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Natural Resources

Monday Edition April 12, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 15

sector faces skills …as young Guyanese focus on

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

shortage business, not oil or mining - Bharrat

Online readership yesterday, 94,132

Bet on agriculture to beat resource curse - Prof. Terrence Blackman Nine months later…

Police yet to arrest prime suspect in Kuru Kururu pensioner’s murder

Five months later...

DJ stabs selector’s Region 8 residents forced face during argument in to use creek water as GWI radio studio still to complete $5M well

Mother of 6 fears for - Complains of emotional her life torture by abusive ex-lover

10 most gruesome murders in 2020 still to be prosecuted Harmon begging US to "ferry their message to Washington DC," while hiding from the local media. Guyana’s GDP growth means nothing for us. Listen to Kaieteur Radio at 11:00am.

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Monday April 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor: SHARMAIN GRAINGER Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Tax Exemptions To make use of a local manner of speaking: “Is no wonder that we deh so baad.” As reported in a banner headline by this paper on Sunday, April 11, last, the “GRA, granted $442B in tax exemptions from Jan. 2016 to May 2020 …2019 waivers four times more than 2016”. This is the equivalent of giving away the bulk of the family’s food, while leaving the children hungry and crying. Look carefully and that is what the poor children of Guyana are reduced to: being without and crying.

We say this clearly: We understand the value of tax exemptions, the incentives that they offer to attract and make it rewarding for private businesses engaged in for profit activities here.

But we cannot understand for a moment, the staggering amount of tax exemptions granted in such a short time. We go to great lengths to remind citizens that this was during part of a time, when two huge monsters controlled this country, and crippled many commercial activities.

No Guyanese should need any reminder, but the first one started with the successful parliamentary no confidence motion in late December 2018, continued with the March elections, deepened with the long post-March delays, and only climaxed and terminated with the declaration and swearing in of a democratically elected government in early August 2020. During that unending and raging 19-month interval, business did not continue at the same pace as before, and to put again in Guyanese parlance: “business was bad,” and made really bad by the general slowdown in economic enterprise by many in the private sector, and the watchful, ill at ease, foreign brigade impatient with what was holding up its imminent invasion of Guyanese shores. So, for the numbers to have been approved, as carried in the tax exemption table provided by us, fly in the face of circumstances and make little sense to us, and which was further compounded by the other monstrous development.

The second monster that has plagued this country is the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, it prowls just as restlessly and frighteningly as before. The point of this is that since late March last year, commercial activity in this nation almost grounded to a halt, with businesses shuttered and workers sent home. When combined with the election controversies, almost all were content to keep careful watch, while they adopted a wait-and-see attitude. That was not just commonsense, it is how people operate in real life when faced with chronic crises, and our disputed elections coupled with the restrictions of the virus both rose to the heights of collective countrywide crises. So, once again, we confess to being at a loss as to how this amount of tax exemptions and that alarming and suspicious quantity of waivers in 2019, could have been, or be justified. Certainly, there are problems in digesting this: for troubled 2019, and those increasing and continuing exemptions in the first five months of 2020. We look at the table from our Sunday edition article, which was referred to earlier.

Whether compared year over year, or from the starting point of 2016, these are our positions. Tax exemptions in 2019 and early 2020 for diplomats and hospitals and remigrants all declined, which add up, since there was reduced movement in those areas. On the other hand, tax exemptions for the category labelled “Companies/ Businesses” in 2019 were the highest for the four-year span (full years) presented and by almost 70 percent over 2018, when there was no political uncertainty or a whiff about any pandemic. Something is not right about tax exemptions going from $104B in relatively calm business-like 2018 to an amazing $172B in highly agitated and nerve wracking 2019. And it is more of the same inexplicable things, only statistically worse, with regard to “Public Officials/Officers” in which group, tax exemptions skyrocketed from almost $600 million in 2018 to just under $2.2 billion dollars in 2019. That was a near 400 percent increase in exemptions granted.

We are wondering how that could have been, when things had slowed to a creep in this society in 2019. It begs the question, as to whether self-serving skullduggeries took place, and on an enormous scale, under the cloak of tax exemptions. We cast no aspersions, but we and all

The Ministry of Education should intervene on QC reopening DEAR EDITOR, The prestigious institution of Queen’s College has consulted the parents of the students with regards to the opening of face-to-face school for forms 4 to 6. A survey was carried out by the PTA of the school and there was a majority response stating that parents would prefer that their children not attend physical school as the new way forward for the August term of 2021.

The school and the PTA however will be proceeding with the plan to reopen the school for physical interactions.

They have established a

system where teachers have to work from 8:30 to 4:30 daily.

Teachers also have their personal lives and families to take care of and it is an intrusion on their timing.

There was no democracy in the decision of reopening the school and the parents were ignored.

The teachers now have to work extended hours in order to accommodate teaching periods for all students. As such, we plead with the Ministry of Education to step in and for the public to be aware of the insanity occurring.

Yours truly, Mark Duplessis

The Guyana National Service was known for a high incidence of rape DEAR EDITOR, I take great umbrage at a recent missive in the press by Claudia Heywood downplaying the rapes which occurred in the National Service. The writer expressed disgust at the GNS being labelled a “rape house” and referred to such claims as “exaggerated”. This is a vile, vile way of thinking. It was recently divulged that Mahadai Das was violently, repeatedly raped during her stint at the GNS. My sister had to forgo her UG studies because she would have to do National Service.

Why? Because the GNS was indeed a rape house. Our parents refused to send her

there and instead sent her abroad due to fear of her being raped. It is known that doctors at the National Service treated thousands of rapes and conducted numerous abortions.However, I agreed with the writer that GNS could reap numerous benefits if restructured and reintroduced. However, a place can have good and bad.

The writer wasn’t lying when she mentioned the good experiences at National Service.

The National Service was a place of positive experiences for many who went there, but a disgusting rape house for many who went there as well.

Yours faithfully, Suresh Kissoon

It seems that the more we know about Cotton Tree, the less we know DEAR EDITOR, So, where are we with Cotton Tree? Wherever we are, I believe it’s a bad place, one that reinforces the darkness in this land. As I sense things, it is more than one of those routine unsolved mysteries that the police categorizes as cold cases. It is confirmation of the awful brutalities of first two murders in Cotton Tree, then a third farther afield, and now of a pensioner. Other than for a drinkinduced confession, there is only the chilling silence that thickens and lengthens.

It seems that the more we know about Cotton Tree, the less we know. In the sum of our knowing, we know nothing. Everybody has their favorite suspects, yet all we really have are dead and mutilated bodies; and raging passions that spiral from the recollections of gruesome deeds that only grow with the passage of time.

That pensioner felled is the latest exhibition of the fallout that started in Cotton Tree; while time is against us in what I once believed was a race to bring the perpetrators to justice. At the rate that the murders are occurring, we could have a veritable mini

murder industry on our hands in Cotton Tree and its wider peripheries.

The president himself made a belated pilgrimage and promises. Still, we are at the same place as before a half year later, which is nowhere.

The thinking in some quarters is that the Guyana Police is working with the hand it has.

I subscribe to that, and I do not limit myself to merely the abundance, or paucity, of supporting evidence from the traumas. In the context of the Cotton Tree murders, it is my position that the police is in the same place as that of the local EPA. The police could be of a mind to move more powerfully with what it has, and to get more help from the outside, and to bring matters to a head. But like the EPA, it is a creature of circumstances, and possibly of leadership convenience, group loyalty, and carefully calibrated protection. For emphasis, and so as not to be mistaken, I boldly assert that politics has intervened and influenced.

Editor, when political figures go silent, when leaders seek the shelter of protective distance, when those same leaders maneuver around

Guyana could use some enlightenment re those areas that registered steep increases in tax exemptions. It seems that we were giving out enriching tax exemptions, while a deep degree of paralysis hovered over this land. Clearly, the losses in revenue to such an enormous extent, and in some of those categories, cannot be considered reasonable when we are so poor and strapped.

Something does not look healthy or good with the picture before us. As we pointed out in our Sunday article, even “The Tax Reform Commission…has called for the review of concessions…” We note that the Tax Reform Commission included the head of Guyana’s taxation agency, Mr. Godfrey Statia, and Messrs. Maurice Odle and Christopher Ram, as well as Dr. Thomas Singh. We add our own voice alongside these learned and knowing Guyanese. We cannot afford this; and when we grant these lavish tax exemptions, there must be much more for us on the revenue side.

something as sensitive and stormy as Cotton Tree, then there is no need for subtitles, or Argentinian interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations.

In the broader firmament of grand political intrigues and designs, four murders serve as mere casualties of our ongoing undeclared political wars, the simple arithmetic of leadership neglect, fragile continuity. Murderous violence is now so common-

place, and political deceptions so normalized, that we have become jaded and listless. I detect a nexus between the two on Cotton Tree; it now borders in the wastelands of inconvenient reminders and nuisances. I started out hopeful last year that the nation will get somewhere fairly quickly and conclusively on Cotton Tree. That was then, this is now.

Yours truly, GHK Lall

Guyana should be proactive on next generation vaccines DEAR EDITOR, With the Novel Coronavirus raging globally and proving to be deadly, governments are racing to acquire vaccines. Guyana is trying to vaccinate its adult population and though this is commendable, we can’t keep up with the new mutations popping up making the virus more contagious and possibly deadlier. Companies around the world are in a frantic search to develop next generation covid vaccines that target not just the spike protein of the virus but other component to make it less likely to mutate and attach to

the cells inside the body.

That brings Guyana to an important juncture: the government should negotiate very early with one or two of these companies and express interest in purchasing about one million doses of the new vaccines. In that way, we will be upfront and do not have to wait months for donations and negotiate for unproven vaccines. The EU has already started to negotiate with companies for 1.8 billion of these new vaccines, when will Guyana start negotiation for its people?

Yours truly, B. John

Government should consider purchasing agriculture surplus for St. Vincent aid DEAR EDITOR, The recent natural disaster experienced by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is very unfortunate indeed. It is a time to provide aid to those who have been displaced, and given the current agriculture surplus in the country the government should consider purchasing the goods for the aid package from our local farmers. Our sympathy goes out to those affected on the island.

Yours truly, Mr. Jamil Changlee

Monday April 12, 2021

GHK Lall appears to be clutching at straws on the gas-to-shore project DEAR EDITOR, I read with great astonishment the letter captioned, “If gas to shore is that good, then give Guyanese the goods on it” by GHK Lall carried in the April 8th edition of the Kaieteur News. I am one known to be respectful of my elders and it would not be nice of me to say that his letter has the ramblings and musings of someone who is mentally unfit to be taken seriously. Mr Lall appears to be clutching at straws when one understands the real focus of his intended attack. As I often hear my mom admonishing me, “there is a method to the madness”.

I wholeheartedly agree, however, when he said his view is “distant…limited”. I might add, it is not scholastic or academic, to say the least when referring to the government’s energy projects. Firstly, it was under the Low Carbon Development Strategy that the idea of using solar panels got widespread acceptance as a means of cleaner renewable energy. This led to the Bharrat Jagdeo government rolling it out in

the far-flung hinterland regions and areas in Guyana.

This was continued by issuing and gifting solar panels to communities before pushing for its usage to become more residential and commercial.

This should not be confused or mixed up with the Gas-to-Shore Energy Project when comparing benefits in terms of sector. As local Financial Analyst Joel Bhagwandin puts it, “The Government’s transformative gas-to-shore project is underway and is set to be completed by 2023. The main objective is to transport sufficient gas from the Stabroek block’s petroleum operations to supply some 200-250 megawatts of energy to the national grid, leading to a significant reduction in electricity costs”.

He reasoned, just to school Mr Lall, “Reducing the cost of energy would not only make the country more competitive in terms of we could export more, with the objective of having a trade balance surplus, but we will also save foreign exchange because we spend more than $500 million a year to import

fuel”.

And finally said “So, if the gas-to-shore would mean that we will get cheaper electricity, we will be pushing industrialization and reduce manufacturers’ costs. It also means we are going to save about $250 million or more in fuel import”.

So Mr Jagdeo has our interests at heart when he is pursuing this project from all fronts. The challenges faced by the projects are not insurmountable to dissuade it from being pursued to the fullest. He has shown that with the right skill set and policy direction, anything is accomplishable. Mr Jagdeo is not getting any drawback or side deal to what he does for the project as a VP in the Government. He understands how the energy, gas, and oil sectors work as opposed to the last government which did not.

Guyana has the right skills and policies to move forward into the future I am confident that Guyana will be safe and the renewable energy projects (both) are in safe hands.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

The Hydromet Service has been useful in predicting rainfall DEAR EDITOR, It is no surprise that MayJune brings rain to Guyana. I am not sure how many persons are aware that the Hydromet Service issues a seasonal outlook which would basically explains if rainfall is expected to be more, or less, or just normal rainfall conditions in addition to other information.

This outlook so far pro-

duced has proven to be accurate and should be used to ensure cleaning and clearing of drains are done beforehand.

This would prevent flooding in certain areas, likewise sluices and pumps should always be maintained. In addition to all of this I must mention with the recent downpour Vryman’s Erven in New Amsterdam was flooded be-

cause of poor drainage.

However, I must commend the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council for clearing the drains today located on strand road.

This should be an ongoing venture throughout the town. We must be proactive and stop being reactive to situations we can avoid.

Yours truly, Tanya Niamatali

An urgent intervention is needed at Great Falls Amerindian Reservation DEAR EDITOR, I have a serious issue which requires urgent intervention, otherwise my dear community stands to be destroyed.

I hail from Great Falls Amerindian Reservation and I have dedicated my life to its development so it pains me to see persons who have no commitment to the wholesome and sustainable development of this community enter and do as they please.

There are approximately 80 residents living on the titled lands of my community, however over the past years person from other areas and thrived with lawless and outright destructive practices.

With elections for Toshao just around the corner, a list has appeared with names

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Kaieteur News

some of which I’ve never seen before.

These people have no attachment whatsoever to my community and therefore have no right to vote in matters concerning its affairs. I am asking on behalf of the true residents of Great Falls for a full investigation into this illegal act and for due intervention.

I would like to see the residents of Great Falls being able to develop our community and given preference in all matters concerning its development. I would like to see

good and wholesome leadership and adherence to the laws in place. For too long we have suffered from incompetent leadership and we are not willing to see our community plundered by outsiders with negative agendas.

Yours truly, Concerned Great Falls resident

This Facebook post was grossly misleading and libelous in nature DEAR EDITOR, There is in circulation a Facebook posting of the Guyana Government voting against a United Nations’ Resolution on a call for action for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. That posting which has the UN logo affixed to it, was made by a known PNC party hack, a person who is rabidly opposed to anything progressive the PPP/C Government

stands for, hence it comes as no surprise that he would post such misleading news.

Now, this writer might argue that he has the right to post dissenting views of the government, something which comes under the category of free speech; however, he is totally out of place to give an illegal posting especially since it comes under the caption of the United Nations’ logo.

This is grossly misleading

and libelous literature and I hope the government can take him up in court and make him pay dearly for his lies.

Such blatant disregard for the truth is unacceptable and all efforts should be made to address this. Guyana can ill afford to have such diabolical elements rumour-mongering in gay abandon; it is certainly a sick joke that needs to stop now.

Yours truly, Neil Adams

Why not apply a bit of commonsense in order to stay alive?

DEAR EDITOR, Tough times call for tough measures. It is sad to see so many arrested from illegal gatherings, from partying and from socialising.

Phagwah and Easter are two of Guyana’s biggest celebrated holidays and Guyanese are accustomed to much fun and frolic while congregating in large numbers with their neighbours, friends, relatives, families, co-workers and other associates.

But the law is the law and it is above anyone and everything.

It must be respected, observed, adhered to and applied at all times and under all circumstances and by all, be it the maker, keeper, upholder, applier, observer or consumer.

Failure to accept or reject stipulated rules and regulations, the guilty ones must pay the severe penalty as recommended and approved.

The deadly disease of COVID-19 is very much alive and multiplying uncontrollably because some irresponsible, irrational, careless and unconcerned people refuse to adhere to the strict protocols, which are urgently needed to help prevent, control and cure the spreading of this pandemic.

A positive and committed effort is essentially required from all and sundry to help, because, the virus has no preference for class, race, gender, religion, place or time.

The gravity of this dangerous situation remains focused and should not be lost, ignored, diminished or dismissed.

Perhaps complacency has stepped in because of the

duration and impatience rules the roost. People feel imprisoned and do want to break free and regain a sense of independence.

However, look carefully and consciously at the repercussions, especially the causative root for so many, hospitalisation and unfortunately the loss of so many beloved ones.

Each person should still be worried and concerned with the safety and security of themselves as well as of others.

No one should be selfish, adopt a carefree attitude and think that he or she is safe or aloof and is exempted or unqualified to attract this disease. Just look at how the numbers keep escalating daily both in terms of death rate and contracting the virus.

Fortunately, some vaccines are available and Guyanese are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It is a slow but sure campaign but the government needs the assistance, cooperation and discipline of all Guyanese in order to overcome this mutual difficulty.

Guyanese cannot afford to be blindfolded, led astray, be fooled, be nescient, be prejudiced, reckless or nonchalant.

It is the devout duty of each accountable citizen to devote their time, energy, effort and service to ensure that this at-

tack is eradicated as early as possible and avoid posing a front and opposing the fight for survival to overcome this devious and common enemy.

If each one of us wash our hands as often as possible, sanitise, wear our masks properly and at all times, eat lots of fruits, take supplements, social distance when in presence of company, only venture out when unavoidably necessary, take the vaccines as soon as it is possibly available, keep our surroundings clean, free from debris and dust, exercise and keep a positive attitude, pessimism will replace optimism and hope will conquer despair. Caring, sharing, helping and giving selflessly and not selfishly, these are the pillars of high and honourable values; attributing to the goodliness and sincerity of mankind; and the survival of moral dignity in society.

While charity begins at home and remains one of the doctrines contributing to one of man’s earthly purpose, the current situation demands that its institution should be designed and implemented in accordance to the emerging (Continued on page 18)

Kaieteur News

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Monday April 12, 2021

Mother of 6 fears for - Complains of emotional her life torture by abusive ex-lover S

ince rejecting a proposal by her ex-lover—who recently got out of prison— to rekindle their relationship, a mother of six has been living in constant fear that each day might very well be her last. From the moment she turned him down; the woman said her former partner has been using his free time to emotionally torture her.

During an interview with Kaieteur News, Sandy (not her real name), a school teacher and a part-time bread vendor stated, that 39-yearold Stravo Evans of Albouystown, Georgetown has been harassing her in person and over the phone.

This publication understands that Sandy and Evans had shared a two-year relationship before the former ended same on the grounds of abuse. According to reports, on October 18, 2019, the woman had informed the police that Evans was threatening to kill her after she ended their romance.

During July 2018, Evans was sentenced in absentia for the illegal possession of a firearm. He was captured during December 2019 and placed in jail to serve his sentence. Since his release this year, the mother of six said the ex-con has been harassing her.

The woman said she wants nothing to with her exlover.

According to her, Evans first made contact on the night of March 24, 2021. The woman said that night she was in bed when she received a phone call.

“When I answer the phone, it was Stravo…he told me that he was sorry for what he did in the past and told me that he won’t do me anything,” Sandy intimated while adding that she was firm in her response that he should move on. She stated, “I told him to move on with his life and that’s when he

“Most nights I get up and cry…I thought I got out.

I thought I would be able to put all of what happened behind me, but I realized that this is not over until Stravo gets what he wants.” started begging me to meet with him.”

The woman shared that ever since she turned down Evans’ request to ‘meet-up’ he has been harassing her with multiple phone calls and messages. He even showed up twice at the place she plies her trade.

Messages seen by this publication from Evans to Sandy on WhatsApp, showed Evans using a series of explicit words to address the woman.

Not only did he refer to her by a set of derogatory names, but he noted that she and her children, most of whom are girls, would get hurt.

Screenshots of the conversations showed more than 10 missed calls from Evans via WhatsApp for one day. The woman said it is something he does regularly while adding, that this would be followed by numerous abusive remarks.

The fearful and frustrated woman said the most recent incident with Evans happened last Friday.

“I was at my bread stall and around 17:53hrs, a car drove up to my stall and then I noticed Stravo... he started cursing and threatening me,” a frightened Sandy shared.

According to the woman, at the time when Evans drove up to the stall she was in the company of two relatives. She said shortly after the incident, she went to the Ruimveldt Police Station to make a report.

Sandy said, “While I was at the station to make a report the officer picked up a piece of white paper. He started writing, but then he stopped and went and talk to his superior. When the officer came back he told me to take

out a restraining order against Evans.”

Under the belief that a restraining order would not protect her from Evans, the woman did not follow through with the advice of the officers. She said, “I don’t think a piece of paper can protect me. He is a man that would do what he says.”

Despite her concerns, the teacher said she has been encouraged to get the restraining order. She is expected to do so today.

Following the report to the police, the teacher said she returned to her stall.

The mother related that it was not long after that Evans showed up again and continued to curse and threaten her. “My aunt who was at the stall at the time walked over the road and she talked to him [Evans] but I don’t know what they talked about, but I heard her saying ‘You can’t do that, that’s my niece,” she added.

According to Sandy, after two instances being cursed and threatened in one d a y, E v a n s w a s n o t satisfied, since around 23:15hrs the same night, she heard a car honking in front of her home. When she checked, it was Evans who was causing the commotion.

She stated that Evans continued that behaviour for at least five minutes before leaving.

During the interview the woman expressed concerns that Evans’ behaviour may make friends and family fearful of being around her, thereby leaving her to feel more alone and vulnerable.

The woman said too, that she is concerned about her children’s safety, her coworkers, and other persons

she socializes with.

Sandy stated, “…I know Stravo, if he can’t get to me directly he would go after me in other ways.”

An alternative the woman is looking at as it relates to her teaching job, is

to talk to her superiors at the Ministry of Education to request either an early retirement or to resign since she knows that the situation can escalate.

“Most nights I get up and

cry…I thought I got out. I thought I would be able to put all of what happened behind me, but I realized that this is not over until Stravo gets what he wants,” the fearful woman said.

Dj stabs selector’s face during argument in radio studio Selector Yannick (right) and Dj Raw Gold (left) during happier moments working together in the HJ radio Studio.

“Dj Raw Gold” is now on the run after he stabbed his selector to the face on Saturday with a broken Guinness bottle, during an argument they had in a local radio studio. Kaieteur News learned that the wounded selector goes by the name of “Yannick”.

The stabbing incident reportedly took place around 20:45 hrs. in the Hits and Jams (HJ) radio studio located in Queenstown, Georgetown.

According to police, Yannick was allegedly stabbed four times. The victim told investigators that when he arrived at the studio, he begun talking with “Raw Gold”. But their conversation reportedly erupted into an argument “over work”. Things became physical after “Raw Gold” located a Guinness Bottle, broke it, and dealt Yannick stabs to his face before escaping.

The injured man was then taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by persons who witnessed the incident. He received

On the run for stabbing Yannick, DJ Raw Gold. stitches for his wounds and was sent away.

Another individual who witnessed the selector being stabbed had recorded a video showing blood splatters on the walls and floors of the HJ 94.1 Boom FM’s radio studio. While recording, he was heard calling for help.

“Right now a need some help at the studio hay who eva deh close yall come quick.

Raw gold and Yannick just get in a fight hay. Blood

Stabbed to his face with a broken Guinness bottle by his Dj, “Raw Gold”, Selector Yannick. every f******g way. Watch wa going on hay. Yannick face f***k up bad hay s***t.

Yall come fast”.

HJ 94.1 has since issued a statement labeling Yannick and Raw Gold as independent Djs. HJ explained that the two were paying for air time to broadcast their weekend programme.

Following the incident, HJ said it took a decision to suspend the programme and its hosts from its airwaves.

Monday April 12, 2021

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Kaieteur News

The PPP/C is deaf The rapid spike in COVID-19 deaths suggests clearly that the high number of daily new cases (now averaging almost 100 per day) does not involve fudging of numbers.

While it is necessary for there to be an audit between the Ministry’s numbers and the tests results from the laboratories, it is most probable that there is no misrepresentation.

The increase in cases have precipitated calls for a lockdown of at least the regions recording the highest number of new cases – Three, Four and Seven.

But the government is not likely to heed any calls for even a limited and targeted lockdown.

The private sector would not allow the government to do so.

The PPP/C is chained to the business class and as far as that class is concerned their business interests – the need for them to make money – is going to be severely affected by a lockdown and so they will not demand any such restrictions from government.

The government’s interest is in protecting the economy.

And if the private sector comes forward tomorrow and says to the government that a lockdown is needed, the government would be hardpressed to resist.

It is the private sector’s opinion that matters. Not the workers nor civil society.

These two latter constituencies can plead for tighter restrictions.

These pleas will fall on deaf ears because the opinions which matter the most to the government is that of the private sector.

The representative body for teachers was concerned

about the partial reopening of schools.

Those concerns were ignored as classes resumed for three grade levels.

The rest of the trade union movement is also not inclined to call for the imposition of restrictions.

They appreciate the difficulties which workers experienced during the five months period when little was happening in the country because of the pandemic and the elections’ impasse.

The APNU+AFC had nothing to offer those affected. Many workers were laid off and others forced to suffer because of the shutdown of non-essential businesses.

Given the sympathies of the government with the business class and the experience between March and August of 2020, the PPP/C is not going to return to a state in which non-essential businesses will be asked to close their doors, workers given the option of working from home or on rotation and for curfew hours to be extended.

This is not going to happen and so it is a waste of time pleading for additional social restrictions.

The PPP/C continues to blame citizens. It forgets that the role of government is to take action to protect citizens.

It wants citizens to be more responsible.

But a responsible government would have taken steps to protect its citizens from the irresponsible elements.

The government had to have known the consequences when it moved full steam ahead in reopening the economy after August.

It had to have calculated, based on evidence from around the world that this would have resulted in more cases and more deaths.

The government itself has said it had a delicate balancing act of saving lives while trying to avoid an economic meltdown.

It is clear now that this government’s strategy has failed and it has failed because enforcement has been poor and testing has not reached the desired levels.

The number of new daily cases now suggests that the virus is running rampant throughout the society and

the country will definitely see hundreds of more deaths before this pandemic is over.

Given Guyana’s death rate, a good guide is that for every 40 new cases recorded, one person is going to die.

And over the past week, there has been hundreds of new cases.

The government is encouraging persons to get vaccinated.

But the evidence from around the world is mixed. Israel and the United Kingdom have seen a steep decline in deaths due to the vaccination.

But in the United States, while deaths have fallen appreciably, an average of more than 800 persons are still dying every day and infection rates are extremely high despite close to one-third of the population receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.

The lesson in all of this is that vaccination by itself is no silver bullet.

If the United Kingdom did not impose lockdowns, its vaccination campaign would not have been effective as it has been.

But do not tell that to the pro-business PPP/C. Despite its own claims about the pressures on our hospitals and the COVID-19 ICU, the PPP/C remains deaf to the appeal and the analy-

Dem Boys Seh…

Dem Vincee people nah want come hay!

One man tell de government dat if de situation come to dat, dem should make an offer fuh person from St. Vincent, affected by de volcano, to resettle in Guyana.

Dem boys had to laugh when dem hear dis.

Not because Guyana find oil mean dat people want to come and live hay. At least not dem people from tiny St. Vincent and de Grenadines.

Dem standard of living higher dan we own. And dem hear so much bad things about Guyana dat dem rather stay way dem deh dan come and live in hay.

Guyanese running from

here to St Vincent. Dem gat over 5,000 Guyanese in dat country. Even some of dem nah wan come back hay. So why anyone think dem people wah get affected by de volcano gan want come hay?

And why dem gan wan come now when COVID- 19 rampant in Guyana. More dan 250 dead from de virus in Guyana. Only 10 dead in St. Vincent and de Grenadines.

Even dem people wah running away from dem country does spot trouble when dem land in Guyana. Dat is why dem just using Guyana fuh pass through fuh guh to Brazil and Uncle Sam. People nah

wan come and live in dis country way every day is a problem.

Is nat de fuss time volcano erupt in de Caribbean.

In 1979 de same volcano did erupt and people had to get evacuate. And de ash reach all de way to Barbados. Nobody din ask den to come to Guyana.Dem had volcano eruption in Monserrat in 1997. More dan 7,000 people had to leave de island. Most of dem end up in England.

None ah dem didn’t ask fuh come to Guyana.

Talk half and wait fuh see if dem Guyanese in Vincee gan return home!

sis which clearly suggests that vaccination alone cannot contain the virus.

(The views expressed in

this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Monday April 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

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Monday April 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

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www.oilprice.com : Strict production discipline by OPEC and its partners is the #1 reason why oil prices have managed to stage a remarkable recovery and stay relatively high after plunging to historical lows in 2020. Early this month, oil prices reacted positively after OPEC and its non-OPEC partners, aka OPEC+, reached a favorable agreement to start gradually curbing production cuts beginning in May. Starting next month, OPEC+ will allow an additional 350,000 barrels per day to join the markets, with another 350,000 coming in June and June and 450,000 barrels per day slated for July. Currently, OPEC is holding back just over 7 million barrels per day, with Saudi Arabia voluntarily cutting an additional 1 million barrels per day.

Indeed, the OPEC kingpin has since taken on voluntary cuts of 1 million barrels per day from the beginning of February.

That marks a sharp turnaround from the Kingdom’s stance just a year ago when Riyadh and Moscow failed to agree to deep supply cutbacks in a bid to cope with falling oil demand leading to a supply glut and oil prices descending into negative territory for the first time in history.And it certainly appears like overkill bearing in mind that Saudi Arabia has some of the lowest production costs anywhere in the world.

However, Saudi Arabia

could be eyeing an even bigger prize with its generous cuts.

Diversifying the economy Whereas Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest economy of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) boasts the largest economy and the lowest production costs of any Arab nation, the harsh reality is that the country needs significantly higher oil prices than the current WTI price of $59.50 per barrel to balance its books.

Indeed, Saudi Arabia’s fiscal breakeven price of $76.10 per barrel means that it remains heavily in the red, with only Qatar being able to record a surplus thanks to its low breakeven point of $39.90 per barrel.

Budget deficit [* File contains invalid data | In-line.JPG *] Source: Reuters Saudi Arabia desperately needs higher oil prices not only to balance its books but also to lower its dependence on crude.

That goal is even more critical now that Saudi Arabia is pushing a 7.2 trillion-dollar plan to diversify its economy, essentially requiring state companies to cut dividends they pay the government in order to boost spending.

For a company like Saudi Aramco—whose $75 billion dividends last year were the highest for state revenues— any reduction in dividends would need to be compensated by higher oil prices to boost transfers to the sover-

eign through taxes and royalties instead.Saudi Arabia has a target to boost domestic spending to 27 trillion riyals ($7.2 trillion) by 2030 as the world’s biggest oil exporter seeks to tame a huge deficit caused by lower oil revenues and weak demand due to the pandemic.

To achieve its goal, Saudi Arabia needs to curb supply over the coming years in a bid to boost oil prices.

The fiscal benefits of higher oil prices can easily outweigh the impact of lower oil production on the economy.Whereas Saudi companies participating in the new programme have the liberty to decide how to fund their investments, the most likely avenues are dividends, soft loans, debt, and other financial instruments.

Further, Saudi Arabia desperately needs to boost investments coming into the country (FDI) by nearly 100x, from $5.5 billion last year to FDI flows of over $500 billion over the next decade.

Betting on clean energy On the energy front, Saudi Arabia is clearly committed to moving from crude to cleaner energy sources.The Saudi government has announced plans to build a $5 billion green hydrogen plant that will power the planned megacity of Neom when it opens in 2025. Dubbed Helios Green Fuels, the hydrogen plant will use solar and wind energy to generate 4GW of clean energy that will be used to produce hydrogen.But here’s the main

kicker: Helios could soon produce hydrogen that’s cheaper than oil.Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) estimates that Helios’ costs could reach $1.50 per kilogram by 2030, way cheaper than the average cost of green hydrogen at $5 per kilogram and even cheaper than gray hydrogen made from cracking natural gas. Saudi Arabia enjoys a serious competitive advantage in the green hydrogen business thanks to its perpetual sunshine, wind, and vast tracts of unused land.

In fact, Saudi Aramco has told investors that it has abandoned immediate plans to develop its LNG sector in favor of hydrogen.

Aramco has said that the Kingdom’s immediate plan is to produce enough natural gas for domestic use to stop burning oil in its power plants and convert the remainder into hydrogen. Blue hydrogen is made from natural gas either by Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) or AutoThermal Reforming (ATR), with the CO2 generated captured and then stored.

As the greenhouse gasses are captured, this mitigates the environmental impacts on the planet.

Saudi Arabia clearly has its eyes on a future whereby the economy will stop relying too heavily on oil. Whether or not it will remain committed enough to achieve its long-term goal is another question. (By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com)

Guyana Philatelic Society continues to generate interest in...

From page 8 while fostering relationships with people from different fields and backgrounds who would not normally come together in a unique way. So, stamp collectors can continue to tour the world virtually during this time,” RamphalWood said.

This is nevertheless not the first major stamp collection venture by the GPS founder. She has notably travelled to various parts of the country, speaking at schools and other institutions encouraging everyone to be a part of this enchant-

ing and educational hobby.

For Ramphal-Wood who is originally from Kitty, Georgetown Guyana, stamp collecting started as a childhood hobby She was thoroughly fascinated by the stamps on the envelopes her father, a radio evangelist, received in the mail as a result of his programme.

During that period, she started her collection and has never stopped adding to it.

Today, she has collected the majority of the British Guiana and Guyana stamps.

As such, in her capacity as Head of the GPS, Ramphal-

Wood helps to facilitate free educational resources for stamp collectors and everyone who wishes to learn about stamps.

According to information on her GPS website, collectors can connect via visiting the GPS library in GPOC Georgetown; Guyana Philatelic Exhibition (GUYPEX); group meetings and by social media for interesting facts about stamp collecting.

The website encourages stamps collection lovers to join the club.

The website noted too, that the online community is also a great source of stamps

for your collection.

It states that “above all, our stamp club offers the friendship, knowledge and experience of our members who are here to help you with advice on all aspects of collecting.”

To this end, the website noted that collectors can benefit from a support system that “will assist them in identifying stamps, where to get stamps, storing and housing collections, ideas on new collection areas, and an opportunity to obtain stamps through exchange, stamp fairs and exhibitions as well as newsletters.”

Police yet to arrest a prime suspect in Kuru Kururu pensioner’s...

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From page 10 concerns soon faded as he was in constant communication with them, calling almost daily to inform them that he was safe and happy.

He would even visit his children frequently in Georgetown.

But the worst fears of this family soon became a reality as the humble farmer was found dead on July 10, 2020.

It is believed that Alstrom was probably lured out of his house to meet his killer based on where his body was found.

A photo seen by this media house showed that Alstrom’s lifeless body was found a short distance away from his farm house.

As the investigation progressed, detectives were led to believe that he was murdered during the furtherance of a robbery.

Sources close to the investigation had related to this newspaper that Alstrom’s phone along with other personal belongings was missing.

Cops had detained an individual for questioning but found no compelling evidence to tie the person to the incident.

Persons who lived in the area could not provide any useful information either.

Family members said that Alstom’s neighbour did not notice any suspicious movements or heard screams prior to the discovery of his body.

The last words Kaieteur News heard from police on this case were, “No new developments, investigations are still ongoing”.

Alstrom’s family is hopeful that detectives can make a breakthrough in the case as soon as possible.

PAGE 18

Monday April 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

10 most gruesome murders in 2020 still to be prosecuted From page 12 when Dawson left for work that night but it is believed that she chose to walk through the cemetery because she was “running late.”

That decision, however, proved to be fatal, as Dawson never made it out alive.

Detectives on the case soon developed a theory that Dawson was murdered by bandits who ambushed her in the burial ground.

Her gold rings, among other items, were missing. In fact, it was one of those gold rings that led detectives to crack the case and arrest her alleged killers.

The ring was found in the possession of a teenager, who claimed that a juvenile had sold it to him.

Detectives soon located the juvenile and inside of his bedroom, they found Dawson’s other gold rings along with her bank card, ID card and cell phone. A soiled white vest was also found with blood stains.

It was enough for cops to arrest and question him. The interrogation was intense and the juvenile reportedly gave police a chilling statement about another suspect.

The juvenile told police that he was riding a CG motorcycle along Sussex Street, Charlestown, when the other suspect (his friend) approached and asked for a ride.

He detailed that they rode into the Le Repentir Cemetery and saw Dawson walking.

The friend, he said, pulled something from his waist and confronted her.

The woman, he recalled, pleaded with his friend not to harm her.

Her exact words—he told police—were ‘I don’t have money, I now going to work.’

Nevertheless, his friend moved to strip Dawson of her belongings and handed him some to keep.

The friend then began to

drag Dawson further into the burial ground and upon seeing this, the juvenile said he fled.

Cops managed to track that friend known as ‘Lil Grumbs’ and apprehended him on May 20, 2020.

Both the juvenile and ‘Lil Grumbs’ were charged and are currently on remand for Dawson’s brutal murder.

HAMMEREDTO DEATH

BY DRINKING BUDDIES The following month in June, Kaieteur News was yet again met with a report of the grim details of a construction worker, Andy Williams, 45, who was hammered to death by his drinking buddies.

His body had been fished out on June 8, 2020 from a trench at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

There was a plastic bag wrapped around the man’s head with chop wounds on his hands. At the time of the discovery, Williams’ family members had been looking for him. He had been missing since June 6, 2020.

Kaieteur News was able to ascertain that Williams had re-migrated from Venezuela and was living with his sister at Zeeburg, WCD. He had left her home on the evening of June 6 but failed to return.

As detectives got busy tracking Williams’ final movements, an autopsy revealed the extent of how he was gruesomely murdered.

The report suggested that Williams was beaten in his head with a sharp object until his skull cracked. But who were his killers and why did they kill him in such a brutal manner?

It did not take detectives that long to find out who they were and why they did it. They learnt that Williams had a drinking habit and traced his last movement that day to a rum shop in Zeeburg.

He had reportedly left

there alive and met up with some drinking buddies from De Willem Village, a fisherman named Afrazudeen Ally, 35 and a 29-year-old labourer, Yudesh Kissoon, called ‘Chucky.’

The two were arrested and what they confessed to police could only be described as a cold-blooded murder.

Ally told the cops he was ‘vex’ with Williams for punching him to the face and breaking one of his teeth.

Driven by this rage, Ally decided to lure Williams into a trap.

Ally detailed for police that he and his accomplice, Kissoon, were sitting at a corner in the De Willem Housing Scheme when they saw Williams passing-by with a bottle of liquor in his hand.

They reportedly called him over in a friendly manner and offered to drink with him.

Williams, who had no clue of their plans, agreed. They started the drinking session and as it became darker, Ally allegedly moved on to the next phase of his plan. He is said to have invited Williams to continue the drinking session with them at his home.

When they arrived at the house, Ally made his move by locating a piece of wood and lashed Williams to his head, leaving him unconscious.

Ally did not stop there; he located a hammer and struck Williams repeatedly to the head until his skulled was crushed.

He, along with his accomplice, then placed a plastic bag around William’s head to stop the blood from leaking onto the floor.

They then fetched William’s body and dumped it in the trench before returning to the murder scene to clean up and dispose of the evidence.

ABDUCTEDAND STRANGLED ON

VACATION Also making Kaieteur News’ list of gruesome murders is the abduction and strangling of a Canadian citizen, Nicholas Jaipaul, 24, who was on vacation with his grandfather in Guyana.

Jaipaul’s case resembled what is normally only portrayed in movies’— beginning with his abduction on August 16.

Jaipaul and his grandfather, 86, were staying at their vacation home located at Number 69 Village, Berbice.

His grandfather recalled retiring to bed that evening and leaving his grandson awake.

When he awoke the following day (August 17), Jaipaul was nowhere to be seen. Later that afternoon, Jaipaul’s grandfather received a chilling phone call from the abductor. The anonymous caller told the man they had kidnapped Jaipaul and if he wanted to see him again, he must pay a ransom.

Jaipaul’s grandfather, however, reported the matter and cops began to trail the kidnappers.

The phone call was traced and investigators soon found out that the kidnappers might just be the grandfather’s maid and her son.

They were arrested but what had they done with the hostage, Jaipaul?

The maid’s son, who was subsequently detained by police, had confessed to what he had personally done with Jaipaul. He told them that he strangled the man and later burnt his remains.

As he walked police through the details of how he managed to trap and murder Jaipaul, it was quite clear that he was a cold-blooded assassin.

The alleged killer said that he was hired by a rice farmer to murder both Jaipaul and his grandfather.

He had said that his plan saw him visiting the vacation home that afternoon (August 16) to pick sour-sop. The alleged assassin then struck-up a friendly conversation with his victim, Jaipaul, to gain his trust.

Once this was done, he returned later that night and lured Jaipaul out of the house and kidnapped him.

His plan was to lure the grandfather out as well by getting him to drop the ransom money at a location, after which, he would capture

and kill him.

His plans fell through however as the grandfather decided against paying the ransom and contacted the police instead.

The hired assassin had even taken police to a deserted location where he is said to have burnt Jaipaul’s remains.

He reportedly told police that he was assisted by his brother in carrying out the heinous act.

MUTILATEDAND DUMPED ONA COCONUT ESTATE If Jaipual’s case wasn’t gruesome enough, then it might just be the Henry cousins, Isaiah, 16 and Joel, 19, whose mutilated bodies were discovered on September 6, 2020 on a coconut estate at Cotton Tree Backdam, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

They were found with slashed throats and multiple chop wounds about their bodies. A wound shaped in the form of an ‘X’ was engraved into their foreheads.

News of their ghastly death sent shockwaves throughout the country.

Berbice residents, angered by the way in which the boys were murdered, staged violent protests.

The protests lasted days and travellers passing through the locale were beaten and robbed as police struggled to find leads.

During the violent unrests, another teen, Haresh Singh, 17, was murdered in an apparent retaliation, after his grandfather was initially held for the Henry cousins’ death.

While the Joint Services’ managed to regain control of the area and gained success in ending the protests, it took detectives another three months to make a major breakthrough in solving the gruesome murder.

They arrested three suspects in January 2021, who are currently on remand for butchering the teens.

One of those suspects has reportedly confessed to police and the details he provided into the murders were horrific. On the September 5, the Henry cousins are said to have gone into the Cotton Tree Backdam to pick some coconuts.

According to the confession, the would-be killers were waiting for them.

The killers suspected that the Henry cousins were responsible for destroying their ganja farm and they wanted

revenge.

Their cutlasses were sharpened for the kill. All the cold-blooded murderers needed at this point, was just to lure the innocent teens into a trap and that is what they did.

They invited their prey (the Henry cousins) to share a marijuana joint.

The confession statement noted that while smoking, one of the killers asked the cousins if they knew anything about the ganja farms that had been destroyed. It is alleged that one of the teens laughed. This reportedly triggered one of the suspects who got up and said “like you know something.”

He reportedly followed up those words by drawing his cutlass and chopping one of the teens to the neck.

The other killer did the same to the other teen, while a third person looked on in horror.

The teens were chopped repeatedly until they fell to the ground. The third person was then reportedly called in to assist with the butchering of the two teens.

As the cold-blooded killers hacked the boys to death—the confession detailed—they (the Henry cousins) trembled as their lives left their bodies.

The killers then transported their victims to another section of the Cotton Tree backlands, where they were dumped.

There were four more gruesome murders that followed that year and include a man dumping his wife and young children into a fiery furnace, thereby burning them alive.

A mother was also beaten and stabbed more than 20 times with a screwdriver by her own son and a psychopath saw it fit to date a woman then hammer her to death and murder her 11-year-old daughter by slitting her throat.

A wife who wanted money from her husband, decided that it was time to hire some ‘goons’ who would beat him to death, take his money and give it to her.

Like the previous cases detailed, the perpetrators of these four homicides are still on remand.

In next Monday’s edition, Kaieteur News will explore the infamous Monica Reece case and why her murder still remains a cold-blooded mystery.

To be continued…

Why not apply a bit of commonsense...

From page 5 health rules practised by all communities. Let’s be sensible, practical and compromising. Certainly, let us distribute money, goods and food, but, let us prepare and package food for takeout purpose.

The less we congregate, the more we can inculcate what is appropriate. Is it so difficult to avoid easy, obvious and preventable mistakes, blunders and errors?

It is past the time to get real. Guyana is a

place where people refuse to recognise the problem and procrastinate rather than, anticipate and acknowledge the issue, whereby becoming proactive. Safety takes precedence over sentiment.

Do not contribute towards the detrimental dangers. Avoid all unnecessary events and activities. Why not apply a bit of commonsense in order to stay alive?

Yours truly, Jai Lall

Monday April 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Monday April 12, 2021

Monday April 12, 2021

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Nadal shrugs off fitness concerns ahead of Monte Carlo return (Reuters) - World number three Rafa Nadal says he is fully fit and confident about his preparations as he begins his claycourt season at the Monte Carlo Masters, with one eye on the pursuit of a 14th French Open crown.

The Spaniard has not played a competitive match since his Australian Open quarter-final loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas, having skipped a series of tournaments due to a back injury sustained in Melbourne.

Chasing a record-extending 12th title in Monte Carlo, Nadal has been awarded an opening round bye and will open his campaign in the second round against either Federico Delbonis or Adrian

Mannarino.

“An important part of the season has arrived for me,” Nadal, 34, told a news conference yesterday.

“I think I did the right work to be ready.

I’m happy the way that I am playing, for the moment my body is in good shape.

“I am confident. I’m practising well these couple of days here in Monaco before the tournament starts. So I feel ready.”

The 20-time Grand Slam c hampion is not the only member of the Nadal family to make the trip to Monte Carlo this week, with his uncle and former coach Toni travel-

ling to the Principality as the new member of Cana-

dian Felix Auger-Aliassime’s coaching team.

“He knows a lot about this sport,” Rafa said. “I am sure that it’s going to be an important help for Felix.”

Toni, 60, decided to step down as Rafa’s coach in 2017 and concentrate on running the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.

Ahead of the 2021 season, Auger-Aliassime spent more than a week training at the academy and approached Toni to join his team.

“I am happy for Felix. I am happy for myself, too,” Nadal said. “I am happy to see my uncle here, see him here, spend time with him here on the Tour again.

That’s a positive thing.”

Monday April 12, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may be thinking about political or social matters today, Aries, specifically, the deterioration of the planet.

You may be worried about your future and that of your children.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today is going to present not only a continuation but also an intensification of the strong energies that have been pushing you toward self-discovery.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you should be asking yourself a lot of important questions, Gemini. The Universe is pushing you on your journey of self-discovery.

CANCER(June21–July22) If you're feeling unappreciated by the people around you, Cancer, try going somewhere else. Begging for attention is unattractive, and so is strutting around trying to distract everyone with your gorgeous physique or charming wit.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You could be in an uncomfortable situation with friends today, Leo. There may be gossip going around about a mutual friend and you will be tempted to join in.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A close friend or colleague could receive special recognition for good works today.

You're pleased with your friend's success, Virgo, and grateful for your own good fortune.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may have heard a juicy story about a friend lately and be just dying to share it with your entourage, Libra.

Be careful with this impulse!

SCORPIO (Oct.23–Nov. 21) It looks as though your ship is about to come in, Scorpio. It's likely that you will receive a letter or call alerting you to good financial news. Your mind may immediately begin to spin with ways to spend this windfall.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you may find all your recent efforts rewarded, Sagittarius. Your quick thinking and astute powers of observation have impressed others.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) If you're a salesperson, Capricorn, expect orders to roll in today. You're unusually persuasive, making it virtually impossible for anyone to say no to you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This is a good day to spend with your family, Aquarius, as you love to do. Try to get chores out of the way as quickly as possible and schedule something fun for the afternoon.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today's planetary energies may put spiritual matters in your mind, Pisces. You may not be thinking in religious terms. Your focus is likely to be on the state of humanity and what you can do to help others less fortunate.

Rana, Tripathi...

From page 23 wasn’t flash, sometimes the short and wide ball does it just fine in T20s. Three metres either side of the man at backward point, and Bairstow would have got four more, but he found the man to perfection.

The squeeze was on after that, and in Cummins, Chakravarthy, Shakib and Krishna, the Knight Riders had too much quality at the end for a suspect Sunrisers middle order.

Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 187 for 6 (Rana 80, Tripathi 53, Rashid 2-24) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 177 for 5 (Pandey 61*, Bairstow 55, Krishna 2-35) by 10 runs.

Joe Smith Jr. edges Maxim Vlasov...

From page 23 the punches began to take their toll on Vlasov by the midpoint of the fight.

The men were originally supposed to fight in Las Vegas on Feb. 13, but Vlasov tested positive for COVID-19 and the fight was postponed.

Smith got married on Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas, but instead of heading out onto his honeymoon, he opted to stay and train.

It was a fortuitous decision, because the unheralded Vlasov came to fight and forced Smith to respond in kind.

Smith, who ended the legendary Bernard Hopkins’ Hall of Fame career in 2016 by knocking him out of the ring, never slowed and kept catching Vlasov with big shots.

Smith hurt Vlasov for the first time with a big right cross in the third, but his first great opportunity to end it came in the seventh. He hurt Vlasov badly with a left, and followed up with a right. Smith poured it on, but Vlasov showed the benefit of his 49 bouts over 16 years as a pro by finding a way to survive.

Remarkably, Vlasov not only survived the seventh, he came back with huge rounds in the eighth and ninth and hurt Smith with a right to the head late in the ninth. Vlasov seemed to have the fight in hand after the 10th.

Smith hurt Vlasov badly in the 11th with a body shot and after a flurry of punches, dropped the Russian to one knee. But referee Gary Ritter ruled no knockdown because the punch was to the back of the head, which replays showed was the correct call.

But the delay to allow Vlasov to recover from the punch may have saved him, as he was in dire jeopardy.

Smith, though, went out like a champion in the 12th and because of that, he’ll go on his honeymoon, finally, as a champ.

WeCare Shiv Gajraj Computers/ S&K Construction West Dem Softball Cricket Cup Rescheduled The inaugural West Demerara Softball Cricket Cup will now be played on 18th April at the Zeeburg Sports Club Ground due to the heavy rainfall that caused the ground to be underwater.

According to the organisers, all was set for the one day knock out limited over softball competition yesterday, but due to overnight rain and continuous rainfall on Sunday the competition had to be rescheduled.

The limited-overs competition will be played under Strict COVID guidelines and regulations on the new date and a limited amount of teams will be accepted. The organisers are also stressing that spectators are not allowed into the venue on the day of the competition.

The organisers have apologised for the inconveniences that the postpone-

ment may have caused and they do look forward to the cooperation of the teams and the sponsors.

Several businesses on the West Coast Demerara have given their support to the event and they are Shiv Gajraj Computers with S&K Construction, Consultancy and General Services, West Central Mall, New Level Business Est., R.L Sukhram & Sons Sawmill and Lumber Yard, SR Real Estate Investments, V.J Service Centre and Auto Spares, Forrester’s Business Complex, First Class Wash bay, Newland Lumber Yard, R.Ruben Sawmill and Lumber Yard, R2A Construction, Furniture, Upholstery and General Services and Phonenix Taxi Service.

Interested teams can contact the competitions coordinator Mr. Sadiek on 698-6406 or WeCare on 647-7507.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Monday April 12, 2021

Man Utd come from behind to win at Spurs BBC Sport - Manchester United inflicted further damage on Tottenham’s hopes of making the Premier League’s top four as they came from behind to secure a fully deserved 3-1 victory.

Spurs went into this game knowing victory would keep them in touch with the Champions League places but another colourless performance led to what could be an expensive defeat.

Edinson Cavani thought he had given United a firsthalf lead with a smooth finish from Paul Pogba’s pass but the goal was controversially ruled out by referee Chris Kavanagh following a video assistant referee consultation after Scott McTominay caught Son Heung-min with his trailing arm.

U n i t e d ’s s e n s e o f injustice was increased when Son put Spurs ahead before the break but the visitors recovered impressively for a win that leaves them 11 points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand.

Fred was involved in the build-up and conclusion of the equaliser after 57 minutes, pouncing after Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris had saved well from Cavani.

And Cavani finally got the goal his superb movement and constant menace deserved with 11 minutes left when he launched himself to head beyond Lloris from substitute Mason G r e e n w o o d ’s c r o s s .

Greenwood completed the formalities with virtually the last kick of the game as he provided a finish that was too powerful for Lloris at his near post.

Solskjaer delight as Man Utd fire back Manchester United ended the first half feeling as if the world was against them, wounded by the decision to rule out Cavani’s goal and then hit by Son’s opener.And yet, as they have done so often this season, they bounced back from going behind to win and did so in very satisfying fashion for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Keeper Dean Henderson, now seemingly first choice ahead of David de Gea, made a couple of saves with his legs and Cavani was fortunate when a header bounced off his own post but United were by far the better team and had plenty of chances of their own at the other end.

The Uruguayan may be

Edinson Cavani is the fifth player to score a league goal against a team managed by Jose Mourinho in two different countries. (EPA)

34 and surrounded by speculation that he could leave Old Trafford at the end of the season but the timeless instincts of the great striker remains. He was a permanent threat, fully meriting the goal that gave United the lead.

Pogba and Fred were also outstanding contributors in midfield for United, who have now opened up a sevenpoint gap between themselves and Leicester City, who lost at West Ham

United, in third.

United are an enigmatic side, clearly full of talent and danger and yet often not at their best, but no-one could deny their quality here and no-one could begrudge them a very fine victory.

Spurs get what they deserved: nothing Greenwood’s late goal may have extended Manchester United’s victory margin more than Spurs manager Jose Mourinho would feel was justified but

he can have no serious complaints about the final outcome.Spurs led at the interval but it was United who came out after the break with real purpose and intent, F r e d ’s e q u a l i s e r t h e inevitable result of the pressure that built up.

For a side containing the attacking threat of Son and Harry Kane, Spurs lie dormant for long periods, dragged down by the stodgy gameplan that seems far too conservative for a team

boasting two such elite attackers.

Spurs - who won the reverse meeting 6-1 in October - had their moments in the second half but they were fleeting and there was never a sense they were taking control.

This loss leaves them six points behind fourth-placed West Ham in seventh and they will have to improve markedly if they are to turn their top-four aspirations into reality.

Martinelli and Lacazette star in Arsenal victory BBC Sport - Gabriel Martinelli scored in his first start since January as Arsenal ended a run of four games without a win with victory over the Premier League’s bottom club Sheffield United 3-0.

The Brazilian has endured an injury-plagued season, but was on hand to net his side’s second with a finish into an unguarded goal after Aaron Ramsdale had pushed out Nicolas Pepe’s shot.

It was the 19-year-old’s first goal since January 2020.

It came between two Alexandre Lacazette goals the first a neat first-half finish after Dani Ceballos’ back-heel and the second a clinical effort in the closing stages after he was put clear

by Thomas Partey.

Sheffield United have won only four games this season and none since Paul Heckingbottom took caretaker charge a month ago and they had little answer to their opponents’ increased efficiency.

At 1-0 there was always a chance that this generous

Arsenal side may provide the Blades with a way back in, but Martinelli’s strike ended such home hopes, with Lacazette adding the final flourish.

The win lifts Arsenal above Leeds and Aston Villa and up to ninth in the table, with 45 points.

It did come at a potential cost, though, with Bukayo Saka limping off in the second half, making him a possible doubt for the second leg of the Europa League last-eight tie with Slavia Prague on Thursday.

Lacazette’s goals were his 12th and 13th in the Premier League this season and his fourth and fifth in his last six matches. (Getty Images)

Sheffield United remain rooted to the bottom, 18 points from safety with just 21 left to play for. With their woeful goal difference, a loss at Wolves next Saturday will all but confirm their relegation.

Morale-boosting win for Arsenal ahead of big European game Arsenal endured a chastening eight days in the lead up to this fixture, suffering a humbling 3-0 loss to Liverpool in the Premier League before drawing the home leg of

their Europa League quarterfinal tie with Slavia Prague.

Their hopes of attaining a Champions League spot via a top-four finish are long gone, leaving success in E u r o p e ’s s e c o n d a r y competition as their last remaining route back into its more lucrative big brother.

This game, then, was as much about getting Slavia’s late equaliser at the Emirates out of their system with a more composed, confidence-boosting win.

It took them a bit of time to warm up to the task, but ultimately they found their stride, with Lacazette’s opener coming during a period that saw Aaron Ramsdale tested and the side-netting struck.

Encouragingly, Martinelli, starting only his sixth game of an injuryplagued season, was at the heart of much of their attacking threat.

If he can stay fit for the remainder of the campaign, his excellent close control, direct running and eagerness to test an opposition goalkeeper could well make

a big difference to a season currently finely balanced between success and disaster.

His re-appearance as a partner for the in-form Lacazette, who has five goals in his last six games, is timely in the absence of Pierre EmerickAubameyang.

Of some concern, though, will be the early departure of Saka from the game, with the talented young winger limping off after a challenge with Rhian Brewster.

The verdict on the Blades’ season is already more or less set in stone.

They fleetingly offered the threat of creating something to worry the Gunners but ended with only wayward efforts from David McGoldrick and Brewster to really show for their efforts.

After 31 games that have highlighted that much of their squad is not equipped for the Premier League, the next seven will help them decide which players they want with them in the Championship next season.

Kaieteur News

Monday April 12, 2021

PAGE 23

Rana, Tripathi, Prasidh Skerritt and Shallow elected unopposed star in KKR’s opening win as President and Vice President of CWI ESPNcricinfo - The Kolkata Knight Riders managed the first successful defence in the 2021 IPL despite a blip towards the end of their innings. They managed just 42 in their last five overs, but the 145 for 1 in the first 15 proved to be good enough on a dry pitch, which their bowlers exploited.

Eighty-or-nothing Nitish Rana had that eighty night on a track that didn’t support his weakness: short and fast bowling. The selfless Rahul Tripathi scored an attacking fifty despite not batting at the position suited to him, opening the batting.

Defending about 20 fewer than what they looked good for, the Knight Riders’ fast bowlers produced the big wickets and their spinners stifled the Sunrisers Hyderabad batsmen to seal the game. After Prasidh Krishna got David Warner early, Jonny Bairstow revived the Sunrisers chase with a 40-ball 55, but Pat Cummins got him out in the 13th over to leave Manish Pandey with a tall ask of getting 86 off the last seven.

Pandey couldn’t despite an Abdul Samad cameo at the end.

Sunrisers err, Rana cashes in Dry pitches are what Sunrisers have built their successful model on.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Sandeep Sharma remain accurate before Rashid Khan drives home the advantage,

but on this occasion both Kumar and Sharma got off to an error-filled start.

While Shubhman Gill’s struggle to bat at T20 pace continued from 2020, Rana made full use of the width provided by both the newball bowlers. By the time Gill was out despite seemingly having picked a Khan wrong’un, the Knight Riders still had 53 on the board in seven overs.

Tripathi, Rana punish S u n r i s e r s As often, Tripathi came out oozing intent. The second ball he faced, he went against the turn to hit Mohammad Nabi for a six over long-off.

While Khan kept things quiet at his end, Rana and Tripathi kept attacking the others. They batted together for eight overs; only one of them didn’t feature a boundary, and two of them went for more than one. At 145 for 1 in 15 overs, with Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan still in the shed, the Knight Riders looked set to bat the Sunrisers out of the game.

Sunrisers fight back In the 16th over, Tripathi fell trying to hit his third six of the night, but it seemed like the perfect time for Russell to walk in. He announced himself with a four first ball, but Khan got him out in his customary one over at the death. The slowness of the pitch proved difficult for the batsmen coming in, with both Rana and Morgan falling to the offspin of Nabi

in the 18th over. Karthik, though, arrested the slide with a nine-ball 22 to give the Knight Riders 28 more than what Mumbai Indians came close to defending in the first match in Chennai.

Prasidh dents the chase Harbhajan Singh, playing his first IPL match since the 2019 final, almost had Warner the first ball he bowled to him but Cummins dropped him at point.

However, in the next over, Krishna produced a beauty angling across Warner, getting the edge through to Karthik. With the left-hand batsman gone, the Knight Riders switched immediately to the left-arm spin of Shakib Al Hasan with immediate results, getting rid of Wriddhiman Saha first ball of the third over. The Sunrisers were 10 for 2 in the third over.

Bairstow keeps Sunrisers alive With Pandey playing more of an anchor role in the chase, it was down to Bairstow to prevent being choked out by the Knight Riders’ spinners; Singh, S h a k i b a n d Va r u n Chakravarthy. He brought up his 50 in 32 balls, taking the Sunrisers to 100 for 2 at the end of the 12th over.

Pandey was 34 off 27 at the other end.

Cummins starts the f i n a l s l i d e Morgan went to his strike bowler in the 13th, and while the ball to get Bairstow (Continued on page 21)

Sha’Carri Richardson ‘sends shockwaves’ with 100m time NBC Sports - It’s been 25 years since the last U.S. Olympic gold medalist in the women’s 100m. Sha’Carri Richardson looks like the sprinter who can end that drought.

The 21-year-old clocked 10.72 seconds in Miramar, Fla., becoming the sixth-fastest woman in history with the fastest time ever this early in a year.

Only five women have ever run faster — Florence Griffith Joyner, Carmelita Jeter, Marion Jones, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson.

“I am who y’all think I am, and I am who I say I am,” Richardson said on the track, moments after her easy win with a 1.6 meter/second tailwind, adding later, “My season is going to be unbelievable.

Something that I haven’t been expecting.

Something the world hasn’t been expecting.

It’s time.”

Richardson joined the Olympic medal mix by winning the 2019 NCAA Championships in 10.75 seconds as an LSU freshman. However, she was eighth at the

USATF Outdoor Championships seven w e e k s l a t e r, m i s s i n g t h e w o r l d championships team.

Now, she’s the fastest active U.S. woman after clocking the fastest time for an American since Jeter’s 10.70 in June 2011.

Fraser-Pryce and Thompson, the Jamaicans who combined to win the last three Olympic titles, ran 10.71 and 10.73, respectively, in 2019.

Ato Boldon, who called Saturday’s meet for USATF.TV, said that Richardson is now “a heavy favorite” for the Olympic title in Tokyo. First, she must finish in the top three at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, in June.The U.S. is in the midst of its longest Olympic gold-medal drought in the women’s 100m. The last champion was Gail Devers in 1996. Marion Jones crossed the finish line first in 2000, then was stripped of her five medals from those Games seven years later for doping.

“You were warned,” Boldon said. “This race will send shockwaves around the world.”

Foster and Singh are new CWI Directors representing the GCB

Ricky Skerritt: CWI President

Bissoondyal Singh: CWI Director

Dr Kishore Shallow: CWI Vice President

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Ricky Skerritt and Dr Kishore Shallow have been re-elected unopposed to the posts of President and Vice President respectively, of Cricket West Indies (CWI).

They will serve a second two-year term. The reelection process was conducted as one of the key items on the agenda of the 22nd Annual General meeting of CWI, yesterday April 11, 2021.

Skerritt said: “I am humbled and deeply honored to be re-elected to serve as CWI President for a second term.

I take the responsibility to lead the Board of this prestigious organization, most seriously. We have much unfinished work to do, and we renew our pledge to work untiringly to help achieve sustainable improvement, both on and off the field, for West Indies cricket.”

Dr Shallow said: “I am again grateful for the continued support of the member representatives for Ricky and myself.

This re-election is a victory for West Indies cricket as we continue on the path of growing the game across the region, and achieving good outcomes on all fronts and at all levels.”

In addition to the election for President and Vice President, the following persons were duly elected as Member Directors of CWI: Conde Riley – Barbados Cricket Association Calvin Hope – Barbados Cricket Association Bissoondyal Singh -– Guyana Cricket Board Hilbert Foster – Guyana Cricket Board Wi l f o r d H e a v e n – Jamaica Cricket Association Dr Donovan Bennett – Jamaica Cricket Association Enoch Lewis – Leeward Islands Cricket Board Leon Rodney – Leeward Islands Cricket Board Azim Bassarath – Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Arjoon Ramlal – Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Julian Charles – Windward Islands Cricket Board Dwain Gill – Windward Islands Cricket Board Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the meeting took place virtually via video conference. All of the Territorial Board Member Associations were fully represented.

Meanwhile, on Hilbert Foster’s facebook page the Berbice Cricket Board noted the election of Foster and

Hilbert Foster: CWI Director Singh to the directorship of the West Indies Board.

“The BCB is very proud to announce that our President Hilbert Foster was today elected along with Mr Bissoondyal Singh as Directors of Cricket West Indies. The duo was elected along with representatives of the other five countries that make up the West Indies Board.

Mr. Foster’s election was historic as it is the first time that the Ancient County has a full time Director.

The President for over five hours today attended the CWI AGM via Zoom and was very impressed by the leadership of the President Ricky Skerritt. The BCB would like to congratulate our President on a well deserved appointment and we are confident that he would serve well in the position. Congrats are also extended to Mr. Singh.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Monday April 12, 2021

Women Players, New Model, Golf Courses and Academy has fueled massive growth President of the Guyana Golf Association Aleem Hussain said that 2020 and so far in 2021, golf is showing a remarkable surge in both participation and rounds played despite uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year might actually be more positive than even predicted, and the golf industry groups worldwide are calling it “a year of resurgence”.

Specifically, the growth numbers in many cases set all-time records in many categories, and the number of golfers coming to the game in 2020 was only a small indication of the enthusiasm around the sport in Guyana.

“There hasn’t been this much optimism and new activity in the golf in the history of the country,” said Aleem Hussain, GGA president, in a recent update noting “The covid-19 restrictions allowed golf, one of the few fully compliant sports to flourish and attract new players. Additionally, the introduction of the game in 42 schools around the country fueled the growth since thousands of students

now have access to sport.”

The GGA said that while golfers in the U.S. in 2020 increased by two percent over 2019, the largest net increase in 17 years, that is nothing in comparison to Guyana’s growth of over 3,000.

New players (both beginners and golfers coming back to the game for the first time in years) numbered 3,220, the highest in a single year.

Last year also saw the largest percentage increase in beginning golfers and the biggest gain in youth golfers coming to the game. Women golfers also were part of the 2020 surge, jumping to 450 active players, up from just 5 in 2019.

The GGA indicated that the biggest driver of the r o u n d s p l a y e d w a s n ’t exclusively new golfers.

Rather, it was the “core golfers” (more than ten rounds a year) who really upped their games. The report cites “existing players (roughly 20 percent of the core-golfer population)” fueled the boost in the average rounds played per golfer.

“We are still in a massive

There has been a significant rise in the number women in the sport.

transition,” Hussain said, “2020 was a massive growth year, 2021 will be an even greater transition year and I think the golf landscape is going to have more energy,

more momentum, more active participants than any other sport in the country by end of 2022.”

The GGA expects to see more than 12,000 active

golfers playing the sport in the next 12 months, a feat that will catapult Guyana to regional dominance. The demand for additional Golf courses and training

programmes will increase and we can expect to see at least 8-10 new playing facilities under development to meet the demand.

The game must adapt to the new normal and we see people wanting faster results and not having enough time to spend 5 hours in the sun.

The Guyana Golf Association and Nexgen Golf Academy has created a 3-Hole model that is similar to cricket’s 20/20 version and expects that this will change the way Golf is played worldwide.

Additionally, the design concept of smaller courses created by Hussain allows easier access for thousands of urban players and drastically reduces maintenance costs. This helps to eliminate high membership fees and provides dozens of jobs locally for caddies, maintenance and clubhouse staff.

The Nexgen Golf Academy is located on Woolford Avenue in the heart of Georgetown. There are no membership fees and it is open daily to practice and teach anyone who has an interest.

Gayle, Thomas-Dodd uncork world-class performances at Miramar South Florida Invite SportsMax - World long-jump champion Tahjay Gayle and silver medalist Danielle Thomas-Dodd were the only winners on a day of mixed results for Caribbean athletes at the Miramar South Florida Invitational at the Ansin Sports Complex on Saturday.

G a y l e , t h e 2 0 1 9 Wo r l d Champion, jumped a world-leading 8.27m to win the long-jump competition in which five jumpers went beyond eight metres.

However, those who won medals were Holland Martin of the Bahamas who jumped 8.15m for second place while Damacus Simpson finished third with his best jump of 8.05m.

Meanwhile, Thomas-Dodd was a class above the rest winning the shot put with a mark of 19.17m, the third-best in the world this year. She was almost half-metre better than second-placed Magdalyn Ewen of the USA, who managed 18.69m for second place.

Ewen’s compatriot Jessica Ramsay finished among the medals with her best throw of 18.61m.

Three-time NCAA champion Jamaica’s Natoya Goule was among the best Caribbean

performers, the Jamaican finishing second in the 800m after leading the race for about 750m before she was passed by her US rival Ajee Wilson who crossed first in 2:00.57. Goule’s clocked 2:00.92.

Allie Wilson was third in 2:02.58.

In the men’s equivalent Jamaica’s Rahjay Hamilton, came out the worst in a three-way battle down the home stretch, finishing third in 1:48.32.

Meanwhile, USA’s Kameron Jones, who led for most of the race was pipped at the line by Abe Alvarado who took the win in 1:47.29, three-hundredths of a second ahead of Jones, who clocked 1:47.32.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Cejhae Green ran a season-best 10.00 to finish third in the 100m won by Kyrie King in 9.97, just ahead of veteran Justin Gatlin, who ran 9.98.

Stephenie-Ann McPherson ran 51.09 for fourth and Chrisann Gordon-Powell 51.39 for sixth in the hotly contested 400m won by 400m hurdler Shamier Little in a lifetime best of 49.91, just holding off Quanera Haynes who was timed in 49.92.

Kendall Ellis made it a 1-2-3

World long-jump champion Tahjay Gayle and silver medalist Danielle Thomas-Dodd. finish for the USA as she was third in 50.48.

Thompson-Herah the Olympic 200m champion and Briana Williams, the 2018 World U20 200m champion, were fourth and sixth in 22.44 and 22.93, respectively in the half-lap sprint won by the USA’s Jenna Prandini in

22.29.

Bahrain’s Brittany Brown was second 22.39 with Candice Hill of the USA not far behind in 22.43.

The meet ended on a sad note for Jamaica’s Akeem Bloomfield, who fell to the track in the men’s 200m and did not finish.

There was no official word on

what was the nature of his injury in the race won by Kenny Bednarek in a windy 19.65.

The race was run with a trailing wind of 4m/s, twice the allowable limit.

Emmanuel Matadi finished second in 20.20 while EJ Floreal was third in 20.41.

Kaieteur News

Monday April 12, 2021

PAGE 25

Máximo satisfied with involvement of locals in WCQ; notes that process is gradual

By Franklin Wilson

Shawn Adonis

W

ith mixed results had in the first window of the Concacaf leg of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying last month, Guyana Football Federation ( G F F ) S e n i o r M e n ’s National Team (SMNT) Head Coach Márcio Máximo says he is positively pleased with the level of commitment shown by the players in the squad.

Guyana, which has moved up two spots (165) in the latest FIFA Coca Cola World Rankings released on April 7th last, went down to Trinidad and Tobago 0-3 in its first match (March 25) but rebounded against Bahamas (March 30) to win 4-0; both matches were played in the Dominican Republic owing to challenges presented by the global pandemic, covid19.

The win by the Guyanese have breathed life back into their quest to qualify for the second round, with two remaining must-win first round matches against Saint Kitts and Nevis (away on June 4th) and Puerto Rico here in Guyana on June 8th to close out this round.

Saint Kitts & Nevis lead Group F qualifying with 6points followed by T&T with 4-points, Guyana 3-points, Puerto Rico 1-point and Bahamas 0, all the nations playing two matches. Only the winner of the group will advance to the second round.

Building a solid foundation for the future of the sport in Guyana is a deliberate objective of the GFF stated Máximo, thus the involvement of so many young players which would continue to be part of the process and they would be integrated gradually in order to be effective.

Some eight players from the GFF Academy Training Centers (ATC) were named

Nicolai Andrews in the final 23-man squad which travelled to the Dominican Republic, they were Shawn Adonis (goalkeeper) Jeremy Garrett (defender), Nicolai Andrews (defender), Jobe Caesar (midfielder), Ryan Hackett (midfielder), Nicolas McArthur (forward), Omari Glasgow (forward - scored his debut goal against Bahamas; his 2nd senior cap) and Kelsey Benjamin (forward).

The experienced tactician working with his fifth national team further shared that the gradual process must be respected and is promising that the nation would be proud in the coming years with the level of investment being made at the moment to set Guyana apart in the region. ”The players can’t go straight from national programmes to line-ups, because if you do that and the player lose confidence, then you double time for him to recover. So, we have experience enough to say that the gradual process must be respected; of course, some players are exceptions and sometimes jump this process but most players should follow this gradual p r o c e s s . ” Having now introduced a faster system of play to the team, Máximo further noted that players should graduate from the national programme into the squad, then have the opportunity to get some game time as the learning curve continues after which they would be included in the team line-up. ”I think we’re in the correct process, almost 50% of the players in this current national team are local based players. You would also notice that almost 40% of these players finished the games we played as the game is not predictable. Like

Nicholas McArthur I said before, you don’t have real development without local players included, that’s why you keep this balance and maintain the competitive level of the team.”

Not only the local group would be renewed as time goes by, Máximo informed that the overseas group w o u l d a l s o s e e transformation from time to time as adding new blood is important. ”We renew not only local group like Jobe, Omari, Nicolai but we also renew the outside group, like Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Bayli Spencer Adams and Miguel Scarlett all first timers, along with the returning Kai McKenzieLyle, among others. We have a big gap between age 23 and 28 in this group which must be corrected. The work to bridge this gap should have started before so we now have to get our young talented players involved and prepare them to take

Ryan Hackett Guyana game to the next level. As we evolve more talented youths would be added to the programme in keeping GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood’s policy.”

Máximo acknowledged

Jeremy Garrett that the lack of playing in a consistent league along with not having friendly international matches brings its own challenges but given the current state of the world due to the pandemic, there’s nothing that can be done.

Bayli Spencer-Adams However, the GFF has been having training for the local based players’ five-days per week since January of this year. Following the matches away and a short break, training is expected to resume this week.

Miguel Scarlett (right), Omari Glasgow and Jobe Caesar.

Máximo satisfied with involvement of locals in WCQ; notes that process is gradual Kai McKenzie Lyle in action against the Bahamas.

(Franklin Wilson photo)

t r o Sp

GFF SMNT Márcio Máximo (left) and GFF TD, Ian Greenwood.

Sha’Carri Richardson ‘sends Rana, Tripathi, Prasidh shockwaves’ star in KKR’s opening win with 100m time Rahul Tripathi congratulates Nitish Rana after the latter reached his fifty.

(BCCI/IPL)

Sha’Carri Richardson clocked 10.72 seconds in Miramar, Florida.

Skerritt and Shallow elected unopposed as President and Vice President of CWI Foster and Singh are new CWI Directors representing the GCB Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.