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Govt. makes no NEWS headway in disclosing Omai, other mining contracts AIETEUR

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

Six months in office...

Friday Edition February 12, 2021 -Vol. 23 No. 07

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 109,612

Suriname gets parent companies to take full responsibility for oil spills - Oil Boss says “Subsidiaries are nothing. You have to get insurance from parent company”

Pres. Ali to lead consultation on Guyana’s Draft Local Content Policy next Monday 50-year-old Guyana will be no Woman 21, found businessman pawn or puppet electrocuted with drops dead of foreign powers live wire in hand at hotel - President Irfaan Ali

Police to take action against family which placed casket in front of station During inaugural parliamentary speech...

President Ali says nothing about securing better Exxon deal or insurance coverage for Guyana Hear how VP Jagdeo defends ExxonMobil not providing full coverage insurance to protect Guyana @ 11:00AM today on the Glenn Lall Show, Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

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Suriname gets parent companies to take full responsibility for oil spills - Oil Boss says “Subsidiaries are nothing. You have to get insurance from parent company”

By Mikaila Prince Suriname leaves no stone unturned when it comes to securing benefits for its people. In fact, the country’s national oil company (NOC), Staatsolie, ensures that the parent companies in the oil and gas sector take full responsibility for any oil spill that may occur in Suriname waters.

S t a a t s o l i e ’s C h i e f Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director, Rudolf Elias revealed these crucial protective measures during his debut appearance on the Kaieteur Radio

programme Guyana’s Oil & You, on February 4, last.

There, Senior Kaieteur News Journalist Kiana Wilburg asked Elias if Staatsolie ensures that it gets full insurance coverage from the parent company in the unfortunate event of an oil spill occurring.

To this, the oil boss explained, “Yeah, the parent company. The subsidiary is nothing. You have to get the insurance from the parent company, and if you have the insurance of the parent company then you shouldn’t have to worry, because they

have more to lose even as the country.”

Further, Elias stated that if a country proceeds with an oil development then it must ensure that it is done with the “big boys” as he pointed to companies like US ExxonMobil and French Total or “one of these companies because they have very big pockets.”

In continuing, Elias pointed to British Petroleum (BP) and its well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico of 2010.

In that disaster, which is deemed as the world’s worst accidental oil spill, BP was required to pay for US$70B in damages. Eleven years later, BP is still paying for that spill. It begs the question whether the subsidiary would have been able to handle those billion of dollars in expenses had it been on the hook for such a Corporation announcing disaster. yesterday that the first phase “So it [an oil spill] can of diamond core drilling at t h e O m a i P r o j e c t h a d happen. We say that it cannot c o m m e n c e d . I n i t s happen. But when a disaster announcement of this drilling does happen, you have to exercise, Omai Gold Mines ensure that the companies boasted of the “thickness of gold extending below the current pit, including 69 meters of 3.96 grams per tonne gold”, as it added that that drilling “is expected to accelerate a new mineral resource estimate planned in late 2021.”

But Omai is not the only mining company that is hitting the jackpot. In fact, in October 2020, Troy Resources had announced that it had discovered a fourounce-to-the-tonne gold hit in its latest diamond drill hole at the Smarts Underground deposit at its operating, million-ounce, Karouni gold project in Guyana.

Troy Resources’ Chief Executive O fficer and Managing Director, Ken Nilsson, had confirmed that this was the “best hole” that Troy had ever drilled and was the “best” he had ever seen.

While these may seem like promising news, Guyanese have no clue what benefits they will reap from these massive finds as the contracts signed between Omai Gold Mines, Troy Resources, other mining companies operating in Guyana remain shrouded in secrecy.

Six months in office...

Govt. makes no headway in disclosing Omai, other mining contracts Implementing countries like Guyana, under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), are encouraged to publicly disclose any contracts and licences that provide the terms attached to the exploitation oil, gas minerals, which were entered into before 2021.

The EITI had also required Guyana to disclose the identities of the real owners—also known as beneficial owners—of the companies, which have obtained rights to extract oil, gas and minerals before the end of 2020.

But it has been seven months since the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) assumed role of government and the citizenry is yet to see any headway on the disclosure of contracts from the lucrative mining sector.

In fact, Guyana has only managed to make public those contracts from petroleum sector, while contracts for the bauxite, timber, gold and diamond sectors remain a secret. Visits to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MoNR) websites even proved futile, since no mining contracts could be found on their web pages.

This Kaieteur News article comes on the heels of Omai Gold Mines

who are backing this should be the big brother, one of the big ones,” Elias maintained.

Guyana still without comprehensive insurance It has been one year since Guyana has been producing oil in the Stabroek Block, namely at the Liza Phase One operation. ExxonMobil, the operator of the block, is currently producing 120,000 barrels of oil each day. Even with such high production levels, Guyana has no commitment from Exxon, Hess Corporation and CNOOC/NEXEN that it would ensure the provision of comprehensive insurance if a spills occurs.

Instead, what Guyana has secured is a limited insurance policy for Liza One from the subsidiaries, or limited liability companies – namely Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Hess Guyana and CNOOC/NEXEN Guyana.

When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was under the stewardship of Dr. Vincent Adams, he had

Managing Director and CEO of Suriname’s Staatsolie, Rudolf Elias

realized that the agency had erred in allowing the subsidiaries to cover an oil spill for the Liza Phase One Project. As a result, he ensured that provisions were inserted into the environmental permits for the Liza Phase Two and Payara projects to ensure that they are covered not just by insurance from the subsidiaries but by the parent

companies too.

It is important to note however that Guyana is yet to receive a formal agreement from the parent companies that they would foot the bill of their subsidiaries. In light of this state of affairs, Guyana is left exposed to paying for an oil spill that the subsidiaries on their own, might not be able to cover.

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Friday February 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Exxon faces ratings cut Limping American oil giant, ExxonMobil, is facing a new challenge from a different source. This is what was covered in an article by Bloomberg on January 26, that was captioned, “Exxon, Shell face Ratings Cuts on Greater Climate Risk, S&P says.” There is now this spectre of a possible credit score cut for Exxon, among others, due to “greater industry risk” associated with climate change. We would not go so far as to say that this might be a case of poetic justice but, given the arrogant and risky manner in which Exxon has conducted its oil exploration and production activities in Guyana, this is not altogether surprising.

Exxon has seen to it that our political leaders are shackled and severely limited in their will to police our oil business and associated environmental exposures in a more constructive manner, and one that would be nationally healthy and reputable. From what appears to be less than tightly managed gas flaring at the wells, to the continuing release of pollutants in our natural habitats, and to the seemingly little restraint manifested by Exxon with its Guyanese operations, the company has done more than enough to earn that undesired distinction of a polluter of the first order.

The pressures on Exxon have been building for a while, given the company’s less than stellar record, and from a growing variety of powerful sources. At the top of the list of those who should not and cannot be ignored or played games with (like Guyanese political leaders) is the new President of the United States, Joe Biden, who has put, according to the Bloomberg article, “climate change at the center of his agenda.” He is not a force to be tampered with, and unless Exxon decides to get serious and quickly, it can be in for a long day of reckoning in the days to come. The American president should not be mistaken for the Guyanese one. As much as he may want to go a little easy on Exxon, there are very strong forces that are pushing for more action, more compliance with climate change requirements, and more accountability in every facet of its operations.

In addition to that, which is what some of Exxon’s large shareholders are concerned about, there are those who are working hard to bring some influence to bear through applying the squeeze on the company where it counts. That is, by having seats on the board of directors. This is what came from KN on January 28, in the article titled, “Dissatisfied shareholder to challenge ExxonMobil for board seats -deeply concerned about company’s carbon emissions.” There are those undying beasts again - carbon emissions, climate change, and the company’s record - those bones in the throat for Exxon that refuse to go away and die quiet deaths. Engine One is the concerned investment firm that is seeking to get four of its nominees appointed to the company’s board of directors.

From what KN furnished, the four names submitted are all individuals with industry histories that speak volumes about their knowledge, long experience, and competence in the energy sector. These people on a board can prove to be thorns in management’s flesh, and be difference makers’ best listened to; company executives ignore them at their peril.

They can incite shareholder dissent into open revolt, and derail the headstrong attitudes of management, while rechanneling the visions of its members.

Engine One has the Church of England and one of America’s most powerful pension funds: the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) in its corner to lend support (“Exxon is in crisis. Angry shareholders are rebelling” CNN, December 15, 2020). Also, from that same CNN article was the mention of another name that Exxon should have cause to fear greatly. It is that of activist hedge fund, D.E. Shaw, which “has built a larger Exxon stake than the one held by CalSTRS and Engine One” and is pushing for change. Those are not people with which Exxon should wish to mess. They are not weak or compromised Guyanese political leaders, rendered largely ineffective by the invisible ties that link them to Exxon, to the detriment of or environment and our prosperity. Guyanese may not count to local leaders, but those investment managers are answerable to the people who give them money.

Clearly, Exxon is under the gun to improve its terrible

Planning ahead for some things only DEAR EDITOR, There were two articles in the 11th February edition of KN that pointed to the many contradictions in the way that Exxon’s management thinks and operates with respect of Guyana and its oil. Those contradictions are powered by the mouth-watering visions and cunning calculations of Exxon’s planners and top managers.

They think of every eventuality, prepare for almost all contingencies; except for one.

The first contradiction that alerted me, and confirmed yet again to me, as to the wily ingenuity of Exxon’s slickly energetic management hustlers is how they prepare for the future, how far ahead of the curve they get. There it was under the title, “ExxonMobil in full speed considering fifth FPSO Mako-Uaru area likely target - Hess” (KN February 11).

The company has not completed the fourth FPSO as yet but it is already barrelling forward with visions for a fifth one dancing in its head. It has not gotten anywhere off the ground with the second and third developments either, but it is on the move with strategic planning for a fifth one, with as many as 10 total behind number five. And now here is the startling contradiction: for a company that is so much into forward planning (a good thing); it is inexplicably deficient-

criminally so-on something as basic as having either spare parts for gas flaring compressors, or an understanding of the operating life of one of those kinds of gas compressors pushed like a mule all of last year to work and deliver round the clock, so as to have an order for one in the hands of manufacturers on a preemptive basis. In other words, Exxon drinks like a fish of Guyana’s intoxicating oil blends, but made no preparation for a urinal or latrine. In the corporate world, and under normal circumstances, that is a firing offence for the nonavailability and failure on something as vital as this gas compressor.

But there is nothing normal about Exxon’s relationship with Guyana, its leaders, and this country’s oil.

And that is why there are these failures and mysterious gaps, what I call criminal contradictions; what I would go so far as to label deliberate criminal contradictions. For if there is no fully functional gas compressor for monitoring purposes, then anything goes. That should be a hanging offence; I can now relate to why oil executives are targeted in some radicalised societies.

Editor, I return to anything goes out there in our oilfields and Exxon’s contradictions. There is that small, self-serving

misstatement from Exxon’s Country Manager about flaring “16 million cubic feet of gas per day” which collided with Guyana’s own Vice President’s figure of “up to 18 million cubic feet per day” (‘New gas compressor ordered, to arrive by year end – ExxonMobil Rep. - Old one reaches Germany for diagnosis” KN February 11).

It is more like an inconvenient truth, or a deliberate underrepresentation of the true number of millions of cubic feet known, but suppressed. On this one, I have to go with Guyana’s Hon. Vice President for his extremely rare challenge before and disagreement with Exxon on anything.

I understand that his hands are tied but he held them out for that to be done, when his opportunity to take a finger and dig out Exxon’s eye was presented. Think Payara.

Guyanese need to understand also that year end is a lifetime away, with lots of potential problems posed.

Many poisonous developments can happen in a year, and all to the detriment of this society and its hopes.

Specifically, and more realistically, the local Exxon PRO (propagandist) noted that the replacement gas compressor “will be available closer to the end of the year.”

Now there is another instance of the well thought-out and well-practised corporate talk from Ms. Janelle Persaud,

who has the equivalent of handling a COVID-19 case without protective gear. She looks vulnerable. For, “closer to the end of the year”, can be anywhere from the July 1 to December 31. Guyanese leaders and citizens are welcome to take their pick. I settle for late November-early December, which means next year. Will somebody tell these mothers to close down production immediately! And haul their sorry asses out of here! NOW! Editor, the defective compressor failed three times, and this is where Exxon is now. I am going to break from a personal standard, and address Guyana’s Vice President by name this one time. I call upon Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo to send these guys packing. Right now! Let them take us to court.

Let’s go eyeball to eyeball with Darren Woods and Alistair Routledge and spit in their slave master faces. As for Ms. Persaud, with a name like that, I take her for Guyanese, so I will be mild and spare her. She should find another job; one that helps her sleep well. For she works for a company that plans wisely for everything, but it does not prioritise fallback coverages for what the EPA head noted, as part of the standing agreement. Why are these people still here?

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Experiences of a migrant Guyanese in London DEAR EDITOR, In a KN letter of Feb. 06, Dr. Vishnu Bisram paid tribute to Guyanese Sugrim Ramjeesingh who had migrated to London in 1956 to pursue medical studies.

Unfortunately, much of what Dr. Bisram wrote in his letter lacked credibility since he had no personal knowledge of events and conditions of the period he wrote about. He however, stated that the information was told to him by his associate Sugrim, who sadly is now deceased and is not around to concur with the contents of his letter.

Air travel to England was available in the 1950’s but it

was too expensive for most Guyanese students and their preferred mode of travel to the imperial country was by ships. I left Georgetown via Port of Spain for England in 1953 on a French Liner bound for Le Harve, France with stop-overs in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Southampton. The voyage took 13 days and was pleasant. On board were many other Guyanese students and passengers from Suriname, Trinidad and Venezuela.

Dr. Bisram stated that Sugrim had related to him experiences of racism, which he endured in London which manifested themselves when

record on climate change, which is long overdue. That S&P ratings cut warning, if it comes to pass, would increase the company’s cost of capital, by pushing investors to demand higher returns for the risk they take by placing confidence and cash in the company. This oil major that is ruling the roost so unhindered in this country, is vulnerable and under siege. Guyanese leaders would not have a better time to seize the moment and get more for us than today, by making Exxon pony up with meaningful cash eases, and by performing as it should (and could) with much needed environmental protections, including insurance coverage, for here. Given what has been the local reality, we are not so naïve as to hold our breath.

he was looking for a job, a room to shelter, travelling on public transport and to get into a university. I lived in London from 1953 - 1961 and most of that time, I was a boarder with English families.

I learned a lot about their culture and way of life and I did not find them racists because if they were, they would not have taken me into their homes to live with their families, since I was a foreign ‘coloured’ student.

In the 1950’s, England was recovering from a devastating war and the loss of its crown jewel - the British Empire.

English Landladies in order to supplement their income were renting vacant rooms in their homes to the flood of foreign students in the country with certain conditions - no drinking, no loud music and no sleep-over girlfriend. Dr. Bisram did not seem to comprehend that there were cultural differences between the Boundyard Port Mourant Guyanese and the English in London. The collision of these differences during interactions was often interpreted as acts of racism.

Many English Landladies

found the lifestyles of several foreign students living with them intolerable and they had no alternative but to throw them out of their homes. Others were so traumatized that in their vacancy notices for new tenants, there were footnotes - No Coloureds.

While in London, I had a secondary education at Woolwich Polytechnic; from there I went on for a college education at Imperial College, University of London. I never experienced any racism in the educational institutions, which I attended or while travelling with public transport. My education was paid for by my poor rice farming family living on the Island of Leguan. At the time also, I did not consider the education fees, which I was charged prohibitive as was claimed to have been stated

by Sugrim. In fact, they were subsidized.

In the 1950’s, many Guyanese went to England to study medicine and were successful. It is a very competitive and demanding profession and only those (Continued on page 6)

Friday February 12, 2021

The distinction between the people and the regime DEAR EDITOR, Our perception of other countries is sometimes blurred by not recognising the difference between the regime and the people.

Myanmar or Burma and Venezuela are two cases in point.

Take Myanmar, even though Aung San Suu Kyi disappointed the international community by failing to stop the massacre and mass expulsion of the Rohingya people, that dastardly act cannot nullify the fact that her party, the National League for Democracy was democratically elected by the Burmese people with more than 80 percent of the votes cast in favour of her party at the November 2020 election.

Moreover, the fact that the military refused, by way of a coup, to accept the people’s verdict, torpedoed the democratic process, and seized power, is a travesty that must be condemned.

Under these conditions, it is important to make the distinction between the legitimate aspirations of the Burmese people and the illegitimate seizure of power by the military.

The Burmese people want a government of their choice.

They want to be free from fear and freedom to enjoy all the civil, political and cultural rights enshrined in the UN Charter.

On the other hand, the military want to deny the Burmese people those basic rights and freedoms. To do so, they have forcibly ensconced themselves in power against the will of the people.

Therefore, when we look at Burma, we should view it

as a country where its people are engaged in a bitter struggle that we Guyanese know only too well.

In respect to Venezuela, on balance, the focus is more on the Maduro regime.

Had it not been for the influx of hundreds of Venezuelans into our national territory, we Guyanese would not have focused on the suffering and deprivation of the Venezuelan people and the excruciating conditions internally that forced them to leave their homeland to head for Guyana.

Here again, the challenge is to make the distinction between the maladministration of the Maduro regime and the hopes and aspirations of the Venezuelan people.

Opposition to the Maduro regime cannot mean opposition to the people of Venezuela who are deprived of basic needs and who are suffering the most.

International isolation through sanctions on the Maduro regime will, by extension, mean more deprivations for the Venezuelan people.

While people and power, are inextricably linked, under certain conditions, the distinction becomes selfevident and as a source of struggle for power.

I refer to Venezuela not because the challenge to make a distinction between peoples and governments is peculiar to Venezuela, nor because it is our neighbour, or because of the matter at the ICJ, nor the arrest and detention of Guyanese fishermen by Venezuelan authorities.

The distinction is made

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because given the current preoccupations of the Venezuelan people, it is unlikely that they would rally at this time behind Maduro’s seizure of Guyanese fishing vessels. Nor are they in the mood to give blind support to the belligerent noises emanating from the ‘Casa Amarilla.’

Therein lies the distinction between the people and the regime in Venezuela.

In Guyana today, we Guyanese were fortunate that the distinction was made between the regime and the people at a time when international support and solidarity was needed in the struggle for the restoration of democracy.

That aside, making the distinction between “good news” and “good news” may for some, be unnecessary and superfluous, and the question may very well be asked why make the distinction? Both are good.

The answer lies in the distinctively qualitative, as it relates to “the good” done by governments versus the good by venture capital.

Over the past months, almost on a daily basis mainstream media have emblazoned on their front pages, announcements about brand name hotels, malls, amusement parks, etc; expressing their interest in establishing a presence in Guyana. That is good news indeed.

But here is the distinction.

In an address delivered by Ashni Singh, Minister with responsibility for Finance at the Annual awards Ceremony and Gala of the Georgetown (Continued on page 6)

Please make our city streets safe again DEAR EDITOR, Public safety is under threat in the city. The recent shooting and robbery of a public citizen in broad daylight at the Bourda Market while she was shopping highlights the pinnacle of lawlessness in the city. Every single day the newspapers keep reporting on the daily robberies around the city with some being fatal.

There are also many of these robberies that go unreported. These acts of brazen violence and robberies are reaching crisis proportions. The Guyana Police Force needs to act now!

City States were built from the start of recorded civilization primarily so that public citizens can be safe from attacks. It was the duty of the state to ensure that

each and every resident was safe to live and conduct their daily business in peace. What is taking place in the city is the daily occurrence of banditry done with complete impunity.

The police force needs to put preventative measures in place and not the postmortem way it is presently operating.

A high percentage of the robberies are executed in high-density public places like the hospital, municipal markets and the main downtown shopping streets.

All these areas should have cops on beat patrol fully armed and working in pairs during the day.

It should be a routine day in, day out exercise and not sporadic. The modus operandi of the robbers is two persons on a motorcycle with

one doing the riding and the pillion rider doing the robbery. Beat and mobile patrols need to specifically target these motorcycles and carry out the stop and search procedures. This campaign must be relentless, methodical and intensive.

The city is in a grid system that can be divided into smaller blocks. The police force needs to divide the city into these blocks and for each block have a mobile rapid response unit in communication with the beat patrol to intercept the bandits.

The use of undercover cops in these targeted areas is also a tried and trusted method. Mr. Commissioner, kindly reclaim our city and make it safe.

Yours sincerely, Reggie Bhagwandin

Employees should have been terminated DEAR EDITOR, Some city mothers and fathers in the majority around the horse-shoe table have chosen to reward financial malfeasance committed against the entity, by retaining the services of those employees who were complicit in a fraudulent activity, (“City workers implicated in fraud reassigned after suspension” SN February 9).

Even after its probe found that ‘the workers were aware of the illegal activities that were being done’, that finding was ignored.

How could these workers ever regain the confidence and respect of the employer and by extension the public?

Fraud is fraud! Theft is theft!

The employees should have been terminated.

There can be no justification for the position taken.

Shamshun Mohamed

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Friday February 12, 2021

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...The distinction between the people From page 5 Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Singh assured his audience, “Given that this country’s human resources

are of the utmost importance, government will be investing heavily in education and skill sets development,” That is very good news!

About a week later, MACORP announced its intention to create a ‘MACORP university that will cater for all levels of

technical education.’ It will cater for any type of engineer and will integrate ‘knowledge with practical application...’

This is also good news.

These two disclosures demonstrate distinctive interests.

However, government’s pursuits when realised, will help rebalance an apparent imbalance between venture capital interests and public sector interests as per human resource development.

Both Ashni Singh’s and MACORP’s disclosures, are indispensable and strategic necessities for the growth and development of Guyana’s human capital.

It is also critical if our human capital is not only prioritised but also importantly, synchronised with the country’s developmental trajectory.

Whether the goal to place

emphasis on the country’s growth and development of its human resources is done through public sector investment, public- private sector partnerships, exclusive private sector investments or on the basis of bilateral agreements with friendly countries, it does not matter. The fundamental objective must be to have tangible results from such investments. In this regard, government should consider mobilising resources for the establishment of an Institute of Research and Development; a School of Business Management; an Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research; an Institute of Farming Systems; an Institute of Agricultural Sciences; an

Institute of Science and Technology, an Institute of Civil and Structural Engineering; an Institute of Mining, Technology and Engineering; a School of Environment and Sustainability; a National Fisheries Research Institute; a Center for Aquaculture and Seafood Development; an Institute of Forestry; and a School of Forest Science and Management. Apart from government itself investing heavily in the further development of the country’s human resources, it must find a way to bring others on board to contribute just as heavily as they are in hotels, parks and malls.

Yours faithfully, Clement J, Rohee

...Experiences of a migrant From page 4 with good entry qualifications were admitted into medical schools. There are reasons to believe that Sugrim had failed to obtain the requirements for entry to a medical school in England and as he stated also lacked the financial support for a medical education.

Apparently, he was not fortunate to get a scholarship.

He nevertheless made a successful business career as was noted by Dr. Bisram.

Most homes in London in the 1950’s had no central heating or showers to bathe. A rented room would have a coal-fired place for heating in the winter and a bed with 2 - 3 woolen blankets. One free hot water bath was available per week but more baths were allowed, provided the tenant paid to heat the water. The bath tub, toilet and wash sink would have

been in another room.

It is inconceivable that in the 1950’s, a Guyanese student would travel to England for a tertiary education without adequate financing to pay college fees as well as for living and incidental costs. At the time, England did not have a system as was in the USA where jobs were available for part-time students with work/ study programmes well organized for tertiary education.

Finally, Dr. Bisram should be informed that the premier high school in Berbice in the 1940’s and 1950’s was the Berbice High School in New Amsterdam and not the Corentyne High School at Rose Hall.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

Friday February 12, 2021

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Friday February 12, 2021

Guyana will be no pawn or puppet of foreign power - Pres. Ali As he unveiled the country’s National Defence Policy, President Irfaan Ali, proclaimed yesterday that Guyana will not be a “pawn or puppet” of any foreign power when it comes to the establishment of military bases on its shores.

“No foreign power will establish any military bases on our soil. But we will exercise our sovereign rights to choose our friends and to enter into agreements which will enhance our defence force’s capabilities and our

people’s development,” the President said.

President Ali was at the time, making his inaugural address to the Annual Officers’ Conference (AOC) of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), held at the National Cultural Centre.

He outlined that the policy is tailored to enhance civilian and military connection, improve soldiers’ welfare and to fortify the country’s defence line through the acquisition of aircrafts and marine

vessels, while cultivating international relations.

The policy is also geared to revolutionize Guyana’s defensive approach, based on a commitment to fraternal relations at home and with other states. And while the country is capable of resisting aggression, he added, “Our first resort will always be to seek a peaceful resolution to any dispute.” “ We a r e k e e n o n promoting goodneighbourly relations,” President Ali stated. “We

avoid belligerence in all forms. Guyana has no expansionist ambitions. We covet no one’s territory or resources. Our defence policy will be guided by our desire for peace and in pursuit of protecting our national patrimony and deterring external threats and acts of aggression.”

But despite the hope for amicable relations, President Ali pointed out that Guyana’s military service will be equipped to defend Guyana’s sovereignty.

“While we are a peaceful State, no one should underestimate our resolve at protecting our territory and safeguarding national sovereignty. Let not our peaceful intent be mistaken for weakness. As I said recently, we will not bend to threats nor cower in the face of intimidation,” he outlined.

With that said, the Head of State announced plans to recapitalize the GDF to focus attention more on Guyana’s borders. To do that, he added, the Force will benefit from the acquisition of equipment, aircraft and

President Irfaan Ali (left) walks with Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bess (center marine vessels, which will allow it to exercise improved surveillance over Guyana’s territory and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Added to that, the President highlighted that one key pillar of the policy is aimed at improving the well-being of GDF members and their kin. That includes the provision of scholarships and training opportunities for ranks along with the launch of a special housing programme. The policy will also promote measures to

ensure that ranks are provided for after retirement.

Moreover, the National Defence Policy will see greater involvement of the GDF in search-and-rescue operations, disaster response, the provision of infrastructural services, the defence and protection of border communities, medical outreaches, response to medical emergencies and in coaching and honing the talents of the Force’s athletes.

Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

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The PPP is not a pro-poor party The ideological confusion in which the PPP/C finds itself is best captured by the comment that today’s Budget is prop o o r a n d p r o entrepreneurial. In other words, it is pro-poor and probusiness, a contradiction in ideological terms.

Ever since Bharrat Jagdeo became President, the country took an ideological about-turn. The PPP/C still pretends that it is a working class party, but the bourgeoisie knows that in Jagdeo and his acolytes, they have their greatest champion.

The PPP/C tries to do enough to keep the poor in check. They give out school grants of G$10,000 and uniform allowances of G$4,000 but since there is no means test, it means that both the rich and the poor parents benefit. And the poor get excited about this.

The PPP/C also shares out a COVID-19 cash grant of $25,000 per household. It could easily have been

$200,000 per household, if they had negotiated with Exxon over Payara. But they sold the country short when they granted the production sharing licence. Yet, the people will get excited about that $25,000 COVID-19 grant, because under the previous government, they got nothing and for a poor person $25,000 looks like a God-send.

The main beneficiaries of the PPP/C’s public sector investment programme are the contractors. These contractors are given overpriced projects and they make a fortune, while many of them deliver substandard work. Each Budget, however, brings new schools to be built, new roads to be fixed and bridges to be constructed. Each new Budget makes provision for the government to spend huge sums on running and equipping government officers and it is the business class which benefits.

The sugar industry is being reopened and it will

become a cash-cow for contractors. The decision to reopen the sugar estates was not a working class decision; it was a political calculation.

Jagdeo and his cohorts calculated that it needed some extra votes to win the elections and the only way to get those votes was from the sugar belt and by promising a reopening of the closed estates.

The decision to provide public servants with a postChristmas bonus was because the PPP/C was hearing rumblings within its constituencies in the sugar belt. The sugar corporation is not making money and could not afford a production bonus to sugar workers. But it would have been politically suicidal to offer a bonus to the sugar workers and not public servants who did not enjoy an increase at the end of the year as was the tradition started by Jagdeo.

Today’s Budget is going to see increased government spending. But the bulk of that spending will not get

Pres. Ali to lead consultation on Guyana’s Draft Local Content Policy next Monday

P

resident, Irfaan Ali is expected to host next Monday, a stakeholders’ consultation to discuss Guyana’s Local Content Policy and to receive feedback and comments for its finalization.

In light of this, the Ministry of Natural Resources has uploaded to its website, the initial Local Content Report drafted by the High-Level Local Content Panel established by the President upon taking Office and the draft policy which was put together internally by the Ministry of Natural Resources for

public review and comments.

The event which takes place at 13:00 hrs at the Arthur Chung Confrence Centre will be livestreamed on the Ministry’s Facebook page – “Ministry of Natural Resources – Guyana” for all stakeholders and members of the public to benefit from the discussions.

Comments can be sent to ministry@nre.gov.gy or formal submission to the Ministry of Natural Resources, 96 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

Dem boys seh...

Pillow talk!

If you didn’t fall asleep yesterday listening to Prezzie, den yuh probably had an energy drink. Like de Prezzie bin trying fuh out do Fidel Castro who used to give hours-long speech.

De man repeat he self so much dat dem boys wan know whether he, heself bin fall asleep while talking.

And at one stage dem boys think dat he bin delivering today’s Budget speech.

It was a historic presentation. And not only because de Speaker did feel that de Prezzie was de fuss Muslim fuh be elected as President and thus de fuss Muslim to address de parliament as President. It

was historic because it was de most disconnected and disordered diatribe ever to be delivered in de parliament.

De fuss 10 minutes was nice. It helped to prepare listeners for what was NOT to come. De President talk about de nation being at de “crossroads,” but den it seems as if he forget about de crossroads.

De man even called C.L.R. James, a philosopher.

C.L.R. James was a lot of things – novelist, journalist, historian, cricket writer, Marxist and Pan Africanist.

He did write a novel – one of de best fiction ever written by a West Indian – which

became prophetic about his own fate almost 20 years later when he was forced to live in dire poverty in Trinidad. C.L.R. James may have been farsighted, but no philosopher was he!

De Prezzie did even quote Obama and “the urgency of now.” But it was Martin Luther King who did coin de phrase “the fierce urgency of now.”

De Prezzie prepare de members of de National Assembly fuh today. If dem didn’t fall asleep yesterday, dem sure will today, when de shaart man time come fuh talk.

Talk half and walk with yuh pillows tuh parliament!

into the hands of the poor.

The bulk will go to run the bureaucracy and to support the business class, especially the construction sector.

The APNU+AFC had increased taxes and licence fees. The PPP/C promised to reverse these. It did not reverse all of this because it operates like a ‘sweet man’ – it provides enough to create the mirage of a caring government. It rolled back some taxes last year and it will roll back others this year. This too will create excitement.

The PPP/C leaders have an ego problem. They do not

accept that any measure they implement should be reversed or challenged and so what they are doing is reimposing that which existed before.

The so-called pro-poor measures never reflected a working class orientation of the PPP/C. It was part of the strategy of throwing a few sweeteners of the people to divert attention from the real beneficiaries of the PPP/C’s fiscal largesse – the business class.

It is the business class which will benefit the most from the tax holidays and tax concessions. It is the

bourgeoisie class, which benefits from the nonpayment of taxes on dividends – how many people own shares. It is the contracting class which will derive the greatest benefit from this year’s cycle of the public sector investment programme.

(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 12, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Guyana: SOPs and the insane fooling of people My column of October 7, 2012, looked at the philosophical and psychological meaning of the old movie, “12 Angry Men.” I argued in that column that the human mind is capable of logical thinking no matter what obstacles are in its way.

The point of the movie is that the mind will always come around to accepting reason, something that the ancient Roman Empire

p h i l o s o p h e r, C i c e r o , contributed to the study of philosophy.

Here is a brief recap of what I described in that column eight years ago.

Eleven of the 12 jurors had made up their mind on a guilty verdict in a homicide trial. The odd man wasn’t convinced of the prosecutor’s case. For hours, the 11 jurors barraged, laughed and mocked him.

But he was convinced the

prosecutors’ case would hang an innocent youth.

As he highlighted the loopholes one by one, he began to create doubts in the mind of the 11 jurors. By the time he was done, he had made his conversion.

The other 11 came to a c c e p t h i s a rg u m e n t s because reason prevailed in each of them. From a split verdict, the 11 joined the odd person and an acquittal resulted.

The supporters of the PNC, who think their party won the 2020 March election, believe so because their leaders told them so.

The situation with the PNC and Trump in the US are identical. But at some point, reason has to come into play.

It has been six months since a new government has been seated.

Yet in that period the PNC continues to serenade its supporters with an insanely fictitious portrait.

At some point those supporters have to start asking bitingly pertinent questions.

The simple request these supporters must insist on, for the sake of their dignity, is concrete proof from the PNC that it won. That proof lies in a collection of documents known as SOPs – statements of poll.

The believers of Trump’s narrative that he won the presidential election in November, who are now accepting that he lied, are multiplying. Each day, you can read about one of them saying that he/she was misled.

Every PNC supporter must ask the reasonable question – If our party won, then the SOPs have to show that, so let the country see the SOPs. Reason comes into play here. Another simple query they must ask is: Why from March 13, 2020, when the Chief Elections Officer and the three PNC commissioners on GECOM accepted the

declaration of a PNC victory, the PNC has never made its SOPs public?

No human can be that close-minded. They must know that something has to be wrong or strange in the PNC’s kingdom. The PNC’s adversary in the election, the PPP, claimed it won and it produced its SOPs and made them available online. Now here is where the fervent believer of the PNC’s victory has to start questioning the PNC leaders’ obligation to its supporters.

The CARICOM observed recount should have opened the eyes of every person that thought the PNC won, courtesy of this newspapers. This newspaper printed on its front page, the votes for each party from selected ballot boxes and they were not in sync with what the Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, announced. As the GECOM personnel went through the ballot boxes, the votes they counted were reflected in the SOPs the PPP had.

Where were the PNC’s?

At that point it was clear to the person whose mind is guided by reason that the numbers in the SOPs that the PPP had were not different from the numbers the GECOM counters found.

At that stage, the PNC should have levelled with its supporters. These supporters are humans. They ought to know when the game of fooling had collapsed. The PNC’s game of deceiving the

Frederick Kissoon citizens who gave them their votes was exposed by the frenetic refusal not to make public its SOPs. But let’s assume that because of credibility, the PNC leaders could not have walked down the road of the availability of their SOPs, their constituencies who believed them since March 4, should have asked them why not. Even in filing their election petition, the PNC has not shown Guyanese their SOPs. Surely, PNC supporters must know that the fooling has to stop.

Another opportunity has presented itself for PNC constituencies to see that their party continues to disrespect them. The Chief Justice has ordered all SOPs from GECOM be lodged with the court. When the trial begins, and the evidence points to the SOPs from GECOM and the PPP being the same, will these innocent believers finally embrace reason? They are humans, they have to.

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

Friday February 12, 2021

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Friday February 12, 2021

GECOM DCEO election fraud charges to continue indictably

T

he electoral fraud charges against Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Roxanne Myers, will continue being heard indictably.

On October 9, 2020, Myers made her first court appearance and was slapped with two counts of misconduct in public office charges.

The matter was yesterday called in the

Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly for ruling on the submissions that were made by the prosecution and Myers’ attorney, Nigel Hughes.

The Magistrate upheld Hughes’ submission, for his client’s matter to be heard indictably rather than summarily which was requested by the prosecution.

The matter is being prosecuted by attorney-atlaw Ganesh Hira. On a

previous hearing of the m a t t e r, H i r a m a d e a submission to the court for Myers matters to be heard summarily. This means that the matter can be disposed of in the Magistrates’ Court rather than being heard i n d i c t a b l y, w h e r e a preliminary inquiry (PI) will have to be conducted by the Magistrate.

After conducting the PI, the Magistrate will then decide based on the evidence presented to the court whether or not the matter

will be sent to the High Court for trial or dismissed.

H o w e v e r, i n H u g h e s ’ submission, he had asked for the matter to remain indictably.

After the Magistrate’s ruling, Hira informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C, will be appealing the ruling and that on March 9, 2021, an update will be provided to the court.

On Myers’ first court appearance, she was placed

on a total of $300,000, bail.

She was not required to plead to the indictable charges in relation to her actions during the postMarch 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

Myers was arrested on October 6, 2020, after she turned herself in at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Kaieteur News had reported that Myers’ turned herself in less than 24 hours after it was made public that she was wanted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for questioning in relation to the investigation of fraud during the 2020 elections period.

According to the police, for more than a month, several efforts were made to contact Myers at home and even at her place of work in relation to post-March 2, 2020 elections incidents.

However, those efforts were futile, police said, as Myers made every effort to elude them. As a result, a

Deputy Chief Elections Officer of GECOM, Roxanne Myers. wanted bulletin for Myers was prepared by the GPF. Police had announced in August 2020, that they would be conducting a c o m p r e h e n s i v e in v es tig atio n in to th e criminal conduct of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield; the Returning Officer of Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, PNC Chairperson, (Continued on page 23)

50-year-old businessman drops dead at hotel A businessman, on Wednesday last, collapsed and died in a hotel on the West Coast of Demerara.

Dead is Maurice Watson, 50, of Graham Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

A police report revealed that Watson was at the To u c a n H o t e l c a l l e d ‘Castive’ at Meten-meerZorg, with his 31-year-old girlfriend of Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The report stated that around 13:45 hrs., the woman told the police that Watson started to breathe heavily during sexual intercourse.

Moments later, he got up off the bed and went outside of the room, where he collapsed

and stopped breathing.

The police were alerted and upon arriving at the scene, ranks conducted a search of the body. Kaieteur News understands that no marks of violence were seen on the exposed parts of Watson’s body. The police noted however that they discovered a blue Kamagra pill in his pocket.

Watson was then escorted to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor. The body is presently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem examination, while the investigation into the death of Watson is ongoing.

Friday February 12, 2021

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Friday February 12, 2021

Norway’s Wealth Fund Dumps Oil Stocks Amid US$10 Billion Loss (Bloomberg) — Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has sold its entire portfolio of companies focused on oil exploration and production, marking a major step away from fossil fuels for the investing giant.

The portfolio, worth about US$6 billion in 2019, was fully exited by the end of last year, Trond Grande, the f u n d ’s d e p u t y c h i e f executive, said by phone on T h u r s d a y. T h e m o v e completes a year-long

process to reduce the giant investor’s exposure to a sector that has defined Norway’s economy for the better part of half a century.

Grande spoke after the fund revealed a roughly US$10 billion loss on oil and gas holdings in 2020 that had been valued at over US$40 billion at the start of the year.

The fund still holds integrated oil companies, with Royal Dutch Shell Plc its seventh largest equity investment when it last

disclosed its holdings at the start of last year.

The fund declined to comment on the size of the oil exploration and production portfolio.

Overall, 2020 was one of the investor’s best years ever, with the total portfolio generating US$123 billion in returns, buoyed in particular by its holdings of tech stocks.

Norway’s wealth fund, the world’s biggest, started turning its back on oil and

gas more than three years ago. The intention back then was to diversify away from an industry to which Norway’s economy was heavily exposed, with a view to addressing a key financial risk.

But the fund’s new CEO, Nicolai Tangen, has now made sustainable investing an explicit focus of his strategy, and says all portfolio managers who work for the fund need to operate with that in mind.

The 54-year-old former hedge fund manager, who’s also a trained chef with degrees in art history and social psychology, says his expectations around ESG skills extend to the external managers, who now oversee about US$60 billion of the fund’s total assets.

Tangen needs to operate within a complex governance structure that includes an ethics council, as

and we have done a range of those over the last few years.”

Tangen has also assigned about 10 asset managers to hunt down investment opportunities in renewable infrastructure.

The fund, which the CEO says has yet to invest a single cent in the area, wants the portfolio to eventually reach about 1% of the total $1.3 trillion fund. Tangen

well as Norway’s central bank, government and parliament. So, there are limits to how much he can change. But he says a key contribution the fund can make to ethical investing, without needing to change any mandates, is by digging a lot deeper into how companies actually run their businesses.

“On the forensic side, that is where we can add value,” he said during an interview with Bloomberg Television on Thursday. “We do ESG, risk-based assets,

has already admitted that might prove hard, with demand for renewable infrastructure assets driving up prices. “ We ’ r e w o r k i n g relentlessly to get something under our belts here, and we hope that will happen this y e a r, ” h e s a i d i n a n interview. “We’re looking for wind and sun projects in Europe and America.”

Back in October, Tangen said, “there’s a lot of competition” for the kind of projects the fund would be interested in buying.

Neglect by teachers in pandemic hampering students’ development

-Min. Manickchand Following a number of disappointing reports of teachers not engaging their students during virtual online sessions, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand has stated that their neglect is hampering children’s development during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manickchand made these comments on the sidelines of an event earlier this week where she urged teachers to fulfill their mandate. The Minister stated that most teachers have been executing their duties admirably amid the pandemic; however, those who are not doing so continue to hamper their students.

“In this very challenging circumstance, our teachers have not been trained to do this but they have been doing it without training, and they’ve been throwing themselves into it and that’s the majority of what we have been seeing. The problem with judging value based on a majority is very dangerous because if it’s one child that (doesn’t get) all the attention we want them to have, it’s one too many,” Manickchand lamented.

Further, the Education Minister said that her Ministry does not intend to penalize teachers who may be experiencing challenges (Continued on page 20)

Friday February 12, 2021

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Friday February 12, 2021

Woman 21, found electrocuted with live wire in hand

Police at the scene on Wednesday Andrew’s body lying in the front of her yard

Dead - Yashoda Andrews

Burnt marks seen to the hands of the body.

A squatter was reportedly f o u n d o n We d n e s d a y, electrocuted in the front yard of her home at the La Retraite Squatting area, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The woman has since been identified as Yashoda Andrews, 21, popularly known by her neighbours as “Debbie”.

Andrews’ body was discovered by neighbours around 15:10 hrs lying face down, some two feet away from her house.

Investigators reported that when they arrived on the scene, they noticed that a telephone wire was lying next to the corpse. The neighbours reportedly told the investigators that they found that wire in Andrew’s hands

and had removed it before they (the investigators) had arrived.

Further inspection of the scene by the crime experts revealed that the wire extended from where the body was and ran across a bridge in front of Andrew’s home.

It was observed that the wire was further buried beneath the earth’s surface.

Crime scene experts observed too what appeared to be burn marks to both hands of Andrew’s body.

They then removed the corpse and took it the West Demerara Regional Hospital where it was further examined by a doctor before being sent to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour.

US Embassy partners with judiciary to boost public confidence in court system

US Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch.

The U.S. Embassy in Georgetown has announced a new partnership with the Judiciary of Guyana, to assist the development of an automated court case management system.

According to a media release on the embassy‘s website, the overall goal of the new project is to improve the functioning of Guyana’s judicial system. The new case management system will help Guyana’s judiciary ensure criminal cases are handled expeditiously, reduce the case backlog, and increase public trust and confidence in the justice system. Under the project, the court case management system will a utilize a shared, open-source, and cost-effective technology

to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of judges and court staff by automating document production, improving processes, and facilitating data sharing.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs said it will support the project, and the National Center for State Courts will implement same alongside the Judiciary of Guyana.

The United States expects to invest more than USD $400,000 in the system, making it the largest new investment in a judicial sector assistance programme in Guyana in years.

It is scheduled to be completed in 17 months.

Friday February 12, 2021

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Child killer sentenced to life imprisonment “I feel pleased that Hillary Edwards is in the law’s hands now,” were the words of Orin Archibald, eldest brother of raped and murdered Sister’s Village, East Bank Berbice teen, Leonard Archibald.

He was at the time addressing the court shortly before the life sentence was handed down to Hillary “Country” Edwards.

Edwards, who lived at Sister’s Village, East Bank Berbice, prior to his incarceration, was found guilty by a 12-mixed member jury recently at the Berbice High Court.

He was charged with the capitol offence of murder, committed on Leonard, who was 13 at the time of his demise.

In the report read by Probation and Social Service officer, Ms. Shepherd, it detailed that Edwards was born on August 26, 1988 and is the second of eight children. He became employed at the age of 14 and the accused indicated that he had experienced a few trials and tribulations during his life. After working several jobs, he returned to his parents at Sister’s Village and subsequently resided with a friend.

The report also mentioned that a conflict arose with his parents, after he made sexual advances towards his little brother, resulting in him living with the friend.

The report mentioned that the accused was regarded as a menace

Hillary Edwards - ACCUSED and pedophile in the community, with the Police stating that they received reports of sexual assault of teens in the village.

Subsequent to his incarceration, residents stated that they have not received reports of missing persons or teens being attacked. Victims who reportedly suffered at the hands of the accused were also interviewed and the report detailed their horrifying experiences with Edwards.

The report also said that the family of Leonard Archibald expressed that they wanted justice for the death of their loved one. His father Walter said he was actively involved in the search for his dear

son, while the mother said her son’s death was on his father’s birthday.

She stated that Leonard wanted to be a teacher and was well mannered.

The report also said that the accused stated that he had no reason to kill Archibald and that he was his paternal cousin. He said he was surprised that the 12 member jury found him guilty and he still maintains his innocence.

Meanwhile, Orin Archibald, eldest brother of Leonard Archibald, in the victim impact statement, told the court, “I feel pleased that Hillary Edwards is in the law’s hands now and they could give the family a good result in this case.

The loss of my brother has made me upset and he was very loving, we the family are hurt. I really want to say if I get a good satisfaction, the family will be thankful for whatever is done here.”

The accused then told the court via Zoom, “I was shocked that the jury found me guilty. I am begging you to have some leniency on my sentencing. I must give the family respect, I am sorry for what happened to the family on their son’s death, but I am innocent of the crime.”

During her submission, Prosecutor for the State, Attorneyat-law, Tuanna Hardy, said that the

Dead: Leonard Archibald probation report was not challenged. She said there were multiple reports of sexual assaults committed by Edwards and “we can stand here and point fingers... but at the end of the day all fingers have to be pointed at Edwards. He shows no remorse and he is not accepting the verdict. This is not somebody that can be sent back to the village.…”

She reasoned that “(Edwards) betrayed trust, took Leonard to a house, buggered him and dumped his body in a river. He has a serious issue of sexual advances to young boys. When these acts occurred before he didn’t stop, it went on to murder.

The State is asking for a sentence that reflects the nature and gravity of this offence.”

Justice Ramlall in handing down her sentence said she considered the nature of the offence and the circumstances which surrounded the case. She underscored that the offence is murder and not only was the victim a relative of the offender “but he was a mere 13 years old.

His life was snuffed out in the most sadistic manner, having been sodomized to the point of unconsciousness, after which his lifeless body was dumped in the Berbice River.

The violation of his body continued as it was left to the elements in the ocean and scavengers, so much so that it was discovered with limbs and body parts missing.”

Justice Ramlall said she considered the impact which the commission of this offence had on the relatives of the deceased and the lack of remorse on the part of the accused as it was disclosed in the probation report “and the address this (yesterday) morning is also taken into account.” She said “he expressed sentiments of loss of life but has not accepted responsibility for the deceased’s demise.” She also reasoned that the offender while seeking mercy from the court (Continued on page 23)

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CANU busts men with coke stashed in car trunk, digital scale

Arrested Berbice taxi driver, Cordell Moore Ranks attached to the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), on Wednesday, nabbed two men with a quantity of suspected cocaine stashed in the panel of a car trunk, as well as in a digital table-top scale.

The men have been identified as Cordell Moore, 47, a Berbice taxi driver, of 974 Glasgow Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam, Berbice, and Ulric Jordan, 50, a businessman, of Camp Street, Georgetown.

Ranks had swooped down on Moore, while he was presumably plying his trade as a taxi driver at the Berbice car park located on Commerce Street, Georgetown. His car was searched and 504 grams of the suspected cocaine stashed in a panel of his car was discovered.

Jordon on the other hand was intercepted in front of his Camp Street home, with a plastic bag containing a table-top digital scale.The scale was dismantled and the ranks discovered traces of suspected cocaine inside of the instrument.Both men have been arrested and charges are pending.

Arrested Camp Street Businessman, Ulric Jordon

Friday February 12, 2021

Man disappears in lake during swim with girlfriend A midday swim in the Blue Lake at Kara Kara, Linden, ended in tragedy yesterday for a young couple, after one of them went under and failed to resurface.

Feared drowned is Kemo Lindo, 25, a minibus driver, of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Lindo, according to police went under the water around 12:30 hrs.Kaieteur News was told that Lindo and his girlfriend had travelled to Linden yesterday, to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

While enjoying a swim

Feared drowned during swim at the Blue Lake, Kemo Lindo i n t h e l a k e , L i n d o ’s girlfriend said that she suddenly heard splashing sounds behind her and saw his hand stretching out of the water. She claimed that she grabbed hold of his hands

immediately, but soon felt that she was being pulled under by him and moved to free herself from his grasp.

The woman quickly swam away. Other reports reaching this media house suggest that the young lady thought her partner was playing with her and decided to let go of him.

However, while s w i m m i n g a w a y, s h e decided to look back. It was then she reportedly saw his hands go up in the air one more time before disappearing beneath the water.An alarm was raised and police were summoned to the location. Lindo’s body is yet to be recovered.

Wakapoa Residents appeal for improved healthcare

Suspected cocaine found in car trunk

The residents of Wakapoa, Lower Pomeroon, are making several applications to the Government of Guyana, for an improved healthcare system within their Indigenous community. Their appeals were made earlier this week, during a two-day outreach by a high level Regional Team to the community.

Wakapoa is an Arawak village, located on the western bank of the Pomeroon River, almost two miles from the river’s mouth. The community consists of multiple islands, with a combined population of over two thousand residents.

During the recent outreach to Wakapoa, six community meetings were held in various locations within the community. Meetings were held with the Toshao, members of the Wakapoa Village Council and residents in Massarie, Yarashirima, Myrie, Mora, Curimeru, School Island and Koria.

Residents appealed to the visiting team for the replacement of their resident doctor, and for a health boat.

According to residents, the community’s resident doctor was reassigned in 2019, leaving the community without key medical

services. The community’s Toshao, Mr. Lloyd Pereira, told Kaieteur News that it takes a significant sum of cash to travel to Charity in the event of a medical emergency.

“One gentleman told me that he once had to pay a boat $30,000 for a health emergency. If we had the resident doctor here that resident would not have had to incur that heavy expense,” said the Toshao.

He also told Kaieteur News that the doctor would also extend services to communities in the Lower Pomeroon, and even Akawini in the Upper Pomeroon.

The Regional Democratic Council has indicated that the matter will be addressed.

During the Council’s statutory meeting on last Wednesday, the council’s clerk, Devenand Ramdatt, said that it is quite unfair that the RDC was overlooked during the decision to have the doctor reassigned.

The Regional Chairman, Vilma Da Silva, and Chair of the Health Committee, Arnold Adams, also shared similar sentiments.

The RDC indicated that it is in the process of lobbying with the Ministry of Public Health, in an effort to have the resident doctor reassigned to Wakapoa.

Man accused of killing mother-in-law committed to stand trial A 28-year-old security guard was yesterday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of his mother-in-law, who was killed in May of last year.

The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) for the murder accused, Linden Isaacs, was conducted in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court by Magistrate Alisha George. Magistrate George yesterday, ruled that there is sufficient evidence for a prima facie case to be made out against him.

After Isaacs declined to lead his defence, he was committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of Velma Pickering, 56, of Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara.

He is expected to go on trial on the next practicable sitting of the

Demerara Assizes.

On his first court appearance, Isaacs was not required to plea to the indictable charge, which alleged that on May 11, at Lot 257 South Vryheid’s Lust, he murdered Pickering.

The 56-year-old was reportedly left for dead after a domestic squabble with her son-in-law turned violent.

It was reported that Pickering was allegedly attacked and stabbed multiple times after Isaacs accused her of trying to break up his relationship with her daughter. The woman managed to flee the house and ventured into her neighbour’s yard, where she collapsed.Pickering was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and was pronounced dead on arrival.

Murdered: Velma Pickering.

Meanwhile, public spirited persons caught the security guard shortly after fleeing the scene, and he was handed over to the police.

An investigation was launched and he was subsequently charged with the murder of his mother-inlaw.

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Government rolls out COVID-19 immunization The Ministry of Health, kick-started its COVID-19 immunization programme yesterday, at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) using the OxfordAstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which was donated

by Barbados. The first person to be injected with the vaccine was a pharmacist attached to the facility, Brinnet Bernarai, in the presence of health officials and the media.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who was also present, referred to it as a significant moment in history.

“This might look like a simple moment, but it marks the beginning of the turnaround of the pandemic in Guyana,” he stated.

Other frontline workers at the GPHC received the vaccine and then the team moved on to the Liliendaal Infectious Disease Hospital, better known as the Ocean View COVID-19 Hospital, on the East Coast of Demerara, where frontline workers were also immunized.

D r. A n t h o n y h a d announced yesterday’s event o n We d n e s d a y, w h i l e receiving the donation of vaccines from Barbados. He had stated that the Ministry would kick start immunization at the GPHC and Ocean View facility, and while the frontline health

workers are being encouraged to take the vaccine, it is not mandatory.

He added that the Ministry wanted to make sure the option is there nevertheless.

Frontline health workers have been given first preference for immunization in the country, with the elderly and persons with comorbidities set to follow.

Dr. Anthony stated that the vaccination started at the GPHC, since it serves as the main managing unit for infected persons in the country. In light of that,

Further to this, the Minister said yesterday that the government’s goal is to achieve herd immunity which requires 80 percent of the population being vaccinated.

Following the donation

by Barbados, President Irfaan Ali had stated that of the 3,000 doses received, 100 persons at the CARICOM Secretariat would stand to benefit while the remaining will be given to frontline healthcare workers.

The Barbados donation

The pharmacist receiving the vaccine

health workers at the GPHC are more at risk.

A p p r o x imately 2 2 , 0 0 0 healthcare workers are expected to be vaccinated in the public sector. Dr. Anthony also stated that health workers in the private sector will be vaccinated.

came from 100,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which was also Barbados’ first batch. The vaccine is administered in two doses, after the first, the second is given four to 12 weeks after.

Meanwhile, the Minister

has stated that the government is working assiduously to procure more vaccines.

The country is expected to receive 22,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from

the government of China, while the COVAX facility will contribute 104,000 doses of the very OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine to immunize 20 percent of Guyana’s population.

Kaieteur News understands that the World Health Organization was expected to officially list the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use yesterday.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Friday February 12, 2021

Police to take action against family who placed casket in front of station The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has stated that firm actions will be taken against the family who on Wednesday placed a casket with a corpse in front of the Sparendaam Police Station located on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

The corpse is that of 22year-old, Sherwin Filley popularly known as “Red Ants”, of Plaisance, ECD. Filley was shot by police on January 29 last, while allegedly resisting arrest.

Police had reported that he

was wanted for robbery and three counts of assault on a 50-year-old man.

During his funeral procession, which took place on Wednesday, his grieving relatives placed his casket in front of the station in protest. The family claimed that Filley was not a wanted man, but instead, was murdered by police ranks.

GPF in its statement pointed out that it was around 14:30hrs when the relatives accompanied by

Plaisance residents started to behave disorderly. GPF detailed that its ranks were abused and the smooth flow of traffic was disrupted.

Commander of the East Coast police division, Mahendra Siwnarine, said too that the protesters even damaged one of the station’s windows as they were trying to break in.

Kaieteur News had reported that as the mourners attempted to enter the station forcefully, the ranks there, armed

themselves and stood guard at the door.

Relatives held some of them back, while reporters, who were on the scene, told them to desist from breaking into the station or the police will shoot.

According to GPF, its ranks showed considerable restraint in dealing with the matter.

The Force further stated that firm action will be taken against the disruptive mourners following their (Continued on page 23)

Scenes in front of the of the Sparendaam Police Station on Wednesday afternoon.

Neglect by teachers in pandemic...

From page 14 while adding that these teachers will be engaged on the possible difficulties they may be facing.

Manickchand also addressed the reopening of schools where she stated that this is solely dependent on the advice the Education Ministry gets from the Ministry of Health, which would authorize the extent to which this could happen. In the interim, she said that schools will remain closed.

Schools were closed since March last year when Guyana confirmed its first COVID-19 case and went into lockdown. A partial and conditional reopening was granted for Grades 10, 11 and 12 students in November to allow them to prepare for the upcoming Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) examinations this year.

Friday February 12, 2021

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

During inaugural parliamentary speech...

President Ali says nothing about securing better Exxon deal or insurance coverage for Guyana

By Shikema Dey While his inaugural address to Guyana’s National Assembly yesterday lasted approximately one and half hours, President Irfaan Ali made no mention of two crucial areas relating to the oil and gas sector. These two critical matters relate to securing better terms for the country in the Stabroek Block deal signed with US oil super major, ExxonMobil, and securing comprehensive insurance coverage for any potential disaster from Exxon’s approved projects.

In his address, President Ali stated, “We must also acknowledge that we cannot take advantage of our oil and gas resources without the considerable investment of the companies now operating in the sector.”

Those companies, he added, are entitled to a “fair return on their investment”; therefore, any relationship with those companies should be based on “fairness, on equity and on mutual interest.”

However, the Stabroek Block deal is anything but fair.

In fact, industry experts referred to it as one of the worse contracts in the world.

Over the past five years, Kaieteur News would have reported that Guyana left billions of dollars on the table when it negotiated the 2016 Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil.

To make matters worse, the deal is fraught with numerous provisions, which leave the country open for abuse. These include precontract costs discrepancies; taxes that are paid by Guyana on behalf of the oil companies; unspecified interest rates expensed to Guyana for loans taken by the oil entities; and weak provisions on the protection of the environment, etc.

And while there have been a slew of calls for r e n e g o t i a t i o n s , government does not seem to be looking in this direction as President Ali continued that the goal of “fairness and equity” is one which government will work to ensure “future production contracts resound.”

Also notably absent was any mention of ensuring that Guyana is properly protected in the event of an oil spill or related disaster. To date,

President Irfaan Ali delivering his inaugural address to the National Assembly

Guyana has received no guarantee that Stabroek Block operators, ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC/NEXEN will be the ones accepting liability for any oil spill that

Ten samples sent to CARPHA to test for new COVID-19 variants cleared The Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, yesterday announced that the 10 samples that were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to test for the new variants of COVID-19 were all cleared.

This means that none of the new variants were detected in any of the samples sent to CARPHA. “Last night CARPHA informed us that the 10 samples that we sent to them, they’ve been able to complete the gene sequencing and they haven’t found any of the new variants that are currently talked about,” Dr. Anthony stated.

He further announced that the variants that were being tested for were; the variant first discovered in the United Kingdom referred to as the B-117 variant, the South African 501Y.V2 and the Brazilian variant known as P.1. The samples were sent to CARPHA since last month, as Guyana lacks the capacity to test for the new variants in both the private and public health sector. The samples are tested using genetic sequencing and when they were sent, Dr. Anthony had stated that the testing would take more than a week, however, the testing took longer and persons were questioning the delay.

In response to their concerns earlier this week, Dr. Anthony noted that genetic sequencing is a complicated task, which can take some amount of time and since the test samples were sent to CARPHA, the Ministry would have to wait on the agency’s delivery of those results.

The Minister had also noted that cases of the new strains have already been recorded in the Caribbean region. At that time he stated, “Yesterday, the Ministry of Health in Trinidad and Tobago reported that they have identified the B117 variant in their homeland. They have reported that and so we are now alerted. This

The Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony probably is the second case that we have had in the Caribbean, with the first being in Jamaica and now we have one in Trinidad, and I suspect once we start doing the genetic sequencing, we will find similar cases in other countries.”

Even though the test samples were cleared, the government official still urged for there to be vigilance. “We will still have to continue sending samples out to them just to get a sense of what’s circulating here in Guyana,” Dr. Anthony said.

Currently, the government is engaging with the Pan American Health Organization to send more samples for testing of the new variants to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States. This engagement comes as a measure to increase the number of samples being sent out for testing since Guyana’s health system lacks the capacity.

occurs in its territorial waters.

What Guyana does have however, is an agreement with Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) to handle all disaster related costs.

But that company does not have enough assets to secure the kind of insurance coverage Guyana would need to offset the cost of any disaster that could occur in the Stabroek Block area.

Aware of how dangerously exposed this leaves Guyana, agencies like the World Bank had cautioned the authorities of the day to ensure that they demand comprehensive insurance policies from operators, warning that operators have often sought insurance covering only certain activities.

It had said too that emerging oil producers such as Guyana would want to ensure that this is in place especially when one considers how other nations suffered in the absence of this, citing the case of the major oil spill, which occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico.

During his address, President Ali also made mention of his government’s plans to pursue various legislative and institutional initiatives, along with the updating of Guyana’s Petroleum Act, building capacity to a u d i t c o s t recovery along w i t h t h e drafting of n ew production agreements with international standards under which new production licences will fall.

Added to that, the President touched on the

establishment of the Petroleum Commission, the Local Content Policy and improving the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

While those are important matters to be addressed, the President and his Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo have made such statements since last year.

Kaieteur News had highlighted in a previous article that there are several key areas for President Ali and his government to focus on to ensure that Guyana’s future as an oil and gas producing nation is a prosperous one.

These are highlighted once again: 1. Putting in place appropriate technology offshore to monitor the measurement of oil remotely.

2. Design a roadmap to use a portion of the oil money to build sustainable industries.

3. O u t l i n i n g benchmarks for Corporate Social Responsibility.

4. Establish a Decommissioning Policy.

5. Outline a structure for what is to be expected in Field Development Plans.

6. Strengthen key auditing agencies, specifically the Office of the Auditor General.

7. S t r e n g t h e n institutions that will be responsible for the expenditure of the oil money-including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Ministry of Health.

8. Improve Guyana’s capacity to monitor and record emissions offshore,

particularly in the case of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

9. Provide resources to the EPA so that it can make unannounced visits to the FPSOs while following safety standards.

10. Hire technical experts needed within the Ministries of Natural Resources, EPA, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) etc.

11. Review massive tax concessions/ tax holidays.

Example: provisions in oil contracts that allow tax exemptions on capital gains tax, personal income tax and withholding tax.

12. Update policies/ laws/regulations regarding direct and indirect transfers of interests in offshore blocks.

13. I m p l e m e n t software solutions for compliance monitoring and for operating requisite controls for expenditure of oil money.

14. Update laws and regulations to address issues of ring-fencing, transfer pricing (and other financial loopholes/issues), health and safety of workers, monitoring of the environment (regarding issues such as flaring and stiffer penalties for such infractions), prequalification criteria for oil blocks, etc.

15. Outline a vision for the oil sector following consultation with citizenry.

16. Strengthen and increase systems for reporting on decisions in the oil and gas industry

PAGE 22

Friday February 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

Health Ministry reports two more COVID-19 deaths

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The Ministry of Health yesterday reported two new COVID-19 fatalities, an 83year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 90year-old from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). In its press release, it was stated that both persons died while receiving treatment at a medical facility. They have since been recorded as the country’s 183rd and 184th COVID-19 deaths.

The Ministry also reported 43 new cases yesterday with the case toll increased to 8,135.

Its daily dashboard update revealed that seven patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 786 in

home isolation, 37 in institutional isolation and 28 in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, a total of 7,157

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PM to head “One Guyana Commission” President Irfaan Ali, disclosed during his inaugural address to the National Assembly yesterday, that the nation can look forward to the launch of a “One Guyana Commission,” a body aimed at fostering unity among the citizenry.

The Head of State announced that the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly, Prime Minister, Brigadier (retired), Mark Phillips will soon introduce an Act in Parliament to establish the Commission. The PM will also lead the Commission.

President Ali explained that the Commission is intended to develop practical steps to be taken to cement Guyana’s “one society,” encompassing and respecting the diversity from which “our oneness” springs.

“As the great West Indian philosopher, C.L.R. James, puts it: ‘A nation is built not on abstraction, but on tackling and solving the problems which occupy its

Prime Minister, Mark Phillips people’,” President Ali noted.

Among the matters the Commission will address, includes, education concerning Guyana’s history; religions; how agencies would go about ensuring equal opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship along with the institutional strengthening of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to make it more effective.

He relayed that the work of the Commission would be countrywide, while noting that it would listen to the free expression of all voices, concerning ways in which every Guyanese can honour their ancestral heritage.

In all this, the President said, Guyana must be guided by the wisdom of Nelson Mandela that: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

“We must move nation building from abstraction to action,” he continued “And lose, not one more moment in doing it. Let us stand up for our one nation, our one Guyana. Let us stand up for what we know in our hearts and in our minds to be right.

Let us stand up for our one identity – the Guyanese identity.”

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Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

PAGE 25

Agri. Minister urges MMA Natural Resources Minister sub-committee to speed up presents UNDP Rep. with resolution to land disputes Local Content Policy draft

A

griculture Minister, Z u l f i k a r Mustapha, yesterday urged members of the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary - Agricultural Development Authority’s (MMA-ADA) Land Dispute Resolution sub-committee, to direct more of its energies towards a number of pressing land dispute matters in the MMA scheme.

During that meeting, the Minister said there are hundreds of acres of land that were leased to people who are residing overseas. In turn, the Minister said that these individuals are renting it to small farmers who are forced to pay double or triple the cost of the lease fee in rent.

“As you know, we have a new Board of Directors for the MMA. I’ve tasked the new Board with coming up

with proposals, because we want to start works on the second phase of the scheme.

We have to do a feasibility study to look at all the ramifications that could occur,” Minister Mustapha said.

Further to this, Minister Mustapha told the threemember sub-committee that it would be mandated to look at the disputes between the farmers and provide timely proposals and suggestions on how the MMA and the government can resolve those issues amicably among the farmers.

“We are looking to double rice production over the next five years. Last year, we produced 1.2 million metric tons of paddy. In five years we hope to produce 2.4 million metric tons.

That means we have to open more land, and bring these lands under

cultivation. This also means we’ll have to settle land disputes in areas that have already been developed…,” Minister Mustapha said.

Kaieteur News understands that a draft Terms of Reference (TOR) will be created and given to the sub-committee by the Board for review and recommendations shortly.

Minister Mustapha also informed the members that the MMA Board will also be looking at developing a zoning policy as a result of conflicts between cattle rearers and rice and cash crop farmers.

The sub-committee is headed by Justice Cecil Kennard (Ret’d), and comprises former CEO of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Andrew Bishop, and Lands and Surveys official, Jewel Cheong.

During a virtual meeting y e s t e r d a y, N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s M i n i s t e r, Vickram Bharrat, presented Mr. Jairo Valverde, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with a copy of Guyana’s Draft Local Content Policy.

The Minister also used the opportunity to further talks for continued support in the areas of local content and strategic planning for the natural resources sector.

Minister Bharrat stated that the UNDP has been very supportive to the Government of Guyana and the work it has been doing in the oil and gas sector. “As such, we see UNDP as a

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat partner in the development of this new sector, which is expected to grow exponentially over the next couple of years,” Bharrat expressed.

He was keen to note that the government will be working on its legislative

agenda, along with placing focus on institutional strengthening, capacity building, and local content.

These are all areas being worked on immediately to complement the rapid growth of the oil and gas i n d u s t r y, t h e N a t u r a l Resources Minister posited.

Further to this, Minister Bharrat pointed out that the Government’s legislative agenda will be advanced to obtain more benefits from the oil and gas industry for all levels of Guyana’s workforce. However, it must be done in a manner that is transparent and consultative which will lead to strong policies and legislation, the Minister concluded.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

Friday February 12, 2021

Sofia Kenin knocked out, Ashleigh Barty through BBCsport - Sofia Kenin said she “couldn’t really handle the pressure” of being defending champion after being knocked out of the Australian Open by Kaia Kanepi. The American fourth seed, 22, was beaten 6-3 6-2 in the second round in just 64 minutes.

Unseeded Estonian Kanepi, 35, dominated throughout, hitting 22 winners to Kenin’s 10 at Melbourne Park. “I felt like I couldn’t find my rhythm. I was way too nervous. I guess it’s the outside pressure,” said Kenin.

“I feel like everyone was always asking me, ‘Would you want to? Do you see yourself getting there and winning again?’ Obviously I

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Kaia Kanepi (Reg Ryan/Tennis Australia) said yes. “I know I couldn’t really handle the pressure. I’m not used to this, so right now I just got to figure out how to play at that level that I played

at.”

Kanepi will face Croatian 28th seed Donna Vekic in the third round.

Fifth seed Elina Svitolina was

Friday February 12, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Aggressive people may interfere with your plans today, so don't get too upset if things don't work out the way you want them to.

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) If you don't understand something, ask, Scorpio. If it looks different to you, ask why that is. Your curiosity is high, especially when it comes to the unconventional, and even more if it's revolutionary.

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Don't turn out the lights before you make sure you've explored all your options today.

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Maybe you feel as if you're being overshadowed because of the grandiose ideas and mountains of information coming from this person.

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the more consistent player as she saw off 16-year-old American Coco Gauff 6-4 6-3 under the roof on Rod Laver Arena. Svitolina broke for the first time to take the first set and consecutive errant forehands from Gauff allowed the Ukrainian to get the decisive break in the eighth game of the second set.

The 26-year-old will play Yulia Putintseva next after the Kazakh beat Alison van Uytvanck 6-4 1-6 6-2. World number one Ashleigh Barty overcame fellow Australian Daria Gavrilova 6-1 7-6 (9-7) to move into the third round.

Barty looked set for a routine win when she served for the match at 6-1 5-2, but Gavrilova broke twice to force a secondset tie-break. The 24-year-old, who did not play for almost a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, saved set points before securing the victory.

Afterwards, Barty said the second set “was turning into a bit of a prickly pear” but she was “happy to bring it back around in the tie-break when I needed to and win some big points”. Next up for Barty is Russian 29th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

She was joined in the third round by sixth seed Karolina Pliskova, who saw off American Danielle Collins 7-5 6-2 and will now play fellow Czech Karolina Muchova. Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic outlasted Russian veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5 2-6 6-4 to set up a meeting with Belgian 18th seed Elise Mertens, who beat China’s Lin Zhu 7-6 (10-8) 61.

Meanwhile, 22nd seed Jennifer Brady accelerated past fellow American Madison Brengle with a 6-1 6-2 victory in 52 minutes and will face Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan next.

...Concacaf confirms From page 26 Guadeloupe, Martinique.

Group B – Panama, Mexico, Suriname, French Guiana.

Group C - Costa Rica, Canada, Haiti, Dominican Republic.

Group D – Cuba, United States, El Salvador, Nicaragua.

Fans will be able to follow all the matches on Concacaf’s Official App (subject to territory restrictions). The free mobile app is available in the Apple and Google Play stores.

The FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021 was initially scheduled to take place September 12 – October 4, 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the Bureau of the FIFA Council announced on May 12, 2020, that the tournament would be rescheduled for September 12 – October 6, 2021.

Lewis’ ton leads T&T Red Force to victory over Jamaica Scorpions - Guyana Jaguars face Leeward Islands Hurricanes today A swashbuckling innings of 107 from the bat of Evin Lewis – his 6th List A hundred – led Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to a stinging 5-wicket win over Jamaica Scorpions when play in the OG Insurance Super50 Cup continued yesterday with match four at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda.

Set 259 to win after the Scorpions posted 258-6, Lewis led the Red Force to victory with 107 (92 balls 7x6 8x4) to 259-5 off 40-5 overs Chasing 259 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, Red Force reached the target with 55 balls remaining, with Lewis making 107 off 92 balls with seven sixes and eight fours.

Darren Bravo supported well with 59 (5x6 2x4s) while Nicholas Pooran cracked 43

off 39 balls including six fours and Jason Mohammed 28.

Leading the bowling for the Scorpions was Andre McCarthy with 2-30 and Dennis Bulli 2-84. When Scorpions batted, Brandon King fell short of a hundred after he was sent back for 97 in his sides 258-6. He spanked six fours and three sixes. It was his highest List A score, betterinh his previous highest of 48.

Rovman Powell contributed 43, Andre McCarthy 40 and Paul Palmer 21. For the Red Force, Anderson Phillip snared 3-66 with a wicket each for Ravi Rampaul, Akeal Hosein and Kieron Pollard.

Play will continue today with the Guyana Jaguars going for their second win in as many matches when they face the Leeward Islands Hurricanes from 13:30hrs.

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Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

NBA: LeBron James stars against Oklahoma City as Los Angeles Lakers win six in a row

LeBron James scored 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds against Oklahoma City Thunder

BBCsport - LeBron James scored 25 points as the Los Angeles Lakers won their sixth game in a row by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 114-113 in overtime. James also made seven assists and six rebounds in the defending champions’ third straight overtime contest.

The Lakers’ Montrezl Harrell was also in inspired

form to score 20 points while Dennis Schroder contributed 19 and Kyle Kuzma added 15. The Lakers remain second in the Western Conference, behind the Utah Jazz.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 47 points but the Milwaukee Bucks came up short against the Phoenix Suns, with Antetokounmpo missing a 20-foot jumper as time expired. The Suns’ Devin Booker made the decisive free throw with 32 seconds left on the clock to win 125124, ending the Bucks’ fivegame winning streak.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets overcame the Indiana Pacers 104-94 for their first win in four. Zach LaVine scored 46 points as the Chicago Bulls swept past the New Orleans Pelicans 129-116.

The Denver Nuggets

dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers 133-95, with Paul Millsap scoring 22 points.

The Atlanta Hawks’ Danilo Gallinari missed a jump shot with 0.9 seconds left against the Dallas Mavericks, with Luka Doncic scoring 28 points in a narrow 118-117 victory.

Kawhi Leonard hit 36 points for the Los Angeles Clippers in their 119-112 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. An inspired performance from Kyle Anderson helped the Memphis Grizzlies overcome the Charlotte Hornets 130-114, with Anderson hitting six threepointers.

And the Toronto Raptors finished strongly in their 137-115 triumph over the Washington Wizards with Norman Powell scoring 28 points and Pascal Siakam chipping in with 26.

Concacaf confirms Guatemala as host for 2021 Concacaf Futsal Championship Miami, FL – Concacaf has confirmed that the 2021 Concacaf Futsal Championship will take place in Guatemala City, Guatemala, from May 3-9, 2021. The World Cup qualifying tournament will be played at the Domo Polideportivo and Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.

Both venues have a long history of hosting top level international Futsal competitions, including the 2000 FIFA Futsal World Cup. “We are very pleased to confirm that the Concacaf Futsal Championship will take place in Guatemala City. The Guatemalan Football Federation has a very good track record of hosting major Futsal competitions and we know they will deliver a great event,” said Concacaf General Secretary Philippe Moggio.

“We are proud that Concacaf has confirmed Guatemala as the host for the Concacaf Futsal Championship,” said Fedefut President Gerardo Paiz. “We will be delighted to welcome the National Teams of the region and look forward to working together

with Concacaf to make the event a success.”

The 16-team group stage will take place between May 3-5. After round-robin play, the first and second place finishers in each group will advance to the quarterfinals.

The quarterfinal matches will be played on May 7, with the four winners qualifying for the semifinals of this competition and earning a spot in the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021. The semifinals and final will take place May 8 and 9, respectively.

The schedule for all rounds of the tournament is below.

The region’s Futsal qualifiers were initially scheduled for May 2020, but due to the pandemic and the postponement of the FIFA Futsal World Cup, they were rescheduled for 2021. In February 2020, the participating teams were drawn into qualifying matchups and four groups of four teams. Following the rescheduling of the competition the group stage will now be played as follows: Group A – Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

PAGE 29

West Indies 1st Innings Batsmen Runs Kraigg Brathwaite (c) 47 c Najmul Hossain Shanto b Soumya Sarkar John Campbell lbw b Taijul Islam 36 Shayne Moseley b Abu Jayed 7 Nkrumah Bonner not out 74 Kyle Mayers 5 c Soumya Sarkar b Abu Jayed Jermaine Blackwood c & b Taijul Islam 28 Joshua Da Silva † not out 22 Extras (lb 2, nb 2) 4 Total (90 Ov, RR: 2.47) 223/5 Yet to bat: Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Jomel Warrican, Shannon Gabriel Fall of wickets: 1-66 (John Campbell, 20.4 ov), 2-87 (Shayne Moseley, 33.2 ov), 3-104 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 41.1 ov), 4-116 (Kyle Mayers, 47.5 ov), 5-178 (Jermaine Blackwood, 71.6 ov) Bowling O M R W ECON WD NB Abu Jayed 18 5 46 2 2.56 0 0 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 22 5 39 0 1.77 0 0 Nayeem Hasan 12 1 42 0 3.50 0 0 Taijul Islam 30 5 64 2 2.13 0 2 Soumya Sarkar 8 1 30 1 3.75 0 0

Scoreboard

Bonner the backbone as West Indies reach 223-5 Dhaka, Bangladesh — Nkrumah Bonner was the backbone of West Indies solid batting effort as he made his second successive halfcentury. It helped the visitors to 223-5 against Bangladesh on the opening day on Thursday (yesterday).

Playing his third Test innings, the tall right-hander closed the day on 74 not out to follow up his heroic 86 on debut in the amazing victory in the first Test last Sunday in Chattogram. Joshua Da Silva was with him on 22, another dutiful batting effort from the wicket-keeper in his third Test match.

The home team appeared to have a slight advantage until the unbeaten 45-run, no-risk stand by Bonner and Da Silva to see out the day.

Bonner brought up his half-

century driving a ball from spinner Taijul Islam to long off for a single off 98 balls.

But in the face of good bowling, he opted for a defensive approach, which paid off for him. His 173ball-knock so far includes six boundaries.

Earlier captain Kraigg Brathwaite contributed 47 and fellow opener John Campbell 36 in a stand 66.

Campbell cut off-spinner Mehidy Hasan past point for a boundary to begin his scoring on his 12th ball faced. The left-hander also struck off-spinner Nayeem Hasan for a six over long on.

Brathwaite played well and struck four boundaries but fell to a cut shot off Soumya Sarkar’s medium pace, three runs short of his 21st Test half-century.

Kyle Mayers — the hero

Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc. fuels Feb. 28 Drag Race Championship Local security firm, Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc. (SI&C) has partnered in a major way with the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) for the first round of the National Drag Race Championship, set for the last day of this month at the South Dakota Circuit.

SI&C Inc., which is already the title sponsor of t h e E n d u r a n c e Championship, has stepped up once again with platinum sponsorship of the quartermile extravaganza that’ll take place on an upgraded drag strip at the Timehri Track. Director of SI&C Inc., Harold ‘Topgun’ Hopkinson noted that, “We (SIC) are always interested in developing sports and sports persons. We believe that it is the way forward and it is something that we as a people should get behind.

We joined up with motor racing more specifically because I have a love for it in all its forms.”

GMR&SC President, Rameez Mohamed explained that, “Sponsors like Secure Innovations and Concepts mean the world to motorsport. They come in at times when the sport needs them and really put their shoulders to the wheel and help the sport.”

The executive committee is moving apace with preparations for the highly anticipated event which has

been approved by the National Covid-19 Task Force and since there has not been any drag racing since 2019, efforts are being doubled to ensure an almost perfect meet.

During a recent interview, the club noted that they are projecting as much as 100 cars at the event i n c l u s i v e o f Te a m Mohamed’s fleet of GTRs w h i l e G u y a n a ’s l o n e Lamborghini and the BM Soat 2020 Turbocharged Toyota Supra are expected to do exhibition runs.

In addition, ‘Topgun’ Hopkinson revealed that Team SI&C Inc. has also acquired a Supra that he strongly believes is more than capable of winning of the Championship. Persons desirous of competing can contact the GMR&SC via their Albert Street Office or call 225 5457.

Other sponsors of the event so far include Mohamed’s Enterprise, Prem’s Electrical, KFC Guyana, E-Networks, Motor Trend Service Center, Wind Jammer International Hotel, Cyril’s Taxi, A&R Jiwanram Printery, B.M. Soat Auto Sales, Trans Pacific Auto Sale, Unicom United Commodities, MMD Hollow Blocks & Pavers, KGM Security, Ready Mix Concrete, Homeline Furnishing, Imran Auto Works and West Coast Customs Washbay.

of Chattogram when he became first batsman in history to score a double century in the fourth innings on debut — was out for five, driving at Jayed and giving an outside edge to the slips.

West Indies were in trouble a t 11 6 - 4 b u t B o n n e r engineered a recovery, first with Jermaine Blackwood as their 62-run for the fifth wicket lasted until Blackwood was caught and bowled by Taijul for 28.

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Bayern Munich have won the Club World Cup after beating Tigres 1-0 © Getty Images

Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

FIFA Club World Cup

Pavard completes sextuple for dominant Bayern

A

59th-minute Benjamin Pavard goal earned dominant FC Bayern München a 1-0 victory over Tigres UANL in the final and their second FIFA Club World Cup™ triumph. It also completed a magnificent sextuple for the Bavarian behemoths, emulating the achievement of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2009/10. Bayern thought they had taken the lead in the 18th minute. The in-form Joshua Kimmich hit a brilliant, outside-of-the-boot shot from distance into the bottom corner, but after checking VAR it was determined Robert Lewandowski, who had interfered with play in Nahuel Guzman’s line of vision, was offside and the goal was disallowed.

Soon after, Kingsley Coman cannily tricked his way inside from the left and forced Guzman into a smart save, before Leroy Sane hit the post from distance.

Bayern made the breakthrough just before the hour mark. Lewandowski’s header from Kimmich’s inch-perfect cross was blocked by Guzman, but the ball fell to Pavard, who tucked it into the unguarded net. The goal was ruled offside at first, but after a VAR check, the goal was confirmed.

Guzman then pushed a Corentin Tolisso effort on to the post, and made a double save from Douglas Costa and Kimmich. Tigres, to their credit, never gave up and Andre-Pierre Gignac, metres

out, was inches away from connecting with a Javier Aquino flick-on in the final stages, but Bayern were wholly deserving of their victory.

El Shenaway spot-kick saves seize Ahly bronze Mohamed El Shenaway saved two penalties in the shootout as Al Ahly edged Palmeiras 3-2 to finish third at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020™ after 90 minutes had ended with the score 0-0. Al Ahly started the brighter and had a great opportunity midway through the first half. A mistake by Felipe Melo enabled Amr Elsoulia to go through on goal, but he pulled his shot wide. Mohamed Afsha spurned another good chance for the Egyptians, and Rony twice threatened for Palmeiras, but the opening 45 finished goalless.

The Brazilians came out for the second half in search of a breakthrough, and Rony and Patrick de Paula quickly missed attempts. In the 66th minute, Elsoulia’s fine volley forced Weverton into a smart save. Junior Ajayi fired home the rebound, but the Nigerian was adjudged to have been offside.

Patrick did well to hold off his marker and power into the Ahly area, but he pulled his fierce, low drive wide of the post in the 80th minute and the contest went to a shootout. Only one of the first five penalties was scored and, ultimately, Luiz A d r i a n o ’s m i s s , E l Shenaway’s denials of Rony and Felipe Melo, cost Palmeiras.

Mayers enters ICC Test Rankings as West Indies’ highest debutant batsman England captain Joe Root’s match-winning 218 in the first Test against India has helped him advance two places to third position, overtaking counterpart Virat Kohli in the process, while d e b u t a n t We s t I n d i e s batsman Kyle Mayers and Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali provide much delight to their fans in the updated MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings.

Mayers, whose scores of 40 and 210 not out helped script an epic win in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong, has entered the

rankings in 70th position with 448 rating points, the best by a West Indian batsman on debut and the second-best ever on debut after RE Foster, who was on 449 rating points back in 1903 after scoring 287 on debut for England against Australia in Sydney.

Others to gain for the West Indies include Captain Kraigg Brathwaite (up eight places to 53rd) among batsmen and the spin pair of Jomel Warrican (up 14 places to 62nd) and Rahkeem Cornwall (up six places to 65th).

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Friday February 12, 2021

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Campbelle, Gajnabi and Grimmond to sponsor Female 40-overs tourney in Berbice The list of cricketers giving back to the game in the Ancient County continues to grow as three West Indies players are the latest to put their hands up.

Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond and Shakiba Gajnabi have committed to sponsoring a 40-over tournament for females later in this year.

Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster met with the players on Wednesday last and they readily agreed to his request for giving back to the game which has made them household names across the West Indies.

The BCB is the only County board in Guyana to invest in its female players and also organise tournaments for them. Rose Hall Town Metro, the defending champions would be the heavy favourites to retain their title but can expect a strong challenge from West Berbice and New Amsterdam/Canje.

The strong RHT Metro team would include four West Indies players and a number of national and Berbice players. They include Campbelle, Grimmond, Gajnabi, Erva Giddings, Plaffina Millington, Dian Prahald and Marian Samaroo.

West Berbice would be spearheaded by Kantana Mentore and Devona Frank w h i l e N e w Amsterdam/Canje would be led by Former West Indies all rounder Tremayne Smartt, Ashnini Munisar, Ameera Adrams, Nirveera Ramnauth and Jamie Campbelle.

The tournament is expected to start after the Inter County tournament and would be the second for females in the County after the Nand Persaud Co. Ltd 30-over Cup. Foster

expressed thanks to the three cricketers who are all members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Metro Team.

Campbelle, speaking on behalf the trio, stated they were delighted to contribute to Berbice cricket as the County has invested heavily in their careers. She hailed Foster a huge influence in their careers and also their mentor and role model.

Campbelle stated that it was her hope that more females would follow in her footsteps and play for the West Indies. Foster, stated that it is always very pleasing when players support the board and hailed the trio for their investment.

Foster urges Under-19 team to be good Ambassadors of county Berbice Cricket Board President, Hilbert Foster on Wednesday last met the selected Berbice players for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board U-19 tournament and urged them to be good ambassadors of the Berbice brand.

Foster spoke on the importance of discipline, positive attitude, hard work and team unity. He reminded the players in the presence of their parents that they would be representing the legacy of Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Soloman, Alvin Kallicharran and Roy Fredericks.

The hands on President warned that no act of indiscipline would be accepted and announced that the MVP of the tournament for Berbice would receive a prize of $25,000 under the Shimron/Nirvani Hetmeyer Trust Fund.

He also handed over face masks, face shields and hand sanitisers to the teams as part of the BCB covid-19 protection campaign. Each of the players were presented with a Berbice Inter County cap.

Members of the Berbice U-19 team pose with their Inter County caps and covid-19 protective items.

PAGE 32

Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

MSC members pays courtesy call on Sports Minister Ramson Minister of CY&S, Hon. Charles Ramson (C) pictured with MSC Chairman Micquel Perez (2nd right), Sherlon Rodrigues (right), Linden Green (2nd left) and Mr. Lair Frazer.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Hon. Charles Ramson was yesterday paid a courtesy call by the Chairman of the Matarkai Sports Council of Region One, Mr. Micquel Perez, Secretary Linden Green, NDC Vice Chairman with responsibility for Sports Mr. Lair Frazer and the Public Relations Officer,

Sherlon Rodrigues.

Both parties were excited to meet, as Officials of the Sports Council have been engaging Government Ministers over the past few days to submit proposals for sports clubs and communities across the subregion, in Region One. Minister Charles Ramson assured the

delegation that he will be visiting Matarkai after the approval of Budget 2021.

This engagement was made possible by Minister of Housing Collin Croal who was inducted as a Patron of the Sports Council in December last year and has been giving support to the council in the execution of their functions.

Priyanna Ramdhani pictured with Minister Ramson.

Priyanna Ramdhani meets Minister Charles Ramson Jr. Guyana’s Top National and International Badminton Player recently paid a courtesy call on Minister of Sports, Charles Ramson Jr. at the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports office situated at Main and Quamina Streets, Georgetown.

Ramdhani sought to bring the Minister up to date with her progress whilst on a

break here from her Student/Athlete Badminton Scholarship programme at the Olds College in Alberta, Canada where she pursuing Business Management & Sports Management.

Young Ramdhani has been excelling at both academics and athletics and gained many awards during 2019/20 as well as the 2020/21 season to date.

Kaieteur News

Friday February 12, 2021

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Copa Airlines Valentine’s HOLE-in-ONE Golf tourney starts today C

opa Airlines is giving you a chance to fly high this Valentine’s Day with a chance to win a Roundtrip ticket to any destination they fly during their HOLE-in-ONE golf competition starting today.

All patrons will have to do is visit the Nexgen Golf Academy on Woolford Avenue (Scouts Association Ground) from 4-7 pm Friday (today)-Sunday, hit a ball into the hole in one shot and fly away to your dream trip on one of the world’s largest airlines.

Copa Airlines, The Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and Nexgen Golf Academy will also bring the Hole-in-One contest to Berbice, Linden, Essequibo and Leonora as a part of the grand promotion of the game (check their Facebook pages

for locations).

Anyone can participate (there are four categories women, children, beginners men and experienced golfers) and for the entire m o n t h o f F e b r u a r y, participants can get a free shot at winning a ticket (one try per person). The sponsors will provide everyone with access to equipment and balls to take part in the contest and even provide a lesson for anyone who wants to try.

This is the first of many activities planned by Copa Airlines and the Guyana Golf Association to bring Golf to every school and region across the country in their stated goal of making the sport, a fully covid-19 c o m p l i a n t a c t i v i t y, a household game.

With multiple innovative 3-hole courses planned for

various regions, more and more exciting events will be held and GGA President Aleem Hussain feels confident that Golf will become a major sport locally.

“Guyanese youth have incredible talent and only lack facilities and opportunities to play golf, something that we are focusing on providing. The Ministry of Education has done something amazing, opened up the sport to children, a programmme now being copied by other countries!”

Hussain pointed out that it was Ms. Melissa DowRichardson, Assistant

Director of Sports, Ministry of Culture Youth & Sports, who in 2019 highlighted the fact that golf was on the CXC/CAPE syllabus that jumpstarted the creation of a programme that was fully realised over the past few months by the Allied Arts Unit, CEO of the Secondary Schools and Minister of Education.

With teaching programmes currently underway in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and10, and a national rollout scheduled for August, it’s only a matter of time before every Guyanese will have access to a sport that was only seen on television.

This Wisburg Secondary School Teacher displays some golf clubs that were donated to the school by the GGA as part of a pilot programme.

rt o p S

Shemaine Campbelle (center), Sheneta Grimmond (left) and Shakiba Gajnabi holds the trophy that would be up for grabs.

Evin Lewis @ CWI Media

Lewis’ ton leads T&T Red Force to victory over Jamaica Scorpions - Guyana Jaguars face Leeward Islands Hurricanes today

Campbelle, Gajnabi and Grimmond to sponsor Female 40-overs tourney in Berbice

Nkrumah Bonner steers one towards third man ©AFP via Getty Images

Bonner the backbone as West Indies reach 223-5

Drag racing makes it return since 2019, on February 28, next.

Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc. fuels Feb. 28 Drag Race Championship

Copa Airlines Valentine’s HOLE-in-ONE Golf tourney starts today

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