Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR

PS caught

NEWS

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

Thursday Edition December 16, 2021 - Vol. 14 No.47

collecting bribe will finally be charged

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 79,584

Govt. borrows double AG report what it earns Govt. seeks $4B to pay GPL ... says money represents arrears by ministries, departments

‘All police Minibus tout commanders murdered must pursue during row at a first degree' ECD bus park Pres. Ali says...

The protest continues ‘for change to ExxonMobil’s contract.

Govt. to buy 2,450 tablets for GOAL scholarship awardees ...opens tender for 460 to hinterland students

Data Management Authority in shambles ...AG says systems weak; info for COVID-19 Voucher Programme can be altered, corrupted or destroyed Exxon is now putting down shorebase in Guyana. We have lost the corn now we are losing the husk from the oil. We borrowed US$160M to upgrade Mandela Ave/Sheriff St., East Coast & West Coast Highways, now we are borrowing US$190M to upgrade a road in the bush. What a lovely country this is! @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 16, 2021

2015-2017 audits pick up lax systems controls at DHB The Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB).

F

inancial audits into the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) Corporation for the years 2015, 2016, and 2017 revealed that the bridge company failed to maintain records as it relates to materials and expenditure to the tune of billions. According to the audit reports which were laid in the National Assembly on Monday, the DHB company failed to maintain production books at the Asphalt Plant as well as proper contractual arrangement from the years 2015- 2017. Among other things, the audit reports pointed to the absence of records to show the dates and times of production, production output and the quantity of various raw material used in production of asphalt for those years . In 2015, the auditors found that no records were available to verify raw materials used in production. The audit revealed that 'the only paper trail' maintained were delivery slips which

were used to record sales As a result of the missing records, the auditors were unable to confirm raw materials used in production of asphalt, how abnormal loss correlated with sales and carry out alternative audit procedures. C o n s e q u e n t l y, t h e auditors could not satisfy themselves that the balance of $1,150,037, 000 and $188, 475,000 shown in the financial statement as income and raw materials costs (used in production) respectively for the Asphalt Plant are materially correct. The report, which bore the signature of Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, noted further in that same year, advances to Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited for Services amounted to $366,704,752 as of December, 31, 2015. The audit noted that though the sum included in the balance is for unserviced contracts coming forward from 2012 it was reduced to $158,485,446 as of 30, April (Continued on page 22)

Over 7,000 booster doses administered so far Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, MP, said that the administration of booster doses has increased incrementally across Guyana. To date, the Ministry of Health has administered 7,270 booster doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Department of Public Information reported. The programme was rolled out in November and was initially targeting persons 50 years and older, persons with comorbidities and frontline workers. It has since been extended with booster shots being available for persons 18 years and older, who received the second dose of their vaccine six months ago. Since the roll out of the country's COVID-19

vaccination campaign earlier this year, the AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have been used. For persons who took the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, a booster shot of the Sinopharm vaccine is recommended 52 days after the dose. Those who took the Sinopharm vaccine, can take the same vaccine as their booster shot three to six months after the second jab. It is advised that persons who have been immunised using the AstraZeneca vaccine, can receive an MRNA vaccine, which should be taken six months after the second dose. A shot of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine can be used as a booster shot for the (Continued on page 14)

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

Data Management Authority in shambles ...AG says systems weak; info for COVID-19 Voucher Programme can be altered, corrupted or destroyed

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma

F

ollowing his completion of a comprehensive performance audit on the COVID-19 Pandemic A s s i s t a n c e Vo u c h e r Programme for the period March to September 2020, Auditor General, Deodat Sharma found several red flags with some of the agencies that were central to the execution as well as the preservation of the integrity of the programme. The agencies which were involved included the Ministries of Finance, Communities and Social Protection; the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) and the Civil Defence Commission. Of particular concern for Sharma was the role as well as the state of affairs of NDMA, the country's sole data management agency. He noted that NDMA was responsible for assessing applications for vouchers valued between $25,000 and $32,000 in accordance with approved criteria established in the COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance Guidelines to ensure only eligible individuals received assistance. Sharma stated however that the National Data Management Authority did not have adequate input controls to prevent inaccurate, incomplete

and/or invalid data from being entered into the system. Sharma said this resulted in more than one application being processed for an applicant. He further noted that an examination of the database revealed 71 instances where the accepted forms of identification, that is to say, a national identification card, a passport or a driver's licence, were not entered in the system. In addition, there were twenty-five instances where duplicate applications were processed by the system. Though NDMA did not respond to the audit finding, Sharma still made key recommendations which included that management ensure appropriate controls are implemented for Programmes of a similar nature so that all information accepted by the system is complete and in the required format, and applicants are uniquely identified to prevent duplicate entries being accepted by the

system. With special emphasis on General Information Technology and Application Controls, Sharma said it was expected that NDMA would have systems in place to ensure that access to the hardware, software, database

and network established for the COVID-19 Pandemic A s s i s t a n c e Vo u c h e r Programme were “controlled, protected and secured.” Much to his dismay, the AG discovered that NDMA did not ensure all

applications and platforms were secured. As a result, Sharma said the information system related to the multimillion dollar voucher programme was exposed to security threats, which could

alter, corrupt or destroy data. While NDMA , once again, did not reply to the audit finding, Sharma still recommended that yearly (Continued on page 22)

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 16, 2021

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

Stamp out corruption

December 9th saw a gathering of Guyana’s growing crowd of oil hustlers. It was mainly of the powerful one percent of people in Guyana, who corral and control the wealth of this country. It was of the rich government products they receive, which overflow with promise. It is of the downstream oil business that they are so wellpositioned to snare with the ruling party’s approval. This was a predator’s ball of many known for shady business enterprises, which can serve as context and depth to what the United States Ambassador presented on the International Day of Anti-corruption. Its law enforcement dossiers are flush with reports on many of them. The announced, and much made of, position of the Government of the United States of America is that governments the world over, including Guyana’s, has a responsibility to stamp out corruption whenever such rears its ugly destructive head. The message from the U.S. Ambassador, Ms. Sarah-Ann Lynch, highlighted “constructing a legislative framework that deters corrupt practices.” AND for Government operations to be “transparent, such that citizens and the media can provide oversight and hold officials accountable.” AND “procurement processes that comply with international anti-corruption standards ensure a level playing field for investors.” AND “private sector actors must also answer for any role that they play in corrupt practices, and when choosing private sector partners, it is advisable to choose the reputable over the most convenient.” AND “a robust civil society and free press are critical to holding leaders responsible for their actions.” We will be honest and admit that we have often wondered what happened to the United States, as embodied by the presence of its energetic ambassador to this country. We had gone a step further and asked ourselves whether United States agents in Guyana were so much in bed with Guyana’s governing leaders that they saw no evil, heard no evil, and had no evil to speak to, because such was none of their business, and for fear of being accused of meddling. However, when Her Excellency spoke during the observation of the International Day of Anti-Corruption, there were two thoughts that came and took centre stage in our deliberations. The first was whether this was not another sham stance on the part of the United States, because of its linkages to ExxonMobil, one of its very own and highly prized children. But because her words were so pointed and penetrating, as quoted above and carefully separated by us, the second thought that surfaced said that there was some meat and muscle to what she was saying. To put it differently, there were many sharp signals contained in those well-chosen words and spaces into which Ambassador Lynch delved. To be clear, the Americans are nobody’s fools, and will not let anybody pull the wool over their eyes and cloud their minds. They see and hear what is going on here; they have their own deep intelligence sources, some local, some foreign. They also have the many vast wisdoms that come from over a century of being an almost uncontested world leader. If anyone has a single doubt, we repeat some of the areas touched upon so delicately, but tellingly, by Her Excellency, Sarah Ann Lynch. What deters corrupt practices, plus citizens and media oversight, plus official accountability, plus procurement practices, plus robust civil society and media presence. Those were not random, but deliberate, even provocative in the places they went and the worms they stirred. In the simplest terms, we think (and we give the Americans the benefit of the doubt today), that what the American Ambassador was saying to leaders in the Government of Guyana is that we know what is going on, and we neither agree with it nor like it. As two examples singled out, procurement and the press speak for themselves. The Americans have to have seen how attempts were made to intimidate and muzzle this newspaper, through lawsuits and a range of dirty tricks. How procurement is a running joke, and how segments of civil society were bought out. Time will tell whether the call to ‘stamp out corruption’ was sincere, or part of the sucker’s game in full flight here.

Engineer certain that slick on Guyana waters from offshore drilling and oil production DEAR EDITOR, It was noted for some time now that the water in the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and in the Atlantic Ocean is tainted with some substance that is not normal. The contaminants are for sure stuff that has been dumped into the ocean and rivers. These are surely wastes from the ongoing offshore drilling and crude oil production.

There is lots of waste generated in these activities, lots of drilling fluids, completion fluids, hole conditioning fluids. These are not solely oilbased fluids. They are chemicals and are comprised of synthetic stuff. So, there will be no visible oil slick as noted with oil spills. Lots of the supply boats that traverse the shores of

Guyana may bring these wastes and would release them. They will then take back other stuff to the drilling rigs and FPSO. One of the supply boats was observed last year going down the Essequibo River, many days traversing at very slow speed by myself and others. It may be offloading waste on its inbound trip. There were no

supply ports in the Essequibo River. There should be stiff Maritime regulations for these supply boats and what they are dumping in the oceans and rivers. It should be noted that I am an Engineer. Did studies in Nova Scotia, Canada for the oil and gas industry, hence the above notes. Thank you, Suresh R. Seetaram

ISSUES WITH CURRENT GUYSUCO CEO FOR HIS FRIENDS TO DEAL WITH HONESTLY DEAR EDITOR, I refer to a letter written by the close friends of GuySuCo’s CEO, Mr. Sasenarine Singh, Dr. Rose and Dr. Rajkumar, entitled, ‘CEO Sase Singh is the right person for the job’. This was in response to a letter written by me in the press. Others have written about the wrongfit of the CEO, such as Freddie Kissoon, former President Donald Ramotar, Samuel Gittens, Budhram Singh, the former Estate Manager of Skeldon Estate, Mr. Vishnu Panday and others. These sang the same refrain, and I am positive that they cannot be wrong about their conclusion that the current CEO is unfit for his current role. Can Dr. Rose and Dr. Rajkumar classify the statements made by the above-mentioned persons as, ‘reckless, insipid, wishy-washy and without merit’? Frequent and periodic external and internal audits are nothing new at GuySuCo and there are stringent checks and balances at GuySuCo more than any organisation in Guyana, and for the CEO’s sympathisers to say that it took the current CEO ‘less than a year to end massive corruption/bribery and halted the gravy train that produced a bonanza’ is indeed reckless and without merit. Can Drs. Rose and Rajkumar give one instance of bribery and cor-

ruption? GuySuCo’s procurement rules are in line with the Procurement Laws of Guyana and cannot be over-ridden unless there is collusion at the Estate, the PCMD and Head Office. This collusion never happened but the recent forced resignations and appointments at the PCMD, at Head Office Finance, the Human Resource Department, and the appointment of two Directors in Field and Factory have created the perfect atmosphere for such collusion. He now has absolute control of the upper hierarchy of GuySuCo, which has been carefully selected by the CEO to do his biddings. This is a recipe for bribery and corruption on a grand scale. Let me demonstrate: The Finance Director was forced to resign. The individual who was in the succession plan was promoted as Head of Finance, who subsequently was forced to resign because of the way he was treated and ridiculed by the CEO. The CEO’s friend, who was appointed in March this year as Senior Finance Controller, a new position created, is now appointed as the Head of Finance. Another individual who is a close friend of the new Head of Finance, who was employed just five months ago, is now appointed as the Senior Finance Controller bypassing persons who are more eligible for the

post. Is this not cronyism? This sums up the heist of the Finance Department at Head Office. In order to facilitate all these ‘appointments’ he had already installed one of his cronies as the Head of the Human Resources Department. Procurement is where the bribery and corruption is, so he must take control of this important Department. The Head of Procurement was forced to resign, after she was ridiculed and belittled by the CEO in front 25 persons. He then installed another of his acolytes in that position. There were two managers, one for Factory and one for Field; they were forced to resign after they exposed the breach of the procurement procedures, only to be replaced by two additional acolytes. This completes the heist of the Procurement Department. I am sure that the Government is aware of these happenings. I would wish Dr. Rose and Dr. Rajkumar to dispute the above facts. In their response, these two good doctors spoke about the loss of the ‘gravy train’ and ‘bonanza’. Let me briefly respond to this. GuySuCo had four expatriates and three local persons as the CEO in the past but these fade in comparison to the extravagance the current CEO, especially at a time when the Corporation is at the brink of col-

lapse. The CEO took a week leave to make lavish preparation for his ‘Recount’ birthday bash allegedly utilising GuySuCo’s resources. It is alleged that a truck load of workers from Enmore and Uitvlugt was involved in cleaning and other preparatory works and on his natal day, three busloads of culinary workers, waiters and waitresses and barmen were transported to his residence. Floodlights were installed. If these allegations are accurate, then why should the Corporation bear these personal costs? Since 2020 the CEO attempted to purchase a high-cost vehicle and it is alleged that monies were paid to the supplier, what is the update on this vehicle and the money paid? What has happened to the regular ISUZU? The GuySuCo Board has the names of these persons who were intimidated and forced to resign, Dr. Rose and Dr. Rajkumar must make a formal request for the submission of these names. I can submit their names but for reason of confidentiality I cannot. GuySuCo has been hijacked by a wrong-fit CEO and the Government must act now rather than later. Ignoring the problem will not cause it to go away. Yours sincerely, Abdool Majeed

ON QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE, VISHNU PERSAUD WAS THE LESSER CANDIDATE, YET GECOM CHAIR SUPPORTED DEAR EDITOR, Friday, December 10, 2021, will go down in the annals of GECOM as another occasion when GECOM failed in its responsibility to embrace transparency and best practices. Its decision to appoint Mr. Persaud reeks of partisan and bias pre-dispositions, which I will expose in this letter. Having ventilated on this matter during the process, it was not my intention to comment on the travesty which prevailed on December 10, 2021. The Chairperson’s rare and swift Press Release,

coupled with Bisram’s letter to the Editor, calls for a response with the facts that will confirm that it was a travesty. The Chairperson and Bisram studiously avoided the question of qualifications in the Ruling and Press Release, and letter to the Editor respectively, but sneakily remarked that Persaud is qualified for the job. That Persaud meets the basic academic requirement, on this occasion, for the job has not been contested. What has been ignored is Harrow’s superior academic achievements and

job experience. Harrow has what may be referred to as a ‘B’gree while Persaud’s Master’s could only be referred to as a ‘D`gree. He attained the equivalent of a 2.2 grade point average out of a possible grade point of 5.0. Most institutions, including those that Harrow attended, require the attainment of a 3.0 grade point average out a possible 5.0 grade point average for the student to graduate. That the Chairperson steered clear of any reference to academic qualifications, in her Ruling, is there-

fore understandable, given her Ruling in favour of Vishnu Persaud. It should be noted that 30% and the highest of values in the evaluation guidelines was attributed to qualifications. Since this letter is not an argument for Harrow, I will not detail further his academic superiority, suffice to say that he has two Masters, one of which is a level 7 qualification that the United Kingdom Qualification Framework equates to a Masters. It should however be noted that Bisram also (Continued on page 60

Thursday December 16, 2021

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

To the People’s National Congress: Pivot, find new direction, balance DEAR EDITOR, “The sons of Adam are limbs of each other having been created of one essence. When the calamity of time affects one limb the other limbs cannot remain at rest. If thou hast no sympathy for the troubles of others thou are unworthy to be called by the name of a human.” Written some eight centuries ago by the Persian poet Sa’adi, this now adorns the entrance of the United Nations Building in New York. World leaders pass by those words as they confer on world matters, mainly the human rights of the peoples of the planet. My country, Guyana, is not unknown for its breaches of human values, its calamity of time is about sixty-five years. Almost seven decades. Certainly, enough time to awake towards progress and prosperity. The upcoming Congress of the People’s National Congress is a moment in time for a new direction for Guyana. A Paradigm Shift - An advancement in knowledge that has large scale impact. In my country, life is not easy. Foreigners willing to usher peaceful co-existence find themselves departing with, ‘Guyana is not for the faint of heart.’ It is a Prison House of Nations and Nationalities, because that’s what we are. Freedom is not given to all citizens universally, each nation and nationality feels freedom must be taken. There has been fiftysix years of attempts at it. Respect and tolerance is nonexistent in our political systems, one is an alien to the other. A change must come. There must be an attempt to align the People’s National Congress on a trajectory of economic governance. Whatever is taking place today will be questioned in the future by the children of today, who are now witnesses right across the country. Much is being said on social media, as are the political commentators. It is like a norm among generations and ethnicities, PNC is Afro-Guyanese. Likewise, the PPP is IndoGuyanese. For those ethnics, who find themselves in these organisations are considered tokenisms. There must be integral participation, those ethnicities must be listened to. In the creation of the People’s National Congress, both ‘Afros’ and ‘Indos’ were involved. It was separation of moderates of the 1953

confrontational political system. In the entire history of the PNC, Indians were members of the party. Over the years, they became only faces with no voices. That must change. Many have tried to be the Third Force or the Alternative, but citizens have preferred to maintain the PNC and the PPP. As a citizen, it is expected to have a worthy and worthwhile alternative. The PPP will never bring in a government that is respectful of the Opposition. They need to be shown the way. Their rise to power makes them unreasonable. As it stands, the current PNC allows the government a free hand without any attempts of being the respectful Opposition, one that is capable of speaking to the citizens. There are enough swing votes to add to the PNC secured seats. The 2015 elections proved that. Those voters were betrayed by the visionless leadership in the People’s National Congress. The PNC needs to be the political organisation that recognises the path to governance lies with the voters. It is a competition for the citizen’s basic and only right, their single vote in the hope that their inheritance will be well-managed. I cannot see how the PNC can increase their seats in parliament to the majority, unless they give some serious attention to the Indian voters. This must be a serious consideration for the new leader. A plan must be designed as guarantees to the Indian votes. If norm is adhered to, possibly a PNC victory may have an Indo Prime Minister. Hopefully, not one as the PNC dictated to Moses Nagamoottoo. Instead, a Prime Minister with enough responsibilities to be regarded with great respect. The task ahead is to shed the image of the PNC years as the government, those years, was terrible for the nation. Unless the PNC remakes itself as viable option, then we will inherit the PPP years, when analysed will be terrible years as well for the lack of a credible alternative. I wish to make the case for the possibility of the Indian vote. Both main ethnic groups do not care to know much of each other. Very few would

know of Guyanese history, which encompasses all nations and nationalities. I suspect, the main groups prefer their own separate accounts. For AfroGuyanese, no nation can experience their pains during slavery and as such, no one, other than an Afro-Guyanese has the authority to speak of it. For the Indo-Guyanese, they wish to tell of their sufferings as if sufferings have different levels. There has been this competition for punishment. Side-tracked by distrust and division, both of these groups lose out on prosperity. Their actions dominate the lives of Amerindians and the other three nations of people that came to British Guiana. The Emancipated African of the British Colony was involved in all aspects of the colony. They were teachers, midwives, stevedores, shopkeepers, tradesmen, farmers and much more - they were everything to the colony. They alone sustained a country. As the ‘Indentureds’ left the Sugar Plantations, the African found himself in competition. When competition becomes noticeable, it breathes contempt. It began with the Portuguese, they took over the stalls at Stabroek Market, then the Indians took over from them. As the economy grew, indentureds rose up the ladder and everything became very competitive. For the decades that followed, contempt was in the land. It was fertile for men with destructive points of view. Fortunately, today, we have wealth. Enough to grow our economy for a better life with more than enough jobs. Unless the PNC of this moment sustains this country, we would have surrendered the dreams and aspirations of an entire nation to poverty. When men make decisions with no contemplations, corruption prevails, like nations with wealth as ours. An incident took place sometime around the latter part of 1838. I have always considered it to be very significant for Guyana as a young developing country. As the poet wrote, “When the calamity of time affects one

limb the other limbs cannot remain at rest.” Emancipated Africans in their testimonies spoke of the sufferings of the 1838 group of Indians. The poor diet, hours’ work, unhealthy living conditions, leg irons for escaping and the whip. It was the Emancipated African nurses that tended to wounds of the whip lash. An African headmaster who documented the harsh treatment to the Anti-Slavery Society. It was the actions of the Emancipated Africans who made a difference in our establishment in Guyana they were responsible for the humane system we were indentured to. One they never had for centuries for themselves. Did the Emancipated African see Indians? I doubt it. He saw a fellow impoverished human, being treated horribly - a treatment that was repeated in their ordeals. Some six centuries after the poet’s words, the Emancipated African, just freed from slavery would express his humanity as written by Sa’adi, “When the calamity of time affects one limb the other limbs cannot remain at rest.” They did not remain at rest. The heart is capable of much compassion and hate. My appeal to the People’s National Congress, allow compassion to prevail and choose a system that pacifies the extremists among you. May the moderate voices be thunderous. The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in the human meekness and human responsibility. The Persian poet expressed these sentiments in the thirteenth century. But, it was the Christ, who would record for humanity the relationship of brothers, as rightly stated by the poet-the sons of Adam. The Scriptures tells us, “And just as you desire people to do for you, do also for them.” We must discover and claim the God-given worth as people who have great potential for good. Among the many quotes of Vaclav Havel, there is, “We must live in truth.” History records truth, it has already happened, it is the past. The future is ours to design in reflection of our past. Our past

is rich in diversity and our land is abundant. We must find the tolerance, not quick to judge one another in malice. Indentureship, gave Guyana its uniqueness among the nations of the modern world. The Free African from America, Africa and Caribbean Islands, the Portuguese, the Chinese, the East Indians of 1838 are all part of the Guyanese landscape. During indentureship these people of humble nature departed from their shores in search of a better life. From all those races of people, along with the Natives who were here way before, the gift of life made the Mixed Races. A country of Six Peoples we are proud to proclaim. The system of Indentureship is an old one among the European nations. John Gladstone would draw from the system where Englishmen, Scotsmen, Irishmen and Welshmen provided the labour for the lands in the New World of the British West Indies. In exchange for the right to live in economic freedom. Soon, the landless of the British Isles became landowners in the New World. Cultivation needed a labour force, not enough indentures from the homeland, enslavement assured a labour force. The West African Coast was not unfamiliar to the Spaniards, Portuguese and the Dutch. Trading of commodities quickly switched to human cargo. For the 1838 group of East Indians to British Guiana, they would open up the colony to a stream of East Indian indenture(rs) until 1917. People of humble nature departed from the shores of Calcutta. Broken physically, yet urged forward for the sake of survival. Tenacity of their spirit would place their footprints in 1838 upon the fertile lands of British Guiana, its counties of Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice. Forbidden in beliefs of their ancient religion to venture beyond the sacred rivers of the Brahmaputra, Indus and

Ganges. A civilisation that marveled Alexander the Great, one that had no slaves. A system that categorises people in castes lived and died for generations past, and all the future generations yet to be born. They would surrender old customs and traditions. Indo-Guyanese historians have concluded, many indentureds were from the lower castes including the Untouchables. In the freedom of British Guiana, they developed, owned land, property and had their children educated. In India, never the possibility of such freedoms. In British Guiana, their children educated by African teachers. On the Plantations, the oppressive ways of the planters were slightly modified due to the testimony of the Emancipated African on the 1838 immigrants. When the time came to move off the plantations, the Indians would live among the established towns and villages of the Africans. Quamina, his son Jack, Plantation Success, Plantation Le Resouvernir, Rev. John Smith and John Gladstone. The names and places associated with a significant change in British Guiana - the journey towards the end of slavery in the British Empire. In 1807, Wilberforce was only able to get the British House of Commons to stop African Slavery by Britain. The struggles were to continue in the British Parliament. The campaign for better working conditions and education for slaves still on the plantations of the British Empire. Rev. John Smith familiar with enacted laws pertaining to slaves on Plantations arrived at Plantation Resouvernir and began his work at the Chapel. No sooner, consultations with the Governor revealed Rev. Smith’s familiarity of the few rights permitted to slaves on the plantations. And he began. Each attempt at education was curtailed with complaints to the Governor. (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 16, 2021

To the People’s National Congres... ON QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE... From page 5 Eventually, teaching and reading was restricted to Biblical contents. His congregation grew beyond Plantation Le Resouvenir with worship services attended by slaves of every plantation on the East Coast of Demerara. Among the worshippers was Quamina, a slave of Plantation Success owned by John Gladstone. Some men have natural understanding of the scriptures. Quamina was such a person, and he became a deacon in the church. On every plantation on the East Coast of Demerara, there was talk of Emancipation. There was excitement back in 1807, but emancipation never came. In 1823, there was excitement again, now delivered by Jack, son of Quamina. Favoured on Plantation Success for his trade of making barrels, he was free to move around the plantations plying the trade. From Jack, the word would travel from House Slaves to Field Slaves on the

plantations. Knowledgeable in words and sentences, house slaves read the correspondences from Britain. The raging debates in the House of Commons. Impatient, the slave insurrection took place. The punishment was horrendous. The British public appalled at the barbarism of it, mounted a campaign assisted by the anti-slavery society of a boycott of West Indian sugar and commodities. The British Parliament was pressured to end slavery in the British Empire. The great debate of property came into question, investments, sugar, and the existence of the colony of British Guiana after slavery. John Gladstone for his business survival and the survival of other Planters would follow the path of Indentureds from the Azores, Maderia, Africa, America, Caribbean, China, and India. The commodities market took away the guarantees from Britain to its Plantation Owners in the British Empire.

Competition meant cheaper labour costs, the only negotiable variable in any production. Overwhelming circumstances in India of devious higher castes, zamindars, British Raj, pursuit of Recruiters and famine would make available a few hundred thousand East Indians to the Plantations in the British West Indies. The masses would come to Demerara, directed by “DEMERARA” a sign on the loading dock at the Port of Calcutta, Garden Reach. Months of sailing upon the waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, around the Horn of Africa and its turbulence as the two great seas merge. And, there upon the Atlantic Ocean, laden ships of human cargo ferry in haste to the Middle Passage for winds to the West Indies. Upon entering the mouth of the muddy Demerara River, they would be documented by numbers on tin plates or simply a number, depending on the recruiter. As a number, this human cargo would build his life in British Guiana. All citizens, home and abroad, have found ourselves to be Guyanese. There must be meaning in our minds. We must do better, we have to do better for the future. Converging on Congress Place in masses is necessary, for those who choose to speak for Guyanese must know the meaning of our minds. In the words of MLK ,”if you can’t fly, run, if you can’t run, walk, if you can’t walk, crawl but by all means keep moving. I add, to an assembly at Congress Place. Stay Safe. Velutha Kuttapen

From page 4 steered clear of academic qualifications in his rooting for, and touting of, Vishnu. The Chairperson in presenting her Ruling and in her Press Release articulated that her decision was given after listening to the Commissioners. Indeed, she had an opportunity to listen to the presentation of the Commissioners, however December 10 was the only occasion when the six Commissioners deliberated on the candidates’ performance, after the interviews, including the content of their CVs. after which the Chairperson immediately read her Ruling. It is, therefore, disingenuous for her to infer that her decision took into consideration the presentations of the Commissioners. Whatever she heard could not have been factored into a Ruling that had already been scripted. This highlights my conclusion that the process was a travesty. It should be noted that the Chair had never previously delivered a ruling on any matter at the end of the session in which the Commissioners had deliberated on the matter. A major plank of the Chairpersons Ruling, according to her, was the testimonial of the former Chairperson of GECOM, although it was brought to her attention that Persaud’s employment by GECOM, in 2001, was at the invitation of the former Chair. On that occasion, there was no advertisement or interview, as well as Mr. Persaud did not have the qualifications required for such a position. No wonder he was, ac-

cording to his own admission, “de facto Personal Assistant” to the then Chair. He also did not have the twelve years of experience, as was specified in the Terms of Reference that was memorialised for the position by the then Human Resource Manager. In 2014, when Mr. Persaud was preferred for the position of Deputy Chief Election Officer he was once again chaperoned. The position required a person who had attained a bachelor’s degree. At that time, he had attained a Level 5 qualification from a British Institution. The United Kingdom’s Qualifications Framework, equates a level 5 qualification to a Foundation Degree (a degree which qualifies one for advance standing in a bachelor’s programme). Mr. Persaud was preferred then for the job based on the contention of the then Chair that the level 5 qualification was equivalent to a Bachelors. Equipped with all that information of him being chaperoned, the chairperson declared that the testimonial of the chaperon was a decisive factor in her determination. The other travail to hand Mr. Persaud the job was the attribution of experience. Mr. Persaud has three years of senior managerial experience and operational involvement in two elections, as Deputy Chief Election Officer. Prior to that, 0he was ostensibly the PRO. Nowhere in the world is a PRO a line and staff position, or senior managerial position. Also, an examination of GECOM’s job description, for

the position of PRO, in no way describes its functions as managerial. Having unadvisedly insisted that “at least 10 years’ experience in a senior management position overseeing and directing diverse operations …. At least 10 years’ experience in Management of National Elections and Election Systems is a prerequisite requirement” they contrived to attribute that experience to Mr. Persaud on the basis that he was PRO for 14 years; acted for the CEO in short stints in between elections; and carried out a voter education assignment. I need not dismantle the other contentions in favour of Mr. Persaud. It is patently clear that he has neither the superior qualification nor the experience. Those are the essential criteria. He is being chaperoned for the third time. This reeks of a dysfunctional and corrupt system, and explains why a neutral panel of human practitioners was rejected although it is a Best Practice in the field of Human Resource Management. All the aforementioned raises many questions about GECOM’s institutional arrangements and adherence to procedures. Not only were best practices shunned, but there are also clear indications that decisions may even have been made before the decision-making process had commenced and or concluded. Yours truly, Vincent Alexander GECOM Commissioner

T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N B T . U . L . L T B . . N . U N U T L N B . U T . . L N N U T B . U . N L U BL BLUNT. B . . T . T T N N U . U L . . L B . T B . . . . N . T U T N N T U N U L L U B . L B . . . . B . T . . T . N N T U N L LU U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B . T L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B . T . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . . LU ...BLUN B T . . . N T U N L U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T . U B . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T BB T...BLU U N L U B . L . . B . T . . N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . . N . B . T . . N T U N N N U L U U B L . BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

One observant Guyanese call what Guyana has today an 'oil hustle.' When there is a hustle in motion, it means there are oil hustlers around.

We urge our fellow Guyanese not to look too far, for they are all here. Foreign oil hustlers. Local political oil hustlers. Private sector oil hustlers.

They are a mostly dirty, obscenely smelly bunch knocking the poor out of the way, and grabbing everything in sight.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Thursday December 16, 2021

Govt. borrows double what it earns By Gary Eleazar

G

uyana last year collected some $230.4B in current revenues but with its total public debt figure standing at some $415.2B, it would mean the country, last year, earned as a nation half the amount it owes. The startling revelation was laid bare in the Auditor General's report for the fiscal year 2020, made public when the National Assembly met on Monday last. Documented in that report, the Auditor General outlined that, the total public debt stood at $415.153 billion or the equivalent of US$2B at the end of 2020. This compared with the sum of $388.5B billion or the equivalent of US$1.8B, at the end of 2019, representing an increase of $26.7B. The Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, in his report noted that, expressed as a factor of current Revenue—$230.383B—the total public debt at the end of 2020 was 1.80 times the current earnings, with a factor of 1.61 at the end of 2019, and 1.80 at the end of

2018. It was noted that during the years 2015 to 2020, the total public debt increased by $63.1B or by 17.92 percent as shown in the table below. Public debt in 2015 stood at some $352.1B which has since moved to the $415.2B by last year. The country's public debt is required to be serviced out of the Consolidated Fund and as such is subject to scrutiny by the Audit Office. The Internal Debt for government at the end of 2020 was $143.428 billion, compared with $120.096B at the end of 2019, a net increase of $23.332B, according to the Auditor General. It was noted too in the report that the External Loans Act, Chapter 74:08 of the Laws of Guyana, as amended by Order №. 31 of 1991, authorises the Government to raise loans outside of Guyana not exceeding G$400 billion. In February 2021 however, the external debt ceiling was increased from G$400 billion to G$650 billion. The domestic debt ceiling was also increased in February 2021 to G$500

billion from G$150 billion. According to Sharma, during the period under review—2020—the Government of Guyana entered into four new loan agreements totalling G$14.9B. However, there were no disbursements on these loans during the year 2020. The related loan agreements were all laid in the National Assembly

during 2020 and 2021. These related to additional financing for the flood risk management project and amendment to the original financing agreement, COVID assistance and a small hydro power plant. Current revenues had by the national coffers are sourced from collections made by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) through the payment

of various taxes and fees, such as the Pay and You Earn (PAYE) contributions by taxpayers, earnings from the Value Added Tax and Customs and Excise duties among other sources. The midyear report produced by the Ministry of Finance on its financial performance of the country for the first half of the year had pegged the country's total stock of debt to be some US$3B. Former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, subsequently lamented the state of affairs saying, the country's ballooning debt should be of concern to all Guyanese. According to Jordan, the administration's signaled intention to borrow several billions more is based on the assumptions that oil resources will continue to earn at current world market prices at some US$80 per barrel. Only recently, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, confirmed that Government was looking to access some US$1.5B in loans from China. The former Finance Minister noted that at half year, the debt stood at

US$2.9B and along with the proposed loan from China, there is also another amount to the tune of some US$1.9B from the Islamic Development bank to be secured.He drew reference, too, to the fact that only recently, Head of State President Irfaan Ali announced an intention to approach the United Arab Emirate (UAE) to tap into their 'sovereign wealth fund' for investments in Guyana. A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e President had announced an intention to approach the Kuwaitis with an interest in accessing their investment fund. These additional debts, to be contracted, according to Jordan, do not even include the regular borrowing from institutions like the World Bank, the Caribbean Development B a n k , a n d t h e I n t e rAmerican Development Bank (IDB), among others. The IDB currently has the largest share of Guyana's external debt according to the government's mid-year report on the country's finances. According to the (Continued on page 22)

Security guard held after running off with DSL, Massy money A security guard attached to the Amalgamated Security Services has been arrested after he allegedly stole over $1M from Distribution Services Limited (DSL), and Massy Distribution both located in New Amsterdam, Berbice. The theft occurred between December 2-3, 2021, police said in a press release. According to the police information disclosed by the manager of Demerara Distillers Limited (N/A) is that on 2021-12-02, the female cashier for Distribution Services

Limited handed over two deposit bags with marked serial numbers to the department while he handed over three bags with marked serial numbers to a male security of Amalgamated Security Services. On 2021-12-10 the manager received information that one of the bags containing $200,000 dollars cash was missing. Further enquiries disclosed that a female cashier for Massy Distribution (also on 2021-12-02) handed over nine bags containing cash to the said security. On 2021-

12-13 she received information from the bank that a bag containing $1,000,000 dollars cash was missing. The police were informed and the suspect was later arrested, told of the allegation, cautioned and placed into custody. A search was conducted on the suspect's home by a party of policemen and $485,000 dollars cash was found. Same was taken to Central Police Station and lodged. The suspect remains in custody as further investigations are underway.

Thursday December 16, 2021

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Raising the next generation of scientists I did promise you that from time to time I will be dedicating this space to aspects of science which I feel will be of interest to the general public, a task that is all the more necessary, considering the decline in the teaching of science in our classrooms. Improving the teaching of science within our schools will also encourage greater interest in science within our schools. I have always felt, however, that interest in science needs to be cultivated from an early age within our homes. We should not wait until children enter the formal school system before we fire their thirst and hunger for scientific knowledge. We should begin this initiation from an early age, and this should happen firstly at home. Children are naturally inquisitive about things around them. Just recently I was speaking with my own grandchild who, after looking at the West Indies fast bowlers, asked me how by jumping a bowler gains more speed. Now, that is a scientific question that will require inputs supported by facts about bio-mechanics, momentum and motion, all of which are fascinating subject areas in science. The question shows how much our children are keen on understanding the world around them. Thus, the right age to cultivate an active interest in science is when our children are very young. When children are young, they have questioning minds and their constant questioning can be at times irritable, but only because we adults to whom the questions are

posed do not always have the answers. They expose through their constant probing questions, the inadequacies of their parents, and sometime we react by telling them how they ask too many questions, which is the worst thing that can be done, since this will only discourage the development of an active mind. Even if we do not know the answer to a question, we need to encourage this thought process of our children, because it is only by asking questions that they grow in knowledge. We also need to expose them to role models. I recall when I was a teenager how fascinated I was by the work of scientists and how they came upon the discoveries that changed the face of human history. One day, I was in the library and came across this biography of one of the greatest scientists of the twentieth century, Marie Curie. I borrowed the book and could not put it down. That was a long time ago, but I still recall how engrossed I was in the story of this amazing woman. I have searched long and hard ever since to try to find a biography of Marie Curie, so that I could share the story of this woman with my grandchildren. I have not been successful so far, but I am sure there are many such works available. I urge any parents or guardians who wish to harness their children’s natural propensity for science; who wish to satiate their offspring’s appetite for answers to the puzzles of science, to introduce your chil-

dren to the story of Marie Curie. This was a simple woman, born in Poland, whose love for science forced her to break with tradition and immigrate to France. There she pursued her studies eventually becoming a doctor of science. In Paris also, she met her husband who was a renowned scientist. They married and continued their work in science. They were neither rich nor comfortable. In fact they were not fortunate to have some of the modern equipment, laboratories and resources which today’s scientists have at their disposal. Their facilities were primitive, and yet this amazing couple was able to isolate two important chemical elements, one of which was radium, and to pioneer the study and understanding of radioactivity. Their story is fascinating. One of the things that really struck me about this poor woman was her deep love for scientific knowledge. Despite the hardships she endured before being awarded the Nobel Prize, she was obsessed with her work and dedicated her entire life to the study of science. She made science her life’s vocation and, with her husband, would work from sunrise to sunset in trying to improve mankind’s knowledge of whatever she was studying. Such dedication is inspirational. She is the perfect role model for our young children who have an interest in science and who may wish to continue into higher studies. I urge any parent to introduce their children to the life-story of this great woman whose brilliance and painstaking ef-

Dem boys seh ...

One man’s food is another man’s poison

Dem boys seh dem gat some men who before dis pandemic cud not stay home. Dem gat to go out. Things change now. Some ah dem you believe had red ants in dem house don’t wan lef it now fuh nuthin. Dem boys know one man who like duh. He so happy staying home dat he seh de Coronavirus is de best thing happen. He seh how he wife nah wan travel anymore; she no longer shopping because she seh everything mek in China. She nat going to de

Mall…to avoid crowds. In fact, she spending all she time at home with a mask over she closed mouth. According to de husband, dat is not a virus; it is a blessing in disguise. But one man’s food is another man’s poison. Dem boys know another man who instead of going to de bar, drinkin’ from home, he eye get black and blue. He fuhget weh he deh and ask he wife fuh she phone number. Dem boys thinking bout Osama Bin Laden. He been

lockdown in de house fuh five years. Dem boys wonderin’ whether he was de one who call in those Navy Seals heself. De Coronavirus change a lot ah things. Lang time, if you walk in bank with mask dem woulda call de police. Now, if you walk in de bank with a mask you are wan valued customer. Dem boys seh some bank tellers think dem smart. A bank teller get lack up by de police fuh tekkin de bank money home. He claim dat he was going to wuk from home. Talk half and stay safe!

forts helped to transform the scientific community and whose findings was later to lead to so many innovations that have benefited mankind.

(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

Thursday December 16, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Charles Ceres on entitlement: A response There can be no deeper pathetic offering in any discussion of Guyanese politics than the application of the Black Lives Matter symbolism to Guyana. When you come from Greenland and you don't know anything about Guyana and you read what people like Charles Ceres is talking about, then you think Guyana is a white country with a white power establishment. Mr. Ceres wrote a belated condemnation of the PNC when it was in power. He used two frameworks – Black Lives Matter and African entitlement. Concerning the latter, here are his words, “… all lives cannot matter when the current level of disparity exists between African Guyanese who were enslaved to build Guyana and other Guyanese who are enabled by the state.” This is outright contempt for the facts of Guyanese history. It is sociological obfuscations and it falls

within the realm of Goebbelsian extremism. The African entitlement theory when academic analysis is applied to it becomes political bullyism. I will elongate on its untenable contents in another column. Let's present a case for Indian Lives Matter to Ceres in the attempt to exorcise from Guyana's sociology, the falsehood that only Black Lives Matter. I don't know Charles C e r e s p e r s o n a l l y. S o respondents should let Ceres know that Indian Lives Matter. I was ordered to stop leaving my bicycle in the National Park that I did for almost 10 years. It was no coincidence the edict coincided with my daily criticism of the betrayal of the post 2011 dreams of the Guyanese people by the APNU+AFC government. Mr. Ceres' wife, Nidibi Schiwiers, headed the Department of the Environment which had

jurisdiction over the National Park. I took my letter personally to her office. Her secretary told me she was out of the country. Wanting an urgent intervention, I called Mr. Ceres by phone for her email address. He told me he will send it to my email. I didn't get it. Long after Schiwiers came back, I attempted to make contact umpteen times. My bicycle eviction was never discussed. Subsequently, the National Park stopped me from entering the compound where the head office is located. Then I was stopped from feeding a stray cat. I wonder if being an Indian had anything to do with it. Ceres mentioned the PNC's compensation to people when it came to power but he left out my case. I wonder if it is because I am an Indian. Maybe Ceres could explain. But here is what happened. D r. M a r k K i r t o n ,

consultant to the government, requested the Ombudsman report on my illegal termination at UG. He said he will make a case for compensation. He drove into the National Park where I was running with my dog to collect the documents. The matter died there and then. If Mr. Ceres was living in Guyana at the time when Dr. Kirton tried to help me, I wonder if he would have acted; after all, Mr. Ceres' grandfather knew my father, my mother and my eldest sister very well. I wonder if Mr. Ceres didn't act because I was Indian. Academics and political observers need to focus on the words of Ceres in which he bemoaned the state enabling Guyanese groups than Africans. Make no mistake, this is the new ideology of an anti-PPP mindset that essentially argues that African Guyanese have been so badly treated

that its time they confront the “Indianised” government. C e r e s ' narrative is straight out of the playbook of some people whose Frederick Kissoon company I am sure Charlie would not like to be in. The obvious religious discrimination name that pops up is Rickford Guyanese Indians have Burke. My Tuesday column suffered for since they had to confront the insane, arrived. I end with a question for asinine and dangerous Charlie. Is it true that the sermon of a woman in another publication who B u r n h a m i t e s t a t e h a d argued that Guyana has an enabled your parents and inherent bias against Black you? If true, then at the same time I would have been people. If it wasn't for the starving in Wortmanville. sensitive state of race Burnham also denied me the relations at the moment right to work in my own courtesy of the Cotton Tree country. Was it because I was demagoguery of Joseph an Indian? What you think, Harmon and David Granger Charlie? (The views expressed in last year, that woman's this article are those of the thinking would be extremely a u t hor and do not comical. Any history book on Guyana will not fail to necessarily reflect the mention the cultural and opinions of this newspaper.)

Govt. seeks $4B to pay GPL ...says money represents arrears by ministries, departments

Despite the fact that some $2 billion was allocated in Budget 2021, to pay for electricity charges to the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), government is seeking an additional $4 billion from the Contingency Fund. This time it says to clear arrears owed to that company by state agencies. This request comes just a week after GPL announced that it was broke. Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon during a Press briefing on Wednesday flagged the request, citing that the amount is a 329 percent increase from what was paid to the company in 2019. He said, “Additionally, $4

billion is being requested to clear the arrears owed to GPL by the government ministries. The Ministry of Finance budgeted $2 billion for electricity charges in 2021. Now this is a 329 percent increase, from what was budgeted for in 2019”. Harmon pointed out that since the government is requesting more monies, he would like to know the exact sum of the arrears owed to the state-owned GPL. “What we would wish to know, since this is arrears payment, is whether in fact the Ministry of Finance has taken over all of the arrears payment for all Government ministries and in that

manner, how much is the arrears and what is left to be paid, after this sum is taken out,” the Leader of the Opposition explained. The matter is expected to come up for discussion today in the National Assembly. Harmon reminded that Article 220 (1) of our Constitution states that “Parliament may make provision for the establishment of a Contingencies Fund and for authorising the Minister responsible for finance to make advances from that Fund if he or she is satisfied that there is an urgent need for expenditure for which no other provision exists.”

Further, the Financial Management and Accountability Act, section 41 states clearly that the Minister must be satisfied that all matters that are dealt with under this section are urgent, unavoidable and unforeseen, therefore justifying the need for the expenditure. He therefore reasoned that “The question that is therefore left to be answered when one looks at Financial Paper Three of 2021 is, can any reasonable minister, responsible for Finance, honestly say that all of the monies taken from the Contingency Fund during this period fit the criteria set out by our Constitution and the FMAA?” According to him, the pattern of the PPP has revealed to not only him, but the country at large, that the administration is 'extremely

poor' at budgeting and at economic management. In fact, he argued that this is the very reason that the economy is in “such a mess”. “It's either that, or they are very cavalier about an approach to national resources. That they believe they can give you a National Budget and three months after you come for another sum, another four months after you come for another sum. So it's really not proper planning and this is why our economy is so messed up.” Harmon posited. He explained that while some of the Government's requests, such as the provision for vaccines and drainage and irrigation to mitigate flooding meet the requirements set out in the Constitution, the majority does not line up. In this regard, the Opposition Leader assured

that the administration will be seriously interrogated when such matters come up today. “We don't just go through this just to criticise but we actually have gone through this line by line and where in fact it does not meet the requirement, as set out in the Constitution, then clearly these are matters which (we) would flag and seriously interrogate these numbers,” he said. Today, the government will be seeking an additional $26.5 billion in the National Assembly, through its two financial papers. The requests made by the PPP for additional funding from the Contingency fund, if successfully passed, will allow for more monies to be directed to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and for security services, among others.

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Thursday December 16, 2021

Govt. seeks over $100M for security services for Region 1, 5, 6 Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon

…$65M alone for Region 5 Over the past three years, Governments have increased the security service charge by at least $1 million to respective agencies, however this year the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration is seeking to take up those charges by as much as $65 million in one Region alone, despite no formal announcement of an increase in wages to the guards.

This is so according to the Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon who on Wednesday, hosted a virtual press briefing on the finances being sought by the Government, from the Contingency Fund. It must be noted that the Contingency Fund in Guyana, like any other country, is only to be touched for emergency expenses. Nevertheless, Harmon reasoned, “all across the regions we are seeking

WCB man charged with murder Shane Samaroo called 'Tanta

increase in security charges, but what is the reality? There has been no increase to security guards (salary) since 2018 when the APNU/AFC (A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change) raised the hourly rate from $300 to $377”. His Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul explained to reporters that government is seeking additional monies, from the Contingency Fund, to pay for security charges in three Regions including Regions One, Five and Six. According to Mahipaul, in Region One the sum of $25 million was allocated, while in 2020 there was an increase to $28 million and in 2021 $28 million was also allocated, but the Contingency advance shows that they would have provided an additional $1 million to that programme. Under another Programme, also for security charges in 2019, the Region received $20 million, and 2020 they got $22 million, but in the 2021 Budget even though they received $25

million, the Government is seeking an additional $3 million from the Contingency Fund. In the same Region, another programme was allocated $45 million in 2019, $49 million in 2020 and $58 million in 2021, but another $6 million is being sought to cover security charges. Over in Region Five, $172 million was paid for Security services provided to the Department of Education, $176 million in 2020 and in 2021, some $190 million. Even though the costs increased over the last year by $14 million, Government wants a whopping $65 million more to cover these expenses. Mahipaul said what is happening in Region Six is also worrying. According to him, “In 2019, they had $62 million, 2020 they had $62 million also, 2021 they got $65 million, but from this Contingency advance they are now asking for us to approve $28 million (more)”. He noted that these numbers must be taken into consideration with the fact

that the Contingency Fund permits spending for emergency expenses. Meanwhile, Harmon pointed to the way in which such contracts are being awarded. “I have spoken to a number of security companies that are in these regions, in particular Region Six, where there seems to be an unusual increase in the cost for security services as (opposed) to Region Four which is much larger, you are finding that the award of security contracts in these regions, they are made not to the lowest bidder, not to the bidder with the most experience but to the friends of the PPP,” he shared. The Opposition Leader added: “In some cases when you have a bid of $500 million for a contract, the

person who bids $900 million gets it, and so you can understand why the guards are not being paid an increase, but the increase in the security charges keep going up and up, because they have to deal with these exorbitant sums that they are paying the security companies that are friends and family of the PPP”. He was keen to note that Article 220 (1) of our Constitution states that “Parliament may make provision for the establishment of a Contingencies Fund and for authorising the Minister responsible for finance to make advances from that Fund if he or she is satisfied that there is an urgent need for expenditure for which no other provision exists.”

Region 10 Agri. Dept. launches e-agriculture project

T

Just two days after he was captured by authorities in Region Six, Shane Samaroo called 'Tanta Boy', a 20-year-old Labourer of Rosignol Village, West Coast Berbice was on Wednesday charged with the capitol offence of murder. Samaroo appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh. He was charged with committing murder contrary to common low, on Faroze Khan of Rosignol Village, WCB. The matter was transferred to the Blairmont Magistrate's Court and he is set to return on December

20, 2021. Police on the13th December 2021, while acting on a tip off, ventured into the Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder backlands and arrested Samaroo and his mother Irene Seecharran called 'Pinkey', 36, a housewife of Mibicuri, BBP. She was arrested for harbouring Samaroo whom police had issued a wanted bulletin for in August, after he stabbed Khan to death and escaped. It was previously reported that Khan was beaten and stabbed to death on August 19, 2021, at Bennet Dam, Rosignol, WCB by Samaroo.

he Region 10 Department of Agriculture has launched an e-agriculture project which includes the development of a digital database aimed at mapping all the necessary information about farmers operating in the region so as to better support them. The database is currently in the first phase, according to Regional Agricultural Officer, Deryck Collins. This phase consists of registering all the farmers and mapping their geographical location. To date, close to 600 farmers have been mapped. Collins said this 'big ticket' 2021 project, aims at transforming the region's agriculture sector, through the use of (Information Communication Technology) ICT. The database when completed will possess information on the farmers' geographical location, the crops they are

sowing, their challenges and progress amongst other things, to provide the necessary support and marketing. These farmers are located in all communities across Region 10 and include kitchen gardeners, traditional and non-traditional farmers, cash crop farmers, livestock and poultry farmers, ground provision farmer and agroprocessors. “The focus for 2021 was on service delivery, getting the services to the farmers and we are doing this through ICT. We are creating live data that will be in real time about all the farmers operating in Region 10” Collins said. The data will also be updated every time field officers visit the farmers to determine whether their operation is active or not. In 2022, this data will be transformed into a more reporting database, which will allow for more accurate projections for reaping and

Regional Agricultural Officer, Deryck Collins more analytical data for reaching market demands. “The database will be able to say which farmer is active or inactive. Officers when they visit, will enter a log note that will reference the observations during the visit. This will allow for a projection based on the information and we will try to have algorithms to generate information that

will allow for more effective results.” Based on the information generated from the database, the department will be able to determine how to plan their budget and what farmers are really in need of, whether it be assistance with pesticides, training, seeds or climate smart techniques. The Department has (Continued on page 22)

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

PPP/C, PNC repeatedly ignore remedies to fix flagrant financial violations …Auditor General concerned as 62% of recommendations not implemented

T

he Audit Office of Guyana is headed by Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, who heads the team responsible for scrutinizing the expenditure of public funds on behalf of Parliament. The Office conducts annually, financial audits of all publicly-funded entities, donor-funded entities, local government agencies and trade unions, in Guyana. In his 2020 report, covering a period when the 'purse strings' were presided over by both, the coalition A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance for Change (APNU) administration and the People's Progressive Party Civic government, Sharma found that 62 percent of his recommendations to remedy the repeated financial violations committed over the years, have not been implemented. According to the Auditor General in his latest report, “each year, my Office issues recommendations to Ministries, Departments and Regions that are designed at

improving systems and practices at these entities and improving the Government's governance and accountability mechanisms.” To this end, he observes that for his 2019 report, 645

recommendations are repeated each year without appropriate action and as a result, weaknesses and issues that impacted negatively on Government's governance and accountability

Additionally, he said, “in many instances,

mechanisms continue to occur.” As such, Sharma in his report, once again, encouraged “the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, the Accountant General's Department and the respective Heads of Budget Agencies to take appropriate actions and put measures in place to address these recommendations.” According to the Auditor General in his 2020 Report,

Toddlers, among four injured after bike slams into tractor T

wo toddlers were among four persons who have been injured after a motorcycle on which they were travelling slammed into a tractor along the Barrack Retreat Public Road in Region Nine on Monday. The two adults injured are: 22-year-old Orville Jonas and Shundell Simon, while the injured children are: Josiah Jonas and Cataleya Simon. They all live in MocoMoco Village. According to police investigators, a tractor, TVV 5566, with trailer # 28541, owned by the Mayor and

at the time of reporting in September this year, only 243 or 38 percent of his Office's recommendations were fully implemented, 161 or 25 percent were partially implemented, while 241 or

“…in many instances, recommendations are repeated each year without appropriate action and as a result, weaknesses and issues that impacted negatively on Government's governance and accountability mechanisms continue to occur,” AG Deodat Sharma recommendations had been presented to the administration. In the 2020 report, Sharma found that, having r e v i e w e d e a c h recommendation to determine what action, if any, was taken by the respective Accounting Officers, “62 p e r c e n t o f t h e recommendations have not yet been fully implemented.”

Town Council of Lethem, was at the time being driven by 64-year-old Ivor Antone of St. Ignatius Village. Police investigators stated that the tractor and trailer were carrying a metal stage along the public road when the driver attempted to make a turn. As the tractor was turning, the driver of motorcycle #CK6518, who reportedly was driving at a fast rate of speed, collided with the right front wheel of the tractor, resulting in the driver and the three pillion riders of the motorcycle falling on the roadway and sustaining injuries to their

bodies. They were picked up and rushed to the Lethem Regional Hospital, where they were admitted to the hospital's Emergency Ward. Shundell Simon suffered an open fracture to the right arm and right ankle, while Orville is suffering from a fractured left arm. Meanwhile, Josiah sustained bruises to the head, while the other child, Cataleya, suffered lacerations to the head. A breathalyzer test was conducted on the tractor/trailer driver, but no sign of alcohol was detected in his system. He has been since arrested.

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma

37 percent were not implemented. Among some of the violations highlighted by the Auditor General in the 2020 report, Sharma said that during the period under review, and based on the sample of projects examined, it was discovered that five contracts totaling $1.6B were terminated as a result of poor performance by the contractors. These included an amount of $826.8M for the construction of Yarrowkabra Secondary School, for which a contract was signed since 2019, while the sum of $412.3B was for the contract for construction of St. Roses Secondary School, which was signed in 2018. Meanwhile, the sum of $321.9M was for the contract for Ministry of Health's Head Office Building Phase 1, which was signed in 2017, and the sums of $10.8M and $8.3M were for Construction

of Revetment at Riverstown Creek and Upgrading of Brummel Street respectively, which were both signed in 2020. Another violation observed by the Auditor General relate to a contract in the sum of $13.1M which was awarded by the Ministerial Tender Board of the Ministry of Agriculture for Repairs to the Storage Bond at the Hydrometeorological Service. “It was discovered that a completely new storage bond structure was constructed using funds allocated under 6242 – Maintenance of Buildings - despite these construction works being capital in nature.” This practice was observed, not only at that B u d g e t A g e n c y, s i n c e according to the Auditor General, a contract for Corrective Maintenance Works on Building at Canal №. 1 Nursery School was awarded for the sum of $3.9M. However, it was discovered that a new reinforced concrete sanitary block was constructed under

this contract utilising funds allocated under the fund for 'Maintenance of Buildings.' Under the Guyana Police Force, a contract to the value of $4,801,253 was awarded by the Ministerial Tender Board for the construction of an Extension of Guyana Police Force's Finance Department. These works were also paid for using funds allocated under the budgetary line item that caters for 'Maintenance of Buildings'—all in breach of the financial regulations of the country. Over payments on Contracts to contractors were also some of the breaches highlighted by the Auditor General. Other violation red flags highlighted by the Auditor General in his 2020 report include Un-presented P a y m e n t Vo u c h e r s , undelivered items that had been procured, such as drugs and medical supplies, inadequate checks and balance systems, sole sourcing and balances and overpayments to contractors among other violations.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday December 16, 2021

COVID-19 cases tripled in the Americas in 2021 ...but millions now protected thanks to vaccine - PAHO says

W

hile COVID19 infections tripled in 2021 and health systems struggled to cope, “we have learned what it takes to bring this virus under control,” and must urgently address gaps in vaccine access to ensure everyone is protected, the Pan American Health O r g a n i z a t i o n ( PA H O ) Director Carissa F. Etienne urged. “When we compare 2020 to 2021, this year was undoubtedly worse,” with more than 98 million infections and 2.3 million lives lost, the director said in a media briefing on Wednesday according to the press release by the agency. As the second year of the pandemic draws to a close, Dr. Etienne called on the region to employ all

resources available to bring the virus under control, including vaccines, masks, social distancing and surveillance. Today more than 1.3 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the Americas, and 56% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have been fully vaccinated. But despite this coverage, the Director warned that “millions in our region have yet to receive a single dose.” “ Va c c i n e i n e q u i t y continues to divide our region and if we don't address these glaring gaps, we'll fail to bring this virus under control,” she warned. As we look forward to a new year and promising developments in COVID-19 therapeutics that may help treat the virus, curb hospitalizations and

prevent deaths, we should incorporate lessons learned from vaccine rollout, Dr. Etienne highlighted. Countries must “heed the advice of the WHO, expert committees, scientists and regulators whose jobs it is to carefully review the safety and efficacy of drugs and recommend when, where and how to deploy them.” But countries must also start preparing now to ensure timely and affordable access to such new treatments. The PAHO Director emphasised the importance of expanding regional production, “so countries don't remain completely dependent on pharmaceutical imports.” The Region has the “technical expertise, a wellestablished manufacturing capacity, strong regulatory infrastructure, and an

effective pooled procurement mechanism via our Strategic Fund” that, if leveraged, will help us accelerate access to COVID19 technologies, she added. Most importantly, the region must continue to work together. Collaboration across borders enabled vaccines to be developed in record-time, variants identified quickly, and countries to adjust responses based on latest evidence, the director added. “Each time we worked together, we had breakthroughs,” she said. “Sharing is central to defeating this pandemic.” Over the past week, the Americas reported over 926,056 new COVID-19 infections – an 18.4% increase in COVID-19 cases from the previous week. The

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne US and Canada are experiencing a resurgence in cases as Mexico sees a steady decline. Cases are also down in Central America, with the exception of Panama. In South America, cases have dropped in Bolivia for the first time since September, but increased in Ecuador,

Paraguay and Uruguay and remained steady in Brazil and Peru. In the Caribbean, infections are down overall, except in Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and the Cayman Islands, which reported the highest weekly incidence in the Americas.

Unvaccinated woman 300 plus Berbicians to benefit from succumbs to COVID-19 house lots in first quarter 2022 The Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported that a 68-year-old woman from Region 10, who contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, has died. According to the ministry, the woman was an unvaccinated patient who died on Wednesday while receiving treatment at a medical facility. As a result of her demise, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,025.

Meanwhile, in its latest COVID-19 dashboard the Health Ministry recorded 66 new cases bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 38,684. The dashboard also shows that nine patients are admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 48 persons in institutional isolation, 735 in home isolation and three in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 36,867 persons have recovered.

M

ore than 300 residents will r e c e i v e affordable house lots in three housing schemes in East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), before the end of the first quarter of 2022. Regional Chairman, David Armogan said the infrastructural works are advancing at the Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme in East Canje and the Wi l l i a m s b u rg H o u s i n g Scheme on the Corentyne. Regional Chairman of Region Six, David Armogan and Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, M.P, during the recent commissioning of the water treatment plant at Sheet A n c h o r, E a s t C a n j e , Berbice.explained that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is pushing to complete the road and other prominent structures ahead of the land allocation exercise. “The minister has said by the first quarter of next year we should be able to allocate

house lots in these areas,” the chairman said, in a recent interview with DPI. Since taking office in August, 2020, the PPP/C Government has committed to delivering some 50,000 house lots within its first term in office. Through the Ministry of Housing and Water's Central Housing and Planning A u t h o r i t y ( C H & PA ) , thousands of Guyanese can now boast ownership of lands via several housing drive hosted nationwide. Armogan said the RDC is ready to partner with government to ensure Berbicians also enjoy the services offered by the administration. “In the Williamsburg area, what we are doing, we are building houses there which will cost about $5.2 million, so people can buy the house on the land,” the chairman relayed. He said 12 contractors have already been selected to construct the homes. Meanwhile, the chairman said over 50 asphaltic

concrete roads were completed in 2021 across the region, some of which were financed by the Public Works Ministry and others through the RDC's budgetary allocation. He said while all the thoroughfares which needed attention were not fixed this year, the RDC was able to address those roads which were deemed priority. The chairman alluded to the ongoing construction of two major roads at Numbers 52 and 58 villages Corentyne, which will soon give farmers access to 50,000 acres of prime farmlands. He also spoke about the progressing works at the $100 million Moleson Creek to El Dorado Road project. Additionally, the RDC was able to conduct major repairs to a number of learning institutions, ensuring proper sanitary facilities are available. Among those were the Berbice High School (BHS) and the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS). (DPI)

Over 7,000 booster doses... From page 2 Sputnik V vaccine.Additionally, the country's COVID-19 vaccination campaign has been positively progressing with nearly 80 per cent of its adult population receiving the first dose of a vaccine. To date, 407,341 adults or 79.4 per cent of this age group have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine

while 288,315 or 56.2 per cent are fully inoculated. In terms of adolescents, 29,865 teens or 40.9 per cent have received their first dose while 21,107 or 28.9% are fully immunised. Persons are still being encouraged to visit any one of the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccination sites to receive their jabs.

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 16, 2021

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 16, 2021

PAGE 19

M&CC spent $14M to fix most 'important' areas of La Penitence, East Ruimveldt markets - Engineer

A

mid complaints about the deplorable conditions at the La Penitence Market, the Mayor and City Council is now disclosing that it recently spent some $14 million to upgrade critical areas of that facility as well as the East Ruimveldt Market. Speaking to Kaieteur N e w o n We d n e s d a y , Assistant City Engineer, Rasheed Kellman stated that works were done on both markets which include repairs to the Revenue, Constabulary and the Solid Waste offices. These works include installation of the roof of the step attached to the constabulary office, covering of drains, installation of the ceiling and lights in the respective offices along with some other plumbing works at the La Penitence Market and the construction of two market blocks, changing of the roof and some other minor works at the East Ruimveldt Market. The project, he said, commenced in December of last year but was pushed back due to the Christmas season because the market is usually busy around that time with customers and vendors. He noted however, that the Government has already

The deplorable state of the La Penitence market roof.

budgeted money to be rolled out next year for the general repairs to all the municipal markets around Georgetown. This process, he stated, will take some time as it is a step by step action. The works which were done to the markets are only

the first phase of the rehabilitation process, which was intended to fix the areas that are of priority. The second phase will be implemented next year, which aims to focus mainly on the market structure. Ve n d o r s o f t h e L a

Penitence Market have told this newspaper that for some time now they have been imploring the government to address the deplorable condition of the market that is only becoming progressively worse over time. Kaieteur

News was told by vendors that because the market roof is filled with holes and rotted zinc sheets, when it rains, the roof leaks profusely, directly into their stalls and this would damage goods from time to time. The market is also prone

to flooding and as a result, it is usually difficult to stock their goods in a secure area. The leakage would oftentimes lead to vendors working in an uncomfortable state that can have a negative influence on customer service.

GTT promises improved infrastructure, service in Berbice G

T T o n We d n e s d a y committed to improving its infrastructure and services in the Berbice, Region Six areas. This commitment was announced by GTT's Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Business Solutions, Orson Ferguson during a Berbice Chamber of Commerce luncheon sponsored by the t e l e p h o n e c o m p a n y. Ferguson explained that the company recently met with members of the Upper Corentyne Chamber about expanding its capacity in the region. According to a GTT release, to better enhance its relations with businesses in the region, the COO noted that the company is already in the process of hiring a project/regional manager to oversee its business

relationships. “This person will be responsible for sitting in each of the chambers as o u r p e r m a n e n t representative and for selling and supporting our solutions for all businesses from the Berbice River to the Corentyne,” he said. In addition to the major upgrades planned for the region, Ferguson said GTT will soon introduce its Biz Fibre Service to benefit businesses in the New Amsterdam area. This service provides speeds of up to 500Mbps and high quality voice service which means that businesses can make crystal clear calls, among other features. Considering the government's vision to construct a call centre in the region, Ferguson said that GTT is ready and capable to provide support. “Not only

GTT's Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Business Solutions, Orson Ferguson

President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, Ryan Alexander do we have the technical know-how and the infrastructure, but we also have the experience in running and supporting call centres. We currently support

Teleperformance, Qualfon, Emerge and MIDAS BPOs. So, we are equipped and ready to back this new call centre in Berbice come 2022,” he stated. Meanwhile, President of

the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, Ryan Alexander thanked GTT for sponsoring its luncheon and said the chamber body looks forward to the fruition of the company's plans in 2022.

Only last year, GTT extended its fibre network to Berbice, which saw several areas including Corriverton and Skeldon benefitting from significantly improved service.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Thursday December 16, 2021

Sterling Products Ltd rewards students who scored well at NGSA Sterling Products Limited, in keeping with its annual tradition, on Monday rewarded the children of employees who scored well at the National Grade Six Assessment, with $70,000 each. It was explained that the monetary reward is presented to those children who would have attained at least 70 percent at the examinations. The awardees were: Annelisa Ramotar, Arbaaz Gaffoor and Mariah Gharbaran, a release from the company stated. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sterling Products Limited, Mr. Ramsay Ali congratulated the successful students and their parents for their good performance at the examinations, despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CEO noted that

Sterling Products Limited has been undertaking the bursary awards for decades. “This is something we have been doing for 25 to 30 years. We do it at this level and then we do it at the secondary level. It's important because anything that parents can get from us to assist in this process matters,” he noted. He emphasised the company's commitment to education and the interests of their employees, saying, “We also take it a little further that when children do well in school, they can intern here. The kind of experience they get from working in the company is tremendous.” Meanwhile, General President of the Clerical and Commercial Workers' Union (CCWU), Mr. Sherwood Clarke stressed the importance of education to

The awardeeds and officials of the Sterling Products Limited

the students. He noted that the country is on a trajectory that requires skilled and qualified Guyanese. He lauded the company for its continuous efforts to support

employees, saying, “The management continues to put education as a top priority. As you know, Guyana is in a state now of being transformative and with the

discovery of oil and gas, education plays a critical role. I want to extend congratulations to the management and parents as they keep supporting the

children.” The parents expressed their appreciation to the management of the company for recognising the children's accomplishment at an early stage.

‘All police commanders must Minibus tout murdered pursue a first degree' - Pres. Ali during row at ECD Bus Park President Irfaan said that all commanders of the Guyana Police Force must pursue a first degree and those who already have one will be encouraged to do their masters. He said the government will pay for their studies. Ali made the comments during the Force's Annual Christmas Breakfast on Tuesday. “For every person that is a Commander of a branch or division, we would pay in full for improvement in their education. Every single officer who is the Commander at the branch or regional level, must at least pursue a degree and those who already have a degree, next year we are going to

enroll you in a master's programme at the University of Guyana in defence studies because we have to ensure we give you the strategic tool and education…” the Head of State said. President Ali pointed out that of 250 ranks who will be receiving awards this year for their exceptional performance, the top 50 will be given the same educational opportunities. “We must not only have a highly talented Police Force, we must have a highly trained Police Force…” he added. The President explained that it is important for the GPF to be abreast with the G o v e r n m e n t ' s developmental agenda,

President Irfaan Ali makes his entrance at the Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.

which will guide their own policing strategies. He said that those who fail to get on board will be left behind. “Those who have a negative attitude and those who seem unwilling to be part of the future of this country by stepping up to your responsibility, sadly you will be left behind and I have no apology in saying this,” he further added. “I am not asking anyone of you to be politicians or to love me or love the PPP or love the government, I am asking you to love your country, love your job and love the people of this country…and if you can't do that, I'm sorry…the vessel will move without you,” President Ali related.

...suspect surrenders to police A 30-year-old man was stabbed to death during a fight with another man at the East Coast Demerara minibus park Wednesday morning. Dead is Morven Nurse, a minibus conductor of Haslington Village, ECD. The suspect Paul Junior Ly n c h w h o i n i t i a l l y escaped and for whom a wanted bulletin was issued later surrendered to police in the company of his lawyer. Police said that investigations revealed that Nurse and the 27-yearold suspect, Paul Junior Lynch were at the #44 Bus Park, Commerce Stree, Georgetown, when they got into an argument. The suspect was armed with a knife. Police said they then began to pelt each other with empty beer bottles and bricks before the suspect allegedly stabbed Nurse with the knife to his left side chest. Nurse ran a short distance before falling to the ground, while the suspect escaped in a minibus. Nurse was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead while undergoing surgery.

Suspect: Paul Junior Lynch

Minibus conductor, Morven Nurse

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

EU to give Guyana $1.7B in budget support ...funds will be used to pay for works already done to shore up sea defences President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday announced that Guyana will be receiving €7.56m (G$1.77B) from the European Union as part of its Budget Support Programme. The Head of State, after meeting with a delegation from the EU's External Action Service (EEAS), led by its Deputy Managing Director for the Americas, Mr Javier Nino Perez, also disclosed that the two parties had extensive talks on numerous areas for cooperation. The announcement was made via a joint press conference between President Ali and the EU representatives, the Office of the President said in a press release. The disbursement, the President noted, represents the last tranche of Guyana's Budget Support programme with the EU and is indicative of the decades-old EUGuyana partnership. He said that it also speaks to Government's “strong commitment to ensuring we work within the framework as approved by the European Union”. The EU has remained one of Guyana's largest providers of grant resources towards development programmes. The President said that this support culminated in the funding of Guyana's multiannual sugar programme that followed the

end of the country's sugar protocol with Europe, which saw the loss of the preferential market for sugar. President Ali explained that a multiannual arrangement was then reached, whereby the EU supported the country's development agenda through budgetary funding in various sectors such as climate adaptation and infrastructure—with a large portion going towards sea defences and the housing sector, among other areas. He said that Guyana appreciates the “significant assistance” it has received from the EU over the years. “I take this opportunity to highlight the strong support, and partnership with the European Union that we have forged, in the rebuilding of our fragile sea and river defences. The Guyana Shore Zone Management Programme targeted the reconstruction of several kilometres of our severely deteriorated sea defence systems along the coastline to protect low-lying areas which are prone to flooding during high tide.” As a result of this intervention, the President said, thousands of acres of arable agricultural lands under cultivation are protected from the intrusion of the sea. He added that the resources that are now being provided will “greatly assist in improving the lives of the

people of Guyana and will help to offset the expenditure that has been incurred in our relentless struggle to defend our coastal zone from the intrusion of the aggressive Atlantic Ocean”. EXTENSIVE TALKS President Ali was joined by several senior members of his cabinet, including Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd), Mark Phillips and Vice President, the Bharrat Jagdeo, for the discussions. He said that the highlevel government team, which included a number of ministers, had an extensive discussion with Mr Perez on various areas, including ways t o i m p r o v e t h e competitiveness of Guyana, the country's plans to diversify its economy, making the traditional sectors competitive, and Guyana's role in the regional integration process. “We discussed areas surrounding governance, improvement in the various arms that constitute the State, electoral reforms, ways in which the EU can support us in strengthening democracy, and importantly, working with the EU as close partners in championing Guyana's cause in partnering with the EU in promoting joint collaboration for our private sector; in looking at the political and governance level, and seeking support from the European Union in

President Irfaan Ali greets Deputy Managing Director for the Americas of the EU External Action Service (EEAS) Mr Javier Nino Perez. Also in photo is EU's Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantó, strengthening our political and governance systems.” The Head of State pointed out that the discussion also encompassed how Guyana can engage the EU to support its continued modernisation of its financial sector and how the EU can support Guyana's anti-corruption framework from a legislative, institutional and transactional perspective. The President also noted that they were able to have fruitful discussions on a comprehensive plan and framework that seeks to have further collaboration between the EU and Guyana and to strengthen and expand the relationship. The expansion plans also include the private sector as part of the stakeholder's component. It was also announced that Guyana and the EU have set an actionable timetable that they will seek to implement in the coming years—a timeline that would define their new strategic relationship. “Our country is

changing, and with that comes different dimensions in the management of relationships with international agencies like the European Union, and we have had the opportunity to discuss some of the challenges that can come our way and how we will mitigate and manage those challenges together.” EU'S COMMITMENT Mr Perez also gave brief remarks and stated that he comes with a message of hope and commitment. He said that the EU wants to be partners and “political friends” with Guyana since they both face similar challenges and have faith in the same principles and objectives. “There's a lot we have in common, historically, linguistically, socially, but as I said, possibly the most important element of what we share is the belief in many fundamental elements that will be essential to confront the challenges of today's world.”

EU's Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency Fernando Ponz Cantó, said that today's meeting was a culmination of many efforts and the beginning of “something more” where Guyana and the EU can build a closer and more excellent relationship. Ambassador Cantó also emphasised that the release of the budget support is proof of the EU's trust in Guyana's financial management practice and realisation of works. “I am very proud to say that with this programme, which overall has been €30 million, you have managed to build more than 10 kilometres or almost 10 kilometres of sea defences.” He also lauded the Government for maintaining almost 60km of sea defence and for the planting of six new mangrove sites. Not only did the programme reap environmental success, but social success also with the involvement of Guyanese females.

PS caught collecting bribe will finally be charged Permanent Secretary (PS) attached to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Sharon Hicks, who was reportedly caught redhanded collecting bribe more than two months ago will finally be charged. Updating Kaieteur News on this development was the Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum. He said that the case file returned from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) chambers on Wednesday

with advice that Hicks be charged with corrupt transaction with an agent. Blanhum added that Hicks will appear in court to face the charge at the earliest opportunity. Hicks was caught on October 7, during a police sting operation collecting $200,000 as a kick back from a security services contractor. Investigators had learnt the PS had a deal with the previous owner of the company. The deal was that

in order to receive contracts he must pay her $200,000 every month. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h a t contractor recently died and his son took over the business operations. The new owner was reportedly unaware of the deal with the PS and became fed up after she began demanding money from him just to sign off some invoices. As a result, he notified police and a sting operation was set up. The man agreed to pay her the

money on October 7 and she was caught red-handed by ranks collecting the cash. Hicks was sent on administrative leave immediately to facilitate an investigation however, it took more than two months before DPP could advise for her to be charged for the unlawful act. The file had been back and forth between the DPP and investigators. Police had to correct errors and return the file on three occasions.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Sharon is to be charged for collecting bribe from a contractor.

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 16, 2021

Govt. borrows double what it... VACANCY Procurement Clerk.Contact via email(chungsvacanc y@gmail.com). Tel:218-5120 or 632-0914, between 8am to 5pm.

VEHICLES FOR SALE Honda fit 1.175M negotiable. Tel:600-4676.

WANTED ExperiencedCashier, Counter sever Roti/ Puri cook, handy boy. Apply Hack's Halaal, 5 Commerce St. One welder must know Grill work.Tel:625-5763.

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

Skilled Carpenters, Mason, Welder & Labourer to work in Georgetown & Linden. Call:615-7526/602-9469. Leibrands financial management and tax consultancy. Apply via email:leibrands. pmtc@gmail.com& @leibrands. info@ gmail. com.

FOR SALE

One handyman from Grove or Land of Canaan.Call:6680306/694-7817.

Pure breed German Shepherd pups,black & tanned. Contact:665-9140.

2 males to work for Holiday in the interior omi age 3545,attractive salary.Tel:6778104.

1 CAT 428 Backhoe $3-5M,1 CAT 416 Backhoe $2M. Houselots available @ Blankenburg. Contact:6500402/652-0251. 8 tower Scafolds 6ftx6ft, american made. Contact:6391178/680-3497. One Jet 21" sanding machine. Contact:639-1178/680-3497. One stone concrete mixture, Honda Engine American made 2 sack ranson. Tel:6391178/680-3497/231-6960.

1 live in maid.Tel:674-9114. Female cook for the interior & male to work in the interior. Tel:687-7638/660-9093/ 691-3942. General domestic,living around Ogle E.C.D 25-45yrs, $25,000 wkly.Tel:610-3974. Uptown Kutz Barbershop, Barber wanted.Tel:6017132,address: Fifth St Alberttown. One maid. Call:666-3569.

Brand New Honda 2200 watts super quiet Inverter Generator.Contact: 639-1178/ 680-3497. Shepsky(German Shepherd and Husky Mix) for sale.For more info contact:684-7333. DIG.Colour copy,folder machine, papercutter,LG laminating machine,Abdick machine paper,sticker. Tel:2332725.

FOR RENT Self-Contained rooms in Lodge,for working couple/ single person,$35,000 light & water.Call:623-0076.

PENPAL Indian overseas male seeks female age 30/35.Call:6029975.

VACANCY Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 25-50 car/van licence. Call:642-9823. Male 18-35yrs to work at 26 Public Rd,Bagotstown glass & aluminium workshop & female waitress for restaurant 18-30. Vacancy exist for Security Officers,male & female 18yrs & above.Contact:223-4172/ 632-0099. Driver & Cleaner.Apply with application/CV and passport photo to Survival 16 Vlissengen rd,Newtown Kitty. Sales Attendant, Cashiers, Porters.Apply with application/CV and passport photo to Survival 16 Vlissengen rd,Newtown Kitty.

From page 8 information contained in the Mid-Year Report for 2021, monies received from the IDB in loans increased 10 fold, from US$5.2 million in the first half of 2020, to about US$55.5 million for the corresponding period in 2021.

The report stated, about 75.2 percent of the latter amount was allocated to combating the economic and social ramifications of the pandemic. Additionally, this publication last month reported that Guyana had ap-

proached the IDB for a loan totalling US$1,817,764 to support the development and implementation of a Medium-Term Development Strategy, which will leverage on the country's emerging oil and gas revenues.

Data Management Authority in shambles.... From page 3 security assessments of the management system are conducted to ensure continued security. Citing another area of gross weakness, Sharma said it was found that not all users of the voucher database were programmed into the system according to their legal names. He said an examination of the database logs revealed that individuals had accessed the database using passwords 'Administrator' and 'Analyst'. The Auditor General said this resulted in weakness of the controls established for the database. Therefore, unauthorised persons could have access to change or delete information. Sharma said this essentially

left the voucher programme exposed to grave risk. Speaking to other controls, the AG's report states that NDMA is expected to have physical security controls in place for the facilities, which house the servers and other information technology equipment to ensure its proper functioning is maintained. In this regard, Sharma highlighted that NDMA has three layers of physical security in place to control access to its servers and other critical information technology equipment. He said the servers and equipment were only accessed by management's approval and in the presence of a member of the Data Centre Services Unit. He further noted, “We

observed that the servers were housed in a specialized facility. They were placed on a concrete base that is elevated 3½ feet from the ground. This would be deemed inadequate taking into consideration that the city is prone to flooding. Industry best practices recommend that servers are located away from ground level to mitigate the risks of natural disasters, such as flooding.” His report therefore recommended that NDMA, ensure that the location housing the server room meets international best practices specifications to mitigate the risk of damage. In conclusion, Sharma said, “…Although there were controls to protect the infor-

mation technology equipment, these were not sufficient to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information system. This was evident as users shared common passwords.” He added that no yearly security assessment was conducted on the online portal, which houses the COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance database, while highlighting that there were no Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans in place. Also, Sharma highlighted that the servers were not fully protected from disasters. Sharma and his office therefore concluded that the controls in place at NDMA were not adequate to ensure the security of the information system was maintained.

2015-2017 audits pick up lax systems controls... From page 2 2018. Further, the report noted that the reduced sum placed the corporation at a credit risk of $158, 485, 446, if the supplier fails to honour the contract. The audit also revealed that the Transport and Harbours Department owed the Corporation $28, 078, 292 since 2013 for services provided for the Parika Link Bridge. In 2015, this balance was presented to the Board for consideration to be written off as bad debts since the amounts may not be recovered. This balance still remains in the financial statement which has resulted in assets being overstated by the amount of $28, 385,116. Similar occurrences were outlined in the financial audit

reports for the years, 2016 and 2017. According to the report, the corporation did not maintain adequate records and controls over the quantity of various raw materials used in the production of asphalt in that period either. The auditors noted that no records were available for verification of the raw materials used in the production process, production output, abnormal loss and sales. “ In the absence of records to confirm the accuracy and completeness of raw materials used in the production…I was unable to satisfy myself that the balance of $1, 677,139,000 and $790, 712, 000 shown in the financial statement as income and raw material costs (used

in production) respectively, for the Asphalt Plant are materially correct,” the auditor stated. Meanwhile, the report noted that the sum advanced to Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited, which amounted to $258,119, 014 continued to place the corporation at a credit risk. Additionally, the auditors reported that in 2017, they were unable to verify that the corporation balance of $980,475,000 and $494,466,000 shown in financial statements as income and raw material costs used in production respectively, for the asphalt plant are materially correct. According to the audit, the DHB Corporation did not maintain adequate records and controls over the quan-

tity of various raw materials used in the production of asphalt for that period as well. “No other records were available to us to verify raw materials used in the production process, production output, abnormal loss and sales. In the absence of records, I was unable to confirm the accuracy and completeness of raw materials used in the production for the asphalt plant are materially correct,” the auditor added. Further, he noted that advances to Courntney Benn Contracting services to the tune of $179,882,4446 at December 31 , 2017 was reduced to $139,252,114, placing the DHB company at credit risk of $139, 252, 114 if the supplier failed to honour the contracts.

Region 10 Agri. Dept. launches e-agriculture... From page 12 been striving to make the region more self-sustainable by pushing the 'return to the soil' initiative. Large-scale farmers are also encouraged to network so as to meet these growing demands both locally and

regionally. “One of the essential goals of running such software is to map market trends, market trajectory and the supply and demand chain,” Collins explained. In addition to this data-

base, the Department is also in talks with a German company to develop an App in 2022, which will consolidate all the information needed for a broader e-agriculture drive. The app is expected to determine whether projections,

track world and regional market pricing, amongst other things. The Department will also be procuring soil testing equipment and a soil testing mobile laboratory, in an effort to better serve farmers.

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 16, 2021

PAGE 23

Govt. to buy 2,450 tablets for GOAL scholarship awardees T h e N a t i o n a l Guyana Online Academy of even though awarded a Procurement and Tender Learning (GOAL) 20,000 scholarship are unable to access their education A d m i n i s t r a t i o n B o a r d scholarships programme. Speaking to Kaieteur because of the lack of ( N P TA B ) o n Tu e s d a y o p e n e d 1 0 b i d s f r o m N e w s o n We d n e s d a y, resources for the online companies interested in D i r e c t o r o f G O A L , c l a s s e s . A c c o r d i n g t o procuring tablets (electronic Professor Jacob Opadeyi Professor Opadeyi these device) for the Ministry of said that they are looking to electronic devices will be procure 450 tablets for p l a c e d a t d i f f e r e n t Public Service. The tablets, according to awardees, mainly for those government facilities in their the Ministry, are to facilitate in the Hinterland regions. respective communities. In online learning, through the He noted that these students addition, GOAL will also be Ministry of Public Service Procurement of tablets for GOAL's 20,000 Online Scholarships

Bidder Cell Phone Shack Zoon Inc. Supergraphics DNS Enterprise Survey Processes & Programming Inc. The Hardware Depot S & K Construction Consultancy Services & General Supplies Inc. J & R Shepherd Investments United Contracting & Supplies J. Hussain’s Constructions & Supplies

Amount Tendered $38,353,500 $16,875,000 $17,100,000 $27,900,000 $15,297,300 $33,637,500 $17,505,000 $17,550,000 $34,998,750 $20,250,000

Hinterland Electrification Co. Inc. Transportation of fuel and lube oil to hinterland utilities.

Bidder Marlon Johnson Parasam Persaud

Amount Tendered $34,975,200 $60,820,000

Guyana Defence Force: Procurement of genuine outboard spares

Bidder General Equipment Guyana Limited Farm Supplies Limited

Amount Tendered (vat exclusive) $52,425,000 (vat inclusive) $59,764,505 (vat inclusive) $59,986,800

Ministry of Finance Procurement of computer training in Microsoft Office for the Ministry

Bidder Computer World Limited Nations Inc.

Amounted Tendered $1,930,000 $3,941,002

Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Transporting tractors implements (plough and harrow) to Amerindian communities.

Bidder R & R Trucking & General Contracting Services Grant Transportation Services Ambassador Bus Service

Amount Tendered (Lot 1)$2,500,000 (Lot 2)$12,000,000 (Lot 1)$2,635,000 (Lot 2)$12,300,000 (Lot 1)$2,640,000 (Lot 2)$12,175,000

Guyana Energy Agency Supply, installation and commissioning of grid yield solar photovoltaic system and 37 KwH battery energy storage system at the Orealla Health Centre

Bidder Gafsons Industry’s Limited Trifactor Technical Sales & Services Limited (T&T)

Amount Tendered $9,649,922 $32,081,791

Ministry of Natural Resources Provision of security services for the period January to December 2022

Bidder Nel Global Security Co. Inc. Queen’s Way Security Service Inc. Kayla Good Mining Security Service Inc. Cerberus Security Inc. Amalgamated Security Service Guyana Inc. Strategic Action Security Limited RK’s Guyana Security Service Hoosein’s Security Service Inc.

Amount Tendered $25,245,620 $41,104,024 $20,472,000 $18,500,394 $15,941,140 $16,530,912 $17,414,968

...open tender for 460 to hinterland students

providing a total of 14 which was launched earlier the initiative. Also opened at NPTAB computers to different this year is being managed centers and schools in some by the Ministry of Education were bids for consultancy of the communities for and Ministry of Public services for the construction of the St. Joseph High Service. students. The establishment of the School building—a project The director mentioned too that next year they are GOAL programme was to which falls under the looking to procure about p r o v i d e l e a r n i n g Ministry of Education. Eight 2,000 more of these tablets to opportunities for Guyanese companies interested in this facilitate students with their countrywide at no cost. To project, on Tuesday only, date over 6,000 Guyanese submitted their financial online learning. The GOAL programme would have benefitted from proposal. Ministry of Education Consultancy services for construction of building for St. Joseph High School.

Bidder Deens & Partners Innovative Consultancy Service Inc. GR Engineering Company CB & Associates Inc. Aqua Sun Design Inc. SRKN’Gineering & Associates Limited Origin Investments Engineering & Agricultural Consultants Inc.

Amount Tendered Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted

Ministry of Public Works Consultancy services for road safety diagnostic and action plan (2022-2026).

Bidder Ernst & Young Services Limited

Amount Tendered Expression of Interest (EOI) signed EOI signed EOI signed EOI signed EOI signed EOI signed

TYPSA Tecnica y Proyectas S.A (Spain) Brinstent Systems Development Specialist Fred Engineering Expert Powerhouse IT Transport Limited UK in association with SRKN’Gineering & Associates Limited Egis Engenharia e Consultoria Limited along with EOI signed SRKN’Gineering & Associates Limited Rites Limited in association with CB & Associates Inc. EOI signed Traffic Injury Research Foundation (lead consultant) and EOI signed Ddivall Consulting Limited Protected Areas Commission: Provision of audit services:

Bidder PKF Barcelios Narine & Company D. Bahadur & Company M. Sukhai & Company HLBR. Seebarran’s Company TSD Lall & Company

Amount Tendered Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted Financial proposal submitted

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation: Provision of weeding and cleaning services

Bidder AKP Contracting TI Engineering Nihal’s Contracting Services Wassic Supplies SB Plumbing Welding & General Construction Profession Engineering & Construction Service N. Singh & Sons Contracting Service Triple J General Services & Supplies AYN Construction & General Services QA Civil Works SM & K Investment Renee’s Constructing Services

Amount Tendered $8,736,440 $13,899,104 $12,560,000 $8,128,540 $35,315,360 $16,120,000 $6,633,018 $26,400,000 $11,483,980 $5,232,752 $18,838,420 $26,726,342

Supply and delivery of fibre optic cables

Bidder

Amount Tendered No Bids Received

GUYSUCO Relocation of the #5 vacuum pan from the old Skeldon to Rose Hall Sugar Factory.

Bidder Yunaz Civil &Building Construction Services Engineer’s Estimate

Amount Tendered $19,280,000 $19,286,454

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 16, 2021

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 16, 2021

Thursday December 16, 2021

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Stephen Curry becomes 3-pointer king

Reuters - Stephen Curry broke the NBA record for most career 3-pointers Tuesday night and finished with a team-high 22 points as the visiting Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks 10596. Curry entered the game needing just two 3-pointers to break Ray Allen’s mark of 2,973 3-pointers and wasted no time making history. He drained two of his first three attempts, including the record-breaker — a 27-footer with 7:33 left in the opening quarter. Curry finished the game 5 of 14 from beyond the arc as

the Warriors won for the fourth time in five games to improve their NBA-best record to 23-5. Jordan Poole scored 19 points while Andrew Wiggins had 18 points for Golden State. Julius Randle scored 31 points for the Knicks, who have lost four straight and seven of eight. Derrick Rose finished with 15 points and Alec Burks chipped in 14. Nets 131, Raptors 129 (OT) Kevin Durant had 34 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists as short-handed Brooklyn outlasted Toronto for an overtime victory in

New York. The Nets rallied from an 11-point deficit on a night when they had eight players available due to seven players — including James Harden — being placed in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocol. Patty Mills added a season-high 30 points for Brooklyn. Fred VanVleet paced the Raptors with 31 points. Gary Trent Jr. and Pascal Siakam added 25 apiece and rookie Scottie Barnes finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Suns 111, Trail Blazers 107 (OT)

Thursday December 16, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A long-awaited vacation or a move you've been hoping to make could finally be possible. Before you go, there may be some paperwork to take care of. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Heightened imagination and ingenuity could bring new thoughts for advancing yourself in the financial arena. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Social events could bring some exciting new contacts your way. Relationships with partners of all kinds should be fruitful and mutually beneficial, particularly when the people are also close friends. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your efficient, practical abilities are operating at a very high level today. A long-term goal you've been working toward could finally be reached, bringing good fortune and acknowledgment. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your strong business sense and practical skills couple with imagination and innovation to bring advancement. Information from far away could prove especially valuable. Relationships with friends should be warm and cooperative. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Friends and family could visit you today. They're likely to bring new friends whose expertise benefits a project you're working on.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A social event in your neighborhood, perhaps in your home, could bring useful information your way that you can use to advance your career. You could make some valuable contacts. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) With the current astral environment, your professional and financial interests could take a turn for the better. Any difficulties you may have had seem to disappear as if by magic. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) All indications are that you're feeling mentally and physically great. Your professional and financial interests could take a sudden turn for the better. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Financial difficulties could be overcome today through the help of someone considerably older than you. Helpful advice could make a future course of action clearer and more practical than it seemed in the past. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today a piece of information for which you've been searching could become known. Your money management skills might be called upon to help out a friend or perhaps a family member. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) With the shifting planetary alignment, all of your efforts over the past few weeks could finally bear fruit.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) hugs his father Dell Curry (left) after breaking the record for most career three point baskets made during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports) Deandre Ayton recorded 28 points and 13 rebounds and Chris Paul contributed 24 points and 14 assists to help Phoenix beat host Portland in overtime.

Cameron Payne added 17 points off the bench as the Suns won for the 21st time in their past 23 games. Cameron Johnson scored 12 on four 3-pointers and col-

lected eight rebounds while Jae Crowder had 11 points for Phoenix. Damian Lillard tallied 31 points and 10 assists for Portland, which has lost six straight games and nine of its past 10. The Trail Blazers also dropped their fifth straight home game after opening the season with a 10-1 run. (Field Level Media)

“We cannot continue with... From page 29 then two weeks later you’re playing for somebody else, that to me is a no-no.” In a later interview, Ambrose provided further clarity. “The game has evolved. There is a lot more cricket being played now and many different T20 tournaments around the globe and there’s lots more money as well, so guys are going to go where the money is and I have no issues with that,” Ambrose said. “A cricket career can be a very short one, once you have an injury it could be all over for you so with guys going around plying their trade with different franchises making money to set themselves up financially, I have no issues with it. “However, I think it needs to strike a balance somewhere because most of these guys who are playing their trade around the world, it’s because they played for the West Indies team why people saw them and gave them contracts. So for me, you need to find a balance somewhere where you can give back to West Indies cricket. You need to give back to West Indies cricket at some point as opposed to abandoning West Indies.

PAGE 28

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

In tears, Aguero announces retirement due to heart problem AP - Fighting back tears, Sergio Aguero took a deep breath and finally made the announcement soccer fans had dreaded ever since he left a game with chest pains six weeks ago. “I have decided to stop playing professional football,” the 33-year-old Barcelona striker said Wednesday in front of an intimate audience of friends, family and teammates from a prolific 18-year career that has come to a sad and sudden end. Aguero, one of the world’s greatest strikers of this generation, underwent tests after leaving the field, holding his chest, during Barcelona’s match against Alaves in the Spanish league on Oct. 30. “When they did the first test in the clinic, the medical staff called to tell me there was a very big possibility that I wouldn’t be able to keep playing,” Aguero said. “... I was still processing everything when one of the doctors told me straight up, ‘That’s enough.’” Speaking at a specially arranged press conference on the field at Camp Nou, Aguero looked on in sadness as a highlight reel of his career was played on a screen. There were goals — and lots of them — shown from his time playing for Independiente, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City, Argentina and his brief spell at

Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero cries during a press conference at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/ Emilio Morenatti) Barcelona, which he joined in May but for whom he only managed to make five appearances. He smiled as he reminded everyone the final goal of his career was against Real Madrid, Barcelona’s big rival. Asked how he would like to be remembered, Aguero — living up to his reputation as a shy person — said he wasn’t the person to ask. He finished, though, by saying: “I wasn’t bad, right? That’s what they tell me.” One of the world’s most recognizable players, with his powerful shot and explosive movement, Aguero will best

be remembered as a player for his 10-year stint at Man City during which he became a great of the English game. Aguero scored a clubrecord 260 goals for City and was a key player in the growth of the team as a major force in England and Europe. He had a record 12 hat tricks in his total haul of 184 Premier League goals, the most for an overseas player and the fourth most all-time. He also scored what is surely the Premier League’s most famous goal, the dramatic stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers that clinched the title for City on the final day of the 201112 season. City manager Pep Guardiola, who is a former coach at Barcelona and molded Aguero into a more allround striker during their time together in England, was at Camp Nou. City fans sang Aguero’s name during the team’s 7-0 win over Leeds on Tuesday. “One of the best strikers ever,” City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne wrote on Twitter. Aguero, who joined City from Atlético Madrid in 2011, struggled with injuries in his final two seasons at City and was allowed to leave. He signed for Barcelona, where he thought he’d be linking up with close friend and Argentina teammate Lionel Messi only for the seven-time world player of the year to join Paris Saint-Germain because of the

Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the game during their English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Ethiad stadium, Manchester England, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/ Jon Super, file)

club’s financial problems. Aguero missed the start of his first season at Barcelona because of fitness issues and was making only his second start for the team when he felt discomfort in his chest against Alaves and came off just before halftime. “The decision I made,” Aguero said. “I have taken it for my health.” For Argentina, Aguero scored 41 times in 97 matches — putting him third on the national team’s all-time scor-

ing list — after making his senior team debut in 2006. That came between two world titles for Argentina’s youth teams.Aguero’s only major title with Argentina came at this year’s edition of the Copa America, in which he barely featured, and he also won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008. He played in three World Cups, and was a second-half substitute in the 2014 final that Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany after extra

time. Aguero was one of the youngest players to make his debut in Argentina’s top division, at the age of 15 for Independiente. He had spoken about potentially finishing his career at the Buenos Aires club. Aguero scored 427 goals in 786 games in his career. “I can be very happy with the titles I have won,” Aguero said. “Anyone can always give a bit more but I think I did everything as best I could be myself and my clubs.”

Most countries won’t join diplomatic boycott of Beijing Games-IOC BERLIN, (Reuters) - A majority of governments from the 90 countries participating in the 2022 Beijing winter Olympics have not opted to join a diplomatic boycott of the Games, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said. The United States, Britain and Australia are among countries that recently announced a diplomatic boycott of the Feb. 4-20 Beijing Games over China’s human rights record, a stand that China dismissed as “political posturing”. In the European Union, countries such as France have sought a common EU response but the bloc is torn over whether to join the diplomatic boycott, fearful of Chinese retaliation that would hurt trade. “There are countries like the United States,

Britain and Australia who took that decision,” Bach told German broadcaster ZDF late on Tuesday. “Several other countries, and not only several, if we say there will be 90 National Olympic Committees (NOC) present at the Games, there are most likely more than 70 or even more than 80 NOCs whose governments have not made such statements.” “But they all have one thing in common and that is they support their Olympic teams ... so that their athletes can live their Olympic dreams,” Bach said. Rights groups have long criticised the IOC for awarding the Games to China for a second time, after human rights conditions following the 2008 Beijing summer Olympics failed to improve, according to the groups. Last

week, Tibetan students chained themselves to the Olympic rings outside the IOC’s Swiss headquarters in Lausanne, calling for an international Games boycott. Similar protests took place during the Beijing Games torch-lighting ceremony in Greece’s ancient Olympia and Athens in October. “What happened in between those years politically is not in our sphere of influence,” said Bach, a German lawyer who won gold in fencing at the 1976 Olympics. “You cannot blame the IOC and make it responsible for something a generation or two of politicians did not succeed in.” “We are responsible for the Olympic Games,” Bach said. “Expectations that the Games can change the political system of a country are exaggerated.”

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach delivers a speech during a ceremony for the 100-year anniversary of the creation of the IOC Executive Board, in Ancient Olympia, Greece, October 17, 2021. (REUTERS/Costas Baltas)

Thursday December 16, 2021

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Superior Concrete, Fast Lane Auto Spares support Year-End Futsal tourney

Fast Lane Auto Spares’ General Manager, along with Alwin Padmore, contributing to Kashif Muhammad for the K&S Futsal Tournament

Superior Concrete’s Director, Randy Wade (right), making his company’s contribution to K&S Co-Director, Kashif Muhammad. The Kashif and Shanghai/Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Year-End Futsal tournament, received another boost from corporate Guyana. This time around, Fast Lane Auto Spares and Superior Concrete became the latest business entities to support the tournament which kicked off on Tuesday (December 14) at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Randy Wade, Director at Superior Concrete, expressed his company’s delight of being able to not only give back to sports, but play a part in seeing the safe return of Futsal in

Guyana. Superior Concrete offers state-of-the-art manufacture of consistent ACI (American Concrete Institute) standard concrete in Guyana. With a community-minded approach, the company is known for providing exceptional product with a fast turnaround time in order to help meet Guyana’s growing construction needs. Meanwhile, General Manager of Fast Lane Auto Spares, Zaheer Rasul, lauded the event’s organisers for providing fans

and lovers of football’s shortest format, a chance to witness some of their favourite players and teams from their respective communities. Co-Director of the K&S Organisation, Kashif Muhammad, thanked both sponsors for their timely contributions towards marking their Year-End tournament a success. On the tournament’s opening night, Renegade, Team Cruel, Alexander Village, Vengy FC and California Square were the teams to advance to the next round of action. The tournament will continue December 16 with four more matches.

“We cannot continue with the foolishness with these guys,” says Andrew Mason on Russell only choosing West Indies when convenient SportsMax - The issue of Andre Russell’s loyalty to West Indies cricket was up for discussion on the Mason&Guest talk show in Barbados on Tuesday night and it sparked a contentious conversation between the show’s host Andrew Mason and CWI West Indies VicePresident Kishore Shallow. Mason believes the CWI is seemingly willing to bend over backwards to accommodate the players’ fancies. Russell had declared himself unavailable for the West Indies tour of Pakistan for three T20 Internationals citing personal reasons. A relatively inexperienced West Indies team has so far lost two of the three matches with one match to go on Thursday. Meanwhile, Russell signed on to represent the Melbourne Stars in Australia’s Big Bash League. On the weekend, he scored an unbeaten 42 from 21 balls and was named Man of the Match in the Stars’ six-wicket win over the Sydney Thun-

der.

On Tuesday, Dr Shallow sought to explain why Russell was in Australia and not in Pakistan helping the West Indies. “Russell indicated to the lead selector that he was mentally fatigued in the bubble and in the Big Bash League, where he is now, he would be required to be in a bubble,” Dr Shallow said. “That was the rationale provided to the lead selector.” An obviously exasperated Mason was unable to contain his displeasure at the situation where certain players only choose to represent the West Indies when it suits them to. “Yes, Dr Shallow, they have got to get the opportunity to make money but there is a word called ‘sacrifice’,” Mason declared, adding that such situations are almost unique to the West Indies. ”The other players don’t do it to their countries, and I am sure Russell is going to be ready to play for us in the

The issue of Andre Russell’s loyalty to West Indies cricket was up for discussion.

world cup and we are going to pick him. “We cannot continue with the foolishness with these guys.” Sir Andy Roberts also weighed in on Dr Shallow’s explanation, suggesting that the players seem to make their

decisions based on money only. “These guys just don’t want to play for the West Indies because the fees ain’t that high,” said the long-retired fast bowler. “I am not saying that they should not be allowed to go

but they should only go if the West Indies do not require their services.” This is not the first time Russell has faced criticism over his decisions on when to represent the West Indies. In December 2020, the iconic Antiguan fast bowler

publicly criticized Andre Russell, who declined an invitation to play for the West Indies against New Zealand but later went to play in the Sri Lanka Premier League T20. Chief selector Roger Harper told media that Russell declined the West Indies invitation citing the need to clear his mind after being in quarantine lockdown for both the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in Trinidad and Tobago where he played for the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise and then, the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Abu Dhabi where he played for the Kolkata Knight Riders. “Because he wants to clear his head for a while to get his mind together, I have no problem with that because cricket is a high-pressure game,” Ambrose said then. “So if you want to clear your head for a while, take your mind off cricket I have no issues with that, but if you are going to reject playing for your nation, your country, and (Continued on page 27)

PAGE 30

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

GFF, KS inaugural Futsal KO tournament... Venezuelans Vengy FC show skill to advance to next round Alexander Village, California Square, Team Cruel,Renegades also advance By Sean Devers In the most exciting game of the opening night of the GFF, Kashif &Shanghai’s inaugural 5-a-side Futsal tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the Guyana based Venezuelan side Vengy FC, outclassed Stabroek Ballers 6-3 to advance to the next round. Alexander Village, California Square, Team Cruel also advanced in a tournament, which has prize money of $1 Million for the winner, $500,000 (2nd), 300,000 (3rd) and 200,000 (4th). The skilful Venezuelans, led by a hat-trick from Alberto Hernandez, a brace from Jose Vazquez and a goal from Angelo Rojas, produced plenty of entertainment for the large gathering which included Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, Kashif Mohammed, Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle, Olympian Boxer Keevin Allicock and large contingent of Spanish speak-

ing fans which included many females. The KS Organisation hosted their first football tournament in Linden in 1990 but this was first time Futsal has been included in the yearend extravaganza and the opening game compensated for the close to an hour late start. Stabroek Ballers had the first shot on goal; in the opening second when a powerful kick from the right flank thudded off the cross bar, while both teams had shots to goal but both Custodians saved well. Hernandez drilled a right footer into the back the net for the opening goal before Mark Jhalu netted the equaliser and Shemar Welch scored minutes later as Stabroek Ballers took an early 2-1 lead. Vazquez levelled the score at 2-2 before Hernandez made it 3-2 for Vengy. The SB Keeper was again beaten but the ball bounced off the uprights,

however, Rojas scored to make it 4-2 before Vazquez beat the ‘wall’ and the keeper as he made it 5-2 with a skilfully executed spot kick and at half-time Vengy were leading 5-2. The intensity increased in the second stanza with Vengy dominating possession with skilful dribbling and accurate passes. They shot thrice to goal early in the second half but the ball was brilliantly saved. Jhalu scored SB’s third goal as the hectic pace heated up in the hot ‘Sports Hall’ but they missed a spot kick opportunity due to excellent defence from the Venezuelans. Vengy continued to test the SB Keeper with some good shots to goal before Hernandez scored his third goal to give his team a 6-3 lead. SB missed a penalty when their player kick went high and wide after Rojas was given a yellow card and when the fi-

California Square opens proceedings against Generation X FC. (Franklin Wilson photo)

Action in the Agricola vs Renegade, main event. (Franklin Wilson photo)

nal whistle blew Vengy had moved a step closer to the grand finale which is scheduled for January 8, 2022. In the second game Alexander Village wasted several opportunities to score but dominated the game to win 42 against Avocado Ballers, another Guyanese based team of Venezuelans; this was after Avocado Ballers were leading 2-1 at half-time in another entertaining contest. Shem Porter scored twice and was supported by goals from Anton Porter and Rolan Junior, while Antony Carreno and Endrrick Peiez were the goal scorers for Avocado Ballers. With their exit from the tournament, which will be played on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the Spanish speaking fans exited the stands leaving the venue, which had sponsors names, including premier sponsor KFC, on advertisement boards around the Court,

sparsely populated. In the third games between Generation FC and California square, Brandon Solomon, Wesley Greenidge, Levi Canterbury, Tevin Campbell, Antowne Vasconcellos and Meshark Baratt, each scored as California square romped to a 6-3 win. Josh Parvattan netted a brace, while Clancy Babb scored the other goal for Generation FC. Generation FC keeper was constantly pressured and was eventually beaten as California Square took the lead and soon extended it to 2-0 as the keeper got little support from the defenders and half time it was 2-0. At one stage California square were leading 6-0, but while the scoreline suggested it was poor goalkeeping, this was not the case as the keeper made some brilliant saves and was arguable one of the best custodians on the

opening night. In the game between Team Cruel and Globe Yard, Team Cruel lived up to their name and was very Cruel to their opposition; demolishing them 9-nil with eight of their goals coming in the second half. Tyrice Dennis, who scored four goals, Jemar Harrigan, who netted three times, Steven Miller and Jerome Harrigan, were all in demolition mode. Renegades beat Agricola 4-3 in last game last. Only fully vaccinated persons were allowed entry into the venue and wearing masks once inside was mandated. The DJ, who played pulsating music throughout the night, regularly reminded the spectators that the Covid Task Force was in the building. The Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport has also provided tremendous support for the tournament which continues today from 7pm.

(Reuters) - The Diamond League has approved a new ‘Final 3’ format that will take into account any throw or jump when deciding the event winners instead of only the final attempt by the three leading athletes, it said yesterday. The old format did not take into account marks achieved in the previous five attempts even if they would have been enough to win the competition, with the leading three athletes earning a sixth and final attempt to decide the winner.The change for horizontal jumps and throw-

ing events was approved by the Diamond League General Assembly in Rome after consultation with athletes, coaches, broadcasters and meeting organisers. “When we discussed and agreed to trial the Final 3 format this season we were apprehensive but understood why this concept was being considered,” Athletes’ Commission vice chairman Valerie Adams said. “The Wanda Diamond League Board promised to consult with athletes and others at the end of the season, which they did and we have

agreed on a revised format which we think will work better for athletes and fans.” The Diamond League said any other live track and field events would be stopped for the duration of the Final 3 to allow broadcasters to focus on the main event and “build drama”. The 2022 provisional calendar was announced last month with the season starting in May in Doha and ending in Zurich in September, with athletes also set to compete in China for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Two Saudi women set to compete in Dakar Rally in historic first Diamond League ‘Final 3’ format revised for 2022

(Reuters) - Mashael AlObaidan and Dania Akeel will be the first female drivers from Saudi Arabia to compete in the Dakar Rally next month, the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation said yesterday. The 44th edition of the endurance rally in Saudi Arabia is more than 8,300 kilometres long with a route that traverses deserts and mountains and the duo will drive up to 600km a day in a taxing schedule. Women were not allowed to drive cars in Saudi Arabia until a ban was lifted in 2018. “To drive on this famous event in Saudi is a dream come

true,” Al-Obaidan, 33, said. “I’m doing what I love and I’m receiving so much support from people who say that what I am doing is inspiring a lot of people. “When I finished seventh on the hardest round in the (FIA World Cup for Cross Country Bajas) series, against competitors who had been competing in the sport for more than 15 years, I knew I could do this. “I soon realised that I was unlocking doors and breaking down barriers with my achievements. We are paving the way for females to understand the journey we are taking and to join us.”

Akeel, also 33, spent last year recovering from a fractured spine and multiple pelvic breaks following a crash on the track in Bahrain but that did not put her off racing as she won the overall title at the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Bajas. “Those months after the crash were painful, but in some ways I was lucky because I didn’t need surgery. In motorsport you accept the risks and ultimately you have to make a choice,” Akeel said. “You have got to respect the Dakar. It’s the longest rally on the calendar and Saudi is an

Thursday December 16, 2021

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

GFF-GNWFA Women’s Super 16...

Ruthless Fruta Conquerors demolish Moruca at NTC By Zaheer Mohamed ruta Conquerors proved ruthless in front of goal as they demolished Moruca of Region One 8-0 when the Guyana Football Federation- GNWFA Super 16 tournament continued yesterday at the National Training Centre, Providence. Shamya Daniels netted a hat-trick to lead her side to a comprehensive win as they announced themselves as tournament favourites. Fruta Conquerors dominance was underlined by their ability to capitalise on their chances and it will take an exceptional performance to overcome them. Fruta Conquerors went ahead as early as in the 6th minute when Sandra Johnson netted her first before Amanda McKenzie slotted home two minutes later. Daniels stretched her team’s lead as she found the back of the net in 36th minute before Johnson scored her second

F

in the 40th. McKenzie slotted home her second goal in the 45th minute to hand her team a 5-0 lead at the break. Fruta Conquerors continued to dominate as their opponents found it difficult to match their pace and Jalade Trim extended their lead when she netted in the 58th minute. Trim collected a pass from the right side of the area and calmly beat goal-keeper Deena Fredericks to her left, while Daniels completed her hat-trick when she slotted home from inside the area in the 61st minute. Moruca had few chances to score, but sent their shots straight into the lap of goalkeeper Odelli Straughn while a few shots went wide. Johnson was denied a hat-trick after her attempted bicycle kick from a corner kick was kept out by Fredericks. Trim scored her team’s eight goal in fine fashion in

Action between Fruta Conquerors and Moruca at NTC. (Zaheer Mohamed photo)

the 87th minute. She capitalised nicely on a pass from the

right side of the area after Angeline Pierre started a

move from the right side of center field and worked her

way upfront before Trim fired home.

India’s Kohli says given 90 minutes notice of sacking AFP - Virat Kohli said yesterday he was told only 90 minutes before the official announcement that he had been sacked as India’s one-day captain. Kohli quit as T20 skipper after the recent World Cup and last week lost the ODI job too, with India’s cricket board saying it wanted Rohit Sharma to lead in both white-ball formats. The surprise announcement came in one line at the bottom of a press release by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about the Test squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa. “I was contacted one and a half hours before the selection meeting on the 8th for the Test series and there was no prior communication to me at all,” Kohli told reporters Wednesday ahead of the team’s departure for South Africa, where they will play three Tests and three ODIs. “Before ending the call I was told that the five selectors had decided that I would not be the ODI captain, to which I replied, ‘ok fine’,” the 33-year-old said.

Kohli will still captain India in the Tests in South Africa but press reports suggested that he had decided to skip the subsequent ODI series in a huff. But Kohli denied this, telling reporters yesterday that he “was and am available for selection” and hit out at sections of the media for “writing lies”.“Nothing can derail me from being motivated to play for India,” he said. “I am very focused and mentally prepared and very excited to go to South Africa and do the best that I can for my team.” Kohli said he would support “100 percent” Rohit and new manager Rahul Dravid, calling him a “very balanced coach” and a “great man-manager”. “Rohit is a very able captain and very, very tactically sound. We have seen that in the games that he captained for India and in the IPL as well,” Kohli said. - ‘Toughest conditions’ India have never won a Test series in South Africa, but Kohli said the visitors were motivated by the fact that the last Test they played

Virat Kohli (R) and Rohit Sharma during the fifth T20 against England in March. (AFP/Jewel SAMAD) there, in Johannesburg in 2018, they won. “We probably won in the toughest conditions in that tour, so that should give us a

lot of confidence that if we have the right mindset and we start out the series with a lot of confidence, we can definitely stand up to any chal-

lenge that comes our way,” Kohli said. “South Africa is one place where we have not won a series yet. We are very motivated to

do that and the mindset is always (to) go out there and win a series in any country that we play. We don’t anymore just think of winning a Test match in India,” he added. This year India beat Australia 2-1 Down Under — albeit in Kohli’s absence apart from the first Test — and were 2-1 up in England before the tour was called off because of the pandemic. Last week in India, they thrashed New Zealand by 372 runs to win the series 1-0, avenging their loss to the Black Caps in the inaugural World Test Championship final in England in June. “South Africa presents a different kind of challenge. The wickets present a lot of pace and bounce and you need to be at your absolute best to be able to perform there and get runs,” Kohli said. “I think we are very well placed in terms of experience and belief and confidence that this time around we can do something special and get the results that we want as a team.”

Campbell looking to cop fifth men’s physique title From page 30 in El Salvador. This may be the best one yet. Everyone will see the improvements I’ve made.” He continued, “I feel great. I can’t wait to step on stage and compete with the guys. It’s been two years since I was able to compete

locally and now that fans will be permitted, I can’t wait to show off my hard work in front of the bodybuilding starved fans. Winning my fifth National Men’s Physique title will be the cherry on top.” In conclusion, Campbell encouraged fans to come out in their

numbers and support the event since the National Covid-19Task Force has given permission for the GBBFF to house fans at the National Cultural Center that will host this Sunday’s highly anticipated event. On-stage athletes would be required to stand 6 feet apart from each other,

while backstage athletes would be required to wear their masks and maintain the mandatory physical distancing. Judges would be seated 6 feet from each other, and would be required to wear their masks. On the night of the competition, there would

be about 30 athletes competing in the 3 different segments of competition. These are: 1. Bodybuilding; 2. Bikini; and 3. Men’s Physique Some of the athletes confirmed to participate include Darius Ramsammy, Christina

Ramsammy, Rosanna Fung, Nicolas Albert, Emmerson Campbell, Yannick Grimes, Colin Chesney, Marlon Bennett, Lyndon Kennedy, Brian Singh, Odel Crum-Ewing, Ashanti Conway, Gale Karim, Jonathan Jeffery, Julio Sinclair, Ronaldo Caldera and Joel Caldera.

PAGE 32

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

Sir Lewis Hamilton knighted Campbell looking to cop days after title heartache fifth men’s physique title Sir Lewis Hamilton was made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales

PA Media - Sir Lewis Hamilton has been knighted in recognition of a glittering career in Formula One just days after he controversially lost out on a record eighth title. Hamilton was dubbed a knight by the Prince of Wales during a Windsor Castle investiture ceremony yesterday, but he declined to speak to reporters afterwards. He was joined by his mother Carmen Lockhart and was all smiles as they posed for pictures in the castle’s quadrangle. When congratulated on his award, Hamilton said: “Thank-you.” The 36-year-old is the fourth F1 driver to be

knighted, following in the footsteps of Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart, and the first to be awarded the honour while still competing. Hamilton was recognised in the New Year Honours list following a record-breaking year in which he eclipsed Michael Schumacher’s alltime victory tally and emulated the German by winning a seventh world title. But on Sunday, rival Max Verstappen claimed his first Formula One world title after his season-long battle with Hamilton came down to a one-lap shoot-out in Abu Dhabi. The deployment of the safety car after a late crash at

the Yas Marina Circuit wiped out the lead Hamilton had built over his rival, and Verstappen had the advantage as he was using fresher tyres. After the Red Bull driver stormed past Sir Lewis – who missed out on a fifth title in succession – the British racing star reportedly said on the car radio “This has been manipulated, man”, but he was later magnanimous in postrace interviews. He told Sky Sports at the time: “Congratulations to Max and his team. I think we did an amazing job this year. Everyone back at the factory and here worked so hard in this most difficult of seasons.”

DoS Ninvalle honours NSC pledge to Kaikan in Region 7 The National Sports Commission (NSC) yesterday kept a promise to the Kaikan Community in Region Seven. Last month Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle had pledged to provide trophies and medals for the community’s annual Christmas football competition. Yesterday the Director of Sport traveled to the Region Seven community to make good the promise. Ninvalle handed over trophies and medals to Village Toshao Marlon Williams in the presence of resident teacher Nakitta Peters. The football tournament commences on December 26 and concludes on December 31.

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle (right) hands over the trophies and medals to Village Toshao Marlon Williams, while resident teacher Nakitta Peters looks on.

Emmerson Campbell (right) and one of his main sponsors Jamie McDonald of Fitness Express. By Calvin Chapman Emmerson Campbell, Guyana’s dominant force in the men’s Physique division, is happy to have the opportunity to compete at the Guyana Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation (GBBFF) National Championship since 2019 and he is hard at work in the gym, sculpting his four-

time winning physique to return to the top podium come Sunday. The Law 28 Fitness Instructor and Columnist is expected to make light work of the local competition since he is not only one of the best in the Guyana but the region, missing out on the elusive Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding

Championships Gold medal last August in the San Salvador, El Salvador where he bagged his second silver medal. During an interview he mentioned that, “I think this package (form) is comparable or perhaps even better than my last show (CAC Championships) (Continued on page 29)

Labuschagne, Head, Afridi achieve career-best Test rankings ESPNcricinfo - Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head have attained their career-best positions in the latest rankings for Test batters, with seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi also achieving the feat in the bowlers’ list. Labuschagne’s 74 and Head’s 152 in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba against England have helped them reach No. 2 and No. 10 respectively in the list. Labuschagne jumped two places, also moving past team-mate Steven Smith who has now slipped to No. 3, while Head has moved up by 16 places. Another batter to have gained in the rankings from the first Ashes Test is David Warner, who jumped from ninth to sixth, while England’s fast bowlers Ollie Robinson (up four places to 31st) and Mark Wood (up two places to 50th) also climbed up the bowling charts which is led by Australia captain Pat Cummins. Meanwhile, Afridi, who picked up three wickets for 34 runs

Marnus Labuschagne has moved up by two places to attain his career-best No.2. (AFP/ Getty Images)

against Bangladesh in the second Test that Pakistan won by an innings and eight runs and eventually clinched the series, moved up by two places to attain his career-best third position. For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan, who scored 33 and 63 against Pakistan in the second Test, has advanced to 35th, a jump of eight places, in the batters list while also occupying the

fourth place - from being fifth - among allrounders. The latest ranking update also sees Dawid Malan reclaiming the No.1 position in the T20I batters list after Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who made scores of 0 and 7 in the series against West Indies, lost the top spot. In the T20I bowling list, Shadab Khan was back in the top 10, gaining five slots to be ninth.

Thursday December 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 33

Vengy FC scores one of their six goals against Stabroek Ballers. (Franklin Wilson photo)

GFF, KS inaugural Futsal KO tournament

Venezuelans Vengy FC show skill to advance to next round Alexander Village, California Square, Team Cruel,Renegades also advance

rt Spo Sir Lewis took his mother Carmen Lockhart with him to the ceremony. (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Sir Lewis Hamilton knighted days after title heartache GFF-GNWFA Women's Super 16 Sandra Johnson (R) had a good outing for Fruta Conquerors. (Zaheer Mohamed photo)

Ruthless Fruta Conquerors demolish Moruca at NTC

Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.