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Thursday Edition August 11, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 32 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 79,625

Cash-strapped oil company in Corentyne Block reports Letter surfaces US$6.8M loss for proving insurance talks were held on first half of 2022 full liability coverage ...as stakeholders press Govt. to release documents

Frustrated Lindeners block bridge in protest against unfinished road project p.Residents blocked Wismar Bridge 12

Five-day fire at Cuba oil depot after lightning strikes facility

Berbice deepwater port will not meet 2022 deadline- CGX The US$2B loan will not be invested to make money, but instead poured into infrastructure to make the politicians more rich, happy and leave your children with the debt for them to pay. @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

Thursday August 11, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Cash-strapped Oil Company in Corentyne Block records US$6.8 million loss for first half of 2022

By Kiana Wilburg

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same period in 2021, due to increased business development costs related to pursuing strategic options.

Financial statements also note that the company has a history of operating losses and as at June 30, 2022 had a working capital deficiency of US$83,478,546 and an accumulated deficit of US$317,364,980.

In fact, CGX said the ability of the company to continue as a going concern is dependent on securing additional required financing through issuing additional equity or debt instruments, the sale of company assets, securing a joint

GX Energy Inc. announced on Wednesday that for the first half of the year it has recorded almost US$7M in losses.

Specifically, the company with Canadian heritage said it recorded a net and comprehensive loss of US$6.8M or US$0.02 per share for the six month period ended June 30, 2022, compared with a net loss of US$3.4M or US$0.01 per share for the same period in 2021.

In its latest financial statements CGX said net loss for the period is consistent with prior periods as expected, adding that the differences in the period include interest expense which increased by US$2,262,700 to US$2,638,308 in the six month period ended June 30, 2022 from US$375,608 for the same period in 2021.

CGX said the CGX Executive Chairman and increase in interest Executive Director (Guyana), expense pertained to Professor Suresh Narine 2021 and 2022 convertible loans it has with joint venture partner, Frontera Energy Corporation.

It said too that general and administrative costs increased by farm-out for its Petroleum US$325,712 to US$1,319,419 in Production Licences (PPLs), or the six month period ended June 30, securing a partner for the deepwater 2022 from US$993,707 for the port project.

A map showing the Corentyne Block CGX is left with.

It said as well that it does not have sufficient cash flow to meet its operating requirements for the 12 month period from the statement of financial position date.

CGX was keen to note however that it has been successful in raising financing in the past, where recently it was able to raise US$35 million through a convertible loan.

It noted nonetheless that there

exists material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt as to the company's ability to continue as a going concern.

Kaieteur News previously reported that CGX initially held the PPLs for three licences.

Due to its inability to honour its minimal work obligations, it was instructed to return to the State two of those blocks—the Demerara and

Berbice.

It continues to hold the Corentyne Block but has since relinquished the majority interest in the block to Frontera Energy Corporation due to its lack of funds to meet upcoming commitments.

CGX and Frontera are expected to drill their second well called Wei-1 in October.

Man, daughter found guilty of killing Ruby fisherman during second trial ...neighbour freed S

urendra Sukhdeo and his daughter, Mandy Sukhdeo were on Wednesday found guilty of killing 22-year-old fisherman Shereffudeen Nazamudeen of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo.

Their neighbour Rean Ghani who was also charged with the crime was freed. The trio was charged with murder and the re-trial into the 2017 murder had commenced last month before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow a 12member Jury in the Demerara High Court.

Surendra, Mandy and Rean, all denied that on February 14, 2017 at Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, they murdered Nazamudeen called “Sheriff.” On Wednesday after hours of deliberating the jury returned with not guilty verdicts for the trio on the count of murder, but found Mandy and Surendra guilty for the lesser count, manslaughter.

The father and daughter are

expected to be sentenced on September 8.

The State's team included: Latifah Elliot, Marisa Edwards and Simran Gajraj – while the accused are being represented by a team of lawyers led by attorney-at-law N i g e l Hu ghe

Freed, Rean Ghani

February 2021, the trio faced their first trial for the murder of the fisherman.

However, the jury could not arrive at a verdict and the Dead: Shereffudeen Nazamudeen matter was set for a retrial before Justice Barlow. s and Khemraj Ramjattan.

Nazamudeen had reportedly According to reports, in attempted to snatch the bag of

Found guilty of manslaughter, Found guilty of manslaughter, Mandy Sukhdeo Surendra Sukhdeo Mandy, a former Region Three Alliance For Change (AFC) councilor.

The woman called out for her father and informed him that the 22year-old-man attempted to steal her bag.

According to reports, Mandy, her father and their neighbour armed themselves with pieces of

wood pursued Nazamudeen.

Nazamudeen had sought refuge in a burnt building after being chased around the village.

It is alleged that the trio tied up the young fisherman and dealt him several lashes. Nazamudeen was pronounced dead at the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was taken by the police.

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 11, 2022

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Govt. gives no details to spend $500M allocation for sea defence works…Edghill acknowledges no urgent need for funds

By Davina Bagot A total of $550 million has been added to the Ministry of Public Works Budget this year, to maintain existing sea defences along the country's coast, however, the subject Minister is not too keen on disclosing which specific communities will benefit from the improved sea and river defence structures.

On Wednesday, Edghill during a press conference was asked to state specifically where the sea defences would be upgraded or where new structures might be required. To this end he explained, “Sea defence is not just about structures, and I've dealt with this in the National Assembly on Monday; we have to maintain the structural integrity of our sea and river defences…across the country.”

He went on to note that the supplementary budget received by his Ministry will support ongoing work in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six. Edghill said that the work to be done in Region Four will include infrastructure development both on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara. The Minister did not say which specific villages could expect to see work.

Moreover, when he was pressed further to say whether the funds will address emergency sea defence works, Edghill made it clear that the situation was quite the opposite.

In fact he boasted that his Ministry had been doing extensive work to ensure no serious breach is developed. According to him, “We don't have emergency projects in sea defences at this time.” He went on to explain, “An emergency project would be a project that you did not envisage and you did not cater for that happened; a breach or something of the sort. Thank God, with the interventions that have been made and the constant monitoring and the work that has been done in a proactive manner, we haven't had breaches and that's what we continue to do to ensure we don't have to get into emergencies.”

In presenting this year's Budget, the senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said that the Sea and River Defence arm of the Ministry was allocated a total of $5 billion to further strengthen Guyana's flood

protection infrastructure.

According to the Budget Estimates, work was already scheduled to occur in Johanna Cecilia/Zorg in Region Two, and other villages on the East Bank and West Coast of Demerara. Meanwhile, during Monday's Sitting of the National Assembly that was boycotted by the Opposition, PPP Member of Parliament (MP), Sanjeev Datadin questioned the funds being sought.

Edghill was asked to list the villages that would benefit from the improved sea defences and how it would benefit the citizens there. In response Edghill pointed to the importance of protecting farmers from the dangerous “saline water” and only listed the administrative regions that would see improvement, rather than outline

the communities where work is expected to be done.

It must be noted that the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton during his weekly press briefing on Tuesday told the media that the $44.7 billion surplus approved in the National Assembly on Monday will aid in the continued corrupt practices of the incumbent People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government.

Minister of Public Works, Norton explained, “What Juan Edghill during we saw was the presentation of Wednesday's press conference a request for finances, to continue to have a slush fund He argued too that the for the PPP's corruption, handout supplemental budget did nothing to and bribery of voters, and so we thought that we couldn't be in that ease the cost of living crisis prevailing in the country. environment.”

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 11, 2022

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

AG crying crocodile tears

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uyana’s Attorney General (AG) is a study in contrasts. The sympathetic area in us observes a luminous officer of the law and this land making heavy weather of his duty by crying out about how rough the Government has it (“Everyday the govt. is being sued’– Nandlall says as House approves $100M to help fight lawsuits against the State” -KN August 9).

We feel for the AG as he mentions how the courts are being bombarded with one challenge after another, some from years ago, from failed work of the prior APNU+AFC Coalition Government. In the next breath, we wonder if the AG is not engaged in one of his award-winning acting performances and shedding the equivalent of crocodile tears. Those tears are thin, and they leave a long streak of suspicious material in their wake.

We do recall that it is his own government, which has relished using lawsuits as a nuclear option to menace citizens from revealing truths about costly State projects that went bad, that failed to deliver, and that reeked of corruption and cronyism. Leaders in the government, and a few of its people, enjoyed themselves with the byproducts of lawsuits from citizens from different walks of Guyanese life. Thus, it is baffling that the nation’s chief legal marshal and constitutionally empowered town tamer is complaining when other citizens follow suit by taking a leaf out of the book used by people in the PPP/C Government. Why, the Government has even allowed ExxonMobil to join hands with it to fight off a court challenge by an ordinary citizen on taxes that should be paid.

Honest Guyanese, who pay their fair share of taxes, whether as businesses or individuals, must be asking themselves how is it that the Government of Guyana could go to battle against one of its own people, and in alignment with foreign interests. The thinking is that is that the costs in manpower deployed, the time used up, and the other resources of the people brought to bear could have been put to better use. We are sure that the astute AG (and his government) would agree that another $100 million in Supplementary funds would not have been needed to fight lawsuits brought against the State. It may not have been the entire $100M, but considerably less that was required.

The problem for the AG and his PPP/C Government is that citizens have concluded that since seeking to engage the government and its arrogant leaders is an exercise doomed to failure, there is only one option left, and it must be seized for all that it is worth. It is to seek justice and relief from the courts, and it is already happening with increasing frequency. It does not take a rocket scientist to foresee that the local horizon is going to be peppered and littered with more and more suits brought before the courts.

To emphasise, many citizens and groups are now settled in their belief that the courts are the only avenue left for some much-needed cures to their ills.

With this in mind, it is hoped that the AG will advise the government that what is being experienced currently in the courts might only be the first showers representing more storms to come. From all appearances, Guyana is becoming a more litigious society, and quite a few of these appeals to the tribunes of the courts can hardly be dismissed as frivolous, for they have real substance, and will require some combating.

The main Guyanese political Opposition has already signalled that it intends to transform the courts into a battleground and proving ground, since the National Assembly is such a barren stretch of ground. At the rate that all of this is anticipated to thicken and congest the courts, it is clear that much more than that $100M approved as Supplementary funds is going to be needed. It has long been held true that politics is war by other means. We are seeing that and living with that today, with Guyana’s courts inundated with a string of lawsuits. Our little word of advice is, get ready, Mr. AG, and it looks like much more money is going to be needed.

Can it be that the US Exim Bank has put the PPP/C in a straitjacket?

DEAR EDITOR, Guyana recently signed an agreement with the ExportImport (Exim) Bank of the USA. This is not the first time that Guyana is doing business with an Exim Bank. Articles appearing in the Stabroek News reveal that Guyana has had a long relationship with the Exim Bank of China. Other news reports also indicate that the Exim Bank of India does business with Guyana.

Possibly unknown to Guyanese, the list of Exim Banks does not stop with those countries. Research data reveal that close to 70 other countries in the world have institutions that are described as Exim Banks or perform services like those of Exim Banks. As such, there are about 113 institutions across the globe that provide export credit services, including credit insurance and credit guarantees. Within the CARICOM family, an Exim Bank can be found in Jamaica and one in Trinidad and Tobago. With nearly 42 percent of countries who are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) owning Exim Banks, one must conclude that Exim Banks have value in international trade. One could therefore understand the euphoria of the head of Guyana’s delegation to Washington when his delegation signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that gives Guyanese importers access to the funds of the Exim Bank of the USA. Not being privy to the conversations held between the US and Guyana sides recently in Washington, one must speculate as to what might have prompted the US to make funding from the Exim Bank facility available to this country. The Exim Bank of the US lives a charmed life since it is not a preferred mechanism for financing credit purchases. As useful a financing tool as it is, the USA does not want the Exim Bank to get in the way of private investors who operate such lending businesses. Not wanting the Bank to compete with private capital, the US keeps it on a very short lease by imposing an artificial life on it. The charter by which the US Exim Bank exists constantly must be reauthorised by the US Congress every four to five years and this is not an automatic process. However, the most recent reauthorisation of the US Exim Bank gave it a life of seven years. With reauthorisation taking place in 2019, it means that, unless renewed, the life

of the Bank comes to an end in 2026.

After more than 80 years of activity, it is natural to ask why the sudden interest by the US in using the Exim Bank to help Guyana buy American? The US economy is doing well, judging from its recent jobs report. Exxon and Hess, two US companies with prominence in Guyana, are not struggling and currently control about 33 percent of the income generated by the Guyana economy. That figure will rise as oil output expands. Others might have different views, but for this writer three things come to mind as to the reason the Exim Bank is now part of the import financing fabric of Guyana.

The first reason is economic. The purchasing power of Guyana has risen nearly threefold in absolute terms since the production of oil started in 2019. The purchasing power is expected to climb significantly higher in future years if inflation and exchange rate adjustments do not hold it in check. All Exim Banks are biased lenders and one has to assume that the USA has no intention of passing up opportunities for doing business, especially with customers that have the capacity to repay loans.

Guyana’s tax revenues from oil indicate that repaying loans should not be a difficult task. Moreover, the USA believes in export-led growth and is clearly quite prepared to extend credit to its global customers to rev-up this engine of growth and employment in its own economy. Further, access to US products and its market is particularly important to Guyana since the US is its largest trading partner. More than 80 percent of Guyana’s imports is used in its production process. If it cannot take advantage of good quality technologies and inputs, Guyana’s exports will struggle to remain competitive.

The second reason might be political. The US utilises its Exim Bank as a development tool. A declared goal of the Bank is “to stimulate the economic development of countries in the developing world by improving their access to credit for the importation of United States products and services for developmental purposes”. Judging from this goal in the charter, Guyana can use US Exim Bank funds to access imports to be used not only in inventory production, but also in capital works, including infrastructure projects. This

is where the availability of US Exim Bank funds becomes interesting. By entering the Guyana market, the US Exim Bank becomes a competitor of the Exim Banks of China and India. Projects which seem to go easily to one of these funds must now reckon with a US$2B pot of money and other financial instruments.

Before the US$2B was available, it was easy for the administration to justify submitting projects to China or India for funding or accepting offers from those countries for that purpose.

With the US fund joining the credit supply pool, the alternatives expand and make it more difficult for the Government of Guyana to automatically grant an income-generating or profitmaking project to China or India without a more competitive procurement process. Blunting this kind of bias in the procurement process is not speculative because a clear objective of the US Exim Bank is to “neutralise the predatory financing engaged in by many nations whose exports compete with United States exports, and thereby restore export competition to a market basis”. While this writer is not attributing predatory behaviour to lending by China or India, it must be pointed out that this accusation has been levelled against China by others.

Comments at the time of reauthorisation of the US Exim Bank in 2019 were directed at China and its growing global influence. So, it is not hard to believe that China was on the mind of the USA when the MOU about Exim’s funding came up.

The third reason is related to the second one.

The involvement of the US Exim Bank in project financing

gives it a direct interest in our procurement process. With a direct interest in the procurement process in Guyana, the US Exim Bank is authorised to investigate allegations of fraud or corruption connected to assistance given by the Bank. The sophisticated way the US pursues its interest might lead many to believe that it was not alarmed by the Vice News story about Guyana being for sale. The story was clear and if anyone does not believe that the US studies projects in markets of interest to determine if contract prices make sense or not, they are fooling themselves. The US Exim Bank is required to have these studies done for a variety of reasons among which is to ensure that they are not facing unfair competition.

This writer would not be surprised if the Vice News story did not trigger such studies already. Beyond that, the US Exim’s presence in Guyana might have another unintended consequence which the PPP/C might not like. By having a way to reach into the procurement process in Guyana, the Exim Bank’s presence might also be opening the door for those Guyanese bidders who tend to be marginalised by current practice in the procurement process. Unwittingly, the PPP/C now finds itself in a straitjacket with the entry of the US Exim Bank into Guyana’s financing market.

For some of us, we say, in God we trust, and God is watching from a distance.

Therefore, Guyanese should not be surprised if a certain high official in the government quietly slinks away from major procurement decisions.

Sincerely, Joshua Luke

Ralph Ramkarran responds to Peeping Tom DEAR EDITOR, I refer to Peeping Tom’s article “Janet outfoxed them all” in your edition of August 7. Peeping Tom’s ludicrous analysis that Mrs. Jagan’s nomination of me as the presidential candidate in 1997 was for the objective of exposing the ambitious does not stand scrutiny, unless it was to expose and discipline the ambitious. No one was disciplined. The ambitious

thrived after Mrs. Jagan’s presidency.

Peeping Tom’s plot thickens, and descends into the ridiculous, when he/she suggests that Roger Luncheon was in on Mrs. Jagan’s strategy. Peeping Tom may not recall that Luncheon was also among the ambitious. I wrote some time ago that Henry Jeffrey proposed to Luncheon (Continued on page 5)

Thursday August 11, 2022

I witnessed the shenanigans of the 1973 elections DEAR EDITOR, I was looking from the diaspora at the Gildarie and Freddie Kissoon show on which Hamilton Green was on the hot seat.

The latter said that the PNC did not rig the elections in 1973 and it was the Indo Guyanese who went to them and asked to vote for their party by proxy. I was born and lived at Seaforth Street, Campbellville until my departure from Guyana. I must say that I knew most of the elderly Indo Guyanese men and women on my street and the neighbouring ones.

I addressed them as uncle and aunty.

I joined the Guyana Police Force and was stationed at Kitty when the elections were held that year. I was at the age to vote and my place to cast my ballot was at Campbellville Government School. I can remember the subordinate officer told us at the station that we will have to vote by proxy. I declined after claiming that I had to vote at the said school and I will go in person.

Editor, on that faithful d a y, I w a s w o r k i n g alongside the returning officer at the same school where I saw everyone who came to vote.

I s a w s e v e r a l Afro Guyanese came and presented proxy forms with names of Indo Guyanese whom I knew and said they came to vote for them.

I was shocked because I

Ralph Ramkarran...

From page 4 a Ramkarran/Luncheon ticket for the 1997 elections.

Luncheon rejected it and suggested a Luncheon/ Ramkarran ticket. This was publicly admitted by Luncheon.

Therefore, Luncheon was a selfconfessed ambitious aspirant to the presidency. It is left to the imagination the contortions Luncheon would have had to adopt to join Mrs. Jagan’s alleged scheme.

Why would Mrs. Jagan go to the lengths suggested

by Peeping Tom when she had the unanimous support of the leadership of the PPP and, in addition, was armed with a letter from Cheddi Jagan?

Ralph Ramkarran

knew that these people were capable enough to cast their own ballots. When the real voters came to vote they were told that their votes were already casted by proxy and there was nothing they could have done to reverse it.

Editor, at the end of the exercise, my duty was to accompany the returning officer with the ballot box to Queen’s College for tabulation.

As we were on our way in his car, there was a road block manned by senior GDF Officers at the eastern end of Thomas Road. I was ordered out of the vehicle and told that they will take over.

The driver was directed to the GDF Headquarters where rigged ballot boxes were stored. I am sure there are many former military personnel who knew what took place on elections day of 1973. Hamilton Green can tell people who were not born that the 1973 election was not rigged but cannot tell me that in my face.

Regards, Kenneth Singh

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Kaieteur News

What is the Problem with Guyanese Society Today?

DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to address a few issues that I have been noticing for some time now in Guyana. Let’s start off by expressing my concern over the garbage problem that we have here in Guyana. This garbage problem is not a now problem it has been this way since I was attending nursery school. The problem has been this way for over 30 years maybe even longer but I can only speak from past experiences and boots on the ground dealing with this garbage plague we have in Guyana. I remember as a child when I was with the Scouts Group, every week when we had scout meetings at the Scouts Association Head Quarters on Woolford Ave, we would always engage in a cleanup exercise in some community in Georgetown or the sea walls. It was part of our responsibility to do what is right and lead by example as a scout within society. I participated in these activities for over several years and what I got out of it was that every time we cleaned an area, park, sea wall, community that the next day or a few days later the place returned to the same nasty, dirty, garbage infested scene that we had found it in a few days before

cleaning. For years this continued and with no hope or solution in sight. Our only option back then was to just keep cleaning it up over and over. One good thing that I did learn about these cleanup activities was to be responsible in my own life and to act in keeping my own surroundings clean and not waiting on someone else or a group of people to come to my community to clean up my mess for me. A clean environment equals a healthy and happy state of mind. I had migrated to the US for several years where I was employed with the US Army and completed two combat tours to Afghanistan which collectively combined to three years spent in the middle east.

I was part of a Police Mentor Team where we were responsible for training the local Afghan Police and National Army. I was a national advisor to the Afghan government at the time on counter insurgency which dealt with developing and implementing national policies for health, education, infrastructure and security both at the community and national level. When I returned to Guyana in 2013, I returned to the same garbage infested city and country that I had left behind eight years

prior. It would have been amazing to see factories doing recycling in Guyana to help reduce the amount of waste that reaches the landfill site.

The IDB had given the government of Guyana a loan of 18 million USD to build a state-of-the-art landfill site that was supposed to have a fully functioning recycling and sorting factory at Eccles dumpsite. The project was awarded to BK International group along with Puran’s Waste Disposal in 2006. How does a company with no waste disposal background get an IDB government contract for 18 million USD such as BK International?

Even thou Puran’s Waste Disposal name is on the billboard at the entrance to the Eccles dumpsite road, Puran’s Waste Disposal was just a pawn in the mix to allow BK International to get the project because Puran’s Waste Disposal was the company with the experience in solid waste management and once that was done Puran’s was kicked to the curb. Part of the arrangement was that a recycling and sorting factory was to be built and operationalised at the dumpsite in Eccles. Money was allocated for this through

the IDB loan of 18 million USD and yet in 2022 there is still no recycling and sorting factory at the dumpsite in Eccles. Along with this problem, residents living in the area for years have had to endure deplorable road conditions even up to present the access roads used in Eccles along the dumpsite road is like driving through an Afghan street after it has been bombed by mortars and IEDs. The roads look like a scene out of war. I would know I’ve been there two times. Along with the horrible roads the gut-wrenching smell of the dumpsite is unbearable.

Imagine how those residents in the area feel? What is the problem with Guyanese society nowadays? We have become so emotional and sensitive when we point out people’s nasty habits, that seem to be culturally accepted as the norm here in Guyana.

We need to be politically correct when speaking on certain issues or certain agencies and persons. To the people I offended by my words and for taking a more aggressive approach to dealing with our garbage problem please don’t be offended it’s not a (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 11, 2022

Attack on Gandhi Statue in Little Guyana Condemned DEAR EDITOR, Several prominent American politicians and Hindu community leaders came out on midday Tuesday in sweltering heat to express their outrage and condemnation of the vandalisation and desecration of the Mahatma Gandhi statue that was in front of the Tulsi Mandir in Little Guyana, Richmond Hill. The statue has been there for several years. The mandir is patronised by Guyanese and Trinidadians.

Gandhi’s statue was destroyed last Thursday by three individuals that CCTV camera footage revealed were of Hispanic origin. The area where the mandir is located is largely occupied by IndoGuyanese.

Tuesday’s rally in front of the mandir was organised by elected New York State Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar. She is the first Hindu American of New York to be elected in any legislative office. She represents the area where the mandir is located.

She stated that she invited other politicians and community leaders and the media to condemn hate and discrimination. “We gather to condemn last week’s hate crime”. She said God takes many forms as is expressed in Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, among others and as such “people should not attack but respect other person’s religious belief or faith”.

Jennifer noted that Gandhi stood for nonviolence and social justice.

“Love, peace, harmony, and tolerance constituted Gandhi’s dream. All ethnic groups live together here.”

She added: “Gandhi sacrificed material life for service and his actions motivated me to take up public service. His principles were rooted in Hinduism - non violence and soul force. He obtained India’s independence without shooting a bullet. Martin Luther King was influenced

by Gandhi; Dr. King used Gandhian principles to fight American segregation”.

She continued: ”The spate of hate attack against Hindu Americans is shocking.

Hate crimes against Hindus have gone up by 125 percent.

Hindus are easily targeted. It is unAmerican. Our country was founded by immigrants.

Italians and Irish suffered similar attacks when they first came”.

The Assemblywoman said that it is unacceptable to engage in hate. ”America is a land of endless possibility”, said Rajkumar noting that her parents came to the US with just $300 and a suitcase and they have become a success story.

“Everyone wants to be part of the American dream. I am an embodiment of that dream. I am the first south Asian to be elected from NYS”. Ms. Rajkumar is an ivy league trained lawyer at the near top of her class who was highly sought after by law firms and politicians for their offices.

Jennifer explained that she got a Bill passed in the

NYS legislature against hate crime and which authorises the setting up of a commission to investigate cases of hate.

She said she spoke with officers in charge of the 106 police precinct that is responsible for the location of the mandir to investigate the attack as a hate crime. She said the Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz is investigating the vandalism as a hate crime. She concluded with “God bless America”.

The follow up speakers continued the theme of Ms. Rajkumar in condemning hate crimes. Community leader and organiser Romeo Hitlall condemned the act. “I denounce hate crime. As Hindus, we live and embrace each other.”

The spiritual leader of Tulsi mandir, pandit Lakhram Maraj of Berbice explained what the CCTV showed.

“Three Hispanic individuals slapped Gandhi statue, pushed it down. They also knocked down tulsi plants which embodies Goddess Lakshmi. Tulsi is sacred to Hindus.” Pandit Lakhram appealed to the public for unity. “Let us unite; united we stand”. He thanked Jennifer and Romeo for their support and cooperation and for taking up this issue”.

Pt. Maraj said that some six years ago, jhandi flags were set on fire. He said the police promised an investigation but there was no follow up action. He thanked the politicians and the gathering for their support.

Pandit Ram Hardowar, spiritual leader of Shri Surya

FREDDIE KISSOON IS WAY OFF TRACK DEAR EDITOR, My respect and admiration of Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon took a nosedive last week when he asserted that persons not living in Guyana cannot make - or are not entitled to make - any form of comments or analyses of events in the country. He was referring to Paul Tennessee, Vishnu Bisram, Charles Sugrim, and Dr. Asquith Rose - none of whom need any assistance in this matter however, as a commentator on many Globe-Span TV shows I feel compelled to respond to his baseless and wild comments.

Kissoon, who is not a political scientist, but claims to be one should realise that he is a very poor and mediocre

political analyst who thinks he is the only person in Guyana who should control the political domain. It is time someone like me tells this columnist to hush and stop making himself a fool. He is yesterday man in his thinking.

Freddie seems to have a problem with his identity as he constantly mentions in his columns that he grew up among blacks in Wortmanville and that his sisters dated and married black men. Apart from his immediate family and his dog, Freddie seems to radiate scant love for anyone else.

Freddie has a deep-rooted hatred for Guyanese who reside in the Diaspora and has stated on several occasions that Guyanese who reside in the Diaspora should not write or discuss anything about the issues in Guyana because according to him, they have abandoned the country when things were bad. He has relegated Guyanese in the Diaspora to second-and

third-class citizens by stating that they should not be given jobs in Guyana even though they are qualified. At the same time, he has welcomed nonGuyanese foreigners into the country with open arms. He is also ignorant of the fact that remittances from the Diaspora have contributed to more than 30 percent of Guyana’s GDP. Yet, this recluse who resides in Guyana writes about issues in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and other countries. What a hypocrite?

However, I believe that if Freddie is aware of the worldwide impact and the power of the social media, he would not criticise his fellow Guyanese in the diaspora for their involvement in the country’s affairs.

But many believe that his writings are simplistic and they are based on bogus information.

Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine Queens, New York

Mandir (172nd St) and President of the United Federation of Mandirs, joined the chorus in condemning the attack on Gandhi’s statue. He recalled that the Gandhi Peace March last year culminated at Tulsi Mandir. He said that the attack on Gandhi’s statue “is an eye opening moment. We must recognise it as a serious crime. I urge that this attack be taken up at federal level as well. We are angry, disturbed, and taken aback by this attack”. He noted that Gandhi’s life and teachings were not confined just to India. His message and life’s teaching spread worldwide.

“Nelson Mandela was inspired by Gandhi as was Dr. ML King. We must educate the masses about what Gandhi symbolises and hopefully this kind of attack will end. Gandhi stood for love and unity”.

Congressman Gregory Meeks told the gathering that he wished “we are here to celebrate what Gandhi stands for. I wish if I were here to talk about how we are a better borough, city, state, country because of Gandhi and the celebration of his life. Instead, we are here to condemn a hateful act against a great man. Gandhi’s as well as Dr. King and Nelson Mandela’s message was about love, not hate. We must stand in one voice against hate. We must let the haters know that we

will not allow them or anyone to succeed in their acts of hate. This is a message for the vandals. Three people will not destroy unity. We must know the contribution of Gandhi.

We must bring people together. We will demonstrate that Southeast Queens, Richmond Hill stands united against hate and prejudice.

Hate will not be allowed to stand. We will change mindset of those who pursue hate. Hate can’t stop us. You will hear my voice speaking out against hate. We will work together to combat hate”.

Assemblyman David Weprin also condemned the violent act against Gandhi’s statue. He said the diversity of our city and state recognise all religions and faiths. “We acknowledge, cherish, and celebrate our diversity. He said the NY delegation is working hard for recognition of Diwali”. Weprin appealed, “we must look out for each other. Hate is an attack against all of us. We will do our best for people to worship freely. I denounce this hate attack”.

He quoted from Gandhi.

“Nothing enduring can be built from violence”.

State Senator Joseph Addabbo told the gathering that hate is unacceptable.

“New Yorkers are about love and respect. Disrespect and hate crime must not be accepted.

We must do something to

combat hate crimes. He said the legislature has stiffen penalties. We must love and respect others.

Law enforcement must have a greater role against hate.

Justice must be served in this attack on Gandhi’s statue”.

Nikunj Trivedi, President of Coalition of Hindus of North America (COHNA) expressed support to Tulsi mandir during this grievous period. “I commend Jennifer Rajkumar for this initiative in this sweltering heat to denounce Hinduphobia.

There has been an increase in attacks on Hindus and Hinduphobia is rising especially in college campuses. We all must stand up against anti-Hindu and all hate crimes.

Aresh Sahani also denounced the anti-Hindu hate act. “There is violence against Hindus. We all must unite to counter the violence.

This attack on Gandhi is an attack on peace and mutual respect. We must stand with the Hindu community”.

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams was unable to attend but sent an assistant to deliver her message condemning the attack on Gandhi. “I denounce this heinous act of violence. I condemn all forms of bigotry. We must unite and combat this menace.”

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

What is the Problem with Guyanese...

From page 5 now problem, it has been an all along problem with the garbage situation in Guyana.

Whatever we have been doing as a society over the last 30 years is not working.

CLEARLY IT IS NOT WORKING. We don’t check on each other and correct others when we see something wrong because we are afraid of the repercussions. How often do we do self-reflections at the end of the day to see what we did right or wrong and correct ourselves moving forward? How many persons see other people littering and turn a blind eye? I have seen this thousands of times. How many times we would see or hear someone breaking the law or doing something wrong that affects everyone else in the community but we don’t say anything? I remember some years ago the Mayor and City Council had hired a team of litter wardens to police littering within Georgetown. They had a wonderful name and shame campaign where persons who were caught littering their names and pictures were posted up on the media to highlight the issues. It acted

as a deterrent to other persons from littering. In 2022 I don’t believe I have seen any litter wardens in the last two to three years. There is a theory used in the criminal justice system known as the Broken Window Theory. Broken window theory is the concept that each problem that goes unattended in a given environment affects people’s attitude toward that environment and leads to more problems. For example, if a window is broken on someone’s house within the community and the window is left unattended and not fixed, over a period of time you will begin to see more windows broken in the community. The reasoning behind this is that if we don’t fix the broken window then more broken windows will appear because it will become accepted by everyone in the community as the new norm which is to have broken windows and not fix the root cause of the problem as to why the windows are broken.

Editor I would be humbled if those who read this letter can take away something positive about these issues. We cannot sit back and watch our lives go by and still keep

living the same way for decades to come. There are a lot of issues out there that I have noticed and I’m sure everyone else has noticed it also because we are all sharing and living in the same society, we all shop at the same places, buy food at the same places, go to religious gatherings at the same places, we all fete at the same places.

All the issues I have highlighted are noticed by everyone else. I encourage others to take a stand just like what happened in Sri Lanka when the people came together as a collective to put an end to corruption and poor living conditions. We must fight for our environment and better quality of life for ourselves.

Quality of life is the degree to which an individual is healthy, comfortable, and able to participate in or enjoy life events.

Factors comprising an individual’s quality of life, based on the WHO definition, were physical health, psychological condition, independence, relationships with others, and the environment one lives in.

Most respectfully, Mr. Simeon Taylor

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Thursday August 11, 2022

Kaieteur News

We have noticed Attorney General Anil Nandlall whining even after his chambers received a whopping $100M to help pay legal fees about the state being sued excessively and that exorbitant sums, have to be paid for representation.

One would recall not so long ago, Nandlall led the charge in filing-sometimes frivolous lawsuits against all and sundry when he was in opposition. He also filed lawsuits against the then AG, Basil Williams for saying that he would be charged in the case involving the law books.

And if that were not enough, one would recall when Nandlall returned as AG after the PPP/C was declared winner of the 2020 elections he held a news conference, divulging information about the payments received by his fellow lawyers for representing matters on behalf of the APNU/AFC. He even went as far as calling for a special audit, which was done by the Auditor General who recommended that the millions spent by the APNU+AFC Government should be subjected to a criminal investigation by the Guyana Police Force as there were breaches in the procurement rules.

One would recall also at the time, concerns were raised about this particular issue as in a previous dispensation, Nandlall and the PPP/C never utilised the tendering system to hire lawyers.

Fast forward to Monday, the same Nandlall told the National Assembly that he will be spending US$3M to represent the state in the Parking Meters case. We have seen no public tender for the legal services that would be provided in this matter.

He also spoke about monies being spent to represent the state in other cases- we have not seen the tenders for these as well. For this, we ask the question what is the difference between the Nandlall then and the Nandlall now?

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday August 11, 2022

Letter surfaces proving insurance talks were held on full liability coverage ...as stakeholders press Govt. to release documents

By Zena Henry

C

itizens and other stakeholders continue to press the Irfaan Ali administration and Stabroek Block oil and gas operators to publicise documents proving what insurance coverage is available to Guyana in the event of a disaster at the offshore production sites.

The discussion on full liability coverage has once again picked up steam as more proof on this direction surfaces even as government maintains that no work was done in the past to ensure such protection.

Former Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Vincent Adams has painstakingly described steps his and other state agencies, such as the former Department of Energy (DoE) were taking at the time in placing Guyana on a better environmental path within the oil sector.

Apart from moves to secure a US$2.5B insurance coverage from Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Adams said he was also able to get a commitment from its parent company under previous country president, Rod Henson, to guarantee oil spill coverage beyond what it could afford.

Since Adams claimed that the work was in the pipeline and had not materialised before his departure from the EPA in 2020, the government and Exxon's new country President, Alistair Routledge have denied the former CEO's assertion and dared him to

provide the documents to substantiate his claims.

The Kaieteur News has revealed however, that both the Bank of Guyana (BoG), the Insurance Association of Guyana and the former DoE were all involved in an important meeting that was supposed to ensure that whatever insurance the EPA was discussing with Exxon at the time would be held in country as is legally required.

Adams said that the meeting was to support the insurance policy Exxon would provide as dictated by the EPA. As such, Exxon and its partners; Hess Corporation and CNOOC were supposed to discuss among themselves how they would handle the coverage which included parent company guarantee and return it to the environmental agency for approval.

A new piece of information provided just days ago by the Alliance for Change (AFC) now appears to be additional proof toward the acquisition of the necessary oil spill coverage.

It said that not only was Exxon required to have EPA's approval on the insurance policy, but that the Bank of Guyana was also supposed to sign off on the coverage once they were satisfied with what was provided.

The December 15, 2020 letter which was released by the party, was from the then acting Executive Director of EPA, Sharifah Razack to Exxon President, Alistair Routledge, acknowledging receipt of correspondence dated November 30, 2020, providing

“…a summary of the steps taken by EEPGL to comply with the insurance requirements prescribed by the Agency in the Environmental Authorization relative to the company's offshore petroleum and production facilities.”

The letter to Routledge spoke further of a December 22, 2020 meeting where Exxon was required to submit to the EPA one day before “…copies of the agreement (s) which provide coverage for each of the company's various offshore operations (both production and exploration) together with copies of BoG's approval /no objection for the respective insurance agreement…”

The November 30, 2020 document which the then acting EPA head acknowledged, would have been received just days before Dr. Adams was fired from the EPA. The AFC believes therefore, that the copies of the insurance the EPA was talking about could only be that which the agency had discussed with Exxon while Adams was at the helm of the agency.

The AFC said that the document, “…connects the dot clearly showing that the Government has been remorselessly lying to the people of Guyana when it continuously kept denying its awareness of any plans or consideration thereof, or any existence of liability insurance or parent company guaranteed coverage.”

The letter also tells, all for the first time, that there exists a “tripartite agree m e n t ” involving the Bank of

Contents of the EPA letter to EXXON regarding oil spill insurance.

Guyana requiring the BoG to give no-objection/approval for all production and exploration activities; and most notably requires that the insurance procured by EEPGL be supported by BoG per the tripartite agreement – “once again providing unmistakable validation that insurance was “procured”, the AFC charged.

In light of the new information, the AFC has joined calls for the government to release insurance documents to prove that the country is adequately covered by the policy against oil spill damage.

It said that the government should release the tripartite document involving the BoG; the “copies” of insurance documents/policies referenced in the letter and requested to be delivered to EPA at the December 22, 2020 meeting; the draft Parent Company Guarantee proposals and related documents that were being discussed between the EPA a n d E E P G L Attorneys.

Dr. Adams has also challenged the government to prove that the

relevant insurance coverage is available by publishing the documents.

He has also challenged the government and Exxon to publish the insurance documents to prove that they are not breaking the law by operating the Liza 1 and 2 proje cts without the parent company agreement and other insurance documents that are required in the EPA permits, especially since those documents make it clear that failure to have the coverage invokes an immediate termination of the permit. Civil society group, Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) advocates have also called for the release of the insurance documents.

In his recent letter to the editor, m e m b e r, D r. J e r r y J a i l a l l questioned why it is hard for the government, the EPA and the oil operators to release the insurance policies and related documents to show proof of the coverage.

He c a l l e d o n “ t h e P P P g o v e r n m e n t , t h e E PA , Exxon, Hess and CNOOC to release all insurance policies and related documentation on this o n g o i n g v e x e d q u e s t i o n of whether the oil companies have adequate insurance in the event of an oil spill.”

Thursday August 11, 2022

Kaieteur News

The pappy show must end A

ccording to one source, Guyana failed to secure a medal at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games. This has to be a major disappointment considering the number of athletes (32) and the performance of other Caribbean nations at the Games.

In contrast, Jamaica left the Games with 16 medals, including 6 Gold and 6 Silver Medals. Small Barbados, not known as an athletic powerhouse secured 3 medals. Trinidad and Tobago got six medals including three gold medals. Bermuda, Dominica and St Lucia all had better outcomes than Guyana.

India is emerging as an athletic force. It obtained 61 medals including 22 Gold medals in Birmingham. Even though this was five less than what was obtained in 2018, given the level of competition, with Australia and the UK creaming off most of the medals, it was an impressive achievement.

Guyana has tasted limited success at the Commonwealth Games. A boxer, Winfield Braithwaite had won the first Commonwealth gold medal for Guyana since its Independence. That was in 1978, 44 years ago. Guyana

James Wren Gilkes had won gold at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico. He also secured a silver medal in the 200 metres in 1978. June Marcia Griffith had secured a Silver Medal in the 400 metres at the 1979 Pan American Games.

By now Guyana should have been doing much better at the Commonwealth Games since it is a good preparation for the other more premier championships such as the Pan American Games, the World Championships and the Olympics. This year new world records were set in the women’s long jump, the 4x200 metre freestyle swimming, in power lifting and in the women’s discus. The Commonwealth Games is therefore a good gauge as to whether our athletes can hold their own on the international stage.

For too long, Guyana has been sending athletes to these and other Games in order to gain experience. That experience is not reflected in the subsequent performance of athletes.

It is therefore time for the respective associations to rethink the qualifying standards which are set for participation in these and other Games. Unless the respective associations are of the firm conviction that

medals are assured, we should not be sending any representatives who are not expected to medal.

The government should also rethink its support for sending so many athletes to come back empty-handed.

The same resources can be pumped into bringing teams from Cuba and India for Goodwill Games with our athletes.

The Sports Ministry should be working with the Indian High Commissioner and the Cuban Ambassador to bring Indian and Cuban athletes here to compete with local athletes so as to help to raise the standards of sport by providing regular competition. We can bring athletes here to compete with our locals The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has been going around the country installing basketball hoops, giving monies to upgrade sports grounds and sharing out sporting equipment. It is also looking to launch an elite training programme in Guyana.

It is an exercise in futility.

Those investments are not going to yield results. The support provided to community grounds overlooks what happens afterwards. You can spend millions of dollars upgrading

Dem boys seh...

De checks nah balance Dem boys had a good laugh. A man talk how if de APNU+AFC get back in guvament, dem gan continue giving de schools’ cash grant, and dem gan even raise it.

Dem boys wan ask dis man why dem did stop de cash grant in de fuss place.

Dem didn’t stop it fuh raise it.

Dem stop it fuh five years straight. And at de time dem stop it, it was only $10,000 per child. Suh dem coulda afford to continue to pay dat. But dem stop it and now dis man

want people believe dat de APNU+AFC will continue it and even increase it.

Dat gat to mek Aunty Priya smile. She bin smiling all week when de grant bin sharing out. It show how visionless de previous guvament was and how dem tek people fuh granted. If dem bin really want get re-elected dem shoulda never stop de cash grant. If it was not good den, why people muss feel dat it gan be good if de APNU+AFC return to power.

Aunty Priya talk about all

de checks and balances in de system.

Dem using de schools’ registers fuh compile a list of de recipients. And in every school de list gat to get check by more dan one person. Suh dat suppose to guard against falsification.

But dis is Guyana.

Suppose a group in a school decide fuh conspire together fuh pad de list. And everybody wah suppose to certify it do suh. How yuh gan prevent dat?

Talk half. Leff half.

a facility and what happens in four to five years’ time when more monies are needed to maintain the very works which were done.

The programme being undertaken by the Ministry is simply not sustainable. It should not be going around the country doling out support when the grounds themselves and the clubs which operate on them do not have a model to sustain the development of the facilities.

The government appears to want to launch an elite coaching programme to bring

our athletes up to international standard. It is looking to the Commonwealth for support in this regard.

The government’s priorities are lopsided. What about our local coaches? The Ministry should let the nation know how much they are paying our national coaches who are the ones that have to groom our young athletes in their formative years. Tell the nation how much money a national coach is receiving.

The pappy show of walking around giving out monies and sports equipment

PAGE 9

to a handful of clubs should end. This may be good for boosting popularity but is certainly not going to take sport anywhere further.

(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

Thursday August 11, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The feeling and theory of Priya Manickchand

I

have heard some people say that the PPP was traumatised by attempts to rig the March 2020 election and the party is still angry with individuals and organisations that did not condemn the unbelievable depravity or remained silent on the horrendous degeneracy.

The question is whether that feeling is a valid one to understand. My answer is yes because I still carry a mentally despondent note on m y s h i r t s l e e v e . To

understand that psychological setback one has to comprehend past mental traumas about rigged elections (1968, 1973, 1978 referendum, 1980, and 1985).

But you also have to understand the people around you that shared those traumas who have since defected from the struggle to empower people with the right to have them vote for the leaders they want to administer their country.

I will admit to anyone

who speaks to me in public or private that I am still to recover from a blow to my psychology on what I heard Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine told his interviewer, Neil Marks, in June 2020. He called for a declaration of the results even though he said that there were thousands of irregularities.

The March 2020 election was a personal tragedy in the life of every individual who from the seventies and eighties up to 1992 marched with the PPP, WPA, Guyana

Human Rights Association, Guyana Bar Association, Democratic Labour Movement, Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Liberator Party, Guyana Anti-Discrimination Movement, UG Workers' Union, Clerical and Commercial Workers Union, GAWU, FITUG, GUARD for free and fair election in this country.

The list here is just a short one. It was an era of unmitigated energy to extirpate the culture of rigged elections that Prime Minister Forbes Burnham ushered in with the first fraudulent poll in 1968.

The violence and degeneracy in each election got worse.

The 1973 poll saw soldiers killing two PPP supporters who tried to prevent the forceful removal of the ballot boxes in Berbice.

The 1978 referendum to change the constitution was marked by even greater lengths of fraud. The 1980 was perhaps the worst that one could have imagined.

But when you thought it couldn't get worse, there came the 1985 poll.

The difference with the pre 1985 elections and the 1985 poll was the absence of

Burnham's wicked ingenuity.

He had died in August of 1985. h The 1985 poll was incredible and unimaginable for those who witnessed the first Frederick Kissoon rigged job in 1968.

You have to put yourself in the mind of u m a n r i g h t s someone who lived through advocacy. This was good all those elections only to see stuff that young Guyanese interested in the politics of the evil return in 2020.

No one that belonged to freedom, empowerment and the fantastic epoch of the liberation should look at.

She enunciated a theory great struggle for free and fair election could have that was making the rounds believed it was happening since 2015 when the AFC again. It was for that reason, I began to drift in the direction couldn't come to grips with of “dead meat alley.” She what I heard Roopnaraine argues that what the failure of the AFC has done is to uttered.

This man was one of the dent the success of other heroes of that great epoch I parties that want to fill the third party vacancy. mentioned above.

It is a theory strongly Minister Priya Manickchand expressed her embraced by many political feeling last Monday to me a n a l y s t s a n d p o l i t i c a l and Leonard Gildarie about observers.

The 2020 showing of the what her mind was tortured with by those who either smaller parties were not only supported the March 2020 uninspiring but displayed an r i g g i n g o r t h o s e t h a t ominous sign for the future.

Between 7 of them they remained silent.

It was a fine articulation pulled a total of 8872 votes of someone expressing the even though the leaders of piercing of the heart, soul many of them were huge names in Guyana. and mind by human failings.

None of them on their She named four individuals – David Hinds, own secured, even 3000 Khemraj Ramjattan, Nigel votes.

These results could be Hughes and Karen DeSouza.

She spoke of how she once directly attributed to the admired Hinds and thought pessimism in voters that the he had a value to contribute AFC became dead meat from 2015. to Guyana and the world.

Not only did the AFC She described the lofty ideals she learnt from become dead meat. It turned working as a new, young other third parties into dead lawyer with Messrs. Hughes meat too.

(The views expressed in and Ramjattan.

She declared it was this article are those of the painful to experience the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t disappointment with people necessarily reflect the she once admired for their opinions of this newspaper.)

Thursday August 11, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

sweN rueteiaK

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Thursday August 11, 2022

Frustrated Lindeners block bridge in protest against unfinished road project Residents of Wismar Housing Scheme, Wismar Linden, on Wednesday, blocked the community's access bridge in protest against unfinished road projects in the community.

It has been months since the project to construct a concrete road and drains in the community has been stalled and the contractor who has been identified as Judy Surgrim of A and E Construction and Supplies, has dumped the aggregates on the main access road causing inconvenience to residents, businesses and persons requiring essential services such as the ambulance.

The road is completely blocked with the pile of loam and residents are demanding swift intervention from the regional authorities. The contractor has been issued several warning letters by the administration of the Regional Democratic Council; the first letter seen

by Kaieteur News, was sent on May 16th relating to the contractor that he did not start the project on the agreed date and the consequences that will follow. On June 20th, 2022 another letter was sent to the contractor referencing his request for a three-week extension on the project. Two weeks extension was granted and the project should have been completed on July 5th 2022.

However, to date there has been little progress on the project, despite verbal protestations about the issue.

Resident Carol Benjamin said the community's bridge will

be blocked until action is seen. “We decided to take some form of action, because it is over three months now, we have a contractor who started to do something on the road, he come he throw some stone, he gone, he come back, he throw some sand and he gone and we saying that this is disrespectful to us within the scheme,” Benjamin related.

“We decided to come out here and make our voices heard so that something can be done.”

Another resident who operates a retail shop directly where the pile of loam was dumped said the situation is affecting her business. She said trucks delivering goods cannot access the area. The alternative route is also experiencing severe erosion and drivers of the wholesale trucks are also refusing to use that road. “I am having a shop and the bump that they put up is just in front of my shop, I can't get drinks because the drinks trucks cannot pass through, I cannot get nothing at all, so the business just slow and I can't get nothing by me there,” the frustrated resident said.

Regional officials visited the protesting residents and committed to having the situation rectified as soon as possible. If the contractor fails to do so, the contract will be terminated and given to the next lowest bidder. There has been however growing concerns about negligent contractors in the region who are executing substandard work and residents are not getting value for the budgetary dollar.

Residents blocked Wismar Bridge

The alternative road to the scheme has been badly eroded.

A pile of loam completely blocking the Wismar Housing Scheme access road.

Bill to severely punish drunk drivers tabbed

T

he Motor Vehicle and R o a d Tr a ff i c Amendment Bill 2022 which seeks to add more jail time and increase fines for drunk drivers was tabled in the National Assembly on Monday.

The Bill was presented two months after the Cabinet gave its approval for the amendments. The current penalty for persons found driving above the prescribed alcohol limit is $7,500. The new proposal is for it to be increased to $200,000 and the disqualification of licence where the person is charged with two consecutive offences from 12 months to 24 months.

A draft of the legislation seeks to amend the Principal Act by inserting a new section, 35A. That section states that a person can be found guilty of “motor manslaughter,” where that person causes the death of another person

while driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a drug.

This offence is an indictable one and the penalty is a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years. Where the person has caused grievous bodily harm to another person, while driving under the influence, the penalty is a term of imprisonment of not less than five years.

It is further proposed that a person convicted under this section shall be disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for three years. Persons can also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for 12 months.

Where the person is convicted for two consecutive offences, the person shall be disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for 24 months, and where there is a third conviction, the person shall be permanently disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence.

A crashed vehicle at the scene of a fatal accident (Kaieteur News file photo)

At present, the penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of the vehicle is a fine ranging from $30,000 to $60,000 or imprisonment for 12

months and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, there is a fine ranging from $40,000 to $80,000 and imprisonment.

It is now proposed that the fines

be increased to not less than $200,000 for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders. The proposed amendment also places the responsibility of traffic ranks to ensure that before using a breathalyser instrument, it is in satisfactory condition and calibrated so that it produces an accurate breath analysis result.

Guyanese has long proposed that the laws be changed to ensure that errand drivers could face the possibility of having their driver's licence suspended.

Back in May when the proposed amendments were first made public, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, said that the move to amend the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act is “in response to the large number of motor vehicular accidents, inclusive of (Continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 11, 2022

PAGE 13

Frustrated Lindeners block bridge in protest against unfinished road project Residents of Wismar Housing Scheme, Wismar Linden, on Wednesday, blocked the community's access bridge in protest against unfinished road projects in the community.

It has been months since the project to construct a concrete road and drains in the community has been stalled and the contractor who has been identified as Judy Surgrim of A and E Construction and Supplies, has dumped the aggregates on the main access road causing inconvenience to residents, businesses and persons requiring essential services such as the ambulance.

The road is completely blocked with the pile of loam and residents are demanding swift intervention from the regional authorities. The contractor has been issued several warning letters by the administration of the Regional Democratic Council; the first letter seen

by Kaieteur News, was sent on May 16th relating to the contractor that he did not start the project on the agreed date and the consequences that will follow. On June 20th, 2022 another letter was sent to the contractor referencing his request for a three-week extension on the project. Two weeks extension was granted and the project should have been completed on July 5th 2022.

However, to date there has been little progress on the project, despite verbal protestations about the issue.

Resident Carol Benjamin said the community's bridge will

be blocked until action is seen. “We decided to take some form of action, because it is over three months now, we have a contractor who started to do something on the road, he come he throw some stone, he gone, he come back, he throw some sand and he gone and we saying that this is disrespectful to us within the scheme,” Benjamin related.

“We decided to come out here and make our voices heard so that something can be done.”

Another resident who operates a retail shop directly where the pile of loam was dumped said the situation is affecting her business. She said trucks delivering goods cannot access the area. The alternative route is also experiencing severe erosion and drivers of the wholesale trucks are also refusing to use that road. “I am having a shop and the bump that they put up is just in front of my shop, I can't get drinks because the drinks trucks cannot pass through, I cannot get nothing at all, so the business just slow and I can't get nothing by me there,” the frustrated resident said.

Regional officials visited the protesting residents and committed to having the situation rectified as soon as possible. If the contractor fails to do so, the contract will be terminated and given to the next lowest bidder. There has been however growing concerns about negligent contractors in the region who are executing substandard work and residents are not getting value for the budgetary dollar.

Residents blocked Wismar Bridge

The alternative road to the scheme has been badly eroded.

A pile of loam completely blocking the Wismar Housing Scheme access road.

Bill to severely punish drunk drivers tabbed

T

he Motor Vehicle and R o a d Tr a ff i c Amendment Bill 2022 which seeks to add more jail time and increase fines for drunk drivers was tabled in the National Assembly on Monday.

The Bill was presented two months after the Cabinet gave its approval for the amendments. The current penalty for persons found driving above the prescribed alcohol limit is $7,500. The new proposal is for it to be increased to $200,000 and the disqualification of licence where the person is charged with two consecutive offences from 12 months to 24 months.

A draft of the legislation seeks to amend the Principal Act by inserting a new section, 35A. That section states that a person can be found guilty of “motor manslaughter,” where that person causes the death of another person

while driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a drug.

This offence is an indictable one and the penalty is a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years. Where the person has caused grievous bodily harm to another person, while driving under the influence, the penalty is a term of imprisonment of not less than five years.

It is further proposed that a person convicted under this section shall be disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for three years. Persons can also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for 12 months.

Where the person is convicted for two consecutive offences, the person shall be disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for 24 months, and where there is a third conviction, the person shall be permanently disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence.

A crashed vehicle at the scene of a fatal accident (Kaieteur News file photo)

At present, the penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of the vehicle is a fine ranging from $30,000 to $60,000 or imprisonment for 12

months and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, there is a fine ranging from $40,000 to $80,000 and imprisonment.

It is now proposed that the fines

be increased to not less than $200,000 for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders. The proposed amendment also places the responsibility of traffic ranks to ensure that before using a breathalyser instrument, it is in satisfactory condition and calibrated so that it produces an accurate breath analysis result.

Guyanese has long proposed that the laws be changed to ensure that errand drivers could face the possibility of having their driver's licence suspended.

Back in May when the proposed amendments were first made public, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, said that the move to amend the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act is “in response to the large number of motor vehicular accidents, inclusive of (Continued on page 16)

Thursday August 11, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Berbice deepwater port will not meet 2022 deadline - CGX

By Kiana Wilburg

C

GX Energy Inc. through its subsidiary, Grand Canal, is involved in the construction and development of the Berbice Deep Water Port (BDWP), located on the eastern bank of the Berbice River.

A critical portion of the project, the Offshore Supply Base of the port, was initially scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Unfortunately, the company has informed shareholders that it would be unable to meet this deadline.

It said a revised schedule for completion is being discussed with the contractor for the project.

According to the company's financial statements, the

Deepwater port facility intends to serve as an offshore supply base for the Oil and Gas industry and as a multi-purpose terminal (MPT) cargo handling base to service agricultural import/export, containerised and specialised cargo.

The BDWP also aims to enable provisioning of operators and vendors in territorial waters of both Guyana and Suriname. CGX in its latest financial report said active construction is ongoing on the rip rap flood protection (which is 96% completed), and quayside laydown yard (92% completed).

It said too that an access bridge f r o m C o r e n t y n e H i g h w a y, rehabilitation of access road, extension of electricity infrastructure to the port site and

Berbice Deeepsea Port - Phase I Concept delivery of potable water to the port have all been completed.

Berbice Deeepsea Port - Phase II & III Concept

Man freed of six counts of raping underage girl Thirty-five-year-old Linton Davidson was on Wednesday freed of six counts of raping a minor, who was left in his care.

The matter was tried before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Demerara Sexual Offences Court. Davidson had denied that between January 1, 2012, and January 3, 2013, at Norton Street Lodge, Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration with an underage girl. He was freed after a 12-member jury found him not guilty of six counts of rape committed on the minor.

According to the State's case, between the years 2012 and 2013 Davidson engaged in sexual activity with the child on several occasions who was at the time between the ages of 13 and 14 years old. The child and Davidson are known to each other and the child was left in his care by her mother. It is alleged that during that time, Davidson raped her.

The young girl later

Freed, Linton Davidson confided in her mother about what transpired and a Police report was made. Davidson was arrested and charged in 2020 for the offence. The state was represented by State Counsel Cicelia Corbin, Caressa Henry and Paneeta Persaud – while attorney-at-law Dexter Todd represented Davidson.

Kaieteur News understands that requests for proposals were received for the wharf platform and access trestle, capital dredging programme, design and construction of all gates, buildings, design and construction of firefighting and first aid structures and covered storage areas.

Evaluations of submitted proposals for the capital dredging and construction of the wharf platform and access trestle were completed and a local contractor selected. CGX said the successful bid incorporates an update to the design of the Wharf and Trestle to realize cost efficiencies.

Taking this into account, CGX said it is unlikely that the Offshore Supply Base of the port will be fully operational in Q4, 2022 as previously scheduled. To cover

expenses associated with the project, the cash-strapped company had to borrow funds from its p a r t n e r, F r o n t e r a E n e rg y Corporation, in the Corentyne Block.

On March 10, 2022, CGX had entered into a financing agreement with Frontera for a US$35 million loan, to continue to finance part of its share of costs related to the Corentyne Block, the Berbice Deepwater Port, and other budgeted costs as agreed to with Frontera.

This 2022 Convertible Loan was then amended three times prior to closing. The 2022 Convertible Loan was available for drawdown in tranches on a non-revolving basis until September 10, 2023 or the date on which CGX has drawn down the maximum amount of the 2022 convertible loan.

Man now charged with murder of Canje businessman

T

he manslaughter charge has been withdrawn against 20-year-old Dave Singh of Betsy Ground, East Canje, and a murder charge was instituted yesterday against him for the murder of businessman Vickram 'Vick' Seubarran of No.2 Village, East Canje Berbice.

Singh called 'Boy' made his second court appearance yesterday virtually before Magistrate Renita Singh at the New Amsterdam Magistrate's Court where the new charge was read to him. It states that the accused between July 31 and Aug 1 murdered Vickram Seubarran, 53, of Lot 135 No.2 Village, East Canje Berbice. He was not required to plea to the charge and will return to court on Sept., 13, 2022.

Singh on Friday Aug., 5, 2022 appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate's Court and was charged with unlawfully killing Seubarran.

He was placed on $750,000 bail but never posted bail. He was represented by attorney Mursalin Bacchus. Police on Monday 1st August, 2022 arrested Singh along with two others and under interrogation, Singh who frequented the home of the victim allegedly

Businessman Vickram 'Vick' Seubarran confessed to stabbing the businessman to death. Seubarran was found on his kitchen floor with a knife stuck in his back and in a pool of blood.

Dave Singh

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 11, 2022

PAGE 15

EPA contradicts Natural Resource Minister's claims on utilising World Bank US$1M grant project Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat assured Guyanese some weeks ago that the World Bank US$1M grant to upgrade the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oil and gas capacity has not been scrapped.

He was happy to report that not only was the project “not cancelled”, but that the agency's oil and gas department grew from its three staff members to 13.

However, EPA 's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Khemraj Parsram seems not to know anything about the project especially since he said that the agency has no copy of the relevant document. The last time the CEO spoke with the publication, he promised to provide an update on the “Institutional Assessment and Action Plan for the oil and gas sector for the EPA of Guyana” project which he said he was unaware of since it was not done during his tenure as CEO. Parsram explained yesterday that his understanding is that the government is dealing with the document regarding the World Bank. “We don't have any record of the document in here, but I am advised that the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Natural Resources is looking at that World Bank project and I will be advised a c c o r d i n g l y, ” P a r s r a m related. When the newspaper clarified that the document in question dealt with the World Bank EPA grant and not the World Bank oil and gas management loan under which the grant was issued,

A screen shot of the proposed US$1M grant document.

he said that, “anything that deals with the world bank c u r r e n t l y, I h a v e n o documentation… So I don't know if it is a loan or grant or whatever it is, it is being dealt with by the Ministry of Natural Resources and I'll be guided accordingly.”

On the question of the EPA oil and gas staff, Parsram said that based on his review, he would have hired persons when he assumed his post at the EPA. He said that when he came to the agency, he worked to strengthen the oil and gas department by hiring staff and increasing their capacity with the appropriate training

as well as strengthening the agency's remote real time monitoring capacity.

Minister Bharrat was at the time responding to critics in Parliament during his arguments against a motion

by Shadow oil and Gas Minister David Patterson for full liability oil and gas insurance policy. Dr. Vincent Adams, who previously headed the EPA, lambasted the government and the EPA for not activating the work that was done under the project. He has also challenged the government and the state agency to make public the information regarding the “highly

Cop allegedly caught in sexual act with underage boy released The policeman who was under close arrest for allegedly being involved in a sexual act with an underage boy in Berbice, Region Six has been released.

According to Regional Commander, Boodnarine Persaud, the policeman was placed on open arrest after investigators were unable to verify that he was the person seen in the video engaging in the sexual act with the minor. Kaieteur News had reported that the

sexual encounter between the rank and the boy, only age 15, took place in May last year but reports are only now surfacing after a video was leaked.

According to information received, the officer and the teen are known to each other and on the day when the sexual act took place, the teen's parents were not at home. It is alleged that the rank visited and engaged in the sexual act with the teen.

trained” oil and gas specialists hired under the grant; showing where the 13 mentioned people fit into the specific positions; their qualifications and how they fit into the structure.

Adams had told the publication that he personally requested and secured the US$1M grant from the local World Bank representative here. The key focus areas of the grant involved monitoring and accessing pertinent information needed for oil

and gas oversight purposes, Adams explained. He c o n t i n u e d t h a t representatives of the highly skilled 36-member Petroleum Unit would have entailed professionals in petroleum engineering, geological engineering, waste management and the likes and they would have provided “24/7” monitoring aboard Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels offshore Guyana; allowing for the c o u n t r y t o e ff e c t i v e l y

manage the industry for itself.

The Petroleum Unit, he added, would have been extremely useful because its experts would have been providing round the clock monitoring, and gathering information that Guyana could have used to put itself in a better position where managing its oil is concerned. Without these measures in place, the country is left to depend on reports and data the oil companies provide.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 11, 2022

Lone contractor bids $39M to repair fence, metal rails at Parliament building - cost estimated at $16M by engineer

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A lone contractor- Brass Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry Limited, on Tuesday submitted two bids totaling $39M to conduct repairs to WANTED the Parliament Building’s Lathe Operator Call: 645-9333. fence and the metal rails that run along its corridor.

Experienced cashier, cleaner, The two projects are Labourer and counter person. being done under the Apply @ Shanta’s 225 Camp Parliament of Guyana and the & New Market St. engineer has estimated them Experience Waitress to work to cost a total of $16M. Bids shift living on East Coast Pref- were submitted to the National erably $22,000 Weekly. 6103974.

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Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and according to the minutes seen by this media house, the engineer estimated that repairs to the fence surrounding the Parliament Building located at Stabroek, Georgetown, will cost $10, 308,000.

For that project, Brass Aluminum placed a bid of over $19M. Speaking with Kaieteur News, the Parliament’s head of Expenditure and Planning, Monnette-Garnette Christopher said that some of the repairs to the fence include, replacing the metal spears that were broken off by vagrants. As it relates to the metal rails along the corridor of the building, Christopher related that the base has corroded and in need of repairs. The engineer estimated that those repairs will cost some $6M but Brass Aluminum placed another $19M bid for that project too.

Apart from the repair works to the fence and rails, Parliament is also looking for contractors to conduct maintenance and repairs to its roof. The engineer estimates the roof works to cost over $10M. Eight contractors submitted bids for this project and the highest bidder, Authentic Engineering, placed a bid of

$23M. The lowest bidder, Hackett and Son Construction placed a bid of $5.9M, more than $3M less than the engineer’s estimate for the same works. In addition to works for the Parliament of Guyana bids

were also submitted by contractors for the supply of Network Servers to the National Communication Network (NCN).

Below are tables of the companies and the bids they submitted on Tuesday:

Parliament of Guyana-Repairs to the fence of the public buildings

Parliament of Guyana- Repairs to the metal rails of the corridors

Parliament of Guyana-Repairs to the roof of public building

National Communications Network (NCN) - Supply of Network Servers

(Continued on page 17)

Thursday August 11, 2022

Kaieteur News

62 new COVID-19 Lone contractor bids $39M... infections, two in ICU From page 16

A

total of 62 more persons tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said in its daily dashboard on Wednesday.

The new cases take the total number of infections recorded in Guyana since March 2020 to 70,284. The

new cases were recorded across the regions.

Meanwhile, there are two patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 13 patients in institutional isolation and 499 patients in home isolation. To date, 68, 498 people have recovered and 1,272 deaths were recorded.

A Section of the Parliament building’s fence to be repaired.

PAGE 17

Thursday August 11, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

British Airways to fly to Guyana from next year T

h e U n i t e d Kingdom (UK) flag carrier, British Airways has officially launched its service in Guyana, with tickets going on sale from Wednesday for the airline's first flight here in March of 2023.

When in operation British Airways will have two flights per week – offering connections from London to

made at the boardroom of the Ministry of Public Works, on Wednesday. Present at the announcement were Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Waldron; British High Commissioner, Jane Miller and the Chief Executive

engagement between President Irfaan Ali, Minister Walrond and officials of British Airways in London earlier this year.

At the announcement, Minister Walrond, noted that British Airways' entry into the market is excellent news for Guyana's travel and tourism industry, which has seen remarkable growth during its post-pandemic

[From left] CEO of CJIA, Ramesh Ghir; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Waldron; British High Commissioner, Jane Miller and Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill.

Guyana via St. Lucia. The Boeing 777-200 ER can accommodate 332 passengers and will be one of the largest passenger carriers to serve the Guyana market.

The announcement was

Officer (CEO) of Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

It was stated that the development is the culmination of an initiative which commenced with an

recovery period.

She said: “we foresee endless possibilities as Guyana's tourism product is unique. Birding, nature and adventure enthusiasts will find paradise in our

Friends riddled with bullets at Melanie ECD, critical

T

wo men are currently hospitalised after they were on Tuesday night shot multiple times about their body at Melanie on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

The injured men have been identified as 27-year-old Ryan Joseph and 29-year-old Bimal Veersammy, and according to police they were reportedly shot around 20:30hrs by men in silver-grey Nissan Bluebird motorcar.

Investigators reported that Joseph and Veersammy were liming with a friend in front of a house along the Melanie Public Road when the car drove up in front of them. Two masked men armed with handguns reportedly exited from the backseat and started shooting at the three men.

The victims recalled scurrying for safety but Joseph and Veersammy were hit while the other luckily escaped be shot. Investigators learnt that the shooters then re-entered the car immediately and it sped towards Georgetown leaving an injured Joseph and Veersammy bleeding on the ground.

The two victims were moments later assisted by nearby residents and they were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where they were admitted for treatment. Joseph was

Hospitalized after a drive-by shooting, Bimal Veersammy.

reportedly shot, five times about his body while Veersammy received three bullets.

Police have since recovered a number of 9MM spent shells from the crime scene.

untouched rainforests and savannahs, home to 820+ species of birds and exotic wildlife.”

She further noted: “what's even more important is the fact that the United Kingdom, one of our main source markets has significant demand for experiences which align with Guyana's tourism products and which will, without a doubt, result in an influx of travellers to Guyana through this new route.”

In addition, Minister Walrond said that Guyana will capitalise on this newly minted route to accelerate regional integration, c o m b i n e t h e d i ff e r e n t experiences and market new multi-destination packages.

Minister Indar thanked CJIA's CEO for working with the British Airways team to bring this plan to fruition.

The Minister also said, the Government of Guyana

will continue to make strong investments to develop the country's existing infrastructure.” “It has been long overdue and it is testimony of Guyana becoming a major investment destination and this is the reason we have been working to develop our existing infrastructure, especially at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to facilitate such investment opportunities,” Indar noted.

For his part, Minister Edghill, believes that with the expansion of the CJIA, it will open up avenues to increase international connectivity and attract more transatlantic carriers.

He said Guyana aims to become a major link between South America and Europe.

Edghill added that, “Wide bodied/transatlantic aircraft from places, like Europe can easily be accommodated with our extended boarding corridor and the two

additional boarding bridges, which are currently being installed. The installation of the bridges is scheduled for completion in September.”

He noted that, “This expansion will provide tremendous benefits to Guyanese, mainly through reduced costs for travel and export.”Minister Edghill noted that this new venture will allow Guyanese easier access to other continents in Europe and Africa at affordable prices.

He said these ongoing efforts to modernize the airport facilities are aligned with the Government's vision to catapult the local aviation sector into new frontiers.

“This is why we are happy to welcome the British Airways 777-200 ER aircraft to these shores,” Edghill said.

He further explained that the aircraft has a cargo hold volume of 4800 cubic feet for both passenger baggage and cargo.

Five land surveyors sworn-in President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday swore in five new land surveyors at State House, charging them to work with competence, dignity and discipline.

He told Mr. Elijah Persaud, Mr. Royston Washington, Mr. Tedwin Roach, Mr. Marc Nicholson and Mr. Terron Roberts to ensure that they have a fundamental understanding of the geography and landscape of the areas they will ply their trade, the Office of the President reported.

The Head of State also announced that his Government will be examining the

opportunities for land surveyors to advance their education by allocating a number of scholarships to them annually. After the ceremony, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations handed over more than US$30,000 of land surveying equipment to the Guyana Technical Institute (GTI) to support its land surveyors' programme. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand; CEO of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Mr. Enrique Monize and other Government officials were also at the event.

Thursday August 11, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 11, 2022

Thursday August 11, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Torginol Paints announced as Official Paint of Hero CPL

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed Torginol Paints as the tournament’s Official Paint for the next three years.

Torginol Paints will be working with Hero CPL to bring colour to the Biggest Party in Sport with the company supporting the tournament with pitch markings across the region.

Torginol will also bringing colour to the fans with face-painting for supporters at the group games and finals in Guyana. Torginol Paints is based in Guyana and has cemented its position as one of the premier paint manufacturers across the

region. Torginol Paints’ CEO, Rakesh Puri, expressed his company’s enthusiasm for the partnership. “We’re pleased to be sponsoring the CPL, the league that has become the second mostwatched Twenty20 tournament worldwide.

Cricket is a huge part of life in Guyana and the Caribbean, and we’re honoured to be a part of the CPL, which brings together fans from all over the world.” Jamie Stewart, Hero CPL’s Commercial Director, said: “Hero CPL is all about colour, from our vibrant logo and graphics featuring the

Torginol Paints will be the tournament’s Official Paint for the CPL for the next three years.

colours of Carnival, to the bright pigments of fan-filled stadiums around the region,

Thursday August 11, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may have that awful feeling that you really need to get down to work yet something seems to stand square in the way of progress. Perhaps you feel like you're at a four-way stop with three other cars.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your heart has been active, Libra, and you're probably feeling the need to take charge of a certain relationship. Instead of being too hasty in your pursuit of this romance, you should probably do more planning.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You're anxious to take action, Taurus, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Be careful about acting too hastily. It's important that you and your loved one.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There is solid grounding to your emotions right now that is helping you stabilize your sensitive feelings, Scorpio. As you become more attuned to your internal needs,. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your relationships are going well from an intellectual perspective, Sagittarius, but from an emotional one, you might feel like they aren't as fulfilling as you'd like.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) It may feel as if something or someone is trying to keep you from moving ahead with your ambitious goals and aggressive nature, Gemini.

At first you may resent this ball and chain attached to your ankle.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You're apt to feel more talkative than usual, Cancer.

There are many times when you may shrink from a situation in disgust or perhaps boredom.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Concentrate on nurturing your needs right now instead of trying to accommodate the needs of others, Capricorn. There is a difficult tension that arises when you try to comfort someone.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may be anxious to try an uncharted path that speaks to your sense of risk and adventure, Leo. It's important to temper these actions with realistic planning.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Things may roll along nicely in love and romance and then suddenly run into a snag, Aquarius. Perhaps you failed to recognize an important birthday or anniversary.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Other people are likely to be anxious to get up and moving with their plans, Virgo. It might be better for you to hang back a bit and see how things pan out before you take action.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Here's a reminder that it's OK to be you. You may feel more centered than usual, which encourages you to stand up for yourself and say the things you must to people who need to hear them.

and deep blues of the Caribbean Sea. We are delighted to welcome the colours of Torginol to the CPL family, as we celebrate the 10th year of world cricket’s most colourful event.”

The 2022 Hero CPL will take place from 31 August to 30 September. The tournament will be played across four countries with games in St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana.

The 2022 men’s Hero CPL tournament will take place from 31 August to 30 September. The host countries for 2022 will be St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana. In 2022 there will be the first running of the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) which will feature Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders. The WCPL will take place in St Kitts & Nevis from 31 August to 4 September. For further information visit www.cplt20.com

Boxing referees...

From page 22 Referee/Judges Commission is highly decorated, respected and knowledgeable and is the perfect man for the job. Guyana has shortlisted 30 pugilists ahead of the tournament set to attract boxers from around the Caribbean. “We have confirmation from Trinidad, The Bahamas and St. Lucia and we expect Saint Maarten and Grenada also to be a part,” Ninvalle had informed.

Heroic effort...

From page 24 next 15 balls would prove costly, especially the last six bowled by Jason Holder, who was plundered for 23 runs that pushed New Zealand to 185-5. James Neesham’s 33 from 15 balls with three fours and two sixes at the death, was instrumental in getting New Zealand to their winning total. Smith ended with 3-32.

Scores: NZ 185/5 beat WI 172/ 7 by 13 runs.

Fraser-Pryce scorches to Monaco 100m victory

AFP - Jamaica’s ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce scorched to a dominant victory in the women’s 100m at the Diamond League meet in Monaco yesterday.

The 35-year-old mother of one clocked a world leading 10.62 seconds, also a meet record at the Stade Louis II, smashing the previous best of 10.72 set by disgraced American Marion Jones in 1998.

Fraser-Pryce won her fifth world title at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, last month and has been in unbeatable form ever since.

The Jamaican’s victory in Monaco was her third sub10.70 run within a week and saw her become the first woman in history to break 10.70 six times in the same season.

“I’ve now had three backto-back races so I will take some time for recovery and see what I’m able to do with some rest before I come back,” said Fraser-Pryce. “I did what I needed to do and we had fun and let the clock

do the talking!” Fraser-Pryce hailed what she dubbed a “remarkable” year on the track.

“I cannot be disappointed with the season,” she said.

“To be able to run 10.6 consistently means a lot to me.

“It is very hard to keep the speed on this high level. It is important for me to deliver fast times because I’m looking forward for myself to have a great season.”

Streaking through in second in balmy, overcast conditions with temperatures of 29 degrees Celsius (84F) was Fraser-Pryce’s Jamaican teammate Shericka Jackson, the world 200m champion, in a personal best of 10.71sec.

Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast set an African record in third, just one-hundredth of a second adrift, as all seven starters went sub11sec.

“I knew I was going to do good because I was feeling well, but you never know 100%,” said Ta Lou. “I knew I was not too far from Shelly-Ann so I knew I was doing very well.”

PAGE 22

Schoolboys tournament too important to fail - Ninvalle Labelling the Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean School Boys and Junior tournament as the most important within the Caricom jurisdiction, Steve Ninvalle, President of the Guyana Boxing Association, and architect of the event, disclosed that the prestigious championship will now be staged from August 26th-28th at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue.

Ninvalle disclosed that the competition, named after Guyana’s 1978 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, has been rescheduled from its initial period of August 19th21st in order to allow participating countries to meet Guyana’s Covid19 entry requirements.

“This will be the 5th edition of the Caribbean School Boys and Junior tournament.

It was scheduled for August 19th-21st but we had to push it back by one week because we are trying to make sure that the overseas participants can meet Guyana’s Covid-19 entry requirements. We have confirmation from Trinidad, the Bahamas and St. Lucia and we expect Saint Maarten and Grenada also to be a part,” Ninvalle informed.

He further added that, “It is one of the most if not most important competition that the Caribbean will have, simply because of the fact that it is tailored, points to, and is aimed at developing the nursery of the sport. The nursery of course is your most important.” The GBA has shortlisted 30 young fighters for the regional championship, with possible national representatives emerging from Vergenoegen Boxing Gym, Young Achievers, the Forgotten Youth Foundation, Pace and Power and the Rose Hall Jammers Boxing Gym. Vergenoegen will be represented by Glaston Winter, Jemuel Jones, Keyon Britton, Markel Blue, Garvel Hyman and Jevon Anthony, while the Pace and Power Boxing Gym participants are Stephon Clarence and Tofina Barker.

Steve Ninvalle Similarly, Young Achievers representation will come in the form of Ceafa Chris, Ezekiel Bancroft, Shamaria Isaacs, Kendel Domonic and Eon Bancroft Jr, with Forgotten Youth Foundation being represented by the likes of Tequan Sampson, Chance Niles, Shaquian James, Josiah McPherson, Seon Graham, Dwane Baptiste, and Yusdiel Gala. Rose Hall Jammers participation will occur in the form of Roopesh Balgobin, Jadon Lewis, Isaiah Nurse, Shawn Sabola, Travis Sancho, Matthew Thomas, Joshua Thambarain, Arlington Johnson, Jahuan Haniff and Akhan English.

In preparation for the upcoming event Ninvalle had implemented a system whereby there was an Under16 competition held every two weeks. The GBA has also contracted Cuban coach Francisco Roldan to assist in whipping the squad into shape.

The coaches and instructors helping the youngsters are: Lennox Daniels, Francisco Roldan, Selbert Blake, Gregory Cort and Clifton Moore. “The coaching staff will soon select the national team which will go into encampment. It is a very exciting time regardless of how many overseas participants we get. It’s an exciting time for boxing because the nurseries have been injected with some vigor, vitality and some much needed international competition. Trinidad and Tobago is slated to send the largest overseas contingent, they have nine and they will be followed by the Bahamas.

Once we get all the Covid-19

entry requirements met, then we are off to have a very good tournament for want of better words. It is a much needed international competition for the Caribbean.”

According to the GBA boss, the importance of the championship cannot be overstated, as it provides an avenue, and opportunity for Caribbean territories to assess the quality of their respective nurseries.

He made clear, “It’s the only of its kind. This nursery tournament in Caricom was first held in Guyana in 2016.

The Caribbean had no way of assessing where its nursery was. We (The Caribbean) didn’t have any U-16, school boy or junior tournaments. So what was happening was that all of our Caribbean countries were having their nurseries operate in silos, individually, and there was no way of assessing where each contry was as it relates to another nation. So we thought it fit to do that, we took a break in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid-19 and now we are back even though, in my personal opinion, some were hoping that it wouldn’t return and will not support. “ Ninvalle assured that the tournament will and must go on. “We are pushing ahead with it regardless because Guyana sees the nursery of our sport of boxing as very important. That opinion is shared by one of closest partners in Trinidad and Tobago and several others. Mr. Cecil Forde (president of Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association), Mr. David Christopher (president of the St Lucia Boxing Association), Vincent Strachan (president of the Bahamas Boxing Association and several other presidents in the Caribbean understand this. We cannot afford to let this die, or, we would be doing a great disservice to the sport and those who elected us. If you don’t have a strong and structured nursery then how are we are going to get good senior fighters,” Ninvalle asked.

Boxing referees and judges for refresher course ahead of Schoolboys, Juniors Tourney

It is not only the boxers who are whipping themselves into shape ahead of the Winfield Braithwaite School Boys and Juniors Tournament scheduled for August 26 to 28 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

A refresher course is planned for Saturday for the referees and judges officiating the event “in order to get

Thursday August 11, 2022

Kaieteur News

in shape for the tournament.”

This was indicated by President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle.

Ninvalle informed that a virtual refresher course will be conducted by Ray Silvas of the USA from noon to 15:00hrs and will involve all the officials within the Region.

“It’s very important that we have a refresher course said Ninvalle,” who added, “Rules are changing constantly and we are now coming out of Covid induced inactivity and many of the officials have not had time to refresh.”

Ninvalle stated that Silvas, a former Chairman of the AIBA (Continued on page 21)

Thirteen junior players receive financial stipend from BCB/Dr Puran Singh Financial Scheme - BCB promises rewards for centuries and five wicket hauls

The Under19 players pose with their stipends.

“The Berbice Cricket Board is very proud of each one of you and we wish you great success on the cricket field as you wear the national colours. The BCB wants you to represent the legacy of Kanhai, Butcher and Kallicharran with pride, passion and commitment. Cricket is a team game and I would like to urge you to always put the national interest first. On behalf of the BCB, I want to reassure you of our support for each one of you and please be assured that we would be there with you, every way on and off the cricket field.” The words of BCB President Hilbert Foster MS as he met with thirteen Berbice cricketers at the Area H Ground, prior to leaving Berbice to represent Guyana in Cricket West Indies tournaments.

Seven of the players would play in the Under19 tournament in St Vincent, while the remaining six would play in the Under15 in

Grenada. The under19 players are Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jermey Sandia, Isai Thorne, Zeymul Ramsammy, Rampertab Ramnauth and Tommani Ceasar, while Ramzan Koobeer, Sohail Mohamed, Navin Boodwah, Adrian Hetmyer, Arif Khan and Romario Ramdeholl would play in Grenada for the under15 team.

Foster noted that a total of thirty three Berbicians in 2022 would have gained selections at the national level for junior and female teams.

This he stated was of value for the BCB massive investments in tournaments and its massive developmental programmes over the last four and a half years. Additionally, several of its senior players have gained selection on the senior Guyana and West Indies teams while another five would play in the upcoming CPL tournament.

Foster told the attentive youths that a good perfor-

mance in the upcoming tournament would be a good kickstart to their career and he urged them to be disciplined and focused at all times. He also told them to be their brothers’ keepers and to look out for each other.

The popular BCB President also unveiled a performance benefit programme where every Berbice player who scores a century or take five wickets, would receive a financial reward from the board.

Each of the thirteen players also received a financial stipend of ten thousand dollars [US50] from the BCB/Dr Puran Singh Financial Scheme.

The scheme is funded by Barbados based Berbician Dr Singh. Under the scheme, every Berbician youth player who gains national selections would receive ten thousand dollars.

Foster expressed thanks to Dr Singh for his support of Berbice cricket.

Qatar World Cup to begin one day earlier than planned – sources MANCHESTER, England, (Reuters) - The World Cup in Qatar will kick-off a day earlier than scheduled if FIFA’s ruling bureau agree to a plan to hold the opening ceremony and the host nation’s first match on Sunday Nov. 20th, a source close to the discussions told Reuters.

The original plan was for the opening ceremony to be held before Qatar’s game on Nov. 21 against Ecuador — which created the unusual situation of two matches being held before the ceremony.

Normally the ceremony is conducted before the kickoff of the first game of the tournament.

The Group A match between Senegal v Netherlands and the Group B match be-

tween England and Iran were scheduled to take place before the ceremony on the Monday.

The plan has to be voted on by the heads of FIFA’s six regional confederations and president Gianni Infantino but, despite the late notice, is expected to win support.

The switch to a Nov. 20 opening ceremony and game would allow the SenegalNetherlands match, scheduled for 1300 local time on Nov. 21, to kick off later in the day. The Group B matches on that day, which also include the United States v Wales, would be unaffected.

Another source close to the proposal said the switch could be confirmed as early as Thursday and that the plan was to ensure that fans did

not have to pay for any changes to flights or accommodation.

“The financial impact to fans has been assessed and that any additional costs to fans will be absorbed by organisers, but it is unclear who will bear these costs, whether it is FIFA, Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy or another entity,” said the source.

“There will be an assurance from organisers that any additional costs for fans to change travel bookings or accommodation won’t be borne by them and this will be assessed on a case-by case basis,” the source added.

It was not clear what the mechanism will be to manage any compensation for fans.

Thursday August 11, 2022

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Kaieteur News

44th FIDE Chess Olympiad: Most impressive performance for Guyana in recent years The 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai finally concluded on August 9th, having seen the largest number of participants than ever before in the biennial event.

Guyana’s Women’s team, led by 14 year old Women’s Champion Pooja Lam, defeated four teams: Laos, Central African Republic, Timor-Leste and Libya while they drew with Oman to raise their International ranking 16 places up from no.136 to no.120 in the world.

Twelve year old deaf player Anaya Lall was most impressive in the final round against Libya, defeating 1836 rated player WFM Khuloud El Flow. This is the highest rated opponent young Anaya has ever defeated earning her, her first FIDE rating.

Jessica Callender drew her final match with WFM Khadija Elfelo (1875), while Pooja Lam and Sasha Shariff also defeated their Libyan opponents Alrais and Albudwi respectively. The team triumphantly finished third in the Group E category. The Women’s team was captained by Slovenian GM Georg Mohr, with top players Jessica Callender and Sasha Shariff finishing on 5.5 points each from 10 games. Pooja Lam and Anaya Lall finished on 3 points each, while Nellisha Johnson earned 1.5 points.

On the Open side, Guyana moved up from no.152 to no.148 with a total of four team wins against Seychelles, Gabon, Brunei Darussalam and Burundi. Guyana’s Open Team, captained by Davion Mars, is now ranked fifth out of the Caribbean chess teams.

The Open team lost the final round of the tournament, 2.5 – 1.5 in favour of Haiti. FM Anthony Drayton won against Jude Guillaume while CM Taffin Khan drew with his Haitian counterpart FM Marckens

Sasha Shariff at the 44th Chess Olympiad

Deaf player Anaya Lall at the 44th Chess Olympiad

Anthony Drayton at the 44th Chess Olympiad Jean Louis. FM Anthony Drayton made the most wins

for Guyana’s men, finishing on 5.5 points after playing 9

Canada-based Guyanese Prashad slams 142 not out

Gavin Prashad continued his prolific run in Canada having smashed a magnificent, unbeaten 142 for Tricity Raven in the 2022 Canadian Premier Softball Cricket League Regular Season 20over competition last Sunday.

Playing at Firgrove Public School ground, North York, Toronto, the right-handed Prashad clobbered 18 sixes and five fours as his team piled up a gigantic 275-2 off 20-overs while Island Boys were dashed out for 34 in 10th over.

Prashad, who recently

Gavin Prashad scored a century, got support from Kampta Ramcharran who

made an attacking 81 and 33 from skipper Roopnarine Lalbehari. Only Roopchand Katwaru with 11 as the only batsman to make double-figure in Island Boys’ chase.

Naurang Brigmohan grabbed four wickets for 15 runs from his maximum four overs. Steve Gulabsing and Prashad also made an impact with the ball by claiming two wickets each. Details from the other matches were not available but the competition is set to resume on Sunday with a bunch of matches across the Greater Toronto Area.

rounds. This was followed by CM Taffin Khan with 4.5 points from 11 games, Loris Nathoo and Ethan Lee both with 3 points and Roberto Neto scoring 2.5 points for Guyana. Both the Open and Women’s team finished on 18.5 points. It was an allaround successful tournament for the Guyana Chess Olympiad team with increased

rating points for players, improved rankings and two new Conditional WCMs in Shariff and Callender. The Olympiad Team and delegation are expected to arrive on August 11th. The Board of Directors of the Guyana Chess Federation wishes to thank and congratulate the team for their excellent performances as well as all the

individuals who contributed to the success of the trip.

Special thanks to the Government of Guyana and all our local sponsors who made this event possible as well as to FIDE and the AICF Organizing Committee. The GCF is very appreciative of all the support and assistance received towards our chess players.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 11, 2022

Heroic effort from Shepherd and Smith in vain as New Zealand win first T20 by 13 runs at Sabina Park SportsMax - Despite an entertaining 58-run partnership from 26 balls between Romario Shepherd and Odean Smith, New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in their threematch T20 series yesterday after defeating the West Indies by 13 runs at Sabina Park in Kingston.

Chasing 186 for victory, West Indies slumped to yet another seemingly inevitable defeat characterized by poor shot-making and reckless play.

The West Indies slumped to 49-4 in the seventh over with Kyle Mayers (1), Nicholas Pooran (15), Devon Tho-

mas (1) and Shimron Hetmyer (2) all back in the hutch.

Jason Holder and Rovman Powell tried to accelerate but were out for 25 and 18, respectively as the West Indies slumped to 114-7, needing 72 from the final 32 balls.

Holder’s dismissal brought together Shepherd and Smith whose partnership brought the West Indies within 13 runs of an unlikely victory.

Shepherd hit three sixes and a four in his 16-ball 31 while Smith made 27 from just 14 balls with four fours and a six, but the task proved too great as the West Indies in-

Shimron Hetmyer completes a stunning catch to send back Martin Guptill. (AFP/Getty Images)

nings closed at 172-7.Mitchell Santer was the best of the New Zealand bowlers with 319 from his four overs.

After the visitors were invited to take the first strike, Martin Guptill and Devon Conway shared in an opening stand of 62 at almost eight runs an over.

It took a spectacular piece of fielding from Shimron Hetmyer to break the partnership in the eighth over when Guptill cut Odean Smith up and over deep point only to see the Guyanese snatch the ball out of the air just as it was about to clear the boundary.

Smith removed Conway

next ball caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Devon Thomas for a 29-ball 43 that included four fours and two sixes.

Glen Phillips went for 17 caught at short fine leg off Holder and Daryl Mitchell was dismissed by Obed McCoy as the West Indies tried to fight back having New Zealand at 144-4 in the 17th over.

At the other end, Kane Williamson bludgeoned the bowling making 47 from just 33 balls before he became Smith’s third victim with New Zealand 149-5 in the 18th. The (Continued on page 21)

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 11, 2022

PAGE 25

13-year-old Tanish Dongre looked elegant and accomplished and added 68 with Swar for the 2nd wickets at Everest yesterday. (Sean Devers photo)

USA Tri-State Guyana tour

USA Tri-State U-17s beat GT XI by 4-Wks

By Sean Devers

T

he USA Tri Sate U17 development team won the third match on their tour to Guyana when they beat a Georgetown XI by four wickets at Everest yesterday after losing to the same opposition at same venue on Tuesday.

Led by useful knocks from leading run scorer Ruhan Swar who clobbered four sixes in a pugnacious 46, 40 from little lefthander Tanish Dongre who reached the ropes eight times in classy innings, reached 188-6 in 43.4 overs.

Vyas Sriman and Amogh Arepally with 23 each, with Arepally sweeping Jeremiah Hohenkirk for four with two needed for victory also contributed to the exciting victory.

Myhiem Khan had 2-28 and Stephon Sankar 2-33 were the main wicket-takers for the GT XI which were restricted to 185-9 in 45 overs.

Hohenkirk made 45 not out from 52 balls with two fours and a six, while Shilo Adams contributed 34 and Myhiem Khan made a cameo 27 from 22 balls with six fours.

Skipper Anirudh Bolisetty had 2-40 and got support from Tanmay Joshi who took 2-35.

After Siddhant Rai fell to Khan for two at 19-1, Swar and the classy Dongre added 68 in an entertaining second wicket stand. Swar departed at 121 when he was removed by leg-spinner Riyad Latif.

But Sriman, Arepally and

Bolisetty (15) saw their team to victory.

Earlier, the City side opted to bat on another sunny at the Everest ground and Khan dominating a 33run opening partnership with

for the spinners.

Silas, who made three from 23 balls, was LBW to Joshi at 36-2 before the 50 was posted in 11 overs.

Campbell, arguable the team's

Jeremiah Hohenkirk gathers off-side runs during his unbeaten 45 at Everest yesterday. (Sean Devers photo)

Leading scorer for the US team Ruhan Swar drives left-arm spinner Brandon Henry during his 46 yesterday at Everest to take his tally to 213. (Sean Devers photo) Kishawn Silas.

The tall right handed Khan played explosive shots and reached the boundary six times in his 27 from 22 balls before he attempted to go over cover and well taken by Rai running back as Bolisetty made the breakthrough in the seventh over.

With the outfield much faster due to three consecutive of sweltering heat, Jadon Campbell joined the left-handed Silas, who struggled to score freely on a track which produced turn and bounce

best batter, and Jayden Dowlin took the score to 61 before Campbell (10) provided Joshi with his second wicket.

Shaquan Walters, on the back of a fifty in the last game, was caught and bowled by Abhiram Yeruva for 13 which included a six and four to leave the score 74-4 in 17.1 overs as the 15-year-old Dowlin played sedately.

Dowlin, the son of former Test batsman Travis Dowlin, was there with the very talented Shilo Adams, and Adams doing most of the

scoring, as the pair took the score to 97 before the resolute Dowlin was removed by Rai for 12 from 69 balls.

Riyad, with a fifty in his last innings, fell for duck when Rounak Rao dismissed him at 98-6.

Adams, with a well-played 34 from 48 balls with two boundaries and Hohenkirk added 48 with positive batting before Adams fell

to Vyas Sriman as the City side, which was made up all players who participate in GCA cricket, slipped 146-7.

But while nobody else got into double figures, Hohenkirk played several explosive shots to take the score close to 200 which in the end was not enough.The next match is for tomorrow at Bourda between the same two sides.

Sagicor Tennis tourney in St Kitts...

Guyana's Nathan DeNobrega advances to U-12 final

P

laying on the fourth day of the 37th Sagicor Junior Tennis tournament at the St Lucia National Tennis Centre, Guyana's Nathan DeNobrega defeated Barbadian Zane Kirton in the semi-finals of the Boys U-12 to qualify for his first COTEEC Final.

Earlier in the day, the 12year-old DeNobrega defeated St Lucia's Denny Estava 4-0, 40. Denny is St. Lucia's number one player and the top seed in the knock out round. Nathan was focused from start to finish Nathan DeNobrega advanced to his first final. and didn't give his opponent any momentum.

Guyanese Renola Jordan defeated Trinidadian Madison Khan 5/4(7-5), 5/4(8-6) in the Quarterfinal on Tuesday, a day affected by rain in St Lucia, resulting in the Tournament which has attracted 16 Nations, being delayed until 2:00PM. The win meant that the talented young lady had advanced to the semi-final where she lost to the top ranked Fernanda Marin of Mexico 4-2, 5-3.

Navindra Arjune defeated Matthew Owen of St Kitts 4-0, 4-0 in the consolation in the Boys 14s. With that win he moves through to the

consolation semis.

DeNobrega reached another final yesterday, with his doubles partner Giovanni Quinn. They defeated Armon Archer (BAR)/Zane Kirton (BAR) 4/1,4/0. Both of his finals are set for today.

Jaiden Bowens of St Vincent defeated Guyana's Navindra Arjune 4/1,4/2 in the B o y s 1 4 s semifinal(Consolation), While L. Dalla Costa(ESV)/Matias Schaeuffler(TT) defeated Navindra Arjune(GUY)/Jaiden Bowens(SVN) 4/0,4/1 in the doubles 14s quarterfinal. (Sean Devers)

Guyana's Renola Jordon (right) lost in the semis to Mexican Fernanda Marin.

44th FIDE Chess Olympiad: Most impressive

performance for Guyana in recent years Open team at the 44th Chess Olympiad

Qatar World Cup to begin one day earlier than planned - sources

A view of the World Cup Trophy during an event marking "200 Days To Go" ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, in Doha, Qatar May 6, 2022. (REUTERS/Imad Creidi)

S

s t r po Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Fraser-Pryce scorches to Monaco 100m victory Heroic effort from Shepherd and Smith in vain as New Zealand win first T20 by 13 runs at Sabina Park

Shimron Hetmyer completes a stunning catch to send back Martin Guptill.

(AFP/Getty Images)

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