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Monday Edition February 08, 2021 -Vol. 14 No. 06

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Exxon could wipe out Stabroek Block’s proven reserves by 2036 Guyana must intensify int’l WHY ARE WE POOR? campaign for support in Venezuela controversy- Ramkarran Four months after commitment…

Nation still awaits special oil & gas press conference promised by Harmon Cigarette-buyer Local fishermen killed after complain of bullet missed ‘catching hell’ in Intended target Guyana’s waters

Without independent oversight, Guyana oil fund more susceptible to mismanagement - US Analyst

Suriname prepared for oil 6 years before- first find in Guyana still struggles offshore basin six years later

The difference between those poor and rich nations is not the age of the nation.

This can be demonstrated by countries like India and Egypt, which are far more than 2,000 years old and are still poor countries.

On the other hand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, which 150 years back were insignificant, today are developed and rich countries.

The difference between the poor and rich nation does not also depend on the available natural resources.

Japan has limited territory, 80% mountainous, unsuitable for residence, agriculture or farming, but is the world’s third largest economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from across the whole world and exporting manufactured products.

Switzerland: Switzerland is unable to grow cocoa, yet produces the world’s best chocolate. In its small territory, Switzerland rears animals and cultivates the land only for four months in a year, nevertheless manufactures the best milk products; a small country which is an image of security that has made it the strongest banking system in the world.

Another example is Korea. It doesn’t have oil but having the world’s largest refinery, it exports refined petroleum.

It has no grain of ore, and yet, it’s the world’s largest shipbuilder.

It has no copper but it’s the world’s most electrically and electronically wired country.

Executives from rich countries who interact with their counterparts from poor countries show no significant intellectual differences.

The racial or colour factors also do not evince importance: many migrants are heavy in laziness in their countries of origin, but are forcefully productive in

rich European countries.

What then is the difference?

The difference is the attitude of the people, moulded for many years by education, moral responsibility and culture.

If you analyse the conduct of the people from the rich and developed countries, it is observed that a majority abide by the following principles of life: 1. Ethical behaviour as a basic principle.

2. Integrity.

3. Responsibility.

4. The respect for Laws and Regulations.

5. Respect by the majority of citizens towards others/Democracy.

6. The love of work.

7. The effort to save and invest.

8. The will to be productive.

9. Punctuality.

In the poor countries, a small minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.

We are not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel towards us.

We are poor because we lack attitude.

We lack the will to follow and teach these principles of working like that of the rich and developed societies.

W E A R E I N T H I S S TAT E BECAUSE…WE WANT TO TAKE A D VA N TA G E O F O V E R EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE.

WE ARE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WHEN SOMETHING IS DONE WRONG, WE SAY - “LET IT BE” WHEREAS WE SHOULD HAVE A SPIRITED MEMORY AND ATTITUDE. ONLY THEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO CHANGE OUR PRESENT STATE.

Hear how Senegal’s Gas field giveaway resembles Guyana’s Kaieteur & Canje Oil Blocks giveaway @11:00AM & 7:00PM on 99.1/99.5FM Kaieteur Radio

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Monday February 08, 2021

Suriname prepared for oil 6 years before still struggles first find in offshore basin - Guyana Six years later

By Mikaila Prince It is clear that the Republic of Suriname took those cautionary words very seriously, seeing as the Dutch-speaking country began preparing its people for the challenges that come with an oil and gas sector.

This was six years before it had even struck black gold in its offshore asin. And by developing and strengthening its capacity ahead of time, Suriname was not only able to capitalize from the looming revenues, but take full control of its lucrative sector – unlike Guyana.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Suriname’s Staatsolie, Rudolf Elias, had made the foregoing revelations last Thursday, during his debut appearance o n K a i e t e u r R a d i o ’s Guyana’s Oil & You.

A quote by former United States President Benjamin Franklin says, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

Hosted by Senior Journalist Kiana Wilburg, a question was posed to Elias regarding how Suriname was able to get ready for the considerable resources discovered in 2020.

To this, Elias revealed a three-part, strategic plan, which first came with p r e p a r i n g S u r i n a m e ’s National Oil Company (NOC), Staatsolie. Elias recalled on the virtual interview that six years ago when he became the CEO of Staatsolie, he was positive

that his country would discover oil, and rather than waiting until that discovery would happen, he initiated the first steps of preparing the 40-year-old Staatsolie for the discoveries that would follow.

“Staatsolie is prepared,” he expressed, “We are prepared. We can go to the capital markets. We are the partner of choice.

Everything with us is ready to make that big step to develop and to be the partner of choice.” The CEO

revealed that the second box Suriname had to check off was that of preparing the local business community.

He recalled that almost five years ago, Suriname had contracted a consultancy firm, aimed at conducting an assessment of 260 Surinamese companies that could offer services in the development and operational phases in the oil sector.

When that assessment was completed and the report was handed over to the government, NOC, and local companies, Staatsolie had realized that these local businesses had to work on polishing up some areas.

The CEO explained, “We said to them, ‘You have to b work on these three or these four or these seven items.

This is where you are and this is where you have to come in order to prequalify

later when you want to do this international.” This had not only prepared the Surinamese businesses for the sector, but made them internationally competitive, Elias shared.

The third sector left for preparation was that of the government and other relevant stakeholders, Elias said. Against this point, the CEO explained, “I hammered on each and every i n t e r v i e w, [ t h a t t h e ] government [had] to come together and start looking at all this money that will come in and try to have a broader discussion, where you also look at the opposition, and also at the other social partners.”

These discussions, the CEO said, had been focused on how the significant revenues from the oil sector would be spent and invested.

“How much will we put aside in a fund or a sovereign fund for the next generations to come and how much will be spent now? And if we know how much we will spend now, where we will spend it? Will we spend it on education? Will we spend it on healthcare? Will we spend it on infrastructure?” – And these were the critical questions the government had to find solutions to,” Elias pointed out.

Suriname finding these solutions, Elias pointed out, paved the way for the country to strengthen its institutions.

Six years later, Guyana still struggles In 2015, ExxonMobil struck oil in Guyana’s Stabroek Block. Six years has passed, with Exxon now aggressively producing oil, and Guyana has still not managed to implement critical provisions to ensure that Guyana prudently manages the sector as well as secure maximum benefit for

CEO of Suriname’s Staatsolie, Rudolf Elias its people.

C u r r e n t l y, G u y a n a manages its oil and gas sector with draconian legislation and operates without: a proper Local Content policy; ring-fencing provisions to prevent costs of unsuccessful wells being carried over to that of successful wells; proper environmental protection legislation; the strengthening of key auditing agencies, specifically the Office of the Auditor General; appropriate technology offshore to monitor the measurement of oil remotely; a roadmap to use a portion of the oil money to build sustainable industries; benchmarks for Corporate Social Responsibility; the establishment a Depletion Policy; the establishment of a Decommissioning Policy; a structure for what is to be expected in Field Development Plans; the hiring of technical experts needed within the Ministries of Natural Resources, EPA, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) etc; and updated policies/laws/regulations regarding direct and indirect transfers of interests in offshore blocks.

This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Kaieteur News

Monday February 08, 2021

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Guyana must intensify int’l Without independent campaign for support in oversight, oil fund Venezuela controversy more susceptible to - Ramkarran - US mismanagement Analyst

Former Speaker of the National Assembly and Leader of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Ralph Ramkarran, has posited that Guyana must work hard to gain wider support in the international community so it can secure its victory in the border controversy with Venezuela.

He said that this will require an expansion of Guyana’s border department. “The combination of the weakness of Venezuela’s case and adverse international opinion has protected Guyana so far from more severe depredations by Venezuela.” Ramkarran wrote in a January 23 post in his blog, Conversation Tree.

“As the situation moves to its inevitable denouement, Guyana must protect itself by dramatically intensifying its efforts.”Ramkarran’s recommendation came with much urgency as, just days earlier, the Venezuela Navy Vessel, Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24, had intercepted two Guyanese fishing vessels, Lady Nayera and Sea Wolf, just off the coast at Waini Point and ordered the crews to navigate their way to Port Guiria, Venezuela to be held.

The vessels were in Guyana’s territory but Ve n e z u e l a h a s l a t e l y reinvigorated its claims on the Essequibo, which it calls ‘Guayana Esequiba’.

The fishermen returned to Guyana days ago, after Venezuela released them from illegal detention. But the Bolivarian Republic’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Jorge Arreaza has warned Guyana that Venezuela “will not allow illegal incursions of any kind into its

Advisor to Foreign Minister on Borders, Ralph Ramkarran territory…”

Earlier in January, the Ve n e z u e l a n P r e s i d e n t , Nicolas Maduro had made a presidential decree, reinforcing the country’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo Region, and tweeted a vow to “reconquer” it.

“The only obstacle to more aggressive activity by Venezuela is international opinion.” Ramkarran said in his blog post. “Venezuela understands that the international community will not countenance its physical seizure of Guyana’s territory which was awarded by an Arbitral Tribunal in 1899 which Venezuela accepted for six decades.”

By making the decree, Ve n e z u e l a s o u g h t t o establish the ‘Territory for the Development of the Atlantic Façade of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’ which would include Guyana’s territory and its maritime space which endows it with billions of oilequivalent barrels of proven reserves.

Ramkarran said that the

decree has exposed Venezuela’s declarations of peaceful intentions to have always been fig leaves in its drive to take Guyana’s territory.“The Venezuelan government has, on this occasion, gone further than at any time in the past, in trampling on Guyana’s sovereignty and provocatively increasing tension.” Ramkarran said.

“This can only be viewed as international banditry and exposes Venezuela’s and Maduro’s empty claims of desiring a peaceful resolution of the controversy as so much hogwash.

Venezuela has blatantly incorporated our territory into its “strategic area” and is preparing to make laws and regulations to manage its plunder.”

Venezuela is already facing increasing isolation in the international stage, as the Caribbean Community (CariCom), the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have all rallied behind Guyana. Its decree appears to have been triggered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which, in December last, ruled that it has the jurisdiction to hear a case filed by Guyana to bring a judicial settlement to the controversy.

Even with this, Ramkarran is of the opinion that an ICJ ruling in Guyana’s favour would only exacerbate Venezuela’s “imperialistic greed and lust for our land, sea space and resources…” He said that Guyana has to be prepared for worse.

Motorcyclist hospitalised following collision at Brickdam A 35-year-old motorcyclist is currently nursing a broken leg at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after his bike collided with a car on Brickdam, Georgetown.

The injured man is identified as Patrick Perry of Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 02:05hrs on Saturday in the vicinity of the Ministry of Housing.

The driver of the motorcar, Eon Browne, 28, reportedly told police that he was travelling west along the southern side of Brickdam, while the motorcycle was travelling in front of him, also heading in the

same direction. Browne reported that as he was about to overtake, the motorcyclist suddenly swerved into his path which resulted in a collision.

As a result of the hit, Perry ended up falling onto the roadway.

The 35-year-old was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the GPHC where he was seen and examined by a doctor. Kaieteur News understands that Perry was admitted and is suffering from a broken leg and multiple injuries along his body.

The police conducted a breathalyzer test on Browne but no trace of alcohol was found.

He is presently in custody assisting with the investigations.

S

enior analyst at America’s Market Intelligence (AMI), Arthur Deakin, has posited that if Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund (NRF) goes without independent oversight, then that oil fund will be more s u s c e p t i b l e t o “mismanagement and political cronyism”.

Deakin wrote these and other critical points in his January 2020 piece titled Fundamental Lessons for Guyana’s Sovereign Wealth Fund.

In his commentary, Deakin recalled that the governing law for the NRF, which currently holds US$185M in oil proceeds, was passed in early 2019 by the previous A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change ( A P N U + A F C ) administration.

By using a US dollarbased New York Federal Reserve account, the Analyst noted that the NRF protects the oil revenues against inflationary and nominal exchange rate pressures, which are caused by fluctuations in the domestic economy. He added too that it sets a limit on the annual amount transferred from the fund to the government’s budget.

To t h i s D e a k i n highlighted, “The establishment of the fund was an important development for a country seeking to mitigate the Dutch disease and promote transparency,” But despite this being positive initiative, the analyst criticized the Guyanese government for failing to implement some necessary measures it had established in the NRF Act. Deakin reminded that the Act states that the Ministry of Finance (MoF), which is responsible for the overall management of the fund, would provide the Bank of Guyana (BoG) that is responsible for the operation of the fund, with an investment mandate pertaining to the funds.

In developing the mandate, the Finance Ministry would receive advice from the Investment

US Analyst, Arthur Deakin Committee, a group of experienced financial experts.

B u t c u r r e n t l y, t h a t Committee does not exist, Deakin noted.

Similarly, he said, the Macroeconomic Committee, which is supposed to be responsible for analyzing the future implications of public spending on the country’s economic competitiveness is supposed to advise the maximum amount that should be withdrawn from the fund each year.

This Committee, Deakin wrote, in addition to the Public Oversight and Accountability Committee, is also missing.

He further explained, “The NRF Act also fell short in depoliticizing the management of the fund. As it stands, the Ministry of Finance has too much control over the governance

and spending of the resources.

The members of the everso-important Investment Committee are all appointed directly by the ministry.

The Minister of Finance, in conjunction with Parliament, also has a final say on how the monies are spent.”

Without a more independent oversight structure, Deakin warned that the fund will be more susceptible to “political c r o n y i s m a n d mismanagement”.

He mentioned that industry experts have also pointed out that the fund lacks a medium-term expenditure framework and a clearer fiscal rule, which would allow for better planning and prioritization of its incoming resources.

At the moment, the fiscal rule which will be used to determine how much money is spent each year from the fund, has been heavily criticized for being too complex for laymen to properly supervise.

The analyst went on to note that the current rule also fails to curb debt-financed spending used to address short-term needs.

Additionally, he said, the Act did not create a broader fiscal framework that defined rules for public debt, balanced budgets and revenues.

Taking the foregoing factors into consideration, Deakin stressed that Guyana’s oil funds are more susceptible to abuse by its politicians if the necessary systems are not in place.

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Kaieteur News

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

Who is Kyle Mayers?

The rest of the cricketing universe may not be asking, but we are asking: who in the world is this fella Kyle Mayers? Where did he come from? How did he creep up on us in such a stealthy manner, and on Sunday, in such spectacular fashion? All of that doesn’t matter because he has given us some hope, reintroduced some pride, at long last.

Kyle Mayers on Sunday gave the people of this region something to cheer about, amidst ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and the accompanying fears. Our region, and Guyana is no exception, has almost uniformly been battered and bruised by the costly assaults on national economies, private businesses, and individual members of the scattered populations. With able assistance from the illustriously named Nkrumah Bonner (another that is not a household name), Kyle Mayers put an above average and always menacing Bangladeshi bowling attack to the sword.

Of course, as this splendid victory in the distant East is savoured, there should be no forgetting, or minimising, the sterling efforts of the tireless Jomel Warrican and the helpful supporting role of Rahkeem Cornwall, a name that has been around for a while now.

There is neither care nor interest that Bangladesh may be looked upon in some circles, as a minnow. But this much can be said with some conviction and authority: perform like this on a few more occasions in the near future, come from behind in such incredible fashion, and the world will stand up straight, and pay attention. All it takes is for the right combination and balance to be found for the team, the early return of the senior order, and then those who presently look down upon the fragile West Indies cricket team, and its amazing turnaround of fortunes in the first test, are sure to harbour some tinges of fear. Such is the record of the formidable and unbeatable West Indies test teams of the past, when they remained unbeaten for an incredible decade and much longer.

India has billions in money and the facilities, technology, and expertise that that can buy; it is a lot. India also has over a billion people from which it can field a talented dozen or two rather easily, and especially with cricket being such a national passion, a countrywide craze of an obsession. It is easier for them than for us, because there are other sports powerfully competing for the talents of promising young ones here. This has been seen in several areas, and especially in the enticing sports of basketball and football.

Australia also has its own storied cricket history, including an unconquerable run in more recent times. It was during such time, that the national cricket mindset came about that there was none that could, or dare to, challenge them for sole ownership of the very top of the pile. That cricketing power, however, has missed a step or two, and with that, there is opportunity for our guys to believe, and deliver.

The time is now for the full West Indies team, along with the team’s on field management, and surrounding infrastructure of planners and administrators, to believe also; to entertain the powerful confidence that we can compete head-to-head with the best, and come out with more respect, if not ahead. We have been building for a long time now; that has to continue along wiser, more strategic lines.

There is still some way to go, but it starts with what was stated earlier: the self-belief. From that comes the attitude that matters, the strength to dig deep and grind it out for five gruelling days with patience and nerve and courage in any conditions, and against all comers.

As we bask in this surprising victory, and say all of this, we must be realistic. The West Indies teams of the last two decades have flashed and crashed. We trust that this is not one of those episodes. It is why no matter how good, how high, West Indies teams have been, can be, and are sure to be in the future, there is nervousness. Though there are the occasional triumphs that dazzle, there is always the nervousness at home that they will fold up tents too easily and retreat too quickly without a spirited fight. This must not happen again. On Sunday, we were given something to hold onto, to believe in against the odds; The team must believe, too.

Monday February 08, 2021

Mr. Shuman is not a fit and proper person to be at the helm of Public Accounts Committee Dear Editor, I read recently of a move to name the Hon. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Lenox Shuman to head the Public Accounts Committee. I think that that is a step in the wrong direction, and for the following reasons, which I believe speak well for themselves.

Before proceeding further, I wish to make clear that I have never met citizen Shuman, never spoke to him, know nothing of him, other than the public disclosures surrounding this intrepid Guyanese when he stepped, with much fanfare, into the toxic mix of Guyanese politics.

It goes without saying that those public revelations concerning this believed patriotic Guyanese now stand settled in cement.

Thus, what I articulate, maybe a tad strenuously about his name being bubbled about as PAC chief, is nothing personal not political; it is simply what is best for this dark and destitute society.

Mr. Shuman is not a fit and proper person for consideration to be at the helm of a parliamentary PAC. No, sir! No, ma’am! No! No! No! It is substituting one curved question mark for another. I say this because,

when Mr. Shuman was presented with the opportunity, more than one opportunity, to be open and candid and clean on where his dual citizenship situation stood, he vacillated, which is putting it rather gently. He was silent for long stretches; then he was a bit artful in his dodgeries; and what should have been an open and shut, routine affair, transformed into something that was less than honourable, a shade on the slick side. To come down real hard on Mr. Shuman on this, a very slick side that possessed elements of calculated timing, to determine which way the wind was going to blow in parliament on that same dual citizenship issue, and then he hesitated for what appeared to me to be ages. In so doing, Mr. Shuman, contestant and candidate Shuman did not do himself any favours, did not earn any points for being about the principled.

It is along the lines of that same score that I think that Mr. Shuman is an unfit and improper person to be among those floating to the top of the decision-making for helmsman of any PAC. Because when he was bold enough to plunge into Guyana’s perverse politics, this once-believed earnest

Guyanese made what I construed to be an unbreakable oath that he and his group would not walk in the footsteps of similar predecessor political parties and join the ranks of either the PPP or the PNC (or whatever alphabetical costume it wears today).

To repeat for emphasis and the appreciation of all Guyanese: Mr. Shuman essentially swore that that despised political Rubicon would not be crossed. And then he did, and now he celebrates; and now he is celebrated (or to be) with another piece of silver through likely elevation to head the parliamentary PAC. In this country, politicians – veteran and those believed glowing in the complexions of promise and patriotism – are thus honoured for their betrayals. It is why I say no; not this sterling citizen; not where review of the monies of this country’s taxpayers are concerned. Mr. Shuman has benefited from too many undeserved blessings; he owes. And since he owes those who have been good to him, the purest cannot be expected of him. Examine him, and examine them, and this is where the consideration terminates.

Editor, if it is felt that I am being too harsh, then I

humbly present this. If our word, our honor, our decency and dignity has no meaning, no value, then I submit that we are nothing. We represent nothing, we stand for nothing, and when all is sifted and studied, we are nothing. It is what separates us from lowly sneaky reptiles. Mr. Shuman failed those few who trusted him to be different; he wasn’t, and he has not been. Not he waits to collect. Again.

This cannot be the way that we talk of moral leadership in this country, when the embattled man, former minister Patterson, who filled that spot before him was blatantly negligent and irresponsible, even disappointingly deceptive, in what and how he himself collected.

Almost similar to Mr. Shuman, I barely know Mr. Patterson, other than for a less than 30 second meeting and greeting. But today, I know of him in ways that bring recoiling; and regrettably, it is the same standard to which I hold brother Shuman, and the same desultory place that I arrive. No! No more of these kinds of unfit and improper leaders.

Let us start somewhere. Let us start today.

Yours truly, GHK Lall

Ad hoc activities in Agriculture can’t quite cut it Dear Editor Dr. Vishnu Bisram penned that Agriculture is key to the long term development of the country and he applauded the Minister for his activist presence all over the country.

Being everywhere does not mean progress in agriculture. Agreed that Agriculture is critical for national development, far more important than the budding oil industry. Is Zulfikar Mustapha the right person for the job? Does he have the expertise and background to save the industry?

Mustapha cannot be compared to his predecessor Noel Holder who failed agriculture or Leslie Ramsammy who had some measured success.

M u s t a p h a ’s t e n u r e a t Agriculture may turn out to be more dramatic than R o b e r t P e r s a u d ’s . J u s t when it was believed that Robert Persaud was perhaps at the bottom of the deep end of a dark pit into which Agriculture had fallen, now comes Mustapha? Will he take us further below Robert? The country has to brace for further depths into which Agriculture sank.

There are grumbling that “taxes” on contractors are very demanding and very high to the point of being unaffordable to carry out infrastructure work that meet minimum quality standards. A point is reached where some contractors are foregoing NDIA work.

They can’t cope with demands of the many players who want “taxes”, including one political party. It was no different under the preceding regime or the one before it. But is this change? Senior staff have become “tax men” with some grumbling about their role.

It is noted that project awards are not being given out at the rate they should for progress or to keep up with development as under the last PPP administration or even under the APNU regime.

Is it because of the higher “contractor taxes”?

Are contracts held up or denied because “taxes” are not paid up front as occurred under the last regime?

Are the fundamentals of Agriculture being addressed to return it as

the number one sector of the economy? Agriculture lacks a practical vision for long-term sustenance and a return of its glorious role in the economy as happened under the late great Cheddi Jagan.

There is no workable plan for agriculture. Ad hoc activities in Agriculture can’t quite cut it. And the Ministry appears not to be in charge of Guysuco where there seems to be a runaway CEO. One of the papers refers to the Minister as a “misfit” for GuySuCo. Is it so? Neither the Board nor the Minister seems to be able to control the CEO? Is he being protected by someone higher up?

There is not a single new project for the longterm sustenance of sugar.

Good, experienced, competent people are being let go and the Minister lost his voice.

There is no effective plan for the company to turn it around, but board members say there is a plan for a specialized security services for the CEO and upgraded housing.

The sugar workers

can’t get an increase in salary to build a proper house for themselves but the CEO’s habitat is being upgraded to that of a king.

Who is championing sugar workers’ interests? Will GAWU speak out? Why is money being wasted on upgrading residence of and providing top notch VIP security to the CEO like that given to the President, VP, and Prime Minister? Is this the kind of vision and upgrading of GuySuCo that will turn around the industry?

Where is the Minister on this issue? Where are the President and VP on this issue?

Rumours abound that APNU sold much of Enmore Estate land to APNU cronies, some of who have now switched loyalty to PPP with big bucks.

What effort is being made to repossess these parcels of land? Why are monied people getting large tracts of lands but sugar workers can’t get house lots at Enmore? Do sugar workers have to pay “a contract tax” for a house lot in the Enmore area?

Yours truly, Haresh Singh Kumar

Monday February 08, 2021

Taiwan issues show the need for expertise in key government positions Dear Editor, Several contributors to KN, have on many occasions, stressed the importance of having the knowledgeable and skilled personnel in key positions in Government, myself included.

Guyana’s reversal on the decision on Taiwan’s opening an office in Georgetown, on an agreement that was signed on January 11, went global, in the international papers.

People who have NO expertise in diplomatic or foreign relations were not surprised by Beijing’s response to the agreement, including many Guyanese. Beijing has a hand in a lot of financing and construction infrastructure in Guyana, maybe in the road link from South Guyana to Brazil, but that’s beside the point. The fact that the US didn’t have a problem with this arrangement since the U.S Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, J. Chung, saw this arrangement as “A milestone” is also beside the point.

I am circling back to the point of having the appropriate personnel in top

positions who can make and stick to their decisions with absolute confidence, but most importantly have a very clear understanding and background knowledge of any subject matter, and back decisions up confidently.

Several contributors to KN for a long time have mentioned the mismatch of Personnel to Key Offices, so here we are, Guyana. Call the Taiwan-Beijing situation proof or consequences.

This one with Taiwan, was very basic, just from the response of citizens who are not even in the Foreign Service. Someone has to be living under a rock or in hiding from the rest of the world not to know the skirmishes between Taiwan and Beijing.

Not having the knowledgeable/confident personnel is also entwined with the broader picture of the ongoing Oil and Gas Issues as well. Without rehashing so many of the items as reported primarily by KN, there are always, as we can see, consequences.

Yours truly, Chi Kansi

Why not recruit Diaspora skills?

Dear Editor, Why is this government not tapping into the talents of outstanding scholars in the diaspora. There is no shortage of Guyanese talent abroad in virtually every field, providing service to enrich the ABCE countries and the islands of the Caribbean. Yet hardly any skilled Guyanese has been recruited or consulted by the government to assist with planning for development.

Drs. Tarron Khemraj, Ramesh Gampat, Randy Persaud, Baytoram Ramharack, Vishnu Bisram, among others, are among the finest economists or political

scientists and also champions of democracy. They spoke out against and or lobby governments against the electoral fraud during the five months of attempts by APNU to rig the elections. They may even provide services for free.

Yet, this government has not shown any appreciation in seeking their expertise to guide socio-economic and political development or how to prevent future electoral fraud. Is this government fearful of outside talent? Does anyone from within feel threatened by expertise from the diaspora?

Yours truly, Boysie Mangru

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Kaieteur News

In the configuration of Guyana’s global interests, Taiwan must be considered an intruder in Guyana-China relations Dear Editor, Guyana’s relations with the US and China is under the spotlight once again. This time, the fly in the ointment is Taiwan. The matter has to be placed in context.

President B i d e n ’s recent outline of his administration’s foreign policy must be taken into account in the same way as President Xi’s speech at the just concluded World Economic Forum at Davos where he spoke about ‘promoting a new type of international relations’. In effect, both world leaders spoke implicitly about the need for a new world order.

It is not the first time that world leaders have made calls for a new world order or a new type of international relations.

Time and again, at the United Nations General Assembly, world leaders have made calls containing elements that resemble the recent statements by Presidents Biden and Xi. Here in Guyana, we are familiar with Cheddi Jagan’s call for a New Global Human Order the essence of which has been publicized many times over. But for now, it will be the US and China, based on the alignment of their

policies and actions on the world stage that will determine the form and content of the new world order.

Biden has already signaled that the ‘US is ready to work with China when it is their interest to do so.’ China has reciprocated verbally.

While we anxiously await the unfolding of big power politics, not to be overlooked is the fact that at this time, both the US and Russia are experiencing serious threats to their domestic security.

To a l a rg e e x t e n t , a country’s domestic policy reflects its foreign policy.

The recent elections in the US and the Navalny factor in Russia have demonstrated how deeply politically divided these two countries are.

But unlike Putin who is hard at work to crush his opponents, Biden is hard at work to build bridges and heal wounds.

T h u s f a r, C h i n a h a s managed to stave off any threat to its domestic security save for persistent western propaganda concerning its treatment to the Uighur people and its undermining of Hong Kong’s autonomy.

To those who continue to

be card-bearing members of Guyana’s foreign policy establishment, the current debate surrounding the American-Taiwanese foray into China-Guyana relations must be of interest to them.

I support fully the decision to scrap the agreement establishing a Ta i w a n o ff i c e h e r e i n Guyana not only for now but in the foreseeable future.

Call it a ‘miscommunication,’ ‘compartmentalization’ a ‘misstep’ or an ‘embarrassment’. All that is immaterial at this point.

Incidentally, this is not the first time the Taiwanese have sought to establish a commercial presence in Guyana and have been rebuffed. Our Chinese friends know this. They know also of Guyana’s commitment to the One-China Policy.

That aside, the crux of the matter is, Taiwan has no seat at the United Nations, the World Bank, the IMF, the IDB the World Trade Organization nor the PAHO/ WHO. It is at those multilateral bodies where Guyana’s interests lay.

Further, there is nothing Taiwan can do for us in respect to our border

controversy with Venezuela.

Nor can Taiwan fix the problem at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Any major Taiwanese investment in Guyana will come with diplomatic strings attached.

In any event, relations with Taiwan does not dovetail with Guyana’s permanent interests, and offending China, a permanent friend, at this time, is not in our interest either.

Placed in a regional context, it might be useful for CARICOM leaders to take note of the view expressed by President Xi at Davos about deepening South Cooperation as well as the realpolitik expressed by the Prime Minister of Jamaica regarding the ‘intrinsic and inextricable link’ between the Caribbean region and the US. In the configuration of Guyana’s global interests Taiwan must be considered an intruder in Guyana-China relations.

Rejecting Taiwan’s intrusion in what has been for decades, Guyana’s peaceful, harmonious and beneficial relationship with China while at the same time, safeguarding its relations with the USA was a step in the right direction.

Yours truly, Clement J. Rohee

Invest wisely in Oil and Agriculture Dear Editor, An opinion poll, which I conducted in mid-January has found that the population wants (is supportive of) the government to invest smartly in agriculture and energy (oil and gas) to ensure sustained long-term growth and to transform the economy of the country.

Oil and gas should not trump agriculture because oil and gas would eventually run out (in twenty years) while the land would continue to provide resources (food) in perpetuity.

The poll’s findings (of 470 respondents) suggest the people want the government to be more assertive in its dealings with the oil

companies to harness greater revenues from oil (royalties and profit sharing) and increased local content which are critical for the transformation of the economy.

According to the findings of the poll, when asked whether government should invest in agriculture for sustained growth, 86% said yes, 9% no, and 5% offered no response or said “not sure”.

Queried whether government should invest in oil and gas for long term growth, 83% said yes, 11% said no and 6% not sure. The public feels that energy investment with additional revenues from oil will help to transform and modernize the

economy.

They support extraction of oil and gas but feel the nation is deserving of revenues consonant with international trends.

The poll also found that the public is very supportive of the re-opening of the closed sugar estates – 81% in support with 12% opposed and 7% offering no opinion.

The estates create many jobs and will bring in additional tax revenues.

The poll also queried respondents on the most

popular and effective Ministers. Attorney General Anil Nandlall was rated as the most popular Minister of the government.

They say he is listening and delivering. Other Ministers who also received high ratings for performance and people skills include Zulfi Mustapha, Deodat Indar, Nigel Dharamlall, Vickram Bharrat, Kwame McCoy, Bishop Edghill, Susan Parag, among others.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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Kaieteur News

Monday February 08, 2021

Blossom Inc. leads way in court support for victims of sexual abuse, other types of traumas - helped to secure at least 20 convictions last year

Blossom Inc founder, Ayodele-Dalgety Dean.

By Rehanna Ramsay Blossom Inc. continues to be one of the nation’s premier organizations providing Court support services for victims of sexual abuse and other types of trauma.

In its latest report, the organization noted that in spite of the pandemic throughout the course of 2020, it continued to offer those services to facilitate sexual offences cases in Magistrate and High Courts in various parts of the country.

According to the report, Blossom Inc. has helped victims in rape and sexual assault trial secure at least 20 convictions for last year.

The agency’s role in the process is a critical one.

Blossom’s Victim Support Advocates (VSAs) help to provide that encouragement, reassurance and comfort to complainants in rape and sexual violence cases, many of whom are children.

Family therapist and Blossom Inc. founder, Ayodele Dalgety –Dean explained that their support officers play an important part in making the court process less daunting and frustrating for the complainants.

“We sort of hold their hands through the entire process,” she said, adding that the thought of going to

court could make people feel anxious and nervous. “…Especially for a child having to recall that story, it can be very traumatic,” said Dalgety-Dean who specializes in trauma therapy.

The therapist explained that as VSAs, part of their job is to make the Court process less harrowing for the victims.

“All of our clients are given the recommended between 12-18 weeks of therapy, sometimes longer depending on the type of trauma, which they sustained.

What we do is let them know that we are there for them, we hold their hands, provide emotional support and let them tell their story in a way they are comfortable doing it,” shared the Blossom Inc. founder.

According to DalgetyDean, some persons prefer to write the experiences while others do so orally.

She said, “Both are accepted because really, it’s about giving those who survived these horrible crimes, a safe place to express themselves without feeling any form of judgment, letting them know that whatever they have gone through, they don’t have to be ashamed because they were the ones taken advantage of.”

“And most importantly, is letting them know that they

A Child Advocacy Centre at Kwakwani, Region 10. are believed because most victims have this fear of not being believed when they tell their stories. The process involves a lot of tears but it’s part of helping them heal,” the Blossom Inc. founder said.

Added to a list of tasks, Blossom’s VSAs provide follow-up support on clients’ cases at the police level, inform clients of their court dates, and accompany clients to court.

Dalgety-Dean said, “VSAs assist clients to review their statements to get them ready to give their testimony. Victims have the opportunity to visit the courtroom and learn about court roles, rules and procedures.

Victims also run through the entire process with the prosecutors to prepare for the actual court session. VSAs collaborate with the Judiciary team to advocate for and work in the best interest of clients.”

In terms of the Court process, the agency has helped to prepare scores of victim impact statements for rape and other sexual offences trials. “These statements

Blossom Inc hosts an awareness session for school children.

provide the court (judge and jury) with a perspective of how the ordeal impacted the life of the victim,” Dalgety Dean noted, adding that while the victim impact statements provide the court with information of some evidential value, the real power of the statement lies with helping the victim to tell their story openly, knowing that the people will hear, believe, and empathize with them.

She explained that a big part of the work of Blossom Agents is to prepare the victims in the event that their alleged perpetrators are found not guilty.

“We have to prepare them to face the Court and sometimes their perpetrators by giving the information, which they need to reduce their fears and anxiety. Of course not in all cases, the offenders are found guilty, so we have prepared them for that.

We let them know that even if the offenders are found not guilty, it does not mean that their stories were not believed, it is just that the evidence in the case was not enough to convict their abusers,” she said.

In addition to their work in the Courts, officials at Blossom Inc. have initiated efforts towards addressing the child sexual offence and family trauma issues from a cultural standpoint.

Since its establishment in 2014, Blossom Inc. has evolved into creating Child Advocacy Centres (CAC) across the country.

The not- for -profit agency has CAC offices at Mabaruma – Region One; Land of Plenty Essequibo Coast – Region Two; Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara – Region Four; Bartica- Region

Seven and Linden and Kwakwani – Region Ten, Blossom Inc. which have served in excess of 6,000 people.

Dalgety-Dean said that part of the objective of the CACs is to help to facilitate therapy sessions, spread awareness and host training sessions with members of the community on how to deal with the various types of traumas arising from family issues.

Dalgety –Dean explained at the CAC locations, Blossom Inc. works with children and families affected by severe trauma: child sexual abuse, children who have suffered and witness extreme violence, children who have witnessed a parents’ death, migrant children, and families.

Those services include providing forensic interviews, trauma focused therapy, court support, victim advocacy/support psychosocial support, education and outreach services, migrant and host community service, coordination of the multidisciplinary team to support victims of child sexual abuse.

She noted that many parents/caregivers who visit the centres regularly ask questions about the length of the therapeutic process and the CACs’ involvement in their court matters.

“There are normally family dysfunctions that therapists recognize during their first interaction with clients.

Common themes include conflict in the family, combative parent-child relationships, trust and communication issues, children’s fear of disclosing abuse to their parents and blame directed at the child.

These are issues that therapists make note of and

revisit during the therapeutic process.

These issues suggest that many parents who visit the centres need comprehensive parenting training to learn how to effectively communicate and manage their children’s behaviour,” the family therapist said.

In this regard, DalgetyDean said that the agency has in particular, been using efforts to change the course of how society responds to victims of abuse.

She explained that, “We want to change the culture from victim blaming towards a culture that believes children when they say that someone has hurt them. The more successful prosecutions we see, it appears, the more confident victims and their families are in reporting child sexual abuse.”

Nonetheless, the founder noted that the work of Blossom Inc. is far from over.

As such, she noted that the organization will continue to partner with the Childcare Protection Agency, Police, Director of Public Prosecutions, Regional Democratic Councils, Ministry of Health (hospitals), and the Education sector to help bring about the change the world needs.

Dalgety-Dean stated that while those within the social services and civil society fields of work play an important role in helping survivors to heal through various support mechanisms, education is needed for people to understand the effects of trauma and how it manifests so that society at large, including family and friends, resist the victim blaming that is so prevalent, even when dealing with children.

Monday February 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Monday February 08, 2021

Downward investment trend expected - Support for micro, small and medium to worsen in 2021 sized businesses must be ramped up - CEDA Executive Director T

he Executive Director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), Deodat Maharaj, has stated that the downward trend in investments for 2021 is expected to worsen due to the prolonged state of shutdown across many economies in the Caribbean Region which is linked to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In an article submission t i t l e d “ F a s t - Tr a c k i n g Caribbean Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience” Maharaj pointed out that like many places across the globe, COVID-19 has brought the challenge of attracting investment in the region. He referenced a projection by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, that foreign direct

investment in Latin America and the Caribbean declined by about 50% in 2020. He said that it is expected to worsen this year.

Taking this into account, he stressed the need for the region working collectively, stating that “Simply put, as individual states, our populations and markets are too small in this vast global marketplace.

Therefore, acting independently or singularly is no longer an option.

Working collectively is the only way.

Building trade, investment and overall business relationships outside the English-speaking Caribbean is also critical.”

He said that the work of CEDA in bringing the CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic together is a good example

which must be supported.

Creating an enabling environment for business to flourish and adopting new approaches to attract foreign direct investment is pertinent to the recovery and resilience from COVID-19 according to Maharaj.

Also paramount to fasttracking COVID-19 recovery and resilience, the Executive Director said, is supporting enterprises at the local level. “We need to ramp up support to micro, small and medium sized businesses.

These businesses are the lifeblood of local economies,” he lamented.

He also stressed that these businesses need to be innovative and agile in their approaches and leverage the

opportunities provided by digitalization.

Going forward, a package of support is required which includes c o m b i n i n g k n o w - h o w, access to finance and innovation.

In this regard, he stated that CEDA, as the lead agency for private sector development in the region is committed to the aforementioned agenda to help create jobs, growth and prosperity for Caribbean people. In the article submission, he highlighted that CEDA provides financial support to firms through its Direct Assistance Grants Scheme and Direct Support Grants Programme with funding from the European Union. The grants

Executive Director of CEDA, Deodat Maharaj aim to assist regional firms in meeting the financial challenges imposed by the pandemic and build their competitiveness and export capacity.

CEDA is also providing direct technical assistance to firms.

Maharaj even noted Guyana is among Caribbean countries that are rich in natural resources and have been making efforts to attract direct foreign investments.

He noted however that these countries are the amount required to achieve the creation of much-needed jobs and generate inclusive growth.

Additionally, Maharaj noted the importance of accelerating efforts to improve the ease of doing business.

He said, “Caribbean countries can and must do better. There is no prize for second place in this increasingly competitive world. We must accelerate efforts to improve the ease of doing business, including the establishment of special purpose units with the (Continued on page 16)

Monday February 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

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The stranger next door

A

s late as the early 1970s, when night fell, dinner was consumed and the children had completed their homework, members of the household would usually sit either in the sitting room or on the verandah and discuss various matters, but mainly the events of the day.

In those days, there was no television and for news, we relied upon the radio. But that was not the only source of information.

Those members of the household who worked would return with their own stories and the tidbits of information, which they had p i c k e d u p .

Even the housewives who went to the market would also return with stories, which they had heard.

At nights, families would sit together and share these stories.

They would also find some time to read or play cards before retiring to bed.

These activities tended to bond the household and provided an environment in which everyone looked out for his or her own family.

Sometimes while chatting on the verandah, you would look over and see your neighbour and his family doing the same. And you would exchange greetings and even discuss matters without having to leave your home.

That was one of the benefits of living in a traditional society. Everyone within a street knew each other.

And within the home, there were hardly any secrets and even when there was the odd dispute, there was no shortage of people to bring

the two disputants together.

There was also a great deal of communal support. In any village, everyone got to know the other. Even within the towns, it was unusual for a resident to not know the households on the streets in which he lived. Thus, if someone had a problem, he could always appeal to his neighbours for support which was almost always f o r t h c o m i n g .

Such, also, were the benefits of living in a traditional society.

There are many reasons why Guyanese survived the hard times of the late seventies and eighties. One of those reasons was due to the free exchange of information that took place within communities.

If for example, the then Guyana Stores would be selling cooking oil the following day and someone in the street got wind of this, that person would not keep this information to himself but would pass it on to his neighbours.

And if one member was short of a scarce commodity and another had, you could bet the latter would share with the person in need. This was the sort of support system that helped to sustain Guyanese during the ‘hard g u a v a s e a s o n ’ .

Wi t h e c o n o m i c liberalisation, things began to change.

Liberalism is underpinned by the philosophy of personal initiative: that a man or a woman can become whatever he or she wants through his own effort.

Economic liberalism placed the interests of the community as secondary to

the individual and what we had developing was a rat race whereby everyone tried to improve his or her own lot without regard to the overall benefit of the community.

In the process, social and communal ties which had helped to sustain us for so long began to fall apart.

Communities became highly impersonal. And with this impersonality, residents have become strangers in their o w n v i l l a g e s .

People do not mix as before and they also do not lend that degree of support that once existed.

And this is one of the main reasons why each day, we can pick up the newspaper and be horrified at what we read.

Each day, we read about fights within villages, about one person stabbing another over some petty grouse over a $500 bet, of a husband forcing rat poison down the throat of his wife, of neighbour breaking into the home of neighbour and of friends betraying the trust of each other.

Attempts can be made to reverse these negative trends through strengthening community ties, but this task will always remain difficult if liberalisation continues to be the guiding philosophy w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y.

Everything cannot be left to the invisible hand of the market. We have got to return to those values which existed in an earlier time, a time before television when family members sat together and shared their experiences, their dreams and their fears, a time when a neighbour would come running to your rescue without being asked and a time when having more

Dem boys seh...

COVID-19 GONE WILD! De virus spreading like wildfire in Guyana! Fuh de week alone in February, de total new cases is 341 which is almost 50 per day, or about 25 percent more dan de average of January.

And people deh walking all around without mask and de police nah doing nuttin about it. A lot of young people ganging up without mask. People selling in store without mask. People doing as they please because de government slack.

And when dem ketch de virus, dem carrying it home and giving it to dem old parents and grandparents

who immune system nah strong enough. Dem boys seh de police should start charging some of dem wah carrying home de virus and infecting de elderly. Dem should charge dem with manslaughter.

De authorities nah learning. De mo case yuh get, is de mo deaths yuh gan get. De number of active cases rising faster dan yuh can say jumping jack. It now deh at 855 cases. People gan dead. Sorry to say but de numbers don’t lie.

Dem boys seh de vaccine nah stopping de spread and de more de virus spread is de

more people gan gat fuh get inject in order fuh achieve herd immunity. Even if de govenrment nah want to shut down de country, dem should at least take steps fuh protect de vulnerable. But dem nah kay because dem well protected and dem know.

Is a sad thing wah happening in de world.

Everyday is an average of more dan 10,000 people dying. And to think dat we now gat a vaccine but it too late fuh save dem people wah getting infected because dem relatives carrying home de virus.

than what your neighbour had was not as important as it is today.

(The views expressed in

this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

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Monday February 08, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Ian Mc Donald should be careful what he writes because of his ethnicity Eminent Guyanese citizen, Ian Mc Donald, who is also a Stabroek News columnist, was born in Trinidad. Mr. Mc Donald is not of Portuguese extraction but is a White Englishman.

In his column last Sunday, Mr. Mc Donald threw caution to the wind and wrote glowingly of one of the most racist, White scientists living in the world today - James Watson.

I hope Mr. Mc Donald does not face a barrage of criticism from Caribbean people with fingers pointing to race because what he wrote of Watson may not be because Watson is White and

Mc Donald is White. It may have absolutely nothing to do with ethnicity and just admiration for Watson.

I have never met or seen Mr. Mc Donald in all my life.

I know nothing about his views on anthropology, genetics, science, politics, philosophy, etc. I know Mr. Donald’s forte is literature. I have never read any comments from anyone accusing Mr. Mc Donald of harbouring anti-Black feelings. So I will leave it at that. But if Mc Donald were living in the US and had written that column on Watson, he would have faced some formidable accusations.

The question is: When Mc Donald wrote about Watson, did he know that Watson was an international pariah? If no, then Mc Donald is on safe ground. If yes, then could one write glowingly of a brilliant scientist but who promulgates scientific fiction that denigrates nonWhite races, especially Africans?

James Watson way, way back in 1962 won the Nobel Prize for medicine along with Francis Crick for identifying the structure of the DNA. Since then, he became one of the world’s most sought after scientists earning intense global admiration. But Watson also became equally infamous for his ingrained racism particularly directed at African people.

To d ay, h e liv es in disgrace with large endowments withdrawn and many accolades he received were withdrawn too.

He was fired from his workplace last year. All the boards he sat on terminated his tenure. The trouble with Watson is not that he has birthed his controversial o ff e r s w i t h s c i e n t i f i c evidence. He has not produced even a tiny piece of evidence to boost his claims.

It was for this central reason he has been ostracized by the international, scientific community.

As recent as 2019, Watson has asserted his

belief in all of his controversial views on racial inferiority that he has expressed over the years.

The most glaring of these is that African people are less intelligent than the Caucasian race. That theory has been expressed countless times over several decades.

The theory has been debunked and continues to be rejected because none of its adherents have produced the research to be tested.

They have produced no research at all.

Yo u w o u l d h a v e expected of all people – James Watson – to give the scientific community the evidence. As late as last year, he emphasized that theory without evidence. One of his most absurd positions is that the sex drive is related to the melanin in one’s skin. He concludes that African people have a more powerful sex drive than White people.

He asserted that all the stenotypes associated with racial differences have a genetic basis; for example, Jews are intelligent and so

are Chinese but genetically Jews are more creative.

Here is what Watson said about the people of Africa “… all our social policies are based on the Frederick Kissoon fact that their intelligence is the same he used his international as ours — whereas all the image and his scientific testing says not really”. But status to belittle non-white Watson has not produced the peoples of the world. testing. No scientist has done Think of the countless so, so far. humans in this world who Watson has made some believe what Watson was shocking disclosures that saying because these were reveal what a sinister mind the words of a brilliant he has. He said that thin scientist. people tend to be less happy The story of James than bulky people therefore Watson is the tale of the are more hard-working. inexplicable human mind.

S c i e n t i s t s c a l l s u c h We may be great athletes, pronouncement nonsensical. p o e t s , s c i e n t i s t s , Where is the evidence from businessmen but we may Watson? None whatsoever. have eerie, unimaginable He thinks women are not as instincts eating away at our intelligent as men. Where is rationality. Fortunately, the t h e e v i d e n c e ? N o n e world has put an end to whatsoever.

Watson’s evil imagination.

What is the most (The views expressed in dangerous thing about this article are those of the Watson? Many scientists a u t h o r a n d d o n o t have deemed Watson’s faults necessarily reflect the to be unforgivable because opinions of this newspaper.)

Monday February 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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$36M “high-tech” army drone in operation GDF’s $36M prototype army drone in operation yesterday

One of the five ‘high-tech’ army drones Guyana purchased at a rice of $36M each was seen in operation yesterday.

The $36M drone was seen hovering just above the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) sports ground located in the compound of its Base Camp Ayanganna.

It is presumed that the drone was probably on a test run.

The five high-tech prototype drones were acquired in 2019 from a start-up tech company, Skyfront drones, by the then coalition-led government for $180M. GDF had boasted that drones would enhance its surveillance operations, especially along its maritime and border territories. It added too that the drones will assist in monitoring activities in Upper Takutu-Upper

Essequibo (Region Nine) where numerous illegal airstrips and abandoned planes were discovered in recent years.

Kaieteur News had reached out to GDF to inquire whether the high-tech drones were fulfilling its purpose. In response, GDF’s Public Relations Officer, Heppilena Ferguson had said that the Force could not answer because of security reasons.

Monday February 08, 2021

Serial robber captured following “Wanted AD” in newspapers A known serial robber was captured on Saturday by public-spirited citizens after a wanted advertisement was placed in the Kaieteur News daily publication for his capture. The suspect, 46year-old Edward Isaacs of Hill and School Streets, Albouystown was wanted in relation to a string of robberies committed in the Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara housing area.

It was only three weeks ago that Isaacs had entered the premise of Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall and carted off with one motorcycle valued at $600,000, gym equipment, one TV, among other items.

CCTV camera caught the suspect in the act but he managed to evade capture.

Then on Monday last, the suspect returned but this time, targeted the home of Lall’s neighbour.

There, the man carted off an undisclosed amount of electrical tools and appliance. As he was proceeding to escape, p neighbours spotted him and an alarm was raised. Though

Captured: Edward Isaacs they pursued the suspect, he was able to escape again. In the process of doing so, the suspect also damaged the windows of a car parked near the home.A wanted ad with a reward was then placed in the newspapers by affected residents’, which eventually led to his capture in the Nandy Park area.

While in the custody of residents, the man was asked what became of the items he stole. He relayed that he sold the motorcycle for $5,000 to “ O n e H a n d ” o f Albouystown while the other items cannot be found.

Investigations are continuing.

Kaieteur News

Monday February 08, 2021

PAGE 13

BK paid $20M for $5B Kingston wharf - AG files court action against BK, Jordan, Heath-London, NICIL to repossess property The Mud Flat property in Kingston that was vested to BK

Former NICIL CEO Colvin Health-London

A

ttorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, has initiated legal proceedings against Brian Tiwari of BK Marine Inc. on behalf of the State to reclaim the prime waterfront property, which he paid $20 million for, though the property is worth $5 billion.

That property situated at Mudlots 1 and 2, Lot F of Mudlots 3 and Lots A, B and D, North Cummingsburg was offered for sale to BK by then National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Horace James for $202,602,759.

However, BK had only paid $20,260,276, a mere 10% of the purchase price when it was vested to him by the then Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan on March 28, 2020. During that time, the country was embroiled in a heated elections scandal.

Ta k i n g t h i s i n t o consideration, the AG is contending that the sale was “illegal, unlawful, null, void, repugnant and contrary to public policy”. He is also claiming that Jordan colluded with NICIL and acted in a negligent manner.

Furthermore, the AG contended as well that the Finance Minister at the time had no legal power to act in such a manner.

On the court documents seen by Kaieteur News, BK, Jordan, Colvin HeathLondon in his capacity as the then CEO of NICIL, and NICIL, were listed as defendants in the matter.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, there were a slew

Brian Tiwari, owner of BK Marine Inc of other breaches to BK’s contract.

The court documents outlined that BK was initially leasing the property beginning December 4, 2006 for $10 million annually for a 20-year period with the option to purchase it at $110 million later on.

The agreement outlined that the property was meant to be used for the operation of a tourism/ office/ wharf facility for the purposing of developing a state-of-the-art

Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan hotel with restaurants, shopping and office areas, etc.

BK had agreed that within four years after being given the go ahead by the Mayor and Town Council for his construction plans, the scope of works outlined would be completed. Failure to complete this would result in six-month notice of default being issued and if that time elapses, then the agreed upon purchase price would become null and void.

However, BK neglected to comply with the terms of

that contract.

The court document stated that BK failed to complete his scope of works outlined resulting in a breach of Clause 1. Added to that, he owed NICIL $34,799,976 in rental payments for the property.

He had written to Wi n s t o n B r a s s i n g t o n , former NICIL head on January 3, 2013 admitting to owing the sum but the figure later racked up to $81,360,158 by February 28, 2017.

BK also failed to make use of the property as per the contract and instead constructed a Ready Mix Concrete Plant. He also failed to execute the approved business plan submitted.

According to the court documents, BK claimed that back in 2009, the failure to execute his business plan was due to “a global financial crisis” and requested an amendment that would allow for the Ready Mix Concrete Plant and the construction of other facilities.

Then in 2011, on October 25, a letter to BK stated that NICIL would be willing to transfer the leased property at $110,000,000 plus VAT on a conditional offer. But that (Continued on page 16)

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Monday February 08, 2021

Stray horse leaves motorcyclist with fractured skull The shop where Cush, the cigarette-buyer was shot dead

Cigarette-buyer killed after bullet missed intended target A cigarette-buyer known as “Alligator”, dropped dead on Saturday in front of a shop in Albouystown after a bullet missed its intended target.

Cops have since identified the man as Aulden Cush, 54. Residents of the area said that while he is from Albouystown, he has to fixed place of abode.

Cush was shot dead close to17:00hrs on Cooper Street, Albouystown, between James Street and Independence Boulevard.

Investigators reported that Cush had reportedly gone to a small shop located in front of a house to purchase some cigarettes.

While making his purchase, a brief argument

broke out between two men, one of them known as ‘Black Boy’. That man was standing close by.

Eyewitnesses recalled that during the course of the argument ‘Black Boy’ was left alone while the other man went home. A short while after, the man returned on a motorcycle with a gun and began shooting at ‘Black Boy’.

‘Black Boy’ ran and Cush who was still standing in front of the shop waiting to collect his cigarettes fell to ground bleeding from a gunshot wound to the neck.

Kaieteur News was told that the man on the motorcycle continued to pursue ‘Black Boy’ and shot

him twice as well before making good his escape.

The wounded ‘Black Boy’ however, ran towards Laing Avenue where he collapsed and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by a friend.

He remains in a stable condition.

Cush, on the other hand, bled to death in front of the shop on Cooper Street.

When police along with an ambulance arrived at the scene, Cush was found in a pool of blood. He was pronounced dead by the paramedics and his body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home.

Police are continuing their hunt for the shooter.

Stray horses along one of the streets in Georgetown A motorcyclist on Saturday last, sustained a fractured skull along with internal bleeding after he collided with a stray horse along the Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD) road.

Hospitalized in a critical condition is Linden Mentis, 27, of South Vryheid’s Lust.

Also sustaining multiple injuries as a result of the incident was his pillion rider, 20-year-old Ester Marks of Better Hope.

According to police, Mentis struck the horse while riding east along the Ogle Railway Embankment Road.

Information reaching this publication suggested that Mentis was on his way to

take Marks home when a stray horse suddenly ran into his path. Investigators said that Mentis had swerved to avoid hitting the horse but was not quick enough and slammed into the horse’s rear end.

The impact flung both Mentis and Marks onto the road while the bike skidded a short distance away.

Public-spirited citizens rushed to their assistance and transported both of them to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Doctors there labeled Mentis critical after they realized that he was bleeding internally.

It was later found out that

he sustained a fractured skull as well.

Marks, on the other hand, was treated for her injuries but still remains a patient in the Emergency Ward under observation.

Over the years, Kaieteur News has been in receipt of many reports from commuters who make use of the East Coast roads that stray animals, especially horses and cows, have been a clear nuisance and cause of many accidents.

These animals are often seen on the roadways at nights. Reports have been made to the relevant authorities about the reoccurring problem.

Monday February 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

COVID-19 Task Force can revoke business licence for breaching regulations - Director

T

he National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) has the authority to revoke the licence and privileges of any business that is found to be in breach of the gazetted COVID-19 measures.

This pronouncement was made by the Director of the Task Force’s Secretariat, Colonel Nazrul Hussain who spoke to Kaieteur News yesterday.

Hussain said that the Ta s k F o r c e u s u a l l y determines whether or not to revoke the licence of a business based on the extent of the infraction. In certain cases, businesses are given warning letters when found non-compliant with the gazetted measures and after the final warning letter is provided, the NCTF can withdraw the licence to operate, according to the Director.

Director of the Task Force’s Secretariat, Colonel Nazrul Hussain

Just last month, the NCTF conducted an enforcement exercise where several businesses were issued with warning letters and notices of closure for breaching the COVID-19 protocols. In speaking with this publication, Hussain explained that the businesses were served with letters

because they were found to be non-compliant. Thirtyone of the recipients were the owners of bars, indoor dining facilities and Chinese Supermarkets which were also operating bars at their businesses.

Further, from last year to now, over 100 businesses were served with warning letters, which included first and final warnings.

Notably, the reopening of bars and permission for indoor dining was granted in amendments made to the COVID-19 gazette, both at a 40 percent capacity.

Last Wednesday, the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony also sought to inform the general public of the NCTF’s mandate, while delivering the COVID-19 update. A journalist attached to this publication who was present during the update asked the Minister if the

Teen collides with car on Recht-Door-Zee Access Road A teenage boy is now hospitalized after he reportedly collided with a car that he was riding in front of on the Recht-Door-Zee, Access Road, West Bank Demerara, on Saturday.

According to a police report, the injured teen has been identified as Kevin Richards, 14, of 775 Second Avenue, West Minister, West Bank Demerara, and the driver of the motorcar has

been identified as Ivlaw Goodridge of 542 RechtDoor-Zee. The incident occurred around 08:00hrs. The report stated that the teen and the driver were proceeding east along the northern side of the road. The driver told the police that while driving, the teen reportedly made a sudden south turn to cross the road and ended up in the path of his motor vehicle

PTT 737.

As a result of the collision, the teen fell on to the road’s surface causing him to receive injuries about his body.

He was picked up in a conscious state and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was admitted as a patient while the driver was taken into police custody to assist with investigations.

government’s relaxation of these measures may give persons more legroom to

further breach the regulations. In response, he stated that the NCTF is

responsible for enforcement, adding that they can revoke (Continued on page 16)

PAGE 16

Monday February 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

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The Ministry of Health yesterday reported 43 new infections from COVID-19 via its daily dashboard update which showed the COVID-19 case toll increased to 7,982 cases.

The dashboard also shows that five patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 780 in home isolation, 51 in institutional isolation and 14 in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, a total of 6,966 persons have recovered from the virus with 65 new recoveries recorded yesterday.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death toll remains at 180 deaths.

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...Downward investment trend From page 8 exclusive responsibility for breaking down of barriers to doing business and fasttracking implementation of high priority policies.”

He noted that Mauritius which is a small island was

faced with similar challenges like the countries in the Caribbean Region, nonetheless, it has been consistent in improving its ease of doing business ranking.

According to CEDA’s Ex-

ecutive Director, in the 2020 World Bank Report, Mauritius was ranked at 13 which is higher than Australia, Canada and Germany, adding that the Caribbean region can certainly learn from the small island.

...BK paid $20M for $5B From page 13 Deed of Amendment was never executed and the terms and conditions of the initial contract remained intact. BK failed to comply again, resulting in a High Court battle in 2013 in which NICIL claimed $49,640,202 in rental payments owed.

But the case went nowhere after the 2015 elections.

During his time as NICIL’s CEO, the late Horace James, the document said,

“breached his fiduciary duties” and offered to sell the property to BK for $202,602,759 on October 23, 2017, which was a gross undervaluing of the property.

The AG pointed out in the court document that a similar wharf facility now known as the Guyana Shore Base was sold for US$18,000,000. BK made a $20,260,276 down payment for the property on October 24, 2017 and has failed to date to make any other pay-

ments.

The Legal Affairs Minister noted that Winston Jordan by way of Vesting Order No 50. of 2020 on March 28, 2020 vested the property to BK “absolutely, free and clear of all claims and liabilities” thereby forfeiting all rights to recover the balance of the purchase price.

Taking these breaches into consideration, the AG is moving to repossess the properties.

...COVID-19 Task Force can revoke From page 15 their licences and there is assiduous monitoring to ensure compliance.

“We can easily lockdown the country and have everybody stay home but then we would have a lot of people who would not get an income and can’t feed themselves and so forth,” Dr. Anthony lamented.

He said that the government had to safely find some way to ensure economic activity can continue at a minimum, hence so the Ministry lifted the prohibition to have them practice social distancing while conducting their businesses.

The official said that while indoor dining and the reopening of bars have been al-

lowed, the Guyana Tourism Authority was also given the responsibility to specifically ensure all restaurant and bar owners comply with the mandated capacity and all other regulations.

This newspaper understands that teams will be on patrol to ensure compliance with the 40 percent capacity rule.

Monday February 08, 2021

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Local fishermen complain of ‘catching hell’ in Guyana’s waters Even though the PPP/C Government announced last month that the fishing industry managed to rake in over $16B in excess revenue, extensive interviews conducted by Kaieteur News across the country seems to suggest that our fishermen have “been catching hell”.

In fact, this media house has been receiving numerous reports of a rapid depletion of the fish stock in Guyana’s waters. However, over the past 12 months, the depletion intensified and fishermen saw their catch decrease, some say by more than 50%.

A number of fishermen have blamed poor regulation by the Government for giving away too many fishing licences, thereby causing the sea to become overcrowded with boats. Others believe that it might have to do with the ongoing exploration, drilling and production of crude by ExxonMobil. No independent study has been made public by the government about the effects these oil operations have on the nation’s marine life.

Apart from little fish stock they toil to catch, fishermen were plunged further into crisis by the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, major exports were halted, the local market was overcrowded, and prices plummeted.

To witness the crisis first hand and listen to their story, Kaieteur News went down to the local fish wharves located in the three counties of Guyana, Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice.

On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, Kaieteur News drove down to Meadow Bank Wharf around 5 am. The reporter sat for a while to observe the business before having a chat with a group of fishermen who was mending their nets.

Around that hour, it was busy, boats were being offloaded, porters were fighting for a job to fetch customers’ fish. Fish vendors and fishermen argued as they

tried to settle for a fair price.

As they arrived at an agreement, fishermen were heard chatting among themselves. “Them people ain’t even want pay the price for fish plus we ain’t even ketching nothing. Them have to flex with awe these man”.

Unlucky porters who did not get a job, sat in little groups conversing and begging fish vendors for a ‘small change to purchase cigarettes and rum.’ The Kaieteur News reporter on this assignment eavesdropped on the conversation; the topic of morning was “the hustle hard out here this year (2020)”.

They complained to each other that “this ain’t mek it, we tekking bad licks this year man, boyz can’t even afford a cigarette to smoke”.

Within an hour, the bustle ended and the wharf was cleared, business was over. The KN reporter then interviewed a group of fishermen who was mending their nets. They requested that their names not be in my report but agreed to share their honest perspectives.

They were quick to note that the reports of decrease in fish stock were no red herring.

One of them said, “We have been catching hell at sea…nothing man, nothing”.

Another joined in the ‘gaff’, “Boy y’all need to speak about this thing, we are barely clearing expenses, our heads are barely above water”.

The man said that his boss would normally pay persons to mend their nets but because the fish catch has reduced significantly, they have to mend their own nets to cut cost.

“Even the porters are affected, we can’t pay them to offload so we do that work too just to pay ourselves”, added the fisherman. He continued, “First, we used to catch fish by the tonnes but now a catch like that is considered to be a miracle, fishing get rough…” He

Charity fishermen mending their nets.

Mending their nets: the group of fishermen who spoke with Kaieteur News at the Meadow Bank Fish Wharf

added, “Things really get bad this year, and it intensify in the last six months”.

A third fisherman who was smiling as he listened decided to make his voice heard too.

“Boy over the years, fisherman work was big money because you does get pay on the catch. Sometimes the catch does be so nice that you does be going home with $200,000, sometime $500,000 in your pocket. Now if you get $50,000 on a catch, you lucky”.

He pointed at some of his colleagues who were sipping coffee and smoking cigarettes on another boat and continued, “Them man come in yesterday, you know how much they got pay? Only $17,000 a man. It rough man”.

An elderly campaigner also shared his experience said, “I have never seen anything like this before man, is like the fish move out or they disappear.”

He asked, “But is what really going on out there in the sea? You see we ain’ too bright in science or so all we know is catching fish, y’all educated y’all gah enlighten us.” He then continued, “I

want to believe that is the oil exploration and drilling by them oil company causing this you know. Since they start is suh them fish start disappearing and when them start producing the oil last year December like it get more worse.”

He then concluded by asking, “What can the Government do to help us?

Can they do some investigation to give us an idea about what is happening to the fish? This is our livelihood, this is the way we maintain our families”.

Later on that day, a fisherman who was out at sea called Kaieteur News. He had listened to the Glenn Lall Show on Kaieteur Radio and had heard him mention that ongoing oil activities offshore can impact the marine life and wanted to testify that it might be true.

He said that he has been toiling at sea for 17 days and cannot head to the wharf because his catch is not sufficient enough to clear expenses, much less make a profit.

Normally, he continued, “You can make a profitable

catch in three days but this year, fishermen have been forced to spend weeks out at sea just to make enough t o t a k e h o m e f o r t heir families”.

In order to get a c o m p r e h e n s i v e understanding of what appears to be a crisis, Kaieteur News correspondents in Essequibo and Berbice decided to speak with local fishermen in their respective counties too.

Correspondent, Romario Blair, reported that fishermen in Region Two have also noticed that fish stock has been diminishing in the past few years. He said that these men have been able to cope with crisis by getting fair prices for their catch but Covid-19 “hammered” them in 2020.

Blair explained that fishermen along the Pomeroon/Supenaam Region told him that the pandemic has resulted in a market glut, which eventually decreased the value of their catch. Also, in a report submitted to this news agency, Blair wrote that most fishermen deploy from the ports of Charity and

usually cast at sea, within the Waini area and off the coast in the Region.

The fishermen who spoke with Blair at the Charity fishing ports specialize in catching famous species like Catfish, Cuffum, Trout and Gillbacker for the export markets. Apart from toiling to find these species, which seem to be vanishing slowly, the fishermen explained, that COVID-19 has affected the export mark plunging them into a deeper crisis.

In Berbice, Kaieteur News correspondent Malissa Playter, reported that she too visited local wharves and received reports that members of the fishing industry seem to be experiencing hell too. Playter spoke with the Chairman of the Number 66 Fishing Complex Tamashwar Jainarine.

Jainarine is a fishing boat owner too and deals with the affairs of over 800 fishermen from that complex. He told Playter that the fish catch has been low in recent times and has been that way for a few years now.

He explained to her that because of the low fish stock, some of the Berbice fishermen are fishing in Suriname waters.

However, Jainarine does not believe that ExxonMobil’s offshore activities are causing the disappearance of the fish stock. “Berbice fishermen do not fish where Exxon is drilling”, he said.

He is of the view that depletion of the fish stock is because there is an excessive number boats in the waters.

“The system is poorly regulated, anybody could come and go there and fish.

No one is monitoring and the fish catch is getting smaller and smaller”. In the coming weeks, Kaieteur News will continue to investigate the foregoing matter.

PAGE 18

Monday February 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil could wipe out Stabroek Block’s proven reserves by 2036

By Kemol King Many countries have had their time with oil, and found decades after first oil that there was a lot they could have done better to secure value for their people.

Trinidad & Tobago, for instance, took decades to realize some of its mistakes, which have resulted in billions in losses in revenue to the State. One example of this, told to Kaieteur News by Energy Strategist, Anthony Paul, is the fact that that country ended up losing US$17 billion between 2010 and 2017 due to ignorance on gas trading. Despite a century with this industry, Trinidad and Tobago is still learning in some ways, how to manage.

Turn to Guyana. Six years after the first commercial oil discovery, the country has failed to place basic regulatory mechanisms and legislative necessities in place to manage this sector.

Guyana’s preparation for oil has been slothful, and the pace at which ExxonMobil intends to develop the reserves it has discovered shows that, unlike Trinidad, Guyana does not have 100 years to get it right.

It is very likely ExxonMobil will wipe out the proven reserves of the Stabroek Block in less than two decades. Using a simple projection of production

numbers based on public statements by ExxonMobil and its partners, Kaieteur News can show that ExxonMobil could wipe out the proven reserves by 2036.

Currently, ExxonMobil estimates that the proven reserves in the Stabroek Block stand at nine billion oilequivalent barrels. Make no mistake.

This doesn’t mean there are nine billion barrels of oil.

The term ‘oil-equivalent’ covers oil and gas reserves.

This is how ExxonMobil and its partners publicly report the reserves.

Kaieteur News had made several inquiries a year ago with the government and the oil companies to determine how much of the estimate at the time accounted for gas.

The Energy Director at the time, Dr. Mark Bynoe, had told the media in February 2020 that the eight billion barrels estimated then, included 25 percent gas. Later in late August, ExxonMobil’s country president, Alistair Routledge had said that gas accounts for about 20 percent of the proven reserves. Two months later, Chief Executive Officer of Hess Corporation, John Hess said that the reserve estimate had increased to nine billion barrels.

In this projection, let’s assume that gas accounts for

20 percent of the nine billion barrels of proven reserve. This would mean that there are about 7.2 billion barrels of oil.

ExxonMobil has been producing oil at the Liza Phase One operation since December 2019 with a nameplate capacity of 120,000 barrels per day. However, production levels varied throughout the year due to government-mandated curtailments after Exxon flared way longer than it had to. This year, ExxonMobil is still flaring but the new administration does not find it necessary to curtail production.

ExxonMobil is allowed to produce at its nameplate capacity, and Hess has even said that it intends to increase nameplate capacity later this year.

Using its initial nameplate, it is a simple assumption that in 2021, ExxonMobil will produce over 43.8 million barrels of oil. When Liza Phase Two comes on in 2022, it will be producing 220,000 barrels of oil a day.

The combined nameplate capacities of the two vessels will produce 248.2 million barrels of oil in the two years following first oil at Liza Phase Two. In 2024, Payara will come on stream, adding 220,000 barrels a day of production.

This will take the combined

Man shot by robbers while dropping off puri A man was shot by a motorcycle bandit on February 2, last, while dropping off a serving of puri for his friend at lot 75 Houston, East Bank Demerara (East Bank Demerara) Laid up at home with a gunshot injury just above his left knee is Sew Ramnanan, 54, of Lot 4 Henry Street, C u m m i n g s b u r g , Georgetown.

The bandits had shot and robbed Ramnanan in the early evening hours while he exited his car parked along the Houston Public Road.

Ramnanan recalled that he was about to enter his friends yard when and a man on a motorcycle rode up beside him and shot him to his left leg. The man then asked him to hand over the money while another bandit walked up to him. Ramnanan said he told them the money was in the car.

The men he said, grabbed his cellphone that he had in his hand at the time, and escaped

nameplate capacities over 560,000 barrels of oil a day. In the 12 months after Payara achieves first oil, the vessels operating will produce almost 205 million barrels of oil.

Combined with production in the preceding years, ExxonMobil will have already produced more than 500 million barrels of oil. These are the projects Guyana has already approved.

To determine how ExxonMobil will add development projects moving forward, let’s look at its public statements and those of industry analysts. So far, the Government of Guyana has indicated no intention to curtail production. Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said that he is in favour of aggressive production of Guyana’s reserves, to beat the oncoming global energy transition to renewables.

ExxonMobil intends to have five Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels producing in the Stabroek Block by 2025 with production levels over 750,000 barrels a day.

Kaieteur News has shown that ExxonMobil would be producing about one million barrels of oil a day with five FPSOs. So far, the public knows that ExxonMobil intends to add an FPSO at the Yellowtail-1 area to produce 220,000 barrels of oil a day.

Assuming that this receives

with an undisclosed amount of cash from his pocket.

He was rescued by the friend and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he received treatment.

Cops together with help

from public-spirited citizens managed to capture the suspects days later.

Ramnanan said that he positively identified one of suspects yesterday, in an ID parade as the one who shot him.

2029, 2030 and 2031 respectively. This would significantly increase the rate of production. At 220,000 barrels of oil a day, the combined capacities of the ten vessels would be producing 2.1 million barrels of oil a day.

Let’s assume though, that the final vessel is like Liza Phase One, and round the daily production to 2 million barrels a day, for simplicity.

Former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams made this assumption too, during a panel forum at Moray House Trust on January 16, last.

By the end of the first year, after the tenth FPSO is placed, ExxonMobil will have wiped out 4.14 billion barrels of oil, leaving a little over three billion barrels left.

In the following years, it will produce about 730 million barrels of oil in each year. By 2032, there would be 2.32 billion barrels left. By 2033, that would be reduced to 1.6 billion barrels. By 2036, there would be nothing left.

These simple projections only serve to show how quickly ExxonMobil could deplete Guyana’s resources.

It is highly likely that there will be more discoveries offshore Guyana.

But is that what Guyana’s leaders are banking on? More discoveries? How much time does Guyana really have left?

Nation still awaits special oil & gas press conference promised by Harmon It has been approximately four months since Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon committed to hosting an oil and gas press conference to relay information on the suspicious awards of the Kaieteur and Canje Oil Blocks, among other pressing sector related issues.

In fact, Harmon’s silence continued even as ExxonMobil announced that flaring will recommence above pilot levels at the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel due to a gas compressor malfunction.

Kaieteur News on Saturday requested an update from the Opposition Leader through his press officer, Imran Khan, regarding a definitive date when the

Ramnanan’s leg on the night when he was shot.

government approval without hiccups after submission at the end of 2021, it would likely come on stream in 2025. This would take Exxon’s combined nameplate capacity in the block over 780,000 barrels a day. With the same nameplate, FPSO #5 would come on stream in 2026, taking ExxonMobil to one million barrels of oil production every day. By late 2026 - early 2027, ExxonMobil will have wiped out 1.15 billion barrels of Guyana’s oil. Just like that, 7.2 billion becomes 6.05 billion.

The super-major has said that it sees potential for seven to 10 FPSOs in the Stabroek Block. Rystad Energy, an energy research and business intelligence company, projected mid-2020 that ExxonMobil will be able to place one FPSO offshore Guyana, every year for the next 10 years. These statements will guide this newspaper’s assumptions.

If FPSO#6 comes on in 2027, ExxonMobil will produce 445 million barrels of oil in the 12 months following.

If FPSO#7 comes on in 2028, ExxonMobil will produce 527 million barrels of oil in the 12 months following. That’s nearly one billion barrels produced in two years alone, taking the total produced since 2019 to 2.12 billion barrels of oil.

If Rystad is correct, the eighth, ninth and tenth vessels will start producing in

Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon press conference would be held.

This paper was told that there was “no updates as yet.”

It was back on October 2, that Harmon told Kaieteur

News reporters that he would host a press conference specifically dedicated to answer questions related to the sector. This was after weeks of articles being produced on the suspicious awards of the two assets signed away by the Donald Ramotar administration.

“We will have a specific press conference on oil and gas,” he had said, “and at that time, the question will be answered once it is posed.”

Then at another press conference on October 20, Harmon stated that he was relying on information from Kaieteur News to take action on the Kaieteur/ Canje Oil Blocks giveaway. He made other promises to hold the press conference but they all remain unfulfilled.

Man survives mining pit-cave-in A gold miner is currently in a serious condition at the Mabaruma Regional Hospital after the mining pit which he was working in collapsed and covered him.

Terence Anthony of Unity Square, Aruka River was operating a land dredge

just around noon on Friday at Iyana Backdam, Barama River, North West District, when the accident happened.

Immediately following the incident, the 28-year-old was rescued by his workmates and taken to the hospital.

He was seen and

examined by a doctor who admitted him. Even though the injuries which he sustained are unknown, Anthony is in a stable but serious condition. Kaieteur News understands that an investigation is still ongoing.

Kaieteur News

Monday February 08, 2021

PAGE 19

Govt. consults with private sector, labour reps. on 2021 budget Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

A view of the crowd at the meeting

I

n a bid to emphasize government’s commitment to continuous engagement, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo; Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira; on Saturday met with representatives from the private sector and labour force to solicit their input on the 2021 National Budget.

That meeting was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC).

During the session, Dr. Jagdeo emphasized the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government’s commitment to deliver its manifesto promises, several

of which have already been initiated in the 2020 budget.

He pointed out too that the 2021 budget and those for subsequent years will continue to build on those very promises.

Further, Minister Singh in his presentation stressed that government’s approach to development is one of continuous engagement.

He also elaborated that the PPP/C Manifesto outlined the vision for Guyana and the key interventions to be implemented.

These include significant investment in physical infrastructure to improve connectivity and unlock economic potential, substantial investment in

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira

Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh interacting with a member of the private sector social services as well as a well-educated and skilled workforce to capitalize on the economic opportunities arising.

In addition, Minister Singh outlined the importance of having improved the delivery of quality services at both the

government and private sector level.

Stakeholders present were said to have expressed strong appreciation of the

opportunity to meet and discuss issues of interest, and also made several recommendations for the government’s consideration.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Monday February 08, 2021

Monday February 08, 2021

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

South Africa reaches 127-1, needs further 243 ...President’s S/Ball Cup in 2nd test RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Aggressive batting

by Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen gave hope to South Africa’s bid to level the series after Pakistan set the tourists a challenging target of 370 runs on the fourth day of the second and final cricket test yesterday.

Markram (59) and van der Dussen (48) both stayed unbeaten and carried the Proteas to 127-1 at stumps on day 4 as both batsmen added 94 runs and dominated the last session of the day.

South Africa, which lost the first test by seven wickets but has not lost a test series

against Pakistan in 18 years, needs a further 243 runs on the last day on a seemingly batsman-friendly pitch.

“We need to build on this partnership as we know wickets can fall in clusters, like we lost in Karachi,” South Africa assistant coach Enoch Nkwe said. “The wicket is playing well so the guys need to apply to chase down the target.”

Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan (115) earlier hit an unbeaten maiden test century and shared a record-breaking ninth-wicket stand with Nauman Ali before Pakistan was bowled out for 298 for an overall lead of 369 runs.

But Markram and van der

Dussen launched a counterattack against spinner Nauman Ali and Pakistan’s two fast bowlers — Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf — by striking 17 boundaries between them.

“They came out with good intent and attacked us,” Rizwan said. “Bowling is our strength and there is something for the spinners.

We are still hopeful to win this match and the series.”

Pakistan had made an early inroad when Dean Elgar (17) threw away his wicket before tea as the left-hander chased a wide delivery from Shaheen Afridi (1-22) and was caught behind. Markram and van der Dussen then added a brisk 94 runs to bring South

Monday February 08, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may feel like you need to work for a cause or political party, Aries. The period you're in right now is bringing you closer to social issues.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is the right moment to extricate yourself from relationships that have seen their day, Libra. This won't be easy, but you must.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Unfortunately, Taurus, this may be a period of conflict and tension in your family life, especially where siblings are concerned. Don't you think it's time to deal with these problems once and for all?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You took off like a bullet a few days ago, Scorpio, making great progress in a short amount of time. But now you're grappling with doubts that are undermining all your energy.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You now seem to be able to do everything you want to do, Gemini. Things are going well as you reap the rewards of important past decisions you made. The obstacles that tended to get in your way are history now.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) There is some likelihood that thoughts of your love life will haunt you today. Perhaps you're intrigued by the idea of exploring certain realms of your relationship that remain secret.

CANCER(June21–July22) You've been stamping the ground impatiently. You're waiting for the moment to jump into new adventures with renewed vigor after your meditation of the last few months.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you find yourself tired and irritable now, Leo, you should know that this is normal. You may have had a few months that were a little too studious.

Would you like to continue with the same rhythm?

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) This is going to be a good moment to look elsewhere, Virgo. You should do just as the artist does when he has worked on a painting for too long, which is take a step back.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today more than ever you will yearn to escape from the daily routine. You're thirsty for new sights and sounds, new faces and places.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Finally, you're on the mend, Aquarius. The minor ailments that have been dragging you down lately are beginning to disappear, and you're about to regain all of your physical energy.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Do you feel a little under the weather, Pisces? It's possible, considering all the emotional turmoil you've been through lately. It takes time to recover from those storms. As you know, the work itself isn't what gets you down but rather your worries about the future.

Africa back into contention.

Markram took 22 balls before he got off the mark, but then raised his 5th test half century off the next 49 deliveries with eight fours and two sixes.

Van der Dussen also drove and pulled with ease and has eight fours.

Rizwan smashed 15 boundaries in his knock of 115 off 204 balls in nearly five hours before Pakistan was bowled out after lunch.

Left-arm spinner George Linde (5-64), playing in his third test match, took a maiden five-wicket haul and Keshav Maharaj picked up 3-118.

Pakistan was leading by 200 when it resumed on 1296, but Rizwan got invaluable support from tailenders against scrappy South Africa fielding.

Yasir Shah (23), who was dropped twice, had a 53-run stand with Rizwan before he was caught behind off Linde.

But it was No. 10 batsman Nauman’s defiance for 25 overs that frustrated South Africa the most.

Nauman, who hit two sixes against the spinners in scoring 45 off 78 balls in a knock that also included six fours, shared a recordbreaking 97-run stand with Rizwan.

The partnership bettered Pakistan’s previous record ninth-wicket stand against South Africa when Azhar Mahmood and Shoaib Akhtar featured in a 80-run stand at Durban in 1998.

Rizwan raised his half century off 113 balls before lunch and then reached his hundred off 185 balls when he pushed Linde to cover point for a single.

“Honestly the wicket was very difficult when I batted late on the third day, but thanks to God that I survived and played one of my best innings,” Rizwan said.

Rizwan started the day with an imperious cover drive boundary off fast bowler Andrich Nortje’s first ball and also used his feet well against both spinners by playing sweep shots and drives to deny South Africa’s ambitions of keeping its victory target below 300 runs.

Nauman, who made his test debut in the first test at the age of 34, missed out on his maiden fifty when he was finally caught at midwicket while attempting a pull against Kagiso Rabada, who finished with 2-34.

Scores: Stumps South Africa 127 for 1 (Markram 59*, van der Dussen 48*) and 201 (Bavuma 44*, Hasan 554) need Pakistan 298 (Rizwan 115*, Linde 5-54) & 272 (Faheem 78*, Nortje 556) 243 runs to win.

From page 22 important tool for unity and transcends barriers that hinder development in Guyana.

Efforts will also be placed on developing the human resource capacity in sports.

“We also have to work on training and developing a core group…sports facilitators, coaches and trainers, to be attached initially to a district, where we can bring a number of schools and have them in charge of the district.”

Another initiative is to promote fitness programmes in communities. Dr Ali also highlighted the need to decentralise sport from the capital city and spread it to all corners of Guyana.

“May the best team not only win, but may the best team be the best example also,” concluded Dr Ali. Anand Sanasie, Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) said it was good that the highest office of the land, President Dr Irfaan Ali, graced the tournament with his name and his presence.

Sanasie spoke of the impact the West Indies threewicket win had on many yesterday morning and it was like Christmas in the West Indies. The Cricket West Indies Inc. Director added that sometimes you keep getting calls asking why the Region’s most successful spinner (Veerasammy Permaul) was sitting on the bench and if it would have

made a difference but said it was the order of the day, such is cricket and all the time you are trying to do the best you could.

Sanasie commended the Softball fraternity for playing a big role of opening back this Country and helping to ease the tension caused by the Pandemic and cricket as a whole has brought some relief to the citizens.

Sanansie wished the organizers a safe tournament and said softball cricket always has the support of the GCB once he is there and committed to having Softball use the LBI facility once all formalities are met.

“At grass root levels Softball throughout Guyana it’s where the little kids start their prep in the game of cricket. I wish the tournament well,” Sanansie concluded.

Speaker of the House and President of Everest, Mansoor Nadir, speaking on behalf of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Charles Ramson who was unavoidably absent, told the gathering which included the Head-of-State, that Minister Ramson wished to congratulate the organizers for initiating another worthy programme for Sport in our Country.

The Speaker of the National Assemble said the Sports Minister disclosed that he is going to support sports at all levels across our entire country and wished them well.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Leon Spinks, former heavyweight boxing champ, dies at 67

Nitish Kumar hit a century in a losing effort.

Windwards Volcanoes beat Leewards Hurricanes by 31 runs in CG Insurance Super50 opener

Leon Spinks fought the legendary Muhammad Ali during his career. (AP) USA Today - Boxing legend Leon Spinks died at the age of 67 on Friday night in a Henderson, Nevada, hospital near his home after battling with prostate cancer for several years, according to family friend Joe Bernal.

Spinks served in the Marine Corps before he rocketed to international fame in 1978 when he beat Muhammad Ali in a split decision to earn the undisputed world heavyweight title in what was considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

“It was considered a mere joke,’’ fellow boxing great George Foreman told USA TODAY Sports when reflecting on that historic bout. “Why in the world would they put (Spinks) in the ring with Muhammad Ali with such a short boxing career?

“He beat the devil out of Muhammad, from pillar to post, even Muhammad was surprised. “(Spinks) was legitimate, and he has his rightful place in the history of heavyweight boxers.’’

Spinks’ gap-toothed smile became his trademark as he burst on the scene as an amateur. Fighting alongside his brother Michael and a charismatic light

W

Former Boxing champion Leon Spinks is shown at home in Henderson, Nevada in July 2015.

(Chase Stevens-USA Today Sports) welterweight by the name of Ray Leonard, they became most successful U.S. Olympic boxing team in history.

All three fighters won gold at the 1976 Summer Games, as did countrymen Howard Davis and Leo R a n d o l p h . Te a m m a t e s Charles Mooney won silver and John Tate bronze.

Leonard, who got to know Spinks when they were members of that 1976 U.S. Olympic team, recalled their time together fondly.

“Personally speaking, he was one of the nicest guys,’’ Leonard told USA TODAY Sports. “He was a great guy to be around. Funny and hard working. He was all those things.’’

Monday February 08, 2021

Fresh off his Olympic success, Leon Spinks turned professional the following year. In just his eighth pro bout, he squared off against the legendary Ali for the undisputed heavyweight title.

Spinks, then 24, pulled the upset in a split decision to win the title. However, he lost a rematch with Ali seven months later by unanimous decision.

He had one more heavyweight title fight – in 1981 – but lost to Larry Holmes in a third-round TKO. Spinks retired in 1995 with a record of 26-17-3. He was named to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017.

indward I s l a n d s Vo l c a n o e s defeated Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 31 runs in the opening game of the CG Insurance Super50 Cup match at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua yesterday.

Led by Kevin Stoute 86 and Sunil Ambris 70, the Volcanoes reached 284 all out off 49.3 overs. Quinton

Boatswain 4-45 and Hayden Walsh Jr 3-79 were the pick of the bowlers for the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes in their reply fell just short at 249 all out off 47.1 overs with Nitish Kumar 108 and Ross Powell 46 the principal scorers. Bowling for the winners Larry Edward 2-31 and Preston McSween 2-47 led their side’s attack.

Scores: Volcanoes 284 all out off 49.3 overs (Kevin

Stoute 86, Sunil Ambris 70, Emmanuel Stewart 27; Quinton Boatswain 4-45, Hayden Walsh Jr 3-79) beat Hurricanes 249 all out off 47.1 overs (Nitish Kumar 108, Ross Powell 46, Montcin Hodge 28; Larry Edward 2-31, Preston McSween 2-47).

The action continues today with Guyana Jaguars facing Barbados Pride from 1:30pm at the same venue.

VCB content with second in 60m dash on return to track

S

portsMax - Two-time Olympic gold medalist Veronica CampbellBrown was pleased with her second-place finish in a Women’s 60m dash Saturday in what was her first race in more than two-and-a-half years.

The 38-year-old VCB ran 7.34 finishing behind the talented American emerging sprinter Tamari Davis, who ran a personal 7.18 for the win at the East Coast Invitational at the Virginia Beach Sports Centre. Barbara Pierre was third in 7.35.

Campbell-Brown, who was also running for the first time since the birth of her

daughter, Avianna Brown in February 2019, said she was content with the performance.

“2.5+ years since I last competed. I returned to competition today at the East Coast Invitational with two rounds of 60ms (7.43s and 7.34s). A decent start to my 2021 athletics campaign. There is a lot of work to be done, but I am up for the challenge,” she said.

In the men’s equivalent, Barbados’ Ramon Gittens was third in 6.79s. The race was won by Jackson Webb in 6.64 in a close finish with Joseph Manu who was timed in 6.66.

CWI congratulates West Indies on magnificent win ST JOHN’S, Antigua — Cricket West Indies (CWI) yesterday congratulated the West Indies team on the record-breaking victory against Bangladesh in the first Test match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.

Led by an amazing double century by Kyle Mayers on debut, West Indies made 395-7 to win by three wickets. He made 210 not out and shared a superb partnership of 216 with fellow debutant Nkrumah Boner, who made 86.

The superb batting performance was the second highest most successful run chase in West Indies Test history and the highest run

chase in a Test match in Asia.

In a statement, CWI President Ricky Skerritt lauded the team and their performance, which brought great joy to West Indies supporters around the world.

Skerritt said: “Congratulations to captain Kraigg Brathwaite and our entire squad for an exceptional display of composure and desire. Led by debutant Kyle Mayers, it was a fighting team performance overall. The people of our region should walk a little taller today and the challenges of COVID-19 should temporarily be overshadowed by this astonishing West Indies Test victory. The hard work will continue.”

Kaieteur News

Monday February 08, 2021

PAGE 23

Dom Bess advances England’s hopes on day three in Chennai

B

BC Sport - Dom Bess advanced England’s chances of victory over India on day three of the first Test in Chennai, despite a sparkling knock from Rishabh Pant.

Spinner Bess took 4-55 as India closed 257-6, still 321 runs behind.

Bess had India captain Virat Kohli caught for 11 and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane

for one, the hosts reduced to 73-4.

Pant then brutally targeted the spin of Jack Leach in a stunning counterattack, while Cheteshwar Pujara made 73 in support.

But Bess returned to dismiss both batsmen with Pant caught at deep extra cover by Leach for 91 from 88 balls.

Jofra Archer earlier claimed the wickets of both

Pant hit nine fours and five sixes in his entertaining innings. (BCCI)

India openers in a fine newball spell after England added 23 runs in 40 minutes with the bat. They were eventually bowled out for 578. A seventh-wicket partnership of 32 from Ravichandran Ashwin and Wa s h i n g t o n S u n d a r frustrated England late in the day but Joe Root’s side look to be the only team who can win the Test.

Three days in, England have still hardly put a foot wrong in this match.

After patiently accumulating over the first two days, on day three they knocked over India’s muchfabled top order.

Archer and Bess were excellent, England’s fielding outstanding too.

James Anderson caught opener Shubman Gill diving at mid-on and Root brilliantly clung on onehanded at extra cover at dismiss Rahane.

After lunch they expertly squeezed the scoring rate, conceding just 14 runs in an hour during which Bess had star batsman Kohli caught at

Pooran’s Northern Warriors claim Abu Dhabi T10 title

short leg off the inside edge.

Even luck favoured England. Pujara was caught at mid-wicket after the ball had deflected to him off Ollie Pope’s shoulder at short leg.

England’s only blemishes were Leach’s inability to overcome Pant’s dazzling attack and a drop by Archer late in the day to reprieve Sundar on 25.

Archer was running back from long-on and spilled the ball as it dropped over his shoulder.

Still, India, the leaders in t h e Wo r l d Te s t Championship who have lost once at home since 2013, face a long battle to deny England over the final two days.

Pant came to the crease at 73-4 and almost immediately Root introduced Leach to bowl into the rough outside the left-hander’s off stump.

Pant responded by attacking, as Ben Stokes had when faced with a similar challenge in England’s innings.

The wicketkeeperbatsman, who was the star on the final day of India’s historic recent series win in Australia, hit back-to-back sixes in Leach’s first over of his post-lunch spell and repeatedly targeted the leg

Bess has taken 16 Test wickets across five innings this winter. (BCCI) side.

His innings seemed to spur on the previously conservative Pujara, who played well before his unfortunate dismissal.

At one stage, Leach had figures resembling a Twenty20 rather than a Test match - 0-59 from six overs.

Pant, eyeing a first Test century in India, was drawn into one big shot too many in the end. Bess tossed the ball wide and Leach was able to gain revenge when the ball was skewed to him in the deep.

Bess and Archer step up Bess has taken two fivewicket hauls in his 12 Tests but this was his best performance to date.

Previously criticised for leaking runs, he offered control for the most part, particularly in a key passage to Kohli and Pujara after lunch.

He also has a healthy knack of taking wickets with bad balls. Rahane hit a full toss to Root for his fine catch and it was Bess who benefitted by Pujara’s freak dismissal.

With Anderson unusually quiet, Archer provided penetration with the new ball.

He bowled quick but also showed he is also a highly skilful bowler by finding movement from the pitch with fast cutters.

As well as removing Gill, he had Rohit Sharma caught behind with a rising ball from back of a length within five overs.

They were Archer’s first five overs in red-ball cricket since August after he sat out the recent tour of Sri Lanka.

Scores: India 257 for 6 (Pant 91, Pujara 73, Bess 455) trail England 578 by 321 runs.

Former Windies bowler, coach Moseley dies in motor vehicle collision

Northern Warriors romped to an eight-wicket win over the Dehli Bulls to claim the Abu Dhabi T10 title.

SportsMax - West Indies batsmen Rovman Powell and Lendl Simmons remained unbeaten to steer the Northern Warriors to an eight-wicket win over the Dehli Bulls, to claim the Abu Dhabi T10 title, on Saturday.

After winning the toss, the Warriors restricted the Bulls to 81 for 9 in 10 overs.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Evin Lewis got things off to a flier, after scoring 16 runs off the first over.

The innings soon lost momentum after Gurbaz’s mistimed shot was taken at cover and Lewis was gobbled up by Powell. In the end, Mohammad Nabi topscored with a 10-ball 21 for the Bulls.

Maheesh Theekshana starred with the ball for the Warriors after claiming 3 for 14.

In pursuit of a gettable target, Warriors skipper and in-form batsman Nicholas Pooran took responsibility by promoting himself up the order. He was, however, dismissed lbw by Fidel Edwards on 12.

Simmons and Waseem Muhammad, however, kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Opener Muhammad scored 27 off 22 but was dismissed before Powell (16 from 8) and Simmons (14 from 12) finished the proceedings.

Powell hit the winning runs with a huge six with 10 balls left. Theekshana received the Man of the Match award while Pooran was named Man of the Series. Northern Warriors are the first team to win the trophy twice.

Ezra Moseley gives instruction to a member of the West Indies female team.

S

portsMax - Former West Indies and Barbados fast bowler, Ezra Moseley, was killed in a motor vehicle accident on Saturday, in Barbados.

According to reports, Moseley, who celebrated his 63rd birthday in January, was struck from his bicycle

by an SUV early in the morning.

Moseley was one of several players slapped with a lifetime ban after taking part in the West Indies rebel tour of South Africa in 198283.

The ban was, however, later lifted and he went on to represent the West Indies in

two Tests, in 1990, in England, at the age of 32, and also played in nine One-Day Internationals.

Later on, Moseley served as a national selector for the Barbados senior men’s team, the successful Barbados women’s team, and was also an assistant coach for the West Indies’ women’s team.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Monday February 08, 2021

Majestic Mayers leads West Indies to shock win over Bangladesh

A

FP - Kyle Mayers scored a stunning double hundred on his debut as West Indies shocked Bangladesh by three wickets in the first Te s t i n C h i t t a g o n g yesterday.

Mayers hit an unbeaten 210 from 310 balls — with 20 fours and seven sixes — to guide his side to 395-7 with just nine balls left on the final day.

West Indies, who are on tour without most of their first choice players because of the coronavirus pandemic, beat the best run chase in Asia, set by Sri Lanka who hit 388 to beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in Colombo in 2017.

Mayers, the second West Indies player to get a double hundred on his debut after Laurence Rowe and sixth overall, was brilliantly aided by fellow debutant Nkrumah Bonner, who hit 86.

Resuming on 110-3, the pair put on 216 for the fourth

wicket to frustrate Bangladesh’s bowlers until they were separated by leftarm spinner Taijul Islam.

Taijul trapped Bonner leg-before in the first over after tea to end the highest fourth wicket partnership for West Indies in the fourth innings of a Test.

They beat the record of Len Baichan and Clive Lloyd, who scored 164 against Pakistan at Lahore in 1975.

Jermaine Blackwood was stumped for nine by Nayeem Hasan as West Indies pressed for victory.

But Mayers put on exactly 100 runs with Joshua Da Silva to take the visitors close to the target.

By the time Taijul Islam bowled Da Silva, West Indies were only three runs from victory.

Mehidy Hasan, who took all three wickets on the previous day, got only the consolation wicket of Kemar Roach when the score was tied.

An eerie silence gripped the Bangladesh team tent as Mayers pushed Nayeem at long off for a single to complete the win.

Mayers’ innings is the highest individual collection for West Indies in the fourth innings of a Test since Brian Lara stunned Australia with 153 runs in Bridgetown in 1999.

“I’m always positive and believed in my ability, and believed that we could get there.

We never give up, and keep fighting,” Mayers said.

“It’s a great feeling to be playing Test cricket, and then going on to score 100, 200 and then to win the match,” he said.

Bonner pulled offspinner Mehidy over square leg for a boundary with the first ball of the day to show West Indies’ intent.

Mayers brought up the century stand by hitting Mustafizur Rahman for a four and six off successive deliveries.

Mayers became the 15th West Indies batsman to get a debut century when he edged a Mustafizur ball to the boundary between slip and gully.

Bangladesh scored 430 and 223-8 declared. West Indies made 259 in their first innings.

Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque said Mayers had been the key.

“Mayers and Bonner played very well, we didn’t create chances and the bowlers didn’t bowl the right areas, but all credit goes to their batsmen,” he said.

The second and final Test will start in Dhaka on February 11.

Scores: West Indies 259 (Brathwaite 76, Blackwood 68, Miraz 4-58) and 395 for 7 (Mayers 210*, Bonner 86, M i r a z 4 - 11 3 ) b e a t Bangladesh 430 (Miraz 103, Shakib 68, Shadman 59, Warrican 4-133) and 223 for 8 dec (Haque 115, Das 69, Warrican 3-57, Cornwall 381) by three wickets.

President’s S/Ball Cup launched, tournament set from March 5 -7

By Sean Devers Organized by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. in collaboration with Guyana’s honorary Consul to Florida, the inaugural President’s Softball Cup was launched yesterday afternoon at the Everest Cricket Club.

The tournament, which will be played in three categories, (Open, O-40 and O-50) is scheduled from March 5-7 and will be played at grounds in the City.

Teams will battle for a first prize of $500,000 in each category, while the runners up in each will collect $100,000.

The fixtures have not yet been released, while Everest, GYO, MYO, YMCA and LBI are the venues set to host games.

His Excellency Dr Irfan Ali, who delivered the keynote address at the launch which was chaired by Cricket Commentator Indeerjet Persaud, said that systems will be put in place to expose Guyanese from all walks of life to a plethora of sporting disciplines.

“Today the world is going through a pandemic

(From left), Ian John, President Ail & Mahendra Hardyal of Regal. and people of every status of Society find themselves trying to survive a single virus.

And what we would have learnt from this is that we all have collective responsibility for each other, it’s the actions of each other, the responsibility that each one of us exercise that will determine what the outcome will be in this pandemic.

It’s a lesson we can take from a dreadful situation…it’s the actions of our brothers in the Softball cricket league, the Cricket Board that will determine who we survive

collectively,” posited his Excellency, who described himself as the humble Chief Servant to the people of this Country.

“Whether Cricket survives, whether Cricket improves requires us coming together as a collective.

F o o t b a l l , Vo l l e y b a l l , Badminton, Squash… requires us coming together as a collective and that is why I am so grateful and honored to be a part of this launch.

The idea of honorary Consul Mr Ramzan Roshanali and his commitment shared with the

Softball league and shared nationally, giving birth to this tournament. This is what is the greatest outlook of sports is, that it can be used to break down social barriers.

You might see the child of a very wealthy family depending on the child of a poor family for the team on the field of play. Sports have many intangibles,” continued the Commanderin-Chief.

The Head of State, who played some cricket in his earlier years, said that collectively, sport is an (Continued on page 19)

Kyle Mayers poses with the Player of the Match award, also his 210th run in the innings, Bangladesh vs West Indies, 1st Test, Chattogram, Day 5, February 7, 2021 ©BCB

Kaieteur News

Monday February 08, 2021

PAGE 25

Panthera Solutions Inc pumps $300,000 into RHTYSC - Ming’s Products Services Cricket Development Programme donates cricket balls

T

he effort of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS to expand its Cricket Developmental Programme received a major boost on Friday last when Panthera Solutions handed over a donation of $300,000 to Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster.

The funds is for purchasing of junior cricket gears for the clubs Under 12, 13 and 15 teams and also for a full page advertisement in the 22nd edition of the club’s Youth Review Magazine.

Foster stated that the one year absence from the cricket field affected the RHTYSC Cricket Developmental Programme as management was unable to organise any activities due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The Under 12, 13 and Under 15 teams are nursery of the RHTYSC, MS cricketing structure and Foster stated that every year the club makes sure that special emphasis is placed on the members of those teams. The Club, he stated has a free membership policy and provides all of the necessary equipment to members. Panthera Solution sponsorship was used to acquire all the necessary

Ms. B. Jordan Meredith of Ming’s hands over Cricket Balls to RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster.

Cristal Smith and Ray Mclean of Panthera Solutions hands over the donation to Hilbert Foster. cricket and coaching gears for the cricket development programme. The items purchased included bats, batting pads, batting gloves, wicketkeeping pads and gloves among others.

Panthera Solutions Inc is a joint company between Farfan and Mendes Ltd of Guyana and the Crosbie Group of companies based in Canada. The company has been supportive of the activities of the club and has sponsored its Christmas Charity Programme, Christmas Village, Annual Youth Review Magazine and Youth Information Booklets since 2019.

General Manager

Andrew Dinsdale stated that the company was very impressed by the outstanding work of the RHTYSC and was delighted to support the cricket development programme.

Cricket Manager Rabindranauth Kissoonlall stated that the three teams have a combined membership of over sixty youths between the ages of nine to fifteen years. The gears and equipment, he stated would be used by the coaching staff of the club to make sure that all the players fulfill their full potential.

The RHTYSC in April would be publishing a 48page magazine to highlight

MMD Hollow blocks and Pavers supports ECC Speaker’s Softball Cup MMD Hollow blocks has thrown their support behind the Everest Cricket Club for the hosting of the inaugural S p e a k e r ’s S o f t b a l l International Cup which is set for April 2-4.

T h e e n t i t y ’ s representative, Maryann Daby, handed over a cheque to Speaker of the National Assembly and President of the ECC Manzoor Nadir on Friday prior to the launching of the tournament.

The tournament has attracted 16 teams including six from overseas and it will be contested in the over 45 and over 50 categories.

Attractive prizes and will be given to the winning and runner up teams, the man-ofthe-match in each game, as well as the player-of-the tournament.

The final will be played at Everest CC and will conclude with a bar-be-cue and lime as part of the club’s fund-raising efforts and all of

Maryann Daby presents the cheque to ECC President Manzoor Nadir. the established COVID-19 protocols will apply. This international competition will be the third of its kind

complementing the Prime Minister’s Cup and the President’s Cup which is slated for March.

its outstanding work during 2020. The magazine would be published at the F and H Printery in Georgetown.

M e a n w h i l e , M i n g ’s Products and Services Ltd on Friday last handed over four boxes of cricket balls to the programme. The company has been supporting the club with cricket balls since 2002.

Ms. B. Jordan Meredith of

the company Human Resources Department handed over the cricket balls to Foster, who hailed the company for the support over the years. He stated that Ming’s had played a major role in the career of players like Assad Fudadin, Delbert Hicks, Kevin Sinclair, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Kevlon

Anderson, Sylus Tyndall, Junior Williams, Keith Simpson, Clinton Pestano, Erva Giddings and Shabika Gajnabi among others. The balls, Foster stated, would be used for practice sessions and also matches. Special thanks were expressed to Mr. Stanley Ming and Colin Ming for their support over the years.

rt Spo Kyle Mayers raises his bat after getting to the 150-run mark © BCB

Majestic Mayers leads West Indies to shock win over Bangladesh Nkrumah Bonner pounces on a short ball © BCB

President’s S/Ball Cup launched, tournament set from March 5 -7

President Dr Irfaan Ali is flanked by GSCL Inc Ian John (right), Speaker of the House Mansoor Nadir and GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie among others at yesterday’s launch.

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