Kaieteur News

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Taxes accounted NEWS for 96% of Central Govt. revenue last year

Saturday Edition

AIETEUR

February 13, 2021 - Vol. 15 No.06

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

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 105,905

Budget 2021 totals $383.1B p.

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…No new tax measures announced

Old age pension increase

$15,000 voucher per school child 0% VAT on food items and more…

Police sergeant Teen who tried to shoots reputed wife extort $10M from to the neck after she ex-boyfriend with rape ended relationship allegation, remanded p.

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$1.9B estimated for fire service Govt. earmarks $53.5B for health sector p.

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Trio abandoned in Corentyne waters...

Persons found died from asphyxiation and drowning; p. three now in custody 16

Woman stabs boyfriend to death during a heated row - neighbours say she was the aggressor in the relationship 15p.

Pres. Ali says nothing about renegotiation & insurance to protect Guyana from oil companies @ 11:00AM today on the Glenn Lall Show, Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

Kaieteur News

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Saturday February 13, 2021

Government intends to plug $60.7B into education sector T

he government intends to plug $60.7 billion into the education sector this year, according to the Senior Minister within the Office of the President with the responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh, who made the announcement while delivering the 2021 Budget in the National Assembly yesterday.

“Mr. Speaker, the state of the public education system

inherited by our administration leaves much to be desired,” Singh lamented.

He said that the sector is plagued by inadequate supervision and lack of accountability within all levels, which needs to be reversed immediately.

A sum of $5.2 billion has been allocated for construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of educational facilities across

the country.

Under the allocation, the construction of two secondary schools in Region Six and Region Nine will commence, works on a secondary school at Prospect to address the growing demands on the East Bank of Demerara will also be done and the Abram Zuil Secondary School will be reconstructed to provide the necessary facilities for learners on the Essequibo

GCAA commends Eugene F. Correia International Airport for COVID-19 emergency regulations

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he Guyana Civil A v i a t i o n Authority (GCAA) has commended the Eug ene F. Correia International Airport for its effective implementation of health and safety procedures that are in compliance with the current COVID-19 Emergency Regulations.

This comes after an inspection was carried out in January by the GCAA, who is the regulatory body.

The airport was also commended for its compliance with all national and regulatory COVID guidelines by the GCAA's Manager (ag) Aviation Security, on behalf of the

Director General, Egbert Fields.

It was stated that the inspection was carried out to ascertain the level t h e e f f e c t i v e implementation of health and safety procedures in compliance with the COVID-19 Emergency Regulations.

A classroom of students (Photo: Ministry of Education) Coast.

Further, $884 million has been allocated to equip and retool technical and vocational training centres. ” M r. S p e a k e r, a s t h e economy evolves, the education sector must be positioned to respond to the demands of the labour market,” Singh said.

His administration will aggressively intensify its efforts to increase enrolment in technical, vocational education and training institutions as it works to

promote non-traditional forms of learning and lifelong learning, hence the allocation.

An allocation has also been made for the refashioning of the University of Guyana, in response to the need for modernizing. A total of $3.3 billion has been earmarked to finance the operations of the university's two campuses.

“Government's collaboration with Commonwealth of Learning and Coursera has already

allowed us to offer more than 4,000 free online courses from various universities around the world to our people and 64,605 citizens are benefitting from online courses offered by these two entities of which to date, 8,481 participants are teachers, who have since registered/participated in at least one course,” Singh also said.

A sum of $1 billion has since been budgeted to support online scholarships to be granted in 2021.

Kaieteur News

Saturday February 13, 2021

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Budget 2021 totals $383.1B … No new tax measures announced Old age pension increase $15,000 voucher per school child 0% VAT on food items and more…

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uyana's largest budget to date totalling $383.1 billion was yesterday presented to the National Assembly under the theme “A Path To Recovery, Economic Dynamism and Resilience.”

The four-hour long presentation was made by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, with the 2021 budget being financed without any new tax measures.

Among the wide range of public investment projects and initiatives announced, were several measures aimed at bringing relief to the thousands of Guyanese

who were hit financially when the COVID-19 pandemic crippled the economy.

According to Dr. Singh those measures also deliver targeted interventions aimed at specific sectors and spheres of activity that are particularly important both to households and businesses.

During his presentation, Dr. Singh announced the restoration of food items and other basic household necessities to zero rated value added tax (VAT) status. These items include basic wheaten flour, basic breads, oats, unflavored cracker biscuits, cooking oil, locally produced bed sheets and pillowcases and

toothbrushes, etc.

Water, an essential aspect to human life also received a 5% reduction targeting all levels of consumers.

And with construction being a key sector and contributor to Guyana's economic development, Government also announced zero rated VAT status for stone imported for construction and housing from CARICOM, locally produced pre-stressed concrete piles, locally fabricated mild steel beams for building construction along with locally manufactured roofing and PVC products for building construction.

According to Dr. Singh, Government will continue to

monitor the cost of basic construction materials, such as cement and steel, and examine the possibility of applying relevant taxes to cushion the impact of steep price escalation. As another boost, Government also announced the reduction of duty on industrial grade cement from 15% to 5%.

Added to that, Government also announced restoration of zero-rated VAT status in relation to goods when imported and works and services purchased by a Budget Agency.

While Government had announced last year, an increase from $8 million to $10 million in the ceiling on low income housing loans to

$2.7B allocated for the Culture, Sports and Arts in national budget

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ith its aim to develop and showcase the potential of athletes and artistes and young people across the country, the Government has allocated $2.7 billion for the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in this year's national budget.

This was announced yesterday, by the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh, as he presented the 2021 Budget in the National Assembly.

During his presentation, Dr. Singh said that the administration is cognizant of the vast talents and skills of our people, which have gone underutilized and unappreciated.

In this regard, he said that the government would aim to develop and showcase the potential of sportsmen and sportswomen, and artistes,

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr. b o t h h e r e a n d internationally.

He added, “We will also endeavour to create the enabling environment to increase income generation for the culture subsector through partnership with the private sector for the creation of galleries, museums and dance schools in communities across the country, among other areas.”

According to the Minister, these initiatives are also intended to augment the government's drive to create niche tourism throughout our country.

He said in this regard in the year 2020, the Government made notable strides, with the One Guyana Concert that showcased the culture of Guyana over a virtual platform. The

activity, he said attracted over 500,000 online viewers.

“In 2021, we will develop a National Cultural and Creative Industries Policy to guide the development of the sector and reinstitute the Advisory Boards for the National Gallery of Art and the National Archives.

The National Trust will also undertake to update their legislation in alignment to the modern trends in heritage preservation and to support its expanding m a n d a t e , ” D r. S i n g h disclosed.

As such, for Budget 2021, the Minister said that the government has allocated $30 million for grants to the cultural and creative industries for which emphasis will be placed on original cultural and creative projects with a credible and well thought out plan for (continued on page 22)

obtain through commercial banks under the low income housing loans programme, 2021 will see that ceiling being raised to $12 million, to make housing loans more affordable to borrowers within that range.

“We will also, in due course examine the appropriateness of extending the programme to include other financial institutions such as insurance companies,” Dr. Ashni Singh continued.

In addition to that measure, Government also announced an increase in the housing loan ceiling at the New Building Society from $12 million to $15 million.

Government also announced the removal of VAT on data for residential and individual use.

D r. A s h n i S i n g h highlighted as well that in the 2020 budget, VAT was removed from ATVs for mining, forestry, agriculture and manufacturing. To further reduce the cost of transportation for hinterland communities and operators, the Government moved to remove the duty on ATVs for

use in the hinterland.

As it relates to Guyana's school aged children, Government announced the introduction of a cash grant valuing $15,000 per child attending the nursery, primary and secondary in the public school system.

Guyana's elderly will also see a pension increase from $20,500 to $25,000, which according to the Minister will benefit over 60,000 persons and put an additional $4 billion of disposable income in their hands.

Public Assistance payment was also raised from $9,000 to $12,000 providing an additional $500 million in disposable income to these individuals.

And finally, on the cards for budget measures, Government announced that the sale of assets that were owned for more than 25 years will not attract capital gains tax on their disposal.

In totality, budget measures for 2021 amounted to $50 billion factoring in the $40 billion expended on budget measures for 2020.

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

The forgotten man A few days ago, the family and friends of Haresh Singh took to the public arena to express their impatience, their concerns, and their uncertainties with where things stand in the matter of their murdered loved one.

It is also fair and accurate to say that the family of this deceased Guyanese harbours all of those sharp feelings, and from which comes much anger.

It is more than where things stand with his murder; it is of them wanting to know what is going on, and how much.

Most unfortunately, and in more than one respect, Haresh Singh is not only dead, but is a victim several times over in the political, racial, and criminal cauldron that is Guyana. He is a victim of circumstances, a murderous event that, with the passage of time, has been absorbed and overwhelmed by the sheer wantonness and gruesomeness of the murder of the two Henry cousins in next-door Cotton Tree. By their very barbaric nature, those murders commanded all media headlines and corresponding national attention. And when the surrounding contexts and conjectures were introduced, more like hurled, into the mix, then no one else and nothing else could compete for space or time or sustained interest.

In the midst of what was nothing less than a national trauma, the racial violence, the political involvements, the historical memories, and the communal reactions all combined effortlessly to sweep everything else from the map. With that, Haresh Singh was swept out to sea with the roaring tide. His brutal death first became secondary to the main events, and was then washed away into a state of yesterday’s news, many hazy yesterdays ago.

Although in some ways related to the shocking murders of the Henry youngsters, which none should even try to deny, it is as though his violent death on a lonely back road did not happen at all.To a great extent, his death is an inconvenient reminder of what political sensitiveness and careful positioning, in some quarters, requires in terms of proper inclusion, through wide and sober embrace.

Yet not many are fooled.

The family and friends of Haresh Singh are not fooled by the snail’s pace of progress, by his death being condemned to the dark corner of a lower order priority.

While there are many in this society who view the murder of Haresh Singh as something to be dealt with separately and in its own time and on its own merits, there can be no separation of his horrible death, from that of the two murders that occurred in Cotton Tree.

It is now widely accepted that those savage and harrowing murders served as the catalyst that directly contributed to his passing.

We go to great lengths to emphasise that, if only to make it clear that it is not up for discussion, or something to be treated casually.

We take this stance, because the pain of the family and those who knew him well enough are so strong. Strong enough to compel coming out in public protest to keep his falling front and centre, which places responsibility on all Guyanese that Haresh Singh does not degrade to an afterthought or unsolved mystery. Or that unwelcomed reminders of his murder are preferred to be kept on the sidelines, the farther the better. Though some may be quickly ready to push his death in the backyard of collateral damage, he is not seen as merely that by his family.

He must be more than just another criminal statistic; and that must not be left to only his family.

He must be seen as immovably attached to the senselessness that raged along the West Berbice roads and communities for what seemed like an eternity.

Many people in this country, some thoughtful and principled, others questionable as to both, were quick to articulate peacefully and assertively, their rage, disgust, and deep-seated revulsion at what happened to the two Henry youths brutalised and cut down in their untouched prime.

That was absolutely right, and sentiments with which we identify strongly.

By the same standard, the associated death of Haresh Singh is due the same urgency, the same national footing, the same outpourings of sustained outrage, and from all

Saturday February 13, 2021

It is time for former President, David Granger, to come out of hiding DEAR EDITOR, For months, former President, David Granger, refused to acknowledge the results of the March 2 Elections while claiming that “as President of Guyana and leader of the government, it is my policy that any declaration which comes from the Chairman of GECOM would be recognized by the Coalition government.”

While Granger continued to repeat that pledge, he allowed his party agents, his party lawyers and his Attorney General to move to every Court to prevent the result of the recount, establishing that the PPP had won the elections.

Granger continuously repeated the refrain that his government and his party would abide by the ruling of the Courts, but, all the while that Granger pledged his innocence of his party’s blatant, ugly and unforgivable attempt to rig the Statements of Poll for District Four by Clairmont Mingo, aided and abetted by Keith Lowenfield and Roxanne Myers, he had his chief lieutenant, Joseph Harmon, leading the charge to keep his government illegally in office.

It was Harmon who declared on Bobby Vieira’s 104.1Lite FM that “those persons who are calling for Mr. Granger to concede, that is not

going to happen.”

At the time, in a television Commentary I broadcast on TVG, Channel 28, I said, “These are men and women who are conniving, ruthless, ignorant and criminal in their intent. They do not care for the consequences of their action. They do not care for the rule of law. They do not care what the courts rule or do not rule. These are men and women who have decided to remain in power and dam the consequences. They care not what damage they do to Guyana. They do not care and will not recognize that the majority of Guyanese have voted them out of power.”

Granger capitulated under the enormous pressure of international condemnation, overwhelming public opinion and the reality that Guyana’s military forces and police were fundamentally committed to democracy and would not back a coup.

Our former President has since disappeared from sight, but little else has changed. He has left his party in charge of those who “do not care for the rule of law, do not care what damage they do to Guyana.” He has appointed Joseph Harmon as Leader of the Opposition to continue the fiction that his party had somehow won the election and that, according to

Harmon, the PPP “are sitting in government on the basis of a flawed and a fraud system.”

Harmon was reacting to the insistence of Vice President Jagdeo that those persons chiefly responsible for manipulating the District Four Statements of Poll, Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers must be removed from the Elections Commission before any further elections are held, a position embraced by every Guyanese determined to ensure that our elections results are protected from any further fraud and manipulations.

David Granger’s disappearance from sight and hiding from taking political responsibility for the leadership, attitude and behaviour of his party in opposition by assigning it to Harmon’s divisive and destructive leadership will do irreparable harm to the future of our country.

To make matters worse, Granger has left the Jones,’ the Duncans,’ the Pattersons,’ those who have manifested a total absence of integrity and honesty in office, to be his chief spokespersons in opposition.

In complete contrast, President Irfaan Ali, from the day he assumed office, has committed himself, his party and his government to the

language and intent of “inclusion.” He pledged, in his first address to the National Assembly, his government to serve the people of Guyana “every one of them, regardless of race or creed.”

He had this to say about the expectations of all Guyanese: “They want us to be partners in serving the country, not adversaries in pulling it apart.

That is not to say that they did not expect us to disagree or that they did not anticipate that we would differ.

But they do not expect us to differ at their expenses or to disagree to their detriment…

To do so, calls for political maturity that puts, at all times, the national interest and the people’s welfare above all else”.

It is impossible to disagree with those sentiments coming from the leader of our country. It is reasonable, however, to expect the political opposition to challenge their sincerity, but not in the manner pursued by Harmon.

The APNU+AFC, between them, in all reality, the People’s National Congress, of whom David Granger remains the leader, command a significant portion of the country’s vote. They can use (Continued on page 6)

We must aim to ensure our resources are sustainably exploited DEAR EDITOR, Since it was announced that Guyana would become an oil-producing nation there have been repeated calls by me for local stakeholders’ engagement in determining a way forward.

It was hoped such engagement would have realised mechanisms being put in place to guide local content policy, programmes and laws to make sure the industry is managed to the benefit of society.

Instead, this nation continues to be subjected to politicians who cannot put their differences aside in the interest of the common good.

Today the nation is confronting not only the calls for oil contracts to be renegotiated and transparency of ownership of those oil blocks, but our health and environment are facing existential threats.

The continuous flaring by ExxonMobil is a threat to our wellbeing yet the government has taken a resigned posture by saying to us they are “hamstrung,” they are incapable to hold the company to account.

No government is rendered powerless unless it chooses to be.

Government is ultimately responsible for the country, its Exclusive Economic Zone, the business environment, and the welfare of the citizens.

Any government understanding and respecting of these principles would move with alacrity to bring to the table recalcitrant businesses that threaten the welfare of the citizens and the environment therein.

The Irfaan Ali regime is making excuses not to act to arrest the problem and protect us from further harm.

They have taken a policy

quarters. There have been three victims of terrible wrongdoings.

We are further unhealed because of those. It is the responsibility of all Guyanese to not let the family of Haresh Singh believe that they have been abandoned and are all alone in their quest for justice and closure.

It is what we call for, push for, and plead for, so that we can all face each other, comfortable that the many sordid chapters of those three unforgettable murders have been examined, ventilated, and closed with justice prevailing.

position of inaction i.e., not to do anything, and we are being asked to accept what Exxon says that “hopefully” the problem will be resolved

by April.

The quantification by scientists as to the damage being wrought on the nation from January to April is troubling.

ExxonMobil is a Multinational Corporation that is not unmindful of its reputation.

The company has been held accountable before by scientists, workers, governments and even their own shareholders to engage in environmental best practices.

Nothing prevents the government, other than its own unwillingness to act, to meet with Exxon leaders and/ or agitate internationally to have this situation corrected.

They are rolling over and accepting that for four months Guyanese must suffer, and they expect us to accept this suffering with resignation. It is unacceptable.

Dr. Vincent Adams has been very outspoken on Guyana’s management of the industry, including holding the previous coalition administration he was appointed by accountable to demanding standards consistent with in-

ternational best practices.

As he continues to weigh in on what we are doing wrong, and could do better, we must take him seriously given his knowledge, international experience and track record in the industry.

Whereas it is his expert opinion in the field that the government is not “hamstrung” to act, I am too convinced, based on the duty and responsibility of government to a nation and its people that the government can act to arrest the problem.

It has only been one year since Guyana became an oil producing nation.

The disasters we are having should not be expected from a company in the business for years and has a Consent Decree with another government/nation to reduce the amount of waste gas being flared in that environment.

Exxon can do better and must be held to such standards.

The Government of Guyana cannot continue to take a do-nothing approach because they are exposing us to a bleak future.

Flaring poses clear and present danger to Sustainable Development and a Green Economy which Guyana (Continued on page 5)

Saturday February 13, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Are they confused? President Ali’s actions must align with his words, they haven’t

DEAR EDITOR, By the reasoning of the opposition the legal opposition has a legal right to parliament but the legal government has no legal right to it.

Yet they were seen climbing fences, having to be restrained by law, enforcement in trying to gain entry to the hallowed chamber, which they chose to be absent from.

Are they confused? Either they want to be present or they do not. It cannot be both.

Shamshun Mohamed

Ban men from motorcycles DEAR EDITOR, As a prolific writer, I’ll keep this short.

Motorcycle banditry is on the rise, and yes; suggesting men be banned from riding motorcycles temporarily, seems like a ridiculous and farfetched idea; but this bandit situation really has nothing to do with the ladies.

Maybe impractical, but truly effective. At least 99 percent of daytime/night time bandits are men. Sounds like a silly idea, since motorcycles are needed to do many other non-criminal activities as well.

Maybe mandatory registration on ALL motorcycles again, for a very small fee, and

for each, a bold unique alphanumeric sticker is placed on the plate, which can be traced to an owner but can’t easily be removed, and can be seen from a distance.

A similar situation was on the rise in another country.

Motorcycles, the main transport avenue for the bandits were banned outright, which caused an upheaval for a short time, but motorcycle banditry and assaults became non-existent.

Unfortunately, the uptick was a very sharp rise in vehicular traffic.But wait; let’s see the solution from the men in uniform.

Chi Kansi

DEAR EDITOR, I share a couple thoughts on President Ali’s inaugural address to the National Assembly. I am trying to give Guyana’s head of state a free head to run wherever he wishes, while I wait to see the substances behind his many promises. I say that he is long on promise, with what follows speaking for itself.

First, President Ali said that Guyana will not be the “pawn or puppet” of any power.

That certainly has a nice patriotic ring to it, until one reads the fine print, the qualification, so to speak. The president was very specific: military bases.

I agree with the president, because that OAS vote (against the grain) for the American-backed candidate does not amount to the establishment of a military facility.

Ditto: the snafu over some Taiwanese office; incidentally, I humbly recommend

that the president familiarise himself with what snafu means. I could point to Mighty Mike Pompeo coming here and steamrolling the PPP leadership, so that all danced in lovely imitations of puppets.

Exxon has established an economic base; and the rest of the American invasion is on the way, which I like. But, of course, none of those is a military base being established; simply a more nuanced form of base presence, big power puppeteering, and host country complying.

To be clear, when the powers (A and C and R) can get local leaders to agree to take place covertly, or under legitimate umbrellas, then there is little need for the power projection of base diplomacy.

The Americans already have a floating one under the auspices of that joint maritime agreement, which I call an open-ended naval base. Wel-

Make cat-calling a punishable crime!

DEAR EDITOR, Cat-calling is defined by Merriam-Webster as, “a loud, sexually suggestive call or comment directed at someone publicly (as on the street).”

Wikipedia describes sexual harassment as “involving the use of explicit or sexual overtones, including the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange of sexual favours.”

This is the daily reality of many women while walking the streets of Guyana (I am sure it happens elsewhere too). While some may find this complimenting, I in no way am comfortable with it or in agreement.

For the conservative women, who just want to go about their daily activities and get their jobs done, just think of how troubling this is for them.

Editor, allow me some space in your newspaper to vent a little and express my

utter disgust of what seems to be the never-ending struggle for women.

“Look at you baby!”

“Watch da body!” “I could imagine wha you gat down deh!” “You got a lot ah ration deh!” “If I was you man! ...” and the list is never ending.

For the life of me, I cannot understand how some men would think this is flattering for women!

Over the years, I have struggled with being uncomfortable venturing out of my home for the sole reason of the remarks that are made by some insensitive men! I, in no way find these remarks to be complimenting! Picture minding your own business, walking into the supermarket and being followed so close that you can literally feel someone breathing down your neck!

Walking casually towards the bus park and a man just walks past you and touches your rear!

What is even more appalling is when they gang up on the side of the road and you have to pass them to get to your destination and not one or two but ALL of them start with their “remarks,” which undoubtedly attracts the attention of others.

Why not report it? Report it to whom?

There you are standing at the junction waiting for transportation to take you home and a patrol vehicle turns in the intersection and it is loaded with policemen, then the patrol vehicle slows down and the occupants, not mere civilians but those who took the oath to serve and protect, start making “remarks” as

well! Just to give you an idea of what these “men of the law” remarked, “Nice food!”

“Watch da thing!” “Look at you baby!” Just think if a woman had to go to those very policemen for protection or to file a complaint of sexual harassment what would happen.

Some may laugh this off, and I know, because I have had the unfortunate experience of having recounted these experiences to others before and it was just brushed off with the utterances of, “oh men will be men,” or “maybe they like what they see,” and even once or twice being told by other men, “you will just (Continued on page 22)

come to Caribbean style war games, Guyana.

On this issue of a base, this is where I stand. If it safeguards against the covetous, I am for it.

If it brings in the bacon, then let it sizzle. It could be healthy. It is why I think David Granger erred. I remind of Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines and the many ways that he used bases as bargaining chips, to the frustrations of successive American presidents.

A real ‘smaat-man’, he was. And regardless of what form a base assumes here, as long as it is American, then tally ho, heave ho, and cheerio. I have a caution for our green (not PNC green) leader: be careful with serving two masters.

Then, I read (never heard any of these presidents speak, except one in small meetings) that President Ali is rolling out a “One Guyana Commission.” I laud the initiative, despite my own harsh misgivings on our national motto, which speaks of “one” not once, but thrice, and look where we are.

I do hope that the president is not engaging in more

sloganeering with that “One Guyana Commission.” Now, though the leader has failed abjectly to his commitment to be Transparency Ali, he conveniently switches gears and tries his hand at being His Excellency, Comrade Unity Ali. I will be so bold as to counsel Guyana’s president: do not bring overtures, sir, through side doors and backdoors, while slamming the front door shut in the faces of those that he and his people single out to denigrate.

I urge all to peer closely at that word “denigrate” and understand where I stand. Unless President Ali embarks on reversing that through authentic inclusion, then he is about nothing other than those long-ago lyrics from the Bee Gees that I now paraphrase: all I have is words, and words are all I have to take down a primrose path.

I point to parliamentary exclusions, public service expulsions, and (as somebody mentioned) the different strokes for sugar versus bauxite.

According to another news outlet, Excellency Ali says he wants to build trust, (Continued on page 22)

We must aim to ensure our...

From page 4 commits to by being a signatory to the 2015 United Nations Climate Agreement.

Now is the time to put aside partisanship, which is informed by political immaturity and ethnic tribalism.

We must put Guyana and Guyanese first in the face of continuous threats by external forces who stand to benefit from internal divisions. I reiterate the call for the Government, Opposition (including the main opposition), civil society, trades union (GTUC, FITUG and non-affiliated), and all stakeholders to put

our heads together in national discourse to shape policy, programmes and laws on this industry that cut across universally acceptable interests.

We must aim to ensure our resources are sustainably exploited and this generation bequeaths to future generations a better society.

Lincoln Lewis

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Kaieteur News

The ERC needs to lead from high years? I think what the gov- down and lead from that ground ernment needs to dissect is, higher and wider understandDEAR EDITOR, About 15 years ago, one of my colleagues in the media told me that there are two things, which were preventing Guyana from getting into a civil war; these two things were the airlines and the churches’. His point was that Guyanese had the option to leave Guyana, when frustrations got to high levels; and that Guyanese are deeply religious people, so they pray a lot, and they believe in God. Last year, while in the midst of a pandemic, when the PPP/C government was terminating the services of many persons, charging several others and there was almost a bombardment in the media of the ills of the previous government.

By October and November 2020, based on the tensions which were rising in some sections of the society, I thought that the country was heading in the direction of civil unrest. For some reason, in late November through December last year to mid-January, the intensity of the tension was decreasing; however, from late January this year, the tension has started to increase again.

From my assessment, some of the main reasons for the tension in the latter part of last year was based on anger and disappointment with how the government was dealing with certain sections of the society. My assessment of some of the reasons for the tensions from midJanuary, is based on more frustrations and hopelessness.

Many people are unhappy with the government’s approach to governance and the optics are not pretty in some quarters. The question many people are asking is, can they endure ‘this’ for the next five

what is the ‘this’ and address it. My conclusion is when people say ‘this’, they are referring to the government’s approach to governance relative to some sections of the population.

One of my concerns is that with the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are not leaving and cannot leave and not many people are able to go to churches to pray, and frustrations are rising, steadily.

On this note, it is with much disappointment that I read the letter in the press from some of the Commissioners from the Ethnic Relation Commission (ERC) on the matter relative to the APNU+AFC Member of Parliamentarian, Cathy Hughes.

The ERC Commissioners who signed the letter in the press were apparently distancing themselves from an earlier letter that was published on Mrs. Hughes’ matter.

While I understand that, the ERC may have an internal challenge which is being addressed, that should not have reached the press.

The more professional approach would have been for the ERC to use its internal conflict resolution and conflict management system/processes to resolve its internal issues. If the ERC cannot resolve its internal issues in an amicable manner, then how can it be the good facilitator, mediator, and negotiator within our society on ethnic issues.

The ERC cannot lead on finding solutions and solving problems if it operates only from the valley with the masses. The leader sometimes has to climb to the top of the highest hill and survey the horizon, understand the various perspectives and dynamics, and then come back

ing. One of my wise seniors once told me that it is not always about making the right decisions but sometimes as a leader or manager, you have to make the best decisions under the circumstances.

In 1994, over 800,000 people (more that Guyana’s population) were killed in a genocide in Rwanda, over a period of about 100 days; in less than a generation later, Rwanda had become one of the fastest growing African countries.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rwandan economy had a constant growth of 7.5 percent annually, for 10 years.

Now if Rwanda could reconcile to a point where such a broken, hurt and devastated society, could move forward together, to a position of sustained economic growth for the country and its people, then surely Guyana and Guyanese can move past what happened in the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 2000’s, five months of electoral impasse in 2020; and reconcile our differences, come together, and move this country forward just like the Rwandans did.

However, the big question is, will our leaders allow us to move on? I want to move on.

I am ready to move forward, Editor, are you? Are we as a people ready to reconcile and move forward?

Those of us who write, it is because we understand that we need to keep talking, we need to keep the conversation going, but even my fingers are getting tired of writing.

Stabroek News and Kaieteur News, Village Voice, Social Media, keep publishing. I hope that those who have ears to hear will hear.

Yours sincerely, Audreyanna Thomas (Citizen)

It is time for former President, David...

From page 5 it for constructive or destructive purpose.

They can use it in the National Assembly to voice their views, to influence the laws we pass and to hold the government accountable for their actions. That is what democracy is all about.

That, however, is not what Mr. Harmon and the belligerent group around him represent nor where they are coming from.

Harmon has continuously embraced the language of confrontation. He has no intention of reaching across the aisle. He is persistent in calling the government illegal, but in the same breath, demands that the President recognise him as Leader of the Opposition.

He prefers to keep his

elected members in the street rather than in the Parliament where they properly belong.

Harmon and the group around him are wedded to the falsehood that APNU+AFC won the elections, are determined to mislead their party supporters to this end but, unwilling, because they are unable to provide any evidence, including the disclosure of the Statements of Poll in their own possession, to prove their contention.

The President, more than once, has “called for political maturity that puts, at all times, the national interest and the people’s welfare above all else” and has resorted to the words of Martin Carter that “all are involved; all are consumed”.

It is time for Granger to come out of hiding. It is time

now for Granger to get rid of Harmon.

It is time for Granger to let his party know, a party which I once supported, though in different times and in different circumstances, that it is time to come out of the shadows, face up to the reality that they are the legitimate majority opposition party, that it is possible and prudent to reach across the aisle and put President Ali’s commitment to inclusion to the test and hold him to the promise of giving meaning to his call for “one Guyana”, work with the government to reform and reorganise the Elections Commission and revisit the Constitution and, yes, when the time comes, contest the elections again.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

Saturday February 13, 2021

Lessons for Guyana over murder in Trinidad DEAR EDITOR, There are massive protests or vigils all over Trinidad over the senseless murder of Andrea Bharrat who has become a household name, now adopted as everyone’s daughter or sister. There are lessons for Guyana in the peoples’ response and what government should do.

This beautiful young lady, described as an angel, had just begun to live her life. As aptly stated on social media by a restaurant owner in Florida, “She is a pretty flower that did not get to bloom because of the dastard act of evil minds”. Andrea’s cultural passion and “Trininess” was admirable; she made a fantastic video of a typical Hindu wedding that has gone viral.

That type of murder can happen in Guyana. Haven’t we experienced similar crimes in Guyana. So there are lessons for Guyana. A young girl, merely 23, returning home from her job at a magistrate court, was kidnapped, abused, soiled, killed, and dumped overboard down a ravine of labyrinth depth. A helicopter was required to stoop down and recover her broken body. What happened to this young lady is indescribable. It was a heinous, most brutal, inhumane act.

There is much media publicity over the murder and spontaneous public protest with everyone calling for justice. Some sections of the media were insensitive and heartless – instead of focusing on the murder; they were focusing on “belly” and corporate income. For example, one talk show host opted to share a recipe on “how to make dhal” rather than provide comfort to people who were protesting and in distress over the rape and murder.

This prompted a social commentator to pen this critique: “Why have we grown so cold blooded that a crime of this magnitude is not given the prominence it deserves in the media? It seems that when it’s our child or sibling or parents that only then are we

moved to express our feelings. If Andrea were a celebrity or the daughter of a prominent politician, the headlines would have been splurging nonstop with the story.

There is one justice for the well-to-do and the connected and another for the poor. The hypocritical adherence to our laws must be exposed.

Are we in a state where, according to the famous Christian philosopher St. Augustine that true justice could only be realized in the kingdom of heaven?”

What happened to Andrea can happen to another person in an environment where crime has skyrocketed including in Guyana. Thus, the public in TT or in Guyana should not take illusory comfort in their home or office and wish away this problem. A critic wisely advise: “We must recast our focus on the gravity of such crime, just imagining if Andrea was one of our own”.TT public demands justice. Those responsible, including those who conspired in the kidnapping and who disclosed information about the girl’s whereabouts for exposing criminal wrong doings, must face the law – the death penalty is warranted.

Nothing less is required for those criminals who display mentality of a beast.

There are calls for TT government to take a more activist approach to bring the plotters and perpetrators to justice or else people will lose confidence in government to protect them. People may take the law in their own hands.

One commentator on social media penned: ‘We can raise our voices! We can protest!

We can assist the family. We can set up a foundation in her name. Should we also set up our private security arrangement when the state fails to protect us? What are our options?” Those questions also apply to Guyana on the issue of crime — including those drunken drivers who killed people.Countries like TT and Guyana should look at ways

of curbing this abuse and assaults of the nation’s women while in transport mode using taxis. The death penalty for the perpetrators or rape and murder is warranted. Is the death penalty still in force? In the case of Guyana, Guyanese are calling for the restoration of the death penalty for dastardly related crimes; other islands also have the death penalty.

Contrary to what some may feel, capital punishment is a deterrent.

The death penalty sends a strong message against would-be criminals. As an illustration, in Guyana, the dictator Desmond Hoyte resumed hanging in 1987 resulting in a dramatic downturn of crime when a few hard core murderers were hung. Fear of being hung sends jitters down the spine of those on death row. One can’t imitate in T&T a policy or objection to the death penalty of a developed country. Hanging would send the right signal to would be criminals. It would help to reduce crime.

At any rate, the government must take decisive action against criminals to send a strong message that crimes would not be tolerated.

It is the duty of a State to protect its citizens.

That is its primary responsibility. It must respond promptly against those who engage in serious acts of violence. Governments in TT and Guyana should consider compensating victims of serious crime. There are precedents.

In the US, for example, civil actions are brought against criminals for wrongful deaths or crimes that affect people.

Imprisonment or the death penalty is just one form of punishment. Another form is to provide monetary relief. It won’t solve crime. But at a minimum, it would address the pain and anguish of family members of victims.

The country demands justice for Andrea and others who were victims of crime.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Open Letter to President Irfaan Ali DEAR PRESIDENTALI, February 8 marked the 100th birth anniversary of Mr. Balram Singh Rai. As you

might be aware, Mr. Rai served the Guyanese people as Minister of Community Development and Education (1959-61) and as Minister of Home Affairs (1961-62) in successive PPP administrations. Mr. Rai played a historical role in the 1960 Constitutional Conference in London where the issue of self-government was discussed.

Yet, almost 60 years after he resigned from his last ministerial position, Mr. Rai re-

mains the only Guyanese minister who continues to be denied a parliamentary pension.

After all these decades, the government has not offered an explanation for denying Mr. Rai his pension.

We, the undersigned, request your urgent intervention in this matter to ensure that this historical social injustice is corrected.

Sincerely, Baytoram Ramharack Swami Aksharananda Ramesh Gampat Somdat Mahabir Ravi Dev Tarron Khemraj

RyhaanShah Clem Seecharan Gitamrit Jogai Jailall Kissoon Lalita Mahabir Salaudeen Nausrudeen Chris Persaud Banmattie Jean Ram Leyland Roopnaraine Charles Sugrim Anita Nahar Kumar Mahabir VishnuBisram Errol Mohabir Vassan Ramracha Balram Rambrich Dhaman Kissoon Rishi PooranRamnarine Sahadeo Omesh Sharma

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

Local Content – meaning the provision of goods and services by citizens to the oil and gas companies – is a main aspect of any oil and gas economy in a developing country.

It is the most effective way of directly integrating citizens of a country into the oil and gas economy.

Local Content should start off at a reasonable level and then continue to grow throughout the lifetime of that economy.

Without transparency on the levels of local content, however, there is no way of knowing the rate at which local content is growing, and in which sectors.

Guyanese need to demand transparency when it comes to the level and nature of local content in our oil and gas industry.

PAGE 07

Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

$4.6B budget announced for improving citizens access to Justice O

u t l i n i n g government's commitment to ensuring that all citizens have access to, and are protected by the justice system, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, yesterday announced a $4.6 billion budgetary allocation to the sector.

Among the reforms announced by the Minister, were plans to enhance the criminal justice system.

The Minister noted that the previous PPP/C Government had commenced addressing the issue of backlog cases in the High Court.

Dr. Singh, told the National Assembly however that the efforts were not

sustained by the former government, resulting in serious implications for the justice system as well as the security sector, post-2015.

As a result, the Minister said that “Over the mediumterm, we will re-prioritize the issue of reducing backlog cases, with particular emphasis on cases at the Court of Appeal.”

During his presentation,

Dr. Singh underscored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on services offered via the judiciary.

According to Dr. Singh, t h e p a n demic brought additional pressures on the limited capacity of the justice sector actors. “…There have been reports that the pandemic has brought more disruptions with families and domestic violence has taken on new proportions,” he said, adding that there will be support for the continued reform of the legislative environment and improve the accountability of the criminal justice system.

The new administration, Dr. Singh emphasized intends to pay more than lip

service when it comes to seriously modernizing the justice sector and making government systems more accessible, inclusive and open to all.

Further, he announced that in 2021, an allocation $1.2 billion for the construction and equipping of new courtrooms, as well as living quarters, supporting facilities at locations including Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Vigilance.

“This will reduce travel time and cost for citizens requiring the services of the courts. In an innovative response, container courtrooms were established to conduct virtual courtroom

system at the Lusignan Prison, all in an effort to align with the safety measures instituted in our fight against COVID,” the Minister added, in reading this year's budget.

In addition, Minister Singh announced initiatives for the improvement at the New Amsterdam, Mazaruni and Camp Street Prisons.

He said that plans are in place for the establishment of more courts along the populated East Bank corridor.

As it relates to the work of the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Minister said that over (continued on page 16)

Taxes accounted for 96 percent of Central Govt. revenue last year

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ccording to Senior Minister w i t h Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, who presented the 2021 Budget yesterday in the National A s s e m b l y, C e n t r a l Government's revenue for 2020 totalled $227.4 billion.

The Minister was keen to note that tax collection accounted for 96 percent of this revenue, amounting to $218.3 billion.

Dr. Singh said that the increase in tax revenue above the 2020 Budget estimate was the result of higher-than-projected collections from internal revenue and excise taxes, which grew by $6 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively. As it relates to internal revenue, the Minister said that this was higher on account of larger-than-expected collections from private sector corporation tax and PAYE, which were $3.7 billion and $1.3 billion respectively above the budget forecast.

The Minister was keen to note as well that the increase in excise tax collections above the budget projection is mainly the result of higher-than-anticipated collections from the importation of petroleum products and motor vehicles.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

In contrast, he told members of the House that collections from VAT (net of refunds) were $2.8 billion lower than the Budget 2020 projection, on account of lower collections from both imported goods and domestically supplied goods of $2.4 billion and $368.3 million respectively.

S i m i l a r l y, M i n i s t e r Singh said that customs and trade tax collections were below the 2020 forecast by $1.3 billion, largely attributed to lower collections of import duties.

As for non-tax revenues for 2020, this totalled $9.1

billion. The variance when compared with 2020 could be attributed to lower dividends received from the non-financial public enterprise, the official expressed.

Turning his attention to Central Government expenditure for 2020, Dr. Singh said that this totalled $325.5 billion, $5.2 billion above the allocation provided for in Budget 2020.

When compared with the Budget 2020 estimate, he said that non-interest expenditure was $1.6 billion higher than expected, on account of larger outlays on other goods and services and transfer payments.

Dr. Singh said that the increase in other goods and services was mainly on account of the payment of $6 billion for electricity arrears owed by various government agencies. He noted as well that the growth in transfer payments arose from the roll out of COVID19 relief and support cash grant.

As regards interest payments, he said that these were $394.9 million lower than the projection made at the time of Budget 2020.

In conclusion, Minister Singh said that capital expenditure reached $76.1 billion at the end of 2020.

Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

President Irfaan Ali must keep his promise!

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eferring to the attempts to rig t h e 2 0 2 0 elections and the five-month electoral impasse, President Irfaan Ali said that the nation was at a crossroad of its history. But all he could say in relation to this is that those responsible for attempting to thwart democracy would be held accountable.

Not many Guyanese are certain about the nation being at a crossroad when it comes to democracy. The facts do not support the view of the President that the nation was at a democratic crossroad.

There were predictions, even before the elections, that the APNU+AFC, once it got in, it would not surrender political power. It was felt in many circles that the APNU+AFC always had a Plan B should the elections not go in its favour.

APNU leaders were at the PNC/R's Command Centre on election's night when the statements of polls began to trickle in. They had to know by daybreak that they had lost the elections.

They did not need Mingo to tell them that.

One supporter of the APNU+AFC appeared on social media the morning after the elections. She was teary-eyed and emotional and was saying, “Dem say that the PPP win de elections.” And then she

Dem

boys seh...

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merica gat about 20 million people wukkin in health care and in dem care homes. Dat include even dem cleaners and drivers. Dat is about one person to every 17 persons in de population. Dat is far too high a number but its show why it gan tek another month fuh de vaccine fuh start fuh wuk.

Guyana nah even know exactly how much healthcare workers it gat in de country. Uncle Frank could only hazard an estimate. He seh de estimate is about 22,000. Dat is about one in every 34 persons which is too low and which

burst into hysterical bawling, which then morphed into a vicious attack on Granger.

She instructed him “If yuh gat to rig it, rig it.” And then she went on a vicious rant threatening violence against the PPP/C supporters and even against its presidential candidate, now President Irfaan Ali. But the APNU+AFC did not need her to tell it to rig the elections. That plan was most likely already in motion.

It did not succeed because of a combination of both external and internal forces. The PPP/C was not standing for it; the Guyanese people were not standing for it; and the international c o m m u n i t y, i n c l u d i n g Caricom, was not going to condone it.

The PPP was not the same PPP as in the past.

Under Ali, it had changed.

The younger generation of PPP/C leaders, led by Ali, decided that they were not accepting any rigged elections. They exposed what was taking place at the Ashmin's Headquarters. And because of social media, this was being streamed and otherwise relayed live to the rest of the world and the country. The evidence was unchallengeable.

The new guard in the PPP/C was not going to allow a return to

dictatorship. They came out and protested, including blocking roads. But they also came out and defended democracy by guarding the ballot boxes. A number of individuals in civil society, including Bryan Max, who said that he was prepared to defend the country from electoral banditry, even if he had to stand alone, joined them.

That sort of defiance has never deterred the PNC/R. But this time around, even the majority of the APNU+AFC supporters were not interested in trying to steal the elections. An overwhelming majority of the APNU+AFC supporters preferred to win, but to do so fairly and squarely. And so unlike in the past, the APNU+AFC found that they could not muster the support to take to the streets in the massive numbers they had done in the past. And so it resorted to legal challenges to attempt a constitutional putsch.

The international community would have none of it. The representatives of the western nations and the international observers saw with their own eyes the most transparent attempt ever to steal an election. They made it clear that the BINGO numbers were not credible.

After the recount established electoral fabrication by GECOM, no less a person

Will China triple de amount of vaccines dem promised? explains why healthcare in de mess it in today in Guyana.

And dat is why dem boys does tell dem school children fuh go and study fuh become doctor, nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians.

Yuh bound fuh get wuk in Guyana. De pay low but nuff a dem health staff does go to wuk late, tek long lunch breaks and leff early.

Dem boys hear how de government get some vaccines from Barbados.

And people start to thank Mia for de donation. But dem boys know dat is really Caricom staff she interested in getting vaccinated. And dat is why dem get special

preference fuh de vaccines ahead of dem old people wah need it mo.

But is only 1,500 people gan get de vaccine. So for now is only dem wah wukkin' pun de COVID-19 frontline gan get it. De rest of de 21,000 gan gat to wait pun de Chinese vaccine.

Dem boys hoping dat now dat Guyana de-recognise Taiwan dat China gan triple de amount dem promise because it nah gan do fuh dem health workers and fuh dem old people wah we gat.

Talk half and hope Rowley send a consignment of vaccines fuh dem hundreds of Trinis wah wukkin hay!

than the United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo called on Granger to step aside. Any possibility of the pro-PNC military attempting a coup was blocked, when the diplomats met with the high command of the army.

The Guyanese people learnt an important lesson during the five months when it was held to ransom by the would-be-riggers. The lesson was that were it not for this combination of factors, the APNU+AFC would have returned Guyana

to the dark ages of political dictatorship and, with it, economic destitution.

President Ali promised on Thursday that the country would hold accountable those responsible for attempting to thwart democracy.

If he is serious, he should take immediate steps to institute a commission of inquiry into the elections, for experts to investigate and prosecute electoral fraud but, more importantly, the PPP should sustain its lobby to ensure that the visa bans

imposed on those responsible for undermining democracy are never restored.

Those guilty of undermining democracy must never again be able to set foot in the United States.

Never ever! Nor must they be allowed to have anything to do with elections in Guyana. Their rightful place is at Sibley Hall.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Saturday February 13, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

On the seawall, Friday morning: This is what Guyana has become W

hat I describe below is not something that should surprise you.

This is the nature of Guyanese. This is what the people of this country have become. I once wrote that I am truly amazed at the huge number of luxury cars I see entering Giftland and Massy Supermarket when I am walking my dog. I take my dog to those two places quite often.

As I look at these people,

complete amusement takes over my soul because I know they have everything outside but nothing inside. Now here is what I saw on the Eve Leary seawall at 9am yesterday. I was on the wall itself and the dog was ahead of me. When I reached the section of the Eve Leary Police Station, which is where the finger print department is (not on Camp Road but directly on the seawall road), the dog stopped to smell under an

almond tree.

On the road was parked a car that I took no notice of.

As I monitored my dog, a well-dressed Indian young lady, opened the front passenger door, and laid on the side of the road, against the wall, a black plastic bag with garbage including bottles that sounded as if they broke when she threw them away.

Looking back at my dog, she was quite settled under the tree and I put my face in

full view of the car while standing on the wall. There was a neatly dressed Indian man at the wheel. I gesticulated with my hand with anger on my face, yelling to them to pick it up. I saw the licence plate. This was one of the most expensive European model vehicles in Guyana.

I cannot publish the number because the guy will sue. The police have surveillance cameras at the “Bandstand” that look eastwards. So the police video would have captured the licence number. His wife or his girlfriend threw garbage on the roadway opposite a place you don't dare do that – the head office of the CID, and if I cite the licence plate number, he will sue. As day passes into night, this guy will file a libel writ.

I insisted that these philistines, who were all dressed up in luxury clothing retrieve their garbage. There was no movement in the vehicle except the driver kept waving to me with an intestinal yet idiotic smile on his face. My gesticulation intensified. If they got violent with me, the police were yards away. If they drove off, I was driving

behind them while dialing 911.

The young woman opened the door and picked up her thrash. They drove off. These are the people that buy luxury goods, drive luxury vehicle, live in luxurious houses but they haven't got a soul. These are the soulless people of

Frederick Kissoon Guyana. But they are not an isolated couple. This is the level of degeneration that has occurred in Guyana, since the Walter Rodney revolution ended in his assassination.

My generation grew up in Guyana with the myths that the lower income classes b e h a v e t h i s w a y. M y generation would have argued that throwing garbage on the road is a nasty

habit you find among the people of depressed areas, low-income districts and poor rural folks. Those who still think so are fools. For each crazy, uncouth minibus driver, you see on the r o a d w a y, t h e r e i s a corresponding maniac in a private car with a whitecollar job or immense family wealth.

Don't fool yourself to think this is the way the people from south Georgetown, south of Brickdam behave. This is the way Guyanese in general behave. I have seen well-to-do people park on the seawall road, west of Camp Road. between Camp Road and the Kitty pump station and they make it difficult for you to pass – the seawall road is narrow. Yet there is a huge parapet on the seawall road to park on. Yes, I have seen the “low life types” do just that on the seawall road but I have seen the fools from the middle and upper classes do that too.

So I guess when Valentine's Day come around that couple I saw will be buying gold jewellery that will cost more than the gold bracelet David Patterson got as a gift from his own ministry workers. And as the woman opens the package to gloss over the mesmerizing, glamorous item, she will just toss the box out the window.

That night they will dine at the Marriott Hotel. God is dead, Marx is dead, Gandhi is dead, Mandela is dead and Guyana is dying.

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

Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

High Court awards Brassington in excess of $20M in lawsuit against Kaieteur News T

he High Court has awarded Winston Brassington, former Executive Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, (NICIL) a government owned investment company, $20M in a libel suit he brought against Kaieteur News.

The case is related to a series of lawsuits filed by the

former NICIL Head over the “Dem Boys Seh” articles, which he claims, contained offensive and defamatory content against him.

According to the claim, the reference in the article to “that fat crook Brazzy” in the satirical column of the newspaper meant and was understood to mean that the newspaper and its editor sought to convey that he, as

NICIL's head was “dishonest, had been guilty of criminal activity and corrupt practices” in the conduct of his work.

The projects included the award of a road construction contract for US$18M in the first phase of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, the Pradoville Two Housing Project, East Coast Demerara, and the sale of the

state-owned Sanata Textile Complex.

Kaieteur News, its publisher Glenn Lall and its former Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris were all listed as defendants in the matter.

In response to the lawsuit, the defendants had through their lawyer Nigel Hughes pleaded justification and fair comment. However, in the ruling delivered

Winston Brassington, former Executive Director of NICIL electronically by Justice Singh noted that Lall and Harris insisted on asserting the truth of the libel by pleading a defence of justification and of fair comment despite there being no factual basis for such a defence.

Additionally, the judge n o t e d M r. L a l l acknowledged that the Plaintiff requested a retraction, stating “I did receive a letter from the Plaintiff asking for a retraction but noted that the defendants refused to retract the libel.

“The defendants have not apologised or expressed any regret over the

publication of the libel,” Brassington added.

Given the circumstances, Justice Singh outlined $10M was assessed for aggravated damages.

F u r t h e r, t h e C o u r t awarded the sum of $10 M damages for defamation to Brassington against the defendants jointly and severally.

The Court also awarded with interest on the said award at the rate of 6% per annum from July 30th 2014 to February 12th 2021 and 4% per annum thereafter until fully paid in addition to another $1M as costs to the plaintiff against the defendants jointly and severally.

In his judgment, Justice Singh outlined too, that in assessing the appropriate quantum of damages in the case, the Court took into consideration that the libel attacked the plaintiff's personal integrity and professional reputation; the plaintiff was a very public figure serving in an office that essentially; handled matters of public concern; this indeed makes the libel very grave.

Added to this, the Court considered the nature of the libel was bound to cause distress, hurt and humiliation of Brassington.

Man who falsely claimed he was robbed of car, charged

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man, who falsely claimed that he was robbed of his motor vehicle, yesterday made his first court appearance and was placed on $30,000 bail.

The defendant, Shameer Mingo, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Court before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on November 16, 2020, at East La Penitence, G e o rg e t o w n , h e g a v e information to Detective Corporal, Harvey, that he was allegedly robbed knowing same to be false, causing Corporal Harvey to do what he ought not to do.

The court heard that on the day in question, Mingo went to the East La Penitence Police Station and made a report to Corporal Harvey that he was allegedly robbed of his motor vehicle, PKK 475, at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown.

An investigation was launched, and it revealed that the information Mingo gave to the police officer was false. Mingo was later arrested and he reportedly gave a statement admitting to the offence and he was subsequently charged.

Senior Magistrate Daly, granted the defendant bail and the matter was adjourned to February 19, 2021, for report and fixture.

Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

Govt. budgets $750M for COVID-19 vaccine procurement T

he government plans to use $750 million in 2021 for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines to immunize Guyana's population.

The announcement was made by the Senior Minister within the Office of the President with the responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh, as he presented the 2021 Budget in the National Assembly yesterday.

While announcing allocations for the health sector, Singh noted that the COVID-19 pandemic would have impacted Guyana's health sector tremendously and the rest of health sectors in the rest of the world. In light of that, his government has sought to get ahead of the pandemic by increasing testing and surveillance c a p a c i t y, a s s i s t i n g households and they are now striving to procure thousands of vaccines to immunize the population against the virus.

He stated that the speed of time in which herd immunity will be achieved is still unknown and his administration was faced with combating unknowns with limited fiscal resources given that the public treasury would have been depleted over the past five years. “But recover we must and recover we will,” Singh stated.

He noted that when his administration took office in August the infection levels were higher, with low levels of testing. According to Singh, some 21 tests were

being conducted daily which was increased to 200 when the new administration took office in August.

Further, Singh stated that his government has been clear and unwavering in its commitment to put frontline workers first as they combat the pandemic. He reflected on Thursday's events where the government kick started immunization with frontline workers from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and the Liliendaal Infectious Disease Hospital better known as the Ocean View COVID-19 Hospital. Those vaccines came as a donation from Barbados, in 3,000 doses.

He went on to say that frontline workers, the elderly and persons with comorbidities are of top priority for immunization and the administration will continue in a phased approach.

Notably, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, stated earlier this week that the government is hoping to have all Guyanese vaccinated by year-end. The government has already announced that they will be purchasing 140,000 doses of vaccines through an agreement with CARICOMAfrican Union. It was also disclosed that the government is utilizing bilateral relations to obtain vaccines. So far, they have already engaged the government of Russia and China.

Notably, apart from

Two Region Four males die from COVID-19

T

he Ministry of Health yesterday reported two new COVID-19 deaths; an 84year-old male and a 59-yearold male both from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

In its press release, it was revealed that both men died while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

Their deaths were recorded as the 185th and 186th COVID-19 fatalities.

Further, the Ministry also reported 46 new cases

via its daily dashboard update yesterday with the confirmed case toll increased to 8,181.

The dashboard shows that seven patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 666 in home isolation, 41 in institutional isolation and 25 in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, a total of 7,281 persons have recovered from the virus with 124 new recoveries recorded yesterday.

procurement, the country is also expected to benefit from a donation of vaccines from the COVAX Facility to cover 20% of the population. That will be 104,000 doses.

A donation of 20,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine is also expected to come from the Government of China.

PAGE 13

Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Government earmarks $53.5B for health sector

T

he Government has earmarked $53.5 billion in the 2021 National Budget for Guyana's health sector. The announcement was made by the Senior Minister within the Office of the President with the responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh yesterday, as he revealed the

2021 Budget in the National Assembly.

Singh stressed the state of the health sector that his administration inherited upon assuming office in August. “Mr. Speaker, the year 2020 was an indelibly challenging one for the world in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

Government assumed office and inherited a public health sector which was struggling to respond to the crisis.”

He listed drug shortages, the lack of functioning medical equipment among issues that were dominant in the public health sector, stating that it resulted in the further deterioration of the already ailing health system.

Singh further stated that his administration is aiming to transform the healthcare system with world-class standards driving their actions over the next five years.

To do so, he stated that the government will expand specialty level care leading to a wider array of services being offered to Guyanese; develop an “adequate, welltrained, competent, and compassionate” healthcare workforce; and modernize and expand the health facilities across the country.

The government also intends to bolster partnerships with the private sector and civil societies in the country to deliver on their commitments.

In light of the aforementioned, Singh announced that $1.8 billion will be spent to purchase critical medical equipment for the public health sector.

Under the $1.8 billion, $99.8 million is being budgeted to re-equip the ophthalmology hospital in Port Mourant, which is the only one of its

kind in Guyana. Further, Singh stated that the government also intends to spend $322 million to acquire medical equipment like ventilators and anaesthesia machines. This he said will expand the diagnosis and treatment capacity at the National Referral Hospital.

A sum of $35 million was earmarked to strengthen the capacity of emergency medical services and a holistic plan to introduce an ambulance authority is also being formulated.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e government is also focusing on the improvement of mental health in the 2021 Budget. Singh shared that in striving to ensure greater resilience and access to mental health services at a national level, the government will construct an 18-bed mental health ward at the National Referral Hospital at the tune of $26 million. A review and revision of the outdated Mental Health Act of 1930 will also be done as it was “sorely overlooked” by words of Singh.

Over $140 million will also be spent to finance the maternal waiting homes and facilities at Moruca, Enmore, and Kato and the New Amsterdam hospital will see an injection of $100 million for the construction and retrofitting of the maternity ward and wing.

Kaieteur News

Saturday February 13, 2021

PAGE 15

Woman stabs boyfriend to death during a heated row - neighbours say she was the aggressor in the relationship

N

ine months after losing the house he lived in to a fire, Anthony Giddings called “Big Head” of Lot 14 Pitt Street, New Amsterdam was stabbed to death by the woman he lived with.

After the house was burnt to the ground, Giddings took up residence with his alleged killer at a building that was once the People's Progressive Party town office, but things took a turn yesterday when an a rg u m e n t t u r n e d i n t o bloodshed and subsequent death.

In custody is Anita Hanoman, 43 and unemployed. Reports are that the couple has been living together for the past four years. Hanoman told police that Giddings has been abusive towards her for some time now and would

Arrested: Anita Hanoman assault her on many occasions when he drinks alcohol or smokes. She added that she once suffered a broken arm when he assaulted her on the public

Deceased: Anthony Giddings

street and that yesterday morning the situation escalated.

Hanoman said that they were at home and Giddings requested a lighter from her.

After she told him there wasn't any, she said he reportedly became annoyed and an argument erupted.

She said he pulled a knife from his waist and

threatened to stab her but she ran out on the street and managed to grab the knife from him.

She said she dealt him two stabs to his left side chest to defend herself. Hanoman said she then ran to the Central Police Station and made a report after she saw him bleeding.

He was subsequently taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he was seen and examined by a doctor and later pronounced dead while receiving treatment.

Meanwhile at the scene yesterday, a police mobile patrol arrived at the location with the suspect. She detailed to the ranks what took place and showed them where the fight started and where it ended.

She was clad in plaid shorts and a red top.

Hanoman appeared to be disoriented and was also barefooted. Neighbours came out of their houses and videoed the woman as she showed the police what took place and where.

Persons shouted “Why you kill he Anita?” and “He use to make sure you get ting fuh eat”, as she went silent and bowed her head.

A neighbour who asked not to be identified said that the woman was usually the aggressor in the relationship when “they smoke up”. The neighbour said that “He was a very very good person, he helped out alot. If you send he ten times to the shop he will go. I was so shocked when I woke up this morning and heard”.

The suspect is said to be cooperating with the police and is expected to be charged soon.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Saturday February 13, 2021

Trio abandoned in Corentyne waters...

Persons found died from asphyxiation and drowning; three now in custody Drowned: Babuni Harihar

Drowned: Alwin Joseph

P

ost mortem examinations conducted on the bodies of the two persons found after being abandoned in the Corentyne River, revealed that they both died from asphyxiation and drowning. The bodies of Alwin Joseph, of No. 65 Village, Upper Corentyne, and Babuni Harihar, 75, were discovered hours apart at separate locations.

Harihar was found on the No. 70 foreshore while Joseph was found on the No. 61 foreshore.

Missing: Sherida Hussein Harirar and Joseph were dropped off at a sandbank in the river Tuesday around 02:00 am along with Sherida Hussein after returning from a backtrack trip to neighbouring Suriname.

Police have so far been unable to locate Hussein, but did manage to find her belongings which included her ID card. The autopsies were conducted by government Pathologist, Dr. Vivekanand Bridgemohan, yesterday at the Anthony's Funeral Home, Brighton Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Meanwhile, there are now three persons in custody in Suriname, including the boat operator had reportedly told authorities in Suriname that he thought he had dropped the trio off on the No. 63 beach foreshore.

Hussein's 17-year-old son has been searching with authorities for days hoping that they would find his mother, but he has since indicated yesterday that the search would be called off if her body were not found.

Hussein, 48, of Pilot Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice; Joseph, of No.65 Village and 75-year-old,

Harirar, a pensioner, had reportedly boarded the boat in Nickerie, Suriname and were en route back to Guyana.

Kaieteur News was informed that sometime around 06:00 hrs. and 06:30 hrs., a fisherman by the name of Ramdial Lakeraj, of Middle Dam, No.65 Village, Upper Corentyne, and his son, Danraj Lakeraj, stumbled upon the body of a male on the No.60 foreshore.

They made contact with the police who arrived at the scene shortly after. The police are said to have examined the body and no marks of violence were noticed. The body was subsequently identified as Alwin Joseph by a family friend.

Just about two hours later, the police were again summoned to a location at No.70 Village by another fisherman of Lot 181 No.70 Village, Upper Corentyne.

He had reported that he discovered the body of a female lying between a clump of bushes along the beach shore. The hands and feet of the body were peeled and based on an on-the-spot examination by authorities who arrived at the location; there were no visible marks of violence on the body.

A black and white Adidas haversack was found not far from the body, containing a quantity of clothing and a Guyana ID with the name 'Sookranie Harry.' Also just about 400 meters away, a black travelling bag and a black purse were found. That also contained clothing and a Guyana ID with the name Babuni Harihar. That body was identified by Harirar's g r a n d d a u g h t e r, N a d i r a Valdez.

Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Removal of VAT on residential, individual data will provide much-needed costs savings to Guyanese - Enetworks - Intends to continue leading transformation of Guyana's ICT sector

E

-Networks, a 100% Guyanese owned and managed telecoms provider, yesterday lauded the Government of Guyana on removing Value Added Tax (VAT) from residential and individual data services.

In fulfilling a manifesto promise, the telecoms company said that the Government has introduced this initiative at a crucial time when the demand for quality internet services is driven by the pandemic-related shift to virtual work, education, and entertainment.

This move, the company said, will reduce the overall cost of these services, will provide much-needed costs savings to Guyanese, and strongly signals the Government's support of the sector's growth and development.

Further to this, Enetworks noted that over the past year, COVID-19 has highlighted the need for internet services to be affordable as well as fast, reliable and of sufficient quality to support online learning, collaboration, and video services. It said that these bandwidth-intensive

applications have become essential to those working and learning from home. In fact, the telecoms provider said that its affordability is a key concern, especially for many Guyanese who have been financially impacted by the pandemic.

E-Networks was keen to note that it has sought to address these pain points by introducing the best value internet services on the market to home users.

The company reminded that it offers the fastest internet services in Guyana at the lowest prices.

In appreciation for this measure that will enhance these services' affordability, E-Networks also expressed its commitment to continue leading the transformation of Guyana's ICT sector through innovation.

During its 17 year existence, the company has significantly contributed to the industry's progression by introducing many new technologies. More recently, ENetworks has been leading the transformation of Guyana's internet sector through its Xlink international cable and 5G network, which has

allowed the company to offer increased bandwidths at lower prices.

E-Networks said it remains focused on bringing to Guyana the latest advancements in the global sector, such as cloud services and expanding its 5G network, so that Guyanese benefit from its transformational power.

E-Networks CEO, Vishok Persaud, receives E-Networks' telecoms licence after liberalisation in October 2020

Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Police sergeant shoots reputed wife to the neck after she ended relationship Suspect: Colin Whyte

Injured: Shonetta James

A

police sergeant, on Thursday night, reportedly shot his reputed wife to her neck, and dropped her off at a hospital after she ended the relationship with him.

The suspect has been identified as Colin Whyte, the station sergeant for the Blairmont Police Station, and the injured woman has been identified as Shonetta James, a Special Constable, who shared a four-year

relationship with Whyte and has two children together.

According to a police report, the incident happened around 20:30 hrs. at Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice.

The report stated that Whyte went to James' home and that's where she told him that the relationship was over due to the c o n t i n u o u s misunderstandings.

An argument ensued

between the two and Whyte allegedly whipped out a handgun and discharged a round in James' direction, which struck her to the neck.

Whyte then rushed James to the Fort Wellington hospital and left shortly after.

The woman was seen by a doctor on duty and she was then transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where she underwent surgery and her condition is

listed as stable.

The matter was reported and senior police officers visited the scene of the crime where they collected evidence.

Whyte was later arrested, told of the allegation and cautioned.

The report stated that Whyte denied the allegation and was placed under close arrest. The investigation into the shooting incident is ongoing.

Kaieteur News

Saturday February 13, 2021

Teen who tried to extort $10M from ex-boyfriend with rape allegation, remanded Remanded: Princess Williams

A

19-year-old woman was yesterday remanded to prison after she pleaded guilty to attempting to extort $10M from her exboyfriend, by claiming that she would make a police report saying that he attempted to rape her.

The defendant, Princess Williams, of 3127 Block Three, Providence, East Bank Demerara, made her first court appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Unrepresented Williams pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that between January 4, and January 7, 2021, at Georgetown, with

intent to extort from Kenrick Thomas $10M, she threatened to accuse him of attempting to rape her.

According to the facts of the charge that was presented to the court by the Police Prosecutor, Williams and Thomas shared a four months relationship. On January 4, 2021, Thomas invited Williams to his home.

While at Thomas' home he asked Williams to engage in sexual intercourse and she consented. An argument ensued however after and the relationship ended.

The court heard that Williams later contacted Thomas and sent him a voice note in which she claimed that he tried to rape her and if he

$4.6B budget announced...

From page 8 $100M will benefit the expansion of the office space to house more prosecutors, who currently are unable to be hired currently.

“An additional 10 legal staff will be hired, which will allow the DPP to address a larger case load over a shorter period of time and address the current backlog.

Further, we will procure software to better manage cases through their entire process,” Dr. Singh said, noting that a sum is also earmarked for the maintenance of infrastructure and buildings for Supreme Court and DPP. In conclusion on his remarks on delivery of justice, the Minister spoke of $325M budget for

interventions, including strengthening of probation services and legal aid, this year. He noted too that this year, the long-awaited Law Reform Commission will be established, charting the way to advance our legislative agenda.

“We have also initiated a programme with the University of Guyana, which will see our law graduates who are unable to attend the Hugh Wooding Law School, being trained to prosecute alongside public and police prosecutors.

These candidates will be deployed to court houses throughout Guyana, augmenting the current complement of prosecutors, thereby reducing the time taken to administer related legal services,” added Dr. Singh.

didn't pay her the sum of $10M, she would report the matter to the police.

Thomas reported the matter to the police and an investigation was launched.

Williams was later arrested and charged with extortion.

Senior Magistrate Daly remanded Williams to prison and the matter was adjourned to March 1, 2021, for a probation report and sentencing.

PAGE 19

$1.9B estimated for fire service

T

he government, in its annual budget presentation held yesterday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, has estimated that the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) will need $1.9B to execute its plans for the year 2021.

According to Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni K. Singh, GFS will need that money for major inventions.

One of those inventions, he said, is the relocation of the Central Fire Station located at the Stabroek Market.

The idea of decentralizing the central fire station was explained recently by Former Fire Chief, Retired, Marlon Gentle.

Gentle was at the time being interviewed by reporters at the scene of a fire on January 8, which gutted a section of the Fogarty's building located on Water Street.

The now retired Fire Chief had told reporters that talks had been made with Home Affairs Minister, to have the Central Fire Station decentralized because of the heavy traffic congestion in the area.

Gentle made the

comment after he lamented that it took the fire department eight minutes to respond to the fire at Fogarty's, which is less than half a mile away from the Central Fire Station.

Apart from plans to relocate the fire station to improve response time, and efficiency, Singh added in his presentation that part of that money will be needed build a new fire Station in Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

GFS is also expected to procure six new fire tenders and two ambulances to complement its fleet this year.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Saturday February 13, 2021

$5.1B allocated to strengthen sea, river defences T

he People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government, with aims of strengthening Guyana's river and sea defence, has allocated $5.1B to repair and preserve those same areas.

During yesterday's 2021budget presentation, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh,

reminded the National Assembly and listeners of the consequences of climate change, including rising sea levels on Guyana's sea and river defence infrastructure.

With this, the Senior Minister added that these consequences “can have devastating impact on Guyana's economy since most of its inhabitants are on the low lying coastal plain.”

In his presentation he

continued, “Within two days o f t a k i n g o ff i c e , o u r Ministers were deployed to Dantzig, to grapple with the devastation of massive breached sections of the Mahaicony sea defence.

Floodwaters inundated farmlands and residential communities resulting in loss to property, livestock and farming activities. The previous administration was negligent in anticipating and

addressing the situation adequately, causing the new Government to deploy emergency arrangements to seal the breach, which had remained opened and threatening for over one month previously.”

With aims of addressing this, Dr, Singh indicated for 2021, a total of $5.1 billion has been budgeted to further strengthen our sea and river defence infrastructure. He

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, delivers the $383.1 billion 2021 budget added that earmarked for this year is the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of sea and river defence infrastructure in areas including villages like Dantzig, Prospect, Content, Fairfield, Zealand, Cane Garden, Uitvlugt, Anna Catherina, Number 63 Beach, Manila, and Bygeval.

The Minister mentioned too that government continues to keep close monitoring of our shoreline, by reactivating the sea defence rangers, applying drone technology to monitor shoreline movement and the erosion and accretion cycle, intensifying routine maintenance, and deploying stockpiles of armour rocks to strategic locations, to ensure that quick response mechanisms are in place to

avert breaches.

“As we continue to make strident steps to protect our vulnerable shoreline,” Dr. Singh said, “we have found that existing conventional hard-infrastructure solutions are expensive and are not adaptable to rising sea levels and climate change vulnerabilities.

It is for this reason that we intend to promote natural interventions in the form of groynes and restored mangrove forests from replanting and natural regeneration, to complement our significant investment in hard-structures.”

Against this, the Minister indicated that in 2021, $50 million is budgeted to construct geotextile rubble groynes, and to conduct topographic surveys.

Kaieteur News

Saturday February 13, 2021

Body of minibus driver found in Linden Blue Lake

T

he search for 25y e a r- o l d E u s i Lindo, a minibus driver, last evening came to an end after his body was found in Blue Lake, Richmond Hill, Linden.

Lindo of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, has been missing since Thursday last.

According to a police report, Lindo, his girlfriend and a group of friends travelled to Linden on Thursday afternoon. The crew stopped at Blue Lake and then went for a swim.

Lindo's girlfriend told the police that around 12:30 hrs. she and Lindo were in the water when she heard loud splashing coming from behind her.

The woman stated, that when she turned around she saw her boyfriend's hand stretching out so she immediately grabbed onto his hand. The report stated

Dead: Eusi Lindo

that the woman said that unfortunately Lindo was pulling her down so she freed her hand and swam away.

According to the girlfriend, she then looked back and saw her boyfriend's hand one last time before his

body went under and never came back up.

An alarm was raised and the police were later summoned to the scene. A search party was launched but Lindo's body was not found until 19:35hrs, last evening.

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Saturday February 13, 2021 LEGAL NOTICE

WANTED We buy land farm, Mocha, Herstelling Providence. Between 5-10 Million 266-0693

LEARN TO DRIVE N.Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square.Affordable Package.Call#644-5166/6912561/681-2808.

FOR SALEFOR SALE

Past CXC Maths and English papers (2010-2020: paper 1 and 2) and CSEC text books for all CSEC subjects 6039085 One 65 K.V.A 3 phase, silence in excellent working condition for $1.5M Guyana dollars, contact club Martini Call 6237805/ 649-0329

VACANCY

Lathe operator and welder S. Sawh machine shop Contact 645-9333

Delivery riders- countrywide- 120 Jobs available to ride company owned motorbikes Call 658-9124 or jobs@gorchum.com

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

Pump attendant shifts (6am2pm & 2pm- 10pm) shell service station providence E.B.D E m a i l : Shellramsburg@gmail.com Vacancy exist for the following positions: 1 civil engineer, 1 secretary. Call 608 2114 Pitmen for interior location.

Application must be experienced. Call 231-2250 Live in domestic must know to cook. 25 - 45 yrs. salary 25,000 weekly Tel#610-3974 Vacancy for carpenter & masons $7,000 - $8,000 per day Call 650-1394 Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area Call: 615-9132 One general domestic apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb street Bourda

FOR RENT Space available at Zeelugt public Road E.B.E second floor 4000 sq st, third floor 4000 sq ft Contact 650-0402/ 260-4988 FOR SALE/RENT Large property with huge concrete bond, prime location Cumberland, Canje. ideal for Business. Sale or rent Call 679-2497

Mini Bus & Hire Car Driver Call#225-3234, 225-9223 Labours, maintainance workers office clerk to work for P.S.G.C.S Contact 621-6969/ 615-7784 Able Bodied Porter boys Call 676-0806 Experience Salesgirls Call 6760806

For Sale or rent, good for business - 4.018 acres of prime land in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Call 679-2497 PROPERTY FOR SALE

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Need Financing, bank and customs problem? Call: 2319020

Diamond East Bank 2 story 2nd ave 5 self contained bedrooms semi furnissh price $97M neg Tel#665-6693/ 6257858 191 century palm Gardens, Geogetown 3250 sq ft of living space, 3 storey 5 bedrooms 2 baths. Price $60m Contact 614-9610/ 225-2089 LAND FOR SALE E.B.D Bachelor's adventure, north 180 x 277 = 38000 SQ FT $34M. Nismes 3M continental Park 21M Mahacia 60Acre 15M. Call 231-2199/ 618-7483

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TO LET 2 bedroom Appartment in Eccles, Rooms in Albertown Call 225-3234

One (1) male able bodied clerk call: 225-2313/ 226-1497 Water truck driver needed Call: 686-9292/ 662-7682 Taxi driver for new taxi services Tel#653-4318 Boys & Girls for interior Tel#687-7638/ 670-1641 One live-in Domestic Tel#687-7638/ 670-1641

county of Demerara, Guyana shown and defined on a plan by , Sworn Land Surveyor dated 30th day of November, 2020 and recorded in the Department of Lands and Survey. on the 11th day of December. 2020 as Plan number 75937.

MEMORANDUM The address for s::ryice of the Petitioner is at the .Chambers of her Attorneyat-Law, Ms. Kean Trotman of Lot 18 Lyng Street Charlestown, Georgetown Demerara, Guyana.

DEMERARA IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICAT1JRF CIVIL JURISDICTION DECLARATION OF TITLE NOTICEROXANNE SEMPLE-BRO\VNE also known as ROXANNE SEMPLE Of 956 E 107 street, Brooklyn New York 11236 United States of America and of lot 24 Cholmondeley

Wanted one matured sales Alley. Christianburg, Wismar. Linden. Guyana has person Call 680-7402 presented a Petition for a Declaration of Title by LEGAL NOTICE prescription of land as described in the Any 2021- HC-Dem- C7VNo.P-1 person(s) intending to DEMERARA oppose the said Petition IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF must. within one month alter the date of the first JUDICATURE publication of thisnotice. file CIVIL JURISDICTION DECLARATION OF TITLE in heRegistry of Court in the City of Georgetown Notice NOTICEROXANNE of his/her opposition and an SEMPLE-BROWNE also Affidavit or Affidavits known as ROXANNE in Support thereof, and SEMPLE of 956 E 107th serve a copy of the Notice Street Brooklyn New York and Affidavit(s) upon the 11236 United States of said ROXANNE SEMIPLEAmerica and of lot 24 BROWNE also known as Cholrnoudeley Alley.

ROXANNE SEMPLE . The Christianburg. Wismar, said petition is accompanied Linden. Guyana has by a plan of the land claimed presented a Petition for a which may Declaration of Title by Dated at Georgetown. prescription of land as DemeraraThis 4th day of described in the Schedule January, 2021Ms. Kean hereunder. Any person(s) Trotman Attorney-at-law for intending to oppose the the Petitioner said Petition must, within one month after the date of SCHEDULE“Plot - LF being the first publication of this a portion of ‘D’ Lot 24 being notice, file in the Registry of a partofSectionB’ Court in the City of Christianburg, Linden Georgetown Notice of his/ situated the Left Bank of her opposition and an Demerara River in the Affidavit or Affidavits’ county of Demerara, Guyana in Support thereof, and shown and defined on a serve a copy of the Notice plan by W.M Cole Land and Affidavit(s) upon the Surveyor dated said ROXANNE SEMPLE BROWNE also known as ROXANNE SEMPLE. beinspected at the said Registry during office hours a , The said Petition is accompanied by a plan of the land claimed which may Dated at Georgetown.

Demerara This 4th day of January, 2021.

Ms. Kean Trotman Attorney-at-law for the Petitioner SCHEDULE Plot ‘PF’ being a portion of “d” of Lot 24 being a part of Section ‘B’ Christianburg, Linden situate on the Left Bank of Demerara River in the

$2.7B allocated for the...

From page 3 commercialization and sustainability.

Additionally, he said that over $120 million is budgeted for capital works in support of the advancement and preservation of culture and arts, specifically: to improve seating in the lower auditorium, and sound and lighting systems of the National Cultural Centre; to improve visitors' experience at the Castellani House; to rehabilitate the dance studio of the National School of Dance and; to improve facilities elsewhere.

Further, another $36 million has been budgeted to upgrade heritage sites at Fort Nassau, Dutch Heritage Museum and the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra, to improve facilities for the promotion of our rich and diverse history.

According to Dr. Singh, $1.5 B in 2021 is to facilitate the development of sport

across our country.

“Of this amount, $915.5 M is allocated for the improvement of community grounds, countrywide, to expand their use as parks and create premium, multi-purpose, sporting facilities of international standards commencing in Regions 2, 6 and 10,” he said, adding that other improvements include the installation of lights on community grounds, laying of synthetic materials at the athletic tracks in New Amsterdam and Wismar, and upgrading of other sports facilities.

In conclusion, he said that the sum of $618M would be utilized to host tournaments, maintain sports facilities and supporting select sports associations.

“Of this amount,” the Minister stated that “$320M is budgeted towards professional training of athletes and coaches as part of the 'Sports Academy' programme.”

Make cat-calling a...

From page 5 have to learn to deal with it.”

Why should I have to deal with it if some do not know how to behave? When, would women be allowed to walk the roads, go about their daily business with ease and without having to look over their shoulders? This becomes very embarrassing when you are with your child/ children and one would think some men would have the decency to behave around children but it is just not so.

This does not stop them; instead, they even drag the child/children into their uncouth behaviour causing further embarrassment for not only the women but also their child/children.

At this point, I am not

sure where to vent and who to vent to. Is there lack in the upbringing of our boys that they fail to be “respectable men?” Are we as a society failing to instil good values in our youths? There are many answers to these questions I am certain. I am calling on the relevant authorities to look into legislation that would make the streets of Guyana safer and welcoming to women by instituting fines and penalties for those found guilty of cat-calling and sexual harassment.

I welcome the day when not just me but every woman and girl can walk the streets peacefully without being looked at as a “piece of meat”.

Yours faithfully, I. Ram

President Ali’s actions...

From page 5 forge partnerships. A question might be timely: with whom? Certainly, those are not built on what has happened in the brief time that the PPP has been in office.

Last, I notice that President Ali’s speechwriters are heavy on stirring quotes from the reputable and resonant. I like that, too.

But, sometime or the other, Guyana’s president is going to have to demonstrate concretely, what he is made of beyond quotes and words. As Christian Scriptures say, faith is good; but faith without works is dead. To put so that the president comprehends fully: words without the confirming foundations of stellar deeds, are nothing but mere words. As empty as the wind, and as hollow as the receding echoes they create in passing. I would loathe to think that Guyana’s president is just a Christmas blo-blo. And yearround , too.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Saturday February 13, 2021

Germany, fearing new coronavirus variants, imposes border checks with Austria and Czech Republic

(CNN) - Central Europe has become the continent’s latest coronavirus hotspot, with Austria struggling to contain an outbreak of the new variant first identified in South Africa and neighboring Czech Republic facing hospital bed shortages on top of a political crisis over lockdowns.

The worsening situation in the Austrian province of Tyrol and the Czech Republic forced Germany to announce new border controls with both countries to contain the spread of the disease. German Health Minister Jens Spahn said the new rules, which will come into effect on Sunday, were “unavoidable.” ‘’To protect the population from virus mutations — this is why the federal government decided yesterday to declare the Czech Republic, Tyrol and Slovakia as coronavirus variant areas,” Spahn said at a news conference Friday.

“This means there will be a ban on transportation — and without exceptions tests must be made before entering Germany — and there is an obligation to quarantine.’

Coronavirus cases have been falling in Germany recently despite the new, more contagious variants. On Friday, the country recorded 9,860 new infections — a drop of 3,048 cases compared to the same day last week. Austria and the Czech Republic have not seen similar drops in cases.

The Tyrol government said Wednesday that as of Tuesday, it had identified 438 confirmed and suspected cases of the South African variant. Scientists are concerned about this strain because its mutations appear to reduce the efficacy of some of the coronavirus vaccines.

In an attempt to contain the spread of the variant, local authorities deployed 1,200 police officers and soldiers.

Starting Friday at midnight and lasting for 10 days, they will be deployed to Tyrol’s border checkpoints to ensure that anyone trying to leave the province has a negative coronavirus test no older than 48 hours, Tyrol police

spokesman Stefan Eder told CNN. Children, freight traffic and travelers transiting through Tyrol are exempt from the rule.

Meanwhile in the Czech Republic, the parliament refused to extend the state of emergency on Thursday. As a result, many of the country’s coronavirus restrictions are set to lift automatically on Sunday when the current state of emergency expires, despite the fact that the virus continues to spread fast through the country.

Czech Health Minister Jan Blatny warned that any easing of restrictions at this point would lead to the health system being at risk of running out of capacity. That is already happening in some hospitals in the country’s westernmost Karlovarsky region.

The decision was a result of a deep political spat between the minority government, led by the populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, and the opposition, which has accused Babiš of not doing enough to contain the virus.

Among others, the opposition argued that the government’s lack of financial support for individuals and businesses impacted by the pandemic means people are not following the rules and are skipping quarantines because they cannot afford to risk losing their income.

When Babiš refused to take their proposals on board, the opposition voted against the extension of the state of emergency. The country is holding key parliamentary election later this year.

The Czech Republic has reported more than 1 million cases since the start of the pandemic, according to the country’s health ministry data. In terms of Covid-19 deaths per 100,000 people, it is the fifth worst in the world, after San Marino, Belgium, Slovenia and the United Kingdom, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That is despite the country escaping the first wave of the pandemic last spring relatively unscathed.

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday February 13, 2021

Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Haiti football abuse investigation: FIFA suspends head of Referees - Rosnick Grant cannot work in football for 90 days The Guardian - Fifa has suspended the Haitian Football Federation’s (FHF) head of referees, Rosnick Grant, from all football-related activities for 90 days as it continues to investigate allegations of sexual abuse.

Grant, a former international referee who is now president

of the FHF’s referees’ commission (Cona) and a vice-president of the FHF, was contacted at the end of August by Fifa’s ethics committee and asked to provide a written statement as part of their investigation.

A statement on Wednesday confirmed that he has now been suspended, with Grant having already been notified of the decision.

The statement said: “In accordance with articles 84 and 85 of the Fifa code of eth-

ics, the investigatory chamber of the independent ethics committee has provisionally banned Mr Rosnick Grant, a member of the nowdissolved executive committee and the head of refereeing of the Haitian Football

Association (FHF), from all football-related activities at both national and international level for a period of 90 days.

This sanction has been imposed in connection with ongoing investigations concerning Mr Grant.”

It is understood that several alleged victims have already provided evidence to Fifa

about Grant, who spent 16 years as a referee before being appointed as Cona president in 2009 and is responsible for the appointment of referees in Haiti’s domestic leagues.

They have claimed that he intimidated young officials by threatening to end their careers if they did not have sex with him. ”He harassed us,” one alleged victim who did not want to be named told the Guardian in September.

“If you want to have a career, to referee tournaments, the only person who can make that happen is Grant.

He uses it as a leverage.

To be selected, we have some

tests, physical for example.

Some girls passed the test but they’re not selected.

We have some girls who didn’t go to the physical test but are still selected because they sleep with Grant.

It’s very simple.”

In September Grant said he did not want to respond to questions from the Guardian detailing the allegations made against him.

“Unfortunately, I cannot speak with you, because I am discussing with another institution on this subject,” he said. “Please understand that confidentiality is required.

Sorry.”

Former FHF president Yves Jean-Bart was banned

Rosnick Grant is a vice president of the Haiti Football Federation.

(Photo: Courtesy of Rosnick Grant) for life in November after Fifa’s ethics committee found him guilty of having abused his position and sexually

Saturday February 13, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may feel a bit protective today, Aries, and with good reason. Others are likely to be aggressive when it comes to moving in on your territory. Be strong.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You may be a bit confused today, Taurus. More than likely, it will be hard for you to get an accurate read on your emotions. One of your automatic responses in situations like this is to turn to a close partner for advice.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Secure your emotions and make sure you're set in your mind before you take action today, Gemini. This is a terrific time to get things started.

CANCER(June21–July22) Break through the potential moodiness of the day, Can-

cer. Burst into song while walking down the street.

Encourage others to sing back to you, as if your life were an opera.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may be plagued with restlessness, Leo, to the point that you may not be able to get anything done. If you sense that this is happening to you even in the slightest degree, stop whatever you're doing and take a break.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Be careful of exerting your will too strongly toward someone who really isn't receptive to it, Virgo. Be conscious of other people's feelings. Be gentle when it comes to love and romance.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Overall, this should be a pretty good day for you, Libra, as long as you don't get

harassed and abused female players, including minors.

Fifa has also imposed temporary bans on the technical director Wilner Etienne and Nela Joseph, girls’ supervisor at the FHF’s

overly sensitive about certain things. Your awareness is bound to be extra sharp today, so use this ability to stay alert and open to what's going on around you.

Centre Technique National in Croix-des-Bouquets, pending an investigation into their alleged involvement in widespread sexual abuse.

Haitian lawyer Jacques

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is one day in which your heart pounds with excitement.

For some reason, Scorpio, there's

Letang has been appointed head of Fifa’s normalisation committee, which has a mandate lasting until 30 November 2022 and will help to run the FHF

a quiet voice inside warning that you may be getting yourself into a great deal of trouble.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Be more aggressive when it comes to your intentions in a romantic situation, Sagittarius. It would be a great idea to impress your lover with a delicious home-cooked meal on a night like this.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) It would be a good idea to socialize with others today in a comfortable, open setting.

Say what you feel instead of just concentrating on what you think, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Stick with what comes naturally, Aquarius. If something feels difficult or abrasive, this is a sign that your energy is better used elsewhere.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your heart may feel extra loving today, Pisces, which is good, since you will probably need it.

There is most likely someone close to you who needs a lift of some sort. You may be like the

tow truck that arrives to pull a car out of the ditch.

and conduct new elections for a new executive committee.

Michaëlle Jean – a former governor general of Canada

– has also been appointed to chair an advisory panel that will provide support to the normalisation committee.

Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka...

From page 29 opening three matches.

Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei reached the fourth round for the third time in her career with a 6-4 2-6 7-5 victory over Sara Errani of Italy.

Hseih, who beat eighth seed Bianca Andreescu in the second round, trailed 5-3 in the decider before winning four successive games to advance.

She will play Czech Marketa Vondrousova next, after the 19th seed beat Sorana Cirstea of Romania 62 6-4.

Second seed Simona Halep registered a straightforward 6-1 6-3 victory over Veronika Kudermetova of Russia.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday February 13, 2021

19 West Indian players shortlisted for Feb.18 2021 IPL Draft SportsMax - Evin Lewis, Darren Bravo, and Rovman Powell are among 19 West Indies players who have been shortlisted for the Indian Premier League draft set for Chennai on February 18 at the ITC Grand Chola.

The players were among the 292 announced who have been shortlisted based on interest shown by the IPL franchises and represent about 30 per cent of the actual numbers of Caribbean players who had enrolled for the draft.In addition to the three aforementioned players, Oshane Thomas, Chemar Holder and Obed McCoy were also shortlisted along with Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd and Kyle Mayers.

Sheldon Cottrell, Fabian Allen and Keemo Paul also made the cut as well as Carlos Brathwaite, Sherfane Rutherford, and Shannon Gabriel.

Jayden Seales, Fidel Edwards, Alzarri Joseph, Jon Ross Jaggesar complete the list of West Indies who will be hoping for lucrative contracts in the coming draft.A total of 1097 players had registered for the 2021 IPL Draft.

Thiem halts The Nick...

From page 28 jumped and screamed at Kyrgios’ winners. They pounded the backs of seats.

They cheered Thiem’s mistakes. They booed close line calls that went against Kyrgios — even though such decisions are determined by an automated system of cameras, not line judges, at this event.

“I think Thiem, actually, drew some energy from everyone kind of against him,” Kyrgios said.

The spectacle started during the warmup, when Kyrgios — wearing a beige sleeve on his left leg — paused his practice serves to wave his racket and ask his fellow Aussies to get louder.

They obliged, of course, eliciting a big grin from their guy.

When Kyrgios broke serve in the match’s initial game, he hopped in delight

and relished the cascading cheers, cupping his right hand on his ear to again implore for more — and, again, they complied.

His first game featured an underarm serve and a between-the-legs halfvolley, neither of which worked — nor were they the last of those tricks he would try.

When Thiem pushed a forehand out to get broken and trail 5-4 in the second, Kyrgios yelled “Let’s go, baby!” as he strutted to the changeover.

When the underarm ace ended the set, Kyrgios stretched his arms wide, as if to say, “Are you not entertained?”

Later, he questioned the loss of a point on a hindrance call, saying that his yell was no louder or more distracting to his opponent than other players’ grunts.

Darren Bravo, Evin Lewis and Fidel Edwards are among the shortlisted.

Ramesh (3-13) helps Berbice to Set up ‘final’ with defending 6-wkt win over E’bo champs Demerara tomorrow Gourav Ramesh captured 3-13 to help Berbice to sixwicket victory over Essequibo in the penultimate round of the GCB/ Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-County 50 cricket tournament yesterday at the LBI ground on East Coast of Demerara.

Ramesh and opening bowler Leon Swammy who supported with 2-21, took the bulk of the wickets as Essequibo were bowled out for 98 in 34 overs despite 30 from Sheldon Charles who made the most runs in a low scoring game.

Berbice in reply reached 98-4 in 30 overs as Rampertab Ramnauth (21) and Marvon Prashad (24) got starts but failed to press on to something significant. Seon Glasgow (21) and Aaron Beharry, who finished unbeaten on 19, saw their team to victory with their unfinished fifth wicket stand.

Essequibo batted first on another slow track and quickly lost Skipper Ameer Singh, who struggled for 10 balls before he was removed by Swammy for a duck.

Jonathan Rampersaud dislodged Mahesh Ramnarine for one before Charles, who struggled to get the ball off the field, was eventfully run out for a sedate 30 from 69 balls with a six and a four.

However, after Charles’ unfortunate demise, Swammy, who hit two fours and a six in a 12-ball 19, was the only Essequibian to past 15. Only Wazim Mohamed, who made 10 before becoming the first of Ramesh’s three wickets, Lance Roberts who scored 19 before he too was removed by Ramesh.Aryan Persaud, who ended unbeaten on 15, was the only other batsmen from Guyana’s largest but least populated County, to get into double figures.

When Berbice began their chase of the small victory target, they lost their first batsman for a duck as Nicko Vincent struck early before Rampertab Ramnauth, who took 47 balls for his 21 and Marvon Prashad whose 24 lasted 54 deliveries, steadied the ship before they were both dismissed.

And when Nigel Deodat was put out of his misery by Jason Holder after making a laborious six runs from 22 balls, Essequibo were fighting back.

However, Beharry, the son of former Berbice 50 over left-hander and ex BCB President Anil Beharry, made 19 from 37 balls, and Glasgow, the son former and National Volleyballer Seon Glasgow Senior, who dominated the unfinished partnership with his attacking 21 from 23 balls, saw their team home.Tomorrow, in a virtual final, the top

Gourav Ramesh was Player of Match. two teams, defending 50 overs Champions Demerara and defending three-day Champions Berbice will face-off with Gourav honours.

Ramesh was each other for Championship Player of Match.

(Sean Devers)

Kaieteur News

Saturday February 13, 2021

PAGE 27

Da Silva and Joseph star with bat as West Indies keep control Windiescricket - It was another very good day for West Indies yesterday as they posted a well-compiled 409 in the first innings before restricting Bangladesh to 105-4 by stumps.

Joshua Da Silva was at the heart of the batting,

scoring 92, and putting on partnerships with Nkrumah Bonner (90) and Alzarri Joseph (82) to help West Indies achieve their first objective of posting a big first-innings total.

The bowlers then took over, with Shannon Gabriel taking two wickets, as

SCOREBOARD

West Indies 1st Innings overnight 223-5 Kraigg Brathwaite (c)c Najmul Hossain Shanto b Soumya Sarkar4 7 John Campbell lbw b Taijul Islam 36 Shayne Moseley b Abu Jayed 7 Nkrumah Bonner c Mohammad Mithun b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 90 Kyle Mayers c Soumya Sarkar b Abu Jayed 5 Jermaine Blackwood c & b Taijul Islam 28 Joshua Da Silva † b Taijul Islam 92 Alzarri Joseph c †Liton Das b Abu Jayed 82 Rahkeem Cornwall not out 4 Jomel Warrican c †Liton Das b Abu Jayed 2 Shannon Gabriel c Mushfiqur Rahim b Taijul Islam 8 Extras (b 4, lb 2, nb 2) 8 TOTAL (142.2 Ov, RR: 2.87, 590 Mts) 409 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), 6-266 (Nkrumah Bonner, 101.3 ov), 7-384 (Joshua Da Silva, 136.4 ov), 8-396 (Alzarri Joseph, 137.6 ov), 9-398 (Jomel Warrican, 139.2 ov), 10-409 (Shannon Gabriel, 142.2 ov)

BOWLING OM R W

Abu Jayed 28 6 98 4 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 33 9 75 1 Nayeem Hasan 24 3 74 0 Taijul Islam 46.2 8 108 4 Soumya Sarkar 11 1 48 1 Bangladesh 1st Innings Tamim Iqbal c Moseley b Joseph Soumya Sarkar c Mayers b Gabriel Najmul Hossain Shanto c Bonner b Gabriel Mominul Haque (c) c †Da Silva b Cornwall Mushfiqur Rahim not out Mohammad Mithun not out Extras (nb 3) TOTAL (36 Ov, RR: 2.91) for 4 wkts

44 0 4 21 27 6 3 105

Yet to bat: Liton Das †, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Soumya Sarkar, 0.6 ov), 2-11 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 2.2 ov), 3-69 (Mominul Haque, 14.6 ov), 4-71 (Tamim Iqbal, 15.5 ov) BOWLING OM R W

Shannon Gabriel 8 2 31 2 Rahkeem Cornwall1 14 1 8 1 Alzarri Joseph 81 3 4 1 Kyle Mayers 51 1 2 0 Jomel Warrican 41 1 0 0 Match Details Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka Toss: West Indies, elected to bat first Umpires Richard Illingworth Sharfuddoula TV Umpire Gazi Sohel Reserve Umpire Masudur Rahman Match Referee Neeyamur Rashid

Bangladesh were reduced to 71-4 before Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun taking them past the 100-mark.

West Indies resumed on their overnight 223-5, with Bonner and Da Silva in the middle.

The pair frustrated the Bangladesh bowlers in the first hour, adding 43 runs to their overnight partnership to extend it to 88, when Bonner fell after he faced 209 balls and hit seven boundaries.

If the hosts hoped that wicket would turn the tide, it wasn’t to be.

Joseph took the attack to the bowlers and together with Da Silva put on a 118run partnership to assert West Indies’ dominance.

Da Silva brought up his half-century, with a reversesweep for four.

He deserved a century, but fell eight short of the landmark. He faced 187 balls and struck 10 fours.

Joseph fell four short of his career-best, having faced 108 balls and hammered 70 runs in boundaries — eight fours and five sixes.

The final session went West Indies way.

They had two wickets within the first three overs, w i t h S o u m y a S a r k a r, dismissed for nought, and Najmul Hossain Shanto managing just four before falling in Shannon Gabriel’s second over.

Ta m i m I q b a l a n d Mominul Haque then revived the innings, putting on 58 for the third wicket, but two more quick wickets hindered the hosts significantly.

It was Rahkeem Cornwall who broke through, firing one in wide and prompting Mominul into a drive which was taken behind by Da Silva while Tamim attempted a flick and the ball carried to Shayne Moseley short midwicket.

Joshua Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph mixed caution with aggression in perfect measure © AFP / Getty Images

Joshua Da Silva forces one through point © AFP via Getty Images

Shannon Gabriel celebrate one of his two wickets.(CWI)

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Saturday February 13, 2021

MSC members pay courtesy call to Minister Walrond Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Hon. Oneidge Walrond on Wednesday last met with members of the Matarkai Sport Council which included the Chairman Mr. Micquel Perez, Secretary Linden Green, NDC Vice Chairman with responsibility for Sports Mr. Lair Frazer and the Public Relations Officer-Sherlon Rodrigues at her South Road office. The discussion centered on plans to develop Sports Tourism within Matarkai sub district, Region one. 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 sub-region, in Region One.This engagement was made possible by Minister Housing and Water Mr. Croal who was inducted as a patron to the Sports Council December last and has been giving support to the council in the executive of their functions.

In photo: Hon. Oneidge Waldron(C) with Chairman Micquel Perez (2nd right), Sherlon Rodrigues (right), Linden Green (2nd left) and Mr. Lair Frazer.

Alia Atkinson opens long-course season with two wins and a second-place finish in Florida Alia Atkinson in action.

SportsMax - Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson opened her long- course season this past weekend in Plantation Florida, winning two gold and a silver medal at the Florida Gold Coast Senior qualifier.

Swimming for South Florida Aquatics, the 32year-old Atkinson, preparing for what will most likely be her final Olympic Games, this summer, won the 100metre breaststroke in 1:12.18. She would also win the 50-metre backstroke in 31.66. She was second in the

50-metre freestyle, touching in 26.78.

Her coach, Chris Anderson said Atkinson’s performance was the start of intense preparations towards the summer.

“Alia’s long-course opener last weekend was just the first step, a training meet, setting her up for a series of meets in February and March,” he said.

“Alia is currently training in a high volume in the pool and weight room and is consistently training very well. Alia will continue

to progressively get faster at each competition throughout the next two months”.

Meanwhile, several other Jamaicans in action at the meet included national agegroup record holder Morgan Cogle and her sister Alexandria, both representing Jupiter Dragons Swim Team.Fifteen-yearold Morgan was seventh in the 50-metre backstroke in 33.44 while Alexandria, her younger sister, recorded a personal best of 30.84 in the 50-metre freestyle and was 50th overall.

V Net Communications, Beacon Cafe...

From page 31 forward to a successful tournament, while Nadir thanked them for their input.

The tournament has attracted 16 teams including six from overseas and it will be contested in the over 45 and over 50 categories. Attractive prizes and will be given to the winning and runner up teams, the manof-the-match in each game as well as the

player-of-the tournament.

The final will be played at Everest CC and will conclude with a bar-be-cue and lime as part of the club’s fund-raising efforts and all of the established COVID-19 protocols will apply.

This international competition will be the third of its kind complementing the Prime Minister’s Cup and the President’

Thiem halts The Nick Kyrgios Experience at Australian Open MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Nick Kyrgios Experience was in full effect against Dominic Thiem, from the underarm ace that successfully closed the second set to the aroundthe-back, between-the-legs miss that ceded the third and so much more — to the delight of the Australian Open’s last spectators for a while.

Kyrgios, a 25-year-old Australian who is part showman and part sideshow, had a grand ol’ time while he was off to a perfect start, egging on a rowdy, partisan crowd and building a two-set lead in the third round Friday against No. 3 seed Thiem, the reigning U.S. Open champion and last year’s runner-up at Melbourne Park.

Not surprisingly, the talented and tempestuous Kyrgios was decidedly less amused after his level of play dipped, resulting in a tossed racket, his customary sort of back-and-forth with the chair umpire, a couple of warnings that resulted in a point penalty — and, eventually, a 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 64, 6-4 loss to Thiem.

“The energy out there was special,” said Kyrgios, who sat out nearly all of 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic and is ranked 47th.

“To produce that level and go toe-to-toe with one of the best players in the world, I’m pretty proud. I left it all out there. ... He’s so disciplined.

He’s so composed. His level doesn’t drop.”

At Flushing Meadows last September, Thiem became the first man in 71 years to come back to win the final after dropping the first two sets, so this was nothing new for him.

“That match showed me ... that giving up is never an option. There is always a chance,” said Thiem, who faces Grigor Dimitrov next.

“Today, I was so close to losing.”

In calm contrast to the ever-animated Kyrgios, Thiem reserved his displays of emotion to a simple shake of a raised right fist that marked his break to go up 43 in the fifth set and then the last point.

T h i s w a s K y rg i o s ’ second consecutive fivesetter at 10,500-capacity John Cain Arena; in the previous round, he erased two match points en route to eliminating No. 29 Ugo Humbert.

This time, he was the one who blew a lead, which could have been even more significant, had he not wasted a pair of break points at the start of the third set.

Thiem’s mindset there?

“I was dealing with the loss already,” he said.

The stadium was about three-quarters full yesterday; many in attendance were not mindful of being socially distant or wearing the masks that were to become mandatory at midnight for the state of Victoria. The state government has imposed a five-day lockdown because of an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

While competition at the tournament can continue, no spectators will be allowed as of today.

“Tonight was epic,” Thiem said, “and a good last match before the lockdown.”

So with one last night out for the time being, folks were living their best lives.

T h e y s a n g a t changeovers, while Kyrgios sipped from a soda can. They (Continued on page 26)

Austria’s Dominic Thiem plays a shot during his third round match against Australia’s Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021.(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)

Kaieteur News

Saturday February 13, 2021

PAGE 29

Johnson, Motie lead Guyana Jaguars past Leewards Hurricanes Man-of-the-match Gudakesh Motie captured 4 for 45, but it was the outstanding batsman-ship of Skipper Leon Johnson with a measured 102 not out, with help from Christopher Barnwell with 49 as the pair put on 101 runs between them to be the key factor that saw the Guyana Jaguars home against the Leewards Hurricanes in the latest match of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) CG Insurance Super50 tournament at the Coolidge Ground in Antigua yesterday.

Jaguars won the toss and sent the Hurricanes into bat and they put together a good start and seemed set to go to a 300 or more score as openers Kieran Powell 94 and Ross Powell 61 shared in a 152 run opening stand.

But once the Jaguars saw the back of the pair, only Devon Thomas with 24 made any real contribution as they closed their innings at 244 for 9 off their 50 overs.

Gudakesh Motie it was who struck the telling blow to account for both openers as he captured 4 for 45. He had excellent support from Nial Smith with 3 for 47 and Romario Shepherd 2-50 as the Jaguars put on the brakes.

Set 245 to win, the Guyana Jaguars saw openers Chanderpaul Hemraj (24) and Assad Fudadin (22) put on 45 as the Hurricanes made it tough in the run chase. Once the openers along with Shimron Hetmyer (9), who was run out, departed, it was operation rebuild and consolidate by Johnson and Barnwell.

Ross Powell scored 61 in a 150 plus run opening stand with Kieran Powell. (CWI)

Gudakesh Motie in his delivery stride during his 4 wicket haul yesterday. (CWI)

Nial Smith was also impressive for the Guyana Jaguars. (CWI)

It was slow going at the start by the pair but they stuck to the task and eventually began to click, putting the bad balls away and rotating the strike.

Johnson it was who took the lead role and the final result showed as the skipper led from the front.

When Barnwell departed followed by Anthony Bramble (2), Shepherd joined the fray and together with his captain saw the Jaguars home by five wickets with 13 ba ls remaining, in the process Johnson despite a slight injury, fought through the pain to bring up a well deserved hundred.

The Guyana Jaguars now sit atop the standing with 8 points after a perfect run.

Kieran Powell led the Leewards Hurricanes batting with 94 at the top of the innings. (CWI)

They will be in action again tomorrow when they face the Jamaica Scorpions at the Coolidge Ground from 1:30pm.

H o w e v e r, t h e tournament will continue

today from the same time at the same venue with what promises to be another good l contest.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force come up against Windward Islands

Volcanoes in today’s game.

Scores: Leewards Hurricanes 244 for 9 off 50 overs (Kieran Powell 94, Ross Powell 61, Devon Thomas 24; Gudakesh Motie 4-45, Nial Smith 3- 47,

Romario Shepherd 2-50) lost to Guyana Jaguars 245 for 5 off 47.5 overs (Leon Johnson 102 not out, Christopher Barnwell 49, Chanderpaul Hemraj 24, Assad Fudadin 22) by 5 wickets.

Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka advance at Australian Open BBC Sport - Serena Wi l l i a m s o v e r c a m e a sluggish start to beat Anastasia Potapova and reach the Australian Open fourth round.

Tenth seed Williams, bidding for a recordequalling 24th Grand Slam title, came through 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 against the 101st-ranked Russian.

However, the American had trailed 5-3 in an errorstrewn first set, and she had to save two set points before dialling back in to win.

Naomi Osaka also advanced after a cagey match against Ons Jabeur of Tunisia.

Third seed Osaka and her opponent struggled for rhythm but it was the Japanese who prevailed 6-3 6-2.Osaka will face twotime Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza next, w h i l e Wi l l i a m s p l a y s seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the quarter-finals.

She will face a tough test against big-hitting Belarusian Sabalenka, who beat American Ann Li 6-3 61.“I came out of the blocks not like I have been before,” said the 39-year-old, who had dropped only five games in her previous two matches.

“But it’s all about

Naomi Osaka swept into the fourth round of the Australian Open. (Reuters)

Serena Williams has not dropped a set in her opening three matches at Melbourne Park. (Getty Images) surviving and playing better every round.”This is the last day that crowds will be in attendance at Melbourne Park before the state of

Victoria enters a five-day lockdown today.Up to 30,000 fans had been allowed in each day but the tournament will continue

behind closed doors after an outbreak of coronavirus in a hotel.Last year’s finalist Muguruza needed just 58 minutes to beat

Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas 6-1 6-1.

Spaniard Muguruza has lost just 10 games in her (Continued on page 25)

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Saturday February 13, 2021

Joshua Da Silva dedicated his performance against Bangladesh yesterday to Andrea Bharratt, the young woman, who recently was abducted and murdered.

Da Silva dedicates Test-best performance to murdered Trinidadian woman SportsMax - West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva dedicated his performance against Bangladesh yesterday to Andrea Bharratt, the young woman, who recently was abducted and murdered in Trinidad and Tobago.

The 23-year-old woman was abducted on January 29 and her body was found on February 4 in the Heights of Aripo in the twinisland republic. Police have taken into custody a man who they said is linked to several sex crimes committed in that country.

The tragic news has shaken many in the country, including Da Silva, who is on duty for the West Indies, thousands of miles away in Bangladesh.

Wearing a black armband, the 22-year-old batsman scored 92 yesterday as the West Indies made 409 all out. He featured in partnerships of 88 with Nkrumah Bonner and 118 with Alzarri Joseph that put the

Caribbean side in a strong position going into Saturday’s third day.

In a post on his Instagram page afterwards, he explained the reason behind wearing the armband.

“Today was for Andrea and the women of Trinidad and Tobago,” he said while calling for more to be done to protect his country’s women from violence.

“We have been silent and we have allowed too many tragedies to pass in vain.

Silence and inactivity are not acceptable anymore. Our voices must be heard and our women must be respected and protected.

“More must be done to educate and teach our men to end the violence against women. I stand in solidarity with the people of Trinidad and Tobago and with the Bharratt family.

Justice for Andrea.”

Andrea Bharratt’s funeral was held earlier yesterday.

From right, Rajin Moonsammy receives the trophies from Chitra Bedessie in the presence of former National Cricketer Michael Chinsammy.

Jai Hind Cricket Club launches Mash Cup-Masters Stall on board T20 Cup fundraiser Trophy The Jai Hind Cricket Club of Albion, Corentyne, Berbice, launched their inaugural Mash Cup Masters T20 Cricket Tournament to be played on February 23, 2021.

The tournament will involve four Masters Teams, namely the host Jai Hind Jaguars, West Berbice Masters, West Demerara Masters and Strahavon Masters.

The teams will compete for a first prize of $100,000, runner up $25,000 along with trophies for the winner, runner up and man of the

match in the finals.

Proceeds from the event will go towards further development of the venue.

The government recently handed over floodlights for the ground and funds to assist in the construction of fences.

At a simple ceremony held recently, trophies were donated for the event by Trophy Stall, Port Mourant Branch.

Handing over the trophies on behalf of the Sponsor, Chitra Bedessie, Branch Manager said that her company is proud to be

part of such an event and will continue to support the Club in the future.

“Trophy Stall plays an important part in the development of sports in Guyana,” she added.

In response, Rajin Moosammy, Captain of the Jai Hind Cricket Club, thanked the sponsor for coming on board without hesitation and promised to make the tournament an annual one.

He also mentioned that it will be well organized and mileage will be given to all the sponsors.

Star Sports and RHTYSC assists...

From page 31 visited the Star Sports store in Enmore to accept the sponsorship.

Foster, who is spearheading a Gears for Yo u t h C r i c k e t e r s programme in the Ancient County as President of the Berbice Cricket Board, met with Deodat during a meeting of under-19 players and committed to assisting the youth to fulfill his potential. The player who plays for the Blairmont Cricket Club lost his father fifteen years ago and he credits his mother for his success over the years.

Foster contacted former national player Sheik Mohamed, CEO of Star Sports for sponsorship for the talented left handed spinner and he readily agreed to donate the bat, gloves and pads. The RHTYSC donated

the gears bag.

Under Foster ’s leadership of the vibrant cricket board, over three hundred youths have benefitted from donations of cricket gears under a wide range of programmes including the Clayton Lambert Gears Project, Basil Butcher Trust Fund, BCB Patron’s Fund, the Singh Brothers gear programme and the RHTYSC Patron’s Fund.

More youths are expected to benefit later this year when a large shipment of gears and other equipment arrives from England.

Several clubs in the Upper Corentyne would also benefit from one million dollars worth of cricket gears early next month from an overseas based Guyanese who contacted the BCB President with an offer to

assist Berbice cricket.

Clubs in the county would also receive seven hundred thousand worth of cricket balls under the Shimron/Nirvani Hetmeyer Trust Fund and three hundred thousand dollars worth of scorebooks from a Travel Company based in Georgetown.

Foster expressed gratitude to Mohamed, who played for Guyana between 1988 and 1992 for his continued assistance to the development of Berbice cricket.

He also urged Deodat to care the donated gears and to remain focused and disciplined. A very humbled Deodat, stated that he would make both the BCB President and Mohamed very proud with his performance on and off the cricket field.

Saturday February 13, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 31

V Net Communications, Beacon Cafe support ECC Speaker’s Softball Cup CEO of V Net Communications Safraz Sherifudeen (left) presented the cheque to Manzoor Nadir.

Star Sports and RHTYSC assists National Youth player Nigel Deodat

Representatives of the Star Sports hands over the gears to Nigel Deodat.

National youth cricketer Nigel Deodat on Thursday last receive one hundred thousand dollars worth of cricket gears as the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club

MS joined hands with Mr. Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports. The promising all rounder, who is currently playing for Berbice in the Guyana Cricket Board under

19 tournament, received a sixty four thousand dollars cricket bat, a pair of batting gloves and batting pads along with a gears bag. He (Continued on page 30)

V

Net Communications and Beacon Cafe have thrown their support behind the Everest Cricket Club for the hosting of the inaugural Speaker’s softball international Cup which is set for April 2-4.

CEO of V Net Communications Safraz

Sheriffudeen and Ramdeo Kumar of Beacon Cafe presented cheques to ECC president and Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir recently.

Both Sheriffudeen and Kumar wished the teams well and said they are looking (Continued on page 28)

Da Silva and Joseph rt o p S star with bat as West Indies keep control p.

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Shannon Gabriel struck twice with the new ball, Bangladesh vs West Indies, 2nd Test, Dhaka, 2nd day, February 12, 2021 © AFP/Getty Images

Johnson, Motie lead Guyana Jaguars past Leewards Hurricanes p p..

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Gudakesh Motie is congratulated by Captain Leon Johnson after taking one of his four wickets. (CWI)

Leon Johnson scored an all important 102 not out to see his team to victory. (file photo)

Jai Hind Cricket Club launches Mash - Trophy Stall Cup Masters T20 Cup fundraiser on board p.

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