Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR Arrest warrant Thursday Edition out for Exxon’s NEWS Nigeria Manager 12p. over US$213M fraud February 04, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 05

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 105,352

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

Exxon now flares more than ever offshore Guyana, but claims significant reductions globally p.

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Independent probe Six days later, Exxon still mum on needed into Exxon’s continuous flaring - Former p.

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claim of gas EPA Head Deadly domestic dispute... compressor failure Suspect confesses to

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Worker dies in murdering step-nephews freak accident - Says he was defending his brother p.

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Man executed at party

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ExxonMobil’s 4 Quarter Earnings Call…

Oil giant remains well-positioned for continued value destruction for decades to come - Shareholders p.

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Our leaders gave away your children’s future worth US$ BILLIONS in oil blocks. Hear about it @11:00AM today on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 04, 2021

Ongoing assessments to help guide Guyana's preparedness for future earthquake tremors - CDC

The houses that were affected by the earthquake tremor. (Karlos Kroft images)

T

he findings of the v a r i o u s assessments that

are being conducted as a result of the 5.7 magnitude earthquake that rocked some

parts of Guyana last Saturday, will determine whether or not the country

needs preparations for any future earthquake tremor.

This is according to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

On January 31, 2021, around 15:10hrs a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit near Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil. The effects of the earthquake was felt throughout Guyana but was mostly felt in Region Nine ( U p p e r- Ta k a t u U p p e rEssequibo) which shares a border with Brazil.

Reports by the Unites States Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that the earthquake was at a depth of 9.7 kilometers and 83 kilometers from Lethem.

Guyana did not record

any loss of human lives, but the CDC reported that based on an assessment done by the Regional Disaster Response System, it was revealed that two homes and some earth surfaces were damaged in the Katoonarib and Sawariwau Communities, located in the Deep South Rupununi.

In a press release, the CDC stated that the Commission will be partnering with the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, to conduct further analysis, observation, and assessments.

The release stated that the assessment will be done to get a comprehensive perspective of Region Nine's vulnerability to seismic hazard. A seismic hazard is the possibility of an earthquake occurring in a given geographical area.

In the release, it was noted that the Commission is also in discussion with The Seismic Research Centre of the University of the West Ind ies (UWI) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to provide technical

support if needed.

T h e finding s w i l l determine future actions that will be taken by the CDC. The release stated that the actions include: conducting earthquake preparedness, response planning and training, and evacuation drills.

It also includes exploring the possibility of developing earthquake-resilient infrastructures for Region Nine and by extension Guyana. Ho wever, the actions by the Commission are not limited to those measures only.

T h e Region N i n e Administration is currently providing support to the families that were affected by the impact of the earthquake.

R e gional Ex e c u t i v e Officer for Region Nine, Carl Singh, has since informed the CDC that the Region will also be assisting in the rehabilitation of the homes that got damaged. The construction materials were deployed to the communities on Tuesday.

Thursday February 04, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

ExxonMobil's 4th Quarter Earnings Call…

Oil giant remains well-positioned for continued value destruction for decades to come - Shareholders F

o l l o w i n g ExxonMobil Corporation's announcement on Tuesday, that it suffered a US$20B loss during the fourth quarter of 2020 along with revelations that it has launched a new company to spearhead its solutions on emissions reductions, unimpressed shareholders were quick to register their frustration and discontent.

Specifically, making its dissatisfaction known was Engine No. 1, a new investment firm that seeks to enhance long-term value through active ownership and which will soon be nominating four highly qualified, independent director candidates to the ExxonMobil Board of Directors.

In a statement to the press, Engine No. 1 said that a Board that has underperformed this dramatically and defied shareholder sentiment for this long has not earned the right to choose its own new in the face of calls for change. The investment firm went further to state that ExxonMobil shareholders

deserve a Board that works proactively to create longterm value, not defensively in the face of deteriorating returns and the threat of losing its seats.

Further, the investment firm said that Tuesday's p a t c h w o r k o f announcements do not materially alter ExxonMobil's long-term trajectory nor do they position it to succeed in a changing world. In fact, Engine No. 1 said, “For years ExxonMobil has pursued spending and strategic plans that position it to succeed only in the absence of a material longterm energy demand shift, and it remains positioned for continued value destruction for decades to come under alternate scenarios.”

It added, “It is equally poor long-term planning to rely almost exclusively on the idea that carbon capture will become scalable and affordable soon enough to allow for continued oil and gas production growth for decades to come under a Paris-compliant trajectory.”

Taking the foregoing into account, Engine No.1 said it

has nominated four independent individuals who each bring a strong track record of transformative success in energy as well as their own unique set of skills and experiences that are directly relevant to the present and future of ExxonMobil. “ We b e l i e v e t h e s e nominees can bring real change – versus the appearance of change – and position ExxonMobil to successfully evolve along with the rapidly-changing energy industry. We look forward to continuing to make the case for reenergizing ExxonMobil,” the investment firm said.

The nominees being proposed by Engine One are Gregory J. Goff, Kaisa Hietala, Alexander Karsner, and Anders Runevad.

This newspaper had previously reported that Goff has a long track record of success in the energy industry. He served as the CEO of Andeavor (ANDV), a leading petroleum refining and marketing company formerly known as Tesoro, for eight years ending in 2018. He was named one of

Six days later, Exxon still mum on continuous flaring

T

he public awaits a meaningful update from ExxonMobil Guyana on the continuous pollution of the atmosphere via flaring at its operations.

Six days ago, ExxonMobil's local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) announced that there was a “technical” issue at the Liza Phase One producing operation. The report regarded an issue with a seal on the gas compressor on the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

Calling the incident unfortunate, ExxonMobil said that it had to temporarily increase flaring

ExxonMobil's Government and Public Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud above pilot levels in order to maintain safe operations.

This was déjà vu for

many Guyanese; they had heard a very similar report in January last year. Following that report, the oil company went on to flare gas all year long, racking up a total flared volume well over 12 billion cubic feet of gas.

This time around, when ExxonMobil's government and public affairs advisor, Janelle Persaud, sent the report to media operatives, they responded with pointed questions on the volume of gas being flared per day and about the rate of production of oil. Six days later, there has been no answer to these q u e s t i o n s f r o m ExxonMobil, and no update from Persaud or anyone from the company.

ExxonMobil has not (continued on page 13)

ExxonMobil's CEO, Darren Woods the “Best-Performing CEOs in the World” by Harvard Business Review in 2018.

With regard to Ms. Hietala, Engine One was keen to note that she is an ex p er ien ced lead er in strategic transformation in the energy sector who began her career in oil and gas exploration and crude oil trading.

She played a central role in the strategic transformation of Neste into

the world's largest and most profitable producer of renewable diesel and jet fuel, which was named by Harvard Business Review as one of the “Top 20 Business Transformations of the Last Decade” in 2019.

Mr. Karsner is also an accomplished energy industry entrepreneur and policymaker with more than three decades of global conventional and renewable energy experience.

According to Engine One, he began his career developing and financing large-scale energy infrastructure, and as a private equity investor, venture partner, and advisor, his portfolios have included some of the most successful clean-tech startups of the past decade.

As for Mr. Runevad, Kaieteur News understands that he is a successful business leader with global energy experience and was a signatory of the United Nations Paris Climate Agreement. He served as the C E O o f Ve s t a s Wi n d Systems, a wind turbine manufacturing, installation, and servicing company with more installed wind power

worldwide than any other manufacturer, for six years ending in 2019, and is credited with turning around the company.

He had appeared on Fortune's “Businessperson of the Year” list in 2016 and was named one of the “BestPerforming CEOs in the World” by Harvard Business Review in 2016, 2017, and 2019.

Since learning of Engine One's intention to grab four Board seats, ExxonMobil responded stating that the notice of nomination would be evaluated in line with the corporation's by-laws.

ExxonMobil said too that it will continue to update shareholders in the coming weeks on the company's strategy to build long-term, sustainable value for shareholders.

This newspaper understands that it will also provide updates on company performance and actions to address climate change, including initiatives to commercialize technologies, which are key to reducing emissions and meeting societal goals consistent with the Paris Agreement.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 04, 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

Venezuela release We greet the release of our Guyanese fishermen and their vessels with delight. We bid them welcome back home, and to the joys of catching up and spending some quality time with their families, friends, and neighbours. We are certain that there is a lot to share, and of which the media and public will get more than their fair share in due course.

With regards to our Venezuelan neighbours, we will not pretend at friendliness and sereneness, though those are what we are at our core: a quiet and peaceful people, minding our own business, tending to our own affairs, and doing our part to maintain tranquil relations with our neighbours.

We do not covet other people’s property. We are not greedy people, but insist on the sacred rights that belong to us, with our land and what is below it, on it, over it, and around it. It is the right of all nations, but only for those components that are rightly theirs. This is our stance at this paper (and we believe largely that of this country), one of which we are proud of, in its simplicity and sincerity.

Now whether our Venezuelan neighbour was determined to flex its considerable muscles and send us a signal, in the apprehension and detention of those simple fishermen plying an honest trade in their own national backyard, only its leaders know, and they alone can say. But however, those separate actions are looked at; a clear warning shot across the bow of this country’s ship of state was sent.

Instead of be-labouring in our collective wraths what took place, we think that it is much better to welcome and appreciate the prevailing of sanity and good sense on the part of our neighbour. It needs no enlightenment from us, but clearly - and as based from varied reactions - Venezuelan leaders toyed with and do not wish to risk being deemed a pariah state because of what can only be construed by reasonable people, as its unfriendliness, if not outright belligerency towards a rich, smaller neighbour.

Leaders may not have been desirous of attracting more US pressure, or UN chilliness, or CARICOM objections.

Those are sure to have been actual and potential fallouts that our neighbours weighed and found heavily against them.

On the other hand, and domestically, the lessons for Guyanese are obvious. A united society and front against all aggression and menaces is what best protects all of us.

Another one is that we must not be drawn into any frontal confrontation. Rather, our sustained posture must be that of diplomacy and judiciary first. Still another reflection has to be that we will not benefit from allowing ourselves to be lured in any direct toe to toe engagement. Better to learn from the North Vietnamese regulars and what was then called ‘irregulars’ as in the Viet Cong. That is what we are faced with, and how we must be: in vision, in thinking and in strategy and on the ground tactics, if it ever comes to that, which we do not wish for, but must not shrink from in the least. Our motto and approach have to be speak softly and less, but carry and deliver a scorpion’s sting.

Our terrain, and our familiarity with it, provides cover and launchpad for many components of any well thought out and well-practiced resistances and thrusts. It starts early and from young. It is vital that we should have certain hard realities, as discomforting as they may be, built into our school curriculum, into the national psyche. This includes geography, sociology, history, and social sciences, among others. Our covetous neighbours have been neither squeamish nor hesitant in making clear their unalterable objectives, and do so by conditioning constantly their citizens.

Guyana must not be slothful or so complacent, that it leads us to be content with being left behind, and playing catch-up when it is too late. This has to start at some time and there is no better time than to start now. Our oil finds and ballooning oil wealth have confirmed the hostility of our grasping neighbours, and emphasized our ongoing vulnerabilities. We, therefore, have to compensate by being wise as to what our limitations are, where the gaps in our armour can be found, and how to make the timely adjustments in our mindsets so as to prepare all citizens of this society as to the existential threat that stands before us, and hangs over the nation’s head. Again, we welcome our returning citizens, and we urge togetherness and confidence in our strengths.

To see two youngsters lose their lives so early is terrible Dear Editor I am deeply saddened to hear about the two young boys who lost their lives in No.43 Village, Berbice.

Although we know that death is something that will overcome every one of us one day, to see two youngsters lose their lives so early is terrible and it is even more horrifying when we discover that they were stabbed to death by their very own uncle.

It is at this time that community members,

regardless of faith or race should come together and give their condolences to the family and hold out their hand in support. The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, in line with the teachings of Islam and Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him stated that: “Be the true well-wishers of everyone. There should be nothing inside you except truth and there should be nothing outside you except truth and sympathy for mankind. If you desire that

God should be pleased with you in Heaven, become to each other like real brothers.

It is our principle to have sympathy for the whole of mankind.

If a person sees that a fire has broken out in the house of a Hindu neighbour and he does not get up to help him in putting it out, I truly tell you that he is not of me.

If one of my followers sees a Christian being killed and he does not go to his assistance to rescue him, then I tell you quite truly that he is not of us.”

We see the news of death almost daily. There is no shortage of murders taking place in this country.

Although authorities are trying their best to stop this madness, it is still taking place.

The least we can do is to deal with the result in the proper way and sympathize with one another while making sure we build a healthy and caring community within our neighbourhoods.

Yours truly Maulana Fahd Peerzada

President Ali must be honest about the issue of race and inequalities in Guyana Dear Editor, I read statements in the press by His Excellency President Irfaan Ali on the issue of race in Guyana. In the article the President stated, “all Guyanese must come together to address the scourge of racism in Guyana”.

A particularly important point the President made is as follows: “Sometimes, we look to the Government alone for the solution. To address the issue of race requires changes

at the individual level”. I selected this point because there is an unfair characterization of particularly Black people that their economic and social challenges are because of their lifestyle. This is a simplistic and unfair characterization of Black people in general. Lifestyles also evolved based on choices and opportunities, which are made available or are not made available to

various groups in a society.

The President further stated, “My appeal to all Guyanese is judge us by our work, judge us by our policies.” I wish to state that as citizens, we are judging the government based on its work and its policies. Let me pause here to express gratitude to Stabroek News, Kaieteur News, and the Village Voice, for giving expression to the hurts, feelings, emotions, and views from the Black community in Guyana or Afro-Guyanese

community.

The President would find it interesting to know that as a result of the government’s approach to governance, particularly towards AfroGuyanese, over the past six months, it has brought the Black community together in ways that I have not seen before. Many Afro-Guyanese felt that all they had was each other, so they bonded together, looked out for each other, and fought for each other. Personally, I have (Continued on page 6)

We are quite concerned with the delay in the results of the 2020 CXC exams in Guyana Dear Editor, We the undersigned reside in and around the Greater Toronto Area and are quite concerned with the delay in the results of the 2020 CXC exams in Guyana.

Our interest in education and democracy, in our country of birth, goes back many years. We can probably start from our childhood days but 1992 is a significant time as it marked the year Democracy returned to Guyana and a groundswell of goodwill and support from overseas Guyanese found expression for their homeland in many ways.

One lasting endeavour was the countless efforts aimed at providing the system with money materials and manpower to the learning institutions there. This was fully appreciated by parents, teachers, and students always with the active cooperation and guidance by then Minister Dale Bisnauth.

Beneficiaries included the Ministry of Education, University of Guyana and hundreds of schools some of us attended as children mostly in the country areas where no organised alumni existed. Geoff DaSilva, Harry Hargesh, Jerome Khan, are only a few names among the

hundreds who were actively involved and can testify to this fact.

Even our late friend Randy Depoo who was then attached to the US Embassy here and who before his passing initiated the bold petition asking the USA to impose personal sanctions against the 2020 election riggers, participated. Some even took the magnanimous step of adopting their schools and continue to assist even today. Anthony Trevor Subryan who was recently recognised for his work by the Guyana Consulate personally donated computers with a lab to the children of Bath Settlement at an event where the Minister of Education was present.

We were dragged back into action after the last elections and either initiated or joined thousands of others all over the globe supporting the Foreign Diplomats and other friends of democracy insisting on a fair and transparent election results a process that took five long months.

A recent letter by Swami Aksharananda (SN January 29) has now raised our concerns for the children, who with the sacrifice of teachers and parents, braved

COVID-19 to prepare for and write their exams the results of which have not yet been declared by the Ministry. We are not aware of the difficulties facing the Ministry but surely any further delays would be prejudicial to the students whose future plans may have to be put on hold for an uncertain period of time.

Among our group are also persons who have a personal interest in these matters as they support the students, either by way of financial and other material means. As such, they await their results to arrange admittance to University or College etc. not just in Guyana but abroad.

These students may not be old enough to vote, may not have a union to speak for them, and those who should, including their parents, seem to prefer to be silent even though so much is at stake.

They do have access to the internet however and are quite savvy with face book and other means to reach friends and supporters across the seas but hopefully their results will be forthcoming soon.

Some may prefer to see the wealth of the country in oil and gas, sugar, gold etc. but we know that the future

is an educated population now sitting in the classrooms.

The principles of democracy cannot claim to be effective in a country struggling with varied standards of justice, unless an educated populace has the ability to make intelligent and informed choices about who will govern them.

Any further delays in declaring the results will constitute unfairness to students, their parents, teachers, overseas guardians and sponsors who assisted them. Finally, the country still looking for skills and educated persons will be inflicting harm on itself. We look forward to a public explanation by the investigators and an early resolution of this issue.

We thank Swami Aksharananda for bringing this matter to the public attention and pledge our continued support to SVN for the excellent results consistently produced by this private Hindu School.

Yours truly, Ramnarine Sahadeo, Omesh Sharma, C. Persaud, N. Singh, R. Sukhoo, T. Mangal, V. Teekah, N. Persaud, M. Sookdeo and other concerned Guyanese.

Thursday February 04, 2021

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Kaieteur News

I have great difficulty in differentiating between the PPP government and coalition opposition Dear Editor, A little while back, the Opposition Leader promised to dog the heels of the PPP government every step of the way, by being watchful and calling out and applying constant pressure.

Specifically, the coalition chief committed to give the new government ‘hell.’ In view of what has unfolded with time, the best that I can say of the coalition’s head firewalker and fire-eater is that if what has occurred is his understanding and delivery of hell, then please reserve a place for me.

My learning is that hell is customarily associated with unbearable heats and endless torments. Whether such a place exists or not is irrelevant but the mere contemplation of its existence, and incinerating

elements, are enough to bring pause, and realign me to a different cause, a more wholesome way of life. I thought that when the Opposition Leader employed that noun, a terrifying metaphor, that he was serious, and that it would compel his political audience across the aisle to straighten up and listen up, for fear of whatever he had in mind. The fact that his counterparts across the divide didn’t miss a step, or much as blinked in alarm, should have been the first warning indicator. They didn’t pay him no mind, and were contented to pat his head and smile knowingly. For he was all hot air, and in the bag, as circumstances have since confirmed repeatedly.

I tender this because, apparently, the hell that the

Opposition Leader contemplated is radically different from the regular one.

His hell is not of the dreads and agonies of Dante Alighieri’s fearsome circles.

No! Guyana’s Opposition Leader’s hell is more like that of Persephone of Greek mythology. If remembered well, Hades (hell) in which she was forced to reside is a kinder, gentler one than that of medieval minds and numerous other eras and persuasions. My conclusion is that this is the type of hell that the Opposition Leader was thinking of, when he hurled what was construed by onlookers as a verbal thunderbolt at the government. It has been a dud of a squib, patently DOA. As should be obvious from my repeatedly articulated

public offerings, I have great difficulty in differentiating between the PPP government and coalition opposition. By this, I do not mean, the character and quality of the respective leadership and elected membership, that ugly norm is already accepted as a given. Rather, it is that the entanglements of the PPP and PNC-AFC (and all the rest) are so knotty and endless, that there is no separation between the groups as to visions and practices that are beneficial to all Guyanese. As examples, I offer the oil outlook and stewardship of both parties and it is the same story: secrecy, cover-up, silence. Next, I present dirty and smelly comrades, who are rewarded with and retained in sensitive and lucrative positions, which the good

loyalists then leverage for sweet personal gain. This includes parliament, state boards, state land, state contracts, and state agencies; it is how public service is criminalized in this country.

Then, regarding the exposures and pressures that ought to be brought to bear by any viable and selfrespecting opposition, those are glaringly absent. It has been a continuous situation of one for all and all for one between these two politically conspiring and selectively collaborating groups. This is the thinking and position of more and more Guyanese, including sturdy coalition supporters.

Many are embarrassed.

Thus, when any honest review of The Opposition Leader’s commitment to give

the government ‘hell’ on what devastates Guyana, so that citizens can glimpse heaven, it has been fizzle and not sizzle. My unmoving belief is that the PPP and opposition leaderships have combined to make a bed that accommodates the ambitions and passions of both.

In sum, we have an opposition that is not hellish but hoary (focus on the phonetics) in the ways of men who relish falling. If I were part of the senior PPP leadership, I would lean back, smirk, and congratulate myself. It is a job well done; the opposition is right where they are desired to be. It will stay there, and its hell is more than manageable, it is enjoyable to the PPP. Yours truly, GHK Lall

The challenge the world over is managing the natural human resistance to being locked down Dear Editor, The constant locking down of human beings is contrary to man’s natural coexistence with nature and with each other. From a longterm perspective, the practice poses a threat to man’s very existence.

Lockdowns are bound to be resisted by man. We are currently witnessing riots in cities around the world.

Opponents of the lockdowns are branded ‘trouble-makers’ and an ‘uneducated, radicalized lot.’

Instead of engaging the opponents in dialogue to quell the disturbances, the coercive apparatus of the State has been called upon to act condignly. News about a South African, more transmissible, variant of the virus has been discovered in major capitals around the world. This new variant, while lowering the effectiveness of the vaccine, has raised to a higher level the frustration and resistance by humans knowing that new variants will mean more lockdowns.

With its constant mutations, variations and reinfections based on scientific data, it appears as if the virus will be around for a long time and so will be the lockdowns.

The stringent enforcement of protocols and the need to resort to continuous locking down of cities and towns, and by extension, their inhabitants, will only exacerbate the problem.

Already signs are evident.

Appeals by public health authorities in some capitals encouraging their citizenry to not travel have largely been

ignored. Millions continue to board commercial aircraft that fly domestically and internationally.

Compounding the problem further is the contest between the speed of vaccinations versus the speed of virus infections.

Which of the two will win will depend on the speed of both production and distribution of the vaccine. And while the war of words and allegations of ‘vaccine nationalism’ and ‘export controls’ rage on, thousands are dying and millions continue being infected.

In many countries, public health authorities are being challenged by a restless sea of humanity whose nature is not to stand still. They must constantly be on the move. If the pandemic continues to mutate resulting in new variants forcing governments to respond more aggressively, riots and protestations are likely become worldwide. In the circumstances, governments can become more authoritarian and inclined to resort to coercive regulations and protocols, ostensibly to keep their restless and impatient

populace ‘safe.’ In many countries where cities and towns look ghost-like, law enforcement is being used to arrest, forcibly remove and charge citizens.

In Barbados, we read where, in the course of an imminent lockdown, ‘houseto-house testing will be done and persons deemed to be infected will be picked out of the community and taken for treatment immediately.’

After enjoying decades of the ‘Four Freedoms’ based on constitutional guarantees, international conventions and covenants to protect their right to freedom and liberty, the world’s citizenry are being called upon to accept restrictions for extended periods, denial of their right to socialize and to communicate with each other than through big tech entities such as Twitter, Facebook, Google and YouTube.

It is as if humans are being psychologically, materially and physically conditioned, because of fear of illness and death, to conform to a completely new reality to which they are unaccustomed. But it is not only adaptation to the

vagaries of the pandemic that man is called upon to yield, humanity is also being called upon to conform to demands of climate change.

These two phenomena combined, are likely to have a lasting, if not devastating impact on the human condition insofar as their long held habits, customs and practices are concerned. Man is a product of nature. He belongs to and exists in its midst. To remove man from nature for extended periods is to remove him from his ‘natural habitat’. This is precisely what the pandemic is doing.

Ironic and eerie as it may seem, with the world’s population edging towards 10 billion and with the challenge

to increase food production in the wake of the pandemic, it appears that a mix of the Malthusian contention and the Darwinian theory is coming to pass due to the ravages of the pandemic and humanity’s struggle to adjust to climate change.

Under these difficult conditions, the mental powers of men and women are bound to be challenged as it is with children who have been kept out of their classrooms for almost one year now. The absence from the affinities characteristic of a classroom will have a lasting effect on the mental powers of our children. There is no substitute for classrooms as a learning space for children (and

adults).

What natural evolution took time to do, actions to mitigate climate change coupled with prohibitions of the pandemic will make natural evolution look like child’s play. No prescience intended. Humanity now faces the strong possibility of its gradual physiological transformation.

For example, our hands will in future perform different functions other than that of labour. Already, our children, rather than holding a pencil or pen in their hands and between their fingers are now pounding away at the keys on a motherboard.

Our eyes will experience changes because we are (Continued on page 5)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 04, 2021

National dialogue processes need to be strengthened, encouraged and supported Dear Editor, The Government of Guyana under the Presidency of Dr. Irfaan Ali must be highly commended for its proactive approaches in consultation with several organisations and reaching out to various communities throughout the country. National inclusive dialogue involving all key stake holders is essential for building consensus on major issues for the development of our country, and should be institutionalized and sustained in national governance I should like to encourage an open debate and advocacy for national consensus on all major political, economic, social and security issues.

There are many voices calling national dialogue with the political parties and interest groups to forge a consensus for national social and economic development.

Genuine national dialogue guarantees participation in a democratic process. The development of our economy offers opportunities from which all can gain, but these have to be grounded in principled and participatory processes and institutions, if they are to confer legitimacy and sustainability on economic and social policies.

The pillars of society constituted by the National Assembly, Government, private sector, workers’ and civil society organizations must commit themselves to engage in determined dialogue, based on the

principles of mutual trust and good faith. Success in the mutual outcome of national dialogue also requires national commitment and national political will, and the full commitment of private sector, workers and their organizations, and civil society. National dialogue processes need to be strengthened, encouraged and supported. The building of that trust, its maintenance and its sustainability requires a high degree of commitment and leadership.

Good faith national conferring and dialogue among the political parties and other main stakeholders in society, including the private sector organizations, trade union bodies, religious bodies, professional organizations, the universities on governance and social and economic development matters should be promoted and adopted as a matter of high priority for the national good. The objective is to foster confidence, high trust, mutual understanding, cordial and civil communication and good relations at the national level.

Another objective is also to find agreed solutions to political governance and socio-economic problems and issues, and to forge national consensus for political governance and national development. The promotion of political and social justice in Guyana could be achieved if the identified

groups are involved in the search for appropriate solutions through genuine dialogue. They have the major responsibility in the success of the dialogue processes.

In Guyana, the real challenge is to develop national consensus in the form of national accord on political governance and an agreed programme for social, economic, security and human development in the interest of the national community rather than political partisan interest.

National consensus agreements provide the framework for strategies to achieve good political governance, international competitiveness, higher standards of living, improved social protection, a stable currency, investment-friendly policies, and a conducive political and social climate in an environment which upholds and respect fundamental rights and freedoms at all levels in the national community.

The outcome of national dialogue can promote effective management of the economy in a climate of good political governance with inclusive goodwill in political and civil society participation.

It is crucial for agreeing on measures for balanced economic, social and political developments.

The Governing Authority of the National Assembly and the Government bear a heavy responsibility for ensuring that good governance, defined as: “The manner in

...The challenge the world over is From page 5 either scrolling up and down or staring for hours at the screen of our computer, laptop or smartphone. Labour is already being performed by household and industrial robots driven by algorithms, cybernetics and artificial intelligence.

Our body and its gait will adjust from one that is erect to a stooping or slouching posture because we are constantly sitting or standing and have to peer for hours at a computer or smartphone screen or, to drive a motor vehicle or cycle. In other words, our body, mind and way of life will undergo significant changes because of co-

adaptation.

Nations dominated by ‘software people’ are in the making.

C u m u l a t i v e l y, t h e s e changes will contribute to the transition of man from what he is now to what he will be in years to come.

As to the Q&A; “Why worry about that now? When we come to that bridge we’ll cross it.”

Truth be told, men like Elon Musk’s Space X, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Paul Allen’s ‘Strataunch’ as well as China’s Yuegong-1 self-contained lab to host the first humans to live on the surface of the moon along with its ‘Yutu 2’ rover on the

far side of the moon constitute steps to cross that bridge.

With every passing day, we humans will be subjected to control by technology either in the form of a smart phone, a laptop or a desktop computer.

Our freedom of movement will be determined by protocols. Who stands to benefit from this impending transformation and the resetting of the global agenda remains an open question.

Only those who are smart enough will survive and destined to be the purveyors of the unfolding story.

Yours truly, Clement J. Rohee

which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development,” reflects fairness in political, economic and social justice. A country that is committed to such good political governance will ensure that there is genuine participation by the political and social partners who must demonstrate credibility, transparency, and accountability in the administration and management of national affairs.

The challenges in terms of national strategies is to promote a mature political culture, economic growth, social, political, and human development, call for actions at the national level. It is for the Government, the political parties, private sector, the labour movement and civil society in Guyana (a) to respect, promote and realize in good faith the fundamental principles of

human rights enshrined in our national Constitution and laws, UN Conventions, and Regional and other International Treaty obligations; and (b) to adopt through genuine and sustained national dialogue, changes in political governance and the management of national socio-economic and public affairs.

These must be promoted in a paradigm shift - from the prolonged confrontational and divisive posture to one, which cultivates consensus and co-operation in the national interest. Let genuine dialogue among all the parties/partners begin afresh without delay to achieve national consensus to move this country forward as a united country. My list for genuine dialogue includes: - building confidence and high trust measures, - agree on a shared vision for Guyana, - Constitutional reform

aimed at: - creating a broad based, inclusive Government which can elect the President by two thirds vote by the National Assembly and which caters for one Vice President as the number two position in Government (abolish the misnomer of Prime Minister) allocation, constitutionally of ministerial portfolios based on the proportional strengths of the parties forming the Government, - electoral reforms, - fixed Election Day every five years, - an agreed programme for political, social, economic and human development for the national good for all citizens, and - the creation of a more service-oriented, professional, depoliticized, Public Service, capable of resisting undue of political influences.

Yours truly, Samuel J. Goolsarran

...President Ali must be honest about From page 4 never seen the Black community in Guyana so mobilized and alert, as they have been over the past months. This was partly because it was believed from the government’s actions, that its agenda was three-fold - to criminalize, fire and disgrace Afro-Guyanese and their leaders.

The President further stated, “There is only one option on the table, and that is moving all of us together, unified as one people…To ensure that Guyanese are comfortable, that the Government is operating and working in a manner and a way in which they can all realise their aspirations, regardless of who you voted for, regardless how you look”.

Is this so Mr. President?

Because the government’s reason for firing many public servants was because they were political appointees, so will the government rehire them, since the government now seem to have a change of heart, and it does not matter who people voted for?

The article further stated, ‘The President also called out public individuals, who he said use race “opportunistically, to solidify their own positions. His Excellency further stated, ‘Why such a selfish agenda?

What is the motive behind that agenda?’’ Is the President calling citizens who pay their taxes, purchase their homes at the market prices, pay their bills, actually studied for their education – Bachelor’s Degree, Master ’s and Doctorate – selfish? People

fight for causes based on their own experiences, and that is not being selfish, it is how people develop the passion to bring profound change.

The race and inequality issue will not go away because the President says that is must end. First, he has to accept that there is a serious race and inequality problem in Guyana and put measures in place to change that.

I have never stated this in public before, but I will now.

When I worked at GuySuCo and the APNU+AFC government was laying off about 5,000 or 6,000 employees, as managers, we developed a programme, the ‘Sustainable and Resilient Communities Programme’ (S&RCP) as a shockcounteraction and shockabsorption measure. Nothing just happens. Do we really believe as a society, that the APNU+AFC could have laid off 5,000 -6,000 sugar workers, now this is one of the PPP/C ‘s main support base, and life just went on almost as per normal?

That did not just happen.

So intense was the programme to bring some degree of hope, and the work that was required to go into it, that I fell into a coma. After I recovered, I became even closer with my GuySuCo family. They ensured that I ate on time, that I left work earlier, that I was resting more, even now, many of my former colleagues still look out for me. I fought with my colleagues for just treatment for the sugar workers, even

at times against the APNU+AFC government.

Sometime in 2018, some individuals in the APNU+AFC government decided that they were going to terminate my services. I wrote to then President Granger and former Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder and they intervened, and I survived to fight with and for the sugar workers another day. I now fight for just treatment for the public servants, the staff at GECOM and others.

One businessman said to me when I was fighting for GuySuCo, that he liked what I was doing – it is interesting that the same businessman called me to ask why I was lecturing the PPP/C government.

Further, the President said that ‘if we don’t change our mindset, if we don’t love and respect each other as Guyanese, if we don’t understand what the concept is of being Guyanese, it is a set of guiding principles that cement us as a people.” I used to be a more moderate person, particularly on speaking out on issues such as race, but when somebody like me decides to speak out on issues such as race and inequality, it should be a serious indication that there is a problem. I was not concerned about the PPP/C winning the 2020 elections for me, I was concerned for the wider Afro-Guyanese community and the government proved that my concerns were valid.

Yours truly, Audreyanna Thomas

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday February 04, 2021

Kaieteur News

As its most profitable business, Guyana is the jewel in ExxonMobil's crown.

In spite of this, the company paid US$5.6 billion in income taxes globally last year, and Guyana received zilch.

Guyanese, we need to ask ourselves what went through the minds of our leaders when they agreed to give away so much of Guyana's entitlement and wealth, that the country, now oil-rich, is still running to banks in every direction for handouts.

Guyanese, we really need to ask our leaders: 'How much dirty money is worth the prosperity of this country's children?'

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Thursday February 04, 2021

Kaieteur News

Exxon now flares more than ever offshore Guyana, but claims significant reductions globally D

espite flaring more gas than it e v e r h a s offshore Guyana, ExxonMobil is singing itself praises for the work it has done to reduce flaring worldwide. ExxonMobil's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods, said on Tuesday that the company has taken significant steps to reduce emissions intensity and absolute emissions.

During the company's 2020 Q4 earnings call, Woods said, “We achieved our 2020 emission reduction goals for both methane and flaring and established new plans for 2025 that are projected to be consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. These plans are expected to reduce absolute upstream greenhouse gas

ExxonMobil CEO and Board Chair, Darren Woods.

(Photo: Hart Energy) emissions by 30 percent.”

Exxon also claims it

expects to reduce flaring emissions by 40-50 percent versus 2016 levels.

He claimed that ExxonMobil's plan is to reduce emissions from operated assets and align the company with the World Bank's Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative, which aims to bring together governments, oil companies and development institutions to eliminate routine flaring.

That ExxonMobil claims to have met its flaring reduction targets in 2020, rubs Guyana differently than it does the rest of the world. Though its global flaring levels have purportedly decreased, ExxonMobil has flared gas offshore Guyana nearly all year long.

It flared over 12 billion cubic feet of gas from the

Liza Destiny Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

This was due to an equipment malfunction, the company claimed.

It was only supposed to flare above pilot levels at first to commission the equipment but then Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, told Kaieteur Radio in January last year that the company was flaring way longer than expected.

In June last year, the EPA said that it had slashed ExxonMobil's production by 60 percent in order to reduce flaring levels.

The company's production was cut to as low as 25,000 to 35,000 barrels of oil per day. Dr. Adams had said, in response to calls to

shut down production, that would risk damaging the Liza reservoir.

ExxonMobil set multiple deadlines for the repair of the equipment, which it did not meet and made excuses for why it couldn't do so.

When the new administration took office in August, it removed Dr. Adams and allowed E x x o n M o b i l t o significantly increase production after some equipment fixes were done.

Flaring increased in November last year, as the equipment malfunction had not yet been sufficiently resolved.

New EPA Director, Sharifah Razack, had informed Kaieteur News that, in November, flaring was at 16.496 million cubic feet of gas per day with about

105,000 barrels of oil being produced every day. This was up from 12-15 million cubic feet per day which was previously reported.

By the time it reported fixing all of the equipment in December, the company had flared more than 12.4 billion cubic feet of gas, making Guyana one of the five highest flaring nations per capita.

It managed to reduce flaring to pilot levels – a minimum amount of flaring required for the maintenance of safe operations – but that did not last.

Multiple equipment malfunctions were reported in January, and the company is flaring to this day.

However, the government does not intend to curtail production.

Maduro had ordered release of Guyanese fishermen - Govt. announces I

t was the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicholas Maduro Morro, who had ordered his Foreign Affairs Minister, Jorge Arreaza, to let the Guyanese fishermen go.

At least this is according

to a statement sent out yesterday by the Guyana Foreign Affairs Ministry. The statement sought to inform Guyana that the 12 fishermen who were detained along with their respective vessels: Sea Wolf and Lady Nayera, at Port Guiria, Venezuela for

almost two weeks are on their way home.

The statement went on to mention that Arreaza confirmed with Guyanese counterpart, Minister Hugh To d d t h a t a l l “ l e g a l proceedings (against the fishermen) had been

Venezuelan President, Nicholas Maduro

Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jorge Arreaza discontinued at the request of his Excellency Nicholas Maduro.”

The men and their vessels were officially released on Tuesday. The Ministry shared photos of the men and their vessels preparing to leave and notified that that they had departed Venezuela's shores early yesterday. Kaieteur News had reported that the fishermen are expected to be in Georgetown on Friday.

The fishermen and their vessels were illegally intercepted on January 21 by the Venezuelan Navy Vessel, Comandante Hugo Chavez GC 24. The men were at the time fishing in Guyana's water just off the coast at Waini Point.

That area is a part of the

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd Essequibo Territory that Venezuela wants to claim.

The detention had come after Venezuela had said it would ramp up its military presence to protect its territory and borders following a presidential decree made by Maduro himself to reconquer the Essequibo.

He called it Development of the Atlantic Façade. Guyana through its Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that the so called Atlantic Façade encompasses Guyana's territorial waters, continental shelf and its territory to west of the Essequibo River.

There were also reports

that Venezuelan military had accused the men of catching an endangered fish species known as the “hammerhead shark”.

Nevertheless, during a recent presidential brief by Irfaan Ali, it was established even if the men were found with the “Hammerhead Shark” on board, that should be a matter Guyana should address not Venezuela. This was since they were being wrongfully detained in Guyana's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Guyana was also supported by the international community which included Caricom, the Organization of American States (OAS) and Canada for Venezuela to immediately release the Guyanese fishermen.

In its statement yesterday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday expressed its (continued on page 16)

Thursday February 04, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Open Letter to the Government of Norway T

he Government of Guyana entered into a forest pact with the Government of Norway in 2009. Under that arrangement, the Government of Norway agreed to pay Guyana the sum of US$250M over a five-year period as part of a deal which involves keeping deforestation levels low and improving the management of the forest sector.

This open letter to you, the Government of Norway, is to urge you not to consider the renewal of this agreement unless you want to be seen as a government which is openly supporting a country which is allowing the flaring of natural gas and which is about to construct a gas-to- shore project to convert natural gas to energy.

It is also to encourage you to now limit any future agreement with Guyana to the forest sector but to extend the agreement to cover the oil and gas industry, which has the potential to offset any gains resulting from low or reduced levels of deforestation.

Flaring has become endemic in Guyana's oil and g a s s e c t o r. S i n c e o i l production began, it is believed that more than 10 billion cubic feet of gas has been flared thus far locally.

And flaring has not been outlawed in Guyana even

though the World Bank has called for zero flaring by 2030, according to reports.

Your country, Norway has little or no flaring. And flaring is illegal. Yet, the Government of Guyana, which wants to be seen as a champion of the environment has not yet ordered the closure of oil operations following forced flaring recently. Neither has it imposed punitive taxes to deter flaring.

Last July, Norway had indicated that it was willing to renew the forest pact with Guyana. Norway should carefully consider doing this in light of Guyana now becoming a major oilproducing state, and with the flaring, which is taking place, makes Guyana a major emitter of polluting gases.

The Government of Guyana is also expected to express a willingness to renew the forest pact.

However, it is important that Norway considers Guyana's overall environmental profile before entering into any agreement to renew the forest pact. As was reported in yesterday's newspaper, the problems, which have developed with Exxon's gas compressor have implications which can put Guyana's environment, its oceans and coastlines at risk.

It makes no sense for Norway to be rewarding the Government of Guyana for keeping deforestation rates

low and for better management of the forestry sector when the country faces graver risks including not having adequate insurance in the event of an oil spill, massive flaring and the dumping of wastes into the sea.

As was also pointed out in yesterday's edition of this newspaper, Guyana will be required to bear the brunt of the costs associated with any oil spill since there is no comprehensive insurance against oil spills for any of Exxon's current projects in the Stabroek Block. Such spills could end up becoming a regional disaster.

It is therefore important that Norway be very guarded to entering into any talks with the Government of Guyana concerning the renewal of the forest pact.

Not only has the management of existing agreement been unsatisfactory to Guyana but it has now become irrelevant given that the country is now an oil producing nation and is likely to earn this year far more in oil revenues than the aggregated five-year sum which was earned under the existing forest pact with Norway.

We also call to your attention, the provisions of the Liza 1 environmental permit. Analysts have pointed out that the wording of key provisions of that permit are too ambiguous to allow for strict enforcement

Oil is already boys seh... cursed and a crass!

Dem

D

e oil tun out to be a curse and a crass. It bring out de wuss in we leaders.

Instead of being more open, dem mekking deal in de dark. Even de signing bonus was a big secret. Dem sign agreement and wanted to keep it secret, until Soulja Bai skin up de contract in public.

But even before Soulja Bai time, dem had crooked deals wah bin tek place with de Canje and Kaieteur blocks. Dem blocks hand out to friends and cronies.

De oil mek a whole set a

foreign company and wuk men come hay and getting all de wuk and Guyanese getting de crumbs. Even de trucking business gone to dem foreign firm.

De oil come and dem dumping nasty water in we oceans. Dem fish swim away and fishermen nets coming in quarter full.

De oil come and compressor breaking down steady. So is nuff gas wasting and polluting de air. No wonder we still getting so much cloudy weather.

De oil come and all we leasers giving we is a

G$25,000 fuh a household while dem oil company getting billions. We call dat de oil curse.

De oil come and dem sugar workers still eking out a living. Dem gan gat fuh suck cane fuh a lang time because de lil money dem gan get gan done soon.

Oil come and dem gat some people dat gat property and want a jewel and crown fuh it. And all because dem hear we gat oil economy.

Poor man can't even buy a dog pen these days.

Talk half and nah get jinx by de oil!

and as such, the oil companies can continue to flare and has received a mere slap on the wrist rather than serious environmental penalties.

Given the present problems, it is advisable that Norway undertakes a detailed assessment of the impact of oil production on the environment and the

pollution, which is taking place. This should be a prerequisite for any discussion with Guyana on the renewal or renegotiation of the forest pact.

N o r w a y h a s considerable experience in oil production. It should widen any partnership with Guyana to include compliance with

environmental standards in the oil industry. It should also make any agreement conditional with there being adequate insurance protection in place in the event of an oil spill.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday February 04, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Jagdeo's gambit: Two other persons wanted to vote for the NCM I

've been around in political struggles a long time, so I think I know some of the actors fairly well. But still I don't want to get a libel writ which is the easiest thing to receive in Guyana so I will not name the woman I am writing about.

Days before the no confidence motion (NCM), this woman met with all of t h e A P N U + A F C parliamentarians without any absentee at the Office of the President (OP). The tone was not persuasive but intimidating. If it was not for that confrontation (that is how you can describe it – she confronted them), two AFC MPs, other than Charandass Persaud (Charran), would

have voted for the NCM. There was panic within the PNC and AFC on the NCM. The PNC and AFC were having nightmares because they knew that there would have been votes for the motion from within the circle of their own colleagues.

I rang a certain APNU parliamentarian, who no longer sits in the House, to get his permission to quote what he told me one evening when I was walking my dog at the back of Giftland Mall.

There was no answer so he remains unnamed.

He told me his name came up as one of those likely to vote for the NCM and in annoyance, he brought up the subject with the president. David Hinds

told me of another APNU parliamentarian who the PNC felt would have voted for the NCM. I can anticipate David will say: “I had no such conversation with Freddie.”

I swear on my parent's grave that David told me that President Granger raised his voice at Clive Thomas and that the PNC had identified one of its own (not the MP who spoke to me at Giftland) who would vote with the PPP. The PNC was in confusion about actually holding the vote because it knew something was going to happen.

But two interventions allowed for mental calmness and thus the vote was held on December 21. One was the meeting at OP. Each MP assured the “big

lady” that their vote against the NCM was solid. The second one was that Prime Minister Nagamootoo convinced Granger that the AFC vote against the NCM was assured. That explains Nagamootoo's exclamation of “bring it on” when Jagdeo agreed to postpone the NCM until January. The PPP did bring it on and brought down Nagamootoo in the process.

Jagdeo outsmarted the PNC and AFC comprehensively which explains that since Burnham's demise, the PNC has had a string of mediocre leaders. Jagdeo knew that both the PNC and AFC were concerned that at least three MPs were under

suspicion. What Jagdeo cleverly did was to elevate the fears inside the APNU+AFC by submitting a further date in the next year (2019) for the debate.

Both the PNC and the

Frederick Kissoon AFC felt that Jagdeo needed more time to convert more A P N U + A F C parliamentarians. But Jagdeo had no such intention. He knew the PPP would win whether by one or three votes so he invented the gambit to postpone and the PNC and AFC fell for it.

This columnist would have to pay out $99 million if he identifies the other two who would have joined Charran because a libel writ would come for sure. All three MPs – including Charran - had deep chagrin inside of them that expanded daily. For them, the AFC had betrayed them and the Guyanese people. The other two MPs buckled after the “big lady” threatened them.

But Charran was a different kind of fish for three reasons.

One was Berbice.

Charran felt that the AFC's raison d'etre was in Berbice and the AFC had guillotined Berbice. As a Berbician, his rage was implacable after what happened to the sugar workers. Number two had to do with the AFC's powerdrunkenness. Charran was the regional MP for Berbice and was never consulted by the AFC. No more graphic evidence of this exists but inside the mouth of Khemraj Ramjattan.

Ramjattan said on the Naim Chan Show that at all times Amna Ally kept Charran abreast of the government's Berbice policies. No other statement in politics could be more asinine.

Why the AFC would leave it to the PNC's General Secretary to inform an AFC parliamentarian and executive of what the government was doing in Berbice? Why not the AFC itself? For more on Ramjattan's imbecilic outpourings on this issue see my column of Saturday, November 14, 2020: “Who do you believe – Ramjattan or Charran?” Finally, dignity was involved. Charran was one of the best known lawyers in Berbice, was well liked in Berbice and he felt disrespected that his pleadings to the AFC always went unanswered.

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

Thursday February 04, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 04, 2021

Arrest warrant out for Chevron and Exxon discussed merger Exxon's Nigeria Manager last year after COVID pandemic devastated oil prices, reports say over US$213M fraud (Energy Voice) - A Nigerian court has approved an arrest warrant for ExxonMobil's managing director in Nigeria, Richard Laing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a statement, said the Federal High Court in Abuja had approved an application for a bench warrant.

This allows the EFCC to arrest Laing.

Justice Okon Abang granted the EFCC request on January 29.

Laing had rejected an invitation to come and talk to the agency three times, the EFCC said, leading it to seek a warrant.

The EFCC said it was investigating alleged procurement fraud. The agency has said fraudulent change orders of more than $213 million had been

ExxonMobil's Managing Director in Nigeria, Richard Laing created. The case centres on Exxon's Major Integrity Pipelines Project (MIPS).

The agency named Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) as the contracting

company. Suffolk Petroleum Services was the main contractor. The agency named Saipem Contracting Nigeria, Global Offshore and Van Oord as sub contractors to Suffolk Petroleum.

Exxon declined to comment, citing a longstanding policy on legal matters.

The MIPS work – launched more than 10 years ago – focused largely on engineering, procurement, construction and installation offshore Nigeria.

This involved shore crossing, onshore pipeline sections, fabrication and installation of risers, tie ins and abandonment of existing pipeline sections.

A dispute arose between MPN and Suffolk, leading to protracted legal disputes.

Laing was promoted to chairman and managing director for Nigeria at Exxon in August 2020. He has worked in the country since 2017.

By Tucker Higgins CNBC - The CEOs of Chevron and ExxonMobil last year discussed the possibility of merging the two companies, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing unnamed people familiar with the talks.

The newspaper reported that Chevron CEO Michael Wirth and Exxon CEO Darren Woods spoke about the prospect after the COVID-19 pandemic began to negatively impact oil prices.

The talks are not ongoing and were described as preliminary, according to the Journal.

Representatives from the two companies declined to comment. The talks were later reported by Reuters.

A merger between Chevron and Exxon would be among the largest in history, and would likely face antitrust scrutiny from President Joe Biden's

A vehicle passes an Exxon Mobil Corp. gas station in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 (Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images) Department of Justice.

Both companies descend from John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil, which was broken up by the Supreme Court in 1911.

Chevron's market cap is $164 billion, and Exxon's is $189 billion, meaning that the combined company would be worth north of $350 billion.

The combined firm

wo u l d b e t h e s e c o n d largest oil and gas company in the world, after Saudi Aramco.

Oil prices have recovered much of their losses since cratering in March, though they have remained somewhat depressed amid a slowerthan-expected vaccine roll out and worries of new coronavirus variants.

Thursday February 04, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

“Complete works within contractual time or face contract termination” - Education Minister to contractors of UG projects

M

inister of Education, P r i y a Manickchand, yesterday read the riot act to contractors currently engaged in projects at the University of Guyana (UG) over their tardiness.

At the time, the Minister and a team were visiting the UG Turkeyen Campus for a first-hand view of several ongoing projects. Upon being told of the various projects, the Minister warned the contractors to finish within the contractual timeline or face possible contract termination.

In a release from the Ministry of Education (MOE), it was noted that Manickchand, who was also joined by the University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed, met with three of the four contractors executing works on the campus. In an engagement with the contractors, she reminded them of the government's firm stance

against defaulting contractors and stated that she was dissatisfied with the non-completion of the three projects.

She lamented that the projects were budgeted for, meaning that they were needed, especially for the

The new Human Resources and Bursary Building still under construction

Minister Manickchand engages with the contractors students on the campus.

“This is a complete failure on the part of the contractors,

it is unacceptable, reprehensible and a breach of contract,” Manickchand

The Education Minister examines the pump house

Six days later, ExxonMobil...

From page 3 signalled an intention to hold a press conference, in order to field questions from the media and sufficiently inform the public about Exxon's pollution of the atmosphere.

The only statement from any Exxon executive that the public was left to contend with was the country President, Alistair Routledge, saying “We are disappointed that this

unexpected issue has occurred and we're working diligently with the vessel's owner and the equipment vendor to understand and fix the issue as quickly as possible.”

Similar commitments w e r e m a d e l a s t y e a r, followed by broken deadlines.

The public is awash with concern that ExxonMobil will go on to flare another 12 billion cubic feet of gas this year. Even the World

Wildlife Fund (WWF) has called on the government to ensure the oil company is held accountable.

H o w e v e r, t h e Government has indicated that there will be no penalty for Exxon's flaring and that it will be allowed to produce with no governmentmandated curtailments. This means, if the status quo persists, ExxonMobil will quickly flare more gas in 2021 than it did last year.

said. The three projects are valued at almost $500M.

Contractor S. Gadraj is responsible for constructing the university's new Human Resources and Bursary Building and it was stated that it was supposed to be completed since last year.

R. Kissoon received the contract for a pump house intended to drain the campus and relieve it from continuous flooding during heavy rains. It was stated that the project was supposed to be completed in the first half of last year.

The third project which

was awarded to S. Jagmohan involves the modernisation of the campus' sewerage project. The decrepit 55year-old sewerage system was supposed to be replaced with a new system which also will cater for future expansion of the campus and was to be completed last year as well. All three projects were awarded in 2019.

M a n i c k c h a n d maintained that such tardy behaviour can influence the efficiency of the campus and (continued on page 17)

Worker dies in freak accident

A

s e n i o r supervisor employed with Edward B. Beharry and Company Ltd. died Tuesday while trying to investigate a work-related problem.

According to reports, 32year-old Mark Gomes of Long Pond, Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, met his demise while trying to identify an issue that had emanated at the company's flour tank where he was working at the time.

According to reports, the incident occurred at around 17:50hrs in the compound of the conglomerate's Area “Y” M a n d e l a Av e n u e , Georgetown location.

At the time of the incident, the 32-year-old was supervising the transfer of flour from a pressure tank that was mounted on a truck to a silo.

During that time, it was revealed, the pressure tank started to make a hissing sound, which then prompted Gomes to investigate. It was reported that Gomes climbed on to the back of the truck to check where the sound was coming from. It was at this

time that a hose that was connected to the tank and the silo got disconnected. As a result of that, the pressurized air coming from the pipe eventually hit Gomes to the face and caused him to fall to the ground, this publication was told.

Gomes was picked up by his workmates and rushed to the Woodlands Hospital where a doctor pronounced him dead on arrival.

The man's body has since been taken to the Memorial Gardens Parlour. A post

mortem is expected to be conducted shortly. Kaieteur News understands that the Guyana Police Force is currently reviewing CCTV footage of the incident, as part of the investigation into the matter.

After receiving reports about the incident, the Ministry of Labour announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Department has also c o m m e n c e d a n investigation.

(Alliyah Allicock)

PAGE 14

Thursday February 04, 2021

Kaieteur News

Govt. exploring more options to test for new COVID-19 variants - engaging PAHO to send samples to CDC

T

he government is looking to bolster its ability to detect new variants of COVID-19 in Guyana by exploring additional avenues to have test samples sent abroad for genetic sequencing.

This is according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who made the disclosure during the COVID-19 update yesterday.

The new variants of the virus require genetic sequencing to be conducted on test samples taken to properly identify them, but Guyana's public and private health system lacks the capacity to do so.

In light of that, the Health Ministry has fostered an agreement with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to have test samples sent there for genetic sequencing, according to Minister

Anthony.

When asked how often test samples will be sent to the Trinidad-based CARPHA for testing, Dr. Anthony stated that the Ministry will be sending at least 10 samples a month. The Minister reminded too that the results could take almost two weeks to arrive.

He added that the government is also exploring the possibility of having test samples sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States of America, through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The Ministry of Health and PAHO are currently “working it out,� according to Dr. Anthony, and, if that avenue is embraced, it will further enable the identification of the new variants locally, if any.

The first batch of COVID19 test samples taken locally

have been recently sent to CARPHA for testing and the results from those tests are still pending.

As a result, to date, Guyana h a s n o t recorded any infections from the new COVID-19 variants. The three variants that have been identified since the last quarter of 2020 were detected in the United Kingdom - a strain commonly known as B117; the South African strain 501Y.V2 and the Brazilian strain known as P.1.

Further, the Heal t h Minister revealed that government is hoping to incorporate genetic sequencing into Guyana's health system, but noted that it is a "complicated" thing that may take some time.

Additionally, it was stated that persons would need to be trained to carry out the genetic sequencing.

(Sueann Wickham)

Taxi driver charged for assaulting man

A

taxi driver was yesterday put before the court to answer to an assault charge. The man, Travis Thorman, 39, of 251 One Mile Wismar, Linden, made his first appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

Thorman was charged for causing grievous bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty

to the charge which alleged that on December 26, 2020, at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, he caused grievous bodily harm to Gavin Munroe.

Chief Magistrate McLennan granted Thorman bail in the sum of $40,000, and the matter was adjourned to February 10, 2021.

She also ordered that he stay away from Munroe until the hearing and determination of the matter.

Thursday February 04, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Independent probe needed into Exxon's claim of gas compressor failure - Former EPA Head I

By Shikema Dey

t is high time for an independent investigation to be conducted into ExxonMobil's claim that its gas compressor has malfunctioned. At least this is according to environmental engineering expert, Dr. Vincent Adams.

His assertion comes days after Exxon's Guyana subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), announced that the gas compressor on the Liza Destiny FPSO suffered yet another malfunction after purportedly being fixed in December last year.

That malfunction will now lead to millions of toxic natural gas being flared, as a necessary step to maintain safety operations on the FPSO, Exxon had reported.

D r. A d a m s , w h o appeared on Kaieteur Radio's Governance, Corruption and You, hosted

by Senior Journalist, Kiana Wilburg, revealed that he is of the view that the Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA), which he previously headed, had addressed this very issue.

But the problem has reared its head once again, leaving more questions than answers.

“I think an investigation would be very much in order, because if this happens so quickly after we thought that we have solved this issue, so you know you fool me once, shame on you…you know the saying…” he stated.

According to Dr. Adams, mitigative actions were placed in the Liza One Environmental Permit that speaks explicitly to equipment malfunctions.

In fact, that article 3.13 says that Exxon should have spare equipment on hand in any event such as this. But the language in the permit is so ambiguous, that it does not mandate that Exxon “must” have spare equipment.

Kaieteur News had posed questions to Exxon's Public Affairs Manager, Janelle Persaud, to ascertain whether the oil supermajor had adhered to article 3.13, but no answer was

forthcoming up to press time.

One would have expected Exxon to slow production at the Liza Destiny well. This, however, is far from reality as the company would be allowed to continue operating at full capacity, churning out 120,000 barrels of oil daily.

But according to Dr. Adams, this should not be happening.

If he was still at the helm of the EPA, Dr. Adams asserted, the company would be mandated to operate at minimum capacity, until the problem is fixed as the dangers associated with continued flaring outweigh the benefits.

“They would not have been producing in full, that I can tell you,” he continued.

“We would have gone and investigate what the issue is and how fast it's going to be fixed. But even producing at the minimum was not going to be going on for even weeks or months like what occurred in the past, because

they had the opportunity for an entire year to fix this problem,” the environmental engineering expert added.

What is a cause for concern and is unexplainable, Dr. Adams said, was the fact that this malfunction issue only occurs at Exxon's Guyana operations.

Another critical issue too, he outlined was the question of Exxon's quality assurance programme.

He explained, “any time you go and ask a vendor to manufacture this type of important and major equipment, you're supposed to have these QAQC (quality assurance, quality control) plans that you're supposed to oversee to make sure that the specification and anything else are in line.

You can't wait until you bring it aboard the ship to figure out; gosh, guess what, they've got the wiring wrong, they've got the wrong seals; the valves are bad. You know it's your problem; it's not a manufactures

problem.”

And Exxon being such a big company would have experts readily available, Dr. Adams continued.

Now that Guyana is given the second go at this issue, a clear investigation is what is needed taking into consideration that Exxon has plans to bring eight more FPSOs on shore.

“We better fix it here right now rather than wait until we get 10 FPSOs running or 20 depending on the other operators and then we got problem all over the place,” Dr. Adams added.

What is also critical, the former EPA head noted, is the need for 24/7 monitors aboard the FPSOs. Dr. Adams explained that during his tenure, the EPA, with assistance from the World Bank, developed a Petroleum Unit containing 36 highly-skilled staffers to streamline its monitoring duties of the oil and gas sector.

However, the agency's efforts were hampered due the then Coalition regime's inability to approve the requisite funding due to its

Former EPA Director, Dr. Vincent Adams caretaker status. With a budget now in place, Dr. Adams posited that acquiring the relevant officers for the unit should be a priority.

“When the contractors themselves reporting incidents, (and) when you go see for yourselves, over 90 percent of the time, (it) is totally different to what they reporting,” said Dr. Adams.

He continued, “I am not saying that, that is what is happening here. What was reported could almost be totally different to the condition that exists so that is why 24/7 presence is absolutely important.”

Ministry recommends installation of special air filters at cinemas - as reopening discussion continues

By Sueann Wickham

The MovieTowne complex

T

he reopening of movie theatres (cinemas) was among the issues addressed by the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, during his COVID-19 update, yesterday.

D r. A n t h o n y w a s questioned about the delay in reopening the cinemas, given that a number of other businesses, including bars, have been approved for reopening.

But Minister Anthony yesterday made it clear that indoor environments are risky places to be during the COVID-19 pandemic, since there is a high chance of persons contracting the virus. In further expounding, he said that if persons are in a crowded indoor cinema, it will pose a public health hazard.

In December of last year the Caribbean Cinemas and MovieTowne joined forces to express their disappointment in

government's decision to keep indoor cinemas closed, lamenting that it is creating “unprecedented economic hardship” for them and their employees.

Notably, cinemas would have been closed since March 2020 after Guyana recorded its first set of COVID-19 infections. To date, none of the published official gazettes of COVID19 measures has given the green light for indoor

cinemas; however, amendments were made for outdoor drive-in cinemas.

The cinemas also highlighted that other countries in the West Indies and the Caribbean would have authorized the reopening of cinemas.

In their joint statement they claimed that, according to international studies, cinemas proved to be lowrisk areas for COVID-19 transmission. “Movie

theatres are an indoor business, where consumers engage in a sedentary and quiet activity. Specifically, guests sit in a theatre, all facing the same direction, wearing face masks, and discouraged from speaking,” it was stated.

During the update yesterday, Dr. Anthony said that the Health Ministry has engaged with cinema owners and it had teams assess the cinema spaces. Following

the assessments, the officials recommended that High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters be installed in the cinemas.

“If somebody comes to the cinema and they have been infected and they are asymptomatic and they cough, then these HEPA filters would be able to clear out the viral particles,” Dr. Anthony noted.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “HEPA filters are even more efficient at capturing particles larger and smaller than the MPPS (Most Penetrating Particle Size).

Thus, HEPA filters are no less than 99.97 percent efficient at capturing humangenerated viral particles associated with SARS-CoV2.”

F u r t h e r, s i n c e t h e recommendations were made, the Minister said that he is unaware as to whether any cinema has installed such filters. As such, he said, the Ministry will have to

conduct another engagement with the cinemas to see if they have installed, or will be installing the HEPA filters.

Dr. Anthony also stated that if the government moves to reopen cinemas, it would be preferred that persons refrain from eating and drinking in the cinemas because it would require the removal of their masks.

The cinemas had listed safety protocols they have in place if granted permission for reopening and these include: requirements for face masks from every employee and patron except when eating; appropriate physical distancing being maintained between patrons, except members of the same household or those who attend together, and a reduced auditorium capacity of 50 percent, leaving seats and empty rows between parties.

The Caribbean Cinemas had attempted to reopen on August 14 last year, but could not due to strict objection by the authorities.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Maduro had ordered release of Guyanese...

VACANCY

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Workers for P.S.G.C.S Labourers, Cleaner, Maintenance worker, Semi- skilled labourer. Contact number 6157784, Mon- Fri 8am- 3pm

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Emmanuel's Delight sec S Grove Diamond 1 night cook, 1 baker server's Tel#696-5492 Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area Call: 615-9132 Female cleaner office & home call 642-9823 FOR SALEFOR SALE One clerk for Eccles office EnPast CXC Maths and English glish & Mathematics, grade 1 papers (2010-2020: paper 1 or 2 Email application to and 2) and CSEC text books techserigy@yahoo.com for all CSEC subjects 603-9085 Vacancy for a computer sciOne 65 K.V.A 3 phase, silence ence Engineer at Xen1 Netin excellent working condition works Inc. email: for $1.5M Guyana dollars, info@xen1net.net contact club Martini Call 623PITMEN AND SERVICEMEN 7805/ 649-0329 for inteior location. Applica19 Seat Pitbull bus, excellent tion must be experienced. Call condition 2.6m negotiable. 618-2020 Household items for sale, owner leaving country 649- Delivery Rider- must have motorcycle license 7371 Emailjobs@awngy or in person 175 middle St Gt Receptionist room attendant supervisor 30-50 yrs, 233 South Road Lacytown or 2250198 FOR RENT Sales girl apply at Alabama Two bedroom flat downstairs Trading 65 Robb street Nandy Park Tel#660-9096 brouda Fully furnished one, two and Experience carpenter apply at three bedroom apartment to Alabama Trading 65 Robb rent in diamond and provi- street Brouda dence E.C.D Tel# 682-6238/ Truck Mechanic and excava216-2299 tor mechanic, porter, cook, spray man AC technician.

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From page 8 gratitude for the support, which they received from the international community. “The Government of Guyana appreciates the efforts of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community and of the wider international community in securing the release of the crew and vessels.�

In moving forward, the Ministry stated that government wishes to underscore the value of mutual respect in the relations between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

VACANCY Vacancy supervisor to manage grocery department must have experience in purchasing & mamageing invertory Call 623-1615 Delivery riders- countrywide120 Jobs available to ride company owned motorbikes Call 658-9124 or jobs@gorchum.com WANTED Immediate Driver and water @ Del Ice Co. Tel#231-1408/ 642-9191 Experienced cooks & bakers cake making & decorating Tel#226-9000/ 225-6255 for interview Experienced wash bay staff Tel#649-7371 We buy land farm, Mocha, Herstelling Providence. Between 5-10 Million 266-0693 Driver living on E.C.D Dem Contact 623-5255 1 shop assistant from around Georgetown 18 to 25 yrs old call 226-2320 or 193 Charlotte & Wellington st.

Male seeks female 18-38 for common law relationship, light house work. Salary- $80,000 Call 695-0331 Live in maid wanted Bourda.

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VACANCY

Thursday February 04, 2021

Ministry records 36 new COVID-19 cases

The Ministry of Health yesterday reported that there were 36 new cases of the COVID-19 infection. This has brought the total to 7,714, according to its daily dashboard update.

The dashboard also shows that five patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 712 in

home isolation, 58 in institutional isolation and 12 in institutional quarantine. Additionally, a total of 6,762 persons have recovered from the virus with 81 new recoveries recorded yesterday.

The COVID-19 death toll remains at 177 deaths.

Thursday February 04, 2021

Deadly domestic dispute…

Man executed in party

Suspect confesses to murdering step-nephews - claims he was defending his brother Police have managed to squeeze a confession out of the suspect presently in custody for the Sunday night murders of his step-nephews - Surendra Raghunandan called “Ranga” and his brother Mahendra Ramotar called “Sonny” both of No. 43 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Police sources disclosed that Vernand Ravi Ragadoo, the suspect, told investigators that he committed the brutal act in defence of his brother, Randolph Richmond, the murdered brothers’ stepfather.

It was revealed that Ragadoo informed police that one of his step-nephews was attacking his brother and he heard him (his brother) calling out for him to help.

As such, the man said that he ran over to render assistance. He stated that he was imbibing at his sister’s residence which is opposite his brother’s residence.

Meanwhile, aunt of the brothers, Hemwattie Ramotar, relayed that she had a chance to speak with her sister at the hospital and based on her recount of what took place, it

differs from the suspect’s account of the events of that deadly night. She stated that her sister told her that she was in an argument with Randolph Richmond at their home but “Sonny” intervened.

She said, “Sonny ask the stepfather why he always beating he mother and then dem two start fight and the man (Randolph Richmond) run for a knife in the kitchen but Sonny run he and he run over (to) he sister house where the wedding deh, and then he brother (the suspect) run out and dem see the brother (the suspect) stabbing up Ranga who went on the road,” she said.

The woman said that her sister stated that when Sonny saw what was happening to his brother, he ran out to help him but the suspect charged towards him with the knife and dealt him several stabs until he collapsed.

“She tell me she run out after she see dem bai fall down and the man run to she and start stab she too and she fall on top Sonny,” she said.

Hemwattie said her sister told her that although she was pleading for help from her husband and relatives, no-

Dead: Mahendra Ramotar

Dead: Surendra Raghunandan

one assisted. A while after, the injured woman and her sons were taken to the hospital. The sons were pronounced dead on arrival.

Ragadoo reportedly slashed his step-nephews to death on Sunday night and also injured his brother’s wife Sukmattie Richmond who is conscious and speaking but is still hospitalised.

Commander-in-Charge of Region Six, Jairam Ramlakhan, has confirmed that a file was sent to the DPP for advice into the murders of the brothers and that advice is expected to return shortly.

Meanwhile, post mortems were conducted on the bodies of the brothers by Government Pathologist Vivekanand Bridgmohan yesterday. The autopsy report revealed that

Raghunandan lungs collapsed due to multiple stab wounds and that was compounded by shock and haemorrhage. It was revealed too that Ramotar died from stab wounds to the abdomen and thorax (chest) compounded by shock and haemorrhage.

Hemwattie, the aunt of the dead brothers and sister to the injured woman, is calling for justice to be served since she believes that her nephews’ lives could have been saved if their step-father and his relatives had assisted in taking them to the hospital.

“I need justice for my nephews them. Why the brother attack the two stepsons and nobody else?”

She questioned as she echoed her call for justice.

Appeal Court reserves date for ruling in DPP’s appeal in Bisram’s trial The arguments in the appeal case filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, to have the murder charges reinstituted on discharged Guyanese/US businessman and philanthropist, Marcus Bisram, concluded yesterday, with the Appeal Court reserving it ruling in the case.

The Court is expected to send legal notices to parties involved on a date in which it will rule.

Bisram, who was extradited from the United States to face charges for the October 2016 murder of Berbice carpenter, Faiyaz Narinedatt, was released by Magistrate Renita Singh after a preliminary inquiry, where she ruled that there was insufficient evidence to send him to the High Court for trial.

The DPP had however invoked her powers under Section 72 (1) and (2) (ii) (b) of the Criminal Law Offences Act, and directed the Magistrate to reopen the inquiry with a view of committing Bisram to the High Court for trial. Her directions were complied with, but Bisram challenged the DPP’s right to instruct the Magistrate in the High Court.

In a subsequent decision, Justice Simone Morris-

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Ramlall, quashed the DPP’s orders as unlawful. Justice Morris-Ramlall also ordered that the DPP should be prohibited from instituting the charges against Bisram again.

It is this order that the DPP has challenged in the Appeal Court. Arguments in the appeal concluded yesterday with the DPP and attorney for Bisram, Arudranauth Gossai, giving their final submissions to the court.

Ali-Hack, SC, has so far, maintained that she is legally empowered to order a Magistrate to reinstitute charges on Bisram, under Section 72 of the Criminal Law Offences Act. Given this right to direct the Magistrate to reopen the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) and commit the accused for trial, the DPP said that her directive for Bisram to be committed to stand trial was proper, reasonable and lawfully made. She stressed, among other things, that the Magistrate erred in finding there was not enough evidence to commit Bisram for trial. “This was the function of the jury not the Magistrate,” she said.

“Section 72 (2) (1) and (2) (a) and (b) empowers the DPP to direct the Magistrate…,” she emphasized.

She also stated, among

US-based businessman, Marcus Bisram.

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C.

other things that with a jury properly directed, there can be a conviction for the murder of Narinedatt, who was killed between October 31, 2016 and November 1, 2016.

The DPP had previously contended too that there were several errors in the judgment of Justice Morris-Ramlall, who ruled in June that Bisram was unlawfully committed to stand trial in the High Court for the capital offence of murder.

In response, Gossai contended that the DPP stepped outside her realm in her order to the Magistrate.

“It offends the separation of powers’ doctrine,” the lawyer said, adding that Article 122 A of the Constitution “created an independent judiciary, and expressly provides that all courts and all persons

presiding over the courts shall exercise their functions independently of the control and direction of any other person or authority; and shall be free and independent from political, executive and any form of direction and control.”

Gossai said that in his view, the provisions of Section 72 (2) (ii) (a) seek to encroach on the judicial determination of a Magistrate.

Such an encroachment, he pointed out, would offend the separation of powers doctrine. “The DPP cannot seek to determine the outcome of the preliminary inquiry. If the Court were to hold that the DPP had such powers, it would, respectfully, mean that the DPP (the Executive) would be reaching into the affairs of the court,” the lawyer contends.

Chatter and laughter turned into screams Tuesday evening, after a taxi driver was shot to the head, while attending a birthday party at North East La Penitence, Georgetown.

Executed is Osafo Pollard, 29, of West La Penitence.

According to investigators, Pollard was shot around 22:30 hrs.

Kaieteur News too had received reports of a shooting in the La Penitence area around that time.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the scene, there were a few persons still gathered at the venue.

Those individuals told reporters that someone had

Executed: Osafo Pollard. been shot and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

At the hospital, friends (Continued on page 18)

...“Complete works within From page 13 its work. She further stated that her Ministry is not insensitive to legitimate issues that might affect contractors but when contractors bid for projects, they have to consider several factors such as persistent rainfall, the supply of materials and other considerations that may cause the project to be delayed.

They should also have a plan to address the shortcomings and ensure that they are completed on time.

“There can be no excuses, you have to get it done within the time agreed, and this stops today do what you say you will do,” she warned.

She also said that the

contractors cannot argue that the projects were not completed on time because of financial constraints since all three contractors received advanced payments.

The pump station is now set for completion at the end of next month, the new bursary building is set for completion in May and the rehabilitation of the sewage system is set to be completed in November.

Going forward, the UG Project Implementation Unit and the MOE will provide support and guidance to contractors to ensure the new deadlines are met according to Minister Manickchand.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 04, 2021

Myanmar police file charges against Aung San Suu Kyi after coup (Reuters) - Myanmar police have filed charges against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi for illegally importing communications equipment and she will be detained until Feb. 15 for investigations, according to a police document.

The move followed a military coup on Monday and the detention of Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi and other civilian politicians. The takeover cut short Myanmar’s long transition to democracy and drew condemnation from the United States and other Western countries.

A police request to a court detailing the accusations against Suu Kyi, 75, said six walkie-talkie radios had been found in a search of her home in the capital Naypyidaw. The radios were imported illegally and used without permission, it said.

The document reviewed yesterday requested Suu Kyi’s detention “in order to question witnesses, request evidence and seek legal counsel after questioning the defendant”.

A separate document showed police filed charges against ousted President Win Myint for violating protocols

Aung San Suu Kyi to stop the spread of the coronavirus during campaigning for an election last November.

The charges against Suu Kyi “just compound the undermining of the rule of law in Myanmar and the democratic process,” United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters yesterday.

“We continue to call for her immediate release and the president’s immediate release and all others who have been detained by the military in the last few days,” he said.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won November’s election in

a landslide but the military, headed by Army chief General Min Aung Hlaing, claimed the vote was marred by fraud and justified its seizure of power on those grounds. The electoral commission had said the vote was fair.

The chair of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Parliamentarians for Human Rights, Charles Santiago, said the new charges were ludicrous.

“This is an absurd move by the junta to try to legitimize their illegal power grab,” he said in a statement.

Reuters was not

...Man executed in party From page 17 and family of Pollard were tense; some were in the hospital’s compound, while others waited outside, with the hope that he would survive.

Kaieteur News was informed that Pollard was one of the attendees at a birthday party, which was being held at a residence, when all of a sudden gunshots rang out.

Some persons recalled that they were upstairs when they heard loud explosions followed by screams. Others recalled seeing persons scattering.

After the brief chaos ended, Pollard was seen lying on the ground and bleeding from a

wound to the head. Who fired the shots, however, is a mystery. It is suspected that it might have be someone who was wearing a black jersey.

That person was reportedly seen running away after the shots were fired.

An ambulance, which was summoned immediately after the commotion, transported Pollard to the hospital.

Kaieteur News learnt that because of the valiant efforts of doctors to save the man’s life, some family members were optimistic that he would make it.

A few, however, feared the worst and could not

hold back their tears. Others took turns entering the emergency ward to check on him. Each time they returned, they brought with them positive news.

Some said, “he is gonna make it. He is still breathing.

He gon live.”

When a Kaieteur News reporter left the hospital at midnight yesterday, doctors told family members that Pollard was critical.

Police revealed that Pollard died at 00:20 hours while receiving medical attention. Pollards leaves to mourn his two young children, and other family members.

immediately able to reach the police, the government or the court for comment.

Suu Kyi spent about 15 years under house arrest between 1989 and 2010 as she led the country’s democracy movement, and she remains hugely popular at home despite damage to her international reputation over the plight of Muslim Rohingya refugees in 2017.

The NLD made no immediate comment. A party official said on Tuesday he had learned she was under house arrest in the capital, Naypyidaw, and was in good health.

The party said its offices had been raided in several regions and it urged authorities to stop what it

called unlawful acts after its election victory.

Opposition to the junta has begun to emerge in Myanmar.

Staff at government hospitals across the country of 54 million people stopped work or wore red ribbons as part of a civil disobedience campaign.

The newly formed Myanmar Civil Disobedience Movement said doctors at 70 hospitals and medical departments in 30 towns had joined the protest.

It accused the army of putting its interests above a coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 3,100 people, one of the highest tolls in Southeast Asia.

“The first vaccines arrived in Myanmar only last week and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic must remain a priority for the foreseeable future,” the U.N.’s Dujarric said.

The junta has declared a one-year state of emergency and has promised to hold fair elections, but has not said when.

The Group of Seven largest developed economies condemned the coup yesterday and said the election result must be respected.

China has not specifically condemned the coup in its neighbour but the foreign ministry rejected the suggestion that it supported or gave tacit consent to it.

U.S. Supreme Court scraps arguments in Trump-era immigration and wall cases WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday canceled upcoming scheduled arguments in appeals filed by Republican former President Donald Trump’s administration defending his funding of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and his so-called “remain in Mexico” asylum policy.

Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration, which is in the process of changing course on both issues, on Monday had asked the justices to postpone further legal filings in the two cases and to remove them from their oral argument calendar.

Biden’s administration already has announced plans to discontinue wall construction and suspend the asylum programme, potentially making the cases moot.

The court was scheduled to hear arguments in the wall case on Feb. 22 and the asylum police case on March 1.

The cases involve two contentious issues left over from Trump’s turbulent four years in office.

The border wall was one of Trump’s central 2016 campaign promises, with his supporters chanting at rallies “build the wall.” At issue was the legality of Trump’s decision, after Congress refused to appropriate money he sought for the wall, to shift military funds already provided by lawmakers for other purposes to pay for the project.

Trump called the wall necessary to curb illegal

Ex-President Donald Trump immigration and drug trafficking across the southern border. Democrats have called the wall immoral, ineffective and expensive.

Trump promised during the 2016 presidential race that Mexico would pay for the wall. Mexico refused.

Trump in 2019 redirected $2.5 billion from military counter-narcotics programmes for border wall construction in California, New Mexico and Arizona.

Biden issued a proclamation on Jan. 20, his first day in office, ordering a freeze on border wall projects and directing a review of the legality of its funding and contracting methods.

The “remain in Mexico” policy, which took effect in 2019, has forced tens of thousands of migrants along the southern border to wait in Mexico, rather than entering the United States, while their asylum claims are processed.

Trump said the policy reduced the flow of migrants

from Central America into the United States. Migrants in the programme, many of them children, faced violence and homelessness in Mexico while awaiting court dates.

Human rights groups have documented cases of kidnappings, rapes and assaults.

Biden’s Department of Homeland Security has said it will suspend new enrollments in the asylum programme, pending further review. On Tuesday, Biden announced a formal review of the asylum programme.

In both cases, lower courts ruled against the Trump administration. The Supreme Court last year agreed to hear the Trump administration’s appeals.

They are among several cases pending at the high court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, that Biden’s administration may seek to change course on after earlier action by Trump’s administration.

Thursday February 04, 2021

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Thursday February 04, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Australian Open tuneup matches today cancelled due to COVID-19

A person wearing a protective face mask walks past an Australian Open logo at Melbourne Park in Melbourne.

Thursday February 04, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A trip of some kind might have to be postponed, as computers and other technology involved in your arrangements might be temporarily out of operation. This can prove frustrating, Aries, but it's beyond your control.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) No matter what friends tell you, Aquarius, this isn't the day to make an investment of any kind, from buying a house to starting a savings account. And this isn't a good day to invest online.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Machines are likely to pose a few problems today, Gemini, particularly where work and money are concerned.

CANCER(June21–July22) Obstacles may arise in the course of your chores when machines break down and interfere with your efficiency. Your frustrations may cause you to want to yell and throw things.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Payment for work you've performed may not come when expected, particularly if direct deposit is involved. The planetary energies today don't favor the smooth functioning of computers or other machines.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Family members might not be in the best of moods today, Virgo. Frustration with machines or friends could have tempers on edge, so try to avoid the temptation to get into arguments.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Problems in your community may result from malfunctioning machines. Be prepared.

Have flashlights handy in case of a power outage, and walk instead of drive in case signals cause major traffic jams.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Temporary upsets regarding money might result from a computer failure of some sort. Take care not to lose your temper over it.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Computers and other equipment could go haywire today, limiting your abilities to work at maximum efficiency. Even though you're usually calm and laid back, Sagittarius, today the ogre in you may be tempted to emerge.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Don't try to sign up for a class over the phone or online today, Capricorn, as it probably won't work.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) No matter what friends tell you, Aquarius, this isn't the day to make an investment of any kind, from buying a house to starting a savings account. And this isn't a good day to invest online.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) More than one problem with modern equipment could rear its head today, Pisces.

Computers could malfunction, crash, or be maddeningly slow. You might also have a hard time reaching people you need to talk to.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) Up to 600 players and support staff connected to the Australian Open will have to isolate until they have been tested for COVID-19 after a hotel quarantine worker in Melbourne returned a positive result for the virus yesterday.

Play at the six warm-up events for the Grand Slam at Melbourne Park was heavily disrupted with organisers Tennis Australia cancelling all matches for today.

“Those associated with the AO who quarantined at the hotel now need to be tested and isolate until they receive a negative test result,” the organisers of the Feb. 8-21 Grand Slam said in a statement.

“We will work with everyone involved to facilitate testing as quickly as possible. There will be no matches at Melbourne Park on Thursday. An update on the schedule for Friday will be announced later today.”

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said the positive case should not impact the Australian Open itself and testing of contacts will start from today.

“There is a number of about 500, 600 people who are players and officials and others who are casual contacts,” Andrews said at a news conference late yesterday.

Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, reintroduced the compulsory

...Guyanese Boxer Reginald Ford From page 20 Eddie Marcelle (1978), and Luis Resto (1979). He engaged several local pugilists including Brian Muller, who he held to a draw on Boxing Day, 1979.

Muller later on, in 1983, turned back the challenge to capture a point’s decision over Ford.

“Reginald served as my coach for a short period and travelled with me for my Commonwealth Title Bout in Cardiff Wales. He was a hard worker and demanded nothing less than 100% from his charges. After migrating to the USA, Reggie opened training camp at the world renowned Gleasons Gym where he tutored numerous fighters. After falling ill a few years ago, he was cared for in one of the homes in NY until his death.

Rest in eternal peace champ.

Your legacy lives on,” remembered former Commonwealth Contender Mike Benjamin.

Kaieteur Sports extend deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of the late Regional Ford.

wearing of masks in indoor public places from today while private gatherings were reduced from 30 people to 15.

About 1,200 players, coaching staff and officials arrived in Australia at the middle of last month for the year’s first Grand Slam and went into a mandatory 14-day isolation.

The players were allowed five hours outside for training but 72 of them were confined to hotel rooms for the two weeks after passengers on three charter flights taking them to Australia tested positive to the novel coronavirus.

Participants of the Australian Open were given the green light to begin exiting COVID-19 quarantine from end of last week with most of them involved at the ATP, WTA events at the site of the hardcourt major.

COVID-19 Quarantine

Victoria (CQV) said in a statement that a man, who worked his last shift at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Melbourne on Friday, returned a positive result yesterday.

“We are contacting all Australian Open players, officials and support staff who were staying at the Grand Hyatt during the entire period,” said CQV, the government agency overseeing the quarantine of participants ahead of the Grand Slam.

“At this stage there is no impact on the tournament proper,” Andrews added. “I must say (the Australian Open) is important to us but the issues are much broader and that is about public health and public safety.

“This is one case. There’s no need for people to panic.

There’s no need for people to be alarmed.”

Kaieteur News

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Thursday February 04, 2021

Gayle blasts unbeaten 22-ball 84 Guyanese Boxer Reginald Ford dies at 67 in Team Abu Dhabi’s nine-wicket World rated Guyanese pugilist Reginald Ford entered this world on June 11, 1953 and departed it last Tuesday at the age of 67 following a prolonged period of illness in the USA bringing the local and overseas boxing fraternity, especially those in the USA, into mourning.

The former world beater enjoyed an illustrious journey in the Ring in 1970s and early 80s and was the most charismatic boxer despite never managing to clinch that elusive world title.

The dynamic Ford became the eighth Guyanese to challenge for the British Empire Commonwealth title when he travelled to Denmark on Sept. 14, 1978 to match gloves with Ayub Kalule. However,

Middleweight Ford lost by a fifth round KO but bounced back to record a notable victory over former European champion Dave Robert Green who was also known as Dave Boy Green and Fen Tiger.

Ford retired in 1985 with a record of 27 fights, 11 wins 15 losses three KOs and one draw after representing Guyana as an Amateur in Light-welterweight division at the Pan American Games where he won a Bronze medal. Ford also attended the Central American and Caribbean Games.

On November 3, 1981, Ford retired Dave Boy Green, the former British champion. Ford had forced Green’s manager Andy Smith to call a halt to the contest in the fourth round.

Green was outclassed by an

opponent who had fought six ex-world champions including Alan Minter, Marvin Hagler, Kalule, Mike Mc Callum, Mark Medal and Matthew Hilton.

Only three fighters had ever previously beaten Green in his career; Carlos Palomino, and Sugar Ray Leonard who were world champions and Jorgen Hansen, a former European champion. It was a very good season for Ford who went on to defeat England’s Kirkland Laing on points at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London. Laing was to go on to gain a decision over the great Roberto Duran.

The Guyanese matched gloves against some of the s p o r t ’s b e s t f i g h t e r s including Marvin Hagler (1977), Ayub Kalule (1978), (Continued on page 21)

win over Maratha Arabians

SportsMax - Chris Gayle plundered 84 runs from 22 balls as Team Abu Dhabi defeated Maratha Arabians by nine wickets in the Abu Dhabi T10 earlier yesterday.

The 41-year-old Gayle achieved a strike rate of 381.82, smashing six fours and nine sixes in a brutal onslaught on the Arabians bowling that powered TAD, chasing 98 for victory, to 100 for 1 off just 5.3 overs.

The Universe Boss signalled his intent from as early as the first over bowled by Yamin Ahmadzai that went for 18 runs. It was his only over of the match.

In fact, none of the Arabians bowlers got more than one over in as Gayle unleashed his special brand of carnage.

Twenty-seven runs came off Sampal Kami’s over. Paul Stirling hit consecutive fours from his first two balls before a single off the third turned him over to Gayle, who then hit him for three consecutive sixes.

Mossaddek Hossain bowled the third over and after conceding two runs from his first delivery, then had Stirling caught at cow corner for 11 when the score was 47.

Unfortunately, for him, the batsman crossed

while the ball was in the air putting Mossaddek squarely in the crosshairs of the Universe Boss, whose 50 came up from just 12 balls. His next four balls went for 20 runs – 4, 6, 4, 6 – as the early promise was cut to shreds by Gayle’s blade.

In the over that followed, Maroof Merchant’s conceded three runs from the first four balls before it was spoiled by consecutive sixes from Gayle.

Ishan Malhotra bowled the fifth over and only conceded 10 runs with one four coming from Gayle’s bat. Mercifully, the nightmare ended for Maratha Arabians mid-way the sixth over when Gayle slogged Mutkar Ali over midwicket for his ninth six.

Joe Clarke was unbeaten on 5 at the end.

Earlier, Obed McKoy 2 for 20 helped restrict Maratha Arabians to 97 for 4. Alishan Sharafu was their leading scorer with 33 from 23 balls. Mohammed Hafeez (20) and Shoaib Malik 15* helped push the score along but were stymied by the bowling of Tom Helm, whose two overs only cost eight runs.

Jamie Overton and Naveen-ul-Haq each took 1 for 21 from their respective quotas.

Thursday February 04, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

Bangladesh, West Indies Kohli’s India face England share opening-day honours with Lord’s Test final at stake

A

FP - Opener Shadman Islam struck a patient half-century and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican claimed three wickets for 58 as Bangladesh and the West Indies shared the honours on the opening day of the first Te s t i n C h i t t a g o n g yesterday.

The hosts ended the day on 242-5, with Shadman leading the way with 59 off 154 balls — and several others chipping in with useful knocks.

Mushfiqur Rahim (38), Mominul Haque (26) and Najmul Hossain (25) all got modest starts after Bangladesh opted to bat first, but they could not march on.

Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das were unbeaten on 39 and 34 respectively at the close.

The visiting bowlers managed to strike whenever a partnership started to flourish, keeping Bangladesh in check.

Kemar Roach made the first breakthrough when he bowled opener Tamim Iqbal with an in-swinger that hit the top of the left-hander’s

middle stump.

Although Tamim fell for just nine runs, his tally in Test cricket went to 4,414 runs, giving him the record of Bangladesh’s leading runscorer — for while at least.

Shadman and Najmul then steadied the innings with a 43-run stand before the latter was run out.

Warrican claimed the first of his three wickets beautifully, setting a trap for Bangladesh skipper Mominul, who obliged by lofting a catch to John Campbell at midwicket.

It ended Mominul’s promising 53-run thirdwicket stand with Shadman, who followed his captain off the field shortly after, having been trapped leg before by Warrican.

Shadman — who hit six fours — could have survived if he had reviewed the decision of the on-field umpire, as a replay showed the ball was going down leg.

Shadman regretted his decision not to seek a review.

“I thought that the ball pitched in line and would hit the stump. Therefore I did not go for the review,” he

said.

“I was a bit frustrated after seeing the replay in the dressing room, but it is part of the game.”

Mushfiqur then reclaimed his record as the country’s leading run-getter and rebuilt Bangladesh’s innings with a 59-run stand with Shakib.

Their partnership came to an end when Mushfiqur poked a delivery from Warrican to Rahkeem Cornwall at slip.

“It was a very good day for me in the office. I got three vital wickets.

Hopefully I can benefit the team with more wickets tomorrow,” Warrican said.

“The Bangladesh batsmen play spin very well, so we had to be very disciplined and set the right fields. We stuck to the basics and just made sure I bowled in good areas and challenged the batsmen.”

The West Indies handed Test debuts to Nkrumah Bonner, Kyle Mayers and Shayne Moseley.

Stumps: Bangladesh 242 for 5 (Islam 59, Shakib 39*, Warrican 3-58) vs West Indies.

Mickey Arthur, Lahiru Thirimanne test - Development might force Sri Lanka to positive for Covid-19 reschedule their planned tour of the West Indies ESPNcricinfo - Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur and batsman Lahiru Thirimanne were found to have Covid-19 at the latest round of PCR testing conducted on the provisional squad, which has been preparing for the tour of the West Indies later this month.

These developments may force Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to try and reschedule the team’s travel plans - the tour is slated to begin on February 20, with the first Test scheduled to begin on February 28. Although the players who have tested positive may recover from the illness in time to tour, they may not be in a position to play the series, depending the longer-term effects of the virus. SLC’s medical team will monitor their situation over the next few weeks before further decisions are made.

“They were detected following PCR Tests carried out yesterday (2nd February) for the entire 36-member squad, along with the Coaching Staff, Net

Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur has returned a positive COVID 19 test. © AFP via Getty Images

Bowlers, and the HPC Staff,” SLC said in a s t a t e m e n t y e s t e r d a y.

“Immediately upon identification, both Mickey Arthur and Lahiru Thirimanne have been directed to follow the G o v e r n m e n t ’s h e a l t h protocol laid out on Covid19.”

The group started training on January 28 in Colombo - in groups of three and at different time slots for the tour. But the schedule might change now, with SLC saying, “Considering the current situation, SLC is

exploring the possibility of rescheduling the Tour of West Indies, which was scheduled to commence on 20th Feb. 2021.

“In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket will continue with normal operations, adhering to the stipulated Health Protocols in all its centers.”

Last month seamer Binura Fernando and seambowling allrounder Chamika Karunaratne had also tested positive for Covid-19 and were subsequently removed from the training group ahead of the West Indies tour.

India captain Virat Kohli (L) missed most of the Test series against Australia.

AFP - New dad Virat Kohli returns to captain a buoyant India against England as they aim to build on their crushing win over Australia by sealing a place i n t h e Wo r l d Te s t Championship final.

Kohli, who welcomed a baby daughter last month, missed most of the Australia series on paternity leave as Ajinkya Rahane led an injury-ravaged side from 0-1 down to a sensational 2-1 away win.

Next up is the muchanticipated four-game series against Joe Root’s England, who are also on a winning streak after beating Sri Lanka 2-0 on their first Test tour since the pandemic.

However, India start as strong favourites on their spin-friendly home pitches, where England haven’t won a Test since 2012.

The hosts will also expect to clinch their place in the inaugural World Test Championship final in June at Lord’s, where New Zealand await.

India top the table followed by New Zealand, Australia and England. The Black Caps reached the final when Australia called off their tour of South Africa over coronavirus concerns.

Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj and wicketkeeperbatsman Rishabh Pant were among the new stars unearthed by India as they clinched the series by handing Australia their first defeat at Brisbane’s Gabba ground since 1988.

Paceman Mohammed Shami and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja will miss the first two Tests due to injuries, but England are keenly aware of the strength and variety of India’s attack.

“The one thing about the Indian bowling attack is that

it’s not just about spin,” England’s assistant coach Graham Thorpe said.

“Their seam attack is also s t r o n g . We c a n ’ t b e sidetracked completely and focus just on the spin side of things.”

- Stokes warning Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack that also includes Siraj, Ishant Sharma and Shardul Thakur.

Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel will also be key on the Indian pitches.

England have come equipped with their spin options in Jack Leach, Dom Bess and Moeen Ali, who has recovered from the Covid infection that kept him out of the Sri Lanka series.

They also have three reserve spinners in Mason Crane, Matthew Parkinson and Amar Virdi.

Root, who hit matchwinning scores of 228 and 186 in the first and second Sri Lanka Tests, will complete a century of Tests in the first game.

The visitors have been boosted by the return of Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and

Rory Burns as they rotate players to reduce their time in biosecure “bubbles”.

Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler will go home after the first Test, while Jonny Bairstow has been rested for the opening two matches.

“Root has time to play his strokes. He also plays spin well off the back foot,” Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav told ESPNcricinfo.

“Buttler dominates the bowlers really well. That is his strength. Stokes too is similar and keeps the bowler under pressure.”

The first Test in Chennai is behind closed doors, but 50 percent capacity — 16,500 — will be allowed at the second Test in the same venue.

The day-night third Test and the fourth game will be the first held at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad — the world’s biggest cricket stadium, with a 110,000 capacity.

India has the world’s second highest number of pandemic cases, more than 10.7 million, but numbers of new infections and deaths have fallen dramatically in recent weeks.

Ben Stokes returns for England after being rested.

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Thursday February 04, 2021

“Remembering WI fast bowler Sylvester Clarke on the spinner-friendly pitches of Pakistan in 1981”

By Colin E. H. Croft

A

s West Indies starts its TwoTe s t s e r i e s against Bangladesh at the supposedly spinner-friendly pitches at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong, and Sher-eBangla Stadium, Mirpur, there is much talk about spin v pace on sub-continent pitches.

The present spin-heavy WI squad will still depend much on faster bowlers, which reminds of the most underrated WI fast bowler ever – Sylvester Theophilus Clarke - who bowled well on any pitch; anywhere!

“Silly” or “ST” or “Clarkie” or “Silvers”,died on December 04, 1999, seven days before his 45th birthday; a tremendous loss t o W I ’s f a s t b o w l i n g fraternity and cricket everywhere. 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall, Clarke was built like a war tank; a big, powerful 230 pounds (104 kg) man; like a tall, broad Mike Tyson.

Clarke played only eleven Tests, producing 42 wickets, and ten ODI’s, for WI, along with 238 First Class games, mostly for Surrey CCC in the UK, Transvaal and Orange Free State in South Africa, and Barbados, producing 942 1st Class wickets. Four of those

Sylvester Theophilus Clarke (PA Photo)

Tests were against Pakistan in 1981.

No WI fast bowler, probably with the exceptions of Roy Gilchrist or (Sir) Charles Griffith, elicited more raw fear from batsmen, ever, than “Clarkie” did. A jovial, funny giant off the field, Clarke was a seriously effective, extremely dangerous bowler on it!

40 years ago, WI toured Pakistan, with Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Colin Croft, Joel Garner and Sylvester Clarke as the fast bowling contingent. The

specialist spinners were offspinners Derick Parry and Rangy Nanan.WI’s batting featured Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge, Faoud Bacchus, (Sir) Viv Richards, Alvin Kallicharran, (Sir) Clive Lloyd ©, Hillary “Larry” Gomes, David Murray (w) and Milton Pydanna (w).

The Four-Test series ended WI 1 - Pakistan 0; but it was even closer than that.

The separator between the two teams, as equal as whenever they have met, was “ST”Clarke.

With

Garner and Holding at less than normal effectivity due to injuries, Clarke was the difference.

Pakistan’s 1981 squad for that Four-Test series included some of the “Who’s Who” of Pakistan’s cricket history, and would feature in any All-Pakistan cricket team: Taslim Arif (w), Sadiq Mohammad, Shafiq Ahmad, Mansoor Akhtar, Javed Miandad ©, Majid Khan, Wasim Raja, Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan (Pakistan’s present Prime Minister), Abdul Qadir, Safraz Nawaz, Iqbal Qasim, Ijaz Faqih, Wa s i m B a r i ( w ) , Mohammad Nazir and Sikander Bakht.

I would wager, with both teams at their peak, that Pakistan’s 1981 cricket team would annihilate the present 2021 Pakistan team, the one which just beat South Africa in their 1st2021 Test, in any format - Tests, ODI or T-20s.

Alas, only computerized enhancements could produce such imaginary games.

Imran Khan made the only century for Pakistan in those four Tests in 1981; a very accomplished, absolutely classy 123, out of 297, in the drawn Test No. 1 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, the best cricket pitch in the series; against Clarke, Croft, Garner and Marshall.

To counter that, (Sir) Viv made the only century for WI in that series; a superlative 120 not out from a total of 249, in the drawn 4th Test at Ibn-e-Qasim Bagh Stadium, Multan, a very tricky pitch overall; against Imran Khan, Safraz Nawaz, Iqbal Qasim, Mohammad Nazir and Wasim Raja.

But it was in Tests No. 2 and No. 3 where Clarke really shone. Both pitches at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, for Test No. 2, and the National Stadium, Karachi, for Test No. 3, were set up for spinners; very dry and extremely dusty. On these pitches, Clarke bowled more effectively than ever, and better than anyone else.

Indeed, the first deliveries that both Clarke and Croft bowled at Faisalabad erupted in puffs of dust!

In Test No. 2, Clarke’s figures were 13 – 2 – 28 – 3 and 12 – 2 – 36 – 1; averagely sounding match analysis of 4 wicket for 64; yet Pakistan could not muster 200 in either innings; making 176 and 145. Having made 235 and 242, WI won by 156 runs.

Also contributing 43 with the bat in Test No. 2, “Clarkie” was voted “Man of the Match”, so totally menacing was his bowling on that supposedly placid spinner-friendly pitch.

While many of the Pakistani

batsmen were hit several times about the body, one still wonders how some did not get seriously hurt, as Clarke summoned Herculean strength to bowl some very awkward bouncers on that pitch!

In Test No. 3 at Karachi, Clarke was even more deadly; 15 – 7 – 27 – 4 and 11 – 3 – 14 – 2; match analysis 6 for 41, as Pakistan made 128 and 204-9. WI wobbled badly in its only innings; 1st innings 169. It rained during that 3rd Test, so it was anyone’s guess as to if WI could have made the nearly 200 Pakistan would have set.

No-one knows!

At the end of the FourTest Series, (Sir) Viv Richards was named “Man of the Series”. Yes, Colin Croft got the most wickets for WI – 17 wickets – but the big shouldered, short run-up, ultra-strong Sylvester Clarke - 14 wickets– and his tremendous hostility at the batsmen, was easily the best WI bowler of that series.

Had he not been involved in that ‘reciprocal’ brickthrowing incident in Test No. 4, Clarke would have been a fixture as a WI fast bowler, having led our fast attack on the spin-ready pitches of Pakistan. “Clarkie” will always be remembered as being an extremely strong, very willing fast bowler on any pitch; anywhere!!

Serena sizzles after Barty, Kenin script hard-fought wins M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) - Serena Williams sounded a warning for her fellow Australian Open contenders yesterday with a sleek 6-1 6-4 victory against B u l g a r i a n Ts v e t a n a Pironkova to reach the quarter-finals of the Yarra Valley Classic in Melbourne.

After top two seeds Ash Barty and Sofia Kenin faced steep challenges to keep their preparations on course, Williams put up a contrasting show at Melbourne Park’s Margaret Court Arena in the evening session.

World number one Barty, who won 6-0 4-6 6-3, showed no signs of fatigue from having played a late match on Tuesday and started in top gear against Marie Bouzkova at the Margaret Court Arena before her Czech opponent staged a

fightback. Australian Open champion Kenin, seeded second, appeared headed for an exit against fellow American Jessica Pegula when she fell 3-0 back after losing the first set but the feisty 22-year-old found her range and rallied for a 5-7 75 6-2 win.

Williams, a 23-times Grand Slam winner and a seven-time Australian Open champion, moved well, looked composed and mixed power with poise against Pironkova, who had won a set off her during last year’s U.S. Open quarter-finals.

The 39-year-old American did not allow her a foothold in Wednesday’s match and hit 25 winners against the seven managed

by Pironkova, who like Wi l l i a m s r e t u r n e d t o professional tennis after becoming a mother.

“It’s definitely nice to get another win,” Williams, who will next play compatriot Danielle Collins for a semifinal spot, said during her oncourt interview. “She’s clearly a great player, so it wasn’t easy, but it was good to come through.”

Barty, Australia’s best hope for a Grand Slam champion this month, punished Bouzkova’s weak serve to hand her a bagel in the opening set but the world number 52 showed she had the stomach for a fight by levelling the match with a break in the second.

Bouzkova and Barty traded two breaks of serve at the start of the decider before the top seed got the crucial break in the eighth game and sealed the encounter on her first match point with a booming serve.

“Coming off a night

match, I had to get used to going to bed quite late again,” Barty, who hit 42 winners to her opponent’s 17, said. “I’m an early riser, so I didn’t get a hell of a lot of sleep last night, but it’s fantastic to be back out here.

“It was a really solid match. I felt like I pressed a little bit in the middle and lost my execution.”

The 2019 French Open champion will next face American Shelby Rogers, who ousted Croatia’s Petra Martic 7-6(1) 6-3.

Kenin, ranked fourth in the world, struggled with her unforced errors in the first half of the match but once she managed to land the ball closer to the lines, a bewildered Pegula faded away. The Russian-born Kenin hit 14 winners more than her opponent in the match while committing 10

Serena Williams booked her spot in the quarter-finals.

extra unforced errors and converted her third match point with a wide serve to set up a last eight clash against Spaniard Garbine Muguruza.

It will be a repeat of last year’s Australian Open final when Kenin rallied to beat two-time major winner Muguruza, who defeated

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-1 6-2.

Collins ousted thirdseeded Czech Karolina Pliskova 7-6(5) 7-6(3) in a battle of attrition while Nadia Podoroska of Argentina edged two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 5-7 6-1 7-6(7) in a close contest.

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 04, 2021

PAGE 25

Team coping well in Covid Team Wreckers looking ‘bubble’ says Jaguars Captain to extend win-streak GMR&SC/SIC Endurance Championship

Team Ramchand Wreckers’ Mechanic Anil ‘Nala’ Persaud.

Adrian Fernandes and teammate Anand Ramchand have confirmed their participation in the 2021 Guyana Motor Racing and S p o r t s C l u b (GMR&SC)/Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc (SIC) Endurance Championship where they will look to extend the winstreak of Team Ramchand Wreckers.

Fernandes, who pilots a Gillette powered Toyota Levin, has been the 1600cc and overall champion for 5 consecutive years and he is keen to return to the top podium position this season after the covid-19 hit 2020 season.

Te a m R a m c h a n d Wreckers’ mechanic Anil (Nala) Persaud has been working round-the-clock to bring their championship

winning car up to speed and it was revealed that it will be ready just in time for this Sunday’s showdown at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri, where the team will defend their title in the threehour long race.

In an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, Anand Ramchand, who drives a R a m c h a n d Wr e c k e r s sponsored Toyota Celica in the championship, noted that he is excited for the start of the season and he is very happy with how preparations with his machine are coming along.

The former Starlet Cup champion explained that although he expects tough competition from the rest of the guys who are gunning to make sure that Wreckers don’t make it six consecutive team championships in a

Team Wreckers set to defend their title.

row, he expects it to be business as usual.

Fernandes mentioned to Kaieteur Sport that he is pleased that the GMR&SC has been able to organise this event and he called for a safe and fun-filled day.

The three-hour event is anticipated to see a full grid of cars and will precede the first round of the Drag Championship.

The event will be held in accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines which means that all participants must wear masks, sanitise and be subject to mandatory temperature tests.

Prospective competitors are reminded that helmets and gloves are required and those interested in competing are asked to make contact with the GMR&SC via their Albert Street office.

“The Guys are coping fine in the bubble, no complaints,” were the encouraging words of the Captain of the Guyana Jaguars, Leon Johnson.

The Guyana Jaguars being their campaign next Monday in Antigua when they oppose Barbados in a day/night match from 14:30hrs and will hope to capture their tenth Regional 50-over title.

Guyana, led by Roy Fredricks, who scored a century in the final against the Leewards, captured their first title in 1980 in Antigua.

However, the South Americans have not won a Regional 50-over since 2005 when they beat Barbados on the Duckworth/Lewis at

Leon Johnson Bourda.

Skipper Johnson, who captained Guyana to five consecutive First-Class titles in the last six years, provided an update of the team’s activities since their arrival on the 108 square mile Leeward Island.

“Since we arrive on Sunday, we have had two Covid tests done. The first we had room quarantine and no one was allowed outside.

On Monday we were allowed to go outside and gather in small groups and we had two zoom workouts to keep ourselves active,” informed Johnson.

Manager/Assistant Coach Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the Captain in 2005, while Head Coach Esuan Crandon a member of squad in that 2005 Championship winning Guyana team.

It is understood that the teams are staying in apartments and should have two practice sessions before their opening game on February 8.

Regal Sports supports Sophia Cricket Club

R

egal Sports Store has thrown their support behind Sophia Cricket Club with a timely donation yesterday. At their Seaforth Street location, Marketing Consultant of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Divesh Ramjattan presented a quantity of cricket equipment to President of Sophia Cricket Club Garth Allen.

Allen expressed gratitude to Regal Sports, which is an arm of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre. He said that the equipment will be of tremendous benefit to the members and also serve as a motivation factor.

Allen added that the club is at a disadvantage when it comes to equipment due to a lack of finance and lauded Regal Sports for their continued support. The club is affiliated to the Georgetown Cricket Association and plays at the second division level.

Allen added that due to the lack of finance they were forced to withdraw from the two-day tournament and only take part in the 40-over competition.

The club was formed some 11 years ago and Allen pointed out that the lack of a training facility is a huge challenge for its members.

“There is a ground in C Field Sophia, but it needs upgrading, so we will welcome any support from

President of Sophia CC Garth Allen (left) accepts the cash and equipment from Divesh Ramjattan. the Sports Ministry in this regard,” he added.

Allen explained that sport will help to keep the youths meaningfully occupied and stressed the need for additional support.

“We usually recruit younger players, but we found it difficult to keep the youths for long periods due to the lack of support, so they would leave for other clubs.”

He said that there are some talented players in the club including Dwayne Peters who has a second division century under his belt, fast bowler Malcolm Morris and Glenford Steven.

Ramjattan informed that the presentation was made possible through himself and Deputy Superintendent Mr. Dass, who donated an undisclosed sum to the club; Dass was recently elected the assistant treasurer of GCA. Ramjattan, who was recently elected as the Public Relations Officer of Georgetown Cricket

Association, said they plan to assist with the upgrading of the ground so members of the community will be encouraged to play the game.

“We visited the venue recently and it is in a terrible state so we will solicit as much assistance from corporate Guyana, the sports Ministry and other cricket bodies, so we can keep the youths meaningfully occupied.”

He stated that they are happy to lend assistance to Sophia CC. “We would like to continue to render assistance to Sophia and other clubs so as to give the youths a better opportunity to showcase their talent.”

Ramjattan said that with this contribution they are hoping that the club will be able to field teams at the age group levels and with more support likely in the near future they can rejoin the second division two-day tournament. (Zaheer Mohamed)

Gayle blasts unbeaten 22-ball 84 in Team Abu Dhabi’s nine-wicket t r Spo win over Maratha Arabians

Chris Gayle plundered 84 runs from 22 balls.

The late Reginald Forde (left) and another Guyanese boxing icon, Dillon Carew in happier times.

Guyanese Boxer Reginald Ford dies at 67

Bangladesh, West Indies share opening-day honours Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan put on 59 runs, Bangladesh vs West Indies,1st Test, Chattogram, Day 1, February 3, 2021 © AFP via Getty Images

Jomel Warrican and Jermaine Blackwood celebrate a wicket, Bangladesh vs West Indies, 1st Test, Chattogram, day 1, February 3, 2021 © AFP via Getty Images

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