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Wednesday Edition December 02, 2020 - Vol. 15 No.46

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Swiss authorities open corruption probe into builders of Guyana’s oil ships ‘Crass’

Sleepin Hotel’s Linden man hospitalised Carnival jailed for after being harbouring chopped by Casino finally wanted man neighbour gets licence

GPL turns to North America to repair damaged submarine cable

Oil governance advocates challenge World Bank to prove Guyana’s gas project will not end up like Ghana’s Listen to what your leaders don't want you to hear and know...10:30 am today on 99.1/99.5FM radio (Rebroadcast)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 02, 2020

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Christmas and COVID-19

W

e are now officially in the month of December.

For Guyanese, this has meant, traditionally, the best time of the year. Even in the midst of our multicultural, multi-religious, multiracial social tapestry, the month of Christmas stands out as the period when we are most engaging and most social.

From office parties to roadside spontaneous drinking sessions to intimate family gatherings, it is a time when we are most together.

Unfortunately, in this era of the most viral and fatal disease in recent history, this is also the time when we are the least socially distanced from each other, the sort of situation that adds greatly to the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

To be fair, COVID-19 is not a word any of us would have been familiar with one year ago. Gaining some traction outside of China around February of this year, Guyana recorded our first coronavirus death on the 11th of March.

Our breaking news story of that, captured the situation in a nutshell: ”Even as elections tension continues to grip the land, the local Ministry of Public Health has confirmed Guyana’s first case of the novel coronavirus [COVID-19].

The victim, a woman said to be in her 50s and suffering from underlying conditions, including diabetes and hypotension, was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital [GPHC].

Reports suggest that the woman travelled from New York, United States before March 9, 2020.

The case is moreover being viewed as an imported case.

The novel coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan, China during the latter part of last year.

The virus which has since expanded its reach to some 50 countries has infected more than 80,000 and more than 3,000 have reportedly died as a result.”

Today, less than a year later, there have been a total of 63.8 million infections globally, and 1.48 million total fatalities. Our one death and one recorded case from March has exploded into a total of over 5,400 cases and 151 deaths, the latest being a six day old infant.

While our growing numbers have not been excessive in terms of per capita infections and deaths, the upcoming Christmas holidays pose a so far unmet challenge in terms of the widespread socializing that comes with the season.

The upcoming quagmire with COVID-19 and Christ-

mas underscores how fundamental culture is to every single aspect of development simply because of how powerful a hold culture has on human behaviour, including behaviour that should be drastically changed to protect human life.

As Nietzsche said, “Humankind is a herd animal,” which means that our basic impulse is to socialize, an instinct that is heightened by the celebratory good cheer, communal camaraderie and familial intimacy of Christmas.

The reality is that virtual solutions, the kinds that which have only been partially successful in meeting the challenges COVID-19 has brought to education delivery, will have zero impact in substituting for direct interaction during the upcoming holidays.

Every good sense imperative about the need for social distancing and connecting online to safeguard each other will be overridden, in most people, by the very basic human need to seek to connect to loved ones.

Over the next month, as we shop for Christmas decorations and gifts, as we defy already poorly enforced restrictions on curfews and social distancing, as we party with peers and gather with family, at the very least we should do what we can in terms of masks and hygiene.

If that minimum, easily achievable standard of caution is not met, our season joy and laughter will easily become a season of sorrow and weeping.

Guyana can do better for healthcare workers DEAR EDITOR, I read of the ‘two-week bonus pay’ for all healthcare workers and my first thought was that there is some cause for Christmas cheer by those brave Guyanese medical soldiers facing the frontlines daily. But because this was coming from Guyanese political circles, commonsense prompted the wisdom of looking a little deeper. What I came up with is that if this is the PPP government’s idea of a risk allowance, then another is needed for the extra stresses imposed.

Editor, on this two-week bonus pay as some sort of ‘risk allowance’, I thought that the PPP powers, with the Hon. Minister of Health overseeing the national sick ward, Guyanese were in capable medical hands. I gave the Hon. Minister the benefit of the doubt, when I heard of ‘process’ and intent to recognize the contributions of frontline healthcare workers. My position and recommendations were threefold: 1) define frontline well - which was more than

well done; 2) make amount retroactive; and 3) let it be meaningful.

When I contemplate the last two suggestions, I arrive at this point: the second (if used) makes the third meaningless, an insult through the mean. In this instance, ‘mean’ has the usual Guyanese interpretation (stinginess) attached to money and generosity. As I got to the bottom of this twoweek bonus pay development, I regret having to say that, given what his people came up with and for which he is responsible, the Hon. Minister of Public Health (is there any other kind?) failed rather embarrassingly. On this, the medical minister sickened rather than cared and healed; on this, Dr. Frank Anthony proved to be no Hippocratic Marc Antony, rallying the troops but a practitioner committing more to the poor ward, I say this, because twoweek’ pay is less of the soothing, and more of the sinking. In sum, Guyanese frontline public health workers were treated to the less than decent from this

indecency and indignity of, take it or leave it and unilateral dispensation. Health workers succumb to this terminal condition.

For when two weeks bonus pay is sifted through, this is what it comes to in hard numbers, the significance of related spending power. I take a guess and assume that nurses earn $100,000 a month.

Thus, that two-week bonus pay as a risk allowance equates to a one-time check of $50,000.

It looks reasonable, even attractive, until there is consideration that the pandemic came in March (with unknown dangers and much ignorance); that it is now December (with more known, but perils still many and extremely high) and that from March to December encircles a 10-month span of time. So, when that $50,000 bonus is reduced to a monthly figure, it relays that healthcare workers are receiving in a lump sum approximately $5,000. When that is further broken down, it is no more than $1,000 weekly (after taxes). Now I may have erred on the gross pay, but even if

the pay is doubled, then that is $2,000 weekly for a risk allowance. Better than nothing, yes but not a risk allowance of depth, all dangers considered.

Editor, this cannot be how we care for our frontline healthcare workers.

Whatever the number, that risk allowance will barely manage to pay the minibus fare for our healthcare people, if they will be accepted or buy a half tank gasoline to take forth and back from the frontline pandemic wars or a ‘Chinee’ food (the special) from a local restaurant. Surely, we can do better than this, be more magnanimous than this in this time of great uncertainty and great lifethreatening risks. We are spending on mega projects.

We are borrowing money from everyone who will lend (and they all want to, since we are the best credit around).

We are tabling any number of visions and propositions some good, others unmentionable - and here we are unable to look out for those looking out for us and looking over us in our (Continued on page 5)

We should not mistreat the Haitians at our doorsteps DEAR EDITOR, A few days ago Kaieteur News published a letter in which the writer called upon the churches to speak up against injustices and abuse of human rights.

For too long, the “Men of the Cloth” have remained silent or have turned a blind eye while the rights of the poor in Guyana and their neighbours in the Caribbean are being violated. If there is a single group that should not be afraid to address the injustices meted out to the poor and the powerless in Guyana and elsewhere is the Church.

Recently, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) deported 160 hapless and desperate Venezuelans, mostly children who sought refuge in that country after fleeing their homeland for a better life. Not a word from the leaders of the church in Guyana, the Caribbean and elsewhere.

However, many in the public believed that the decision by the government of Trinidad and Tobago was wicked, cruel and heartless.

Almost everyone is aware of the turmoil in Venezuela and if nothing else, they should at least extend a helping hand to those less fortunate Venezuelans who are fleeing large-scale poverty and political persecution in their homeland. But to its credit, Guyana has been

accommodating to some of the Venezuelans but not to the Haitians who like so many other nationals from around the world are fleeing economic hardships with the hope of finding solace or some kind of relief in another country, in this case Guyana.

Over the years, many Haitians who have entered Guyana have been harassed and humiliated by governments past and present and some have been arrested and even jailed for overstaying their time in Guyana.

And while the United States, especially the Trump administration has penalized/ imprisoned refugees, it is wrong for Guyana to do so to our brethren from Haiti.

Recently, multiple media sources in Guyana have reported that at least 23 Haitians who came to Guyana in early November to seek a better life have been detained by the police and are asking the High Court to order their release from police custody.

The only crime, which they have committed is to seek help in Guyana—a sister CARICOM state. According to the President of the Association of Haitian Nationals in Guyana, Kesnel Toussaint, the Haitians are being detained at a Rehabilitation Centre at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice without adequate food, water and basic human amenities and without

interpreters. And many are separated from their children.

As if this was not embarrassing enough, the government has stated that it intends to impose visa restrictions on Haitians entering Guyana, which, according to some legal experts, is a violation of the CARICOM Treaty.

The Treaty provides for freedom of travel of Caribbean nationals in the region.

Moreover, no reasonable, rational or sensible government in the Caribbean would act so callously as to mistreat an oppressed group from Haiti, given the fact that they are fully aware of the difficulties faced by the Haitians in their homeland since the recent earthquake.

Many believe that such action by the government is immoral and cold-blooded.

This is true of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Others have recalled that there was a time not too long ago when thousands of Guyanese fled Guyana due to extreme hardships for greener pastures in the Caribbean, North America and elsewhere.

And most if not all were well received.

Guyanese are a Godfearing people and the Scripture tells us that all religion, be it Christians, Hindus or Muslims should consider the interest of others and extend a helping hand to the less fortunate and those

in need. The Bible teaches us that those who do righteous things are doing God’s will by bringing happiness and blessings to the poor and helpless for everyone needs a little help sometimes.

One major theme that has been repeated throughout the Bible is God’s care and love for the poor and oppressed.

The book of Proverbs 14:31 tells us that “whoever oppresses the poor insults his/her Maker, but he/she who is generous to the needy honours the Almighty.” And in Psalm 106:3: Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!

The Scripture also tells us after all, no one is meant to go through life alone.

Therefore, it is important for us as Guyanese to help those who are going through tough times like the Haitians.

In light of the above, we are calling on the churches, especially the Men of the Cloth to provide help and support to the less fortunate Haitians at our doorsteps.

And the government must be reminded that Haiti is a member State of CARICOM and its citizens should be treated no different from the others. If we are truly our brothers and sisters’ keeper, then we as Guyanese should be kind to the Haitians at our doorsteps and not mistreat them.

Aubrey Retemyer

Wednesday December 02, 2020

Pre-determined Terminations of Public Service Employment DEAR EDITOR, As of now, there have been three active Administrations within this decade, with each in such implacable opposition, that neither has troubled to relate to any positive effort the other may have promoted, with the aim of possible improvement.

One well-documented effort, that interestingly enough, has been ignored by the very sponsors (APNU+AFC Government) was the 2016 Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service of Guyana.

The following paragraphs are extracted from the Report’s Chapter 6: Retirement Age for Public Servants – For necessary action: “The retirement age in the Public Service is 55 years, and with approval 50 years. Public Sector organisations such as the Bank of Guyana, the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Revenue Authority and staff of the Audit Office of Guyana have a retirement age of 60 years.

The Private Sector also has higher than the Public Service retirement age based on pension schemes providing for retirement between 60 and 65 years, and with no fixed retirement age for top executives. Similarly, there is no retirement age for Parliamentarians and Ministers. The retirement age for staff at the University of Guyana is 65 years, and for the members of the Judiciary and the Auditor General, the retirement age is 65 years.

It is argued that the age of 55 is too early an age for retirement for Public Servants.

...Guyana can do better From page 4 moment of great vulnerability and need.It does not say much of our chief physician, Dr. Frank Anthony, who I thought was more of a Dr. Kildare. It says worse of Dr. Ali, the President, who speaks well of being President for every emergency. Where are you, Mr. President? How about you, Mr. Minister? I know we can do better than this one.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Testimonies to the Commission support and advocate for higher retirement age for Public Service staff.

The contention is that, at age 55, Public Servants would have acquired deep knowledge and wide experience in public management and in their professional and specialist fields. Therefore, it is a great loss of skills and expertise to the Public Service with a retirement age of 55. This is one of the arguments used to justify the re-employment of retired public servants on contract immediately upon retirement.

While the age of retirement for civil servants is 60 years in the British Virgin Islands, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, the current retirement age is 65 years in Bermuda, and 66.5 years in Barbados; and Dominica has abolished the retirement age on the ground of non-discrimination; while International Organisations within the United Nations System retire International Civil Servants on attaining 62 years of age. The current retirement age in the Republic of South Africa is 65 years (Public Service Act, 1994).

The higher retirement age of 65 years would provide for higher pensions under the Pension Act for public officers who would also continue to contribute to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) until the age of 60 years when NIS pensions would be paid. This would further increase the finances of the NIS scheme by the extended contributions from the employer and the employees for an additional period of five years, thus convinced that a higher retirement age for Public Servants would be mutually beneficial to the State, the public employees, and the National Insurance Scheme.”

As a consequence, the Commission proceeded to make the following recommendations: “...new entrants into the Public Service, and those

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Kaieteur News

currently in the Public Service who are below 50 years of age, be retired on attaining 65 years of age, with the option of retiring on attaining 60 years; That pension entitlements be calculated at a maximum of 43 and one-third service years; That public servants who are currently below 55 years of age, be allowed the option to retire on attaining 60 years or any time before 65 or on attaining 65 years of age; That no person retiring from the Public Service before attaining the age of 65 years should be employed on contract in an established Public Service position.

That the Pensions Act Chapter 27:02 be amended as may be required to provide for higher pensions as a result of the higher retirement age.”

However, the recommendations have been so far ignored; it is nevertheless not irrelevant of aspects of the pandemic rush of terminations of long serving public servants witnessed recently – incidentally, a process that would not necessarily convince the ambitions of some recent replacements about the security of future careers, having regard to the glare of attention given to their own ‘political appointments’.

In the meantime, the decision-makers who ignore the constipative retirement age of their immediate taxpayers themselves enjoy related compensation for any length of Parliamentary service (however suspect).

More importantly, the records would show too often the inability of the public service retiree at 55 to match both employer and employee monthly contributions in order to achieve the required (Continued on page 6)

Expanding Partnership between UG and UWI DEAR EDITOR, The recent press release

by UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Hilary Beckles that the Guyana government is planning to award 20,000 scholarships to Guyanese students to pursue tertiary online education courses at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus, among other training institutions, is quite consistent with the PPP/C’s manifesto promise to create the skillset needed to propel the country’s human resource development strategy. I agree that this initiative could be done in partnership with UG, with UWI having the lead role.

Key stakeholders include the Ministries of Education and Public Service. One must understand that public education policy is a prime responsibility of the government.

A few people want to know from where the students will come. Using 2019 examination results, there are 8,371 CSEC graduates, 818 CAPE graduates, and 2,200 UG graduates. For the five-year period, there will be an average of potentially 10,000 qualified students, from among whom the 4,000 number of trainees could be selected. Once again, as seems fashionable and sexy, some critics cannot restrain themselves from advancing a conspiracy theory which is not worthy of any comment.

I believe that the virtual meeting between Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Professor Beckles was to develop a business plan for review and subsequent implementation. This project is still in the exploratory stage and no formal agreement has yet been signed. To calm rattled nerves, Professor Beckles assures: “One of the principal pillars on which the 4th industrial revolution and the knowledge economy rests is university teaching and research.” He continues: “Indeed, the subtitle of The

UWI’s Strategic Plan is ‘Revitalizing Caribbean Development,’” inclusive of the building of the important ‘UWI-UG Bridge,’ which is perceived as “a mutual development strategy that will promote regional integration and expand teaching and research capacity.”

While UGWU President, Bruce Haynes, stated that UG was not consulted on this initiative, he nevertheless conceded that the PPP/C government was pushing forth its election manifesto promise. The PPP/C knows that the covenant (promises) they made with the people cannot be broken. To do otherwise would be at their own peril.

UG claimed on 11/20/20 that it has “not ceded its mandate” and took the opportunity to emphasize its role as the national brain trust, “supplying over 70 percent of graduates to Guyana and 30 percent exports,” and mentioned about 1000 online courses that it offers as part of `The University of Guyana Blueprint 2040s,’ an initiative highlighted by Professor Beckles.

PNC/R’s Tabitha SaraboHalley has advocated the conduct of a Human Resources Needs Assessment Survey (HRNAS) as a pre-requisite to identify the critical training needs. I have not been able to ascertain what methodology was utilized by government to determine the skillset requirements.

However, I learnt that the government is in the process of creating a model.

While a skillset survey would be useful, and a partnership between UG and UWI is important, I would not challenge the academic integrity of UWI. I view UWI’s role in the training not as anti-national but as complementary to UG and as contributing to a deepening of Caribbean integration and

being a partner in Guyana’s development. Also, all the PPP/C campaign promises, including the 20,000 scholarships, were subject to a lengthy period of consultation with private individuals and civil society groups.

UG is training thousands of graduates, including scores of government scholarship awardees in fields as diverse as medicine, engineering, natural sciences, management, etc. In another couple of years, all students at UG will become beneficiaries of government scholarships. UG’s role in the country’s development is assured. However, given the current education infrastructure, could UG be in a position shortly to train 4,000 additional students in various disciplines annually?

I posit one caveat here. In the age of globalization, stiff competition, and the knowledge-based economy, employers everywhere are looking to recruit the best candidates to fill positions. In the USA, they grab graduates from MIT, Sandford, Yale, and Harvard; in the UK they grab graduates from Oxford, Cambridge, and LSE; in Canada they grab graduates from University of Toronto and University of British Columbia. Don’t Guyanese believe in academic excellence too? UWI is rated among the top 600 universities in the world and among the top 18 in the Caribbean and Latin America. UG is neither rated among the top 600 in the world nor the top 18 in the Caribbean and Latin America.

While I do not believe that the government’s decision to train students at UWI was influenced by rating, UG and other academic institutions should not lose sight of this focus on excellence.

Hopefully, UG would grow academically to join the top 18 Universities in the region.

Dr. Tara Singh

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Wednesday December 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

First Lady, Aliya Ali, leading the agonising fight on gender-based violence DEAR EDITOR, In the land of many waters and races, it’s not raining cats and dogs and spices, but, crooks and crimes and everything not nice. We’re cooking up a storm, especially with the Christmas season brewing its own attractions.

Violence is certainly in the air, contesting with the implications of COVID-19. We eat, sleep, breathe, work, act, play and live with violence.

At the said time, we cannot overrule practising violence, teaching violence and leading by violence.

As recent as Monday, a man from the Ruimveldt area chopped a woman and then committed suicide, after the woman refused to allow him to have a relationship with her 14-year-old daughter.

Last Sunday, a 26 yearold man was killed while defending his wife from bandits in the North West District. A salesman was shot and wounded during an attempted robbery in Berbice over the week end. On Saturday, one man chopped his drinking buddy while imbibing alcohol, in the North West District. Yesterday, a man was stabbed several times while walking home in the Linden area. Last Friday in Linden, a 54 year-old man was found dead with slits on his throat and wrist. We are only three quarters of a million people in population and the tried, tired and tested police force is perpetually challenged in attending, preventing and solving crime,

inwardly and outwardly in good, old Guyana.

Once again, the propitious First Lady, Aliya Ali, is leading from the forefront with a band of esteemed players, bringing an awareness of gender violence to highlight the damage and dangers perpetuated by this pernicious disease that is so cancerous in our society. Its tentacles crawl in all walks of life in this gifted land of unbelievable potentials and continue to domicile in a dominant manner, infamously bi-weekly, without exaggeration or pride. The hard working wife of the President, Mrs. Ali, along with the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, High Commission of Canada and Suriname, Janine Cocker and UN Resident Coordinator Robert Natielo, led a treewrapping event on Monday along Main Street, Georgetown. Her conscious effort serves to promote the discouragement of domestic abuse, truncate its nuisance and stamp out the root cause.

Its effects are devastating and 17 mothers were killed so far this year, leaving 43 children in broken homes.

There are many economical, sociological and psychological issues implicating its attributions.

This exercise is part of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign and in collaboration with the United Nations theme, “Orange the world: Fund, Prevent, Respond, Collect.” Mrs. Ali

was appropriately dressed in the bright colour, orange.

Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud explained that the colour orange was chosen because it “represents resilience, strength and endurance and those are the qualities that we ask persons who move from the stage of victimhood to survivors.”

Violence against women is a heinous crime that is a breach of human rights and is one of the hardest challenges to the world, especially in Asia where its prevalence is uncontrollable.

The Ministry has launched its “# enough with the violence” campaign on International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls, its theme advocating, no more beating, no more hurting, no more killing of our women. The honourable president’s wife was instrumental, ensuring that the State House was Monday evening lit with orange lights in solidarity and to bring more awareness to the issue.

Domestic violence remains a taboo, shuttered behind closed doors and only emerging as bloody faces, bruised limbs, broken spirits and dead bodies. Still, some women are afraid to admit that they are victims of violence.

Women usually face years of abuse. Were relatives and neighbours aware of this and if so, why did they choose to remain silent? Some factors that cause women not to speak up when they are being abused are fear of societal judgment, insecurities about children and finances, family pressure and manipulation.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many women have been kept in close proximity to their abusers, and reporting has become challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic has further contributed to increasing risks of violence, particularly domestic violence, against women. The UN recently pointed to reports from countries around the world, which suggest that

restrictions in movement, social isolation, coupled with increased social and economic pressures, are leading to an increase in violence in the home. School closures further worsen this burden, and place more stress on women.

The disruption of their livelihoods and their ability to earn a living – especially for those women who are informal wage workers – will decrease access to basic needs and services.

This situation increases stress on families with the potential to inten s i f y conflict and violence. Mrs. Aliya Ali has not only been vocal but has also been reaching out to many of the victims’ homes and rendering assistance.

Over the years, the UN has been pushing countries towards implementing proactive

measures to combat domestic violence. These measures have included criminalizing gender-based violence; holding massive public awareness campaigns; providing training to equip both men and women to act as first responders; and supporting victims of the scourge at the community level.

Importantly, too, the lackadaisical attitude of neighbours, relatives, and community leaders who are, in most cases, aware of domestic abuse cases, but choose to remain silent also needs to change.

Everyone needs to be proactive in their response to the scourge. All stakeholders in society are urged to reconvene a stakeholders’ engagement to tackle the issue of domestic violence. The aim should be

to reassess and modify current strategies taking into account the lessons learnt from past experience. There is a need to pool all efforts and resources together to save our women and this should include government agencies, employers, private organizations, society and citizens. But the biggest hurdle remains, rethinking, reexamining, reshaping, remodelling and reinterpreting this culture of assumed possessiveness and dictatorship which unfortunately, leads to trepidation and the overwhelming apprehensive and fearful repercussions. All should help First Lady, Aliya Ali, to completely eradicate this disgusting sickness in society that is so dreadfully cumbersome and menacingly distasteful.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Natural Gas Calculation DEAR EDITOR, In Tuesday’s edition, I see that emerging oil producing countries like Guyana are at risk of over-supply of natural gas. Let me use S.I. units to show how much natural gas would be needed using GPL as an example. (The International System of Units (SI, abbreviated from the French Système international (d’unités)) is the modern form of the metric system. It is the only system of measurement with an official status in nearly every

country in the world). It follows that I shall be using cubic metres, megawatts and megajoules in the following simple calculation.

L e t ’s say GPL generates 125 MW of electricity at an efficiency of 25 percent.

This means that a thermal input of 500 MW is needed to get a 125MW output.

Natural gas has an energy content of 40 MJ (Megajoules) per cubic metre.

A MW is the rate of producing or using energy and it equals 1 MJ/second.

A thermal input of 500MW therefore requires (500 divided by 40) cubic metres of natural gas per second, which is 12.5 cubic metres per second. This works out at one million and 80 thousand cubic metres of natural gas per day.

Or, a thermal input of 500MW requires just over 38 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.

These figures can be prorated to any thermal process or application.

I hope this helps.

Robert Perks B.Sc. Fuel Science

...Pre-determined Terminations From page 5 minimum to qualify for the NIS pension at age 60 years (5 years!).

(In parenthesis, it is not like the old days when recruitment into the ‘civil’ service was based on positive health certification, after mandatory medical

examination. Mine was a rather tasteful experience with the foreign doctor gleefully acclaiming I was in good health, after ascertaining that we both drank the same brand of rum.)

Why is no decision-maker paying attention to redressing this chronic social

compensation deficit, which also applies to members of the teaching profession who are so poorly paid in the first instance. The concern here is about more than a constitutional, but of a profound human right. Also they are all voters.

E.B. John

Wednesday December 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Wednesday December 02, 2020

Ex-police among eight in custody for Marcus Bisram robbery -Bisram refutes the claim made by an alleged bandit in viral video

T

he police have arrested an expolice and close friend of Marcus Bisram, Bharrat Shattarpaul, along with seven others, in connection with the robbery committed on the wealthy philanthropist of Number 70 Village, Upper Corentyne, Berbice.

A senior police source

disclosed that Shattarpaul was seen earlier in the day, on Sunday, in conversation with a known character who has been charged multiple times for armed robbery, alleged murder, trafficking in narcotics, among other serious offences.

The police had reportedly searched the known character’s vehicle

that said day but nothing was found. Hours later, Bisram’s premise was pounced on by four men, three armed with guns and one with a cutlass.

Police following some leads arrested six persons on Monday and the two others yesterday and are still pursuing other leads.

Kaieteur News was reliably informed that Shattarpaul is

a close friend of Bisram.

Meanwhile, Commander Jairam Ramlakhan, disclosed that they have since taken note of the video circulating on social media of a masked individual with a gun in hand refuting Bisram’s claim that the bandits stole $5M in cash. In the profanity-laced video, the alleged perpetrator said that they stole $800,000 and not $5M. Bisram has also refuted what the man in the video said and stated that it is of no substance. The police are however investigating the video, the Commander said. All suspects in custody are denying that they were involved in the robbery.

Surveillance footage seen by this publication

Bharrat Shattarpaul (left) with Marcus Bisram. showed the minute the men entered the yard. In the footage, Bisram was focused on his cellphone while sitting with two female relatives. There were several other persons seated at separate tables in the yard.

The four men rushed it and one grabbed the phone out of

Bisram’s hand while another seemed to have a confrontation with a male relative of Bisram.

S h o r t l y a f t e r, t h e perpetrators guided everyone in the house and spent at least three minutes before exiting and making (Continued on page 14 )

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday December 02, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

James Bond: From the bank manager with love

W

hat a bizarre country.

Riding on a wave of denunciation of corruptibility under the PPP regime, the APNU+AFC secured power in 2015.

It set up an anticorruption agency name SARA (State Asset Recovery Agency) headed by one of the leaders in one of the parties that made up the coalition government – Dr. Clive Thomas.

During the life of SARA under that very government

that brought SARA into being - the APNU+AFC regime, PNC activist James Bond banked a million American dollars into an account and absolutely no movement took place in relation to an investigation by that commercial bank, the central bank, the anti-money laundering unit at the Ministry of Finance and Clive Thomas’ outfit – SARA. In a small country, corrupt officials will never be caught because in such

countries, people with power and money control the entire population in both the public and private spheres; from the persons who weed the public parapets to the managers of the commercial banks.

The commercial bank manager will be told in advance that a cheque for $500 million will be deposited within an hour.

The manager will then tell the powerful caller that when the office boy comes with the cheque, he must tell the teller to inform him.

That is the end of that.

So how Bond was able to deposit a sum of one million American dollars and no question was asked from any quarters?

The answer is simple; in countries with tiny populations, the moneyed people and the power people can do anything they want because they know the bureaucrats and state officials that have to implement the laws.

Why is the manager of the financial house going to refuse to accept a cheque from a person who has in his possession a note from a minister of government saying: “Please facilitate as a request from me; call me if you have any enquiries.”

I stayed in my car on the Railway Embankment one day and looked from a distance as the traffic ranks stopped motorists at random, checking for papers.

Not one heavily tinted, expensive SUV was stopped.

Commonsense was at work.

When the police ranks see such vehicles, they know the stuff is so expensive that only moneyed people or power people can be in those cars so they know that they are not supposed to intercept such drivers.

The police confronted

some folks who were imbibing at 11:30 pm, thus violating curfew time at a gas station up the East Coast.

Do you know the hundreds of parties that have taken place way beyond curfew time, way beyond midnight in fancy suburban mansions since COVID-19 restrictions were implemented?

The police did not intervene.

W h y ?

F o r commonsensical reasons.

The police know that such places are off-limits.

This is the shape of life in a poor, underdeveloped country.

Do you know at the very same time Bond banked that sum courtesy of the manager how many poor souls were hassled by the financial houses for their deposits of $15,000, $25,000, etc.

I remember driving up the East Coast to attend the wedding of Leonard Craig of the AFC in 2017, in a car driven by former AFC parliamentarian, Trevor Williams.

Williams told me for a deposit of $10,000, he had to answer a mountain of questions by the bank teller. I did write about this conversation in the myriad of denunciatory columns on the commercial banks that I did.

However, the Guyanese version of 007 Bond easily put one million America dollars into one of the commercial banks and no questions asked.

Former Minister of Home Affairs, Khemraj Ramjattan, is always speaking to the press.

But to date he has not responded to the statement

Frederick Kissoon by current Home Affairs minister, Robeson Benn, that about 60 percent of gun licence applications were approved without the process going through all the necessary stages including the licence board.

If that is not true, then Ramjattan has not disputed Benn’s accusation so I am assuming it is true.

So the interesting question is who are among those 60 percent?

The answer is simple – moneyed people and power people.

This columnist knows about countless cases where genuine applicants were never awarded a licence and in many cases their applications were never acknowledged.

We had the situation of well know journalist, Leonard Gildarie, who was given the grand run-around for years with his application.

So we return to Bond with the obvious question – if Bond did it and it went unheeded surely how many more did it and the money was accepted by the banks and now safely sits in several accounts?

What a tragic wasteland is Guyana.

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

Wednesday December 02, 2020

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Ex-police among eight in custody for....

From page 8 good their escape.

Kaieteur News understands that the men arrived on motorcycles and parked it a few houses away from Bisram’s house, and escaped on the same motorcycles in the direction of Georgetown.

Eight cellular phones including Bisram’s iPhone Pro Max, his two gold bangles (100 pennyweights each), a 100 pennyweight gold

chain, a diamond ring worth $12,000 US, $5M Guyana currency and his wallet which contained 7 credit cards and $2,000 US was stolen he said.

According to Bisram the $5M Guyana currency was withdrawn some six days ago to pay his attorneys. When questioned about security, Bisram stated that at the time of the robbery he had no security and hasn’t had any security for the past three months.

Wednesday December 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Oil governance advocates challenge World Bank to prove Guyana’s gas...

From page 3 shore.

The Institute had posited Ghana signed a long-term take-or-pay Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with gas and power suppliers, through which it would have to pay for 90 percent of the produced gas from the field, no matter the demand.

“In an environment of frequent power outages where a large portion of the population lacks access to electricity, this seemed like

an ideal arrangement,” University of California San Diego graduate student Kathryn Hillis wrote in a report titled ‘Guyana’s Gasto-Power Potential.’

Like Guyana, the African nation suffered power outages. It also wanted to reduce power costs, lower emissions and make electricity services more reliable. The market is now severely oversupplied.

Ghanaians are also reported as arguing that the

tariffs in the Power Purchase Agreement are not competitive, causing the government to overpay for power.

In response, the current administration created the Energy Sector Recovery Program (ESRP) to identify the policies and actions needed to recover the sector financially.

The programme would have to find uses for all the extra gas and work on ensuring fairer agreements

in the future.

Part of the programme involved having Cenpower, a major power company in Ghana, switch its primary fuel consumption from light crude to natural gas.

Hillis said that Ghana will need to do a lot more to find offtake sources for the gas because the company’s switch is nowhere near enough.The Bretton Woods Project, a UK based nongovernmental organization, noted that the public-private

partnership (PPP) for the project is backed by over US$1B in World Bank guarantees and debt financing.

Bretton Woods, formed to challenge the effectiveness of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said that Ghana’s offshore gas is rapidly becoming a fiscal burden amidst its debt crisis, raising questions about the World Bank Group’s (WBG) r o l e i n G h a n a ’s g a s

development.

The World Bank said, in response to the sustained criticism, that it should have anticipated the need for a communications strategy to address the public perception that the petroleum companies supported by the bank were just exploiting the resources for their own benefit. It also said that part of the economic benefits of the project will not be realized immediately.

"Guyanese: stop leaders from deceiving.

Pressure them for disclosures on all deals."

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Region Ten accounts for 16 of 17 new coronavirus cases

Wednesday December 02, 2020

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Two arrested for Sunshine Supermarket attempted robbery/shooting The Sunshine Supermarket.

Police on the Corentyne have arrested two persons in connection with the attempted robbery and shooting that took place at the Sunshine Supermarket located at Chesney Front, Corentyne, Berbice. This was confirmed

by Commander in charge of Region 6, Jairam Ramlakhan.

Meanwhile, the victim who was shot during the attempted robbery is still hospitalised at the Anamayah Memorial Hospital and is said to be “going in and out of consciousness.�

On Saturday last, two

armed men pulled up on their motorcycles while brandishing a gun and knife. They confronted and attacked four salesmen who were making their way to the truck that pulled up to pick up goods from the Supermarket. One salesman was injured to his face after a bullet grazed him a n d t h e o t h e r, L o c h a n Matadeen, was shot near the region of his heart. The men did not steal anything and escaped shortly after shooting the man.

They reportedly trailed the truck to the supermarket.

Investigations are ongoing.

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...Tokyo to kick off 2021 World Athletics Continental Tour ...Lewis Hamilton tests From page 35 meetings with newer positive for coronavirus Tokyo to kick off 2021 World Athletics huge support from both competitions that have athletes and fans, and giving us great confidence that it will go from strength to strength in the coming years,’’ World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said. “One of our primary goals at World Athletics is to improve the competitive and earning opportunities for elite athletes around the world and the Continental Tour is doing that with the creation of new meetings like the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi. This is also creating new avenues for fans to watch our leading athletes, either in person or via broadcast or livestream, as has been primarily the case this year.’’

Once again, the 2021 Continental Tour Gold series will combine some of the sport’s most venerable

already begun establishing impressive traditions of their own in different regions of the world.

Ten days after the Tokyo event, the tour moves to Europe for the 60th edition of the Golden Spike in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on 19 May. After a brief break, the tour moves into high gear with three meetings in four days, making stops in Kingston, Jamaica for the Racers Adidas Grand Prix (5 June), the FBK Games (6 June) in Hengelo, Netherlands and the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland (8 June).

After a break for national championships, the series resumes in Bydgoszcz, Poland on 30 June for the Irena Szewinska Memorial, a

Continental Tour Gold meeting series.

newcomer to this year’s tour, and continues in Szekesfehervar, Hungary on 6 July. Following the Olympic Games (24 July-August 9) and the Wanda Diamond League final in Zurich, the tour will resume in September with stops in Chorzów, Poland and the Croatian capital Zagreb before concluding, once

Wednesday December 02, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Life's been a real whirlwind lately. You may feel a bit overwhelmed by everything that’s been going on.It's fun to catch up with everyone.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Expect some positive developments today that impact the whole family. Perhaps you or your mate will receive word of a significant raise or great job opportunity.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You should be feeling especially confident today, Gemini. You've been working especially hard lately, and the recognition you've received goes a long way toward reinforcing your feelings of self-worth.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) This is a day made for fun and frivolity, not one in which you're likely to get many of your chores done. Try as you might to focus on the task at hand, there are distractions everywhere you turn.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You're a person of many talents, and today you're likely to discover yet another one.

The delivery of a new piece of equipment makes you feel like you've been given a toy for your sole enjoyment.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Don't be surprised if a lot of people contact you today, each one anxious to confer with you. It seems that you're the authority on all topics, Virgo.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Don't let yourself be manipulated by needy friends, Libra. With today's planetary energies, it's a good time to think about setting clear boundaries.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is a good day for sharing friendship with pals and co-workers, Scorpio. People will be in a light, socializing mood and not much in a working frame of mind.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) This is a good day for sharing friendship with pals and co-workers. People will be in a light, socializing mood and not much in a working frame of mind. There's really no use fighting this energy.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Don't be surprised to see your co-workers acting a bit silly today, Capricorn. There is no getting around the high spirits that permeate the work environment.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may discover an untapped talent today, Aries.

Perhaps there's a new machine in the office and you're the only one who can figure out how to use it.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) With all the conversations you've had lately, Pisces, it's likely that you've talked with some people in the healing professions. These doctors, nurses, and technicians could be useful to you later.

again, with the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, a meeting which made a successful debut this year.

The date of the Nanjing meeting will be confirmed in due course. The development of the Continental Tour is part of a concerted effort by World Athletics to create a logical long-term global calendar of international events, which is available well in advance to assist meeting directors, Member Federations, athletes and fans with their forward planning.

Despite some cancellations this year due to the pandemic, 59 Continental Tour meetings were still held in 2020. Up to 100 meetings could be part of the tour in 2021.

...Olympic rings illuminated From page 37 restaurants close at 2200 JST until Dec. 17.

Because of this, following the rings’ brief illumination on Tuesday, they will go dark until the restrictions are lifted.

However, the return of the rings should send a signal that the Games are indeed getting closer, Tokyo metropolitan government planning director Atsushi Yanashimizu told Reuters.

“Since the symbol is here, we want Tokyo residents and also internationally to feel that the Games are coming very soon,” Yanashimizu said.

“Also, we want everyone to feel we will have the Tokyo 2020 Games definitely next year.”

The monument will remain in place next to Rainbow Bridge until the Olympics finish in August before being replaced with the Paralympics logo.

The Olympics were pushed back by a year in March because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and organisers have yet to provide a figure for how much the postponement will cost.

On Monday, Kyodo News reported that organisers estimated the cost of COVID19 countermeasures for the Games would run to around 100 billion yen ($960 million).

From page 38 statement of their own: ‘Lewis was tested three times last week and returned a negative result each time, the last of which was on Sunday afternoon at the Bahrain International Circuit as part of the standard race weekend testing programme.

‘However, he woke up on Monday morning with mild symptoms and was informed at the same time that a contact prior to his arrival in Bahrain had subsequently tested positive.

‘Lewis therefore took a further test and returned a positive result. This has since been confirmed by a retest.’

‘Lewis is now isolating in accordance with Covid-19 protocols. Apart from mild symptoms, he is otherwise fit and well, and the entire team sends him its very best wishes for a swift recovery.’

Hamilton appeared to be drained at the end of the Bahrain GP, which was

marred by a crash that left Romain Grosjean with minor burns to his hands and ankles after his Haas car crashed and burst into flames moments after the start.

‘It’s physical, this track has always been physical.

We’ve got lots of highspeed corners so I was definitely feeling it,’ Hamilton said following Sunday’s race.

‘I was sliding around a lot out there and I wasn’t really quite sure how it would play out at the end.’

Hamilton, who wrapped up his record-equalling seventh world championship in Turkey last month, is the third driver to have contracted the illness.

Sergio Perez missed the British and 70th Anniversary Grands Prix at Silverstone in August, while his Racing Point team-mate Lance Stroll also tested positive following October’s Eifel Grand Prix in Germany.

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‘They don’t care about athletes’ Jones hits winner as Bailey blasts NOC, sports ministry Liverpool beat Ajax to reach for perceived lack of support Champions League last 16

SportsMax - Antigua and Barbuda track and field star Daniel Bailey has launched a broadside on the county’s National Olympic Committee (NOC), who he accuses of being a ‘sham’ and not caring about the nation’s athletes.

The 34-year, who has represented the county at the Olympic Games on several occasions, retired from international competition in 2018, pointing to the exorbitant cost of competing as a major factor in his decision.

Earlier this year, Bailey announced that he had decided to return to the sport in order to compete at next year’s Olympic Games. It seems, however, that some things have yet to change.

“They turned down my stuff and I left it alone, but I knew that was going to happen and I just think that the NOC is a sham because they don’t care about the athletes,” Bailey said recently on the Good Morning Jojo sports show.

“It is the first time I have sent the NOC an email about funding and the murmuring stated as to why Bakka want this and why Bakka wants that but at the end of the day, the money does not belong to any one of them and without the

Antigua and Barbuda track and field star Daniel Bailey. athletes, they can’t get any funding,” he added.

Earlier this year, EP Chet Greene, politician, and president of the NOC pledged to support the athlete after learning of his bid to qualify for the Olympics.

Bailey’s scorn was not, however, limited to the NOC as he reflected on a long career of footing his own expense.

“For the majority, I had to do it myself along with two or three corporate sponsors.

The NOC is not coming on board, the athletics association is not coming on

board and the Ministry of Sports is not coming on board. At the age of 18 years, I left for Jamaica on an IOC scholarship, and ever since then I have never gotten any help from the NOC, the government nor the Ministry of Sports. I have been to four Olympic Games, spent 100s of thousands of dollars on myself, and represented this country without a dollar from anybody.” Bailey, who has a personal best of 9.91, has made it to the semi-finals of two Olympic Games and was fourth at the 2009 World Championships.

...GFF engages community of Kwakwani From page 33 most developed young women is from this community and has been training in this community for the past couple of years, young Jalade Trim. So we made the trip to more or less bring support to the football development programme in Kwakwani as well as listen and learn what may have contributed to this community moving from being one of the most vibrant sporting communities within the country to one that do not seem to be producing the better athletes within the various disciplines.”

Forde informed that the conversation with community leaders and elders bore much fruit as they were able to point out the challenges that they would have been facing over the years as well as indicate

how they believe they can move the game forward with the youths being the primary focus.

The community members also took the opportunity to commend Forde and the GFF for the historic visit and commitment to work along with them in mapping the way forward.

President Forde committed the GFF’s resources to bring back the game to what it used to be and even take it a step forward noting that for this to be achieved, there has to be a consorted effort on the part of the community to work in association with the Federation.

“Despite everything that we will do and that we are doing right now, it will require the support and the involvement of the entire community to really bring about some change as to what

has been taking place over the past couple of years.

You have a partner in the Guyana Football Federation but it will not work unless the community steps forward and really help us.

The young people of this community deserve the leadership and the guidance of the adults.”

Football Development materials were presented to the community which was accepted by McLean. The Federation has committed to training of Coaches and Referees once eth individuals have been identified.

Community members have made a huge step as they have identified a number of individuals who will serve on an Ad Hoc Committee to make reality the commitment to revive the sport, more details will follow.

Liverpool have secured a place in the knockout stage of the Champions League for a fourth successive season. (Reuters) BBC Sport - Curtis Jones scored his first Champions League goal after a horrific goalkeeping mistake as Liverpool beat Ajax to win Group D and secure a place in the last 16.

Andre Onana misjudged the flight of Neco Williams’ cross and 19-year-old midfielder Jones took advantage to score with the outside of his right foot.

Caoimhin Kelleher, deputising for first-choice keeper Alisson who was missing with a hamstring injury, also played his part in Liverpool’s win, a tremendous stop to deny substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar the pick of his saves.

Former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen wasted a great chance for the visitors and David Neres hit the woodwork.

Jones also rattled a post before his goal ensured Liverpool, with one game to spare, joined Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea in the knockout stage.

Kelleher impresses in Alisson’s absence A surprise home defeat

by Atalanta last week had t h r e a t e n e d L i v e r p o o l ’s dominance in Group D, with the Italians and Ajax closing in.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side overcame their latest

worrying injury setback to progress after an open and entertaining game at Anfield.

It was far from straightforward for the Reds, Klaassen heading wide for Ajax when he should have scored, while Neres was denied by the woodwork after Kelleher had done well to push away an attempt by young Brazilian forward Antony.

The 22-year-old’s stop to deny Huntelaar, having earlier produced a onehanded save to keep out Noussair Mazraoui, was exceptional and at the final whistle Klopp went straight to the Republic of Ireland squad member to congratulate him on his performance.

With Atalanta held in Denmark by Midtjylland, Liverpool are four points clear with one game to go and uncatchable at the top.

Having already secured the group, Klopp will be able to rest players when the Reds face Midtjylland in Denmark in the final round of games on 9 December.

More injury woe for the Reds On a night when captain Jordan Henderson made his first club start s i n c e 8 N o v e m b e r a f t e r i n j u r y, Liverpool revealed their first-choice keeper had become the latest player to

join the list of casualties.

Their campaign has been littered with injury s e t b a c k s a n d A l i s s o n ’s hamstring problem, which is likely to rule him out of Sunday’s league game with Wolves and next week’s Champions League game against Midtjylland, means the Reds are now without nine senior players with games coming thick and fast.

Midfielder Naby Keita (thigh) and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold (calf) are close to returning.

B u t Vi rg i l v a n D i j k (knee) is out for a prolonged period while there are no return dates for Joe Gomez (knee), Xherdan Shaqiri, James Milner (thigh), Thiago Alcantara (knee) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee).

Klopp’s decision to opt for Kelleher in Alisson’s absence raises questions about the future of Spanish keeper Adrian, who has often filled in when the Brazilian has been missing.

The veteran of more than 200 competitive appearances for Real Betis, West Ham and Liverpool watched from the bench as Kelleher provided a calm and reliable presence in Alisson’s absence.

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Marvelous Dawid Malan 99* steers England to record chase and 3-0 sweep ESPNcricinfo - A worldrecord partnership between Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler saw England overhaul an impressive South Africa total with ease and sweep their T20I series 3-0 at Newlands.

An unbroken century stand between Rassie van der Dussen and Faf du Plessis threatened to salvage some South African pride. But England proved just too good again as Malan and Buttler brushed aside their efforts with an unbeaten 167run partnership of their own, the highest second-wicket stand in T20Is. Player of the Match for the second time in a row, and Player of the Series, Malan was unbeaten on 99 from just 47 deliveries, while Buttler was not out with 67 off 46 to hand England a nine-wicket victory with 14 balls to spare and see their side pass Australia at the top of the ICC rankings.

Van der Dussen and du Plessis came together with their side stuttering on 64 for 3 but piled on 127 off 66 deliveries, including 84 runs off the last five overs, to set England a target of 192 when no side had previously made 190 batting second at Newlands. Van der Dussen’s unbeaten on 74, off just 32 balls, was his highest score in T20Is. South Africa were without fast bowler Kagiso Rabada due to a groin strain and their bowlers lacked penetration as Malan and Buttler dominated the attack.

Stellar union South Africa looked in

danger of becoming bogged down in their innings, but Reeza Hendricks’ dismissal brought together du Plessis and van der Dussen and it didn’t take them too long to find their stride.

Van der Dussen struck the first of his five sixes, pulling Ben Stokes over deep square leg to double his score to 12 but it was just the beginning.

Tom Curran’s second over, the 16th of the innings, went for 16, book-ended by two giant sixes to du Plessis.

Van der Dussen then helped himself to 22 runs off Jofra Archer in the next over, bringing up his 50 off just 23 balls with South Africa looking far healthier at 145 for 3.

Du Plessis brought up his fifty off 37 balls with four threaded off Sam Curran wide of third man. It was his second half-century of the series following his 58 at the same venue in the first match.

England’s fielding was not at its best, and on the last ball of the innings Sam Curran caught van der Dussen on the boundary but threw the ball in thinking possibly mistakenly - that he was going to touch the rope, but not hard enough for Archer to grab a relay catch.

It didn’t matter as by then the damage was done - or so it seemed.

That man Malan (and Buttler too) Malan, Player of the Match as England sealed an unassailable 2-0 series lead at Paarl on Sunday, bettered himself and further stamped

his authority as the world’s leading batsman in this format.

He needed the help of DRS to overturn an lbw decision on 16 when Lungi Ngidi’s delivery was found to have pitched outside leg.

Malan was the beneficiary again when, returning for a second run, he found himself well short as Temba Bavuma fired the ball in brilliantly to Quinton de Kock, who broke the stumps with his gloves but the ball lodged in his midriff.

Around those moments, however, Malan was dominant, thrashing five sixes, including a monstrous 94-metre effort down the ground off a Ngidi slower ball, and 11 fours. Buttler was also in fine form, striking five sixes.

With five overs remaining - and nine wickets in hand England needed just 27 runs and with both batsmen roaring they made the task look simple.

Jordan on top Chris Jordan came out on top once again in a battle with de Kock, whose brisk 17 off 12 deliveries could not erase the sense that he is shouldering a heavy burden as opener, captain and wicketkeeper.

In doing so, Jordan took the outright lead as England’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 66, having drawn level with Stuart Broad in the previous match.

De Kock had scored 11 of the 12 runs to come off Archer’s second over, including a four followed immediately by a huge six that

GFF engages community of Kwakwani during Historical Outreach - GFF pledges support for football development, coach and referee training Guyana Football Federation President, Wayne Forde led a high powered delegation of administrators and Technical personnel on a historic visit to the mining town of Kwakwani which is nestled on the Berbice River in the Upper DemeraraBerbice Region.

The weekend visit, which was initiated by veteran football Coach Jimmy McLean, was very successful as Forde took the opportunity to engage residents and key stakeholders on reviving the game in the community which is home to former National midfielder Carey

Harris and current National female Under-15 forward, Jalade Trim.

Forde was accompanied

by Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) President Terrance Mitchell, GFF Director of Coaching Wilson Toledo, GFF Youth Development Officer Brian ‘Joe Boy’ Joseph, GFF Referees Technical Instructor/Assessor Abdullah ‘Zico’ Hamid and Social Media Officer, Keeran Williams.

McLean, whose exploits over the years in and out of Guyana is well documented in terms of developing players and teams, has been the

driving force behind the resuscitation of the game in Kwakwani and reached out to Forde and the GFF to render assistance which the national governing body acquiesced to.

“We’ve recognised over the years that Kwakwani has not really occupied the headlines for being a vibrant sporting community and particular in the game of football. We all know that this community has produced many outstanding players over the years, Carey Harris being one such player.

We know that one of our (Continued on page 32)

Dawid Malan walks off after making an unbeaten 99. (Getty Images) landed in the rubble of a construction site beyond deep backward square. But when Jordan entered the attack in the next over, he struck with his fourth ball as de Kock miscued to mid-off and Tom Curran swallowed a straightforward catch. It was the third time this series that Jordan had dismissed de Kock.

Stokes again, and again Stokes was unused with the ball in the first match and went wicketless in the second,

conceding 14 off just two overs, but he lived up to his usual billing as the man who makes things happen when he came on in the eighth over and struck with his sixth ball.

Bavuma had made a bright start, reaching 32 off 26 balls before Stokes struck to have him caught by Jordan at midoff. Stokes was the can-do man once more in his next over when he had Hendricks caught behind for 13.

Stokes was injured later on, cutting his left hand as he

ran into the boundary boards after trying to intercept a van der Dussen blow and caught a sharp edge near the adverting hoardings. He left the field but was later seen patched up and smiling, albeit with some concern over his ability to hold the bat as England faced a hefty run chase.

Scores: England 192 for 1 (Malan 99*, Buttler 67*) beat South Africa 191 for 3 (van der Dussen 74*, du Plessis 52*) by nine wickets.

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Wednesday December 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan Invests in New U.S. Pro Cricket League Sportico - The world’s most popular actor is betting millions of dollars that the U.S. is ripe for establishing a pro league of media-friendly cricket.

Shah Rukh Khan, a Bollywood legend who is arguably the world’s most popular film star, and his Knight Riders Group are investing in American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), a U.S. group that plans to launch Major League Cricket in 2022.

The pro circuit will play Twenty20 cricket, a slimmeddown version of the sport that takes place over three hours.

Knight Rider and American Cricket will announce their partnership tomorrow morning.

“Even though cricket is not a mainstream sport in the U.S., the size of the diaspora and the appetite for cricket is so strong that the U.S. is the second-largest market to consume cricket content, after India,” Knight Riders Group CEO Venky Mysore said in a phone call.

Knight Riders is majorityowned by Khan, who has made more than 80 movies and is said to have 3.5 billion fans worldwide.

Other stakeholders in Knight Riders Group include Juhi Chawla, a Bollywood legend in her own right, and her husband Jay Mehta, a scion of the family that owns international conglomerate Mehta Group.

Among Knight Riders’ holdings are the Kolkata Knight Riders, a T20 squad in India, as well as T20 franchises in Trinidad and

Tobago and South Africa.

“We are convinced that Major League Cricket has all the pieces in place to execute on its plans and we look forward to making our partnership an enormous success in the coming years,” Khan said in a statement.

T20 cricket was developed in the U.K. in 2003 and has exploded in popularity since, fostering pro leagues in India, England, the Caribbean and elsewhere. To accommodate national team cricket schedules, T20 seasons generally take place in bursts of 60 games over two months each year. The U.S. league likely will take place in late summer after the Indian Premier League has its season, allowing for international players to come stateside.

ACE plans to begin a minor league system in 2021 in preparation for launching what’s expected to be a six-team U.S. pro circuit in 2022.

Rather than selling franchises, ACE is selling ownership interests in the league, with most investors eventually adopting a league team as their own.

The dollar commitment of K h a n ’s group i s n ’t disclosed, although ballpark figures for ACE’s early pro league fundraising are in the $60 million to $75 million range, according to Mysore.

The Knight Riders Group is the first Major League Cricket investor to be disclosed. For Khan’s group,

Shah Rukh Khan the entry into the U.S. makes sense since the country is an important Bollywood market and dovetails with plans to establish the Knight Riders as a mainstay T20 brand worldwide.

“The combination of Bollywood and T20 cricket has been extremely successful in other markets, and we’re looking to leverage that to the extent we can in content creation and the merger of entertainment and cricket,” said AC E c o founder Vijay Srinivasan in a phone call. Srinivasan is a l s o C E O o f Wi l l o w Television, an American sports channel focused on cricket. “T20 broke out as a television product in 2007 and since then has been totally energized. Some estimates are that threequarters of all cricket media revenues are associated with the T20 format.”

In addition to signaling that the U.S. is a fertile media market for cricket, the Knight Riders’ stateside move also can improve the level of domestic competition,

IOC President Bach runs unopposed to stay on until 2025 BERLIN (Reuters) International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach is set to remain in office until 2025 as he will run unopposed next year for a second term, the IOC said yesterday.

Bach succeeded outgoing president Jacques Rogge in 2013 after prevailing over five other candidates in an election in Buenos Aires.

Presidents are limited to two terms in office under the rules of the Olympic body.

The length of the first

presidential term is eight years with re-election securing another four years in office.

“The members of the IOC were informed today... that President Thomas Bach will be the only candidate for the presidential election, which will be held during the 137th IOC Session in Athens in March 2021,” it said in a statement.

Bach is a German lawyer who won a gold medal in fencing at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

An IOC member since

1991, he introduced a string of reforms in 2014 designed to reduce the cost and size of the Olympics, as potential host cities were scared away by the financial implications.

He also had to deal with the fallout of the 2014 Sochi Olympics doping scandal that led to the Olympic ban of Russia in 2018, and more recently had to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has also ruled the IOC virtually unopposed, with the vast majority of decisions receiving unanimous support from the committee members, who currently number just over 100.

More than half of them became members during Bach’s presidency.

according to Paraag Marathe, chair of the USA Cricket Board. “Here is one of the most reputable groups in India coming in, having had the benefit of hindsight, learning

all those things we haven’t had and being able to point us in the right direction—that is so valuable for us,” he said.

USA Cricket is working with ACE to develop the game domestically, including identifying stadiums for the minor and major league cricket circuits. The groups just inked a deal to renovate the Dallas-area ballpark of the Texas AirHogs, an independent baseball team that shut down with the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season. Dallas is the first city announced to have a major league cricket team, with others to be determined.

They likely will be located in other metropolitan regions with high Indian-American populations, which include

New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, San Jose, Calif., and Washington, D.C. While cricket is a comparatively minor sport in the U.S., it has a robust base of upwards of 20 million fans who regularly watch cricket and thousands of amateur teams, according to Marathe.

“Here we have the second-largest sport in the world in the largest media market in the world—that right there tells you it’s a massive opportunity,” said Marathe. “People here in this country love to see the best of the best and as we build something that becomes one of the world’s best leagues… the sky’s the limit. We’re going to be on an exponential trajectory of popularity.”

Seahawks down Eagles behind on each of its first Metcalf’s big game territory two possessions, including DK Metcalf made 10 catches for 177 yards and recovered a late onside kick as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the host Philadelphia Eagles 23-17 on Monday night.

The Seahawks (8-3) moved a game ahead of the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West, while the Eagles (3-7-1) dropped into third in the NFC East after entering the weekend with the division lead.

Seattle’s Russell Wilson completed 22 of 31 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown, a 1-yarder to David Moore.

That score was set up by a 52-yard completion to Metcalf on third-and-13 from the Seahawks’ own 47-yard line. Chris Carson rushed for a TD after missing four straight games with a foot injury, and Jason Myers added three field goals.

The Eagles’ Carson Wentz was 25 of 45 for 215 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, and he rushed for a game-high 42 yards.

Wentz completed a tipped Hail Mary pass to Richard Rodgers from 33 yards out with 12 seconds left, but Metcalf fell on the ensuing onside kick.

Wentz’s interception came with 8:40 remaining.

Trailing 20-9, Eagles coach Doug Pederson decided to go for it on fourth-and-4 at Seattle’s 15-yard line. Wentz tried to find tight end Dallas Goedert, but the pass sailed high and wide and was picked off by Seattle’s Quandre Diggs in the end zone.

The Seahawks led 14-6 at the half, and it probably should have been a larger margin.

Seattle turned the ball over on downs in Eagles

on fourth-and-goal the first time it had the ball.

The Seahawks built a 140 lead — on the TD catch by Moore and a bruising 16-yard run by Carson — before the Eagles even made a first down. Philadelphia went three-and-out on its first five possessions against the Seahawks’ league-worst defense, gaining a total of four yards.

The Eagles finally got their offense on track on their final drive of the half, moving 75 yards in 15 plays and capped by Wentz’s 3-yard TD pass to Goedert with 12 seconds left.

The teams traded field goals in the third quarter — a 42-yarder by Philadelphia’s Jake Elliott and a 44-yarder by Myers. Myers added 33- and 39-yard field goals in the fourth.

(Field Level Media)

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson (32) runs with the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher-USA Today Sports)

Wednesday December 02, 2020

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BJ Watling an injury doubt ahead of West Indies Tests ESPNcricinfo - New Zealand are in danger of being without one of their most valuable resources when the new Test summer begins in two days’ time after BJ Watling picked up a hamstring injury on Sunday.

The medical staff are assessing the 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman and will take a final call on his availability tomorrow. In the meantime, Devon Conway has been added to the squad as batting cover as they prepare to face West Indies.

Watling would likely have been part of the XI that walked out onto Seddon Park in Hamilton if not for this mishap. Although four of his last 10 innings have brought single-digit scores, he has historically been the team’s lower-order batting leader.

Last November, he came in at 127 for 4, after England had 353 on the board, and scored his maiden Test-match double-century.

“We have another injury cover here. Devon Conway is here as injury cover for BJ Watling,” head coach Gary Stead said at a press conference on Tuesday. “He has a hamstring niggle that he

picked up yesterday or day before, whenever it was his last Ford Trophy match.

“He was being assessed as I walked across over here.

So first time we’ve managed to get the physio in front of him. So once I hear more from that I will know but I’m guessing tomorrow we’ll make the call of whether he’s a chance or not.”

If Watling is ruled out, Tom Blundell will take the gloves, while sacrificing his position as opener and Will Young will be given a chance to play his first international match for New Zealand. The 28-year-old top-order batsman has been highlyrated prospect for a long while now and has recent form on his side, with three centuries in his last five first-class games, one of them against the West Indies A team, whose bowling attack included Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder.

“You can correct me if I’m wrong but I think Will has scored four or five [New Zealand] A centuries now in the last couple of years,” Stead said. “Devon’s obviously done what he’s done in domestic cricket and

Gary Stead finds a reason to smile. (Getty Images) put a lot of runs on the board as well. It’s healthy but it’s not only batting places but bowling places. We’ve all seen the emergence of Kyle Jamieson and we’ve all seen Lockie [Ferguson]’s pace and Matt Henry’s on the sidelines as well, who I guess is sometimes a forgotten man.

He’s been 12th man for New Zealand for a lot of time. It’s really healthy for us to have that competition for places and I guess if we have injuries, we have replacements that can step straight into the Test side.

WTC ‘extremely significant’ for West Indies, says Phil Simmons ESPNcricinfo - Head coach Phil Simmons has described the World Test Championship (WTC) as “extremely significant” for West Indies in the lead-up to the first game against New Zealand at Seddon Park. West Indies are currently third from bottom on the WTC standings with a solitary win from five matches. In their most recent Test series in England, they lost 2-1 after winning the series-opener in Southampton.

“It’s extremely significant,” Simmons said of the WTC. “I think it’s a format that we haven’t done well for in a long time and we’re trying to get ourselves back into the higher ends of the table where Test cricket is concerned and because of that initially we want to do that in the Test Championship but at the same time we want to be winners in Test cricket itself.

So, it’s important for us.”

Simmons reckoned that the 2-0 loss in the T20I series, which ended on Monday, would not impact the team’s preparations and performances in the upcoming Test series.

Members of the Test squad have already had two workouts against New

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons.

(Getty Images) Zealand A in Queenstown last month.

While Darren Bravo made a century in the first tour game, it was Kraigg Brathwaite who led the visitors’ batting in the second with a career-best 246, spending over nine hours in the middle. Bravo fell seven short of another hundred in the second fixture. West Indies Test captain Jason Holder also came out of quarantine, scoring 24 and picking up 1 for 45.

“The T20s and Tests are different,” Simmons said.

“The Test team have done well in Queenstown and have enjoyed a tough four-day game and they are now

coming into the Test series with some confidence especially the batsmen who haven’t had that for a while.

So, I think the Test team is in a good place. Disappointed with the T20s, but moving onto the Test series now.

“I think it was a good thing we had to do 14 days [of quarantine] in which we practiced and then we had a three-day and four-day game.

Some of the young players who haven’t been here have gotten a little bit accustomed to Test-cricket conditions here which, I think, is going to be similar from where we were to here. I think they will offer a lot of mental strength having gone through the period that we went through there. We are going to push hard for them to put up the score they put up in the last four-day game.”

So what are West Indies looking to take out of the Test series against New Zealand, who are formidable in their home conditions?

“Your aim is always to do well,” Simmons said. Your aim is always to win cricket matches and I think that’s our aim in both the A team and CWI XI games and Test matches. Our aim is to play cricket so that we can win each game.”

“We are confident with the build-up that our guys have had with quite a bit of first-class cricket. I know some have come straight from the IPL but that was the reason for resting some of them - Trent [Boult] and Kane [Williamson] in particular - to ensure they got the red-ball readiness under their belt and freshness before the Test series” There has been sharp focus on the World Test Championship and whether the current format is working after questions raised by the new ICC chairman Greg Barclay.

Stead agreed that the system needed some tweaks but supported the idea of a working Championship.

“The advantage of having the WTC final every two years is there is something you can reset and focus towards that,” Stead said. “I know for our guys in the team here and we’re a pretty experienced team and they could think of nothing better than I guess go to Lord’s

BJ Watling goes through his paces. (Getty Images) again, if it’s Lord’s, or wherever it may be in the Covid world at the moment and play in something like that.

“I think it definitely puts more context in the game. I still don’t think it’s perfect and I think Greg’s alluded to a few things around that. I would encourage the ICC to look at, I guess, having the same number of points spread over the same number of games.

Perhaps if they play a fiveTest series, then only the first two or the first three count towards it and I think that would add a bit more, I guess fairness across the whole thing.”

In an effort to keep the current cycle going despite the massive disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the ICC had announced that teams would

now be ranked by percentage points. On that basis, New Zealand are fourth on the table and are looking to move up.

“I’ve done the calculations,” Stead said.

“Things could change depending on the series and on who plays and who doesn’t.

And I guess still with some uncertainty around some places in the world that you might or might not tour, there’s still some uncertainty, it’s hard to know. But I guess it’s pretty simple for us. We win four Tests and we give ourselves a good chance.

We’d be at 70%. We’d still need some things to go our way but I think when you look at the likelihood of things happening I think that would give us a pretty good chance to be in the top two.”

Tokyo to kick off 2021 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting series WorldAthletics - Tokyo’s new Olympic Stadium will set the scene for the start of the 2021 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting series, after a successful launch of the new competition this year.

The Continental Tour Gold meeting calendar for 2021 was released yesterday, featuring 11 meetings in ten countries spanning four continents. The Tokyo meeting on 9 May, which will serve as an Olympic test event less than 12 weeks before athletics action gets underway at the Olympic Games, will kick off the second season of the Gold series.

For many of the athletes expected to compete, this meeting will provide their first look at the state-of-the-art

facility that will host the Olympic athletics competition as well as the Games opening and closing ceremonies.

Launched in 2020, the aim of the World Athletics Continental Tour is to create a coherent global tour of the best international one-day meets outside of the Wanda Diamond League, reaching across every continental area.

The tour comprises Gold, Silver and Bronze level meetings spanning the globe and held from February to December.

Despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the global COVID19 pandemic seven of the original ten Gold meetings were held this year, collectively showcasing a slew of dazzling performances, highlighted by

javelin champion Johannes Vetter ’s mighty effort to register the second longest throw in history, and the longest for 24 years, 97.76m, at the Skolimowska Memorial meeting in Chorzow, Poland in September.

Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser also showed exceptional form in a series of appearances, as the new series proved popular with many of the sport’s biggest stars, including Karsten Warholm, Noah Lyles, Sifan Hassan, Dafne Schippers and Christian Taylor.

“This year has presented tremendously difficult conditions for launching a new one-day series, but the Continental Tour has thrived in its first year, attracting (Continued on page 31)

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Dozens of Berbice cricketers to benefit from $1.5M BCB /Clayton Lambert Gears project - BCB assists clubs with face masks as part of Covid 19 response Dozens of the youth cricketers in the Ancient County would shortly be benefitting from over $1.5 M worth of cricket gears as the Hilbert Foster led Berbice Cricket Board continue its aggressive campaign to develop the game at the junior level. The donation is to be done under the joint BCB /Clayton Lambert Gears project and over sixty youths are expected to benefit in the largest ever distribution of gears to be done by a county board in Guyana to youth cricketers.

BCB President Hilbert Foster, who since his election in 2018 has spearheaded an effort to assist less fortunate and promising cricketers to fulfill their potential on and off the cricket field, stated that the gears are expected in the country by the 10th of December and the distribution would start soon after.

The gears to be shared out includes junior bats, senior bats, batting pads, wicketkeeping gloves, wicketkeeping pads, helmets, thigh pads, forehand guard, bat rubber among others. A special set of gears would be made available to the Berbice River Cricket Association as the BCB strives to develop the game in the remote area.

The President stated that in 2021 at least two cricket tournaments at the 20/20 and

Representatives of some of the clubs poses with the masks after the presentation.

40 overs formats would be held for the four teams in the area, while a combined riverain team would also participate in the BCB historic semi professional league fixed for the middle next year.

In an effort to distribute the gears in a transparent way, the board would be very grateful if the following clubs who have junior teams can submit names of players that should benefit: Edinburgh, East Bank Blazers and

Jason Holder signs with Sydney Sixers for a threegame stint in the BBL ESPNcricinfo - West Indies Test captain Jason Holder has signed with BBL champions the Sydney Sixers for a three-game stint following the Test series against New Zealand.

The travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand allows Holder to enter Australia without having to complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Following the two-Test series in New Zealand, he will head straight to Hobart to play in the December 20 clash with the Adelaide Strikers. He will also be available for the December 26 fixture against the Melbourne Stars and the December 29 match with the Melbourne Renegades.

Holder, 29, comes in as cover for England bowler Tom Curran who needs to complete the mandatory 14day quarantine after arriving

from England’s limited-overs tour of South Africa. He joins fellow West Indian Carlos Brathwaite and England batsman James Vince as part of the Sixers’ overseas contingent.

“I’m really excited to be coming to the BBL and the Sydney Sixers,” Holder said.

“I’ve wanted to for a few years now and this year I have the opportunity to come in and make some appearances and hopefully do a bit for the Sixers.”

Holder said he was looking forward to reuniting with Sixers skipper Moises Henriques, having played alongside him in the IPL. “BBL cricket is an interest for me and the Sixers have been successful over the past few years. Moises and I played together at Sunrisers and I really enjoyed that. It will be good to do it again.”

Guymine have to submit four names, while two names are expected from Paradise, Bush Lot United, Bush Lot Rising Star, Bath, Achievers, Blairmont, Tucber Park, Mt Sinai, Rose Hall Canje, Young Warriors, Kendall Union, Albion, RHTYSC, Port Mourant, No 73, Rama Krishna and Scottsburg.

The BCB would also select some youths based on the recommendation of senior coach Winston Smith who has been conducting coaching sessions across the county. The board has set down guidelines for the submission of the players to benefit. Players have to be

between the under 13 and under 17 levels, must be discipline, must have a good attendance rate in school, be from a less fortunate background and must not have received assistance during the year. Deadline for the submissions of names is the 7th of December.

At the end of the project, the BCB would have assisted close to three hundred youths with cricket gears or bicycles over the last thirty months.

Lambert, who played five test matches for the West Indies, stated that he was delighted to work along with his county board as he was

very impressed with the progress been made under Foster’s leadership and stated that this was just the first of several shipment of gears that would be sent to Berbice. He recalled that he did not have his own bat until he scored his first regional century vs the Leewards Island at Albion in 1984. His first century was scored using a bat lent to him by teammate Clyde Butts and Lambert stated that he wanted to assist others to fulfill their dream to play at the highest level.

Meanwhile, the BCB recently handed over close to one thousand face mask to several clubs during a special

Some of the gears to be distributed under the BCB/Clayton Lambert Programme.

meeting at the Albion Ground as part of its Covid 19 response programme. Among the clubs receiving the face masks were Albion, Port Mourant, Chesney, Police, Edinburgh, Rose Hall Canje, Ramnarine Memorial, Kendall Union, Tucber Park, Achievers, No 73, No 69 Vikings and the University of Guyana Tain Campus.

The masks were donated by cricketer Ishwar Singh of Ishwar Guybiz Est. The BCB over the last nine months has shared out thousands of food hampers and distributed hundreds of educational posters as part of its covid 19 response.

Wednesday December 02, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Priyanna Ramdhani captures GOA hands over COVID-19 aid to six associations top awards in Canada - Bags CCAA National Scholar Award & ACAC Academic Athletic Award

From left, Levi Nedd, Steve Ninvalle, K.A. Juman-Yassin, Linden Dowrich, Amanda Hermonstine, Keavon Bess, Tyson English and GOA Assistant Secretary Dion Nurse.

CCAA National Scholar Award 2019-2020 The Guyana Badminton Association is expressing extreme pleasure and is offering congratulation to Guyana’s and Olds College (Canada)Top Badminton Player Priyanna Ramdhani for getting two Awards for the Activity during the Year 2019/ 2020 in Canada.

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Scholar Award is in recognition of Excellence in Academics & Athletics.

The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Academic Athletic Award is in recognition of a High Standard of Academics Achievement Combined with an Extraordinary Level of Participation in PostSecondary Athletics.

She has fully demonstrated that success in sports and academics can be done simultaneously.

Priyanna is only one and a half year in her Scholarship Programme at the Olds College in Olds Alberta Canada has achieved THE FOLLOWING:

AB Canada Current Olds College Ranking No.1 AB Canada Current ACAC Ranking No.2 Canada Current CCAA National Ranking No.4 ACAC All Conference Award (AB Canada) 2020 CCAA National Scholar Award (AB Canada) 2019/ 2020 ACAC Academic Athletic Award (AB Canada) 2019/ 2020 Rookie of the Year Olds College (AB Canada) 2019/ 2020 4-Times Athlete of the Week Olds College (AB Canada) 2019-2020 4th Place- CCAA National Singles Championships in Mississauga Canada 2020 Silver- (Singles) ACAC Provincial Championships in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2020 Bronze- (Singles) ACAC #3 Tournament in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2020 Bronze- (Singles) ACAC #2 Tournament in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2020

Silver- (Singles) Honolulu Open Tournament in Hawaii USA 2020 Bronze- (Singles) ACAC #1 Tournament in Olds Alberta Canada 2019 Bronze- (Mix Doubles) The Kings University Open Tournament in Edmonton Canada 2019 Gold- (Singles) Yonex Alberta Series #1 B-Flight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 Gold- (Women Doubles) Yonex Alberta Series # 1 BFlight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 Gold- (Mix Doubles) Yonex Alberta Series #1 CFlight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 Semi-Finals- (Singles) Yonex Alberta Series #1 AFlight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 Semi-Finals-(Women Doubles)Yonex Alberta Series #1 A-Flight Tournament Calgary Canada. 2019 Silver- Yonex AJC Junior Under-19 Tournament in Airdrie Alberta Canada 2019

Tapeball action set for Durban Park Tarmac on December 6 The Inter Ministries and Government agencies 7-aside Tapeball cricket competition will be contested on Sunday at Durban Tarmac starting at 09:30hrs.

The competition which will be played under strict covid guidelines will be of four overs an innings; it will be contested on a knockout basis.

The winner will pocket a trophy and $75,000 while the runner up will receive a trophy and $40,000.

Among the teams set to participate are Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Office of the President, Guyoil, Forestry Commission, GPHC, Ministry of Natural

Resources, Maritime admin, EPA, GCAA, CJIA, Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Finance, Guyana Police Force, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, GRA and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Entries will be closed on December 4. Interested team can call organizer James Lewis on 628 1656 or 689 1656 for registration.

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) held a simple but significant ceremony yesterday afternoon at their headquarters in Lilliendaal where they made donations in the form of Covid-19 relief to assist some sports associations as activities resume.

The proceeding was attended by the head of the GOA; K.A. Juman-Yassin, head of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle, Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF); Keavon Bess, Weightlifting Federation representative Tyson English, Guyana

Cycling Federation’s (GCF) Linden Dowrich, Levi Nedd of the Guyana Volleyball Association (GVG) and Amanda Hermonstine; Vicepresident of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG). The five represented sports associations each received a cheque of $50,000, sanitising liquid and infrared thermometers.

Juman-Yassin during brief remarks noted that, “Since March our sporting activities had been curtailed and now the Ministry of Health and the National Covid-19 task force has lifted the restriction. We at the GOA are cognisant of this and we have decided to help the associations so they

can recommence activities in the proper manner.”

Meanwhile, Hermonstine, on behalf of the AAG, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the timely contribution especially since the track and field body will be hosting the 18th South American 10k road race this Sunday from the village of Mary on the East Bank of Essequibo and concluding at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC).

Boxing boss; Ninvalle, like Hermonstine, highlighted his association’s thanks for the GOA’s assistance which will be handy since gyms have opened and boxers are back at training.

Olympic rings illuminated upon return to Tokyo Bay

Olympic rings, which were temporarily taken down in August for maintenance amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, are towed by a boat for reinstallation at the waterfront area at Odaiba Marine Park, after they in Tokyo, Japan yesterday. (Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon) TOKYO (Reuters) - The Olympic rings monument was reinstalled in Tokyo Bay yesterday, after being removed in August, as organisers ramp up preparations for next year’s postponed Summer Games.

The rings were later

illuminated and the neighbouring Rainbow Bridge lit up in a multicoloured display, as organisers looked to provide a symbol that the rearranged Games can go ahead safely next year.

However, the return of the

monument, which stands 15.3m tall and 32.6m wide and was originally installed in January, was overshadowed by requests from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that entertainment establishments and (Continued on page 31)

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Wednesday December 02, 2020

Lewis Hamilton tests positive for coronavirus days after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix Daily Mail – F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for coronavirus just days after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix and will now miss the last two races of the season.

The British driver, 35, has mild symptoms according to his Mercedes team and has been forced to isolate in a hotel in Bahrain for 10 days, ruling him out of the upcoming Sakhir Grand Prix.

However, it will also rule him out of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the city’s strict Covid rules meaning all personnel involved in the F1 event must travel from Bahrain on

December 7.

Hamilton is not expected to be able to fly out until December 9 at the earliest.

In a statement, the world champion said he was ‘devastated’ to not be able to race.

He said: ‘Since we started the season in June my team and I have been taking all the precautions we possibly can and following the regulations everywhere we have been in order to stay safe.

‘Unfortunately, even though I returned three negative results this past week, I woke up yesterday morning with mild symptoms and requested another test

which came back positive. I have immediately gone into self-isolation for 10 days.

‘I am gutted not to be able to race this weekend but my priority is to follow the protocols and advice to protect others.

‘I am really lucky that I feel OK with only mild symptoms and will do my best to stay fit and healthy.

‘Please look after yourselves out there, you can never be too careful. These are worrying times for everyone and we need to make sure we are looking after ourselves and each other.’

It is unclear when or how Hamilton caught the virus, though Mercedes have confirmed someone he came into contact with before arriving in Bahrain has also tested positive.

Hamilton arrived in Bahrain on November 26 having spent two weeks at home in Monaco celebrating his F1 world championship.

He secured the title after winning the Turkish Grand Prix on November 15 and flew home on the same evening.

While in Monaco, he enjoyed a run on the beach and a game of tennis with his father Anthony in videos shared to social media, where he also spoke about celebrating his title win ‘with family’. It is unclear which other family members celebrated with him.

In another video, the Mercedes driver could be seen travelling in the same car alongside Anthony and his friend Daniel ‘Spinz’ Forrest.

While both his father and Forrest were wearing masks, Hamilton did not have a face covering on.

The date or location of the video are not known, though it appears to have been posted on social media on November 25, the day before Hamilton was seen at the track in Bahrain.

It has also not been

On November 22, Hamilton posted a video on Instagram of him playing tennis with his dad and revealed how he they have both been working hard at getting better at the sport. (instagram@lewishamilton) revealed if Anthony or Forrest have tested positive.

It can take up to 14 days for coronavirus symptoms to appear after having contact with someone with the illness, suggesting Hamilton most likely contracted Covid in Monaco or very shortly after arriving in Bahrain.

Hamilton was seen exchanging elbow taps with members of the Mercedes team in the aftermath of his victory in Bahrain over the weekend.

His team say Hamilton was tested extensively last week, returning three negative results, including one on Sunday afternoon at the Bahrain International Circuit.

However, on Monday he woke up with mild coronavirus symptoms before being informed that a

Hamilton celebrates after winning the race. He was tested three times around last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix - all were negative. (Formula 1 via Getty Images)

contact prior to his arrival in Bahrain had tested positive for the illness.

Hamilton then took another test which came back positive and was confirmed by a further retest.

The seven-time world champion, due to be knighted in the New Year’s Honours List, has not missed an F1 race since his debut in the sport in 2007 but will now sit on the sidelines for the penultimate race of the season.

He could also end up missing the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

A high-ranking source also said that it was ‘unlikely’ Hamilton would be able to race in Abu Dhabi next weekend.

Due to strict Covid-19 rules in Abu Dhabi, all personnel involved in the F1

event must travel from Bahrain on December 7.

Yas Island, where the season-ending race is being staged on December 13, will then effectively be locked down.

With Bahrain laws dictating Hamilton must quarantine for 10 days, it is anticipated that the world champion will not be eligible to fly until December 9 at the earliest.

Hamilton would require a special exemption to be admitted.

At races Hamilton has kept himself to himself, only having regular, close contact with physio Angela Cullen and adviser Marc Hynes – as well as pet bulldog Roscoe.

This has been branded his ‘sub-bubble’. The ‘subbubble’ is now in selfisolation in Bahrain with Mercedes members also expected to be retested.

A Formula One statement yesterday said: ‘The FIA, Formula One and Mercedes Team can today confirm that during mandatory pre-race PRC testing for the Sakhir Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for Covid19.

‘In accordance with Covid-19 protocols, he is now isolating. All contacts have been declared.

The procedures set out by the FIA and Formula One will ensure no wider impact on this weekend’s event.’

Mercedes added in a (Continued on page 31)

Wednesday December 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

GSCL Inc extends gratitude to sponsors

PAGE 41

Prime Minister Mark Phillips (left) accepts a plaque from Hafeez Ali of Rockaway Group of Companies.

T

he Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc has extended gratitude to its sponsors and other stakeholders following the successful hosting of the Prime Minister’s T20 Cup 4. The tournament concluded on Sunday last at the Everest Cricket Club with Speedboat taking the open title after a 31-run win against Regal All stars. Earlier, Fisherman Masters overcame Wellman Masters to win the over 45 division, while Regal Legends retained the over 50 trophy following their win over Savage Legends.

The tournament brought relief to many following a hiatus due to the pandemic and credit must be given the organizers for a well run competition.

The GSCL Inc has extended many thanks to its sponsors; Banks DIH, Chung’s Global, Danny Persaud (Youtuber) It’s our life ARD, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop, Price Chopper Store, Star Party Rentals, P&P Insurance, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Florida Guyana Hope, Crown Mining Supplies and Dinar Trading.

The Organisers would like to thank the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Office of the Prime Minister as well as the umpires, teams, media, curators who worked tirelessly, staff of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Frederick Halley, CEO of Rockaway Group of Companies Mr. Hafeez Ali, Mr. Balkarran of New York President’s

Over 45 MVP Keith Fraser.

XI, commentators John Ramsingh and Inderjeet Persaud and the various clubs that hosted matches including Everest CC, Ogle SC, Lusignan SC, Queen’s College, Tr a n s p o r t S C a n d G a n d h i Yo u t h Organisation.

At the presentation ceremony, Transport Sports Club was presented with a quantity of cricket gears from Prime Minister Mark Phillips, while GSCL Inc and Hafeez Ali of Rockaway Group of Companies both presented the Prime Minister with plaques as token of appreciation.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips (left) presents the cricket gears to Transports Sports Club’s Shaun Massiah.

GFF President Wayne Forde hands over one of the footballs to Coach Jimmy McLean in the presence of UDFA President Terrance Mitchell and youths of the Kwakwani community.

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GFF engages community of Kwakwani during Historical Outreach - GFF pledges support for football development, coach and referee training

President Forde and team discussing possibilities with Coach McLean at the Kwakwani Community Center Ground.

Priyanna Ramdhani with one of her latest awards in Canada.

Priyanna Ramdhani captures top awards in Canada - Bags CCAA National Scholar Award & ACAC Academic Athletic Award

Olympic rings illuminated upon return to Tokyo Bay

Bystanders watch as giant Olympic rings are reinstalled at the waterfront area at Odaiba Marine Park, after they were temporarily taken down in August for maintenance amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan yesterday. (Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon)

Lewis Hamilton tests positive for coronavirus days after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix

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