Kaieteur News

Serial drunk K NEWS driver banned permanently from driving

Tuesday Edition

AIETEUR

February 02, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 05

p. Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online 2 Price $80

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

readership yesterday, 85,966

Hess flaunts 2020 accolades for environmental record - While funding polluting operation in Guyana p.

2

Vaccine ‘roll out’ will not be limited to public health sector - Health Minister p.

12

GPA President p.8 calls for return of post-Cabinet press briefings - President Ali says Govt. busy but will resume

Two slashed to p. death, others 3 injured in late-night domestic dispute

Swift action

by Fire Service saves orphanage - suspect arrested, murder weapon recovered p.

14

Man who had asked Magistrate to shoot him, remanded for vagrant’s murder p.

18

Guyana’s local content laws must evolve as the industry develops - US Analyst p.

8

Oil contracts can and must change. Listen at 11:00AM today Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Hess flaunts 2020 accolades for environmental record - While funding polluting operation in Guyana

By Kemol King

H

ess Corporation has boasted that it received recognition from third party organizations for its environmental, social and governance performance in 2020, all the while funding the ExxonMobil Liza Phase One operation which has flared gas just about all year long.

Chief Executive Officer of Hess, John Hess, spoke of the company's record during its 2020 Q4 earnings call last Wednesday, January 27.

“We are proud to have been recognized throughout 2020 by a number of thirdparty organizations for the

q u a l i t y o f o u r environmental, social and governance performance and disclosure,” Hess said.

“In December, we achieved leadership status in CDP's annual Global Climate Analysis for the 12th consecutive year, and earned a place on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for the 11th consecutive year.”

CDP stands for Carbon Disclosure Project. It is an international non-profit that granted Hess 'Leadership' status for its climate stewardship, late last year.

Vi c e P r e s i d e n t , Environmental, Health and Safety at Hess, Alex Sagebien said, “CDP's rating

Hess CEO, John Hess

Hess has a 30 percent stake in the Liza Phase One operation, which flared nearly all 2020, and is still flaring today. recognizes our continued leadership in transparency and performance as we address climate-related risks and opportunities.”

Hess also, in December, pointed to an annual ranking of America's most responsible companies by US magazine, Newsweek.

Hess was ranked highest among oil and gas producers in their environmental, social and corporate governance.

Hess said during the earnings call last Wednesday, “Hess will continue to be guided by our values and longstanding c o m m i t m e n t t o sustainability as we help to meet the world's growing

need for energy while reducing our carbon footprint.”

For assets owned by Hess in Guyana, flaring of natural gas has been a sore spot in 2020, all year long.

ExxonMobil is the operator of the Stabroek block with a 45 percent stake, while Hess owns a stake of 30 percent.

Flaring in the Stabroek block totalled over 12 billion cubic

feet of gas, equivalent to the removal of over 1.6 million acres of forest. Because of it, Guyana became one of the top five highest flaring countries in the world, per capita.

Kaieteur News reached out to Hess for a comment on its recognition as a good environmental steward in the same year that it funded ExxonMobil's polluting

operation. The company was asked what part it has played in mitigating the pollution, if any, and what it is doing to ensure the pollution is brought to an end. Hess was also asked how it would defend its record when it funds the polluting operation.

Senior Manager of Global Communications and External Affairs at Hess, Robert Young, deferred to the Liza Phase One operator, ExxonMobil.

“Hess is not the operator for Liza-1 and does not direct day to day activities,” Young said. “As is the global standard practice if you are seeking comment on operational activities of Liza-1, I would direct you to the operator, ExxonMobil.”

Serial drunk driver banned permanently from driving

A

serial drunk driver was permanently banned from driving, after he appeared in court on Friday last to answer to his third count of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The man, Rupert Marshall, 49, of 179 Anna Catherina, West Bank Demerara, appeared in the Leonora Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Zameena Ally-Seepaul, who disqualified his driver's licence.

The charge stated that he drove a motor vehicle while his alcohol level had exceeded the prescribed legal limit.

Marshall pleaded guilty to the charge and Magistrate Ally-Seepaul disqualified him from being the holder of a driver's licence.

Rupert Marshall

Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 02, 2021

PAGE 03

Two slashed to death, others injured in late-night domestic dispute - suspect arrested, murder weapon recovered

By Malisa Playter-Harry

T

wo brothers were killed Sunday night, and their mother and another relative were injured, during a domestic dispute at No. 43 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Dead are Surendra Raghunandan called "Ranga", 25, and his brother Mahendra Ramotar called "Sunny", 23.

Hospitalised with serious injuries is their mother Sukmattie Richmond, 40, while a fourth person Anthony Persaud, a construction worker, was treated and sent away for an injury to his hand. The stepfather of the dead men, Randolph Richmond, also sustained a minor cut to his forehead.

Police have since arrested the suspect, Vernand Ravi Ragadoo, 49, the brother of Randolph Richmond, and a knife, suspected to be the murder weapon, has since been recovered.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the scene yesterday morning, police were on the scene interviewing residents and eyewitnesses to the deadly incident. There was a considerable amount of blood splattered on a section of the public road located just a few feet away from the house of the victims and the

Dead: Mahendra Ramotar suspect. According to police, housewife, Mellissa Rampersaud, 22, of No. 43 Public Road, disclosed to them that the suspect was imbibing at his sister's house (opposite the deceased's home) in celebration of a marriage. Rampersaud told the police that Randolph Richmond and Sukmattie Richmond were "having a heated argument" and the suspect (brother of Richmond) became annoyed and armed himself with a knife, exited the yard and

Dead: Surdendra Raghunandan

confronted the nowdeceased men who were said to be standing on the public road. She said the suspect dealt Surendra and Mahendra several stabs about their bodies and went away. At some point, Sukmattie Richmond and Persaud were injured. The brothers were rushed to the hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, aunt of the dead men, Hemwattie Ramotar, revealed that she received the dreadful news

yesterday morning at around 06:00hrs and based on the information she was given, the step-father of the brothers and her sister had a heated argument and the eldest brother (Surendra) intervened but his stepfather called on the suspect who lived in the second lot to assist in the dispute.

"I was told that he and he wife had some problem and the big one pick up for his mother and he and the stepfather had it out and the stepfather call for the brother

(suspect) and the brother run out and deal with them. The other brother (Mahendra) was on the road coming and when he (the suspect) run over back in his yard, he run to the next brother and stab he," she informed. The fight appeared to have taken place in the victims' yard where several pieces of broken window glass were seen scattered.

The sister, who could not control her tears, explained that when she spoke to her brother-in-law, he told her that they had a "little problem" and that one of the deceased men "go to stab their mother and he tried to part and the boy end up slashing he mother on she breast." She added that the explanations of what took place do not add up.

"He na get no kinda injuries but I ask why the brother kill her two sons and try to kill my sister and nothing na wrong with he and he said me trying to pick fight. This doesn't make sense to me, something wrong. He and he pickney (two smaller children who he shared with Sukmattie) na get no injury, it was a plan wa happen. He and he wife always get a problem. Dem boys does come and talk to me when dem get a problem, she does always call me. They does

put out dem boys. Sunny come out from 'bush' in December and didn't want to go back," the grieving sister said.

Meanwhile, Surendra Raghunandan was described by his employer, Lekka Rambridge (a rice producer), as a hard-working individual. He stated that he had been working with him for the past seven years and worked his way up from labourer to an operator in the drying and steaming facility.

"I know him way before the seven years but since I employed him, he was such a very good person and he was a very dedicated worker," Rambridge said. The businessman also stated that there is a need for the relevant Ministry to intervene and engage with people of the No. 43 community.

"This village is too much rum drinking, too much smoking of different types of herbs. There is no young man that comes out of school with subjects you can find. The Ministry needs to work with people," he said.

Police sources have since revealed that the suspect was arrested in his home while watching television on the very night of the incident. An investigation is ongoing.

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 02, 2021

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

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

EDITORIAL

War on the media We are providing some unsolicited guidance to His Excellency, President Ali, which we believe to be wise and is a must. Just say No! Mr. President. We speak not of war on drugs, which is a problem for Guyana. Or war on leadership oil mismanagement and political oil corruptions, which are so far gone that it may be a futile effort, if the will, sincere and constant, was present. We urge Guyana’s president: Just say, No! sir, to declaring war on the independent local media.

We can be critical and revealing and embarrassing and inconvenient and untimely, and all the rest of what goes along with our presence, mandate and obligations in the Fourth Estate. We just have to be, and that is not up for debate or negotiation, regardless of which political party is in power. As President Ali should know, a free, unfettered, and fearless media is one of the underpinnings and hallmarks of a true democracy, and where democratic ideals are the norms held dear and practiced. We also take the opportunity to remind the president that freedom of speech is a provision enshrined in our constitution. That means freedom of access, freedom to inquire and acquire, and freedom to disseminate.

There was and is nothing unpatriotic or undemocratic of seeking information by asking questions, of opening the door to clarity by an uninhibited media presence.

Yet this is what President Ali participated in, and whether it was willingly or unwillingly, he is the leader of this country of ours, and the responsibility for this snafu rests squarely on his head and shoulders. We would like to give the new and young president a pass, but we are unable to do so.

Truth be told, we are unwilling to do so, as there is a growing sense of media disrespect (through silence and secrecy on oil), selective and hazy leadership postures (on the West Berbice murders and ensuing road outrages), and now this premeditated and prearranged media farce, where only the state agencies were invited and admitted, and one entity with historic links to the ruling party power apparatus.

It is incredibly perplexing, almost mindboggling, that after the raging tempests of close to 19 months around the no confidence motion and national elections, that matters have so quickly degraded to this outrage in the span of a mere six months into President Ali’s government. We are troubled and agitated that we have to remind His Excellency that it was sections of the same independent media that spoke to democratic and electoral truths in a nonpartisan manner during that period. Yet, now there is this horrid and inexcusable development that negatively impacts the same media that does its job. Well, we at this paper have no intention of changing our ways, or ceasing to do what we have always done, which is speak to truth and speak it accurately and courageously. It is how we have to be, as presidents and parties come, and as they go.

Having said all of this, there is neither interest nor effort on our part to figure out what was going on in the president’s mind, who was behind his independent media blocking action, or what could have been his objectives in the action taken and at such a very sensitive time. Venezuela and its detention actions of our fishermen and fishing boats, in violation of all standing legal and civilized standards, are on the lips and in the hearts of all Guyanese. They want to know as much as possible. They need to know, and we need to know from presence and probing questions, so that we in the media can enlighten our fellow citizens.

It is now history that President Ali put up his barricade, which was bad enough. He followed that outrageous action, by refusing to furnish any answers to questions that were outside the range of his script. We will not condemn him for that, or for embarrassing the whole of Guyana, as he did a magnificent job at those all by himself. The man is president and leader, and believed to be the proud holder of a sheepskin parchment that attests to his doctoral standing. It is obvious that His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has some selfhealing to engage in first and very early. His actions did not humiliate the independent media locked out, he humiliated himself. In parting, we leave a little gift with Guyana’s president. It is a Gallic proverb that goes like this: “L’adversite fait l’homme, et le bonheur les monstres,” which in English translates to: “adversity makes men; good fortune makes monsters.”

Preserving historic buildings is vital to understanding our nation’s heritage Dear Editor, According to reports in the press recently, the Government of Guyana has announced that it shall be undertaking the enormous task of completely rehabilitating and restoring the now very decrepit and ramshackle City Hall building in Georgetown to its former beauty.

This initiative is most commendable, timely and magnanimous and points to the consistency of the President and the Government in honouring the commitment they gave in their manifesto of enhancing Georgetown.

It is a well-known fact that the current opposition party always garners more than double the votes than those obtained by the party in central government, which shows the altruism of the government.

This iconic structure which was constructed since 1889, and which was scrupulously maintained for more than a century by the very City Council, to which it belongs, proudly served as a key tourist

attraction and hosted many concerts, recitals and other cultural activities including civic receptions for visiting heads of state and government.

Why the Council just sat over the last 25 years or more and did virtually nothing to maintain the structure, but rather opting to just sit inside and squabble over very frivolous matters, is just beyond everyone’s wildest imagination.

Were they just Philistines who had no appreciation for historical or artistic values, were they cultural barbarians or was it just irrational politics?

Whatever it was, it is clear that the Council preferred to await some fairy godmother to come along and fund the preservation of the building that they own and occupy, whilst they chose to use this time to illegally give away hundreds of millions of dollars in interest waivers to delinquent property owners who found favour with them, money which they could have used on the building’s upkeep.

The whimsical excuse

always provided for not maintaining that and other municipal buildings in the city, is that they were cash strapped, a most imprudent justification given when everyone is aware of the lavish spending that was undertaken on overseas travel, on the purchase of fancy vehicles, on pointless projects such as constructing an unfinished presidential park on Merriman’s Mall, attempting to convert a recreational space in Bel Air Park into their private housing estate, on contracting out refuse collection and other municipal services rather than doing the jobs themselves as they once did, etc. during this period.

A bit of sound advice to the central government as they embark on this mammoth project is that they ensure that the role of the Council be nothing more than mere spectating, as it is public knowledge that there is a complete dearth of transparency and accountability, and competence and professionalism at City Hall.

This is evidenced by the fact

that they even botched the only maintenance work that they did to the building when they replaced the original wooden windows with PVC windows, a complete no-no in heritage building conservation, using dissimilar architectural surfaces and fittings.

Preserving historic buildings is vital to understanding our nation’s heritage, and therefore I would like to recommend that the Government puts in place a special team to manage this project with competent personalities such as members of the National Trust, Guyana Heritage Society, former engineers of the City Council, Berkley Wickham, Egbert Carter, Cephas James and Lloyd Alleyne, engineers that have a wealth of knowledge, experience and prowess in conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, and other personalities such as Carleton Joao who worked on the St. George’s Cathedral restoration project.

Yours truly, Jermain Johnson

I beg to differ on several counts with the Hon. Hugh Todd, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dear Editor, I refer to the article captioned “Detained fishermen not being mistreated -Todd” (SN January 31). I beg to differ on several counts with the Hon. Hugh Todd, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Here are a few of the reasons why.

First, regardless of what is being said by families - and with due respect to them in their time of distress -as supposedly coming freely from the captive men themselves, I have problems believing and accepting anything that comes from that direction of our borders. On this one, I am an atheist.

The Venezuelan counterpart to Guyana’s Hugh Todd, did promise (so we were told) to work for the quick release of the illegally detained Guyanese. In view of the number of days, however, that have passed since that made the rounds, I am ready to say that either or both of the Foreign Ministers have a different idea of what ‘quickly’ encompasses. We are still waiting.

Second, though there is some pushback by Guyana’s own president, there is word that a third vessel and its crew have been similarly illegally imprisoned. I cannot term

what has happened in any other manner. We need to be familiarized swiftly and accurately regarding the whole story on this one. If it is not so, then let us put that to rest and conclusively; but if it is, then that only confirms the deplorable motives of our neighbours and the lengths to which they go to apply the vise on us, and then tighten it.

Third, I refuse to quibble or pay heed to whether it is two or three boats, or whether the men are subject to ship arrest, so to speak, or they are being treated pursuant to accepted international conventions, or they are in some unknown Venezuelan Devil’s Island of a prison.

What matters is that they are being held captive, while more and more hours pass without their release.

I exhort my fellow Guyanese (and our honourable foreign minister) not to be too easily taken in by what comes out in censored form from the Venezuelan side. I encourage all to recall and think of what has occurred in North Korea, Lebanon and Iran, to name a few places, where such unpersuasive orchestrations have taken place. I am not comforted in the least, and I suggest to Guyanese that we

do not let our guard down for a moment. It would be much more wholesome if Foreign Minister Todd refuses not allow himself to be the channel for what seems to be warm and fuzzy, and be a part of larger Venezuelan machinations and destabilizations. His posture and that of his party must be that this has to be over and now; there can be no accommodation, with the hardest line being our position.

Release the people. Set the boats free to return to Guyana. We will revisit where to go from there.

As a separate thought, if they are on their boats and being treated humanely, then I see no reason why there are still being held in what amounts to nothing less than criminal captivity at the hands of covetous and calculating

foreign politicians out to use them as bargaining chips and apply pressure on our leadership to get their way.

Let us have none of that, please.

And finally, I put something else before Mr. Todd and all Guyana. He says that the men are not being mistreated. I do not care whether that is so, though I trust that is, indeed, so; but this is what I care about, and irreversibly.

I have been mistreated.

My dignity has been assaulted. And I say this, too: Guyana has been mistreated, with the dignity of this country and all of its peoples assaulted in a manner that is not only jarring, but unpardonable. That is where I stand, and from there I refuse to yield an inch.

Yours truly, GHK Lall

Bars are allowed to open at 40 percent capacity, churches at 25 Dear Editor Bars and restaurants have been approved for reopening at 40 percent capacity. This is defended/justified. Churches

and other places of worship remain at 25 percent capacity.

This is glossed over.

Yours truly, Shamshun Mohamed

Tuesday February 02, 2021

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Here are some We cannot have the entire sea-bob fishing possible TORs for a dominated by one foreign-owned company forensic audit into Georgetown City Hall Dear Editor, Hats off to the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development for ordering a forensic audit at the Georgetown Municipality!

Citizens will have to hold their breaths as they await those findings. Unsurprisingly, the Mayor is requesting as a prerequisite to the commencement of this badly needed exercise to receive ‘terms of reference of the audit,’ clearly a tactic intended to delay and to distract and divert attention.

Well here are a few TORs I would like to suggest. First, I would like the auditors to find out what the Council’s Internal Auditor and the Internal Audit Department were doing for the last seven years.

Why have the Council’s books not been prepared for auditing during this prolonged period? This is in addition to the Council also creating a special audit committee.

All is nothing but a complete waste of time and money.

A human resource audit should be done to enquire into their discriminatory and well known ‘friends and family’ hiring process, pure nepotism, cronyism and favouritism at its highest, that has taken place over the years at City Hall.

Then there is their ‘too many Chiefs and not enough Braves’ extremely top heavy staff structure, the arbitrary placement of some persons to the top of the salary scales ‘extreme featherbedding,’ the rapid promotion of some and the stagnation of others leading to supersession, the non-payment of deductions from employees to the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Revenue Authority and Credit Unions, not only a complete violation of the laws of Guyana, but an appalling injustice to their workers who can get no benefits or healthcare.

The auditors should examine the notorious parking meter fiasco, which was illegally set up and implemented for a while until pressure was brought to bear by civil society. They should also look at the unlawful waiver of interest on property rates which the Council has no authority to grant but rather can only give some discounts in specially prescribed circumstances.

They should also enquire into why the Council is failing to serve demand notices on property owners, a requirement by law.

Another TOR of the audit should be to look at the illegal leasing and sale of municipal reserves all around the city in places such as alongside the Lamaha Canal water c o n s e r v a n c y, o n t h e southern extremity of Mandela Avenue adjacent to Aubrey Barker Road and in Industrial Site Ruimveldt.

The TOR of the audit should include the examination of the C o u n c i l ’s p r o c u r e m e n t processes and their consistent failure to ensure that the procurement of goods, services and execution of works were c o n d u c t e d i n a f a i r, equitable, transparent, competitive, and cost effective manner according to law and such policy guidelines provided by the procurement act and regulations.

And the TOR should have the auditors look for payroll fraud and phantom employees, asset misappropriation, skimming, expense reimbursement, and misuse of municipal vehicles and other assets.

Yours truly, Shanta Singh

Dear Editor, Please permit me a small space to pen my views and concerns about the trawler licences issue that is currently the talk among those in Parliament and some of the elites who are of the view that such issuance should be their business.

I wish to point out that we cannot, as a people, have the entire sea-bob fishing dominated by one foreignowned company. Hence, I am in support of the Ministry of Agriculture, more specifically, the Minister in issuing licences to locally owned companies.

We now have to be cognizant of the fact that with

these licences come added responsibility and the recipients have to ensure that they manage professionally and not back away from national laws and regulations, since if neglected, it can possibly jeopardize market access and we definitely cannot afford that.

In these times, lots of eyes are on Guyana and we have to keep up with the pace at which development is taking place.

I also am of the view that some persons, especially trawler owners, may not be happy or pleased, but it is quite certain that the Minister and his team has to work in the best interest of Fisheries

as well as our Country. I do note that there are those who are already in uproar and even receiving support from some media houses, but let it be clear that as citizens of this land, we support any move by the government that will bring wealth to “all” of its people and not just “a few” of its people.

As someone who would have spent years in the fishing sector, I know that the “big ones” are always trying to look at ways to benefit themselves while the small folks are left to hustle for their livelihood on a daily basis.

When new persons receive approval and licences to enter the industry it will

only mean that competition will increase, fisher folk will be having a better price for their commodity and consumers will receive better value for money.

We want what is best for the industry and I am sure that with added competition we can compete at international levels.

I have listened to the Minister and was very pleased to hear him saying that “We have to work together to realize the full potential of the Ministry” and this should resonate across the country and other sector.

Yours truly, Chandranath Singh (Fishermen)

New day, same 24-hour twilight Dear Editor, I am not surprised at His Excellency, President Ali’s most recent public expression of his appreciation of what his office represents. My initial low expectations are confirmed repeatedly; time serves evidence that the allegedly new PPP resorted to the old standards that are still found delightful and constructive. Though only six months into the new government, I guarantee that more farces and failures, like the recent media outrage, will occur.

The president barred the independent (mainly critical) media from his gathering; he is responsible ultimately, regardless of which office is blamed, if such occurs. But though the president is responsible, and it fits seamlessly with His Excellency’s version of transparency, accountability, credibility, and presidential dignity, I am aware that he lacks the mental reach to target so pointedly the nonstate media, and the spinal steel to implement same. For those who think that it is déjà vu, it is just the beginning, and the source of his tutelage

should be obvious. It is not his handlers in the Office of the Presidency; better to look at the one who handles him. I employ that word ‘handle’ the way Guyanese do, when they observe someone being treated, shall I say, in a degrading, utterly unacceptable manner. Well, President Ali did exhibit palpable zeal for the job offer; I regret to say that his ordeal has just begun.

Editor, I regret also that a half year later, the head of state still retreats from the fact that he is the president. Not of the Westminster Kennel Club, and putting on a media dog show, but that he is president of a democratic nation, albeit one made more tattered by him and his people. Still, I can overlook his lapse, but I am unable to do similarly with his words and postures, or lack thereof, on the issue of the fishermen and their boats illegally seized on Guyana’s waters. I remind the president that they are Guyanese citizens, and even if he didn’t want to know, or preferred not to speak, about the now mysterious (maybe to be disputed) third seized vessel, at least he had

to know and should have been prepared to speak one way or another. It is an unfortunate expectation that presidents should know everything; or appears to be in the vicinity of areas of national importance. I would posit the most important currently. And if the president doesn’t know about that, or is so gun shy on that one, then he may not be so useful to have around, even for these public relations gimmicks and fiascoes.

Sometimes I hit the

jackpot. When the news became public, I recall saying that the then candidate was not made of the required timber. I erred, for now he proves me wrong, by failing to rise to the texture of even presidential matchstick.

Given how the president has been, I think the words from Richard III have relevance: “My conscience hath a thousand several tongues…and every tale condemns me for a villain.”

Whether so or not, (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Appeal Court trial against 88-year sentence for 2013 Old Year’s Day murder commences

Murder convict: Jermaine Maynard.

Murder convict, Jermaine Maynard, has asked the Appeal Court to reduce the 88-year jail sentence, which was imposed on him by Justice Navindra Singh, for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Carlissa Matthews.

The matter commenced before the Appeal Court in Kingston yesterday, with Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, Justices of Appeal, Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud, presiding over the hearing.

Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, presented submissions against the 88year sentence his client is serving. In 2016, Justice Singh had imposed the 88year sentence with a base of 60 years on Maynard, he added 10 years for premeditation, six years for domestic violence, six years for a previous similar conviction, three years for the use of a fire arm and three years for public endangerment.

In his written submissions, Hughes has asked the Appeal Court to consider that trial Judge was without jurisdiction to impose a sentence of six years for a previous conviction, which was not the subject of the trial before him.

He has asked the Court to consider among other things that the Judge fell into error when he purported to impose a sentence of six years for

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

Murdered: Carlissa Matthews.

domestic violence, when there was no evidence before him on this subject, but the mere opinion of the mother of the deceased who characterized the relationship as abusive.

Additionally, the attorney contends that the trial Judge fell into error when he imposed a sentence of three years for public endangerment, when there was no evidence that any member of the public, other than the deceased, was endangered.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dionne McCammon, was given until February 5, 2021 to respond, and the Court will entertain arguments in this case on February 16, 2021.

In the meantime, Maynard who maintained his innocence throughout his trial in the High Court remains in prison. He had told the Court that he is not the person who killed Mathews on December 31, 2013, at Stabroek, Georgetown.

However, the victim’s mother, Carol Kennedy, recalled that Maynard pulled out a gun from his side and shot her daughter outside KFC. The woman had informed the High Court of the abusive relationship, which her daughter shared with Maynard. At one point of her testimony, Kennedy recalled the shooter standing over her daughter even after she was

injured, and pressed on the trigger of the silver pistol; the gun clicked three times.

She remembered that at that stage she started to advance toward the shooter, but her fiancé, Collis Bruce, who was also standing outside the KFC outlet on Water and Croal Streets, Georgetown, kept her back telling her that Maynard was still armed and could shoot her as well.

Additionally, reports had indicated that minutes before the shooting, Maynard approached his 20-year-old ex-lover, and was seen briefly talking to her.

He had requested a private audience with Matthews but she refused.

Moments later Maynard pulled out a gun and shot her to the head.

Matthews was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she succumbed early New Year’s Day 2014.

Maynard fled the scene after the shooting but was nabbed at the ‘back track’ crossing at Springlands, Corentyne on January 2, as he was about to board a boat to Nickerie, Suriname.

Reports also indicated that this was not the first time Maynard was found guilty of such a crime. He was previously found guilty of killing another woman, with whom he had shared a relationship and supposedly loved.

Bartica boat captain remains missing following boat crash Family members of a Bartica boat captain are now bracing for the worst since his body has not been recovered following a boat crash. The boat accident occurred Saturday last in the Essequibo River.

The boat captain, Claude Pollard, 55, also known as “Claudy” and “Bumper”, failed to resurface after he reportedly fell into the river.

According to police, the boat Pollard was captaining at the time collided with a boat ambulance attached to the Bartica Public Hospital around 19:15hrs.

Investigators reported that Pollard had seven passengers on board, which included his son and daughter, and was heading from Bartica en route to Parika. However, while in the vicinity of Stampa Point, his boat crashed into the boat ambulance which was en route to Bartica.

As a result of the impact, the passengers received multiple injuries about the body and Pollard was

Missing Bartica Boat Captain, Claude Pollard. thrown overboard.

The passengers were rushed immediately to the Bartica Public Hospital where they received treatment.

Efforts were made to locate Pollard too but they proved futile. The Bartica community and his family, are still optimistic that he might be alive.

His sister, Celica Pollard, wrote in a Facebook comment, “Lord please send

your angels out to find my brother alive and well. I would even take him bang up but alive please Lord, amen”.

As the clock ticks, many are beginning to lose hope.

The search continued Sunday but there were no signs of Pollard.

Police Commander of Region Seven, Dion Moore, said that a team of police ranks and an officer of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) returned to the scene also.

They carried out an investigation and combed the area for Pollard but they saw no signs of him.

Further checks and searches were carried out yesterday around 15:00hrs but Pollard still remains missing.

As family members brace now for the worse, Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall, comforted Pollards family in a Facebook Post.

He wrote: “Our prayers and best wishes are with the family of Claude Pollard”.

Pollard’s wrecked boat after the crash.

...New day, same 24-hour From page 5 Guyana is in for a rough ride, rougher landings, and I don’t mean at the hands of the Venezuelans. And I am not talking about oil plunders either, since that is a foregone conclusion.

My concern is of when and how the lid will blow. I remind everyone that the

Americans, n o s a i n t s themselves, supported LFS Burnham for a while, and t h e n t h e y t u r n e d t h e ir backs.

Something tells me that they will cut their losses with their latest miscalculations and misplaced confidences.

Meanwhile, I invite fellow Guyanese to fasten their

seatbelts securely; looks like some national turbulence ahead.

How severe and enduring the reality is anyone’s guess.

Me, I am following Manchester United, the Super Bowl, and subcontinent cricket.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

T N U L B . . .

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Tuesday February 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

Guyana's international reputation and the safety of its citizens are being bastardised by ExxonMobil, and the APNU+AFC is silent.

Could Guyana be anymore neglected by its political opposition?

If the APNU+AFC demonstrated even half the determination to stop flaring, as was demonstrated to rig the 2020 elections and destabilise Guyana's democracy, flaring would have been a thing of the distant past.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Guyana's local GPA President calls for return content laws must of post-Cabinet press briefings evolve as industry - President Ali says Govt. busy but will resume develops - US Analyst

P

resident of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), Nazima Raghubir has urged government to resume post-Cabinet press briefings and to have more frequent engagements with the press, during her address at the President's Annual Media Brunch.

Journalists congregated under the Baridi Benab on Sunday for the event.

“I want to use this time

to call for the return of the post-Cabinet press briefings which provided the country with that needed update on our internal affairs. We also want to encourage more frequent interaction with health officials, so we can raise awareness about the pandemic that continues to affect lives.”

“The press briefings by yourself and key government ministers are

just not about engaging the media,” Raghubir said. “It is about informing the public on critical issues.”

Additionally, she called for greater awareness to be imparted on the public about the role and functions of the Commissioner of Information.

Raghubir pointed to the critical role, which the press had to play last year, especially during the five-

month elections saga, noting that the media has shown it understands its role.

“Our roles are much more different than those of social media commentators, we are to provide factual and unbiased information to our readers and audience,” Raghubir explained. “This means that we have to put our fact checking journalism skills to use, ask questions, clarify, research, ensure there is a right of reply, provide that balance.”

In his address, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali acknowledged the call by the GPA President for postCabinet briefings. He explained that the government has been very busy, and that Cabinet has been meeting frequently, multiple times per week. He, however, committed to resuming the post-Cabinet briefings and to have more engagements with the press.

Generally, post-Cabinet briefings are weekly and had occurred at the Ministry of the Presidency under the David Granger administration, but they have not happened since the Irfaan Ali administration took office.

T h e P e o p l e ' s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) took over in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly changed the way the media and government should operate, restricting inperson meetings.

However, with virtual meetings, the government cannot use the pandemic as an excuse. US President, Joe Biden who assumed office late last month, is holding daily press briefings to inform that nation.

The Guyana opposition has held frequent virtual conferences with the press.

The President and Vice President have held just a few physical press conferences at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, had told Kaieteur News that he would hold a press conference early in January to discuss key oil and gas matters. He is yet to do so.

C

ognisant of the reality that the oil and gas sector is one that is constantly evolving, Guyana's local content laws must cater for those changes.

Making these and other critical points is Arthur Deakin, an analyst at the American Market Intelligence (AMI).

For those readers unaware, AMI, which is a United States management consultant firm, is known for providing its insights which unlock opportunities in Latin America via market intelligence, research and analysis.

Deakin, during his first appearance on the Kaieteur Radio programme Guyana's Oil & You two weeks ago, was reminded of an article, which he wrote on Guyana's local content.

In that piece, Deakin had warned that Guyana should ensure that whatever rules it is putting in place, so that it does not find itself in a position where it is biting off more than it can chew.

“That's definitely an important aspect of Guyana's oil development, this local content rule,” the analyst said, “I think that, you know, what Guyana needs is something, a law that is constantly evolving in the sense that it has certain clauses that adjust according to the sector, the level of development in the sector.”

In pointing to an example of where these evolving laws exist, Deakin referenced our neighbouring Brazil.

To this he articulated, “In some countries, like Brazil, we've seen in the past that the original local content rules for its pre-salt oil production had disproportionate fines for non-compliance and

AMI Analyst, Arthur Deakin even bottlenecks that hurt the construction of FPSOs. So, if you don't have local content that can't adjust to the development of the sector, that you know, is sort of stuck in the past.”

He continued, “That's going to hinder the growth at the appropriate speed of the sector. That's kind of what I mean by that. You need something that is adequate to the situation, and I think that Guyanese participation is vital for not only the growth of the sector but the growth of the country in conjunction.”

But now, as it stands, Deakin indicated that Guyana does not have the volume to address one Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

In light of this foregoing and with more FPSOs to come, Deakin pointed out that what Guyana still needs is proper training for its citizens, as well as more resources invested in educating its citizens regarding the oil sector.

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Confounded confusion B

oth the PPP/C and the APNU, w h e n i n Opposition, had said that they will stand with the government in defence of the country's territorial integrity.

It was therefore not surprising that following the seizure and detention of two Guyanese fishing vessels by the Venezuelan navy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with his counterpart from the Opposition to brief her on the efforts which were being made to secure the release of the crews of the vessels and to alert the international community to the violation of Guyana's marine territory.

Arising out of that meeting, it was reported that the opposition counterpart “underscored the need for the administration to embark on a public education campaign so that every Guyanese man, woman and child can understand and properly articulate Guyana's position as it relates to Venezuela's preposterous claims.”

This suggestion was all that the government needed to hand out a public education contract. There will be no demands for this public education contract to be subject to competitive bidding.

Most likely, it will be treated as matter of national urgency and the government will hand out a multi-million dollar contract to ensure that every man, woman and child can shout “not a blade of grass”.

This is confounded nonsense. Guyanese need no

public education programme to enlighten them that the Essequibo belongs to Guyana and that the 1899 Arbitral Award represented a full, final and definitive settlement of the territorial issue between Guyana and Venezuela.

Not a child is unaware of Dave Martins hits, 'Not a Blade of Grass'. Whenever this song is played in public, Guyanese, young and old, sing lustily. Guyanese are not divided on this question.

All that is needed is for Dave Martins' song to be played on the radio a few times each day.

There was therefore absolutely no need for any credence to be given to this suggestion by the Opposition representative for a public education programme. And even if there was a need to enlighten members of the public about the territorial issue, this could have easily been done by the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN).

Why hire a private firm when the state-owned media machinery is at the disposal of the government? Why waste valuable resources, which can be better deployed to curb the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Almost 11 months after the outbreak of the coronavirus in Guyana, the Ministry of Health, is now reporting that a study is being commissioned as to the local trends of the pandemic. Can you believe this nonsense?

What was the basis upon which the Ministry of Health

and the COVID-19 Task Force were making assessments and recommendations? Was it gathering detailed statistics on the incidence of the disease and on the resulting deaths, other than the threadbare daily COVID-19 bulletin? Was the Ministry of Health not monitoring the trends?

Can it provide a regional breakdown of the deaths?

Can it provide an ethnic breakdown of the persons who died? Can it disaggregate the total tests per region? Are these indicators not fundamental t o m a k i n g t h e epidemiological assessment, which is required to inform the national and regional strategies?

To date, the media has failed to ask the Minister of Health to indicate the names of the epidemiologists who are advising him on the matter and what do their models suggest? How can the public have confidence in the government's handling of the pandemic when it has been no more transparent than the APNU+AFC was?

When the government indicated that 20,000 antigen tests were being ordered, this column suggested that random testing be done, as was the case in New York during the early months of the pandemic. This random testing would have allowed for a determination as to the possible national incidence of the disease. It would have allowed the Ministry to project the percentage of the population who were infected or had been

Some of we leaders boys nah gat training! seh...

Dem

O

le people does advise dat if you nah know, yuh must find out. Dem boys seh when yuh is a man and a leader, yuh does gat fuh become a gentleman. Yuh does gat fuh learn social graces like offering a seat to a lady or getting up to greet her when she comes to your table.

But some leaders dem nah gat training. Dem nah know how to behave like gentlemen.

Last Sunday dem had a free-for-all at de State

House. Was nuff food and drink!

Some of dem girls dress up 99. Dem wear nice dress.

But de men dem look shabby. Some overdress and some underdress. Some of dem try fuh outdo some of dem girls by wearing jacket and shirt wah gat mo flower dan dem flower dress wah dem girls wear.

But wah really upset dem boys was when some of dem girls go fuh tek picture with dem big ones. Dem man nah even get up from dem seat.

Dem gat dem girls stand up

behind dem while dem sitting down admiring de camera.

Dem boys seh a gentlemen woulda get up and tek de picture. Or he would have offer de lady a seat.

But is suh when yuh ain't gat training. And pon top of dat, de O Pee publish all dem picture weh de girls dem gat fuh stand up while dem big ones sitting down.

Talk half and hope dat by next year, some of dem leaders learn how fuh be gentlemen.

infected.

It is surprising to now learn that a trend study will be undertaken in collaboration with the Pan American Health O rg a n i z a t i o n a n d t h e Harvard University. Why do we need these institutions to help us do a study of COVID- 19 trends?

This should have been an ongoing exercise undertaken

by the personnel within the Ministry of Health but instead of hiring competent persons who can do these tests, what we have throughout the government are all manner of political appointees.

The media learnt on last Sunday at the Annual Media Brunch that within the Office of the Presidency are a Press Secretary and a Deputy Press

Secretary. We might soon have a Secretary of State and Chief of Staff of the Presidency.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday February 02, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Guyana 2020: The positives O

n the positive side of 2020, Guyana is not likely to see the repeat of Burnhamism. This country defeated PNC dictatorship for the second time – once in 1992 and August 2020. We have no evidence to go on but we would like to think that Guyanese in and out of this land have internalized the meaning of the defeat of rigged elections.

Had the PNC succeed in its rigging, we were going right back to the “invincible” mentality of Burnham.

Guyana would have had policies enacted that came out of the head of its maximum leader even though they were irrelevant to the country (like mass games and compulsory national service) just as it happened with Forbes Burnham. The year 2020 must always be remembered for the final exposure of the PNC. That has to be the biggest positive of last year.

Secondly, I believe in 2020 we had seen the last of

the Carter-Price article in the constitution that dictates the present shape of the election commission. Fifteen years ago, organizations like the OAS warned Guyana about the format of the elections commission. It was an enduring obscenity, never seen in another country.

GECOM is effectively administered by the representatives of two political parties only - PPP and PNC. Nothing in politics could be more sickening.

Here now is a story about the inherent evil of the current shape of GECOM that happened last year that has never been given publicity because the then opposition PPP, the other small opposition parties and the press did not know about it. Lips remain tight in the PNC and AFC since July last year on this story. I doubt they will ever talk about it. I got it from inside the war room of the APNU+AFC. I assert that I trust my source deeply.

There was a plan to

thwart a declaration based on the CARICOM observed recount should the Court of Appeal sustain the decision of the Chief Justice (ag) that the recount issue was settled by a higher court – the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The three GECOM commissioners from APNU would resign together. With that occurrence, GECOM could not have convened to formally issue the election results. Granger would have taken his sweet time to n o m i n a t e t h e i r replacements.

What this decision shows it is the congenital insanity that lie at the core of GECOM. If you have party personnel that administer a national election, why anyone thinks they are going to continue to administer the process when their party is losing?

The year 2020 marked the final rites of GECOM as we know it. One would like to think that there cannot be a sane person anywhere in the world that would continue to support

the election body of a country run by persons placed there by their respective political parties.

But there are more related positives to take from 2020. It is inevitable that election laws will change so as to make post-voting tampering almost impossible. One can anticipate two new directions. One is that all accredited observers will be allowed to be present during the counting, and two, statements of poll (SOPs) will be given to all observers, contestants and the media right after they have been signed off.

GECOM of course will immediately upload those SOPs to its website.

One of the optimistic trends that we observed in 2020 was the non-political role of the army. Under Forbes Burnham, the army was reduced to a goon squad for Burnham's insane politics. There is now concrete evidence that the

army was part of the planning of the assassination of Walter Rodney. Former army boss, Godwin Mc Pherson, admitted that to a certain pro-PNC, racist trade union leader that the army was involved. David Hinds

Frederick Kissoon has betrayed Rodney because he was privy to that information. Let him deny it, and I will get more specific.

As the election rigging was taking place, the police force became compromised.

Its involvement on the side of APNU+AFC was on full

display. But the army maintained its distance during those five months.

There were reports that the army displayed professional ethics in September after Indians were attacked, robbed and beaten in Region Five. There were several reports that army ranks came to the rescue of many victims.

Finally, the maturing of the young people of Guyana was definitely a plus for this country in 2020. They were part of several political parties that contested the elections and chose their country's survival over ethnic loyalty. One hopes that this rise of consciousness will concretize in their psyche and shape a humane Guyana that will never see again what we saw in Region Five last September.

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

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Tuesday February 02, 2021

COVID-19 vaccine rollout will not be limited to public health sector

The Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc., a local health institution

- Health Minister

T

he roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, once they arrive in Guyana, will not be limited to the public health system. Moreover, private hospitals and health institutions will be involved.

At least this is according to the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony.

During last Saturday's Presidential Briefing, the Health Minister stated that the government has already started engaging the private sector on the national

vaccine rollout. “In terms of the private sector's involvement, certainly we want them to be on board with the vaccine and our intention is to, once we get the vaccine in Guyana and even before we get the vaccine…conduct training with them,” Dr. Anthony stated.

He added that the government will get the private hospitals to dedicate special staff to work with the Ministry of Health and they will be trained to properly administer the vaccine to Guyanese.

Private physicians will also be engaged and will receive the training so that the vaccines can be swiftly rolled out upon its arrival.

Minister Anthony noted that before private hospitals/health institutions receive vaccines for the roll out, they will have to meet certain requirements.

He highlighted that they will have to make copious records and have them submitted to the National Vaccine Programme; they will also have to do some level of monitoring and the data recorded from the monitoring will need to be presented to the Ministry.

President Mohammed Irfaan Ali, who also addressed the issue at the briefing, stated that Guyana is set to receive 3,800 vaccine doses between February and March this year from the COVAX facility, which is made up of organizations like the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness, and Innovations and GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance.

The facility will be giving Guyana vaccines for 20 percent of the population free of cost, but it will not be enough to immunize at least 80 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity, according to President Ali. Nevertheless, the President said that the government is hoping to accelerate vaccination this year once the vaccines arrive. A question was posed to the President regarding a study conducted by an economist indicating that Guyana will only achieve full vaccination coverage by 2023.

The president in response explained that the government has bilateral engagements and already had productive discussions with the Governments of India, China, and Russia for the supply of vaccines.

So far, the Chinese government has committed to donating 20,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Guyana. As the government continues to engage with the countries, the discussions to acquire more vaccines are expected to be finalized shortly.

Region Four woman is 177th COVID-19 fatality

T

he Ministry of Health yesterday reported that a 58y e a r- o l d w o m a n f r o m Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) was the country's 177th COVID-19 fatality. In its press release, it stated that the woman died while receiving care at a medical facility.

The Ministry also reported 13 new cases via its daily dashboard update

which shows the case toll increased to 7,654.

Further, the dashboard revealed that five patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 782 in home isolation, 55 in institutional isolation and eight are in institutional quarantine.

The total number of recoveries has increased to 6,570 and 50,152 persons have been tested for the virus since March.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 02, 2021

PAGE 13

Ministry retenders St. Rose's High School construction project T

he Ministry of Education (MoE) has issued an invitation for bids for the construction of the St. Rose's High School at Camp and Church Streets, Georgetown.

This development follows the People's Progressive Party/Civics' (PPP/C) government decision to terminate the $412M contract for the construction of the school.

The project was initially awarded to local contractor, Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited (CBCSL).

According to the bid invitation, the bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive B i d d i n g ( N C B ) procedures, as specified in the Procurement Act 2003 and Regulations 2004, and is open to all eligible contractors.

As one of the requirements the MoE stated, is that all bids must

Aerial shot of the St. Rose's High School dated at September, 2020 be accompanied by a valid National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Compliance Certificates. These bids were also required to be

delivered to the Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration B o a r d ( N P TA B ) b y February 24, 2021.

Previously, Kaieteur News had reported that the

government terminated this same contract with the C o u r t n e y B e n n Contracting firm after it had failed to meet contract obligations. Some of the infractions included failing

to complete the school's construction, despite the fact that this contract had been awarded since 2018.

At the time of investigations in 2020, it was highlighted that this contractor had only managed to complete nine percent of the works, as confirmed by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, as well as the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma.

“As a consequence,” a letter by the Attorney General had stated, “your company has committed a fundamental breach of the terms of the contract and as a result thereof, the Government of Guyana hereby exercises its right to terminate the contract with immediate effect.”

The termination of the firm's services, according to the AG, was grounded on the breach of Clause 40.2 (a) for failing to comply with the schedule works; as

well as the breach of Clause 40.2 (g) read along with the special conditions of the contract for inordinate delay in the completion of works under the contract.

Kaieteur News had reported in September 2020 that an advancement of $60M was issued towards Courtney Benn for the school's construction.

However, shortly after the initial stages of a piledriving exercise started in January 2020, the school's Board of Governors observed that the contractor had abandoned the site. In fact, the school's board reported that the contractor had removed all of its construction gear and personnel from the Camp and Church Streets site, and was keen to note that no explanations were given by the contractor for its action.

N o t a b l y, t h e government, through AG Nandlall, had brought litigation against the C o u r t n e y B e n n Contracting firm, suing for more than $400M for its breach of contract as it relates to the St Rose's High School.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Skeletal remains found by farmer could be missing pensioner

By Shervin Belgraves

T

he skeletal remains of a male which was discovered on Saturday last by a Linden farmer could be that of a missing pensioner.

Kaieteur News reported on Sunday that the remains were found around 11:30hrs, some 200 yards away from the home of a female farmer located at Wisroc Squatting Area, Linden, Region 10.

The woman told police that she was cleaning a plot of land to plant pak-choi when she stumbled upon the remains lying in a clump of

bushes.

Crime scene experts who visited the scene noted that it was still clad in a pair of blue denim jeans. Other pieces of evidence were also collected from the scene which were bagged and sealed for DNA testing.

Senior police officials had told Kaieteur News that the remains could be that of Ivor Campbelle, a 72-yearold pensioner who disappeared on November 13, 2020.

Campbelle had supposedly left his Lot 734 Wisroc Housing Scheme residence that day to

Missing pensioner, Ivor Campbelle

purchase cigarettes. He was never heard or seen since.

Kaieteur News was told that one of his relatives has since come forward to check the skeletal remains in order to see if it might be him. That individual told police that there is a strong possibility that it could be. They pointed out to police that the denim jeans and other pieces of clothing found was similar to clothing owned by Campbelle.

Campbelle was last seen descending the “front step” of his home and walking to the back of his yard clad in a multi-coloured jersey and a

The skeletal remains discovered by the Linden farmer pair of long pants.

Family members had told reporters that he would normally leave his home and return but they became worried after he failed to show-up later that afternoon.

They began searching and after a few days reported

him missing. Days turned into months and Campbelle's relatives feared the worst.

The relatives had explained that he was ill and suffered frequent memory losses and would sometimes forget where he lived. An investigation is ongoing.

Swift actions by Fire Service saves orphanage

S

wift and tactical action by members of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) helped to save the Shaheed's Girls' Orphanage from any major damage after a fire erupted yesterday morning.

Raheema Rahaman, the Chief Executive Officer of the Orphanage, told Kaieteur News that based on information she received, the fire occurred sometime around 10:55hrs after she left to carry out other duties.

The orphanage is a twostorey building located at Lot 7 and 8 Oleanders Gardens, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and currently houses 28 girls and three caretakers.

One of the caretakers said that she was teaching a sewing class in the lower-flat of the building and during the class, three of the girls left and went upstairs in the sleeping area to put up their handkerchiefs.

Kaieteur News was told that moments after the girls went upstairs, they came rushing downstairs and informed another caretaker that, “upstairs full of smoke”.

Checks were made and the caretakers discovered that smoke was emanating from the ceiling of the orphanage.

The caretakers and girls evacuated the building and the fire service was alerted.

When the firemen arrived,

the ranks went into action and quickly extinguished the fire before it caused any severe damage to the building.

Kaieteur News was told that some sections of the ceiling were burnt.

While there has been no official report from the fire service on the incident, the caretakers believe that the fire is of electrical origin. One of the caretaker said, “What the firefighters said is that it was a good thing the girls went upstairs because the fire start from the ceiling coming down, and that it is a good thing they noticed the smoke early.”

When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, the caretakers were putting out soaked clothes and mattresses to dry. Food items that were stored in the lower flat were also soaked.

But Rahaman is grateful.

“Thank God, thank God,” she said as she noted that, “the girls are safe” and that “the building did not receive any major damage since it would cost millions to repair”.

Back in 2018, the orphanage was reportedly set on fire by one of the girls after a misunderstanding with one of the then caretakers. In April 2019, approximately six months after the orphanage was torched, a new building was commissioned.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Spike in COVID-19 hospitalisation recorded in January - Health Minister

- blames lackadaisical approach to measures in December

L

ast month, the health sector recorded a spike in COVID-19-related hospitalisation. This was on Friday announced by Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony.

Dr. Anthony stated that as of last Friday, 19 persons were hospitalized at the Liliendaal Infectious Disease Hospital (also known as the Ocean View COVID-19 Hospital) which is located on the East Coast of Demerara, while two persons were hospitalized at the Linden Hospital Complex in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Mahaica).

The Health Minister said that the Ministry would have warned the public during the month of December that Guyana will see a spike in COVID-19 cases in the January month if the measures are not adhered to.

“We warned people during December that in January, we are going to see a spike if they don't take precautions in December. Unfortunately, people did not heed our call and we are seeing a spike in c a s e s , ” D r. A n t h o n y expressed.

He added that coming close to the end of December, the Health Ministry recorded around 350 active cases but up to last Friday, the active cases increased to 816. “You would have seen that increase over a very short period of time because people were not abiding by these guidelines that we would have established,” the

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony Health Minister said.

He noted that the increase in infections could have been avoided if persons refrained from their lackadaisical approach to the regulations in December, adding that the fight to curb the spread of the virus is not dependent on the Health Ministry alone, while people “do as they please”.

Further, Dr. Anthony stated that the Ministry is currently working to curtail spikes wherever observed but they are reliant on cooperation from the public.

Meanwhile, during the Presidential Briefing on Saturday, His Excellency, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, also acknowledged the public's failure to adhere to the gazetted COVID-19 measures, especially social distancing protocols. He was questioned about the police force and their level of

enforcement of the measures to which he responded that they have been doing a good job in most instances.

It was also highlighted that the seawalls and the Stabroek Market were areas with mass social engagements and Ali responded by saying, “Sometimes when you pass on the seawalls and in other crowded areas, you wonder what is taking place.

The question is, well as Dr. Anthony says, you wonder sometimes whether people understand that we are living in a COVID-19 environment.”

He said that enforcement is not only removing people but it is also education, the distribution of masks and getting people to understand in a “soft manner”.

“Do we take in 500 persons on the seawalls? Or go through Stabroek Market or Bourda Market where we get calls (from) all the time, or even some establishments and remove everyone from the market?” he questioned, while noting that persons need to be realistic.

He argued that when persons are picked up for breaching the measures, you have to find somewhere to put them. The President also maintained that the prison system has to be kept safe because they are at a high risk for infections.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, D r.

Anthony noted that several deaths were also recorded in January. Currently, the COVID-19 death toll stands at 177.

Man killed while constructing wharf at Houston

A

senior worker employed with G a i c o Construction and General Services Inc. was killed while working yesterday.

According to reports, he was accidently struck to his chest and abdomen by an excavator.

Dead is Royston Souvenir, 49, of Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The fatal incident took place around noon while Souvenir and his colleagues were on a barge constructing

a wharf close to the Guyana Shore base Inc. located at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

According to police, Souvenir was standing behind the excavator when its operator, who reportedly did not see him at the time, turned suddenly knocking him to the chest. Other reports reaching this newspaper suggest that it was the excavator's boom which gave Souvenir the fatal blow.

A severely injured (continued on page 18)

Dead: Royston Souvenir

PAGE 15

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 02, 2021

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The preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder case of Better Hope moneychanger, Aaron Latchman, and his 18-year-old daughter, Arianna Latchman, is expected to continue tomorrow in the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court.

When the matter was called yesterday before Magistrate Alisha George, Police Prosecutor Vivian Adolph informed the court that based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C, the name of the murder accused who escaped from prison last year should be removed from the charge and the matter should continue.

The five persons accused of the double murder are: Mark Rufino called 'Mark,' 25, a labourer of Parika Facade, East Bank Essequibo; Paul Chan called 'Long Hair' or 'Anthony,' 37, a conductor of 10 Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Troy Abrams called 'Troy' or 'Rasta Man,' 44, a vendor of 34 Middle Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara; Lloyd Sadloo, 37, self-employed of 220 Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara and Sean Thomas called 'Yankee,' 41, an electrician of 59 William Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

The PI into the murder case was put on hold late last year after Rufino along with two other murder accused escaped from the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara. On October 23, 2020, swift and tactical action by members of the Joint Services, acting on information received, resulted in two of the escapees being recaptured, while police are still trying to locate Rufino.

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updates.

On December 14, 2020, ProsecutorAdolph informed the court that Rufino had escaped from prison and asked the court for one month to recapture the prisoner. He also sought the court's permission to seek legal advice.

However, more than a month after Rufino escaped, the prosecutor had failed to obtain legal advice and on a previous hearing of the matt e r, t h e M a g i s t r a t e e x pressed her dissatisfaction in the way the prosecutor was handling the matter.

The PI for the matter commenced in February 2020, but since then it has been faced with

several delays.

Kaieteur News had reported, when the five accused made their first court appearance, that they were not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleged that on July 4, 2019, at Robert Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, they murdered the moneychanger and his daughter during a robbery.

According to reports, on the day in question, Aaron Latchman arrived home around 15:15hrs and was attempting to park his car in his yard when two gunmen struck. One of the gunmen reportedly entered the house and shot Latchman's daughter. The other then attacked the father. The two men got into a scuffle, which re-

sulted in a bag ending up in a neighbour's yard.

The gunman, who had shot Latchman's daughter, then exited the house and came to his accomplice's aid, shooting Latchman as well.After Latchman fell to the ground, the attackers snatched up a bag of cash and fled. The killers escaped in a car.

The moneychanger and his daughter were taken to the Georgetown Public Corporation, where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

The matter was reported and an investigation was launched.

The five accused were later arrested and subsequently they were jointly charged for murder.

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Coup prompts outcry from Myanmar as West ponders how to respond

NLD supporter holds up a picture of leader Aung San Suu Kyi outside Myanmar’s embassy after the military seized power from a democratically elected civilian government and arrested her, in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha (Reuters) - Western leaders condemned the coup

by Myanmar ’s military against Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government and hundreds of thousands of her supporters took to the social media to voice their anger at the takeover.

The sudden turn of events in the early hours of yesterday derailed years of efforts to establish democracy in the poverty-stricken country and raised more questions over the prospect of returning a million Rohingya refugees.

The U.N. Security Council will meet today, diplomats said, amid calls for a strong response to the detention of Suu Kyi and dozens of her political allies, although Myanmar’s close ties with council member China will play into any decision.

U.S. President Joe Biden said the coup was a direct assault on Myanmar’s transition to democracy and the rule of law.

The army handed power to military chief General Min Aung Hlaing and imposed a state of emergency for a year in the country, saying it had responded to what it called election fraud.

Min Aung Hlaing, who had been nearing retirement,

promised a free and fair election and a handover of power to the winning party, without giving a timeframe.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which won a landslide 83% in a Nov. 8 election, said that she called on people to protest against the military takeover, quoting comments it said were written earlier in anticipation of a coup.

But the streets were quiet overnight after troops and riot police took up positions in the capital, Naypyitaw, and the main commercial centre Yangon. Phone and internet connections were disrupted.

Many in Myanmar voiced their anger on social media.

Data on Facebook showed more than 325,000 people had used the #SaveMyanmar hashtag denoting opposition to the coup, and some people changed profile pictures to black to show their sorrow or red in support of the NLD, often with a portrait of the 75year-old Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Four youth groups condemned the coup and pledged to “stand with the people” but did not announce specific action.

Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other NLD leaders were “taken” in the early

...Man killed while constructing From page 15 Souvenir fell to the ground and his colleagues rushed to assist him.

He was picked up and rushed to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital where doctors there pronounced him dead on arrival.

Guyana Shore Base Inc., a company, which provides services to the oil and gas indus-

try, has since expressed condolences to Souvenir's family for his tragic demise.

In a Facebook post the company stated, “Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of the Gaico Construction employee who tragically lost his life today.

Our prayers and support go out to his loved ones during this time”.

hours of yesterday morning, NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt told Reuters by phone. U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said at least 45 people had been detained.

Consolidating the coup, the junta removed 24 ministers and named 11 replacements to oversee ministries including finance, defence, foreign affairs and interior.

The coup followed days of tension between the civilian government and the military. In the pre-written statement on Facebook, Suu Kyi was quoted as saying that an army takeover would put Myanmar “back under a dictatorship”.

“I urge people not to accept this, to respond and wholeheartedly to protest against the coup by the military,” it said. Reuters was unable to reach any NLD officials to confirm the veracity of the statement.

Supporters of the military celebrated the coup, parading through Yangon in pickup trucks and waving national flags.

“Today is the day that people are happy,” one nationalist monk told a crowd in a video published on social media. Democracy activists and NLD voters were horrified and angry.

Senior NLD leader Win Htein said in a Facebook post the army chief ’s takeover demonstrated his ambition rather than concern for the country.

The United Nations led condemnation of the coup and calls for the release of detainees and restoration of democracy in comments largely echoed by Australia, Britain, the European Union, India, Japan and the United States.

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Appeal Court overturns 80-year jail sentence for trio - sends case back to High Court for retrial The Court of Appeal has overturned the murder conviction imposed on Ray Yokum, Steffon Campbell and Faisal Moore - the three men sentenced to 80 years imprisonment each, for the May 9, 2012 murder of 26-year-old Glen Xavier. The men were sentenced to 80 years each in 2017 by Justice Navindra Singh.

In his calculation of the sentence for the murder conviction, Justice Singh started with a base of 60 years. He added five years for the use of a firearm, five years for discharging a firearm at a place, which resulted in public endangerment, and 10 years was added because the murder occurred in the furtherance of a robbery. This brought the sentence to 80 years for each convict.

However, yesterday, the

Appeal Court sent the case back to the High Court for retrial. This was after the presiding Justices including Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, found, among other things, after reviewing the records of appeal that the trial judge failed to adequately put the defence of the men to the jury, and gave certain instructions which amounted to a misdirection.

During the appeal, the three men were represented by Senior Counsel, Stanley Moore, and Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes, while attorney, Natasha Backer, appeared for and on behalf of the prosecution.

The three men had filed an appeal challenging their conviction and sentence on several grounds, including that

the trial judge failed to adequately put their defence to the jury for consideration.

On May 8, 2012, the three men allegedly murdered Glen Xavier at Corn Bread Minimart, Durban Street, Werk-en-Rust, in the furtherance of a robbery.

According to the reports, Xavier, of Harlem, West Coast Demerara, was shot and killed by three men armed with guns who robbed the business of an undisclosed amount of cash before making good their escape on motorcycles.

Xavier, who was shot in his chest and left hand, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. His cause of death was given as hemorrhage and shock due to gunshot injuries.

Another man was also injured during the robbery.

Carpenter arrested after stabbing friend the police, occurred around left side rib. with scissors to16:30hrs Benjamin was rushed to at Barabina Hill.

A 25-year-old carpenter, Fernando Fitzpatrick, of Barabina Hill, North West District is now in police custody after he allegedly stabbed his drinking buddy with a pair of scissors last Sunday afternoon.

Nursing a stab wound and currently hospitalised is Myial Benjamin, 27, a gold miner of the same village.

The incident, according

Kaieteur News understands that both men are well known to each other and were at the time consuming alcohol when an argument erupted between them, which turned violent.

While details surrounding t h e a r g u m e n t r e main sketchy, it was reported that Fernando armed himself with a pair of scissors and stabbed Benjamin once to the

the Mabaruma Regional Hospital where he was seen and examined by a doctor who then admitted him. His condition is listed as stable.

Fernando, who escaped after the incident, was later apprehended by police and taken into custody at the Mabaruma Police Station. An investigation into the matter has since been launched.

Man who had asked magistrate to shoot him, remanded for vagrant’s death A man, who seven years ago had asked a magistrate to shoot him in the head, was yesterday remanded for the death of a vagrant.

The defendant, 27-year-old Kareem Stewart, of 599 Toucan Drive, South Ruimveldt Gardens, was charged with murder by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates Court.

It is alleged that on January 27, 2021, Stewart murdered Mark Benjamin, a vagrant, popularly known as “Curl up Toe,” at Camp and Robb Streets.

The defendant was not required to plea to the indictable charge and is expected to return to court on February 11, 2021.

Kaieteur News had reported that Stewart admitted to killing Benjamin with a brick. Investigators had, however, told this newspaper that he did not reveal a motive for his actions.

Nevertheless, detectives learnt that Stewart was a known substance abuser (drug addict).

The defendant, was implicated in the crime after a security guard reportedly saw

him bludgeoning Benjamin with the brick sometime around 03:30 hrs. on January 27 last. The security guard was at the time guarding a nearby building.

Cops were told that Benjamin was sleeping on the roadway at Camp and Robb Streets, when Stewart approached him. He allegedly picked up a brick and began hitting Benjamin repeatedly to the head before running away.

Benjamin was found by police bleeding from injuries to the head and was pronounced dead by medical professionals, who had arrived at the scene as well.

Stewart was arrested hours after at a location on Charlotte Street.

The defendant, however, is no stranger to the law and according to past reports, had appeared in court on June 28, 2013, for breaking and entering the home of his neighbour, Somattie Ali. He was 19 years old at the time and had pleaded not guilty to the allegation, but had made a shocking request from the then Chief Magistrate, Priya Beharry.

Kareem Stewart (Photo Credit: Newsroom) Stewart had asked Beharry to shoot him in the head because he didn’t know what was wrong with it.

Kaieteur News reported that Stewart had entered the court room singing “Oh I will go to heaven; I know I will go to heaven.”

Stewart had even given the complainant’s address as his place of abode, and had asked Beharry if he could live at the court house. He went on to call some persons sitting in the court room “a cross” and even told Beharry that he “kinda liked her,” before leaving.

Noting his strange behaviour, Beharry had sent him for a 14-day psychiatric evaluation.

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Fully recovered from knee surgery, world champion Anderson Peters eyes an Olympic title SportsMax – Grenada’s Anderson Peters, the 2019 World javelin champion, is thankful that the Olympics were postponed from 2020 because of the pandemic as it means he now has a legitimate shot at winning a medal, perhaps gold, when the Games convene in Tokyo, Japan this coming summer.

Peters, who at 23, is already a two-time NCAA champion, Pan American champion, NACAC champion and World Champion, wants an Olympic title to add to his burgeoning trophy case.

However, had the Olympics been held in 2020 as scheduled, he might have had

to wait until 2024.

During his preparation for the 2019 World Championships in Doha, the Grenadian injured his knee in training and was forced to battle through the discomfort to pull off the surprise win in Doha. He told Sportsmax.TV that immediately following the World Championships, an MRI on his knee revealed the extent of the damage.

“I had bone splinters around the knee and some were even poking into the muscles surrounding my knee,” he said.

He underwent corrective surgery on October 17, 2019, and says he is now fully

recovered.

“Training is going good,” said Peters who trains at Mississippi State University under Coach Paul Phillips.

“I have been putting up numbers that I never have before.”

Without the postponement of the Olympic Games, he said, he would not have had enough time to recover from the surgery.

Now that he has, he is looking forward to competing against the likes of Johannes Vetter, the 2017 world champion, who threw an incredible 97.76m, the second-longest throw in history in Poland in September 2020.

Tuesday February 02, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Have you been thinking about attending a seminar of some kind, Aries, perhaps business related? You and a partner might go together.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Have you been working hard to attain optimal health? If so, you may suddenly notice that your efforts are finally bearing fruit. You should feel especially fit and strong, though maybe a little lightheaded.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A long-term love relationship may finally reach the point of total commitment, Gemini. Intense feelings and words of love could suddenly come from your partner.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Have you wanted to catch up on your reading, Libra?

If so, this is definitely a good time to stay home, make yourself some tea, and curl up with a good book.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Intuition and imagination combine with good common sense to enable you to accomplish just about anything today.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Conversations with friends take on a more serious note, Sagittarius. Spiritual matters and beliefs could come up, as could the more pressing mundane details of life.

CANCER(June21–July22) A meeting, perhaps related to finances, might take place at your home, Cancer. For the most part, the meeting will go well and you will accomplish what you want.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) In case you're surrounded by a lot of people today, you can look forward to a very harmonious dayn. Your sensitivity is higher than usual, so you will be better able to understand others and be understood as well.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you're into writing, Leo, this is the perfect day to sit down and churn out the words, even if it's only a letter to a friend. Your imagination is especially vivid, your expression clear and understandable, and your vocabulary skills especially acute.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Learning comes easily to you, Aquarius, as your mind is especially sharp and retentive. Your intuition is usually high, but today it's especially acute, as is your concentration.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Do you have some paperwork regarding money that you've been putting off, Virgo? If so, this is a good day to get it out of the way once and for all. Your mind is especially sharp and your concentration strong.

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It should be easier than usual to concentrate on the practical aspects of finances. A keener mind combines with enhanced intuition to give you a special edge when it comes to making decisions on everything that concern money.

Peters, who has a personal best of 87.31m, says he has no fear of Vetter or the other elite throwers of the world because in every competition it comes down to one basic thing.

“It’s all about the day.

From the first throw you know what is going to be like,” he said. So, it’s all about what happens on that day.”

...Taffin Khan in the lead after From page 20 threatening white bishop at E6. His defense of king side rapidly crumbled soon after and the hour glass of his defeat was activated.

The senior chess championship that is organised by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) with approval from the National Covid-19 task force continues today with four more round-robin matches.

(Calvin Chapman)

...Serena cruises in Yarra From page 21 Stojanovic 6-1 6-2. “We’ve never p l a y e d a n d t h e r e aren’t many players like this for me except the young ones,” Pliskova said. “It’s going to be an interesting match, I’m looking forward to it.

“She’s playing well here always every year, so it’s going to be a nice match.”

Also advancing were A n a s t a s i a Pavlyuchenkova who beat Misaki Doi 6-1 6-4 and Petra Martic who battled past Vera Lapko 4-6 6-3 62.

The tournament is one of six arranged by Tennis Australia before the Australian Open, which begins Feb. 8.

Gauff fends off Teichmann to advance at Gippsland Trophy MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Coco Gauff was rusty on serve and struggled to produce her best tennis but the American prodigy prevailed 6-3 6-7(6) 7-6(5) over Swiss Jil Teichmann to reach the second round of the Gippsland Trophy in Melbourne yesterday.

Serving for a 5-2 lead in the second set, 16-year-old Gauff was broken with a double-fault and world number 57 Teichmann scrapped hard to level the match at the Margaret Court Arena at Melbourne Park.

Gauff ramped up the pressure in the deciding tiebreak, however, to book a clash with Briton Katie Boulter in the WTA 500 event, one of a slew of warmups being played at Melbourne Park in the leadup to next week’s Australian Open.

“It was definitely a challenging match I feel like

for both of us,” said Gauff.

“This (second) tiebreak I was just focused on making her play.”

World number 48 Gauff, touted as a potential successor to American great Serena Williams, claimed the biggest win of her young career at her Australian Open debut last year, knocking out defending champion Naomi Osaka before falling to eventual winner Sofia Kenin in the fourth round.

It was Gauff’s second appearance in the second week of a Gran d S l a m before her 16th birthday, having made the fourth round at her Wimbledon debut in 2019.

Third seed Elina Svitolina eased into the last 16 yesterday with a 6-1 6-4 win over Andrea Petkovic, while top seed Simona Halep plays Anastasia Potapova in the evening session.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 02, 2021

National Chess C/Ships

Taffin Khan in the lead after third round Loris Nathoo (left) vs FM Anthony Drayton, as Minister Robeson Benn and Director of Tournaments Shad Hussain watches on.

During second round action of the National Senior Chess Championships at the National Stadium, Providence, Taffin Khan proved too much for defending champion; Anthony Drayton and handed the FIDE Master his first loss of the tournament.

Khan deployed the Chigorin defense against D4 and the game was about equal until move 20. Khan was able to win a pawn and follow a simple chess rule past pawn must be pushed.

In Khan’s third round game in which he maintained his unbeaten streak against Rai Sharma, he played white in a fast paced Vienna game.

He was able to get a past pawn on the 7 rank forcing Sharma to give up a piece at

which point he resigned.

The other results of the round-two matchups saw former Champion Wendell Meusa beating Blitz Champion Davion Mars and Loris Nathoo winning against Errol Tiwari.

Tiwari opened with pawn to D4 and Nathoo countered by playing the opening lines of the King’s Indian defence.

Tiwari opted to play the Samisch variation with the subtle pawn to F3 on move 5 setting up a positional battle for both players to strave for attacks on the opposing kings.

However, on move 15, Tiwari made a tactical blunder that caused him to lose one of his minor pieces; his black bishop. Nathoo then quickly liquidated

Tiwari’s other minor pieces forcing him to resign on move 25.

In round three, Errol Tiwari remained winless after falling to Meusa (two wins), Drayton (2W) bounced back to outlast Loris Nathoo, while Glenford Corlette, in his first match of the tournament, registered a win against Blitz Champion Mars.

In that match, Mars chose to play the Sicilian defence which was going well for him until he failed to adequately defend his king side castle. Corlette then successfully managed to remove the two defenders of the F7 pond by first attacking his F8 with bishop to H6 followed by D5 pawn push (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 02, 2021

PAGE 21

Ferreira, Arriola, Lewis 2 goals each, US routs Trinidad 7-0 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jesús Ferreira gained U.S. citizenship on Dec. 16, 2019, and made his debut for the American national team last Feb. 1. Then he struggled through his second season with Dallas with one goal in 19 Major League Soccer matches.

“Obviously kind of upset,” he said. “I took it as you have to do better. You have to make sure that 2021 is a way better year than the past two years.”

Ferrieira scored his first two international goals and had three assists, leading the United States over a rusty Trinidad and Tobago 7-0 in an exhibition on Sunday night.

Paul Arriola and Jonathan Lewis scored twice each for a U.S. roster missing its Europe-based players.

Coming off a 6-2 win over Panama in November with top American players and a 6-0 rout of El Salvador last month with a group mostly from MLS, the U.S. outshot the Soca Warriors 19-2 and scored five goals for a third straight game for the first time. The last time three Americans scored two goals in a game was an 8-1 rout of the Cayman Islands in

Trinidad and Tobago defender Leland Archer (5) and goalkeeper Adrian Foncette (22) block a shot by the United States during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) a 1993 friendly led by JoeMax Moore, Dominic Kinnear and Mark Chung.

“It wasn’t a World Cup qualifying-caliber team based on who they had available,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said of Trinidad a n d To b a g o , “ b u t

nonetheless, it was good to see the focus.”

Ferreira was born in Santa Marta, Colombia, and grew up in Barranquilla the son of David Ferreira, a midfielder who scored three goals in 39 international appearances for Colombia.

Barcelona, Lionel Messi will sue after $674M contract leak Yahoo Sports - Lionel Messi and Barcelona aren’t going to take the leak of the superstar’s massive contract lying down.

Both the club and player will take legal action against the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, which on Sunday published the details of the four-year pact that Messi, who is widely considered the greatest player of all time, signed with the Spanish titan in 2017.

The deal is worth a whopping $674 million — easily the richest in professional sports.

In a strongly worded statement released shortly after the story rocketed around the world, Barcelona denied leaking the document to the outlet while also announcing its intention to sue.

“In view of the information published today in the newspaper El Mundo, in relation to the professional contract signed between FC Barcelona and the player Lionel Messi, the club regrets its publication

given that it is a private document governed by the principle of confidentiality between the parties,” the statement read.

It added that the club “will take appropriate legal action against El Mundo for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication.”

Separate from any lawsuit Barcelona may file against the paper, Messi’s attorneys are also expected to seek damages on behalf of their client, according to ESPN. That report stated that only four parties have copies of the contract: Messi, his law firm, Barcelona and La Liga.

The revelation of the otherworldly compensation Messi receives — it dwarfs the North American-record $503 million, 10-year agreement Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes inked last year — comes after a sharp downturn in Barcelona’s form and finances in recent seasons. As such, El M u n d o ’s r e p o r t w a s

understandably the talk of the soccer world on Sunday.

But the white-hot scrutiny and the looming legal drama didn’t appear to cause any distractions for the 33-yearold Argentine when he took the field just hours later.

On the contrary; Messi, who unsuccessfully attempted to force his way out of Barcelona last summer, enjoyed perhaps his best performance of the 2020-21 season in Sunday night’s 2-1 league win over Athletic Bilbao.

Messi, who was redcarded against Bilbao two weeks ago as Barcelona was upset in the Spanish Super Cup final, opened the scoring at the Camp Nou off one of his trademark leftfooted banana kicks.

The visitors pulled even early in the second half through an own goal by Jordi Alba, but Antoine Griezmann broke the tie to help Barcelona exact a small measure of revenge and leapfrog chief rival Real Madrid and into second place.

He moved to Texas when his dad played for Dallas in MLS from 2009-13, and the family remained there even when his father switched clubs starting in 2014. He played in the Dallas academy, made a brief pro debut in 2017 and spent 2018 on loan with the Tulsa Roughnecks of the secondtier United Soccer League.

Berhalter used the 20year-old Ferreira as a center forward who can drop back into the midfield.

“When you have wingers that can threaten the back line, you can afford to drop a striker in, because you still g e t t h a t v e r t i c a l i t y, ” Berhalter said. “What we talked to him about today was arriving in the penalty box, and he certainly did that. So to me, it was a complete performance.”

Lewis scored his first and second international goals, and Miles Robinson got his first.

Arriola, who last month made his first start since tearing his right ACL on Feb. 15, scored twice as the U.S. took a 4-0 halftime lead to give him three goals in his last two international matches. Arriola and Sebastian Lletget were the players on the field most likely to see significant time with the full group.

Goalkeeper Matt Turner and right back Aaron Herrera started in their debuts as the U.S. went again without Europe-based players, and 20-year-old midfielder Andrés Perea entered at the start of the second half in his debut then conceded a penalty kick with a high boot to Ryan Telfer in the 65th minute.

Perea, who plays for Orlando, started for Colombia at the 2017 Under17 World Cup and 2019 Under-20 World Cup. Turner, 26, leapt to his right to stop Alvin Jones’ penalty kick. “ A l a t e b l o o m e r, ” Berhalter said. “Really performs well in the league, gets his opportunity with the national team, debuts, saves a penalty to keep to maintain the shutout? It’s a storybook, a storybook type of saga.”

George Bello debuted in the 64th, Daryl Dike in the 65th and Tanner Tessmann in the 78th. There have been 63 debuts since the October 2017 loss at Trinidad that prevented the Americans from reaching the 2018 World Cup, including 40 in 23 matches since Berhalter became coach. The 22ndranked Americans played just four matches in 2020, their fewest since 1987, but

figure to have a far busier 2021. Two friendlies in Europe are likely in March, the U.S. meets Honduras in June in a semifinal of the first CONCACAF Nations League, and the Americans travel to Trinidad in early September for the start of World Cup qualifying delayed by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Among starters, Ferreira, Lewis, Robinson, Vines, Herrera and Yueill are eligible for Olympic qualifiers in March, limited to players born on or after Jan. 1, 1997.

“The earlier we can get our hands on them, the earlier we can work with them and I think the better off this whole program will be in the future,” Berhalter said.

Lewis put the U.S. ahead 1:40 in off a pass from Ferreira, and Ferreira doubled the lead in the ninth minute with a left-footed volley from 6 yards. Arriola scored in the 22nd with a 12yard right-footed shot and in the 41st with his left foot from just outside the penalty area.

Robinson made it 5-0 in the 52nd with a short-range diving header, Lewis got his second goal from 18 yards in the 55th, and Ferreira scored again in the 62nd with a right foot shot from near the penalty spot.

No. 103 Trinidad played for the first time under coach Terry Fenwick, a defender from England’s 1986 World Cup squad, and for the first time since November 2019.

T&T opens World Cup qualifying March 24 against Guyana and are favored to advance from a first-round group that also includes the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St. Kitts and Nevis.

Serena cruises in Yarra Valley Classic opener (Reuters) - Serena Williams showed no signs of rust as she began her season with a comfortable 6-1 6-4 win over Daria Gavrilova in Melbourne yesterday to reach the Yarra Valley Classic round of 16.

The 23-times Grand Slam champion, who is warming up for the Australian Open, was at her dominant best after a slow start in which she saved four break points in the opening game of the contest at Margaret Court Arena.

Former world number one Williams has not played since withdrawing from last year’s French open second round in September with an Achilles injury, but made quick work of Gavrilova, striking 27 winners including 16 in the opening set. “It feels good to be back here,” 39-year-old Williams, who is chasing a recordequalling 24th major, said in an on-court interview.

“I felt I was definitely composed and in a zone and trying to do the things I’ve

been working on.”

Up next for Williams is B u l g a r i a n Ts v e t a n a Pironkova, who she was due to face at Roland Garros before her injury.

Former world number one Karolina Pliskova also advanced to the next round in style, firing seven aces and 30 winners in her 6-3 6-2 victory over Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto. She next meets former Australian Open semi-finalist Danielle Collins who beat Nina (Continued on page 19)

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Tuesday February 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

Maximo: Golden Jaguars can surprise Trinidad & Tobago in FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Golden Jaguars Head Coach Marcio Maximo during a session with his charges.

T h e S e n i o r M e n ’s National Team will be highly competitive against Trinidad and Tobago in its first FIFA World Cup qualifier fixture in March and has a good chance of delivering a surprise, according to Golden Jaguars Head Coach Marcio Maximo.

Guyana faces Trinidad and Tobago away in Group F of the first round of Concacaf qualifying on March 25th, followed by a home match against the Bahamas on March 29th. The domesticbased squad is currently in training – five days a week – at the Guyana Football Federation National Training Centre in Providence.

“We have a good chance to deliver a surprise.

Trinidad has a track record as participant of the World Cup before, but nothing intimidates us. We k n o w t h a t a d i ff i c u l t challenge awaits us but that is encouraging and motivating us to do better,”

Maximo said.

“We go with a good possibility to make a surprise and we will be very competitive. You can’t predict a win but what you can predict is a competitive game. We hope that we will take full advantage of this game. It is not only Trinidad, it’s the Bahamas, St. Kitts and Puerto Rico. The qualifiers are not the starting or finishing with Trinidad so we should make a good start to motivate us for the rest of the qualifiers,” he added.

Only the winner of Group F progress to the second of three rounds of qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Maximo said he was impressed with the level of commitment shown by the squad as players work hard to regain fitness and secure a place in the final squad, after a prolonged lay off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If you train hard with intensity, with tactical discipline and technical

discipline, and a physical effort every day, that is reflected during the match,” the former Brazil U20 and U17 coach said.

“With our locally-based group, I can see a big development, according to the commitment, intensity and knowledge. They are growing in each training session.”

The former Tanzania, Cayman Islands and Livingston coach supported t h e G F F ’s p o l i c y o f providing greater opportunities for domestic talent to break into the national squad, as well as bringing in the best overseas-based talent possible.

“Following the Federation’s policy, we need to give a chance to more local players to be part of the group. Internationally-based players are very important for us, with their experience, knowledge and tactical discipline, but together our group also has to be realistic

about the development of football in Guyana.”

“Now more than 50 percent of the players are Guyana-based, so we are improving our local football as well as the hope of players to participate and even to go to international markets,

especially the younger players.”

Maximo, who worked with Brazilian stars Ronaldo and Ronaldinho during his time with the Brazilian set up, said he could sense an increased interest and level of support

among the public as the World Cup qualifiers edge closer. “When go in the street, or take a taxi, I see that people feel more interested in football. I see more people with more hope in the Golden Jaguars now,” he said.

GCUC BGM set for February 21 The bi-annual general meeting of the Guyana Cricket Umpires’ Council will be held on February 21 at 10:00hrs.

Virtual hubs will be used to execute the meeting via Zoom; Berbice Cricket Board office, NAACIE Essequibo and Mercy Hospital.

Members can also log in from their homes.

The agenda reads; 1. Call to order 2. Prayer 3. Remarks by President 4. Reading of minutes of previous BGM 5. Matters arising out of minutes 6. Correspondences

7. Honorary Secretary’s report 8. Discussion and adoption of Secretary’s report 9. Treasurer’s report 10. Discussion and adoption of Treasurer’s report 11. Reports from sub- associations - Demerara - Berbice - Essequibo 12. Motions, including any constitutional amendments 13. Any other business 14. Elections of Office bearers 15. Response from elected officers 16. Closure

rt o p S Lionel Messi and Barcelona intend to sue El Mundo over his contract details leaking.

(Alex Caparros/ Getty Images)

Barcelona, Lionel Messi will sue after $674M contract leak

Ferreira, Arriola, Lewis 2 goals each, US routs Trinidad 7-0

Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Adrian Foncette, left, catches a ball in front of United States forward Jesus Ferreira (9) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Former Champion Taffin Khan (left) during his win against FIDE Master Anthony Drayton.

Serena cruises in Yarra Valley Classic opener

National Chess C/Ships

Taffin Khan in the lead after third round Serena Williams showed no signs of rust as she began her season comfortably.

Former Champion Wendell Meusa (left) and Veteran Errol Tiwari.

Tom Banton in awe of Nicholas Pooran’s ball-striking

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