Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR

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December 06, 2020

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Fortescue Metal Group, here to invest

Price $140

Online readership yesterday, 99,489

Guyana might get a little money now from oil but massive debt waits onCoalition the horizon Govt.

- says Int’l Lawyer

Body of newborn found in WCD canal

Eccles man expended $4.2B dies after from Contingency Fund after passage crashing into of NCM- Finance Minister utility pole p.

9

Trump blacklists ExxonMobil’s Chinese partner in Stabroek Block Listen to Kaieteur Radio tell it as it is about your oil wealth...11:00am today on 99.1/99.5FM radio (Rebroadcast)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Sunday December 06, 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

Guyana’s oil blocks on US markets It was just a matter of picking the right spot and time, but there it is. More accurately, there they are, which would be the Canje and Kaieteur Oil Blocks, long riddled in secrecy and controversy in Guyana. As announced to the world in the trumpeting SN headline of December 4, “UK firm throws shares in Kaieteur, Canje Oil Blocks on US, UK stock markets” there are a few things for the ordinary Guyanese, not familiar with these kinds of things, to understand.

Shares for the two Guyanese oil blocks, through Westmount Energy Limited are now listed in the United States on something called the OTCQB. It is not what mesmerizes outsiders via high-energy, high-flying markets that attract television coverage, where a controlled frenzy is part of the madness. The OTCQB is where highly speculative issues can be found and traded; the disclosure requirements are not as stringent and probing as the wider Over-The-Counter (OTC) Market, or the ‘Big Board’ New York Stock Exchange, which is globally known and recognized.

In addition to speculative securities and other generally low-priced issues, shares of shell companies can be traded on the OTCQB. As has been made repeatedly and abundantly clear, by frequent breaking disclosures from KN, the arrangements and handovers of both the Canje and Kaieteur Oil Blocks possess all the characteristics of what is generally recognized as occurring under the umbrella of shell companies.

There are ongoing questions and suspicions in this country about government’s authorization for the transfer of beneficial ownership relative to significant portions of those oil blocks by the original recipients. At present, the previous coalition government has evaded answering any questions or has indicated any willingness at providing any information. The current Guyana government has also been most reluctant to furnish any details, and appears to be largely on the defensive, as though there is much to hide.

Secrecy and silence have been the byproducts and are what have governed the origins of the giveaways (or supposed sale) of the Canje and Kaieteur Oil Blocks. It would be an understatement to state that all of this has been hotly pursued, sharply challenged, and closely watched on the Guyanese front.

At any time, some concerned conscientious Guyanese citizen or group of citizens could decide to challenge not the listing itself, but the circumstances surrounding the initial movement of the blocks under the auspices of the pre-2015 government of Guyana, as well as the documented basis for the later sale and transfer(s) from those shadowy partners to other more mainstream presences, such as Exxon and Westmount Energy Limited. After all, from currently available information, both blocks are reported to contain billions of barrels of oil or oil equivalents. Because the future of Guyana and its children for generations to come is closely linked to our oil prospects, and the proper handling of those, there can be developments that jeopardize investments in shares of these oil blocks.

Against this backdrop, Guyana’s oil blocks ready for trading in the OTCQB. It is the market for thinly traded issues (illiquid), generally cheaply available ones (‘penny stocks’), dark companies (those that do not qualify for the more reputable market channels).

Shares of such companies are best dabbled into by sophisticated investors.

That is, those who know what they are doing and can afford to absorb the anxieties of trading halts, zero market maker interest, and the related financial losses that are part and parcel of this level of market. To put differently, investors, among which are sure to be any number of Guyanese, must understand and weigh the risks involved versus the potential rewards of putting their hard earned money in Guyanese oil, in what could turn out to be laden with disappointment.

Protect our children; protect the future Dear Editor, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child highlights the need for a few things with regards to children. These include the right to health, education, family life, play and recreation, an adequate standard of living and to be protected from abuse and harm. The reason that these were made into legal framework was because the collective countries in the world understood that children were being exploited at most, and these rights were being withheld from them at the least. In order to rectify this issue, the global collectivity decided it best to guide each nation,

household and person, in the ways of ensuring the global future, by protecting the societal privileges of our children.

In the vast majority of cases, the cultural, structural and even social barriers that prevent parents and other persons who care for children (even older siblings in some cases) are so prevalent that children’s rights are unknowingly neglected.

In other cases, the dissemination of information means nothing since all the guidelines on how to properly care for children is ignored anyway.

In both cases, however, the development of the society is

There should be no mistake: the oil is present and plentiful. It is just that the way one government after another has operated with this national wealth in a manner that leaves so much to be desired, so much that reeks of the wrong. We

negatively affected.

Some parents and guardians have expressed displeasure at having international organizations and external bodies tell them how to treat children.

Some people stick to traditional methods that infringe on the developmental process of children simply because their own developmental process was negatively affected by certain ‘upbringing’ techniques.

This frequent disregard for the effective development of our society is often overlooked but destructive all the same.

If the needs of children are of such importance that

various countries (including our own) have made it a global priority then it should be a matter of great importance (and address) for us, the people, also.

If children are to have a safe space to live and to play, to have an education and sufficient healthcare plus food, protection from harm etc. then there is no justification for keeping these things from them.

Giving the child the things that the child needs to grow and be successful does not take any power away from any person, but instead, ensures that the child is raised to recognize that the society they live in affords (Continued on page 6)

should have been excited. Instead, we are worried that naïve Guyanese will lose their shirt in pursuit of a big killing, which their political leaders could likely enjoy with this stock listing development.

Sunday December 06, 2020

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Kaieteur News

President Ali needs to stand and deliver on oil Dear Editor, Reference is made to the article titled “President Ali defers to ‘ministers’ on support for Int’l oil blocks probe” (KN December 5). I regret immensely that the President chose to be pedestrian on this matter attracting the worst kind of attention, the sharpest degree of suspicion with one controversial development after another surfacing. His Excellency simply has to do better with this oil of ours, especially where uncertainty and impropriety appear to be the order of the day.

The President is reported to have said that he defers to his ‘ministers.’ I give him the benefit of a slip of the tongue amidst all the emergencies of the moment. Yes, I know the PNC orchestrated elections delays; they are dreadful people, indeed. But what President Ali is doing is even

more dreadful, and revealingly so. There are no ministers involved in this, other than one, which would be his champion and caretaker and cover. There is only one oil minister in this country; the other fellow is a-ahem, mere presence, and then an outright apology of one. I plead for him: do not embarrass the man like this by hanging him out to dry. And to the President I offer this, too: do not embarrass yourself with these rhetorical intrigues. We must know the limitations of our capabilities.

Yes, I dare to say so humbly and respectfully to all, particularly presidents, either sitting or standing with overpowering shadows and cunning machinations.

All Guyana knows that there is one President in this country. I regret to say that it is not His Excellency, President Dr. Irfan Ali,

esteemed and honourable, as he aspires to be, as he is actually held by a few. No man should put himself through such an ordeal. No other man should subject another to such humiliations, where on this most vital issue of oil, he is shadowboxing and sword fencing with words that convey their savaging untruths. This one about “defer to ministers” is not becoming.

Presidents consult, they do not defer.

Presidents seek advice, but they are the ones that must give consent after parsing and weighing at length. For all roads lead to State House, where the baton stops and cannot be passed. Get with the programme, Mr. President; appreciate the sum of obligations.

To the President I exhort: stand up and deliver on this oil on which so many expectations are built. The

nation does not need, have no more use, for more of this misleading about deferring and ministers. I remind the President that he is chief minister and chief decisionmaker. I can be let down, since I have been there a long time on all things related to Guyanese politics and Guyanese leadership. But I urge the President not to let down the people, who are depending on so much from this oil. They have been deceived enough. Do not devastate them further.

As I see it, the matter before the President is simple: international probe or no international probe? His socalled ‘ministers’ may not desire any of this. In fact, I gather that the honourable holder of the highest office in this land may himself not want anything to do with an international oil blocks probe.

I would not want so myself,

The $25,000 COVID-19 relief per household is unacceptable Dear Editor, As we hear more and more news of investments being made in Guyana, about the much touted $25,000 per “household,” I wonder why no one is saying anything about the lack of announcements for bonuses for public servants.

It is a depressing situation for many of us who would have had to turn out to work in public transportation, risking our lives to ensure that the people who depend on us get their services dealt with, as best as we could and as well as the “system” permits.

I am not saying that the $25,000 is not appreciated, but what really can $25,000 do for

a year, for the ones who are eligible? Because not every public servant is eligible for the said grant.

Not every public servant is eligible for uniform vouchers, which are being talked of as though it is a bonus and not an allowance.

And the $15,000 that will come on stream next year is spoken in this manner, but we all know that the majority of people will just spend it for non-educational purposes.

After all, it’s Guyanese we are dealing with.

I do not accept the “Emergency” budget as a valid excuse for not giving us something to look forward to.

They can very well get a supplemental budget and

give us something for this festive season. It is this season, more than ever, that we need a raise, one that is retroactive, because prices for items have been skyrocketing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Further, it would boost this economy further than any tax break given to large companies because there would be more demand for goods and services this way, rather than the promise of trickledown economics, which can be equated with the trickle truthing that occurs in unfaithful relationships, sheer lies, and more and more, you discover that what they lied about is far worse than what you are led to believe.

I call on other public

servants, it’s time to strike!

Time to demand the respect we so deserve and the salaries we work hard for to be at a respectable level!

Forget the inept unions, who have barely said a peep, forget the other politicians, who will pretend to care about your plight, when in reality; they are in it for cheap brownie points!

We should all refuse to work until we have not commitments, but actual, tangible solutions!

Respectfully Amir Khan

since the way that it was handled-secretly and disreputably by suspected people here with more disturbing people elsewherewould open Pandora’s Box leading to what I would not want anyone else to know.

This is why I think His Excellency comes up with this crafty concoction about need to ‘defer’ and ‘ministers.’

Quite frankly, it stinks.

Whether singular or plural is not of the highest priority for me. What matters is that the President is being disingenuous with what is now surfacing as his copyrighted dissembling. He has to pull the trigger on this one; I would hope that it is pointed away from me. The President in particular and

politicians in general in this country must make a start in speaking in straight lines.

They have to stop walking these curly paths. They tangle themselves up with these embarrassments. What a tangled web we weave, with our own President standing as a master weaver without equal. Sadly, I must say that that dubious accolade is now well-earned. I understand that this is a non-decision already made. Just be brave enough to go public with it: no international probe. After all, there is that small matter of national sovereignty. Stop fooling the trusting people.

Mr. President: stop doing this to us.

Yours truly, GHK Lall

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Kaieteur News

...Protect our children; protect the future From page 4 them their needs strictly through hard work that was employed to do so.

Many adults walk around without knowing their rights even in workplaces or in society. They are unaware of how to handle a situation where they are pulled over by the traffic police or how to safely oppose a specific piece of legislature that they deem harmful.

There is a myriad of situations where even adult’s rights are ignored or abused. Even though these privileges are afforded to them by the fact that they live in a society.

This usually happens because such people were never introduced to the concept of children’s rights during the time when they were children, leading to them being unaware of the concept of rights even in adulthood.

Society itself has developed over a long and difficult process of trial and error that was supplemented by the efforts of the collective. We see issues and we work together to solve them.

So when that police officer tries to arrest you without giving you a reason, you should know that you have the right to ask

for a reason. If you were never taught about these rights then you would grow up to think that you don’t have any when the truth is: that, society affords citizens privileges, based on the efforts of past citizens to fix a particular problem or meet a specific need.

Children have curious minds and if they are taught that they have the right to education, play, safety, care and all of these other things then they recognize how these rights will support them and their peers to grow up in a much safer society.

By educating children on their rights, we are ensuring a future where people are aware of their rights and work together to ensure it is afforded to everyone.

Parents and children alike will benefit from such a process since parents will also develop a greater sense of responsibility and pride, knowing that they are not just raising their child, but also investing into the future of this green planet. A better tomorrow starts with the children of today.

Yours truly, Khadidja Ba Communications Associate, ChildLink

Sunday December 06, 2020

The PNC is hypocritical when it speaks about democracy Dear Editor, What is the reaction of the masses when the PNC speaks about ‘democracy, the rule of law and upholding the Constitution’? Hypocrisy to the core!

It seems that the holding of local government elections on a timely basis is all that is required to bear testimony that the PNC respects the Constitution. Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon seemed to forget that during its five-year term in office, they continuously disregarded and violated our Constitution, spurned the rule of law and attempted on more than one occasion to kill democracy. The PNC should never ever utter the word ‘democracy’. The PNC’s pretentious cries to hold the LGE before ‘sanitizing’ GECOM and getting rid of the PNC riggers must not be allowed to gain traction.

We must be cognizant of the fact that the democratic process in our country is triggered off by GECOM holding a free and fair election. We have seen that for five long months, the many attempts by the PNC controlled faction of GECOM tried tirelessly to rig the 2020 Elections in favour of the PNC dominated Coalition. The justice system was

compromised in some instances but democracy owes a debt of gratitude to Chief Justice Roxane G e o rg e - Wi l t s h i r e w h o upheld the Rule of Law despite many attempts by the Coalition to influence her decision through street protests. From those 5month indicators, it is clear that democracy will die unless the PPP/C can now ensure that all the corrupt players within GECOM are surgically removed. The Mingos, the Lowenfields and the Myers must be expunged.

It is time that GECOM be staffed with persons, especially in key positions, who are of high integrity and politically neutral.

Recently, after making a few subtle threats about not holding the LGE as it is constitutionally due, such as, ‘the PPP is insulting the Guyanese Nation’, ‘there will be pressure’, ‘we will internationalize the issue’, Harmon then summed up by stating that, ‘Protest is one form of action.

There are other forms which we are considering but the PPP must understand that we will not sit by and see them trample on the rights of Guyanese people, we will not sit by and see them violate our

Constitution with impunity’. Again, the threat of protest action and violent protests are the only tactic, which the PNC is adept at and has nothing else to contribute to nation building. The former President Granger backed his buddy by saying that, President Ali does not have the right to ‘toy’ with the Constitution. Well of course, only Granger has that ‘right’ and prerogative.

President Ali was clear that, ‘I am not getting into Local Government Elections now. As a people and the media…what we have to do is to fix what is there first and we have to ensure that we have a system that is working and a system that people trust and a system that is professional and a system that operates in an unbiased manner so that the people of our country can contribute’.

Vice President Jagdeo added a further clarification when he said that funds will be set aside for the holding of those elections, but he maintained that “criminal elements” attached to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must be removed. What is

so wrong with this when Guyanese here and in the Diaspora and the world at large witnessed the most shameless and blatant attempt by GECOM’s CEO and the Deputy CEO, the Returning Officer of Region 4 and other GECOM officials to rig the 2020 Elections.

They will have to be replaced before any election is held.

Granger, Harmon and the PNC must know that the PPP/C is never afraid to hold any election, be it General or Local G o v e r n m ent.

The astounding defeats in 2016 and 2018 of the Coalition by the PPP/C and the recent defeat at to 2020 General Elections may have caused some irreparable memory loss.

The holding of LGE is no doubt high on the Government’s agenda but GECOM must be sanitized since we have seen the destructive nature of its current form for 5 long and painful months.

The dreaded COVID-19 came second place since the entire nation was ‘infected’; clearly, we cannot afford to take such high risks in the future.

Yours truly, Haseef Yusuf

Sunday December 06, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 06, 2020

Kaieteur News

Trump blacklists ExxonMobil’s Chinese partner in Stabroek Block

By Kemol King he Donald Trump Administration of the United States of America has blacklisted China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), one of the largest national oil companies of China, alleging it to be linked to the Chinese military – the People’s Liberation Army.

The action adds CNOOC to a blacklist of over 30 Chinese companies, such as Huawei, in America’s escalating trade war with China.

A November 12 issued executive order from President Trump precedes the addition of CNOOC to the blacklist. It

T

banned Americans from investing in the firms, which it deems tied to the Chinese military on grounds that China “is increasingly exploiting United States capital to resource and to enable the development and modernization of its military, intelligence, and other security apparatuses…”

The order begins to go into effect on January 11, 2021 – nine days before the President-Elect, Joe Biden, takes office.

“China firmly rejects the United States’ unwarranted oppression against Chinese companies,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

US President, Donald Trump.

(Alex Brandon/AP)

“My guess is it’s CNOOC that got targeted, and not CNPC or Sinopec, because of its drilling in the South China Sea area, which is deemed as so-called military actions by the U.S.,” Lin Boqiang, dean

of the China Energy Policy Research Institute at Xiamen University in southern China, was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.

CNOOC’s operations in the South China Sea have caused problems before, as Bloomberg said that it invited foreign drillers in 2012 to operate territories in which Vietnam had already awarded licences to oil companies, including ExxonMobil.

The other two companies Lin Boqiang mentioned, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), are two other large Chinese State oil companies.

They are not on the US blacklist.

Why does this matter to Guyana?

CNOOC owns the very lucrative nine-billion-barrel Guyana Stabroek Block, in concert with American oil companies. ExxonMobil Corp.

is the operator with a 45 percent stake, and Hess Corp. owns 30 percent. CNOOC Limited owns the remaining 25 percent.

In its 2019 Annual Report, CNOOC listed developments in the US sanctions regime as a risk factor for its business.

Trump’s November order does not appear to require ExxonMobil and Hess to sever ties with CNOOC, but CNOOC is watching closely and expects that such a sanction could follow.

“We could be prohibited from engaging in business activities in the U.S,” CNOOC

nal resources and affect investors’ perception of our Company and investment in our Company.”

If CNOOC’s fears come fully to fruition – and some of them already have – the US sanctions regime could force the Chinese petroleum company out of the Stabroek Block.

The sale of even a 25 percent stake in the block could rack up a hefty bill, given the size of the Stabroek Block reserves and CNOOC’s investments thus far in Liza Phases One and Two, and Payara.

Liza Phase One started in De-

CNOOC’s logo at its Beijing HQ, in April 2018. (Reuters)

said in its 2019 report, “or with U.S. individuals or entities, and U.S.-related transactions in our securities and distributions to U.S. individuals and entities with respect to our securities could also be prohibited.”

“We may also be subject to negative media or investor attention, which may distract management, consume inter-

cember 2019, producing from a field of 450 million barrels with a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel capable of producing as many as 120,000 barrels per day. Liza Phase Two and Payara, set for first oil in 2022 and 2024 respectively, are expected to each be able to produce as many as 220,000 barrels per day.

Guyana might get a little money now from oil ...

From page 3 14,000 jobs or about 15 percent of its global work force while adding that the company has been forced to cut capital expenditure for 2020 to US$23 billion from $33 billion.

Taking the foregoing into account, Janki said it is clear to see that this company is in ill health while adding that it does not bode well for Guyana. The lawyer said, “...Guyana might get a little money now but in the long term it will have massive debt.”

Furthermore, when a company is doing as badly as Exxon is right now, Janki posited that a prudent government would take steps to protect its country.

The lawyer said, “But this government seems more concerned with protecting Exxon...

All you hear from the government is silly talk about development (of gas to shore projects and scaling up of oil projects in the Stabroek block). All you see is the government burdening the Guyanese people with more

debt that has to be paid back long after the politicians have disappeared.”

Janki stressed that the company’s financial health needs to be of concern to all Guyanese as the nation could be left hanging from a dangerous precipice. She said it is imperative that one questions what would happen to Guyana if Exxon goes down in the middle of the grand gas to shore plans it is pushing.

Janki said these are all pertinent questions and topics, which the nation’s leaders ought to be addressing now.

Sunday December 06, 2020

Kaieteur News

Coalition expended $4.2B from Contingency Fund after passage of NCM- Finance Minister According to the recently sworn in Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) regime had expended some G$4.2B from the country’s Contingency Fund—a reserve of money set aside to cover possible unforeseen future expenses.

The Finance Minister, in a statement to the press, pointed out that despite the coalition being a caretaker government, it went ahead and withdrew some G$4.2B after the successful passage of the December 21, 2018 noconfidence motion (NCM).

What the Finance Minister was keen to point out as well that the hefty sum was left “uncleared” by the former government.

“Much to our astonishment and during the latter part of 2019 after the Caribbean

was impending and that even though then President, David Granger, had acknowledged that his Government was in caretaker mode, the Government nevertheless dipped into the Contingency Fund to draw down on G$4.2 billion from July 2019 onwards until as late as December 2019.

Against this background, the Minister explained, “Ironically, the Government had boasted the previous year that they had not used the ContinMinister of Finance, Ashni Singh.

gencies Fund in two years, 2017 and 2018, and it ap-

Court of Justice’s (CCJ) ruling in June 2019, no less than G$4.2 billion dollars was drawn from the Contingency Fund to meet a variety of expenditure that had not been budgeted for,” he explained.

The Minister reminded that considering an election

2019 when they were clearly in caretaker mode, they appeared to have no reservations about turning to the Contingencies Fund and drawing down no less than G$4.2 billion.”

peared to have been a matter of great pride to them.

Yet in the second half of

Dem boys seh...

The name of the place Three men were arrested recently for marijuana in Spliff Street, Buxton. Dem boys seh if de Street named Spliff Street then wah else you expect.

One day a father was leaving to go downtown, Georgetown. His young daughter asked him where he was going. He casually said, “I going to Robb Street.”

Upon hearing this, the little girl said, “Daddy don’t go there. You will be robbed.”

Guyana gat some funny street names. If you get rob is Robb Street, then what is likely to happen in Crotch Drive or Break-Wind Avenue.

Guyana gat some places which have some interesting names. Dem gat a place on

the Essequibo name Fear Not. Dem boys seh that is one place wah don’t live up to its name. Dem gat one name Opposite. But nothing nah deh pun de other side.

On Leguan, is sheer mud deh in a place called Sand.

And no cane nah planting in Canefield.

Dem have a lot of failures in dem village wah name Success.

Dem boys remember dat de 1823 rebellion did start in Success but it failed. Dem gat plenty fly in Doctor Fly but no doctors.

De pregnant women sehing how de Best hospital is de Worst hospital. Yuh can’t hide in Hyde Park, yuh gat to be alert when in Look Out and dem boys still look-

ing fuh de jetty in Parika Jetty. Dem boys still looking for a free orange in Orange Field, Canal No. 1 Polder.

No bell ain’t ringing in The Bell, Canal No. 2 Polder.

And deh gat some people living up to de name of The Bluff.

On de East Bank, Rome certainly was not built in a day. Is hard fuh find bricks in Brickery. If you thinking about getting help, think again when passing through Support. If you go in Mosquito Hall, yuh must expect fuh get bite.

Dem boys better stop before somebody ask how Free and Easy get its name.

Talk half and nah ask about how come there are few cottages in Cottage.

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Sunday December 06, 2020

Kaieteur News

Accused in “Wings and Things” murder to be sentenced for manslaughter

By Rehanna Ramsay High Court Justice, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, is expected to sentence former murder accused, Joshua Meredith, on December 16, 2020, for the unlawful killing of Gregory Garraway.

Garraway was gunned down on October 2, 2016 at Wings and Things Bar at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

Meredith was originally indicted for Garraway’s murder, which was committed in the course of a robbery.

When given a chance to plea during his appearance at the

High Court last week, Garraway pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but guilty for the lesser offence of manslaughter.

His attorney, Adrian Thompson, in a plea of mitigation, told the Court, that his client came from a troubled background.

He asked the court to consider this as well as a request for a probation report before the sentence is imposed.

Thompson stressed that his client was likely influenced by the negative elements of the community he grew up in.

“He grew up in Warlock, East Ruimveldt, it was not an easy childhood as one would imagine but he is remorseful and plans to change his life,” the lawyer told the Court.

However, State Counsel, Nafeeza Baig, provided the Court with the facts of the case.

She explained that on October 2, 2016, at about 01:45 hrs. Garraway was at Wings and Things Bar on Mandela Avenue; at the time he was wearing two chains around his neck.

Garraway had gone into the bar to place an order.

Baig continued, “As he was crossing the street to pick up the said order, Joshua Meredith, the accused, snatched his chains, pulled a gun from his pocket, and fired a shot at Garraway.

She noted that Meredith was subsequently pointed out during an ID parade by the brother of Garraway who was present at the time and was standing only about five feet away from him as he was shot and robbed.

According to the facts provided by the Prosecutor, the autopsy later revealed that there was a gunshot

Accused: Joshua Meredith.

Deceased: Gregory Garraway.

wound on the abdomen of the victim.

“The cause of death was

septic shock as a result of gunshot injuries to abdomen,” she said.

Sunday December 06, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 06, 2020

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY! Police find ganja seeds in In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our page seven to be blunt on ongoing indecency in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

Sunday We will be more blunt than usual today.

Robert Persaud should be removed immediately from his post of Foreign Secretary.

Donald Ramotar should cease receiving pension.

This should happen to both of them until they come clean with happened and why with the Canje and Kaieteur Oil blocks.

This way President Ali would show he is serious and honest with Guyana’s oil!

Monday We need a strongman with an iron hand.

A leader, who would do what Venezuela did with corrupting US oil executives.

Guyana should jail them (with hard labour) for how they corrupted PPP and APNU leaders.

Guyana should impose life sentences on PPP and APNU leaders for their oil corruptions.

Which agency and citizen is going to have the gumption to do so?

Which police unit and judicial referee will be ready to lock them up and throw away the key?

Regrettably, none we say…

Tuesday The Government of the day is mandated to protect the country, They are supposed to be the gatekeepers to ensure

transparency.

When you have a Government that does not look out for the interest of the people Who only sign deals and agreements that leave Guyana holding the short end of the stick Then the conclusion is that they are not worthy to be there and it is all a trick.

The time to renegotiate the ExxonMobil deal on the Stabroek Block is now, Not 20 or 40 years later when we have nothing to recover and when too late will be the cry.

Wednesday Good Governments do not sign secret oil deals.

Good governments do not give away wealth of their citizens.Good governments do not leave their country in debt for generations to come Whether PPP/C OR APNU+AFC, we have not had good governments managing our oil wealth.

Thursday Guyana does have local content policies on oil and gas.

We have unwritten policies that BENEFIT PPP/C AND APNU+AFC FIGURES ONLY. Guyanese political players have the relationships and enjoy the rewards.

PPP/C and APNU+AFC cheats have the contacts and cash that come from those relationships.

Local content!

It is already functioning just fine for the APNU+AFC and the PPP/C. Why fix what is not broken?

Friday It is shameful when politicians forget they begged the people for votes.

After a few mornings, they forget about commitments and are more concerned about their fancy coats.

When it comes to the delivery of services, it is even worse.

Year after year, elections after elections, same story…it is all about their purse.

The politicians forget that they are there for a purpose.

That running a government is not a joke, or like a circus!

Wake-up Guyana, your wealth is being stolen and you are silent and complaining about $25,000.

Saturday No contract is written in stone.

Any contract can be renegotiated and restructured.

All it takes is the will of the people involved to get it done.Exxon is loyal to its shareholder interests and its executives’ salaries.

The government of Guyana has to show that is loyal to the welfare of its people and bring Exxon back to the negotiating table.

$600 million allocated for hinterland road works - Minister Indar Following the passage of tractors would have to proBudget 2020, the Ministry of Public Works has stepped towards expanding and rehabilitating the road networks in the hinterland region.

During a telephone interview with Kaieteur News yesterday, the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, disclosed that around $600 million has been allocated for road works in the hinterland region.

The Minister stated that the contracts for these projects have already been awarded to the contractors.

The contractors are said to be all local personnel. The contracts would cover the rehabilitation of roads, corridors, the upgrading of airstrips, and the expansion of some of the roads in the different regions. He also added that at this point, the contractors would already have started the mobilization process for the projects. In addition, the Minister said, that the con-

vide a performance bond to the Ministry.

According to the Minister, works are set to be done in Regions One, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and in Kwakwani (Region 10).

For Region One, Minister Indar explained that in the Mabaruma sub-district, rehabilitation works is scheduled to start on the Compound road in Mabaruma and the main access road from Kamaka to Kwebanna. Works are slated to be done along the Wanaina to Yarakita corridor and the internal roads of Moruca.

In Region Six the Minister said that upgrading is to be done on the Orealla Airstrip as well a road link from Kwakwani to Orealla.

For Region Seven, works are to start on bridging the link between Karrau and Buckhall. Also construction work is also slated to be done along the Bartica-Potaro cor-

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar. ridor. The Minister also highlighted that efforts are being made to focus on bridging the link from Region Seven to Ten, through Butakari.

In Region Nine, Minster Indar highlighted that reconstruction is to be done along the Lethem to Aishalton corridor, as well as Lethem to Karasibi corridor and the internal roads in Lethem.

As for Region 10, works are to be done on the internals roads in the Kwakwani community.

bucket hidden at empty lot Yesterday, police on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) discovered a quantity of suspected cannabis seeds in a bucket hidden between bushes on an empty lot.

According to a police report, the discovery was made during a raid at La Parfaite Harmonie, between 04:30 and 08:00hrs.

Several persons were arrested in connection with the find and taken into custody at the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station.

The suspected cannabis seeds are said to be only 120 grams.

The bucket with the suspected cannabis seeds

Sunday December 06, 2020

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Kaieteur News

FRONT PAGE COMMENTS RECAP As we continue our mission to enlighten the nation about issues of importance to this nation, we at Kaieteur

News have published a series of front page comments in hopes of having our leaders take the necessary actions in

order to realize the desired outcomes. Today we recap the front page comments of the past week to bring you up to speed.

Guyanese lives not worth Updated Petroleum and Environmental Laws will keep Exxon in check US$300M to ExxonMobil THURSDAY Sunday

According to Exxon’s priorities, the lives of Guyanese are not worth a miserly US$300M. This is the sum which the company is reluctant to spend to protect this country’s population from the effects of its toxic waste water-dumping into the ocean.

This revelation was made Dr. Vincent Adams, former

Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), during a recent Kaieteur Radio conversation.

Exxon refuses to invest a paltry US$300M in available technology to properly treat its pollutive discharge into our waters. In so doing, it is impairing the nation’s health.

Exxon prioritizes shipping away the US hundreds of billions of our oil, but refuses to spend US $300M to give us a

healthier chance.

It prefers to poison our fishing fields, contaminate our fishing grounds, threaten the livelihoods of our fisher folk and expose our people to serious health risks.

Exxon’s actions make us believe that, as far as they are concerned, Guyanese lives do not matter; Guyana’s environmental record does not matter. What matters to Exxon is the rape of our resources.

We Must Renegotiate!

MONDAY All Guyana knows that goat bite we, but it can’t be so bad. Goat can’t bite Guyanese political leaders from both major parties so cripplingly that they do not understand the full meaning of the word “renegotiate”. As we reported on Sunday, this is what Exxon and Total are doing with natural gas in

Mozambique and with that country’s political leaders.

Surely, leading PPP and APNU politicians cannot be so content with our oil contracts that there is complacency to the point of indifference and impotence in renegotiating some of the provisions which so outlandishly favour the oil companies.

We cannot afford to be comfortable with bowing before these companies, so that

they can have their way with us, and ravage our people and their prospects.

PPP leaders must push for renegotiation. APNU leaders must support renegotiation.

And both parties and their leaders must be determined to overcome every obstacle which the oil companies will erect.

Goat cannot bite we so bad that we no longer experience pain.

Laws, not platitudes TUESDAY Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo is trying to make us feel good about our own misfortune. He patting us on our heads to make us feel satisfied and to try to calm our outrage over what we have been deprived of.

Mr. Jagdeo is trying too hard to convince us that better will come under the present contract with Exxon.

Having Exxon stop importing water will not counterbalance the lopsided contract which has been handed to us.

It does not compensate for the US$ 55B which was left

at the negotiating table.

Instead of trying to appease us, Mr. Jagdeo should focus on ensuring that both Guyana and Exxon obtain a fair deal - we for our wealth and Exxon for their investment.

As Mr. Jagdeo knows all too well, Guyana’s petroleum laws are outdated.

Laws ensure that obligations are met and, if not, then sanctions and penalties become operative. Laws create rights and duties. They therefore are fundamental to ensuring that each side gets that to which each is entitled.

The priority which Mr. Jagdeo assigns to the creation

of jobs and opportunities for local businesses business would be best achieved through local content legislation rather than wishful thinking.

We need laws, not platitudes.

It is only when the appropriate laws are in place will we be able to give effect to our just entitlements. When we enact the right laws, we no longer have to rely on political promises or corporate goodwill.

We will, through the right laws, create legally binding obligations which will ensure that we obtain that to which we are entitled.

Recently, we spoke about the modernization of our country’s petroleum laws.

This is absolutely necessary to protect our oil wealth.

However, this need can be used by our politicians for their benefit and that of the international financial community.

It can also provide the opportunity for the World Bank to lend us more money, thereby saddling us with further debt.

In the meantime, we must scrupulously monitor how our environmental laws are

being enforced. Guyana’s environmental laws provide some protection against the excesses of the oil companies.

Exxon stands as the greatest threat, potentially the most likely polluter of our environment.

The company is in a hurry to extract the most oil in the shortest time, given its poor balance sheet, shareholder anxieties, and its contractually sanctioned ability to produce oil here cheaper than anywhere in the world.

Things are so good for Exxon in Guyana, that we are paying the bulk of the company’s expenses to produce our oil.

Modernizing petroleum laws without at the same time updating the country’s environmental laws will only invite more well-arranged reviews that benefit producers and politicians to the detriment of the country.

We must continue to watch, apply pressure, and implement our environmental laws with integrity and consistency while we modernize the country’s petroleum laws.

Updated petroleum and environmental laws will keep Exxon in check, make it think twice about abusing our resources and give us muchneeded breathing room to protect the environment.

Our leaders make us look like morons SATURDAY In Nigeria, a former oil minister was hauled before the courts for corruption over the signing away of oilfields and the alleged failure to account for over a BILLION US dollars.

His lawyer claimed that no law was broken and there no corruption. Sounds familiar?

In Guyana, two oil blocks worth tens of billions of American dollars were secretly given away, and

Guyana’s Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo says that his position is that no laws were broken, nor was corruption involved.

As if that was not insulting and injurious enough, the owners of the Kaieteur and Canje blocks turned around and presented Guyana with a bill for $200M for pre-contract costs.

These people think that we are morons and dumbheads who are devoid of any brainpower.

They have license to perceive us in this manner because we have leaders who have the temerity to claim no laws were broken, despite the country racking up billions of US dollars in losses.

Guyanese have to decide who are the biggest morons

and dumbheads – the citizens who allow their leaders to insult people’s intelligence or the leaders who defend the indefensible with pitiful and puerile excuses.

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Kaieteur News

Eccles man dies after crashing into utility pole Eyewitnesses recalled that the final moments for a man, who resided at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, were filled with agony.

The man died after slamming into a utility pole Friday last.

Anthony Patterdin, 22, crashed around 22:30 hrs. and died hours later while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

According to police, Patterdin was driving his motorcar in the eastern direction along the northern lane of the Railway Embankment Road, East Coast Demerara.

However, while in the vicinity of La Bonne Intention, he lost control of his car and slammed into a utility pole on the southern side of the road, before coming to a halt in a nearby trench.Eyewitnesses detailed that the (Continued on page 58)

Dead: Anthony Patterdin.

(Photo Credit: Travis Chase)

Sunday December 06, 2020

COVID-19 cash grant distribution starts this week in Region Four - $3.4B, 136,000 households involved Region Four residents are to start receiving the Government’s $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant during the course of this week.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, made this disclosure Friday during an interview with DPI. “We will begin distribution in Region Four shortly, more than likely next week…It will be in the first phase – 136,000 households with over $3.4 billion being distributed,” he said.

Distribution is expected to begin along the East Bank and the East Coast Demerara (ECD) from tomorrow.

Distribution clerks are currently undergoing logistics training at the Hope Secondary School, ECD to facilitate a smooth distribution exercise.

Training on the East Bank was scheduled over the weekend.

On September 7, the Head of State, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, announced that every household would receive the grant to cushion the effects of the pandemic.

Minister Nigel Dharamlall.

Distribution began on September 29 in the farthest regions given their vulnerable economic state, and has been completed in seven regions.

The Government is in the final stages of the distribution in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three) and Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five).

“The position of the Government has remained constant, and that is we will be issuing to primary

households, and those households that cannot be verified as independent, they will have to fill out a ‘pink’ form to be verified. Following the verification, the secondary households will be provided for,” Minister Dharamlall explained.

Communities will be notified prior to being served.

However, a distribution schedule will not be publicised for security reasons.

Sunday December 06, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Relocated Lombard Street families participate in behavioural change workshop Families, who were relocated from Broad and Lombard Streets, Charlestown, Georgetown to Prospect Phase Two, participated in a workshop geared at encouraging behavioural changes.

The workshop, which was hosted by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in collaboration with Child Link Guyana, comes one month after residents of Prospect Housing Scheme on the East Bank Demerara (ECD) accused squatters relocated from Broad Street to the community, of turning their neighbourhood into a ghetto.

During an outreach in October, residents who were allotted lands in the area before the

squatters were moved there raised a number of concerns with Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, over the behaviour of the former Charlestown occupants.

As such, Deputy Director of Community Development, Donelle Bess-Bascom, in her remarks to the gathering on Friday, said the workshop is evidence of the agency’s commitment to move beyond just establishing housing development.

“We don’t just want to establish settlements, which include the basic infrastructure, our focus is on wholesome communities (Continued on page 57)

Some of the participants of the workshop.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 06, 2020

Govt. to probe reports of theft of crops in Region 5 backdams Following several reports by farmers from Cotton Tree, West Berbice about theft of crops in a number of villages, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, has committed to launching an urgent investigation into the matter.

This is according to a Ministry of Agriculture statement.

The statement noted that during an outreach to several villages in West Berbice yesterday, farmers expressed the challenges faced by ongoing instances of theft, adding that they are unable to profit off of their cultivation as a result of these occurrences.

Omishwar Shivnarine, a farmer from Cotton Tree, said that persons from neighbouring villages are coming into the backdams and demanding the produce from a number of farmers.

“We the farmers in Cotton Tree, D’Edward and other areas, are facing a very serious problem in the backdam. All our produce is being stolen.

Even if we are there, they come and take it away because it is a bunch of them. Residents of #5, they are the ones who

come there.

They are the ones who, even if you are in your farm, they will come there. Whatever produce you have, they take it away. Since 2015, what they are saying is that when we plant, they will come and take everything that we have.

A lot of us are being beaten.

We have to hide and bring out produce sometimes. We really need something to happen so that we can have our produce Mr. Minister,” Mr. Shivnarine said.

Minister Mustapha said that he was shocked at these reports and assured the farmers that a thorough investigation will be launched.

“I will be contacting the Minister of Home Affairs and an investigation will be launched. This is a very serious matter with persons taking your produce right in front of your eyes. I will be making contact with the Minister of Home Affairs and an investigation will be launched soon. If we have to have a police presence in these backdams to ensure these types of things do not hap-

Omishwar Shivnarine Cotton Tree farmer, Omishwar Shivnarine pen, we will work towards that.

We will also work to have the persons carrying out the theft apprehended,” Minister Mustapha said.

During the outreach, Minister Mustapha also revealed that his Ministry is currently engaging the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries in Suriname to have licences issued to fishermen who usually fish in the

Corentyne River.

“Last week, myself and a number of other members of Cabinet accompanied His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali to Suriname. During that trip, I was able to speak with the Minister responsible for Agriculture on a way forward as it relates to the issuing of licences to our fishermen to fish in the Corentyne River.

Just a few moments ago, the

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, addressing farmers in Rosignol during the outreach.

Agriculture Minister in Suriname was trying to contact me to discuss this issue,” Minister Mustapha said.

A number of other farmers also raised issues about the need for improved drainage and irrigation. One farmer also raised the issue of cattle grazing in his rice field.

The subject Minister informed the gathering that officers from the Guyana Live-

stock Development Authority (GLDA), the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) will be returning to the villages to meet with the residents on these matters.

“My officers are here today and they will be coming back to meet with you in a few (Continued on page 63)

Sunday December 06, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Sunday November 29, 2020 EXXON, TOTAL RENEGOTIATE MAJOR GAS SHARING DEAL Kaieteur News – By Tsvetana Paraskova of OilPrice.com – Supermajors ExxonMobil and Total are renegotiating a natural gas resource sharing deal for their respective liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects offshore Mozambique, Reuters reports, citing sources with knowledge of the talks.

Exxon and Total are leading the Rovuma LNG and the Mozambique LNG projects, respectively, and are looking to renegotiate a 2015 deal on using resources from the basins that would supply gas to their respective projects. Both oil majors, who are looking to cut project costs, want to use the resources from a shared field first because they are cheaper to extract.

The 2015 deal stipulates that Exxon and Total extract a total of 24 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from the “straddling” reserves in a 50/ 50 share in the first phases of their projects.

“They want to use the cheapest gas first – which is the straddling resources,” one of Reuters’ sources said.

The renegotiation of the gas extraction deal also involves the government of Mozambique, which has to sign off on any new resourcesharing deal, the sources told Reuters.

The Total-led Mozambique LNG Project, for which the US$20-billion Final Investment Decision (FDI) was taken in 2019, is on track to deliver LNG in 2024, Total

says.

In July, Total secured as much as US$16 billion in funding for its LNG project in Mozambique despite the supply glut and demand decline in the LNG market.

The financing agreement “shows continued progress on project implementation despite security challenges and lower medium-term hydrocarbon prices, raising the prospect of significant positive effects on Mozambique’s growth and public finances in the longer run,” Fitch Ratings said after Total secured the funding.

W h i l e To t a l s e c u r e d financing for its project, ExxonMobil has delayed the FID on its US$30billion Rovuma LNG project to next year due to low commodity prices and E x x o n ’s n e e d t o c u t investments globally. This will delay the start of production by one or two

years, to around 2025-2026, Fitch says.

EPAILL-EQUIPPED TO HANDLE MASS IMPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS - FORMER EPA HEAD Ensuring the protection of Guyana’s environment should come as the utmost priority for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but without the requisite and essential equipment to handle the influx of hazardous chemicals from the oil and gas sector, it would be unable to complete that mandate.

Unfortunately, that is the existing situation at EPA as was revealed by former head of the Agency, Dr. Vincent Adams, on a recent edition of Kaieteur Radio’s, ‘Corruption, Governance and Justice,’ hosted by senior journalist Kiana Wilburg.

“If you think we are not

going to have environmental issues, you’ve got something else coming because in the industry, there is going to be all kinds of chemicals we have never seen before, never had any experience with and it is all going to hit us,” the environmental expert stated.

That now presents a dangerous challenge for the EPA, Adams reported, as these facilities will be located in central and populated areas and on the river.

He added, “And you know the river is convenient, it is cheap and you have easy access and transportation and that’s where you gonna be vulnerable to spills and the air.”

The EPA according to Dr. Adams currently lacks the basic capacities, such as human resources, to assess simple environmental issues.

A forensic audit of the agency done back in 2015 had discovered that the EPA should have had at least 263 persons employed. However, according to Dr. Adams, at the start of his tenure, only 90 persons were there.

With work overtime, Dr. Adams reported that the number increased to 120 and plans were afoot to boost it to at least 300. Not only that, Dr. Adams noted too, that plans were in the works to procure a state-of-the-art laboratory for the EPA. However, these plans were cut short after the new People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) regime recently terminated his contract.

OIL COMPANY TRAPS GHANA IN LONG-TERM DEALTO TAKE MORE GAS THAN IT NEEDS INT’LWATCHDOG WARNS GUYANA TO TAKEHEED

The Sankofa gas project offshore Ghana.

Kaieteur News – An independent policy center called Institute of the Americas is warning Guyana to be careful as it negotiates its deal with ExxonMobil and

its Stabroek partners for the gas-to-shore project. Ghana’s experience with its own gasto-shore project, the nonprofit entity pointed out, has found itself trapped in a longterm agreement with oil companies which resulted in the African nation having to pay for 90 percent of its own gas and scramble to find uses for it.

In the Institute’s report titled, ‘Guyana’s Gas-toPower Potential,’ University of California San Diego graduate student Kathryn Hillis noted that Ghana, like Guyana, suffered power outages. It also wanted to reduce power costs, lower emissions and make electricity services more reliable. That was addressed when Ghana approved the Sankofa gas project in 2015.

According to the World Bank, since the startup of the project, Sankofa resulted in the provision of power to 1.6 million households, decreased oil imports by 12 million barrels a year, and reduced carbon emission by 1.6 million metric tons.

Notwithstanding the benefits, there are challenges Ghana is now struggling with.

The World Bank partially funded the project, whereby the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC), and Eni and Vitol drilled wells and interconnected a gas pipeline to the country’s pipeline network and with existing power plants.

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, Hillis wrote.

“In an environment of frequent power outages where a large portion of the population lacks access to electricity, this seemed like an ideal arrangement,” she said.

However, the market is now severely oversupplied, with

the government paying $500 million annually for unused power. Ghanaians are also reported as arguing that the tariffs in the Power Purchase Agreement are not competitive, causing the government to overpay for power.

Recognising that the energy sector is not financially sustainable, the current administration responded by creating 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.

Monday November 30, 2020 STOP MINERS FROM CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO ENVIRONMENT – FORMER EPAHEAD The Government of Guyana must take the necessary steps to put a stop to those miners and mining companies that are causing irreparable damage to the environment. This is the wellintended advice offered by former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams.

During his appearance on the Kaieteur Radio show: Governance, Corruption and Justice, Dr. Adams was reminded of his concerns for the mining operations, the pollution it has caused on Guyana’s waterways, and whether the EPA has been able to contain the situation.

To this, Dr. Adams said, “I saw some videos of what goes on in those rivers and it really makes my stomach sick.

Those rivers were once pristine and clean, and now you have these dredges and trees across the banks. When people are finished, they go (Continued on page 26)

PAGE 26

From page 25 dredge along the banks and even changing the direction of the river… The river is just milky and it is just sickening to be exact.”

With this damage, the former EPA Head highlighted that it is almost “impossible” for the EPA to attempt to clean up the damage. Instead, steps must be taken to stop the miners from creating that damage.

“The first clean up is to stop it. To make sure that stuff does not get into the river.

This means thorough regulations and thorough enforcement. So, you can stop it, but the cleaning up is not easy and it might take just natural attenuation and natural mechanism. It would probably take decades or even more than that to complete that cleaning.”

But even with its pure intentions, Dr. Adams pointed out that the EPA is illequipped and understaffed to complete its mandate. The EPA, according to Dr. Adams, currently lacks the basic capacities, such as human resources, to assess simple environmental issues.

A forensic audit of the agency done back in 2015 had discovered that the EPA should have had at least 263 persons employed. However, according to Dr. Adams, at the start of his tenure, only 90 persons were there.

With work, overtime the number increased to 120 and plans were afoot to boost it to at least 300, Dr. Adams reported. Not only that, he noted too, that plans were in the works to procure a stateof-the-art laboratory for the EPA. However, these plans were cut short after the new People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) regime recently terminated his contract. But even with those improvements, it still was not enough. Simple measuring equipment to measure pollutants in the air are lacking at the agency, Dr. Adams relayed.

ASSESS GUYANA’S POWER DEMAND BEFORE SIGNING GAS DEAL – INSTITUTE OF THEAMERICAS Guyana should properly assess its demand for electricity before it signs off on any gas-to-shore deal that forces it to accept an oversupply of gas and leave the energy sector financially unsustainable. This advice is coming from the Institute of the Americas, an international non-profit.

In the Institute’s report titled, ‘Guyana’s Gas-toPower Potential,’ author

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 06, 2020

Photo showing the damage done to the environment, which is caused by mining.

Kathryn Hillis said that while there are significant reliability problems when it comes to electricity in Guyana, taking too much gas at a time would likely result in oversupply for the nation’s 750,000 people.

“Gas should be brought onshore through a phased approach,” Hillis wrote, “in which the government only purchases incremental natural gas as electricity demand increases and infrastructure is developed so Guyana does not accumulate an unnecessary gas surplus.”

The Institute advised that government first focus on providing power to coastal areas, then attempt to supply power to the hinterlands after sufficient infrastructure has been developed in the area.

The Institute saw it pertinent to weigh in, after seeing that Ghana signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to bring its gas to shore, and its failure to properly assess its energy needs at the right time has left the African nation struggling to find uses for the gas it is paying hundreds of millions of dollars for.

Ghana also had found itself in Guyana’s position, wanting to reduce power costs and make electricity more reliable. So it signed a long term deal 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. It was eager to get the project started as a large portion of the population lacked electricity.

The World Bank partially funded the project, whereby the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC), and Eni and Vitol drilled wells and

interconnected a gas pipeline to the country’s pipeline network and with existing power plants.

After it approved the project in 2015 to bring gas from its Sankofa field, power was provided to 1.6 million households, oil imports decreased by 12 million barrels a year, and carbon emissions dropped by 1.6 million metric tons.

However, the market is now severely over supplied with the government paying $500 million annually for unused power. It made the energy sector financially unsustainable, and the current administration responded by creating the five-year Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP) to find uses for all the extra gas, among other things.

“Despite the numerous benefits of using gas for power generation, the project could become a negative for the country if not executed properly,” the Institute said.

“Clearly, Guyana must seek to avoid Ghana’s mistakes with its PPAs.” …COMBATTING COVID-19 REOPEN THE COUNTRY WITH CARE AND CAUTION – EMERGENCY MEDICINE SPECIALIST URGES With the continuous increase in COVID-19 cases, there has been much talk about irresponsible gatherings being a major contributory factor.

Emergency Medicine Specialist, Dr. Zulfikar Bux, with information garnered from an overseas study, revealed how some places can

easily become COVID-19 hotspots.

The study conducted by researchers from Stanford and Northwestern Universities in the United States, was able to ascertain that social sites such as restaurants/cafes, gyms, hotels and religious gatherings are high risk.

Interestingly though, the doctor in his most recent column in this newspaper stated, “it does not mean that we should avoid these places altogether. We have to live and adapt to life with this virus for at least the next year.”

In his recent writings too, Dr. Bux shared some measures which, once implemented properly, will yield positive outcomes.

According to the doctor, the researchers confirmed that it only takes a small number of infected persons to infect a large group confined to a small space for a prolonged period.

Moreover, a suggested measure that has been proffered, Dr. Bux said, is “that capping capacity at 20 percent of maximum occupancy can reduce the infections by more than 80 percent in such spaces.”

Although moves have been made by government to relax some COVID-19 restrictions, Dr. Bux argued that any attempt to fully reopen the country must be done with a generous amount of care and caution.

Once measures, such as controlling occupancy, are adhered to, Dr. Bux said that “this will mean that these sites will only lose around 40 percent visits when compared to fully reopening the country with usual maximum

occupancy.” Risk, he said, can be decreased further if visitors minimize the time they spend at these sites while wearing their masks. Mask wearing and good hygienic practices are among the critical measures to help combat COVID-19, and Dr. Bux has long been promoting these.

Tuesday December 01, 2020 BOAT CAPTAIN KILLS SELF, CHOPS WOMAN WHO DENIED HIMA RELATIONSHIPWITH HER UNDER-AGE DAUGHTER Resident of Riverview, Ruimveldt, yesterday witnessed a bizarre scene with a boat captain who killed himself and chopped a woman all because she denied him a relationship with her 14-year-old daughter.

The incident took place around 13:00hrs at Riverview, Ruimveldt, not far from a police station.

The dead boat captain has been identified as Jeffery Narine, 52, of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Hospitalized is Michelle Russell, 36, who was reportedly chopped by the boat captain.

Investigators reported that earlier in the day, Narine went to Russell’s home and threatened her.

Police were told that he sternly warned the woman that if she did not allow him to be with her 14-year-old daughter, he will kill both her and the teen. She reportedly refused to adhere.

Later that afternoon, he returned armed with two cutlasses and a knife in his

waist.

He approached Russell and chopped her twice-once to her abdomen and once to her left hand. He left uttering words, according to police report, that he “will kill someone” Russell was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was admitted.

Instead of leaving the area, Narine sat in front of a shop. Police were notified and went there to apprehend him.

Upon seeing the uniformed ranks, Narine reportedly pulled out a knife and stabbed himself to the neck. He fell to the ground and the ranks were forced to call an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor on the team.

His body was removed and taken to the morgue.

WORLD BANKENDORSED GAS PROJECT CRIPPLING GHANA’S ENERGY SECTOR; GUYANA MAY BE NEXT Ghana’s energy sector is struggling to be financially sustainable, and it’s mainly due to a gas project that the World Bank endorsed and helped to fund. Approved in 2015, the project was meant to lower the cost of electricity and make electricity services reliable, and it did just that.

However, the project has created new problems for Ghana as it has trapped the country in a deal which requires it to pay for a lot of gas that it has no uses.

Ghana has become victim to a ‘take-or-pay’ clause in the (Continued on page 27)

Sunday December 06, 2020

From page 26 contract for the Sankofa gas project, which requires the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to purchase 90 percent of gas produced, whether it has uses for it or not.

As a result of this provision, Ghana was billed US$250M for unused gas in 2019. To put this into perspective, the Petroleum Commission of Ghana said in a July report that Ghana’s Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF) received US$925 million in oil revenues. That means Ghana’s bill for its unused gas amounted to more than a quarter of the revenue it got from petroleum in that year.

Over the past two days, Kaieteur News had shown how the independent nonprofit, Institute of the Americas, warned Guyana to be careful in its negotiations to ensure it doesn’t end up in Ghana’s position.

This time around, the focus is on Ghana’s development partner, the World Bank and its role in this problematic project. The World Bank just so happens to be Guyana’s development partner, too, and its hand is also in Guyana’s gas-to-shore project.

The Bretton Woods Project, a UK based nongovernmental organization, was formed to challenge the work of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on development, usually in the areas of the environment, human rights and democratic governance.

It said in a 2018 article that Ghana’s offshore gas is rapidly becoming a fiscal burden amidst the country’s debt crisis, and that this raises questions about the role of the World Bank in the country’s gas development.

It said that the publicprivate partnership (PPP) for the project is backed by a total of US$1.2 billion in World Bank guarantees and debt financing.

As early as 2015, Ghana Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), like the African Centre for Energy Policy, criticised the contract’s terms as unfavourable.

The Bank has noted the considerable criticism in the media for the development, and the perception that the petroleum companies supported by the bank were just exploiting the resources for their own benefit.

The World Bank said that it should have seen the need to set up a communications strategy to explain to the public the rationale behind the investment it made. The bank further said that part of the economic benefits of the

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development project will not be realized immediately.

Bretton Woods also pointed out in a 2017 article that over 150 CSOs have called on the World Bank and the IMF to stop their aggressive support for PPPs because the CSOs have recognised significant risks where these projects are concerned.

Bretton Woods said that PPPs have potential serious negative consequences, such as their fiscal impact through the creation of legal obligations for governments to make payments only if particular events occur, such as the take-or-pay provision in Ghana’s Sankofa contract.

The CSOs made their call in a manifesto which called for “those concerned with justice, equality, sustainability and human rights” to instead push for publicly-funded, democratically controlled, accountable public services.

The US$720M Liza Destiny made by SBM.

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 STRICT LAWS NEEDED TO MONITOR CHEMICALS FROM OIL SECTOR - FMR. EPA HEAD With Guyana being an oil producing nation, it is expected that the country will see an influx of hazardous chemicals related to the sector. At the moment, however, the guardian of Guyana’s environment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is without any law or regulation to oversee this area.

As such, the former head of the Agency, Dr. Vincent Adams relayed that it is integral for the EPA to have strict laws and regulations to monitor the chemicals coming into Guyana, as it has primary oversight to ensure the safety of the environment.

S o f a r, a n o i l w a s t e treatment plant and chemical storage and warehouse facility has already passed the purview of the agency. With these projects, comes a string of chemicals used in the sector and both did not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be conducted prior to construction.

The EPA had said that, “in accordance with Section 11 (2) of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05, Laws of Guyana, the application for each project listed above has been screened by the agency to assess its potential environmental impacts and it has been

determined that these projects will not significantly affect the environment or human health, and therefore are exempted from the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).”

The environmental expert had disclosed to Kaieteur News that the EPA is lacking critical equipment to assess simple environmental issues. Additionally, an audit had revealed that the agency was severely lacking in human resource capacity as well. With oil production expected to ramp up, the EPA will have its hands full with the string of environmental issues to follow.

“If you think we are not going to have environmental issues, you’ve got something else coming because in the industry, there is going to be all kinds of chemicals we have never seen before, never had any experience with and it is all going to hit us,” Adams said.

A l r e a d y, G u y a n a ’s response capacity was tested in a major way after a “Rheduce” chemical spill at the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) wharf. A forklift pierced a container holding the chemical that was left at the facility for months after being imported.

While the chemical posed no harm on the environment and human life, what was most concerning about the incident was that the EPA

was notified more than nine h ours after the spill had occurred.

SWISS AUTHORITIES OPEN CORRUPTION PROBE INTO BUILDERS OF GUYANA’S OIL SHIPS SBM Offshore, the Dutch company that is contracted to build two more floating production storage and offloading vessels (oil ships) for Guyana’s Stabroek Block operations, is now facing a probe by the authorities in Switzerland for past cases of corruption.

Even though the cases would have been settled in other nations, the Swiss government is adamant that it wants to do its own probe now, with particular focus on a former SBM employee that was central to the bribery schemes. It did not disclose the name of that person of interest.

Be that as it may, Erik Lagendijk, the Chief Governance and Compliance Officer for SBM was keen to note that the company intends to cooperate with the probe. The employee said, “We did not expect this development in Switzerland…We will engage with the Swiss public prosecutor and seek clarification.”

Since the announcement of the probe, SBM’s shares fell 3.5% on the Amsterdam stock market. During its research on the history of SBM Offshore, Kaieteur News found that more than five years ago, the offshore drilling equipment manufacturer was caught red

handed in damning acts of bribery in Brazil, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan and Iraq. Details of the case note that SBM executives bribed officials with about US$180M over a period of about a decade beginning in the mid-1990s.

These bribes resulted in the company benefitting from approximately US$2.8B in profits. Subsequent lawsuits led by the public prosecutor of its home country, the Netherlands, the US Department of Justice, and the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor, resulted in millions of dollars in fines being paid.

When SBM’s US subsidiary was hauled before the courts for breach of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), it pleaded guilty and agreed to settle criminal charges of bribing officials in the five countries. It paid a US$238 million penalty.

In Brazil, the company agreed to enter a settlement so that it could end all anticorruption investigations against its subsidiary there.

The US$189M settlement was done so that it could not only kill the probe into the company’s role, but also allow it to participate again in future tenders. The investigation in Brazil was centered on allegations that SBM was one of several companies that paid massive bribes in exchange for inflated contracts to service Petrobras, Brazil’s National Oil Company.

In the case of its home country, the Netherlands authorities launched its own investigations and got SBM to pay a US$40M fine as well as a US$200M disgorgement

(having to do with repayment of ill-gotten gains) via an outof-court settlement.

Following this, SBM said it enhanced its anti-corruption compliance programme and related internal controls to prevent a reoccurrence of any kind.

Owing to the fact that the Netherlands is considered one of the least corrupt countries within the European Union (EU), the authorities which settled with SBM were highly criticized by transparency bodies there for not going forward with the prosecution of such a highprofile corruption case, among others.

It was believed that settlement lends to the perception of backroom politics while providing the opportunity for the authorities to abuse their power by allowing settlements in cases where the suspect has more to gain by settling quickly.

GPL TURNS TO NORTHAMERICATO REPAIR DAMAGED SUBMARINE CABLE Following severe damage to its 69kV submarine cable, the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has turned to North America for assistance in repairing those damage. These and other details were revealed to Kaieteur News by Bharat Harjohn, Director of Operations of the stateowned company.

Bharat told this publication yesterday that due to the traveling (Continued on page 28)

PAGE 28

From page 27 restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, GPL could not source engineers and repair kits from China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CNMIEC), the company that laid the cable in 2012. Hence, GPL has now sought the assistance from the United States and Canada, who are expected to respond to their request by the end of this week.

This submarine cable was part of a US$40M project to build new transmission lines, seven new sub-stations and two submarine cables – one each across the Demerara River and Berbice River. In June and August of 2019, this cable had sustained damage at two locations by the anchors of vessels traversing the Demerara River.

The crippling of that submarine cable had left the inter-connected Demerara and Berbice system shaky, as almost 15 megawatts of power available in the West Demerara area was unable to be shared to East Demerara and Berbice systems. It had left thousands of consumers without power after scheduled blackouts were implemented, as critics had blamed the poor laying of the cable on the river for the troubles.

Against this and the cable’s most recent severing, GPL yesterday held a meeting with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) on measures to prevent a third occurrence of vessels damaging the 69kV cable.

The decisive solution between the two agencies would be to bury the cable to a suitable depth to cater for an “ultimate channel” draught of 10 meters. To achieve this, GPL highlighted, it would require suitable dredging equipment capable of not only operating to the required depth but to be able to cut the hard clay that is being encountered in the channel. Unfortunately, it was noted that suitable dredging equipment is not available locally.

Notwithstanding this, GPL has agreed with MARAD on additional measures to police the cable until it is permanently and fully secured. To this, MARAD has agreed to the several short-term preventative measures, the first three, of which, would be done immediately.

The first measure is to create an additional 200m buffer zone on either side of the cable crossing and to publish the necessary notification to mariners. This should enable additional time

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Sunday December 06, 2020

The damaged submarine cable.

for intervention should a vessel break its moorings.

Secondly, they would reinforce the existing regulation on bridge watch, as vessels moored at the assigned mooring points are required to have an officer on watch continuously.

Thirdly, GPL indicated that it will be incorporated into the policing loop utilizing its around the clock security presence at Kingston that overlooks the cable crossing.

Relevant information will be shared with GPL’s security personnel via radio and telephone to facilitate this endeavour, it said.

And lastly, tugs will be engaged that can intervene should a vessel require assistance. This initiative would not be implemented immediately but eventually and would serve multiple purposes.

Thursday, December 3, 2020 WHY WAS THE US$1M BANK DEPOSIT BY JAMES BOND NOT RED-FLAGGED? If an ordinary man attempts to deposit a large sum of cash into a local bank account, he would have to endure stringent procedures with an austere line of questioning due to Guyana’s strict anti-money laundering legislation.

However, when People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) member, James Bond, deposited US$1 million into an account at a commercial bank in the city, the transaction, it would seem, triggered no red flags.

This has caused questions to be raised as to how many more large transactions like this have passed under the radar.

In fact, the Financial

Intelligence Unit (FIU) was not even notified of the transaction, Kaieteur News was told.

This paper had reported that Bond pocketed the hefty sum for the sale of prime state lands leased by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to ARKEN Group Inc., a company in which Bond appears to be a principal.

Those very lands in question are a small part of ongoing investigations being undertaken by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) into the large-scale giveaway of state lands at Peter’s Hall and on the East Coast of Demerara during the APNU+AFC tenure.

As the investigations progressed, Kaieteur News received copies of the bank statement detailing Bond’s bank transaction.

Back in 2019, on October 15, Bond received US$195,000 from Trinidad-based Lennox Petroleum Inc. on behalf of GLASS Holdings Inc., the local oil and gas Logistics Company the lands were sold to.

Lennox Petroleum deposited the funds into a local bank account with Bond listed as the beneficiary. Then again, on November 21, the last tranche of funds for the sale were released; a whopping US$757,800 right into Bond’s account.

Such a large transaction should have immediately triggered red-flags as per the Anti-Money Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act 2009, the city bank, deemed the “reporting entity” is required to pay special attention to “all complex, unusually large business transactions, unusual patterns of transactions, whether completed or not,

that have no apparent economic or lawful purpose and inconsistent with the profiles of the persons carrying out such transactions.”

That reporting entity would also have to “verify the background and purpose of the transactions or business relations and record its findings in writing.” Then, that information would be transmitted to the Financial Intelligence Unit.

The FIU was established and operates within the ambit of the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act (AML/CFTA) 2009 and its Regulations.

The Unit, which has responsibility for requesting, receiving, analyzing and dissemination of suspicious transaction reports and other information relating to money laundering, terrorist financing or the proceeds of crime, should have been notified about Bond’s bank transaction, but was not.

In addition to this, a source from the Bank of Guyana (BoG) explained to Kaieteur News that Bond’s transaction should have raised concerns because of the mere fact that he is in the political lime light.

“If you are a politically exposed person, a PEP, one is supposed to examine it a number of times. It does not just go away like that, go unchecked like that.

PEPs are looked at differently, so any transaction should have raised eyebrows,” the source explained.

Bond is currently out on bail after being arrested as the probe into the lands giveaway progress. However, the US$1 million deal is not the only one Bond allegedly benefitted from.

Two businessmen embroiled in the scandal – Life 1 Pharms Inc. Director, Avalon Jagnandan, and Director of A-Z

Pharmaceuticals Medical Supplies and Equipment Inc., Eddie Doolal, fingered Bond as being the mastermind behind land deals, which saw 30 acres of state lands being transferred to Chinese national, Jianfen Yu. Not only that, Bond was said to have also pocketed more than $120 million from both deals.

AVOID BEING TRAPPED; SIGN SHORT TERM OIL, GAS DEALS – INSTITUTE OFTHEAMERICAS Guyana should avoid being trapped in long term deals which force it to adhere to terms that could make its energy sector financially unsustainable.

The Government can learn from its past negotiations with companies like ExxonMobil and sign deals that are short term, with an option to renew, and manage the terms.

This advice comes from the Institute of the Americas, an independent non-profit policy center.

In a report titled ‘Guyana’s Gas-to-Power Potential’, the Institute said “Guyana can learn from Ghana and work to negotiate competitive terms that do not leave the country in financial strife.”

Ghana had approved a gas project in 2015 under a long-term contract. That contract includes a ‘take-orpay’ clause which forces the country to pay hundreds of millions of dollars every year for unused gas.

Ghana failed to properly assess its demand for gas, and so, it did not sign an agreement based on that demand.

The Institute said that having a short term contract would be good for Guyana, as it would allow it to make beneficial changes when it is time to renew the contract.

“This will allow the country to respond to changes in demand and gas prices,” the report states.

In any case, when the contract is being signed, the Institute advised Guyana to make the terms flexible and competitive.

“Ideally, any contract should allow for maximum flexibility in both pricing and volume to accommodate fluctuations in demand…

The pricing in the agreement should be competitive and tied to the global natural gas market to ensure that the country avoids overpaying for its resources.”

Ghana is currently overpaying, due to an oversupply of natural gas and tariffs criticised as unfair. In 2019, its bill for unused gas was US$250M. The role of the World Bank in Ghana’s project has also been questioned, with non-governmental organisations dubbing the project a fiscal burden. The Bank financed the project with over US$1B. The World Bank is now being challenged to prove that Guyana’s gas project will not end up like Ghana’s. A joint letter was sent to the institution by International Lawyer, Melinda Janki; former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, and cofounder of the Oil and Gas Governance Network, Darshanand Khusial.

Friday December 4, 2020 GARY BEST WALKS FREE OF JUDE BENTLEY’S DEATH Former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Gary Best, yesterday walked free of a causing death by dangerous driving charge (Continued on page 29)

Sunday December 06, 2020

From page 28 in which national cyclist, Jude Bentley, was killed.

During a brief interview outside of the courthouse yesterday, when asked for a reaction, Best said: “I would like to express that I’m happy that the matter is dismissed and what played out in court is exactly what happened.”

Best was placed on $500,000 bail and was not required to plea to the indictable charge when it was first read to him. The charge stated that on February 8, 2020, at Clive Lloyd Drive, Georgetown, he drove motor vehicle, PRR 8182, in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Bentley.

He was on trial in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Rondell Weever.

Magistrate Weever yesterday upheld a no-case submission that was made in October by Best’s attorneys, Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels and Sophia Findlay.On October 26, Hughes submitted the nocase submission to the court for the cause of death by dangerous driving charge to be dismissed against his client based on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove the key elements of the offence.

As such, after the prosecution responded to the no-case submission, Magistrate Weever adjourned the matter and had set yesterday’s date for ruling.

According to Hughes, the no-case submission was upheld by Magistrate Weever, who ruled that the prosecution failed to establish that Best was driving dangerously, therefore the charge was dismissed.

During the interview, Best also stated that now that the matter is over both families can heal. He said that it was an accident and the facts that were presented to the court showed that he was not driving dangerously and did not deliberately killed Bentley.

The People’s National Congress (PNC) executive member who lives at Pradoville Two (Sparendaam), East Coast Demerara, was also charged for driving under the influence of alcohol.

He had denied the charge, which stated that on February 8, 2020, at Clive Lloyd Drive, Georgetown, he drove motor vehicle PRR 8182 while his blood alcohol level was at 0.85 micrograms.

Best was granted self-bail on that charge, while the trial for that matter is ongoing in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior

Magistrate Clive Nurse.

In a previous hearing of the matter, the court learnt that Best served his country for nearly 35 years and that he also served as a presidential advisor, a member of the Legal Aid Clinic and is the recipient of a Medal of Service.

Kaieteur News has reported that the accident occurred at around 5:00 am on February 8, 2020. Bentley was allegedly struck by a black Toyota Land Cruiser, which was being driven by Best.

Reports indicate that Best and Bentley were heading in the eastern direction when the former slammed into the cyclist, taking down a utility pole located on a median at the same time.

UK FIRM THROWS SHARES IN KAIETEUR, CANJE OIL BLOCKS ON US, UK STOCK MARKETS Kaieteur News – Westmount Energy Limited, a UK company that has been buying up shares in several companies with highly prospective oil blocks in the Guyana-Suriname basin, has been able to land its shares on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and the OTCQB Market.

The Alternative Investment Market (AIM) is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) that is designed to help smaller companies access capital from the public market. AIM allows these companies to raise capital by listing on a public exchange with much greater regulatory flexibility compared to the main market.

The OTCQB® Venture Market is for early-stage and developing U.S. and international companies. To be eligible, companies must be current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process.

By making it onto these markets, Westmount Chairman, Gerard Walsh, said he is hopeful that the company will be provided with more opportunities to broaden its investor base.

The Swiss resident and Chartered Accountant was keen to note as well that Westmount is now the only junior company on the AIM market that can provide investors with accessing profit making opportunities in Guyana’s Kaieteur and Canje Blocks.

Trading under the ticker, WMELF, Kaieteur News understands that the company is using the OTCQB market as an international stage for its investments in the fast-emerging GuyanaSuriname Basin.

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The Guyana-Suriname basin is one of the oil industry’s major exploration hotpots. In the last five years, 18 out of 20 exploration wells drilled on the Stabroek Block have met with success, contributing to a discovered inventory of nine billion barrels of oil equivalent resources. That figure is expected to grow as ExxonMobil, the operator of the Stabroek Block, moves ahead with its aggressive drilling programmes in the Kaieteur and Canje blocks.

Those two blocks are also contiguous to the oil rich Stabroek concession.

Currently, four companies have stakes in the Canje block: ExxonMobil (35 percent), Total (35 percent), JHI Associates (17.5 percent) and Mid Atlantic (12.5 percent). In this concession, Westmount has shares in JHI Associates. In its latest financial report, Westmount disclosed that it recently increased its stake in JHI from 3% to 6.9%. As a result, JHI is now its largest investment constituting approximately 61% of its portfolio.

As previously reported, JHI is a private, Ontarioregistered, company established in 2014 and focused on oil exploration opportunities in the emerging Guyana-Suriname Basin. The company’s main asset is a 17.5% carried interest in the Canje Block covering over 4,800 square kilometres, offshore Guyana. It is anticipated that the first well on the Canje Block, Bulletwood-1, will be spudded this month.

The Bulletwood-1 prospect is reported to be a ‘Liza look-alike’ confined channel complex and will target approximately 500 million barrels of oil equivalent resources. The second well on the Canje Block will target either Sapote1 in the east of the block or Jabillo-1, in the northwest of the block, which is reported as a billion-barrel class basin floor turbidite fan.

In the Kaieteur Block, Westmount has shares in two companies, Cataleya Energy Limited and Ratio Petroleum.

Westmount currently holds a total of 567,185 common shares in CEC. As previously reported CEC is a private, Canadian registered company established in 2015 and focused on oil exploration opportunities in the emerging Guyana-Suriname Basin.

CEC’s main asset is a 25% participating interest in the Kaieteur Block, which it holds through its wholly owned subsidiary Cataleya Energy Limited (“CEL”). The 13,500 km2 Kaieteur Block is located outboard of, and adjacent to,

Walks free: Former army chief, Gary Best. the Ranger Oil Discovery which is located on the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.

In Ratio Petroleum Energy Limited Partnership (“Ratio Petroleum”), Westmount holds 1,200,000 units in Ratio Petroleum. This company holds a 25% participating interest in the Kaieteur Block and a 20% interest in Block 47 offshore Suriname.

Westmount also has1,500,000 common shares in Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas which holds a 15% interest in the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana, which is adjacent to the Stabroek Block. During August and September 2019, Tullow, the operator of Orinduik and its partners, Total and Eco, reported two heavy oil discoveries (Jethro1 and Joe-1 respectively) in separate Tertiary age reservoirs. Subsequently, in January 2020, Tullow reported a light oil discovery (Carapa-1), in Upper Cretaceous reservoirs, on the neighbouring Kanuku Block.

The commercial potential of these discoveries remains to be fully evaluated.

USD$304M FOR EXXON TO BRING GAS TO SHORE PIPELINE ONLY – FEASIBILITY STUDY SHOWS According to a 2018 feasibility study that was handed to the former APNU+AFC administration, a whopping USD$304M is needed for ExxonMobil and its consortium of oil

companies to bring natural gas to Guyana’s shores.

However, the feasibility report pointed out that ExxonMobil would only be involved in building a pipeline to transport the gas, not in the construction of the onshore infrastructure that would refine it for use.

In details, the feasibility study, which was compiled

by Energy Narrative, a USbased market analysis firm, states that out of the US$304M, ExxonMobil would be responsible for US$165M, which will be used for pipeline construction costs.

The remaining USD$139M for the construction of the onshore infrastructure will have to be financed by the Government of Guyana.

This form of financing is contrary to what the former Minister of Public Infrastructure (MoPI), David Patterson, a Coalition minister in the Opposition, had said to Kaieteur News a few years ago.

In fact, Patterson had explicitly indicated to Kaieteur News that ExxonMobil had agreed to fund both the pipeline and generators up front, as Guyana would have sold bonds to the private sector and buyout the project within six years.

Notably, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had told reporters that the Government wants to get

the gas to power project on board “as swiftly as possible” so that the Guyanese public can enjoy significantly reduced electricity rates.

He had made these and other comments during a press conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in August.

The VP noted that ExxonMobil had been eager to move along with the project, but was waiting on the former government to steer the way forward.

The David Granger government of Guyana put the roadblocks in this regard because they did n o t r e s p o n d , I g a t h e r, Jagdeo had said.

He had explained that the current administration still has to gather pertinent information about the former Government’s work in this regard, including details about who bought up lands at the proposed locations for the pipeline.

The government also, he indicated, has to go through several studies, and its considerations will be guided by technical advice from the best minds.

N o t a b l y, t h e Vi c e President said that the gas price in the Stabroek Block agreement is not to the government’s satisfaction, and that the pricing mechanism will have to be very different from that if Guyana is to move forward.

“We need the electricity to industrialise this c o u n t r y, ” J a g d e o s a i d . “ We n e e d i t s o w e c a n generate more jobs, and we also need it so we can fulfill the promise, which we made to the people that we’ll cut their electricity b i l l . Yo u h e a r d t h e President mention that, significantly, as much as by half of what they’re paying now. And this is a project that has high priority.”

The government is expected to consider, very soon, the availability of the gas at this point in time, and ownership of the intended facility. Jagdeo said that the project may even take on the form of a public-private partnership.

C u r r e n t l y, the Government is constructing a 46megawatts power plant at Garden-of-Eden, East Bank Demerara.

The Wartsila engines have the capacity to utilize natural gas.

Natural gas is said to be a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, but commonly including varying amounts (Continued on page 30)

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Sunday December 06, 2020

From page 29 of other higher alkanes, and sometimes a small percentage of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, or helium.

It comes up as part of the pumping process to bring up the oil.

HIGH COURT HALTS DEPORTATION OF DETAINED HAITIANS Chief Justice (Ag), Roxane George-Wiltshire, last evening placed a hold on an order by Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs to deport 26 Haitians back to their homeland.

The stay granted after 6:00 pm, followed an application by attorney-atlaw, Darren Wade, in the Georgetown High Court.

Wade had filed a Fixed Date Application (FDA) which seeks to invoke sections of the fundamental rights provision of the Constitution.

However, during a Zoom hearing of the proceedings last evening, Attorney General(AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, who is representing the State’s interest in the matter, said that the sections only apply to citizens of Guyana and the Commonwealth and other persons who are listed under Article 47 of the Constitution.

“Haiti is not one of those territories,” Nandlall said adding that “These persons are aliens under the Constitution.”

Further, the AG said that Haiti has not signed on to the free movement aspect of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) programme under CARICOM. In light of this, Nandlall contended the court has no jurisdiction to hear the application.

The Chief Justice (CJ), nonetheless, issued an order staying the deportation order of the Magistrate until the hearing and determination of the FDA. On Tuesday, Principal Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs, granted an order for the 26 Haitian nationals, who were detained during a police operation last month, to be deported.

The Association of Haitian Nationals in Guyana, through attorneyat-law Darren Wade, filed a motion in the High Court for the Haitians to be put before the court.

According to Wade, the Haitians were not charged and were not put before any court, making it difficult to understand on

President Irfaan Ali what grounds the deportation order is being supported.

The lawyer posited that the Haitians entered Guyana legally and were granted six months stay by the Immigration Department.

The lawyer said that he intends to fight the deportation order in the High Court, since he believes it was wrongfully granted.

According to a press release, the 26 Haitians were discovered between November 7 and November 8, 2020, at a city hotel and in a minibus en route to Linden – Mabura Road.

It is reported that, out of the 24 Haitians discovered, there were 10 males, nine females, two boys and five girls.

The Haitians were being kept in protective custody, while the police force had launched an investigation. The Haitians are suspected to be victims in a human smuggling or trafficking in persons’ operation.

It was recently revealed

by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, during a press conference that the seven Haitian children who were found during the two police operations might not be related to the adults, and they may have been trafficked.

Minister Benn had said that when Haitians enter the country, they usually disappear without any trace. For that reason, when this batch of Haitians entered the country, they were under police surveillance, subsequently leading to them being arrested.

The Minister also told reporters, that he is anticipating the Haitians can be sent back to Haiti shortly and the government will be seeking to implement visa requirements for Haitians who wish to travel to Guyana.

Map showing which companies in the Guyana-Suriname basin that Westmount has interest in Guyana, as part of CARICOM, had dropped the need of visas for Haitians.

GETTING EXXON TO GIVEUNLIMITED INSURANCE IS KEY SIGN THAT RENEGOTIATION IS POSSIBLE – OIL & GAS BODY The Oil & Gas Governance Network (OGGN) stands firm that ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block agreement is renegotiable, and that former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams proved this during his stewardship in the post.

In October last year, Dr. Adams had told Kaieteur News how he had ensured that the environmental permit handed to Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) includes a provision committing the parent company, ExxonMobil, to accepting unlimited liability for all costs related to oil spills or any other such incident.

This was done for the Liza Phase Two environmental permit.

This is a departure from what is provided for in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for the Stabroek Block, which governs Liza Phase Two and other projects.

“The Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) we signed is with the limited liability companies, not the parents.”

Dr. Adams had said. “Those subsidiaries don’t have a lot of assets. So what we did was

to ensure that in the permits, we got the parent companies to agree that they will pick up any costs that are not covered by the subsidiaries.”

The details would be worked out for all the members of the Stabroek Block consortium – ExxonMobil (Operator – 45 percent), Hess (30 percent), and CNOOC (25 percent) to have their share in the liabilities, if there is any oil spill.

“Those improvements have centered around protecting Guyana from the devastation of oil blanketing our shores and those of our neighbours.” OGGN cofounder Darshanand Khusial said. “The Stabroek Block is Guyana’s golden goose with its 9 billion barrels of oil. Has the government inquired with Exxon about improving the financial terms of the Stabroek Block oil contract?”

“Dr Adams and his team acted in the best interest of Guyana by working with and convincing Exxon to amend the terms associated with the Stabroek Block to protect Guyana. Dr Adams noted in the interview that Exxon will consider reasonable requests if asked.”

In this regard, many political commentators have found it unreasonable that Guyana is set to take home a 14.5 percent of revenues from the sale of its crude for years to come. Royalty is set at two percent of oil produced and sold. Guyana also agreed to settle for 50 percent of the profit after ExxonMobil has recouped its investments, at a cost recovery ceiling of 75

percent of oil sales. The oil companies pay no taxes.

At an oil price of US$50 a barrel, Khusial said that Liza Phase One, with 450 million barrels, would produce US$22.5 billion. He added that if Guyana got a revenue share similar to Suriname, it would be taking home US$8.1 billion from Liza Phase One. Suriname is set to take home 36 percent of the revenue from the sale of oil from its lucrative Block 58.

Some of the features of that are a 36 percent income tax rate and 6.25 percent royalty.

OGGN pointed to a 2017 report of former Exxon country manager, Rod Henson, saying that Guyana would get US$7 billion from the Liza Phase One project, assuming an average oil price of US$50 per barrel. Khusial said Guyana would be lucky if it gets half that.

He explained that, due to a lack of ring-fencing provisions, Exxon could transfer its expenses from other wells to be recovered from the sale of Liza Phase One crude, which could result in Exxon staying at the top of its cost recovery ceiling for this project until the very end.

“The reason why is that Liza 1, Liza 2 and Payara have infrastructure expenses totalling US$18.5 billion.”

Khusial said.

PRESIDENTALI DEFERS TO ‘MINISTERS’ ON SUPPORT FOR INT’L OIL BLOCKS PROBE Questioned yesterday on when Guyana can see an

international probe launched into the Kaieteur and Canje oil block giveaways, President Irfaan Ali, told Kaieteur News that he would not comment on the issue, as his ‘ministers’ have already addressed the issue.

Ali’s comments on the sidelines of an event at the Arthur Chung Conference Center come on the heels of bipartisan calls for an international probe into the giveaway of the lucrative oil blocks.

While President Ali deferred to his ‘ministers,’ the reader should note that Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, has never once addressed issues relating to the award of the Kaieteur and Canje oil blocks.

In fact, only the Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, has been vocal on the topic.

And, it should be noted that Jagdeo is technically not a ‘minister.’

The Vice President had recently stated that he does not believe that the there was any corruption in the award, nor were any laws broken.

Back in 2019, when Kaieteur News had chronicled extensively how the award of the two lucrative blocks raised a number of red flags, Jagdeo, then Opposition Leader, had stated that an independent probe would receive his support.

But his tact changed this year, as at a recent press conference, he refused to commit to a probe, only stating that he requested (Continued on page 31)

Sunday December 06, 2020

From page 30 documents be prepared on the matter.

On the other side of the political aisle, former Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman called for an international probe into the blocks by an independent international firm, echoing recommendations by anticorruption watchdog, Global Witness. His position was also bolstered by that of former State Minister, now Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon.

While the blocks were awarded by the then Donald Ramotar administration, the former APNU+AFC regime that Trotman served under is believed to have ignored key red flags, when it approved the transfer of stakes.

In a series titled ‘The Fleecing of Guyana,’ Kai e t e u r N e w s exposed some of the red flags in the Canje and Kaieteur oil blocks agreements. The Canje Block was awarded by the Donald Ramotar administration on March 4, 2015, days before the elections, to local company, Mid-Atlantic Oil & Gas. The Kaieteur Block was awarded on April 28, 2015 – just two weeks before the elections – and like Canje – on the advice of former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud. Two companies received the block with 50-50 stakes – Ratio Energy Limited (now Cataleya Energy Limited) and Ratio Guyana Limited.

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A methanol plant in Trinidad and Tobago.

The red flags which have manifested in both situations include that the awards were

given to unqualified companies, that the initial owners quickly flipped the blocks without doing

any work, that they are incorporated in secrecy jurisdictions, and that Guyana

likely lost revenue due to the avoidance of an open, competitive bidding process.

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Sunday December 06, 2020

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

My daughter’s generation was at stake In Guyana, half of the population is 18 years and under, and 70 percent is between 30 and 40 years. This means a majority of the Guyanese people have no experience in living under a government where there is a strong-man ruler who dictates to the citizenry and the citizenry cannot remove him.

He does whatever he wants because there is no election where he can lose.

Guyana’s people then do not know what destruction physical and psychological they just escaped from between March and July of this year.

It is nine months since Clairmont Mingo stood in front the cameras of the world and began to alter the results of the 2020 election.

Since then, I have encountered people and received dozens of emails that direct me to look at what the PPP/C is doing. David Hinds, I was told, in an online newspaper - the Buxton Voice - lambasted me for my silence since the PPP/C came into power on August 2. The implication is obvious – I wasn’t silent from March to July and now I am in December.

There is no scientific,

psychological and political connection between speaking up from March to July and my so-called silence. What I did in my columns from March to July was to save my daughter and her generation.

It was Tuesday afternoon, March 3. The place was Kaieteur News Radio. Gerry Gouveia was being interviewed by me and Leonard Gildarie of this newspaper.

Based on what Gouveia was saying, my mind went elsewhere. It was not that I wasn’t listening, I was, but my thoughts were elsewhere.

There was a type of eerie

coldness in my soul as Gouveia spoke. I truly became afraid in that radio station. Where did my mind go? To my youthful days, when I gave all my energy to fighting Forbes Burnham.

Burnham’s narcissism and totalitarian success was frame worked in rigged election.

So what did Gouveia say?

He said there was no work going on at GECOM. The Region Four votes were not being tabulated. He went on to add that GECOM people were there just mingling around but not working. He felt that something was wrong. I felt that something was wrong too. I knew something was wrong. I knew in my heart we were going back to the Burnham era of rigged elections.

In a silent moment in that studio, I decided that my daughter will not go through what I did in the 70s and 80s.

I decided my country will not go through what Walter Rodney gave his life for. I may not be able to stop it, but I knew in my heart, my energy had to be reborn.

I spent two weeks in that studio with Gildarie exposing rigged elections.

I wrote a daily column for five months exposing rigged

elections. I am not a religious person so I wasn’t praying, but each day I hoped desperately my daughter and my country would not become victims of permanent power as my wife and I did.

The current population of this country does not have a clue, even a remote one, as to how different this country’s history would have been if we had free and fair elections.

Two names come to mind Cheddi Jagan and Walter Rodney. If the 1968 election was not as rigged by Burnham and Jagan had won, would he have had the cult following among Guyanese Indians in and out of this country?

Is it possible he would have settled down as a normal president and just ruled as any normal Head of State? It was the fight against the Burnham dictatorship that made Jagan, an international hero. The same for Rodney. If the PPP had won the 1973 election, Rodney may never have become an international hero too. A PPP government would have allowed him to work at UG and Rodney may have spent the rest of his life writing books and may have accepted to become head of UG. Hamilton Green in a

Frederick Kissoon published interview with me (KN, October 16, 2017) was unapologetic in denying Rodney an appointment at UG. His trenchant words are contained in that interview.

Here were two men – Forbes Burnham and Hamilton Green – in 1974 rejecting a Guyanese scholar to work at UG when those two men had no legal right to be part of the government, a government that came into being through fraud.The international community and heroic Guyanese on August 2, 2020 stopped the return of permanent power.

Those young people in Guyana, if they are going to be parents and live in Guyana, must ensure we never see the return of unelected rulers.

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

Sunday December 06, 2020

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Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Even after the infection, the problem continues for some

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center A few months ago, I had highlighted that there are long-term effects of COVID19 that are showing up in patients and may be a worrying trend for survivors of COVID-19.

Unfortunately, studies are showing these effects in more survivors than previously thought. Some studies have shown effects in up to 70 percent of survivors but the common consensus seems to be around 10 percent of the population showing these long-term effects.

Patients affected by this are called “long haulers” and scientists are calling this new phenomenon Post-COVID-19 syndrome.

What is surprising, is while Post-COVID-19 syndrome is seen more commonly in those with the severe form of the disease, doctors are seeing increasing numbers in patients who were asymptomatic or had the milder form of the disease.

Today, I will highlight some scary facts about life after COVID-19 so that we can understand and help support those with post-COVID-19 syndrome.

What are the symptoms of Post-COVID syndrome?

Just as COVID-19 itself can come with a range of symptoms, so, too, can PostCOVID-19 syndrome.

The most common symptoms that can linger include: -Fatigue -Difficulty breathing -Joint pain -Chest pain -Brain fog, including an inability to concentrate and impaired memory -Loss of taste and/or smell -Sleep issues -Complications from organ damage caused by the infection Which organs can be damaged?

Although COVID-19 is seen as a disease that primarily affects the lungs, it can damage many other organs as well. This organ damage may increase the risk of long-term health problems.

Organs that may be affected

by COVID-19 include: Heart - imaging tests taken months after recovery from COVID-19 have shown lasting damage to the heart muscle, even in people who experienced only mild COVID-19 symptoms.

This may increase the risk of heart failure or other heart complications in the future.

Lungs - the type of pneumonia often associated with COVID-19 can cause long-standing damage to the tiny air sacs in the lungs.

The resulting scar tissue can lead to long-term breathing problems.

Brain - COVID-19 can cause strokes, seizures and Guillain-Barre syndrome — a condition that causes temporary paralysis.

Researchers are still trying to understand how COVID-19 precipitates these conditions leading to long-term complications.

They are also looking at evidence which may suggest that it increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Kidneys and Liver – COVID-19 causes extensive blood vessel damage in some patients.

The kidneys and liver have extensive vascular networks and are sensitive to such damage. As a result, there are many patients that are suffering from liver and kidney failure if they survived the COVID-19 infection.

Mood and fatigue problems People who have severe symptoms of COVID-19 often have to be treated in a hospital’s intensive care unit, with mechanical assistance such as ventilators to breathe.

Simply surviving this experience can make a person more likely to later develop post-traumatic stress syndrome, depression and anxiety.

Because it’s difficult to predict long-term outcomes from the new COVID-19 virus, scientists are looking at the long-term effects seen in related viruses, such as the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Many people who have recovered from SARS have gone on to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, a complex

disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that worsens with physical or mental activity but doesn’t improve with rest. The same may be true for people who have had COVID-19.

Who’s more at risk for developing Post-COVID-19 syndrome?

Post-COVID-19 syndrome can be seen in people who went to the hospital with concerning symptoms or who had advanced symptoms that required a brief hospital stay, but it can also occur in people who had mild symptoms and

self-treated at home.

The actual frequency of Post-COVID-19 syndrome is still largely up for debate, and different studies find this condition to be more or less common in various groups of people.

Those who seem to be most at risk of developing post-COVID-19 syndrome include: -Adults over the age of 50 -People who experienced a more severe case -Individuals with underlying health conditions, particularly cardiopulmonary

issues, hypertension, diabetes or obesity It’s very obvious that COVID-19 is more than just overcoming a bout of flu-like illness. The lasting effects are too common and can be dangerous. The best way to avoid Post-COVID-19 syndrome is to avoid COVID19 itself.

Practice preventative measures and avoid getting the virus so that you do not have to face life with PostCOVID-19 syndrome.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the

Dr. Zulfikar Bux author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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Sunday December 06, 2020

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Sunday December 06, 2020

The Continued Detention of our Haitian Brothers and Sisters is Inexcusable The detention of the 26 Haitian men, women and children continue to be a matter of concern for rightthinking Guyanese.

This act not only undermines regional integration, but also flies in the face of the laws of Guyana, the plethora of international conventions to which we are a signatory, and importantly, our obligations under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

A Haitian national is a CARICOM national. All CARICOM nationals are

entitled to enter into another CARICOM Member State and be issued an automatic six month stay, hassle free - that is to say, without harassment or the imposition of impediments. The Secretary General of CARICOM recently expressed the desire to see Haiti participate more fully in the CSME during the accreditation of Haiti’s Ambassador to CARICOM. However, that entity has been conspicuously silent on this matter.

On the Thursday, 3rd December, the Leader of the Opposition wrote to the Chairman of CARICOM in the following terms – “Dear Chairman, Three weeks ago, 26 nationals of Haiti, a member of the Caribbean Community, were detained after their legal entry into Guyana.

The basis for their continued detention remains unclear as the Government of Guyana has been unable to

proffer a single credible reason for this action.

Statements in the local media attributed to the Minister of Home Affairs, suggests that our Haitian brothers and sisters were either perpetrators or victims of human trafficking. We have seen no evidence in this regard, but we are aware that persons who were arrested by local authorities in connection with this matter, were released without charge.

We have also learnt that the Government of Guyana has since secured a Deportation Order which will see the 26 men, women and children being deported shortly.

These CARICOM nationals are being detained in what appears to be inhumane conditions and have been denied the opportunity to retain legal representation.

We, like other nationals of the Caribbean Community,

have watched in dismay at the treatment being meted out to our CARICOM brethren, while noting that the Ali administration has not engaged with nationals from neighbouring Brazil and Venezuela as well as Cuba, in so heinous a manner.

The Parliamentary Opposition has been consistent in our efforts to highlight the plight of our Haitian comrades in an attempt to bring a humane and satisfactory resolution to this matter. We have noted with much distress, the conspicuous absence of the CARICOM from the public discourse.

As this matter challenges the foundational tenets of regional integration, it is the expectation that CARICOM as the vanguard institution would be public in its advocacy for a resolution to this matter, in keeping with the letter and spirit of the Revised Treaty of

Chaguaramas.

We therefore look forward to CARICOM declaring its position on this matter, as it is one which if left unaddressed, could establish a precedent that is inimical to the free movement of CARICOM Nationals within the Community.”

Since the letter, the Chief Justice has issued a Conservatory Order against the government effectively halting the deportation proceedings. However, the men, women and children still remain in detention.

This administration must immediately present the evidence to support its claims that these people are either victims or perpetrators of human trafficking.

If it is determined that they are victims, the Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act is very clear as to how they are to be treated. Their current treatment falls woefully short of the standards set out in the

Act. It is incumbent upon every right-thinking Guyanese to speak out against the treatment of our Haitian brothers and sisters, who like every other person is entitled to the protection of the law.

Those among us who would fail to speak up ought to remember the admonition of the German theologian Niemoeller – ‘First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak for me.”

Sunday December 06, 2020

Enetworks lines up three entertaining Christmas movies for viewing today

With the Christmas season upon us, the Enetworks team is doing its part by ensuring that you are enveloped by the Christmas cheer by airing three

entertaining movies today.

Starting at 1PM, Enetworks will show on the E1 Channel, Operation Christmas Drop. At 3PM on the on E1 channel, you can look forward to The

Knight Before Christmas, and finally, at 8:30PM, Enetworks will be airing Noelle (2019). Be sure to enjoy these thrilling movies with family and friends.

Ansa Mcal concludes first drawing of the GSK Goodstuff Sweepstakes On Wednesday December 2, 2020, Winners of the first drawing for the GSK Goodstuff Sweepstakes gathered at the offices of ANSA McAL Trading Limited to receive their prizes. Laurentina King and S.M.K. Khudadin were each the lucky winners of one Samsung 50-inch Smart TV. Other winners received a beach package consisting of a folding chair, a beach blanket and an attractive, insulated picnic basket. The Promotion started on

October 02, 2020 and is scheduled to run until December 18, 2020.

The first draw took place on November 20th and the final draw is slated for December 18, 2020.

The happy winners received their prizes from Andrel Griffith, Divisional Head and Rosana Narine, Sales Manager (Trade), in a brief ceremony.

For those who did not participate, there is still time to do so and win!!! ANSA McAL Trading Limited, in collaboration with Glaxo Smith

Kline(GSK), will be giving away two additional Samsung 50-inch Smart TV’s and 10 consolation prices on December 18, 2020.

Participants were required to purchase and submit in an envelope at participation outlets, any of the following: Two (2) Sensodyne Toothpaste boxes, Five (5) packs of Andrews, Five (5) packs of Panadol or one (1) box of Panadol Children’s Suspension.

See you in Winners Row on December 22, 2020!!!!

Slingerz Records enters the music production game with hit record Brothers Kevin and Troy Balgobin used their quarantine down time to establish their music production company, Slingerz Records.

After witnessing Slingerz Family Entertainment (a company founded and owned by their cousin Javed Ali) dominate the dancehall business in Guyana for nearly two decades, the duo saw the music production business as an opportunity to further solidify the longevity of the brand.

Slingerz Records released their first project today which features one of Dancehall’s most prominent superstars, Teejay aka the “Uptop Boss”. The song titled, “Want Party” is now available on all digital platforms.

The duo explained that this project gives an upbeat vibe about being fed up with COVID-19 and wanting to go back to partying and living the life we once could for the holidays.

Teejay shows his love for Guyana and the Guyanese people by mentioning its name and capital throughout the song, the record has

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been receiving positive feedback and is set to be one of the hottest songs in the Dancehall scene.

Slingerz Records hopes this new business venture will bridge local Guyanese artistes with Jamaican artistes. The duo is excited to continue trail blazing and leading the Guyanese Dancehall scene. “We are grateful that our cousin Javed gave us the blessing to expand the brand and can’t wait for our future projects to be released. We’re working on some projects that will leave it’s imprint on the Dancehall music world for sure. The sky is the limit and we are committed to elevating the game,” says Kevin Balgobin.

For project updates and business inquiries, Slingerz Records can be reached via social media: Instagram: @slingerzfamilyent and @slingerzrecords Facebook: Kevin Balgobin (Slingerz Family) and Slingerz Family Sound Email: slingerzrecords@gmail.com

Cindy Benjamin: Fearlessly pursuing her dream of becoming a celebrity hairstylist Candy Benjamin has been pursuing her dreams of becoming a professional celebrity hairstylist in New York after migrating from Guyana a few years ago in search of better opportunities.

Since moving to New York, she launched her hair business Miyahair (@miyahair1) and offers a number of services to women in the interstate area.

As a woman, Candy loves to look and feel beautiful and understands how important it is for women to have their hair well done and how much it boosts their confidence.

Her business name Miyahair has great significance since it was inspired by her daughter whose name is Amiya.

As a mother of one, Candy is faced with unique

challenges since her daughter who is 5-years-old has Special abilities. As such her daughter is her driving force to do her best.

Candy was quick to learn the ropes in New York and her fun and outgoing personality coupled with her work ethics and determination is propelling her to the top of the game in the big apple.

You can follow her on Instagram @Miyahair1

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Sunday December 06, 2020

Confronting the issue of Breast Cancer When most people hear the big ‘C’ word, cancer, a particular kind of fear takes over. And sometimes, this is because most of don’t know much about this disease.

When it comes to breast cancer, there’s the risk of losing one or both breasts, which in terms of aesthetics, most women abhor. There’s even the chance of death if not detected early and the cancer is allowed to spread.

In Guyana, among the cancers, breast cancer tops the chart accounting for 17% of all cancers and 25% of all cancers affecting women.

Now what exactly is Breast Cancer?

Most know of breast cancer but how much do they actually know about it?

Breast cancer like most other cancers is a disease characterized by the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells but within the tissues of the breasts.

In normal body tissues, there is a balance in cell division and multiplication, in relation to natural cell death.

This ensures that old worn out cells are gotten rid of and replaced by new, better functioning ones.

In breast cancer as well as

other cancers, this programmed cell death, as it is called when the cells dies, does not occur, due to the abnormality of the cells themselves. As such there is continuous replication of the cells and growth of the cancer tissue over time.

Because of this constant growth, the cancer cells can spread locally, as in surrounding structures and tissues, or can even invade the blood stream or lymphatic system and spread through these means, termed hematogenous and lymphatic spread, respectively.

Therefore, it is possible for those persons with end stage breast cancer to have cancers at other parts of the body, quite distant from the breasts. What should you look for?

Self-examination plays a great role in the early detection of breast cancer.

Hence, on any visit to the doctor’s office, all women are encouraged to examine their breasts at least everytime they get the chance especially after the end of the previous menstrual period; when the breasts are less likely to be swollen and tender.

Though there have been

debates over how helpful this is in diagnosis, it has proved very helpful to many who were able to detect small changes occurring before they were definitively diagnosed with the disease.

With that in mind, it should be noted that earlier diagnoses leads to a better prognoses.

The first sign that most women notice on selfexamination is an atypical lump, which feels different from the surrounding tissue.

However, not every lump is a cause of worry since most women have or will have lumps or lumpy areas in their breast at some point of their life.

Persons might even notice early subtle changes in the skin such as dimpling or what appears to be an orange peel texture of the breast skin (called peutd’orange sign).

Other signs that are common are the emergence of a red scaly patch of skin as well as either a bloody or semi-clear discharge from the nipples.

For those in whom the disease has progressed and there is distant spread of the cancer, there may be symptoms of bone pain,

swollen and painful lymph nodes, difficulty breathing and jaundice.

Causes and Risk factors There has been ongoing research but none has been definitive in proving what exactly causes breast cancer.

However, the disease has been linked to and shows a positive correlation with a number of factors, the most obvious being of the female gender.

Though the cancer can also affect men, females are by far the most affected. It has been shown that persons who engage in smoking and the consumption of alcohol are at a higher risk of getting the disease than those who don’t.

Further, the risk of getting breast cancer increases if one is suffering from obesity or there is a lack of physical exercise. Women who are also on hormone replacement therapy or who have undergone radiotherapy are at a higher risk as well.

Another factor would seem to be the fact that having children at a later age or not at all puts one at risk for getting this cancer.

Early onset of menstruation, old age and a

family history of breast cancer are among other risk factors; as well as a genetic predisposition in about 510% of cases who would seem to have inherited genes called the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes among others.

How is it diagnosed?

Breast cancer can be detected early if one is keen on self-examination whenever the chance presents itself.

However in a clinical setting, diagnosis of breast cancer can be achieved via imaging techniques such as m a m m o g r a p h y , ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

These all determine whether a biopsy is warranted or not.

If needed, tissue samples can be taken from the breast to be analyzed.

These can be incisional, where just a small sample of the abnormal tissue is taken and investigated or excisional, where the entire mass of abnormal tissue is removed. Sometimes a lump might actually be a cyst, in which case fluid is taken from the lump and microscopically analyzed. This is called fine needle aspiration.

Prevention and treatment

In the case of breast cancer, prevention is indeed better than cure. Simply by achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, regular exercise, minimizing drinking and smoking as well as consumption of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can all help to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer.

In the case where the disease has already progressed, treatment depends on the stage, with simple excisional surgery or lumpectomy for the simple lumps to more severe cases where either one or both of the breasts have to be removed along with affected surrounding tissue. These are all complemented by a regimen of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.

Health, Diet & Fitness…

Mastering the techniques of gaining and losing weight the right way For those women whose body type falls into the category of what one might describe as “skinny” and have been yearning for a healthy way to put on a few extra pounds in the right places, then here is the perfect guide for you.

But it is important for you to understand that your body type allows you an advantage: you possess a fast enough metabolism that allows you to eat while not gaining a single pound.

Ninety percent of our women folk do not enjoy this privilege.

Therefore, it is advised to always approach your weight-gain exercises with caution. If the weight you gain comes primarily from increased body fat, you have no control of where the extra fat will be going to on your body. Your extra fat could end up unevenly distributed in all the wrong places, such as your tummy, arms, thighs, and so on.

To improve your physique in the way you want, aim for lean muscle weight gains. In this way, not only will you gain healthy weight, you would be in a position to dictate where the extra

pounds are going to be. In other words, you can sculpt your body the way you want it to shape.

The best way to gain healthy weight is through diet and exercise and there are several ways in which this can be done. Here are some tips, once adhered to, can guide you to your ideal figure.

1. Increase your caloric intakes by about 500 to 1000 Calories per day. Extra 500 Calories/day will help you gain up to one pound in one week.

2. Eat frequently: Eat your three main meal (breakfast, lunch Dinner) spaced about five hours apart. In addition eat two to three snacks a day in between

meals.

3. Snacks should be of high calorie such as milk shakes, yogurt, and highcarbohydrate foods, such as banana.

4. Eat more complex carbohydrates like wholegrain breads, pasta and Brown Rice, etc.

5. Never skip your breakfast. Include one egg and fruit juice to your breakfast.

6. Eat bigger than normal portions for your regular meals.

7. Eat food with higher calories, moderate fats, higher protein, higher fiber, and higher nutrition.

8. Choose high-quality protein sources such as eggs,

meat, fish, milk, seeds, protein supplements, etc. Your body needs 0.8gm/body-weight (kg)/day of protein to build new muscle.

9. Since most of the calories for weight gain come from carbohydrates and fats, do not replace them with protein.

10. Eat starchy vegetables (Potatoes, Peas, Cauliflower, Pumpkin, Sweet potatoes).

11. Consume nuts, calorie dense ripe fruits like Banana, dried fruits like dates as snack between meals.

12. Eat the right kinds of fats. Avoid trans-fats. Add healthy unsaturated fats in moderation such as olive and canola oil, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, avocados to your diet.

13. Do not drink water before meals. After meals, wait about 10 minutes before drinking water.

14. Beverages can help you gain a weight too. If it is possible, drink shakes, milk, juice, etc. instead of tea, coffee and diet sodas.

15. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Its high calorie with minimum nutrition.

16. Do 30 minutes of resistance training. Weight training helps to convert the

extra calories into muscle, hence add some extra pounds to your body.

17. Do some compound movements, such as bodyweight squats, push-ups, rows or deadlifts.

18. Aim to lift a heavy enough weight that you’re fatiguing within the 8-12 rep range, completing a total of 2-4 sets for each exercise.

19. Do NOT engage in aerobic exercises (running, stationary bicycling). Aerobic exercise help you lose body fat (weight loss). You may lose more weight than gain weight.

20. Keep track. If possible, keep a food journal to track your weight gain progress. Keep a record of your daily calorie consumption. Weigh yourself at the end of each week to see your development. Keep doing this each week until you start seeing a noticeable progress.

In a nutshell, you must increase your intake of good calories and encourage the right kind of cellular growth through weight training. One thing is for sure, you must eat!

What you eat is the key to putting on the pounds and keeping it there so those new

sexy curves are not temporary but permanent.

Losing weight the healthy way When it comes to losing weight there are three key “M” words we must pay rapt attention to mind, muscle and menu. Losing weight is not going to be a trip to tropical paradise. Often, some regiments for losing weight are spurred by desired to fit into that cute, little dress, and while that short term goal is all fine and well, it is not nearly as important as working towards getting to your ideal weight so that you can be a healthier being.

This is to say that when you do embark on a program to lose weight be sure to do so for all the RIGHT REASONS. It would be a sure way to ensuring that you stay on track on your plan when the going gets tough.

There are many ways to lose a lot of weight fast. But some extreme ways may very well leave you feeling famished and unsatisfied.

Losing weight through extreme, low-calorie diets can wreak havoc on your metabolism, leading to chronic fatigue, suppressed immune and thyroid function, and adrenal stress.

Sunday December 06, 2020

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Sunday December 06, 2020

Determine the Principles to Govern your Life

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TEEN TIME

W

e hope that you have been seriously following the advice being given for the past few weeks about inculcating the right principles to steer your life.

The following are the rest of these, that you will do well to make a special effort to adopt into your personality:Growth – this is the process of progressive development in all aspects of one’s life; growth is a natural phenomenon in all beings, but you have to make a special effort to ensure that you are developing in the right direction.

To l e r a n c e – s y m p a t h y o r indulgence for beliefs, practices or qualities differing from or conflicting with one’s own; capacity of a body to endure or become less responsive to an insult or other expression different from one’s own.

It also includes a positive characteristic of empathy for others who are less endowed that oneself.

Peacefulness – the state of being

devoid of any desire for violence or force; it encourages calmness or state of being untroubled when confronted by conflict, agitation or commotion.

One who desires to live in peace must also accept the obligation to make a

positive effort to restore harmony and goodwill when any violent situation is encountered.

Respect for nature – a high regard for natural things, inculcating a desire to live a life which is attuned to nature’s cycles; conservatism in dealing with or

using the creatures and things that nature provides.

This will also involve avoiding waste in all that one uses in living one’s life, and trying to prevent this whenever witnessed.

Loyalty – the quality of being unswerving in allegiance; faithfulness to a person, cause, ideal, custom, product or institution to which fidelity is due.

It will always be necessary for one to decide to whom or to what one owes this loyalty, in which choice one must try to determine who or what is right in any situation.

It is absolutely necessary that all young adults at this stage in their lives see the need to adopt and maintain these principles so as to make their lives fulfilled and the best they can be.

Please make the effort to keep a copy of these so as to refer to them as you go through life, as principles are timeless and affect us in all situations and at all ages.

Be the Best of whatever you are If you can’t be a tree at the top of the hill, Be a bush down in the valley, But be the best little bush by the side of the hill, Be a bush if you can’t be a tree.

If you can’t be a bush be a grass, And some highway happier make; If you can’t be a snapper, just be a patwa, But be the liveliest patwa in the lake.

We can’t all be captain, some have got to be crew, There’s something for all of us here, There’s so much work to do, and lesser to do, And the task you must do is quite clear.

If you can’t be a highway, then just be a trail, If you can’t be the sun, then be a star; It isn’t by size that we win or we fail, Just be the best of whatever you are.

Karuko Kakuro puzzles are like a cross between a crossword and a Sudoku puzzle.

Instead of letters, each block contains the digits 1 through 9. The same digit will never repeat within a word. If you add the digits in a word, the sum will be the number shown in the clue. Clues are shown on the left and right sides of “across” words, and on the top and bottom sides of “down” words.

When you live your life guided by right principles, you set a great example to those around you, and so help them to live their best life.

TELL IT TO UNCLE ROY Uncle Roy is once again appealing to all teens to write to him about any problem you may be facing for which you need a solution.

He would also like you to contribute to this Page by submitting other material that he can include here. These include: 1. A poem, short story or bit of advice that you have written and would like to share with your fellow teens.

2. Any significant event that has happened, or any interesting item about what is going on around you.

3. A commentary about where you live to acquaint others about it.

As mentioned before, you can email me at: uncleroy1992@yahoo.com

Solutions to last week’s

Reindeer Letter Tiles Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen

PAGE 46

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Dandruff Naturally 1. Try Tea Tree Oil Historically, tea tree oil has been used to treat ailments ranging from acne to psoriasis.

It is also proven to have powerful anti-microbial and antiinflammatory properties, which may help alleviate symptoms of dandruff (4Trusted Source). summary Tea tree oil has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce the severity and symptoms of dandruff.

2. Use Coconut Oil Well-known for its multiple health benefits, coconut oil is often also used as a natural remedy for dandruff.

Coconut oil may help improve skin hydration and prevent dryness, which can worsen dandruff. summary The potential antimicrobial properties of coconut oil may improve skin hydration and reduce symptoms of eczema and dandruff.

3. Apply Aloe Vera Aloe vera is a type of succulent that is frequently added to skin ointments, cosmetics and lotions. summary Aloe vera has antibacterial and antifungal properties. As a result, it may help reduce inflammation and decrease dandruff symptoms.

4. Minimize Stress Levels Stress is believed to impact many aspects of health and wellbeing. It can influence everything from chronic conditions to mental health . summary Stress can weaken the immune system and decrease the body’s ability to fight off infections that cause dandruff. Stress also often precedes episodes of seborrheic dermatitis, one of the most common causes of dandruff.

5. Add Apple Cider Vinegar to Your Routine Apple cider vinegar has been associated with a variety of health benefits. summary Apple cider vinegar is said to help remove dead skin cells and balance the pH of the scalp. Moreover, test-tube studies show that it may prevent the growth of certain types of fungus.

6. Try Aspirin Salicylic acid is one of the primary compounds found in aspirin that is responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties . summary Aspirin contains salicylic acid, an ingredient found in many anti-dandruff shampoos. Salicylic acid has been shown to be effective in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis and dandruff.

7. Up Your Intake of Omega-3s Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in the body.

Not only do they make up the cell membranes that surround your cells, but they are also crucial in the function of your heart, immune system and lungs (26). summary Omega-3 fatty acids are important to skin health and can help reduce inflammation. Deficiency can cause dry skin, dry hair and dandruff.

8. Eat More Probiotics Probiotics are a type of beneficial bacteria that are good for your health. summary Probiotics may help enhance immune function and have been shown to reduce dandruff severity.

9. Use Baking Soda Found in kitchen pantries around the globe, baking soda is a quick, convenient and readily available remedy to help treat dandruff. summary Baking soda has antifungal properties and may help relieve itching and skin irritation.

The Bottom Line Although dandruff can be a frustrating problem, there are plenty of natural remedies available that can reduce symptoms and provide relief.

Next time you start spotting flakes, give a few of these natural remedies a try.Use these remedies on their own or pair them with over-the-counter products like anti-dandruff shampoos to maximize treatment effectiveness. https://www.healthline.com/health/dandruff-itchy-scalp

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 06, 2020

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Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 49

Sunday December 06, 2020

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

SHOP SAFE TOYS AND PLAYTHINGS THIS CHRISTMAS The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) monitors toys and playthings under its Product Compliance Services Department to ensure importers and dealers offer items for sale that comply with labelling and quality requirements.

During this Christmas shopping season, monitoring of these items has intensified by the GNBS so that quality and safe toys can be placed into the hands of our young children.

Apart from the GNBS monitoring efforts, parents and guardians also have a significant role to play to guarantee the safe use of toys. Parents are encouraged to follow useful guidelines when selecting toys and playthings as gifts for their children who are the likely users.

Therefore, this Christmas season, we can make every effort to protect children from the use of unsafe toys and playthings by adhering to the following: 1. Read the label. Warning labels give important information about how to use a toy and for what ages certain toys are safe. Be sure to show your child how to use the toy the right way. Also, keep the product literature on hand in case of future questions.

2. Think Large. Make sure all toys and parts are larger than your child’s mouth to prevent choking. To avoid choking and other dangers, take caution with toys that can be unassembled by children into many tiny pieces.

3. Avoid toys that shoot objects into the air. These toys can cause serious eye injuries.

4. Avoid toys that are loud to prevent damage to your child’s hearing. It is better to select toys that have volume control. Toys are subject to safety standards that limit the sound level, but it’s a good idea to listen to toys that make sounds before buying to make sure they are appropriate for the child. Acceptable levels of sound are often a matter of personal pref-

erence, so look for toys with volume control to adjust the sound for your family environment.

5. Look for stuffed toys that are well made. Make sure all the parts are on tightly and seams and edges are secured.

These toys should also be machine washable. Take off any loose ribbons or strings that may cause strangulation.

6. Buy sturdy plastic toys. Toys made from thin plastic may break easily. To ensure you get good value, make sure that toys purchased can stand up to the rigours of the child’s play.

7. Avoid toys with toxic materials that could cause poisoning. Make sure the label says “nontoxic” before you make the purchase.

8. Avoid hobby kits and chemistry sets for any child younger than 10 years. They can cause fires or explosions and may contain dangerous chemicals. Make sure your older child knows how to safely handle these kinds of toys.

9. Electric toys should be “ULApproved” or carry any other certification mark.

Check the label to be sure as this indicates that the toys were tested for quality and safety requirements.

10. Lastly, parents, age recommendations on toys can be helpful because they offer guidelines on the following: · The safety of the toy (for example, if there any possible choking hazards). · The ability of a child to play with the toy. · The ability of a child to understand how to use a toy. · The needs and interests at various levels of a child’s development.

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

For further information on this subject, call the GNBS on Telephone number: 219-0065 or visit the Bureau’s website: www.gnbsgy.org

Relocated Lombard Street...

From page 15 which speak to families, behaviour changes, and psychosocial skills,” BessBascom noted.

The workshop was spearheaded by Ashome Clarke and covered topics including understanding parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic, anger and conflict management, and adapting to cultural transition.

Some 20 squatting families

from Broad and Lombard Streets were relocated earlier this year to Prospect,

EBD. Through collaboration with the Food for the Poor, the families were identified for two-be droom houses which were constructed and given to them. Among the beneficiaries are five families who were affected when a fire gutted several living quarters.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 57

PAGE 58

Woman stabbed several time by friend during drinking spree A

25-year-old woman was on Friday stabbed several times about her body by her friend, while they were out imbibing alcohol at a shop at Baramita village, North West District (NWD), Region One. The injured woman has been identified as Joanna John of Barama Line, NWD. According to police, the incident occurred at around 21:50 hrs.

Based on information received, the women were out imbibing alcohol at a shop in the village when an argument ensued between

Sunday December 06, 2020

Kaieteur News

them. This led to the suspect arming herself with a broken bottle.

Reports are that the suspect inflicted several stabs to the body of John causing her to bleed nonstop after which she subsequently fell to the ground in a semi-conscious state.

The police was summoned to the scene and John was picked up and taken to the Baramita Health Centre, where she was seen and examined by the Medex and later admitted as a patient for observation.

The suspect was arrested while investigation into the matter is ongoing.

...Attendant Dexter Williams “I just pray and ask God for his mercy, grace, protection and blessings to keep me, my family, friends and other loved ones safe and healthy.”

In the company of his colleagues.

From page 54 these areas for the removal of all infectious waste.”

Based on governing rules and regulations, as set out by CRU’s founders, Tyrone Anthony and Andrew Braithwaite, the cleaning company is mandated to spray, fumigate, disinfect, carbolize, and sanitize all infectious areas.

When asked what made him suitable for the job, Williams quickly quipped: “My experience and my ability to lead as the company’s Operations Manager.”

And it helps, too, he added, that the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer and other heads of departments and staffers “have all been wonderful people to work with and learn from.”

DESTINY UNFOLDS Ushered into the world on September 16, 1969, no one had any inkling that after being exposed to life in Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown and Brooklyn, New York, that Williams’ future exploits included becoming a veteran attendant at the country’s premier public health facility.

After all, his father, Victor Williams, was a carpenter, and his mother, Brenda Lyken, was a pastor and entrepreneur.

The third of seven children born to the couple, Williams attended school both here and the US. Ever since he was a young boy, he had a passion for things music and sports.

But his suitability for the job he now holds, Williams said, is as a result of training in patients’ observation and biohazard waste and infectious clean-ups he received in New York.

Also, at the GPHC, compliments of Dr. Joanna Cole, he received training to deal with the Ebola virus and PPE safety and protection.

However, it wasn’t by his own volition that he joined the ranks at CRU. “Mr. Tyrone Anthony and Mr. Andrew Braithwaite, the founders of Cleaners R’ US, are the reason I am in the position that I am in now. As a cleaning company that has catered to many places such as GPHC, the B alwant

Singh’s Hospital, the Palms, Qualfon, the Stadium, the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall, etc.; after all of these encounters to provide a safe and healthy environment for people, the decision and path was made clear for me,” Williams shared.

Since COVID, he said, the greatest lesson he has learnt is “how to care and help those who cannot care or help themselves and how to work along with GPHC’s finest set of doctors and nurses, along with CRU attendants and housekeepers.”

FAITH IN GOD As he carries out daily duties, Williams admitted that he does worry about contracting the novel Coronavirus. Instead of being consumed by fear, he said: “I

just pray and ask God for his mercy, grace, protection and blessings to keep me, my family, friends and other loved ones safe and healthy.”

In fact, he revealed that it has been his faith in God that has kept him going.

“God first and foremost, then the will to help and to make a difference in the face of this epidemic,” said Williams who tries to keep safe as far as possible by wearing PPEs, washing his hands and strictly avoiding social gatherings.

“It is work and home for me,” said Williams, who revealed that “since COVID-19, I don’t get to spend much time with my family. I am on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week…I literally work seven days a week,” he intimated.

Whatever spare time he has in between, Williams shares with family members, especially his young son, Jonathan, who he described as his “pride and joy.”

It could be deduced that Williams’ true reason for wanting to safeguard himself is nestled in the love for his son.

“Whatever time I get with my family, particularly my son, I make it count,” said Williams who takes time each day to learn facts about COVID-19.

“I am big on education, selfawareness, and empowerment that helps to empower others,” said Williams, who is today being aptly bestowed with our title of ‘Frontline Worker’ of the Week.

Eccles man dies after crashing...

From page 14 young man was speeding at the time of the accident.

Some public-spirited citizens rushed to assist him and an ambulance was summoned.

Videos seen by this media showed graphic details of the

scene. A severely injured Anthony was trapped inside the mangled grey car.

As persons tried to free him, Patterdin groaned in agony. His cries were unbearable to some.

In a bid to save his life, they worked as quickly as

they could and took him out of the car. Paramedics who had arrived by that time began their work, but Patterdin had by then fallen into a semiunconscious state . They placed him into an ambulance and he was rushed to the hospital.

Sunday December 06, 2020

PAGE 59

Kaieteur News

Guyana: Largest producer of Atlantic seabob G

uyana is the world’s largest producer of Atlantic seabob, a commercially important shrimp that is caught from the Atlantic coast of the US all the way down to Brazil.

In Guyana, seabob is fished by both industrial trawlers and by artisanal fishers. Most of the industrial catch is processed into frozen, peeled shrimp to supply both local and international markets.

Artisanal fishers mainly catch seabob (coarse shrimp) and white belly shrimp (fine shrimp) which is then processed in two ways: 1) by drying and 2) by peeling to sell fresh in local markets.

Over 9,000 metric tonnes of seabob were exported in 2018, valued at just over $7B dollars.

The current annual harvest is approximately 20,000 tonnes, worth an estimated US$50 million.

This makes seabob Guyana’s most important seafood export.

Approximately 87 licensed trawlers and 305 artisanal fyke net vessels do harvesting, as well as processing facilities.

The three largest processing facilities employ some 1,600 individuals, 45 percent of whom are women.

It is anticipated that local demand may rise due to more persons coming to work in the emerging oil and gas production.

A recent stock assessment of Guyana’s seabob population revealed that it is healthy but fully exploited.

The continued success of the seabob industry is therefore dependent on strong management of the natural re-

The FISH4ACP is an initiative of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), working with selected countries in those regions to improve important fisheries industries. It is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, with funding from the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Globally, the FISH4ACP is working with 12 fisheries and aquaculture value chains from African, Caribbean, and Pacific to maximize their eco-

sources stock for sustainability, minimization of waste and detrimental practices, maintaining competitiveness in the global marketplace, and close collaboration and partnership by the key stakeholders.

The success of each stakeholder is heavily dependent on sustainable practices by everyone one in the industry.

The industry has already built a reputation of collaborative management including the recent MSC certification process of commercial fishers.

Building on this, the

FISH4ACP was recently launched to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the Atlantic seabob fisheries in Guyana, thereby strengthening the value chain.

By working closely with all stakeholders to understand the interlinkages of the entire industry (from input supplies, fishing, processing and packaging, marketing, distribution, export, and sales), it is possible to identify and address issues and opportunities that can improve the incomes and livelihoods of all stakeholders.

Young, multi-talented Berbician launches...

From page 19 Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and 10. The business has also expanded in Georgetown with the Babe Cave as the first pick up location.

The launching of her first store took place on Friday, November 20, 2020. It is located in Rose Hall Town at Annexe Salon, East Sideline Dam. The launch was welcomed with an online makeup competition titled: MArt Purple Reign Challenge.

Purple is the brand colour for the business. The competition was open for all Guyanese creatives to enter. A total of 17 talented makeup artists and enthusiasts participated.

There was also an open house and official launching ceremony that was opened to the public under strict COVID-19 guidelines.

Foster explained that one of her biggest challenges thus far was entering the realm of business as a young female entrepreneur. She mentioned that “people tend to under-

estimate your experiences when you’re young. [I] was forced to work twice as hard to be taken seriously and to have a seat at tables with other older and experienced entrepreneurs.” However, it was with the help and guidance of her parents, closest family members and friends that she was successful.

Apart from being the owner of MArt, Marissa is also a final year student at the University of Guyana reading for her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. She also holds the title as a writer/columnist

at one of the local Newspapers and is a social advocate and a student representative at the University of Guyana.

MArt is now open for business at the Annexe Salon.

They stock an array of products from ELF Cosmetics to Fenty Beauty, and many more.

Foster envisions her store one day becoming Guyana’s first “Sephora-like” location.

She is hopeful that in time, she will expand her brand and business throughout Guyana—upholding the quality she stands for wherever she goes.

nomic returns and social benefits while minimizing the detrimental effects on natural habitats and marine wildlife.

In Guyana, our work with the seabob value chain started in November 2020, with a value chain assessment. The results of this step will be of tremendous importance. We are working closely with the Fisheries Department, the University of Guyana, and other stakeholders to gather information on the main environmental, economic, and social challenges of the seabob fishery.

The results of this assessment will lead to more sustain-

able practices in the fishery.

FISH4ACP is particularly focusing on maximizing the productivity of small-scale fishers and enhancing the potential of women and youth to contribute to efficiency in the sector. The programme will also assist efforts to reduce by-catch of endangered species such as the electric ray.

This project will be implemented over five years and success stories will be featured throughout the life of the project. (Submitted by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO))

PAGE 60

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 06, 2020

Over $1B housing project for Region 3 in 2021 In 2021, over $1 billion is expected to be injected into the Region Three housing sector, through an InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) funded project.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, announced this during an interview this week. She said that the IDB project, which is slated to commence in January, is targeted at infrastructural elevation in existing housing areas to make it more appealing to prospective homeowners and create more sustainable communities.

“We already have funds committed to that programme for the development of Region Three. The areas are Parfaite Harmonie, Onderneeming, West Minster, Rec-Door-Zee, Lusten-Rust and Schoonard,” she revealed.

The IDB project, which is slated to commence in January, is aimed at infrastructural elevation in existing housing areas to make it more appeal-

ing to prospective homeowners and create more sustainable communities.

The Minister disclosed that the works would cover the construction of three playgrounds, 50 core houses and at least 500 subsidies will be granted to qualifying prospective homeowners.

Additionally, the Minister noted the inclusion of lightemitting diode (LED) lights aimed at enhancing safety features in the communities, road construction and upgrades, as well as water distribution networks.

For the community of Lust-en-Rust, further water relief is on the way. The Minister visited the community in August, and a temporary water solution was established to bring relief to residents who had no prior access to water. “We redirected water from other wells so that they can get immediate relief, but they need a more permanent solution, and their own well is the permanent solution,” said Minister

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues.

Rodrigues, noting that an allocation is being put forward to deliver the well soon.

Also, on the Ministry’s agenda for housing development are expansion and upgrades of existing housing areas including Stewartville, Edinburgh, Anna Catherina, Tuschen and Zeelugt.

Further, Region Three is also set to benefit from a US$100 million water treatment project for which the government is securing funding. That should increase water treatment capacity on the coastland from 52 percent to 90 percent.

Sunday December 06, 2020

PAGE 61

Kaieteur News

GTT introduces new and improved MMG+ app Paying bills, topping up your mobile account, sending and r eceiving money in

Guyana has now gotten a whole lot easier with the recently enhanced Mobile Money Guyana (mmg+) app and web portal.

This is according to a statement issued by GTT which revealed that the mmg+ platform now allows iOS download, strengthened security features and QR code scanning to facilitate the increased ease of doing transactions with the app.

“The mmg+ team has worked so tirelessly to ensure that our mmg+ slogan “Live Life Easy” means what it says to our customers.

I assure you this new app and the introduction of the web portal will be of convenience to all mmg+ subscribers and it will change the way business is done in Guyana,” said General Manager of mmg+, Bobita Ram. What are the differences between the old app and the new one?

1. Introduction of iOS app 2. Introduction of web in-

terface 3. Minimum of six characters (alpha-numeric and special characters); the need for a password versus current 4digit PIN 4. One Time Password when logging in 5. QR Code functionality for scanning, “Shop, and Go” 6. Self Service Reset of Password 7. Introduction of ‘Secret Question’ and ‘Answer’ for resetting password 8. Transaction ID format does not indicate date and time – this is captured separately 9. Customers can upload their ID and Proof of Address when registering for mmg+ in the app 10. Transaction history in the old app is not being transferred to the new app How to download and Sign-up?

GTT subscribers and other subscribers can download the mmg+ app. · For Android Users, customers can download the app in the Playstore by using link https://play.google.com/

s t o r e / a p p s / details?id=com.gtt.mmgplus · For iOS users, customers can download the app in the App Store using link https://apps.apple.com/us/ app/mmg/id1515704426 Quick Steps for Existing Users to Access the new mmg+ App 1. Ensure you receive the 4-digit pin [sent via SMS/ email] 2. Download and install the NEW mobile app available in Play/App Stores [search mmg+] 3. Add your number [format is 6111111] or email address where prompted 4. Input the temporary 4digit pin [from your SMS or email] 5. When prompted – change your temporary

password [must include a Capital and Common Letter, a Number, and a Symbol (#$@%)] 6. Enter your One Time Password (OTP) [sent via email or SMS] within 2mins 7. Set your security question and answer 8. Enable/Disable added

security feature – optional 9. Now you’re ready to live life easy How to add Money to your MMG+ Wallet?

• Any of the 270+ mmg+ agents (listed on the website) • Using Online Banking at Demerara Bank, Republic

Bank, and GBTI • GTT retail stores • By receiving money from someone else According to GTT, with mmg+ there is always a way to conduct your transaction without internet access. All you have to do is use the

USSD menu on your mobile by dialing *123#.

Persons can also opt to contact GTT: mmg+ support call center: 0664; WhatsApp: 654-1190; E m a i l : custservices@gtt.co.gy or 24/ 7 Live Chat: mmg.gy.

PAGE 62

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 06, 2020

GUYANA AND SURINAME TOWARD RECOGNIZING COMMON IDENTITY Suriname, Sranam Tongo course be stressed and there “The proposed road

CONSUMER CONCERNS

SERVICES

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVECAR RENTAL: CARS & SUV'S CALL:656-0087/6435 1 2 2 , E M A I L : P R O A U TO R E N TA L @YAHOO.COM

VEHICLE FOR SALE Massey Ferguson Tractor283 $2.3M (Foreign used), MF 165 $1.5M, Pickup Ford Ranger $1M, Ford- F150 $1.1M #682-5230/615-4414

LEARN TO DRIVE N.Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square.Affordable Package.Call#644-5166/6912561/681-2808.

Visa Forms Preparer. Tel#6267040, Publish your Death Annoucements & In Memoriams online. Email: dthmemo@gmail.com, Rent Wedding Arch Repairs, service & Spares to refrigerator, washingmachine, stove, dryer, treadmill, deepfryer, oven grainmill, dishwasher. Tel#694-9733.

Repairs: Spares, Fridge, Washer, Stove, Packing, Microwave Motor Timer, Gear Box, Suspension, Circuit Board. Call 604-5198 / 6472943 Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#630-1600.

We fix fridge, freezer, AC washer 683-8734/ 654-9711 Omar

LAND FOR SALE Double lots Eccles & Bachelor's adventure, Enterprise Road East Coast Demerara Ray's Realty 6279685 Residential Lot 14 Mahaica E.C.D, two way access 147ft x 70ft Contact 614-8467 FOR SALE 19 Seater Bit Bull with Original Seats, all in excellent condition owner leaving Country Tel#640-0624

VACANCY New York Marketing firm wants to hire Sales Mnagers.

Paid Training. Serious Candidates, Email: sally@jwiz.com.

Receptionsit Desk Staff 30- 45 years old 233 South Road Lacytown Tel#225-0198 1 kitchen assistant, 1 Baker, 1 Server 651-6342 Grove, E.B.D One (1) Part-time truck driver.

Apply at: Lens, 136 Sherrif Street, C/Ville. Tel: 227-2486.

By Pat Dial The official contacts between the governments of Suriname and Guyana have been featuring in the news over the last several weeks.

These contacts, neglected over the years, have been long overdue.

Adventitiously, and almost simultaneously, Guyana and Suriname have had new Presidents who are perceived by the people of both countries as not belonging to “old guard politicians” and will bring fresh minds to the tasks of governance and GuyanaSuriname relations.

Accordingly, and quite unexpectedly, when President Chandrikapersad Santokhi visited Guyana for the Presidential inauguration of Dr. Irfaan Ali, substantial talks between the Presidents on the strengthening of GuyanaSuriname relations occurred.

This occurrence was unique since serious Diplomatic business is rarely discussed at Presidential inaugurations.

Guyana and Suriname had been one country longer than they had been two. Guyana became separated from Suriname in 1815 when the Dutch ceded it to the British.

Now, being ruled by different colonial powers, the myth was cultivated and projected that they were different countries.

In fact, Guyana and Suriname have remained much the same country.

The thought process of the people, the population, the culture and the food are much the same.

The lingua franca of WANTED

One able bodied male clerk.Call:#231-2029,616-5954

FOR RENT

Mini Bus Drivers needed.

Tel#225-3234

Business: Halfeild street 50x24ft, Saffon street 900sq ft, Residence : Pearl & Diamond Ray's Reality 627-9685

Diesel Mechanic to work at Kingston & Eccles. Contact 223-5273 / 74

One graud maintenance / gardener must be able to work with dogs, able bodies Contact 225-5818/ 227-7963

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 2545, Car/ Van licence Call 6429823

Washers to wash 5 gallon water bottles, preferably from Zeeburg to Parika area. Tel 684-8231 or 662-9341

Experience Water Delivery Driver and Porter Tel#6761363/ 692-6768

Experienced driver/ salesman, to work on water delivery canter, preferably from Vitvlugt to Parika area Tel:684-8231 or 662-9341

PROPERTY FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie 2.7M 4.M Business spot 5.7 land size 120 x 70 land with Foundation tranferble 6.8M Call 6662326 Thomas Street, Craig & Campbellville, East Bank, Uitvlugt& Zeelught, West Coast Demerara. Contact Ray's Reality# 627-9685

Maid to cook and clean East Bank area Call 615-9132 Vacancy for domestic maid with cooking experience call: 627-1154

One able bodied male clerk.Call:#225-2313,226-1497

TO LET Appartment in Eccles rooms in Albertown Tel#225-3234

1 muslim wife slim and fear 4050yrs Tel# 684-9263

Two bedroom apartment located at fourth Street Cummings Lodge Tel#6833560, 222-2381, 625-6505

PEN PAL A 45 year old female Partner Tel#672-7731

Washers and cleaners to work in the interior. Contact : 682-8251

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once known as ‘Talkie-talkie’, is an English creole and Guyanese are able to learn and speak it fluently after living in Suriname for six months.

Further, since English and Dutch are cognate languages and the Suriname Education System prescribes English as a compulsory language, most Surinamese speak or understand English.

All the Guyana archival records to the end of the 18th century are in Dutch and Guyana continued to use the Civil Law, the same Law as Suriname, until 1914.

Indeed, the Land Law of Guyana is still largely RomanDutch.

The land surveys done by Dutch surveyors are still in use and most of the official names of the estates and villages along coastal and riverine areas Guyana are Dutch.

From Colonial times, Guyanese had been schooled in the illusion that Guyana was closer to the Englishspeaking Caribbean islands than to Suriname; now the mist of that illusion is beginning to dissipate.

The recent commitment of Guyana and Suriname to have closer diplomatic and cultural relations is leading to the discovery of their common identity and identical interests.

Cultural cooperation would in due

are many cultural facets which Guyana could learn from Suriname such as its language policy and its successful pluralist policies.

Guyana and Suriname have established several institutions to quicken and further closer cooperation such as the Strategic and Cooperation Platform and the Guyana-Suriname Business Facilitation Unit to manage and facilitate collaboration between the private sector bodies and the Joint GuyanaSuriname Commission to work towards solving the New River Border problem.

The immediate project on which both countries are focusing is the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Foreign Minister of Guyana, Hon. Hugh Todd and Suriname’s experienced and brilliant Foreign Minister, Hon. Dr. Albert Ramdin. Both Presidents Ali and Santokhi were sanguine as to the benefits the bridge will bring to their countries.

President Ali remarked that the bridge will be a permanent physical link between the people of Suriname and Guyana and there would accrue enormous benefits in Tourism, Transportation and Trade. In his own words: . . .

alignment will create within its vicinity possibilities of Free Trade zones and enhanced land values, and will not only reduce the cost of doing business but improve the ease of doing business.”

President Santokhi was equally sanguine: “The bridge over the Corentyne River is not only important to facilitate the movement of persons, trade, goods and cross-border cooperation but it also symbolizes the progress to a new era where there is wellbeing and prosperity of the people, Democracy and Rule of Law.” Though the construction of the bridge is the immediate flagship project, other areas of cooperation and development will continue simultaneously such as, for example, the Oil Industry where there will be cooperation rather than competition to the benefit of both countries.

The present close and enthusiastic cooperation and goodwill between Guyana and Suriname removes the veil concealing their common identity and stands out as among the most important foreign policy achievements since Independence.

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

Sunday December 06, 2020

Govt. to probe reports...

From page 16 days to get details on the works [that] you need to have done. They will be developing a work programme to be added to their activities for the coming year.

We are currently in the process of developing budget 2021. Even though we were able to do some works with this emergency budget, the major projects will have to be undertaken in subsequent budgets, starting with budget 2021.

I want to assure you that we will work with you to have all these works completed,�

Minister Mustapha said.

The Minister was accompanied by Ministry of Agriculture Director General, Madanlall Ramraj, and other senior officials from the GLDA, NAREI, NDIA, Pesticide and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB), the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the Fisheries Department, the Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS), the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agriculture Development Authority (MMA-ADA) and other Regional officials.

Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 06, 2020

“Don’t resist foreign investment but use...

From page 17 ties, Chatterjee said, adding, “This is the Canadian approach. Fundamentally, partnerships are based on trust and a level playing field for both Canada and Guyana.

Win-Win for both sides is how we will prosper together.”

“We will not flood you with an influx of Canadian employees. We will provide Canadian expertise –– but in order to have true partnership, Canadians will rely on training a skilled workforce in Guyana,” she stated.

However, the Canadian envoy was quick to point out that, that workforce “does not exist right now in Guyana.”

“You do not have the population yet to be the engine of your rapid growth.

Many oil-producing coun-

tries in the Middle East understood that. So you should accept that others and I suspect they will be mostly your geographic neighbours from CARICOM and the Americas, to support your growth at the outset until Guyana can supply the skilled workforce it needs,” she posited.

And with the launch of the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian envoy highlighted, it provides an additional leverage point as it intends to grow its membership in Canada in order to increase two-way trade between the two countries.

In response to the Canadian envoy’s advice, President Irfaan Ali stated that Guyana will not resist, but “assist foreign investors”.

The Head of State acknowledged that Guyana cur-

rently lacks the skills, technology and capital investment necessary to push economic growth during the country’s transitional period.

Moreover, President Ali stated the establishment of the Chamber represents an overwhelming vote of confidence in our country’s future, further solidifying the important partnership between the two countries.

“It signals the high expectations of Guyana’s economic prospects. The world is expressing confidence in Guyana’s economy. The Canadian private sector joining with the Guyanese private sector is expressing confidence in the economy. The government has to ensure we work closely with the private sector in realising that confidence.”

Sunday December 06, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 06, 2020

Body of newborn found Ministry records 36 in Crane WCD canal more cases of COVID-19

Residents of Crane Squatting Area, West Coast Demerara (WCD), yesterday alerted the police to the gruesome discovery of a newborn baby floating in a trench.

The newborn, according to police, was discovered in the early morning hours.Crime scene experts reported that the newborn’s body is that of a female human.

The corpse was found with its left hand missing and with its face upwards.

Inquiries were made but so far police have no information as how the baby got there or who might be the parents.

Nevertheless, detectives suspect that it might be a case of murder and are carrying out the necessary investigations.

The newborn’s corpse was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where it was further examined by a doctor before being sent to the morgue.

Two busted with gun and ganja Two persons were arrested yesterday after they were busted by police with an unlicensed firearm and 7.150 Kilograms of suspected marijuana.

According to police, the suspects ages 35 and 33 were busted in a police search during

the morning hours at Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The firearm found in their possession is a 9mm pistol with six matching rounds. They are currently in police custody assisting with the necessary investigations.

T

he Ministry of Health (MOH) re corded 36 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours.

According to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard, the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana is now 5,637.

However, only 753 of these cases are cur-

rently active, including the five patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 748 persons in isolation.

At the interim, the COVID-19 death toll remains at 151 while 38 more persons have recovered from the virus. In total, the recoveries stand at 4,733 persons.

Sunday December 06, 2020

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...Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, Brisbane Heat’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman tests positive for Covid-19 in Queensland AM Khan, Gift Centre, ESPNcricinfo - Brisbane Heat’s Afghanistan recruit Mujeeb Ur Rahman has tested positive for Covid-19.

The 19-year-old spinner was in quarantine at a hotel in Queensland after travelling from Kabul ahead of the start of the tenth edition of the Big Bash League.

According to a Heat media statement, Mujeeb, the No. 2-ranked T20I bowler in the world, reached Brisbane last week, but reported symptoms during his mandatory quarantine this week. He is understood to be recovering at a Queensland hospital according to an Associated Press report, and

Mujeeb Ur Rahman celebrates a wicket. (Getty Images) will remain under the watch of the Queensland Health Department until he is cleared to link up with the Heat.

Covid-19 concerns around Mujeeb came a week out from the Heat’s season opener against the Melbourne Stars

Sunday November 29, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Put your foot down today, Aries. Don't let others push you around. It could be that you're used to letting people have their way in order to keep the peace.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Feel free to let it all out today, Libra. It's finally your turn to stand up and say what you feel. Don't let others push you into places you don't want to be.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) For goodness' sake, decide today, Taurus. The more you flounder about which way to go, the likelier it is that you will miss the boat altogether. You have all the facts you need, so don't delay any longer.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Emotionally speaking, you're probably doing quite well today. You have extra self-confidence to draw on to tackle your projects.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Mentally, you're apt to do very well today, Gemini. You will find that you can tackle just about any cerebral challenge that comes along.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your heart is in the right place today, so feel free to share your good mood with others. Keep things simple and straightforward. Try not to complicate issues with unnecessary garble.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may find it hard to get rolling today, Leo. It's likely that you're caught in a gridlock between your mind and heart. Be careful about letting this tension build.

The most important thing for you today is to relax.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You're apt to be spurred into action by strong forces that don't want you to take a break. Keep in mind that the more you resist, the more you will be pushed and pulled by outside sources.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You might be in a bit of a jam today, when one person or situation doesn't work well with what you're thinking, and another doesn't fit well with what you're feeling.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today is a good day for you to follow through. Normally you're much better at tagging along or simply going with the flow of the situation. This way of doing things has proven quite effective for you in the past.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Have sympathy for those who need to vent today.

Don't be surprised if people line up outside your door for a chance to bend your ear for an hour or two.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You will probably want everyone to know how you feel today, Pisces. You won't be shy about expressing your emotions. Feel free to take the lead on matters, for you have the self-confidence and emotional stability to do quite well at the helm of the ship.

in Canberra, meaning Mujeeb could well miss the Heat’s two matches in the Australian capital. “We will work with the relevant authorities to ensure the integrity of the competition and well-being of the player are suitably addressed. He is a young man far from home and we will ensure he is looked after,’’ Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson said in the statement.

Alistair Dobson, the head of the Big Bash Leagues, emphasised that all health and safety protocols would be followed keeping the wellbeing of Mujeeb and the wider community, within the state’s cricket framework and beyond, in mind. “The health and safety of our players, staff and the wider community is our top priority this season.

Both Mujeeb and the Brisbane Heat have our full support and we will ensure all Queensland Government protocols continue to be followed as he recovers.”

...Despite their important From page 72 How confident are you that despite these challenges Guyana will do well at the FIFA qualifier and the Gold Cup. Forde stated: “I believe my administration have proven over the years that there is no challenge or circumstance we cannot overcome. We will put together the strongest team possible that is capable of competing with the best in the Region. I believe all of Guyana will be proud of the performance of the “GUYANA” Golden Jaguars.”

It is hoped that at soonest the relevant authorities can put the necessary systems in place and grant the necessary permission for the local players to prepare for their World Cup qualifying campaign even as many national federations around the regional and world in full preparation flow.

From page 69 elderly and less fortunate.

He committed to continuing the support as long as he enjoys good health in the future.

The 2020 Christmas Programme of the ten teams would officially start tomorrow, Monday 7th of December, with the distribution of hampers to less fortunate families. A total of one thousand food hampers valued at $4,000 each would distributed across Berbice to less fortunate families. The families were identified by a Special Committee of the club, who visited different communities.

The teams would also share out five thousand Christmas toys to children

drawn from less fortunate and single parent households.

The club would donate the toys to religious places of worship across the county and they would share them out to children in their areas.

Among the other projects planned are donations to orphanages, distribution of special Christmas packages to senior citizens and Christmas breakfast to five hundred senior citizens in the Lower Corentyne area.

Distribution of educational material, clothing and footwear would also be done in what Foster described as the largest Christmas programme ever organised by the club, since it was started in 1990.

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Sunday December 06, 2020

GCB/Tropical Springs 0-40 T20 cricket

Fifties from Mohammed, Persaud power Everest Masters to Tournament’s highest total - Q/Finals set for today at Everest & Enmore

By Sean Devers Half-centuries from exCayman Islands Stanford T20 batsman Shaeed Mohammed and Basil Persaud and a cameo 20 from Randy Lindore spearheaded host Everest Masters to the highest total in the final preliminary round of the GCB/Tropical Springs 0-40 T20 cricket tournament yesterday.

Everest’s 195-6 enabled them to stay in contention for a spot in the play-offs, while a flashy 51 from Roy Persuad helped Regal Masters to a five-wicket win over RP Construction in the opening match at Enmore.

In the afternoon game West Demerara Mavericks remained unbeaten in their seven games when they defeated Bel Air Rubis Ultra Tec. On a day blessed with glorious sunshine at Everest, West Demerara Masters gained a Walk-over from KV Construction in morning game.

In the afternoon game, Everest won the toss and elected to bat on slow track and sluggish outfield.

Former Essequibo InterCounty batsman Sahadeo Hardaiow (7) was trapped LBW to Alvin Charran at 10-1 before Mohammed was joined by the left-handed Clement Archer and pair added 66 in an entertaining second wicket partnership.

The pugnacious Mohammed lofted Alvin Charran for a humongous six over mid-wicket to his 50 from 25 balls and celebrated the landmark with a glorious extra cover drive for four off the

Randy Lindore made 20 and bagged 3-2 to Everest to victory yesterday. next delivery as conditions became slightly overcast.

Archer got going with a swept boundary before Archer, who played the supporting role to freescoring Mohammed, was stupendously taken low down by Alwin Andrews (16) as he swept Ryan Mangah at 77-2 in the eight over.

The diminutive Persaud then joined the dominant Mohammed and the pair scored freely on both sides of the wicket on the sluggish outfield and added a further 77 for the third wicket before Mohammed was bowled with a beauty from Bhupendra Deokie which cut back and beat him between bat and pad.

Basil Persaud made an attractive 65 for Everest Masters yesterday.

Mohammed’s 66 was decorated with five sixes and two fours and his demise left the score on 112-3 in the 13th over.

Persaud who reached the boundary twice and cleared it four times in his 65 and Lindore whose 20 included a couple of boundaries, took the score to 189 before they were dismissed in the final over by Nandkrishna Ram who ended with 2-17.

Sand Pippers were blown away for a paltry 32 in 9.3 overs with Ram top scoring with six.

Lindore returned with the ball to crown a useful allround performance by grabbing 3-2, while Skipper

Verstappen denies Mercedes Sakhir practice clean sweep, Russell seventh MANAMA (Reuters) Max Verstappen set the pace for Red Bull yesterday to deny Mercedes a clean sweep of Formula One practice for the Sakhir Grand Prix. The Dutchman lapped the shorter 3.5-km outer layout of the floodlit Bahrain International Circuit in 54.064 seconds to go 0.206 seconds clear of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn appeared to have reasserted his authority as the lead driver at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton’s stand-in George Russell stole the spotlight by setting the fastest time in both practice sessions on Friday.

The 22-year-old Briton, a substitute for Lewis Hamilton after the seven-times world champion tested positive for COVID-19, was only seventh in yesterday’s final hour of practice, 0.6 seconds off Dutchman Verstappen’s time.

The Sakhir Grand Prix is the first time Hamilton, who has already wrapped up a recordequalling seventh title, will sit out a race since he made his debut at the 2007 seasonopener in Australia.

The sport’s most successful qualifier by far, having taken his 98th pole position last week in Bahrain, the Briton’s absence could spice up the battle for top

spot in qualifying later on Saturday.

Pierre Gasly was an impressive third for AlphaTauri ahead of Renault’s Esteban Ocon.

Lando Norris was fifth in his McLaren ahead of Verstappen’s team mate Alexander Albon in sixth.

Racing Point team mates Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll were eighth and ninth respectively behind Russell, while Carlos Sainz rounded out the top 10 for McLaren.

Sebastian Vettel was 15th but his Ferrari team pulled him in early to carry out a precautionary engine change ahead of qualifying.

Raj Singh took 3-10.

At Enmore on the East Coast, Regal Masters beat RP Construction by five wickets after making 100-5 in 14.1 overs in reply to the 99-7 made by RP Construction off their allotted 20 overs.

Roy Persaud hit five fours and a six in 51 while the consistent Anthony Ifill, who added 37 for second wicket with Persaud, chipped in with 18.

Ex Stanford T20 batsman Shaeed Mohammed smashed an explosive 66 yesterday at Everest.

The pair came together after Berbician Rudolph ‘Gussie’ Baker fell for 11 as Ramchand Jailall had 2-14.

Earlier, Parmanand Dindyal top scored with 36 but only Lakram Persaud of the other batsmen reached 15 with 16 not out.

In the afternoon game at Enmore, Bel Air Rubis Ultra Tec beat West Demerara Mavericks by 13 runs. Bel Air Rubis Ultra Tec made 126-6 in 20 overs as Vishnu Ramjeet

top scored with 36. Davindra Ramdihal took 2-20 for West Demerara Mavericks who replied with 113-7 in 20 overs suffered their first loss in the tournament.

Muneshwar Balgobin (31) and Nigel Vieira (21) were the only batsmen to reach 20 as Vishnu Ramjeet had 3-8 and got support from Osyln Batson who captured 2-14.

Today the Quarterfinals will be contested at Everest and Enmore.

Duplantis and Rojas named world athletes of the year (Reuters) - Swedish pole vaulter Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis was named the male athlete of the year, while Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas won the women’s title at athletics’ annual awards ceremony yesterday.

Duplantis, a world silver medallist in Doha last year, set a world record by clearing 6.17m in Torun, Poland, in February and then bettered that by one centimetre in Glasgow the same month.

He also produced the highest-ever outdoor pole vault jump when he cleared 6.15 metres to win gold at the Rome Diamond League meeting in September. The 21year-old won all 16 of his meetings this year to register a perfect season.

“It was a really strange season, for me and everybody, but I was able to

put it together and get some pretty good results,” said Duplantis, who is the youngest athlete to win the award.

“I just wanted to go out there and show the world what I was capable of and put my name out there with some big performances. I was able to do that and had some good heights, especially during the indoor season.”

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, American Ryan Crouser (shot put), German Johannes Vetter (javelin) and Norwegian Karsten Warholm (400m hurdles) were the other male finalists at the virtual ceremony.

Rojas set the South American indoor triple jump record when she bounded 15.03m in Metz, France and then broke the 16-year-old world indoor triple jump record when she leapt 15.43

metres at the Madrid World Athletics Indoor Tour meeting.

“I honestly didn’t expect this, I really cannot believe it,” said Rojas. “It is such a joy and I’m filled with happiness.

“This victory means a lot to me and to all of those who work with me every day...

Being the best athlete of the year is an additional inspiration for me for 2021.

Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan (10,000m), Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey (5000m), Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir (half marathon) and Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah (100m/200m) were the other female finalists.

Kenya’s sub-two-hour marathon man Eliud Kipchoge and American 400m hurdles world record holder Dalilah Muhammad were the 2019 winners.

Sunday December 06, 2020

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NZ capture 1st-test despite being stalled by West Indies’ pair AP - New Zealand’s push for an innings victory over the West Indies in the first cricket test was stalled for a period on the third day yesterday and into the fourth morning by a bold, counterattacking partnership for the tourists’ seventh wicket between Jermaine Blackwood and Alzarri Joseph. However the Kiwis recorded a comfortable victory in the first test by an innings and 134 runs.

Joseph perished for 86 after seeming to lose concentration, while Blackwood carried on to make his century, 104, before he fell.

New Zealand seemed to be coasting to a win within three days in the first of two tests when captain Kane Williamson enforced the follow-on with a 381-run lead after dismissing the West Indies for 138 in reply to its first innings of 519-7 declared.

When the West Indies were reduced to 30-4 at tea, then 89-6 in their second innings, it seemed they were set to become only the fifth team in test history to be dismissed twice in one day.

The last to suffer the fate was Afghanistan in its inaugural test against India two years ago.

New Zealand’s Tim Southee, right, is congratulated by teamates after dismissing the West Indies’ John Campbell during play on day three of their first cricket test in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP) The tourists’ position was more dire because wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich couldn’t bat in either innings and they have only nine wickets.

But Blackwood and Joseph combined in an partnership which broke the dominance of the New Zealand bowlers and was worth 107 runs at stumps

when the West Indies were 196-6. While New Zealand still lead by 185 runs, the seventhwicket pair brought order to an otherwise bedraggled West Indies performance on a day when the tourists lost 15 wickets for 285 runs.

Blackwood, the West Indies’ last recognized batsman, led the stubborn resistance and was 80 not out at stumps, having hit nine fours and two sixes. Joseph, attempting to establish himself as an allrounder, achieved his maiden test half century and was 59 not out at the close.

The pair played aggressively and managed to hit the New Zealand bowlers off lengths which had been so successful and productive throughout the day. Their 100 partnership came up from only 111 balls.

Blackwood, especially, played with abandon out of keeping with the match situation, throwing his hands at the ball when it was too short or wide. He produced

some magnificent stroke play, including two technicallyperfect cover drives and he demonstrated a wide array of shots.

He also managed to break the spell New Zealand had cast over the touring team throughout the day.

Suddenly catches that previously had been taken started to go to ground — at least five in the last two hours — and New Zealand looked much less composed and in control.

The West Indies resumed their first innings at 49-0 yesterday after a dogged effort by openers John Campbell and Kraigg Braithwaite to bat through 26 overs at the end of the second day.

Campbell was out in the first over yesterday and a decline set in as wickets tumbled regularly through the first session and early part of the second.

Tim Southee took 4-35 and Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner

Neil Wagner celebrates a wicket, New Zealand vs West Indies, 1st Test, Hamilton, 3rd day, December 5, 2020 © Getty Images made use of helpful bowling conditions; low cloud and humidity which caused the ball to swing.

Jamieson took 2-25, Wagner 2-22 and Boult 1-33 as the New Zealand bowling attack hunted as a group, putting early pressure on the West Indies batsmen and keeping it on through most of the day.

There was little respite when the West Indies’ second innings began. Boult squared up Campbell with the third ball of the innings and an edge carried low to Tom Latham at second slip who grabbed the catch just above the grass.

Wagner then removed Darren Bravo who sparred a shorter delivery to Southee at second slip. Shamarh Brooks then flicked a ball of his hip to substitute fielder Devon

Conway at square leg.

Braithwaite flashed at a short delivery from Southee next ball and top-edged a catch to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.

Roston Chase and captain Jason Holder followed cheaply as New Zealand kept up its early momentum. But that stalled when Braithwaite came to the crease and was joined by Joseph who was his equal in pugnacity. They turned the day around with their late partnership which had occupied 97 minutes by stumps.

Blackwood and Joseph continued where they left off but after a few chances went a begging off Joseph the home side eventually got the desired result, first removing Joseph and a well played innings then Blackwood and the tail eventually folded.

Bolt voted greatest male athlete of the last 75 years, Fraser-Pryce third among women SportsMax - Readers of the world renowned athletics magazine, Athletics Weekly, have selected Usain Bolt as the greatest athlete of the past 75 years. They placed Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce third among the women.

The magazine that was first published in 1945, is celebrating its Diamond anniversary and for its December issue, to mark the occasion it asked its more than 100,000 readers to vote for the top male and female track and field athletes

between then and present day.

A whopping 55.3 per cent of the votes went to Usain Bolt as the top male athlete.

Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals between 2008 and 2012 and became the first athlete to win gold medals in the 100m and 200m for three consecutive Olympic Games.

Bolt also won 11 World Championship gold medals.

The Jamaican also holds the world records in the 100m and 200m that were set at the 2009 World Championships in

Berlin, Germany.

Coming in second with 17.1 per cent of the votes was the outstanding Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, while Czechoslovakia’s Emil Zatopek was third with 14.5 per cent of the votes.

Fraser-Pryce has won two Olympic 100m gold medals, four 100m world titles and a 200m title but according to the voters that was not good enough to finish ahead of Ethiopia’s long-distance queen Tirunesh Dibaba, who garnered 31.1 per cent of the

votes for greatest female track athlete.

Dibaba won world titles in the 5000m and 10,000m double in 2007 as well as winning the 10,000m title in both 2007 and 2013 and the 2017 10,000m silver.

Between 2005 and 2012, she won 12 successive races over 25 laps.

Dutch super athlete Fanny Blankers-Koen picked up 25.7 per cent of the vote, while the Pocket Rocket won the hearts of 18.9 per cent of the voters.

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Sunday December 06, 2020

Kaieteur News

Ministry of Sport displeased by threats against athletes for involvement in unsanctioned events

Manchester City cruise to 2-0 win over Fulham

- Promises to look out for the interest of all athletes The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports (MCYS), headed by Minister Charles Ramson Jr., yesterday issued a statement noting the troubling actions of some Associations/Federations threatening Guyanese Sportsmen/Sportswomen with sanction for participating in sporting events not sanctioned by them or given a no objection clause by the said bodies.

The recent missive is a follow up to a previous statement put out by the Minister relating to the Big Man Cricket tournament and the conditions involved in the staging of the event and a comments made by the Cricket West Indies (CWI) and other persons involved.

The Ministry has now made it clear that they will look into the best interest of athletes where these types of matters are concerned. Here is the full text of the statement issued by the MCYS. “Consequent upon the previous statement by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, where the Ministry advised that approval and/or no objection for the hosting/ organising of sports events, while inherently beneficial, was not strictly required by the respective sports associations/federations, sportsmen and sportswomen have confidentially expressed their discontent and worry with the way the respective sports associations/ federations have sought to discharge their responsibilities in this regard.”

“Sportsmen and sportswomen have confidentially expressed to the Ministry that it had become a common practice that if they were interested in participating in or chose to

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne scores their second goal from the penalty spot against Fulham. (Pool via Reuters/Alex Livesey) Charles Ramson Jr. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport participate in an organised sports event which did not receive the approval/no objection from the respective sports associations/ federations, then they were threatened with or risked being disallowed from participating in any organised sports event by the association/federation, deliberately not selected by the association/federation, and/or disciplined by the association/federation.”

“This is not a practice that can continue in the Republic of Guyana. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on behalf of the Government of Guyana has ultimate responsibility to, among other things, advance sports in Guyana and the interests of Guyanese sportsmen/ sportswomen. Mindful of the international organisation of sport and the importance of improving Guyana’s standing on the international sports stage, the Ministry has embarked upon a direction to establish a genuine partnership with the sports associations/federations.”

“That partnership is, however, fundamentally premised on the appreciation of a shared objective to advance sports in Guyana and the interests of Guyanese sportsmen/sportswomen.

Sports associations/ federations will continue to benefit from that partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport once that fundamental objective remains paramount.”

The threat to exclude, the disciplining of sportsmen/ sportswomen, and/or the exclusion of sportsmen/ sportswomen for their inclination to participate in or the participation in an organised sports event which did not receive the approval/no objection from the respective sports association/federation could never advance that fundamental objective. It is the Ministry’s mandate to protect Guyanese sportsmen/sportswomen from exploitation and advance their interests and the Ministry takes its mandate seriously.”

Tapeball competition on today for Ministries and Agencies A Tapeball competition is set for today at the Durban Pak Tarmac in Georgetown, Guyana. The competition, which is for Ministries and Government Agencies, is a 7-a-side Tapeball affair.

The tournament will be coordinated by James Lewis beginning at 9:30hrs. All the guidelines of the COVID- 19 Task Force would be strictly enforced.

The competition would be a 4 overs-per-side knockout affair with the winner set to take home the Minister of Home Affairs Trophy.

The winning team will take home $75,000 cash and medals; the runner-up will get $40,000. Among the teams set to participate are the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Ministry of Agriculture, Office of the President, GuyOil, Guyana Forestry Commission, GPHC, Ministry of Natural Resources, MARAD, 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 Sports.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester City climbed into the Premier League top four after first-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne secured a comfortable 2-0 home win over struggling Fulham yesterday.

It was the first time this season City notched successive league wins as they also stretched their perfect record against Fulham to 10 games in all competitions after a dominant performance at the Etihad stadium.

The result lifted City into fourth place on 18 points from 10 games while Fulham stayed 17th on seven points from 11 matches, just outside the relegation zone.

Only a string of superb saves from Fulham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola denied City a bigger win after Sterling fired the hosts ahead in the fifth minute and De Bruyne converted a 26th-minute

penalty.

Having said City were shifting their focus on the title race after securing a Champions League knockout stage berth, their manager Pep Guardiola criticised his players for missing chances against Fulham.

“This season looks like there will be a lot of teams in contention (for the Premier League title),” he told the BBC. “Everyone can beat everyone. In this month it was important to get qualification for the Champions League, now we focus on the Premier League.

“The finishing was wasteful and we know we have to improve this. In the last 20 minutes we lost too many simple balls, which is a problem.”

Areola kept out a Sterling effort barely a minute before the England forward beat him with a clinical finish from inside the penalty area after

he was put through by De Bruyne.

The pair created City’s second goal too as Belgian international De Bruyne sent Areola the wrong way with his spot- kick after Joachim Anderson fouled the irrepressible Sterling.

Areola denied Sterling and De Bruyne several times and the latter also hit the woodwork after a flowing move, with Fulham failing to muster anything meaningful up front in a lop-sided contest.

Fulham manager Scott Parker was happy with his team’s performance if not the result.

“I thought overall we are disappointed with the result but we understood the challenge,” he told BT Sport.

“I asked this team to leave an impression. I wanted that to happen individually and as a team from the players and I think we did that, certainly in the second half.”

Alia Atkinson honoured by Special Olympics ambassador appointment SportsMax - Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson says she is honoured to have been named Champion Ambassador of the Special Olympics Movement. The announcement came on Thursday as the Special Olympics celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Atkinson is the first competing Olympic athlete appointed to the role Caribbean.

“The role of Champion Ambassador for Special Olympics defines the power of real purpose,” Atkinson told the Jamaica Gleaner.

“Special Olympics athletes meet the challenge each day to realize their full

Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson. potential, and I’m honoured to have the chance to learn from them, and to share our

experiences together as we strive for inclusion for those with intellectual disabilities.”

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 06, 2020

PAGE 71

Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, AM Khan, Gift Centre, John Lewis Styles, Fitness Express among those on board with RHTYSC From left, Principal Caroline Canterbury, Ronoko Vaugh, Tiffany James, Roniah King, and Joshua Abrams along with Shaquille Adonis take a photo.

KMPA’s Adonis gives back The King Medas Pansy Adonis (KMPA) foundation continued their goodwill last week after their Youth Ambassador, Shaquille Adonis, made a tangible contribution to students of the President’s College high school located in Golden Grove on the East Coast of Demerara.

Adonis, who is a former student of the school, in addition to being an outstanding athlete, gave four students a combined total of $40,000 to assist with their Caribbean Secondary

Education Certificate (C.S.E.C) examinations.

The students who are benefitting from the grant include Ronoko Vaugh, Tiffany James, Roniah King, and Joshua Abrams.

T h e K M P A representative, who hails from the Golden GroveHaslington area, holds a Law degree from the University of Guyana and is looking forward to going to the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) where he can continue his goal of being admitted to the

local Bar Association in Guyana.

In an invited comment, Shaquille shared that he enjoys what he’s doing and being part of the KMPA Foundation has opened up lots of opportunities for him so he thinks it is only right that he gives back.

Among opportunities afford to Adonis included a trip to the United States of America twice and while there he attended several high level meetings with some of the best Coaches in the world.

The ten cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS on Tuesday last, continued to attract support from corporate Guyana. The donations were received by Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster and Vice President Mark Papannah during a visit to Georgetown. The ten cricket teams - Poonai Pharmacy Under 12 and Under 13, Farfan and Mendes Ltd Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermediate, Namilco Thunderbolt Under 21 and First Division and Metro Female would be hosting a series of charity projects under their annual Christmas Outreach programme.

Overseas based honorary member Dr. Tulsi Dyal

Mr. Andrew Lewis of The Gift Centre hands over their donation to Hilbert Foster.

Singh contributed $100,000 worth of Christmas toys, while assistance was also received from Mr. A.M. Khan of AM Khan Hardware Store located at LBI, Mr. Ronald Williams of Apex Insurance Broker, Ms. Dione Lewis of the Gift Centre, John Lewis of John Lewis Styles and Jamie McDonald of Fitness Express.

Foster expressed gratitude to the donors and stated that they are all long time supporters of Guyana’s

leading youth and sports organisation. Mr. McDonald noted that for the year, his business had closed off all donations to organisations due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic but the RHTYSC is one organisation that deserves to be assisted. Mr. A.M. Khan hailed the club and its ten cricket teams for their outstanding contributions to society especially making a positive difference in the lives of the (Continued on page 67)

Mr. A M Khan makes his contribution to Hilbert Foster.

Jamie McDonald of Fitness Express hands over donation to RHTYSC Secretary/ CEO Hilbert Foster.

PAGE 72

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 06, 2020

Despite their important assignment GFF still awaits clearance to train for World Cup Members of the football fraternity are wondering whether they are being taken for granted or is there some form of oversight on the part of the National COVID-19 Task Force in granting the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) permission to start training for their very important assignment, FIFA World Cup Qualification.

Regional Governing F o o t b a l l B o d y, CONCACAF, has released their qualifying schedule and Guyana has been drawn in a powerful group (F) and are up against Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico and Bahamas. It would have been hoped that with the granting of permission for some sporting events to be staged, the scheduled training and proper preparation of the national team would have taken precedence for the players to start training under the relevant COVID protocols.

The GFF just recently named their own task force to handle putting systems in place for local football and also training to get underway in a timely fashion. The GFF is hoping that Guyana can break the preverbal ceiling of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in the country’s history.

Kaieteur Sport reached out to President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, and asked if they have received any word from the National COVID Task Force on the start of training for the players and how plans are going for the intense programme needed if Guyana are to make it to the pinnacle. Forde informed that they did write the Task Force since mid November but to date no word on permission being granted for proper preparation of the national footballers to commence.

Kaieteur Sport asked the G F F P re s i d e n t : Wi t h Concacaf releasing the official schedule for the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifier, how are the plans for the National team preparation coming along?

The GFF President Wayne Forde responded: “On the positive side of things, most of our International players are back on the pitch in their

Wayne Forde

respective leagues. In the UK in particular, football at the professional level has returned albeit without fans and under very strict COVID 19 protocols.

On the negative side of things, our local national team players have not been able to commence training as yet. We submitted a detailed plan to the National COVID 19 Task Force on November 19th and is awaiting their approval to begin the preparation of the players.

While we understand that these things take time to properly evaluate, it is frustrating to see other disciplines being allowed to play competition and the National Football Team has been in waiting for almost three weeks for clearance to train.”

Kaieteur Sport further queried: What is the alternative if the GFF is not granted approval to prepare the local players?

Forde noted: “This would be left up to the Head Coach along with his Technical Team to decide on the final composition of the Team. We intend to advance as far as possible in the 2022 qualification campaign. The Golden Jaguars will open their campaign against Trinidad, who has been in training for almost two months now. This places Guyana at a severe disadvantage.”

Kaieteur Sport asked: (Continued on page 65)

Sunday December 06, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 73

Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club hosts Annual Awards Ceremony

D

espite the ongoing Covid 19 situations the Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club (BCCCC) of Blairmont, West Bank Berbice, recently held their annual awards ceremony.

The activity was held at the Big B Business Complex at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice.

A number of members were rewarded for their outstanding performances and other sterling contributions during the year. Walking away with the award of player of the year w a s K e v o n J a w a h i r.

National Under-19 allrounder Seon Glasgow Jr copped the youth player of the year award. National U19 players Marvan Prashad and Nigel Deodat copped awards for being best batsman and best bowler respectively in that category.

The T20 player prize went to Zammer Nazeer, while Javed Karim got the nod for being the club’s best all-rounder. Deodat also copped the award for best bowler of the club.

The most improved batsman award was shared

by Nazeer and Prashad.

Taking the award for the most improved bowler is Chris Harry, while Glasgow and Prashad shared the award for the most disciplined player.

Deodat received another as the second division player of the year.

Also receiving awards were in the U15 categoryRaashad Gafoor for the best batsman, Sajjaad Ishmael best bowler and Romeo Deonarine best all-rounder, David Deonarine most improved player, while Razam Koobir was adjudged the most disciplined and the most promising in that category.

In the U17 category, Satyah France was adjudged the best under-17 batsman, while Andy Tageraj was adjudged the best bowler, Randy Rupnarine the best allrounder and Altav Balman the most disciplined.

Special awards were given to Waqar Hussain as one longest-serving and most committed member’s while a special prize went to

BCCCC outstanding players and organisers pose with their silverware at the presentation ceremony.

youth player Anthony Sukra.

Speaking at the ceremony President Shabeer Baksh encouraging those gathered to continue being disciplined and aim for the stars.

Baksh also thanked a number of sponsors

including those from in Guyana and overseas for

their continued support over the years.

Alzarri Joseph raises his half-century as Jermaine Blackwood looks on, New Zealand vs West Indies, 1st Test, Hamilton, 3rd day, December 5, 2020 © AFP via Getty Images

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West Indies’s Jermaine Blackwood falls to the ground while batting against New Zealand during play on day three of their first cricket test in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020.

(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

NZ capture 1st-test despite being stalled

by West Indies’ pair P. 67

Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas celebrates winning the women’s event at the Diamond League event in Monaco August 14 last. (Pool via Reuters/Matthias Hangst)

Duplantis and Rojas named world athletes of the year

Bolt voted greatest male athlete of the last 75 years, Fraser-Pryce third among women

Athletics Legend Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Sweden’s pole vaulter Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis in action during the men’s event at the Diamond League Meeting in Doha September 25 last. (Reuters/IbraheemAl Omari)

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