Kaieteur News

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Plane crash Sunday Edition NEWS lands in swamp at Eccles backlands - Pilot thanks God for life as AIETEUR

August 15, 2021

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

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passengers escape with minor injuries

Exxon Contract…

Online readership yesterday, 91,727

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Loophole allows US$Bs to be withheld from Guyana to pay - Sanzillo oil costs Teixeira admonishes

China snatches accounting officers to stop paying public up 17 struggling servants who fail UK schools to show up for work

Guyana loses US$1M daily in rental for 24 supply boats for Exxon - pays US$43,000 more per boat, per day than Suriname, T&T 4 & 7pm WE PAYING IN US$$ BILLIONS SEARCHING FOR OIL WHILE OUR NEIGHBOUR, on@11am, Kaieteur Radio SURINAME AND OTHER COUNTRIES BLUNTLY REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT COST. 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

What PPP leaders want for oil, PPP leaders will get “Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets” was a big song back in 1955, given glamorous treatment by the likes of Carmen McRae and Dinah Shore, but it was torch singer and blues immortal, Sarah Vaughan, who took it all the way to number 6 on the U.S.A. pop charts. When the title of that song, and some of its lyrics, is considered, it is exactly the same thing that could also be said of this PPP government. That is, whatever its leaders want for this country’s oil industry, that it what its leaders will get, regardless of who says what, and whatever stands in the way. Government leaders have been slothful, if not outright absent, silent, and dismissive, in moving ahead with energy and vision to initiate and bring about a comprehensive revision of Guyana’s petroleum laws. Everyone solemnly nod heads in agreement that those laws are ancient, and need to be modernised right now. But beyond that, there has been little by way of material movement with revamping the nation’s outdated petroleum laws. Of course, now that the coveted, and just have to be had, by any means necessary, gas-to-shore project occupies the highest urgency in the minds and calculations of PPP leaders, there was the swiftness of thoroughbreds to remove obstacles, to amend selectively in the nation’s petroleum laws. This was done, through parliament passing amended oil laws to clear the way for “lawful acquisition of private land for fibre optic cable, US$900M gas-to-shore project” (KN August 10). What government leaders want for the gas-to-shore project; the PPP government leaders get. It does not matter how, but when the minds of the government leader(s) that count are made up, then this is what happens and, thus far, neither person nor protest nor power in Guyana (nor elsewhere) have been able to stand in their way and succeed. PPP leaders have dragged their feet and turned a deaf ear, despite a shower of continuing calls to make a start in engaging in the long overdue amending of Guyana’s oil laws. But when it suits its hazy, wily purposes, then those same stonewalling government leaders are quicker out of the blocs than Usain Bolt. Nothing can stand in their way, no one can stop them. Not parliamentary minority, not media, not dissenting experts. In the same way, the calls have been repeated from many corners and many concerned Guyanese about studies for this gas-to-shore project, about its financial feasibility and the suitability of the Wales site, among other things, and those have all been tossed aside with total disdain by the PPP leader that the nation’s leader put in charge of the project. Whatever he says is what goes; or to put in a different and blunter way, whatever Guyana’s oilman wants, Guyana oilman gets. This is regardless of either the costs and consequences to the citizens of this country, who don’t know better, and who are content to let leaders do their thinking for them, and accept any rubbish that those same leaders stuff down their throats. This was exactly what Government leaders, in cahoots with Exxon’s people on the ground here, have been doing with a farce called public consultations. They lead the people astray with the belief that they are given a genuine hearing, while turning up with a fixed agenda that leaves most questions unanswered and hanging. In fact, the public consultations provided answers that generated more questions, since the answers were so lame, so shallow, so unsatisfying. It has long been clear to us that the PPP leaders have some very shady objectives with this oil, which is exposed by the evidence of the secret giveaways of the Canje and Kaieteur blocks, the secreted away reports, and the other oil secrets of government leaders. This holds the worst prospects for Guyanese, but it is what Government leaders want, which they get. We say it again: any action taken by any government that has strong, credible potential for maximising Guyana’s benefits, we would be proud to offer our sustained support. But we cannot do so, given how the previous coalition government, and now this PPP government, has mismanaged, misinformed, and misled this nation with our still infant oil industry.

Some of us will not allow the coming generations to be saddled with unjustifiable debt Dear Editor, In response to questions from journalist Neil Marks on News Room’s Insider, VicePresident, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, said the fact that a person does not know about the feasibility studies does not mean that they do not exist. My response is, “Well, sir, please show them to us. And by this we mean a proper feasibility study considering all the alternatives, including solar power, not just selected alternatives.” Dr. Jagdeo said, “A person who doesn’t have a modicum of interest or even knowledge about a particular sector, technical knowledge, can get up one day and challenge the engineer and say, ‘this is not good,’ and then he gets traction. And then suddenly, a petition comes about (to) stop the project.” I am not such a person. I am a qualified and practicing Guyanese energy

technologist living and working in Guyana. Can you explain why my letters are not published by our so-called national newspapers, the Guyana Chronicle? And why the Guyana Times, which claims to be independent and objective, only published letters from my Organisation and me during the five-month elections fiasco? Is it that my government does not want to hear me? The Department of Public Information (DPI) transcribes Dr. Jagdeo further. “The basic numbers are, if you’re generating using Bunker C at 14 cents per kWh now, and we can bring in the pipeline and the gas, we can build the pipeline, bring in the gas, build the power plant and pay back for those, and still generate power at 6 to 7 cents per kWh. Then, we are saving 50 percent of the generating cost.” With respect to the Hon. Vice-President, I have

only seen assertions of these figures, not a proper costing to explain their origin. He said those numbers are substantiated globally, and that any person who examines them would see that the project is a ‘no-brainer.’ This is not good enough. We have the expenses of a pipeline, the refining of the gas, the power plant, and the resource is finite. There are some of us that will not allow the coming generations to be saddled with such a debt without

genuine financial justification. There is much more to it than I can write here, so we must rely on rely on Dr. Jagdeo’s last statement in the DPI release, https:// d p i . g o v. g y / c r i t i c i s m s against-feasibility-of-gas-toenergy-project-unfair-vicepresident/: “We live in a free country and we encourage public participation in debate on big projects.” I am a knowledgeable person. Let me debate the government’s advisors. Sincerely, Alfred Bhulai

No explanation needed, but why a year to terminate trio? Dear Editor Was it absolutely necessary for an explanation to be offered on the termination of the GECOM rigging trio? Their termination was in keeping with the terms and conditions of their respective contracts. It is

ironic, for their follies, each will walk away handsomely rewarded. What should be explained is why it took more than a year for them to be terminated? Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2021

Chief Elections Officer of GECOM should be a non-national for an interim period Dear Editor, The 2020 general elections manipulations and attempts at rigging when condensed and filtered down could have been stopped in its track if two specific officials of GECOM, namely the Chairperson and Chief Elections Officer (CEO), had acted as officers befitting their office. What actually occurred was largely a case of inaction by the Chairperson and too many nefarious actions by the CEO. Hypothetically, had the CEO acted as per the

guidelines of GECOM, Mingo would not have been calling out bingo and bogus numbers. The complete electoral secretariat reports directly to the CEO, and he has the commensurate authority to direct their conduct as per standard operating procedures. His decision to actively condone the falsification of the statements of polls for Region Four was the major turning point in an otherwise fair and free election up to that point. This only amplifies the

importance of the CEO. Furthermore, had the Chairperson acted with her vested authority and suspended both Mingo and Lowenfield the moment they disregarded the Chief Justice and her orders, we would never would have had to endure this rigging nightmare. The way forward should be to retain the Chairperson

given the fact that although she was very dilatory at times and lacks the experience of overseeing an election; she went through a crucible of fire and must have emerged tempered and wiser. With regards to the CEO of GECOM, which is the most crucial position, we should look at the possibility of hiring a competent officer

from either the CARICOM or Commonwealth countries for at a minimum of two elections to replace Lowenfield. This would give everyone the proper breathing space to regain trust and impartiality in the elections process since a non-national would have no partial preference for any political party. Over time we would come

to have trust in the system regardless of the individuals manning the electoral system. Yours Sincerely, Reggie Bhagwandin

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Kaieteur News

More constructive for Crime statistics have more President Ali to engage another variants than the virus; the people live with a grimmer reality constitutional office holder, Opposition Leader Harmon

Dear Editor, I am again getting weary of reading and listening to the print and electronic media about the police and the Ministry of Home Affairs presenting crime statistics to create the impression that reported serious crimes are on the decrease and that crime is under control. I had previously written about this, but recent public release of crime figures has caused me to hit the keyboard again and to introduce some new concepts. The latest presentation was propagated by the Minister of Home Affairs during a handing over ceremony at, of all places, Palm Court. At that location, Top Cop, Nigel Hoppie, received two Peugeot 308 motor cars from the Palm Court Group of Companies. On that occasion the Minister of Home Affairs boasted, “Serious crimes are down by 20 percent as compared with the same period 2020. We did have it down by 30 percent, but there have been jumps over the last six weeks or so but you may note that we are having success in terms of solving some of those and we are trying to solve some of the more serious ones.” Ask any Regional Police Commander for a performance appraisal of his division and you will get the classic answer that there is a minus or plus report in serious crimes and traffic accidents. It leaves one with the clear impression that generally the police and others are using crime rates, number of arrests and case clearance rates to measure how the police are performing. Such measures do not indicate whether or not the activities were completed efficiently and effectively, and they do not describe what impact the activities had on the community. The reality is that although they are decreases in certain

categories of serious crimes, others have spiked. Where is the base line? Crime is too high and there is the perpetual fear of crime. Minor crimes are increasing. An analysis of the police crime stats would indicate that it has more variants than the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. The police are only examining 10 categories of serious crimes. This method of analysis was implemented and made popular by Commissioner Laurie Lewis in 1990. Since then, not a single category of crime was added to or deleted from the list. It remained pristine for over 30 years, despite the fact that new trends of crime and crime fighting strategies and tactics emerged. The possibility of “Ghosting,” falsifying patrols logs, might occur to “make the numbers come out right.” In addition, there are the “dark figures of crime.” That is, crime not reported for diverse reasons. I can vividly recall Laurie Lewis directing his Divisional Commanders and the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department to not only look at percentage increase or decrease of serious crimes, but to do deeper analysis, including asking: Is it a trend? Is it a pattern? Is it a series? Is it a spree? Is the location a hot spot? He also urged not to neglect minor crimes. Former President, David Granger, in his maiden address to the Guyana Police Force Annual Officers’ Conference admonished the police thus, “Stop boasting about how many cases you made, find out how many causes you are able to discover, and let us stomp out the causes, then you stomp out the crime. If you don’t know the causes, then the crime will continue to be repeated over and over again. “Rather than looking at crime rates, number of arrests and response times, evaluation should assess

whether or not the police are effective in fulfilling their responsibility to the community. Leaders must focus on their mission statement. They must consider what citizens want and expect from their protectors. Most citizens want to live in safe, orderly neighbourhoods. The police are considered effective when they produce the perception that crime is under control. Reducing of fear of crime is a very important measure. Citizens approval or disapproval is generally reflected in letters of criticism or commendation, support for police proposed programmes, cooperation with incidents being investigated, letters to the editor, public reaction to a single police-citizen incident or response to police-initiated surveys. An excellent way to assess citizen approval or disapproval is through citizen surveys, which can measure trends and provide positive and negative feedback on the public’s impression of the police. It also sends a message to the citizens that the police are addressing their fear of crime and neighbourhood disorder. Community surveys are often win-win situation. Citizen surveys might also help set organisational goals and priorities, department strengths and weaknesses, identify areas of improvement and needed training, and influence the motivation of employees. Citizens are better served, and officers receive feedback. Community surveys can also be key in establishing and maintaining effective communications. During the earlier part of this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that it was conducting an online survey to, among other issues; find out how well the police are performing. There is a massive wall of silence. Hope that COVID-19 did not kill the survey, or the recent floods did not wash it away. Yours respectfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

Dear Editor, If President, Irfaan Ali, could have spoken with Leader of the Opposition, Joe Harmon, last Wednesday evening to resolve the impasse in Linden where healthcare workers and those seeking care, who have not had the COVID-19 vaccine, were prevented from entering their place of work and accessing care, then it shows his unconstitutional plea to be publicly recognised by Harmon before engagement is a matter of political convenience.

There remain other issues of national importance that require engagement between the constitutional office holders, such as confirming the appointments of the Chancellor and Chief Justice, reviewing the oil contracts, and giving meaning to Article 13 in the Constitution that establishes a political system for Guyana on “inclusionary democracy.” The nation’s business and people’s welfare continue to be stymied not because of the Constitution, but by men who have this desire to fulfill some

emotional need that the Constitution does not allow for. It is time this nonsense stops. The citizens of this nation continue to be held hostage in a political game that not only lacks maturity, but is undermining the development and peaceful co-existence of all Guyanese. For as big men squabble, foreign capital and others with self-serving interest are plundering the nation’s resources and exploiting the citizens/workers. Yours faithfully, Lincoln Lewis

The Environmental Assessment Board has responded Dear Editor, I would like to thank you for publishing my letter on August 12, 2021, in the Kaieteur News titled ‘I have received no response from the EPA on radio material storage facility.’ The letter was in relation to an appeal that was made to the Environmental Assessment

Board (EAB) in objection to the ‘Non-Destructive Testers Limited (Guyana) Inc. Storage of Sealed Radioactive Source – Industrial Radiography Device,’ which is to be located at Lot 1 of Lots 1 and 2 Thuiste Te Coverden, East Bank, Demerara (the former Clay Brick Factory).

Please note that the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) in response to my letter that was published has informed me that a public hearing for the project will be organised during the first part of September. Thank you once again for the role your newspaper has played. Yours faithfully, Citizen Audreyanna Thomas

Stop putting your nasty politics into the discussion about vaccination

Dear Editor, Coalition leaders are dissuading Guyanese from taking the COVID-19 vaccines, with scant regard for their health and lives, thus putting the lives of innocent people, even children, at risk. This is presumably to suit their agenda of making Guyana ungovernable under a PPP/C administration: David Hinds verbalised their intentions, “undermine the government,” which their avid supporters seem willing to do, even if it costs them their lives and the lives of their loved ones. The escalation of the Coronavirus pandemic is decimating families, with seemingly no end in sight for the deadly virus, which seems to be increasing in ferocity,

especially in third-world nations like Guyana. Prior to the advent of the PPP/C Government, there were scant governmental interventions and support for the afflicted, in particular; and the wider society, which had been forced into a lockdown, in general. The pressing needs of Guyanese from every community, for protection from infection by COVID-19 virus; as well as nutritional sustenance – the latter need of which ensued from lack of employment and job opportunities, seriously exacerbated by the deadly pandemic, saw Presidentelect, Dr. Irfaan Ali, mobilising teams countrywide in mask and food distribution exercises, which was appreciated by even coalition-

supporting communities, especially in light of the fact that the de facto coalition government was ignoring their pressing needs, while simultaneously illegally expending billions from already depleted national coffers on an unnecessary vote re-count and fruitless legal challenges on nebulous and execrable charges of unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud committed by the PPP/C. Worldometer reports worldwide infections, last updated on August 13, 2021, as having surpassed 206,254,882, fatalities exceeding 4,348,282; while those recovered are numbering 185,105,477. Guyana’s below a million population has been hard-hit, with a Worldometer update listing current figures at 23,244 cases, with 569 deaths and 21,848 recovered. Those rejecting the vaccines do so at their own risk. Harmon and all the coalition leaders are fully vaccinated, and their urging persons not to be vaccinated are putting innocent people’s lives at risk in this parlous state of affairs. Yours very truly, Anson Paul

T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N B T . U . L . L T B . . N . U N U T L N B . U T . . L N N U T B . U . N L U BL BLUNT. B . . T . T T N N U . U L . . L B . T B . . . . N . T U T N N T U N U L L U B . L B . . . . B . T . . T . N N T U N L LU U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B . T L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B . T . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . . LU ...BLUN B T . . . N T U N L U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T . U B . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T BB T...BLU U N L U B . L . . B . T . . N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . . N . B . T . . N T U N N N U L U U B L . BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Sunday August 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

The GECOM trio that tried to steal an election is now history. We have worse than their equivalents in the government and opposition, and it is time that the same aim be taken to expose them.

Just like the GECOM trio, Guyana's senior political trio in government and opposition must be held accountable for their farces worked on this society (no different from the GECOM three), and be sent packing. GUYANESE: THIS IS HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS -ALL ARE ACCOUNTABLE!!!

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Teixeira admonishes accounting officers to stop paying public servants who fail to show up for work Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira.

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inister of Governance a n d Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira has admonished accounting officers from the various Ministries to stop paying workers who fail to show up to work. Teixeira was at the time addressing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), noting that millions of dollars are lost each year because of overpayments of salaries. This was alluded to by members of the PAC. According to information revealed as the Ministry of Health's accounts, in the Auditor General 2016 report, were being examined, some $1.7 million was overpaid as net salaries to 16 employees – a recurring issue across the various Government Ministries and agencies. Former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Trevor Thomas told the PAC that the Ministry continues to grapple with the issue of overpayments. Thomas explained that one of the scenarios that would lead to this situation is when employees walk off the job or resign at the end of the month but salaries would have already been paid. The salary is placed into their accounts and they eventually make good with the sums. The former PS noted that the Ministry has made several attempts to recover some of these salaries but with little success. “The Ministry has put systems in place to reduce it as such as possible so, for example, if a person proceeds on leave, their salaries are there until they resume duties and so on. But the main

challenge is in the structure because persons are paid before the end of the month and sometimes the people just leave like that…While we make attempts to recover the funds, because salaries are paid through the bank, it is not always that successful. So it's an ongoing effort to continue to recoup monies from persons,” Thomas explained. H o w e v e r, M i n i s t e r Teixeira noted the efforts are not satisfactory. She said that there must be more alertness and better communication between the Regional Health Officers (RHOs) and Heads of Departments in the Ministry to avoid this issue of overpayments. “There has to be a more careful examination of the payroll so that the RHOs out there who are in charge of the regions and the Ministry's Heads of Department. When someone walks off the job – they haven't found them for three-four days and they haven' t s ubmitted medicals and they may not have officially resigned but they're just not there, there is supposed to be a system in the Personnel Department for those Heads to alert the accounts section that there's reason to stop the payroll in the first place,” the Minister posited. According to Minister Teixeira, while this is not a foolproof system, it will reduce the prevalence of overpayments to employees who are unjustifiably absent from work. “Whilst we are pleased to hear that there will be some improvements, we have to be structured and systemic. I (Continued on page 15)

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2021

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk

Court orders Biden to reinstate Trump's 'remain in Mexico' policy (Reuters) - A federal judge has ordered President Joe Biden's administration to reinstate his Republican predecessor's "remain in Mexico" policy, which forced tens of thousands of Central American asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for U.S. court cases. In a victory for the states of Missouri and Texas, which brought the suit, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk said on Friday that the Biden administration had violated laws on procedure by failing to

Dem

boys seh... De best way to get people to tek de vaccines is to offer incentive. Dem boys feels dat if de lottery company offer a G$10M prize for all who tek de vaccine, more people gan go and tek de vaccines. Some ah dem wuk place trying fuh coerce dem staff sweetly into getting vaccinated. But none ah dem nah offer a one-month salary increase fuh all persons wah get vaccinated. De lottery is gamble. Life is de same. Nuff people gambling these days in Guyana. When yuh pass by a certain casino, de cars wah park outside tek

consider "several of the main benefits" of the programme and acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" in ending it. A Biden administration memo announcing a formal end to the policy was circulated June 1. It was not clear how the ruling would ultimately impact that decision. Former President Donald Trump instituted the policy in early 2019. Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, stayed his decision for a week to allow the Biden administration to appeal. The Department of Homeland

Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump's "remain in Mexico" policy sought to block asylum seekers from Central America by making them wait in Mexico for the outcome of their U.S. asylum hearings. Defenders of the policy said it reduced pressure on overburdened immigration officials; human rights groups said it violated due process and exposed destitute refugees to the risk of kidnap, abuse and rape.

De lotta company should gat a vaccination jackpot up de whole block. Dem boys wan know if suh many foreigners driving cars in Guyana because de law seh is only foreigners and hotel guests allowed to use casino. Some people winning and some people losing. It remind dem boys of de story about a man wah win de lottery de same day he wife leff he. De man jump fuh joy. He seh he never believe he coulda win 2 lotteries on de same day. Some people get so occupied with de gambling dat dem staying away from wuk fuh gamble. And some ah dem does end up on de

road after curfew hours because of de gambling. One night de police patrol stop wan elderly man 2 a.m. and ask he where he is going at dis time of night. De man reply, “I am on my way to attend a lecture about gambling, hookers, alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking, and staying o u t l a t e . ” De officer den ask, “Really? Who is giving that lecture at this time of night?” De man reply, “That would be my wife.” Talk half and nah gamble out all yuh money!

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Weapon seizures 'massive boon' for Taliban as cities fall AFP - The United States spent billions supplying the Afghan military with the tools to defeat the Taliban, but the rapid capitulation of the armed forces means that weaponry is now fuelling the insurgents' astonishing battlefield successes. " We p r o v i d e d o u r Afghan partners with all the tools -- let me emphasise: all the tools," US President Joe Biden said when defending his decision to withdraw American forces and leave the fight to the locals. But Afghan defence forces have shown little appetite for that fight and, in their tens of thousands, have been laying down their arms -- only for the Taliban to immediately pick them up. The Taliban's social media is a w a s h w i t h

videos of Taliban fighters seizing weapons caches -the majority supplied by Western powers. Footage of Afghan soldiers surrendering in the northern city of Kunduz shows army vehicles l o a d ed with heavy weapons and mounted with artillery guns safely in the hands of the insurgent rank and file. In the western city of Farah, fighters patrolled in a car mar k e d w i t h a n eagle swooping on a snake -- the official insignia of the country's intelligence service. While US forces took the "sophisticated" equipment with them when they withdrew, the Taliban blitz has handed the group "vehicles, humvees, small

arms and light weapons, as well as ammunition", Justine Fleischner of weapons-tracking group Conflict Armament Research, told AFP. Experts say such hauls -on top of unacknowledged support from regional allies such as Pakistan -- has given the Taliban a massive boost. The weapons will not only help the Taliban's march on Kabul but "strengthen its authority" in the cities it has captured, said Raffaello Pantucci, senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. With US troops all but gone, the Taliban now find themselves flush with American-supplied tools, without having to raise a single penny.

A Taliban fighter holds a rocket-propelled grenade in Herat

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Sunday August 15, 2021

Loophole allows US$Bs to be withheld... From page 2 the 2030s, if at all.” He asserts the “the contract is front-loaded, which means the contractors receive more than Guyana in the early years of the contract.” According to Sanzillo, “the absence of ring-fencing provisions acts as a subsidy. The cost of exploration for new sites is paid by reducing the annual profit to Guyana.” As such, he was adamant the costs of new discoveries and dry holes should be made public. The IEEFA director noted in his report that the absence of ring-fencing could be a legitimate incentive to encourage more exploration for the contractor and that “the ring fence provision is just another benefit for the contractor without a

clear, transparent benefit for Guyana.” According to the analyst, “taken alone, the absence of a ring fence front loads the contract with expenses that must be paid before Guyana enjoys an abundant revenue flow.” It was noted too that declining oil and gas markets significantly increase the risk that in the long run, Guyana's oil fields will not produce the revenues promised. Recoverable costs, as defined by Sanzillo in his report, include 100 percent of all exploration and development costs, precontract costs, operating expenses, estimated cost of future abandonment, interest and parent company expenses. He notes that since recoverable costs include

100 percent of all development costs (initially $33 billion over the first five years), the project carries a substantial balance that accrues to the contractor through at least 2028. According to Sanzillo, the substantial balance of outstanding development costs could take even longer to satisfy since new investments, pre-contract costs, operational delays and volatile oil prices can disrupt financial plans. He has s i n c e c o n c l u d e d t h a t repayment of the development and other recoverable costs diminishes the size of Guyana's annual cash receipts from profit oil. As a result, lower cash payments “delay the country's ability to benefit from the expected full annual revenue.”

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U.N. chief calls on Taliban to halt offensive immediately UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres on Friday called on the Taliban to immediately halt their offensive in Afghanistan, and warned that "Afghanistan is spinning out of control." "This is the moment to halt the offensive. This is the moment to start serious negotiation. This is the moment to avoid a prolonged civil war, or the isolation of Afghanistan," Guterres told reporters in N e w Yo r k . Ta l i b a n insurgents have seized Afghanistan's second- and third-biggest cities as resistance from government forces crumbled, stoking fears that an assault on the capital Kabul could be just

days away.Guterres called on all parties to do more to protect civilians.He also said he was "deeply disturbed by early indications that the Taliban are imposing severe restrictions on human rights in the areas under their control, particularly t a rg e t i n g w o m e n a n d journalists.""It is particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard-won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away from them," he said. Under Taliban rule between 1996 and 2001, women could not work, girls were not allowed to attend school and women had to cover their face and be accompanied by a male relative if they wanted to

venture out of their homes. The United Nations is evaluating the security situation in Afghanistan on "an hour-by-hour basis" and moving some staff to the capital Kabul, but is not evacuating anyone from the country, the U.N. spokesman said earlier on Friday. The world body had "a very light footprint" in some areas taken by the Taliban, spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. It has about 3,000 national staff and about 300 international staff on the ground in Afghanistan.The United States is sending in about 3,000 extra troops to help evacuate U.S. Embassy staff and Britain is deploying about 600 troops to help its citizens leave.

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Ali administration wins high accolades on cohesion... From page 3 Commerce located here in Georgetown, to ensure that US voices are strongly represented and heard.” According to the US Ambassador, “The United States is committed to the same things that Guyanese want – a transparent and accountable government, and prosperity and security for all Guyanese.” Collaboration/Partnershi p Head of State, President Irfaan Ali, later met with the BEA Guyana Business Support Organisation (BSO) and reaffirmed his Government's position and intention of crafting and executing policies that will benefit all of Guyana. During his meeting the President used the opportunity to outline for the gathering his agenda

towards the equitable distribution of wealth in the country and noted, that the resources from the oil and gas sector will be used as an impetus to build and fortify other sectors of the economy. These include, according to President Ali, enhanced focus on food security, the services sector, manufacturing and industrial development, among others. According to President Ali, “we have rolled out a number of programmes that seek to improve the living conditions, creating opportunities for every segment of the Guyanese population to advance and achieve their dreams and aspirations.” Looking to the future, the President pledged, “…we will definitely find a vehicle, a mechanism through which

we can build off of this initial meeting and continue the collaboration to see how we can develop opportunities for collaboration and partnership. We don't really define our policies by black, brown, white. Our policy is to ensure that all of Guyana benefit.” Deeds/Platitudes Following up on the meetings, prominent US civil rights, Joe H. Beasley, of the Joe Beasley Foundation, has since reached out to President Ali, to express appreciation for facilitating the US grouping's visit to Guyana—organised by the BEA Guyana Chapter. Beasley in his missive to the Head of State said, “…we applaud President Ali's administration for its bold pronouncements

regarding a resolution of the historical divisiveness and for fostering a future culture of oneness among Guyana's multicultural population. We are particularly impressed by His Excellency's commitments in his emancipation address to explore the subject of reparations.”

The civil rights activist cautioned however “we remain mindful that deeds, not platitudes, are the true measure of one's intensions to address the historical challenges involving the Indigenous, East Indian, Black Guyanese and remaining ethnic communities.”

The BEA currently has 300 registered members in Guyana and 300 in the UK chapter. The association highlighted that it is committed to creating a blueprint for black-owned businesses, which creates generational wealth while transforming the business economy and community.

Teixeira admonishes accounting officers... From page 8 keep hearing every Ministry say people walk off and we can't do anything about it. There is the means and ways that the PS can

say to the Finance people that the following people are not here and therefore, the cheque in the first place would not be electronically distributed,” Teixeira said.

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GUYANA RECORDS THREE FURTHER DEATHS; 111 NEW INFECTIONS The Ministry of Health (MoH) in its daily update yesterday, August 14, on the SARS-CoV-2 virus has announced that we have unfortunately lost three additional persons to the dreaded Coronavirus; they all passed away on August 12. They are a male, 65 years of age from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and two females - a 54year-old from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and a 47-year-old from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). These deaths have caused the overall death toll to be increased to 573, while the total for the month of August has risen to twenty-four. Arising from tests carried out during the past twenty-four hours, 111 newly infected cases have been documented, they are from Region One (three cases), Region Two (25 cases), Regions Three and Ten (4 cases each), Region Four (69 cases), Regions Five and Nine (one case each), Regions Six and Seven (two cases each). There were no new cases logged in Region Eight. This brings the number of confirmed infected cases to 23,455 in total for the period March 2020 to date. Housed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Infectious Diseases Hospital are 16 patients, 80 persons are in institutional isolation, six in institutional quarantine and a total of 859 persons are in home isolation. Fourteen persons who were previously infected have recovered and are in good health which brings to total 21,927 individuals fully recovered from the Coronavirus.

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Dear Reader, in light of the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our publisher, with you in mind, has taken the decision to extend our weekly review of some of our major stories in their entirety. SUNDAY CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL GUYANAPULLS OUT FROM US$10M EXXON FUNDING - MOVE REPORTEDLY OVER CONCERNS ABOUT OIL COMPANIES’ POOR ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES Kaieteur News has learnt that Conservation International Guyana (CIGuyana) has recently pulled out from a US $10 million funding from oil giant, ExxonMobil, due to the companies’ poor environmental practices. ExxonMobil Foundation, in July 2018, had stated that they will contribute US$10 million to a new collaboration with CI-Guyana and the University of Guyana (UG) to train Guyanese for sustainable job opportunities and to expand communitysupported conservation. According to ExxonMobil Guyana, the investment was intended to support Guyana’s Green State Development Plan which was labelled as the country’s 15-year development plan that aimed to diversify Guyana’s economy and balance economic growth with the sustainable management and conservation of the country’s ecosystems. Exxon was to provide the funding over a five-year period. The initial grant money was to fund a feasibility study driven by Conservational International (CI), through its affiliate, CI-Guyana, to further define the details of the programme. Once defined, Conservation International Guyana and the University of Guyana would deliver the education, training, research and retention programmes that would help ensure that economic growth reinforces Guyana’s environmental development goals. After the initiative was launched on August 20, 2018, CI-Guyana had come in for flak for entering this partnership with the ExxonMobil Foundation due to the contrast of the two companies; with CI-Guyana being a carbon-reducing, conservation organisation while ExxonMobil is a carbon releaser that has been accused of denying the impact of fossil fuels on

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climate change. Contacted last night, Executive Director at CIGuyana, Curtis Bernard, would only confirm via e-mail that, “CI and the ExxonMobil Foundation terminated the grant agreement that was signed in 2018 which was indeed intended to fund conservation and sustainable development initiatives.” However, a source with knowledge of the pull out stated that it was due to the oil giant’s poor environmental record. Exxon has been under increasing pressure recently with regard to the company’s environmental practices. As of Friday, according to online media outlet, Bloomberg Green, ExxonMobil was suspended from the Climate Leadership Council (CLC), a pro-carbon tax group backed by conservation groups and some of the world’s biggest corporations, including CI. The move comes just weeks after an Exxon lobbyist was secretly recorded by Greenpeace saying that the oil giant only voiced support for a carbon tax because it knew such a policy would be almost impossible to implement. “After careful consideration, we have decided to suspend ExxonMobil’s membership in both the Council and the Americans for Carbon Dividends, our advocacy arm,” CLC Chief Executive Officer, Greg Bertelsen, said in a statement. Exxon’s CEO, Darren Woods, reportedly apologised for the lobbyist’s comments at the end of June, saying that the comments in no way represent the company’s position and reiterated support for a carbon tax. The oil explorer already was under intense investor pressure to bolster emissionreduction efforts after an activist investor won a key boardroom battle that replaced a quarter of the directors. Exxon had stated that the CLC’s decision is disappointing and counterproductive and that it will in no way deter their efforts to advance carbon pricing, of which they believe is a critical policy requirement to tackle climate change. FIFTEEN COMPANIES SUBMIT BIDS TO MARKET GUYANA’S OIL… MORE THAN 50% TAINTED BYALARMING ACTS OF CORRUPTION Since issuing its Invitation For Bids (IFBs) in July for companies to submit bids to sell Guyana’s oil entitlement from the Liza Destiny vessel, a total of 15

regional and international companies submitted tenders. Upon a preliminary review of the companies vying to sell Guyana’s crude, Kaieteur News discovered that eight of the bidders and/or their primaries are linked to scandals, foreign bribery and widespread corruption. These companies include China Offshore Oil Singapore; Sinochem International London; Liatso SA Switzerland & Lukoil Pan America; Equinor ESA; Totsa Total Oil Trading SA; Shell Western Supply & Trading Limited; Vitol SA; and Mercuria Energy Trading SA. These well-documented malpractices, which have resulted in convictions and fines, have also ensnared senior executives of these oil companies and traders while others are still under investigation. The tainted companies One of the tainted companies is China Offshore Oil International Pte Limited. In 2015, this state-owned Chinese company had their former Deputy General Manager, Wu Zhenfang, under criminal investigation for accepting an undisclosed amount in bribes. Sinochem, another interested Chinese company, saw one of its former Vice Presidents, Du Keping, sentenced last December to 11 ½ years in prison for accepting US$1.8M in bribes. Executives of the Russian energy company, Lukoil Oil Company & Litasco, were in 2018 criminally investigated by Geneva’s Attorney

General on suspicion of corruption of foreign officials and money laundering. Equinor formerly known as Statoil is a Norwegian company that was fined $20 million Norwegian krone (NOK) in 2018 for misconduct and extensive corruption in Iran in 2002/2003. Reports state that Equinor had attempted to secure lucrative oil contracts for the company in Iran. The company’s Director for International Operations, Richard John Hubbard, was also ordered to pay NOK$200,000 in fines for his involvement in the case. This was mainly achieved by hiring the services of Horton Investments, an Iranian consultancy firm owned by Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, the son of the former Iranian president. Notably, reports indicate that Horton Investments was paid US$15.2 million by Equinor to influence important political figures in Iran to grant oil contracts to Statoil. Another bidder, Totsa Total Oil Trading SA, was found guilty in 2016 of corruption in the United Nations’ oil-for-food programme for Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s rule. In the same year, the Parisian Court of Appeal found the company guilty of corrupting foreign officials and was fined over US$800,000. Prior to this conviction, Total in 2013 had agreed to pay $398.2 million to settle US criminal and civil allegations that it paid bribes to win oil and gas. United States authorities had alleged that

between 1995 and 2004, Total paid about $60 million in bribes to induce an Iranian government official to help the company obtain lucrative development rights in three oil and gas fields. In 2019, Shell was prosecuted for criminal charges relating to a $1.3 billion settlement for an oil exploration licence in Nigeria. According to an article by CNBC, it was alleged that although the funds were paid to the Nigerian government, the money actually went to Malabu Oil and Gas — a company linked to the former oil minister, Dan Etete. Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi, and four ex-Shell managers also faced charges of international corruption in Italy, where prosecutors allege that they were aware that payments would be pocketed by individuals rather than the Nigerian government. Stabroek Block partner, Hess Corporation, is also caught in the limelight with these tainted bidders. Reports show that the Government of the U.S Virgin Islands had in 2015 sued Hess Corp. for more than $1 billion, alleging that the US company abandoned a massive oil refinery it had pledged to operate through the year 2022. According to details from an article by Canadian Business, “the complaint alleged a pattern of misconduct by executives at Hess, which operated with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company what was once the world’s largest refinery before closing it in 2012. It said Hess

conspired to strip the facility’s assets in order to leave the government with claims against a broke, polluted and inoperable refinery.” One other oil trader vying to sell Guyana’s crude is Vitol SA. This global top oil trader, which is based in Switzerland, was implicated in the biggest corruption scandal in Latin America. It is known as Operation Car Wash, the bribery scam that ultimately resulted in hundreds of criminal indictments and over 150 criminal convictions including a popular South American head of state. Federal prosecutors had alleged that Vitol along with Glencore PLC; Petrobras SA; and Mercuria Energy Trading had funnelled over US$31 million in bribes to corrupt Petrobras employees so that they may win big contracts, along with acquiring other benefits. The bribes took place between 2011 and 2014. Further compounding the issue is the fact that top executives of Petrobras had “total and unequivocal” knowledge six years before the bribery scandal erupted, yet had refused to put a stop to it. Petrobras had delayed reporting its annual financial results for 2014, but in April 2015 it released “audited financial statements” showing US$2.1 billion in bribes and a total of almost US$17 billion in write-downs due to overvalued assets. At least eleven other countries, mostly in Latin America, were involved. The corruption (Continued on page 26)

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From page 25 scandal grew in part because it challenged the impunity of politicians and business leaders that had prevailed until then. Structural corruption in the political and economic system, no longer tolerated or accepted, was being investigated and resulted in some criminal charges. In fact, ý429 individuals were indicted and another 159 officials were convicted including seemingly untouchable politicians like former presidents Luiz Inácio da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, his successor. Kaieteur News is unaware whether the stained pasts of these traders disqualifies them from securing the position of Guyana’s oil trader. This publication understands, however, that bids are valid for the next 116 days. MONDAY DUE TO HIGH INCIDENCE OF CORRUPTION… NATIONS MUST HAVE RIGID OVERSIGHT OF OIL COMPANIES AND SUPPLIERS - NRGI Corruption is endemic in the petroleum sector, not just among licence/rights holders but among their partnering sub-contractors and suppliers. That’s why the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) is encouraging Guyana and

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other oil producing States to have rigid oversight over these companies. This caution was noted in its report titled ‘Beneath the Surface: The Case for Oversight of Extractive Industry Suppliers’. NRGI articulated that large oil, gas and mining projects are usually associated with a few big names such as Shell, ExxonMobil, Rio Tinto, Gazprom and Codelco. It said these are rights holders— companies that receive licences from host governments to extract resources. Typically, however, lower-profile companies do much of the work to take natural resources out of the ground. These are suppliers—companies that provide the goods and services that make extraction happen. They range in size from multi-billion-dollar international conglomerates like Halliburton, Schlumberger and Caterpillar, to specialised or local firms that may only have a handful of employees. Expounding on this matter, NRGI stated that between 2008 and 2017, oil, gas and mining companies spent an average of just under a trillion dollars a year. Set to remain one of the major financial flows from extractive industry projects, NRGI pointed to corruption risks in the operations of suppliers, including bribery, favouritism and state capture. In its analysis, NRGI was

keen to note that it found that suppliers played significant roles extractive industry corruption scandals and foreign bribery cases in at least 29 countries across five continents. NRGI said that suppliers would sometimes bribe or offer illicit financial rewards to gain an advantage; use an intermediary or supplier to pay the bribe, among other illicit methods. The non-governmental organisation listed some key examples of corruption cases, involving suppliers. Some of these suppliers are even in receipt of contracts for works to be done in Guyana. They are ExxonMobil subcontractors like Saipem, Halliburton and SBM Offshore. ExxonMobil has been using Saipem as its prime contractor for the installation of subsea facilities for its developments in the Stabroek Block. But the same Italian company was hauled before the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) where it settled with a fine of US$24.5M an allegation that its employees paid approximately €198M to an intermediary that would assist it in obtaining contracts from the national oil company of Algeria, totaling well over US$10B. The fine was handled by ENI, which had a large controlling interest in Saipem at the time. The intermediary is alleged to have, in turn, channelled money to Algerian officials. Saipem, nor the parent company, confirmed or denied the allegation. Earlier last year, an Italian appeal court overturned a previous corruption conviction laid before Saipem for the same matter. As for SBM, ExxonMobil’s prime shipbuilder, there is a history of bribery of officials to gain advantages. US court statements state that the SBM made “commission” payments to sales agents between 1996 and 2012, in order to deliberately and systematically bribe officials in Brazil, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Iraq and elsewhere. SBM executives bribed officials with over US$180M. These bribes resulted in approximately US$2.8B in profits. Subsequent lawsuit actions led by the Public Prosecutor of its home country, the Netherlands; the US Department of Justice; and the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor resulted in millions of dollars in fines being paid. Halliburton in 2017 was forced to pay US$29M to the SEC to settle a bribery probe. By paying the fine, the

company got off without admitting or denying wrongdoing. In this case, the SEC alleged that Halliburton paid millions to an Angola staterun company to secure a lucrative oil deal. It was the second time in eight years that Halliburton got into trouble with the SEC and was fined for corrupt practices. MULTIMILLION DOLLAR GOLD HEIST… DETECTIVES FIND PART OF STOLEN CASH BURIED IN SOLDIER’S BACKYARD - THREE NOW IN CUSTODY After grilling suspects, interviewing persons of interest, receiving tip offs and locating vital evidence, detectives Saturday night made a major breakthrough by recovering some of the cash that was stolen in the multimillion dollar gold heist last Thursday. The recovered cash, according to information reaching this media house totaled to $18M and was found buried in the backyard of a serving member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). He has since been arrested along with another GDF member believed to be his girlfriend.

The Deputy Director of the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GDF), Stan Gouveia had confirmed earlier Sunday that three persons are in custody for crime and among them are individuals with military background. He explained that multiple persons were detained in connection with the crime and questioned but some have been released after the cops did not find anything to link them to the heist. Later on during the day, GDF cleared the air and acknowledged that two of its ranks are being investigated for their alleged involvement in the robbery of a gold trading company called Wallison Enterprise. In a statement it sent out, GDF detailed that its Military Police Department is cooperating with GPF and assisting detectives where necessary. The statement assured that a “vast majority of its ranks” are honest and hardworking Guyanese who uphold the standards of the Force. Meanwhile sources explained how detectives were led to the backyard of the GDF rank. Detectives had reportedly found that the plan to rob the gold trader was a

well-orchestrated one. It allegedly involved security guards employed with the establishment. Further investigations had led them to the home of one of the suspects located in Sophia. They had found items belonging to Wallison Enterprise in the house but the suspect was nowhere to be found. The detectives had learnt that the loot was split at the same Sophia home. As their investigations continued, one person held reportedly buckled under interrogation and leaked some more information. It is believed that this information led cops to the home of the GDF rank located on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD). Ranks had reportedly showed up at the location and managed to recover the cash. It is unclear if the detectives knew exactly where the money was or if GDF rank buckled too and led them to where it was buried. A video which surfaced on Facebook showed detectives unearthing the cash from a shallow hole in the yard. The cash was stashed in a margarine bucket, wrapped in two black plastic bags. As investigations continue, detectives related that the other suspects involved are still to be caught and express hope that they will be able to recover the rest of the loot. Wallison Enterprise located at Gordon Street, Kitty was robbed by three armed bandits posing as gold dealers. They had pulled up in front of the building in a white car. They entered the premises under the pretense that they had gone there to sell gold. After gaining access to the building, they held the employees at gun point forcing them to open two metal safes. They filled their haversacks with $38M in cash and $20M worth of raw gold before making good their escape. TUESDAY HOUSE PASSES AMENDED OILLAW TO ENSURE LAWFUL ACQUISITION OF PRIVATE LAND FOR FIBRE OPTIC CABLE, US$900M GAS-TOENERGY PROJECT The National Assembly Monday passed the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) (Amendment) Bill 2021 which will ensure that private lands acquired for the laying of a fibre optic cable as well as the establishment of the (Continued on page 27)

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From page 26 US$900M gas-to-energy project, are done so lawfully and that there is fair compensation for citizens. Leading the debate during the sitting that was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) was Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat. He 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. Bharrat said these additions allow for a degree of transparency and accountability 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 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 of production offshore on all Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSOS) vessels as well as the exploration activities by drill ships. As for the US$900M gas-to-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. Other speakers during Monday’s debate included the Opposition’s Annette Ferguson, David Patterson,

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Sherwayne Holder and Devin Swears. On the government’s side, the line up entailed Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh; Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill; and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall. During his presentation to the House, Nandlall underscored that the PPP/C Government did not hastily produce the Amendment Bill. He said it represents six months of hard work by himself and the Parliamentary Counsel. Due to the failure of the previous administration to properly prepare the legislative framework that is needed for an oil producing State, Nandlall said the government is now under tremenduous pressure to produce same as the oil is pumping. Nandlall said, “We worked tirelessly to come up with a mechanism that would protect private property in this country...the purpose of the Bill is to take away from the licencee (such as ExxonMobil), absolute power (in acquiring lands for projects); to ensure private property is respected and ensure compulsory acquisition once done, is done lawfully; to ensure the sanctity attached in the Constitution to private property is revered. And to ensure when the issue of compensation arises it would be done in accordance with the law...” He said too that the Bill in its amended form ensures that as far as possible, the pipeline runs along State lands to have the least amount of interference with private property. Following this explanation, Nandlall asked that the Bill receive the House’s blessings for a smooth passage. The debate was then concluded by Minister Bharrat, following which, the House resolved itself into a committee to consider the clauses of the amendment. The Bill was then put to a vote and received the government’s full support. It now awaits the President’s assent. GUYANA GETS US$79.6M FOR SEVENTH OIL LIFT The Government of Guyana disclosed Monday that it received US$79.6M for the nation’s seventh oil lift which was purchased by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOC). In a statement to the media, the Ministry of Natural Resources reminded that on July 3, 2021, 1,047,820 barrels of oil were lifted from Liza Destiny with a value of

US$79,617,561.87. This resulted in a grand total to date of 7,056,262 barrels which earned Guyana US$388,777,840.1. That money is being held in the Natural Resource Fund Account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. According to the manager of that account, the closing balance of the NRF account is US$436,095,328.26. As the Government of Guyana manages the nation’s patrimony to the benefit of all Guyanese, the Ministry said the administration will remain committed to providing updates on oil lifts and sales as may be necessary to ensure all stakeholders and members of the public are informed. The table shows the number of lifts made by the government to date and how much was received for each. WEDNESDAY GUYANATO HAVE MORE GAS THAN IT CURRENTLYNEEDS WITH $900M GAS-TOENERGY PROJECT - GOVT. NOW DRAFTING MASTER PLAN TO DETERMINE USE FOR SURPLUS According to Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, Guyana’s current power utilisation with Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) stands in the range of 120MW to 130MW. Once the US$900M gas-toenergy project comes on stream by 2024, Bharrat was keen to note, that existing energy needs would be fully satisfied as the project’s Natural Gas Plant will produce 200MW of power. As for what would become of the surplus gas that would be brought to shore from the Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two projects, Bharrat said a Gas Utilisation Master Plan (GUMP) is being designed to determine the way forward. During his address in the National Assembly on Monday in respect to Amendments to the 1986 Petroleum Exploration and Production Legislation, Bharrat said, “Government is preparing a Gas Utilisation Master Plan to review and determine the most appropriate use of surplus gas and already, we would have secured 50 million cubic feet of gas per day from Liza (Phase One and Two Projects) which will be brought to shore and then transported via a 30 km pipeline into the Wales Development area which will be an investment site to create jobs in an area that is already depressed due to the closure of (sugar) estates.”

The Minister added that initial studies have indicated that the best use of surplus gas and waste heat are for activities in support of the agriculture sector. He said that this includes fertilizer production, gas-to-protein, and agricultural processing. With respect to fertilizer production, Bharrat said gas can be used to make ammonia and subsequently urea. In this regard, he articulated that Guyana currently imports approximately 45,000 tonnes of urea and ammonia compounds. To manufacture such a quantity would require 5 to 6 million cubic feet of gas per day. Since Guyana is already guaranteed 50 million cubic feet of gas per day, he said the country is in a strong position to significantly reduce its import bill in this regard. As for gas-to-protein, the Minister explained to his fellow Parliamentarians that gas can also be used to produce single-cell protein via a bio-fermentation process. The resulting high protein feed can be used as a diet supplement in the poultry and aquaculture industries the Minister said. To produce 6,500 tonnes of bio-protein per year, the Minister said it requires two to three million cubic feet of gas per day. Here again, with the gas that was secured from the Liza Phase One and Two projects, this is more than possible the Minister said. With respect to Agricultural processing, Bharrat said the thermal power plant will generate significant quantities of steam and low-grade waste heat. He noted that the energy can therefore be efficiently used for the pre-heating for rice boiling, crop drying etc.

BRAZILIAN BUSINESSMAN EXECUTED ON REGENT STREET - FRIEND CRITICALLY INJURED A Brazilian businessman and his associate were shot execution style, last night around 22:00hrs , while sitting in a parked vehicle in front of Shamdas Kirpalani, between Camp and Wellington Streets, Georgetown. Pronounced dead on the scene was Euclides Erian Da Silva, a businessman, while his associate was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and was, up to press time Tuesday night, still alive. Video and still images seen by this paper show the two brutally injured men, both still alive at the time, but gunshot wounds spread across their face, arms and torsos. Dozens of onlookers gathered at the scene as members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) cordoned off the crime scene. Da Silva’s relatives and friend were also on the scene consoling each other. This publication was told that the suspects first opened fire and took out one of the tires of the Black Toyota Tacoma vehicle, GTT 3257, that the men were parked in. Eyewitnesses also said that the perpetrators opened fire from a heavily-tinted black motor vehicle which then sped east along Regent Street before turning into Alexander Street. Around 23:22hrs a squad of heavily armed special tactical ranks arrived on scene, temporarily took up strategic positions around the cordoned off area before leaving 15 minutes after during that time forensic officers could be seen

gathering evidence near to the vehicle. According to Divisional Commander Simon McBean who was on the scene last night, the police set up roadblocks along the East Bank and East Coast Demerara, in Region Three and around the city. 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. EXXON GEARS FOR NEW 12-WELL DRILLING CAMPAIGN IN CANJE BLOCK …GETS EXEMPTION FROM DOINGENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT - EPA An application for Environmental Authorisation has been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the following proposed project by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana spud a 12 Well Exploration and Appraisal (E&A) Drilling Programme, Canje Block, Offshore Guyana. This, according to a recent notice published by the EPA which noted that in accordance with Section 11(2) of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05, Laws of Guyana, the application for the project has been screened by the Agency and that “the Agency determined that the project will not significantly affect the environment and is therefore, exempt from the requirement (Continued on page 28)

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From page 27 of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), in accordance with Section 11(2) of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05.” It was noted however that, “this decision is in no way an indication of approval of the project.” The EPA in its notice did seek to point out that notwithstanding its decision, “in the interest of sound environmental management, the Agency will require the preparation and submission of an Environmental Assessment and Management Plan (EAMP) for the project.” According to the EPA’s announcement, “the EAMP is intended to assess specific issues and impacts identified during screening and along with specific mitigation measures to ensure that the proposed project can be implemented in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner.” In keeping with the Environmental Protection Act, Cap.20:05, Laws of Guyana, and the Environmental Protection (Authorisations) Regulations, 2000, “any person who may be affected by any of the proposed project may lodge an appeal against the Agency’s decision (EIA not required) with the Environmental Assessment Board within thirty (30) days of the date of the publication of this Notice.” The publication was made public on Sunday last. ExxonMobil last year said it has identified considerable undrilled potential of more than 50 leads in the blocks it operates in Guyana’s offshore Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The oil major has announced plans to do more drilling in prospects targeted in the Kaieteur, Canje and Stabroek Blocks. ExxonMobil currently operates offshore Guyana holding stakes in 11 million along with a number of partners making up the three consortia, which own the licences. The company in its exploration campaign in Guyana recently made a discovery in the Kaieteur Block, while drilling its first well there and deepest by far offshore Guyana. In 2019, ExxonMobil relinquished a portion of the Canje Block under the terms of the exploration licence, reducing the size of the contract area from 6,100 square kilometers (sq. km.) to 4,800 sq. km. It is anticipated that with just over a dozen initial prospects identified for exploration in the Canje Block, it will yield some 10 billion barrels of oil.

Sunday August 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

THURSDAY COUNTRIES MUST END ALL NEW FOSSIL FUEL EXPLORATION, PRODUCTION AND SHIFT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY -THERE IS NO TIME FOR DELAY, NO ROOM FOR EXCUSES - UN SECRETARYGENERAL On the heels of a damning report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which speaks to the devastating effects human activity on the earth, United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has said the message facing the petroleum industry cannot be any clearer. In a statement he released this week, Guterres said the message before the industry unequivocally states that oil and gas exploration and production must not continue; there must be a swift shift to renewable energy. Guterres stressed that this word of caution must be heeded since the internationally agreed threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius is “perilously close.” He said, “We are at imminent risk of hitting 1.5 degrees in the near term. The only way to prevent exceeding this threshold is by urgently stepping up our efforts, and pursuing the most ambitious path…We are already at 1.2 degrees and rising.” The UN Secretary General added, “Global Warming has accelerated in recent decades. Greenhouse gas concentrations are at record levels. Extreme weather and climate disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity. That is why this year’s United Nations climate conference in Glasgow is so important.” Further to this, Guterres said all nations, especially the major emitters like the USA and China, need to join the net zero emissions coalition and reinforce their commitments with credible, concrete and enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions and policies before COP26 in Glasgow. Without deep carbon pollution cuts now, he underscored that the 1.5degree goal will fall quickly out of reach. To change the current trajectory, Guterres said there must be no new coal plants built after 2021, while adding that nations that are part of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) must phase out existing coal by 2030, with all others following suit by 2040. Guterres added, “Countries should also end all new fossil fuel exploration

and production, and shift fossil fuel subsidies into renewable energy. By 2030, solar and wind capacity should quadruple and renewable energy investments should triple to maintain a net zero trajectory by mid-century.” The UN Secretary General said there is a clear moral and economic imperative to protect the livelihoods of those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and noted too that adaptation and resilience finance must cease being the neglected half of the climate equation. In this regard, he highlighted that only 21 percent of climate support is directed towards adaptation. “I again call on donors and the multilateral development banks to allocate at least 50 per cent of all public climate finance to protecting people, especially women and vulnerable groups. COVID19 recovery spending must be aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. And the decade-old promise to mobilise US$100 billion annually to support mitigation and adaptation in developing countries must be met,” the UN Secretary General expressed. If there is a collective action on the situation at hand, the official opined that a climate catastrophe can be averted. “But, as the IPCC’s report makes clear, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses. I count on government leaders and all stakeholders to ensure COP26 is a success,” the UN official concluded. ABOUT IPCC & ITS REPORT The IPCC was created in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation options. Through its assessments, the IPCC determines the state of knowledge on climate change. It identifies where there is agreement in the scientific community on topics related to climate change, and where further research is needed. The reports are drafted and reviewed in several stages, thus guaranteeing objectivity and transparency. The IPCC is now in its sixth assessment cycle. The first report from this process is called Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. It was released this week. The report addresses the most up-to-date physical

understanding of the climate system and climate change, bringing together the latest advances in climate science, and combining multiple lines of evidence from paleoclimate, observations, process understanding, and global and regional climate simulations. A total of 234 scientists from 66 countries are behind the first chapter of the IPCC’s sixth assessment report. Also, over 14,000 scientific papers are referenced in the report. Some of the key findings of the report are as follows: · Keeping to 1.5 Degrees Celsius will require “immediate, rapid and largescale reductions” in emissions while slower action leads to a temperature of 2 Degrees Celsius and more suffering for all life on Earth. · Drought is increasing in more than 90 percent of regions across the world · The past five years have been the hottest on record since 1850 · The recent rate of sea-level rise has nearly tripled compared with 19011971 · Extreme sea-level events that occurred once a century are projected to occur at least annually. · Under all the emissions scenarios considered, all targets for reductions will be broken this century unless huge cuts in carbon emissions take place. · 2,400 billion tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) have been emitted by humanity since 1850. The world can afford to only leak another 400 billion tonnes to have a 66 percent chance of keeping to 1.5 Degrees Celsius. · Many changes due to past and future greenhouse gas emissions are irreversible for centuries to millennia, especially changes in the ocean, ice sheets and global sea level. · Under scenarios with increasing CO2 emissions, the ocean and land carbon sinks are projected to be less effective at slowing the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere. FRIDAY DUE TO HIGH INCIDENCE OF CORRUPTION… GUYANAMUSTEXAMINE EXXONMOBIL’S US$4.5B EXPLORATION BILLS WITH SUPPLIERS – NRGI In the petroleum sector, suppliers of goods and services do significant work for large multinationals like ExxonMobil and Shell

Corporation. But there is overwhelming evidence that has shown over the years, just how endemic corruption can be between oil companies and suppliers. According to research and analysis conducted by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) on this matter, it was found that 64 percent of petroleum projects reviewed in over 40 countries was over budget due to incidents of corruption. One area that saw such high cost overruns was exploration costs, said NRGI. In Guyana, NRGI pointed out that exploration costs are estimated to be US$4.58B based on estimates provided by Rystad Energy, a Norwegian Consultancy. Given what it has observed from its research, NRGI, which is headquartered in the USA,

advised that Guyana should check these costs which were racked up with suppliers to ensure they are correct. It also urged Guyana to consider the impact of exemptions in the oil sector. In this regard, NRGI said Guyana ought to examine exemptions on Withholding Tax to subcontractors or affiliated companies of ExxonMobil during the exploration period for the Stabroek Block. “Given Rystad estimates that operator ExxonMobil spent US$4.58 billion on exploration in the block through the end of 2019; we estimate that exempted Withholding Tax up to this date could be more than a hundred million (US) dollars…” NRGI stated. It should be noted that (Continued on page 29)

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From page 28 ExxonMobil continued its aggressive exploration campaign in the Stabroek, Kaieteur and Canje Blocks post COVID-19 which hit Guyana in March 2020. But the costs post-2019 remained unpublished by ExxonMobil and its partners as well as the PPP/C Administration. INFLATION BY ANADARKO Like NRGI, Kaieteur News’ independent research also uncovered several cases of inflated exploration costs which left nations suffering millions in losses. Anadarko, for example, had claimed that its exploration costs through to year-end 2012 were estimated at US$700 million in Mozambique. But oneyear later that cost magically increased to US$3B. More specifically, on September 13 2013, A n a d a r k o ’s C E O , A l Wa l k e r, h a d i n d i c a t e d during a visit to Tokyo, that “at the end of the year the group would have invested US$3 billion in prospecting in Area One of the Rovuma basin in northern Mozambique.” The claim of US$3B in exploration was repeated numerous times since September of 2013, and was confirmed by Anadarko in response to a direct question from the Centre for Public Integrity, another international transparency watchdog. But the increase in exploration expenses was difficult to understand since there was no indication of such extraordinary expenses in Anadarko’s 2013 annual report. Each y e a r, companies listed on a US stock exchange are required by law to file an annual report with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Strict rules exists on how these reports are to be prepared in order to protect the rights of investors. According to Anadarko’s 2013 annual report, global exploration costs for Anadarko in that year were only US$1.3 billion, and this included activity in the Gulf of Mexico, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire and New Zealand, in addition to Mozambique. Despite repeated requests, Anadarko has refused to provide the public with a plausible answer as to how exploration expenses of US$700 million at the end of 2012 increased by US$2.3 billion in only twelve months. The Government of Mozambique had commissioned an audit to be done in light of the said

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disparity but the money was nonetheless recovered in the meantime. GECOMTERMINATES CONTRACTS OF LOWENFIELD, MYERS AND MINGO - CHAIR CITES NO SECURITY OF TENURE Chief Elections Officer

(CEO), Keith Lowenfield; Deputy CEO, Roxanne Myers and Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo were Thursday terminated as employees of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) based on the terms of their contracts. The decision was reached at a virtual hearing of the Commission. In a subsequent release via GECOM, Chairperson of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh explained that the termination of the contracts of the three employees were made possible as they had no security of tenure. It was said nonetheless that the trio will leave GECOM with all of their benefits in keeping with the arrangements of their contracts. The three former GECOM officials were dismissed after Government-nominated Commissioners, Sase Gunraj, Manoj Narayan and Bibi Shadick moved a motion for termination of the contracts and voted for it. The three Opposition-nominated Commissioners Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman abstained from the vote. Since the three Opposition-nominated Commissioners abstained when the vote was taken during meeting; there was then no need for the Chair to vote and the decision was made to fire the officers. Kaieteur News understands given the decision, letters will be dispatched to the three former employees to officially inform them of the move. Thursday’s meeting came after weeks of deliberation on the motions brought to GECOM by the Governmentnominated Commissioners seeking the removal of those persons from office. All three officers are facing the court on electoral fraud charges as it relates to the March 2, 2020 Regional and General Elections. In a release which followed the decision, it was explained that the GECOM Chair made several considerations before dismissing the officers. Among them, Justice Singh posited that although the three officers held public/ statutory office, they are not public but rather contractual officers. She noted therefore that they have no security of tenure and their respective contracts stipulate the terms by which they are bound According to the release, Justice Singh noted that the officers exercised the right to enter their respective contract

willingly and voluntarily and were therefore aware of the method of termination provided by the respective contracts. Further, in arriving at her decision, the former Judge stated 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.” Specifically as it relates to the CEO, the release pointed out that Clause Nine of his contract stipulates that his services can be terminated by giving him three months’ notice or payment in lieu of. In regards to the DCEO and the RO, their contracts stipulate that the Commission may at any time terminate their employment by giving three months’ notice or payment in lieu of. Accordingly, it was stated that the officers will be paid three months’ salary in lieu inclusive of all allowances under their respective contract as well as payment for remaining days of Vacation leave. While the full details of Lowenfield’s contract are not known, Kaieteur News understands that the former CEO was paid some $25 million in salary and

allowances between January 2020 and March 2021. Although he received some $3.5 million in salaries between January to March, 2021, this does not include his accumulated multi-million dollar allowances. Kaieteur News understands too that a monthly breakdown of Lowenfield’s allowances amounts to $120,000 for travelling, $360,000 for entertainment, $700,000 in gratuity, $1 million for vacation, $120,000 for uniform. In addition, the CEO has a security allowance of $6 million annually. Myers draws an annual salary of $16 million, while on a monthly basis, she receives travelling and overtime allowances in the sum of $240,000; entertainment and rent $1.6 million; gratuity in the sum of $1 million; vacation $865,000 and uniform $120,000. M e a n w h i l e , Commissioner Gunraj, at a subsequent press briefing noted that even though they will receive their benefits, “We are glad they gone, the nation waited too long for this to happen.” The GECOM Commissioner explained that the next thing is to advertise the vacancies and have the posts filled by persons who can conduct themselves with dignity and in an ethical

manner. Gunraj believes the removal of the three officers would also support in large measure the successful holding of local government elections this year. SATURDAY GOVT. INKS ORDER FOR STATE TO ACQUIRE LANDS FOR US$900M GAS PIPELINE The PPP/C Government has signed off an Order under the Acquisition of Land for Purposes Act to secure a 30meter 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 (Continued on page 30)

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From page 29 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 t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f 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 corridor approximately 30

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Kaieteur News

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. 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 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. Bharrat said these additions allow for a degree of transparency and accountability 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 of production offshore on all Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSOs) vessels as well as the exploration activities by drill ships. As for the US$900M gas-to-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. EXXON DUMPS MORE US GAS ASSETS TO FOCUS ON GUYANA DEVELOPMENTS ExxonMobil 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 are providing 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 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 high-return, advantaged projects and high-grade our existing assets through accretive divestments.”

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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Big verbal clash with David Patterson last Friday evening Ogle airport engineer, Raymond Persaud, and his wife Dawn, are personal friends that prior to the COVID-19 restrictions, my dog and I spent a lot of time with. They live right next door to the AFC head office on the street without a name but is the western continuation of the Railway Embankment that ends at Sherriff Street. They have a little snackette on the parapet where we have been gathering for years now. I pass the place each morning and afternoon to take my dog for her play in the National Park and her abandonment on the seawall. But since COVID-19, I hardly stop. As I drove by at around 6 PM last Friday, AFC youth leader and former AFC City Councillor, Carlyle Goring, came in front of the car and yelled out that Raymond and Dawn said that I have given up on them. Instead of going with my doggie on the seawall, I decided to spend time at the snackette. There were quite a number of former AFC persons around. Goring said he wants me to make it public that he has switched from the AFC to Anil Nandlall. He said Anil Nandlall is one of Guyana's better politicians. It was a good lime until David Patterson drove up and began to pick on me. I will not let someone accost me without a reply. David speaking directly to me said, “I want you to go public about why you don't write about the man who threw a

miasmic substance on you but you so hate the AFC.” At that point everyone was applauding David thinking that he got me cornered. I had my dog in my lap. I rested her on the bench on which I was sitting, got up, went into David's face. I said, “Yes I will publish the reason but let me tell you the reason here and now.” He kept shouting, “I don't want to hear it, I don't want to hear it, just write it, write about why you don't criticise the man who threw a miasmic substance on you but you so hate the AFC.”The gathering insisted that I give my reason. David kept insisting that he doesn't want to hear and I should include the reason when I am writing about it. But he had to listen because everyone present demanded that he listen. I told him that when that substance was thrown on me, people who read about it wherever they lived were revolted and there was a direct connection with that event and the election of David Patterson to government. Then I asked him what he and the AFC did when they were in power? I asked if he reached out to the guy who had the substance thrown in his face that was his close, personal friend before he became a minister. The arguments got very heated and thousands of things were said by me that were accusatory against David personally and the AFC. I picked up my dog and as

I was about to leave, he said something that got me angry and I turned back and rested my dog on the bench again. With a tiny smile on his face, he said, “Freddie, no matter what, you are still my friend.” My reply was an agitated one and I stand by it, unapologetically. I retorted, “David, I don't want your friendship, since when I am your friend, after you are no longer a minister?” He turned the exchange into a joke by saying even if I rejected his friendship; I cannot do anything about him accepting me as a friend. I can now say two things that were not said at that intemperate lime at the snackette. One is that the analogy of David Patterson is idiotic and arid. There cannot be the same feeling inside of me about a conspiracy that resulted in a miasmic substance being thrown on me and the depraved, degenerate, immoral, unpatriotic betrayal by the AFC of an entire country that jeopardised that country's future. The AFC mashed up the dream of countless Guyanese

when it got into power and became corrupt, racist and power-drunk. Finally, one man's effort to see me get justice went down the sink. It was Glenn Lall, the publisher of this newspaper, who spent time and money in a relentless pursuit of those who threw that thing on me. Mr. Lall secured the

confession of the actual thrower, who named his handlers. Then as the Frederick Kissoon case was about to be heard, the thrower died in friend, didn't investigate. mysterious circumstances; (The views expressed in killed in an accident that this article are those of the never happened. author and do not The government of necessarily reflect the David Patterson, my personal opinions of this newspaper.)

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This pandemic is at the crossroads; we can control where it goes By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center

T

he new wave from the Delta variant is shaking the world and it may have reached our shores. I will not be surprised if we soon get hit with another wave that causes a surge in infections. However, we do have a decent vaccination rate and there is a good chance that we can ride the next wave if we increase our vaccine uptake in the next few weeks. The pandemic has shifted its focus to the unvaccinated and these are the persons that are mostly dying and getting serious infections. I still feel that we can shape the path of this virus by making wise choices. Today, I will share my thoughts on the trajectory of this virus which depends so much on our choices. The incoming wave affecting the unvaccinated mostly I would have previously shared data which clearly shows that the unvaccinated

are the ones that are being hospitalised and are dying from COVID-19. There are some persons that are even begging to be vaccinated while they are going through the devastating effects of the infection. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, o n e cannot be vaccinated while they are actively infected and persons should not think that they will choose to get vaccinated when they get infected and be protected. COVID-19 vaccines only work to prevent infections or serious forms of infections and are of no benefit if given to someone when they get infected. Unfortunately, there are still more persons that are unvaccinated than vaccinated. The virus which is now even more infectious, therefore still has a large population at its disposal to infect and cause unnecessary deaths and hospitalisations. Children may become a target group We are seeing a rise in i n f e c t i o n s a n d hospitalisations in children recently and this may be

related to the newer strains affecting children more than previous ones. Unfortunately, children are not vaccinated as yet and may become prime suspects for the virus as this pandemic evolves. Our hope is that children will still fare better than adults given their robust immune response from their recent childhood vaccination for other diseases. This somehow seems to help them to respond more efficiently and effectively when exposed to COVID-19. However, this virus will elude some and the risk of causing devastating effects in some children is real. Until children are vaccinated against COVID-19, they will remain a high-risk group and the best way for us all to protect them in the meantime, is to maximise adult vaccinations so that there aren't adults who can spread the infection to children. The paths that this virus can take in 2021 It is simple, once countries can up their

vaccination rate and get above 80 percent vaccination coverage before the year is out, they should be able to exit the pandemic. However, this is heavily dependent on vaccine resistant strains of the virus not forming. There is a decent chance of this happening given the high numbers of unvaccinated persons. If vaccine resistant strains do form, it can potentially send the world into another phase of the pandemic until scientists can make sufficient vaccines to combat them. However, when viruses mutate, they tend to become less deadly and I'm optimistic that this virus will weaken with time and be less deadly. This will either lead to a situation where it become seasonal and act similar to the flu or it is slowly wiped out as s u ff i c i e n t p e r s o n s g e t

vaccinated worldwide. In the meantime, we will have to ride this wave and hope that there are smaller spurts of infections in unvaccinated populations that are not sufficient to cause systemic collapse. What can you do to prepare for a new wave? I touched on this before; the best way to prepare yourself is to practice the following measures: ·Get vaccinated ASAP. · Ensure your immune system is primed and as healthy as it can be. · Practice the 4Ds as much as possible. · Consult with your doctor to initiate treatment EARLY if you do get infected. Every time I look at the number of vaccinated persons, I am baffled why there are so many that choose to avoid vaccination against

COVID-19. We are finally at a phase in the pandemic where we can shape our own destiny but yet we are allowing this opportunity to slowly slip from our grasp. Time waits for no one and this virus is similar in nature. Do not get left behind, get vaccinated and defeat COVID-19 before it defeats you!

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Sunday August 15, 2021

Lessons from a Lashpreneur!!!

All you need to know about lash shedding season By Latoya Zephyr Our bodies go through natural shedding each change of season Unfortunately it usually is worse in the fall as our bodies prepare for the coming warmth and lack of humidity. This increased hair loss doesn’t just happen to our lashes, but the hairs on our head as well. The body also will increase its oil production to prepare for the seasonal change to keep the hair and skin hydrated. If you start noticing your lash retention suffering more than usual or natural lashes on your extensions falling out aswell this might be due to the seasonal shedding season. There isn’t a much you can do other than wait it out and if you want fuller lashes schedule more frequent fills. If you recently just got a fill or fullset and you notice more shedding on one side then the other, this is normal to have uneven shedding. This is just simply because you have more lashes in the telogen phase on one eye then the other. on average we have 90150 lashes per eye with am average of 300 lashes a set. On average we lose 2-6 lashes a day in a week that equals up to 42 lashes that’s about 20% of your set this is why 1 week infills are needed. In 2 weeks 72 lashes and 3 week 144 lashes at this point most of your lashes would be out grown and may need a fullset. These lashes that you lose are not lost forever but are just going through their growth cycle. Here are some reasons why lashes shed as the seasons change and some ways we can slow the process. Sun Protection As the seasons change, our bodies start to shed all hair, not just eyelashes. Hair on our head, body hair, etc. This is because the biological purpose of hair is to protect our skin from the sun. As

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André is Ready!!! All wine lovers start out the same way moved by the simple act of tasting a wine. There is something in wine that captures our attention. It could be the aromas, the texture on your palate, or just the moment frozen in time that leaves you wanting to repeat that experience. André!!!!! Say it out loud and it sounds fancy. Weve been bringing the party since 1966. If youre looking to partay, we want to join you! Take this champagne to your next brunch, elegant, or ugly sweater party you must! No matter where you are going taking André Brut makes a statement. The dried blend of white grapes that results in a taste as bright as the California sunshine they are grown. André Brut California

Champagne is light and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness. It’s made from a combination of white wine grapes, giving it green apple and sweet lemon flavors. It’s the ideal sparkling wine for mimosas and mixed drinks. Fun fact! Paring André wine and food is as easy as it is fun. Start with this simple, but important tip. Get a bottle, prepare something you enjoy eating, or pick a restaurant youre fond of, and most importantly, find a good friend or lover to share the wine, meal, and night with. So, raise a glass of André! The classic Champagne, classic never goes out of style. Distributed by Ansa Mcal Trading Limited and available in leading supermarkets countrywide.

Enetworks airs West Indies vs. Pakistan Tour the sun lowers in fall months, our bodies begin to shed the hair. If you have a furry little friend, you may notice that their hair is shedding during this time as well, for the same reason. Vitamin D The sun provides our bodies with Vitamin D. As the days get cooler (and this happens more quickly in some areas of the world earlier than others) the sun isn’t as strong. Our bodies don’t absorb as much Vitamin D, which is necessary to hair growth. Energy Loss Because of that lack of Vitamin D, our bodies lack energy which makes the hair

growth process slower. Our bodies have to work extra hard to grow hair when lacking Vitamin D. They are also working hard to protect other parts of our bodies from colds, infections and other illnesses that come with the change of the seasons. The good news is that season changing lash shed only lasts 3-4 weeks. Here’s some ways to stop or slow this shedding: Take Vitamin D Supplements. Don’t go longer than 2 weeks between fills during shedding time. Have lighter lashes applied during shedding time Have shorter lashes applied during shedding time.

For all the cricket lovers, be sure to catch the West Indies vs. Pakistan on the E2 Channel this weekend. The Pakistan cricket team has been touring the West Indies since July and now this month to play t w o Te s t s a n d f o u r Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The Test series are part

of the 20212023 ICC World Test Championship. The fixtures for the tour were confirmed by Cricket West Indies in May 2021.The T20I series was originally scheduled for five matches. H o w e v e r, t h i s w a s changed to four T20Is, following the rescheduled One Day International (ODI) fixtures in the West Indies’ series against Aus-

tralia. The T20I series was heavily impacted by rain, with three of the four matches washed out and ending in no results. In the third match, only six minutes of play was possible before the match was called off. The only match to be completed was the second T20I, with Pakistan winning by seven runs. Therefore, Pakistan won the four-match series 10.

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Two Frogs With The Same Problem By Aakanksha

Once, a group of frogs was roaming around the forest in search of water. Suddenly, two frogs in the group accidentally fell into a deep pit. The other frogs worried about their friends in the pit. Seeing how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that there was no way they could escape the deep pit and that there was no point in trying. They continued to constantly discourage them as the two frogs tried to jump out of the pit. But keep falling back. Soon, one of the two frogs started to

Khanna

believe the other frogs — that they'll never be able to escape the pit and eventually died after giving up. The other frog keeps trying and eventually jumps so high that he escapes the pit. The other frogs were shocked at this and wondered how he did it.The difference was that the second frog was deaf and couldn't hear the discouragement of the group. He simply thought they were cheering him on! Moral of the story People's opinion of you will affect you, only if you believe it to be so. It's better to believe in yourself.

Junior page Pen pots from plastic bottles

You will need · Empty plastic drink bottles · Scissors · Pink, grey and white acrylic paint · Paint brush · Glue · Black, white and pink marker pens Step 1 Ask an adult helper to cut the bottoms off the empty plastic drinks bottles at different heights. Cut out some ear shapes from the top sections, then recycle the rest. Feel free to choose any animal, we went with bunnies for this week's craft. Step 2

Paint the pots and ear pieces with the pink, grey and white acrylic paints and leave to dry fully. They may need a second coat to get the colour you want, so add another once your first is dry if you think it needs it. Step 3 Glue a pair of ears to the top of each pot and leave to dry again. Step 4 Finally the fun bit! Draw a face onto each pot with marker pens, and leave to dry before using. All that's left to do now is to fill them with your favourite pens and pencils. Craft: by Suzie Attaway

Futoshiki

RY

H

IT NW

T POE

FU

Play Fair The games we play are so much fun, When my friends and I all meet, Cricket, football, hopscotch and skipping, They make our lives so sweet. But there are times when I find Some children don't play so fair, They push and hit you when they lose, And sometimes even pull your hair. Games are one way we get to learn To be friendly, honest and kind; Play hard to win, but always play fair, And you will enjoy them all the time. by Uncle Roy

Fill in the squares so that each digit from 1 to 4 occurs exactly once in each row and column. Greater-than and lessthan signs indicate the relationship of the two adjacent squares. There is only one solution, and you can find it without guessing.

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2021

Interacting positively with others will help to strengthen your Sense of Belonging

PAGE 45

TEEN TIME

It's all in the Mind

If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you won't; If you like to win, but don't think you can, It's almost a cinch you won't. If you think you'll lose, you're lost, For out in the world you'll find Success begins with a fellow's will; It's all in a state of mind. For many a game is lost, Ere even a play is run, And many a coward fails, Ere even his work is begun.

Social interaction in a positive and unselfish manner will always help to make one feel that he/she is accepted by others and strengthen this feeling of belonging. Although this area of your efforts may already be taken care of in carrying out your obligations towards an organisation of which you are a member, you will still need to purposely make the time for strengthening the social relationships among your peers, keeping this within the bounds of proper

conduct, and in an atmosphere of appreciation for each individual. As we said before, one will have to ensure that those with whom he/she chooses to associate in various useful activities are living virtuous lives. One can easily get involved with the wrong set of persons if enough care is not taken to identify the proper group with which to interact. We mentioned previously how this can lead to becoming a part of a gang that may include persons who are

bent on creating mischief, and even violent crimes. One set of persons with whom one must make a special effort to interact is one's family. It is absolutely necessary to develop this social relationship with those whom you love, trust and respect, as you must know that they are foremost in desiring the best for you, and will always help you to fulfil your ambitions. One way of keeping this interaction ongoing, apart from the normal times when you work and play together,

KAKURO

Kakuro puzzles are like a cross between a crossword and a Sudoku puzzle. Instead of letters, each block contains the digits 1 through 9. The same digit will never repeat within a word. If you

is to suggest and play your part in having occasional meetings of family members, during which you discuss what is going on in everyday life, what needs to be done to bring out the best in each member, and the events which keep you enjoying life together and growing more and more as one united group. Work on these special ways of interacting positively with others and you will reap immense benefits towards attaining self-esteem.

add the digits in a word, the sum will be the number shown in the clue. Clues are shown on the left and right sides of “across” words, and on the top and bottom sides of “down” words.

Think big and your deeds will grow, Think small and you'll fall behind; Think that you can and you will, It's all a state of mind. If you think you are out-classed, you are, You've got to think high to rise; You've got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.

Help others to socialise properly, and you will be helping yourself in the same manner.

Solutions to last week’s

Sudoku sandwich

PAGE 46

Getting Rid of Uneven skin tone 1. Stay hydrated for even skin As discussed above, staying out in the sun for too long causes hyperpigmentation. To protect your skin from the sun to some extent, make sure to apply good sunscreen during the day, even in winters. Reapply it whenever you are directly under the sun. This also helps in keeping the age spots at bay. 2. Maintain A Balanced Diet Don't just limit your skin treatment to using suitable skin care products. Consider taking it to the next level and treat it from the inside. Avoiding all types of junk food is essential when it comes to maintaining good skin health. These foods may trigger flushed, uneven complexions. Certain foods like sugary snacks can also speed up the development of age spots and uneven complexions. So, avoiding them helps in achieving the even skin tone that you desire. Foods items to avoid are Alcohol - alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate. This leads to a flushed face. Spicy foods - Spicy foods increase redness. Foods that are high in refined sugars. Dairy products - dairy products can trigger various skin irritations, including acne. Greasy or overly processed foods. Consuming large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables will heal your skin from within. They also help in fighting sunspots and give your skin deserved protection against free radicals. Maintaining a balanced diet is a more permanent and long-term solution for treating uneven skin tone. Foods to include are Green tea - As we all know, green tea is great for skin as it is rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants help in improving the quality of your skin while reducing the visible aging effects. Citrus - Citrus-rich foods like oranges and tomatoes help reduce pigment, repair skin cells, and minimize the effects of UV exposure. Grapes, carrots, and watermelons, a great source of a powerful antioxidant called Lycopene, can quench free radicals. Salmon - Salmon, Tuna, and other kinds of seafood are rich in healthy fatty acids and Omega 3. These foods help in preventing hyperpigmentation and allow your body to repair the damaged skin. 3. Regular Exercise If you desire a healthy and fit lifestyle, you should work out for at least thirty minutes five days a week. When you keep your body fit, you ensure better circulation, which will help with the production of new skin cells. Production of skin cells is really important when it comes to achieving even skin tone and healthy-looking skin. 3. Home Remedies The following are the different home remedies that can give you the even skin tone you dream of. (9) (10) 1. Lemon Dark patches that cause uneven skin tone always get weaker when treated with the high acidity levels of lemon or lemon juice. The richness of vitamin C and other antiinflammatory compounds in lemon makes it an excellent remedy for any skin issue. However, before using it on the sunburn affected area, make sure it is diluted so that your skin doesn't burn. 2. Baking Soda The minerals and carbonate salt content present in baking soda are excellent for lightening uneven specks on your skin. The exfoliating properties of baking soda also help provide a natural cleansing and calming effect to the skin. 3. Turmeric Powder As we all know, Turmeric is a time-tested herbal medicine for numerous skin issues. It is popularly used as a natural remedy for brightening dull skin. 4. Multani Mitti Multani Mitti, also known as Fuller's Earth, is considered mother nature's gift to rectify a host of skin woes. Its inherent antimicrobial properties and skin-fortifying components help in visibly brightening the skin, clearing all impurities' pores, and preventing acne. Honey is an excellent source of antimicrobial compounds. These compounds help in killing bacteria that cause acne and irritation (11). On the other hand, Oatmeal helps in soothing irritation and minimizing redness while gently buffing away dead skin

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Sunday August 15, 2021

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Sunday August 15, 2021

PAGE 47

The Court Journal

Coalition MPs and supporters before the court By Renay Sambach

S

ince the change of Government in August 2020, a number of A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition members were charged and placed before the court to answer to a series of charges. Those persons are: Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones; Opposition Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson; People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Chairperson and former Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence. Others charged are: APNU+AFC activist, Carol Smith-Joseph, and coalition supporters Mark Griffith, Gary Morris, Malcolm Billison, Travis Ellis, Gordon Lucas and George Halley. The most recent person who was charged is MP Ferguson. She made her first court appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly, to answer to a Cybercrime charge. Ferguson denied the charge, which alleges that on June 15, 2021, she used a computer system to transmit data with intent to cause substantial emotional distress to a senior officer of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Colonel Omar Khan. She is being represented by attorney-at-law, Lyndon

PNC/R Chairperson and former Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence.

Amsterdam. In his address to the court on the first hearing, Amsterdam stated that his client is a public figure and then made an application for Ferguson to be released on self-bail, which was granted by the Magistrate. According to reports, the Opposition MP is charged for falsely alleging in a Facebook post that Khan will be in charge of a “killing squad.” Kaieteur News understands that Ferguson's post, which refers to the “setting up of Death Squad and Black Clothes groups,” stemmed from discussions had during the considerations of Financial Paper 2/2021 during the parliamentary session on June 14, 2021. During the debate, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, told the House that the concept of the Regional

Opposition Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson.

Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones.

Joint Support Teams is a new crime-fighting initiative formulated in April 2021, and that the supplementary provision for the period ending December 2021 is to “set up” the initiative. The Government MP had

APNU+AFC supporters who were charged for illegal procession.

explained that the Regional Joint Support Teams will not denigrate or usurp the functions of the GDF or the GPF, but is intended to enhance the capacity of the law enforcement agencies in Guyana to fight crime, regardless of the type of crime, with the support of the GDF. However, following that parliamentary session, an online news agency published a story headlined, “Exclusive: PPP secures $250 million budget to resuscitation Black Clothes Death Squad.” The Opposition MP subsequently shared the article with her own commentary. Both the Joint Services Coordinating Council (JSCC) and the Ministry of Home Affairs had condemned the Opposition MP's post and cautioned citizens against the “reckless and irresponsible social commentary.” A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Opposition MP is before the court facing a joint procession charge. In May 2021, Ferguson along with Jones, the Opposition Chief Whip, and six coalition

APNU+AFC activist, Carol Smith-Joseph. supporters were charged for illegal procession during the 2020 elections. On May 7, 2021, that matter was called in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly. The procession charges stem from a march outside of the High Court in Georgetown, in April 2021, following the ruling on the elections petition case by Chief Justice (Ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire. The six supporters who were charged are Mark Griffith, Gary Morris, Malcolm Billison, Travis Ellis, Gordon Lucas and George Halley. On the first hearing of the matter, Billison and Morris were absent but later made their court appearance. The first joint charge alleges that Jones and Ferguson along with the six coalition supporters on April 26, 2021, at Georgetown, illegally engaged in a procession without permission from the Commissioner of Police. They were charged under Section 12 of the Public Order Act, Section 12, which stipulates, “Any person who holds, organises, forms, speaks at or takes part in any public meeting or public procession at which a noisy instrument is used without the permission of the Chief Officer of Police shall be guilty of an offence.” The law further outlines that anyone found guilty could face a fine of $26,000 and be imprisoned for up to four months. The Opposition MP's along with the supporters denied the joint charge after it was read to them, they are currently out on $20,000 bail each.

Moreover, in relation to the same incident Ferguson was slapped with an individual charge, which alleges that on April 26, 2021, she obstructed a peace officer from conducting his duties. She pleaded not guilty and was placed on $10,000 bail for that offence. I n a n o t h e r m a t t e r, Lawrence's allege controversial signature on a GECOM document earned her two electoral fraud charges. In October 2020, Lawrence was slapped with two conspiracies to commit fraud charges. Her matter was also heard in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan. She was arrested in relation to her involvement in the activities that took place at the Ashmins Building, Georgetown, which was, at the time, set up as the command centre for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the March 2, 2020 elections. She was not required to plead to the charges which allege that she conspired with others to defraud the people of Guyana for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. According to reports, Lawrence's signature was on Form 24 for Region Four which had the fraudulent numbers that were allegedly concocted by Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, and that Form 24 contained figures intended to assure the APNU+AFC coalition victory in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. Meanwhile, in another matter, Lawrence is facing joint charges with APNU+AFC's activist, Carol (Continued on page 50)

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Coalition MPs and supporters... From page 17 Smith-Joseph, and a former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) employee. On August 27, 2021, the trial for those matters will commence before the Chief Magistrate. The first charge alleges that on March 5, 2020, with intent to defraud, Lawrence and the former GECOM employee uttered a report purporting to be a true declaration of all votes cast in District Four for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, knowing same to be forged.Another charge alleges that on March 13, 2020, the former GECOM employee and Smith-Joseph uttered a

forged document purporting to be a true report of all votes cast in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, knowing that the report was forged. It is also alleged that on the said date, Joseph conspired with Mingo and others to declare a fraudulent count of votes for District Four. Back in April, the Chief Magistrate had ruled in favour of submissions by the prosecution for the charges against the trio to be disposed of summarily. This paved the way for the trial to commence, since the prosecution has already made full disclosure of statements to the defendants.

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2021

Plane crash lands in swamp... From page 53 area, there were at least 20 public-spirited citizens on the ground assisting the victims to get out of the plane. This newspaper was told that some of the citizens were employees of the landfill close by. One of the publicspirited individuals recalled that when they arrived on the scene, they met one of the pilots already out of the plane. On board, they said was a heavily built man, a baby and a woman who was reportedly pinned. They were able to assist the man, the baby and the pilots out of the plane and through the swamp towards the waiting Bell Helicopter which eventually landed some 60-70 feet away.

To rescue the woman, however, the individual recounted that an excavator from the Haags-Bosch Dumpsite was used. “The excavator had to walk through the swamp to help remove her,” one of the rescuers related. The individual continued that it appeared that her leg was probably fractured so after freeing her, the rescuers placed her into the bucket of the excavator and she was transported out of the swamp. With everyone accounted for, the helicopter flew off towards the city. According a release later sent out by the Ministry of Public Works, the helicopter took the injured crew and passengers to Camp Ayangana and they were

rushed from there to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Meanwhile as investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, Barclay has since been labelled as a hero for his split second decision in guiding the plane into the swamp. It is believed that the move he made saved the lives of everyone onboard. Kaieteur News was told that had the plane not land in the swamp then injuries sustained by the crew and the passengers could have been severe or even fatal. Some of the technical personnel who had responded to scene noted that the swamp was a fairly deep one and might have assisted in reducing the impact of the landing.

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Sunday August 15, 2021

A CREATIVE ERA BETWEEN GUYANA AND ITS DIASPORA BEGINS ==CONSUMER CONCERNS==

By Pat Dial After World War II, the European Empires, in particular the British and French went through a period of rapid decolonisation leading to the emergence of a large number of new states. These new states, all former colonies, were in a condition of social a n d e c o n o m i c underdevelopment and their leaderships regarded the metropolitan countries as the model they must emulate to give their citizens a better life.

Before World War II many persons, mostly from the elite and educated groups in these colonial societies had emigrated to the metropolitan colonialist mother countries. After World War II, large numbers of poorer, less educated people from these same societies began to emigrate joining their compatriots in the colonial mother countries and together forming identifiable groups. When Independence came, the new states began affirming their connection

with these groups by describing them as their 'Diasporas'. These diasporas had bettered themselves economically and had accumulated fair amounts of wealth so they could easily send their relatives remittances. As a group, they had also acquired valuable technical and technological skills. The newly independent states did not have investment capital or technological skills nor were they able to attract enough of such in helping them to

achieve their aspirations of developing their countries. The one opening that was left to them was to tap their diasporas and persuade them to invest in or remigrate to their home countries. Thus, most of these states began engaging their diasporas who were all receptive. In the 1970s and 1980s, Guyana began its engagement with its diaspora, which numbered more than the resident population of Guyana by using various remigrant schemes. These schemes all foundered because no proper planning was done in formulating them and because their management was poor. When the new Government assumed office towards the end of 2019, the engagement with the diaspora was resuscitated. With adequate planning, they established a Diaspora Unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and appointed Ms. Rosalinda Rasul to head the Unit. Ms. Rasul is known to be a capable young woman who would bring the necessary enthusiasm and work ethic to her post. In addition, she had studied the experiences of those countries, which have successful diaspora engagements. As expected,

the Unit kicked off with an impacting event. On Saturday May 22, a high-powered virtual International Conference was arranged with the Guyana top brass interfacing with several hundred members of the Diaspora representing various interests. All important sectors were covered remigration, security, trade and investment prospects, o i l a n d g a s i n d u s t r y, agriculture and youth development, sports, education and culture. On the Guyana side were the main members of the Cabinet - His Excellency, The President, Dr. Irfaan Ali; Vice President, Dr. Bharat Jagdeo; Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh; Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; Minister of Housing and Water, Colin Croal; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Ms. Oneidge Waldrond; and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd. The key agencies represented were the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Guyana Tourism Authority, the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest); the Private Sector Commission and the main Diplomatic

Missions. The Conference was helpful, informative, lively and successful and leaves the Diaspora Unit with the task of working out its further detailed strategy and plan of action to immediately satisfy a number of requests and further engaging diaspora members. One of the memorable things about the Conference was that it was the first time we have had a virtual event of such sweep and size and the Unit was able to surmount the technological challenges. There are a few issues we would mention which we think would enrich the work of the Unit: (i) The Unit and the Ministry as a whole should mount continuous programmes of helping members of the diaspora who visit or remigrate to adjust to the realities of Guyana of the 21st century rather than to be guided by nostalgic memories which would very often mislead and disappoint. Such disappointment could sometimes kill the desire to have any further engagement with the country. (ii) So far, the tone of our engagement has been 'how much the Diaspora could do for their homeland'; this has to be balanced with (Continued on page 62)

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China snatches up 17 struggling UK schools H

undreds of independent schools left in dire financial straits by the coronavirus pandemic are being targeted by Chinese investors, The Mail online UK has revealed.According to a report published by the MailOnline in March, seventeen schools are already owned by Chinese companies, but that number is set to rocket, amid rising concern about Beijing's tentacles reaching into British classrooms, an investigation by this newspaper revealed. The article outlined that nine of the 17 schools under Chinese control are owned by firms whose founders or bosses are among China's most senior Communist Party members. Princess Diana's preparatory school is owned by a Chinese group that openly trades on her name; schools are using educational tools for teaching children a 'whitewashed' view of China; One firm admitted its acquisition of British schools is aimed supporting China's controversial Belt and Road strategy, which aims to expand Beijing's global influence. UK experts anticipate a 'feeding frenzy' as firms, including some run by highranking members of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, that seek to expand their influence over Britain's education system. Many independent schools are facing a funding crisis because of the pandemic. Enrolments have plummeted and fees have been slashed because pupils are learning from home. Boarding schools have reportedly seen fees fall by up to 35 percent and daypupil charges by 20 percent. They and other independent schools have been unable to take full advantage of the Government's furlough or business loan schemes because they have to stay open to support the children of key workers or those studying online. In 2019, Chinese firms bought three schools, including Abbots Bromley School near Lichfield, Staffordshire, which had been forced to close its doors in 2019. A key player in the market is Bright Scholar, which bought a number of schools and colleges in 2018 and 2019, including Bournemouth Collegiate School, St. Michael's School

in Llanelli, Carmarthanshire – where Justice Secretary Robert Buckland and singer Cerys Matthews were once pupils – and Bosworth Independent College in Northampton.Bright Scholar is owned by Yang Huiyan, who is reportedly worth £20 billion, making her Asia's richest woman, and was founded by her father Yang Guoqiang, a member of the Communist Party's highestranking advisory council. Ms. Yang, 39, is the boss of Country Garden Group, Bright Scholar's parent company. Two independent schools – Bedstone College in Shropshire and Ipswich High School – are owned by a fund backed by the Chinese Wanda Group. Former pupils of Ipswich High include author Enid Blyton and June Brown, who played Dot Cotton in EastEnders. T h e Wa n d a G r o u p , which invests in technology, real estate, hotels and the media, bought the schools in 2017 through city of London-based asset manager London & Oxford Group.It was founded by Wang Jianlin, a former People's Liberation Army soldier who is worth an estimated £10 billion and is a member of China's senior Communist Party advisory council. Two more schools – Kingsley School in Bideford, Devon, and Heathfield Knoll School in Worcestershire – are owned by China First Capital Group, which has senior Communist Party members on its board. Others bought by Chinese firms include Thetford Grammar School in Norfolk, which was attended by Thomas Paine, Wisbech Grammar in Cambridgeshire and Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School in Norfolk, where Princess Diana was taught. Riddlesworth was bought by the Confucius International Education Group in 2015 and its website lauds its links with the late Princess. The firm's owner, Kong Lingtao, who claims to be a direct descendant of the Chinese philosopher Confucius, also boasts of his visit to Buckingham Palace in 2014, when he met Prince Philip. Another company, Ray Education Group, bought Adcote School for Girls near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and Myddelton College in Denbigh, Wales, in 2018. On its website, Ray Education details plans to

use its British schools to help expand to other countries as part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road strategy to boost China's global economic and political influence. Under the heading 'international market', Ray Education says it is 'relying on British brand schools and responding to the Belt And Road call [of the Chinese government]' to target expansion in 'Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, South Africa, Nigeria and other countries'.

Ray Education's chief executive, James Hu, who is a secretary of the Communist Party's Hongkou district committee, said: 'Adcote School for Girls and Myddelton College are part of our global campus plan.' He added: 'We have already set up three Adcote schools and two franchised Myddelton Colleges in China within two years and we have plans to bring the two brands to other regions and countries in the near future.'Last February ,Conservative MP Tom

Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said: 'China's strategic understanding and reach means that they have an advantage in seeking to influence others and using established brands, including some of our own, to achieve that position. 'We need to decide what it is we are prepared to defend, but before that we would need to understand what it is we want.' The revelations will add to concern about the growth of Confucius Institutes at 29

British universities, and Confucius Classrooms, an offshoot, at almost 150 schools, including Wellington College in Crowthorne, Berkshire.They claim to promote the Chinese language and culture, but critics say they are a vehicle for Beijing to spread propaganda and curtail free speech. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said last month that the Government is reviewing the role of Confucius Institutes, which (Continued on page 61)

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==GNBS IN FOCUS== SHOPPING BACK TO SCHOOL FOOTWEAR FOR CHILDREN – ARE THEY MEETING THE STANDARDS? Footwear refers to apparels worn on the feet, which typically serve the purpose of protection against adversities of the environment, such as ground textures and temperature. Footwear in the form of shoes therefore primarily helps to prevent injuries. They include boots, shoes, sandals, slippers and traditional footwear. From all indications, in September, we will see the reopening of schools across Guyana. As such, parents and guardians are contemplating or have

already commenced the purchase of 'back to school items,' which include footwear, for their schoolaged children. To ensure longevity, when purchasing these items, it is important to consider labelling and quality carefully, which respectively provides product information, and fitness for use. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) under its Product Compliance Programme monitors the quality of footwear imported and offered for sale to

consumers. Monitoring is done based on the requirements of the two available National Standards, namely: the Guyana Standard Specification for footwear (GYS 30:2016) and the Guyana Standard Specification for labelling of commodities part 4: Labelling of footwear (GYS 9-4:2003). Like importers, consumers should consider the requirements outlined in these standards, which would aid in satisfactory and comfortable purchases for their children and even

themselves. The Guyana Standard specification for footwear specifies the requirements, labelling, storage and test methods for footwear. For example, when purchasing footwear, persons are encouraged to ensure labels include the name and address of the manufacturer or supplier and brand name or registered trademark. Labels should also include size, country of origin, and the materials or symbols from which the sole and the upper are made (leather, synthetic or man-made

materials). For manufacturers, the standard also provides information about the sizing system, which shall be based on the length of the average foot fitted by the footwear. Other critical aspects such as size marking, storage, performance testing and monitoring, are included in the specification. Importantly, to avoid deterioration, footwear should be stored in dry, wellventilated areas, and should not be exposed to direct sunlight, particularly for extensive periods. When

purchasing, consumers are urged to carefully examine footwear for cracks and other signs of dry rot. The following are some other useful tips for purchasing footwear, which are applicable to adults and children: · Choose the size of your new shoes based on the size of your larger foot. Believe it or not, many people have one foot slightly larger than the other. Therefore, you should try on several pairs of different sizes and settle on the one in which both feet (Continued on page 62 )

Sunday August 15, 2021

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Op-Ed: Without diesel power the wheels of industries... From page 52 the urgent attention to minimise down time. For customers in the interior or other distant location we will receive, repair and return engines and components to agreed transportation to be returned back to the customers. For these customers we have established convenient payment through the commercial bank or GTT

mobile money. Diesel power should never be taken for granted because it is the back bone to production in the entire world. Can you imagine Guyana without diesel power for one day? Guyana Power and Light Inc. and Guyana Water Authority Inc. would shut down; the nation would be in total darkness, trucks, tractors, dozers, excavators,

trawlers, skidders and loaders would all be parked. Hospitals, hotels, restaurants and all industries would be affected which will result in patients dying in our hospitals and water will not flowing through our pipes. Therefore, without diesel power the wheels of industries will grind to a halt including but not limited to transportation, agriculture, gold mining, forestry,

marine, hotels and many other businesses which will result in millions of dollars of revenue and thousands of jobs lost seriously affecting the economy of our country. Diesel power is the life blood of the nation and our passion is to keep diesel engines in good health to continue to support our nation. Today, we are proud to say that we are well

positioned in the diesel world to follow and apply new innovations for new and improved electronic diesel engines and after 46 years SWISS MACHINERY has earned itself the title as THE ONLY ONE-STOP DIESEL SOLUTION COMPANY IN G U YA N A c o v e r i n g , cleaning diesel storage tanks, extracting water from equipment tank, sales of parts, machining and

rebuilding of diesel engine components, diagnose and repair electric problems, repairing and rebuilding diesel engines, shipping critical emergency parts by air freight and our r e s e a r c h a n d development personnel continue to diligently seek out new and improved maintenance technology to share in our country.

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2021

China snatches up 17 struggling UK... From page 57 are under scrutiny in other Western countries.Critics point to educational resources used by Confucius classrooms as evidence of propaganda. One called Chinese Buddy carries videos featuring a cartoon of a dancing President Xi. Another popular learning tool is Chairman's Bao, a news service for children that

includes articles about tourists enjoying trips to the region where minority Uighurs are persecuted. A Department for Education spokesman said, 'Owners of independent schools have a requirement to promote fundamental British values. 'Schools cannot promote partisan political views,' the spokesman said.

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Sunday August 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

SHOPPING BACK TO SCHOOL FOOTWEAR FOR...

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. VEHICLES FOR SALE Toyota Tacoma (year 2011) GXX series excellent condition.Call:610-4242 or 626-6722.

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Houseplan drawing and estimates.K.Lakeram Building Contractor.Call:2160671/692-8464 or whatsapp 622-0267.

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.

FOR SALE Two houses one yard income generator,Diamond H/SchemeE.B.D.34M negotiable.Contact 6572951/612-9697. 16x6Truck,1 Freightliner,1 Sylphy,1 Hilux LN 172,1 JCB loader.Tel:673-4002/ 665-3676. Household used:Dining tables,Mirrors,Side & Centertables,Floor lamps,Carpets.Call:6553070,662-2652.

One live in babysitter to work.Intrested person contact Shelly on 677-8963,6224576. Experience welders between ages 30-45.MechanicDoosan & Excavator operator.Tel:223-5273/74. One male able bodied clerk.Tel:231-2029/616-5954. 1 canter driver over 40yrs old,between Grove & Diamond.Tel:644-5957. Experienced domestic to work 3 days per week.Must h a v e b o t h vaccinations.Excellent salary.Call:226-2322. Handyman to work 2 days per week to clean up yard.Musthaveboth vaccinations.Excellent salary.Call:226-2322.

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

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.

VACANCY 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.

FOR RENT

TO LET

From page 59 feel comfortable. ·Buy suitable shoes. Children will wear their shoes for extensive periods. As such, the shoes must be comfortable. Also, consider that children are a lot more active and could experience severe discomfort with the wrong fit. ·We advise you to shop for new shoes in the late afternoon. Towards the end of the day, our feet become slightly swollen. This means that a pair of shoes that fitted you perfectly in the morning might feel too tight in the evening. Better to nip this problem in the bud, and choose a pair that will feel comfortable around the clock! · When trying on new shoes, make sure to walk a few steps across a solid surface. Soft carpets can make any shoes feel comfortable. To get a better idea, walk off the carpet and onto the bare floor! · Leave space at the front. Better to buy shoes with a little extra room for socks and foot growth over the school year. · Know you preferred brands. Some brand names and trademarks provide an indication of quality and reliability. Be sure that you do not choose cheap, fake or substandard brands of footwear, which cost more in the end. For further information on this subject, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0064 or 219-0065 or WhatsApp us on 692-4627.

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

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

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

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

Security officers male & female 18+.Lamaha St between Waterloo & Parade.Call:2234172/632-0510.

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

1 part time experienced canter driver.Call:626-6722. Pitmen for interior location.Applicants must be experienced.Call:231-2250.

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A CREATIVE ERA BETWEEN... From page 56 'how much could Guyana do for its Diaspora.' What Guyana could do for its Diaspora would include such matters reviewing the Citizenship Laws to make them more accommodating and friendly to diaspora Guyanese and their offspring; helping them, if they so desire, to successfully navigate their new country with such matters as the use of the Financial Systems such as the Stock Exchange or certain aspects of the Law; and offering Guyanese citizens full protection along Israeli lines. (iii) Many Guyanese in the Diaspora would wish to work in the Oil and Gas Industry, which means working with onshore pro-

viders such as Schlumberger or Baker Hughes. Job offerings are usually done on line and the Unit may disseminate such information to the Diaspora contacts. Sometimes, a Guyanese applicant may satisfy most of the requirements of the job and could acquire those, which he does not have with a few weeks of training. Such persons should be allowed to apply. The Local Content Legislation, which is now being finalised could address this and the Unit should bring this to the attention of the Attorney General's chambers. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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Sunday August 15, 2021

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY! I

n case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our entire nation.

SUNDAY More and more Guyanese are coming out against this expensive and secretive gasto-shore project. Yet the PPP, under the President and Vice President, barrel ahead recklessly without paying any mind to what Guyanese are saying, or the serious concerns they have. In the mixed-up minds of the main leaders of this country, this is what passes for accountability and answering to the people. Apparently, the accountability part of democracy does not apply here.Now the government announces that it is looking for a Project Manager and Senior Engineer for the gasto-shore project. This is accountability in Guyana. Only in Guyana, since leaders don't dare something like this in Jamaica or Trinidad or even Haiti. Think about that fellow citizens. MONDAY It is now one year since the PPP/C Government is in office and Guyana continues to suffer from a transparency deficit, especially in the oil sector. The country is yet to have proper production reports regarding the Stabroek Block oil, ExxonMobil's Local Content Reports continue to be hidden from the public's

eye, and the last audit report on close to US$1B spent by ExxonMobil remains cloaked by veils of secrecy. To President, Irfaan Ali, and Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, this is not what you promised! This is not what the people voted for! It is time you honour their promise to ensure Guyana's oil sector is illuminated by transparency and accountability! TUESDAY The Europeans and then the Americans impoverished large parts of Africa. They did this only to the resourcerich parts of Africa. For they left the poor and barren countries to be on their own. Now with oil discoveries here, the same Europeans and Americans are tumbling over one another to rush here and impoverish Guyana. They are a well-known oil curse. And now they come to curse here, too. We are richer than many other countries on this planet, but we are dirt poor (and will remain poor) for all our riches. The Europeans and Americans will see to that, and then they will turn around and weigh us down with loans to keep us enslaved. WEDNESDAY The Government,

without a doubt, has the best interest of the business community at heart. But the best interest of the ENTIRE nation should always be atop any good Government's agenda. H o w e v e r, h e r e i n Guyana, if our oil wealth alone is taken into consideration, it is clear that the best interest of ALL Guyanese has a secondary place in the government's heart. But there exists a solution. If government chooses to return to the negotiation table and implement measures to manage our oil wealth effectively, so much more can be done for ALL Guyanese, much more than the waiving of taxes and 'grant handout' of a few thousand dollars per household. THURSDAY Strange things are happening in this land. Apart from this newspaper's steady campaign, it is as if we have no one else to truly defend this nation's honour. Ye s , a c h a n g e o f government was indeed needed, and we got it, but did we really get a change or an exchange? We need men and women of substance who are driven by a burning desire to see Guyana developed for

ALL Guyanese, not just a few and the ever-present foreigners. While we expect that it will be a tall task to ensure that each Guyanese has the best possible life, it certainly isn't impossible for those in Government to choose to make responsible decisions that would at least give Guyanese the impression that we have a Government that truly cares. FRIDAY An accused solider had a change of heart after “clearing his head.” We suggest that leaders in the PPP Government and APNU+AFC Opposition do the same. P r e s i d e n t A l i , Vi c e President Jagdeo, Minister

Bharrat, and Opposition Leader Harmon all NEED TO ENGAGE IN MUCH CLEARING OF THEIR HEAD(S). Their heads are in the wrong place with Guyana's oil. Their heads have been confused and corrupted by association with Exxon and others. The President, Vice President, Natural Resources Minister, and Opposition Leader have all lost their heads and surrendered their minds. They are not thinking of all Guyanese, but of themselves. Worse still, they are all thinking of what is best for Exxon. They all need to do like that soldier and start clearing their heads, so they can represent Guyana better,

and stop making fools of themselves. SATURDAY The world is worried about climate change, but not Guyana. Vice President Jagdeo, a one-time climate change commander, is now a serial driller, while his muzzled and mismanaged EPA gives Exxon clearance for continued gas flaring. The UN Secretary General himself spoke of “climate catastrophe” and that there is “no time for delay” and “no room for excuse.” The response of the PPP Government, as led by its oil chief, was the middle finger.If we continue this way, this oil would be more than a curse, it could be the death of us.

Sunday August 15, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Mother of Olympic gold medalist Tamyra Mensah-Stock receives $250,000 food truck after Tokyo Games

Tamyra Mensah-Stock (USA) celebrates after defeating Blessing Oborududu (NGR) in the women’s freestyle 68kg final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Makuhari Messe Hall A.

Sunday August 15, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Get the rest you need, Aries. Prevent sickness and maintain full control of your mind and body by making sure you get the proper amount of sleep. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Don't poke your nose into other people's business today. Give others their space and let them work things out for themselves. Don't feel like you have to gain the attention of everyone. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Ask for what you need, Gemini, and you will get it. Don't wait around for the rewards to come to you. This is one of those days in which actions speak louder than words.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may go in many different directions today, Libra, so try to stay focused. Spend some time by water, even if it's just your bathtub, and reconnect with your true self. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your actions may take a sudden turn today, Scorpio, so beware. This may seem like an annoying bend in the road at first, but if you keep walking, you'll see that this course of action is exactly the one you need to take. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You're able to get quite a bit accomplished today, Sagittarius, as long as you're the one taking action. Don't let other people be in charge.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Watch the sunrise today, Cancer. Open your eyes to the beauty around you and let it inspire you to take action. Someone may be trying to throw you a curve ball, so be ready.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Maintain your integrity. Other people may suspect your motives, so make sure you give them no reason to doubt you. Be confident in your actions and follow through with your promises.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Get in touch with a friend you haven't heard from in a while. Someone is waiting to hear from you. Surprise him or her with an unexpected expression of love.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Slow and steady actions are likely to win the race today. Unexpected situations may crop up to throw you off course, but don't let them.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Mind your manners, Virgo, and open doors that you've never opened before. Maintain your principles and integrity as you venture forth into worlds unknown. Don't write people off without giving them a fair chance.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) If you don't agree with what the group is doing today, Pisces, don't feel like you have to join in. Earn their respect in your own way, not by forcing yourself into a mold you don't fit into. Maintain your integrity and act with confidence.

USA TODAY - Tamyra Mensah-Stock is not the type of person to slow down after reaching the top. Hardly a week removed from dominating her way to gold in the women’s 68kg freestyle wrestling, MensahStock is already repaying those who helped her reach her dream – with some help. According to local Houston, Texas, television station ABC 13, MensahStock planned to use part of her Olympic winnings ($250,000) to buy a food truck for her mother, Shonda Wells. Mensah-Stock promised Wells a truck of her own five years ago while her mother sold BBQ out of a pit with two wheels. Then Cameron Davies, the owner of Cruising Kitchens – a food-truck manufacturing company – heard of MensahStock’s plans to buy a $30,000 truck. Instead of donating a food truck with a similar price tag, Cruising Kitchens is gifting Wells a $250,000 truck with “all the bells and whistles,” as Davies put it in a Zoom call with the family captured by ABC 13. “It’s time for you to take care of her, because she’s been taking care of you,” Davies said to MensahStock.

...Joe Root makes From page 66 before being cleaned up Mohammed Shami. India’s perseverance pays off This was an energy-sapping day for the India attack, who overcame the heat and the pitch to beat the bat with regularity. They might rue the decision to omit off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, although it was the man who was preferred - pace bowler Ishant - who sparked the late fightback. After Ishant snared Moeen, Curran edged his first ball to second slip. When Ollie Robinson was lbw, England had lost three wickets for 16 runs. In truth, India’s openers were probably relieved to be spared an examination with the new ball on Saturday evening, but it is the tourists who will be under more pressure when this fascinating contest resumes on Sunday. Scores at Stumps: England 391 (Root 180*, Bairstow 57, Siraj 4-94, Ishant 3-69) lead India 364 (Rahul 129, Anderson 5-62) by 27 runs.

Davies said he quickly researched Mensah-Stock and “fell in love with the person she (is).” “I’ve been wanting this for (Wells) for so long,” Mensah-Stock said. USA Wrestling has a reward programme that gives wrestlers who win gold $250,000. That money includes the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s programme that awards $37,500 for gold. The process of designing

and building the truck will take more than three months, but it won’t be long before “P’lickles Famous BBQ” will be serving up grub in the Houston area. “Oh my God, I can’t believe it,” Wells said. “Thank you so much. This is a dream come true.” Mensah-Stock became the first Black woman to win a gold medal in wrestling when she defeated Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu 4-1 in the final.

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Sunday August 15, 2021

Joe Root makes masterful century at Lord’s BBC Sport - England captain Joe Root made a second masterful century in

the space of a week, but the second Test is deliciously p o i s e d a f t e r I n d i a ’s

resurgence late on day three. Just like last Saturday at Trent Bridge, Root

imperiously carried the home side, this time batting through a sun-kissed day for

an unbeaten 180 at Lord’s. He was supported by Jonny Bairstow, whose 57 was his first Test halfcentury for two years, while Moeen Ali and Jos Buttler chipped in with 27 and 23 respectively. Just as England looked set for a healthy first-innings lead, Ishant Sharma removed Moeen and Sam Curran in successive deliveries. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 391 - an advantage of 27 - off the final ball of a compelling, entertaining day. The direction of the match will now be shaped by India’s second innings, with the tourists set to bat again on a pitch that remains slow and flat, albeit with the occasional hint of low bounce. Peerless Root does it again England were fragile in the drawn first Test and in a vulnerable position when India reached 276-3 on the first day here, but have fought back through the two all-time greats in their side Root and James Anderson. Just like when Anderson returned 5-62 on Friday, there are not many superlatives left for Root, who is producing the sort of batting that few in the history of the English game have been capable of. From 10 Tests, this was his fifth century of 2021. He was only denied the opportunity to become the first England player to make three double hundreds in a year because he ran out of partners. From 48 not out overnight, there seemed an inevitability that Root would take advantage of ideal batting conditions when he drove to the point boundary in the second over of the day. Barely a run was scored down the ground. Instead it was off-side drives and punches off front and back

foot, delicate dabs to third man, with whips and flicks off the pads. He was never bogged down, hustling between the wickets as if his life depended on it. In a repeat of last week, Root celebrated this hundred - his 22nd - in animated and emotional fashion, punching the air and howling to the heavens. There was plenty more to come, including an audacious scoop off the pace of Mohammed Siraj, Root remaining untouchable and soaking up the applause as the last man standing. Supporting cast play their part While Root was left to play a virtual lone hand at Trent Bridge, the support he received from the middle order here not only helped England back into this match, but may bode well for the future. Bairstow has endured a difficult two-year period in which he has lost the wicketkeeping gloves, been dropped, recalled, rested and shunted around the order. He showed glimpses in Nottingham and went further here, scoring freely in the first hour. Although he was able to reach his first fifty since the 2019 Ashes Test on this ground, the disappointment is that he was out pulling for the second time in a week, this time gloving Siraj to slip. Buttler has looked out of touch, but was feeling his way until he was bowled through the gate, while the recalled Moeen’s judgement was excellent before he edged to first slip. Mark Wood helped England into the lead, only to be run out in a mix-up Root’s only mistake - while last man Anderson bravely came through being hit on the helmet by Jasprit Bumrah during a barrage of short-pitched bowling (Continued o page 65)

Joe Root is all smiles after bringing up his century. (PA Photos/Getty Images)

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2021

West Indies Over 50s embarks on its 1st Trilateral series in Canada Our West Indies masters, which is administered by Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA), proceed on their first tour outside of the Over 50s World Cup. The very first Over 50s World Cup took place in Sydney, Australia in 2018 and, unfortunately, West Indies were not represented at that event. We s t I n d i e s w e r e represented by a strong 15man squad captained by Zamin Amin in Cape Town, South Africa- March 2020. This tournament had to be aborted midway due to the worldwide pandemic, COVID-19. The organizers have scheduled this aborted World Cup to be replayed in November 2022 at the same venue. Now that the world has begun to reopen its borders for various sports under strict guidelines, CMCC, has led the way in organizing this inaugural triangular series featuring Hosts Canada, West Indies, and the USA. At this time Canada has reopened its borders to its own citizens and residents only and those of the USA. West Indies team, which is made up of players from both North America and the Caribbean, has been seriously crippled in its selection process due to this rule by the Canadian authorities since it cannot select any players from the Caribbean who are not resident in the US or Canada. CWIMA had begun organizing masters’ cricket in Guyana, namely, the Big Man Cricket, whilst Trinidad and Barbados have their own historical masters’ tournaments being now brought under the CWIMA umbrella. Windwards Islands has also become active under the CWIMA but, unfortunately, they were unable to be considered for selection in the triangular series due to Canada cricket season coming to an end and the reopening of its borders for

these players will be on September 7th. Be that as it may, CWIMA, has selected a strong 15-man squad for this series. Once again, the team will be captained by the evergreen Zamin Amin. The Vice-captain will be named shortly. The Manager will be seasoned cricket administrator, Raj Singh with Dave Narine as his deputy. The full squad reads: Zamin Amin (Captain) Imtiaz Rick Ali Sudesh Dhaniram Sunil Dhaniram Kenny Girdharry Brijmohan Harihar Krishna Harricharan David Malvern Walter Persaud Curtis Richards Rajendra Daniel Sadeo Shiv Shiwnauth Seeram Vejai Seonarine Balwant Roy Singh Daniel Singh Raj Singh-Manager Dave Narine-Asst Manager The team open their tour with a practice match against a squad from the Scarborough Cricket Association on Sunday, August 15th at L’amoreau park. Another practice match is scheduled for Monday against a select Canada team of Over 45s at the Danville Park. West Indies will then square off with Canada on Tuesday, August 17th in its first ODI of the series and against USA on Wednesday, August 18th. There will be a semifinal for the second and third place teams on Thursday, August 19th with the first-place team qualifying for the first final spot. The finals then take place on Friday, August 20th between the winner of the semifinal and the first ranked team. There will be a closing ceremony following the final at the Danville ground. All official matches will be played at the Danville ground.

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Kaieteur News

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Sunday August 15, 2021

Fernandes hat-trick helps Man Utd thump Leeds

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BC Sport - Bruno Fernandes scored an opening-day hattrick as Manchester United swept Leeds aside with a devastating second-half display. The Portugal midfielder opened the scoring on the half-hour at a packed Old Trafford, but Luke Ayling’s thunderous strike drew Leeds level early in the second half. Mason Greenwood restored the hosts’ lead with a crisp finish less than two m i n u t e s l a t e r, b e f o r e Fernandes’ low shot was ruled to have crossed the line by referee Paul Tierney after a check of goalline technology. The 26-year-old quickly completed his hat-trick with a thumping finish from Victor Lindelof ’s pass, before Fred added United’s fourth goal in 14 minutes from Paul Pogba’s cross - the Frenchman’s fourth assist of the afternoon. It was Fernandes’ first hat-trick since he moved to Old Trafford in January 2020 and only the second by a Red Devils player since Robin van Persie’s title-winning effort against Aston Villa in 2013. But the game was also a personal triumph for Pogba. The France midfielder’s

Bruno Fernandes completed his hat-trick with a powerful strike into the roof of the net. (Getty Images)

future has been the subject of intense debate as he enters the final year of his contract. But his four assists included a sublime pass for Greenwood’s goal, and he left the field to a standing ovation 15 minutes from time as £74m new-boy Jadon Sancho was introduced for his debut. Fernandes’ last hat-trick was for Sporting Lisbon in an 8-1 hammering of Belenenses in front of just over 5,000 in May 2019. Although the Portuguese has assumed hero status since moving to England, this was only the fourth time he had played a Premier League game in front of capacity crowd at Old Trafford. After a disappointing Euro 2020, any concerns

about his impact at domestic level have been completely dispelled. His opener was excellent as he ran on to Pogba’s firsttime pass, controlled a bouncing ball in the Leeds area, then put enough power into his shot to take it into the net despite Illan Meslier’s half-save. Another Pogba pass offered Fernandes the opportunity to sit Meslier on his backside as he turned sharply before hitting a low shot goalwards that referee Tierney was correctly informed had crossed the line before Ayling cleared. Fernandes’ third was route one. Lindelof’s pass fell perfectly for the forward, who allowed the ball to bounce before crashing it into the net. It meant he followed

Anthony Martial as the only Manchester United player to score a Premier League hattrick since Van Persie - and the first to do it in front of fans. Leeds swept away The volume for an already noisy crowd was turned up another notch by R a p h a e l Va r a n e ’ s introduction just before the teams emerged. Manchester United’s new £34m defender will be tasked with bringing greater stability to a back four that, even here, looked shaky at times. Skipper Harry Maguire was almost embarrassed in a foot race with Patrick Bamford which he started with a clear advantage and poor marking should have been exploited by Rodrigo, who was off target with his

header after being allowed to meet Raphinha’s curling free-kick unopposed. For a team whose league record at Old Trafford is poor - Leeds have not won here since 1981 - and who conceded six in the corresponding fixture last season, it did not bode well. Ayling did offer some hope when he was afforded far too much space to shoot presumably on the basis he had never previously scored a Premier League goal - and promptly found the corner from 25 yards. But it was only the prelude to a Manchester United onslaught from which there was no chance of recovery. Trouble before the game This was always likely to be a tinderbox fixture on the first weekend of full Premier League stadiums for 19 months. Trouble in the city centre, in which Greater Manchester Police said there were “isolated incidents of disorder”, briefly gave way to unanimity at the stadium as supporters joined together to applaud figures from both clubs who have passed away during the coronavirus pandemic. But that did not last. Amid the mutual loathing was one chant about the Munich air disaster

among the visiting support, which BBC Sport has been told was in response to a Turkish flag being dropped into the Leeds fans from a higher tier of the stand. For Leeds this is massively inflammatory as it references the two fans who were killed in Istanbul in 2000 before the Uefa Cup semi-final with Galatasaray. Later, substitute Jadon Sancho was told he “let his country down” as he began his first warm-up - a reference to his missed penalty for England in the Euro 2020 final against Italy. Given the chaos of United’s end to last season, when a home game against Liverpool had to be abandoned after home fans broke into the stadium, club officials will probably be relieved there was no threat to this fixture, although there was an anti-Glazer chant to underline that the issues with the owners have not gone away. Results for Saturday 14th August 2021: Man Utd 5 – Leeds 1 Burnley 1 – Brighton 2 Chelsea 3 - Crystal Palace 0 E v e r t o n 3 – Southampton 1 Leicester 1 – Wolves 0 Watford 3 - Aston Villa 2 Norwich 0 – Liverpool 3

18th NAPF/FESUPO Pan-American Regional Powerlifting C/ships

GAPLF confident Team Guyana will continue tradition of success By Franklin Wilson he Guyana A m a t e u r Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) is quietly confident that the tradition of success at international would be preserved when the Federation embarks on its journey to conquer its opposition at the 18th Annual NAPF/FESUPO Pan-American Regional Powerlifting Championships in Orlando, Florida from August 17-23, 2021. At a press conference hosted by the principal officers of the body along with two of the travelling athletes (Nadina Taharally and Carlos ‘The Showstopper’ PettersonGriffith) yesterday at the Racquet Centre, Woolford avenue and Camp Street, both President Gordon Spencer and Secretary Roger Rogers expressed

T

confidence that the team will do well even in these challenging times of covid19. Spencer informed that the team selected was carefully selected citing the fact that challenges would have been part of the journey for the strong woman and men. “But those that are selected here are those that were able to, I would say, find a gym did what was expected of them and so we were able to make a fair selection. All in all we think that this team we are using to represent Guyana is going to do us well. We’ve always been able to raise the flag of Guyana and we would like to do so again,” Spencer posited. Ms. Taharally is the lone female on the team and an experienced competitor locally and internationally. She is promising to once again do her best for the

nation and herself citing the fact that those who could not have made it to the gym had to work out at home. “I’m hoping to just go and do my best, make Guyana proud and return injury free.” Petterson-Griffith also alluded to making use of unconventional ways of keeping fit and up to speed with being in shape using some of the strongman training regimen along the way. “With the pandemic hitting us, I was a bit off, difficulties here and there but I am happy once again, not just to make the team but also to compete abroad. I’ve done so, so much, I am looking forward to breaking the squat record and also the deadlift record.” At the just concluded GAPLF Intermediate and Masters Championships, P e t t e r s o n - G r i ff i t h h a d attempted to deadlift 804lbs

(365kg) but was unsuccessful. “For me, graduation is not here locally or in the gym, it’s showcasing it on the international stage; so there is where it’s much more challenging.” Spencer informed that the cost to travel to Orlando is around 4.2 million dollars. To date they have received support from the National Sports Commission (NSC),

Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, John Fernandes Group of Companies, E.C Vieira Investments, Toucan Industries, Gopie Investments and the Trophy Stall. “So we are still asking the private sector or any other government agency to come on board with us, we have never let Guyana down in powerlifting and we don’t intend to do it this time.

We’ll keep the Golden Arrowhead flying.” Team Guyana is expected to wing on Monday night. A number of small businesses and individuals would have responded to the Federation’s quest for sponsorship, Rogers noted whilst expressing gratitude. Two athletes will make their debuts at this level, Roger R o g e r s a n d Wa s i m Mohamed.

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2021

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Babar Azam 54* keeps match in balance after Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales strike ESPNcricinfo - The weather was as variable as the momentum swings, and as the last few chapters of this Test unfold, you sense there are still a few plot twists in it as a seesawing encounter approaches its climax. Pakistan still have half their side left, including - crucially - captain Babar Azam on 54 as they try and stretch out a relatively vulnerable 124-run lead beyond the capacity of the hosts in what should be an engrossing fourth innings chase. On either side of a twoand-a-half-hour rain delay, West Indies bowlers’ were characteristically patient and as consistent as they’ve been all Test, but will need one final effort to ensure their batters have a target within their reach. The day began in bright, cheery sunshine, and Shaheen Afridi certainly made hay. He allowed just two more runs to the West Indies batters before cleaning up the final two wickets, the lead a slender 36. The prodigious inswing he found was much better directed than anything he had managed the previous day. Jomel Warrican had his stumps knocked back first, before - on just the 16th ball of the day - Joshua Da Silva was trapped dead in front. Thus, part one of Pakistan’s plan had been executed to perfection. West Indies then struck early themselves after the changeover, getting rid of the struggling Imran Butt for nought as he pushed his pad

out at one that was crashing into middle stump. Thereafter, though, Abid Ali and Azhar Ali settled down, seeing off the pace bowlers without much trouble. Abid looked to take the attack to Warrican early on, too, dancing down the pitch to deposit his fourth ball for the first six of the match; it was the shot that erased Pakistan’s deficit. Azhar was more circumspect - and less convincing - through the early part of his innings. He found the fifth-stump line targeted as the pacers tested his footwork and his judgment, with the outside edge beaten on a number of occasions. When Kemar Roach finally induced the edge, Jason Holder put him down at second slip. Azhar followed it up with two aggressive boundaries either side of the wicket off Warrican as the shackles began to come off. Roach, however, had the last laugh in the last over before lunch, bringing one back in sharply to breach Azhar’s defence and crash into his leg stump. It heralded Kraigg Bathwaite’s side’s best passage of the day, with Jayden Seales welcoming in the post-lunch session with a sumptuous double-strike. Abid, who was set up by slightly short deliveries in the first innings, was presented another short one with the first ball of Seales’ spell. The extra bounce which the teenager’s pace extracted from the surface saw the opener slash straight to second slip, and

Holder, who had put down Azhar earlier, made no mistake this time. Three balls later, Fawad Alam fell to an outside edge after lacklustre footwork, and West Indies threatened to blow the Test wide open. Pakistan were now in the perilous position of having lost four wickets with the lead at just 29, and it was left to Mohammad Rizwan and Azam, arguably Pakistan’s two best performers over the past year, to take the sting out of the hosts’ momentum. Over the next hour or so, they did just that under blackening skies, the runs trickling along gradually. With an increasing amount of sideways movement for the pacers, it was anything but easy, and the 56 runs they managed before the heavens opened may yet be the difference between success and failure. Two-and-a-half-hours later under clear blue skies, though, West Indies struck almost immediately upon the resumption. Holder drew Rizwan into a forward defensive push with seam movement producing the edge; West Indies once more appeared to be sniffing at the lower order. Faheem Ashraf, though has shown he isn’t a pushover with the bat, and while he possesses the flair he showcased on the first day, the steel was on full display this evening. Scoring just 12 runs in 79 deliveries, he happily played second fiddle to Azam, who brought up a high-quality halfcentury before the day was

Jayden Seales struck twice in the second session. (AFP/Getty Images)

done. West Indies may yet rue a dropped slip catch early into Ashraf’s innings - Jermaine Blackwood was the culprit but Pakistan will be reassured by the relative solidity of the pair at the crease. As the light deteriorated and the umpires brought out the light metre

after every over, the duo shut up shop completely, and did not look especially susceptible doing so. West Indies took the last five Pakistan wickets for 31 runs on day one. The home side will need a similarly explosive performance tomorrow morning to give themselves the best chance

of a manageable chase. The weather would be relatively clear, but the outcome of this tantalising Test remains anything but that. Scores at Stumps: Pakistan 217 and 160 for 5 (Babar 54*, Abid 34, Roach 2-15) lead West Indies 253 (Brathwaite 97, Afridi 4-59) by 124 runs.

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Sunday August 15, 2021

Olympic champ Thompson-Herah set to take on Fraser-Pryce, Richardson in Eugene, August 21 SportsMax - Elaine Thompson-Herah, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic triple gold medalist, will take on American upstart Sha ‘Carri Richardson and a stacked field that includes the Olympic 100m silver and bronze medalists ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson, respectively, in a blue-ribbon showdown at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meet on Saturday, August 21 in Eugene, Oregon. Thompson-Herah, who won the 100/200m double at the 2016 Rio Olympics, created history in Tokyo earlier this month when she became the first woman to successfully defend both titles at the same Olympics. She won the 100m in an Olympic record of 10.61, eclipsing the 10.62 set by Florence Griffith-Joyner at Seoul in 1988 and followed up by winning the 200m in a personal best of 21.53, which made her the secondfastest woman in history.

She then added a third gold medal as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m sprint relay team that established a new national record of 41.02. The 21-year-old Richardson, who ran a personal best 10.72 in April, won the 100m at US trials in July in 10.86. However, she was subsequently banned for a month after testing positive for THC, a derivative of marijuana. Her omission triggered a debate about whether she would have won had she been allowed to compete in Tokyo. However, the muchtouted American will not only be facing the Olympic champion in the blue-ribbon sprint. She is also facing a motivated Fraser-Pryce, the second-fastest woman in the world this year and the third fastest all time, who is likely to be still smarting from her loss in the Olympic 100m final. The 34-year-old twotime Olympic champion

Elaine Thompson-Herah (centre) will race against American upstart Sha ‘Carri Richardson (right) in a stacked field that includes the Olympic 100m silver and bronze medalists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (left) and Shericka Jackson (not pictured) on August 21. (2008, 2012) was considered the overwhelming favourite to land a third 100m Olympic title following her 10.63s run at the National Stadium in Kingston on June 5. However, she finished

second to Thompson-Herah in 10.74. The Olympic 100m bronze medalist Jackson, who ran a personal best 10.76 in Tokyo, has also been included in the line-up

that will also feature, Tokyo relay gold medalist Briana Williams (11.00), Teahna Daniels (10.98), Javiane Oliver (10.96) and Marie Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast, who ran a personal

best 10.78 in Tokyo. Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji who has run a season-best 10.96, is also listed for the clash that is perhaps the fastest field ever assembled.

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2021

Petterson-Griffith to represent the ‘Golden Arrowhead’ at the 2021 World Classic Powerlifting Championship By Franklin Wilson It has always been his dream to represent his nation on the biggest stage of a sport he has dominated and excelled in, for 27 year-old Carlos ‘The Show Stopper’ Petterson-Griffith that time is nigh. Yesterday at the Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue and Camp Street in the City, President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) Gordon Spencer gleefully announced that PettersonGriffith has qualified for the biggest show in the sport, the 2 0 2 1 Wo r l d C l a s s i c Powerlifting Championship which will take place from 23rd September – 3rd October in Halmstad, Sweden. This event, which attracts the crème de la crème in the sport, is deemed the biggest event in the annual IPF Calendar with more than 600 athletes set to compete. The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) has announced that

their VIP Partner ELEIKO has stepped forward to coorganise the event with the IPF in their headquarters in Halmstad, Sweden. ELEIKO will provide the location, setup of the venue and all related equipment and the IPF will take care for the administration. Spencer informed that Petterson-Griffith would be accompanied by a Manager and one of the Federation’s International Referees. Referred to as one of the nation’s ‘elite athletes’, President Spencer said that ‘The Show Stopper’ would be attempting two records at this prestigious event in the 93kg Equipped Class; Deadlift record of 335kgs (738.549lb) as well as the Squat record of 331.5kg (730.8lb). “ We h a v e w o r k e d tirelessly to ensure that he got accepted to the tournament. It wasn’t easy, the general secretary and I spent 72 hours continuously with the officials until we were able to get Carlos

Carlos Petterson -Griffith 93kg Class Deadlifts 320.0kg-705.5lb in March 2021. (Franklin Wilson photo)

accepted as a participant.” Petterson-Griffith in response said that being selected for World’s is one of his main dreams come true but acknowledged that it would not be a walk in the park as athletes from Canada, Sweden, USA, Bulgaria and the Ukraine among others are all standing in the way as the top five in the world. Petterson-Griffith stated that the only slight advantage that his opponents have on him is the bench press which he is still aiming to get better and stronger in with a view of increasing his numbers. “World’s is one of the biggest events besides Olympics, only few athletes have stepped up to that arena, Mr. Randolph Morgan and I believe Mr. Mervin ‘Spongy’ Moses but in the equipped segment. I’m the only Guyanese thus far to qualify in the classic segment. I’ve qualified for both but I am looking forward more for classic.”

Lam and Primus register wins in FIDE youth world cup Emanuel Primus

Italy Ton-Chung

Six rounds of the International Chess Federation’s (FIDE) Youth and Cadet World Cup has been completed and the Guyana under-14 team have found it tough to maintain mental strength to string together wins with Pooja Lam and Emanuel Primus securing one win each. Italy Ton-Chung gained a walkover victory, while Naila Rahaman and Mahilia Rajkumar gained byes. Pooja Lam, playing the black pieces in round three against Trinidad and Tobago’s Ramnarine, held her nerves to pull off a determined win. Primus was down in his game when his opponent gave him a glimmer of hope which he latched onto to win the contest after a series of checks with his opponent running out of time.

Pooja Lam

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Ali hits 102 in Canada Canada-based Guyanese Imtiaz Ali hit an enterprising 102 to spur Renegades to a thrilling 13-run victory in one of the latest matches in the 2021 Ontario RoundArm Softball Cricket Association Regular Season 20-over competition recently. The right-handed Ali cracked 14 sixes and two fours as his team gathered up a respectable 192-4 at the expiration of the 20-overs while Smashers, in reply, were left at 179-8 when the overs ran out. Zaheer Allard and Sheik

Khan supported the flamboyant Ali with 31 and 26 respectively. Deodat Gopie grabbed two wickets for 38 runs from three overs. In Smashers’ chase, Dinesh Ramkissoon led the fight with 48, while contributions came from Gopie who made 32, Krishna Gopie 28 and 25 from Amzad Hassan. Roopchand Latchman collected three wickets for 37 runs from his allotted four overs while Ali proved his all-round capability by snatching two wickets for 25 in his fourover outing.

Imtiaz Ali

Barbados to represent West Indies at 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games With domestic events postponed, Barbados get the nod as they are the defending T20 Blaze champions

Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews are mainstays of the Barbados team. (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

E

SPNcricinfo Barbados will participate in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games as the “representative team from the West Indies”, the update coming after Cricket West Indies postponed the 2021 T20 Blaze and Women’s Super50 Cup until next year. That meant Barbados, as the defending T20 Blaze champions, having won it in 2020, made the cut. I t ’s t h e f i r s t t i m e women’s cricket will be played at the Games. The decision to postpone t h e r e g i o n a l w o m e n ’s tournaments was taken after ODI and T20I dates for the West Indies vs South Africa series - August 31 to September 19 - were finalised, as well as taking into account “the ongoing logistical challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic [with regards to] multiple teams to be hosted in one country”, as

CWI said in a statement. The 2021 T20 Blaze was meant to be the qualifying tournament for next year’s Commonwealth Games, to identify the one national team that would represent the Caribbean region, after West Indies were confirmed as one of seven teams to qualify directly based on the ICC rankings on April 1, 2021. England, the hosts, along with Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa are the other teams to have made the cut based on the rankings, with an eighth team coming through via a qualifying event, to be held by January 31 next year. “This is an historic occasion as for the first time Women’s Twenty20 cricket will feature at this prestigious global sporting event, which is a great fillip for our sport and great exposure and opportunity for the players,” Johnny Grave, the CWI chief executive,

said. “We wish them all the very best as they compete for the gold medal, and we know they will continue to do West Indies proud. “It has been a challenging period with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic at our doorstep, and we have been forced to take the decision to postpone the Women’s T20 Blaze and Women’s CG Insurance Super50 Cup for this year. We have however been able to invest in several High Performance Camps and international fixtures to the Women’s squad, conducted by Courtney Walsh and his coaching staff. These have been hugely beneficial to date and we have identified a core group of players who are the best available in the region for the ICC Women’s World Cup qualifiers who will benefit from the additional resources that CWI is committing to preparing the West Indies Women’s squad.”

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Sunday August 15, 2021

Sunday August 15, 2021

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