Kaieteur News

K

4 killed in - five smash-up injured

Thursday Edition

AIETEUR

August 13, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 32

NEWS

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

p.

2

PAYARA ON HOLD - awaiting expert p.

3

review - Pres. Ali

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 206,985

A Good Start

by Pres. Ali

T

he Dr. Irfaan Ali administration has announced a hold on the Payara project pending an expert review. This is a good first step in the right direction, and we commend this decision wholeheartedly.

The experts recruited must call things as they see them, in a spirit of independence and courage, one that bodes the best for Guyana and its oil wealth.

These are known people who could and would do well for us. No more of this nonsense about ExxonMobil people stuffing its self-serving positions down our throat.

This laudable move by the Irfaan Ali administration gives Guyana a chance to breathe a little. Just a little, but it represents a good beginning. We are all for it, and wait to see many more steps like this one. We need it. It is long overdue.

Govt. Minister tests positive for COVID-19 p.

18

- all cabinet members tested; to work from home while awaiting results

Govt. engages T&T Petroleum Expert to help p.

2

ExxonMobil says it spent over US$70M PM Rowley: on local content for first half of 2020 T&T not Guyana p.

18

p.

3

but provides no evidence

- 'Recounts won't

- Guyana to change anything; UNC foot the bill delaying process’

Enrico Woolford Exxon may need Guyana and Imran Khan more than Guyana given the boot needs Exxon - Int'l investors p.

8

p.

7

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

4 killed in smash-up - five injured

F

Among the dead were a man and woman, both believed to be in their 30s.

The fatal accident took place at around 17:55hrs.

According to police, the car was heading west towards Georgetown on the new highway at a very fast rate when the driver lost control. The car crashed into the median and ended up, on the other side, in the northern carriageway, into the path of the Canter which was heading east.

Eyewitness said that it

appeared that the car suffered a tire blow-out before it crashed into the median. At the scene, the wreckage of both vehicles told a story of the magnitude of the impact. The front of the Canter was smashed in; the car was mangled beyond recognition with two unconscious individuals trapped inside.

Persons were also seen lying on the road among the scattered fragments of shattered glass and other debris. A crowd gathered

Govt. engages T&T petroleum expert to help Energy Strategist, Anthony Paul

P

Horrific scene of yesterday's smash up

our persons were killed and another five injured late yesterday, in a horrific smash-up involving a Canter and a motor car along the Le Ressouvenir Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is the driver of the motor car, Chris Bradshaw, 35, of 103 Laluni Street, Queenstown. Up to press time, police were unable to ascertain the identity of the other three victims who were all passengers of the car.

Thursday August 13, 2020

around to render assistance and an ambulance along with a fire truck and police arrived shortly after.

Paramedics pronounced three dead at the scene while six others- five of them being occupants of the Canter, were rushed to the Georgetown Public hospital Corporation (GPHC).

At the hospital, one of the victims (passenger of the car) died while receiving treatment.

(Please see more details in tomorrow's edition)

resident Irfaan Ali has contacted Trinidadian energy strategist, Anthony Paul, to help Guyana develop its petroleum sector.

The President informed Kaieteur News of these developments during a recent call.Subsequently, contact was made with Paul who confirmed that discussions were had on a variety of issues, and that he is happy to help. Paul is currently an advisor to the Government of Mozambique.

Paul worked with Guyana previously, when he created two earlier drafts of Guyana's local content policy. Paul had included mechanisms to avoid shackling Guyana to confidentiality provisions, which would have provided for transparent reporting by oil companies on their local content commitments.

However, the former APNU+AFC government ignored the policy, replacing Paul with Dr. Michael Warner – a UK consultant affiliated with ExxonMobil who later removed Paul's safeguards.

While Guyana ignored his advice, Paul's work in Ghana saw that African nation's

government reap the success of a robust local content policy with Ghanaians representing 86 percent of the oil and gas workforce.

The Trinidadian also notably was hired by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to analyse Guyana's oil industry in 2016. In addition to pointing out loopholes to plug and urgent legislative updates to be made, Paul noted the need for a National Upstream Oil and Gas Policy, a document to guide the development of Guyana's petroleum legislation and regulatory framework.

Energy Lawyer, J. Jay Park held the same view, and had opined that the government should focus on what it wants to achieve by way of the policy. Paul's advice was not heeded.

Paul has about four decades of experience in extractive sectors. He has worked with oil major, BP, and several governments.

Paul formerly served as an advisor of Chatham House, and is a governing board member of the Natural Resource Governance Institute.

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 13, 2020

PAGE 03

PAYARA ON HOLD - awaiting expert review - Pres. Ali

P

resident Irfaan Ali has informed Kaieteur News that his government is in the process of securing an expert to conduct a review of the Payara Field Development Plan (FDP).

This means that previous plans to decide on the project

by August month's end have been put on hold.

The government had sought the assistance of the Canadian High Commission to find such an expert.

Speaking with Kaieteur News about this development, Good Governance advocate, Dr. Jan Mangal, said that the review requires a team of experts, not a single one.

He added that these reviews can take months, even years, as there tends to be discussion between the reviewers and the oil company on all the

important issues.

Mangal said that if the government approves the development after mere months, then the people will know that the government did not challenge anything substantial to benefit Guyana.

The President noted that he has met with the various local stakeholders, with a view of determining what work has already been done on the project.

A UK firm, Bayphase Limited, had been hired last year to evaluate the plan.

E x x o n M o b i l , meanwhile, had started preparations for development of the Payara field more than nine months ago. Despite receiving no approval from government, the company is actively funding the construction of the Liza Unity Floating, Production, Storage and

Offloading (FPSO) vessel, meant to produce as much as 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

It is clear that the company has bet a lot on Guyana and is attempting to pressure the country into permitting a plan it has not sufficiently scrutinized.

The multi-national has attempted to convince the Guyana government that a delay in approval of the project beyond this monthend would result in billions in losses for Guyana. This is evidenced by statements made by the company's Senior Vice President, Neil Chapman, during its recent Q2 earnings call.

Experts disagree with Exxon's call for swift approval, and have advised Guyana to take all the time it needs to ensure the FDP is robust.

Guyana has been advised

by Dr. Mangal to ensure it renegotiates the Stabroek Block agreement before it approves any further project.

Mangal told this newspaper that the previous government hired inadequate and unknown personnel. So, in this case, he

expects that the Guyanese public is shown proof that the persons hired are all qualified (via resumes and track record). The public would have ample opportunity, in such a scenario, to background these individuals and ensure

they are sufficient for the job, and not beholden to oil companies.

Mangal added that if the Payara review is mishandled, then Canada as the sponsor will look bad, “and Guyana will be damaged even further.”

Exxon says it spent over US$70M on local content for first half but provides no evidence

By Kiana Wilburg

A

merican oil g i a n t , ExxonMobil, disclosed yesterday that it has spent over $14 billion on hiring and training Guyanese men and women as well as in the procurement of local services to support its operations here.

Even as it supplied selected information about its spending which includes costs incurred by its subcontractors, it provided not a shred of evidence to support its claims.

At the end of the day, it is Guyanese who will have to foot this $14 billion dollar bill along with the unaudited $45 billion the company has said it spent from 2015 to 2019.

In a statement to the press yesterday, the company said more than 2,000 Guyanese are supporting its operations, representing 55 percent of the total workforce.

What ExxonMobil failed to show, however, was a breakdown of the job description, salaries, and even the plans in place to increase this workforce by more than 55 percent.

In fact, no data was provided for the public to

- Guyana to foot the bill analyze if there was any progression in the employment of Guyanese to senior positions from 2015 to now.

With regard to capacity building, ExxonMobil said that this is an ongoing process for its own operations as well as for its direct contractors, with more than 100,000 hours of training provided to Guyanese staff as of the first half of 2020.

The American oil giant said that 80 percent was in t h e a r e a s o f Professional/Technical and Craft/Trade Training while noting that more than 50 Guyanese have trained internationally in countries such as Brazil, Canada, Singapore, Trinidad, United Arab Emirates and United States, to gain hands on oil and gas experience to leverage in Guyana.

Here again, ExxonMobil fails to disclose to the public, the evidence that this training did take place, as well as how this capacity building will translate to the use of Guyanese for senior positions within its

operations.

Since ExxonMobil began operations in 2015, the company has kept away from scrutiny, its local content reports which would expose just how seriously it takes capacity building.

As for the local businesses it has used for the first half of the year, ExxonMobil said more than 600 Guyanese suppliers were used for services.

These “services” included the procurement of “food stuff” and “engineering” works.

Again, the company provided no breakdown of the names of companies it used for the first half of 2020. The only time ExxonMobil ever released the list of companies it claimed to have used for its local content efforts was back in June 2018. The company had claimed that it had used over 300 Guyanese registered companies to supply services.

In response to calls for evidence of same, a list was provided. Upon examination, however, it was founded that

ExxonMobil padded its list with the names of places like Bourda Market, Haags Bosch Dumpsite, Royal Castle, Bounty Supermarket, Metro Office and Computer Supplies, Star Party Rentals, and Shanta's Roti Shop. It listed utility companies such as the Guyana Power and

Light and the Guyana Revenue Authority as part of its local content efforts too.

Persons were also listed as registered companies.

They included: Sonia Noel, Chontelle Sewett, Andron Alphonso and Mokesh Daby.

As part of its statement yesterday, ExxonMobil claimed that the Centre for Local Business Development, which is located on South Road, has

remained supportive of local businesses with a transition to virtual courses.

No evidence or report of any kind was provided to confirm this. Additionally, ExxonMobil said that the centre continued mentorship of 10 Guyanese companies in the process to be compliant in the ISO 9001 quality management system.

Those names were not released.

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 13, 2020

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL TEL:624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Payara, Payara, Payara!

Payara will be proof and pave the way. Payara could be the first plank toward petroleum prosperity. That delay pending review is a constructive move.

For its part, ExxonMobil is not wasting any time. It has gone on the offensive by delivering the first sorties from its arsenal. The company has spoken of possible “weather” predicaments that could jeopardize the way things stand if it is thwarted, through approval withheld. That was the first signal sent from the ExxonMobil command center. The second was more fearsome: Guyana could end up losing over a billion in oil revenues, if there is delay in early approval, as Exxon desires.

Those two are part of the heavy artillery that Guyana’s slick oil partner has aimed at us.

There are some preliminary objectives at work in this.

ExxonMobil is working assiduously to intimidate the new Guyanese leaders and weaken resolve. If that fails, it will trot out experts, studies, market realities, some obscure provision in the contract, and more. The Western, and especially American media, which was so helpful to the PPP during the elections’ controversies, will be used to plant messages that are either subtle or hostile or biased. The Ali Administration could find itself inundated with the negative and the suddenly non-supportive.

On a separate note, something else must be faced: Guyana is widely known for its corrupt political players.

Exxon will work hard to get to them, to compromise them for its own advantage.

Ways can be found around the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. It depends on who is willing to take; with the president himself committing to transparency and accountability in the first hours of his administration, all Guyanese will be watching closely for any deviation from that promise, and what is so desperately needed here. Payara must stand as testimony to what we can deliver in the crunch, and it is crunch time.

That is clean governance. Stronger leaders across the globe have stumbled and fallen; principled men have dishonored themselves before the temptations that came.

Like we said, the proof will be in the performance. We urge that it be an open book, no more secrets.

It is not a secret of how Exxon operates or the strength of its long record. Perhaps it is opportune to sketch that record, if only to give an idea of how the company conducts its business operations.

This should tell Guyana what it is up against as it fights to get a fair share of the revenues from the Payara project.

We need to go back over a hundred years, but it is worth the time and effort.

From Pennsylvania to the Persian Gulf, from California to Ohio to Indiana, and from the American Midwest to the Mediterranean, Exxon has conquered all comers and competition, be they corporate rivals or nationalistic visionaries. Over the decades, Exxon has dealt successfully (and prosperously) with dictators and despots, military strongmen and muscular patriots. It has outlasted them all.

From its beginnings as Standard Oil of New Jersey to blending with Humble Oil to the behemoth of today that goes by the name of ExxonMobil.

We urge the greatest care in dealing with this sophisticated and ruthless corporate power. Part of its history that of its titanic founder John D. Rockefeller, has been of price gouging and price fixing, of running the competition out of town. Or buying all of them out. When is in its interests, it works with the State Department; and when it is not, then it walks alone with authority and confidence, as it did when dealing with Vladimir Putin on its own. Exxon takes no prisoners, pulls no punches. And this will be the case with Payara, which could be an undesirable precedent.

So, that the new Guyanese leaders know what they are up against with Payara, we share this. In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court broke up the Standard Oil Trust due to monopoly practices. Today, ExxonMobil, a descendant of that breakup is bigger than what existed a century ago.

Guyana now must show what it is made of in dealing with Payara.

Applaud those who exposed electoral fraud in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, As we celebrate the victory of democracy with the election of Irfaan Ali, I applaud the work of all who contributed to this achievement.

In particular, I salute KN for having the courage to expose the hypocrisy and duplicity of some, including columnists, on the issue of free and fair election. (Separately, I thank KN for daily championing a fair oil contract). I praise the work of the opposition parties and media people like Ruel Johnson, Freddie Kissoon for condemning the fraud. I also wish to salute those who exposed electoral fraud in Guyana during the 1960s thru the 80s.

I was deeply involved in the NY based struggle for free and fair elections, organizing events, writing articles, corresponding and travelling to meet with foreign groups, leafleting, and engaging in countless other activities.

Several individuals and groups exposed electoral fraud and atrocities in Guyana in their publications.

The group I was involved, initially revolved around three (1977 onwards) but later expanded to four (around 1986), churned out a lot of literature for distribution to the public on 14th Street, Liberty Avenue and at parks, religious functions, rallies, marches, protests, parades, among other gather-

ings. Of these four (not sure if they would like their names to be revealed in print) – one was a Vice President of a large textile company with a lucrative career (with a triple digit salary) that he gave up to return permanently to Guyana in the late 1980s; the other three of us were teachers.

One, though a non-Guyanese, annually spent summer holidays in Guyana, joining the movement there and is now retired in Miami.

Another spent his teaching holidays and sabbaticals in Guyana before completing his PhD at NYU where I also did doctoral studies in Politics; he was our lead writer and occasionally still pens articles to the press. And then there was me organizing leafleting and reporting on community events. All chipped in with preparing, printing, financing, collating and distributing literature from 1977 thru 1992.

The four largely spent their own funds to carry out the operation. We largely did the work ourselves (typing, etc.) and paid for publication from our savings. At times, we used contacts at universities (City College, CUNY Graduate Center, NYU, etc.) to print newsletters gratis. A few of us worked at the universities as interns or teaching assistants, and we had access to printing equipment.

It was a sensitive opera-

tion to smuggle written political information out of Guyana to be reproduced and or distributed to the diaspora. It was an undertaking similar to those utilized by liberation movements in other countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, and in other undemocratic countries. We mastered certain tactics to smuggle materials out of Guyana or rigged elections.

Readers would recall it was a crime (against the state) to be caught with literature that exposed human rights abuses and atrocities in Guyana or ill-speak the dictatorship. Several individuals assisted to pass information through the airport where baggage was checked for “incendiary, anti-national materials”. One colleague of ours was severely beaten, suffered broken bones about his body, lost his teeth, and jailed for his activism. Another was taken into police custody and beaten with a rubber hose for holding discussions with political groups; he was turned in by paid spies who operated in communities.

We were most careful not to reveal our source or how we obtained political information from Guyana and we were careful when we slipped into Guyana. Contacts at the airport or sympathetic police officers helped with literature hidden in checked baggage.

Literature was hidden in vari-

ous foods and packages and smuggled out of Guyana somewhat akin to flour and banned goods being secretly brought into Guyana though we did not use coffins as in the flour convoy.

We also depended a lot on articles about Guyana in Caribbean Contact (published in Barbados by Rickey Singh and later an AfroGuyanese priest) that was reproduced and distributed in NY (free of course); several of us had subscriptions. We obtained information through costly phone calls that were put into articles form. We did a lot of commentaries printed in the form of handouts or newsletters. Later, my colleagues put out the monthly “Jaguar” which commented on the political situation in Guyana.

There were several other publications that addressed specific issues. I did some writings but the brilliant Political Science colleague from NYU was the most prolific and journalistic prone amongst us; he also studied journalism. He also did most of the typing (on a typewriter as there was no computer during the period of the struggle) and editing. During the early 1980s, community newspapers made their entrance; I wrote for all of them on Guyana matters and community events and editorial (Continued on page 6)

My fellow Guyanese drivers, be careful DEAR EDITOR, I return to the real world to warn my fellow Guyanese of a menace that has been out there for a while now, but which has surfaced with worrying frequency. It involves deliberate ‘accidents’ and what follows in the immediate aftermath.

A couple of friends shared their stories, which are more akin to ordeals. The stories go like this in a pattern that is repeated. They are driving along minding their own business, staying in their lane, and observing the traffic rules. There is a bump from behind; nothing jarring or life threatening, just a bit of a hard bump. It is intentional and the beginnings of a carefully orchestrated ploy.

The first objective is to get the unwary driver to stop and come out of his or her vehicle. Then the perpetrators, usually more than one and armed, would rush out of their own vehicles and pounce. The second objective is to rob of possessions, which I will come back to in a moment. And the third objective is to relieve of the car itself. It is usually a sedan, like the ones used by taxi services, or private drivers. The

cars are then rapidly removed to some remote location, where they are either stripped of radios or all the way down for spares. It is fast and nasty and could sometimes get violent if there is resistance by victims; or depending on the state of mind of the robbers.

This normally occurs at night, but the daytime is not off-limits. The bottom line is that this can be extremely dangerous and costly, and even the most alert vehicle operators and street savvy drivers have become victims.

The recommendations are do not stop, find the nearest police station; and if push comes to shove, with no other options, do not resist. A close friend tried evasive tactics and ended up slightly injuring himself and totalling his vehicle. This is an honest, hardworking citizen, who could ill-afford the loss. But there is another aspect to what I term these hit-and-run (and grab) crimes. It is revealing of the sophistication that is brought to bear by streetwise criminals bent on sowing uncertainty and fear, while wreaking havoc with their predations. It goes like this.

The first link in the chain are those who I would call

spotters. They frequent banks and observe commercial places, such as jewellry establishments and companies that offer high-value products, such as engines and bikes and the rest.

The spotters, who are regularly clean cut and wellgroomed are interchangeable to avoid suspicion and detection. It is all innocent looking and follows the outlines of legitimate everyday behaviour.

As an example, it may be the well-dressed, patient, devicefocused young man or woman waiting in a bank or business place for customer service attention. That is part of the façade, for there is keenness in watching (without seeming to) who is doing what, and especially as such relates to cash transactions, and what is handed in exchange across the counter. It might be jewels or minerals or expensive items, or something along those lines. It could be something bulky, like an engine, with the key being timing.

That is, the bandits striking before the cash changes hands. This would come from trailing and attacking between two points, which may be from bank (or cambio) to business location or residence.

Nobody, no victim, can finger authoritatively the spotters and observers. This is because as soon as they pass on their information (description of clothing and features), they are gone, as in out of the picture totally. Depending on the take, their share could be as much as a cool six figures for an hour’s work. It certainly beats the grind of minimum wage and places perps outside the ranks of the known unemployed and persons of interest.

On the other hand, there are the victims normally out of cash and car, and as should be expected the confidence to resume regular daily activity. There is loss, there is trauma, and there is anger at the state of things and, worse yet, the seeming ineffectiveness of restraints and cautionary steps taken.

I trust that all users of the road would be safe and secure in their limb and property. And remember: don’t stop. And if that is unavoidable, then do not resist. Like I said, there is the real world of Guyana that exists outside of the politics, and it may be just as bad.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Thursday August 13, 2020

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Time to break this monopoly KN and other media entities were saviours of democracy

DEAR EDITOR, My daughter, Zalimoon Khan, applied to GTT for a phone line since Feb.17, 2020 and after about hundreds of calls since then, to date she has not been able to get a phone from GTT. And despite the fact that her home which is situated at lot 20, Nigg Road South, Corentyne, Berbice had a phone a few years ago, but was disconnected by GTT when the house was renovated, yet when she asked them to come and reconnect the phone after the renovation was finished, she was told that they gave the line to someone else and that she will have to reapply for a new line. Well as I said, it’s been six months now and she is still waiting for a phone.

It’s a pity in this time and age this country has one telephone company which can provide land line services to its citizens. If we had more than one company my daughter would have gotten a phone line a long time ago. Time to break this monopoly.

Yours faithfully, Imtiaz Baccus

GPSU has to get its act together

DEAR EDITOR, I am deeply upset that the GPSU doesn’t show any sympathy to the hardworking public servants who are going out to work in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Imagine risking not only your lives, but those of your loved ones to earn a living and the GPSU has not been negotiating for a risk allowance for the Public Servants. In fact, over the years, what has the GPSU done for Public Servants apart from hiking their membership fee from $1,000 to the current $2,000?

Because of late, all increases in salaries and benefits were arbitrary.Editor, I am left wondering if I am really just handing over $2,000 of my hard-earned money every month to people doing nothing, much like those on the upper end of the salary scale. It is amusing that in the Public Service, junior employees are not even thrown a bone to upgrade themselves yet the managers and level heads are given an unlimited opportunity.

Yet, our so-called Union has not been saying a peep for years now. Maybe it’s time we had an actual union.

Regards Amir Khan

DEAR EDITOR, The independent media played a crucial role in exposing electoral fraud from March 3 onwards. The coalition regime sought to gain legitimacy through electoral fraud.

Various strategies of electoral fraud were attempted and exposed by the media and courageous commentators like Mr. Freddie Kissoon, Vishnu Bisram, among others. Without the media, the election would have been declared in favour of the losing coalition.

Democracy would have been hijacked. Those who exposed the fraud are heroes.

The PPP administration should be grateful that the media saved democracy. Although the PPP was anti-media, anti-KN, when in government, it had the media on its side when in opposition. It is public knowledge that KN did a lot for Ramotar who in the end sued KN for damages for reporting facts. KN played a lead role in exposing fraud.

The PPP should never ever think of abusing the media again as it did during the Jagdeo and Ramotar presidencies.

Independent media entities were unrelenting in their pressure on the Granger government to accept the outcome of the elections. It was

the media that should be credited the most for Irfaan Ali becoming President. He should thank KN, Glenn Lall, and other media houses, and the several letters who bombarded the coalition with critiques.

No media house was or has been as courageous as KN in calling out the Granger regime for its duplicity on democracy and accountability.

KN has been the conscience of the nation deserving the highest awards for journalism.

It has been very consistent in exposing wrongdoings. I also note now that KN has been exposing ‘fraud’ in the oil contract on a daily outpouring going back for last three years. I appeal to it to continue that pressure till Exxon gives us a fair deal.

I thank all the writers who penned letters or commentaries on the electoral fraud. But two journalists or writers deserve special acknowledgement and recognition for their almost daily outpour since March 3, and even before that, on the elections. Freddie Kissoon and Vishnu Bisram stood out for their commentaries and appeals on the APNU and AFC to concede defeat. I have been reading their contributions for over 30 years. They exposed

the hypocrisy of the leadership of both parties. For the last eight months, they exposed the incumbent manipulation of the commission and the election results. They shamed the coalition into accepting defeat and honouring the verdict of the courts.

It has been a religious ritual of mine going back years to begin the day with reading KN online.

First I read Freddie’s column and then I turn to letter section looking for any letter from Vishnu Bisram. I also like GHK Lall’s letters although he has a strange style of writing hard to follow. Then I browsed the web of other newspapers looking for letters from Vishnu Bisram and other outstanding commentators.

Freddie and Bisram are my most favourite writers. They make my day. They are very objective firing shots at both sides for their indiscretions. I wish to applaud their work and call on the government to confer the highest award (Order of Excellence) of the nation on them and on Mr. Glenn Lall for saving democracy. Freddie was very sarcastic in some columns while Bisram was more serious laying out facts. Like the independent press, the two writers were saviours of democ-

racy. It was their work that contributed in no small measure in pressuring Granger and the coalition to accept the electoral verdict and court rulings.

They shamed the government into accepting the results of the election.

I conclude by expressing appreciation to all who penned views in the media on electoral fraud and the oil deal that cheats Guyanese of their patrimony. I also wish to express my utter disgust with the country’s electoral management. Electoral reform is urgently needed. A commission is needed that is not politically manipulated and complicit in electoral fraud as happened over the last three years.

Yours truly Sharmila Ally

PAGE 6

Small miners will support the new Minister of Natural Resources DEAR EDITOR, I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to the newly appointed Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Vickram Bharrat, on the assumption of office. As a small miner I welcome and admire his hands-on approach to managing the sectors under his Ministry. His recent tour of the various agencies under his control is indeed the first step to bring the sectors back on track to produce and earn much needed finance for our country, which has been depleted over the past five years.

The task of Mr. Bharrat is a huge responsibility, but I see he has the willingness, youth and passion to drive his Ministry to optimum

production. This will also have to be done by all miners and the various associations within the sectors such as the Gold and Diamond Miners Association, GGDMA. I on behalf of other small miners would like to pledge our support to bring this sector back into full operation along the path which will be outlined by the innovation and guidance of the competent Minister and his team. I do hope we as small miners will get an opportunity to share our views and thoughts with the Minister in the coming weeks to contribute towards the transformation of the mining sector.Most importantly, a lot of support will be needed from the regulatory agency for mining under the Ministry to

manage the current gold rush as prices has been fluctuating between US$1900 – US$2000.

This has resulted in a rush for new mining lands and in some cases illegal mining which may harm our sector in the long run.It is in this regard that while we welcome and congratulate the Minister of Natural Resources on his recent appointment, we the small miners call on his good office to pay keen attention to the price of gold and the possible illegal mining which could result from a gold rush.

We, the small miners welcome the minister to the sector and will be looking forward to sharing our views and engage in discussions to transform the sector.

Sincerely, C. De Barros

Applaud those who exposed electoral ...

From page 4 c o m m e n t a r ies.Publications of WPA (Open Word, Dayclean, among others), URP (The Republican), DLM (Guyana Forum, Democrat), and PPP (Mirror and Thunder), Catholic Standard, among others were smuggled out of Guyana since they could not be mailed; all mail were inspected for anti-dictatorial literature. All the NY based support groups of political

Thursday August 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

parties in Guyana smuggled literature, reproduced, and distributed party organs.

During the late 1980s with the permit granted to SN, we were able to access news.

We extracted articles or paraphrased news that was printed in newsletter format and distributed to the public.

In the 1990s, there was easing of restrictions on publications. News became more accessible to share with Guyanese to expose rights violations in Guyana. Though harassed, threatened and intimidated, we also distributed literature in Guyana.

Though the ‘four musketeers’ contributed enormously to the liberation move-

ment, they were never recognized for their work or given an inch of land. Those who were with the dictatorship, including CREEPs, were rewarded with various honours and huge tracts of land in corrupt transactions becoming billionaires. Now, some own oil blocks that is being exposed by KN. Thank you KN. Gratitude is expressed to those who provided information that were used in various ‘underground’ publications to expose electoral frauds and atrocities in Guyana and keeping the Diaspora informed about happenings in their country.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

GRDB must be held accountable for 1.5 tons of cocaine found in Guyana rice shipment DEAR EDITOR, I am deeply saddened to learn that such a large quantity of cocaine was intercepted in Germany from rice shipped from Guyana.

It is known that GRDB is the main authority responsible for the rice industry in Guyana. That includes all sampling, packing, loading, fumigation, certification, and final sealing off of all containers and cargo vessels with rice or paddy and its product leaving Guyana.

They must have senior officers and staffers at all point to supervise these operations and execute these

functions of the rice board. In order for 1.5 ton of cocaine to end up in a shipment of rice in Germany they had to be some serious collusion or some arrangement with these rice board officials and the millers that ship the rice before such can happen. Everyone know this by now since once the containers and cargo are certified and seal from the port they are only open when they arrived at their destination.

The damage is already done and this will certainly affect the future marketing and trade of Guyana rice with the rest of the world. It will cause

a big stain of the rice industry, the country and definitely affect the rice farmers because it is well known that the rice industry in Guyana depend highly on rice exports with almost 90 percent of the rice produced being exported to different parts of the world.

The new government and minister of agriculture need to launch an investigation immediately into this and those found not doing their jobs properly or working in the best interest of the organization and country should be removed.

Yours truly, Kumar Ramsingh

THE CURRENT PROBLEMATIC DEAR EDITOR, The New Administration appears to be in firefighting mode due to the current dire financial situation of the country, which is also reflected in the financial situation of a number of Ministries. Their current approach is very encouraging and the young team is aggressively pursuing first to understand the problems and then implement the required solutions.

Congratulations to them on taking these steps forward.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) must also be applauded for its pursuit of a virtual learning agenda.

Google Meets does offer the scope and capability for such a venture, however, access to computers would be the obstacle. A more fundamental approach of increased floor space and reduced class size to aid in student distancing may be both more doable and affordable in the immediate future.

However, a partnership with Google should be considered as we move forward in the medium term. In the near term an aggressive approach to the improvement of the plumbing, sanitation and

janitorial services in the schools will also be a strong step forward that goes beyond the current Pandemic.

The Security Sector offers an area of opportunity. The UK’s and Guyana’s Security Sector Reform Action Plan known as the SSRAP agreement, which seems to have slowed in its implementation needs to revitalized. Seeing the new government embrace this initiative going forward would bode well in boosting confidence once again in the security of our borders during the pandemic and aid in the boosting of the Police Force’s strength. This aligns well with His Excellency’s current agenda. In addition, under this action plan the inclusion of strengthening of the export and customs depart-

ments’ abilities to secure legal shipments in the export sector should be pursued.

This will help prevent a further decline in the agriculture and forestry sectors export potential due to security issues.

Staying focused on understanding the root cause and preventing the reoccurrence of the current financial problems should be a top priority of the New Parliament; and the appropriate processes, safeguards and measures to prevent its reoccurrence need to be put in place before the passing of a second budget.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 13, 2020

PAGE 07

Investment firm now applies for Broker Licence - matter engaging regulators

A

n investment firm, led by a former Cuban national and which came under the attention of authorities recently, has now applied for an Investment Broker licence.

According to details seen

by Kaieteur News, Accelerated Capital Firm Inc. on a letter dated August 5th, applied to Rawle Lucas, Chairman of the Guyana Securities Council, to be a broker. The application was submitted on Thursday, August 6th, 2020, to the Council.

Chief Executive Officer, Yuri Garcia Dominguez, told the council that he stands by for any questions. He provided a number of phone numbers. Accelerated would have been busy in the last few months, reportedly collecting tens of millions of dollars from local businesses

and others to invest.

The returns on the investments were said to be extraordinary with persons, in the absence of other avenues, grabbing the opportunities.

With commercial banks paying less than three percent for savings, the lure of more than 10 percent returns, in some cases, proved attractive.

However, last week, the situation came to the public's attention after the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) warned the public to be aware.

They warned citizens to be careful and not be wooed by get-rich quick schemes.

Kaieteur News had

reached out to Accelerated and the CEO who indicated his immediate willingness to come on radio and answer question about the investments. However, he reportedly changed his mind and said he is now willing for a face-to-face interview.

On Tuesday, in a written statement, the outfit said that Accelerated Capital Firm Inc. (ACF) has been operating in Guyana since 2019.

“This company has been transacting legal and transparent business from its inception with necessary documentation of its existence and operations.

With every intention to abide by the laws, rules and regulations of Guyana,

Enrico Woolford, Imran Khan given the boot

Enrico Woolford

C

hief Executive Officer (CEO) of the state owned National Communication Network (NCN) Enrico Woolford and the Director of the Department of Public Information (DPI) Imran Khan were yesterday sent packing after their contracts were terminated by the People's Progressive Party C i v i c ( P P P / C ) administration.

With the termination of both contracts, it brought to the fore the extravagant salaries and benefits that were pocketed by both public servants on a monthly basis. From documents seen

by Kaieteur News, Enrico Woolford was paid a salary of $800,000 per month with a duty allowance of $40,000 per month, a travel allowance of $80,000 per

month, an entertainment allowance of $40, 000 along with a housing allowance of $50,000 per month and a security allowance of $30,000 per month.

In addition to that, Woolford received a $10,000 month allowance to purchase refreshments for his office.

He also received gratuity at 22.5% bi-annually, vacation allowance of up to one month's salary along with a cell phone allowance of up to $15,000 with monthly paid subscriptions for landline and internet.

Imran Khan was appointed to his position in 2015 after the A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change ( A P N U + A F C ) administration took office.

When his contract was renewed in September 2018,

Imran Khan the then Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had requested he be given a salary of $800,000 monthly but that request was denied by then Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

Harmon had told Nagamootoo that the upper ceiling for persons with the designation of Director is $701,767 and as such, that sum approved. With that salary, Khan also took home $100,000 duty, $15,000 per month for entertainment and a $25,000 travel allowance all non-taxable.

Additionally, he was given a government home with 24hr security and the payment of all utilities and his internet bill. Khan was also granted duty free concession to acquire a vehicle for the execution of his official duties.

Accelerated Capital Firm Inc. reassures the public of its interest in a functioning and amicable relationship.

Despite the deterrence of false information and slanderous allegations, the company wishes to engage and re-strengthen its presence in Guyana for the progression of mutually beneficial business relations.”

The company said it wants to assure its members that it will comply with the rules and regulations demanded by the relevant agencies while its attorneys engage them in “meaningful discussions” to facilitate a fast resolution to the matter.

Compensation Plan “ACF wishes to make it clear that at no time a license to operate was ever denied and efforts will be made to continue to assist our members according to the strategies implemented.

ACF wishes to thank all members and students for remaining patient during this unfortunate delay as a result of the pandemic situation.

The company has a compensation plan in place for the delays and to those that seek more clarity or details of how to close total relations, we kindly ask that you make contact with our Compliance Department contact information stated on our website to schedule an available appointment.”

The entity said it is working assiduously through its attorneys to resolve all issues at hand.

The Guyana Securities Council declined comment this week only indicating a matter was before it.

Kaieteur News was able to reach Dr. Gobind Ganga who too said, that matter was engaging authorities.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, was unable to confirm that the matter has been reported to the police, although a number of sources said that the Commissioner of Police was

written to.

It was the Securities Council which had issued public notices late last year and then again in January warning about Accelerated.

“The Guyana Securities Council (GSC) wishes to advise the public that Accelerated Wealth Inc, Forex Trading, Yuri GarciaDominguez and Ateeka Ishmael are not licensed by the GSC to conduct securities business in Guyana, or to solicit investments from the public, and do not have any securities registered with the GSC that can be legally offered to the public.

In addition, the GSC does not have before it any applications from these entities or persons to obtain securities dealers' licences or to register any of their securities.”

The Council had also advised, in those notices, that the Securities Industry Act 1998 requires all persons conducting securities business or investment advice business in Guyana to be licensed by the Guyana Securities to do so. The Act also requires that securities must be registered by the Guyana Securities Council before they can be offered to the public.

The Council had asked person who invested to contact them. At least one bank, worried by stringent anti-money laundering laws, had reported closed bank accounts of one outfit.

Kaieteur News was told that it had to do with absence of key paper works.

Bank of Guyana warns

On Tuesday also, the Bank of Guyana, as a regulator, said that it has been brought to the attention of the bank that persons and entities not registered with them or the Guyana Security Council are holding themselves out to the public as investment brokers, and offering financial products with extraordinarily high rates of returns in excess of 10 percent.

“The Bank would like to advise the public to invest only through entities registered by the BOG and GSC. Companies registered with BOG which are authorized to conduct investment business for the

public are: 1) Hand In Hand Trust Co. Inc; 2) Trust Company Guyana Limited and Guyana Americas Merchant Bank.”

The notice was issued by Dr. Ganga.

On Friday, the CCAC, in a statement expressing worry, advised citizens to be wary of pyramid and Ponzi schemes which are disguised as legitimate investments.

“The warning from CCAC is being issued in the wake of several enquiries made to the Commission about the investment “scams”.

The Commission has also been told of approaches made to persons with the “get rich quick” through investing in these groups that will earn them multiple times their investment. Part of the scheme is for them to also engage in continuous recruitment of persons to join this pyramid scheme.”

The regulator said that consumers need to note that “essentially, the foundation on which the pyramid scheme is built is the problem. Any plan that offers commissions for recruiting new members will inevitably collapse. The real casualties in the collapse are always the people in the bottom, with the people at the top of the pyramid protected.”

CCAC advised: “Insist on taking your time to think over a decision to join. Talk it over with a knowledgeable friend, an accountant or lawyer.

In the case of the “investment” Ponzi schemes, the CCAC reminds consumers about an advisory issued in October 2019 by the Guyana Securities Council warning persons about fraudsters fleecing unsuspecting persons by asking them to invest in business in the securities market but are not licensed to so do by the Council,” the commission said.

“In this case, consumers are advised to check with the Securities Council before making any investment. The CCAC encourages consumers to do thorough research before becoming entangled in any of these schemes.

If you think you have been scammed please contact the CCAC to investigate.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Thursday August 13, 2020

Lowenfield's lawyer wants DPP to review private criminal charges, take over prosecution

By Renay Sambach

A

ttorney-at-law Nigel Hughes has written to the Director of Pubic Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C, asking her to take over the prosecution of the private criminal charges that were filed against his client, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield.

He is also asking for a dismissal of all the charges.

When contacted, Hughes shared that while he cannot share a copy of the letter, he confirmed that he has written a letter to the DPP regarding the private criminal charges against his client. He said: “In my letter, I asked the DPP to review the charges, take over the prosecution and that will lead to the charges being dropped against my client.”

H o w e v e r, d u r i n g a shared comment with Kaieteur News, attorney-atlaw Glenn Hanoman who is

representing one of the applicants that filed the private criminal charges against the CEO- said that it is quite unusual for a lawyer to write a letter to the DPP asking her to review charges when he hasn't seen the evidence in the matter.

Hanoman, also the Special Prosecutor, stated” “We have not released any of the evidence in the matter as yet to Mr. Hughes, evidence to which we have a lot of.

The way I see it, Mr. Hughes publicizing that he wrote a letter to the DPP of that nature is just a publicity tactic.”

Lowenfield is expected to make his next court appearance tomorrow at the Georgetown Magistrate's Courts. He is currently out on a total of $450,000 bail that was granted to him by Principal Magistrate, Faith McGusty.

The charges were brought by then Opposition, People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) member, Desmond Morian,

and The New Movement Party (TNM) executive, Dr. Daniel Josh Kanhai. Morian is represented by Hanoman while Kanhai is represented

by Mark Conway and George Thomas.

Initially, Lowenfield was expected to make his first court appearance on July 3, 2020.

However, after he failed to appear in court, Hanoman explained to the Magistrate that the court bailiff made several attempts to serve him with the private criminal charges, all of which ended in vain since the CEO kept evading the notice.

As a result, the Magistrate issued a summons for the CEO to appear in court, which was eventually served the day before the matter was called.

According to the first charge, it is alleged that Lowenfield, between the 5th day of March and 23rd day of June, 2020, at Georgetown, conspired with person(s) unknown to commit the common law offence of

fraud, to wit, by representing to the Guyana Elections Commission that tables attached to his Election Report dated 23rd June, 2020, accurately reflected the true results of the said election, in order to materially alter the results of the said election, with intent to defraud, knowing the said tabulation to be false.

The second charge stated that between the 5th day of March and 23rd day of June, 2020, while performing his duty as the Chief Elections Officer of The Guyana Elections Commission, without lawful excuse or justification, willfully misconducted himself at Georgetown, by ascertaining results of the 2nd March, 2020 General and Regional Elections for Guyana knowing the said results to be false, the said willful misconduct amounting to a breach of the public's trust in the Office of the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission.

Exxon may need Guyana more than Guyana needs Exxon - int'l investors

S

eeking Alpha, a f o r u m o f international investors and financial industry experts, has published an article stating that ExxonMobil has bet so much on Guyana that the oil major may very well need Guyana more than Guyana needs ExxonMobil.

While Guyana cannot do oil exploration and production by itself, there are other oil majors it can turn to with the technological expertise and track record for the job.

But when it comes to Guyana, its offshore assets and the 2016 deal constitute the jewel in Exxon's crown.

The investor forum said that there aren't many opportunities like Guyana on Exxon's pipeline.

In the article, titled 'Exxon Mobil: Doubling Down While Facing Peak

Oil Demand', it is stated that ExxonMobil intends to produce 1M barrels of oil per day by 2026 in Guyana alone, which is 25 percent of its current global production of roughly 4M barrels per day.

It also stated that Guyana is the company's highest Internal Rate of Return

lopsided, that Global Witness stated Guyana will lose US$55B over the life of the agreement, and called for an investigation into the circumstances of the award.

The investor forum noted that ExxonMobil has two tangible short-term, upstream growth opportunities.

(IRR) opportunity of this scale.

The company's discoveries in the Stabroek Block are among the cheapest in the world to extract.

In addition to that, it boasts a deal with the Guyana government that has been internationally and locally condemned as so

The first is in the Permian basin, a low-risk venture that will likely press forward. The second is Guyana, but the author notes that the Guyana venture is risky.

ExxonMobil is already producing at Liza Phase One, and is powering ahead to produce at Liza Phase Two by 2022. Those two

would have a peak production of 340,000 barrels per day.

Exxon has been campaigning vigorously for the swift approval of the third development, Payara; attempting to sell the line that late approval would mean billions in losses for Guyana. Experts say that Guyana should not fall for that ploy.

International lawyer, Melinda Janki, for instance, has said that ExxonMobil needs Guyana to give it free oil.

The investor forum noted that all should pay keen attention to what the Government decides on Payara, as “so much of Exxon's future is riding on this growth.”

Janki said that this is the perfect time to strike at ExxonMobil, and hold back the Payara permit.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield

Director of Pubic Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C The third charge alleges that Lowenfield accepted falsified figures from the District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, knowing that the said figures do not match the results from the National Recount.

The particulars of that charge allege that Lowenfield, between the 5th day of March and 23rd day of June, 2020, at Georgetown, conspired with person(s) unknown to commit common law fraud, to wit, by representing to the Guyana Elections Commission, that tables attached to his Election Report dated 14th day of March, 2020 accurately reflected the true results of the said election, in order to materially alter the results of the said election, with intent to defraud, knowing the said tabulation to be false. He was not required plea to the indictable charges that were read to him.

Principal Magistrate McGusty granted Lowenfield bail in the sum of $150,000 for each charge, even as Hughes had asked that his client be released on self-bail, since he is the CEO of the GECOM. Hanoman in an interview with this paper said that he had made no objection to

Attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes bail being granted to Lowenfield but asked for it to be granted in a substantial amount.

He also raised concerns about the CEO still being employed with the GECOM since he is the custodian of the entity and has access to important documents and witnesses that can be used as evidence against him.

Hanoman also asked for the CEO to lodge his travel documents, but this request was denied by the magistrate.

Last week, the DPP, dismissed three private criminal charges that were filed against the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret'd) Claudette Singh, alleging misconduct in public office.

In a letter, the DPP sent to the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, the DPP stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Article 187 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, I hereby discontinue the charge in the above matter.”

Thursday August 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Exxon gets a shock-attack P

resident Irfaan Ali has put on hold the approval of the Payara off-shore oil project until a full review of it is undertaken by technical experts.

This decision represents a victory for all Guyana but particularly for this newspaper which has been the singular voice demanding that the oil agreements which were signed by the APNU+AFC be re-examined.

Kaieteur News and particularly its publisher, Glenn Lall, has been the only voice which has consistently and insistently been calling for a renegotiation of these contracts. Many others have disagreed with the terms of the contract, but they have grown to accept this as a done deal.

Lall, however, never became a victim of such fatalism. He was so appalled by the oil agreement that he decided that he could not sit quietly, like the others, and accept the crumbs which Guyana got in return for its vast petroleum resources.

Lall and his newspaper have been the only ones which have consistently called for a better deal for Guyana. There has hardly been a day when this newspaper has not been highlighting some aspect of the oil agreement or advocating for its renegotiation.

Lall led from the front.

He is not a backbencher. He stands up for what he believes because he feels that if in life you do not stand

up for something, you will fall for anything.

Lall's tenacity has paid dividends. His efforts have not been in vain. His strong and sterling advocacy has led to a decision which, at the minimum, allows for Guyana to lay the foundation for securing better terms.

The Payara project has been put on hold, subject to a technical review. This review will, no doubt, inform government's options.

There were many people, including yours truly, who had told Lall that he was wasting his time. He was told that the Guyanese people were bedazzled by the promises of oil wealth and did not realize that they were being robbed blindly by the terms of the contract.

Lall, however, felt that once a cause was right it should be pursued, and he pursued this one with his usual passion. Lall was not deterred by what many of us saw as the lack of traction of his efforts. He persisted because he dearly wants to see betterment for Guyana.

Kaieteur News, his newspaper, had provided a yeomen service to the people of this country by its nonstop efforts to expose the shortcomings of the oil agreements which were signed.

This service also extended to looking at the experiences of other oilproducing countries and the pitfalls which they encountered in their dealings with the oil companies.

Lall sought and obtained

advice from a wide range of experts. And when Kaieteur News carried this advice, it was a way of educating the public about what was right and what was wrong about the agreements which were inked by the previous administration.

ExxonMobil had managed to achieve the heist of the century when they got the APNU+AFC to grant them the most generous terms ever granted to oil companies anywhere in the world. They felt emboldened by this action.

ExxonMobil had tried to force the signing of the Payara permit by pointing to the urgency for a final investment decision (FID) at the earliest so that the projects timelines would not be affected.

President Ali who now has responsibility for the natural resource sector, however, was not going to be pressured into any hurried agreement. He has rejected the overture for a quick granting of the permit to go ahead with the project.

Instead, he has intimated that he would like to see full technical review of the Payara project. Reportedly, Canada, herself a major oil producer, has been asked to assist with this review. This is important from a cost perspective since Canada is likely to bear the cost of the technical review.

The COVID-19 pandemic is bound to throw up some technical hurdles to accessing technical assistance. Any assistance is bound to be helpful to the

Dem boys seh...

Time to start over with Johnny Walker!

D

em boys can't be m o r e h a p p y.

Dem boys so happy dem feel fuh dance.

Pressie Ir-faan please dem boys heart when he stop ExxonMobil in dem tracks and tell dem dat dem going too fast.

Dem boys so happy dat dem boys drink Johnny Walker Blue Label last night.

Dem boys does usually drink vodka and coconut water.

And de Pressie bin promise a lang time fuh buy a half fuh dem boys. But like he hand tight like Jagdeo. He nah buy it yet.

Dem boys like wha de Pressie do to Exxon. Dem

bin prepare fuh lose money elsewhere just fuh get at we honey.

De Pressie seh he nah gun be rushed into any permit. When he seh dat, dem 'big' ones at Exxon and dem shareholders get instantaneous belly wuk.

Dem oil companies de treating we like chess pieces.

Well now, de Pressie checkmate dem. Dem bin treating we like tenants in we own country. Now de Pressie mek dem know who is de real landlord.

Dem used to like throw bills and invoices at we. Dem recently throw a US$70M bill at we and seh dat is wha

dem generate as local content.

But dem can't tell where and when and to whom dis money spend. So dem boys seh dem too gat fuh come under review.

Is like if you send yuh domestic worker to de supermarket and she come back and tell you de money done but she can't show you how, where and wat she spend it on.

Dat is wha dem oil company trying fuh do we.

And de Pressie had to put some brakes pun dem wheels.

Talk half and wait fuh ExxonMobil fuh start bawl.

country in making a decision about the project.

The algorithm by which the oil companies were proceeding has been altered.

There is a new sheriff in town and he has decided to do the right thing and summoned an investigation into the project before any permit is approved.

Tuesday was a red-letter day for the country. It is

proof that the new President is not intimidated or smitten by the power and influence of the oil multinationals. He has decided to take action to ensure that before he acts, he is properly advised.

When that advice comes, the people who genuinely have the interest of the country at heart must not be afraid to speak out. For sure, one man, Lall, will be paying

keen attention to ensure that wool is not pulled over the people's eyes.

(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 13, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Two ugly developments that will kill inclusive governance

T

w o u g l y developments have taken place on the same day that will not engender optimism on the part of the PPP leadership in the dialogue on inclusive governance. On the contrary, the atmosphere will be poisoned leading to the deepening of rancor.

It is a harsh reality that in any confabulation on national reconciliation, the central players must be negotiators whose personalities don't have to be saccharine but must be perceived as people who are pleasant. When the Good Friday Agreement was being discussed, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) made sure it did not send negotiators that were perceived by the other side as IRA bad boys from the past.

When the APNU+AFC regime sought to engage the opposition PPP in discussion with the Carter Center in July

2018, it selected the then PM, Moses Nagamootoo, to lead its team. The PPP rejected him instantly. Jagdeo told Jimmy Carter that Nagamootoo was not a substantial player in the government. See my column of Monday, July 23, 2018, “Jagdeo says Moses is a messenger.�

All the major international stakeholders who secured the legal results of the 2020 national elections have advised the PPP government that it has to seek national reconciliation.

While it is not practical for the PPP to decide who must be in the opposition PNC delegation, it is realistic to expect the PPP team to reject persons in the PNC's leadership that were involved in five months of depraved display of election rigging in which civilities, moralities and civilized conduct were thrown out the window.

On Sunday, August 9, the

executive committee of the P N C elevated Simona Broomes to its inner leadership circle. On that same day, the AFC a s s i g n e d S h e r o d Duncan parliamentary status, meaning that he was selected to be an MP. Both personalities, whose political deportment does not encourage the creation of a meeting of opposing minds, should have no place in the shaping of a new political culture. Duncan and Broomes are bad news for national reconciliation.

I saw Broomes in a video claiming that the PPP sent two men to intimidate and harm her. Nothing in the video substantiated her claim. In that very video she used language that was extremely inciting for which she should have been charged by the police. Guyana should be lucky that PNC supporters in Sophia ignored her.

A research into the

Facebook postings of Sherod Duncan from March 4 when Mingo chose to introduce the dirtiest form of rigging to the August conclusion of the saga, would reveal Duncan was inciting people, something for which he too should be charged. Duncan hosted a scurrilous Facebook programme with Christopher Jones that took us down memory lane to the dangerous times of the House of Israel attacks against this nation.

The APNU+AFC cannot hope to begin a confabulation on national reconciliation when it packs its leadership with people who are not only unacceptable but have no place in modern Guyanese discourse. Of course there is a reason for having bad boys in your midst to do dirty work for you, but don't ask the society to accept you as an honest patriot.

In the case of Duncan's elevation to parliament, the situation is frightening.

Because of the COVID-19 restriction, the national executive of the AFC could not meet but each member

was asked to offer his/her list of persons to go to parliament.

When the 33 lists were t a b u l a t e d b y computerization, Duncan lost out in terms of making the final nine.

Despite his loss, three of the permanent leaders of the AFC overrode the democratic decision of its national executive and selected Duncan for parliament.

These are the very people who have called on President Irfaan Ali to reach out in the pursuit of inclusive governance.

Can you dialogue with an opposition entity that has in its midst politicians who are forever inclined to commit mischief and continue to undertake action that makes reaching out impossible? I did say on Kaieteur Radio that given what happened over the past five months, there will not be immediate emotional tolerance from the PPP in sitting down with people who almost destroyed Guyana.

What political virtues Broomes and Duncan possess that will enhance the damaged credibility of the

Frederick Kissoon PNC and AFC? On the contrary, if you want to see the PNC and AFC recover from its devastation of the past five months, then, you look for names and faces that will foster an ambience of receptivity. When you hear that Broomes is now in the PNC's leadership and that the AFC has selected Duncan for parliament, then you know the PNC and AFC aren't ready yet.

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

Thursday August 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Thursday August 13, 2020

Affected LIAT passengers have until Saturday to file complaints

T

he Competition and Consumer A f f a i r s Commission (CCAC) yesterday says it has received a number of complaints against the LIAT airline.

“These complaints have been compiled and forwarded to the recently-

a p p o i n t e d L I AT A d m i n i s t r a t o r, M r.

Cleveland Seaforth, based on an announcement he made last week which stated that, “any person having a claim against the company whether liquidated, unliquidated, future or contingent, is required to present

particulars of their claim in writing not later than August 15, 2020”.

The airline had reportedly halted flights to Ogle airport after the COVID-19 measures which saw the airports closed.

The regional issues coupled with cash problems had further exacerbated the

Guyana's Indian High Commissioner donates medicine and medical supplied to St. Kitts

existence of the airline.

According to the consumer regulator, in the interest of time, the Commission advises consumers who were affected and have not yet filed a complaint with the CCAC to urgently submit their claims with accompanying supportive documents to the LIAT administrator on or before the deadline. S oft copies will be accepted. These claims can be sent to Cnr. Factory Road & Carnival Gardens. P.O Box 3109, St. John's, Antigua: email to administrator.liat@bdoecc.c om: facsimile 268-4628808. Consumers who wish to contact Seaforth directly

may call, 268-462-8868/9, CCAC said.

The airline is currently being reorganized. There is interest shown by investors to the airline which is struggling to survive.

One entity had offered US$25 million investment for 51 per cent of the shares.

A decision had been taken that would allow St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados to turn over their shares in LIAT to Antigua and Barbuda for one EC dollar each.

The other shareholder – Dominica – has said it supports the efforts to reorganise LIAT, even as it provides licences to other carriers to serve the island.

According to the new

r e o rg a n i s a t i o n a l p l a n , Antigua and Barbuda is proposing reinvestment of EC$108 million with Antigua indicating that under the new plan it is prepared to underwrite up to 50 per cent of the required capitalisation.

The CCAC) was established in 2006 and became fully operational in 2010. “The Commission functions objectively in executing the laws governing two acts, namely the Competition and FairTrading Act N0. 11, 2006 (CFTA) and the Consumer Affairs Act N0. 13, 2011 (CAA). The Commission is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

Learning channel to play a greater role in education delivery

G

uyana's Indian High Commissioner Dr. KJ Srinivasa yesterday handed over supplies of life saving medicine and medical supplies to St. Kitts and Nevis yesterday.

The supplies were received by St. Kitts and Nevis' Health Minister, Akilah Byron

Nisbett.

The donation was made under the Indian assistance to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The High Commissioner also recently paid a courtesy call to President Irfaan Ali at the Office of the President.

Ganja found stashed under Stabroek Market clock

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, meeting with Director, Jennifer Cumberbatch on Tuesday

A

The suspected marijuana found at Stabroek Market

A

quantity of suspected marijuana was yesterday found stashed “under the clock” at Stabroek Market during a police raid.

The suspected illegal substance was found sometime between 11:30 and

13:00hrs.

According to Chief Constable of the City C o n s t a b u l a r y, A n d r e w Livingstone, and Inspector Petal Bancroft, the suspected cannabis was found in plastic bags stashed in corners and creases in the walls under the

canopy of the market.

An investigation has since been launched to track down who would have hidden them there.

The raid is said to be a joint operation between the Guyana Police Force and the City Constabulary.

s the Ministry of Education continues its work plan for the effective and efficient delivery of education, the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Tuesday, met with the Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch and other members of staff.

During the engagement at NCERD's Battery Road, Kingston location, Minister Manickchand held a meeting with the Director and Pauline Stanford, Co-ordinator of the

Distance Education Information Unit.

The objective of that meeting was to discuss how the Learning Channel can be used and the role it will play in the delivery of education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Minister Manickchand noted that when the Learning Channel was launched by former President and current Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, it was for a reason.

The reason alluded to was to facilitate education delivery differently. Further, the Education Minister said that with the COVID-19

pandemic, the vision of Dr. Jagdeo is “very, very relevant at this time”” According to the ministry, regarding the plan of action and the Learning Channel's role in this exercise, Minister Manickchand said that the Ministry of Education (MoE) is currently preparing content in collaboration with various agencies, for Nursery Year One (1) through to Grade Eleven (11).

She noted that the MoE is looking to prepare programmes on a daily basis for the respective levels.

Thursday August 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

GGMC staffers urged to make accountability, transparency top agenda - GFC's cash woes to engage Cabinet

S

olidifying his intention of having a hands-on approach with the Ministry of Natural Resources and its agencies, Minister Vickram Bharrat on Tuesday conducted a tour of three of the biggest entities under his watch. According to the ministry afterwards, the visits served as a direct effort to interact with management and staff, analyze and understand agency operations and addressing the issues.

Commencing at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Bharrat toured the Kingston facilities and listened to matters which have been affecting the staffers and the GFC. Among these were the issues of salary payments, vehicular and system maintenance, and sustainable utilization of concessions.

The minister, according to a statement, made it clear that the sector's efficient management is paramount and moving it forward should be the single objective.

With regards to the cashstrapped situation which has hamstrung GFC, the minister indicated that the matter of salaries is one of grave concern. He assured the staffers that the matters would be taken to the Cabinet of Ministers.

GFC is reportedly asking for over $500M. However, he acknowledged that the relief would be only temporary and there is need for long term solutions for GFC. H e p l e d g e d accountability and transparency under his leadership, with zero tolerance towards corruption.

He vowed to seek ways of better facilitating investors and easing bureaucratic lines as part of the vision of President Irfaan Ali and the Government.

The Minister then visited the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) where he inspected the work areas and held a meeting with the senior managers. He also promised to ask Cabinet for guidance on the challenges. “ A d d i t i o n a l l y, h e encouraged professionalism and decorum of the staff and noted that it is his intention to maintain the team, once they are committed to working towards the development of the sector, ensuring benefits are derived. He again reinforced the idea of accountability and transparency to the citizens of Guyana given that the patrimony belongs to them.”

The visits culminated at the Guyana Gold Board office, Queenstown, allowing the Minister to inspect

US provides additional funding for GEST Project

T

he United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided an additional $500,000 grant for Guyana's Extractives Sector Transparency Project (GEST).

This funding now brings the total project funding to US$1 million and also extends the project's end date to September 30, 2021.

According to a statement issued by the United States Embassy, USAID maintained support for transparency and good governance. The project seeks to assist the Guyana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG). This group contains stakeholders responsible for overlooking and governance of the EITI implementation, the National Secretariat, and other stakeholders.

The project has worked with the Secretariat to develop terms of reference, standard operating procedures, and

communication and engagement strategies. It has also assisted the MSG to improve its governance of the EITI. In the Embassy's statement, it was also highlighted that USAID has established an agreement with the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) to implement the project.

EITI is the global standard for the good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources. In August 2017, Guyana submitted its application to the EITI International Secretariat and on October 25, 2017, Guyana was officially accepted as an EITIimplementing country.

In February 2017, the Government launched the GYEITI Multi-Stakeholder Group comprising 12 substantive members with civil society, government and the extractive industries each having four representatives.

Additionally, each member is supported by an alternate.

Minister Bharrat meets with GGMC management staff on Tuesday operations and conduct brief staff interactions. “The Minister believes that in order to manage the sector there is

need to build a team. This would not only ensure that the Ministry is pushed forward but that Guyana propels. It is

the Minister's intention to have greater coordination and collaboration between the regulatory agencies (GGMC,

GGB, and GFC) in efforts to save resources and have a more meaningful impact on the sector.

Thursday August 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

WANTED

VACANCY

SERVICES Visa Forms Preparer.

Tel#626-7040, Publish your Death Annoucements & In Memoriams online. Email: dthmemo@gmail.com We Sell and Plant trees and palms for shade and flowers.Call#612-1848.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Appliance repairs,spares & Service to refrigerator,washing machine/ dryer,treadmill,stove, dishwasher,deepfryer.,Call#6949733.

CAR RENTAL AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL & TOW TRUCK SERVICE: PICKUP, 9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE#698-7807.

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS & SUV’S CALL :656-0087/643- 5122 E M A I L : P R O A U T O R E N TA L @YAHOO.COM VEHICLE FOR SALE To y o t a F o r t u n e r 2 0 1 2 Model G$12.5 Million. Automatic Transmission (GAS), Low Mileage (40,000 Km) Gold Colour.

Tele:#660-0192, 233-5859 Toyota Tacoma 2013 Model 2WD. Immaculate Interior AC, Foq light. Contact: #227-0176 Toyota Raum red & black $600,000, good condition PXX. Contact: #629-5526

FOR SALE Windows. 30X48 Sash Windows with screens, white frames, reflective or tinted glass $12,800. #679-3325

To work on site in an Interior Location. CSamp Mangers, Mines Engineer & Chief Mechanic. Tele:#223-5180 One Female Tutor. To teach a 5year old boy 9am to 5pm.

Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda.

Experience Accounts clerk in Maths & English.Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda.

Sales girl.Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda.

Cook for Private Residence on East Coast. Contact: #2235273 or 223-5274 Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call: #6159132 Bus & Car Drivers. Call: #2253234 Security Guard (must have experience, mature persons can apply). Contact: #2235274/ 227-5003 Driver Canter/ pickup contact: #223-5274/ 227-5003 Manager to work in Bar/ Restaruant.

Contact: guyana.vacancies2020 @gmail.com Yardman/Handyman. Contact: #223-5273 or 2235274 Mechanic, Fitter/Machinist, Welder Fabricator and Male cleaner. Apply in person to 1823 Industrial Site, Eccles.

Clerical Clerk for Eccles Office. English & Mathematics, Grade 1 or 2. Email application to: techserigy@yahoo.com Cook/Baker, Pitmen and Hauler Operator for interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call: #231-2250 Experience Carpenter. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda Sailors. Must be STCW competent.Tele:#226-1100, 226-5380 One Live-in / Night Babysitter. Interested persons kindly. Contact tel: 6006887. Between: 9:00am5:00pm. Location: East Bank Demerara.

LAND FOR SALE

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI . CALL: 219-5000, 227-2100 225-7878, 227-1982

Farm New Scheme $4M & $8M (East Bank) Schoonord (100ft X 50ft with 20ft Reserve) $5M. Tele: #656-0701 Republic Gardens- Phase 1, Single Plot, Corner Lot G$28 Million. Gated Community.

Tele : #660-0192, 688-5554 6 Blocks, 6629 acres mining land in Potaro mining district 2.Contact: rawle1@gmail.com or +1(347)558-6101

Male Sales clerk between 25LAND FOR SALE 40 years for Hardware Store.

Call: #264-2524. 8am to 4:30pm. Serious Enquiries.

Urgently need one Land to buy in Farm or Herstelling New Scheme. Direct from Owner. Tele# 617-9930 One female bartender to work at Iteballi Landing. Call: #6727275 One qualified Pharmacist to work in Essequibo. Interested person can make contact on cell: #625-5136. 8am to 4pm Tyre Repair Techician. Call: #227-1717 Live in Maid,Boys,Girls & 1 Saw man to work in Interior.Call#684-7960/6877638.

One Live in Babysitter Needed. One Hairdresser who knows to do everything.

Contact Melisa: #695-5633 2 Counter Staff @ People's choice Snackette. Tel:#6040614 2 Assistant Cooks @ People's Choice Kitchen. Must know to make puri/roti. Tele:#6040614

LAND FOR SALE TO LET FOR RENT

3 Bedroom Apartment, W.B.D. Tele: #267-1446 or 604-1469 1 bedroom apartment to rent West Ruimveldt, $50,000 per month. Tele: #692-7377, 6727194 Fully Furnished, Grill/Mesh Windows, Doors. North and Oronoque St Bourda, 3 bedrooms A/C. Domestic / Business #226-7012 PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One single/double apartments, Providence. One newlybuilt top/bottom floor, Hague 2 Smyth Street, W.C.D. Tele: #672-1906 Furnished rooms/studio lerich guest house, 25 Prince Street.

All utilities included.

Wakenaam House to rent.

Tele: #623-1562

TO LET One bedroom studio Apartment in Parfaite Harmonies, W.B.D.$22,000 Monthly.Tele: #694-7819 Rooms in Albertown. Call: #225-3234

Thursday August 13, 2020

Thursday August 13, 2020

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Forensic Audit to be conducted into $413M - Six-month contract to Leguan Stelling Contract resume after two year hiatus.

Almost two years after it was initially awarded, the $413M contract to rehabilitate the Leguan T.H.D. stelling is set to restart soon but with no clear explanation of why works on what suppose to be a six-month contract was stalled; because of this, a forensic audit is due to be launched into the project.

Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill stated that the contract, which was awarded to S. Maraj Contracting Service by the National Procurement and Tender Administration in September 2018, was scheduled to be completed within a six month period; however, works were halted as a result of a few months after its initial commencement.

In an article published in Kaieteur News in December 2019, the then Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Jaipaul Sharma had stated that the initial contract was awarded in September of 2018; however, due to a number of hiccups, the contractor was mobilized after more than a year with construction commencing in December 2019. It was also reported that two days after initial construction began, the contractor was forced to halt its works after a section of the stelling had collapsed. It was further reported that works were set to recommence days after.

However, according to Minister Edghill, the rehabilitation works were in fact halted as a result of bad management on the part of both the contractor and supervis-

The section of the stelling used for mooring of the ferry.

Section of the collapsed Leguan Stelling. ing engineer. The minister explained that, in the initial agreement made between the contractor and Transport and Harbors Department (T&HD), the contractor was expected to reuse salvageable materials in an effort to reduce cost – however, the contractor insisted on purchasing new materials.

“The problem which resulted in the extensive delay in the execution of the contract, stemmed from a breakdown in communication between the contractor and the supervising engineer. The Management system was not at all robust,” the minister said, adding that, “however, we have begun talks to ensure a new work programme is put in place since the right administrative thing needs to be done.”

The minister on Tuesday met with the contractor and

members of T&HD to discuss a solution that would see the timely conclusion of the project. After two days of deliberations, Minister Edghill noted, that the contractor had committed to restart the rehabilitation works immediately. In addition to this, the Minister stated that the Ministry of Public Works will be conducting a forensic audit of the contract.

“It was disclosed in the meeting,” the minister told this paper, “to both the contractor and the agency responsible for overseeing the execution of the contract, that the ministry will be conducting a forensic audit to get a true reflection of the project.

This will be done so that we can measure the work that was done by the contractor and compare it to the monies that were collected by the contractor.”

APA wants new administration to finalize...

From page 14 administration.The Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation Project, which sought to secure lands and natural resources for Amerindians, began under the previous PPP/C administration in 2013 funded by $2.2 Billion (US$11M) support from the United Nations Development Programme.

The project ended in 2016, one year into the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change Coalition (APNU+AFC) administration; however, many communities were not selected for their land titling. The new government sought to extend the initiative, and $165 million was then

designated to ensuring the remaining villages received their land titling. However, by the end of 2019 still many of the remaining villages still did not receive their titles. Additionally, many villagers had protested the long wait for their land titles and lamented that the government had had a reasonable amount of time to ensure the project's completion.

Some villagers had also claimed that there was heavy mismanagement of the funds, although this was never proven.

Last year, the previous Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Sydney Allicock had announced that the project

would be prolonged once more up to 2021. According to Allicock, that would have given ample time to complete the project.

La Rose had previously stated that it was halted due to the no-confidence motion being passed in December 2018.Newly-appointed Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai had last week said that the administration is committed to ensuring the remainder of the project is completed by the 2021 deadline.

Sukhai stated that she is determined to see that these land issues are resolved and sustainable development strategies are implemented in indigenous communities.

This, the minister said, will be done with the singular intent to ensure the beneficiaries of the stelling get what they rightfully deserve. He further noted that so far, the contractor has received a 15% mobilization advance along with an interim payment. The minister was at the time unable to provide Kaieteur News with details of the total amount of monies given to the contractor to date. Moreover, Minister Edghill stated that no further monies will be allocated to the contractor until the Ministry is satisfied with the works conducted by the contractor.

In a release made by the Ministry of Public Works late last evening, it was announced that rehabilitation works to the Leguan Stelling will commence from August 13th 2020.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill.

PAGE 18

Thursday August 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

Prime Minister: T&T not Guyana ‘Recounts won’t change anything; UNC delaying process’...

Trinidad Express - The United National Congress is trying to “Guyana-ise” the Trinidad and Tobago general election.

“But Trinidad and Tobago is not Guyana.”

So said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as he responded Tuesday to news that the UNC was seeking a recount in five constituencies and that its lawyers were compiling a list of irregularities which the party said occurred during the polling process.

The party also alleged that the absence of international observers facilitated the irregularities and also cited long lines in places like Gulf View where people had to wait a long time to vote.

But the Prime Minister told the Express the UNC was trying to delay the inevitable the formation of a new PNM Government by trying to pull a “Guyana” on Trinidad and Tobago.

The UNC was looking for ways to thwart the formation and the work of the new Government, he said during a phone interview.

“If they are able to go to court, or if they can tie up the

recount in four and five seats, they can delay the EBC’s declaration (of the election results) and consequently delay the installation of a new Government. So what in effect they are trying to do is to ‘Guyana-ise’ our election.

That is what the UNC is trying to do. Guyana had an election in March, it wasn’t settled until July. That is what the UNC is promising us here now...Instead of a new government being sworn in, they are trying to create the Guyana situation, with complaints that only they would have seen or experienced and they saw it and experienced it a day after it happened. That is what is going on there.

“We have survived their obstructionism. We will continue so to do,” the Prime Minister said.

“Didn’t you hear me say before the elections, that the UNC would be looking for ways to go to the courthouse if they lost?” So (they are suggesting that) the observers would have speeded up the lines (at the polling stations)? We had reports from all over the country, before the numbers were counted and everyone was generally

in praise of how smoothly the process went in the polling stations. As soon as the numbers have been counted and the UNC has lost, the following day they are coming to raise all kinds of things...I told you all so. None of this surprises me,” Rowley said.

“Because (the UNC) believe that they are entitled to a victory and since the numbers don’t bear this out, somebody has wronged them and therefore they would make up all kinds of stories, all of which I think are to be dismissed because the facts don’t bear that out. We had reports all during the day. Our local media covered and documented the polling and I heard none of that from the local media...I saw (MSJ political leader) David Abdulah coming out of the polling station and speaking glowingly about how well the process was executed.”

“So I will ask the country to dismiss the UNC and their obstructive behaviour. All they are accomplishing here is delaying the process of the swearing in of the Government and as they do that they are also delaying the process of preparing the next budget

and all of that goes down under the rubric of wasting valuable time,” the Prime Minister stated.

The Prime Minister asked rhetorically where the complaints the UNC’s lawyers were compiling come from.

“I guess they are going to file legal challenges again. But they have not yet paid for the costs incurred in 2015 with the election petitions,” he said.

He noted that the petitions involved the same marginal seats which the UNC felt they were “entitled to”.

“In the meantime they are once again obstructing the country’s business...We will sit here and wait until the recounts are finished after which the EBC is expected to declare the seats (in PNM’s favour), and (the Elections and Boundaries Commission), would advise the President of the declaration and of which party has the majority.

Then I expect that I will be called upon to be sworn in and to form the next Government,” he said.

Instead of it happening sooner, it would happen sometime later, he added.

However he said: “In the meantime the country’s busi-

Govt. Minister tests positive for COVID-19

- all Cabinet members tested, to work from home while awaiting results President Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Health Minister Frank Anthony being tested for COVID-19

UNC leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley

ness will be brought to a standstill. We (the old Government) will stay in office until there is a change-over, but there ought to be a new government in office so that we can continue what we have to do.”

He noted that defeated PDP Tobago East candidate (and party leader) Watson Duke was asking for a recount in Tobago East too and his complaint was that during an interview with the media on polling day, Ayanna WebsterRoy asked that Tobagonians support her “or something like that. As if there wasn’t a permanent ask. You are a candidate in a general election campaigning every day, but he is surprised by the fact that somebody asked (people) to support them.”

PNM sources said yester-

day that while the figures were preliminary the PNM won the Tobago East seat by 1,200 votes; the San Fernando West seat by close to 3,000 votes (Faris AlRawi—10,234 to Sean Sobers—7,492); in Tunapuna the margin of victory was approximately 2,100 votes; in St Joseph over 900 votes, in La Horquetta/Talparo, the margin of victory was 2,090 votes and in Toco/Sangre Grande, the PNM won by over 3,000 votes.

They said a recount was usually requested where the margin of victory was fewer than 300 votes.

“It is statistically impossible to have these results changed in a recount and the history of recounts in this country would bear this out,” the source stated.

Ranks refuse to take domestic violence report from unmasked woman

Abused: The woman at the station talking to the police ranks.

Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd, has tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) resulting in all members of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Cabinet being subjected to COVID-19 tests.

President Irfaan Ali made the revelation in a live broadcast and said the Minister informed him that he came into contact with someone who had tested positive for the virus.

Minister Todd was then subjected to a COVID-19 test and his results came back positive. All of the persons who came into contact with Minister Todd will be con-

tacted to facilitate testing.

Further President Ali said: “All Cabinet members are to be tested as a precautionary measure” and they were advised to work from home until their test results are known”.

On Saturday, Minister Todd and the other cabinet members along with hundreds of officials gathered at the National Cultural Center for the inauguration ceremony of President Ali. And then on Sunday, the Minister was again present at a joint press conference with the President of Suriname, Chan Santokhi and President Ali along with the Suriname

Foreign Minister, Albert Ramdin, and a delegation from the Dutch speaking nation.

The Minister also held familiarization meetings with his ministry along with a courtesy call from the United States Ambassador, Sarah Ann Lynch.

The President in his live broadcast also advised the general public to adhere to the measures set in place to protect them from the virus.

“This pandemic has no barriers and as such, we have to continue to take the necessary precautions. Wear your mask especially when out in public places and adhere to social distancing. This

Foreign Minister, Hugh Todd is a time when all of us must come together, must work together to ensure the country and citizens remain safe,” President Ali said.

Two members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Tuesday evening refused to take a report from a woman who showed up at the Sparendaam Police Station, East Coast Demerara, without a mask. Kaieteur News understands that the woman ran out of her home and went to the station to make a report that her husband allegedly abused her. However, when she arrived at the station, the ranks on duty told her that they cannot take her report because she was not wearing her mask.According to a video seen by this newspaper, the woman told them that her husband had just abused her. “I came here to make a report and y’all telling me I have to get a mask.”In the background, a man was heard saying: “It have two people in this station right now that said they are victims of domestic violence and they had to run out of their house without no money, no choice and no mask and y’all telling them that they need a mask to talk to y’all.”

While the woman and the man in the background continued talking from the counter, the police officers were seen at a desk sitting. One of them took out a cell phone and started videotaping as well.

Kaieteur News yesterday contacted Khali Pareshram, Commander of ‘C’ Division, who made it clear that an investigation was launched into the matter. The commander said that measures will be implemented to prevent any such reoccurrences.

Thursday August 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 13, 2020

PAGE 21

Wake house shooting 65 traffic lights solar leaves keyboard player, panel stolen in city organizer wounded

A

late-night shooting at a wake on Sunday has left a keyboard player and the organizer nursing gunshot wounds.

The shooting occurred sometime after 22:00hrs at a house in Victoria Street, Albouystown.

Injured is Troy Miller, 42, the keyboard player, of Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Tricia McLean, 46, of La Penitence, Georgetown.

An eyewitness and friend of McLean told Kaieteur News that she (McLean) was part of organizing the wake and had booked Troy Miller as a oneman band for the event.

The eyewitness and Mclean were chatting on the road in front of the wake house when suddenly three gunshots rang out.

Persons started screaming and running for cover. McLean then grabbed her abdomen and held on to her friend (eyewitness)

saying “ah get shot”.

At that moment, Miller who was a short distance away, also shouted “ah get hit”.

The eyewitness immediately took off her head wrap and assisted McLean in strapping the wound to her abdomen before rushing her to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Miller followed shortly after.

Both persons were treated and have since been discharged from the hospital.

With regards to the shooter(s), investigators and eyewitnesses are without a clue as to who they might be.

So far, almost everyone in attendance of the wake did not see anyone discharging the rounds…all they heard were gunshots.

Kaieteur News learnt that the wake was being held for a relative of the injured McLean who was recently beaten and shot dead in Albouystown.

Regent & Cummings Street

A

s i f t h e congestion is not enough, the people of Guyana on Thursday woke up to news that the Ministry of Public Works has recorded 65 traffic lights solar panels missing.

The traffic lights are located at key areas in the city. Twelve were from Regent and Cummings and

Cummings & South Road

seven from Croal and Cummings Streets.

“The Ministry is once again pleading with public spirited citizens to report any suspicious acts and or theft of traffic lights components to the nearest police station or the Ministry of Public Works Public Relations Department via telephone on 592-2270799 or Facebook at Ministry

Brickdam & Brummell Street

of Public Works or via email at mopiguyana@gmail.com.”

Below are the areas affected:

Location of Traffic Signal System

No. of 50 Watts Solar Panels removed

Brickdam and Brummell Place Croal Street and Cummings Street Regent Street and Cummings Street Avenue of the Republic and Brickdam High Street and Hadfield Street Camp Street and Brickdam Camp Street and Middle Street Camp Street and Lamaha Street Main Street and Middle

2 7 12 3 9 12 12 5 3

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 13, 2020

Thursday August 13, 2020

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Javelin Champion Baird back in training

By Calvin Chapman National men’s Javelin champion; Leslain Baird, during an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport has revealed that he has returned to training following a five-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in Guyana.

The Senior Petty Officer in Guyana’s Coast Guard shared that it, “Feels really great to be back in training. There are a few restrictions on how we operate now but I am adjusting well.”

Baird revealed that he feels extremely rested and recovered following his surgery to fix an internal hemorrhoids problem that had seen him miss the business end of the 2019 season.

In January of this year, three months after his surgery, Baird was back to train-

ing and began competing in the subsequent month. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) athlete explained that maybe he was too focused on getting back into competition but nevertheless, the rest during the lockdown was exactly what the doctor ordered.

However, his season best throw of 71m at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC) on the West Coast of Demerara since February, sees him being ranked number two in South America currently, despite it being some distance away from his personal best (PB).

The national men’s Javelin record holder that has a best distance of 78.65m declared that his goals from the beginning of the season remains the same, which are, “To improve on my PB, break the South American Javelin

record, and not just qualify for the Olympics but to be in the top 8 in the world.”

The AAG had announced last week that they are looking at August 29 & 30 as the days for the 2020 Senior Championships and Baird, while happy with the prospect of Athletics returning, he highlighted that since he only recommenced training this Monday, it may be a bit difficult to compete so soon if the event gets the green light from

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A sum of money above and beyond your usual income could come your way. This could be a bonus, settlement, or even a gift of some kind.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) New ideas for your career could be on your mind, Libra. You might be thinking not only about getting a new job but also entering an entirely new field.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Some vast changes in your community could take place, Taurus. They're positive, for the most part.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Continued success and good luck should have you feeling charged up to move ahead with plans and ideas.

Your energy and enthusiasm are high, Scorpio.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today you might wake up feeling that you can move mount a i n s - a n d t h i s might be exactly what you set out to do, figuratively speaking. Your physical energy, enthusiasm, and self-confidence are very high, Cancer.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you could recapture the joy in life that you had as a child, Leo. You're serious by nature, and feelings of joy are to be lived and treasured. You could be experiencing true flow.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) Projects involving a group, perhaps your entire community, could take up a lot of your time, Virgo. Interesting news and stimulating conversations could come your way.

Baird pitching the Javelin during a developmental meet early this year at Enmore Ground.

GFF President Forde meets new Sports Minister look forward to the full sup-

From page 27 with the game from a playing standpoint will go on to play professionally. So, the vast majority of humans that participate in football, whether they start at the early grassroots level or older, will take away the fundamental human values that football

Thursday August 13, 2020

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Gemini, you might choose to do some volunteer work today or help a friend. This could make you aware of a talent you didn't know you had.

the Ministry of Health.

The South America games silver medalist’s message to his fellow athletes for this pandemic read, “Just think outside the box, there are so many things we can do without actually getting out the house. Be creative, do innovative exercises that will help you to keep your body at a decent fitness level and also do some research on your event, I’ve found that it’s helps a lot.”

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Don't be surprised if sometime during the day you feel angry for no apparent reason, Sagittarius. It's probably rooted in the past, from a situation that wasn't resolved long ago.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) This is a great day to start new enterprises with others, Capricorn. Possible gatherings with friends or group activities could lead to ideas for new projects that fire your energy and enthusiasm.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Activities of some kind could put you in the public eye today, Aquarius. Some work you've done well might bring you richly deserved acknowledgement.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) tChanges to your chosen field are indicated, Pisces. Ideas from other states or countries might fire your creativity. Your intellectual or artistic interests could take on a new dimension.

teaches and will most likely go on to lead a wholesome, responsible and productive life. With football we develop a passion for winning, we also learn to lose gracefully, we learn to respect the rules of the game, and the importance of identifying a figure of authority, who is usually the coach – these are the hallmarks of the football experience.”The GFF President noted the investment being made on student-athlete scholarships as well as the infrastructural projects in train, including the FIFA and CONCACAF-supported projects.These projects include the country’s first exclusive football Technical Training Centre, which is currently under construction at Providence, EBD and the Durban Park Complex. The Durban Park Complex, for which the Denmark FA will provide engineering assistance, will

consist of a playfield for international matches as well as a number of mini pitches for the promotion of grassroots football where the surrounding communities will have unlimited access.

“The GFF is committed to cultivating partnerships that would lead to the holistic development of the Sport, at every level,” said Forde. “We will surely do our part and that is my assurance to you, under my leadership.”

For his part, Minister Ramson has promised to bring a proactive approach towards the management of sports in Guyana, noting that there has to be a holistic approach to revive sports with associations and federations playing a major role.The Minister stated that his aim would be to build relationships of trust, cooperation and confidentiality amongst all stakeholders to advance sports, pointing out that the GFF can

port of his Ministry, “We want to be able to collaborate first and foremost, to be able to get football with all the main sports functioning at an optimum level so that we can get young people playing sports, harnessing young talent for the bigger stage.”

While acknowledging the challenges that come with his vision for the development of the sport, which includes infrastructure, he stated that institutional partnerships are key to harness the young talent that is available here pointing out that there’s a huge difference between “just being good and being great.” “With us here, you’ve got friends who understand the importance of building it from the ground up and that have similar objectives to be able to work together for a common goal. So it’s a winwin situation for us to be able to collaborate in a major way to get things done.”

The aim, Ramson said, is for the Sports Ministry to interface with the various federations and associations on a regular basis: “It would obviously require for you to dance with me because I cannot dance alone. I just want you to know this is where we stand; collaboration, know that you have access, know that your government is here to work with you. You would have far more weight in whatever you do in your own operation and relations with your international parent body to say that your government is assisting in this regard. It adds a lot of weight and credibility to you and your operations so I want you to know that this is the basis on which we start and how we will proceed.”

Minister Ramson further noted: “What you’re not going to get from me is laziness; it would be a very proactive operation on my end and lots of energy.”Both Forde and Ramson have pledged that they’ll be meeting regularly in the ensuing months and years as they seek to further advance the development of the world’s most beautiful game.

PAGE 24

Thursday August 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

Yes, Windies players lack commitment but they do need better facilities in order to improve SportsMax - No one can question Andy Roberts’ passion for West Indies cricket.

After an outstanding career for the West Indies where he took 202 wickets as part of a battery of fast bowlers, who terrorised teams for more than a decade, the no-nonsense Antiguan has for the last two decades has had to watch with despair and disdain while batting line ups have taken our bowling attacks apart almost at will.

I would imagine it would be even more frustrating for him to watch as West Indies’ batsmen, more often than not, seem incapable of batting for time in a Test match.

This was evident in the last two Test matches the West Indies lost to England at Old Trafford last month.

Therefore, it was no surprise to hear Roberts speak passionately about the team’s failures during an interview with Andrew Mason last week. Responding to comments regarding the lack of technological infrastructure that puts the West Indies at a disadvantage when compared to England, Roberts was quick to rubbish those claims, instead choosing to throw the blame squarely at the feet of the players.

“Infrastructure will not make you a better player. You have to make yourself a better player and I don’t think the commitment is there from a lot of West Indies players,” he said.

“It’s not just the Test

players but a lot of people who play cricket in the West Indies. I don’t think they commit themselves enough.

If you did, you would not be averaging 30 in first-class cricket and that is what we are getting.”

On the issue of commitment, I believe he makes a strong point. My perspective is that when you watch a West Indian batsman bat these days, you see a couple of things right away.

You see the deficiencies in technique but what you also see is how those weaknesses persist over time. I remember when Ronnie Sarwan just came into the West Indies. He was in love either with cutting balls that were close to or on his off stump.

Consequently, he would constantly get out by either playing on, being caught behind or snapped up somewhere between gully and point. However, over time he was more selective when choosing to play the shot and went on to have a successful career.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul adjusted his batting stance that allowed him to achieve incredible things like bat for 25 hours in a Test series between dismissals and face 1050 consecutive deliveries without losing his wicket.

This is something he did repeatedly – in 2002, 2004, and 2007 - all because he learned from his previous errors and adjusted.

I have yet to see this from

any of the current players – a clear lack of commitment to improve, satisfied with mediocrity instead of striving for excellence.

You also see an inability to concentrate for extended periods. Watch any West Indies batsman in the current team. If they last more than an hour at the crease, you can literally see them struggling to maintain the high levels of concentration.

It manifests in bizarre shots unexpectedly as well as retreating into a defensive mode before eventually giving his wicket away.

You would never see that happen to Tiger because of how he practised.

Australian opener David Warner shared a story about how in 2011 Chanderpaul revealed to him the secret of how to occupy the crease for long periods.

“He batted on the bowling machine for six hours. I said, ‘This is ridiculous, how can you do this?’ And he said, ‘If you’re going to bat for six hours in a game you might as well practise it.’”

When you watch the current batsmen in the West Indies set up, I am sure none of them spends two hours batting in the nets let alone six.

This is the commitment needed and which Roberts believes is missing.

However, I do believe that improved structures would help the players improve.

Better facilities, better

Australia and Bangladesh featuring prominently.

David White, the NZC chief executive, said he had already received confirmation from Cricket West Indies that the Caribbean side would undertake a bilateral tour, expected to be played under the same biosecure conditions which governed West Indies’ three-Test tour of England.

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak forced the cessation of cricket globally for nearly four months until the Windies’ recent tour.

“We are making tremendous progress. I was just on the phone to the West Indies, they’re confirmed, Pakistan is confirmed, Australia and Bangladesh … so

Zealand in February. We are just working through the content but probably five ODIs and three T20Is. “We’ll just be held up for a week or two while we work with the government agencies on the managed isolation but they’ve been extremely supportive.”

White did not indicate whether the West Indies tour would comprise Tests or limited overs matches but the Windies were scheduled to tour New Zealand for three Tests in November under the Future Tours Programme.

New Zealand had been carded to tour the Caribbean for three One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals

guide protocols for the upcoming tours, which would involve a now standard twoweek quarantine for all arriving players.

New Zealand has been widely praised for the efficient manner in which it has handled the pandemic, making it one of the safest countries across the globe.

There have been only 1 575 cases and 22 deaths arising from the virus.

Only Monday, the country announced another phase of lockdown in Auckland following the discovery of four cases.

Before this week, New Zealand had gone 102 days without a single locally transmitted case of COVID19.

Andy Roberts feels despite the lack of commitment in the batsmen more could be done to help WI batsmen.

equipment, better coaches help deliver more information to players and in most cases lead to better performances even if marginal.

Better infrastructure allows players, regardless of the sport, to perform at a higher level. Think of it this way.

If you go to work each day in a rundown building where you don’t have access to the most basic of equipment; the copier doesn’t work, the air-conditioning makes you sick, and you have to take the stairs instead of an elevator, wouldn’t you feel demotivated?

To make matters worse every time you visit another office where the basics are in

abundance, it depresses you.

Eventually, the quality of your work deteriorates without you even realizing it.

It is the same with athletes.

If an athlete is not comfortable with his training en-

vironment, his or her ability to learn can be impacted. Like everyone else, athletes need to feel motivated in order to improve.

Modern facilities encourage athletes to work harder and hence improve.

Barcelona player tests positive for COVID-19 BARCELONA (Reuters) - A Barcelona player has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after reporting back for pre-season training, the La Liga side said in a statement yesterday .

Barca said the player was isolating in his home and was asymptomatic, adding that he had not been in contact with any of the players who are to travel to Lisbon for the Champions League ‘Final Eight’ tournament.

CPL partners with WSC Sports to innovate West Indies up for NZ tour, says CEO delivery of video content as franchise AUCKLAND, New 37 days of international last month but the series was Zealand, CMC – Cricket cricket,” White told media scrapped due to the ongoing challenges posed by the New Zealand said Tuesday here.

T20 cricket returns “The White Ferns will COVID-19 pandemic. it expected West Indies to White said NZC was curtour shortly as part of a tour Australia in September packed summer of cricket and then the Australia rently collaborating with this month The Caribbean Premier League has which will also see Pakistan, Women’s team will tour New government on measures to partnered with WSC Sports to innovate delivery of video content as franchise T20 cricket returns this month.

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has teamed up with WSC Sports, the leader in AI-sports video technology, to grow its reach and engage with more cricket fans around the world. The collaboration with WSC will coincide with the first live Twenty20 tournament since the global sports hiatus.

CPL will utilize WSC Sports’ platform to significantly scale up real-time video highlights for this year’s tournament which will run from August 18 to September 10. The partnership will provide local audiences with customized player highlights for overseas stars such as Rashid Khan, Imran Tahir and Chris Lynn. CPL will also live stream every match to selected markets on their social media platforms with easylive.io broadcast technology.

The agreement adds to the list of global sports properties working with WSC Sports’ AI automation technology. This includes the BBL and WBBL in Australia and other top glo-

bal sports leagues such as the NBA, Bundesliga, PGA Tour, MLS and FIBA. Chris Watson, CPL’s Head of Marketing, said: “At the CPL we are always trying to innovate to give our fans the best possible experience. This year more than any other it is vital that fans in the Caribbean and around the world are able to engage with the tournament through our social media channels.

WSC means in 2020 following the CPL will be easier than ever.”

“It is exciting for fans to see live T20 Cricket return to our screens,” said WSC Sports Head of Asia Pacific, Guy Port. “WSC is proud to partner our video automation solution with the CPL to help provide more stories to more fans every day of the tournament.”

Thursday August 13, 2020

Liverpool set for record payday as clubs agree to delay cuts

Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson with team mates celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League. (Pool via REUTERS/Paul Ellis) (Reuters) - Liverpool will receive a record 175 million pounds ($228.45 million) payout for winning the Premier League after all 20 clubs in England’s top-flight agreed to postpone any reductions caused by the COVID19 pandemic, according to the Times.

The newspaper reported yesterday that teams will receive their entire payout for last season and rebates to broadcasters, which could amount to 330 million pounds ($430.49 million), would be spread out over future campaigns.If the rebate was applied, Liverpool’s prize money would have been re-

duced by 21 million pounds, the Times said, citing financial expert Swiss Ramble.

The 2019-20 season was the first of a threeyear cycle in which international broadcast revenue would be allocated to clubs based on where they finished in the table instead of it being split equally between the teams.

The Times also said top flight teams had agreed to make solidarity payments to English Football League (EFL) clubs in addition to the 125 million pounds in advance payments agreed in April.

The Premier League declined to comment.

Concacaf preliminary draw set to map qualification pathway towards FIFA World Cup CONCACAF - The qualification pathway for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ in North, Central America and the Caribbean will take shape later this month following FIFA’s confirmation this week that the Concacaf preliminary draw will be held on Wednesday, 19 August at 19:00 CET at the Home of FIFA in Zurich.

With 35 member associations from across North, Central America and the Caribbean set to be involved, the preliminary draw is a significant moment that will determine the tournament pathway for the first and final rounds under the new qualification format.Based on the FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Ranking as of 16 July 2020, the draw for the first round will allocate the 30 lowest-ranked Concacaf teams to six groups.

This will be followed by the draw for the final round, which will indicate the position of each team within the final qualification stage, which will also be contested in a group format.

The pots for the firstround draw are as follows: Pot 1: El Salvador, Canada, Curaçao, Panama, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago Pot 2: Antigua and Barbuda, Guatemala, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic Pot 3: Grenada, Barbados, Guyana, St Vincent and

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

the Grenadines, Bermuda, BelizePot 4: St Lucia, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Montserrat, Dominica, Cayman Islands Pot 5: Bahamas, Aruba, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla The six highest-ranked teams in the first round – El Salvador, Canada, Curaçao, Panama, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago – will be preseeded into groups A to F respectively. The first round will be played in a single roundrobin format, meaning each team will play four matches: two home and two away.

During the second round, the six group winners will face off in a home-and-away elimination format in three predetermined pairings. The winners of each tie will proceed to the final round.The final round will see the three winners from the second round join the five highest-ranked Concacaf teams according to

the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking as of 16 July 2020, who will play each other in a home-and-away round-robin format.The pots for the finalround draw are as follows: Pot A: Mexico, USA, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, winner of A vs F, winner of B vs E, winner of C vs D Pot B: teams 1-8 Fans around the world will be able to follow the draw live on FIFA.com, with the exception of the territories where the draw will be broadcast live on TV.

England’s Root says Anderson will return to his best again (Reuters) - England skipper Joe Root has backed James Anderson to hit peak form again, saying on Wednesday that the pace bowler’s spot in the team was not in question ahead of the second test against Pakistan starting today.Anderson, England’s most successful test bowler with 590 wickets, has endured a frustrating summer with six scalps in his last three games and recently quashed speculation that his career was drawing to a close.

Root said the 38-year-old would get an immediate chance to put things right when they face Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, as the hosts look to go 2-0 up in the series.“To question Jimmy’s ability, his record... do that at your own peril,” Root told a news conference.

“There’s a reason he’s got so many wickets over such a long period — he’s a consistent performer. I don’t think it’ll be long until he’s back among the wickets big time.

“It’ll be very silly for us to write someone like Jimmy off. He’s still as dedicated as ever, working hard at his game and looking good in

England’s Ben Stokes and Joe Root at the end of play, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID19). (Dan Mullan/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo) practice.”Root said Anderson had spoken to him about his form during the first test.

“We had an honest conversation... to get that off his chest and to talk about it has helped him,” Root added.

“It shows even the greats of the game still have those days when it doesn’t always come as naturally to you... it can be a real struggle sometimes.“It’s easy to look at the statistics and not have a more broad view on how things are actually going.”

England earlier named uncapped seam bowler Ollie

Robinson in their 14-man squad to replace all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has been ruled out of the remaining two games of the threematch series for family reasons.Sussex paceman Robinson, 26, made his firstclass debut in 2015 and has played 57 matches.

England squad: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

WTA roundup: Williams sisters set up second-round meeting Serena Williams got off to a slow start in her first match in six months, but she prevailed Tuesday to set up a second-round showdown with her sister.

Top-seeded Serena Williams rallied past fellow American Bernarda Pera 4-6, 6-4, 61 in the first round of the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Ky. Her next opponent will be Venus Williams, who defeated Belarus’ Victoria

NBA issues memo banning ‘casual relationship’ visitors in bubble When conference semifinals begin in the 2020 NBA play-

offs, spouses and families will be permitted in the bubble near Orlando.The NBA, however, is looking to set guidelines for player guests that fall into the “other” classification, such as girlfriends and recent acquaintances.

A memo from the NBA and NBPA outlines what the league will tolerate as a significant other.

It will preclude players from hosting guests considered casual in nature, including “known by the player only through social media or an intermediary,” according to the memo obtained by ESPN. Players must prove a longstanding relationship with a non-spouse.

While friends and family will be defined in greater clarity, per the memo, those prohibited in the NBA bubble include agents, chefs, trainers and tattoo artists.

Once in the bubble, family members must quarantine and then agree to follow the same restrictions applied to players and staff. There is no allowance for leaving the campus.

Players will receive one ticket per guest per playoff game.

(Field Level Media)

Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the U.S. celebrate after winning their first round doubles match against Japan’s Shuko Aoyama and Miyu Kato. (REUTERS/Charles Platiau) Azarenka 6-3, 6-2.

The tournament, being staged without fans present, is the first in the United States since the coronavirus pandemic shut down both major tennis tours in early March.

“It was a really calm atmosphere, really chill,” Serena Williams said following her first action since the Fed Cup in early February. “I can’t say I disliked it. It was different.

I’ve been through so many things in my career. I think I won today because I was calm for once, so that was really helpful.”Other first-round winners Tuesday were Cori Gauff, CiCi Bellis, Shelby Rogers, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, Russia’s Anna Blinkova, Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, Belarus’ Olga Govortsova and Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.

Prague Open Top-seeded Simona Halep of Romania squandered six match points late in the first set but still wound up with a 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (3) win over Slovenia’s Polona Hercog in the first round of the Czech Republic event.Halep managed just one ace while serving eight double faults. The match featured 12 breaks of serve, six per player.

Other Tuesday winners included second-seeded Petra Martic of Croatia and third-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium.

Fifth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, sixth-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia, seventh-seeded Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic and ninthseeded Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia all lost in straight sets.

(Field Level Media)

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

DIAMOND LEAGUE BACK WITH A BANG IN MONACO LONDON (Reuters) - After a frustrating summer of cancellations, exhibitions and virtual competitions, athletics is finally able to reveal its shop window as the Diamond League swings into belated action with a star-studded field in Monaco tomorrow.

The sport should have been taking centre stage in the glow of the Tokyo Olympics this week but that highlight has long been wiped from the 2020 calendar, along with a host of Diamond League events.

So it is no exaggeration to describe tomorrow’s Meeting Herculis as “eagerly awaited” and topping a high-class bill in the Principality is Noah Lyles in the 200 metres.

The American faces some quality competition in the shape of Ramil Guliyev and Christophe Lemaitre, while one rival might not be so well known to the wider athletics public but is extremely familiar to Lyles - his younger brother Josephus.

Josephus is primarily a 400m man and has not raced his big brother in an official race for more than three years.

Beatrice Chepkoech, who broke the women’s 3000m steeplechase world record at Monaco in 2018, and Sifan Hassan, who did the same over a mile last year, face off over 5,000m in a race also featuring world champion Hellen Obiri.

Pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis is another world record holder on duty and, after enjoying a successful summer of somewhat leftfield exhibitions, faces more traditional competition from reigning world and Diamond League champion Sam Kendricks.

There are two high-quality 1500m races on the programme. In the women’s event Uganda’s 800m world champion Halimah Nakaayi is up against Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon and Briton Laura Muir.

In the men’s race, world champion Timothy Cheruiyot gets reacquainted with Norway’s Ingebrigtsen brothers.World champion Karsten Warholm is on duty in the men’s 400m hurdles, while Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou will start favourite in the

Gauff responds to sexist comment, says beating her at tennis is about skill level, not gender Cori “Coco” Gauff (Tim Clayton Corbis Getty Images)

Seventeen - Cori “Coco” Gauff has been dominating the game of tennis. She beat tennis legend Venus Williams at the Australian Open and she won her first singles title at just 15 years old, according to The New York Times. Now she’s letting the world know: if you’re better than her at tennis, it’s because of your skill, not your gender. She says, “If you’re a real athlete, then you understand this.”

On TikTok, the now 16 year old Coco replied to a comment that said she that said she wouldn’t be able to beat a male tennis player because she’s a girl. “Bro what do you not understand she plays GIRLS tennis, he plays BOYS tennis, the skill gap is immeasurable,” the comment said. “A pro girl wouldn’t even win boys states.”

But Coco set the record straight. She started off by saying that, despite her age, she plays women’s tennis, not girl’s tennis. Aside from Venus Williams, she’s also played against other pros like Daria Kasatkina and Asia Muhammad.

“If you think that you’re better than me because of the sole fact that you’re a boy and I’m a girl, that doesn’t make any sense,” she says in part. She goes on to say, “If you could say you could beat me because you think your skill level is better than mine, I respect that, we could go out there and we’ll compete and we’ll see who’s better.”

women’s 100m.

Ahead of the event, the sport’s governing body World Athletics, has issued a reminder about the recentlyintroduced “Rule 5”, which puts a sole height limit of 25mm on all shoes worn in track events of 800m and above in distance.

The rule does not prevent a road running shoe from being worn on the track but a 30mm or 40mm road running shoe cannot be worn for track events because of the 25mm limit. The rule was introduced after concerns that shoes such as Nike’s Alphafly were giving athletes an unfair technical advantage.

Shoes, of course, will not be the only things undergoing tests, as all athletes will be COVID-19 tested as part of the strict guidelines that have allowed the event to be held with competitors travelling in from around the world.

“We have changed everything, from the athletes’ travel and accommodation logistics to the way the competition will be staged and conducted,” said meeting director JeanPierre Schoebel.

“We studied everything to ensure we’d provide the maximum security to everyone involved in the meeting.

We’ve never worked as hard as this year. I can’t tell you how difficult the situation has been.”

Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto, the Olympic and world 3000m steeplechase champion, had been due to run in Monaco until he tested positive for the coronavirus without symptoms earlier this week.

Thursday August 13, 2020

Negative second tests pave way for tournament to bowl off: Hall PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Caribbean Premier League organisers have confirmed that all 162 persons who arrived here last week for the tournament have returned negative results in the second round of COVID19 testing, paving the way for team practice sessions to begin in earnest.

The players, staff and administrators all tested negative on arrival two Mondays ago and have been in quarantine at the official tournament hotel ever since, as per the government-approved health protocols.

Testing was also conducted prior to members of the contingent leaving their respective jurisdictions.

Michael Hall, the tournament operations director, said the latest results now provided the platform for the sixteam championship to proceed as planned starting next Tuesday.

“The rigorous testing that we did before people travelled, along with other protocols we put in place in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the CPL’s medical advisory committee, have put us in a fantastic place,” Hall said.

“However, this is just the start of the process and we will continue to be vigilant as we look to put on a successful tournament. CPL would like to thank all members of the cohort for working so hard to get us to this position.”

Six teams – reigning champions Barbados Tridents, last year’s losing finalists Guyana Amazon War-

CPL tournament operations director, Michael Hall. riors, along with hosts Trinbago Knight Riders, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and St Lucia Zouks – are all poised to clash over 33 games in the August 18 to September 10 tournament.And Hall said with just days left before the start, teams had begun official practice sessions in a biosecure environment at the UWI St Augustine Campus.

“We have created a separate secure environment based on protocols established by our medical committee and approved by the Ministry of Health,” the Jamaican said.

For the first time this year, the CPL is being staged in one country and behind closed doors because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced the cancellation of all other international cricket in the Caribbean.

The tournament will be played at Queen’s Park Oval in the capital here and the Brian Lara Stadium in Couva, central Trinidad.

And while the buildup has been relatively smooth, Hall reiterated that success

would continue to be defined by the attaining specific targets as the tournament progressed.

“We have to measure our success in staging this year’s tournament as we pass certain milestones,” Hall said.

“Obviously the first hurdle that we had to cross was getting everyone here and we’re grateful to the government of Trinidad and Tobago for accepting our proposal, and we’ve worked very hard with the authorities here to put everything in place that would keep everyone safe.“It’s been a series … of bridges that we’ve had to cross. These are unchartered waters; nobody has ever tried to do this in the Caribbean before. We are the first franchise league that will be trying to put on a tournament in this strange time but we have a great team. It’s a small team but it’s a dedicated team.

“Everyone is pulling together to make this thing happen because I think it’s going to bear a great reflection on the Caribbean and on Trinidad and Tobago and the tournament if we manage to pull it off.”

Last-gasp PSG beat Atalanta to reach Champions League semis

LISBON (Reuters) - Paris St Germain staged a superb comeback by scoring two late goals to beat Atalanta 2-1 and book a spot in the Champions League semi-finals after a thrilling finish yesterday.

Atalanta’s superb display looked like dumping PSG out of the competition but Marquinhos levelled from close range in the final minute before Frenchman Kylian Mbappe set up fellow substitute Eric Maxim ChoupoMoting for a stoppage-time winner.With Mbappe starting on the bench after an ankle injury, the creative burden fell on Brazilian forward Neymar, and he blasted an early effort over with the goal at his mercy.Despite the gulf in finances between the clubs — PSG spent more on Neymar and Mbappe than Atalanta had paid for players in total

Paris St Germain’s Marquinhos (left) scores their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (David Ramos/Pool via REUTERS) since 2001-02 — the Italians led through Mario Pasalic who curled the ball home su-

perbly in the 27th minute.

But PSG’s late show took Thomas Tuchel’s side

through to the last four as the weary Atalanta players slumped to the turf.

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 13, 2020

PAGE 27

Rafiek, bowlers lead Regal Masters to comfortable win

The victorious Regal Masters team A belligerent knock from Fazal Rafiek coupled by incisive spells from Roy Persaud and Laurie Singh handed Regal Masters a 48run victory over Richard Latif XI when the teams collided in a T20 softball encounter on Sunday last.

Batting first at the Everest Cricket Club, Regal Masters lost openers Mahase Chunilall

(02) caught off Samuel Kingston and Unnis Yusuf (12) caught off Richard Latif to be reduced to 19-2.

However, Rafiek and Eon Abel repaired the early damage with an entertaining third wicket stand of 116. Rafiek clobbered six fours and seven sixes before he was dismissed for 90, while Abel scored 22 with

GFF President Forde meets new “I am seeking to build relationships of trust and Sports Minister confidentiality” – Ramson Jr.

GFF President Wayne Forde (right) presents a customised ‘Golden Jaguars’ replica jersey to Minister Ramson in the presence of Dion Inniss.

Georgetown: The President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, made a courtesy call on the new Minister of Culture Youth and Sport (MCY&S) Charles Ramson Jr. on Tuesday where he emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships to enable the development of sports and football, in particular, and updated him on some of the key initiatives being undertaken by the GFF. The visit, done on invitation by the Honourable Minister, was held at the Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue and was attended by GFF’s Executive Committee Member Dion Inniss, whileMr. Kashif Muhammad

accompanied the Minister.

Forde, in congratulating the Minister and giving GFF’s commitment for a long-term and mutually-beneficial partnership to advance football development, noted the impact these partnerships have on the human capital – the thrust of the investment: “…Because, at the core, sports organisations are essentially in the business of human development, which is a primary nationbuilding objective. Football is a key example of how that takes place. Those of us who are blessed with the privilege to manage football will say to you that less than one (1) % of every human being that comes into contact (Continued on page 23)

two fours. Eric Thomas chipped in with 23 not out which contained three sixes as Regal Masters managed 175-7. Saheed Gittens claimed 2-26 and Kingston 2-37.

Laurie Singh sent back opener Gittens for 10 before Rafiek picked up two wickets including that of Latif for 21with two fours and one six, to peg back the chase. Ramdeen

(only name given) showed some fight as he struck one four and four sixes before he was bowled by Singh for a top score of 35.

Following his dismissal, Latif XI never recovered and were restricted for 127-9.

Dennis Mangru contributed 17 as Roy Persaud finished with 3-21, Singh 3-26 and Rafiek 2-26.

West Indies up for NZ tour,

says CEO West Indies and New Zealand will clash in an upcoming series.

rt o p S

Javelin Champ Last-gasp PSG beat Atalanta Baird back Atalantato toreach reach in training Champions League semis Leslain Baird in action

Negative second tests pave way for tournament to bowl off: Hall

Paris St Germain’s Marquinhos celebrates scoring their first goal with Kylian Mbappe and teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (David Ramos/Pool via REUTERS)

Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8452, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.