K
AIETEUR Sharma’s Justice For All Wednesday Edition NEWS
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Party says membership
August 19, 2020 - Vol. 15 No.33
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
in coalition ‘under review’
Price $80
p.18
- Following exclusion from Parliament by Granger
Online readership yesterday, 141,189
What Exxon is doing p.2
with Payara is what it did to Trotman in 2016 - Chris Ram
Mayor wants special
Now is the time for Unity audit of City Hall’s towards the Common Good
2019 spending
p. 16
Canadian citizen missing; grandfather fears he was kidnapped p. 14
Toy gun bandit nabbed after GuyAmerica Housing Scheme robbery p.3
Passenger’s husband kills taxi driver over fare dispute p. 14
- Wanted bulletin issued for him
VP Bharrat Jagdeo Fmr Pres. David Granger Joseph Harmon President Irfaan Ali The elections are over. As politicians are fighting, these confidentiality clauses, and with any elections, there were companies are free to plunder our renegotiate improved terms from foreign investors in not only the winners and there were losers. It wealth. It is time our politicians stop oil industry but in bauxite and is time for our politicians – the victors and the vanquished – to set fighting with each other and start gold as well.Our natural resources are sufficient to guarantee aside their differences and their fighting for all the country. President Irfaan Ali and everyone a superior standard of bitterness, and unite to ensure a Bharrat Jagdeo, David Granger living. No Guyanese should be better life for our people. The oil companies must not and Joseph Harmon, and their scratching a living. We should all be living on par find us in disunity. These respective teams, should put their companies are notorious for heads and shoulders together and with the citizens of the rich, oillining the pockets of corrupt work to plug the loopholes, producing states. We can only politicians, and for promoting r e d u c e e x c e s s i v e f i s c a l reach there if we all work division. While the people and c o n c e s s i o n s , r e m o v e t h e together.
‘Bad man' Ruthless cop shot dog to silenced enter yard in prison - couldn't wait on pregnant woman to open gate
p. 12
p.8
Independent third party reviewer urgently needed to keep Exxon in line -Conservationist p.3
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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
Politics and Honest Wages
It is a cycle that Guyana goes through, ever so often, the exposure of salaries and perks of the politically favoured employed by the machinery of the state, met either by expressions of righteous indignation or haughty entitlement depending on whichever tribe one happens to support, or whether one is a beneficiary or not. For those receiving the largesse, the rationalization of the entitlement is virtually justification by numbers, so rote and unoriginal it is. One invariable excuse, for example, by the expatriates living high on the hog here is usually one of a conjectural sacrifice of even more conjectural wages in the developed world so as to return and contribute to the development of Guyana at great personal discomfort. Of course none of this is ever accompanied by actual proof of said sacrifice, no letter of regrettable resignation from some Fortune 500 company, no pictures of the final day at the abandoned Manhattan corner office for a cubbyhole at some musty ministry. Then there is of course, for those resident here, the automatic entitlement by qualification and education it is never against the backdrop of political favour and whether or not the special jobs where competitively awarded. For the entitled arguing their entitlement, words like “nepotism” and “sinecure” are incidental at best, if they exist at all. In its worst form, we have the children of the political elite, given state jobs that they would not have otherwise competitively secured, what one might refer to as legacy appointments, passionately arguing their right to employment, regardless of course of whether the work engaged in actually moves the country forward, as opposed to securing partisan political interests, or whether on an objective, level playing field, those jobs would not have gone to the more talented. Were this a more homogenous society, the recurring practice of politicians using the state machinery to provide dishonest wages for dishonest work to their friend and family would have been bad enough. In a society that has been defined by ethnically based partisan politics, this sort of thing lies at the epicenter of our racial zero-sum game. The almost seamless intertwining of kinship and corruption has become par for the course of our political gamesmanship, with successive administrations peopling the public service with party faithful and then crying foul when the inevitable exposure and culling begins. And as always, those who continue to lose are the people at the bottom.Both PPP/C and APNU+AFC administrations have simultaneously argued that they cannot sustainably raise salaries for low-level staff while justifying super salaries for the politically favoured. And while the term “super salary” always seems to conveniently escape definition for those benefitting from super salaries, a workable definition is that a super salary is any remuneration that is significantly higher than that awarded for similar work based on similar qualifications within the standard public service salary structure. The facile argument has been made that a developing country like Guyana can only attract or retain the brightest talents if a suitable remuneration is offered and that argument on the surface is sound. However, the criteria cannot begin and end at remuneration. As warrants a professional public service, transparency, context and competitiveness should be attached to the award of super salaries. This means that the jobs should be openly advertised so that all competent persons can apply. Secondly, super salaries should only be justified with regard to specific necessary technical competence in a particular area if the job is not critical within a specific context, or sector, then it should not exist. Thirdly, and finally, such posts should be awarded on merit, not on party or familial affiliation. System nepotism and discriminatory hiring practices drive far more qualified people out of the public service than relatively low salaries. We need to fix our public service salary structure, yes, but in such a way that all boats rise equally, and where people are guaranteed honest wages for honest work, regardless of their political affiliation.
Wednesday August 19, 2020
It will be the biggest political blunder if PPP fails to renegotiate oil contracts now DEAR EDITOR, It will be the biggest political blunder if the new PPP government fails to renegotiate all oil contracts now including the ExxonMobil contract. Such a blunder may well lead to its losing office in 2025. The masses are not asses. President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo must speak clearly now to the nation and tell them that the PPP government has firmly and unequivocally decided to renegotiate the Exxon contract, come hell or high water. No hedging, no playing games. Nothing less will do. During the election campaign, the PPP capitalized on the Global Witness (GW) report to say Guyana stands to lose an estimated US$55 billion with the contract, as is. They said that’s why we must vote out the PNC, and we did. This week, the same international organization, Global Witness, has issued a call to the government saying, “Now is the time for President Ali and Vice President (Bharrat) Jagdeo to not only make good on their campaign promises, but to do one better,” said Gant.
“Guyana’s oil licenses – including Exxon’s Stabroek – should be renegotiated. Guyanese people deserve a better deal.” In my view, the renegotiation of the oil contracts would be the “tipping point” for Guyana. It is that one single step that would make the biggest difference and transformation for our Guyanese people forever. The PPP is not responsible for the contract in place now, but it bears full responsibility for what we do going forward. As Mr. Glenn Lall, a true nationalist, and the Kaieteur News has been saying and educating us in their daily exposes, if we don’t change course now, we set a very bad precedent and put ourselves in a locked box forever. This means all our oil deals would be bad ones, and the victims would be the poor, Guyanese working people, who had high hopes and dreams that their lot will improve once Guyana finds oil, and the PPP gets into power. Dr. Jan Mangal, a good man who should be reemployed by the new Govern-
ment ASAP, (whose bad habit is to tell the truth to our government) in a recent Globespan event, explained that a “review” is not the same as “renegotiation.” The last government already did a review by the Bayphase company, and now what the Canadian group is doing is a review of the review. That’s a technical process. That is separate from a renegotiation. Regardless of what the review says, the Guyanese people want President Ali to make a firm decision to renegotiate the contract. The pending approval of the Payara oil field project gives us the leverage to do so. The Guyanese people will never forgive this government if it lets us down. They should look at Facebook and see how loyal party people were swift in their condemnations of some recently announced appointments, to get a glimpse of how alert the people are to what they do. The Ramkellawan PPP’s song, “Dem ah watch meh” comes to mind. Many who fought hard against the PNC rigging are watching the PPP’s
every move to make sure we are getting change, not exchange. Mr. President, the people want better education in this COVID era, better health care, better wages and unemployment protections. We want better roads, better bridges and infrastructure, sea defences, better drainages, less destruction from floods. We want reliable 24-hour electricity and pure water. Our list is long. We are tired of being a “shole” country forever. (I am a church person, I can’t use that term President Trump used, so I have coined that term “shole”). Mr. President, we want our ship to come in now. Please address the nation and let us know your government has made a firm, final decision to renegotiate the oil contract. We want the good life now. Be the people’s hero. Demonstrate the political will to right the wrongs with the oil contracts now. To use a slogan from the past, “We can, we must, we will.” Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall
Silence over broken oil promise and mis-appointments
DEAR EDITOR, The PPP during the election campaign said the oil contract would be renegotiated. Now it says there would be no renegotiation. Was a deal made for the transfer of political power that led to the statement from President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo that the contract would not be renegotiated? Typical politicians! Now we read of a review of Payara. What does the review entail? Several individuals stood out for their consistency in calling out the APNU+AFC coalition over poor governance, featherbedding, allegations of corruption on the oil contract, electoral fraud, among other faux pas. These writers were the voice of the nation? I applaud them. Would they speak out now on what passes for Ministerial appointments and the others in political positions like Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Robert Persaud, Marissa Nadir Sharma all of whom were tied to controversies in the previous PPP regime? Robert Persaud has been brought back? Really? So Jagdeo learned nothing from is 23 years in office and five years in opposition. Does he really think people, his supporters in particular, would accept good ole Robert? Why don’t he read social media and go around
soliciting the public’s views on his nephew-in-law. Editor, Nigel Hinds and Chris Ram took on Exxon and the coalition over the oil contract. They are mum. Have their silence been bought? And how about Freddie Kissoon and Dr. Vishnu Bisram – both of whom were in the forefront of that epic struggle against the electoral fraud? They exposed so many errors of the coalition and the previous PPP government. The two are the conscience of the nation writing daily against wrongdoing of the APNU-led coalition. Why
aren’t they speaking out now? Are they comfortable with the recent appointments and the Ministers? And why aren’t they selected for appointments? They are more qualified than all the others combined. Freddie’s interest has been at UG. Why can’t the former lecturer be appointed at the UG Governing Council to help transform the university? Give him an opportunity to prove his mettle. Dr. Bisram says he is a political scientist and specialist in international relations. Why can’t he be appointed to help transform the Foreign Affairs Ministry or as Ambassador in Washington or at the
UN? And how about roles for Chris Ram, Nigel Hinds, Sase Singh, Sase Gunraj, Sanjeev Datadin, Dharamkumar Seeraj and leadership of the small parties as well as some of those from APNU (Dominic Gaskin) who spoke against the fraud? The government is squandering goodwill over the misappointments, missteps, and exclusion of people of perceived competence, credibility, and integrity and including those who stood with it in dark times. Guyanese will not forget its refusal to review the biased Exxon contract. Yours truly, Nigel Philadelphia
WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE MANDATE TO RENEGOTIATE THE OIL CONTRACT?
DEAR EDITOR, Let’s make a few things clear: Payara Approval has been put on hold to allow for a review of field operations, how to conduct drilling, avoid a well-blowout, etc. It is really an engineering review. Nothing to do with review of the Contract. The Guyanese people want a renegotiation of a few basic issues of the Contract. (One poll reported 80% of the people wanted a renegotiation). In the election campaign rally PPP speakers
promised renegotiation, they made references to GW reporting that (1) Guyana lost out on $55 billion due to a lopsided contract favouring the Oil Company; (2) Minister Trotman may have been compromised when he rushed into signing the Contract against the advice of his consultants; (3) Contract had been signed in secret and kept secret for over a year; (4) Petroleum Advisor, Jan Mangal, said president Granger may not have known
for several months that the Contract had been signed. The recently installed PPP Govt. received a clear mandate at the polls to renegotiate the Contract. Nothing from President Ali and Mr Jagdeo (in the last few days) suggested the government intends to pursue renegotiation. This is very troubling. CASE FOR R E N E G O T I AT I O N (1) 2% royalty provided for in the Guyana Contract is (Continued on page 22)
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Would Review lead to renegotiation of the contract? DEAR EDITOR, Guyanese are asking whether a review would lead to renegotiation of the contract and increased revenue sharing. “Show us the dough”, is what interest Guyanese. We applaud the PPP government for voluntarily seeking a review of the Payara project. Government is short on revenues. So it rightly sought a grant from a willing donor country, Canada, to pay the costs to have the review done. Donor countries dictate conditions on aid and have to approve the reviewer. The government does not select the reviewer although it could reject the selection and request a more able body to conduct the review. Is there justifiable reason to question the professionalism of the review team? Should Guyana pay for and undertake its own review as suggested by KN editorial? What would the review be about? Would such a review be any different from that conducted by Bayphase (whose report is unavailable) and or would be performed by Alison Redford team? Is Redford the best available Canadian reviewer? Can Guyanese Canadians or local Guyanese (critics, for example) be added to the team? Some critics have called for a complete and thorough review of the entire project from exploration site to actual drilling and all aspects relating to recovery of oil and gas. Such a review is like starting over from a fresh in finding oil and then deciding what to do with the find. That is what the nation has in mind when it requested or give its support for a review – Guyanese want a renegotiation of the contract for more revenues. I also don’t think a review of the technical aspect of Payara is what the President had/has in mind when he responded to a reporter’s question on Janmashtmi Day that a review of Payara would be undertaken. Vice President Jagdeo also addressed the issue of the review in his press conference. They all want a bet-
ter deal for Guyana – money, safety, security, employment, et. al. Doing a review of the project from scratch would be a total waste of time and money and such a review would probably take years? Is it a strategic move for renegotiation? Is the goal to stop the project or proceed with its completion and seek increased revenues for Guyana’s development? The bottom line for Guyana is increase in royalty revenues, reduction in wasteful (padded) expenditures that would lead to increased revenue sharing and profits. It is also to secure and increase local content not only in supplying roti, dhal, bora, pumpkin, and bhajji but also training and utilizing Guyanese technical manpower. We don’t have petroleum and geo engineers in Guyana. But we can start training Guyanese for fieldwork; not every oil or gas field worker is a college engineering grad. The review should focus on ensuring that the project is ‘relatively safe’ and that it maximizes benefits and minimizes risks to Guyana – cross the ‘T’ and dot the ‘i’ so to speak. The nation would not be interested in the technical aspects of the contract, the type and quantity of pipes, and drills, storage tanks, etc. – that is for the petroleum, electrical, civil, and geo or environmental engineers. Since it is established that the Redford team is not an engineering body, it would seem that their expertise would be primarily to review the legal aspects of the contract and give advice accordingly; ten days would seem sufficient for such a review but it will not hurt to have a technical team to look at those aspects of the production especially for safety considerations. (Guyana must not be liable for blowouts, accidents, oil spills, and the like). Technical aspects of the project have to be left to the expertise of Exxon – Perhaps Jan Mangal, Melinda Janki, and other critics would want to join in technical aspects of review after the report is delivered. They
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Kaieteur News
can point out all the missing aspects that should be raised with Exxon or to be included in the renegotiated contract. Guyanese lawyers and economists or others and or negotiators can also give an input after receiving the report from Redford Review Team. The review must also look at padded expenses (infrastructure costs and consultancy fees in particular) for the project and this must be included in the contract. Aspects of the actual technical work on the project can be subjected to further review. But the important question is: Would a review lead to a renegotiation of the contract? Exxon wishes quick approval so that it can proceed with rapid recovery of oil that is also in the short term interest of Guyana to increase revenues to erase billion US dollars debts accrued over the last five years. Increased revenues will also help with acquiring funds for our development. On this point, Vice President Jagdeo is right to move with speed on the review. But the government must also balance this with the political demands of the country with greater revenue sharing. As an objective commentator, legitimate questions are raised on the review. But one has to applaud the government for volunteering to undertake a review of the project; the predecessor regime refused. In the end, what Guyanese really want is renegotiation for better terms. They want greater revenue sharing and reduction in padded expenses to increase profits. Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram
Behind the paryara project DEAR EDITOR, There is no secret that ExxonMobil took advantage of the lack of local experience in the oil and gas industry during and after the 2015-16 contract negotiations. A number of items from financial, to operational, and technical have been detrimental to Guyana. So far, Liza project has experienced a number of flaws involving environmental mishaps leading to the emissions of over 10 billion cubic feet of toxic gases to the atmosphere, unveiling the lack of planning and proper management from both, Exxon and local Guyanese institutions. After more than 8 months, the promised 120.000 BPD production is still not there, hurting the return of value to the country, as less produced oil certainly translates into less revenue. The full monetization of the associated gas produced during the ExxonMobil offshore operations was never intended. The project itself literally does not elaborate much about the gas utilization and yet, still the Ministry of Public infrastructure claims after more than 5 years since 2015, that “the plan to use natural gas is still in the works” [https:// www.stabroeknews.com/ 2020/06/02/news/guyana/ ministry-says-plan-to-usenatural-gas-from-liza-1-wellstill-in-the-works/]. Financially, the project was clearly overrated in terms of the declared breakeven costs for the produced barrel of $35; at least for phase I, hurting Guyana as this definitively reduces the net share left to the country. This comes to the attention as the equipment failure leading to the 10 billion cubic feed of toxic gases expelled to the atmosphere is a clear result of lack
of investment, poor planning and pieces of equipment whose quality is by all means doubtful. Cost structure for the project needs to be reassessed in view of the hard data available since production startup in last December 2019. Technically and rigorously speaking, nobody yet knows how much hydrocarbon is there to be recovered and produced, as so far they have only referred in terms of resources; not reserves. This poses a threat to the country as perhaps Exxon, could squeeze production irrationally to quickly recover their investment, leaving behind a sizable volume of unrecoverable oil after damaging the reservoirs, by imposing unacceptable reservoir management practices. Guyana needs to ensure, most of the “in situ hydrocarbons” are recovered and produced to be able to maximize the value of their assets. Guyana also needs to renegotiate their net share and royalty scheme, as certainly a net 12.5% share is definitively unacceptable. Common practice dictates for at least over 20 % to 33% net. In view of the above, one of the first announcements made by president elect Irfaan Ali was accurate, when pointing out that Payara project approval will have to wait on an international oil expert’s assessment and advice. Next day, ExxonMobil claimed that delays will reduce the value of the project [https:// www.stabroeknews.com/ 2020/08/13/news/guyana/ exxonmobil-still-holding-outfor-speedy-approval-ofpayara-project/]. A very confusing statement, as there are lots of intangibles involved, from markets and geopolitics, to technical and operational. Supposed that as opposed to
what it is, the project gets the green light and the oil price remains weak or even dropping, versus the scenario of the project getting delayed and the oil price sharply picking up precisely when approved. This will not only compensate for the differed capital cost but will definitively increase profits. The same can happen if as a result of the field development plan (FDP) review, more reserves are added, and a lower breakeven cost for the barrel is reestablished. There is no excuse for ExxonMobil other than avoiding a fair deal for the people of Guyana. President Irfaan Ali is by all means on the right track as opposed to his predecessor, and should proceed without delay prompting a thorough review of not only the Payara FDP, but all the contractual terms. But politics seem to be playing once again a tricky game, as according to available information, the former premier of Alberta, Canada seems to be the one that will be heading the review team. Ms. Alison Redford, apart from having no technical expertise in the oil and gas industry [https://www.cbc.ca/ news/canada/edmonton/ alison-redford-used-publicmoney-inappropriately-agsays-1.2730213] has had some ethical issues in the past. What would be the value that Ms. Redford could add to this team? A field development plan establishes the path for the operational action plan, the resource layout, and the investment plan, as well as the whole economic picture in play. There is no space for politics during the review. Politics come behind the review, not before. Millan Arcia Einstein
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Wednesday August 19, 2020
Kaieteur News
It is time for Guyanese to take a reality check DEAR EDITOR, On the 21st April 2020, the price of Oil went negative for the first time in history; when oil prices are negative, it means traders holding oil futures are paying buyers to take it off their hands or risk having to take physical delivery of the oil, which most are incapable of doing. This should have a strident alarm for those who think Guyana’s future is all about ‘oil money’ and it is all about how much money we can squeeze from the producer ’s abundant profits. Oil prices have rebounded to where it is once again profitable to produce and sell but listening to criticism of the decision to review the Payara development it is obvious that the dreams of an ‘oil economy’ have not dissipated but have indeed grown to be a bigger pie-in-the-sky than before. It is time for Guyanese to take a reality check. The Granger administration spent more than Six Billion USD in its five-year term; Guyana will earn approximately Two Hundred and Forty Million USD in 2020 at
that rate of return it would take us twenty-five years to fill the hole left in the treasury. Oil at the current production rate will not bring the development hyped and therefore expected by the populace. It is imperative that the operator increases oil production from 120,000 BPD to the projected 750,000 BPD for Guyanese to benefit in a significant way and any review must be based primarily on getting the best possible deal (share of profits/royalties/local content). I have seen one commentator incredulously arguing for a ‘rocket scientist’ to be added to the Payara review team and others promoting the view that such a review should take years and examine how many grains of sand will be shifted per annum 120 miles from our coastline in deep ocean. I hold the view that our focus should be to ensure minimal environmental impact and maximum economic return for Guyana. The review is headed by two eminent Canadian Queen’s Counsel with strong regulatory legis-
lation experience and the team can certainly find any deficiencies in the project and maximize our monetary inflow. Editor, we all learned harsh lessons about the oil industry earlier this year; The New York Times wrote “even before the collapse of crude prices March/April, Exxon had been forced to write off billions of dollars of investment in Canadian oil sands and sell assets in the North Sea in part to pay investor dividends” (18.03.20). In its 2020 Investor Information package (updated 7th April) ExxonMobil lays out the challenges it faces to remain profitable and emphasizes ‘balancing capital allocation priorities and value’. Guyana has to balance our need for our resources to be developed and our desire for maximum returns. Oil is a goose laying golden eggs for all; greed on either partner’s part can kill it. A partnership with the oil companies based on mutual benefits is Guyana’s best approach and the review is an excellent start. Respectfully, Robin Singh
A Few corrections Freddie!
DEAR EDITOR, Permit me a few lines to correct the most recent in a series of inaccuracies consistently peddled in your newspaper by Mr. Freddie Kissoon. For a very long time I have chosen NOT to read Mr. Kissoon but I am often sent an article and asked to clarify his aspersions especially in matters related to the Alliance For Change. On these occasions I have encountered an absence of research and gross inaccuracies presented as truth. I suppose the pressure of having to churn out something or nothing everyday might explain the tendency to just produce anything. Today August 18, 2020 I find it necessary to correct what must be a few deliberate
inaccuracies as I am aware that a man of Freddie’s stature is in a position to fact check easily. For the record Freddie – I entered Parliament as a Member of the house in 2011 not in 2006 as you have stated. In addition, I will not respond to the hearsay and innuendos but will state that it might be considered disrespectful for you to think you can define a person’s ethnicity. My colleague in the AFC Juretha Fernandes of whom I’m very proud, was described by you as being “Portuguese” in your column. Next time a simple call to any of us including Juretha herself to “check your facts” will reveal that her father is Amerindian and a former Toshao at that – her words incidentally.
I recall two years ago being horrified to read your report of an AFC celebration of our cadre of young dynamic members who stood as candidates for Local Government Elections. On that occasion you quoted a leading member the AFC as speaking at this event when he was absent and in Lethem meeting with our members with Facebook posts confirming this. It is not my intention to rebut your litany of inaccuracies but I have to admit I find it puzzling that you seem consumed by that happenings in a small insignificant political party you have always considered to be dead. But politics has strange bedfellows and many are good at attacking, criticizing, breaking down which are all easy to do. Try creating, building up or moulding something new – the FPP maybe – the Freddie Kissoon Political Party. I close by saying that as is customary I expect you to respond with a barrage of articles stripping me apart but that’s okay as you will not present an attack that I have not received, seen or heard before somewhere in this our dear land of Guyana. Regards, Cathy Hughes
WHO IS IN, WHO IS OUT? DEAR EDITOR, There is a flurry of movement, involving packing and retreating, or getting ready to hit the ground running, in true paratrooper style. No, it is not about rentals and tenants, or emigration and airports, or graceful exit and Geneva Convention advance. At the heart of it all, this is about Guyanese politics writ large. There will be few names, as is my way. But it is a forced exodus, best embodied in replacements with more than a few retreads; some call such post-electoral exercises recycling, which word has a civilized sheen. I prefer retreads, because it reminds of old tyres pretending at durability due to a new spin of the wheel. Life is certainly strange and quaint in this Guyana of ours, and in some of the returnees (almost sounds like me), I hear that refrain from long ago, compliments of some now forgotten Jamaican composer, “bring back Maccabees version…” Today, I will be cute and leave about the rest about what “God give” to a group of people. For truthfully, this was and is one of the saving graces of the PPP: it does attract, recruit, and retain a set of people unlike its own loyalists. In this, it looks more like Rowley, and less like its lifelong political adversary. Sure, there is symbolism amid the leadership calculations, but I pick up some hardnosed decision-making that is imbued with the pragmatic, and of which the border stands as the sharpest silhouette. I hope that this personnel rainbow is not the extent of the government’s efforts at truth and reconciliation, or the full
flower of its visions of healing and reconciling. Those faces are a good start (despite troubles with some), but merely a droplet in the bucket. Before I forget, there are distinct shades of nepotism that goes all the way back to Brindley and Ashton, with relations here and there and, of course, a prodigal nephew returning to the fold. Then, there is that example of a nadir that puzzlingly is at the tip of the pyramid at NICIL, where the big dollars are; I hope that there is no more conspiracy and secrecy, and endeavours are all about transparency and integrity. There are some others, but I pass; cumulatively, I term them legacy issues. Sometimes I wish that I had such well-thought of (in elevated political circles) ancestors, so I could have been part of the political gravy train, but then I would have been nothing but a bum, living off the helpless taxpayers’ dime. I prefer the American Way: earning on the merits, and honestly, while not having to latch on to political petticoats or owing existence to godfathers. I scratch around and ask who else and where else? I think that well-saluted son from five years ago should show that there is nothing L’il about him and be big about moving outward and onward, like Joseph of scriptural fame did. Set a stirring example of the honourable and graceful for recalcitrant comrades of like mind by exiting quietly and promptly. There is already lengthy overstaying, and we all know what that feels like. Simply ask family placed in those touchy situations. Casting around I come
across the Guyana Police Force and come to a hard stop. No! it is not regard for traffic laws, though I assure everyone that I do. I confess to being perplexed at the continuing upheavals over there in the ranks at the heights. Like nowhere else, the GPF is assuming the proportions of a microcosm of the political management (note I did not say political appointment) carousel. Men who were in the doghouse are now retrieved to places of honour in the penthouse. And those who basked in the public lights are making the trip in the other direction and savouring the unequalled joys of being put out unceremoniously to pasture. I wish I had six months leave; I would do a few worthwhile things. I could form a political party and make mincemeat of those arrayed against, with the risk of making an utter fool of myself. It is not a price I am prepared to pay and, then again, I cannot stand being around political principals of this country. I must congratulate the American Ambassador and other foreigners for having castiron constitutions. On that last score, I could use the time to rewrite the constitution, even assemble a Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and throw in for good measure a few raging pit-bulls in the shape of hard charging Ethnic Relations and Integrity Commissions. A signal benefit from such efforts: there would be no suspicions about oil. I wish those coming into the money the best; as for those on the way down, be careful with the door. It is revolving. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Contracts Not Mandatory
DEAR EDITOR, Signing a one-sided employment contract that reduces the legal rights of either party is tantamount to fraud. People should understand a written employment contract is not a requirement of employment. This is because the law implies a number of essential terms and conditions such as termination, fair treatment, and duration among others, and it does so whether or not they are written down or not. So those employees who have a contract without a termination clause should not feel too secure that they are above the law.
That apart, the basic tenet in any employment relationship is trust, which from all appearances is sadly lacking between political appointees of the previous government and the current one. It also cannot be expec t e d t h a t t h e c u r r e n t government will retain previous political appointees when there is reasonable suspicion that they will not function competently. On the question of termination, the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, Section 7(c)(ii) states that a contract of employment can be terminated at any time by notice given to
or served upon the other party. On the question of unfair dismissal Section 8(i)(B) states it would be unfair to dismiss an employee based on his age, but, subject to any law or collective bargaining provisions regarding retirement. As far as I am aware the retirement age in the public services is 55 years so all those employees over 60 or 70 years cannot complain if their services are terminated since it will be in compliance with the Public Service requirements, even if it is a fixed term contract. Yours sincerely, D. Sookdeo
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Kaieteur News
Region Three Commander walks in on bar gathering
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- Everyone to be prosecuted
D
ays after Region Three Commander, Errol Watts, assured Kaieteur News that his ranks will ensure that the imposed COVID-19 restrictions are followed by all, he walked into a bar filled with patrons yesterday, took out his note book and said everyone here will be prosecuted. Kaieteur News was told at around 04:00hrs Commander Watts and his officers decided to make an unexpected visit to Mary’s Bar, located in Crane, West Coast Demerara. According to a video seen by this publication, a number of cars were parked in front of the bar while loud music could be heard in the background. The license number of each vehicle was recorded before Watts and his ranks entered the bar. The Commander said, “Good afternoon, nobody don’t leave this shop please…nobody should be out drinking and partying now. It’s an offence under the COVID-19 regulations and everyone will be prosecuted, thank you.” One of the surprised pa-
trons responded, “Oh lord”, while the others looked on in disbelief. Watts then notified the unmasked patrons, who were sitting around tables filled with rum and beers, that his ranks have been receiving reports of persons flouting the restrictions, so they have to take action. Watts then proceed to the entrance of the bar where he instructed his ranks to record the faces and take the names of the patrons. He also requested to see the owner of the bar. In an invited comment with this newspaper, Commander Watts said that he would like persons to adhere to the regulations which stipulate that bars are to be closed. He added, “Persons should be respectful of the regulations voluntarily or we as law enforcement officers will ensure that the rules are followed.” Watts noted that the police need the support of the media to inform citizens to desist from going to bars and other social events. He was then asked about the numerous flyers that are being ad-
Miner, 32, is 25th COVID-19 death
A
32-year-old miner has been recorded as Guyana‘s 25th COVID-19 related death. The Ministry of Health, in a media release yesterday, stated that the patient was a resident of Region One but at the time of his hospitalisation was working in a mining community in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven. He was rushed to the Bartica hospital with suspicions of malaria but was later swabbed because of his previous contact with other possible COVID-19 cases at his work site. According to the statement, the Health Ministry has been in contact with all relatives and other contacts to facilitate contact-tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed. At the interim, the Health Ministry is asking that patient’s confidentiality be respected and the families be allowed to mourn in peace. This is the third coronavirusrelated death recorded in the past three days. According to the infor-
mation released, the death at Bartica follows two other persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The patients who died in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the GPHC were both males, ages 93 and 87 years old. Up until their passing, the two were receiving expert care for their difficult complications associated with COVID-19. At the interim, the ministry urged members of the public to observe the COVID-19 emergency measures number eight published in the Official Gazette on 14 August. 2020, which emphasises the need to practice physical distancing at least 6ft apart, use a facemask correctly and consistently when leaving their homes and practice good hand washing hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 231-1166, 226-7480 or 180/181 for assistance.
‘D’ Division, Commander Errol Watts vertised for “Private Zess” or “Secret Location” parties in (Continued on page 20 )
Some of the patrons at Mary’s Bar yesterday
PAGE 8
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Ruthless cop shot dog to enter yard
- couldn’t wait on pregnant woman to open gate
I
nstead of waiting on a preg nant woman to open her gate, a police officer had shot her dog and entered her yard without explanation. The heinous shooting of the animal took place at around 13:48Hrs on March 31at the woman’s Caneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home. According to the dog’s owner, Lakeisha Daniels, she was pregnant at the time and sitting in her veranda when a pickup filled with armed policemen pulled up in front of her house. Two of the ranks, one of them a corporal, she said, jumped out of the vehicle and approached her gate. Alerted by their strange presence her pit bull breed dog rushed to the gate and began barking at the men. The corporal shouted at the pregnant woman and instructed her to open up and let them in the yard. However, as she was about to do so, the officer forced his high powered rifle through one of the openings in the fence, aimed at the dog and shot him. He then kicked open the gate and ran into the woman’s yard with his partner. The men searched around for a bit and without an explanation for their actions retreated from Daniel’s home speeding off in the pick-up.
The wounded animal
Angered by the wrongful shooting of her pet, she took photos and recorded videos of the officers and the wounded animal which lay on the ground bleeding from his wound. These photos and videos were immediately posted on Facebook and within minutes went viral. A representative from a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) called Animal Rescue Adoption (Continued on page 20)
The armed ranks who turned up at the woman’s home
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Kaieteur News
The tangled web of nepotism The PPP/C will worsen a bad situation in the Foreign Service. Its recent engineering of changes with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has compounded and confused responsibilities within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On Monday last, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced five appointments; an offer to former Foreign Minister, Carl Greenidge to be an advisor on Borders (Frontiers); the appointment of the former Director General of the Ministry, Audrey JardineWaddell, as its Permanent Secretary; the reversion of the former acting, Permanent Secretary, Charlene Phoenix, as Ambassador to Caricom; the appointment of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and the appointment of former Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud as Foreign Secretary. The PPP/C is fully aware that the post of Foreign Secretary was a creation of the APNU+AFC to retain the services of Carl Greenidge who had been disqualified as a Minister by virtue of his dual citizenship. The same thing happened in respect to the then Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency. He was disqualified from continuing as Minister and therefore was given the post of Director General.The then leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, blasted these appointments. He was critical of the APNU+AFC Coalition for what he called the creation of new high-paying jobs for former ministers, who were forced to resign due to their dual citizenship status. This is what he said: “So we had new Members of Parliament appointed to replace those who were dual citizens. We have a new set of
Ministers, and what happened to the four Ministers? Now they have cushy highpaying jobs in the Government again, if this is not an incestuous, corrupt cabal nothing is, no one is.” He even questioned the title of the post of Foreign Secretary. He noted that in the United Kingdom, the Foreign Secretary refers to the Minister. Is the PPP/C now not being equally incestuous and nepotistic in retaining the post of Foreign Secretary and in it to a political operative, Persaud? Persaud has no known background in foreign relations, either by training or appointment. Persaud’s appointment raises concerns as to his role in relation to the Foreign Minister. Will he become the de facto Minister or is it now the case where a political appointee will assume the role of the country’s chief diplomat? The previous post of Director General was left unfilled by the APNU+AFC following a shake-up in the Ministry earlier this year. The APNU+AFC opted to appoint a career diplomat as the Permanent Secretary and to send the substantive Director General – the chief diplomat – on leave. When she returned from leave she was not restored to her post whose functions were being assumed by the newly-appointed Permanent Secretary. A confusing situation developed. The Permanent Secretary, the administrative head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was also its Chief Diplomat. The former post should ideally be occupied by a public servant and the latter by a career diplomat.The PPP/C has opted not to retain the post of Director General. It has appointed Waddell as the Permanent Secretary. The Permanent Secretary, the accounting officer of the Min-
istry, is still burdened with the functions of the former Director General. The two should never be merged. If the Permanent Secretary will be chief diplomat and chief administrator, then what is the role of Persaud? Is he going to be a seat-warmer? This is the type of uncertainty which results when there is a preoccupation about doling out jobs to favoured friends and family. Sufficient consideration is not being given to how the various senior offices would relate to one another. Perhaps in his next press statement, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd can outline exactly what are the specific responsibilities of the new Permanent Secretary, the new Foreign Secretary and his own, if he still has any, after these recent appointments. Jagdeo is working his way down the ladder. He was a former President who is now a Vice President. And that bug is virulent because the PPP/C has appointed a former Foreign Minister as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations. This post should have been reserved for career diplomats as it represents the pinnacle of diplomatic appointments. Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Rodrigues-Birkett, will now have to report to the chief diplomat, who is now the Permanent Secretary, JardineWaddell. But RodriguesBirkett was once the boss of Waddell.The roles are now reversed. This is the tangled web that is weaved when nepotism is being conceived. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Dem boys seh ...
De Ro-Bot get big wuk
De man wah bin claim in 2011 dat he tekkin a break from politics suddenly resurface. He come back from the Sunshine State. And de sun still shining pun he in GT. De man does change false name mo often dan people change dem dentures. Dem used to call he Lambada. Den dem call he Mr. MBA. But dem boys know he as Ro-Bot because he is a Ro-Bot. Now dem boys gan call he Mr. FS. Dem boys seh when yuh gat de right family, things does happen. De Ro-bot get de right connections. He appointment is a family matter. He ah de Pharaoh nephew-inlaw. De Rig-adier bin put Guyana in de Guinness Book of World Record. It was de fuss country wah gat a Foreign Secretary and a Foreign Minister at de
same time. Some countries does call dem Foreign Minister de Foreign Secretary. We now gat My Who as de Foreign Minister and de former Crown Prince as de Foreign Secretary. Baby Jesus get knock off and Crown Prince Ro-Bot get big wuk. Jag-deo creating jobs fuh he friends and he family. And he now clearing de way fuh family and he comrades. A man can hardly walk and move. Yet dem seh he gat institutional knowledge and he might come back pun de wuk. Dem really mean he gan get a fat salary fuh wuk from home.Dem new political appointees coming fuh tek away dem responsibility from de young Minister. Dem gan become like de rubber stamp who still searching fuh de Promised Land. Long live nepotism and cronyism!
PAGE 9
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Wednesday August 19, 2020
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Dominic Gaskin: His role in a destructive marriage
D
ominic Gaskin has emerged as one of the largest names in political courage during the five months of election rigging by the GECOM Secretariat, the three PNC commissioners and the APNU+AFC. He broke ranks with his AFC middle class autocrats. It was not only who he was in the AFC’s leadership but who he was in the society – the son-in-law of President
David Granger. From here on, Gaskin’s name will travel positively throughout society and history. But the types like Gaskin also lived political lives that contributed to the historical swamps that have drowned Guyana. Once you talk about Gaskin and the AFC, the name Henry Jeffrey comes to mind. A born again democrat, Jeffrey sermonizes Guyanese with wishes, hopes and
dreams of a society where competition for ethnic domination can be extirpated through deep, constitutional reform. Jeffrey sees election as an arena for bloody confrontation between the Indianized PPP and Africanized PNC having been a PPP minister for 16 years; not 16 months but 16 years. The point is that Jeffrey perpetuated the atmosphere of ethnic competition by choosing sides.
In an interview with Kaieteur Radio, Gaskin offered some lamentations about the Mephisto waltz between the AFC and PNC after they both got power in 2015. Gaskin felt the AFC did a Faustian dedication to the PNC and lost not only its identity but its soul. But guess who was part of the AFC’s Mephistophelean journey? Gaskin himself. Here is what Gaskin told the Stabroek News as reported in that paper of July 18, 2016: “Certainly at the Cabinet level there is an obligation, there is a collective responsibility for decision-making at that level and therefore …there can be no, I guess, division on that level and that is just the reality of a Cabinet.” For more of Gaskin’s support for the coalition government see my article, Tuesday, July 19, 2016, “The dialectics of the Minister of Business.” Square this with the following words of Gaskin to Kaieteur Radio this week: “The AFC, during its term in office as a coalition partner, may have placed too much emphasis on maintaining the coalition to the detriment of the AFC as an independent party.” You read Gaskin, and you do not know he was a member of the gang of five in the AFC, then, you would see him as a sound political theorist. The decision to sell its soul to the AFC was one that Gaskin pioneered along with other members of the gang of five. In another interview with the Stabroek News, he said the AFC will not police APNU
in government. The rest of the cabal was Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan, Cathy Hughes and David Patterson. This was a tightly knitted group that even the 33member executive committee kowtowed to. No one, except Nigel Hughes, was given any latitude to be near the receptacle of power inside the AFC. When a second tier leader, Marlon Williams, challenged David Patterson in February 2017 for the position of General Secretary and won that was the end of Williams’ political career. The gang of five, including Gaskin, crucified Williams. The gang of five thought that Williams was extremely obnoxious to challenge a founding member. The gang of five made his life a miserable one. There were handsome donations from prominent persons and there were bright professionals but the gang of five made sure they never entered the kingdom of the incestuous cabal. Gaskin as the treasurer practiced widespread favouritism. He would sign a cheque without asking for details once the request came from a member of the inner circle. Once it came from outside the elite ring cabal, Gaskin would ask a million questions and put them through the mill. There was a sixth person in the AFC’s mansion - the chairman, Nigel Hughes. But Hughes was never accorded incestuous decorations for two reasons. First, he was not a founding member, and
Frederick Kissoon secondly, his ideological orientations had little in common with the gang of five. This difference eventually led to his 2017 departure. A sad example of the mistreatment of Hughes was the 2016 local government election. Given his Rodneyite politics, he believed there should be decentralized power, so he backed an independent group in Bartica named BIGGA over the APNU+AFC slate. From there on the knives were out for Hughes. Nagamootoo took Hughes placed but there was no gang of six because Nagamootoo was just not interested in the AFC’s warroom just about furthering his personal ambition. Gaskin saved his soul by denouncing rigged elections. He showed decency and moral strength and has now gone into the history books. But he played a huge part in cementing the AFC’s marriage to the PNC. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 19, 2020
‘Bad man’ silenced in prison
An inmate of the Lusignan prison died, yesterday, after he was beaten and brutally chopped during an altercation with four other prisoners on Monday evening. The dead prisoner, Shawn Peters, 40, succumbed at around 10:45hrs while receiving treatment for his wounds at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. According to reports, Peters was admitted to the prison on August 3, 2020, for simple larceny and was being held in the isolation unit. However, he was later transferred to Holding Bay One on the afternoon of August 17, 2020, where he was recognized by the four suspects with whom he had had altercations outside the prison walls. Reports revealed that the incident happened in Holding Bay Two at about 22:50hrs, after Peters jumped the fence which separates Bay One from Two. A heated argument ensued between Peters and the four suspects, which later escalated to a fight resulting in Peters receiving several chops about the head, chest, hands and feet. An alarm was raised and Peters was seen by a medical staff at Lusignan and later referred to the GPHC where he was seen by doctors on duty and admitted in a critical condition and taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). From a video seen by this publication, moments after the brutal chopping Peters was placed on the floor, covered in blood with shackles on his feet groaning and asking the prison officer to take him to the hospital. He said, “Owww, I losing blood…please carry me to the hospital nah man.” However, the person who recording him replied and said that the medical officer is on his way. While Peters was lying on the floor in a pool of blood, the person continued to video him displaying the injuries he received. According to a release from the prison service, the perpetrators were positively identified after CCTV footage was obtained and reviewed. As a result of the incident, prison officials yesterday afternoon conducted a
The improvised weapons that were discovered
Shawn Peters moments after the chopping.
Suspected murder weapons. partial search where they unearthed the improvised weapons used in the stabbing and chopping. During the search, 111 other improvised weapons and nine cellular phones were discovered. The matter was reported and the investigation is ongoing.
Wednesday August 19, 2020
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Kaieteur News
SOCU gets new head, Guyana gets new Traffic Chief A
s major reshuffling continues in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Special Organized Crime unit (SOCU) has gotten a new boss and there will be a new Traffic Chief in town. Kaieteur News confirmed yesterday that from next week Senior Superintendant Fazil Karimbaksh will be in charge of SOCU while Superintendant, Ramesh Ashram will return as Traffic Chief. The new SOCU head had previously served as Commander for ‘E’ Division Linden-Kwakwani. Karimbaskh also worked under Assistant Commissio n e r C l i f t o n Hicken before there was surprise shake-up in the force under the previous Granger administration in January. Hicken was sent to the Ministry of Citizenship while Karimbaskh was posted away to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). It is believed that former Commander of ‘A’ Division Phillip Azore will take over Karimbaskh’s former post at CDC. Ashram had previously
New SOCU Head: Fizal Karimbaskh served as Traffic Chief but was removed from that post in 2018. He was posted at the Brickdam Police Station for a short while before he was appointed Commander of Region Ten. He was later transferred to Region Eight as Commander where he has remained until now. Meanwhile, Superintendant Calvin Brutus will replace Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams, who was recently sent on leave, as Deputy Commissioner. His vacant position as Commander of Region Six will be filled by former Traffic Chief Linden Isles.
Kaieteur News was also notified that Brutus will be assisted in his post at the Guyana Police Headquarters by Superintendant Ewart Wray. This newspaper also learnt that Deputy Superintendant Lonsdale Withrite is set to become the head of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU). In other changes, Region Three Commander, Errol Watts will be assisted by Superintendant Boodnarine Persaud as his Deputy, while Superintendant Dennis Stephens will be the Deputy Commander for Region Six.
New Traffic Chief: Ramesh Ashram
New TSU Head: Lonsdale Withrite
PAGE 14
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Kaieteur News
Canadian citizen missing; Passenger’s husband allegedly kills taxi driver over fare dispute grandfather fears he was -Wanted bulletin issued for his arrest kidnapped A 24-year-old Canadian citizen who was vacationing in Guyana with his grandfather has been reported missing since Sunday. The missing person has been identified as Nicholas Ramkissoon Jaipaul, of Canada. According to his 86-year-old grandfather, Ramkissoon Jaipaul, he and Jaipaul returned to Guyana in January on vacation and were scheduled to return back to Canada in May but because of the COVID-19 restrictions, they have been stuck in Guyana since then. He disclosed that on Sunday night he had retired to bed and left his grandson awake and it wasn’t until the next day (Monday) that he realised the young man was not in the house. He stated that Monday afternoon he received an anonymous call telling him that the caller had his grandson. “When they called they asked me where I am and I said I am downstairs and then they ask where is Nicholas and I said he is upstairs and then the person said well check and see he is not upstairs and that they have him”, he said. He did not recognize the voice nor did the person ask for a ransom to be paid for the return of his grandson. He disclosed that the young man would normally accompany him when he is heading out or spend most of his time at their vacation home at Number 69 Village. He also mentioned that he would visit a neighbour in the afternoons and subsequently return home in the nights. Meanwhile, another relative of the missing man disclosed that the house has a grill door with a padlock and after it was reported to the police that he is missing checks to the
Wanted: Marlon Estridao
Murdered: Ryan Mohamed (credits Big Smith News Watch)
Missing: Nicholas Ramkissoon Jaipaul
grill door revealed that the lock was open and not broken. He believes someone entered the house and kidnapped the 24-year-old. “He was staying at the grandfather place and apparently they have a grill door with a padlock when we checked and the police checked the padlock it was opened, it wasn’t broken”, he said. Persons who may have information about the whereabouts of Nicholas Ramkissoon Jaipaul can contact his grandfather on number 338-4222 or the nearest police station. All information will be treated in confidence, they have assured.
Police are now seeking information on the whereabouts of a passenger’s husband who allegedly murdered a taxi driver on Saturday last, over a fare dispute at Branch Road, Perth Village Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD). According to a release sent out yesterday by Public Relations Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Marlon Estriado, 30, of Perth Village, Mahaicony is wanted in connection with the murder of Ryan Mohamed, 27, a taxi driver Of Wash Clothes, Mahaicony. It is believed that around 19:20Hrs Saturday evening, Estriado attacked and stabbed the taxi driver twice to the neck at a milkshake stand. Sources close to the
investigation revealed to this newspaper that the suspect might have slain Mohamed because of an earlier dispute over a taxi fare. Enquires revealed that the taxi driver was hired by the alleged killer’s wife that morning and had charged the woman $800 for the drop. Sometime later, the suspect confronted the taxi driver about the fare. He reportedly told Mohamed that the money he charged was not the correct price. The suspect argued that the rightful cost for the drop was $500. The two had a brief exchange of words and Mohamed reportedly gave back the suspect $300 and left. However, later that evening the suspect located Mohamed’s car parked on
Branch Road not far from the milkshake stand. He allegedly walked up to the car, banged repeatedly on one of its doors and asked, “Who is the owner of this car?” The taxi driver who had just purchased a milkshake turned around to investigate but the suspect ran up to him and broke a glass bottle on his head before stabbing him in the neck two times. Mohamed fell to the ground and the suspect fled the scene. Public-spirited citizens who were close by picked up the wounded taxi driver and rushed him to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was admitted in a critical condition. About an hour later Mohamed succumbed to his injuries.
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Ruthless cop shot dog to enter yard From page 8 and Protection Society (ARAPS) saw the post and made contact with Daniels. The individual advised her to take a taxi and rush the wounded pit bull to Dr. Nardeo Basoodeo, a vet located in Prashad Nagar. Later that afternoon at the veterinary clinic, Dr. Basoodeo performed an emergency surgery on the animal and saved his life. All the expenses for the dog’s surgery were paid by ARAPS and Daniels was later assisted by the NGO along with the doctor to file a complaint against the ruthless cop with the Police Complaints Authority (PCA). Kaieteur was told that PCA had promised to grant the woman justice for her pet but has dragged its feet on the matter for months now. When contacted, representatives from the PCA would blame COVID-19 for the lengthy delay
in the case. Driven by frustration the doctor decided to share the photos and videos of the wounded animal on the Facebook page of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Surprisingly not long after this was done the curator of the page deleted the post.Kaieteur News has since contacted the relevant authorities inquiring about the investigations. This media house was reliably informed that investigations were delayed and will recommence soon. A credible source has since revealed to this media house that the police corporal involved alleged that he was forced to shoot the animal. The cop claimed that he was chasing a thief who lives behind the woman’s house. He added that the woman knows the individual and had released her dog to prevent them from trapping the fugitive.
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Region Three Commander... From page 7 his district; the commander stated that no permission was ever granted and that the police cannot give permission for any social event. He stated that any such e v e n t w o u l d b e m o n i t o r e d a n d persons will be prosecuted. Kaieteur News also contacted, Region Four C o m m a n d e r, S i m o n M c B e a n , w h o s h a r e d s i m i lar comments. He said no permission was ever granted for any “Private Zess” or “Secret Location” parties, adding that his ranks have been monitori n g b a r s a n d t h e y w i l l n ow monitor the flyers that are being advertised, to ensure that everyone adheres to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 21
Health officials confirm persons evading quarantine
PAGE 22
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 19, 2020
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DEAR EDITOR, One observes the relatively uninformed alarums raised about individual public officers’ salaries (and benefits), outside of the context of those approved by Parliament, and supplemented by any subsequent official action. The following information should help to put some of the reactions in a slightly more informed perspective. For example, since the late 20th century Parliaments had approved and maintained a constipated fourteen (14) grade Job/Position Structure. Following are the values approved by Parliament in 2019, effective 2018. As can be seen the Table below is an extract from the National Estimates approved in 2019, which shows the salary scales applicable up to that point in time. It followed however that the Government of the day in November 2019, announced, and had implemented, a num-
ber of adjustments for all Public Sector agencies – one effect of which was the establishment of a new minimum salary/wage of $70,000 per month retroactive from January 01, 2019, along with 9% and 8.5% increase for employees earning: $64,200 - $99,999 – 9% $100,000 - $990,000 – 8.5% The announcement ignored the fact that the maxi-
mum for the highest salary scale (Grade 14) was officially gazetted at $715,802. What allowances were increased were in respect of the lower grade employees which were overdue for decades anyhow: - Station Allowance - Hinterland Allowance - Risk Allowance - Uniform Allowance which would apply only minimally to more senior Pub-
lic Servants, whose other conditions of employment have never been publicised over the years (except for leave) and presumably would have been applicable on a grade by grade basis. Hopefully the above throws some light on the much discussed issue of compensation management in the Public Service and related Public Sector Agencies. E.B. John
Back to cronyism and broken oil betrayal promise? is rewarded. What
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DEAR EDITOR, Guyanese are upset with the apparent broken promise of renegotiating the oil contract. The honeymoon is over with disastrous appointments and the handling of oil contract. There were a lot of comments on social media about the oil contract and Payara review. But the biggest shocker was the announcement of the latest round of appointments. Social media lit up Monday night. People want to vomit; I never saw so much negative reaction and obscene rage. The appointments set off phone calls; there is anger everywhere. What is wrong with the government? Why so many blunders so soon? Why these
LAND FOR SALE Wellington & Camp Street, Opposite Guyoil Gas Station, 123 ft length X 31 ft width. Tele:#625-1514 6 Blocks, 6629 acres mining land in Potaro mining district2.Contact: rawle1@gmail.com or +1(347)558-6101
political suicidal acts so soon? They ask when will it appoint truly deserving, competent personnel in their field? If the country lacks expertise, and it does not, why not approach the diaspora? There is no support for the latest round of appointees except for one female back at Foreign Service. PPP supporters are worried that the party has begun to lose support. It is back to Jagdeo cronyism and nepotism to maintain control. Competence and integrity are out the window; these are not prerequisites for appointments under this new government. It is continuation of where it left off in May 2015. If PPP calls an election right now, just two weeks after the declaration, it would lose seats over some of the appointments and non-appointments – square pegs in round holes. Back to opposition for Jagdeo and PPP supporters! People are calling for rescinding of appointees. Jagdeo should go to social media to get a feel of reaction
from PPP supporters. They unanimously reject his nephew-in-law. It is bad news. Neighbours were commenting with one another early Tuesday morning and people were exchanging views on buses, on the road, and at workplaces about Jagdeo’s latest appointees. One who was a failure in foreign affairs and did not bring votes from her constituency in 2011 or 2015 is rewarded with a promotion. She fixed herself to a big UN position in Rome and ‘bruk bush’ when PPP lost. It is about self rather than nation. The nephew-in-law is back. It is very disturbing. Everyone is talking about gold bars and the shipment of gold seized in Curacao (tons?), rain forest deals, Bai Shan Lin, TV and radio stations, land at Pradoville sold for US$ millions, abandoning PPP and going over to APNU, owning properties in Florida and Long Island all paid for in cash. That character also caused PPP to lose seats in 2011 and 2015. Corruption and
WHAT HAS BECOME...
From page 4 unknown in the Oil business. Worldwide royalties in PSAtype contracts are 8% -15%. (2) 75 of every 100 barrels go for Cost Recovery; 25 for profitsharing. Guyana gets 12.5 barrels or 12.5%. Guyana’s total take is 14.5%. (Suriname is getting 36% on their Oil Contract). Guyana’s contract is front-loaded in favour of the Oil Company. For the foreseeable future years all Guyana will get is 14.5% BUSINESS (even less when shipping and marketing cost is deducted). Call Alti (agent) on #643-3972 Would the Oil Company agree to take 60 barrels for Cost to invest in the stock market. recovery, 40 for profit-share? This point should be renegotiated. This way Guyana’s profit-share will rise from FOR SALE 12.5% to 20%. GoG should ask for at least 8% royalty + 20% profit-share Windows. 30X48 Sash Windows with screens, white = 28%. This way Guyana will have a little bit more revenues frames, reflective or tinted for its economic and social development of the country. Mike Persaud glass $12,800. #679-3325
caused Irfaan or Jagdeo to make this blunder? There will be more gold bar and rain forest scandals. For old people to complain about this appointment means PPP in big trouble. Granger should never have overstayed five months. He might have been back in office now over the appointment of this ‘wutless’ character. How long would this government last? Another appointee who hardly did anything during the campaign or the five months impasse is CEO of a government corporation (reward for the work of her father? Ok he worked). Looking at the oil contract review and these appointees, would the government last very long at the speed it is going. Many are asking whether the exchange in administration is worth it? Wouldn’t the country have been better off leaving Granger and his bunch of cronies? One bunch of misfits and crooks replaces another set. No benefits for the nation and for those who really fought publicly and behind the scene for the change in government. Yours truly, Boysie Mangru
Wednesday August 19, 2020
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Ithaca man killed by son died Two Berbicians test from a stab wound to the liver positive for Coronavirus - post mortem report
R
esidents in Region Six have gone about their daily lives with the notion that the region is COVID free but up until yesterday, multiple sources within Region 6 confirmed with Kaieteur News that two persons from the region tested positive for the virus. According to a regional health administration source, a woman from Fort Ordinance, East Canje, Berbice had visited the New Amsterdam Hospital about a week ago to undergo surgery and during her recovery period, she experienced respiratory difficulties, resulting in her being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. This publication understands that based on certain symptoms she exhibited at the hospital, a COVID test was administered to her yesterday and the results returned positive. She is cur-
rently in the Intensive Care Unit. It was disclosed that healthcare workers who were in contact with the woman during her recovery period at the New Amsterdam Hospital have since been tested and are awaiting their results. The relatives of the woman including persons who may have been in contact with her have also been contacted to have tests done. Meanwhile, the second case, a man from Upper Corentyne, Berbice also tested positive for the virus. The regional official disclosed that the man reportedly did a COVID test in Georgetown about a day ago since he was scheduled to leave Guyana yesterday on a flight to the United States; however, his test came back positive and health authorities have since issued an advisory for the individual to
make contact with them. The Ministry of Health is trying to make urgent contact with a Jagdeo Mohan of Number 74 Village, Corentyne. Persons with information about his whereabouts are asked to make contact with the Regional COVID-19 Hotline on 667-4449 and 682-3055. Additionally, the Region Six Task Force is set to meet today to discuss and implement measures in light of the new announcement. Region Six had recorded its first case in April 2020 after a woman had returned to Guyana from New York. She had exhibited symptoms days after returning and a test done on her revealed she was positive. She subsequently died after she developed complications and since then there were no reported cases in the Region until now. A few days ago, Region Five recorded its first case.
GPL looking to buy 25 megawatts to stop... From page 3 Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+ AFC) had done the same via a Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) with the Giftland Mall. Per the agreement, Giftland would supply more than four megawatts of needed power to augment the 120 megawatts GPL is currently supplying to the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System. Giving an explanation for
what is causing the frequent outages, Minister Indar said it is due to the fact that the demand and output are relatively the same. “If any generator within that entire substation sets that are on the DEIS system goes out,” Indar explained “and that falls below 120, you will have blackout.Further, he added that if anything happens in terms of mechanical failures or if the generators malfunction, power outages
can also occur because there is no backup capacity and this is why extra power is needed for the grid. Minister Indar disclosed that the GPL will also be issuing repairs to generators with the need so that they can add to the current power capacity. “Whether it is five megawatts,” he said, “whether it is seven, at the end of the day it will come on stream and those will add to the system.”
A post mortem conducted on the body of 40-year-old Collis Joseph of Lot 114 Ithaca Village, West Coast Berbice revealed that he died from a stab wound to his liver. On Sunday police arrested Joseph’s 18-year-old son Rashane Joseph in the Ithaca backdam after he hurled a cutlass at his father during a heated argument; the weapon pierced the older man’s upper body. The police said that the victim did not die on the spot but rather threw back the cutlass at his son before collapsing. He was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he subsequently succumbed to his injury. Kaieteur News was informed that the autopsy was performed by Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Memorial Garden Funeral Home Mortuary, Le Repentir, Georgetown, yesterday morning. At the conclusion of the examination, the cause of death was given as perforation of the liver due to a stab wound. The body was handed over to the deceased man’s sister for burial.
Collis Joseph
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Wednesday August 19, 2020
Wednesday August 19, 2020
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Zarco set for surgery of wrist after Austria MotoGP crash Zarco set for surgery of wrist after Austria crash.
The riders are attended to by doctors after Austria crash.
Wednesday August 19, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Are you satisfied with your current career, Aries? If not, start by making a plan. There are specific steps that you can take to give you the greatest advantage in the opportunities available.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Are you living your dreams, Libra? Are you still in touch with them? The energy from today's planetary aspects can lend strength and encouragement to this part of your life.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Don't fear change, Taurus. Even if you think you don't adjust well, you have far more adaptability than you realize. Without change, life would become stagnant and lifeless.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today's a good day to check into advancing your career or education, Scorpio. The energy favors expansion and growth.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Make your dreams valuable tools for insight, Gemini. Back in the old days, great rulers believed so strongly in the insight of dreams that they employed interpreters. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Follow your instincts, Cancer. Even if you tend to listen more to your reason, put that aside. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Feed your mind with new knowledge, Leo. Visit an internet bookstore or read some interesting information online. If you have more time, visit the library, if possible, or explore courses that you might like. . VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) Try to see nightmares as safe ways to understand feelings, Virgo. No one likes to experience them, and we'd sooner forget them once awake, the quickest .
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Do you recognize your intuition as a valuable asset, Sagittarius? Some people do and some don't. Which group are you in? It can be easy to trust more in concrete, factual reality than in the things you can't touch. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Use your creativity to make things happen today, Capricorn. This doesn't have to take the form of a finished product. You can come up with new and innovative ways to approach a task, project, or problem. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Find new ways to expand your horizons, Aquarius. The web has an infinite number of resources and information to explore. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Step out of your usual role, Pisces. Doing this every now and then can add knowledge and expand your life. The day's planetary aspects favor such growth.
Autosport - Johann Zarco will undergo surgery today after a fracture in his wrist was discovered on Monday following his horror MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix shunt. The Avintia Ducati rider was involved in a high-speed collision with Franco Morbidelli on lap nine of
Sunday’s Austrian GP, after the Petronas SRT rider hit the back on the Frenchman under braking through the Turn 2 kink into Turn 3. Zarco’s bike hit the barrier and vaulted over the track, narrowly missing Maverick Vinales’ head, while Morbidelli’s SRT Yamaha
only just avoiding wiping out Vinales and Valentino Rossi. Both riders walked away from the frightening incident, with it thought they’d escaped with just scrapes and bruises .However, checks on Monday revealed Zarco had actually fractured the scaphoid in his right wrist and will have an operation on it in Italy today.Zarco still intends to ride in this weekend’s Styrian GP at the Red Bull Ring.“It’s a classic procedure, with the placement of a screw to fix the broken bone,” Zarco told L’Equipe. “I will be back in Austria on Thursday morning for a medical check-up to see whether or not I am able to ride this weekend for the second race organised at the Red Bull Ring.”The incident between Morbidelli and Zarco caused a stir in the paddock, with many pointing the finger at the Avintia rider for taking an unusual line under braking at that point.Zarco denies he moved deliberately on Morbidelli, and explained this to Valentino Rossi on Sunday after the Italian made strong comments about the incident to television. No punishment was awarded for the crash, which was deemed a racing incident, but Morbidelli believes this is not correct. The Italian branded Zarco “half a killer” on Sunday and said what the Avintia rider did showed “little love” for both riders. The FIM Stewards are expected to quiz Zarco on the incident now agead of the second Red Bull Ring race this weekend.The safety of Turns 2 and 3 has also been called into question by some, while Rossi believes riders in all classes now need to rein in the aggression levels seen in races.
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Individual tests positive for COVID-19 at U.S. Open bubble (Reuters) - A non-player has tested positive for COVID-19 within the controlled environment that will host this year’s Western & Southern Open and U.S. Open in New York over the next month, the United States Tennis Association said yesterday. The individual is asymptomatic and has been advised that they must isolate for at least 10 days, while contact tracing has been initiated to determine if anyone else must go into quarantine, the USTA said in a statement. According to the USTA, it was the only positive result from the
Wednesday August 19, 2020
Kaieteur News
1,400 tests administered for Tier 1 individuals during testing, which began last Thursday. Due to the pandemic the Western & Southern Open, typically held in Ohio, is being played at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center this year as a lead-up to the U.S. Open, which is scheduled to start on Aug. 31.Those competing will be tested before traveling to the United States and one or two times per week at both events, along with daily temperature checks.A number of top players have already withdrawn from the Grand Slam in New York because of the novel coronavirus.
Report: NFL won’t have full-time officials in 2020
Owners of Tallawahs and Tridents buy franchises in USA-based T20 competition
Krish Persaud and Manish Patel, the American-based owners of Jamaica Tallawahs and Barbados Tridents, respectively, have purchased franchises in the USA. SportsMax - Krish Persaud and Manish Patel, the American-based owners of Jamaica Tallawahs and Barbados Tridents, respectively, have purchased franchises in a T20 competition in the United States. USA Cricket released a list of franchise owners this past weekend. Persaud owns the Fort Lauderdale Lions while Patel, who previously owned Jamaica Tallawahs when they won the CPL in 2016, and who now owns the Tridents, is the principal behind the owner of the Austin Athletics. The 24-team competition, the result of a partnership between USA Cricket and American Cricket Enterprises, was set to begin later this year
was postponed because of the pandemic.However, they remain enthusiastic about the competition. “We have spent the last several weeks on-boarding franchise owners. We have always been aware of the deep-rooted enthusiasm for cricket in the United States. However, the passion that this group of owners has for growing cricket in this country far exceeded any expectations we had when we commenced this process. We are excited to embark on this journey with them and look forward to the upcoming Minor League Cricket Draft,” said Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan of American Cricket Enterprises. “In consultation with team own-
ers, the decision has been made to reschedule the Minor League Cricket Draft for Saturday, August 22. “This decision was made to provide teams with additional time to evaluate players and allow further planning in advance of the Draft. All players who have completed the player registration process will be eligible to be drafted onto a MiLC team for the upcoming Franchise Exhibition Matches. Players who are selected will be notified by Minor League Cricket, with final team rosters to be announced publicly in due course.” According to USA Cricket, the USA has an estimated 20 million fans of cricket.
All players return negative COVID-19 results in latest round of testing for CPL cricket The NFL logo is pictured at an event in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., November 30, 2017. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo) The NFL will not bring back its full-time officiating programme in 2020, ESPN reported yesterday. The officials will remain as parttime employees. In the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the league converted some officials to full-time employees, a response to those who said the officiating would improve with the move. It was discarded in 2019 as the league and the NFL Referees Association negotiated their collective bargaining agreement.
ESPN said the league had decided in May to make an estimated 10 officials full-time employees but told the union last week that costs made the move impossible. As full-time employees, the officials could spend the offseason taking part in training programs instead of holding jobs as most do. Five on-field officials and two replay officials have opted out of the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Field Level Media)
Trophy Stall supports West Side dominoes tourney
A
s part of its corporate re sponsibility, Trophy Stall has once again thrown its backing behind sporting activities as the entity has supported the West Side dominoes competition which is set to be held shortly in West Demerara. At a simple presentation ceremony held at their Bourda Market branch yesterday, the Trophy Stall
representative Subrina Singh presented the trophies for the winning and runner up teams as well as the most valuable player in the tournament, to the organisers. Singh wished the teams well and said she is looking forward to a successful tournament. Action will commence at 10:00hrs on a date and venue to be announced shortly.
Guyana Amazon Warriors opened their 2020 campaign with a loss to the home team TKR. SportsMax - As the 2020 season of the CPL season bowled off yesterday in Trinidad and Tobago, news has emerged that all 237 members of the league have returned negative tests in the latest round of COVID19 tests conducted on Sunday. According to a statement from the CPL, all those who travelled into Trinidad for the tournament have now returned four negative tests and local residents, who have en-
tered the Hero CPL bubble have tested negative for the second time. “We are very pleased that the plans we put in place in order to make this tournament happen under the most testing of circumstances have meant that we have cricket taking place on the field,” said Hero CPL’s Tournament Operations Director Michael Hall.“As everyone around the world knows, the key now is remaining vigilant and making sure the
protocols that we put in place are followed. We are delighted to have got the cricket underway.” The tournament organisers will carry out further tests throughout the event while also maintaining stringent social distancing protocols to ensure that both they and the wider public in Trinidad & Tobago remain safe and healthy. The Hero CPL is being streamed on Sportsmax.
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Narine is too good with bat and ball
CPL - Sunil Narine’s whirlwind 50 and miserly 2/19 saw Trinbago Knight Riders kick off the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020 in style, easing past Guyana Amazon Warriors in the tournament opener at Tarouba despite Shimron Hetmyer’s fine 63* off just 44 balls. But despite Narine’s heroics, fine catching and canny bowling from last year’s beaten finalists meant the Bravo brothers had to hold their nerve right to the end to see the Knight Riders home. Pollard’s decisions to bowl first in a match shortened by rain to 17 overs each, and to entrust Ali Khan with the first over, were each vindicated almost immediately when last year’s Hero CPL top scorer, Brandon King, sliced to point for a duck. Chandrapaul Hemraj chipped a return catch to Narine, and the Knight Riders spinners were bowling so well that at one point Pollard even brought himself in at short leg. It wasn’t until Ross Taylor brought out his signature slog sweep at the end of the seventh over that we saw the tournament’s first Hero Maximum. The Kiwi veteran showed his strength off his legs, picking up West Indies U19 star Jayden Seales for another six, but an edge past slip off the young fast bowler and one that Pollard couldn’t hold at slip off Fawad Ahmed studded a stand of 50 for the third wicket. Narine skidded one past Taylor to end the partnership with Hetmyer, but Nicholas Pooran started in purposeful fashion with a reverse sweep for four. The two West Indies internationals were content to see off Narine, and with the
Amazon Warriors entering the last 5 overs well-placed at 89/ 3, a huge straight six from Pooran saw them take 16 off DJ Bravo’s second over. Hetmyer wasn’t fazed by the loss of Pooran, launching Seales for a Hero Maximum into the stands to bring up his fourth career Hero CPL fifty off just 38 balls. Rutherford holed out trying to repeat the dose off Bravo, but Hetmyer and his fellow Guyanese, Keemo Paul, scrambled 7 off a good penultimate over by Ali and then smashed Bravo for 15 off the last to set the Knight Riders a tricky 145. The Amazon Warriors started magnificently with the ball, with Afghan pace sensation Naveen-ul-Haq, new captain Chris Green and Romario Shepherd combining to keep Knight Riders’ openers Narine and Lendl Simmons to just 9 off the first 3 overs. Simmons swung and missed at four Shepherd slower balls in a row, and while he broke the shackles a little with backto-back fours off Green it was no surprise when he became Naveen’s first ever Hero CPL wicket, spooning a slower ball to the infield and departing for a sluggish 17. The Knight Riders began to find their feet after the Guardian Life Powerplay, with Narine hitting Green over midwicket and Munro hitting the same bowler clean out of the ground. But Shepherd came back and dismissed the prolific Kiwi for 17, with the aid of a superb diving catch by King. It was a fine comeback after Munro had carved a four and scooped a six off his previous two balls. Paul kept the ball out of Narine’s reach, sometimes literally, with his first over going for just six, but the pinch-
TKR skipper Kieron Pollard and teammates celebrate during the match. (CPL) hitter extraordinaire broke free, with even Imran Tahir going for back to back boundaries to take the Knight Riders into the Angostura LLB drinks break at 81/2 needing 64 off the last 48 balls. Narine continued his assault, launching consecutive Hero Maximums to bring the required run rate down to just seven an over, but finally holed out off Tahir just after simultaneously being dropped and bringing up his 50 off a remarkable 27 balls. The veteran South African eschewed his trademark celebration in favour of taking the knee and raising a fist in honour of the Black Lives Matter movement. Narine’s aggression meant Darren Bravo could play himself in, and when Pollard signalled his intentions by launching Tahir back over his head it looked a simple chase for the hometowners. But late
drama saw the skipper and Tim Seifert both caught by King, the second a diving Republic Bank Classic to go with the Munro grab, and the elder Bravo brother’s penultimate over Hero Maximum was vital in keeping the equation on the Knight Riders’ side. He couldn’t quite see his team home, falling to the impressive Naveen who was entrusted to close the innings as he’d opened it, but younger brother Darren held his nerve, and the hometown boys are on the board early. Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 147/6 (Narine 50, Darren Bravo 30, Munro 17; Naveen 2/21, Tahir 2/40, Paul 1/21, Shepherd 1/30) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 144/5 (Hetmyer 63*, Taylor 33, Pooran 18, Paul 15*; Narine 2/19, Ali Khan 1/21, Seales 1/24) by four wickets.
Sunil Narine on top of his game with bat and ball © Randy Brooks CPL T20 / Getty
South Africa pull out of women’s tour to England
South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of England’s Sarah Taylor. (Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs)
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa’s women’s side have pulled out of a proposed tour of England next month due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, ending hopes they would be able to return to the pitch after series against Australia and West Indies were cancelled. Cricket South Africa made the announcement yesterday, saying players would continue train in their own provinces having failed to meet up for a planned camp on Sunday. “It is frustrating that another opportunity for our Proteas (women) to play against top quality opposition has again had to be cancelled but as always the safety of our players and support staff is the prime consideration,” Director of Cricket Graeme Smith said. England are trying to convince the West Indies to send their women’s side to play instead, local media reported. The England men’s team played a three-test home series against West Indies last month, the first international cricket since the coronavirus pandemic, without spectators at biosecure venues.England’s men have also played two matches of a three-test series against Pakistan this month, also behind closed doors.
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Wednesday August 19, 2020
Alain Prost backs Lewis Hamilton to race past Michael Schumacher’s title record PA Sport - Alain Prost believes an unbeatable Lewis Hamilton will be crowned world champion this year and next to become the most decorated Formula One driver that has ever lived. Hamilton is continuing to re-write the sport’s history books, eclipsing Michael Schumacher’s all-time podium tally with his 156th visit to a grand prix rostrum in Spain on Sunday. The 35-year-old Briton is now just three victories shy of Schumacher’s win record of 91 and remains firmly on course to match the German’s leading tally of seven world titles this year. Hamilton also secured the 92nd pole of his career at the Circuit de Catalunya, 24 more than Schumacher managed. Speaking to the PA news agency, Prost, who won the F1 title on four occasions, said: “The way Lewis is driving, the confidence he has in his Mercedes team, and the fact that the regulations are going to change very little in 2021, gives him a very good chance to be world champion this year and next. I cannot see anybody beating him.” Schumacher dominated the sport at the turn of the century by winning five consecutive championships with
Lewis Hamilton has the most podium finishes of all the drivers. (Twitter)
Four-time world champion Alain Prost believes Hamilton will reach at least eight titles (David Davies/PA) Ferrari. Hamilton, who is 37 points clear of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, is poised to claim his sixth title in seven years. The only driver to beat him during that period is Nico Rosberg, but Hamilton has the measure of Valtteri Bottas, who replaced his great rival at Mercedes in 2017. “It is unbelievable what Lewis has done,” continued Prost, 65. “But you can only do that if you have a long domination and a long-term commitment with a team. “When Michael did it we all thought it would not be
possible to beat his records because of how modern Formula One is. But we now have a period of domination with Lewis and Mercedes. “You can compare the dominance of Ferrari and Michael and Mercedes and Lewis because it is basically the same story. “You have a perfect organisation with key people in the team and a number one and a number two driver. Psychologically you have a very stable situation which puts you in a very strong position. “Sometimes people don’t
realise what Lewis is doing because he has produced some exceptional laps, but he can only do that because he is comfortable in the team, confident with the team, and that can help you find the last tenths of a second.” Not for the first time in his career, Hamilton drew comparisons with Ayrton Senna after he said he completed his 88th career win in an almost unconscious state. Senna famously said he was “no longer driving consciously” when he put his McLaren on pole at the 1988
Monaco Grand Prix, 1.4 seconds faster than team-mate Prost.Senna’s rivalry with Prost is probably the greatest the sport has known, so how would Hamilton have stacked up against his childhood hero? “There are a few questions which you cannot answer,” replied Prost. “Do I know Lewis? I have known Lewis since he was 13 and he signed with Ron Dennis at McLaren, but I don’t know him. I don’t know if anyone knows him very well. “He is one of the best and
that is obvious, but how can you judge this generation of cars and drivers? It was more than 30 years ago. “I would ask myself if I was in Juan Manuel Fangio’s time would I have been able to be a world champion? Was I as good as him? But Fangio is a good example. He first raced in F1 when he was 38. “You can have a realistic judgement about Fangio, Ayrton and Lewis, but would we want Lewis to start at 38? No way, so sometimes you have to accept you cannot always compare.”
Test players left out of England’s T20 squad for Pakistan series
England’s Joe Root, Mark Wood, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan line up before the match. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers)
(Reuters) - England named a 14-man Twenty20 squad yesterday for the upcoming three-match series against Pakistan, with selectors leaving out players from the test squad in the ongoing series against the Asian side. Eoin Morgan will captain the side, with all three matches to be played behind closed doors at Old Trafford in Manchester when the series begins on Aug. 28, three days after the end of the third and final test match in Southampton. “In this crowded international summer, players who are currently in the test match bio-secure bubble for the Pakistan test series are not included in this squad,” national selector Ed Smith said in a statement. “We want to give multi-format players some opportunity to rest and refresh, while still selecting strong squads for every series.” The England and Wales Cricket Board also confirmed assistant coach Graham Thorpe will take on the role of head coach for the T20 series. Paul Collingwood, who took charge as head coach of England’s one-day international squad for the Ireland series that concluded earlier this month, will be assistant coach, while Marcus Trescothick has been appointed batting coach. England currently lead the test series 1-0 after winning the first test in Manchester while the rain-hit second test in Southampton was drawn after only 134.3 overs were possible in the entire match. The third test begins on Friday. England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, David Willey Reserves: Pat Brown, Liam Livingstone, Reece Topley
Wednesday August 19, 2020
NBA roundup: Despite Mitchell’s 57, Nuggets beat Jazz in OT Jamal Murray scored 10 of his 36 points in overtime, Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 10 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets overcame 57 points from Donovan Mitchell to beat the Utah Jazz 135-125 in Game 1 of their firstround Western Conference playoff series near Orlando on Monday. Mitchell set a franchise postseason scoring record — and scored the third-most points in NBA playoff history — but had just six points in the overtime when Denver outscored Utah 20-10. Jerami Grant had 19 points, Monte Morris added 14, Michael Porter Jr. scored 13 and Torrey Craig had 11 before fouling out for Denver. For the Jazz, Joe Ingles scored 19, Jordan Clarkson chipped in 18 off the bench and Rudy Gobert had 17 for the Jazz. Utah played without guard Mike Conley, who left the bubble for the birth of his son. Los Angeles Clippers 118 — Dallas Mavericks 110 Kawhi Leonard registered 29 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals to help Los Angeles hold off Dallas in the opening game of their Western Conference firstround playoff series. The Mavericks led by five points early in the third quarter before big man Kristaps Porzingis was ejected following his second technical foul of the game. The Clippers immediately responded with a 92 run. Luka Doncic recorded 42 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals, setting an NBA record for the highest point total in a player’s postseason debut. He also committed 11 turnovers, one shy of the postseason record set by the Houston Rockets’ James Harden in 2015. Toronto Raptors 134 — Brooklyn Nets 110 Fred VanVleet scored a career playoff-best 30 points and added 11 assists as
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Praught-Leer wants to use Olympics as 1500m beacon for Jamaica Aisha Praught-Leer celebrates after winning the Steeplechase at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray (27) and Nikola Jokic (15) react during overtime against the Utah Jazz in game one of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House. (Ashley Landis/ Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports) Toronto set a franchise record for points in a playoff game to top Brooklyn in the opener of their best-of-seven firstround series. The Raptors dominated early and led by as many as 33 points in the second quarter only to have the lead shrink to nine points entering the fourth quarter. Toronto regained control early in the fourth quarter and increased the lead to 18 points at 114-96 with 7:09 to play on a dunk and a free throw by OG Anunoby. Serge Ibaka had 22 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Raptors, and Pascal Siakam added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot matched his career best with 26 points for the Nets. Boston Celtics 109 — Philadelphia 76ers 101
Jayson Tatum scored a playoff-career-high 32 points, Jaylen Brown added 29, and Boston beat Philadelphia in the opener of their first-round playoff series. Brown had 15 points in the fourth as the Celtics outscored the 76ers 34-22 in the quarter to take Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. Tatum finished with 13 rebounds, and Kemba Walker chipped in 19 points. Gordon Hayward left the game in the fourth with a right ankle sprain and did not return. He is reportedly set to undergo an MRI exam. Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 26 points and 16 rebounds, and Josh Richardson and Alec Burks each scored 18. The 76ers played without All-Star guard Ben Simmons (knee surgery). (Field Level Media)
SportsMax - Sunday was the 11th anniversary of Usain Bolt’s unbelievable and glorious achievement in Berlin, 2009- setting the 100m World Record. However, on August 1, the BBC World Service uploaded an episode of ‘Sportshour’ featuring Jamaican 1500-metre runner Aisha Praught-Leer. She told BBC, just as she wishes to inspire the next generation of middledistance runners so the island can become known for more than sprinting. She plans to do this by fixing her eyes on the Tokyo Olympics. If successful, PraughtLeer will be the first from Jamaica to run the 1500m in the Olympic games. For her, it will bring “more eyes and opportunity and representation to the island and to all the other little girls who are not quite ready to run the 400m or the 200 or the 100.” It would be a way to say to little girls “hey, there are more options for you.” Admittedly it would be a
personal achievement for the athlete but at the same time will transcend personal gain. It could bring social and cultural changes. Alisha said, “I really look at my career and think what am I doing out here? Of course for myself. I really want to be the best that I can possibly be; I want to be one of the best in the world. But I also want to look around and gather people together and bring others with me and when I put on the ‘Change Jamaica’ jersey, I know I’m doing that. It tells that little girl that you can do that too.” There was a segment in the podcast where she was asked to comment on Jamaica’s representation in the 1500m. Praught-Leer responded by saying “there have been successful middle-distance athletes that come from Jamaica, but not many. There were two before me; two female steeplechasers who were really good but it’s not necessarily the culture to be a middle-distance power-
South African Nortje to replace Woakes in IPL’s Delhi side
MUMBAI (Reuters) - South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje will replace England’s Chris Woakes in the Delhi Capitals squad for this year’s Indian Premier League, the franchise said yesterday.Woakes, a key part of England’s 50-over World Cup-winning squad last year and a regular member of the test team, pulled out of the IPL to prolong his international career. The 31-year-old has not played for his country in the Twenty20 format since 2015.Nortje, 26, made his international debut last year and has played six tests, seven onedayers and three T20 matches.“With its exciting mix of experienced and young players, and a stellar coaching line-up, there is no doubt this is going to be a massive learning experience for me,” said Nortje, who joined Kolkata Knight South Africa’s Anrich Nortje during Riders in 2019 but was ruled out with a shoulder injury.The eight-team IPL was scheduled to begin in March but was indefinitely postponed due to the novel nets in Dharamsala, India. coronavirus outbreak before being switched to the United Arab Emirates. The (REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis) 53-day tournament will begin on Sept. 19.
house. The culture is sprint...the culture is just not set up at the moment to be a middle-distance powerhouse in Jamaica.” It’s the way it is because, according to Praught-Leer, “there aren’t many post-high school coaches or groups, or no infrastructure set up so that you graduate from high school and roll into the next phase of your life and grow as a middle-distance runner.” Undoubtedly the talent is there. Praught-Leer acknowledged Natoya Goule, Simoya Campbell and said there were more athletes with unbelievable potential who just needed others to give support in whatever way. “I am not the only middledistance runner. We have a really incredible 800m womenNatoya Goule, Simoya Campbell. There are many more in the ranks that have the ability and we just need to show them that you can and give help where we can.” When asked what seeing the Jamaican flag at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics would mean, Praught-Leer gasped in excitement before answering, “I mean I got a small taste of how that feels when I won the Commonwealth Games in 2018 in the steeplechase and it was groundbreaking for the island and something that has never been done before- a medal hadn’t been won [in a distance of] over 800 metres ever! It brought such joy and meant so much to so many people. I won a silver in the American Games last summer in the 1500 and again that’s just another first and I just want to keep on bringing those firsts and being able to share that with everyone.”
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Wednesday August 19, 2020
Kaieteur News
Di Maria leads PSG past Leipzig to first ever Champions League final LISBON (Reuters) - Paris St Germain reached their first ever Champions League final with a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig yesterday, inspired by Argentine Angel Di Maria. Goals from Marquinhos and Di Maria put PSG 2-0 up at the interval and Juan Bernat added the third in the 56th minute for what was a comfortable victory at the Estadio da Luz. The French club, who celebrating the 50th anniversary of their founding in 1970, will meet the winner of Wednesday’s other semi between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyonnais. The big-spending PSG were a step too far for Leipzig, who were playing in the regional leagues just 11 years ago and have outperformed all expectations by reaching the last four, knocking out Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid en route. “We ate them up from minute one – it’s going to be tough to sleep between now and the final,” said Di Maria. “We worked hard all game and we showed we deserve to be here. It doesn’t matter who we face: either Bayern or
Lyon, we’ll give our all,” he added.With French World Cup winning forward Kylian Mbappe back in the starting line-up after fully recovering from his ankle injury, PSG’s German coach Thomas Tuchel was able to field his preferred attacking trident with Brazilian Neymar and Di Maria. Right from the outset, PSG looked a threat to the Leipzig defence with Neymar clipping the post after he was slipped in by Mbappe in the sixth minute.Seven minutes later though, PSG had the lead — Neymar and Di Maria lined up to take a free kick on the left and it was the Argentine who floated in a lovely cross which was nodded home by Marquinhos. Former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger Di Maria was in fine form, constantly probing, while Neymar created from deep and Mbappe pushed on to the last defender looking to use his pace. The Germans were struggling but did threaten in the 25th minute when Konrad Laimer burst down the right and found Yussuf Poulsen
but the forward’s shot was just off target. Neymar then went close with an audacious free kick from deep and wide on the right, the former Barcelona man going for Peter Gulacsi’s near post and striking the post as the Hungarian keeper scrambled. It was a poor clearance from the keeper which led to PSG’s second. Leandro Paredes collected the ball and then found Neymar who cleverly flicked it with the back of his heel into the path of Di Maria who made no mistake. Leipzig’s 33-year-old coach Julian Nagelsmann needed to find some way to shift the momentum of the game and made two changes at the break but after a bright start, PSG put the outcome beyond doubt. Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele slipped while attempting to clear, allowing Di Maria to cross the ball back in to the box and Bernat’s glancing header floated into the far corner. Mbappe forced a good save out of Gulacsi as PSG pushed for a fourth while PSG keeper Sergio Rico had his
Spain’s Muguruza doubtful for U.S. Open due to ankle problem
Spain’s Garbine Muguruza reacts during her match against Sofia Kenin of the U.S. at the Australian Open. (REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo) (Reuters) - Spain’s Garbine Muguruza is doubtful for the U.S. Open due to an ankle problem which forced her to withdraw from this week’s Western and Southern Open, the two-times Grand Slam singles champion said yesterday. The women’s draw at the
Open, which will be played in a bio-secure bubble in New York due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, has already lost six of the world’s top 10 players, who have withdrawn due to various issues. World number two Simona Halep has joined topranked Ash Barty, defending
champion Bianca Andreescu, Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens and Belinda Bencic in skipping the event at Flushing Meadows. Former world number one Muguruza, who reached the Australian Open final in Melbourne this year, said she hoped she could still recover in time to participate in the Grand Slam. “Following the recommendation of my medical team, I have decided to withdraw from the Western and Southern Open due to discomfort in my left ankle,” Muguruza said on Twitter. “I really want to get back on Tour, and do it in New York. I know that the WTA and USTA are making a great effort to make it possible for us to play and I will work hard so that I can be there in a few days.” The Spaniard, a former French Open and Wimbledon champion, is currently ranked 16th in the world. The main draw matches of the Western and Southern Open, which is held annually in Cincinnati but has been moved to New York this year due to the pandemic, will start on Saturday.
Paris St Germain’s Marquinhos scores their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (David Ramos/Pool via REUTERS) hands warmed by a fierce drive from fellow Spaniard Angelino. The French club have played 110 games in the competition – the most played by a side before reaching their
first final, overtaking Arsenal’s record of 90 between 1971-2006. PSG’s only other appearances in the final of a European competition came with their UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
victory in 1996 and their runners-up spot in the following season. Olympique Marseille are the only French team to win the European Cup, triumphing over AC Milan in 1993.
West Indians dominate final Ultimate XI T20 team
SportsMax - West Indies players account for the lion’s share of those considered the best to ever play the game as SportsMax completed its Ultimate XI T20 team ahead of the start of the Hero Caribbean Premier League yesterday. A combination of a panel of experts, the SportsMax Zone, and fans who voted online called fanalysts completed voting on the SportsMax Ultimate XI team with a final discussion on three impact players. The final six players from which the three were chosen were West Indians Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, and Andre Russell, Australian Shane Watson, Pakistani
Shahid Afridi, and Indian Yuvraj Singh. The panel, made up of cricket commentator and broadcast journalist, Fazeer Mohammed, cricket umpire Chris Taylor, and statistician, Zaheer Clarke, picked an allWest Indian cast as their impact players, in complete agreement with the SportsMax Zone and Fanalysts.There was one dissenting voice among the panellists with Fazeer deciding on Shane Watson over Kieron Pollard, however, Clarke and Taylor’s votes were enough to overrule him. With all parties, the Zone, the panel, and fanalysts in agreement, the final list of the greatest T20 team of all time
is complete. The openers are Chris Gayle and David Warner, the middle-order, batsmen 3-5 are Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the bowlers are Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan and Lasith Malinga, while the impact players are Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Powell and Andre Russell. The Ultimate XI T20 team is made up of five West Indians in Gayle, Narine, Bravo, Pollard, and Russell, while Kohli and Dhoni make up the Indian contingent. Then there is the South African representation in de Villiers, one Australian in Warner, a Sri Lankan in Malinga, and the Afghan Rashid.
Triple threat Tridents come back from brink From page 31 Nurse almost pulled off an unbelievable catch in Santner’s last over, but Rashid was not to be denied. Walsh Jr came up with a true Republic Bank Classic Catch at deep midwicket to send Ramdin packing and the googly next ball was too good for Jahmar Hamilton. He couldn’t pick up a second Hero CPL hat-trick, but the damage was done. Da Silva kept swinging but found no timing or placement, and though Tanvir demonstrated his power with a pull for four off Reifer, even with a no-ball, a free-hit and a monster six onto the bank from Tanvir, Mayers had enough to defend off the last over. With only five wickets down, and from the start they
made with the ball, the Patriots will be wondering how they let this one get away. The action continues today and the fixtures will see the Warriors and Patriots in back to back matches: Wednesday 19 August, 10am - Jamaica Tallawahs v St Lucia Zouks Wednesday 19 August, 5:30pm - Guyana Amazon Warriors v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots Scores: TRIDENTS 153 for nine of 20 overs (Jason Holder 38, Kyle Mayers 37, Rashid Khan 26 not out; Sheldon Cottrell 2-16, Rayad Emrit 2-16). PATRIOTS 147 for five off 20 overs (Joshua DaSilva 41 not out, Ben Dunk 34; Mitchell Santner 2-18, Rashid Khan 2-27).
Wednesday August 19, 2020
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Triple threat Tridents come back Guyana Amazon Warriors back from brink in action in the night fixture TAROUBA, Trinidad, CPL – Barbados Tridents used every bit of depth they had to start the defence of their Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title with a win over St Kitts & Nevis Patriots that looked impossible just 15 balls into the match. Sheldon Cottrell struck with his fourth ball, bowling Johnson Charles as he tried to whip to leg. He pinged Corey Anderson on the head first ball then had him caught at point by Evin Lewis, and when Hope sliced Tanvir to the same fielder the champions were reeling at 8/3 in the third over. Their response was spectacular. Kyle Mayers took a Tanvir over for 14, and Jason Holder joined in by effortlessly flicking a Hero Maximum over square leg off Alzarri Joseph. Mayers pulled powerfully for two more sixes of his own, and from a hopeless position the Tridents found themselves 51/3 at the end of the GuardianLife Powerplay. Holder flicked then drove Ish Sodhi for six, bringing up a 50 partnership off just 25 balls. But the game swung back the Patriots’ way once more in the space of two balls.
First Mayers crashed Emrit to deep cover, then Evin Lewis pulled off a direct hit to send back J o n a t h a n C a r t e r. T h e Tridents had gone from 8/3 to 69/3 to 69/5 as the game continued to move at a breathless pace. Raymon Reifer picked out a lone boundary fielder off Emrit, and Ben Dunk then held a beauty off Sodhi to dismiss the well-set Holder, but here the Tridents’ deep batting lineup came into its own Ashley Nurse swung Joseph straight to Lynn, but Rashid Khan had jaws hitting floors with an astonishing helicopter flick for six. Santner fell timing a ball sweetly but straight to the fielder to leave Rashid batting with the capable Hayden Walsh Jr at no.11. Tanvir and Cottrell were just as impressive at the death as at the top, going for just seven off their combined fourth overs, but Rashid showed his power and craft to plunder a couple of late boundaries to drag the Tridents over 150. Walsh Jr let Lewis off the hook on zero, dropping a simple chance at point. But Santner kept things tight with the first maiden of Hero CPL 2020, Holder kept the
pressure on, and that pressure told as Lynn carved Santner to Walsh Jr who held o n t h i s t i m e . With Lewis struggling, the Patriots crawled to 33/1 off the Powerplay. Rashid’s first ball was loose and Lewis crashed it for four, but the Afghan showed yet another facet of his game to run out the dangerous Trinidadian. Joshua da Silva, promoted to three on T20 debut, crashed a drive into the bowlers’ wicket, and Rashid reacted first to knock out the remaining stumps and catch Lewis short. Dunk powered Nurse and Walsh Jr for a boundary each to keep things moving, then sent Reifer to the fence and then over it for the Patriots’ first Hero Maximum, leaving the Patriots 81/2 at the Angostura LLB drinks b r e a k s . Da Silva picked up a few boundaries off Rashid but struggled to score above a run a ball. Then Santner returned in style - Dunk went for power but toe-ended to Mayers at long-on. Holder kept his bowlers going in one-over spells, never allowing Da Silva and new Patriots signing Denesh Ramdin to settle. (Continued on page 30)
Rashid Khan (right) and Mitchell Santner were the main stars for the Tridents.
Rashid Khan turned in an important performance for the Tridents with bat and ball. (CPL)
Narine is too good with bat and ball as TKR win
Shimron Hetmyer punches off the back foot © Randy Brooks - CPL T20 / Getty
p.27
Sunil Narine carts one into the off-side, Trinbago Knight Riders v Guyana Amazon Warriors, CPL 2020, Trinidad, August 18, 2020 ©Randy Brooks - CPL T20 / Getty
Trophy Stall supports West Side dominoes tourney
t r o p S
p.26
Mark Reid accepts the trophies from Subrina Singh.
West Indians dominate final Ultimate XI T20 team p. 30
West Indies players account for the lion’s share of those considered the best to ever play T20 cricket.
Triple threat Tridents come Warriors back in action back from brink in the night fixture p.31
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