Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

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

Granger declines Presidents’ meeting

Saturday Edition December 12, 2020 - Vol. 14 No.43

p.

14

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

- Demands Govt. address series of concerns first

Online readership yesterday 99,699

Weeks after March 2 elections…

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Granger administration ordered police to tap Snr. AFC Minister’s phone Delays in construction of St. Rose’s, Yarrowkabra schools...

AFC makes

excuses for failing to hold contractors p. accountable 19 Suspected arson committed 18p. on Arakaka Police Outpost

Woman dies in WCB minibus p.

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Then President David Granger and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, last December after signing the revised Cummingsburg Accord on Christmas Eve.

accident

- others injured

Put laws in place now , to avoid being trapped, conned by oil companies T&T Expert says ...

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Renegotiation of oil contracts/deals can happen! Hear about it on the Glenn Lall Show ...11:00am today on 99.1/99.5FM Kaieteur Radio (Rebroadcast)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 12, 2020

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Suriname makes hydrocarbon discovery again near Guyana border E

xxonMobil and its partner, PETRONAS, have made the first hydrocarbon discovery in a Suriname block near the border with Guyana, called Block 52.

PETRONAS Suriname E&P B.V. (PSEPBV), the Suriname subsidiary of the Malaysian PETRONAS, is the operator of the block. It announced the results of the Sloanea-1 exploration well yesterday.

It said that the well encountered several hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone packages with good reservoir qualities in the Campanian section, and that further evaluation is being undertaken to understand the full extent of the discovery.

The Sloanea-1 exploration well was successfully drilled to a total depth of 4,780 metres using the Maersk Developer rig, according to PETRONAS. PETRONAS Vice President of Exploration, Upstream, Emeliana Rice-Oxley said: “We are pleased with the positive results of the well. It will provide the drive for PETRONAS to continue exploring in Suriname, which is one of our focus basins in the Americas.”

PETRONAS was awarded Block 52 with effective date of April 26, 2013 and completed a 50 percent farm-down

in May with Exxon subsidiary, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Suriname B.V. Rice-Oxley said “We look forward to further successful collaboration with our partner ExxonMobil and further strengthen our relationship with the government of the Republic of Suriname, as a solutions partner, progressing towards delivering clean and reliable energy to the market.”

In a statement, ExxonMobil lauded the first find it has made in Suriname as building on its investments in Guyana.

Its Senior Vice President of Exploration and New Ventures, Mike Cousins said, “We will continue to leverage our deepwater expertise and advanced technology to explore frontier environments with the highest value resource potential.”

Block 52 is 1.2 million acres, similar in size to ExxonMobil's Canje Block in Guyana. The Block is about 75 miles offshore Suriname, north of the capital Paramaribo, and next to the lucrative Block 58, where Apache and Total have made three successful discoveries.

Exploration in Block 58 had been excited by ExxonMobil's discoveries in the Guyana portion of the basin. It has made 18 discoveries in the Stabroek Block, and one at the Kaieteur Block.

KAIETEUR BLOCK 1 discovery

STABROEK BLOCK 18 discoveries

BLOCK 58 3 discoveries

BLOCK 52 1 discovery

ICJ to rule on Venezuela/Guyana border issue on December 18 T

he International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to deliver its judgment on the question of its jurisdiction in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 between Guyana and Venezuela at 3:00 p.m on December 18, 2020.

According to an official communiqué from the ICJ, President of the ICJ, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, will read out the Court's decision at the Peace Palace in Hague, Netherlands during which, in view of the current COVID-19 pandemic, only members of t h e C o u r t a n d representatives of the parties will be present in the Great Hall of Justice.

Members of the diplomatic corps, the media and public will be able to follow the reading through a live webcast on the Court's website, as well as on UN Web TV. Back in June, the ICJ

held its public hearings on the question of the court's jurisdiction on the Arbitral Aw a r d . D u r i n g t h o s e hearings, it was noted that representatives of the Ve n e z u e l a r e f u s e d t o participate in the matter since in their view, the ICJ lack ed ju r is d ictio n to adjudicate the border complaint. As such, the

Court must determine the preliminary issue before hearing and determining the merits of the case in accordance with international law.

The border issue between Guyana/Venezuela stems from a quarrel that dates back to 1787 and the latest quarrel came after Venezuela's navy ships

invaded in the area on numerous occasions to stop any exploration from taking place in those quarters. A Presidential 2015 decree

from President Nicolas Maduro claiming Essequibo and offshore territory was met with protest from Guyana, and it is this dispute

that now lies in the hands of the ICJ, a court which was established by the United Nations Charter for a (continued on page 12)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 12, 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

Campaign Finance Reform After every election since 2001, credible observers have made several recommendations on how the process can be made better and more trustworthy. One perennial recommendation that keeps being made and ignored has to do with the issue of campaign financing.

For example, coming out of the 2015 elections, the Carter Center report had as one of its key recommendations: ”Overhaul and Modernize Campaign Finance Laws.

To ensure realization of the right and opportunity to be elected, legal reform is necessary to improve campaign finance laws. Legislation should be strengthened to routinely require disclosure of contributions and expenditures.

Consideration also should be given to establishing reasonable limits on donations and expenditures to ensure that the free choice of voters is not undermined or the democratic process distorted by disproportionate expenditures on behalf of any candidate or party. A monitoring and enforcement body with oversight authority of compliance with campaign finance regulations would also be a positive contribution to Guyanese politics.”

This sort of recommendation, even though echoed by several other stakeholders, has never found traction with the major political entities in this country, the PPP and the PNC. The Alliance For Change, which started in its early days with a supposed commitment towards campaign finance transparency, has never truly lived up to its professed principle, and quickly became subsumed into the status quo when it joined a coalition with the PNC-led APNU. As covered in the story published in today’s edition, “AFC says corporate reporting covered electoral finance obligations” (pg. 23) , the party has given only the unreliable and irrelevant assurance that their annual reporting as a corporation somehow adheres to their obligations under the electoral finance reporting laws – it does not, by any sane measure.

The only credible information made public about campaign financing from either major party was done so indirectly via compulsory disclosures made by the US lobbying firms that they hired, for the PPP, in the lead up to the March 2 elections and for the Coalition, after in seeking shore up support in Washington for its attempt at rigging the elections.

In relation to possible campaign finance disclosures for the 2020 elections, the answers from the political players who took part in the polls range from the convenient to the incredible. The most absurd response in all this, however, has come not from the political players themselves but from GECOM. If it is that, as Christopher Ram has claimed in our story published yesterday, “PPP/C, APNU+AFC teamed up to hide expense report for 2020 elections – Ram” that GECOM Commissioners advised the Chair, Justice Claudette Singh that the statutory reporting mechanism for elections expenditure was simply ignorable, then we have hit rock bottom when it comes to campaign financing accountability.

Contrary to the postures made by some GECOM Commissioners, their execution of their duties has always been overwhelming in their party’s partisan interest than it is in the interest of law and order.

If it is that Commissioners from both sides advised the Chair that they were aware of the law but simply that “those sections were never operationalised”, that had nothing to do with representing the rule of the law or the public’s interest which are both better served by adherence and transparency, and everything to do with the interest of their political masters who benefit from the influx of shadowy funds and zero accountability in how those funds are handled.

The Chair of the Commission, during the five months of attempted rigging, enjoyed an uneven relationship with the public as she was alternatingly seen as accommodating the attempting at rigging or preventing it. She finally

We can no longer tolerate such lawlessness DEAR EDITOR, In September, I had written to the Chairperson of GECOM drawing her attention to Section 108 of the Representation of the People Act dealing with Election Expenses Report.

The section requires the election agent of each group of candidates to submit that Report within 35 days of the declaration of the results of the elections. Following a reminder to the Chairperson, I received a response from her informing me that “the Commission has advised [her] that although cognizant of the law, those sections were never operationalized.”

Such a response would generally be considered less than acceptable under any other circumstances. But for a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal to admit a conscious and deliberate violation of a key element of an election law by the constitutional body responsible for the lawful conduct of elections is beyond shock.

GECOM comprises three members from Government side, three from the Opposition and of course the Chairperson. For the six, there is not even a pretense of constitutional duty, integrity, independence or service to country. Even more troubling is the condonation of this vio-

lation by the Chairperson, or successive chairpersons of the Commission. Individually and collectively, they are guilty of gross dereliction of their duty and the undermining of the rule of law and democracy in the country. It may not have started under Justice Claudette Singh but she is now admitting culpability by endorsing the violation.

The Election Expenses Report is the flip side of campaign financing regulation which is anathema to all our political parties, which have created for themselves an unregulated and lawless environment. Of course, the APNU+AFC Coalition threatened democracy not only for five months but since the December 21, 2018 No Confidence Motion. It seems perfectly legitimate for the electors and the public to question their leadership’s fitness for any public office in this country.

Unfortunately, there is nothing to suggest that the leadership of the PPP/C is innocent with respect to the “non-operationalization” of Section 108, violating the rule of law, making a mockery of accountability, opening the door to corruption and undermining the country’s democracy.

Elections are a necessary ingredient of democracy, but

unless, political parties are held accountable and subjected to law as everyone else is, democracy will be no more than an aspiration. The consequences of the effective rejection of the No Confidence Motion and the attempted steal of the March 2 elections did enormous damage to the country that was only partially resolved on August 2 when under pressure from the US (of all places!), Granger finally conceded. For the 2020 elections, political parties took money from any quarters, and no one – not even their members and supporters - dares ask of them any questions. GECOM however has the power and the duty to demand answers and compliance with the law.

The collective refusal of the two major parties to comply with the law tells the ordinary persons that whatever the antipathy between them, the parties will not hesitate to conspire to undermine democracy, subvert the Constitution and set aside the rule of law when it is in their joint interest.

They did it with crossingthe-floor legislation, the dual citizenship issue, resisting individuals being candidates in elections, and the law on election expenses – all done in the glare of publicity.

One hopes that the par-

ties will not be so brazen as to attempt to justify their noncompliance with excuses about expenditure ceilings being too low. They could lawfully and democratically amend the law and increase the ceiling to whatever number they choose. But that would still require them to be accountable. So they took the easy, unlawful route of making GECOM their convenient utensil knowing that the defenders of democracy, the private sector and civil society are at best too timid to challenge them, or worse, willing participants.

Calls for constitutional and electoral reform may sound exciting and do deserve attention. But such calls would be far more convincing if the callers would also demand that politicians and political parties do the most basic thing in any country – demand that those entrusted to enforce the laws do their work and that there is compliance with the laws by political parties.

That will be a first and necessary step. The second and more fundamental is that political parties have to be brought under some regulatory framework. We can no longer tolerate such lawlessness.

Sincerely Christopher Ram

Mr. President you must do better and come cleaner DEAR EDITOR, I regret that I am prompted by circumstances to call out His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan ‘speak no evil’ Ali. His words are not being matched by supporting deeds from his government. Words about clean governance, about honourable leadership, about doing the right thing. I ponder whether the president is deliberately deceptive, knowing full well that there is no intention of delivering; or if the long tail is wagging the dog that is the presidency.

President Ali, like his illustrious namesake, may say he is the greatest; but unlike that famous fighter, he is not, which his record keeps con-

firming.

The most recent ones are two high-profile situations involving a minister and a returning CEO. Minister Walrond ‘lapsed.’ President Ali and his comrades lapsed further by their actions for continuity in secrecy with this Honourable Minister, who comes across as rather shabby. The more raggedy she looks in this matter, the more underhanded the Ali Administration looks. Given their nature, standards, and nonchalance with positive things, I don’t think either the president or his people care about perception or reality.

When we stoop to the level of a secret swearing-in of a

sealed the public trust with her firm stance against the inane attempts by Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield, to throw away over 100,000 votes, which would have resulted in giving David Granger a victory in the election, which he had lost.

Her submission in the final legal challenges brought by Granger in support of Lowenfield’s corrupt count was critical to the final outcome of the cases. Her stance on campaign financing, if Ram’s account of her response is accurate, threatens to cost her that public confidence she [re]gained during the final weeks of Granger’s derailed coup. It doesn’t matter that the rest of the Commission have advised her that an illegality has become convention – the solution is to act within the law.

In any normal time, the necessity of adequate campaign finance laws and the adherence to them would be critical to a functioning democracy. At a time when the country is now establishing and expanding upon an oil economy, campaign finance laws should have been at the foundation of our new direction. This newspaper has already reported extensively upon the red flags that exist between political players and

lawmaker, then what kind of law is she (or they) capable of making, other than which suits their whims and caprices? I started out not overly engaged in this issue; but subsequent developments powered by the PPP made it into a matter of concern. If there is difficulty and resistance with obvious and ordinary things, then how can President Ali and his comrades be trusted with big and bigger things? Maybe this is the kind of transparency and democracy that the diplomatic brigade, now heading north to collect their rewards, instilled in them.

Then, there is the matter of the returning CEO of the

GPL Inc., Jamaican Albert Gordon did the right thing, which was to signal early that the quicker he shakes the dust off this place from his feet, the better off he would be.

Occasionally, I wonder why I am so stubborn in not doing likewise. Meanwhile, the surprise announcement came about Mr. Bharrat Dindyal returning to lead the GPL. From what I could gather, the man clearly has the technical knowledge. It is just as clear, that he lacks some other skills, though, which was sharply revealed by a leading PPP light back in the day. Note please: it is not (Continued on page 22)

shadowy oil companies, with more questions than answer available upon how money moves between them. From the absence of information on oil blocks handed out under the Donald Ramotar administration in the lead up to 2015 election to former PNC executive and current senior member James Bond’s US million-dollar payday from an oil and gas affiliate, evidence of the influence of oil industry money on political corruption here is clear.

While the country can receive some protection from our local financial oversight infrastructure and our obligations under international anti-money laundering laws, political campaigns present an enormous blind spot when it comes to corruption as a whole and the influence of corrupt financing over the political, democratic process.

The time for meaningful, comprehensive campaign finance legislation reform is now – the time for basic adherence to the existing laws is already several cycles past. The GECOM Chair needs to revisit and rectify her position on this issue immediately.

Saturday December 12, 2020

MEASURING CHANGE DEAR EDITOR, With each change of political administration during this century, there has been expressed hope of substantive improvement of the same game acted out on the same virtual playing field. After 20 years, the prospects of moving the goal posts or carrying the ball over the boundary line are now optimistically funded in oil and gas.

Recently effected organizational changes have essentially been related to long established public sector agencies, most of which constituted of appointments of new members of Boards, the replacement of CEOs, the dismissal of alleged ‘political appointees,’ none of which cumulate into substantive strategic change – not only to the public, but specifically not to anxious managers waiting to learn about any real ‘climate change’ in their organizations.

One hopes that, unlike previous experiences, there would be a formal performance monitoring process which would facilitate assessment of meaningful development and progress under new and different management dispensations. In fact the constitutionally established Economic

Services Committee of Parliament should be the agency specially charged with such a mandate.

Given the challenges of these ‘virtual organizational’ times, it is hardly enough to ‘account for stewardships’ so to speak, only after five years.

Certainly there is need for more timely ‘testing’ in order to confirm whether or what ‘vaccine’ may be required to ensure acceptable levels of productivity.

The above by no means reflects any personal perspective. In his book titled “Leading Change” John P. Kotter refers to the failure to create a sufficiently powerful guiding coalition “in terms of formal titles, information and expertise, reputation and relationships, and the capacity for leadership.” Kotter insists that “individuals alone, no matter how competent or charismatic, never have all the assets…”

Indeed, he advises that ‘without an appropriate vision, a transformation effort, can easily dissolve into a list of confusing, incompatible and time consuming projects that go in the wrong direction or nowhere at all.”

It is in the latter connection that effective communi-

cation becomes critical.

Kotter has this more to say: “Communication comes in both words and deeds. The latter is generally the most powerful form. Nothing undermines change more than the behaviour of important individuals that is inconsistent with the verbal communication.”

Yet intricate throughout this dialogue of behaviour is the critical issue of ‘Trust.’

Amongst others, Steven Covey, in his acclaimed book, ‘The Speed of Trust’ brings the following to attention: “Whether it is high or low, TRUST is the ‘hidden morale’ in the formula for organizational success. You could have good strategy and good execution but still get derailed by low trust. Or high trust could serve as a performance multiplier, creating synergy, where the whole is more than the sum.”

None of the above advice, however, takes into consideration the political orientation that tends to inform multicultural relationships in our public sector organizations.

Should not shareholding be considered as insurance of TRUST? Sincerely E.B. John

Govt. should encourage youths The preceding govern- stated that we (government in aviation ment was not so supportive and private sector) must enof the private sector and of

DEAR EDITOR, I write to salute young Azam Ally on his achievement of being the first locally trained helicopter pilot and getting a pilot licence at only age 19 (News item).

He is a role model for youths.

His achievement would hopefully foreshadow the advancement of young aviators.

Azam Ally is a lucky one, able to achieve his dream and continue a family tradition of being in “air aviation” or flying because of the training he received from the private sector and his family. government quickly recognizes the achievement of the youth.

This government seems very supportive of the private sector and of helping young minds to pursue their ambitions; private sector must be the engine of growth and the driver of the economy.

The government recognizes the role of the private sector in aviation; that is why Azam’s feat is touted by the line Ministry.

Government must do more than simply recognize achievement.

It must play a major role in helping people to achieve, by providing training in aviation, in the armed forces to non-cadets as well.

aviation or of helping youngsters to become pilots, at least in one case in which I recommended an Indian youngster for training in the armed forces as a pilot.

I sought the intervention of several Ministers, who I knew closely; none helped (or lack a say in the government) to get the youngster (whose name I am protecting by calling Shawn) from East Coast into the GDF pilot or aviation training.

The young man passed seven CXCs and did the theoretical, book training in aviation school in the private sector. Shawn displayed a love and propensity for aviation.

He excelled, passed with outstanding grades.

That is all the family could afford.

He lacked the resources for the air experience; he came from a humble family without much resources. He applied to the army for training, but was rebuffed.

Thus, he could not be a pilot or acquire the licence.

The army could (should) have co-opted him when he applied to bring ethnic diversity to the armed forces. Unlike its predecessor, this government has pursued ethnic diversity in all of its undertakings.

Minister Juan Edghill

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Kaieteur News

courage and support young people to go after and achieve their dreams.

Azam Ally pursued his ambition and was very fortunate to have family resources and support to realize his aviation dream having come from a family of pilots. Others lack similar support and encouragement and need public support and resources.

Government must step in to fill the void.

The army should open training to non-cadet youngsters of all ethnicities to pursue aviation training – especially those who lack financial resources as that East Coast youngster who wanted so badly to become a pilot to grow the aviation industry in Guyana.

He has since settled for lesser achievement where family’s finances can reach.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Three Miles Secondary School is completely out of control DEAR EDITOR, Weeks ago, when students of the Three Miles Secondary and Bartica Secondary Schools tested positive for the Coronavirus, the Ministry of Education should have done the prudent thing and closed the schools.

At the time of writing this letter, the situation at the Three Miles Secondary School is completely out of control, as students, teachers and even kitchen staff have been tested positive, yet the authorities seem bent on a disaster course.

We need to understand that the pandemic is a wakeup call and we need to look up-ward.

We can be university

trained and still lack commonsense.

Then we will make wrong decisions. Scripture is clear on this matter. Isaiah 29: verse 13 and 14 says: (13)”Wherefore the Lord said, for as much as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear towards Me in taught by the precept of men; (14) therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men (and women) shall be hid.”

For quite some time, we here in Guyana have been

experiencing this. Our politicians have all gone mad, past and present Government officials have proven themselves as dunces. Even religious leaders have been blinded.

Imagine, a Bishop of a major church has said that the anti-sodomy laws should be abolished.

Think of it, an educated religious leader is aiding and abetting buggery, which can only be called what it really is: a nasty act against nature and all that God stands for.

They will continue to go around in circles until they have accepted the wisdom of God by accepting Christ in their lives.

Yours respectfully, E.C. Lobert

RAMJATTAN IS COMING TO TOWN DEAR EDITOR, While Mr. Ramjattan is braving the cold and facing the heat on the granting of licences, perhaps he will weather the storm and muster up the courage to throw some light on the following: During his budget debate presentation, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, stated that Ramjattan was issuing firearm licences without any engagement with the Firearm Licensing Board, and more so, while his government was in caretakermode, following the noconfidence motion. Minister Benn said, “It appears as though 2020 was a banner year for the issuance of firearms at the hand of the Minister without the engagement of the Firearm Licensing Board. Sixty-one percent of all firearms issued in 2020 were issued at the hands of the Minister without the engaging of the Firearm

Licensing Board.” Okay Mr. Ramjattan, let’s give our mouths licence to wag.

This guy is a real “janjat.”

Earlier in March when asked what intelligence was, he had said that, “Intelligence means intelligence,” not even offering a synonym for further explanation. The trouble is, Guyana never heard the “real ting” about “From Russia With Love.” During the elections, Hughes and Ramjattan had damning evidence about a Russian, American, Libyan and a Russian/American who were attempting to tamper with the integrity of the Guyana Elections, in collaboration with the PPP/C. Police reportedly seized a number of

flash drives, computers, tablets, and other electronic items from the men. Those items have been lodged. It was reported, Ramjattan had relayed that they were forced to deport the foreign nationals after their “intelligence realized that there was some conspiracy to tap into GECOM’s computer system.” Can someone check the police records to verify the lodging of those equipment and where are they? Perhaps, he can now tell the full story?

Respectfully, Jai Lall

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Kaieteur News

Will the real President stand up?

DEAR EDITOR, I write with great concern and trepidation as I have seen the recent ruling by the Chief Justice Roxane GeorgeWiltshire concerning Ms. Oneidge Walrond-Allicock.

I do not claim to know her, but I am always thankful for those who offer themselves up for public service. Nevertheless, I do believe that if one wishes to serve, it must be done in the correct and legal manner. Regrettably, this was not done and the nation was forced to hear an embarrassing excuse by AG Nandlall which could not veil the lie that was previously permeated. It further brings into question, all of the decisions that she took as Minister of Tourism and the bills and

budget that she recently voted on.

President Ali, I know when this fiasco started, you referred to her as an honourable woman but the High Court has shown that her appointment was mired in dishonour.

Mr. President, I am calling on you to do the honourable act and rescind Ms. WalrondAllicock’s appointment as Minister and Member of Parliament.

I know that decision will cause friction with VP Jagdeo, since she was his selection, but I believe this is an opportunity for you to show your strength and leadership as President.

Best Regards, Rohan Jagnarine

President Ali must shift from political rhetoric and offer action where it is most needed DEAR EDITOR, I have noted that President Ali has recently executed outreaches in Regions Two and Six and directly shown Central Government’s support for the regional administration and the local municipalities.

These actions are disappointing, since they are not being mirrored in other regions, municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils that are seemingly APNU+AFC strongholds.

There is a billboard erected on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown with President Ali’s face with a caption that reads “President for All.”If President Ali is indeed a president for all of Guyana, there are issues that need urgent attention in the capital city that require the Central Government and the Mayor and City Council working together to the benefit of the citizens. The capital city is the hub of economic activity and development, but is

being hindered from fulfilling its potential by non-cooperation of Central Government.

This is counterproductive and can only serve to disenfranchise thousands of citizens in the various constituencies, which coincidentally are also considered APNU+AFC strongholds.

Further, the Council has been unable to keep up to date with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) since 1994 and has accumulated several debtors over the years. With the removal of the subvention, many of the services which should be offered to taxpayers, by the M&CC have been stymied. This is as a direct action taken by the Central Government, one that proclaims to be a Government for all. Thus, I believe it is time President Ali and his Government put rhetoric aside and genuinely serve all the people of Guyana. Let your words and your actions match.

Sincerely, Rohan Jagnarine

Saturday December 12, 2020

WHAT COMES AFTER? DEAR EDITOR, Recently, the AFC forcefully brought attention to the dire consequences of the political ethnicization campaign that the Irfaan Ali led administration has embarked on since August.

There has been no let up, no pause, and no hesitation to demonstrate a dominance that is driven by a “winner take all” and “zero-sum” mentality. Daily, and almost by the hour, persons perceived to be supporters of the APNU+AFC are dismissed, harassed and threatened.

Historic precepts like years of service, the public service, experience and competence are of little moment and importance.

The question that is being asked is: what is the PPP’s motivation?

Is it revenge, or removal of a threat, or a desire for a full-blown conflagration, or could it be a combination of these?

Whatever it is, apart from being dangerous to those being persecuted, it is assured of being mutually destructive.

If there is one thing the recent experiences have taught, it is that one government, or one party alone, cannot effectively rule Guyana.

Once other groups, and their leaders, feel ostracized and left out, targeted and hounded, then governance will be a challenge and will grow increasingly difficult. No amount of money and goodwill, thrown at the problem, will bring relief, and in fact, the opposite is expected.

As Guyana’s economy rapidly expands, thousands pour over our borders, as tens of thousands of supporters of the APNU and AFC continue to feel uninvited to participate, equally and unconditionally, as Guyanese, then the legitimacy that the PPP so desperately craves will remain a pipe dream. We are a people comprising several nations living in a geographic space we call a country.

In truth, those of us living in Guyana, or living in simi-

larly polarized countries, or have studied this phenomenon, know that at any given time, one and perhaps two of the several nations will not like another, accept another, or give the other, the legitimacy it needs and deserves to effectively govern.

The PNC discovered this from 1966 to 1992, the PPP discovered this from 1992 - 2015, and the APNU+AFC discovered it from 2015 - 2020. It doesn’t matter how good and noble your intentions are, or how many kilometers of roads you have created or repaired, or houses built.

What it comes down to is that a large section, almost half of the population, will not accept you, believe your motives to be sincere, or give you their trust.

Winning razor-thin electoral majorities with crossover votes will not cut it.

Our constitutional framework does not allow for power-sharing and consociational government, but it does demand, in language only, that governance be inclusive.

So there is a Presidency and government, but they represent, at best, at any given time, no more than 51 percent of the electorate.

The other 49 – 50 percent simply cannot be ignored, bullied or coerced or cajoled.

We all know that our “democracy” will remain fractured, and unhealthy - operating way below optimum - for as long as we pretend otherwise.

Every President has sought to use his or her office to be a unifier, and it has not worked, but that does not mean that it cannot work. In simple terms, one cannot govern with a “winner take all” mind-set and constitution, while simultaneously, speaking about “inclusivity.”

The two things are mutually exclusive - like oil and water.

In the recent past, we have had initiatives arising out of the Herdmanston Accord, and the St. Lucia Statement, with Presidents Janet Jagan and Bharrat Jagdeo, along with then Opposition Leader, Desmond Hoyte, and later, a period of ‘Constructive ‘Engagement’ between then President Jagdeo, and Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin. Most recently,

following the 2015 elections, President David Granger and the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo met, following an invitation issued to the Leader of the Opposition.

The meeting was called to ostensibly agree on the establishment of Bi-partisan Committees to address issues that included: Border and Sovereignty, Agriculture, National Budget, National Unity and Security.

In that meeting, Mr. Jagdeo intimated that he needed to consult with the executive of his party before agreeing to anything, but stated then, his, and his party’s, unequivocal support for matters pertaining to the border and sovereignty.

Afterwards, Ms. Gail Teixeira went on to be fully engaged by Foreign Minister Greenidge, but regrettably, there was no positive response on the other national issues raised by President Granger, and the rest, as they say, is history.

We have now come full circle, again, and now President Ali has issued an invitation to meet the former Presidents.

At the outset, this has to be recognized as a good initiative - one however that presupposes that we are a normal functioning democracy.

The travesty is that we are nowhere near normal.

This idea of a gathering of former Presidents, by itself, is forward-looking and noble, but cannot come at the expense of genuine dialogue between government and opposition.

There is a constitutionally elected Leader of the Opposition in Joseph Harmon, as was Bharrat Jagdeo in 2015, who cannot be ignored or bypassed.

In 1997 and after, the leaders of the parties met regularly; notwithstanding the fact that the PNC maintained an Election Petition that challenged the legitimacy of the Janet Jagan led government.

This pattern of engagement continued after the 2001 elections when several Bi-partisan Committees were formed, and again in 2006, when President Jagdeo invited the parliamentary opposition to discuss a national approach to critical issues.

It was against this backdrop that President Granger invited Mr. Jagdeo, as Leader of the Opposition for talks about a bi-partisan approach to national issues.

This was done in the face of the fact that the PPP had openly challenged the results of the 2015 election, denounced the legitimacy of the APNU+AFC government, and filed an Election Petition to have it removed from office.

The invitation issued by President Granger did not set a condition precedent that his government had to firstly be recognized, and the PPP’s Election Petition withdrawn, before talks could ensue.

This was also the case in 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2011. It shouldn’t, therefore, be any different now.

So while we mull whether former President Granger should attend the historic conclave or not, we must all strongly press for the opening of formal dialogue between the main political stakeholders that comprise the 12th Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

This dialogue must not have pre-conditions set; except that they are entered into with good-will, and must not take place only at times when the constitution mandates consultation.

As an aside, it must be stated that comments about there being no “honest interlocutor,” with whom to have discourse, are disingenuous and divisive.

It is well known that the major parties have always regarded each other with great distrust and dislike, and at times, disdain, but this has not, and should never, be a fetter on dialogue.

On the contrary, this is all the more reason why dialogue and discussions should ensue; even if we have to have a mediator as before.

It is necessary to repeat and underscore the obvious that the difference between the two Leviathans is razorthin, which means, that no side has a clear and commanding mandate to govern for all.

This reality has not changed in over 50 years and is highly unlikely to, in the next five.

There is too much at stake nationally to forsake this national imperative of engagement soonest.

Sincerely Raphael Trotman

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

When it comes to oil deals, Guyana had numerous bad examples to learn from.

As Kaieteur News has been reporting, examples of corruption and bad deals exist from Africa to Asia.

With each passing day, with each new revelation, it is clear that we are now becoming one of those bad examples.

We need to act now before we become a cautionary tale for some other country finding oil in the future.

We need to demand transparency in all oil deals, both past and future.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Saturday December 12, 2020

Put laws in place now to avoid being trapped, conned by oil companies T&T Expert says....

By Kiana Wilburg

I

n a matter of eight days, Guyana would have reached its first year of being an oil producing State. But when one reflects the extent to which it has prepared for the effective regulation of this new sector and the revenues to come, Trinidadian Energy Strategist, Anthony Paul, asserts that there is indeed more the nation can do to protect itself.

During his latest appearance on Kaieteur Radio's programme, 'Guyana's Oil and You,' Paul posited that Guyana needs to put robust laws in place as quickly as possible so that oil companies can have no room to debate or wonder what exactly is required of them.

With such laws in place, the industry expert said that Guyana would reduce the chances for regulators being surprised by certain tactics or simply being fooled.

The Trinidadian said, “It has a been a difficult year for everyone because of COVID-19 and Guyana, since it started, has had to move at a rapid pace and has been forced to improve its institutional capacity as quickly as possible.

But that aside, Guyana has been able to get its lifts offshore done on time and it has managed to find partners to sell the oil to and get the revenue put away for the future.”

He added, “…But the spotlight of the world has been on Guyana and how it is managing its resources. Now

we know Guyana has limited resources and it has been trying to do as much as it can with that.”

Paul said that such circumstances are not unique to Guyana. He has seen it to varying degrees with Trinidad and Tobago and even Ghana.

In the case of the latter, he said that this African nation had the luxury of having had a state oil company in the earlier years with technical people who knew the industry and could have supported the current regulatory arm that was needed to monitor its industry.

But even then, Paul said that Ghana still took some time to get off the ground with its oil finds in 2010 and improve capacity.

The expert said, “But once they did, they ramped u p v e r y quickly…Importantly, they put in very early, strong laws and regulations to underpin the experienced people who were doing the work.

Now the challenge of small countries doing oil and gas and dealing with sophisticated companies is making things right. At every point, there is a discussion or negotiation on what to do.”

When countries like Guyana are in such in a position, where the institutional capacity is not strong, Paul said he would recommend putting in place, the strong rules and regulations as well as procedures so that it is easy for companies to know what they must do and how they

must do it.

“That way, there is no discussion, argument or surprise where this is concerned. And it is easy for the government to get things right so someone who is making a decision without strong experience won't be bullied or cowered or fooled.”

Paul said he is aware that Guyana is still to do this while adding that he knows there are efforts being advanced to correct this.

Be that as it may, he said it would be in the nation's interest to spend some time looking back at what happened from discovery to production and evaluate what it can do better and perhaps, assess what improvements could have been had if the laws and

Trinidadian Energy Expert, Anthony Paul regulations were where they needed to be.

He said that this is a pertinent exercise since many of the decisions made in the past would have to be repeated.

“I am sure you want to improve, there is no reason why you can't learn from your past,” Paul concluded.

AFC pursuing legal action to compel convening of parliamentary subcommittees - Patterson

T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) has announced that it will be pursuing legal action in order to compel the government and by extension, Speaker of the N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y, Manzoor Nadir to convene the various parliamentary sub-committees.

General Secretary, David Patterson, at the party's media conference yesterday in his statement noted that the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government's refusal to

convene the Committees of the National Assembly is “now an obscenity that stinks to the high heavens.”

Patterson, who is set to be nominated as the head of the Public Accounts Committee, has been pushing for the convening of the Committees. As per the standing order, it is the Speaker who must first schedule the meeting to simply elect the heads of the committees.

The Speaker on Thursday, while on the sidelines of an event at the

Parliament Building, acknowledged that there is a delay, and noted that his office is facing some “challenges” in convening the first meetings.

Those challenges, he explained included ensuring members from far flung areas are present at the meetings. As such, he asked for patience.

Patterson however pointed out that three other CARICOM countries, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines have already

AFC General Secretary, David Patterson

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

convened the full Parliament and all Committees.

In the case of Guyana, he continued, “the failure of the regime and the Speaker to convene these committees after four months, for the necessary oversight as prescribed by the laws and Constitution, is an outrage.”

According to the AFC General Secretary, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic cannot be used as excuse as the Parliamentary Office is engaging in daily meetings using the online platform, Zoom.

Further, Patterson noted too that the Speaker's plea

for “patience” is seen as a disservice to the Parliament.

“It is even more worrisome when one notes that the Speaker has the parliamentary staff engaged in hosting several Christmas parties and fireworks activities rather than concentrating on the hosting of Committee meetings,” he said.

“Yesterday's handing over of the Auditor General's report was a charade of the worst order as there is no Public Accounts Committee in place to peruse that report,” Patterson continued.

The 12th Parliament has 14 fully constituted subcommittees with oversight for varying sectors including the Public Account Committee (PAC). The duties of the Public Accounts Committee duties include examining the audited accounts of state agencies presented in the Auditor General's Report, and exercising broad regulation of the functioning of the Auditor General.

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

One-at-a-time contractors G

u y a n a i s expected to earn US$200M in oil revenues this year. This is 50 percent less than what ExxonMobil and the APNU+AFC had projected that Guyana would have earned in its first year of operation.

This revenue figure was premised on oil prices and production. The price of oil, however, fell appreciably, this year. During the early stages of the pandemic, the oil companies were paying persons to take their oil. Oil prices have since recovered but is yet to reach the US$55 on which the oil revenues are premised.

The projection for oil revenues was also based on average daily production of 120,000 barrels per day.

However, for most of the year, production was well below.

All of this adds to the narrative that Guyana has been done over by the oil companies.

Glenn Lall, the publisher of this newspaper, has been saying all along that Guyana has been robbed blind by the oil companies. And what he is saying makes sense because when you consider that apart from a 75 percent cap on expenditure, no-ring fencing, the reclaiming of operational and other expenses and the massive field development costs estimated at more than around US$15B; it is

Dem

boys seh...

T

he Prezzie is coming over as a 'fix' man. He reportedly told the NIS to immediately fix some problems some pensioners were having. It is so nice when ordinary people get help. But why should someone have to go all the way to the President to fix a small problem.

There are some things which the President should have fixed and which he did not fix. If the government knew that the Minister of Tourism was sworn in as a Minister in error, it should have fixed that problem immediately upon recognizing it. Why did it allow the matter to be called

obvious that Guyana will only get the scraps which are thrown at our table.

The monies Guyana will make this year from oil is less than the increase the country will earn from the increases, just the increase, in gold prices. In other words, the increased revenues from gold will be more than the earnings from oil.

Government has already collected oil revenues for this year. But has not spent a cent because it needs to put certain measures in place before parliament will approve the spending. But on what will the government spend the pittance of US$200M? The extra G$40B will prove problematic for government to spend. The PPP/C is good at making excuses. But these excuses are self-serving. They allow for the PPP/C to support a small band of contractors and to ensure that these contractors get the bulk of the large contracts in the country.

To keep the monies circulating in this closed circle, the PPP/C has said, in the past, that there is problem with absorptive capacity.

This means that the economy can only utilize so much money and therefore so many projects at any one time.

And therefore this is the excuse the PPP/C makes for not spending as much it

ought to spend. It is essentially saying that the country does not have the capacity to absorb many large projects at the same.

But is this really so? Why should this be so when you had an Indian company build the National Stadium, a Chinese firm build the Arthur Chung Conference Centre and it was a Chinese firm too that built the Marriott Hotel?

The country can absorb the investments. What cannot happen is that the contractor friends of the PPP/C cannot undertake more than one major project at a time. They do have the planning skills to do more than one major project at a time. And this is what is stifling the development of Guyana.

It is not as if the money is not there. Oil revenues will be there but if that money falls into the hands of certain favoured contractors, Guyana will be back to one project at a time. But if the awarding of contracts is opened up, then more can be done.

The President reminds one of a character from one of the karate movies of yore.

There was a man who was popularly called Hurry-Up because of his rapid-fighting style. The President seems to be in a hurry-up mood. He wants to do a number of things at the same time.

If he intends to succeed, he will need to look at the

Fix it then and there! up in Court? It should have accepted its mistake and done the right thing as it is now scampering to do so.

Fixing the problem then and there would have avoided all the shame about having a secret second swearing-in of the Minister.

Then there was the promise to renegotiate the oil contracts. This should have been fixed from day one. Instead, the renegotiation was downgraded to a review and the review turned into a virtual renewal with a few add-ons. This is the main issue which the people want to get fixed. It should have been fixed.

What should have been

fixed also is the issue concerning the sale of the Kaieteur and Canje Oil Blocks.

Th es e b lo ck s w er e handed-out in controversial fashion. The government should fix the problem. It should summon an international investigation into the matter.

The President is young and bursting with energy.

But he should be the last to be calling on any public official to fix it now. He has had his chance to fix things and he has fallen short of the required grade.

Talk half and ask he fuh fix he Cabinet while he is at it. Too many blow-blow dem in de government.

capacity of local contractors.

Some of them will have to get their act together. They take much too long to get certain projects completed.

The President will have to look increasingly to foreign contractors. The problem is that the projects have to be large enough to attract them. By

international standards, Guyana's projects tend to be small.

If there is any capacity which needs to be built, it has to be in the area of construction. Guyana needs a new breed of local contractors, those who will be able to do multiple projects at the same time and

complete them on time. The old guard cannot deliver; they should be shelved.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Saturday December 12, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The pathetic biology of the AFC T

he AFC issued a press statement yesterday that has brought into stark reality the ancient saying that “whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.� The statement was released on the same day that the director of prison informed the nation that Guyana has 325 persons who are in jail (not on remand) for marijuana offences.

This party when it was in government drafted and tabled an amendment to the anti-narcotic legislation and had it placed on the Order Paper of the House to be read and voted on. What is morally reprehensible about the politics of the AFC is that it forfeited the amendment even though the then opposition, PPP, agreed to vote in favour. The AFC has not seen it fit to at least offer

an explanation.

What should make the Guyanese people think seriously about the mental health of the collective leadership of the AFC is the position that it has taken in relation to President Ali's request for all past presidents to have a formal confabulation. The AFC has put a condition. When you read about that requirement, you must not laugh because, the situation is too sad to be treated as hilarious.

The AFC's demand is that the President must produce his first degree at the university level. How can any national organization be so asinine as to reduce politics of this divided nation to such an idiotic level? Any serious political party in this land can literally find thousands of demands to make on the president before

it agrees to meet with him to have a dialogue of national importance.

It makes no sense trying to list some of these requests because we are talking about thousands. Yet among those thousands, the first one is the president's first degree. How any human on Planet Earth can take such an organization seriously? And just as important is the question as to what the people in the leadership of the AFC think about this stance. What does Dr. Vincent Adams have to say about this descent into laughable miasma?

To really understand the mental instability that has taken over the AFC, let us repeat what Khemraj Ramjattan exclaimed yesterday. In voicing his opinion on the call for all former presidents to meet,

M r. R a m j a t t a n a s a prerequisite wants President Ali to show proof of his first degree before past president, David Granger, agrees to meet the head of state.

Really, is this what the AFC has become? Really, is this the party that had seven ministers of government including the portfolio of prime minister?

The press release makes no mention of what was carried in a front-page comment in this newspaper that dozens of fishing licences were issued when the AFC held the agriculture portfolio. But the on the resumption of parliament, the AFC intends to question the ruling benches on what it says were two secret fishing licences granted recently.

The press statement avoided any reference to the revelation by Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, t h a t h i s p r e d e c e s s o r, Ramjattan, signed over 60 firearm licences without the applications being placed before the relevant board.

This columnist knows that several strong supporters of the AFC literally ran behind minister Ramjattan for

approval of a gun licence but never received it. Who then constitute this 60? In its delivery yesterday, the AFC described the four-month old administration as an autocracy. It would be nice if the AFC can tell Guyanese if the APNU+AFC was also an autocratic regime and if not, why.

Frederick Kissoon This creeping mental instability had its genesis on March 3, when the AFC knew it had lost power. The next day, March 4, Cathy Hughes and Mr. Ramjattan held a press briefing at the PNC's election command centre at Lamaha and Camp Streets. They announced that the government had foiled a Russian attempt to rig the

election. The men were deported.

The two AFC bigwigs never produced immigration records of the expulsion. In fact, no evidence was produced. But while the CARICOM recount was taking place, APNU+AFC displayed immigration papers purporting to show that Guyanese who were abroad on March 2 voted in the election. It has to be a disturbed mind to make such an outburst for two reasons. First, why wait until the election was over to tell the nation about the Russians?

Why ask the nation to believe you without showing evidence?

Sadly, some AFC leaders are mentally disintegrating. Three are imbibing to the point of alcoholism. Another is going crazy babbling about 'time that the country should be racially divided'. Another one is seriously ill and has not left home since the last week in July. The gods have destroyed them.

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

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

First phase of Linden/Lethem road to cost US$190M…

CDB approves US$112M loan; UK to contribute US$66M in grant aid T

he Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved funding for the upgrading of 121 kilometers of road from the town of Linden to Mabura Hill, improving connectivity between Guyana's hinterland and the coastal cities.

It will represent the first phase of the much-hyped Linden/Lethem roadway, which would improve travel time to Brazil and connections to thousands of hinterland residents.

The paving of the road has been long in the making with Brazil promising at one time to assist. Brazil, from indications, wants to build the road from Lethem, Region Nine, to Kurupukari Crossing. There are rivers along the Linden/Lethem

CDB has approved a US$112M loan for the paving of a 121km stretch of road between Linden and Mabura, Region 10, in the first phase of construction of the Linden/Lethem road

trail that need bridging.

Brazil wants to use Guyana's ports to reduce shipping time and costs for its outlying regions, like Roraima State, which borders Guyana.

A CDB statement

yesterday explained that the project is the first phase of a wider plan to develop a transportation corridor from Georgetown, the capital city, to Lethem on the southwest border, and connecting the

Port in Georgetown with northern Brazil.

“The upgrading of this portion of the largely unpaved road from Linden to Mabura Hill is more than an infrastructure project.

It will include social safeguards that will ensure residents benefit from the road development; and environmental protections, to preserve the ecosystem.

The project will also include activities to mitigate risks associated with increased development, which will build social resilience in the communities along the corridor and preserve the rights of vulnerable groups,” said CDB Acting VicePresident (Operations), Diana Wilson Patrick.

The US$190-million project is being funded by a US$112-million loan from CDB, a grant of £50 million (US$66 million) from the Government of the United Kingdom through the CDBadministered United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund, and a contribution of US$12 million from the Government of Guyana.

It represents the largest project that CDB has financed in its 50 years of existence, the statement pointed out.

“The UK's support of the Linden to Mabura Hill Road Project demonstrates our strong commitment to Guyana – a key partner for the UK. T h i s transformative project will be critical for the development of Guyana's north-south connection. It will contribute significantly to economic development and social inclusion, while being

climate resilient,” said Acting British High Commissioner to Guyana, Ray Davidson.

The unpaved 450kilometer road from Linden to Lethem, is often impassable in the rainy season due to flooding along low-lying sections of the road.

T h e upgraded road corridor will provide yearround connectivity between Linden and Mabura Hill, improving conditions for local and long-haul transport which can increase trade between Guyana and Brazil.

In addition, residents in the remote communities along the Linden to Mabura Hill corridor will see immediate benefits from improved access to basic essential services and an expansion in economic activity.

The project will also bolster eco-tourism along the corridor by improving access to several nature reserves, such as the Iwokrama Rain Forest.

As an additional benefit, CDB said in its statement, at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing poverty in the

country, the road project will provide direct employment for both the short term and long term in a region characterized by high unemployment.

It will also advance sustainable livelihoods of small and medium enterprises by facilitating access to financing, markets, and capacity-building services for residents in the project area, including indigenous people.

“The project will promote improved social resilience of communities through capacity-building sessions.

This will help to mitigate risks that could result from increased constructio n activity and heightened development of the area.

The sessions will increase awareness about critical social issues such as gender equality, the rights of indigenous peoples, and the welfare of people with disabilities, children, youth, and the elderly.

The project will also include an essential road safety component to protect users and communities along the route.”

ICJ to rule on Venezuela...

From page 3 resolving such issues.

The Court is composed of 15 judges elected for a nineyear term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations.

The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

In this regard, the Court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in

accordance with international law, through judgments which have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned, legal disputes submitted to it by the two States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and agencies of the system.

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Over $825M in housing projects awarded T

wenty-four contracts were awarded yesterday to contractors during a simple ceremony at the Ministry of Housing and Water - Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal said it is part of the Ministry's approach to achieving its mandate of providing better housing opportunities for Guyanese. It is also a step closer to fulfilling the Government's promise of 50,000 house lots over the next five years.

Minister within the Ministry

T

Ministers Collin Croal and Susan Rodrigues with other CH&PA housing officials yesterday. (CHPA)

of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, charged the contractors to execute their duties to the best of their ability, to ensure that Guyanese are able to achieve their dream of homeownership.

CH&PA CEO, Sherwyn Greaves, said the projects will see road construction and upgrades, land preparations and a number of infrastructural works.

Government has disclosed that it has over 60,000 applications for house lots and turn-key homes on file with search on to find lands in the 10 administrative regions.

24 new COVID-19 cases recorded, Region 4 records 14 he Ministry of Health recorded 24 new COVID19 cases yesterday with Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) accounting for 14 of them.

This was presented in their daily dashboard update which also revealed

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

that the total number of confirmed cases has increased to 5,839.

Further, it says that 692 persons are in approved home isolation, 43 are in institutional isolation, 26 are in institutional quarantine and six are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at the

Liliendaal Infectious Disease Hospital.

The COVID-19 death toll remains at 154 deaths and 4,944 persons have recovered.

Additionally, 33,350 persons have been tested for the virus countrywide to date.

Granger declines Presidents' meeting

- Demands Govt address series of concerns first

F

ormer President David Granger has declined an invitation from President Dr. Irfaan Ali to attend a State House lunch to discuss inclusive governance, Guyana's development, and the way forward.

He registered his effective refusal in a letter, demanding that the government address certain issues and defer the Presidents' meeting until after those issues are taken care of.

The meeting is set to occur on Tuesday, December 15.

Granger said that the public is concerned about certain actions of the government, including “deaths as a result of the pandemic; dismissals of public servants; dismantling of the Departments of Citizenship and Social Cohesion; harassment of Elections Commission officials and human rights violations – which can have deleterious consequences for short-, medium- and longterm national development.”

He said that he is concerned about protecting institutions which promote social cohesion.

“I recommend, therefore, that the meeting intended to be held on Tuesday 15th December 2020 be deferred until these important issues could be satisfactorily settled.” Granger said.

Furthermore, it was pointed out that the letter of invitation did not provide a detailed explanation of the agenda for the meeting, such as what preparation would be needed, the relevance of the

Former President, David Granger

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

engagement to government policies and the outcome to be expected.

These are considerations Granger purports to deem important, regarding Guyana's development.

Hence, the former President pointed to plans made by the Granger government before it was voted out, as topics of discussion for the Presidents' meeting.

“You will recall that, on 1st January 2020, I had launched 'Guyana's decade of development, 20202029,” Granger said, “overcoming crime, disease, ignorance and poverty in which I outlined my concept for the country's long-term development.”

“The Coalition administration, further, had promulgated the 'National Action Plan for Public Health' in May 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It had

promulgated, also, 'The Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040' in May 2019.”

Granger also pointed to strategic plans for Public Health, Public Security, the Public Service, the Sugar Industry, Social Cohesion, state lands, squatter settlement and youth development, for consideration.

With that said, Granger proposed that a team be appointed to hammer out a practical agenda for the meeting, to allow for an informed and meaningful presidents' engagement in the interest of Guyana's development.

He said it would be a huge public disappointment for the meeting to be hurried, unorganized and unplanned, and that it would be a blunder to ignore the legitimate concerns of a significant section of the population.

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 12, 2020

12 organisations benefit from P&P Insurance

P

& P Insurance Brokers yesterday afternoon, made its 14th annual Christmas presentation to 12 organizations. Each organization received $125,000, making a total contribution of $1.5M. In addition, hampers of toys were given out to all the orphanages.

In brief remarks, Executive Director of P&P Insurance Brokers, Vikash Panday said that this presentation was been held at a time of considerable challenges, not least of all the COVID- 19 pandemic that has wreaked havoc worldwide.

H e s a i d t h a t notwithstanding the challenges, the company resolved that their Corporate Social Responsibility must be honoured and the donations made.

Panday said that this month was a very significant one for P&P Insurance Brokers, as it marks their

The representatives of the organisations with their cheques and hampers of toys with Vikash Panday, Director of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited 35th anniversary. He pointed out said that 35 years was a very long time for any business but because of the loyalty of clients and customers and the extremely hard work of the staff over the years, P&P continues to succeed on a foundation built on integrity and trust.

The organisations that benefitted were the Bless The Children Home; Canaan Children Home; Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre; Uncle Eddie's Home; Friends of the Archer's Home; The Dharam Shala; David Rose School for the Handicapped; Cheshire Homes Guyana; Hauraruni Girls Home; Tina Insanally Foundation; Bal Nivas Shelter and Joshua House Children Centre.

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Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Suspected arson committed on Arakaka Police Outpost The five-gallon bottle that was destroyed by the fire.

P

olice are currently investigating a suspected arson committed on Arakaka Police Outpost located at A r a k a k a , N o r t h We s t District. Based on information received, the

incident occurred at around 02:30hrs yesterday.

A subordinate officer, who was on duty at the time reportedly told investigators that he and other ranks were performing duties in the (continued on page 20)

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 12, 2020

PAGE 19

Delays in construction of St. Roses High, Yarrowkabra Secondary…

Human Services Ministry launches AFC makes excuses for failing its '914' emergency hotline Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindhya Persaud at the launch of the '914' emergency hotline

Y

esterday, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security concluded its 16 days of activism against genderbased violence in a ceremony which saw the launching of its'914' Toll Free emergency number, as part of the measures for promoting reporting, prevention and response services to cases of violence.

The launch was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

This initiative is in partnership with the United Nations Children Fund (UNCIF); Digicel Guyana; Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company; and the Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s

Agency.

The '914' emergency hotline number would seek to integrate the services available at both the Domestic Violence Units and the Childcare and Protection Agency.

Kaieteur News previously reported that the '914' emergency hotline would link survivors to agencies, advocacy programmes, referral pathways, microenterprise industries, public-private skills employment database matching and offer immediate help to extricate them from violent situations.

Through the Survivors Advocacy Programme, nine social workers were trained to offer emotional support

and crisis counselling to victims of domestic and sexual violence and act on the victim's behalf when necessary.

According to a statement f r o m t h e M i n i s t r y, i t annually responds to “over 3,000 cases of abuse and it is expected that access to a tollfree hotline would be an instrumental solution towards ensuring availability of key and essential services especially for children and adolescents – and in some cases, this service can and will save lives!”

The Ministry noted that the hotline would allow both children and adults to tell their stories in a safe and confidential manner.

to hold contractors accountable

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hen asked by Kaieteur News why the Alliance For Change (AFC), when in government, had failed to hold BK International Incorporated and Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited accountable for failing to complete the construction of two schools, General Secretary of the party David Patterson opted to provide excuses.

It was during an AFC press conference yesterday when Patterson was reminded that the government had terminated the contracts for the $412M St. Rose's High School that was awarded to Courtney Benn Contracting, as well as the $827M Yarrowkabra Secondary awarded BK in early November. According to the termination letters, their termination followed after both contractors had failed to honour their contractual obligations.

It was against this backdrop that Patterson was asked whether the APNU+AFC should have been more aggressive with the handling of the aforementioned contractors.

In response to this, Patterson maintained that any contractor found “skirting” around their contractual obligations, these contractors had still failed on completing construction of the schools, which was slated for completion this year.

H o w e v e r, P a t t e r s o n

General Secretary of the AFC, David Patterson claimed that the delays in the construction of the St. Rose's High were due to changes in the foundation of the school.

He explained that following the demolition of the school, which took place in 2018, it was advised by consultants that the foundation need to be pile-driven, which then increased the project sum to $412,340,357. Only 9% of the works were completed.

He went on to say that because the Ministry of Education (MoE) lacked the technical expertise to make that decision, as well as had changes to the initial design, the contract that was awarded in 2018 was delayed.

To this he continues, “This is what led to us establishing the Inspection Division in the Ministry of Education for infrastructure. You know that we hired about 40 engineers

about mid-2019. That case played the backbone, because what we found was that on the side of the government, there was no technical group who could make the decisions.”

Kaieteur News had reported in September that an advancement of $60M was issued towards Courtney Benn for St. Rose's construction.

However, shortly after the initial stages of a pile-driving exercise began in January 2020, the school's Board of Governors observed that the contractor had abandoned the site.

In fact, the School's Board reported that the contractor had removed all of their construction gear and personnel from the Camp and Church Streets site, and was keen to note that no explanations were given to them by the contractor for their abandonment. Except for their termination, no actions were taken to reprimand the contractor.

With regards to the construction of the $827M Yarrowkabra Secondary School on the Soesdyke Highway, Patterson explained that the inexperience of the engineers attached to the MoE resulted in why the school could not be completed within its deadline.

Even with receiving a $214M advance, only 5% of the scheduled works have been completed. Notwithstanding this, Patterson called on the government to continue the construction of the school.

Woman dies in WCB minibus accident - others injured A

BPP 7638.

Kaieteur 43-year-old News is informed that woman of the driver of the Dundee minibus was Village, West Coast speeding and the Berbice (WCB), road was wet yesterday lost her f r o m t h e life following a rainfall. horrific accident It was while on the Brittania h e w a s Public Road, n eg o tiatin g a WCB. right bend that he D e a d i s lost control of the Deoranie Sukhram, Deceased: vehicle and smashed while two others – the Deoranie Sukhram into a fence on the driver of the minibus northern side of the road.

Sukhram was in and another As a result of the impact, he and passenger – are hospitalized with injuries. The driver has been identified the passengers, Sukhram and Barnwell, as Ukhram Tillak, 40, of No 7 Village, received injuries about their bodies and WCB, and the passenger has been were taken to the Fort Wellington identified as Neolla Barnwell, 38, of El Hospital, where Sukhram, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Dorado, WCB. Reports are that yesterday, at about minibus at the time of the accident, 06:20 hrs. on the Brittania Public Road, succumbed to her injuries and was Tillak was proceeding East along the pronounced dead.

Traffic cops are investigating.

Northern driving lane with his minibus

The crashed minibus

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Saturday December 12, 2020

Weekly trending… Five days of social media hijinks Five days of social media

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or the past five days, social media has not failed to excite Guyanese, with something new trending each day. Based on images circulating on popular social media platforms, Kaieteur News has compiled the weekly trending events from M o n d a y t o F r i d a y.

Beginning with one of the fastest racecars to a transgender woman climbing on a roof to evade the police, this week has proven to be quite interesting.

Monday Nothing exciting normally happens on a

Monday and who would have guessed that one of the most expensive racecars in the world would be driving around on Guyana's soil. On Monday, Team Mohamed's 2020 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster arrived on Guyana's shore.

Before the car came out of the container, it was shipped in, pictures of the car were trending locally on Facebook and WhatsApp. It was exciting to see persons photoshopping themselves on or near the Lamborghini, and posting the picture with hilarious captions. The fun didn't stop there; the Facebook memers also came out and had some of the

funniest quotes including, “Y'all make sure y'all insurance could cover yall if yuh jam duh Lambo, Might gah pawn a life fuh fix it,” from Jared Lewis' Facebook profile.

Tuesday On Tuesday, a video surfaced with a man kneeling in front of a blue house with a bouquet of flowers tucked in the gate

and a bottle of champagne.

Persons passing in a car saw the man who appears to be “begging his girlfriend to take him back” and decided to video him. Over the laughter in the car, someone could be heard saying, “You deh pon s@#*t, big man go home…she ain't want you.”

Wednesday As if the racecar wasn't enough, a billionaire

Suspected arson committed...

From page 18 enquiries office when they heard a loud explosion and instantly saw a huge blaze to the front door of the building. Upon see this, the ranks immediately rushed for some water to extinguish the fire.

Reports are that the front door of the building was scorched and a five-gallon

bottle that was at the front door was partly burnt.

Checks were made around the building but no one was seen around the area.

According to the reports, no one was injured during the incident.

The police along with the Guyana Fire Service have launched an investigation into the matter.

Brazilian born, Switzerland based investment banker decided to dock his US$100 million luxury yacht at Port Georgetown. The yacht “Anawa” is a 62-meter custom-designed SeaXplorer. It was built by Damen Yachting and has a 16 crew, a gross tonnage of 1,850, and a maximum speed of 13.5 knots.

It was rumoured that the billionaire, Jorge Paulo Lemann, or someone from his team visited Guyana for business meetings. Lemann made his wealth in investment banking and is the co-founder of 3G Capital, which has acquired brands such as Burger King, Kraft Foods, AnheuserBusch, and Heinz in the last decade.

Thursday It was a spectacle on Thursday after publicspirited citizens captured an alleged chain snatcher and

tied him like an iguana to a utility pole.

Kaieteur News was told that he had snatched a woman's gold chain on Robb Street, Georgetown, and attempted to escape. As he ran, four men give chase and he was eventually captured on North Road. He was reportedly beaten and then tied with rope to a utility pole in the vicinity of Piccadilly Taxi Service and Global Gold Inc. In a video seen by this media house, the alleged chain snatcher had his hands and feet tied behind his back.

His feet were not touching the ground and his muscles and bones were given a full stretch as his captors awaited the arrival of police.

Friday Late yesterday afternoon, a video surfaced with a popular transgender woman, who goes by the name of 'Beyonce', on a roof w i t h a p o l i c e o ff i c e r climbing on the veranda of the house in an attempt to a r r e s t h e r, w h i l e h i s colleague waited in the yard below.

In the video, seen by this publication, the woman could be heard saying, “I have the video in my phone, I know my f-word rights…He comes in the night to…and said he only has $2000…and I said man, I want $10,00.

Anyhow, he said no and I push him out the car...”

What a way to finish the working week. Let's see what the weekend has to offer.

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Saga murder…Ex-cops to lead defense on Jan. 8

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Former ‘Best Cop,’ Derwin Eastman and Jameson Williams, a former constable of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), both accused of being involved in the 2017 killing of Godfrey Scipio, known as “Saga,” are scheduled to lead their defence on January 8, 2021.

On November 27, a prima facie case was made out against Eastman and Jameson. duo yesterday made another appearance before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, who set January 8, 2021, for the two murder accused to lead their defence and call their witnesses.

On a previous hearing of the matter, Magistrate Azore stated that sufficient evidence was presented to the court for the duo to be implicated in the murder. As a result of the ruling, Eastman and Williams opted to lead their defence.

Scipio of Durban Street, Wortmanville, had been selling at the Berbice car park for

Dead: Godfrey Scipio, known as “Saga.” several years, and was known for wearing lots of gold jewellery. According to the police, he was shot in the chest as he was leaving a city hotel on October 27, 2017.

Ex-con, Aubrey Bobb, 27, of Kitty, Georgetown, was last year committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of the businessman. After Bobb was arrested for the murder, he implicated Eastman and Williams in the crime.

Murder accused: Jameson Williams.

Murder accused: Derwin Eastman

Bobb alleged that Eastman was the mastermind behind Saga’s murder, since he allegedly provided the weapon.

Police had stated that Bobb was nabbed at his William Street, Kitty, Georgetown home, which is located a few buildings from where the killing occurred.

Kaieteur News understands that CCTV footage of the attack helped investigators to identify and track him

down. Bobb allegedly told detectives that he was in the area, and saw Scipio, who was wearing a gold chain, enter the hotel. At the time, Bobb claimed he was armed with an icepick, but later decided that a gun would be more effective.

It was also reported that when Scipio exited the hotel, Bobb relieved the businessman of a gold chain and shot him.

Triumph man discovered dead in house - Labourer arrested

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50-year-old man of Agriculture Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, was yesterday discovered dead in his house with wounds to his body, and the police have arrested a 29-year-old labourer of Kadoo Street, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, in relation to the murder.

The dead man has been identified as, Christopher Findlay, the younger brother of Pastor Patrick Findlay.

According to the police, Findlay was killed between 08:00hrs and 12:00hrs at his home.

It is reported that the man was last seen alive by his neighbour around 08:00hrs.

Kaieteur News understands that Findlay and the suspect had a misunderstanding. the neighbour returned from work about 12:00hrs, he decided to check on Findlay and that’s when he discovered Findlay laying on a bed motionless with wounds to his left eye, face and his elbow.

An alarm was raised and Findlay was taken to the Beterverwagting Health Centre where he was pronounced

Dead: Christopher Findlay.

dead on arrival.

His body was transported to the Lyken’s Funeral

Home and the matter was reported.

Investigation is ongoing.

Mr. President you must do better and come cleaner From page 4 someone like me saying this, but a rather damning report prepared by not a PNC hack, but a PPP bigwig. I learned of project management, money management, executive and board management, and personnel management. To be more pointed, what Guyana did learn was how this fine technical presence mismanaged those and other areas, with great costs to taxpayers, colleagues and careers, and the internal esprit de corps to get the job

done at a high level consistently. When that does not happen, then Guyanese have to comfort themselves with candles. Being who I am, I advise the president: a mockery is being made of words uttered.

This officer, a gentleman and scholar (perhaps) should have been passed by, with the best wishes.

Why does it have to be Mr. Dindyal? Why Minister Walrond? And why, when these things trouble?

Last, there was the one

involving Dr. Vincent Adams.

I cannot recall which of the nation’s presidents said it, but one of the two did inform the public that a placement will be found for him that matches his skills.

Yet here we are with a tsunami of oil business inundating these shores, and Dr. Adams is just as relevant and suitable as if he studied Art History. Perhaps, he should have studied dialectics or managing the politics of the oil business, rather than the oil itself, at which he is ex-

tremely skilled. Now he languishes, like John the Baptist in a PPP gulag.

That already has a noticeable population.

As I contemplate these things, I see and hear a president, this President Ali, who thinks he is Marcus Aurelius or Spartacus, but is more of Barabbas and not too far from Judas. President Ali risks the latter, if he keeps making promises aimed at deceiving Guyanese and not delivering.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Saturday December 12, 2020

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

AFC says corporate reporting National Vaccine Taskforce covered electoral finance obligations being established to oversee With concerns growing over political parties not submitting their 2020 electoral expense reports, Kaieteur News posed questions to the Alliance For Change (AFC) to ascertain why the Coalition, which it is a part of, failed to adhere to the clear provisions set out in the Representation of the People Act. At a press conference yesterday, General Secretary of the Alliance For Change, David Patterson, in response stated that while he could not speak for the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) Coalition, his party submits yearly financial reports to the Company Registrar since it was incorporated in 2005.

Patterson explained that, as part of its corporate obligations, each year, the AFC submits detailed financial reports which include expenses incurred during each election season.

“So basically,” Patterson stated, “our finance reports includes all our election expenses etc. for every election that we would have contested, our contributions in 2015, including our contribution in 2020. So while, I can’t answer for the Coalition, I know for sure that you can go back to any of our reports and see our financial statements. 2020 will be done at the end of the year.”

Patterson’s response however, did not answer the question at hand. The issue of election expense reports being submitted came to the fore after Chartered Accountant and Transparency Advocate, Christopher Ram, raised the issue with the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Kaieteur News also sent questions to Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, regarding the Coalition’s failure to adhere to

COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

AFC General Secretary, David Patterson. the law, but up to press time, no response was received.

Ram had written to the Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, back in September, pointing to Section 108 of the Representation Of the People Act (ROPA) dealing with Election Expenses Reports.

That section requires the election agent of each group of candidates to submit that report within 35 days of the declaration of the results of the elections.

According to Ram, the Chair noted the six-member Commission had advised her that “although cognizant of the law, those sections were never operationalized.”

So far, in addition to the Coalition, the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), along with the other smaller political parties continue to violate the Constitution on this issue.

Kaieteur News reached out to the PPP/C party agent, now Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, to enquire

when the party expects to submit its report.

He stated “I don’t know I have to check with the party.

I don’t know if GECOM asked for it because normally, GECOM send a letter for these things so I don’t know if they asked it.”

Shaz Ally of The Citizenship Initiative, when asked the same stated “Not as yet, we drafted it sometime in October.

Then we were hit with some sad news but we are going to submit it on Tuesday December 15 at GECOM headquarters to the Chair.”

TCI’s Leader, Rondha-Ann Lam, suffered a personal tragedy some weeks ago.

Kaieteur News also reached out to Kian Jabour from A New And United Guyana (ANUG) and was told that he is unaware whether the report was submitted. This paper also attempted to reach out to Lennox Shuman, leader of The Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), but efforts proved futile.

A National Vaccine Task Force is being established under the Ministry of Health to lead the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine. This was revealed by Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony in his Wednesday COVID-19 update where he stated that the team will be very “diverse” to ensure efficiency in the task force.

This diverse team he said will consist of persons from both the private and public sectors. Representatives from the Health Ministry, government agencies, private sector officials and even persons from the university and joint services will make up the task force, according to Anthony.

“It would have persons who are familiar with immunization and vaccine programmes, persons who we have trained but are in the private sector, who understand about cold storage and how to maintain refrigeration and things like that; they are going to be part of it.

What we have is a blend of people who have the expertise,” he said.

The Health Ministry is also working to get expert immunologists and they have developed a vaccine preparedness plan.

Notably, countries like the United Kingdom (UK) would have developed a National Vaccine Task Force since April and have seen impressive results in their functioning to date.

The UK’s task force was established by the government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Patrick Vallance, to accelerate and co-ordinate efforts to ensure the country’s population has access to a clinically safe and effective

vaccine for COVID-19. The task force also sought to roll out a long term vaccine strategy that will prepare them for pandemics beyond COVID19. The country also diversified their task force by having business, scientific, industrial and civil service experts, which gave promising results.

This was also contended by the UK’s Business Secre-

They also constructed a vaccine manufacturing base from scratch to strengthen the country’s ability to respond to COVID-19 and future pandemics.

The UK government already started the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine earlier this week and they boasted that the results have been remarkable.

Guyana is set to receive the very Pfizer/BioNTech

The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

(Photo Credit: Deutsche Welle News). tary, Alok Sharma, who recently said, “The Taskforce’s impressive record has only been possible by bringing together business, science, industry expertise and the civil service to ensure the British public gets access to a safe and effective vaccine as soon as possible. Our country owes every single person involved in this national effort a huge debt of gratitude.”

He also shared that the task force also enabled the UK to be the first country to sign a deal with Pfizer/BioNTech for their COVID-19 vaccine and they have managed to secure more doses per head of population than almost any other country.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been the first COVID19 vaccine to be approved worldwide after it was approved for emergency use in the UK last week.

COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX facility which is made up of organizations like the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance and their main goal is to ensure there is equal roll out of COVID-19 vaccines by helping lower-income countries acquire vaccines for at least 20 percent of their population.

This publication previously reported that through COVAX, Guyana will first receive vaccines for 3% of the population and another 17% will be acquired later.

It was also reported that the ministry is looking at frontline workers, the elderly and persons with comorbidities as potential candidates who will receive first preference for the vaccine.

PAGE 24

Contractor shot dead for motorcycle…

Former murder accused charged Dead: Peter Gonsalves.

Murder accused: Kacey Heyliger.

Based on advice from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), former murder accused, Kacey Heyliger, 28, of Shell Road, Kitty, Georgetown, is charged for the death of Peter Gonsalves, a contractor, who was shot and killed for his motorcycle earlier this week.

According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Heyliger was positively identified on an identification parade and is charged for the murder of Gonsalves, 60, of Pere Street, Kitty, who was riddled with bullets about 21:30 hrs. on Monday.

Only last year, Heyliger walked free of a murder charge which had alleged that on February 4, 2018, he along with others killed America Street money changer, Shawn Nurse, called ‘Fabulous,’ who was shot and killed while plying his trade.

On August 30, 2019, the murder case was dismissed against Heyliger due to insufficient evidence and he

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

walked out of the Providence Magistrate’s Court a free man, while Kerwin DaSantos and George Hope, both 25 of Freeman Street, La Penitence, were committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of Nurse.

Kaieteur News had reported that Gonsalves was killed by armed bandits who arrived on another motorcycle, in front of Red Bar, located on Garnett Street, and shot Gonsalves while his worker, 18-year-old Ravindra Ramlakhan of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, is traumatized.

It is reported that Heyliger was caught on Wednesday, following leads the police obtained from investigations.

The lawmen told Kaieteur News that they are continuing efforts to trap another person, who is still on the run.

Gonsalves had left his house on his black and white Honda XR motorcycle with Ramlakhan (the pillion rider), in search of cigarettes. Eye-

witnesses recalled noticing Gonsalves and his pillion rider riding past them and then stopping in front of Red Bar. Speculation is that he had stopped there because there were bright lights and he felt safe. Persons were also outside of the bar setting up Christmas decorations.

The men rode up beside him and the pillion rider, jumped off, approached Gonsalves and reportedly pushed him off his bike and took hold of it.

One of the bandits drew a weapon and shot the contractor several times. Eyewitnesses recalled that he stumbled twice before eventually falling face down. The shooter reportedly hopped onto Gonsalves bike, started it and rode off with his accomplice.

His worker, Ramlakhan, stood in shock, with hands on his head, as he watched his boss draw his last breath.

Gonsalves was laid to rest yesterday.

Weeks after March 2 elections…

Granger administration ordered police to tap senior AFC Minister’s phone Weeks after the March 2 General and Regional Elections, the executive of the Coalition government under then President David Granger had ordered the surveillance of a senior minister from the Alliance For Change (AFC) arm of the administration.

According to reliable sources who saw correspondence on the matter, the executive had received “credible” reports that the minister was alleged to have been involved in a number of illegal practices linked to ammunition and gun licences, among other activities.

Official sources told Kaieteur News that the Guyana Police Force Special Branch/Intelligence wrote, on the authority of the Granger executive, for “intercepts” on the phone of the official, also a senior executive in the AFC. The AFC is the smaller faction that comprised the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition that won power in 2015 and now comprises the major opposition bloc in Parliament.

Alliance For Change Leader and former Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan says he is unaware of any surveillance order.

The surveillance, our sources say, took place within the period of April to May 2020 when Guyana was locked in a heated elections’ results battle, weeks after Granger had already lost the elections to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) candidate, now President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The then minister

under surveillance had long been dogged by rumours of bypassing the Firearm Licensing Board and directly issuing licences, in contravention to established procedure, with claims that at least $1M was charged for each gun licence that was issued.

Our sources claim, also, that one aspect of the surveillance order included surveillance related to narcotics. Sources told Kaieteur News that the matter raised eyebrows at the Cabinet considering the Minister’s proximity to the security portfolio.

Last evening, Kaieteur News contacted AFC Leader and former Minister of National Security, Khemraj Ramjattan who said that he believes no such order was ever made.

In relation to whether he was bypassed in the surveillance order being issued, Ramjattan said that Granger knew he was always a phone call away. The former minister and current parliamentarian said the story was part of the “wickedness” of the ruling PPP/C.

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

Zero tolerance policy for corrupt labour/ OHS officers - Labour Minister T

he government will take a firm stance against corrupt labour officers and occupational health and safety (OHS) officers according to the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton.

On an interview with a senior journalist at Kaieteur News, Leonard Gildarie, Hamilton maintained that he has a zero-tolerance policy for these officers abusing their statutory positions and responsibilities and will make no haste in attending to reports of such instances.

Labour and OHS officers are employed under the Ministry of Labour and the labour officers are responsible for enforcing labour legislation across all regions while OHS officers identify and assess risks to employees' health and safety. They are also responsible for ensuring that appropriate safety controls are in place for accident prevention.

Gildarie had questioned the Minister about how he plans to deal with the perception of some labour officers being corrupt and the Minister said, “From day one, I have said to labour

Minister Joseph Hamilton during Kaieteur's 'Wake Up Guyana Show' on Wednesday with host, Leonard Gildarie

officers, I have said to occupational health and safety officers that my judgment on you starts from the 5th of August”.

Hamilton was sworn into office as the Labour Minister on August 5 under the PPP government and he disclosed that since then he has heard different stories about corrupt labour and OHS officers.

He noted that there was no evidence provided in these reports so he could not pronounce on them but in

any case where he receives a report with substantial evidence to support, the corrupt labour officers/ OHS officers “would have had a job”.

In giving an example of instances where a labour officers or OHS officers can be “corrupt”, the Labour Minister explained that persons would have made contact with him reporting instances where occupational health and safety officers might have pertinent information that

Home Affairs Ministry to launch job satisfaction survey for police

T

he Ministry of Home Affairs is expected to launch a job satisfaction survey for the members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and a separate survey to measure public trust, confidence and satisfaction in the GPF. According to a press release, the first survey will be conducted electronically to measure the level of satisfaction of the police officers at their workplace.

The purpose of the survey is to determine the level of satisfaction of the police officers and put measures in place based on the results of the survey.

The survey will commence on Sunday December 13, 2020, and is expected to last for three weeks.

- to measure public trust, confidence and satisfaction in policing

The Ministry posited that they support the view that it is critical to maintain an effective and proficient workforce and the performance of the officers.

Additionally, a separate survey will be conducted for citizens since their views are

vital for the force to understand the public and to work towards getting citizens i n v o l v e d i n developing policies and improving the practice of the policing.

The release stated that the purpose of the second survey is to determine how effective the GPF is when dealing with the public, and the stage of trust, confidence and satisfaction of the citizens.

The Ministry is interested in the observation of fair and dignified treatment based on interactions with police officers for the past year.

would be given to persons in exchange for money. He also said that claims were made

that labour officers were accepting payments from employers to rob employees

of their rightful benefits.

Additionally, Hamilton had also revealed that Guyana only has about 20% of the required quantity of labour officers needed for the efficient monitoring of the labour industry.

He said that an adequate quantity of labour officers is lacking in every region of the country, which has made it extremely difficult for the Labour Ministry to tackle labour-related matters in all parts of the country.

According to Hamilton, the central region- Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) only has 17 labour officers, which is below the required quantity and other regions have about one officer each which he referred to as “sprinklings”.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 12, 2020

Saturday December 12, 2020

Several Guyanese slated to take ...

From page 32 Navin Stewart, Kennar Lewis, Shawn Findlay, Ali Imran, Gudakesh Motie, Aaron Jones, Sami Aslam, Asad Ghous, Rusty Theron, Paul Wintz, Akshay Homraj, Syed Abdullah, Gauranshu Sharma, Yasir Mohammad, Krishmar Sanotie, Muhammad Irfran.

Brampton Pacers: Jagjit Randhawa (captain), Leonardo Julien, Waqas Butt, Asad Zaidi, Jagdeep Randhawa, Ranjeet Singh, Tejinder Dhaliwal, Sukhjinder Sangha, Junaid Siddiqui, Salman Nazar, Sukhdeep Brar, Ranveer Singh, Balkar Kainth, Dunae Nathaniel, Sikandar Raza, Mark Deyal, Zachary Sattaur, Ricky Nayar, Dale Africa, Fuad Azadi.

Afghan Zwanan CC: Shiva Kumar, Nawaz Khan, Harish Kakani, Ronsford Beaton,

Assad Fudadin, Cody Chetty, Mario Ramp (wicketkeeper), Dominque Rikki, Gaurav Bajaj, Ryan Francis, Earl Henningham, Kirk Thomson, Zia Shahzad, Zaki Sultani, Akeem Dodson, Esa Kunarai, Sher Afzal, Taha Jamal, Shakaib Rehan Reahimi, Mohmmad Choudury.

22 Yards Sultan: Trevon Griffith, Ahad Malik (captain), Asad Ali, Jatinder Singh, Dane Piedt, Christopher Barnwell, Kevin Sinclair, Ashmead Nedd, Aaquib Sulheri, Sherfane Rutherford, Adnan Bajwa, Chadwick Walton, Anthony Bramble, Rikin Parikh, Ameeq Khan, Toqueer Abassi, Jessy Singh, Charan Singh, Devendra Bishoo, Eraj Abidi.

Samp Army: Abhiram Bolisetty, Aditya Gupta, Akul Gupta, Aryan Shah (wicketkeeper), Gaurav

Khanna, Hitesh Patel, Kunal Sehgal, Nilesh Patel (vicecaptain), Prit Patel, Rohan Phadke, Sanjay Stanley (captain), Sanram Patel, Owais Jeelani, Chandu Kasireddy, Akash Joshi (wicketkeeper), Mujtaba Tariq, Akshar Patel, Utkaresh Srivastava, Gautham Ravindran, Aryan Ghotkar.

From page 31 Jonathan Jeffery, Odel Crum-Ewing, Renaldo Caldera, Usif Mustapha, Denroy Ross, Flavio DeAmarim-Sousa, Daniel L u t c h m a n .

Bikini - Rosanna Fung, Alihandra Vera, Christina Ramsammy, Roshwana Allen, Asanti Conway.

Bodybuilders – Reigning Mr.

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may find that things are much lighter than they were the past couple days, Aries. This is a good time to let your physical body take a rest and let your mind and fantasy world take over.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Reward yourself with two desserts today, Libra. Take a bubble bath. Share your fantasies with others and express yourself fully. Don't feel like you have to say yes to every favor that is asked of you.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) A large weight should lift from your shoulders today, Taurus. The air has started to clear, and the winds of communication have started blowing again.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The weightiness of the past few days seems to be lifting.

You will find a slight breeze building that will help fuel your fire, Scorpio.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Don't criticize the situation until you've come up with a better solution, Cancer. Be creative. You can accomplish much if you approach the situation confidently.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your thoughts may have a dreamy quality today, Leo. You will find that things are less stable than they have been for the past few days.

Don't get discouraged by pessimistic people.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) Your emotions are soaring, Virgo, and you should feel free to in dulge in your

greatest fantasies. Take a break from reality for a while. Let your inner child play.

Golf-Reed roars into lead at DP World...

From page 30 feel like today I got off to a little better start than yesterday and the putter was working a little bit,” Reed said. ”Yesterday I felt like I did a lot of things pretty well, just putts weren’t really falling, was kind of burning a couple edges, a couple iron shots

GABBFF/Fitness Express ...

Saturday December 12, 2020

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) People may be abrasive today, Gemini, but you will find after careful assessment that they don't mean any harm. More than likely they aren't fully informed.

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Kaieteur News

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Now that you have a solid grip on your situation, unexpected things may come along that change the rules again, Sagittarius. It may feel like the chair you just got comfortable in has suddenly been pulled out from under you.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Use gadgets and electronic devices to make life easier today, Capricorn. Why take the time to chop food by hand when you can use the food processor?

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Be careful of the information that comes your way today, Aquarius. People may make unwarranted claims and false acc usations. The day has a dreamy, innovative quality to it that asks you to venture out

on a limb.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Maintain an air of detachment, Pisces. Feel free to delve into your fantasy world and let your emotions carry you to another realm.

Guyana Marlon Bennett, Donald Lindie, Anil Persaud, Bryan Sing, Farad Mohamed, Tagepaul Gwendasammy, Darius Ramsammy, Eybo Orford, Clint Duke, Henry Bassay, Julian Allen, London Burnette, Julio Sinclair, Nicolas Albert, Dellon Johnson, Cearus Ciprani, Carlos Peterson, Fabion Rosa.

weren’t as close as they needed to be, and today I tightened it up. ”I was able to hit the ball a little closer , give myself

more opportunities and seeing the lines a little better today.”

England’s Fitzpatrick was eight-under overall after a second successive round of 68 while his

compatriots Tyrrell Hatton and Laurie Canter were tiedthird, three shots behind the l e a d e r .

Fellow Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood were tied-fifth at six-under alongside two others. Perez dropped to tied-14th after a disappointing round of 74.

Golf-Shibuno seizes lead...

From page 28 playing through significant pain from a recent golf cart collision that left her with dislocated ribs and nearly kept her out of the competit i o n . ”I played just pretty solid golf until the last five holes when my rib and my lat and everything back here just started really killing me,” said the 43-

year-old American, who was tied for sixth at the end of play, five strokes back from the l e a d .

The U.S. Women’s Open, the oldest women’s golf major in its 75th year, was rescheduled from June to December due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is being held without s p e c t a t o r s .

Athletes must...

From page 29 at the moment - and I certainly hope it happens - is whether we are going to have a stadium populated by good, passionate fans . Those are some of the things that are up in the air, along with athlete management in the village. ”We are all pretty resolute about those changes. I can’t imagine what I would have been saying if someone had knocked on my door in March 2012 and said ‘We’re not going until 2013’ - it’s an enormous challenge. ”I think we should be very grateful, and I wake up grateful most days, that it’s the Japanese who are dealing with this because this is a first class organising committee.

“They have the intellectual ability and certainly the resilience to see their way through this coming six months to deliver what I think will be a fantastic Games.”

PAGE 28

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Ricky Skerritt: Selectors will ‘not punish’ Andre Russell for choosing LPL over New Zealand T20Is ESPNcricinfo - Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt has assured West Indies allrounder Andre Russell that the board is “not at war” with him and the regional selectors will not be “vindictive” after the allrounder opted out of the recent T20I series in New Zealand.

Recently, Russell raised eyebrows by turning up to represent the Colombo Kings in the ongoing Lanka Premier League, having declined initially to play the T20Is for West Indies in New Zealand.

Even Phil Simmons, the West Indies head coach, expressed surprise stating it was “news” to him that Russell was playing in Sri Lanka.

In a chat with Jamaica-based TV network SportsMax TV this week, Russell cleared the air over why he decided to turn down the offer to play in New Zealand when chief selector Roger Harper called him in October, while the player was representing the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Russell revealed he had explained to both Harper and

West Indies’ white-ball captain Kieron Pollard that his “headspace” was “messed up” while moving between biosecure bubbles, an environment he described as close to being “in prison.”

Russell emphasised that playing for West Indies “comes first” to him and he had even approached Harper during the IPL about reversing his decision to travel to New Zealand.

The chief selector said he was “sorry” as the squad was already picked.

Skerritt now has said that selectors will not “punish” Russell. “I have said clearly that West Indies cricket is not at war with Andre Russell.

Skerritt told i955fm, a Trinidad-based radio station last weekend. “Andre Russell has a family to feed. He has whatever his own needs are and I don’t question what his needs are.”

It is not the first time Russell featured in a T20 franchise tournament while West Indies were playing a bilateral series.

In August 2019 Russell withdrew from the T20Is against India and instead participated

Andre Russell picked the ongoing Lanka Premier League over representing West Indies against New Zealand in T20Is recently Getty Images in the Global T20 Canada tournament. However, CWI chief executive Johnny Grave had told ESPNcricinfo at the time that playing in Global T20 Canada was part of Russell’s rehab after the allrounder had ejected out of the 2019 World Cup due to a knee injury.

Russell last played for West

Indies in the T20I series against Sri Lanka in March.

“I must, however, be cognisant of the fact that Mr Russell spent two years out of cricket and I’m sure that at his age, he has every right to pursue whatever financial rewards he can as a brand and as a(n) extremely outstanding athlete,” Skerrit said. “Now, will Mr Russell meet all the criteria for selection going down the road? Only the selectors could decide [that], but they will not punish him by not picking him. ”If they are not picking him, it is because they have decided that he is not the right person for the team on that particular occasion. But because he turned down the opportunity [to play in New Zealand T20Is] on this occasion, it does not mean he will not be available or not allowed to play for us again in the future,

at least as long I am president.

I would fight that battle very, very vigorously.”

Russell is one of the several Caribbean players to have refused a central contract, and has instead featured predominantly in the T20 franchise circuit. However, he has not lost his desire yet to play for West Indies, and Skerritt said that the selectors would pick him on merit. ”The selection policy is documented. It is very clear on what the selectors have as criteria for selecting players for representing the West Indies. But one of the things that is also very clear as a matter of policy is that we do not use the selection route to punish players or be vindictive against any player as in the past, which was scary to say the least.”

Joshua v Pulev: Weigh-in clash as fighters square up before Wembley Arena bout

Golf-Shibuno seizes lead in U.S. Women’s Open second round

Hinako Shibuno

Reuters -Last year’s British Open champion Hinako Shibuno made four birdies on the back nine to seize the lead during Friday’s (yesterday) action at the U.S. Women’s Open in Houston, Texas.

The 22-year-old from Japan carded a fourunder par 67 for a three-stroke lead over Sweden’s Linn Grant (69), recovering from two bogeys on the Jackrabbit course, one of two layouts being used at Champions Golf Club due to diminished daylight hours. ”Today my tee shots found the rough more often. However, my second shots were pretty stable and able to par on to the greens,” said Shibuno. “My golf today was pretty safe, stable condition. At the same time, when it comes to the chance for a birdie, my putting was pretty good.”

Grant, who is one of six amateurs to make the cut, credits her father - a former college player-turned-instructor who caddies for her this week - with helping her develop her short game. ”He’s more like my safety zone now, especially when he caddies. He keeps me calm on the golf course,” said Grant. “We know each other.

We know how we work together. So right now he’s just security.”

American Amy Olson ceded her first-round lead after a trio of bogeys and a doublebogey on the par-four 15 saw her carding a one-over par 72, finishing her round tied for third with compatriots Kaitlyn Papp and Megan Khang.

Elsewhere in the field, two-time major winner Cristie Kerr enjoyed a bogey-free twounder par 69 at Cypress Creek, despite (Continued on page 27)

Pulev sought to shout at his rival as soon as Joshua appeared at Friday’s weigh-in BBCsport - Anthony Joshua warned Kubrat Pulev he will face a “real one” in Saturday’s (today) world title fight as the pair exchanged heated words at Friday’s (yesterday) weigh-in. Pulev, 39, goaded Joshua as the unified world heavyweight champion took to the scales, drawing an animated reaction.

The pair stood face to face Pulev shouting, and Joshua waving his finger - with security keen to intervene. “I would have just clapped him in his jaw there and then, but I have to wait until tomorrow,” Joshua, 31, said.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the British boxer said he could not repeat what he said to Pulev on television, adding: “Many years I’ve been in boxing and

seen a lot fighters talk a lot of rubbish, then they get smacked up. ”I know what he’s like, I have studied him. He thinks he’s a warrior. I said ‘don’t let the guys you’ve fought gas you up, you’re in with a real one now’.

“When people come in the ring with me they are confident and then after a few rounds their soul gets destroyed.

When I see that I can take them out.”

Bulgarian Pulev weighed in at 239.7lbs - his lowest weight since 2009 - while Joshua was 4lbs heavier than when he faced Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019, scaling 240.8lbs.

Pulev, who will challenge for Joshua’s IBF, WBA and WBO

world titles, said: “I told him I respect him so much but I’m a better boxer and tomorrow I’ll show him. ”I think he didn’t like that.

But times change, no-one can stay the same. He is world champion now, the last day for him. I don’t hate him, I tell him I respect him. But I have so much energy, I’m so powerful and I’m hungry.”

Joshua knows a win could pave the way for a bout with fellow Briton Tyson Fury, where all four world heavyweight titles could be contested for the first time in history. About 1,000 fans will watch his fight with Pulev at Wembley Arena, where BBC Radio 5 Live will be at ringside to provide full commentary.

Saturday December 12, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Henry Nicholls’ battling ton puts New Zealand ahead on tough pitch ESPNcricinfo - It’s unlikely Henry Nicholls will score a scratchier, more fortune-laden hundred, but runs are runs, and they’re worth even more when they come on a greentop offering pace, bounce and seam movement.

Nicholls’ innings ensured New Zealand wrested control of the second Test away from West Indies, who had begun the opening day positively with their fast bowlers, led by Shannon Gabriel in his 50th Test, enjoying the help on offer at the Basin Reserve.

At stumps, New Zealand were 294 for 6, with Nicholls batting on 117. Nicholls, who had come to the crease some ten minutes before lunch, survived a difficult period at the start of the second session, when Alzarri Joseph peppered him with short balls from over the wicket, pitching in the left-hander’s blind spot outside leg stump and attacking the area between his hip and shoulder.

There was a top-edged pull that fell in no-man’s land, a short-leg catch that didn’t stick in Shamarh Brooks’ hands, and a hooked six that could have been a catch at long leg had Jermaine Blackwood stayed on the rope rather than move some 10 yards in.

Then Gabriel and the debutant Chemar Holder, who had been the pick of West Indies’ bowlers before lunch, returned and created a rash of chances that, on another day, would have earned them more than just one wicket be-

tween them.

On this day, both Gabriel with a length ball slanted across him - and Chemar Holder - with a full one that straightened from around the wicket - found Nicholls’ outside edge only for Darren Bravo to put him down both times at first slip.

All the luck notwithstanding, there was plenty to admire about Nicholls’ innings, especially his discipline outside off stump, and the positive intent he showed when the ball was in his favoured areas: particularly against the short ball, ironically.

As his innings progressed, it felt as if his early wobbles against that form of attack had led West Indies to overuse it, erroneously, especially given that their successes early in the day had come via bowling full lengths.

Gabriel had been erratic at the start of the day, straying too full and often too straight to concede 21 in his first two overs, but once he settled into a rhythm, he kept asking difficult questions of New Zealand’s batsmen.

Back at the top of the order following BJ Watling’s return, Tom Blundell gave West Indies a clear challenge to bowl full at him with his method of camping deep in the crease. Gabriel struck in the seventh over, finding a length that brought Blundell half-forward and bowling him through the gate with sharp inward movement.

Tom Latham had set the platform for a big New

Henry Nicholls with a controlled pull shot that ensures the ball stays down Getty Images

Zealand total in Hamilton with a 184-ball 86 that was distinguished by his willingness to leave on length.

There was even more bounce available in Wellington, and Latham left a fair few balls that whizzed six inches over the top of off stump as he moved serenely - save for a blow to the elbow from a Gabriel delivery that reared from a length - to 27.

But West Indies were also more willing to try and get him to drive, even if it meant serving up the occasional halfvolley. They found the perfect line and length for him in the sixth over after the drinks break, courtesy Chemar Holder.

The ball was full enough to induce the drive without being full enough to feed the stroke.

Then it straightened, and Latham, who was a little late getting his weight fully onto the front foot, edged behind.

That wicket brought Ross Taylor to the crease. Gabriel immediately reappeared, discomfiting Taylor with seam movement and extra bounce, hitting him on the chest before getting one to straighten in the corridor, producing a hard-hands jab that he edged behind.

At this point - New Zealand 78 for 3 and without Kane Williamson, 2.3 overs before lunch - it felt as if West

Indies were slightly ahead.

But through the rest of the day they let their control slip.

Apart from the overuse of the short ball, they would have also been disappointed with Jason Holder’s display.

Though he bowled more overs than any of his colleagues and ended the day as the only bowler with an economy rate below 3 an over, he presented surprisingly little threat in helpful conditions, often bowling a touch too short to get the edges, or a touch too wide to make the batsmen play.

Nicholls was aided in his efforts by three successive halfcentury stands.

Will Young played a

couple of pristine drives down the ground, but endured a difficult time otherwise, with the West Indies quicks attacking his weakness of a short front-andacross trigger movement that left him crease-bound and in vulnerable positions both against the full ball angled into him and the rising ball in the corridor. Gabriel delivered the perfect example of the latter, laden with away seam, to finally end Young’s stay, and pick up his 150th Test wicket.

By then he had added 70 with Nicholls, and the next two partnerships swelled New Zealand’s score by 55 and 83 respectively. Watling made 30 and looked perhaps the most fluent of New Zealand’s batsmen before chopping on to Joseph, and Daryl Mitchell showed plenty of positive intent - especially against the offspin of Roston Chase - to score 42 before being trapped in front by a blockhole ball from Chemar Holder.

By then, Nicholls had reached his sixth Test hundred, breaking a run of 13 innings without a fifty.

He grew increasingly secure at the crease without ever looking entirely fluent, and it seemed entirely appropriate that he brought up his hundred with a leading edge through point while looking to work the ball through m i d w i c k e t .

New Zealand 294 for 6 (Nicholls 117*, Young 43, Mitchell 42, Gabriel 3-57, Chemar Holder 2-65) vs West Indies.

Athletes must take their place in the vaccine queue, says Coe

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe

London (Reuters) Healthy Athletes should take their place in the COVID-19 vaccine queue behind people with more pressing needs despite events such as next year’s Olympics looking set to be highly dependent on competitors arriving free from the virus, the head of world athletics Seb Coe said on Friday (yesterday).

Most athletes in their 20s and 30s, across all sports, would be just about last in line in most countries when it comes to handing out the vaccine but the pressure to create a COVID-safe environment at sporting events has raised the question of whether they should be treated as a

special case.

Coe trod a careful line when asked about the issue at a media conference on Friday. “We have to be sensitive here - there are many claims on that priority,” he said. ”Most of us are dependent on our frontline workers and our emergency services and we also recognise that there are vulnerable people in the community and we want to make sure that we look after them as much as possible. ”I’m not sure that it is for sport to be pressing the case for fit young people.

I would like, on the other hand, that when the vaccine does become available and that the athletes have the op-

portunity to make use of it that they do. ”I’m not mandating it and I don’t think it’s my job to tell people what they should or shouldn’t do in that area - I think that has to be a very personal and individualistic view.

“I hope they do avail themselves of it, I certainly would if I had the opportunity in the lead up to a Games like that, but it’s very much a personal decision.”

Coe, who won double Olympic gold over 1,500 metres and was the driving force behind Britain’s hosting of the 2012 Games, was confident next year’s Tokyo event, postponed from 2020, would

go ahead, and said that if any country could respond to the challenge of a re-arranged Olympics it was Japan. ”I think the Games will go ahead. I was in Tokyo a week ago and spent 48 very intensive hours talking to the organising committee and the government,” he said. ”There is a cast-iron determination to stage the Games, though there is a recognition that we are still in uncertain territory.

Yes, the vaccine will help, but I guess for athletes in the village and warm up track etc, there are going to be some adaptations. ”What nobody is across (Continued on page 27)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 12, 2020

Gokarn Ramdhani commence third decade in charge of Badminton following BGM

E

xperienced adminis trator Gokarn Ramdhani has once again been elected to head the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) following that entity’s Biennial General Meeting on Thursday last at the Guyana Olympic Association Headquarters, Block XXX Plantation Liliendaal.

His fellow executive members are all experienced administrators and have been serving for at least one decade each.

The full executive committee elected for the 2021-2022 cycle are: President-Gokarn Ramdhani, Vice PresidentAyanna Watson, SecretaryEmelia Ramdhani, Assistant Secretary-Dr. Shivanne Persaud, Treasurer-Darrell Carpenay, Assistant Treasurer-Marlon Chung. Committee Members-Ryan Chang and Ernesto Choo-A-Fat. Sub-Committee Chairpersons are: Emergency Committee (Disciplinary): Dr. Anna Perrreira, Selection Committee (Players/Teams): Chet Bowlen, Fixtures Committee (Matches & Competitions): Dr. Easa Sanichara, Fund Rasing Committee: Christine Kumar, National Captain: Akili Haynes, International Captain: Narayan Ramdhani.

Meanwhile, a press release from the GBA has indicated that the Association would be hosting an Air Badminton, The New Outdoor Game display on Thursday (December 17) at the National Park(from 16:00 – 18:00hrs) where they are hoping to launch with Demonstrations.

The general public is being invited along as well as Badminton players.

AIRBADMINTON – THE NEW OUTDOOR GAME

Patrick Reed

Air Badminton, a new competition to be launched on Thursday

The GBA Executive Committee from left; Emelia Ramdhani, Darrell Carpenay, Ayanna Watson, Gokarn Ramdhani, Dr, Shivannie Persaud, Marlon Chung and Ryan Chang.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) and HSBC have jointly launched a new outdoor game, AirBadminton, and a new outdoor shuttlecock, the AirShuttle, at a global launch ceremony outside the Tianhe Gymnasium in Guangzhou, China.

AirBadminton is an ambitious new development project in partnership with HSBC, BWF’s Global Development Partner, designed to create opportunities for people of all ages and ability to play badminton on hard, grass and sand surfaces in parks, gardens, streets, playgrounds and beaches around the world.

The project has been five years in the making, starting with a vision to develop a new outdoor shuttlecock with increased durability, stability

and wind resistance to allow people to have a more positive experience of badminton outdoors. ”This is a momentous occasion for badminton. Strategically, AirBadminton will allow to fulfill our overall objective of putting a badminton racket in the hands of as many people as possible. ”Given that most people’s first experience with badminton comes in an outdoor environment, we are now making it easier for everyone to access the sport through a new outdoor game and new shuttlecock, the AirShuttle. ”In the future, we see AirBadminton as an exciting, new, energetic version of the sport. Overall, the aim is to inspire more people to play more badminton in more places.”

Golf-Reed roars into lead at DP World Tour Championship in Dubai Reuters - American Patrick Reed carded a superb eight-under-par 64 in the second round to take a two-shot lead over Matthew Fitzpatrick at the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai yesterday.

After an opening round of 70 on Thursday that left him three shots behind overnight leader Victor Perez, 2018 Masters winner Reed turned up the heat with five birdies on the front nine before adding further gains on four holes after the turn.

The only blemish on Reed’s card was a bogey on the par-four 12th hole at the Jumeirah Golf estates’ Earth Course but the 30-year-old said he was pleased with his effort having gone 10-under for the tournament heading into the weekend.

Reed is looking to become the first American to win the European Tour’s Race to Dubai title. “Any time you shoot eight under you’re always happy. I (Continued on page 27)

Cort blazing US tracks

By Calvin Chapman Guyana’s daredevil, Leroy Cort continued his impressive form on two wheels last weekend at the Miami International Speedway, Homestead, Florida, with five podium finishes from as many races inclusive of four second place and one victory.

Cort, during an exclusive interview with Kaieteur Sport, recounted that, “We had a packed two-day event which isn’t usually the custom. So I was nervous from the start since the first time being allowed on track would be the practice session Saturday morning before racing begins.

Unfortunately, during the first race event of the day; a threehour endurance race, the point’s leader had a brake malfunction and died on track after running off track. They closed the track for the rest of the day and I can’t explain the feelings we all experienced that day.

The officials decided to compact the two-day event into Sunday so we were off to the races then. And, they were mixed feelings still every time we came around the turn our fellow racer died.”

Despite the dark cloud looming over the weekend, Cort got off to a flier.

He said that, “I started the day off good with two-second place finishes, 0.4 seconds and 0.7s behind the winner in the respective races. The third race I started to encounter bike problems (water leak) and despite a collision on the final turn trying to overtake

Leroy Cort (left) and friend Ian Beam of the USVI pose with their medals following last weekend’s action in Florida.s the first place guy, I still managed to finish second.

In the penultimate race, I finally got the 1st place finish in the Middleweight Grand Prix. By then the bike was spewing water and smoke but I had no choice but to ride it out and I managed a second in the last race of the day although the motor blew as I crossed the finish line.”

The Eat-In Snackette, Flatrate Installs Inc. and Antham Racing Suits sponsored rider revealed that the weekend wasn’t just about racing, with the passing of a very experienced racer at no fault of his

own; it opened his eyes to how precious life is.

Cort noted that the driver died doing what he loved and, “If I ever go, I’d wish the same.”

He continued, “Big things next year to come with racing (for me).

I hope to make my presence in the Caribbean and I look forward to sharing the knowledge and experience I’ve gained these few years racing here.”

Cort is really looking forward to the 2021 season, with a potential deal with the ‘Dunkin Donuts’ franchise on the cards.

Saturday December 12, 2020

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Kaieteur News

GCB/Tropical Spring 0-40 T20

W/Dem Masters, Regal Masters advance to today’s final; Gittens shine for Regal Masters in contsroversial game

By Sean Devers West Demerara Masters and Regal Masters, led by a fine all-round performance Chien Gittens, advanced to today’s final of the GCB/ Tropical Spring Over-40 T20 tournament set for Everest starting at noon.

West Demerara Masters beat West Demerara Maravicks by five wickets while Regal Masters were 432 in 3.5 overs replying to Jai Hind Jaguars 97 all out in 20 overs when rain stopped play.

However, the Umpires deemed the ground fit enough for play but Jai Hind Jaguars refused to play and game was awarded to Regal Masters.

When the rain stopped play the revised target was 47 from eight overs but with two batsmen and the Jai Hind Jaguars team on the field no ball was bowled since the Berbicans employed delaying tactics resulting in the Umpires awarding to game to Regal Masters.

In the first game, West Demerara Marevicks were limited to 67-8 off 15 overs as only Munishwar Balgobin with 24 and Sohan Bedesse with 20 reached 20. Chabiraj Ramchand took 3-8 while Ramesh Thakur had 2-12 for West Demerara Masters who replied with 68-5 in 12.4 overs.

West Demerara Masters slumped to 16-4 before Skipper Sudesh Persaud with an unbeaten 21 and Prahalad Singh (8) carried the score to 36 before Singh departed.

Persaud and Patrick Khan (11)

added 32 for fifth wicket to see their team to a less than a convincing win.

Devendra Ramdehol had 3-2 and Lalta Suknanan took 2-18 took in a losing cause for Marvericks. Earlier, after a period of bright sunshine, angry looking clouds gathered over the Everest sward and the opening game was delayed by 20 minutes.

West Demerara Marevicks, which just 10 players won the toss and opted to on a good track and fast outfield due to sweltering heat on Wednesday and Thursday.

The left-handed Mohan Chaitram hit Sudesh Persaud over cover for four.

But after the first over there was a heavy downpour chasing the players and Umpires off the ground which hosted its first First-Class match in 1997 when Guyana played England. A strong Atlantic Breeze soon blew away the clouds and the rain was replaced with hazy sunshine and a delay of 80 minutes, play resumed and the overs reduced to 15.

Munishwar Balgobin, one of seven batsmen with fifties in the tournament, spanked Ramesh Thakur past extra cover for a boundary in the first over after the resumption before Chaitram (4) was bowled by Thakur at 14-1.

Lalta Suknanan (2) was given LBW at 18-2 and stood at the crease for a long time before Sohan Bedesse joined Balgobin and was dropped

Bebician Anil Beharry goes after the bowlers at Everest yesterday.

Devendra Ramdehol

first ball much to disgust of Thakur. conditions becoming overcast the burly Bedesse deposited Deoram Persaud onto the Lawn Tennis Court before another shower stopped play after 7.2 overs with the score on 33-2.

After a short break Balgobin lofted Steve Haripaul for six before being caught at long-

off next ball for 24 with a six and a four at 41-3. David Alert joined Bedesse who clobbered Sewnarine Mathura for six but provided Sudesh Persaud with his second welljudged catch inches from the boundary ropes next ball after clearing the boundary twice in his 20 to leave the score on 51-4 as Chabiraj Ramchand struck.

Without addition to the score Eon Williams was bowled by Ramchand and nobody else reached double figures. In the afternoon game, Jai Hind Jaguars were bowled out for 97 off the last ball of their 20 overs.

Skipper Verapen Moonsammy hit three sixes and a four in his 37 and along with Anil Beharry who

reached the venue late and made 21 with a six and two fours added 47 for the seventh wicket.

Chien Gittens grabbed 49 and got support from Conrad Bole who finished with 2-9 for Regal Masters.

Rain stopped play after 3.3 over with Regal Masters on 43-2 with Gittens who hit two boundaries in an unbeaten 16 and David Dick who blasted two sixes in 18 put together 43 in 3.4 overs before he was dismissed by Narine Deonarine who then trapped Roy Persaud LBW for a duck in the same over.

On resumption the target was reduced to eight overs with 47 to win and after a long delay which included the Berbicians walking off the damp outfield even though the Umpires deemed play was possible the game was awarded to the city side.

Earlier, Berbice team Jai Hind Jaguars recovered from 12-5 in the fourth over as Gittens with three wickets and Boele with two were the architects of destruction.

Lyndon Lyght removed Ramalingum Mangali (5) the Berbicians were in a deep hole on 37-6.The inform Beharry (21), the leading run scoring in the Berbice zone, joined Moonsammy (38) to 84 before Moonsammy was run out and Beharry was sent packing by fellow Berbician Eion Abel in the same over after putting together 47 for the seventh wicket.

GABBFF/Fitness Express ‘Resilience’ Virtual competition set for this evening at NCC Following months of involuntary lockdown owing the covid-19 pandemic which has rocked every corner of the world, the go ahead to resume some level of competition by the National Task Force has been granted to the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF).

To this end, the Federation teamed up with long time sponsor, Fitness Express to bring off ‘Resilience’ a virtual competition set for tonight at the National Cultural Centre from 20:00hrs.

Thirty-one of the best bodies including reigning Mr. Guyana, Marlon ‘Bolo’ Bennett and Miss Bikini

31 athletes to battle for over 1M in cash Rosanna Fung would be aiming to brush aside their opposition to win attractive prizes on offer.

Physique, Miss Bikini and two divisions in the bodybuilding segment, Lightweight and Heavyweight would be contested.

The top three from the bodybuilding competition will clash for the overall title with the winning guaranteed $200,000.

Top three finishers in all the categories prior to the overall would be rewarded with purses of $100,000, $70,000 and $50,000, respec-

tively along with hampers compliments of Fitness Express.

Medals and other incentives would be on offer for the other athletes who do not make the cut for the top positions. Former Mr. Guyana, Kerwyn Clarke is expected to be the Guest Poser for tonight’s action.

Fans and supporters need not be worried as they would be able to follow all the action live via the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport facebook page, HJTV, NCN Channel 11, Channel 28 and NTN. The entire production

of the event would be managed by Hits and Jams Entertainment.

Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Honorable Charles Ramson Jnr. will be on hand to witness the action, Ramson’s Ministry also playing a part in facilitating this competition which has been welcomed by the GABBFF. According the Federation President, Keavon Bess, this competition is exactly what the doctor ordered as athletes have been severely affected due to the lack of competition as well as not being able to exercise as they would have

liked given the restrictions to safeguard from covid-19. ”The GABBFF would like to express gratitude to all who have worked to make this show a reality including the MCY&S and Fitness Express.

We are guaranteeing you two hours of solid competition and we look forward to fans spreading the word.”

Owner of Fitness Express Jamie McDonald in an invited comment said that his commitment to the sport and sports in Guyana remains the same despite the challenges brought on by covid-19. ”It’s great to see the athletes

having a chance to compete to some extent and our company is pleased to be of support as we have been doing over the years.

We wish every athlete the best and encourage everyone to follow the guidelines that the Federation and other relevant authorities have put in place.”

An experienced three-man panel of Judges would be in charge of deciding the best bodies on show and would be led by Chief Judge Frank Tucker along with Franklyn Brisport and Aubrey Henry.

Following is the list of athletes set to compete tonight.

Physique - Darren Harris, (Continued on page 27)

PAGE 32

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

GFF to develop Guyana’s first Professional League with support of UEFA and Concacaf

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he Guyana Football Federation (GFF), with the support of UEFA and CONCACAF as part of its ongoing partnership with the two Confederations, will in 2021 be creating its first professional football league.

Under the historic agreement to develop the league, the GFF will receive support from European football administrative and competitions experts to explore and define the most appropriate approach for establishing the required infrastructure, football standards, technical capacity and commercial ecosystem. ”The UEFA professional league development project represents a further deepening of the sturdy relationship the GFF has developed with UEFA through its Assist programme,” said GFF President Wayne Forde. “I am truly excited about the level of access we will now have to specific league development expertise and experience.

The timing could not have been any better, with Guyana now set to become the epicentre of regional com-

GFF Elite League Season 4 action between Fruta Conquerors and Den Amstel. Franklin Wilson photo merce. I am very optimistic about the prospect of a sustainable professional league. ”We have to now take our time and build a league from the bottom up.

This starts with the cultivation of a professional culture within our clubs, investment in playing venues and building the management capacities needed to operate the league as a business.”

Head of International Relations at UEFA, Eva Pasquier,

who has been paying a pivotal role in the GFF/UEFA relationship, said: “One of the emerging opportunities from the recent Bounceback project between the GFF and UEFA Assist, in partnership with Concacaf, is the development of a strong senior league in Guyana, which will provide competitive football for the best young talent in the country.

This will become a key part of the player pathway for

the GFF and we have agreed with Concacaf to launch a new project in 2021, designed to help the Federation set up an elite league in the country. ”This is an exciting step for the GFF and will hopefully lead to a new era for professional club football in Guyana in the future,” she said. Adding his voice to the enterprise, Concacaf Senior Projects Manager, Howard McIntosh, said the initiative was “a great opportunity for

the GFF to make a big step towards launching a professional football league in the country.” ”We are always keen to support our member federations and the creation of a

professional league has been the ambition of GFF President Wayne Forde for some time. We are delighted that we have been able to agree the launch of a new project in partnership with UEFA Assist to help the

GFF put in place the necessary systems and processes to launch such a competition.”

The GFF has built a strong relationship with European football’s governing body through the UEFA Assist programme, which has included the acquisition of minibuses for the GFF Academy Training Centres and Guyana’s recent participation in the UEFA “Bounceback” return-to-play initiative.

Several Guyanese slated to take part in US Open T20 tourney Assad Fudadin Ronsford Beaton

Sherfane Rutherford

S

everal Guyanese cricketers are set to take part in this year’s US Open T20 Cup which is set to commence on December 15 at the Central Broward County Stadium in Florida.

The Guyanese slated to take part are left-handed batsman Assad Fudadin, leg spinner Devendra Bishoo, fast bowler, Ronsford Beaton, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Gudakesh Motie, Paul Wintz, Trevon Griffith, Ashmead Nedd, Kevin Sinclair, Sherfane Rutherford, Anthony Bramble, Christopher Barnwell and Derwin Chris-

Devendra Bishoo

Christopher Barnwell tian.

The contracted Guyana Jaguars players were given time off to play in the tournament which also includes West Indies T20 stars Andre Russell and Chris Gayle.

The tournament which is being sanctioned by the International Cricket Council will see the top two teams from the each group progressing to the semi-finals.

The 15-match tournament will conclude on December 20; the defending champions are Somerset Cavaliers. In the opening fixtures, Brampton Pacers CC will face Afghan Zwanan CC at 10:00hrs, At-

lanta Param Veers will play 22 Yards Sultan CC at 13:30hrs and Somerset Cavaliers CC will battle Samp Army at 17:00hrs. Teams-Punjab Blues: Gary Bhullar, Harry Bhullar, Gurinder Saini, Iknoor Singh, Mohd Asif, Amitoze Singh, Nikhil Kanchan, Ranaq Sharma, Jay Singh, Tirth Patel, Aditya Joshi, Abhimanyu Rajp, Chetan Rajput, Masoom

Patel, Derwin Christian, Sainikeathen Reddy, Saurabh Joshi, Zubair Ilyas, Vinay Chauhan.

Teams - Atlanta Param Veers: Rayad Emrit (captain), Chris Gayle, Param Patel, Akeal Hosein, Khary Pierre, Darpan Patel, Damian Ebanks, Wayne Parnell, Fabian Allen, Marquino Mindley, Kissondath Magram, Garth

Garvey, Steven Taylor, Delray Rawlins, Corey Anderson, Kesrick Williams, Evroy Dyer, Mark Parchment, Heer Patel, Ishmael Parchment.

US All-Stars: Zishawn Qureshi (captain), Zeeshan Ashraf, Ali Shafique, Jaskaran Malhotra, Rizwan Cheema, Ravinderpal Singh, Muhammad Ali Khan, Liam Plunkett, Saad Zafar, Rajesh

Sharma, Herlando Johnson, Honey Gori, Naseer Khan, Damien Rowe, Omari Williams, Adullah Shah, Samih Sadiq, Abdullah Sheikh, Christopher Lamont, Sameer Khan.

Somerset Cavaliers: Syed Najaf Shah (captain), Andre Russell, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Sohaib Maqsood, (Continued on page 27)

Saturday December 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

December National Chess Open set to start today at National Stadium

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he Director of Tournaments for the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), Rashad Hussain has indicated that the this year will end on a high with the hosting tournaments for both junior and senior players.

Dubbed the December National Chess Open, the tournament will run over the next two weekends at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Mr. Hussain noted that it has been 10 months since the last “Over the Board” tournament and players are growing impatient.

The tournament will be FIDE Rated and would consist of seven rounds in the Swiss pairing format.

Round one is scheduled for today from 14:30 hrs.

Two rounds each will be played on the remaining three days (December 13th, 19th and 20th), with the morning round commencing at 10:00hrs and the afternoon round beginning at 14:30hrs.

The time control is 90 minutes per player plus 30 seconds increments (per move). ”It has been an uphill battle getting tournaments approved for the past few months. I wanted chess to be one of the first sports to make a comeback after the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted; however members of the executive were very negative towards my initiatives. It’s sad that as Director of Tournaments, I need to beg and plead with the federation to permit tournaments, however I did

what needed to be done for fatigued chess players by seeking and being granted the relevant approvals by the Covid-19 taskforce, Director of the National Stadium and the other executives of the Chess Federation,” was what Mr. Hussain had to say on the lead up to this tournament.

He further stated that the junior section will serve as the 2020 National Junior Championship since some junior players will be over age as of January 1st, 2021.

Adults will be required to pay a fee of $500 while juniors are free.

For more information, Mr. Hussain can be reached on 658 3004. Facemasks are required, sanitisers will be provided, covid-19 protocols will be strictly followed.

PAGE 33

GABBFF/Fitness Express ‘Resilience’ Virtual competition set for this evening at NCC 31 athletes to battle for over 1M in cash Rosanna Fung Miss Bikini GABBFF Seniors 2019

Marlon ‘Bolo’ Bennett - Mr. Guyana 2019

Fitness Express’ Jamie McDonald hands over sponsorship cheque to GABBFF’s President Keavon Bess.

rt o p S

Cort blazing US tracks Leroy Cort on his machine.

Sohan Bedessie

GCB/Tropical Spring 0-40 T20

Verapen Moonsammy

W/Dem Masters, Regal Masters advance to today’s final; December National Chess Open set to start today at National Stadium

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