Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Monday December 16, 2019

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

EDITORIAL

A different kind of schooling Long ago stories, chuckled at patronizingly today by many of the succeeding parental set, capture and convey the dread of children who observed teachers conversing with parents. This was even when memory searches failed to turn up any incidents of incriminating misconduct. The graying ancients long for a return and the benefits of those hard, rewarding times. Teachers need parents; students need a certain kind of parent; and schools and the national education system need everyone. It must be those overlapping, self-reinforcing partnerships or the pall of failure and nothing that follows in life. Now this brings us, Guyanese educators, Guyanese academic administrators, and Guyanese parents and students-to the wonderful example of Success Academy in New York City. There are many lessons that could be gained by Guyanese students and families, especially the poor and struggling ones, and those yearning and dedicated to overcoming the many deficits of their tough situations. Author Robert Pondiscio in his new book, “How the Other Half Learns: Equality, Excellence, and the Battle over School Choice” tells the demanding and inspiring story of the culture cultivated by the Success Academy in the hardscrabble, crime ridden, corridor that is the Bronx, New York. Several excerpts should help in laying out the Success Academy story with its intensities and hard-driving strategies. A warning is necessary: the sensitive and fastidiously correct should pause before venturing farther. On the other hand, those parents keenly interested in giving their children the winning hand of an unmatchable boost should follow along closely. From the very first day, the tone is set and in no uncertain terms. One principal greeted parents with, “It’s not Burger King. You can’t have it your own way” and by insisting to parents in a pre-enrollment meeting that: “It’s all or nothing. Nothing is optional.” Meaning that all is mandatory and not for discussion. Try telling that to some Guyanese parents. Test readying is grueling, a continuing grind, so much so that author Pondiscio observed, “one student vomit (sic) all over his desk during the last practice exam.” On the other hand, all the application, discipline and hard work pay off through spectacular results. The numbers tell their sweet story of how these low-income, low to no pedigree families master the challenges and measure up very well against the best in New York City with its publicschool population of over a million students. “Of 7,405 Success Academy kids in grades 3 to 8 who took the exams, 99% tested proficient or higher in math, 90% in English. By contrast, in schools run by the city Department of Education, 46% of students passed math, and 47% English.” The students at Success Academy did better than their peers from more affluent communities, such as Westchester and Scarsdale. Affluent means many things: more money, more access to more tools, more facilities from the ground up, and every advantage in such wide-ranging areas as: crime, social services, quality of life indices, and a whole host of others. A reasonable question is: what is it that the Success team (students, institution, and parents) do differently and which make it stand out and stand highly recognized? In the words of Mr. Pondiscio, as articulated to the New York Post, “They do it by starting with a very exacting, demanding school culture that parents sign up for…” The writer came well-equipped for the task, as he was a former public-school teacher in the sprawling New York City system; he received high-level clearance to spend”hundreds of hours observing classrooms, as well as faculty and parent meetings.” From these came appreciation for the school’s promise that “kids will learn to think critically, get prepped for college, and never fall through the cracks.” All three

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

Natural gas - the resource we may have to forego DEAR EDITOR, An article in KN, captioned, “ Oil company ready to talk natural gas...Local leaders without an inclusive plan - PSC”, may not be entirely truthful from the perspective of the oil company. Given that Exxon is here for the oil - gas becomes secondary and no assessment of the amount and quality of the gas naturally dissolved in the oil has been done. The crude in Liza field is considered sweet because it contains less than 0.5 sulphur, making it highly probably that the dissolved gas from the crude oil at the wells head will be sweet gascontaining less than 100ppm of Hydrogen sulphide. Hydrogen sulphide is the souring agent in natural gas. Exxon would be reinjecting gas to pressurise the reservoir to aid extraction of

the crude because the use of sea water for that purpose can cause souring of the crude (increase of the sulphur content) because of microbes present in sea water. The reinjected gas could be harvested at a later date. Piping any extra gas not used on the FPSO and for pressurising the reservoir to the shore of Guyana would be a costly operation because of corrosion of pipes from the inside by hydrogen sulphide and sea water on the outside. Moreover, any natural gas piped to land will require a processing plant to clean it up, making it fit for commercial purposes. It would take a huge investment to lay 100 miles of pipeline under water to shore and for a processing plant. Where is the market for natural gas in this area? We are probably 300,000

households using less than 20 lbs of pressurised methane gas per month. That might not be enough to maintain a 100 miles of corroding pipes. I am not aware of any plant aboard the FPSO to process natural gas and liquify to sell anywhere. Oil is the prize sought by Exxon. Exxon will not invest in gas from the Stabroek Block - you can take that to the bank! By virtue of our PSA with Exxon, we are already heavily indebted with precontract and other costs leading to first oil. Given the dynamics of transporting, processing and marketing of natural gas and no huge market in close proximity to the Liza field, commercial venture in gas from the Liza field is not, in my opinion, economically viable even if Exxon gives up the gas it will not be using for free on the

Liza field. Maybe the saying that, “you cannot have two sweet (oil and gas) out of one joint (Liza)”, will ring true for us. The article stated that there is a “decision taken that natural gas will not be flared” (burn out) on the Liza Destiny. That may well be changed. The alternative to flaring is releasing into the atmosphere or reinjecting into the reservoir. Too much pressure in the reservoir is conducive to well blow out. Flaring natural gas produces carbon dioxide. Natural gas is mainly methane - methane released in the atmosphere is 23 times more polluting than carbon dioxide. Flaring is more friendly to the environment. Let’s be realistic! Natural gas from our continental shelf is a resource we may have to forego. Rudolph Singh

Department of Energy on the process employed for direct sale of the first 3 lifts of Guyana’s portion of first crude Georgetown, Guyana – (December 15, 2019): The Department of Energy (DoE) wishes to provide clarity and to debunk any uninformed comments and conspiracy theories circulating about the upcoming short-term arrangements for the direct sale of the first three lifts of Guyana’s portion of first oil from the Liza 1 programme. Two phases of this process are envisaged. The short-term first phase beginning this week will focus on setting national benchmarks for selling Guyana’s portion of its crude in the future. Selected companies are invited to bid to buy Guyana’s product in the very short-term. These companies are required to make offers from which Guyana’s team will choose the most acceptable proposals. The process currently underway is a direct sale to the companies and not the procurement

of any marketing services. The second phase involving a public request for proposals (RFP), for marketing services for Guyana’s crude is in final stages of preparation currently. This strategy was employed upon serious consideration of advice given by an international team external to the DoE. The advisory team consists of the following persons, a Crude Marketing Specialist, a Commercial Specialist and an external Legal Advisor, among others. The logic is that given Guyana’s inexperience and the impending early date of the first lifts, an introduction phase of the grade was more advantageous to Guyana at this time. Here are some of the key considerations around this decision: 1) The full extent of the quality of crude is not yet known. It usually takes several lifts to determine crude only

elements-thinking critically, preparing for the tertiary level, and saving from self– are noteworthy for their lesser, than greater, presence in this country. The emphasis is lopsidedly concentrated more on memorization and regurgitation than the interrogation. This is true even within the non-public schools locally. Moreover, there is a nonnegotiable aspect of Success Academy’s system: discipline is a key component. GUYANESE PARENTS LISTEN UP! It is rigorous and unrelenting: “We do not tolerate hitting, biting, kicking, fighting, anything… and we suspend kindergartners if they do that. If you have a problem with that, this might not be the school for you.” That was no nonsense principal, Eva Reeder emphasizing what she called “a marriage: between the school and parents”. Some marriage that is; and one that contrasts heavily with some of the ugliness that has seeped into several schools here, where parents are reported either to abuse teachers or to attack them physically. This happened just this past week, and for which there can be NO JUSTIFICATION. Separately, parents through a contract executed with the school, commit to getting their children to school on time all

quality and the cost of refining it. Guyana is embarking on its very first new crude introduction into the market of the Liza grade. The quality of the crude and its yield have not yet been tested within a refinery system. This interim arrangement is put in place just for this period. 2) While the testing of the first crude lifted is taking place, the true economics or refined cost per barrel of the particular grade (in our case LIZA) is still being calculated. For a limited time only, the DoE has been advised, by the Crude Marketing Specialist, that in order to take Guyana through this limited short-term phase, a few high quality IOCs with a global refining footprint and integrated oil value chains would be best given an opportunity to support the DoE during (Continued on page 6)

the time, and to ensure that they are clothed from head to toe in the school’s uniform. Parents have to read six books aloud each week to their younger children; ensure they are up on their spelling and math; and be prepared to receive and respond to a call, sometimes every night. Calls have a sequence: home phone, cellphone next, then a text or email or another call. This is rarely done here; nothing of the kind in either frequency or volume. Reports are of teachers being too tough, sometimes abusive, other times lacking in empathy. Parents interested in giving their children a chance stay the course, if only to offer them the opportunity, skills, and self-confidence to compete at the next level, and “closing the ultimate Achievement gap in American life.” Guyanese adults–from officials to parents to teachers–should find much that challenge and reveal how much more can be done here by all. We, the adults, need to rethink and restructure so much of how we go about things in Guyana in education. Attitudes, mindsets, and efforts represent a good start. Remember, and as touted far and loud, education is the passport to the future. To be clear: it is the future itself.

Monday December 16, 2019

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The world has become a small Criteria for Evaluating place for the corrupt Politicians and Political Parties DEAR EDITOR, The unusual request for a “Face-to-Face Meeting” with those interested in selling Guyana’s oil and Granger’s minions could be a brazen attempt to foster corruption. Brokers do not need to sit in a room with Ministers to offer and agree on terms. The offer of Bribes and Kickbacks by way of phone, text or otherwise recordable media is foolhardy, and can only be done safely in hushed whispers face-to-face. There can be no other reason for the demand for a meeting with brokers in Guyana. None! Contrary to local news reports, it was not Bloomberg that broke the news of this attempt at an unusual arrangement, Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, informed the media of this during his weekly press conference on Thursday 12th

December 2019. I recognise that the local press is hampered in following up on information provided by the Opposition by the unavailability of anyone in government to ask questions of; if you cannot reach them, you cannot question them. The entire APNU+AFC cabal is mimicking the strategy adopted by David Granger, a perverse game of ‘Hide and Seek’ played on the national stage. Editor, the representatives of the company that secures this bid should be forewarned that any contract they sign with the Caretaker government is not worth the paper and may indeed be very costly to their reputation and bottom line very shortly. I do not expect any reputable firm to engage in this most unsavoury process outlined by the Granger administration

for the sale of three million barrels of profit oil. Guyanese are not without knowledge or means to pursue any firm that engages in any form of corruption. Take warning; the world has become a small place for the corrupt. The Guyanese populace has been very patient with the prevailing obduracy; it would be foolish to think that this will extend to any attempt to engage in corrupt practice with our national patrimony. On the off-chance that I am wrongly imputing motives, the Head of State needs to demonstrate that he is not a crook or senile and step-in and put a stop to the meetings. The redemptive effect of staving off this blatant attempt at corruption by his minions may well be the salve for his (Granger’s) soul during his remaining years. We are in a period of Advent; Repent! Respectfully Robin Singh

“The lesser of two evils” conundrum DEAR EDITOR, I am not too sure from whose pen this “lesser of two evils” trope made its appearance in our political discourse. These words were used in a political context, and the unambiguous reference was to our two major partiesthe PPP/C and APNU+AFC. My opinion as a consequence is that we have polluted the national conversation with these four words that have no clear meaning or application. At least at the political level, the more we delve into the concept of evil, the more we get bogged down into a philosophical rabbit hole of confusion. We will never have any meaningful consensus as to the

essential nature of evildoing, and in what circumstances we would have violated the neighbourly principle not to do harm to others. For the PPP/C supporter, what APNU+AFC did in closing down several sugar estates is immoral as over seven thousand workers lost the only job they know. For APNU+AFC, the decision was acceptable because of f i s c a l n e c e s s i t y. I t i s obvious that APNU+AFC leaders see no evil in this.

There is indeed a relativism a ssociated with evil that ignites controversy. Yet for those who refuse to acknowledge that they have no way of knowing which party is more evil than the other, I would suggest that they commission a moral audit of some kind and then tell us what template they have applied to make this process even doable. It is the proper attitude for us to be concerned about evildoing, but why restrict (Continued on page 9)

DEAR EDITOR, We every so often forget that we are very rich people blessed with an abundance of wealth in the form of both natural and human resources. We therefore have a great responsibility of managing this wealth by ensuring that we elect persons to manage our resources and our economy to derive maximum benefit for us as a people. This letter forms part of our voter education programme aimed at sensitising voters about the critical issues that they need to consider prior to voting. Here we will discuss two criteria which are essential to getting it right at the polls and ensuring that their interests and welfare will be represented by the government they choose. The first criterion is trust. This might seem pretty simple and straight forward, because it is. Trust is the basis of successful relationships. More so in politics. Trusting your politicians and political representatives means that you are confident that they will do what they say they will do and fulfill the agenda they promised on their campaign trail. If voters have any reason whatsoever to distrust their political representatives and political parties, then they should really

take a step back and discuss this with other voters to get a better sense prior to voting. In some instances the distrust might be to such an extent that it makes absolutely no sense voting for a given politician or political party. This is because politicians and political parties were unreliable in the past, and they will very likely be less than truthful this time around also. If this is the case, there is nothing wrong with shopping around and examining the proposals and ideas of other political representatives and new political parties who, even though they might be new, properly represent voters’ issues and concerns, and have backgrounds which can be used as a basis for deciding whether they can be trusted. Voters will be better off voting for someone or other new political party which is new, but can still feel confident about, taking into consideration the opinions of other voters, that that particular politician or political party will deliver on their campaign promises in government. The second criterion is not a yard stick as such, but a basic theory of why the best economic programmes and manifestos fail and produce hardship for voters. Simply put, this theory, which I essentially devised to explain what is happening to us, states that the best economic plans and

manifestos are brought to dust by corruption, cronyism and mismanagement. Examining our own experience, we can see this is exactly what has been happening to Guyana since Independence. Corruption, cronyism, mismanagement and a lack of governance systems have been the order of the day. With this in mind, we need to be careful that we do not make the mistakes of our parents and get caught up in propaganda which divides us as a nation. Because one of the things we can rest assured about is that divisive politics, corruption, cronyism and mismanagement have failed us in the past, and will do so again. With in excess of an estimated US$30-40.0 billion in new economic growth and welfare gains which I have shown can be derived under good government, voters are thus encouraged to carefully weigh their options. We urge them to get to know their politicians, and examine the policies and proposals of all political parties. Finally, we urge voters to put their interest and that of their children before that of any political party. Voters should vote for themselves. Best regards, Craig Sylvester, Party Leader, Democratic National Congress

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Department of Energy on the process employed... From page 4 this incubation and launching phase. 3) Guyana’s main incentive in taking this approach is to establish a norm in terms of quality standard and quantity availability so as to prevent any possible down-pricing. What the DoE is seeking to accomplish with the shortterm approach is to allow for stabilisation and standardisation to prevent our Liza Crude from being priced downwards due to uncertainty of the quality. Upon careful consideration of all advice and exigencies of this moment, the DoE initiated a conversation with a selected group of companies for a potential placement of ONLY the first 3 cargoes of Guyana’s entitlement. This allows Guyana to sell its crude directly to the selected operators. While this may be considered by some to be a novel approach, it is a strategic one, which brings the best value to the country and one which has been used in other places. It should also be noted that the DoE employed its usual consultative apparatus with the Guyana Public Procurement Commission prior to taking action. The second phase of marketing Guyana’s portion of its crude is set to begin in January 2020. The public may recall, the Department of Energy had previously announced that in late 2019/ early 2020 a full RFP would be issued, inviting companies to bid for the marketing of Guyana’s portion of oil on a longer-term basis. The DE will issue this RFP

in January 2020. It could take about 3 months to finalisation. However, the process underway in the coming week is not for marketing services. It is for a direct sale of the first 3 lifts assigned to Guyana. The upcoming RFP is then intended to initiate the process of procuring a marketing firm to sell our Crude in the open market later and for the longer term. The people of Guyana should also be aware and assured, that the Cooperative Republic of Guyana will be represented at these first oil negotiations by a full team of international experts, inclusive of its Crude Marketing Specialist, its Commercial Specialist and Legal Advisor, among others. The Department of Energy wishes to assure the Guyanese public that we continue to leave “no stone unturned” to secure the best value for our national resources. We look forward to introducing our own Liza grade oil into the market in the new year, when the full RFP has been executed. We therefore expect and hope that the thinking public and those seeking to interpret reports without complete knowledge will now be clearer and therefore revise their reporting and desist from advancing any other interpretations which unfoundedly besmirch the good name and character of our Honourable President and by extension, all the industrious and dedicated staff of the Department of Energy and other agencies working in the best interest of Guyana. Dept. of Energy

Monday December 16, 2019

THE APNU+AFC HAS BETRAYED US DEAR EDITOR, Everywhere you go in Guyana, people openly talk of how royally APNU+AFC shafted Guyana, with the Oil and Gas story being just another example of the daily shafting Guyanese get from their own government. The other day I highlighted that one of the major election issues is SUGAR. The PPP is on the side of reopening sugar estates and continue with SUGAR as a major part of the e c o n o m y. T h e o t h e r political parties, including APNU+AFC is on the side of ending SUGAR. A clear line has been drawn. But another equally important, prominent election issue is how APNU+AFC has victimised and shafted Guyana by giving away Guyana’s considerable OIL and GAS resources to EXXON and Tullow. Every day, Guyanese are being conned, cheated, bamboozled when it comes to our Oil and Gas Resources. One newspaper columnists, Peeping Tom, said it right, Guyanese are being shafted by their own government. The vast majority of Guyanese get up every morning, go to bed every evening, feeling royally shafted by their government. It is the reason why the Guyanese people lost confidence in Granger and his APNU+AFC band of charlatans. This same band told Guyanese before the May 2015 elections the PPP lied that EXXON found Oil and that a new Oil and Gas industry will

add to Guyana’s economic platform and bring prosperity. Yet, APNU+AFC has spent almost five years telling people that OIL prosperity is just around the corner. APNU+AFC did not tell Guyanese we are being shafted with all EXXON’s expenses, real or fake, even before the first barrel of Oil is produced. We are told now that Guyana already owes EXXON US$10B and that Guyana must begin paying back EXXON from the get go. And this US$10B is only the expense so far. We have no idea if this is an honest account of what they spent so far and our government made no serious effort to determine if the US$10B is real or an inflated account. We also have no idea how much more will be imposed on us before first oil is produced. We have to begin payment of this accrued expense with the first barrels that are produced. Each year, after current expenses are deducted, 75% of the remaining revenues will have to go towards paying back EXXON for the accrued expenses. It is only then that profits will be calculated, meaning our share of profits become vastly diminished. If the global Oil price drops to US$50 per barrel, Guyana might see little to nothing in the first few years. Do you see why the vast majority of Guyanese agree we have been royally shafted? Even as first Oil is days away, Guyanese now realize we have been royally shafted. We are now told that even if EXXON cheats on their accounting, inflating their expenses, they cannot be

penalized. APNU+AFC has paid little attention to the forensic audit of EXXON’s expenses. But the PPP is vowing to hold EXXON accountable. Bharrat Jagdeo at his recent mediaconference made it clear the expense bills that EXXON and other Oil companies have submitted so far and those that will be submitted in the future must be thoroughly examined before any payments are made and false submissions will be penalised in accordance with the laws of Guyana. The royal shafting is worse than anyone could imagine. Even though this is already a shameless and repugnant story, it is just a small part of the shafting. EXXON now announces the first three-hundred thousand barrels will be kept on the drilling platform to help stabilize it. Every turn, we see that Guyana’s miniscule share is being eaten into. Already, we know that Guyana will only have a 2% royalty from EXXON (it is even worse, being 1%, with Tullow), compared to 5 to 30% EXXON has with other oilproducing countries. Guyana is now officially the country with the lowest royalty agreement in the world, even though we are the newest Oilproducing country. We did not learn from the others. Talk about being royally shafted. We are even being shafted with our profits. Initially, Guyanese were told, we would get 50% of the profits after royalty were shared and after

current and pre-production expenses were deducted. The current and pre-production expenses before profit is determined will be allowed for up to 75% of the total revenue earnings. After that Guyana gets 50% of anything determined to be profits. Given, that Guyana must also pay all the accrued taxes, both company and income taxes and other taxes, like VAT, Guyana’s share is not really 50%. It is more like 34%. It is even less than that when the duty-free losses we will suffer is taken into consideration. It is terrifying enough that the Granger-led APNU+AFC has unabashedly abused the constitution and rendered Guyana a dictatorship. Adding salt to Guyana’s painful wounds is the combination of corruption, incompetence and cluelessness. Every single day, we see the utter depravity ofAPNU+AFC. Every single APNU+AFC official has become involved in small and big corrupt transactions. Their incompetence is unimaginable. How do you sign a contract and not make provisions for, first, forensic auditing of EXXON’s expenses, and, second, to penalize them for false accounting? The cost of auditing them is also a Guyana cost. This falls under both the corruption and incompetence rubric. APNU+AFC is shameless, totally irredeemable, totally devoid of principle. Elections March 2020 is about whether we will allow APNU+AFC to continue shafting us or not. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

These are my observations DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to respond to Dr. Hinds’ 15th December 2019 column in the Kaieteur News captioned, “Rejecting the PPP’s twisted narrative.” Firstly, Dr. Hinds thesis was the PPP is “the worst government in post-colonial Guyana and the Anglophone Caribbean.” I was hoping for an analysis grounded in the post-colonial Guyanesehistory looking at the various Guyanese governments since 1966. At least, a cursory comparison of the Burnham era to Hoyte, Jagan to Jagdeo, Jagdeo to Ramotar, and Ramotar to Granger would have been the starting point of such an analysis. Dr. Hinds

clearly omitted Anglophone Caribbean any analysis of the Caribbean-no mention of Eric Williams, Errol Barrow, Eric Gary, Maurice Bishop, Michael Manley, Edward Seaga, etc. Instead, he goes into intellectual hallucination with ethereal visions of “Germany under Hitler, the USA in the era of slavery and segregation, South Africa under apartheid and Europe as colonial masters…” Once again, the public is treated to another helping of Dr. Hinds’ poor writing: mediocrity masquerading as scholarship. Secondly, Dr. Hinds, through his writings, is posturing as the logical successor to Walter Rodney. Instead of promulgating a

national policy to benefit all Guyanese, Hinds focuses narrowly on his ethnic group. What Guyanese needs is a “Guyanese Nationalist”someone who places the nation’s interest above party, racial, and religious interests. Third, Dr. Hinds tries assiduously to portray the WPA as some sort of entity that was “post-racial.” In fact, Rodney and WPA’s success was the pure distillate of the toxic Guyanese racial mix. Indians and other ethnic groups did not gravitate to Rodney and the WPA based on an economic platform. Rather, the question facing the disaffected PNC base: Who was the more acceptable alternative to Burnham? Rodney or Jagan? Based on Hinds’ “ethnoracial” paradigm-Rodney was the more racially palatable candidate for the disaffected PNC base. The urban PPP supporters were disappointed by Jagan and the PPP’s inability to advocate for their interest. In an expression of hopelessness-”anybody but Burnham” they casted their lot with Rodney because they believed that the army and political leadership would not

permit Jagan/PPP to govern. Rodney’s death and the emergence of Rupert Roopnarine was an anathema to the “disaffected PNC” supports of the WPA. Hence, they returned to the folds of the PNC. Analogously, the “disappointed PPP” supporters viewed Roopnarine as weak and ineffectual and they returned to the PPP. Fourth, Dr. Hinds humorously reminds me of Donald Trump who sees Obama as the bogeyman for everything wrong. Similarly, Hinds has the same afflictionJagdoe is the bogeyman. Hinds asserts, “many Indians [give] thanks to Jagdeo and the Phantom groups.” Hinds has no idea of the many Indians he professes to make intelligible to the reading public. Many credit Roger Khan with countering the “criminals, freedom fighters and hustlers.” These are my observations to some of the issues raised in Dr. Hinds’ desultory and disjoint attempt at political analysis. Sincerely, Roger Ally Fort Lauderdale

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HOW DOES MY VOTE BENEFIT YOU? A great many worms are coming out of the woodwork as election nears. For many years, they have been in political obscurity, some in self-imposed exile, and now they are seeking redemption by doing what they feel is their ticket to obtaining political favours – they are attacking the PPPC to prove to the APNU+AFC that they are loyalists. They are not interested in you and me. They are not campaigning for the good life for you. They want the good life for themselves. The extra energy which they are exerting at this time is insurance that if the Coalition returns to office, they will continue to carve off

the crème. They want to ensure that they are seen as campaigning so that they will be rewarded at the end of the elections. How should you respond to these persons? What should you tell them when they come soliciting your vote? When these persons come to you seeking your vote and your vote, do not bother to ask them what they will do for you when the Coalition returns to office. They will promise you the ‘moon and the stars’. They will promise you things that they cannot deliver. You should not ask them for anything. What you should do is ask yourself a question. Ask yourself

At least 27 teaching positions vacant in schools across Guyana There are at least 27 junior teaching positions up for grabs in Secondary Schools across seven of the Administrative Regions of Guyana. Vacancies are available in Regions One, Three, Four, Six, Seven, Nine and Ten. The vacancies were released by the Ministry of Education, School Board Secretariat. The North West Secondary School in Region One needs a teacher who can teach Modern Language. That individual must be able to teach Spanish. The West Demerara Secondary in Region Three also needs a Spanish teacher and a teacher

for Homes Economics, teaching Food & Nutrition, Home Management and Clothing and Textile. In Region Four, the President’s College has vacancies for two persons of which one must be able to teach Pure Math and the other will be for the Information Technology Department. They are also in need of a teacher for Visual Arts; that school also needs one teacher for Environmental Science. Diamond Secondary is in need of an Industrial Technology teacher for Building Tech and Electronics. They also need (Continued on page 22)

“The lesser of two evils”... From page 5 bad behaviour to political parties only? Any catalogue of evil born out of political partisanship should be contested in the public sphere. Arguably, all of us should be disgusted at the proliferation of evil in every sector or social institution in our society. Is it evil for crazy minibus drivers to treat our roadways as a race track, even as the body count piles up and the Traffic Department

fiddles? Is it evil for foreign investors to squeeze profits out of the back-breaking work of our people, and when revenue dips, they pack up and leave, throwing the workforce on the unemployment line? Is it evil for our courts to impose hefty sentences on first offenders for minor drug offence? We can go on further and even cast a wider net. Wesley Hicken

instead, “How will they benefit from your vote?” Take a close look at what is happening within the APNU+AFC government. Look at who got some of the jobs which were available and how many of them got it without the vacancies being advertised. They have done exactly as the PPPC, yet they want you to believe that they are better. The persons in the media know what is taking place. They know about the selective handpicking of persons for jobs but they are

staying quiet because the media is just as politically divided as the rest of society. In the colonial era when the position of the top civil servant in a ministry has to be filled, those responsible looked throughout the entire civil service to find the most senior person. They did not handpick persons within the system and give them the job when there were far more senior persons available. The media knows about the nepotism, which is taking place within the government. . They know also who got scholarships without

going through a competitive process. And they also know of those students who were denied scholarships on the grounds that none was available. The media knows about the persons who are handed positions above their level of expertise. They know of the political hacks who are barking orders to persons more qualified than they do. And most sad of all, the media knows and has said little, about the hundreds of persons who were pushed out to pave the way for political appointees.

When the politicians therefore come knocking at your gate or door to seek your vote next March, you should ask them, what is in store for them if you vote for them? How will they benefit because the motivation of most of those who will come seeking your vote will be to secure their future, not yours.

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Kaieteur News

Fly Jamaica files for bankruptcy protection KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Guyana based carrier Fly Jamaica has filed for bankruptcy protection, in a bid to seek protection from creditors. This was by revealed Marlon Murdock – the agent for Fly Jamaica trustee Wilfred Baghaloo – in an interview with the Financial Gleaner. According to Murdock, the filing for bankruptcy protection with the Office of

Insolvency was done on October 29, and that Fly Jamaica is preparing a proposal for creditors to vote on – this was preceded by a ‘Notice of Intention’ in the press. “The process now is that since Fly Jamaica has filed a notice of intention, they had an initial 30 days to put together a proposal that they were going to present to creditors, who will then vote on it so that they can either

accept or reject.” He said the airline was given an extension – so the new date will be January 14, 2020. He told the Gleaner, that the airline has presented a list of 259 creditors, who are owed US$21.86 million, but the list is not exhaustive. Fly Jamaica Airways, based in Georgetown, Guyana started operating on February 14, 2013. However the carrier was

Bolivia’s interim leader…

Arrest warrant to be issued against Morales SANANDITA, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia will issue an arrest warrant in the coming days against former leftist President Evo Morales, accusing him of sedition, interim Bolivian President Jeanine Anez said on Saturday. Morales is in Argentina, granted refugee status this week just days after the inauguration of new President Alberto Fernandez. Peronist Fernandez succeeded outgoing conservative Argentine leader Mauricio Macri, who lost his bid for reelection in October.Morales had spent the previous month in Mexico in the wake of a highly-contested October election in Bolivia. He had proclaimed victory after his government was accused of manipulating the vote results. Morales, who had been in power nearly 14 years, left Bolivia as the controversy grew. “He can return whenever he wants. He left because he wanted to,” Anez told reporters. “The arrest warrant will be issued in the next

Evo Morales few days, because we have already brought the charges.” Morales had obtained his fourth consecutive term in the October vote, according to the official count, which was criticized for irregularities by the Organization of American States. Morales resigned under pressure from the armed forces in what he has called a coup d’etat.

grounded following an incident at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on November 9, 2018 when the 757 Boeing aircraft, destined for Toronto, Canada, encountered difficulties and made an emergency landing with more than 100 passengers on board.

In March, the airline made all staff redundant – with then chairman and chief executive officer, Paul Reece, saying that this was due to the lack of planes to carry out operations and the failure of the company to recover in the aftermath of the November

emergency landing. Prospective buyers of the airline, headed by French acquisition and diversified firm W&L SAS, initially said they planned to get the airline flying again by September. A deal that eventually failed to materialize.

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Monday December 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

Republic Bank to reintroduce OneCard

FOR RENT One Kitchen/Canteen at Land of Canaan #668-0306 $20,000 monthly, suitable for catering/ preparing guest meals SERVICES

FOR SALE

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

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VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Honda CRV. includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crash bar, Low mileage. PTT Series (First Owner) Contact #6490956 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 89 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Next door to Mike’s Pharmacy.Land size3431.25 Sq.ft. Phone: 617-5323, 666-8052 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Tables. Tel #651-9039/277-0578 TOURS Suriname- Old years firework celebration tour trip 12-292019 - 01-03-2020.Call/ Whatsapp #639-2663/6732348/665-5171

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CAR RENTAL DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y WANTED SAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR Business location suitable for RENTAL: CARS FROM small restaurant. Call: 610$4000 & UP, SUV’S PER 3988 DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_ Kitchen Assistants, apply at A U T O R E N T A L Shanta’s Puri Shop, 225 Camp St. Tel#672-4170 @YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

Drivers- with tractor, motor bus, minibus, must have all three licenses, preferably living around Georgetown. Tel# 641-5075/225-1429/6241147

LAND FOR SALE

Experienced Driver, Waiter, Cashier, Cleaners. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with hand written application, 5 Commerce St

Transported land 11.6 acres, Lot 15 Public road #2 Village W.C. B/ce 5 mins from B/ce Bridge. Contact# 686-4818/ 648-7109 Parfaite School Street $4.5M, Parfaite $1.5M, Schnoord 140x66 $6.3M, Schnoord 50x100 $4.5M, Providence $4.7M Call: 666-2366 480 acres of Transported Water Front Land, situated at Hogg Island. Contact # 6174004 TO LET Rooms tolet, 1 bedroom- 3 bedroom, working people: $30,000,$32,000,$35,000, $55,000 monthly, 2 month security. Call: 623-0076 Rooms in Albertown #2253234 Newly constructed 2 bedrooms apt in a safe and healthy environment. Call #698-6496/622-6512

Industrial Electrician to work in Georgetown. Call: 227-1717 One (1) Welder, must know grill work. Call: 625-5763 One experienced Bartender, One Security guard, Servers/ Waitstaff. Herdmanston Lodge, Peter Rose & Anira Sts #225-0808 Ext 100 Wanted- Lorry Drivers to sell water #682-1048/233-5255, preferably on East Bank / West Coast Live in Female Shop attendant 18-25 yrs and waitress, salary $20,000 weekly # 610-3974 Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Providence, Uitvlugt, Herstelling, Diamond, Farm, Tuschen and other area. Call: 666-2326

Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited has proposed to reintroduce the Republic Bank OneCard. In his discussion and analysis of the Bank’s performance for 2019, contained in its annual report, Managing Director Amral F. Khan said the bank in attempting to afford customers an additional option for non cash banking, plans to reintroduce the Republic Bank OneCard. According to him, this card caters for persons desirous of a card for local use. Similar to the Republic Bank Visa Card, this card enables access to customers’ accounts via the bank’s extensive Automated

Teller Machine (ATM) and Point of Sale (POS) networks countrywide. Previously, the Republic OneCard did not possess the feature to enable customers to make online transactions relating to internet shopping and use outside of Guyana. It is unclear whether this will remain the case. Republic Bank back in 2009 introduced its Visa-One. It allowed customers to access their accounts from any part of the world where a Visa card is accepted and to conduct several transactions such as withdrawals, deposits (where the ATM permits), online purchases and transfers among others.

However, following numerous cyber attacks on its Visa One customers, the bank made a decision to implement restrictions on online VISA transactions so as to minimise recurrence of fraudulent activity when customers used the Republic Visa OneCard. According to the annual report, “the use of the Republic Bank Visa OneCard, though not without challenges, continues to offer customers convenience and we expect that our ongoing customer education and efforts to further enhance the security of the product will help reinforce customer confidence.”

At least 27 teaching positions vacant... From page 9 two Home Economics teachers, who can teach at least two areas. A vacancy is also available for an Allied Arts teacher at Diamond Secondary. The Annandale Secondary needs one teacher for Home Economics and that individual must be able to teach at least two areas. An Allied Arts teacher is also needed and someone for the English Language department. Covent Garden Secondary needs one teacher for Home Economics who can also teach at least two areas. In Region Six, the New Amsterdam Secondary has one vacancy for Home Economics, someone who can teach at least

VACANCY Truck & Hauler drivers, Excavator operators, Engineers, Labourers, Security & Procurement Officers Accounts & Marketing Clerk. Apply @ chungsvacancy@yahoo.com Cashier/Waitress, Assistant cook. Call: 225-7933 or visit 172 Sheriff Street, next door to Survival Cashiers/Supermarket helpers, apply in person with written application @ Nirva Superstore, 49 Sheriff & Craig St. Tel# 227-5771 One (1) Clerk for TSI Eccles Industrial Site Office, English1 Mathematics -2, Quickbooks. Call: 615-9132 Evening Vacancies at DemBake: 1 Production Supervisor (P.M.), 2 Separation Clerks (P.M) and 1 Accounts Clerk. Email CV to: admin@demerarabakery.com or call 266-5848 Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call: 615-9132 Room attendant, Door Staff, 25-50 yrs, 233 South Road, Lacytown. #225-0198

two areas and in Science, someone who can teach Physics. Region Seven’s Three Miles Secondary needs a Home Economics teacher who can teach at least two areas. Bartica Secondary has one vacancy for the Six Year Transition Department. In Region Nine, the St. Ignatius Secondary has two vacancies for the Mathematics Department, one for Agricultural Science, one for English Language, one for Modern Language teaching Portuguese. That school also has one vacancy for the Home Economics Department, who can teach at least two areas. The St. Rose’s High School is in need of an Industrial Technology teacher. Region 10’s Mackenzie High School needs a Modern Language teacher who can teach

Portuguese, and in Science, someone who can teach Chemistry. Around Georgetown, the St. Rose’s High School needs an Industrial Technology and Information Technology teachers. They also need a graduate Math teacher. Tutorial High School has vacancy in the Music Department for a steel pan teacher. The Bishops’ High School has a vacancy in the Physical Education department, and Modern Language in which that individual must be able to teach Spanish and for the Home Economics Department, for Clothing and Textile. Brickdam Secondary needs English Language and Social Studies teachers, while South Ruimveldt Secondary needs a Home Economics teacher, who can teach at least two areas.

Monday December 16, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Guyana to compete with West Africa for crude buyers’ attention By Kemol King First Oil is days away, and the Energy Department is set to meet a set of traders to discuss the sale of Guyana’s Liza crude. It turns out traders will often be faced with the choice of Guyana or West Africa, principally Angola, for crude purchases, because of the similarities in quality between the oil produced by the two nations. The competition between Guyana and Angola crude of similar quality seems to lend credence to the Atlantic Mirror Theory, taught to Kaieteur News in November last by Geologist, Dr. William Heins. The theory posits that the distribution of natural resources on both sides of the South Atlantic is similar, because the land masses were once joined, millions of years ago. It encouraged explorers to seek out hydrocarbon wells on the Eastern end of South America because of discoveries in Africa, and is now creating excitement for explorers in West Africa. (See link - https:/ www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2019/11/24/guyanas-oildiscoveries-bringexcitement-for-prospects-inwest-africa-geoscientist/). Kaieteur News has compared the quality of the

crude oil produced in Angolan projects and Guyana’s Liza crude, and the jury is out on who definitively will command traders’ attention. The lower the density (how light) and sulphur content (how sweet), the better quality the crude is adjudged to be; and the better the price. According to ExxonMobil’s assay, Guyana’s Liza crude carries 32.1 American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity and 0.51 percent sulphur content. Some Angolan projects produce lighter oil than Liza crude, while Guyana’s crude is sweeter. In other projects, the situation is the opposite, while a few give Angola a slight edge. But the quality of the crude is not the only factor that determines the buyers’ preference and price. Traders also consider the cost to transport the crude. Hence, the proximity of the produced crude to their refinery, and mode of transportation, are critical. For many of those traders, the crude oil will be bound for refineries in Far East nations, like China, Japan, India and South Korea. Some others may be bound for Western Europe, but Angola may benefit more from those traders, due to its

The Kaombo Norte, an oil tanker converted to an FPSO vessel, operates offshore Angola (AFP Photo/Rodger BOSCH)

close proximity to that continent. Kaieteur News understands that there is interest too from traders whose purchases are to be bound for the United States’ East Coast refineries. The likelihood of those traders making purchases in higher quantities from Guyana will depend on future assay readings of Liza crude finding it to be quite low in sulphur content, since those refineries tend not to process

sour crude. Angola has been producing crude for nearly seven decades. According to a statistical bulletin from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), of which the African nation is a member, it boasts over 8 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves in addition to considerable proven natural gas reserves, and produces over 1.4 million barrels of

crude oil per day. Oil companies operating offshore Guyana have already discovered 6.6 million barrels of oil equivalent. When Liza-1 gets on board, the Liza Destiny will be producing 120,000 barrels of oil a day, at peak. When Liza2 gets on board, the Liza Unity will be producing 220,000 barrels a day, at peak, taking Guyana to 340,000 barrels a day in just a few years. Payara, which has not

yet been approved, would also see the Liza Prosperity producing 220,000 barrels, potentially taking Guyana’s oil production to 560,000 barrels of oil a day by 2023, according to ExxonMobil. The company and its partners on the Stabroek Block sees itself potentially producing 750,000 barrels of oil a day by 2025, but has not yet provided an explanation about how it plans to get there.

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Monday December 16, 2019

Why are people in responsible... From page 26 for improvement of their playing field. With not having these facilities and no jobs, what is presently happening is that some of our youths find themselves in ‘gang wars’. The records will show that many sport projects were done under the PPP/C Government to improve sports in Guya n a t o a n international level, such as the National Cricket Stadium, the International Athletics Track and the International Swimming Pool; also many Community Centers were constructed in all the Regions. In Region 10, Community Sport Centers were built at Wisroc Basin, Silvertown, Christianburg, Coomacka Mine, Maria

Elizabeth Mine, at 47 miles Mabura and at Kwakwani, but much more needs to be done. Why we are not hearing about football and cricket competitions in Region #10? What happened to the highly successful Kashif and Shanghai year-end football tournament? W h a t h appen to the Basketball, Hockey, cycling tournaments in Linden? The Mackenzie Sport Club used to host first class cricket, top football matches, H o c k e y, swimming, athletics, cycling and indoors sports; now it looks like it is becoming a shadow of the past. The NSC did not do a single sport activity in Region #10 over the last four years. Andrew Forsythe.

Mercury Fast Laners reward outstanding athletes The Mercury Fast Laners Athletic Club has rewarded their athletes who have performed outstandingly at the recently concluded Guyana Teachers Union, Ministry of Education National Schools Athletics Championship which was held at Leonora. At a recent ceremony, the club presented the athletes with medals and trophies. Among those that excelled are; Timothy Springer who won gold at the 150m, 400m and long jump; Tiana Springer with silver in 200m, Stephon Roach silver in the boys U18 long jump, Tiea Lowe silver 4x100m relay U20, Trevon Hamer silver in triple

Monday December 16, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) With the shifting planetary alignment, all of your efforts over the past few weeks could finally bear fruit. Success and good fortune are strongly indicated, especially where money is concerned. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) A long-awaited vacation or a move you've been hoping to make could finally be possible. Before you go, there may be some paperwork to take care of. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Heightened imagination and ingenuity could bring new thoughts for advancing yourself in the financial arena. CANCER(June21–July22) Social events could bring some exciting new contacts your way. Relationships with partners of all kinds should be fruitful and mutually beneficial, particularly when the people are also close friends. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your efficient, practical abilities are operating at a very high level today. A long-term goal you've been working toward could finally be reached, bringing good fortune and acknowledgment. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your strong business sense and practical skills couple with imagination and innovation to bring advancement. Information from far away could prove especially valuable. Relationships with friends should be warm and cooperative.

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Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Friends and family could visit you today. They're likely to bring new friends whose expertise benefits a project you're working on. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A social event in your neighborhood, perhaps in your home, could bring useful information your way that you can use to advance your career. You could make some valuable contacts. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) With the current astral environment, your professional and financial interests could take a turn for the better. Any difficulties you may have had seem to disappear as if by magic. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) All indications are that you're feeling mentally and physically great. Your professional and financial interests could take a sudden turn for the better. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Financial difficulties could be overcome today through the help of someone considerably older than you. Helpful advice could make a future course of action clearer and more practical than it seemed in the past. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You're likely to have some good pointers to pass on, and gratitude should be forthcoming. Put your nose to the grindstone and get going!

jump, Delia Persaud gold in 200m teachers U21 race, Roshana Worell, Malaika Abrams, Dyna Roberts, Isaiah Blackman and Tiana Springer. Coach of the club Mr. Christopher Gaskin congratulated the athletes and urged them to continue working hard. He added that success is the result of hard work and commitment. Gaskin noted that while these athletes are talented, hard work in essential for them to excel at higher levels.

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Monday December 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

Team Dorado ends 5th of 28 Clubs at ASATT Invitational Swimming Championship T&T - Monique Watson, Elliott Gonsalves and Vladimir Woodroffe outstanding The 16-member team of swimmers which represented Dorado Speed Swim Club (DSSC) at the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) Invitational Swimming Championship being held by the Marlin’s Swim Club at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago, combined to ensure a creditable 5th place of the 28 clubs that were represented. Three of the clubs swimmers also ended in the top three in their respective age-groups: Girls 11-12: 3rd - Monique Watson, Boys 11-12: 2nd -

Elliott Gonsalves, 3rd Vladimir Woodroffe. On the final day of the four day championship, Saturday, DSSC snared two gold medals along with three silver and bronze medals to end the championship on a high. Following are the medalists for the final day: Event 82 - Girls 11-12 400m freestyle Bronze - Monique Watson Event 82 - Boys 11-12 400m Freesytle Bronze - Vladimir Woodroffe Event 82 - Men 15 & Over 400m Freestyle

Gold - Daniel Scott Event 88 - Boys 11-12 200m Individual Medley Gold - Elliott Gonsalves Bronze - Vladimir Woodroffe Event 93 - Girls 11-12 100m Backstroke Silver - Athalcy Hunte Event 94 - Boys 11-12 100m Backstorke Silver - Elliott Gonsalves Event 110 - Boys 11-12 100m Breaststroke Silver - Elliott Gonsalves Event 120 - Boys 1-12 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay Gold (again) - Vladimir Woodroffe, Stephen Ramkhelawan, Alex Bentham, Elliott Gonsalves.

The top ten clubs at the meet were: Place Team Points 1 Tidal Wave Aquatics of T&T 747 2 Marlins Swim Club 587 3 Blue Dolphin Swim Club 398 4 Black Sands Swim Squad 271 5 Dorado Speed Swim Club 270. 50 6 Atlantis Aquatics Swim Club 260. 50

7 Club 253 8 Club 219

Flying Fish Swim ‘y’ Speedos Swim

9 Point Fortin Aqua Darts 196. 50 10 P e t r o t r i n Barracudas Swim Club 186

Marlins Open Water Invitational - Las Cuevas Bay, T&T

Daniel Scott (gold), Raekwon Noel (gold), Stephen Ramkhelawan (silver), Stephon Ramkhelawan (silver) shine Following their good showing at the Amateur Swimming Association of Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o ( A S AT T ) Invitational Swimming Championship which concluded on Saturday last after four exciting days, members of the Dorado Speed Swim Club (DSSC) took the opportunity to compete yesterday in the Marlins Open Water Invitational which was held at Las Cuevas Bay, Trinidad. The events were 1,000m (for swimmers 12 Years and Under as at December 31, 2019), 3,000m for 11 Years and Over and 5,000m for 13 Years and Over. Dorado SSC as represented by Daniel Scott in the 5k with the trio of Raekwon Noel, Stephen Ramkhelawan and Stephon Ramkhelawan contesting the 3k event. Scott, had previously participated in Open Water events: Carifta 2017 - 5k placed 16th in the boys 16-18 event with a time of 1:16:35.10; 2016 ASATT Maracas Bay Open Water Classic - 2,650m - placed 9th in the Men’s Open category with a time of 38:28. Yesterday he went a step further to cop the gold medal in the 15 and Over agegroup; Raekwon Noel was also golden in

Daniel Scott the 13-14 age-group 3k contest. Stephen Ramkhelawan won silver in the 11-12 agegroup 3k with Stephon Ramkhelawan also taking silver in the 13-14 age-group 3k.

Raekwon Noel, Stephen Ramkhelawan and Stephon Ramkhelawan

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Kaieteur News

Sparta Boss claim Rio Indoor Streetball Championship After the dust was settled at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, national heavyweight, Sparta Boss of the East La Penitence environ, emerged the inaugural champion of the Rio Indoor Streetball Championship on Saturday. According to an official release from the coordinators, Three Peat Promotions, “The tournament was an overwhelming success on many fronts and provides the perfect platform for the improvement of the tournament and the format as whole. We would like to thank the sponsors for their invaluable commitment and investment in making the tournament a reality as well as the fans for their unwavering support.”

The release further said, “Ultimately we would like to thank the players who displayed discipline and talent in providing and creating a spectacle and product for the fans to consume and enjoy. Without them, there would be no sport. Special praise must also be afforded to the lawmen, who carried out their duties with esteem in providing a safe and conducive atmosphere for all and sundry.” The capacity crowd which descended on the venue, was treated to a thrilling finale which was decided 5-4 in favour of the Spartans, after regulation and extra time ended 1-1. Clive Nobrega was the guilty party as he missed from the distance in the tense shoot-out, with Gregory

Richardson applying the finishing touch for Sparta Boss to seal the result. With the win, Sparta Boss pocketed $1,000,000 and a trophy. The loser walked away with $400,000 and the runnersup title. In the third place playoff, Gold is Money bested Rio AllStars 2-0. Keifer Brandt recorded goals in the fourth and 16th minute. With the win, Gold is Money walked away with $200,000 and a trophy. On the other hand, the loser pocketed $100,000 and the corresponding accolade. In the earlier semifinal matches, Sparta edged fierce rival Gold is Money 1-0. Ryan Hackett scored in the 10th minute. Also, Bent Street overcame Rio All-Stars 1-0 on penalty kicks after regulation and extra time ended 4-4.

Letter to the Sports Editor

Why are people in responsible positions lying’? Dear Sports Editor, Christopher Jones said that over the last four years, hundreds of community grounds across Guyana have been rehabilitated under the Department of Sport’s ground enhancement project to the tune of $500 Million. This is highly fictitious. Further, he said that that the Department of Sport already commissioned 48 grounds during 2019 and a further 22 more grounds will be commissioned before the end of this year. This is also highly questionable. I have been travelling across the country and it is very visible that most of the playing areas and sport grounds that were developed under the PPP/C period in Government are now under high grass and bushes. I challenge Director of Sports to prove this to the Guyanese people, by listing the grounds developed by Regions and money spent on each ground. As for the facilities in Region # 10, most of the grounds are out of order and nothing more than high grass and

mosquitoes are having a good life. The youths in Region #10 are crying out that no cricket and little or no football are being played in the Region. Youths look out, maybe all your grounds will get fix before the upcoming General and Regional Elections. I must complement Region #10 for once again for retaining the School Athletics Championship, but where we go beyond this? If my memory clicks right, I believe that since in the 2017 National Budget millions of dollars were allocated to build and complete a special athletics track at the Wisroc Basin at Wismar. However, over the last two years all we could see is that this project is far from completion. I can recall that since in the 1970’s an athletics track was to be built at this present location, the designs and drawings maybe still be in the Linmine GED Vault. The Youths in Region #10 and the other Regions of Guyana are crying out for lack of sport equipment and more sporting facilities. When you visit many of the Villages, the young people are begging for sport gears and (Continued on page 25)

Nelson fashioned a double in the 21st and 29th minutes for Bent Street, while Daniel Wilson and William Europe scored in the second and 15th minute each. For Rio All-Stars, Kelsey Benjamin bagged a brace in the 18th and 25th, while Andrew Murray netted a double in the 27th and 35th minutes. Complete Results Final Sparta-1 vs Bent Street-1 Sparta won 5-4 on penalty kicks Sparta Scorer Eusi Phillips-16th Bent Scorers Colin Nelson-13th 3rd Place Gold is Money-2 vs Rio All-Stars-0 Keifer Brandt-4th and 16th Semifinal Round Game-1 Bent St-4 vs Rio All-Stars4 Bent Street 1-0 on penalty kicks Bent Scorers Colin Nelson-21st and 29th Daniel Wilson-2nd William Europe-15th Rio Scorers Kelsey Benjamin-18th and 25th Andrew Murray-27th and 35th Game-2 Gold is Money-0 vs Sparta Boss-1 Ryan Hackett-10th

Million Dollar Team -The elated Sheldon Shepherd, Captain of the victorious Sparta Boss side, collecting his prizes in the presence of his team following the conclusion of the inaugural Rio Indoor Streetball Championship at the National Gymnasium.

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Kaieteur News

Monday December 16, 2019

Hetmyer, Hope power West Indies to huge ODI win over India

West Indies’ Keemo Paul, left, celebrates with captain Kieron Pollard the dismissal of India’s Shivam Dube during the first one day international cricket match between India and West Indies in Chennai, India, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) AFP - Centuries from Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope powered West Indies to an eight-wicket win over India after chasing down a target of 288 in the first one-day international yesterday. Hetmyer, who hit a careerbest 139, and Hope, unbeaten on 102, put on a key 218-run second-wicket partnership as West Indies eased to victory with 13 balls to spare and lead the three-match series 1-0. The left-handed Hetmyer completed his fifth ODI ton in 85 balls to take control with Hope, a right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, after

the early fall of Sunil Ambris for nine. Hetmyer, who hit his second hundred against India and survived a dropped chance on 106, smashed 11 fours and seven sixes in his 106-ball knock to pulverise the Indian bowlers. “We know the talent that he (Hetmyer) has,” said skipper Kieron Pollard. “He has been struggling a bit in the last nine months and he has been under a lot of pressure. As a management group, we have faith in him.” Mohammed Shami finally broke through to get Hetmyer

back in the pavilion but Hope stood firm to complete his eighth ODI hundred. He got company from Nicholas Pooran who hit the winning boundary to stay unbeaten 29. Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant made half-centuries to guide India to 287 for eight after they lost early wickets following West Indies’ decision to bowl first. Iyer, who made 70, and Pant, who hit 71, put on 114 for the fourth wicket after India were left struggling at 80 for three. Pace spearhead Sheldon Cottrell struck twice in one over, including nabbing skipper Virat Kohli for four with a slower delivery that the star batsman inside edged on to his stumps. - Controversial run out Iyer completed his third successive ODI fifty while Pant — a wicketkeeperbatsman who is often criticised for throwing away his wicket — raised his first during a 69-ball knock laced with seven fours and one six. Kohli was all praise for the batting duo. “I think myself and Rohit not clicking today gave an opportunity for two youngsters to claim a spot,” said Kohli. “They played very smartly on a slow pitch.” Kedar Jadhav played a useful cameo of 40 during his

59-run sixth-wicket stand with Ravindra Jadeja, who made 21, to boost India’s scoring in the final few overs. Keemo Paul broke through with the wicket of Jadhav, and there was drama on the very next ball with Jadeja run out after a delayed umpire call. Roston Chase hit the stumps at the bowler’s end where Jadeja was running and South African umpire Shaun George did not call for the third umpire. But replays suggested Jadeja was short of his crease, prompting the on-field official to refer it to the TV umpire who then gave it out, as an angry Kohli shook his head in disapproval in the dressing room. “The thought is simple, the fielder asked ‘how is that’ and the umpire said ‘not out’. The dismissal ends there,” Kohli said. “The people sitting on the TV outside cannot tell the fielders to then tell the umpire to review it again. I’ve never seen that happen in cricket. “I don’t know where the rules are, where the line is drawn. I think the referee and the umpires have to take that up, see that incident again. And figure out what needs to be done in cricket.” The second ODI is on Wednesday in Visakhapatnam.

Rishabh Pant gets down on one knee to sweep over backward square leg. (BCCI)

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Monday December 16, 2019

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GCA closes cricket season for Christmas Holidays The Georgetown Cricket A s s o c i a t i o n ’s ( G C A ) Competitions Committee has stated that the 2019 season is now closed for the Christmas holiday and the resumption, which is dependent on good weather, is scheduled for January 18, 2020. The period from December 1 to January 30, 2020 is the Transfer period for Clubs and players and the GCA is encouraging City clubs to use this period for transfers from one club to another. Again this year, the completion of competitions have been affected by several factors including the unavailability of grounds due to adverse weather and non-cricketing activities, while some clubs have not been able to field youth, second division and first division teams on the same weekend which prolongs the competitions. On the field, GCC won the NBS 2018 Second division 40 overs competition when they beat Everest at DCC on April 7 in the first ever Day/Night club Final in Georgetown after the semi-finals were also played under Lights.

The Bourda Boys were Runners-up in the Noble House Seafoods Generation Next U-19, Champions in the Toucan Distributors U15 and lead their zone in the on-going GISE, Star Party Rentals, Trophy Stall twoday First Division. GCC are also leading in the Noble House Seafoods Second Division two-day. In the eighth-annual NBS Second Division 40over tournament which was launched on September 10, GCC also lead their zone. This competition, which is also being played in Berbice, is played with coloured clothes and the semi-finals in both Counties will be played under lights; at Albion and DCC. The Berbice winner and Georgetown Champions will clash in the National Final at Albion. GCC Skipper Leon Johnson scored the only double century in Star Party Rental, Trophy Stall two-day first Division tournament when he hit an unbeaten 200 against UG at Bourda, while Transport Sports Club’s offspinner Joel Spooner’s 8-12 is the best bowling figures in the NBS Second Division tournament. D C C ’s o f f - s p i n n e r

Trevon Griffith 8-53 and 732 to follow-up his attacking half century in the first innings against GCC at Bourda, was the most impacting First Division performance for the year in GCA cricket. Everest’s massive 387-4 in 40 overs was the highest total ever made in the eightyear history of NBS, while centuries from the Everest Trio of Richie Looknauth, Amir Khan and Renaldo Renee in the same match, is also a NBS record for most centuries in an innings. In the Noble House Seafoods Generation Next 2019 Under-19, one hundred overs (55/45) Competition, DCC won the tournament, while GCC were runners-up. The GCA, New York Tri State U-19 fifty overs 2019 Competition; New York Tri State Team is the winner and DCC runner up. The Toucan Distributors U-15 Competition - GCC is the winner and DCC the runner up. On-going competitions are: GISE Star Party Rental & Tr o p h y S t a l l F i r s t Division two-day in which five matches are left to be played between the two zones of which GCC are

YBG Titan Bowl Finalist decided following

Saturday’s intense action at CASH The third day of play in the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) 10th Titan Bowl schools’ knockout basketball tournament bounced off at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Homestretch Avenue with the semifinal round on Saturday with the finalists in the various divisions being decided. President’s College will oppose New Amsterdam Technical Institute in the under18 final, while Kwakwani will bounce with Arima in the under-16 ultimate showdown. The girls title will be decided between Marian Academy and Kwakwani. In the under-18 semifinal round, President’s College dribbled past Marian Academy 46-40. Jushawn Bailey led with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Richard Semple added 13 points and three rebounds, while Jether Harris recorded 24 points and seven rebounds. New Amsterdam Technical Institute downed Government Technical Institute 3829. Kadeen Dover top scored for the victor with 20 points and five rebounds. For the losers, Israel Yaw tallied 12 points and nine rebounds. In the boys’ U16 semi-finals, Arima Secondary crushed Marian Academy 43-24 in the U16 Boys section. Kasim English led the way with 19 points, while Adi Ronald bagged 14 points and as many rebounds. For the loser, Kayden Khan and Trevor Rose tallied 11 and eight points respectively. Likewise, Kwakwani dismantled Bishop’s High 72-28. Demarcus Adams and Elijah David recorded respective figures of

Play between Kwakwani Secondary (defence) that beat Bishops’ High 75-8 in the boys’ under-16 final on Saturday night.

11 points, three rebounds and three assists. For the loser, Keron Bacchus tallied nine points and eight rebounds, while Amir Daly amassed eight points and five rebounds. Meanwhile, in the girls’ semi-finals, Marian Academy dismantled St. Stanislaus College 40-27. Kelliann Savers netted nine points and eight rebounds, while Aaliyah Singh added figures of six points, five rebounds and as many steals. For the loser, Sheray Johnson- scored four points. In the other girls’ semifinal, Kwakwani Secondary steamrolled Queen’s College 758. Holly Grimond tallied 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Natalya Clarke recorded 14 points, 13 steals and eight steals. For the loser, Ciara Solomon scored five points.

leading Zone A with DCC in second place with one match to play. In Zone ‘B’, Everest are leading with MSC and Police sharing the second spot. However, MSC has only one match to play, while the Lawmen have two. In the Noble House Seafoods second division two-day competition, 17 matches between the two zones are still to be played with GCC in the lead, but the second place position is still wide open. In Zone B, DCC are leading, with the second place position very close. In the 2019/2020 NBS 2nd Division 40 overs there are 20 matches left to play with GCC leading and MSC 2nd based on more matches play by these 2 clubs. In Zone B, DCC are leading TSC based on more matches played by these two clubs. First Division 50 overs and T/20, Second Division T/20, U- 19 one hundred overs and 50 overs, U- 17, U15 and U-13 Competitions, are still unsponsored. “We say a big thank you and a Merry Christmas and a

- GCC most consistent City team

TSC’s Joel Spooner’s 8-12 was the best bowling performance in NBS tournament.

bountiful and Prosperous New Year to our Sponsors, Friends of Cricket, Media, Curators, affiliated Clubs Executives, Players and all of their families and relatives for the support they have

given to the GCA and look forward for their continued co-operation,” said Chairman of the Competitions Committee Shawn Messiah, on behalf the GCA. (Sean Devers)

Kaieteur News

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Monday December 16, 2019

Double header set for today as Goodwill KFC football tourney continues

Action between Annai and Annandale in the opening fixture.

The opening fixtures of the Petra/Goodwill KFC schools football tournament produced two one-sided games on Saturday last, but when the competition continues today at the Guyana Football Federation National Training Centre, Providence, fans will be in for a treat with two mouth watering clashes. In the first game at 13:00hrs Lodge will face Waramadong, while Shiva Boys of Trinidad and Tobago will take on Annai from

15:00hrs. Lodge have shown that they are among the best school teams in the country with a clinical display in their first game as they thumped Marian Academy 6-1. Consistency is the key and this is an area where Lodge has not fallen short as their good show continued after winning the recently concluded Petra Schools U19 tournament. But their opponents for today’s fixture is one of the favourites to win the tournamentWaramadong of region one. Wa r a m a d o n g w i l l provide Lodge with one of their fiercest battles in recent times and it will be interesting to see how they will cope. Lodge have some of the finest talents around with the likes of Dorwin George, Curt Edwards, Shemroy Myers and Earl Grant forming a formidable attacking force and their skills will be put to the test today against a stern defence. Lodge latest string of victories have boosted their confidence, but being over confident can be disastrous, and their management will be wary of this. While little is known so far about Waramadong, one thing is for certain, they have a lot of talent at their disposal. The region one side have shown that they are more than a force to be reckoned with in past schools tournaments. Annai proved ruthless in front of goal as they won

their opening encounter against Annandale Secondary 9-1 in a match that they dominated from the onset. Their defence has complimented their midfield well, while their strikers capitalised well on the opportunities provided. However, their skills will be measured against Shiva boys of the Twin Island Republic who is expected to be worthy opponents. Vito Jackson, Italo Benjamin, Brimley Moses, Raul Swan and Amir Robertson have all been on target in their opening fixture and will look to add to their t a l l y, b u t w h i l e t h e i r attacking force is decent, their defence may have a lot of work to do in this encounter and the result of this game may very well be dependent on how well they fear against what should be a powerful attack. This tournament is a step in the right direction as it serves well for the development of the game, putting local teams against their overseas counterparts which will test their skills further. Annai opening game has set the standard for the tournament as they have signalled a stern warning to their opponents. How well Annai and Lodge progressed in this competition will depend on how often they execute as a team and as the adage goes ‘keep it super simple’. (Zaheer Mohamed)

Marian Academy during the march past.

Dragon Stout Community... From page 35 receive $150,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. The full fixtures for opening night are as follows: Fixtures Avocado Ballers vs North East La Penitence-19:00hrs Sophia vs Festival City-19:30hrs Leopold St vs Ansa All-Stars-20:00hrs Gold is Money vs Mocha-20:30hrs Future Stars vs Albouystown-21:00hrs Rio All-Stars vs Alex. Village-21:30hrs Bent Street vs Broad St-22:00hrs Sparta vs Showstoppers-22:30hrs

Monday December 16, 2019

Kaieteur News

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While finances present a challenge, Hercules optimistic of successful title defence CBC C/Ships 2020

By Calvin Chapman reparations are being heightened by Guyana senior men’s basketball team for the defence of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship, which they clinched for a historic first time on July 1st 2018 at the ‘Anthony Nesty Sporthal’ in Paramaribo, Suriname. The head coach, Junior Hercules, who is also involved in local basketball administration, shared with Kaieteur Sport that he is happy with what he sees with the squad so far and he is confident that Guyana can successfully defend their title after winning it only once since the inaugural CBC men’s championship in 1981 that was hosted here at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). However, Hercules is adamant that like other sports, funding is very important to the team’s success and in 2020, he wants to be focused primarily on getting his side together to compete rather than finances. In 2018, the Guyana

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Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) that was headed by Nigel Hinds at that time, struggled financially to make it to the regional championships, which was pioneered by Guyanese John Yates, but the team overcame the odds being the second lowest ranked and came out successful after their somewhat tardy request of US$50,000 funding from the state was not granted. Although, the CBC may be a bit late in detailing the exact dates and host country of the premier Basketball tournament in the region, the GABF have begun to get their self in order in terms of securing monies for the men’s team title defence campaign with a budget of GYD$15million prepared to be submitted to the National Sports Commission (NSC) before the end of this month. According to Hercules, the twin island republic of Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) will be the front runners for 2020 Championships in June-July and this will be confirmed when the CBC hosts its congress in the first quarter of 2020.

Dragon Stout Community Cup opens tomorrow - fans in for another treat With their appetites wet after witnessing one of the most enthralling final last Saturday, lovers of the indoor format will now turn their attention to the Dragon Stout Community Cup Knockout Competition which opens tomorrow evening, at the National Gymnasium. The sensational final between the most dominant team in the format, Sparta Boss and the star-studded Bent Street which the former won in a pulsating penalty shootout, left fans drooling for more action. The format, which has become the most exciting feature in the sport, will once again be on showcase when the sixteen best teams collide for prize monies in excess of $500,000 which will definitely increase the coffers of the respective winners for the Christmas season. The Organisers have also made it a giveaway for the fans by offering each ticket holder that enters the arena a free bottle of Dragon Stout as

they aim to give back to the supporters for their loyalty. Once again all eyes will be on Sparta Boss, undoubtedly the most decorated team in the format and who have been in scorching form throughout the year. However, teams such as Gold is Money and Bent Street, both of who suffered at the hands of the local juggernauts will be looking to exact revenge and even stop the rampaging Bosses. Additionally, there are a few other teams that should not be overlooked such as new kids on the block Rio All Stars that made the semifinals in the recently concluded tournament, Leopold Street, Future Stars, Sophia and Ansa McAl All Stars. The tournament is set to be played over three nights with December 19 and 28, being the other dates for action. The winning team will take home $300,000 and a trophy, while runner-up, third and fourth place will (Continued on page 34)

In terms of personnel, the coach is pleased with the local core of players that over just a week ago, swept a visiting Grenada national men’s basketball team 3-0 in a goodwill series at the CASH. The team was without the likes of their skipper and standout player Stanton Rose and Cocaptain Anthony Moe (both of whom featured in the 2018 CBC men’s Championship dream team)

along with Kevon Wiggins who are all U.S. based. Rose, Moe and the local core of players may finally see the return of the talismanic Delroy James, who was a key figure in Greek side AEK Athens winning the 2019 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Brazil, to Guyana’s national side; an addition that will significantly boost an already ominous looking side.

Ray Victor and Coach Junior Hercules (right) at the post match press conference in Suriname. (KN file photo)

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India’s Deepak Chahar, right, reacts as West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer, left, and batting partner Shai Hope celebrate scoring runs during the first one day international cricket match between India and West Indies in Chennai, India, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer plays a shot during the first one day international cricket match between India and West Indies in Chennai, India, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Hetmyer, Hope power West Indies to huge ODI win over India

Sparta Boss claim Rio Indoor Streetball C/Ship

The victorious Sparta Boss unit posing with their spoils following the conclusion of the Rio Indoor Streetball Championship at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

Team Dorado ends 5th of 28 Clubs at ASATT Invitational Swimming Championship T&T - Monique Watson, Elliott Gonsalves and Vladimir Woodroffe outstanding Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.