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Kaieteur News
Friday February 11, 2022
Friday February 11, 2022
Kaieteur News
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Ashni Singh confirms $126 billion oil money is Budget supported …unable to pinpoint specific project financed through NRF …says too early to determine pay increase for public servants this year By Gary Eleazar The $126B coming from the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) will be pooled with other revenue streams in the Consolidated Fund, which will pay for government’s programmes for the year—all of which are considered, “national developmental priorities,” and as such, could not be disaggregated and identified as financing a specific project. This was among the conclusions made when the Members of the National Assembly met yesterday for the final day of the Consideration of the National Estimates for 2022—$552.9B—and approved the expenditures for the year. It would be apposite to note that despite the fact some $126B of this year’s Budget is being funded with monies to be withdrawn from the NRF for the first time, there was no mention—despite promises made—of which programmes specifically in this year’s budget would be funded, using Guyana’s oil resources. In fact, Minister within the Office of the President, with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, intimated that the money is in fact being used as budgetary support. Dr. Singh, when first pressed on the matter was reminded that “…we were being told that we have to ask the Minister of Finance, which are the projects that would be utilising the NRF amounts.” NRF FUND Shadow Minister with responsibility for the Finance Portfolio, for the coalition A Partnership for national Unity Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), Member of Parliament, Juretha Fernandes, during the session reminded that MPs were told that during the scrutiny of the specific expenditure, they will know what specific projects will be utilising monies from the NRF during the Committee of Supply stage of the Budget approval process. To this end, Dr. Singh was adamant that the new Natural Resources Act that had been
Shadow Finance Minister, APNU+AFC’s Juretha Fernandes approved provides a mechanism that the money be withdrawn and placed as a lump sum of money into the Consolidated Fund. He explained further that the new act established a mechanism whereby transfers come into the Fund in its entirety then appropriated. As such he was adamant that during the course of the past four days the MPs would have been engaged in the scrutiny of the expenditure. According to Dr. Singh, once placed into the Consolidated Fund it forms part of the pool of resources available for this year, then “national developmental priorities” are appropriated for, through the budgetary process. He said that under the 2019 legislation a number of loopholes had been left in place. He stated that the money will further be subjected to external audits and further scrutiny such as the Public Accounts Committee. According to Dr. Singh, “this government is committed to the highest level of transparency and accountability.” He stated that with withdrawals deposited into the consolidated fund, national development priorities are developed through Budget Process. According to Dr. Singh, the Budget during that process is subject to scrutiny throughout, implementation and execution and subsequently subjected to audit and scrutiny by PAC.
At the end of the evening h o w e v e r, i t c o u l d b e concluded, as was explained by Dr. Singh, that the $126B was not funding a specific project but pooled together with the $552.9B, to fund the government’s national and developmental priorities that are then appropriated through the budgetary process. PAY INCREASE With more than $15B allocated in this year’s Budget for the payment of ‘other employment costs,’ Singh, also informed the House, that it is too early to pronounce on what level of salary increase would be provided to public servants for this year. The contentious issue was raised during consideration of the more than $31B that has been allocated for current expenditure under the Ministry of Finance Policy and Administration Department. Fernandes, at the time observed that last year public servants had enjoyed a seven percent increase in wages and salaries and that this was reflected in the Budget Estimates. She said that last year the amount used was some $10B, since increased to in excess of $15B and queried whether public servants would enjoy a higher than seven percent increase. Providing a response for the House, Dr. Singh indicated that at present it is too early to determine the specificity with which any increases would be paid this
year. According to Dr. Singh—responding to MP Fernandes—”as to specificity of salary increase” it is far too early to determine. He sought to assure however, that as l o n g a s t h i s i s determined—salary increases that will be paid—it will in fact be met from the provision. The Minister did seek to provide clarification on the increased amount over the previous year by pointing out that the allocation does in fact cater for multiple purposes. This, since it is the budgetary line item that has historically met the cost of miscellaneous costs to be met by government. He cited as example the payment of salaries not budgeted for, such as for new recruits in the public service, promotions and other such changes in the employment structure. On the policy side of it, Fernandes sought to ascertain from the Minister whether the administration would be meeting with Teachers Union or Public Service Union on increases projected in the budget for t h i s y e a r. D r. S i n g h responded saying: “…let me assure the House that this PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) government is firmly committed to working closely with all stakeholders
Minister within the Office of the President, with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh in society including organised labour on all matters of national importance.” Pressed on when these talks would commence, Dr. Singh retorted that his government, throughout the year, “is open, available and eager” to meet with all stakeholders in society. Dr. Singh had by way of a public broadcast in November last, announced that “your Government will be paying an across-theboard increase of seven percent to public servants, teachers, members of the disciplined services, constitutional office holders, as well as government pensioners.” PAY DISPARITIES The increase, he said, will be granted retroactively to 1 January 2021, and work will start immediately to ensure that it is processed and paid to eligible employees together with their December salary and in time for the festive Christmas season.” During his Budget presentation in January last,
in which public servants were eagerly awaiting an announcement with regard a pay hike for this year, Dr. Singh said “our Government remains firmly committed to improving the lives and livelihood of all Guyanese.” He reminded that in 2021, a seven percent across the board increase was paid to over 50,000 public servants, teachers, members of the Disciplined Services, and Government pensioners. “We also committed at the end of 2021 to seek to resolve the disparities that exist across positions in the public service salary scale to ensure parity and consistency with which persons with similar qualification are paid. The required work to support this process will be undertaken this year.” By the end of yesterday’s consideration of the Estimates, the $552.9B Budget was approved for spending under the authority of the Appropriations Act for 2022 providing for the lawful withdrawal of $126B from the Natural Resources Fund.
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Kaieteur News
Friday February 11, 2022
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
The EPA clearly not working in the interests of Guyana
W
henever we think of Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), blood rushes to the head, and the self-control that is needed comes under severe strain. Anyone with a small part of a functioning brain, who takes a look at the decisions of the EPA, is sure to conclude that something is seriously wrong with this body that should be protecting this country and its citizens. It is because of this that we wonder if the local EPA is either a shell entity, or one that is engaged in a shell game. When the sum of the EPA’s positions is considered, we think that the EPA is both. For it is deeply involved in the most twisted game in town. Because what the EPA is doing amounts to nothing less than organisational pornography, so obscene it is, so questionable is the legality of its decisions, and so unacceptable it is to those Guyanese who can still think for themselves, still have some commonsense wisdom to assist them to sift the agency’s vulgarity and impotency. The latest piece of confirming evidence rebounds to the EPA’s discredit. It is the situation where the “EPA quietly amends permit for Liza Phase Two project -still fails to hold parent companies liable for oil spills” (KN January 23). The people at the EPA are representing Guyanese citizens. Therefore, they should not be going about their mandate and business “quietly” as in sneakily and smartly, in the hope that Guyanese are not paying attention, and the fast one that they are pulling will escape notice and scathing comment. Guyanese are concerned about the possibly devastating effects of a catastrophic oil spill. More than a few voices have clamoured for comprehensive insurance coverage in such an event, and which is paid for fully by ExxonMobil, the parent company of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. (EEPGL). As posted on its website, the EPA reports that the insurance coverage Guyanese are crying out for will be provided by EEPGL, the local subsidiary of ExxonMobil. Specifically, the posting on the EPA’s website informed Guyanese, under the section of the amended permit titled “Liability for Pollution Damage”, that “EEPGL shall have insurance of such type and in such amount as is customary in the international petroleum industry in accordance with good oil field practices for Petroleum Operations in progress offshore Guyana.” At first glance, this appears to be comforting, when all the expansive explanatory clauses are considered, in that there is going to be insurance coverage. It is not comforting, and it is not good enough. ExxonMobil and its partners are proud of boasting from their glittering corporate towers in Houston and New York of how fabulously they are doing with Guyana’s cheap oil, and under the auspices of the contract it executed with local leaders. Thus, it is a remarkable piece of fancy leadership footwork and corporate sleight of hand for ExxonMobil to distance itself from vital insurance coverage in the event of a calamitous oil spill in its operations. When the insurance bag is placed in the hands of its Guyana subsidiary, then it is guaranteed that Guyanese would be left holding the bag should an environmental disaster from an oil spill hit us. Since everything else of substance tiers up and ends up under the name of Houston-based ExxonMobil, it is unnerving and unacceptable that something as sensitive and crucial as expensive and sustained oil spill insurance coverage ends up under the name and in the books of the Guyana subsidiary. It is as good as if we have no insurance coverage at all. Guyana’s EPA should not be presiding over what is nothing but a slick, but very obvious, dodge by ExxonMobil chiefs to shirk their obligations to the people of Guyana. The EPA should be drawing a line in the sand and say that this does not work, so go back and get real insurance coverage with the parent company’s name and people (ExxonMobil) on the dotted line. The EPA must aggressively represent the interests of Guyanese, and not be so glaringly protective of ExxonMobil. Guyana’s EPA must cease being so hostile to the wellbeing of Guyanese, and so friendly and helpful to ExxonMobil’s interests.
Lata Mangeshkar, the Singing Nightingale of India gone at 92 DEAR EDITOR, The Singing Nightingale of India has sung her last song, crooned her last symphonic melody to man and hymn to the gods of music, taken her last bow on the earthly stage that she has dominated for the incredible span of eight decades. The superlatives cascade like a rushing torrent for this saint of a singer, who thrilled audiences throughout India, and resonated all the way over here to the other side of the world in Guyana, Trinidad, and Suriname. Even in Western societies, the grandeur of her singling style and voice, cut many to pieces, which speaks volumes to her broad, almost global, appeal, and the enchantments that she brought to tens, if not hundreds, of millions, of listeners worldwide. It may not be inaccurate to say that her admirers numbered hundreds of millions. I am one. In a world of hits and misses, egos and eccentrics, excesses and gaudy showmanship, Lata Mangeshkar let her voice and the melody of her marvelous voice ring into the ears and hearts of count-
less many. What a singer, she was. What a performer in the simple graceful lines of her clean-cut delivery, the soaring trilling power of her crescendos. Lata possessed a voice and a range, a skill to make even the most stonyhearted melt in surrender and weep with joy. There have been comparisons to other lesser mortals. But how can there be a comparison with one who is an immortal, gifted with peerless powers of crooning and warbling that just did not have its equal in her time, and perhaps for all time to come. All India mourns for her in a national outpouring of loss and grief, who to some was just a voice on the radio to those who had one, a playback singer of rare, delightful allure. It was a sign of her talents, her envy generating versatility that Lata was able to work smoothly with a succession of giant Indian composers and arrangers in the charmed Bollywood circle that does not have much patience with pretenders and mediocrity, but who were quick to recognise genius when they saw it, and most
of all heard it close up in the person of Lata Mangeshkar. Indian music maestros in the calibre of men like Laxmikant-Pyarelal and R.D. Burman and S.D. Burman, among others, came into close contact with this singing sensation, and reaped the benefits of many movie outings with her providing the sweet, out of this world sounds that came to be associated with her voice and her prolific output. In her own words, Lata said she can’t “believe I have been tolerated by music lovers for 75 years.” In recognition of her long and outstanding contribution to music, she was awarded the highest civilian honour that her country of birth, India, could have given. Most astonishing of all is that she was similarly honoured with its highest civilian honour by France of all places. As we say this, we remember that the French have an ear, eye, and deep appreciation for the cultural heights, which Lata personified and delivered in spades without letup. In fact, it is a tribute to her musical stature that Lata, this almost exclusively Hindi language
singer, could have enjoyed favourable receptions and wide followings in largely Muslim Pakistan and Bangladesh. In Guyana, she had and would still have her legions of admirers and followers, for whom even her passing does not cut the cord, does not make a difference; once that voice is around on some musical channel or medium, then she will be thrilled to, and be a source of romantic nostalgia for the great memories that she instilled in many. Again, Lata’s almost incomparable ability, that near effortless ease, to cross boundaries and hurdle barriers, even without conscious effort, has its place and outcome right here in Guyana. We say this because there are some Afro Guyanese who could speak with admiration, if not awe, of ‘Dheere, dheere, machal’ one of her timeless classics that triumphed over the puny limits of time. There is so much more that could be said of this grand lady of music. I bow thankfully for moments of pure magic. Sincerely, GHK Lall
The Vice President should have shown the journalist the door DEAR EDITOR, Our country, almost overnight, as a result of the Exxon oil and gas find, is transitioning from a poor developing nation to one of the world’s richest per capita and a major oil producing country. There is another “curse” which poses an even greater challenge other than the infamous “resource curse” to a newly oil and gas rich country like ours. It’s the “attention curse”. Guyana, again, almost overnight, has become the beneficiary and the victim of world attention. Our newly found wealth brings with it, not only new investor attention, but also significantly increased media attention. Media, for instance, like the Vice Media Group, to whom Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, recently, in my view, mistakenly, granted an interview. The Vice Media Group is not a mainstream media company It is, however, a major international digital media organisation with a substantial audience of young adults who prefer to get their news from online social media like the Vice Media Group, which have little or no respect for the
traditional ethics of mainstream professional journalism but flourish from sensational and questionable reporting. Media and Business Analyst at the Poynter Institute, renowned for its dedication to the ethics of professional journalism and its International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), described Vice News reporting as “raw and tasteless sometimes, and more personal essays than balanced journalism”. It’s instructive that a major investor in Vice Media is the radical rightwing Rupert Murdoch owned 21st Century Fox, whose commentators continue to embrace the lie that Donald Trump was not defeated in the US election. To understand the kind of reporting indulged in by the Vice Media Group, the Group, for instance, when reporting the Khmer Rouge Genocide, was forced to admit to having photoshopped images of the victims of the Khmer Rouge, photoshopping smiles onto the faces of the dead victims. As for those who own and operate the Vice Media Group, according to
Wikipedia, in December 2017, “The New York Times reported that there have been four settlements involving allegations of sexual harassment or defamation against Vice employees. In addition, over twenty other women stated that they had experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct….at the company”. Clearly, the Vice Media Group journalist had an agenda, embroil Guyana’s Vice President in accusations of corruption with a personal accusation against him. The tactic is common. Throw enough mud at the target and some of it will stick. “What about within your government, do you accept
bribes”, the reporter asked. The VP responds, “No I don’t”. That should have been the end of the matter. But, no, the journalist rudely pursues the question disclosing an alleged source of information (something a professional journalist would never do), asking again, “do you need middlemen like Su in order to take money so you can keep your hands free”? At that point, the Vice President should have shown the journalist the door. We can expect these media to continue to rush to make news from our country. Vice President Jagdeo was a convenient target. Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento
I stand by my record DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Kissoon questions my history of public comment. May I respectfully direct him to the Kaieteur News “letters columns” where he will find, among others, the following letters about the electoral impasse: No. Not in My Name (7th March 2020), Change cannot be brokered when an electoral process has been subverted (12th March 2020), We
cannot build a future without trust (1st May 2020). Reference the policies of the previous administration including the retrenchment of the sugar workers: A golden opportunity has been squandered (22nd March 2018) and Are we all asleep at the wheel (8th January 2018). I stand by my record. Yours faithfully, Isabelle de Caires
Friday February 11, 2022
Are we drifting towards an oligarchy? DEAR EDITOR, ‘I’ve never had much difficulty with the writings and sometimes wrath with Freddie Kissoon’s articles and have from time to time complimented him even when he took a few jabs at me, my Party and its Leadership. I recall, I referred to him as our modern day Shakespeare at the function at the Independence Square (Parade Ground), when we celebrated the Life of the assassinated Courtney Crum Ewing. Incidentally a functional democracy would have had those responsible for his assassination, that of Satayeo Sawh, Ronald Waddle, the Bacchus’ brothers, among others charged, but we have not even had an inquiry to these high-profile killings. However, his piece in the Thursday, February 10, edition is an obnoxious and unnecessary verbal assault on Isabelle DeCaires, the daughter of the Founder of Stabroek News, David DeCaires. I lay no claims to knowing who this young lady is, safe to state that her father was among the short list of illustrious journalists, legal minds and for me, patriot par excellence. If his daughter possesses even a fraction of his sterling qualities, I feel compelled to write in her defense. Beyond that, it is unpardonable that someone should also assail Moray House. I have been invited on occasions to lectures and discussions at Moray House, hosted by David and Doreen DeCaires and on every such occasion, I found the time spent informative, relevant and intellectually stimulating. Ms. DeCaires assertion
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that we now do not have a “functional democracy” earned the ire and personal attack by Freddie. In his article he expresses a vibrant racism that over the years he has been critical of others claiming that as he walks his dog, our canine cousin, he is free of this infliction noticeable in his Thursday the 10th article. Freddie’s reference to recent events which tacitly exonerates the PPP from this curse of Guyana’s racism is unbelievable. There is no place for racism in a functional democracy and what is this talk of AntiIndian sentiments erupted by Freddie Kissoon. My friend Freddie conveniently ignores or is forgetful of that horrible post 1955 period when the clarion call of “Apan Jaat” resonated from every community in our beloved Guyana. Freddie ignores the pre and post horrors of the 60s and talks now about this antiIndian nonsense. Freddie’s reference to his allegation that sugar workers were put on the breadline after 2015 points to a country where there is, according to him, a non-functional democracy. They say half a truth is worse than a blatant lie and he conveniently ignores the bauxite workers who were similarly (if I can use the word similarly) dismissed during a pre-2015 Government. Freddie also forgets the hundreds of Afro-Guyanese who were slaughtered post 1992. Not wanting to put salt on our wounds, inflicted during and after slavery, I make no further references, but if we wish to talk about a non-func-
tional democracy, we cannot be myopic and make references, which seem to be biased, and expose the real side of Freddie Kissoon and those he now seems to admire. If the sugar workers were wronged, what about Public Servants and others who were wronged? Today, is Freddie aware that the oldest surviving business has been targeted by this administration to be “whitewashed?” I refer to Lyken Funeral Parlour owned by the Lyken family who had been in service for over half of a century. Even while this Government fails to honour its indebtedness to the Lyken family, they have given the lucrative business to another establishment. Let me make it very clear, the Lykens and the owner of the other funeral establishment are equally respected by me and I consider them both cherished friends, but the facts are the facts. So far, no valid explanation has been offered for this shift of business. What say you about a functional democracy? The Natural Resources Fund Bill is rushed through Parliament and assented to within hours. No consultation, No opportunity for open public debate, very anathema of a functional democracy. Freddie talks about the 2020 Elections but like so many others, he ignores the fact that the political parties (Continued on page 6)
Decorum must return to the House DEAR EDITOR, They did it at the reading of the NRF Bill when there was that boisterous uproar in parliament, the incessant blowing of whistles then the mad rush for the mace, this was the worst display of hooliganism in the noble House ever. Parliament was reduced to a street side brawl. Now, there was a hint of disciplinary action for the miscreants but that was not just yet, so it seems that this was an incentive for the Main Opposition, who chose to continue that trend of behaviour. I know Speaker Manzoor Nadir would like a healthy debate from both sides of the divide, so he might have delayed discipline of those members for the sake of democracy. He would have opined that everyone should have a fair chance at this democratic privilege and let
the process have its normal flow. But those privileges were taken advantage of, as the Opposition took their protest to another level, they were now at an all time low. One can protest in parliament, but it has to be done within reasonable limits. I have researched the British, Malaysian, Taiwanese Parliaments, just to name a few, where things got heated and tempers boiled over, but nothing that can compare to the lowdown, gutter crap that is evident in our Guyana Parliament; it is absolutely ludicrous and disgraceful to say the least. The most recent of such out-blast was the alleged derogatory comment made by a government minister to one of the female members on the opposite benches. However, instead of a heckled response in kind by the female, it was
the henpecked “male” from that side who was most offended by the remark. This caused him to jump to his feet and hurl expletives at the minister. The Speaker in a bid to restore law and order, requested of the Honourable Member to take his seat, but he blatantly refused and kept on talking even though he was cautioned by the Speaker to refrain. At this stage, Speaker Nadir was forced to act, calling for the suspension of that Member of Parliament. This member has definitely crossed the line and as such, must be disciplined with a suspension. No more would we tolerate such thuggish and street brawl in parliament, this member has to understand that it is high time for this sick joke of his to come to an end. Respectfully submitted, Neil Adams
“Transformation” not possible without more green spaces DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is blessed with a wide range of fruits and vegetables, (we don’t consume imported grapes to any large degree); however, our diet has always been, and will always be primarily starch and carbohydrates. A cursory look at pictures in the paper or observing citizens walking on our streets, clearly shows a majority of the population are overweight, and on the verge of becoming diabetic, primarily the women. (That includes the 20 something year olds). Interestingly, there are abandoned open exercise/football
fields all over the country. To expect the workforce of some ministry to consistently keep the grass manicured in these abandoned spots so they are usable at all times is wishful thinking. It will never happen. The solution is for selected residents in these communities to be given the tools, by the Government - like drivable lawn mowers and other minor accessories to maintain them,
and that is; in addition to creating more open green spaces. One also sees a business growing for repairing and maintaining these drivable lawn mowers. Will it be difficult for a neighbourhood group to come together and get this done? We all can’t go to the National Park, or drive to far reaching gyms. As more and more business foreigners (Continued on page 6)
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Duo gets life sentence for Black Bush Polder triple murder By Malisa Playter-Harry Two men were on Thursday handed down separate sentences: one the death penalty and the other, life imprisonment by Justice Sandil Kissoon for killing three people in Black Bush Polder back in 2016. After pleading not guilty to the three counts of murder in January 2022 and professing his innocence to the court yesterday, Tameshwar Jagmohan called “Guana” of Mibicuri South, Black Bush Polder was slapped with the death penalty on three counts of murder each by the judge for the role he played in the death of Pawan Chandradeo called “Suresh”, Jaikarran Chandradeo both of Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder and Naresh Rooplall called “Tika-bai”. Shortly after, Jairam Chaitram who accepted full responsibility for the death of the two men and the teenager was handed a sentence of life imprisonment by the judge. Jairam Chaitram called “Ryan”, his father Carlton Chaitram called “Lie-Man”, Tameshwar Jagmohan called “Guana” and Rakesh Karamchand called “Go-toFront” had all pleaded not guilty to the three counts each of murder committed on
Friday February 11, 2022
Kaieteur News
Jairam Chaitram sentenced to life imprisonment
Tameshwar Jagmohan sentenced to death penalty
the men, in January. However, earlier this month, Jairam Chetram opted to change his plea to guilty and a few days later, the two others opted to plead guilty to manslaughter. Before the sentence was handed down to Jagmohan, Justice Kissoon gave a summary of the trial of the case and a mixed 12-member jury retired for deliberations on the verdict just around lunch. The jury returned around 15:15 hrs with a guilty verdict. In response to the verdict, Jagmohan was asked if he had anything to say before he was given his sentence. He answered in the affirmative and told the court that “I innocent over this murder charge and I
already tell the police who shoot the man dem…this is unfair…me never suppose to face a murder charge…” During the trial, in an unsworn statement, Jagmohan had said that Carlton Chaitram was the man who shot the two men and teenager. Jagmohan detailed that he was in the company of Jairam Chaitram, Carlton Chaitram and Rakesh Karamchand celebrating a birthday in the backdam hours before the shooting. Jagmohan’s attorney made an application for a probation report to be presented to the court but that was denied by the judge. Prosecutrix Abigail Gibbs submitted to the court that it was a gruesome and inhumane murder of three innocent people, which resulted in two father figures being absent from the home. She asked on behalf of the State to consider the deadly weapon used in the murders and “this accused was not the trigger man; however, this misconception that only the trigger man can be found (Continued on page 25)
“Transformation” not... From page 5 relocate to Guyana, these multi-purpose open green spots are not only expected but standard features in all of their countries. Therefore, this modern transition we are expecting should include more emphasis on developing green spaces within neighbourhoods, managed by the local community. A modern transition is not possible in this world if it’s all about concrete, concrete and more concrete structures. Chi Kansi
NCN has every right to determine its viability DEAR EDITOR, The level of discounts enjoyed and benefitted from NCN in the ongoing disagreement over rates, resulting in his decision to pull the popular radio show (SN Feb 10), sounds like a classic example of the tail wagging the dog. While considerations were granted during the pandemic, it is just not feasible to continue in this way. The petulance is perplex-
ing as is the inflexible position adopted by the host of the programme in not seeking to work with NCN in this matter. It is not the first time the programme has been pulled for this reason. NCN has every right to determine its viability and sustainability and while compromise is the preferred outcome, it cannot do so to its disadvantage. The host’s apparent un-
yielding position does not augur well in the spirit of accommodation and finding common ground. As a result, the large following of listeners are made to bear and suffer the fallout. I am sure other producers/ presenters can be found for a programme similar in nature, if it is that the former relationship cannot be salvaged. Shamshun Mohamed
A thorough investigation is needed DEAR EDITOR, On Tuesday (8th February) a minibus returning to Fairview Indigenous village in Region 8 was stopped by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit stationed at Lethem and a search was carried out which unearthed 100 cases of Brazilian beers, 4 cases of whiskey and 1 case of Blackstone. The said items were seized and the owner who was on the bus at the
time was informed by the agents that in order for the beverages to be released, special favours would have to be granted to them. On Wednesday, 9th February, persons familiar with the case approached the Customs (Head Office) in Lethem to get an update on the case and pay the necessary taxes (if any) for the release of the liquors seized but was told that no records of the seizure
was reported to them. In recent times, there have been reports of citizens’ rights in Lethem being violated including physical violence. In light of this, we are calling for a thorough investigation into this matter and the necessary action taken to weed out corrupt persons working in Government Agencies and Offices. Yours faithfully, Citizen
Are we drifting towards... From page 5 went into the March 2020 Elections after suspending house-to-house registration and all sides knowing that the list was bloated and therefore flawed and incapable of supporting a functional democracy. I have been critical of my Party Leadership for entering a contest where the conditions were against a functional democracy. The ques-
tion of No Confidence vote of course, is another issue directed to democracy. Over the years, democracy has meant different things to different people and unless we as a sovereign nation identify the elements that should constitute a functional democracy we will continue to blow hot air. In spite of this, Freddie punctuates and here I agree with him that “The 21st cen-
tury bears a strong resemblance to ancient societies where class struggle determines if a country becomes a democracy or an oligarchy.” My dear Freddie, I pose this for you to offer a response with all that is happening with our massive oil resources. Are we drifting towards an oligarchy and is Ms. DeCaires not correct? Hamilton Green Elder
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N T B . U . L . L T B . N . U . N U T L N B . U . T . L N T U N B . N U . L U L LUNT. B . T . . T T N N B U B . U . L . L T B . B . . N . . . T U T L N N T U U L N L B U . B . . L . . . T B T . . N . N T U L N LU B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . NT LUNT...B NT...BLU N U L B . . B . U . . T L . N T B . . U N . L N T B U N . . L . U T L B . . N B . . . T U . L N T B U . . L . UN T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L B U UN .BLUNT. . . L . T B . . N . T U . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . LU ...BLUNT LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . . L N . T B BLU T...BLUN BLUNT... UNT...B . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B BBLU T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU . T . N . N T T U L U L N L B U T...BLU U B . L . N . B T . . . N T U N N N L U U U B L . L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Friday February 11, 2022
Kaieteur News
Guyanese, it is time that we stop being mere observers in our own land.
If we continue to accept whatever morsel is handed out to us, we will, soon enough, become second-class citizens in the land of our birth. We must be determined to understand what is going on around us; have a desire to know what decisions our leaders are making in the name of development. Pay attention Guyanese, stand up for your rights!
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Kaieteur News
Friday February 11, 2022
Jail time for Agricola murder convict reduced from 80 to 35 years Agricola resident Balram Singh, who was sentenced in 2015 to serve 80 years behind bars for the murder of taxi driver, Bhomeshwar Sukhdeo, had his term reduced to 35 years when an appeal wrapped up on Wednesday. Sukhdeo was kidnapped and robbed of his vehicle before he was murdered. The incident occurred between January 19 and 27, 2010. The victim’s charred remains were identified on the Mocha Arcadia Access Road, days after he had gone missing – he was allegedly shot in the head and his body burnt. In December 2015, a 12member jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict for Singh and Justice Navindra Singh imposed an 80-years sentence at the Georgetown High Court. In his ruling, the Judge noted that Balram Singh had committed a heinous act. The sentence started with a base
Jailed, Balram Singh.
Murdered: Bhomeshwar Sukhdeo.
of 60 years, with 10 years added for the commission of another felony (robbery) at the time of the murder; 10 years for premeditation, and six years for the nature of the crime. The six years were however deducted for the time the accused spent in prison pending his trial. Singh’s lawyer, Nigel Hughes later appealed the conviction and the sentence. The lawyer argued that the
trial was unfair and the judge erred in law. The appeal was heard by the Chancellor (Ag), Yonette CummingsEdwards, and Justices: Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud. The State was represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dionne McCammon. The court ruled allowing the appeal on the sentence but reduced it to 35 years, since they found that the sentence was excessive.
Friday February 11, 2022
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Kaieteur News
The PPP has turned right If Martin Carter was the intellectual fountain of the People’s Progressive Party, then my name is Karl Marx. This year will mark the 95th birth anniversary of Martin Carter. Carter was one of the initial leaders of the PPP and sat within the Executive Committee of the PPP. But he never became a member of the Legislative Council. He was defeated in the election for a seat in New Amsterdam and thus never got the chance to sit in the Council; and his break with the PPP, or rather the PPP’s break with him meant that he never got the chance to become a member of a PPP government. But he did achieve that when he became a minister of information under the PNC in 1967. That was short lived since as he said “a mouth is always muzzled by the food it eats to live” and his flirtation with the PNC was about finding food to live. Unlike some others who felt betrayed and who were overcome by bitterness, Martin Carter maintained a healthy regard for Cheddi, and Cheddi for him. And before he passed to the other world, he dedicated a re-publication of his poems to the memory of Cheddi Jagan and the spirit of Guyana’s Independence movement. Despite being expelled from the PPP, the Carter and the Jagans enjoyed a good relationship. Mrs. Jagan was very fond of the Carter family. Martin Carter is a good introduction to comparing the
quality of the political leadership of his time with what exists today. If for example you compare the PPP’s representatives in the Council of 1953 with the much larger grouping of today, there are striking differences. In 1953, the middle class, which saw itself as the logical successor of the British, spurned the PPP and Jagan. Despite this, the PPP was able to attract leaders of calibre, men who despite young, for their age were seasoned and sharp in the art of struggle and capable of discussing profound ideas and mobilising the masses for political action. While the PPP leadership today is larger and its members more lettered, one can contrast this with earlier periods by noting that there was an ideological conviction that was present then that is now totally absent. One can also note that while many of the present leaders are highly qualified and lettered, they can hardly compare intellectually with those of earlier generations. The problem I believe lies in the lack of experience of political struggle. The only cause that many today in the PPP may be acquainted with is containing aggression against the party ever since the 1997 elections. The only struggle many of them have ever known is the struggle to retain power and preserving the party in government. There is also the problem of ideology. Martin Carter may have been labelled as an ultra-left. But he was never a hardcore communist; he had more of an
infatuation with communism; he was more of a political gadfly. His ideological core was never sufficiently formed for him to be considered as even left much less ultra-left. In the pre-independence period his political ideology was very much in flux, his philosophical footing unsure and this led to impetuousness and, at times, an unmeasured approach to subjects. His label of being an ultraleftist was misplaced. It did not originate within the PPP even though they may have consummated it. It emerged because of the Report of the Robertson Commission which subtly promoted division by demarcating the leaders of the PPP into two categories, one, hardcore leftists, and the other more moderate socialists. Those seen to be supporting Jagan, regardless of whether this support was ideological, were grouped as communists; and those who were malleable were deemed to be moderate socialists. The PPP has not such distinctions today. There are no communist and socialist factions within the party. In fact, there is very little of the left within the party. The PPP has turned right. It is now a pro-capitalist party forming governments which for the past 17 years have been firmly entrenched in the bourgeoisie class. In fact, its governments have had the distinction of administrating the most successfully run structural adjust programmes designed by the IMF and World Bank.
Dem boys seh...
De end of de curfew just spoil Easter De curfew is likely to end soon. Not like it bin ever wuk. De lack of effective enforcement mean dat de curfew was simply a means to put money in de hands of dem elements in de Popo who corrupt. When dem ketch you pun de road late at night dem does fine yuh on de spot… if yuh know wat I mean. De curfew did affect a lot ah people. Some people wah get emergency and had to rush to de hospital had to be looking over dem shoulder fuh
see whether de Popo gan stop dem. Is hard fuh get a heart attack and still be on de lookout fuh de Popo. But de end of de curfew gan mean dat de parties gan start and go later. And mo people gan stay out later and de virus caseload gan climb. We drop we guards and enjoy we self last Christmas and we now paying with de cancellation of Mashramani. We also pay with over 100 deaths so far. With de lifting of de curfew we can kiss Easter goodbye. De Omicron gan
mek a last surge and keep we under tabs lang past Easter. But we leaders nah understand wah dem doing and so de people gat to bear de consequences. Dem boys used to use de COVID curfew fuh make rules as to how late people can come in de house. But now dat de curfew gan get remove, dem boys gan still bolt dem door from inside after 10 o clock. If yuh outside, curfew or no curfew, yuh gan leff outside. Talk half and Leff half.
Compared to Carter’s time, the PPP is a vastly different party. Its leaders are now firmly entrenched in the capitalist class, and the party is as far from the working class as
Carter was to being a genuine communist. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Friday February 11, 2022
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Mudwata and Ghislaine Maxwell
By now, most people around the world know the name Ghislaine Maxwell. She has been found guilty of sex-trafficking. I think most people will not shed a tear if Maxwell is jailed. But civilisation rests on rules that are water-proof and keep civilisation alive and preserve the modern world today. Every citizen in this world needs other humans to observe and practice those rules. The legal and moral obligation to do so is what keeps the world alive. All humans are entitled to a fair hearing and a fair trial. You cannot and must not dismiss a worker because an accusation was made against him/her. Give the person a hearing. Ms. Maxwell was not given a fair trial. You may hate her but if you deny her a fair trial that caricature will cause a breakdown in civilisation and untold numbers could be victims of cowboy justice. Ms. Maxwell was on trial for sexual abuse of under-age girls. One of the jurors did not answer one of the questions in the pre-trial questionnaire correctly as to whether he was a victim of
underage sexual abuse. During jury deliberation, he explained to his fellow jurors that he was molested when he was very young. Surely that was a volatile disclosure that could and must have swayed the jury. The lesson to be learnt from the Maxwell trial has implications for those who support the unknown person nicknamed, “Mudwata.” They must understand that we do not make moral and legal laws to please ourselves. Others will go in similar directions and the resulting impact can and will devastate civilised behaviour. I read where PNC member of Parliament, Ms. Geeta ChandanEdmond has come out in support of the anonymity of “Mudwata.” Ms. Chandan-Edmond and her husband, Joel, have been friends with me for a very long time. I taught both of them the preliminary course in philosophy at UG and for a long time we have had a very solid friendship. I don’t know if she still regards me as a friend. Her husband does and we are in touch. Her defence of
“Mudwata” is philosophically flawed and I hope she remembers the great philosophers she was introduced to. I honestly did not know there was a show named “Mudwata.” I do not use social media. I do not use Zoom. I do not have a Meta page. I do not have a smart phone. If Mudwata is an opposition aficionado or government supporter then the people that support him/her and know the person’s identity should ask him/her a question that goes at the heart of human decency. That question is why would you want to publicise the names of a woman you say swim naked in the Atlantic; accuse a bank manager of being ugly; identify a married man as being a homosexual; accuse a police officer of being a molester and all these things are down through an act of cowardice – hiding under your mother’s dress? The laws of civilisation and society should not give you that right to take away the privacy of the married man. You have no right to wear a mask, hide under your
mother’s dress or use a pen name to identify an air traffic controller as being drunk while directing the movement of planes. If you are allowed to do that and get away with it then society has to collapse. Why are you ashamed to confront the people you accuse by boldly facing them? We may not like what Sherod Duncan, David Hinds and Guyanese Critic say but they do not hide in saying what they want to. Duncan has been charged. Simona Broomes picketed the home of Guyanese Critic. I think it is almost impossible to understand how the Guyanese nationality thinks. Why would anyone support a character like “Mudwata?” Why would this man or woman say nasty things about people whose names he publishes on social media and hide? Can a normal, sane human see that as right? Long ago on this page, I had a running battle with this n e w s p a p e r ’s a n o n y m o u s columnist, “Peeping Tom.” During the period of the back and forth, I
Frederick Kissoon was playing dominoes outside Kaieteur News. A friend of Kaieteur News drove up. As the chat developed, he asked me why I am not writing about Roger Khan when Peeping Tom is doing it. I asked him if he would like me to. He said yes. I asked him if I should use my name. Honestly, he couldn’t speak. He got the point and got it graphically. I could understand an anonymous columnist exposing and expanding particular issues such as banking, etc. But do not get personal with people and hide under your mother’s dress. How can any human defend such immoral behaviour? (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Friday February 11, 2022
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
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Friday February 11, 2022
High Court rules City Hall unlawfully increased cost of compliance Justice, Gino Persaud on Tuesday ruled that the Georgetown City Constabulary unlawfully acted when it announced the 0.5 percent increase for a Certificate-of-Compliance in June 2019 and demanded several documents for the process. In handing down his ruling, Justice Persaud stated that at the broadest, judicial review is designed to remedy public law wrongs; that is, any unlawful exercise of public law power by a public law body and as such, he commended the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) for filing the public interest litigation bringing it for judicial review. On June 20, 2019 the Town Clerk of Georgetown, published a Notice to advise the general public of a new
policy and the cost of applying for a Certificate of Compliance. Piece of that notice read, “The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown wishes to inform the public that the cost for a Certificate of Compliance will be increased by 0.5% of the current market valuation of the property…” According to the notice, when applying for a certificate of compliance, property owners should bring along: 2019 General Rates Receipt; Current Market Valuation; Valid Identification Card along with several other documents. Following the publication of the notice the aggrieved GBA, wrote to the Town Clerk twice requesting reasons for their decision
under the Judicial Review Act, but their letters were ignored. The GBA believed that the decision was unlawful and as such they subsequently moved to the courts in filing the public litigation to challenge the Mayor and City Constabulary (M&CC) decision since they did not accede to the written request for reasons. It should be noted that the action was for judicial review and it is not in dispute that the GBA have the right or capacity to bring an action or to appear in a court (locus standi) to challenge the decision of the MCC and that the impugned decision is justiciable. Judicial review is used to determine whether decisions taken or measures adopted in the pursuance of statutory or
other public law powers are lawful and valid. Secondly, it may be used to restrain public bodies from acting in an unlawful manner. The primary issue of the matter which falls for consideration and determination in judicial review proceedings is the legality of the MCC’s decision, questioning if the MCC has the power to make the decision under review or did it exceed its powers and/or jurisdiction and acted ultra vires. T h e G B A h a d approached the High Court seeking the following orders: an Order of Certiorari quashing the decision to bring the documents that were previously listed; a declaration that the aforesaid decision is contrary to law
and the policy of Section 16A of the Deeds Registry, Act, Chapter 5:01… and an order of prohibition prohibiting MCC from enforcing and/or acting upon the aforesaid decision and/or demanding the aforesaid fee or documents in order to issue a Certificate of Compliance under Section 16A of the Deeds Registry, Act, Chapter 5:01. The GBA contended that the documents demanded by MCC are not necessary in order for MCC to ascertain and certify from their records whether rates and taxes have been paid on a particular property up to a specified time. In addition, the demand for the said documents is burdensome, frustrates commerce, superfluous and unnecessarily adds costs and time. The GBA further contend that the exorbitant fee demanded by MCC for the issuance of the Certificate of Compliance is unreasonable and contrary to the policy and ultra vires Section 16A of the Deeds Registry Act, Chapter 5:01. It was stated that the effect of the decision to raise the fee has proven to be financially detrimental. Meanwhile, in its defense, the MCC provided the reason for the decision, contending that the MCC’s power/discretion to request the submission of the set of documents is an implied or ancillary power and that the decision is a policy decision to guide them in the grant of
Justice, Gino Persaud. certificates of compliance, inter alia. In handing down his ruling, Justice Persaud stated that the MCC has no statutory power to make the decision it did to raise the fee for a certificate of compliance and to request the additional documents. It had no power or business in making the purported policy decision to levy such a charge. It also had no implied power to do it. The decision was beyond their powers and ultra-vires and void. As such he ordered and declared that the decision by MCC was unlawful; an order of certiorari be and is hereby granted quashing the decision of MCC; an order of prohibition be and is hereby granted prohibiting MCC from enforcing and/or acting upon the aforesaid decision and/or demanding the aforesaid fee or documents in order to issue a Certificate of Compliance and cost in the sum of $150,000, to the GBA. The GBA was represented by attorney-atlaw Kamal Ramkarran, and MCC was represented by attorneys-at-law Roysdale Forde, SC and Dhanwanti Sukhdeo.
Only 33% of the country’s fire hydrants are fully functional Following a series of fire that created unprecedented havoc last year, challenging the capabilities of the Guyana Fire Service countrywide, the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn told members of the National Assembly that only 33 percent of fire hydrants are fully functional throughout the country. Out of the 777 hydrants, it should be noted that only 33 percent of such are fully functional, of which most are situated in the Capital City. According to Benn in Georgetown, hydrants were
inoperable for a number of years, where the city developed and the hydrants were left behind. A total of 471 fire hydrants were found to be inoperable in Georgetown following an assessment by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), he noted. Nevertheless, several actions were taken to fix fire hydrants in and around the city, which was done in conjunction with Brass Aluminium Cast Iron Foundry to fabricate new hydrants using compatible mouldings and 151 (Continued on page 24)
Kaieteur News
Friday February 11, 2022
Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, inspecting works at the Bartica Stelling last year
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Coalition paid 90% of Bartica Stelling cost for 15% of work - says Edghill Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill.
Former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.
T
he National Assembly was on T u e s d a y informed that the APNU + AFC Coalition paid 90 percent of the contract sum for the Bartica stelling, when only 15 percent of the work was completed. This was revealed by Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill. Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Annette Ferguson, while questioning the minister in the Committee of Supply asked that he disaggregates the sum of $455 million which has been allocated for Leguan, Fort Island and Bartica stellings. In fact she said, “I know for the fact that Leguan is under construction and also Bartica. You know, y’all inherited a nice stelling there at Bartica from us, modern stellings. So to the honourable member can you provide us a status report on what is happening at both Leguan and Bartica stellings...?” In response to MP Ferguson, Edghill said, “Mr. Chair I would have thought that the honourable member would avoid asking questions on this. Mr. Chair for the simple reason. Let’s start with Bartica…the total contract sum for Bartica was $434 million and when the PPP administration came into office, 90 percent of the money was already paid and 15 percent of the work was completed.” According to Edghill, the contractor is not currently engaged at the stelling. He noted that an audit was completed on the stelling and the value of the materials was checked. The minister continued by stating that despite the monies being paid, the people of Bartica still do not have a stelling. “So this budget is making appropriation, this is making appropriation for us to be able to have that stelling completed at Bartica,”
Edghill said. He noted that the PPP administration will be spending $217 million this year and that they will continue next year, for the completion of the Bartica stelling. The minister then moved on to the Leguan stelling in which $168 million will be spent on that. “It’s no secret, it’s no secret. I publicly announced the termination of the contractor at Leguan. Poor performance, and here again he was paid far more than for the work executed,” Edghill said. According to him, the contractor had an involuntary loan, when they came into office. However, he said what was worse was the nature of the contract. “You could imagine a contract says install 400 and something piles and a man was able, whatever is the arrangement that took place in the management of this contract, because the word supply was not written into the contract, the man said the government has to pay to supply it,” the Minister told the House. To this end he said that every other stelling the same contractor built before, he supplied and installed the piles but for the Leguan contract the government has to supply it as a result of the arrangements with the previous administration. The Minister stated that the contract was terminated but they later recognised that no other contractor would undertake the work the contractor left undone, which he described as a, “mess.” As a result, Edghill stated that the Ministry reengaged the said contractor but under a new contractual arrangement, which he described as “strict terms and conditions.” He added that due to mismanagement, $168 million more of tax payers’
money has to go to fix Leguan stelling. According to reports, S. Maraj Contracting Services is constructing the Leguan stelling and Courtney Benn
Contracting Services Ltd is working on the Bartica stelling. MP Ferguson then took the floor, and stated that the Bartica stelling was done in two phases and the sums
of monies that the Minister referred to was the retention for the first phase of the project. In giving remarks on the $88 million Fort Island
stelling project, the minister stated that the project was awarded in the second half of last year and the contractor has already completed 90 percent of the work.
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Kaieteur News
Friday February 11, 2022
Kaieteur News
Friday February 11, 2022
Man busted with ganja in Pringles tins at Ogle Airport The marijuana concealed in the Pringles tins
Busted at Ogle Airport with 56.3 grams of marijuana, Jamal Millington A passenger was on Tuesday busted with a quantity of marijuana concealed in two Pringles tins at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport located at Ogle, East Coast Demerara. The man was identified by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) as 24-year-old Jamal Millington of Amelia’s Ward, Linden. According to a CANU release, Millington was a departing passenger when a CANU officer decided to search his luggage. The
officer discovered the marijuana hidden in two Pringles tin. Millington was detained and taken to CANU headquarters, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown where
the illegal drug was weighed in his presence. It was determined that he was in possession of 56.3 grams of marijuana. Millington remains in custody as investigations are ongoing.
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Friday February 11, 2022
‘Remove Dharamlall from public office’ - MPs, women’s rights activist call for dismissal of government minister over ‘Dildo’ remark Commissioner on the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Ms. Nicole
Cole has called for Minister of Local Government and Regional Development,
Nigel Dharamlall to be removed from public office, deeming his “Is a dildo you
want” remark to a female Member of Parliament on We d n e s d a y a s s e x u a l
harassment and abuse. Cole made these comments during an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News on Thursday, one day after Opposition MP, Sherod Duncan was immediately suspended from the National Assembly, for defending his female colleague against derogatory comments made by Dharamlall, who only recently publicly called for the defrocking of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and another Appeal Court Judge because they ruled against his government in an election petition matter. During the consideration of the budget estimates of Region Five on Wednesday, Dharamlall told one of the opposition’s females MPs: “Is a dildo you want, that is what you looking for”. Later into the consideration, the Minister then launched a further attack on the MP saying “…that same young l a d y, t h a t h o n o u r a b l e Natasha Singh, sorry a relatively elder looking member...” as he responded to a question asked by
another MP. Opposition Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan then chimed in calling Dharamlall a “nasty fella” which was disallowed by the House Speaker, Manzoor N a d i r, w h o r e q u e s t e d Duncan to take his seat. Duncan shouted in response, “I will not take my seat! I will not withdraw,” as he continued heckling the Minister, adding too that “the Speaker is condoning you all of the time”. The Speaker then called on the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira to move a motion for Duncan to be suspended for the next four sittings, w hich w as eventually allowed. “Mr. Speaker, based on the behaviour of the member and disrespect to you as the Speaker of this House, I move that the honourable member, who is not speaking from his seat, he is not in his chair that he be suspended from the house for the next four sittings,” Teixeira stated. On this premise, the (Continued on page 25)
Women and Gender Equality Commissioner, Nicole Cole
Friday February 11, 2022
Kaieteur News
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Pres. Ali rushes to Jagdeo’s defence in bribe-taking scandal …attacks credibility of US-based reporter, says no proof against VP
G
uyana’s Head of State, President Irfaan Ali has jumped into the ring to defend his Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo who has been fighting to stave off public scrutiny following allegations of bribe and corruption which surfaced only this week. The President, during the sidelines of an event on Thursday told reporters that the reporter from Vice News merely came with allegations and no solid proof against his VP. He said, “It’s an allegation” and when further pressed about his position on the matter, responded, “Of course (I would defend my government). My government is above board but I am just saying this to say people are just doing this for sensational headlines”. The President claims that even though the allegations are untrue, the matter continues to be sensationalised. He reasoned, “I can ask you, an allegation is made that last night you removed a light from a car, is it true? And if you say no, it’s not true, then your headline should not be sensational but this is what is happening. There is a lot of sensationalisation that is going on and I am not into that.” Instead, the Head-ofState said that he is focused on building his ‘One Guyana’ through honesty, integrity and hard work. During an interview which surfaced on February 7, but was conducted since February 1, a reporter from American news agency, Vice Media put to the VP that sources have revealed that the only way to get business done in Guyana is to bribe him. President Ali has since said that it has been brought to his attention that the journalist has “special interests” and is managed by a “special group”. He therefore concluded that she lacks credibility. “As President, people call me and say that this reporter was having a special interest and was managed by a special group. That is the information that people called me (with), that allegation was made and I want the reporter to respond (to) whether indeed this is true…she said the Vice
President would change the constitution. What nonsense that is the allegation. Somebody can just wake up and change the Constitution? There’s a process. That alone and the misinformation discredit and tell you that her only objective was in pursuing a special interest,” Ali contended. Days after it was revealed that the contract between China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC) and Guyana, to build the $53.7B New Demerara River Bridge was terminated, Jagdeo had taken the spotlight for allegations of massive corruption and bribery with the Chinese. During the Vice News interview, Jagdeo was asked whether he accepts bribes and specifically by Chinese companies seeking infrastructure and other development projects in Guyana. In a stuttering response, the Vice President explained that the allegations were false. The reporter however explained that she has been communicating with Chinese companies in particular who have confirmed this method of business. “We’ve spoken to a number of Chinese business people in Guyana who said that you do accept bribes. In fact, they said, it’s the only way to get business done…to bribe you. One Chinese businessman who we talked to involving timber logging told us that basically, as long as the Vice President is okay with it, it’s fine. He just needs to get one phone call to whoever is in charge and they’ll get it done right away. The real big boss is the Vice President. Everything goes under the table. The whole country is like this,” she said while quoting her source. In response the VP said, “I can’t comment on that” proffering that it was a mere anonymous person who made the allegations, which could have even been fabricated by the media group. He went on to say that if the source was named, it would have substantiated the allegation. The journalist then questioned Dr. Jagdeo about his relationship with a Chinese national named
‘Su’. The Vice President affirmed that he is a friend of the gentleman who happens to be his tenant. “Su? Oh Su? My relationship? Nothing. He is a tenant in my place, yeah. He is a friend of ours. His father was here from many years ago,” the VP fumbled. The American reporter then went on to
explain that Su said through his relationship with Dr. Jagdeo, he is able to get any deal done. While Jagdeo said he is unaware of the “giving back” aspect, he said his business style extends to not only China but also any other company that approaches him to invest.
President Irfaan Ali
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Friday February 11, 2022
Local drug supplier registers COVID-19 medicine
Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony
…Govt. hopeful to meet demands …as billions approved for Health Sector By Gary Eleazar
The Infectious Disease Hospital at Liliendaal, ECD
The novel corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic last year forced the Ministry of Health to dip into the coffers higher than what was approved for spending in the past year but substantive Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony is confident the 2022 allocation for the sector will be sufficient to meet the demands. To this end, he disclosed to the House that at least one local supplier has registered ‘molnupiravir’ in Guyana and “hopefully, they will be able to supply that particular drug.” Dr. Anthony made the revelation during the final day of the consideration of the $552.9B Budgetary Estimates of which his Ministry was allocated $19.9B for its capital programmes and billions more under its recurrent programmes including monies for the purchase of drugs and medical supplies. Dr. Anthony’s Shadow Counterpart in the House, Dr. Karen Cummings, during the consideration, a $6.2B allocation for the D i s e a s e Control—Communicable Diseases—Department of the Ministry, sought an update on the new tablets that the Minister had hinted at, for use in the treatment for COVID-19 patients. She was at the time, pointing to the decrease in allocations for drugs and medical supplies under that programme head and queried its sufficiency, since the line item indicated—as she understood it—also caters for the supplies to the Infectious Disease Hospital, commonly referred to as the COVID-19 Hospital at Ocean View, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD). As such, Dr. Cummings was informed that it is the intention of the Ministry to procure some of the newer approved treatment for COVID-19 but lamented a lack of availability. LOCAL SUPPLIER According to Minister Anthony, countries such as the United States of America and those in Europe have been eating into the global supply and as such, access to some of those drugs has been very limited. He informed
New GPC owner, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop that a “local company has registered molnupiravir in Guyana and” intimated that government is hopeful “they will be able to supply that particular drug. It would be apposite to note that during the Budget Debate in the National Assembly on Friday last, Alliance For Change (AFC) General Secretary, David Patterson had pointed out that “an examination of the 2021 procurement highlights what the nation has always known—this government is about projects for friends and families.” It was at this point that Patterson disclosed to the National Assembly that not only had Vice President Bharrat, Jagdeo’s ‘best friend’, and one other controversial supplier been handed 85 percent of all the monies allocated for drugs and medical supplies, but billions more had been earmarked this year for contractors that have not only been banned locally but internationally. According to Patterson, based on public records, N e w G u y a n a Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) last year received $13.8B (US$70M) in contracts, and quipped, “…we all are aware who is the best friend of the owner.” He was at the time referencing Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo and New GPC owner Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop. It would be apposite to note that New GPC was up to 1999, a State owned Company. Vice President Jagdeo, in August 1999 assumed Office as Executive President of Guyana and by December of that year, the company was sold to Dr. Ramroop. A first tranche was paid but before the (Continued on page 22)
Kaieteur News
Friday February 11, 2022
COVID-19 continues to challenge health care workers - despite overall drop in new infections this week - PAHO says
W
ashington D . C . , 9 February 2022 (PAHO) – While cases of COVID-19 fell by a third in the Americas this week, health care workers continue to face challenging conditions due to systems that are unprepared to support them, the Pan American Health O rg a n i z a t i o n D i r e c t o r Carissa F. Etienne said during a media briefing on Wednesday. “When cases surge exponentially, as they have in the past few weeks, the burden falls mostly on the people that power our health systems,” Dr. Etienne said. “For them, there is nothing mild about this Omicron wave.” With infections reaching 4.8 million (a 31% drop from last week) but 33,000 new deaths, the PAHO Director said that the region remains in the grip of the latest COVID-19 wave and urged countries to harness the lessons learned from the pandemic so far as clinics and hospitals once again become full. “Years of underinvestment in our health services, aging information systems and poor labor conditions made our health workers’ jobs challenging,” the Director said, highlighting that these disadvantages were only exacerbated by COVID-19. A PAHO study, launched this week, shows that over the course of the pandemic, doctors, nurses, and other frontline health workers saw more patients, worked longer hours, and suffered higher rates of COVID-19 infection. In some countries, such as Ecuador and Bolivia, more than 10% of health care workers got COVID-19, and many others lacked access to sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE).
This has led to “elevated rates of depressive symptoms, suicidal thinking, and psychological distress,” the Director said. Ensuring access to PPE and prioritizing health care workers for vaccination are critical to addressing these issues and enabling them to do their jobs safely. “Now more than ever, we must ensure health workers are protected with lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines and receive priority for vaccine boosters, where available,” Dr. Etienne said. The Director cited policies like hazard pay and life insurance, as well as regular testing, and transitioning pregnant and older staff to telemedicine work, as strategies countries can apply to protect health care workers. “Investing in our health workforce should not be something countries only do during an emergency,” she said, adding that an investment in our health workforce is “an investment in all of us.” Turning to the COVID19 situation in the region, the PAHO Director said one trend stands out: “Countries with higher vaccination coverage are seeing lower ICU admissions and deaths.” She also reported that in North America, new infections and deaths decreased in all three countries. Infections are also slowing down in Central and South America, but deaths continue to rise in these areas. Hospitalizations are also rising in most Southern Zone countries. In the Caribbean, with the exceptions of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica, which has seen a spike in new infections, cases have begun to slow down. Deaths, however, continue to climb.
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UK Govt. vows to keep watch on Guyana Procurement System …as British firms signal business partnerships In recent days, Guyana’s procurement system has been questioned and in fact placed under the microscope and the British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller has vowed to ensure that she keeps watch on this particular sector, even as companies from her home country are seeking to build partnerships with the government and private sector entities. The High Commissioner made the statement during a news conference on Wednesday at the Marriott Hotel, where several UK firms, participating in a British Trade Mission to Guyana gathered to share their interests in the local market. She said she has discussed the subject of Guyana’s procurement system with the Minister of Finance already, even as she
cited one example where she believed the process to be flawed. “For example the road from Linden to Mabura Hill, I think it’s going through a very long procurement process and they’ve come out with a tender that’s just been announced recently. The scrutiny that went through the whole process I was impressed by the amount of work that was done to get them to that stage so it’s something I will keep an eye on. I think it’s an important issue that you’ve raised and it will be something I will keep raising with the government,” the High Commissioner explained. She added that Guyana, with its budding oil and gas s e c t o r, i s u n d e rg o i n g tremendous growth and transparency remains a
critical component on the road to development, hence attention will be focused on the procurement system here. Weighing in on this p a r t i c u l a r m a t t e r, t h e President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Timothy Tucker, assured the British business community that mechanisms are in place for companies vying for projects to seek redress if owners feel that their bids were not fairly evaluated. In fact, he said that businesses have approached the GCCI in the past which has intervened by writing to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) or writing the Minister of Finance to give reviews on the evaluation. Before (Continued on page 22)
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President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Timothy Tucker shows off the signed MoU with the Managing Director of the Caribbean Council, Chris Bennett as the British High Commissioner watches on
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Local drug supplier registers COVID-19...
CAR RENTAL Aidan's Car Rental. Tel:6281183.
WANTED One female able bodied worker.Tel:225-2313,2261497. One (1) male able bodied clerk.Tel:231-2029/616-5954.
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Nissan pathfinder in good condition, CAT 215 used parts.Tel:683-7225/275-0367. One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable. Contact:649-0956.
Professional Soup cooks and kitchen assistance and professional kichen manager, good pay.Shot hrs.Call:6751509. One general domestic Covid19 vaccinated for Tuesday & Saturday between Cove & John & Unity E.C.D.Tel:2590953/623-3231. Live meat birds to buy. Tel:219-2170 or 225-0480. 1-night guard to work at Hillfoot Soesdyke.Tel:6750587/219-2170.
SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Repairs at affordable prices: F r i d g e , A i r c o n d i t i o n e r, Washingmachines,Dryers, TV,Microwaves & Freezer. Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158.
1 cook for puppy show landing Mazaruni Cooking Restaurant.Whatsapp 6770869,call:662-7718. 1 general domestic to work at Providence between the age of 38-40.Call from 10AM9PM-697-0157. Urgently Needed! Spice Mango leaves.Contact:6098281/693-3003.
FOR SALE Household items.Call:6913467,whatsapp 661-1417. Mix breed Husky puppies. Tel:623-3183.
FOR RENT One bedroom apartment for working couple/single person $32,000 monthly,light & water.Call:623-0076. PROPERTY FOR SALE
VACANCY Maid to cook and clean for East Bank areaa.Call:6159132. Pitmen and Hauler operator for interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call:231-2250. Cashiers & Supermarket helpers at Nirva Super Store. Apply in person,49 Sheriff & Craig St.Tel:227-5771. Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles,age 2350 car/van licence.Call:6429823.
2 Story building,4th St Cummingslodge.Tel:6833560.
Welder/Fabricator 18-35 yrs & trainee (preferable welding school experience). Tel:2223844.
CAKES & PASTRIES
Accounts Clerk.6 CXC subjects,CAT level 1,knowledge of Quickbooks, knowledge of PAYE,NIS,VAT,3 yrs experience,email:bram @amcarguyana.com.
Enroll Now!Classes 28th Feb.Cake & Pastry, Cookery, Cake Decoration & Floral Arrangement. Contact Sharon 612-4193/672-8768.
One clerk for TSI Eccles Office,English & Maths grade 1 or 2.Call:615-9132 or email application to tech serigy@yahoo.com.
From page 18 remainder could be paid off, government re-evaluated the business and told Dr. Ramroop to pay a lesser amount. Patterson in his presentation noted, that not only did Dr. Ramroop’s company get the lion’s share of government drug contracts last year but the administration then turned around and paid Dr. Ramroop to store the very drugs it was buying from his company. THINGS WE NEED Meanwhile during yesterday’s session of the consideration, pointing specifically to a $4.1B allocation for medicine and medical supplies and the Ocean View Hospital—one of the many allocations for which COVID related measures are being met—Dr. Anthony said some $1.1B, of that money, will go directly for that facility. He noted that the money would be used to purchase “things we need for patients who are going to be admitted there,” and pointed to items such as oxygen, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The Minister noted that there is more than $776M allocated for laboratories, the purchase of reagents needed for PCR tests among other allocations such as $523M budgeted for a health emergency operating centre. Additionally, the Minister said government will be constructing a surgical theatre at the COVID19 Hospital and qualified the position by pointing to the fact that very many of the patients at the Infectious Disease Hospital require surgical intervention. With this in mind, the Minister told the House that government will be installing a VACANCY Fitter Machinist,Welder fabricator,Mechanic,Apprentice & Male cleaner.Three year’s experience.Call:642-9823 or email: techserigy @yahoo .com.
surgical theatre at the Hospital in order to prevent having to take the COVID-19 positive patients to surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. MINISTRY RENTING It was disclosed during the consideration of the Estimates that government will this year also purchase a dialysis machine for the hospital, since according to the Minister, while the administration currently provides the service at the facility, the machine is being rented. Expounding further on the allocations for the Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 Hospital, Dr. Anthony told the House that an additional $121M had been allocated for works including the new theatre in addition to ensuring that there is piped oxygen being supplied to each of the 195 beds at the facility. Speaking further on the matter of oxygen, Dr. Anthony told the House, the money has been set aside to construct the base for an oxygen plant—a donation that is
yet to arrive in the country. “Unfortunately, it has not arrived as yet; we are having challenges,” Dr. Anthony said, in relation to the donation from a humanitarian organisation. According to Dr. Anthony, the oxygen has already been packaged but its shipping was delayed. Additionally he said, there is “a whole host of equipment” to be purchased including cardiac monitors, beds and the dialysis machine among others. Observing that the majority of the allocation under that programme was going directly towards the hospital, opposition Member of Parliament, Tabitha Sarabo-Haley sought to ascertain what amounts was being allocated for preventative measures as opposed to when somebody ends up in hospital. TRANSPORTATION To this end, the House was informed that when it comes to COVID-19 specifically, there were provisions under various heads in relation to the pandemic such as
allocations for PPE under other line items, “we do have those allocations.” With COVID-19 and government’s response to the pandemic dominating that round of scrutiny of the expenditure, the Members of Parliament were informed that some of the increases. One such being the staffing strength under one department, had to do with persons recruited as part of the national vaccine drive. Another $60M has also been budgeted for the transportation of vaccines across the various regions including land and air. It was pointed out that some items such as refrigerators that had been purchased could not be taken to some locations by air and as such, provisions had to be made for land transport. Additionally, the Ministry in addition to purchasing an additional vehicle for the transport of staff and vaccines, Dr. Anthony related that the Ministry has had to resort to the rentals of buses and other types of transportation and that this will continue into this year.
UK Govt. vows to keep watch on Guyana... From page 21 concluding the press engagement, the GCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Caribbean Council, an organization which comprises of Londonbased firms, seeking to build two way trade and investment between international companies, the Caribbean and Central American partners. The Council has been on a British Business Mission to Guyana between February 7 and 10. Already, the business executives which have collec-
tively brought a number of different products and services to introduce to the Guyana market had the opportunity to meet with respective ministers of the government and associated private sector agencies. For example, Mr. Hugo Chisenhale-Marsh of Grove, an information technology company, has met with key stakeholders in Guyana to discuss boosting their systems against cyber security threats. Another company represented during the Mis-
sion was One True Maverick (OTM) Vodka, a distiller in London that is exploring the exportation of his product to Guyana. Concrete Canvas Limited was yet another firm which has engaged multiple players here to market their product; a flexible fabric that hardens on hydration to form a thin, durable, water-proof and fire resistant concrete layer. Another notable participator in the British Business Mission was Signature Litigation which specializes in legal services.
Friday February 11, 2022
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Miner killed in accident while heading home for relative’s funeral A thirty-six-year-old miner died on Wednesday, on the Eye Lash Main Access Road, after the ATV bike, which he was on collided with a truck. The miner has been identified as Nigel Knights, a father of two, who lived at the Charity Extension Scheme on the Essequibo C o a s t , R e g i o n Tw o . According to reports, the accident occurred around 11:00hrs on the said access road, which is located in the North West District, Region One. At the time of the accident, Knights and 39year-old Leslie Norton were both pillion riders on the ATV bike, which was being driven by another miner. Police reported that as t h e AT V m o t o r c y c l e descended a hill, at a fast rate of speed, the driver lost control. As a result, the rear left side portion of the ATV, where Knights was seated, collided with the front of motor lorry # GZZ 4598, which was proceeding from the opposite direction. All three occupants of the ATV suffered injuries about their heads and bodies. Knights, on the other hand became completely unconscious, while Norton was semiconscious. Both men were picked up by public-spirited citizens, placed into a motor
Friday February 11, 2022
15 firms bid to provide Health Ministry with security services T h e N a t i o n a l Procurement and Tender Administration Board ( N P TA B ) o f f i c e o n Thursday received 15 bids from companies competing to provide security services for the Ministry of Health. These services are slated for six lots belonging to the
Ministry. Also opened yesterday, were bids for the provisions of security services for the Guyana Energy Agency. A total of eight security companies showed interest in providing the services. Below are the companies and their bids:
Ministry of Health Procurement of security services for the Ministry of Health.
Now deceased, Nigel Knights. pick-up and escorted to the Port Kaituma District Hospital. Knights was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor, while Leslie Norton was treated and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical attention via private aircraft. The body of the deceased is presently lying at the Port Kaituma District Hospital Mortuary awaiting post mortem examination, while the driver of the ATV remains detained at the Matthews Ridge Police Station. This publication was told that Knights was making his way out of the interior to attend an uncle’s funeral on the Essequibo Coast.
Guyana Energy Agency Provision of security services.
Only 33% of the country’s fire hydrants... From page 12 hydrants were repaired by Compass Industrial Services. Benn iterated that an assessment was conducted to determine whether or not there is need for more fire hydrants in and around the City and by extension within the other Administrative Regions. As a consequence, it was observed that there is need for fire hydrants in areas such as Vreed-en-Hoop, Parika, Charity, Diamond, D a i r y, R o s e H a l l , Corentyne, Canje, Linden,
Port Kaituma, Lethem, Bartica, Anna Regina and Mabaruma. Kaieteur News previously reported, back in December 2021, that there were repairs to 151 at a cost of $40 million. This was according to the then Fire Chief, Kalamadeen Edoo, who told Kaieteur News that the sum of $40 million was allocated for the repairs of 151 fire hydrants. The repairs, he noted, have been completed and the second phase was expected to begin in January this year.
Friday February 11, 2022
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Alleged carjackers charged
SBM boasts of bright future in Guyana Oil Sector - Company sees over US$29B in cash flow until 2050; returned US$343M to shareholders
Ravin Singh.
Leon Lewis.
A. Archibald Samaroo.
By Shervin Belgrave The prominent businessman, Andrew Archibald Samaroo, suspected to be the leader of a carjacking gang operating in Region Four was yesterday remanded to prison, while one of the other alleged gang members, Ravin Singh, was released on $500,000 bail. Samaroo, of Fifth Street, South Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara operates a car rental business and is also a well-known auto and spare parts dealer. He turned himself in, two days ago, to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) some three weeks after a wanted bulletin was issued for him by police. Samaroo was implicated in the recent theft of two cars one which was stolen on November 18, last year at Beterverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and another that was hijacked on January 14, 2022 at Caneview Avenue South Ruimveldt after SOCU investigators recovered them at R. Singh Workshop located at Montrose, ECD. SOCU investigators told Kaieteur News, that while in custody, Samaroo denied that he was involved in the theft of the two cars. Nevertheless, investigators had gathered enough evidence for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Hack, to advise that he be slapped with three joint charges in relation to the theft of the cars. Those three joint charges were instituted against him yesterday. Two of them at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court by her Worship, Rushelle Liverpool and one at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
The first joint charge was for him and Ravin Singh, the owner of the R. Singh workshop where both of the stolen cars were found. They were jointly charged with conspiracy to defraud by receiving a stolen silver-gray Fielder Wagon motorcar HD1629-the car stolen on November 18 last year- and concealing its identity by changing the chassis number. They both pleaded not guilty to the charge. Their lawyers requested bail but only Ravin Singh’s request was granted. Magistrate Liverpool granted him bail in the sum of $200,000. It should be noted too that Singh was previously remanded on joint charge with another suspect, Leon Lewis, known as “Turbo” in relation to the same matter but had managed to get bail for that charge too. Kaieteur News learnt that for that charge, Singh was released on $300,000 bail. As it relates to Samaroo, bail was refused after the prosecutor in the matter objected. The prosecutor argued that Samaroo had eluded investigators for three weeks before surrendering. The court heard that during the three weeks SOCU investigators had tried to locate him by various means, one of them being via phone but Samaroo had refused to respond. Moreover, the prosecutor said Samaroo is being investigated for several other car theft related allegations and police fear that if he is released he might disappear again and this time never return because he is also an American citizen. Magistrate Liverpool agreed with the prosecutor’s argument and remanded Samaroo for that charge until March 7, 2022. The second joint charge that
Samaroo faced at the Sparendaam Magistrate Court was for him and the second suspect involved, Leon Lewis known as Turbo. Lewis was not able to appear because he was still on remand for the previous joint charge he faced with Singh. Nevertheless an order was prepared by the magistrate for him to answer the charge on his next court appearance. It is alleged that he and Samaroo had fraudulently altered the identifying mark (license plate number) of a stolen Toyota Allion - the second car that was stolen on January 14 this year- from HC9968 to PXX 7021. Samaroo pleaded not guilty to this charge too but was refused bail again. Samaroo was later taken to the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and slapped with a third charge. There he was jointly charged with Lewis with robbery underarms. Samaroo, Singh and Lewis are accused of being part of a well organized criminal gang that has been hijacking cars across Region Four in recent years. The gang makes its money by selling stolen cars and spare parts to unsuspecting customers. It remained undetected for years because the sales agreement with the customers would always be legal. The gang was able to pull this off by purchasing crashed cars legally then sending out its members to steal similar ones. They would then remake the stolen ones to look just like the crashed ones. This included welding chassis numbers from the crashed car onto the stolen ones and installing corresponding number plates. SOCU is confident that it will be able to dismantle this well-organised criminal group.
160 new COVID-19 cases recorded on Thursday One hundred and sixty new cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 62,061, the Ministry of Health has said. Out of that number, a total of 33,461 persons are women while 28,600 are men. A breakdown of new cases
per region shows that Region Four leads with 53 cases, Region Nine with 48 cases, Region Six with 14 cases, Region One with 13 cases, Region Two with 11 cases, Region Three with eight cases, Region Five with seven cases, Region Seven with five cases and Region Eight with one case.
According to its COVID19 dashboard data, 17 patients are admitted into the COVID19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 89 persons are in institutional isolation, 3,038 in home isolation and 23 are in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 57,729 persons have recovered from the virus.
Executives at SBM Offshore, the Dutch company which built the Liza Destiny, are thrilled about their future with Guyana, the world’s most exciting exploration hotspot. Their state of euphoria is rooted in the fact that Guyana has been approving ExxonMobil’s oil production projects in the Stabroek Block at industry leading speeds. This has actually allowed SBM to benefit tremendously in the process. Since oil production got underway in 2019, SBM has been the preferred builder for the country’s second and third ships, being the Liza Unity and Prosperity floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels. Last year, the company was also given the contract to build the fourth FPSO for Guyana’s Yellowtail Project in the Stabroek Block. Approval for the Yellowtail development is expected by month end. In light of the tremendous work it has received to date from Guyana, SBM was pleased to announce on
Thursday that its project portfolio is on a record high while adding that it sees cash flow visibility into 2050 totalling over US$29B. In his remarks to the market on Thursday, Bruno Chabas, CEO of SBM Offshore, commented that last year, the Dutch company performed well. Once again, this is thanks to the multi-billion dollar projects it has received from Guyana. Chabas said,”We closed the books in line with our guidance. The Company has a record project portfolio and we have confirmed our position as a leader in the support of our clients in the energy transition. We are truly proud of our teams who deliver our projects and continue to operate our fleet safely, despite the challenges that came with the COVID-19 pandemic.” Chabas added, “Our project portfolio stands at a record level with five projects under execution and a large Front End Engineering Design (FEED) underway for the Yellowtail development
project for Exxon in Guyana. FPSO Liza Unity is now in the commissioning phase, in line with our pre COVID-19 schedule. The other projects remain on track relative to the latest planned schedules and we continue to anticipate a competitive level of performance from this portfolio.” The CEO said SBM’s order book continues to bring stability as its net cash forecast is underpinned by contracts from premium clients which include ExxonMobil. He said, “This is unique in our industry. It also allows us to invest in the future, both in our traditional business as well as in renewables.” Thanks to the projects it has in Guyana, Chabas was keen to note that in 2021, the company was able to return US$343 million to shareholders through dividends. In light of this performance and its forecast into 2050, the company appears to be on the trajectory to continue this trend of making its shareholders richer on account of its Guyana bonanza.
Duo gets life sentence for Black... From page 6 guilty [needs to be addressed] so that others will not continue with this misconception that I cannot be found guilty for murder if I didn’t pull the trigger.” Gibbs further submitted that Jaikarran Chandradeo was just 15 years old at the time of his death and that the accused with others “showed no mercy as they attempted to steal fuel” and that the accused has shown no remorse for his actions. “The State asked for a strong message to be sent, that not being the trigger man is no excuse”, Gibbs stressed. Justice Kissoon subsequently handed down the sentence. The court then took a 10minute break and returned to hand down the sentence of Jairam Chaitram. Indrawattie Rooplall who is the wife of Pawan Chandradeo, mother of Jaikarran Chandradeo and sister of Naresh Rooplall in an address to the court said that the tragic incident has affected her and her remaining
children a lot. “My son had to drop out from school because it affected them a lot, the only income I have to sustain me and my children is from my job (security guard). My husband that died was the breadwinner of the home…,” Rooplall in a statement read by Attorney Gibbs said. Meanwhile, Priya Rooplall, the sister of Jaikarran, daughter of Pawan and niece of Naresh, broke down in tears as she spoke about the difficulties, which she has faced along with her family since the death of her brother, father and uncle. “It has been very hard for me to push through school…I have been trying very hard…,” she said as the tears streamed down her cheeks. The accused was given the opportunity to say something and he told the court that he accepted full responsibility for what happened and said sorry to the family, the Judge, his family and all that were involved. Justice Kissoon subsequently
handed down the sentence of life imprisonment. The bulletriddled bodies of Pawan Chandradeo, his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, both of Mibicuri North BBP and Naresh Rooplall, of Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, were found on July 22, 2016 in the Kookrit Savannah, Black Bush Polder. The remains bore gaping gunshot wounds to the heads and upper bodies. The bodies were found by a rice farmer of Black Bush Polder and his workmen. It was reported that 13-yearold Alvin Chandradeo, who accompanied his father Pawan and brother Jaikarran was left at a pump station on a dam while the others went further into the Savannah to fish. The lad stayed at the pump station from where he reportedly heard gunshots. In October 2018, the four men were committed to stand trial in the High Court for the brutal murders. A fifth man who was charged with accessory after the fact was granted $2M bail in 2016.
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Jota scores twice and Salah returns in Liverpool win over Leicester BBC Sport - Diogo Jota scored twice as Liverpool cut their deficit to Premier League leaders Manchester City to nine points with a dominant performance against Leicester at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side had a host of chances and reliable Portuguese forward Jota netted in each half, pouncing on Kasper Schmeichel’s parry from Virgil van Dijk’s header for the first, before stroking a second late on. The Reds still have a game in hand on champions City and another commanding display suggests the title race may not yet be a foregone conclusion. Foxes goalkeeper Schmeichel was in inspired form and made crucial saves to twice deny Roberto
Diogo Jota has scored 17 goals for Liverpool this season. (Getty Images) Firmino and Luis Diaz on his full debut. Mohamed Salah came off the bench in the second half after returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty and he too was unable to find a way past Schmeichel. When he did, a sublime curling strike
rattled the crossbar. Leicester will rue the missed opportunity from James Maddison at 0-0 as the Englishman found space down the left edge of the area but his rising shot was pushed over the bar by Alisson. Leicester’s poor sea-
Friday February 11, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Books, lectures, and other sources of information regarding spiritual, metaphysical, or religious matters could have your mind spinning, Aries.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A rush of excess ambition could cause you to channel a lot of your physical and mental energy into whatever work you're doing right now, Libra.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) A goal related to business or finance that is very important to you could require you to pay a lot of attention to paperwork today, Taurus.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) An upcoming visit from someone close may have you working overtime in order to fix up your house, Scorpio. Therefore, you could be tempted to go crazy buying decorative items.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Legal documents that concern your business may need to be executed today, Cancer. There might be a lot of paper to wade through, not to mention jargon that appears indecipherable. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Legal documents that concern your business may need to be executed today, Cancer. There might be a lot of paper to wade through, not to mention jargon that appears indecipherable. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you might consider making an investment of time, energy, and perhaps a little money in a creative project of some kind, Leo. This could also involve modern technology in some way. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Visitors might come to your home today to discuss business of some kind, Virgo, perhaps job related, perhaps about an enterprise you're developing on your own.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Working at home might be the answer for you today, Sagittarius. You could be physically and mentally worn out from working too hard, but you still have important tasks to complete. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) News you may receive about your place of business or the people you work for might bring up some doubts about your future in this organization, Capricorn. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Paperwork involving money might seem a bit overwhelming today, Aquarius, and you might ask a friend for advice or assistance. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Some rather tedious and boring paperwork you have to handle for your business might be a pain in the neck now, Pisces, but it should bring a lot of benefits to you later.
son sees them stay in 12th place in the table, 10 points adrift of a Europa Conference League spot. Reds show their strength in depth Liverpool’s season was going to be derailed once Salah and Sadio Mane went off to the Africa Cup of Nations - well that was the theory anyway. But it has not materialised that way. Klopp’s side are growing in confidence and swatted aside Leicester with ease to stretch their run to just one
defeat in their last 19 games in all competitions - ironically a loss at the Foxes on 28 December. In reaching the Carabao Cup Final, still in both the Champions League and FA Cup, and sitting second in the top flight, Liverpool remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies. And the options available to Klopp now mean an already fearsome attacking line is further bolstered by the arrival of Diaz, who was making his first start for the club. The former Porto man showed good touches in the final third and was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet in front of the Kop, seeing a swerving shot and close-range drive batted out by Schmeichel. If the Colombian needs any inspiration from a new signing at Liverpool, he needs to look no further than Jota, who has now scored 17 goals in all competitions this season. Arriving from Wolves for
a hefty £45m at the start of last season, Jota’s goalscoring performances are not only highlighting the depth of the team, but giving Klopp a good headache of who to select in the front three.
No Spectators... From page 31 WITHIN A SET TIME FRAME According to the approval letter, the club will have permission to host no more than 150 persons for the event commencing no earlier than 10:00hrs and not exceeding 17:00hrs. “We got approval for 150 persons and all we ask is that those people continue to abide by these guidelines. The task force has already said to us that they will be there in person to ensure that these rules are upheld. Mask wearing and social distancing as well as sanitisation stations are all things we have to abide by.“Also, the task force can and will be randomly asking persons to produce their vaccination cards or copies of it to ensure that they are fully vaccinated. If by some means some persons manage to slip by us and they are found by the task force, they will obviously be expelled from this and possibly future events.”
Windwards... From page 32 Motie 4-62, Keemo Paul 384, Veerasammy Permaul 388) HARPY EAGLES 181-5 (Vishaul Singh 40 not out, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 30, Leon Johnson 28; Sherman Lewis 3-47, Preston McSween 2-44). In the other matches: At Brian Lara Cricket Academy: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force lead Jamaica Scorpions by 93 runs with four first innings wickets in hand. SCORPIONS 141 (Jermaine Blackwood 44, John Campbell 25, Paul Palmer 24; Bryan Charles 6-48, Jayden Seales 2-17) RED FORCE 234-6 (Yannic Cariah 72, Isaiah Rajah 58 not out, Joshua DaSilva 37, Jason Mohammed 22; Nicholson Gordon 3-51, Marquino Mindley 2-52). At Kensington Oval: Barbados Pride lead Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 152 runs. HURRICANES 172-9 declared (Devon Thomas 58, Kieran Powell 43, Jahmar Hamilton 29; Keon Harding 4-42, Jonathan Carter 2-9) PRIDE 324 (Shamar Springer 91, Shane Dowrich 86, Kraigg Brathwaite 29; Rahkeem Cornwall 4-99, Colin Archibald 3-47) (Sean Devers)
Friday February 11, 2022
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Kaieteur News
Sankars Auto Works supports Ogle CC
General Manager of Sankars Autoworks Navin Sankar (L) handing over two boxes of cricket balls to Mr. Davindra Ramtahal Secretary of the Ogle Community Centre. Sankars Auto Works has lent support to the Ogle Community Center. The entity, on Wednesday presented two boxes of balls to the club which will aid in their preparation for upcoming club competitions. Mr. Sankar said that the
company was proud to be able to assist in any way they can, especially in the interest of sports. Davindra Ramtahal, Secretary of the Ogle CC, thanked the General Manager and company for their support and hopes that they continue to support.
Shepperd now in stable condition National Volleyball player Kristoff Shepperd remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Hospital Corporation (GPHC), but doctors have listed his condition as ‘stable’. Shepperd was involved in an accident on Monday evening at the Mandela and Homestretch Aveunes intersection where his car collided with a truck. The two other occupants
of the car were treated and discharged for minor injuries. Shepperd was initially listed as critical after picking up injuries to the head and other parts of his body. The Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) has issued a statement giving support to Shepperd’s family and has pledged to lend support in any affordable way that can create a positive change.
GCA’s cricket rescheduled for this weekend After the planned resump- the other Semi-final involv-
tion of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) cricket tournaments were ruined by adverse weather over the last weekend, matches have been rescheduled for tomorrow and Sunday The GISE, Star Party Rental and Trophy Stall First Division Two-day Semi-final between GCC and Police is scheduled for Bourda, while
ing Everest and DCC at Everest ground which both hosted matches in U-19 World Cup will be played. The Noble House Seafoods second division two-day fixture is set for the Eve Leary ground where Bel Air Rubis were set to oppose Police. These competitions are from 2018/2019 and are now at the Semi-final stage.
Lusignan Golf Club - Odyssey... From page 31 tournament and we hope that it has a great turnout and it is a great success.” For registration interested individuals are asked to contact Lusignan Golf Club on 220-5660 to register. Registration closes at 12pm today 11th February 2022. All participants are advised to contact the club’s manager on the day of the tournament to collect their
scorecards, pay their tournament fees and proceed to their allocated tee boxes to begin play at 12:30PM. Once on their respective tee boxes, players must await the sounding of the horn or siren as indication to begin teeing off. Presentation of prizes will be held at the completion of the tournament at approx. 5:30pm. All COVID 19 protocols will be in effect.
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Kaieteur News
Freestyle skiing-Americans go big and go home with the gold
Gold medallists Ashley Caldwell of the United States, Christopher Lillis of the United States and Justin Schoenefeld of the United States pose for pictures. (REUTERS/Dylan Martinez) ZHANGJIAKOU, China, (Reuters) - The United States knew the only way they were likely to be able to beat China in yesterday’s Olympic freestyle skiing aerials mixed team event was to take some risks, and their bold approach paid off spectacularly and brought them the ultimate prize. China were the favourites for the first running of the three-person event at the Olympics, qualified top from the preliminary final and led after the first of three runs in the medal round. Then, Chris Lillis took his position at the top of the hill, drew a deep breath as he visualised the testing routine ahead of him, a high risk-high reward Back Double Full-FullDouble Full with a difficulty rating of five. He nailed it brilliantly to earn a huge score of 135 points to leapfrog the hosts. Justin Schoenefeld then delivered a 114.48, creating too big an advantage for the final Chinese skier Qi Guangpu to make up. Canada took the bronze medal, saying they had taken
a relatively conservative approach and concentrated on making their landings, but Lillis said his team knew they had to go big to challenge for gold. “The Chinese team is formidable, and we knew that we had to execute if we were going to be able to beat them because they are incredible jumpers,” he said. “That’s been our plan for weeks now,” he said of going for high difficulty jumps. “We wanted the gold and maybe we took a more aggressive approach and that was part of the game plan, me putting down the quint twist. “And we have that capability with Ashley (Caldwell) being one of the only females in the world that can do that triple triple,” he said. “I was happy with that plan and it worked really well.” Caldwell agreed: “The Chinese team has been good for a long time and that’s why we had to come out here swinging and be ready for to go all in,” she said. “Doing tricks you’ve never done before... I always felt like a top level competi-
tive jumper and I proved it today alongside Justin and Chris and it feels surreal.” The success tasted particularly sweet for Lillis, whose dream of appearing alongside his brother in the 2018 Olympics were dashed by a serious knee injury two months before the Games suffered less than a mile away from yesterday’s venue. “That injury gave me so much motivation,” he said. “I was going through a tremendous amount of personal loss at the time (his younger brother had died unexpectedly two months earlier) so I’m not the same young guy I was then. “I came here with a lot higher expectations than I would have had in 2018,” he added. Caldwell has had a different Olympic journey but was equally delighted with the outcome. “I couldn’t be more excited,” she said. “This is my fourth Games and I’ve been hunting for a gold medal my entire career. To do it with these guys is incredible.”
Friday February 11, 2022
Windies looking to post morale-boosting win The West Indies have been outplayed in the threematch ODI series against India. The visitors have already conceded a 0-2 lead to the Indian side in the series, and have not stepped up to the challenge. The batters especially have produced below-par performances for the ‘Men in Maroon’ in this series. In both matches, the West Indies have failed to cross the 200run mark, and have also failed to last their full quota of 50 overs. In the 2nd ODI, the West Indian bowlers did a good job and restricted the Indian side to a total of 237/9. However, their batters lasted only 46 overs, not a single willow wielder could score a halfcentury, and the visitors fell short by 44 runs. For India, they will be extremely impressed with Prasidh Krishna. Krishna bowled one of the best spells in recent memory and tied up the batters with his compelling line and length. And, Krishna conceded a miserly 12 runs in his 9-over spell and more importantly picked up 4 wickets to rattle the West Indies batters. Also, Suryakumar Yadav has shown that he is a batter who can be trusted in the long run. Yadav walked in with India in trouble at 43/3 and stitched together a matchwinning partnership of 91 runs for the 4th wicket with
Kieron Pollard (right) will make a return to the squad for the final ODI against India, led by Rohit Sharma (left). KL Rahul. He scored a timely 64 to bail his side out of trouble. So, having already lost the series, the West Indies will look to post a moraleboosting win ahead of the three-match T20I series that will follow the ODI series. On the other hand, India will look to whitewash the ‘Men in Maroon’. The key to scoring runs on this surface is to spend time out in the middle. The pitch will also offer turn for the spinners, and the only way for the batters to emerge
on top is through being patient. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma confirmed that Shikhar Dhawan will play the 3rd ODI, and that will mean that Deepak Hooda might miss out. The rest of the lineup will remain the same. For the West Indies, Skipper Kieron Pollard will come into the side for the 3rd ODI, which means that Darren Bravo might mostly have to make way. The match has a scheduled 4:00am start, local time. (Crictracker)
China’s naturalised Olympians walk... From page 31 of the country’s biggest brands, including coffee chain Luckin and shopping site
JD.com. She has been tight-lipped about her nationality status, however, despite being repeatedly pushed by foreign reporters following her gold on Tuesday. Zhu, meanwhile, renounced her US citizenship when she chose to represent China. But unlike the universal adoration for Gu, Zhu has been picked on for everything from her limited Mandarin to her family background. Some social media users insinuated, without any evidence, that her Olympic spot was linked to her father, a prominent artificial intelligence expert. With roots in both China and the United States, Gu and Zhu must walk a fine line when expressing either identity.Ties between the two powers have been at their lowest in decades and Washington led a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games citing concerns about human
rights in China, including in the far-western Xinjiang region. Gu, who has said she wants to use sport to connect people in the two countries, describes herself as “American when I am in America, and...Chinese when I am in China”.But public scrutiny in both countries may make it harder to maintain a clear divide. One of Gu’s main Chinese sponsors, sportswear brand Anta, has loudly touted its use of Xinjiang cotton that rights groups have linked to forced labour. Some people on Instagram criticised Gu for her frequent use of the social media app, accusing her of being oblivious to the fact that most Chinese people cannot freely access the Internet, including Instagram. Gu on Tuesday dismissed the criticism when a journalist asked how hard it was to keep people in China and the United States happy.
Friday February 11, 2022
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Kaieteur News
No Spectators at China’s naturalised Olympians walk fine line between love and scorn GMR&SC Endurance Meet BEIJING, China (AFP) — Eileen Gu and Beverly Zhu were both born and raised in the US before deciding to represent China, but their contrasting fortunes at the Beijing Olympics highlight the fine line between love and condemnation for the host nation’s naturalised athletes. Freestyle skier Gu has inspired ecstasy and adulation among Chinese fans, but figure skater Zhu has endured a torrent of online abuse after two blunder-filled performances. The 18-year-old Gu — known as Gu Ailing in China — cemented herself as one of the faces of the Games by winning gold in the inaugural women’s Big Air on Tuesday. “Gu Ailing is taking part in her first Winter Olympics but still landed a 1620 and won gold — she is so, so awesome!” said one widely shared social media post, referring to the high-stakes trick that sealed her win.” The mood was wildly different for Zhu, who competes under her Chinese name Zhu Yi. The 19-year-old broke down in tears on Monday after falling twice during her routine, after a tumble the previous day almost cost China a place in the final. But her distress failed to win much forgiveness on Chinese social media, where she was savaged for the mistakes. On the Twitter-like Weibo, the hashtag #ZhuYiFellOver racked up 230 million views.
A previous meet at the South Dakota race track.
Gold medallist China’s Gu Ailing Eileen celebrates on the podium during the medals ceremony after the freestyle skiing women’s freeski big air final run during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Big Air Shougang on Tuesday. (Photos: AFP) “I don’t know why someone like this was allowed to represent China,” wrote one user. The abuse was so intense that authorities appeared to censor some posts. In recent years, the country with a population of 1.4 billion has recruited some foreign-born players to boost its national squads, notably for football and ice hockey. China are by no means the only ones to do it, but the country stands out because it has minimal inward migration and bans citizens from holding dual nationalities. Yet under President Xi Jinping, the lines appear a bit more blurred. “If someone is deemed to be able to contribute to the
fatherland, the party-state is willing to reward such a person very handsomely,” said Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. Gu was born in California to an American father and Chinese mother, and still lives in the United States. She opted in 2019 to compete for China, a decision she described as “incredibly tough”. A star student and parttime model, Gu has won a devoted following in China with her Beijing-accented Mandarin and apparent love for Chinese cuisine. She has landed a string of commercial deals with some (Continued on page 30)
The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) has secured approval for the hosting of their endurance event on February 20th. Via a release on Sunday, the club confirmed that the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) granted conditional approval for the event once pre-set conditions are met and kept. One said condition is a zero-spectator policy for this event, something GMR&SC president Rameez Mohamed confirmed will be the hallmark of the event. According to Mohamed, “We had earlier this year sought an audience for the hosting of an event because we understand that our members are eager to get back on track. However, we need those same members to understand that this isn’t an excuse to bring out spectators.” “We are now giving these members a chance to use the
machines that they have been prepping all through the latter part of last year for an official club event.” “What we want to complete as soon as possible is a list of key personnel who will be present on race day. Those include the medical and emergency teams, the marshals and race officials and of course those members.” The GMR&SC boss added that the club has already secured donations from some of its members to help offset the cost of the event, as another condition on the approval features a ‘no-marketing policy’ of the club’s events. “We want to say a special thank you to the team over at Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc., for throwing their hat in the ring at the first ask to help offset the expenses of this event. It’s something not a lot of people see. There is an expense incurred with hosting these
events.” FULLY VACCINATED ONLY Another conditional measure is that all persons who are attending the event must be fully vaccinated as stated by committee member Nyron Maraj. “All persons present on the day must be fully vaccinated. That is to say that they have had two doses of a Ministry of Health-approved COVID-19 vaccine. We cannot overstate the importance of this for our members, their crew and other officials.” “We are not above expelling those members who have not been fully vaccinated, be it our own marshals. We understand the importance of meeting the requirements of these conditions and persons must know that if they attempt to breach these rules, it can cost us future events.” 150-PERSON LIMIT (Continued on page 28)
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Friday February 11, 2022
Kaieteur News
West Indies 4-day C/Ships...
Windwards Volcanoes hold advantage over Harpy Eagles
On a day of fluctuating weather conditions at an empty Queen’s Park Oval due to Covid restrictions, Windwards Volcanoes were in the ascendency over Guyana Harpy Eagles at stumps on day two of their West Indies four-day First-Class game yesterday in Trinidad. A Regional last wicket record of 124 between the Grenadian pair of 26-year-old Preston McSween and Sherman Lewis had powered the Windwards to 339. Guyana were 182-5 with Vishaul Singh on 40 from 93 balls with four boundaries and Keemo Paul on 20 from 20 balls with two fours and a six with their team still 157 behind with five wickets in hand as four batsmen failed to carry on from good starts. Lewis crowned a good day at the office by taking 347, while McSween had 2-44 for the Windwards, the only Regional team without a title. McSween’s 86 lasted 103 balls and was decorated with nine fours and two sixes while Lewis’ excellent supporting knock of an unbeaten 31 came from 111 balls with three fours. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie captured 462, while Test bowlers Veerasammy Permaul and Keemo Paul picked up three wickets each. Resuming on their overnight score of 279-9 with Mcsween on 47 and Lewis 14, Windwards, who had lost nine of their last 11 matches while drawing one and tying one against Guyana, were dismissed for 339. McSween and Lewis both registered their highest First-
Action in the Guyana match.
Record last wicket stand for Windwards. McSween and Lewis added 124. (CWI) Class scores. The pair, who joined forces at 215 and put the Guyanese under pressure as the frustrating last wicket stand increased. McSween soon reached his maiden fifty when a thick outside off pacer Nial Smith speed away to with third man boundary as they took the score along on a good track before a shower sent the players off the field. When play resumed after Lunch, McSween pushed forward to one that turned from Motie for wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble to take the catch and finally bring the innings to an end. In reply, Guyana quickly lost the left-handed Chanderpaul Hemraj (5) at 101 when he sparred at one which left him from McSween
and edged it to second slip. Tagenarine Chanderpaul got going with three consecutive boundaries before fellow left-hander Shimron Hetmyer stroked Lewis gloriously through the covers for his first boundary. Hetmyer got a fortuitous boundary to third man as he edged Rayan John, whom he hit past cover for an imperious boundary in the same over. Hetymer turned John into the leg-side for two to post the 50 before celebrating with magnificent cover driven boundary. Hetmyer, who missed Guyana’s last two trial matches due to illness, was looking well set on 24 when he clipped Lewis low to short mid-wicket for John to hold a
stupendous catch to leave the score on 58-2. Just before Tea, Lewis again struck when Chanderpaul edged a ball that left him and was caught at second slip for 30 at 63-3. Skipper Leon Johnson drove Lewis back past his ankles for four off the penultimate delivery before Tea, which was taken with Guyana on 77-3 with Johnson on 16 and Vishaul Singh yet to score. After Tea, Johnson climbed on top of McSween
like a cat upon a mouse and drilled him for four past point before the left-arm pacer had the last laugh when he produced a perfect yorker which Johnson played across the line to and was bowled for 28 at 95-4. Bramble, the first righthander in the order and Singh played several good shots but when their partnership was just six short of fifty, Bramble who hit Lewis over mid-off for four, was trapped LBW for 26 as Lewis claimed his third wicket to leave
Guyana, who won five of the last six titles at this level, on 141-5. Paul joined Singh and took their team to the extended close. Today is the third day. Scores: At Queen’s Park Oval: Guyana Harpy Eagles trail Windward Islands Volcanoes by 158 runs with five first innings wickets in hand. VOLCANOES 339 (Preston McSween 86, Alick Athanaze 68, Devon Smith 52, Kerron Cottoy 34, Sherman Lewis 31 not out; Gudakesh (Continued on page 28)
exactly is it enough for the win.” “Then we go through (the finish) and saw the ‘one’ and it is just an amazing feeling, like a dream. This team is amazing.” In the end the Austrian team of Madeleine Egle, Wolfgang Kindl and the pairing of Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller were 0.08 seconds slower than their neighbours, taking silver. Egle and Kindl had been faster than their German singles counterparts, but the difference came down to the doubles. “All my teammates, we did a great job,” said Steu. “Me
and Lorenz did a little mistake, but I think we won the silver, doesn’t lose the gold.” The Latvians, a constant force in the luge event, finally secured their country’s first Olympic medal in the relay event, taking bronze with a time 0.948 seconds behind the leaders. It was the third Olympic team relay since its introduction in Sochi eight years ago. Germany has won all of them. The relay features one woman, one man and one doubles team from each nation sliding in back-to-backto-back runs. At the finish each athlete
makes contact with a touch pad, which automatically opens the start gate for the next team member. With lugers having just one run each to get it right, and with major actors from previous luge dramas making their return, the relay has a gala-feel for some of the teams, and a last chance-saloon for others. Curve 13, a tricky twisting section at the conclusion of the 1,615-metre “Snow Dragon” track, wreaked almost as much havoc on the teams as it had with the women’s singles event on Tuesday.
After a promising first two runs, Slovakia were unable to finish after Tomas Vavercak and Matej Zmij skidded and crashed in that section. South Korea’s Lim Namkyu flipped face down and skidded across the finishing line. Ukraine’s Yulianna Tunytska also had to right herself after a tip. This has not been the United States’ finest luge tournament, with the team finishing seventh overall. That was despite a strong f irst run from Ashley Farquharson, the fourthfastest woman on the day.
Luge-German relay team make it four golds out of four in perfect performance YANQING, China, (Reuters) - The giants of German luge combined their immense talents to take gold in the team relay last night, in a performance that underlined their mastery of the sport and means they will take home all the luge gold this Olympics had to offer. Their win also took Germany to the top of the medal table with six golds, one ahead of Norway and two ahead of Austria, the United States, the Netherlands and Sweden. It was a closely fought battle as the Germans made the last run of the night. Aus-
tria put in an outstanding collective effort, and Germany’s lugers fell a thousandth of a second behind their pace, only to catch up again, at least four times. Natalie Geisenberger and Johannes Ludwig riding solo, followed by doubles duo Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, rocketed down one after the other with the flair of athletes with nothing left to prove, finishing with a track record time of 3:03.406. “We saw that the Austrians had good runs,” Wendl told reporters after the race. “Then was a little mistake out of (curve) 13, we don’t know
Kaieteur News
Friday February 11, 2022
Lusignan Golf Club - Odyssey Sightseeing Tours Golf Tournament set for tomorrow
Odyssey representative Venita Persaud hands over the sponsorship cheque to LGC’s Maxim Mangra Mangra alongside Anasha Ally and Patrick Prashad. The Lusignan Golf Club and Odyssey Sightseeing Tours will be partnering tomorrow to host its highly anticipated golf tournament with tee off being set for 12:30 hrs. The format of the tournament is medal play over 18 holes in three flights and shotgun start. The three flights are: 9 and under, 1018 handicap, 19-36
handicap. Prizes will be given for the following categories: Best Net in each Flight 1st Place – Trophy + Voucher 2nd Place – Trophy + Voucher 3rd Place – Trophy + Voucher Overall Best Net 0-36 1st Place – Trophy + Voucher
2nd Place – Trophy + Voucher 3rd Place – Trophy + Voucher Nearest to Flag, Longest Drive, Best Gross Speaking on behalf of the LGC was PRO Anasha Ally who said, “On behalf of the Lusignan Golf Club we would really like to thank Odyssey for sponsoring this (Continued on page 29)
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