Monday August 24, 2020
Persons failing to wear facemasks in public to face fines, jail time - Minister Anthony Persons found failing to wear facemasks in public are now liable to fines and can face time in prison. This is according to the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who was at the time providing a COVID-19 update with the Department of Public Information (DPI). According to the Minister, the recently gazetted COVID-19 measures, published on August 14, specifically state that persons failing to follow the orders will be liable to punishment. According to Paragraph 17 of the order, any person who fails to comply with the order commits an offence under the Section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that section. A perusal of the Section 152 of Public Health Ordinance reveals that “any person who contravenes any of the provisions of the Ordinance made by the government, or who fails, neglects or refuses to execute any work or to do anything which he is required to do by virtue of any of the provisions of the ordinance shall be guilty of an offence
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Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and shall, unless some other penalty is provided therefore, (be) liable to a penalty with or without hard labour for a n y term exceeding two months.” The Ordinance, passed in the 1930s, also states that the individual is liable to a penalty of just $50. “Where the offence is a continuing one, unless some other penalty is provided therefore, the offender shall be liable to a further penalty not exceeding GYD10 for everyday for which the offence continues, and in
default of payment, to imprisonment for any period not exceeding three months,” the Ordinance states. Minister Anthony furthered noted that it is not the wish for persons to be imprisoned for not wearing facemasks. To this end, he further implored citizens to stringently abide by the guidelines in an effort to the curb the spread of COVID-19. The Dr. Anthony additionally noted that, currently, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is working towards increasing the testing capacity of the National Public Health Reference Laboratory. As it stands, the Laboratory can conduct a total of 80 tests daily. The Minister also noted that in an effort to reduce the turnaround time for COVID19 test results, the MoH has procured an Automated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine. This equipment, he noted, is expected to cut the processing time for the PCR tests from nine hours to two hours, thereby increasing the lab’s capacity from 80 tests daily, to 96 tests in a two-hour period.
Jail time for people who keep oil money a secret What happened with Exxon signing bonus should never happen again - Jagdeo Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is forging ahead with a promise he made in opposition last year to legislate criminal penalties for non-disclosure of oil revenues and other financial receipts from oil companies. Making an appearance on last Thursday’s edition of Kaieteur Radio’s Guyana’s Oil & You, Jagdeo told the hostess, Kiana Wilburg, that the country can expect the legislation to criminalise nondisclosures as soon as the government passes the upcoming budget. “We made it clear,” he stated “that the Minister of Finance or the Secretary to the Treasury, they would have under legislation to gazette every cent collected from the oil companies, big or small, a dollar or a hundred dollars.” He added that they would have to gazette the receipt within a time period, about three months, and notify the Parliament. “So if the country knows how much we’ve collected every year,” he told Wilburg, “you can go to the official gazette and just add down all the sums and then you, as a private citizen will know
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo Guyana collected this amount of money for the year…” He explained that the registering of the funds would also have to go through a budgetary and audit process. The Vice President related examining other countries and finding that the likelihood of persons stealing money from the public purse skyrockets when nobody knows how much money has been collected. The need for legislation to criminalise non-disclosures became evident to Jagdeo
while in Opposition, as the former APNU+AFC government hid from the Guyanese public for over a year that it had received a signing bonus from ExxonMobil of US$18M at the time of inking the 2016 Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA); the money was deposited into the Consolidated Fund in May of 2019, three years after it was received from the oil giant. “You know what happened with the US$18M,” Jagdeo said. “That could never happen again.” He said the money should have been paid into the Treasury and the Parliament notified. Notably, when Jagdeo’s promise to criminalise nondisclosures was made in 2019, it received criticism from the APNU+AFC’s Amna Ally, who had said that it was important to weigh his words against his record. During his tenure as President, several contracts did not see the light of day. These include but are not limited to the Marriott Hotel contract, the Sanata Complex contract, the Berbice Bridge contract, and the Bai Shan Lin contract.
Outdated Public Health Ordinance Act Change Guyana dissolved to be updated – Attorney General The need for an updated Public Health legislation is to be addressed during the next sitting of the National Assembly, according to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall. During a virtual press conference held last week, Nandlall addressed concerns over the decades old legislation. While he admitted that there is need for stiffer penalties to help the tackle COVID -19, Nandlall noted the Ministry of Health has been in discussions on how to ensure that persons who choose to flout the COVID 19 regulations are met with the necessary punishment. “The legislation is very, very old, a relic from colonial times and one that unfortunately was never updated,” he said, noting that plans are to have the legislation updated in Parliament with a view of better dealing with matters of
Attorney General, Anil Nandlall a public health nature. ”It is a work in progress – we don’t have a parliament right now but certainly that is an area that will be reviewed and reformed when Parliament resumes,” the AG added. According to Nandlall, the Health Ministry currently
When we pause and experience silence, we discover answers that activity does not have time to reveal. During your day, take threeminute “vacations”. Relax and re-energise. Take time out to feel the peace of silence.
has a proposal for a new Public Health Bill which will seek to address all of the shortcomings evident in the Ordinance which was passed in 1934. Although the existing legislation has provisions to address a number of issues in public health, the penalties are so miniscule. As such, there have been numerous complaints about nuisances; non-compliance with public health requirements in building codes, the operation of businesses and reports of offensive trade have mounted, among other issues. For instance, Section 77 of the Public Health Ordinance, Chapter 145 outlines conditions that constitute a noise nuisance. However if a person is found culpable under the Act, a magistrate cannot direct the execution of any works of which the probable cost exceeds $15,600, or impose a penalty of more than $1,560 on anyone on whom an order is made. If the defendant decides to be malicious or cannot afford the $1,560, he or she can then pay a fine which does not exceed $195.00 per day.
by majority vote
Change Guyana, a political that was formed just months before the March 2 General and Regional Elections, published a statement last night noting the dissolution of the party. Of the 460,352 valid votes cast in the general elections, Change Guyana only managed to get 1,953, failing to meet the threshold to get even a single seat in the National Assembly. The party did, however, manage to scrape a single seat in the Region Four Regional Democratic Council, which will be occupied by candidate Clifton Joseph. In thanking its members and supporters for their contributions, the party stated that its accomplishments in its brief existence are “outsized”. “Of the six new parties that contested in Guyana’s March 2020 elections,” it stated, “Change Guyana received the second most votes in the Regional Elections and third most votes in the General Elections, the results stands as testimony to our courageous outreach efforts across
Change Guyana Founder, Robert Badal
Change Guyana Chairman, Nigel Hinds
Guyana and the need for implementation of the socioeconomic policies set out in our manifesto.” The party said that its “core economic and social policies” speak to the socioeconomic needs of Guyana, by outlining policies for massive poverty alleviation, among other things. It added that the former leaders can branch out and work in other ways, like working independently or collectively to build new
political movements. The party’s leader and presidential candidate for the recently concluded general election, Robert Badal had stressed during his campaign that the major parties, APNU+AFC and PPP/ C were shaken up by what Change Guyana brought to the table. His signature was notably missing from this statement. The names attached were Chairman, Nigel Hinds; Prime Continued on page 8
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Monday August 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL TEL:624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
The Coming COVID-19 Storm
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hen, back at the beginning of April, the PAHO-WHO Resident Representative in Guyana, Dr. William Adu Krow stated that Guyana’s COVID-19 cases were going to reach 20,000 by the May 5, the number sounded, to some, ludicrous. At the time, the country had just several dozen known cases and the idea that within a month that number could explode seemed not merely farfetched – coming from the world’s premier public health organization, it sounded extremely unscientific. Four months later, we still have not cracked 1,000 cases but that 20,000 case projection no longer seems far fetched. As testing has exponentially increased over the past few weeks, particularly since the change of government, we seem to be racing towards that number. As of yesterday, our total number of infected persons stood at 955, out of 6904 persons tested. This means that one in every 7 person tested so far has tested positive for infection. Extrapolate the numbers of asymptomatic persons, or persons who might have been symptomatic and not yet been tested and we have seem to be heading towards a genuine, full-blown, unprecedented public health crisis on our hands. Our number of deaths from the disease appears low at present, with 31 people having passed away, and the recovery rate of a little under 50 percent of cases so far is encouraging. However, our optimism, even if we are to be generous and presume that it is warranted, has to be an extremely cautious one. Considering how concentrated our population is, and how lax our attitudes to good sense measures, we can expect the numbers of infected to keep rising and with those numbers, an increase in the fatalities. It should be clear by now that this pandemic is not a hoax, and not a conspiracy, just a plain and simply force of nature, the sort of plague that has throughout history hit hard at the human race, testing our boundless capacity for both innovation and incompetence. So far, we in Guyana have leaned more towards the latter than the former. The one glaring example of course is the $1.6 billion spent on what was first touted as an emergency COVID19 treatment facility, a deal that marked not only incompetence but, as is increasingly being revealed, likely corruption as well. In the meanwhile, the country is running out of beds in the Intensive Care Unit of the COVID-19 section of the Georgetown Public Hospital, the only such facility available. This means $1.6 billion of taxpayer money sunk into a hospital that isn’t, when a fraction of that could have gone into upgrading existing facilities in the short term, and towards of course a more aggressive testing regimen than what took place over the past five months. While some investigation has to be done at some point into one government’s response to the pandemic, we are yet to see adequate corrective action on the part of the new administration in preparation for the coming storm. We, for example, have not yet established – at least publicly – the sort of multifaceted, multi-stakeholder national taskforce as exists elsewhere, one that focuses all of government’s response, from the epidemiological to the economic, in one body that regularly guides the public on what the plans are. Kaieteur News has not been untouched by this. As reported in our edition of yesterday, two members of our staff have tested positive for COVID-19. As a paper, we have a professional stake in what happens in the pandemic, but a personal one as well – our journalists put their lives at risk trying to get accurate and credible information to the citizens of this country. An imminent threat is facing this country and we need to be all integrated into the machinery that is being built to face it.
Mr. Jagdeo, it’s OK to use the “r” word; PPP must “renegotiate” the Exxon contract now! DEAR EDITOR, Our national hero, Bharrat Jagdeo, who just broke the back of the PNC dictatorship trying to rig an election in front of the whole world, and who is now our illustrious Vice President (VP), has done a recent interview on oil by KN’s Kiana Wilburg. Our VP in analyzing the current Exxon contract, highlighted numerous flaws in the contract, but while he got close to saying it, he could not bring himself to say the word “renegotiation.” Why is that so hard for him to say? It cannot be that the PPP, like the PNC, does not want to keep its promises? Does the PPP think that if it doesn’t, that we will forget in 2025? “The masses are not asses anymore.” The PNC’s five months of torture in trying to rig has made everyone smarter. Those who are urging the PPP to renegotiate, wants the government to be effective and Guyana to be prosperous. That’s why they are trying to help the PPP to stay on track. Not everyone who gives you authentic information [who you may not like] is an enemy. Those people
might be your best friends wanting you to do the right thing and be successful. Mr. Glenn Lall and the Kaieteur News team are dedicating enormous resources in educating and warning the nation. The Oil and Gas Network in sponsoring a petition is cautioning us (OGGN www.oggn.org; petition found at https:// www.change.org/ Guyana_oil_contracts_need_renegotiation). Guyanese nationalists such as Vishnu Birsam, Christopher Ram, Mike Persaud, Jan Mangal, Melinda Janki, Darshanand Khusial, and others are giving good advice. “None of us, is as strong as all of us.” If the PPP wants to squander the enormous goodwill that placed them in office, then it ignores good advice to its own peril. I noticed on Facebook that Mr. Shuman has endorsed the petition calling for the oil contract to be renegotiated, and he is to be commended. The new parties, who are gaining traction, will be held accountable too and must make known their positions on renegotiation. It’s just a matter of time that other par-
ties will fight for renegotiation of the Exxon contract, and it will be a national movement. If the PPP wants to be like the PNC in not wanting to renegotiate the contract, they have chosen their destiny. Mr. Jagdeo highlighted many points showing the deficiencies of the current Exxon contract: 1. Local contractors who don’t have duty free concessions are at a disadvantage; 2. The local content policy is deficient, and the previous government was not interested in addressing problems with local content; 3. Guyanese get less pay for the same jobs done by foreigners; 4. Our limited audit capacity makes it difficult to ensure Exxon’s expense reports are not inflated; 5. We must have adequate rules for oil spills and waste management which can run into billions, but the EPA has poor capacity; 6. We want a policy of “no flaring,” and for gas to come ashore; 7. VP Jagdeo cited the Global Witness Report which said Trotman hastily signed the Exxon contract without
broad consultation. That same report said we stand to lose US$55 billion if there is no renegotiation. The journalist asked, “How does the Champion of the Earth” felt about the flaring of 10 billion cubic feet of gas. Nation, flaring or burning of the gas that comes up with the oil still goes on now, and there goes our good life being burnt up. If a 20-pound cylinder of gas costs G$3,400, calculate how much money we are losing every day. Mr. Jagdeo said Guyanese “must share in the prosperity or we might as well close down the sector.” However, the long list of PPP promises of roads, jobs, house lots, etc. requires more income from oil, so I am at a loss why the PPP is not getting it that there is a nexus between meeting urgent national needs and renegotiation of the Exxon contract. Nation, can anyone explain that to me please? We need Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP to be our Champion now and commit to doing renegotiation. Please don’t let us down. Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall
Change Guyana - Courage to the Finish Line DEAR EDITOR, Change Guyana Political Party has achieved outsized accomplishments in pre and post March 2020 General and Regional Elections of Guyana. Now in this August month of 2020, the month where we have had a democratic transition, the majority of the leadership of Change Guyana made the decision that the dissolution of Change Guyana as a Political Party is in the best interest of our members and supporters. It is with much gratitude that we say thank you to all our members and supporters here in Guyana and in the diaspora. Of the six new parties that
contested in Guyana’s March 2020 elections, Change Guyana received the second most votes in the Regional Elections and third most votes in the General Elections, the results stands as testimony to our courageous outreach efforts across Guyana and the need for implementation of the socio-economic policies set out in our manifesto. The unique and outstanding contributions made by Change Guyana Party over its ten months of existence - set out core economic and social policies that speak to the socio-economic needs of Guyana, by outlining policies for massive poverty allevia-
tion, focused job creation, inclusive economic development, restructuring of a burdensome tax system and servant leadership. Our uncompromising and courageous conduct expressed in our writings and actions to ensure a democratic transition based on the majority votes resulting from Guyana’s March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, was second to none. The former leaders and members of Change Guyana can now work independently or collectively towards building a new political movement or political party or pursue their goals afresh, while al-
ways being appreciative of those individuals who supported and continue to seek a change in the political culture of Guyana. The focus of Guyanese in leadership positions must be to significantly reduce poverty across Guyana and practice inclusivity and diversity in governance and employment at the private and public sector levels; this must be our continuous pursuit. Nigel Hinds, Chairman Mishka Puran, Prime Ministerial Candidate Ramesh Ramoutar, Vice Chairman Everton Morris, Executive Ryan Dey, Executive
Basil Williams responds to the Attorney General DEAR EDITOR, I write with reference to your articles on the ‘Establishment of the Law Reform Commission’ published in Sunday’s edition of the Kaieteur News and The Guyana Chronicle at pages 1 and 49, and 12, respectively. I reject out of hand the Attorney General and Minsiter of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall’s half-truths, innuendos and misleading account of the establishment of the Law Reform Commission and say the following : The Law Reform Commission Act (Act No. 4 of 2016)
was assented to by His Excellency President David Granger on January 25, 2016. A building was secured and rented somewhere around 2017. Furniture and other equipment were subsequently procured. The administrative and support staff of the Commission were hired through a transparent interview process and commenced working on April 9, 2018. A vehicle was procured for the Commission in early 2019 as funds became available. The three commissioners
to fill the vacant posts in accordance with the Act were interviewed by a panel comprising Justice Claudette Singh SC, CCH; Justice Oslen Small and Professor Harold Lutchman in or around August 2018 through a transparent interview process before the passage of the No Confidence Motion. An offer for appointment was made in June/July 2019 to prospective commissioners who were identified. In light of the foregoing, it’s clear that the Government did all it could have done and could not go further and ap-
point the said commissioners because of its caretaker status. The PPP/C was in a mode of non-cooperation with the government, boycotting Parliament and opposing any major appointments of important Commissions such as the Law Reform Commission whose remit would require all stakeholders to be aboard and our government abided by the outcome of the General and Regional Elections rather than constituting the Commission. It’s imperative to mention, (Continued on page 5)
Monday August 24, 2020
The Chris Jones saga, too much of the vindictive and viciousness DEAR EDITOR, I am following some of the Chris Jones saga as relayed in mainstream media, which becomes more of an ordeal as I learn more. It should not have been this way, there are better ways to achieve the same ends. Mr. Timothy Jonas spoke of no warrant. He also pointed to the lack of regard for the law. What the government did and how it went about matters spoke to that and more. I wish it were not so, for much of what took place reminded me - and should do so for all Guyaneseof what was old and vindictive and possessing a studied maliciousness and viciousness. I have heard from knowing people in the government camp, of leaders changing, of layers of controls (I scoffed and laughed at that one) at the group and other level to hold their feet to the fire and to a different standard. As far as I am concerned, what unfolded in the Jones’ residence was of feet, yes (jackboots trampling) and of a fire unlit and serving no restraining purpose, having no deterrent effect. What was meted out to Mr. Jones (whom I know not in the least, other than coming across captions and his picture in the papers) was uncalled for and should not have been done to a dog. It could have been executed in another way, a less visible and less traumatic manner. There can be no justifi-
cation for officers of the state to go to Mr. Jones’ residence under the cover of dark, during a blackout that reportedly impacted his block only, and none of the immediate surrounding areas. There can be absolutely no defending or rationalizing proceeding to the home of this citizen and traumatize his family, which includes young children. What have we come to in this democracy of ours? Why do we keep doing the same things in routine tit for tat fashion? How do we rise from these degradations? I caution that democracy is not only about elections. What the new PPP government did to Mr. Jones and his family is equivalent to what the Northern Europeans used to do to those they hated with a passion, and whom they sought to destroy. This is Guyana, this is 75 years later, this is a new government promising (genuinely, I hope) to be different, to be working towards unity and a better society. But there can be no reconciling, forget about truth for the moment, when a PNC candidate is singled out for such humiliations, this premediated leadership lawlessness. As should be expected, the PPP supporters already crow that ‘deh gat dah coming to dem’, while, in the next instance, those of the PNC would simmer at ‘dis is how
Memo to Lenox Shuman DEAR EDITOR, Allow me to use your pages to recommend that the leader of the LJP take note of the words of our most distinguished poet: “...a mouth is always muzzled by the food it eats to live...” Martin Carter, 1969. Insightful and incisive 50 years ago; still true and relevant today. Nick Harewood
GOUVEIA SHUMAN GREENIDGE AND RAMKARRAN BY Tulsi Dyal Gouveia, Shuman, Greenidge and Ramkarran: One of long attachment; one of newest promise; One mih fren from sixty years ago; And de last one, from long before is back. Ah glad to see dem all on board Especially since in three out of four No Sanskrit syllables testify their names. Institutional knowledge and expertise Shoving aside our historical divisions. Portuguese, Amerindian, Black and Indian If mih figure right or close enough to right. But it doesn’t really matter, dey are Guyanese Called to work on behalf of all Guyana. How would I love to see Gaskin and Jonas And Ubraj Narine and Vincent Adams Become prominent members of de team Lifting Guyana up to its promised dream!
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de duz treat wee people, an wah deh plan fuh duh.’ It is not helpful, not conducive to any healing or reconciling. President Ali in his post swearing-in comments promised to work diligently for unity, transparency, and accountability. I offer no comment today on the bona fides of his utterings. All I table is that when these incidents occur so early, so thoughtlessly, then there is already distancing from the commitment to unity, and which goes a far way in questioning the honesty of the PPP leadership. I did say that I will be sparing in the first 100 days of the new people, other than to speak out critically when the egregious comes to the fore. In the circumstances surrounding Chris Jones, there is the egregious, if not worse. What happened to him is not experienced by more hardened felons roaming around in this society. My hope, my appeal is that the PPP men and women will curb their aggressive instincts and cease in the political hostilities. It will not succeed. It is dangerous to a terribly ruptured and severely wounded society struggling to get back on its feet with some degree of sanity, with some level of peace. May better sense take hold. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Basil Williams responds to... From page 4 that at all material times the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has been involved in the establishing of the Commission and its secretariat. Yours respectively, Basil Williams SC Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs
The Guyana Police Force again under the microscope DEAR EDITOR, Guyana, well in its fourth “honeymoon never begun” ambitious week, is basking with the freshness and relief from an impoverished and treacherous five-month siege from the heartless APNU+AFC Party. Perhaps, that is the best part of life if at all, knowing that Guyanese do not have to deal with the cabal and the rigmarole nonsense of the election recount result, for, that is a closed chapter. Is the election petition “water on a duck’s back” and, where is the loud mouth call to “bring it on?” The country is bankrupt and the new government has to perform miracles to financially manage the economy and deal with the COVID-19 repercussions. Guyanese cannot expect to return to a normal life style overnight and still need to depend on the generosity from all sources in order to survive daily. There is no immediate relief valve to control the perpetration of criminal activities; there is no safe mesh to cushion the road incidents; there is no prevention from family violence which is insanely unavoidable; the schoolchildren are uncertain about the guaranteed educational facilities to be implemented, whether in school or in-house, virtually; there is no immediate financial incentives for a number of needy families; there is no job assurance for quick employment opportunities and there is no promise that Guyana will have a white Christmas either. Like it or leave it, the choices are limited and chances are, Guyanese will have to suffice and bear the pain a little longer than expected, thanks to the compliments of the departed caretaker who was ruthless enough not to cater to the interest of the nation or the people but to his party and its members. A medal of
honour should be given to Mr. Granger for his valour in crime and punishment to the oppressed people of Guyana. As the daily news are trying to keep abreast with all the anomalies and miscreants from the previous administration, monitoring the latest discovery in e m b e z z l e m e n t , misappropriation, corruption and collusion become more pronounced, baffling and unbelievable. No Guyanese, not the man in the street nor in the high society, by no stretch of the imagination, had any clue as to what was taking place in the public service and the extent of government’s preposterous and sinister transactions. Their crooked activities have such a damaging effect on the economy that the raping of the Treasury to bankrupt the nation and create so many humongous overdrafts seemed as if there was a well deliberate and premeditated plan to defraud the sweat of the poor Guyanese people from their hard earnings and make them suffer more. It is not the public servants who will feel the brunt of the pain because their bread is well buttered from guarantee salaries. All the former ministers and political appointees have no headaches because of their
high-pay packets and allowances and perks. It is the ordinary citizens who are jobless, penniless, voiceless and sightless from both sides of the electorate who are badly hurting and a number of them too ashamed to identify themselves any longer as supporters of the villainous group that demitted office. Now that the APNU+AFC Party is not in government, there goes all the promises, bluffs, lies, deceits and propaganda. What will this Party tell their supporters now, to hold strain and breath, keep your knuckles and toes crossed and tighten your waists and belts, that they’ll be back to take care of all the unfulfilled pledges and commitments, maybe in another twenty-five years? Who in their right sense will ever believe any word spoken by the APNU+AFC Party or accept their assurances or place their trusts in good faith or swear by their pledges or ever again be fooled by their vows and oaths? Of course, there is always the die hard and the irrational in a limited capacity and capability who will again fall for the trap. The Guyana Police Force again came under the microscope last week and many watchful eyes observed (Continued on page 16)
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Future-Oil Dividend Payouts to Guyanese
DEAR EDITOR, It’s not too soon to bring this topic up, but the state of Alaska, in the US, has a population of under 1 million like Guyana, and in 1976 established the Alaska Permanent Fund (for future and current generations) which gives residents, yearly oil dividends, as they have an abundance of oil and natural gas. The oil windfall Guyana will get yearly is three times what Alaska gets, if that’s managed properly. A situation where Guyana will be flush with funds, will do strange things to politicians, especially when it comes to oil. The dividend is one way to hold the government financially accountable, at least to an extent, maybe curb waste. I hope no Guyanese thinks that millions, maybe billions of the oil windfall will Never end up in
Monday August 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
foreign personal/shell accounts belonging to certain individuals. It’s NAIVE for anyone to think this situation will not happen. To my fellow citizens that may flat out dismiss the idea because of all the top priority projects/debts, etc, etc, that need to be taken care of now, my suggestion will still not change; even if the following scenario exists, which is; no hidden financial dealings of any kind, outside of national security interests. Transparent financial activities. No pet projects or other projects with no clear value add for Guyana. No bloated contracts. No cost overruns, and so forth. I suggest only resident citizens from the age of 21 and over, who were actually born in Guyana, and/or have either parent born in Guyana. Most importantly to participate, an individual cannot have any criminal police record of any kind.
My fellow Guyanese, let no one think that there won’t be porous avenues to divert funds (that’s why the world, not me, calls it a windfall). Some people will take advantage. The proposed dividends will be petty cash, compared to what will be siphoned out of the country in whatever form, to do or purchase whatever asset - sometime down the road! These things happen. It’s just a FACT. Back to Alaska. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world with natural wonders. Apart from having citizens proudly protecting their natural wonders and environment at all costs, residents have had yearly oil dividends, from oil income for 44 years!!! And who’s one of the main Multinational companies operating there? You’ve guessed it…It’s ExxonMobil. Yours truly, Chi Kansi
Disappointed that media fail to provide coverage on indentureship DEAR EDITOR, It is most regrettable that Guyanese media makes no mention of or report on the international conference on Indian indentureship held in Trinidad on August 22 and 23 hosted by the National Center of Indian Culture (NCIC) in Chaguanas. It is a historic conference to mark a milestone, the centennial of the official end of Indian indentureship that began in Reunion in 1828, 1834 in Mauritius, 1838 in British Guiana, and other years in colonies in Africa, the Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean. Similar conference on milestones commemorating end of slavery were given prominent media coverage and funding in Guyana, including the ones last year and this year. As a clarification, the year 1917 marked
the centennial of the end of recruitment of indentureship and conferences were held globally to commemorate that milestone. Although recruitment ended in March 1917, lasting some 89 years, indentured servitude continued until January 1919 when London officially ended all forced labour although the practice on the plantation continued for much longer until Indians were informed of their freedom, accepted that they were a free people similar to how slaves were freed, and the local authorities enforced the law on freedom. International conferences were held to commemorate the end of recruitment of indentured Indian labourers in Trinidad, Guyana, New York, India, Mauritius, Fiji, Guadeloupe, (continued on page 16)
OPEN LETTER TO MR. DARREN WOODS, CEO OF EXXONMOBIL
DEAR SIR, Namaste (the divinity in me salutes the divinity in you). You must be aware of the efforts of numerous groups to get the Government of Guyana to reopen the oil contracts with EXXON. However, Government has to account to the electorate and move slowly compared to the pace that a private corporation can effect decisions. While it is accountable to its investors/ shareholders and run by a board of directors, it also has to consider its public image in these days of ethical investing. Exxon, as one of the parties to the Stabroek Block contracts can take the initiative and reduce the fallout from the delay and indecisiveness. The more time goes by, the more negative factors and conflicts will be introduced into the equation making it more difficult for the parties to reach an agreement and work together in the future in the best interest of the people of Guyana and the investment community. A recent example is how the whole world got involved in the five months for the elections declarations to be made. The media carry articles and letters daily on the renegotiation and Kaieteur News and its owner GLENN LALL have been bold enough to research and publish the results of the history of the company and the countries that were supposed to have untold wealth from oil but some have been left with huge environmental problems and more poverty. Surely, it cannot help the image of EXXON when the record even in the powerful USA shows the perils associated with oil transportation. On 24th March 1989, the oil tanker EXXON Valdez ran aground spilling 10.8 million gallons of crude oil that spread 1,300 miles along the Alaskan coastline. The clean up was slow involving 10,000
workers, 1,000 boats, 100 planes and helicopters, but not after the oil slick killed 2,800 sea otters, 900 bald eagles, 300 harbour seals, 250,000 seabirds, 1,000 harlequin ducks and destroyed the livelihood of thousands who lived by fishing. Today more than 31 years later, pockets of oil can still be found on beaches. The oil tanker itself changed its name and returned to service. It is because the Payara contract was not revisited with dispatch that there is now a call for Government to renegotiate all the contracts with all companies. This could have been avoided if Exxon had simply initiated a meeting and give the people of Guyana a more reasonable agreement. According to some estimates, it is about US$55 billion. This alone would help the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere (after Haiti) to stand on its own feet and move ahead with establishing a whole different economy even if the rest of the oil remains in the ground. Instead, foreign consultants are being retained and their track record and honesty are now being questioned. Guyana itself is rife with corruption and a new government cannot change that by legislation or regulation as it has been part of the body politic for years. You can prevent rumours and character assassination and untold damage to all relationship by holding a press conference and answering most of the suspicions that are now being peddled not only against Exxon but also the representatives of Guyana and other foreign Governments and non-governmental players. It is not the appropriate time to rush a Government, which has inherited an empty treasury, questionable and embedded consultants/contractors and a COVID-19 cri-
sis.
The government needs time to breathe and assess the challenges ahead. You as the other party to this contract can win the confidence of other investors by coming out of the shadows and stop at least some of the allegations which you can prove to be unfounded. These are the days of ethical investing and there is no doubt that the shareholders whose interest you claim to represent would forgo interest on their shares if they see videos of villagers living on $2 a day and receiving food hampers from generous donors. In the spirit of Ahimsa (non harm) is it not better for all parties if you make that first step to reconcile the financial imbalance and the social and political risks by meeting with the government as soon as possible? Exxon may have deep pockets and can reach many in positions of influence and power, but you must ignore history to think this will continue without numerous challenges. Surely, you will recall how an old man dressed only in loin cloth armed with honesty, determination, a bamboo rod and the knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita fought the greatest Empire in the world and won without firing a shot. The world may no longer have a Mahatma Gandhi and Guyana is still searching for honest politicians like Cheddi Jagan but the people in Guyana now have friends across the globe who made themselves heard when democracy was threatened in this tiny nation. The media would show that they are still watching, active and involved. The website OGGN.ORG was established to keep the public informed. There is also an ongoing petition on CHANGE.ORG asking the (Continued on page 16)
Is there a medium for taxpayers to record or voice their suggestions for improvements in the city? DEAR EDITOR, ask where in the operation of our City Council
Some years ago, I wrote a letter to the press advocating that the Mayor and City Council adopt and put in place the payment of city taxes by Escrow Account. This methodology I suggested could be implemented with regard to new house mortgages for which taxes are to be paid to the Council. I have not heard the City Treasurer giving any consideration to the suggestion, and why not? In my letter to the press published on 5th July, 2020 on the matter of irritants which I experience and which I blame the Mayor and City Council for, I had referred to the twinning of the City of Stonecrest, Georgia, USA and the City of Georgetown, Guyana. I now
is there a medium for taxpayers to record or voice their suggestions for improvements in the city. I strongly request that those suggestions be addressed at open fora of the Council. Editor, since I recently saw in the press an article regarding the threatened publication of errant city taxpayers, I would readily agree that the threat be carried out. It would certainly embarrass defaulters into paying, whereby the revenue of the City Council will be surely increased. Yours sincerely, Aubrey Alexander (Ret’d Dep. Director of Civil Aviation)
Monday August 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
Thirteen out of sixteen beds at GPHC’s COVID-19 ICU occupied Thirteen out of sixteen beds at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are now occupied. The increase in occupancy at the GPHC’S COVID-19 ICU comes in wake of a rise in cases of the disease. Over the past two weeks, Guyana’s COVID-19 infections have jumped from 639 to 955 cases, with an average of 30 positive cases being recorded daily due to increased testing. In light of those numbers, GPHC’s Communications Officer, Chelauna Providence said that the hospital administration has been examining how it can expand the COVID ICU. She explained too that GPHC is the only medical facility in the country with a COVID-19 ICU. “We have other spaces that can be used if the need arises. For instance, there is the transition ward that is currently in use for COVID 19 patients transitioning to recovery. We can easily transform that facility to accommodate those in need of intensive care,” she explained.
The nation’s growing COVID -19 numbers have raised concerns among the population about Guyana’s capability to treat people infected by the deadly disease. To address the concerns, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced last week that the Government is pursuing delivering relief to the strained health system and workers based on recommendations from Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony. Dr. Anthony had advised among other things that a number of interventions have been made to improve test turnaround time, testing capability, human resource capacity, infrastructure, and equipment of the health sector to deal with COVID19. As such, Dr. Ali said that the Government moved to improve capabilities from a position of 40-60 per day to 96-140 per day. Notwithstanding this significant improvement, he said that there is a backlog of 700 test results. “In addition, two new automatic machines will be sourced to cut testing turnaround time from nine
hours to two hours. This will not only clear the backlog but significantly improve our capacity to do mass testing, which will become necessary in the eventual opening up of our economy and country,” the President said. In terms of the essential medical supplies, he announced that the government has moved to procure an additional 100,000 N-95 masks. “We currently have four working ventilators at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). By this week, 29 additional ventilators will be in the country to be utilized not only at GPHC but in all the regions. The Ministry has also advised that additional healthcare personnel including doctors have been deployed to hotspot areas in Regions Seven and Nine,” the President added.
WPA MP resigns from party Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley has reportedly tendered her resignation party with immediate effect just mere days after it parted ways with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition. Halley when contacted refused to offer a comment but merely confirmed her resignation. Kaieteur News also contacted party executive, Dr. David Hinds who said that, “The WPA has taken a decision not to comment on the issue at this time.” It is unclear what prompted Sarabo-Halley’s resignation from the party but reports hint that it stemmed from the WPA’s recent withdrawal from the APNU over what it considers violations of governing principles of coalition politics and the sidelining of the collective’s smaller constituents by the People’s National Congress (PNC). Internal conflict has been brewing within the coalition and its constituents over the recent selection of parliamentarians for Guyana’s 12th sitting with many of the opinion that the smaller factions within the party were snubbed at their
Executive Member of the WPA, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley chance to sit in parliament. The Justice For All Party (JFAP) led by Chandra Narine Sharma, was the first to signal their intent to part ways with the APNU, saying that it was actively reviewing its membership within the coalition. This came after the party was left unrepresented in the National Assembly in the APNU’s recent selection of Members of Parliament. The WPA followed with a release that painted a grim picture of the partnership within the coalition, one that was quite different than what
was being portrayed by leader, former President David Granger. APNU had selected Sarabo-Halley as the WPA’s lone representative at parliament but the party in their release said that this was only possible after a letter was sent to People’s National Reform Congress Chair, Amna Ally on the state of affairs. Additionally, JFAP, as Kaieteur News understands was sidelined because of their advocation for Granger to concede during the March 2020 Elections fiasco.
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Kaieteur News
Monday August 24, 2020
GECOM gazettes elections results & seating allocations The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh has finally gazetted the results of the March 2 General and Regional Elections, three weeks after the final declaration and swearing in of
President Irfaan Ali. Apart from the seat allocations in the National Assembly, the gazette lists the allocations for Regional Democratic Councils (RDC), which include winnings by small parties, the Liberty &
Justice Party (LJP) and Change Guyana. It should be noted the latter party, started by businessman Robert Badal, officially disbanded yesterday. In Region One, APNU+AFC got five seats,
while the PPP/C got 10. In Region Two, APNU+AFC got five seats, while the PPP/C got 12. In Region Three, APNU+AFC got nine seats, while PPP/C got 18. In Region Four, APNU+AFC got 20 seats, while Change Guyana
got one seat and the PPP/C got 14. In Region Five, APNU+AFC got eight seats, while the PPP/C got 10. In Region Six, APNU+AFC got 10 seats, while the PPP/C got 20. In Region Seven, APNU+AFC got eight seats, while LJP got one seat, and the PPP/C got six. In Region Eight, both APNU+AFC got seven seats,
while LJP got one. In Region Nine, APNU+AFC got six seats, while the PPP/C got nine. In Region 10, APNU+AFC got 15 seats, while the PPP/C got three. The gazetted results bring further finality to the painstaking five-month electoral process. The Chair is yet to hold a post-election press conference.
Labourer jumps over boss’s fence and dies Minutes after being sent home for feeling unwell, a labourer yesterday jumped his boss’ fence, collapsed and died. According to reports the dead man, Phillip Etwaru also known as Ricky, 56, of 34 Montrose Seawall, East Coast Demerara (ECD) passed away at around 09:00hrs. Investigators said that Etwaru left his home early that morning and reported for work at the home of a mechanic in Atlantic Gardens, ECD. However, when he arrived Etwaru, proceeded to lie down on a ply board and groaned repeatedly for pain. His boss, the mechanic became worried and asked the labourer if he was feeling well, to which Etwaru responded by saying that he was. The mechanic then instructed him to take the day off and go home. Etwaru obeyed and decided to jump
Dead: Phillip Etwaru the six feet fence into an alley where he fell to the ground. Police said the man started to groan again until he became motionless. An ambulance was called to scene and paramedics pronounced the labourer dead. His body was later removed by undertakers and taken to Lyken Funeral Home.
Lone gunman enters wash bay, robs owner A lone gunman, on Saturday last, walked into Stone Wall Wash Bay at Prosville Squatting Area Wismar Linden, Region Ten and robbed its owner of cash and a cell phone. The robbery took place at around 20:00hrs, while the owner, a female, 36, was seated on a bench alone underneath a shed at the wash bay. According to police, the bandit approached the woman and pointed a hand gun to her face demanding cash. However, before the woman could make a next , the man proceeded to push his hands in her pocket relieving her of $65,000. He then grabbed her Samsung Galaxy S10 cell phone valued $210,000 from a nearby table and made good his escape on foot in the direction of the Wisroc area.
Change Guyana dissolved... From page 3 Ministerial Candidate, Mishka Puran; Vice Chairman, Ramesh Ramoutar; and Executives, Ramesh Morris and Ryan Dey. Hours after the publication of the statement, Badal made a statement in another section of the media that the party is not dissolved, as far as he is concerned. He also reportedly added that Hinds, who has been appointed on a state board by the new PPP/C administration, cannot speak for the party and its members.
Monday August 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
Jagdeo should not be the point person in the oil renegotiations
Y
esterday, two women ap proached the publisher of Kaieteur News as he was about to enter his office. They said they could not afford to buy the newspapers everyday but they have been following the reports about the oil agreements. They asked if they could be given a copy of yesterday’s newspaper. Those concerns of these two women reflect the widespread interest which the oil agreements have generated. It shows that while the ordinary man and woman may not be saying much publicly, they are following keenly what is taking place. And they are looking to see how the new government is going to approach the renegotiation of the oil contracts. Kaieteur News has been providing a tremendous public service through its exposure of the shortcomings of the present contract, the initial concealment of the signing bonus and the huge field development costs, which ExxonMobil has submitted. Glenn Lall’s advocacy did not fall on deaf ears. The people of Guyana may be silent, but they are following closely what is taking place. Bharrat Jagdeo appears to be the government’s point man overseeing the oil industry. He should not be tasked with spearheading any renegotiations. Nor should the renegotiation be left to the government alone. If the country’s interest is to be protected, a broad-based committee should be involved in the review and renegotiation. Simply handing this task to a foreign consultant and asking the government to renegotiate on the basis of this review would amount to a gross dereliction of duty on the part of the government. The government needs to be assured that, when it comes to renegotiating these
agreements, it can count on the support of the overwhelming majority of Guyanese. To do otherwise would subject the government to extreme pressures. The Americans are not going to stay neutral. The role of US diplomatic personnel – wherever they are stationed – is to represent the interests of Americans and its companies. The United States will use its diplomatic muscle to achieve its objectives. The Forbes Burnham government attempted to nationalize the American-owned bauxite industry in the 1970s. The United States immediately dispatched a representative to talk to Burnham. By the time, the representative left, Burnham developed cold-sweat. He caved in a few days later. Instead of nationalization, he ended up having to pay reparations to the Americans. For the next twenty years, that compensation contributed to the skyrocketing of Guyana’s external debt. The United States Embassy is therefore not going to sit idly by and allow the PPP/C to hold American companies hostage to the threat of renegotiation. But with the backing of the entire country, Guyana can resist these pressures and emerge with a decent deal. But two things will have to happen. First, Jagdeo should not be allowed a major say in this process. He has never proven adept as a negotiator. He made a spectacle of himself during the negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement. He tried to play hardball by fighting for the unrealistic goal of reciprocity among unequal partners. In the end, he was forced to drink his own vomit and was humiliatingly forced to sign the very agreement against which he had raged. His showmanship almost placed Guyana’s exports in
jeopardy. He should not be trusted to be the country’s point person in any oil renegotiations but should be part of a broad-based committee, including persons from civil society. All is far from being lost. Guyana has a trump card in any negotiations. ExxonMobil’s Payara Field Development Plan is awaiting approval from the Government of Guyana. Without this approval, the plan cannot proceed. This application presents Guyana with a golden opportunity to ensure better terms in the oil agreement. It will not have another bite of the cherry. The former government squandered its golden opportunity. It shortchanged Guyana when it gave approval for the renewal of the expired permits for the Stabroek Block. Instead of seizing the opportunity to get the best possible deal, the former government signed the worst oil agreement ever. The result of that is Guyana was expected to gain only 2% royalty and 50% profit sharing (after expenses). It was estimated that Guyana would have earned US$300M this year but a combination of COVID-19 and low production and low oil prices now means that the country will earn far less than it had anticipated. The ball is now in the PPP/ C’s court. A better deal from Payara will ensure that this level of future uncertainty is removed. But that will require a broad-based committee to renegotiate the agreement. And the downgrading of any role assigned to Jagdeo. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Dem boys seh ...
Dem new advisors wukkin pro bono Dem politician does promise you all kinds of things when dem want yuh vote. De PPP/C did promise fuh review dem oil contract. But it was only because de Waterfall paper bin deh pon dem case fuh reverse de sellout deal wah Trotty bin sign. Dem boys watching closely wah de new government gan do. Dem try fuh pull a fast one pon dem boys when dem seh dem reviewing Payara only to later change dem mouth an seh dem reviewing de review.
Dem boys wan know how dem gan review something dat ain’t finish yet. But dem boys gat eagle eye pon dem. Dem boys know dat dem gat sense. But dem only like use dat sense fuh full dem pockets, just like dem kavacamites in de Hap-New and de party wah de A and de C runaway and leff de F. Suh dem boys watching fuh see wah gan be de outcome of Payara. Dat is the ultimate test. If dem fail dat test, dem boys know dat dem was only blow-blow.
Dem boys also watching fuh see wah gan happen to de review of some of dem big contract wah de Hap-New and de F bin give to some of dem contractor friends. Dem boys seh de new government should try to recover deh money and at least cause some of dem wah get contract and wah charging exhorbitant rent to de government, fuh pay dem taxes. Talk half and leh we seh thanks to Ralphie, Jerry and Shoeman fuh accepting advisor wuk without pay!
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Monday August 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
The demise of petty bourgeois politics in Guyana: A class analysis There have been four major, third parties in Guyana – the National Democratic Party (NDP), United Force (UF), Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and Alliance for Change (AFC). Two other small parties were energetic, but they did not enjoy protracted existence as the four mentioned here. In the eighties, there was the Democratic Labour Movement headed by Paul Tennassee and ROAR formed by Ravi Dev in the nineties. None of these are alive today. The WPA became a shell after 1992 and the AFC’s coalition with the PNC and its subsequent identity loss when it got into power in 2015 virtually killed it off. The researcher should pay no attention to the press release politics of the WPA and AFC in the coming weeks and months. There will be episodic press releases in the name of both organizations, but they are really ghosts; a reality the Guyanese people are aware of. Why the PPP and PNC are still alive and not the NDP, UF, WPA and AFC? Below are
brief notes using class analysis. Space is the reason for the truncation. Both the PPP and PNC emerged with middle class leadership. The founding leadership of both the PPP and PNC were replete with unadulterated middleclass professionals with comfortable assets. Why then did they not vanish like the other four mentioned above? A number of factors are involved but briefly, two are the most important. First, the hierarchy knew that if they were to win national support, they had to join with the trade unions who were essentially workingclass oriented. So the PPP courted the sugar unions, the PNC, the urban proletarian entity, Guyana Labour Union. Secondly, they knew survival was not possible without mass mobilization so they fused themselves into the towns and villages establishing roots among the rural and urban masses. The NDP was an extremely colonial minded party that simply could not survive against the onslaught of the combination of Jagan
and Burnham under the PPP. Populated by the Georgetown, light complexioned class, it simply fizzled out as the PPP grew stronger and stronger. The UF was essentially a party of White and Portuguese businesspeople with no standing whatsoever among the masses. Once Independence came, it lost its raison d’être. The WPA ironically was a left wing version of the NDP but nevertheless highly middle class in its composition. It was its congenital middleclass nature that killed it off. With the exception of Eusi Kwayana, the WPA was a group of middle-class professionals who was catapulted to fame because of the fading popularity and increasing autocracy of Forbes Burnham. Its instant popularity was confined to Georgetown where it was feted by the urban middleclass who were fed up with Burnham and remnants of the commercial class who wanted Burnham out. The WPA never thought of mass organizing because
key players were hamstrung by the nature of who they were. They just did not have the capacity to ground with the peasantry and the proletariat even though Walter Rodney’s book, “The Groundings With My Brother” was their bible. The one exception was when the bauxite workers formed a group named Organization of Working People. But only Rodney lost himself among these bauxite workers while the rest of the WPA leaders would go up to Linden to discuss politics but never to ground. Finally, the AFC was the reincarnation of the NDP. Founded by a group of welloiled Georgetown petty bourgeois people, the AFC was the identical version of the NDP. It declared itself a liberal democratic party and
eschewed any mention of terms like, “the masses,” “the working people,” the lower income groups,”. They felt such terms were socialist/ Marxist and as a capitalist party, they shouldn’t use those terms. Apart from not having roots among the masses and avoiding to organize among the masses, the WPA and AFC had a carcinogenic characteristic that was fatalistic. Saddled with a second tier leadership from the urban and rural proletariat, the WPA and AFC could not elevate this stratum into its leadership bosom because their class mentality prevented them from so doing. What you had then was a permanent elite structure in the WPA and AFC that was a microcosm of the society. Inside the WPA
Frederick Kissoon and AFC was the replication of the class structure of Guyana. This is the gargantuan difference with the PPP and PNC. They are serious working-class parties with the ideological orientation of creating a second tier leadership that would naturally move up the ladder. Today, the hierarchy of the PPP and PNC have leaders who came from very, very humble beginnings. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
30 new COVID-19 cases as Guyana nears 1,000 mark
As Guyana’s total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases approach the 1,000 mark, 30 new cases were recorded yesterday August 23. Along with that, there were 64 recoveries recorded bringing the total number of recoveries to 490. According to the Ministry of Public Health’s daily COVID-19 update, 13 persons are currently in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 84 persons are in institutional isolation, 337 persons are in home isolation and 82 persons are in institutional quarantine. As for the distribution of cases
countrywide, Region One has 137 confirmed cases; Region Two - 10 cases; Region Three 54 cases; Region Four - 304; Region Five two cases; Region Six - nine cases; Region Seven - 187 cases; Region Eight - 12 cases; Region Nine - 172 cases; and Region Ten - 68 cases. Out of all the confirmed COVID-19 cases, 472 are male and 483 are female. In addition, 6,904 persons have been tested to date and 5,949 are negative. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 955.
Monday August 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Monday August 24, 2020
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Kaieteur News
NDIA installs mobile pump in No. 52 outfall channel to assist with draining - Sees an estimated $2.3 million operational cost The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) installed a mobile pump at the No. 52 outfall channel on the coast of EastBerbice-Corentyne, Region Six on Friday last. The NDIA stated that the installation of the mobile pump will assist in draining the water in the No. 51 canal, to provide relief for villages that were recently flooded following heavy rains. Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha informed this newspaper that the overall estimated cost of operation of the pump is $2,315,600. He stated that the extraction from the Albion Pump Station, transportation of the pump, hoses, discharge pipes and engine to site, repairs to the pump, hydraulic oil for the pump and it’s installation all came up to $1,755,600. He also disclosed that the purchasing and transport of 10 drums of diesel to the site saw an estimated cost of $500,000. The operation and security of the pump was estimated at an additional $60,000. “I’ve instructed my officers to address these issues immediately. We are
working to have mobile pumps deployed to areas that need urgent attention,” he said. The Minister also promised the farmers and residents that measures will be put in place to monitor and contain flooding within the Region. The Ministry of Agriculture announced the installation of the pump and also said that several farmers would have been affected by heavy rains which lasted for weeks. Farmers would have reported a significant loss in crops and poultry, and flooding in their homes, which destroyed many household appliances. The Ministry stated that Minister Mustapha would have visited the region days after the flooding occurred and conducted outreach with the residents. The MOA added that the Minister had immediately demanded that machines be deployed to affected areas in the Region. He stated that the goal was to execute the clearing of several drains and canals that were clogged that was long overdue. Residents had disclosed that the causes of the flooding were the clogged drains in the
Govt. to regularise lands From page 14 “…That my great, great, great grandfather Kojo did not leave a will for his descendants is a matter of perspective in the era that he lived; that the absence of such document may have caused others not of his lineage to think that it is acceptable to claim land that they did not purchase nor could not have inherited. Our submission to this Commission is to have this injustice corrected.”
villages and the No. 51 canal. The Nos. 52, 53, 54, 57, and 58 villages were all affected by the flooding according to Chairman of the No. 52/74 Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Anil Ramjahan. This statement was also supported by Minister Mustapha who said that, “What I’ve noticed, there are many canals in the areas that need to be cleared. I spoke with the head of the NDIA, Mr. Flatts, the Regional Chairman, and representatives from the NDC and RDC to come into these areas. As a matter of fact, we’ve dispatched three machines and a fourth machine will be here shortly to get this problem under control.” One farmer had previously told Kaieteur that he had written to the NDIA after they had “neglected” his community. The rice farmer stated that he had lost over 100 acres of rice due to the recent flooding that was caused by improper irrigation systems in his community. He further added that the farmers in the community had no choice but to make attempts to pump out some of the water in the back dams, however, their attempts were futile. He said that four excavator machines were sent to resolve the issue but upon their arrival, the damage was already done. The back dams were muddy and slippery which posed great difficulties for the machines to access the area to resolve the issue.
The mobile pump sent to the area. (Ministry of Agriculture Photo)
“Deal smacks of illegality and... From page 13 “owes a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers in relation to the expenditure of taxpayer funds. It is the same kind of responsibility that a director owes to a shareholder.” The press had continuously questioned then Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence along with the Finance Minister Winston Jordan and President David Granger on the deal but little detail was made public, outside of the cost. Yet, even that had several variations, with the project starting out at $250 million then moving to a $1 billion then finally, $1.6 billion cost just for rehabilitation. At the hastily put together launch of the facility, Lawrence had informed the media that properly outfitting the hospital would cost as much as three times the figure expended. The APNU+AFC government had gazetted an acquisition order to compulsorily acquire the property. However, the owner – who was noticeably silent throughout the rehabilitation period –demanded that the new administration fork out $52 million in rental payments owed to him by the previous government and threatened to revoke his
property if this was not done. It was for these reasons that the AG also stated that, “From top to bottom, this deal smacks of illegality and conspiracy too.” “You have that money being spent on private property,” he said “then you begin a process to compulsory acquire. You rent the man’s property and do not pay him rent and you are now purporting to buy the man’s property?” Turning to Rambarran’s ultimatum, Nandlall questioned his role in the deal stating, “I don’t know what role this man is playing.” He said, “He rent it first and then he go and get himself a valuation, never said a day that rent has not been paid for a whole year. Has now sent a letter asking for rent when the new government comes into power, you write to us? The whole transaction has to be forensically examined and appropriate action taken.” The Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo has already made it clear that Rambarran would have to wait a very long time before he would receive any funds from the new government.
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Monday August 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
Female Indo Guyanese NYPD captain under siege DEAR EDITOR, The headline of the lead
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article from the New York Post dated August 21 told the sordid tale: “NYPD captain to sue department for $5million over alleged sexual harassment.” This has become too routine in places dominated by strong and powerful men, who think that they are still on the plantation, and that the droit du seigneur operates. But as I read beyond the screaming headline, my head shook from the details that should be uplifting for all Guyanese, especially our women, while it was angering at the same time. The details noted that the female officer, a captain no less, making the allegation is a Guyanese. And further, that she is of Indo Guyanese extraction. Now, there is a first, which she was the first of her kind-an Indo Guyanese-at that height. Perhaps, that is why we have never heard of her, since other than Mrs. Sharon Carolyn Balli, there is none other at the level of Captain in the NYPD. Even Black female officers at the elevations are a relative rarity, despite
their longer tenures and greater numerical presences. So, in Mrs. Balli, a Guyanese trailblazer, there is a first. But now her life and career has taken a nasty and ugly turn. She will have to pay, even if she succeeds in getting paid for her harassment and embarrassment pains. In fact, her travails are not in the future, but in the present. For, though she did all the right things: object, resist, and report, she is now being made into a scapegoat. She went to the Employment Opportunity Commission, which only led to a “toxic hostile working environment.” It is the classic case of the victim being made into a target. In addition, when Mrs. Balli referred her problem to her superiors, she was first told to “stand down” and then subject to a probe by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs probe. It is because what she did, according to NYPD culture (and all the others, too), is the equivalent of the kiss of death, and with the high probability of having to kiss her progressive career goodbye. That is, any visions of the fast track
for promotion on the merits; perhaps, even staying around for much longer. The closed “boys club” will see to that, and she will have to live her police life watching her back. The bottom line is that whether Mrs. Balli prevails in her lawsuit or not, she is a marked woman. This, without a doubt, must be heavily disappointing for someone who rose to the rank of major in the US Army, probably another first, to be subjected to this kind of alleged degrading treatment. Returning for a moment to that Internal Affairs probe that is what superiors do: they sic that dog on troublemakers, who could tarnish the carefully cultivated image of the NYPD as a progressive organization respectful of minorities and women. Internal Affairs is usually unleashed on upstart complainants to intimidate them and cool their interest in obtaining justice. Internal Affairs is frequently used to give a clean bill of health (exonerate) to rogue officers who (Continued on page 17)
Disappointed that media fail to... From page 6 Martinique, Suriname, Reunion and other societies. I helped to organize and promote and presented academic papers in several of them. A similar conference was held last year in Fiji to mark the official end of indentureship in Fiji and now the one in Trinidad this past weekend, both of which I played a role in its organization and publicity and presented papers (physically in Fiji and virtually for the one in Trinidad). Similar conferences were planned for Mauritius, India, and New York but have been postponed as a result of the COVID pandemic. Similar commemoration were held in
Guyana to mark the milestones such as the centenary of indentureship in 1938, 150th anniversary in 1988, and 175th anniversary in 2013, all of which received wide media coverage. As noted, the IndoGuyanese diaspora is very disappointed, as expressed in conversations and as noted by the organizers of the international conference in Trinidad, with lack of coverage in the mainstream media in Guyana of the weekend proceedings and of the milestone itself. Aside from the conference itself, there is a paucity of materials in the media of indentured slavery – one of the most
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inhumane acts of man against man. It is incumbent upon all media to provide some kind of coverage of such an important economic and social aspect of our history that defines and shape our history as a people and as a country. I must also mention that the University of Guyana also failed to provide support for such a conference (in 2017 and 2020) while providing significant support (including large amounts of funding) for conferences commemorating end of slavery. I will leave that for a separate letter on the public record. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
OPEN LETTER TO MR. DARREN...
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The Guyana Police Force again under...
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From page 5 more anomalies that lend criticism for controversies. Their handling (mishandling) of the former Sports Director, Christopher Jones, 1 AM house searched without a warrant and arrested for simple larceny, provided food for potential political mischief and an early intervention by the newly appointed Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn. Is it too early to ask if there is any follow up to the case of the 65 missing traffic lights solar
panels that disappeared in broad daylight and in view of the public’s eyes (in front Parliament Building too)? What about all those 31 expensive street lights that also disappeared? Mischief is sure a foot at the Ministry of Public Works and Minister Edghill needs to put his foot down and demand answers from the relevant authorities responsible before he goes to work one morning and discovers all the assets from his Ministry disappeared in thin air! The atrocious police
escapade at the Ashmin’s Building election fiasco needs to be investigated. Is the police still protecting Lowenfield and not Madam Chair? Charging food hamper distributors in Berbice for COVID-19 violation and not APNU+AFC Party protesters in Georgetown is questionable and discriminative. Perhaps, there is need to really rock the boat with the Police Force and not only shake the cradle. Respectfully, Jai Lall
Monday August 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
Female Indo Guyanese NYPD captain... From page 16 daily brutalize minorities, especially Black and Latino ones, in the streets. Internal Affairs is too often part of the cover-up apparatus that finds nothing and gets nowhere. Case closed. Shattered prospects and lives with the pieces are left to be picked up and put back together by the wounded. It is just another day in the office.
Superiors and peers are men who come from the same background, sometimes grew up together, attended the same schools or academy together, socialize together, and together are committed to watching out for each other and protecting each other’s back, and then it is back to the bar for a celebration of yet another bullet dodged. Quite frankly, I am not too optimistic about Captain Balli’s
chances of success, as the deck is already stacked against her. The camera that she installed is gone. That could have been her smoking gun. Otherwise, it is her word against her tormentor. In Guyanese lingo: he said, she said. It is a pity for a woman who came from a far way and went far. I wish her well. Sincerely, GHK Lall
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Jacques Kallis, Zaheer Abbas and Lisa Sthalekar enter ICC’s Hall of Fame Lisa Sthalekar with the World Cup trophy. (ICC/Getty)
ESPNcricinfo - Jacques Kallis, Zaheer Abbas and Lisa Sthalekar have been inducted into the ICC’s Hall of Fame. Kallis, who retired from international cricket in 2014, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame almost as soon as he became eligible; the ICC rule mandates a five-year gap after a player’s last international match. He is widely regarded as one of cricket’s great allrounders. In addition to being the third-most-prolific Test batsman of all time, with 13,289 runs at an average of 55.37, he also took 292 wickets at 32.65 with his fast-medium swing bowling. He is the fourth South African inducted into Hall of Fame, after Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards and Allan Donald. Abbas is the sixth Paki-
Monday August 24, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you should be looking especially good and feeling particularly passionate and sensual, Aries. This is a great day to buy new clothes online, as your fashion sense is probably right on target. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Your imagination should be flying high today, Taurus. Words, images, melodies, or whatever your artistic media are probably popping into your head faster than you can keep track of them.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The formation of a new business partnership might transform your working life, Libra. The benefits may not appear for a while, so don't quit your day job. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Unfinished job tasks might have you wanting to pitch in and get them done no matter what it takes, Scorpio. This is likely to earn you a few brownie points with your colleagues but take care that you don't stress yourself out.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your financial goals are probably on the verge of becoming reality, Gemini, but it might seem as if the few tasks remaining are too monumental to face right now.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you're apt to feel very sensual and passionate, Sagittarius. Sexy clothes, racy novels, and romantic movies could be more appealing than usual.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Conversations with a friend whose good sense you trust could open your eyes to new career possibilities, Cancer.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A powerful desire for a current or potential romantic partner might come over you today, Capricorn. This person could live far away or be on a trip.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Strange dreams, insights, or visions could upend your spiritual orientation, Leo. These new ideas could have your mind going a thousand miles an hour and shake up. VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) A friend you may not have seen for a while could awaken strange new feelings for which you're unprepared, Virgo. You may see this person as a potential romantic partner.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A powerful need to reach someone either for business or personal reasons could have you spending a lot of time on the phone that may come to nothing, Aquarius. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Money matters could prove obsessive today, Pisces, as you might be trying to make an important purchase and need to revise your budget in order to do so.
stani in the Hall of Fame, after Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Abbas played Test cricket from 1969 to 1985, and was renowned worldwide for being an elegant strokeplayer with a massive appetite for runs. He scored 5062 Test-match runs at 44.79, and remains the only subcontinental batsman to have scored more than 100 first-class centuries, a feat that earned him the nickname ‘The Asian Bradman’. Sthalekar is the 27th Australian cricketer in the Hall of Fame, and the fifth Australian women’s player after Belinda Clark, Betty Wilson, Karen Rolton and Cathryn Fitzpatrick. Sthalekar, who batted in the middle order and
bowled offspin, ended her career in 2013 as one of the premier allrounders in women’s cricket. With 2728 runs at 30.65 and 146 wickets at 24.97, she remains one of only five players to have completed the women’s ODI double of 2000 runs and 100 wickets, with Ellyse Perry the only other Australian in that group. Sthalekar has been part of four World-Cup-winning Australia teams, winning the ODI title in 2005 and 2013 and the T20 title in 2010 and 2012. “Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I would ever get to join such an illustrious group of players,” Sthalekar said after the announcement. “I was fortunate enough to learn from the best when I entered the Australia team - Belinda Clark,
Karen Rolton and Cathryn Fitzpatrick, all of whom have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, and rightly so. The guidance from them and other team-mates along the way kept me focused but also ensured that it was a fun environment.” Abbas joined Sthalekar in expressing his gratitude to those who helped shape his career, while Kallis said it felt good to be appreciated in this way. “I would like to say a special thanks to my family, my country Pakistan, my county Gloucestershire and many fans worldwide who helped me achieve and fulfil my dreams by playing this great game at the highest level,” Abbas said. “It is a final recognition for any cricketer. This great game has made me the person I am. Thank you cricket.” “It is something that I never expected when I started playing,” Kallis said. “I certainly did not play the game for any accolades or anything like that, I only wanted to win the games for whoever I was playing for. But it is nice to be recognised when one has succeeded in the sport, it is nice to be recognised by people for something that you have achieved in the game.”
Murray makes winning ... From page 22 second-round clash with either Dan Evans or Russian 10th seed Andrey Rublev. Women’s play began with a rematch of the Shenzhen final in January and another upset as Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova toppled ninth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 7-5 7-6(6). Croatian 15th seed Donna Vekic was also a first-round casualty, falling 6-2 6-3 to twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. The tournament also lost one of its marquee names when 13th- seeded Greek Maria Sakkari dispatched Coco Gauff 6-1 6-3 to spoil the 16-year-old American’s Western and Southern debut. After a run to the Lexington semi-finals last week Gauff was put under pressure by her Greek opponent, committing 24 unforced errors and hitting only six winners. Amanda Anisimova eased to a 6-3 6-3 victory in an all-American clash against 11th seed Alison Riske, while seven-time Slam champion Venus Williams was another high-profile casualty as she fell to Ukrainian 16th seed Dayana Yastremska 5-7 6-2 75.
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TKR batting too strong for Tridents CPL - Brutal death hitting from Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard saw the Trinbago Knight Riders post the highest score of Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020, and though Johnson Charles gave the Barbados Tridents a chance, once he fell the spinners took firm control and extended the Knight Riders’ unbeaten start to this year’s tournament. Choosing to bowl, the Tridents started well - the first boundary didn’t come until the third over, and Narine didn’t get off the mark until the fifth. Simmons hit the next ball for a Hero Maximum and then clubbed Jason Holder to mid-on. It took Colin Munro to kickstart the innings, taking 18 off Kyle Mayers including a glorious flick over mid-on for six, and the Knight Riders ended the Powerplay at 45/1.
Ashley Nurse put the pressure back on, but Munro counter-attacked against Rashid Khan, clobbering a sweep into the stands. Narine at the other end should have fallen to Nurse on 6 but was dropped by Shai Hope. The drop was not costly however, as Reifer dramatically splattered Narine’s stumps to end a stuttering innings. At the drinks break, the Knight Riders were a subdued 63/2. Munro brought up 50 off just 29 balls, then fell to a fantastic Rashid catch to give Nurse a deserved wicket off the last ball of his spell. But that was as good as it got for the Tridents with the ball. Rashid lost his line to the left-handed Bravo, going for 12 including a set of five wides. Hayden Walsh Jr started with two full tosses, and while Pollard was almost bowled by
Australia’s Smith will miss booing fans on England return SYDNEY (Reuters) Steve Smith will miss the boos and jeers from the spectators during next month’s limited-overs series in England which will be played behind closed doors, the Australia run-machine said yesterday before leaving for the tour. The former Australia captain was jeered by the crowd in last year’s Ashes series for the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that unfolded in South Africa on his watch. “I do like batting there,” Smith told reporters before departing for Australia’s first international tour since the COVID-19 pandemic halted professional cricket.“But unfortunately there’s no crowd there to egg me on and give me a bit more motivation. “Still, there is going to be plenty of eyes on the TV and it is going to be great to be back out there playing,” said the prolific 31-year-old. Beginning on Sept. 4, Australia will play three Twenty20 Internationals in Southampton before moving to another bio-secure venue in Manchester for an equal number of one-dayers. Apart from a 12-month suspension, Smith was also slapped with a two-year leadership ban after the scandal in South Africa with Tim Paine
the first one, he dismissed the second for a Hero Maximum. Bravo punished Rashid for going too full with a slogswept six. Mitchell Santner couldn’t contain Bravo, who clubbed 10 off the first two balls of the over, or Pollard, who hit an extraordinary one-handed Hero Maximum over the sightscreen. Pollard repeated the trick to end a Reifer over that started with Bravo hammering a full toss for six, and, suddenly the Knight Riders were 155/3 off 18. Holder proved expensive in the 19th, with 3 wides punctuating Pollard hammering a Hero Maximum and Bravo essaying a classy lofted drive. In the 20th, Bravo found and then cleared the midwicket fence to take himself to 50, and the Knight Riders to an imposing total. The last four overs went at a bruising 17.25 an over, and the Tridents were left wondering if they’d got their bowling strategies right. The Tridents had to go hard and Johnson Charles did exactly that, targeting Jayden Seales to the tune of 20 runs to start the chase in overdrive. It was a measure of how concerned Pollard was that he went to DJ Bravo in the
Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard saw the Trinbago Knight Riders post the highest score of Hero CPL 2020 yesterday. (CPL) Powerplay. It was a dramatic over elder brother Darren dropped Charles off the first ball, ensuring the wait for a 500th T20 wicket for DJ went on, and the Tridents opener rubbed it in with two boundaries. Hope was very much the support act, ending the Powerplay at 9 off 11 to Charles’ 46 off 25. Remarkably, those 46 came entirely between long leg and midwicket. But Narine, Ali Khan and Fawad Ahmed slowed scoring significantly, and the pressure told as Charles lost his offstump to Fawad just after reaching his 50. Corey Anderson’s horror start to Hero CPL 2020 continued as
he was run out by Seales for 2, and after a promising start the Tridents were falling away. The elder Bravo pulled off a good low catch to dismiss Mayers off Khary Pierre. Hope picked up a four off Pierre and a massive Hero Maximum off Fawad, but the legspinner responded well to limit the damage and send the rate above 12. Though Carter found the fence with a deft reverse scoop off DJ Bravo, it was not enough, with 14.5 an over needed off the last six, he aimed a swipe at Ali Khan and was bowled. The Tridents had lost all momentum, and Hope’s slug-
gish innings finally ended with a top-edged hoick. Had Rashid been promoted up the order to help out Holder, who struck the ball beautifully, it may have been a closer-run thing. Seales bowled a nervy last over, but by then it was too late, and the Knight Riders had shown their class to go three wins from three. Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 185/3 (DM Bravo 54*, Munro 50, Pollard 41*; Nurse 1/20, Holder 1/37, Reifer 1/47) beat Barbados Tridents 166/6 (Charles 52, Hope 36, Holder 34*; Fawad 1/14, Narine 1/17, Pierre 1/19, Ali Khan 1/32) by 19 runs.
Anderson takes five as England force Pakistan to follow on
Australia’s Steve Smith leaves the field after losing his wicket. (Action Images via Reuters/Rogan Ward) appointed the test skipper. Former captain Ricky Ponting felt Cricket Australia left the door ajar for Smith but any move to reinstate him in that role would need to take account of public opinion. “It’ll be (interesting) if the Australian public are willing to allow him to come back and be captain again, because if Cricket Australia made that announcement that he’s going to be captain and it didn’t sit well with the public, then it’ll be an absolute disaster,” Ponting told news.com.au yesterday.
(Reuters) - James Anderson claimed his fifth wicket as England enforced the followon against Pakistan on the third day of the third and final test at the Rose Bowl yesterday, despite a battling century by visiting skipper Azhar Ali. Ali (141 not out) and Mohammad Rizwan (53) stitched together a 138-run partnership for the sixth wicket but Anderson helped to ensure the visitors were bowled out for 273 in their first innings to keep England firmly in the driver’s seat in Southampton. Rizwan was dismissed after tea off a Chris Woakes delivery with Jos Buttler pulling off a diving catch to his left. His departure exposed Pakistan’s tail as England ruthlessly pressed home their advantage despite Ali reaching his 17th test century. Stuart Broad claimed his first wicket of the test when he had Yasir Shah caught by Joe Root at second slip on 20 and struck again to dismiss Shaheen Shah Afridi for three,
England’s Joe Root catches out Pakistan’s Asad Shafiq, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS) with Buttler taking another spectacular catch behind the stumps. Mohammad Abbas was next to depart after being run out on one following a comical mix-up with Ali, who was attempting to retain the strike. Anderson (five for 56), who had claimed his fourth wicket of the innings in the opening session, completed his 29th five-for in tests when he enticed Naseem Shah (0) to edge to Dom Sibley at third slip to wrap up the Pakistan innings.
Play was stopped due to bad light before Pakistan could bat again, with the visitors trailing by 310 runs. Anderson, England’s highest test wicket-taker, is now two wickets away from becoming the first pace bowler to claim 600 test dismissals.Only spin bowlers Anil Kumble (619), Shane Warne (708) and Muttiah Muralitharan (800) have more dismissals in the game’s longest format.Zak Crawley (267) converted his maiden century into a double ton and shared
a record-breaking 359-run partnership with Buttler (152) as England declared their first innings on 583-8 on Saturday. England, who hold a 1-0 lead, are edging towards their first test series win over Pakistan since 2010. The hosts won the opening match in Manchester by three wickets, and the rain-hit second game ended in a draw. Scores: Pakistan 273 (Azhar 141, Rizwan 53, Anderson 5-56) trail England 583 for 8 declared by 310 runs.
Monday August 24, 2020
Bayern Munich players celebrate after winning the Champions League, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Lluis Gene/Pool via REUTERS) LISBON (Reuters) Bayern Munich won the Champions League for a sixth time by beating Paris St Germain 1-0 in yesterday’s final thanks to a goal from former PSG youth academy graduate Kingsley Coman. France international Coman appeared at the back post to head home in the 59th minute, completing a sweeping move from Bayern. Coman’s strike secured a treble for the Germans and punished PSG’s wastefulness in the first half as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe both failed to beat Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer from close range. PSG were playing in their first European Cup final after billions of euros of investment from the Qatar royal family but
they fell short on the final step to glory. It was not the classic or the goal-feast that many had anticipated but it was hightempo battle and in the end Bayern just about deserved to emerge victorious. The German outfit claimed Europe’s elite club trophy by winning every game in the Champions League this season. The victory also completed a treble of trophies for Hansi Flick’s side after they also won the Bundesliga and the German Cup. The Bayern coach opted to start with Coman instead of Ivan Perisic on the left flank and it was an inspired decision. Jerome Boateng was deemed fit to start in the
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Bayern central defence, having recovered from a knock picked up in the semi-final win over Olympique Lyonnais. PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas returned to their starting lineup having recovered from injury. NEYMAR FOILED After a cagey opening, Neymar suddenly burst into life in the 18th minute, scampering into the box and firing off a left-foot shot but Neuer’s outstretched leg foiled the Brazilian. Four minutes later Bayern’s goal threat, Robert Lewandowski, was found in the box by a left wing cross from Alphonso Davies and given room to turn but his shot struck the post.
Kingsley Coman is the fifth Frenchman to score in a Champions League final. (EPA) PSG were certainly asking questions of the Bayern defence and the livewire Angel Di Maria, after a quick exchange on the edge of the area, created space for a shot but his effort, with his weaker right foot, flew high and wide. Bayern’s gamble to start Boateng looked mistaken when he hobbled off in the 25th minute, being replaced by Niklas Suele. PSG’s industrious midfielder Ander Herrera had a fierce effort from distance deflected wide, while at the other end Lewandowski’s stooping header from close range forced a fine reflex save out of Navas. Mbappe, PSG’s talented French World Cup-winning striker, should have done bet-
ter just before the break when, after a smart one-two with Herrera, he shot straight at Neuer. It was a scrappy start to the second half with both sides struggling to find any composure but the game came alive just before the hour mark. After a well-worked move down the right Joshua Kimmich picked out Coman at the back post and he got behind Thilo Kehrer to head firmly into the bottom corner. Coman threatened in the same area again moments later, after Thomas Mueller found him with a cross, and Thiago Silva had to block the volley. Bayern were starting to look in control and PSG coach
Thomas Tuchel responded by throwing on his Italian midfielder Marco Verratti in a bid to change the momentum. But Flick’s side were in no mood to give up their lead and they fought for every ball with tenacity, reducing any chance PSG had to find openings for their expensive strikeforce.One final opportunity did come, in stoppage time, when Mbappe broke down the inside-left channel and found Neymar who turned sharply but saw his shot go harmlessly wide. The PSG dream was over, the debutant finalists defeated by the determination, organisation and remarkable consistency of the formidable and now six-times European champions.
Oliveira leaves it late to snatch win at Styrian Grand Prix (Reuters) - KTM Tech3’s Miguel Oliveira became the first Portuguese rider to claim a MotoGP victory in the Styrian Grand Prix yesterday in a race that was restarted after a horror crash involving Championship contender Maverick Vinales produced a red flag. Oliveira edged Pramac Ducati’s Jack Miller and pole-sitter Pol Espargaro of KTM in a three-way battle on the final lap, sealing a first-ever premier class victory for the KTM Tech3 team. Suzuki’s Joan Mir made a solid start to open up a lead of over two seconds by the end of lap 16 before the race was brought to a halt after Yamaha’s Vinales suffered a horrific crash.
As Vinales approached turn one, the Yamaha rider realised his brakes had failed and he jumped off his bike at around 215 km per hour before it crashed into the air wall and burst into flames. The Spaniard walked away without any serious injuries and the race was restarted with 12 laps remaining. Miller and Espargaro produced a string of blistering laps to take control of the race. In an intense final lap, Miller forced Espargaro wide on the final corner, only for Oliveira to come from third spot to claim victory in the 900th premier class race. “I’m very emotional right now,” the 25-year-old Oliveira said. “I’m thankful to all the people who believed in me,
including my family, the team and the sponsors. “It’s history today for me and my country. I couldn’t be happier to have done it here at the home of (of my team) at the Red Bull Circuit.” Mir finished fourth, ahead of last weekend’s winner Andrea Dovizioso, who slipped out of podium contention after running his Ducati wide in the closing stages of the race.Petronas Yamaha’s Fabio Quartaro struggled for pace for a second consecutive race in Austria as he finished 13th, retaining a slender three-point lead over Dovizioso in the Championship standings. The opening five rounds of MotoGP season have produced four different winners, with Quartaro winning the
Red Bull KTM Tech 3’s Miguel Oliveira in action with Alma Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller on the last lap of the Styrian Grand Prix race at Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria. (REUTERS/Lisi Niesner) first two races in Jerez. The Championship will
head to Italy for a double- Circuit, with the first race header at the Misano World scheduled for Sept. 13.
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RHTYSC 30th Anniversary Celebration 1990-2020
Fudadin, Crandon, Williams named in RHTYSC all time X1 after thirty years Campbelle leads all time female team The Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS has unveiled the club’s all time cricket team as the celebration continues for its 30th anniversary. The RHTYSC was founded in September, 1990 by three times Commonwealth Youth Service Awardee, the ST. Francis Community Developers and is the only youth and sports club in the history of Guyana to receive a national award. The all time eleven team represents the best cricketers in the club’s history. The club first selected an all-time team for its 20th anniversary in 2010 and would be again relooked at in 2025, for the 35th anniversary. The all-time team named in batting order is 1. Renwick Batson 2. James Fraser 3. Assad Fudadin 4. Royston Crandon 5. Neil Williams 6. Andre Percival 7. Khemraj Mahadeo 8. Delbert Hicks 9. Eon Hooper 10. Esuan Crandon 11. Shawn Pereira Hooper and Pereira replaced Ravi Narine and Shawn Grant from the last selected all time eleven. National Coach and former Guyana allrounder Esuan Crandon was named Captain of the team. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that a fivemember committee selected the team based on perfor-
Assad Fudadin
Shabika Gajnabi Esuan Crandon, mance on the cricket field, personal discipline, team spirit, loyalty to the club and role model status. He disclosed that numerous RHTYSC members were considered with Clinton Pestano, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Kevin Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Ravi Narine, Shawn Grant, Abdel Fudadin, Rajiv Ivan and Michael Trim being unlucky to be left out. The long serving Secretary/CEO expressed confident that Pestano, Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair and Keith Simpson would be included in 2025 in the 35th anniversary all-time team. The batting order is very strong on paper with Batson, Fraser, Fudadin, Crandon, Neil Williams, Percival, Mahadeo and Hicks all having scored over 6000 runs in their RHTYSC careers with a combined 38 centuries, while Hooper, Crandon and Pereira are useful all-rounders.
Crandon would share the new ball with either, Neil Williams, Fudadin or Renwick Batson with Delbert Hicks serving as the wicketkeeper. The spinning segment would be taken care of by off spinners Eon Hooper, Royston Crandon, Andre Percival, Khemraj Mahadeo and leg spinner Shawn Pereira. Foster noted that the only weak spot is the lack of a left arm spinner. All the players have played for Berbice at the junior and senior level while Fraser is the only one not to play for Guyana at any level. Fudadin (Tests), Royston Crandon (ODI) and Esuan Crandon (Sixes) have also played for the West Indies. Meanwhile, the club has also disclosed that West Indies batting star Shemaine Campbelle was named skipper of the club’s all time female eleven. The team in batting order is Melanie Henry, Marian Samaroo, Shabika Gajnabi, Shemaine Campbelle,
Sheneta Grimmond, Sherika Campbelle, Jackie Singh, Nikita Toney, Dian Prahalad, Plaffina Millington and Erva Giddings. Gajnabi would serve as the vice-captain, while Campbelle would keep wicket with Henry as the standby. Giddings and Sherika Campbelle would share the new ball with Gajnabi as back up. The spin bowling would be done by off spinners Grimmond, Millington, Singh, left arm spinners Toney and Prahalad. The RHTYSC is the only cricket club in Guyana to have a female team and every member of the team has represented Guyana at either the junior or senior level apart from Sherika Campbelle, who is a senior Berbice player. Shemaine Campbelle, Giddings, Gajnabi and Grimmond are all senior West Indies players. The RHTYSC would relook at the all time eleven team in 2025.
Shemaine Campbelle
Murray makes winning return at eerie Western and Southern Open
Frances Tiafoe greets Andy Murray at the net after their mach during the Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
(Reuters) - Andy Murray claimed a hardfought 7-6(6) 3-6 6-1 first-round win over American Frances Tiafoe at the Western and Southern Open on Saturday, as the ATP Tour made a jarring return from a five-month COVID-19 hiatus. From a tournament normally played in Cincinnati but moved to New York because of the coronavirus pandemic to masked ball boys and girls, there was very little normal about the return of professional men’s tennis. With no spectators allowed into the sprawling Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, matches were played in eerie silence under the shadow of the massive Arthur Ashe Stadium that will be centerstage when the U.S. Open starts on Aug. 31.Working his way back to match
fitness after undergoing a second hip surgery in January, Murray got his first tournament of 2020 off to a positive start by surviving a near twohour, 30-minute challenge from Tiafoe to reach the second round where a sterner test awaits in fifth seed Alexander Zverev. “My goal is to come in and my hip to be feeling good,” said threetimes Grand Slam champion Murray. “That’s what I wanted so I don’t mind how much tennis I get to play, I know that will come the practice, the more matches I get but the concern for me is my hip going to be well enough,” the 33-year-old Briton added. If Murray’s game showed rust, his battling instincts remained sharp, particularly in the first set tiebreak when he trailed 5-2 before fighting
back to take control. Tiafoe secured his only break to go up 5-4 in the second on the way to leveling the match but Murray, twice Western and Southern champion, broke the young American at the first opportunity in the third and closed out victory. Canadian 12th seed Denis Shapovalov showed little rust in his first tournament since February as he reeled off nine aces to dispose of 2016 champion Marin Cilic 6-3 6-3. With the win, Shapovalov, who faced just one break point over the course of the contest, improved his head-to-head record against the Croatian to 3-1. Big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic fired 19 aces to topple Sam Querrey 6-4 6-4 and set up a (Continued on page 21)
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Kaieteur News
Monday August 24, 2020
Chase too much for Guyana C
PL - Another excellent St Lucia Zouks bowling performance ensured Roston Chase’s backs-to-the-wall fifty was not in vain, as Chemar Holder bowled a brilliant last over to deny the Guyana Amazon Warriors, who looked to have recovered from a rocky start through the flashing blade of Nicholas Pooran. With all three previous games on this track won by the team batting first, Daren Sammy chose to set a target. Kimani Melius announced himself on Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) debut with a glorious Hero Maximum off Chandrapaul Hemraj but was caught at mid-off trying to repeat the trick off Imran Tahir. Tahir didn’t stop there, as he had Mark Deyal dropped first ball and caught second, both by Ashmead Nedd. Nedd started solidly with the ball, but Chase clubbed Keemo Paul for six to add some gloss to the Zouks’ Powerplay score of 37/2. Amazon Warriors captain Chris Green used five bowlers in the first seven overs including two overs from himself, culminating in him yorking Andre Fletcher. Nedd got the deserved wicket of Najibullah Zadran, whose mishit saw him caught on the boundary for a duck. A lot now rested on Chase and Mohammad Nabi, and the Bajan took three b o u n d a r i e s o ff O d e a n Smith’s first over. The two were cautious initially against the spinners, and the Zouks were a middling 67/4 a t h a l f w a y . Paul and Smith conceded just one boundary each, and Nedd finished his spell beautifully. Nabi briefly broke free with an enormous Hero Maximum and a powerful four off Green, but he was beaten in the flight by Tahir and gave the skipper a straightforward catch. Chase brought up his second T20 fifty off 40 balls, and in his first game for the Zouks, Javelle Glenn got off the mark with a lovely coverdrive. But Paul was dismissed for just two, and with four overs to go, the Zouks needed an acceleration. Chase provided it, launching Tahir straight and swinging Paul through square leg, and Glenn settled himself with a boundary of his own. Green gave Smith the last
over, and his pace proved effective as Glenn and Chase fell in consecutive balls. There was to be no hat-trick, but the over was reward for the bowler and captain’s persistence, and the Zouks’ total seemed below-par. Their bowling however was anything but. Nabi bowled a superb first over, and two Scott Kuggeleijn short balls saw King caught behind for 1 and Shimron Hetmyer topedging to square leg for 4 to leave the Amazon Warriors two down in the second over. The Amazon Warriors predicament got even worse when Ross Taylor top-edged a reverse paddle-sweep off the back of the bat into his own helmet and was caught, giving Nabi a first wicket. Even a Hemraj six off Chase couldn’t put much gloss on a Powerplay of 19/3. Pooran was lucky to pick up four off a Kesrick Williams short ball, but there was nothing lucky about the authoritative pull for six that followed. Holder was wayward, with wides, a no-ball and a deft steer through third man, and a 15 run over took the Amazon Warriors to 59/3 at halfway. Hemraj struggled for timing throughout, and eventually spooned a leading edge off Williams which was well caught by Chase. Sammy showed faith in Holder, who recovered after being crashed for four by the promoted Paul, but two boundaries in a 12 run over from Pooran put a slight dent in Nabi’s still excellent figures. The Zouks got sloppy in t h e n e x t o v e r, a s a n overthrow brought up Pooran’s 50 off 32 balls and Sammy dropped a very simple catch. Pooran then top-edged over the keeper’s head for four to bring the required rate u n d e r 9 . Chase ensured Pooran couldn’t find a boundary, but the Amazon Warriors’ number five made up for that off Williams to take his team into the last four overs needing 39. Paul clobbered a Hero Maximum off Chase’s last ball and brought up the 50 partnership, but he picked out Nabi at deep midwicket in the next over. Sherfane Rutherford blasted his second ball for six to dent Kuggeleijn’s figures. The equation seemed to
have swung dramatically in the Zouks favour when Pooran bottom-edged a Williams slower ball onto his stumps, but the Warriors burgled 8 off the last four balls of the 19th including a botched run-out to leave Rutherford on strike and 13 to win off the last over, to be b o w l e d b y H o l d e r. Holder responded magnificently. He flattened Rutherford’s off-stump with a pinpoint yorker, then he had captain Green caught behind, and a bowler who’d
gone for 30 off his first 3 overs sealed the win with 2/2, showing the world why West Indian cricket is so excited about him and giving the Zouks a third straight win ahead of the move to Port-ofSpain. Scores: St Lucia Zouks 144/7 (Chase 66, Nabi 27, Glenn 19; Tahir 3/22, Smith 2/33, Nedd 1/20, Green 1/24) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 134/8 (Pooran 68, Paul 20, Rutherford 15; Kuggeleijn 3/24, Holder 2/32, Williams 2/32, Nabi 1/17) by 10 runs.
Imran Tahir was among the wickets. (CPL T20 Ltd 2020)
Nicholas Pooran scored a responsible halfcentury to lead the Guyana Amazon Warriors. ŠCPL T20/ Getty Images/file photo
Chase too much for Guyana Roston Chase (right) led the Zouks with another important half century. (CPL)
rt o p S
General view as Bayern Munich players celebrate winning the Champions League with the trophy, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Manu Fernandez/Pool via REUTERS)
Bayern edge PSG 1-0 to claim Champions League Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8452, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.