Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR

Saturday Edition

Man turns self in to clear his name

NEWS

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

Regent St. execution…

August 14, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 30

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 76,226

Govt. inks Order for State to acquire lands for US$900 million gas pipeline project Motorcyclist tries to escape from police, caught in bushes Venezuelan women among 5 arrested after missing fisherman found dead Guyanese Taxi driver man shot stabbed dead in New York for having road rage affair with incident man’s wife

Corporal remanded for extorting over $400,000 from suspect’s relative

Exxon dumps more US gas assets to focus on Guyana developments @11:00hrs on WE PAYING IN US$$BILLIONS SEARCHING FOR OIL WHILE OUR NEIGHBOUR Kaieteur Radio SURINAME AND OTHER COUNTRIES BLUNTLY REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT COST. 99.1/99.5FM

PAGE 02

Saturday August 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

Govt. inks Order for State to acquire lands for US$900M gas pipeline project T

h e P P P / C Government has s i g n e d o ff a n Order under the Acquisition of Land for Purposes Act to secure a 30-meter wide corridor of land for the laying of a Natural Gas pipeline between its landing site on the West Coast of Demerara and the Wales Development Zone located on West Bank Demerara.

The Order, signed by Substantive Minister with responsibility for the Public Works portfolio, Bishop Juan Edghill, has since been published in the Official Gazette and was made under the Substantive Act on Friday last.

According to the Order, it provides for lands to be declared for public work namely the proposed

construction of “gas pipeline from Nouvelle Flanders on the West Coast Demerara, passing through lands described in the schedule, is declared as public work.”

The Order prescribes authority on the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, “together with his agents, servants or workmen, (all of whom are) authorised to enter upon the said lands

for the purpose of surveying or otherwise examining such lands with a view to the acquisition of the whole or part of the said lands for the construction of the public work referred to,” namely the onshore gas pipeline and related works.

Under the schedule, the lands identified commences at the foreshore of Plantation Nouvelle Flanders with a

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat corridor approximately 30 meters.

The route, as proposed in the schedule identifies the corridor then traversing in a southern direction to the sideline dam between Plantation Vreed-en-Hoop and its landing site onshore.

From this site, the proposed 30-meter corridor will traverse Plantation L'Union, Rotterdam, Mary and Harlem Wallers Delight and Ruimzeight for some 945 metres.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill The corridor would then proceed south for approximately 795 metres across Plantation Vreed-enHoop, Klien Poudereyon, Malgre Tout and Versailles to the sideline separating Versailles and Lust en Rust.

At this juncture, the proposed pipeline corridor will then proceed south for approximately 884 metres along the said sideline to Canal Number One Public Road, after which, the (Continued on page 3)

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 14, 2021

PAGE 03

Exxon dumps more US gas assets to focus on Guyana developments E

xxonMobil has started marketing more of its assets in the Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas, the US supermajor's spokeswoman, Julie King, said, according to a Reuters publication on Wednesday.

According to the report, since before the pandemic, Exxon has been marketing and divesting assets, focusing on key strategic operations such as the Permian Basin, Guyana, and Brazil.

“Ninety percent of our upstream investments in resource additions, including in Guyana, Brazil, and the U.S. Permian Basin, generate

a 10 percent return at US$35 per barrel or less,” Exxon's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Darren Woods, said on the investor day in March 2021.

While focusing on these areas, Exxon is looking to divest assets elsewhere, and the Shale gas assets in Arkansas are now up for sale. “ We a r e p r o v i d i n g information to third parties that may have an interest in the assets,” Exxon's spokeswoman, King, told Reuters. The company declined to comment, which could be the potential bidders.

Exxon's subsidiary, XTO

Govt. inks Order for State...

From page 2 corridor will turn west for approximately 30 meters along the public road to the sideline between L'Orataire and Plantation Bordeauz, turning south for another 580 metres before snaking its way through Canal Number Two and eventually to its Wales destination.

The gazzetted Order had exactly four days before the National Assembly passed the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) (Amendment) Bill 2021 to ensure that private lands acquired for the laying of a fibre optic cable as well as the establishment of the US$900M gas-to-energy project, are done so lawfully and that there is fair compensation for citizens.

Leading the debate at the time of the sitting, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), was Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat.

He, at the time, noted that the Amendment Bill is intended to enhance Section 52 of the Principle Act to ensure government has oversight in the acquisition of the lands to realise key projects in the oil sector.

In addition, he said subsection (2) of the Act was amended to provide that a landowner or lawful occupier's consent might either be given unconditionally or subject to such conditions as are specified in the instrument of consent.

Bharra t s a i d t h e s e additions allow for a d e g r e e o f transparency and a c c o u n t a b i lity not

accommodated by the previous provisions.

He further noted that the Bill addresses matters concerning the landing, installation and operation of pipelines or submarine, fibre optic or terrestrial cables or similar infrastructure by licencees for, or in connection with, prospecting or production operations, in relation to State land, Government land, land wholly owned by State entities or in which any controlling interest is vested in the State and any land identified by law or on a plan drawn and approved in accordance with any law for reserves.

The Minister had said this is necessary to better accommodate onshore development with its entire accompanying heavy infrastructural works.

The Minister was keen to note that this amendment would apply to existing licencee operations such as those being led by ExxonMobil as well as those who may come to shore for future development.

Once the fibre optic cable is laid, Bharrat said it would allow the government to have real time monitoring o f p r o d u ction o ff s hore on a l l F l o a t i n g , Production, Storage a n d O ff l o a d i n g ( F P S O s ) ves s els as well as the exploration activities by drill ships.

As for the US$900M gasto-energy project, he said it would allow for Guyana to realise its dream of having cheaper electricity, an effective and efficient valueadded industry, and in the next few years, a thriving petro-chemicals sector.

Energy, operates more than 662,000 acres in 16 counties in Arkansas, with production at 271 million cubic feet of gas per day, according to XTO Energy.

Privately owned Merit Energy, which had acquired acreage in the area from BHP in 2018, is assessing the assets that Exxon has put up for sale, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

In February this year, ExxonMobil said it would sell most of its non-operated assets in the UK's central and northern North Sea to private equity fund HitecVision for more than US$1 billion.

“We continue to highgrade our portfolio by divesting assets that are less strategic and focusing our investments on our advantaged projects that are among the best in the industry,” Neil Chapman, senior vice president of ExxonMobil, said in February.On the second quarter earnings call at the end of July, CEO Woods said, “To strengthen the earnings and cash flow potential of our assets, our plans will continue to advance highreturn, advantaged projects and high-grade our existing assets through accretive divestments.”

ExxonMobil's CEO, Darren Woods.

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 14, 2021

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

Two shameless national leaders When there are national leaders like the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, it is clear that Guyana is walking a disappointing path; a path where even swine hold their nose from the sickening odour that comes from both of them. The evidence of this stench is present in what both of them did recently by using public platforms to get at each other, while a nation struggles to find its footing, to gain some kind of vision of what it should be about, where it is going.

The Vice President started the ball rolling by going public with his version of frankness, to state what his government is doing in a number of areas. The Opposition Leader then went to his social media soapbox (Facebook) and decided to take him to task in sharp, disparaging terms.

The Opposition Leader then smirked to himself and patted himself on the back for what he believes is a job well done, and what is the sum (in his mind) of what the roles and obligations of a bona fide and spirited political opposition should be. It goes without saying that he is misguided, since nothing could be further from the truth and needs of Guyanese, and because what the Opposition Leader said could not have been more useless to Guyanese.

As if to stick it to his so-called political adversary in the main opposition, and to get the last laugh (Guyanese call it ‘last lick’), the Vice President then promptly went on his high horse and responded with broadsides of his own via a readily available social media channel, only too delighted and willing to give him the opportunity and space to vent. And vent this nation’s Vice President did, with a lot of spleen and bile thrown in to salt the sharp exchanges.

Citizens call this ‘cuss out’ and ‘buse down’. This is what passes for responsible leadership in Guyana from two of its top political presences.

We will be blunt and call what is going on between the Vice President and Opposition Leader for what it is. This is not national leadership, but petty gamesmanship. This is not mature statesmanship; it is merely that of two lost leaders engaged in one upmanship. But if that was all there was to the schoolyard scrimmaging, both of them may be excused for not knowing better, and not being responsible for their silly and childish actions. But it is much more than that, because both of them know full well what they are doing, and are working very hard to pull the wool over Guyanese eyes by distracting with these foolish antics of theirs.

Neither the Vice President nor the Opposition Leader wants to speak about one of the most meaningful things ever to happen to Guyana, and which is the talk of the greatest number of citizens, so high are their hopes. This is how they are longing to get out of the grinding poverty with which many have lived for generations. Neither the Vice President nor the Opposition Leader has delivered facts and accuracy as to the cleanness of their management of the nation’s oil wealth. On that necessary cleanness of political management of this most precious and sought after of the nation’s natural resources, both of these senior politicians have been obscure and shaky where oil truths and the depths of oil details are concerned.

Both the Vice President and Opposition Leaders have been about what is hazy and unhelpful to the interests of this country. They hide, they shelter behind impenetrable sheets of secrecy, they disappear behind Exxon’s skirts and grovel before the company’s demands. But they are smart enough to give Guyanese the impression that they are serious and representing the best interests of the nation by attacking one another in very tricky and purposeful fashion. We believe that it is a game, the biggest of deceptions, with both of them taking gullible Guyanese along for a ride.

When they go after each other that is part of the pretense. Look and listen to both of them: no answers, no openness, no facing the nation on oil. But they can face off against each other. Who do these two think they are fooling?

Conservation International returns Exxon’s Money Dear Editor, Several weeks ago I penned a letter calling out Conservation International for accepting US$10 million to greenwash Exxon’s bad environmental track record, including their continuous flaring here in Guyana. In that letter I enquired about this grant and what had happened with those funds. Lo and Behold, thanks to some good investigative journalism from Kaieteur News, it was revealed

that Conservation International returned Exxon’s money possibly because of that company’s poor environmental tract record and practices. Well it has to take a media enquiry to reveal this. Why did Conservation International not make a statement on this all along? In fact, why did they take big oil money in the first place, knowing fully well it was an excuse to greenwash.

Now the cat is out of the bag what will Exxon do with the funds? Will they look for another scapegoat conservation organization in Guyana to partner with to greenwash? Quite likely they will do so.

Let’s see if a secret concervation deal will be signed. I call on Guyanese to be vigilant to this colonial entity that is trying to buy everyone in Guyana. I sincerely believe they have

bought out the politicians, the local private sector and are working on civil society organization and groups, one by one.

Let’s be vigilant; their track record speaks for itself.

They are not to be trusted and are only concerned with extracting Guyana’s oil as quickly as possible with scant regard for the environment or Guyanese.

Your sincerely, Shawn Gittens

Vincent Alexander’s view on GECOM’s termination of three officers Dear Editor, GECOM’s decision to terminate three officers, including the CEO, will undoubtedly be the subject of much commentary and controversy over the next few days and beyond. Indeed, there is much to be said on the matter. For immediate attention I wish to disclose the following: 1. GECOM issued a statement on the terminations, which in relation to the CEO specifically states: “Justice Singh posited: 1. ….

2. ….

3. ….

4. That in relation to the CEO, clause 9 of his contract stipulate that his services can be terminated by giving him three months’ notice or payment in lieu of;”

2. What Clause 9 of the CEO contract actually states is: “Guyana Elections Commission may terminate the contract herein by giving three(3) months’ notice in writing to the Chief Elections Officer/Commissioner of Registration for any of the following reasons: 1. If, in the reasonable opinion of the Guyana Elections Commission the Chief Elections Officer/ Commissioner of Registration is guilty of serious misconduct.

2. If, in the reasonable opinion of the Guyana Elections Commission the Chief Elections Officer/ Commissioner of Registration has failed to comply with the terms of his contract.

3.Where, in the

reasonable opinion of Elections Commission the Chief Elections Officer/ Commissioner of Registration is in breach of any clause or obligation in his contract.”

None of the conditions stated in Clause 9 were proffered much less proven, yet Clause 9 is cited as the provision under which the CEO’s contract is being terminated.

For the time being, I will leave it to the objective and unbiased section of the public to opine as to what may have gone amiss in GECOM’s decision.

It is apparent to me that GECOM will find refuge in its own pronouncement: “That it is trite law that not even a court of law can enforce a contract for personal services

against an employer terminating the contract of an employee since the proper relief for a breach in an employment contract for personal services lies in damages;” This development is symptomatic of three things: 1.the evident disparity between what the law provides for and what is just.

This is similar to previous laws that provided for enslavement although enslavement was not just; 2. there are those who swore that ‘they would get rid of the three officers at any cost’; 3. and the stark disregard for the Rule of Law in the manner in which the current regime is administering public affairs.

Yours sincerely Vincent Alexander GECOM Commissioner

Good leadership will help to slow the rapid deterioration of hinterland roads Dear Editor, Every rainy season we see on social and print media, trucks, minibuses and other vehicles stuck fast on our hinterland roads. Road users suffer greatly, prices for goods rise steeply and maintenance costs of vehicles skyrocket. The perennial excuse from successive governments for the bad state of hinterland roads during the rainy season is the weather; inclement weather does not allow for quick repairs to deteriorating sections of the road. While the weather is indeed a contributing factor, it is not the only one. There are two other contributing factors, all within the control of government.

The first contributing factor is that hinterland roads are very poorly maintained in the dry season by contractors, who have little or no experience in road building, but are granted contracts due to political affiliation. Obviously, if a contractor who knows nothing about road building

and is trying to cut costs at every turn, the end result is a road that cannot stand up to the rigours of daily traffic during the rainy season. Take for example the Linden to Lethem Road. There are sections of this road that are underwater for the duration of the rainy season; because the road has been so poorly built, there is no way for water to be drained off the road when it rains. Which road contractor in this day and age builds a road which does not cater for adequate drainage?

In addition, the road is littered with giant potholes and craters every few feet it seems. It just goes to show the sort of contractors we have doing road works on our hinterland roads. Then there are the troublesome sections that every year deteriorates faster than other sections.

The government engineers know where these so called” hot spots” are, yet year after year, no one in the Ministry of Public Works it seems can sit down and devise a comprehensive road

maintenance plan. The fact of the matter is, that once a hinterland road is properly maintained by a reputable road contractor using the correct road building material, and using the correct road building equipment, it will be able to withstand the elements better and for a longer period of time than what is happening currently.

The second contributing factor is that overladen trucks use hinterland roads with impunity contributing greatly to the rapid deterioration of hinterland roads. Yet to date, no motion scales have been installed to ensure trucks using hinterland roads are within the prescribed weight limit. As such, overladen trucks continue to get a free pass all the while damaging hinterland roads and bridges with alarming regularity. So, roads break up faster, more money has to be spent to effect repairs and the road users suffer greatly. It is a vicious feedback cycle with no end in sight.

But it should not be all gloom and doom for our road

users during the rainy season. Even with heavy rainfall, there are days when the rain ceases for a bit. And as such emergency maintenance works can be carried out quickly to bad sections of the road during these breaks in rainfall. That’s why I would suggest that the Ministry of Public Works should have emergency road teams deployed to the main hinterland roads during the rainy season.

Currently, when a section starts to deteriorate, no efforts are made to effect quick repairs. Instead, the road is allowed to deteriorate until it is impassable and only when the movement of goods and people are seriously threatened then you see some action being taken to get the road repaired.

In closing, I would like to reiterate that once leadership at the national and regional levels is shown by our policy makers, then the rapid deterioration of our hinterland roads can be slowed considerably.

Sincerely, S. Fredericks

Saturday August 14, 2021

The truths about Rodney’s assassination finally get ventilated Dear Editor, Many Guyanese here at home and abroad are extremely pleased that the National Assembly passed a motion to adopt the findings of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the death of historian, Dr. Walter Rodney.

This is indeed long overdue as that CoI goes back to well over five years and, at the time, the expectations were rife, that some kind of rectification was imminent, as regards the truth concerning Dr. Walter Rodney’s demise.

The motion was via Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, on behalf of Government, for the Assembly to adopt the report and its findings, and these findings are indeed important to the country’s history.

By way of encapsulation, they are that: the late President Forbes Burnham and the People’s National Congress were culpable in Rodney’s death; the former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) member, Gregory Smith, was directly responsible for Dr. Rodney’s death on 13 June, 1980; he, Gregory Smith, acted as an agent of the State, having been aided and abetted so to do, by individuals holding positions of leadership in State agencies and committed to

carrying out the wishes of the PNC administration. Let me add a few other important things concerning this appropriate adoption from the Government, and these relate to a direct correction of Rodney’s history, namely his death.

First, and rightly so, Dr. Rodney’s death certificate will now read ‘death by assassination,’ and not the vulgar by ‘misadventure,’ that was affixed by the Burnhamites at the time.

According to Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, this was in response to a request

by Dr. Rodney’s widow and children.

I love the fact that the 1988 farcical inquest that had been conducted, will now be invalidated. Moving to resuscitate the Walter Rodney Chair at the University of Guyana and including several of the late historian’s works as part of the Guyana’s schools’ curriculum are indeed most welcome, as they are necessary indeed.

I need not go on to what some of the other

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

posthumous changes to be effected are, as I think my point is well-made. However, I refer to the U.S. Embassy in Guyana in 1980. From the inception, there resided strong evidence to believe that the death of Walter Rodney was a political assassination, and this is based on documents obtained and posted by the National Security Archive at the George Washington University.

So, finally, after over four decades, the heinous crime of the killing of one of Guyana’s greatest sons has been put to rest.

Respectfully, Alvin Hamilton

Applause and questions for Ms. Audreyanna Thomas Dear Editor, Dear Ms. Thomas, I applaud your efforts writing to the EPA regarding your concern for the residents of Coverden, East Bank Demerara who live next door to a storage facility where sealed radioactive sources are being kept. However, I would like to ask if you have ascertained that there is indeed a radiation hazard as a result of these sealed sources being housed there? Did you undertake radiation measurements with a Gamma Meter or Geiger Counter to see the level of the radiation fields coming from the storage facility?

Please note, that only

companies holding a licence to acquire, store and handle radioactive material are allowed to possess it. They are mandated by their licence to ensure it is properly stored and handled so that it provides no danger to the public.

Only qualified personnel are allowed to handle radioactive material. So, before you start jumping up and down and writing letters of appeal to the EPA, please take measurements to show the EPA there is an actual radiation field emanating from the storage facility and it exceeds the limits allowed (by its licence).

If a radiation hazard is

detected coming from that storage facility you will then be able to show the EPA that the radioactive sources are not being properly stored and the company to whom they belong is not adhering to the regulations that govern the proper storage of these sources.

Sincerely, Dennis Balgobin

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 14, 2021

Guyana needs racial cohesion for political Lack of trust aggravates stability and to fast track development COVID-19 vaccination programme

Dear Editor, In a multiracial society, it is not normal for any of the major racial groups to allow themselves to be subservient to another. I doubt that their ego and their honour and pride as a people would ever permit this. Hence, the political dominance of one group could cause deep resentment to simmer below the surface. And the volatile atmosphere created could be easily exploited by rogue elements in the dominated group for their own nefarious purposes. In order to prevent such events, it would be essential to have a political system, which would promote unity.

Based on the very bitter and traumatic experiences we have had in all of our past elections, it is clear that neither Africans nor Indians have any desire to be dominated by the other hence our political dilemma.

Our current political system is nothing but a recipe for discord and confrontation.

The political systems which are appropriate to a homogenous society may not be suitable to one with a diverse population, for example, like Guyana.

Considering the many problems we have had in the past and continue to

experience, could it be that something is fundamentally wrong with our political system?

Ours is a country where two deeply opposing racial groups vie for control of the Executive. In a homogenous society, the contesting parties would be indistinguishable to the population, thereby eliminating the racially divisive factor in the political equation. We are not a homogenous society. So if we desire political stability, it seems that we would have to fashion a system where there is no racial rivalry for control of the Executive. But unfortunately, we lack the creativity and openmindedness required to make that happen.

Historically, I think our political problems could be traced to the split between Dr. Jagan and Mr. Burnham in the PPP, in 1955. However, the racial division between Africans and Indians came to the fore in 1957 when Mr. Sydney King (now Eusi Kwayana) left the PPP for the PNC. Africans and Indians then started to align themselves with these two parties, thereby creating a political gulf between the two races. What followed and continued to today, is the

intense rivalry between the PPP and PNC, and thus Indians and Africans, to control the executive arm of government – the pinnacle of political power. And because our political system pits the two major races against each other, our elections have always been traumatic. This will not change as long as the current system exists. As a consequence, our motto of “One People One Nation One Destiny” is just a pie in the sky.

But are our leaders interested in racial unity and political stability? Or do they prefer to use their time and energy to throw dirt at each other, while we the people, who they pretend to represent, are being robbed of our national patrimony – our natural resources? It boggles the mind that two parties who have hardly agreed on anything of national importance, seem to find common ground in their refusal to pressure ExxonMobil for a fairer deal for the benefit of their people.

The previous government talked about social cohesion.

But we all know that we don’t have a social problem. What we have is a racial problem.

Politicians, it seems, delight in subterfuge, or is it that they are addicted to it? It is no

secret that in the wider society, the appearance of racial tolerance is nothing but pretence. Below the surface, there is deep mistrust and even hostility on both sides of the racial divide. While in a multiracial society it is expected that there will be racial prejudice, does it have to be toxic?

As we know, in Guyana, performance of a party in government does not significantly influence electoral support. However, racial consideration does. Our leaders should stop pretending that this problem does not exist. Instead, they should do whatever it takes to promote RACIAL COHESION. This is what we need to move forward. Maybe for the next general election, the APNU+AFC should have someone of Indian descent be its presidential candidate.

Likewise, the PPP/C should have someone of African descent. It is said that “If there is no political stability in the country, you can’t expect production to take place, you can’t expect the right reforms to be implemented, therefore, you can’t expect fast economic growth”. It is hoped that our leaders pay attention.

Yours sincerely Winston Richards

Salary increases for public servants will not ease their financial burden Dear Editor, Recently, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced that public servants will be eligible, before year-end, for retroactive salary increases.

“Let me assure you that the public servants will receive salary increases before the end of the year and it will be retroactive,” he said. I welcome this initiative taken by this caring Government to increase public servants salary by year end in wake of the high cost of living we are faced with, but I do not see it will bring much relief to us, because every time there is an increase in public servants’ salaries, goods go up on the market which has always been the case for

decades.

I believe the time has come for the Government to have a price control policy to manage the affordability of certain goods and services, including rent, gasoline, and food in this country. This initiative will prevent business places such as the supermarkets, and other business entities from increasing items on the market, because without that, the general increase on goods and services will go up again year end when public service and the high cost of living will remain the same.

I see that public servants will only benefit from the salary increases announced by the Government recently,

if there is a price control on items on the market if not, the extra dollars by the Government will be given in one hand and taken back in the other hand if there is no control on the price of items on the market. It must be known that goods went up and will continue to go up next year. Increase in freight caused increase in tax and sales price. Most importers are paying as much as five million dollars to ship a container.

Previous cost was around five hundred thousand based on the figures I have seen. The increase in public servants salaries are not going to bring financial relief to them, since the general increase in goods will continue to rise in 2022

since the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) doesn’t have the capability to monitor price increases throughout the length and breadth of this country.

Therefore, public servants will only benefit from the salary increases announced by the Government which is due for yearend if there is a price control on items on the market if not, the extra dollars the Government gives in one hand will be taken back in the other hand through the unstable importation of goods unless we produce more, and support our local farmers and suppliers as both Presidents LFS Burnham and Cheddi Jagan had wanted for this great nation of ours.

Yours faithfully, Rayvonne P. Bourne

DEAR EDITOR, At bottom the confrontation over vaccination is less about the virus than about a broader lack of trust and fairness. Both the mini-bus sector, nurses and teachers’ opposition to vaccination is influenced by unresolved non-COVID-19 grievances, without this being explicitly acknowledged.

While the Ministry of Health has done well compared to other countries with respect to securing supplies of vaccines and also enabling a degree of choice – albeit limited - – there are major leadership issues and a strategy with respect to the nurses, in particular, that smack of clumsiness.

Complaints received by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) of unvaccinated persons denied access to treatment for nonCOVID issues include, for example, a person suffering from burns in a domestic accident. Such incidents simply deepen rather than weaken the sense of grievance.

Leaders of the mini-bus drivers and teachers have no doubt noted the alacrity with which the Government has waived G$4.8bn of customs duties to be paid by the business community as a result of COVID-induced shipping increases. By contrast the comparable loss of income to mini-bus owners, whose income has been impacted by COVID-19 distancing and sanitising rules, are not offered any special treatment. Moreover, as the GHRA has pointed out previously, the extractive sectors, deemed an essential service, has been specifically exempted from any COVID-19 regulations from the start of

the pandemic.

For the above reasons, COVID-19 vaccination has now joined the growing catalogue of issues used to sustain the political polarisation of the country with little regard for the deadly consequences.

Leadership of the anti-vaxxers dogmatically defend their rank and file ‘right to choose’, while Government threatens strong-arm inconsistent tactics to enforce vaccination.

Neither side is disposed to respect any validity in the opposing position, preferring ‘in principle arguments’ about ‘rights’ rather than practical solutions.

The COVID-19 Task Force is largely missing in action while the official COVID-19 communications strategy is feeble.

Rather than engage with emerging issues, the daily repetition of numbers generates no more sense of urgency than the daily weather forecast. This approach cannot rescue or insulate the COVID-19 response from the semipermanent political skirmishes that pass for politics in Guyana.

Inconsistent application of regulations on numbers at weddings, funerals, fetes, etcetera, adds to resentment from those who obey the rules. Mask-wearing and distancing are treated too often as suggestions rather than rules.

The COVID Task Force must be seen to be above the politically-driven polarisation and provide real leadership, which involves showing some empathy and commonsense for the non-vaxxer position rather than simply ignoring it. Communications strategies of both Government and trade unions must address the hesitancy (Continued on page 23)

Writers must get facts right Dear Editor, The glaring errors, as pointed out in a satirical piece, in the condolence message on the passing of a former Prime Minister of one of our CARICOM states is reminiscent of another mistake some time ago when Hindu religious holidays were

mixed up. These errors underline that busy executives do not have the time to check every dotted ‘i’ and crossed ‘t’ but rely on writers to do the research and due diligence and get facts right.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Way cleared for LGEs Dear Editor, Now that the infamous trio (Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo) contracts are being terminated by GECOM, it is imperative that Local Government Elections (LGE) be held this year

notwithstanding the need for reform and improvement at GECOM. Hopefully, LGE will run smoothly without the infamous trio at GECOM. Yours Faithfully, Sean Ori

T N U L B . . .

T B N U T L N T B .

U .

L .

L T B .

N .

U .

N U T L N B .

U .

T .

L N T U N B .

N U .

L U L LUNT. B .

T . .

T T N N B U B .

U .

L .

L T B .

B . .

N . . .

T U T L N N T U U L N L B U .

B . .

L . . .

T B T . .

N .

N T U L N LU B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

NT LUNT...B NT...BLU N U L B . .

B .

U . .

T L .

N T B . .

U N .

L N T B U N . .

L .

U T L B . .

N B . . .

T U .

L N T B U . .

L .

UN T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L B U UN .BLUNT. . .

L .

T B . .

N .

T U .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

LU ...BLUNT LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . .

L N .

T B BLU T...BLUN BLUNT... UNT...B . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B BBLU T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU .

T .

N .

N T T U L U L N L B U T...BLU U B .

L .

N .

B T . . .

N T U N N N L U U U B L .

L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Saturday August 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

The world is worried about climate change, but not Guyana. Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, a one-time climate change commander, is now a serial driller, while his muzzled and mismanaged Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives Exxon clearance for continued gas flaring.

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres himself spoke of an impending “climate catastrophe” if all nations don't switch to renewables. The official said there is “no time for delay” and “no room for excuse.” But Guyana seems to care less.

If we continue this way, this oil would be more than a curse; it could be the death of us.

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Saturday August 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

US$35M mega Agro-Processing Facility to be constructed at Enmore T

he Government of Guyana through the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Caribbean International Distributors Inc., a member of the Rudisa Group of Companies, for the development of a landmark US$35 million agroprocessing facility.

The facility is expected to engage in the production and packaging of various products ranging from: milk, natural fruit juices and water to a variety of bread products such as hamburger rolls, biscuits, cookies, croissants,

bagels and donuts to supply Guyana's local and export markets. The facility will employ approximately 600 persons and will be a significant boost to the businesses of local fruit and dairy farmers, who will be the chief suppliers of this facility.

The agro-processing facility is a major step forward in President Irfaan Ali's vision for a sustainable and robust economy and a food secure Guyana.

The establishment of this facility, according to a statement that was released yesterday, contributes to the President's appetency for mega investments in the

Chief Executive Officer of GO-Invest, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

agriculture sector through the creation of value-added agriculture products to boost

Guyana's capacity within the regional market and create opportunities for export.

Kaieteur News understands that the agroprocessing facility will be critical in building Guyana's capacity for the large-scale production of packaged fruit and dairy products, and will

reduce the level of spoilage of fruits by converting them to processed products, which can be sold locally or exported.

Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, expressed his strong support for this investment and stated,

“These are the kinds of investments we want to see in Guyana. The Government and Private Sector are working closely to ensure that we bring Agriculture to the forefront of our economy. Although Guyana is now an oil producing (Continued on page 12)

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 14, 2021

Our children need role models

A strange conversation occurred recently. One of the young daughters of a close friend came up to me and said that her teacher had asked her and her classmates to each identify a role model.

I thought this was an excellent idea. And so I asked her who she had chosen. She said that she had not settled as yet on a choice but was thinking about “Priya”.

I panicked immediately.

This was a moment of desperation. I decided that I had to act and act quickly. I thought it was important that our children, particularly in these times of the pandemic, appreciate more the contribution of our scientists.

From all accounts, the teaching of science in schools has declined. Some years ago, there was big controversy when one of the country's top secondary schools was not offering the teaching of Physics at the A' level. A few years ago, it also surfaced that the University of Guyana was not offering a degree in physics. That may have since changed.

I have always felt however that interest in science needs to be cultivated from an early age and from within the home. We should not wait until children enter the formal school system before we fire their thirst and hunger for scientific knowledge. We should begin this initiation from an early age and this should happen firstly at home.

Children are naturally

Dem

boys seh...

Anil pass law fuh give people who ain't marry more rights… more rights to property. But is nat dat wah dem boys worry bout.

Dem boys seh like dowry gone out of style. Some men marrying some rich people daughter and dem nah getting offer dowry.

But Anil nah talking bout dat even though dem boys hear dat he bin get dowry when he marry.

It mek dem boys remember de story of de rich businessman wah bin had four daughters. Dem girls been getting on in age but no suitable suitor was coming.

inquisitive about things around them. Just recently I was speaking with my own grandchild who after looking at the West Indies fast bowlers asked me how by jumping a bowler gains more speed. Now, that is a scientific question that will require inputs supported by facts about bio-mechanics, momentum and motion, all of which are fascinating subject areas in science.

The question shows how much our children are keen on understanding the world around them. Thus, the right age to cultivate an active interest in science is when our children are very young.

When children are young, they have questioning minds and their constant questioning can be at times irritable, but only because we adults to whom the questions are posed do not always have the answers.

They expose, through their constant probing questions, the inadequacies of their parents, and sometime we react by telling them how they ask too many questions, which is the worst thing that can be done since this will only discourage the development of an active mind.

Even if we do not know the answer to a question, we need to encourage this thought process of our children because it is only by asking questions that they grow in knowledge.

We also need to expose them to role models. I recall

when I was a teenager how fascinated I was by the work of scientists and how they came upon the discoveries that changed the face of human history. One day, I was in the library and came across this biography of one of the greatest scientists of the twentieth century, Marie Curie.

I borrowed the book and could not put it down.

That was a long time ago, but I still recall how engrossed I was in the story of this amazing woman. I have searched long and hard ever since to try to find a biography of Marie Curie so that I could share the story of this woman with my grandchildren. I have not been successful so far but I am sure there are many such works available.

I urge any parents or guardians who wish to harness their children's natural propensity for science; who wish to satiate their offspring's appetite for answers to the puzzles of science, to introduce your children to the story of Marie Curie.

This was a simple woman, born in Poland, whose love for science forced her to break with tradition and immigrate to France.

There she pursued her studies eventually becoming a doctor of science. In Paris also, she met her husband who was a renowned scientist.

They married and continued their work in

Anil should outlaw dowry But one day a suitor come knocking and de businessman decide he gat fuh ensure dat at least one ah dem find favour with de suitor.

So he decide he gan boast about how much dowry he set aside for each ah dem.

He tell de suitor, “I have put aside $2M for the de youngest who is 22 years old. I have set aside $4M for the one who is 27 years old. I have set aside $8M for the one who is 36.” And I have set aside $16M for the one who is 40 years old.”

De suitor, after thinking

for a few seconds said, "Sir, do you have any daughter who is 50 years old?"

One time a man decide he nah pressing for dowry.

He claim how dat is old fashion practice. So he marry a rich man daughter.

When she went to live with he, she discovered dat he didn't gat anything.

She tun to he and say, “Why didn't you tell me you are broke before we got married? “ He replied “I always told you that you are my EVERYTHING!” Talk half and marry fuh love not dowry!

science. They were neither rich nor comfortable. In fact they were not fortunate to have some of the modern equipment, laboratories and resources which today's scientists have at their disposal.

Their facilities were primitive, and yet this amazing couple was able to isolate two important chemical elements, one of which was radium and to pioneer the study and understanding of radioactivity. Their story is fascinating.

One of the things that

really struck me about this poor woman was her deep love for scientific knowledge. Despite the hardships she endured before being awarded the Nobel Prize, she was obsessed with her work and dedicated her entire life to the study of science. She made science her life's vocation and with her husband would work from sunrise to sunset in trying to improve mankind's knowledge of whatever she was studying.

Such dedication is inspirational. She is the perfect role model for our

PAGE 09

young children who have an interest in science and who may wish to continue into higher studies.

I urge any parent to introduce their children to the life-story of this great woman whose brilliance and painstaking efforts helped to transform the scientific community and whose findings was later to lead to so many innovations that have benefited mankind.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Saturday August 14, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Jermaine Figueira's jumbie lash may kill Vincent Alexander P

N C parliamentarian, Jermaine Figueira, has put a deadly jumbie lash on Vincent Alexander.

T h e G E C O M Commissioner may not recover from it. He was driven to the emergency Covid-19 hospital but was turned back.

The authorities say jumbie lash does not give people the Covid-19 virus but “de Burnham virus.”

In the 1970s de Burnham virus was known as “de Burnham touch.”

It was Walter Rodney

who devastated the slogan of de Burnham touch.

He described the Midas Touch in reverse and applied it to Burnham.

King Midas in Greek mythology turned everything into gold that he put his hands on.

Rodney told Guyanese that Burnham turned everything into s…t that he laid his hands on. It was from then that de Burnham touch became de Burnham virus.

Anyway back to Vincent who is currently in hospital next to the Burnham mausoleum in the Botanical

Gardens.

So what happened b e t w e e n Vi n c e n t a n d Figueira? To understand the lash Vincent got we have to quote Figueira.

Speaking on the motion to adopt the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry Report, here is what Figueira enunciated in parliament, “We need to use this Parliament to better people's lives not to debate the dead over and over. Those who continuously want to do such should join the dead.”

This is a massive jumbie blow to the body of Vincent.

You see Vincent is one of the leading protagonists for preserving the memories of dead people.

He is one of the founders of the Guyana Branch of the Caribbean Reparations Committee. This agency is to press the British government to pay reparations for slavery.

Enter Figueira. Figueira contends that it is useless for Guyana to keep debating the dead.

If the British agree to pay compensation for slavery then how can dead people collect money? Slavery ended more than a hundred years ago. The dead has been dead more than two hundred years ago.

Dead people cannot receive money to go and buy clothes and food. I grew up in Wortmanville where I played and roamed in the Le Repentir Cemetery just two corners from where I grew up.

At night I saw dead people “in puris naturalibis” (stark naked) all the time.

Jumbies do not wear clothes.

I have never seen a jumbie eating food. Many late nights in Wortmanvile, as a small boy, I saw jumbies invading wake-houses but never took any food.

Once jumbies sneak into people's house in South Georgetown in the uncivilised hours of dusk,

they like to play with plates, bowls and glasses. I don't know why. But they Frederick Kissoon never touched food. t o have a foundation in the So what the dead are going to do with the money name of those who are dead. the British are going to give “Why not honour those who are living,” he would them?

In Figueira's logic why exclaim. I suspect that don't we ask the British for Figueira would like Vincent money for real, living to change the name to the people, like those at Plastic David Granger Foundation.

City and other squatting The man from Linden would say that Burnham is dead, areas and the palms?

Why not ask the British Granger is alive, let's have a for money to build a brand foundation in the name of the new old people's home or living.

I certainly don't agree furnish the Georgetown H o s p i t a l w i t h m o r e with Figueira. But the question is how Vincent feels facilities?

I remind readers this is about Figueira's theory of the not my logic but the dead.

I think Figueira's shadow reasoning of Vincent's is going to grow tall over the election colleague, Figueira.

Vincent is also one of the s h o u l d e r s o f Vi n c e n t founders of an institute whenever he opens his named after a Guyanese long m o u t h t o t a l k a b o u t dead – Forbes Burnham. reparations and the Burnham Vincent is currently its head Foundation.

I think Vincent should and David Granger is the retain Burnham's name but patron.

The thing is named the change it to the Burnham Burnham Foundation and Foundation for the teaching not surprisingly is housed in of how to rig elections.

Figueira's theory is a small place next to the Burnham mausoleum and bound to generate anger in has the appearance of a many election riggers and PNC supporters who believe squatting shack.

E n t e r t h e l o g i c o f in the dead.

(The views expressed in Figueira.

The PNC strongman this article are those of the from Linden would argue a u t h o r a n d d o n o t t h a t i t i s u s e l e s s , necessarily reflect the unnecessary, and irrelevant opinions of this newspaper.)

Saturday August 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Saturday August 14, 2021

Taxi driver Corporal remanded for extorting over $400,000 from suspect's relative stabbed for having affair with man's wife A 36-year-old taxi driver is now a patient at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after he was allegedly stabbed by the husband of a woman he is accused of having an affair with. The incident occurred on Thursday at Train Line Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, at 23:30hrs.

According to Police investigations, the victim and another man were at a shop gambling and imbibing when the accused walked in just as they were leaving. The suspect then accused the

victim of having an affair with his wife. The man then pulled an object from his waist and stabbed the victim in his left arm, his abdomen and his chest, then made good his escape.

The driver was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital (PMPH) where he was seen and examined by a doctor who transferred him to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. There, he was admitted as a patient and is in a stable condition.

Investigations are ongoing.

Venezuelan women among five arrested after missing fisherman found dead Two Venezuelan women are among five persons police detained on Thursday for questioning in relation to the death of Shaheed Mohamed, a fisherman.

T h i r t y - f o u r- y e a r- o l d Mohamed, of Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice, was on Thursday morning found dead and floating in the Aruka River located at Kumaka Front, Region One. This was just two days after he was reported missing.

According to the police report, his body was recovered around 08:00hrs. that day and was positively identified by the boat captain, Edwin O'Neil, and other crewmates.

The release by the police further stated that upon

examination, what appeared to be marks of violence were seen on his right eye and the right side of his neck.

On August 10, the boat captain had filed a missing person's report with the police and told them that he last saw Mohamed two nights ago (Sunday). The boat captain said Mohamed was in the company of two Venezuelan women.

The investigations further led to the arrest of the two women along with three of Mohamed's crewmates.

His body was taken to the Mabaruma Public Hospital Mortuary where it is awaiting a post mortem examination.

An investigation in the incident has since been launched.

US$35M mega Agro-Processing...

From page 8 nation, we must use this as an enabler for the Agriculture sector which is now taking off.”

During his remarks, Chief Executive Officer of G O - I n v e s t , D r. P e t e r Ramsaroop, stated “Rudisa Group of Companies has a long standing in Guyana and is embarking on a new and critical venture, which will considerably contribute to the President's vision for an Agriculture focused Guyana, and which will be focal in the Government's mission to transform Guyana into a large-scale exporter for the Caribbean and beyond.”

As for Mr. Maurice R. Gajadhar, CEO, of Caribbean International Distributors Inc., he expressed his vigor to embark on this new investment.

In this regard, he said, “We are excited to expand our operations and to be instrumental in Guyana's agricultural and industrial development through the employment of 600 persons once fully operational.

We want to make sure that our people benefit from this investment and are eager to add value to the Agriculture industry in keeping with our President's vision for Guyana.”

Omale Damon, a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), who was caught in a sting operation collecting money from a suspect's relative, was yesterday remanded to prison for the offence.

Damon allegedly swindled over $400,000 from the woman claiming that he could get her relative released from police custody.

Damon, a Police Corporal appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Chief

Magistrate Ann McLennan, where he was slapped with three counts of corrupt transactions.

He denied the charges which allege that in March, 2021, he collected a total of $400,000 for the release of a person in custody for the possession of firearm.

He was also charged for collecting $80,000 for the release of the motor vehicle the suspect was driving.

The court heard that shortly after receiving the first $200,000 the defendant requested another $200,000

which was given to him after he told the woman that the other officers involved wanted more money.

The woman later requested that that Damon release the motor vehicle the suspect was driving when he was arrested for the illegal possession of firearm, and in return the defendant requested another $200,000.

However, the woman informed him that she did not have any money and she later sought help from the girlfriend of the person that (Continued on page 23)

Remanded, Corporal Omale Damon.

Saturday August 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

Region 10 resident is country's latest COVID-19 fatality Ye s t e r d a y , t h e Ministry of Health reported that another person who contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease has died. That person was identified as a 75-yearold woman from Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) who passed away on Thursday while receiving care.

As a result of this, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 570.

Further, the Ministry via its COVID-19 dashboard within the last 24 hours recorded 100 new COVID-19 infections bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 23,344.

Presently there are 14 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 86 persons in institutional isolation, 761 in home isolation and five in institutional quarantine.

To date, a total of 21,913 persons have recovered from the virus.

A Superbet employee was yesterday charged for allegedly embezzling $367,000 from her workplace.

The defendant, Shenica Mingo, 20, was charged with embezzlement by clerk or servant. She appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly.

She denied the charge, which alleges that on August 5, 2021, at Rasville, Roxanne

Motorcyclist tries to escape from police, caught in bushes A 24-year-old man is now in police custody after he tried to escape from police on Thursday around 22:35hrs. at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop. Police were on patrol duty proceeding along New Road, Vreed-enHoop, when they saw a man riding along the same road on a motorcycle.

According to reports, the police attempted to stop him, but he rode away. The police gave chase during which time; the

Superbet employee charged for embezzling over $300K from company Burnham Gardens, Georgetown, she fraudulently embezzled $367,000 from Sue's Superbet.

The court heard that this is not the first time Mingo was charged for embezzlement.

At the age of 16, she was charged with a similar offence and was placed on bail.

Senior Magistrate Daly placed the defendant on $100,000 bail and the matter was adjourned to September 11, 2021.

PAGE 13

man dropped the motorcycle and ran into a yard. The chase continued and eventually the rider was caught in a clump of bushes in the area.

He was then arrested and taken to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station where he remains in custody.

The motorcycle was lodged for presentation of the relevant documents.

Investigations are ongoing.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 14, 2021

Saturday August 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Saturday August 14, 2021

Region Six tractor/pump operators paid $5,000 rate per hour as promised A

f t e r d a y s o f deliberating back and forth between tractor/pump operators who were hired to execute emergency works throughout the flooded areas of Region Six and officials, a decision was met this week at the Albion Estate where payments commenced.

Men and women braved the scorching sun and stood waiting for over an hour for a representative to come out and speak with them.

After sometime, such was done and the operators voiced their concerns to the administrative personnel and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) representatives. After an hour of back and forth, a meeting was held with a few of the operators and the decision was made to pay the $5,000 per hour rate.

Prior to this, the operators were prepared to stage a picketing exercise while they waited for word on their payments, but that was thwarted following the discussions they had on site yesterday.

Ryan Pariang, a tractor/pump operator, told this publication that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority have agreed to pay the $5,000 per hour rate, as promised from inception.

“It's good to note that we have come to an agreement with NDIA to

Operators engaging representatives yesterday at the Albion Estate before payments commenced

pay the price agreed upon. They wanted to pay $4,000 but they have now agreed to pay the $5,000.

They have started the process of verifying persons, and for those who have been verified, they are going to go ahead and process the payments,” said an operator who met with the NDIA representatives yesterday at Albion Estate.

He added that while the agreement was verbal, he along with his other colleagues are

hoping that the authorities hold to their word.

The operator said he requested a document to present to his colleagues who were waiting outside the estate compound for some positive news "but one was not offered.”

He said nonetheless that the first cheque that leaves that office would be evidence that the promise was and will continue to be honoured.

It was explained that for persons who are expected to have received below $1.5M based on the hours that have been verified, those persons would have received payments yesterday, but for those who are required to receive above that figure "it will be a longer process whereby, a document has to go to Georgetown for approval.”

Pariang, who spoke on behalf of the dozens gathered to uplift their payments, said they were all

satisfied that an agreement was met.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, David Armogan, has since confirmed that the operators were paid the rate per hour agreed upon ($5,000), and that approximately 25-30 persons received such payments.

A contract was also signed as is mandatory to ensure that there is transparency in the process.

Payments are expected to continue.

Durban Street man in court on firearm related charges A Durban Street man, yesterday landed before a City Magistrate where he was charged for firearm related charges.

The defendant, Irvin Fraser, 45, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly, who read the charges to him.

The charges allege that on Monday August 9, 2021, at Durban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, he had in his possession one Glock 9mm firearm licence enforced at that time.

The latter charge stated that on the same date and at the same location, he had in his possession a total of fourteen 9mm rounds of ammunition, when he is not a licence firearm holder enforced at that time.

Fraser denied the charges, he was placed on $100,000 bail on each charge, and the matter was adjourned to August 16, 2021.

The police prosecutor told the court that around 18:15hrs, a party of policemen went to the home of the accused, at Lot 23 Durban Street, Lodge, where they conducted a search.

The court heard that in the presence of the defendant, in a storage room the unlicenced firearm and matching ammunitions were found. The defendant was arrested, cautioned and he admitted knowledge of the items.

Fraser was later charged and placed before the court for the offence.

Irvin Frazer

Saturday August 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Saturday August 14, 2021

Relationship between Guyana, Caribbean Airlines must be reciprocal - Pres. Ali President, Irfaan Ali, and several Government representatives virtually engaged with executive members of Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) yesterday to discuss existing challenges and ways of strengthening their partnership.

The President said he is aware that CAL has been an outstanding partner of Guyana but informed that it has never been a one-way street.

“We are aware that CAL has been an extremely good partner of Guyana, but you must also accept that Guyana has been an extremely good market for CAL. It has never been a oneway street, it has always been a two-way street, and all your previous boards and CEOs would have appreciated this.”

The President also acknowledged that there is room for improvement in many areas, including local content.“I know that you are cutting costs and you are cutting staff, but we would like to see more involvement of Guyanese in the

operations, and by that, I mean we are willing to work with you on increasing your footprint and your presence here in Guyana as part of your development plans.”

Additionally, he pointed to the challenges with frequency and costs of flights to Canada and Miami and the issue of cargo capacity.

The President noted too that during the pandemic the relationship continued since Guyana was kept relatively open and CAL's operations were sustained. “It is under these circumstances that I wanted us to engage and to have a clear understanding as to where CAL is heading.

Also…we believe that CAL is a long and strong partner with us, and we need to find a way in which that partnership is demonstrated in a stronger way.”

MORE COLLABORATION In his remarks, CAL's Chairman of the Board, Mr. Ronnie Mohammed, said that the airline has been a “legacy carrier” into Guyana and that the mutual friendship and relationship between Guyana

(From left): Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill; President, Irfaan Ali; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond; and CEO of Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Mr. Ramesh Ghir.

and Trinidad have been maintained and sustained.

“We are eager and willing to partner deeper with our footprint in Guyana,” he added.

Meanwhile, CEO, Mr. Garvin Medera, assured the President that CAL is “very willing” to continue with the push to support local content in Guyana.

He explained that prior to the onset of the pandemic; the airline had started recruiting Guyanese but was forced to cut back on staffing.

In closing, President Ali pointed to the importance of a clear path and plan between the Government and CAL, which can be transmitted to consumers. “ We h a v e t o g r o w together. We need to have a technical discussion on the way forward to improve efficiency and to come up with a master plan together to share with the people in demonstration of the partnership.”

He informed the airline officials that moving

forward, the Ministers at the meeting will engage at the technical level to craft a cohesive plan that demonstrates and strengthens the partnership while examining the opportunities ahead.

He stressed that this will help build trust and improve services in the eyes of consumers.

President Ali was joined

by Minister of Public Works, the Honourable Juan Edghill; Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, the

Honourable Oneidge Walrond; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, the Honourable Deodat Indar; National Security Advisor, Captain, Gerry Gouveia and CEO of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Mr. Ramesh Ghir.

CAL was represented by its General Manager, Mr. Carl Stuart; Chairman of the Board, Mr. Mohammed; CEO, Mr. Medera and Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Yannis Gounaris.

GNBS signs MoU with American Petroleum Institute to strengthen safety guidelines for oil sector

T

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and American Petroleum Institute (API) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen knowledge and cooperation on safety guidelines and requirements for Guyana's burgeoning energy industry.

Executive Director (Ag) of the GNBS, Ms. Ramrattie Karan and API's Vice President Segment Standards and Services, Ms. Alexa Burr signed the MoU. Ms. Burr virtually participated in the Signing of the MOU in the absence of Senior Vice President of Global Industry Services, Debra Phillips.

Ms. Karan in her brief remarks stated that the GNBS as the National Measurements Institute and the country's National Standards Body play a key role in the oil and gas industry.

She welcomed the partnership noting that “we (GNBS) see our role in this promising industry as critical in ensuring its success and we

look forward to partnering with the American Petroleum Institute to standardize practices and procedures through the adoption of API Standards and other guidelines.”

Also delivering remarks at today's event, held in the Conference Room of the GNBS, was Chairman of the new National Standards Council (NSC) Mr. Vladim Persaud. In brief remarks, he noted that the Government of Guyana continues to provide unwavering support and guidance through policy directives, which ensure the Bureau's activities and functions are carried out optimally and in accordance with the Standards Act to meet the needs of all its stakeholders.

“No doubt, standards provide opportunities for higher levels of economic growth, favourable conditions for trade and generally higher levels of development.

They are critical to the petroleum industry, which is governed by global benchmarks”, he said.

Through this MoU, the

Chairman of the National Standards Council – Mr. Vladim Persaud delivering remarks at Friday's event attended by other members of the council (right), Executive Director (ag) of the GNBS Ms. Ramrattie Karan and Mr. Bobby Gossai of the Ministry of Natural Resources (Center) and Heads of Department at the GNBS (left) GNBS will adopt a list of API Standards as National Standards, a c c e s s A P I training opportunities based on the needs of the Bureau and the local i n d u s t r y, a n d s h a r e information regarding

updates to applicable regulations in the industry.

The Bureau w i l l a l s o facilitate training to enhance understanding and implementation of the API Manual of Petroleum Measurement

Standards (MPMS).

Ms. Alexa Burr, in her remarks delivered virtually said, this is the start of a longterm collaboration between the organisations.

“Between the API 600+ members and our 700+

standards combined with GNBS' de c a d e s o f experience and contacts in the Region, we have a significant opportunity to share knowledge across the industry,” she explained.

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 14, 2021

PAGE 19

Fishermen burnt after gas bottle explodes

Scenes of the aftermath.

On Thursday evening, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) received a call about 18:10hrs. and was alerted of a boat being on fire at New Bridge Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Investigators subsequently launched a probe involving an accident that occurred in the Helena, Mahaica River, East Coast Demerara (ECD) involving two fishermen, Phillip Edmonds, 42-year-old and Derrick Balmickery, 29year-old. During the probe, it was found that the two men received multiple burns about their bodies.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was as a result of a lit stove left unattended which ignited

nearby combustible materials and spread to the entire boat.

Water tender #94 from the Mahaica Fire Station responded to the scene where firefighters found a wooden fishing boat on fire.

Firefighters sprung into action and were able to extinguish the blaze by using an open water source.

They were both taken to the Mahaicony Hospital and Balmickery w as later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) while Edmonds was treated and sent away.

As a result of the fire, the boat and its contents were completely destroyed.

The fishermen who suffered injuries as a result of the explosion

Regent Street execution…

Man turns self in to clear his name A man on Thursday surrendered to the police to clear his name after he was informed that members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were at his home looking for him in relation to the Regent Street execution of a Brazilian businessman.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, told this publication that the suspect turned himself in at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters Eve Leary, Georgetown, on Thursday afternoon. The man is still in custody.

Blanhum added that the suspect was in the company of his lawyer when he surrendered at CID. While in custody, the suspect also provided the investigators

with an alibi.

Kaieteur News had reported that the businessman, Euclid Erian Da Silva and his associate were shot execution style, on Tuesday night around 22:30hrs, while sitting in a parked vehicle in front of Shamdas Kirpalani, between C a m p a n d We l l i n g t o n Streets, Georgetown.

It is believed that the businessman and his friend were in search of a location to purchase some fast food that evening. CCTV footage showed that a heavily tinted white car pulled behind the pick-up and two men dressed in black hoodies stepped out with high-powered rifles.

They flanked the pick-up, one on the right side where the friend was seated and

Executed Brazilian businessman, Euclid Erian Da Silva. another on the left side where Da Silva was seated, and opened fire.

After riddling the vehicle and men with bullets, they

re-entered their car and sped off east along Regent Street.

A security guard from a nearby building recalled that all he heard was rapid gunfire, and when he rushed out, he saw a crowd gathering around the parked pick-up.

Da Silva was pronounced dead on the scene, while his associate was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he remains in a critical condition. Based on reports reaching this media house, he arrived at the hospital in a conscious state but had lost a lot of blood. Photos of the wounded man receiving treatment showed that he was shot multiple times to his arms, face and legs.

Da Silva's wounded friend.

It appeared that some of the bullets might have exited, because there were visible exit holes on his arms. The detectives are still trying to ascertain the wounded man's identity.

Moreover, Da Silva has

had a shady past, including being wanted by the police in Brazil for drug trafficking in the late 1990s. He was arrested in Guyana ten years ago and was fighting extradition claiming to be Guyanese.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Saturday August 14, 2021

Trinidadian fishermen, activists denounce halfhearted cleanup campaign by company responsible following oil spill

A

ccording to international news agency 'The Guardian,' footage filmed recently by a Trinidadian fisherman, Gary Aboud, on board a small boat, documents a recent oil spill in the Gulf of Paria, off the Caribbean coast of Trinidad.

It is just the latest of many spills that threaten to wreak havoc on the area's vulnerable marine life and fishing industry.

According to The Guardian, Aboud heads a local environmental

watchdog. In the video, he showed the extent of the spill, which according to him, stretched for miles. He said it was a half-hearted clean-up attempt by oil company, Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited.

The Guardian notes that Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) went out to document the spill and filmed a vessel at full throttle apparently attempting to break up the oil layer. It called for the company to use booms to contain the oil and collect it. “What we saw [in

terms of the spill] was not as outrageous as what they were doing,” said Aboud.

“Breaking up the large globs into smaller globs might be less offensive to the eye but it's equally offensive to us.

When you break the oil up, it sinks and goes to the ocean bed, where it will continue to degrade and get into the food chain.”

Paria said in a statement released on Monday that “The spill is contained, and a residual clean-up is ongoing.”

The company said that

absorbent booms had been strategically placed to prevent further migration of oil into the sea, and that vacuum trucks were removing oil collected on land while oil streaks at sea were being “mechanically broken up.”

However, the media agency notes that Lisa Premchand, Programme Director of FFOS, said that there was no evidence over the last three days to show the company was using booms to contain the spill. “Through our drone imagery, there

were no booms in the Gulf of Paria around this spill to contain the oil from spreading even further.”

Premchand said FFOS received eyewitness accounts from fishers claiming that an oil dispersant is being used in the clean-up attempt, although there has been no confirmation of that from the company and despite the fact, that Trinidad and Tobago's oil spill contingency plan states that dispersant chemicals should not be used near the shoreline.

“It takes years and years for oil to degrade,” said Premchand. “There is a buildup of chemicals in our water. Our gulf is becoming more polluted over time with the increase in intensity of oil spills.”

The Guardian noted that the Region's oil industry has come under increasing fire as the Gulf of Paria has been plagued by spills over the past few years. A freedom of information request carried out in April by FFOS revealed there have been 498 (Continued on page 23)

Saturday August 14, 2021

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Corn, soya bean trial showing positive results - $45M already invested in massive pilot project

Trial plot for soya bean that is currently under cultivation

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, examines one of the young soya bean plants Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, yesterday visited the Dubulay Ranch, which is located approximately 70 miles south of Georgetown along the Berbice River to get a firsthand look at the ongoing corn and soya bean trial.

The project, which is being undertaken by a group of local investors, came on stream after President, Irfaan Ali, announced government’s intention to be self-sufficient in producing proteins for the poultry industry. The Head of State had also disclosed that incentives would be made available for private

individuals interested in coming on board with the government’s vision for the development of the sector.

With Guyana now taking the lead on advancing the agri-food systems agenda in CARICOM, the government is keen on finding ways to reduce the country’s as well as CARICOM’s food import bill. Guyana currently expends close to US$25 million annually on proteins for the poultry sector.

The group of investors, which comprises the owners of Guyana Stockfeed Limited, Royal Chicken, Edun Farms, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch,

and Bounty Farm Limited, along with the Brazilianowned N F Agriculture have so far invested approximately $45 million into the pilot project.

Assistant Managing Director of Bounty Farm Limited, David Fernandes, said that it was important for the team to commence trials of the two key inputs so that sufficient data could be gathered. “…We planted 115 acres of soya bean and five acres of corn at this point. Those two crops will probably be reaped by the end of September and then we’ll

US-based family seeks help to find deported relative The family of 27-year-old Haymant Kumar Rohit called “Dylan” or “Sammy,” is appealing with the general public to help find him after he was not heard from since last year August.

Rohit was in 2017 deported from the United States of America (USA) and was reportedly residing with a family friend at La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara.

The young man who does not have any other relative in Guyana, had travelled to the Puruni area, Region Seven, early last year where he was working at a mining operation.

The man’s mother, Amanda Khan, told Kaieteur News yesterday that she last heard from her son back in August last year when he called from Puruni landing but has not heard from him since. Khan said she does not know the persons who her son is employed with or the name of the backdam where he is working.

The distraught woman said that her son would usually make contact with her every time he reaches out at the landing where he gets proper phone signal. Knowing that he usually goes into the backdam for some months, during December she tried to make contact with him again via the numbers he called from previously but the calls went unanswered.

After several months of trying to contact her son, she had asked the family-friend to file a missing person’s report last month. The report was made at the Brickdam Police Station

plant again in November. At that point, we intend to plant 125 acres each of corn and soya bean. So far, it’s been quite interesting and exciting for us because the plants are now about 4 ½ weeks old and the soya beans look very good.

The corn is still very young…,” Mr. Fernandes said while expressing gratitude to various government agencies and officials who provided guidance during the process.

Fernandes also expressed optimism with the outcome of the ongoing trial. He added that with the support received from the government and other international partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), commercial cultivation once commenced, will also display impressive production figures.

During yesterday’s visit, Minister Mustapha expressed his satisfaction with the project thus far. He also said

that with access being a critical component to the success of large-scale and commercial production, infrastructural upgrades to the road leading to the Tacama Savannah are expected to commence shortly.

“I want to compliment the team for what they have achieved so far. Both the corn and soya bean pilot plots look very encouraging and I am very optimistic that this pilot project will yield exceptional results ahead of commercials and large-scale production of these two very important proteins for the poultry industry,” the Minister stated while adding that from the government’s perspective, it will be investing $500 million to upgrade and improve the infrastructure as part of its Intermediate Savannah Development Initiative.

To facilitate production in the Tacama Savannah, he said, “We’ll be doing the 18km of road, drying floors and

other facilities. As you know, access is critical when undertaking projects of this magnitude in these far-off locations. I am happy to inform you that tenders are currently out for the roads…Very shortly, tenders will be out for other key infrastructure in that area.”

Since taking office in August 2020, government has promoted the domestic cultivation of grains like corn and soya bean. Government, in its 2020 Emergency Budget, for example, removed valueadded tax (VAT) on agriculture machinery, fertilizers, agrochemicals, and pesticides, thereby making it more feasible for such investments.

Furthermore, in this year’s budget, an additional $500 million was allocated to develop the corn and soya bean industry. These sums will be invested to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to support private investment.

...Lack of trust aggravates COVID-19 vaccination

Missing, Haymant Kumar Rohit. last month. She further claimed that since the report was filed she has not heard anything about the whereabouts of her son.

When this publication contacted the police in Georgetown and in Region Seven, they could not provide any information at the time but promised to check in with the matter.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Haymant Kumar Rohit called “Dylan” or “Sammy,” can contact 621-6260 or 911 or the nearest police station.

From page 6 of anti-vaxxers by prioritising the following messages: · All approved vaccines are highly effective against severe disease and death from COVID-19. · The unvaccinated are the ones who are dying not the vaccinated. · Rebut false and outdated information. · Vaccine availability. · Reduce hesitancy in relation to less preferred vaccines. · A clearer understanding of what the right to choose means.

Rebuttal of wrong and outdated information about

vaccine safety and effectiveness is crucial since anti-vaxxers still regurgitate the distortion and ridicule instilled by right-wing politicians from earlier days.

A more current distortion relates to the widely misused justification of the anti-vax position by reference to the freedom to choose.

The decision to choose to be vaccinated is too readily equated with daily choices such as where an individual chooses to shop, or which TV programme to watch, decisions which are almost entirely without repercussion for other people.

The rights of other people, however, are a wellestablished legal limitation on an individual’s right to choose.

An individual’s right to drive at a fast speed, for example, is limited by the safety of other people and, in that case, is legally enforced.

Similarly, if the Government believes the case for mandatory action against the unvaccinated is sufficiently established, such action must fully explained and applied impartially and fairly.

Executive Committee Guyana Human Rights Association

PAGE 22

LEGAL NOTICE

WANTED

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Houseplan drawing and estimates.K.Lakeram Building Contractor.Call:2160671/692-8464 or whatsapp 622-0267.

Mechanic 5-7000 day for machine equipment to maintainand repair, Excavator,loader, grader.China Railway First Group.Tel:632-1122.

1 canter driver sales man.Layout birds to buy.Tel:225-0480,219-2170/ 675-0587.

Live in experience cook 3035000 wkly.Live in domestic 25-30000 wkly.Tel:648-7866.

One live in babysitter to work.Intrested person contact Shelly on 677-8963,6224576.

One male able bodied clerk.Tel:231-2029/616-5954.

FOR SALE Two houses one yard income generator,Diamond H/SchemeE.B.D.34M negotiable.Contact 6572951/612-9697.

Experience welders between ages 30-45.MechanicDoosan & Excavator operator.Tel:223-5273/74.

16x6Truck,1 Freightliner,1 Sylphy,1 Hilux LN 172,1 JCB loader.Tel:673-4002/ 665-3676.

VACANCY Maid to cook and clean for East Bank.Call:615-9132.

Driver Eccles office,Car/Van licence.Call:642-9823.

FOR RENT Vr e e d - e n - h o o p junction.Place for hair salon, pedicure, manicure ,other.Call:603-6400.$15,000 per month.

TO LET 1- bedroom house on E.C.D,no children.Tel:6629043,call between 8am-5pm.

2-bedroom house on E.C.D.Tel:662-9043.Call between 8am-5pm.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Sale of property at Lot 87D Albert St Alberttown.3 b u i l d i n g f r o m Lamaha.24M,Price negotiable.Tel:675-9217.

Factory workers and sale representatives.Must have a sound secondary education.Call:223-0090.

Cashier,Sales representative (in doors),Driver-Lorry/ Canter & Porter.Tel:2275286/609-2995. Email: survival.humanresources@ gmail.com.

One cashier to work at Superbet.Tel:691-7123.

Rider's for a delivery with o r w i t h o u t bike.Professional,neatly a t t i r e d , w e l l mannered.Tel:642-6832/ whatsapp.

C l e a n e r, m a i n t e n a n c e worker,labours to work with P.S.G.C.S.Call:621-6969 or 615-7784,7-4pm.

Auto Electrical apprentice age 19-25 yrs.Apply in person, Lot 120 Forth Street Albertown G/Town or call 610-0340.

WANTED Welder fabricator for grill work.Call:621-5310.

Puri Roti Cooks.Apply @Shanta's,225 Camp & New Market Streets.

1 canter driver over 40yrs old,between Grove & Diamond.Tel:644-5957.

Saturday August 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

One female cashier & one malewelder/fabricator@Del ice Co.Call:642-9191/2311408,8am-1pm.

Pitmen for interior location.Applicants must be experienced.Call:231-2250.

LEGAL NOTICE 202J-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-692 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF

J U D I C A T U R E FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISD I C T I O N FAMILY DIVISION BETWEEN:- PETITION NO.: FD692 SMITH (DENISE)neeDAVID Petitioner Applicant -vSMITH (DAVID THEOPHILUS) Respondent TO: DAVID THEOPI-HLUS SMITH (Last Known Address) Lot 116 3rd Avenue Bartica, Essequibo TAKE NOTICE that on the 27th day of May, 2021 a Petition for Divorce was tiled against you by DENISE SMITH nee DAVID, the Petitioner/Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 2nd day of July, 202 I, the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Wednesday the 29th day of September, 2021 at 9:30 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in Court lA via Zoom Meeting 10: 503 218 6789 and Password: court1a of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your tiling an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law ‘Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 8th day of July, 2021 .

or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Thursday the 14th day of October, 2021 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in Court 5 via Zoom Meeting Il): 296 214 9380 and Password: 1 umVj7 of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as theRegistry is closed. Dated the 6th day of August, 2021

situate at 350, East Street, North Cummingsburg,Georgetown, Guyana. Claimant -and- The Guyana Energy Agency, a body established under the Guyana Energy Agency Act, Cpt. 56:04 Mahender Sharma, the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency Defendants . NOTICE OF APPLICATION The Applicant will make an application to the court on the day of August, 2021, at the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature at before the Honourable Justice G.Persaud in chambers.

PROPOSED METHOD OF HEARING: The application is to be heard (choose appropriate option) in writing because. it is (on consent, unopposed or made without notice); 1. THE APPLICATION IS FOR: (a) An Order permitting the Applicant to join: Action No. 2021-HCDEM-Ci J-SOC-36 SBF International Inc. -and- 1.

Guyana Energy Agency 2.

Mahender Sharma as a interested Party to Chest: proceedings, for the reasons set out. (b) Any other order that the Court may deem just. 2. THE GROU DS FOR THE APPLICATION ARE: The Application is made under: (a) Part 8.01(3) (b) Part I 1.01 (i) (c) Part 1 1.03 (d) Part 19.02(i) (e) Part 19.02 (3)(ij) (1) Part 21.01(l)(d) (g) Part 21.01(3) of the Civil Procedure Rules 2016.

The facts in support of’ the grounds of the application are set out in detail in the Affidavit attached to the Notice of Application. A summary of the grounds is set out below: (it. The Claimant, SBF International Inc. in the current proceedings Action No. 2021-HC-DEM-CIV-SOC-36, claim to ownership of Diesel Fuel Importing Wholesale Licence No. ILj0029 of 2015 is unlawful because: (a). On 11th November 2015 the Guyana Energy Agency (the GEA) granted Licence No. 1L/0029 of2015 to the Applicant’s company Lynwil International Trading (Guyana) Inc. referred to below as “Lynwil”. The said Licence is due to expire/On 10th November 2025. (paragraph 15, exhibit “LT j 4” of the Affidavit refers).

The deponent to the attached Affidavit Lyndon Thomas, is Sole Director of Lynwil.

2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-784 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO.: FD- 784 BETWEEN:(BRITTON) WANICA MICKESHA nee BAKER Petitioner/Applicant -and(BRITTON) MAA VIN MARLON ROBERT Respondent TO: MAA VIN MARLON ROBERT BRITTON (Last Known Address) Mocha New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara TAKE NOTICE that on the 16th day of June, 2021 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by WANICA MICKESHA BRITTON nee BAKER, the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 3rd day of August, 2021, the Petitioner! Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online).

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE COMMERCIAL JURISDICTION 2021-HC-DEM-SOC-36 BETWEEN: SBF International Inc., a Company incorporated under the Laws of Guyana with registered office

Saturday August 14, 2021

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

...Trinidadian fishermen, activists denounce halfhearted cleanup campaign by company From page 20 reported oil spills on land and at sea since the beginning of 2018.

Furthermore, there have been no resulting prosecutions or fines by Trinidad and Tobago authorities. Last year, there was international concern over efforts to remove a vessel filled with 1.3M barrels of crude oil floating in the gulf.

The FSO Nabarima, a LEGAL NOTICE Lyndon Thomas is the de facto Applicant herein. (b). Dorwain Bess, the Chef Executive Officer of SBF International Inc. is falsely relying on an Agreement dated 21 st November 2014 he entered into with Lyndon Thomas, which Agreement Dorwain Bess breached fundamentally in 2016, and which breach subsists to date. (c). On 24th March 2017 Dorwain Bess unlawfully changed the title of Lynwil International Trading (Guyana) Inc. to SBF Petroleum Inc. (d). On 21st June 2019 Lyndon Thomas instructed the Guyana Energy by way of a letter of equal date to suspend Licence No. IL/ 0029 of 2015. (paragraph 27, exhibit “LT /9” of the Affidavit refers). Dorwain Bess thereafter submitted false documents to the Guyana Energy Agency in consequence of which the latter wrongly transferred Licence No. IL/0029 of 2015 to SBF International Inc. (e). On divers datesbetween March 2017 to September 2020, SBF imported large quantities of diesel fuel under false Importing / wholesaling License unlawfully. (f). The Applicant herein is competent to testify with the support of documentation as to the facts set out above.

The following documentary evidence will be used at the hearing of the application: (i) The Affidavit of Lyndon Thomas (ii) The exhibits to the Affidavit ofLyndon Thomas 4. A draft of the order that the applicant seeks is attached. Rabi S. Sukul, Brickdam Chambers, Lot 60, Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown, Guyana Tel: +592 225 2409 or +5926195000 Email:rsukul@brickdamchambers.com Narendra Singh, 215, South Road, Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana Tel: +592 223 7656 Email: narendrasingh_lawyer 24@yahoo.com Date: 3rd August, 2021.

stationary storage facility, was pictured rusting and taking on water, sparking fears that it would spill its contents. The impact of oil spills on the fishing industry in the area is dire, say locals.

The Gulf of Paria is one of the most biodiversity regions in Trinidad and Tobago, accounting for more than 60% of all fishing activity. A Ministry of Agriculture report in 1992 found an estimated 40,000 people depend on the fishing industry directly or indirectly as their main source of income.

If crude oil gets on to fishing nets, which cost about £4,000 each, it renders them useless. Oil that sinks to the seabed forces fish to migrate, and can reach the food chain.

A 2019 study showed unsafe

...Corporal remanded for From page 12 was in custody. The girlfriend then reported the matter to the police and a sting operation was carried out. This led to Damon being caught in the act receiving $80,000 from the girlfriend – the $80,000 was later recovered.

The defendant was arrested and subsequently charged for three counts of corrupt transactions. He is expected to make his next court appearance on August 23, 2021.

levels of carcinogens in fish caught in the area.

Aboud says, “This has installed fear in consumers.

Every time we have an oil spill of this magnitude and it’s

publicised, there’s a decrease in the sale of fish.”

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 14, 2021

Guyanese man shot dead in New York road rage incident Police in Queens, New York, reported that 24-yearold Anthony Ali, a Guyanese, is dead after a possible case of road rage.

American media house, CBS2's, Natalie Duddridge, spoke with his devastated aunt, who said her nephew told his parents he was going out for a drive and would be home soon to walk his dog.

Instead, he was found just blocks from his home, motionless on the street next to his crashed car with gunshot wounds to his head and body.

The news agency reported that police scoured the scene of the shootingturned-crash at 89th Avenue

and 116th Street. Officers say 24-year-old Anthony Ali was driving a blue BMW when the driver of a black Infinity sedan crashed into the back of his car just before 10 p.m.

Investigators say Ali had words with the driver, who then pulled out a handgun and discharged several shots at Ali. According to police, Ali tried to drive off but was shot and killed.

His BMW then crashed into a light pole.

First responders found him on the street. He had been shot in the face and chest. His friend showed up to the scene Friday, at a loss for words and trying to find a

way to honour him.

“He was a good kid.

He wasn't really bothering nobody. Just trying to promote his jewellery, because he used to work for Avianne,” the friend said.

Residents in the area said they can't believe a road rage dispute happened on such a quiet residential street.

“What's even sadder is that people are in such a rush for things that when they make a mistake, instead of taking responsibility of it, they pull out a gun, and a person ends up losing their life over a simple drive,” said Richmond Hill resident, Chavez Robinson.

Saturday August 14, 2021

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Japan PM Suga urges travel curbs as FIFA Global Integrity COVID-19 cases surge before Paralympics Programme continues Tokyo, (Reuters) Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday urged people to refrain from travelling as COVID-19 cases spiked to new records in Tokyo and nationwide, heaping pressure on the medical system.

His comments follow health expert recommendations to strengthen states of emergency now in place in the capital and other hot spots. Days after the end of the Tokyo Olympics, Paralympic organisers decided to hold the event mostly without spectators to limit infection risks, local media reported.

Suga said the government will strive to restrain the flow of people in commercial areas,

and he urged residents to avoid travelling during Japan’s traditional Obon holidays. “I would like to ask citizens to avoid going back to their home towns or travelling, and to refrain from going out unnecessarily,” Suga told reporters.

Japan is experiencing a fifth wave of COVID-19, driven by the highly infectious delta variant. A woman related to the Olympics was identified as Japan’s first case of the lambda variant of the virus, first identified in Peru, Kyodo reported on Friday, citing government sources.

Planners of the Paralympic Games, due to start on Aug. 24, agreed on Thursday to limit spectators, following in the footsteps of

their Olympics counterparts, the Yomiuri newspaper reported, citing Games sources. The organiser’s office told Reuters that no decision on spectators has been made.

The Tokyo government reported a record 5,773 new coronavirus infections on Friday, as well as an all-time high 227 patients with serious symptoms. New daily cases nationwide exceeded 20,000 for the first time, public broadcaster NHK said.

Tokyo is already under a state of emergency, the fourth so far in the pandemic, though some experts have said it should be expanded to cover the whole country.

Paralympic venues in Shizuoka, central Japan, will limit spectators to under 5,000

Saturday August 14, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your mental activity is more pronounced than usual, Aries.

It may be difficult to stop the barrage of thoughts streaming through your head.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The connection between your thoughts and words is strong today, and communication with others goes especially well, Libra.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Ideas are intriguing today.

You might feel like a kid in a candy store seeing new treats for the first time. New concepts are pulling you in, and you love every minute of it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your words will flow smoothly today, and you certainly won't lack things to say. Conversations about higher learning and greater spirituality are likely.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You pick up information quickly, Gemini. Someone only needs to explain something to you once for you to grasp the concept.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) If someone says something you disagree with or disapprove of, Sagittarius, speak up. The person might assume you agree unless you say something.

CANCER(June21–July22) You have independent views about everything, Cancer.

People would be wrong to try to box you into thinking a certain way. Don't let others convince you to accept something you're skeptical of.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You're likely to be even quicker on the uptake than usual, Capricorn. Conversation will be brisk and lively.

You may feel like the conductor of a symphony.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you know you've wronged another, admit it immediately, Leo. People are often quick to point out when others make mistakes, but it's the rare individual who points out their own mistakes.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) If you're in a debate, don't back down, Aquarius. The major advantage you have over your opponents is your keen power of observation.

It enables you to pick up on the energy around you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may feel a great urge to dive headfirst into a project. Perhaps there's a plot of ground that you want to turn into a garden. . Maybe there's a craft or art form that you can't wait to learn about and develop.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Once you start talking about a certain topic, Pisces, it might be hard to stop, especially if the topic is you or one of your activities. A question about one aspect of your life may come up.

people, the Yomiuri said.

Organisers are still considering inviting school children to events, it said.

Officials previously said they planned to make a decision after the Olympics, which ended on Aug. 8.

The Paralympic competitions include swimming, table tennis, wheelchair fencing and basketball, with over 4,000 athletes with various impairments such as paraplegia.

...Rory Burns falls late to From page 28 India lost their last seven wickets for 88 runs on Friday to be bowled out for 364. England endured a disappointing opening day, a below-par bowling performance and a superb unbeaten century from KL Rahul helping India to 2763 after they were asked to bat in testing conditions.

However, there was an almost instant signal that Root’s side would fare better on day two when Rahul spooned Ollie Robinson’s second ball of the day to cover.

The improvement was engineered by the two class acts in the England team Root the premier batsman and Anderson the ageless maestro of a fast bowler.

It perhaps could have b e e n e v e r b e t t e r. Tw o catches and three run-out opportunities were missed as they tried to make their way through the India lower order. Realistically, though, none were too expensive in terms of runs.

Given the way they were outplayed in the drawn first Test, in addition to the sense of foreboding after Siraj’s double strike, England’s position at the close is more satisfactory than 24 hours earlier.

They remain a long way behind but, on a slow, true pitch, there can be cautious optimism that they can battle towards parity.

India 364: Rahul 129, Rohit 83, Anderson 5-62. England 119-3: Burns 49, Root 48*. England trail by 245 runs.

with Concacaf edition Thirty-five member associations from across the Concacaf region will come together this week to begin the third edition of the FIFA Global Integrity Programme, a dedicated integrity initiative designed to improve education and build integrity capacity across football.

In the same vein as the previous sessions delivered

by FIFA with the AFC and CONMEBOL, the Concacaf instalment will comprise five one-day sessions that will see integrity and anticorruption experts from FIFA, UNODC, Concacaf and many more share knowledge with integrity officers from across the North, Central America and the Caribbean region.

Starting on 11 August, the Concacaf edition will conclude on 15 September.

The modules will focus on

key topics, including establishing an integrity initiative, reporting mechanisms, competition protection, media strategy, cooperation between stakeholders, best practices and investigations.

In line with FIFA’s overall vision of making football truly global and its ongoing commitment to protecting and promoting the integrity of the game, the FIFA Global Integrity Programme is aimed at improving education and building integrity capacity in all 211 member associations by sharing advanced knowhow and resources with integrity officers.

It also reflects the UNODC’s objective of supporting governments and sports organisations in their efforts to safeguard sport from corruption and crime.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 14, 2021

Brilliant Brentford stun Arsenal in front of jubilant home crowd Christian Norgaard’s header was his first league goal in England - after failing to score in 59 Championship appearances

BBCsport - Brentford celebrated their return to the top tier after a 74-year absence with a memorable, magnificent victory over woeful Arsenal as they opened their Premier League campaign in style.

Thomas Frank’s side were vibrant, skilful and energetic on a night of high emotion at the Brentford Community Stadium, making the perfect start to the season, but inflicting serious pain on the Gunners in a sobering 90 minutes for the visitors.

Brentford took to life in the big time with ease and

fully deserved the lead given to them after 22 minutes when Sergi Canos drove low past keeper Bernd Leno at the near post, although Arsenal complained bitterly that the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.

Only Emile Smith Rowe truly rose above the mediocrity for Arsenal, forcing a save out of Brentford keeper David Raya - who also brilliantly denied Nicolas Pepe late on before the home fans exploded in noise and elation when they scored a second with 17 minutes left.

Arsenal, without strike

pair Alexandre Lacazette and P i e r r e - E m e r i c k Aubameyang through illness, paid the price for a hopeless attempt to defend substitute Mads Sorensen’s routine long throw. New £50m defender Ben White was particularly culpable as Christian Norgaard arrived to head home.

Brentford’s supporters, understandably, celebrated wildly at the final whistle, but this was a result and performance that instantly turns the spotlight on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as he desperately needs an improvement on last season.

Lewandowski sets opening day record as Bayern begin with draw Robert Lewandowski has scored in 11 consecutive Bundesliga games.

Gerd Muller holds the record with 16

BBCsport - Robert Lewandowski scored on the opening day of the Bundesliga for a record seventh consecutive season as the Julian Nagelsmann era began with a draw at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Alassane Plea slammed Gladbach into the lead after he was fed by Lars Stindl. That was the first time Bayern - who have won the past nine titles - have not scored the first goal of the season since 2012.

Lewandowski equalised with a volley

from a Joshua Kimmich corner. Poland striker Lewandowski and Stindl both went close to scoring a winner in the second half.

Lewandowski has scored in each of his last 11 Bundesliga appearances, with 18 goals in that run.

The last time he played a game for Bayern without scoring was February.

Bayern failed to win a game in pre-season under Nagelsmann, who left RB Leipzig for Bayern this summer.

Hamilton’s F1 lead confirmed as Aston Martin drop appeal

L

ondon, (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton’s eight-point lead in the Formula One championship was confirmed on Thursday as Aston Martin dropped an appeal against Sebastian Vettel’s Hungarian Grand Prix disqualification.

Vettel had finished second in the Aug. 1 race but Hamilton took the position after the German was ruled out for not having the required amount of fuel left in his car for samples to be taken. The added points increased the seven-times world champion Mercedes driver’s advantage from six to eight points over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Mercedes are 12 points clear of Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.

Stewards had already dismissed Aston Martin’s separate request for review of the disqualification on grounds that the new evidence presented was not relevant to the post-race decision.

Aston Martin had recognised the required litre of fuel was not in the car but said it was due to a leak and there had been no advantage gained.

Thursday’s statement said they had considered their position in the light of stewards’ verdict and “withdrawn our appeal on the basis that we believe doing so outweighs the benefits of it being heard”.

Second place would have been Silverstone-based Aston Martin’s best result of the season.

Saturday August 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 27

2021 CAC Bodybuilding Championships Yannick Grimes after weighing in last night

Albert and Ramsammy tests positive for Covid-19 Nicholas Albert and Darius Ramsammy were unable to travel to San Salvador, El Salvador, for the 2021 Central America & Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships. They were part of an eight-member athlete team that are majorly touted to do well in the championships this weekend but after delays in travel due to difficulties with immigration, subsequent covid-19 test came out positive for the duo.

This was confirmed by President of the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF), Keavon Bess and a few athletes on tour. Bess has expressed great disappointment with the lack of information that was communicated to the GABBFF and noted that Guyana was not the only nation that had their trips delayed due to not being in compliance with the regulations of El Salvador Immigration for visitors. The GABBFF travelling party was delayed by an entire day.

The Federation through Bess, on the 13th day of August, 2021 (yesterday), has formally registered its disappointments with the CACBBFF and the El Salvador Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation and now awaits any recompense that will be made to the GABBFF. The other members of the

Kerwyn Clarke enroute to El Salvador

participating teams include 2019 Kerwyn Clarke, Emmerson Campbell,

Yannick Grimes, Rosanna Fung, Rawle Green and Roger Callender.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 28

Saturday August 14, 2021

Clubs agree players must have at least one dose of vaccine for 2021 matches, both for 2022 at meeting with BCB President President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Hilbert Foster on Wednesday last met representatives of over 30 clubs in the County at the Albion Cricket Ground as its outreach programme for this year continued.

The meeting was held as the Board seeks to restart its 2021 season which was put on hold due to the rise of covid-19 cases and the ongoing rainy season.

Representatives of the clubs and the Board agreed to restart the season in late September or early October with a set of rules in place.

Clubs informed the BCB that they would need at least three weeks after the end of the rainy season to get venues properly prepared.

Foster warned the clubs that due to the long layoff as a result of the pandemic, many

players might have quit the game and as such they might have to seek new members at both the junior and senior levels.

Clubs present agreed that all players shall have to have at least one dose of the vaccine to play in BCB tournaments in 2021 while both doses shall be required for tournaments, next year.

Persons with under lying conditions would be required to submit medical reports if for some reason they are unable to take the vaccine.

Foster stated that while taking the vaccine is a personal choice, the Board has to look at the broader picture of the health of all players and its officials.

Clubs also agreed that the BCB should seek the advice of the National Task Force

Hilbert Foster on the issue of spectators at venues although they recommend only vaccinated persons to be present as spectators.

The BCB President urged the clubs to promote the importance of taking the Government offer of free vaccines. The Board would be hosting tournaments at the Under 13, 15, 17, 19, 23,

Female, Internal Zone, Second and First Division for the rest of the year with several being played on a knock out basis due to the limited time available.

The BCB President also informed the gathering that they’ll be hosting five mini cricket academies across Berbice at Hopetown, Edinburgh, Canje, Albion and Upper Corentyne. A total of 225 youths would be involved in the academies with the top Coaches of the BCB at the helm. The historic youth coaching manual would also be unveiled shortly and would be distributed free of cost to clubs, junior members and members of the five academies. Discussions were also held on the distribution of millions of dollars worth of cricket gears

which would be arriving in the country shortly from England. It was disclosed that promising youth players selected by their clubs would benefit along with clubs who have junior sections.

Clubs were also informed that the Board would be purchasing its second set of pitch covers as it strives to have a set in every Sub Association. The first set is being stored at the Albion Ground while the new one would be stored at the Cotton Tree Ground for uses in the West Berbice area. The Upper Corentyne area would be next in line followed by New Amsterdam/Canje. This is the first time in the history of the BCB that it would be having its own covers. Foster also committed to finding sponsorship for another four grass cutters under the BCB Ground Improvement Project at the special request

of some clubs.

The Board has already handed over 22 grass cutters under the project with the main objective of assisting clubs to prepare their venues for matches. Clubs were reminded that for 2021 alone, the BCB has assisted them with scorebooks, balls, cricket gears, uniforms, cycles, trophies, catching cribs, school bags, grass cutters, educational grants for students, youth development booklets and food hampers among other items.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Foster expressed gratitude to every club for their support during his term of office and pleaded with them to work even harder.

He stated that Berbice cricket was the most dynamic, well organised in the country and committed his administration to continue leading the way.

Rory Burns falls late to check hosts’ fightback Joe Root

BBCsport - England’s spirited fightback in the second Test against India was checked by the loss of Rory Burns late on the second day. Burns was lbw to Mohammed Shami for 49, 20 minutes before the close in the gathering gloom at Lord’s.

Captain Joe Root remained on 48 and Jonny Bairstow six as England reached 119-3, trailing by 245. Burns and Root added

84 for the third wicket, steadying England after they lost two wickets in two balls, including Haseeb Hameed for a golden duck.

Playing his first Test for five years, Hameed was bowled first ball by Mohammed Siraj and departed to stunned silence.

James Anderson earlier returned 5-62, leading an excellent recovery by the England bowling attack.

(Continued on page 25)

Saturday August 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 29

West Indies grab lead after Brathwaite 97, Holder fifty on day two

E

SPNcricinfo West Indies and Pakistan’s last Test match four years was a classic, and the events of the second day at Sabina Park are anything to go by, we may be in for another one over the coming days.

On an attritional day of Test cricket that didn’t swing as much as it swayed in either direction, West Indies and Pakistan go in at stumps in a Test that refuses to decisively tip one way or another just yet. Simple math would dictate the hosts have the edge, leading as they do by 34 runs with two wickets still to spare, but with Yasir Shah in the fourth innings a

historically significant factor, all bets will be off.

Kraigg Brathwaite (97) dominated the day, surviving almost through to the end after having to settle nerves after the frenetic finish of last night. He saw off each of Pakistan’s pace bowlers, the first new ball, a dangerous middle order collapse, the introduction of Yasir and two full sessions. But soon after the most threatening partnership for the West Indies, between the captain and Jason Holder (58), had been broken having added 95 runs, Brathwaite was eyeing up a personal threefigure score, too. Ideally before the new ball in darkening conditions, with

Mohammad Abbas warming up.

It’s hard to say if that played a role in his decision to hare back for a couple down to fine leg, taking on Hasan Ali, whose direct hit caught the opener well short of his ground. He had departed three runs shy of what would have been a splendid hundred, with the wicket coming at a time when West Indies had firm control over the Test.

Holder carried on after tea playing with delightful fluidity as West Indies pushed past 150 and bore down on Pakistan’s first innings score ominously.

Yasir Shah, not nearly at his best, was dispatched to the boundary repeatedly, and soon enough, a backfoot punch off Hasan got him to his 11th half century.

Faheem Ashraf provided the all-important breakthrough, subtle seam movement drawing Holder into a push that resulted in a feather through to Mohammad Rizwan. Once Brathwaite fell, the visitors had a real opening, but wayward lines with the new ball, particularly from Shaheen Shah Afridi, saw the lower order continue to eke out runs as Joshua Da Silva manipulated the strike intelligently.

By the time the umpires began worrying about the light, West Indies already had a sizeable lead they will be keen to build on today. In overcast conditions in the morning, Abbas had picked up exactly where he left off the previous day and was the pick of the bowlers, peppering the corridor of uncertainty between a good and full length. Chase and Brathwaite had to be especially sure of their footwork, with the seam movement Abbas was generating an additional challenge.

Afridi let his high standards dip somewhat, beginning with two leg-side deliveries that trickled away for four leg-byes each. It settled the West Indian nerves, and once Roston Chase drove Abbas straight down the ground, the runs off the bat became more frequent. Before long, they had brought up a half-

Pakistan celebrate a wicket

century stand.

But, just as West Indies looked poised to take control, Pakistan struck.

Hasan, who had been testing the pair in his first three overs, especially when they got on the front foot, coaxed an expansive front-foot drive from Chase that wasn’t really on. It produced a tickle through to Rizwan, with an anguished look from the batter revealing quite how ordinary the shot was.

The second session was a dogged, scrappy affair that one sensational over from Afridi aside - West Indies negotiated with relative conviction. The problem for West Indies, though, was that the session would be defined by four balls from Afridi more than anything any batter could manage.

Just after West Indies brought up the 100, Pakistan broke through with the wicket they had threatened before lunch. Jermaine B l a c k w o o d ’s p u n c h y counter-attacking knock

might have been evocative of Rizwan’s cameo on the first day but it wasn’t nearly as assured, with all four of his boundaries coming off shots he wasn’t in control of.

Shaheen landed one in the slot for him to go after, but with the ball wobbling in the air, Blackwood only managed to toe-end it to Abbas at long-on. The very next ball, Kyle Mayers was struck full on the pad, and found himself departing for a golden duck.

It might have gotten worse for the West Indies.

Tw o b a l l s l a t e r , t h e irrepressible Afridi had Holder trapped in front, with the umpire raising the finger.

The allrounder w ould survive by the barest of margins, with the review showing the ball pitching just outside leg stump.

Holder understood the magnitude of the moment, and dug in. He did not score until a straight drive off his 12th delivery, and didn’t score again for 22 more

balls. He knew the chance would eventually come, and a wayward Yasir over towards the back-end of the session allowed him to take three boundaries off it.

Brathwaite, meanwhile, might as well be batting on a different surface.

His patience was exemplary, his shot selection immaculate.

When Pakistan appeared to be having one of their purple patches, he had the awareness to retreat completely into his shell and place an even greater value on his wicket, and with Holder keeping the scoring ticking over at the other end, West Indies began to take control.

The quick departure of both let Pakistan back in, though, and it feels increasingly as if it might all come down to fine margins again. Just as it did in 2017.

Scores: West Indies 251 for 8 (Brathwaite 97, Holder 58, Abbas 3-42) lead Pakistan 217 by 34 runs.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Saturday August 14, 2021

Coach Michael ‘Franco’ Hyles dies at 76

By Sean Devers Former Berbice offspinner and Coach Michael ‘Franco’ Hyles was 76, but his physical condition and astute brain belied his age.

So it came as a shock when the news broke of his death on Thursday morning.

Mr. Hyles loved to cook and would say it like it was and would sometimes use ‘colorful language’ to reinforce his views but was respected for his dedication to the development of cricket in Guyana.

Guyana Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson said he was s a d d e n e d b y H y l e s ’s passing. “He is someone I have known for 20 years… when I first played for Guyana U-15 in 2002, he was the Coach of the team.

It’s not only a great loss for the cricketing fraternity but for everyone who knew him…. he was not just a very good Coach but a good person. He was instrumental in the development of lots of cricketers and he will be missed” said Johnson.

Coach Julian Moore said Berbice and Guyana cricket has lost a stalwart. “His contribution towards the development of the game as

Michael Hyles a former player, administrator and coach was remarkable. He was always eager to pass on his vast knowledge about coaching and inspired a new generation of coaches within Berbice and Guyana. I had the privilege of knowing Mr. Hyles, first as a player then as a coach both of which would have been significantly impacted by him. My condolences go out to his family at this time.

May his soul Rest in Peace” said Moore.

Essequibian Coach Ryan Hercules disclosed that Hyles was a role model to players and coaches.

“I was honored to be

around him and learned a lot about coaching, he also coached me when I represented Guyana U-15 team. He was always someone who makes everyone laugh. My condolences to his family may his soul rest in peace” said Coach Hercules.

GCB’s TDO, Colin Stuart lamented that a great Coach is gone and will be dearly missed. “I first encountered Franco as a coach on an opposing team when I was a player.

However, it was when I worked with him for the GCB that I realized his wealth of knowledge in the area of Coaching Education.

His strong intrinsic desire to develop players and coaches coupled with his tactical interpersonal skills made him a perfect facilitator for coaching education programmes. For me Franco was always an asset to have on programs.

Someone from whom I and others can learn. He assessed the attention span of participants and where necessary modified activities to suit their needs that are aligned to program objectives. Franco was an

Manager/Assistant Coach Julian Moore (left) with skipper Leon Johnson and Head Coach Esuan Crandon at Providence. extremely good coach and a people’s person. He will be sorely missed in the cricketing circle” Stuart informed. National Coach Esuan Crandon was in total disbelief when he heard the news. “Mr. Hyles was always willing to share his knowledge and experience with his colleagues and cricketers. I learned so much from him as a coach and a mentor. His contribution to G u y a n a ’s c r i c k e t w a s tremendous, he served with passion and care.

I was privileged to witnessed the difference he has made in the development of young Guyanese cricketers. Mr. Hyles and I shared a cordial working relationship when he coached and mentored the Guyana Jaguars franchise.

I admired him for his unique coaching style and philosophy. He was an intelligent coach with great technical and tactical knowledge. There was never a dull moment with him.

Guyana will miss you, Mr.

Hyles. RIP” My first conversation with Mr. Hyles was in 1997 at Albion.

Myself and Nagamootoo was bowling for Berbice and during the lunch break, Mr. Hyles said ‘on a flat track you should flight the ball more and spin it. In the next match I tried to spin the ball as big as I could and took 612 against Essequibo.

As a Journalist, he was not afraid to speak out and gave me interviews that were at times critical of the cricket board.

Poonai Pharmacy renew RHTY&SC U-13 Team sponsorship Team makes donations to Catholic youths

RHTY&SC Secretary Hilbert Foster and Parish Priest Ramesh Vanan pose with the five youths and bicycles.

Bhigroog hands over sponsorship to the Club’s Organising Secretary Ravindranauth Kissonlall in the presence of Tameshwar Deoanand and Tyrone Pottaya.

The fruitful relationship between Guyana leading youth and sports club and Berbice’ leading Pharmacy was renewed on Thursday. The popular business entity handed over a cheque for $200,000, its commitment for the next year towards the Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy Under-13 cricket team.

The presentation was done by Managing Director Poonai Bhigroog to RHTY&SC MS O rg a n i s i n g S e c r e t a r y, Ravindranauth Kissonlall in presence of Executive Member Tyrone Pottaya and Team vice captain, Tameshwar Deonandan.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to Bhigroog for his continued support of the club and stated that the U13 team is one of eleven (11) teams of the club. It serves as the nursery to the Farfan and Mendes U15s and currently has about 30 members under the leadership of Captain, Sohail Mohammed and his deputy, Deonandan. Kissoonlall and Pottaya are the cricket Managers.

National junior player Jonathan Rampersaud serves as the team mentor along with Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu. The team was formed in 2017 with sponsorship from the company and

emerged as runner-up in the BCB championship in 2018.

In December, 2019 the Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy Under-13 team defeated Albion in the Trophy Stall tournament to emerge as winners in an exciting final at the Hampshire Ground. The team has re-commenced preparations for the restart of the BCB 2021 season and is confident of defending their title when play bowls off in the BCB/Romario Shepherd Under-13 tournament.

The team and management would be involved in a minimum of 20 social development programmes with the objective of making a

positive difference in the lives of others.

These would include distribution of cycles, school bags and food hampers to youths and less fortunate people. Bjigroog, in remarks noted that he was delighted to renew his sponsorship as he was very impressed with the work of the club and he’s well aware of the positive difference that the club was making in the lives of others.

The Club and team, Bhigroog noted has been outstanding flag bearers of his company’s brand and committed to long term relationship. Meanwhile, the Poonai Pharmacy U13 side has

already started to fulfill their commitment to their sponsor by handing over five bicycles to youths attending the St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Port Mourant.

The cycles were handed over to the youths under the RHTY&SC/Basil Butcher Memorial Trust Fund. Foster, who handed over the cycles to the youths along with Parish Priest Ramesh Vanan stated that the church had played a major role in the formation of the club and as such the RTHY&SC was totally committed to assisting as much as possible.

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 14, 2021

PAGE 31

Andrew Nestor elected new Rosignol United FC President M

embers of the Rosignol U n i t e d Football Club has elected a new President to serve the club in Andrew Nestor who defeated the incumbent, Travis Moore by two votes, 11 to 9. A total of 22 members attended the Annual General Meeting which took place on August 8th last.

Performing duties as the Returning Officer was Berbice Football Association President, Sherwin Forde. Moore was then elected First Vice President, unopposed as was the Second Vice President, Dillon Morris.

No nominations were had for the Third Vice President position; the new executive will now seek to fill this position.

The new Secretary is Godfrey Coward (elected un-opposed) and he takes over from the late Joseph

Simon who passed away recently. Simon served the club and the Berbice FA for many years with distinction.

The position of treasurer would also have to be filled by the new executive as no nominations were put forward.

The five Committee Members are Saffon Anthony, Kimoni Milne, Deandre Chesney, Shannon Wilson and Llamar Campbell.

No discussions took place with regards to the Secretary and Treasurer’s reports as no information was available.

The new President, A n d r e w N e s t o r congratulated his colleagues for accepting the challenge to serve and shape a new and exciting future for the Club.

BFA President Sherwin Forde also congratulated the new body and pledged the continued support of his Association to the club.

Members of the new Rosignol United FC. Seated from left are Godfrey Coward, (Secretary), Andrew Nestor (President), Travis Moore (1st VP) and Dillon Morris (2nd VP). Standing from left are Committee members, Saffon Anthon, Llamar Campbell, DeAndre Chestney, Kimoni Milne and Shannon Wilson.

Trophy Stall support for GAPLF ahead of NAPF/Pan American C/ships

The Trophy Stall’s Mrs. Devi Sunich hands over one of the polo’s to GAPLF’s Secretary, Roger Rogers at their South Road and Bourda, location.

As has been their custom, support of and for national teams across the spectrum continues. Yesterday, Trophy Stall owned by Ramesh Sunich, well known in the sporting arena made a presentation of polo tee-shirts to the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF).

The presentation according to Sunich, is to assist with the team being uniformed at the 18th FESUPO/NAPF Pan-American Regional Powerlifting Championships set to take place from August 17-21, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Orlando, Florida, USA. “Trophy Stall is always willing, ready and able to assist our sports associations, federations and athletes as we know they are representing this nation. It’s a long standing tradition ever since we started business and it’s something we’ll continue to do.

So as the GAPLF embark on another journey to bring glory to this nation, The

Trophy Stall would like to present these polo tee-shirts to assist the team to be uniformed which is part of a winning attitude.”

Making the presentation to Secretary of the GAPLF, Roger Rogers was Mrs. Devi Sunich who also wished Secretary Rogers and his team the best at the championships which lifts off next week in the USA. Rogers in response expressed gratitude to Mr & Mrs Sunich and the Trophy Stall for their continued support for the sport which is long standing.

“On behalf of President Gordon Spencer and the entire Executive, I would like to say how grateful we are for this gesture which is significant in itself. We are a new executive but the relationship with The Trophy Stall is a well oiled one which we will ensure gets even better. You can be assured that our team would strive to do the best we can and make this nation proud.”