Source: Kaieteur News

“Don’t ever feel you’re too small or insignificant in this world to make a difference. If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”

On Thursday afternoon, last, scores of Queen’s College students gathered for their graduation, bringing the curtains down on a part of their life at one of the best schools in the country. And urging them on to greater things was none other than one of the school’s brightest scholars, Devindra Kissoon, who has returned home, establishing the London House Chambers as one of the foremost in the business.

According to Kissoon in his address to the students – in the presence of teachers and parents – he was sacked just six months after he started to work at a law firm in New York.
Emphasising for the students to stay steady and never give up, Kissoon explained that he started his first job at Cozen O’Connor in New York in 2002.

“I was surrounded by unknowns; there was an error within six months at my job – relying on a secretary to do something for me which she didn’t do properly – and ultimately I was held responsible. My managing partner fired me, giving me two weeks’ notice.”

The lawyer recounted that it was agony being fired from one of the best law firms in the US, and that the odds were stacked against him. But he was determined to overcome it all. “It was a situation where I had never seen a skyscraper or interacted on such a sophisticated landscape. I looked different, I spoke differently, my culture was different, and my knowledge base was woefully lacking. But I summoned up the courage the next week to go and see the managing partner – waiting on him day after day until I found him in the bathroom and apologized for my mistake… and asked for forgiveness and to be restored.” The lawyer said that the man softened. And “…that very partner made me a partner six years later. Don’t ever feel you are too small or insignificant in this world to make a difference. If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito,” he told the students.

He stressed that a graduate from Queens College is no ordinary thing.
“Hailing from Linden, I had very little idea of the greatness of Queen’s College. Upon my arrival I quickly realized that I was outclassed by brilliance which far surpassed anything I had experienced. Students seemingly effortlessly excelled at examinations without studying, instead focusing on athletics, poetry, debating, chess, craft and whole host of activities I had never imagined existed.

“This competition placed tremendous pressure for me to try to excel. Little did I realize that this positive peer pressure would result in all of us being well prepared for a work life balance which has endured up until today.”

He told the students that graduates of Queens College have excelled both here and abroad, and they now have the privilege of joining the ranks of Guyana’s elite including former presidents Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, and the current president David Granger.
“Also coming from Queens College were former attorneys general, judges, sportsmen including Roger Harper, poets and historians of the likes of Dr. Walter Rodney. You have the privilege of the backing of the most accomplished secondary school in the Caribbean. You will have at your fingertips Guyana’s finest men and women at home and abroad, and I can assure, every Queen’s College graduate will help another where they can. And once you announce your alma mater, in most instances, you will be treated with respect and dignity.”

The lawyer boasted that “QC runs things in Guyana”. However, he cautioned that with this great lineage comes great responsibility. “I charge each and every one of you with the task of keeping our crest flying high. Above all, be honest and have integrity. In an ever-changing word, a person’s word is still his bond, and the word of a QC graduate is golden. Be diligent and punctual. The standards you have grown accustomed to here must not be diluted with the passage of time. As you grow, also give back, you never knew how a simple gesture can change the life of a Queen’s College student.”

He said that despite living out of Guyana for more than 20 years, his best friendships are QC classmates. “And my darling wife, who is here today, was also my class mate, also from H house.”

He warned too of mediocrity. “Mediocrity does not mean failure. You are allowed to fail as many times as it take you to learn from that failure. Don’t compare yourself with others. We all come from different backgrounds. Some of you will be going away to study, some will be staying right here at UG, and others may be looking for a job. Everyone will have a different opportunity. Do not feel greater or lesser than your peers. I promise you no matter what opportunity you are afforded, each and every one of you have the makings to be someone great.”

He also urged the students to stay in Guyana and help it grow. “In closing, only a lack of education can hold you back, and today you’ve cleared that bar; and you’ve done it at one of country’s finest institutions. I assure you that when you look back, some of the best years of your lives would have been spent here at Queen’s College. However, this is just the beginning of your journey. It’s now time for you to work harder than ever, take risks, have a goal and have a plan. And never stop studying.”

Kissoon started Queen’s at the tender age of 9 having placed in the top 10 at the Common Entrance Examinations. A member of H house, and a keen member of the QC chess club, he became the first student at Queen’s College (and in Guyana) to top the CXC examinations in 1993, being awarded the Berger Prize. He was an avid contributor to the Lictor and a regular member of the debating team. He graduated from Queens College in 1995 and was awarded a scholarship from Government.

Source: News Room

In a turn of events as exciting as the World Cup itself, the Chief Justice of Jamaica Mr. Justice B. Sykes has granted E-Networks the rights to broadcast the FIFA games.

In proceedings commenced in Jamaica, the Chief Justice issued an injunction against the St. Lucian based owners of regional sports broadcasting network SportsMax, International Media Content Ltd.,  (i) restraining it for 28 days from terminating a carriage Agreement entered into between E-Networks Inc. and IMC, whereby IMC granted E-Networks Inc. the exclusive cable television rights to broadcast the FIFA world cup, and (ii) ordering IMC to commence provision of the feed to the SportsMax World Cup Channel to E-Networks for 28 days.

The rights to broadcast the FIFA World Cup are held by DIRECTV which issued a memorandum advising that only IMC, in addition to it, could grant exclusive rights to authorize cable broadcasts of the World Cup in Guyana.

E-Networks paid IMC substantial sums to secure the exclusive cable broadcast rights of the World Cup from IMC, only to be told a few days before the scheduled broadcast that IMC may no longer honour its agreement with E-Networks.

After it became apparent that IMC would not give E-Networks access to the world cup feed, E-Networks immediately sought the intervention of the court to prevent IMC from breaching its contracts, resulting in the Court’s order.

E-Networks is represented by  Daniella Silvera, Kathryn Williams and Lisa Williams of Livingston, Alexander & Levy in Jamaica, and is lead locally by Devindra Kissoon and Edward Luckhoo S.C.

See court order here: https://newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FORMAL-ORDER.pdf

Source: News Room

The Rotary Club of Georgetown on Friday evening installed its new Board of Directors. The fairly young board, headed by Harrinand Persaud, was officially introduced and announced at an official ceremony at the Rotary Installation Dinner held at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown.

With promises to do more for communities across the country and increasing the club’s contributors, the newly elected President told those gathered that he is ready to take up the challenge.

“I am aware that the responsibility to lead this club is no easy task as I have great footsteps to follow. I always welcome a good challenge and an opportunity to grow, and it is my belief that we can continue to build on the solid foundation by combining our passion, altruism, skillset and vocation,” Persaud said.

With over one million members worldwide, through voluntary contributions, Rotary helps to fight various causes in communities and contributes to developing countries.

Under its new slogan: “Rotary- People of Action,” the President committed to working on projects which can be sustained.

“We have to continue to provide clean water, dig wells and distribute water to communities that otherwise would have to depend on rivers and rainfall,” he urged the new board.

The other elected members are: Alvina Rambarran as Vice President, Amanda Persaud as Secretary, Arron Fraser as Treasurer, Natasha Vieira as Club Administrator, Ariane Mangar to oversee projects, Devindra Kissoon as Sergeant-at-arms and Macaela Cameron as Public Relations Director.

Roger Harper, Natasha Backer and Luana Falconner were re-elected to their previous posts of Rotary Foundation, New Generations and Assistant District Governor, respectively.

Other members are Peter Peroune, Ramon Singh – Membership, and District Government- Dominique Venere.

Past President of the Club, Clyde De Haas in his address outlined several projects completed under his tenure, including the completion and launch of the Linden toy library which provides a clean space for children to play and relax, distribution of 50 maternity care hampers and a fun day for children at the Convalescence home among others.

Friday night’s event was also used to award several Rotarians who would have worked tirelessly to make the club’s projects successful over the years.

The club also helped flood-affected communities in Region Seven and Eight with food items and donated close to two containers of flood relief to the CDC to be shipped to Dominica after the devastating hurricane.

Source: Kaieteur News

London House Chambers’ Attorney Devindra Kissoon said the historic US$150M bond secured for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) represents confidence by investors in Guyana’s economy.

Kissoon represented Republic Bank Limited (RBL) in the transaction.
“This is the first type of transaction of its kind in Guyana. The magnitude of it is certainly unique to Guyana and is one of the largest financial transactions in the Caribbean. What it does show is the confidence of investors to be able to lend money to Guyana with the hope of recouping it,” Kissoon stated.

He stated that the bond was oversubscribed which meant that there were persons dying to put their money into Guyana on the strength of a government guarantee.
“It shows that we have a credible country and credible economy,” Kissoon noted.
The transaction was consummated entirely using Guyanese companies and local legal counsel, Hand-in-Hand Trust Corporation acting as Trustee, Guyana Americas Merchant Bank Inc. as paying agent.

The state-owned National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) received the first tranche, roughly US$85M which was disbursed on May 24, 2018, with the residual tranche to be issued to NICIL as is needed.

The full bond which was arranged by Republic Bank Limited exclusively through its Investment Banking Division represents Guyana’s aggressive reentry into the capital markets arena.

According to information, the Government guaranteed bond has been issued for a five-year term with a rate of return of 4.75 percent per annum.
NICIL is expected to raise the remaining US$65M within the next few months through a combination of local and regional investors, including those in Trinidad and Jamaica.
Republic Bank was reportedly able to successfully tap the local investor market to raise mutually beneficial financing for the Guyana Government and investing subscribers.
The funds raised are to be used towards GuySuCo’s capital expenditure and general operations.

NICIL’s team lead by Colvin Health-London, the head of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU), structured the bond to recapitalize GuySuCo’s operations.
GuySuCo has struggled to raise the funds needed to revamp its operations and relied heavily on Government bailouts to stay afloat.

The estates have been placed under the SPU which is tasked by Government to execute privatization plans for the Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore and Wales Estates that were closed in keeping with Government’s ‘right-sized’ approach for the sugar corporation.