Kaieteur News

ERC Commissioners K NEWS took $150,000 as COVID relief, not Christmas bonus - Chairman

Thursday Edition

AIETEUR

February 25, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 07

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

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Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 105.575

ExxonMobil to sell North Sea assets for over US$1B to focus on Guyana p.

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Tit-for-tat continues in Parliament; takes away from debate on actual budget p.

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Suspect Twins give COVID-19 claims confesses to birth minutes life of one of killing burnt Robb Street man found at apart at Supermarket N/A Hospital Granny’s killers - dead man identified as Enmore resident p.

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Transparency Int’l writes UN seeking to end all anonymous shell companies p.

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After four decades of oil production, Angola remains poor p.

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- Guyana must take heed - IEEFA Advisors

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Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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S S E N D A M TR AFFIC

ExxonMobil to sell North Sea assets for over US$1B to focus on Guyana

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Trucks and heavy duty vehicles add to the backup of traffic during the afternoon rush hour. It is time the authorities find a solution to this problem!

merican oil g i a n t , ExxonMobil, disclosed yesterday that it has signed an agreement with HitecVision, through its wholly owned portfolio company, NEO Energy, for the sale of most of its nonoperated upstream assets in the central and northern North Sea of the United Kingdom.

The sale price of more than US$1 billion is subject to closing adjustments, and has additional upside of approximately US$300 million in contingent payments based on potential for increase in commodity prices.

On the heels of this announcement, Neil Chapman, senior vice president of ExxonMobil said, “We continue to highgrade our portfolio by divesting assets that are less strategic and focusing our investments on our advantaged projects that are among the best in the industry.”

In this regard, Chapman said that the company's most prized resources are in Guyana, the U.S. Permian Basin, and Brazil. He said too that ExxonMobil is focused on increasing earnings potential and generating strong cash flow to fund future capital investments, reduce debt and

maintain a reliable dividend.

Kaieteur News understands that the agreement includes ownership interests in 14 producing fields operated primarily by Shell, including Penguins, Starling, Fram, the Gannet Cluster and Shearwater; Elgin Franklin fields operated by Total; and interests in the associated i n f r a s t r u c t u r e .

ExxonMobil's share of production from these fields was approximately 38,000 oil-equivalent barrels per day in 2019.

Further to this, ExxonMobil will retain its non-operated share in upstream assets in the southern North Sea, and its share in the Shell Esso Gas And Liquids (SEGAL) infrastructure that supplies ethane to the company's Fife ethylene plant.

The transaction is expected to close by the middle of 2021, subject to regulatory and third party approvals.

ExxonMobil was keen to note that it has operated in the U.K. for more than 135 years and continues natural gas sales, refining and chemical operations, the marketing of lubricants and petrochemicals, and the marketing of fuels through a network of more than 1,300 independently owned Essobranded retail sites.

Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Tit-for-tat continues in Parliament; takes away from debate on actual budget T

he National A s s e m b l y convened for the second day of budget debates at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, with some improvement on the vulgar heckling, which took place on the opening day.

However, some Members of Parliament continued to take away from the purpose of the budget debates to question the integrity of their opponents,

and making pronouncements on whose time in government was better, whether it was the last five years of A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) or the 23 years prior, under the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

While MPs like Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, and Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, devoted

their speeches to budget 2021, others almost completely ignored it.

Time which could have been spent discussing the policies and initiatives laid out in the extensive budget, which Senior Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, spent nearly five hours presenting last week, was instead spent hammering MPs on the other side of the aisle about matters already well ventilated in the press in the

Speaker cautions media against reporting on heckling in Parliament - says reporters open themselves to be sued

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peaker of National A s s e m b l y, Manzoor Nadir, yesterday cautioned media operatives against publishing instances of heckling during the 2021 budget debates, as it opens them up to the possibility of being slapped with a libel suit.

His pronouncement comes one day after Kaieteur News published a report on the distasteful commentary overheard during the opening day of the budget debates by identified members of the National Assembly.

But as day two of the debates kicked off yesterday, the Speaker searchingly said, “The media is allowed in and to assign comments or heckles to honourable members of this House?” He continued, “Personally, I feel the media opened itself to being sued. Had I been

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir sitting and I see in the press, a comment being attributed to me, I would ask the press person to find the evidence.”

The Speaker noted as well that he aired his concerns with the President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) on “responsible reporting” in

the National Assembly and urged the media to engage in such.

Kaieteur News was informed that in the National A s s e m b l y, w h a t e v e r comments or heckles are made, while a Member of Parliament (MP) has the floor, is public record.

However, commentary from other MP's while sitting are not.

It should be noted though, that many of these comments are heard via the Parliament's live stream on its Facebook and YouTube pages.

As the debates opened on M o n d a y, i n s t e a d o f witnessing Guyana's largest budget to date being scrutinized by both sides of the House, Kaieteur News instead had a front row seat to the hurling of racist, homophobic, and sexist insults from one MP to the other.

past two years.

Mps spent a lot of time getting into tit-for-tats about: the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, with accusations of nepotism came from the current Public Service Minister to the former, the 2020 General and Regional Elections saga, the

life and record of the late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, and which major party does more for Afro-Guyanese people.

Other topics of discussion substantially unrelated to budget 2021 included MP Cathy Hughes' “missing” laptop which was

later found right under her chair, and whether MP Sherod Duncan returned money to the Guyana Chronicle after an audit revealed multiple transactions did not follow financial regulations during his tenure as general manager.

Govt. issues 'emergency use' approval for several COVID-19 vaccines

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he government, through the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department, has granted emergency use approval for the Russian Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine and China's Sinopharm COVID19 vaccine, both of which Guyana is expected to receive soon.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, made the revelation during the daily COVID-19 update yesterday. Dr. Anthony noted that both vaccines were not granted approval by the World Health Organization (WHO), but requests for the vaccines to be approved would have already been submitted by manufacturers.

Kaieteur News learnt that while the WHO approves vaccines for global use, countries can individually grant

emergency use approvals for COVID-19 vaccines.

The Health Minister said that the government sought three methods for vaccine emergency approvals.

“The first is if the vaccine has been improved by what is called a stringent regulatory authority, so when we talk about stringent regulatory authorities we are talking about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, in Canada, in the UK, in Australia and in Europe,” Dr. Anthony noted.

He further stated that the second method is if the vaccines would have been approved by the WHO, but so far, the organization would have only granted emergency use approval for the Pfizer BioNTech, and two versions of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Minister Anthony, the third method for approving vaccines is to observe whether they would have been approved by large countries in the region.

In this instance, Ve n e z u e l a , B o l i v i a , Paraguay (countries in South America), Nicaragua (Central America) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (the Caribbean), approved the Russian Sputnik vaccine.

It must be noted that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the only Caribbean country with an emergency use approval for this vaccine.

“In the case of the Sputnik V, we have been in discussions with the Russian manufacturer for quite some weeks.

When we review the data from the vaccine, we saw that the vaccine is about 90.6 percent efficacious and of the (continued on page 14)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 25, 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

A true legend in his time, a man for country He is dead at the ripe old age of 91, but his legend will live on among men, who treasure country, those who dare to stand against the gods, come what may. Saudi Arabia’s, Sheik Zaki Yamani, was that kind of man in a life well lived, where he was tireless in serving the interests of his struggling countrymen. If only we had those who are like that here in Guyana; if only but one, with this oil of ours, that brings so much feebleness, causes so much uncertainty and distrust.

His pedigree was that of a non-royal in monarchical Saudi Arabia, which is usually enough to consign to the margins, or never close to the centres of power and meaningful influence. Yet, this was what Sheik Zaki Yamani, a mere commoner was able to achieve, when he was called upon to rise and lead the way forward. He delivered for his country time and again, and in the realm of the one thing that it has going for it: oil. Oil in so much abundance that the droves of predatory capitalists made their way to the desert, even to the trouble of dining in remote tents. We have abundant oil, too, but we are still groping to find a figure of the singular stature of Sheik Yamani. All we get for our efforts and expectations are shadows and sellouts.

Sheik Yamani’s oil context and inheritance as minister was one where the Americans led the way and maintained the firmest of strangleholds for decades on Saudi oil, a century almost. And that is taking into account the full nationalization that became official in 1976. Sheik Yamani was one of the driving forces behind that development, which favoured his country and drastically reduced the profits of oil companies. It only came about because of his determination to get the most for his people, even if that meant crossing swords with the West, especially the Americans. This was the path of this Middle Eastern oil giant of a man, who stood against the oil leviathans, stared them down, and walked away the victor.

One article from Reuters credited him as the man who brought “the West to its knees” (February 23), and Bloomberg spoke of his leadership in the “1973 oil embargo” that paralyzed industrialized America and Europe, and dragged the rest of the world down. Guyanese felt the pain over here, but this Saudi Arabian master for the interests of his people was not a man to flinch. Not even at the prospects and realities that were the inevitable fallouts of his dogged and intricate handiwork, a couple of which are now identified.

Sheik Yamani was an early architect of what became the much feared and despised OPEC. Sheik Yamani was the man and the patriot, who as the Saudi oil minister, was in the forefront of a series of carefully calibrated measures that, in the end, separated “the Saudi oil industry from the grip of American companies” (Reuters, February 23). That had to take some determined doing, but the Saudi was the man for the occasion. He did not shrink, or played games, or deceived his people, and the people to whom he answered. He had no such room, no option, but to deliver.

And he did: “The moment has come,” he said. “We are masters of our own commodity.” To that, we add: and of the Saudi world, its times, and its destiny.

We look around for such a man here, such a leader.

There is none; for there are only those who are so twisted in their dealings with this oil wealth of ours that they make a moving snake look like the straightest of straight arrows.

Instead of Guyana slowly, and little by little, gaining a fairer share for our oil (not full ascendancy yet), our leaders retreat from every opportunity that could give us a chance to be equal partners with Exxon. Guyana’s de facto oil minister, its Vice President, is a shrinking violet, a study in artful dodging, who cowers from taking the hard unflinching positions that stalwart men like Sheik Yamani of Saudi Arabia and Pedro Andres Gomez of Venezuela took before.

That was when they didn’t have much going for them, but the priceless commodity that made companies come hunting.

Today, there is concern and clamour over climate change, a brewing shareholder revolt, environmental

I am appalled at what transpired at the opening of the Budget Debates 2021 Dear Editor, It is with utter disgust that I write. The budget debates have begun and what a show it was! As a Guyanese I felt ashamed and disrespected. I was speechless when I read what transpired in the Parliament on Monday 22nd February 2021. From personal attacks to the display of a “sex toy” in Parliamen t m a k e s m e wonder what next!? A woman attacking a man’s ability to father a child is the lowest of them all. The taunting of the LGBT community was a clear depiction of how low these “Politicians” are willing to go. Bear in mind, this coming from both sides of the house. These are the very people that were elected by the citizens of Guyana to represent them.

With regard to the Member of Parliament who made

remarks about the ability of another to have children, I wonder if she realizes that some of her supporters may be childless too! Imagine how offended and hurt they may have felt. The MPs that made remarks about the sexuality of others, I wonder if they realize that they would have been supported by members of the LGBT community. An MP was also told to go mourn her father! I am appalled at what transpired at the opening of the Budget Debates 2021.

These are the people who we elected to make representation for us and to propose legislation.

These are the people that are expected to bring about change, yet they acted in the most unprofessional, uncouth and childish manner. I am not sure I

would even allow my child to watch or read what transpired on Monday, let alone follow the remainder of the budget debates. Our Members of Parliament stooped to the lowest of lows. From what occurred yesterday, we as Guyanese have little to look forward to. If what is in Parliament is the best of the best then that leaves little to be desired and even little to hope for!

M r. S p e a k e r, t a k e control of the house! You are there to ensure the MPs are kept in line and follow the rules of the house.

I ask you Mr. Speaker to exercise your authority and execute your roles to the expectations of every Guyanese. I call on every member of Parliament to exercise some restraint and caution as they continue

the budgetary debates.

Remember that you were elected to represent the masses irrespective of their health conditions and sexuality. Remember that you are being watched and even emulated. Show some professionalism and exercise some control in what will prove to be some challenging days ahead.

I can’t help but wonder if these politicians would ever put the interest of every Guyanese first. The attacks were very personal and to some extent even inhumane. These aren’t qualities we would want representing our interests.

It is my hope that the Members of Parliament will heed to the call to be professional and set an admirable example for the future of Guyana.

Yours truly, I. Ram

The intersection of sexual violence and assault against elders has been largely ignored Dear Editor, On reading of the most horrible crime to be perpetrated on any female, let alone a nonagenarian, forced my innermost being to once again cry out for a return of the death penalty.

Yes, you have read correctly, and needless to say over the years I have paid attention to the plethora of excuses proffered for its nonreturn. I feel it is strongly needed, especially in this case.

Granted this elderly female perhaps should not have been residing on her own, but I am certain that her level of autonomy and mental cognition, among other things assured all responsible parties that such a situation presented no immediate danger.

The perpetrators of such a dastardly act, on a helpless aged female, should receive punishment that serves as a lasting deterrent to all likely others.

In December 2012, a 23 year old physiotherapy student was gang raped on a moving bus in Delhi, India. She died a few days

later from injuries sustained during the assault. Last March four of the accused were hanged.

Following the global outcry over the brutality of the bus rape, India introduced tough new rape laws, including the death penalty in especially horrific cases.

In Guyana, protecting women and girls should top the list of government priorities. Granted there is no magic wand, no one thing that will make the problem of gender violence disappear overnight. A lot need to change and quickly—police, judicial reform and greater sensitization of police and lawyers.

H o w e v e r, w h a t i s needed most of all is gender awareness, the male mindset need to be changed to prevent such atrocities from taking place in the first instance.

Sad but nevertheless true, parents need assistance and cooperation in learning how to raise better sons. A certainly daunting task.

The intersection of

interest pressure, and local denunciations over the state of our own oil. And still our leaders in government and opposition, in public and private and civil societies, are about what plumps their pillows, and fattens their personal prospects. Guyana needs an oil warrior like Sheik Zaki Yamani.

All it gets is either one political Judas after another, or a bunch of Quislings helping themselves.

sexual violence and assault against elders has been largely ignored.

Campaigns continue to reflect and possibly reinforce the real rape stereotype involving young women, strangers and acquaintances, alcohol and sexual desirability.

Older rape victims do not fall into this stereotype, as they are routinely regarded as asexual and undesirable.

Additionally, the real-rape stereotype postulates that rape occurs late at night in public, a time when older people are less likely to be in public spaces.

In this context, rape against older women is seen as different from, and worse than, that of younger women, less easy to understand and inherently more humiliating for the older victim who is no longer sexually active .

On another level this case reveals yet another aspect of the social morass in which the country finds itself.

Is gerontophilia on the rise?

Perpetrators are routinely argued to be gerontophilic, a psychological term used to describe younger people with a sexual preference for the elderly.

Can the nation afford, let alone cope with another criminal vice added to its already beleaguered state.

This horrific assault by sexual predators who targeted one of the most vulnerable member of society, is further made more distressing by the fact that the offence occurred in her home— where she should have felt safe.

There is a proliferating tendency to re-frame sexual violence against older people as “elder abuse”, a term which seemingly is more comfortable for society to accept.

It is time to recognize and include rape against older people, not as elder abuse, but as a form of violence against women.

C o n s e q u e n t l y, the current Guyanese government, and by extension the judicial system and appropriate law and social authorities is hereby called upon to become deeply involved in this matter that not only deals a black eye to the face of the nation but would further lend truth to the words of M a hatma Mohandas Gandhi,— The greatness of a nation is found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.

Any punishment given should serve as a benchmark example, otherwise the nation should hang its head in collective shame.

Yours truly, Y. Sam

Thursday February 25, 2021

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Kaieteur News

GHK Lall out of his depth and owes His Excellency an apology Dear Editor, I read with interest the opinion piece by GHK Lall published in the Stabroek News edition of February 20, 2021, with the caption, “President Ali cannot speak glowingly of ‘One Guyana’ when he is the forefront of polarizing visions”. Notably, this particular author, GHK Lall, floods the local media almost every day writing about almost anything and everything in the public sphere – 99.9 percent of which lack credible meritorious substance and objectivity.

In Lall’s six hundred words of fluff, he based his argument on the local content consultation with key stakeholders which included the private sector that His Excellency recently held at the Arthur Chung Convention Center. In this regard, Lall

cited former minister Patterson who lamented that the President did not officially invite the main Opposition to the local content consultation and as such it cannot be regarded as a full consultation.

Permit me to illuminate Mr. GHK Lall on this substantive matter which he is championing within the full context of the issue – ignored altogether by him. Mr. Lall must know it is ludicrous to accuse His Excellency of not consulting the main Opposition for more reasons than one.

Firstly, His Excellency invited the former President David Granger to a meeting of former Presidents to have open discussions on matters of national importance and moving Guyana forward. Lall would recall that the former

President Granger declined this golden opportunity with absolutely no reason of acceptable plausibility.

Secondly, the Opposition often do not turn up to the National Assembly on many occasions to debate matters of national importance which they are paid for as Parliamentarians to conduct the nation’s business – by tax payers. What sort of representation is this? These acts are utterly disgraceful and should not be condoned.

Thirdly, the Opposition which was in Government for the past five years would have produced three draft local content policies – all of which were profoundly flawed and meaningless. In the previous Administration’s case – those draft policies were developed with limited

consultations, pioneered by foreign consultants and lowprofile government officials.

Moreover, the recommendations put forward for five years by the private sector stakeholders were never taken into consideration.

In the case of the current government, a team was put together led by respected Guyanese professionals in the private sector including Mr. Carl Greenridge – who is the only distinguished and respected intellectual from the main Opposition political party. And, more so, the consultation was led by the highest level of Government – none other than His Excellency himself and almost all of the recommendations put forward by the relevant stakeholders during the consultation period were

I concur with Freddie Kissoon on Burnham’s choice of date for establishing Republic Dear Editor, Mr. Freddie Kissoon, in discussing Mr. Burnham’s ‘Visionary, narcissistic and dangerously flawed attributes, wrote: ”He settled for February 23 for Mashramani because the date was three days after his birthday.

He justified the date by citing that day as the start of the 1763 slave rebellion. He settled for May 26 for Independence for personal reasons relating to the 1763 rebellion. Everything was personal for Burnham”.

Below, I concur with Mr. Kissoon but explain more on the adoption of the dates. I quote from my 2009 book: Under Attack! The Caribbean Indian – Rebutting & Educating UWI’s Dr. Kean Gibson for Vilifying Hindus about both the February 23 (Republic Day) and the May 26 (Independence) dates. First, I need to point out the date of February 23 as the start of the 1763 Slave Rebellion is not settled. Guyana.org states: “around the 23 February 1763, a more organised revolt took place.

This uprising became known as the Berbice Slave Rebellion. Note the word:

“around”. http:// www.guyana.org/features/ guyanastory/chapter30.html Next, Marjoleine Kars, Associate Professor at UMBC who says in her bio that her new book is “about a massive and nearly successful slave rebellion in a Dutch colony (now the Republic of Guyana)…” wrote in the article, “Dodging Rebellion: Politics and Gender in the Berbice Slave Uprising of 1763” as follows: “ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1763, SLAVES IN the Dutch colony of Berbice on the Caribbean coast of South America launched a massive rebellion”. Note the ‘February 27’ date.

The following is what I wrote in my 2009 book. I notice that the portal mentioned is now up for sale.

I also notice that the origin of the word Mashramani is not settled. Nevertheless, here is the excerpt as at 2009.( The Caribbean Education Online: The Education Portal of the Caribbean, teaches about the Guyanese national festival, Mashramani, which was inaugurated by Burnham as follows: “Mashramani, sometimes referred to as ‘Mash’, is

usually observed on the 23rd day of February - Guyana’s Republic Day - to commemorate the ‘Birth of the Republic’. It is probably the most colourful of all the festivals.

There are spectacular costume competitions, float parades, masquerade bands, and dancing in the streets to the accompaniment of steel band music and calypsos.

Masqueraders frequent the streets performing acrobatic dance routines, a vivid reminder of Guyana’s African heritage. Calypso competitions with their witty social commentaries are another integral part of ‘Mash’, and this culminates in the coronation of a King or Queen for the particular year.”( While Mashramani is an Amerindian word, the description provided speaks only of “Guyana’s African Heritage”. Some commentators have labelled the festivities as a predominantly African festival which is consistent with the above description and which ignores any reference to other races/ ethnicities.

Then again, the overwhelming opinion would

hold that, in his notoriously predictable imperious and egotistic manner, Forbes Burnham, who wrangled from Britain the ignominious Rapeof-Wismar date, May 26, for G u y a n a ’ s independence, instituted Guyana’s Republic Day unabashedly to coincide with his birthday.

He was born on February 20, 1923. So, he would have combined the “February” month and, with just the Burnham-modest modicum of subtlety, the year “23”, in 1923, to establish Guyana’s Republic Day as February 23, as well as, the date of the national festival, Mashramani, to commemorate the said ”Birth of the Republic” and, simultaneously, the said Burnham’s birthday, as a psychological emblem to the then populace and to posterity of his assumed primogenitor status to the Republic of Guyana.”

Yours truly, Veda Nath Mohabir

largely reflected in the draft local content policy.

Editor, permit me now to present a synopsis of my analysis of the draft local content policies done by the Opposition when they were in Government. To this end, the first draft produced by the previous Government and now Political Opposition, I concluded that “having thus benchmarked Guyana’s draft LCP to the LCPs of other established petroleum producing countries around the world, a number of inherent weaknesses have been identified. While the draft policy recognized in generic terms – the objective of local content strategies – it does not speak to the specificities with respect to how it intends to execute local content activities and/or strategies. For example, it highlighted that there will be a regulatory mechanism but it did not address the workings and functionalities of that mechanism. And it does not speak to a strategy of removing barriers (if any) for local firms’ participation, and what strategies will be undertaken for enhancing the contestability of local firms’ and Guyanese nationals’ participation as against international firms and foreign nationals.” Overall, the draft document mirrors an academic paper – albeit inadequate – rather than a pragmatic policy paper.

With respect to the third and final draft by the previous Government, the policy in particular speaks to the Upstream Sector only and

the author (s) of the policy highlighted, in particular, that the policy “at this time focuses on the upstream oil and gas sector”, and “that the government is currently looking at the midstream and downstream sectors.” I point out that the third and final draft by the previous government before demitting office constitute the highest degree of disrespect, insult and lack of tangible intellectual appreciation and comprehension of the Guyanese economic structure, with due respect.

Let me explain: a local content policy focused on the upstream sector is akin to no local policy at all simply because Guyanese stakeholders, business sector and the government combined, do not have the financial, technical and technological resources to participate in the upstream sector. The upstream sector is strictly for the big oil companies like Exxon. To put this into perspective, the Liza phase 1 development alone, for example, is US$5 billion which is greater than Guyana’s entire GDP. This means, that if you take all the money in the banking system, the private sector and the government of Guyana combined, it will not be enough for a single investment in the upstream sector.

Having said that, any meaningful and impactful local content policy for Guyana has to by default focus on the (Continued on page 6)

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Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

It’s most distressing to see how senior citizens are treated as outcasts Dear Mr. Editor, I’m saddened at the state of affairs that has resulted in the never-ending suffering of senior citizens in Guyana after 53 years of independence.

This ongoing plight which continues to affect this delicate group of people ought to be a matter of urgency and as such, needs to be dealt with swiftly. It’s most distressing to see how senior citizens are treated as outcasts and the royal run-around they endure to get a pension that they can barely survive on in an all-time rich country like Guyana. How long such torture will continue remains questionable. Lots of these citizens over the years, are pushed to spend nonrefundable sums of money and time to photocopy documents that continues to be resubmitted over and over again to the National Insurance Scheme – Head Office in Georgetown and then, forced to trot to and from NIS like beggars with high hopes of becoming a beneficiary one day. These disgruntled people who are only anxious to get what they think is rightly due to them, complained of times they are being rudely handled by some of these obnoxious and unprofessional staff at NIS who probably feel they would never get old and they are just there to attend to issues affecting their families and friends. The arrogance exhibited by those who were

hired as professionals and is meted out to the defenseless, is certainly a form of abuse that needs to end forthwith.

Dissatisfied senior citizens don’t know where to go after they would have left NIS. It is therefore suggested that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is equipped and should be assigned with the duty of dealing with matters/ complaints affecting Senior Citizens in Guyana. The workers of the National Insurance Scheme – Head Office in Georgetown need to be reminded that Senior Citizens needs a pension just as the staff of NIS needs a salary to survive and if those who were hired have become tired in executing the duties they are paid to perform, then they need to do the honorable thing…. just RESIGN! This predicament of old people in Guyana is a shame and a total disgrace!!! What is even more disgraceful and disturbing was the cry of the senior citizens falling on deaf ears of a Government that had consisted of a 90% ratio of senior citizen/pensioners and which would have failed to address such matters affecting their very own group. It is obvious that the pension of the aforementioned ratio was intact so to hell with those who was affected.

It is interesting to know the number of citizens deprived of a NIS pension in this era and its glaring that

some major factors are responsible. i. Those rouge/ unscrupulous employers who would always make the necessary deductions to pay NIS from the employees’ salaries but to no avail. ii. The sluggishness/tardiness of NIS Inspecting Officers who fail miserably in their attempts to go after those fraudsters. iii. Monthly Contributions are paid in to NIS yet, upon examination, records reveal lapses by months and even by years. As a consequence, persons may become ineligible for a NIS pension since they would have fallen short of 750 contributions.

NIS owes more than a passive apology to its contributors and the people of Guyana for the spate of its unsatisfactory service and continued inconvenience.

The complexity of attention and feedback is lengthy and time consuming, and this have been unbearable for years. It is unfortunate that this group of Guyanese citizens choose to remain in Guyana for whatever reason(s). They work all their lives for what can be considered a meagre salary. It’s only fair that when they would attain the age to receive their benefit from NIS, it should be done without a hassle. The harassment senior citizens normally go through in Guyana to get what can be considered raveling for a pension is no joke.

Worldwide, it’s normal for senior citizens to be treated well and well taken care of and

...GHK Lall out of his depth and owes From page 5 midstream and downstream sectors where Guyanese would be easily eligible and can easily build capacity to participate in that aspect of the oil and gas industry – that is the supply chain, support goods and services to the major operators and their contractors.

With that in mind, one may appreciate the fact that the previous government do not understand what is local

content and especially since they had five years to develop the same and never got it right. Hence, what’s the point of engaging them in a consultation in this regard?

To waste the government’s and His Excellency’s time?

Absolutely not.

Not at all. It’s a waste of time, with due respect, to even engage the Opposition on these complex matters that they have demonstrated, evidently, that they do not

understand these issues and how to deal with them nor do they possess the capability to so do. As such, GHK Lall need to get himself in order, study these issues thoroughly before writing about them and offer a public apology to the President as he was way out of order in his missive to the press lambasting his Excellency with no justification.

Yours truly, J.C Bhagwandin

Guyana ought to be no different. An outreach was held by the President Irfaan Ali the latter part of 2020 in New Amsterdam Berbice.

Promises were made to the affected citizens to have them paid before the Christmas holidays but to date, payments are yet to be made.

It is without any doubt that the current Government have been trying since it has regained power. However, it has a mandate to fulfill and needs to be reminded that it is a servant of the people of Guyana and therefore, the duty of a Government of the day is to take care of its people’s welfare and to make them happy. A Government can never make its people happy by putting them through struggles. They are not elected to make themselves Lords over the people who paved the way for them to be in authority and as such should never be hesitant in dealing with matters of such nature and

urgency. Failing to do so can result in a Government looking very incompetent.

People are waiting and longing for their pension since before 2008 and at this stage they’re being asked by NIS to be patient. What would be the outcome of benefits for the period in wait, should a senior citizen die?

Who stands as the beneficiary in such an event?

What is preventing NIS from making payments whenever necessary when there’s an influx of funds on a monthly basis? There are more questions than answers. All these irregularities and ongoing issues is certainly pointing in the direction of fraud.

If that is indeed the case, the regulatory body should intervene to protect the citizenry from this wellorganized pernicious imposition. Further, it is utter nonsense for Citizens to retire at the age of 55 years and have to wait in limbo for 5

years… until they are 60 years old to be qualified for a NIS pension. Who tends to benefit from the 5 years pauses…at least not the contributor. If this initiative is not a scheme then it is backwardness to its highest and it would be welcomed if this desolation can come to an abrupt end. The Government took drastic measure in its approach towards the dismantling of the Ponzi Scheme. Who is there to take the necessary action/measures against the National Insurance Scheme?

If the Government of the day have difficulties in fixing the predicament of NIS that causing people to live in hell while on planet earth , then assistance should be sought from the international community in an effort to find solutions to eradicate the misery that have been brought upon vulnerable contributors of NIS. Yours truly, Royston Sheppard

The Berbice Cricket Board is doing a phenomenal job Dear Editor, The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is doing a phenomenal job and as such the Board has transformed itself to an organization which is admired not only in the Co-operative Repblic, but the entire Caribbean. Ever since Hilbert Foster took over the leadership of the BCB the cricketing body has been doing wonders not only in promoting the summer game, but has been involved in a series of community work not only in the town of Rose Hall, but the entire county of Berbice. It seems to me that Foster and the BCB are doing what politicians and other community leaders should undertake. In fact Hilbert is displaying leadership and organizational ability never seen before in the 81 year old cricketing body. In addition to securing sponsorship and other contributions from businessmen he has courted assistance from cricketers, both current and past.

Shimron Hetmeyer, Kevin Sinclair and Romario Shepherd are among the current and former players. Clayton Lambert heads

the list of former players including Leslaine Lambert, Jerry Angus, Kevin Darlington, Troy Halley, Narsingh Deonarine, Vishal Nagamoottoo and Mahendra Nagamootoo among others.

The donations started with Dr. Tulsi Singh, his brother Pooran Singh also a medical doctor based in Barbados, businessman Brian Ramphal who is in California, Mc Sood Ahmad, insurance magnet and executive member of Cricket West Indies, who is based in St. Martin and shortly after a long list of businessmen and even a few organizations joined in the flood of contributors.

Foster used his talent and contacts and resusitated sub boards and associations on the Upper Corentyne and West Berbice. He also arranged tournaments in all the areas in Berbice and with the assistance of sponsorship organized under 15 and under 20 competitions.

He went so far to promote Women’s Cricket. What is remarkable while the tournaments are going on the Board has arranged training

programmes. No doubt Foster is a people’s person and is very sympathetic to the poor and unfortunate. At instances would hand out hampers. And while Foster and the BCB are doing an amazing job, it seems as if there is a power struggle with the parent body the Guyana Cricket Board. A Demerara Cricket Board was established a few years ago. I just read that the Essequibo Cricket Board is spreading its wings with the establishment of a Cricket Committee. I served as Secretary of the BCB in 1965 and with the support of the DCC representatives at the time Fred Wills (now deceased) and Rex Mc Kay advocated for Berbice to be given more votes in the parent body.. at that time the entire Berbice was treated like a Club such as GCC, DCC, Maltenoes, et al. Mortimer George who served as secretary of the BCB for a number of years has written two books on the BCB highlighting achievement of the Board and for producing outstanding cricketers like Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Soloman, Roy Fredericks.

Alvin Kalicharran.

The Medal of Service (MS) was bestowed on Foster by the coalition government.

I think that the current administration should see it fit to elevate his award to an Arrow of Achievement (AA) or a CCH (Cacique Crown of Honour). This will be an encouragement to him as well as to other sports organizations.

Yours truly, Oscar Ramjeet

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

After Kaieteur News exposed the unacceptable behaviour of Guyana's legislators, the Speaker of the House yesterday reminded reporters that he gave permission for them to be inside the room during the proceedings.

He then cautioned media operatives about how they should report on proceedings in the National Assembly, when it comes to the utterances of “Honourable” Members of Parliament.

Yet, we are still to hear those same “Honourable Members” be reprimanded for vulgarly disgracing the highest legislative office of the land.

This is Guyana! Beautiful Guyana!

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Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

Understanding the draft Local Content Policy (Pt. 7) Oil companies would have minimum of five years to ensure 60% of IT & communications contracts go to Guyanese

I

n today's installment, we will continue with the various jobs the government proposes to secure for Guyanese so as to ensure they benefit to the maximum extent from the oil sector.

According to the document, the government is proposing to give oil companies a minimum of five years to give 60 percent

of their contracts for information technology and communications services to Guyanese.

Expounding in this regard, the government noted that most of the contracts for software support services, computer based modelling, hardware installation support, user support and help desk services,

and telecommunication installation and support services, should go to locals. In fact, it is proposing to see a 90 100 percent increase in 10 years for some categories of work.

The chart below, which is an extract of the document, provides more detail on the proposed increase and respective timelines.

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 25, 2021

PAGE 09

Parliament is not a fish market N

ine years ago, I noted in these columns that our National Assembly was in crisis. And that this crisis was self-inflicted.

I recalled then that the disruptive and disrespectful heckling, which was taking place, was bringing the parliament into disrepute.

And if continued, it is going to make Guyana the laughing stock of the Caribbean.

It has continued. Nine years after!

Nine years ago, the issue was constant heckling and cross chatting between the Government side of the House and the Opposition side. I noted then that the parliament should be a place of civilized discourse. It should be the House where manners and civility resound. It should be a place where parliamentary norms, conventions and practices should be scrupulously observed. It should provide an incentive for the peoples' representatives to be on their best behaviour.

The first day of the Budget debate saw a new low. Parliamentarians enjoy immunity in the House and they used this to say things, which they would not have dared say outside of the protected speech allowed in the National Assembly.

The homophobic

Dem

boys seh...

D

em boys love de cinema. But from since dem boys bin small, dem always used to leff things pun de seat next to where dem sitting in de movie theatre.

Even now dem boys does forget dem keys pun de seat.

So dem boys nah surprise when dem learn how computer wah bin report as lost, suddenly get found in de seat next to where de person bin seated.

Dah does happen to dem boys all de time.

But dem boys seh, nobody should leff dem computer out of dem sight.

Not in Guyana where people got prying eyes and just

statements made from both sides of the House would have forced criminal charges had it been made outside of the National Assembly. In some jurisdictions, it would not have mattered that the comments were made within the House. In most democracies, there would have been calls for those making homophobic references to resign forthwith.

But Guyana is that sort of country where the public is partisan when it comes to taking positions relating to such statements. Once it is made by a politician, the supporters of that politician's party would not protest. In this instance homophobic statements were made from both sides of the House and therefore the supporters of both of the main political groups are reluctant to call for the comments to be withdrawn and the persons making them to resign.

We are yet to hear from those organizations, which are quick to take positions on moral issues. Yet, these same organizations have remained morally inconsistent.

Regardless of where someone stands on the political divide, there are certain comments, which are not only distasteful but are beyond the pale. Whatever differences, you might have with someone you should

keep that person's family out of it.

A n d c e r t a i n l y, n o insinuations should be made about childbearing. It is a new low in our politics, that comment should be withdrawn, and an apology offered.

Also highly distasteful is the insensitive remark about the death of the parliamentarian's father.

That is worse than using a funeral for political campaigning. It is inhumane to throw shade about the grieving circumstances. You do not kick even your enemy in the stomach when they are in the ground. It is cowardly to do so. It was revolting to say the least to read about some of the comments, which were being made.

The 2021 Budget was tailor-made for criticism. It is a visionless Budget, one that carries no internal logic.

It is one of the most poorly crafted and intellectually devoid Budgets ever in this country's history.

You would have thought that the Opposition would have relished the opportunity to go after the obvious deficiencies in the Budget. But all of the presentations made so far have lacked substance. And the government itself is doing a terrible job at defending the Budget, notwithstanding that there is

Slackness in de land waiting fuh yuh lapse.

One time dem boys bin ketch a man walking away with dem bicycle. Dem hold on to de thief and dem man barefaced to say dat is because dem boys lapse mek he do it.

Plenty people does leff dem phone in cimena seat.

And when dem come back it gone. Plenty people does put down dem phone in office and when dem turn dem back, it gone. Plenty people phone does get thief in front dem face.

Dem boys does see nuff people posing with fancy cellular phone pun de road.

And dem knows that nuff of dem phone hotter dan Tina Turner.

Dem boys nearly laugh

when one man seh how serious crime down by more dan 20 percent over de past three months. Dem gat fuh ask if de man wah mek dah statement nah reading de papers. Dem boys seh dat raping and assaulting a 98year-old woman gat to be a serious crime.

De boys wan know if de crime rate gone down because de police sleeping.

How dem can gat early morning party with 500 people present and de police nah know? But if dem horse cart man try to fuh steal a race on Homestretch Avenue, de police does come and stop dem.

Talk half and when yuh leaving de cinema, check de seat next to yuh!

not much to defend.

The people who went to vote on March 2nd and then had to wait five months for a result will be disappointed at the quality of representation in the House. What is taking place is a cuss-out between the two political archrivals.

As a result, the debate is

being reduced to theatrics.

These included attacks on the perceived people's sexual preferences of persons, insinuations against their manhood and vulgar attacks.

If this is going to be the tenor of the debates in the National Assembly, sittings

should be shifted to the fish market. The grossness of recent debates would fit perfectly in such an environment.

(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

Thursday February 25, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

A question for Enrico Woolford, Vincent Alexander and Rupert Roopnaraine A

ll three named above have been p a r t o f international teams to observe elections around the world. Roopnaraine went to Nigeria, Alexander to Bolivia and Woolford to the Bahamas.

All three gentlemen were in Guyana during the March 2020 election. They became people of interest in relation to the controversy that surrounded the March 2020 election because of their experience as international observers.

It is of immense curiosity to the entire Guyanese nationality, wherever such people are, to have their

views of these three persons on the March election. Given their long-standing eminence in Guyana, it would be disheartening to the young Guyanese population if these three personalities choose not to answer. Knowing them, I doubt they would lack courage to expand on the question – do you think the result of the March election, which resulted in a PPP victory, was factual, fair and legal?

Dr. Roopnaraine gave an interview to the online media, Newsroom, during the election impasse in which he thought that it was taking too long to have the

results. I don't see why with 48 years of political activism in Guyana he would refrain from answering the question.

Alexander is one of Guyana's most vocal voices.

It would be out of character for him to evade an answer.

When it comes to Woolford, he belongs to the media and headed the NCN during the election drama. It would be confusing and mysterious why he would choose not to respond to the query. In fact, given the accusations made against Woolford in this newspaper by “Kit” Nascimento during the 2020 election campaign, it is predictable that Woolford would offer his

opinion.

Readers who missed the exchange between Woolford and Nascimento may be interested in hearing what Nascimento had to say. Here is a quote from a published letter by Nascimento carried

by Kaieteur News (Jan 15, 2020): “The issue is that both of the State owned and operated media, the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Guyana Chronicle are being used by government for political propaganda purposes, and this is patently obvious to even the casual observer.

In the period of a General Election, this is particularly pernicious. In the case of broadcasting which is supposed to be regulated by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) to serve the public interest and convenience, it is particularly offensive and is in violation of the licence under which NCN is governed.

As I have stated in my letter, “a general election would be neither free nor fair if a contesting party is unfairly denied access to the broadcast media…or a particular party is favoured access to the broadcast media.” The fact remains that the assets of NCN are being used to favour coverage of the APNU+AFC political rallies by

comparison with the PPP/C. In fairness to Woolford, his reply to Nascimento in this newspaper I should highlight. But I have read Woolford's reply three times (KN, Jan 18, 2020) in typing this column, and I don't see a direct, unambiguous and pellucid response to the

Frederick Kissoon question Nascimento posed.

Anyway, here is the most interesting part of Woolford's reply: “Kit in his usual highbrow attitude called me a few months ago insisting that under “The Fairness Doctrine” I should comply with a request he made.

I pointed out that his reference to “The Fairness Doctrine” which is over 30 years old, is obsolete and not applicable in his case.” I have mentioned the N a s c i m e n t o - Wo o l f o r d debate to indicate to readers that I don't think Woolford would lack the courage respond on what were his

thoughts on the March election.

This column is about a question to the three gentlemen named above but since we mentioned NCN during the election, let me end with some brief notes about the state media during the reign of APNU+AFC. No manager of any state media house during the noconfidence ramifications, the election campaign and the five-month election impasse could be so contemptuous of the people of Guyana to say they operated within a functionalism that was unbiased and objective. I would reject such a stance immediately.

If the heads of all state media entities – DPI, Chronicle, NCN and NCN Radio – were not removed after Dr. Ali was sworn-in, I would have mounted a oneman vigil and picket on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive until they were removed. Under Presidents Burnham, Hoyte, Janet Jagan (not Cheddi Jagan), Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar and David Granger, the state media locked out opposition views in complete and absolute ways. Any manager under those presidents who denied that should be shipped to the circus in Russia.

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

Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Bandits who stole motorcycle granted $50,000 bail each

Thursday February 25, 2021

After four decades of oil production, Angola remains poor - Guyana must take heed - IEEFA Advisors

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Charged: France Prince

T

wo men, who robbed a man of his motorcycle at his Cummings Lodge house on Monday, were yesterday charged with simple larceny and granted $50,000 bail each for the offence.

Thirty-year-old, Darrel Daniel, a food vendor, of Stevedore Housing Scheme and 35-year-old, France Prince, a mechanic, of Lot 3 East La Penitence, both

Charged: Darrel Daniel appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Roschelle Liverpool, where the charge was read to them.

It was alleged that on February 22, at Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge, both Daniel and Prince robbed Juvan Williams of his motorcycle. The duo pleaded not guilty to the charge and was placed on bail. The matter was adjourned to March 25.

i t h t h e monetization of its nine billion barrels of oil equivalent resources, Guyana's leaders hope to raise the standard of living of its people, cut the nation's debt, and create a sovereign wealth fund with significant deposits.

But the unfortunate reality that confronts the new oil producing state is that it is in a weak position to accomplish these goals.

This is according to Tom Sanzillo and Gerard Kreeft, two financial and energy advisors attached to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

To c e m e n t t h e i r argument, Sanzillo, I E E FA ' s D i r e c t o r o f Financial Analysis and Kreeft, IEEFA's Energy Transition Advisor, urged

all Guyanese authorities to consider the case of Angola, which has hosted world oil developers for the last 25 years and is a cautionary tale for nations hoping to cash in on oil and gas development.

In providing some historical context, Sanzillo

Chevron and Equinor have successfully drilled for oil in working through Sonangol, the nation's stateowned oil and gas operator.

Both noted that the country produced approximately 1.4 million barrels per day last year, down from peaks of 1.9 million barrels per day.

and Kreeft noted that oil was discovered in Angola in 1955. They explained that in the 1990s, d eep w ater ex p lo r atio n t o o k o ff a n d A n g o l a became a global presence.

They said that major oil companies including Total, ExxonMobil, BP, ENI,

Given its vast resources, the advisors highlighted that Angola rank 15th in the world of top oil producers while adding that President Joao Lourenco is trying to increase production with a new round of offers to the international oil community.

Despite its resources

however, the two advisors said that “four decades of oil production have created neither prosperity nor fiscal stability for Angola.”

At the end of 2020, they pointed out that the national debt stood at approximately US$76 billion.

They said, “With the assistance of the IMF, Wo r l d B a n k , A f r i c a n Development Bank and others, Angola has managed to juggle its yearto-year obligations with a combination of refinanced or forgiven debt. Angola recently entered the G-20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative, designed to assist financially distressed countries.”

What is also shocking about the country that is so rich with oil is the fact that one in three Angolans lives below the poverty level, and more than half live on less than U$1.90 per day.

Sanzillo and his colleague noted that an unbalanced economy and corrupt government are cited as major factors driving the economic inequality.

Considering the foregoing, both analysts agreed that oil development surely led Angola into a series of traps that include budget deficits, foreign indebtedness, corruption, and oil exploration and development contracts that h a v e b e n e f i t e d corporations at Angola's expense.

And despite the current struggle to introduce new reforms and combat corruption, Sanzillo and Kreeft noted that the lack o f e c o n o m i c diversification leaves Angola poorly positioned to handle changes brought on by the energy transition.

Taking the case of Angola into account, the IEEFA advisors alluded that it may not be possible for Guyana to steer clear of a similar fate, especially when it continues to cling to a one-sided deal that favours the three companies (ExxonMobil, H e s s , a n d CNOOC/NEXEN), creates obstacles to growth, and threatens to leave Guyana deeper in debt.

Thursday February 25, 2021

ERC Commissioners took $150,000 as COVID relief, not Christmas bonus - Chairman

W

hile the a v e r a g e Guyanese were receiving a COVID-19 cash grant of $25,000, the a b o v e - a v e r a g e Commissioners at the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) benefitted from COVID-19 relief to the tune of $150,000.

The Chairman of the ERC, Reverend John Smith, made this disclosure as he refuted claims that the Commissioners had benefited an excessive $150,000 as a Christmas bonus for Commissioners.

Smith's clarification that the payment was in fact COVID19 relief comes on the heels of damning utterances made by an ERC Commissioner, Haji Roshan Khan.

Khan recently made public his view that mismanagement of state funds was occurring at the ERC. Khan told Kaieteur News that the Commissioners attempted to grant themselves an extravagant Christmas bonus of $200,000 per person, but settled on $150,000, which still went against the government's advisory of $25,000 per person in statutory bodies.

A total of $100,000 was also given to all of the ERC's staff as a Christmas bonus and Khan had maintained that while they executed their jobs in a commendable manner, “it is unreasonable” to have that type of money as a Christmas bonus, given the government's mandate.

Khan noted that he refused the sum and another Commissioner had also told Kaieteur News in confidence that he refused the excessive sum. “I refused to accept it because it is illegal and wrong,” Khan had said.

However, in his response to Khan's claims, Smith said, “I am not wont to respond to every missive or contention, but the grave and libellous allegations of impropriety levelled against me as Chairman are meant to impugn my character and plunge the present Commission into disrepute.”

ERC Chairman, Reverend John Smith Smith affirmed that at its statutory meeting on November 26 last year, Commissioners voted by the majority on several measures given that funds were available. He said that it is customary that at year-end, an honorarium is given which is an ex-gratia payment and in this case, it was for COVID19 relief. He said that the payment was approved following the majority decision for staff members and Commissioners of the ERC, including Khan to receive the relief.

The Commissioner, who spoke to Kaieteur News in confidence, said that he refused the sum and stated that Khan indeed agreed on the “bonus,” but the following day he stated that he wanted no part and would not collect the money.

Further, Smith said that the government announced a payout to the Public Service, which came weeks after the statutory meeting, but the Commission had already made its decision on the payout, which was simultaneous with the government's initiative. In light of that, the government payout “was not applicable to the ERC in that instance,” according to the Chairman.

Last December, the government had announced a one-off payment of $25,000 to all public servants as COVID-19 relief and Smith is now saying that the Commissioners did not take the government's cash grant since they had already agreed on a cash grant for themselves at the ERC.

Kaieteur News

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Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

One-year ACI accreditation for Eugene F. Correia Int'l Airport

T

he Eugene F. C o r r e i a International Airport (EFCIA) is the proud recipient of a “Certificate of Accreditation” from the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation Programme.

The Director General of the ACI, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, has extended congratulations to Chief Executive Officer of the Airport, Col. (Ret'd) Anthony Mekdeci and his team on becoming accredited.

The Director General

noted in his letter that “After reviewing the evidence presented through our evaluation process, your airport has shown that it is providing a safe airport experience for all travelers which is in line with the recommended health measures established in the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and ICAO Council Aviation Recovery T a s k F o r c e Recommendations, along with industry best practices”.

ACI is a global trade representative of the world's

airport authorities.

Established in 1991, ACI represents airports' interest with government and

international organizations, develops standards, policies and recommended practices for airports, and it provides information and training opportunities to raise the standards around the world.

It aims to provide the public a safe, secure, efficient and an environmentally responsible air transport system.

Therefore, accreditation of the Airport recognizes that

the travelling public using the Airport's facilities are safe and that precautions are being taken by the Airport to reduce any risk to their health. The Accreditation is valid for one year.

Govt. issues 'emergency use' approval...

From page 3 vaccines so far, this one has very high efficacy and we have started discussions with them in order to be able to get some of these vaccines to Guyana,” the Health Minister disclosed.

This publication understands that the

discussions started since last year and would have advanced.

Minister Anthony added that the government is finalizing arrangements for the Sputnik vaccines to be shipped to Guyana, but as it relates to the number of doses, he could not say definitively.

Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Suspect confesses to killing burnt man found at Supermarket - dead man identified as a resident of Enmore

M

arco Seudatt, the 22-yearold suspect in the murder of the man whose burnt body was found in the compound of the Huaxin Supermarket, has reportedly confessed to detectives that he is guilty of setting the deceased on fire after an altercation with him.

Seudat of Lot 175 Fourth Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara was nabbed by police on Tuesday, a day after he was captured on CCTV camera having an argument with the man Both the Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, and Commander of Region 4 'C', Mahendra Siwnarine, confirmed that Seudatt did confess to the crime and informed that he is cooperating with the investigation.

The deceased has been identified as 72-year-old Mathura Etwaru, a pensioner of Enmore. He was identified by his son.

On Monday morning a

Mathura Etwaru's body that was discovered in the compound of the Huaxin Supermarket

motionless Etwaru was found lying on the northern side of the Supermarket with burn marks to the upper parts of his body.

Kaieteur News was told that it was because of the altercation, Seudatt had decided to push the deceased into the fire. This publication learnt that Etwaru was suspicious of Seudatt after he was seen loitering in the area. In his confession,

Seudatt said that the deceased confronted him and asked what he was doing there (in the compound).

This led to the altercation which resulted in the victim collapsing. The 22-year-old admitted that he lit some cardboard and threw Etwaru into the fire.

Kaieteur News was made to understand that the men are not known to each other.

The 22-year-old

labourer's confession came after the Major Crime Unit (MCU), in collaboration with detectives from the Region Four 'C', began a thorough investigation into the gruesome death of Etwaru.

Etwaru's body, which was clad in a short multicoloured pants and a grey jersey, was discovered lying on the ground by a 52-yearold painter sometime around

Suspect: Marco Seudatt called 'Bissoon'.

08:16hrs. CCTV footage showed that around 02:46hrs on Monday (February 22), Etwaru and Seudatt were seen having an argument.

The 22-year-old then held onto Etwaru before pushing him to the northern side of the fence. After that, Seudatt was seen picking up some empty cardboard boxes and went to the spot where he pushed the deceased. At around 03:12hrs, a fire was seen lit

in the same area where the deceased was pushed. The footage further showed Seudatt picking up his bicycle and escaping from the scene in the western direction.

Etwaru's body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour where a post mortem was conducted yesterday. The post mortem revealed that the man died from severe burns about his body and compression to the neck.

PAGE 16

Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

High Court reserves ruling in $70M lawsuit filed

by Jamaican woman over false imprisonment T

he High court has moved closer to handing down a decision in the case in which Sandra Russell, the Jamaica national, took the State to Court claiming $70M for false imprisonment.

Kaieteur News understands that the Chief Justice (Ag), Roxane George- Wiltshire, had ordered mediation in the case but the negotiations had collapsed resulting in a trial.

The trial has concluded but at this point, the Court has reserved it ruling in the matter.

In her lawsuit, Russell, 54, contends that she is a citizen of Jamaica and

resides locally at Pouderoyen Squatting Area, Pouderoyen Village, West Bank Demerara, and that her fundamental rights as guaranteed under Articles 139, 141 and 148 of the Constitution were breached, encroached and infringed by the Guyana Police Force and Immigration Officers.

The woman had arrived in Guyana on May 13, 2013 but on June 25, 2018, she was held by police at Omai landing in the Essequibo River with 70 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Russell in an Affidavit in Support of her claim said, “I was taken to the New

Sandra Russell, the Jamaican, who sued the State over false imprisonment

Amsterdam Prison to serve my sentence. I had a reduction of sentence to three and a half months in prison. I was released from prison on the 10th November, 2018.”

The woman said that she was released into the custody of a female Immigration Officer, who informed that she had to be taken to the Immigration Office to be processed for deportation to Jamaica.

According to Russell, while travelling to the Immigration Office, the Immigration Officer received a phone call and later informed her that she would be taken to the East La

Penitence Police Station, instead. She further claims that she was only released from police custody on July 7, 2019 on $10, 000 bail after the intervention of Kaieteur News.

Russell swore in the Affidavit that, “Whilst I was at the East La Penitence Police Station, I was informed by a female officer and verily believe that a Kaieteur News reporter came to the police station to interview me and they sent the reporter away.”

She said that while in custody, she was never taken before a Judge or Magistrate.

Russell pointed out that (continued on page 22)

MP's laptop goes 'missing' during budget debate; found later under her seat

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Cathy Hughes

T

he Speaker of the N a t i o n a l Assembly was forced to summon law enforcement officers to the National Assembly yesterday after it was reported that Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Cathy Hughes, could not locate her apple laptop which she had left in her briefcase.

In fact, the Speaker went as far as to threaten to search other members and participants in the National Assembly if the device was not located.

According to MP Hughes, when the sitting was suspended for lunch at around midday, she packed up her laptop, along with

other files into her briefcase, and left it at her seat. When she returned and proceeded to retrieve her laptop, only her files were discovered.

The matter was immediately raised with the Speaker who deemed it “totally unacceptable”.

He explained that while the dome of the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) had cameras, they do not operate. The police were later summoned to conduct a thorough search.

The Speaker had also threatened to lock down the facility until the device was found but the panic was quickly muted after the laptop was later located under Hughes' seat.

Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

GWI increasing water access in far-flung communities GWI's CEO, Shaik Baksh addressing residents of Kaikan

The visiting team along with community members traverses the Kaikan terrain

T

he community of Kaikan in Region S e v e n (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), which borders neighbouring Venezuela, will soon move from having 20 percent to 100 percent access to potable water, with the drilling of a new well and upgrading of the existing water supply system there.

This joint effort among Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the community, is in keeping with a commitment made by His Excellency, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali during his visit to the community in December, 2020, a GWI release stated.

It revealed too that the Ministers of Housing and Water will be instrumental also in ensuring that unserved communities across the country are

provided with access to potable water.

GWI's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shaik Baksh; Director of Hinterland Services, Mr. Ramchand Jailal, and GDF Reserve Captain and GWI's Customer Services Director, Mr. Marlon Daniels, recently visited the community and met with residents to discuss the project to provide water supply improvement.

The existing system, which serves 20 percent of the community, consists of the pumping of water from a nearby river, which is then stored using storage tanks on a trestle. The residents then access this water from standpipes at strategic locations.

A team from GWI visited the community to conduct resistivity logging in order to determine a viable location to drill a new well later this

GWI staff conducting resistivity logging

year.

Other works, which will be conducted, include: pipe laying, upgrading of the storage facility, installation of a photovoltaic system and the installation of individual service connections.

This project is one of many which is geared towards achieving 100 percent access to potable water countrywide by 2025, as outlined in GWI's fiveyear Strategic plan. Baseline data from 2019 shows that 96 percent of the population has access to potable water.

Other areas in the pipeline to benefit include Edinburgh in Region Three and Kato and Taruka in Region Eight.

PAGE 18

Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

Twins give birth minutes apart at N/A Hospital Officials and others gather to present the new mothers with hampers

The beaming twins while they were pregnant

I

t was an absolute joy for twin sisters, Amesha ThuesdayGrant and Amelia Latahsa Thuesday yesterday, as they gave birth 13 minutes apart at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The infants, Cassidy Miracle Grant, a girl, and Myron Kingsley Rajgopaul, a boy, were delivered at 09:10 hrs. and 09:23 hrs.

respectively.

The twin sisters were admitted to the hospital on February 23, 2021, where they welcomed their healthy babies.

The infants weighed in at 3kgs each.

Regional Health Officer, Dr. Vishalya Sharma, and the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Vasana Henry, expressed their joy that the twins chose

the institution to deliver their babies.

Hampers were presented to the ecstatic new mothers and gratitude was expressed to Dr. Rafael Roitor and Midwife, Leah Clarke, who delivered both babies.

Mothers Amesha and Amelia were thankful to the Almighty for allowing them to have the experience together.

TV producer committed to stand trial for rape of girl, 13

T

he television producer, who was charged last month for allegedly raping a 1 3 - y e a r- o l d g i r l , w a s yesterday committed to stand trial for the offence before a judge and jury in the High Court.

The accused, 30-yearold, Collin Venture, of 'B' Field, Sophia, Georgetown, was committed to stand trial for the offence after the conclusion of a paper

committal by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

Ve n t u r e i s expected to stand trial at the next practicable sitting in the Demerara Assizes.

On his first court appearance, he was not required to plead to the indictable offence, which alleged that during the month of September 2020, Venture raped a child under the age of 16.

He was placed on $150,000 bail.

According to reports, Venture was a daily visitor to the child's home.

It is alleged that on at least four occasions when To stand trial: Collin Venture Venture visited, he took the child to a washroom at the side police. of the house and raped her A medical examination there. was conducted on the child, The child's relatives later which revealed that she was f o u n d c o n v e r s a t i o n s sexually active. between her and Venture. It An investigation was was then that the child launched and Venture was related what had happened later arrested and charged and a report was made to the with rape of a minor.

Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Three more COVID-19 deaths; five new cases The Ministry of Health (MOH) has recorded three more deaths as a result of COVID-19 complications.

The deaths, which were recorded within the last 24 hours, took the nation's COVID-19 fatalities to 193.

The latest fatality is a 65year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who died while receiving care at a medical facility on February 24. Prior to that, two men, a 48-year-old also from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 63-year-old from Region

Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), succumbed as a result of COVID-19 complications.

Added to this, the MOH on Wednesday recorded only five new COVID-19 cases.

The new cases were all recorded in Region Four.

This takes the overall number of confirmed cases to 8,457.

F u r t h e r, t h e M O H disclosed that 387 patients are in home isolation, 37 in institutional isolation and seven in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at

the Infectious Disease Hospital.

An additional 34 recoveries were also recorded, taking the total number of recoveries to 7,834. In the meantime, the Ministry reminds all Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 E M E R G E N C Y MEASURES (NO.14), which are in effect until February 28, 2021.

This order emphasizes the need for correct and consistent use of a facemask when leaving your home; the

importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of

COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional

information, kindly contact the COVID-19 hotlines: 231-1166, 226-7480 or 6246674 IMMEDIATELY or visit www.health.gov.gy.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 25, 2021

Laws still restrict women's economic - study opportunities despite progress finds - Economic and social impact of COVID-19 pandemic reinforcing gender inequalities (The World Bank) Countries are inching toward greater gender equality, but women around the world continue to face laws and regulations that restrict their economic opportunity, with the COVID-19 pandemic creating new challenges to their health, safety, and

economic security, a new World Bank report says.

Reforms to remove obstacles to women's economic inclusion have been slow in many regions and uneven within them, a c c o r d i n g t o Wo m e n , Business and the Law 2021.

On average, women have

just three-quarters of the legal rights afforded to men.

Women were already at a disadvantage before the pandemic, and government initiatives to buffer some of its effects, while innovative, have been limited in many countries, the report says.

“Women need to be fully

included in economies in order to achieve better development outcomes,” said David Malpass, World Bank Group President.

“Despite progress in many countries, there have been troubling reversals in a few, including restricting women's travel without the permission of a male guardian. This pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities that disadvantage girls and women, including barriers to attend school and maintain jobs.

Women are also facing a rise in domestic violence and health and safety challenges.

Women should have the same access to finance and the same rights to inheritance as men and must be at the center of our efforts toward an inclusive and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Women, Business and the Law 2021, measures the laws and regulations across eight areas that affect women's economic opportunities in 190 countries, covering the period from September 2019 - October 2020. From the basics of movement in the community to the challenges of working, parenting, and retiring, the data offers objective and measurable benchmarks for global progress toward gender equality.

Following the outbreak of the pandemic, this report also looks at government responses to the COVID-19 crisis and how the pandemic has impacted women at work and at home, focusing on childcare, access to justice, and health and safety.

Overall, the report finds

that many governments have put in place measures to address some of the impacts of the pandemic on working women. For example, less than a quarter of all economies surveyed in the report legally guaranteed employed parents any time off for childcare before the pandemic.

Since then, in light of school closures, nearly an additional 40 economies around the world have introduced leave or benefit policies to help parents with childcare. Even so, these measures are likely insufficient to address the challenges many working mothers already face, or the childcare crisis.

The pandemic has also contributed to a rise in both the severity and frequency of gender-based violence.

Preliminary research shows that since early 2020, governments introduced about 120 new measures including hotlines, psychological assistance, and shelters to protect women from violence. Some governments also took steps to provide access to justice in several ways, including

declaring family cases urgent during lockdown and allowing remote court proceedings for family matters. However, governments still have room to enact measures and policies aimed at addressing the root causes of this violence.

“While it is encouraging that many countries have proactively taken steps to help women navigate the pandemic, it's clear that more work is needed, especially in improving parental leave and equalizing pay,” said Mari Pangestu, Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships, The World Bank. “Countries need to create a legal environment that enhances women's economic inclusion, so that they can make the best choices for themselves and their families.”

Despite the pandemic, 27 economies in all regions and income groups enacted reforms across all areas and increased good practices in legislation in 45 cases during the year covered, the report found. The greatest number (continued on page 22)

Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 25, 2021

Former murder accused turns self in hours after wanted bulletin issued

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Former murder accused, Osafo Sereste Grundell, 42, called “Safo” or “Curl up,” of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, yesterday turned himself in at the Brickdam Police Station, hours after a wanted bulletin was issued for him.

Grundell was wanted by the police in relation to the killing of 27-year-old; Dale Christopher called “Sun Skull,” of Lot 1A Rosemary Lane, Cummingsburg, Georgetown.

Christopher was shot sometime around 06:00 hrs. at Hill Street, Lodge, Georgetown, on Tuesday February 23, 2021.

According to police, Grundell turned himself in around 14:00 hrs. and he is presently in custody assisting with the investigation.

Kaieteur News had reported that Christopher was shot and killed during a party, which was attended by over 500 persons.

Kaieteur News understands too that around 01:15 hrs. on Tuesday last, Christopher’s friends came and picked him up to go to a party hosted by ‘Curl Up.’ According to police, a popular Disc Jockey (DJ) and Selector duo, reportedly told investigators that they were hired to provide their services for the Hill Street party.

The men told the police that around 06:00 hrs., while performing, they heard two to three explosions which they suspected to be gunshots.

The release stated that as a result of the suspected gunshots, the 500 plus crowd that attended the party started to disperse.

The DJ and the Selector were subsequently informed

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Osafo Grundell called “Safo” or “Curl Up” that someone was shot and that caused them to abandon their performance and head to their respective residences.

Meanwhile, a taxi driver of Tucville Housing Scheme, Georgetown, told police that he was driving down Mandela Avenue, when he was stopped by three unidentifiable males, who were carrying the wounded Christopher.

The taxi driver further stated that he helped the men transport Christopher to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead upon arrival by a doctor.

Christopher was reportedly shot to his abdomen. His body was examined and a suspected gunshot wound was seen at the center of his abdomen.

Detectives reportedly visited the crime scene around 06:45 hrs. and several persons were

Dead, Dale Christopher. questioned and statements were taken. Three persons were subsequently arrested and were placed in custody.

The investigation into the alleged killing is ongoing.

Grundell is one of the two persons who were accused of murdering Marlon Seon Rodney called ‘George,’ at Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, during April 2019.

Six months after the incident, the main witness, Colin Rodney, who is the cousin of Marlon, disappeared after leaving home for court to be crossexamined by the defence attorneys. Kaieteur News had reported that weeks after the main witness went missing his body was found burnt in his car at Letter ‘T’, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

...High Court reserves ruling in $70M From page 16 the conditions at the East La Penitence Police Station were poor. She disclosed that she was without proper and adequate meals and supplements and as a result had to be taken to the East La Penitence Heath Centre for medications.

She complains, “While at the East La Penitence Police Station, I became depressed and stressed. At the East La Penitence Station, the lighting and ventilation were very poor and I spent all the time in the cell and had no leisure or physical activities.”

In all the circumstances, the Jamaican national believes that the police had no legal authority to keep her in custody after 72 hours, without charging her or seeking an extension of time from the courts.

In her lawsuit filed against the Attorney General, Commissioner of Police and Chief Immigration Officer, Russell is seeking in excess of $50M for false imprisonment; a declaration that she suffered inhuman, degrading treatment by the State; a declaration that the Guyana Police Force and Immigration Officers of the

State had no legal authority to further imprison her beyond her prison sentence; a declaration that the Guyana Police Force and Immigration falsely imprisoned her. In addition, she is also seeking, $10M per day for everyday she spent in unlawful custody; in excess of $20M for inhuman and degrading treatment suffered by her; in excess of $20M for the breach of her Freedom of Movement.

The woman is also asking the court for exemplary and aggravated damages and any further or such other orders that the court may deem just.

...Laws still restrict women's economic From page 20 of reforms introduced or amended laws affecting pay and parenthood.

However, parenthood is also the area that leaves the most room for improvement globally. This includes paid parental leave, whether benefits are administered by the government, and whether the dismissal of pregnant women is prohibited.

Reforms are also needed to address the restrictions

women face in the type of jobs, tasks, and hours they can work, segregating them into lower paid jobs. And in 100 economies, laws do not mandate that men and women be paid the same for equally valued jobs.

Achieving legal gender equality requires a concerted effort by governments, civil society, and international organizations, among others.

But legal and regulatory reforms can serve as an impor-

tant catalyst to improve the lives of women as well as their families and communities.

Better performance in the areas measured by Women, Business and the Law is associated with narrowing the gender gap in development outcomes, higher female labour force participation, lower vulnerable employment, and greater representation of women in national parliaments.

Thursday February 25, 2021

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Manager found dead on office floor The Acme building where Barker’s body was found lying on her office floor.

Dead manager: Sandra-Dee-Barker.

Family members of a manager, who was employed with the Acme General Stores, are now in a state of shock after she was found dead yesterday.

The remains of SandraDee-Barker, 54, of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was discovered around 07:45 hrs., lying on her office floor. Her office is situated on the third floor of the Acme building located on Regent and King Streets, Georgetown.

The discovery was made by one of Barker’s colleagues, who had reported for work that morning. According to police, investigators who showed up at the scene shortly after did not observe any marks of violence on her remains. Ranks noted too that there were no signs of forced

entry into the building.

Information received so far by detectives suggests that Barker was last seen alive within the building around 17:30 hrs. on Monday.

It is believed that she might have died shortly after then.

Family members recalled receiving good-morning greetings from Barker on

Transparency Int’l writes UN seeking to end all anonymous shell companies T r a n s p a r e n c y International, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) formed to end corruption, has written to the United Nations General Assembly with an appeal for them to set a new global standard for transparency in company ownership.

Research and Policy Expert at Transparency International, Maíra Martini, said: “In recent years, many countries have made progress towards ending the abuse of anonymous companies – most recently the United States. But, as our campaign shows, there is an overwhelming consensus that fundamental fixes are necessary across the board.

Criminals and the corrupt must have nowhere to hide their ill-gotten loot.

This means universal adoption of public beneficial ownership registers, based on a robust definition of beneficial ownership and accompanied by strong verification processes.”

The appeal has been endorsed by almost 700 signatories from 120 countries, Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. said in a statement.

The list consists of renowned academics and

research centres, companies and business executives, civil society groups and activists as well as several government agencies and public officials.

Head of Conventions Unit at Transparency International, Gillian Dell, said, “All parts of our societies around the world have spoken.

From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, from indigenous peoples’ groups to tax justice advocates, from distinguished diplomats to multi-national companies, we all agree: anonymous companies are vehicles for corruption and other illicit practices that jeopardise the common good.

We are asking country representatives preparing for the UNGASS 2021 to heed this call for urgent action.”

TIGI, the local chapter, said that the appeal comes ahead of the UN General Assembly’s Special Session Against Corruption (UNGASS) 2021, scheduled for June.

“It asks that UNGASS 2021 commits all countries to

set up national, public registers of companies, disclosing the real individuals who own, control or benefit from them,” TIGI said.

Part of the petition states, “Companies that exist only on paper, exploiting our legal systems and concealing their ultimate ownership, are tools for the diversion of critical resources needed to advance sustainable development and collective security.

For decades, as scandal after scandal has demonstrated, anonymous shell companies have been used to divert public funds, channel bribes and conceal illgotten gains, as part of corruption and money laundering schemes stretching across borders.”

The signatories see a central, public register of companies and their ultimate beneficial owners as well as legal owners and directors, as the most effective and practical way to record beneficial ownership information and facilitate timely access for stakeholders.

Monday as well. They noted that Barker would normally send them such greetings every day. Nevertheless, despite her not messaging on Tuesday, they did not suspect anything tragic.

They also noted that Barker lived alone in her La Parfaite Harmonie home so no one knew that she did not return home that afternoon.

Kaieteur News learnt from other sources that calls were made to her cell phone too, which went unanswered.

Those persons who called, were also not suspicious since they believed that she might have been resting at home.

When the discovery was made yesterday, and police called one of her brothers to identify her body; relatives, friends and her work-mates were left in a state of shock.

One her brothers, Lex Barker, who spoke with this newspaper, said that the last time they spoke she sounded healthy. In fact, they, along with other siblings had planned to meet up this Friday.

Still trying to get over his shock, the brother said that to his knowledge, his sister had no severe medical condition and only had issues with migraine headaches.

Recently, he added, she had a case of high blood pressure but had taken some medication and there was no reoccurrence.

Barker, a mother of one and the eldest among six siblings, has been working with Acme for nearly 20 years.

She was described as an easy going and friendly individual who loved music.

Her brother said that she would normally spend her weekends at places such as Sweet Point, where she would sing Karaoke.

He said that he will never forget her radiant and beautiful smile that would make his days splendid.

COVID-19 claims the life of one of Robb Street Granny’s killers Kevin October, one of four murder convicts that were sentenced to 81 years in prison for gunning down 72year-old, Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris, in June 2011, has succumbed due to COVID-19. This was confirmed by relatives of the deceased.

Kaieteur News was told that after displaying symptoms of the virus, he was taken to the Ocean View COVID-19 Hospital (Liliendaal Infectious Disease Hospital) sometime last week, where he was hospitalized for several days. There, his health deteriorated and he was hooked up to a ventilator from which he was eventually removed. October had reportedly slipped into a coma and his relatives were told

that he was “brain dead,” hence the decision to remove him from the machine.

However, the relatives stated that additional information on his condition was not revealed by the hospital authorities.

The relatives were concerned about how October ’s health deteriorated to the point where he was left brain dead, but, it was also stated t h a t t h e m a n had three underlying conditions.

Last December, October and the other three men convicted for murdering the Robb Street pensioner, appealed their conviction.

The quartet was convicted in 2015.

Prison infections have been acknowledged by the

The deceased: Kevin October: government, and President Irfaan Ali would have stated that prisons are in fact highrisk infection areas.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 25, 2021

Thursday February 25, 2021

...Woods was ‘agitated and impatient, almost hit

The injuries and corrective procedure depicted on what Tiger Woods had to do to date.

From page 30 accidents. They may be in shock, and pain not felt until later.’

Gonzalez said Woods did not seem obviously intoxicated, and the L.A. Sheriff’s Department does not take blood tests at the scene of accidents. However, investigators will test whether he had drugs or alcohol in his system as a matter of routine.

Gonzalez added: ‘He was injured. And he was successfully removed and taken to the hospital.’

Gonzalez reiterated that the particular stretch of road was ‘a hot spot for traffic collisions and speed’.

He emphasized the severity of the accident, and said that Woods was saved by his well-built, modern vehicle.

Thursday February 25, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) If you feel cautious today, don't be alarmed. This can be a good thing, as you can be too trusting at times or forget to take care when going into something new.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Taurus, personal dignity may be important to you today. This may come about when things go wrong or if you're accused of something you didn't do.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't be surprised if someone describes you as conservative, Gemini. It may be true. It could indicate that it's important for you to maintain control over most things.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your mother may be on your mind today, Cancer. Your mother probably affects how you think, act, and feel, both in the past and now.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Focus on yourself today, Leo. Take note of your health. You probably know that this is something you must take care of always, not just sometimes. Daily routines are important. It's up to you to stick to them.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) No dream is too big or too late to fulfill. You may be thinking about your special dreams today, Virgo.

Perhaps you aspire to do something really great, be a pioneer in some field, or be a prominent figure.

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Chances are good that you will receive a helping hand or comfort from someone many years your senior who cares about you. Don't hesitate to ask for their thoughts, ideas, and assistance.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today, Scorpio, you may think about competition and possible future goals. Imagining and dreaming can serve you well. What did you dream about as a kid?

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may think about your finances today. It's never too late to learn about saving and investing, especially if there's something you really want to do, like travel.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Take the time today to consider your health, Capricorn.

Do you get enough rest, eat the right foods, take vitamins, exercise every day, go to the doctor when you need to, and take time to relax?

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you may emphasize organizing things and managing your life. Take a look at your time management.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) ne day, I want to be…. When you were little, how did you finish that sentence, Pisces? See what your memory and imagination come up with. Is your life what you dreamed it would be? If not, consider what you could do to change it.

‘The interior passenger compartment was intact,’ he said. ‘The airbags deployed successfully.

‘I think this speaks to the marvel of modern engineering.’

The crash happened on a downhill stretch of Hawthorne Boulevard which winds between the upmarket neighborhoods of Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills.

The speed limit along that stretch of road is 45mph and road signs warn truck drivers to use lower gears, but Gonzalez says people are regularly clocked doing 80mph or more.

Villanueva said the weather was not a factor, and that Woods hit signs and ‘sheared’ a tree. There were ‘no skidmarks, no braking. Hit the curb, hit a tree, and there were several roll overs,’ he said.

WHAT INJURIES DOES TIGER WOODS HAVE? Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer at HarborUCLA hospital whe r e Woods is being treated, revealed he has suffered ‘comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones.’

That means the bones more commonly known as the shinbone and calf bone - have splintered into more than two pieces, and have come through the skin.

Woods also suffered ‘additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle’, Mahajan said, without elaborating further.

In order to treat the injuries, Mahajan said a metal rod was inserted into Woods’ tibia which is being stabilized with rods and pins.

Additional screws and pins have been inserted into his foot and ankle, Mahajan added.

...Scotsburg United and No73 From page 29 No69 Youth Club and No73 Radha Krishna looking for their first win when they clash at the No69 Red Rose Ground.

The final is set for Sunday 28th February at a venue to be decided.

Trophies and other incentives will be awarded to the winner and runner up team and outstanding individual players.

Former National wicketkeeper batsman Sydney Jackman, Chairman of the UCCA competitions committee, is the coordinator.

The UCCA is advising that the competition is being played using strict Covid 19 regulations. (Samuel Whyte)

...‘No one questioned whether From page 26 charge for the upcoming Sri Lanka series.

“I think they surprised everybody not least of all Bangladesh, probably their own supporters as well.

They performed really well.

But it’s very easy to get carried away, isn’t it? You have a couple of big wins like that and then suddenly we have done it because Kraigg Brathwaite is captain and Jason Holder wasn’t captain,” Radford told the Mason and Guest radio program.

“Who’s to know if Jason was captain whether you would have had the two wins anyway,” he added.

“There were a lot of very good individual performances and because indi-

viduals play well and you win two matches, to me, that isn’t down to captaincy.”

In supporting his decision to stick with Holder, Radford pointed to the example of the incident with India captain Virat Kolhi, which occurred during the Asian team’s big win over Australia.

“It was raised the other day, someone mentioned Virat Kohli. They (India) lost the game in Australia, he went home for the birth of his child. They went suddenly and won a couple of games. When they started the Test series against England, in India, nobody questioned whether Kohli should captain the team. He came back in because he was captain.”

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Tickets for the event go on sale from today at the Club’s Albertown office with no tickets being sold at the venue.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 26

Thursday February 25, 2021

India renames world’s largest cricket stadium after PM Modi

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HMEDABAD, India (Reuters) India renamed t h e w o r l d ’s largest cricket stadium after Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, a move that drew immediate praise and criticism.

The name change to the Narendra Modi Stadium was unveiled at the 132,000-seat venue formerly known as Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, in the western state of Gujarat, where India are playing England in the third match of a four-game test series.

A gifted orator and consummate populist, Modi is by far the most popular and recognisable politician in India, and won a second term in power with an increased majority for the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019.

But Modi has also been accused of centralising power in the world’s biggest

democracy.

“World’s largest stadium dedicated to the world’s largest personality!,” Priti G a n d h i , a B J P spokeswoman, said in a tweet.

Others said the decision reflected a cult of personality surrounding Modi.

“The people of Gujarat will not bear this insult to Sardar Patel,” said Hardik Patel, president of the opposition Congress party in the state.

Patel was India’s first interior minister, long revered for his tough approach on national issues.

Authorities have named the larger complex surrounding the stadium after him.

Dedicating sports stadiums to former prime ministers is common in India, but renaming such a high-profile venue for a sitting leader is rare.

Many of India’s public institutions and projects

‘No one questioned whether Kohli should come back as captain’ - Former batting coach labels calls to replace Holder overreaction Jason Holder

SportsMax - Former West Indies batting coach, To b y R a d f o r d , h a s suggested calls to replace all-rounder Jason Holder are an overreaction and would stick with the current captain, despite the success of Kraigg Brathwaite in Bangladesh.

Brathwaite was widely commended for his role in leading an understrength team to a 2-0 win away to Bangladesh earlier this month. Holder, on the other hand, was one of 12 players to pull out of the tour after citing health and safety concerns.

Holder had, however, also pointed to feeling some level of fatigue having had to deal with quarantine situations in both the West Indies prior tours of England and New Zealand.

However, in addition, aspects of the team’s performance on those tours had also put Holder and his captaincy under the microscope.

While admitting that the team had performed exceptionally well in Bangladesh, Radford, however, sees no reason to replace Holder as the man in (Continued on page 25)

Workers install a hoarding renaming the world’s largest cricket stadium after PM Modi, in Ahmedabad. have been named after members of the Congress’ Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that governed India for decades and which Modi’s party long

criticised as the dominance of one family.

“Both the BJP and Congress are busy perpetuating political

branding,” Sanjay Jha, a former Congress official and political commentator, said.

Archit Khare, a 29-yearold student at the game, said:

“I don’t know why it has been changed. Sardar Patel is more iconic. Sardar Patel was the iron man of India, it should have remained.”

Islamabad beat Karachi in high-scoring PSL game

K

A R A C H I , Pakistan (AP) — Islamabad U n i t e d overcame a blistering century by Karachi Kings opener Sharjeel Khan to record their second successive victory in the Pakistan Super League yesterday.

The left-handed Khan, who scored only six runs in the first six overs, plundered eight sixes and nine fours in his 105 off 59 balls to give defending champions a strong total of 196-3.

But the depth in Islamabad’s batting, led by Iftikhar Ahmed’s unbeaten 49, and an early onslaught by Alex Hales (46 off 21 balls) helped the former champions cruise to 197-5 for a fivewicket win in 19.1 overs.

“It was obviously a really big chase and I thought we had to knock the teeth out of it early,” Hales said. “I felt like the pitch was getting slower as the game went on, so my plan was to be really attacking in the Powerplay, get the run rate below 10 and fortunately that worked tonight.”

Hales set up a strong platform for Islamabad by smashing fast bowler Aamer Yamin for 29 runs in only the third over — the most expensive over bowled in the history of PSL.

Islamabad United Asif Ali celebrates after playing winning shot during a Pakistan Super League T20 cricket match. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Hales was caught out at mid off in the sixth over, but the Englishman’s clean hitting had provided a solid base of 75 runs inside the batting powerplay.

Iftikhar and Hussain Talat (42) then combined for a match-winning stand of 94 runs off 67 balls as Karachi’s fast bowlers couldn’t get the breakthrough, with Mohammad Amir (1-44) returning with expensive figures.

Afghanistan’s e x p e r i e n c e d Tw e n t y 2 0 allrounder Mohammad Nabi (1-26) pegged back I s l a m a b a d ’s r u n - c h a s e

through his offspin in the middle overs before Asif Ali finished off the game with a rapid 21 off nine balls.

“You don’t lose the tournament if you lose the second game so it’s just the start of the tournament,” Karachi skipper Imad Wasim said. “I think we’ll rectify the errors and come back very hard.”

Earlier, after being put into bat, Khan and Pakistan all-format skipper Babar Azam featured in a PSL record-breaking 176-run opening wicket stand against the erratic Karachi bowlers.

Khan forced Islamabad

United captain Shadab Khan out of the attack by smashing the legspiner for four successive sixes in the ninth over but Karachi’s bowlers overstepped at least three times which could have broken the partnership.

Babar was twice caught off Hussain’s no-balls in one over and Karachi also missed out to dismiss Khan on 70 when fast bowler M o h a m m a d Wa s i m overstepped.

Both batsmen fell on successive deliveries in the penultimate over of Hasan Ali (1-36), but not before Karachi erred once again in the field. Hales dropped a sitter of Babar at long-on before throwing the ball in time to run out Babar, who went for the second run.

Babar made 62 off off 54 balls with six fours and a six.

Khan was trapped leg before wicket off the next ball when Hasan successfully overturned the decision through television referral.

Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad share the leaderboard with two wins from as many games in the six-team event.

Scores: Islamabad United 197 for 5 (Ifthikar 49*, Hales 46, Talat 42, Nabi 1-26) beat Karachi Kings 196 for 3 (Sharjeel 105, Azam 62) by five wickets.

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 25, 2021

Seven teams confirmed for tag rugby this weekend.

PAGE 27

No. 1 Barty loses at Adelaide International; Gauff into QFs

Teams announced for GRFU tag tourney Head of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Ryan Dey, has revealed to Kaieteur Sport the seven teams that will take part in this Saturday’s Tag Rugby event which will signal the return of competitive rugby in Guyana in over a year since the covid-19 pandemic.

In the men’s division, the teams are Pepsi Hornets, Police Falcons, Panthers, Yamaha Caribs and Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Meanwhile on the distaff side, Pepsi Hornets will lineup against Yamaha Caribs for top honours.

Last week, Dey had confirmed the return to play for the sport that has brought Guyana much success on the regional and international level in the past and he has thanked the National Covid19 task force for their timely approval and he stressed that strict covid-19 measures will be in place at the National Park venue that will host the tourney from 10:00hrs sharp.

In Tag Rugby each player has two ribbons attached to their body and a tag is simply the removal by a defender of one of the two ribbons. Once tagged the player in

possession must stop and pass the ball to a team-mate within three seconds.

However, the game is continuous and tagged players may pass within the act of stopping.

Besides the tagging rule the game remains the same.

Ta g R u g b y w a s identified by the International governing body of the sport; World Rugby, as part of the return to play protocols and this version of the game will allow the players to hit the ground running and will alleviating the potential spread of the covid-19 virus.

CWI high-performance fielding workshop helps drive on-field improvement CWI - ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) hosted a HighPerformance Workshop on Tuesday, February 23, designed to improve the standard of fielding in the game around the entire region. Coaches from all six Territorial professional franchises were involved, as well as several players now participating in the CG Insurance Super50 Cup as part of CWI’s new Coach Development Programme.

The on-field presentation was led by Trevor Penney, the current West Indies Men’s Assistant Coach, an experienced international fielding coach who has also performed a variety of highprofile coaching roles across the IPL, CPL, and Australian domestic cricket. Penney, alongside fellow West Indies Men’s Assistant Coach, Rayon Griffith, shared cutting edge fielding techniques already in operation to prepare the West Indies squads for the u p c o m i n g T 2 0 Internationals, CG Insurance ODIs and Test matches against Sri Lanka.

The workshop was also attended by West Indies’ legends, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, assistant coach/manager of Guyana Jaguars; Courtney Walsh, Head Coach of West Indies Women’s team; and cricket consultant, Sir Curtly Ambrose.

The workshop was organised and coordinated

by Chris Brabazon, CWI’s Coach Development Manager, and conducted at the world famous Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

C W I ’s n e w C o a c h Development Programme includes a variety of HighPerformance Coaching Workshops that are all designed to equip regional coaches with the latest practical coaching methods and technologies required to help West Indian players perform at their peak and be successful at the highest levels of the game. Key areas covered in this workshop included mental approach and attitude to fielding, anticipation, intercepting ground balls (including diving/sliding) and throwing techniques (including direct

hits).

Trevor Penney said: “This was a great morning with our dedicated regional coaches and some of the best fielders we have. It was all about sharing information as we look to improve cricket in the West Indies and produce better equipped players. It’s all about the fundamentals – going back to the basics and fixing some of the things that need attention. It was wonderful to see the level of enthusiasm, the interaction, the awareness and skill from everyone involved.”

Chris Brabazon added: “Whenever we have access to our top specialists and coaches of Trevor Penney’s calibre, we will continue to find ways to connect them with our coaches and players across the region to enhance our West Indies Cricket Pathway. This CWI HighPerformance Workshop marks the start of what will be an ongoing series of events that are designed to empower our regional coaches with the knowledge required to develop worldc l a s s We s t I n d i a n cricketers.”

Australia’s Ash Barty hits a backhand return to Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

A

DELAIDE, Australia (AP) Defending champion and No. 1-ranked Ash Barty lost in the second round of the Adelaide International yesterday, eliminated by Danielle Collins 6-3, 6-4.

“The court was exceptionally quick, probably the quickest I’ve ever played in Australia and that took some time to adjust,” said Barty, who lost in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

A year ago, Barty beat Collins in the semifinals at the Adelaide International en route to the hard-court title.

That was part of a 3-0 headto-head edge Barty carried into Wednesday’s match.

“I was really familiar with her game after losing to her three times,” said Collins, an American who is ranked 37th and will face French Open champion Iga Swiatek next, “so I certainly got some great tennis lessons out of that and have learned from it.”

Barty has stayed at No. 1 in the rankings despite not having played much at all in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The WTA is using what it calls “frozen rankings,” which counts players’ 16 best tournament results since March 2019. That allows Barty, for example, to get credit for her 2019 title at Roland Garros, and not be penalized for sitting out that

event last year.

In other results Wednesday, 16-year-old American Coco Gauff beat sixth-seeded Petra Martic 57, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. It was Gauff’s fourth win in a row after two in qualifying and another in the first round.

Gauff faces Shelby Rogers on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Second-seeded Belinda Bencic advanced with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Misaki Doi, Storm Sanders upset s e v e n t h - s e e d e d Yu l i a Putintseva 6-4. 5-7. 6-1, Jil Teichmann beat eighthseeded Wang Qiang 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, and Anastasija Sevastova defeated Christina McHale 6-4, 6-1.

United States’ Coco Gauff makes a backhand return to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship.

(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft))

Kaieteur News

PAGE 28

Thursday February 25, 2021

India on top after bowling out England for 112 in third Test

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FP - Axar Patel claimed six wickets as India gained the upper hand in their crucial day-night third Test against England yesterday, bowling out their rivals for 112 and then getting within 13 runs of taking the lead at the world’s biggest cricket stadium.

Only the loss of captain Virat Kohli in the final over spoiled the opening day as India moved to 99 for three at the world’s biggest cricket stadium with Rohit Sharma on 57 and Ajinkya Rahane on one.

Spin bowlers again dominated the day with Patel taking the starring role while Jack Leach claimed two wickets including Kohli for 27.

The Indian captain saw one tough chance dropped

by Ollie Pope on 24 but soon after chopped Leach’s leftarm spin on to his stumps and walked off visibly furious with himself.

With the series poised at

Rohit Sharma whips one away © BCCI

1-1 England won the toss and chose to bat but survived only 48.4 overs.

Patel, who recorded his second five-wicket haul in just his second Test, linked

up with Ravichandran Ashwin, who took three wickets, while fast bowler

Ishant Sharma, playing his 100th Test, claimed one.

Amid a general collapse, Zak Crawley top-scored with 53.

Captain Joe Root (17) Ben Foakes (12) and Jofra Archer (11) were the only others to get into double figures.

Only Crawley put up some resistence with his fourth Test fifty and a 47-run third-wicket stand with Root.

Ashwin claimed the England captain. Root reviewed the call but replays showed the ball would have hit the top of leg stump and he left the field to loud cheers from the home crowd.

England hit back with two wickets after Jofra Archer sent back Shubman Gill for 11 and Cheteshwar Pujara fell for a duck off Leach.

But Sharma stood firm for his 12th Test fifty and put on 64 with Kohli, delighting crowds at India’s revamped venue with a capacity of

110,000 fans.

Only half the tickets have been put on sale due to the coronavirus pandemic and a turnout of over 30,000 was reported on the opening day.

India’s innings witnessed drama after the new LED lights went off for two minutes in the second over and then for 30 seconds in the 12th.

A young pitch invader also made his way onto the field in the final session and attempted to get close to Kohli before being escorted away by security guards.

England were frustrated by two TV umpire calls, including a stumping chance of Sharma, on 53, and a Ben Stokes catch that was turned down early in the innings.

Skipper Root had a long conversation with the onfield umpire on both occasions.

Stumps: India 99 for 3 (Rohit 57*, Rahane 1*, Leach 2-27) trail England 112 (Crawley 53, Patel 6-38, Ashwin 3-26) by 13 runs.

Rampaul, Simmons and Pooran Mohammad Hafeez turns down Category C PCB contract shine in T&T Red Force victory ESPNcricinfo Mohammad Hafeez has rejected a Category C PCB contract. ESPNcricinfo understands Hafeez’s reason for declining the deal is that he is unhappy at being offered the lowest grade of contract.

While Hafeez has been without a central contract since 2019, in 2020 he was offered Category A match fees for any game he played for Pakistan during the year, as a special case given his seniority.

He has since gone on to reinvent himself in T20Is, and is second only to Dawid Malan in terms of runs scored in the format in the last 12 months: 331 to the Englishman’s 386, from one fewer innings.

Mohammad Rizwan, who is in prime form, has been elevated to the top category from Category B. Fawad Alam, who had an A+ category contract with his domestic team - Sindh - has been rewarded for a stellar return to the Test side with a Category C central contract.

Following a PCB review of performances, these three players were offered the upgrade in advance of the full list of central contracts, that will be announced later this year. The current

contracts run till June 30.

Both Rizwan and Alam accepted the offers, but Hafeez - now a T20I specialist - “politely turned down” the offer.

“The decision to promote the players was made during a meeting with the chair of the selection committee, Mohammad Wasim, while we were reviewing player performances in the 2020-21 season and discussing the upcoming commitments,” Wasim Khan, the PCB chief executive, said in a statement. “It was agreed during the meeting that three players were the most deserving and outstanding performers in the season to date and, as such, they needed to be rewarded now instead of waiting for the time when PCB Central Contract List for 2021-22 will be reviewed and announced.

“However, Mohammad Hafeez declined the reward and, while I am disappointed, I fully respect his decision. He wants to wait for the PCB central contract 2021-22 list, which he is fully entitled to. Hafeez has been one of our star performers of the season and we hope he will carry the form and momentum to Africa. I am sure this merit

and performance-based decision will once again send out a loud and clear message to all professional cricketers that the PCB will not only recognise, appreciate and acknowledge their performances and achievements, but will also reward them so that they can strive to do better next time.”

Alam has scored 320 runs in six Tests since his comeback in August 2020, including centuries in New Zealand and at home against South Africa, the first one even earning him the PCB Individual Performance of 2020 award.

As for Rizwan, he moved up to B last year after replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed as t h e c o u n t r y ’s l e a d i n g wicketkeeper-batsman and, in the last nine months, he has become Pakistan’s leading scorer in Tests with 529 runs in seven matches at an average of 52.90.

He has also been elevated to vice-captaincy in Test cricket.

Wa h a b R i a z a n d Mohammad Amir remain out of the list, while Ahmed is in Category B, Shaheen Afridi and Azhar Ali have moved from B to A, joining Azam in the top category for PKR 1.1 million (US$7,000 approx.).

Ravi Rampaul grabbed four wickets, while Lendl Simmons and Nicholas Pooran struck half centuries as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force secured their place in the final of the CWI CG Insurance Regional Super 50 Cup with a six-wicket victory over Jamaica Scorpions at Coolidge yesterday.

Jamaica Scorpions lost opener Aldane Thomas, caught off Anderson Phillip for one after they were inserted, however, John Campbell and Brandon King steadied the innings nicely with a second wicket stand of 108. King struck five fours and one six before he was bowled by Phillip for 58 off 81 balls. Campbell then added 58 with Andre Mc Carthy who was removed by Khan for 35 off 29 balls with three fours and one six. Ravi Rampaul then produced a fine spell to stem the Jamaicans scoring somewhat. He sent back Rovman Powell (16), Fabian Allen (03), Campbell for a top score of 88 and Nkruma Bonner for 20. Campbell faced 131 balls and hit four fours and one six. Odean Smith and Jamie Merchant remained not out on 15 and six respectively as Jamaica Scorpions posted 255-7.

Rampaul grabbed 4-29 from 10 overs, while Phillip took 2-41.

Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis put Trinidad and Tobago on course with an opening stand of 63, however Jeavor Royal handed Jamaica Scorpions the breakthrough by having Lewis caught for 24 with three fours and one six off 31 balls. Simmons and Darren Bravo added 35 for the second wicket before Bravo was taken off Odean Smith for 19 with the score on 98.

Simmons capitalised on an early chance, smashing seven fours and three sixes as he put on 41 for the third wicket with Jason

Mohammed. Simmons was removed by Allen for 68 off 70 balls while Mohammed put on a further 59 for the fourth wicket with Nicholas Pooran before he was bowled by Smith for 41 with four fours. Pooran and Kieron Pollard ensured no further hiccups as they took Trinidad and Tobago Red Force home with an entertaining unbeaten fifthwicket partnership of 58.

Pooran slammed four fours and two sixes in a rapid 54 off 40 balls, while Pollard hit a quick fire 36 off 18 balls with one four and five sixes as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force scored 256-4 in 42.1 overs. Smith took 2-54.

Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 29

CG Insurance Regional Super50

Jaguars, Hurricanes clash in semi-final today

By Sean Devers

Andre Fletcher. (CWI)

T

oday from 13:00hrs at the Coolidge ground in Antigua, Guyana Jaguars face-off with the Windwards Hurricanes in the second semi-final on an Island where Skipper Roy Fredricks’ century led them to their first 50-title in 1980 when they beat the Leewards in the final.

Since 2005, when Guyana copped their last of nine tittles with victory over Barbados at Bourda, they have suffered a 15-year title drought despite being the finalist on three occasions since then.

In 2018 when they lost a nail-biting contest at the 3Ws Oval by one wicket as the Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) emerged Champions on their home ground was their last appearance in a final.

Guyana again lost in the 2014 final when were defeated by T&T who again beat them by 81 runs at Providence in 2009 under the Captaincy of Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Today the Jaguars, second on the points table to unbeaten T&T Red Force, oppose a team they destroyed by nine wickets in their last preliminary round game at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in the only Day match.

Emmanuel Stewart, who reached the boundary four times in 46, while Bajanborn, Kevin Stoute managed just a single boundary in his 72-ball 41 but only Keron Cottoy, with three fours in 17

Tevin Imlach. (CWI)

Chanderpaul Hemraj and Ryan John with 15 reached double figures at the Windwards fell for 153 against a dominant bowling attack led by Man-of-the Match Keon Joseph who bagged 4-24.

Left-arm spinner Chanderpaul Hemraj took 211 for Guyana who raced to a nine-wicket win; reaching 155-1 in 28.4 overs.

Hemraj hit seven fours and a six in an aggressive 41 and along with Tevin Imlach who played the supporting role with a well-constructed unbeaten 37 from 81 balls, added 62 inside the powerplay before Hemraj was dismissed.

Shimron Hetmyer then blasted three fours and four sixes in 67 from 59 balls and featured in match winning unfinished 93-run second wicket stand with Imlach.

Today at a much smaller ground on a relatively good track the Windwards, with titles in 1989 (When beat Guyana by one wicket in a thriller in Grenada), 2000, 2013 and 2018, will hope for an improved batting performance and will bank on 27-year-old Sunil Ambris who has a ton and 13 List ‘A’

fifties with two in this tournament and 31-year-old Keron Cottoy who scored only two fifties at this level in this tournament.

Kevin Stoute’s highest score is 86, while his 172 runs is only one of three batsmen to reach 150 in the team but nobody has reached 200 runs.

Andre Fletcher, who played 25 ODIs, has been disappointing since although his highest score is 60, he made a duck against Guyana and has only managed 118 runs for five innings, while Montcin Hodge with 10 List ‘A’ fifties has returned to the Squad after playing one game against the Leewards.

T h e Wi n d w a r d ’s bowling will hinge on pacer Ryan John, left-arm spinner Larry Edwards, left-arm pacer Preston Mc Sween, off-spinner Alick Athanaze

and pacer Ray Jordan.

The Jaguars will be strengthened by the inclusion of left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and Bajan left-handed fast bowling all-rounder Raymond Reifer, who replaces Assad Fudadin and Kemol Savory respectively.

Imlach is the stabilizer at the top of the order and perfect foil for attacking Hemraj, Guyana’s leading run-scorer with 195 runs but his conversion rate has not been what he would have liked. He has only has one half-century but has been Guyana’s most consistent batsman and picked up crucial wickets.

Chris Barnwell and Skipper Leon Johnson are the Guyanese with centuries in the tournament.

However, Barnwell, who did not bat in the last game

against the Windwards, has 170 runs while Johnson, arguable the best leader in the West Indies, missed the Jamaica game due to a hamstring injury and did not bat in the last game. Johnson has only made seven runs in his two other innings and after scoring an unbeaten 102 in the second round against the Leewards and needs to work on his consistency.

Hetmyer has scores of 80 and 62 not out but his other three innings produced just 20 runs and most of his dismissals continue to be aided by erratic shot selection.

But with five ODI tons and one at Regional level the explosive but temperamental

left-hander could be the biggest threat for the opposition moving forward in this tournament.

Romario Shepherd could also contribute with the bat as could spinners Kevin Sinclair, Permaul and Gudakesh Motie, while Joseph turned out a Man-ofthe-Match performance in the last match.

Nail Smith is genuinely quick and was rested for the last game and could get some more rest today and brought back if Guyana qualifies for the Final.

Another option is to rest Anthony Bramble and ask Imlach to ‘Keep’but it’s a good headache to have to bring in two International players in a winning team.

UCCA, BCB, Ahamad Construction U-19 40 overs cricket competition

Scotsburg United and No73 Holloway breaks Young Warriors win again

world indoor 60m hurdles record (Reuters) merican Grant Holloway broke the world indoor 60m hurdles record yesterday, finishing in 7.29 seconds to shave 0.01 seconds off the previous mark set by Briton Colin Jackson in 1994. Holloway, the 110m hurdles world champion, won the race at the Villa de Madrid by 0.22 seconds, extending his victory streak in indoor sprint hurdles to 54 races.

A

World indoor champion Andrew Pozzi of Britain finished second in a time of 7.51 seconds.

Holloway’s initial time was recorded as 7.32 seconds but was changed to 7.29, and the athlete was informed of his record achievement by a photographer.

“They lied to me, they said it was 7.32 at first,” the 23-year-old Holloway joked in an interview with Spanish television.

When play continued in the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA), Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and Ahamad Construction U19 40 overs cricket competition on Sunday there were wins again for Scottsburg United and No73 Young Warriors.

The four-team competition which is being organised by the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) and for teams in the Upper Corentyne area saw two matches being played.

After scoring easy wins on Saturday, Scottsburg United and No73 Young

Raul Jabar Warriors once again crushed their opponents in their respective games.

In one game No73 Young Warriors led by a fine all round performance by Raul Jabar trashed No73 Radha Krishna Mandir by 103 runs.

Batting first Young Warriors reached 203-5 in

their 40 overs with Raul Jabar striking an unbeaten 50. He got good support from Trevon Sukho 49, Niradj Singh 25 and Salim Khan 18.

Bowing for Rahdha Krishna, Abass Khan and Travindra Doobay took 2 wickets each. They in reply were rolled over for 100 in 18.1 overs with Indarlall Singh 44.

Jabar returned with an unplayable spell to grab 4-8, Salim Khan also had a good game with 4-33.

In the second game Scottsburg United made light work of No69 Youth Club by whipping them by 9 wickets. Taking first strike,

No69 YC was bundled out for 52.

Doing the damage with the ball for Scottsburg United were Seeraj Chatterpaul 5-8 and Orlando Campbell 3-9 being unplayable.

Scottsburg in reply raced to 57-1 with Akbar Nohar hammering 44 not out.

The competition will continue on Saturday 27th with two more matches with the two unbeaten teams Scottsburg United and No73 Young Warriors colliding at the No72 Cut and Load Ground.

The second game will see (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Mohamed and Narine top GCF’s Mash tourney The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) held an online Mashramani tournament on Tuesday last with some exciting results.

In the senior section, Irshad Mohamed was victorious with Blitz Champion Davion Mars second and Gwendolyn Corlette third from a field of ten competitors that included Murphy Bagot (4th), Steve Leung (5th), Sherlyta Campayne (6th), Rai Sharma (7th), Rashad Hussain (8th) and Shane Perez (9th).

In the junior section of 45 competitors from ages 8 to 19 years-old, Ricardo Narine of Queen’s College emerging as the winner with his schoolmate Alec Lumeilino finishing second and St. Stanislaus College’s Keron Sadiford third.

The tournament was staged on International Chess Federation (FIDE) approved Turnello chess platform in a 9 round event.

The best female junior went to Adia Alphonso of Queen’s College while commendable performances

Ricardo Narine

were from under 12s Omar Sharrif and Anya Lall.

There was a total cash

prize of $50,000 from the GCF to be shared amongst winners of the event.

- Sustained shattered his right leg that left him needing surgery

Police said the golfer was ‘lucky to be alive’ after he hit a raised central reservation while driving at high speed, smashed through a wooden street sign, splintered a tree, and then rolled his car several times. (AP) after extensive surgery to repair his right leg.

Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer at the h o s p i t a l , s a i d Wo o d s suffered comminuted open fractures of his tibia and fibula - where the bone splinters into two or more pieces and comes through the skin - and had a rod inserted in his tibia, with his foot and ankle ‘stabilized with a combination of screws and pins’.

Muscles surrounding the bones were cut to relieve swelling, Mahajan said, describing the injuries as ‘significant’.

He did not say what Woods’ prognosis is, or whether he will be able to play golf again. Girlfriend Erica Herman is thought to be at the 15-time major winner’s bedside.

Police said Woods did not appear to be under the influence at the time of the crash but that blood tests will

BCA’s Hope questions CWI President Skerritt and VP Shallow on Guyana consultation Calvin Hope (Twitter)

Woods was ‘agitated and impatient, almost hit another car as he sped out of resort’ Daily Mail - Tiger Woods was agitated, impatient, took off fast and almost hit another car at the LA resort where he was staying just 15 minutes before ‘horror’ crash that shattered his right leg and left doubts hanging over his future in sport.

Oliver Konteh, who is part of a TV crew filming show ‘Grown-ish’ at the five-star Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes where Woods was staying, said he saw the athlete get into his $50,000 rented Genesis GV80 SUV shortly before 7am as he headed to the Rolling Hill Country Club - where he was due to tee off with Drew Brees at 7.30am.

Konteh said Woods was blocked for a short time by another vehicle that was unloading luggage, and by the time he left he looked ‘agitated and impatient’.

He told TMZ that Woods ‘took off fast’ and almost hit another car belonging to the ‘Grown-ish’ director as he left the parking lot, just after 7am.

A front door camera then captured Woods driving at normal speed around 7.05am along Hawthorne Boulevard, around five miles south of the spot where he would later crash.

Around 7.15am Woods lost control on a downhill stretch of the road, smashed through a road sign and rolled his car several hundred feet in a horror smash that police said he was ‘lucky to survive’.

Woods is now ‘awake, responsive and recovering’ at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, his team have said,

Thursday February 25, 2021

be carried out as part of an investigation due to last ‘weeks’.

Wo o d s h a s b e e n recovering from back surgery and taking a break from professional golf, though he was expected to return sometime later this year. It is not clear whether he was taking pain medication, though he has taken opiod medication after back surgery in the past which resulted in an addiction.

Gonzalez said he found Woods in the driver seat and that he was ‘lucid and calm’, likely due to shock, and revealed that he talked to the sportsman until the fire service arrived and used a halligan tool - a kind of crowbar with a large metal spike attached - to cut him free.

A neighbor who heard the crash called 911, and on arrival Gonzalez immediately realized that the

golfer was too severely injured for him to move alone. Woods was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Gonzalez said he talked to Woods, to keep him calm until he could be cut from his vehicle, which was badly damaged from the impact although the protective interior was intact.

‘When I arrived on the scene Mr Woods was in the driver’s seat,’ Gonzalez said on Tuesday afternoon.

‘He was able to speak to me. He seemed calm and lucid. I kept Mr Woods calm until LA County fire department arrived on the scene.

‘He told me his name was Tiger, and at that point I immediately recognized him. He seemed lucid and calm.

‘He didn’t seem concerned about his injuries, which is common in car (Continued on page 25)

B

arbados Cricket Association ( B C A ) President, Calvin G. Hope, who is running alongside Guyana’s Anand Sanasie for the respective posts of Vice President and President of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) at the elections set for March 29, has asked several questions of CWI President Ricky Skerritt and Vice President Dr Kishore Shallow.

The questions are aimed at determining a number of factors in relation to the reported consultation that took place between Skerritt and other representatives of CWI and Guyana’s Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jnr. on the issues relating to the game here and the appointment of an Ombudsman and setting a date for elections of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

In a release to the media Hope listed a number of questions, noting his concern over what was reported to have transpired.

“As a candidate nominated by Barbados Cricket Association and Guyana Cricket Board to run for the post of Vice President of Cricket West Indies Inc. (CWI) in CWI Elections scheduled to be held on 29th March 2021, I feel compelled to issue this Statement to call on the President and Vice President of CWI to publicly disclose the following,”: 1. Whether it is true that the Minister of Sports of Guyana consulted with Cricket West Indies Inc. (CWI) for appointment of a cricket Ombudsman and to fix a date for Guyana Cricket Board elections.

2. Whether it is true that the President and Vice

President of CWI along with other persons of CWI participated in a consultation and agreed with the Minister of Sports of Guyana to facilitate appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman and fix the date of 26th February 2021.

3. Whether it is true that the President and Vice President of CWI failed or refused to consult with the members of Guyana Cricket Board and the full Board of Directors of CWI in respect of the said date set for the Guyana Cricket Board elections.

4. If it is that the aforesaid at 1 to 3 above happened, then further disclose: (a) What was the date of the said consultation with the said Minister; (b) On what date did CWI receive my (Calvin G. Hope’s) nomination papers and acknowledged the same; (c) When did the Full Board of CWI approve for the consultation to take place with the said Minister and the results of the consultation; and (d) Whether I, Calvin G. Hope as a CWI Director, and a candidate in the upcoming CWI election was afforded an opportunity to be heard in respect of the decision purported to have been made as result of the consultation with the said Minister.

“In the interest of transparency and accountability it is incumbent on the President and the Vice President of CWI to give full disclosure on the above matters, so as to be clear for all concerned that the acts related to the said consultation and the decision thereto can stand up to scrutiny,” the release concluded.

Thursday February 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 31

Fruta Conquerors to know competing group as Concacaf CCCS draw set for tomorrow - 2021 Flow Concacaf CCC draw on today

R

eigning Guyana F o o t b a l l Federation (GFF) Elite League champions, Fruta Conquerors will know which group it’ll be competing in when the draw for the 2021 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield (CCCS) which will be played in Curacao, between April 23 and May 2 takes place tomorrow at the Concacaf Headquarters, in Miami, FL. To be contested amongst 14 amateur clubs from 14 Caribbean Member Associations who are working with Concacaf towards a long-term vision to professionalise the club game across the region, this competition forms part of the C o n f e d e r a t i o n ’s c l u b platform that qualifies teams to the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

The 14 participating clubs are, in alphabetical order by Member Association: SV Racing Club Aruba (ARU), SV Real Rincon (BOE), RKSV Scherpenheuvel (CUW), South East FC (DMA), Olympique de Cayenne (GUF), AS Gosier (GLP), Fruta Conquerors FC (GUY), AS Samaritaine (MTQ), Metropolitan FA (PUR), St. Paul’s United FC (SKN), Platinum FC (LCA), Hope International FC (VIN), Flames United SC

Fruta Conquerors and Den Amstel during their GFF Elite League Season 4 clash on May 12, 2019 at the GFF National Training Center ground. (Franklin Wilson photo) (SMA), Inter Moengo Tapoe (SUR).

The tournament will kick off with a Group Stage (two groups of four and two groups of three). After round-robin play from April 23-27, the four group winners will advance to the Semifinals.

The Semifinal matches will be played on April 30, followed by the Final and 3rd Place Match Sunday, May 2.

The draw for the Group Stage of the 2021 CCCS will t a k e p l a c e t o m o r r o w, February 26, at 11:00hrs EST. Fans can follow the event via Concacaf.com.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Flow Concacaf Caribbean

Club Championship (FCCCC) will take place in the Dominican Republic, from May 14-26 and the draw is set for today, also at the Concacaf Headquarters, in Miami, FL from 11:00hrs.

Fans can follow the event via Concacaf.com and Flow Sports (Caribbean).

In total, four Caribbean clubs will advance to Confederation wide club competitions, three for the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League and one for the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

The six clubs that will participate in the 2021 Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship have

qualified for the competition via their domestic leagues.

These are, in alphabetical order by Member Association: Delfines del Este FC (DOM), O&M FC (DOM), Cavaly AS (HAI), Don Bosco FC (HAI), Portmore United FC (JAM), Waterhouse FC (JAM).

The competition will commence with a group stage (two groups of three teams each). After roundrobin play from May 14-18, the first and second place finishers will advance to the Semifinals.

The Semifinals will be played on May 21, followed by the Final and 3rd Place

Match on May 23.

The champion of the 2021 FCCCC will qualify for the 2022 SCCL, while the second and third place finishers will participate in the 2021 SCL. Also, provided the 2021 CCCS Champion fulfills the Concacaf Regional Club Licensing criteria required to participate in the SCL, an additional play-in match will be disputed on May 26, between the fourth-place finisher of the 2021 FCCCC and the 2021 CCCS Champion.

The winner of this match will claim the last spot for Caribbean clubs in the 2021 SCL.

“Club football in the Caribbean is a priority for Concacaf and I would like to express our gratitude to the federations in the Dominican Republic and Curacao for their commitment to hosting these important competitions,” said Concacaf General Secretary, Philippe Moggio.

“Both the Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship and the Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield allow for great competition between clubs in the Caribbean region and we are very much looking forward to delivering them in April and May,” added Moggio.

GMR&SC drag racing Round 1

All systems go for Sunday’s showdown

Tickets for this Sunday’s drag racing goes on sale today at GMR&SC Albert Street office.

Plans are well on stream for this weekend’s two-day drag race meet set for the South Dakota Circuit according to executive committee member Motilall Deodass.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Committee Member said that all the necessary arrangements that needed to be put in place by the club have been dealt with.

He stated that, “Things are actually ahead of where we want to be right now. We have secured permissions from the relevant persons; that is the COVID-19 Task force, as well as the police for the venue, that was done a while ago.”

“We were also able to confirm marshals as well as the emergency medical teams long before our

prescribed dates so I’d have to say that we are ahead of schedule when it comes to that.

As it relates to the live streaming that the club has promised, the Guys from ENetworks were up here setting out spots for cameras and getting a lay of the land.

So we can safely say that the Saturday/Sunday event is poised to be successful.”

The Executive member also confirmed that there will be mandatory wearing of masks for all competitors, mechanics and support staff as well as officials and the limited number of spectators.

He revealed that, “There will be strict penalties for those persons found in the venue not wearing their masks or adhering to the

COVID Guidelines. Those could result in people being ejected from the venue and for future events. It’s not something we want to do but if you put us in the position, we will have no choice.”

Meanwhile, up to press t i m e y e s t e r d a y, 6 2 competitors were confirmed with five of those being bikes.

The club also managed to net a new sponsor in L. Mahabeer and Sons Cambio who came on board late yesterday afternoon.

The company joins the list of other sponsors in C y r i l ’s Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Services, E-Networks, First Class Auto Sales, Guyoil (Castrol), Homeline Furnishing, Imran Auto Works, KFC, KGM Security, (Continued on page 25)