Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

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

Local Content Policy...

Thursday Edition

Energy Dept. fails to justify

February 20, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 07

p.

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Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

secrecy provisions

Online readership yesterday 129,740

ExxonMobil releases unverified Local Content achievements p.

2

- produces no details of companies, persons used

$280M GPHC rehabilitated staff quarters commissioned GPHC staff quarters

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800 acres on East Coast p. 21 More cops earmarked for “city” development needed p.

- investors cagey as - specialty hospital, sod turned on US$100M another gated two-hotel project at Ogle community announced

13

for bike snatchers

Brassington tells court, “I recused myself from NICIL transaction - after advising brother with Hand-in-Hand” to purchase shares p.

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday February 20, 2020

ExxonMobil releases unverified Local - produces no details of Content achievements companies, persons used

By Kiana Wilburg

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rom 2015 to now, ExxonMobil said it has spent $45.7 billion on hundreds of local vendors. In 2019 alone, the American Oil Giant notes that over $24 billion was spent directly on 700-plus Guyanese vendors providing goods and services ranging from food to engineering.

This it said, represents a 74% increase in its expenditure compared to GY$14 billion spent with Guyanese vendors in 2018.

But this data ExxonMobil issued to members of the media yesterday from its Centre for Local Business Development has not been independently verified since Guyana is still without a Local Content Compliance Unit (LCU).

L a s t y e a r, E n e r g y Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe promised that such a body would be in place to audit all the data Exxon submits in its reports.

In the absence of same, the official confirmed that the department would have to take local content data as reported, noting at the same time that the granularity of the information provided has improved. (SEE LINK F O R T H AT S T O R Y: https://www.kaieteurnewso nline.com/2019/07/30/ener gy-dept-now-puttingtogether-audit-unit-forlocal-content-reports/).

In addition to this, ExxonMobil did not provide for independent verification, the names of the Guyanese businesses it used from 2015 to now.

Further to this, ExxonMobil told the media

that the number of Guyanese supporting its Guyana exploration, development and production activities, has grown by 77% in 2019, now representing more than half of the total workforce. It said, too, that there are now nearly 1,900 Guyanese supporting the company's activities. Here again, Exxon did not provide details on the employment

positions of these “nearly 1900 Guyanese” much less what they are being paid versus foreign employees.

As for the achievements of the Centre which it established in 2017 to assist small and medium-sized Guyanese businesses in building capacity, Exxon said that it now has more than 2,100 Guyanese businesses on its register. No evidence of

this was provided nor is the Centre's business portal available for perusal.

In keeping with its mandate, the American oil giant said that the Centre provided coaching and mentorship to more than 450 businesses while noting that 15 Guyanese companies are receiving mentorship for ISO 9001 compliance. It said that four companies were

certified and one company has reached compliancy.

This newspaper understands that planning is underway for a Supplier Forum later this year, which will allow for direct engagement with ExxonMobil Guyana and its prime contractors.

ExxonMobil reminded that the Centre had held a similar forum in December 2018.

Man accused of dousing drinking buddy, stealing gold band, cash

T

wenty-one-year-old Ellis Caulder, a miner of Desert Storm, Mahdia, Region Eight, was yesterday remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he denied a simple larceny charge.

An unrepresented Caulder appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts when the charge was read to him.

It is alleged that on January 1, 2020, at 111 Miles Mahdia, he stole a gold and silver band valued $45,000, and $11,000, cash property of Ray Singh.

The police prosecutor object to bail being granted to the defendant based on the fact that Caulder has matters of a similar nature pending in the Mahdia Magistrate's Court. The prosecutor added that the defendant was not attending court for those matters and highlighted that the defendant is a possible flight

risk if granted bail.

According to the facts of the charge, on the day in question, around 09:30 hrs Singh and Caulder were imbibing at a bar in Mahdia in the company of others.

The court heard that when Singh got up to go to the washroom, Caulder followed him and threw a liquid in Singh's face before relieving him of the band and the cash. Caulder then made good his escape.

The matter was reported. The police apprehended Caulder on February 16, 2020. When asked by the Magistrate if he was aware of the matters that are pending and why he didn't attend court.

The defendant said, “I was not too healthy at that time...and I had to finish my pit.” Chief Magistrate McLennan then remanded the defendant to prison until April 14, 2020 and the matter was

Remanded: Ellis Caulder transferred to Mahdia Magistrate's Court.

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Local Content Policy...

Energy Dept. fails to justify secrecy provisions T

By Kiana Wilburg

he first two drafts of Guyana's Local Content Policy were prepared by Trinidadian Energy Expert, Anthony Paul. He never included a word about confidentiality provisions in an effort to ensure all stakeholders can be held accountable.

When UK Consultant, Dr. Michael Warner, who has ties to ExxonMobil, was handpicked to finish the p o lic y, co n f i d e n ti a lity provisions became a key feature. But why was this allowed?

What is so “confidential” about knowing the extent to which Guyanese have benefitted from the sector?

Upon perusing the 2020 Local Content Policy for plausible answers, it was only stated that these provisions are due to “legal constraints.” For a more defined understanding,

Kaieteur News by way of email asked Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe, to provide an explanation for this since independent research as well as interviews with industry experts could not explain this conundrum.

That email was sent on February 16, last. A response was tendered by the Energy Department via a statement to the press yesterday.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e Energy Department still failed to explain why exactly the confidentiality provisions were used.

Instead, it said what Kaieteur News already knew and reported on, which is, the provisions were used since “legal constraints” prevent full disclosure of local content reports and statements submitted by companies.

The Energy Department said that while the 2020 Local Content Policy does contain the confidentiality

Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe provisions, there still exist several mechanisms for public disclosure. It said these are as follow – “To the general public, the extent of adherence of an Operator to the requirement to submit a yearly Local Content Plan complete in all regards, and half-yearly reports; (ii) to the general public, a yearly summary of performance in

Simple but tactical measures can help combat diabetes - doctor shares

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eware of refined 'carbs' which sneak into the diet by way of white flour, white rice, sugary beverages and other foods that line the shelves of many supermarkets.

This is the counsel of Cardiovascular Surgeon, Dr. Budhendra Doobay, who is on a mission to help Guyanese wage war against diabetes.

While there is no known formula for fighting Type One Diabetes, there are modifiable behaviours that help combat Type Two. Both types of diabetes are said to affect the body's ability to regulate blood glucose [sugar] levels.

Experts have noted that

Dr. Budhendra Doobay while sugar consumption will not directly cause either type, eating too much can cause problems such as obesity that can trigger Type

Public schools to close on Elections Day All public schools will be closed for Elections Day. According to the Ministry of Education yesterday, approval has been granted for the closure to facilitate the smooth operations of General and Region Elections.

Scores of public schools across the country will be used as polling stations on that day.

According to the Ministry, permission was also granted for the use of the schools for polling on March 2, 2020.

Two. Moreover, Dr. Doobay is advocating for persons to consume less sugars. “Soda, juices...all these refined carbohydrate products like the little biscuits that you eat with your tea, all the refined breads, all the beautiful desserts; I am not saying that you shouldn't have desserts, we all have desserts, but we have to have some common sense about it,” said Dr. Doobay.

Dr Doobay's revealing comments were emphasised Monday when he appeared on Kaieteur Radio's [99.1 FM, 99.5FM] Your Health Matters. “[Being] overweight is very close to causing diabetes; it is one of the risk factors we should try to remove ourselves from...So carbohydrates, lots of carbohydrates, lots of potatoes and lots of sugary things [food], this is one of the reasons why we get diabetes,” said Dr. Doobay.

Once diagnosed with diabetes, the main goal for medical professionals is to prevent complications (continued on page 11)

the form of a Local Content Utilisation Report, provided by the Operator to the Minister and (iii) upon request to the Oversight Committee.”

Kaieteur News has made it clear, however, that the citizenry deserves full disclosure and not a “summary” of the information so that it can be in the best possible position to hold all stakeholders involved accountable.

After perusing the release, this newspaper informed Dr. Bynoe via email that the response from the Energy Department fails to address the issue at hand, which is—why was a provision that was never part of the first two policy drafts, now part of the final document?

Dr. Bynoe was therefore asked to state what exactly are the legal constraints that prevent the full disclosure of

the report, to name which other local content policy in the world was used for reference to support the inclusion of the said clause into ours, and finally, with which international best practice is this in keeping with.

In response, Dr. Bynoe who has over 25 years of experience in academia said, “The Department of Energy (DE) acknowledges receipt of your letter of Feb 19, 2 0 2 0 . We h a v e a responsibility to inform and educate as we deem necessary and our public responses tend not to refer to any particular medium or media entity.

“The specific questions you have now raised will receive our attention and the response will be remitted when it is prepared.”

In the statement that was issues yesterday, the Energy Department stated that the

extent of disclosure of Local Content Plans and reports is always a sensitive matter, and a balance is therefore needed between total disclosures on the one hand a n d l e g i t i m a t e confidentialities on the other.

It said that this is no different for Guyana while noting that, “the current policy has had to walk this difficult line.”

The Energy Department reiterated, nonetheless, that Guyana's 2020 Local Content Policy remains “a live document”.

It said that stakeholder comments on any aspect of the policy, including levels of disclosure continue to be welcomed by the Department.

Whether additional comments are tendered or not, the department reminded that it is committed to continuous revisions as conditions evolve in the sector.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 20, 2020

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

The spotlight on the police Developments involving the Guyana Police Force come in trickles and are almost lost in the rush of events and the current all-consuming elections obsessions. Rarely do preoccupied citizens take the time to pause and assess what this means, when these positives and uplifting reports surface in the media of situations, other than the usual sleaze and the failures that result.

Recently, there was the cracking of a gang operating in and haunting the Belle View West area, through tracking all the way to the mastermind using “junkies” to rob neighbourhood residents. Then, in quick order, the police were on the case for the crime committed at the “wellpeopled” Giftland Mall, with arrests and matters pending.

Next, in the still evolving Gary Best-Jude Bentley accident and tragedy, the police have conducted itself in this closely watched set of circumstances carefully and with regard to openness, professionalism, and a declaration to do the right thing.

Then, there was in the news the story of the dark side of Guyana: of the discovery of an illegal submachine gun, the regular compromising cash routines that followed and, this is the key, the detecting and revealing the efforts that sought to betray justice.

Add a few other high-profile crime situations closed out at the law enforcement level and placed before the courts and, in aggregate, they are representative of dogged and determined work, the results of which are slowly beginning to show. Another submachine gun in Berbice seized, and an alleged child molester was held applying for police clearance. In the past, these police situations would be fixed out of sight and injustice prevailed.

Amidst the skepticisms, suspicions, and sorry reputations of the Guyana Police Force, there is cause for faint wisps of hope. With more such positive developments, there follows a shift in attitudes and perceptions long held over the members of the police and their actions.

Given time and continuing encouraging results from the GPF, the shifts could grow into the substantial, as to how this most vital of national presences is viewed by ordinary members of the longsuffering public.

Before anyone gets carried away at this time, we insist on the guarded optimism that is prompted by the realities of life in Guyana. It is of how major planks in our national economy have been compromised and sold down the drain to those who are prepared to outbid all comers to get their criminal ways, which translate to sabotaging the wellintended policies, procedures, and objectives of the police.

It is also of how many of our public servants have been fatally infiltrated and wounded to the detriment of good governance and a well-regarded cohort of patriots doing their duty; of how everything and everyone are considered to be up for sale, and those that will not sell are either setup or diminished for getting in the way and impeding the tainted bartering culture that is so prevalent.

These are some of the bone deep ingredients that have hurt the Guyana Police Force. Despite the best efforts of its lone rangers seeking to introduce what is right and progressive, the heavy tide of negative overhangs have been overwhelming. It can look to us on the outside like a losing battle, yet this is one that cannot be surrendered without a fight to the very end, since so much of what is enhancing and comforting for the peoples of this nation is involved.

So, the struggle for the soul of the GPF continues on the inside, and where every glimmer of the positive— regardless of how minute it may be—should count for something before the fair-minded and those who desire ardently to see the GPF do well.

Because when the management and members throughout the many tiers of the Guyana Police Force do well, then the citizens of this country are the better for it.

That is our position and, hence, it is why we look forward to reporting on the positives, even as we are compelled to call out the negatives, if only to bring about the changes so desperately needed.

The impact of the fleeting trickle oil boom in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, I am a professional Engineer and some of my undertakings were to design, build, prepare contract documents of processing plants that take raw material from the earth, and process to a consumable product.

I also built the first natural gas station in Trinidad with the help of the late Mr. Manning, a geologist and former Prime Minister. In mid1970s, we designed a steel plant ISCOTT (Iron and Steel Company of Trinidad and Tobago) in Canada for Trinidad, due to the shortlived fleeting trickle oil boom.

In 1970, oil moved from $20/barrel to $60/barrel and by mid-1970 to $120/barrel, and by 1980, the price dropped, so the deliberate fleeting “socalled boom” was over. Poverty crept back into the society that was left psychologically damaged. Migration, crime, capital flight increased and the country was left with no alternative but to import oil, etc.

Many believed that the oil companies greeted the politicians, their friends and families under the table, grabbed most of the profits for themselves, allowed a well calculated trickle of the oil money to create a so-called boom to convince the people that those who spoke about renegotiation of contracts were fools, but the truth surfaced

with time.

As it turned out, the people with power made no attempt to renegotiate, because their consciences were tied under the table and the people now “ketching they a**”, the oil companies are smiling.

The Guyana contract is null and void because it was not made in good faith and does not meet a minimum international standard, hence, renegotiation should commence immediately. Check my letter in Kaieteur News of April 29/2019.

How will you determine cost, if work/activities are not itemised, not priced, estimated, quantified or qualified?

It is disgraceful to talk about Venezuela, and an $18M signature bonus, by men holding high offices and exposed to the social media.

There is no doubt there will be a short-lived oil boom in Guyana, under any government, hence, significant impact on land use planning, physical infrastructure (roads, bridges, drainage etc), traffic chaos, housing, education, customs, airport/immigration/border security, environment, factories, availability of materials, human resources, psyche of the people, food; in general, all businesses will be busy.

There will be demand for all goods and services, the 4M’s, i.e., man, money, ma-

chine and materials. There will be more than 50,000 jobs created, as stated by the PPP. IMPACT Physical infrastructure: There will be a drastic increase in migration of people looking for work (skilled and unskilled, professionals, technicians), foreign companies, industries, agricultural demands etc. Housing must be provided - this will keep the sawmills, hardware stores, customs, airport and immigration, car dealers, housing and planning, etc. very busy.

Roads and bridges must be provided, there is no doubt there will be traffic chaos. In the morning, it was more than three hours from Chaguanas to Port of Spain.

Health: Hospitals, more doctors, nurses, drugs management, helicopter to transport the sick/accident victims and all other goods and services Education: more schools, teachers, technical training, etc.

Financial management: Government must have trained people, management infrastructure, auditors, tender boards - corruption will be everywhere.

Airport: more immigration officers, more custom officers, more employees, more passenger bridges, more baggage, carousels, flight control, airport expansion necessary now, or new airport, more

planes, etc.

Customs: more staff, more storage, more containers, more ships docking, weight control on vehicles imported to protect the roads, border control - because people are going to come by small boats, etc.

Tourism/accommodation: Hotels and motels, industry management, ads, inspection standards to government and private tourist sites, safety approvals, etc.

A satellite city: This should be planned now in the forest on the South East side of Georgetown. I advised the previous government and this government that land use planning is very important around Georgetown, due to flooding, rising water level, traffic congestion etc.

The city of Georgetown is a quadrant location, bounded by the Demerara River and the Atlantic Ocean, hence, traffic is landlocked. Let us take the lighthouse as the centre of a large circle, then Georgetown is a quadrant.

The government can do a silly thing and build a suspended circular road around the city to facilitate traffic.

Industrial zones: These must be identified. Both sides of the Demerara River must be zoned as industrial areas because of easy access by water transport; no more housing permits should be (Continued on page 5)

Republic Bank is putting the cart before the horse DEAR EDITOR, It is with continued disregard and a sense of betrayal that I pen this letter.

Allow me to refer to the most recent challenges that customers of the Trinidadianowned Republic Bank are now being burdened with.

This Bank, which so frequently gives the impression that it has no respect or consideration for the Guyanese people, has once again blundered.

Recently, customers had

taken to social media to announce that monies have mysteriously vanished from their accounts.

And if that isn’t terrible enough, when some persons made inquiries at the Bank, they were informed that the deductions were as a result of online purchases, although many persons have never purchased a single item online.

Following the social media rant, Republic Bank, with much skepticism I would as-

sume, decided to release a public notice.

The notice indicated that during the period November 4 to December 31, 2019, transactions conducted online and via other banks’ point-of-sale terminals and ATMs were not processed.

This entire situation begs the question: why weren’t customers immediately informed via a similar notice about this glitch in the banking system? In my opinion and I am quite positive that

my fellow Guyanese share the same sentiments - had Republic Bank duly notified customers of the situation, much annoyance, confusion and inconvenience would have been avoided.

It appears to be Republic Bank’s modus operandi in treating the people of this country with great disregard.

In the future, the bank ought to consider how such ‘back to front’ actions will affect its customers.

T.C. Graham

To me, this is so very disappointing and troubling DEAR EDITOR, I would like to offer my gratitude at your prompt response to my letter/inquiry about the conclusion of the complaint made by the female CJIA employee against an official of the airport about alleged sexual harassment, which she endured at his behest and the discriminatory practices she reportedly endured after refusing to comply with his wishes, particularly after going public.

My interest in this matter is twofold, not only is it reprehensible, sick and demeaning for those in a position of power and authority to demand sexual favours from the

vulnerable, but as a former (now retired) employee of the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor (DOL), one of my duties at the EEOC Department (Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor) was to thoroughly investigate complaints made by DOL employees involving workplace discrimination and sexual harassment.

My primary function at the Bureau was statistics, but when approached to take on this additional responsibility, I jumped at the opportunity, as this workplace practice is so widespread and traumatic to the victimised, and frankly, it makes me sick to the stom-

ach. It was from this background that I took a very keen interest in the conclusion of this female’s complaint at the CJIA. I/we obviously cannot say with any degree of accuracy or certainty why this young woman would refuse to provide details of her alleged harassment to the relevant authorities after her very public revelations of same.

To me, this is so very disappointing and troubling that she would do so, and her obvious oblivion of the ramifications of her sudden brain freeze not only to her credibility, but to the untold num-

bers of other females and males, the latter being less vulnerable to this workplace scourge, suffering in silence only to keep bread on the table and a shelter above their heads. This female, aware of it or not, has done irreparable harm to these workers. My hope is, she can look herself in the mirror and be proud of the image looking back at her.

The police/authorities should be able to go after this practice of refusing to give evidence once a complaint is made, criminal or else. Those indulging in this should know there is a price to pay.

Respectfully Claudeston G. Massiah

Thursday February 20, 2020

CURIOSITIES IN MANIFESTOS DEAR EDITOR, Governance Public Service Improvement a)In relation to the above objective, it is appropriate to pay attention to the letter to Stabroek News of 16th February titled “Permanent Secretaries must strengthen their role in protecting the public purse.” The letter is recommended reading for the respective campaigners.

Not unrelated, however, was advice proffered by a most experienced Permanent Secretary as far back as two decades ago.

Comments and recommendations included the following: -Advice which should be forthcoming from the ranks of Permanent Secretaries and technicians lack coordination and consequently cannot be as efficient as if there were an integrated approach, since most policies emanating from one Ministry tend to impact on others.

-A more effective approach therefore to the formulation of public policy could be considered, i.e., with the formulation of a Technical Advisory Council’ (or Committee) consisting of relevant Permanent Secretaries who would further collate information from their respective specialist advisors with the aim of facilitating the provision of comprehensive advice to the Cabinet, through the appropriate channels.

Submissions to Cabinet would of course vary as appropriate to the policy issue being addressed. At this point in time there is hardly convincing evidence that the Cabinet as the highest decision-making agency consistently functions as a coordinated whole.

Incidentally, no opportunity seemed to have been offered Permanent Secretaries if only to comment on the Commission of Inquiry Report on the Public Service of 2016. b) But the need for ‘Public Service Improvement’ is much wider, and arguably, much more fundamental than as identified above. One weakness evident is the comparatively inadequate work experience of too many current Permanent Secretaries. So that insistence should be on this leadership level being strengthened through intense informational and developmental interactions at the Bertram Collins Staff College, rather than the indulgence in beginners (however bright) who cannot substantially impact on the quality of performance of any agency. c)This organisational performance deficit is compounded by the substantive reluctance to raise the cleri-

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Kaieteur News

cal cum administrative capacity of the ‘Personnel’ function to the more proactive developmental level of Human Resources Management.

In this instance, such a transition, rather than setting an example, would in fact only be making good the substantive lag when compared to the Human Resources Management Departments (and Directorates) obtaining in the very Public Sector agencies who report to the Cabinet.

In this regard, urgent attention needs to be given to upgrading the scope and authority of the Public Service Commission.

Education “Train more teachers to improve student – teacher

not attract any salary scales.

Nor, for that matter does the highest grade (29) - consisting of Principal, CPCE, GTI, NATI, LTI. The latter are shown to be in a grade described as ‘Special’, but the salary is fixed for the rest of their careers, which counterproductively ends at age 55.

ratio by expanding the existing CPCE campuses in capital towns” Which will come first, the buildings or the training?

Whichever, there is the expectation that there would be enough interested candidates for a profession that is discouragingly underpaid even if only by current comparisons. The disparity in pay will certainly be emphasised with the invasion of ‘oil and gas’ jobs that will also push private employers to upgrade conditions of employment.

It continues to puzzle why no one has paid attention to the fact that the Teachers’ Service Commission has continued to maintain a colonial hierarchy of jobs and pay for teachers; however qualified, the singular category of public servants who is required to produce and achieve measurable targets on a daily basis.

There continues to be 29 grades of teachers, as compared with 14 grades of the Public Service. Interestingly, the first and lowest grades do

On the whole, the system of rating schools in the local education system can at best be described as simplistic, suggesting for example, that the nature of responsibility of a School Head is generally measured by school population.

This results in a major contradiction, wherein occurs a substantive differential between basic remuneration paid to a ‘Graduate Head’ and that paid to a ‘Non-Graduate Head’ in relation to the same or similarly rated school.

One is left to fathom the reasoning which determines a ‘Non-Graduate ‘ as capable of managing the same size school as a ‘Graduate’, but at a level of payment as much as seven (7) grades below that of the latter.

Someone may therefore wonder how, in light of the above, this pipe dream insinuated for education can be realised.

Mournfully, with the invasion of foreigners from different countries and cultures there is no mention of upgrad-

Meanwhile, it is credible for Temporary Qualified Master/Mistress to be regarded as Permanent and be equally eligible for a pension.

Opportunity is taken to further impose on the reader’s attention (more so while campaigning) to the Table below: Table: Schools Grading System

PPP’s cash transfer vs.

APNU+AFC’s feasibility studies DEAR EDITOR, The 2020 General and Regional Elections battle of manifesto ideas clearly differentiate the two main parties.

The PPP/C is focused on what it can do to support families with conditional cash transfer programmes, with or without oil money.

APNU+AFC has no plans for conditional cash transfer programme, unless it is with oil money, and only after feasibility studies.

It has come down to simply this - the PPP wants restoration of cash-transfers for families; APNU+AFC wants feasibility studies.

Cash grant for schoolchildren is something families already benefitted from in 2014 and it was taken away from them. Pensioners were helped through water rate waivers and electricity subsidies; pregnant women and infants

benefitted from certain cash grant vouchers; nursing and teachers college students had stipends; people in difficult circumstances got cash support.

These and several other safety net cash and material support were things people got before, some for decades.

None of these depended on oil money; none needed feasibility studies to figure out if people deserved these things.

The first thing that APNU+AFC did in 2015 was to eliminate several of these and tamper with others.

APNU+AFC did not do any feasibility studies when they eliminated or reduced some of these benefits. Instead of acknowledging they were wrong and promise to restore these benefits, in their 2020 manifesto, APNU+AFC proposes studies to determine if

they should use oil money to restore these benefits. It is shameless!

Between 2015 and 2020, APNU+AFC had an aversion to feasibility. The 2020 manifesto now shows a metamorphosis to an obsession with feasibility studies.

APNU+AFC proposes several feasibility studies and commissions to decide whether people deserve help.

Everything they need to give to the Guyanese people will now be subjected to feasibility studies or dependent on the whims and fancies of commissions. It is just a dog whistle, people will get nothing.

After stubbornly resisting people’s pleas for five years, APNU+AFC is proposing to establish feasibility studies to determine if, how and when to provide cash (Continued on page 6)

The impact of the fleeting trickle oil ...

From page 4 granted for those areas. It was not appropriate to build a divided highway on the East Bank of Demerara. What do you do with the traffic when it reaches the Georgetown quadrant? The new bridge location must facilitate industries, large vessels, and sedimentation tests must be done not to affect cargo vessels Inflation: Due to the shortage of skills, labour, professionals - that is, demand and supply, etc. - the cost for goods and services will be inflated drastically in all sectors.

Crime: Crime and corruption will be at all levels in a boom and worse off when the boom is over.

People become needdriven to gratify the higher level of spending habits acquired during the boom and will have a down psyche.

Capital Flight: The people lose confidence in the government; they know that the oil deal is poor and the government is not supporting renegotiation, hence, they are keeping money overseas.

Guyana is already in trouble, where neither of the large parties is ready to ne-

gotiate the poor oil deal which so many scholars and organisations condemned publicly (any school boy can see the poor deal).

The people believe that the unwillingness to renegotiate is because their consciences are tied below the table. This is the seed for capital flight.

The government needs an experienced team to plan, map, quantify and qualify the supply and demand of goods and services due to the fleeting trickle oil boom.

Yours sincerely, Joe Persaud (Canada)

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Kaieteur News

TRANSPORTATION REIMAGINED DEAR EDITOR, With the news that Bombardier is exiting the commercial aviation business due to high levels of debt and the announcement of high-speed rail in Texas, one is inspired to dream of the future transportation network of Guyana.

Our ambitions have always been to have a roadway network that connects Lethem with Georgetown, and bridges that link the coasts of our major rivers.

The idea of a major highway expansion and a buzzing automotive-based transportation system has some appeal to many.

However, if we reimagine and take the opportunity to redesign our transportation network, what could we achieve? Will we be able to

leverage the advantages of our many rivers into a robust water-based transportation system, which brings forth images of Amsterdam in Europe with its beautiful canal cruises that both locals and tourists will enjoy? Will there be an opportunity for a tram system in the new Capital City allowing for low congestion and a much appreciated break from driving, especially on the weekends, as both young and old enjoy visits to the city centre while experiencing both sports and night life in a peaceful atmosphere?

A far cry from the risk of drunk drivers, speeding commuters and road rage. It can be designed as built-in safety for the entire family.

Would we also build dedicated bicycle and walking

paths that boast a healthy lifestyle for both the retired and friends of the environment to enjoy the outdoors with its gorgeous fauna and flora while the birds sing their songs? Great exposure to the beauty of tropical weather’s sunshine, refreshing rain, and a breeze that cools you down like a mouthful of coconut water.

There’s a plentitude of opportunities to dream of a new and better way of commuting. Once dreamt it can then be attained. Fifty years is just the beginning of what can be for our young Republic. Happy 50th Guyana.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Today is World Day of Social Justice DEAR EDITOR, Today, 20th February, is United Nations World Day of Social Justice Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations.

We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of Indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.For the United Nations, the pursuit of social jus-

tice for all is at the core of our global mission to promote development and human dignity. The adoption by the International Labour Organization of the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization is just one recent example of the UN system’s commitment to social justice.

The Declaration focuses on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work.

The General Assembly proclaimed 20th February as World Day of Social Justice

in 2007, inviting Member States to devote the day to promoting national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Observance of World Day of Social Justice should support efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment and decent work, gender equity, and access to social well-being and justice for all.

Yours, Rooplall Dudhnath

Thursday February 20, 2020

PPP’s cash transfer vs. APNU+AFC’s...

From page 5 transfers for schoolchildren, pregnant and reproductive age women, students attending nursing schools, technical schools, people in difficult circumstances, etc., using oil money.

Some people still have these cash grants as stipends, for example, nursing and teachers’ training school students.

These are things people have or already had, under the PPP, without oil money. In addition, the unemployed sugar workers who were promised land for housing and agriculture after estates began closing in 2016, and who have not gained an inch of land yet, are now being promised a State Land Resettlement Commission that will decide if they will or will not have any land.

This is exactly what APNU+AFC did when they suspended the land titling for Amerindians.

It is a ploy to deny people their fundamental rights. For people who still are squatting, they are promised a study by a State Squatter Resettlement Commission to determine what will happen to them, as if squatting is new. What happened the last five years that APNU+AFC saw no need to address squatting?

In 2015, APNU+AFC eliminated the popular schoolchildren cash grant programme, providing $10,000 per child in 2014 and

which was supposed to reach $50,000 per child in 2020. After stubbornly defending their cruel action for five years, APNU+AFC now proposes a feasibility study to determine if a schoolchildren cash grant programme - with oil money makes sense. It has become a major APNU+AFC manifesto promise - to establish a feasibility study to determine if oil money should go to schoolchildren. But this is a benefit people enjoyed without oil money.

This position is in contrast with the PPP, which has promised to resume and expand and increase the schoolchildren cash grant programme, with or without oil money, ensuring that cash grant reaches $50,000 per schoolchild, a total cash transfer of about $10B annually by 2025.

The schoolchildren cash grant feasibility study is one of the many feasibility studies proposed in the 2020 APNU+AFC manifesto.

The PPP’s position is that the cash grant programme is one that was already part of the safety net for families, needs no feasibility study, and not dependent on oil money.

The truth is Granger and APNU+AFC are hiding behind feasibility studies because they hate the PPP footprints on the cash transfers for schoolchildren APNU+AFC did no feasibility study to determine the impact of removing a popular programme, one that meant much to thousands of working class families, particularly, single-parent families. The schoolchildren cash grant

programme cost about $1.5B annually.

They claimed that the country could not afford that programme. But they increased salary and benefits for Cabinet members, their vehicle maintenance increased, as did their food and drinks budget, etc.

It was simply unconscionable for them to eliminate a programme that provided much-needed support for schoolchildren and families, while increasing their own benefits by far more than the schoolchildren cash grants cost.

Between 2015 and 2020, APNU+AFC demonstrated a curious revulsion to feasibility studies.

They studiously objected to any kind of feasibility study for sugar, before closing four estates.

There was no feasibility study when they increased so many taxes, or when they introduced VAT on education, water and electricity, or when they introduced VAT on medicines, food and hundreds of other items.

There was no feasibility study when they removed subsidies and tax waivers for agriculture supplies, tools, equipment and machinery.

They vehemently rejected the usefulness of feasibility studies, while wickedly using COIs as platforms for intimidation and discrimination.

Now faced with an electorate that overwhelmingly support cash transfers, Granger and APNU+AFC are using proposed feasibility studies to fool people. It will not work.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

Jagdeo asks court to dismiss challenge for him to disclose Ali's qualifications

By Feona Morrison

L

eader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo has filed proceedings in the High Court to strike out a challenge mounted by private citizens Dianna Deravinee Rajcumar and Phillip Marcus, for him to disclose for their perusal, the academic qualifications of Irfaan Ali, the Presidential Candidate of the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).

In the application which was heard yesterday by Justice Franklyn Holder, J a g d e o ' s l a w y e r, A n i l Nandlall has asked the court not to exercise its jurisdiction to hear or grant the orders being sought by the citizens. In fact, Nandlall argues that Jagdeo has no duty in law to produce the documents being requested by the citizens Nandlall contends that the application filed by the citizens has no prospect of success and should be dismissed with costs

awarded to his client.

Nandlall is asking the Court to strike out the challenge on the grounds that it is scandalous, frivolous and vexatious and is an abuse of the Court's process pursuant to Rule 14.01(1) (a) of the Civil Procedure Rules which states: (1) In addition to any other power to do so under these Rules, the Court may, on its own initiative or upon application, strike out the whole or part of a Statement of Case if it appears to the Court that, (a) the Statement of Case or the part to be struck out, (a) the Statement of Case or the part to be struck out, (i) does not disclose any reasonable ground for bringing or defending the claim; (ii) is an abuse of the process of the Court; (iii) is scandalous, frivolous or vexatious; or (iv) is likely to obstruct the just disposal of the proceedings…”

Nandlall, who was a former Attorney General under the PPP/C government, further

Leader of the Opposition: Bharrat Jagdeo

PPP/C Presidential Candidate: Irfaan Ali

contends that the application filed by Rajcumar and Marcus does not challenge Ali's qualification for being elected as President. In fact, the lawyer argues that pursuant to Article 90 of the Constitution, Ali is duly qualified to be elected to the highest office of the land.

Article 90 of the Constitution reads: (1) A person shall be qualified for election as President and

shall not be so qualified unless he or she – (a) is a citizen of Guyana and is Guyanese by birth or parentage as defined in articles 43 and 44; (b) is residing in Guyana on the date of nomination for election and was continuously residing therein for a period of seven years immediately before that date; and (c) is otherwise qualified to be

elected as a member of the National Assembly.

According to Nandlall, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has already accepted PPP/C Lists of Candidates for the upcoming general and regional elections on which Ali had been identified as the party's Presidential Candidate.

In the application, Nandlall submits that Ali is qualified to be elected as President as he is a Guyanese by birth with permanent residency at Sea Spray, L e o n o r a , We s t C o a s t Demerara. Ali, he said, is not a citizen of any other country and was elected as a Member of the National Assembly of t h e N i n t h , Te n t h a n d Eleventh Parliament.

Apart from the foregoing, Nandlall also tells the court that Ali also served as Minister of Housing, Trade and Industry and was also Head of the Public Accounts Committee of the Eleventh Parliament.

Nandlall is of the view that if Rajcumar and Marcus

believe Ali is unsuitable for the post, then they have the freedom and right under the Constitution not to vote for him; they can vote for another Presidential Candidate or political party of their choice. This matter comes up for another hearing next week Thursday at the High Court in Demerara.

ENTITLED TO KNOW As a basis for their applications, the citizens through their Attorney-atlaw Stephen Lewis contend that consequent to their constitutional right to vote, they have a right to information on the candidates for the upcoming general and regional elections.

Against this backdrop, they say they are entitled to know the educational antecedents of the candidates to access, process and interpret along other with information, before deciding to vote for them.

According to them, “As (continued on page 8)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Thursday February 20, 2020

Blairmont, Uitvlugt workers protest GuySuCo pay rise

O

perations at Blairmont Estate yesterday came to a standstill after workers took protest action to express strongly their views about the pay rise offer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

“The workers, like the union, contend that any pay increase ought to be retroactive to January, last year.

The workers pointed out that the discussions between the GAWU and GuySuCo originated from the union's 2019 claims.”

According to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), it is apposite to note that agreements arising out of discussions on non-wage matters, which also comprised the union's claims, saw those improvements being implemented from 2019.

“It is, therefore, puzzling that the corporation with respect to pay increase is seeking to deviate from practice and precedent.”

Workers at Blairmont, West Berbice yesterday A worker from Uitvlugt Estate At both Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates, workers took part in picketing exercises outside of the respective estates to reiterate their call that their pay increases be no less than 5 percent and that the pay improvements be retroactive to January 1, 2019.

The workers believe that the three-estate corporation, and those who give it guidance are seeking to exploit a situation knowing full well that they and their families require a rise-inpay, the union said in a statement.

The workers have questioned why further discrimination is being meted out against them.

“They lamented that while they must seemingly swallow a pay rise from the beginning of this year; their colleagues in other sectors of the state received their pay rises from the beginning of last year.

“They added, too, that those workers received their retroactive payments tax free as well, while such treatment, so far it appears, has not been even considered for them.

“The workers contend that the corporation's position will not really bring

about much benefit for them recognising that majority of the weeks for the year, thus

far, took place during the out-of-crop period where they hardly had any work.”

Man hospitalised after son beats him to curb drinking habit

A

father of four is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after he was severely beaten by his two sons. The victim has been identified as 48-year-old Malik Williams, of Lot 25 'C' Field Sophia. The incident is said to have occurred last Tuesday around 23:30hrs.

Kaieteur News u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t M r.

Williams is a habitual

drinker in the Sophia Community. However, this act of his is usually condemned by his two sons aged 23 and 25.

According to sources, Mr. Williams's drinking habit reached the worst point on Monday night after he was caught in a drunken state sleeping on the roadway by his sons.

This act of his once again angered the young men who were out with their friends.

After recognising it was their father, the young men armed themselves with pieces of wood and severely beat Mr. Williams across his body.

Mr. Williams remains a patient at the city hospital.

He sustained cuts and bruises to his body along with a broken left arm.

The incident has since been reported to the Turkeyen Police Station. An investigation has been launched into the matter.

Jagdeo asks court to dismiss...

From page 7 persons, intending to exercise their right to vote [they] are entitled to be privy to facts giving insight in the candidate's capacity and suitably for acting as a President, Parliamentarian or a legislator including details of his/her life educational qualifications.”

In light of the foregoing, they are seeking a declaration that they are entitled to know the qualifications of Ali, and for Jagdeo to produce the first degree certificate and transcripts for any first degree conferred on him.

They are also asking for information on the name of the university from which Ali obtained the first degree, as well as information concerning the nature of the study completed in relation to the first degree.

They also want to be privy to information setting out whether Ali was issued with a certificate of graduation, which states that it was issued by the Business College, West Demerara Chamber of Commerce and information on whether any studies at the College led to

him obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Planning.

Furthermore, they want a copy of any transcript issued by the Business College, West Demerara Chamber in respect of the Bachelor of Arts in Planning; information on whether any degree was obtained by Ali from the University of Sunderland; a copy of the certificate of any said degree from that university along with a transcripts to any degree obtained by Ali from that university.

Should the court rule in their favour, Rajcumar and Marcus are asking that the documents be produced within seven days from when the court's order is handed down.

Apart from Jagdeo, GECOM had been listed as a Respondent in the applications filed by the two.

Notwithstanding questions lingering as to authenticity of his qualifications, Ali, last year October was listed as a graduand of a Doctorate in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad.

19 FRAUD CHARGES Ali is currently facing 19 fraud charges for allegedly depriving the state of millions of dollars when he sold State lands way below the market value to high-ranking public officials, including Jagdeo.

This newspaper had previously reported that the lands worth $214M were sold for a meagre $39M by Ali during his tenure as Minister of Housing under the PPP government.

The charges against Ali state that between the period 2011 and 2015, he conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government, when he acted recklessly by selling 19 plots of state lands at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara. He was not required to plead to the charges and has been released on self-bail.

The presidential hopeful has moved to the Court of Appeal in a bid to have the charges quashed; the court is set to render a ruling soon. Ali moved to the appellate court after the High Court dismissed a similar application filed by his lawyers.

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Brassington tells court, “I recused myself from NICIL transaction with Hand-in-Hand” - after advising brother to purchase shares

A

s Head of the S t a t e ' s privatisation unit – the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited, (NICIL),--Winston Brassington was privy to several transactions between Government, private individuals and companies.

Testifying in a libel suit, he brought against Kaieteur News, the former Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of NICIL told the Court that he was knowledgeable of the sale of Government's 20% shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph ( G T T ) c o m p a n y, t h e Marriott Hotel project, the acquisition of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) lands by

businessman Ed Ahmad, the sale of the Sanata Texile Complex, the Fip Motielall construction of Amaila Falls project, and the Berbice River Bridge.

However, it was the transaction, which involved NICIL, his brother Jonathan, and Hand-in-Hand Trust that was the source for which Brassington was grilled by defence counsel, Nigel Hughes.

In 2014, Kaieteur News was sued repeatedly for publishing what the newspapers labeled as irregularities in the transactions involving the former CEO of NICIL. Brassington especially took offence the newspaper's satirical piece, DEM BOYS

SEH, which he believes referenced him as a “fat crook.”

At the continuation of the l i b e l t r i a l y e s t e r d a y, Brassington testified via audio video link (SKYPE) before Justice Navindra Singh at the Georgetown High Court about his role in the purchase of shares by his brother, Jonathan Brassington, from Hand-inHand Trust; a company in which the government (NICIL) had acquired a minority share.

Confronted with several questions, Brassington denied there was any conflict of interest on his part.

He admitted however that as CEO of Government's privatisation unit, he was

Dem boys seh...

Is nuff Nancy story

P

eople like tell Nancy story. And o f c o u r s e Guyanese like believe Nancy story. De first one involve Exxon. Couple years ago, de oil company announce dat it believe in local content.

When dem boys challenge de oil company, de people release how much puri dem buy, how much taxi dem ketch to travel from Marriott to Bourda Market and how much snow cone dem buy.

Yesterday dem release anodda set of figures but people looking at it wid a pinch of salt. De money sound nuff wha dem spend but de argument is dat nobody ain't check dem figures. Some people believe dem is padded because

people accustom to what does happen in Guyana.

People don't know wheh de money spend or who get it. But then again, when people check de books dem might be able to tell Guyanese de truth.

If dat is trickery then imagine de statement wha de police mek. Two men snatch a lady purse and a man who been right deh pump shots in de snatchers.

One of dem dead. Dis thing happen bright day time but nobody don't know who shoot.

Dis is how people hate dem criminals. Dem would see people brutalizing dem and don't feel sorry fuh dem.

Of course people ain't even talking bout de lady who purse get snatch. Dem boys don't even know if she get it

back.

Some odda thing dat dem hiding from people is wha price Guyana getting fuh de oil it selling. Late last year dem announce dat dem encourage bids fuh de oil.

Three companies bid and dem agree to sell to one.

Dem boys don't know de price wha Guyana getting per barrel but dem know dat Guyana preparing to ship out one million barrels. It mean dat de cheque come in already. Before de year done, Guyana gon ship out five million barrels.

AND de man in de Energy Department seh dem ain't count de two percent yet. De only thing is dat dem boys don't know how much money coming in.

Talk half and keep you eyes open to avoid trickery

privy to information about the intention of Hand-inHand Trust to sell some of its shares.

The plaintiff admitted to advising his brother on purchasing the shares after he learnt of the latter's i n t e r e s t i n t h e Tr u s t company.

The witness recalled that his brother had approached him about buying the shares after it was advertised that Hand-in Hand Trust was seeking investors.

At the time, Brassington said he was CEO of NICIL. Asked about his involvement in the transaction, the witness told the court, however, that at the time he had nothing to do with NICIL. Brassington claimed while NICIL had an integral role in the transaction, he had recused himself from the deal but this was only after advising his brother on the purchase.

The witness was not clear nonetheless in whose interest he was working.

“Would you agree with me that at the time of the sale of the share to your brother, you were still the CEO of NICIL?” Hughes asked.

Former Head of NICIL Winston Brassington

Nigel Hughes

“Yes, I was,” said Brassington.

“At the time of the transaction, you were also representing the interest of y o u r b r o t h e r. I s t h a t correct?”

“Yes!” “And were you aware at that time that your brother's majority acquisition of shares in Hand-in- Hand could have diminished Government's minority shares in the company?”

Hughes asked.

“My brother never acquired a majority share in the company, “Brassington replied in disagreement.

He later admitted that his brother had acquired a 30% of Hand- in -Hand shares – a figure, which was much higher than Government's share in the company.

Brassington was adamant, though, that he did not believe that his brother's acquisition of shares d i m i n i s h e d t h e Government's interest.

Hughes then questioned whether NICIL on behalf of the government had been offered the opportunity to purchase the shares before involving the third party buyer – Brassington's (continued on page 24)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday February 20, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

This may be my last column D

epending on what happens this Thursday afternoon, this column here may be my last. There are times in life when you enter into challenges because you feel assured and you do not fear loss.

I am entering this challenge here fearing that I will not lose. If I do lose, I will offer an apology to this newspaper that has accommodated me for a very long time, the Guyanese readers who took an interest in my outpourings over the long years and the Guyanese people in general. On the basis of principles, I will resign from writing.

I was a guest on the Naim Chan show on Channel 6 yesterday morning and he asked me if I am a lonely person. I immediately said no. I am happy to be around my family and pets and

friends. I have other things to do should I leave the Freddie Kissoon column. Maybe it is time to see more of my country.

Yesterday, I offered an apology to the AFC because what the AFC said of me was quite simple. It went like this.

Yo u d e s c r i b e d a n incident involving the AFC that did not occur. You should apologise. I did.

I made an assertion in that apology which was contained in my column yesterday that is important for readers to note and I am asking them to note it.

After writing dozens, and dozens, and dozens of critical comments on the AFC since 2015 and making pellucid accusations against them about things, undemocratic and unfair and improper, which they have done, I have never received a

request for an apology except for last Monday's column.

Below are unambiguous accusations I have made against the AFC. If the AFC can prove that I was wrong and were fictional in all these statements (it must be all), I will apologise and as a matter of ethics in journalism stop the Freddie Kissoon column.

I will not accept a simple, generalised statement from the AFC that these accusations are all false; end of story. No, they have to give evidence to the Guyanese people that I was wrong and way out of line on all counts.

Let me give two examples to begin with. I am firm in my attitude that the AFC has not taken the renewed Cummingsburg Accord to its executive for approval. I will not accept a

reaction from the AFC that says; “This is not true.� The AFC has to name the date and place of the meeting and the executives who were there.

This has to be done so I can do my investigation to prove that the AFC was not telling the truth or I am wrong indeed.

Secondly, if I say that Khemraj Ramjattan is not named as prime minister in the renewed Cummingsburg Accord, then the AFC has to disprove me and they have to make the accord public so that the nation can see I was wrong.

I remind readers these accusations are from previous columns since 2015. Here now is the challenge, which the future of this page depends on. Is it true or false to the things I outline below?

1-On choosing its ministers in May 2015 at the AFC's head office, a certain woman with a doctorate in a science field was asked if she would accept the portfolio of Minister of the Environment, this person not

having been known to be associated with the AFC or even campaigned for the AFC. 2-The renewed Cumminsburg Accord has not been submitted to the AFC leadership body, that is, executive committee for its examination and approval.

3-In the renewed Cummingsburg Accord, there is no explicit wording that outlines the name Khemraj Ramjattan as the prime ministerial candidate but rather the wording says that the Prime Minister will come from the AFC. 4-Moses Nagamootoo and Raphael Trotman have not made a public endorsement of Khemraj Ramjattan. By public endorsement, I mean the following, (1)- statement to the press, (2)- utterance at a public forum, (3) use of words to that effect in a place that is considered to be public an distinct from a private sphere.

5-Gita ChandanEdmond, an AFC member was put on the APNU-AFC list of candidates by APNU

Frederick Kissoon and not AFC and her forms were signed at the Office of the President and nowhere else.

6-During Dr. Ramaya's public expressions of dissatisfaction with the AFC, the AFC leaders discussed in 2016 a recommendation by President Granger that a substantial job should be found for Dr. Ramaya.

7-The PNC leadership asked that the marijuana amendment legislation be put in abeyance.

I could go on but this is a short list. I will not react to the AFC's answers if there isn't concrete proof of my wrongness of all the items here. Wish me luck!

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

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 20, 2020

10,226 discipline services ranks to vote across 82 polling stations tomorrow

R

anks of the Discipline Services will cast their ballots tomorrow, a week ahead of when the nation heads to general and regional elections which are set for Monday, March 2.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, recently disclosed that 10,226 ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Prison Services (GPS) are headed to the polls.

The ranks are spread across the 10 administrative regions and will be voting at 82 polling stations.

According to Lowenfield, GECOM's preparations for the voting of discipline services ranks are at a very advanced stage.

In fact, he said that security arrangement to ensure that the ballot boxes are in place commences today. Ranks who for whatever reason are unable to vote tomorrow, will be given a second chance to exercise their right to vote on Elections Day, the CEO added. As it relates to preparation for general and regional elections, Lowenfield said that preparations are also in the advanced stage.

He said that GECOM is currently appointing polling day staff including Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers. Apart

from this, he added that signage have already been put in place indicating the various polling stations.

Amidst reports in other sections of the media that GECOM has minimised the amount of private residences being used as polling stations, Lowenfield did admit that this is true. He said that this course was taken after receiving advice from the Commission.

“We have been asking electors to go to the public places available for them to cast their ballots. In our assessment 500 electors for a polling station for a 12-hour period goes beyond a reasonable easy going day for electors. I don't envisage as is being touted that there will be chaos; I don't think so.

There would have been chaos if some of the recommendations made by some political parties for the residences we (GECOM) should have gone to. There may have been chaos at those localities.”

Meanwhile, Lowenfield has assured the voters that security measures are already in place. As the law prescribes, he said that police ranks will be deployed to every polling station across the regions. He is urging all electors to visit GECOM's website, enter their identification card numbers to be directed to their respective polling stations.

PAGE 13

More cops needed for bike snatchers

G

uyanese are at t h e i r wits end. No one is safe! From an innocent schoolchild walking home to the garbage collectors who try to keep the country clean. In recent times, there has been an increase in petty crimes in the form of snatchers.

Walking safely along the roadway has become a mammoth task as persons are constantly on the edge, scared every waking minute that they may be pounced upon by unscrupulous thieves, who believe that the world and what it contains belongs to them.

Headlines and countless stories have surfaced with persons recounting the brazen horrors faced by citizens being robbed while going about their daily activities.

Videos have also surfaced showing thieves who move about on motorcycles and bicycles making the getaway a smooth task. One video surfaced on social media recently, showing a woman being thrown violently to the ground.

She had been walking and had crossed the road when, suddenly, two young men on a motorcycle rode up beside her to snatch her handbag. The woman held a firm grip and was dragged and thrown in front of an oncoming car.

Fortunately, the driver braked in time. They bore witness to the crime, but were unable to do anything.

Tuesday afternoon's incident at William Street

where one young man was shot dead while his accomplice was shot twice in the legs shows how blatant snatchers have become with no regards for safety and law.

THE VICTIMS Kaieteur News spoke to a few persons who experienced the same harsh terror from the snatchers. The stories carried the same trend; citizens are scared and want police to be more aggressive in their patrols exercises. “I don't feel safe at all. If I have to walk the streets with worry in my thoughts about who will run up to me and take my hard earned money and valuables, then how safe are we really?

“I could remember as if it were just yesterday, when my brother was at an event, he was on the road with his friends when four men on motorcycles rode up to them and cornered him. “They snatched his gold chain and emptied his pockets. Luckily, he managed to run away where police were standing. I felt scared for him so I could not imagine how scared he was as the victim.

“This is overbearing.

Something has to be done about this nonsense.” – Renada Playter.

“I was walking through the Albouystown burial ground at around 5pm when

two guys rode up on a bicycle and robbed me of a phone to the value of $5000 and about $800 in cash. They felt my breast and vagina in search of more money.

After they relieved me of the articles, they pushed me aside and told me to never walk back through here again. I was never fearful, because this was like a short cut to where I was going and I was used to this route.

“Those guys were very young; they didn't seem more than 20.” – A 17-year-old UG student. “An afternoon after work, a group of friends and I decided to go hang on the Kitty seawall. It was around 7 pm; three of the five of us left to go purchase food while a male colleague and I waited by the seawall at Sheriff Street.

“While waiting, we observed two strange men hanging around so we decided to walk up a bit. While walking one of the men rode up on a bike and grabbed my colleague and placed a knife to his neck.

“The other one then came and instructed us to go over the wall where they emptied my bag and took all of my valuables then proceeded to do the same to my colleague.

“After resisting a few times, one of the men began slashing him about his face and body with the knife. Up to

this day, I panic when I see someone on a bike pull up next to me. Also I have never been back to the seawall since.” – Shivanie Rampersaud.

“When I was a student of the University of Guyana, a friend and I were attacked and robbed. It was a Saturday evening. We had just come out of an examination.

The line top, where we usually get transportation, was completely crowded with students, so my friend Tyrone, and I, decided to walk out to the main East Coast road. “We were the only two persons walking on that road and while walking, two young men on a motorcycle rode past us.

“I saw them and jokingly said to Tyrone, “Let me put my phone in my bag before these guys rob us.” When we arrived on the main road, we saw the two men there; one of them was urinating.

“As we were walking past them to the bus stop, they grabbed my friend and me and demanded that we give them our valuables. We told them that we had nothing on us. “At the time I had $25,000 in my bag, but they didn't search it.

Instead, my friend gave them a fake gold chain and said to them, “This is all I have.”

They rode off and we ran to the closest minibus.” – Milika Singh.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday February 20, 2020

House collapses in Campbellville A

58-year-old resident of Campbellville is thanking God for her safety after the home, which she was living in for the past decade collapsed less than two hours after she left to attend clinic.

The homeowner has been identified as Florence Barker of Lot 10 First Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

At the time of the incident, the woman was sharing her home with her 32-year-old son. Luckily, neither of the occupants was at home at the time of the incident.

The incident is said to have occurred yesterday around 13:40hrs.

Kaieteur News understands that after the two-storey wooden structure collapsed, there were reports

circulating about the occupants of the home being trapped inside. As a result of such reports, the Fire Service was called in and a rescue mission was launched.

In an interview with this publication, Ms. Barker stated that she left her home to attend clinic when the incident occurred. “I left to go clinic, but while on my way back, I decided to stop by my cousin to see how she was doing.

While I deh by she [cousin], a woman come and tell me how me house just fall down.

At first, I was worried but then I remember that my son was not at home.�

Divisional Fire Officer with responsibility for Operations, Gregory Wickham, stated that around 13:30hrs, they received a call

What was left of the house

about a house that collapsed in Campbellville, so the rescue team quickly went to

the scene of the incident.

When this publication arrived at the scene of the

incident, firefighters were busy removing debris with the aim of rescuing any

injured person that might have been trapped under the rubble.

$1.2M bail for Sophia couple on arms, ammo and ganja

A

lmost three months after 54y e a r - o l d Godfrey Bacchus and his wife, 31-year-old Stacy Cort, were remanded to prison on ganja and gun related charges, Attorneyat-law Bernard DaSilva, who is representing the couple, yesterday renewed his bail application for his clients, yesterday. And bail was granted in a total sum of $1.2M. Bacchus and Cort were arraigned before Magistrate Alicia George who granted bail when they appeared in the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court.

Charged: Godfrey Bacchus

Charged: Stacy Cort

Both defendants were granted $500,000, on the joint narcotic charge, while Bacchus was granted $100,000, each on the gun and ammunition charges that he is facing separately.

The couple has five children and they reside on the Guyana Power and Light Reserve, North Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

On their first court appearance, the couple denied the charge which stated that on November 25, 2019 at the Guyana Power and Light Reserve, North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, they had in

their possession 34.75 kilograms of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Bacchus is separately facing other charges, which state that on November 25, 2019, at the Guyana Power and Light Reserve, North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, he had in his possession 66 rounds of ammunition, one AK-47 assault rifle and one pistol, while he was not a licensed firearm holder.

DaSilva had told the court that the marijuana was discovered by police officers in an ice-pitcher, which was taken to the defendants' home without

their knowledge and consent.

The lawyer added that the police found the arms and ammunition in an adjacent trench.

He also told the court that a wanted bulletin that had been issued by the Guyana Police Force for another individual came about after his clients gave the police information about the person being the one who brought the items into their house.

The facts of the charges stated that on the day in question, police acting on information went to the couple's home to conduct a search.

The prosecutor revealed to the court that the ranks, on approaching the residence, noticed Godfrey Bacchus disposing of a parcel in a nearby trench.

The ranks subsequently retrieved the parcel, which they unwrapped and found that it contained the suspected arms and ammunition.

The court heard that when a further search was conducted, some of the suspected marijuana was discovered in the bedroom of the couple. This was reportedly found between some clothing belonging to Stacy Cort.

The facts presented by the prosecutor further stated that during a video interview conducted by the police, with the defendants, Godfrey Bacchus admitted that the arms and ammunition belonged to him, while his wife admitted ownership of the narcotics.

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 20, 2020

Broadcasting Authority urges TV, radio operators to steer clear of misinformation From page 11 licensee providing the service on matters of national, political or industrial controversy or relating to current public policy.

“It is the duty of every professional broadcaster to provide the public with information that would enable the electorate to make informed choices during elections. Political discussion or debates involving partisan

speakers or on behalf of political parties should clearly be labelled as such.

“Race, ethnicity and/or religious beliefs as a basis for denigration of a person's political affiliation shall not be permitted.

All paid or free broadcasts in support of political parties or candidates shall be clearly identified before and after programmes.”

Thursday February 20, 2020

2500 sign petition to investigate Republic Bank's business practices in Guyana

L

ate last year, Republic Bank Limited (RBL) announced that it was upgrading services to enhance their customers' banking experience.

However, since that upgrading service has taken place, the issues have increased with service becoming unavailable during the transition period, lack of commitment to customer satisfaction, as well as hard earned, honest money vanishing into thin air.

Frustrated by this consistent disservice, 2500 Guyanese have signed a petition to urge the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Bank of Guyana (BoG), Financial Intelligence Unit of Guyana (FIUG), among others, to launch an investigation into Republic Bank's business practices in Guyana.

Amir Khan, the young man who started the petition, berated Republic Bank for “severely” breaking customers' trust over their past few years of operation.

The infuriated Khan argued that, “As part of the gift that keeps on giving, the bank has debited all accounts that purchase from Amazon and any other online merchant and has completely drained most customers' account for overspending, offering only an apology in the daily papers, despite them being responsible for providing customers with false information.” He continued, “Enough is enough! It is time that consumers' rights are respected! It's time for this billion-dollar company to treat customers in a fair manner!

“I am appealing to the relevant agencies to look into the practices of this company and penalise them severely for the wrongs they have committed! We Guyanese work too hard to be treated this way by a business whose profits come directly as a result of our money!”

A few days ago, this publication reported that Republic Bank had only recently started processing last year's transactions to several customers' accounts.

It appeared that thousands of customers used their Visa OneCard to conduct transactions last year during the period when the bank was making changes to its systems.

“A significant number of those transactions were never processed. That matter is now being corrected.”

This week, as the transactions were being processed, a number of customers who appeared to have made withdrawals last year but which were not processed, appeared to have taken out too much. The bank reportedly signed agreements with a number of them to pay back.

CUSTOMERS' DISCONTENTS Kaieteur News reached out to a few current customers of Republic Bank and they related issues they were faced with while transacting business at RBL. Cowen Gittens: “The lack of commitment to customer satisfaction. They don't post any notice notifying customers about issues they're experiencing until these issues escalate.

“Then, there is the unwillingness to listen to customers' complaints and stand some liability for their mistakes and mishaps. Then there is the lack of compensation for the time, monies and energy lost. But the thing that grinds my gears is how dismissive the staff get, and the attitude they use to respond to customers...as if we shouldn't be mad that the bank we trust with our money is mishandling it.”

Rachel Lam: “Minus money missing…I'd say lousy customer service and the endless requirements to prove I am who I am. One time they made me sign my name six times and bring in my marriage certificate to prove God knows what.”

Wayne Forde: “I saw 13 discrepancies on my statement which I collected yesterday. I saw transactions for as much as $46,000 which I never made.”

One other customer of RBL, Rian Pritipaul, related that he was unable to close his account because he owed them $440. He explained that, “What irritated me was that I requested a Manager's Cheque since I couldn't close the account and the teller told me I couldn't do so because of the charge. But I was able to basically withdraw my cash from them and leave a small amount for that charge and some bank charges to resolve themselves.”

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 20, 2020

$280M GPHC rehabilitated staff quarters commissioned

Commissioning of the staff quarters

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he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) yesterday commissioned its staff quarters at Waterloo and Quamina Streets.

Kaieteur News understands that the staff quarters had been closed for a number of years but was recently rehabilitated as part of the Government initiative for the Health Sector.

The rehabilitation process of the building is said

to have cost a whopping $280M GYD. The commissioning of the building was done by President David Granger.

Also speaking at the event were Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital, retired Brigadier George Lewis, and Honourable Minister of Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence.

The staff quarters will work as a housing facility for local and international doctors coming or living in Guyana.

The staff quarters are also in close proximity of the city hospital so as to ensure that doctors will be able to go to their patients in cases of emergency.

In a brief speech to the audience, President Granger stated that over the years, he has became very fond of the productive works that have been coming out of the health sector and he prays that such good practices will continue.

The President further stated that the Ministry of Public Health will continue (continued on page 21)

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Ramon Gaskin says CJ's ruling on oil producing licences “unjustifiable, disproportionate” - petitions Court of Appeal for it to be quashed

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week after Chief Justice (CJ) Roxane George ruled that Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, exercised his discretion when he issued Petroleum Production Licences (PPL) to Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Limited (Esso), Hess Guyana Limited (Hess) and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Ltd (NEXEN), local activist Ramon Gaskin who had asked that the Minister's decision be quashed, has now turned to the Court of Appeal for redress.

The case was filed in the Court by Gaskin, through his lawyers Trinidad-based Senior Counsel, Seenath Jairam, and environmental lawyer, Melinda Janki.

Together, the two had applied for an order deeming the Minister's action unlawful and to have it overturned in light of the fact that the PPL was issued to the three companies based on an environmental permit issued only to Esso.

In fact, Gaskin contended before the Chief Justice that the Minister's action was in breach of Sections 14 of the Environmental Permit Act (EPA), and that in the absence of an environmental permit issued to Hess and NEXEN in accordance with part IV of the Environmental Permit Act, Trotman was prohibited from granting the PPL to the three companies to carry out the LIZA 1 project.

Among other

things, his lawyers essentially argued that the Minister's powers to issue a PPL were restricted to Esso only, and therefore could not include NEXEN and Hess.

In a Notice of Appeal filed with the Court of Appeal last Friday, Gaskin argues that the Chief Justice's decision is not only unjustifiable and disproportionate, but also unwarranted, unreasonable, irrational and harsh as no court is aware of the relevant laws would arrive at such a conclusion.

Further, Gaskin argues that the Chief Justice clearly did not understand the arguments put forward on his behalf as she took one year after arguments concluded in the case to render her ruling.

Against this backdrop, he argues that the delay by the Chief Justice amounts to a breach of the time limit set out in the Judicial Decisions Act, as well as binding decisions of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as it relates to delays in judicial decisions.

Gaskin contends that the Chief Justice's view that he raised a number of irrelevant issues regarding oil spills amounts to an error in law, as the said issues were raised to demonstrate the importance of an environmental permit being granted to a capable and qualified developer of a project.

According to him, Justice George fell into serious error when she ruled that Section 10 of the Petroleum (Exploration and

Chief Justice Roxane George Production) Act Cap 65:04 is wide enough to permit the issuance of a licence to Esso, Hess and NEXEN. The Chief Justice did not only dismiss Gaskin's application, she ordered that he pay $100,000 in court costs to Minister Trotman.

Gaskin in his action filed at the Court of Appeal has also taken issue with this. In fact, he contended that the Chief Justice erred in law when she refused to grant him a stay of execution on the order. In light of the forgoing, Gaskin is asking the Court of Appeal to set aside and/or reverse the ruling of the Chief Justice.

Among the reliefs being sought by Gaskin, is for the matter to be heard on an urgent basis. In his court action filed more than a year ago, Gaskin had moved to block the companies from proceeding with their exploration and production on the grounds that Hess and NEXEN are covered by the

Six remanded to prison for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition

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ix persons were on M o n d a y remanded to prison by Magistrate Alex Moore at the Springlands Magistrate Court. They faced joint charges of possession of unlicensed firearm and possession of unlicensed ammunition.

Clive “Gary” Davis, 37, self-employed, of No. 76 Housing Scheme, Corriverton, Berbice; S u r e s h K u m a r, 4 9 , a fisherman of Patrick Dam, Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice; Paul “Magnum or Lil Buck” Wilson, 22, a labourer of

Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice; Vishaul “Sono” Persaud, 27, a fisherman of 67 Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice; Kwame Bhagwandin, 36, labourer of Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice; and David “Rastaman” Melville, 43, a labourer of 221 Patrick Dam Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice. All six stood before the magistrate and heard the charges read to them.

They are set to make their next court appearance on March 19, 2020 at the No. 51 Village Magistrate Court

where additional charges are expected to be laid.

Reports are that following an intelligence-led operation by police ranks on Thursday, February 13, last, about 21:20h, a motorcar was intercepted on the No. 51 Public Road, Corentyne.

A search of the vehicle, the driver and five occupants revealed hoodies and both rubber and latex gloves; based on further intelligence , an unlicensed pistol with nine live ammunition which was disposed of by one of the occupants when the vehicle was stopped, was retrieved in a clump of bush nearby.

Ramon Gaskin

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman

environmental permits issued to ExxonMobil, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited.

In support of his contention, Gaskin explained that Hess and NEXEN will escape liability should there be an incident such as an oil spill that can affect the Caribbean islands.

The Chief Justice, however, dismissed this argument as she found that the issuance of a permit to Esso for the Liza Project satisfied the requirement of the Environmental Permit Act, that a project must not be commenced without first obtaining an environmental permit, and as Esso's permit covered all three Contractor

parties – Esso, Hess and NEXEN. The Chief Justice agreed with the submissions proffered by lawyers from the Attorney General's Chambers that appeared for Minister Trotman, Senior Counsel Edward Luckhoo who appeared in association with Maria Luckhoo for Esso and HESS, which was represented Senior Counsel Andrew M.F. Pollard and Nigel Hughes.

Jointly, they argued that

by Esso being issued with an environmental permit, it was enough to satisfy the Environmental Permit Act as (a) permits are issued for Projects (not persons); and (b) the obligation to obtain an environmental permit

(EP) prior to commencing a Project was classified in law as a 'joint and several' obligation, the effect of which was that Esso's obtaining the required permit covered all three of the Contractor's parties.

It was pointed out by the Chief Justice that although the environmental permit was issued to Esso alone, the Petroleum Act (PA) caters for joint and several ventures, and therefore Esso's permit covered everyone. She also pointed out that Hess and NEXEN as companies that satisfied the requirements to be granted a licence under sections of the PA, which state that a licence may be granted to two or more persons associated together in any form of joint arrangement.

“The PA speaks to Esso, Hess and NEXEN being associated with joint arrangements. Sub-section 9 (3) clearly permits a PPL issued in the names of two or more persons and, importantly, for them to be collectively called licensees,” pointed out the Chief Justice who added “As a collective or joint licensee their obligation under the PPL is statutorily joint and several, meaning that each of them or all of them would be liable under the terms of the PPL.”

Rose Hall Town businessman and son linked to gun, ammunition arrest - relative

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elatives of a Rose Hall Town businessman and his son who were arrested by police recently have come to the defense of the two individuals after the news spread like wildfire in the media.

They are also asking that the information circulating that the men are connected to the arrests made at a Number 51 roadblock be corrected since they have since indicated that their arrests were in no way connected to the 51 roadblock arrests.

A relative of the businessman now identified as Steven Bates, and his son Nicholas Bates, reached out to this publication and revealed that both men were arrested on Saturday at their

home in Rose Hall Town where they also operate their business.

She explained that early Saturday, the police had a roadblock at Tain Village, Corentyne, Berbice where they arrested three persons, those three persons she said had borrowed Nicholas B a t e s ' s c a r t h a t d a y.

However, the arrest came after the police searched the vehicle and found two cutlasses, a toque, a T-shirt and some other items belonging to the younger Bates, she said.

It was just a few hours after that the police reportedly showed up at the Bates residence, searched their place and arrested them. His licensed firearm was also taken along with the

matching rounds.

According to the woman, her relatives are innocent of what the police are accusing them of. She stated that items found in the car belonged to Nicholas Bates but that he used them to do some work on a property, which he purchased at Tain Village.

Currently, both men are out on station bail while the three others, including a woman found in the car, remain in police custody.

The car is also still impounded.

Meanwhile the Commander of Region Six Calvin Brutus has since confirmed that the Number 51 arrests and the businessman's arrest are not connected.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 20, 2020

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

800 acres on East Coast earmarked for “city” -investors cagey as sod turned on development US$100M two-hotel project at Ogle Investors of an ambitious two-hotel project at Ogle are confident that they have the experience to make it happen.

While not immediately confirming that it will be Hilton-branded as disclosed

by Government officials last week, the investors, which included New York-based Guyanese, Edmon Braithwaite, said that negotiations are advanced with international hotel brands.

Braithwaite and his partners, including US developer, Mike Elliott of Energy Real Estate Solutions (ERES), have purchased almost 21 acres of lands at Ogle, behind the former headquarters of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, where they intend to put up two hotels, a mini golf course, pool and other amenities, including retail space.

This new venture, according to the state-owned National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) would have seen the lands being sold for some $26M per acre, above what state evaluators would have assessed the lands for.

NICIL’s Business Development Officer, Rachael Henry, made it clear yesterday that the impending elections have no bearings on the decision now to announce and turn the sod on the project.

Last week, a similar event was held for the AC Marriott Hotel, at lands alongside the Ogle Access Road.

That 150-room hotel would cost US$75M and is being developed by John Aboud, a Syrian who has made Trinidad his home. He purchased 2.61 acres for over $26M per acre.

The timing of the projects has the Opposition suspicious with questions raised about whether the developers actually had permission from the Marriott and Hilton owners.However, Henry yesterday again insisted that NICIL has the capacity to conduct its due diligence and has several layers before its Board of Directors gave the blessings.

In fact, the developers have timelines to make their projects a reality or face the lands being seized.

-specialty hospital, another gated community announced In the case of the project

by Caribbean Marketing Enterprises Incorporated (CMEI), it was disclosed that Braithwaite was the one who brought together seven investors including Elliott, who has just completed a hotel in Argentina and are involved with ones in Antigua.

Elliott said that his company, ERES is a real estate service, investment and development company with seven offices internationally.

At the event yesterday were Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, tourism officials and NICIL’s Chief Executive Officer, Colvin HeathLondon along with his Board members.It was disclosed, yesterday, that very shortly, the developers of Windsor Estate will also be launching Phase Two of the gated community project.

Dr. Mahendra Carpen, it was also announced, is also involved in a major project to build a specialty hospital to target heart and other ill-

Canada proposes annual meeting with Caribbean countries BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – Canada is proposing an annual meeting with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders as the North American country moves to strengthen its relationship with the 15-member regional integration grouping.

A Trinidad and Tobago government statement said that Canada’s Foreign Minister, Francois-Phillippe Champagne, met with regional leaders at their inter-sessional summit that ends here yesterday.

According to the statement, Champagne, who is representing Prime Minister Justin Turdeau who had to cancel his visit to the region at the last moment, “indicated that his country is taking steps to strengthen its relationship with CARICOM (and) to this end Canada has proposed an annual meeting with the regional body”.

The statement said Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley in his response to Champagne, asked Canada to consider lifting its visa requirements for Trinidad and Tobago and by extension the region.

“Dr Rowley said both sides will be well served by the removal of this barrier given Trinidad and Tobago’s deep and historical connections with Canada,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Champagne told reporters that he had been making a case to regional leaders for Canada’s support in its bid to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

“We have more than one million Canadians of Caribbean descent in Canada, we have more than two million Canadians who come here annually and we want to strengthen the relationship.

“We want to make sure that the youth, which represents about 60 per cent of the population of the Caribbean under 30 years of age, that the voice of the Caribbean can be amplified, and that we can stand alongside you whether you’re a small island nation or a bigger economy within the CARICOM, and to make sure your voice is heard around the world,” he told the media, adding that Ottawa is keen to strengthen its relationship with the Caribbean.

“Canada is part of the G7, the G20, the Francophonie, NATO, so we want to make sure that as we take decisions that the challenges and the opportunities of this region, whether we’re talking about the blue economy, whether we’re talking about how can we build more economic security for the people living in the region, we want to make sure that the historical relationship is brought to its full

potential.”

He sought to give assurances that his country would also help champion the causes of the region, should it be successful in securing a seat on the UN Security Council.

“I would say that part of the reason I was here was to listen to the Caribbean. You know we’re facing big challenges, whether it’s climate change, the Corona virus, a number of things that the nation states work together. And when you think about island economies that are dependent on tourism, the position that the international community takes on some of these challenges will have probably the biggest impact or a disproportionate impact on the people living in the region.

“So the reason I was here was to better prepare ourselves, make sure we’re here to listen and to work together with our Caribbean colleagues so that when Canada is on the UN Security Council we can speak with one voice: the voice of youth, the voice of women in the region, the voice of small and medium sized businesses, the voice of the progressive leaders in the region.

The seat is big enough to share with our colleagues in the region, and that’s what Canada intends to do,” Champagne said.

Sod turning of US$100M two-hotel project: L-R- Finance Minister, Winston Jordan; NICIL’s CEO, Colvin Heath-London; Developer, Mike Elliott; Edmon Braithwaite and Donald Sinclair, Director General of the Department of Tourism. nesses.

The land for that are between Ogle and Lusignan. It once belonged to the Guyana Sugar Corporation but was transferred to NICIL a few years ago.

According to Henry, yesterday, about 800 acres, formerly sugar lands, are up for development between Ogle and Lusignan.

Meanwhile, Braithwaite made it clear that negotiations for the brands are ongoing and it would not be a good time to confirm.

Last week, officials said that it is Hilton-branded.

Yesterday, Minister Jordan lauded the confidence and traced the development of Guyana over the last five years.

He pointed to the growth rate in 2019, of 4.7 percent, the best since 2014, and with diversification that is taking place with oil now a bonus.

He said that the confi-

dence is such that one bauxite company has signaled interest in building a smelter if natural gas is brought to shore, making energy cost cheaper.Over the weekend, NICIL disclosed details of the CMEI project on those 20plus acres. “The project will include the construction of two branded hotels uniquely positioned in a complex driven by solar power, therein consistent with Guyana‘s “green economy” vision.

CMEI will construct the hotels in the 120-130 room range with world class amenities inclusive of a miniature golf course, clubhouse, entertainment centre, swimming pool, solar farm and green space allocation.”It was disclosed that a solar farm will be built on 7.5 acres of the Ogle property with a club house/entertainment centre and mini-golf course to take up another five.

The two hotels will be on the remaining acres.

The plot is said to be not far from where the AC Marriott site is.

Guyana is facing an unusual, though not unexpected problem…it is running out of hotel rooms fast.

In fact, the governmentowned Marriott Hotel at Kingston does not have enough rooms. Its 197 rooms are filled to capacity, a number of them on contracts- a far cry from struggling in 2015 when it was first commissioned and there was no oil.

Other local hotels have reported brisk business too, all thanks to the oil production that has started.

Currently, ExxonMobil, which together with its partners have developed the first oil field in Guyana, is building a headquarters right at Ogle.That area, with a regional airport close by, is becoming hot property now with other development planned for the area.

$280M GPHC rehabilitated staff ...

From page 18 to ensure that primary health care will remain the priority for universal health coverage. He promised that more resources will be channeled to the health sector under his decade of development.

Ms. Volda Lawrence said, “Many doctors work 'on call' and it is always desirable if they can reside somewhere where they would be able to respond faster to their “calls”.

The staff quarters, just a short distance

from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), will make it easier for the doctors to respond more quickly to emergencies.

The Ministry of Public Health and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation are commended for their collaboration on this project.

“It is testament to our Government's commitment to ensuring universal access to public health coverage by ensuring that our doctors are comfortably housed.”

PAGE 22

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

Deadly Nismes crash…

Bus driver on four causing death by dangerous driving charges FOR RENT Ransom (Concrete mixers), Scaffolding, Power washer, compactors, hire truck service etc, free delivery. Telephone: 610-5360.

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A 34-year-old bus driver is scheduled to appear in court today on charges related to the deaths of four people from the November 30, 2019 crash at Nismes, West Bank Demerara.

An official said that Compton Bagot, of La Retraite, West Bank Demerara, was taken into custody yesterday and charged with four counts of causing death by dangerous driving, Bagot was previously charged in December 2019 for breach of insurance, failing to render assistance, and failing to report an accident.

It is alleged that the 34year-old was driving minibus BYY 2981 along the Nismes Public Road on November 30,

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Maria Bisnauth

Ayesha Sealy

when he crashed into Toyota Premio PTT 691, which had just emerged from a filling station.

Maria Bisnauth,12, of Lot 125 Sideline Dam, Sister’s Village WBD; Rawle Glen, a 52year-old hire car driver of Canal Number One; Ayesha Sealy, 27, of Patentia Housing Scheme; and Zavira Jona, 22, of Patentia, WBD, were all killed.

Several other passengers

were injured. Some remain hospitalised.

Police had said that Bagot turned up at La Grange Police Station some days after the accident. He was accompanied by an attorney.

Police had initially fingered 29-year-old Hensley Alleyne as the driver.

Bagot allegedly stated that he had switched places with Alleyne, who is said to be the owner of the bus.

Newtown man jailed for gun possession after threatening girlfriend

Diesel mechanic/welder to Thirty-one-year-old work on TM trucks. Contact Royston Rowe, of Newtown, #223-5273/223-5274 Georgetown, was yesterday jailed by Magistrate Annette Accounts clerk for Eccles Singh for the possession of Office, English1, an unlicensed firearm.

Mathematic-2, Quickbooks.

The defendant was on trial Email application to: in the Georgetown Magistechserigy@yahoo.com trates’ Courts before MagisOne male janitor. Apply at trate Singh.

Yesterday when the matAlabama Trading 65 Robb ter was called for ruling, the Street, Bourda Magistrate noted that the 2 Vacancies- Clerk & prosecution proved every asDomestic, Live-in facilities for pect of the matter and suffiBerbicians & Essequibians. cient evidence was shown to #219-5354 the court.

As such, she sentenced Office Assistant- Maths & Rowe to two years’ imprisonEnglish, Excel & Quickbooks. ment for the offence.

Apply to Mima Decor, 8 SherOn Rowe’s first court apiff St, G/town. Email: pearance before Principal mimadecor12@gmail.com. Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsTel# 227-0186/227-0176 Marcus, he had admitted to Security Officers to work, the charge, which stated that preferably ex army, police or on July 16, 2019 at Campbell disciplined services.Age 24- Avenue, Campbellville, he 40.Contact#223-4172/600- had in his possession a .38 revolver without being the 2271 holder of a firearm licence.

Vacancy for labourers and According to the facts, maintenance workers on the day in question, the @PSGCS. Call Office: 615- police acting on the informa7784/621-6969 between 8-4 hrs tion went to Campbell Avenue Mon-Fri where they made contact with the girlfriend of the defendant.

Maid to cook and clean for The woman told the police East Bank area. Call: 615-9132 that Rowe had threatened to Vacancy for One (1) kill her and she then handed Experienced Driver/Salesman over a gun to the police, which @ Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm was said to be the property of Products. Tel#225-7864 Rowe.

When Rowe arrived at the Driver/Expediter, Accounts same location, he was arrested Clerk, Family to live & work and admitted that the firearm on farm in Haruruni. Tel# 231- was his. An investigation was 0363 then launched by the police

Jailed: Royston Rowe and Rowe was charged.

Rowe had informed the court that he was previously charged and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for a robbery under arms. He was released from prison in May 2019.

The Magistrate then asked the defendant if the prosecutor’s facts were correct. Rowe told the court that, “The police ain’t find me with no gun, I don’t want to waste the court time. Do what you have to do…All I had in my hand was two Guinness and a pack of cigarettes.”

However, based on the explanation given by the defendant, Magistrate Marcus entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 20, 2020

Brassington tells court, “I recused ...

From page 9 brother.The lawyer explained to the Court that his line of questioning had to do with what is regarded as the norm of selling interests in a company.

Hughes noted that it is the shareholders who are already involved in a company that usually gets the option to purchase the shares before they are offered to an outside buyer. Hughes suggested, too, that the sale should have been advertised publicly.

His suggestions were met by objections from Brassington's lawyer, Timothy Jonas.

Hughes also sought from the former CEO whether he solicited any legal advice about a conflict of interest as it relates his representation of NICIL and his brother.

In subsequent responses to the questions, Brassington told the Court that he had recused himself from the transaction.

Asked whether he had

any documentation to prove he recused himself, Brassington said that he did not keep such information.

“I don't have anything in writing but I know what I did,” Brassington added. He then subscribed to suggestions by the lawyer that there must be some written notice to the NICIL's Board.

He claimed that the Attorney General and the secretary of NICIL's Board of Directors, Marcia Nadir-Sharma would be privy to correspondence regarding his decision to recuse himself.

Further questions, which suggested conflict of interest were later met with objections from Jonas who noted that the suggestions were not relevant to the evidence before the Court.

Hughes went on to ask the witness whether as a shareholder of NICIL he was notified of Government's dispossession in the sale of the share.The lawyer asked Brassington whether he was

aware of any intention to purchase the shares by Government.

“And are you aware of the drag along/tag along clause...meaning that if a purchaser takes the bigger shares in a company that purchaser tends to drag or tag the minority shareholder with him which in this case, the minority was the Government?”

Hughes specified.

Brassington had no response. He remained silent as his attorney made no objections on the grounds that there was no justification for the questions since there was no such reference to the issues in the bundle of evidence before the court. Hughes asked the court for time to file the additional affidavits.After hearing the contentions raised by Jonas and reasons proffered by Hughes, the Judge deferred the trial.

Hughes was granted one week to file additional documents and the proceedings were put down to July 1.

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Prison officer remanded A serving member of the Guyana Prison Service, George Selman, who is no stranger to the court, yesterday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty who remanded him to prison on two charges, breach of protection order and threatening language.

Selman, 43, of 42 Hinck Street, Charlestown, denied both charges after they were read to him. The first charge alleges that on February 2, 2020 at Hinck Street, Charlestown, he used threatening language towards Donella Andrews.

It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, he contravened a protection order made on July 16, 2018 in relation to Donella Andrews by coming within 50 feet of her and holding her hand.

Attorney-at-law Keoma Griffith, who is representing the defendant, told the court that his client has been in custody for 15 days, a father of four and that he is the sole

Thursday February 20, 2020

Death of former national cyclist…

Cops likely to conclude investigation today

P

Remanded: George Selman breadwinner for the youngest child.

However, Police Prosecutor Delon Sullivan made objections to bail being granted to the defendant based on the prevalence of the offence and that the defendant showed no

regards for a protection order that was granted by the court in his presence.

After listening to the prosecutor and the attorney, Principal Magistrate McGusty remanded the defendant to prison until February 26, 2020.

On October 15, 2017, Selman was charged for assaulting a 17-year-old girl in the presence of her mother on the Number 44 Minibus Park; that matter was dismissed.

During that same month, Selman appeared in court and was charged for assaulting a police constable Rodriguez, who was acting in accordance with his duties on August 7, 2017 at Camp Street Prison, Georgetown.

olice are confident that they can con clude their investigation into the death of former national pedal cyclist, Jude Bentley, today.

This was the assurance that a senior police official gave when Kaieteur News sought an update about the stage of the case.

“We hope to wrap up our investigation (today),” the official said. Investigators had to look at ‘several points’, including getting statements from eyewitnesses, he added.

Yesterday, police also sought further information from Bentley’s father.

Police have reportedly examined CCTV footage from the accident scene.

Traffic Chief Linden Isles had said that an investigating officer has to complete his work before the file is brought to him. A report would then be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Traffic Chief has said that he wants to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted to avoid the file having to be sent “back and forth.”

This reassurance from the police is likely to bring some relief to Bentley’s relatives.

They have complained about what they deemed to be foot-dragging on the part of the investigators. Bentley was struck down and killed on February 8, 2020 while cycling on the Rupert Craig Highway, near the Russian Embassy.

Former Army Chief of Staff and Retired Rear Admiral, Gary Best, was driving the vehicle that struck Bentley.

Police said that Best was over the legal alcohol limit at the time of the accident.

Reports indicate that driver and cyclist were both heading east when Best struck Bentley. He also struck a utility pole.

According to the police report, Best alleged that he was proceeding east along the southern lane of Clive Lloyd Drive when a cyclist suddenly appeared in front of him.He reportedly told police that he applied brakes and the right side front of his vehicle struck the cyclist, who fell onto the roadway.

Best was detained, but later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s cardiac ward when he complained of feeling unwell.

He was discharged a day later and released on $100, 000 station bail.

Jude Bentley

Gary Best

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Broadcasting Authority urges TV, radio operators to steer clear of misinformation A

head of general and regional elections to be held on March 2, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) is urging broadcasters to be especially vigilant during the elections period.

According to the Authority, it is cognizant of the reality that during the elections period tensions and emotions are elevated.

“Thus, it is the responsibility of broadcasters to ensure that content broadcast is reflective of the principles and core tenets outlined in the Broadcasting Act of

2011.

The Authority continues to record instances where callers make inappropriate remarks during live call-in programmes; and programme moderators fail to caution callers against inflammatory content or immediately discontinue the call.”

According to the authority, there is a need for stations to incorporate a delay mechanism to prevent the screening of inappropriate content.

“Broadcasters are reminded that they are held accountable under the Broadcasting Act and

Broadcasting Licence for all content broadcast.

“GNBA has observed recently that some stations are carrying live political rallies. Notwithstanding the provision of Freedom of Expression as guaranteed by the Constitution of Guyana, together with the accepted understanding that election campaigns provide an occasion whereby political views and positions on governance are freely expressed as part of the democratic process.”

However, the authority said, utterances that are designed to or are likely to incite public clamorous

Simple but tactical measures...

From page 3 associated with the disease.

For patients with Type One, they are expected to manage their condition with insulin as well as dietary changes and exercise. Type Two patients are managed with non-insulin medications, insulin, weight reduction and dietary changes.

But Dr. Doobay is preaching a new sermon, which once followed, could even see diabetic patients becoming medication free.

“I am here to tell them [diabetics] that they should be off medications if they would follow the regime, my regime; it is an experiment...doctors will do their blood sugar and they [doctors] will usually start them [patients] sometimes with oral agents and if the oral agent is not holding them [working], they will give them insulin.

“Some of them [patients] if the sugar is very high, they would start them with insulin so it [can] vary from patient to patient...some are oral treatment only, some are oral treatment plus insulin, some are insulin only,” said Dr. Doobay.

When asked whether there are instances where patients are found to be allergic to diabetic treatment such as insulin, the medical practitioner quickly quipped, “There are many different types of insulin...bovine insulin, human insulin so they will just have to change.”

He continued, “Hardly I have heard of a patient who is so allergic to insulin that they cannot find one that they cannot use because there are different strains that you can

try.”

But according to Dr. Doobay, patients can in fact reach a point where they are entirely cured of diabetes.

He noted that while avoiding certain foods can prevent the development of the disease, this similar course of action can also cater to patients being cured.

Although his disclosure has not met the approval of some medical professionals, Dr. Doobay assures that it has been tried and proven.

“A lot of doctors have been attacking me on Facebook and so forth...[but] diabetes can be cured if you decrease your carbohydrate intake. By that I mean, you

don't eat bread...Some people believe this myth, 'I don't eat white bread but I eat brown bread and brown bread is good'.

“Well you know what?

No bread, white bread, brown bread...no bread, no refined carbohydrate [is good]. They have fructose [fruit sugar] and fructose sends fats cells right into your liver,” said Dr. Doobay.

Moreover, he is recommending, “If you look at a box and it has the word fructose,” persons should seek to avoid them at all cost to help safeguard themselves, as far as possible, from diabetes and its complications.

behaviour, racial mistrust and misinformation should be avoided by broadcasters.

“Carrying live political meetings leaves the broadcaster exposed to broadcasting violations under the Broadcasting Act, which does not cater for the latitude of language used at live political rallies.”

The authority said that it remains optimistic that broadcasters will incorporate the necessary systems and practices at their respective stations to ensure

broadcast content is effectively reviewed before screening at this sensitive period in the country.

Meanwhile, GNBA disclosed that through its Monitoring and Compliance Department, it continues to observe instances where incitement, vulgar language, inaccuracies and a lack of impartiality, fairness and balance are common features in both newscasts and political programmes.

“In addition, a lack of professionalism in the

conduct of live call-in programmes is also evident.

The GNBA takes this opportunity to remind broadcasters of the following provisions in the Broadcasting Act of 2011, which prohibit the screening of the aforementioned infractions.

In fact, Section 34 (1) of the Broadcasting Act No.17 of 2011 stipulates that with every licensed service “nothing is included in its programmes which offends against good taste or decency or is likely to encourage or incite to crime or to lead to violence or threat to public order or to be offensive to public feeling.”

It also stipulates that “any news given (in whatever form) in its programmes is presented with due regard to fair and balanced commentaries and accuracy and impartiality.”

The same regulations pointed out that “due balance and fairness” must be preserved on the part of the (continued on page 16)

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Thursday February 20, 2020

Thursday February 20, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Man City could be in next year’s Champions League if ban frozen

General view of the Manchester City badge.

(Action Images via Reuters / Craig Brough)

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester City could play in next season’s Champions League despite a two-year UEFA ban from European competition if they ask for the suspension to be frozen by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) during their appeal, sports law experts say.

UEFA ruled on Friday that City had committed “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and failed to cooperate with its investigation, handing them a European ban and a 30 million euro ($32.38 million) fine.

City, who have denied any wrongdoing, said they intended to appeal the decision to CAS in Switzerland and when they do they

Thursday February 20, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A family member could be feeling a little down, Aries, and you may be tempted to give him or her a pep talk to get them going again. Don't.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Too much exposure to books, newspapers, and computers today could produce eyestrain headaches, Taurus, so try to exercise a little caution when working with small print or computer text.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) By nature you’re a master psychologist, Gemini and you don't need to know someone well to accurately assess his or her thoughts and motives. Today this ability goes far beyond psychology and borders on the psychic.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) An emotional issue with a family member could have you wanting to run away and hide, Cancer. Don't fight the urge.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Emotional issues rooted in the past could leave you feeling inhibited today, Leo. You might also be a bit more touchy than usual and see insult where none is intended.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Friction or other trouble on the job could cause you to want to quit, Virgo, but worries about money might keep you from doing it. You definitely need to reassess your situation.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your self-confidence could well be in the pits today, Libra. Mistakes from the past could come back to haunt you, and you may be momentarily overcome by the fear that you'll make similar errors again.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Generally, you tend to be a very physically oriented person, Scorpio, but today you’re more likely to want to look within, perhaps to experiment with your own psychic abilities or study spiritual concepts.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Financial considerations could delay the start of a new project that you’ve wanted to begin for a long time, Sagittarius. Perhaps you don't quite have the funds you need, or maybe the cost is a bit higher than you expected.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The day may be temporarily plagued by scandal of some sort, Capricorn. Some of your entourage, particularly women, may gather in conspiratorial gossip.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You’re intuitive by nature, Aquarius, but today you’re likely to have a rush of psychic premonitions.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Sex and romance are very much on your mind today, Pisces. You’re feeling especially passionate, and your emotions are rich and deep.

could ask for “provisional measures” which in effect would suspend the ban until a full hearing into the case is heard.

The Premier League champions have not indicated if they will ask for such measures and CEO Ferran Soriano said in a statement on Wednesday that he hoped for a swift end to the case.

“We are looking for an early resolution obviously through a thorough process and a fair process so my best hope is that this will be finished before the beginning of the summer and until then for us, it is business as usual,” he said If City do not ask for provisional measures then they risk having the ban kick in during the appeal pro-

cess, after the draw for next season’s Champions League has taken place.

The competition’s preliminary round draw is scheduled on June 9 and the group stage draw is set for Aug. 27.

PROVISIONAL MEASURES “It is very likely indeed, practically certain, that City will seek ‘provisional measures’ from the CAS,” leading Sports Law Barrister, John Mehrzad told Reuters.

“That is their only way at present to seek such a stay of the disciplinary sanction since CAS has, at present, exclusive jurisdiction over the appeal under the UEFA Statutes.”

City are currently second in the Premier League and on course to qualify for the Champions League.

Their legal team would be keen to avoid a scenario where they successfully overturned the ban but had already suffered the cost of a season out of the competition.

The only other way a decision could be made before the start of the Champions League process is if the case were expedited.

Christopher Flanagan, managing editor of the International Sports Law Journal, said that would give both parties less time to prepare their arguments so City would be more inclined to press for provisional measures.

“That is the most likely as it would give City some certainty while they prepare for a full hearing without risking their chances of being in the Champions League next year.

“It would be a calculated gamble, though, as if they are unsuccessful a full non-expedited hearing may not take place until after the Champions League cycle is underway,” he said.

Given CAS’s normal timeframe for scheduling hearings, City’s case might not be heard until early next year, although waiting times for hearings vary. If the case was to be expedited then it could be heard by July.

FINANCIAL COST Missing out on a Champions League season would cost City as much as 100 million pounds ($129.77 million) in prize money and broadcast revenue, as well as match-day and other revenues.

If City won a ‘stay’ but CAS then upheld UEFA’s ban, after the 2020-21 season was underway, then the club’s two-year suspension would take effect in the following two seasons.

While neither UEFA nor City have made many details of the case public, the decision of the CAS panel would offer an early indication of their view on the strength of City’s appeal.

“It will be very revealing to see what CAS does in terms of an application for provisional measures, as one of the factors that the president of the panel will take into account when deciding whether to grant provisional measures is the likelihood of success on the merits of the case,” said Mehrzad.

City have 10 days from the receipt of UEFA’s full reasoning of their decision to put in an appeal.

The CAS panel would then have to decide whether to accept any request for a ‘freeze’ on the ban from City, a decision which could be made by the end of March.

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Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

Can anyone stop Australia? Hosts target fifth title at women’s T20 World Cup AFP - Mighty Australia go into their home Twenty20 World Cup this week as overwhelming favourites as they look to cement their superiority in women’s cricket and draw a world-record crowd in the process.

Meg Lanning’s defending champions, and four-time winners, were rarely tested through the second half of 2019 when they whitewashed an injury-ravaged West Indies and a developing Sri Lanka team in the short format.Giving a glimmer of hope to their rivals, they surprisingly slumped to defeat against major rivals India and England this month, before rallying to win the warm-up tri-series.

“To be put under pressure like this heading into a World Cup is extremely good preparation,” Lanning insisted.

Despite the recent losses, Australia are widely expected to contest the March 8 final at the Melbourne Cricket Crowd, where organisers are hoping to draw a worldrecord attendance for a women’s sporting fixture.

The cavernous MCG holds 100,000 fans, while the record stands at 90,185 for the

1999 football World Cup final when the United States beat China on penalties in Pasadena, California.It is hard to look past Australia — who are paid as much as the men’s national team, and play domestic T20 cricket in the popular Women’s Big Bash League — as one of the potential finalists.

Along with Lanning, Australia boasts wicketkeeperbatswoman Alyssa Healy, allrounder Ellyse Perry and bowling sensation Jess Jonassen, all among the world’s best.

They have been dominant since the World Cup was introduced 11 years ago, winning four of the six tournaments so far and crushing England by eight wickets in the 2018 final in the West Indies.

The only other teams to lift the trophy were England on home soil in 2009 and the West Indies in 2016.

Lanning’s side open the 10-team tournament on Friday in Sydney against an Indian side boosting teen batting sensation Shafali Verma.

“We play some very different teams in this World Cup who have very different

styles of play, so for us it’ll purely come down to what we feel the best combination is,” Lanning said on how the side might line up.“But I’m extremely confident anyone we put out on the park will do well.”

- ‘Our strength is spin’ Australia and India are 22 across their last four meetings and Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said her side had improved markedly since the last World Cup, when they lost to England in the semi-finals.

“If I look back two years, India’s 50-over side was doing well and our T20 was struggling. But in the past two years, we have transformed as a T20 team and are very positive going to Australia,” she wrote in a column.

“All of the teams have strengths — but so do we.

Our strength is spin,” she added, with the dangerous Radha Radav and Poonam Radav among their ranks.

Seasoned West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor knows what it is like to win a World Cup, having led her team to victory in 2016, when she was player of the tournament.The 28-year-old,

Olympics: ‘Flying Dutchman’...

From page 33 ‘Flying Dutchman’ for his aerial prowess on the high bar, Zonderland will be 34 by the time the gymnastics kicks off in Tokyo.While eight years have passed since London, the tousled hair and boyish

face that beamed as he claimed Netherlands’ first Olympic gymnastics medal since 1928 remain.

His path to gold saw him upset China’s defending champion Zou Kai with a thrilling, high-risk routine of

Could Rio All Stars notch their...

From page 35 Reynolds and Simon Emanuel are the key to their success.

On the other hand, Leopold Street will have in their lineup players the calibre of Omallo Williams, Okanie Fraser, Eon Alleyne, Darren Benjamin and Delwyn Fraser.

It shapes up to be an exciting showdown.

Up for grabs is $600,000 for the winners, while second, third and fourth place finishers will receive $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Among the sponsors are: Magnum, NSC, MVP Sports, Nigel Hinds Financial Services, Insurance Brokers, Beacon Cafe, Professional Key Shop.

three consecutive release maneuvers.

His title defense at Rio went poorly, with his preparations hampered by his condition, but he rallied to win his third world title in Doha in 2018.

He is convinced he still has the right stuff.

“Of course, everyone remembers my big routine in London where I did three releases in a row – and I haven’t done that since,” he said.

“But if you count difficulty and execution, probably my best routines were last year.

“I can’t train as much now as I could 10 years ago but with all the experience I have, I think I’m still as good — and maybe a little bit better than London — especially if I’m really on fire.”

He will hope to fire up for qualifying in Melbourne tomorrow before the final on Sunday, which is likely to be a shoot-out with Japan’s Hidetaka Miyachi, who leads the World Cup standings on the high bar.“I was able to train really well last month,” said Zonderland.

“If I’m able to continue like this until the summer and qualify, of course, I will be able to get a medal at Tokyo.

I’m sure about that.”

Australian captain Meg Lanning is aiming to lead her side to a fifth World Cup title. (AFP / William West) who recently notched up her 100th T20 cap and has played at every World Cup, believes her side can repeat the feat, particularly with fellow veteran Deandra Dottin back from injury, along with Shamilia Connell and Shakera Selman.

“It’s going to be a challenge, we as a team know that, but we need to make sure that we focus on ourselves and not what is going on around us,” she said ahead of their opener against debutantes Thailand in Perth on Saturday.

“That will be the way for

us to be successful over the next few weeks.”

England, who play South Africa on Sunday, are also candidates for the knockout phase, with skipper Heather Knight warning: “From 1-15, we’ve got a squad that can win games of cricket.”

Pliskova, Muguruza reach Dubai quarter-finals AFP - Karolina Pliskova and Garbine Muguruza re-established order among seeds yesterday as both reached the quarter-finals of the WTA Dubai Championships.

World number three Pliskova strolled to a 6-1, 6-2 defeat of qualifier Kristina Mladenovic in barely an hour, before ninth seed Muguruza took almost two-and-a-half hours to get past Russian Veronika Kudermetova 7-5, 46, 6-4.

Three big names had exited on Tuesday, with holder Belinda Bencic, third seed Elina Svitolina and Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin all going out.

Top seed Simona Halep plays her opener later against fan favourite Ons Jabeur of Tunisia.

Pliskova pegged back Mladenovic after the Frenchwoman earned only her first main-draw win of the season in the first round.

“It’s always a tough one against her. We played in Australia, so I knew what to expect,” Pliskova said.

“I was not playing amazing but still, even with a couple of mistakes, I didn’t give up.

“The score looked a little bit easier than it really was, we had a couple of tough games.”

Muguruza had to struggle

Muguruza will face Brady in the quarter-finals. (AFP / Karim Sahib) two days after beating Kim Clijsters in the Belgian’s first WTA match since 2012 after announcing a surprise comeback aged 36.

“There’s a lot of things that I could have done better,” two-time Grand Slam champion Muguruza said.

“But I’m excited that I gave myself another opportunity to be in the quarters.”

Last month’s Australian Open finalist added: “I’m just

happy that I get these tough matches.

“Honestly, the difference is very, very small, I’m just pleased to go through.”

Muguruza secured her place with a break in the final game as she converted her first match point.

She will bid for a semi-final place today, taking on Jennifer Brady, a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 winner against Marketa Vondrousova.

Thursday February 20, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Curacao and Guadeloupe Ramdin out of Red Force squad impress in Under-20 qualifiers

The Guadeloupe squad that secured a 6-0 triumph over Belize in the opening match of 2020 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship Qualifying, Group C. WILLEMSTAD, Curacao, CMC – Curacao and Guadeloupe impressed in their opening matches of 2020 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship Qualifying on Tuesday, earning clean sheet wins to open Group C at the Ergilio Hato Stadium here.

Six different players contributed to Guadeloupe’s 6-0 victory over Belize in their match, the first of the day.

Dustin Bourgeois started the scoring in the 18th minute, followed by scores from Willcyd Janky in the 33th, Menael Lorquin in the 38th and Josue Casimir in the 42th to give the Frenchspeaking nation a 4-0 halftime lead.Goals from Aymerik Kissy and Yoann Lunion, in the 57th and in the 78th minute, respectively, gave their side a total of six reasons to smile, while Belize ended the encounter with nary a goal to show for it.In the day’s second match, Curacao over Saint Martin 5-0, with Joshua Zimmerman scoring a hat trick in the first 10 minutes.

Zimmerman struck in the second, fourth and eighth minutes before yielding scoring duties to Tyrese Noslin, who added the fourth 13 minutes into the game.

It was a goal by Lentini Caciano in extra time that capped the victory for the hosts.Guadeloupe and Curacao each earned three points for their wins, to share top place in the standings of Group C. Today, Guadeloupe and Saint Marten will go up against each other in the first match of a double header at the Ergilio Hato Stadium that includes a face-off between

Belize and Curacao.Two days later, Belize and Saint Martin will compete on the field, before Curacao and Guadeloupe do battle as the Group C matches continue.

In Group A, Nicaragua and Guyana lead on six points each, having both won their two games. St Vincent and the Grenadines, US Virgin Islands and Montserrat are not yet off the mark.On Monday, Guyana marched to their second straight win in a 3-0 final over St Vincent and the Grenadines.Osafa Simpson was the key figure for the Golden Jaguars, as he scored on each side of halftime to give Guyana a 2-0 lead.

Omari Glasgow, who scored in Guyana’s opening win over Montserrat, then tallied for the second straight game in the 68th minute to complete the scoring.

The second match that

day saw hosts Nicaragua take down Montserrat 4-0.

As in their opening win against the US Virgin Islands, Nicaragua raced to a fast start and were up 1-0 through Harold Medina in the fourth minute, followed by a goal from Edry Centeno 14 minutes later.Medina hit pay dirt again later in the half in the 31st minute, lifting Nicaragua to a comfortable lead with still almost a full hour to play.

Centeno then notched his fifth goal of the tournament to extend Nicaragua’s lead.

Action in Groups B and D began yesterday with matches between Grenada and Dominica, and hosts Dominican Republic and Anguilla (Group B) at Estadio Bayaguana; and Bermuda vs Barbados, and Puerto Rico vs Cayman Islands (Group D) at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

Bel Air Rubis/Trophy Stall T20 final to be rescheduled The Wakenaam Cricket Committee will set a new date for the final of the Bel Air Rubis/Trophy Stall T20 competition after rain prevented further play in the fixture on Sunday last.

Sans Souci were 180-6 after 18.3 overs, batting first when rain intervened at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. Cleon Venture was not out on 82 with seven fours and six sixes, while Oyono Sampson made 46 one four and five sixes and Jaggernauth Manbodh 26.

Medium pacer Wazir Khan grabbed three wickets.

Cleon Venture Secretary of the WCC Nazeer Mohamed said a new date for the final will be announced shortly.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Former West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin has been axed from the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force side only weeks after being recalled for the fourth and fifth rounds of the Regional FourDay Championship.

The veteran 34-year-old wicketkeeper/ batsman missed the opening two games of the current campaign while serving a ban from last season but has now found himself out of the 13-man squad announced for the sixth and seventh rounds.

Yannic Cariah, Keagan Simmons, Kissoondath Magram and Daniel St Clair are also out. The five have been replaced by fast bowler Anderson Phillip, veteran leg-spinner Imran Khan, spinner Khary Pierre, batsman Isaiah Rajah, and former West Indies Under19 batsman Cephas Cooper.

Chairman of selectors Tony Gray blamed Ramdin’s omission on his lack of form. “[Form] is one of the criteria for picking players and I think Cariah has run out of form and hopefully, he can get back into local cricket and regain some form, and the same thing with Denesh Ramdin who has had three innings and has struggled a bit,” he told the Newsday newspaper.

In the two matches he played for Red Force this season, Ramdin – the most experienced player on the squad, having played 64 Tests and 139 ODIs for West Indies – scored just 16 and two ducks.

The former Red Force skipper ended last season with 348 runs, including two half-centuries, at an average of almost 22.

While Ramdin’s recent poor performance has cost him a place in the team, the proven fitness and form of Phillip and Khan in domestic cricket has earned them a return to the squad for the second half of the season. Both had missed the first five matches due to injury.

Khan, the leading bowler for Red Force last season, had missed the matches due to a shoulder injury. However, he took 14 wickets in two matches for his new club, Central Sports, and made scores of 102 not out, 37 and 30.Meantime, Phillip, who has now recovered from a groin injury, grabbed four wickets in two matches for Queen’s Park. He was Red Force’s leading fast-bowler last season.

Gray said the duo would bolster the Red Force’s bowling attack.

“It is the first time he [Khan] would have missed games for T&T in ten years and he has shown that ability to play for long periods and do well for T&T. He is perhaps the most successful spin bowler we have had

Denesh Ramdin is out when it comes to taking wickets at the regional level and he still shows that he is motivated to play at the highest level. He has proven his fitness and when it comes to taking wickets, he has also shown he is back to form,” the chairman of selectors said.

“Anderson is also a key component for T&T going forward. I think Andy can give us another injection of aggression and pace and we know he can take wickets.”

Meantime, Gray said Cooper and Rajah had both shown good form in local cricket and were consistent, and he saw them as players for the future.

The Red Force leave on Monday for St Kitts where they will play their next match against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, starting next Thursday.

The T&T team is in fifth place in the sixteam tournament on 46.6 points.

Barbados Pride lead the standings with 84.2 points, ahead of defending champions Guyana Jaguars on 60.8 points. They are followed by Jamaica Scorpions on 57.4 points and Windward Islands Volcanoes on 50 points. Leeward Islands Hurricanes are at the bottom of the table with 32.6.

RED FORCE SQUAD: Yannick Ottley (Captain), Jeremy Solozano, Isaiah Rajah, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Mohammed, Imran Khan, Akeal Hosein, Bryan Charles, Uthman Muhammad, Anderson Phillip, Terrance Hinds, Cephas Cooper, Khary Pierre. Mervyn Dillon (Coach), David Furlonge (Manager).

GTTA Annual Forbes Burnham Memorial Table Tennis Tourney starts tomorrow The Annual Forbes Burnham Memorial Table Tennis Tournament which is being organised and coordinated by the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) and will be played under the rules regulations and authority of the International Table Tennis Federation.

The competition is scheduled to serve off tomorrow, Friday February 21st and continue on Saturday February 22nd, while Monday February 24th is set as a reserve day.

The Cliff Anderson Sports

Hall (CASH) at Home Stretch Avenue, Georgetown is the venue.

The championships will see play in four categories: namely - Senior, B class Open, C Class Open and 21 years and under.While there will be an opening ceremony on Saturday 22 at 13:00hrs the competition will get cracking tomorrow with play in the “C” Class Open Singles and the 21 Years and under Open Singles categories. Matches will be played between the hours of 4 pm and 7 pm.

Matches in those categories will continue on Saturday from 9am to 11am.

The B class players will take to the table at 11 am on Saturday and are expected to continue until 3pm.

Players participating in the Senior Open category are expected to get into action at 3pm and continue their battle until 8pm.

The presentation ceremony is expected to take place immediately after the completion of the competition.

(Samuel Whyte)

PAGE 32

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

ATP roundup: Thiem fights off scare Windies focused on winning games Austria’s Dominic and public support in Sri Lanka series in Rio opener Thiem in action during COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – Manager of the West Indies team Rawl Lewis says the Caribbean men will not be underestimating Sri Lanka in their three-match One-Day International (ODI) series starting here Saturday, but will be focused on winning the series and regaining the support of fans across the region.

Five years after a 3-0 whitewash in their last tour there, a “fit” West Indies team will be trying to secure their first ever ODI series win in Sri Lanka.West Indies lost their opening warm-up match in Colombo on Tuesday, going down by two wickets to a Sri Lanka Cricket XI. And they will take on a Sri Lanka Board President’s XI Thursday in their last tour match before facing a strong Sri Lanka side in the opening ODI. Speaking on the Mason & Guest radio show, Lewis said he is satisfied with the preparation ahead of this weekend’s game and believes the 15-man squad is ready for the task ahead.“All personnel

have been working hard to prepare the team. We have no concern at this time. I really think that everything is in place.

We have a few days to continue our preparation leading up to the first match. Everyone seems to be in high spirits, everyone is fit and ready,” the former West Indies leg-spinner said.

He added that it was important for the Keiron Pollardled team to end the series on a winning note, particularly to get people rallying around the West Indies again.

“We have been playing very good cricket lately. We went to India and we didn’t win every match…but we competed well with India which is a very powerful team.

We are never going to underestimate Sri Lanka. We played Ireland in the Caribbean; we won. We want to continue to win cricket. We need to develop this habit of winning matches and winning series.

We would want to win every match that we play, and we

understand that winning would bring back the fans to cricket, would encourage the people of the Caribbean to play more cricket.

“So we need to continue to win as the senior team and just make sure that we get people back supporting West Indies cricket. As long as we keep winning, they keep supporting,” he said.

The Grenadian, who first managed the team during their successful ICC T20 World Cup run in India in 2016 before returning to the position in February 2018, stressed that the management of the Caribbean side would keep fighting to get West Indies cricket back to where it needs to be.“We will never give up hope on West Indies cricket. We are here, we are working every day, we do whatever we need to do to ensure the players are well prepared to represent West Indies at the highest level. So we want to win every match, no doubt about it,” he assured.

FBF, NSC, AL Sport & Tour Promotions Schools Windball Cricket

Jonathan Samaroo stars for L’Aventure Secondary in latest play Results in latest play in the Forbes Burnham Foundation (FBF), National Sports Commission (NSC) AL Sport & Tour Promotions sponsored “Hit It For 50” Schools Windball Cricket Organised

by Sports Officer A Munroe and played at the National Gymnasium show Jonathan Samaroo of L’Aventure Secondary being on the outstanding list.

In Boys action - The New Central High School scored 122-1 with D. Tiwari hitting 64 against Saint Roses High School who fell short at 93-3 with Kevie Chamaideen top scoring with 48.

L’Aventure Secondary compiled 176-2 with Jonathan Samaroo top scoring with 39, Mohan La Cruz 34 and Anail Zamal 31.

Richard Ishmael Secondary in reply fell short at 92-7 with Michelle Joseph 22, while Samaroo once again came back with the ball to capture 4-6 and A. Zamal supported with 2-16.

Camille’s Academy rattled up 153-0 with Ronaldo Blair scoring the first century for 2020, 100 with (16x6) and Nkosi Morris 34.

Vreed En Hoop Secondary were held at 97-3, Devindra

Top-seeded Dominic Thiem of Austria overcame a second-set hiccup on Tuesday to win in the opening round of the clay-court Rio Open, downing Brazilian wild card Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 in Rio de Janeiro.

Thiem, ranked fourth in the world, needed 37 minutes to claim the opening set, but Rodrigues Alves, a 21-yearold ranked 341st, converted his only break-point opportunity of the match and hung on to win the second. Thiem took full control in the third, winning 26 of 38 total points and finishing the set in 31 minutes.

Second-seeded Dusan Lajovic of Serbia also needed three sets to move on, outlasting Italy’s Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1.

Fifth-seeded Borna Coric of Croatia also advanced with a 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory over Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero.

Two seeded player fell.

No. 8 Casper Ruud of Norway lost 7-6 (4), 7-5 to Italian qualifier Gianluca Mager, and No. 4 Guido Pella of Argentina dropped a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (3) decision to Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro.

Delray Beach Open Third-seeded American Taylor Fritz tumbled in the opening round in Florida, as

his match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.

(REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo)

British qualifier Cameron Norrie beat him 6-4, 6-7 (4), 64.

Fritz had 13 aces against just two double faults while Norrie had six and eight, respectively, but Fritz was broken three times while managing to break Norrie’s serve only once.

In an up-and-down day for Americans, fourth-seeded Reilly Opelka survived Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (4) while wild card Jack Sock rallied past No. 8 Radu Albot of Moldova 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2).

Tommy Paul and qualifier Noah Rubin also advanced, but American lucky loser Stefan Kozlov fell.

The highest seed in action, No. 2 Milos Raonic of Canada, breezed by Uzbekistani lucky loser Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-2.

Open 13 Provence Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene upset fifth-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia 4-6, 64, 7-5 in the opening round in Marseille, France.

Khachanov, the highestseeded player without a firstround bye, broke Bedene’s serve in the first game of the match, but it was downhill from there.

Bedene forced a whopping 11 break points on Khachanov’s serve. While the Russian fought off nine, Bedene finally converted in the final game of the second and third sets, including his fourth match point to put it away.

The only other seed in action was No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, who eased

by French wild-card entrant Antoine Hoang 6-4, 6-1.

(Field Level Media)

Young Guns SC Juniors triumph; rain ruins YGSC, CSC fixture Young Guns Sports Club Junior male team defeated an Open Female XI by 80 runs when the teams collided in T20 fixture on Sunday last at the New Opportunity Corps ground, Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast.

Young Guns Juniors batted first and managed 172-3.

Jared Allycock struck six fours in a top score of 72, while Ramesh Singh scored 55. Lisa Charles claimed 2 for 28. The Open Females were bowled out for 92 in reply.

Kumarie Persaud made 19 as Royden Morris claimed 3 for

9 and man-of-the-match Ramesh Singh took 2 for 15.

Rain prevented further play in the game between Young Guns SC and Crown Sports Club of Johanna Cecelia.

Young Guns SC posted 185-4, taking first strike.

Reyaad Mohammed slammed six fours and two sixes in a top score of 55, while Sudarsahand Manniram made 49 with three fours and two sixes. Ramnarine Ragubar took 2-22. In reply, Crown SC were 24 without loss when rain intervened. Former

Essequibo wicket keeper batsman Jewan Singh was not out on 22 with four fours.

The Young Guns Junior and the Open Female XI encounter was sponsored by Coach Forbes Daniels, family and friends.

In his brief remarks Daniels encouraged the players to take the game seriously. He encouraged them to acquire playing gears and stressed on the importance of preparation, stating that failure to prepare is prepare to fail. He expressed gratitude to Kumar Dass for his input.

Zeelugt overcome Vergenoegen by seven runs on DL method

Jonathan Samaroo 39 runs (4-16)

Ronaldo Blair

Persaud hit 31.

In the Girls - Saint Roses High School made 48-6, Madassa Punnusam 16; Tarnica Simon took 5 wkts 8 runs.

Camille’s Academy responded with 51-0 with Shani Jackson 22 in a winning ef-

fort.

Mae’s Secondary scored 146-5, Christine Ramdial 77, Krystal De Souza 38; Abigail Corbin 4-36. L’Aventure Secondary were held at 127-0 with Kezie Nethland 43 and A. Corbin 30.

Play is continuing.

Zeelugt beat host Vergenoegen by seven runs via Duckworth Lewis method when the Dwayne Stephen/ Big Yard Auto Sales 50-over competition continued on Sunday last on the East Bank of Essequibo.

Vergenoegen managed 180 all out in 29.1 overs, batting first. Eknauth Persaud made 80, T. Gill got 24 and N. Ramalin 20; V. Kissoon claimed 3-26 and Kanhaiya Ramkarran 3-39. Zeelugt were 158-3 in 24.4 overs when rain prevented further play. Ramkarran made 76, N. Dass 27 not out and R. Ramjattan 21. D. Stephen took 2-20.

Parika Salem gained a walk over from Ruby.

Kanhaiya Ramkarran

Thursday February 20, 2020

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

McLaren limit F1 hospitality New Williams an improvement on ‘scary’ 2019 car, says Russell access amid coronavirus fears Williams’ George Russell in action during testing.

(REUTERS/Albert Gea)

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. in action during testing. (REUTERS/Albert Gea) BARCELONA (Reuters) George Russell was first on track for the start of pre-season testing on Wednesday and sounded positive afterwards as his Williams Formula One team set about banishing the ghosts of a dire 2019 campaign.

This time last year the struggling former champions did not have a car to test, finally turning up at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya three days late.

They finished the season last, despite having the same engine as champions Mercedes, and with only one point for their efforts from 21 races.Russell, a rookie last year, indicated that one morning had already gone a long way to restoring his confidence.“Definitely the general handling of the car is much better,” the 22-year-old Briton told reporters.

“From lap one today I had

confidence to push the car to the limit whereas last year it wasn’t a nice a feeling in the early laps. It was quite scary to drive actually last year in the opening laps and trying to build that confidence.”

Russell’s lap time in the morning session was one minute 18.168 seconds on the soft compound - 0.9 seconds quicker than the time he clocked in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix at the same circuit last May. He did 73 laps, more than a race distance, and was sixth fastest of the 10 drivers at lunchtime, although times mean little at this stage and the Briton was quick to put things into perspective.

“A nice car to drive is a fast car...it doesn’t matter how you get around the lap as long as its fast. That’s all that counts,” he said. “It’s been improving in that area and now we just need to see if we

have managed to smash enough downforce onto the car to compete with those around us.”

Russell said leaving the pit lane first was not a coincidence. “It was psychologically important for all of us, and for everyone who’s worked day and night back at the factory, to see their car go out first,” he said.

The Briton said the car looked an improvement on last year’s model, the build quality was noticeably better and parts fitted properly.

“I think everyone’s just pleased to be in this position.

Everybody was a bit lost last year because there was no work to do because there was no car here,” he said.

“Last year was a character-building year but I’m confident we can go racing this year and have a bit more fun than we did last year. That’s what we’re all looking for.”

BARCELONA (Reuters) McLaren have closed their paddock hospitality at Formula One testing in Barcelona to anyone who has visited China in the past two weeks as part of measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

One Chinese motorsports journalist, who arrived on Tuesday after mentioning his departure from Shanghai on social media, said the team had sent him an email alerting him to the precaution.

A McLaren spokesman said the measure was a group policy, based on recent World Health Organisation directives and British government updates, and applied to automotive, applied and racing businesses.

He emphasised that it related to anyone of any nationality who might have been exposed to the virus by visiting the country.

“The McLaren Group has

issued a policy setting out restrictions and conditions we believe prudent to safeguard the health and well-being of our people, contractors and customers and protect our operations,” he said.

“Among these measures is a precaution that anyone who has travelled from China in the last 14 days is not permitted to enter a McLaren Group operated building or facility for up to 14 days.

“We continue to monitor the situation closely and will revise our policy as circumstances change, while working with Formula One and the FIA.”Other teams in the Circuit de Catalunya paddock said they had nothing similar in place.

Paddock hospitality units, or motorhomes as they are popularly known, are lavish facilities for entertaining sponsors and guests, sometimes on several floors. They are also used for team media

briefings and driver interviews, and to feed mechanics and engineers.

McLaren, which employs more than 4,000 people globally, said it has already rerouted team staff travelling to the Australian and Vietnamese Grands Prix via the Middle East to avoid connections in high-risk destinations.

The first race of the Formula One season is in Melbourne, Australia, on March 15 with a new grand prix in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi scheduled to be the third round on April 5.

This year’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, on April 19, was called off last week with the sport looking at a future rescheduling.

The latest figures for cases in China have reached more than 74,000 with 2,004 deaths, three quarters of which have occurred in the Hubei provincial capital of Wuhan.

Olympics: ‘Flying Dutchman’ Future Stars, Sparta Zonderland seeking Tokyo runway Boss and Berbice All Stars MELBOURNE (Reuters) Eight years on from claiming a stunning high bar gold for the Netherlands at the London Olympics, gymnast Epke Zonderland is yet to breathe easy as he plots his way across a qualifying tightrope to Tokyo.

Zonderland, the only gymnast to win three high bar world titles, missed out on an automatic berth when he took a tumble at the world championships in Stuttgart last year.

The fall consigned him to qualifying through the World Cup circuit, taking him to places like Baku and Doha to try to book his ticket. A win at the Melbourne stop in the series this weekend would ease the pressure.

From a physical standpoint, he is grateful that an operation in November has freed him of the chronic sinusitis that had blighted his career.In addition to causing headaches and breathing problems, the flare-ups were hugely debilitating, leaving

Netherlands’ Epke Zonderland celebrates winning a gold medal in the men’s gymnastics at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

(REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo) him drained of energy and short of fitness during the big events.“I wasn’t able to train hard and it was tough especially being able to recover after practice,” Zonderland told Reuters on Wednesday at Melbourne Arena, the

venue for the World Cup. “From December, it’s been getting better ... It can take maybe six months to come back from it.”The 33-year-old never feels completely at ease, however, with the sinusitis liable to flare up if he

catches an infection or the common cold.

The outbreak of the coronavirus has added a new level of concern for Zonderland, who, like all globe-trotting athletes, spends plenty of time on plnes.“I think it’s quite scary because it’s so easy to spread,” he said of the virus, which has killed more than 2,000 people in China and spread to Australia and other countries.The entire Chinese team of athletes and officials that were registered for the Melbourne World Cup had to pull out due to travel restrictions installed by the Australian government.

TAKING NO CHANCES Zonderland, a qualified doctor, did not take any chances with his health in the leadup.He arrived in Australia weeks ago to do a block of training on the sunbathed Gold Coast where he rented a house with team mates.

Inevitably nicknamed the (Continued pn page 30)

among President’s Cup Futsal winners

Action in the President’s Cup Futsal tournament continued at the National Gymnasium on Tuesday last with several teams including Future Stars, Sparta Boss and Berbice All-Stars on winner’s row.

The complete results from Tuesday’s action show: Game-1 Future Stars-2 vs Quiet Storm-0 Game-2 Sparta Boss-4 vs Up-TopBosses-0 Game-3 Berbice All-Stars-3 vs Melanie-1 Game-4 Albouystown-1 vs Showstoppers-1 Showstoppers won 5-4 on sudden death penalty kicks Game-5 Swag Entertainment-2 vs

Alexander Village-1 Game-6 North East La Penitence-0 vs BV-0 North East La Penitence won 1-0 on penalty kicks Game-7 Rio All-Stars-3 vs Broad St-1 Game-8 Gold is Money-2 vs Smyth St-0 The tournament continues with Quarterfinal action at the same venue, which promises to be pulsating with some of the leading outfits in this format on show.

Fixtures: Swag Entertainment vs Future Stars Gold is Money vs Berbice All-Stars Showstoppers vs Rio AllStars Sparta Boss vs North East La Penitence

PAGE 34

Dimuth Karunaratne back as captain, Niroshan Dickwella recalled for West Indies ODIs ESPNcricinfo - As many as ten players opted out of Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan last year, the last time they played ODI cricket, and Sri Lanka have included many of them in a strong squad led by Dimuth Karunaratne, who was one of the players to withdraw, for the three-ODI series against West Indies starting Saturday.

The 15-man squad also sees the return of Niroshan Dickwella, who last played an ODI in March 2019 before being dropped for the home games against Bangladesh in July. He also chose not to travel to Pakistan, as did Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews, all now back in the squad.

The seam bowling attack for the series comprises of Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara and Isuru Udana, but is without senior bowler Suranga Lakmal, who played in the World Cup last year, but has been omitted from ODIs since.

There were no surprises on the spin front: Wanindu Hasaranga, who impressed in Pakistan, and left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan, are the frontline options. The offspin of De Silva is also there as support.

Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera and Mathews are the secondary seam bowling options.

Opener Danushka Gunathilaka, meanwhile, missed out on selection due to injury, with the selectors instead going with Shehan Jayasuriya. Upul Tharanga, another opening candidate,

Thursday February 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

Hamilton, Bottas clock fastest time as F1 testing starts

Niroshan Dickwella brings out the scoop.

(Getty Images)

Mercedes-AMG Petronas’ Valtteri Bottas drives during a Formula One preseason testing session at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

did not make the squad despite hitting 120 against West Indies in a practice match on Monday. Asela Gunaratne, who also did well in that match, misses out as well.

“Whoever misses out, it doesn’t mean they’re not good enough to play for the national side,” SLC Chief Selector Ashantha De Mel told ESPNcricinfo. “But it’s a difficult balance to give players a prolonged run in the side, while at the same time giving fringe players a chance.

“In the end these are decisions that are not just taken by the selectors, but also the coaches and captain.”

Lahiru Thirimanne had led Sri Lanka in the ODIs in Pakistan, but he was dropped for the upcoming games after scoring 36 and 0 in the two completed games in Karachi, both of which Sri Lanka lost.

Minod Bhanuka, Oshada Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Angelo Perera were some of the younger players who made the trip to Pakistan but missed out this time, with the return of the high-profile players.

The three ODIs will be played on February 22 and 26 and March 1 in Colombo, Hambantota and Pallekele respectively, before the teams contest two T20Is. Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara

MONTMELO, Spain (AP) — Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas clocked the two fastest times to start Formua One’s preseason testing yesterday.

Hamilton set the opening session’s top lap time of 1 minute, 16.976 seconds, after he took over from Bottas behind the wheel of the new Silver Arrow for the 2020 season. Bottas’ best effort came in 0.337 seconds slower.

Hamilton enters the season as the clear favorite as he seeks to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles and surpass the German’s mark of 91 career wins. Hamilton has six titles and 84 wins.Hamilton and Bottas had nine one-two race finishes last season as they dominated the field to finish first and second in the overall points standings.

In last year’s preseason testing, the Mercedes cars

were slower than the rival Ferraris. But they beat them come the first race of the year and never lost their advantage.The day’s eight hours of running went smoothly for all teams, with no accidents or breakdowns.

Testing continues on Thursday and Friday at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit, home to the Spanish GP, and again from Feb. 26-28.

The season-opening Australian GP is on March 15.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas’ Lewis Hamilton drives during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020.

(AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Windies captain says recovered Dottin important to squad SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) — Despite having not played an international match in over a year because of major injury, surgery and rehab, Deandra Dottin remains vital to the West Indies Women squad, says Captain Stafanie Taylor.

In fact, Taylor believes the 28-year-old all-rounder remains one of the key weapons in the side’s arsenal.

Dottin has been off the pitch for an extended period because of a right shoulder injury that required surgery in June last year, followed by months of rehabilitation. But she will put on the maroon outfit again when West Indies have an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup unofficial warmup match against Pakistan tomorrow.

Speaking at the captains’

media day at Taronga Zoo here, Taylor said Dottin’s shoulder “is still a bit off, but she’s pretty much ready — 98 per cent”.

“Deandra is very important to our team and with the level she’s at, we’re trying our very best to manage her,” she said.

“It’s not going to be an easy one, she’s coming back from a long injury, but with the level she’s at, she’s quite up there in terms of her importance and recovery. We’re very pleased with the way that she’s going.”

The right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler has performed well for the West Indies in the past.

Her 38-ball 100 in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2010 is the first and fastest in the format, while the five for five

she took against Bangladesh two years ago are the best figures in the tournament’s history.

Following their first T20 World Cup victory in India in 2016, the West Indies Women will start their bid to win a second title on Saturday with a match against Thailand in Perth, Western Australia.

Taylor said the squad is now “really trying to focus on our own game and playing our best cricket”.

Every time we go out there, we want to play fearless — that’s the brand of cricket we definitely want to play, and it worked when we performed in India. That’s what we try to instil [in] our players and that’s what we’re looking to achieve in this tournament,” the West Indies captain said.

Ryan Crawford Turf Club race meet rescheduled for Monday 24th February The one day horserace meet organised by the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facility (RCMTCSF) which was scheduled for last Sunday has been pushed back to Monday 24th February.

All arrangement remains the same. The meet will be held at the Club’s facilities at Alness Village, Corentyne Berbice. The races will be run under the rules of the legislative draft by Late Senior Council and Horserace magnate the late Attorney-atLaw Marcel Crawford.

Six races are listed on the days programme with over $2M in cash, trophies and

other incentives up for grabs.

The feature event is for the Crawford takes with a first prize of $500,000 and trophy over 1400 meters.

The ‘J’ and lower race has a winner’s purse of $220,000 and a trophy also over 1400M. There is a race for 3-YearOld horses, which carries a winners take of $200,000 and a trophy, is another 1400M event.

The race for L1 and Lower horses will see the winner taking home $150,000 and a trophy over 1200M. The winner for the event for L2 and Lower will take away $80,000 and a trophy

over 1200M.There is a race for L3 unclassified horses and they will be running for a winner’s prize of $60,000 and trophy over 1100M. Among sponsors on board are Banks DIH Limited, Attorney at Law Senior Counsel Rajenda Poonai, Colin Elcock and Diquan Trading and Poonai Pharmacy among others.

Individual trophies and other incentives will be given to outstanding jockeys and trainers and stables.

Interested persons can contact Marcel Crawford Jr on 678-5342 or 600-7690 for further information. (Samuel Whyte)

PAGE 35

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 20, 2020

US based Masters Brusche’s Basketball Wellman claim Mommy’sFoundation Corner T20 and Byron Freso donate Basketball gear softball title Amelia’s Ward court gets a pair of uprights and backboards

T

h e B r u s c h e ’s Basketball Foundation, which is based in the United States of America, has secured two uprights and a pair of backboards from a United States-based son of the soil, Byron Freso, who through his Escalade Sports body offered to donate the basketball equipment for use on the Amelia’s Ward basketball court now under rehabilitation.

The donation of the stanchions and the backboards was made on Monday when the Linden representative of the B r u s c h e ’s B a s k e t b a l l Foundation, Clyde ‘Fatman’

Brusche, made the handover of the equipment which was erected for use on the basketball court.

Several payers and members of the Amelia’s Ward community were on hand to witness the generous donation from the North America Escalade Sports.

The donation will now pave the way for basketball to return to the Amelia’s Ward community where some upgrade work has started. Clyde Brusche took the opportunity also to hand over a basketball to one of the upcoming players in the Amelia’s Ward community for use by players there.

This is not the first

Clyde ‘Fatman’ Brusche handing over the basketball to a young player of Amelia’s ward in presence of other members of the community. In the background is one of the backboards. donation for basketball in Linden from the Brusche’s

Basketball Foundation which is headed by former

national players Mike, Clifton and James Brusche

who are all residing in the United States of America.

3rd Annual Forbes Burnham Magnum Mash Cup Could Rio All Stars Memorial cycle road notch their first tournament? race set for Monday The Annual Forbes Burnham Memorial Cycle road race is set for Monday starting at 07:00hrs at Linden and proceed to Homestretch A v e n u e , Georgetown for the finish.

The event will continue at 14:00hrs from Georgetown enroute to Belfield and return. The race is sponsored by the B u r n h a m F o u n d atio n an d supervised by Flying Stars Cycle Club.

Prizes will be handed out in open, juniors and veteran categories.

Transportation will leave the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Main Street, Georgetown at 5:10hrs Monday.

R o m e l l o Crawford won the open segment, Ralph Seenarine took the juniors division and Junior Niles grabbed the veterans’ title in 2019.

Bent Street will be in an expected intense battle with Rio All Stars that should have fans on their feet for much of the contest.

D

Romello Crawford

espite their short history in the futsal format, the recently-formed Rio All Stars have an excellent opportunity to notch up their first tournament win when they face the seasoned Bent Street in the final of the 3rd Annual Magnum Mash Cup on Saturday, at the National Gymnasium.

The Queenstown-based unit in spite of being littered with players of immense quality has so far been unable to secure a title in the format, but many feel that

the talent that reside in the side is enough to take them over the line this time around.

Their talisman Jermin Junor has been leading from the front and as customary his performance will be key in setting up a possible victory for them.

His support will come from the likes of the skilful Job Caesar and Kelsey Benjamin, while Solomon Austin and Cecil Jackman are expected to add more firepower to the already star-studded side.

However, Bent Street,

who are the inaugural champs are no pushovers are definitely will be asking no favours during the clash.

They have been impressively led by the cool and calm Daniel Wilson, while players such as Colin Nelson, who is a nightmare for opposing goalkeepers with his lethal missiles, Clive Nobrega, Sheldon Holder and national goalkeeper Akel Clarke, make them formidable opposition for any team.

It is billed as a showdown with epic proportions and a must see

encounter for a local matchup for the fans.

To add fury to the fire, giant killers Kingston go up against Leopold Street in the third place playoff and while it is for the minor positions, bragging rights and respect could make it an enthralling duel.

Kingston are a team that show no fear for any opposition and the highly touted Sparta Boss could attest to this after being sent crashing out of the tournament by them.

Nigel Denny, Steffon (Continued on page 30)

Windies captain says recovered t r o Dottin important Sp to squad Ramdin out Windies focused

of Red Force squad

on winning games and public support in Sri Lanka series

Denesh Ramdin is out

West Indies team manager Rawl Lewis has high hopes for the Caribbean side in their ODI series in Sri Lanka.

West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin.

(Photo: CWI Media)

Can anyone stop Australia? Hosts target fifth title at women’s T20 World Cup

Captains of the 10 teams at the Twenty20 women’s World Cup pose. (AFP / Saeed Khan) 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.