Essequibo resumed on 361-3 and progressed to 454 all out to lead by 297. Ricardo Adams struck 87, while Kemol Savory made 49 and Chaitram Persaud 24.

Earlier Keemo Paul hammered 177and Kevon Boodie 59.

Bowling for Upper Corentyne, Eon Hooper bagged 7 wickets for 116 and David Latchaya 3 for 78. Batting a second time, Upper Corentyne were sent packing for 128. Bowling for Essequibo, Anthony Adams picked up 6 off 29, Ricardo Adams 2 for 52 and Akini Adams 1 for 14.

At the Tuschen ground, East Bank Essequibo, West Demerara resuming on 43 for 2, were bowled out for 186.

Akshaya Persaud made 51 as Ashmead Nedd grabbed 6-76 and Steven Sankar 3-19. Georgetown needing 124 for victory, reached their target off 21.5 overs. Robin Bacchus hit an unbeaten 52 and Christopher Barnwell 47; Keshram Seyhodan took 3 for 31.

Veerasammy Permaul had five wickets yesterday.

PAGE 34

Heritage and Education month activities held at Ituni Amerindian Heritage and Education month activities were recently held at Ituni over a three day period. The event was sponsored by the Guyana Forestry Commission and saw students of the Ituni Nursery and Primary Schools taking part in the activities.

Special Sergeant 10962 Fraser, who was one of the judges during the competition, commended the children, encouraging them to do better next time and also encouraged those that did not take part to do so next year.

Prizes in the form of trophies were presented to the top three in each category. The students took part in reading, spelling bee and a poster making competition depicting the theme of this years Heritage and Education month celebrations.

Kaieteur News

Monday October 02, 2017

GABA/Banks DIH playoffs…

Colts sweep Under-23 finals; Plaisance win game 2 in Open Division Colts Shelroy Thomas goes for a layup during game one of the 1st Division finals against Plaisance Guardians.

The Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association/ Powerade/Malta Supreme/Rainforest Water leagues have reached the playoffs stage.

The latest action saw Plaisance Guardians rebounding to win game two of the 1st Division finals against Colts, while Colts Basketball Club retained their Under-23 title by sweeping Pacesetters.

1st Division finals, Game two Following their loss in Game 1, Plaisance Guardians have bounced back to win the 2nd of the three (3) game finals against defending Open Division champions Bounty Colts.

Guardians won 88-69, led by an impressive 37 points from Nikolai Smith who got support from Malcolm Powdar (14 points).

Shelroy Thomas (23 points) and Stanton Rose (16) top

scored for Colts in the losing effort. Game 3 of the 1st Division finals will be contested on Wednesday night at the Burnham hard-court.

Under-23 Finals, Game two In game 2 of the Under-23 division finals, Bounty Colts followed up their 76-67 win in game 1 on Saturday with an 8562 thrashing of Pacesetters on Sunday night, to close off the 3-game finals in two nights.

Timothy Thompson continued to show why he’s the best player in the Under-23 league with a disciplined 29-points top performance that led Colts to victory again, with support coming from skipper Lemuel Grant with 17 points.

Quincy Dos Santos (26 points) played well in Pacesetters’ loss on Sunday night, but his effort coupled with Marvin Durant’s 8 was not enough to earn them a 3-game playoff.

Street Vybz Entertainment Futsal

North Ruimveldt hammer Brazilians to advance A representative of the Guyana Forestry Commission presents one of the students with his prize.

Adana Homes of...

From page 36 well, while challenging them to make a difference in Guyana and West Indies cricket.

Beharry thanked his friend, Persaud for providing the gears for the young cricketers. He said that is it a great joy to share and care and he is happy to be part of this gesture. Beharry commended the club for their recent interest in the development of cricketers, the young ones in particular and he hoped this generosity can help the club to win competitions and more importantly, produce more national and international cricketers. He urged the youths to follow in the footsteps of test opener Rajendra Chandrika and other regional and international cricketers produced by the club over the years and even do better.

Speaking on behalf of the Everest Cricket Club, Juanita Mootoo thanked ADANA HOMES for this timely intervention.

She said that the club is heavily concentrating on their youths so as to rebuild a stronger cricket structure with the aim of producing more Guyana and West Indies players. She also thanked Beharry for the role he played in acquiring the sponsorship.

North Ruimveldt took a different route to that of Ol Skool Ballers after inflicting a 7-1 hammering on a Brazilian combination to advance to the round robin phase of the inaugural Street Vybz Entertainment Futsal Competition which continued Saturday night, at the National Gymnasium.

Appearing in the third of eight scheduled games, the star-studded North Ruimveldt showed little mercy on their Brazilian counterparts with Joshua Browne and Gerald Gritten leading the way with a brace apiece, while Travis Grant, Kacy John and Ryan Hackett completed their tally with a goal each.

Wellinson’s solitary strike was the lone response for the Brazilians.

However, it was a night to remember for teams from the Mining Town of Linden that saw all three of their teams in

the competition progress to the next stage following victories.

First, Swag Entertainment gained a walkover from Beterverwagting (BV), before Silver Bullets outlasted a strong North East La Penitence unit 6-4 in a fascinating encounter.

Their win was followed by the No.1 team in Linden Dave & Celena All Stars’ emphatic 6-2 triumph over an outclassed West Back Road side.

Other winners on the night included Future Stars, who benefitted from a walkover from Campbellville, Tucville that beat Agricola Champion Boys in a penalty shootout after their clash ended in an exciting 2-2 draw, while Albouystown ‘A’ and Back Circle also won.

The tournament has over $1.2million in prize monies and trophies up for grabs with the winner set to receive

$700,000, runner-up $250,000 and 3rd and 4th placed finishers $150,000 and $100,000 respectively.

There will also be prizes for MVP and Highest Goalscorer.

Play in the tournament will resume on Thursday at the same venue with the start of the round robin phase.

In the night’s full results: Game-1 Future Stars vs Campbellville Future won via walkover Game-2 BV vs Swag Entertainment Swag Entertainment won via walkover Game-3 North Ruimveldt-7 vs Brazilian Team-1 North Scorers Joshua Browne-7th and 18th Gerald Gritten-13th and 14th Travis Grant-3rd Kacy John-4th

Ryan Hackett-9th Brazilian Scorer Wellinson-6th Game-4 North East La Penitence4 vs Silver Bullets-6 Silver Scorers Damion Williams-7th and 15th Jermaine Samuels-1st and 16th Romel Matthews-4th Omar Williams-5th North East Scorers Delon Hunte-3rd Rawle Adams-6th Alwin Moore-12th Kelvin Moore-14th Game-5 Tucville-2 vs Agricola Champion Boys-2 Tucville won 3-2 sudden death kicks Tucville Scorers Dennis Edwards-8th Leon Sealey-13th Agricola Scorer Collis Samuels-1st and 11th Continued on page 32

Monday October 02, 2017

Region Three claim softball title at CORE Inter Region day of sports

Members of the victorious Region Three softball team with the other prize winners following the games.

Region three emerged champions when Community Organise to Restore the Environment (CORE) of Region five staged its inter region day of sports Saturday at Woodley Park Sports Club ground, West Coast Berbice.

Region Three made light work of Region Six, winning by 10 wickets and 8.1 overs to spare. Batting first, Region Six could only muster 27-9 off their allotted 10 overs. Jailall Chandilall claimed four wickets and Avenash Ramotar three.

Region Three responded with 32 without loss in 1.5 overs.

Avenash Beharry struck one four and two sixes in a robust 31.

Region Three overcame Region Six by 42 runs in the first round game. Batting first, Region Three scored 110-6 with Shivkarran Beharry scoring 61 and Tony Prashad 35. David Deosarran and Steve Prashad had two wickets each.

Region Six were restricted for 69-8 in reply. Sudesh

Deonarine made 21; Shivkarram Beharry picked up two wickets.

Region Six then defeated Region Four in their encounter. Region Four made 59-8, taking first knock with Joshua Joseph scoring 31. Region Six responded with 61-6 in nine overs.

Abdullah of Region Six won the king dominoes competition with seven games, while Nicholas Samuel of Region and Murphy O’ Neil of Region Four won their respective male 100m dash. Michelle Nero of Region Five took the female 100m.

The event was sponsored by G. Singh Associates Construction, Golden Splash, RHO Region 5 Dr. Chaffoon, George Stuart, Ivor Allen, Sheldon Farley, Lalalchand Deokarran, Shereaz Bacchus General Construction, RDC Region 5, Z and H Investment, REO Region 5 Ovid Morrison, MS. Carol Smith Joseph and Sign Arts/Automotive Arts.

Local boxers for Jamaica

Joel Williamson

PAGE 35

Kaieteur News

Desmond Amsterdam

The Guyana Boxing Association intends to send a team of four boxers and one official to the inaugural Guyana versus Jamaica competition to be held in St Elizabeth, Jamaica on Saturday October 7.

The Land of Many Waters is expected to be represented by four pugilists all of whom won gold medals at the last Caribbean Development tournament.

Middleweight Desmond Amsterdam, Welterweight Colin

Clairmont Gibson

‘Superman’ Lewis, lightweight Joel Williamson and bantamweight Clairmont ‘Cartel’ Gibson are expected to depart for the Land of Wood and Water on Friday.

GBA president Steve Ninvalle said that he is working closely with Fly Jamaica in order to get the team to Jamaica safe and sound. Saturday’s competition is viewed as much needed preparation for the next Caribbean Development Tournament scheduled for St Lucia in December.

Luzerne Invitational

Andrea Foster wins first Cross County contest this year USA based Scholarship athlete Andrea Foster, pursuing a Major in General Science (Bio-Med) at the Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey was successful in her first Cross Country event on Saturday when she won the Luserne Invitational.

F o s t e r, w h o w o n Athlete of the Year (2016) for Cross Country, won the event in 19’ 20" ahead of Justine Conca (Bergen) who completed the distance in 20’ 06" followed by another Essex athlete, Claudina Constantine who clocked 20’ 57".

Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Foster expressed thanks to God for allowing her the opportunity to compete and excel in the event noting that it has been hard work for her but she is up to the challenge of doing well, consistently.

Foster also informed that she competed in another similar event one week earlier but did not finish due to her not feeling well.

Next up for the young Guyanese athlete is defending her Regionals title before focusing on Cross Country Nationals.

Andrea Foster

GCB/CGI 3-day Franchise League

East Bank beat West Berbice by 4 wickets

East Bank had an easy four-wicket win over West Berbice on the final day of their fifth round GCB/CGI three-day Franchise League at Bush Lot yesterday.

Resuming on 62-2 needing 140 to win, East Bank reached 145-6 to win on the rough but lightning fast outfield as Wicketkeeper Corwin Austin lofted Gudakesh Motie for six with two to win to formalise their four-wicket win an hour before Lunch.

Darshan Persaud top scored with 28, while left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie had 3-42 to follow up his fivewicket haul in the first innings to move to 47 wickets in the tournament after five rounds.

Sachin Singh and Darshan Persaud added 23 on a good track before Singh who added five to his overnight 18 before Motie induced the left-handed Singh to edge to slip at 72-3.

It was soon 89-4 when Sherfane Rutherford, who clobbered a four and two sixes in a cameo 16 from just eight balls was removed

Gudakesh Motie before Steven Jacobs took the score 1 2 0 b e f o r e Jacobs, one of the players who will miss the next round due to National duties in Antigua, was LBW to Seon Glasgow for 17 with a four and a six.

Persaud, who faced 94 balls and hit four boundaries, was removed by off-spinner Adrian Dutchin at 130-6 before Austin finished the game in style to end unbeaten on 15. (Sean Devers)

PAGE 36

Monday October 02, 2017

Kaieteur News

GTT National Indoor Championships…

Antigua Independence T20 Cricket

GCC and Old Fort clubs dominate finals Guyana face Jamaica in match two on Oct. 7 Johnson feels more T20 cricket needed locally

Action in the ladies division final between Inet Lynx and Pizza Hut GCC. Bounty GCC continued their unrivalled success in the GTT National Indoor Hockey championship with another 1st division title. In the playoff, they were up against the impressive Old Fort unit that took the game to a shootout after a 4-4 full-time draw.

Dwayne Scott scored 2 field goals, while Orland Semple and Jason-Ray Khalil scored one each for GCC. Two (2) field goals and a penalty corner completed Ascofu Simon’s hattrick for Old Fort, while Joel Gaskin’s field goal was needed to draw the game at full-time. GCC were more composed in their 2-1 penalty triumph for the 1st Division title.

Old Fort Warriors were crowned champions in the men’s 2nd Division after a gritty 3-2 win over GCC Pitbulls in the final. Jason Clarke netted 2 goals, a penalty corner and a penalty

stroke to lead OLD Fort’s charge, while his teammate Omar Hopkinson’s solitary strike made the difference as Pitbull’s Andrew Xavier’s brace of penalty corners was not enough to prevent the upset.

GCC Vintage capped off their impressive run in the veteran’s division with an extravagant 10-4 thrashing of Old Fort Go Getters in the final. Five (5) goals from Dwayne Scott, a hat-trick from Phillip Fernandes and a field goal each from Patrick Edghill and Orson Ferguson rounded off Vintage’s scoring.

In the ladies final, favourites Pizza Hut GCC overcame Inet Lynx 4-1 with a brace of goals from Shebiki Baptitse and Sonia Jardine. Renee Edwards scored the only goal for the Lynx, a penalty corner during the first half.

Adana Homes of Canada provides cricket gears for Everest CC

By Sean Devers The second annual Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) Independence T20 tri-Nation series is scheduled to run from October 6-14 and involves host County Antigua, Guyana and Jamaica.

The Guyanese side will be led by 30-year-old Test player Leon Johnson and plays Jamaica in their first game from 18:00hrs on October 7 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound.

The Tournament bowls off on October 6 when Antigua & Barbuda face-off with Jamaica from 19:00hrs and the matches including the final on October 14 will be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Each team will play four matches with the top two teams advancing to the final.

Johnson, who played the first of 14 T20 matches against the Leeward Islands in 2012 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, has played nine T20 games for Guyana, five of them in the second Edition of the CPL but he is making his Captaincy debut in T20 cricket.

Johnson, who made his First-Class debut as a 16-yearold, has played nine Tests and six ODIs for West Indies and says it’s an honour to lead Guyana once again, this time in the T20 version.

“I have Captained GCC, Georgetown and Demerara in T20 cricket and it’s different from the four-day and 50-over game, strategies are different and you have to be able to adapt to situations and conditions much faster than usual, batting wise and bowling,” said Johnson, Guyana’s most successful First-Class Captain.

Smiling young cricketers from Everest CC proudly display their gears in the presence of club member Juanita Mootoo and coach David Harper.

ADANA HOMES, A Canadian Realty Brokerage Inc has invested in the development of young cricketers of the Everest Cricket Club located at Camp Road, Georgetown.

The sponsorship was initiated by Anil Beharry, former president of the Berbice Cricket Board through Satishwar Persaud, the Broker Owner of the Company. Persaud, an ardent cricket fan is the owner of Cambridge Jaguars CC in Canada.

His team reached the final of a recent competition held there.

After being approached, Persaud acceded to the request without any hesitation.

At a simple ceremony held recently at Everest CC, the kit

of SS gears consisting of one gear bag, four pairs of batting gloves, three pairs of batting pads, one pair of wicketkeeping pad and gloves, two helmets, two thigh pads, two batting inners and one box of red balls worth a total value of $113,000, was handed over the club executives in the presence of players and their parents.

Persaud said that he is happy to be part of this gesture and will continue to make meaningful contributions to the country of his birth. He added that when approached by Beharry, he knew it was a good cause and wished the players Continued on page 34

Ramaal Lewis

Leon Johnson (flickr.com) Johnson said this team is very different for the Guyana Amazon Warriors since all but one of the 14 players are from Guyana. Jamaican legspinner Ramaal Lewis is the non-Guyanese on the trip to Antigua.

“We have seven players in the squad who would have just represented three different Franchises in the CPL, so hopefully they will bring all the experience they gained and from playing and learned from the International players,” said Johnson who plays for Georgetown in the GCB’s Franchise League.

The left-hander, who has 30 fifties and four tons from 89 First-Class games, informed that he was hoping to get back playing CPL Cricket.

“I haven’t entered the draft for the past two years because of contractual obligations, but with good white ball performances in the coming months hopefully I can get back there,” disclosed Johnson.

“I also feel more T20 cricket has to be played in Guyana for players to develop the skills needed for that version of the game,” concluded the down to earth Johnson whose wife has recently delivered twin girls.

Guyana plays Antigua & Barbuda on October 8 from 18:00hrs, they play their return game against Antigua & Barbuda on October 10 from 19:00hrs, then on October 11 they oppose Jamaica from 19:00hrs.

The Guyana team departs for Antigua on Thursday and read: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (V/ Capt.), Robin Bacchus, Gajanand Singh, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Jonathon Foo, Anthony Bramble, Kemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Steven Jacobs, Ronsford Beaton, Romario Shepherd, Ricardo Adams, Christopher Barnwell and Ramaal Lewis.