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December 28, 2020 - Vol. 13 No.53

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Getting local content right won’t be enough to prevent failure with oil - TT - Guyana must strive for effective oversight framework Expert

$203M in furniture, equipment missing from Public Security Ministry - AG report

Mechanic murders man over

Some tax waivers $700 increase burden on Former Pres. David regulator to ensure Granger collects The deceased: David Barclay

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- African Centre for Energy Policy

COVID cash grant

Drunken cop hits down pedestrian Auditor General says...

$4B withdrawals from Contingency Fund failed to meet FMA Act criteria

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Kaieteur News

Monday December 28, 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

David Granger /Corruption There is the saying – you can’t stay a virgin in a brothel.

Considering the house of ill-repute that the previous administration seems to have established in the past five years, its leader and figure head has no doubt suffered from a precipitous loss of innocence, presuming of course such innocence existed in the first place.

Between the revelations being revealed in audit after audit and the police investigations into persons connected to him, David Granger, who started off this year on a political platform proclaiming his purported “honesty”, “integrity” and “decency”, appears to have timed his sojourn into obscurity to coincide with the tarnishing of his administration’s reputation with the wide brush of corruption.

To be fair, in a broader sense, the former President’s association with corruption is not new. Earlier this year, a political machinery under his command engaged in what was clear and unambiguous electoral fraud, from signing off on Clairmont Mingo’s fictitious numbers, to Granger himself claiming that Statements of Poll (SOPs) in his possession matched fraudulent numbers – he is obviously yet to produce those SOPs which of course do not exist, meaning he personally supported a fundamentally corrupt narrative and series of actions meant to defraud the Guyanese people.

That said, despite glaring elements of the sort of corrupt activity that he successfully campaigned against in the lead up to the 2015 elections, unseating a PPP that had become notorious for almost casual graft, he himself escaped censure – indeed most critique of the corruption of the APNU+AFC government usually came with the caveat that the President himself would most likely have been unaware of the corruption and that it was the people around him who were giving an honest man a bad name. Notably, that sort of caveat was exercised even by the then Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo who more than once challenged Granger to examine the actions of his underlings on the premise that Granger himself was unaware. In brief, Mr. Granger was treated as if he were the proverbial virgin in a brothel, despite being the key decision-maker – to avoid a more indelicate term – within that brothel.

Of course, it helped greatly that the former President engaged, meaning avoided, the media in an increasingly structured, and less frequent, way.

The ironically named ‘The Public Interest’ was at best a mechanism to grant Mr. Granger a measured privacy away from the true public scrutiny and even that was quickly dispensed with.

From 2015 to the present day, we have seen a trail of questionable conduct with regard to public finances that lead back directly to Granger’s circle of awareness either as President or Leader of the PNC, and in some cases both.

For example, the Sussex Street drugs bond fiasco involved not only Granger as President having to sanction Cabinet approval of the indecent rental agreement, but Larry Singh, the beneficiary of that agreement, was an insider and reported financier of a PNC under the leadership of the former President.

In the James Bond land fiasco, you have a former PNC executive and prominent member benefitting from land deals which either come directly under the purview of the President or which the President had reasonable expectation of knowledge of since it is his Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who was involved in changing the rules which allowed for Bond’s extremely profitable sub-leasing of the lands under his control.

Perhaps most shocking of all are the recent revelations in the 2019 Auditor General’s report concerning information that in one year alone, a single unauthorised vehicle collected almost $200 million in fuel from the Guyana Defence Force under Brigadier-General (rtd) David Granger as Commander-in-Chief. This sort of blatant, unrestrained graft undermines the mythos the former President has sought to create as a perceptive, if reticent, military man

Drastic measures must be undertaken to end racketeering DEAR EDITOR, The Auditor General has reported countless cases of neglect or complete lack of accountability in state expenditures.

Some border on fraud especially when there are no receipts to support expenditures or names of shops where goods were purchased.

Those of us who study economics call it theft or fraud.

To that I will add ‘racketeering’. Those guilty must be prosecuted.

As the auditor reports reveal, there was what economists would describe as blatant theft of money from the treasury through all kinds of skulduggery, gimmicks, and make belief work to fill pockets. Whose?

We don’t know. But the theft involved government officials and cronies receiving money under false pretenses – contracts or state land given out to partners with kickbacks government officials. Some call it “crony capitalism”.

I call it “racketeering”, which is a crime in the USA and other democratic countries. But in economics, racketeering is mostly tied to labour financial fraud and other illegal acts within unions.

In Guyana, there are no known or reported cases of individuals held for racketeering, not in unions although there is lack of accountability in unions also.

The theft of government funds and fraudulent acquisition and distribution of land is more than what is defined under “crony capitalism” or cronyism. In Guyana, such

fraudulent business activities by (ex or former) government officials and their partners in the private sector needs a new term that I coin as “racketeering economics” or “crony economics”.

I am not referring to labour union or mafia racketeering, a type of crime studied in sociology by criminologists. Racketeering economics is linked to government officers as opposed to labour union bosses. It is an organized criminal enterprise with political officers and their partners in private business; and labour leaders hardly have a role in it although some union leaders are defending those involved in such financial crimes.

Racketeering economics is a structured, criminal enterprise of business activities by officials engaging in underhand illegal economic activities to defraud the state.

These government officials use state funds for personal gain (just to be clear and not to blame all government officials, only a handful of officials under the previous government and their partners in the private sector were involved in racketeering; they know who they are, and they are shameless).

Racketeering economics is when government officers engage in institutionalized fraudulent business dealing, enriching themselves or business partners by pilfering state funds.

It is the act of self-enrichment through illicitly-derived income — acquiring government funds in contracts or land deals through make believe projects; huge amounts

Reparation for slavery DEAR EDITOR, Should all Grant’s received

by Guyana from the UK and EU be paid into a Reparation for Slavery Fund so that the descendant of those enslaved benefit?As many of us know, slavery was a diabolical practice which the English and Europeans as well as Americans profited from.

Even though they have

acknowledged that it was wrong, they have not made restitution.

Therefore, Guyana should take the initiative and set up a special fund to make Reparations for Slavery.

The money will come from Grant’s received from the UK and EU. Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

who embodied the principles of “honesty”, “integrity”, and “decency”.

And these revelations come in the wake of, again, his political associate, Larry Singh being sued earlier this month by the current Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, for $370M in relation to guns and ammunitions, which he was contractually obligated to deliver to the GDF under the Granger administration and did not, even though he was paid for it.

As the former president recedes further and further into his hermitage – while of course retaining effective power both as head of the major opposition list in Parliament and as Leader of the PNC – he has to come to the enlightenment that his image, as carefully honed as it was, has now been tarnished with a corruption that, adjusted for scale, rivals and arguably exceeds that of the machinery he, temporarily, replaced. You can’t stay pretending to be a virgin in a brothel.

of money are doled out to partners with resulting kickbacks.

It involved tens of billions of dollars annually, unaccounted for in non-existent activities or projects or payments for goods or services that were never delivered or performed or over-priced.

The contractor got free money and officials get a nice cut. Regrettably, some prominent business folks in legitimate organisations were part of the enterprise.

Unfortunately, the predecessor government sanctified such illegal acts and authorised payments knowing they were not performed and as such, the creation of the term “racketeering economics”.

The illegal acts included direct and indirect theft of state cash and land, drug traf-

ficking, fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, forgery, extortion, robbery, bribery, blocking investigation, obstruction of justice, ignoring authorised audits, among others.

Racketeering activities have devastating consequences for Guyana’s economy as a whole, both public and private institutions and businesses.

Drastic measures must be undertaken to end racketeering. Those big fish involved in racketeering should be made examples of with demonstrating effects to discourage theft of government funds and land. Auditor General Deodat Sharma must refer his findings to the police for investigation and prosecution.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Anything but Sugar!

DEAR EDITOR, It is more than disappointing to see the current administration persisting with sugar, an industry that produced nothing but suffering to our ancestors, and to this day still creates an ethos and atmosphere that contributes to social problems from alcoholism, suicide and domestic abuse.

King Sugar was feudal from its very outset, the plant species an impostor brought over by Columbus himself from the Canary Islands. It required massive amounts of labour, shipped first from Africa and then from India to sustain its production here.

Hundreds of thousands perished or lived shortened lives, all for the profits of absentee planters and for the sweet teeth of European ladies sipping tea in their drawing rooms.

King Sugar saw the confiscation of Amerindian lands along the coast displacing those tribes to the interior, and the creation of a monotonous monoculture that extended to the grim grid-like estate villages that exist to this day.

It established power structures that set the native overseer over his fellow men which explains much of our current behaviour towards each other as a people. Cruelty and coercion reigned in this land for centuries thanks to sugar even as it crowded out the creation of other enterprises that might have developed this nation and raised living standards. It is the original resource curse.

There is nothing good to say about sugar. Like all other institutions of colonialism, it belongs in the dustbin of our history. And the PPP/C, as a Marxist-Lenininst party, knows this but insists on per-

severing with this feudal, barbaric practice. Imagine in the 21st century, men are compelled to carry cane on their very backs having been trucked to their fields like cattle before dawn.

There is no romanticism here. Save that nostalgia for the descendants of the planter class and their gin gimlets by the estates’ swimming pools.

Sugar was and remains one of the purest forms of capitalist exploitation of the worker and of the colony that was British Guiana, deliberately underdeveloped for the sake of sugar.

And it needs to stop. Not only because not one self respecting parent in this country wants to see their son cut cane, but because financially, it is a bottomless sinkhole.

Pouring billions of taxpayers revenues into an industry that has no hope of making a profit is economic insanity.

The far cheaper and more humane way would be to simply give all ex-sugar workers a universal basic income while moving towards selling off the lands first to them and then others for other ventures. For example, at the Wales estate, 1000 acres are now being planted with rice, an industry that is profitable but also offers some dignity to its workers. Cash crops will also be needed to support what will be a growing population in years to come.

Anything but sugar. The current policy is intent on proving a point but it is a fool’s errand and is diverting resources that could be used to better ends while continuing to scar another generation, few of who want anything to do with the cutlass and the scorching sun.

Yours sincerely, Francis Newton

Monday December 28, 2020

A TIME TO REMEMBER DEAR EDITOR, It has been a memorable year, and not for inspiring reasons. As I ponder Guyanese visions and practices, there will be no comment on what went wrong, only where we are poised to launch ourselves into the unknown.

Even if I appear slightly untoward, I urge looking beyond, to appreciate the possibilities, inclusive of a caution or two.

We have democracy.

Whether dollar democracy of a certain kind or electoral democracy with still concealed foreign objectives paramount or border democracy with that same country target in mind, we have what many Guyanese are content to revel in as terminal.

The journey, which hasn’t really started is already over: we celebrate a gruelling mission accomplished; only American sponsors can deliver on such a mission impossible.

Now, all of Guyana cavort to oil democracy. I warn that it is not egalitarian.

I note that the coalition realised that, and adjusted with an about turn to ensure presence at the banquet table of sharing arrangements.

It only took a shade under the biblical three score and ten, but we have the trappings of what is a unity government. Well, as I interpret matters, a unity government with respect to political oil equity. To my fellow citizens, I say: think dollars shared, promises made, collaboration fostered. For that, we must give a round of applause to

the wisest political figure in this hemisphere. He is not the official leader of the land neither Chavez nor Maduro to resist tide and capitalist terrorists.

This is a man, though, who knows his adversaries; those he cannot overcome, he bows low.

While with those that he can buy, he spends lavishly.

It is the price of dissembling and silence.

From this, we have partnership and inclusion at the highest levels in Guyana’s elitist political circle, which has no racial divide.

In the long rush of events, I regret that they forgot to send the confirming memo to enlighten supporters; almost seventy years later, the Jagan-Burnham split is no more. At least, not in the political penthouses. I join in the celebrations, with one difference: my pennies are hard earned and honestly gathered; the hopes of Guyanese are not squashed.

In fairness, citizens, compliments of a compassionate president, did get a finger on some farthings: $25,000 in COVID-19 cash, less fat on VAT, and assorted circuses by Guyana’s equivalent of Roman emperors.

The people are happy, and I am delighted, too, for them, since they are allowed to express how much they love to hate.

As said, it has been a memorable year, with money coming and cascading in endless torrents: most borrowed, the rest below the radar. Citizens are thankful, like the

dogs around Lazarus for the scraps that ease their pangs.

Nobody should complain.

We have a memorable leader: newly reengineered with American ingenuity and Guyanese versatility.

He is the Guyanese man for all seasons, with a flurry of words to fit each one.

I am envious. He has learned to tell the people what they wish to hear, and stop right there: transparency, accountability, unity. To go beyond, as in delivering, is folly.

Things are so much of the smooth and soothing in this society that even the co-president cum oil minister cum head of a certain state of mind has embraced the lesson that honey is better than vinegar; he is a spirit in search of a “jumbie” to inhabit.

It took us over 50 years, then 19 months, and last 5 months, but we have come to appreciate the Western way and the world of the White man in getting things done.

This is all memorable; for here, we are on the cusp of greatness, and there comes the wisdom to discover what it takes to remake the Guyanese world order.

I look at the private sector in 2020 - the dirty money one, the clean ones struggling to incorporate suspicious money and relationships and understanding comes of the many chameleons in this country, who sacrifice through commercial priorities temporarily surrendered, so that the political can prevail.

I detect short-term stringencies for enduring long-term (Continued on page 6)

We salute you the great people of Guyana DEAR EDITOR, There could have been a million Charandasses yet the elections would have been cheated and the PNC led Coalition would still be in power, this is my summation of the whole affair in a place called Guyana.

Yes, Mr. Charandass did a noble and heroic deed but his actions would have paled into oblivion had it not been for the diligent work of Dr. Jagdeo, Mr. Nandlall, The International Community and The PPP/C Team — these were the main strike bowlers that got the illegal PNC out.

But far more important

and of utmost significance, I shall repeat, of utmost significance is The People of Guyana who booted The PNC out of power and to them, I owe my supreme trust and regard. The People of Guyana stood by us, the People of this great country did not let us down, they stood the test, they came out in their numbers and voted for the party that would make a difference in their lives, again I say thank you Guyana.

To this end, we are eternally grateful for the efforts of our dear people and in whose interest we must govern, we cannot flag nor fail in

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Kaieteur News

our responsibility to the people we must give back to Guyana, yes, to all of Guyana.

With the PPP/C Team at the helm, our country will never be the same again, our country will be transformed, the party is here for the people. I am saying irrespective of political affiliation, colour, creed, religion or sexual orientation, for all its people who will find an equal place.

In this joyous celebratory season, merry Christmas and a prosperous new year. May God bless Guyana.

Respectfully submitted, Neil Adams

Kwanzaa -another year-end event DEAR EDITOR, Kwanzaa tends to get lumped together with Hanukkah and Christmas as “the winter holidays” but it is not a religious holiday but a cultural one, You can celebrate Kwanzaa whether you’re Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, or if you belong to other religions.

Since Kwanzaa is a pan-African and African-American holiday, some people incorrectly assume it originated in Africa. In actuality, it has American roots—though people in Africa celebrate it on December 26.

The year-end event was created a year after the Watts Riots as a way to honour African heritage and bring Black families and communities together. Maulana Karenga, born Ronald McKinley Everett in Parsonsburg, Maryland, founded the holiday in 1966 during the civil rights movement.

Then just 25 years old, Karenga was a Black nationalist and activist intent on liberating African Americans from racial oppression, in part by building pride and unity around their cultural origins.

Karenga went on to earn two PhDs and is currently chair of the department of Africana Studies at California State University Long Beach.

Although celebrated in winter, Kwanzaa is patterned after harvest festivals traditionally celebrated by many African cultures and tribes.

The word “Kwanzaa” comes from “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits” in Swahili. Like other harvest festivals, Kwanzaa includes a feast called Karamu on day six of the holiday. Seven is an important, even mystical, number in many cultures and traditions. In fact, according to Karenga himself, the additional “A” in “Kwanzaa,”

which comes from the Swahili kwanza, was added so that the name would have the symbolic seven letters! Seven was a central number for the Rosicrucians and ancient Egyptians; there are seven deadly sins in Catholicism; there are seven days in a week. Seven also features prominently in Kwanzaa. Not only does the holiday last for seven days, December 26 through January 1, but there are also seven symbols, including seven candles to be lit, and seven principles.

The seven basic symbols of Kwanzaa are: mazao (the crops), mkeka (the mat), kinara (the candle holder), muhindi (the corn), mishumaa saba (the seven candles), kikombe cha umaja (the unity cup), and zawadi (the gifts). Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa has a specific principle rooted in the sacred teachings of Asante and Zulu harvest celebrations. Participants are meant to talk about, celebrate, and reflect upon: unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (Imani).

Seven candles are lit during the seven days of Kwanzaa, representing the seven key principles of the holiday. The ceremonial lighting of candles is a rite of focus and remembrance in many traditions around the world. They are placed in a candle-holder called a kinara.

There are three green candles, three red, and one black. The black candle—representing the people, collectively—is lit

each day, then an additional candle that coincides with that day’s specific principle.

The green candles and green parts of the Kwanzaa flag stand for hope and the future, two appropriate and universal themes for the end of the year.

The red candles and the red in the Kwanzaa flag represent the struggle of the people. During the Karamu, or Karamu Ya Imani (feast of feasts), everyone present drinks from the unity cup.

After everyone has a sip of water, juice, or wine from the cup, the oldest person at the celebration asks for a blessing from God or from the ancestors of those who are present.

At large feasts, rather than family dinners, people may sip from their own small cups, but at the same time.

This is also a time to honour the elders in the family. On the last day of the holiday, people exchange gifts. In line with the principle of creativity, Kwanzaa gifts are traditionally homemade. But families also buy creative gifts such as books, music, and art.

Meaningful gifts (zawadi), are given to encourage growth, self-determination, achievement, and success.

The exchange of gifts with members of our immediate family, especially the children, is to promote or reward accomplishments and commitments kept.

Accepting a gift implies a moral obligation to fulfill the promise of the gift; it obliges the recipient to follow the training of the host. The gift cements social relationships, (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Monday December 28, 2020

Mechanic allegedly Former President David Granger collects COVID murders father of cash grant- lauds initiative two over $700 A 29-year-old Better Hope, East Coast Demerara man and father of two was allegedly murdered by an angry mechanic yesterday morning on D’Urban Street, Georgetown after he was short $700 on a repair job.

The dead man’s identity was given as David Barclay, better known as Justin Blake.

Information reaching Kaieteur News stated that the Barclay was driving along D’Urban Street around 02:00 am yesterday morning when his car broke down due to mechanical issues. He then called a mechanic to fix his vehicle and the mechanic later turned up and fixed the issue.

It was stated that the mechanic then requested $4,000 for the work done but Barclay was $700 short which led to an argument starting between the two men. The mechanic then became enraged and allegedly got into his vehicle, sped off, slamming into Barclay, dragging him a few feet along the road.

Kaieteur News understands that he was picked up by eyewitnesses and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation but succumbed to the injuries, which he received in the presence of his family. An investigation has been launched by the Guyana Police Force and the mechanic is being searched for; however, his identity has not yet been revealed.

The deceased: David Barclay.

Efforts were made to contact the Regional Commander, Simon McBean for information regarding the investigation, but up to press time, he could not be reached.

Drunken cop hits down pedestrian A pedestrian was struck down, on Christmas Day by a drunk cop who was riding a Guyana Police Force All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) along the Den Amstel Public Road, West Coast Demerara.

Shawn Peters, 45, of Back Street Den Amstel was struck down around 17:00hrs last Friday afternoon. Peters sustained injuries to his leg and had to be rushed in an ambulance to Leonora Cottage Hospital. He was treated by an on duty doctor and later sent away.

The constable, who is attached to the Den

Amstel Police Station, told investigators that he was heading north along the western side of the road when the ATV developed a problem. He claimed that he reportedly lost control of the vehicle and rode off the road and knocked down Peters.

Detectives however, performed a breathalyzer test on the constable and it showed that he had 15 micrograms alcohol in his blood content (BAC).

An investigation has since been launched into the incident.

Former President, David Granger recently received his $25,000 cash grant, lauding the COVID-19 economic relief measure put in place by successor, President Irfaan Ali. Granger, whose receipt of the cash was recorded in a video posted online by the Facebook page, They Break News, expressed positive thoughts about the initiative, saying “A lot of people have lost their jobs as a result of this disease. There are a lot of poor people in Guyana and I’m sure that this is, although it’s not much, it will help to provide some relief at this time of the year.”

The former President added that he wishes many public servants did not lose their jobs, as has happened lately when the Irfaan Ali administration took office. He said that he knows that quite a few of the fired public servants are mothers and that they have had a very difficult year. Nevertheless, he said the initiative is a good development, as the country has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting emergency guidelines, which the government was forced to impose.

Former President, David Granger, counting his $25,000 cash grant.

Kwanzaa -another year-end event From page 5 allowing the receiver to share the duties and the rights of a family member. Accepting a gift makes the receiver part of the family and promotes Umoja.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” “All progress is contingent upon struggle,” says Dr. Carter Jackson. “The abolition of slavery, the right to vote, and even the end of Jim Crow was

not inevitable. People actively resisted and fought against oppression for change to come. Hope is not a strategy on its own. I’m always encouraged for the future when I see people taking a stand for what is right and pushing to make it happen.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was easier to celebrate these principles with dance performances, parades and other in-person community events. But now, virtual zoom meetings is the norm as the substitute and lighting a

candle for each principle during the week-long holiday and embracing the principles of Kwanzaa in the new year, is the way going forward. Celebrities who have been known to celebrate Kwanzaa every year include Barack Obama, Oprah, Maya Angelou, rapper Chuck D, Angelina Jolie, and artist Synthia Saint James (who designed the first Kwanzaa postage stamp). Do have a happy and safe Kwanzaa.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

A TIME TO REMEMBER

From page 5 prosperity.

I will take some land to develop, or some mining to expand. I wonder what American and European (FinCen, DEA, Interpol, and others) agents think of all this, where they stand today in this pristine democracy their seniors foisted upon us.

Meanwhile, the little

people hope and pray for more magnanimity from the men they supported and boosted.

It boils downs to this: spare a little money for the poor. The rest they can keep for themselves.

They will, and it will count to what they have already corralled for themselves from American com-

mercial interests now ruling here. For the foreseeable future, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act standards have been waived. Like I stated: a memorable time, it has been.

It will continue to be, as there is much to thrill. Merry Christmas and more of the same in the new year.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Monday December 28, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Why was there an attempt to rig the elections?

The year 2020 will be remembered for the attempt to rig Guyana’s elections of 2nd March 2020. The Head of the Observer Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) described the attempt as the most transparent attempt to alter the results of the elections he had ever seen.

The PNC had a notorious record of electoral rigging. It has tried to erase this image but its past came back to haunt it.

In elections prior to 1992, the PNC regime had reverted to seizing and stuffing the ballot boxes, padding the overseas voters list and concocting its own results.

The rigging started in 1968.

Peter D’Aguiar, a former ally of the PNC, and leader of the United Force declared “To call it an election is to give it a name it does not deserve; it was a seizure of power by fraud, not election.”

The 1973 elections were described as “fairy tale” elections. The British Parliamentary Group of Observers described the 1980 elections as “more crooked than barbed wire.” The most blatant and crudest of elections’ rigging took place in 1985 under Desmond Hoyte.

The 2020 elections witnessed two types of attempts to alter the results

of the elections. The first was the insertion of fake results during the tabulation of the results for Region Four. This was not done under cover of darkness or behind a screen of secrecy; it was committed shamelessly in front of the eyes of the international diplomats and local and foreign observers. The second attempt was an attempt to arbitrarily invalidate votes which were already deemed as valid at the polling station and during the recount exercise.

The Guyanese people are observing eagerly at what is going to happen to those who were complicit in these acts.

There can be no sympathy or mercy for those involved in such electoral malpractice and the agonies which the public had to endure for five months while all this tampering and pussyfooting with the results of the elections were taking place.

The pro-democracy forces should leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is meted out to those guilty of electoral fraud. They should also lobby strongly for the Biden/Harris administration in the United States to extend indefinitely the travel restrictions which were imposed on certain officials.

The APNU+AFC were the ones who would have

benefitted had the attempt at rigging the elections succeeded. The APNU+AFC did nothing to disassociate itself from the electoral fraud, which was committed. In fact, it devised a narrative, which lent credence to that attempt.

In some jurisdictions, there would have been demands for laws to be passed permanently banning these parties from ever again being part of the democratic process.

The APNU+AFC always had a Plan B. This plan B was being orchestrated from the moment the issue of the appointment of a Chairperson of GECOM arose after the 2015 elections.

The APNU+AFC wanted someone it could rely upon.

This plan was further finetuned after legal action and pussyfooting neutralised the no-confidence motion, which had been passed in the National Assembly in December 2018. Plan B was implemented the moment the statements of polls showed that the PPP/C had won the 2020 elections.

The APNU+AFC believed that it could survive protests.

It believed that if it did like what was done in Zimbabwe – where at one stage, there was a unity government – that it could remain in power.

The APNU+AFC Coalition was living in

Dem Boys Seh…

2020 was a real crass De Christmas come and gone faster dan you could seh “Quick silver”. Dem boys wan know what was all de fuss about. Christmas Day bin quiet, Boxing Day bin quiet and by now plenty people dun bruk. Is only dem businessmen smiling all de way to de bank.

Is sad but it seems dat every Christmas some tragedy does visit people. One man was killed when a car slammed into him. Another man dead after losing control of his speeding vehicle.

A mother and she daughter

get murdered. Dem boys wan know why all dem tradegy happening.

Pon top of dat, two more persons died from coronavirus just as dem other country rolling out de vaccine.

Dem boys notice how some place advertising Old Year’s Night Dinner. Dem boys seh some people look like dem gan eat even if dem can’t get fuh go to no party.

Dem gan be like dem boys neighbour pon Christmas Day. Dem boys wan know how

dem churches can pray.

De Lady put on she fancy clothes like if she going to a party and walking up and down de street. She had plenty of admirers until a heavy and sudden shower of rain bust down pon she.

Is den dem boys realize de power of make-up.

But dat was no consolation to de disappointment on wan man face when he miss de lotto by one number which he wanted to play but did not play.

Talk half and pray fuh de crassin’ year done quick!

another stratosphere. It was stuck in the past, believing that it could assume power on the basis of flawed results.

The APNU+AFC miscalculated the resolve of the international community.

This was why when the US Department of State announced travel sanctions; some persons immediately lost their appetite during a birthday celebration.

The APNU+AFC assumed that it could revert to certain sympathies to have

Caricom table a report on the recount that would provide the Coalition government with the ammunition to discredit the elections. It assumed wrongly because the Caricom report delivered the coup-de-grâce. It accused the Coalition of going on a fishing expedition during the recount process.

But the attempt to rig the elections could only have taken place if those involved believed that the Guyana Elections Commission would

have gone along with tainted results. Things did not work out as planned.

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

Monday December 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Monday December 28, 2020

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Wanted for allegedly hammering his girlfriend to death and slitting her daughter’s throat: Yoel Rodriguez Barrientos.

Murdered: Tara Krishnaran (right) and her daughter (left).

Cops have begun a manhunt for a Cuban national who allegedly hammered his girlfriend to death and slit her child’s throat before locking up her sleeping father in the house.

Currently on the run from police is Yoel Rodriguez Barrientos of Oriundo de la Provincia, Santiago, Cuba.

Barrientos is accused of murdering a sales girl, Tara Krishnaran, 34, and her 11year-old daughter, Larissa Singh, at their home located at Princess Street, Lodge.

Detectives believe that Barrientos might have slain both of them sometime after 20:00hrs on Christmas night.

Their bloodied corpses were discovered around 09:00hrs

$4B withdrawals from...

From page 8 postnatal women a contraceptive method, screen all child bearing women for

cervical cancer once per year and reduce home delivery.”

While he noted no advances were taken during 2017 and 2018, the AG pointed out however, for the period under review, all seven advances granted from the Contingencies Fund were to meet routine expenditure and did not meet the criteria defined in

Section 41(3) of the FMA Act. In response to his claims, the Ministry simply stated that, “all the advances meet the criteria in keeping with Section 41 (3) of the FMA Act 2003.”

Nevertheless, the AG gave str ict recommenda-

tions that the Ministry of Finance adopt stringent measures to ensure that there is compliance with Section 41 of the FMA Act regarding the criteria for the granting of Advances from the Contingencies Fund.

1,793 impacted by recent flooding - CDC assessment...

From page 10 NDCs and they have also mobilized the rollout of cleaning hampers in the affected areas.

Further, the Director-Gen-

eral of the CDC, Kester Craig informed this publication that as of yesterday 1,589 hampers were distributed to NDCs and municipalities across Regions Three, Four, F ive to be given to those affected.

“Municipalities, RDCs and NDCs continue to conduct

assessments and will update CDC throughout the forecast period,” the CDC stated.

Hydrometeorological services will also continue to monitor Guyana’s weather system and issue technical

alerts and warnings.

Additionally, they reported that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority has been conducting drainage assessments of affected areas and the regional and city engineers have been monitoring sluices and pumps.

the following day by his father-in-law, Yomona Krishnaran, 67, who had woken up and found himself locked in the house.

Crime scene experts who subsequently visited the scene reported that Krishnaran was found lying on her bed with a wound to the back of her head, another to the left temple and one more to the left side of the face.Her daughter was found in her bedroom too but lying on the floor with a six inch cut wound to her neck and blood on her vagina. Detectives also retrieved a blood stained hammer and knife from the room, which they believe Barrientos used to kill them.

Speaking with the investigators, his father-in-law said that Barrientos had gotten into an argument and a physical altercation with his daughter around 17:30hrs on Christ-

mas Day.He claimed that he had ignored them and went to bed since it was normal for the couple to fight.

The man reportedly woke up around 08:00hrs the next day but did not check on his daughter and grandchild. He claimed that he taught that his daughter must have left for work and took her child with her.However, when he realised that he was locked in the house, he became alarmed and decided to check his daughter’s room where he made the gruesome discovery.

He summoned police and their bodies were removed and taken to the morgue.

The Cuban community in Guyana has since called for collaboration from fellow nationals for any form of information that may lead to the capture of Barrientos.

A Cuban national living in Georgetown, Elier Acuña,

wasted no time in posting a photo of Barrientos within a Facebook group called Cubanos en Guyana. In that group, he pleaded with fellow Cubans to assist the Guyana police in locating the wanted fugitive.Acuña wrote, “Please I plead with you that if someone knows the whereabouts of this man please contact me or call the Guyana Police Force (GPF), because right now he is the prime suspect in the murder of his wife and her 11-year-old daughter.

Their bodies were found on Boxing day.”

The Cuban further stated that the murdered woman was his wife’s niece and that her killer who also took the life of her daughter must be brought to justice. Acuña, added that with such a heinous act, “this psychopath (Barrientos)” could greatly affect all Cuban migrants living in Guyana

8 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths Trinidad Guardian - The latest update from the Ministry of Health is confirming 8 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of active cases in the country to 436 patients.

However, the Ministry notes that these new positive cases are from samples taken between Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th December 2020 The update also indicates that this latest statistic marks a slight rise in the number of

active cases nationally, as the figure for yesterday (Saturday) stood at 434 patients.

In its update for yesterday, the Ministry also is reporting no new deaths from COVID19 over the past 24 hours, with the national toll holding at 125 persons.

The Health Ministry also notes in its update: % 29 persons are still hospitalised for COVID-19; up from 25 patients on Saturday.

% 358 persons are in home self-isolation; down from 361 patients on Saturday. 37 of these persons are in the care of the prison system. % 134 persons are in State quarantine facilities; down from 174 patients on Saturday. % 41 patients are still recovering in step/down facilities; no change from Saturday.

The following is the complete clinical update from the Ministry...

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Kaieteur News

Monday December 28, 2020

Monday December 28, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Canelo Alvarez expected to fight Avni Yildirim on Feb. 27 in homecoming bout in Mexico Los Angeles Times Canelo Alvarez is wasting little time jumping back into the fray after his unanimousdecision victory over Callum Smith on Dec. 19.

Alvarez will take on 168pound World Boxing Council mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim on Feb. 27 in a homecoming bout in his birthplace of Guadalajara, Mexico, Alvarez’s trainer, manager and lifelong confidant Eddy Reynoso said Saturday.

In beating Smith, Alvarez picked up the WBC, World Boxing Assn. and Ring Magazine super-middleweight titles. The WBC belt was vacant, but Yildirim was the mandatory challenger who had agreed to step aside with the right to fight the victor within 90 days. Yildirim’s pa-

tience will pay off, as he’s on track to face boxing’s poundfor-pound best fighter and biggest breadwinner.

Reynoso said venues such as Estadio Jalisco and Los Charros’ Baseball Stadium are under consideration for the fight.

Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 knockouts) was a Mexico mainstay after turning professional at the age of 15, but he hasn’t fought in the country since 2011. The 30-year-old has become a star in boxing during that span by beating some of the most recognizable names.

The unheralded Yildirim (212, 12 KOs) won’t be one of them.Should he come away victorious and unscathed, Alvarez will resume fighting on his traditional dates of Cinco De Mayo and Mexican

Independence Day in 2021 and campaign exclusively at 168 pounds, Reynoso said.

The three opponents who will be considered for the two marquee dates following Yildirim include a pair of super-middleweight champions in World Boxing Organization crown-holder Billy Joe Saunders and International Boxing Federation champion Caleb Plant. Rival Gennady Golovkin, a longtime middleweight mauler, would have to move up in weight and meet the A-side demands of Alvarez in order to make a third fight between them happen, Reynoso said.

The massive underdog Yildirim can cancel all plans by scoring one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

The 29-year-old Turk last

Monday December 28, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) - Today you may get the opportunity to feel proud of yourself. But don't let things get too out of hand. It isn't often that you allow yourself this little bit of narcissism.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today you may be overcome by a current of humanist

thought, Taurus. Your consciousness is traveling, and you probably couldn't care less about the details of the events going on around you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Even if you're a good judge

of character, Gemini, the people who know you say that you base your opinions on your personal feelings, which often affect your good judgment.

CANCER(June21–July22) You tend to want to explain everyt hing that goes on

around you, Cancer. You rationalize everything in an instant, and group all your experiences into great theories.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) As a Leo, you don't really like to talk about things. Talking just isn't one of your specialties. Everyone has his/her own role, and yours is to take action and create, not talk about doing it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Scientists seem to live in a world apart from the rest of us, Virgo, and from the events in everyday life, because they're so absorbed in other realities. This is a lot like your universe.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You're often like a Zen master who doesn't say anything to pupils for months, until the day the pupils begin to not believe any more and find themselves growing indifferent to the whole thing.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) It's time to take some time out of your busy day for your personal life, Scorpio.

One of your family members or friends may need to talk to you, and you need to listen attentively to what they have to say.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today is a good day to clarify your life, Sagittarius. You may have understood lately that it's useless to undertake anything new when you're confused.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Are you going to be available to other people today?

Someone in your entourage may need to confide in you.

If the superficiality of the exchange bothers you, you will understand what the atmosphere of today is all about!

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may come in contact with someone today with whom you enjoy a highly emotional exchange. You may even fall in love!

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It's possible that you're having some ups and downs in your love life at the moment.

Someone may be asking you to play another role than you're used to playing in your relationship.

Canelo Alvarez celebrates his supper-middleweight victory over Callum Smith on Dec. 19 in San Antonio. (Ed Mulholland / Matchroom) fought in February 2019, losing a technical decision to former WBC 168-pound champion Anthony Dirrell. Yildirim was up on one scorecard and coming on strong in the second half of the fight, but the match was stopped in the 10th round because of a cut suffered by Dirrell.

Yildirim’s performance was apparently good enough

to hold his place in the sanctioning body’s standings despite him testing positive for two performance-enhancing drugs months later.

However, two months before Alvarez scored a decision win during his second match against Golovkin in 2018, Yildirim fought Jose Antonio Rodriguez Silvencia, an opponent with a record of 3 wins,

31 losses and 3 draws.

Alvarez might be looking to make up for lost time and paydays, all while keeping his belt and appeasing his countrymen for perhaps one last time on home soil.

Alvarez was forced to the sidelines for 13 months because of the pandemic and a lawsuit he filed against former promoter Oscar De La Hoya and streaming service DAZN. Alvarez ended up being released from his contracts, and now he can guide his career in any direction he pleases as a free agent.

His fight against Smith was promoted by Matchroom Boxing and streamed on DAZN, and all parties are prepared to forge a new path together, at least on a fight-byfight basis.

The streaming service might be forced to bite on showcasing the AlvarezYildirim bout if it is guaranteed the third fight with Golovkin like it has long been demanding.

Andy Murray...

From page 21 arms,” tournament director Craig Tiley said“His retirement was an emotional moment and seeing him come back, having undergone major surgery and built himself back up to get on to the tour again, will be a highlight of AO 2021.”At 122 in the world, Murray is ranked just too low to gain direct entry into the tournament, which is due to begin on 8 February after a delay because of coronavirus.The 33-year-old Scot has also accepted a wildcard to compete at the ATP event in Delray Beach, Florida, in the first week of January.Murray was able to play only seven official matches this year because of a lingering pelvic injury, and the five-month suspension of the tours.But he looked sharp in this month’s Battle of the Brits event, as he beat both British number one Dan Evans and number three Cameron Norrie in straight sets.Murray has said he remains confident of winning big matches if he can stay fit and healthy, and has been making the most of an extended pre-season.

“I got on this body fat percentage scale thing, and the read-out that I got from that I wasn’t happy with it,” he told reporters in November.“I’ve worked hard to get to this point, but I can do better. I could make sure I’m eating better, I can make sure I’m stronger in the gym.

“It’s the length of time a boxer would have to train for a big fight, and you can get yourself in great shape in that time.”

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Monday December 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Blazers get late 3-pointer, edge Rockets in OT CJ McCollum drilled a 3pointer with 6.9 seconds left before the host Portland Trail Blazers turned a late defensive stop into a 128-126 overtime victory over the shorthanded Houston Rockets on Saturday.

McCollum hit 9 of 16 3pointers and added eight assists, teaming with Damian Lillard (32 points, nine assists) to offset the clutch shooting of Rockets guard James Harden, who drilled two 3pointers in the waning moments, the second of which gave Houston a 126-125 lead with 15.3 seconds left.

Harden (44 points plus a career-high-tying 17 assists), however, had his pass with 1.3 seconds remaining picked off by Robert Covington, and the Trail Blazers sealed the victory.

Christian Wood paired 31 points with 13 rebounds in his Rockets debut, while rookie Jae’Sean Tate added 13 points for Houston, which was without six players due to COVID-19 protocols.

Cleveland Cavaliers 128 - Detroit Pistons 119 (2OT) Collin Sexton erupted for 32 points and Cleveland spoiled Detroit’s home opener with a double-overtime victory.

Andre Drummond, playing against his former team for the first time since Detroit traded him in February, supplied 23 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks. Cedi Osman contributed 22 points and Darius Garland had 21.

Jerami Grant led Detroit with 28 points and Blake Griffin had 26. Delon Wright tossed in 19 and Derrick Rose chipped in 13.

Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard CJ McCollum (3) drives for the basket between Houston Rockets small forward Danuel House Jr. (4) and guard David Nwaba (2) during the first half at Moda Center. (Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports) Minnesota Timberwolves 116 - Utah Jazz 111 D’Angelo Russell scored 25 points, including three key free throws in the final seconds, to lead Minnesota to a victory over Utah in Salt Lake City.

Malik Beasley and rookie Anthony Edwards each scored 18, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 16 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots as Minnesota won its first road game after opening the season with a home win over Detroit.

Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 23 points, but the Jazz shot only 38.3 percent and were hurt by rough shooting nights by Donovan Mitchell and Bogdanovic. Mitchell heated up late, hitting backto-back 3-pointers as Utah rallied, but the All-Star hit only 6 of 23 shots for 21 points. Bogdanovic scored nine on 3-of-16 shooting.

Sacramento Kings 106 -

Phoenix Suns 103 De’Aaron Fox recorded 24 points and seven assists to help host Sacramento get past Phoenix. The two teams meet again Sunday night in Sacramento.Buddy Hield scored 14 points and Marvin Bagley III added 13 points and 11 rebounds as Sacramento won its second straight game to start the season. Nemanja Bjelica tallied 12 points, Harrison Barnes had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Richaun Holmes added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Kings.

Devin Booker scored 26 points for the Suns. Chris Paul registered 22 points and 12 assists, Jae Crowder had 17 points and eight rebounds and Deandre Ayton contributed nine points and 12 rebounds.

In other scores: Hawks 122, Grizzlies 112 Orlando Magic 130 Washington Wizards 120

Women’s national hockey team to begin training early January

By Calvin Chapman The national women’s hockey programme is set to resume on January 6th, 2021 in preparation for two important assignments in June and July, that year.

This was confirmed by national women’s head coach Phillip Fernandes, who highlighted that like other sports, hockey was not exempt from the effects of the covid-19 pandemic and both himself and coach of the men’s programme; Robert Fernandes, had to cancel training despite efforts to continue.

The two tournaments include the Central America & Caribbean (CAC) games that will be hosted in Bermuda in July and the Indoor Pan American Championship that will hit off in the United States

in June.

Due to financial constraints, the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) had opted to miss the 2021 Pan Am Championship which will be hosted in Philadelphia but the Pan Am Challenge that they were scheduled to be playing in Peru this year, has since been postponed.

This has now created the opportunity for the GHB to contest the Pan Am C/ship.

Fernandes, who is also the head of the GHB, shared with Kaieteur Sport that although entries to the Pan Am Championship, which Guyana hosted in 2017, have closed, he has written to the body and he is optimistic that approval will be granted in these extraordinary circumstances that the pandemic has created.

Following sufficient train-

ing, the coach is doubly optimistic of positive performances from the immensely talented squad that will have a fresh look with majority of the players being young stars.

The Guyanese ladies finished sixth in the previous Pan Am Challenge in 2017 and settled for seventh place in the 2018 CAC Championship that got underway in Baranquilla, Colombia.

Meanwhile, Robert Fernandes has indicated to Kaieteur Sport that a date has not been set as yet for the National men to resume training.

Among the important events for the men in 2021 include the Junior Pan American Championships that is set for April 12-25 in Santiago, Chile.

Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden (13) drives for the basket between Portland Trail Blazers power forward Robert Covington (23) and center Jusuf Turkic (27) during the second half at Moda Center. (Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports)

Oklahoma City Thunder 109 - Charlotte Hornets 107 Philadelphia 76ers 109 -

New York Knicks 89 Indiana Pacers 125 - Chicago Bulls 106

San Antonio Spurs 119 Toronto Raptors 114 (Field Level Media)

NFL Roundup: Dolphins stun Raiders with late FG Jason Sanders kicked four field goals, including a 44yarder with one second remaining, as the visiting Miami Dolphins inched closer to a playoff spot with a wild 2625 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night.

Sanders’ game-winner came just 18 seconds after Las Vegas (7-8) had seemingly rallied to win the game on a 22yard field goal by Daniel Carlson.

But on first-and-10 on his own 25, Ryan Fitzpatrick hit a wide-open Mack Hollins up the left sideline for a 34-yard reception with Raiders defensive end Arden Key also being flagged 15 yards for grabbing Fitzpatrick’s facemask to move the ball to the Las Vegas 26. One play later, Sanders booted the game-winning field goal.Fitzpatrick, who entered the game with 9:47 remaining and Miami (10-5) trailing 16-13, completed 9 of 13 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown while starter Tua Tagovailoa finished 17 of 22

for just 94 yards and a touchdown. Las Vegas was eliminated from the AFC playoff race with its fifth loss in six games.

Buccaneers 47, Lions 7 Tom Brady threw four first-half touchdown passes and Tampa Bay clinched its first playoff berth since 2007 by pounding host Detroit.

Brady completed 22 of 27 passes for 348 yards despite sitting out the entire second half. Backup Blaine Gabbert threw two touchdown passes for the Bucs (10-5).

James Agnew scored on a punt return for the Lions (510). Detroit’s starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford, injured his ankle in the first quarter and did not return.

The Lions have lost seven of their past nine games.

49ers 20, Cardinals 12 C.J. Beathard threw two

touchdown passes, Jeff Wilson Jr. rushed for a careerbest 183 yards and Ahkello Witherspoon thwarted a late Arizona threat with an endzone interception, lifting visiting San Francisco to victory in Glendale, Ariz.

The loss was a costly one for the Cardinals (8-7), who with a third consecutive victory could have earned a wildcard playoff berth by winning their last two games. Now, the Chicago Bears (7-7) can eliminate Arizona by winning their last two, including Sunday at Jacksonville.Beathard’s touchdown throws went to Kyle Juszczyk, covering 9 yards in the third quarter and 1 yard in the fourth, allowing the 49ers (6-9) to extend a 7-6 halftime edge. San Francisco snapped a three-game losing streak.

(Field Level Media)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half at Allegiant Stadium.

(Mark J. Rebilas-USA Today Sports)

Monday December 28, 2020

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Kaieteur News

South African batsmen fight back against depleted Sri Lankans

Dean Elgar looked on course for a century but fell five runs short.

AFP - South Africa’s batsmen scored freely against a depleted Sri Lankan bowling attack as the host nation fought back on the second day of the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion yesterday.

South Africa were 317 for four at the close in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 396.

Dean Elgar (95) and Aiden Markram (68) put on 141 for the first wicket, while former captain Faf du Plessis (55 not out) and Temba Bavuma (41 not out) added an unbeaten 97 for the fifth wicket as the hosts scored at better than four runs an over.

Sri Lanka went into the match without leading fast bowler Suranga Lakmal because of a hamstring strain and suffered a major blow when opening bowler Kasun Rajitha limped off the field with what appeared to be a groin injury after bowling one ball in his third over.

Sri Lanka were already without batsman Dhananjaya de Silva who was ruled out of the rest of the series after suffering a grade two tear in his left thigh which forced him to retire hurt after scoring 79 on Saturday.

With De Silva also a capable off-spin bowler, the tourists were reduced to a

Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram compiled South Africa’s highest opening partnership since 2017 © Gallo Images/Getty Images four-man attack, which included Dasun Shanaka, bowling at a gentle medium pace, and debutant leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

As had been the case with the inexperienced South African bowlers, the Sri Lankans struggled to find consistency and the batsmen took advantage of some loose bowling, striking a total of 48 boundaries in 72 overs.

Sri Lanka briefly fought back when Rassie van der Dussen and Elgar fell in successive overs to make the total 200 for three, while South African captain Quinton de Kock fell four overs later after making a quick 18.

Andy Murray awarded wildcard for February’s delayed Australian Open

Earlier, Shanaka hit an aggressive 66 not out before South African new cap Lutho Sipamla wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings by taking three wickets in 11 balls.

Shanaka, 29, playing in his first Test in more than three years, and with a previous highest score of 17 in three appearances, hit three fours and five sixes in his 87ball innings.

Shanaka capitalised on some loose bowling, particularly by fast bowler Anrich

Nortje, who conceded 28 runs in four overs as well as twice bowling bouncers which sailed over wicketkeeper De Kock’s head for four byes.

Shanaka reached his fifty with a pull for six off Nortje and two balls la ter slashed

Nortje for another six over third man.

Rajitha provided stoic support to Shanaka as the pair took their overnight partnership to 67 before a double bowling change led to the remaining wickets falling

quickly.

Sipamla, who conceded 38 runs in his first five overs on Saturday, finished with four for 76 off 16 overs.

Sri Lanka’s total far exceeded their previous highest in a Test innings in South Africa, 342 in Cape Town in 2011/ 12.

Scores: South Africa 317 for 4 (Elgar 95, Markram 68, du Plessis 55*) trail Sri Lanka 396 (Chandimal 85, de Silva 79, Sipamla 4-76) by 79 runs.

Windwards cricketer Theophile airlifted to Martinique for continued medical attention Windward Islands Volcanoes batsman, Tyrone Theophile, is taken to the helicopter to be airlifted to neighboring Martinique from Dominica.

Murray lost in the opening round of the 2019 Australian Open before having hip surgery. (Getty Images)

BBC Sport - Britain’s Andy Murray has been awarded a wildcard for February’s delayed Australian Open.

It comes two years after he played what he feared would be his final match as a professional in Melbourne.

The five-time runner-up, suffering from

chronic hip pain, lost in five sets to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round of the 2019 event.A film paying tribute to his career was shown on the big screen in the Melbourne Arena after the match.“We welcome Andy back to Melbourne with open (Continued on page 19)

SportsMax - Windward Islands Volcanoes batsman, Tyrone Theophile, has reportedly been airlifted to neighboring Martinique from Dominica where he will continue to receive treatment in the aftermath of a serious motor vehicle accident.

According to reports, Theophile suffered a fractured skull and spent the last few days being treated at the Intensive Care Unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital after being involved in a collision on Christmas Day. The player was listed in stable condition before being airlifted to Martinique.

Reports indicate that Theophile was in-

volved in a motorcycle accident in the vicinity of the Roseau Post Office in the capital city Roseau.

The opening batsman has captained the Volcanoes for a few seasons at the regional level and played a total of 68 first-class matches. He has scored 3,055 runs at an average of 25.88. He has also taken 18 wickets at 34 runs apiece with his off-spin. Theophile has been one of the island’s best cricketers for a number of seasons. He was a part of the team that won the regional Super50 title in 2017, the fourth time the islands were claiming the title.

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Monday December 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

Rahane ton leads India in 2nd test against Australia MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The absence of captain Virat Kohli, known as “King Kohli”, had left India’s fans fearing another heavy defeat in the second test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

But stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane gave a regal performance of his own yesterday, scoring his 12th test century to put India in a powerful position by stumps on the second day.

Resuming on its overnight tally of 36-1 in reply to Australia’s 195, India advanced to 277-5 to hold an overall lead of 82 runs, with Rahane’s unbeaten 104 the stand-out innings of the match so far.

Reaching his classy century off 195 balls with a cut through backward point for his 11th boundary, Rahane briefly and modestly raised his bat and quietly wiped the sweat from his brow, before continuing on, as India fights to level the series.

“This knock was all about patience,” said opener Shubman Gill, who made an impressive 45 on debut. “The way that Ajinkya Rahane played, it was such a magnificent knock to watch. “The loose balls, he was making sure he put them away.”

Showing quiet determination on Sunday, India’s batsmen patiently chipped away at the host’s lead. India had

The shot that brought up Ajinkya Rahane’s 12th Test century, Australia vs India, 2nd Test, Melbourne, 2nd day, December 27, 2020 ©Getty Images

Ajinkya Rahane takes a moment after a hard-fought century, Australia vs India, 2nd Test, Melbourne, 2nd day, December 27, 2020 ©Getty Images

reached 189-5 at tea in overcast conditions on a grasscovered pitch that favoured the seamers.

In a composed knock that has included 12 fours from 200 deliveries, Rahane steadied his side’s response, sharing half-century partnerships with Hanuma Vihari (21) and Rishabh Pant (29) and a century stand with Ravindra Jadeja (40 not out).

Earlier, India had moved

carefully to 90-3 at lunch, losing two wickets in Sunday’s first session.

Gill (45), who was dropped twice, and Cheteshwar Pujara (17 off 70 balls) added 61 before pace bowler Pat Cummins struck in successive overs.

Gill was caught behind by Tim Paine at 61-2. Cummins pounced again in his next over, removing Pujara as Paine took a spectacular, diving

GFF/K&S/MCYS Bounce Back Football

Site visit and meeting held ahead of tomorrow’s opening action History would be created tomorrow evening when the first of two nights of football is played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence under circumstances never before envisaged.

Covid-19 has changed the way sports is done the world over so the principals of the Bounce Back Football event are pulling out all the stops to ensure that the environment in and around the Stadium is fully in line with the measures and guidelines that have been put in place by the National Covid-19 Task Force.

Fans would not be allowed to attend the matches as large gatherings are not permitted but the organisers would be carrying the final night, New Year’s night January 1st, 2021 live via NCN Ch. 11, Enetworks and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Facebook page.

Yesterday’s meeting and site visit which sought to bring all the relevant groups up to speed with plans and to en-

sure that everyone is singing from the same song sheet was attended by representatives of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Kashif and Shanghai Organisation (K&S), Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport (MCY&S), Covid-19 Task Force, Film Production Team, Promotional Team Hits and Jams Entertainment, Sanitisation Team, Private Security and Stadium Management.

GFF President Wayne Forde expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the meeting. ”I was thoroughly briefed by the Bounce Back event Operations Team and am very pleased with the pace at which things are falling into place. We will certainly learn quite a lot from these two days of football which will definitely improve our understanding of how to organise football events amidst a pandemic.”

K&S Director Kashif Muhammad said that planning for any event is vital let

alone an event of this nature that has never been undertaken before. ”This meeting was of utmost importance in the scheme of things as we embark on this Bounce Back initiative. We can never do enough in terms of planning so we met and combed through all the areas that needs to be touched whilst inspecting the field and other areas at the stadium that would be used over the two days.

It’s a lot of work that needs to be done but we are all capable in our respective areas to get the job done and present to the fans and supporters an event that they will thoroughly enjoy come New Year’s night, January 1st, 2021.”

All Star teams from East Coast, West Demerara, Linden and the City will collide tomorrow evening with the respective winners from tomorrow set to collide in the final on New Year’s night.

catch.That catch gave Paine the wicketkeeping record for fastest to reach 150 test dismissals, reaching the milestone in his 33rd match, ahead of South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (34 matches).

Vihari gloved an attempted sweep after lunch and was caught at slip off spinner Nathan Lyon’s bowling at 116-4.

Mitchell Starc (2-61) became the ninth Australian man to claim 250 test wickets when the left-arm quick removed Pant caught behind for 29 at 173-5.

But it could have been a much better day for Starc.

Rahane on 57 edged a catch to the vacant first slip

off Starc’s bowling. Starc took the second new ball after 80 overs as Australia attempted a late rally. Three balls later, Rahane on 73 edged to second slip where Steve Smith dropped a tough chance at head height in a pivotal moment.

Rahane was dropped again on 104 by a diving Travis Head at point, off Starc’s bowling, in the final over of a day’s play in which India was the clear winner.

A clearly frustrated Starc was in no mood to celebrate his 250th test wicket.

“I haven’t really thought about it. To be around long enough to take 250 wickets is really nice,” Starc said. “We

have to take five wickets as quickly as we can. We couldn’t hold the chances we created.

“That last ball pretty much summed up our day.”

India is without its best batsman and captain Kohli for the rest of the series, after he returned home to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Kohli left with India trailing one-nil in the fourmatch series after an eightwicket loss in Adelaide, where the tourists were bowled out for a national-record low of 36 in its second innings.

Scores: India 277 for 5 (Rahane 104*, Gill 45, Jadeja 40*) lead Australia 195 all out by 82 runs.

Messi to miss Eibar match as Barcelona grant captain extended Christmas break SportsMax - Lionel Messi will miss Barcelona’s clash with Eibar tomorrow, Tuesday, after being granted an extended Christmas break.

The club captain and his family went to Rosario for the festive period and he is not expected to be back in Catalonia until the New Year, ahead of the LaLiga match against Huesca on January 3.

Barca returned to training yesterday after being given four days off following a 3-0 victory at Real Valladolid.

The club confirmed Messi is expected to be back at the Camp Tito Vilanova facilities after the league meeting with Jose Luis Mendilibar’s men at Camp Nou. According to Sport, head coach Ronald Koeman granted Messi permission to spend longer in Argentina as he looks to keep the six-time

Lionel Messi

Ballon d’Or winner fully fit and firing.After a difficult start to the season following his failed attempt to leave the club, Messi has recovered some form, scoring six of his

seven league goals in 202021 in his most recent eight appearances.Barca are fifth in LaLiga, eight points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, having played a game more.

Kaieteur News

Monday December 28, 2020

PAGE 23

Jamieson strikes as Pakistan stumble in reply to New Zealand’s 431 AFP - New Zealand were banking on a deteriorating pitch to defend their Kane Williamson-anchored 431 after reducing Pakistan to 30 for one on day two of the first Test at Mount Maunganui yesterday.

Abid Ali was not out 19 with nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas yet to score after Kyle Jamieson removed opener Shan Masood for 10.

The Bay Oval pitch, Williamson’s home wicket, is renowned for supporting the bowlers on the first and last day.

But Williamson said it was already showing signs it would favour spin through the middle stages, while New Zealand sweated on the availability of short-ball specialist Neil Wagner.

“Hopefully the cracks start to open and hopefully it starts to deteriorate,” Williamson said.

“Spin will come more into play. There are bits of rough as well so I’ve no doubt spin will definitely have a role.”

The immediate concern for New Zealand was the availability of Wagner who was to have a scan at the end of the day after being hit on the foot by a Shaheen Afridi yorker when he batted.

Wagner managed three overs when Pakistan batted but was clearly in pain.

New Zealand, having started the day at 222 for three, added a further 209 runs before Wagner was the last man out.The innings was headlined by Williamson’s 129, his 23rd Test century,

with sizeable contributions from BJ Watling (73) and Henry Nicholls (56) to go with Ross Taylor’s 70 on the first day.

- Patience and concentration Williamson described his knock as “really s atis fying” after N ew Zealand were sent into bat on a green wicket and with Afridi and Mohammad Abbas making life difficult with swing and seam on the first day.

Although there was not the same movement on day two, the drying pitch started to show signs of turn which brought spin into play with Yasir Shah taking three wickets, including the prized scalp of Williamson.

Nicholls, who had partnered Williamson in a

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP Education City, Ahmad Bin Ali and Khalifa International to host FIFA Club World Cup™ matches

One of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 stadiums.

Education City, Ahmad Bin Ali and Khalifa International stadiums will host the FIFA Club World Cup 2020™ matches taking place in Qatar from 1 to 11 February 2021. The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium will stage the opening match between Qatari champions Al Duhail and Auckland City of New Zealand on 1 February and the final will be played at Education City Stadium on 11 February.

The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium was inaugurated on 18 December – Qatar National Day – exactly two years before the country hosts the FIFA World Cup™ final, Education City Stadium was unveiled in June 2020, and Khalifa International reopened its doors in 2017. All three venues will host fixtures at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

In addition to Auckland City, who will be flying the flag for Oceania, Al Ahly have qualified on behalf of CAF, UEFA will be represented by Bayern Munich, Ulsan Hyundai will represent the AFC, and the most recent team to join the line-up are Tigres UANL, who were crowned Concacaf champions.

Meanwhile, the Libertadores final in late January will decide CONMEBOL’s representative at the FIFA Club World Cup 2020.

The draw to finalise the detailed pairings will take place in Zurich on 19 January at 1 6 : 0 0 C E T .

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, FIFA and the host country will provide the required safeguards to protect the health and safety of all involved in the competition.

New Zealand are banking on a deteriorating pitch at the Bay Oval in the first Test against Pakistan.

133-run stand for the fourth wicket, was the first to fall, bizarrely departing the field when he would have been allowed to stay had he argued his case.

He was given out caught off the gloves, and after consulting with Williamson they felt the ball may have also touched the bat so they decided not to seek a review when replays later showed the ball hit his forearm and did not brush either glove or bat.Williamson, a model of patience and concentration, needed 261 balls to bring up his century, his slowest Test hundred, but once that

milestone passed he picked up the pace and needed only 36 more deliveries to get to 129.

The introduction of Yasir Shah brought the end of the New Zealand captain.

With his third ball, the leg-spinner found enough turn to catch the edge of the bat and Haris Sohail took a smart one-handed catch.

Watling, who scored a double century against England on the same Bay Oval wicket a year ago, took over as the batting mainstay.

He featured in a 36-run stand with Mitchell Santner (19) and 66 with Jamieson

(32).

After Tim Southee’s nine-ball duck, Watling and Wagner put on 33 before Watling nicked a wide Afridi delivery to Yasir Shah at gully.

It was a productive day for Yasir Shah who also took the wickets of Southee and Wagner (19) to return figures of three for 113 while Afridi took four for 109.

Scores: Pakistan 30 for 1 (Abid 19*, Abbas 0*, Jamieson 1-5) trail New Zealand 431 (Williamson 129, Watling 73, Taylor 70, Nicholls 56, Afridi 4-109, Yasir 3-113) by 401 runs.

National women’s hockey training to resume on January 6.

Women’s national hockey team to begin training t r o early January Sp cricketer Rahane ton leads Windwards Theophile airlifted to India in 2nd test Martinique for continued against Australia medical attention GFF/K&S/MCYS Bounce Back Football Representatives of the various bodies seen during yesterday’s meeting at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Site visit and meeting held ahead of tomorrow’s opening action Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8452, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.