Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR

US$150M and counting… Friday Edition

Govt. helpless as CHEC continues to dance on airport project

December 18, 2020 -Vol. 22 No. 49

NEWS

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

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

Online readership yesterday,

Lack of insurance from Exxon…

Guyana foots the bill for any disaster at Liza Phase One project p. 8

‘Oil-Dorado’ called Guyana Like Exxon, Guyana is banking on the earnings from its existing and projected oil finds .

However, Exxon is going to gain billions more than it sunk into its field development plans in search for productive oil wells. That is guaranteed.

The company is sitting on an Oil-Dorado called Guyana. What is far from assured is what Guyana will earn for the large sums needed to fix its Petroleum Bill and draft Local Content Policy.

If the billions borrowed from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) – US$34M at the last count – are spent sensibly, then Guyanese have a slim chance of reaping enduring prosperity. If we get an authoritative and

comprehensive Petroleum Bill and a robust Local Content Policy and Local Content Law, then it stands a chance at improving its present disadvantageous position.

But this will only materialize if it spends the present sums prudently and our politicians do not help themselves to some of the loans and oil monies.

The many “ifs and buts” remind us that the public has little trust in our political leaders when it comes to negotiating about oil. This is all the more reason why Guyanese should remain vigilant and become more outspoken, even to the point of calling on our political leaders to stand for us or move aside.

Five years later… Guyana’s regulatory, legislative framework for oil sector still stuck in the dark ages Alleged Ponzi scheme… High Court GMSA, PSC throws out Only $3M of push for local challenge to President’s businesses to $4B repaid to appointment of “investors” benefit more - lawyer Senior Counsel says money - Nandlall, Jonas, Ali immediately in oil sector is “safe” in Belize conferred with ‘Silk’ p.

13

p.

11

Abused woman strangled, man confesses

One month later, Jagdeo yet to release names of crude marketing evaluators

Heavy winds blow down guard hut at Pres. Ali’s home, injuring guards

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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US$150M and counting…

Gov’t. helpless as CHEC continues to dance on airport project

By Shikema Dey Almost a decade ago, Chinese contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), signed a US$150M contract for the e x p a n s i o n a n d modernization of the country’s premier airport …

Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

At the end of 2020, Guyana is still awaiting the new and modernized airport it was promised and the now People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) regime, back in power, appears to be helpless as the company shows no indication that the agreed specifications in the initial contract will be delivered anytime soon.

The project was to extend the runway by another 1,000 meters and build a new terminal building that would boast eight air bridges, escalators and bigger arrival and

Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill

What President Irfaan Ali did not see at the airport

departure halls. It would have included several TV monitors, and a glass roof to reduce energy costs.

Somehow, under the previous administration, the initial contract was reduced from 9,000 square meters to

4,046 and still, CHEC could not meet the numerous deadlines set.

That contract was controversially signed back in late 2011 under then President Bharrat Jagdeo and later passed through the

short presidency of Donald Ramotar.

In fact, it was not till in early 2013 that the sod was turned. The project chugged along under the David Granger presidency and now (Continued on page 6)

Former Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson

Government, airport and CHEC officials at the airport sod turning in March 2013

The renovated terminal building that Guyana got as part of the US$150M-plus project at CJIA. It was supposed to be new.

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Five years later… Guyana’s regulatory,

legislative framework for oil sector still stuck in the dark ages The Liza Destiny oil vessel that is pumping oil in the Stabroek Block

By Kiana Wilburg In two days, Guyana will be marking its one year anniversary as an oilproducing state.

But after five years under t h e A P N U + A F C government and almost five months under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, Guyana has failed to address many of the bottlenecks that hinder its ability to effectively police the sector.

Both have also failed to plug loopholes in oil contracts that lead to significant value loss. Three institutions which have been providing advice on the weaknesses in Guyana’s legislative and regulatory governance framework are the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In the case of the IDB, this financial institution since noted, on numerous occasions, that Guyana is without a modernized legal framework that provides robust protection of the sector. The list of archaic legislation includes the Petroleum (Production) Act of 1938, the Petroleum (Exploration and Production, E&P) Act, Cap. 65:10 of 1986 and the related Regulations of 1986.

These instruments, along with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Act, the Mining Act, the

Environmental Protection Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Model Production Sharing Agreement (1986), among others, are yet to be adjusted to support the enhancement o f t h e t r a n s p a r e n c y, governance, legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks for the oil and gas sector in Guyana.

Five years later, Guyana is also without a modernized legal and regulatory framework that focuses on critical issues such as oil revenue management, licencing, contract models (Production Sharing Agreement), local content, a n d H e a l t h , S a f e t y, Environmental and Social (HSES) management.

Notwithstanding the absence of an effective governance framework, the IDB in its most recent review of Guyana’s systems, has agreed that the country faces others challenges to its ability to execute its role in the sector due to an inadequate supply of the sector-wide leadership, management and technical talent required. While the number of Guyanese with formal training in oil and gas p o l i c y, e c o n o m i c s , management, law, and engineering has increased in recent times, the IDB noted that the level of technical expertise and institutional leadership, required to effectively ensure the

maximization of economic and social returns from oil and gas resources, remains at a nascent level.

Moreover, the institution found that developing the capabilities to manage and regulate an oil producing contract will surely overlap with those required for other oil blocks currently under exploration.

Other tasks that may prove difficult for the country to manage, considering the snail’s pace at with it is preparing itself, include rights (licence) management, long-term gas commercialization, and marketing of the government’s share of oil production. In light of this state of affairs, the IDB said Guyana has essentially increased the risks of value loss. The institution was keen to note as well that Guyana has a very narrow window to get what other countries in the past have struggled to get right over decades. With this in mind, the bank said it is imperative that authorities embrace the lessons learnt by countries that have had successful hydrocarbon sectors and avoid the mistakes of those that have failed to create long-lasting value.

Along with the other critical issues mentioned before, the IDB has advised that Guyana needs to urgently address the to-do list below.

1) Define, document and share a defined national integrated plan for oil sector with clearly established Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and timelines for achievement, supported by operational and funding plans to support implementation.

2)Transparently delineate the roles and responsibilities among and within government entities – The IDB is of the view that the clear assignment of goals, roles and responsibilities has been identified and considered as one of the most valuable lessons learned by various countries. It has also stressed that good governance requires a clear separation between the roles and boundaries of policy making and regulation while stressing that the Department of Energy, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s Petroleum Division and the Environmental Protection Agency must enact this separation.

3) Design and implement strong legal and regulatory frameworks. In this regard, the IDB has noted that some producing countries have successfully built strong state agencies to monitor the performance and compliance of operators. It said that Guyana can use this approach as well.

4) Develop local talent in alignment with integrated national plans. The IDB is of the firm view that Guyana’s local content policy represents an excellent opportunity for the country to build national capacity. It was keen to note, however, that success is only guaranteed with proper implementation.

5)Implement well-defined delivery models which promote strong planning project management principles as well as strong leadership, management, supervisory, technical and administrative capability. In this regard, the IDB stressed that development will not be a success simply because clear policies, strategic or operations plans are in place. It said that Guyana must embrace and implement a “gold standard” business model that aligns robust governance and leadership, human resource talent, processes and systems with business and project planning and management. In other words, the bank believes Guyana must move swiftly to develop an Energy Department and regulator that are competent institutions capable of efficient, effective, and economic “gold standard” performance.

To be continued…

Kaieteur News

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Friday December 18, 2020

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

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

EDITORIAL

Minimum wage how far can it go?

Recently, there was some media coverage about the minimum wage, and the need to raise it from $44,200 monthly to $60,000 per month for a 40-hour week.

We at this publication think that this is most needed.

And would make a world of difference for those citizens trapped at the bottom of the economic ladder. We thought that shining some focus on this would be helpful to the cause of the poor, with whom there is ready identification.

A simple exercise was attempted, and what was arrived at is more than concerning; it is frightening.

A start is made by using the current minimum wage to conduct the simple exercise mentioned above. Right from the start, we point out that every number is an approximation, what is believed to be, after several discussions with grassroots Guyanese (minimum wage earners), where things tally up, and close out. Even though approximations and assumptions are used, our thinking is that they are individually very close to normal circumstances, as lived with by many Guyanese - be they single parent, couples with two children, or otherwise working for the equivalent of GY$1500 a day.

The first assumption is that there is no overtime, and that net take home pay is $44,000 (no taxes, no NIS, and so forth). Rent snaps up $20,000 to $25,000 of that amount right away. Gone just like that, and it could be more.

Maybe there is a mortgage, with a smaller monthly payment due. One of the assumptions is that there is no debt: no hire purchase payments, no personal loans of any kind.

The monthly light bill is $3,000; and the water bill stands at the unrealistic amount of $1,000 monthly. It must be understood that we have placed ourselves in the role of a struggling homemaker, where there are herculean efforts to stretch the $44,000 and make ends meet.

To the above, there is now adding of the following for weekly spending: Greens ($1,000); vegetables ($1,000); meat or fish ($1,000) and groceries ($2,000). We confess to grappling with this so fellow citizens are appealed to, please be patient: the objective is to present a clear, but human, picture. Together, these expenses for food amount to $20,000 on a monthly basis, assuming two meals a day and a four-member family.

At this point, a tabular presentation might be helpful to give a better visual of this minimum wage narrative, and it now follows.

Wages Less: Rent Food Energy Water Remainder

$44,000 ($20,000) ($20,000) ($3,000) ($1,000) 0.00

Though some of the basics are covered, it is prudent to pause. For clearly, continuing becomes embarrassing and agonizing. It should be noted that certain essentials are missing. Those include cellphone, transportation, cooking gas, clothing and medicine. Though unheard of in this modern technology age, the cellphone is discarded, meaning there is none. Things are taken further with the assumption that there is no need for clothing or medicine, as minimum wage earners are hardy folks, and strong as a horse. This still leaves transportation costs up in the air.

There are very few pedal cycles around, so there is need for gasoline or public transportation. Two children and one adult, using public transportation (a total of $600 daily) calls for $12,000 monthly, given a five-day work and school week. If the minimum wage earner is living with parents or a housing inheritance, the rent bill foregone is almost absorbed by transportation.

We remind readers: this is neither scientific nor

The Henry boys’ murders warrant a full investigation and cooperation Dear Editor, I refer to the article titled, “Police non-committal on Argentine’s expert request for documents on Berbice murders” (SN December 16). My first reaction was: not again! Here we go again.

And where I go, nobody from the president on down is not going to like it. My response to that is simple: they all know what they can do with that stuff.

On every occasion that I let down my guard or lend some trust to what political leaders say, disappointment inevitably comes. No matter how delayed, how subtle, how cunning, it follows and all the way from the top. For there was the mighty President Ali, solemnly promising something along the lines of a full investigation on the heinous murders that occurred in the West Berbice area, shocked the nation by their gruesomeness, and poisoned and polarized it still further.

In my book, which I am almost positive that neither His Excellency nor any of his crafty comrades have time for, full investigation means everything on the table,

nothing held back, and let the evidence and the rest lead wherever they do.

But today, after all the brutalities on the village roads, all the passions unleashed, there is this development in SN about “police non-committal” on release of files related to the matters. Clearly, there are the usual skullduggeries, and what could be the early indications of orchestrations for covering up where things may lead, in motion. To be candid, I am disinclined to believe that it is the Guyana Police Force that is noncommittal and balking.

Because if that were so, then it is a small matter of national importance that should compel the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs to put in a word and say, it would be appropriate for those files to be released.

And that all the documents within them are also delivered and not partial files or empty files. Yet, it would seem that the Hon. Minister has been a little slow on the draw on this one, which is surprising since this is a matter of such sensitivity, and when one takes into

consideration the supposedly sincere declarations of the Head of State about getting to the bottom of things, regardless of where such leads. I would hope that he has not lost his head on this, as in having one of those increasingly (and convenient) senior moments.

On other things, I may be prepared to think stresses of the job, and limitations in capacity.

But on this one from We s t B e r b i c e , I a m immovable: full investigation, open book, and total commitment. No more of this nonsense about non-committal on the delivery of the files, all of them, with all of their contents, and all associated people made available.

If the police cannot do so on their own, then the minister must make do so.

On this, I am supportive of political interference for national insight and national gain and peace.

And if the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs is of a different and disagreeable portion, then he must be leaned upon to see things more cooperatively. I am

sure that he would be a willing partner with this.

But that is not where or with whom that I think the problem rests. I don’t think it is the GPF being reluctant, hesitant, and adamant.

I do not think that it is the Hon. Minister either; though he is known for being a bit steely. For neither operates in a vacuum and the Argentine team did not drop in on Guyana from the sky unannounced and unnoticed.

It came here for one purpose, and to get closer to bringing that purpose to some semblance of fruition, its members have to have papers, as in availability and access.

Thus, I think that this is bigger than the GPF and the responsible minister. I think that the police’s obstinacy has a source that travel a bit circuitously, but it always ends up at State House and with the president. Now the families wait on the president. The nation waits on the president. I am not waiting on anybody, which should relay the regard that I have for them.

Yours truly, GHK Lall

There should be heavier penalties for liquor smuggling Dear Editor, I read of Police Commander Keilhorn King of Region 9 and two other officers caught with the illicit ‘uncustomed’ liquor in a vehicle, offering to pay the duties and remaining on the job. There should be heavier penalties.

What is troubling is the treatment of Police Commander Keilhorn King contrasts sharply with Motie Dookie who was caught in a similar incident three years ago. Dookie, who was at the time in December 2017 head of the SWAT team, was also caught with uncustomed liquor; he was taken into police custody and charged.

Then he was immediately sent on leave by the APNU led regime. Dookie was subsequently removed from his post. His liquor, dozens of cases of whiskey, was confiscated. Can GRA say what became of the liquor?

The King and Dookie incidents were identical, but the response from the police department, GRA, and Ministry of Home Affairs were different. Clearly, there was discriminatory treatment and handling of two identically placed matters. Is there different justice for different folks?

There must be uniform enforcement of the law – penal code as well as fines

comprehensive, but it captures the plight of the Guyanese minimum wage worker at $44,000 per month. It cannot be anything less than painful, and piercingly so, month after month. This is hell. As we hear the calls for a minimum wage of $60,000 a month in the private sector, there are mixed feelings.

One side goes like this: sure, let it be, for it will provide needed relief and make a difference. Then, there is coming down to earth: it would be only a matter of time before the private sector raises prices to cover the additional outlays on wages for workers at the bottom. Still, we say, let it be. Give the people a raise; they need it, and it would be most welcomed.

and GRA actions. Justice must be ‘blind’ as I learnt in my constitutional law courses.

The law does not distinguish between two persons. People cannot be prosecuted and persecuted because they belong to a particular race or class or position or affiliation or support a different party or government. Everyone should be treated similarly under similar conditions when they break similar laws. GRA must dispense justice fairly. In addition to the police and law, the handling of both cases should also be matters for ERC and the Home Affairs Ministry.

The criminal justice system is not just it seems.

There is need for stricter enforcement of the law across the country irrespective of ethnicity and political affiliation. Being a police officer does not give one the power to smuggle alcohol or any goods. There must be demonstrative effect in the response to dissuade such illegal activities.

Otherwise, smugglers will not take the law seriously.

Political and GRA connections should not excuse wrong doing.

Otherwise, there would develop a mafia type enterprise that existed during the 1980s.

On the issue of confiscation of alcohol, back in 2014 and 2015, I recall reading in the papers of hundreds of cases of whiskey being seized for evading duties, smuggled into the country.

These were kept in a government bond. After the change in administration in May 2015, the liquor disappeared for the victory celebration as well as for the 50th anniversary Independence Celebration in May 2016.

There was supposed to be an investigation and people held accountable for disappearance of the whiskey.

Can police and GRA advise on the status of the investigation?

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Friday December 18, 2020

The ERC is like a toothless tiger Dear Editor, If the article published in Stabroek News that the oneterm former APNU+AFC Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes is being probed by Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) over an alleged incendiary social media post ”calling for an undesirable and dangerous action which can potentially impact negatively on ethnic relations” is accurate, then a thorough investigation is warranted.

However, it begs the question as to what the ERC means by an “investigation.”

Since its formation as part of the Herdmanston Accord brokered by Caricom on January 17, 1998 and assented by President Bharat Jagdeo on August 11, 2000, the ERC has accomplished very little, if any success.

The ERC was founded in the aftermath of the People’s National Congress (PNC) induced protests and riots following the 1997 General Election, which they claimed was fatally flawed. It was officially launched in 2003 and was supposed to be independent and autonomous, but is it? Its performance since then can hardly be described as satisfactory, but more like a failure.

The ERC mandate as adumbrated in Article 212A of the Constitution is wideranging and it included the widest possible participation of Guyanese civil society, defined broadly to include non-governmental

organizations, religious Christian, Hindu and Muslim groups, Labour Unions; Private Sector; Youth groups; Women’s Organizations; and Afro- and Indo-Guyanese; and Indigenous/Amerindian bodies. Its primary goal is to identify and analyze factors that have inhibited the attainment of harmonious relations between ethnic groups, particularly the barriers to their participation in any social, economic, commercial, financial, cultural and political endeavors and make recommendations to the National Assembly how these factors should be overcome.

After a hiatus of eight years between 2010 and 2018, the ERC was reconstituted by the APNU+AFC government in 2018 with the promise to finally address the ethnic and racial divide and fears that drove the political system in Guyana, especially during elections. It never did.

Truth be told, the ERC like so many organizations established by the government are like tigers without teeth, which means they are either powerless to act or they are reactive instead of being proactive.

Simply put, the ERC has been a complete failure in that it will inform the public that it has launched an investigation but would not reveal its findings to the public, or if it has completed the investigation.

It must be concluded that the ERC never really fulfilled the promise of its formation and blame should be laid squarely at the feet of the two

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main political parties for selfish, bigoted and partisan political reasons that are well known to the public.

During the five-month combative warfare waged by APNU/AFC to remain in office through rigged elections, the ERC had numerous opportunities to intervene in the raciallycharged environment created by social media and some politicians, but it never did.

The ERC should have also intervened and prevented the racially charged violence that ensued in the aftermath of the brutal slaying of the Henry cousins at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice, and the vicious murders of Haresh Singh and Prettipaul Hargobin, but it did not.

The ERC is a status-quo organization to show-case the government’s stance against racism and inequality but there is not one iota of evidence to justify its existence.

It is time for the government reevaluate the role and functions of the ERC to make sure that it is worth spending more than $200 million of the taxpayers hardearned money annually on an organization that continues to malfunction, if not irrelevant in society.

It is not worth it. It is our opinion as well as many in the public that the government should stop the wasteful usage of the taxpayers’ money to prop up the functionless ERC. Yours truly, Dr. Asquith Rose.

Child abuse is the toxic legacy of brutal slavery and indentureship Dear Editor, The nation is fully aware by now of the attack on the little girl in Berbice. The child, Shania Ramsarran, has thankfully recovered and the monster of a mother has been arrested. However, the story has not and should not end here.

This incident shed a light on a terror seeping through Guyanese households for decades. A terror that we don’t usually talk about: “Corporal Punishment”. You’ve felt it, I’ve felt .I pray your child doesn’t feel it. So many of us grow up and simply brush it off. We hear the familiar rationalizations like “I collect my share of licks but I turn out fine”. And then those individuals perpetrate those acts onto the younger generation. In fact, “corporal punishment” is just a sugarcoated term for child abuse. It is a term synonymous with “abuse” but of seemingly lesser intensity. We must call it as it is.

It is abuse. It is nonsense. It must end.

Further, this nasty culture in Guyanese society of brushing off child abuse as nothing has paved the way for incidences like young Shania’s. Our nonchalant attitude of brushing off acts of violence disguised as “discipline” has now led to an atmosphere where child abuse has been normalised. This was not a “beating gone wrong”.

This was not an “accident that shouldn’t have happened”. This is just one example of a barbaric human rights violation that takes place day after day in homes

across Guyana. Enough is enough! This perverted form of “discipline” serves as an outlet for adults to take out all of their angers and frustrations freely— the child having to carry the pain. Whatever insecurities or angering instances that affected parents during the day can be all taken out by brutalising a child with a belt or other means.

Let us dig deeper. Abusers commonly have a history of child abuse. Because our parents were brutalised by their parents, they feel they are entitled to perpetrate acts of abuse against their own offspring. They feel that their own children deserve to “feel what we went through”. This forms a vicious cycle of abuse.

It even stems all the way back to slavery and indentureship.

“Massa” and his overseers would flog slaves and indentured workers as punishment. Yet we all know that this was just a toxic way of asserting dominance and ownership. When adults repeat these acts against their children, they only recreate the plantation scenarios which should have died on the plantation!

Imperialism is the vilest curse

that ever struck this land.

Those systems and means of oppression must be erased in modern day Guyana. We must stand firmly against tasting what our ancestors tasted.

This is the bloody twenty first century. Surely you’d think we’d have evolved by now.

Further, I would like to send a message to every parent who flogs their child today. You are no different than that wretch who harmed her child. She thrived on the culture, which you have normalised and continue to normalise. You have continued the cycle of abuse when it should have died with you. I am calling on every single youth of this country to END THE CYCLE. END THE ABUSE. This generational curse MUST die with us. We are the ones of change. I stress that we have to be proactive in doing so! The terrors of imperialism must not have a hold of us anymore! It is time for us to break free! STOP THEVIOLENCE!BREAK THE CYCLE! Yours truly, Nikhil Sankar.

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Friday December 18, 2020

...Gov’t. helpless as CHEC continues to dance From page 2 is being inherited by the Irfaan Ali administration.

When Granger’s administration took over in 2015, it claimed that the plan was in need of adjustments. Then Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, had said that only seven percent of the work was completed, with claims for US$90 million equating to more than half of the contract sum. He laid the blame on the PPP/C’s management of the project.

But the adjustments made were kept hidden from the public for several years and were only revealed after consistent reports by this newspaper of several red flags related to the project.

In addition, while different aspects of the construction works were completed, several issues pertaining to quality of materials and work required dire attention. Those issues and more are listed among the reasons why the project has been delayed for years.

Now it is back with the new Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration which is unable to gauge a final completion date.

They, too, returned blame on the Coalition government for its handling of the contract as part of the reasons why it was not completed on its December 31, 2018 deadline.

The issues only worsened over the years.

NOT INCLUDED It was only in early July of this year that the CJIA sought bids for additional works to be completed.

Invitations for bids advertised indicated that the airport needs a new fence for its public car park and an access control security hut.

These intended projects, which stand outside of the US$150 million contract, are not alone.

There are also plans for a new parking lot valued at GYD$122 million, a cargo facility, a commercial centre, an office area and a parking lot, all adver-

tised last year. However, many were of the contention that the added projects should never have been excluded in the first place.

Numerous contractors had revealed that the amount and quality of work being done to renovate the port were inflated many times over…and it is all for the taxpayers.

Moreover, CHEC was caught using its equipment illegally on a private job.

Officials had reported that the company used its trucks and other vehicles and possibly even sand from the airport project on t h e M o v i e To w n e c o n struction at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara.

CHEC’s trucks, more than 25 of them, were granted duty free concessions and reportedly received tax waivers on at least six pick-ups and four SUVs. Somewhere along the line, the company’s sist e r c o m p a n y, C h i n a Harbour Engineering (T&T) Ltd (CHEC) also managed to win the contract to construct the MovieTowne project in December 2014 for US$30 million.

However, it appeared that CHEC decided to use the equipment that it has stationed at the airport, including the trucks, to work along with the MovieTowne project.

Under the terms of conditions for the granting of concessions, equipment and vehicles have to be utilized specifically for the purposes it was granted – in this case the airport project.

For the airport project, CHEC was allowed use of three sandpits, two loam pits and two pagasse pits. A few pieces of equipment including a tower crane that came for the CJIA project was put into use at MovieTowne.

In fact, the MovieTowne Mall has since been completed and put into operation while construction at CJIA still awaits completion.

The company later denied the allegation and

added that it sought at all times to be compliant, and it will continue to make “compliance a priority for as long as we operate in this territory.”

However, the non-compliance only continued as the months went by and the PPP/C tried several avenues in attempts to force CHEC to complete the airport per the initial contract specifications.

The lucrative concessions that the contractor benefited from were halted by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) after it failed to meet the contract obligations.

ORDERED After a visit from President Ali, CHEC was ordered to submit a revised work plan expected to capture the agreed upon terms.

President Ali made it clear that the contractor has to deliver on the original plans and that the Guyanese people will not be accepting the project as is.

It was also expected to outline how the long list of defects at the country’s main port of entry will be fixed and a revised deadline. But the company failed to comply.

CHEC in providing an explanation why it failed to meet the completion deadline had claimed that the airport was 97% completed since 2019.

It said that during the period January 2013 to May 2015, budget allocations for the project was not approved by Parliament and this hampered works from being executed as planned.

Works were restarted in May 2015, but were brought to a halt after the incoming Coalition government requested a review and demanded that the company suspend construction during this period.

At the end of the review, the Coalition, CHEC explained, agreed to revised terms taking into consideration the budget, changes and claims to the project prior to 2015.

This also included an adjustment to the scope of works to adapt to the total contract value and a variation of the Contract Agreement was signed in October 2015. It noted too that the 2015 General and Re-

gional Elections and contract variations that arose after forced China’s Exim Bank to stop disbursements of the loan.

But despite these hiccups, by the end of 2019, the Project was 97 % completed, CHEC said.

Another bump in the road, being the 2020 General and Regional Elections coupled with the COVID-19 forced the company to significantly reduce its workforce, which again affected the project’s completion.

STRICT ACTION Government pushed yet again for the company to deliver on the modernized airport and requested that the work plan be submitted. If the CHEC had defaulted, Public Works Minister had told Kaieteur News that “strict action” would be taken against the company.

What those “strict actions” were, he would not reveal.

Later on, a revised work plan was submitted, but that plan included a request for additional funds to complete the project per the agreed terms in the initial contract.

That condition did not sit well with the government who stated point blank that it is not prepared to provide more funds and demanded that the airport be completed.

In a letter rejecting the company’s request, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall revealed that complaints were lodged by government with the Chief Executive Officers of the Export-Import Bank of China and to Mr. Wang Tongzhou, Chairman of China Communications Construction Group, CHEC’s parent company, expressing displeasure in the quality of work provided.

Along with that complaint came the threats to seek legal remedies and to forebear from any engagements with the company in the future as it eyes the contract for the construction of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.

On providing an update as to the status of the project, the AG told Kaieteur News that the company is currently engaging with the government.

No other details were disclosed.

Red flags mean nothing to our politicians with Exxon in the game Dear Editor, With the Minister of Natural Resources in the shadows, the strongman at the helm of Guyana’s oil and gas governance is the VP Jagdeo. The fact that Jagdeo has appointed himself as the judge, jury and executioner to decide if the Kaieteur and Canje giveaway warrants an independent probe, constitutes a huge “red flag,” emblazoned with the words “conflict of interest” from the perspective of the PPP being in Govt. This mode of action by the VP is an insult to the intelligence of Guyanese and we know what the outcome will be.

The KN article of December 14, “Don’t expect PPP to remedy the suspicious Kaieteur, Canje blocks - Jan Mangal,” leaves no room for speculation.

The giveaways will remain a done deal! Jan Mangal shored up his thesis by asking, “Why would the same people who gave away these two blocks now behave differently and remedy the situation?” I figure the VP will never answer this question without his usual cynicism - no laws broken, no corruption.

It is no secret that the international NGO’s like Global Witness and others were birthed because of the sufferings endured by people in resource rich countries because of the plundering of their resources by transnational companies, aided and abated by corrupt politicians through unjust contracts.

These NGO are in the forefront, advocating for transparency and fair contracts in the extractive sectors.

They offer guidelines to receptive or caring Governments to follow and warning signals (red flags) to caution these Governments to avoid falling to the wiles of the oil companies so that their subjects (people) can have a fair share of the wealth

generated from their God given resources. What is so difficult to understand about the scope and intent of the NGO’s is that the VP should accuse “Global Witness” of not finding “a single shred of evidence” to support that there was corruption? This is both criminal and mundane as far as reality is concerned!

Our elected officials are trying to paint pictures of our friends (NGO’s) into enemies whilst befriending the real enemies that are poised to plunder our resources.

The red flags had piled up against companies that were initially handed the Kaieteur and Canje blocks from registration in secrecy jurisdiction, lack of experience and finances to rapid flipping of the blocks the article revealed something that few Guyanese knew.

Mangal felt that the accumulation of red flags in the giveaway was justifiably sufficient for President Granger to rescind the two blocks and Granger had the executive power to do so but he did not, instead opting for an investigation by SARA. That investigation went nowhere. Granger, the man on a mission to recover stolen state assets suddenly going soft has inspired the conspiracy theorist in me to think that Exxon had a hand in this decision.

They probably promised him a second term for shelving the “giveaway.”

Had Granger done that one deed - rescind the Kaieteur and Canje blocksit may have been enough for him to win the 2020 election.

It seems Exxon played both sides (APNU/PPP). No one will ever know what Exxon told the VP as opposition leader. Guyanese should demand an independent investigation into the giveaway of both blocks.

Yours truly, Rudolph Singh

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

Fading oil hopes bringing feelings of the shabby Deepen the gloom by taking a dose of Irfaan Ali

Interested in a reputation as an oil man, who can see far

Try some sleeping tablets, compliments of Donald Ramotar For those having a craving for some oil fun

Try listening for something from Joe Harmon When there is need for some oil sun Have a ray from Rafael Trotman

If there is a sense of the bad and the sad

That has to be coming from one Robert Persaud Last, when the desire is to be an oil yoyo

Take a chance with a man named Bharat Jagdeo.

PAGE 07

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Lack of insurance from Exxon…

Guyana foots the bill for any disaster at Liza Phase One project

By Kemol King Guyana may be covered for Exxon’s future oil developments, Liza Phase Two and Payara, in the event of an oil spill. But when it comes to Exxon’s current development, Liza Phase One, Guyana is left exposed.

If an oil spill happens today, with repercussions for neighbouring states, Guyana would be paying compensation for losses for generations to come.

Former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, had found that Guyana was not insured for Exxon’s ongoing projects, so he decided to include a provision in the company’s permits which would safeguard Guyana. This provision would be included, not only in Exxon’s permits, but in those

of all oil companies.

He had explained that the Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) Guyana signs are with subsidiaries of oil companies, and not their parents. With limited assets, these subsidiaries are not equipped to cover the insurance needed if a major oil spill were to occur.

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

Dr. Adams had said.

For example, with the Stabroek Block, instead of signing a deal only with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) and its other partner subsidiaries, the Government would ensure that the parent companies (ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC) make a

commitment to accept unlimited liabilities in the case of a disaster. They would be required to provide

later operations in the block, there is no such provision in the Liza Phase One permit.

By the time he took up

Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The ship can produce as many as 120,000 barrels of oil every day.

This gray whale died in Alaska’s oil contaminated waters in 1989 after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, one of the most devastating man-made disasters (John Gaps III | Associated Press File)

legally binding agreements to the EPA, which require them to provide adequate financial resources.

While Dr. Adams was able to secure this provision for Liza Phase Two and Payara, as well as Exxon’s

leadership of the EPA, it was already too late for Liza Phase One. ExxonMobil has been producing oil for about a year at this operation, using the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and

Kaieteur News reached out to Dr. Adams yesterday and he confirmed that Guyana is not covered from a disaster at Liza Phase One. The World Bank has encouraged emerging oil producers to ensure that they

have comprehensive insurance in place for disasters of this nature, as other nations have suffered dearly by not covering themselves.

It cited the case of a major oil spill which occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill led to a loss of 53,000 barrels of oil a day for many weeks. It covered 6,500 square kilometers and involved five million barrels of oil.

The source, the Deepwater Horizon field, was operated by BP under a joint operating agreement with Anadarko Petroleum and Mitsui Oil Corporation.

In February, Bloomberg reported that because of the decade-old spill, BP is still paying for damages, with about US$70 billion in costs so far.

ExxonMobil is no (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

Friday December 18, 2020

PAGE 09

A depressing Christmas awaits us

I

want to provide some examples which prove how difficult it is going to be to bring the coronavirus pandemic in Guyana under control. These examples relate to how citizens, on a daily basis, do not practice social distancing.

You go to any hospital in Guyana and you will find chairs less than six feet apart in doctors’ waiting areas. In most cases, persons are seated on benches a mere three to four feet apart. How can the pandemic be brought under control when this is happening right within a facility where one expects the management to know better?

The COVID-19 Task Force needs to be out there in public places monitoring what is taking place. Only then will they be able to grasp the gravity of the problem.

Imagine you are standing in line at the bread shop. The customer in front of you is being served. You stay six feet away but the person behind you is breathing down your neck. You realize that the person is too close to you, so you step forward to give yourself space. The person steps forward refusing to keep a distance.

You turn around and ask that person to step back. A ruckus ensues with you being accused of all manner of things.

You visit certain stores.

No one is at the door with sanitizing materials. No

wash basin is there for you to wash your hands. In some stores, a few bottles of sanitizers are placed on a table. Everyone going into the stores touches one of these bottles – the same bottle you have to hold to sanitize your hands. As you browse around, a store clerk comes to ask you if you need any assistance. She trails you around, not keeping her distance while talking all the time.

At some stores you can walk in without a mask and be sold. This is happening all across the country.

You go to the markets.

The distance between you and the vendors is no more than two feet. Yet many sellers are not wearing masks.

These are the same persons whom you have to ask about the items being sold and the prices. The COVID-19 Task Force does not seem to be around when these things are happening.

One in every 10 persons in Georgetown is not wearing a mask in public.

Extrapolating this to the wider society, it can be estimated that more than 10 percent of the population are not complying with the regulations relating to maskwearing in public. This 10 percent represent a danger to the rest of society. It is for this reason that even a 70 percent vaccination rate may not suffice for herd immunity.

One in every five persons is wearing a mask

incorrectly, either not covering the nose or not covering both the nose and mouth. Some persons are simply wearing the masks so that they can gain entry into certain stores which are strictly implementing the COVID-19 regulations.

There are organizations which are having Christmas socials even though this is strictly prohibited. Dozens of persons are attending funerals. Persons are keeping wake for their deceased relatives and these events see hundreds of persons congregating in close proximity to one another.

Some teenagers are taking advantage of the fact that only certain grades are attending schools. Boys and girls are bracing up against each other inside the school compound and the teachers are nowhere around. When you shout at them, they get annoyed and disrespectful.

How does Guyana expect to beat the pandemic when Guyanese have no idea of what social distancing means?

People are leaving their homes everyday either for work or to go shopping. One would have expected that with a pandemic now raging in Europe and America that all going out would have been strictly essential. But not in Guyana. People are going about their business as normal.

And once they do this, you can expect a surge in cases soon. It will be a

Dem

Playing de victim boys seh... when yuh wrang!

De oldest trick in de book is fuh play de victim when yuh in de wrong. Dem boys seh...no name, no warrant...but everybody know who it is dat when yuh wrang and yuh get ketch, the best defence is to play de victim. Dem boys does gat to laugh at how people does try dem old tricks wah any fool can spot from a mile away.

But sometimes if yuh smart enough, de victim does get de upperhand. Like de time, a student decide to sit next to his teacher at de lunch table.

De teacher get vex and tell de student, ‘A swan can’t be friends with a pig.’

‘Then I shall fly on,’ replied the student with a s m i l e .

The teacher was clearly embarrassed and decided to fail the student.

At the oral exam, the teacher asked him a

tricky question: “You’re walking on a road and you find two bags. One contains gold, the other cleverness. Which bag do you c h o o s e ? ” ” T h e g o l d . ” ”Unfortunately, I don’t agree. I’d choose cleverness because that’s more important t h a n m o n e y . ” ”Everyone would choose what they don’t have,” says the student.

The teacher turns red, and he’s so angry, he writes “ass” on the student’s paper. The student leaves without looking at the paper.

However, he returns shortly, gives back his paper and says, “Excuse me sir, you signed my paper, but you forgot to give me my grade!”

Talk half and nah try fuh play victim fuh attract public sympathy!

deadly Christmas and a deadlier New Year. COVID19 will continue to strike.

(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

Friday December 18, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

An AFC parliamentarian openly called for ethnic partition

W

h a t i s shocking, sickening and psychologically twisted is that the AFC has held many of its second-tier leaders accountable for complaints made against them. But the AFC has never asked its top leaders to explain depraved behaviour that no political party in a democratic country would tolerate.

This insane degeneration reminds me of my youthful days in the WPA, where one of the top leaders wanted to sex and did sex with every person wearing a skirt and there was never, never any discussion in the WPA’s warroom about the danger it can b r i n g t o t h e W PA .

Unfortunately for Walter Rodney, President Burnham was blackmailing a top WPA leader.

Security breaches in the WPA would have been natural. It had to be if one of

your leaders is sexing all over the place. Surely state security agents could not be sleeping.

These are things that I would never write about unless the person is no longer on earth.

In one of the virtual meetings between the AFC’s management committee which is the main decisionmaking body outside of the national executive committee, an African leader in the AFC called for Indians and Africans to have separate existence in our country. The person did not use the word partition as I have in the caption of this column.

Not one person at that meeting objected except Dr. Vi n c e n t A d a m s , w h o rejected the racial fulcrum of the exhortation citing two fundamental premises – his mother was Indian and there is too much integration

between ethnic groups to ask for separation.

I have studied Guyanese politics my entire life. I have experienced it all my life. I say with forceful emphasis, if that advocacy was made inside the PPP and PNC, many mandarins would have got up from their seats and voices would have been raised.

Look where the call for separation came from. A party that you thought was the most multi-racial in Guyana since the break-up of the united PPP in the 1950s with Burnham and Jagan at the helm. Not one of those generals in the AFC army showed revulsion to that sociological thesis except Dr. Adams. What is the explanation?

The answer revolves around Freudian analysis.

The election rigging and what was perceived to be the loss of African state power

brought out what was deeply buried in the Freudian structure of that person. That person saw him/her as always an African before being Guyanese. The election crisis simply brought it to the surface.

So what happens next?

The ball is in the court of Guyanese journalism. I am not going to name the person. I am not going up the steps of the High Court at my age.

The editors and journalists have to do what journalism compels them to do. In a troubled land bedeviled by ethnic strife for 70 years, journalism owes it to the people of Guyana to identify their leaders who want to break up Guyana.

In this county, a sitting MP who is in fact inside the hierarchy of his/her party voiced a preference for the ethnic separation of the Guyanese territory, and no media house, no other political party, no one from civil society has entered a debate with this person about that untenable position generated from a dangerous

temperament.

But look at the juxtaposition. Roshan Khan is under fire for a remark far less harmful. Other persons

Frederick Kissoon a r ebeing criticized for far less evil adumbrations in the newspapers. It is interesting to note that when Dr. Adams offered reasons for his rejection, the AFC bigwig was unmoved.

It was disturbing to know that as Dr. Adams defended the cultural and sociological integrity of Guyana, not one person in that virtual meeting joined him. Indeed we are dealing with evil

inside the AFC. I have personal regrets about my support for the AFC that would live with me until I die.

I think the biggest regret I made in life is to have been associated with the AFC. For that I offered an apology to my family, friends, all the other political parties and every single Guyanese in and outside of this land.

But how can humans see into the future?

I voted for Lennox Shuman in the 2020 election because I think all Guyanese owe it to the Indigenous people to have them empowered. Why should anyone who voted for Shuman be blamed if he turns out to be a colossal disappointment?

I have to live everyday with the brutal fact that I have contributed to the physiology of the AFC. I am not a religious person but if God does exist he will have to forgive me.

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

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Friday December 18, 2020

One month later, Jagdeo yet to release names of crude marketing evaluators

I

t is one month later and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is yet to honour his promise of releasing the names of the evaluators under the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) who will select the trader to sell Guyana’s share of oil.

At a press conference on November 6, Jagdeo was pressed about whether the government had any

intentions of releasing the n a m e s o f s a i d evaluators…the VP gave his assurances of such being done. “ We d o n ’ t h a v e a problem with releasing the names of the people.

We’ll get the names to you shortly,” the VP had said at the press conference.

But to date, no updates have been given. Notably, anti-corruption advocates have argued that details on

those tasked with selecting the traders should be publicized, as it ensures that those evaluators are competent enough in selecting a winning trader.

In November when Kaieteur News had contacted the new NPTAB C h a i r m a n , Ta r a n h a n d Balgobin for those same details, he had refused to share. He had told Kaieteur News that he would not release the names since it

was Jagdeo who had promised to do so.

The VP’s delay in releasing those evaluators’ names comes after months of resistance from NPTAB. In fact, in May of this year, Kaieteur News had asked the former Deputy Chairman of NPTAB, Mark Bender, to confirm if guidance would be provided by international consultants who have experience in detecting fraudulent or

corrupt traders.

Bender had declined to provide details on whether they are local or international, information on the experience of the individuals, and their qualifications, making it clear that he would not be answering those questions.

Background checks In its pursuit of a marketer for Guyana’s share of the Stabroek Block oil, the Energy Department had said that it would be doing a thorough background check on all bidders.

When the Expressions of Interest was first released in February by the Energy Department for applications to market Guyana’s crude, the procuring agency was keen to note that the applicant must demonstrate that it has at least five years of experience in crude oil marketing and trading, and provide copies of its Certificate of Incorporation.

Applicants were also required to provide details of their capabilities and the volume of crude oil trading and marketing done by geography, over the last five years.The Energy Department had also said it wanted to see details of previous experience in introducing a new grade into the market as well as the applicant’s Code of Conduct Statement.

Significantly, bidders were asked to make provisions to allow the Department of Energy to verify all claims made in submission, and also, to verify that the bidders’ organization is not in receivership, or the subject

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo of any form of insolvency of bankruptcy proceedings or the subject of any form of winding up petition or proceedings.

A written statement confirming that the bidders do not have any director who has been convicted in any country for a criminal offence relating to fraud or any financial impropriety or criminal misrepresentation or falsification of facts relating to any matter also has to be provided.

Accompanying that statement it said, should be details of any pending litigation, which the bidder may or may not have.

Kaieteur News understands that the successful candidate will be required to provide support to the Energy Department in all operating and back office responsibilities of managing crude sales and for each individual lift from the Liza Destiny, Guyana’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) (Continued on page 28)

Kaieteur News

Friday December 18, 2020

Alleged Ponzi scheme…

PAGE 13

Only $3M of $4B repaid

to “investors”- lawyer says money is “safe” in Belize A

ccelerated Capital Firm I n c . , t h e company accused of bilking over 17,000 Guyanese of over US$20M ($4B), is still unable to publicize the number of investors that have been repaid.

However, the company, whose principals are facing over 80 charges, says a mere $3M was repaid.

Kaieteur News was told that the number of investors to be repaid is in the thousands, and that the repayment process will resume sometime in the new year.

Between the period August 26 and October 17, two officials of the company, Yuri Garcia Dominguez, and his wife, Ateeka Ishmael, were slapped with 80-plus fraud charges and two charges under the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of T e r r o r i s m A c t (AML/CFT).The latter charges were laid by the police’s Special Organized Crime Unit.

The couple is currently out on over $30M bail for all the charges.

Yesterday, more than two months after their last press conference, attorney-at-law, D e x t e r To d d w h o i s representing the alleged Ponzi scheme operators, spoke to Kaieteur News at Sharon’s Mall, Georgetown.

During the interaction, Todd was asked about the total number of investors who have been repaid and the total value of the repayment.

He was unable to provide any actual figure for the investors who recouped their investments, but stated that he is aware of $3M being repaid.

In fact, the lawyer said: “I do not have that stats right now … because I have not been monitoring the day-today payments at all, but what I can say is that persons were repaid and that $3M was repaid.”

He stated: “I don’t have that stats right now for that but what I know is that remaining persons to be repaid is still very significant.”

The repayment process commenced on October 12.

There has been growing anger over the delays with the principals blaming the authorities, including Attorney General, Anil N a n d l a l l .

Last month, the alleged

Ponzi scheme operators announced that no one will lose their investments and that they are slated to meet with heads of the state agencies who are currently investigating them.

During the sit-down y e s t e r d a y, t h e l a w y e r

Attorney-at-law, Dexter Todd. confirmed that the he was scheduled to meet with the state agencies. He said only the Crime Chief’s office responded to his invite.

According to the lawyer, the remainder of the money is in a trading account in

becomes very easy.”

As such, he added that within four to five weeks the company should be able to withdraw larger amounts of cash from the account and be able to pay back some investors.

Kaieteur News had reported that the “investors” includes businessmen and church members, with a number of religious leaders accused of playing roles in recruiting unsuspecting Guyanese.

Accelerated, in a statement, had asked for patience: “We ask of you for your continued patience and tolerance as we assure you that no one will lose their investment and that an end to this matter will be soonest.”

In that release, too, the company acknowledged the delays in the repayment process that was announced

by Garcia-Dominguez since September.

“This delay has not been without justification as the company is attempting to do everything legally possible to ensure that repayments are done in the shortest possible

Alleged Ponzi scheme operators, Yuri Garcia- Dominguez and his wife, Ateeka Ishmael.

Belize and that it is safe. He mentioned that the police have evidence of the account and the amount of money in the account. He said if investors want evidence of the money being in the trading account, they can reach out to the company and make a request.

Todd stated: “The only issue is the access to it … once the activity of the account is cleared up and it comes out of loss and comes into profitability, then the access to the capital investment of that account

time.”

T h e c o m p a n y highlighted that the repayment process is stalled due to many obstacles from the ongoing investigation.

Earlier this month, the company had offered to repay its investors in digital m o n e y .

Garcia-Dominguez had announced that he is seeking to make the payments in crypto currency.

Crypto currency is a digital method designed to work as a medium of exchange, wherein an

individual can do online transactions – the most popular crypto currency is bitcoins.

H o w e v e r, A t t o r n e y General (AG), Anil Nandlall, had told Kaieteur News, that the proposed crypto currency repayment

method by the principals of ACF is not a legal tender in Guyana.

Kaieteur News had also contacted an official at the Bank of Guyana (BOG) who was unable to confirm the use of crypto currency in Guyana since the bank is not

aware of it.

When asked about the crypto currency repayment, Todd stated that there is a way that the bitcoins can be brought to Guyana.

“There is a process of exchange, you withdraw (Continued on page 26)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Friday December 18, 2020

Finance Minister tells GRA of Govt.’s zero tolerance for corruption

- tours headquarters, wharves amid hectic year-end clearance process Minister Ashni Singh during Wednesday’s tour of GRA’s facilties

S

enior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, D r. A s h n i S i n g h , o n Wednesday made his first visit of his tenure to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Headquarters and its various facilities at

respective wharves in Georgetown.

The visit came amidst the busy Christmas and year-end clearance process.

It also allowed for the Minister to meet with GRA Department Heads to outline his Government’s key priorities including

increased efficiency and a high level of integrity.

During his visit to the Headquarters on Camp Street, the Senior Finance Minister, who was accompanied by newlyappointed Chairman of the GRA Board, Saisnarine K o w l e s s a r, m e t w i t h

Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia, and toured the offices in the compound.

After congratulating the new board members on their appointment and wishing them well in the discharge of their responsibilities, the Minister said: “GRA should aim to be a world-class tax

administration.”

He was at the time addressing senior management gathered in the Oil and Gas Unit.

“It is opportune that we are meeting in the room of the oil and gas unit, as particularly where we are as a country. We are at a critical juncture, a defining moment, the moment that our country is really going to turn the corner from a country where there were a number of fiscal challenges to one which is now an oil producer and exporter with different challenges including the need to manage our finances carefully and sustainably.”

On this note, the Minister reminded GRA that despite the importance of revenue from oil and gas, domestic revenue mobilization was still a priority.

“The coming into existence of an oil and gas sector does not mean that revenue collection from other sectors will not matter.

In fact, it will be quite the opposite,” he said as he

Minister Ashni Singh during Wednesday’s tour of GRA’s facilties

alluded to other non-oil sectors which his Government will be prioritizing as well.

Pointing to the modernization of infrastructure taking place in the country, the Finance Minister noted that this must be accompanied by rapid modernization in the manner in which Government services are delivered to taxpayers.

He further emphasized on GRA’s role in trade facilitation and the need for the rapid deployment of electronic tax-payer services along with delivery of services in a client-friendly manner.

Turning his attention to corruption, Minister Singh then reaffirmed his G o v e r n m e n t ’s z e r o tolerance stance on this as he cautioned that anyone found to be part of corruption would be dealt with condignly. “ We e x p e c t a s a Government, the highest standards of integrity and (Continued on page 26)

Kaieteur News

Friday December 18, 2020

Lethem Commander offered to pay taxes on seized liquor

The suspected smuggled items

L e t h e m ’s P o l i c e Commander, Keithton King, has offered to pay the duties on the 30 cases of liquor that were seized by the Guyana Revenue Authorities (GRA) on Tuesday.

G R A o ff i c e r s h a d intercepted King and two other police ranks at Linden with 30 cases of Black Stone Whiskey and eight boxes of cologne. GRA believes that the items were being smuggled.

King has since denied this and claimed that items are sold right in Lethem, Region Nine, an area that borders with Brazil. He said the items were for his staffers and family members.

Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, King said that he maintains his position but due to all the “running around” with the GRA officers, he offered to pay the taxes on the items.

King had left his Region Nine district, which he is in charge of, in a police pick-up to attend the Police Commissioner’s Breakfast, which was scheduled for Wednesday morning in Georgetown.

GRA officers had received a tip-off about smuggling activities and decided to intercept the police pickup. They found the suspected smuggled items covered beneath a tarpaulin in the pickup’s tray.

The Commander said that the items were being brought out for family and staff members. He added that the boxes were labelled with the names of its respective owners.

The Guyana Police Force

Lethem Police Commander: Keithon King

(GPF) has since informed the media that it has been made aware that one of its vehicles was intercepted with suspected smuggled items.GPF had further stated that it is cognizant that King and two other ranks were in

the vehicle at time.

The Public Relations Officer of the force, Royston Andries-Junor notified as well that the commander and the ranks are still on duty as GRA continues its investigations.

PAGE 15

Drinking buddies return part of stolen cash they took from drunk miner After confessing to robbing a drunken man, the three captured bandits later returned a part of the stolen cash to the police.

The victim is identified as Trevon France, 42, a gold miner of Mabaruma Settlement, North West District.

According to the information received, the incident occurred at around 21:30 hrs. on Tuesday at Itaballi Landing, Mazaruni River.Reports are that France received his salary after work and later went at the ‘Pink Shop,’ which is located at the landing. It was there he met the three suspects, Jairam Gobin, 28; Ameer Mohamed, 26; and a 15-year-old suspect, and they began consuming alcohol.

France then got intoxicated and later left to go to the room he was staying in. Based on information received, on his way to the room, the suspects blocked his path and allegedly robbed him of $600,000 along with two ounces of raw gold. They then escaped.

The matter was reported to the police and all three suspects were arrested.

One of the suspects, Gobin allegedly confessed to the crime and told investigators that he only took $125,000 worth of cash from the victim, which was shared with the other two.

Kaieteur News was told that $75,000 was later turned over to the police.

Investigations into the matter are still ongoing.

PAGE 16

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

12 years for Kildonan man who lit fire that killed father

Burnt to death: Rudolph Ross called ‘Uncle Bruce’

C

olin Ross, 57, a farmer, of K i l d o n a n , Corentyne, Berbice, has been sentenced to 12 years in jail after pleading guilty to killing his father.

Ross, an ex-police sergeant, was on trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds in the Berbice High Court. He is accused of killing his 82year-old father; Rudolph Ross called ‘Uncle Bruce’ on April 10, 2017.

The deceased was a former overseer in the Bush Lot/Kildonan area.

The younger Ross is accused of causing the elderly man’s demise during the course of a fire in furtherance of arson, in relation to a dwelling house at their Lot 14 Kildonan, Corentyne, Berbice home.

The man was initially charged with murder, but changed his plea to guilty of manslaughter.

Justice Reynolds had ordered a probation report.

Ross, a father of two was represented by state appointed attorney, Sasha Roberts.

The prosecution case was presented by State Prosecutor, attorney-at-law Abigail Gibbs.

It was reported that the charred remains of the elderly man were discovered after the fire was extinguished.

Reports had revealed that there was an argument between Colin and his father, after which the accused collected important documents before he set the house on fire and fled the scene.

The probation report was presented by Probation

Jailed: Colin Ross Officer, Dione Douglas, during a Zoom hearing in the Berbice High Court.

The report stated that the accused was an intelligent person, who was qualified e d u c a t i o n a l l y, h a v i n g attended secondary and technical schools.

His brother stated that the two had the same father and shared a good relationship.

It is believed that the accused become annoyed after the father had stated his intention of transferring the property to him.

It was reported that the accused was an ex-police o ff i c e r a n d w a s o n c e employed with the Guyana Forestry Commission as a Monitoring Manager.

He was previously convicted of simple larceny and had served a two-year jail sentence.

Investigators had received information that the accused and his father had been involved in a heated argument. During the investigation a bottle with a flammable liquid was found.

A post mortem examination gave the cause of death as smoke inhalation, due to exposure to the flames.

The fire had reportedly started in the kitchen of the upper flat of the two-storied house.

Neighbours had heard the elderly man calling for help during the course of the fire.

In handing down the sentence, Justice Reynolds started at 22 years, but deducted five years for time spent and another five for good behaviour and the early plea.

Thus, his sentence was 12 years in jail.

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Friday December 18, 2020

“Police told my son to say they found him on the road and rescued him.�

- mother of injured motorcyclist that was hit by police pickup

A

serious accident involving an 18y e a r - o l d motorcyclist of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, and a police pickup has brewed into a bigger issue, as relatives are now alleging that the police involved in the accident are trying to cover-up what took place.

On December 14, 2020, the police reported that at about 21:15 hrs. on Waterloo Access Road, West Coast Berbice, Morvin Narine was proceeding west along the southern side of the road on his motorcycle, while a police pickup, PVV 1662, driven by a Police Constable, 26, was proceeding in the same

direction.

It was reported that the police patrol vehicle attempted to stop Narine on his motorcycle, but instead collided into the left side rear of the said motorcycle causing Narine to fall unto the road surface.

He received injuries to his left foot during that accident and other minor

lacerations about his arms and leg, was picked up by the police vehicle and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital and subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

He sustained a fractured leg, doctors said after examination.

It was also reported by the police that a breathalyzer

test was done on the teen and it read 278 and 208 respectively.

However, days after the accident, the relatives are saying that the police are trying to cover up the accident to make it appear that they did not hit Narine, but rather that they found him on the road and rescued him.

Mother of the teen, Vanita Sukdeo, disclosed that on the day of the accident when the police vehicle hit her son, they asked that he say that he fell from his motorcycle and that they found him and assisted him.

She disclosed that after some back and forth between her son and the police, he told them that he was in pain and they agreed to take him to the hospital but while on their way to the hospital they stopped at the Fort Wellington Police Station and was again trying to coerce her son to say that he fell from his bike.

Because he wanted to go the hospital, he agreed to say what they told him to. “They give him a paper and told him to sign. When he reached at the hospital, he said he asked them if he can (Continued on page 28)

An injured Morvin Narine, 18, in hospital.

The skid marks of where the accident happened.

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday December 18, 2020

Heavy winds blow down guard hut at Pres, Ali’s home, injuring guards The guard hut that was blown away

A

presidential guard might have broken his leg yesterday, after a heavy wind uprooted a guard hut with him inside and blew it some 15 feet away.

The constable was at the time guarding the residence of President Irfaan Ali’s at L e o n o r a , We s t C o a s t Demerara (WCD).

According to police, the guard hut was blown away around 09:15hrs.

Kaieteur News learnt that the constable, armed with an Ak-47 rifle, was sitting in a chair inside of the hut which was planted on the sea dam at the Leonora foreshore.

He was reportedly

working a three-hour shift and was waiting to be relieved.

At 09:15hrs, a strong wind blew and the guard hut was carried some 15 feet away with the guard inside.

The shed had dislodged and the constable was injured. He had to be assisted by his colleague who had come to relieve him and others.

He was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where doctors there suspected that he suffered a fractured leg. X-rays were conducted immediately.

Some hours later, a statement was made by the President informing the (Continued on page 26)

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday December 18, 2020

Readymade offices for oil and gas…

Regus opens new centre on Waterloo Street

Ready to do business: The Waterloo Street offices of Regus

Regus, the global leader in serviced offices, has opened its first centre in Guyana.

The new centre is located in the New Trafalgar Building at 165 Waterloo Street, North C u m m i n g s b u r g , Georgetown.

“Regus has built an unparalleled global network of 3,100 business centres in 1,000 cities across 110 countries offering office space, co-working, meeting spaces and memberships, helping over 2.5 million people have a great day at work,” a statement said yesterday.

The Regus business centre, which boasts a combination of office space, meeting rooms, co-working facilities, and a business lounge, is ready to support Georgetown’s flourishing business environment.

“Companies now have the ability to immediately tap into fully functional and ready to move into office spaces. The new centre enables businesses to operate without the need for set-up costs or capital investment.

Regus centres are designed to enhance productivity and connect businesses to likeminded professionals within the Regus global network.”

Community Sales Manager for Regus Guyana, Rowena Elliot, stated: “We are delighted to bring the Regus brand to the business landscape in Guyana, as demand for flexible workspaces takes off. Guyana is poised for a new decade of growth and development, with the oil and gas industry leading the way.

Flexible working will prove to be invaluable and will provide businesses with the opportunity to easily increase productivity and attract top talent.”

Vi c k r a m B h a r r a t , Minister of Natural Resources in Guyana, welcomed Regus saying: “We are delighted to welcome the Regus brand into the Guyana market. As the oil and gas industry takes center

stage in our growing economy, offerings from serviced office providers such as Regus, are a great option for companies needing instant and professional workspaces.

We look forward to seeing the positive impact these centres will have on our economy, as the products and services offered will definitely help improve the ease-of-doing-business in Guyana, not just for new entrants but for existing businesses too.”

Managing Director of the Regus Franchise Partner in the Caribbean and former CEO of Digicel Guyana, Mark Linehan added: “Regus has built a dynamic business community not just in the Caribbean but across the world, with a diverse mix of clients from multinationals to start ups and consultants.

Now, with this centre at Waterloo Street, we look forward to bringing our brand of workspaces to Guyana.”

He continued: “When businesses choose Regus, they’re not simply choosing a workspace, they’re choosing our people.

Our dedicated teams define Regus – together c r e a t i n g a f r i e n d l y, professional, and consistent experience for our customers, every day, in every location.”

All serviced offices are supplied with furniture, highspeed internet and a staffed reception, with additional services such as meeting rooms and business packages available. Each private office can be rented for long term or short-term durations and can be upgraded to add more desks and services as required.

IWG is the global operator of leading workspace providers. The companies help more than 2.5 million people and their businesses to work more productively.

“We do so by providing a choice of professional, inspiring and collaborative workspaces, communities and services,” Regus said.

Kaieteur News

Friday December 18, 2020

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Abused woman strangled, man confesses By: Sueann Wickham he lifeless body of a Cummings Lodge woman who has been constantly subjected to abuse by relatives was found last Friday.

The 53-year-old woman, Marilyn Singh, who also goes by the name ‘Miss Jean’, was found dead and naked in her Eight Street, South Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara home at around 08:00hrs by her brother, Rohit Singh, a security guard.

The woman was living with her father and Singh, wife and step-children.

Yesterday, the police revealed that after finding her body, the brother reported her death at the Turkeyen Police Station and the scene was subsequently visited by police ranks. They said that upon their inspection, they noticed no marks of violence on the woman’s body and it was then taken for a post mortem examination which revealed that she died of blunt trauma to the head and asphyxiation as a result of manual strangulation.

The police disclosed that a 46-year-old security guard

T

The deceased: Marilyn Singh called ‘Miss Jean’

of the same area was arrested yesterday and is currently in police custody.

Kaieteur News was also informed that the male suspect is the husband of the woman’s step-niece who allegedly constantly abused her, He reportedly confessed to killing the woman.

Based on reports received, the man claimed that he shared a relationship with “Miss Jean”.

He claimed that she let him in the house and they later engaged in sexual

intercourse. During intercourse the man claimed, “Miss Jean” hit her head and decided not to continue, and despite her refusal, he insisted.

After constantly denying him, he claimed that he became angry and he strangled her.

He then left her body which was later discovered by the relative.

This publication reported several months ago that the dead woman had suffered a brutal attack allegedly at the

Guyana foots the bill for any disaster...

From page 8 stranger to oil spills either. One of the most devastating man-made environmental disasters in the world happened from Exxon vessel, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. The Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran into a reef in Alaska in 1989, causing more than 10 million gallons of oil to envelope the Alaska coastline. The spill killed thousands of

whales, seabirds and other marine life. The tourism and fishing industries were devastated for years.

Imagine what would happen to Guyana if a spill like that happens and the country is left to pay off billions of dollars for generations while ExxonMobil walks away. That is a real possibility for the company’s operations offshore Guyana, right now.

The injuries she sustained due to the brutal in June

hands of the very step-niece.

She was beaten with a spade, had her body lacerated and a tooth was left painfully sticking through her chin.

The woman was found lying helpless on the road and public-spirited neighbours had taken her to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she received treatment and was later discharged.

After the incident, a nonprofit organization,

‘Mommy’s Corner’, headed

by Madonna Ghanie, cared for the woman.

The woman had even expressed fear of returning home since the niece was constantly threatening her after the incident. She was taken in by a concerned neighbour.

Ghanie had told Kaieteur News that for years the relatives abused ‘Miss Jean’ and took away her money that she obtained as a

domestic worker. They even threatened her while she was rendering the woman assistance.

The matter was also reported to the Turkeyen Police Station with the assistance of Ghanie, which led to an arrest warrant being put out for the niece. She was later taken to court.

At the first hearing, the niece was a no-show, but a second court hearing was scheduled for today.

Ghanie told Kaieteur News that it is unfortunate that Miss Jean succumbed days before her court hearing.

However, she will be attending to ensure ‘Miss Jean’ gets her justice.

Ghanie said she is angered about how the police approached ‘Miss Jean’s situation dating back to the assault that occurred months ago and even their investigations of her death.

Additionally, Ghanie shared that Miss Jean’s birthday is this coming Sunday and she was walking around the neighbourhood reminding persons about it.

That was the last time they saw her alive.

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Attorney-at-law Devindra Kissoon High Court Justice, Narweshwar Harananan, yesterday ruled that the President of Guyana has the power to appoint members of the bar to the status of Senior Counsel (SC).

In doing so, Justice Harananan threw out the application by attorney-atlaw, Timothy Jonas, who had challenged the presidential appointment of four lawyers to SC. Ironically moments later, Jonas was himself promoted to the dignity of SC by President Irfaan Ali along with attorney-at-law Jamela Ali and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who were also respondents in the case.

Jonas had moved to the High Court to challenge President David Granger’s appointment of attorneys-atLaw, Jamela Ali, Roysdale Forde, Mursalene Bacchus and Stanley Moore as Senior Counsel.

Jonas had requested an

President Irfaan Ali (center) along with Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards (second from right) and Senior Counsel Timothy Jonas (left); Jamela Ali (second left) and Anil Nandlall (right) (Office of the President photo) Order of Certiorari to be directed to the Attorney General to quash the decision by the President to appoint the members of the bar. He contended that the President, in making the appointments, acted ultra vires or outside the realm of his functions.

The lawyer had, through his attorney and President of the Bar Association, Teni Housty, contended that the decision of whom is appointed to the SC inherently lies with the Full Bench of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature and not the

President.

According to him, as President and a member of the Executive, a decision to appoint Senior Counsel, trespasses into the realm of the judiciary and violates Article 122 of the Constitution of Guyana, which speaks to the doctrine of the separation of powers.

However, in his ruling yesterday, Justice Harananan disagreed with the position taken by Jonas. The Judge reasoned that there is no proof that the independence of the judiciary is compromised by the

presidential appointments as it in no way directs the Court how it must treat the appointees.

Justice Harananan also found that there was no issue of the Constitutionality of the appointments.

“Historically,” he said “the Executive came to have a role in appointing senior counsel, after the royal prerogative power was handed down from the Crown to the GovernorGeneral and then the Executive President when Guyana became an (Continued on page 29)

...One month later, Jagdeo yet to release names From page 12 vessel.The successful crude marketing agent would also have to support the Energy Department in the first year of introduction of the Liza grade in multiple geographies and refinery systems, and work closely with the Department in understanding the behaviour and yields of the Liza Blend and how these affect pricing differentials.

Of note is the fact that it will have to conduct training

sessions for personnel attached to the department in matters relating to crude oil supply and trading fundamentals, and more specifically, those relevant to the Liza grade pricing.

Kaieteur News understands that the crude marketing agent would have to use all reasonable efforts to provide relevant information, documentation and/or training in a timely manner for Energy Department personnel.

The contract is expected to last for 12 months.

Some rotten tomatoes Based on extensive research, Kaieteur News has already found that many of the companies bidding to market Guyana’s oil have a troubling history of corruption. Companies including Gunvor, Shell, Petrobras, Sinochem, Vitol SA, Glencore PLC, and Mercuria Energy Group are just a few of the companies with a notoriously corrupt past that sub-

mitted bids to NPTAB. Public documents show for example that three of the world’s largest commodities trading firms – Vitol SA, Glencore PLC and Mercuria Energy Group have used intermediaries to funnel over US$31 million in bribes to corrupt Petrobras employees in order to win massive contracts, along with acquiring other benefits. Many other companies share similar troubling stories.

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out in the background that ‘the police want me to lie, they knock me down’ and the phone cut off,” she disclosed.

The woman said that when they arrived at the hospital, they saw their son with a leg injury and was subsequently told by him what the police demanded of him.

The following day, she said they decided to go to the Fort Wellington Station to file a report about the incident “but nobody wanted to take our report.”

She added that they were given a difficult time and they asked to speak with the of-

ficer in charge and was told he was not around, but they waited. Eventually a senior traffic rank spoke with them and took their report and he also visited the scene and took pictures.

“He take our number and said he will get back to us but we never heard from him. Later in the day we spoke to Mr. Harry Gill (Member of Parliament) and he gave us assurance that the matter will be looked into,” she said.

The woman is seeking justice for her son and is afraid that the accident will be swept under the carpet since

the police are involved.

“These people trying to cover up this thing, they marked an X far away from where the accident happen.

Me know me son would never tell me lie, he was on a street and they drive and hit him down. They could have killed him. I want an investigation to be launched,” Michael Narine, father of the teen said.

Kaieteur News was also informed by the victim that he was not under the influence of alcohol that night as is stated in the police report.

The teen was also without any legal documents.

Friday December 18, 2020

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Region 10 accounts for 21 of 26 Battered Canje girl, 6, newly recorded COVID-19 cases placed in the care of father - mental evaluation of mother ordered

The Ministry of Health reported 26 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, with Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) recording 21 of them.

Regions Six and Seven recorded one new case each while Region Four recorded three new cases.

This was presented in the ministry’s daily dashboard update, which shows the new total of confirmed cases increased to 6,042.

Further, the dashboard shows 644 patients in home isolation, 35 in institutional isolation and eight in the

COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

An additional 70 persons are in institutional quarantine and 12 more persons have recovered.

The total number of recoveries, according to the Ministry, is 5,197.

The office of the Director of Public Prosecution has advised that the six-year-old who was beaten unconscious by her mother, Dhrupattie Balkarran, of Geod Bananen Land, East Canje, Berbice, be placed in the custody of her father, Steve Ramsarran.

The DPP also recommended that a mental evaluation be done on the suspect and upon the completion of the evaluation, a report be submitted and sent back for further advice.

Ramsarran, the father of the child, had told Kaieteur News that while his daughter is awake, she is unable to eat and is speaking very little. He added that he also has another daughter with the suspect and that child lives with him after they separated.

The mother of the toddler confessed to beating her daughter with a piece of wood until she was unconscious.

The child was then left in a swampy area under a mango tree in Geod Bananen Land, East Canje, a location not far from where the child lives.

That confession sent shockwaves throughout the country with anger and empathy.

The suspect claimed that on Sunday she took her daughter on a walk a short distance away from their home at Geod Bananen Village. The little girl started to play in the nearby bushes.

She told investigators that she yelled at the child to stop playing in the bushes.

After not being heeded, the mother said she grabbed a piece of wood and dealt the girl several lashes.

The father, Steve Ramsarran, and his daughter She said she beat her daughter until she became unconscious, and then left her under a mango tree. She then returned and reported to her parents who live in the same yard, but a different household, that her daughter was missing.

Ramsarran was separated from Balkarran and lived in the city but would visit the child.

It was on Sunday that the father was scheduled to spend quality time with his daughter and had made contact with the mother sometime around 08:00 hrs. to indicate that he will be picking up the child. According to the mother, she prepared the child for her father to pick her up and left her in the yard playing.

At the time, the child’s grandmother who was at her

home doing chores saw her about 11:30 hrs. However, at about 12:30 hrs. when the grandfather made checks for her, he did not find her.

A search party was immediately formed by relatives and friends.

It was during the search that the child’s grandfather found her submerged in a swampy area, about five hundred feet away from the house, covered in mud. She had cuts about her face and body. She was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where she was admitted and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she remains.

A number of organizations are reaching out to the father and girl.

Man feared dead after house ...High Court throws out challenge found with blood stains A man is now feared dead by his family members after they reportedly found his home ransacked and with blood stains on the walls and floors.

Feared dead or missing is Answar Stoll, of Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

The man’s cousin, Alicia Williams in a Facebook post, stated that family members have not heard from Stoll since November 15.

The man was reportedly last seen in Georgetown on November 13. Phone calls to him went on unanswered. Worried, they claimed that they visited his home in the company of police ranks on Wednesday but he was not found.

Alicia went on to state that his house appeared to be ransacked. She said that there were also blood stains on the walls and floors.

His personal belongings including phone, documents, and ID card were missing but his house keys were located.

Family members are now seeking the public’s assistance for information on his

Feared dead or missing: Answar Stoll. whereabouts.

Commander of the Police Division, Linden Isles, promised Kaieteur News that he will look into the matter today.

From page 28 independent country.” This point was argued by the AG Nandlall, who disagreed that the case lacks merit and should have never been filed. In submissions, Nandlall held that the President has had the power to confer silk since independence.

He explained that after Guyana gained independence, the power was transferred to the President as the Head-of-State from the queen.

“That power,” he argued, “was transferred to the President, where it remains and was never vested in the judiciary.”

Further, Devindra Kissoon who represented leading senior counsel, Edward Luckhoo, S.C., Andrew Pollard S.C., Stephen Fraser, S.C. and Stanley Moore, S.C. in this matter argued that the Republic Act clearly retained prerogative power and has not been voided by Parliament.

He noted that the Privy Council in 2009 decided that a prerogative power was the appointment of SC, that the appointment took effect from the time the President appoints; there being no requirement for appointment by the Full Court (that being ceremonial) and that the Judicial Service Commission has no power over the appointment of lawyers.

“Of chief importance,” Kissoon said is that Dr. Mohamed Shahabuddeen in 1980 in the

208th sitting of Parliament who stated as it related to the Legal Practitioners Act that: “This Bill does not deal with the appointment of Senior Counsel. This is because the power to make such appointments derives not from statute but from its prerogative of the Executive, “he said.

As such, Justice Harananan in agreeing with the arguments put forward by Kissoon and Nandlall struck Jonas’ application out.

The Judge, nonetheless, stated that while his ruling is not in favour of Jonas, the time for reform of the process in appointing Senior Counsel is opportune.

He stressed on a need for transparency in the nomination process for persons the President intends to confer with silk.

“But the case brought before the court does not challenge the process, and as such, the ruling does not address that,” he said.

Shortly after the ruling was given, President Ali moved ahead with appointing three members of the bar to the position of Senior Counsel. Jonas and Nandlall were among the recipients of the instruments of appointment.

The honour of silk is conferred on distinguished lawyers. Lawyers with this status wear silk gown, a status which is recognized by the courts and gives recipients privilege and respect.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Govt.’s non-participation in ERC’s public forum President Irfaan Ali yesterday said that the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) needs to take responsibility and to stand up in the face of wrongdoings - the body failed to do so in the months following the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

The Head of State made this statement according to a release from the Office of the President, while fielding questions yesterday on his Government’s nonparticipation in the ERC’s National Conversation which was held on December 14 and 15, under the theme ‘Understand.

Respect. Unite: Bridging the Ethnic Divide’.

“The question first of all has to be understood in context… I think that the Government has made it very clear that one of the pressing issues, which we faced over the last five months…when democracy was under threat.

Every single stakeholder in Guyana agrees that democracy was under threat, but ERC did not issue a single statement, the ERC went hiding.”The President lamented, too, on the lack of consultation with regards to the participants and the presenters for the event. He noted that the courtesy of an invitation was not

…President blasts ERC for hiding during elections’ months ...says body needs to “stand up” in the face of injustice, wrongdoings

President Irfaan Ali fielding questions from reporters at State House yesterday. extended to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, the Gail Teixeira.

“How did you arrive at the names? …The same questions the Guyanese people are asking, how did they determine who made the presentation?

How did they come up with the theme? You can’t just pop up a name. There has to be some sort of

consultation, some sort of dialogue… I am not shy about speaking about these matters.”President Ali pointed to the fact that there were individuals involved in the discussion who were also part of a process to derail democracy.He maintained that his Government is committed to governance through a consultative process.

Friday December 18, 2020

GMSA, PSC pushes for local businesses to benefit more in oil sector The Private Sector Commission (PSC) and Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) have stepped up calls for the local businesses to be given more opportunities in the expanding oil and gas sector.

“The Private Sector Commission and Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association looks forward to local businesses being given opportunities to participate in the oil and gas value chain considering that the sector is poised for significant growth in the coming years,” PSC and GMSA said yesterday in a joint statement.

Key to this, the private sector bodies noted will be meaningful local content and greater transparency in procurement opportunities through unbundling, which involves offering products or services separately, that had previously been packaged together.

In addition, the private sector bodies stated that moving away from sole sourcing is another integral way to achieve this, “so that local businesses can be part of the value chain either directly or through partnerships and joint ventures.”

“This is especially the case for mega projects that are expected in

the coming years,” the joint statement said.

The GMSA and PSC noted, too, that it looks forward to working closely with Government to urgently put in place the framework and enabling environment to facilitate this.

Only last month, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, received the final report of recommendations from the local content advisory panel, which was appointed late August.

That panel consists of Chair, Shyam Nokta; former Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge; former Energy Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kevin Ramnarine; along with former Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Carvil Duncan.

Also sitting on the panel are Floyd Hayne and Energy Expert and International Consultant, Dr. Anthony Paul. That report was handed to President Irfaan Ali to provide guidance on the way forward. The report outlines several recommendations towards improvement of the country’s policies and legislation. GMSA and PSC are two of the prominent business bodies in Guyana.

Friday December 18, 2020

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Tennis-Australian Open to start on Feb. 8 - ATP Melbourne (Reuters) The Australian Open will start on Feb. 8, three weeks later than scheduled, the ATP Tour said on Thursday in releasing an update of its calendar for 2021 revising the first seven weeks of the season.

The start date of the main draw of the tournament was originally slated for Jan. 18 and Tennis Australia have been locked in drawn-out negotiations with local government over COVID-19 health security measures.

Organisers were still unable to confirm the start date on Thursday (yesterday).

This year’s Wimbledon tournament was cancelled due

Friday December 18, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It's important to take a hard look at yourself and know where you're going, Aries.

A little self-analysis never hurt anyone, especially when you feel like you aren't getting anywhere.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Taurus, you tend to run away from confrontation, but today you might not be able to avoid it. Your partner or a family member may be putting pressure on you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may feel a little weary today. It's a good time to take stock of your life. You may have gotten some news about someone that has caused you some pain.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You have the gift of being able to get your great ideas across to others. In your family, you may be the one who teaches your children about life and its responsibilities.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Libra, life around you today almost seems like a (bad) dream. It's almost as if people are talking, but nothing intelligible is coming out of their mouths.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You can't spend all your time running from one activity to the next, Scorpio.

You need to take a break from time to time. You have all the energy you need, but you should think about relaxing yourself as a whole.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today's planetary configuration has you wondering about an aspect of your life that causes you a good deal of hardship, Sagittarius.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may have been a little difficult to be around lately.

You like to treat yourself to a little moodiness from time to time, but the people around you might appreciate a little cooperation.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) There may be tension in the air as you go about your day. The leftover fatigue from the past few days is starting to wear on you.Take advantage of the situation to clear the air with your friend.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Let your sensual, nurturing instincts shine through, Aquarius. Rely on your sixth sense. If things start to get rough, remember that you have the ability to keep your cool.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You don't live your life by society's rules. Your freedom is what is most important to you. But despite your independence, there are days when you have the sudden, sinking feeling that you could wind up alone in this world.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A solid grounding is apt to be extremely important to you today, Pisces. Hearts may be broken or won, depending on how well you play your cards. Keep in mind that the slow and steady contender is most likely going to win this race.

to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the U.S. and French Opens went ahead with the players confined to biosecure ‘bubbles’, unable to leave their hotel rooms except to train and play.

The state of Victoria on Thursday recorded a 48th straight day without a case of community transmitted COVID-19 but many health restrictions remain in place in Melbourne, and international travel to Australia is still strictly limited.

The ATP said men’s qualifying for the year’s first Grand Slam would take place in Doha from Jan. 10-13 before players relocate to Melbourne to enter quarantine for two weeks.

Players, including reigning

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, had warned organisers against expecting competitors to go straight from quarantine into Grand Slam matches.

The ATP tournament scheduled to take place in Adelaide has been moved to Melbourne to be played in the week commencing Jan. 31 alongside another men’s warm-up tournament in the city.

A shortened version of the ATP Cup men’s team tournament, which made its debut this year in cities around Australia, will take place in Melbourne from Feb. 1-5 before the Grand Slam begins on the following Monday.

The ATP season will now open with tournaments in Delray Beach, Florida and Antalya in Turkey from Jan. 5-13 before preparations for the trip to Melbourne Park begin. The Auckland Classic and New York Open will not take place this year, the ATP said, while the Maharashtra Open in India and Rio Open in Brazil will be rescheduled.

“The reconfigured calendar for the start of the 2021 season represents a huge collaborative effort across tennis, under challenging circumstances,” said ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi. “Health and safety will continue to be paramount as we navigate the challenges ahead ...”

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Ronaldo names the best he has played with and four players who inspired him Mirror - Brazilian legend Ronaldo has named the best he has player he has ever played with, as well as four idols he had growing up.

Former striker Ronaldo won almost everything there is to claim in both club and international football.

The 44-year-old, who is now president of La Liga club Real Valladolid, is widely regarded as one of the best forwards of all-time. So perhaps unsurprisingly, when asked who the best player he has ever played with, Ronaldo pointed the finger at a midfielder in Zinedine Zidane, who of course has become one of the most decorated managers of all-time too at Real Madrid.

“Zizou has been the best player I have trained and played with,” he told France Football. “And now he has become a coach and won three Champions Leagues in a row.

“That is why today I ask myself: ‘Who is better, Zidane

Ronaldo won almost everything there is to claim in both club and international football (Popperfoto via Getty Images) the player or Zidane the coach? But I can’t answer”.

Many recent strikers have revealed that Ronaldo was their inspiration growing up.

And the two-time Ballon d’Or winner has revealed the range of players he looked up to as

a child, growing up in the 1980’s.

“Marco Van Basten for sure,” Ronaldo went on.

“From a very young age I watched Italian football and paid special attention to this player.

Mohammad Amir: Pakistan bowler retires because of ‘mental torture’

Mohammad Amir last played for Pakistan in August on their tour of England. (Getty Images) BBCsport - Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Amir says he has retired from international cricket because he has been “mentally tortured” by the team management. The 28-yearold, who quit Tests in 2019, was left out of the squad for the current tour of New Zealand.

“I was always available for white-ball cricket but I have had shabby treatment,” he said. Amir played 146

games for Pakistan across all three formats after making his debut as a 17-year-old in 2009.

He was one of three Pakistan players jailed in 2011 for a plot to bowl no-balls in a Test against England, and served a five-year ban for spot-fixing. “I don’t want to play international cricket anymore,” said Amir, who took 119 wickets at an average of 30.47 in 36 Tests, 81 wickets at 29.62 in 61 one-day internationals and 59 wickets

at 21.40 in 50 Twenty20s.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said chief executive Wasim Khan spoke with Amir following reports he had retired from Pakistan duty. “This is a personal decision of Mohammad Amir, which the PCB respects,” a statement read.

Amir returned to the Pakistan squad in January 2016 and was part of the side that won the 2017 Champions Trophy.

Ronaldo says former Real Madrid team-mate Zinedine Zidane is the best player he has ever played with (Reuters) “Maradona and Cruyff, too. And Zico, of course, because he played for Flamengo and I was a fan of that team.

“I tried to take something from all of them and ultimately I can say that I am proud of the career I have had.”

Ronaldo was speaking to

France Football after being nominated as the Ballon d’Or Dream Team’s centre-forward.

And he admits that while he could have had a career playing second fiddle in attack, he always saw himself as the main man up front.

Ronaldo added: “Sometimes I played as a second striker,

but I always saw myself up top in the centre. It was like that.

“Maybe I could have played in the ‘10’ position, but I always preferred to be close to the box, where I knew I was the most dangerous. I was so in love with my position as a number 9.”

Dav Whatmore appointed Nepal head coach with eye on 2022 T20 World Cup ESPNcricinfo - Nepal have appointed Dav Whatmore as head coach of the national side. The former Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Zimbabwe coach will have Raunak Bahadur Malla as general manager, while Binod Kumar Das will be taking over as cricket manager from the start of next year.

Whatmore’s principal task at hand will be to secure qualification for the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, with Nepal failing to secure a berth at the 2021 T20 World Cup in India.

Whatmore’s appointment will bring a rich vein of experience to the national side, while also filling a vacancy that had persisted for nearly a year after Umesh Patwal stepped down in February. “Dave [sic] is extremely keen to take on this new challenge, as he strongly believes Nepal has great talent and a very bright future in international cricket,” said a press release by the Nepal Cricket Association. “Nepal is a beautiful country and Dave [sic] is looking forward to this new challenge with young talent in Nepal.”

Dav Whatmore gives batting tips at a nets session AFP Whatmore’s highest honour as coach remains steering Sri Lanka to a World Cup title in 1996. He then went on to oversee Bangladesh’s rise from 2003-07, guiding them through to the Super Eights of the 2007 World Cup where they knocked India out

and also upset South Africa.

In the past, he has also coached the Kolkata Knight Riders IPL franchise for two seasons as well as Indian domestic side Kerala, who made their first Ranji Trophy semi-finals in 2018-19 under Whatmore.

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Kaieteur News

The Best FIFA Football Awards

Lucy Bronze and Robert Lewandowski are The Best of 2020 The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2020 ceremony, held as a virtual event at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, crowned two household names, Lucy Bronze and Robert Lewandowski, as the game’s outstanding players on the women’s and men’s side respectively.

Poland and FC Bayern München striker Lewandowski was named The Best FIFA Men’s Player for the first time in his career.

Likewise, defender Bronze is also a maiden recipient of The Best FIFA Women’s Player Award after rounding off an impeccable spell with Olympique Lyonnais in style before returning to England to play for Manchester City WFC. Current Netherlands women’s national-team boss Sarina Wiegman was named The Best FIFA Women’s Coach for the second time in her career following her 2017 success. Meanwhile, Jürgen Klopp claimed The Best FIFA Men’s Coach Award for the second consecutive year, having steered Liverpool FC to the English Premier League title for the first time, 30 years after their last top-flight success. As per the Rules of Allocation (art. 12), Klopp was declared the winner after a close race with Hans-Dieter Flick (FC Bayern München), with the outcome decided on voting by the national-team coaches.

Germany and FC Bayern München’s Manuel Neuer was chosen as The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, while France and Olympique Lyonnais’ Sarah Bouhaddi capped her amazing career with The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper Award.

Teams of the year Thousands of football players from around the world cast their votes for this year’ss FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World11 and FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World11 selections: FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World11: Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker (Liverpool FC).

Defenders: Trent AlexanderArnold (Liverpool FC), Alphonso Davies* (FC Bayern München), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid CF) and Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool FC).

Midfielders: Thiago Alcântara (FC Bayern München/Liverpool FC), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City FC) and Joshua Kimmich (FC Bayern München).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus FC), Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) and Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) * Alphonso Davies was

included as a fourth defender in accordance with the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World11 Rules of Allocation.

FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World11: Goalkeeper: Christiane Endler (Paris SaintGermain). Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea FC Women), Lucy Bronze (Olympique Lyonnais/Manchester City WFC) and Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyonnais).

Midfielders: Barbara Bonansea (Juventus Women), Verónica Boquete (Utah Royals/AC Milan Women) and Delphine Cascarino (Olympique

Lyonnais). Forwards: Pernille Harder (VfL Wolfsburg/ Chelsea FC Women), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns/ Manchester United WFC), Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal WFC) and Megan Rapinoe* (OL Reign). * Megan Rapinoe was included as a fourth forward in accordance with the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World11 Rules of Allocation.

The other awards - FIFA Puskás Award: Son Heungmin (Korea Republic) – Tottenham Hotspur FC v.

Burnley FC [Premier League – England] (7 December 2019).

The irresistible solo run by the Tottenham forward was voted the best goal.

FIFA Fan Award: Marivaldo Francisco da Silva (Brazil) - Lacking the money to pay for transport, this fan walks for 12 hours, crossing three cities, to watch his team’s home matches. The Brazilian’s story received the most votes.

FIFA Fair Play Award: Mattia Agnese (Italy) - During a game, Agnese, a 17-year-old from Ospedaletti (in the Liguria region), saw an opponent fall to the ground and lose consciousness. He

did not hesitate for a moment, rushing to the player’s aid, getting him into a safe

position and ultimately saving his life before help arrived.

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FIA confirms longest Formula 1 season for 2021 BBCsport - Formula 1’s governing body the FIA has confirmed the calendar for the longest season in history next year. There will be 23 grands prix held, starting in Australia on 21 March and ending in Abu Dhabi on 6 December.

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone will be on 18 July and the Brazilian Grand Prix has been firmed up at Sao Paulo’s historic Interlagos circuit on 14 November. The calendar is dependent on no further coronavirus pandemic disruption.

F1 has said it is confident it will be able to run a full calendar. Plans for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne to be held in an ‘F1 biosphere’ are already under way.

The date previously allocated for the Vietnamese GP, 25 April, is still empty, pending a host country being found.

Hanoi’s maiden grand prix has technically not yet been cancelled, but it will not take place and a replacement will come from one of the tracks that filled in this year as F1 built a primarily Europeanbased season following disruption caused by

Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning his seventh Formula One Drivers Championship coronavirus.

Turkey’s Istanbul Park, Portugal’s Portimao and Italy’s Imola track are the leading candidates to replace Vietnam. Saudi Arabia will make its debut with a street race in Jeddah as the

penultimate grand prix of the year on 28 November.

Melbourne plans to hold the race with fans - Australia has been among the more successful countries in dealing with the pandemic, by imposing mask-wearing and

social distancing, track-andtrace systems and enforcing a 14-day quarantine on international arrivals.

F1 personnel will be restricted to the track and their hotels and will be transported in between to avoid contact

with the local population.

Vietnam’s inaugural race in April was a casualty of the pandemic, as the first 10 races of the season were all postponed or cancelled.

The removal of Vietnam, which at the time was the first new event introduced by F1’s owners Liberty Media, has been triggered by the arrest on corruption charges of a key official responsible for the race in Hanoi.

F1 had announced plans for the Brazilian Grand Prix to be held at a new track in Rio De Janeiro in 2021, but the project ran into trouble and a new five-year deal has been signed for the race to continue in Sao Paulo until 2025.

The calendar bears a strong resemblance to the original 2020 schedule. The biggest change is the moving of the Dutch Grand Prix from the spring to 5 September, where it follows a week after the neighbouring Belgian event.

The race at the seaside town of Zandvoort had been due to return for the first time since 1985 this April, but was a casualty of the pandemic.

2021 Formula 1 calendar

21 March Australia (Melbourne) 28 March Bahrain (Sakhir) 11 April China (Shanghai) 25 April TBC 9 May Spain (Barcelona) 23 May Monaco 6 June Azerbaijan (Baku) 13 June Canada (Montreal) 27 June France (Le Castellet) 4 July Austria (Spielberg) 18 July Britain (Silverstone) 1 August Hungary (Hungaroring) 29 August Belgium (Spa) 5 September Netherlands (Zandvoort) 12 September Italy (Monza) 26 September Russia (Sochi) 3 October Singapore (Marina Bay) 10 October Japan (Suzuka) 24 October USA (Austin) 31 October Mexico (Mexico City) 14 November Brazil (Sao Paulo) 28 November Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) 5 December Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

Russia banned from Tokyo Olympics and 2022 World Cup after CAS ruling BBCsport - Russia’s ban from all major sporting events after a doping scandal has been cut to two years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The ban still prevents Russia from competing in the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, set to be held next year, and football’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Russia was initially given a four-year ban by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Cas said the reduction of the ban should not be seen “as any validation” of Russia’s conduct. The ban will now run until 16 December 2022, meaning Russia is also banned from competing at the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February.

Russia will be allowed to play at next year’s delayed Euro 2020 tournament because European football’s governing body Uefa is not defined as a “major event organisation” with regards to rulings on anti-doping breaches.

Wada declared Russia’s Anti Doping Agency (Rusada) non-compliant for manipulating laboratory data handed over to investigators in January 2019. Russia had been told to hand over data

to Wada as a condition of its controversial reinstatement in 2018 after a three-year suspension for its vast statesponsored doping scandal.

“The panel has imposed consequences to reflect the nature and seriousness of the non-compliance and to ensure that the integrity of sport against the scourge of doping is maintained,” said Cas, which announced the ruling on Thursday (yesterday).

“It has considered matters of proportionality and, in particular, the need to effect cultural change and encourage the next generation of Russian athletes to participate in clean international sport.”

Russia has also been prevented from hosting international events during the same period.

When Wada announced its sanction last December, Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said the ban was part of “chronic anti-Russian hysteria”.

Will there be no sign of Russia at these events?

Russian athletes who can prove they are untainted by the doping scandal will be able to compete under a

neutral flag. They can wear a kit which contains Russian colours, but it cannot bear the Russian flag or any national symbol.

If their kit displays the name ‘Russia’ - written in any language - it cannot be more prominent than the words ‘neutral athlete’ which must be in English. The Russian national anthem cannot be played or sung at any official venue, while flags cannot be displayed either.

A total of 168 Russian athletes competed under a neutral flag at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Russia has been banned from competing as a nation in athletics since 2015.

An important decision for clean sport – Wada - After the ruling was announced, Wada said it was pleased to have “won this landmark case”, adding it was important for “clean sport across the world”.

“We left no stone unturned in investigating this very complex matter and in presenting our case before Cas,” said Wada president Witold Banka. “The panel has clearly upheld our findings that the Russian authorities brazenly and illegally manipulated the Moscow laboratory data in an effort to cover up an institutionalised

Russia’s men’s football team will be able to play at next year’s delayed Euro 2020 finals. (Getty Images) doping scheme.

“In the face of continual resistance and denial from Russia, we clearly proved our case, in accordance with due process. In that regard, this ruling is an important moment for clean sport and athletes all over the world.”

Banka added his agency was “disappointed” the panel did not completely endorse Wada’s initial sanctions, saying he believed a four-

year ban was “proportionate and reasonable”. “Ultimately Wada is not the judge but the prosecutor and we must respect the decision of the panel,” he said.

UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) chief executive Nicole Sapstead said she “welcome” the decision to uphold the ban but was “frustrated” by the reduction to two years.

“This decision demonstrates Wada’s ability to implement a

global set of anti-doping rules to which everyone in sport is held,” she added. “The Russia ban is the most severe sanction in sport ever imposed on a nation.

“Wada quite rightly sought to impose the maximum four-year ban. It is hard to imagine a more serious breaking of the rules in sport, so I don’t understand the justification for this reduction.”

Friday December 18, 2020

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Virat Kohli run-out in first Test sparks wobble BBCsport - Captain Virat Kohli was run out for 74 as India lost three late wickets on the first day of the opening Test against Australia. Kohli helped the tourists recover from 32-2, but they slipped from 188-3 to 2066 before closing on 233-6 in the day-night match in Adelaide.

Kohli, who will miss the final three Tests because of the birth of his first child, was dismissed after a mixup with Ajinkya Rahane.

Mitchell Starc took 2-49 for Australia.

The most eventful passage of play came in the final hour of the day. India lost three wickets in 6.3 overs, tilting the balance of the first day in Australia’s favour.

After Kohli and Rahane shared a solid stand of 88, vice-captain Rahane drove to

Virat Kohli lunges forward Getty Images Josh Hazlewood at mid-off, called for a single and then sent Kohli back.

The skipper was well short of his ground when

Nathan Lyon removed the bails.

Players past and present went on social media to point out the poor decision-making

from Rahane and comment on what a pivotal moment that could be in the match. Kohli, who now averages 72.14 from seven Test innings at the

Adelaide Oval, watched on from the away team balcony as Rahane was trapped in front by a Starc inswinger for 42, while Hazlewood nipped one back to trap Hanuma Vihari lbw.

Ravichandran Ashwin will resume on day two on 15 and Wriddhiman Saha nine.

Earlier, Starc bowled Prithvi Shaw for a duck via an inside edge with the second ball of the series . P a t Cummins bowled Mayank Agarwal between bat and pad for 17, before Kohli ground out a partnership of 68 in 31 overs with Cheteshwar Pujara to help India stabilise on an occasionally sluggish pitch.

Pujara, who took 147 balls to score his first boundary, eventually fell for 43 from 160 deliveries, caught via bat and pad at leg gully off Nathan

Lyon despite a belated review.

What they said - ‘Kohli run out was massive’ Australia spinner Nathan Lyon: “We’re very happy with where we’re at, but still have a lot of work to do.

Obviously Kohli was batting extremely well so pretty happy with that one. Obviously a wicket like that or a run out especially Virat Kohli, was massive.”

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara: “I feel we are just six down, Ash can bat, Saha can bat, even our lower order will try and contribute as many runs as possible. So we still have a very good chance of getting close to 275, 300 and you never know we can get 350 also.”

First Test, Adelaide Oval (day one): India 233-6: Kohli 74, Pujara 43, Rahane 42.

Australia: Yet to bat.

Martial and Rashford help MU come from behind on the road for the 6th time in a row MailOnline - This is turning in to quite an extraordinary season for Manchester United. A step away from crisis one week and now one win away from second place in the Premier League the next. What path Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team take next will be intriguing to discover.

Here, against winless and luckless Sheffield United, they were true to recent form.

Behind early to a David McGoldrick goal after a shocking howler from goalkeeper Dean Henderson, they were slow, careless and in danger.

But yet again in a Premier League away game they rallied and once Marcus Rashford drove them back on terms quite superbly just after the half hour they hit upon one of those periods of attacking during which they can look quite unplayable.

Paul Pogba was prominent throughout and he was crucial to goals two and three either side of half-time.

His pass to Anthony Martial in the 33rd minute was beautifully judged while his spin, turn and pass set United in motion again early in the second period and once again Rashford was the goal scorer.

Leeds visit Old Trafford on Sunday and that test will be tougher than this.

Sheffield United remain game under Chris Wilder but they are struggling due to lack of squad depth and they suffered enormously here when Sander Berge pulled a muscle immediately after his team’s goal.

Marcus Rashford helped Manchester United pull off the all-important win by hitting a brace. (Manchester United via Getty Image) Wilder’s early reshuffle saw Phil Jagielka sent on to play at the back and unfortunately he was made to look every one of his 38 years by the speed and dexterity of some of United’s attacking play until he was taken off

again as his team tried to chase the game after the hour.

It would be foolish for the Yorkshire club to get rid of Wilder.

He remains their best hope of salvation from this desperate position. His team

did not give up here and scared United a little when McGoldrick scored another soft goal from a corner with four minutes to go.

From thereon in, it was quite a tight finish and Henderson redeemed himself

a little with a plunging twohanded save to deny Rhian Brewster what would have been a quite unlikely equaliser in added time.

Equally, forthcoming games against Brighton, Everton, Burnley, Crystal Palace and Newcastle must yield something significant for the Blades before a run of games against Tottenham and the two Manchester clubs at the back end of January.

As for Solskjaer and his team, opportunity knocks for them now. Had they been told before the start of the season that they would head towards Christmas in touch with leaders Liverpool, they would not have turned up their noses.

How they have got to this position has been unusual.

Their football can be unambitious and soporific at times but devastatingly effective at others. Often those contrasts occur in the very same match.

What they need is consistency. If they were to find that and continue to steer clear of major injuries, they may well finish in the top four.

Here Solskjaer’s selection of Henderson felt odd and proved flawed.

Having spent last season on loan at Bramall Lane, was there really any need to slip him to the team for only his second league start here of all places?

Only five minutes had gone when the 23-year-old blundered.

Henderson had plenty of time when passed the ball by Harry Maguire but took too long to clear and when the ball

was charged down by Oli Burke, McGoldrick scored easily from 10 yards.

Sheffield United could have doubled their lead in the 17th minute only for John Fleck to shoot wide. That, coupled with the injury to Berge, were huge moments in the game and once United found their stride the home team struggled to cope.

The equaliser was a superb goal. Victor Lindelof’s chipped pass found Rashford running off Jagielka’s shoulder and a fabulous first touch to kill the ball was supplemented with a rocket finish with the same right foot.

Immediately United went through the gears and the route to goal was often the same, over the top.

Pogba found Martial with another such pass and the forward scored after first nudging the ball over the top of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

The young home keeper has struggled since replacing Henderson in the summer and should have saved Rashford’s second goal early in the second half. That said, the build-up through midfield was swift and lovely.

It felt like a canter from that point but Wilder’s team found some of last season’s spirit late on.

Lindelof headed against McGoldrick and in – another dismally sloppy goal – with four minutes left and suddenly United were hanging on.

Henderson’s late save secured three points and will make him feel a little better.

That said, it will be a shock if he plays on Sunday.

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GFF signs up Brazil’s Alabanquima for 2021 Golden Jaguars marketing deal The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will partner with Brazilian business and marketing consultancy Alabanquima to expand and tap into commercial opportunities for the Golden Jaguars brand of the Guyana senior men’s national team.

The Golden Jaguars have achieved global recognition in recent years, qualifying for Guyana’s first appearance at the men’s Concacaf Gold Cup and performing in front of millions of viewers around the world on live television during the 2019 tournament. The team is set to grace the Gold Cup stage again in 2021, competing in the newlycreated preliminary rounds in the United States in July.

The partnership with Alabanquima will last for an initial 12 months. The Brazilian firm is run by Flavio Waltz and Marcelo De Paulos who have more than 25 years in combined experience in the field, including working with Brazilian drinks giant Ambev, state-owned oil company Petrobas, former Brazilian football star Ronaldo’s 9ine company

and the legendary Botafogo football club.

“The Golden Jaguars continue to make all of Guyana proud and, in the process, they have lifted the profile and visibility of our beautiful country. It is only fitting that we now endeavour to capitalise on this success by pursuing every opportunity to commercialise the programme,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

“Our partnership with Alabanquima is one additional chapter in our ongoing efforts to fully professionalize the GFF national team programme. We are very excited about what the future holds for our beloved Golden Jaguars and we stand prepared to work closely with our new partner to unleash their true potential,” he said.

Under the agreement, the goal of the Brazilian firm will be to secure partners and sponsors to support the men’s national team during the 2021/22 season, with a particular focus on its second consecutive appearance at the Gold Cup as well as the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Focused! The ‘Golden Jaguars’ focused before they faced Panama at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. (Franklin Wilson photo) qualifiers.

“Alabanquima is honoured with the great opportunity to work with the Guyana Football Federation and with the chance to improve the Guyana-Brazil

partnership,” said Alabanquima Managing Director Flavio Waltz.

“During our first meeting, it was possible to acknowledge the Golden Jaguars’ great potential and the truly

inspirational leadership of Wayne Forde and his board of directors.”

“Alabanquima’s team is going to dedicate our best efforts to help the World Cup dream come true, step-by-

step, like a long-distance run.

Finally, it is not only about football. It is about Guyana.

It is about the people. And it is about working for the development of a wonderful country,” he said.

AAG to discuss Developmental Meet with Covid-19 Task Force President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Aubrey Hutson has confirmed that following last week’s South American (S.A.) 10K, the Association will try to host the December 28th scheduled Developmental Meet that was part of the reworked calendar since sports was green-lit for resumption in November.

However, Hutson shared with Kaieteur Sport that the second round of CrossCountry racing since the restart will not be possible.

Last weekend’s South American 10K race which saw Winston Missigher and Sheama Tyrell winning their first titles in the all-local showdown was delayed by more than a week since the AAG had to ensure that they were in compliance with the guidelines set out by the Covid-19 Task Force to ensure that everyone involved in the event will be protected.

Hutson explained that, “We (the AAG) will have to apply to the Covid-19 Task Force for permission to host the (December 28th)

Development Meet.

Although we were given permission for the previous meets, each event needs to be assessed individually by the body and granted approval.”

Rest assured, the AAG is confident that they will be in compliance and granted approval to host the Developmental Meet which will be hosted at either the Police Progressive Youth Club (PPYC) ground, Eve Leary or at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground on Carifesta Avenue & Vlissengen Road with good weather being another factor. Hutson added that since the approval of sports resumption on November 1 that the AAG has been working hard to ensure that athletes get some welldeserved competition following a nine-month hiatus from the track due to the pandemic.

The 2021 calendar of events will run off as early as January 3rd once approval is granted with an intercity relay meet at the Enmore Community Center ground. (Calvin Chapman)

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

NBA distributing money for social initiatives

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SPN - A new NBA season will tip off Tuesday, but the league’s mission to support empowerment for the B l a c k c o m m u n i t y, a s demonstrated in the Orlando, Florida, bubble, hasn’t been forgotten.

The NBA board of governors in early August announced a $300 million initial contribution to establish the NBA Foundation, dedicated to creating greater economic empowerment in the Black community.

The first grants are being distributed from the NBA owners’ pledge to give $30 million annually over the next 10 years through the foundation. A total of $2 million in inaugural grants for employment and career advancement were announced Thursday (yesterday).

Seven organizations - exalt (New York), Management Leadership for Tomorrow (Washington), Marcus Graham Project (Dallas), Operation DREAM (Milwaukee), TEAM Inc. (Oakland, California), The Knowledge House (New York) and the Youth Empowerment Project (New Orleans) — were selected as recipients.

These organizations align with the NBA Foundation’s mission to provide skills training, mentorship, coaching and

development for high school, college and midcareer Black men and women in communities across the United States and Canada.

The purpose of the grants is to increase education and employment as well as enhance and grow the work of these organizations. NBA senior vice president of player development Greg Taylor has been selected as the foundation’s first executive director. He will begin his new role Jan. 4.

“As a proud member of the NBA family, I am honored to be selected to lead the NBA Foundation in its development,” Taylor said in a statement. “During my time at the league, I have been inspired by the efforts of NBA players, teams and governors to advocate for change, and I look forward to using my experience working with nonprofits to further our investment in the next generation of Black leaders.”

The foundation’s inaugural board of directors was named in October, including Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes, New Orleans Pelicans governor Gayle Benson, Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris, Charlotte Hornets chairman Michael Jordan, Atlanta Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler, NBPA executive director Michele Roberts, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and NBA board of governors chairman and Toronto Raptors governor Larry Tanenbaum.

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Kaieteur News

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Friday December 18, 2020

Breakdancing included in Paris 2024 to reach out to youth

Olympics-Breakdancing included in Paris 2024 to reach out to youth-Games Chief Paris (Reuters) - The inclusion of breakdancing at the 2024 Olympics may been surprising but organisers were drawn to the sport’s potential to attract a younger fanbase and grow the Olympic audience in the internet age, Paris Games chief Tony Estanguet said.

Breakdancing was one of four new sports to win a spot at the Games in Paris alongside surfing, skateboarding and sports climbing - after the International Olympic Committee ratified their inclusion earlier this month.

Estanguet added that though the decision to add breakdancing to the Games roster had come in for some criticism, most of the feedback he had received had been overwhelmingly positive.

“What attracted us to this sport was its ability to attract the youth,” he told Reuters in an interview. “It’s a sport that is widely watched on all digital platforms, widely consumed by young people.

“It’s very impressive technically and physically, what these athletes manage to do, and that’s why we were attracted to this sport. The feedback has been very good. “There are always a few critics, but overall... I see that throughout the different regions of France, there is very positive feedback on the

addition of breakdance as a new sport.”

Games’ organisers had been on the hunt for new sports to broaden the appeal of the Olympics and breakdancing fit the bill because it had already been part of the programme at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires in 2018, he added.

“We found climbing, skateboarding, surfing and breakdance, and we are really adding events that come from a completely different world, with fans, who would not necessarily be connected to the Olympic Games otherwise,” Estanguet said. “This allows us to expand the number of fans and viewers.”

The 2020 Games in Tokyo were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and public opinion on whether the event should go ahead is mixed, with 60% of respondents in a November poll saying the Tokyo Games should be postponed further or cancelled.

Estanguet said there are no such reservations about the 2024 Olympics in France. “What is a matter of public opinion in Tokyo is specific to Tokyo,” he added.

“We carried out a survey this week which shows that in France, Paris 2024 continues to receive wide support from the French.”

...Concacaf confirms schedule for 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions From page 39 Azul (MEX). The 2020 SCCL centralized Semifinals and Final will be played as follows (listed in EST): Saturday, December 19, 2020 – Semifinals 20:00 Tigres UANL (MEX) vs CD Olimpia (HON) 22:30 Los Angeles FC (USA) vs Club America (MEX). Tuesday, December 22, 2020 – Final 22:00 Winner Semifinal No. 1 vs Winner Semifinal No. 2.

All centralized final round matches of the 2020 SCCL will be played behind closed doors and will be widely available for fans

across the region to follow and enjoy through the Confederation’s TV partner networks, including FOX Sports (USA-English), TUDN (USA-Spanish), Fox Sports Latin America (Mexico-Spanish), ESPN (Central AmericaSpanish), TSN and RDS (Canada-English and French), Flow Sports (Caribbean-English) and other local partners.

Matches will also be available on the Concacaf Official App (subject to territory restrictions). The free mobile app is available in the iTunes and Google Play stores.

Friday December 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 41

Some of the top dominoes teams are expected to converge at Turning Point on Boxing Day.

Dominoes Fiesta set for Turning Point SC next weekend

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ll roads will lead to the Turning Point Sports Club on December 26 for the commencement of the annual Boxing Day and dominoes competition. The competition which attracts an entrance fee of $15,000 will be played under strict covid-19 guidelines.

The opening rounds will be played on a three-round points system from which nine teams will go through to the second round on Sunday for the eliminator which will be contested on a two-inone-out system.

The first 12 teams to register will be accepted. The winning team will take home a trophy and $150,000, the runner-up a trophy and

$75,000, third place a trophy and $35,000 and fourth place a trophy and $20,000. The best female player will be given $10,000 and the most valuable player $5,000.

The competition is being sponsored by All Season’s Racing Service, Dynasty, Big Boss Transportation Service, IMON Wireless Solutions Inc., Safeway Security, Leonard Leung, Sanjay Persaud, Deodat Motiram, Tony’s Jewellery and Unnamed Friends.

The competition will conclude on Sunday evening and action on both days will commence at 14:30hrs. The tournament is being coordinated by Orin Boston with assistance from Mark Wiltshire.

Concacaf confirms schedule for 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League semifinals

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iami, FL Concacaf has confirmed the matchups and schedule for the semifinals of the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. The two exciting games will be played on Saturday (tomorrow) at 8:00 pm and 10:30 pm EST. Orlando’s Exploria stadium will host both matchups.

I n T u e s d a y ’s Quarterfinal action, CD Olimpia (HON) fended off Montreal Impact (CAN) to reach their first ever SCCL semifinal, despite a 1-0 defeat. Montreal’s second leg victory resulted in a 2-2 draw on aggregate, with Olimpia owning the away goal tiebreaker thanks to

their 2-1 win in Montreal in the first leg.

Later that same night, Luis Quinones served up a trio of assists to lead Tigres UANL (MEX) to a 4-0 victory over New York City FC (USA). With that result, Tigres UANL (MEX) have advanced to the semifinals with a 5-0 triumph on aggregate and will face CD Olimpia on Saturday (tomorrow) at 8:00 pm EST. We d n e s d a y n i g h t ’s action saw Club America (MEX) advance to the semifinals despite a 1-0 defeat to Atlanta United FC (3-1 on aggregate) and Los Angeles FC (USA) rally from an early 1-0 deficit to claim a 2-1 victory over Cruz (Continued on page 38)