Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR Policy Forum Guyana Tuesday Edition January 21, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 03

invites int'l expert to counter “distracting” PR campaign of oil companies

NEWS

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

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Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

Online readership yesterday 126,999

EPA amends Exxon's permits to allow for unannounced Gov’t should allow visits to FPSOs 3rd parties to verify p.

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Teachers don black and white to protest assault by parents

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Tutorial Academy Secondary School

oil companies' drilling results

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- Petroleum Engineer

ExxonMobil should accelerate reporting of production data p.

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– University of Houston Instructor

Kurdish politician takes Exxon to UN Man, 72, hospitalised after Human Rights beating by son's employer Council over abuses p.

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Leaked documents reveal…

Corruption with Angola's oil made ex-President's daughter p. 13

richest woman in Africa - BBC reports

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 21, 2020

$$Multi-million maternity unit at Leonora - equipped to handle to be operational soon emergency maternity cases

A

The Leonora Diagnostic Centre

well-equipped and properly s t a f f e d maternity unit at the Leonora Diagnostic Centre will be operationalised in April 2020.

The current maternity unit at the centre will be upgraded to an antenatal clinic offering a full range of medical services from prebirth clinic to post-delivery health care.

The facility will be a huge boost for the area as it will allow pregnant women who require specialised Jennifer Ferreira-Dougall, Regional Executive maternity services to access these services right there Officer, West Demerara rather than travelling to the Essequibo Islands West Demerara Regional Hospital or Georgetown riverine communities and Public Hospital Corporation those of the Essequibo Islands.

(GPHC).

“We added a maternity This project is one which was conceptualised by the wing there because we government in 2016 after His recognise that persons Excellency President David coming from the islands and Granger indicated his desire from the river and those t o p u t a n e n d t o complicated cases that are o v e r c r o w d i n g a t t h e being sent from Region Two country's only tertiary have to come to Georgetown.

“So, we decided that we institution, GPHC. M i n i s t e r o f P u b l i c must put an end to that…we Health, Volda Lawrence invested over $74 million recently noted that the new and you won't have to go to facility will not only benefit Georgetown and you don't women of West Coast have to drive to West (continued on page 14) Demerara but those from

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 21, 2020

PAGE 03

ExxonMobil should accelerate reporting of production data – University of Houston Instructor W

ith Guyana already one month into being an oil producing State, calls have increased for there to be public disclosures on the production data for the Stabroek Block.

During an exclusive interview with this newspaper recently, University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro, said that this is an absolutely reasonable request on the part of Guyanese.

The official who has more than 30 years experience in the sector said that the normal reporting period for production (and other data) is usually the calendar month.

Mitro explained that companies typically are not required to report production

data until after the end of the month.

“And so in this case, Exxon normally would not be required to report production to the government until after the end of December -- and usually they have 15 to 30 days after the end of the month to make their report,” the University of Houston Instructor stated.

However, given the significance of this production start to Guyana and the high level anticipation and publicity generated, Mitro said it would be a normal courtesy for ExxonMobil to accelerate its reporting of the numbers to the government sooner than what would normally be required - say during the first week in January.

He said it would then be

left to the government to disclose same.

Attorney-at-law, Charles Ramson Jnr., had also told Kaieteur News about the importance of Guyanese having access to this information. Ramson had said that civil society oversight is critical to the management of the sector and the building of trust when it comes to the collection of revenue for the sector.

Ramson had said, “Being in the dark for long periods about the production rates and projections severely constrains the ability of the citizenry to have oversight.

Exxon should be submitting this information to the government which should then make this information public.”

Giftland to supply GPL with 4.5 megawatts of power - Power Purchasing Agreement finally signed Giftland Boss, Roy Beepat

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he state owned Guyana Power and Light Inc. has finally sealed the deal with Giftland Mall to supplement more than four mega watt (Mw) of power to the grid after almost two years of back and forth. This disclosure was made by the Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, yesterday on the sidelines of an event.

According to Minister Patterson, “the Power Purchase Agreement has been signed…The technical modalities have been worked out and I think very shortly the licence will be granted.”

“Giftland will be supplying about four megawatts into the power grid to augment what GPL has at the moment,” Patterson added.

Last September, owner of the Pattensen, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown Giftland Mall, Roy Beepat, announced that he had submitted two proposals to supply power to the GPL grid.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

Beepat had stated that his power generating system has the capacity to share some 4.5 megawatt [Mw] with the Guyana Power and Light Inc depending on the time of day.

While Giftland has 6.7MW of power, only 1.6MW is used during optimal operations.

This, Beepat said, could help reduce the shortfall experienced by the power company resulting in frequent blackouts on East Coast Demerara. When contacted yesterday by Kaieteur News, Beepat announced that they expect to start supplying the grid with power by May 2020.

“Given that there is now a signed PPA, work has now been initiated to implement the necessary interconnections required for the Giftland Mall Power Plant to connect to the National grid's Infrastructure…once confirmed, we estimate a 3 month period to be ready to supply.” There is a scheduled meeting later this week

between the respective technical teams to confirm designs for the necessary connections. The extra power being acquired will be a significant boost in the GPL's power generation.

Just September of last year, the power company announced that due to unforeseen occurrences and generation and operational issues, it is currently challenged to provide the required generation during peak demand.

GPL'S current power generation stands at 142 megawatts while the peak demand measures 124.6 megawatts. This allows for a 17.4-megawatt reserve, which falls below the internationally required standard of 20 percent of power generation.

Because of the low reserve capacity, power disruptions due to maintenance of generators may occur. Hence, the need to increase generational shortfall is critical.

changes it foresees.

In the absence of same, Ramson said that all Guyanese are aware of is the date First Oil kicked off, and the announcement recently that a tanker is in Guyana's waters to collect ExxonMobil's entitlement of one million barrels of oil.

The Petroleum Academic's call for the disclosure of production data would also be in keeping with

University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro The Opposition Member had told Kaieteur News that Guyanese need to know how quickly the company is expected to get to peak production, how the reservoir has been performing since production started, if it has been in keeping with its estimates, and what potential

the requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to which Guyana is a candidacy member.

The EITI body requires its members to ensure d i s c l o s u r e s o f information/data related to exploration and production, which it believes is key to enabling stakeholders to understand the potential of the sector.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 21, 2020

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Trump’s impeachment This process and trial in the United States Senate, has already degraded before it has started into a comedy shrouded in travesty and teetering towards tragedy. It is a bad joke conducted in bad taste with bad actors. It is sure to result in an extremely bad outcome. Such is the sordid levels to which integrity and personal honour have fallen in the noble US Senate.This is not about bitter partisanship anymore, but of hyper-partisanship at an unprecedented degree. At this commencement of a trial with foregone conclusions obvious, the advanced and sophisticated world power that is the United States of America resembles rather closely and eerily, the ugliness that prevails in backwater, medieval, political Guyana. It is that rancid and that ramshackle, and the resolutions of the US Senate would not bring closure, but merely rent aside the scars and lay bare the deep, decayed flesh and wounds that linger below the surface in today’s America.

Minds are made up, and no one should pay any attention to the pious promises, solemn countenances, and sacred oaths required by the US Constitution to render “impartial justice.” Where is that? In which of these fabled 100 senators is impartial justice to be found? And if, indeed, it was there, who would believe, given their own irreversible warp and unchanging bent?

Now battle lines are drawn, and loud are the shrill war cries that curdle any contemplation of listening, of parsing the evidence, of questioning the implications, and of weighing the provisions of the much-vaunted Constitution.

A cross section of voices in the heaving American political landscape identifies how far things have gone, as to how incurable they stand. It does not matter that all the world is watching in fascinated disbelief, while all the childish chatter about integrity and the honor of the august Senate itself stands impeached before the jury box of watchers. What is promised from today are predetermined positions (regardless of the representations) and already settled outcomes (despite the lofty rhetoric sure to follow).

First among those voices were David Mastio and Jill Lawrence in an opinion in USA Today dated January 19, which summed up the proceedings neatly and completely: “Get ready for the Trump impeachment trial as partisan farce.” At this early stage, that is the conclusion reached by these commentators, as captured in this excerpt: “There is no question that bucking the president and his loyalists would make a senator’s life miserable, even a senator who is not running for reelection.” The two opinion contributors believe that it would have to be “by some miracle” for the incumbent Chief Executive “to be convicted and removed by the Senate…” In America, the age of miracles has passed.

Additionally, nearly a week ago, two other USA Today contributors voiced skepticism about the Senate’s ‘impeachment process, trial, and result, rather similarly in an article titled, “Can senators who have already voiced opinions do ‘impartial justice’ at Trump’s impeachment trial?” Commentators Ledyard King and Maureen Groppe pointed out on January 16 that, “Sen. Mazie D-Hawaii, has said that she is ready to convict President Donald Trump at his impeachment trial that starts next week.”

And that, “Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C. is a staunch ally of the president who has called the charges a ‘sham.’”

Clearly some minds are closed, regardless of whatever else is uncovered. It is the equivalent of jurors (100 of them) going into a trial with immovable positions as to the guilt or innocence of the accused.

Next, was Laurie Roberts in the Arizona Republic, where she tabled this telling question on January 18: “How can Martha McSally claim to be impartial after bragging about her liberal hack rant?” The secondary follow-up inquiry to that caption was: “Is there anyone in the world who believes that Senator Martha McSally can be impartial about President Donald Trump?”The larger question that this paper asks at this trial of American democracy is whether any (or only the required number) of the honorable hundred senators sworn to uphold the US Constitution can just do that, and that alone, for the benefit of the Republic. Regrettably, we are forced to take a negative position on this.

MoTP condemns publication of falsehoods against President Granger DEAR EDITOR, The Ministry of the Presidency condemns as deliberately false and misleading an article titled “Dishonesty, indecency and no integrity are hallmarks of the G r a n g e r - l e d APNU+AFC” penned by Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and published in the Letter columns in the January 18, 2020 edition of the Kaieteur News, and as an optional editorial published in the January 16, 2020 edition of the Citizens’ Report, where he chronicled a series of falsehoods about President David Granger.

The Ministry also takes umbrage at the news publications for disseminating Dr. Ramsammy’s missive in the public domain, clearly without care or concern for the numerous falsehoods within and again shirking their responsibility to ensure that they check facts and content before rushing to publication.

Dr. Ramsammy’s missive seems perfectly timed to not only spread misinformation, but to cause confusion in the society and to foster hatred for the legitimate President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

Dr. Ramsammy’s utterances must be condemned by all right-thinking sections of the society as anything less would indicate acceptance for the Office of the Presidency and the sitting Head of State to be treated with scant regard, all aimed at creating mischief in the society, during what is often a tense period in our nation’s history.

The Ministry of the Presidency would also like to present the facts about

the numerous falsehoods penned by Dr. Ramsammy.

First, President Granger does not direct or interfere in the discussions or consultations on the tuition fees charged at the University of Guyana (UG). This decision is made solely by the duly constituted UG Council.

The David Granger-led administration has enabled the University to conduct its business without interference.

This is a stark difference to what obtained under the previous administration which in July and August 2014, “approved” the hike in tuition fees at UG. Second, Dr. Ramsammy’s claim that President Granger said, some months ago, that he was too “busy” to submit his declarations to the Integrity Commission and “has not been able to adhere to the law” is a bold lie.

The Ministry of the Presidency is again concerned that several media houses, without making basic checks, again, published such a libellous statement about the sitting Head of State.

It is unsurprising that Dr. Ramsammy would pen this drivel as his narrow, political motives are well-known.

At no time did the Head of State say that he was too busy to adhere to the Laws of Guyana. In fact, when asked whether he had made his declarations, on the sidelines of an event held at the MoTP on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, the Head of State said: “I have not submitted all of my declarations. [The documents] are taking some time. But I am in touch with

(the Commission). The Commission has heard from me.”

The Ministry is therefore calling for an apology and retraction from the Citizens’ Report and the Kaieteur News for rushing to publish a news item, that without any basis, casts aspersions upon the character of the sitting Head of State and accuses him of breaking the law.

The MoTP is also concerned that Dr. Ramsammy would seek to discredit, again without any basis, the plans to be implemented during the ‘Decade of Development’. The President has repeatedly articulated his vision for the next ten years and outlined a ten-point Plan of Action detailing how the Government will institute programmes across all sectors across the Ten Administrative Regions to enhance the lives and livelihoods of all Guyanese.

Dr. Ramsammy’s claim also that all documents related to the D’Urban Park project have been hidden is false and the MoTP is calling for an immediate retraction. It must be noted that this Project is being investigated by the Office of the Auditor General and at no point did that Office reveal any difficulty accessing information or make accusations that documents were being withheld or hidden.

One document that the Office said it had been waiting to be delivered, was submitted in February 2019, by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

The Minister of Finance has already discredited claims that the President will benefit from a salary in-

crease. The MoTP fails to understand Dr. Ramsammy’s claims, as the Minister himself has already provided a full and public disclosure on this matter.

The MoTP is therefore calling on Dr. Ramsammy to withdraw his spurious, malicious and libellous claims and is urging him to, immediately, stop peddling lies to the population.

Further, the Ministry is calling on the media entities to retract their publishing of Dr. Ramsammy’s missive as it contains several falsehoods peddled against President Granger.

The Ministry of the Presidency condemns in the strongest possible terms, the publishing of untruths, dangerous propaganda and misleading information, as it could create unrest in the society by fostering resentment among citizens towards the Head of State and Government.

Ministry of the Presidency APOLOGY TO THE HEAD OF STATE Without reservation, we extend an unequivocal apology to Head of State, President David Granger, and assure that no ill-will or malice was intended in allowing the letter “Dishonesty, indecency and no integrity are hallmarks of the Granger-led APNU+AFC” to be published. We also, where possible, will unconditionally retract the Dr. Leslie Ramsammy-authored missive, and express our regret for any inconvenience or unnecessary embarrassment this publication may have caused.

Wildly extravagant promises: What to believe?

DEAR EDITOR, I must congratulate the opposition presidential candidate. His motto must be: since it has to be going all out, then it must be big and sprawling and arresting; make the hugest wave, stop them dead in their tracks.

Some people have a way with words, the opposition man carves out his own with numbers, soaring, extravagant numbers.

First, there was that number of 50,000 jobs; just like that and plucked out of thin air. It certainly was eyecatching and enervating.

Now there is this one about 20,000 scholarships. Who could find fault with that or whatever else is sure to come?

Despite my misgivings, I must admit that the numbers are, shall we say, entertain-

ing. If I am moved, then I can only imagine the excitements and hysterias down in the boondocks and sticks and trenches. I seem to remember somewhere that some wise man said: promise them a fish and give them a snake.

As I listen and read of all these promises and visions from different corners, I discern the heights of hollowness, of promises intended not to be kept; even if they were well meant, they are not attainable. But I doff my cap to those throwing responsibility and sanity to the winds, and just dishing out what triggers live wires within audiences all over.

I thought that the promise of that season in December could not be bested; the one involving a manger and a child. Again, I am wrong.

For here are men, without any reasonable (or disclosed) basis just shooting the breeze with whatever comes to their head and is sure to deliver electricity to the mob. It can only be elections season in Guyana, for that is when old head politicians spare a moment for Guyanese and actually drum up something to say to them, give them the time of day.

The problem is that that something is turning out to be a vast cornucopia of riches and incitements, that even an old dog like me is stirred to wag a tail in response. I still find the interest and energy to do this, though I detect wide swathes of the unrealistic and the bombastic (the masochistic, too) in some of these calculated political

pronouncements. Promise Guyanese heaven, give them the usual hell. So, what else is new? What could be new during this season of courtship and polygamous relationships? Think illegitimate and secret and protected.

In addition, I keep hearing of an anticrime strategy, which is another one that slides off the tongue rather easily and smoothly, without a trace of saliva to pollute the proceedings. Any pretending wise guy (any damn fool) could step up to a microphone and make such a promise, with the vacuity and vagueness of “system” and “advanced” and “technology” used repeatedly to attract attention.

Also, there was some talk from the candidate (Continued on page 24)

Tuesday January 21, 2020

What has happened to the principles the people. It is either that the curof natural justice? among rent commissioners of the ERC are ill-adDEAR EDITOR, I refer to an article in Kaieteur newspaper on Saturday 18th Jan, titled ‘ERC investigates Coalition, PPP/C for racial slurs at rallies’.

As a citizen of Guyana and a candidate to the poll on the PPP/C list for the March 2nd General and Regional Elections, I wish to state the following: • I am appalled and deeply distressed that a constitutional commission like the Ethnic Relations Commission will inform me and the public by way of a press conference that I am under investigation for a racial slur made at the PPP/C Kitty rally and the said commission lacks the decency, ethics, or principled behaviour to even notify me formally and prior that there is an alleged infraction by me and an investigation has been launched.

• I am unaware of any racial slur emanating from my lips at anytime, anywhere whatsoever. Is the ERC announcement of an investigation of a statement by Juan Edghill a manufactured controversy that is designed to satisfy an end known only to operatives within the commission?

• As a former Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission, I believe I am well versed with a deep understanding of the Representation of the Peoples Act , the Racial Hostility Act and other constitutional provisions and statutes that address the issue of inciting and exciting racial hostility

vised, ill-informed, misguided or they have refused to inform themselves that would have led to the reporting that is alleged to have come from the commission at their press conference.

• Have the commissioners of the Ethnic Relations Commission lost their independence, their impartiality or lack the moral fortitude to stand up to political pressure and they are succumbing to political direction to launch a personal attack against me.

• I am prepared at any time and at any place to stand public scrutiny by an impartial body.

What has happened to the principles of natural justice? An announcement to the public that a party is under investigation when there has been no notification is tantamount to an attack on that party and an attempt to impugn character. I therefore expect a full unequivocal apology from the ERC and a retraction of the statements made forthwith.

Once the feathers of a fowl have been plucked and blown asunder by the wind, even if it is gathered cannot be reunited usefully with the fowl. I am not viewing this as a misstep or a mistake; this is more than likely a calculated move. Such behavior must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Can I be advised who is really the Chairman of the ERC? Yours Truly Bishop Juan Edghill

As the elections campaign accelerates, I have observed a most dangerous signal DEAR EDITOR, As the elections campaign accelerates, I have observed a most dangerous signal. Almost every political leader of APNU/AFC, speaking on the political platform, have been urging their supporters to assemble in large numbers at polling places at the close of polls “to protect their ballots”.

The Chairperson of the PNC, Volda Lawrence, went even further. At a public meeting at Kitty, Georgetown, Sunday evening, Lawrence is reported, in the press as telling supporters that they must follow the ballot box all the way to the container and ensure that it is securely locked.

On behalf of the PPP/C, I have worked integrally in the electoral machinery in every national and regional elections since 1997, as an Assistant Elections Agent for Region 4. From this vantage point, I can speak from personal knowledge of the dangers which underpin such political rhetoric. The unfortunate reality is that violence and riotous behaviour are closely connected to elections in this country. Invariably, they erupt from the very crowds which the PNC has historically caused to assemble at polling stations at the close of polls.

In 2015, even senior APNU leaders could not have controlled such an assembled crowd from degenerating into a violent mob

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that unleashed violence on PPP/C’s candidates and activists, which led to the burning of Joe Hamilton’s car and a polling station, erupting in flames and burned to the ground, which was someone’s private residence at Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Similarly, at a Primary School, located at Better Hope South, East Coast Demerara, which was used as a polling place, an assembly of PNC supporters quickly descended into a riotous mode and brutally assaulted my driver whom I had instructed to pick up PPP/C polling agents and Statement of Polls from that polling place.

There are dozens of similar incidents which have occurred throughout the country, on elections day, to which I can make reference, but I think these two shall suffice for now.

I emphasize that these atrocities occurred without PNC/APNU politicians calling publicly for their supporters to assemble at these places of polls when darkness descends. No doubt the instructions were then tacitly but centrally directed.

I will be bold to speculate, that this time around, it is an agreed elections strategy and I daresay, that it is a recipe for disastrous consequences.

Just imagine if the PPP/ C were to be equally irre-

sponsible and provocative and call upon its supporters to also assemble at polling places at the close of poll alongside the coalition supporters. It would be striking a match in a highly combustible environment.

The reality is that GECOM and the security forces of our country are responsible for ensuring the safety of the ballots. As far as I am aware, they have never shirked nor abdicated this responsibility.

Therefore, this ominous political rallying call is wholly unnecessary.

It may be a hard pill for some to swallow, but the inconvenient truth is that it is only one political party that has historically demonstrated proclivities of violence at elections time which have often threatened to derail the electoral process.

It is damn ironic for this selfsame political party to call for protection of the ballots.

I call upon the international community, the elections observer teams, all stakeholders and every responsible and freedom-loving Guyanese to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this most ominous development.

Our electoral history is replete with examples, to establish beyond a shadow of doubt, that nothing good can come out of it.

Mohabir Anil Nandlall Attorney-at-law

State agencies must not take the public’s right to know casually DEAR EDITOR, I capitalize here on the recent WoolfordNascimento-Vieira public feud to make two overarching suggestions to serve, I hope, the cause of good governance.

First, the time is right for the Ministry of the Presidency to issue a code of conduct for public agencies to regulate how they publicly respond to what citizens say about them in the press.

The code must require agencies to (i) respect the public’s right to ask and to know about the workings of their institutions, and (ii) adhere to the tenets of civility and professionalism, irrespective of the motive, tone, or accuracy of public comments.

Good governance is undermined when public agencies adopt a confrontational and personalized attitude to public comments they do not like.

In the wake, the provision of useful information gets undermined and the desire of citizens to add their voices to public debate is extinguished.

In fairness, matters could be helped if members of the public are themselves courteous.

But for public institutions, this expectation rises to the level of an unwavering duty.

Secondly, the ability of

citizens to answer the call to prove their allegations against state agencies can be immensely enhanced if these entities live up to the letter and spirit of our own Access to Information Act of 2011.

Its stated goal reads: “to provide f o r s e t t i n g out a practical regime of right to information for persons to secure access to information under the control of public authorities in order to promote transparency and accounta b i l i t y in the working of the Government and public authorities.”

Within the act, much attention has fallen on the office of the Commissioner of Information.

But the true essence and power of the Act are captured by its section 13(3), which states: “It shall be a constant endeavour of every public authority to take steps in accordance with this Act to provide as much

information of its own volition to the public at regular intervals through various means of communication so that the public have minimum necessity to have recourse to the provisions of this Act to obtain information.”

The onus therefore is on public institutions to be both relentless and proactive in providing information to the public.

If realized, citizens can more easily use publiclyaccessible information to prove any allegation (or any praise) they choose to make.

It is commendable that most local public agencies have websites.

But the c o n t e n t o f many of them needs to b e expanded to become extensive informational and educational sources for public consumption.

State agencies must take the public’s right to ask and know more seriously.

Sherwood Lowe

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Tuesday January 21, 2020

True patriots, instead of criticizing everything about oil, should help one of those countries. ezuela because of poverty? dealing with mighty men, rich us navigate the best for our people ery Saudi Arabia, of course, is a Unbelievable, an oil-produc- entities and strong nations. ing country. The reason, let’s I go to Eugene F. Correia separate kettle of fish.

DEAR EDITOR, I am a fan of the Kaieteur News, with high regard for its Publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall and Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Adam Harris. Further, I grant them the right to be critical of this and any government. To bring to the attention of readers, matters of current interest, but always in the context of the real world in which we live, with no time for fancy or frolic.

Since our discovery of oil and gas, we have been bombarded by a plethora of experts - soothsayers, accountants, attorneys, overseas petroleum experts and now we have a local petroleum academic, whatever that is.

They all seem to know what we should be doing.

Look at some recent headlines –‘Daily oil production figures must be made public,’ then ‘Suriname puts strict local content requirement on all oil companies, next, ‘US demands immediate disclosure of details of finds. So should Guyana’ – Petroleum Engineer’ and so it goes on and on, what seems to be a relentless crusade.

Last week, one section of the media boldly carried comments from Market Vendors.

I suppose we can next expect comments, criticism and ad-

vice (“sic”) from groups. I suppose we can next have to expect publicity from groups of masons, teachers, lawyers, doctors, engineers, preachers, pastors, grave-diggers and telling the government what they should be doing that they are not doing.

First, this is their democratic right to be allowed to talk and write on any subject the Constitution and openness of the present government allows this. However, the trouble is these persons are making comments based on what they read in sections of the media, television, radio and fellow travelers.

The majority of statements have enthusiasm of socalled experts at home and abroad – not necessarily the whole story, with no empirical evidence.

If you may coin this metaphor ‘oil is a slippery substance’ and leaders and people, particularly, of small countries must be careful not to slip and slide, if lucky, we can fall on our butts, if not so lucky, we can fall on our heads causing serious permanent damage.

There is a Statement that Suriname got a better deal for the oil. I tried to find out the recent comparison. As a layman, it appears that

Suriname’s offshore oil was found in the same vein as the oil found in Guyana waters, and therefore the cost to bring up the Suriname oil is considerably less, since the exploring companies would have already spent large sums during work in the Guyana basin.

That may explain if there is a difference of what the State receives May I say in all of this, I think the Coalition/State Media should put out a simple leaflet to explain the oil and gas situation and how the government is coping with an extremely delicate, some may say, explosive subject.

As a result of oil being found in commercial quantities outside of the U.S.A, in an effort to have some say and control in 1960 with much fanfare, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was established with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The initial members were Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Other members who joined later were Algeria, Angola, Congo, Ecuador, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, and Equatorial Guinea.

In spite of this purported oil wealth, note the turbulence and dislocation in ev-

I believe that the tide resides with David Granger and the coalition that he leads DEAR EDITOR, It can be argued that the single most important and incontrovertible development in recent Guyanese political history has been the precipitous decline of the oldest political party in Guyana, the PPP/C. Its current leader, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, began his Presidency, in 2001, with 53% of the vote and a 7-seat advantage over the PNC/R which he increased, in 2006, to 54.6% and a 9-seat advantage over the PNC/R and AFC combined, which was the last time the PPP/C held an overall parliamentary majority.

The PPP/C was a minority in 2011 (48.6% of the vote and 32 seats in the National Assembly), and in 2015 (49.2% and 32 seats) ever since the AFC entered the political derby and the PNC/ R dramatically advanced the concept and practice of coalition and cohesive politics with the formation of APNU and APNU+AFC. This would seem to suggest serious failures on the part of the PPP/C in government which precipitated the loss of support from significant sections of its base, di-

minished appeal to crossover voters from its main opposition, and lack of attractiveness and enthusiasm from ethnic minorities which coincided with the emergence of the coalition/ cohesion ethos of APNU+AFC. I would suggest that two factors in particular, are responsible for the decline of the PPP/C: 1) Demographic changes (migration and the growth in other ethnicities) have resulted in the loss of East Indian numerical superiority and the decline of its electoral strength which was compounded by internal conflicts which led to the loss of several members and the formation of other, competing political parties like AFC and ANUG and the decline in its economic and industrial base, as sugar lost its dominant position in the economy.

2) Simultaneously, its main political rival, the PNC/ R, was able to engage in regenerative and coalitionbuilding activities which catapulted them into office, in 2015, after 23 years in declining opposition.

While demographic

changes are undoubtedly significant, I believe that the greater significance was the introduction of the electoral system in 2001 and the regional allocation of more than one-third (25/65) of the seats in the National Assembly which has given inordinate influence to hinterland regions which are mostly populated by indigenous peoples to whom the main parties must appeal in order to secure victory at the polls.

APNU+AFC’s strategy of cohesion and inclusive government, its list of candidates and leadership, and its visionary and hugely successful hinterland development programme and Decade of Development strategy is a clear indication of its welcoming recognition and acceptance of this reality.

On the other hand, the PPP/C’s election campaign which seems wed to the myth of its invincibility based on ethnic dominance is divorced from reality. The constant harping on the unsubstantiated claims that it was cheated at the last election; that it was cheated in every election; that it lost (Continued on page 22)

More than a decade, after OPEC was formed, there was the oil crisis. Without notice, oil prices increased by 400 500%. Guyana being one of those adversely affected since like most countries relies on petroleum products for domestic and industrial purposes.

In so far, as the industry is concerned, there are always twists and turns.

Trinidad, we hear has lost US$45 billion over time because of the alleged inexperience of their negotiating teams.

Recall, the famous three words by the then Trinidad Prime Minister Eric Williams, when in the face of criticism at home and abroad, he said ‘Oil don’t spoil.’

These experts, who write and speak really don’t understand the complex if not confusing situation of oil.

Oil has become a matter of intense power play by mighty men, rich entities and strong nations.

Look at our two neighbours, Trinidad has had to cut back with social services, Venezuela, has had mass exodus due to lack of basic facilities and political turmoil.

Who would have imagined thousands fleeing Ven-

face it.

Oil and the power play of mighty men, rich entities and strong nations.

I have spent time in the State of Texas, the heartland of the oil industry, spoken with persons who live and work in the petroleum sector.

Likewise, I meet folks from Trinidad, where my wife is, even those with PHDs, scholars and executives in petroleum-related disciplines who admit that oil is the subject of power play by mighty men, rich entities and strong nations over which, small countries like Guyana, have little real control.

Over the past few years, the Government has received offers of assistance from many experienced countries and leaders, including the President of Ghana who visited with us last year.

I rely on the calm Statemanship approach of President Granger in dealing with this matter.

Oil can be a bane or a bounty, a benefit or a burden and we need a calm with resolute approach in dealing with this matter.

Oil has caused the three ‘Cs,’ - Confusion, Coups and Corruption in many countries around the world. The list is long and revealing. We are

Airport and witness helicopters taking off, assigned to one or two of the oil companies. More helicopters than the Government and Private Sector have, except in the Burnham days, when we had a fleet of Soviet, French, US, British and American-made Helicopters.

It is always so easily criticized, ignoring the dynamics of the real, all be it, imperfect world. When my friends, for example, say we should demand and do like what the United States does, it sounds good, but the old folks say ‘wha mouth nah load.’

When these so-called petroleum academics and homegrown experts pontificate and beat their chests, let them tell us how they would do as U.S does with dealing with large entities.

When the US tells companies and even another country to do something, and the other side fails to comply, the US has the muscle and might to ensure that their wishes become a command, so those who shout, we should do as the US, do not understand the real world in which we live.

Should I tell my neighbour’s donkey to run as long and fast as a (Continued on page 22)

How do we avoid perpetually hiring foreign firms to perform audits?

DEAR EDITOR, Recently, it was reported in the press that the government has hired a United Kingdom firm to audit the pre-contract costs. The firm, IHS Markit, would be paid US$300,000 to perform the audit. How are we enabling Guyanese such that we don’t perpetually keep hiring foreign firms to perform audits?

One has to assume that most of the work by IHS Markit would be conducted offshore. The Stabroek PSA was signed with Guyanese oil companies, but those companies are a façade to shell companies in the Caribbean. The oil companies with the expertise to extract the oil have two walls to shield them from liabilities.

Do we believe the precontract expense-records submitted to the auditors were created in Guyana? No, likely these records were created offshore. Hence, we are having one foreign firm audit another set of foreign firms.

How are we pruning these foreign firms to ensure their interests are aligned with ours? Do the foreign firms we engage also have

the oil companies as clients?

If so, then these firms would have a conflict of interest.

We should be hiring foreign firms that have a proven track record of acting in the best interests of developing countries like Guyana versus multinational oil companies.

For the pre-contract cost audit, Guyanese will be part of the process. But will they just be part of daily summary briefings? Or, will they be engaged in the day-to-day operations to learn the finer points of the work?

If Guyanese participants don’t have the educational background of the foreigner auditors doing the work, how will they be brought up to speed in the 4-month period of the pre-contract cost audit? If teacher determines the students can’t count, it would be pointless to have them participate in a class verifying the results of calculus equations.

Recall, that Exxon deleted some of its CEO’s emails before August, 2015.

What other records did it delete before 2015? Do we know if the pre-contract cost audit includes the verification of the authenticity of

expense records dating back to 1999? If not, then it seems to diminish the value we are getting for our US$300,000.

Since the anomalies of the pre-contract costs came into question, have we requested the oil companies to submit their expenses such that we can record and verify them as they occur?

With the audit of the precontract costs, we are in reactive mode handing out lucrative purses to foreigners to help us claw back funds.

Are we going to hire another foreign firm to help us resolve the US$1 billion discrepancy between Liza 1 and Liza 2?

What is our strategy to break this cycle?

How are we enabling Guyanese to build up their experience to ensure we are not perpetually paying foreigners to free us from the handcuffs of other foreign firms? It appears that the crumbs we will receive from the oil contracts is starting to be showered onto foreign entities without a broad strategy to enable Guyanese to competently perform these tasks in the future.

Darshanand Khusial on behalf of OGGN

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 21, 2020

PAGE 07

Policy Forum Guyana invites Int'l Herstelling man killed attempting expert to counter “distracting” to cross East Bank public road PR Campaign by oil companies

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I

n an effort to counter the public relations campaign of oil companies which seeks to purport that oil is a “wonderful-foreveryone adventure,” Policy Forum Guyana (PFG) is inviting a representative from India's G o a F o u n d a t i o n , M r.

Rahul Basu, for a special public lecture and extended engagement with the citizens from February 3 to February 10.

PFG, a network of civic organisations that came into existence in 2015, strongly believes that this exercise is necessary since the oil companies have successfully distracted G u y a n e s e f r o m addressing key issues such as equal rights of all citizens to share the benefits of the resources, the implications of intergenerational equity, and what these concepts mean for a Sovereign

Representative of Goa Foundation, Mr. Rahul Basu Wealth Fund and direct cash transfers.

Policy Forum Guyana said that Mr. Rahul Basu from the Goa Foundation will familiarise Guyanese with a principled approach to the extraction of natural resources and how they can benefit to the

Apology to Child Protection Director

A

ccording an article titled, 'Child Protection Director presented with Human Rights Award', and published yesterday, it was stated that Director of the Child Protection Agency Ann Greene had been the Director of the CPA since 2015.

However, it was found that this information was inaccurate. Rather, she has been at the helm of that agency since 2006.

We wish to apologise to Director Greene.

maximum extent.

Kaieteur News understands that the Goa Foundation is an environmental, non-profit body that advocates that minerals and natural resources be accounted for as a shared inheritance.

Rahul Basu, as Research Director, with a background in the world of finance, has spearheaded the campaign to modify the treatment of mining in the International Monetary Fund's Government Finance Statistics Manual and the United Nation's System of National Accounts.

Furthermore, the Goa Foundation advocates the intergenerational equity principle, which articulates a concept of f a i r n e s s a m o n g generations in the use and conservation of the environment and its natural resources.

The Goa Foundation has been able to successfully influence the Government of India of the validity of this approach to the extent that the National Mineral Policy of India of 2019 states, “Natural resources, including minerals, are a shared inheritance where the state is the trustee on behalf of the people to ensure that future generations receive the benefit of inheritance.”

ust a mere 24 hours after a Land of Canaan resident was struck dead while on the East Bank Demerara Public Road; 27-year-old Ryan Hiram became the country's latest road fatality in the wee hours of Monday after he was struck by a motorcar while attempting to cross the East Bank Demerara Public road.

The accident reportedly occurred sometime around 01:00hr.

According to information reaching Kaieteur News, Hiram was on the Eccles Public Road, E.B.D and was attempting to cross the roadway.

It was said that motorcar PYY 3475 was proceeding north reportedly at a fast pace so the driver could not stop in time to avoid hitting Hiram. Reports stated that Hiram's body allegedly came into contact with the left side of the car causing him to fall on to the road and sustain injuries about his body.

The injured man was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the car was given a breathalyzer test and was found to be above the legal alcohol consumption limit at the time.

The driver was taken into police custody and charges are expected to be laid soon as police investigations continue.

Dead: Ryan Hiram

Body of fisherman found on public road

T

he body of a 23y e a r - o l d fisherman was found lying along the Coldingen, East Coast Public road on Saturday with several suspected stab wounds.

The dead man was identified as Mukesh Mangra, also known as “Paul”, a resident from Coldingen Village.

A c c o r d i n g t o information reaching this

publication, Mangra's lifeless body was discovered by another resident who was making his way home at the time. It was said that the fisherman's body was discovered on the roadway in a pool of blood, lying on the western side with two stab wounds to his abdomen; one to his left side and the other to his right.

Immediately, the police were contacted and after an investigation of the area, a

blue-handled knife was found approximately 50 feet away from the body.

The body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour to await an autopsy.

Meanwhile, Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Royston Andries-Junor, disclosed to Kaieteur News that they arrested one person yesterday who is currently a s s i s t i n g w i t h investigations.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Guyana tells Suriname: Don't blame us for Canawaima Ferry being down

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he Ministry of P u b l i c Infrastructure ( M o P I ) i s u rg i n g t h e Suriname authorities to take responsibility by putting the Canawaima ferry in docks for repairs and to have it back in service.

The sharp retort was made by the Ministry after a Suriname news report blamed Guyana for the ferry being down. The matter has been simmering since last year after the ferry had to be taken out of service because of severe technical issues.

MoPI said it has taken note of an article published in the Times of Suriname on January 9, 2020 under the headline, “Canawaima midJanuary operational again”.

“This article has been brought to our attention by the Embassy of Guyana in Suriname.

The Guyana Management for the Canawaima Management Company J.V. and by extension the MoPI were alarmed by the statements emanating from the article, especially the pronouncements that Guyana has not kept its side of the agreement.”

In fact, the article falsely insinuated that, “the boat never underwent a thorough renovation since its twenty years of service…This was

long overdue, because the Canawaima is a jointventure of two countries and Guyana was unresponsive in contributing to maintenance expense as is stipulated in the agreement”.

Drawing from this, the MoPI said it is compelled to explain responsibilities assigned to the Management of Guyana Canawaima Ferry Service.

It was stressed that from 2004 to 2019, Guyana has been funding the expenses for fuel, lubricant and batteries supplied to M.V Canawaima/M. B Sandaka and salaries for Sandaka Crew.

According to the Transport and Harbours Department records, this amounted to $110,982,794.

“Furthermore, Guyana was not required to pay the cost for the docking of the vessel. Guyana has all of its documentation, receipts and files to prove our prepositions and accountability on the subject matter, so as to nullify the insinuation from the Surinamese representatives.

“With all that has been written, the Government of Guyana has been willing on every end to keep the Canawaima Ferry Service operational for the benefit of both Guyana and Suriname.”

The Canawaima Ferry being towed

Gov’t officials should not use personal emails to transact state businesses - Charles Ramson Jr.

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The ministry said this is evident because on every occasion of the Canawaima vessel being inoperational, Guyana has in every situation provided a substitute vessel to continue the relations between the two counterparts as well as the full charter cost.

As a consequence of this, a decision was made between the parties that Suriname will undertake all docking cost associated with the vessel.

“In the good spirit of 2020, we wish that the Canawaima Ferry can go into dock and have the necessary repairs and maintenance executed so that the vessel can resume its operation in the shortest possible time.”

The cessation of the ferry service for several months last year had burdened traders who depended on it to bring goods. The issue had seen the government of both countries meeting to find solutions.

The halting of the service had drastically reduced traffic between the two countries with an increase of business seen at the so-called Skeldon back-track area. Guyana late last year resumed a limited service with the introduction of the MB Sandaka.

Thousands of Guyanese live in Suriname with a brisk trade existing between the two countries.

Tuesday January 21, 2020

ttorney-at-law Charles Ramson Jr. is of the opinion that Government officials should not use their personal email accounts to transact business on the behalf of Guyana.

Ramson said he has no knowledge of Guyana's leaders using their personal emails to transact state businesses, especially when it comes to Guyana's Oil and Gas Industry.

But the evidence presented by the Kaieteur News and foreign media entities about corruption being discovered through leaked emails and documents in foreign countries is startling.

The lawyer said the evidence is sufficient enough to prompt the relevant authorities to draft a legislation to prevent such a practice in Guyana for the

sake of transparency in the oil industry.

Ramson said he is not aware if there is any law in Guyana's Constitution that prohibits Government officials from doing so.

Ramson said that the “use of personal emails by Government officials for transaction of state business is a sinister act to rob their country”.

He added that his political P a r t y, t h e P e o p l e ' s Progressive Party (PPP) had already included in its manifesto that all nondisclosure of public documents and contracts will be criminalised. He continued that with these compelling evidence the PPP will now move to look at policies of other countries preventing its government officials from using their personal email accounts in such a sinister manner. Ramson and his

Attorney-at-law Charles Ramson party were convinced that such legislation is very much important after they learnt that Nigeria was able to recover US$1.1B from the sale of an oil block.

Transparency Advocates (continued on page 18)

RDC officer charged for assaulting Cop

A

Regional Democratic Council (RDC) officer attached to the Ti m e h r i c o u n c i l w a s yesterday placed on bail for two offences in which he allegedly assaulted and resisted arrest from a Police Constable.

Abuna Welcome was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts to have the charge read to him. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

It was alleged that on January 14, 2020 at Cornhill Street, Georgetown, he assaulted Police Constable

Julius Caesar, a peace officer acting in the execution of his duties. It was further alleged that on the same date and at the same location, he resisted arrest from Police Constable Julius Caesar.

The defendant who was not represented by an attorney told the court that he is 42-years-old and resides at 234 Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

With no objections to bail from the police prosecutor, Welcome was granted same in the sum of $10,000 for each charge. The matter was then transferred to a trial court for a date to commence the trial.

Meanwhile, a clerk was also granted bail based on an embezzlement charge. She appeared before the very magistrate and denied the allegation.

It was stated that on October 12, 2019 at BM Enterprise Inc. she being a clerk or servant of BM Enterprise, fraudulently embezzled $153,173 which she received from her employer.

The 26-year-old defendant was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 following no objections by police prosecutor Sanj Singh. Her case will come up for hearing again on February 21, 2020.

Tuesday January 21, 2020

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Gov’t should allow third parties to verify oil companies drilling results - Petroleum Engineer Guyana would do well to allow third parties to conduct their own analyses of oil and gas companies drilling results, says Petroleum Consultant and Engineer, Paul Nicholas Ramsaywack.

This verification, he said, can be done using well logs.

They contain detailed records of the finds made by companies like ExxonMobil, which currently boasts 15 successful commercial hydrocarbon discoveries in the Stabroek Block.

Thus far, logs for drilling done offshore Guyana are not publicly available. But the Consultant informed Kaieteur News that many American States have a very different modus operandi.

The engineer, who has worked over a decade with exploration and production operators across multiple on-

shore US basins, said that those States have some of the strictest regulations and requirements for public release.

He advises Guyana to follow in Americas path.

In a previous publication, Kaieteur News reported that Ramsaywack suggested one year of public confidentiality between companies and the State to reward the operators for making a risky investment.

That, he indicated, encourages others to drill.

The Consultant added that third parties would also be held to confidentiality agreements for that period.

Nevertheless, Ramsaywack said that most States eventually publish the information themselves after the period of confidentiality is over.

Even while that is being satisfied, third party compa-

Petroleum Consultant & Engineer, Paul Nicholas Ramsaywack nies hired by Government or conducting their own, private analyses, would be able to determine the veracity of oil companies reports to the State.In Guyanas case, independent analyses would allow the public to know the

Rape convict’s appeal against sentence for hearing this morning at CCJ At 10:00hrs, this morning, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will commence hearing arguments in an appeal filed by rape convict Linton Pompey, who is currently serving a 37-year jail sentence.

The 53-year-old man who is said to be a father of 12, is arguing that the sentence is unduly harsh in all the circumstances of the case. In September 2015, Pompey was found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual activity, all committed on a 13-year-old girl.Pompey, was found guilty by a 12 member jury on two counts of rape of a child under 16, which occurred between June 1 and June 13, 2011 and January 10, 2012, respectively.

He was also found guilty of sexual assault which occurred between May 1 and May 21, 2011.

The rape convict was sentenced to 37 years in prison by trial Judge Jo Ann Barlow.

Through his lawyer, Nigel Hughes, he had challenged the conviction and sentence at the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal however dismissed the appeal.

Chief Justice Roxane George who was on

Linton Pompey the panel of judges that heard the case held that the convictions can be supported by the evidence of the prosecution.

In her ruling, the Chief Justice noted that the summation of evidence done by the trial judge did not, in any way, cause a miscarriage of justice as contended by Hughes.

Based on information, Pompey inserted his penis into the girl’s vagina and also fondled with her breasts. Following the convictions, Pompey was sentenced to separate terms of imprisonment on each count, which accumulated to 37 years, since the trial judge ordered that the sentences run consecutively.

Dem boys seh ...

Only police can deh pon leave and still wukking When anybody want couple days no-pay leave all dem have to do is apply for a job at de Harbour Bridge. When dem get de job, dem have to just pick up a vehicle, without permission, go out and have a good drink wid de boys, then drive de vehicle overboard.

Dat is what a man do de odda day. Dem boys see de car heading up de road and then it disappear. One of dem boys thought he was dreaming; anodda one think he was seeing magic.Dis driver tek de trench at Banks DIH fuh de road. But then again, since he wukking by de river, he believe cars and pickups can operate like a boat. He tek a vehicle and drive it like if it is he own.

In anodda part of de country, a businessman and he family decide to beat a man who had a stroke because dem can’t find de man son. And dem travel all over de country looking fuh dis man. Dem go to Linden; then dem go to Berbice.

Then when dem couldn’t ketch de person dem looking for, dem decide dat if you

can’t suck mammy, you got to tek granny.

Money does fly to people head. Dem break up all de window in de old man house; dem soak de ration wid kerosene, dem ransack de place and then dem beat de old man.

It tek a while before de police respond because dem boys hear de businessman does top up dem police ranks. Dat is why dem couldn’t bring dem self to arrest him. Is people from de city who had to go after dis beating.

Four of dem deh in de station but dem boys hear dat when people gone, dem sitting down pon de bench outside like if dem deh pon de seawall. Dem forget dat people got cameras.

And while people mekking fuss de police smiling. De back pay dem get fuh Christmas done. Dat is why when people go to mek a report, dem does believe de police deh pon de job and deh pon leave at de same time.

Talk half and watch how police does deh pon leave and still wukking.

ExxonMobil operates the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, which contains most of Guyanas discovered commercial hydrocarbon reserves proportion of oil to gas in ExxonMobils 15 discoveries.

The public is currently in the dark about the proportion in most of the finds, which Exxon says amounts to over 6 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, has said that the Government knows the gas content in Liza

Phases One and Two. There have been 13 subsequent discoveries. Of those, Kaieteur News is aware that the 11th discovery by Exxon, in the Haimara, is a gas condensate reservoir.Questions were posed to Exxons subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), late last year about the gas

content in the discoveries, and the companys Government and Public Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud, responded that it was still analysing its discoveries.

But Ramsaywack said that by now, ExxonMobil would know the proportion of oil to gas in their discoveries, because they have logs.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday January 21, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Small parties tell the story of an insane nationality T

his country has one of the s m a l l e s t populations in the world but per capita, it has the largest numbers of psychologically damaged people whose souls and minds are seriously diseased.

I walk my dog on the Eve Leary seawall each morning and I see some mad,

homeless folks.

After talking to some of them often, trust me, they are not soulless as some of the persons who own property, fancy cars and have 'nuff' money and some of whom want to rule Guyana.

After the no-confidence vote, election looked likely thus a number of small parties were born and born

with them was a form of insanity this country has not seen before.

Not one of these small parties has merged with another. And election is just six weeks away. Why? Because they are so mentally diseased that they lack even a modicum of capacity to recognise reality.

Trust me; the mad

homeless folks who my dog and I see every day on the seawall are more realistic, more logical and more rational than the hallucinating people in these small parties.

These misfits have just dropped out of the skies and want to defeat two humongous political parties that have been around since the 1950s and have huge resources, large constituencies and schools of educated people that can attract untold number of voters.

You would think faced with that grim reality, these tiny entities would at least try to secure a seat or two by joining forces.

But since they do not have the psychological stability to perceive the realistic environment around them, they are unable to understand their place in the scheme of things. The result is pomposity, hubris and hauteur and insanity.

I have heard some sentiments from folks in these small parties that convince me that if the mad guys I see on the seawall each morning would compete in the March poll, I would vote for them. The reason is because these seawall dwellers have a better grip on reality.

Many of the leading players have said things that are so shocking that it is not you may want to question their sanity; it is that they have no sanity. One of them

in an interview with the media said that the leaders of the big parties should come over to his party; it cannot be the other way around.

Almost a hundred percent of Guyana does not know about this fellow but he and his party are so big that PNC and PPP bigwigs must come over to his outfit.

In the 2015 election, this man got a trickle.

One of the small parties boldly stated in the press that her party will not be in an alliance with any other organisation for the March poll. What an insane exclamation. Really! Who knows this lady? What violation this lady ever spoke about? Who will vote for this lady?

Another one said that he is satisfied his party must go it alone because of the support they have garnered in a short space of time. The question is; does that support exist in the real world or is it in his mind? I guess many of the leaders of these tiny entities are full of themselves that they think they are the best thing after slice bread. This has to be the reason for not forming a united alliance.

They each think they can do handsomely and win seats on their own. Try doubting them and you will hear how good they think they will do.

I have long argued in these columns that I think there is a psychic chasm that the Guyanese nationality has fallen into. I see

Frederick Kissoon manifestations of this psychic demise each day. It is a sad and tragic nation.

The simple reality is that you need one or two sets to stop one of the two Goliaths from winning a majority. A minority government offers a future for this country. It is a priceless opportunity. If one of the two giants does not have a parliamentary majority, then the third force can force changes.

Whichever leviathan is in power cannot pass a budget, cannot pass legislation.

The third force holding the balance can demand constitutional changes and democratic governance.

W h a t i s s o incomprehensible about such a situation that the six small parties cannot understand? Three of them have agreed to count their votes together. But people will still be cynical and question why they have not merged.

My take is if there was a merger of these six small parties with a big rally to announce the engagement, it could have galvanised uncertain voters. What a pity!

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

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Leaked documents reveal…

Corruption with Angola's oil made ex-President's daughter richest woman in Africa - BBC reports

L

eaked documents reveal how Africa's richest woman made her fortune through exploiting her own country, and corruption.

Isabel dos Santos got access to lucrative deals involving land, oil, diamonds and telecoms when her father was president of Angola, a southern African country rich in natural resources.

The documents show how she and her husband were allowed to buy valuable state assets in a series of suspicious deals.

Ms Dos Santos says the allegations against her are entirely false and that there is a politically motivated witchhunt by the Angolan government. The former president's daughter has made the UK her home and owns expensive properties in central London.

She is already under criminal investigation by the authorities in Angola for corruption and her assets in the country have been frozen.

Now BBC Panorama has been given access to more than 700,000 leaked documents about the billionaire's business empire.

Most were obtained by the Platform to Protect Whistle-blowers in Africa and shared with the International Consortium of

Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). They've been investigated by 37 media organisations including the Guardian and Portugal's Expresso newspaper.

Andrew Feinstein, the head of Corruption Watch, says the documents show how Ms Dos Santos exploited her country at the expense of ordinary Angolans.

"Every time she appears on the cover of some glossy magazine somewhere in the world, every time that she hosts one of her glamorous parties in the south of France, she is doing so by trampling on the aspirations of the citizens of Angola."

The ICIJ have called the documents the Luanda Leaks.

The oil connection One of the most suspicious deals was run from London through a UK subsidiary of the Angolan state oil company Sonangol.

Ms Dos Santos had been put in charge of the struggling Sonangol in 2016, thanks to a presidential decree from her father Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who kept a tight grip on his country for the 38 years he was in power.

But when he retired as president in September 2017, her position was soon under threat, even though his handpicked successor came from the same party. Ms Dos Santos was sacked two

months later.

Many Angolans have been surprised at the way that President João Lourenço has gone after the business interests of his predecessor's family.

The leaked documents show that as she left Sonangol, Ms Dos Santos approved $58m of suspicious payments to a consultancy company in Dubai called Matter Business Solutions.

She says she has no financial interest in Matter, but the leaked documents reveal it was run by her business manager and owned by a friend.

Panorama understands that Matter sent more than 50 invoices to Sonangol in London on the day that she was fired. Ms Dos Santos appears to have approved payments to her friend's company after she was sacked.

Although some consultancy work had been carried out by Matter, there's very little detail on the invoices to justify such large bills. One asks for €472,196 for unspecified expenses another asks for $928,517 for unspecified legal services.

Two of the invoices - each for €676,339.97 - are for exactly the same work on the same date and Ms Dos Santos signed them both off anyway.

Marcus Bisram case…

Magistrate to rule on whether to continue by way of paper committal or PI

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fter several hours of delay due to the late arrival of murder accused Marcus Brian Bisram and an hour long in-camera briefing by the defence team and Prosecution before Magistrate Renita Singh, the case got underway at 13:15 hrs. yesterday.

Bisram who is accused of ordering the attack on Faiyaz Narinedatt which led to his brutal death, made his appearance at the Whim Magistrate's Court.

The Prosecution led by Stacy Goodings was the first to be present at court yesterday while the defence team, which included

Attorney-at-law Sanjeev Datadin, Glen Hanoman and Dexter Todd arrived shortly after. The matter which was scheduled to commence yesterday morning had to be delayed until after noon to facilitate Bisram's arrival.

However, before the proceedings got underway, reporters and members of the public were asked to exit the courtroom since the State had said that there were some preliminary issues to be sorted out.

An hour later, court was declared open to the public and the case commenced.

There were arguments between defence Attorney Datadin and Prosecutor

Marcus Bisram Goodings over the direction the case should take (either by paper committal or Preliminary Inquiry).

While the State (continued on page 16)

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday January 21, 2020

Man, 72, hospitalised after beating by son's employer …police arrest four

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amsahoye Deochan was on Sunday morning brutally beaten by his son's employer over stolen money and a gold chain. The 72year-old man is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The incident took place at his Strathspey, East Coast Demerara, home. The police say that four suspects are in custody assisting with the investigation.

According to his grandson, Randy Deochan, two of the beaten man's sons are employed by two businesses in Strathspey, ECD, each owned by the same family.

One of them was accused by the business owner of stealing an undisclosed sum of money and a gold chain.

The Guyana Police Force has since begun investigating what it says is alleged attempted murder and malicious damage to property.

It described Ramsahoye

Deochand as a pensioner of lot 109 Pump Road, Strathspey, East Coast Demerara.

The police said that the man resides with his wife Farida, and son Rajwant, 32, called “Sweet Eye”. Also sharing the abode are Taijwattie Bhawanie called “Devika”, 40, a housewife and her husband Rovin, 27.

This couple has one child.

The police in a press release said that about 02:45 hrs, Sunday, Taijwattie Bhawanie. was awakened by the breaking of windows.

She investigated the cause and she saw four identifiable men hurling objects at the house. She later told the police that she later heard that Rajwant allegedly stole a gold chain belonging to one of the suspects.

T h e s u s p e c t s subsequently gained entry to the upper flat where the elderly Deochand and his family resides and proceeded to ransack the home, forcing her and family to flee the residence. After the suspects escaped, she returned to her home and saw most of her valuables destroyed.

She told the police that she then proceeded to the upper flat where she saw further destruction and Deochand covered in blood with lacerations to his face and about his body.

A nephew, who worked with one of the business

A bleeding Ramsahoye Deochan

Some of Ramsahoye Deochan wounds enterprises, reported that his uncle was severely beaten by his boss and others.

He said, "Andrew (business owner) accused Rovin (employee) of stealing cash and a gold chain. He then put a trashing on Rovin. During that ordeal, Rovin managed to escape and went into hiding.

“Andrew then went on a witch-hunt. They tumble one house of a family member in Mon Repos.

They then went to Linden and also to two relatives in Berbice and raid one of the houses."

Deochand also told this publication that Sunday, he received a telephone call that someone had broken into his grandfather's house, and was destroying everything.

He added that at the time he was out with friends, so it took him a while to get

home. Upon reaching the scene he was informed that it was the business owner, his son and three other men who came in search of his uncle.

"I was told by the wife, my step grandmother that Andrew and his cousin remained downstairs breaking all lights that were on and destroying everything else in their path too while Sankar and the youngest son proceeded to destroy everything upstairs.

“They broke almost everything in the old wooden house, shattering every single louvre, wares, the a l t a r, b u c k e t s , b a s i n , everything basic you could think of in a small home...They soak the beds with water and destroyed all the groceries. They soaked the groceries and upstairs with kerosene that was in the kitchen," he added.

"Not being satisfied, they began to beat the old man so as to get him to tell them the location of Rovin. The injuries seen on the head were caused by being beaten with a house music amplifier and equalizer.

“The injury on the face is from the stomping on his face while he lay on the floor...The black and blue lines seen on the man's belly and leg are from a mop stick," the young man related.

The elderly man had suffered a stroke, which has left the right side paralysed.

Deochand went on to say that his other uncle "who lives in the lower flat of the home with his pregnant wife and a toddler flee for their life because Andrew kept threatening that he's going to shoot and kill the son that is downstairs."

The family expressed great disappointment at the fact that they made several reports to the police but their complaints were ignored.

"About the police at Vigilance Station, they were called but they refused to show up and disconnected the phone when they heard it was a complaint against Andrew...

“Let's say the problem started at 2 and the licks was around 2:30... I showed up till around five to take my grandfather to the hospital.

He was home bleeding all the time and no police showed up.

“I collected him, and then drove to Vigilance to wake up the ranks to get a medical form. I collected a form and begged one of them to at least come and see the condition of the man in car," Deochan explained.

$$Multi-million maternity unit at Leonora to be...

From page 2 Demerara Hospital,” the Minister explained.

The Leonora Diagnostic Centre is strategically l o c a t e d o n t h e We s t Demerara Coast thus it can facilitate maternity cases requiring urgent and emergency care. The centre has also been identified as a one that will be converted into a SMART health facility – one that links its structural and operational safety with green interventions.

Along with the upgrades to fully achieve this status,

Regional Executive Officer, Jennifer Ferreira-Dougall, noted that the infrastructural works and equipping of the maternity unit will be completed early in the second quarter of 2020.

“I see health in Region Three taking a step up especially when the smart hospital is finished and we are trying to achieve that very quickly… the expansion of the maternity wing should be finished by April because there was some extra work to be done there,” the REO told DPI.

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Tuesday January 21, 2020

EPA amends ExxonMobil's permits to allow for unannounced visits to FPSOs

H

ead of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, has been able to defy the ExxonMobil –Guyana deal which requires seven days notice before visits for inspection could be made to the American company's offshore operations.

In the environmental permits that the oil giant would need, Dr. Adams included a provision which allows his officials, the

ability to visit the company's Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels without prior notice.

While he has been able to secure this, the EPA Head said that the lack of resources does constrain the agency from making full use of that provision. But the official was quick to note that this is only for the time being.

The EPA Head said, “I have always said that oversight bodies should not

have to provide notice. We should be able to visit at anytime.

It is not practical for us to do so now due to the lack of resources but that would not be our permanent state of affairs. I was adamant however that it needs to be in the permit as a matter of principle.”

Until the EPA gets a boost of resources, it will have to rely on ExxonMobil to provide transportation to its operations.

ELEMENT OF SURPRISE According to Global Witness, Governments and their respective auditing officers must have the power to make “unannounced” visits to inspect the operations as well as the records of oil companies.

The international body that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, corruption, and human rights abuses, said it is only then one can truly

ensure companies are in compliance with the required standards of transparency and accountability.

The Global Witness made the said call during a review of just two of the Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) between the Government of Uganda and Tullow Oil; Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation and French oil major, Total S. A. During its assessment, the Global Witness found that prior to 2008, the PSAs of the agreements between those entities and the Government of Uganda, contained strict rules regarding powers to inspect.

The Global Witness noted that based on the provisions of the PSAs, the government was allowed to enter the contract area 'at all reasonable times' to witness operations, test equipment used to measure production and inspect assets, records and data.

H o w e v e r, t h e Government must give at least '30 days' notice to the company ahead of any inspection. The Global Witness said that these provisions obstruct public authorities from making unannounced visits at any time to inspect the assets or observe petroleum operations.

The anticorruption body further noted that inspection

EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams covers a range of key areas for the oil sector: from financial concerns through to health and safety requirements, and environmental compliance.

In all of these areas, the Global Witness said that “effective inspection may well require an element of surprise to prevent crucial facts from being concealed.”

It subsequently recommended that future contracts, including the model PSA, should allow the Government to pay surprise visits to all petroleum facilities. It said too that inspection reports should also be made public.

Magistrate to rule on...

From page 13 continued to push for a Preliminary Inquiry, the defence leaned toward a Paper Committal. The defence said that the previous ruling by the now recused Magistrate Alex Moore to proceed by way of a paper committal “still stands” since there was no move by the state to have the decision overturned at the High Court.

Meanwhile, towards the conclusion of the day's proceedings Datadin presented arguments to support their preference for the paper committal. Goodings argued to the contrary. The defense indicated that their only interest would be to crossexamine at least two witnesses while the State said they are expected to call 18 witnesses.

Before the conclusion of the proceedings yesterday, Magistrate Singh instructed the police who escorted

Bisram to court to have him brought to Berbice for 9:00 am court on the next date which was set for January 27.

Just a week ago, Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus had reassigned the case back to Berbice for its continuation. The last calling in Berbice was at the Springlands Magistrate Court before Magistrate Alex Moore who on that date recused himself from the matter.

The case was then called at the Georgetown Magistrate Court on January 13, but after concerns were raised by the defense, the matter was adjourned to yesterday.

Bisram was extradited to Guyana and was charged on local shores with counselling, procuring and commanding Harri Paul Parsram, Radesh Motie, Niran Yacoob, Diodath Datt and Orlando Dickie to murder Faiyaz Narinedatt between October 31, 2016 and November 1, 2016.

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday January 21, 2020

St Agnes School fight…

Parents, teacher released on bail

T

eachers yesterday flooded the compound of the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts in support of their colleague who was involved in a fight with two parents and an aunt, six days ago at the St. Agnes Primary School, Church and Thomas Streets, Georgetown.

The teacher, Tiffani Hinds, the parents Sherwin Dalrymple and Soyini Gardener, along with their family member Kendace

Sherwin Dalrymple exiting the prisoner's chute

Ms Hinds in tears waiting for her bail to be posted

Soyini Gardener along with family member Kendace Peters

Peters were all charged and arraigned before the Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

All the charges were dated January 15, 2020 and the defendants all denied the charges made out against them.

It was alleged that Hinds assaulted Gardener and provoked her with the intent to insult or annoy her.

Dalrymple is also facing two charges. In his case, it was alleged that he assaulted the teacher and provoked her with the intent to insult or annoy her. His partner, Gardener, was accused of assaulting Hinds so as to cause her actual bodily harm and maliciously damaging a property of the said victim.

Peters, who is the sister-

in-law of Gardener, was also charged for assaulting the teacher and unlawfully and maliciously damaging her dress.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris made objections to bail citing that a strong message should be sent especially to parents who may want to do the same and the environment in which the act was carried out.

This was met with rebuttal from attorney-atlaw Latchmie Rahamat who also made a strong application for bail for the parents and the relative.

The magistrate however, upheld the submission of the lawyer and granted bail to all parties. Gardener was released on bail in the sum of $50,000 while the others

were sent on $20,000 bail each. The matter comes up for hearing again on February 10, 2020.

Kaieteur News had reported that the incident took place in the head teacher's office on Wednesday last. It was during a meeting with the teacher and the parents of two male students.

The meeting was called

after an altercation between the two boys resulted in one being severely injured and the child was taken to the public hospital by the teacher to receive medical attention.

The child was reportedly taken back to a private medical facility later that evening for further treatment. The cost incurred from this visit was asked to

be repaid by the parents of the other student.

The meeting later spiraled out of control after the parents of the boy who allegedly injured the other began attacking the teacher.

The parents believed that it was the teacher who instigated the parents of the injured child to take him to a private medical facility and instruct them to pay.

Gov’t officials should not use personal...

From page 8 of Nigeria were determined to recover their nation's wealth that is deemed lost because of grand corruption among top Government officials. In one of the corruption cases, advocates were able to obtain a leaked email between high ranking Government officials and Oil majors Shell ´and ENI (Italian Oil Company).

The email revealed that Former Nigerian Oil Minister, Dan Etete, had arranged for $US1.1B to be transferred to his personal account for sale of his country's OPL 245 oil

block.

Recently, a shocking BBC report revealed that Africa's richest woman, Isabel dos Santos “ripped off her country of its Oil Wealth”.

Investigators discovered Isabela's wrongdoing because of a leaked document (private email). Commentators who are disgusted about the “Lopsided Contract” Guyana received from Exxon for its lucrative Stabroek Block, wants Government officials to make their correspondence email with oil companies, public.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 21, 2020

PAGE 19

Teachers don black and white to protest assault by parents Queen's College

Aurora Secondary School

All Saints Primary School Cummings Lodge Secondary School

Berbice High School

Eastville Nursery School Shikema Dey

Bath Primary School

“Parents! Stop the violence against teachers!” was the caption that followed several pictures posted on social media of educators all across Guyana, standing in solidarity of their colleague who was assaulted on school grounds by two parents, just days ago.

The teachers responded to the call made by the President of the Guyana Teachers' Union, Mark Lyte, who encouraged them to ban together in protest of the assault meted out to them and

weak security systems in place at the institutions.

Lyte, on the GTU's official Facebook pages ,called on “all teachers regardless of status, race, political views and economic position are asked to dress in black and white for work. This is to indicate to our employers that we are dissatisfied with security arrangements put in place for teachers.”

And the teachers did exactly that. By noon, social media was abuzz with pictures of teachers decked out in their black and white attire.

Joining them was the

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, along with the Minister of Social Protection's School Welfare Department and Director of the Child Care and Protect Agency, Ann Greene.

Some of the schools include the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary, Queen's College, J.C Chandisingh Secondary School, Brickdam Secondary School, New Market Primary School, All Saints Primary School, Berbice High School and Cummings Lodge Secondary School among others.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Accused in Kaieteur News Consultations in progress grenade attack listed for trial for new Charity Wharf The Charity Wharf

Alfie Garraway

T

he three men accused of hurling a grenade at a Lexus belonging to Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall, are scheduled to go on trial at the ongoing session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes, according to the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

Alfie Garraway, Janeil Howard and Leroy Williams, were in January 2017, committed to stand trial at the High Court after Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan ruled that there was sufficient evidence against them at the conclusion of a preliminary inquiry.

Janeil Howard Williams, 27, of 11 D'Urban Backlands; Howard, 22, of 322 Section 'C' Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara; and Garraway, 38, of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, are accused of conspiring together with other persons to cause an explosion by way of throwing a grenade, likely to endanger lives and cause damage to property.

The offence occurred on June 4, 2015, at Kaieteur New's Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown office.

According to reports, on the day in question, a member of the Kaieteur News security staff heard an

Leroy Williams unusual sound near Lall's Lexus SUV, PRR 8398. The vehicle was parked on the western side of Saffon Street outside the building housing the newspaper offices. On checking the front of the vehicle, the staff member spotted a grenade lying near one of the front tyres.

Video footage from the company's CCTV cameras showed a grey-coloured vehicle slowing as it approached Lall's vehicle.

The driver accelerated after the explosive was thrown.

Garraway was granted $300,000 bail by the High Court. It is unclear whether his co-accused were also admitted to bail.

A

fter more than two years, the Charity Wharf, which is believed to be on the verge of collapse, will either undergo extensive repairs, or there would be the construction of a new and modern structure.

CB & Associates Inc. which is a civil engineering, consulting and project management company, was awarded the contract on December 14, 2019.

Consultants representing the company recently met with stakeholders of Charity, as part of the project's feasibility study.

Charity is located on the Essequibo Coast, and is a prime business location w i t h i n t h e Pomeroon/Supenaam region.

The community is also a key point of entry for persons living in the Pomeroon, Region One and even Venezuela.

The existing wharf therefore plays an integral role to commerce within the community. Present at the recent meeting were stakeholders representing the Guyana Tourism Association, the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Democratic Council, Neighbourhood Democratic Council and the Business Community.

Available to stakeholders yesterday were a number of options. The consultants explained that the existing wharf can either be rehabilitated; a modern facility can be constructed at the

Berbice River murder accused to know fate for 2015 murder of Jamaican national

T

he man who is on trial in the Berbice High Court for the April 2015 killing of a Jamaican national up the Berbice River is expected to know his fate on Tuesday.

The accused, Quacy Walker, of Kimbia, Berbice River, is on trial before Justice Simone Ramlall and a mixed Jury. He is accused of killing Michael Dillon, a Jamaican national on April 27, 2015, at Kimbia Creek, Berbice River.

Attorney-at-law Seeta Bishundial is presenting the state's case while attorneyat-law Charlene Artiga is representing the accused.

Both the defence and prosecution has presented their case to the jury and made their respective submissions.

Defence attorney Artiga is contending that there is no case for her client to answer.

Murder accused: Quacy Walker She stated that there is no evidence that the accused was ever in the Itcholoko Creek area, where the body was found at the time of the incident. She said that her client knows nothing about the issue and gave an alibi that he was at Rose Hall at the alleged time of the

incident.

She said that her client reportedly gave an oral confession, which could not be substantiated. Attorneyat-law Artiga also reported that her client had been beaten to give a statement and there was evidence that he had to seek medical

attention. She also argued that although names were mentioned no eyewitness testified. The state's case is that the men were friends and were farmers together in the Kimbia area. The deceased reportedly cultivated marijuana and had a kitchen garden.

Dillon was reportedly killed following a robbery.

His body was found days after at his camp.

When he was found, he was on his back, dressed in a pair of shorts, and his chest had a lot of holes, which appeared to be gunshots. His body was badly decomposed and was buried in a shallow grave. Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh testified that the cause of death was undetermined due to its decomposed state.

The accused along with some others were reportedly seen leaving the Itcholoko Creek area in a boat. Walker

and others were arrested and taken into custody.

The police had testified that a marijuana farm with plants measuring two to six feet in height were found in the area and destroyed.

The prosecution called a number of witnesses including police officers – Assistant Superintendent Mitchell Caesar, Detective Assistant Superintendent Orin Cameron, Crime Scene Detective Inspector Curtis Cort, Crime Scene Examiner Sergeant Leon George, firearm and ammunition Detective Corporal Floyd Hosanna, Selion Bourne, Carlton Williams, Cleon Doris and Surjit Singh.

Toshao Ecliffe Lindie of K i m b i a Vi l l a g e a l s o testified. He testified to finding the body and arresting the accused and others and holding them in custody until the police arrived.

current location, or an alternative suitable location.

Based on information available, the wharf appears to be in a state of disrepair. The wharf is a wooden and concrete structure, which sits on wooden piles. According to the findings produced by the engineering firm, there is already some 13'' of displacement between concrete and wooden structures. The group also reported that there is structural failure in several sections and loss of supports.

Kaieteur News understands that there will be a six-month study will before any work is executed on the wharf. The consultants pointed out that no work will be done, without first consulting the key stakeholders involved.

Mr. Deleep Singh, who is a member of the Region Two Tourism association, and former president of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, suggested that the area be developed to boost local tourism. Presently, the C h a r i t y W h a r f accommodates the dockage of ocean going vessels.

Singh suggested that this practice come to an end, and that an alternative wharf should be built for ocean going vessels.

Singh went on to explain, “The wharf is situated in a prime business spot in C h a r i t y, a n d s i n c e i t accommodates ocean going vessels, there are usually huge trucks that come in to unload and offload, and this creates major congestions around the area.”

While Singh was concerned about congestion and tourism, farmers' and business owners' primary concern was who gets to utilise the wharf. At the consultation, farmers argued that the wharf was built to accommodate them.

Business owners on the other hand argued that the only reason the wharf is still in existence, is because they performed maintenance works over the years.

Tuesday January 21, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Construction worker admits Kurdish Politician takes Exxon to UN hitting noisy neighbour Human Rights Council over abuses Two neighbours of DUrban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, were crossed charged for assaulting each other. Yesterday they were hauled before a city magistrate. The incident was caused over an alleged noise pollution by one of the neighbours.Troy Sealey, 21, a labourer, and Leroy Gordon, 53, a construction worker were arraigned before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts. While Gordon admitted to the charge and was fined for the offence, Sealey denied ever laying a hand on Gordon.

Gordon and Sealey were involved in a fight on December 13, 2019, at DUurban Street Wortmanville, Georgetown, which resulted in both men being injured.

According to Gordon, he

and the Sealey have been at war for over four years. He said that he is tired of the feud.

Gordon told the court that he hit Sealey first and admitted that he was wrong; he then said that Sealey is the owner of a heavy-duty piece of machinery that is very noisy and disturbing.

The court heard that the noise from machine not only affects Gordon but other neighbours who live a few houses away. The Friday before the fight with Sealey and Gordon, a neighbour from a few houses away walked over and complained about the noise to Gordon.

Later that day Gordon went over to talk to Sealey about the loud noise that is coming from the machine.

However, Sealey allegedly became annoyed and started pelting bricks towards Gordon and using a series of in-

decent and abusive language towards him.

On December 13, 2019, upon Gordon returning home, Sealey was standing in the passageway with a cutlass in his hand. Gordon then armed himself with a piece of wood.

The two men then had an argument, which turned into a fight.The matter was reported.Almost a month after the incident, the police were able to arrest Sealey.

Gordon was later arrested and they were both charged.

After the facts of the charge was read to the court

by Police Prosecutor Stacy Gittens, when the Magistrate asked Sealey if thats what transpired he answered in the affirmative.

Gordon was fined $10,000, for the offence and Sealey was placed on $10,000 bail.

His matter against Sealey is to go on trial.

Armed police ranks called in as teachers...

From page 11 thank everyone as she left.

When it was time for the parents and the relative to post their bail and leave, they were left trapped inside the court compound as the teachers refused to remove from the entrance.

This continued for almost 90 minutes until armed police ranks were called in to provide more security at the court. However, this angered the crowd more as they accused the police of siding with the parents and their relative.

While Dalrymple, Gardener and Peters remained in the compound, the crowd allowed their other relatives to freely pass but they threw more “Shame! Shame!

Shame!” behind them as they left in their car which was brought around to the court entrance.

The incident also brought Police Commander Edgar Thomas and Philip Azore to the scene to try to keep the teachers calm.

As the Commanders were speaking with the teachers, Dalrymple and Gardener were escorted to the courtroom of Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty and sent down the prisoner's chute. They were then escorted by the armed police ranks through the side entrance which is used by the Magistrates and other authorised persons to enter and exit the court compound.

When the teachers realised that they were being distracted, some of them ran around to the side entrance but they missed the defendants leaving. According to information, some of the teachers were then reportedly heading to the home of the parents to continue airing their discomfort.

When asked for a comment on the teachers staging their protest, Commander Thomas said, “The matter is before the court and the court has the final say. We the members of the Police Force are

only putting the matter to the court. If there is other evidence in this case, please bring it to the police and we will send it for legal advice.”

Upon being asked about the special treatment being given to the defendants, the Senior Cop stated, “The police is in favour of all the citizens of this country, whether you are a victim or a defendant.”

However, the teachers said that they will continue their solidarity as they will return for every court hearing.

According to the teachers, they will be returning this Wednesday when the first court hearing will be called for the assault of a teacher at the Winfer Gardens Primary school.

Last November, the Grade One teacher was assaulted by a parent who claimed that the teacher struck her child on multiple occasions.

It was reported that the parent, fed up of the constant complaints by her son, marched into the school compound and accosted the teacher who suffered injuries to the face.

According to a complaint filed with the UN Human Rights Council, Exxons oil activities in Kurdistan have led to the displacement of around 5,000 local people

By Ed Clowes The Telegraph UK The US energy titan, ExxonMobil, has been accused of employing local security forces in oilrich Kurdistan who shot at civilians, killing two in 2013.

According to a complaint filed with the UN Human Rights Council seen by The Sunday Telegraph, the companys oil activities in the region have also led to the displacement of about 5,000 local people from their homes.

The Texas-based company has previously been accused by the Iraqi government of signing illegal and illegitimate oil deals in Kurdistan.

The document also alleges that between 2011 and 2013, Exxon failed to hold adequate talks with these local groups, in direct contravention of the Iraqi constitution.

Responding to the complaint, Exxon described the allegations as “baseless”.

In a statement, the company said it actively promoted “respect for human rights”, and was in compliance with “all applicable laws and regulations”.

Exxon has operated in Iraq since the 1920s, when it formed the Iraq Petroleum Company alongside Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Total.

Much of the complaint, filed by Yazidi politician

Nallein Sowilo, details alleged human rights abuses by the governments of Iraq and Kurdistan against the ethnic minority.

It claims that the Kurdish government sold Exxon the rights to drill for oil on Yazidi land, without compensation or consultation.

Hitting back against Exxons activities, the local Yazidi communities staged demonstrations against the company, and in one case established a local assembly for the protection of the environment and public rights, according to the complaint.

The assembly was intended to advocate against Exxons drilling activities.

In the document, Ms Sowilo outlines an alleged incident in which Exxons security contractors shot and killed two civilians.

“In 2013, Exxon employed

local security forces which fired upon Yezidi activists, killing two of them,” she wrote.

“The local Kurdish government and Exxon refused to take action. They turned a blind eye to any claim that Yezidis had for their ancestral land and bought land seized from the Yezidis.”

Salma Houerbi, a representative of UK-based charity Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, said: “We are concerned about these serious allegations. Oil companies must take steps to protect the human rights of people affected by their operations, including from violence or loss of land especially in conflict zones.”

She added: “Governments also play a crucial role in managing the extractives sector and making sure the rights of indigenous communities are respected.”

PAGE 22

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

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For years, we were told we have oil, offshore and onshore.

The first real sign of oil was drilled at a site called Karanambo 1, where they came up with a light oil capable of producing 800 to 1000 barrels per day, not sufficient for a further investment.

From time to time, other efforts continued, some turning up, dry wells.

First, there was Home Oil, later as a Member of the Cabinet, we were shown a vial with samples of high quality oil extracted from an area in the Takutu basin.

Later, the exploration company Hunt Oil, in that same area, claimed they could not produce oil in commercial quantities. End of Story.

As Guyanese, we welcome the reality of oil, at long last, fulfilling the dreams of many who have gone to the great beyond.

Oil is a matter for mighty men, rich entities and strong nations.

They say sometimes, half a loaf is better than no loaf.

True patriots, instead of criticizing everything about oil should help us navigate the best for our people, not by damnifying everything, but by constructive dialogue and difficult as it is, trying to get facts and figures.

Guyana’s entire population is less than one million souls and less than the numbers found on a busy block

in Manhattan, China or Russia. Our crusaders, must accept with reality in the world which we live and set about to help this, or to help any government to deal with the petroleum conglomerates.

What will be a great advance, is this; after the elections, that the major successful political parties should meet, and an Agenda should be crafted to deal with oil and gas and come up with a menu of measures, so that when the Government speak to these petroleum conglomerates, they are not speaking for 40,50 or 60 percent of the population but will be speaking for 99.9% of the population. This will send a clear message to those who explore for oil and other natural resources, that we are united, and we speak with one voice and overcome the old ‘bugbear’ of dividing rules.

We have seen the challenges of small countries that made powerful speeches at the U.N. and elsewhere but next they fall prey to the wiles and wishes of the mighty men, rich entities and strong nations.

Over years, as we see from many examples, oil, diamonds and gold are being used to bring the stress and distress to many small countries.

Let us stop the saber-rattling with paper knives and forge unity that will give us a fair chance in this challenging world.

Hamilton Green

I believe that the tide resides...

From page 6 and that it will be cheated again, while it may appease its base, fails to recognize the necessity of appealing to a wider constituency, and does not provide a path to electoral victory.

It is antiquated, foolhardy and stubborn, and guaranteed to invite defeat in future elections. It is this realization and fear which has caused the PPP/C to favour a strategy of obstruction and destabilization, as exemplified by the no confidence vote and its aftermath.

Data from the 2015 General and Regional elections would seem to indicate that a reliance on East Indian ethnic dominance is misplaced and may be more accurate in the reverse. It shows that approximately 250,000 persons voted in Regions 2, 3, 5 and 6 (presumably East Indiandominant) and delivered 6 of 10 regional seats to the PPP/C while over 286,000 persons voted in Regions 4 and 10 (presumably African dominated) and delivered 6 of 9 seats to APNU+AFC; almost 21,000 persons voted in the hinterland regions 1, 7, 8 and 9 and split 6 seats between the PPP/C and APNU+AFC. It is very clear that in or-

der for the PPP/C to secure victory at the upcoming polls, it must first retain the support it previously held and make tremendous, almost unheard of, advances in the hinterland regions, which it continually failed to do while in government for 23 years, and neither its campaign platform and leading candidates have demonstrated the ability and vision to accomplish this.

With regard to its record in office, articulated vision, and quality and diversity of its leadership and candidates, APNU+AFC has demonstrated its unquestionable superiority, and I predict, will win these elections by a landslide in a demonstrably free and fair election.

Shakespeare once opined that “there is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune”, and also advised to “let go thy hold of the wheel that runs down the hill, but the one that goes uphill, let it take thee after”.

I believe that the tide resides with David Granger and the coalition that he leads.

Sincerely Oscar Dolphin

Tuesday January 21, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Successful debate in Patamona wraps up activities for IYIL Preserving all nine Indigenous languages across Guyana was undoubtedly the winner of a debate in the Patamona language recently hosted in Paramakatoi, Potaro-Siparuni, Region Eight.

The debate brought the curtain down on activities in observance of International Year of Indigenous Languages observed last year.

It was historical since it was the first of its kind to be hosted in Guyana and in an Indigenous village.

The moot for the heated three-member debate was “Indigenous Languages hold tremendous benefits not just for Indigenous peoples, but for all Guyanese, hence its the responsibility of the Government to ensure that Indigenous languages are preserved and promoted nationally”.

The proposition with fierce representation captured the undivided attention of the judges and the more than 300 residents, including children, who gathered to witness history made in the auditorium of the Paramakatoi Secondary School situated in the mountainous landscape of the Pakaraima Mountain.

Taking to the podium in support of the moot, Marlon Williams, speaking in fluent Patamona noted Governments continued financial investment which ensures the Indigenous culture inclusive of languages are preserved and embraced by all so that the Indigenous peoples can be treated with respect and dignity.

He added that doctors, lawyers and pilots from Indigenous villages and communities who speak their language can be an asset since they will be able to bridge the communication gap, while also imparting this knowledge to the younger generation.

The most prolific speaker Ms. Molly Simon and winner of the best speaker incentive reminded of Guyanas Moto “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” which according to her speaks volumes all

as a people, a platform where languages will continue to play an integral role in society.

The opposition on the other hand contended that Indigenous languages in this era cannot ensure one a job but creates a language barrier and easy exploitation, therefore Government should focus more on other aspects of Indigenous life.

Dat Nagalla, a young aspiring Indigenous activist, during his presentation noted that preserving Indigenous languages “will be putting our students countrywide at risk as it relates to writing CXC. Students will continue to fail year after year as everything is done in English and not in their language.”

He added, “Finances should not be used on nonfirst burner issues when there is serious threats of drought and shortage of drug supplies nationwide.”

Meanwhile, following the conclusion of the debate, debaters were brought back to reality and were asked what language preservation truly meant to them.

Williams (Marlon) said, “Since I had the opportunity to meet a Minister in the Government, I said it from my heart, Indigenous languages are very important not only for today but for future generations.

We must always preserve and promote it nationally. Im always for Indigenous languages and I was thinking that once I have the chance to publicly inform the people what our languages are and how important they are, I will tell the people from my heart how important it is to preserve and promote them.”

Elizabeth Aaron, who was on the opposing team, agreed that Indigenous languages should be preserved and promoted. “We can learn our languages for ourselves at home and teach our children.

“When they go to school that is the time they will learn English and they can also teach their language to their

friends so everyone can learn it.”

Simon who received a financial incentive for her performance said, “When the language preservation and promotion is done nationally, I know people from the coastland will be able to learn the different languages and we will be able to communicate with each other at least and I look forward for another debate and I hope that I will be able to participate.”

Several activities were held in observance of International Year of Indigenous Languages, which garnered marked crowds.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe during remarks before the start of the debate stated that, “Indigenous languages are captivating and really wonderful and highlighting and promoting the Indigenous languages should not stop here. It must be something that we have to continue because the languages are dying and we need to promote it”.The Minister added that Government will continue supporting the promotion and preservation of languages.

This year there are plans by the Ministry to host a grand Indigenous Song Festival.

Meanwhile, among activities executed during the year were a published Patamona Dictionary, an Arekuna alpha-

Labour Dept. probes hiring of foreign nationals at Regent Street businesses

F

ollowing the influx of foreign nationals into Guyana, the Ministry of Social Protections Labour Department is currently conducting a survey in regards to the hiring of foreign nationals at businesses along Regent Street, Georgetown.

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott, indicated that in an effort to ascertain the “changing pace of Guyana”, Labour Officers within the Ministry are currently engaging business owners as it re-

lates to the employment of foreign nationals, particularly Venezuelans.

The survey, which commenced two weeks ago, is expected to record information on wages, working conditions and discrimination among other matters.

According to the Minster, the information collected will be analysed and based on the findings; the Department will address any arising issues.

In an effort to cater to the increased number of foreign nationals that enter into the country to shop as well as the

removal of the language barrier, businesses have been hiring a large number of immigrants, particularly Venezuelans, who have been crossing the borders to flee hardships in their homeland.

However, the payment of low wages has been a rising issue with many complaints that a number of businesses have been in the habit of underpaying immigrants.

According to figures provided in 2019, there are over 900 foreign nationals granted citizenship in the last four and a half years.

bet, Arawak lessons and a dictionary, Akawaio and Warrau dictionaries, musical evenings, a storytelling festival and aTourism Handbook.

Activities were celebrated

under the theme: “One People, Many Languages: Preserving our Cultural Diversity”.

Members of the proposition (winning team) each re-

ceived $20,000 and a trophy; the Best Speaker, $10,000, while members of the proposition (the 2nd placed team) each received $15,000 and a trophy.

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Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

SUSTAINING AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT DEAR EDITOR, The promotion of the sustainability of agriculture in Guyana is vital to the long term economic success of the country and the well-being of its people.

It should be well known that the previous fortunes of the sugar industry, for example, were built on Guyana’s amenable tropical environment for crop growth, the availability of low cost willing labour and the resourcefulness of the Bookers entrepreneurship in investing for the potential profits.

The establishment, development funding and market access for sugar were all within the purview of the then British investors who also wielded important influence over the range of local resources that served the sugar industry.

With all the necessary ingredients for success at their disposal it was no small wonder that the sugar barons as well as their mother country prospered to the disproportionate advantage or as it turned out disadvantage of the producing country and nation.

For an agricultural industry to be sustainable it must be capable of regenerating itself economically, while benefiting from sustained material support in its many forms for its continued existence. However for those supporting elements to be sustained, an economic operating equilibrium must be attained and maintained.

In former colonial and early post-independence days that sustainable financial support for sugar was amply afforded by the umbrella company and its met-

ropolitan connections at the highest level, ensuring access not only to loan funding, but remunerative and protected markets.

With the inevitable rise in production and other associated costs, the sugar companies found it increasingly less rewarding to retain connections with the industry. Consequently, controlling ownership and responsibility for the industry was vested over to the State under the Nationalization Act. It was inevitable that the sustainability of the industry would be challenged without the support and interest of ready, willing and sympathetic financial institutions to facilitate and sustain investment in the retooling and modernization of the industry, which in support of its own interests had also assumed other social and community responsibilities.

Thus the sugar industry was established and kept alive by relatively stable elements at the time, maximizing the opportunity to set up a financially viable enterprise, which to some extent played its role in the economic development of the country.

These elements as instruments of support proved not to be sustainable in the long run and their progressive dismantling has seriously jeopardised the continuity of the industry in the form we have come to know it.

There was some attempt by the EEC/EU, an erstwhile beneficiary, to soften the impact of debilitating losses by providing a parting token of support, but that could in no way replace sustained access to long term soft

loans and unconditional grants required to rejuvenate a failing industry.

Fortuitously a potential element of support in oil and gas proceeds is emerging, which may not necessarily prove to be as sustainable as we may hope, but in the immediate future offers the prospect of providing indigenous support to the sugar industry, in particular into its next phase of sustainability.

On the assumption that a profoundly and relevantly restructured sugar industry is presented for funding, it is recommended that in those circumstances a mix of soft loans and strategic indirect grants be offered to the industry to respectively support operating and capital requirements on the one hand, and infrastructural redevelopment on the other hand.

While such funding for capital equipment should be made available on semi-commercial terms, the agricultural industries for survival should not be burdened by funding responsibilities for even internal access roads and bridges, or for drainage and irrigation re-structuring.

Such infrastructural support on a sustained basis will be vital for the successful establishment and re-establishment of both small farmers’ undertakings and larger agricultural projects. Not only will responsibility for infrastructural funding by private agricultural enterprises be a serious diversion of resources from actual crop cultivation, but it will be unlikely to attract the funding interest of traditional commercial or international banking agencies on concessionary terms.

Trump will be found ‘not guilty’ DEAR EDITOR, In reference to an earlier editorial and news reports on the impeachment of Donald Trump, the sitting US President will be found ‘not guilty’ by the Senate.

Overall, most Guyanese are opposed to Trump because of his immigration matters.

But there is support for Trump among some Guyanese, even though if the President has his way, he would return them to Guyana.

The President was impeached in December by the US House. Trial is held by the 100-member Senate.

Conviction requires twothirds majority or 67. If the President is convicted, he is removed from office and the Vice President becomes President. Will it happen?

That is like asking if it will snow in Guyana.

Politics in USA over the last few decades have been very party partisan between the two major parties. The Republican lawmakers will not convict their President in much the same way that Democrats did not convict their President (Clinton some two decades earlier) although the issues are/ were completely unrelated.

Partisanship has been the nature of American politics since the 1980s. It was a Republican House that impeached Clinton, and now a Democratic House has repaid the Republicans with an impeachment of Trump. That is not likely to change soon, in much the same way that partisanship won’t change in Guyana.

The procedure for the trial is: the US Chief Justice presides over the proceedings but has no vote. The

100 Senators are the real judges. There are 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with Democrats. The House of Representatives will send a team of its members as the prosecutors. The President is entitled to a legal defence.

All are paid for by the state, costing several millions of dollars.

At the end of the trial, regardless of evidence presented, voting will be on party lines, barring a few members who fear the loss of their seats should they vote to convict Trump. A few Senators may abstain from voting to shield their political hide. The President remains in office and leads the Republicans into the November elections. He trails in opinion polls.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

With State resources undertaking all essential infrastructural works, farmers will be encouraged to focus on crop development and production for supply to proposed central processing units.

These instituted State units will be a feature of a new proposed public-private partnership in large scale crop production for export of finished products.

It is unlikely, based on recent past experience, that private enterprise will be immediately willing to or capable of funding substantive state-of-the-art processing equipment for a developing small farmers’ engagement. If the State shows the way, perhaps private enterprise will engage or take over processing at a later stage.

Of course this relationship was the small farmerrice miller model successfully adopted by the rice industry for past decades and may well be worthy of adoption for our dairy development as well as for a re-modeled sugar industry.

With climate change apparently producing more pronounced vagaries in the weather, the effect of such unfavourable meteorological variations on crop equipment mobility can be minimised by imposition of w e a t h e r - r o b u s t infrastructural features such as permanent internal roads and enhanced drainage structures.Establishment of a network of weather resilient roads on cane lands for example would serve the long term interest of all agricultural development whether it be for sugar, rice or other crops as well as other future industrial or civic development.

Funding from oil and gas proceeds will therefore be an opportunity presented for infrastructure development so necessary for initiating some of the major diversification crops like coconuts, oil palm, aquaculture, sorghum and other oil seeds and food crops for export and supply to expanding local markets for processing.

Incidentally careful attention will need to be paid to the durability of infrastructural works consistent with minimizing maintenance, if the facilities are to be cost effective and serve their purpose.

Although these considerations are a proposed solution for sugar essentially, they are applicable as well to all large scale agricultural engagements in the light of their known revenue-generating capabilities, provided the initial investment is facilitated.

While it may be true in the light of our developing economy that some commercial and regional /international banks may now come forward with agricultural loan packages, it is likely that only through indigenous oil revenue funds from the State can farming investors be provided with concessionary loans for capital and initial operating expenditure to kick-start or expand such enterprises.

Additionally, the level of direct funding required for substantive infrastructural development can only be provided by the oil-funded State which will clearly benefit economically and financially from future crop results.

In this projected scenario it will be to the advantage of

farmers, large and small, bound by firm contractual obligations for farm lands leased or to be leased from the State, to expeditiously execute on their lease holdings or be replaced by other willing interests.

I can proffer that the truth is, sugar in particular will require enormous financial support from the State for its sustainability. Such level of support is unlikely to come on concessionary terms from the international or regional financial institutions, nor would private capital be willing to risk any heavy investment in Guyana’s agricultural potential. It is only an interest in the country’s economic development that will prevail in terms of funding support for such potential.

Fortunately an opportunity has presented itself from the advent of Oil and Gas for part of its proceeds to be utilized for the specific funding of soft loans and strategic grants for agricultural development.

While I would not advocate use of the Sovereign Wealth Fund for grants to agriculture itself, except for concessionary interest loans for capital and initial operating expenses, no viable agricultural operations can bear the substantive cost of infrastructural development required for modern agricultural operations.

With the long term benefits that can accrue to the economy, funding of such infrastructural development and its associated maintenance works must clearly be a function of our State, provided for, from a developing Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Yours faithfully Fritz McLean

Wildly extravagant promises: What...

From page 4 about “stewardship” and “accountable”, which would normally impress me, until I recall how much the political stewardship and accountable qualities of his then governing party were.

Why should there be belief today? Why should there any reliance on those, who still stonewall and utilize every legal trick to evade their own egregious failures from that period?

Further, who is equipped to man these advanced plans and technologies bandied about so fluidly? Pray, do tell from where are those systems coming? This is unbelievable, when a couple of billion from the British for the same policing (anticrime) business was turned down.

I can’t believe it is the same group now talking about anything relative to reduc-

ing crime.

Guyana should not forget that to confront and conquer a politically-inspired crime wave, this same opposition (now) group proudly sponsored its own unique and peculiar crime response apparatus. Mercenaries and crimefighters, they were labeled. I must wonder if whatever is contemplated as a new anticrime strategy would not be more along the same old lines.

And to take this where it rightly belongs, the current opposition during its governance time and this present government have both experienced severe difficulties in recruiting and keeping the uniformed bodies needed to stand in a clean and continuing fight against crime.

I should think that the number of officers required, at the barest minimum, are

not going to come from the ranks of retrenched sugar workers. So, from where are these policemen and women in waiting and readying to answer the call to serve and facilitate good and sound delivery of the anticrime strategy that may be in mind (if there is really one)?

I confess to being jaded and critical and contemptuous of these political offerings long before today. I know the devils with which this country has been cursed. I know what they are capable of, and it has nothing to with the welfare and progress of the citizens of this country. It is why I dismiss these political frivolities that come so smartly at this hour of the conman, the many of them that infest this place and from every political quarter.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

Armed police ranks called in as teachers protest outside court

F

ollowing the conclusion of a court hearing around 09:48hrs yesterday in which a teacher, two parents and a relative of the parents were charged for assaulting each other among other things; fellow workers of the teacher called for justice.

They voiced solidarity for violence against teachers from parents.

The teachers yesterday crowded the entrance to the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts as they awaited the exit of their colleague, the parents and their relative.

The teacher, Tiffani Hinds, the parents Sherwin Dalrymple and Soyini Gardener, along with their family member Kendace Peters were all charged and appeared before the Acting

Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

“Shame, Shame, Shame.” “Violence against women must stop.” “Shame, Shame, Shame what a big shame!” These were some of the slangs shouted by the teachers as they demanded justice.

According to one of the teachers, “Teachers must go on strike because this is

advantage. Parents can't be beating up our teachers and we will stand by her [fellow teacher] because this is advantage.”

Another said, “We can never condone parents going into schools and assaulting teachers despite whatever the issue is. I am not saying teachers are always right but you can't wrong a right by doing a wrong. Therefore, we are standing with our colleague.”

The teachers said that they are very disappointed

with the male parent being granted bail in the sum of $20,000 for assaulting their fellow worker.

“The law is the law but we are not pleased with that bail. That man kicked out his foot and hit the teacher.

Persons commit offences far less serious than assault and they are remanded to prison.”

Every time the crowd would catch a glimpse of the parents and their relative, they would shout, “Shame, Shame, Shame.” At one

point, the father was smiling and waving to the crowd; they gathered and were hurling angry slangs at him.

After Hinds finished paying her bail and was walking out of the court compound, she was swarmed by her colleagues.

They greeted her with open arms while shouting, “We will stand by you.”

The victim was brought to tears at the support she gained from the fellow teachers. She tried to hug and (continued on page 21)

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Tuesday January 21, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Root finds right recipe as England go ahead in test series

Stuart Broad celebrates with his team-mates. (Gallo Images/Getty Images)

England’s Joe Root celebrates taking the wicket of South Africa’s Pieter Malan. (REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko)

PORT ELIZABETH (Reuters) - England have set

Tuesday January 21, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your level of physical and mental energy should be very high today, Aries, and so you could feel restless throughout the morning.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Your level of imagination and inspiration should be operating at a very high level today, Taurus, so if you've been planning to start a new artistic project, this is the day to do it.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A group with which you're affiliated could ask you to take care of a few tasks. This might involve making phone calls, running errands, or both.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Important projects, either job related or personal, might need to be completed today in order to meet a deadline or fulfill a promise.

This could require a lot of mental and physical effort on your part.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A long-awaited vacation may be coming up soon for you, Leo. The study of travel books might be on your agenda for today.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) This could prove to be a very busy day, Virgo. Someone close to you might come to you for advice on how to manage their resources, perhaps because of successes you've had in the past.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Social events, probably family related, could take up a lot of your time today, Libra. They might involve outings, perhaps to parks or other recreational areas.

You'll enjoy it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your home today could be like Grand Central Station, with lots of people coming and going and a lot of activity taking place within the house itself.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) This is probably going to shape up to be a busy and rather chaotic day. You might find yourself spending a lot of time out and about, Sagittarius. You may need to run a lot of errands and see a number of people.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today you should be feeling very energetic, Capricorn, both physically and mentally, and you're likely to feel rather anxious for some physical activity.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Some boring paperwork regarding money, which you may have been putting off, might need to be executed today. Bills may need to be paid, deposits put in the bank, and new accounts opened.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Some boring paperwork regarding money, which you may have been putting off, might need to be executed today.

the template for how they want to play test cricket by

hitting a big score early that allows them to then dictate the game, said captain Joe Root after they won the third test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

England scored 499 for nine declared after winning the all-important toss at St Georges Park before bowling their hosts out twice to record a crushing innings and 53 run victory.

“I thought it was a brilliant template for us moving forward as a team with big first innings runs and we really drove the game from that point onwards,” Root said.

“It was brilliant start by the openers and then the (203run) partnership between Ollie (Pope) and Ben Stokes, who just continued the magnificent form that he has been in from the start of the series.

“Thats great to see but to also see another two youngsters in this game really step up to the plate and make massive contribution is exactly what we are after at the moment in our development as a team.

“It fills the whole group with massive confidence.”

Pope, 22, was hailed by Root as “smart” while 22-yearold spinner Dom Bess, who took five wickets in the first innings, also won plaudits.

“Weve got a really clear way of how were trying to play the game, everyone knows what their role is in the side and its about making sure that when you get your opportunity to effect the game, you go and do it,” the skipper said.

“We executed that brilliantly the last two games,” he added as England head to the last test in Johannesburg, which starts on Friday, with a 2-1 series lead after also winning in Cape Town.

“This tour weve taken 20 wickets in each test which is something we have struggled with away from home in the past and thats a big step forward for us.

“We managed to make big 100s with the bat too. There are a number of things weve addressed and looked to improve on and we are starting to see some signs of that now.

“By no means are we the finished article but we are heading in the right direction.

“We have a group of players who are willing to learn and we are very clear of the direction we want to take. If it continues we will continue to get the results Im sure,” he added.

Scores: England 499 for 9 (Pope 135*, Stokes 120, Maharaj 5-180) beat South Africa 209 (de Kock 63, Bess 5-51) and 237 (Maharaj 71, Root 4-87) by an innings and 53 runs.

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Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

Fruta youths versus GFC in Turbo knockout football final

Play between GFC (offence) and Northern Rangers in last Sunday’s semifinal.

The finalists of the third Turbo Energy Drink knockout tournament have been decided following Sunday night’s semifinals at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue where the favourites advanced.

Fruta Conquerors under-

20 got past Pouderoyen 2-0, while Georgetown Football Club (GFC) made light work of the defending champions, Northern Rangers 5-2.

There was much talk in print and social media last week by the fans and representatives from each of the four teams on whom would

have advanced to the ultimate clash this Sunday but none will argue that Fruta versus GFC isnt the best fixture for the final.

In the opening match, Wayne St. Jules Conquerors scored their first goal courtesy of a Wayne Barker strike after over an hour of evenly

Embuldeniya takes five as Sri Lanka toil in first test vs Zimbabwe

Action between Fruta Conquerors under-20 (possession) and Pouderoyen on Sunday.

matched play. Travis Bess men tried valiantly to stay in contention for the final before Ryan Hackett erased all doubt with the youths second goal; 10 minutes before stoppage time.

Sundays match will be Conquerors under-20 second successive final in Petra Organisation promoted tournaments and after winning the Limacol tournament last year, they will be hoping to maintain their 100% record against the high flying GFC.

GFC are now in contention to lift the elusive Turbo Cup after getting sweet revenge against Northern Rangers in Sundays feature semifinal. Rangers had beaten GFC in the second Turbo Knockout Championship final in 2018 but the men in blue made no mistake on Sunday night.

In the seven goal thriller, National senior mens forward; Kelsey Benjamin, bagged a first half brace, while Adrian Aaron, Ralph Parris and Kevin Baptiste netted once

each to take GFC to five goals.

For the 2018 champions, Damien Williams picked up two goals, scoring one on each half of play.

The winner between the Fruta versus GFC final will pocket $400,000 while the runners up in the tournament will walk away with $200,000.

The winner of the third place playoff between Rangers and Pouderoyen will enjoy $100,000, while the fourth place finishers will get $50,000. (Calvin Chapman)

Selectors name 16-man West Indies Over-50 squad for Over-50 World Cup

Lasith Embuldeniya tosses one up. (AFP) HARARE (Reuters) - Leftarm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya took five wickets as Sri Lanka bowled out hosts Zimbabwe out for 358 on day two of the first test at the Harare Sports Club yesterday, but the home side will be pleased with their batting efforts on their return to test cricket.

The tourists reached the close at 42 for one in their reply, a deficit of 316 runs that they will seek to wipe out on a slow pitch on day three in the first match of a two-test series.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne (12 not out) and Kusal Mendis (6 not out) are at the crease after Sri Lanka lost opener Oshada Fernando

for 21, bowled by Donald Tiripano with the seamers first ball in the match.

Zimbabwe had resumed on the second morning on 189 for two, but lost Brendan Taylor (21) early when he was trapped leg before by seamer Suranga Lakmal (3-53), who also accounted for top scorer Craig Ervine (85).

Embuldeniya (5-115) then ate into the middle order, removing captain Sean Williams (18), the dangerous Sikandar Raza (41) and Regis Chakabva (8). He claimed his second five-wicket haul in tests when he bowled Kyle Jarvis for one.

Zimbabwe batted for 148 overs for their 358, showing great patience at the crease as they made Sri Lanka toil for

their wickets.

The tour was hastily arranged, having only been announced on Jan. 8. Zimbabwe, returning to test cricket for the first time since their tour of Bangladesh in 2018, were briefly suspended by the International Cricket Council last year because of government interference in the sport, but were reinstated in October.The second test will also be played at the Harare Sports Club, starting on Jan. 27.

Scores: Sri Lanka 42 for 1 (Oshada 21, Karunaratne 12*, Tiripano 1-5) trail Zimbabwe 358 (Ervine 85, Kasuza 63, Masvaure 55, Embuldeniya 5-114) by 316 runs.

The West Indies over-50 players in action during a practice match.

West Indies Over-50s selectors have named a squad of 16 players for the 2020 Over-50 World Cup which will be played in Cape Town, South Africa during March 11th-25th 2020.

The selectors have named former Guyana youth player, Zamin Amin as captain with Ishwar Maraj as his deputy.

There are four standby players that narrowly missed out on selection following the trial matches that were held in Trinidad and Tobago from

January 13 to 16 last.

West Indies Over-50 Squad; Zamin Amin (captain) Ishwar Maraj (vice-captain) Imtiaz Rick Ali Mark Audain Narine Bidhesi Julian Charles Sudesh Dhaniram Kenny Girdharry Krishna Harricharan Fareed Hosein Howard Jodhan Allison Johnson

Hafiz Mohamed Azad Mohammed Rajendra Sadeo Balwant Roy Singh Reserve players Virgil Gossai Curtis Richards Lawrence Pooran Ganesh Ragunath.

Manager - Raj Singh Assistant-Manager Dave Narine Media Officer- John Ramsingh PROJaggernauth Seenauth.

Tuesday January 21, 2020

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Nyeem Young stars with bat and 49ers and Chiefs to clash in Super Bowl after conference wins ball as West Indies thump England

Kevlon Anderson hit a half century in their victory.

(Windies cricket via Twitter) ESPNcricinfo - For the second game in a row, allrounder Nyeem Young led the way as West Indies defeated a higher-seeded team at the Under-19 World Cup. After his half-century against Australia downed the 2018 runners-up on Saturday, Young returned yesterday to smash a 41-ball 66 and then take five wickets to defeat England and virtually confirm his team’s spot in the quarterfinal.

Young walked in at 138 for 5 after England had sent West Indies in, and joined No. 3 Kevlon Anderson in a 101-run partnership for the sixth wicket, off just 76 balls.

Anderson remained not out on 86 off 105 balls as West Indies closed at 267 for 7.

Yo u n g s m a s h e d f i v e fours and four sixes, including one that broke the glass window of the media centre, while Anderson hit three sixes and six fours. Before their partnership, offspinner Hamidullah Qadri and legspinner Lewis

England had no answer to Nyeem Young. (Getty Images/ICC)

Goldsworthy had kept West Indies’ run-rate in check with regular wickets.

England’s chase began positively, the openers putting on 53 before wicketkeeper-batsman Jordan Cox succumbed to the temptation of playing the reverse sweep, gloving the shot to first slip in the 14th over. His partner Ben Charlesworth was dismissed soon after for 36.

A third-wicket stand of 51 between Tom Clark and Jack Haynes kept England in the chase, but they stumbled following Clark’s departure, as Young’s short-pitched deliveries sent back Dan Mousley and Haynes in the 33rd over.

A passing shower paused the game for around thirty minutes, with England 40 runs behind the DLS par, and when play resumed, Young struck again, dismissing Joey Evison and Goldsworthy for singledigit scores, and then having England captain George Balderson caught at long-on to complete his five-for.

At that stage, England needed 117 from 71 balls, with just two wickets in hand. With lightning in the background, the game was halted once more in the 44th over, by which time England had lost their ninth wicket, and were 71 runs behind the DLS par.

Play never resumed, and West Indies wrapped up a comprehensive win.

Apart from Young’s fivefor, the left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd picked up 2 for 35. Jayden Seales, who took a four-wicket haul against Australia, went wicketless but conceded just 21 runs in his ten overs.

England’s next game against Australia is now a virtual pre-quarterfinal, while West Indies are favourites to top Group B, left to play only Nigeria later this week.

Scores: West Indies U19s 267 for 7 (Anderson 86*, Young 66, Goldsworthy 2-28, Qadri 2-46) beat England U19s 184 for 9 (Clark 38, Young 5-45, Nedd 2-35) by 71 runs (DLS method).

Raheem Mostert ran in four touchdowns as the 49ers took control.

(Reuters) - Raheem Mostert rushed for four touchdowns as the San Francisco 49ers beat Green Bay 37-20 to book a spot in the Super Bowl where they will face Kansas City, who advanced to the NFL championship game for the first time in 50 seasons with a 35-24 win over Tennessee on Sunday.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was instrumental in their victory in the American Football Conference championship game, breaking the Titans backs with a dazzling 27-yard firsthalf touchdown run as the Chiefs overcame a 10-0 deficit.Mahomes, who also threw three touchdown passes, gave the Chiefs their first lead at 21-17 with the tackle-breaking run with 11 seconds left in the opening half.They went on to dominate the second half, chalking up their eight consecutive win to earn a berth in Feb. 2 Super Bowl to be played in Miami.

GRFU begins season with intra-squad 15s match

Rugby season underway at National Park.

Rugby scrummed off at the National Park for the first time in 2020 when the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) held a Georgetown intra-squad 15s match on Saturday afternoon last. The game featured players being divided into South & North Georgetown.

The game finished as a draw with both teams managing 17 points each. Tyrese Prescott scored two tries and a conver-

sion for North Georgetown side, while Phibian Joseph scored the other try to knot the scores late in the second half.

For South, Rondell McArthur led from the front with two tries. Shawn David scored the third and Michael Barrow managed the lone conversion.Rugby will continue this Saturday afternoon at the National Park with a 10s matchup between the Presidents select and the Vice Presidents select.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after beating the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) Kansas City has not been to the title game since January 1970 when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in the fourth Super Bowl.

“Its amazing. It really is,” Mahomes said.“To be here, to be a part of Chiefs Kingdom and to be able to do it here at Arrowhead, these people deserve it. And, were not done yet. We are going to get it (the Super Bowl title).

Tennessee, the surprise package of the playoffs with a sixth seed, scored the games first 10 points on a field goal and Derrick Henrys four-yard run.But the Chiefs, as they had in overcoming the Houston Texans 24-0 advantage last weekend, rallied behind their quarterback.

Mahomes toss to wide receiver Tyreek Hill on a jet sweep brought the Chiefs within 10-7 before Tennessee scored on a one-yard pass from Ryan Tannehill to massive tackle Dennis Kelly.

The Chiefs rolled for the next 28 points.Hill caught 20yard pass from Mahomes and the quarterback added his key touchdown run, tiptoeing along the sidelines at times.

“When they are getting double-teamed and there are

only three men rushing, and our line are blocking, it gives me room where I can run,” Mahomes said.Damien Williams then rushed into the end zone on a three-run and Mahomes threw his third touchdown of the game on a 60-yard play to Sammy Watkins.

Tennessee finally showed signs of life on Tannehills 22yard pass to Anthony Firkser with four minutes left, but it was too late for the Titans.

In the National Football Conference championship game in San Francisco, the 49ers relied on the running game to build a 27-0 lead and took a 34-7 lead into the fourth quarter.Mostert became the first NFL player with four rushing touchdowns in a conference championship game as he scored on runs of 36, nine, 18 and 22 yards, running for 220 yards in total.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who had 326 yards passing but was intercepted twice and lost a fumble, rallied the Packers to within 34-20 as they scored twice to open the fourth.

But Robbie Goulds third field goal for San Francisco ended the scoring.

PAGE 32

Lyles, many top sprinters skipping indoor season (Reuters) - Even with outstanding hurdles races at U.S. indoor meetings and talented field event competitions in Europe, international athletics is continuing to be impacted by the long 2019 outdoor season.

Many top sprinters are skipping or limiting their indoor season, often because the 2019 world outdoor championships extended into October, more than a month later than usual, managers and coaches told Reuters.

Even the lure of an indoor world championships in China has not pulled world outdoor champions Noah Lyles (U,S.) and Dina AsherSmith (Britain) and medalists Justin Gatlin (U.S.), Andre De Grasse (Canada) and Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas) to the winter circuit.

World 100m champion Christian Coleman may also join them.

“Coleman is still deciding if he will compete,” manager Emanuel Hudson said of the 60m world indoor record holder and 2019 world 100m gold medalist.

But it was a definite “no way” from Mark Wetmore, manager for U.S. world 200m champion Lyles, who will sit out the indoor season.

“Athletes were exceptionally tired after Doha as a class. It was so long,” said Wetmore.

Wetmore and Paul Doyle, agent for Canadian Olympic and world double sprint medalist De Grasse, also mentioned the shorter than normal downtime between the world championships and the Tokyo Olympics, which will be held from July 24 to Aug. 9.That gap of less than 10 months is much shorter than the nearly one year time frame between the 2015 world championships, which concluded in late August, and the 2016 Olympics, which opened in early August.

“The timing doesnt make a lot of sense,” said Lance Brauman, who coaches Lyles and Olympic 400m champion Miller-Uibo.

No matter how short the break, though, Caribbean sprinters Shelly-Ann FraserPryce and Steven Gardiner will be running at least once indoors.“She will be doing Glasgow,” said agent Adrian Laidlaw of Jamaican world 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

The Feb. 15 Glasgow event is part of the sevenmeeting World Athletics Indoor Tour.

Bahamian Gardiners competitions will be even more

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

Lewison General Store 50-overs U-15 tournament

Deonarain, Gaffur shine in Blairmount wins over Young Achievers and Paradise

T

Silver medalist Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith poses with her medals World Athletics Championships Doha 2019. (REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari) low key with a couple of 300m races.“Every year we do this just to see how training is going,” said coach Gary Evans.There will be nothing low key about U.S. hurdles races, though.

Olympic gold medalist Brianna McNeal and world champion Nia Ali will clash over the 60m hurdles at the Boston Indoor Grand Prix on Jan. 25 to open the World Athletics Indoor Tour and in New York, the Millrose Games hurdles race on Feb. 8 will match Olympic champion Omar McLeod of Jamaica, world gold medalist Grant Holloway and U.S. outdoor winner Daniel Roberts.

The New York meeting also will feature a shot put duel between Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser and world champion Joe Kovacs, key races involving world 800m winner Donavan Brazier

Noah Lyles of the U.S. in action World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019.

(REUTERS/ Fabrizio Bensch)

and womens 800m medalist Ajee Wilson and a special appearance in the 60m by 13times world champion sprinter Allyson Felix who will be seeking to make her fifth U.S. Olympic team this summer.

Meanwhile in Europe, the three pole vault medalists from Doha - American Sam Kendricks, Swede Mondo Duplantis and Polands Piotr Lisek - will feature in Dusseldorfs Feb. 4 World Tour meeting..

But the cycle for top sprinters running all out indoors is several years away, coach Brauman believes.

“Some will run next year (2021) because it fits their schedule and you have a bigger break between the Games and the next world championships,” Brauman said. “But to be honest with you, the next big indoor season for pros wont be until 2022.”

hirteen-year-old Romeo Deonarain enjoyed a wonderful weekend at the Blairmount Estate ground in West Bank Berbice with an accomplished half-century on Saturday and a five-wicket haul on Sunday, while Rashaad Gaffur was on fire on Saturday with a classy unbeaten ton as Blairmount won both of their matches to make an auspicious start to their campaign in the Berbice Cricket Boards Lewison General Store U-15 50 overs tournament.

In Saturdays encounter, the West Bank Berbice side defeated Achievers by 229 runs before disposing of Paradise by 143 runs the next day.

Led by a pugnacious unbeaten 140 from Gaffur, which was decorated with 18 fours and two sixes while Deonarain, who reached the boundary once in a wellplayed 56, spearheaded Blairmount to an imposing 289-3 from their 50 overs on a good track and fast outfield.

Rawl Dindyal and Muneshwar Gobin chipped in with 15 and 12 respectively for the club which produced Test players the late Roy Fredericks and pacer Brandon Bess who played his only Test against South Africa in Barbados.

Watched by a fair size gathering, Chris Hardcourt captured 2-27 from eight overs for Achievers who were bundled out for 60 despite 16 from Trevor Connaly as Sajaad Ishmael captured 3-3 and along with Gaffur who

Romeo Deonarain at Blairmomt

Rashaad Gaffur Centurion

had 3-7, destroyed the visitors batting.

On Sunday, at the same venue the home team beat Paradise by 143 runs after making 217 and bowling out Paradise for 75.

Deonarain followed his century on the previous day with 40 with three fours before he was run out. Deonarain was supported by a solid 37 from Arun Jaikaran who was also run out while Gaffur contributed 20 before he was bowled. Blairmount were

aided by a whopping 77 extras.

In reply Paradise were bundled out in 17.3 overs as only Opener Daniel Ramotar, who reached the boundary four times and cleared it once in 37 offered resistance to Deonarain, who captured 534 and Ishmael who had 3-15.

Nobody else reached double figures for the West Coast Berbice unit.

Lewison General Store is located at Williamsburg Village, Corentyne in Berbice.

ESPNcricinfo - Nigeria’s first ever match at a World Cup was one to forget, as they were bowled out for 61 before going down by ten wickets against Australia in Kimberley in what was a rude awakening for the newcomers to the fold.Their top scorer, opener Olayinka Olaleye, made 21 runs in 53 balls, surviving nearly 20 overs against some hostile pace bowling led

by Bradley Simpson, but was eventually dismissed by legspinner Tanveer Sangha.

Sangha, who had taken 4 for 30 against West Indies on Saturday, cleaned up the Nigerian tail thereafter to finish with 5 for 14 and get to the top of the wicket-takers’ chart for the tournament.

Australia then chased the target down in 7.4 overs with

openers Sam Fanning and Jake Fraser-McGurk hitting eight fours to complete a dominant performance.

The game was one of two being played in Kimberley on the day and had very few fans in attendance. Most of those present cheered for Nigeria, and their first four of the World Cup, struck by Olayele through third man, elicited massive roars from the stands. In all, they struck six fours in an innings that lasted 35.4 overs, two of them coming from Olayele, the only one to reach double figures.

Sangha was impressive, bowling stump to stump instead of looking to turn the ball like in the game against West Indies. His sliders had two batsmen out bowled trying to cut, while wicketkeeper

Patrick Rowe assisted with a catch and a stumping for two more wickets. The only time a Nigeria batsman looked to attack Sangha was when Olaleye gave him the charge, but he was caught at first slip by captain Mackenzie Harvey.The early breakthroughs, however, had come from Simpson, who came into the Australia side in place of Matthew Willans, who is down with a groin injury.

Simpson’s double-strike with the new ball had reduced Nigeria to 10 for 3, and his third scalp ended the innings in the 36th over.

Scores: Australia Under19 62 for 0 (Fanning 30*) beat Nigeria Under-19 61 (Olaleye 21*, Sangha 5-14, Simpson 3-11) by ten wickets.

Australia beat Nigeria in emphatic fashion

Tuesday January 21, 2020

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

Wellman Masters take GSCL Inc T20 title

Rawl Reid accepts his man-of-the-match award from GSCL Inc President Ian John.

Wellman Masters defeated Regal Masters by nine runs to win the final of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc four-team T20 tournament which was contested on Sunday last at Everest Cricket Club.

Batting first, Wellman Masters suffered an early setback when opener Greg De Franca (00) was bowled by Tyrone Sanasie; however Suresh Ramdeen and Troy Lewis added 35 for the sec-

ond wicket before Lewis departed for 12. Ramdeen struck three fours and one six in scoring 31, while Rawl Reid top scored with 34, including one four and three sixes and Lloyd Ruplall contributed 13; Wellman Masters managed 120-6. Roy Persaud captured 3-23 from four overs.

Regal Masters were put on course with a 41-run opening stand between Unnis Yusuf and Mahase Chunilall.

Yusuf struck two fours in

The victorious Wellman Masters team. scoring 20, while Chunilall made 26 with three fours. Following their separation, David Harper kept Regal Masters above the asking rate, but when he fell for 22 with two fours, only Mahendra Hardyal of the remaining batsmen reached double figures with 12 as Regal Masters were bowled out for 111 in 19.2 overs. De Franca claimed 326; Wayne Jones had 2-15 and man-of-the-match Reid 221.

Earlier, Wellman Masters beat Ariel Masters by five wickets. Ariel Masters took first strike and scored 86 all out in 19.2 overs. Ron Ramnauth made 34 as Nandram Samlall and De Franca picked up three wickets each while Reid had two.

Wellman Masters responded with 88-5 in 10 overs.

Reid made 24.

Regal Masters overcame Fisherman Masters by four wickets. Fisherman Masters

took first turn in the middle and were bowled out for 105 in 19.4 overs. Stanley Mohabir struck 41, Robert Mohan made 21 and Dennis Mangru 18; Mahendra Hardyal snared 3-32, Tyrone Sanasie 2-6 and Laurie Singh

2-42.

Regal Masters replied with 106-6 in 18.4 overs. David Harper scored 28 while Rudolph Baker made an unbeaten 25 and Hardyal 10 not out. Mohabir took 2-15.

(Zaheer Mohamed)

Bacchus retained as ECB President

Laurie Singh of Regal Masters receives the runner up prize from Ian John.

Members of the ECB executive following the meeting.

Fizul Bacchus retained his position of President of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) when the body held its Annual General Meeting and election on Sunday at its hostel in Anna Regina.

Alvin Johnson will serve as Vice President, while Otto Christiani is the Secretary. The Assistant Secretary is Khemraj Surujpaul, Nazeer Mohamed is the Treasurer, while the Assis-

tant Treasurer is Fabian Durant.

Tamika Johnson was elected as the Public Relations Officer; Andy Ramnarine will perform duties as the Marketing Manager, while the Competition Committee Chairman is Ramnarine Ragubar. The Trustees are Zabeer Zakir and Prince Holder. Dru Bahadur and Company limited is the auditor. The entire executive body was elected unopposed.

PAGE 34

Tuesday January 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

GMR&SC Endurance Championship Team Special Auto eager to get into competition Shan Seejattan (leading) had a pacy start in last season’s opener.

The 2020 motor sport season gets underway with the first round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) Endurance Championship at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri, where Team Special Auto have confirmed that they will be among the speedsters throwing down the throttle for bragging rights.

In an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, Team Special Autos Shan Seejattan shared that this Sundays race will be used as a precursor to the National Race of Champions (NROC) on March 16th and he along with the team have been working assiduously to get their machines ready for Sunday.

Seejattan also confirmed that Special Auto will have two cars on the South Dakota Circuit this weekend; his Toyota Levin and Roshan Alis Toyota Starlet.

Both drivers will gauge their race cars performance during the three-hour battle of rac-

ing stamina event in five days time and will then re-calibrate for maximum performance at the NROC circuit meet next month.

In the endurance season opener last year, Seejattan, who races in the unlimited class, finished third after encountering some mechanical problems following a blazing start with some fast laps. The group-two competitor vowed to turn in a much better performance in the Endurance this year with eyes on the lap record.

The 2019 season opener also saw Roshan Ali on the podium, in the 2000cc class, finishing second with 20 laps behind Mohamed Ali with 33 laps and narrowly ahead of Rafeek Khan in third with 19 laps.

Sean Bacchus, Shairaz Roshandin, Rameez Mohamed, Motilall Deodass, Dowalu Harper, Annand Ramchand and Adrian Fernandes are among the drivers who have confirmed their participation for Sunday.

Roshan Ali (extreme left) and Shan Seejattan (extreme right) receiving their trophies following last seasons Endurance opener.

3rd places for Badminton Champions Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani in Canada

Aiming to leave a lasting legacy - Head Coach Márcio Máximo

By Franklin Wilson Head Coach of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) flagship team, the Senior Mens National Team (SMNT), Márcio Máximo has stated that he is aiming to leave a lasting legacy as his job of developing the sport continues.

Máximo, in his first assignment as the leading technical tactician having been appointed last August 21st as Interim Head Coach for the 2019-2020 Concacaf Nations League (CNL) League B campaign following the resignation of former Head Coach, Michael Johnson who took up another appointment in England where he resides, has been working assiduously to improve the lot of the local players.

The Brazilian believes that apart from ensuring that the players are up to the task of delivering the goods, they are working on creating a new legacy as regards improving the quality of players.

This is in keeping with the policy of GFF President Wayne Forde and is one of

the main areas of focus thats part of the mandate when Máximo was hired. ”Now the senior team has a total of 70% of players below 23 years-old so its a very young team but we should recover or rescue some players that have disappeared before as Guyana did not have a consistent senior team programme of training constantly.”

He noted that now there are consistent Under-17, 20 and Womens team programmes which would be strengthened by the senior programmes deliberate thrust to keep players together; emphasising the point of brining back talented players who would have been lost due to the fact that there wasnt such a programme. ”We would have lost the generation of players about age 23 to 25 years-old and its our challenge now to recover this group. Of course, our priority is always qualifying but that cannot be the only focus.

You have qualifying on the one hand and long term development on the other hand.

We want to see Guyana go to the Gold Cup but it must be consistent qualifying not just, sometimes. So our job is very comprehensive, not just competition but also real long term development.”

The GFF has also been purposeful in ensuring that the current Under-20 team and their senior counterparts interact as much as possible as they both prepare for important assignment. The two teams, inclusive of the Technical personnel work together on Saturday mornings at the GFF National Training Centre which compliments their individual training sessions during the week.

The senior Golden Jaguars are preparing for their 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup tworound qualifier against Barbados in March, the dates and venues are still to be announced by Concacaf, while the Under-20s are getting ready for Group A play in the 2020 Concacaf Under-20 Championship Qualifiers which have been fixed for Nicaragua from February 1523.

A proud dad and President of the GBA, Gokarn Ramdhani (centre) is flanked by Priyanna (right) and Narayan following their performance.

S

iblings Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani secured third place finishes at the 2019/2020 ACAC Badminton Tournament #2 (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) held at the Kings University in Edmonton Alberta Canada Sunday last.

Narayan, playing for the Kings University got two Third Places in the Men Singles and Men Doubles, w h i l e y o u n g e r s i s t e r, Priyanna, playing for Olds College got Third Place in Women Singles.

The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) noted in a release, “We are happy with them maintaining their continuous consistency to stay on Top and especially play-

ing with Outside Temperatures of -25c. Both of them are holding up their expectations to keep their standard high for both their learning institutions and Guyanas Badminton.”

The Results are as Follows: Narayan Ramdhani: Men Singles (Seeded No.2): Gained a bye in the First Round.

Defeated John Li of Nait: 21-16, 22-20 in the QuarterFinals Lost to Raymond Kim of Nait: 21-18, 21-17 in the Semi-Finals Defeated Smit Patel of Nait: 21-13, 21-16 to win the Third Place Men Doubles: Defeated Rylan Head &

Noah Jeffery of Olds College: 21-15, 21-10 in the Quarter-Finals Lost to Alex Fung & Raymond of Kings: 21-15, 21-10 in the Semi Finals: Defeated Tyson Tsen & Braxton Wong of Concordia: 21-17, 21-15 to win the Third Place Priyanna Ramdhani: (Seeded No.3) Ladies Singles: Gained a bye in the First Round Defeated Kaitlyn Gee of Nait: 21-4, 21-7 in the Quarter-Finals Lost to Johnna Rymes of Concordia: 21-9, 21-4 in the Semi-Finals Defeated Cecilia Wolski of Kings: 21-11, 21-13 to win the Third Place

2020 Concacaf Womens Under-20 C/ship

Nyeem Young stars with bat and ball as West Indies thump England

t r o p S P.30

Nyeem Young led the way as West Indies defeated a higher-seeded team. (Windies Cricket)

Kevlon Anderson of West Indies hits a ball towards the boundary. (Windies Cricket)

Fruta youths versus Aiming to leave a lasting GFC in Turbo knockout Head Coach Mรกrcio Mรกximo legacy football final

3rd places for Badminton Champions Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani in Canada

49ers and Chiefs to clash in P.31 -But wants set batsmen to score more hundreds Super Bowl after conference wins Technical minds at work! From right, Wilson Toledo, Wayne Dover and Mรกrcio Mรกximo.

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