Kaietur News

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Tuesday Edition Vaccinated and NEWS unvaccinated persons p.

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AIETEUR

August 31, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 33

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

urged to safeguard against Delta variant- Emergency Medicine Specialist

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

Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 82,574

Exxon’s unaudited local content bill climbs to $19B p.

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BV man Govt. officials killed still required to over old declare assets grievance - fmr. Integrity Commission chair p.

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Pastry vendor crashes, dies while fleeing from bandits

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Another hospital 12p. Former acting employee remanded Chief Magistrate The protest for stealing COVID-19 dies while awaitingp. continues for change vaccination cards entry at GPHC 6 to the Exxon contract.

No need to rush oil production ...Guyana’s high quality crude will not p.

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become stranded assets - Int’l Analyst @11:00hrs on CRIMES, STARVATION, HARDSHIPS, SUFFERING AND POVERTY ARE Kaieteur Radio ALL ON THE RISE AND THE LEADERS ARE IGNORING THE SIGNS. 99.1/99.5FM

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday August 31, 2021

Vaccinated and unvaccinated urged to safeguard against worrying Delta variant - Emergency Medicine Specialist

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uyana may very w e l l b e experiencing the dreaded 'Delta wave' of the COVID-19 pandemic and, according to Emergency Medicine Specialist, Dr. Zulfikar Bux, both the unvaccinated and vaccinated must take necessary actions

to safeguard themselves.

Dr. Bux, who has had a crucial hand in treating COVID-19 patients, addressed this state of affairs in his most recent column in t h i s n e w s p a p e r. I n highlighting that there has been an upward trend in COVID-19 cases, he noted

that “on August 7, 2021, our seven-day average case numbers were steady at 58 cases daily. As of Saturday, 28th August, 2021, the seven-day average had jumped to 131 cases.”

During the same period outlined, Dr. Bux noted that there was a 24 percent increase in those hospitalised.

Even more worrying was his revelation that “we are seeing patients that are sicker and presenting earlier with moderate to severe forms of the disease.”

But while the unvaccinated are still accounting for the related deaths, based on the doctor's observation, “the vaccinated are presenting for treatment with more serious symptoms than previously.”

While Guyana does not currently have the capacity to test for the Delta variant or any variant for that matter, Dr. Bux is convinced that “the alarm bells are ringing that a new variant is responsible for this new trend.”

His suspicion is linked to international patterns of the disease and for this reason, he insisted that “we cannot ignore the high likelihood of this variant being responsible for the recent change in events.”

What is known about the Delta variant?

First detected back in December 2020 in India, the Delta variant is said to be the most efficient form of the virus. An August 26, 2021 report published by Yale Medicine (a medical group in New Haven, Connecticut, United States) highlighted the rapid spread of the variant in India and Great Britain before reaching the US where it is now said to be the predominant variant.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has described the Delta variant as more transmissible than the common cold and influenza, as well as the viruses that cause smallpox, MERS, SARS, and Ebola—and called it as contagious as chickenpox in an internal document, a copy of which was obtained by

Emergency Medicine Specialist, Dr. Zulfikar Bux and reported on in The New York Times.

The highest spread of cases and severe outcomes is happening in places with low vaccination rates, and virtually all hospitalisations and deaths have been among the unvaccinated, the CDC had noted.

But the CDC released data in July that showed vaccinated people also can transmit the Delta variant, which officials did not believe to be the case with other variants, and which led the agency to make a prompt revision to its masking guidelines, according to the Yale Medicine report.

Experts, Dr. Bux noted, have theorised that in a completely unmitigated environment—where no one is vaccinated or wearing masks—it is estimated that the average person infected with the original coronavirus strain will infect 2.5 other people.

In the same environment, the Delta variant would spread from one person to maybe 3.5 or 4 other people.

Describing this version of the coronavirus as a “beast”, Dr. Bux said that it “runs through populations like a wildfire leaving trails of the (continued on page 10)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 31, 2021

PAGE 03

ExxonMobil's unaudited local content bill climbs to $19B E

xxonMobil Guyana has announced that its local content spending has now moved to $19 billion for the first half of 2021, but has yet again failed to provide a transparent and detailed breakdown of how the money it claims was spent.

The company in a statement yesterday noted vaguely that the hefty $19 billion was spent on more than 750 Guyanese vendors of goods and services ranging from foodstuff to engineering and that has generated, either directly or indirectly, an economic impact of $23.1 billion.

Additionally, it said since 2015, a total of $96.4

billion has been spent directly with Guyanese suppliers.

But with no evidence provided to show exactly how the money was spent, per the terms of the Stabroek Block Agreement with ExxonMobil and its partners, CNOOC and Hess Corporation, Guyana would have no choice but to pay the sum.

And even as the subsidiary gears to hand this bill to Guyana, the government is yet to audit the company's local content bills for 2020 and 2019 which amount to $31.9 billion and $24.3 billion respectively.

As per the PSA, the state has a two-year deadline

within which to audit these costs and if that time elapses, the costs have to be accepted as correct.

It, therefore, means that Guyana has up to the end of 2021 to audit the local content bills for 2019 and up to 2022 to complete the audit for expenditure, which the

correct.

ExxonMobil Guyana said too in its statement that as of June 2021, 2,865 Guyanese were supporting the company's overall activities, representing 53 percent of the total workforce.

It said that its Guyanese

company claims was made in 2020.

But Guyana failed to audit, in a timely manner, the costs the company incurred for 2015 to 2018, said to be $20 billion, and hence those have to be considered as

workforce grew by 38 percent to 2,865 at the end of June 2021 from 2,070 in June 2020 – and includes 568 women.

Local content is the value that an extraction project brings to the local, regional or national economy beyond the resource revenues and this definition is supported by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI).

But the anticorruption watchdog has oftentimes said that a

Govt. officials still required former Integrity to declare assets -Commission chair The Office of the Integrity Commission

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overnment o ff i c i a l s a n d other public officers are still required to declare their assets even if the Integrity Commission is not in operation. This is according to former Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Kumar Doraisami.

Mr. Doraisami was at the time responding to queries about a newspaper advertisement on Sunday which called for all public officials to submit their 2021 declaration of assets and liabilities by August 31, 2021.

The former chairman explained that even though the life of the Integrity Commission expired in

February, the secretariat or office of the commission is still functioning. As such, he noted that as it is required by law, public officials should submit and declare their assets.

“The commission is not working but it is a legal requirement for all public officers to declare their assets annually, they can make submissions to the secretariat until the new commission is in place,” he said.

In the public notice, the secretariat of the integrity commission reminded that all specified persons in public offices are to take note of the outstanding statutory obligations to submit an annual declaration

of their assets and liabilities including those of their spouses and children.

Those required to make submission to the Integrity Commission include the President, all Members of Parliament, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Civil Servants holding office under the Public Service, Judicial and Legal Service, Police Service, Teaching Service and Statutory Authorities' Service Commission, as well as members of the Diplomatic Service and Advisors to the Government.

The notice outlined that persons in public life who fail to submit the declarations to the (continued on page 8)

challenge with local content is that it can open the door for corruption and elite capture of an industry.

It pointed out too that corrupt public officials can position themselves to benefit from oil companies' contracts, and private local companies can partner with oil companies to create a false impression about the contractor's local content efforts.

Because of this, Kaieteur News has long challenged ExxonMobil to provide transparent, detailed breakdowns of how the money it claims was spent but to no avail.

ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge, in the statement, reaffirmed the company's commitment to working collaboratively with the government to support the development of a framework that manages local content in a realistic and sustainable way.

He said, “We are proud to have been able to deliver these local content figures which are a reflection of tangible progress.”

Routledge added that, “further growth is expected and ExxonMobil will continue to work with Guyanese businesses to build local content together.”

With three sanctioned projects in Liza Phase 1, Phase 2 and Payara, and a fourth project, Yellowtail up for approval, the ExxonMobil Guyana President said that “timely approvals and processes” are vital to local content development.

“It is important to identify and invest in successive projects that allow for the expansion of efficient operations to provide sustainable employment opportunities, local business growth, and broader economic development across Guyana,” he added.

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Tuesday August 31, 2021

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

Hats off to Minister Vindhya Persaud Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, is one of a kind, and we hail her today. She stands out from her colleagues, including seniors. For some time now, we have observed her in action, and reported her efforts to the public. It feels good to do so, because there is substance to her actions in the representation of her ministerial portfolio.

Let’s face it: the Human Services and Social Security portfolio is not what would be called the sexiest undertaking around. Its primary focus is providing services, through a range of relief programmes, to a wide variety of citizens. To a considerable extent, they are weaker, or sicker, or poorer, or older, than their fellow citizens in this country. But they need attention and care, they need money and a helping hand for either disability or disaster, for domestic violence or dependency, for old age or the troubles that come from that state in life.

In the ordinary course of life, and its frantic demands and rush, peers don’t have time for those left behind and, many times, even friends and family lose interest and patience to stay the course and grind through the challenges. But this is what Minister Vindhya Persaud has led her team at the Human Services and Social Security Ministry to be about and to deliver on a consistent basis. We get the distinct impression that she cares, which is saying a lot for a minister, any minister from any political party, be it PPP or PNC. It is what comes across in her frequent outreaches across the length and breadth of Guyana.

Minister Persaud’s most recent travels took her to women and girls in Region Two, to further a programme to help females become financial independent, which was piloted in May at Baramita (“More women and girls sign up -As ‘Human Services’ launch WIIN in Region Two”, KN August 29). She wants to reach everyone and give everyone who comes a fair shake, a chance to grapple with this life better equipped.

Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) does just that, and already generated interest, through applications, from 4000 Guyanese women.

But that is not all from Minister Persaud. The nation’s current group of some 65,000 recipients of Old Age Pension have been promised (by the minister, who else?) that they will start collecting their pension books for next year in October. Now, that is serving the people, that is thinking ahead, and planning ahead on delivering what is needed to those who need these things the most. To quote Minister Persaud, “We have been working hard to ensure that our senior citizens are cared for.” Well said, Madam Minister, we believe.

As we consider all this, these constructive initiatives from Minister Persaud, we can’t help thinking how she has reversed roles.

To state in a different way, how she leads the way and sets an example for the leaders in her government, including the President and Vice President, to imitate. She is pacesetter and performer, as well as catering to the needs of those who are major constituencies of her ministerial responsibilities in an honest and dedicated manner.

This minister has a delightful freshness and clean frankness about her, from which her erring leaders can learn.

There is little by way of the guiles and wiles that are practised by those higher up in the political food chain, and this is when both the PPP Government and Coalition Opposition are considered. We are sure she has weaknesses and flaws, but those have not come to light and have not interfered with the works that she and her ministry put out for the benefit of Guyanese.

How we wish that we can say the same things with the political leadership management of our massive oil wealth.

Instead of openness, we have been blighted by darkness.

Rather than cleanness, this country has been cursed by unending dirtiness from one leader after another, and with those in charge now standing out for unequalled ugliness.

There has been crookedness and madness in oil governance.

They all could learn from Minister Vindhya Persaud on how to be different. We salute her.

Government is not doing enough in the Housing Sector, particularly the “Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme” Dear Mr. Editor, I note a release published by the Department of Public Information, published on August 15, 2021, in which the installed regime is seeking to accredit the “Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme,” as their initiative through the Ministry of Housing and Water, the Central Housing and Planning Authority. I wish to state publicly that this is nothing further from the truth.

I wish to set the record straight as it relates to this programme.

The IDB and the PPP/C government in 2012 signed a loan agreement, number 274 1/BL-GY on June 21, 2012 for a sum of US$66.2M. There were several components to the programme, which include the Sheriff/Mandela rehabilitation at a cost of US$42M, the East Bank Berbice road project for US$8M and the remaining balance to be utilised to fund studies for the Wismar Bridge in Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice Region. This was removed subsequently from the IDB portfolio and funding was secured under the Caribbean Development Bank.

From the inception, this project was marred with massive fraud and corruption, which caused the IDB to threaten to pull its entire portfolio from Guyana. When the coalition took office, the project was revisited, reviewed, and continued.

The Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility programme was not initially part of the loan component of the IDB. Notwithstanding, the loan was made possible

because of the Coalition’s government policy to address the housing needs and making housing accessible and affordable to citizens. The total sum secured from the loan to undertake the project is US$34.5M. I must point out that this programme commenced under the then Ministry of Communities, with the department of Central Housing and Planning Authority being the executing agency acting on behalf of the Government of Guyana.

Additionally, the following boundaries have been identified for the project, since they are within the Sheriff-Mandela Road rehabilitation: Georgetown to Grove on the East Bank of Demerara up to La Bonne Intention (LBI) on the East Coast and specific areas in La Parfaite Housing Development (Westminister, Onderneeming, Lust-en-Rust, Recht-Dor-Zee, Parfait Harmony, Phase 2. Note, all areas developed by Central Housing and Planning Authority.

These communities cater for persons to benefit from “CORE HOME SUPPORT.” While ALL Low-Income Housing areas within the project boundary from Georgetown to Grove on the East Bank of Demerara up to La Bonne Intention (LBI) on the East Coast and specific housing areas in La Parfaite Housing Development (Westminister, Onderneeming, Lust-en-Rust, Recht-Dor-Zee, Parfait Harmony, Phase 2, to benefit with “HOME IMPROVEMENT SUBSIDY.” The programme has been divided into two types of

Subsidies: Core Home Support: This allows for one storey concrete building measuring 20’x 20’ with an elevation 3ft from ground level, complete with front and back stairs, louvre windows, electrical wiring and plumbing, including two (2) bedrooms, toilet and bath, septic tank and a basic kitchen sink.

Home Improvement Subsidy: this project is to effect improvement works to existing residential building occupied by Low-Income households at a cost of $500,000.00. With this project, beneficiaries provide all the LABOUR to affect the improvement works.

In 2019, the sum of US$7.5M was expended to upgrade approximately 12km of asphaltic and concrete roads, including upgrade of Community ground in Section C, Sophia and verification exercises commenced in La Parfaite Harmony for subsidies and Core Homes.

I wish to place on record that the Central Housing and Planning Authority staff under the leadership of the Coalition Government worked beyond the call of duty to ensure that all preliminaries were done, and potential beneficiaries were coached and guided accordingly to benefit from the programme.

Mr. Editor, it has been one year since the Installed Regime is in office and is yet to produce to the Guyanese people their plan for the Housing Sector. What we continue to see is the government taking credit for the coalition’s work. I have absolutely no difficulty in the

regime forging ahead with projects or programmes, which they have inherited from the Coalition government, but I do believe that Guyanese should be reminded that these projects and programmes will continue, in the interest of our people and by extension, the country.

In concluding, permit me to share and remind Guyanese of the Coalition’s plan for “Guyana’s decade of development, overcoming crime, disease, ignorance and poverty.” In this plan, the Coalition highlighted its policy on housing between the period 2020-2029, “a roof over every head.” That is, every citizen should enjoy the right to housing. Every home, in turn, should belong to a community in which our citizens can enjoy good health, fresh air and clean water; where they walk the streets free from molestation, benefit from good roads, streetlights and pavements and where their children and have access to a sound education and facilities for play and recreation. The PPPC regime has No Plan nor Vision for the housing sector!

Their past policies have shown that their interest is not to have wholesome communities, but rather “bush lots”, which they continue to practice.

I do hope that those persons who were identified as potential beneficiaries for the projects are not discriminated against and that they are treated fairly and justly.

Yours truly, Ms. Annette Ferguson Member of ParliamentAPNU+AFC

Annette Ferguson should provide to support her claims on Coalition’s housing programme Dear Editor, I have taken note of a letter penned by Annette Ferguson in your publication to which I feel compelled to respond.

The letter holds no merit as it is very clear that Ferguson continues to be disingenuous as she seeks to take credit for initiatives being undertaken in the housing sector by the current administration.

The former Minister speaks of another illusory plan that was never implemented by the APNU+AFC Coalition, quite like their promised good life and decade of development.

There were a lot of diatribes in Ferguson’s letter but perhaps she can state how many new housing schemes were created, the number of homes constructed and occupied, the basic infrastructure for the housing schemes, the geographical spread, and the diverse selection of potential homeowners. I believe that providing this information will give merit to her claims, which should be dismissed until such time as she does so.

In her letter, Ferguson stated, “Every home, in turn, should belong to a community in which our

citizens can enjoy good health, fresh air and clean water; where they walk the streets free from molestation, benefit from good roads, streetlights and pavements and where their children have access to a sound education and facilities for play and recreation.”

But the facts are that the APNU+AFC just completed five years in government. It would be good if Ferguson can therefore identify one such community that they developed along those lines during their time in office.

Additionally, it is important to note that Ferguson sits in the PNC’s leadership. The PNC/

APNU+AFC has been in control of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council for decades.

Therefore, relative to her contention as quoted above, I’m forced to question how come their stewardship of the capital city has not resulted in this?

I end by saying that the former Minister, like her colleagues who now occupy the Opposition, continues to rant and make baseless claims. Her latest offering is another puerile attempt at fraud, as the APNU+AFC is noted for.

Thank you, Thomas Cole

Tuesday August 31, 2021

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

It is too soon, and too risky, It is time that the anti-vaccinated come to their senses or be made to reopen schools now to do so

Dear Editor, The one thing written in stone is that school is reopening. To repeat my position, it is too soon, too risky, possessing too many unknowns. I am firmly against reopening for those reasons at this time. But, reopening it will be, and there is no turning back now, as I can gather from past and recent announcements from the Hon. Minister of Education.

I say she is on the wrong track, going about this the wrong way. The wrong results, the worst of consequences (God forbid) could visit us.

Yet, the minister proceeds without pause, with backing from Cabinet comrades. It is that having taken the plunge from an early hour (months ago), it is full speed ahead. I could have lived with that, but there is no such speed evidenced in what the Minister of Education presented on Friday. There is walking on eggshells, when I examine the numbers and associated percentages of arm’s length, physical reopening combined with the still developing rotational. I looked quickly and converted the number of schools reopening for up close instruction into percentages.

In classroom schooling is scheduled to be 11% (Nursery), 9% (Primary), and the vague, best-to-suffice for the moment ‘several’ whatever that means (Secondary).

I could appreciate slow and careful, a minimalist, approach. But, at those low mudflat, watermark levels, it might have been better not to reopen at all, other than for the senior Forms. That is, Forms 4 and 5 (CSEC) and Form 6 (CAPE) students. It might have been better not to subject the younger children, those closer to 12, and their parents to anxieties over vaccine safety, and exposures.

Since the minister and

ministry decided that reopening is going to happen, and there will be steamrolling of all those who stand in objection, then both minister and ministry had to go the whole hog. I would.

Meaning, be bold and decisive. Having gone so far with a worrying-and opposed-vision, then these lowball percentages speak to the uncertain and the noconfidence building. I detect the tentative and nervous, despite the usual ministerial bluster. For those reopening numbers, it is better to delay a bit, at least, for the rest of this year. This gives the time needed to finalise comprehensive and credible plans, articulate them persuasively, and work tirelessly publicly and behind the scenes to build consensus, admittedly a nonstarter in government circles.

But that is not the PPP way, and the Minister of Education is a noted performer (of a certain kind) in this regard. The preference is to ram reopening down the throats of Guyanese, and go from there. My own position could not be harsher; don’t play these reckless games with the lives of our young children. Don’t play politics with parents and students. If this is another powerplay by the PPP Government, and I interpret it to be so, then this one has already displayed evidence that heavy turbulence is ahead.

As an aside, our infected numbers keep rising, and the not-so-startling development is of a Guyanese passenger to Trinidad testing positive for the Delta variant. This is what is present here, and what the PPP Government is playing with, but at the expense of vulnerable citizens. Currently, I am beginning to ask myself whether the daily pandemic numbers released are not being doctored, meaning, that there is ‘staggering’ to minimise alarm. To manifest

that things are not as bad with the virus in Guyana, as some may be making it out to be, and that the government has its hands firmly on the levers of control.

With rare exception, I have given the Hon. Minister of Health and his team a lot of space to function, without comment, other than the mostly positive. I am hesitant to do so now. As a reminder to all Guyanese-partisans and their opposites, honest citizenswhen the coalition was in power, I took issue with virus statistics being managed by political people, including the then minister. It was troubling then, troubling now. Better to let the Chief Medical Officer take the lead in this situation.

Returning to education and school reopening, the better way was for the minister to work with the union to find common working ground, but that was torpedoed early, with much finger pointing following. And where we are today convinces me that what the minister puts out for reopening is weak and woeful. The risks outweigh benefits. There is not enough of a nucleus to work with justifying back to the physical classroom, and this is making allowance for later incremental numerical improvements. Also, the supplies and guidance given for at home schooling amounts to ‘tek dah and try wid dah’, try fuh manage.’

Despite some ministerial reassurances of the consultation and partnership, I doubt that, since the foundation is simply not present. In-depth parent and ministry sharing just did not happen, as it should have, and this is the end of August.

Clearly, reopening is flimsy and foolish, with the blind leading the frightened.

The Hon. Minister of Education represents both, despite her pretense at being in full command.

Yours truly, GHK Lall

Dear Editor, It is nothing short of remarkable that Guyana has accessed more vaccines, including now, the PfizerBioNTech that has now opened the door to our being able to vaccinate children from ages 12 to 18, than all other Caribbean countries.

In fact, it is nothing short of exceptional, that our Government has made it possible for our country to get ahead of the curve and take us to herd immunity. It is also nothing short of shameful that yet large numbers, almost 30% of our people, are refusing to be vaccinated and organising against mandated

requirements for vaccination.

A shutdown of Region 10 is advertised against mandated vaccination. It is appalling that the Guyana Public Service Union plans to challenge the legality of the lockout of health care workers who are not vaccinated.

We have arrived to the point of 600 Guyanese dead from this Pandemic, but not a single one who has died was fully vaccinated. No one who has been fully vaccinated has died in our country from this dreaded yet conquerable disease.

Are we blind to the lesson to be learnt from the most prominent anti master, Caleb Wallace, in the US and leader of “Defenders against Mandates” has just died from COVID.

PNCR Parliamentarian, Mervyn Williams, is on the verge of losing his life, and others like him, from this Pandemic, having refused to be vaccinated.

Those of our people who continue to refuse to be vaccinated must face the fact that they threaten the vaccinated when are employed alongside of them, that they threaten the lives of those who they sit next to in restaurants, in public transportation and places of entertainment. In Canada, the unvaccinated cannot use any form of public transportation.

It is time that the antivaccinated come to their senses or be made to do so.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

The National Front Alliance is still a part of the APNU+AFC leisure Dear Editor, The National Front Alliance wishes to place on record that contrary to reports being circulated in sections of the media, it has never left the APNU-AFC coalition.

National Front Alliance has a long history of the party’s pursuit for national unity. The party’s success in this regard is known. NFA emerged out of a unity initiative with several other political parties, including the National Democratic Movement, the National Republican Party, Peoples’

Unity Party, Good and Green Guyana, ROAR, Guyana Democratic Party, National Democratic Front, the Peoples’ National Congress, and the Working Peoples’ Alliance.

The NFA has contested national and regional elections both on its own (2001), and as part of a coalition (2006 PNC-1G, and 2011 APNU-AFC).

The NFA has never wavered in its commitment to the noble aims and objectives of the APNU-AFC coalition.

The leadership and members of the NFA firmly

believe that Guyana and its people will benefit from coalition politics.

Hopefully, this letter will serve to dispel the incorrect information that the NFA is no longer a part of the APNUAFC coalition.

Yours truly, Keith Scott, Leader, National Front Alliance.

PAGE 6

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Kaieteur News

Breast grabber’s charge upgraded M&CC commences payment of to murder after victim succumbs workers Alleged “breast grabber” Rochino Maison, 24, yesterday had his attempted murder charge upgraded to a murder charge after the man who he had allegedly chopped succumbed to his injuries.

The now murder accused appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

He was not required to plead to the charge which alleges that on August 2, 2021, at Kara Kara, Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10, he murdered Keno Griffith.

On July 26, 2021, around 17:00hrs. Maison and a female resident of the Kara Kara area had a misunderstanding, during which Maison squeezed her breast and as a result, she spat on him. Maison became annoyed and reportedly threw a bucket of water on the woman. Kaieteur News had reported that it was then that Griffith rushed to the woman’s

Remanded, Rochino Maison aid and an argument ensued between him and Maison.

The argument escalated into a scuffle during which Maison reportedly armed himself with a cutlass which he used to chop Griffith to his arm and head.

Griffith was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex

where he was seen and examined by the doctor but was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). It was reported that moments after the incident, Maison went to the Linden Police Station to report the matter where he was arrested.

The defendant was first placed before City Magistrate, Annette Singh, for the attempted murder of Griffith and Magistrate Singh had remanded him to prison for the offence.

However, while on remand, on August 2, 2021, Griffith succumbed to his injuries at the GPHC. As such, the police had sent the file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C., who recommended that Maison’s charge be upgraded to murder. That was done and Maison was brought before another City Magistrate but this time for the murder of Griffith.

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council has commenced the payment of wages and salaries to all of its workers.

In a statement issued yesterday, Interim Town Clerk, Candace Nelson, noted that the City’s administration is grateful to all of its employees for the patience exhibited during this difficult time of transition at the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.

“It is public knowledge that workers of the Georgetown Municipality are performing their tasks and duties under harsh work conditions. Nevertheless, they remain faithful and committed to their work while facilitating the provision of vital municipal services to local communities within the City. Going forward, the administration does not anticipate any further delays in the payment of workers’ remuneration,” Nelson said in her statement.

The announcement comes days after Nelson announced that

the salaries, which are usually paid by the 26th of each month, would be delayed for several days because of issues relating to the changing of the signatories to the Council’s bank account.

Nelson had warned citizens to brace themselves for the disruption of certain essential municipal services to the Georgetown communities.

Nelson had explained that following her appointment by the Local Government Commission (LGC), she had written to Republic Bank (the institution where the Council has its bank accounts) and notified its management of those changes. In that letter, the Town Clerk requested the necessary and corresponding changes to the signatures of the Council’s accounts.

However, it noted that subsequently, the administration was “informed, informally” that the Mayor, Ubraj Narine, had written to the bank (Republic Bank) and attempted to instruct its management to retain the old signature of Ms. Sherry Jerrick, who has been

Interim Town Clerk, Candace Nelson reverted to her substantive position as Assistant Town Clerk and Mr. John Douglas, City Treasurer (Ag), who is on vacation leave.

As a result, it noted that the new and necessary changes were not reflected in the Council’s accounts.

Nelson had outlined that and consequently the administration could not move forward with the payroll within the agreed time to pay workers of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.

Former acting Chief Magistrate dies while awaiting entry at GPHC Two men are the country’s Former acting Chief Magistrate, Cecil Sullivan, 88, died yesterday afternoon while awaiting entry into the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC’)s COVID-19 triage facility.

The hospital in a statement last evening stated that the former Magistrate was brought to the hospital’s East Street entrance in severe distress. According to the statement, “based on the accounts received from staff members and bystanders, it is apparent that Mr. Sullivan was brought to the hospital’s East Street triage area in severe respiratory distress. Upon arriving at the triage facility, a public security officer accompanied Mr. Sullivan’s relative into the triage area and alerted the medical staff

who upon examination found Mr. Sullivan unresponsive.”

However, according to an eyewitness, who was at the hospital when the former Magistrate’s relative brought him to the New Market Street entrance, he was denied entry after the security personnel was informed that he was COVID-19 positive.

The eyewitness revealed that the relatives were sent to the hospital’s COVID-19 triage facility at the East Street entrance.

“They had the man in the car and when they went to the East Street entrance, they had a lil misunderstanding and the man was in the car for about 15 minutes and when they checked, the man died right in the vehicle,” the eyewitness noted.

This publication then contacted the hospital, who

latest COVID-19 fatalities

Former acting Chief Magistrate, Cecil Sullivan. confirmed the incident but at that time could not provide any other information.

Subsequently, the hospital issued a press statement in which sympathy was extended to the relatives of the deceased. It went on to note that an investigation into Sullivan’s death will be conducted.

Four confess to beating Berbice Pandit influence of alcohol became to death annoyed and attacked him.

Four individuals have confessed to the beating to death of Rishi Bharrat, 60, a joiner and pandit of Crabwood Creek, Upper Corentyne, Berbice. This is according to Regional Police Commander, Jairam Ramlakhan.

Kaieteur News was told that while three persons who were in custody had confessed, a fourth person, who was arrested yesterday, also confessed.

Rishi Bharrat was beaten to death in front of his home Saturday night by a group of drunken men. He had

Pandit Rishi Bharrat confronted them about their indecent language and unmannerly behaviour but the men who were all under the

They reportedly armed themselves with pieces of wood and battered Bharrat until he was unconscious.

Shortly after, his family had rushed him to the Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police, the following day had arrested several persons.

Meanwhile, the Commander and his team of senior officers yesterday visited the home of the deceased and paid their respects to the family while assuring them that justice will be served.

The Ministry of Health yesterday reported that two men, who contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died while receiving t r e a t m ent at a medical facility. As a result of this, the country’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 613.

According to the

Ministry, the latest fatalities are those of a 47-year-old from Region One (BarimaWaini) and a 47-year-old from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

Further, the Ministry via its daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 80 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to

25,403.

Presently, there are 31 patients who are admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 106 persons are in institutional isolation, 1,740 in home isolation and nine in institutional isolation.

To date, a total of 22,913 persons who tested positive for the virus have recovered.

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Tuesday August 31, 2021

Kaieteur News

An International Analyst said, “Guyana is walking a slippery slope with failure to determine the final price tag for the gas project.”

We know what the Int'l Analyst doesn't know. When our political leaders are not interested in the final price tag for the gas project (or any costly project), this is a sign that they give themselves room to pad that price tag for their own benefit and that of cronies.

Political leaders are part of the conspiracies that add more money to projects to fill their pockets and rob Guyanese. This is why there is neither hurry nor energy to get to the final price tag for the gas project from now.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday August 31, 2021

No need to rush production T

he stranded asset phenomenon is one that plagues many countries across the globe. It occurs when assets have suffered from unanticipated or premature write-downs, devaluations, or conversion to liabilities.

With the global energy transition intensifying since the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been calls by some for Guyana to rush its oil production while there is still a demand or market for it, otherwise, its oil assets could become stranded.

Upon noting those comments, an international analyst has offered his perspective on the matter, stating that there is no need for Guyana to rush its oil production in the Stabroek Block since it has light sweet crude, low production costs, and high turnover for same.

Making this position known was Co-Director of Energy Practice at a regional consultancy firm, America's Market Intelligence (AMI), Arthur Deakin.

During an interview on Kaieteur Radio's, Guyana's Oil and You Programme last

...Guyana's high quality crude will not become stranded assets - Int'l Analyst

Co-Director of Energy Practice, Arthur Deakin Tuesday, Deakin highlighted that development of the country's oil and gas sector in a sustainable way will also lend to it not being left with stranded oil assets.

“Carbon capturing, utilisation and storage ( C C U S ) t e c h n o l o g y, renewable energy to power the floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO), using its forest as a carbon sink -- all of these things are going to be very beneficial for the

overall emissions that Guyana produced from its oil and gas sector,” Deakin explained.

He continued that it also helps that Guyana has light sweet crude that is easier refined. “It is very highly demanded because of the International Maritime Organization's new regulations and also the fact that Guyana has very fast drilling rates, high recovery from its wells, low operation costs. Basically, it is a very attractive jurisdiction,” he pointed out.

The Co-Director went on to refer to Guyana's neighbour to the west, Venezuela, which is not the beneficiary of fortunes similar to Guyana's. In fact, this Spanish-speaking country produces a heavier crude which costs more to drill out of the earth. Further to this, Venezuela for the past five years has been caught in

an ongoing socio-economic and political crisis that began in Venezuela during the presidency of Hugo Chávez and has continued since. It has been marked by hyperinflation, escalating starvation, disease, crime, and mortality rates, resulting in massive emigration from the country.

“There is no investor guarantee in Venezuela,” Deakin pointed out, “so as long as Guyana can develop its sustainable side to the oil and gas development and

keep a regulatory framework that is attractive to its investors and provides some guarantees, I don't see it being stranded asset anytime soon, if ever, because oil is still going to be produced at least for our lifetime. So, there is plenty of time for Guyana's oil to come out of the ground, to be honest.”

Earlier this year, Deakin told Kaieteur News that Guyana's high-quality crude is what allowed the country to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. The International

Analyst reminded that since Guyana's crude is lower in sulfur content, it enjoys high global demand, particularly in China.

“Both Brazil and Guyana that have this type of oil, in addition to their low breakeven costs, lower than US$40 a barrel. Guyana I think is US$35 for Phase One of exploration and that price is expected to go down to US$25 in Phase Two of exploration... The panorama is positive,” Deakin had related.

'Pastry man' crashes, dies while fleeing from bandits

P

olice are investigating the circumstances that led to the death of 39-nine-year-old Dexter Prince who died during an armed robbery on the Essequibo Coast last Sunday night. Kaieteur News was informed that Prince, who is attached to a bakery in the city, was selling pastries, along with a colleague, on the Essequibo Coast at the time of his death.

According to police reports, the robbery occurred around 18:45hrs at Pam John's shop located at Church Street, Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast. At the time of the robbery, Prince was the driver of a minibus, GWW 1783, in which Decklon Lees was the salesman.

According to police, after the men completed their sales, two armed men, who were also masked, pounced on them.

According to police, one of the gunmen pointed a handgun at the salesman who was reportedly seated inside the bus near a window. The men, who were just outside the window where the salesman was seated, demanded cash and fired three rounds when the salesman protested.

Kaieteur News understands that at this point, the salesman then instructed the driver to “drive fast”. As the men attempted to flee the scene, Prince reportedly lost control of

Dead: Dexter Prince the minibus and slammed into a nearby fence. The bandits, who had followed the bus, entered it and relieved the salesman of some $70,000.

The driver, who was unconscious after the accident, was transported to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police told Kaieteur News that three 9mm spent shells were recovered but there were no visible wounds on the man's body.

The body presently awaits a post-mortem examination in an effort to ascertain the cause of death.

Govt. officials still required...

From page 3 secretariat will be subject to Section 22 of the Integrity Commission's Act. The las t functioning boar d of th e I n tegrity Commission expired on February 21, 2021.

However, with consultation between the President and Leader of the Opposition lagging, the appointment of a new board in the near future seems unlikely.

L a s t M a r c h , M i n i s t e r o f Governance and

Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, told the National Assembly that President Irfaan Ali has already commenced the process of ensuring the Commission's Board is reconstituted in the shortest possible time.

However, she explained that should the President fail to find favour in the recommendations made by Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, he can go ahead and constitute a board of persons he reposes confidence in.

At the interim, a total of $62.9M has been allocated for the Commission.

Teixeira said the monies allocated in the absence of a Board are to allow for the staff to be paid and the continued functioning of the Commission's [office].

“It has expanded staff and investigators and they continue to function with reports received last year until the new board comes in… I don't anticipate that this will be a long time,” she had said.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 31, 2021

PAGE 09

Riggers have no shame!

I

t i s incomprehensible that those behind the rigging of the elections of March 2, 2020 could have believed that such conduct would have been tolerated in t h e 2 1 s t c e n t u r y. T h e international community and the pro-democratic forces in Guyana made it clear from the 5th March, 2020 that such conduct would not be acceptable and would be resisted.

The attempt was resisted and quelled. It took one decision from the State Department to make those who planned to benefit from the rigging realise that their actions would not be countenanced.

The riggers had anticipated that their shenanigans during the Recount would have found some traction. As such even after it became clear that they had been exposed, they insisted that CARICOM was the most credible interlocutor.

The hope was that CARICOM would have paved the way to deem the elections flawed and this allowed for some arrangement in which the riggers would hold on to political office. It did not go to plan because CARICOM was never going to be part of the attempt to undermine democracy in the 21 s t century.

The Report of the CARICOM Recount team indicated that though there were some defects, it did not

Dem

boys seh...

T

ief man does use de element of surprise and secrecy. Dem does catch yuh off guard and come and steal from yuh. Or dem does come in secrecy when yuh sleeping and carry away yuh stuff.

But in Guyana, we gat some barefaced thieves… in de guvament. Dem calling yuh and telling yuh how dem gan tief from yuh, wah dem gan tief and when dem gan carry out de operation.

For a couple ah months now, de guvament tiefing away de reporters of de Waterfall newspaper. Is part of a big plan, including libel

find anything which would render the recount and by extension the casting of the ballot on March 2 so grievously deficient as to have thwarted the will of the people or the results from reflecting that will.

The expectations of the APNU+AFC were thus dashed. What they had hoped for did not materialise and the report of the team left them not only in a quandary but facing embarrassment and disgrace.

The team reported that the behaviour of some of the (APNU+AFC) party agents was totally unacceptable and not only cheapened the dignity of the recount exercise but it contributed immensely to the atmosphere of intimidation experienced by some of the GECOM staff.

The Report observed that “The numerous requests for information on serial numbers were so bizarre, that on one observed occasion an APNU+AFC agent was prepared to query serial numbers on the OLE in a work station where no one had voted. This was observed in Region Five, box 5157, where there was a single elector on the list, yet the APNU+AFC agent raised five serial numbers.”

The team described much of these actions as a fishing expedition. It said that the “the net was cast extremely wide in the hope of at least making a small catch and at times the anticipated harvest

ended in slim pickings.”

Having failed with its fishing expedition, the riggers set about to try to delay the inevitable declaration of the recount results. But this too floundered. This left the riggers deflated, and so for almost one year after the swearing-in of the new President the cheerleaders of the riggers buried their shame by remaining relatively silent.

But with time, shame tends to act less as a restraint.

And what we are witnessing is a resurgence of the same shamelessness which characterised the attempt to rig the elections.

But this is the 21 st century and the world has gone beyond riggers. Those who believed that they could turn back history and restore electoral rigging are living in some bubble which is not of the present era. The age of electoral rigging has passed and those who do not know that are living in a dream world of their own making.

But the shame has not been totally eradicated with the passage of time and so there is no attempt to try to blame members of the diplomatic community for the principled stance which was taken in response to the attempted rigging.

The Ambassador of the United States is being targeted and there have been calls from the disgraced losers for her to be removed.

But like the shenanigans during the Recount, these

Tief man announcing when he coming! suits, fuh bruk de back of de waterfall paper.

Dem using taxpayers monies and dangling fat salaries in front some ah dem reporters. And some ah dem reporters wah never see money like dat run and gone.

Dem looking at wah dem getting but dem nah realise de price dem gat fuh pay.

Dem losing dem independence.

Dem nah realise dat dem independence gan get compromise when dem tun Information Offica. Is sheer one-sided information dem gan gat to provide and it gan rest pon dem conscience when dem get old like dem

boys. But is suh when yuh want do things like de Clint Eastwood movie, “For A few Dollars More.”

Now de guvament more bareface. Dem nah stealing yuh away in secrecy. Dem mekkin it known dat dem out fuh tek yuh reporters. And dem only doing dat to de Waterfall paper because dem wan bruk Glenn Lall back.

Dem nah stealing reporter f r o m d e H a r d Ti m e s newspaper.

But it gan tek more dan dem fuh bruk Glenn Lall back. Nuff try before and nuff fail.

Talk half and nah sell yuh soul fuh a few dollars more!

calls will also be seen as another fishing expedition to see who can be made scapegoat to cover over the shame of the riggers.

It was a palpable miscalculation on the part of the masterminds of the rigging to believe that the international community would have fallen victim to their devious plot to sabotage electoral democracy. When that failed an attempt was made to claim that the Russians were behind the attempt. And this

complaint was directed at the United States in the hope that it would receive some traction. A firm was even hired to lobby the US government.

How ironic therefore that now the very forces to which the riggers were appealing are now being blamed for the rigging. How pathetic it is now that the United States is being accused of being complicit in installing the PPP/C regime when all along the charges about Russian

interference were being made in the hope that the United States would find some credibility in these unsubstantiated charges.

Riggers have no shame, not in their actions or their double standards.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday August 31, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Indians must always respond to the disrespect they receive in this country P

eople keep sending me clips about what Mark Benschop says about me on his radio programme. In time, my analysis will come and they will come with tsunamic force especially done for African Guyanese to learn.

For now, this column is about what Adam Harris said about secret money I am receiving from the PPP on Benschop's programme and Benschop's eyes opened wide as if he discovered something about me.

Let us contextualise the Benschop/Harris discussion on me in relation to IndoGuyanese who criticise the PNC. I voted for David Granger's coalition so he

could become president. I spoke at 35 campaign meetings in 2015. In the same 2015 election, Benschop ran against Mr. Granger for the presidency. I never accused Benschop of taking a money do so.

The next year, 2016, I voted for the party of the husband of Tabitha SaraboHalley in the local government election (LGE).

In that very LGE in 2016, Benschop ran against the party of David Granger. I never accused Benschop of taking money to do so. No Indian activist who didn't like Benschop made such an allegation One day, I am going to ask Amanza Walton Desir, and Christopher Jones who I

know well, and a few other African leaders like them to meet me and give me their word on their children that what I tell them would be treated sensitively.

They will then know how African people are being deceived by their own. Let's get back to the disrespect Indians receive in their own country.

During the election fiasco, Dr. Melissa Ifill and I took different positions. It was during those five months of election drama that Dr. Ifill became Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

In our exchange, I never even insinuated that Dr. Ifill was taking the position she did to get the job she now got. But she boldly stated

that my position during the election drama was done so I could get my earnings. No Indian activist accused Dr. Ifill of using her politics to get her Deputy ViceChancellor job.

Dominic Gaskin in the vortex of the election campaign denounced the election results using the exclamation, “I don't buy Mingo's numbers, who vex, vex.” To date, not one African Guyanese, not even one, has insinuated that Gaskin was paid for his stance.

Adam Harris and Kaieteur News parted company in April 2020 during the election drama in which as editor, he took a different attitude to the publisher. From April to this date, I have never uttered a word of criticism of Harris or alluded to any money he took for his stance. No Indian has criticised Adam.

Who are the persons that have been cited for taking money based on their politics? First, it was Charrandass Persaud. He was crucified for his vote in the no-confidence motion.

Chronicle columnist, Barrington Braithwaite, took license to write that it was Charran's gambling habit that led to the financial inducement.

Frederick Kissoon Now last week, Harris told Benschop that I am taking money from the PPP. Adam knows that I would not sue for libel. This society and Guyanese wherever they are should know if I was the suing kind over the past 20 years those sick things written and spoken about me would have brought me hundreds of millions. I probably would have bankrupted the Guyana Times.

So here is my belief. I would never think for a moment that Dominic Gaskin, Dr. Ifill and Adam Harris adopted their perspective on the election crisis because they had something waiting for them and they got it.

All three did what humans do. They had either a racial, ideological or

political reason for shaping their attitude. People do that all the time.

I took my own direction based on my beliefs driven by conscience and love of c o u n t r y. I b e l i e v e Charran behaved identical to me. But both of us have been labelled as money-takers.

To think that not one soul from the African world, whether in the diaspora or in Guyana, has penned or spoken a few words that people have their views on things, why money is the explanation?

I end with a question for all humans who take an interest in Guyanese developments. From October 1992 to May 2015, the PPP was in power and my stance was a dissenting one on governance.

Why in those long years I wasn't offered a bribe to shut my mouth? In the space of 19 months – March 2020 August 2021, I have become a recipient of PPP money?

Why does the PPP need me so much? Secondly, if I am indispensible to the PPP then I can't be stupid not to ask for a humongous sum of money.

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

Vaccinated and unvaccinated urged to safeguard against...

From page 2 dead in its tracks.”

“We have seen what this efficient beast did in countries like India, and the US Hospitals become overwhelmed and death rates increase further because some infected patients did not have effective access to appropriate medical care. If we are not careful and we let our guards down, the beast can repeat such devastations in Guyana,” Dr. Bux noted.

Layers of protection needed Based on experiences from other countries, he added, this wave can last from one to three months and will depend largely on the local vaccine uptake and

behavioural patterns.

“Our worst seven-day average death rate hovered around four deaths per day.

If we assume similar numbers of deaths with this wave, then there is a possibility of us losing between 200 to 400 of our fellow Guyanese within the next two to three months,” said Dr. Bux, as he stressed “we need to get our act together and take actions that will prepare ourselves to survive this wave.”

According to the doctor, t o c o m b a t t h i s “heartbreaking” situation effectively, “your best investment for the incoming wave is to ensure that you are fully vaccinated. If you do not believe, Google 'vaccines and Delta variant

deaths' and you will be swamped with articles from many reputable sites showing that the overwhelming majority of deaths are coming from the unvaccinated population.”

Given the highly infectious nature of the Delta variant, Dr. Bux noted that in addition to being vaccinated, “you can add more layers of protection to your armour by continuing to wear masks and avoid sharing closed and poorly ventilated spaces with others.”

This, he said, can be complemented by ensuring that “your immune system is optimised by exercising, eating healthy, avoiding stress when possible and your vitamin uptake is optimal.”

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Another hospital employee remanded for stealing COVID-19 vaccination cards Y

esterday, another person was remanded for allegedly stealing COVID-19 vaccination cards. The defendant is Mark Samuels, 30, a driver for the Ministry of Health (MOH) who was charged in 2018 for a million-dollar fuel fraud.

Samuels of 276 South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus. He denied the charge which alleges that between August 22, 2021 and August 23, 2021, at Brickdam, Georgetown, he broke and entered the vaccination centre of the MOH and stole 66 COVID19 vaccination cards valued $1,014.

Attorney-at-law Dexter Smart, who is representing Samuels, told the court that his client maintains his innocence

and added that the alleged stolen cards were not found on his client nor were they found in his home.

According to the lawyer, the defendant is not a flight risk and will abide with any conditions seen fit by the court if placed on bail.

However, Police P r o s e c u t o r, A n n a l i s a Brummell, objected to bail being granted to Samuels, citing the serious nature of the offence and due to the fact that the defendant was caught on CCTV video footage, showing him entering the premises.

The court also heard that the defendant was previously charged with rape and is currently awaiting a High Court trial.

As such, he was remanded to prison by Principal Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus and the matter was adjourned to September 27, 2021.

Avinash Ramaherwar who was remanded last week.

Mark Samuels who was remanded yesterday.

According to reports, in December 2018, Samuels was charged for fraudulently obtaining a little over $1 million in diesel from the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil). That charge had

alleged that between December 12, 2017 and January 7, 2018, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, Samuels obtained $1,054,789 in diesel from GuyOil on Regent Street by

presenting a cheque in the name of Clyde Fowler, knowing same to be forged.

On Friday, August 30, 2021, an employee attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital was remanded to prison by Magistrate, Zameena Ali-Seepaul, after he was charged for stealing 12 COVID-19 booklets belonging to the MOH. The defendant, Avinash Ramaherwar, 27, appeared in the Leonora Magistrate's Court where he was not required to plead to the charges of simple larceny and forgery.

This publication had reported that Ramaherwar, a bus driver and two other employees were arrested after they were found with four blank COVID-19 booklets, 17-stamped sick leave forms, a stethoscope, and other items in their possession.

According to initial reports from the police, on the day in question, a female nurse of the hospital was on duty when two of the suspects approached her with their COVID-19 booklets asking for it to be stamped.

They further informed her that a third employee was waiting to take them to the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital.

The nurse told police that when she checked the booklets, she observed that they were blank. Knowing that the suspects were n o t supposed to have the books, she immediately brought it to her supervisor's attention who then reported it to the Vr e e d - e n - H o o p P o l i c e Station.

Following the investigation into the matter, Ramaherwar was the only one to be charged after being placed before the court.

BV man killed over old grievance A

decision to take a late afternoon stroll on Sunday turned out to be a deadly one for 27-year-old Alwyn Eastman, after he was stabbed to death, reportedly over an old grievance, by a man who eyewitnesses described as his “enemy.”

Eastman, a resident of 65 Q u a m i n a R o a d , Beterverwagting (BV), East Coast Demerara (ECD), was stabbed around 18:30hrs. along the BV Access Road.

Investigators believe that the enemy who killed Eastman might be Llamont Orin Beveny, 29, of Sideline Dam, BV, and are hunting for him.

Kaieteur News understands that Eastman had decided to take a late afternoon stroll that evening with his cousin. While they were walking along the BV Access Road, he spotted his assailant. The two, according residents from the area, became enemies

Investigators reported that Eastman's enemy got up out the trench and reportedly ran behind Eastman, reportedly as he was walking away, and stabbed him with a knife.

According to a police release, Eastman was stabbed twice, once in the region of his heart and another to his abdomen.

After Eastman collapsed, his enemy reportedly ran

way. Police were summoned soon after and the injured Eastman was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). He, however, succumbed on the way.

Car runs overboard after driver's slipper falls off Stabbed to death by his “enemy,” Alwyn Eastman following a dispute they had some time back. Since then they would always end up in “cuss outs” and sometimes fights whenever they run into each other.

Sunday afternoon was one such encounter between the two.

According to police, they exchanged a few words with each other and it led to a

Wanted by police in connection with Eastman's murder. scuffle.

Eastman had reportedly overpowered his enemy and pushed him into a trench.

Some eyewitnesses had intervened and told them to “relax and calm their heads.”

While Eastman probably heeded the advice, as he had turned around to walk away, the enemy launched an attack that cost Eastman his life.

T

his white Toyota Premio took a plunge into the waterway near the Ruimveldt, Georgetown koker around 17:30hrs. yesterday after its driver's slipper reportedly fell off.

The driver had just finished purchasing a bag of

ice from the Single Seafood establishment located behind the Ruimveldt Police Station and was about to head home.

He told this publication that he had started his car's engine and while turning out from the establishment one of his slippers fell off. The

man said that he tried to “shake it back on” while the car was still moving, but his right foot accidently pressed the accelerator sending the car into the waterway instead.

Luckily no one, i n c l u d i n g t h e d r i v e r, sustained any injuries.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 31, 2021

PAGE 13

National Parks Commission workers picket over management's “disrespectful attitude”

S

everal workers attached to the National Parks Commission (NPC), along with officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), yesterday morning staged a picketing exercise outside of the office of the NPC located at the National Park. The picketing exercise, according to a GAWU release, was in response to the disrespect of the Commission's Management to the Union.

The GAWU had last week, through its Field Officer, sought a meeting with the Commission to discuss certain matters.

Though such meetings are provided for within the context of the Recognition a n d Av o i d a n c e a n d Settlement of Disputes Agreement between the GAWU and the NPC, the Commission had bluntly refused to engage the union's officer. But according to GAWU, both parties must respect fully and abide with the relevant clauses of the

The picketing exercise yesterday.

a g r e e m e n t . M o r e o v e r, GAWU noted in its release that “it is the first time that the union has encountered such attitude from the NPC and was taken aback by the swift refusal to engage the GAWU which has shared generally cordial relations with the Commission.”

Another major bone of contention revolves around the departure from engagements between the Union's Branch and the Commission's Management.

For several years now, the

Branch, following its monthly meeting, would engage the Commission. The meeting allowed for an exchange of information between the workers/union and the management and helped to improve the relations while encouraging collaboration.

Following the July 2021 Branch meeting, the union, as has been the norm, wrote the Management seeking a meeting to be convened to facilitate the usual discussions. Through its

letter, the Branch was seeking to engage the Management regarding 12 matters, according to GAWU. The union's letter was greeted with an eerie silence from the Commission. The GAWU, by letter of August 05, 2021, had reminded the

Commission of the request to meet. But “to date, our letter has not benefitted from the dignity of an acknowledgement,” GAWU noted.

The workers also expressed serious concerns regarding the quality of Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE) being provided to them. Through the Collective Labour Agreement, GAWU added, the Management is required to provide certain PPEs to workers. However, in recent times, the quality of those PPEs has declined. “The (continued on page 15)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday August 31, 2021

WWF launches campaign website for freshwater protection in Guyana

WWF-Guianas to help protect Guyana's freshwater. (Photo Credit: ZachMontes)

W

WF-Guianas yesterday announced, via a press release, that it has launched its Sweet Water campaign for freshwater protection in Guyana. The campaign website, sweetwater.gy, explains the urgent need for freshwater protection.

It also offers persons the opportunity to support the campaign by making a virtual pledge in support of using smart approaches to infrastructural, economic or agricultural development,

while protecting nature.

The campaign, according to the release, “is supported by our partner organisations in Guyana: South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) and Policy Forum Guyana.

The availability, quality and flow of freshwater is becoming increasingly unpredictable as it is threatened by climate change and poorly planned developmental activities.

The Sweetwater campaign is aimed at the protection of freshwater in Guyana and Suriname under

the theme 'Together for Clean Rivers'.”

The main component of the campaign, WWF explained, focuses on bringing awareness to the importance of taking a building with nature approach and developing nature-based solutions to infrastructural development around our critical freshwater ecosystems, particularly in the Rupununi region. Notably, it also highlights the long-term benefits to humans and the environment if people

embrace nature-based solutions to development.

“The intention is to use the knowledge that we gather to help inform how and where development progresses, with the interest to avoid sensitive areas and areas where it does not make sense to invest money in if every wet season it is expected to flood,” said Aiesha Williams, WWF-Guianas Country Manager, Guyana.

The SRDC's component of the campaign focuses on the four important rivers ecosystems in the South

Rupununi by advocating for the protection of the headwaters of the South Rupununi at the national level and to raise awareness of the importance of headwaters at the local and national level.

The work of Policy Forum within the campaign concentrates on combating river pollution and aims to increase awareness to develop a realistic sense of the scope of the task of rehabilitating polluted rivers. In the final stages of the awareness campaign, in D e c e m b e r, W W F w i l l

engage government and other key stakeholders in high-level discussions with the aim of securing a commitment to developing new policies and regulations towards the protection and maintenance of sensitive areas where water flows.

This will present WWF with the opportunity to have government and other players reassess current approaches to industrial and agricultural activities, roads construction in remote areas, and housing development along rivers and in flood plains.

Death Announcement The family of

Abhai Kumar Datadin announces with great sorrow th his passing on August 28 , 2021 in Toronto Canada.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Due to COVID -19 restrictions there will be no wake.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Appeal Court reduces 65-year jail sentence to 27 years

T

he Appeal Court has reduced the 65 years jail sentence imposed on Lakeraj Fredericks for the 2011 murder of his brother-in-law, Clifton Bonus. The sentence was commuted to 27 years following a ruling by Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards and Justices of Appeal, Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory.

The Appeal Court Judges also ordered that time be deducted from Fredericks sentences based on the time he had spent in prison pending his conviction and sentence.

In addition to the 27 years sentence, Fredericks is also serving a 22-year sentence for the June 11, 2011 killing of Vernon Romaldo. He was handed that sentence after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter before Justice Sandil Kissoon in the High Court in 2018.

A year prior to this, a 12member jury convicted Fredericks for the June 4, 2011 murder of Bonus and he was sentenced to 65 years in prison by Justice Navindra Singh. In his appeal, Fredericks argued that his conviction cannot stand given the evidence adduced during the trial. He contended too that the sentence was excessive and sought to have it set aside or reversed.

D u r in g th e ap p eal, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Diana Kaulesar-O'Brien, represented the State, while attorney-at-law, Rachael Bakker represented Fredericks.

The final arguments for the appeal were heard by

Lakeraj Fredericks Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, and Justices of Appeal, Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory last October.

According to reports, Bonus' body was found buried in a shallow grave at Old England backdam, Linden, days after he was reported missing.

Bonus, called “Mutts”, was shot twice in the head with a .32 pistol before he was buried almost three feet deep beneath groves of cannabis.

It was reported that Fredericks and the victim had an argument over some missing marijuana seeds, moments before he (Bonus) was shot and killed.

Fredericks was subsequently arrested. At his High Court trial, Fredericks had told the Court that he was sorry for what had happened.

He stated that he had no choice that night and that he had bought rum which he consumed with the deceased.

Further, he had admitted that he was not in the right frame of mind.

National Parks Commission workers picket over...

From page 13 workers lamented that defective PPEs are inhibiting them from completing their tasks in a safe manner.

Additionally, the quality puts them at risk.

This represents a serious breach of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Responsibly, the Branch had sought to discuss same with the Management, but the good intentions have been a victim of the management's seeming policy to ignore the workers

and their Union,” GAWU pointed out.

The union said that it is nonetheless hopeful that better sense would prevail, and that the management would revert to the practices, which could lead to good worker/ management relations.

For its part, the GAWU said that it remains willing and ready to work collaboratively with the management of the NPC in a respectful and dignified manner in the advancement of the Commission.

PAGE 15

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Tuesday August 31, 2021

Kaieteur News

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PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 32 Public Road Grove/ F&L Hardware. Contact:6649701/642-6056.

VACANCY SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#656-0110.

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Flooded streets are pictured after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana yesterday. REUTERS/Marco Bello NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Ida, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, knocked out power to over 1 million homes in Louisiana yesterday and prompted rescue operati o n s i n flooded communities around New Orleans as the weakening storm churned northward.

I d a m a d e landfall on Sunday as a Category 4 hurricane, 16 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina, evoking memories of a disaster that killed more than 1,800 people in 2005 and devastated New Orleans.

By late yesterday afternoon, after dumping a deluge of rain in Louisiana and killing at least two people, Ida was downgraded to a tropical depression as its eye crawled through neighbouring Mississippi.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said more fatalities were expected in his state.

“We didn’t have another Katrina and that is something that we should be grateful for.

However, the impact is absolutely significant,” New

Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell told a news conference.

City officials vowed to comb every neighbourhood block by block to assess damage and aid the afflicted, seeking to reassure a majority Black city that felt abandoned by the U.S. government after Katrina.

“No one will be left out,” Cantrell said.

President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in the state, and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) sent 3,600 of its personnel and 3.4 million meals to the stormdevastated area.

Climate change is fueling deadly and disastrous weather across the globe, including stronger and more damaging hurricanes.

The National Guard said it has dispatched thousands of personnel as well as vehicles that can navigate flooded roads, boats and 34 helicopters to rescue people stranded by flooding.

Local officials and “Cajun Navy” disaster relief volunteers sped to the small

city of Houma, where volunteers searched for people who were reported trapped by floodwaters.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto said he was coordinating a flotilla on Monday to rescue an estimated 400 people in Lafitte, a fishing community about 25 miles (40 km) south of New Orleans.

Another 40 people rode out the storm and appeared to be safe on the tiny barrier island of Grand Isle, just a few miles from where Ida made landfall at maximum strength on Sunday, Lopinto told WWL Radio.

A helicopter on a fly-over found people on Grand Isle flashing thumbs-up signs, Lopinto said.

Coast Guard aerial video showed widespread flooding on the island and significant roof damage to many homes.

The town of LaPlace, on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain, also sustained damage, with homes crushed by trees or surrounded by several feet of water. People waded through floodwaters to check on their loved ones.

Taliban says U.S. drone strike in Kabul also killed civilians - Chinese state TV BEIJING - (Reuters) - A Taliban spokesman said a U.S. drone strike targeting a suspected suicide bomber in Kabul on Sunday resulted in civilian casualties, and condemned the United States for failing to inform the Taliban before ordering the strike.Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahidtold China’s state television CGTN on Monday that seven people were killed in the drone attack, describing the U.S. action on foreign soil as unlawful.

“If there was any potential threat in

Afghanistan, it should have been reported to us, not an arbitrary attack that has resulted in civilian casualties,” Mujahid said in a written response to CGTN. Pentagon officials said the suicide car bomber had been preparing to attack the airport in Kabul, where U.S. troops were in the final stages of a withdrawal from Afghanistan, on behalf of ISIS-K, a local affiliate of Islamic State that is an enemy of both the West and the Taliban.

U.S. Central Command said it was investigating

reports of civilian casualties from Sunday’s drone strike.

“We know that there were substantial and powerful subsequent explosions resulting from the destruction of the vehicle, indicating a large amount of explosive material inside that may have caused additional casualties,” it said.

Mujahid had issued a similar condemnation of a U.S. drone strike on Saturday that killed two Islamic State militants in the eastern province of Nangarhar. He said two women and a child were wounded in that attack.

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Pakistan to allow 25% capacity crowds for New Zealand series - Only spectators who have been fully vaccinated will be allowed to attend the games in Rawalpindi and Lahore ESPNcricinfo - Pakistan has decided to allow spectators up to 25% capacity for the home series against New Zealand in Rawalpindi and Lahore next month. Only spectators who have been fully vaccinated, however, will be permitted to attend.

The three ODIs, all taking place in Rawalpindi, will be open to 4500 spectators each.

The five T20Is, all at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, will accommodate 5500 spectators each.

“Spectators are the essence of any sport event as they create an ambience and atmosphere for the players to excel, perform and enjoy. In this background, we are grateful to the NCOC for allowing the PCB to invite 25 per cent crowds for the eight matches,” PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said in a statement. “I am sure following the NCOC decision, unvaccinated cricket followers will expedite their vaccination process so that they can witness the first

series on home soil between the two sides since 2003.

“This will be an opportunity for the spectators to not only enjoy some quality cricket in the season-opening series but also support and back players from either side as the ODIs count towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification, while the T20Is will lead into the ICC T20 World Cup.” New Zealand will arrive in Islamabad on September 11 as Pakistan strive to host

Tuesday August 31, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may be feeling emotionally good, but unfortunately the people around you don't seem to share this feeling.

Your first instinct may be to sacrifice yourself in order to make the path easier for the next guy.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) There's an advantage to joining people in a social or family situation if possible, Taurus. Your role today is to bridge communication gaps.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Calm down and get organized before you spread your ideas to others, Gemini. This is especially true when it comes to love and romance. As soon as this topic comes up, you tense up and erupt inappropriately.

CANCER(June21–July22) You've reached a climactic time of year regarding love and romance. This is the time when your dream finally materializes, or you realize that all your efforts are failures.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your emotions are solid, and you feel good, Leo. At the same time, you may be tongue-tied. You're having a hard time expressing your true feelings in the way you'd like to, especially when it comes to love and romance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Matters of love and romance should be going well, but try not to overdo it. Be careful of getting so caught up in the fantasy of romance that you fail to take care of the details.

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Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is one of those days when the road forks in several directions and you must decide which way to go, Libra. This usually isn't hard.

You just go with the flow.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your plane is fueled, your bags packed, and you have clearance from the control tower, but for some reason, you just can't seem to get off the ground.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) The person who is most organized and stable will win the race, so let it be you. Be careful, though. Other people may try to distract you from your work.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Your brain is buzzing in high gear . Anyone else would get dizzy trying to process even a fraction of the things that filter through your head in one day. The key for you is to not speak every single thought aloud but to keep your processing internal.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may have a hard time relating to people in social situations. Perhaps you're frustrated at hearing the same shallow conversations over and over.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Things have probably been going well lately in the love and romance department.

You find that communication has improved, and the witty banter is invigorating and educational.

more international teams at home. After nearly a decade of almost complete isolation, a trickle of foreign tours has seen international cricket gradually return to the country.

A successful New Zealand tour will further strengthen Pakistan’s case to host all international cricket at home. Visits from South Africa, West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and a World XI side have gone off without a hitch over the past four years.

The PCB is also set to host Australia - who have not played in Pakistan since 1999 - and are keen to host ICC events in the 2024-2031 cycle.

Several New Zealand first team players, including skipper Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Lockie Ferguson will be unavailable owing to their involvement in the IPL, which clashes with part of the tour.

Tom Latham will captain the visitors in Williamson’s absence. Pakistan have not yet named their squad for the series.

Earlier this year, plans to allow crowds at the PSL in March had to be scrapped after a surge in Covid-19 cases in Pakistan and biobubble breaches led to the postponement of the league.

Coronavirus cases in Pakistan remain relatively high, with the country undergoing a fourth wave of infections.

However, vaccination rates have sped up, with every adult eligible to receive one.

CPL match fixtures Tuesday to Thursday at Warner Park Tue 31 August 2021match 9 Trinbago Knight Riders v Saint Lucia Kings 10:00am Behind Closed Doors Tue 31 August 2021match 10 Barbados Royals v Jamaica Tallawahs 07:00pm Buy Tickets Wed 01 September 2021match 11 Trinbago Knight Riders v Guyana Amazon Warriors 10:00am Behind Closed Doors Wed 01 September 2021match 12 Jamaica Tallawahs v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 07:00pm Buy Tickets Thu 02 September 2021match 13 Saint Lucia Kings v Guyana Amazon Warriors 10:00am Behind Closed Doors Thu 02 September 2021match 14 St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Barbados Royals 07:00pm Buy Tickets Sat 04 September 2021match 15 Saint Lucia Kings v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 10:00am Sat 04 September 2021match 16 Guyana Amazon Warriors v Barbados Royals 02:30 pm

GFCA to hold AGM on Sunday The membership of the Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA) will convene this Sunday at the Guyana Football Federation, National Training Centre at Providence for the entity’s Annual General Meeting.

Top of the agenda would be the election of office bearers and it is expected that Sampson Gilbert will be retained as the Association President since there has only been one slate proposed.

Meeting time is 13:00hrs.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Former tennis player Billie Jean King speaks as she is inducted for the second time into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, this time as a member of the Original 9, in Newport, Rhode Island, U.S., July 17, 2021.

(REUTERS/ Brian Snyder)

King lauds Osaka for mental health stand, calls it ‘fantastic progress’ (Reuters) ennis great Billie Jean King has praised Naomi Osaka for speaking out on mental health issues and her stand against racial injustice.

Japan’s Osaka withdrew from this year’s French Open after being fined and threatened with expulsion for refusing to do media duties, which she said had contributed to the depression issues she had struggled with for years.

The 23-year-old, a fourtimes Grand Slam champion, also pulled out of Wimbledon, leading to a broader conversation about mental health in sport.

Osaka was joined by King, mercurial Australian Nick Kyrgios and former American player Mardy Fish for a discussion hosted by Racquet Magazine on the eve of the U.S. Open.

“Everyone loves you guys. They listen to you guys, and I think it’s great when you talk and talk about your feelings.

Kids need that,” King, a leading figure in the

T

campaign for gender equality in tennis, told Osaka.

“When I was outed in ’81 for being gay, I lost everything in 24 hours. You guys can talk about these things and you’re celebrated.

Other people have the same issues. But we couldn’t talk about it the way you get to.

“Every time I go to any place now I have to talk about mental health. Why? Because you guys talked about it. That’s fantastic progress.”

The 77-year-old has in the past likened Osaka’s offcourt stance to that of the Original Nine, a group of players led by King who fought tirelessly to start a professional women’s tennis tour, which led to the creation of the WTA in 1973.

Osaka was lauded for supporting the “Black Lives Matter” campaign as she highlighted racial injustice by wearing different face masks at her 2020 U.S. Open matches bearing the names of African Americans who died in recent years.

“After my first Slam, I

was supposed to be the good girl,” Osaka said. “But now that I’m talking about stuff that bothers me, I think it’s confusing a lot of people. I honestly don’t know what people think about me.”

In a social media post on Sunday, Osaka said she intends to celebrate her own achievements more and will not worry about the expectations others place on her as she prepares to begin her U.S. Open title defence.

Kyrgios, who has been punished by authorities for his on-court behaviour, said he did not feel the media cared about players’ wellbeing.

But King, who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, said the sport’s finiancial strength would not have been possible without the support of the press.

“In our generation we played for $14 a day and we played for more than ourselves,” she said. “ We o n l y h a d t h e traditional media. So if we don’t get them to tell our story then we wouldn’t have what we have today.”

Naomi Osaka (JPN) reacts during a match against Jil Teichmann (SUI) during the Western and Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. (Susan MullaneUSA TODAY Sports)

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Formula One to review points rule after Belgian GP farce

L

O N D O N , (Reuters) Formula One will review the rules on how long a race needs to run before points can be awarded after bad weather turned Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix into a three-lap farce with no overtaking allowed.

McLaren Racing head Zak Brown told Reuters on Monday he had spoken to Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali after the rainswept race at SpaFrancorchamps and there would be further discussions this week with F1, teams and the governing FIA. “I spoke with Stefano last night. He’s very upset by what happened, he knows the outcome wasn’t right and he’s going to get everyone together next week and he’s going to tackle this issue,” said the American.

“What I always tell people on the race team is mistakes are okay, fix them and don’t make the same one twice. That’s what we need to do now.

“We need to figure out what is the minimum allowance of a race. Is it 25%? And there needs to be some racing.”

Formula One’s sporting regulations say half-points can be awarded “if the leader has completed more than two laps but less than 75% of the original race distance”.

Sunday’s race was the shortest ever, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen taking the win after three laps behind the safety car and drivers trundling around in heavy spray.

Domenicali said afterwards that the outcome had not been dictated by commercial considerations and the need to fulfil broadcast contracts, as some

McLaren Chief Executive Officer Zak Brown arrives at the circuit ahead of the Grand Prix. (REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed) had suggested.

Several drivers said even half-points should not have been awarded. Mercedes’s seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton called it a farce and said fans should get their money back.

“If there were actually no race laps, no competition, why should points be given or any result be given?” asked Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Brown said the sport needed to be prepared for every scenario and also had to make amends to fans who waited for hours in the cold and wet without seeing any F1 cars turn a wheel in anger.

While everyone understood safety was paramount and the weather could not be controlled, Brown said the lack of a clear Plan B hurt.

Such a backup might mean being able to postpone the race to the following day or rip up the television schedules and bring it forward.

“What’s clear is we

weren’t as a sport prepared... we need to quickly figure out a plan for the future and also to address what happened,” he said, comparing the situation to a fire breaking out at a school or workplace.

“You can’t control the fire but you have a fire drill so you get everyone out safely. We hadn’t rehearsed the fire drill. We had a fire, we didn’t create the fire but we didn’t have a fire drill so it wasn’t a good exit.”

Brown defended race director Michael Masi, saying he could only go by the rules.

“He wasn’t given any other choices but to try and get the race in. He didn’t have any other alternative solutions,” said the American. “I don’t think we went out with the intention of doing three laps and calling it a race.

“Because there was no plan B, that was the best Michael was able to do within the rules he was given.”

GNDF extends condolences to McPherson family

T

he Guyana N a t i o n a l Dominoes Federation has extended condolences to the family and friends of the late former dominoes player Wendell McPherson.

McPherson, who was also involved in the powerlifting fraternity, passed away recently.

A release from the

GNDF stated that McPherson was instrumental in the formation of the Guyana Dominoes Association and the Dominoes Federation.

“McPherson had formed a Dominoes team called ‘MEAN MACHINE’ in 1975 and under his stewardship the team became dominant as the West Indies under Clive

Lloyd,” the release stated.

McPherson was always willing to render assistance to young athletes and was very humble in performing whatever duties he took on especially in the sporting fraternity. Guyana has lost a giant in the weight lifting and dominoes fraternity and the GNDF pray that God gives his family and friends health and strength.”

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

Stephens, Keys have practice VMFA facilitate Kids Outreach plans wrecked by US Open match Programme in Albouystown

on Sunday last

D

Sloane Stephens, of the United States, right, hugs Madison Keys, of the United States, after winning their first-round match of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) NEW YORK (AP) — Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys are close friends who last week were supposed to be practice partners.

Once the U.S. Open draw was unveiled, those plans were scrapped.

The Americans were drawn to face each other in the first round, a rematch of Stephens’ victory in the 2017 final.

“I was like, ‘Oh, my God,’” Stephens said. “So, it’s quite annoying. But, again, obviously Maddie is like my best friend on tour, so it’s unfortunate.”

Stephens came out on the winning side again, beating Keys 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7) in the opening match of the tournament in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Keys said she had a feeling she and Stephens would be paired in the first round. She played much better than in their final, when Stephens routed her 63, 6-0.

This time, neither player was even seeded for their match that took 2 hours, 10 minutes. “It seems like it was a hundred years ago, not just four,” Keys said. “Yeah, the world is obviously a completely different place now as far as regular life goes. But then also with tennis, a lot has changed.

“I think Sloane and I

have had some massive ups since then and we have also had some downs, but I think today’s match showed we still both really have a high level of tennis left.”

FEELING FINE Carla Suárez Navarro couldn’t get too upset about a first-round loss in the U.S. Open. Not when this time last year, she didn’t know if she’d even have the chance to play again.

Suárez Navarro, who returned to the tour earlier this year after treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, was beaten by No. 26 seed Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-4.

The Spaniard said afterward it was her last singles match and that she was leaving happily.

“I lost, but this year for me was a gift, you know,” she said. “Last year on these dates, I don’t know if I can be here one more time or not, and I’m here.”

She revealed her diagnosis last September and said she would undergo six months of chemotherapy.

She returned from her treatment in time for the French Open, where she lost in the first round.

She lost again in the first round at Wimbledon before winning a round at the Olympics.

Once ranked as high as No. 6, Suárez Navarro said she would consider playing

if asked to compete for Spain in the Billie Jean King Cup finals in November.

“I’m happy with the person and the player I have been during all these years,” she said.

COVID CONCERN Dan Evans had a headache during his match Monday, something he couldn’t recall having before.

The No. 24 seed hopes it was just the heat and his conditioning, not any lingering effects of the coronavirus.

Whatever it was, Evans fought through it to beat Thiago Monteiro 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1.

The British player reached the third round of Wimbledon but then tested positive for COVID-19 and had to miss the Olympics. He didn’t return to the tour until Washington earlier this month and had only one victory since.

“It’s just like an injury,” Evans said. “It grinds you to a halt.”

He said he didn’t have any shortness of breath Monday and felt pretty good at the end of his match, so was optimistic his problems weren’t related to his illness.

“I’m hoping obviously for me it’s not the lasting effects and I’m just not very fit at the moment,” Evans said.

ozens of youths in the Albouystown area were on Sunday last beneficiaries of an introduction to the beautiful game of football, facilitated by the Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA) in collaboration with a number of sponsors.

The activity was aimed at giving less fortunate kids the opportunity to experience the game in a professional atmosphere amongst qualified coaches; Albouystown being the first community to benefit from the VMFA initiative.

Mills informed that the activity was a success with many potential players being identified. Their information was documented and there would be follow ups as well as referrals to clubs so that their individual skills can be honed to the benefit of the nation, ultimately.

The former National Player, Mills further informed that almost all of the 53 kids attending are not part of a club; many of their parents stood alongside the road at the Tarmac to observe the sessions, some even assisting in various ways.

One of the Coaches attached to the VMFA, Delon Williams, a former resident of

Albouystown said that he was elated to be part of the activity and to be able to do something that he did not experience whilst growing up in the area.

Coach Williams elaborates: “It’s always someone in the area who had some sort of idea of the game that used to try with us. So over the years I’ve always wanted to give them a feel of being amongst professionals and there was no better way to do that than by taking the professionals to them through their Vurlon Mills Football Academy.

I think we achieved 95% of what we set out to do with the programme and that was a plus for us Coaches. The children were disciplined and receptive through the entire programme and all left with a smile on their faces asking when are we coming back to the community.”

Most of the equipment utilised for the programme was handed over to the individual that oversees the kids of the community, Mr. Zebalan.

Sunday’s event was able to be a success as a result of a number of entities and individuals contributing. These include The Fernandes Family, GFF President Mr. Wayne Forde, Mr. Godfrey Proctor (CEO Idea Graphics and Design), Colours Boutique, The Whites Family, Sherwin Liverpool, Shawnette Yokum, Roma Samaroo and Sue Bell.

Castrol face off with Achievers tonight at 19:30hrs DVA A Division league

The DVA A division league continues tonight with Strikers vs Achievers.

The Demerara Volleyball A s s o c i a t i o n ( D VA ) A Division league continues tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Homestretch Avenue where Castrol Strikers will match skills with Young Achievers from 19:30hrs for the top spot in the league.

Castrol Strikers will be looking to maintain their winning momentum against t h e u n d e f e a t e d Yo u n g Achievers that are top of the table with six points.

Although Castrol’s first win was last Friday, their straight set victory allowed them to pick up five points and be

positioned second on the points table, while Eagles languish at the bottom with three points.

During Friday’s match, Castrol Strikers dominated the Eagles in the first set by a margin of 25-19, and continued with their aggression to win the second set 25-2. Strikers were down by seven points in the third set but they overcame that deficit to eventually win the third set 25-22, gaining two bonus points in the process.

The DVA A division league comprises three of the best teams in Guyana competing over a two-month

period. Games will be played every Tuesday and Friday night from 19:30hrs. All the games are livestreamed via the Guyana Volleyball F e d e r a t i o n ’s ( G V F ) Facebook page.

The teams that are participating are Young Achievers Volleyball Club, Eagles Volleyball Club and Castrol Strikers Volleyball Club. The DVA is working in collaboration with the GVF to foster volleyball development and promote the sport to all parts of Guyana and this tournament is the first step on a long journey ahead.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

We didn’t execute well with the ball - GAW skipper Pooran

C

aptain of the Guyana Amazon W a r r i o r s Nicholas Pooran said they didn’t execute well with the ball in their six-wicket defeat on Sunday night to St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots as the Hero Caribbean Premier League continued in Basseterre. Speaking after the game, Pooran said they fell short by some 10 runs and credited the Patriots for a good chase.

“We fell short by 10 to 15 runs, Patriots chased well.

We just had to stick to the plans and bowl the ball into the wicket, we gave away a lot of free hits at crucial stages and we just didnt execute as a team,” he said.

Pooran stated that they were a bit stubborn as a bowling group.

“We had to make the batsmen hit into the breeze

and we didn’t. We were a bit stuborn as a bowling group, we have some work to do and to talk about how we can get better as a team,” he noted The skipper credited opener Mohammad Hafeez and Vice Captain Shimron Hetmyer on their 101 second-wicket stand. “The wicket has been tough so far and I am really pleased with the way they performed, unfortunately they didn’t bat out the 20 overs, but they did well and that’s something that we can learn from.”

Hafeez topscored with 70, while Hetmyer struck 52.

Meanwhile, Captain of the Patriots Dwayne Bravo was pleased with the win and the crowd support. “It’s a great feeling to see the fans back in the stadium and it’s good for us as players. With a victory like this they give us belief as a group,” he said.

Bravo lauded his bowlers for their efforts. “Hafeez and Hetty played very well and our bowlers did well to pull it back. For me it was just encouraging the guys,” he stated. Sherfane Rutherford made 58 not out and Bravo commended Sherfane Rutherford for his 58 not out.

“These guys have a have a lot of talent. I played with Sherfane in T10 and i saw what he did for Guyana a couple of years so its about guidance, giving them opportunities. Sherfane is easily up there with Pooran and Hetty and we can’t afford to loose him.”

The tournament continues today with St. Lucia Zouks playing Trinbago Knight Riders at 10:00hrs and Barbados Royals facing Jamaica Tallawahs at 19:00hrs.

(Zaheer Mohamed)

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Fast bowlers disappointing says responsibility as GAW Manager VC- Hetty’s is showing in his batting

By Sean Devers After three matches in the ninth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League three Guyanese occupy the top three batting spots.

However, the leading run-scorer with 125 runs at an average of 62.50, is former Guyana Amazon Warriors (GWA) all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford playing in his debut season for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots who have won all three of their matches including twice against the GWA. The other two are former GWA captain, Pakistani Mohammed Hafeez (116 runs Ave 58.00) and GAW’s Vice Captain Shimron Hetymer (110 runs Ave 36.66), while no other

games. According to Omar Khan, who is the longest serving Manager and has been with the GAW since the tournament was inaugurated in 2013, the team has settled in well in St Kitts.

“As you know bubble life is not easy but as professionals representing Guyana we are committed to doing well under the circumstances,” informed Khan yesterday.

The Guyanese franchise has lost both of their games against the Patriots after defeating four-times Champions Trinbago Knight Riders.

And Khan says the GAW is placed fourth behind Patriots, Jamaica Tallawahs and TKR, because of the

Mohammed Hafeez (Getty images)

spinners Tahir, Hafeez and Nedd has been good,” informed the Trinidadian Manager. Khan said he is pleased with Hetymer’s batting. “He has taken responsibility as the vicecaptain and his batting is showing this,” Khan added.

Khan believes that the GAW, who have reached five of eight finals but is yet to win a title, will need to do the right things more consistently if they are to get their title hopes back on track.

“The weather here is hot and sunny. We have played all day matches so far and it’s pretty humid and hot. The ground conditions are good.

We are proud to represent Guyana and we need the

Imran Tahir (Getty images)

Sookdeo scores 111 in OSCL 20-over tournament Shimron Hetmer (Getty images)

Omar Khan

Bobby Parasnauth Av i s n a s h S o o k d e o churned out a magnificent all-round performance to inspire Mercenary to a resounding 177-run win over Essequibo Coast Cricket Club on Saturday in one of the latest round matches in 2021 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) 20over Regular Season tournament.

The right-handed Sookdeo slammed a brilliant 111 as Mercenary tallied up a formidable 226-7 from the 20-overs and he then

Avinash Sookdeo returned to grab 4-15 from 2.3 overs as Essequibo Coast was all out for 49 in the 12th over.

The Canada-based Guyanese all-rounder Sookdeo got support from another Guyanese-born Avish Rukhram who made 24, while there was a healthy contribution of 43 extras at Ashtonbee Park facility in Scarborough, Toronto.

Nicolas Sanicharran snatched two wickets for 20 runs from three overs, while Devanand Ramsawak

collected two wickets also for 21 runs from his maximum four overs, delivering for the Cinderella County boys.

When Essequibo Coast batted, Ron Etwaroo and former national youth player Devon Ramnauth made 13 and 10 respectively to be only batsmen with doublefigures. Apart from Sookdeo’s show, a veteran softball player Bobby Parasnauth claimed 4-13 from four overs to be the other outstanding bowler.

batsman has 100 runs.

Chanderpaul Hemraj with 66 runs from three innings is the only other GAW’s batsman with 50 runs so far. Afghanistan and GAW’s leg-spinner Imran Tahir is fourth on the Wickettakers list with 5 scalps at an economy rate of 5.83 and just one wicket less than the top three bowlers.

Pacers Romario Shepherd (3-15 from 3 overs), Oden Smith (3-57 from 8.2) and Naveen UlHaq (3-113 from 11) are the other GAW bowlers with more than one wicket.

The GAW, with two losses from three games and have just two points, have managed scores 166-3, 1468 & 142-7 off their 20 overs respectively, while the Dwayne Bravo led Patriots, is the only unbeaten team with six points from three

inconsistent performances of the team thus far.

In their three matches GWA has not managed a single half-century opening stand with the 47 between Hafeez and Hemraj being their best effort.

“It is a concern (the opening partnerships) but we are confident that Hemraj will give us a big score soon.

He is looking good and just got to carry on,” Khan said c o n f i d e n t l y. A l t h o u g h Romario Shepherd has 3-15 from three overs at an economy of 5.00, Nial Smith conceded 55 runs from his four overs in his CPL debut, while Ul Haq has given away 113 runs from his 11 overs.

“The faster bowlers have been disappointing. Too much inconsistent in lines and lengths. The Coaching staff will continue to work on getting this right.

The

positive support of all our fans,” concluded Khan.

After a rest day yesterday, the tournament resumes today with St Lucia King playing TKR from 10:00AM before defending champions Barbados Royals face-off with the Tallawahs in the evening game.

The Nicholas Pooran GAW play their next game tomorrow when they battle TKR at 10:00AM before facing St Lucia Kings on Thursday from 10:00 AM. The GAW then oppose the Barbados Royalson Saturday from 2:30 PM. After a two-day break GAW will come up against the Royals on Tuesday September 7 in their first night game which starts at 7:00 PM. The final is scheduled for September 15, two days before the resumption of the IPL.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 31, 2021

PAGE 23

Adrian Gonsalves retains presidency of Timehri Panthers FC The leading club under the umbrella of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Timehri Panthers Football Club (TPFC) collectively retained Adrian Gonsalves as their club President following their Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday last at the Hyde Park, Community Centre located at the Timehri Red Ground.

Gonsalves, under whose leadership the club has risen to new heights and has become the trend setting club in the EBFA was handed another two years to further shape its destiny. Also reelected were Vice PresidentClayton A.D Lambert, Secretary-Ms. Iyodele Hamilton, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer-Ms. Paulette Bruce and Committee Member-Mr. Colin David.

The new faces on the executive committee are Treasurer- Ms. Ann Gonsalves along with Committee Members-Ms. Tamica Harris, Mr. Monty Junior-Walcott and Mr. Tywell Lovell who is the youngest executive member ever at 17 years-old.

The club has informed that both Lovell and 24 year-

Timehri Panthers President, Adrian Gonsalves (6th right) is flanked by fellow executive members and EBFA’s Kevin Anthony (2nd left) and Walter Scott at left. old Junior Walcott will be championing the cause of the youths at the highest decision making level outside of the AGM and General Council.

President Gonsalves

offered a brief comment following his re-election: “I am pleased to see that with four women and two youths under the age of 25, the new body is well represented in terms of gender and age. The

few years that we have resuscitated the club has borne lots of fruits and we intend to continue along the pathway. We will continue to empower our players and work along with all entities

that can enhance this objective including the EBFA and the GFF. Covid-19 has had its challenges but we will rebound and continue to build this club and grow

from strength to strength.”

Observing the AGM and overseeing the elections were EBFA President Mr. Kevin Anthony and Executive Member, Mr. Walter Scott.

GCA contributes to Agricola Cricket club MYO beat Agricola in practice match

GCA President Neil Barry talks to the Agricola youths.

Dillion Ramsaroop made 53 for MYO on Sunday.

By Sean Devers G C A’s C r i c k e t development committee on Sunday donated cricket gear to Agricola Positive Foundation (APF) to assist the team in preparing for upcoming GCA youth competitions.

This presentation was done during a practice game held between the APF club a n d M u s l i m Yo u t h Organisation (MYO) at the MYO ground.

The 40-over U-19 practice match which was reduced to 34 overs due to rain was played between

Positive Foundation Agricola Cricket Club and MYO. The host elected to bat and led by an entertaining 53 with eight fours and six by the left handed Dillion Ramsaroop and 34 with seven boundaries from Saeed Sattaur, reached 152-8 as Extras contributed 23.

Bowling for Agricola pacer Neil Hutton captured 4-13 and the pint sized 14year-old medium pacer Jermaine Fyfee took 2-25.

Pacers Shawn Thompson and Joel Gilkes along with leg-spinner Andel

Manoharlall took one wicket each.

Agricola were all out for 145 to lose by seven runs despite a solid start from Andel Manoharlall (5) and Adam Wilson (20) who put together of 38 in four overs with Wilson being the aggressor and reached the small boundary four times.

Guest player Stephon Sankar batting at number 10, top score with 33, decorated

with five boundaries which included two sixes, while Emanuel Lewis, with a quick-fire 22 and Thierry Moore reached the boundary thrice in a cameo 15.

Bowling for MYO, pacer Sattaur took 4-26 and Offspinner Daniel Persaud took 3-10.

This was the first ‘hard ball’ match for the Agricola youths after the GCA’s CDC, headed by former National

batsmen Mark Harper and President Neil Barry along with TSC first division allrounder Shaun Massiah travelled to Agricola.

They worked with those committed and discipline youths and their President Stacy Cuffy and the other members of their Board.

Agricola Cricket club is set to make their U-17 and U19 Cricket debuts in the G C A’s y o u t h C r i c k e t

Competitions which starts shortly pending approval from the Covid-19 Task Force.

Stacy Cuffy – President, Tiffany Barry – Secretary, Danette Richie – Treasurer, Tanya Alexander - Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer, Kevion Gomes - Public Relations Officer are the Office bearers of a club located in the last Village in Georgetown heading up the East Bank.