Kaieteur News

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We must invite Friday Edition NEWS our own to invest instead of turning to foreigners - Surinamese President AIETEUR

August 14, 2020 -Vol. 22 No. 32

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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Minister of Natural Resources says ...

Payara approval will not be rushed; we want maximum value for Guyana

Anti-money UN raises concerns about laundering Act environmental impact to be reviewed of Guyana’s oil production Tourism Minister Exxon blames COVID-19 Walrond-Allicock, restrictions for failing Gerry Gouveia test to meet flaring deadline positive for COVID-19 - Attorney General

p.

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COVID-19 testing machine left on wharf for months - Minister Dr. Frank Anthony

Army still silent on $1B spent to purchase, fix 4 aircraft - One plane “cannibalised” to fix another

Glenn Lall vs. Winston Jordan in ECD land deals case…

NICIL’s lawyer moves to strike out challenge to transactions

Suriname boasts three discoveries for the year in oil block at Guyana’s border

Kaieteur News

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Friday August 14, 2020

Suriname boasts three discoveries for the year in oil block at Guyana border Block 58 and the Stabroek Block meet at the maritime border between Guyana and Suriname

T

he Republic of Suriname is facilitating exploration in a concession at its maritime border with Guyana, called Block 58.

The companies granted the concession, Apache and Total, have managed to make three discoveries since the year began.

I n J a n u a r y, A p a c h e announced the first discovery at the Maka Central-1 well.

E n e rg y C o n s u l t a n c y Group, Wood Mackenzie said that the discovery is estimated to contain 300 million barrels

of oil, 150 million barrels of condensate and 1.4 trillion cubic feet of gas.

The discovery excited those in Suriname who were mobilised by the many discoveries ExxonMobil managed to make deep in Guyana’s waters.

Apache had identified more than 50 drillable prospects in Block 58 alone.

At an oil and gas conference in Trinidad and Tobago in February, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Suriname’s state-owned oil

company, Staatsolie, had said that the country is in for an exciting year.

Sure enough, in April, Apache announced a second significant oil discovery at Block 58’s Sapakara West-1 well. Wood Mackenzie said that it expects the two wells to produce with a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel at a capacity of about 150,000 barrels per day.

It also said that Suriname may be on its way behind Guyana with another oil boom.

Last month, what is probably the most exciting of the Block 58 discoveries happened. Apache announced a “major” find at its Kwaskwasi-1 well.

The discovery is being called a giant, as Apache reported 912 feet of net oil. In comparison, ExxonMobil’s massive Liza discovery saw the company reporting 295 feet.

Apache now intends to capitalise even more on its momentum, with the fourth exploration prospect in Block 58, Keskesi East-1.

The company said that the prospect “will be drilled immediately following conclusion of operations at Kwaskwasi.”

Block 58 is 1.4 million acres, as opposed to Guyana’s Stabroek Block at 6.6 million acres. The two blocks are

connected at the maritime border.

The Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for Block 58 was signed in 2015 with Apache, then, Total farmed in late last year with a US$100M signing bonus paid to Apache.

Guyana and Suriname are fortunate to control waters in the Guyana-Suriname basin, the hottest exploration destination on the planet.

However, Suriname’s management of its patrimony has reaped better projected rewards for the country.

If oil is produced at Block 58, the country will rake in 36 percent of the revenue share.

However, with the more lucrative Stabroek Block in Guyana, the country’s share of revenue is a paltry 14.5 percent.

Map showing Block 58’s discoveries and next drilling prospect

Kaieteur News

Friday August 14, 2020

PAGE 03

Army still silent on $1B spent to purchase, fix 4 aircraft - One plane “cannibalised” to fix another One of the Islander planes purchased from Brazil.

One of the Skyvans that was purchased by a middle-man company.

I

t appears that the army has little answers to the questionable purchase of four aircraft by the Coalition government in the last two years.

The transactions had come to light shortly before the declarations of the troubled March 2nd elections was made earlier this month, which saw a new administration, led by President Irfaan Ali, in office. His Prime Minister is former army chief, Mark Phillips, whose task will most likely include ordering a probe.

Two of the aircraft are down with over $700M spent to purchase them and millions more to make them airworthy. It is estimated that the final bill will be over $1B. Kaieteur News, over the last three weeks, has been reaching out to the army for c o m m e n t s .

Requests were sent to the Public Relations Department with an official there acknowledging receipt a few weeks ago.

However, since then, there has been silence.

Yesterday, the official said she is on leave but will pursue the matter which has been sent to her superiors.

It was reported that parts of one of the planes were “cannibalised” to fix another.

Persons, with knowledge of the transactions, said that the entire purchase of the planes stinks to high heavens and involves at least one local businessman who acted as a broker.

After the story broke, there were growing concerns over the costs and the due diligence conducted.

In 2018, just about three years after it entered office, the Coalition Government moved to buy four planes for the army - the smaller Islanders and two Skyvans.

The latter are capable of fetching soldiers.

The two Britten-Norman Islanders arrived around August 2018 while the two Shorts Sc-7 Skyvans reportedly came in June last year. The story was carried on Sunday, July 26, 2020 edition of the Kaieteur News

highlighting the over $700M that was reportedly spent on the planes.

Two of the planes are not in operation as they are grounded and there are reports that tens of millions of dollars have been spent to bring the planes up to regulations-readiness. It was the former Minister of State for the Coalition government, Joseph Harmon, who had told the National Assembly in early 2018 that the Islanders were first manufactured in 1976 while the Skyvans were first manufactured in 1977.

According to persons in t h e a v i a t i o n i n d u s t r y, including persons knowledgeable about pricing, there is no way that Guyana could have spent that much on four used planes.

“We know the prices,” one source had told this newspaper, “Everybody knows. It shocked everyone that we paid that much for planes manufactured in the 1970s.”

According to another industry expert, $700M for four planes manufactured in

the 1970s is just too much.

“Something smells to high heavens here. Repairs will carry that $700M price tag to over $1B. That is what we’re looking at. The Army must tell the people of Guyana what happened here.”

With regards to how the aircraft were bought, Harmon had said that the Skyvans, which were being used for troop transport and parachuting, were procured from Belgium through L i b e r t y Av i a t i o n , a n American company that operates from North Carolina. The Islanders, according to Harmon, were

purchased from Brazil, which utilized the planes for passenger and cargo services. Both models are no longer being manufactured.

According to persons familiar with the purchase of aircraft, it is very important that one takes into account the flying hours that would have been chalked up by a plane.

“It is like a car,” one expert had told Kaieteur News, “the more mileage it has, the less you pay. So it is, even if the plane looks new, the hours on the engine, in layman’s language, is what you have to pay attention to.

If we are facing problems that these planes were purchased and then you had to take out the engines and replace them, then clearly something is wrong.”

According to several sources, one of the Islanders remained stripped since it came in 2018 because of technical problems. Millions of dollars was spent on the other Islander to make it airworthy and cleared to take to the skies. One of the Skyvans, since arriving in June last year, barely flew a few months before being grounded. Kaieteur News (Continued in page 18)

Women to head State Media - NCN and Chronicle

Scandal: (from right) Joseph Harmon, in 2018, in conversation with Commanding Officer of the Air Corps Lt. Col. Courtney Byrne; Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Field; then Chief of Staff Brig.Patrick West and Officer in Command at the Flight Operations Department, Major Mohinder Ramjag.

Mrs. Moshanie Ramotar, General Manager (ag) of GNNL

F

ormer Regional Radio Manager of the National Communications Network (NCN), Michella AbrahamAli, was yesterday appointed the Chief Executive Officer (ag) for the State owned media entity.

The appointment was

Newly appointed CEO (ag) of NCN Mrs. Michella Abraham-Ali made by Minister of Public Affairs within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy. Abraham-Ali, a radio broadcaster with over two decades of experience, was elevated to the position following the dismissal of Enrico Woolford.

Additionally, Minister

McCoy has instructed the Finance Manager of the Guyana National Newspaper Ltd. (GNNL), Moshanie Ramotar, to act as the company’s General Manager.

In a release issued by NCN, it was noted that both temporary appointments will take immediate effect.

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Friday August 14, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

The Opposition PNC In the pre-independence era, there was no sharper person in the legislature than then leader of the opposition in what was then the Legislative Council, founder of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

He was the most dogged interrogator of the policies of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government of Cheddi Jagan of the late fifties, mixing masterful rhetoric with a keen intelligence on specifics, whether analyzing expenditure or policy.

As he outlined in his Budget Debate presentation of January 29, 1958: “The duty on this side of the Chamber is not to indulge in platitudes and promises to support the Government when any measure for the benefit of the country comes up; that goes without saying. It is the main duty of the “Opposition”, as I see it, in spite of the paranoiac tendencies of the present Government, to expose every flaw of Government and to show the people where the Government has fallen down.”

Before the end of the month, Guyana’s 12th Parliament will be sworn in with Mr. Burnham’s party once again finding itself in opposition after a brief and disastrous single term in office. With 19 ministers of the executive already sworn in, we already have a sound idea of what the PPP’s government frontbench is going to be – while the new government has demonstrated a clear commitment to youth representation, and while there is some ethnic diversity, the remainder of its 33-seat parliamentary representation needs to demonstrate more meaningful inclusion of women, and definitely more Indigenous representation.

This leaves us with the Parliamentary Opposition. The joinder list of The New Movement (TNM), A New and United Guyana (ANUG), and Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) has already selected the representative for its single seat, LJP leader Lenox Shuman. It will be interesting to see, going forward, how the tripartite list wields its single seat and to what practical effect since the government possesses a parliamentary majority necessary for carrying out its legislative agenda.

The APNU+AFC has won a not insignificant number of seats in the elections, with a reduction of the combined 33 seats of both 2011 and 2015 by just two. This on the surface of it does not appear to be an insurmountable loss come 2025, with the logical strategy being the growth of the individual component parties over the next five years, paired with an opposition legislative doggedness like that of Forbes Burnham in 1958. This would be in keeping with former President David Granger’s commitment to what he called the ‘Big Benab’, a place for any political party interested in coalition politics as opposed to the politics of the monolith that we have been accustomed to since the pre-independence era.

Instead, there have been clear signals from Granger that he intends to head in the opposite direction. To be fair, the preliminary signals were already there, particularly with his treatment of the other members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). In case one needed reminding, APNU is itself a coalition of five parties – the People’s National Congress (PNC), the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the Justice For All Party (JFAP), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the National Front Alliance (NFA).

As early as 2017, Dr. David Hinds and Tacuma Ogunseye of the WPA had publicly complained that the party had been sidelined in executive decision making since the coalition had come into power in 2015 and that APNU had not held a substantive meeting for some time in order for concerns to be aired. And of course, last year, there was Granger’s awkward tussle with his major partner, the Alliance For Change, regarding the terms of the coalition’s renegotiated agreement, the Cummingsburg Accord. Coming out of that fiasco was a secret compact which spoke to, in terms of the legislature, a 70/30 split in parliamentary seats.

Today, even that seems shaky and nebulous. At this point, in keeping with the agreement, the occupants of the AFC’s nine seats should already have been known and submitted, not for Granger’s vetting but to complement APNU’s share of 22 seats. Instead, what we have had is relative silence from the AFC, outside of the party’s go-to

Guyana’s healing will come as her children are prepared to pay the price for her to get better Dear Editor, Guyana is very badly wounded. Her own people, who inflicted many blows upon her body, even after it had become severely damaged, may not at this time realise how much pain they inflicted upon her, and how much she is hurting. In the past, she moaned softly, privately, and hid her tears.

Now her pain is a very public lament; the sound of her wail is like the siren which warns of a dangerous situation, blaring in the streets, and demanding everyone’s attention.

The blows Guyana received were of all kinds; ethnic, political, economic, and many others, which, if they were to be named, would evoke more pain because of the memories they would stir.

The wounds and lacerations are on all parts of her anatomy, and she is suffering from internal bleeding too, haemorrhaging from her womb. Prosperity is the baby so named by the people who anticipate its arrival with uninhibited joy, but sadly, they are the very ones who beat her mother while she is pregnant.

Now the baby is threatened with death, as the mother’s strength ebbs, and her will to survive is

urged to succumb to her pain.

How do you heal a wounded nation? When someone has been beaten within an inch of their life by a rabid crowd, and that same crowd has to attend to her healing, the healing process begins with many complications.

This is what faces Guyana now.

Today, good intention to help with healing is subject to contention from people’s instinct for self-protection. Perceptions abound, and innocent, wellmeaning interventions are looked upon suspiciously, and “knowingly”, through prisms of race and politics. While Guyana was beaten in the spur of the elections moment, some motivations to inflict pain on her are decades old, older than she is. They were in place when her birth certificate was issued.

Guyana was born in licks.

A desire to help does not mean that the dysfunctions which prompted the beatings have been cured. On the contrary, it highlights the dilemma of her healing process.

Even when respected practitioners step up to administer care to her at the roadside of life, the beating crowd retain the right to tell them how to, and substitute raw emotion for helpful medication.

(and worn-out) strategy of leaking its intention with regard to partial seat allocations. Granger’s effective response has been his own go-to (and worn-out) strategy of a prerecorded statement, one in which he referenced the PNC 11 times, including at one point bizarrely referring to the “PNC plus APNU coalition” and the APNU+AFC coalition just twice. A clear signal has been sent to the AFC that the revised Cummingsburg seat allocation formula is useless and/or that even the selection of AFC parliamentarians will be subject to the Head of the List of Candidates, Granger himself. One news entity has already reported that even without a formal list being submitted, the PNC Leader had rejected one of the AFC’s names under consideration.

That development in itself might simply be an indication of a not unwarranted loss of confidence in the value of the AFC as a partner.

If anything, the 2018 LGEs showed that the AFC was a spent electoral force. However, during the week Granger released – with pseudobiblical aplomb – his ‘Ten Commandments’ framework for parliamentary inclusion, a Borgesian list of the obvious to the mundane. Granger, for example, listed the necessity of residence in constituency communities, something that belies an apparent ignorance of the political system. There are two sets of seats in parliament. The first, the 40 national top-up seats have no geographic constituency basis. The second, the 25 geographical seats, already require that candidates listed as representing those seats be registered to vote (hence presumably resident) in those communities. Granger’s geographic constituency ‘commandment’ was therefore simultaneously absurd in the case of the national top-up seats and superfluous in the case of the geographic seats. Another superfluous ‘commandment’ had to do with the issue of rejection those with dual citizenship from entering parliament – no such commandment was necessary since every candidate on his list not only had to sign a legal document swearing to their eligibility to enter parliament, but were also presumably vetted for that eligibility by the party machinery in the wake of the dual citizenship scandal of last year. That said, the most consequential ‘commandment’ of Granger was his tenth one, wherein he states that no ‘cardboard cutout’ party will be represented in Parliament under a list he controls. The indicators he attached to determine what would be a valid political party are, inter alia: a substantial and active membership, proof of a constituency, and evidence of governance mechanisms like an executive structure and party meetings.

Guyana can be healed. It will be a long process to recovery but with adequate care, she will overcome, stand up strong, and deliver that baby her people long to see. The Guyana Baby will do very well; let mamma’s recovery begin now.

Her healing is tied to her people. Obviously, not some of her people, every one of them.

There must be no more beating, or she will die. I pray. Guyana’s children, who beat her for a song yesterday, want to talk today. Saying something to others is not the same as having a talk with them. In the Kingdom of God, His subjects are told, “confess your faults one to another.” He says before you come to me with religious gifts, go and make up with your brother.

This is one of our greatest challenges at this time. Guyana’s children confess the faults of the other. To heal Guyana, the Master says, “Confess what you did.” That means individuals and groups must be open, honest, and public about their faults, both predispositions and practice, telling them to those who they have offended, with intent to heal. It is sometimes difficult to come to the place to do so but when we do, God purifies

the soul that does it and puts a poultice on the one who needs it.

If Guyana’s children do not acknowledge to one another, the wounds they inflicted on each other, neither will they be comforted, and the gaping wound their words and deeds opened in their mother’s side will become worse, and bleed, and ooze, and smell, and embarrass all her children, to each other, to her many neighbours, and from that septic will emerge tomorrow’s children, contaminated from the womb.

The Messiah, who came to show us how we were meant to live with each other, says, “Make the Samaritan your neighbour: Live by doing whatever is necessary to heal your neighbour, and pay the price to make it happen.”

The context was racial tension. The practice was rejoicing at ethnic discomfort. The counterculture example of the Good Samaritan was a new standard being lifted up for overcoming inter-ethnic strife, and the situation used to communicate that idea is (Continued on page 5)

That is – and this can hardly escape the notice of the parties of APNU – creative marginalization, and ultimately disassembly. No member of APNU except PNC can, by Granger’s standards, escape the designation of cardboard cutout party, an ironic replay of the “fit and proper” gamesmanship that attended the ultimate selection of James Patterson as GECOM Chair. The WPA, the most significant partner, has a nebulous executive at best, a membership that is more symbolic than actual, and no governance structure – and it is the most qualified of the rest. The next consequential partner, CN Sharma’s JFAP, suffered a major mutiny when its sole ministerial and parliamentary representative, Jaipaul Sharma (CN’s son) defected to the PNC, wiping out a third of his party’s executive and likely membership as well. Sydney Allicock, despite formerly occupying the seat of Minister of Indigenous Affairs and VicePresident on behalf of GAP, is the only known member of GAP. The same can be said of Keith Scott, perennial leader and only known member of the NFA. This means that with a weakened AFC at the mercy of Granger’s sole discretion as head of the list, and with the WPA, JFAP, GAP and NFA already pre-disqualified from parliamentary representation according to Granger’s Tenth Commandment, the opposition benches of the next parliament will be PNC benches for all effective purposes, the sole exception being the joinder list representative.

With this move, the PNC has clearly decided that the Big Benab is no longer, at least in Granger’s view, a viable edifice.

What started out as the movement towards inclusionary rebranding that began with the Reform component, expanded to Reform-One Guyana, further expanded to APNU, and ultimately won the executive at the helm of APNU+AFC, has now regressed to just the PNC. It is clear that none of the other members of APNU is going to survive the exclusion from Parliament and it may well be that the point is for the individual members to be absorbed into the PNC, as was Jaipaul Sharma. A similar fate may well await the AFC as well. It may be that, after this assimilation is done, the PNC can be the kind of opposition that Burnham described in 1958, the sort that is necessary particularly when it comes to keeping government accountable in an oil and gas economy.

Considering the quality of leadership demonstrated over the past five years, and particularly over the past five months, this seems not at all likely.

Friday August 14, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Better leadership on fighting COVID-19 needs to be shown by the new government Dear Editor, The cases of COVID-19 in Guyana are increasing each day at an alarming rate. There are currently 623 known cases of this deadly virus, which does not account for the unknown cases. The government may eventually have to consider a lockdown of the country in an effort to stem the spiraling cases and to ensure the safety of all citizens. The challenges associated with a lockdown are recognized. There will have to be measures put in place by the government to provide assistance to those who require it during a lockdown. Once these measures can be implemented, a lockdown will be advisable. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis of the Bahamas has instituted a lockdown on each island in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The Bahamas has 679 reported COVID cases and 14 deaths.

The Government of Guyana has recently demonstrated completely irresponsible behaviour in the face of this virus by having a mass gathering in the form of an Inauguration ceremony at the National Cultural Centre, an enclosed air-conditioned venue. If there were any seriousness being paid to ensuring the safety of its citizens at this time, the Government ought to have deferred or cancelled such a gathering, which was replete with pomp and pageantry at the time of this virus. The swearing-in of the Ministers at the Convention Center was also a risk, moreso since it

seemed that photographs of the Ministers, in an act of vanity, all necessitated the removal of facemasks so that their features may be better identifiable.

Such irresponsible behaviour could result in the infection of many persons with the virus.

Sadly, we have learnt that Minister Hugh Todd has tested positive for this virus. Minister Todd has certainly done the rounds recently and has no doubt been in contact with numerous persons who must now be fearful for their safety.

Press releases indicate that, apart from the swearing in and the ill-advised inauguration, he held familiarization meetings with staffers of the Ministry and a press conference with the Surinamese president and Foreign Minister, Ramdin. I cringed when I saw the picture in the press of Minister Todd with these officials and President Ali, with no social distancing protocols observed and all maskless. We have now learnt that Min. Todd has tested positive for the virus!

This is not only peculiar to Minister Todd. The same can most likely be the case for several other persons who attended these social gatherings. The Members and Heads of the respective disciplined services, whose attendance and participation at the inauguration is a matter of compulsion without any discretion, have been recklessly exposed.

COVID-19 victims, when they use the cups with the President’s image plastered thereon which were distributed to all attendees at

the Inauguration ceremony, will have a tangible reminder of the cost of vanity prevailing above caution and good sense. There has to be some good sense prevailing at this time and it has to start with the government. The fact that a Minister of Health was not immediately appointed at the time of the swearing-in of the President and other ministers, is a clear illustration that the virus was not, and is not, being taken seriously by this Government. If they are demonstrating a complete lack of regard for the precautionary protocols to curb the spread of this virus, then how can we expect our citizens to do the same?

It is reported that all Ministers have been advised to work remotely. What about the other members of the work force who have been in contact with Minister Todd?

The remote working from home, which has now been directed to the Ministers of Government ought to be extended to all levels in order to flatten the curve and reduce cases of this virus.

There has to be mandatory facemask wearing by all Guyanese and strict penalties for breach of such a direction. There has to be a ban on all social gatherings.

Persons should remain at home unless only necessary.

The decision to reopen of bars and restaurants has to be revisited.

I have seen the release in the press by Giftland Mall of the proposed reopening of the cinemas on Friday. My immediate reaction was one of horror and disbelief. This

Guyana’s healing will come...

From page 4 where someone of the other race lay badly wounded.

People heal people.

Guyana’s healing will come as her children are prepared to pay the price for her to get better. It is true that some did not inflict wounds on her, but like the Samaritan, God ordered your steps to the wounded because He knows you can help by picking up the badly

beaten, transporting them to safety, securing the best interventions to ensure their recovery, and publicly committing to pay the entire bill to ensure the wounded’s care.

The Samaritan had to consider what his own people, and those on the other side also, would think, and how they would react to him when they heard of his “betraying” deeds.

He did and chose to risk their derision and worse to himself and his family by going public with his mission to better humanity.

Be a healer.

Yours truly, Marlon Hestick

is a foolhardy and risky decision, which will have disastrous consequences.

The Management of Giftland Mall has demonstrated complete and total disregard for the safety of Guyanese by making a decision to reopen the theaters. The press release outlined some basic “safety” measures, which will be taken while at the same time saying that food and drink will be available. There is no way to eat or drink without wearing a mask so, as a result, there will be patrons all maskless in the theaters which will result in a surefire spread of the virus within the enclosed, air-conditioned theaters. This decision to reopen theaters will result in a certain spike in the number of cases and must not be allowed to happen. It is too much of a risk. In the United States where the virus is still out of control, infectious disease experts have described the decision to reopen movie theaters as being akin to Russian roulette: the risk is there!

There has to be the reimposition of strictlyenforced early curfews and measures put in place to ensure compliance with all safety guidelines regarding this virus. Unless all Guyanese work together towards curbing the spread of this virus, it will have dire consequences for the lives and safety of us all.

Yours truly, Stephanie Isaacs

Guyana remains in debt to British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn Dear Editor, Outgoing UK Envoy, the British High Commissioner, the honourable Mr. Greg Quinn fearlessly and vociferously declared, “I have never before seen such blatant attempt to fix election results.”

What strong words to articulate a timely message and urgent advice to the APNU+AFC, especially to a defunct leader who aided and abated in the tsunamic disaster of the last elections, bearing destructive and damaging repercussions that have left an indelible diabolic mark on the GECOM Secretariat, one that must not be allowed to be repeated ever again.

Guyana remains in debt to the dignified gentleman who in his wisdom for fairness, equality and justice joined hands with his American, Canadian and European Union counterparts to champion the cause for the restoration of democracy in Guyana, recognizing and supporting the legitimate will of the people and defending the legality of the election recount result as accredited

by CARICOM. The restless days, sleepless nights and tremendous sacrifices of the entire national and international community,

consisting of emissaries, individuals, societies, organizations and countries will forever be remembered by all of Guyana and the heartfelt thanks of Guyanese and their appreciation in humility will continue to flow like the might of the Kaieteur Falls.

“I have been around in this business for 25 years and I have never seen a postelections process like I have seen here in those 25 years, anywhere,” he further surmised.

Perhaps, that statement summarizes a conclusion that confirms that this type of behaviour and perpetration of election fraud is unheard of in any part of the world and certainly creates a uniquely infamous record, one that only the APNU+AFC is culpable of and remains proud of.

This was their only means to forge a fraudulent win to secure power in the government, one that they so publicly admitted to. A firm lesson must be taught, with punishment for future misbehaviour.

Appropriate justice must be served accordingly and Guyana awaits this matter to be dealt with swiftly and condignly.

Yours truly, Jai Lall.

PAGE 6

There needs to be improved Internet services the quality of the one would have to spend nowhere place, but rather just in Berbice because internet in Berbice is money to purchase a mobile over a mile away from the Dear Editor Truth be told, I am not sure how long it will take this letter to reach to your respectful publication. To the readers, the reason I said that is not because this letter was posted by Guyana Post Office Corporation, no, but

Friday August 14, 2020

Kaieteur News

atrocious, to say the least.

Imagine for the past several months, the internet connection is so bad, we’re lucky to get 512KB on our 10MB connection and so on and so forth. Doing exams with these internet blackouts is terrible, to the point where

data plan, from the same company since our family use GTT sims, and having to complete exams. Even with the 3G data plan (they don’t offer 4G, just taking advantage of marketing gimmicks), we still would have to hope, pray and swear so that our documents and messages are sent by mobile data, which itself is woefully inconsistent.

Just last night, I sent messages on WhatsApp that were not delivered until the next morning, as well as receiving messages sent last night, because the mobile data connection is so bad. It’s not like I am located in some

town of New Amsterdam, across the Berbice River.

I know the Minister of Education and her team are looking to implement online programmes to compensate for schools being closed for so long, but the fact of the matter is that GTT does not have the capacity to facilitate its needs right now, much less the needs of such a forward thinking project. I urge all in power to look into the services that GTT provides in Guyana, outside of Georgetown and push forward the Telecoms Bill to put this company out of its misery and end our frustration.

Yours truly, Amir Khan

There is no harm in asking for a better oil contract deal Dear Editor, I write to commend President Irfaan Ali for demonstrating leadership.

Indeed, it takes courage to order the Payara approval put on hold. Now make it conditional on a review of the 2016 Contract that was signed in secret by former Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and kept secret for over a year.

In the recent election campaign, speakers of the now ruling party promised, “If elected, we will renegotiate the Contract”.

Many speakers also cited the Global Witness Report in their campaign speeches (GWR says the Guyanese nation stands to lose $55 billion on that 2016 contract). The PPP government is locked in – they cannot run away from their promises. And, most importantly, they do have a clear mandate from the Guyanese people to renegotiate the contract.

On Wednesday night, I attended an online OGGN meeting to hear Dr. Jerry Jailall, professor at a South Carolina University say he had attended several PPP election campaign rallies and witnessed promises of renegotiation being made to the Guyanese people.

To that, Dr. Dhanpaul Narine added: “If the promise is stated in the party’s manifesto, then President Ali has a duty to fulfill that promise”.

I say to President Ali: Do the right thing today. Write a letter to ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods, asking him for a sit-down meeting of the two sides to review specific items in the Contract.

Some of those items should be: (1) 2% royalty is practically unknown in the business.

(Average royalty around the world is 8% - 15%) (2) ExxonMobil must pay corporate income tax on profits.

There is no good reason for exemption. EM pays income tax in all other countries.

(3) Better protection for the environment. Not one cubic foot of gas should have

been flared. Need a pipeline to transport the gas to shore, then build it even if it costs $5 billion.

(4) 75% of the workforce must be Guyanese. Oil Company must provide the training.

(5) “Front Loading” in favour of Oil Company needs adjustment. Ring-fencing of costs must be considered. For untold years, “the only take” for the GoG will be 12.5% + 2%; this is unconscionable for a nation whose majority population struggle for daily survival needs.

There are two constituencies here: shareholders of a supergiant company, and the 75% of Guyanese people who live on $2 - $3 a day. One side is shafted in this contract. There is an overwhelming need for a fairer deal.

Why do some folks fear to ask the giant oil company for renegotiation? Would the oil company scuttle the deal, pack up and leave? Would it weaken investor confidence in the country? These questions have been debated in the popular press before – and all the pundits say there is zero chance of EM packing up and leaving.

How will CEO Darren Woods respond to a letter asking for a review of items in the contract? He can say yes; or he can say ‘No deal. I have a signed Contract’. If he were to say no, that is not the worst thing in life; it is not a loss of face on the part of GoG. President Ali will have tried to get the oil company back to the table.

His first duty is to the Guyanese nation, which he leads. Asking for renegotiation is not confrontation, not threatening. There is nothing to suggest that the oil company does not want a fruitful and productive relationship.

The Production Sharing Agreement has been defined as a partnership between the host country and the oil company. Dr. Jan Mangal calls it “a marriage. Neither side wants friction in the relationship”.

Yours truly, Mike Persaud

Friday August 14, 2020

COVID-19 testing machine left on wharf for months - Minister

A

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine which was given to Government to increase the country’s COVID-19 testing capacity was neglected for months.

This was disclosed by the Minster of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, when he appeared on Kaieteur Radio’s Room 592 on Monday.

According to the Minister, the PCR machine was donated by the National Atomic Agency and was left lying on the wharf for a long period of time amid the raging global pandemic.

This, the Minister noted, would have provided the much needed assistance to the Ministry in the execution of its COVID-19 response.

During his interview, the Minister revealed that the country’s current testing capacity at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory is limited due to the lack of medical personnel as well as sufficient PCR testing machines.

“The machines that we

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Kaieteur News

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony have at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory can probably do about 80 tests or so per day… we’re trying to add more capacity and hopefully I can lift that capacity to about 300 tests per day and that’s one of the things we are working on,” Dr. Anthony said.

Moreover, Dr. Anthony stated that in an effort to increase the testing capacity, the Ministry has procured an additional (PCR) testing machine.

This new machine, he added will increase the number of tests samples processed daily as well as decrease the amount of time it takes for test results to return.

He revealed that “…with these machines, we are going to try to scale up our response, but machine alone is not going to help us. We need technical personnel to be trained.

As it is, we only have two persons at the lab who were doing these PCR tests and as you can imagine, they are being overworked. So as of this week, in collaboration with PAHO, we are going to be training medical technologists who already exist within the system.”

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Anthony, the training will be conducted by a PAHO consultant from Washington D.C. and will target 20 to 30 medical technologists from both the public and private health sectors in an effort to increase the country’s ability to effectively monitor and treat the country’s COVID19 cases.

Anti-money laundering Act to be reviewed - AG

Second from left: Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall; Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Mr. Matthew Langevine; the Senior Outreach and Assessment Officer, Alicia Williams, and the Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Officer within the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Rommel St. Hill.

The current legislative framework crafted to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing is set to be reviewed.

The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, made this disclosure following a meeting with the Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Matthew Langevine;

the Senior Outreach and Assessment Officer, Alicia Williams, and the AntiM o n e y Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Officer within the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Rommel St. Hill.

The meeting was held on Wednesday at the Attorney General’s Chambers.

A c c o r d i n g t o information disseminated to the media by the Office of the Attorney General, the team revealed that the Caribbean Financial Action Taskforce (CFATF) has indicated that there are serious deficiencies in G u y a n a ’s l e g i s l a t i v e network because of deficient (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

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Wanted bulletin issued for suspect in shooting death at Cotton Tree

Friday August 14, 2020

We must invite our own to invest instead of turning to foreigners - Surinamese President

Dead: Winston Robertson Police are seeking information that would lead to the arrest of a 31-year-old man of Bennet Dam, Rosignol Village, West Coast Berbice.Richardo Mitchell, aka “Cardo”, is wanted by police for questioning in relation to the murder committed on Winston Robertson on August 10, 2020 at Cotton Tree Public Road, West Coast Berbice.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Mitchell is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers: 333-2151, 3335564, 333-3876, 232-0313, 226-6978, 2258196, 911 or the nearest police station.

Robertson was shot by Mitchell at a friend’s house after he reportedly saw his wife engaged in a conversation with him.

Police had disclosed that the suspect and his wife had an intense argument Sunday night

Wanted: Richardo Mitchell about her alleged romantic involvement with someone else. That argument, it was revealed, turned physical and the woman left the home, which she shared with Mitchell and sought refuge at her friend’s house.

Robertson was at the friend’s house when Mitchell got word that his wife was there.

According to reports, Mitchell ventured over to the premises Monday night and there he shot Robertson after he saw him “talking with the woman”. The suspect, reports suggest, then proceeded to beat his wife with the gun, which he used to shoot Robertson. The woman, it was revealed, sustained lacerations about her body and head, is currently hospitalized at the Fort Wellington Hospital.

Robertson died Tuesday morning at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

Instead of turning to foreign multinationals and inviting them to invest, President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, believes that small nations must first seek out their own for contributions to the economy. In this way, President Santokhi said that sustainable development would be achieved. The recently installed President of the Dutch speaking nation made these and other remarks during a press conference that was held at State House. There, Santokhi spoke about the need to increase private sector partnership between Guyana and Suriname so as to drive economic development. The Head of State said that at the moment, Suriname is facing a financial crisis. Santokhi is of the firm view that indeed, he can solve some of his nation’s economic distress by turning to international agencies for the rescheduling of Suriname’s debt position.

But he opined that more value can be had by learning

from, as well as partnering with the private sector of his CARICOM brothers and sisters like Guyana.

The Head of State said, “…The sustainable development should come from the private sector, from the small and medium enterprises, and there is the opportunity to invite those companies to invest in Suriname and to work closely with the Surinamese companies. Those kinds of investments will be the sustainable backbone of our economy and that is what we have to look at.”

He added, “Very often, we as small nations, we are looking for big multinationals to invite and invest and very often, we are forgetting our very own companies. They are here in Guyana and Suriname. Let us give them the opportunity and invite them and see what kind of contribution they can deliver to strengthen the e c o n o m y … ” T h e Surinamese President is hopeful that by extending the

Suriname’s President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi invitation to his own, they can ensure the stabilization of the Dutch-speaking nation. In keeping with his reasoning of using more locals and forming regional partnerships, Santokhi held talks recently with members of the private sector here.

The President was keen to note that mechanisms like the Guyana-Suriname Chamber Corporation will be in place to ensure the shared vision of increasing private sector partnership is achieved.

Kaieteur News

Friday August 14, 2020

PAGE 09

The PPP/C is behaving like a wild cat The COVID-19 epidemic is becoming increasingly unmanageable. The virus is no longer isolated to any one Region; it is spreading nationally at a rapid rate.

Active cases are now dispersed across eight of the c o u n t r y ’s 1 0 R e g i o n s .

B e t w e e n Tu e s d a y a n d Wednesday of this week, there were 21 new confirmed cases nationally. Region One accounted for four of these; Regions Two, Five, Six and Eight had no new confirmed cases. Region Three had one; Region Four registered five new confirmed cases; Region Seven had six cases, Region Nine had five and Region 10 recorded one.

The monthly increase in cases tells the tale of the rapid spread. In March, the month in which the first case was registered, there were 27 confirmed cases; in April 70 and in May 71. Since June, the numbers have surged. In that month, 92 new cases were confirmed and this spiked to 168 last month.

August is not yet halfway and already 210 new cases have been recorded.

Since the PPP/C assumed office, 12 days ago, the situation has deteriorated rapidly. On August 1, there were 430 confirmed cases. In the 12 days since the PPP/C assumed office, there have been 193 new cases, an increase of almost 45 percent and far more than the combined confirmed cases for March, April and May. While it is true that the PPP/C inherited a mismanaged response, they have not gotten a grip of the situation. The PPP/C had four months to develop a plan. But it seems as if the elections crisis occupied their total attention, without much consideration to developing a

plan to combat this deadly epidemic.

The President’s promised comprehensive response is yet to be unveiled. The Minister of Health still seems to be getting his act together.

A COVID-19 response team has reportedly been established. No one seems to know what he or she is doing.

The daily COVID-19 bulletins, as at Tuesday, are still sparse on details and exasperating in its failure to provide daily regional breakdown of the new cases.

This is inexcusable given the President’s own stated commitment to a transparent response.The public is still awaiting the rolling-out of the Master Plan to combat the COVID-19 epidemic. But given the number of political juggernauts now within the Ministry of Health, you do not know who is responsible for what.

Regions One, Seven and Nine should have long been placed on a total lockdown.

The situation in those Regions is grave. Four out of every 1,000 persons are infected in Region One. Seven out of every 1,000 persons are infected in Region Seven, and five out of every 1,000 persons in Region Nine.

The infection rate per capita in Region Nine is 10 times that of the most populous Region in the country, Region Four. If Region Four was to attain the same per capita rate of infection as that of Region Nine, more than 1,600 persons in that region would test positive for the virus.

This is how dreadful the situation is in the Indigenous Regions and the situation there is going to be exacerbated by pervasive and deep-seated poverty.

The situation was already dire when the PPP/C took power. The recent spike in cases commenced about one week prior to the PPP/C getting into office. The total number of confirmed cases as at 26th July was 370. One week later, it has skyrocketed with an addition of 60 new cases.The massive increase in cases just prior to the PPP/C assumption to office should have triggered an immediate investigation as to whether numbers were being suppressed. That investigation has not been launched.Also, in situations like these, there is supposed to be sample reference testing to validate the tests which were done locally. There has been no word as to whether or why reference testing is being done on local samples by the Caribbean Public Health Agency.Instead, the PPP/C has behaved cavalierly. It has been oblivious to restrictions on social gatherings that are still in place. Given the steep increase in cases just one week before it assumed office, there was a need to exercise greater precautions.

The PPP/C behaved like a wild cat. While some social distancing was maintained during the swearing-in ceremony, afterwards the President was seen posing for photographs with a range of persons. Social distancing was ignored.

Cabinet met physically rather than virtually, with Ministers sitting less than six feet apart. This was totally unnecessary since the technology exists for a virtual meeting of the Cabinet.

When Ministers went back to their offices, they were photographed meeting with staff, most of whom were not social distanced.

Dem boys seh...

Exxon buy out all de bora, bajee and ochro Exxon Mobil produce wan half yearly report about dem local content spending over de last six months. Dem only do dat because dem wan de government feel nice about how much money dem oil company spending in de country.Dem claim dem spend G$14B in local content. Dem boys wan know if dem spend dah pon bora, ochro and bajee. Dem market venda wah does sell bora, bajee and ochro seh dem nah see much increase in sales over de past six months. So dem wan know weh Exxon buying dem “greens” and from who dem buying and when dem buying.

Dem claim dem spend de money locally.

But dem nah show what dem spend it pon, where dem spend it, when dem spend it and who dem spend this money at. Is like if dem boys send dem maid to de supermarket. And she come back and she spend one million dollars but she nah bring no receipt. And when dem boys check de goods, it only come up to $100,000. Would you pay her the million

dollars?Dem boys know when dem oil company seh dem spend X dollars, yuh does gat fuh tek dah with a pinch of salt. Dem boys know things tight in de economy and bin tight fuh de past six months. So if one company bin spend 14 billion dollars, dem boys would have notice de difference.

Dat is a lot of money. With dat money, Guyana nah gat fuh go to de World Bank or de IDB or de CDB fuh get money to build bridge over de Demerara River. Dem can build de bridge with da same money and gat plenty lef over.De hurtful part is dat whatever dem spend, we still gat fuh pay it back. So them give with de left hand and tek back double with de right hand. If yuh know what dem boys mean.

Should Guyana pay dat Bill wat Exxon gan clap pon we soon without seeing what dem spend it on?

Talk half and wait fuh de cost recovery and field development bills.

The decision to host a Presidential Inauguration Ceremony was reckless. This was an unnecessary act of vanity. At the end of the ceremony, social distancing went into remission.

Hundreds of persons huddled in the lobby exchanging pleasantries and chitchatting. It was a wild affair.

The recklessness continues. Yesterday, the Everest Sports Club was supposed to have a special congratulatory event for one of the Ministers last evening.

The Club said that COVID19 rules would be in effect.

But we know in that as much as the organizers tried their best to keep within the guidelines, these rules end up being observed mainly in the breach.The PPP/C must now

place Regions One, Seven and Nine under a total lockdown. It has to take steps to address the community spread in those Regions and it has to prevent cross-regional infections due to the movement of persons in and out of those Regions. It has to use the G$4.5B to provide relief to the people of those Regions during the lockdown.Mass facemask distribution in those Regions should have been implemented. Testing is being increased, and that is a good sign but each of those regions will need additional isolation facilities since community spread has increased exponentially.

As for the rest of the country, the government needs to return to the policy

of

work-from-home for nonessential workers. Schools should remain suspended until the new academic year.

Unless these things are done and done immediately, Guyana will be headed for its w o r s t h u m a n d i s a s t e r.

Guyana will become a mass cemetery. Sandy’s, Lyken’s, M e r r i m a n ’s , J e r r i c k s , Persaud’s, Ezekiel’s and Memorial Gardens are not going to be able to handle the body count of coronavirus deaths.(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

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Friday August 14, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Claudette Singh: A nation’s limitless capacity to absorb deceptions

O

n August 2, exactly five months after the March 2 election, GECOM accepted the results of the voting process when chairperson, Claudette Singh, accepted the CARICOM-observed recount.

When you look at the time span, your mind turns to

the query, why five months and not five days?

The answer to that lies in the person of Singh. She should not be given credit for saving Guyana. She did not.

For five months, this nation was sitting on a volcano and on August 2 when the eruption failed to burst asunder, expected praise poured in for Singh. The

question cannot be evaded by those who keep praising Singh from August 2 onwards - why five months?

The history of the election commissions in Guyana is the story of rigged elections under Presidents Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte.

By an Act of Parliament in 1968, the independent

election commission was brought under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs. From there on, the chairmen were appointed by Burnham. Interestingly, two o f t h e c o m m i s s i o n ’s chairmen who participated in rigging each national election for Burnham were knighted and both were High Court judges – Donald

Jackson and Harold Bollers.

The new shape of the election commission in 1990 became an article in the constitution after Cheddi Jagan and Hoyte agreed to what is now known as the Carter-Price mechanism in which the chairman would be a nominee of the opposition leader with concurrence from the president.

From 1992, the chairman of the election commission performed credibly and satisfactorily until we reached the unacceptable deportment of Singh in 2020.

All previous chairmen were never subjected to the kind of criticism from the international society and the Guyanese society as Singh was. There were two slight departures.

In 1997, the PNC claimed the election was rigged and harassed Chairman Doodnauth Singh. A Caricom team did a forensic audit which proved the PNC’s accusation was wrong.

Then after the 2015 election, the PPP asked for the resignation of Steve Surujbally. But in both elections, the denunciations that greeted Singh in 2020 did not occur.

Was Singh’s conduct in 2020 vastly different from what took place in 1992, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2015? The answer is yes.

The 2020 election almost devastated the very fabric of Guyanese society because Singh acted unprofessionally and showed immense insensitivity to what GECOM was doing.

Looking back on the day of March 4 when the Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, adopted outrageous rigging methods, to the final curtain, could the researcher indict Singh for unacceptable conduct?

My answer is yes.

Mingo began to use fraudulent figures which the 10 opposition parties, the three PPP GECOM commissioners and international observers objected to. Singh did not intervene.

He continued with his depraved injections and on T h u r s d a y, M a r c h 5 , announced the fictitious Region 4 tabulation on which, Keith Lowenfield, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), acted and on March 6 summoned a GECOM meeting for the next day to declare an APNU+AFC

Frederick Kissoon victory.

Up to that point Singh did not intervene. Granger was not sworn in on Sunday, March 8 because the Chief Justice injuncted Mingo, ordering him to use the official Statements of Poll to c o n c l u d e R e g i o n ’s 4 tabulation.

History should be recorded as Singh allowing for a David Granger swearing in that was illegal.

From March 4, onwards, Singh not only did not intervene but avoided press conferences and was involved in a bizarre incident in which she was locked in a room for hours at the GECOM’s command centre with only the Deputy CEO, Roxanne Myers, having the authority to prevent others from entering the room. She emerged from her selfimposed exile with cynical smiles as she entered her car.

When contacted by persons close to her, she told them, she could not stop the CEO because “my hands are tied” (her words).

That was in fact misleading.

Space has run out so we have to answer the question why she accepted the recount numbers and why she instructed the CEO to produce those numbers. My take is that three things happened to Singh.

First, some powerful person or persons spoke to her about international criminal charges she could face in terms of international treaties Guyana signed on rights and freedoms.

Secondly, she probably felt scared about the personal affects the financial and visa sanctions would bring.

Thirdly, I think she was heavily weighed down by the ocean of relentless absurdities, asininities, immoralities, impossibilities and notorieties of the past five months.

There is only so much a normal mind can endure. In the end, she broke and did in August what she should have done in March.

She is not a hero.

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

Kaieteur News

Friday August 14, 2020

Pensioner stabbed, robbed by family friend

A screen grab from video footage showing the suspect skipping away from the scene.

P

atrick Harris, 69, of 3278 Lamaha Place, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown was on Wednesday stabbed in the head and robbed of $80,000 in cash by a “family friend”.

The pensioner, who still works as a tax administrator, was attacked and robbed just around midday at a “strip mall” located at the last entrance of North Ruimveldt.

According to the man’s g r a n d d a u g h t e r, K a d i j a Andrews, he was attacked by a “family friend” said to be a “minibus tout” who plies his trade at the ‘South’ bus park in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market.

Andrews said that earlier that day, the “family friend” met Harris while he was buying phone cards on the bus park and “hailed him up”.

The two men, the woman added, then joined a bus together and headed for

Patrick Harris returning from the health centre after receiving treatment for his wounds.

North Ruimveldt.

This newspaper was told that Harris stopped short of his destination to pay some bills leaving the “family (Continued on page 18)

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Kaieteur News

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Friday August 14, 2020

Glenn Lall vs. Winston Jordan in ECD land deals case…

NICIL’s lawyer moves to strike out challenge to transactions

D

e v i n d r a K i s s o o n , Attorney for the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), has filed an application to strike out Glenn Lall’s legal bid to quash government’s sale of prime lands on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

Lall, the publisher of Kaieteur News, had moved to Court to have the sale of 130 acres of prime ECD lands by the former government - A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition, revoked.

The essence of the case filed by the publisher is that the then de facto Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, and NICIL - a state-owned privatization company, had no power or authority to transfer State lands to any person or entity under the control of the Minister, pursuant to Sections 8 and 11 of the Public Corporations

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall Act (PCA); Cap. 19:05.

The newspaper owner is therefore seeking orders from the Court to repeal the sale of lands by the Former Minister and NICIL. Th e litig atio n lis ts NICIL, Jordan and the Attorney General as respondents in the case.

However, at the first hearing of the matter held via zoom yesterday before Justice Sandra Kurtzious at the Georgetown High Court,

NICIL filed a defence asking the Court to strike down the publisher’s application.

In affidavits to support the defence filed on behalf of NICIL, the attorney contends that Lall had wholly misinterpreted Section 8 of the Public Corporations Act (PCA), Cap. 19:05.

Among other things, the lawyer pointed to the explanatory memorandum, which states that “Section 8 of the Public Corporations Act was amended by the passage of the Public Corporations Amendment Act 1990 to empower the Minister assigned general responsibility for public corporations to transfer by order under that section to a private company or individual the undertaking or any other property of any public corporation or body corporate owned or controlled by the State…”

He explained further in the defence, that from at least 1992 to present, Vesting

Orders have been used to vest numerous State lands to NICIL and from NICIL to private companies or persons.

According to the lawyer, the practice facilitated the resale of State lands to various individuals and companies.

As such, Kissoon contends that any orders sought to prevent sales by NICIL pursuant to the Vesting Orders by the Minister of Finance would be unduly prejudicial to NICIL since it prevents NICIL from dealing with the properties vested in its sole name, effectively preventing the privatization unit from fulfilling its mandate.

C o n s e q u e n t l y, t h e attorney says that such preventative action could have a devastating impact on Guyana’s economy.

Kissoon noted therefore, “If NICIL is unable to complete the sales, it will stymie the collection of the

Attorney Devindra Kissoon balance of the purchase prices and therefore, the repayment of the Bond.”

He stressed that this will not only cause NICIL to default on the Bond, but will a ff e c t G u y a n a ’s g o o d standing and credibility in the financial marketplace.

This, Kissoon claimed, will have a domino effect on Government’s ability to raise financing for other developmental projects and works including the new

harbour bridge, a paved road linking Guyana to Brazil, the hydro falls project, and many others.

He noted that already, some of the third party purchasers have refused to pay the purchase price owed as a direct result of this action, and as a result, NICIL has not yet repaid the current Bond instalment.

Additionally, the lawyer said if the properties are not vested and transport issued to the various purchasers, then NICIL will be in breach of contract, and numerous legal actions may be brought against it.

He stated that, “As the legal owner of the said properties, NICIL is entitled to choose to whom it sells the properties, via the Vesting Orders issued by the Minister of Finance, and the Applicant has no standing to dictate otherwise.”

The massive land deal came to light after the vesting (Continued on page 19 )

Kaieteur News

Friday August 14, 2020

PAGE 13

Class of ‘88 endows Richard Ishmael Secondary with Commercial Copier

A

commercial copier, complete with accessories and printing paper, valued at G$1.1M was last week Tuesday presented to the Richard Ishmael Secondary School, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.

The timely endowment was a gesture made possible by 21 students who graduated from the school in 1988.

According to the school’s Deputy Head Mistress, Ms. Khan, the donation will boost the efficiency of the school to provide materials to aid students’ learning process.

Three of the students from the Class of ‘88, Hemant Narine, Yasmin Bowman and John Tularam, were on hand to present the items (Canon 2630 Image Runner, five boxes each of letter and legal size paper, extra toner and replaceable drum unit) to Ms. Khan in the presence of a few teachers

and two female students, Beauty Razack and Nicole Gomes.Bowman also presented a commemorative plaque to Ms. Khan to celebrate and remember the moment. Narine gave a brief overview of how the initiative came into being. He informed that back in 2018, a group of students from the Class of ‘88 met in New York and started discussions to host a reunion which came off later that year in the summer and was attended by 5 1 p e r s o n s .

It was at this reunion that students enquired of each other, what it is they were going to do for the school.

The suggestion of a photocopier was floated. ”Subsequently, Ms. Pam Walker contacted the HM, Ms. Melanie Jones, who said they needed a heavy duty copier, and in 2019 when the school was celebrating its 75th anniversary, one student from Class of ‘88 went by

Class of 88 Rep, Hemant Narine (extreme left); Yasmin Bowman (second from left) and John Tularam (second from right); Deputy HM Ms. Khan (fourth from right), along with teachers and students, pose for a photo following the presentation. and he commenced discussions with HM Jones,” Narine said.The importance of the donation was underscored and the students commenced a robust fundraising drive towards the purchasing of the

Caribbean Cinemas reopens today

C

aribbean Cinemas at the Giftland Mall is set to reopen today after closing its doors on March 26, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The re-opening announcement was made in a statement issued by Caribbean Cinemas which stated that even though the facility will resume business, strict COVID-19 measures will be in place to ensure the safety of patrons.

According to the establishment, patrons will be expected to wear facemasks at all times, except when consuming food. There will also be a reduction in the capacity for persons opting to see movies to ensure social distancing is exercised. Some other social

distancing measures will include: ensuring spacing of two or more seats between pairs watching a movie; maintaining a six feet distance between other persons when waiting in lobby areas, washrooms and concessions lines.

Also, customers will be able to use Caribbean Cinemas’ online services to buy tickets and concession items. This, the statement noted, will limit physical buying as much as possible.

Patrons purchasing online, according to Caribbean Cinemas, will receive a confirmation code that would grant them access to the theatre after being scanned by an usher.

copier.Deputy HM Khan, who started duties at Richard Ishmael last September, showered the Class of ‘88 with praises for their wonderful gesture even in the midst of the pandemic. ”We are truly blessed this afternoon, thankful and happy to be the recipients of this generous donation which would boost the school’s ability to deliver a quality

service to our students,” she said.

“We look forward to your continued support in whatever way which would be appreciated. It’s always nice when old students can give back; so thank you very much, it’s a pleasure,” she added. In addition to Bowman, Narine and Tularam, the other students who contributed to the

purchase of the copier are: Gavin Thorne, Marc Joseph, Sunil Lakeraj, Parsaram Rajaram, Virgil Granger, Kumar Boodhoo, Rajesh Pritipaul, Jagivan Heeralall, Bibi S. Khan, Pam Walker, Dienne Baird, Lizette Stephens, Lakshmi Ramsahoi, Nanette Edwards, Nicole Lowe, Rajshri Beharry, Rhetta Jack, and Shondelle Rodney.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Friday August 14, 2020

Driver in fatal accident at Soesdyke, charged

T

Japarts donates masks, other protective items to Police Force

J

aparts, one of the biggest suppliers of mining equipment, has made a significant donation to the Guyana Police Force. The

$1.6M donation includes 200 reflective vests; 3000 disposable masks; 300 safety glass; 300 face shields and 100 traffic lights.

he driver of a car, which crashed on Monday along the Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was on Tuesday charged for causing death by dangerous driving. He was placed on $250,000 bail.

Shaquille Henry, 25, of Oval Retrieve, Linden, Region 10 appeared before Her Worship Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court.

He pleaded not guilty to the dangerous driving charge and is expected to return to court on August 31, 2020.

It is alleged that on August 10, 2020 Henry was driving a hire car HD 1029 in a dangerous manner which caused the death of Quamie Dalton, 24, and injuries to his friends. Dalton was a minibus conductor of Ice House Road, Timerhi, East Bank Demerara.

According to reports, Dalton and four others were heading home from a birthday party at Supply, East Bank of Demerara in the car driven by Henry. At around 02:00hrs, Henry lost control of the vehicle, which he was driving

Dead: Quamie Dalton and struck a median, veered off the road and crashed into a light pole before toppling several times.

Eyewitnesses had told this newspaper that the car was speeding down the wrong side of the road and then made a sudden dash back to the right side causing it to slam into a light pole. The car reportedly then ascended a sand heap, sailed through the air and landed on a minibus parked at the side of the road.

Public-spirited citizens (Continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Friday August 14, 2020

India’s Response to Pandemic: Using Crisis as an Opportunity

By Manish Chand A crisis can trigger ruin and catastrophe, but it also sometimes brings out the best in people and nations.

More than any other country in the world, India has shown vividly how to creatively and resolutely harness challenges thrown by the ongoing coronavirus crisis to script its own resurgence as well as contribute to global recovery. Amid apocalyptic death, destruction and dislocation unleashed by a rampaging pandemic, India, the world’s fifth largest economy and an emerging global power, has managed to keep its recovery rate high as well as keep the fatality rate less than 2% one of the lowest in the world. This has been achieved through multipronged efforts and initiatives by the Indian government, including a far-sighted initiative to order a nation-wide lockdown in the early stage of the pandemic when there were barely 600 cases in the country.

World is one Family For a country of over 1.3 billion people, managing an epidemic that requires social distancing is an incredibly onerous task, but on balance, India has not only taken care of its own people infected by the virus, but has also complemented domestic efforts with timely international assistance to many countries. This trait of empathy and solidarity with friends and partners in the world is deeply embedded in India’s civilisational e t h o s o f ‘ Va s u d h a i v a Kutumbakam” and reflects t h e c o u n t r y ’s r i s i n g

reputation as a global caregiver and first responder in crises, in the exalted spirit of “the world is one family”.

India has been prompt to provide essential drugs and medical items to over 150 countries. This medical assistance was provided quietly, without any fanfare, earning India heartfelt gratitude and admiration of countries, big and small.

From US President Donald Trump to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, leaders around the world have appreciated India’s timely assistance against a merciless pandemic.

First Responder The pandemic-related assistance also reaffirmed India’s credentials as the first responder to humanitarian crises and a net security provider in the region. In a journey spanning over 7,500 nautical miles over 55 days, Indian Naval Ship Kesari travelled to the Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles and delivered assistance to India’s maritime neighbours. A part of Mission SAGAR, which crystalizes Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), India’s humanitarian assistance included supplies of essential food items, m e d i c i n e s , Ay u r v e d i c medicines and deployment of Medical Assistance Teams (MAT) to Mauritius and Comoros. India also sent medical teams to Maldives, Mauritius, Comoros and Kuwait to help them deal with the pandemic.

Self-reliant India

The COVID-19 crisis has sown the seeds of an economic renaissance pivoted around “Atmanirbhar Bharat” that promises to revolutionise domestic manufacturing, and make India the hub of global supply chains. The quest for self-reliance has produced tangible results, with India moving from being a net importer of COVID-19-related medical items to a net exporter.

C u r r e n t l y, I n d i a i s manufacturing over 500,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and over 300,000 N-95 masks every day. India is playing the role as the pharmacy of the world during the COVID-19 pandemic with its vast experience and deep knowledge in medicine, setting the tone for many regional and global initiatives, observed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SecretaryGeneral, Vladimir Norov.

Diplomatic Outreach Given the transnational spread of the coronavirus pandemic, India launched an unprecedented diplomatic outreach to forge a coherent global response to the crisis. Prime Minister Modi displayed global leadership as he participated in various virtual multilateral summits and spoke to his counterparts from 61 countries. External A f f a i r s M i n i s t e r, S .

Jaishankar, spoke to foreign ministers from 77 countries.

S h o w c a s i n g I n d i a ’s Neighbourhood First policy, PM Modi hosted a virtual conference of the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and

pledged $10 million SAARC Emergency Fund to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the region. At the first virtual G20 summit, PM Modi underlined the imperative for a new kind of humane globalization, (Continued on page 16)

PAGE 15

Manish Chand

PAGE 16

Friday August 14, 2020

Kaieteur News

...India’s Response to Pandemic: Using Crisis as an Opportunity WANTED

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From page 15 which goes beyond economic and financial calculations.

India’s advocacy for peoplecentric globalisation reflected the G-20’s decision on debt service suspension for developing countries.

India’s Positive Global Role The rising global stature of India has been recognised and reaffirmed by the international community in many ways, especially during the last few months of the pandemic.

India has been elected as the chair of the executive board of the World Health Organization (WHO) at a time when the world is rooting for reforming the global health body. Underlining India’s rising global stock, US President Donald Trump has proposed the expansion of the G7 grouping of the world’s wealthiest countries to include India, Australia, South Korea and Russia. To cap it all, India was overwhelmingly elected as a non-permanent member of the powerful UN

Security Council (UNSC) for a two-year term on June 17. In a record of sorts, India won 184 of the 192 ballots cast in the elections for the five nonpermanent UNSC seats. It was a vote of confidence in India’s capability to shape the global agenda. India’s two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC will begin from January 1, 2021.

Setting the tone for the eighth stint of India in the UNSC, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar underscored that India “can play a positive global role,” in the extraordinary situation spawned by the pandemic and stressed that India seeks to move toward NORMS, a ‘New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System’. Outlining India’s priorities in the UNSC, he said: “We have always been a voice of reason and a votary of international law. We advocate dialogue, consultation and fairness in our approach to global issues. And we emphasize global develop-

ment, addressing climate change and eradicating of poverty as central to the planet’s future.”

India’s work in the UNSC will be guided by 5Ss, in Prime Minister Modi’s words. This included Sammaan – Respect; Samwad – Dialogue; Sahyog – Cooperation; Shanti - Peace, to create conditions for universal; and Samriddhi (Prosperity). This 5S vision of India’s foreign policy, which can be called “The India Way” is finding an increasing global resonance as a COVID-afflicted world searches for lasting solutions to a range of crosscutting problems and challenges. India is poised to shape a proactive and constructive agenda for global renewal and remapping the world order, in sync with shifting contemporary realities.

(Manish Chand is CEO & Editor-in-Chief of India Writes Network and India and the World, a pioneering magazine focused on global affairs.)

Driver in fatal accident at Soesdyke...

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lance. An unconscious Dalton was treated and placed on a life support machine while his friends were treated and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

(GPHC). Dalton died later that morning at around 06:00hrs. Henry had told investigators that a “blow-out” of one of the car’s tyres was the cause of the accident.

Kaieteur News

Friday August 14, 2020

Pensioner stabbed, robbed by family friend

A screen grab of from video footage showing the suspect skipping away from the scene.

P

atrick Harris, 69, of 3278 Lamaha Place, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown was on Wednesday stabbed in the head and robbed of $80,000 in cash by a “family friend”.

The pensioner, who still works as a tax administrator, was attacked and robbed just around midday at a “strip mall” located at the last entrance of North Ruimveldt.

According to the man’s g r a n d d a u g h t e r, K a d i j a Andrews, he was attacked by a “family friend” said to be a “minibus tout” who plies his trade at the ‘South’ bus park in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market.

Andrews said that earlier that day, the “family friend” met Harris while he was buying phone cards on the bus park and “hailed him up”.

The two men, the woman added, then joined a bus together and headed for

Patrick Harris returning from the health centre after receiving treatment for his wounds.

North Ruimveldt.

This newspaper was told that Harris stopped short of his destination to pay some bills leaving the “family (Continued on page 18)

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Friday August 14, 2020

Kaieteur News

Payara approval will not be rushed; ExxonMobil blames COVID-19 we want maximum value for Guyana restrictions for failing to meet flaring deadline - Minister of Natural Resources

By Kiana Wilburg Even though the PPP/C government may be desirous of granting the approval for ExxonMobil’s third development project within a reasonable timeframe, it will not be rushing the review of the Payara Field Development Plan so as to compromise the integrity of the process. Making this statement last evening during his first appearance on Kaieteur Radio’s Programme, Guyana’s Oil and You, was Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat.

The Minister’s remark was made in response to questions about the mindset of the government in handling the approval process. In this regard, he was keen to note that the government’s priority is rooted in getting more value for Guyanese. Minister Bharrat reminded that the 2020 elections fiasco which lasted for five months played a part in the government being placed into a “tight timeframe” to ensure that the approval is issued to the company. Be that as it may, Minister Bharrat said the government intends to ensure that the integrity of the process is not jeopardized in the haste to get the approval out. The Minister said, “So we have to ensure that we balance it. We have to ensure that investors are satisfied because we need investors in this sector but we need to ensure that when we sign a contract or a license, benefits can be derived for Guyanese.”

Further to this, the Natural Resources Minister said that the PPP/C Government is mindful of not repeating the mistakes of the previous administration hence the reason President, Irfaan Ali

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat and Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo would have insisted that they want to be satisfied with what is in place before granting approvals.

Minister Bharrat said that an independent consultant is being engaged, with the help of the Canadian High Commission, so as to provide the technical support that is needed. “…We are expecting the consultant in a matter of days so a review can be done. At the end of the day, we want to ensure maximum value for Guyana,” the Minister told Kaieteur News.

ABOUT PAYARA According to documents submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), the Payara development will be located in the eastern area of the Stabroek Block which is approximately 190 km (118 miles) from Georgetown.

The operator notes that oil production from Payara is expected to last at least 20 years with startup of the facilities expected to occur approximately in mid-2023.

EEPGL noted that it will drill approximately 35 to 45 wells offshore to support extraction of the oil from below the seafloor. It said that each well will be drilled using a floating drill ship. Also, each well will be directionally drilled to specific reservoir targets generally 4,000 to 5,500 meters (m) below the sea level.

Further to this, EEPGL said it will install some of the oil production facilities on the seafloor at approximately 1,500 1,980 m (4,900-6,500 ft) water depth. It said that these subsea facilities include various types of pipes and hardware.

Kaieteur News understands that the subsea facilities allow the oil from the wells to be gathered and moved to the surface of the ocean for further processing.

EEPGL will then install other oil production facilities on a vessel which floats on the surface of the ocean. The vessel is called a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO).

It will be moored on location in approximately 1,800-1,980 m (5,900-6,500 ft) of water depth and will remain on location throughout the life of the facility. EEPGL said that oil production facilities on the FPSO will further process the oil extracted from below the seafloor.

The operator also stated that the FPSO will have the capacity to produce up to approximately 180,000 to 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

During the early stage of production operations, the FPSO is a n t i c i p a t e d t o produce up to an average of approximately 5,700,000 to 6,600,000 barrels of crude oil per month. These estimates are preliminary and are subject to change.

NICIL’s lawyer moves to strike...

From page 12 orders, bearing Jordan’s signature were posted on Facebook, immediately raising questions as to how so many acres of land were sold in a day and also mounting suspicions that the then Coalition government was giving away lands before demitting office.

The information pointed to publications of the Official Gazette of orders numbered No. 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73.

Lall’s application asked the court to overturn the sale on the grounds that the sale was unlawful, made without legal authority, ultra vires, malicious, made in excess of jurisdiction, made without adequate legal consideration, null void and of no legal effect.

He referred to Sections 8 and 11 of the PCA, which stipulates that the Minister

of Finance is empowered to authorize the transfer of State properties from only entities of the State. The PCA and its provisions of vesting order in general are not intended to apply to private companies.

Citing specific sections of the PCA, Lall contends that the Minister cannot transfer property owned by NICIL to any private individual.

He noted that all of the entities to which the lands were sold are private companies and that the PCA and its provisions of vesting orders in general are not applicable to private companies which meant that the purported transfer by Jordan was unlawful, ultra vires and null and void.

“The essential and key precondition of the statue is that it applies to property of State being transferred to an entity under the control of the Minister, there is no author-

ity to vest the specific State to these companies as mentioned in Orders published in the Official Gazette,” the applicant stated.

Subsequent to the filing of the application, Lall explained that, “the patrimony of this country must be disposed of transparently and in a manner which ensures value for money.”

He added that “if the lands and the country’s natural resources, which are being given out, are done in a transparent manner and at real market value, Guyana can alleviate poverty, eliminate its foreign debt and triple the salaries of public servants.”

He said, too, he will continue with his efforts, regardless of which government is in place, to ensure the best deal for the people of this country.

Even though it told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it would bring an end to flaring today, it appears that American oil giant, ExxonMobil, will be burning gas offshore Guyana for a few more weeks.

EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams had told this newspaper that he was given all assurances by ExxonMobil that it would cease flaring by August 10, last. Unable to meet this deadline, he said that the oil giant asked for an extension to today. But according to ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud, the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions have stymied the company’s efforts to stop flaring.

In an invited comment, Persaud said, “We have significantly reduced flaring as we safely progress commissioning of the gas compression systems on the Liza Destiny.

Unfortunately, restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact our ability to bring key workers and equipment into the country, thereby slowing the progress of related activities.”

The ExxonMobil employee added, “We are currently limiting oil production and injecting or using more than 85 percent of the associated gas produced from the reservoir with two of the three gas handling systems online. Once the full system is commissioned, we will increase oil production to full capacity and only a pilot flare will remain for safety.”

Kaieteur News would have

reported that the flaring by the oil giant via the Liza Destiny vessel was due to mechanical issues being experienced with the gas compressor system. The malfunctioning part has since been sent to Germany to be fixed.

The American multinational has been flaring since last year Christmas to now, bringing the total amount of gas flared well above 10 billion cubic feet. Until the gas compressor issue is addressed, Exxon will continue to flare over 12 million cubic feet of gas per day.

TOXIC EFFECTS According to a special study conducted by the World Bank, flaring releases gases that are not only harmful to one’s health but also disastrous to the climate.

According to the report that was perused by this newspaper, flaring releases more than 250 toxins including cancer causing agents such as benzopyrene, benzene, carbon disulphide (CS2), carbonyl sulphide (COS), and toluene. It also releases metals such as mercury, arsenic, and chromium and nitrogen oxides.

Another study that was conducted by the Suez University in Egypt agrees with the findings of the World Bank Group, while adding that flaring is a significant contributor of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.

When released into the atmosphere, these gases trap heat to a significant degree.

The University’s Department of Petroleum and Chemical

ExxonMobil Guyana’s Public and Government Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud Engineering was keen to note that flaring is also considered to be extremely harmful to the environment since it releases methane which has about 25 times greater global warming potential than carbon dioxide.

Other pollutants such as sulfur oxides (SOx) and volatile organic components (VOC) are also released from flaring. These are considered major causes of acid rain and fog which harm the natural environment and human life.

Taking these and other harmful environmental effects into consideration, nations such as Guyana are urged to limit and/or prohibit flaring. (SEE LINKS FOR STUDIES: http:// large.stanford.edu/courses/ 2016/ph240/miller1/docs/ emam.pdf; AND http:// documents1.worldbank.org/ curated/en/19380146877965 0 3 0 7 / p d f / 295520Flared0G1on0Strate gy01public1.pdf)

Pensioner stabbed, robbed by...

From page 11 friend” to continue without him.

A few moments later, Harris joined another bus and stopped off at the last entrance where he proceeded to use a urinal at the mall.

While urinating, the “family friend” walked up behind the pensioner and plunged a knife into the back of his head.

According to eyewitnesses, the senior citizen turned around and a scuffle ensued between the two during which the “family friend” stabbed the victim again.

They said that the “family friend” attempted to stab Harris to the body but he blocked

and received the wound to one of his arms instead.

Harris was soon bleeding and too exhausted to resist his attacker. Realising that the injured Harris had no more fight left in him, the suspect proceeded to search his pockets, relieving him of $80,000 before literally “skipping” away from the scene, according to eyewitnesses. The incident was captured on CCTV camera.

It was an eyewitness, this publication learnt, who contacted Harris’ son, who arrived shortly after and rushed him to the Kitty Health Centre to receive medical attention.

A report was later lodged at the North Ruimveldt Police Outpost.

Harris’ grandchildren told Kaieteur News that the suspect has been a close friend of the family for a number of years.

“We know this guy since our teenage years, he grew up with us,” they said.

They added, “He would sit on our steps and even eat with us and pick fruits from our grandfather’s fruit trees.”

Harris, they said, is quite shocked that the young man had tried to take his life for a mere $80,000.

Army still silent on $1B spent...

From page 3 was told that it would cost as much as the original purchase to make the Skyvan airworthy.

In May 2018, the Coalition was grilled in the National Assembly after an application was made for $484M in additional fund-

ing to the army for the purchases.

The approval was granted for the additional sums representing final payment towards the purchase of the four fixed-wing aircraft. Faced with numerous questions about the purchase from the opposi-

tion People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Harmon, who had responsibilities for the Army, had insisted that: “The Skyvans and Islanders are aircraft [that] people who have them don’t sell them.

It’s like having a RollsRoyce.”

Friday August 14, 2020

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

UN raises concerns about environmental impact of Guyana’s oil production The United Nations Human Rights Committee has written to Guyana seeking answers about the environmental hazard posed by offshore oil production, a hazard it considers a challenge to the human right to life.

The Committee has raised concern about the impact of such operations on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Article Six of the decades-old Covenant, of which Guyana is a signatory, protects the right to life.

Paragraph 1 of Article 6 of the Covenant lays the foundation for the obligation of countries to respect and to ensure the right to life, to give effect to it through legislative and other measures, and to provide effective remedies and reparation to all victims of violations of the right to life.

In this regard, the United Nations has asked Guyana to provide information on the steps it has taken to prevent and mitigate the negative effects of climate change and environmental degradation, in the context of its extractive sectors.

The operations of ExxonMobil have been of particular concern to local stakeholders. The company has been flaring hundreds of millions of cubic feet of gas in the Stabroek Block for months, releasing hundreds of cancer-causing toxins into the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) D i r e c t o r, D r. Vi n c e n t Adams, had told this newspaper that the oil giant has been burning approximately 12 million cubic feet of gas per day since May. The multinational was supposed to put an end to its flaring by August 10, but Adams was recently informed that the company would not be able to make that deadline.

All the while, the United

Nations has been noting the gravity of this issue and its impact on “greenhouse gas emissions…ocean acidification and rising sealevels.”

The UN is also concerned about the impact of such dangers on vulnerable groups, including Indigenous communities, fisherydependent communities, and persons living in poverty. The Committee asked what steps Guyana has taken to ensure the natural resources are sustainably used, with particular mention of oil and gas.

It also asked about the development and implementation of Guyana’s environmental standards, including the Environmental Protection Act; the country’s conduction or facilitation of environmental impact assessments, and the provision of appropriate access to information on environmental hazards.

Guyana has not made any updates to the Environmental Protection Act since oil was discovered.

The country was advised far and wide to ensure legislative updates are made to facilitate the oil and gas industry as quickly as possible.

Only one piece of legislation was introduced to facilitate oil production, and that was the Natural Resource Fund Act to collect the oil money. Otherwise, no legislative updates were made to ensure oil production is properly managed.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil has received approval for the

Anti-money laundering Act to be review...

From page 7 legislation enacted under the previous Administration.

According to the statement, the team also related that Guyana’s Risk Assessment for the year 2020, is currently under preparation and identified a number of weaknesses in the existing apparatus.

As such, Nandlall committed to an immediate review of the entire legislative scheme and a comprehensive overview of the existing apparatus with a view of addressing the weakness and deficiencies.

During the visit by the FIU, Nandlall also announced

that he will be meeting with the National Coordination Committee (NCC) of the AML/ CFT shortly to begin an institutionalized collaboration.

The FIU Team has so far provided a status update on Guyana’s AML/CTF progress, in particular, outlining the country’s outstanding obligations under the various international monitoring agencies.

It was disclosed that apart from Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas, Guyana, and the rest of the Caribbean, are all being assessed for the fourth round of mutual evaluation.

development of two oil projects, Liza Phases One and Two. It is also pressuring the government to grant a premature approval to its third development, despite not fixing the flaring issue.

Dr. Adams has noted that ExxonMobil’s opposition to paying paltry fines for small fuel spills in the Stabroek Block are indicative of a lackadaisical attitude which could spell disaster for Guyana.

An example of natural gas flaring

Tourism Minister Walrond-Allicock, Gerry Gouveia test positive for COVID-19 Several officials and Cabinet members, who came into contact with Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd, who recently tested positive for the novel Coronavirus, have produced negative results.

However, Minister of Tourism Oneidge WalrondAllicock and Chairman of the Guyana Private Sector Commission (PSC), Gerry Gouveia, have tested positive.

President Irfaan Ali had stated in a press conference that all Cabinet members would be tested for the virus after he revealed that Minister Todd was infected.

He had also stated that the Cabinet members were to work from home until their test results were returned.

So far, the President and the First Lady, Arya Ali, have tested negative for the virus as well as several Cabinet members including, Anil Nandlall, Nigel Dharamlall, Susan Rodrigues, Zulfikar Mustapha and Colin Croal.

Other senior officials testing negative include: P r i m e M i n i s t e r, M a r k Phillips; US Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch and her Deputy Chief of Mission; British High C o m m i s s i o n e r, Greg Quinn; President of S u r i n a m e , Chandrikapersad Santokhi, and his entire delegation who had attended President Ali’s inauguration ceremony this past weekend.

The US Embassy in a release confirmed that Ly n c h h a d p r o d u c e d a negative test result but before her results were

produced, she was in selfisolation.

Lynch was a part of the diplomatic community that came into contact with M i n i s t e r To d d a t t h e inauguration.

Gouveia announced that he tested positive for the virus in a Facebook post yesterday. He indicated that he is asymptomatic, meaning he does not show symptoms.

According to Gouveia, he is feeling quite well physically.

The PSC Chairman said he was supposed to travel to Barbados with Prime Minister Philips to attend the funeral of the late Barbadian Prime Minister, Owen Arthur. They were both required to take COVID-19 tests and unfortunately, his test came back positive.

The Chairman has since notified all persons he has been in contact with and they have been traced and sent to have tests conducted.

Gouveia too had attended the inauguration last week but maintained that he adhered to COVID-19 protocols and therefore is unsure of where he might have contracted the virus.

Other government officials, including Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, were also tested but up to press time, their results were not released to the public.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health revealed yesterday that the number of COVID-19 cases in Guyana now stands at 631.

From that number, the Ministry reported that there are eight new cases; 420 in institutional isolation and five in the ICU. Forty-five persons are in institutional quarantine while

PSC Chairman, Gerry Gouveia

Minister of Tourism Oneidge Walrond-Allicock

202 persons have recovered from the disease. However, Guyana’s COVID- 19 death toll remains at 22.

In a breakdown of the cases per region, the Ministry pointed to an increase of cases in Guyana’s most populous region – Region Four. Region Four currently

has 162 cases followed by Region Seven with 148 cases, Region Nine with 136, Region One with 104, Region Two with seven cases, Region Three with 29 cases, Region Six with one case, Region Eight with 10 cases and Region 10 with 34 cases.

Teenage boy kills one in chopping rampage A 15-year-old boy went berserk yesterday chopping to death his brother-in-law and injuring four other family members in the process, including two children and a woman in her 40s.

According to information reaching this publication, the incident took place at around 17:30hrs in a village in the Pomeroon River, Region Two.

A relative said that earlier in the day the teenager complained of having a fever and went to sleep. However when he woke up he reportedly picked up a cutlass and started the chopping spree.

The injured victims were rushed to the Charity Regional Hospital. More details will be provided in tomorrow’s edition.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 11, 2020

NICIL’s lawyer moves to strike...

From page 12 orders, bearing Jordan’s signature were posted on Facebook, immediately raising questions as to how so many acres of land were sold in a day and also mounting suspicions that the then Coalition government was giving away lands before demitting office.

The information pointed to publications of the Official Gazette of orders numbered No. 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73.

L a l l ’s a p p l i c a t i o n asked the court to overturn the sale on the grounds that the sale was unlawful, made without l e g a l a u t h o r i t y, u l t r a vires, malicious, made in excess of jurisdiction, made without adequate legal consideration, null void and of no legal effect.

He referred to Sections 8 and 11 of the PCA, which stipulates that the

Minister of Finance is empowered to authorize the transfer of State properties from only entities of the State.

The PCA and its provisions of vesting order in general are not intended to apply to private companies.

Citing specific sections of the PCA, Lall contends that the Minister cannot transfer property owned by NICIL to any private individual.

He noted that all of the entities to which the lands were sold are private companies and that the PCA and its provisions of vesting orders in general are not applicable to private companies which meant that the purported transfer

by Jordan was unlawful, ultra vires and null and void.

“The essential and key precondition of the statue is that it applies to property of State being transferred to an entity under

the control of the Minister, there is no authority to vest the specific State to these companies as mentioned in Orders published in the Official Gazette,” the applicant stated.

Subsequent to the filing of the application, Lall explained that, “the patrimony of this country must be disposed of transparently and in a manner which ensures value for money.”

He added that “if the lands and the country’s natural resources, which are being given out, are done in a transparent manner and at real market value, Guyana can alleviate poverty, eliminate its foreign debt and triple the salaries of public servants.”

He said, too, he will continue with his efforts, regardless of which government is in place, to ensure the best deal for the people of this country.

Friday August 14, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

World number one Djokovic says will play at U.S. Open Belgrade (Reuters) World number one Novak Djokovic will compete at the Aug 31-Sept 13 U.S. Open and the Western & Southern Open curtain-raiser, the winner of 17 Grand Slam titles said in a statement on Thursday (yesterday).

His decision will come as good news for the U.S. Open organisers after several highprofile players, including former winners Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka, pulled out over issues related to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

But it is also a U-turn from Djokovic after his June statements that competing at

the 2020 U.S. Open would be “impossible” due to “extreme” COVID-19 protocols for the tournament at Flushing Meadows.

“I am happy to confirm that I will participate at the Western & Southern Open and U.S. Open this year,” the 33-year old Serb said. “It was not an easy decision to make with all the obstacles and challenges on so many sides, but the prospect of competing again makes me really excited.

“I am aware that this time around it will be very different with all the protocols and safety measures that are put

in place to protect players and the people of New York.”

Djokovic and three other players contracted the coronavirus at the Serb’s Adria Tour event in June, with the first leg being held at his tennis centre in Belgrade and the second in Croatia’s coastal city Zadar.

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov tested positive ahead of the Zadar leg final, which was scrapped as a result, with Djokovic, his compatriot Viktor Troicki and Croatian Borna Coric also testing positive shortly afterwards.

The remaining two legs in Bosnia and Montenegro were

cancelled and Djokovic resumed training in Belgrade and more recently at the Spanish resort of Marbella after his second COVID-19 test came back negative.

“I have trained hard with my team and got my body in shape so I am ready to adapt to new conditions,” Djokovic added.

“I have done all the check-ups to make sure I am fully recovered and I am ready to get back on court fully committed to playing my best tennis. I appreciate everyone taking time, effort and energy to organise these two events for the tennis players to go

Novak Djokovic back to their working field.”

The U.S. Open will be the first Grand Slam event to be held since the COVID-19 pandemic threw the season

into chaos, with this year’s Wimbledon cancelled while the French Open has been rescheduled for a Sept. 27Oct. 11 slot.

Mike Tyson comeback fight with Roy Jones Jr delayed until November Friday August 14, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may feel like you're being tested in some way and must prove that what you're doing is valid and correct.

Fortunately, you should feel an emotional boost that will help you be confident about who you are.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may feel a bit blue due to a nagging weightiness that pins you down to reality instead of being free to fly. You may act out in an effort to prove to yourself and others that you're somehow above Earthly things.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You're able to assert yourself with more confidence than usual. You should have a grounded perspective regarding your emotions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're able to work much more efficiently and effectively, Scorpio. Your energy is strong, and you don't need to fight in order to get your voice heard.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're able to assert yourself with more confidence than usual, Taurus. You should have a grounded perspective regarding your emotions.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Just when you feel like you've come to a point of emotional stability and calm, Gemini, something happens to throw you off balance.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Be happy with yourself and others, Leo. Stop trying to find fault with everyone you interact with.

By criticizing what they do and how they do it, you could wake up one morning and find that you have no friends.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may be bursting with energy and yearning to be a free spirit, Virgo. At the same time, your emotions could find a way to block these thoughts. You may feel like there's some sort of weight holding you down, making it difficult to act freely.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Different people measure success by different scales.

You shouldn't get discouraged if your accomplishment today seems small compared to what others have done in the same period.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You could feel as if the battle has begun and you're the target. If you don't have a solid force behind you, this period could be difficult. Emotionally, this may not be your best day.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It could be scary for you to do anything risky for fear of conflict or failure, Aquarius. Perhaps you've tried to become invisible in different situations so you can avoid being noticed.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) This is a terrific time to start some physical activity that takes you outside and gets your blood pumping, Pisces. Don't think this means you have to become the star player at a tennis club.

BBCsport - Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson’s return to the boxing ring has been delayed until 28 November. The 54-year-old will face former four-weight world champion Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout in Los Angeles.

The bout was scheduled to take place on 12 September but will now be on the United States’ Thanksgiving weekend. “Changing the date will give more people the opportunity to see the biggest comeback in boxing history,” Tyson said.

Tyson last fought professionally in 2005 when he was beaten by Irishman Kevin McBride in what was his sixth loss in 58 career contests. Fellow American Jones, 51, has not fought since beating Scott Sigmon in February 2018.

The California State Athletic Commission has sanctioned the fight, which will be over eight rounds and broadcast on pay-per-view.

Roy Jones Jr (left) and Mike Tyson will fight in an eight-round contest.

PAGE 22

Friday August 14, 2020

Kaieteur News

The Global Game

Cook Islands tackle little and large challenges in Polynesian paradise Few national associations, if any, face the same challenges as Cook Islands. A massive national boundary – one which covers an area the size of much of western Europe – combined with one of the world’s smallest populations, make for an exacting challenge as the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) seek to maximise their football resources.

Cook Islands is also one of the world’s more remote nations. Head to the far end of Oceania and you will find FIFA’s smallest member nation outside of the Caribbean. Only French Polynesia (Tahiti) stands between Cook Islands and the South America mainland, some 8,000 kilometres away.

Cook Islands’ population numbers just 17,000, yet the island nation is dotted across an incredible 2.2 million square kilometres of ocean.

For comparison, that is around twice the size of France.

Though the nation has been self-governing since 1965, Cook Islands is one of FIFA’s newer members

having affiliated to the world governing body in 1994, some 23 years after CIFA was founded. The Polynesians took part in qualifiers for the 1994 FIFA World Cup™ but it wasn’t until the most recent campaign that they made an impact.

In the opening round of OFC’s Russia 2018 qualifiers, Cook Islands not only won their first-ever World Cup match against a FIFA Member Association, they duly repeated the feat just 48 hours later. Only goal difference denied Cook Islands unexpected passage to the next stage and a rare opportunity to meet continental heavyweights New Zealand in a competitive match.

A portion of that team was comprised of Cook Islander diaspora. A significant number of eligible representatives live in Australia, and especially New Zealand. But organising national team matches is no easy feat – Tahiti is the nearest neighbour at over 1,000 kilometres away.

The main island of Rarotonga is the nation’s football hub, and home to the

© Others impressive FIFA-funded headquarters, inaugurated in 2009 and a venue which has hosted numerous OFC competitions. Rarotonga is also home to most of the nation’s main clubs, but seven other islands have local football associations despite just three-figure populations in most instances.

CIFA recently conducted a four-day coach education course on the island of Atiu, but the 300 kilometre trip provides evidence of the difficulties faced in harnessing the game’s potential.

Despite the geographical obstacles, the CIFA has successfully run its

Leipzig beat Atletico to set up PSG Semi BBCsport - RB Leipzig overcame a typically cautious Atletico Madrid to reach their first Champions League semifinal just 11 years after their formation. After a poor first half, Dani Olmo headed the German side ahead but Atleti substitute Joao Felix levelled the tie from the penalty spot after he had been fouled in the box.

Madrid, chasing a third final in the last six years, seemed content to take the one-legged tie in Lisbon to extra time and sat back for much of the game. They were punished for their characteristically defensive approach as Adams’ deflected strike two minutes from time sent Julian Nagelsmann’s exciting side through to face Paris St-Germain.

No Werner, no problem Leipzig came into the tie without the focal point of their attack after Timo Werner’s £54m transfer to Chelsea earlier in the summer. Werner scored 34 goals for the club this season while the starting XI in their first quarter-final at this level had mustered just 43 between them.

A lack of cutting edge was as evident as was expected, with Leipzig’s enterprising approach play all-too-often leading to nothing.

The German side was the

development programmes and regularly holds competitions on a national scale, with the biennial youth championship being one of the more important dates on the calendar.

The latter plays an important role in identifying players for OFC competition.

Football, however, unlike in neighbouring Tahiti, faces strong competition for local athletes from rugby league

and netball.

Aside from the senior national team, there are recent stories of success at international level. The youngest women’s youth team reached the semi-finals at the 2017 OFC U-16 Championship, while a year earlier Cook Islands broke Samoa’s traditional regional dominance to win the preliminary tournament of the OFC U-19 Championship.

Archery Guyana participates in Meeting with World Archery Americas

RB Leipzig are in the Champions League knockout stages for the first time. only team playing progressive football in a dull first period though, including centre-back Dayot Upamecano carrying the ball out from a back three time and again and suggesting he is a defensive prospect out of the very top drawer.

Their deserved lead arrived early in the second half when Marcel Sabitzer’s fine cross was met by Olmo’s late surge from midfield and he flicked a header beyond the dive of Atleti’s renowned keeper Jan Oblak.

If Leipzig’s lack of threat was down to the absence of an individual, Diego Simeone’s side’s issues were more systemic. Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa was marooned up front and was bullied by young Frenchman Upamecano at times.

Just as in PSG’s fightback on Wednesday night, though, the introduction of a £100m+ substitute made the difference.

Portugal playmaker Felix was excellent from the outset,

winning a penalty with a driving run into the area then confidently converting the penalty.

However any sense of a change in momentum was stymied by Simeone, who appeared content to play for extra time as he instructed his side to sit in. But a brilliant pass from Sabitzer freed Angelino into space and after he found Adams, the United States midfielder’s powerful shot flew in off the heels of Stevan Savic past a stranded Oblak.

On August 08, 2020, The Board of Archery Guyana participated in a successful two-hour Zoom Meeting with World Archery Americas (WAA) and other National Federations.

The Meeting was chaired

by Secretary-General of WAA, Mr. Sergio Font where a number of issues were discussed from the affiliation to World Archery, the Olympic Solidarity to World Archery Congress and the World Archery Americas General Assembly.

Discussions were had as to the WAA Constitution and some possible positions which are up for election at the 2020 Assembly scheduled for later this year. Regional Games in the Americas were discussed and it was noted that Guyana is eligible to participate in the South American Masters and Youth Games.

Coach Trainers was also discussed and in this regard, Phil Graves gave a brief presentation and is working on an online Module moving forward in the Covid-19

Pandemic new normal. Online classes were discussed in this regard for Coach trainer refresher courses.

A Judge Development Course was also discussed

by Mr. Phil Graves. Archery Guyana was in discussion with him and WAA to host a Judge’s Seminar in the first quarter of this year but due to the unforeseen circumstances this had to be postponed.

Olympic Solidarity was also discussed with participants which was a useful lesson. Another important area presented on was on Para-Archery. MJ Rogers from the USA presented on this and in fact this weekend will be hosting an online Seminar which is expected to be attended by four Archery Guyana members to continue to development in this area.

The Board of Directors wishes to thank World Archery Americas for facilitating this very useful and informative Meeting to help streamline local plans moving forward.

Friday August 14, 2020

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Clippers lock up No. 2 seed with win Field Level Media - Paul George scored 27 points and Kawhi Leonard added 26, and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets 124-111 on Wednesday night near Orlando. Lou Williams had 23 points and seven assists off the bench for the Clippers, who clinched the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

They will meet the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA playoffs, starting

next week. The Nuggets will be the conference’s No. 3 seed. Ivica Zubac had 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Clippers. Reserve forward Jerami Grant scored 25 points and pulled down six rebounds for Denver.

Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds while Michael Porter Jr. chipped in 11 points. Jamal Murray was held to 10 points, and Torrey

Craig also had 10.

Indiana Pacers 108 Houston Rockets 104 - Doug McDermott scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and Indiana held off a late rampage by James Harden — and an injury to T.J. Warren — to beat Houston.

By virtue of a win in its second-to-last regularseason game, Indiana clinched at least the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round playoff matchup

with the fourth-seeded Miami Heat.

The Pacers rested Warren, whom Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said is dealing with plantar fasciitis.

According to reports, the injury isn’t expected to keep Warren from playing in the postseason.

Toronto Raptors 125 Philadelphia 76ers 121 - The 76ers welcomed back Joel Embiid for a first-half cameo, then blew a late seven-point lead and watched as the Raptor’s Stanley Johnson hit a tie-breaking follow shot with 5.9 seconds remaining to clinch a four-point victory.

Embiid, who injured his left ankle Sunday against

Portland and sat out Tuesday’s game with Phoenix, played 14 first-half minutes and had five points and nine rebounds. Tobias Harris had a game-high 22 points and Furkan Korkmaz 21 for Philadelphia, which is locked into sixth place in the East and a first-round playoff matchup with Boston.

Chris Boucher and Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 19 apiece. Norman Powell added 17 points and Pascal Siakam had 15 for Toronto, which has clinched second place in the East.

Miami Heat 116 Oklahoma City Thunder 115 - Darius Bazley scored 16 of his 21 points in the fourth

quarter, and Mike Muscala hit two 3-pointers in the final minute to lift Oklahoma City to a come-from-behind win over Miami that featured reserve players in the second half.

The Thunder trailed by as many as 22 points in the fourth period but outscored the Heat 34-15 in the quarter. The first tied it with 34.8 seconds to play.

After Miami regained the lead on a Solomon Hill layup, Muscala hit another 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds remaining.

An attempted 3-pointer

by Tyler Herro (career-high 30 points) hit off the front of the rim at the buzzer to seal Oklahoma City’s win.

Chris Froome loses more time to Egan Bernal as Primoz Roglic wins Dauphine stage

LA Clippers guard Paul George (13) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1). Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

ICC to release documentary on Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 ESPNcricinfo - The ICC has collaborated with Netflix for a retrospective feature documentary, “Beyond the Boundary”, about the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup. The tournament culminated with hosts Australia defeating India in the final at the MCG on International Women’s Day (March 8) with 86,174 spectators in attendance, a record for a women’s sporting event in Australia.

The first piece of ICC original content to be carried by a streaming service, the documentary, according to a release issued by the governing body, largely focuses on three established sides - Australia, India, and England - making their way to the knockouts of the tenteam event.

The narrative also weaves in the journey of debutants Thailand, whose qualification for the world tournament was a first for the nation across men’s and women’s cricket. Part of the “100% Cricket” project launched by the ICC ahead of the T20 World Cup final, the film is a celebration of

“the 17-day tournament, which saw the emergence of new heroes in the women’s game as more cricket fans than ever before switched on,” the release states.

It premieres worldwide on Netflix on August 14, and will be available on the OTT platform with subtitles in English, Thai, French, Japanese, Malay, Indonesian, Korean, Dutch, and Hindi.

Reflecting on the importance of the documentary, former Australia captain Lisa Sthalekar, part of the ICC’s commentary team at the tournament, said: “I played in a home World Cup in 2009 when England won and we had a crowd of maybe 2,000.

Therefore, when the opening match, Australia vs India was played in Sydney, I wanted to take my father to the game, to show him how much the women’s game has transformed since I retired in 2013.

“It was nice to share that moment with him, as he was in awe of how the game has changed. There were 13,500 people there, the atmosphere in the stadium was electric and I had never seen my

father smile so much at a cricket game and get so involved in the clash! It was a way to say thank you to him and to all parents and that sacrifice a lot to allow us cricketers a chance to play for our country.”

Ian Bishop, the former West Indies fast bowler and commentator, described the film as a fitting recap of the tournament, which was also the last high-profile multiteam sports event to be held this year before the Covid19 pandemic ground all sporting action to a halt.

“The skill and variety of the players showcased everything that has been exceptional about the women’s game,” he said.

Manu Sawhney, the ICC chief executive, said the film aims at helping increase the visibility of women’s cricket.

“The film captures all the action and drama from the tournament, which set new benchmarks for not just women’s cricket but all women’s sport and gives fans around the world the chance to relive one of the greatest ICC events we have ever staged,” he said.

BBCsport - Chris Froome lost more time to Egan Bernal during the brutal mountainous second stage of the Tour de Dauphine. The four-time Tour de France winner is now nearly 14 minutes behind Team Ineos team-mate Bernal, who is fourth in the overall standings led by JumboVisma’s Primoz Roglic.

Roglic won the 135km stage, with Bernal 10th and Britain’s Froome down in 49th. The Dauphine is the final warm-up race for many riders before the Tour de France, which begins on 29 August.

Bernal, who is likely to be competing with Froome to be selected for the Tour de France, has been extremely strong during three crucial warm-up races in France before the Tour. But here he could not hold on to the wheel of Roglic, who was imperious in breaking away with 600m left of the hors category climb to the top of the Col de Porte.

Bernal was only 10 seconds behind, alongside many of the big names set for the Tour including Thibaut Pinot of Groupama FDJ and Bahrain-McLaren’s Mikel Landa. On what is regarded as the toughest stage of this five-day event, Froome showed more strength than in recent races but pulled back from the lead group, which included many of his Ineos team-mates, with 4.4km to go.

He gave a thumbs up to the camera as he dropped away, but it is hard to see how Froome can be selected for the Tour ahead of Bernal if the decision is based purely on form. Ineos’ policy is that whoever is the strongest rider going into the final week of

Froome lost more than five minutes to Bernal on the first day.(Getty Images) any Grand Tour will be backed by the whole team, and they would be unlikely to want to take three team leaders to the Tour.

Last year’s Tour winner Bernal won the Route d’Occitanie, nearly 10 minutes ahead of Froome, on 4 August and ended 26 minutes ahead in last week’s Tour de l’Ain. Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour winner who is believed to be a better fit in the team for the Tour alongside either Bernal or Froome, led the Colombian up the mountain during today’s stage until pulling off the lead group with 2.6km to go.

Riders had to endure a huge hailstorm during the final climb, leaving some covered in cuts. Afterwards, a few of the big names began to fade and lose ground on the leaders, including Deceuninck-Quick Step’s Julian Alaphilippe - who wore the yellow jersey for several

days during last year’s Tour.

Ireland’s Dan Martin fell in a crash involving about 20 riders just a few kilometres before the final climb of the day. Martin’s team Israel StartUp Nation - for whom Froome has signed next year reported he fell on his back and needed medical attention.

But he rejoined and finished the stage.

Friday’s (today) 157km stage, which begins in Corenc and heads on to SaintMartin-de-Belleville, includes another hors category climb.

Second stage times: 1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/ Jumbo-Visma) 3hrs 39mins 40secs 2. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/ Groupama-FDJ) @8secs 3. Emanuel Buchmann (Ger/Bora-Hansgrohe) same time 4. Guillaume Martin (Fra/ Cofidis) same time 5. Nairo Quintana (Col/ Arkea-Samsic) @10secs

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Friday August 14, 2020

Kaieteur News

Australia to come to English cricket’s rescue by playing six white-ball matches in Southampton and Manchester next month

Australia are to play six white-ball matches in Southampton and Manchester next month.

MailOnline - Australia will come to the rescue of English cricket next month by playing six white-ball matches in Southampton and Manchester. They are the last country to commit to travelling to England for men’s cricket after successful trips by West Indies and Pakistan and on Friday the ECB will confirm the fixtures revealed by Sportsmail last month.

Australia sought extra assurances about the biosecure measures employed in Tests at Emirates Old Trafford and the Ageas Bowl before they were happy to visit a country with one of the worst Covid records in the world.

But their government is

now satisfied about the safety of the strict environment and the Aussies will play three Twenty20 matches against England in Southampton before three 50over matches in Manchester.

They have already named an enlarged 26-man squad for the trip.

It is a financial lifesaver for the ECB, who will retain more of the broadcasting income that keeps the game alive in this country with six attractive matches against the old enemy.

The governing body faces reducing their workforce by up to 25 per cent with predicted losses of £106million for this blighted summer. That figure would

Andreescu will not defend U.S. Open title Reuters - Bianca Andreescu said on Thursday (yesterday) she will not defend her title at this month’s U.S. Open in New York. The 20-year-old Canadian, who has not competed since she suffered a knee injury last October, said on Twitter she made the difficult decision because the COVID-19 outbreak has compromised her ability to reach her highest level of form.

“The U.S. Open victory last year has been the high point of my career this far and I will miss not being there,” said world number six Andreescu, who beat Serena Williams in last year’s U.S. Open final.

“However, I realize that the unforeseen challenges, including the COVID pandemic, have compromised my ability to prepare and compete to the degree necessary to play at my highest level.”

Andreescu is the latest top10 player on the women’s side to

Bianca Andreescu. skip the Aug. 31-Sept. 13 U.S. Open, joining world number one Ash Barty, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina (five) and Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens (seven).

Her decision also means the Grand Slam will be missing both reigning singles champions as men’s world number two Rafael Nadal previously said he would skip the event.

have been increased by £76m if the Australians had refused to come here.

Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, predicted calamitous losses of £380m had the whole international programme been wiped out by the virus.

ENGLAND V AUSTRALIA September 4: 1st T20 (Ageas Bowl, 6pm).

September 6: 2nd T20 (Ageas Bowl, 2.30pm).

September 8: 3rd T20 (Ageas Bowl, 6pm).

September 11: 1st ODI (Emirates Old Trafford, 1pm) September 13: 2nd ODI (Old Trafford, 1pm) September 16: 3rd ODI (Old Trafford, 1pm).

Bowlers put hosts on top in second Test BBCsport - England’s bowlers grabbed the upper hand in the second Test against Pakistan on a rain-affected first day at the Ageas Bowl. James Anderson claimed two wickets and Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran one each as Pakistan closed on 126-5 with only 45.4 overs possible.

Abid Ali was dropped twice on the way to 60, with Pakistan looking well placed on 78-1.

But after a lengthy rain break, the hosts capitalised on humid conditions suited to seam bowling by taking 3-18 during an hourlong session.

Rain forced the players off again at 17:00 BST and bad light prevented them from returning. More stormy weather is forecast for the remainder of the match but if conditions stay the same both sides will be confident of winning.

Pakistan have a bowling attack that could easily utilise conditions as England have done, while they will look to star batsman Babar Azam to extend their score on day two.

He ended unbeaten on 25.

After last week’s superb victory at Emirates Old Trafford, victory in Southampton would give England a first series win over Pakistan in 10 years. In the end, England will be pleased with their day. They will now look to control the game from the front rather than pull off an unlikely comeback as they did in Manchester.

Pakistan opted to bat at the toss but the steamy conditions helped England find movement in the air and off the pitch.

Anderson and Broad bowled a fine opening spell, one that should have seen greater reward than just the wicket of Shan Masood for Anderson in the third over.

Both beat the bat regularly and Dom Sibley dropped a comfortable catch off Broad at third slip when Abid was on one. Second slip Rory Burns spilled an even easier chance soon after and those missed chances could easily have frustrated the bowlers.

Instead, they came out after the interruption and were rewarded for their good bowling with the fielders making amends.

Burns clung on when Curran - preferred to pace bowler Jofra Archer - found Abid’s edge and Sibley took one low when Asad Shafiq nicked Broad.

The England bowler was thrilled after he struggled with the ball in the first Test in Manchester.

Hero Caribbean Premier League calls on ICSS to support competition oversight The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) have announced they will work in partnership to safeguard the integrity of the T20 cricket league for the 2020 competition.

With the Hero CPL proactively placing integrity at the top of its agenda, the ICSS, through its Sport Integrity Unit (SIU), will provide technical support and expertise to support the tournament to mitigate the Hero CPL competitions’ risk to match-fixing and international betting fraud.

By activating their international Sport Integrity Hotline, the ICSS will capture possible reports of corruption across the competition, analyse the

collected data and provide training and investigative support when needed. In order to help identifying any suspicious betting patterns and manipulation of sports results, an international tailored betting monitoring system will be put in place for each match throughout the competition. Massimiliano Montanari, CEO, ICSS, said: “On behalf of the ICSS, I would like to thank the CPL for placing their trust in the ICSS and inviting us to share our expertise and support them in the area of sport integrity.

“The CPL continues to protect itself against the evolving threats that confront international sport.

Cricket in the Caribbean has produced many world class cricketers, and I am delighted

to see the CPL show such a strong commitment towards promoting the integrity in their sport.” Fred Lord, Director Anti-Corruption & Transparency Operations, ICSS’ SIU, said: “The Caribbean is an important region for the ICSS, and it is a privilege for the ICSS team to have this opportunity to work with the CPL, and their partners, to support them in the protection of their competition.

“This proactive action taken by the CPL sends a strong message to the organised criminal syndicates who are focused on corrupting and manipulating sport for their own financial gains. It shows that the CPL is aware of the imminent risks it faces and is prepared to ensure that the highest levels

of safeguards have been put in place to deter corrupt and criminal behaviour.”

Andy Murphy, CPL’s Head of Security, said: “We are delighted to welcome the ICSS as an integral part of our overall security and competition integrity management.

The Hero CPL will benefit immensely from the professional support that the ICSS offers, and we are delighted to welcome the ICSS as an additional layer of security and oversight.

The ICSS will become an integral part of our operational planning and will support our extensive network of partner organisations throughout the Caribbean and beyond to ensure we have a successful competition.”

Kaieteur News

Friday August 14, 2020

PAGE 25

Two-day boxing seminar for Bet Daily collaborates with Officials set for this weekend Caribbean Premier League

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resident of the Guyana Boxing Association and Vice-President of the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC), Steve Ninvalle has informed Kaieteur Sport that the twoday Virtual Seminar for Referees/Judges of the English-speaking Caribbean, Haiti, Suriname and Curacao, originally scheduled for last weekend is now set for this weekend (August 8-9).

The seminar will be conducted by Chairman of the AIBA Referee/Judges Commission Ray Silvas of the USA. Ninvalle, who is the Chairman of the Caribbean Boxing Steering Committee, explained that the seminar was delayed due to the death of a Ray Silvas family member.

The sport administrator highlighted that over a 149 participants from 17 countries have registered for the sessions and the Golden Arrowhead will have a total of eight officials

Steve Ninvalle

participating in this historic seminar.

The local team will be led

by AIBA One stars Richard Braithwaite and Lawrence Assanah, and the country’s first and only AIBA certified International Technical Officer (ITO) Elton Chase.

Jermaine Craig, Colin Rodney, Nicola Yhap, Shanice Agard and Denola Bristol are the other local participants.

The Referees/Judges

seminar follows close on the heels of a Coaches’ seminar run by AMBC a few weeks ago.

Guyana was represented

by Terrence Poole MS, Sebert Blake, Clive Atwell, Joseph Murray and Orlan Rogers.

Ninvalle hinted that a seminar to update coaches on the technical aspects associated with scoring of fights will be conducted soon after.

B

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Hero Caribbean Premier League calls on ICSS to support competition oversight Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.