Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR NEWS

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

New Demerara River bridge… Tuesday Edition

Opposition protests

Govt.'s compulsory

December 24, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 53

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

acquisition of almost 80 acres

Online readership yesterday 106,298

Non-disclosure of negotiation details costs Trinidad 75% of - Only recovered US$157M its national debt of the pilfered US$17B Guyana GPOC disputes birth claims collects of 350 Eteringbang residents

US$45M final payment from Norway - country seeks new deal

GECOM fails to verify 6,534 new House-to-House registrants …Yet to decide what to do with them

Mothers and their children awaiting medical attention at the Eteringbang Health Centre

Guyana lacks policy, legal and regulatory frameworks to maximise oil benefits - World Bank

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

Guyana lacks policy, legal GECOM fails to verify 6,534 new House-to-House and regulatory frameworks to - Yet to decide what maximise oil benefits - World Bank registrants to do with them

A

GECOM PRO, Yolanda Ward

T

he Guyana E l e c t i o n s y e s t e r d a y announced that 6,534 of the purported new registrants from the truncated House-toHouse exercise have not been confirmed. This comes after a five-day exercise to verify the 16,863 new registrants was concluded.

GECOM's Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, informed reporters that 10,329 of those were confirmed. She provided a breakdown of those statistics by region.

The Commission had resolved to subject the data to a short verification exercise, since the House-to-House exercise came under dispute by the political opposition.

During that exercise, which ended on Sunday last, GECOM field staffers were accompanied by People's Progressive Party (PPP) scrutineers.

A telephone conversation with Commissioner Charles Corbin yesterday revealed that GECOM still hasn't decided how it will place the unconfirmed registrants on the Revised List of Electors (RLE), if at all. A statutory meeting of the Commission is supposed to happen today.

The Commission is expected to discuss, in addition to the House-to-

Regional breakdown of confirmed/unconfirmed new House-to-House registrants House data, the crossmatched Claims and Objections data which has, according to Ward, already returned from the supplier, Gemalto.

GECOM will have to conduct its own analysis of that data; given that data previously cross-matched by Gemalto came back with issues which needed to be corrected.

Ye t , t h e G E C O M Secretariat has a very short window of time to prepare the

RLE. The order announcing the now concluded Claims and Objections exercise states that the Chief Elections O ff i c e r ( C E O ) , K e i t h Lowenfield, has until December 28, 2019 to make changes to the RLE. As of today, GECOM only has four days to meet that deadline, two of which are holidays. The Commission has the power to make a decision extending that deadline, but it is unclear if it will have to.

s a new oil and gas producer, Guyana lacks the policy, legal and regulatory frameworks and institutional capacity needed to maximise the benefits from expected oil revenues and minimise downside risks associated with oil revenues and growth of the sector.

This is according to the World Bank, an international financial institution, which fights poverty worldwide through sustainable solutions. In a document prepared for the Government of Guyana, the Bank was keen to note that the oil and gas sector affects multiple layers of the economy, and impacts the livelihoods of present and future generations, the environment and local communities.

If poorly managed, the financial institution warned that the development of Guyana's oil and gas resources can be economically and socially costly for the country, failing to lead to sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, and shared prosperity.

In addition, the Bank pointed out that there are environmental and social risks – usually low frequency but high impact - associated with oil and gas production that require effective and constant monitoring as well as significant investment in environmental damage prevention and response capacity, among others.

Notwithstanding this, based on experience in resource-rich countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States, Chile, Botswana, several Gulf countries, Norway and others,

the World Bank said that positive impacts on overall poverty levels are achievable while mitigating risks, with good governance, investments in the quality and capacity of public and private institutions, investments in skills and technological capacities, efficient and transparent revenue collection and management, and sound macroeconomic and fiscal management policies.

It was keen to note that these countries triggered growth as resource-based economies, but ultimately succeeded in achieving wider growth, economic diversification and poverty reduction through targeted interventions.

The Bank said that the Government of Guyana would be wise in following these examples, by investing in the strengthening of its institutions and building the legal and regulatory capacity needed to manage the oil resources.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Tuesday December 24, 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

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.

Foreign companies in Guyana have their cakes and eat them too

DEAR EDITOR, Once the largest We are officially an oilproducing nation. Kudos to all our policymakers for democracy, now the making this a reality. a nation are on the purveyor of religious hate cuspWeof aswitnessing a massive

How quickly the mighty fall from grace, especially when powered by the hubris of impatient, intolerant men. That is the story of India today, once hailed as the largest democracy with the largest potential. It is now the largest society with the largest hatreds leading to the largest divisions.

At the helm proudly stands one Narendra Modi, who once transfixed the world in the words of Barack Obama, as a true “reformer-in-chief”, but who has degraded into the bigot-inchief by being his nation’s abuser-in-chief.

All of this is captured very well and conveyed piercingly through the “new narrative about India” which is alarming the world. (Bloomberg, December 8). It is mostly negative, and speaks volumes, as to how driven men develop agendas that harm their peoples, hurt their country’s image, and hurl their societies into the chaotic.

Additionally, on December 2, the New Yorker carried an article titled, “Blood and soil in Narendra Modi’s India” which tells all in great detail. It is of all that is of the wrong thinking approached by wrong methods as enforced by the wrong people.

Those people would be supremacists and fanatics allowed to roam freely under an increasingly violent, unchecked, tide of Hindu Nationalism.

The proving ground was Gujarat, the targets, Muslims.

Modi was the man in charge at the time. While the riots raged, he shielded under a cloud of invisibility. That was part of his strategy: no hands means clean hands. But his hands were there, and they were dirty.

According to the New Yorker, as the riots intensified, “he summoned the Indian Army but held the soldiers in their barracks as the violence spun out of control.”

Senior federal official at Gujarat, Harsh Mander, was stunned by the “official negligence. This was a statesponsored massacre.” Those were the beginnings of “official negligence” leading to “a state-sponsored massacre” and the man in charge was Narendra Modi.

The New Yorker shared that “India is ruled by coldblooded ideological fanatics” who “pervert the media, judiciary and military to anti-Muslim pogroms, targeted assassinations of critics, and collective punishment of those found objectionable.”

To furnish further context, the New York Times on November 10, presented “India’s soundtrack of hate, with a pop sheen.” The Indian pop star, Laxmi Dubey, screamed into her microphone before a frenzied audience: “Every house will be saffron!” which is the color of Hinduism.

“We have to make terrorists run from our blessed land!”

The crowd cheered when she added a throat-slitting hand gesture. Ms. Dubey, with one song amassing 50 million followers in YouTube is one of the biggest stars driving the rise of Hindutva pop music in India. Her songs “openly call for the slaughter of nonbelievers, forced conversions, or attacks on Pakistan.”

During Hindu festivals, processions engaged in shows of intimidation, with songs chanting “Jai Shri Ram!” (Hail Lord Ram). Muslims who refuse to sing along have been attacked or intimidated into submission.

In her songs, Ms. Dubey exhorts Hindus to “perform ceremonies with bullets,” and “fight proudly against ungodly religions” as well as “cut off the tongues of enemies who talk against Ram.” There is a religious fever, definitely battles, maybe even war unfolding.

As if all of this is not evidence of the growing intolerance in so-called democratic India, there is now a new citizenship law. It is law based on religion, with one targeted for special discriminatory treatment.

Undocumented Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan cannot apply for citizenship, but Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who illegally migrated to India from these countries can.

Next on this religious-fueled drive (read anti-Muslim) is a

economic and social transformation if we play our cards correctly. But did we receive the best deal for our resource? And what about our local businessmen? Are they competing on a level playing field against other foreign companies?

Before I answer these questions, please let me briefly reflect on what we have consented to.

First, there is no doubt whatsoever that our agreement with the oil companies has been extremely genuine in favour of the latter. We accepted a 2% royalty when the international average is 10%.

Now, this is quite interesting, since royalty is the first deduction from gross revenue. Not to mention, this is presumably the only and main progressive element of revenue generation for the host country.

In other words, higher oil prices equal more revenue and vice versa. Also, since this is the first set of payments, a relatively stable revenue stream for the host country becomes more than likely. In the world of the resource curse, a smooth revenue flow is very important. Oftentimes, revenue volatility has been cited as one of the main culprits behind economic slowdown and even downfall. Of course, stabilisation funds also play an important role, but the fact remains that, relatively large cyclical upswings in revenue could potentially erode the role of these stabilisation funds.

In Guyana’s case, an embankment on a barrage of public spending could place jobs of public servants in limbo during a downturn in oil prices followed by major cuts to key social programs.

Second, on the legal side, the provisions set out in the contract, especially with Exxon et al, essentially insulate these foreign companies against any

legislative change that could potentially have some sort of negative effect on their financial wellbeing.

For example, if the government decides to increase corporate tax or introduce some sort of new tax measure, these companies would not be affected. Such protection is explicitly set out under the stabilisation clause of these contracts.

Furthermore, though there is ground for renegotiation, this is very unlikely and not advisable, due to the possible widespread exodus of other foreign companies operating in Guyana and the likelihood of the country being blacklisted by major international companies.

So what can we do to ensure a larger share of the pie? We have to activate our local content policy! This, however, is not as straightforward as we might like to think.

First, there are no fiscal measures in place to ensure our local manufacturers and service providers hold a

competitive edge against their foreign counterparts. In fact, they are at a disadvantage due to the heavy tax burdens.

Foreign companies, on the other hand, are showered with tax concessions. At this point, a key question that emerges is, how could we expand our market shares in the provision of specialised and other value-added services to these oil companies if we lack the expertise and capacity?

Wouldn’t it be better off if we could just ease off the rate of extraction, say for three years or so, until we have our local capacity up and ready to absorb the oil windfall?

Of course, this might be the best way out, but it seems highly unlikely, since there is no depletion policy in place.

It is the prerogative of the government to control the extraction rate and not the oil companies.

While we are at it, the Trinidadians are entering and crowding out our local businesses. Can we fault them? Absolutely not! It is (Continued on page 5)

NY Guyanese in Christmas Spirit DEAR EDITOR, The Christmas season is upon us once again. It is one of expectancy among the large New York Guyanese population numbering over a quarter million. An aura of Christmas celebration is in the air in the Guyanese and Caribbean communities in NY. Christmas is the most celebrated of all festivals and Guyanese have been making elaborate preparations to welcome the joyous season.

The churches where Guyanese normally worship have organised nativity plays and candlelight services for Christmas Eve midnight.

People are expected to go for midnight mass at the churches. Christmas Eve excitement has been at a fever pitch since Saturday last and will continue till today with baking of the cake and

making other preparations for Christmas meals.

The commercial districts o n L i b e r t y, F l a t b u s h , Jamaica, Cypress, and Westchester Avenues have been teeming with shoppers.

Huge numbers of multicoloured lights and other paraphernalia are on display in front of stores and in front of homes where Guyanese Americans reside. These brightly coloured lights, trimmings and other decorations everywhere are reminiscent of the celebrations back home.

The stores and the avenue itself are brightened for the yuletide season, well decorated with party favours and buntings comparable to any other shopping district in the city during Christmas.

Christmas music at full blast emanates from many of the stores.

National Register of Citizens. The official purpose is aimed at the undocumented, but the fear is that even the native-born Muslims may come under the radar and targeted for some nefarious purpose.

Muslims are busy rummaging their papers so that if called upon, they can prove that they are of the land going back generations.

This is all troubling and intolerance of any kind is not only unacceptable, but damnable, regardless of the source.

The aromatic smell of dainty dishes waft in the air from the restaurants and bakeries selling bread and Guyanese cakes. And the bars are doing brisk business.

One can purchase virtually everything related to Christmas and end-of-year festivities at the hundreds of Guyanese and other Caribbean stores in the communities.

One can also feel the Christmas spirit in residential streets. Homes are well lit on the outside and decorated with Christmas paraphernalia – all shapes, designs, sizes and colours of lights flickering around homes and on trees. Going around the neighbourhoods, one can see an abundance of flickering multi-coloured lights which line the exterior of homes, and even on some trees outside on the lawn.

The Christmas holiday festival transcends religions.

People of all faiths celebrate the end-of-year season.

Christmas lights blink near fluttering jhandis.

Businesses have held end of year parties. Virtually all Guyanese businesses, especially the real estate and

law offices, had Christmas parties. Lawyer Dharmin Baichu had a lovely fete last weekend. Other businesses also held parties. The Arya Samaj USA Mandir had its annual yearend concert and dinner two weekends ago.

The Senior Citizens centre also held its luncheon two weekends ago. Traditional Guyanese food, such as dhal puri and curried dishes were served along with ginger beer and mauby.

Schools in Guyanese communities will close from Friday, but unlike in Guyana there are no school parties.

Christmas in New York is not the same as being in Guyana. And many want that real Guyanese experience.

They bought airline tickets for the trip home – an annual pilgrimage for many.

As Guyanese in the diaspora and in Guyana are caught up with the festivities, they should use the occasion to uplift their spirituality and show respect towards others, especially the elderly, and give to others in need. That is the essence of the spirit of the season. Happy holidays!

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Tuesday December 24, 2019

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

The search for solutions to police misconduct DEAR EDITOR, After a hiatus of some four years, and at the urging of several persons who can best be described as concerned citizens, I am forced to go against my earlier conclusion that it makes absolutely no sense in sharing my thoughts on national issues, since things will remain pretty much the same whether I write or not, and the safest (and sanest) thing to do is to do nothing. So here I am once again writing for whatever it is worth.

The Guyana Police Force, which I first joined in September of 1974, was an institution that – like any other, had its own fair share of challenges. None, I hasten to add, quite like those facing the GPF today.

Taken in context, one may be forgiven for concluding that the situation seems to be on a downward spiral. I refer to the swirling allegations of police misconduct that seem to be occurring with increasing frequency over the years.

Notwithstanding the public commitment for police reform at the highest level of national life, the current challenges are compounded by a patent lack of concomitant action at several levels. Commissioner Leslie James ought not to be faulted for the apparent malaise either

above or below him. He can only work with the tools provided, including policy formulation, and those responsible for their execution. He is caught in the middle. What is to be done?

An Early Intervention System (EIS), which is practiced in other jurisdictions, is a system that supports the effective supervision and management of officers, other ranks and civilian employees. EIS identifies employees whose conduct indicates emerging problems affecting the quality of their work performance.

Two instances of its use in the United States, which unarguably has a high rate of unprofessional police conduct, are outlined as follows: The Christopher Commission which was appointed to investigate problems within the Los Angeles Police Department in response to the March 3, 1991 beating of Rodney King, identified a group of 44 officers with particularly serious performance records.

The Commission after perusing departmental records recommended the creation of an EI system, since it was determined that the department took no effective action to either discipline or correct the behaviour of those officers.

The following year, using a similar methodology, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) identified 62 deputies who were responsible for the initiation of almost 500 use-of-force/ harassment complaint investigations. Among them were seventeen deputies who were responsible for 22 civil lawsuits that resulted in damage awards or settlements of about $3.2 million against the County.

The Kolts Commission like the Christopher Commission, concluded that the LASD had “failed to deal with officers who have readily identifiable patterns of excessive force incidents on their records.”

Of particular concern was the fact that nearly all of the 62 deputies were still on patrol duty with many serving as Field Training Officers (FTO) thereby heightening the prospects of “imparting their ‘street wisdom’ to patrol deputies.”

I have always been impressed by Barrington Braithwaite’s passion and expectations of fair play and justice for all. It is also my belief that it is incumbent upon policy makers in all spheres to apply their best effort to ensuring that ranks at all levels, are prepared to manage the complexities of policing. Gilmartin (2002) on

“The emotional survival for law enforcement officers” offers that police work exerts particular physiological, emotional and psychological strain on law enforcement practitioners.

An early intervention system or early warning system is a data-based police management tool designed to identify officers whose behaviour is problematic, and provide some form of intervention to avoid or correct misbehaviour. As an early response, the system can alert the Force to these individuals, and warn the potential deviants, while providing counselling or training to help them change their problematic behaviour.

Furthermore, the Force would be expected to intervene before such an employee reaches a situation that warrants formal disciplinary action. The conclusion of Walker et al(2005)”Supervision and Intervention within Early Intervention Systems: A Guide for Law Enforcement Executives” instructs that “Early warning systems appear to have a dramatic effect on reducing citizen complaints and other indicators of problematic police performance among those officers subject to intervention.”

However for the EIS to

The President’s elusive phantoms DEAR EDITOR, The President’s address to the nation on Friday December 20th to declare that, “Guyana has become a petroleum-producing state” did nothing to stir the enthusiasm of the Guyanese people.

His plan to issue a proclamation to declare “December 20 as “National Petroleum Day” does nothing more than to expose his penchant for frivolity - “pomp and ceremony” that has been a hallmark of his presidency.

He seems to be of the opinion that the proclamation “will serve to remind citizens of their duty to protect the country’s patrimony and to ensure the sustainable

management of the finite hydrocarbon resources.”

The president seems oblivious of the fact that no consultation was done with the people prior to his Government signing a contract that Guyanese in general and the rest of the world considered, covertly, in favour of Exxon and partners.

This attempt by the president to pass a burnt out torch to the people, which he feels, “will serve to remind citizens of their duty to protect the country’s patrimony” is indicative that the president is of the opinion that the entire nation is suffering from progressive amnesia.

Now that first oil has

arrived, we no longer hear of Green State Development Strategy from the president, the sloganeering has now been changed to, “Decade of Development, 2020 to 2029”. “The good life for all” and “no one will be left behind” - two indispensable preconceived phantoms of the president that the people had waited five years to catch a glimpse of, were certainly not forgotten by the president in his address to the nation.

Unmindful of the CCJ decision that his Government has been in a “caretaker status” since December 2018, on account of the NCM, the president continued to speak of a” Natural resource wealth fund act” passed in

January of 2019 without any consultation with the people, and in the absence of the opposition, who openly vows to rescind this act, should they be given a mandate by the electorate.

The President said, “Guyanese, I assure that your Government will manage petroleum revenues prudently.”

If this statement is by any means visionary from the president - given what had transpired with the “signing bonus” and the PSA with Exxon and Tullow Oil - I am convinced that a majority of Guyanese would hope that he doesn’t envisions himself at the helm of this, “your Government” that he spoke of.

Rudolph Singh

stand a reasonable chance of success, it must function to help identify and address problems before police (and army) personnel get into serious trouble and/or before their well-being is compromised.”

It should not be thought that the established disciplinary framework (warts and all) is being replaced by intervention. However, I support the view that the EIS should be seen as a tool to reward positive police behaviour. Several guidelines are offered from the reading I have perused including: A. All ranks must be able to recognise behaviours that indicate that they may be having problems coping with their occupational pressures.

The Force Administration can provide the necessary assistance to help individuals address their problems and lead happy productive lives.

B. The early identification of potential miscreants with problems, and a menu of remedial actions, can increase organisational accountability, and offer employees a better opportunity to meet the organisation’s values, vision and mission statements and to live a healthier life.

C. EIS is a problemoriented approach which can alert management to undesirable behaviour

patterns over a specified period of time, and can provide a way to provide non-disciplinary direction and training before the rank becomes a liability. These include assistance strategies for the specific issue(s) affecting a member.

D. Intervention should include counselling, retraining and psychological evaluation if warranted. It is not intended as the only way for ranks to address their problems, but rather as a tool to help subordinate officers, middle and senior managers, and the administration to determine if job stress or performance problems exist.

The benefits of early intervention include helping ranks with problems or lower skill levels; controlling complaints and increasing public confidence; getting supervisors more involved with ranks’ development; identifying training needs; and supporting the termination of those who are unredeemable.

I try to be optimistic even in the face of the stark reality of small minds. Therefore I can only hope that this small contribution can serve to stimulate a more extensive search for solutions to police misconduct.

Yours sincerely, Patrick E. Mentore

Foreign companies...

From page 4 the responsibility of our government to ensure that our people benefit from this windfall.

What needs to be done is to have our local content policy in place, specifically targeting our local businesses. Some of the initiatives could include (i) contractual requirements favouring the use of local goods and services; (ii) regulations and taxations that discriminate in favour of local industries; (iii) regulations that would ensure the transfer of technology from foreign to local compa-

nies; (iv) include local content amongst criteria of awarding contracts to foreign companies; (v) incentives to foreign companies to reinvest profit domestically.

As the government rightfully said, the first 3 million barrels of oil is a “sweetener”.

Sweetener in a sense that it would pacify the enraged populace while diluting the bitterness of Exxon’s imagery.

But we are too clever for this deception.

We all know that the 3 million barrels is nothing but a charade.

Roger Samuels

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Another proud episode of sugar worker activism and struggle DEAR EDITOR, Mr Earl John in a letter published in the December 20, in another newspaper sought to give some perspective on the sugar levy.

The sugar levy, of course, represents one of the many tangible contributions the sugar industry has made to Guyana and its people.

Mr John in his letter explained the various components of the levy. He shared that the first two (2) of the three (3) components – the Sugar Industry Price Stabilisation Fund and the Sugar Industry Rehabilitation Fund – have been discontinued. The third (3) component – the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund (SILWF) – he mentioned was still in existence though he questioned the wisdom.

Our Union finds this questioning disheartening and that seeming contempt would be directed to the sugar industry funds being utilised to assist the well-being and welfare of sugar workers and their families.

The SILWF which is administered through a Committee which includes representatives of the sugar company, the cane farmers, the Government and the unions, has assisted greatly in alleviating the sanitation and infrastructure deficits in sugar communities. We need not forget that it is the sugar workers efforts that have allowed the industry to make its manifold contributions to the nation.

The levy, according to the letter writer, was proposed to the then Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham, by Bookers Sugar Estates. It is almost unfathomable that a profitseeking enterprise as Bookers would seek to even initiate any discussion that would seek to tax their “excess profits” as Mr John puts it.

Former Labour Minister, Dr N.K. Gopaul, in his book ‘Resistance and Change’, pointed out ”…Bookers Brothers and McConnell Limited claimed that the 1974 levy imposed by the government was both excessive and punitive and called for its removal.” This appears contradictory to the rosy picture being painted.

Mr John next says that ”…it was only in May 1976 that GAWU became the recognised bargaining agent of the sugar workers…”

This, of course, is not correct, as GAWU appended the recognition agreement with the Sugar Producers Association on February 27, 1976 and officially was the workers’ bargaining agent from March 01, 1976.

We are reminded of the 135-day strike by sugar workers in 1977 regarding outstanding profit sharing to sugar workers.

The GAWU in a statement in 1977 at the beginning of the strike reminded ”the workers have not yet received profitsharing for the years 1975 and 1976 and were short paid their profit share for 1974". The union then quantified the benefit owed to sugar workers at G$215 million (US$85 million at that time) and claimed this amount from the GuySuCo. Of course, Mr John failed to mention that during that period of our history, the then PNC Government moved swiftly to put pressure on protest actions by the sugar workers. Just a week following the strike call, a meeting of the National Assembly was hastily summoned to pass two bills the Summary Jurisdiction (Appeals) (Amendment) Bill and another to reactivate Part II of the National Security Act. The haste with which the government brought two repressive bills before the National Assembly on September 01, 1977 was indeed alarming, since it suspended the standing rules, and rushed them through all stages, negating the rights of opposition members to have time to consider and examine them in detail.

The result was that the two pieces of legislation gave the Government the right to cancel the basic rights of the people enshrined in both the constitution of Guyana and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

This laid the basis for intimating and coercive actions to be taken against sugar workers and many were incarcerated for frivolous

reasons.

The strike was marked by widespread police harassment. More than 130 activists of GAWU and the PPP were arrested on flimsy excuses, and most of them were charged for intimidation.

Incidents of police harassment were numerous.

One striker, Lokie Narine of Blairmont, was charged for ”public terror”.

After five weeks in prison, he was put on bail of $10,000.

In many cases, bail has been excessive, from $5,000 to $12,000 for simple offences. In West Berbice, Mansaran Persaud and S. Sakichand were arrested and, after being held for 36 hours, each was placed on bail of $1,000 (cash) or $2,000 (transport) and ordered to report once every week to the police station, even though they were not charged with any offence.

In West Demerara, one cane scale representative, Goolgar, was arrested four times.

A GAWU field secretary, Jeewan Persaud, was arrested, held for 24 hours, released and re-arrested as soon as he exited the police station.

Two workers on strike, Amernauth and S. Prem of Blairmont, on charge of intimidation, were granted bail at $5,000 (each) or $10,000 (transport) on the condition that they give a verbal

assurance to the magistrate that they would return to work.

A GAWU motor car was impounded at New Amsterdam police station on three occasions within six weeks, two times for “fitness”, and the third on October 13, for suspicion of having stolen parts. These actions were of sheer malice against the Union, since the police were fully aware that the vehicle was being used by the GAWU and its Honorary President and Leader of the PPP, Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Also, a van load of food for striking workers in West Demerara was seized by the police.

Three separate quantities of foodstuff for workers on strike were also seized in New Amsterdam and East Berbice as well as 39 bags of rice at Enmore. These actions evidently formed the basis of the punitive action the then government had in mind.

Moreover, the Government, conveniently, then declared that the strike was political, so as to enable it to embark on total countermobilisation.

In a joint statement of January 07, 1978, the CCWU, the UGSA and the NAACIE said ”[t]he methods used to bust the strike - arrest and prosecution of organisers, excessive bail, the banning of public meetings, the

seizure of strike relief, the use of military and para military forces, as well public servants, to do the work of the strikers and the mass recruitment and use of scab labour including child labour, from the ranks of the unemployed - recall the worst anti-labour practices of the capitalist bosses ...

When all these are added to the threat of detention without trial and of curfew under Part Two of the National Security Act, it is clear that we fight against a type of neo-colonial barbarism…”

Mr John also spoke about two unionists from the United Kingdom visiting during the workers’ strike action. The unionists were representatives of the workers Tate and Lyle in London and notably the workers there refused to unload Guyana’s sugar.

According to the letter writer the unionists ”…recommended against the blockade.”

However, Dr Gopaul recorded ”…[t]wo shop stewards from Tate and Lyle refinery in UK, Terry Hardy and John Wheatley, visited Guyana and informed the Guyanese public on their effective blockade of Guyana’s sugar at ports in the UK in solidarity with the striking sugar workers.

Their presence in Guyana

forced an admission from the government, which had previously denied press reports that ships with sugar from Guyana were held in UK ports without being discharged.” Again, it appears, Mr John had his history mixed-up.

Of course, even the TUC then recognised that the Government perpetuated the strike. Then General Secretary of the TUC, Joseph Pollydore, in a letter of November 02, 1977 to the Minister of Labour pointed out ”[t]he workers never anticipated that they would witness… a nationalised industry… in a much stronger position than the industry had been under capitalist ownership, to show resistance to the acceptance of traditional terms of resumption and be allowed to remain steadfast… while the country’s economy suffers enormously.”

The strike represents one of the proud chronicles of sugar worker activism and struggle and the hurdles they have to jump through to be respected and treated with dignity.

Today, we see again a similar contemptuous attitude taken by the heirs of the then Government.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Tribute to Mr. Vincent D’Ornellas DEAR EDITOR, My heart was blanketed with deep sorrow when I read the sad tidings of the demise of Mr. Vincent Emerette Oswald D’Ornellas A.A, former Accountant General of Guyana, who passed away in New York as reported in the Online Edition of Kaieteur News, recently.

In that regard, I would like to express our sincere condolences on behalf of those team members of the Guyana Consulate General in New York, who were fortunate to have worked with such a distinguished gentleman during the time when I served as the Officerin Charge of that Agency.

In a temporal world engulfed in tumult and a litany of other woes - where the Forces of Darkness are constantly battling against the Divinity of Light for the Salvation of the Soul - the brevity of life and certainty of death should never be relegated to oblivion, but always remain the focus of Man’s thoughts for “in the midst of life there is death.”

My first encounter with Mr. D’Ornellas happened when I was stationed at the State Audit Section of the

Ministry of Finance Building in Georgetown. Guyana. Our Audit Unit was adjacent to his office when he performed the duties as Deputy Accountant General. He had a very tranquil and respectable demeanour and was a very pleasant character. He was well liked by everyone and was the epitome of comity and humility.

He was very knowledgeable of the various operations of the Accountant General’s Department, and several years ago was awarded the Guyana’s Third National Honour - the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA) primarily in recognition of his sterling contributions to Guyana’s Public Service.

As fate might have decreed, our stars crossed again in 1992 when I served at the Guyana Consulate General in New York. At that time he was a most a valued team member of our Accounting Unit and performed his duties with incredible diligence and fidelity.

Mr. D’Ornellas was a man of impeccable integrity who never compromised his sacrosanct convictions on truth and justice.

I vividly recall a particular anecdote which he shared with me at that time when he served at the Accountant General’s Department. It was alleged that two officers from the Dependants’ Pensions Fund had fraudulently written off the outstanding loan balances of some contributors to the Fund, and he was instructed by the Secretary to the Treasury to issue them with letters of dismissal, an action which fell outside the parameters of his responsibility.

He bluntly refused to do so, as such an act would have certainly compromised his convictions and impugned his good character. He was never susceptible to coercion or intimidation, and in the words of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar was as “constant as the northern star “in the views and beliefs that he so richly cherished.

Moreover, when I served at the Guyana Consulate in New York there were certain forces of darkness that were working assiduously to assassinate my reputation and to undermine my administration, but Mr. D’Ornellas was a beacon of light for me, for I found a great

reservoir of wisdom in his counseling in responding to the evil elements that had assailed me unsuccessfully.

As I reflect on the passing of such a dear and noble friend, I am reminded of the timeless, evergreen thought of Marcus Tulles Cicero, the inimitable Roman statesman, orator, lawyer and philosopher, who once remarked that “the life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.”

In closing this tribute, I would like to say that the precious memories of such a wonderful gentleman may forever be immortalised in the hearts of everyone who has had the honour and privilege of knowing such an unforgettable, loving person in this transient world.

So farewell our great friend. Sleep well our good brother. May the angels of heaven watch over your sweet soul until we meet again on the other side of life on that glorious morning of the resurrection at the feet of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, where we will all bask forever in the radiant sunshine of His Eternal Love.

Andrew Zamal Canada

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

SBM hands over 'Liza Destiny' Exxon makes 15th discovery at to Guyana counterparts

G

uyanese have been told that ExxonMobil Guyana and its joint venture partners in the Stabroek Block began producing oil from the Liza I offshore oil field on Friday—months ahead of schedule.

It turns out however that December first oil was always ExxonMobil's scheduled start up.

This was confirmed by SBM Offshore, the Dutch company that was hired to build the Liza Destiny, Guyana's first Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, when it officially handed over the facility to its Guyana counterparts.

SBM Offshore's Chief Executive Officer, Bruno Chabas, in making the announcement yesterday said, “Our teams have done an excellent job by completing the project well in line with our client's schedule.”

Elaborating on the schedule for the FPSO, Chabas said, “The delivery time from the engineering study phase until first oil, three years, is impressive and a clear testimony of our capabilities and industry leading experience.”

…confirms ExxonMobil always targeted December first oil According to Chabas, “We are looking forward to further generating value for our client, ExxonMobil, and in particular with respect to making a contribution towards Guyana becoming a significant oil producing country.”

The company's managing director, Oivind Tangen, in making the announcement noted that, “we remain highly focused on diligently moving through the final steps, with Health and Safety remaining a first priority.”

He too announced that, “this milestone also marks the formal hand over of the project to our Operations organisation in Guyana, an organisation that is supported by our global organisation…

“Together, we shall ensure a responsible operatorship and continuously strive for operational excellence in all our activities.”

The FPSO is installed at the Liza field in the Stabroek Block, some 200 kilometres

offshore Guyana.

ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is the operator who holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

H e s s G u y a n a Exploration Ltd. holds 30 per cent interest and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest.

The Liza Destiny constructed in Singapore, is a converted Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) that was rebuilt for ExxonMobil.

A cco r d in g to S B M Offshore's projections, following start up last Friday, the vessel is expected to house year round about 60 to 70 crew members but is built to accommodate 120 people aboard.

The 60 to 70 crew members will be operating on a daily basis with support services sourced in Guyana.

On shore, SBM Offshore has also indicated using a

team of about 20 persons initially, particularly for logistics for its supplies and technical support such as the provision of training for staff.

The lease and operation contract for the FPSO between EEPGL and SBM Offshore includes an initial period of ten years with extension options up to an additional ten years.

The company has since already indicated an intention to stay in Guyana throughout the course of the ExxonMobil operations.

Discoveries to date in the Stabroek Block have reached in excess of 6.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Exxon has already begun construction of a second FPSO—the Liza Unity—for production in the Liza Deep/Liza II discovery.

The announcement of oil production in Guyana came on Friday last, a day which will now be known as Guyana Petroleum Day—four months ahead of what was the “scheduled” March 2020 first oil.

Stabroek Block

J

ust after the production of Guyana's first oil, ExxonMobil yesterday made a discovery offshore Guyana at the Mako-1 well thus making it the 15th discovery on the Stabroek Block.

This adds to the previously discovered wells with an estimated amount of recoverable of more than six billion oil equivalent barrels.

Mako-1 is approximately 164 feet (50 meters) of a high quality oil bearing sandstone reservoir, drilled in 5,315 feet of water located southeast of Liza field, which began production on December 20, 2019, projected to produce 120 barrels of oil per day utilising the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO).

The Liza Unity is projected to have a production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day; it is under construction and is expected to start production in mid 2022.

The Government of Guyana approvals are pending along with the project sanctioning of the third development production from the Payara field north of the Liza discoveries.

This aims to begin as early as 2023 reaching an estimate of 220,000 barrels of oil per day. The drilling activities continue with the

four drill ships to further explore and evaluate new resources as well as develop the resources within the approved projects.

Stabroek Block has 6.6 million acres and now has 15 wells, Exxon combined with the Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45% production interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana exploration holds 30% production interest and the CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25% production interest.

“The discovery by ExxonMobil Guyana and its partners comes on heels of the start of oil production.

The Cooperative Republic of Guyana is experiencing a truly historic moment that has all the ingredients to facilitate a paradigm shift towards sustained economic transformation,” said Dr. Mark Bynoe.

The government gave all assurance for the continuation of ensuring the petroleum revenues benefit all Guyanese through decades of development while the Department of Energy will continue to be at the vanguard of this effort.

Strengthening capacity to allow the effective and efficient management of Guyana's hydrocarbon resources and enhance value retention.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Guyana collects US$45M final - country seeks payment from Norway new deal T

he Kingdom of Norway has released $393.4M Norwegian Kroner or $9.1B (US$45M) to the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund, administered by the World Bank for disbursement to Guyana for approved projects. It will represent the final payment of the US$250M forest deal Guyana struck with Norway back in 2009.

Guyana is now talking with Norway about a new deal. This was confirmed yesterday by the Head of the Project Management Office of the Ministry of the Presidency, Dr. Marlon Bristol.

According to the Ministry in a statement, Bristol noted that the release of funds was made last Wednesday to the World Bank.

The World Bank issued a confirmation yesterday that the funds have been received.

Dr. Bristol noted that the funds will be used for projects in areas such as renewable energy, 'green' tourism, biodiversity, strengthening of indigenous mechanisms,

Guyana has collected the final payment from Norway. and the European UnionF L E G T Vo l u n t a r y Partnership Agreement (VPA) Partnership, which is a legally binding trade agreement between the European Union and a timber-producing country outside the EU. He further noted that

Guyana will also enter a new round of talks with the Norwegians to support President David Granger's Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) and especially those environmental safeguards that can realise a 'green' economy.

“These fruitful developments are possible owing to the hard work of several Mi n i s t e r s a n d especially, the Minister of State under whose purview the Guyana REDD+ Investment (GRIF) falls under; other Government agencies, nongovernmental

organisations (NGOs), indigenous peoples' representation among others. A special thank you to the Kingdom of Norway.

Project development can now move ahead assiduously for the full realisation of longawaited benefits to the Guyanese people. From a slow start and a past of penalty to the tune of US$15 million before this Government took office, the Guyana Norway Agreement can now boast of satisfactory results,” he said.

The transfer has been made possible following a meeting between Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn HastingsWilliams and Norway's Minister for Climate and Environment, Mr. Ola Elvestuen, back in September on the margins of the United Nations Climate Summit in New York.

During that meeting, Norway had agreed to pay over the $393.4 Norwegian Kroner or approximately US$50M of climate funds to Guyana, which authorities said represents the remainder of the pledge

Dr. Marlon Bristol made by that country back in 2009. In accordance with the bilateral agreement between the two countries, the two ministers had agreed that Guyana has met its commitments and therefore Norway would disburse all final payments.

Minister HastingsWilliams acknowledged that at this juncture both countries indeed would have met their responsibilities with the final release.

The 2009 deal under the last Bharrat Jagdeo administration was a groundbreaking one which Guyana was supposed to reduce its deforestation rate, meeting a number of set benchmarks. Guyana lost about US$20M of the US$250M not meeting a number of requirements.

New Demerara River bridge…

Opposition protests Govt.'s compulsory acquisition of almost 123 acres

G

overnment has compulsorily acquired 123 acres of prime lands at Houston, East Bank Demerara and on the opposite side of the river for the construction of access roads for a new floating bridge.

The details are published Official Gazette dated December 21, 2019.

The Opposition immediately raised questions, making it clear that such a transaction should not be done while the “caretaker” government under the Coalition is

preparing for general and regional elections.

A planned new Demerara River bridge has been in the works for many years now, after it was recognised that the aging one had long outlived its 40-year usefulness.

The Coalition Government had entered a controversial agreement to conduct feasibility studies which placed Houston, East Bank Demerara and Versailles, West Bank as the ideal locations for the bridge.

According to the Order signed by Minister of Public

Infrastructure, David Patterson, on December 16, the lands are being acquired for public purposes for the construction of access roads for a new bridge.

On the East Bank of Demerara, some 55.623 acres, comprising of tracts 'RR', 'RR1', 'RR2', 'RR3', Parcel 184, 4727, sub-parcel 4220A and sub-parcel 204A, being portions of Plantation Houston and Ruimveldt.

Schedule 2 speaks to two strips of land- 36.37 and 7.43 acres- at Plantation Versailles, West Bank Demerara, being compulsorily acquired.

Another strip of land23.9 acres is located at Plantation Goed Fortuin, Versailles, Malgre Tout, Klien Pouderoyen, Grant 7042 and 7043, at the rear of Plantation Vreed-en-Hoop, was last set of lands compulsorily acquired by the government.

Yesterday, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, made it clear that the timing

of transactions raises alarming questions.

“These lands are being compulsorily acquired by a government that is in caretaker mode that is never supposed to undertake such.”

According to Jagdeo, there have been several questions about other aspects of the project, including feasibility studies, which were controversially awarded to a European consultant.

“We all know that the Procurement Commission ruled that the procurement aspect of the feasibility studies was improper.

“There seems to be haste to get these lands a few months before elections. We don't understand the haste as in any case, it will be at least another year, before any construction can begin, even assuming you raise the financing.”

The former president explained that the preparatory work alone is

one year before contracts are awarded and mobilisation begins.

According to Jagdeo, the People's Progressive Party will be looking more closely at the transactions in the coming days.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has been meeting with residents who would be affected by the construction, whenever it starts, at the Houston, and other areas on the West Bank Demerara.

The one bridge across the Demerara River was completed in 1978 and was designed to last for two decades.

However, it is now 40 years old and unable to efficiently handle the traffic.

Guyana receives more than 10,000 vehicles annually, with its roads and that bridge struggling.

Police and other authorities have been employing a number of measures, including closing off lanes at peak periods and

Minister David Patterson even halting traffic going one way across the bridge at certain times.

However, increasingly, the challenges have been surfacing.

Government is pursuing the construction of another roadway behind the schemes on the East Bank of Demerara as an alternative route linking the East Bank and East Coast, with the aim to reduce the volume of traffic.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Sensationalism, fake news on social media undermine journalism

By Kemol King

I

n the age of the internet, every person with a smart phone has become a reporter.

If they notice an accident, they open their phones to flash photos or to go live on Facebook. If a political party wants direct access to the public, liaising with the press is no longer absolutely necessary. The party simply opens a Facebook page and makes posts.

Facebook, one of the more popularly used social media platforms has become something of a monster for modern journalists. Since many online journalistic publications share their news stories on that platform, thousands of impressionable users have learnt to see Facebook as the application they should open if they want to read the news. But this comes with a caveat.

Persons who understand the power and influence can wield against impressionable social media users by just owning a Facebook account, may make up stories, which aren't necessarily true, but are shared thousands of times on the platform.

They do not necessarily hold themselves to the same ethics and journalistic codes used by media houses.

Even political commentators, and political actors, use Facebook and other social media platforms to spread information that may be untrue or misleading.

GPA President, Nazima Raghubir The effect of fake and/or sensational news being shared on Facebook was hotly discussed during and after the US 2016 General Elections, and is an important consideration for Guyana as well. Kaieteur News, as such, highlights the need for social media users to ensure that what they read on social media is fact-checked and/or taken from credible sources.

G u y a n a P r e s s Association (GPA) President Nazima Raghubir told Kaieteur News, that this is the age of “disinformation”.

And due to that, she advises that the role of journalists is even more pronounced now.

The upcoming General and Regional Election season is often described as “the mother of all elections”.

Raghubir said that what happens during this period

“will drive home the importance of real journalism.”

Fact-checking, she says, is vital, because “[journalists] have to be the persons citizens come to for the truth.”

Raghubir added that the Press Association has already met with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the determination of a reporting code for journalists to use during the election season; she said that this is something of a custom for the GECOM's relationship with journalists.

G PA h a s a p p r i s e d GECOM that it is expected to formulate that code.

Furthermore, Raghubir said that there are two planned sessions for journalists, on reporting during the election season.

One sensitisation session will be held on January 7, 2020. The content will be specific to Nomination Day, which is on January 10, 2020. Another training, to be held late January, is expected to be a comprehensive programme for journalists on electoral laws, processes and the role of the media during the season.

Raghubir said that the training programme will be funded through a grant from the American Embassy, with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Guyana taking care of the organisation and project management.

Dem boys seh...

Dem small party got to buy a drone

D

is world full of people who got great imagination. And if is not imagination then is people who can lie like when horse trotting.

Over de weekend, dem boys read how dem small parties decide to behave like Guyana and de rest of de Caribbean countries. Dem tekking a decision to form a union just like how Guyana and dem smaller countries form Caricom.

And just like how some of dem countries was afraid to join because dem think dem woulda get swallowed up in de same way some of dem small parties behaving.

Two of dem agree to join up but dem boys expect to hear one big row about who gon be de leader.

And de group got great ideas. One of de leaders seh dat he support growing. He seh everyday, he supporters growing. Dem boys seh he now got a golden opportunity to impress people.

He can line up he supporters and get a

drone to tek de photo from overhead. Then he can tek dat same photo and pay fuh a full page ad in de newspaper. People gon see.

One man done seh he gon vote fuh de smaller parties. He gon have to vote about twenty times because dat is de number of new parties.

Anodda man seh dem should form a big coalition. Dat is good but dat got dem boys worried because none of dem got money to campaign although some of dem got dem personal money. But even dat tie up.

Uncle Freddie seh if all of dem small party coalesce then dem gon get at least one seat. Dat is going to be something because dem got to decide who gon sit in Parliament.

And fuh sure, de Parliament chamber ain't got space fuh dem to play musical chairs.

But then again, Uncle Freddie is a man who love to create de impossible. Dem boys wan fuh know why he don't form he own party. He might get a seat.

Talk half and hope wid dem small party.

PAGE 09

Nondisclosure of negotiation details costs Trinidad 75% of its national debt - Only recovered US$157M of the pilfered US$17B

W

h e n Governments fail to be transparent about the decisions they make and deals that are signed with oil and gas operators, they can be taken for a royal ride that leaves the country losing billions of dollars in revenue. This is the case with Guyana's CARICOM sister, Trinidad and Tobago.

During a recent interview on Kaieteur Radio's Programme, Guyana's Oil and You, Energy Advisor, Mr. Anthony Paul explained that his country was “taken to the cleaners” due to the government's failure to be transparent with the people as well as its trust in the companies to market the country's resource in a fair and honest manner.

But when an audit was done, Trinidad found that it was being robbed by the billions of dollars. In fact, the country lost US$17B. But what occurred after this came to the fore is an even more saddening story, says Paul. The Trinidadian said, “...In 2010, our Prime Minister went to London to meet with the companies (about the taxes owed on the sale of our gas). And instead of coming back with what we thought we were owed, which was billions of dollars in taxes, he came back smiling with a cheque for US$157M...”

Paul said that

Man busted with 465 grams cannabis

P

olice in Berbice a c t i n g o n information, ventured to Stelling Road, New Amsterdam, where the route 56 Minibus Park is located.

The operation commenced just around 10:30 hrs on Sunday.

Upon their arrival, a male of Ferry Street, NA was approached and searched. It was discovered that he had in his possession, marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The cannabis was confiscated and the individual was arrested. The illicit substance was weighed at the Central Police Station and amounted to 465 grams. He is being processed for court.

interestingly, the Prime Minister stated that the companies convinced him that based on the formula set out in the contract, that is what they should pay. But the Energy Advisor was keen to note that Trinidad's law stipulates otherwise.

The Energy Advisor said, “The law supersedes the contract and the law says that you will pay the price in the contract if it (gas) goes to the market in which you are contracted in but if it goes elsewhere then you have to pay the world market price.”

Paul intimated that if the nation was kept abreast of the decisions the government

Energy, Strategy Advisor Anthony Paul was making every step of the way about its resources, then the foregoing situation could have been averted.

But in the absence of accountability or transparency, Paul noted that three-quarters of the country's national debt, that is, US$17B, was given away.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday December 24, 2019

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Christmas rain falls on the PPP and PNC

T

his Christmas is one we must enjoy. We may not know what will happen to Guyana next year. Our history has been a turbulent one and there is not one faint sign that a happiness kingdom is awaiting Guyanese.

Christmas 2019 is about to fade. On Wednesday, we should enjoy it; no one knows what will happen in Guyana in 2020. It may not be encouraging. Whether Guyanese like it or not, two parties with unacceptable leaders will dominate this country at Christmas in 2020. The question is, “Under their leadership, will the country survive?”

The AFC is virtually

dead and its remnants will be submerged in the overall biology of the PNC. Either the PPP or the PNC will win a majority or be in control of the state through a minority government. There is nothing anyone in this world can do to stop one of these two having power again.

A minority government can curtail their power intoxication but one of these two monsters will be in control of this depressed territory and maudlin society come Christmas 2020 next year.

It is a frightening thought. It is not a thought to even contemplate but one must never run from reality.

The choice between PPP leaders and PNC mandarins

is not one to even reflect on for fleeting moment. I have lived under President Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, and Desmond Hoyte. I will exempt President Janet Jagan because she had an ephemeral hold on power.

Burnham, Jagan and Hoyte had courage, leadership qualities and were driven by genuine patriotic sentiments. From Jagdeo to Ramotar to Granger, the PPP and the PNC have faltered very badly. People keep telling me that you cannot compare the five years of the PNC with the 15 years of Jagdeo and Ramotar.

The argument is timebound and its flaws are obvious. The PPP would have committed fifteen years

of atrocities while the PNC with its AFC sidekicks have misruled for five years. But the time span is no reason to embrace the PNC+AFC. One has to judge power by the essential use made of it by its holder. One cannot offer a framework of comparison by years.

Obviously, the PPP's balance sheet of violations is longer.

But the question remains –are the PNC and PPP philosophically and morally capable of bringing about a happiness horizon for the Guyanese people. My answer is no.

Shall I judge the PPP in harsher terms? Yes. I will not vote for the PPP or the PNC but the PPP's balance sheet is far more frightening.

The prospects of the PPP returning to power are honestly scary. Can I justify judging the PPP harsher?

Yes. I have been in the belly of the beast. I have seen how demonic the beast is.

This is one citizen that will not justify a PPP return to power because the PNC and AFC turned out to be monsters. The PPP is naturally a monster. You

have to judge the PPP on 15 years of fascistization under Jagdeo and Ramotar.

I hardly look at television but I read the Guyanese newspaper and the media outlets on Guyanese news. It enrages me to hear PPP leaders talk about democracy, the rule of law, good governance, respect for the s e p a r a t i o n o f p o w e r, accountability, openness in the exercise of power, state m e d i a i m p a r t i a l i t y, meritocracy.

The PPP has been given a huge opportunity by the PNC leaving the door wide open. The PNC+AFC misrule, abject mediocrity, corruptibility, interference with the police force, racial discrimination, and Granger shockingly poor quality of leadership have driven neutral onlookers and those who once voted against the PPP into a formidable rethinking of putting the PPP back in power.

This has to be a Guyanese tragedy. I know in my heart the PNC+AFC failed Guyana and I will not vote for their continuation.

But justice and morality

Frederick Kissoon would have failed the Guyanese humanity if the PPP returns to the corridors of power. I swear on my parents' graves that oil money will melt like butter against the sun (as I heard my mother said billions of times) if the PPP under certain personalities including Jagdeo is voted back to power.

I am a personal friend of Ronald Bulkan and Dr. George Norton. But I cannot vote for APNU and would urge people not to. David Hinds is an extremely close buddy but WPA needs to dissolve. I like Anil Nandlall.

I think between him, Granger and Irfaan Ali, he is way ahead of them. But I would not vote for the PPP even with Anil in the leadership. I am voting for a small party. I suggest you do too.

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Breast cancer awareness should not be a seasonal affair - Doctor warns - encourages women to take advantage of free screening at GPHC

P

aying keen attention to breast cancer should not be a seasonal affair. Rather deliberate efforts should be made to keep it on the front burner all year long.

This is the assertion of Dr. Zoilo Placeres Leon who has been lending crucial cancer treatment care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC].

Breast cancer is said to

develop from breast tissue.

Some early signs of its presence could include a lump in the breast, a change in its shape, dimpling of the skin around it, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple or a red or scaly patch of skin.

Dr. Leon made it clear during a recent interview that given the increasing number of women who are being diagnosed with breast

cancer, there is need for awareness about the disease to be amplified continually.

October is designated Breast Cancer Awareness month but keeping the focus on the disease during this month alone simply will not suffice, Dr. Leon insisted.

Although Dr. Leon is a Thoracic an d G e n e r a l Surgeon, which is a crucial service being offered at the GPHC, his sub-specialty is

cancer, an area that needs much attention here in Guyana.

Dr. Leon who moved to Guyana from Cuba about four years ago is advocating for more to be done to fight cancer. In fact, he said that the GPHC has been taking the lead in this regard offering free screening to women.

“GPHC has been doing this a long time but some people

just don't know...I think it is important that more people know about this,” he said.

Screening services such as mammogram is offered to women at the GPHC and this has been ongoing for the past seven month, Dr. Leon said.

The process, he assured, is not intrusive or painful but is required to gain different views of the breasts.

“Women can be referred to the GPHC from the health centres [in their community] and they can get the free mammogram. It is a procedure that is very simple but could be very expensive if you go to the private sector.

“What we do is the regular follow-up of all breast pathologies, so all the women who have a lump in the breast could be sent to us and we will do the screening and tests to do early diagnosis as [soon as] possible,” Dr. Leon shared.

The hospital also offers ultrasound and biopsy as part of its screening programme.

Although he is able to treat other cancers including stomach, thyroid and lung cancers, Dr. Leon disclosed that, “cancer of the breast is the second most common cancer in Guyana [that affects women].”

The most prevalent cancer affecting women in Guyana, he said, is cervical cancer.

Although breast cancer comes second to that of the cervix, Dr. Leon explained that it is more troubling since it accounts for a higher mortality rate among women.

While persons with risk factors for breast cancer should try to be screened early, Dr. Leon said that generally, all women should

Dr. Zoilo Placeres Leon be screened by the age of 50 at least every two years.

Unavoidable risk factors for breast cancer include but are not limited to family history, your own medical history, and age. Avoidable risk factors could range from sedentary lifestyle to hormonal changes.

But men are not immune from breast cancer. According to Dr. Leon, although this disease is rather rare in men, they could be vulnerable as well. He noted, that it is important for persons to seek regular medical check-ups especially if they have family members with a history of the disease.

He, however, noted that it is impo r t a n t f o r m e n t o safeguard themselves since “when breast cancer is found in men, the mortality can be even higher than in women.

The risk factors are similar if you have a family member with the disease or if you are obese you have an increased risk factor for breast cancer...if you have more female hormones than masculine hormones your risk will increase,” Dr. Leon added.

While it is not financially feasible to spearhead a breast cancer screening programme dedicated to men, Dr. Leon said that men should not take breast cancer awareness and by extension their health, lightly.

Labourer stabbed to death with BBQ fork

T

hirty-two year old Balchan Avai Baichan was killed on Sunday after a drunken argument turned sour, resulting in him being stabbed. The suspect, a 67year-old fisherman, has since been arrested and is a s s i s t i n g w i t h investigations.

Reports are that on the day in question, the suspect was imbibing at his Logwood Squatting Area, Enmore North, East Coast Demerara home around 13:20h.

Minutes later, Balchan

entered the man's yard. This reportedly angered him and he requested Balchan leave his premises immediately.

The labourer refused to leave resulting in an argument leading to the fisherman arming himself with a bar-b-que fork. He then stabbed Balchan in the neck causing him to collapse. Balchan was escorted to the Nabaclis Health Centre and pronounced dead on arrival.

His body was subsequently taken to the Jerrick's Funeral Home to await a post mortem examination.

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Tuesday December 24, 2019

GPOC disputes birth claims of 350 Eteringbang residents

R

esidents of the m i n i n g community at Eteringbang, Region Seven, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, said that the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) is disputing their birth claims.

Kaieteur News understands from a representative (name provided) of the community that there are 350 persons without birth certificates.

It was explained that these persons have been registered multiple times over the years.

According to the woman, GPOC is reluctant to issue birth certificates to residents because it believes that they are from neighbouring Venezuela, and not Guyana.

The woman said that there are persons who were born in Venezuela but a vast majority of the applicants were born in the community, in their camps and houses.

Only, two years ago Eteringbang benefited from a Health Centre.

Despite the presence of a Health Centre, Amerindian women continue to “deliver” their daughters and granddaughters at their homes.

The representative made it clear that residents were never bothered about the need of a birth certificate.

However, it has become an issue recently.

Parents were told to present birth certificates of their children as a requirement to enroll them in a Primary School scheduled to be in operation next year.

A worried resident said that her six-year-old daughter had been registered four times already and “is still without a birth certificate”.

“Tired of waiting”, she travelled to Georgetown in November to query and seek answers. Surprisingly, the woman said that she was told

by GPOC that the birth certificate cannot be issued because there is need for more information.

She claimed that GPOC demanded evidence of her daughter's birthplace in the form of a “vaccine card [clinic card]”.

The woman explained that she was unable to present the “vaccine card” because “Eteringbang never had a medical facility until two years ago”.

According to the woman,

she had given birth to her daughter in her house with the assistance of her mother.

The mother is greatly concerned that her daughter will not be able to attend the

new school without her birth certificate.

Kaieteur News made

efforts to contact the head of GPO yesterday but all attempts were in vain.

Some of the 350 persons whose birth claims are being disputed

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Family mourns as Mahaicony couple killed in horrific Canada crash

In happier times: Ramnauth 'Buddy' Seebachan, 65, and his wife, Padmini 'Anita' Seebachan, 59

A

Guyanese couple who has been living in Canada for years was killed over the weekend in a threevehicle crash.

Canadian news reported that Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a crash southeast of Guelph that left two people dead and two people injured early

Saturday.

The crash, involving three vehicles, happened in the westbound lanes of Highway 401 near Highway 6 North in the Township of

Puslinch.

Police were called to the scene at about 2:50 a.m.

Police identified the man who died as Ramnauth 'Buddy' Seebachan, 65, and

the woman who died as Padmini 'Anita' Seebachan, 59.

Both were passengers in one of the vehicles and from the Cambridge area, a c c o r d i n g t o ca.news.yahoo.com.

Two drivers involved in the crash suffered non-lifethreatening injuries, according to the OPP. Police closed the westbound lanes of Highway 401 at Highway 6 south to Puslinch for hours as officers investigated, but the lanes have since been reopened.

Family members said that the couple was loving people that did everything together from grocery shopping, attending functions to running errands...

“…They even had to leave this world together because I know one couldn't survive without the other.

Till death do us part... even in death, my parents couldn't part from each other. May their souls be together forever.”

A daughter, Natasha Jagroop, in a Facebook post, said the couple was on the way home after leaving her property.

The crash is being blamed on a drunk driver who came full speed.

The couple's son was injured and is in the hospital.

“Hug your loved ones a little tighter... There is nothing in this world I wouldn't do to have a moment back with my parents,” the grieving daughter urged.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

Linden granny dies after Taxi drivers double fares in festive season being struck by drunk driver - Minibus Association President accuses them of fleecing the public

A

lthough it has become a norm for hire car operators to hike their fares around the festive season, commuters continue to criticise and accuse them of being exploitive.

This particularly applies to taxis operating outside of a base.

Persons using taxis for short drops complained of the fares doubling. In some instances, taxi drivers charged $700, $800 and even $1,000 for short drops, when the regular prices are usually around $400 and $500. When contacted yesterday, a representative of 007 Taxi Service said that it has indeed increased its fares for the holiday season.

She disclosed that an additional $100 will be charged on all drops, especially if taxis have to travel through congested areas. Prices will go back to normal after the holidays.

Green Ice Taxi Service said it has not increased its fares. This was the same thing over at City Taxi Service. However, while the taxi service said it has not increased its fares, it said that in some cases where drivers have to go into heavy traffic “a little extra” will be charged.

He said that it would not be anything exorbitant, but as it is, drivers are avoiding areas with heavy traffic such as Regent Street, and the other shopping hubs around the capital city.

“Driver how much to go to La Penitence Market?” one woman asked a taxi driver outside the car park at Demico House, Stabroek, Georgetown. The taxi driver responded $1,000.

The woman said, “$1,000

Taxis lined up at the Stabroek Market area

President of the United Minibus Association, Eon Andrews to go right down there. Man every year is the same thing with you guys. You people overdoing it.”

In a serious tone, the taxi driver asked the woman if she had observed the heavy traffic around town and the time it is taking to make a drop-off. Nevertheless, there was some negotiation between them; the fare was reduced to $900 and the woman boarded the car to her destination. It was observed that persons, who were hefting many bags, preferred to travel in taxis rather than by minibus. And with this comes exploitation, as Cindy Lou, a teacher, lamented.

“They are exploiting people. Normally, I would pay $600 from my home in South Ruimveldt to go to work in Saffon Street, Charlestown. The other night, I called a taxi service in south and the driver told me $1,000 for the drop. I took another taxi and paid $700. If they are going to raise the fare, it cannot be too high again.”

A n o t h e r p a s s e n g e r,

Kristie McPherson, who frequently uses taxis, said, “The fare increase is too exorbitant, especially with them road cars. Even though they want to increase the fare, they shouldn't go so high; don't call a whole $1,000 for a drop right around Georgetown. Not because it is Christmas time means people have money. Some people didn't even get bonus.”

Another passenger, a student, complained of having to pay $1,500 to travel from Stabroek Market to Cummings Lodge, when the fare on a usual day is $1,000.

“Is only because I have these bags, mek I taking a taxi. These road cars really overdoing it. When I call my usual taxi service, the dispatcher told me that no cars were in Georgetown and I didn't able wait because I came to town since early this morning to do my last minute shopping.”

Akeisha Norville, a shopper, explained that she would rather travel in a taxi than by minibus. This is because she would be dropped off in front of her home.

“You see all them bag I have? I can't catch a bus because I will have to walk through a street when I get drop off at the road head.

When I catch the car, I will get drop off right in front my home, plus the taxi driver will help me carry in these bags.”

But not every shopper feels this way. There were shoppers who preferred minibuses because it is way cheaper.

When asked the reason for the hike in fares, a taxi (continued on page 23)

The car involved in the fatal accident

A

combination of speed and drunk driving allegedly resulted in the death of a 78-year-old Linden resident, moving the current road death toll of 126, a step higher.

Dead is Juliet Cornelius of West Watooka, Wismar, Linden who was on her way to church on Sunday when tragedy struck.

Cornelius was reportedly hit by a speeding car, after the driver lost control while negotiating a bend at Burnham Drive, Wismar. According to police reports, the accident occurred shortly after 7 am.

Kaieteur News understands that motorcar, PVV 2251 involved in the accident is owned by Allan Henry of Lot 50 Powis Crescent, Amelia's Ward, Linden.

At the time of the accident, however, it was being driven by 27-year-old Corwin Cooper, a mechanic of the same address.

Further reports indicate that the vehicle was reportedly proceeding south along the eastern side of the road at a fast rate.

Cooper subsequently lost control of the car and ended up onto the southern parapet where he collided with Cornelius who was heading west on the southern side of the road.

The woman fell on the r o a d w a y, a s a r e s u l t , sustaining injuries about the body.

She was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex, by public-spirited citizens, but succumbed while receiving medical attention. The driver of the car was later placed in

Dead: Juliet Cornelius custody, and the vehicle lodged at the police station.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver for alcohol and read 120 % and 112 % micrograms respectively.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

PAGE 22

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

Child rapist murder accused to be sentenced Jan. 6 FOR RENT Self contained rooms to rent in Prashad Nagar. Tel#2272993

SERVICES

FOR SALE

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

Household: Dining table sets $50,000, Centre tables sets $30,000, Floor lamps, Mattress, Mirrors $5000. #6622652

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Li Hong Fa Aluminium CoDoors, Glass cases, Shutters, automatic doors, stainless works. 26 Public Road, Bagotstown. #669-1516/6599999

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

LAND FOR SALE

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Installation, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing Machine, Stove etc. Call Nick 630-1600, 6273206 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Honda CRV. includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crash bar, Low mileage. PTT Series (First Owner) Contact #6490956

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 Kitty, Georgetown, Double Lot Eccles, Melanie, Paradise, Soesdyke Linden Highway, Moblissa. Contact Ray’s Realty. #627-9685

DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

Office & Business space, Hadfield, High & Saffon St, Georgetown. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 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

EDUCATION First Aid/CPR and home Nursing classes.Tel#2259082.St.John Association 110 Cowan St.Kingston for more info.

Commercial truck driver instructor. One security guard to work in Georgetown Call: 218-1455

One 3 Story building at 97 Sugar Cane St, S/Rveldt Gdns. $125,000,000. Tel#674-9905/ 695-1356/225-2971

Vacancy exist for Experienced Pharmacy assistants to work @ reputable pharmacy in G/ town. Interested persons call #696-5098 between 8am-4pm

Republic park, modern home, 3 self contain room up, 2 rooms bottom flat with automatic garage & gate.

Ray’s Realty #627-9685

TOURS

WANTED

Prestige Tours Guyana, River One Soup cook, good pay, Tour, White water falls, Kyk- flexible hours. Call: 225-6927 over-al, Arawai Resort. Tel# One experienced Bartender, 630-3636 Stephen One Security guard, Servers/ Waitstaff. Herdmanston LEARN TO DRIVE Lodge, Peter Rose & Anira Sts N. Outar Driving School, #225-0808 Ext 100 Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable Wanted experienced hire car package. Call: 644-5166/691- taxi drivers at Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel.

2561/681-2808 Contact # 616-5419/265-7076 TO LET

VACANCY

Plot 8 O Tract Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, Ram #6926153 / 917- 698- 9824, Kumar #660-6410/269-0569

Enterprise & Enmore ECD, Zeelugt WCD, Campbellville, Kitty, Broad St, Ketley St, Georgetown, Republic Gardens, Craig & Providence.

Contact Ray’s Realty #6279685

Suriname- Old years firework celebration tour trip 12-292019 - 01-03-2020.Call/ Whatsapp #639-2663/6732348/665-5171

CAR RENTAL

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Sentencing for murder accused, 24-year-old Travis Evans, who pleaded guilty to rape and armed robbery charges earlier this month, has been deferred to January 6, 2020. The sentence will be imposed by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall.

State Prosecutors Teriq Mohammed and Nafeeza Baig presented the October 30, 2010 charge against Evans which stated that at Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration of a woman without her consent and without reasonably believing that she consented.

One female cleaner, Apply in person at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda Experienced Sales girl, Apply in person, Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street, Bourda Experienced Lorry Driver, Apply in person, Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Person to assemble bicycle, apply in person at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda Room attendant, Desk Staff, 25-50 yrs, 233 South Road, Lacytown. #225-0198 Office Assistant- Applications with CV & References to Guyana Legal Aid Clinic, Maraj Building, Charlotte & King St, G/town- by 3 Jan, 2020 Vacancies exists for Truck Drivers and Loader Operator.

Contact - 621-5282 Experienced Salesgirls with 2 yrs experience. Apply @ Christine’s Variety, Lombard St. Contact: 227-8529 Employment workshops- free of charge, now till January 5th.

Contact# 233-6997/622-1957 Ages 16-36

Newly constructed, 2 bedroom apt in a safe and healthy environment. Call: 698-6496/622-6512

Drivers- with tractor, motor bus, minibus, must have all three licenses, preferably living around Georgetown.

Tel# 641-5075/225-1429/6241147

Rooms tolet, 1 bedroomworking people: $30,000, $32,000,$35,000, $40,000 monthly, 2 month security.

Call: 623-0076

Experienced Driver, Waiter, Cashier, Cleaners. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with hand Two Domestic maids required written application, 5 one should know cooking too.Call#618-1853 Commerce St

Housekeeper- day shift at Aagman Restaurant, Sheriff St. TIN, NIS & Police Clearance mandatory. Call: 219-0158

According to the robbery indictment, on the same day, Evans and two other men, John Sampson and Alex Williams, while armed with a knife, robbed a woman of $650,000 in cash. It was reported that the men were charged and remanded to prison in 2011.

Evans pleaded guilty to both charges. Evans, also known as “Short Boss” formerly of 'C' Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, is on remand for the murder of 21year-old Ronsley Clarke, a mason of Timehri, East Bank Demerara on August 2, 2018.

Based on reports, Clarke was partying with his girlfriend at a shop in Sophia when he was shot and killed.

Evans is also on remand for the murder of 46-year-old Legal Clerk, Gregory 'Wayne' Frank, the man, who was discovered dead on August 3, 2018 at his Kuru Kururu, Linden Highway home.

His body was found in his living room, face down, with his arms folded under him and his face tilted to the right. The

CHILD RAPIST: Travis Evans lower part of the body lay on the carpet while the man's upper body was on a tiled area, with coagulated blood around the head. Frank died as a result of asphyxiation due to compression injuries to the neck compounded by blunt trauma to the head, according to Government Pathologist Nehaul Singh.

Apache and Total Team Up for Exploration Off Suriname (Reuters) - Apache Corporation and French rival, Total, have formed a joint venture to develop a project off Suriname, the companies said, in a deal that gives the U.S. oil and gas producer a cash injection.

Apache's Suriname offshore prospect, near the border with South America's newest oil giant, Guyana, is a longshot for the U.S. company, with the Total agreement providing financing to continue exploration.

Apache reported this month it had reached its target depth at its first Suriname well but said only that it would drill deeper, knocking 17% of its shares in two days as investors took the news as a sign the well had no commercially viable oil.

Apache shares rose about 10% to $24.88 in early trading on Monday on news of the agreement. The stock is off about five per cent year to date, below the 28% gain in the S&P 500 index of major U.S. stocks. Catch up and prep for the week ahead with this newsletter of the most important business insights, delivered Sundays.

Exploration off Suriname is being watched closely as it is just over the border from Exxon Mobil's and Hess Corp.'s giant fields off the coast of Guyana. Total has non-operating interests in two Guyana projects.

Total said it would give Apache a bonus of US$100 million when the deal closes, reimburse half of Apache's

costs to date for its first three exploration wells, and could pay more depending on further developments.

Apache said it would receive $5 billion of cash carry on its first US$7.5 billion of appraisal and development capital along with other considerations. Total eventually would become the operator of the wells. The deal reduces Apache's risk if the wells prove uneconomic, according to researchers at Cowen & Co, but "significantly reduces upside value potential."

The U.S. oil producer has largely pulled back internationally to focus on its muchhyped Alpine High field in a remote corner of the Permian Shale basin, the top U.S. shale formation.

Two Renters Seek Enough Space for Their Beloved Books, but What Will They Give Up to Get It? However, Alpine High has been a disappointment, requiring enormous investment in pipeline infrastructure and delivering mostly natural gas at a time when prices are their lowest in more than two decades. Apache posted a $577 million loss in the first nine months of this year as it pulled back at Alpine High.

Under the Suriname deal, Apache and Total will each hold a 50% working interest in Block 58.

Apache will operate the first three exploration wells in the block, including the Maka Central-1 well, and subsequently transfer operations to Total.

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

Saudi Arabia says five sentenced to death in killing of Jamal Khashoggi

By Kareem Fahim and Sarah Dadouch

B

loomberg (Istanbul) – Five people have been sentenced to death in connection with the killing of journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last year, Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor announced Monday. But the two most senior officials implicated in the case, including an advisor to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, were cleared of wrongdoing.

The slaying of Khashoggi in October 2018 sparked a global outcry against the kingdom and led to greater scrutiny of a crackdown on dissidents pursued by the crown prince.

Khashoggi, 59, who contributed columns to The Washington Post from his self-imposed exile in the United States, had emerged as one of Mohammed's most prominent critics.

The verdicts came after a trial in Riyadh's criminal court that lasted nearly a year and was shrouded in secrecy. Court sessions were closed to the public, and foreign officials were told not to reveal details of the proceedings. Human rights groups warned that the lack of transparency threatened to obscure the possible involvement of senior Saudi officials — including the crown prince — in the killing.

The CIA concluded last year that Mohammed had ordered Khashoggi's assassination, contradicting Saudi Arabia's insistence that the crown prince had no advance knowledge of the plot.

At a news conference in Riyadh on Monday, Shalaan al-Shalaan, a spokesman for the Saudi public prosecutor, declined to identify the five people who were sentenced to death. Three other people were sentenced to jail terms totaling 24 years.

Shalaan said two senior officials — Saud al-Qahtani, a royal adviser, and Ahmed alAssiri, the former deputy head of intelligence — were investigated and exonerated.

Mohamed al-Otaibi, who served as consul general in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul when the killing occurred, was also cleared, the spokesman said.

Saleh Khashoggi, the eldest of Jamal's four children, called the verdicts “just.”

“We affirm our confidence in the Saudi judiciary on all its levels, in it being fair to us, and achieving justice,” he wrote on Twitter.

But Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's fiancee, also on Twitter, said the findings were “not acceptable.” The Post's publisher, Fred Ryan, also criticized the outcome.

“The complete lack of transparency and the Saudi government's refusal to cooperate with independent investigators suggests that this was merely a sham trial,” he said in a statement. “Those ultimately responsible, at the highest level of the Saudi government, continue to escape responsibility for the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi.”

Khashoggi, a Saudi national who lived in Virginia, visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018, to obtain documents that would allow him to marry Cengiz.

Turkish and Saudi investigators say Khashoggi was killed soon after he arrived at the mission, as Cengiz waited outside, by a team of agents who had flown to Istanbul from Saudi Arabia. His body was dismembered; his remains have not been found.

Members of Khashoggi's family attended the trial, according to Shalaan, as did diplomats from the United States, Turkey and other countries. The death sentences await confirmation by higher courts.

After the killing, Saudi authorities said they were investigating the roles played by Qahtani and Assiri in organising and dispatching the team of agents that confronted Khashoggi inside the consulate.

The decision to investigate the two men — loyal

and trusted aides of the crown prince — and to fire them from their posts, suggested at the time that the Saudi leadership might be prepared to implicate at least a few high level officials, as the kingdom faced its worst public relations crisis in decades.

Qahtani, a media advisor to Mohammed, was arguably the more powerful official. A strident defender of the royal family, he directed online attacks against critics of the crown prince.

His swarm of Twitter operatives would berate religious scholars, dissidents and journalists in defense of Mohammad, earning Qahtani the nickname “Lord of the Flies.”

Qahtani is also accused of overseeing the kingdom's crackdown on dissidents and directing the torture of Loujain al-Hathloul, a prominent women's rights activist who has been imprisoned since last year. Saudi officials have denied the activist was

revealed the details of the grisly slaying inside the consulate.

Saudi Arabia said the killing was a rogue operation carried out by overzealous agents who had been instructed to return Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia alive.

Turkish officials remained skeptical on Monday.

“The ruling of the relevant court in Saudi Arabia announced today on the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi falls short of the expectations of Turkey and the international community for the clarification of all aspects of this murder and the serving of justice,” Foreign Ministry spokesman A vigil is held Hami Aksoy said in a statement, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. for the slain A U.N. investigator in June called for journalist a U.N.-assisted criminal inquiry, saying (AFP VIA Saudi authorities participated in the GETTY destruction of evidence after Khashoggi IMAGES) was killed and that culpability extended beyond the Saudis who are were on trial.

Agnès Callamard, a special rapporteur with the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Khashoggi's slaying “constituted an extrajudicial killing for which the State of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is responsible.”

A U.N. human rights investigator in June called for a U.N.-assisted criminal inquiry. Agnès Callamard, a special rapporteur with the Office of a n d the U.N. High Commissioner for Human was not charged because of Rights, said Saudi authorities participated in lack of evidence against him.” the destruction of evidence, and culpability Assiri, Saudi Arabia's former deputy head for the killing extended beyond the Saudis of intelligence, was initially charged after who were charged. Callamard called the prosecutors said he was responsible for verdicts announced Monday a “mockery.” issuing the order for Khashoggi's forcible “The hit-men are guilty, sentenced to return to Saudi Arabia. death,” she wrote on Twitter. “The Shalaan said Monday that Assiri's guilt masterminds not only walk free. They have “was not proved.” barely been touched by the investigation and President Trump has vigorously defended the trial. That is the antithesis of Justice.”

Saudi Arabia and the crown prince, arguing Adam Coogle, a Middle East researcher that the relationship between the kingdom for New York-based Human Rights Watch, and the United States was too important to be said Saudi Arabia's “absolution of its senior derailed by Khashoggi's death. leadership of any culpability in the murder of An administration official on Monday Jamal Khashoggi raises serious concerns called the verdicts “an important step in over the fairness of the criminal holding those responsible for this terrible proceedings.” crime accountable.”

The kingdom's handling of the killing, “We encourage Saudi Arabia to continue “from complete denial to hanging the murder with a fair and transparent judicial process,” on lower-level operatives in a trial that lacked said the official, who spoke on the condition transparency, demonstrates the need for an of anonymity. independent criminal inquiry,” he wrote in a The killing widened a rift between Saudi text message.

Arabia and Turkey, whose government first tortured.

The Trump administration last year imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi citizens implicated in Khashoggi's death. They included Qahtani, whom officials said was “part of the planning and execution of the operation that led to the killing.”

Shalaan said Monday that Qahtani was “investigated by the public prosecutor

Taxi drivers double fares in festive season From page 21 driver said, “Is the heavy traffic congestion around town during this time. It's taking too long to make a drop off in this confusion. But some taxi man taking advantage of people. I hear some of them charging $1,000 for a short drop.

I can't do people that because when this holiday done, I still got to get customers. I don't want no customer to remember me after the holidays as the taxi man who charged them expensive.”

Weighing in on the issue was President of the United Minibus Association, Eon

Andrews, who said that taxi drivers are fleecing people. Though there is no official body regulating the operations of taxi, Andrews was eager to express his views on the issue.

Andrews said that there has been an influx of cars operating as taxis across the country ever since the Christmas season began.

These, cars, he said, are parked outside almost every store and are taking advantage of people who just want to get out of the Christmas rush. He added that these shoppers are loaded with bags and just want to get

home.

According to him, drivers who would usually work 'shop drops' are suddenly soliciting passengers for longer routes.

Andrews also said there have been incidents of minibus operators speeding, imbibing and carrying overloads.

He is calling on the police to arrest delinquent bus operators who put commuters' lives at risk.

He said that while the United Minibus Association is trying its best to help reduce the road carnage, the police also need to play their part and “lock up these people.”

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 27

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Tuesday December 24, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Raptors stun Mavs with 30-point comeback Kyle Lowry scored 20 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and added 10 assists and eight rebounds as the Toronto Raptors overcame a 30-point third-quarter deficit to post a 110-107 victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

The 30-point deficit was the largest the Raptors have overcome to win a game in franchise history. The previous high was 27.

Toronto extended its winning streak to five games and handed Dallas its first road loss since a 106-103 setback to New York on Nov. 14.

Chris Boucher added a career-best 21 points for the injury-depleted Raptors, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 18 points and Fred VanVleet had 10.

Thunder 118, Clippers 112 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander matched his career high of 32 points set in his previous game to lift host Oklahoma City past Los Angeles, which played without Kawhi Leonard.

Gilgeous-Alexander was part of the trade that sent sixtime NBAAll-Star Paul George to the Clippers last July.

George, who received a warm reception from the crowd in his first return to Oklahoma City, finished with 18 points.

Steven Adams had 20 points and a season-high 17 rebounds as the Thunder won a season-high fourth straight to move over .500 for the first time (15-14). The Clippers rested Leonard after he played 27 minutes on Saturday night in a 134-109 win at the San Antonio Spurs.

Leonard has not played in back-to-back games this season because of lingering knee issues.

Nuggets 128, Lakers 104 Paul Millsap scored 21 points and Gary Harris added 19 as Denver used a secondhalf burst to defeat host Los Angeles, which played without the injured LeBron James.

Nikola Jokic had 18 points and six rebounds, while Will Barton finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets, who won their sixth straight. Malik Beasley chipped in 16 points off the bench.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 32 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, but he sustained a knee injury.

Kyle Kuzma, who returned after missing the previous five

Tuesday December 24, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You've made it over the hump. You've moved beyond the problems of the recent past and you're entering a more peaceful phase.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) The outlook for today is excellent. The somewhat oppressive atmosphere of the past few days inspires you to change your surroundings and visit new places.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This will be a day rich in reflection. You're able to observe what's going around you while still retaining some distance.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Here's a day when some long-awaited attention or recognition comes your way.

You're finished with the hassles you experienced during the past month and have entered a calmer period.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) This will be a day of reflection. While you may be tempted to look back and think about how far you've come, your time would be better spent thinking about what the future has in store.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) This would be an ideal day to take extra care of your body. Don't kid yourself that those back problems will go away. Ditto that pain in your knee. Make an appointment with a doctor or physical therapist.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may have recently modified the material aspects of your life. Was it sufficient to stop there?

More profound changes might be in order.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This will be a great day to meditate. You may be dissatisfied because your various projects have yet to take form.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today promises to be excellent, but don't go overboard.

You might be tempted to think that your minor financial difficulties are already behind you. Alas, they are not.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You're in the home stretch now. Kiss your worries goodbye. Your efforts pay off as people listen to your advice and try to please you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your life seems to revolve around human contact. You're an outgoing, cheerful, engaging conversationalist who enjoys bringing people together, but lately you've been yearning to be alone.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Sometimes friends become your real family. Your friendships are deeper and more enduring than you realize.

Many people are eager to give their help, so why are you reluctant to receive it?

Haven't you been the one promoting the benefits of warm, sincere friendships?

games with an ankle sprain, had 16 points off the bench for the Lakers, who dropped their third in a row. No other Laker scored in double figures.

Bucks 117, Pacers 89 Wesley Matthews scored 19 points in his return from a one-game absence due to a right thigh contusion as host Milwaukee recorded a victory over Indiana.

Giannis Antetokounmpo collected 18 points, 19 rebounds and nine assists for the Bucks, who outscored the Pacers 58-34 in the second half to improve to 21-1 in their last 22 games. George Hill and Brook Lopez each made three 3-pointers en route to 17-point performances as the Bucks improved to 9-0 against Central Division rivals.

Domantas Sabonis recorded 19 points and 18 rebounds, and Doug McDermott added 15 points for the Pacers, who saw their five-game winning streak come to a halt as they fell 6 1/ 2 games in back of first-place Milwaukee in the Central Division.

Celtics 119, Hornets 93 Jayson Tatum scored a career-high 39 points and Kemba Walker added 23 against his former team as Boston hammered visiting Charlotte.

Jaylen Brown had 16 points, Grant Williams chipped in 12 and Enes Kanter contributed 13 rebounds as the Celtics won their third straight. Tatum, who also had 12 rebounds, scored 22 points in the fourth quarter alone to

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) controls a ball as Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson (13) tries to defend during the first quarter at Scotiabank Arena.

(Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports) eclipse his previous career best of 34 set in January.

Devonte’ Graham scored 23 points and Bismack Biyombo had 18 for the

Hornets, who have lost four of their last five. Charlotte was playing the second night of a back-to-back.

(Field Level Media)

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Aurora Knight Riders Cricket Club Trophy Stall on board with KMTC hosts successful 2019 Award Ceremony Boxing Day meet Trophy Stall with its popular location at Bourda Market in Georgetown has as is customary thrown its support to the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) for the staging of their annual Boxing Day meet which is set for their Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice racetrack.

Proprietor of the Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, yesterday presented Retired Justice Cecil Kennard, President of the KMTC with a trophy for the champion jockey of the day as part of their contribution.

Sunich and the Trophy Stall is a consistent name in relation to sponsorship of sports and sporting events in Guyana and have stayed true to form over the years.

The kindhearted Sunich has indicated that he is always pleased to support sports development and youths and will continue to do same.

The event is set for Thursday with Metro Office and Computer Supplies sponsoring the feature event. That race is the one

mile contest which carries a top purse of $1,000,000; the runner up in this event will take home $500,000, third place $250,000 and fourth place $125,000.

Some of the horses such as Don’t Overlook, Lucky Star, Goodwill Boy, TnT, Golden Blue Eco and Just Call Me Boss are down to run for the money on offer.

Other events listed are LNon Earner for a distance of five furlongs and carries a top prize of $130,000 and the runner up $65,000. Two-year old Maiden for a distance of six furs and will see the champion pocketing $200,000 and the runner up $100,000.

L-Non Winner for a winning purse of $150,000 and second place $75,000; J and K Lower which will see the winner receiving $200,000 and the runner up $100,000, and L-Open in which the winner will take home $170,000 and second place $85,000.

The races will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.

The awardees display their prizes at the conclusion of the programme.

Last Saturday evening, Essequibo’s Aurora Knight Riders Cricket Club held its 4th Annual Dinner and Award Ceremony at the popular Gold is Gold Restaurant, Hotel and Fast Food. The event which was one of joy and gratification was well planned and supported by the players and members of the business community.

Players would have received awards based on their performances for the entire 2019.

President of the club Mr.

Reshad Ally congratulated all the awardees and wished them an even more productive 2020.

Mr. Ally told all in attendance that the year 2019 was the most rewarding since the formation of the club in 2010.

He lamented that the team’s 84% victories reflected the discipline and positive attitude of the players.

According to Ally, the team which is currently competing in the South/Central Essequibo T/20 cricket

competition would have completed the many off field activities; all for the benefit of the community at large.

Meanwhile, well known cricket coach Mr. Forbes Daniels was honoured by the club for his outstanding contribution towards the development of youth cricketers in the region.

Daniels, who would have nurtured the talents of some of Essequibo’ top cricketers such as Anthony and Akenie Adams, Norman and Norwayne Fredricks, Joel

Fortune, Orlando Jailall among many others, was high in praise for the club and expressed words of gratitude for being recognised.

In addition, Aurora’s own Mr. Awaaz Ali was also honoured for his massive contribution towards the club and humanity in general.

The event was sponsored by Timure’s Speedboat Service, Jojo’s Mechanical Workshop, Mr. Awaaz Ali and Gold is Gold Restaurant, Hotel and Fast Food.

Canje Knights win opener in BBA Nigel Hinds Penalty Shootouts the order of play in Financial Basketball Basketball returned to Berbice under the auspices of the Berbice Basketball Association with the staging of the Nigel Hinds Financial Services Classic First Division championship last weekend with a win for Canje Knights.

Canje knights overcame Rose Hall Town Jammers 68 to 60 points in a keenly contested game on Saturday last at the Vryman Irving court in New Amsterdam. The half time score saw Jammers

leading 23 to 22 points.

For Jammers Shamer France topped all scorers with 30 points, Charles Williams supported with 10 points and Kwesi Mickel 8 points. For Canje Knights Tyrone Dey led with 18 points, while Jamol Felix had 11 points and Steve Roopnarine 11 points.

The tournament continues this weekend at Hopetown basketball court starting at 6:00pm with a game featuring Ithaca against Hopetown Stealers.

latest 592 Beer Inter-Village Football

It was an evening of penalty shoot-out victories, as Beterverwagting [BV] and Golden Grove secured semifinal berths in the inaugural 592 Beer Inter-Village Football Championship on Sunday at the Golden Grove Community Centre ground.

Both matches ended scoreless at the end of regulation time, as BV defeated Ann’s Grove and hosts Golden Grove downed Brusch Dam. BV prevailed 31 in a tense penalty shoot-out.

Kicking first, BV got off to the perfect start, as the first round ended 1-0 in their favour, following a miss from Brusch Dam. BV maintained their lead at 2-1, as both teams converted in the second round. However, BV missed to start the third round, gifting Ann’s Grove the perfect opportunity to equalise.

Ann’s Grove would spurn the opportunity, firing wide of the mark, much to the disappointment of their fans.

BV secured a 3-1 advantage to start the fourth round as they converted.

Needing to score to keep their hopes alive, Ann’s Grove was eliminated as the goalkeeper denied their fourth effort.

Similarly, Golden Grove defeated Brusch Dam 3-0 from the penalty mark.

However, the clash was almost decided in the 89th minute, as Golden Grove was awarded a penalty kick for a wild challenge on Dwain Jacobs. The penalty kick was wasted as it was blasted over the crossbar.

Brusch Dam started the penalty shoot-out and missed wide of the right corner.

Golden Grove capitalized to take the 1-0 lead as they scored. Brusch Dam’s misfortune continued as they fired over the crossbar in the second attempt.

Once again, the hosts capitalized to score to make it 2-0. The failure for Brusch Dam continued as they once again blasted the ball over the

crossbar to start the third round. The match was then sealed as Golden Grove scored once more.

Tournament coordinator Eon Havercome during a brief comment said, “The knockout round has clearly lived up to its billing and has provided entertaining football.

Both matches required penalty kicks to decide the outcome which indicates the competitiveness of the tournament.

The fans were treated to the drama of the penalty shootouts which is always a sight to see and I anticipate much more drama and excitement as we no progress to Christmas Day for the second round of quarterfinals in Buxton.”

The first match on the card will pit Mahaica against Friendship from 20:00hrs. In the second fixture, hosts Buxton tackle Paradise at 22:00hrs.

The winner of the competition will receive

$500,000 and the championship trophy.

Meanwhile, the second, third and fourth place finisher will receive $200,000, $150,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding trophy.

Similarly, individual prizes will also be awarded for the Most Valuable Player [MVP] of the tournament, the MVP of the finale, the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament and the Best Goalkeeper of the final.

Sponsors of the tournament include Bakewell Guyana Incorporated, ExxonMobil, the NSC, Flavours Boss BBQ Grill and the Colin Talbot Construction Services.

Complete Results Game-1 Ann’s Grove-0 vs BV-0 BV won 3-1 on penalty kicks Game-2 Brusch Dam-0 vs Golden Grove-0 Golden Grove won 3-0 on penalty kicks

Tuesday December 24, 2019

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

GFF Super League Cup

Defending champs Den Amstel and Santos ease into quarters after Rd. of 16 wins

Player of the match Lavavghn receives his NAMILCO hamper from Ms. Lakeisha Pearson.

By Franklin Wilson Defending Champions Den Amstel had to come from behind to beat Riddim Squad and comfortably so in the end to book their final quarter final slot when the GFF Super 16 Cup continued on Sunday night last with the final roundof-16-matches.

Santos Football Club, playing the supporting match on the double header card, brushed aside Eagles Football Club of Stewartville 4-0 and have earned a date with Den Amstel in the quarter finals on Boxing Night at the GFC Ground, Bourda.

The opening half of the Den Amstel / Riddim Squad shindig turned out to be a very physical battle and coming out on the receiving end of the battles was Den Amstel which lost Gideon

Payne and Kwesi Henry to injuries in the first half.

Payne had to leave the park in the 33rd minute following a collision, while Henry exited the match one minute to the half time whistle. However, Payne had netted the equalising goal for his side in the 14th minute after they had found themselves trailing.

Riddim Squad looked like they would have shaped the first upset of the tournament when they netted in just the eight minute through a Kevin Agard shot. Rather than shake up the home team, it brought out their fighting spirit.

And despite losing two important players, Den Amstel, the more organised team, gradually imposed their will on their opponents as

they sent them packing in the end; no Regional Member Association (RMA) team being able to advance.

The 1-1 score line at the half way mark sure did have the visitors sensing that they were in with a chance of upsetting the trend of the tournament which saw the Elite League teams taking care of their opponents but their confidence would not go past the 55th minute when Den Amstel took the lead, thanks to a well crafted goal from the Captain and player-of-thematch, Leo-Orion Lovell.

The skies opened during the second half and with it came two more unanswered goals for the defending champions. Andre Hector in the 67th minute and in the 85th minute were the players whose efforts put the game way beyond the reach of Riddim Squad.

Along the way, Riddim Squad’s Sherwin Hope received a red card, his second yellow (70th, 76th). His team was even awarded a penalty kick but the ball was placed against the upright. That was also the case a few minutes later as they spilled another chance. Den Amstel too, missed another opportunity when they also hit the upright. Six other players, three on each side were issued yellow cards.

In the penultimate match of the round-of-16, Santos eased to a comfortable win against Eagles but will have to up their game when they come up against Den Amstel in the final eight. Santos were led by a double from playerof-the-match Lavavghn Ennis who found the back of the nest in the 33rd and 57th minutes.

Eagles moved the ball

Marcus Wilson (right), Kestor Jacobs and Lavavghn Ennis - Santos FC

around admirably but were very weak in the final third.

Marcus Wilson taped in Santos’ third goal in the 61st minute with their fourth and final goal coming off the boot of the veteran, Kestor Jacobs in the 87th minute.

Quarter-final play will get cracking tomorrow at the Police Sports Club Ground Eve Leary with two potentially explosive encounters as the remaining teams seek to cross another hurdle on their way to the top prize of two million dollars.

Milerock and Fruta Conquerors will tangle in the opening clash from 18:30hrs followed by the Guyana Police Force taking on Western Tigers. Only the fittest will survive, only winners will go on.

Sponsors on board are: MACORP, The Tourism and Hospitality Association of

Leo-Orion Lovell receives his player-of-the-match NAMILCO Hamper Guyana, EC Vieira Investments, Brass Aluminum and Cats Iron Foundry, Pegasus Hotel,

Bakewell, Marics Honda, Impressions, China Harbour, 94.1 Boom FM, NAMILCO, MVP Sports and Xtra Beer.

Pollard upbeat about future despite series defeat CUTTACK, India, CMC – Captain Kieron Pollard said he was proud of the strides West Indies had made despite their 10th straight one-day series defeat to India here Sunday.

Chasing a victory that would have ended their near two-decade wait for an away series win against the s u b c o n t i n e n t a l powerhouses, West Indies went down by four wickets in a tense finish at the Barabati Stadium to concede the three-match rubber 2-1.

West Indies won the first match in Chennai by eight wickets before India levelled in Visakhapatnam with a 107-run win.

“I don’t think there’s much to be disappointed about,” Pollard said following Sunday’s loss.

“Yes, we live in a resultsoriented world where results matter but when you look at where we have come from to where we are at this point in time, honestly I’m very, very proud of the guys.

“They carried themselves well in the two series and the mettle that they showed, the mindset in terms of our batting. Yes, we

faltered a bit with the ball in the field and the total attitude from the management staff and the team, you can’t fault the guys at the end of the day.

“Yes we came out on the losing side but well played to India for going out and pushing the limits and showing why they’re the number one team. We competing with them and pushing them all the way, I think was fantastic.”

There were several bright sparks for the Windies during the series, primarily among the batting group.

Opener Shai Hope extended his excellent form with 222 runs at an average of 111, including an unbeaten hundred while Shimron Hetmyer got the other century for the Caribbean side – 139 in the opening ODI – to finish with 180 runs at an average of 60.

Left-hander Nicholas Pooran also impressed with whirlwind half-centuries in the last two ODIs to end with 193 runs at an average of 96.

“As I said at the start of the series, we have a lot of exciting talent, a lot of exciting

persons on our dressing room and it’s just a matter of allowing them to express themselves,” Pollard said.

“And we got a glimmer of what they can do – Pooran getting a couple fifties, the way Hetmyer has batted getting over 130 in one of the games, Shai Hope and his consistency, there’s still Brandon King who hasn’t gotten that opportunity … I think there’s a lot to look forward to for us in the near future.”

Pollard also managed to get among the runs, notching his first halfcentury since his recent return to ODIs following a three-year break.

He had managed only 35 runs from three previous innings but came good with a shot-filled 51-ball unbeaten 74 to help propel West Indies to 315 for five.

“When you get an opportunity you want to be able to capitalise on it, so for me it’s just trying to contribute when it’s necessary for the team and trying to guide these guys. Again, I’m very very excited about what’s to come.”

PAGE 32

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

British Government prepared to take ‘further steps’ over racism in football BBC Sport - The British government says it will not rule out taking “further steps” if football authorities fail to deal with racism.

Play was stopped during Chelsea’s win at Tottenham on Sunday after Antonio Rudiger said he heard monkey noises.

The Professional Footballers’ Association has called for a government inquiry following the alleged abuse.

“Racism of any kind has no place in football or anywhere else and we must confront this vile behaviour,” said a Downing Street spokesperson.

“Clearly there remains more work to be done by the football authorities in tackling this issue and we are committed to working with them on this to stamp it out.

“The FA, Premier League and English Football League have significantly stepped up their efforts, but we expect them to continue to prioritise this issue and to consult with both players and supporter

Rudiger heard monkey noises from crowd - Azpilicueta groups, and we will be monitoring how the football authorities implement their plans through the season.

“We will continue working with the authorities on this, including the Professional Footballers’ Association and we don’t rule out taking further steps if required.”

Sports minister Nigel Adams said he had held positive talks with Tottenham, the Premier League and the

PFA, adding: “I am in no doubt that Tottenham are doing all they can to identify anyone responsible, and that they will take the strongest possible action.”

Cheslea centre-back Rudiger reported the alleged racist abuse from the crowd to his captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who told referee Anthony Taylor and the game was stopped.

Shortly after the stoppage, an announcement

Dottin heads list of 21 players selected for Pre-World Cup Camp ST. JOHN’S, AntiguaDeandra Dottin has been named with twenty other players by Cricket West Indies’ Selection Panel, for a pre-world cup camp from January 6-25 in Antigua to finalise their preparations for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Deandra returns to West Indies Women’s duty after shoulder surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation period, which ensured her full recovery and availability for the team. Captain Stafanie Taylor, who missed the T20 International series against the visiting Indian Women’s team in November, will also be returning, along with bowlers Shamilia Connell and Shakera Selman.

CWI’s Women’s and Girls Head Selector, Ann BrowneJohn said, “The panel has selected a squad showing a mix of youth and experience in preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The recently concluded Women’s Franchise Tournament in

made over the public address system warned that “racist behaviour is interfering with the game”.

Second and third addresses followed with the game heading towards its conclusion.

The Metropolitan Police is working with Tottenham to identify anyone responsible, with the club promising to “take the strongest possible action”.

Iffy Onuora, the Professional Footballers’ Association’s equalities coach told BBC Sport that racism has increased in the UK since Brexit referendum.

“There is upheaval following the [Brexit] referendum and the election and that’s caused this fracture,” he said.

“That emboldens people.

It’s been legitimised by some of the language from the politicians. We lost an MP only four years ago and we think that was such a seminal moment but that’s been and gone and we’ve used that as

a moment to think what are we doing here.

“Things have got worse if anything and how can that be? Somehow we have to look at this differently and be bolder.”

The FA said: “We are working with the match officials, the clubs and the relevant authorities to fully establish the facts and take the appropriate steps.”

Speaking in August, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the organisation was “determined to tackle discrimination”.

“One incident is one incident too many,” added Masters. “We want to encourage fans when they see other supporters making discriminative comments, abusing other people they do report it and that’s important.”

‘Idiots responsible for abuse a disgrace’ Vertonghen Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen says anyone

responsible for racist abuse are “idiots” and do not identify with the club.

“I have got no idea how people still, or ever, thought this way,” said the Belgium international.

Vertonghen says he “loves” and the UK because its multi-cultural society and that reports of racism “hurts”.

“I didn’t hear anything, but if these things are still happening it is a disgrace and we should act strongly against it,” he added.

“Sometimes you think people are smarter than this.

I am very convinced it is just a minority, but it is very wrong.

“I don’t know if it is getting worse. It shouldn’t be there in any way. I just can’t get my head around how people still do this. I have got no words for it.

“If any of their players or our players are affected then I apologise in the name of Spurs, but they are minority idiots. We don’t identify with these people.”

Bumrah back for India’s limitedovers series v Sri Lanka, Australia (Reuters) - India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has recovered from a back injury and has been named in their Twenty20 and one-day international (ODI) squads for series against Sri Lanka and Australia, the country’s cricket board (BCCI) said yesterday.

Bumrah, India’s leading bowler at this year’s 50-over World Cup with 18 wickets, sustained a stress fracture in his lower back which has ruled him out of action since September.

India are set to host Sri Lanka in three T20Is followed

by three ODIs against Australia in January.

Medium-pacer Deepak Chahar is set for a spell on the sidelines with a lower back injury which ruled him out of Sunday’s third ODI against the West Indies.

“Deepak Chahar has been diagnosed of a stress fracture in his lower back,” the BCCI said in a statement. “He has started his rehabilitation at the NCA (National Cricket Academy) and is expected to regain match fitness by April 2020.”

India’s T20 squad: Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, KL

Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar.

India’s ODI squad: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami.

Deandra Dottin (BBC Sport) Trinidad also gave the panel an opportunity to view the players in a T20 setting just prior to the World Cup.” Browne- John added, “Deandra Dottin seemed to return right where she left off before her injury and had remarkable performances from the first match. Shamilia Connell and Shakera Selman are also returning from injury and the panel hopes that by the time the final selection is to be made for the World Cup, all players will be fit and ready.”

The pre-world cup camp is scheduled from January 625, during which the final squad for the ICC Women’s

T20 World Cup will be selected before departure to Australia. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will take place between February 21 and March 8.The 21-member Training Camp Squad: Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Shamilia Connell, Hayley Matthews, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shakera Selman, Sheneta Grimmond, Kaysia Schultz, Shabika Gajnabi, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shemaine Campbelle, Chinelle Henry, Natasha McLean, Chedean Nation, Shawnisha Hector, Anisa Mohammed, Lee Ann Kirby, Karishma Ramharack, Caneisha Isaac, Britney Cooper and Afy Fletcher.

India’s Jasprit Bumrah appeals during the ICC Cricket World Cup Semi Final versus New Zealand.

(Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff/file photo)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Atkinson Brothers 5-aside Football

PAGE 33

US Open Youth Cup Tourney

ABFC Female Team and Kylie Flames Guyana Floodlights beat T&T’s storm to wins on night two Presentation College in Semis

When night two action in the Atkinson Brothers 5Aside Football Tournament unfolded on Sunday at the Moruca Sports Ground, Atkinson Brothers Female team as well as Kylie Flames recorded wins in the female segment of the tournament.

Atkinson Brothers FC Female side romped to a 3-0 blanking of Rincon United led by a brace of goals from Annalisa Vincent, the other coming off the boot of Samara Rodriguez.

The other female match produced a close tussle between Kylie Flames and All Star Blazer, the former holding their nerve to win, 21. Shonett Griffith and Indranie James scored for the winners with All Star Blazer’s lone goal coming from Odessa James.

In the Under-15 match, Raising Sons needled Mighty Warrior, while the Under-17 clash produced a solid 3-0 win for Rincon United over Kyrie Flames.

- MOM Dindyal powers Guyanese to 8-Wicket win

Annalisa Vincent and Samara Rodriguez – Atkinson Brothers Football Club Netting for the winners were Chavez Rodriguez, Shawn Henry, the other an own goal from Naham Atkinson.

In the male segment of the action, Kumaka won in extra time against Park East 2-1, while a similar score line was the result in favour of Kyrie Flames against Kamwatta ‘A’.

First place in the male competition attracts a cash prize of $200,000, while for females, the winning team will pocket, $100,000 and

veterans, $50,000. Trophies are at stake for each segment of the competition.

The sponsors are, Atkinson Brothers, Punt Speed Boat Service, Troy A b r a h a m a n d F a m i l y, A u b r e y E d w a r d ’s a n d Family, Santa Rosa Village Council, Moruca Sports Council and Ivor Domingo.

The finals are set for Boxing night and will feature Soca Monarch, Brandon Harding along with other artistes.

Guyana Floodlight U-15 team waltzed into yesterday final of the United States of America (USA) Open Youth Cup when Mavendra Dindyal spearheaded the Guyanese to an emphatic 8wicket win over Presentation College of Trinidad & Tobago in the semi-finals at the Multi-purpose Field 2 in Florida.

Scores: Presentation College 74-6 in 20 overs, Floodlights 79-2 in 14.3 overs as the 14-year-old West Indies U-16 player Dindyal had 3-5 from 4 frugal overs before returning with the bat to stroke a classy undefeated 38. Floodlights won the toss and invited the Trinis to bat yesterday in the semi-finals and the school that Brian Lara represented, laboured to 74-6 when their overs expired.

Nickyle Jalim batting at number 10, hit two sixes and a four from 37 balls in his top

score of 30 but only Opener Khaleem Mohammed who reached the ropes once and cleared it twice in his 17-ball 19 and last man Amar Chan, with an unbeaten 10, reached double figures.

Chan added 22 with Aidian Racha for the last wicket before Racha fell to Dindyal for a 9-ball duck.

Dindyal was supported

by Joash Charles who had 215 from fours. Nithyanand Mathura had the other wickets to fall as he finished with 1-21 from four overs.

When Floodlights began the chase, needing to score at 3.7 per over to win, they were off to a rollicking start and raced to 43 without loss in the power-play (6 overs).

Romeo Deonarain and Dindyal posted the 50 in the eighth over before Deonarain, who hit two boundaries in 28, was removed at 60-1 in the 11th over.

Mavendra Dindyal Nicholas Seepersad joined the elegant Dindyal but he did not last long; falling for one at 65-2.

Dindyal, who plays for GCC in local First-Division Cricket, stroked five boundaries including a six off Jalim to win the match off his 36th ball.

Alvin Mohabir (2) was the other not out batsman for the Guyanese who were set to play Central Zonal Council in last evening’s final at the Central Broward Regional Park, the only International Ground in the USA. (Sean Devers)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 34

Tuesday December 24, 2019

Kumar Bishundial is Lusignan Sports Club MVP

The respective prize winners with their accolades.

A

Kumar Bishundial (left) accepts the MVP prize from Vishnu Ramjeet.

ll-rounder K u m a r Bishundial was voted the most valuable player when the Lusignan Sports Club (LSC) of East Coast Demerara held its 2019 awards ceremony on Sunday night.

Bishundial performed outstandingly throughout the year and his most memorable feat came in the East Coast Cricket Committee SPR 40over final at Enmore against a strong Enterprise A team when he captured six wickets for six runs to lead his team to victory. Bishundial also took the best bowler prize for the A team.

Bishundial said he is pleased with performance, adding that there is always room for improvement. He lauded the LSC executive for a well organized ceremony and congratulated the other awardees. “It was through

hard work, dedication and passion for the game that I managed to reap the success,” he noted.

Vishnu Ramjeet received the best batsman trophy, Shazam Ali was the most discipline player, Somnauth Bharrat the best wicketk e e p e r a n d Vi c k r a m Doodnauth the most improved player for the A team.

For the club’s B team Navendra Persaud was the best batsman, Ferron Kadir took the best bowler prize, Alvin Goriah was the most outstanding wicket-keeper, Floyd Jones the most discipline player and Mike Persaud the most improved player.

Other awards were given to U15 players-Nicholas Shiopersaud, Chanderpaul Ramraj and Romel Datterdeen; U17Chanderpaul Ramraj; U19-

Robin Williams; most discipline youth player Neran Bani and most committed youth player Fardeen Hasim.

Special awards were given to Gewan Persaud, Shamir Mohamed, Chatterpaul Balkissoon, Sydartha Anandjit, Ferron Kadir, Christopher Singh, Avinash Deonarine, Narvan Singh, Ravi Etwaroo, Yeuraj Khemraj, Vishnu Ramjeet and Bishundial.

Andrew Dhanraj and Mohadeo Roopnarine received prizes for their work as ground staff.

Players that scored centuries also pocketed prizes; Krishna Deosaran (118 vs Cane Grove), Navendra Persaud (112 vs Clonbrook), Robin Williams (119 vs Ogle), Leon Morgan (117 vs Ogle).

For taking five-wicket hauls-Ramjeet (5-27 vs Ogle), Chanderpaul Ramraj (6-20 vs Cane Grove), Rajindra Naikbarran (6-5 vs LSC B), Bishundial (6-6 vs Enterprise A), Vickram Doodnauth (5-34 vs Ogle U19), Rajpaul Basdeo (5-20 vs Mahaica) and Kadir (5-38 vs Enmore) took home accolades.

Shamir Mohamed was voted the manager of the year, while Chandricka Harpaul, Ramesh Harpaul, Sackichan Jhagdeo, Rushi

Samaroo and Leon Chung received medals for their support.

Journalists Avenash Ramzan, Zaheer Mohamed and Romario Samaroo were given prizes for their services rendered.

Special Individual prizes went to Shazam Ali, Krishna Deosaran, Steve Ramdass, Ramjeet, Ramraj, Doodnauth, Williams, Azad Mohamed, Jason Heyliger, Bharrat, Bishundial, Naikbaran, Basdeo, Mike Persaud, Karamchan Persaud, Goriah, Devanan Samaroo, Asif Singh, Tameshwar Motiram, Kadir, Emran Khan, Sahadeo Ramkhellwan, Navendra Persaud, Steve Alick, Datterdeen, Gewan Persaud and Deokarran Kumar.

The club would like to thank its sponsors; Universal Tint Shop, Two Sisters Car Rental, Javid Electronics, Darsho Body Works, Cricket Zone USA, Hanso Fishing Establishment, Singh’s Bicycle Shop, Shamir Lumber Exports, Revision Optical, Prem Superbet, Rajin Construction, Lee Window Factory, SLS I n t e r n a t i o n a l Tr a d i n g , Nideca Investment and Realty, Busy Bayo Panel Doors, Naven Construction, Route 626 bar, Keith Wash bay and Jagdeo General Store.