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Govt. moving Monday Edition to audit Exxon’s 2017-2020 costs February 22, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 08

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

- Terms of reference for contract complete

Online readership yesterday, 101,287

2019 Repsol mud spill could have been as catastrophic as BP - Dr. Adams well blow-outTeacher

Woman who Roommate Shut Exxon’s operation down! claimed she can of man found investigated for xxon’s gas flaring build low-income dead in septic represents a h a r r o w i n g situation. It is made more houses slapped tank arrested child grooming; extreme because of Exxon’s repeated failures to address with fraud charges for murder file with DPP a n d e n s u r e c o r r e c t i v e

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Father who helped Mazaruni escapees charged - Fugitives still to be recaptured Gas-to-shore Local oil boss misled development cost

by EPA on Exxon’s $14B could be repaid in flaring cap- Dr. Vincent Adams about four years - VP

ERC Budget jumped 5 times more since 2015 with little accountability

measures are quickly implemented. Exxon has no excuse for this recurring situation.

Guyana cannot risk waiting on Exxon to get its faulty gas compressor repaired. The company’s senior personnel estimate that this could take eight weeks.

The company has had enough time to replace that defective gas compressor with a new and efficient one, but Exxon has said that that could take until the end of the year to arrive.

Until such time that it does so, oil production must cease.

Exxon had been promising a ‘root cause’ analysis since the first failure at startup one year ago. No one has seen that report.

Pressure has to be put on Exxon to fix the problem, which now exists. The only way to do this is to force its hand by curtailing production.

Extreme situations demand extreme actions. That is why we say, like Dr. Vincent Adams, shutdown all oil operations until Exxon gets its act together.

“Drill baby drill, pump baby pump, it’s all yours” - our leaders tell Exxon. Tune in @11:00 hrs to 99.1/99.5FM on Kaieteur Radio!

Kaieteur News

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Monday February 22, 2021

Local oil boss misled by EPA on - Dr. Vincent Exxon’s $14B flaring cap Adams Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana’s Vice President and de facto Energy Minister, while addressing E x x o n M o b i l G u y a n a ’s flaring at his last press conference, revealed an interesting detail. He said that the US oil giant is allowed to flare up to 14 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

That allowance, the VP stated, was outlined in the Liza Phase One Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) back in 2017.

The Vice President presented that information based on a brief, which he was said to have received from the EPA. However, according to its former Director, Dr. Vincent Adams, he was gravely misled.

“There is nothing (of the sort) in the EIA,” Dr. Adams

Former EPA Director, Dr. Vincent Adams

stated. “…I would ask the press to challenge to them to let them show where in the EIA is that 14 billion cubic feet allowance that they claim is there.”

Following the disclosure

by Dr. Jagdeo, Kaieteur News conducted detailed checks of each of the four volumes of the Liza Phase One EIA but discovered no such provision. So where did

this figure come from?

Dr. Adams believes that it forms part of E x x o n M o b i l ’s “ p u b l i c relations campaign of confusion, misinformation and distraction” to deflect from its continuous flaring and refusal to slash production.

“And apparently, our government is buying off on that nonsense. Somehow,

they are getting the government to believe their story and nonsense and their misinformation and mistruth. We have got to understand that Exxon’s interest is in making money and our focus should be making sure that we work in the best interest of this c o u n t r y, ” D r. A d a m s lamented.

According to the former EPA head, what the EIA did relative to flaring was to examine alternatives on how to dispose the gas.

Reinjection was selected as the best option.

Dr. Adams explained that the EIA allows for flaring in non-routine conditions, as in this case where the gas injection system is temporarily unavailable.

However, he added that Exxon continues to operate at full capacity so it cannot be considered a non-routine condition.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo And while the EIA allows for pilot flaring, Dr. Adams outlined that the pilot flare would only account for one billion cubic feet of gas since Exxon began operating, leaving many to wonder “Where did this extra 13 billion that they are talking about come from?”

Presenting his theory, Dr. Adams stated that Exxon would have had to flare

during routine operations to amass the 14 billion figure.

“If you do not flare during operations, it should have been at one billion,” he said, adding, “You are saying that somehow this 14 billion is there which means you had to have planned to flare during normal operations from day one even though you said you were not going to do that.”

The reader should note that questions were also sent to the current EPA Director, Sharifa Razack to provide insight as to exactly where in the EIA states that Exxon is allowed to flare 14 billion cubic feet of gas at its Liza Phase One project.

Up to press time, no response was provided.

If the public wishes to peruse the EIA, it can be accessed via the EPA’s w e b s i t e http://www.epaguyana.org/ under the section EEPGL.

Kaieteur News

Monday February 22, 2021

GNIC hopes to expand reach in oil sector with provision of logistics, storage services

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ven as it engages s e v e r a l government agencies and private entities on its shipbuilding and repairs and maintenance services, the Guyana National Industrial Company Incorporated (GNIC), formerly GNEC, is hopeful that it can play a bigger role in the supply of these and other services for the oil sector.

In fact, GNIC’S Management noted during a most recent interview with Kaieteur News that the company continues to engage a number of vendors and service providers in the oil and gas sector with a view to expanding its services for logistics and storage for pipes, along with other repairs and maintenance needed for onshore facilities.

It is also interested in lending its expertise in the supply of crafts between the oil rigs and the land base.

Currently, the agency is providing storage and transportation service to a number of companies in the sector, namely: Schlumberger, Haliburton, and Ramps Logistics. As the conversation ramps up about the need for increasing local participation, it is envisioned that GNIC and other established Guyanese entities will be allowed to

Govt. moving to audit Exxon’s 2017-2020 costs - Terms of reference for contract completed

By Kemol King

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GNIC’s Head, Clinton Williams play a greater role. “Our movement in this direction, which is to play a bigger role in oil, will prove to be beneficial, not only by expanding the company’s contribution to the national development, but also providing increased employment through a new range of services to the sector,” the corporation stated.

In the meantime, GNIC’s reminded that it continues its skills development initiatives in welding and fabrication, and machining.

In this regard, Chief Executive Officer of GNIC, Clinton Williams said, “Training is one of the

strengths of the company over the years. In fact, the company has worked with the Board of Industrial Training to provide an Apprenticeship Programme and on the job training for over 1,000 Guyanese from various institutions.”

He added, “These include the Kuru Kuru Training Centre and would be in the areas of welding and fabrication, fitting and m a c h i n i n g , c a r p e n t r y, plumbing and sheet metal, mechanical, electrical works.”It must be noted that GNIC has been certified as one of its Masters of Training by the Board of Industrial Training.

Woman who claimed she can build low-income houses slapped with fraud charges A woman who allegedly claimed that she could build low-income houses and collected a sum of cash from several persons to do same, was on Friday last, hauled before the court to answer to eight fraud charges.

The defendant, Nazia Persaud, made her first court appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly.

The incidents reportedly happened between November 12, 2019, and February 29, 2020.

It is alleged that on November 12, 2019, at Sandeman Place, Brickdam, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she collected $265,000, from Monica Wills by falsely pretending that she was in a position to construct a house for Wills.

Another charge stated that on November 26, 2019,

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at Sandeman Place, Brickdam, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she collected $200,000, from Deborah Caesar, falsely claiming she was able to construct a house for Caesar.

On January 20, 2020, Persaud allegedly collected an additional $40,000.

It was further alleged that on December 10, 2019, at Sandeman Place, Brickdam, Georgetown, she collected $122,000, from Quincy Nelson, by falsely pretending that she was in a position to construct a house for his mother, Karima Nurse.

The woman denied the charges that were read to her and was placed on $180,000, bail. She is expected to make her next court appearance on February 26, 2021.

According to the facts of the charges, Persaud is a member of the Eclectic

Foundation and she told the virtual complainants that the foundation was building low-income houses.

The virtual complainants signed up for the homes and handed over the sums of money to Persaud to complete the transaction.

The court heard that after the money was paid, nothing was done to construct the houses.

Several reports were made to the police and an investigation was launched.

It was later revealed that the organization was not registered to build lowincome houses.

P e r s a u d w a s subsequently contacted and admitted to receiving the sums of money from the virtual complainants to construct the houses.

She was subsequently slapped with several fraud charges.

he Government, according to Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, is moving to award a contract for the audit of ExxonMobil’s claimed recoverable expenses made after 2017.

This audit is expected to commence as Government wraps up the US$1.6 billion audit of Exxon’s pre-contract and other costs leading up to 2017.

During a press conference on February 9, last, the Vice President said, “We already prepared the terms of reference for a new contract to be issued, that will have to have local content in it, to do the audit between 2017 and 2020.”

These audits are being done in order to give effect to provisions of the Stabroek Block production sharing agreement (PSA) which allow ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess and CNOOC, to recover expenditures, which go into exploration, development and other petroleum operation.

Dr. Jagdeo had told Kaieteur Radio on December 23 that Guyana currently has in excess of US$6 billion of oil-related expenses to audit from ExxonMobil.

Appearing on the show, Guyana’s Oil & You hosted

by Senior Journalist, Kiana Wilburg, the Vice President had said, “You’ve had US$89 billion of expenditure made so far… Only US$1.6 billion has been audited…”

Last week, he said that

Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo though the Department of Energy was doing auditing sequentially, “you don’t need to do it sequentially.

Yo u c a n d o i t simultaneously.”

The United Kingdom firm, IHS Markit is currently handling the audit of costs leading up to 2017, which include pre-contract expenditures.

The company, according to the Vice President, had submitted a final report to the government, a few days before the August 2020 inauguration of President, Dr. Irfaan Ali. However, the final report was not yet due.

The VP had told Kaieteur Radio that the process allows

for the submission of three audit reports, but that Markit had skipped the second – the interim report. The administration instructed Markit to convert the “final” report it submitted into a draft report, as it is necessary for the government to review the draft, then send it to ExxonMobil for comments.

Dr. Jagdeo had said that there have already been adverse findings.

“As soon as we get that, then it could go to Exxon for maybe one month, then we can settle that.

That doesn’t stop us moving forward from 2017 to now,” the Vice President said. To ensure audits are done expeditiously, he added that capacity building work is being done at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The former David Granger administration had waited years to contract its first audit and reported no progress on building capacity to conduct oil cost audits on its own.

It hired Markit late 2019, though the first set of costs had been handed to government since 2016.

“They have to work this year, within GRA,” Jagdeo said, “so that it could be more real-time, like in the same year that the expenditure is made. So that is where we are on the audit.”

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Kaieteur News

Monday February 22, 2021

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

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

EDITORIAL

ERC from the inside There is a saying in this country that goes like this: mouth open, story jump out. This is exactly what happened when one of Guyana’s Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) oversight group member, Haji Roshan Khan, decided that the time was ripe for him to go public with some laundry that not only is dingy and dirty, but nasty and smelly. We at this paper understand what the ERC member has disclosed, and we are upset - so should all Guyanese - with what he has revealed. But as we understand, we both agree and disagree with Haji Khan.

From what we learned, and as presented by Commissioner Khan, the ERC is both wasteful and dysfunctional (KN February 19). According to this Commissioner, some of the appointees to the ERC are interested in “name, position, money” which says a whole lot, while leaving us wondering on how the ERC got anything done that was constructive and for the betterment of all Guyanese. On any occasion, and regardless of the entity, that people placed in sensitive and trusted positions are focused on those three things, and those on a priority basis, only, then the crucial work at hand that needs to be urgently addressed suffers. It goes without saying that this nation needs that which calms and comforts, that which helps in on the road to healing and reconciling. But if the clearly self-serving considerations are about merely “name, position money” alone, then whatever work that is attempted will, of commonsense, of necessity, and as a result, be of the half-hearted and halffulfilling, if even that, no matter how benevolently measured.

When “name, position, money” occupy and consume, then the vital issues of racial wounds, racial hatreds, and racial pains, are all secondary and given the shortest of short thrifts. That is if Commissioner Khan is accurate with what he placed on the table and in the glare of public spotlight.

We are hard pressed as to how he can be wrong, unless he is exaggerating and himself irresponsible, with what he shared. Commissioner Khan spoke of “risk allowances” and “boots” and readiness by fellow members in the ERC to award themselves a six-figure Christmas bonus on an individual basis. Though that extravagant figure was in clear conflict with the government’s known ceiling of $25,000 per person for all statutory bodies, that did not deter the interested and driven ERC members to vote a holiday bonus of $150,000 for themselves. To be clear, that is not $150,000 for the entire group, but $150,000 each. That can never be condoned but condemned in the harshest and loudest manner.

For, if Commissioner Khan is on the money with that and has it completely right, then it is an abomination that we denounce unreservedly. We can overlook, though it takes a lot out of us, the push for risk allowances and boots, but that greedy Christmas bonus award flies in the face of what is considerate and conscientious at the individual level, and that is for any organization, any place of oversight responsibility.

On a sharper and more alarming note, Commissioner Khan pointed to the “political masterminds in place” at the ERC, who were contributing to the turmoil and deterioration in the 19-month period from the no confidence motion to the election all the way to the long-delayed declaration. If that was who and what were actually in place at the ERC, then we did not have anything that was helpful, worthwhile. Nothing that serves to stand as a calming influence, a restraining bulwark, a credible safe harbour, in our feeble struggles against the racial malice and antagonisms that are so much a part of this society, at its political and electoral cores. We would hope, though it looks forlorn, that things are not as terrible at the ERC; that it did not go rogue on this nation when it was needed the most.

We disagree with Commissioner Khan with his opinion that “the ERC has been a total letdown to the Guyanese nation.” We believe that the ERC, even in its alleged dysfunctional state, has done some good, that its very presence has made ultra-reckless Guyanese on both sides of the divide pause, think twice, and retreat. Let down in some areas, yes; total let down, we cannot agree with, because the specks of civility that this statutory agency brought about must be recognized. Our position is that the

Budget 2021 Review: advancing economic recovery through a transformational development agenda DEAR EDITOR, Proponents are of the view that the budget 2021 fell short on sufficient direct support to private sector businesses in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that permeated businesses – not only in Guyana but globally as well. Be that as it may, one has to consider the context of the budget as well as the current state of the nation’s finances which the Government inherited. To put this into a quick and simple perspective (given that these issues have been dealt with extensively by this author in previous writings): on the one hand in 2015, the previous Administration inherited close to $100 billion in liquid cash in the bank. At that time as well, there was no global pandemic and the macroeconomic framework of the country was on sound and stable footing.

On the other hand, five years later in 2020, the new Administration was elected into office in the height of a devastating global pandemic which did not spare Guyana unlike other global financial

crisis of recent times – coupled with five months of political turmoil. And in particular, the Administration inherited close to $100 billion in deficit balances in the bank contrary to almost $100 billion liquid cash in the bank five years ago. In other words, there was virtually no surplus cash in the bank other than the revenues earned from profit oil and royalty that is sitting in the Federal Reserve in the United States.

With respect to the oil revenues earned so far which is to the tune of some US$200 million sitting in the Federal Reserve Bank, the Government explained why they have not yet utilized any monies from that fund. The explanation given is well in order and must be commended given that the reason is this: The Government, when in Opposition did not agree with the current framework of the Natural Resource Fund and, therefore, the requisite amendments need to be facilitated before any spending – which will allow for greater transparency and

accountability of the oil resources. Further, His Excellency also clearly outlined the specific purpose the oil resources will be largely utilized for which is also commendable.

Having said that, despite the argument by proponents that the budget is lacking in adequate direct support to aid in business recovery – this notion cannot be examined in isolation of the structure of the economy and the caveat of budget 2021.

The Budget 2021 which is a continuation of the policies and programmes set out in the emergency budget in 2020 – provided adequate relief packages in the given circumstance – though indirect to the business sector, that will aid in the economic recovery of the macro-economy and on the micro level.

For example, the $4.5 billion household relief in budget 2020 would find its way back into the business sector. In a simple scenario where a village has 500 households at $25,000 per household is equivalent to an

injection of $12.5 million into that particular village economy or at the community level. As such, persons within the community will spend in the village shops or grocery shops in the village.

By putting disposable income in the hands of consumers or in other words – measures that will increase the disposable income at the household level will in turn drive demand for consumer goods and commodities.

Spending power at the household level is good for the businesses.

The budget also seeks to revert basic food and household necessities to zero-rated status and Reducing the cost of connectivity by removing VAT on data from residential and individual use is an example of another measure that will contribute to lower cost of living and in turn, altogether put more disposable income in the hands of Guyanese.

Additionally, the application of zero-rated status on imported stone and other (Continued on page 6)

To be or not to be, that is the question DEAR EDITOR, The first few words of a famous soliloquy from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, was featured humourously, ironically and sarcastically in a recent pronouncement. It poked fun at its dreary, melodramatic nature, while, at the said time, it seemed to be placing the knee on the neck as a stifling choke and to hold the victim under duress for a handsome ransom. To be, or not to be, that is the question.

Do you want to be a friend or do you want to be befriended as a foe? Perhaps, you want to be neither an ally nor an enemy and stay neutral.

Again, another choice will be not to be any. Finally, you can settle to be all of the aforementioned. Strange but true, you can exercise choices or you can be manipulated or you can be dictated to.

Conditions may provoke a contingent factor and you remain choiceless. But you cannot be a friend and stay neutral or an enemy and stay

neutral. Guyanese are provoked to take a stand or a side sometime or the other in life, especially domiciling at home under testing times continuously. True, there are Guyanese who are naïve or gullible, many are sensitive or smart, others are intelligent or average and then, you will find a few who are easily fooled or pampered.

Would you as a Guyanese want to befriend someone who is a liar, dishonest, conniving and slick? How would you react to someone who is shady, foxy, sly and crooked? Then again, would you want to hang out with a person whose hand is stained with blood, who is callous, who lurks in the dark with a dagger, who sets booby traps, who dig holes for you to fall in, who misleads you astray, who takes away your bread and butter, who denies you the needed support and who arranges for your demise? Do you want to be associated with a crook, a

ERC, in just being there, served as the deterrent to some very limited degree to prevent the “total catastrophe” that Commissioner Khan articulated as his belief.

Obviously, the ERC has to do some soul-searching at its highest levels. Perhaps, it needs to be revamped with a different kind of Guyanese, whose paramount interest and involvement are how to work tirelessly to be true servants, how to defuse us, and how to bring us to a place of stable racial relations.

criminal, a callous character, and a catastrophic calamity?

Are you prepared to deal with a traitor, a racist, a brute and a violent individual? Can you share company with a double crosser, a hypocrite, a deceiver and an untrustworthy person?

Unhesitatingly, should you not abstain from a dangerous, deceptive, villainous and rogue element?

Why be in friendship with a person who steals, who covets his neighbour ’s property, who fools you and who is a mischief maker?

The mind tends to play tricks with us as we advance in age and we become amnesic. Sometimes we deliberately forget some things conveniently and tend not to remind ourselves or others about devious events.

Yet again, we hope others would not remember some of the many alarming altercations we encountered that we wished did not happen. Cause and effect is beyond reproach and the control factor slips away from us. Doubt and uncertainty strike indecisiveness, leading man to straddle the line between action and inaction.

On the other hand, in life and death, the fear of uncertainty when dying, brings about a torment and the possibility of ending up in a place labelled

as hell, a place even more miserable than life. No wonder, an intelligent person may attempt to grapple with a difficult decision, deliberating whether to attack, defend or stand aside in this mad rush to live life decisively, decidedly and deliberately and then, only to re-track, sidetrack or run off track.

As the remaining days become less and less available, the clock ticks steadfastly, forcing us to look back and lessen our burden with a light heart. Guilt strikes our conscience for us to ramble openly. The dire need to confess becomes more and more convincing. When the bell rings, we want to be ready to accept any tale or toll. We want to be brash, bold or brazen to answer the knock on the door with a smile. Isn’t it time that we stop, pause, ponder and be privileged that there still exists a chance and moment for redemption?

Don’t let the opportunity slip away, for, too late shall be the cry. Hopefully, to be, or not to be will unmask the masquerade. Do carefully choose who should be your friend and who shouldn’t be.

Don’t forget, a friend in need, is a friend indeed. Man’s best friend has always been not a human.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Monday February 22, 2021

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Kaieteur News

For a professional, depoliticized, and independent Public Service by law, in the national interest DEAR EDITOR, The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Public Service submitted its report to then President David Granger in May 2016 by Professor Harold Lutchman, Chair of the Commission. The report was also circulated to Members of the National Assembly for debate and consideration. There was no debate following disagreement between the Government and Opposition on referring the report to a select Committee of the National Assembly. Many of 87 COI recommendations support the creation of a Professional and Politically Neutral Public Service to provide for efficient and effective service to the national community. The Government and the Public Service Ministry should carefully consider the COI report and its recommendations.

The Lutchman’s COI notes that Guyana’s Constitution provides for an independent Public Service Commission on employment matters for the Public Service.

However, there is no law governing the Public Service Ministry which should function under a Public Service Law in which the governing principles are stipulated. The basic principles would be embodied in a Public Service Act along with appropriate regulations as recommended by the G. Burgess and J.K. Hunn Report on Public Administration in Guyana, dated 16 November 1966.

The Burgess and Hunn Report recommended a strong, well structured, and capable Public Service Ministry, supported by a Public Service Act which defines the functions of a Public Service Ministry as the lead Ministry responsible for public management and administration. Such an Act defines the status and duties

of the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry with powers, duties and responsibilities for the effective organization of the departmental and ministerial machinery of Government, and human resource management, outside the constitutional duties of the Public Service Commission.

The report also specifically recommended “that the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry be the convener of the Permanent Secretaries’ Committee to discuss and implement ways and means of improving efficiency and economy.”

The Burgess and Hunn Report further emphasizes that a Public Service Act is generally regarded as fundamental requirement and referred to in the revised New Zealand’s State Service Act 1988 which outlines the purpose of such an act as “to promote and uphold a state sector system, which: ? is imbued with the spirit of service to the community; ? operates in the collective interests of Government; ? maintains appropriate standards of integrity and conduct; ? maintains political neutrality; ? is supported by effective work force and personnel arrangements; ? meets good-employer arrangements; ? is driven by a culture of excellence and efficiency; and ? fosters a culture stewardship”.

The Bertand Collins Commission of Inquiry into o the Public Service, dated 26 May 1969, affirms the

justification of the creation of the Public Service Ministry with defined functions and responsibilities for continued improvement of the Public Service. The Collins Commission also supported the enactment of legislation for a strong Public Service Public embodied in a Public Service Act. This is a common feature for effective public management and public administration in CARICOM Countries. Such legislation can be found in the laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Belize, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. In Canada, its Public Service Employment Act provides for a “Public Service that is based on merit and non-partisanship and in which these values are independently safeguarded” by its Independent Public Service Commission which has exclusive authority on public service appointments”.

Professor Lutchman”s COI into the Public Service of May 11, 2016 in its first recommendation, (number 1) strongly supports the enactment of a Public Service Law which provides for professional and effective public management by the Public Service Commission, having regard to its constitutional functions, and by a Public Service Ministry should be enacted. Such a law establishes the Public Service Ministry, defines the functions of such a Ministry, identifies the Permanent Secretary as the Head of the

Public Service, and as Chairman of a Committee of all Permanent Secretaries to advise the Government on public management matters for the improvement and efficiency of the Public Service, among other relevant provisions, and “to insulate the Public Service from irregular political influences and other external pressures”. (Drawing from Barbados and examples of CARICOM Countries and PSC Circular No. 46 of 1966, and other international examples) Permanent Secretaries and Professional Relations with Ministers The public administration system, in line with the Constitution, Article 115 and other laws, mandate that where any Minister has been charged with the responsibility for any department of Government, the Minister shall exercise general direction and control over that department. As such the direction and control is of a general and policy nature. While the Minister is primarily concerned with the determination of policy, the Permanent Secretary and the technical and other staff under the Permanent Secretary are required to faithfully implement the policy decisions of the Government of the day in an impartial and professional manner.

The Permanent Secretary assists the Minister in the formulation of policies, prepares papers for Cabinet, and is also the Accounting Officer who manages, and is accountable for the funds voted by National Assembly

for the ministerial departments, and is answerable to the Public Accounts Committee of National Assembly for public expenditure. These duties and responsibilities have not changed since the PSC Circular No 46 of 1966, embodying an extract from a speech from the then Prime Minister, L.F.S. Burnham, and was circulated to public officers in November 1966, noting that the Permanent Secretary is the Accounting Office and states that : “… A Minister should never therefore give instructions for expenditure to be incurred on any project without prior consultation with his Permanent Secretary to ascertain that appropriate funds are available…”

In a letter dated 5 May 1989 to Permanent Secretaries, former President, Desmond Hoyte states that under the Constitution, Permanent Secretaries have the responsibility to manage their Ministries, to advise their Ministers, to help the Ministers in the formulation of policies, and the effective management of the resources of personnel, finance, stores, plant, machinery, equipment, vehicles and buildings. The letter further warns that: “…No Minister has authority to direct a Permanent Secretary to

ignore the law or to breach regulations and directives governing the administration of finances, the use of Government property, etc. Indeed, no Minister has the power to direct a Permanent Secretary to commit any other act that is unlawful or otherwise irregular…”

President Hoyte’s letter also reiterates that a Permanent Secretary is expected, and is required to act strictly within the scope of law and relevant regulations and other rules governing the management of finances and other resources.

The letter further admonishes Permanent Secretaries to bear in mind that the Public Service exists to serve the people promptly and in an efficient manner, and to treat all with courtesy and consideration.

The Permanent Secretaries are to ensure the Public Service delivers quality service to the citizens and the public at all times. The Permanent Secretary and the Minister’s principal technical staff are concerned with providing advice and assistance in policy determination and formulation. This calls for a cordial working relationship among the Permanent Secretary, technical staff and the Minister and the permanent staff of an (Continued on page 6)

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Monday February 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

Square Pegs in Round Holes...Maybe?

DEAR EDITOR, I am already in my senior years and have seen many changes in governments, and like many others I presume, I have always been willing to give the new incoming regime (excepting the Burnham years) the benefit of the doubt. I always tell my friends during the first few months “let’s wait and see”.

I personally know quite a few people who hold current ministerial and other highprofile positions and had my doubts but was willing to live by my mantra of “let’s wait and see”. Well, the waiting period is over. Below are some of my observations related to the subject at

caption.

1. The Ministry of Health is in chaos and not only because of the COVID19. One needs a gargantuan amount of organizational skills and meticulous planning expertise to bring some semblance of order, efficiency, and improved service.

The current leadership has many good qualities but definitely not adequate enough for this humongous task. Another medical doctor with the relevant expertise, skills and experience make her the perfect candidate for this position.

2. The border controversy with neighbouring Venezuela

requires institutional knowledge, diplomatic expertise and show of confidence in our approach.

Have we been displaying any of these qualities? The unfortunate incident regarding Taiwan and some other utterances coming out of Takuba Lodge answer this question perfectly. I have tremendous respect for the highly educated individual(s), but do they fit in? What about the baggage some new appointments of touring politicians carry?

3. The term “youthful exuberance” reminds me of someone who had just become the number one citizen of our country at a very

Shut down Exxon Dear Editor, Guyanese behaviour follows a pattern. Guyanese climb to incredible heights, then they slink away whimpering to their dismal corners, where they bicker and brawl endlessly. They watch raindrops that bring sneezing, but ignore the storms that introduces flooding.

For nineteen months, there were no more agitated and acrimonious people anywhere than Guyanese.

Those who honestly desired to be above the fray either got sucked in, or pushed in, or collapsed upon themselves when they should have

known better. I talk about elections. To repeat an oft stated conviction, last year’s elections was not of democracy, but of our internal selfishness and greed, and of the externals around us.

Those were the motivating ingredients that made us soar with rank stupidities, crudities, and bigotries. We were fighting for the ascendancy, not of democratic (cut that crap out) rulership, but of tribal ascendancy and racial governorship. That is well known.

Previously, it was about the spoils of natural resources and personal benefits that

divided and drove to madness.

We blamed Burnham and Jagan, and they did make their contributions.

We blame the British and they are not unblemished. But, as we do so, we are not looking at what and where matters the most. That is, at ourselves.

We allow ourselves to be divided, because we want to be so, we like it, no matter the imbecilic denials that come from learned to losers. And that was when the potential political and racial plunder was rich, but on the thin side.

We hated then, and we fought then for supremacy. So, why shouldn’t we, and why (Continued on page 17)

young age. Is there too much of exuberance and arrogance at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture? Are these the values we want to instill in our young people? Time to take a step back and listen to those who have been there, done that.

4. Agriculture – the backbone of our subsistence.

At least one person in the leadership of this Ministry should have been prosecuted for corruption, sexual molestation, and assault when he was in another position in another administrative region.

Several written and oral complaints were ignored, and the person was promoted to a higher position within his party. Now, he is flying even higher. Go figure…

5. It seems like he has a lifetime contract with the Ministry of Finance while everyone else goes on retirement. He knows how to

play the game with every government. He sits on numerous boards and heads a department which oversees the spending of both foreign and local funds. He also chairs an important board that allocates these funds to various ventures. If this is not conflict of interest, then am not sure what is. They say he is “right hand man” of those in charge… Wonder who is left hand man or woman…

6. Speaking of those in charge at the Ministry of Finance, it seems like the relatively youthful man is competing with his youthful staff. Returning after some years of gaining experience abroad, he seems to feel the need to “assert” himself as the boss. He probably never heard of the saying that a good leader “commands” respect, not “demand” it.

Some bright young people have already resigned, and

others are seeking more encouraging and stimulating work environment. H.E. may wish to play closer attention.

Again, youthful exuberance, arrogance and lack of confidence in oneself come to mind, not to mention the lack of experience in planning and budgeting. My take is that he is more of an accountant than a finance guy. His plans and policies for the financial sector have not been impressive. Fiscal and monetary measures are also in disarray.

7. Are there no other candidates to head the Bank of Guyana or the GPL? Are we so poor on human resources? Big talk about Diaspora…time to put it into action. Don’t you think?

I am not sure if this is worth publishing. But, I am intimately acquainted with all I have written above.

Yours truly, A. Adler

...For a professional, depoliticized, From page 5 impartial Public Service in a spirit of mutual respect and confidence. “The Permanent Secretary is not a clerk for the Minister”.

In keeping with the forgoing principles and with the supporting testimonies of many witnesses to P r o f e s s o r L u t c h h m a n ’s COI into the Public Service of 11 May 2016, affirms t h e s e p r i n ciples for a capable, professional, and

efficient Public Service as outlined in PSC Circular No. 46 of 1966, and President Hoyte’s letter on 5 May 1989 as sound, valid and relevant for the contemporary situation in the Public Service in Guyana. These principles are strongly recommended to be incorporated Public Service Law, and related regulations.(Rec. # 1) The Government and the National Assembly are again requested to give serious

consideration or pronounce otherwise.

The public is invited to join in this discussion on the proposals for the creation of A Professional, Depoliticized, and Independent Public Service

by Law in the National Interest.

Other recommendations of the COI of 11 May 2016 will follow in another letter.

Yours sincerely, Samuel J. Goolsarran

...Budget 2021 Review: advancing From page 4 building construction materials aims to reduce cost of living as well as make home ownership more affordable for the ordinary workingclass Guyanese.

Let’s look at another example. How would the reduction in tariff on fuel translate to the average person on a microeconomy level and on the macroeconomy level?

The average person driving to and from work five days for the week with a 2000cc engine car; would consume on average 217 litres of gasoline at $184 per litre which is $40,000 for the month.

Therefore, at $170 per litre, the average person would spend $36,976 instead of $40,000 for the month on fuel which, when annualized would translate to $36,516 ($3,024 monthly savings) in savings for the year just from this one measure alone.

This savings of $36,976 in one year is enough to purchase one month’s supply of groceries for a household with two people. This is what

this simple reduction can translate to on a micro level.

Now, think of this same scenario multiplied by 200,000 households across the country assuming each of these households have at least one vehicle and drives to work five days for the week.

This very scenario can translate to $7.5 billion in household savings on a macro level which means this is another $7.5 billion in additional disposable income of which if: (1) placed in the bank as savings instead of spending in the economy, the bank will in turn lend to firms to finance private sector investments – hence, back into the economy by creating more jobs and driving demand and (2) this is $7.5 billion household income available for spending in commerce – thus finding its way back into the revenue streams of businesses that suffered losses due to the pandemic.

Now, these are only two examples of only two measures in budget 2020 and 2021 that will put back more than $12 billion into the

economy which will be good for business recovery indirectly.

Imagine the likely impact of the other measures and the close to $200 billion allocation to finance public investments altogether It is worthwhile to highlight that more than 50% of budget 2021 is dedicated towards better serving and empowering the people while at the same time advancing the Government’s transformational development agenda through infrastructure development; housing programmes, new road networks, investing heavily in the agriculture and food security sectors and Agro-processing on mega scales.

In doing so, tremendous opportunities exist for foreign and local investors to gear up so that they can exploit these opportunities in the various productive sectors.

Yours faithfully, J.C. Bhagwandin Chief Financial Advisor/ Analyst JB Consultancy & Associates

Monday February 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Monday February 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

The depletion policy is in Jagdeo’s head M a n y o f G u y a n a ’s political leaders have never run anything. Not even a cake shop. But it would be much better if they had run their own cake shops rather than running the country like a cake shop.

This is not to suggest that persons without experience at running things should not be entrusted with political office. Even the dull and ignorant, guided by sound policy-making, can deliver results and ensure returns.

Policy making compensates for the lack of experience. However, policy making cannot remain in anyone’s head. It has to be documented so as to serve as a guide for action.

Unfortunately, we are being saddled with a situation in which there is no written national depletion policy for the country’s most precious resource, its oil.

What exists as a policy is in the head of someone. Such a scenario is the worst form of cake shop-styled governance.

It is tragic not to have a written depletion policy.

Last year during the pandemic, demand for petroleum fell so precipitously that at one stage the oil companies were paying countries to buy their oil, rather than the other way around.

The oil companies, operating in Guyana did not stop pumping even though the prices had fallen below rock bottom. This example, extreme and rare, highlights the importance of having a depletion policy in place to

regulate production levels during periods of cascading prices, gluts or a slowdown in demand.

Depletion policies are used to control the rate at which oil is extracted. It is one means to ensure that when prices are high, production is maximized and when prices are low that production is limited, all other factors being the same.

But a depletion policy also has other purposes.

A depletion policy helps to protect and add value to a country’s oil reserves and guards against the risk of inefficient production. An article in the Guyana Chronicle of November 10, 2019 made the following observations: “From the late 1970s into the early 2000s, US oil reserves and oil production declined sharply from a high of 39 billion barrels to less than 20 billion by 2008. There was oil still in the ground trapped in shale formations and undiscovered fields, but low oil prices and a lack of technology meant that finding and extracting this oil wasn’t cost effective or feasible and so it wasn’t considered reserves. But since the late 2000s, the technology of hydraulic fracturing has made this oil more easily obtainable and higher prices have incentivised more development. US oil reserves have jumped back up from below 20 billion barrels above the all-time high of 39 billion.”

Depletion policies also help to protect the economy

during periods when the terms of trade deteriorate.

With a proper depletion policy in place, any government facing a balance of payments (BOP) problem can adjust production and exports accordingly in response.

As is well known, when the oil crisis hit in the 1970s, it was treated also as a national security crisis, and a national energy crisis. A depletion policy is extremely useful in ensuring that economic conditions do not result in national security crises.

Guyana has offered the oil companies generous concessions. Had there been a national depletion policy in place, these concessions could have been tagged to the rate of production, thereby ensuring efficient allocation of fiscal resources, including concessions. The absence of a written depletion policy now means that the same concessions will exist whether production is 120,000 barrels per day or 750,000 barrels per day.

National security is often linked to energy security. At one time, when widespread blackouts were a daily occurrence, a proposal was floated for Guyana to purchase energy from the Yu r i D a m p r o j e c t i n Venezuela. But because of national security considerations, Burnham and Hoyte were both unwilling to tie the country’s energy needs to a country which harboured a territorial claim against Guyana. It

Dem

Lines and boys lining-up seh...

Dem boys nah surprise fuh read how a man jump de vaccination line. Is suh thing does wuk in Guyana. When yuh gat lines, yuh does jump de line.

Car does deh line up at dem traffic lights and somebody does drive alongside and jump de red light. People does deh line up fuh see cricket and watch concert at de National Stadium and somebody does come and pope de line.

When yuh line up in de supermarket, somebody does waltz up to de cashier

and try fuh cash dem items before you who waiting yuh turn.

How many of y’all ever see any rich businessman in Guyana in de passport line?

Is nat dat dem nah want passport. Is just dat dem gat de contacts so dem nah gat fuh line up. When dem go through de door of de passport office, dem does turn left instead of right.

Dem boys vex though when dem read about de man wah jump de vaccination line. But dem boys know dat is how we roll.

Dem boys wan an audit of de vaccines distribution to determine who get vaccine before dem time.

Dem should call in de Auditor General and he should go around and find out how much people who name deh down as receiving de vaccine is frontline workers and how much ah dem come from de back of de line. Dem boys sure dat he gan find some who don’t even wuk in de health sector.

Talk half and find de name of de wan wah jumping line!

shows how even an oilimporting country needs to have a policy in place when it comes to energy security.

Guyana is now an oilproducing state. It is now a competitor with Venezuela, the country with the largest reserves in the world. Its oil production appears to be recovering, albeit slowly. A national depletion policy will provide a safety valve against any attempt at

external interference in oil m a r k e t s t o G u y a n a ’s detriment.

A depletion policy is necessary for the sustainable management of any natural resource. Without a national depletion policy, then Guyana’s oil wealth will not be enjoyed by future generations. It will be exploited as quickly as possible and will be exhausted in a short time,

leaving no reserves for future generations.

Now not even the operators of cake shops think this way. But don’t tell that to Jagdeo. He holds the key to Guyana’s National Oil Depletion Policy. And it is all in his head.

(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

Monday February 22, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Joel Edmond has been a huge disappointment to me I am going to make a statement here which I will never retract. It is my opinion, and I will cling tenaciously to it. I don’t expect Kaieteur News to ask me to withdraw it, but if it does, I will have to bring an end to my page in this newspaper. The issue is too personal, personalized and philosophical for me.

Here is my statement which I will put in quotation, “Any person who lived in Guyana and watched the election drama unfold and deny there were consistent attempts to rig the results is dishonest and immoral.” I make no apologies for that opinion.

Nothing about those attempts to commit fraud was subtle, surreptitious or covert. It was one of the most barefaced, yet facetious but damning actions to interfere with an election result anywhere in the world since global democracy took hold after the end of the Second World

War. Against that backdrop, let me discuss my friendship with Joel Edmond whose resignation from the Alliance For Change (AFC) was done last Saturday. He called me that Saturday morning and told me he wanted me to be the first to know. I was not in a friendly mood. So I said to him, “I don’t want to talk about the resignation before you read my column today, my column is about people like you, please read it and call me back right away and if you don’t, I will call.” He didn’t call, so I did.

I have known Joel and his wife, Geeta Chandan, a long time now. Before they were married, they were my students at UG. I got to know them well after they became lawyers and a good friendship developed. When the AFC secured power in 2015, we had a swashbuckling dinner at New Thriving in which food

and liquor flowed freely like the cascading water of the Kaieteur Falls. Please note, I do not drink.

I was walking my dog in the National Park when Joel called. This was the day after nomination for the March 2020 election. Joel told me that Khemraj Ramjattan assured him most definitely that his name was on the list.

He said Ramjattan had asked him to go to the AFC campaign office to sign the relevant forms. When nomination became public, Joel was left out. He sounded angry when we spoke. He agreed for me to publicize his chagrin. I did so in a c o l u m n ( We d n e s d a y, January 14, 2020, “Deceit in the AFC election list: Region Five rebels”).

In February 2020, the month before the election, I d i d a p i e c e ( S u n d a y, February 16, 2020, “Leonard Craig, Joel Edmond, Trevor Williams, Marlon Williams and…) in

which I chastised these well placed second-tier leaders in the AFC for not confronting Stalinist political culture of the cabal that ruled the AFC with an iron fist, especially the ugliness that was contained in the renewed Cummingsburg Accord. Of them, Joel invoked my wrath the most because he had more space than most second-tier leaders to criticize that cabal.

The pattern in Guyanese politics is that those who are principled folks but without income eventually accept the authoritarian mentality of their party leaders. Those who have independent sources of funds are more inclined to expose wrongdoing. The list is too long. Balram Singh Rai, Ashton Chase and many others were lawyers who didn’t need the PPP’s assistance, so they openly disagreed with Cheddi Jagan.

In the PNC, Llewellyn

John was very wealthy so he could have afforded to clash with Burnham.

Ramjattan was a well-oiled lawyer so he wasn’t afraid to challenge Cheddi Jagan inside the PPP. It Frederick Kissoon was the same with Raphael Trotman who needed a break from didn’t need Desmond Hoyte’s patronage, so he politics so speaking out was tried to remove Hoyte as not a priority. At that moment, I was really head of the PNC. J o e l s t o o d o n t h e disappointed.

From April 2020 until identical platform with these names. As a Berbice lawyer, last Saturday, I had no his income was good. He conversation with Joel. I was didn’t need anything from jolted when he said that he the AFC. Yet Joel, unlike wanted me to be the first to Charrandass, chose silence. know about his resignation.

We had two conversations in As I wrote above, I was not in April 2020 in which I told an accommodating mood. I him as a popular name in the was deeply disappointed that AFC, in Berbice, he needs to he was silent all this time. speak out against the rigging. (The views expressed in this I advised that every voice article are those of the counts. He conceded that a u t h o r a n d d o n o t the election result was necessarily reflect the tampered with but said he opinions of this newspaper.)

Monday February 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Monday February 22, 2021

Roommate of man found Father who helped Mazaruni escapees charged dead in septic tank - Fugitives still to be recaptured arrested for murder

Escaped, Kenrick Lyte.

Escaped, Samuel Gouveia.

Anthony’s roommate, Fazal Ibrahim Police yesterday arrested a man who they believed might have murdered his roommate, Collin Anthony, and dumped his body in a septic tank.

Antony’s decomposing body was found in the morning hours of Saturday wrapped in a sheet and lying face-down in the septic tank of his wooden home located at Belle West, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara.

Cops were told by Anthony’s friends that he had not been seen or heard from since he celebrated his birthday with them on Tuesday evening. Hours l a t e r, p o l i c e b e g a n a manhunt for his roommate, Fazal Mohamed Ibrahim, 28 of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Ibrahim, detectives were told, was

Ibrahim not long after detained for Anthony’s murder staying together with Anthony and had not been seen around since Anthony had disappeared.

They had also learnt that Ibrahim was last seen riding A n t h o n y ’s m o t o r c y c l e sometime on Wednesday.

These bits of information among other pieces of evidence gathered by the detectives convinced that he was their prime suspect.

A wanted bulletin was subsequently issued for Ibranhim, yesterday by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Not long after, police managed to apprehend him in Grove, EBD. According to police, he was at the time, a passenger in a minibus.

He is currently in police custody being grilled by detectives about the murder of his friend and roommate,

Anthony. Investigators believe that Anthony was killed sometime between Tuesday and Saturday.

Friends had been searching for him since Wednesday after calls to his phone were unanswered.

On Saturday, Anthony’s neighbours were alerted to a foul stench emanating from his yard.

They followed their noses and soon stumbled upon his decomposing corpse in his septic tank.

Crime scene experts who visited the scene subsequently observed what appeared to be an inflicted wound behind Anthony’s head.

Anthony, Kaieteur News learnt, had only recently moved into the Belle West community.

The septic tank where Anthony’s body was found

D

ays after he confessed to helping his fugitive son and other inmates who escaped from the Mazaruni Prison, Region Seven, last Tuesday, Ralph Jones has been charged and is expected to make his first court appearance today.

In the meantime, the Joint Services Unit is continuing its man hunt for the four high profile criminals; Imram Ramsaywack, 25, of 7 Adelphi Village, East Coast Demerara; Kenrick Lyte, 44, of Grant Good Intent, Lower Pomeroon River; Samuel Gouveia, 36, of 13 Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara; and Rayon Jones, 28, of 121 Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

Ralph is the father of Rayon Jones. Last week, he confessed to the police that his son contacted him sometime after they escaped and informed him of his actions.

Kaieteur News had reported that Ralph told the investigators that on Monday last, around 01:00 hrs., the four escapees turned up at his house which is located at Fourth Avenue, Bartica.

Under further interrogation, Ralph reportedly told the police that when his son and the other escapees arrived at his home, he provided them with

The items that were recovered last Thursday.

Escaped, Rayon Jones. a change of clothing and collected the clothes that they were wearing. He then dumped them in an alleyway aback his home.

On Thursday last, a patrol of police ranks went to the location where they found a white ‘salt bag,’ which contained the following items: clothing, footwear, deodorant, topes, pillow and pillow-cases, along with a bottle of Red (Continued on page 16)

Escaped, Imram Ramsaywack.

The bars that were cut.

Kaieteur News

Monday February 22, 2021

PAGE 13

ERC Budget jumped 5 Govt. to digitalize Public Service times more since 2015 to improve turnaround time for with little accountability document processing The Parliament Building

F

indings following independent r e s e a r c h conducted by Kaieteur News show that the budgetary allocations to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) have jumped five times more since 2015, with little accountability to show.

Budget Estimates from 2015 to 2021 seen by this publication reveal that the Commission would have received over $900M in those seven years, with a significant increase in the allocations being given every year, except for 2017.

In 2015, the Commission received an allocation of $43.1M and in 2016, its allocation almost doubled, amounting to $81.4M. In 2017, the allocation was lowered to $50.5M but in the following year of 2018, it more than doubled to $115.7M. The allocations for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021 were $175.1M, $220.1M and $227.5M respectively.

The ERC is a nonpolitical body that was established on March 8, 2002, and serves to promote ethnic harmony and security in Guyana.

It comprises representatives from religious bodies, labour movements, and the private business sector. It was reconstituted on February 22, 2018, and saw the swearing-in of 10 new commissioners by former president David Granger.

Upon its establishment, the Commission was adequately funded, but over the years there has been minute accountability of the public funds, which it was provided.

Moreover, one of the Commissioners, Haji Roshan Khan, recently called for an audit as he highlighted alleged mismanagement occurring with the State funds. He is of the firm conviction that an audit is needed to expose key areas where significant value leakage is taking place. He

had stated that, “I would like a serious government audit” and if possible, a direct audit from the Auditor General’s Office.

In a letter published in Kaieteur’s February 15 edition, Khan had said,”…In its current state, I am of the opinion, like most Guyanese, that the ERC has been a total letdown to the Guyanese nation and is not deserving of the funds they receive. In my opinion, they have accomplished very little.

I believe what was done was insignificant and extremely limited to what could have been achieved.”

He further claimed that Commissioners sought to grant themselves Christmas bonuses of $150,000 which was contrary to the government’s advisory of a $25,000 Christmas bonus for persons in statutory bodies.

As he referenced more unjust spending, Khan said some wanted risk allowances to fly on planes and go in the jungles, high-quality boots to go in jungle terrains, which were hardly used.

Commissioners were also given out-of-town allowances and received a good salary for mere “parttime work”.

This publication had also asked Khan why the ERC’s spending is not properly audited and why Budget Estimates show little to no information on what the large yearly allocations cater for, to which he responded that the Chairman, Reverend John Smith, needs to answer.

However, it must be noted that in 2015, the former coalition government had amended the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, which allowed constitutional agencies like the ERC to have independence with their allocations.

Before the 2015 amendment, constitutional agencies had their budgetary allocations placed under scrutiny by their subject Minister.

The coalition’s amendment to Article 222 (a) had read, “in order to assure the independence of the entities listed in the third schedule, the expenditure of each of the entities shall be financed by the direct charge of the consolidated fund determined as a lump sum by way of an annual subvention approved by the way of the National Assembly, after a review and approval of an entity’s annual budget as part of the process of determination of the national budget.”

The PPP government recently moved to yet again amend the Act stating that the coalition’s amendment has removed billions of dollars from Parliamentary scrutiny that by law could only be spent after scrutiny.

Senior Minister within the Office of the President (Continued on page 15)

Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, is looking to improve the turnaround time for processing documents at ministries and all government agencies through digitalization.

Parag made this and other comments during her appearance on the “Budget in Focus” programme last week. While there, she was asked about her plans to improve the Public Service.

The Minister explained that the government departments and agencies are currently not computerized, meaning that they operate on a paperbased system.

As a result, when persons conduct business, the processing time can be lengthy, since the workers are tasked with searching through piles of paperwork rather than accessing records through an electronic system. “…The departments are not computerized. They don’t have data that are entered into one place so that you can easily access them, easily make reference to, so those are simple changes that we’re going to make,” Parag said.

Also, in her overall bid to improve the Public Service, Parag stated that she will be “implementing things” where public servants will be

held accountable for their conduct when dealing with the general public. In this regard, she noted that public servants who are discourteous while attending to the general public and those who simply refuse to will answer for their actions.

During the programme, Parag also stressed the need for the development of a code of conduct/code of ethics within the public service.

By transforming her own Ministry, and the rules that govern the Public Service, Parag believes this can contribute to holding public offices accountable for their actions.

Parag also noted that the employee management system that was supposed to s t a r t l a s t y e a r, u n d e r provisions made in the emergency budget, has not yet been implemented. “It was my idea to implement this right away, however, I thought it best (that) myself and a team from the Attorney G e n e r a l ’s C h a m b e r s , (should wait and), implement that as a section in the revised Public Service rules,” she added.

Kaieteur News was informed that the employee management system was set to be a guide for best practices in the Public Service. However, it will no

The Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag longer be a guide, but a rule, meaning that the provisions in that statement will be mandatory.

Minister Parag added that it is something that will continue year-round, and the employees may not know when it is coming or there may be a specific period where an evaluation may be done, coming out of that assessment.

In light of that, she believes that an improvement in performance in the public service will be seen.

She also acknowledged the improvement in the conduct of persons in the Public Service thus far.

According to the Minister, they are taking a deeper interest in the way they present themselves and the way that they represent their respective ministries.

Teacher investigated for child grooming; file with DPP The investigation for the male teacher who is alleged to have sexually groomed a student is completed and the file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C, for advice on the way forward. This was confirmed with a source close to the investigation.

Kaieteur News had reported that the male teacher who is attached to a private school in Georgetown found himself in hot water after the student filed a complaint that he was making sexual advances towards her. In fact, it was on February 1, 2021, that the student made complaints about the teacher and his sexual advances on social media.

According to a conversation seen by this publication, the teacher first asked the student to be his girlfriend. He had said,

“I wants u to be my girl but u might run up my pressure plus I’m not your type so guess it’s for the best.”

The conversation then went on with the teacher stating, “[Student’s name] if I end up being the one tht f&%$ u, would you tell anyone?” The teacher later stated that it was a joke but then went on to tell the student, “If u did lil more big hmmm you want a good f*&%king then u gone see what is real bad”, “Only god tell me why I like ur lil a$$” and “U best thank got that I can’t get to f*&% cuz u wuda see what is real thug.”

Kaieteur News had confirmed with sources at the Ministry of Education that a report was made and that the matter was being investigated for the alleged sexual grooming of a child under the age of 16.

Screenshots of the alleged conversation between the student and the teacher.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Monday February 22, 2021

‘Uncle Doug’ of First batch of Guyanese diagnostic radiologists Perth Village, Mahaicony is 102 A graduate via GPHC’s post grad programme No Surprise!

From left among the first batch of local radiologists: Dr. Joel Joseph, Dr. Angelita Sue, Dr. Richie Vyphuis, Dr. Vijai Persaud.

Having successfully completed a post graduate programme via the Georgetown Public Hospital C o r p o r a t i o n ( G P H C ) ’s Institute of Health Science Education (IHSE), five doctors are leading the way as the country’s first batch of qualified radiologists.

Dr. Angelita Sue, the only female in the batch, along with Dr. Joel Joseph, Dr. Vijai Persaud, Dr. Richie Vyphuis and Dr. Dolwin Ritch were among some 76 medical professionals, who graduated from the IHSE’s postgraduate residency programme, during a virtual ceremony held on Saturday.

The programme which is accredited by the University of Guyana via GPHC saw several doctors and nurses who were also presented with their post-graduate certificates in a number of other studies including surgery, anesthesia, internal

m e d i c i n e , p s y c h i a t r y, p e d i a t r i c s , e m e rg e n c y medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, family medicine and neonatal intensive care.

Speaking to this publication, Dr. Sue, who has been tipped to be Director of the Residency Programme for local radiologists, explained that the practice falls under a branch of medicine that allows medical doctors to specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases using medical imaging (radiology) procedures (exams/tests) such as X- rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)and ultrasound.

“The difference between a radiologist and other types of medical imaging professionals is that they are doctors who interpret the images and then provide a diagnosis based on clinical presentation of patients,” Dr.

Sue said.Given that this is the first time Guyanese doctors have been trained and qualified to function in the capacity locally, she said they are expected to boost the level of care offered to patients seeking the services of a medical imaging professional.

“We are proud to be the first certified radiologists and to able to serve our very own Guyanese population.

We all look forward to further our knowledge even more by sub specializing in various areas such as m a m m o g r a p h y , interventional radiology and nuerointerventional radiology. [Because] before we were trained, Guyana depended solely on foreign radiologists. As home-bred radiologists, we look forward to advancing healthcare in Guyana with medical imaging,” she added.

s the sun cast its soft golden rays across the skies of the farming village of Perth, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, Douglas James greeted the few people still in the yard before he calmly made his way up a short flight of stairs and into his single-storey house. One more year chalked up on the scoreboard.

Uncle Doug, as he is affectionately called, had confidently announced he knew that he would have lived beyond 100 years. On his 102nd birthday celebration on January 6, 2021, he was surrounded by relatives, friends and villagers sitting in his Perth Village, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, yard.

They were not surprised at the feat either. They laughed and nodded in agreement. Uncle Doug is no shy centenarian.

What strikes you at first is his proud slender stature and keen eyes. He acknowledges everyone with a quick headshake and quietly observes the crowd before adding his views.

Visitors are often surprised when told he lives alone, still enjoys climbing the fruit tree at the front of his home and cooks his own meals.

“That man puts lots of young people to shame.

Imagine 102 and still going strong. You can’t get some young people these days to even walk to the shop,” one of his neighbours shared at the party. More laughter echoed throughout the yard followed by affirmative nods.

He followed the conversations by reading lips. His hearing has deteriorated over the last few years, but he insists that all he needs is a good hearing aid.

“I had one but I was not hearing all that good. I need to check my ears again and get another one,” he explained.

Uncle Doug was born on February 5, 1919, at the end of World War One and proudly witnessed Guyana’s transition from a British colony to an independent nation on May 26, 1966.

Like many young men of his generation who grew up in Mahaicony, he left home to make his own way in life, travelling across Guyana’s

Uncle Doug of Perth, Mahaicony is 102

rugged terrain to work in the logging and mining industries.

“I worked with timber and I was a pork-knocker all over. No matter where I went, I always came back to Mahaicony,” he smiled. “I worked all over, from Essequibo to Demerara to Berbice. Things were different in those days.”

As the oldest person in the three neighbouring villages of Perth, Spooner, Plantation Number 10 communities - connected by Branch Road, the main street cut along the meandering Mahaicony River – his birthdays are celebrated with pride.

Relatives, friends, neighbours, politicians, members of his church, the Guyana Police Force and villagers visited him throughout the day with gifts and well wishes.

Uncle Doug has never married and has no biological children. But he has raised several children in the neighbourhood, including his stepdaughter, Merlene Brown, who chuckled when asked to share a memory of her childhood in Perth.

“He was hardworking so

you never went hungry,” she said. “But, Lordy, he was strict and you had to follow his rules. He is a caring person; just ask anyone in the village. That man can knit a cast net. One of my childhood memories is of him sitting on the couch and knitting nets quick, quick, quick.”

“Ask him about his net knitting days,” a piercing voice interrupted the conversation from nearby.

According to the villagers, Uncle Doug is a net making legend in the Mahaicony area. His slender fingers have knitted thousands of fishing nets for family, friends, fishermen and women in villages near and far.

‘I did thousands and thousands of nets. I started doing nets from very young. I used to do my own nets and go fishing, and then people wanted nets. I did nets for everyone in the village and people from other villages.

But now my eyes are not so good, so I had to stop,” he explained.

Yet Uncle Doug ensured the tradition lives on in Mahaicony - he has taught several young villagers the techniques of net making.

Monday February 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

COVID-19 vaccine education In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the government has already begun its campaign to immunize the Guyanese population to achieve herd immunity and see a possible end to the almost year-old pandemic.

As previously reported

by Kaieteur News, Guyana received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines, more specifically 3,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which was immediately rolled out to frontline health workers.

Guyana is also set to receive a quota of vaccines through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility, which has promised a donation of 104,000 doses and the government is also utilizing bilateral relations to obtain a significant number of vaccines.

Though research and information is provided by the government, this article seeks to highlight the various vaccines, which the government has announced Guyana will and may receive.

Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Type - This vaccine is a viral vector vaccine that is made using the common cold virus modified with the S A R S - C o V- 2 “ s p i k e ” protein to make it similar to Covid-19. According to the Centre for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC) in the United States of America, “Viral vector vaccines use a modified version of a different virus (the vector) to deliver important instructions to our cells. For COVID-19 viral vector vaccines, the vector (not the virus that causes COVID-19, but a different, harmless virus) will enter a cell in our body and then use the cell’s machinery to produce a

can be kept for six months in standard refrigeration.

Dosage - This is a double dose vaccine that is taken 28 days apart.

Possible side effects Side effects associated with COVID-19 vaccination most times are evidence that the body is processing the information given by the vaccine to create a protective s h iel d . Th e f o l l o w in g symptoms mean that the

The types of COVID-19 vaccines (Credit: BBC)

harmless piece of the virus that causes COVID-19.

This piece is known as a spike protein and it is only found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID19.”

Storage - These vaccines

vaccine is working: tenderness, pain, warmth, redness, itching, swelling or bruising where the injection is given; generally feeling unwell; feeling tired (fatigue); chills or feeling feverish; headache; feeling

2019 Repsol mud spill could....

From page 08 pressure to maintain that well and the pressure could have blown the living daylights out of the well and we could have had a major disaster, then you have a British Petroleum type spill in the Gulf,” he continued.

“Guyana was lucky,” Dr. Adams said, that someone was passing by and noticed an open valve used to dump the mud.

He added that when checks were made on site, EPA officers discovered that the very valve was scheduled for maintenance but later forgotten.

“It was put up for

maintenance for a long time but nobody even paid attention to repair that valve.

So those are the little things that you miss that can cause a disaster,” he said.

This is one of the main reasons why Dr. Adams has been advocating heavily on site monitoring on oilrigs offshore and for Guyana to ensure that it is fully protected in the event of an oil spill.

In ExxonMobil’s case, Guyana runs the risk of accepting liability for any oil disaster that may occur in the Stabroek Block area.

Why? The local subsidiary, which is the operator of the block has

little assets; so little that in the event of any spill, it would not be able to foot the costs leaving Guyana to pick up the slack.

And while the local subsidiary promised to ensure that its parent companies, ExxonMobil, HESS and CNOOC/NEXEN accept liability of any potential oil disaster, one year has since passed and it has failed to provide this assurance in writing.

Imagi n e w hat would happen to Guyana if a spill like what occurred in the Gulf happens and the country is left to pay off billions of dollars for generations?

ERC Budget jumped 5 times...

From page 13 with responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh, during the tabling of the Bill said, “The amendment (the coalition’s) laid out a twostage process whereby the budget of the constitutional agencies would be brought to

sick (nausea); joint pain or muscle ache.

Some less possible side effects are: feeling dizzy; decreased appetite; abdominal pain; enlarged lymph nodes; excessive sweating; itchy skin or rash.

The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Type - This is a synthetic messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) vaccine, which is made from enzymes and

the National Assembly, considered and approved by the Assemb l y, a n d incorporated into the national budget, which would subsequently be submitted to the House for consideration, at which time the budget of the constitutional agencies,

would not be reconsidered, but would form part of the national budget.”

His amendment has removed that two-step process and now allows for a single process of submission to the National Assembly since the Bill has been passed.

sends the messenger RNA into the body with instructions on how to produce a harmless piece of the spike protein, which is found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19.

“COVID-19 mRNA

vaccines are given in the upper arm muscle. Once the instructions (mRNA) are inside the immune cells, the cells use them to make the protein piece. After the protein piece is made, the cell breaks down the instructions and gets rid of them,” according to the CDC. Storage - This vaccine may be stored in the refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F) for up to 30 days, before the vaccine vials are punctured.

Dosage - This is a twodose vaccine.

Possible side effects The CDC has listed side effects for these vaccines and they include; pain and swelling to the injection site, fatigue, headache, chills and fever.

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Type - This vaccine too is a viral vector vaccine.

Storage - It must be stored at -20°C. Dosage - This is a two dosage vaccine.

Side effects - The CDC has stated that the side effects of this vaccine are the same as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.Information stated in this article can be sourced at:https://www.openaccessg overnment.org/side-effectsof-the-astrazenecavaccine/103646/, https://www.aarp.org/health /conditions-treatments/info2020/coronavirus-vaccineside-effects.html, https://www.cdc.gov/corona v i r u s / 2 0 1 9 ncov/vaccines/expect/after.h t m l a n d https://www.cdc.gov/corona v i r u s / 2 0 1 9 ncov/vaccines/differentvaccines/viralvector.html#: ~:text=Viral%20vector%20 vaccines%20use%20a,impo rtant%20instructions%20to %20our%20cells

PAGE 16

Monday February 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

Region Four accounts for 16 of 21 new COVID-19 infections

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The Ministry of Health reported 21 new COVID-19 infections yesterday via its daily dashboard update, increasing the case toll to 8,420.

Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) accounted for the majority with 16 new infections.

Regions Three and Seven were the only other regions recording new infections.

The dashboard also shows that ten patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 11 in institutional quarantine, 38 in institutional isolation and 450 in home isolation. Additionally, a total of 7,733 persons have recovered to date with four new recoveries recorded yesterday.

The COVID-19 death toll remains at 189 deaths.

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...Shut down Exxon From page 6 wouldn’t we be far worse, when the prospects dangled before us, confirm a multiplication of wealth for every Guyanese a thousand fold?

Editor, the oil came with a trickle, and then with an ocean of prosperity highly likely. It was enough to transform weak saints into something unimagined, to make martyrs forget the spiritual and snare a barrel of oil goodies for themselves.

To put differently, oil opened up visions, the palpable reality, of enormous wealth for every man Jack, and that was enough to make forgetting mother and father, wife and children, and God and principles. This was the sum of struggle in the last elections, not the ethos of democracy, with which make us mad.

It was what intensified our divisions and hatreds more. Guyanese flew in trajectories not seen before; but now they melt when real challenge come. That of

standing for what is right, what is best for us. We must appreciate what all the noise was about under the charade of democracy: merely money and the supremacy for the personal prospering of a few.

For here we are, again having Exxon by the gonads, and there are Guyanese in the divide, who are well-perched to feather their nests, who rise up against other Guyanese, who dare to call for applying the squeeze on Exxon. The squeeze for careless and dangerous gas flaring; the squeezes that were not applied for Payara, and subsequent oil developments. Exxon’s billiondollar shareholders are applying the squeeze for climate change (Blackrock being the latest), but divided Guyanese shrink from doing so. Instead, they attack the messengers from the ambush of social media and the backstabbing of don’t go so far. Why not? Because their relationships will be strained; their bankrolls held up; their brutish greed unfulfilled.

Exxon had us against a wall with money, expertise, and technology and it didn’t spare us. It went below the belt and held Venezuela over our head, which we weren’t spared (2%); so confident was the company in Sarah Ann Lynch and Michael Pompeo, and those who officially follow. It is why I say that we should not be sparing of Exxon in any way today. Exxon bought the silence of our political leaders, who can’t even speak to take shame from their faces. Exxon has bought out Guyana’s elites, professionals, civil society, and the whole sorry lot of them masquerading under one joint program after another. It is why they say: go easy. Don’t shut Exxon down. I say to hell with that.

The company is vulnerable, squeeze it and rock it: shut down its operations until it fixes gas flaring satisfactorily.

Exxon can’t afford delays. We can.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

...Father who helped Mazaruni escapees From page 12 Star rub, a toothbrush and a food bowl.

It was reported that around 07:15 hrs., on Tuesday last, during the unlocking of the Brick Prison (Solitary Division), the ranks on duty discovered the padlock to the entrance gate was tampered with. Further checks were made and it revealed that two bars within the cell were cut.

The matter was then reported to the Officer-inCharge of Mazaruni Prison, Senior Superintendent (ag) Kofi David. David then ordered a roll call and upon conclusion, the four convicted prisoners who were housed in the Brick Prison were unaccounted for.

As a result of the incident, a Joint Patrol was launched to the outer perimeter of the prison and the ranks have

been conducting water, air and land patrol to recapture the four convicts.

As the manhunt continues for the four convicts, the Joint Services is encouraging all law-abiding citizens to report to the nearest police station or call 455-2238, 4552222, 455-2241, 226-4585, 225-2700, 225-3650 or 911 should they be seen. All information will be treated with strict confidence.

Monday February 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Monday February 22, 2021

Gas-to-shore development cost could be repaid in about four years- VP Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Tuesday February 9, last, gave a crude estimate of four years for the repayment of the development cost for the proposed gas-to-shore project.

He said that the crude estimate for the cost of the project is between US$500800 million, depending on the design, pipeline size and surveys.

During a press conference held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Dr. Jagdeo said the cost would ultimately be defined when the government goes out to tender – “That’s the only time we will actually know the actual cost of it.”

The Vice President said that crude estimates about the payment plan range from 6 cents per kwh down to about 3 cents per kwh after

the development cost has been repaid.

“I’m just giving you [crude] because we’re at this stage of looking at numbers so it’s estimates,” he said.

In the early years of the project, before it is paid off, Jagdeo expects the payments for the gas to be about 6-7 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh) depending on the structure of financing, whether government owned or privately owned.

He views such state of affairs as a significant improvement on the status quo. He said “Now we’re selling at 30 cents per kwh…

So you’re looking at a significant reduction in energy costs, huge.”

Dr. Jagdeo said critics of the proposed project should hold off on saying the gas-toshore project is not feasible if they have not done a

feasibility study.

“It’s not feasible? I don’t know how you can say it’s not feasible when you haven’t done a feasibility study,” he added. “They have not done the feasibility study but they said it’s not feasible for us. Power at 6 cents per kwh when we’re generating at maybe twice or even higher than that, and selling at 30 cents per kwh.

That’s very, very feasible to us, the Guyanese public and the private sector, very feasible.”

The Vice President maintained that the benefits of the project are enormous, including savings on the cost of fuel and the lesser impact of the gas on the environment than fuel.

The government has committed to doing four studies on the gas-to-shore project planned for landing

at the old Wales sugar estate.

“So several studies are in the process of being contracted,” Jagdeo said during the same press conference.

“There is a geophysical study, a geotechnical study, a l i d a r s t u d y, a n d a n environmental impact study.”

No plans have been reported for the conduction of a study of the financial viability of the project.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

One killed, another injured after truck crashes into parked pick-ups A businessman was killed, while another was left injured after a speeding truck crashed into two parked motor pick-ups, which at the time, the men were standing between.

The dead man has since been identified as Murvey Madhoo, 60, of Independence Boulevard, La Penitance, Georgetown, while the injured man was identified as Sherwin Rhodius.

The accident which claimed the life of the father of two occurred around 20:00hrs on Saturday on Dora Public Road, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

According to the police report, motor pick-up GRR 4627 was parked on the western side of the road with mechanical problem while the men were transferring goods to another pick-up which was parked just behind.

Eyewitnesses told the police that they saw the truck travelling north on the western side of the road at a fast rate, when it lost control and collided with the right side front of the pick-up.

That vehicle slammed into both Madhoo and Sherwin who were standing between the two pick-ups.

As a result of the hit, both

Dead: Murvey Madhoo.

men fell onto the roadway, where they received injuries about their bodies. In a video seen by Kaieteur News, both men were seen lying on the roadway, one of whom was crying out with pain. Persons were heard in the background, telling them to relax, and that help was coming.

A man in the background who witnessed the accident stated in the video, that he had not too long finished putting on wheels on one of the pickups and was across the road, when he saw the truck came crashing into the pick-ups.

The father of two was picked up and rushed to the

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Sherwin was taken to the Linden Public Hospital, where he was examined and admitted. Kaieteur News understands that he is currently in a critical condition.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on Troy Van Lewin, the driver of the truck, but reports are that no trace of alcohol was found.

He was then taken into custody where he is assisting with the investigations.

The 60-year-old’s body is presently at the GPHC mortuary where it is awaiting a post mortem examination.

Monday February 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Monday February 22, 2021

Monday February 22, 2021

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Kaieteur News

...Team First Class looking to sweep 13s class ...Attorney Satram writes

Team First Class Auto modified Verosa

From page 20 in the month after blowing away the competition in the unlimited class, says that he is fairly confident of his machines’ ability, especially after an already impressive start to the year.

Richard’s brother, Reyad, who is also part of Team First Class, was also on fire at the Endurance meet at South Dakota Circuit on February 7th where he triumphed in 2000cc class.

Meanwhile, Group two champion Raymond Seebarran has laid claim to the 15 seconds class in his newly acquired 2003 RX8 with a 13B rotary engine.

Good news for fans who

Monday February 22, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A project could be successfully completed today, Aries.

Discussions may already be taking place about the next one, but you aren't inclined to think about that, at least not right away.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) If you're involved in the study of a particular subject, Taurus, today you might want to bury yourself in your books and learn as much as you can.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This isn't the day to make investments. You may read in the paper or online about some hot new stocks, but be very careful. If you're interested, consult a professional before investing money.

CANCER(June21–July22) Happy memories of a beloved grandparent may float to the surface today, and you may wonder why. Something or someone you've encountered in the past few days may have reminded you of this person.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The urge to stay in and rearrange your furniture might hit you today, Libra. You may want to clean out the shelves in your kitchen, add some new knickknacks, or rearrange your books into specific classifications.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Are you expecting an important communication, perhaps business related, Scorpio? If it comes today, it will probably come late.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A check you've been expecting to receive by mail will probably be delayed. It's nothing to worry about.

Chances are it got hung up at the post office and will arrive soon.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You may not be your usual cheery self today. Gloom may have come over you. You may doubt everything that happens in your life.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Are you working two jobs?

Today one could demand a lot of you, probably at the expense of the other. You tend to be very conscientious , so this might bother you, but don't let it get to you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Happy memories of a beloved grandparent may float to the surface today, Aquarius, and you may wonder why. Something or someone you've encountered in the past few days may have reminded you of this person.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your natural urge to innovate may seem to have vanished today . You may not feel like doing anything outside of routine tasks that you can do automatically. You're suffering from low biorhythms, so don't fall into the trap of thinking you're turning into a lazy bum.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A meeting may take place today that you don't want to attend, Pisces. It could be long and boring, but you should still make the effort to listen. Colleagues will want to discuss the issues with you afterward, and you might learn something in spite of the boredom.

will not be able to watch the event from the venue due to the limited access permitted by the National Covid-19 task force, is that the event will not only be live-streamed via the club’s Facebook page but also on cable provider, Enetworks, which is also a major sponsor of the event.

E1, SKAR TV (Channel 102) as well as Tarzee TV in Bartica, are the channels that will be broadcasting the action.

Other sponsors include AR Jiwanram Printery, Associated Construction Services, BM SOAT Auto Sales, Cyril’s Transportation Services, Homeline Furnishing, Imran Auto Works, KFC, KGM Security, Land Star Drilling Company, MMD Hollow Blocks and Pavers, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Motor Trend Service Centre, Modern Building Solutions, Panko Steel Fabrication, Power Tech Sound Company, Prem’s Electrical, Ready Mix Concrete, Rush Energy Drink, Samaroo Investments Inc., Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc. STAG Beer, Trans Pacific Motor Spares & Auto Sales, Truck Master, UNICOM – United Commodities, West Coast Customs Washbay, Windjammer and Castrol Oil.

...Jamaican clinch semi-final From page 22 25th fifty from 81 balls before he fell to Allen at 141-3.

Jonathon Carter was caught and bowled by Allen for 26 at 152-4, while Jason Holder (1) was LBW to Andre McCarthy and the Jamaicans were back in the game.

Nicholas Kirton (3), Nurse (2), Akeem Jordan (0), Bishop and Chemar Holder (0) were dismissed by McCarthywho registered a hat-trick to the delight of the Scorpions fans.

The Jaguars oppose the Windwards today from 09:30hrs in the final preliminary round in a preview of Thursday’s second semi-final.

Sports minister on Cricket From page 23 consultation with the President, we will be grateful to learn from the President why the board was not involved in the decision in which the President supported the unreasonable and unlawful decision of the Minister of Sport in Guyana.

The President may have acted unethically in a matter in which he has a personal interest, by not bringing the question to the Board as he is obliged to do. The President is being challenged by our client in the upcoming elections and he knew or ought to know that his unilateral decision to support the decision of the Minister

is likely to undermine our client’s efforts at being elected.

Legal proceedings will be launched in the High Court of Guyana to challenge the decision of the Minister. Your response is needed for use in those proceedings.

Your failure to respond may compel us to name the President in those proceedings in which we will allege that the President acted improperly and will urge the Court to so find.

We are grateful for your urgent response.

Yours sincerely, C.V. Satram Attorney-at-Law

...PMCC player Romel Budwa From page 21 the gear was as a result of a commitment made to Hon. Vindhya Vasini Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security to assist the players in their quest to play the game at the highest level.

The Bal Nivas Home for Children received a quantity of softball bats and balls to keep the kids active. Foster also committed to sending senior players on a regular basis to the home to assist the youngsters with learning the basics of the game.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Monday February 22, 2021

Djokovic on cloud nine in Australia after Medvedev mauling M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) - A very different Australian Open came to a familiar close yesterday, with Novak Djokovic crowned champion for a record-extending ninth time and Serbian fans hailing a one-sided win over another would-be challenger in Daniil Medvedev.

The world number one’s 7-5 6-2 6-2 win on his favourite court secured his 18th Grand Slam title, bringing him within tantalising reach of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal’s all-time men’s record of 20.

“I would like to thank Rod Laver Arena. I love you each year more and more.

It’s been a love affair that keeps growing. Thank you

so much,” Djokovic said as he cradled the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup once again.

With a fortune spent to put on a biosecure tournament amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Djokovic came into the Grand Slam under fire after offending the Australian public for petitioning organisers to ease quarantine conditions for players.

He suffered a painful abdominal injury in the first week and had to manage it through the second.

But those challenges were drowned out in the roars of his fans as he thrashed fourth seed Medvedev in a bearpit atmosphere.

“It has been definitely emotionally the most challenging Grand Slam that I ever had with everything that was happening, injury, off-the-court stuff, quarantines,” he said.

“It has been, least to say, a roller-coaster ride in the last four weeks.”

Much like Dominic Thiem in last year’s final, Djokovic faced an opponent desperate for a seat at the Grand Slam table.

Unlike Thiem, who pushed Djokovic to five sets, Medvedev never threatened in his second major final.

Djokovic made a mockery of the Russian’s 20match winning streak and his pre-match barb that all the

Tournament winner Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and runner up Russia’s Daniil Medvedev chat as they hold their trophies after their final match at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament. (REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) pressure was on the champion.

He broke him seven times and closed out the onesided contest with a net-rush and a brilliant leaping volley.

Having extended his unbeaten record in nine finals at Melbourne Park, Djokovic bellowed in triumph and wrapped his team in a group hug.

Nadal is the only man to have won more titles at a single Grand Slam, with his 13 at the French Open.

Djokovic now has won six majors after the age of 30, equalling Nadal’s record.

Djokovic had said prematch that Medvedev was the man to beat but it all seemed like mental games when the Serb shot out to a 30 lead.

Medvedev rallied to 3-3, though, edging Djokovic in fierce baseline exchanges.

Djokovic switched tactics, pulling the Russian to the net, his least favourite part of the court.

MEDVEDEV FURY

The ploy paid off as Djokovic ripped a backhand passing shot for three set points and took it when a flustered Medvedev thumped a forehand into the net.

While Medvedev broke Djokovic early in the second set, the Russian handed the break back with an errorstrewn game.

Play was suspended briefly mid-point at 2-1 after a protester yelled “free the refugees” during play before being ejected to cheers.

Medvedev then dropped serve in a hurry and smashed his racket in fury after Djokovic marched on to a 52 lead.

The crowd grew unruly and were repeatedly upbraided by the chair umpire as Medvedev sunk deeper into a funk.

He slapped a forehand long to concede two set points before being almost knocked off his feet by a Djokovic return.

Worse was to come for

Medvedev as he was broken twice in succession, a weak volley into the net handing Djokovic a 3-0 lead in the third set.

With an humiliation threatening, Medvedev swung hard in a final stand but found no way through D j o k o v i c ’s s t o n e w a l l defence.

After winning an epic rally to be within a game of victory, Djokovic threw an icy gaze at the Russian and tapped his temple as he walked to his chair before closing it out.

Medvedev was left to rue another chance gone begging, having lost to Rafa Nadal in a five-set thriller at the 2019 U.S. Open.

He likened the Big Three of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer to “Cyborgs of tennis, in a good way.”

“I guess he’s (Djokovic) the King of Melbourne, even if I don’t like these words.

What else can we say? He won here nine out of nine times.”

GMR&SC Drag Championship

Team First Class looking to sweep 13s class First Class Auto Sales and Spares that is one of sponsors of the GMR&SC Drag Championship round one, have announced that they have registered four cars for the Sunday’s anticipated Drag race meet with the intention of being first place in the 13 seconds class.

Principal of the team, Richard Hamid, who got much success during his first Endurance meet earlier (Continued on page 19)

Raymond Seebarran’s RX8

Kaieteur News

Monday February 22, 2021

PAGE 23

LFS Burnham Memorial Road Race

Marcus Keiler wins season opener; Alex Mendes (Vets) and Alex Leung (Jnr.) also win

By Franklin Wilson Unattached cyclist, Marcus Keiler, opened the 2021 season in fine style when he won the annual Forbes Burnham Memorial Cycle Road Race yesterday from the City to Belfield and back. The event was sponsored by the Burnham Foundation, organised by Flying Stars Cycle Club, sanctioned by the Guyana Cycling Federation and was given the go ahead by the Ministry of Health and the National Covid-19 Task Force.

In drenching rain, Keiler covered the approximately 37 miles course in One Hour 12 Minutes 30.83 Seconds to win a four way sprint home from Briton John (We Stand United Cycle Club), Alex Mendes (Roraima Bikers Club) and Christopher Griffith (Team Evolution Cycle Club). A few seconds back were the fifth and sixth placed finishers, Team Evolution’s Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams (2020 winner) and Jaikarran Sukhai (Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club).

The We Stand United CC duo of Alex Leung and Aaron Newton again dominated the junior category ending first and second in that order. The senior class went to Mendes ahead of Sukhai, Lyn Murray (Unattached) and Warren ‘Forty’ Mc Kay (We Stand United CC).

Flying Stars CC’s Ian ‘Deaf boy’ Jackson received

Alex Leung, winner of the junior category.

(Franklin Wilson photo) Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams (5th) and Jaikarran Sukhai (6th). a special prize as the first rider from his club to cross the finish line.

Some forty-three cyclists faced starter’s orders when the race took off just outside the National Park, Carifesta Avenue in light drizzles. As the riders got into the competitive groove in this season opener they rode into heavy winds and rain.

Keiler and Jaikarran decided to take it up a few notches and broke away from the peloton at Better Hope.

Moments after, they were joined by Mendes, John and Griffith and when the leading group tuned back at

Belfield, they had established a three minute lead on their pursuers. At Success on the downward journey, John turned up the heat and at Better Hope in an attempt to gain the advantage but only Sukhai was not able to keep up with the pace and was dropped.

Keiler, John, Mendes and Griffith continued to travel and at BV, last year’s winner of the event which was twostages, Marlon Williams along with Michael Anthony connected with Sukhai.

Anthony was eventually dropped.

Meanwhile, the presentation of prizes where

PMCC player Romel Budwa and Bal Nivas Home for Children are assisted by BCB & RHTY&SC The benevolence of the Berbice Cricket board (BCB) and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) continues to reverberate in the Ancient County of Berbice.

On Sunday last at the Jai Hind Cricket Club Ground, Albion, Port Mourant Cricket Club’s Under-15 player Romel Budwa along with the Bal Nivas Home for Children were presented with cricket gear by BCB PRO and RHTY&SC Assistant Secretary/CEO, Simon Naidu.

According to the BCB, (Continued on page 19)

Romel Budwa is presented with cricket gear by Simon Naidu.

all covid-19 protocols were followed was done by Mr. Lancelot Hinds, Executive Member of the Burnham Foundation. He told the cyclists and officials that the late LFS Burnham was a great supporter of sports and the development of athletes.

And that’s why they

continue to do the event in his memory. Hinds also informed that due to the challenges associated with the covid-19 pandemic they were forced to only do one stage this year but is hoping that we can overcome this pandemic and return to having multiple stages. All

the above named cyclists received cash incentives.

Gratitude was extended by the organiser and sponsor to the Ministry of Health, National Covid-19 Task Force, Guyana Police Force and the GCF for working collectively to make the event a success.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Monday February 22, 2021

Football community mourns the loss of former national footballer; Robert ‘Bobby’ Fernandes

By Franklin Wilson Leaving a rich legacy in the sporting world, let alone football, former national footballer, Robert ‘Bobby’ Fernandes took his final whistle on Friday night last following a long and determined battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Affectionately known as ‘Bobby’ to his family and friends, Fernandes, born in 1947 attended Saint Stanislaus College and was the last brother of fourteen (14) who all played football but his lifetime aim was to don national colours which he did in 1967 at the age of 20.

Whilst still attending school, Fernandes who was known for his fierce left foot shot although being right handed, represented the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) where he later became President.

The former midfield player’s career lasted for one decade, his international career lasted from 1967 to 1973; he was a reserve player for Guyana when this nation played against English 2nd division club, Hull City.

He was subsequently selected for the Caribbean Team as a defender who did well in the Rest Team.

According to Lawrence ‘Sparrow’ Griffith who supplied some information on Bobby’s history, the GFC player was selected to play last back to mark Godfrey Poulis and was convinced that the coaches wanted him to fail.

However, he played and at the end of the game left the ground immediately, never thinking that he would have been selected. But later that night, George Green rapped at Bobby Fernandes’ door to inform him that he had made the West Indies Team at the insistence of the then C a p t a i n , Tr i n i d a d i a n , Selwyn Joseph.

Griffith also noted that Bobby’s biggest fan was his father who would always encourage him {Bobby} to quit whenever he was dropped from the national team or when he did not start.

Whenever he took the field as a substitute and was told that, “Bobby you are our last hope,” the assertive Fernandes would reply, “Ya’ll should have start with me then.”

He became one of nine (9) Guyanese players who were selected to represent the Caribbean in his final international match (at age 29) which was an honour for him as he took to the Bourda

The late Robert ‘Bobby’ Fernandes with wife Luana and other family members. ground, a crowning moment for him.

Among Fernandes’ teammates were Gerald ‘Beef ’ Francisco, Ken Gibbs, Simeon Andrews, Mike Mitchell, Lloyd King and Rudolph ‘Chow’ Hunte.

He was always of the view however, that his most important contribution to the sport was as President of the GFC, Guyana’s oldest club.

Also performing duties as Coach, many a player under his charge would have gone on to represent the Golden Jaguars including his son, Chad. Such was his passion for sports that his other children also represented Guyana, notably Nicolette known as the queen of squash, also playing hockey; Robert (player and national Coach)

and Chantelle who played squash and hockey as well.

Chantelle, back in 2017 competed and completed the London Marathon for her dad who followed her every step of the race even though confined to his bed. Such a fighter he was, Bobby published three books of short stories, poetry and photography during his confinement.

He leaves to mourn his w i f e L u a n a Vi e i r a Fernandes, their seven children along with lots of family and friends. Kaieteur Sport takes this opportunity to extend sincere condolences to Mrs. Fernandes and family on the passing of a national icon in Robert ‘Bobby’ Fernandes.

May his soul rest in peace, and rise in glory.

Jamaican clinch semi-final spot behind McCarthy’s 6-16, Smith’s 68 as Scorpions sting Pride CG Insurance Regional Super50

In a battle for the final semi-final spot in the Regional Super50 tournament last night at the Coolidge Ground in Antigua, a fantastic Man-ofthe-Match performance from 33-year-old off-spinner Andre McCarthy who had 616 including a hat-trick, spearheaded Jamaica Scorpions to a 51-run victory over Barbados Pride.

The Scorpions will face the Red Force in the first Semi-final on Wednesday at Coolidge from 13:30hrs.

Left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop captured 5-35 and got support from Ashley Nurse (2-51) before Oden Smith blasted an unbeaten 68 from 75 balls with five fours and four sixes.

From 87-8 the Scorpions were down and out before the 24-year-old Smith shared

in two crucial partnerships; adding 80 for the ninth wicket with Jamie Merchant and 51 for the 10th with Jeavor Royal (16) as Scorpions recovered to 218 from 49 overs.

Pride were bowled out for 167 in 41.1 overs as 27year-old Shai Hope, who made 51 from 81 balls with three fours and a six, shared in two half-century stands.

First, he put together 51 with Greaves who made 36 from 26 balls with five fours and a six before adding 66 for the second wicket with Shamarh Brooks who made 27 with two fours as McCarthy befuddled the batsmen as the Pride lost their last nine wickets for 49 runs. Fabian Allen (2-41) supported to help his team to a sensational win.

The 20-year-old Bishop

Andre McCarthy wreaked the Scorpions top order ripping out Aldane Thomas (8), Romaine Morrison (2), Brandon King (10), McCarthy (0) and Javelle Glenn (4) as they catapulted to 32-5 in 8.5 overs.

Bishop, playing in his 21st List ‘A’ match, bettered his previous best of 4-44 with his 10-over spell.

A 29-run sixth wicket stand between Rovman Powell and Fabian Allen revived the position by taking the score to 61-6 in 17.1 overs before Powell, 19 with two sixes, fell to Nurse.

Derval Green joined Allen and the pair added 20 runs to carry the score to 81 when Nurse struck again by dismissing Allen, who hit

two fours and a six in 23.

However, it was soon 878 when Green (10) was trapped LBW by Akeem Jordon. But Jamie Merchant and Odean Smith featured in a magnificent fight back to revive Jamaica’s fortunes with positive batting.

Smith clobbered three sixes and three fours in 59ball innings, while Merchant hit four fours and a six in 37 from just 34 to keep Jamaica’s semi-final hopes alive.

When Jason Holder eventually removed Merchant, Jamaica were 167-9 but last man Jeavor Royal (16) and Smith, who reached his second fifty at this level, continued to fight before Justin Greaves dismissed Royal to end the frustrating partnership.

When the Bajans began

their reply, Greaves got going with four consecutive boundaries off Green, while Hope lifted Merchant for six over long-off to post the 50 in the 10th over.

However, Merchant, who dropped Greaves in the previous over, got rid of him at 52-1 in the same over.

Brooks joined Hope who executed a glorious square drive off Smith and repeated an even better shot for a second boundary in the over.

Brooks dispatched Allen over mid-wicket for four before cutting him for four more as the partnership flourished.

The stand was broken when Brooks was run out in a terrible mix-up with Hope to leave Pride on 118-2.

Hope, with 12 tons in 50over cricket, reached his (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Monday February 22, 2021

PAGE 25

Attorney Satram writes Sports minister on Cricket Secretary of Cricket Ombudsman and GCB elections West Indies Inc also written to Attorney-at-Law C.V. Satram, representing his client Anand Sanasie Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), has cited what he notes as inconsistencies in the appointment of the current Cricket Ombudsman and the setting of a date for elections of the GCB by Minister of Sports Charles Ramson Jnr. As a consequence the attorney in his missive carbon copied (CC) to Mr. Kamal Ramkarran, Attorney-at-Law, the newly appointed Cricket Ombudsman, notes that the actions by the Minister and ‘the decisions to appoint the Cricket Ombudsman and to fix a date for the holding of elections of the GCB are illegal, invalid, null, void and of no legal effect.’

Here is the full text of the letter sent to the Minister: Re: Appointment of Cricket Ombudsman & the date for the holding of Guyana Cricket Board elections We act for Mr. Anand Sanasie, Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and Director of Cricket West Indies Inc.

(CWI) formerly the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). We have read your notice published on the 19th February, 2021 purporting to appoint a Cricket Ombudsman and fixing the date for the elections of the GCB acting in accordance with the powers vested in you by sections 7 and 17 respectively of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act, Chapter 21:03, Laws of Guyana (Cricket Administration Act).

The Minister of Sport was only once permitted by the said Act to appoint a Cricket Ombudsman. Your recent purported appointment by Notice of 19th February, 2021 is the third such appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman by a Minister. Your predecessors in office Dr. George Norton and Dr. Frank Anthony had done so in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Professor Winston McGowan was the first Cricket Ombudsman to have been appointed by Dr. Anthony and although he later resigned his office his appointment was never declared to be invalid.

In the circumstance your

appointment of Mr. Kamal Ramkarran, Attorney-atLaw as Cricket Ombudsman is unlawful and of no effect.

Your acts are in excess of the powers conferred upon you by the Act. Our client notes the rushed manner in which the date for the GCB elections was fixed. Our client is aware that you share a close relationship with the President of CWI Mr. Ricky Skerritt who is being challenged by our client for the Presidency of CWI at the upcoming CWI elections to be held in March, 2021.

The period of 7 days for the holding of elections is unreasonable and does not allow the Cricket Ombudsman to carry out his statutory function of establishing and verifying a Register of Clubs before the holding of the GCB elections. The time frame fixed is not in accordance with the Constitution of the GCB, Schedule I of the Cricket Administration Act. The membership of the GCB has a right to and/or a legitimate expectation that a period of at least thirty (30) days would be given before the holding of any elections.

GSSC Captain Imran Khan ties the knot GSSC Captain Imran Khan and Anmol Rambaran

Charles Ramson Jnr, Minister of Sports Members must be allowed a reasonable period to identify delegates and contestants and to canvas support for the elections. The rules of the GCB also permit the presentation of Motions for consideration at the meeting.

Yo u c o m m i t t e d a n egregious error of law when you purported to consult with the President of CWI alone. The President has an interest to serve in this matter and the Cricket Administration Act clearly requires that you engage in meaningful consultation with the Board of CWI. No such consultation took place.

Our client is a Director of the Board and no meeting to discuss the appointment of the Cricket Ombudsman and the fixing of a date for GCB elections was called or ever took place.

In all the circumstances, the decisions to appoint the Cricket Ombudsman and to fix a date for the holding of elections of the GCB are illegal, invalid, null, void and of no legal effect.

Former Minister of Sport Dr. George Norton had fixed a date for elections.

Your powers under the

Anand Sanasie Act are clearly at an end if they ever existed in you at all at the time of your notice on the 19th February, 2021. We have written to the Cricket Ombudsman and copied you. If we do not hear from the Cricket Ombudsman by 9am tomorrow, Monday 22nd February, 2021 then legal proceedings will be filed to quash your decision and for a declaration that you have no power under the Cricket Administration Act or at all to fix or further fix a date for the elections or to make any appointment or any further appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman.

Yours sincerely, C.V. Satram Attorney-at-Law CC: Mr. Kamal Ramkarran Attorney-at-Law Meanwhile, the attorney has also written to Mrs. Alana Medford-Singh The Secretary Cricket West Indies Inc. on their consultation with the Minister of Sports. The attorney on behalf of his client sought to know the nature of the consultation and question why was the entire CWI Board not informed of such.

Ricky Skerritt Here is the text of the letter to the CWI Secretary: RE: Consultation by Minister of Sport of Guyana We write on behalf of Anand Sanasie, Secretary to the Guyana Cricket Board and Director of Cricket West Indies Inc. (CWI). It has come to our client’s attention by a Notice published by the Minister of Sport in Guyana on the 19th February, 2021 that the said Minister held consultations with Cricket We s t I n d i e s o n t h e appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman in Guyana and the fixing of a date for the elections of the Guyana Cricket Board.

No meeting of the Board was called to consider the matter which appears to have been raised directly with the President of CWI who is in regular communication with the Minister. The Minister was required to consult with the Board and not the President of CWI. We will be grateful to know the form and nature of the consultation which the Minister speaks of, if there was any such consultation.

If there was any such (Continued on page 21)

Albion’s training squad in preparation for Nat T20 cricket - Players invited to meeting today

Captain of Good Success Sports Club of Wakenaam, Imran Khan, has tied the knot.

Khan, who also represented Lankans Cricket Club in Canada, got married

yesterday to Anmol Rambaran of Belle Plaine, Wakneaam. Kaieteur Sport and GSSC extend many congratulations to Khan and his wife.

Albion has named a 26 squad man squad to commence training in preparation for the Club’s participation in the upcoming National T20 Cricket Championship.

All players with the exception of those currently engaged in National duties are asked attend an important meeting with the Club’s Executives today, February 22, 2021, at the Albion Community Centre’s Main Hall, commencing at 16:30 hours.

The squad will commence training from tomorrow, February 23, 2021.

The squad which includes West Indies players Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo is as follows: Anthony Bramble, Jonathan Foo, Gudakesh Motie,

Kandasammy Surujnarine, Adrian Sukhwa, Rajiv Ivan, Anthony Bramble, Jonathan Foo, Sharaz Ramcharran, Sarwan Chaitnarine, Jeetendra Outar, Ramesh Kasinauth, Devendra Bishoo, Kelvin Umroe, Ritesh Umroe, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Rayaad Karim, Inzam Shazam, Gouraf Ramesh, Mahendra Chaitnarine, Antanio February, Leon Cecil, Devendra Latchman, Shiv Harripersaud, Jousha Harichand, Karan Arjpaul, Tameshwar Mahadeo and Parvesh Ganesh.

Apart from intense training and practice sessions, the squad will also be engaged in several practice matches prior to the selection of final team.