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AIETEUR

24 hours stay expires

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Elections Declaration Case... Saturday Edition p.

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August 01, 2020 - Vol. 14 No. 30

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

- Misenga Jones, Attorneys undecided on approach to CCJ

Online readership yesterday 138,778

Equipping US$8M Ocean View hospital would cost 'three times' construction cost - Patients being transferred to facility

p.

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without critical equipment and staff in place Political leaders should learn a thing or two from these kids. Young boys, no older than ten, filling the potholes along Lamaha Street.

Coalition lawyersp. filed charges 18 against GECOM Chair Timothy Jonas moves to court to quash four Senior Counsel p. appointments 8 Nothing in the p.7 industry competes with the Stabroek Block - Hess CEO

Biker dies after slamming into p.7 parked Canter

One of two unarmed men shot by police could be - survivor recalls paralysed for life terrifying incident p.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday August 01, 2020

Saturday August 01, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Elections Declaration Case...

24 hours stay expires - Jones, Attorneys undecided on approach to CCJ A

ttorney- at- law, Mayo Robertson has said that there has been no decision on whether his client, Misenga Jones will approach the Caribbean Court of Justice to challenge the decision of the Appeal Court to toss out the case filed to block the elections declarations, 24 hours after the stay of judgment granted by the Appeal Court expired yesterday.

The stay was granted on Thursday following a dramatic exchange after the unanimous decision by Justices of the Court of Appeal to throw out Jones' appeal.

Jones, a counting agent for the A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Chang (APNU+AFC) wanted the Court to deem as invalid the figures derived from the recount which show a victory for the People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) over the incumbent APNU+AFC by over 15

,000 votes.

However the Court of Appeal tossed out her case citing, among other things, an endorsement of the recount data by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) – Guyana's Apex Court.

Following the ruling, one of Jones' lawyer Roysdale Forde, asked that the Court stay its judgment for three days.

He hinted that a possibility of a next stage of litigation at the CCJ. However, his application was widely opposed by several other legal teams engaged in the matter.

In his plea for a stay, Forde said that the issues are of national importance and pointed to a stay being granted by the Court in the case of Eslyn David vs.

GECOM. Several respondents responded in o p p o s i t i o n , h o w e v e r, arguing, among other things, that the further litigation would be abusive.

Attorney Mayo Robertson Attorney-at-law Anil Nandlall, responding for the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), said that there was nothing to stay as no orders were granted.

He said that some sort of an order was made in David's case and that the effect of that was stayed at the time.

“Here,” Nandlall said, “the appeal filed by the

Attorney Roysdale Forde appellant has been dismissed.”

President of the Court, Justice Dawn Gregory asked that attorney for the Chair of GECOM, Kim KyteThomas, respond, as the Court's judgment had placed the matter of the elections declaration squarely back into the hands of GECOM. “I fully endorse what Mr. Nandlall has said to the Court,” Kyte-Thomas said.

APNU+AFC counting agent Misenga Jones “Your Honour, nothing has been granted, there is nothing to be stayed. All that has happened is a dismissal of a frivolous and vexatious appeal.

And that is our position.

The work of GECOM must be completed, your Honours.

If we continue like this, when will we have election results? 2025? This is u n t e n a b l e … We a r e objecting to the application,

your honour.”

Attorney for the 12th respondent, Sanjeev Datadin, also endorsed Nandlall's argument.

Datadin then pointed out that under the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Act, “an appeal that will go to the CCJ requires leave or special leave under Sections 6, 7 and 8.”

The lawyer said, “We don't know whether that will in fact come into being.

There has been no application filed, and in any event, if Mr. Forde would like to receive the benefit of any interim orders, as was the case in David, you have to file your application and the approach should in fact be made to that Court [the CCJ], not to this Court.”

He submitted that Forde's request could not be granted.

After further exchanges between the lawyers in the matter, the Court decided to grant a stay of 24 hours instead of three days as initially applied for by Forde.

Guyana's second royalty payment deposited in NRF

T

he second payment for Guyana's oil and gas royalties has been deposited in the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) – a total of US$3,698,152.63.

On Thursday, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan on Thursday confirmed that the payments were received on schedule and were deposited in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York account.

The second royalty payment will be added to the US$90M already in the NRF. The payments are for April, May and June's gross oil production. Royalties are calculated

Meat time: Muslims across the world and Guyana celebrated Eid-Ul-Adha, the festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to follow Allah's (God's) command to sacrifice his son. In Guyana, it is the custom to share the meat of sacrificed animals. This was the scene at the Muslim Youth Organization of Guyana, Thomas Lands yesterday.

monthly and paid 30 days after every quarter of the year. The country's third royalty payment is expected in October. The Finance Minister also expressed satisfaction with the transparent manner in which the monies are being transferred.

“All the citizens of Guyana can track the deposits and the amount in the account. In accordance with the law, the citizens will also be able to check the spending whenever that takes place.” Guyana received its first royalty payment in May 2020 along with the payments for its crude shipments. (DPI)

Kaieteur News

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Saturday August 01, 2020

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

Emancipation 2020 Over the past few days, social media in Guyana has been abuzz with the painting of a Black Lives Matter mural in front of the 1763 Monument. While no statement of intent has emerged from the painters of the mural, merely the words themselves and the usual clenched fist logo that accompanies it, the division that the public ‘statement’ has spawned consists of roughly two camps.

On the one hand, the negative reaction has been that the message is not only irrelevant to Guyana since the Black Lives Matter is an American movement spurred by police violence in the United States that has resulted in the unlawful killings of dozens of African-Americans over the past several years. The movement has highlighted not only that violence but also many of the structural issues of race in America, including notably attempts at voter suppression that would disproportionately impact upon AfricanAmerican and other minority communities in the upcoming November elections. The key argument against the mural and movement here is that the African-American issues are not Afro-Guyanese issues and any attempt to bring it here should be seen as divisive at an already hyper-divided time.

On the other hand, the positive reaction to the mural, or rather the rebuttal to the negative reaction, has been primarily that it does not matter if African-America and Afro-Guyanese issues are not identical – one should not seek to define how and when solidarity for a good cause is defined.

The latter position makes infinitely more sense for many reasons. Guyanese have expressed solidarity, to varying degrees, with humanitarian and human rights causes over the years, from the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa to the more recent battle against homophobia, with the first Pride March held in Guyana in 2018 being attended by hundreds. The global impact of the Black Lives Matter movement is no different, not simply because of the reality of the need for solidarity among people of African origin, particularly in the International Decade of People of African Descent, but because, to quote the incomparable Martin Luther King, Jr., “ ”Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

In his final essay, written two days before his death and published, as he intended, posthumously, in the New York Times, King’s contemporary and Civil Rights icon, Congressman John Lewis addressed the Black Lives Matter movement: “When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something. Democracy is not a state… The truth does not change, and that is why the answers worked out long ago can help you find solutions to the challenges of our time. Continue to build union between movements stretching across the globe because we must put away our willingness to profit from the exploitation of others.”

The Black Lives Matter painted in front of the 1763 Monument is precisely in the spirit of what is needed at this historical juncture, linking the injustice that was at the heart of Kofi’s rebellion in the Dutch colony of Berbice to the not unrelated systemic injustice in America, the world’s greatest democracy, almost three hundred years later. As Lewis intimated, the concepts of Emancipation and Democracy are inextricably intertwined. For example, the right to vote and participate was never afforded to the enslaved person and if a free person’s right to vote is thwarted or suppressed, then that person is denied a central and sacred right of freedom. Any machinery that is engaged in thwarting the democratic right of people to vote, or that is seeking to suppress their vote in its partisan interest is a machinery that is seeking to reverse the hard-fought gains of the fight leading up to Emancipation and all the battles since.

Emancipation Month is always an opportunity, indeed the best opportunity, to initiate a national conversation on race and equality and cohesion in Guyana. Our coastal

After the great battle, the great peace waits to be claimed DEAR EDITOR, Soon enough there will be the stirrings and sounds of voices raised for a great victory won against all the odds and one overwhelming tide after another. That may be so, and it should not be begrudged.

Against my better judgment and all that militates against my deepest instincts I venture near (again) for a fleeting moment to what brought me here, to what I still love, in spite of all that I say to the contrary.

F i r s t o f a l l , congratulations to those who emerged triumphant. I will not speak of what is deserving or otherwise. But I will say this: it has been hard earned in a most bruising of contests.

In truth, it has been so bruising that this society is now brutalized and traumatized.

And because of those concerns, those priorities which are so dear to me, that I break my peace to share a thought and a few words.

Euphoria may deafen; I urge great care. Shortsightedness may blind; again, I counsel patient sagacity. I am not going to state whether those who come in have what it takes or not. This is not the time nor is it the point, and I extend the benefit of every doubt and the best wishes to

surmount the herculean challenges that stand in the way and get the job done.

There are many jobs waiting to be done, begging for attention. I highlight and focus on one only.

As the echoes of the great struggle and victory surge and resonate, I take the time to remind and caution this little thing, which may be shrugged off and snarled away. That is alright, but I do trust that some understanding will follow and sooner rather than later.

That small thing which I emphasize is this: after this great victory sure to be heralded, there is the great peace that must be conquered and claimed. I warn that this great peace will be harder than what went before in the last year and a half. How this is gone about is not my business. I only table that the victory will be wasted, all the efforts for naught, if the great peace that should belong, but which has always eluded, is not sought with still more energy and dedication and zeal than before.

This great peace to be pursued and embraced is what counts. For here we are, a nation unfree, with its oneness of peoples unruly and shackled to so many

simmering and sullen silos, and a destiny that remains unemancipated. This is a country that has been a circus (and enjoying it) for the longest while, as in the last half century and then some more. It is time for Guyana to deal with real life, as in what we have and what is the most challenging of occupations that is ahead.

I will now tell what that is and in words and phrases easily understood, but perhaps not so easily and readily accommodated.

What this country and its new leaders have in front of them as the greatest challenge is what is being termed by many major cities in the United States as a “public health crisis.” And that public health crisis in the extensiveness of its deformities and associated diminishments is called racism. Racism is housing.

Racism in opportunity, as in jobs. Racism in pay. Racism in scholarships. Racism in contract awards. I ask to be forgiven the latitude of tailoring some of the elements of this public health crisis of racism to the circumstances of Guyana from time immemorial and regardless of who have been the political principals.

I will not waste anyone’s time by lecturing he or she

about tokenism, cronyism, nepotism, and all the other jackpot realities. But I say that we here in Guyana do have, and have always had, a major public health crisis on our hands.

That public health crisis, this great peace of which I speak so earnestly, has the potential to spiral into an epidemic of national proportions, given what we have just been through, and at where we are sure to be uneasily perched. I would hope with every fiber of my being that there is genuine and comprehensive effort to heal wounds and to lead gingerly along as the days ahead loom with great uncertainty and great promise. Do not let the moment, the long hour of opportunity, go sliding by, as has been our history, the dirge of our tragedy, the tale of our self-defeating exploits. Do not squander the great peace so urgently needed by doing nothing but the usual.

I close with the words of Shakespeare, as the bard placed them on the lips of Brutus prior to the Battle of Philippi, “On such a full sea we are not afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Who is the nation to trust?

DEAR EDITOR, David Granger, caught by surprise, unable to escape facing the media when he commissioned the Infections Diseases Hospital, when pressed for an answer said: “with respect, my statement on compliance with the

declaration wasn’t conditioned. I didn’t say if the rain is falling or the sun is shining. You know, if it comes by day or by night, I am obliged to observe the declaration of the Chairman of the Elections Commission.”

region – the site of most of our Emancipation celebrations, and the place of residence of the bulk of our population – has been the site of the worst and most oppressive incidents of our history, where the status of one set of human beings was designated in brutal contradistinction over another set of human beings for over 200 years, almost four times as long as we have existed as an independent nation.

For example, at Parade Ground, young boys regularly play football at a place where, two hundred years ago, men who could easily have been their ancestors were slaughtered in relation for participation in what was mostly a non-violent rebellion. While the slave named Quamina is remembered as the leader of the rebellion, it was in fact his son, a 30-year-old named Jack Gladstone, who instigated and led, in August of 1823, what was one of the largest ever uprisings in British slave colonies.

Quamina was executed on September 16th of that year, while his son was deported to St. Lucia. Implicated as involved in what is known and commemorated as the Demerara Rebellion was a white man, Reverend John Smith, whose church both Jack and Quamina attended. Smith’s death in prison, while awaiting execution would be the catalyst in part that would eventually lead to the acceleration of the Abolitionist movement in England and eventually to Emancipation in the British colonies. The struggle did not end there however.

This statement from Granger is, we know not the first time he has pledged his word speaking as President and Leader of the governing APNU+AFC, that he will honour the decision of the Chairman of GECOM. His exact words before were: “as

President of Guyana and Leader of the Government, it is my policy that any declaration comes from the Chairman of GECOM would be recognized by the Coalition Government”.

We know, however, that (Continued on page 6)

Different expressions of cyclical, structural racism have been a stubborn reality of Guyanese life since independence, and there has been enough objective, credible evidence to support its most recent manifestations. For example, in her introduction to her report following her 2008 visit to Guyana, UN Special Rapporteur on Race, Gay McDougall observed: “Afro-Guyanese with whom the independent expert met described feeling excluded from having a full voice and stake in the national polity and equal enjoyment of rights in many fields of life including employment and economic participation. They reported stigmatization of young AfroGuyanese males and entire African communities. Derogatory stereotypes of criminality colour wider societal perceptions of Afro-Guyanese individuals and communities.”

No collective of people has had the burden of almost four hundred years of slavery, executed on a global scale.

Consequently, no other collective of people has had to rebuild, recreate a civilisation from virtually nothing, recovering from what Derek Walcott referred to as that “deep, amnesiac blow” and creating a life, a culture worthy of commemoration, of celebration. Today, the gift of that burden is a responsibility, one not merely for the ongoing act of selfEmancipation but for recognizing oppression and exploitation and injustice in all their protean contemporary forms, and giving voice to the resistance against any system that would cultivate them.

Saturday August 01, 2020

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Kaieteur News

A deduction that is injudicious and calculatedly prejudicial DEAR EDITOR, Adam Harris never ceases to amaze nor amuse me. He made it his duty to attend my weekly press conferences while I was General Secretary of the PPP save when he travels abroad.

Harris’ questions are usually loaded and articulated with a view to either kerfuffle or entangle the host. His professionalism as a journalist is overpowered or, better yet, compromised by his political sympathies for the PNC. No doubt about that.

Had it not been for my years of experience in politics and street sense, Harris may have ‘caught me napping!’ at one of my pressers.

Harris’ recent Op Ed in one of the dailies headlined ‘When the Magistrates’ Court becomes a political platform.’ is flawed historically and short sighted to say the least. To claim that the Magistrates’ Court is now a ‘political platform’ simply because of the three cases he cherry picked is injudicious and calculatedly prejudicial.

The Jordan, Ali and Lowenfield cases are of recent vintage. But those who know Adam Harris through the years as a journalist from the Chronicle to the New Nation to the Evening News to the Kaieteur News and finally back home to the Chronicle, would not find his political slant and bias in favour of the PNC and later, the PNC/Reform and now the APNU/AFC surprising in anyway whatsoever.

Harris and Glenn Lall were bound to fall out. It was only a matter of time.

Lall is a pragmatist, Harris

is dogmatist...politically.

When the chips are down Lall would adjust politically and go with the flow. After all, he has a newspaper to sell. Harris on the other hand, has views he wanted to sell via Kaieteur News, but Lall would have none of it.

In the final analysis, it’s Lall who calls the shots.

Like the printer and publisher of every newspaper, it’s Lall who decides the editorial policy of Kaieteur News, not Harris.

Lall determines the political and editorial slant of his newspaper. He must take into account the circulation of his newspaper and the innovations of his competitors. Harris had to fall in line or take a walk.

He chose the latter. And like the ‘Prodigal Son’ was rewarded an Op Ed in the Sunday edition of the daily.

I n c i d e n t a l l y, D a v i d Hinds and Lincoln Lewis have also returned home to the welcoming embrace those who once shunned them.

Harris like anyone who has passed their three score and ten would have senior moments, but when those senior moments are translated into Op Ed’s that are published with a ‘by line’ in his name, Harris, like any other writer must willingly open up to public scrutiny and criticism.

For the benefit of the unbiased reader, it is not today, nor because of the cases mentioned by Harris, that the Magistrates’ Court have become a ‘political platform.’ His claim is misleading. The following

i n m y v i e w, c a n b e considered ‘political platforms’ that played out previously at the Magistrates’ Courts in Guyana: In July 1973, fifty three activists from Enmore including Indra Dhanraj, now Chandarpal, were arrested and charged for disorderly behaviour. They were placed before a magistrate at Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court; In July 1974, Arnold Rampersaud, a PPP activist was hauled before two Magistrates’ Courts, charged for the murder of a police constable at the Number 64 village Corentyne, Berbice; In October 1974, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, then Opposition Leader, was hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with unlawful possession of ammunition and component of a firearm/pistol.

Countrywide protests erupted. Dr. Walter Rodney and Father CampbellJohnson of the Catholic Church were in the crowd protesting outside the Court. Dr. Jagan was found guilty. He was fined $25,000 or one month imprisonment.

The decision was appealed; In December 1976, forty two bauxite workers were charged and brought before the courts first, at the Vreed-en- Hoop and l a t e r, a t t h e Wi s m a r Magistrates’ Court. The charge was for unlawful assembly following a picketing demonstration and after being tear gassed while they were detained in the lock ups at the Linden

police station; In June, 1979, following the destruction by fire of the Ministry of National Mobilization and Office of the PNC General Secretary, leading members of the WPA were hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with arson; In July 1986, Rabbi Washington of the House of Israel, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged for the murder of Catholic priest, Father Bernard Darke; On June 16, 1989, following protests against the 1989 budget, outside parliament, three PPP activists including me were charged and placed before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Two of three were reprimanded and discharged. I was placed before the Court on five charges; obstructing a police officer, assaulting a police officer, disorderly behavior, resisting arrest and taking part in an illegal procession. Clarissa Riehl, the prosecutor told magistrate Stephen Knights that no bail should be granted until the budget d e b a t e w a s o v e r. A s a consequence, I spent three weeks in a cell at the Georgetown Prisons; In 1990, three PPP activists who became known as the ‘Mahaicony

Three’ were charged and placed before the court for treason; In July 2002, Mark Benchop was charged and placed, first before the Magistrates’ Court and later the High Court for treason; In December 2010, Bruce and Carol Munroe and Leonard Wharton were first placed before the Magistrates’ Court on Treason Charges; In May 2018, former PPP/C Finance Minister, Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington were hauled before the court charged with three counts of Misconduct in Public Office.

So the question as to ‘WHEN’ the Magistrates’ Court became a political platform, rhetorical as it may seem, did not begin with the three cases alluded to by Mr Harris, on the contrary, the WHEN’ began during the period of the Burnham dictatorship/ Hoyte administration...Mr. Harris!

But it is not really the time factor that Mr Harris is concerned about, his main objective in his recent Op Ed, as he is usually prone to do, is to score political points viz; to paint the PPP/C in a bad light as a vengeful, case dodging political party while seeking to ‘Big Up’ the

party he strongly supports as benevolent and law abiding.

Placed in the context of the extant political situation and knowing where his support lies, the line peddled by Harris on this and other political matters is not surprising.

In case Mr Harris didn’t know, every trial, criminal or civil, tried summarily or indictable tells a story. And be they a kangaroo or show trial, they are recorded in annals of history.

In Guyana’s presentday context, there is much that is straightforward about the political show trials, staged during the c o a l i t i o n ’s o n e t e r m administration as it became highly unpopular because of unfulfilled promises, high levels of corruption, squandermania and attempts at fraudulent elections.

As the ‘Magistrates’ Court becomes a political platform’ unfolds, the lines of delineation between the champions of democracy, justice and fair play and those who cling to power illegally, becomes clearer with every passing day.

And in that delineation, Harris’ Op Ed’s in respect to who’s side he’s on, is pellucid as pellucid can be.

Yours sincerely, Clement J. Rohee

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Kaieteur News

AN OPEN LETTER TO THREE GUYANESE STALWARTS I am writing to Mr. Yesu Persaud, Mr. Clifford Reis and Justice Cummings-Edwards.

Guyanese citizens are tired of the impasse on both sides of the divide.

We are calling on one or all of you to throw caution to the winds and bring all parties together to form an interim (shared) government.

We are asking Justice Cummings-Edwards in

accordance with the Constitution to step in and take over temporarily the running of the country’s affairs and fire the GECOM staff. We need constitutional reform, electoral reform and fresh elections. We need a lot of things to make the country kick, but most of all we need you to get to action. Thank you.

Denise Murray

Did reversal conflict with principle?

DEAR EDITOR, Even though it was a twenty four hours reprieve, from all appearances the two appeal court judges (senior judges) wilted, melted and withered under pressure from a particular corner, when the initial decision to deny the request for stay was

reversed.

Did the reversal conflict with the res adjudicata principle?

Justice SewnarineBeharry must be commended and stands tall for her unyielding, principled position in this regard.

Shamshun Mohamed

Emancipation provided seed for honest political representation DEAR EDITOR, Today, we celebrate emancipation of the Black African slaves. Slavery and indentureship (akin to slavery) were the most reprehensible chapter of our modern history. Our fore parents toiled in the sugar and coconut estates to enrich the White owners and empires and build the country we call Guyana and wherever else our ancestors were taken. At one time, Indians and Africans were not considered as full humans. But they fought hard and overcame that inequality and abuse. They built the nation with bare hands in manual labour.

During slavery and Indian indentureship and the struggle for independence, our ancestors staged rebellions, rallies and protests. They were shot upon.

They were beaten mercilessly. Several lost their limbs and or lives. They fought to assert their God

given rights as equal human beings and to be treated with dignity. Slavery ended 182 years ago and indentureship some 82 years later – exactly one hundred years ago from today.

Their freedom from slavery and indentureship was only the beginning of the struggle. They would fight for political representation that regretfully would be denied to them not by Whites but their own.

It is important to remember our ancestors and pay homage to them.

Without their struggle, we won’t be here and what we are – politicians, doctors, lawyers, professionals, et al. Our enslaved ancestors shape our presence and sacrificed for us. We, our parents, grandparents and our children, are born free and can live our lives in freedom as members of the human race because of

...Who is the nation to trust?

From page 4 since Granger made that pledge, his Coalition Party agents, his Coalition Party lawyers and his Attorney General, have gone to every court - the High Court, the Appeal Court, the Caribbean Court of Justice - to argue that the Recount Order (60) is illegal to prevent GECOM from using the Statements of Recount to declare the results of 2nd March Elections.

Granger’s lawyers in contradiction with Granger’s pledge, have even argued that the Chairman of GECOM is obligated to accept the fraudulent Lowenfield/Mingo report to declare Granger as President.

Granger was not to be trusted then, and is he to be trusted now?

The Courts have, once

again, thrown out these arguments. The Courts, once again, have directed that only the Recount data must be used by GECOM to determine the declaration of the elections.

I ask the question again, in all sincerity, can anyone, at anytime, anywhere, believe anything which Granger says or to which he pledges his word?

On Thursday last, Granger, when further pressed by the media, said “I have been saying over and over again that I will abide by the declaration by the Election Commission. I will abide by the rulings of the court….

Once the court has finally ruled we would obey the ruling of the court”.

If Granger, who is still serving as President and the

Saturday August 01, 2020

Leader of the Coalition government and of the APNU+AFC is, at all, to be believed and his word to be trusted, nothing further should be done or said by anyone under his authority to prevent Chairman Claudette Singh from immediately convening a meeting of GECOM, immediately replacing Lowenfield if he continues to refuse to comply with the directions of the Courts to declare the winner of the elections in accordance with the Recount and directing Chancellor Cummings to swear in Dr. Irfaan Ali as the President.

But already Granger’s lawyers are indicating an interest in a further appeal, unwilling to abide by the courts ruling in direct conflict with Granger’s own words.

Already too, Granger’s party manager, Joseph Harmon, has refused to accept the ruling of the court and repeats the APNU+AFC refrain that “fraudulent votes cannot be the basis for a final declaration to be made.

This is our firm position”.

Worse, Harmon presumes to direct that “we can still get out of the Chairman of the Elections Commission, a declaration that is based on valid votes and no fraudulent vote.

We remain very confident about that”.

So, who is the nation to trust? Is Granger lying again?

It is either that Granger deliver on his word, shut his lawyers down, shut up his party acolytes, tell Harmon to shut up, or shut up himself.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

their sacrifices.

Blacks proudly gather as they should to recognize and celebrate the struggle of their ancestors to obtain freedom from chattel s l a v e r y. A n d l i k e t h e Blacks, Indians also come together annually to remember the history of persecution and recognize the contributions of their ancestors on May 5.

I r o n i c a l l y, t h i s y e a r, Guyanese of all ethnicities come together on August 1 to struggle against a different kind of slavery – to dehumanize and disenfranchise the nation, to ‘tief’ an election, and to oppose the start of another kind of enslavement related to rigging that we experienced between 1966 and 1992.

We must not forget that struggle and those who gave their lives fighting for the restoration of voting rights in Guyana in much the same way John Lewis did for Black Americans.

Our freedom from slavery and indentureship was fought for very hard. It was not just handed over to us by the Whites. An emancipation and end to indentureship not only free us from enslaved labour, but they would over time prepare us for political representation.

They provided the seeds for the ennobling opportunity to serve our people through elections, another right we fought hard for. It was not an opportunity to ‘tief ’ elections to win office.

And the right to vote was also fought for very hard. In 1953, Indians, Africans and others were given the right to vote, but after the Whites gave us independence in 1966, the vote was quickly taken away by the PNC technocracy. People were enslaved into supporting an oppressive, fascist dictator for almost three decades.

It is ironic that we are calling upon the foreign Whites to help protect our rights that are now being denied by those who inherit the powers from the Whites.

The right to vote was restored in 1992 largely with intervention of foreign Whites.

And t o d a y, another attempt was made

to take away the vote of last March. And the foreign Whites are championing Guyanese right to vote.

As we observe emancipation day, we must salute the contributions of the African ancestors and others who helped to free us from slave and indentured bondage, election rigging, and starvation during the 1970s and 1980s. Emancipation in 1838, 1920, 1992, and 2020 provided the opportunity for a fresh start and to free our minds from evil. As freed people, we must oppose any attempt to impose another kind of enslavement on people regardless of their race. We must stop those seeking to return us to the past of refusing to accept electoral rejection in a free and fair vote.

We must use the occasion to commit not to ill-treat others on account of their race and deny them the right to the vote. If supporters of the coalition can have the right to the vote and have them accurately counted, why not supporters of other parties? Or people of other races? No race or supporter of another party is inferior.

We cannot on one hand say we are proud Africans and Guyana is an African nation, as some have asserted in racist comments, and then proceed to deny people of other races, 70% of the population, as inferior races and not worthy of equality of their race. We cannot deny people of other races or supporters of other parties the right to their vote. It is a most shameful episode in the African people history to want to deny others a government that they won fair and square as observed and reported by election monitors. The slaves did back-breaking work on plantations. Never in their imagination did they think that some of their descendants would engage in rigging elections and practice enslavement (rule people against their will in fraudulent elections).

I urge all to resolve to conduct themselves honestly for the improvement of our nation and respect the will of voters.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 01, 2020

PAGE 07

Nothing in the industry competes with the Stabroek Block in the industry.”

Stabroek Block

A

ccording to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hess Corporation, John Hess, there is no other oil concession in the petroleum industry which stands to compete with Guyana's crown jewel, the Stabroek Block.

During Hess' second quarter earnings call on Wednesday, the company indicated that it found an additional two high-quality reservoirs in the Stabroek Block—specifically in the area Yellowtail field.

Hess Corp highlighted that these reservoirs, one adjacent to and the other below the Yellowtail Field further demonstrate the world class quality of the basin.

Considering that

- Hess CEO

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hess Corporation, John Hess Yellowtail is now expanding and seemingly exceeding

expectations, thereby jumping ahead of Hammerhead in the line, a question was posed to the CEO about whether this progression could support selling down an interest in the lower quality Guyana assets.

Hess indicated that his company is always looking to optimize the value of their portfolio, but one of the lowest cost, highest return investments in the industry is Hess' position in Guyana.

He further explained that the company sees a lot of more “running room” in Guyana and that he anticipates more of it. “So, no” the CEO replied, “we don't have any interest in selling down. So high returns and low cost.

Nothing competes with it

Biker dies after slamming into parked canter

Scene from the fatal crash that killed Sukhu

A

biker died on Thursday last after slamming into a parked fruit and vegetable transport canter along the Parika Backdam Access Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The dead biker, Avinash Sukhu, 24, of Budhu Housing Scheme, Parika, met his demise at around 16:50Hrs. According to police, Sukhu was riding along the road at a fast rate when he lost control and slammed into the rear end of the

parked vehicle. The impact shattered the motorcycle and killed Sukhu on the spot.

In a video seen by this publication, the front half of the motorbike was seen pinned underneath the rear end of the canter.

The remaining half along with other fragments were scattered on the road while Sukhu's body lay close by with notable head injuries.

Nearby residents who heard the loud impact came out to the scene to render assistance.

The police were

contacted and arrived shortly after. His body was removed and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where it was further examined before being transferred to the Ezekiel's Funeral Home.

Speaking with Kaieteur News, the dead man's brother said that he was informed of the incident minutes after the fatal crash.

The brother added that he has no idea when Sukhu left home that day or where he was heading. He was even surprised that Sukhu owned a motorcycle.

Ex x o n M o b il' s lo cal subsidiary, Esso Exploration

and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is the operator with 45 percent interest.

Hess Corporation's local subsidiary, Hess Guyana

Exploration Limited, holds a 30 percent interest. CNOOC International Limited's local s u b s i d i a r y, C N O O C Petroleum Guyana (continued on page 16)

Saturday August 01, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Timothy Jonas moves to Court to quash four Senior Counsel appointments A

ttorney -at- law and Chairman of A New and United Guyana (ANUG) Timothy Jonas has moved to the High Court to challenge President David Granger's appointment of four Senior Counsel.

According to court documents seen by this newspaper, the executive member of ANUG filed an action in court this week, seeking an Order of Certiorari to be directed to the Attorney General to quash the decision by the President to appoint Attorneys-at-Law, Jameela Alli, Roysdale Forde, Mursalene Bacchus and Stanley Moore as Senior Counsel (S.C). Jonas is contending that the President, in making the appointments, acted ultra vires or outside the realm of his functions.

In the grounds of his application, the lawyer stressed that the status of SC is fundamentally important to legal practitioners.

According to Jonas, the appointment of Senior Counsel by the judiciary and the Bar at large lies within the inherent discretion of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

The attorney explained

Attorney-at- law, Timothy Jonas that there is no statutory or other power conferred on the President of Guyana whether as President or otherwise, to make any such decision to appoint attorneys-at-law to the dignity of Senior Counsel.

As such, he called the decision by the President to be deemed entirely void and of no effect.

Jonas stated further that, as the President and a member of the Executive, Grang e r ' s d e c i s i o n t o appoint Senior Counsel trespasses into the realm of the judiciary and violates

Article 122 of the Constitution of Guyana.

The lawyer noted too the power and discretion to admit persons to practice at the Bar of Guyana, to preside over such persons, to discipline, suspend and disbar such persons is conferred by the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act and common law on the High Court the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana.

According to him, it is the Full Bench of the High Court that has, from time to time in an exercise of its discretion, confers on attorneys-at-law who have practiced with distinction before the Court the dignity of 'SC '.

Further, in an affidavit in support of his court action, Jonas explained that the dignity of SC, or its equivalent counterpart 'Queen's Counsel,' (QC) is one which is recognized t h r o u g h o u t t h e Commonwealth as being conferred on practicing attorneys-at-law who have sufficiently earned the respect of the Court by the quality of their practice and personal integrity to warrant the honour, and the conferral of such status.

He said too that beyond the legal fraternity, in the

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde

Senior Counsel Stanley Moore public domain, the dignity implies to the public the

Senior Counsel, Jameela Alli

Senior Counsel, Mursalene Bacchus certification by the judiciary of the professional

acumen and personal integrity of the practitioner, so that a significant market advantage is enjoyed by Senior Counsel in the conduct of his/her practice by the public perception of the judicially acknowledged professional standard of his/her legal service.

According to the document in support, Jonas was prompted to take legal action after he observed a Counsel appearing in the litigation with him in June of this year, whom he believed to be junior, describing himself as 'Senior Counsel.'

Consequently, Jonas said that he investigated, and discovered that on or around 31 December, 2019, the President had communicated to the public via the Ministry of the Presidency his purported decision to confer the four lawyers with the prestigious title.

It is this move that Jonas emphasized that was outside the statutory or other power conferred on the President.

The matter is expected to come up for hearing at 10:00 am on September 8, 2020 before Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, S.C.

Equipping US$8M Ocean View hospital would cost 'three times' construction cost

By Shikema Dey

- Patients being transferred to facility without critical equipment and staff in place

I

t would cost the A P N U + A F C government “three times” the whopping $1.6 billion construction cost to acquire the needed medical equipment to furnish the recently commissioned Ocean View Infectious Diseases Hospital, according to de facto Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence.

Lawrence was at the time responding to a question on whether the $1.6 billion construction cost for the facility, sitting on more than five acres of prime land at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, also accounted for equipment. To this, the Health Minister gave a short laugh then asked “No… $1.6 billion for equipment?”

“Equipment for this

De facto Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence f a c i l i t y, ” L a w r e n c e continued “is going to cost probably three times that.”

Giving her reasons behind this, she stated that due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the

same equipment they would need to source is in high demand all across the world.

I n i t i a l l y, F i n a n c e Minister Winston Jordan had said that to transform the former hotel building into a state of the art facility would cost $1 billion, or US $5 million; however, at the c e r e m o n y, t h e H e a l t h Ministry Permanent Secretary, Colette Adams revealed that construction amounted to $1.6 billion, or US $8 million.

President Granger, who was also present at the commissioning, was questioned on the exuberant spending government undertook for the hospital he

responded only that it was conducted within the ambit of the law.

However, no information was revealed to account for the extra $600 million added to the initial construction cost. Questions relating to that issue, the purchase cost for the property and where government will source the funds to acquire the equipment from remain unanswered.

Questions are also already beginning to mount regarding the absence of both critical equipment and medical professionals at the facility meant to tackle the high influx of COVID-19 patients in Guyana. To date,

Guyana has over 400 cases of the virus and that figure continues to climb daily.

Inadequate equipment, inadequate staff One senior public health staffer lamented to Kaieteur News that COVID-19 patients are still being sent to the hospital despite the fact the facility is ill-prepared to provide basic critical care those infected with the virus.

"The hospital has no piped oxygen to the designated ICU much less the wards, yet this is the hospital to look after patients with respiratory illnesses,” the staffer said.

The person pointed out that the construction of the

billion-dollar building was highly flawed because it lacked the basic amenities needed for an Infectious Diseases Sanatorium.

For example, he noted that the GPHC has refused to send patients there unless they have piped oxygen installed. He stated that their plan was to use 100lb cylinders for the patients but this would only supply a few hours of needed oxygen from each bottle “at most.”

“They are boasting of a 42-bed Intensive Care Unit so, I suppose their plan is to have trucks moving continuously between DOCOL and the hospital, all day and night. No HEPA filters, no negative pressure or nothing that an infectious disease hospital should have.”

The staffer, who (continued on page 22)

Saturday August 01, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

The people are pawns in a game controlled by powerful businessmen

P

eople should be circumspect about those to whom they pledge their loyalty and decide to follow. Those leaders do not always act in their interests. Time and again these leaders have deceived the ordinary people. Time and again they have betrayed them on behalf of rich and their rich business friends.

During the election season, rich and powerful businessmen lined up to make donations to the political parties. Most of them did so because they see these donations as an investment; an investment in their own interests.

When the political parties they support win, they will go knocking for their repayment. Nothing is given freely. Most business donors set aside two sets of envelopes during election season. One is for the PPP and the other set is for the PNC. They grease both sides. Whoever wins, they do not lose. They have hedged their bets on both of the main parties.

Then there are those who come knocking after the election. They come with their suitcases of money, ready to cut deals, including some under the table. These deals represent a betrayal of the rank and file supporters of the political parties.

The attempts at rigging which is presently taking place is being done to coverup some of the deals which have been entered into and which, if made public, are going to put politicians and their rich friends in an uncomfortable position.

The APNU+AFC hid the

signing bonus from the country for almost one year before it was exposed by this newspaper. The signing bonus is not being used to provide relief to the hundreds of persons who turned up outside of the President's former home after hearing rumours that $50,000 was going to be shared out per person.

The financiers get concessions and land and contracts. The poor people rumours. This is the price which people pay for supporting political vagabonds. The first withdrawal from the signing bonus was devoted to paying the legal fees of the lawyers representing Guyana before the International Court of Justice. This is why the signing bonus was negotiated. To pay legal fees not to compensate Guyana for the exploitation of wasting resource.

The APNU+AFC refused to disclose the controversial contract it signed with Exxon for 18 months, before it was forced to make its details public.

Who do you think benefitted the most from that contract?

And why was it kept secret from the Guyanese people?

Just prior to and just after the elections, massive property and land sales were being inked. Over a billion and a half dollars was spent to renovate a hotel into a sanatorium for COVID-19 patient. Where is the contract for the works on this facility and what method was used to determine the contractors and award the contracts?

Poor people are waiting to have their land applications – for small plots

– approved, but the rich and powerful have been able to have their leases and land purchases approved because they have the connections and they are deemed investors.

No one has asked why are lands which belong to the Guyana Sugar Corporation transferred to NICIL? What is NICIL planning to do with these lands and who are likely to receive them?

T h e r e w a s a controversial acquisition of ventilators which the Ministry of Public Health said the country was preparing for even before the outbreak happened. These deals are believed to be just the tip of the iceberg, The iceberg of deals – especially those which lie below the surface – are suspected to be responsible for the political desperation of those who are bent on rigging the elections. They are rigging not for their supporters but for their sponsors, the powerful financiers whose interests they are protecting.

Does anyone truly believe that it is the average supporter of the APNU+AFC that is forking out the US$40,000 each month to pay a lobbyist in the United States. These fees are being financed by rich financiers who will have deals to protect or have been given promises.

Who do you think is paying the legal fees for those high-priced lawyers?

They do not come cheap?

What makes you think that they are doing this for free?

Somebody has to pay and it is the financiers who are most likely shouldering the legal costs associated with

Dem boys seh...

Some big ones visa get pull

D

em boys read something nice wah dem wan share. It says: Every day starts with some expectations but ends with some experience. This is life so enjoy every day.

You never know what the day will bring. But you have your plans. That is called expectations. But at the end of the day, you does know what happen. Dat is called experience.

Some government officials start de day good, good on Thursday. But by

nightfall, dem had a bad experience.

Dem bin hoping fuh de Court of Appeal would have given dem de ruling dem bin want.

But dat did not happen.

De ruling was de final nail in de plot to rig de election results. Dat spoil dem day.

But when it rains, it pours. De Pom-peo man add misery to disappointment.

He pull some more of dem visa.

When yuh visa and dat of yuh better half and picknee get pull is almost impossible

fuh get um back. You does gat a red flag against yuh name.

And when yuh apply fuh restore yuh visa, de red flag does wave back.

Yuh does gat fuh pray dat your heart strong and all yuh organs working properly.

Because if you get sick, you can’t jump pun plane and go and receive treatment in Uncle Sam. Yuh gat fuh settle for the services of the GPHC. Talk half and watch dem official face carefully fuh know who visa get pull!

the electoral challenges?

There are persons who have been granted licenses in this country. These licenses have brought them untold wealth and incomes. They are fearful of these licenses being taken away and them losing the lucre.

The people are just pawns in this powerful game. The pieces are being controlled by rich and powerful businessmen. You don't see them in public.

They weave their plot behind the scenes. This is what this rigging is about. It is about a

plan to pawn Guyana to rich and powerful businessmen.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Saturday August 01, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Leaders perpetuating mental slavery in African Guyanese I

f there is anything in published form in the arts that I find utterly preposterous is the choice of the Rolling Stone magazine of the best 500 songs of all time.

The writer is hopelessly incompetent as a reviewer of music. What he included and what he left out will render you speechless.

But he was smart enough to include, Bob Marley's “Redemption Song.” Any African in any part of the world that listened to Marley's lyrics cannot, even at a superficial level, allow him/herself and their race to be used by African leaders obsessed with power. Sadly, and tragically, this has been taking place in Guyana since Clairmont Mingo attempted to rig the 2020 election and, through modern technology, the world saw him in action.

If there is anything I am absolutely sure about is that

today, Emancipation Day, despite COVID- 19 restrictions, there will be emancipation limes where Redemption Song will be played. How can any person in Guyana who belongs to the African race listen to Marley's words and grasp the conscious awareness that the PNC, an African-oriented party, is using them for naked power?

This party knew, as thousands of others connected with opposition parties and the election process in the early morning of March 13 that the PNC lost the election.

From thereon, there has been a Herculean effort of frenzied consistency by this African party to lie, manipulate and abuse African Guyanese for the perverted reason of staying in power to have power for themselves and not for

African Guyanese in general.

This tragedy can be seen in every part of Guyana and it becomes deeply sadder when you think that the lies have penetrated even the stratum of educated African Guyanese. There are educated people who believe with expanding conviction what the PNC leaders told them actually occurred.

This includes the fiction that thousands of fake persons all over Guyana went and voted for persons who are dead or migrated.

That thousands of ballots were tampered with by the PPP/C and other opposition parties.

These hapless, helpless souls are going to risk their lives for a fortress built of sand but are told by their lying leaders that it is an edifice as strong as Fort Knox. And when they enter

it, with passion and rage, they can be infected by the coronavirus. This is merciless exploitation of African Guyanese in the year 2020.

There isn't space to describe the failure of this degenerate leadership of African Guyanese to liberate the low income classes of African Guyanese, and African Guyanese in general, since it came to power. I will pull up some examples from my memory from 2015 onwards.

Almost 99 percent of youths incarcerated for possession of small amount of marijuana are Africans.

Guyana has the most backward sentences for small amount of marijuana possession.

This African party came to power and refused to amend the law. It was the multiracial AFC that spearheaded the change only to be stymied by an African president.

The entire public service and state sector are peopled

by African Guyanese yet Guyana remains one of the

few countries where retirement from state employment is at 55 percent.

The pathetic failure of the PNC to raise the retirement age was cause for African Guyanese to vote them out in 2020 and many did not vote.

The turnout of African Guyanese in Georgetown on March 2 was a stabbing knife blow to the PNC. Most of the schools – n u r s e r y, p r i m a r y a n d secondary - in Georgetown where African Guyanese predominate are in a dilapidated state.

This was inherited from the previous government but the APNU+AFC hardly improved on the conditions in these buildings as they hardly improved on anything at the Georgetown Hospital.

It should be noted that all of the prestigious private schools in Georgetown have a higher percentage of nonAfricans than Africans.

Most taxi drivers are African Guyanese and they were the ones most hit when the APNU+AFC ruled that second-hand tyres are

Frederick Kissoon banned and all vehicular imports must be less than eight years old. African Guyanese constitute a majority of the students and staff at the University of Guyana. Yet look at how Granger's personal choice for Vice-Chancellor used money.

Under Ivelaw Griffith's tenure, more money was used for pomp and splendor while wages and salaries stagnated and basic infrastructural facilities remained in a state of decay.

President Granger attended the first official installation ceremony UG ever held for a Vice-Chancellor, that of his friend, Griffith. The affair cost dozens of millions.

Today, African Guyanese must listen with rapt attention to Redemption Song and then reject the monsters that seek to devour them.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Phase 4 of Guyana's reopening will see places of worship reopen

T

he National COVID-19 Taskforce yesterday announced that places of worship will be allowed to resume religious services as part four of Guyana's six-phase reopening commences from today, August 1 and will continue until August 15.

For the Phase 4 reopening, places of worship will now be permitted to resume services inclusive of weddings and funerals in a controlled and restricted manner given that religious leaders ensure the safety of attendees are a top priority.

The order, which was

published in the Official Gazette, states that where there are multiple services in a given day, there should be no less than a forty-five minute break between each service to allow for the proper sanitization and cleaning of facilities.

In addition, sanitization and hand washing stations should be provided for persons to use before and after services, and where necessary, feet washing facilities must be provided.

Persons attending services will be required to adhere to social distancing and well as the wearing of facemasks. The order further

noted that persons displaying flu-like symptoms should desist from attending services or gatherings. The order further pointed out that a room or area should be identified to allow isolation of persons displaying flu-like or respiratory symptoms and ensure that the Ministry of Public Health is informed of instances.

Moreover, all other COVID-19 related guidelines as well as the 8.pm-6.am curfew will remain intact.

Persons found in breach of the guidelines will be liable to be summary conviction under Section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance.

Saturday August 01, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Saturday August 01, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

One of two unarmed men shot by police could be paralysed for life - survivor recalls terrifying incident

W

inston Frazer, 28, one of the two unarmed men shot by police ranks on Saturday last on D'urban Street and Mandela Avenue might remain paralyzed for the rest of his life.

Frazer and his friend Cecil Sampat, 39, were shot at around 02:00Hrs on the 25th of July, in a car which Frazer was driving at the time. According to reports, the men along with two other friends were traced by ranks from Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD) to the location where the officers proceeded to open fire on them.

Frazer and Sampat received gunshots wounds to their backs and were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). There, both men had to undergo emergency operations to repair vital organs that were damaged.

This publication has learnt that the bullets have not been removed from the men's bodies as yet.

Speaking, with Kaieteur News yesterday, Frazer's

wife said that her husband is currently paralyzed from the waist down and is at risk of remaining that way for the rest of his life.

Doctors explained to her that this is because the bullet he received is lodged somewhere in the region of his spine. At the current moment the experts are still trying to locate exactly where, but should it be found directly in the spinal cord, chances are slim for him to walk again. As doctors are actively seeking to locate the bullet, Frazer is still vomiting blood as a result of internal bleeding.

Sampat is also fighting for his life as well in the male High Dependency Unit (HDU). His sister told this newspaper that the GPHC medical team is still conducting x-rays, scans and ultrasounds to assess his condition before attempting to extract the bullets from his body.

Sampat received multiple gunshots wounds to his back. As a result his intestines were severed and had to be repaired by surgery.

The injured Cecil Sampat

Winston Frazer who is currently paralysed

A bullet is also lodged in his pelvic region and two others in his lungs. The damage to both lungs is so severe that Sampat cannot survive without the assistance of an oxygen machine.

Meanwhile with regards to the investigation into the shooting of the men, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has chosen to remain silent.

It has been able to confirm however, that more than a dozen of its officers are still in custody assisting with

investigations.

Initial reports detailed that the ranks from the Agricola Outpost spotted the car at a party in the area. As they approached the car the men opened fire on them and sped off. The ranks then gave chase and alerted other patrols for assistance and eventually cornered the men on Mandela Avenue. The men were said to have fired at the police officers again who retaliated by firing back.

However, information reaching this publication from sources close to the investigation, had revealed that investigators have been unable to corroborate statements taken from the ranks said to be involved.

S u b s e q u e n t investigations revealed that police found no firearm in the men's possession.

Nevertheless they proceeded to swab their hands for gun powder residue. Sampat and Frazer were then taken to the hospital while the other two – Seon Greenidge and Joshua Letlow – who were unhurt, were taken into

police custody.

Those two have since been released and one of them has decided to share his side of the story. Seon Greenidge claimed that they were all bar hopping that evening, and were at Agricola imbibing Guinness when Sampat told them that he wanted to go home.

The group of four then entered the car to leave.

Greenidge said that as they were about to drive off, they noticed men in a parked white pick-up flagging them down.

“We did'nt know it was (continued on page 14)

Massive increase in road deaths in first seven months of 2020 - Police A

ccording to information from the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana recorded a massive increase in road deaths for the first seven months of 2020.

The statistics provided

by Traffic Chief, Linden Isles, show that from January to the end of July, Guyana recorded 81 fatal accidents that resulted in the death of 85 persons. Comparing this information with that collected for the same period in 2019, Guyana had recorded 52 deaths from 49 fatal accidents, showing that there has been a comparative 41% increase in the road fatalities for this year so far.

It was further revealed by Isles that 37 out of the 81 fatal accidents that occurred in 2020 involved motorcycles.

The most recent accident happened on Thursday

DEAD: Leon Wilkins

DEAD: Glemina Adrian

DEAD: Trevor Mangal

afternoon, on the Parika Backdam Access Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), the victim has been identified as Avinash Sukhu, 24, of Budhu Housing Scheme Parika. Sukhu died after the motorcycle he was riding slammed into a parked fruit and vegetable canter.

On Sunday evening, another biker identified as

Leon Wilkins of 'B' Field, Sophia, died after he crashed into a cyclist on Mandela Av e n u e , G e o r g e t o w n .

Earlier that day, 46-year-old Vickram Budhram of 24 First Street, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara was struck down by a speeding motorcar PPP 5422. The driver of the car Julius Knight, has since been

slapped with four traffic offences, he was remanded to prison until August 14, 2020.

On Saturday, last, Trevor Mangal, 40 of Industry ECD, died after the car he was in slammed into a parked bus on the Montrose, Public Road ECD, after the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Kaieteur News had also

reported previously that within five days, three persons lost their lives in separate accidents on the East Coast and East Bank Public Roads.

The first victim was identified as Wayne James, 53, of Cinema Road, Melanie Damishana, ECD; he died after he allegedly swerved into the path of a car on the Melanie Public Road, ECD. Meanwhile, along Linden Soesdyke/Highway, an accident claimed the life of a pensioner, Glemina Adrian, who was struck down by a motorcar which overtook another vehicle and ended up on the side of the road where Adrian was walking.

Delwyn Moore, 25, was arrested and placed before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrate Court where the charge was read to him, he denied the cause of death charge which alleged that he

drove in a manner dangerous to the public causing the death of Adrian. He was released on $100,000, bail.

About an hour after the pensioner was struck down and killed; there was another fatal accident on the East Bank. Leo Smith, 22, of Long Creek Community was also killed after the driver of motorcar PTT 1959, reportedly lost control and collided with him on Long Creek along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

Earlier in July, a 24-yearold pedal cyclist of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara also died after he was struck down by a minibus. The deceased was identified as David Shepherd. According to reports, he was struck down after he swerved into the path of the minibus, number plate BXX4563, along the East Coast Public Road at Non Pareil, ECD.

Saturday August 01, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Saturday August 01, 2020

China greenlights Zijin approval for takeover bid of Guyana Goldfields C

hina has granted the necessary regulatory approvals for one of its companies to take over Guyana's largest gold mining operations.

According to Canadianowned Guyana Goldfields Inc., which controls the Aurora mines in the Cuyuni, Region Seven, Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. has announced that it has received the remaining required Chinese regulatory approvals.

These include approvals from the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the People's Republic of China, with respect to the previously announced statutory plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act involving the company and Zijin.

Pursuant to the arrangement, a wholly-

owned subsidiary of Zijin will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Guyana Goldfield not already owned by Zijin for cash consideration of Canadian $1.85 per share.

The completion of the arrangement is still anticipated to occur in August 2020.

Guyana Goldfields Inc. is a Canada-based gold producer primarily focused on the exploration, development and operation of gold deposits in Guyana, South America.

Zijin, it was announced in June, completed a proposed purchase of Guyana Goldfields. It was also announced that Zijin entered into a binding arrangement agreement which will allow it to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Guyana Goldfields for cash consideration of C$1.85 for each Guyana Common Share, valuing Guyana Goldfields at approximately C$323 million.

In early June, Guyana Goldfields, after receiving the proposal from Zijin had notified Silvercorp, a Canadian mining company that had submitted a first

proposal to purchase Guyana Goldfields, that a superior offer was received.

Silvercorp elected not to exercise its right to match and, as a result, Guyana

Goldfields terminated the Silvercorp Arrangement Agreement.

Zijin has since agreed to provide Guyana Goldfields with a US$30 million secured loan facility to finance ongoing operations of the Aurora gold mine and to fund its other liquidity needs.

The Aurora operations went into commercial operations in early 2016 with

questions surfacing about its tax benefits granted by the government.

It then faced internal problems after a battle with a number of shareholders who were unhappy with the operations. That matter was settled.

Before the Zijin deal, hundreds of workers had been sent home as the company actively sought an investor.

One of two unarmed...

From page 12 police so we ignored and continued driving”, continued Greenidge. While the men were approaching Houston they noticed the same white car following them. A few seconds later the car switched on its siren lights and only then did they realize that it was the police.

Greenidge said, “I cannot speak on behalf of Frazer who was driving as to the correct reasons why he did not stop…but I believe that it was because we were under the influence of alcohol and also in breach of the COVID-19 restrictions”.

“As we were approaching The Grill point on Mandela Avenue,” Greenidge said, “we heard loud explosions.

At first we thought it was squibs but then Sampat started shouting 'I get shoot'.

Frazer drove a little more but then there was another shot and this time he (Frazer) said 'Ahhh! Dem man block off the road'”.

Frazer then lost control of the car and crashed into a nearby bread stand.

In a video seen by this

publication, a white police patrol car intercepted the men from the front. Officers exited with high powered automatic rifles and took up different positions. The car in which the men were traveling appeared to have slowed down as it approached the police vehicle parked across the road in its path.

Nevertheless, the officers took aim and began firing at the car causing it to veer off the road before coming to a halt.

Greenidge recounted that the officers approached the car, opened the doors and dragged them out. They were then gun butted and kicked about the body.

“They beat us up,” the man said, “including Sampat and Frazer who were shot.

Sampat started behaving bad and said y'all stop I get shoot but the ranks continued beating him and fire off a round at Sampat to silence him.” The officers then searched the car, seized their valuables such as cash, gold rings, cell phones, and a small pocket knife before swabbing their hands.

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Saturday August 01, 2020

Language barrier, access to technology hampering COVID-19 awareness in South Rupununi

By Sueann Wickham

W

ith South Rupununi recently becoming a COVID-19 hotspot a language barrier has been hampering COVID awareness in Wapichan communities. Additionally, the lack of proper communication technology has been making COVID awareness in Rupununi areas significantly challenging.

The Wapichan people have recently been calling for a push in efforts to effectively communicate information on preventing the spread of the virus in their communities.

Just recently the SRDC was forced to put 21 indigenous villages in South Rupununi on lockdown. The decision came after five cases were confirmed from three villages. South Rupununi currently has over 17 confirmed cases and health

officials have been complaining of the hardships in maintaining them as well as conducting contact tracing.

Kid James, a project coordinator attached to the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC), informed this publication that the Wapichan residents have been raising their concerns about the current pandemic and are extremely worried about maintaining safety in their villages. James explained that there are usually broadcasts and plastering of guidelines around Rupununi, however they do not cater to Wapichan speakers since they are published in English and most of these people are not bilingual.

According to Jean La Rose, Director of the Amerindian People's Association (APA), there have been numerous donations of posters with COVID-19 guidelines and regulations within Rupununi by the organization but these are printed in English as well.

James indicated that two radio stations are being used to spread COVID awareness within Rupununi, Radio Lethem, and Radio Aishalton.

He stated that while the initiative that was started by the government gives broadcasts on the ongoing pandemic, the broadcasts only caters to English speakers. He related that there is only one broadcaster who is fluent in the Wapichan language, however her efforts can only go so far.

The communities are calling for Wapichanspeaking personnel to be sent

to properly educate them as they do not want to remain uninformed.

James mentioned that the SRDC has since been making efforts to assist the Wapichan communities with adequate communication.

He highlighted however that those efforts to spread COVID-19 awareness in South Rupununi, there is the challenge of the lack of radios within households.

According to James, only thirty percent of the residents in Rupununi have radios. He added that even the ones that do have, often run out of batteries and find difficulty sourcing new ones.

Also, although COVID advisories directed to residents of South Rupununi are being published online, the communities have little to no internet access to see them.

These advisories included demands for the halt in hosting parties, weddings, and other social gatherings.

The SRDC has pleaded with the government on several occasions to pay more attention to COVID-19 prevention measures within the area as they fear the situation can potentially get out of control.

Nothing in the industry...

From page 7 Limited, holds 25 percent.

The current estimate of gross discovered recoverable resources for the block stands at more than 8 billion barrels of oil equivalent, with multi billion barrels of exploration potential remaining. In June, Hess resumed a four-rig drilling operation, with two of the rigs focused on development wells and two on exploration and appraisal activities.

The Liza Phase One development, which has an estimated breakeven price of $35 per barrel Brent, achieved first production in December and is now expected to reach its full capacity of 120,000 gross barrels of oil per day in August.

The Liza Phase Two development with an estimated breakeven price of $25 per barrel Brent and production capacity of 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day, remains on track for an early 2022 start-up.

The CEO noted that the development of the Payara field with a production capacity of 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day has potentially been deferred six to 12 months, pending government approval to proceed.

Planning for the fourth and fifth Floating Production and Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel is underway, the CEO said, which will be further optimized by this year's exploration and appraisal drilling results.

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Coalition lawyers filed charges against GECOM Chair

W

hile the criminal charges filed against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) C h a i r, J u s t i c e ( R e t ' d ) Claudette Singh were said to be private, information has revealed that it was prominent coalitionconnected lawyers.

During a live broadcast on Facebook by A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition

Onita Walcott and James Bond during the Facebook live

executive member, James Bond stated that attorney Maxwell Edwards is representing the three applicants.

Edwards has repeatedly been one of the administration's go-to lawyers in various litigation over the past several years and an avid defender of the government in the newspaper letter columns.

M o s t n o t a b l y, h e h a s repeatedly represented Attorney General (AG), Basil Williams from the No Confidence Motion case back in 2019 to the recently dismissed cross-appeal from Williams in the Misenga Jones appeal.

The private criminal charges were filed by Lorraine Joseph of 16 Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara; Onita Walcott of 25 Section B, Victoria Village East Coast Demerara; and Keith Ondaan of 2987 Central Amelia's Ward, McKenzie Linden.

Bond was at the time, clearing the air on a recording that circulated on social media, purporting to be that of Walcott where she denied any knowledge of her name being used in the filing of criminal charges.

In the recording, the woman said “Duh is wuh I am telling you, I knows nothing about it.” The woman however then appeared on Bond's live video and retracted the statement.

“I'm here to let you know that nobody forced

Attorney-at-Law, Maxwell Edwards me to do anything, nobody threatened me to do anything, whatever I did, I did it off my own,” Walcott told viewers.

Bond also said that he had helped Edwards to file the case and that if anyone wished to make contact with the woman or to get details on the case, they would have to do so through him or Edwards.

The charges of misconduct filed under the Common Law Act, alleged that the GECOM chair in the State of Guyana acted recklessly and unlawfully when she refused to accept the Chief Elections Officer's report; disregarded the advice of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and breached the recount order in the Official Gazette.

The case will be called on August 5, 2020 at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

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Emancipation Day Messages Emancipation Day Message from President David Granger

SERVICES Visa Forms Preparer.

Tel#626-7040, Publish your Death Annoucements & In Memoriams online. Email: dthmemo@gmail.com

Africans endured enslavement in the Guiana colonies for 200 years before achieving their Emancipation 182 years ago on 1st August 1838. They laid the foundation for the freedoms enjoyed by WANTED every Guyanese today.

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slave trading empires.

Africans resisted enslavement and fought for freedom in the great revolts in Berbice in 1763, in Demerara, in 1823 and in Essequibo, in 1834 and at other times in other places.

The Emancipation festival recognises the exertions of our African foreparents who, during the era of enslavement, toiled to convert the coastland and swamp lands into plantations; to construct sea defences; to build dams; to dig irrigation canals and water conservancies and to plant Cook/Baker and pitmen for and harvest crops – all with interior location.Applicants their sinews and sweat and must be experienced with the most rudimentary tools. verifiable references.Call 618The Emancipation 2020.

Movement – the first of Guiana’s five great Domestic. Contact: #223transformative movements – 5274/227-5003 preceded the village, labour, cultural and political movements which carried our Nanny.Contact: people forward to #223-5274/227-5003.

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President Granger and First Lady, Sandra Granger. churches, farmsteads, homes and schools.

It triggered the demographic transition through indentured immigration of the Chinese, East Indians and Portuguese; economic diversification; hinterland exploration and the demand for political and

constitutional reforms.

Emancipation is the single most significant event in our national history. This festival should be celebrated

by Guyanese everywhere, regardless of their social rank, race, religion, region of residence, political beliefs or wealth.

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Ocean View Hospital being built for this purpose. Senior staffers were asked not to reveal that detail while the problem was being rectified.

“They should have paid an architect with experience building health facilities,” the source told Kaieteur News “, but they probably sat around

a table with a few Guyanese experts', maybe doctors who work at MOPH or the emergency room or something.

They refuse to share the info or plans so we can attempt to help."

The person further explained that software can be easily found online to help visualize traffic flows, airflows in such hospitals, something, they opined, government did not appear to have done any research on.

“Otherwise,” the source argued, “how would they design a hospital to treat respiratory diseases without oxygen?" Continuing, on the issue of medical personnel, the staffer stated that the Health Ministry had wanted to move doctors and nurses from Georgetown Public Health Corporation to staff the new facility despite knowing that GPHC is short staffed.

“There is no infectious disease specialist,” they lamented “and we will still have to take the critically ill patients because their white elephant cannot.”

The source told this publication that the Ministry has identified around three dozen Cubans and newly graduated medical students, but expressed concerns because none of those selected “has a clue on how to manage this crisis”.

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Emancipation Day Messages PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM On the 182nd Anniversary of the Emancipation of the Slaves, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) joins other Guyanese organizations and the Guyanese people in general, in commemoration of this most important milestone in our country’s march towards social and economic independence.

On the first of August 1838, descendants of Africans in Guyana regained their freedom after two centuries of enslavement. Every August, therefore, it is fitting that the entire Guyanese nation should participate in the public celebration to commemorate not only the

bloody sacrifices of the Africans who struggled, suffered and were slaughtered for the sake of the freedom we all enjoy today but also the birth of the nation itself which was the consequence of Emancipation.

In fact, Emancipation is Guyana’s most important national celebration. It marks the start of the most significant demographic change through the coming of various ethnic groups – mainly the Portuguese, East Indians and Chinese; the transformation of the coastal landscape through the creation of free villages; the diversification of the economy into the production

of food crops, gold-mining and logging; and, eventually, the liberation of society through the popular movements for labour organisation, constitutional reform and political mobilisation.

In celebrating Emancipation, we celebrate the diversity of the Guyanese nation and the rich cultural heritage of all our people.

Emancipation was not for few, but for all. It is true that the African fore parents of the Guyanese people fought for freedom 257 years ago in the Berbice Revolt led by Kofi; 197 years ago in t h e D e m e r a r a Revolt inspired by Kwamina; 186 years ago in the Essequibo Revolt led by

PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE PARTY This year marks the 186th anniversary of the formal abolition of slavery in British colonies and the Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to salute our Afro-Guyanese brothers and sisters across the country and in the Diaspora on the occasion of Emancipation Day 2020.

This anniversary provides yet another opportune moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by our African ancestors who were brought to these shores in chains and against their will.

Stripped of their humanity and dignity and forced to toil long hours, to say that our African ancestors suffered at the hands of the sugar planters would be a gross understatement.

During that genocidal period, many were tortured and brutally killed for standing up for their rights.

In the long march to freedom, many battles were fought, including the Berbice Slave

rebellion led by our National Hero, Cuffy. In the end, the resilient spirit of resistance, demonstrated by our African ancestors, prevailed and freedom was attained in August 1838.

Their unwavering courage while experiencing the cruelties of slavery, not only led to their freedom but remains a beacon of hope for freedom-loving people in Guyana and around the world.

Freed and successful in forging a society, having purchased a number of villages, there were attempts by the sugar planters to sabotage the slaves’ newly won freedom. However, their determination for success and peace resulted in their triumph once again.

Our African ancestors and their descendants have and continue to make invaluable contributions to the development of Guyana.

The foundations of our society and economy were firmly laid by them through

hard work and commitment to their homeland. We recognize that due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the traditionally rich cultural expositions held throughout our country to celebrate Emancipation Day will be curtailed.

While unavoidable, the spirit of what this occasion symbolizes cannot be subdued.

The PPP remains proud of the fact that it remains the largest multi-ethnic political party and will continue to welcome all Guyanese into its ranks from all races and ethnicities – who, like our fore-parents, share our vision of a society grounded on justice and the principle of racial equality, and one where governance caters for each and every citizen regardless of race, colour or creed. Once again, Happy Emancipation Day greetings to all Guyanese, in particular our Afro-Guyanese brothers and sisters.

PROTECTED AREAS COMMISSION The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) would like to wish all Guyanese, particularly our brothers and sisters of African descent, a happy Emancipation Day. As we celebrate the 182nd anniversary of the abolition of slavery we are reminded that the freedom we have today is as a result of the struggles – the long fight of our African ancestors. After gaining their freedom they worked toward creating and developing their own communities and villages.

For example, many areas along the East Coast were developed and transformed into residential villages and in some cases farmlands – this is how the Africans

survived the post slavery years. Being free from bondage also gave Africans a sense of dignity as they were no longer subjected to the inhumane conditions of slavery. Surviving slavery can only be achieved by the physically and mentally strong.

African Guyanese have also developed themselves, becoming teachers, scholars, degree holders, chefs, nurses, doctors, lawyers, scientists, politicians, religious leaders, and even presidents among other things, contributing to the development of our country.

Even as we celebrate the many achievements of Africans, meaningful recollection is important to ensure that the mistakes of the

past are never made again, even as some may dub it, “modern day slavery” or “mental slavery”. Remaining emancipated is indeed an uphill task in today’s world – however we must continue to strive to achieve such. There is indeed much to celebrate but also much to reflect on.

We at PAC greet you in the spirit of freedom brought by emancipation and would like to remind all Guyanese that we are now free to take ownership, take responsibility for, and help to take care of our national protected areas – our natural heritage A happy and safe Emancipation Day to all Guyanese.

Damon; and in so many other places at many other times.

Today, Guyanese of all races are the beneficiaries and heirs of our nation’s first freedom fighters.

After Emancipation, the free people established village communities which became the crucible of what became recognised as African-Guyanese culture which rested securely on the foundation of freedom and was manifested in their adherence to the church almost every African was a Christian and almost every village had at least one church; the family home regardless how poor,

everyone was a member of a family and had a home in which to live; the school - in which they were enabled to achieve near universal literacy; and the farm - the provision grounds which made Guyana a major exporter of vegetables to the Eastern Caribbean by early in the 20th Century.

This was the Emancipation Covenant for which the fore parents of the African-Guyanese fought freedom; faith; family; education and labour.

Emancipation was about liberation, not just from enslavement on the plantation, but from all forms

of restrictions that prevented them from enjoying a dignified life.

They understood that Emancipation was not a single event that occurred on August 1. It was the start of a continuous process in which the emancipated must continuously emancipate themselves.

Emancipation, after all, was not a finite event that ended 182 years ago. Rather, it was the start of a long, continuous process which must aim at affording a higher quality of life to Guyanese of every race.

Happy Emancipation Day!

GUYANA TRADES UNION CONGRESS The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) extends Emancipation Greetings to all Guyanese.

As we mark the 182nd anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation lest we forget freedom gained must be guarded and protected.

Emancipation marks an achievement borne out of centuries of struggle to be treated as human beings, to enjoy dignity, freedoms and human rights.

This is the time when we focus on the forced journey of Africans from their homeland to new homes, their contributions to Guyana and where they are now. What does the future hold for Africans? United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in 2008, addressing issues of the slave trade and slavery noted: “This unparalleled global tragedy claimed untold millions of lives over four centuries, and left a terrible legacy that

continues to dehumanise and oppress people around the world to this day.”

Physical freedom from chattel slavery is by no measure the finality of the struggle of a people but merely a stepping stone to the attainment of full civil, economic, social, cultural and political rights.

Much remains to be done to achieve a nation all can be proud of; a nation borne out of sacrifice and common need for belongingness and participating in its bounties.

GTUC is not unaware in this political season, where an election remains inconclusive, tensions amongst us are high.

These are borne out of fear of marginalisation and discrimination, hindering the felt need for security, unleashing and realising our full potentials. Collectively we must work to confront these with the aim at arriving at solutions and safeguarding our welfare.

GTUC reiterates its call to

our Government, Opposition, private sector, civil society, religious organisations, et al to give meaning to “inclusionary democracy” which is prescribed as the principal objective of our political system and outlined in Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution. Labour calls for implementation through just policy making, programmes and laws. This must be addressed as a matter of urgency, for we are all here, even though through different experiences, and must work or perish together.

Labour remains convinced “One People One Nation One Destiny” is achievable. Workers will continue the fight for same irrespective of class, creed, political persuasion or other diversity, as we are reminded that whatever affects the African man will affect the Indian, Amerindian, Portuguese and all others.

A luta Continua!

ETHNIC RELATIONS COMMISSION The Ethnic Relations Commission, (ERC), extends Emancipation greetings to all Guyanese on the 182nd anniversary marking the end of slavery. The ERC notes that with each commemoration of Emancipation, the AfroGuyanese community must add a new memory and understanding of their own experience in the social world we share with our fellow humans.

Learning experiences are and will not always be pleasant, but the ancestral ‘will’ to transcend have always enabled us to endure and to meet the challenges cast before us without losing the virtues of our nature. We must not shrink from any confrontation, nor be embittered into losing faith in ourselves when challenged

to endure. Our ancestors found resolve and courage in the pits of misery, that slavery from inception, through its rebellions to the abolition of chattel slavery to the struggle to find self as we were remade as colonials, arguably the most extreme extension of slavery.

Individually we were and are severed from Africa, but collectively Africa resides in our soul and guides us. We are the primary foundations upon which Guyana was built, taking nothing away from the contributions of others, yet it must not be diluted that slavery gave the planters access to the talents, rain forest clearing and drainage ideas as well as hygiene applications from the subjugated.

After emancipation it was

recognised that both planters and Africans ate basically localised African foods.

Those slave ancestors not only carried out plantation duties but also shaped their plantation lives as best to that of their historical memory. In c o m m e m o r a t i n g Emancipation 2020, we must invite our neighbours to learn and appreciate as we appreciate their contributions, of our earned entitlement to living space, freedoms and integrity in this our homeland, to whom we have paid our toll from its foundation. Nevertheless, the Guyanese nation continues to thrive on a unique diversity arising from past occurrences of struggle and sacrifice.

Happy Emancipation anniversary to all!

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NBA re-evaluating training programme in China after abuse allegations

NBA logos are seen next to a Chinese national flag outside a NBA-themed lifestyle complex on the outskirts of Tianjin, China, October 10, 2019. (REUTERS/Jason Lee)

BEIJING (Reuters) - The National Basketball Association (NBA) said it was re-evaluating its training programme in China following allegations of abuse of young players by local staff and harassment of foreign staffers at a facility in Xinjiang.

The comments come after a report by ESPN that quoted unnamed American coaches saying Chinese coaches hit young players. One American coach who worked at a camp in Xinjiang complained of harassment by local police, the sports network said.

“The allegations in the ESPN article are disturbing,” NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said in an email

Saturday August 01, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your brain and warrior instincts agree today, Aries.

Team up with others who share similar thoughts and desires. Conversations can be extremely rewarding.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Something or someone could confront you today, Taurus.

Try not to assume things about the situation before you know all the facts.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Have no fear today, Gemini.

You have the power and mental capacity to cut through just about anything. Don't let fear or regret hold you back.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today is a fantastic day to take action Your eagerness to strike out for new territory is heightened by a drive to experience the unknown.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Think before you act today. Rash moves are likely to get you into trouble. An annoying interruption in your daily routine could throw you off guard.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today is a great day to act on things that have been brewing in your brain for quite some time, Sagittarius.

Perhaps you've been feeling unsure of yourself.

CANCER(June21–July22) Don't worry about not being on the right path, Cancer, because you are. You seem to always be in the right place at the right time. There's no need to feel regret or shame about things that have happened in the past.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today is a great day to act on things that have been brewing in your brain for quite some time, Sagittarius. Perhaps you've been feeling unsure of yourself.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) - A war could be brewing in your world today, Leo. Emotionally charged arguments shoot back and forth with conviction. Try not to get discouraged.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your mind is clear and your sensitivity focused. Now is a good time to make a move.

Don't let insecurity or fear keep you from pursuing your dreams.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) An inner voice is warning you to slow down, Virgo. It's probably best if you take a break and let someone else take the lead. Concentrate on matters at home and take care of issues that crop up among loved ones.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Cool your jets today, Pisces.

This is a good time to stop and focus on you. Make sure to give your body the respect it deserves. Make sure you're fostering the kind of character you wish to become.

statement to Reuters on Thursday. “We ended our involvement with the basketball academy in Xinjiang in June 2019 and have been re-evaluating the NBA Academy program in China.”

Tatum said the programme, launched in 2016, was set up to provide support to existing development centres in China run by local authorities.

“Our role was limited to providing three coaches at each academy, none of whom have been alleged to have engaged in any wrongdoing,” he said.

The NBA received a “handful” of complaints about mistreatment of players, and Tatum identified four incidents of such abuse, a league spokesman said, confirming elements of the ESPN report.

The General

Administration of Sport of China, the country’s top sports body, did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday and Friday. The foreign ministry declined comment on Thursday, saying the issues raised in the ESPN report were not matters of diplomacy.

China has been accused of human rights violations in the western province of Xinjiang, including forced labour and holding at least a million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims in detention centres. China has denied such accusations.

The NBA’s standing in China, which has been its most important overseas market, has deteriorated sharply since late last year after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressed support for prodemocracy protests in Hong Kong. Beijing’s state television pulled NBA games off its channels. It is not clear whether the games will be aired again.

The league resumed play on Friday morning Asia time for the first time since March, after a shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Jazz overtake Pelicans to win NBA’s first game back Rudy Gobert broke a tie by making two free throws with 6.9 seconds left, and the Utah Jazz defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 106-104 in the first game of the restart to the NBA season Thursday night.

The lead held up when Brandon Ingram missed a 3pointer with one second left, completing a fourth quarter in which the Jazz outscored the Pelicans 27-17.

The contest was played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, where the league will complete the campaign with all teams in a “bubble.” The NBA had shut down play March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Before the game, all players, coaches and staff members of the teams, along with all officials, kneeled during the national anthem. Players wore shirts reading “BLACK LIVES MATTER,” which was also printed on the court. Many locked arms with those next to them, while some raised fists in the air.

Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to lead Utah with 23 points. Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell added 20 each, Gobert had 14 points and 12 rebounds, Joe Ingles scored 13 and Royce O’Neale had 12.

Ingram led New Orleans

with 23 points. JJ Redick scored 21, Jrue Holiday had 20, Zion Williamson 13 and Josh Hart 10. Williamson played 15 minutes as he works his way back to full fitness after being quarantined following a trip out of the “bubble” due to a family situation.

The Jazz trailed for most of the game but pulled within two points on a layup by Conley early in the fourth quarter.

Ingram made a basket and E’Twaun Moore hit a 3pointer to increase the Pelicans’ edge to 96-89.

Then New Orleans went cold. Clarkson made a 3pointer and assisted on a layup by Gobert.

After Ingram made a technical free throw, O’Neale and Mitchell made baskets, and Utah held a 98-97 lead with four minutes remaining.

After an exchange of baskets, Redick made a 3pointer that tied the score with 1:02 left.

Mitchell broke the tie by sinking two free throws, but Ingram answered with two free throws with 32 seconds remaining before Gobert made the gamewinners.

The Pelicans led by 12 points at the half, but the Jazz scored the first five points of the third quarter before

Members of the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz warm up before the start of an NBA basketball game with no fans in the stands. (Ashley Landis/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports) closing within 65-60.

Holiday made consecutive baskets to help New Orleans push the lead to 71-60 before Utah made another run.

The Jazz closed within 7571 on a basket by Clarkson,

NBA players protest racial injustice as league returns to action (Reuters) - NBA teams bowed their heads and knelt during the playing of the U.S. national anthem while wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts on Thursday as the league returned for the first time since the coronavirus halted play in March with two thrilling games.

Coaches and game officials joined players from the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers in taking a knee to protest against racial injustice and police brutality in the first games in 140 days.

Black Lives Matter was also written on the courts at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, where the NBA plans to finish its season with 22 teams inside a bio-secure

bubble.

“The game of basketball has always been bigger than just the ball, the rim, 10 guys on the floor and referees,” the Lakers LeBron James said after hitting the gamewinning shot in his team’s 103-101 win over the Clippers.

“It’s an opportunity to use this platform to spread a lot of positivity and love throughout the whole world.”

He said that while there has been progress in the f i g h t a g a i n s t s y s t emic racism, the key was to maintain the momentum.

“We want to keep our foot on the gas,” he said.

“We’re dealing with a lot of racism, a lot of social injustice and a lot of police brutality, not only in my neighborhood and not only with Black people, but with all people of

color.”

Some players had messages like “Equality,” “Education Reform” and “Say Their Names” on the backs of their jerseys in place of their names.

Athletes from around the world have united behind anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black man in police custody in Minneapolis in May. In the first game, the Jazz came from behind to defeat the Pelicans 106-104 after the Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram’s three-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out.

The games are being played without fans, but “virtual fans” appeared on LED screens wrapped around the court and a simulation of a crowd’s cheers and jeers could be heard.

but the Pelicans finished the quarter with a push.

Redick made two 3-

pointers and Hart made one as New Orleans increased its lead to 10 before settling for

an 87-79 advantage at the end of the period.

(Field Level Media)

LeBron sinks winning hoop as Lakers edge Clippers LeBron James followed his own miss and made the winning shot with 12.8 seconds left as the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 103-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday in the restart of the NBA season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando.

Anthony Davis scored 34 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Lakers, and James finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. James struggled on 6-of19 shooting.

Kyle Kuzma added 16 points for the firstplace Lakers (50-14), who increased their lead to 6 1/2 games over the second-place Clippers (44-21) in the Western Conference standings.

Paul George had 30 points for the Clippers, but he missed a 3-point attempt at the final horn. Kawhi Leonard finished with 28 points, Patrick Beverley added 12 points, and Reggie Jackson added 10.

The Clippers played without their top reserves, guard Lou Williams, who is in quarantine after leaving the NBA’s central Florida “bubble,” and forward Montrezl Harrell, who left the facility July 17 for an emergency family matter.

The Clippers wiped out a two-point halftime deficit with a 14-1 surge to open the third quarter for a 66-55 advantage. However, consecutive 3-pointers by Davis put the Lakers up 72-71 with 1:41 remaining the period.

The Clippers took a 77-76 lead heading in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers, who led by as many as 13 in the first half, seized a 41-29 edge when Dion Waiters (11 points off the bench) converted a layup two minutes into the second quarter.

However, a jumper by Leonard capped a 9-0 run as the Clippers cut the gap to 41-38 with 7:45 remaining in the quarter.

Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up prior to the game against the LA Clippers at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on July 30, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Mike Ehrmann/ Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports) Two free throws by Davis pushed the margin to 50-40 midway through the quarter before the Clippers rallied again. A 12-4 run to end the half allowed them to pull within 54-52 at the break.

Davis scored 20 points in the first half while Leonard finished with 19.

Both teams showed rust after more than four months of competitive play. The Clippers committed 22 turnovers compared to 16 for the Lakers. The Lakers prevailed despite shooting 39 percent from the floor to 43.2 percent for the Clippers.

(Field Level Media)

Saturday August 01, 2020

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Court to decide Aug. 13 whether to send FIFA/TTFA dispute back to CAS SportsMax - Trinidad and Tobago High Court Justice Carol Gobin will hand down a decision on August 13 whether the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) will be compelled to abide by the arbitration process at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or whether FIFA will be subject to the jurisdiction of the TT High Court in their ongoing dispute.

The TTFA and FIFA have been in dispute since March when FIFA dissolved the association’s administration who were in office four months and installed a normalization committee to oversee the affairs of the debt-ridden association.

TTFA took the matter to the CAS but later withdrew citing fears of institutional bias.

On May 18, lawyers for the William-Wallace executive had filed an application in the Trinidad and Tobago High Court seeking a permanent injunction to prevent FIFA from interfering or seeking to override the “fair and transparent democratic processes of the TTFA and/ or preventing them from removing the executive of duly elected officers from office.

They are also seeking a permanent injunction against FIFA preventing FIFA and/or its agents from interfering

Court of Arbitration for Sport with the day-to-day management of the association, including its bank accounts, website and real property.

Attempts at mediation failed when FIFA decided to withdraw citing a lack of confidentiality.

FIFA now wants the court to send the matter back before the CAS. On Wednesday, the parties appeared before the Honourable Justice Carol Gobin after FIFA filed an application on June 15, 2020, challenging the jurisdiction of the Court to adjudicate on the impending issues between the parties.

The TTFA was represented by attorneys-atlaw Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Crystal Paul and Jason Jones of New City Chambers

while FIFA was represented

by Christopher Hamel-Smith SC, Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie of M HamelSmith and Co. Hamel-Smith submitted that the TTFA’s commencement of the proceedings before the TT High Court was an act beyond its legal authority and that the TTFA’s commencement of the proceedings before the TT High Court was done without the due and proper authority of those who purported to do so on behalf of the TTFA. Hamel-Smith also submitted that proceedings be stayed in favour of arbitration at CAS as agreed between TTFA and FIFA. He also submitted that the permission initially granted to the TTFA to issue and serve

England’s injured Denly to miss rest of ODI series with Ireland (Reuters) - England batsman Joe Denly has been ruled out of the remaining two one-day internationals against Ireland through injury, with Liam Livingstone taking his place, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said yesterday.

Denly was set to feature in the series opener on Thursday — which England won by six wickets at the Ageas Bowl — but suffered back spasms in training on the eve of the clash.

The 34-year-old has failed to recover and will be replaced in the squad by Lancashire’s Livingstone, who is one of three reserves for the series.

Cricket Ireland have also made two changes to their squad for the second ODI, with pace duo Barry McCarthy and Boyd Rankin ruled out due to injuries.

“McCarthy is unfortunately out of the next two ODIs after this morning’s MRI revealed a tear in a muscle at the back of his knee, while Rankin has been taken out of the 14 for tomorrow’s game as he manages a flare-up of an old back injury,” said Andrew White, chairman of Ireland’s national selectors.

Fast bowler Peter Chase and left-arm spinner George Dockrell have been named as replacements in the 14-man squad.

England face Ireland in the second ODI today, followed by the third on Tuesday, behind closed doors at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

England’s Joe Denly in action, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

(Adrian Dennis/Pool via REUTERS)

the originating documents outside of the jurisdiction be set aside as, among other reasons, electronic service of the documents were contrary to Swiss Law. However, in submissions for the TTFA, Dr Emir Crowne said the TTFA was created by an Act of the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament and so if the Parliament intended to abdicate its supervision and/ or jurisdiction over the TTFAthereby ousting the

jurisdiction of the TT High Court- then the Parliament would have clearly done so.

These submissions were made in support of Dr Crowne’s insistence that the matter before the Court posed far-reaching public policy implications of which the Court should consider.

As it relates to Swiss Law, Dr Crowne indicated that the question should not have any significant relevance since the alleged breaches, torts, property rights and other issues affecting the TTFA are all occurring and have its ultimate effect within Trinidad and Tobago, not Switzerland.

Further, he contended that the FIFA submitted no evidence before the Court to support its assertions regarding Swiss Law and the TTFA’s service of its originating documents outside of Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr Crowne also raised the issue of the institutional bias at CAS and whether there was, in fact, an enforceable agreement between the TTFA

and FIFA to arbitrate before the CAS. He submitted that the decision to be bound by the arbitration clause, as FIFA alleges, cannot be said to have been entered into freely by the TTFA given the drastic consequences to the TTFA of not being affiliated or participating in international football.

It will now come down to Justice Gobin’s decision on August 13.

“The TTFA, perhaps like many other stakeholders of Trinidad and Tobago football, patiently awaits the ruling of the Honourable Court in this Application,” said Jason Jones in a comment to Sportsmax.TV. Prior to the start of Wednesday’s proceedings, Justice Gobin asked whether the parties would consider Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods.

The TTFA said it was willing to engage in mediation.

However, FIFA reiterated that it remains willing only to engage in arbitration before the CAS.

Murray predicts more U.S. Open withdrawals after Barty (Reuters) - Britain’s Andy Murray expects some of the top male players to f o l l o w w o m e n ’s w o r l d number one Ash Barty in skipping next month’s U.S. Open in New York due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Australian Barty said on Thursday she was not comfortable travelling to the United States amid the pandemic for the hardcourt Grand Slam, which begins on Aug. 31.

“I have heard some of the top male players aren’t g o i n g t o p l a y. I w o u l d expect that would be the case,” former world number one Murray told British media. “ I t ’s e v e r y o n e ’s personal decision. If they don’t feel safe, and don’t feel comfortable, travelling and going there and putting themselves and their team at an increased risk, then it’s completely understandable.”

Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Serena Williams have all entered the Aug. 20-28 Western & Southern Open in New York, which was relocated from Cincinnati this year because of COVID-19 and will serve as a tune-up for the U.S. Open.

Both tournaments will be played without fans in

Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates winning his match against Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor in the Davis Cup Finals. (REUTERS/Susana Vera) attendance with organisers U n i t e d St a t e s Te n n i s Association planning to set up a strict bio-security ‘bubble’ to minimize the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.

“All of the players will have some reservations and it’s whether or not you feel comfortable taking that risk,” Murray said at the Battle Of The Brits Team Tennis event.

“Like I said the other day, my feeling is once we are inside that bubble they created, we will be okay.

It’s more the international travel, and getting there which I will be a bit concerned about it.”

Murray has previously said he was still “apprehensive” about travelling to New York but he is mentally preparing for the Grand Slam.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 01, 2020

‘Drop your friend’ - Former CPL 2020: Dwayne Bravo happy WI opener Wallace bemoans to hand over Trinbago Knight Riders reins to Kieron Pollard Holder’s lack of aggression SportsMax - Former West Indies and Barbados batsman Philo Wallace has pointed to team captain Jason Holder’s lack of aggressive killer instinct as one of the issues that ailed the regional team in its recent loss to England.

The 28-year-old allrounder has faced expected scrutiny in recent days, following a mid-series collapse against the Englishmen, which clouded over a promising start to the series.

Holder had marshaled his troops to an impressive fourwicket win to begin the tour but the introduction of pace bowler Stuart Broad midway the second Test coincided with the team coming apart at the seams, with displays of less effective bowling and dismal batting. Wallace believes a more aggressive

stance from the typically laidback captain would have been more beneficial.

“Jason handled the side well in the first Test match.

We won that match convincingly. If you look at the second and third match and how he handled it, again we see deficiencies in his aggression. I don’t think he’s aggressive enough,” Wallace told the Mason and Guest radio program.

“I don’t think he’s aggressive enough. When Ben Stokes decided to come around the wicket we saw things change. We didn’t see a lot of aggression from our captain and that’s why bowlers did not show the aggression,” he added.

Wallace was also highly critical of Holder’s containing support for a struggling Hope.

“Obviously, when Jason

decided to continually defend shape Hope, it a massive statement to defend a man who hasn’t scored runs in Test match cricket for a long time. Yet, you have the extra batsman available to you and you did not play him,” Wallace said.

“You went down the road with Shai Hope and Shai Hope did not deliver for you so that is a massive responsibility for a captain to take on board,” he added.

“Sometimes we need to be honest with ourselves about West Indies cricket.

If West Indies cricket is to move forward, sometimes you have to make some harsh decisions.

You have to drop your friend to bring in the man who will fight and perform for you.

You cannot pick a friend and keep getting beat.”

Chennai Super Kings want IPL camp in UAE from early August ESPNcricinfo - Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are aiming to set up camp in the UAE from early August to give themselves at least month to train before the IPL begins from September 19.

ESPNcricinfo understands that players have been asked to report to Chennai on August 9, and will be due to leave for Dubai on August 10.

However, those exact dates are subject to approvals from the Indian government. With commercial flights not available, it is understood CSK have arranged a charter flight for their players.

Last week, the IPL governing council chairman Brijesh Patel had confirmed that the tournament was scheduled to begin on September 19, with the final penciled in for either November 8 or November 10, and said the clearance of the

government “will come”. The governing council is scheduled to meet on Sunday, August 2, to make decisions on the many logistical challenges that airlifting the tournament to the UAE will pose.

The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) around securing eight teams for 51 days across three venues will be formally established in that meeting.

For the franchises themselves, one of the issues will be player fitness given that the majority on their IPL rosters will not have played any cricket in recent months.

Some franchises have reportedly asked for permission to land on August 20 and 21. For CSK, who have the oldest squad in the league on average, the challenge is all the more significant. MS Dhoni, their captain, for example, hasn’t played a

competitive fixture since the 2019 World Cup. In the pre-lockdown world as well, CSK were the first team to begin their training camp in March. Senior players like Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu, in fact, had begun training as early as December 2019 to get in shape for the tournament that was originally scheduled to begin on March 31.

The IPL will comprise 60 matches and will be played over 51 days (in case the final is on November 8). In the original schedule prepared in March for this year, the tournament days stretched to 50 to keep the double-headers minimal, a request of the franchises who did not want players to suffer during the peak Indian summer. It is likely the double-headers will remain minimal even in the UAE.

MS Dhoni leads his team, the Chennai Super Kings, out. (BCCI)

ESPNcricinfo - West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard will continue to lead Trinbago Knight Riders for the upcoming CPL season.

Pollard had been named Knight Riders’ replacement captain after regular captain Dwayne Bravo was sidelined from the entire CPL 2019 with an injury. After captaining Knight Riders to the playoffs - they were beaten by eventual champions Barbados Tridents in the second qualifier - Pollard took over as the captain of West Indies’ ODI and T20I sides.

It was Bravo who had led Knight Riders to back-toback title victories in 2017 and 2018, but, according to Venky Mysore, the CEO of the team as well as Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, Bravo wasn’t keen to lead the side earlier too, and instead wanted to focus on his career as a player.

“We are happy that Kieron who is the West Indies

captain is our leader at TKR,” Mysore was quoted as saying

by Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. “The champion DJ Bravo has been coming to me year after year and asking me to give someone else the captaincy because he wants to just concentrate on playing and enjoying the game. I always told him not until I am ready and that time has come and he is very happy to play under Pollard.”

Pollard and Bravo also share a great relationship and when Bravo announced his decision to come out T20I retirement last December, he talked up Pollard’s captaincy.

“They are great friends and they will both come together to give us the best chance at the CPL this year,” Mysore said.

“Bravo said he has played under Pollard before and this will be the best thing at this time for all parties. Pollard was kind enough to accept the position to lead the team at the tournament. He said if we

wanted him to do it he will and we said that we will be delighted to have him as captain again.”

During the draft that was held virtually on June 24, Knight Riders snapped up 48year old Indian legspinner Pravin Tambe, Zimbabwe allrounder Sikandar Raza and local quick Anderson Phillip.

Earlier, Knight Riders retained their core from last season and signed New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert, Australian legspinner Fawad Ahmed and fast bowler Jayden Seales, who had represented West Indies in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year.

Knight Riders will play five-time finalists Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL 2020 opener on August 18.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the entire tournament will be held in Trinidad & Tobago this year, with the final scheduled for September 11 at the Brian Lara Stadium.

Former FIFA president Blatter calls for Infantino to be suspended BERN (Reuters) - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called for his successor, Gianni Infantino, to be suspended by the global soccer body after criminal proceedings were opened against Infantino in Switzerland.

Swiss authorities said on Thursday that proceedings had been launched against the current FIFA boss by a special prosecutor looking into meetings he had with Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber. Lauber and Infantino have denied wrongdoing.

“For me, the situation is clear, that the FIFA ethics committee has to open a case against Mr Infantino and so it has to suspend him,” Blatter, 84, said in a statement to Reuters.

FIFA did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Blatter’s statement.

Blatter, who was FIFA president for 17 years, himself was suspended and later banned by FIFA’s ethics committee after he became the subject of criminal proceedings in Switzerland in 2015.

The investigation is still ongoing and Blatter, who has denied wrongdoing, has not been charged. It centred on a payment of two million Swiss francs (1.6 million pounds)

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter talks to the media as he arrives before a commemoration service for former coach of the Swiss national Soccer team Koebi Kuhn at the Grossmuenster church in Zurich, Switzerland December 13, 2019. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann) made in 2011 to then UEFA president Michel Platini with Blatter’s approval for work the Frenchman had done a decade earlier.

Blatter was banned for eight years, reduced to six on appeal, and Platini also for eight years, reduced to f o u r. P l a t i n i d e n i e d wrongdoing.

The FIFA ethics committee is divided into an

investigatory and adjudicatory chamber, which since 2017 have been headed

by Colombian Maria Claudia Rojas and Greek Vassilios Skouris respectively.

They replaced Swiss Cornel Borbely and German Hans-Joachim Eckert who were ousted when the decision-making FIFA Council decided not to renew their mandates.

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 01, 2020

PAGE 31

Briana Williams signs on as Digicel brand ambassador

S

portsMax - Briana Wi l l i a m s h a s signed a three-year deal to become a Digicel brand ambassador.

As an ambassador, the 18-year-old Williams joins track and field legends Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann FraserPryce as well as dancehall icon Rodney ‘Bounty Killer’ Price, who already represent the Caribbean’s leading telecommunications provider.

“Bold. Strong. Brave.

Briana speeds over to take her place in our league of Brand Ambassadors. Help us welcome Briana Williams @briana.nichole,” Digicel posted on Instagram yesterday.

“With extreme delight and boundless confidence,

we welcome Briana as our newest brand ambassador.

She is truly an inspiration to many, and we are very optimistic about what this means for the future of our relationship with our customers, as she helps us to accelerate us along this new path to becoming their digital lifestyle partner,” Nasha-Monique Douglas, Chief Marketing Officer for Digicel Jamaica added.

In her new role, Williams will help keep Digicel’s customers engaged with its suite of apps while engaging the wider community through mentorship and her performances on the track.

“This is a dream come true for me and so I feel humbled and grateful to be representing such an iconic

brand with such a rich history of supporting athletics in Jamaica,” Williams said of this latest milestone in her burgeoning career. “I look forward to representing Digicel the best way I can, alongside the other amazing ambassadors across sports and entertainment.”

At the age of 16, Williams - coached by Ato Boldon and represented by US-based agents HSI Sports as well as Jamaica-based brand managers, LEEP Marketing - won 2018 World U20 sprint double in Tampere, Finland. Her winning time of 22.50 in the 200m was a personal best and championship record.

She also won the NACAC U18 100m title in

Briana Williams has signed a three-year deal to become a Digicel brand ambassador.

Mexico and the Pan Am U20 100m title in Costa Rica in 2019.

During that span, she also won six gold medals at the Carifta Games in the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands, respectively, and awarded the coveted Austin Sealy Award as the games

MVP on both occasions. In doing so, she became the first Jamaican since Usain Bolt in 2004 to win back-toback awards.

Williams also holds the national junior record of 11.02s set in New Mexico in June 2019.

Special Olympics

champion, Alphanso Cunningham and reggae storyteller, Jesse Royal are also brand ambassadors for Digicel.

This is the Nikesponsored William’s second endorsement deal this month, having signed with GraceKennedy on July 1.

PAGE 32

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 01, 2020

Austin at the double as Whitehall comes up short WINNIPEG, Canada, CMC – Barbadian jockey Nirone Austin inched towards double figures in the new Assiniboia Downs season when he starred with a double on Wednesday’s seven-race card at the western Canada racetrack.

He captured race two with 3-1 chance Terri’s Temper before returning to take race six with 20-1 longshot Stealthestretch, to move to nine wins from 93 rides.

Runaway season leader Antonio Whitehall had an uncharacteristically lean day with just one win in six outings on the mid-week card when he piloted 4-1 bet Powerful Boy to victory in race seven over 7½ furlongs.

Barbadian Whitehall has 48 wins from 172 mounts to be 19 wins clear of second placed Rafael Zenteno Jr, and has installed himself as favourite for his second title in three years at Assiniboia.

However, it was Austin who took honours for a change. He opened his account in a six furlong sprint, rallying late with four-yearold roan filly Terri’s Temper to beat the threeyear-old and upward fillies and mares by 1-¾ lengths.

Speedy Miss and Avalon duelled through the half run in 47:20 seconds before Dandy Deen with Whitehall aboard joined the fray.

When Speedy Miss faded on the late turn and Dandy Deen’s challenge collapsed near the sixteenth pole, Terri’s Temper capitalised to reach the wire first.

Austin’s second win came in another six furlong sprint, this time dominating with

Barbadian jockey Nirone Austin. three-year-old chestnut gelding Stealthestretch to trounce the three-year-old and upward maidens by 2-½ lengths.

AF Amberalert showed early in the quarter but it was Awanana who led by three at the half before Austin brought Stealthestretch from a stalking position to take control in the stretch run.

Trinidadian Stanley Chadee Jr was also successful on the day’s card, steering 4-1 bet The Gold Monkey to a narrow win over the three-year-olds and upward, going 7-½ furlongs in race four.

Saturday August 01, 2020

Kaieteur News

Stroll fastest as Hulk returns and Albon crashes S I LV E R S T O N E , England (Reuters) Canadian Lance Stroll led the way for Mercedeslookalikes Racing Point in British Grand Prix practice yesterday while Red Bull’s Alex Albon crashed and brought out red flags.

G e r m a n N i c o Hulkenberg meanwhile signed on as Stroll’s stand-in team mate after a busy 24 hours triggered by Mexican Sergio Perez becoming the first Formula One driver to test positive for COVID-19.

Stroll, whose billionaire father owns the team, lapped the former World War Two airfield with a best time of one minute 27.274 seconds — marginally quicker than Max Verstappen’s best effort of the morning for Red Bull.

Verstappen managed a 1:27.422 in a sizzlingly hot opening session when Stroll was third fastest.

The Dutchman was only 14th after lunch when he was blocked on his sole attempt at a quick lap.

Albon crashed at Stowe in the afternoon but still ended up second overall and played down the accident.

“We’ve definitely made a step as a team,” said the British-born Thai.

“The car was hooked up straight away. I’m sure Mercedes are hiding quite a lot but as a car it feels well balanced.”

Mercedes’ six times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton was second and fifth in the sessions run in front of empty grandstands with spectators not allowed due to the pandemic.

The Briton, a six times winner at Silverstone, leads Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas, sixth and third fastest in the respective sessions, in the standings by five points after three races.

Mercedes have won all three races so far this year.

“Quite a difficult day, to be honest,” said Hamilton.

“It’s always windy here... that’s actually a good thing about this track but it’s made it really tricky today with the car. The balance is not as good as I’d like.

“It’s not a disaster but it’s definitely been a hard day of driving.”

Ferrari had Charles Leclerc fifth and fourth but the Monegasque’s team mate S e b a s t i a n Ve t t e l w a s sidelined for the opening session after Ferrari detected something wrong with his car’s intercooler system and decided to strip it down.

The German was then 18th after lunch, when Ferrari decided to change his car’s pedals.

Hulkenberg, back for what may be two races, looked like he’d never been away after lapping ninth and seventh fastest respectively for a team whose car is subject to an ongoing protest over its legality.

“The last 24 hours have been a bit special, crazy and wild,” said the German, wearing a spare pair of Stroll’s overalls.

“At 4.30pm yesterday afternoon I got the call, took a plane here. Seat fitted until 2am tonight, 8am this morning into the simulator for an hour... so it was a short night but all worthwhile.”

Max Verstappen was able to finish almost half a second clear of home favourite Lewis Hamilton.

PAGE 33

SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team driver Lance Stroll poses after unveiling the team’s new car livery at a pre-season launch event at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 13, 2019. (REUTERS/Mark Blinch)

Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi brought out red flags at the half hour mark after spinning at the exit to Becketts in the morning, leaving debris across the track.

Formula One said Perez was the sole positive from the latest batch of 3,909 tests carried out between July 2430.

Max Verstappen was able to finish almost half a second clear of home favourite Lewis Hamilton.

‘Drop your friend’ - Former WI opener Wallace bemoans Holder’s lack of aggression

Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo share a great relationship. (AFP)

rt

Spo

West Indies Captain Jason Holder

CPL 2020: Dwayne Bravo happy to hand over Trinbago Knight Riders reins to Kieron Pollard FIFA President Gianni Infantino gestures during a UEFA Congress at Beurs van Berlage Conference Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands,March 3, 2020.

(REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo)

LeBron sinks winning hoop as Lakers edge Clippers Briana Williams signs on as Digicel brand ambassador

NBA players protest racial injustice as league Former FIFA president Blatter calls returns for Infantino to be suspended to action 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.