K
AIETEUR $352M 'emergency' sea defence project to BK... Saturday Edition
$105M paid, but no works have commenced - Minister Indar
August 08, 2020 - Vol. 14 No. 31
NEWS
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
p. 14
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
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President Ali strips Lands Chief of critical - all contracts, leases since NCM powers will be reviewed - Attorney General, Anil Nandlall p. 17
Man who went to Cops arrested Bandit chops off report car hijacked, for rape of one miner's foot, arrested for 15p. teacher at another's finger armed robberies p. p. 3 - admits to several robberies
during robbery
Lethem
8
CGX selects two leads in Corentyne Block for drilling programme PNC acted Stray bullet kills Bully/robber bystander following responsibly during election captured with revenge attack 9mm gun in Corriverton p. 7
p. 7
p. 13
warns PPP/C Govt. of dangerous behaviour - Granger “We will not be preached to by those whose records are not clean”- Gail Teixeira
p. 15
Granger's political appointees...
“Resign or be fired” p. 8
- Gail Teixeira
- says they had five-month hiatus
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Saturday August 08, 2020
Saturday August 08, 2020
Kaieteur News
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President Ali's inauguration Special investigative set for 10AM today team working pro bono
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he inauguration of Guyana's ninth e x e c u t i v e president, Dr. Irfaan Ali, is set for today at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on H o m e s t r e t c h Av e n u e . Members of the regional and international community, such as the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi and his Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Politics, Albert Ramdin will attend today's inauguration. According to an advisory, President Santokhi will be in Guyana for 24 hours. A special envoy from the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, will also be attending the ceremony. Diplomats, executives of
the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and members of the media and supporters of the new government are also anticipated to attend the exclusive and historical ceremony. Preparation for the inauguration commenced s i n c e T h u r s d a y, w i t h members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) seen marching and mounted on horses at the NCC. Along with the GPF were the members of the Joint Services, who rehearsed the prestigious Guard of Honour Parade. With the COVID-19 pandemic, guidelines and restrictions are expected to be followed to the letter by the event's attendees, as the interior of the NCC was
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President Irfaan Ali thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The programme agenda stipulates that the ceremony will commence with the arrival of Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret'd) Mark Phillips, followed by President Irfaan Ali, who will address the attendees.
52-year-old woman found with head severed
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o l i c e a r e investigating the murder of 52-yearold Waheeda Shamshudeen, of Lot 9 Good Hope, Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, who was discovered on Thursday morning in her home with her head severed and wrapped in a black plastic bag. According to relatives of deceased, sometime around 04:00hrs, after the woman's son-in-law had left for work, someone entered the house, attacked the woman, strangled her and severed her neck and ear, leaving only a small piece of skin connecting her head to her body. One relative told Kaieteur News that he was slated to pick up Shamshudeen to carry her to the hospital to visit her son who was chopped underneath his left arm during an argument with a neighbour's son. The man said when he arrived at the home, he
Dead: Waheeda Shamshudeen discovered the woman's lifeless body lying in a pool of blood with a plastic bag over her head and her hands tied behind her back. The relative added that the woman lived with her son-in-law and would
usually cook and clean for him. Police have since arrested the Shamsudeen's b r o t h e r - i n - l a w, t h e neighbour and her son. The investigation into the murder is ongoing.
Cops arrested for rape of teacher at Lethem
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wo officers were on Thursday arrested for allegedly raping a 20-year-old teacher in Lethem, Region Nine while conducting patrols. Confirming this was R e g i o n a l C o m m a n d e r, Superintendent Keithon King in an interview with Kaieteur News yesterday.
A c c o r d i n g t o Superintendent, the incident occurred around 22:00 hrs on Wednesday night along the Industrial Site Road. An official report was made on behalf of the victim on Thursday and the police officers were immediately placed under close arrest. According to the report, the
officers, who are both attached to the Lethem Police Station, were at the time conducting their nightly patrols when they allegedly raped the woman. The Commander indicated that a medical report was obtained by the Guyana Police Force and investigations are ongoing.
he special investigative team appointed by President Irfaan Ali will be executing their duties free of charge. Minister of Parliamentary and Governance Affairs, Gail Texeira made that disclosure y e s t e r d a y, c o u n t e r i n g accusations that the new government will be using public funds to pay the team. “We have established a rapid assessment team” Teixeira said, “which is working pro bono because I saw some questions on social media about how much they were being paid, and what was the selection process, and when this was tendered, etcetera, etcetera. It is to give the President, in the shortest possible time, an assessment of key State agencies.” Ali appointed the special technical team to immediately conduct a “Rapid Financial and Management Assessment” into 19 key agencies namely the Guyana Power and Light, the Guyana Water Incorporated, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Guyana Gold Board, the National Industrial and Commercial Limited, the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, The Lotto Fund, the Guyana Energy Agency, the Guyana Rice Development Board, the Guyana Oil Company, the Guyana National Shipping Corporation, the Guyana Office of Investment (Go-
Christopher 'Kit” Nascimento
Nigel Hinds
Christopher Ram
Sasenarine Singh
Invest), and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). The special technical team comprises Christopher 'Kit' Nascimento, public communications consultant; chartered accountant and attorney–at-law, Christopher Ram; Nigel Hinds, certified public accountant; and Sasenarine Singh, financial consultant. Additionally, the team
will also be conducting a review of the operations, policies and programmes of the Department of Public Information (DPI), the National Communications Network Incorporated (NCN) and the Guyana National Newspaper Limited (Guyana Chronicle). Further, the team will address the matter of the functions of the Guyana Broadcasting Authority (GNBA).
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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
The Honeymoon Weekend
This country has emerged, after a tremendous and unparalleled struggle over the past five months, into what appears to be a relatively bloodless transition into the new government. As normalcy descends – or at least what passes for it – the tendency might be to forget the macabre nightmare to which this country was subjected to by a very tiny group of people. No doubt, this is the honeymoon weekend for the newly elected government, one where they enjoy their final celebrations before getting down to the business of revitalizing the downward spiraling economy of a deeply divided country in the middle of a pandemic. This is the honeymoon weekend for the opposition as well. It appears that the Coalition remains gutted and disconcerted not only at the loss of the elections but at the abject failure of its bid to rig the election after it discovered that it had lost. David Granger, the grand architect of that failure, seems to have learned no important lesson from his first term defeat. There is no longer even the posture of wisdom or integrity or decency emanating from his machinery or himself. The press releases he has issued, whether directly or behind the mask of his machinery, appear petulant, spiteful and delusional. He, for example, repeats the fiction that the vote is not credible and insists on rendering the very declaration, which he said he would respect and abide by in quotation marks, a juvenile punctuational jab at the legitimacy of the recount results. This is even more unfortunate considering that Granger’s punctuation has not been backed up by his much touted promise of legal action, namely an elections petition contesting the result. A full week after a declaration that he claims to be illegitimate, and despite strenuous claims of, for months, having definitive evidence of irregularities and anomalies – specifically dead and migrated persons voting – the former President has given no definitive indication of challenging those results. Indeed, if anything, we have seen the reverse. A tepid statement last Sunday that the anomalies would “form the grounds for an election petition” has transformed into merely “The PNC will challenge the declared results lawfully” in yesterday’s address. This brings us to another observation of the direction in which the former President seems intent on taking his political machinery. In his brief presentation yesterday, Granger took care to repeatedly mention the PNC several times, separate and distinct from the APNU+AFC Coalition, or even APNU. “The PNC wishes to repeat its appreciation,” Granger said, for example, “to everyone who participated in the General and Regional Elections 2020. We thank every member of the Alliance For Change, Guyana Action Party, Justice For All Party, National Front Alliance and Working People’s Alliance who worked side by side with the People’s National Congress Reform…” What should have been a contrite and conciliatory speech, acknowledging the reality of the situation, and outlining a broad vision for what he previously professed to be a politics of coalition, conciliation and corporation, was instead a shrill screed announcing the primacy of the PNC, and absurd posture considering the resounding defeat of a PNC-led incumbent government. Were his actions over the years seeking to clumsily and obstinately extend a PNCmilitary gerontocracy over public affairs not so patently obvious, one would be shocked at how quickly the “Big Benab” rhetoric of earlier this year has so rapidly shrunk in spirit and perspective into a tiny toadstool sprouting out of his government’s defeat. With Granger heading his party’s list, yesterday’s address can be considered a clear foreshadowing of his intent to sideline his coalition partners, both in the AFC as well as APNU, in the distribution of parliamentary seats. Considering that the argument could be made that the Alliance For Change, which waged a brutal but unsuccessful war against Granger in the 2018 local government elections, followed by the fall of his government via the single vote of AFC parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud, has outlived its usefulness to Granger, we can expect that this honeymoon weekend marks the final dissolution of the Valentine’s Day union, the Cummingsburg Accord,
Investigations of State agencies DEAR EDITOR, I learn that my political brethren in the coalition are up in arms and have come out swinging against the announcement of investigations at 19 state agencies. In their outrage, they have used some sharp words like “witch hunt” and “witch hunt squad” to derogate the investigations development. These are my thoughts, as I beg to differ and depart from that position. I agree to some extent with two of the reactions of the coalition to the pending investigations. The first is that the timing is almost immediately upon the assumption of and installation in office. It certainly has an abrasive and
jarring texture to it; and I suppose that it is based on timing alone and nothing else. On balance, it might be better to strike while the days are young and the irons are hot, before the savvy and sophisticated decide to rewrite the stories and rearrange the condition and existence of related files. However, some significant sums of public monies were spent in recent months (and before) and the air needs to be cleared and sanitized as to the authenticity of those contracts and circumstances. Based on this alone, I must come out in support of the investigations, despite misgivings on the timing (and arguably righteous indigna-
tion notwithstanding). Second, the coalition spoke about the terms of reference and I agree that those should be specified and made known at the earliest moment. Regarding “selection criteria” I could care less with what went into that, or about any considerations that went into the identification and selection of the 4-man team. This is how these things have worked around here for the longest while; it is too much of Guyanese political culture to complain today. Editor, as I write supporting the investigations, I remind everyone of a longstanding position of mine: when things are done right and always in plain
sight, then that body of work speaks for itself, and withstands any scrutiny from any quarter. Whoever is interested, and whatever it is, should feel free to bring out their best weapons, the heaviest artillery, to delve to the bottom of matters. To put differently, I urge the 4-man team to pursue the facts and truths, wherever they lead, and let the chips falls publicly. If there is nothing to hide, then there is nothing to fear. My invitation would be and is: give it the best shot. This has always been my position, and it is even more rigidly unchanging now. It was my standard and (Continued on page 16)
August 8 is a significant date in our history DEAR EDITOR, August 8, 2020 will mark the 21st anniversary of the resignation of Janet Jagan as President of the Republic of Guyana. Because her resignation took place under peculiar national circumstances, and her action by its very nature, resulted in the opening of a new chapter in our political history, the repercussions of which remain with us to this day, I consider it important to provide readers with elements of the backdrop that led to her resignation. As the Presidential Candidate of the PPP/C for the December 15, 1997 elections, the Party won 55.5 per cent of the 461,479 votes cast, while the opposition PNC/R won 42.3 per cent of the votes. On December 19, 1997, Mrs. Jagan was declared President of Guyana by the chairman of GECOM. Later on the same day, following the declaration, while Mrs. Jagan was being sworn in at State House, two Court Marshals turned up to serve on her, a Court Order, preventing her from being sworn in as President. Mrs. Jagan accepted the Court Order but to the amazement of those present, threw the document over her shoulder. In an interview given on January 28, 1998, President Jagan had the following to
say concerning her action: “Yes, I regret what took place and I wish to apologize for my action... I also wish to mention very categorically, that it had nothing at all to do with disrespect of the laws or our constitution.” For her part, Justice Bernard later said Mrs. Jagan’s action was “not one with malice” nor did she consider it “disrespectful to her Court”. A writ filed by the PNC to prevent Mrs. Jagan from assuming the Office of President was discharged by the court on January 12, 1998. The court ruled that under Article 177(6) of the constitution, ‘once a person named in the instrument is declared as President at an election held pursuant to Article 60(2) of the constitution, that declaration shall be conclusive evidence that the person so named was so elected and no question as to the validity of the election as the president of the person so named shall be inquired into in any court’. That Article’, the Court ruled, ‘prevents direct scrutiny of such a declaration, but not an enquiry by way of an elections petition.’ The PNC then resorted to an elections petition. The court took almost three years following the submission of evidence and hundreds of affidavits and witnessed statements to con-
established five years ago. There is of course, for the PNC, a far more damaging cleavage going forward. Granger is, because of his failure to provide winning stewardship, facing a challenge for leadership of the party. For now, and for once, he has the law on his side, which means that it is he who has ultimate control over who goes into Parliament, a selection that will no doubt be based not on competence or integrity or transitional leadership planning but on the basis of whomever commits to continue to be wedded to his ambiguous and ill-defined agenda. Unless something is done, unless someone takes this brief window of opportunity to correct the ship, we may well be faced with something almost as bad as a rudderless, incapacitated and ineffective government – a rudderless, incapacitated and ineffective opposition.
clude that the elections of 1997 were ‘vitiated.’ Chief Justice Claudette Singh found that, “Although I view these flaws (irregularities and illegalities) as massive, I am unable to hold that illegal voting by persons who were not registered and were without voter’s ID cards would have per se, affected the results of the elections.” The court made three Consequential Orders that placed certain restrictions on the Janet Jagan administration until such time that fresh elections are called. The massive win, the first of its kind in the history of the PPP, so enraged the PNC that, in addition to their court actions, they mounted street protests disrupting economic and social life in the country. Their cry was “We now have an unlawful government.” In an effort to diffuse the political crisis, CARICOM was invited to intervene. The Herdsmanston Accord brokered by CARICOM resulted in Mrs. Jagan’s Constitutional five-year term in office being reduced to three years with fresh elections being held in 2001 instead of 2002.Commenting on the Accord, President Jagan had this to say, “But most of all, the Accord brought us back from the brink. It was, in my view, that we were on the brink of a disaster. If it had not been for the responsible behaviour of the PPP/Civic, I am afraid this country may have gone into the abyss that we went into in the 1960’s.” In the meanwhile, President Janet Jagan was confronted with increasing challenges. A public servants strike called by the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) lasted for fifty-seven days. The union demanded a forty percent increase in salaries for 1999 and a fifty percent increase for 2000.
Bharrat Jagdeo, the then Minister of Finance, described the union’s demand as “unrealistic.” He declared that, “ninety percent of government revenues was going to pay public servants and to service the foreign debt.” President Jagan spared no effort to ensure implementation of agreements enshrined in the Herdsmanston Accord and the Saint Lucia Statement. Mr. Hoyte had reneged on the latter by refusing to end his party’s boycott of sittings of the National Assembly. In addition, Hoyte shunned participation in the constitutional reform process and rejected fast tracking the holding of local government elections. The stoning of President Jagan’s car by a hostile group of hooligans on February 26, 1998, as she left parliament buildings following the opening of the Seventh Parliament was another manifestation of organized thuggery by the opposition PNC. In the midst of all the challenges, President Jagan made state visits to Venezuela, Suriname and Brazil. She participated in summits of CARICOM, the Rio Group and a European Union, Latin America and Caribbean Summit held at Rio de Janiero, Brazil.It was following her participation in the latter that she fell ill and on her way back from Brazil had to make an emergency stop-over in Port of Spain to rest and for a medical check-up. Later, another medical check-up was done in Canada. On Sunday August 8, 1999, in a broadcast to the nation Mrs. Jagan said, “I considered at length and consulted with close colleagues on the question of my continuing in office as President. It is now my firm and studied conclusion that I can no (Continued on page 5)
Saturday August 08, 2020
No one is above the law President Ali’s new administration must pursue those within APNU and GECOM who plunged Guyana in its gravest crisis, and bring them to justice. It must be made pellucid that there are serious consequences for breaking the law. No one is above the law and they
must be shown that they are not. President Ali will lose support from the Diaspora and the people who elected him if he fails to do this. Michael Rahaman Chicago
Recent Reality and National Reconciliation DEAR EDITOR, It now seems what the best of those, who wish Guyana well, can do at this difficult time is to acknowledge the reality of the current political situation, work towards national reconciliation and demand that justice, fairness and equality prevail in this demographically small but strategically significant country.
Henceforth, Guyana must aim to be a Cooperative Republic in both name and nature. Failure to strive steadfastly towards these goals could result in catastrophic civil unrest. Fortunately however, hope springs eternal…”One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” Yours truly, Robert G. Seales Ontario, Canada
August 8 is a significant date in our ... From page 4 longer continue to offer to the nation the vigorous and strong leadership that I had sought to provide during my twenty months as the lawful and duly elected President of the people of Guyana.” And as though prophetic, Mrs. Jagan, went on, “The protection of our democracy is vital for the development of our country. Its protection and deepening is a matter for all Guyanese. We must see to it at all costs, there must never be a return to authoritarianism and rigged elections.”Mrs. Jagan went on to express her confidence in the youthful new President, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who she said,”...presided admirably over the important Ministry of Finance. I know he is firm in dealing with government business and is not
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afraid to make decisions. His office requires that kind of firmness.”President Jagan thanked all the people who voted for her and the PPP/ C in the ‘97 elections, her “colleagues who walked with me and my husband all those years,” Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, the GDF’s Chief of Staff, the Commissioner of Police, other members of the Joint Services and all those “who kept her aware of the problems and aspirations of the Guyanese people.” Thus ended a historic, memorable but hectic tenure of Janet Jagan as President of Guyana. Her handing over the baton to Bharrat Jagdeo marked the beginning of another exciting and prosperous period in the history of the Guyanese people. Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee
No Granger, No Joe, No Basil and No Amna in Twelfth Parliament DEAR EDITOR, I write you with great concern, regarding the recent comments made by the former President, Mr. David Granger, in the media on 6th August 2020. It was reported that Mr. Granger remains open to the possibility of his return to the Parliament. This is cause for concern to me because, taking into consideration Mr. Granger’s age (75+), come the next election cycle, he will be 80 years old, or there about. If the leaders of the Coalition are serious about the party’s future and the demands coming from their base of support, at this time, it would be wise for Mr. Granger to reconsider any possibility of his return to the Parliament, because no right thinking Guyanese should find solace in voting for an octogenarian Presidential candidate.The former President, from 2015, served this Nation with honour and dignity. He reignited the flame of patriotism in Guyana and gave all Guyanese a newfound sense of hope. With such a herculean task completed, it is my humble view that Mr. Granger should retire from active politics. Tak-
ing such a path would set the stage for new leaders to rise through the ranks of the Coalition. And the rise of these new leaders should not be undercut to find space for individuals who would have already given their maximum worth of public service to the Guyanese people. To be blunt, we do not want to see Joseph Harmon, Basil Williams nor Amna Ally in the Honourable Chambers of the Twelfth Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Most, if not all, grass-root Coalition supporters are anxious to see the names of Christopher Jones, Thandi McAllister, Simona Broomes, Aubrey Norton, James Bond, Carl Greenidge, Ryan Belgrave, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Dawn Hastings-Williams, Darren Wade, Ganesh Mahipaul, Jevaughn Stephen, Amanza Walton-Desir, Sherod Duncan, Daniel Seeram, Juretha Fernandes, Roysdale Forde, Queenela Cameron and Volda Lawrence, just to name a few.It would be in the Coalition’s best interest to send an inspiring group of leaders to the Opposition Benches of the Twelfth Par-
liament, led by Mrs. Volda Lawrence, as Guyana’s first female Opposition Leader and Thandi McAllister as Opposition Whip. The Coalition needs to regroup and build serious appeal with their supporters if they are to return to the polls with victory in mind. In no way am I saying that the party should abandon the former President and his chief lieutenants. I am only suggesting that they should no longer be the face of the party because they now serve as a constant reminder of the Coalition’s great defeat at the March 2020 polls. Respectfully, Trevon Sampson, Supporter of the Coalition
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Welcome to a vibrant and challenging Guyana that can now make and consideration. Perhaps, it reliability. The one-track im- least a year? Five years in of- poor sportsmanship. But Mr. a soft bed to lie on gives Guyanese a chance to patience of this unreasonable fice as a failure and the intol- Harmon was right, this crop
DEAR EDITOR, Welcome home. You know you’re at home in Guyana when, “mouth open story jump out.” Ole people say, “You can’t please everybody at the same time.” Of course, “who vex, vex” but each person knows best how to run his or her home. But, as usual, it’s your neighbour who is always peeping and seeking into your affairs and always seems to know better than you. Good old Tradewinds say, “is yu friend, is yu friend.” But Guyana’s business becomes everybody’s business and more so, it is the business of each Guyanese and they have a birth right to know it. There will be no more secrets and surprises and there will no more underhand dealings with any 1% and 2% contracts and agreements. There will no more closeddoor arrangement and hidden clauses in the fine writing.
Guyana will be pursuing the real source to reveal who authorized and approved the signing of those oil contracts and why the “negotiators” (conspirators/saboteurs) signed and settled for less and not more. Suriname is mocking and laughing at our silliness and stupidity. No wonder Mr. Lowenfield is facing three criminal charges because of the professional advice given to him from legal luminaries who are such experts that they caused Guyanese to be “short changed!” That remains a “hot cake” topic and it is everybody’s business. Guyanese have a sensitive nose and they smell a rat. The twenty-three cabinet members took the oath of office and will form the formidable nucleus to lead and manage the affairs of this country. Notable omissions remain room for speculation
“wager the tongue” and hold their own court. When you’re outside, you always want to have your “two cents say” because you know better. No need to get red in the face because it may be an innate attitude or simply a Guyanese thing. Guyanese culture is so colourful that it will make the rainbow blush with envy! When one demits office, the successor is always bombarded with suggestions, ideas, advice, warnings and criticisms. It is a natural expectation and the wise one will be well armed not to be surprised. The smart one will not be offended and will lend an ear with an open mind, listen, consume, digest, dissect and then react. It is already day five for business and those who are not minding the store are feeling out of place with nothing to do and all day to do it. In fact, the soothsayers are busy prognosticating a forecast graphing a chart full of doom and gloom for future events. The naysayers are occupied with flowcharting the maximum level of cynicism and skepticism, leaving no room to accommodate a break-even point for potentials and denials. The marginalization of possibility, probability, potentiality, plausibility and eventuality are completely incorporated and not overlooked by opposing forces bent on destruction rather than construction. The APNU+AFC Party has already written off the budding talents of a young embryo and castigated the blooming effervescence of
discord promises the seed for no change and deeper insanity. The very element that announced the roll-call for a youthful presence is immediately planting the seed of dissent and discouragement for the very substance that they were advocating. Joseph Harmon on Monday said that, “New and energetic young people have emerged to take over the helm of the coalition to engage in “aggressive politics” against the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-led administration.” How ironic if not comical. Hiding behind the empty proclamation of “rubberstamp” and “one-man authoritarian rule” is substantially flawed and should be dismissed as only the “normal rhetoric.” But, supposedly, the circus show continues and there is no rest for the wicked and the performers. The audience, unfortunately, is groomed with boredom. Five months of transition as a rebel taught not a single lesson in precaution, prevention and hesitation but the mastery of shooting oneself in the foot from the lip and not the hip. The voice of pompous dissent has completely written off the “hodge-podge of misfits and Jagdeo loyalists.” How intriguing, interesting and entertaining the showcase of hilarity promises to be in parliament! Not an iota of courtesy for respect and reservation is contemplated but a promise of hostility and arrogance to be displayed. Shouldn’t a person be allowed an opportunity to prove himself or herself for at
erable still clamoured for another chance! The audacity of such an odyssey is such a travesty! But, supposedly, it’s all in a day’s job and you have to earn your keep, so, you can say anything and everything that comes to the mouth even if it is nonsensical. Then, again, it’s only one’s opinion.The wound is still raw and there is much pain without an immediate cure like COVID-19. The APNU+AFC Party is daily struggling for composure and is fighting a losing battle. The call for remorse, recouping, regrouping and reconstructing is not within the ambit of logical compassion but plastered in disgruntled animosity. There is a sore point of individual sulking and skulking in the privacy of cornered lonesomeness and aggravation playing the blame game, daily feeding on vengeance. Rational behaviour is not within the confines of tolerance, no wonder the sudden outburst of “busing” vulgarity; “witchhunt” squad and hurling insults at the new cabinet. These are all manifestations of a sour hereditary and characteristics of bitterness and
of youth that the PPP/C party has bred will not tolerate “nonsense” and will aggressively pursue a programme to advertise obsolete value versus transitory value and significant value versus inconsequential value. This Guyana represents a plenitude of youthfulness, a generation who can think for themselves, who will not be fooled , who have good judgmental value, who have already demonstrated responsibility, who will not be bullied, who have already being persuaded by reality and who display the tendency to be influenced by pragmatism and not dogmatism. They are ranting, rearing and roving to stampede forward with an agenda for tomorrow’s needs today and not yesterday’s despairs tomorrow. A new Guyana sensitizes consciously the desire to rationalize reasonably and chastises the dormancy of recklessness while flouncing carelessness. Welcome to a vibrant and challenging Guyana that can now make a soft bed to lie on. Respectfully, Jai Lall
Week One of the New Administration DEAR EDITOR,
The new administration has shown much promise in their energy, attitude and focus. If there is anything to be said at this time, it has to do with a few minor observations. 1. The CCJ has an opportunity to be an aid in the arbitration of the Exxon contract. This offers additional neutrality. 2. The maintenance of the pumps, sluices and kokers should be a top priority over expansion. Let’s fix and maintain the key infrastructural elements then identify what is affordable to do in addition. 3. Bringing Skeldon and Enmore back online is a great step in the correct direction. NICIL and the financial restructuring of the loan needs to be immediately addressed prior to reopening. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of assistance. Best regards, Mr. Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana
Kaieteur News
Saturday August 08, 2020
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PNC acted responsibly during Elections 2020 - Granger - warns PPP/C Govt. of “dangerous” behaviour - “We will not be preached to by those whose records are not clean” – Teixeira
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eader of the People's National Congress (PNC) and former President David Granger said in a statement broadcast by the APNU+AFC Facebook page yesterday that the PNC acted responsibly at all times during the elections process. He also warned the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) of going on any witch-hunting, which he termed “dangerous” behaviour. In a response also broadcast via social media, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira said that the government “will not be preached to by politicians who have unclean records”. The PNC-helmed coalition was the subject of
both local and international scrutiny during the period, as a result of numerous attempts to fraudulently alter the results of the elections in its favour. In his address, Granger acknowledged that the electoral process lasted for five months, and attributed the delays to “revelations of numerous abuses, anomalies and irregularities in the poll and appeals which were made to the courts, consequently, for the validation of the elections…” He further posited that the recount process revealed “a plethora of grave anomalies, discrepancies and irregularities” and that the results did not meet the standard for credible elections. Kaieteur News
had provided extensive basic and analytical coverage of the events of the 2020 general and regional elections, from March 2 to the final declaration, including investigating the claims of electoral fraud made by the APNU+AFC coalition.; this newspaper determined that the coalition's claims of electoral fraud were not credible. The CARICOM Scrutineer Team which observed the national recount noted that the coalition did not produce any evidence to support its claims of electoral fraud by voter impersonation, and rejected the public efforts to discredit the polls. CARICOM's findings were
endorsed by all international observers, as well as some local observers. In his address, Granger iterated that the PNC will challenge the declared results lawfully, and urged supporters to remain calm and maintain Minister of Parliamentary peace. Affairs and Governance, The former President has Gail Teixeira condemned what he d e t e r m i n e s t o b e a n aggression and that it will atmosphere of loathing and bear responsibility for the fear being facilitated by the consequences of its conduct. In her response, Teixeira new PPP/C government, through its move to quickly said that she noted the evict former ministers from statements by Granger, government housing. There adding that it is one thing for have also been reports of political leaders to go on public servants being locked social media and attack out of their offices and/or people, but that it is another being asked to resign. thing when the former Granger said the PPP/C President uses that language, should not pursue any “and therefore, we have to d a n g e r o u s p a t t e r n o f respond.”
Former President and PNC Leader, David Granger “What he called a pattern of aggression,” the Minister said, “was in relation to what he calls a witch hunt, et cetera, and people being dismissed and treated badly and in fact exaggerating and misinforming the public. First of all, Mr. Granger as usual seems to not have moved from his earlier position of not being properly informed by his people around him. It is regrettable because as a former President, I'm sure that he'd want to know the facts.” Te i x e i r a s a i d t h a t Granger's language is disturbing and should not be taken lightly.
CGX selects two leads in Corentyne Block for drilling programme C
GX Energy Inc., by way of its unaudited consolidated financial statements for the second quarter of 2020, disclosed that it has identified two key drilling leads in the Corentyne Block for its next drilling programme. In explaining the work that went into the selection of these two prospects, the company said that it had contracted PGS Geophysical AS (“PGS”) to provide acquisition and processing of a full broadband marine 3D seismic survey over a northern segment of the block. The contract with PGS was executed under a Joint Operating Agreement (“JOA”) CGX has with Frontera Energy Guyana Corp. (“FEGC”).CGX said that the seismic acquisition was completed on November 2, 2019 and produced seismic data covering approximately 582 km2 of the northern portion of the Corentyne Block. It noted that PGS completed Time (PreStack Time Migration) and Depth (PreStack Depth Migration) processing of these data on June 5, 2020. Following this
exercise, CGX Resources Inc. (CRI), the parent company of CGX Energy, said it completed a preliminary evaluation of the recently processed 3D seismic data, and has identified two potentially highly prospective large channel sand reservoir complexes. The oil exploration company said that these channel complexes are interpreted to contain multiple high potential leads located in the northern region of the Corentyne Block, which is located in proximity to the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana and Block 58 offshore Suriname. Expounding in this regard, CGX said that the Pluma and Haimara discoveries in the Stabroek Block are located approximately two and eight miles, respectively from the border of the northern region of the Corentyne Block while the Maka Central, Kwakwasi-1 and Sapakara West discoveries in Block 58 are located approximately seven, 15 and 20 miles, respectively from the border of the northern region of the Corentyne Block. The company noted that the
leads mapped in the northern Corentyne Block are interpreted to be situated at the same geological horizons as the nearby significant discoveries already proven in the Stabroek Block and Block 58. Also, importantly, the company said that the northern Corentyne leads are interpreted to share the same proven hydrocarbon generating basin and intervals in which the current discoveries are located. Kaieteur News understands that these leads are primarily stratigraphic traps composed of sandstone accumulations and deemed to be analogous to many of the discoveries already proven to be successful in the Guyana basin. In its financial statements as well, CGX said that the northern Corentyne leads are in the process of being high-graded and have been mapped within the Upper Cretaceous, Santonian and Miocene intervals. It said too that they are currently undergoing further analysis in order to prioritize and rank the best prospect to be drilled. It was noted (continued on page 15)
Map showing the location of the Corentyne Block and its proximity to other discoveries
Saturday August 08, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 08
Granger's political appointees...
“Resign or be fired” P
arliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira yesterday presented those who were politically appointed by the former coalition President David Granger with an ultimatum – to resign by Monday or be fired from their post. “We are asking them to resign and if they do not, they will be getting letters of termination. We are not going to be bullied. At the same time, we have given them a week to do what is right and from Monday, they will receive letters,” Teixeira said during an online press briefing. Teixeira explained that as is customary when a new government takes up office,
- Gail Teixeira
- says they had five months hiatus ministers are automatically no longer ministers and they are required to vacate their offices and expected to hand over State property and assets. Further, while ministers automatically lose their jobs, political appointees, she added, are also expected to do the honourable and dignified thing – hand over State assets and resign. Teixeira also added that the Irfaan Ali-led People's Progressive Party Civic (PPPC)-administration was not about to proverbially “take bread out of people mouth.” “We want to assure all our people,” Teixeira said,
ExxonMobil, take your knee off our neck
“that we are not here to take away food from people's mouth, we are not here to take away public servants jobs who have been working hard – we are not dealing with public servants.” The minister stated that D r. M a r k K i r t o n a n d Frederick McWilfred who were both politically appointed by Granger have tendered their resignation and handed over State property; however, she noted, there is still some form of reluctance emerging from others who she said are bent on making t h e t r a n sition process difficult.
Teixeira pointed to Carol Smith-Joseph, a staunch coalition member who participated in the National Recount, along with Attorney-at-Law Geeta Chandan – Edmon, a candidate on the party's election list and Ronald Backer who were all appointed as former Minister of State Joseph Harmon's advisors. She said that, shockingly, both Harmon, who now functions Chief Executive Officer of the National COVID-19 Task Force, and Chandan-Edmond made a request for 42 days leave, instead of tending their resignations.
I
the Americas, Africa and Asia were their methods of dispossession. Until our people stop drinking the Master’s Kool Aid and stop thinking that the only people or ideas of value are those that are validated by him, then we are doomed to be forever dependent vassals, living in subjugation and off crumbs. Independent thought is the means towards true independence and value for our people’s labour and resources. We use the opportunity, in this moment of acknowledgement of the historic social and economic injustice that is at the heart of traditional extractives deals, to raise the continuing manipulative practices of multinational companies. We know that many others are suffering the same fate; ONLY if we stand together with unified voices do we have a chance to make these multinational corporations take their knees off our necks, so that we as a people can breathe.
Bandit chops off one miner's foot, another's finger during robbery
T
hirty-one-yearold Tameshwar Sukram, a miner of 118 Enterprise Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara, and Jose Da Silva called “Lago”, 42, a businessman /miner of Apaiqua Landing, Mazaruni River, are both patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital, undergoing treatment after being chopped during a robbery. According to a police report, yesterday around 01:30hrs at Apaiqua Landing, Mazaruni River, Sukram was asleep in his apartment when he was awakened by two identifiable men, one armed with a gun and the other with cutlass. The men assaulted Sukram and demanded that he handed over cash. When Sukram refused, the man who was armed with the cutlass dealt him several
INY 1
LIZA DEST
- making falsehood appear as truth t is said that hypocrisy is the audacity to preach integrity from a den of corruption. We have had too many of false “saviours”. Their empty promises mean no good. A liar begins by making falsehood appear like truth, and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood. With our country trying to disentangle from an unnecessary electoral twist, a familiar preacher seeks once again to take advantage of our vulnerability. Exxon is calling on us to hurry up or we will lose big. Lose what? All Guyanese know by now that we have essentially surrendered all of the abundant offshore resource with which we have been blessed. What we are witnessing is a continuation of the systemic racism practised by Europeans and their descendants during colonialism. Slavery, indentureship and labour exploitation in
Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira
TE
BAUXI
SUGAR
] This is a Public Service Announcement ]
Teixeira added that Granger should encourage his political appointees to give up State assets willingly and walk, just as he did. She also said that the three former ministers who reside in the interior regions have been given one month to vacate the houses that government had been renting for them in Georgetown. “We are not the ones looking for a fight, tell your appointees under your government to do the honourable thing and hand over, but it is looking like its bully season,” she said.
chops about his body which resulted in his left leg being completely severed below the knee. An alarm was raised and Da Silva rushed to Sukram's room where he was also assaulted by the men. He received several chops about his body and that resulted in his left ring finger being chopped off. The suspects searched Sukram's apartment before making good their escape with $800,000. Sukram and Da Silva were rushed to the Isseneru Medical Health Centre where they were treated but later transferred to GPHC, where they remain receiving treatment. According to a source, one of the suspects goes by the name “Shadow”. An investigation was launched but no arrest has yet been made.
Saturday August 08, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 09
Political appointees have no security of tenure
P
o l i t i c a l appointees, by definition, do not enjoy security of tenure. They are liable to be substituted after a change in government. Political appointees owe their appointments to either the President, the Prime Minister or to a Minister. They work at the behest of these persons and their jobs are dependent on the reelection of these persons. They have no security of tenure and can have their services terminated without cause at any time. Civil servants or public servants and other public officials, on the other hand, are career employees. They are supposed to be loyal to whichever government is in power. Their responsibility is to the institution and not to the politicians. Both career employees and political appointees can be contract workers. The fact that someone had an employment contract does not insulate him or her from being asked to resign or from having his or her services terminated upon a change of government. In fact, it is expected that political appointees – those persons who are directly appointed by the President, Prime Minister or Ministers – should tender their resignations upon a change in government. F o r e x a m p l e , Ambassadors and High Commissioners who are not career diplomats are expected to offer their
resignation upon a change of government. Diplomats are usually of two types. The first type of diplomat is the career diplomat. They would have been employed within the Foriegn Service prior to becoming a diplomat. The second type of diplomat is political appointees. These are persons who were not originally part of employment of the Foreign Service but have been hand-picked by the President or Foreign Minister for their posting. Just to illustrate the difference between a career diplomat and a political appointee, we can consider the following as being political appointees within Guyana's diplomatic corps: Michael Ten-Pow (now resigned) who was Guyana's Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Riyad I n s a n a l l y, G u y a n a ' s Ambassador to the United States; Mr. Halim Majeed, Guyana's Ambassador to Cuba; Dr. David Pollard, G u y a n a ' s H i g h Commissioner to India; and Dr. Kenrick Hunte, Guyana's High Commissioner to South Africa. These are all examples of political appointees who are expected to offer their resignations upon a change in government. It will be for the new Minister of Foreign Affairs to determine whether or not to accept these resignations. There was a bizarre case in which a diplomat, who was a political appointee under the PPP/C, did not submit his
resignation upon the change in government in 2015. Within the government service, there are a number of political appointees. These are persons who were not career workers in the public service but, instead, owe their employment to their new political bosses. These persons can be asked to resign because they are political appointees who do not enjoy any security of tenure. The only workers who enjoy security of tenure in the public service are persons who are employed by the Public Service Commission. Those persons can only be dismissed by the Commission. But they can be asked to and can resign of their own volition. Wi t h i n t h e p u b l i c bureaucracy, there are a number of persons who work on contract because they prefer the benefits rather than becoming bona fide public servants. These contracts can be terminated by any incoming administration. Political appointees therefore are liable to have their employment terminated by a new administration. As was announced yesterday, two political appointees resigned upon the new government taking office. This is the correct convention to be followed. They did not wait to be fired; they submitted their resignation. Interestingly, one of those persons was a candidate for the
Dem boys seh...
De real deal has not yet been sealed
S
eventeen (17) Guyanese-born professionals from America calling fuh renegotiation of de contract wah was signed between ExxonMobil and the Soulja Bai government. Dem boys been calling long time now for dis and dem boys glad fuh see dat other people now realizing how dem oil company outsmart de Hap-New-HayEff-See government. Dem 17 professionals calling fuh a resolution of the problems with de precontract costs, de wide difference in de cost between Liza 1 and Liza 2, de taxes wah Guyana gat to pay fuh
dem oil companies, de interest rates on loans which we gat fuh repay, de threat to we water, land and air should there be an oil spill and checking de amount of wah Exxon seh dem pumping. While de Magnificent 17 asking fuh de renegotiation of de contract, dem concentrating on issues that arise from de contract rather than dem issues which already inside de contract. Dem boys seh if de new government fix de contract and fix it right, den nobody nah gan gat fuh worry about dem thing wah de Magnificent 17 calling fuh. De real issue is nah
discrepancies which is about dem things wah nah match up. De real issue is dispossession which is about wah missing or gone. De real issue is about what Guyanese getting from this agreement. De real issue is who getting what. Dem Boys know dat Guyanese nah gat much fuh get with dis deal. Dem boys seh therefore dat de entire contract gat fuh be renegotiated. Cherry-picking nah gan deliver oranges. It gan still give we cherries. Talk half and keep de pressure up fuh a better deal fuh we children.
APNU+AFC for the 2020 elections. The other person actually spoke on a political platform, though he was not a candidate. Civil service conventions establish that once you are a political candidate or speak on a political platform, you should resign from the public service. Political appointees are necessary in any government. They are an important means of ensuring that the bureaucracy implements government's policies. Bureaucrats should
not make political choices for governments; this task should be left to the political appointees. Bureaucrcats should be tasked with the implementation of these polices. Without political appointees, bureaucrats would behave like politicians, and that cannot be allowed. Because political appointees are necessary, every government should have the right to remove political appointees of the outgoing regime. Otherwise, these appointees could frustrate the work of the new government. You cannot put
PNC/R political appointees to oversee PPP/C policies and vice versa. In this context, political appointees ought to know that they do not enjoy security of tenure. It goes with the nature of their appointment. It is the risk that they run when they takeup such appointments. (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 08, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Nagamootoo, Kwayana, Green: Secrets of Guyanese politics F
ive months of election rigging is over. Humans are unpredictable that is why no social scientist will ever use scientific criteria to judge human behaviour. But my take is even if the PPP administration goes into terribly unpleasant directions, it is an undisputed determinism that the PNC is going to be in the electoral wilderness for many decades to come. One message the PPP will use at every campaign meeting – 'Do you want to see those five months again?'
Those simple words will resonate with Guyanese forever. If anything is going to get people to vote against the PNC is a vivid description that parties will paint of the PNC in 2025 and 2030. It goes like this. They got a chance in government in 1964 and refused to come out until 1992. They got a chance again in 2015 and in refusing to come out; they almost destroyed Guyana. With the PNC gone, so too will be many of the names and faces we have come to associate with Guyanese
politics. The month of August 2020 marks the obliteration of Hamilton Green. No one will mention him, and he will just disappear but given what we have seen of Moses Nagamootoo and Eusi Kwayana for the past five months, the researcher needs to delve into some long existing secrets about Nagamootoo and Kwayana. By looking at Green, we can reflect on those secrets. When President Forbes Burnham overlooked Green for Desmond Hoyte for the post of Prime Minister, it sent shock waves throughout the
communities of PNC supporters. Burnham had two sources that he knew would never turn him down Ptolemy Reid and Green. Reid because of his role and social standing had to be the PM when Burnham became President. Apoplexy afflicted all PNC members when Burnham overlooked Green for Hoyte who was hardly known by the bulk of PNC constituencies and was far less popular than Green. It remains a secret to this day why Burnham did that. I interviewed Green and asked him why (Kaieteur News, Monday, October 16, 2017, captioned: “Explosive Interview with Hamilton Green”) Burnham did that. He didn't tell me the truth. Burnham saw things in Green that maybe no one did and he decided that he was not the right man to be PM. It was the same with Corbin when Hoyte challenged Green for the presidency after Burnham's death. Corbin's vote was the decider. One would have thought that Green was the logical choice for Corbin but maybe Corbin knew about Green what Burnham knew too. It is the identical situation with Kwayana. Both Cheddi Jagan and Burnham never gelled with Sydney King as he was known by that name in
the fifties, sixties and seventies. Kwayana was alienated from both men and he became an intense and inflexible critic of both icons. Why? Maybe there were deep-seated negative traits in Kwayana's character that Burnham and Jagan detected but Guyanese couldn't see. Kwayana became iconic through his criticism of over four decades of Jagan and Burnham and that reality prevented Guyanese from seeing the real essence of what Kwayana was made of. We have now seen that substance from his attitude to the five-month election saga. His total outlook on the election impasse was completely unacceptable, dishonest and deceiving. I doubt he will ever be seen the same way again. Finally, the politician I satirically refer to as “watermelon man,” Moses Nagamootoo. When President Jagan died, Nagamootoo made known his intention of being Jagan's successor but not one soul in the PPP's hierarchy was prepared to back him over Roger Luncheon or Ralph Ramkarran. Mrs. Jagan literally detested him. Cheddi Jagan deliberately chose not to shape Nagamootoo's presence in the PPP for him to be seen as the de facto Number 2 as he
Frederick Kissoon did with Boysie Ramkarran and then Ranje Chandisingh. Party leaders knew that after Cheddi, it was Ramkarran. Then they knew after Cheddi, it was Chandisingh. But PPP stalwarts never saw Nagamootoo as Number 2 because Cheddi and Mrs. Jagan never wanted him to be such. When Mrs. Jagan anointed Jagdeo as president, Nagamootoo got the word in Barbados and collapsed and was rushed to hospital. Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Roger Luncheon and Ralph Ramkarran saw things inside the personality of Nagamootoo that the average Guyanese couldn't. The two Jagans were never going to make Nagamootoo, Cheddi's successor. He crossed the floor to the AFC just four months before the 2011 election still hoping to be PPP's presidential candidate. In 2020, Khemraj Ramjattan began to hate Nagamootoo because he conspired to deny the PM slot to Ramjattan for the 2020 election. Since then the two men have not spoken to each other. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Saturday August 08, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
Kaieteur News
Saturday August 08, 2020
NIS Region 9 office closed due to COVID-19 exposure
T
he National Insurance Scheme (NIS) announced on Thursday that its office will be undergoing a temporary closure due to an employee coming into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient. It was found that an employee had recently come into contact with a person, not working with the office, who had recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The employee was tested and is awaiting results. Due to concerns that the
other eight employees of the office could possibly be infected, the National COVID Task Force (NCTF) advised the Management of the NIS to suspend all operations until further notice to prevent the possible spread of the virus. It was also recommended that the other eight employees within the office be tested as well. The NCTF also advised that a thorough sanitization of the entire facility be conducted among other measures. A source from the NIS told this newspaper that they
can see possible reopening soon but this depends on the outcome of the situation and the test results of all employees. In acknowledging the inconveniences the closure might have caused, they stressed the need for precautionary measures and ensuring the situation does not contribute to further spread of the virus in the Lethem. Region 9, where Lethem is located, is already seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases and was listed as an infection hotspot.
Kaieteur News
Saturday August 08, 2020
PAGE 13
Stray bullet kills bystander following revenge attack in Corriverton M
a r l o n Fordyce, 31 of Lot 31 Albert Street, Corriverton died last evening at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation following a shooting incident in which he was a bystander. Commander in charge of Region 6, Calvin Brutus yesterday confirmed the shooting, adding that the incident initially stemmed from a chopping that took place Thursday night between two residents of Little India, Corriverton. Brutus stated that one person was injured during the chopping and the friends and relatives of the victim ventured to the assailant's house yesterday morning for retaliation. He added that two persons known to the alleged attack showed up in a car and opened fire with a stray bullet hitting Fordyce, a bystander, in the right side of his neck just below the ear. The gunmen then escaped, evading police who showed up at the scene. At the apartment complex where Fordyce resided, common-law wife, Dion Garraway told reporters that it was just
The street where the shooting took place
Dead: Marlon Fordyce around 8:10 am yesterday when she was about to begin laundry and saw a huge crowd running through the street near her apartment. She disclosed that Fordyce, after seeing the crowd, was curious and wanted to venture to the location in which they were heading. "He was to help me with some water so I could wash because my belly big but he seh, he going at the back because he hear a fight going on and I told him not to go but he said he coming back just now", she said. She stated that she stood on her bridge and watched on as the crowd ran through the street but shortly after (continued on page 15)
Saturday August 08, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 14
$352M 'emergency' sea defence project to BK...
$105M paid, but no works have commenced - Minister Indar
By Mikaila Prince
D
espite receiving an advancement of $105M for 'emergency' sea defence construction, BK International Incorporated has not commenced any significant works on the $352M project in M a h a i c o n y. T h i s w a s disclosed last evening by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar. Indar, along with a team from the Ministry, the Region Five Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal and Regional Vice-Chairman Rion Peters, had paid a visit to the 500m of breached sea
Shots of the progress of works, dated at August 7 defence at Content to Dantzig, Mahaicony, Region Five, with hopes of assessing the progress of the works. During his visit, the Minister met with two representatives from the two contracting firms, BK International and
A&S General Contractors, who were tasked with sealing the almost two-yearold breaches in sections of the sea defence. The Minister was informed by Chief Engineer under BK International, Ganesh Sawh, that the 500m breach at Content should be sealed within 40 to 41 days' time. This is contrary to what an engineer had told Kaieteur News weeks ago, who at the time indicated that the seals would've taken at least two years to complete. Nonetheless, Indar was quick to question the lengthy duration of the project, which he reminded, has cost millions in losses to farmers along the embankment. With this, Indar emphasized that this seal should have been in place since July. “The country” the Minister said, “has already seen the kind of damage that the flood has caused to the farmers in the area. Over 2000 farmers have lost their livelihood…What we have to do is try to get this area [or] the sea defence here fixed quickly.” Notably, Kaieteur News had paid a visit close to a month ago to the project site for what was touted as “urgent flood protection works”, but similar to what Minister Indar discovered, no significant movement had been executed on the site. At the time that Kaieteur News had visited, it noticed that there were two apparent breaches. With no mangroves on the shore to protect the lands from being overtaken, saltwater from the sea gushed onto the lands with little force, despite boulders lined off on the shore to prevent this. A worker on site who spoke to Kaieteur News on the condition of anonymity had noted that the powerful ocean waves had caused so much damage to the sea defence infrastructure that a decision was taken to reinforce the foundation of
the compromised area. The worker explained that excavators were tasked with digging up the muddy soil, filling the gap with boulders, stacking those boulders with the soil, which was initially removed, following which they would compact the rebuilt foundation. This reinforcement, the worker said, would be completed a few times until they were satisfied with the works. However, during Kaieteur News' visit, it was discovered that the first stage of that task of reinforcement had barely begun. Meanwhile, over at the Dantzig to Glacier's Lust area, works were progressing, with approximately 50% of the works completed. Works at Prospect are also nearing completion by A&S General Contractors Inc. The company was awarded approximately 1.6km of sea defence works back in November and so far, 1.25km is completed. Minister Indar stressed the need for the existing breach to be sealed immediately as the violent tides can result in more damage and expenditure. Request to view contract Despite a series of requests via emails and phone calls last month to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure under the then A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change ( A P N U + A F C ) administration, the Ministry had refused to share with Kaieteur News the contract signed between them and BK International Inc. This publication made several attempts to contact (continued on page 17)
Saturday August 08, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 15
Virtual Heritage Month activities Charrandass says he's ready to come home being considered by MOIPA
A
s the COVID-19 cases in Guyana continue to rapidly increase, the Ministry of Indigenous People's Affairs is considering holding the annual Heritage Month activities virtually this year. Principal Regional Development Officer (PRDO) and Event Coordinator at the Ministry, Anil Roberts, stated to this publication that due to the mandated COVID-19 regulations, it may be impossible to host physical celebrations. He noted that the annual heritage celebration sees a major turn out by Guyanese from various regions of Guyana. Since the events are usually very crowded, it would be difficult to host them while keeping with the social distancing regulations. According to Roberts, once the idea is confirmed, the virtual celebrations will be held for a week long and will be aired nationally. He added that this ensures that Guyana still gets to see the
Principal Regional Development Officer of the MOIPA, Anil Roberts rich Indigenous culture despite the limitations. He also stated that the media will be sent to Indigenous communities to record villagers performing their traditional dances as well as other activities. Questions were raised regarding the commercial aspect of Heritage month and Roberts informed that the Ministry will also consider physical vending of products but strict COVID-19 guidelines will be
implemented for when persons are purchasing. The events would usually see vendors marketing various products such as food, drinks and alcohol, skincare and beauty products, and household items, all from Indigenous communities. While Roberts expressed deep enthusiasm for the initiative, he stated that a decision will be made based on the amount of funding they receive. He also added that they are highly dependent on the smooth transitioning of government that is currently ongoing. In the upcoming weeks with Parliament being expected soon, the Ministry will observe what provisions will be made by the new government and a decision will be made as to whether the Ministry moves forward with the initiative. Guyana has seen observance of the Indigenous Heritage month since September 10, 1995. This was in honour of Guyana's first Indigenous Member of Parliament, Stephen Campbell.
CGX selects two leads in Corentyne Block for drilling... From page 7 too that the leads are located in water depths ranging from approximately 500 to 3,600 feet and are estimated to be at a drilling depth of between approximately 11,000 to 21,700 feet. CGX was keen to note that the current highgraded lead identified in the northern region of the Corentyne Block has been named Kawa, after the iconic Kawa Mountain, which overlooks the village of Paramakatoi in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana. It is a Santonian level, stratigraphic trap and as previously mentioned, is interpreted to be analogous to the discoveries immediately to the east in Block 58 in Suriname.
Additional leads are being evaluated by the company. I n t he meantime, the company stated that Baker Hughes was recently contracted to provide a pore pressure analysis of the Kawa prospect, which will be completed in August 2020. On the Demerara Block, Kaieteur News understands that CRI will begin reprocessing the existing seismic data at the end of the third quarter for 2020 in order to mature previously mapped leads into prospects ready for drilling. Turning its attention to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, CGX noted that it has continued with its plan to protect the health and safety of its employees and all stakeholders.
The company said that its alternative working arrangements for employees to work from home in Canada, Guyana and the USA are still in place. As for its operational activities, it said that these are still affected due to restrictions on travel for key personnel related to operational planning, especially into and out of Guyana. CGX, which has reiterated its commitment to the resumption of operations as soon as possible, also stated that it has been engaged in constructive collaborative discussions with the regulatory authorities in Guyana about the timing of its work commitments in light of COVID-19 restrictions.
MYO congratulates Irfaan Ali on winning presidency
O
n Thursday, the Muslim Youth Organization (MYO) congratulated President Irfaan Ali on his victory in a statement issued to the press. They stated that while Ali managed to overcome the hurdles of a
lengthy and problematic election process, he must not forget the duties to which he is assigned. The organization advised that the first thing Ali has to do is mend the country that has been divided by racial tensions
and heavy discrimination over the past five months. The MYO offered support for Ali occupying the highest office in Guyana but maintained that he must not abuse this success and carry out his presidential duties to the full extent.
F
ormer Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Charrandass Persaud, who voted with the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) to defeat the former APNU+AFC government with a motion of no-confidence, is ready to return to Guyana. He will not return immediately, he explained, due to COVID19 but said the substantive issue, which prevented him from coming back has been solved with a final declaration of the elections results. In a presentation streamed on Facebook, Persaud said that he has been in “self exile” for 19 months, but that he does not regret his actions. Persaud had left the country for Canada immediately after voting on the No Confidence Motion on December 21, 2018, and was expelled from the AFC for his vote. “I did what I did,” he told a small gathering of friends, “because I wanted to do it. So who do you blame for that? Nobody else.” What he set out to do, he explained, came to fruition on August 2, 2020 when the APNU+AFC caretaker government was made to demit office after the swearing in of Irfaan Ali as President. Persaud congratulated Ali's new
Bystander shot, dies... From page 13 she saw persons running back towards her, shouting that someone was dead. "I kept asking who dead and somebody come and tell me, Marlon dead, all I hear that he get shoot by some stray bullet. Somebody go to shoot somebody and the bullet catch he on he head," she said. According to Garraway, who is currently eight months pregnant, her partner was rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital but shortly after was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. Due to the severity of his injury, he was moved to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery – he died at around 8 pm last night while receiving treatment. Police are currently looking for the shooters – the car, which they used to drive to the scene, PJJ 2319, was later found abandoned at 76 Village, Corentyne.
Former AFC Parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud Cabinet, and said he is sure they will do well. As for APNU+AFC, Persaud said they lost the confidence of the people because they neglected the people who elected them. Because of this, he said they may never win another
election, nor will they even come close. However, he doesn't think that means smooth sailing for the new government. “You can get a second term if the people like you,” he said to Ali, “if we the people are satisfied with your performance, we may consider voting for you again.” He urged Ali to learn from the previous government's missteps of neglecting the people, and to manage Guyana's resources well. Persaud also took the opportunity to criticise officers of the judiciary as well as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). He said that Justices of Appeal who have made “political” decisions which could not be grounded in sound jurisprudence should quit their jobs, and that there are staffers of GECOM who must be fired for displaying partisan behaviour.
Bully/robber captured with 9mm gun
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33-year-old man was on T h u r s d a y arrested after threatening to kill a dredge owner, Darrel Obermuller in the Quartz Stone Backdam along the Cuyuni River. Speaking with Kaieteur News, Commander of the F' Division, Linden Lord revealed that the suspect, who hails from Grove, East Bank Demerara, is known for preying on unarmed miners in the area. The Commander further reported that the suspect visited the mining camp in search of Obermuller; however, after realizing that
the miner was not at the camp, the suspect eventually left but not before issuing death threats. Upon his return, Obermuller was alerted by the other miners and swiftly lodged a report at the Bartica Police Station. Ranks were then dispatched to the mining area where they subsequently captured the suspect who was found to have an unlicensed black 9mm Pietro Beretta Pistol and three live rounds in his possession. The suspect was arrested and taken to the Bartica Police Station where he is awaiting charges.
Man who went to report car hijacked, arrested for armed robberies
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27-year-old man of Victory Alley, Linden was on Wednesday arrested after he went to the Highway Base Patrol to make a report that his car was hijacked, after police were informed that the same car was involved in an armed robbery. According to a police report, the robbery was committed on August 4, 2020, at Craig, East Bank Demerara, on Andrew Thomas. Ranks of the
Guyana Police Force (GPF) discovered the black Toyota Fielder wagon abandoned at Friendship, EBD and an unlicensed .380 Harrisburg pistol and three live matching rounds were found in the car. The car was lodged at the Grove Police Station. The man was questioned and his story did not add up. He subsequently admitted to being involved in several armed robberies including the one that was committed on Thomas.
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VACANCY One Female Tutor. To teach a 5year old boy 9am to 5pm. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda. Experience Accounts clerk in Maths & English.Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda. Sales girl.Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda. Cook for Private Residence on East Coast. Contact: #2235273 or 223-5274 Waitress/Waiter. Contact #223-5274/ 225-0328 or email: rtilak@ adamantiumholdings.com Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call: #615-9132 DomesticFOR MaidSALE for Daytime. Call:#627-1154 Evening Cleaner caretaker (Male). Call: #627-1154 Dragger operator. Contact 2235273/223-5274 or email:rtilak@ adamantiumholdings.com Cook, must have restaurant and grilling experience. Contact 223-5274/225-0328 Looking for a job & educational services? Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Alexander Street or call: 6008457 Manager to work in Bar/ Restaruant. Contact: guyana.vacancies2020 @gmail.com Office Assistant, Labourers and Maintenance Workers. Interested person apply. Please call office: #615-7784 or 621-6969 Yardman/Handyman. Contact: #223-5273 or 2235274 Mechanic, Fitter/Machinist, Welder Fabricator and Male cleaner. Apply in person to 1823 Industrial Site, Eccles. Clerical Clerk for Eccles Office. English & Mathematics, Grade 1 or 2. Email application to: techserigy@yahoo.com
DEAR EDITOR, The dark clouds over Guyana washed away to reveal the brilliance of a sky hitherto unseen, the same applies to life when it is comprehensibly understood. As a Guyanese citizen and artist, I have been working for some time on a ten feet sculpture of our Rich Cultural Heritage, a symbol dedicated to Peace, Justice and National Reconciliation. It is made of Purple Heart wood and Symbolically painted.For 19 months Guyana has been under siege with racial tension and animosity conjured up to achieve political ends, compounded by the lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.Our greatest need is to respect the fundamental rights of our people to improve conditions of life, access to proper health care, education, opportunities, etc. Respect for our cultural heritage and cultural workers, early signs would signal our serious intention of addressing the burning issue of National Reconciliation. For years grass-root artists with no affiliation to the ruling parties of the day have been held in contempt and given no support, many of our senior artists have left Guyana WANTED Urgent Security at S&S Security. Tele: #225-5180 or 6916081 Labourers to work in Cabbage and Tomatoes farm. Experience 3-4 Years. Tele: #6956139, 679-7552, 638-7420 One cook to work in the interior, must know to bake Bread. Call: #683-3360 One Arc Welder. Must know to do grill work with limited supervision. Call # 613-3879 Truck Drivers to work Interior, To drive 4X4 and 6X6 TM. Must have knowledge of Buckhall road. Tele: #223-5180 One qualified Pharmacist to work in Essequibo. Interested person can make contact on cell: #625-5136. 8am to 4pm
Cook/Baker, Pitmen and Hauler Operator for interior location. Applicants must be Tyre Repair Techician. Call: experienced. Call: #231-2250 #227-1717 FOR SALE Saw Operator and Laborer for wood consecion. Interested Windows. 30X48 Sash Win- person. Call: #677-5710 (Red dows with used screens, Man) white frames, reflective or tinted glass $12,800. #679- Live in Couple. Duties: Husband-Driving, Wife-Sales Per3325 son, Georgetown Area. Tele: PENPAL #227-1813 Man seeking female age 30-40 One Live in Babysitter for serious relationship and Needed. One Hairdresser who willing to live in the Interior. knows to do everything. Contact Melisa: #695-5633 Tele: #673-2437
for greener pastures, the tale of those who remained, who have served this country with distinction is dreadfully painful, as in the cases of Winston Strick, Peter Edwards, Charlie, Rodrick and most recently Osaze, all of them died in abject poverty. The cultural symbol for peace, justice and national reconciliation will be on display shortly in Main Street, Georgetown.
The Guyana United Artists (GUA) takes this opportunity to congratulate President Ali and the People’s Progressive Party on yet another opportunity to do what is right, to Govern Guyana in the interest and welfare of All Guyanese. God Bless Guyana! Yours faithfully, Desmond Alli (General Secretary Guyana United Artists)
Opposition should congratulate ruling party
DEAR EDITOR, The election is over. Now is the time for healing and reconciliation and to bring the nation together and for institutional reconstruction. Opposition acrimony or cries of fraud would not help any party or the nation with healing. Contrary to what others may feel, the election was free and fair according to credible observers and the individuals who served as technical experts to the commission. The newly sworn in government is recognized globally. That would not change until another election or a court says otherwise. The government should be allowed to carry out the important task at hand amidst cooperation from the opposition. The new government faces monumental challenges as it confronts possible tensions with the opposition and its supporters and in the battle for peace and justice. The government has inherited a very fragile state – not only politically but economically as well with the country bankrupt. Continued opposition to the outcome would only prolong the acrimony and disunity that characterize the country.I recall in May 2015, when a victory was declared for the coalition amidst cries of fraud, the opposition caved in and did not declare the government as ‘fraudulent’ even though there were questions about fake statements of polls. Several eminent Indians (not the least being Swami Aksharnanda, Roshan Khan, Ravi Dev, Rhyaan
Shah, Baytoram Ramharack, and yours truly, among others) urged the PPP to concede defeat and let the court resolve the problem. The PPP acted as advised. I also appealed to the PPP leadership to congratulate the coalition on its achievement. I await the conscience of African intellectuals calling on the coalition to accept defeat and congratulate the PPP on a wellearned victory. African voices must not be silent. They were mostly quiet when there was a bold attempt to perpetrate fraud. I salute my African brothers and sisters, like Ruel Johnson, Alan Fenty, Nigel Hinds, and those in the Citizens’ Initiative, TNM, Change Guyana, ANUG, URP, who condemned and opposed electoral fraud. They are our heroes and heroines in the mould of Walter Rodney. Tacuma, David Hinds, Nigel Westmaas, Karen D’Souza, among others, disappointed the nation. Neither domestic nor international observers nor any of minor parties detected any fraud that would alter the result that the PPP won. Elements in the coalition, including the leadership of the AFC, should congratulate Dr. Irfaan Ali on his ascension to the Presidency, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo to the Vice Presidency, and Mark Phillips as Prime Minister. Such magnanimity would go a long way to strengthening democratic governance. Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram
Investigations of State... From page 4 appeal when the PPP was in government pre-2015; it was identical during the tenure of the coalition in the last few years. Secrecy and subterfuges have deposited us in one quagmire and controversy (cesspool) after another. We must be serious and consistent about wrongdoing by anyone at anytime and anywhere. The taxpaying public, the longsuffering citizens of this society, is due some honesty. My recommendation to the new government would be to hold, maintain, and deliver a similar standard of dedication to openness and fairness, accuracy and integrity from its own people, and at every level now that it has returned to office. Anything less would be destructive.For all the above reasons, I say this: let the investigations begin. Let them lead wherever they do. Then let us go from there. Sincerely, GHK Lall
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President Ali strips Lands Chief of critical powers
-All contracts, leases since NCM will be reviewed – Attorney General, Anil Nandlall
President Dr. Irfaan Ali yesterday gazetted an order stripping the Commissioner of Lands and Survey of critical powers vested to the Commissioner, a move that Attorney General Anil Nandlall said is intended to prevent the Commission from further sanctioning the renting and granting of leases, licence and permission of occupancy of all government lands. In the order issued yesterday, President Ali revoked the Delegations of Functions Order, 2016 vested to the Commissioner of the Lands and Survey under Order No.9 of 2016. That order states that “The Commissioner of Lands and Survey Commission is hereby deputed to exercise on behalf of the President, the functions relating to the sanctioning of renting and granting of leases, licence and permission of occupancy of all public lands...” Following the release of the official gazetted revocation order yesterday, Attorney General Anil Nandlall in a statement announced that the government will be conducting a review of all the leases, licences and permissions to occupy Public Lands granted by the Commission following
$105M paid... From page 14 BK's Brian Tiwari himself. On the first attempt, Kaieteur News had gotten onto the CEO, but that conversation was quickly disconnected after the reporter had identified herself and the media house she represented. Further phone calls were subsequently made to Tiwari, all of which went answered. A text message was also sent out to his personal number, but no response was provided. When this current contract was awarded on June 24, it had raised and continues to raise questions about transparency of government spending in general, and specifically, the awarding of contracts when a legal government was not in place. To compound issues, public accountability advocates have argued that the previous administration had lacked the authority in itself to approve of multi-million dollar contracts like this and others, owing to the fact that Cabinet is required to give the green light for any contract worth in excess of $15M. Moreover, Cabinet was nullified with the dissolution of Parliament in December of 2019 and that status quo only recently changed when a declaration was announced last Sunday.
the December 2, 2018 No Confidence Vote. The Attorney General argued that the APNU+AFC Government was reduced to a caretaker status following vote and hence was not authorized to issue documents related to land distribution. In an interview with Kaieteur News yesterday, Commissioner of Lands and Survey, Trevor Benn said he received no consultation regarding the order and the revocation of some of his key responsibilities, adding, however, that “It is the president’s prerogative to delegate or revoke the authority.” Moreover, Commissioner Benn also pointed out that the initial order was issued by former president, Mr. David Granger. This, Benn added, was done with the intention of “speeding up” the lengthy application process attached to the renting/granting of leases and licences of govern-
noted that such authority had never been granted to a Commissioner of Lands and Survey until his appointment in 2016 and is just one of 22 functions of the Lands and Surveys Commission. Before his appointment as Commissioner of the Lands and Survey, Benn served as a Senior Land Developer with the commission. He later resigned from that post to serve as a Programme Analyst with the United Nations Development Programme Analyst Department for several years. Following the PPP/C’s removal from power in 2015, Benn later rejoined the Commission where he was ap-
Commissioner of Lands and Survey, Mr. Trevor Benn
ment lands. When asked whether he held any objections to the revocation of his authority as Commissioner, Benn reiterated that the grating and removal of such authority is
solely dependent on the President’s prerogative. Benn further added that the authority was “granted to him by one president and can be taken away by another.” Explaining further, Benn
Regional agricultural officials to meet next week BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Caribbean’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the implications for the plant health community will be among matters discussed when the Caribbean Plant Health Directors Forum (CPHD) meet later this month. The 13th annual CPHD Forum will be held virtually on August 11-12, and will bring together delegates from the 32 member countries and territories along with several partner organizations including various international, regional, national organizations and universities.
The CPHD said that prior to the meeting, it held two webinars in May and July with a focus on the Caribbean response to the COVID 19 Pandemic and the implications for the Plant Health Community and the European Union Plant Health Regulations and the Caribbean’s Compliance Challenges respectively.“The 13th CPHD meeting will provide relevant and timely updates on plant health matters and initiatives being undertaken in the Caribbean region that will impact/ or require the CPHD’s membership support and involvement,” the CPHD said in a
statement, adding that delegates “will have intense discussions aimed at bolstering the ability of member countries to identify, exclude, and respond to pests and diseases that threaten regional agriculture and natural resources and to resolve issues that might impede the trade of Caribbean agricultural products regionally and internationally”.’”.
pointed as Commissioner by former President David Granger in April 2016. Following his appointment, former president Granger issued Order No.9 of 2016, granting Benn the authority to make sanctions on behalf of the president in the granting of leases, licence and permission for the occupancy of public lands. While in power, the APNU+AFC coalition government had come under scrutiny by the PPP/C for facilitating numerous controversial land deals including the signing away of over 130 acres of prime lands to various entities along the East Coast Demerara.
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South American ambassadors congratulate Ali
Mr. Patricio Becker, Chilean Ambassador to Guyana greets President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali
P
resident Mohamed Irfaan Ali yesterday morning received a courtesy call from Maria Clara Duclos Carisio, Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana; Patricio Becker, Chilean Ambassador to Guyana; and Felipe Alejandro Gardella, Argentine Ambassador to Guyana. The meeting took place at the Office of the President. During the meeting, the ambassadors extended congratulations to President Ali and noted that they look forward to working with the new government to advance mutual interests. They also shared a communiqué which stated that the “Governments of Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador Paraguay and Peru, member countries of the Forum for the
Progress and Integration of South America (PROSUR) and Bolivia as Observer, congratulate Mohamed Irfaan Ali on his election as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and appreciate the work carried out by the Electoral Observation Mission of the Caribbean Community and the support of the Organization of American States.” The countries said they salute the people, political forces and institutions of Guyana for their commitment to democracy and with respect for the popular will expressed at the ballot box on March 2. “We vote to continue,” said the communiqué, “to strengthen our ties with Guyana and contribute to the development and well-being of its people.”
Teen remanded for allegedly killing miner over girl
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1 6 - y e a r- o l d Venezuelan was on Thursday remanded to prison for the fatal stabbing of an 18-yearold miner over a girl. The teen made his appearance before Magistrate Allan Wilson in the Lethem Magistrate's Court. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on July 19, 2020, at Marudi Mountain, he murdered Shadrack Martin, of Aishalton Village, South Rupununi, Region Nine. According to police report, on the day in question, Martin and the teen were at a birthday party imbibing, when a heated argument ensued over a young woman. The teen then reportedly pulled out a knife and dealt the miner a stab to his right upper chest, causing him to collapse. The miner was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Aishalton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The matter was reported and
Dead: Shadrack Martin ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) visited the scene where they discovered the knife that was used in the alleged stabbing of the miner. An investigation was launched and the teen was later arrested and charged for the offence. The teen was remanded to prison and is expected to make his next court appearance on August 27, 2020.
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Svitolina and Bertens join growing list of top players to withdraw from US Open due to the coronavirus pandemic Fifth-ranked Elina MailOnline - Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens will join world No 1 Ash Barty in skipping the US Open during the coronavirus pandemic. The fifth-ranked Svitolina, a Ukrainian who was a semi-finalist at Flushing Meadows a year ago, posted on social media that she doesn’t ‘feel comfortable to travel to US without putting my team and myself at high risk.’ World No 7 Bertens, who is Dutch, wrote on Instagram that one of her concerns is the need to be quarantined upon returning to Europe after the US Open, which runs from August 31 to September 13 and will not have any spectators. The French Open - where Bertens reached the semi-finals in 2016 - is scheduled to begin on September 27. She also wants to play on the clay-court tournament in Rome before heading to Paris. ’The situation around COVID-19 is still that worrying and the health of everyone and the control over this virus is priority,’ Bertens wrote. Defending men’s champion Rafael Nadal also has said he won’t play at the US Open, citing concerns about traveling during the pandemic. Roger Federer is sitting out the rest of the season after two operations on his right knee, while Stan Wawrinka, Fabio Fognini and Gael Monfils are among other men not going to
Svitolina (above) was a semi-finalist at the US Open last year.
New York. The professional tennis tours went on hiatus in March because of the pandemic. The women’s circuit returned to action this week in Palermo, Italy, The men are scheduled to begin play later this month.
Saturday August 08 , 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Vivid dreams are likely to cause you to wake up feeling angry for no clear reason, Aries. You might want to take a close look at your dreams and try to analyze them so you can understand the source of your anger and how best to get over it. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Either your lover or a colleague is likely to be irritable today, Taurus, which you might find upsetting. Bear in mind that this person's mood probably has little,. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Too many unfinished tasks may have you feeling pressured, Gemini, creating unnecessary stress. Pace yourself and don't panic if you have to let some go for now. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Emotions run high as disagreements turn into quarrels among members of a group you're affiliated with, Cancer. Stay out of it. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Pressure to get unfinished tasks completed and new ones begun causes emotions to run high, Leo. Everyone, including you, is likely to feel tired and stressed, and quarrels may erupt. VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) If you're able to be involved in a class or any kind of group activity or social situation, be prepared for quarrels to break out among people there, Virgo.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Frustration could tempt you to release that energy by spending a lot of money, Libra. You might overindulge in food or drink or resort to impulse buying. Treat yourself a little, but don't go overboard. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Frustrated energy resulting from an inability to put plans into action could have your nerves on edge today, Scorpio. You might be tempted to get into petty quarrels with those around you. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Overwork and the resulting stress and nerve strain could result in tension headaches today, Sagittarius. It might be a good idea to start the day pacing yourself and concentrating on the most pressing tasks. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You're probably feeling especially energetic but with little if any outlet for your energy, Capricorn. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A conflict between career and home obligations could arise today, Aquarius. You may feel powerless, so it could make you feel irritable. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) This could be a challenging day, Pisces. You might receive a call that brings disconcerting news, making you angry or upset. You could be tempted to take it out on the caller, but don't. He or she is just the messenger.
WNBA reports no positive COVID-19 tests in bubble Field Level Media - The WNBA has not had a player with a confirmed positive for COVID-19 since the quarantine period in the league’s bubble in Bradenton, Fla., ended four weeks ago. The league announced the results of the 139 players on Friday (yesterday). Seven players tested positive during the WNBA’s prearrival quarantine period between June 28 and July 5. Two of them were on the Indiana Fever, who delayed their arrival to Bradenton because of the test results. The teams are playing a 22game schedule at IMG Acad-
emy in Bradenton. Regularseason play began July 25 and is scheduled to end Sept. 12, followed by the playoffs. Entering play Friday, the Seattle Storm (5-1) sit atop the standings of the 12-team league.
NBA roundup: Bucks rally vs... From page 25 Malcolm Brogdon led all scorers with 25 points and helped buoy a fourth-quarter r a l l y . Sacramento Kings 140 - New Orleans Pelicans 125 Bogdan Bogdanovic scored a career-best 35 points as Sacramento got its first victory of the NBA restart, defeating New Orleans. De’Aaron Fox added 30 points and 10 assists, Harrison Barnes scored 22, Nemanja Bjelica had 11 and Cory Joseph 10 as the Kings ended a three-game losing streak in the restart. Zion Williamson scored 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting in 22 minutes, and Brandon Ingram also had 24 for the Pelicans, who dropped to 1-3 in the res t a r t . Los Angeles Clippers 126 - Dallas Mavericks 111 - Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined for two hoops in a ninepoint, tiebreaking flurry midway through the f o u r t h q u a r t e r, p r o p e l ling Los Angeles to a v i c t o r y o v e r D a l l as. Leonard finished with a team-high 29 points, and George had 24 for the Clippers, who earned just their second win in four games in the central Florida bubble. Kristaps Porzingis had 30 points and nine rebounds, and Luka Doncic scored 29 points for the Mavericks, who took their third loss in four games.
Bolton boss... From page 27 are realising it will be hard work to be good with the ball, so yes it will be tough, but we have six weeks now to get them to where they need to be. “The way they have worked has been incredible, really. I think they have bought into what we are doing and enjoying what we are doing. “They will get the reward for that when they step on to a pitch on a Saturday.”
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Taking every precaution, Turku Lewis Hamilton tops 70th and Monaco ready to kickstart Anniversary Grand Prix practice the international season Next week, track is back WorldAthletics - After a delay of more than three months, the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting series kicks off on Tuesday (11) with the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland. Three days later, the Herculis EBS Meeting in Monaco will signal the start of the scaled down 2020 Wanda Diamond League season. As recently as two months ago, with event postponements and cancellations becoming the norm, it began to seem more and more unlikely that any season would emerge from the havoc that the coronavirus pandemic has left in its wake. But JeanPierre Schoebel and Jari Salonen, respectively the directors of the Monaco and Turku meetings, saw things differently. From the beginning of the pandemic, both have continued their work under the assumption that their events would go ahead. Instead of waiting until next year, Salonen pushed his meet back two months, hoping the
situation would improve. Schoebel too, bided his time. Lockdown restrictions in the Principality eventually eased, paving the way for his meet, like Turku’s, to go on after all, albeit under strict conditions. ”Life is beginning to start again,” Schoebel said. “The Herculis EBS meeting in Monaco gives the possibility to show that, yes we have been confined, but now life is starting again and that we can live again.” But in order to do that, Schoebel added, “We have changed everything,” from the athletes’ travel and accommodation logistics to the way the competition will be staged and conducted. “We studied everything to ensure we’d provide the maximum security to everyone involved in the meeting.” ‘We’ve never worked as hard as this year’ - Staging an international competition has its challenges under the best of times. Throw in a slew of unprecedented public health and safety concerns, global travel restrictions and painful
Monaco Meeting Director Jean Pierre Schoebel (Getty Images) budget cuts, and you find yourself facing a near impossible chore. ”We’ve never worked as hard as this year,” Schoebel said. “I can’t tell you how difficult the situation has been.” Especially with bringing athletes from the United States, Kenya and Uganda, for example, countries that are not yet on the European Union’s Schengen Area “safe” list, therefore limiting non-essential entry. For months Schoebel and his team have worked closely with French and Monegasque authorities investigating ways to secure entry visas and formulate transport options for athletes arriving from outside of the European Union.
WADA to reduce bans for recreational drugs from 2021
(Reuters) - Athletes testing positive for recreational drugs out-of-competition will be banned by the World AntiDoping Authority (WADA) for 1-3 months instead of two years when the policy is changed next year, officials said on Thursday (yesterday). WADA’s reduced sanctions for drugs that do not enhance the performance of an athlete will come into effect from Jan. 1, 2021, with a stronger focus on catching athletes who cheat instead. WADA’s new code says athletes caught taking non-performance- enhancing drugs during out-of-competition tests will see their punishment reduced to three months unless they agree to complete a rehab treatment program, in which case the sanction will be reduced to one month. ”If the athlete can establish that any ingestion or use occurred out of competition and was unrelated to sport performance, then the period of ineligibility shall be three (3)months,” WADA’s new code says. ”In addition, the period of ineligibility calculated... may be reduced to one (1) month if
the athlete or other person satisfactorily completes a substance of abuse treatment program approved by the Anti-Doping Organization.” WADA approved a revision of the World Anti-Doping Code in November 2019 after a two-year consultation process. WADA will also introduce a new Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) to ensure whistleblowers who share information on doping in sport are protected. Discouraging an individual to come forward or retaliation will count as an offence. Use of multiple prohibited substances will also mean bans can be increased by an additional two years while falsifying documents after an alleged ADRV will count as a
separate offence which invites another ban. Last month, former marathon world record holder Kenyan Wilson Kipsang was handed a four-year ban for ADRVs that included using a fake photo of a traffic accident to justify one of four missed whereabouts appointments. UK Anti-Doping chief executive Nicole Sapstead said they were working to educate their athletes and sports bodies about the new rules over the next five months. ”Our job will be working with athletes and sports, so they are aware of how the changes impact them and what they need to do to make sure they are working to the rules by the new year,” Sapstead said in a statement.
BBCsport - Lewis Hamilton headed team-mate Valtteri Bottas for Mercedes in second practice at the 70th Anniversary GP. Hamilton was 0.176 seconds ahead of Bottas but on different tyres. Mercedes were assessing which tyres might be most suitable for qualifying as teams struggled with durability in high temperatures at Silverstone.Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo was third, from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Racing Point’s Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg. The lifetime - or lack of it - of the tyres was the big focus of the day as teams came to grips with a softer tyre selection from Pirelli than at last weekend’s British Grand Prix at the same track. The tyres are all one grade softer this weekend, so last weekend’s ‘soft’ tyre which was very much not favoured - is the medium this weekend, and the ‘hard’ which was the preferred race tyre last weekend is not supplied this time. The tyre supplied as the ‘soft’ this weekend is the second softest of Pirelli’s range, and it appears unsuited to the demands of Silverstone’s high-speed sweeps on a summer’s day with tempera-
Lewis Hamilton finished fastest in the second practice for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. tures of 30C. Hamilton’s fastest time was set on medium tyres, while Bottas’ was on a soft. Stroll and Hulkenberg also used the medium to set their fastest times. Behind the Racing Points, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was seventh quickest, ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz. George Russell was 16th in the Williams.Leclerc’s team-mate Sebastian Vettel was closer to the 22-year-old than he was on a bad weekend for the German last time out, but still 0.4secs back in 14th place. Vettel also suffered an engine failure towards the end of the session.
The day was dominated by off-track news. Hulkenberg’s role as stand-in for Sergio Perez, who has coronavirus, was confirmed only a couple of hours before the first session. Following a series of protests from Renault, Racing Point were also found to have breached the regulations on designing their car and fined €400,000 and docked 15 points for illegally copying Mercedes’ 2019 brake ducts. And in the gap between the sessions, Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff revealed that the team were in a stand-off with the sport’s bosses over the new contract they need to sign to race in 2021.
Concacaf launches plan to resume suspended Club Competitions Miami, FL - Concacaf yesterday agreed a plan to resume the Confederation’s club competitions across the region. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Confederation suspended several competitions and, in some cases, postponed start dates. Following approval from the Concacaf Council, Concacaf can now provide a detailed update on the 2020 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield, the 2020 Flow Caribbean Club Championship and the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League.2020 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield - The Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield was due to take in place in April in Curacao but was suspended. Concacaf is working with the relevant clubs, and with the Curacao Football Federation, to determine if the competition can be played in mid-September. A final decision will be communicated by Concacaf by the end of August. 2020 Flow Caribbean Club Championship - The group stages of the Flow Caribbean Club Championship successfully took place in Jamaica, from January 29 to February
9. The final stage was due to take place in May, in the Dominican Republic, but was suspended. Concacaf is working with the four clubs participating in the final stage, the Dominican Football League and the Dominican Republic Football Federation to determine if the competition can be resumed towards the end of September. A final decision will be communicated by Concacaf by the end of August. 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League - The 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League was due to begin on July 28, but the start of the competition was postponed. Concacaf can now confirm a new schedule, with the opening matches due to be played on October 20, and the second leg of the Final on January 28, 2021. In order to fit the competition into this new schedule, the Preliminary Round and Round of 16 will be played as single game ties at the highest ranked club’s stadium. All other rounds will be played as two game ties (home and away).The official draw for the competition is scheduled for September 21.
More details regarding the draw, the format and the dates of each Round will be announced in the coming weeks. Concacaf has agreed to implement the temporary amendment to IFAB Law 3 for this competition, enabling teams to field up to five substitutes per match. 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League - The Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League was suspended at the quarterfinal stage, with 11 matches remaining to conclude the region’s flagship men’s club competition.Concacaf remains in discussions with the leagues, clubs and stakeholders involved and is working on a range of options, including the possibility of centralizing the remaining ties in one city. The Confederation is committed to concluding the 2020 Concacaf Champions League and crowning a regional champion. The winner will also qualify as the Concacaf representative at the FIFA Club World Cup.A further update on a schedule and format to resume this competition will be communicated in due course.
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Man City beat Real to reach Champions League quarter-finals BBCsport - Manchester City reached the Champions League quarter-finals after knocking out record 13-time winners Real Madrid. Leading 2-1 from the first leg, City extended their aggregate lead through Raheem Sterling’s close-range finish after Raphael Varane’s mistake. Karim Benzema equalised on the night with a header but Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus made it 4-2 on aggregate after another shocking error by Varane. City will play Lyon in a one-off quarter-final tie on 15 August. It is the third successive season Pep Guardiola’s side, who finished second in the Premier League table, have reached the last eight in Europe’s premier club knockout competition. City, seeking to win the Champions League for the first time, have not reached the semi-finals since 2015-16, when they were knocked out by Real Madrid. Ronaldo scores twice by Juventus knocked out by Lyon Lyon survived a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired comeback from Juventus to hang on and book a Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City. Leading 10 from February’s first leg, the
Sterling hesitates from pulling the trigger as the Englishman looks to net his second goal of the contest.
It was Lyon’s first competitive goal in 156 days and talk they were undercooked proved wrong. French side were handed a soft early penalty which Memphis Depay converted in style. That left Juve needing to score three times to progress and Ronaldo got one back from the penalty spot. He then thundered in his 130th Champions League goal but Lyon held on. Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri may have guided his side to a ninth straight Serie A title but they were lethargic throughout and his position could be under threat. Juve have not won the Champions League since 1996 and the wait goes on at least another year. To question Sarri after one
year in charge may seem harsh, but the reality is that in Turin - as in Paris and in Munich - winning the league is the minimum requirement. Ending that now 25-year drought in the Champions League is the goal and were it not for Ronaldo, Juve offered next to nothing as an attacking force. Six of Sarri’s starting XI are in their 30s and they were painfully slow in approach at times. Where there is the remarkable Ronaldo there is hope, and his second on the night was a superb, swerving left-footed shot from range that gave hope of another tilt at the business end of the competition.
Guyanese Lennox Allen battles David Morrell tonight in US Interim version WBA Super Middleweight title at stake Thirty-five-year-old Guyanese Lennox ‘Two Sharp’Allen will match gloves with Cuban-born American David Morrell tonight at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles USA for the interim WBA Super Middleweight title. This fight will be the main supporting bout of the feature presentation between Jamal James and Thomas Dulormoe for the WBA interim Welterweight title and will be staged behind closed doors due the global pandemic. Allen, who left Guyana in 2009 for Brooklyn, New York, boasts an unbeaten Professional record of 22 bouts, no loss and 1 draw with 14 knockouts since making his Pro debut on April 16, 2004 against Troy Lewis as an 18-year-old. But the 6ft 1" South Paw has not fought since February last year when he beat Derrick Webster to win the WBC Gold Super Middleweight title and was afforded a Motorcade welcome from the Airport on his return to Guyana. For the 22-year-old Morrell (20, 2 KOs), this opportunity comes less than a year as a
Pro. “I feel like he skipped the line to the title but it is what it is. I know the politics of the sport; I have witnessed them first hand throughout my career. This is a business though and I now have the opportunity to handle my business in the ring.” Allen did not have any fights in 2014 before being removed from the ring for almost three years making his comeback in July 2018. But since then he has had just two fights, including the emphatic 10round win over Webster last February on ESPN. Another year went by without a fight before getting the call from his Manager for an opportunity to challenge for his first major title, sixteen years after his debut. This fight was originally set for April 11 in Minneapolis, the hometown of the Cuban who has an amateur record of 135 bouts with just two defeats but due to the ongoing covid19 pandemic, the Card was postponed to tonight. Allen told Kaiteur Sport on Thursday night after a final training session that while it’s a ‘no fans arena’ the fights will be shown on a local cable TV network. “Despite the corona virus pandemic we had a great
eight-week camp and I am ready to go” informed Allen, who was born on July 1, 1985. For the inexperienced Morrell who was just 6 years-old when Allen made his Pro debut in 2014, it’s a four-month delay and nine months between fights. ”I’ve waited a long time for this opportunity, so long there were many points in my career where I felt like it would never happen,” admits Allen. “It’s kind of amusing that I finally get to fight for the world title and it’s against a fighter who jumped ahead of a long line of fighters” stated Allen who is 13 years older than Morrell. ”But I always say that I have to look forward. I can’t worry about what happened or how someone else got here. This is my opportunity to prove to everyone where I belong in the super middleweight division, and to bring that World title home.” Said the Super Middleweight. Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis, Andrew Murray, Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite and Gary ‘Acid’ Sinclair are the only Guyanese to win ‘official’ World titles. (Sean Devers)
But when Ronaldo headed a corner over the top, that hope was extinguished.
Ronaldo could yet win the trophy with a third team, joining Clarence Seedorf in an exclu-
sive club, but time is running out for the 35-year-old. As it may be now for Sarri, too.
NBA roundup: Bucks rally vs. Heat, claim East’s top seed
Field Level Media Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton scored 33 points each as the Milwaukee Bucks — who trailed by 23 in the first half — rallied to defeat the Miami Heat 130-116 on Thursday as part of the NBA restart near Orlando. Antetokounmpo, who picked up his fifth foul with 10:48 left in the fourth, added a gamehigh 12 rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes. Middleton had a team-high eight assists and six rebounds in 34 minutes. Milwaukee (55-14), which has the best record in the NBA, overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to snap a two-game losing streak and clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference. With Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic out injured, the Heat (43-26) were led by Duncan Robinson’s 21 points. All-Star center Bam Adebayo, slowed by foul trouble, was held to six points, five rebounds and six assists in 21 minutes. Portland Trail Blazers 125 Denver Nuggets 115 Damian Lillard recorded 45 points and 12 assists and matched his career high of 11 3-point baskets to lead Portland to a victory over Denver. Gary Trent Jr. added 27 points and matched his career best of seven 3-pointers as the Trail Blazers moved within a half-game of the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference playoff derby. Michael Porter Jr. registered 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Jerami Grant scored 18 points for the Nuggets. Denver played without starting guards Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Gary Harris (hip) and starting small forward
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) passes the ball against Miami Heat forward Kelly Olynyk (9) and guard Kendrick Nunn (25) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at The Arena. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports. Will Barton (knee) for the fourth straight game. Coach Mike Malone sat most of his starters other than Porter down the stretch. Houston Rockets 113 - Los Angeles Lakers 97 - James Harden paired 39 points with 12 assists, and Houston claimed the season series against Los Angeles. Harden added eight rebounds and three steals to his ledger in carrying the load with All-Star Russell Westbrook (right quad contusion) sidelined. Ben McLemore (20 points) and Jeff Green (15 points) helped with a combined 8-for20 3-point shooting. The Rockets hit 21 of 57 attempts from deep. The Lakers played without LeBron James (sore right groin) and continued their offensive struggles. Anthony Davis posted 17 points and 12 rebounds but also committed seven turnovers, while
Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers, who shot 2 of 19 on 3-pointers, with 21 points. Phoenix Suns 114 - Indiana Pacers 99 - A run of 21 unanswered points spanning the third and fourth quarters powered Phoenix to a win over Indiana in seedinground competition. The Suns moved to a perfect 4-0 since the restart from the COVID-19 hiatus, and did so trailing for less than three total minutes against a Pacers team that came into the matchup also undefeated through three games in the Orlando-area bubble. Cameron Payne led the Phoenix reserves in igniting the decisive run, scoring 12 of his 15 points over that stretch. Dario Saric added another 16 points off the bench, as the Suns’ 34-16 scoring advantage from the backups made the difference. Indiana’s (Continued on page 23)
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‘Scooby’ Barrington aiming for sub... From page 27 but i most certainly believe i stand a chance. In favourable conditions I’m confident that I would be able to match strides with him once I’m 100% fit and prepared.” The AAG, speaking exclusively with Kaieteur Sport during this week, had revealed that they are working towards August 30th
as the date for the National Senior Championships, based on the proposed phase 5 date (August 14) of reopening set out by the National Covid-19 Task Force. Barrington said that if the August 30th Meet is a reality, then his Coach, Julian Edmonds, will make the decision if he will compete or not
Fabian Allen ruled out of Caribbean Premier League after missing flight Fabian Allen will miss the CPL after he was late for his flight CPL T20 via Getty Images
ESPNcricinfo - Fabian Allen has been ruled out of the 2020 Caribbean Premier League after missing his flight from Jamaica to Barbados. Players, staff and officials were required to arrive in Trinidad two weeks before the start of the tournament on August 18, with a number of charter planes organised to fly them to the island. Allen, who was retained by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in last month’s draft, was due to reach Barbados on an internal flight on Monday, August 3 before boarding the charter to Trinidad, but was late to the airport and missed his flight.”Unfortunately there was some confusion with his understanding of the flight details and he missed the flight,” Allen’s agent confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. “We explored all possibilities, but
due to the pandemic and travel restrictions in Trinidad, the charter flight on Monday was the only way he could enter the country.” Under Trinidad and Tobago’s tight lockdown rules, nobody is able to come in or out of the country other than on those charter flights, meaning Allen will not be replaced in the squad. Those involved in the tournament are currently quarantining in the Hilton hotel in Port-of-Spain, and all tested negative upon their arrival. Allen’s absence is the latest in a series of blows for the Patriots. He has been a revelation for them with the bat in the competition in the last two seasons, making 337 runs at a strike rate of 181.18. He has also chipped in with the ball, and took one of the CPL’s best-ever catches as a
BBCsport - England are clinging on in the first Test against Pakistan after a Ben Stokes-led fightback on a fluctuating third day at Emirates Old Trafford. The home side took four wickets for 27 runs, including two for Stokes, in the fading light to leave Pakistan 137-8, leading by 244. Even now that represents a formidable target for England to chase on a surface spitting and biting for the spin bowlers. History is not on their side, either. Only once before have more runs been chased in the fourth innings to win a Test on this ground. Earlier England, who were 924 overnight, salvaged something from their first innings by reaching 219. Ollie Pope moved on to 62 and Jos Buttler came through a forensic examination from Mohammad Abbas to edge his way to 38. Buttler was the first in a slump of three wickets for 11 runs, an overall final collapse of 560. All of those wickets fell to leg-spin, Yasir Shah ending with 4-66 and Shadab Khan picking up 2-13.
This was a fascinating and entertaining day, containing the fall of 14 wickets and, for long periods, the feeling that England were fatally damaged by their previous errors. Lives given by wicketkeeper Buttler to Shan Masood, who made 156, captain Joe Root’s tactics and finding themselves 12-3 on Thursday evening left England in an almost hopeless situation. That they are not entirely out of the contest is thanks to the way they battled in the face of some relentless pace bowling in the morning session, and a late flurry of wickets when Pakistan were on the brink of moving out of sight. At 101-4, the tourists were 208 ahead, gathering runs quickly and heaping frustration on an increasingly dejected home side. England’s inspiration first came from a direct-hit run out from Dom Sibley, then the introduction of the irrepressible Stokes, who was not thought to be fit to bowl in this match. He had Mohammad Rizwan lbw and bounced out Shaheen Afridi either side of
substitute fielder in 2017. The franchise’s head coach Simon Helmot withdrew from the tournament following a positive Covid-19 test and a clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore’s pre-IPL camp meant his assistant Malolan Rangarajan would also be unable to travel. Left arm-spinner Dennis Bulli also withdrew following a positive test, and was replaced by Trinidad and Tobago legspinner Imran Khan. Rassie van der Dussen was unable to confirm his travel plans, with his place taken by Otago batsman Nick Kelly. The other late withdrawals from the tournament were Afghans Qais Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Noor Ahmad, who did not have the required transit visa to pass through the UK and board one of the CPL’s charter flights. Antum Naqvi, an Australian allrounder who has been part of Lahore Qalandars’ development programmes, will train with the Jamaica Tallawahs but is not part of their squad. Four members of the party that toured England for West Indies’ recent Test series have been added as replacement players: Shamarh Brooks and Keon Harding (Barbados Tridents), Jermaine Blackwood (Tallawahs) and Roston Chase (St Lucia Zouks).
England v Pakistan: Ben Stokes inspires home fightback
Stuart Broad trapping Shadab leg before to give England an outside chance of victory in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion. First Test, Emirates Old Trafford (day three of five). Pakistan 326 & 137-8: Shafiq 29, Stokes 2-11, Woakes 2-11. England 219: Pope 62, Buttler 38, Yasir 4-66.
Yasir Shah punches the air after bowling Jos Buttler. ©AFP
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Saturday August 08, 2020
‘Scooby’ Barrington aiming for sub 1m 50s in new season Says if 100% fit would match strides with record holder
By Calvin Chapman National 800m champion, Devaun ‘Scooby’ Barrington has revealed that his target for the upcoming season will be to lower his personal best (PB) time of 1m 50s to 1m 48s. The middle distance specialist during his interview with Kaieteur Sport revealed that the 1:48 time was his target for this season but the deadly Covid19 pandemic has put a damper on his plans with the last Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Track & Field meet being held since last March at the National
Track & Field Center (NTFC) on the West Coast. The pandemic forced the country into a lockdown and only recently persons have returned to training using the guidelines of World Athletics but the impact of not being in action since March lingers. Barrington shared that, “Most definitely not competing for a prolonged period would’ve affected me mentally and physically because at the starting of the season it is important to have outlined your specific goals and timings to achieve. It means then that the whole
coaching programme and cycle would’ve been h a m p e r e d . ” ”Going forward they’re still doubts about the reopening of the proper training facilities and the National Track and Field Centre. So we have to still train with a sense of uncertainty, which again leaves us at a disadvantage because my coach and I don’t want me to peak when there is no c o m p e t i t i o n . ” Barrington expounded that “Competition is extremely important because you get a measure of where you’re at
Bolton boss Ian Evatt explains why ‘hybrid’ Liam Gordon can be a hit
Liam Gordon The Bolton News - Ian Evatt believes ‘hybrid’ wingback Liam Gordon (Golden Jaguar) could end up being a fine bit of business for Wanderers. The Guyana international was snapped up on a free transfer from Dagenham and Redbridge last week and made a good impression on his first outing in Bolton’s 3-0 victory at Atherton Colls. Gordon came to Evatt’s attention playing in the National League last season and fit into the data-driven recruitment model which has been drafted in this summer. ”Liam is very quick, athletic, has high energy and a lovely left foot,” the head coach told The Bolton News. “He has a good change of pace and he’s also technically very good. ”He’s a young player with loads of improvement ahead of him. He wants to learn and I think he can be a big asset for the football club.” Evatt’s
tactical plan has yet to be completely unfurled at Wanderers, with further signings to be made and shape work to be completed on the training ground over the next five weeks.The two wing backs proved crucial positions for him at Barrow last season, however, and Gordon could soon be joined on the opposite flank by ex-Everton man, Gethin Jones. “They are more like attackers – I call them hybrids, they are as much wingers as they are defenders,” Evatt explained of h i s w i n g - b a c k s . ”They need to be able to attack and also have some defensive responsibility as well. “We have been very specific with recruitment in that area and Liam definitely fits the bill.” Evatt has made fitness one of his top priorities on the training ground and has been encouraged by the response of the players over the first couple of weeks.”I think they (Continued on page 23)
and need to be rather than just training blindly.” The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) athlete highlighted that the lucrative Aliann Pompey Invitational will be missed this year, “I always look forward to this meet because I get to experience a much higher level of competition from the foreign athletes and it’s a great l e a r n i n g o p p o r t u n i t y. ” Since dominating the 800m for a few years locally, he was really looking forward for some international competition with a potential clash with current National
Devaun Barrington
record holder, Quamel Prince, who is U.S. based. His thoughts on the Prince who ran 1:45.58 (1m 45.58s)
last year read, “By far he’s more superior being that he’s a sub 1:50 runner and I’m not (Continued on page 26)
rt o p S Allen battles in one of his fights.
Guyanese Lennox Allen battles David Morrell tonight in US
‘Scooby’ Barrington aiming for sub 1m 50s in new season Says if 100% fit would match strides with record holder
Barrington leading from the front as usual Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8452, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.