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Hairdresser found NEWS dead on roadside - soldier wrapped in plastic in custody AIETEUR

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Friday Edition July 01, 2022 - Vol. 24 No. 29 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 94,666

Citizens must have a say in auctioning of oil blocks - Norton ‘Stop saying my Govt. is illegitimate’ - Pres Ali tells Opposition MPs Elderly CJIA misses Mon Repos yet another woman stabbed completion to death deadline

Tucville man gets 11 years for raping Venezuelan woman

Rapist, Thurston Semple

Gas-to-Shore project to commence by year end …as President touts profitability without final price tag

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 01, 2022

‘Stop saying my Govt. is illegitimate’ - Pres. Ali tells Opposition MPs

President Ali engaging members of the opposition at Wednesday night’s cocktail event commemorating 50 years of friendship between Guyana and China.

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r e s i d e n t Mohamed Irfaan Ali ended up in a d e b a t e o n Wednesday with members of the coalition opposition at the sidelines of a cocktail event, over his government not meeting with them to fix matters of national interests.

He reportedly told them that if they want to dialogue with his government, they must have respect.

That, respect, according to Ali, is to stop saying that his government is

illegitimate and accept that they had lost the March 2020 regional and General Elections.

The event was hosted at the Pegasus Suites, Kingston, Georgetown, to commemorate the 50th a n n i v e r s a r y o f China/Guyana bilateral relationship.

After the formalities were over, Ali decided to meet and greet everyone present at the event and ended up at the table of opposition invitees, Khemraj Ramjattan, Cathy Hughes and Geeta Chanda-Edmond.

They did not waste the opportunity to call him out for not engaging them on matters of national interest.

Ali told them that he has no problem with engaging members of the opposition.

He said that he had invited them to dialogue with him on many occasions but the opposition needs to acknowledge that there must be some respect at the engagements. “ Yo u h a v e t o acknowledge that there has

to be some respect and you can’t be out there shouting that this government is illegitimate and this government is this and that”, Ali told the opposition Members of Parliament.

Hughes then told him that the United States President, Joe Biden did not shun the Republicans, Biden after taking office had met with them to sort out matters of national interest despite there were election disagreements in America.

Ali however responded with a question, “Did he engage Trump? (Former American President, Donald Trump)”.

Hughes responded, “But he did, he engaged the Republicans and also the Democrats”. The appointment of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and Judicial Service Commission along with other important appointments was delayed for over two years all because the government and the opposition could not come to a mutual agreement to engage each other.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 01, 2022

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Citizens must have a say in auctioning of oil blocks - Norton says clear criteria must be set

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ith just about two months to go before Guyana starts auctioning off its remaining oil blocks, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has called on the government to make public the bid criteria and to provide the public with an opportunity to have a say in relation to the process.

Norton, during a press conference yesterday said that given, the number of corruption and transparency issues facing the administration, information regarding the auctioning of the oil blocks should be clear to the public to ensure that the entire process is above board. “There should be no auction without an investigation into these claims as well as the implementation of several measures to improve transparency and accountability during this process,” Norton told reporters.

He said that at minimum, the auction of national oil blocks must include clear criteria as to minimum requirements any applicant

must satisfy. He said that extensive due diligence should be employed to ensure each applicant meets the minimum requirements as well as a clear criteria as to how winning bidders will be selected. He said that if multiple rounds of bidding take place, clear rules as to how this will occur should be in place and “a period of national consultation to determine if the rules and criteria laid out are appropriate and acceptable to the Guyanese people” should be held.

The Opposition Leader reminded that it would not be the first time that the nation would have seen the awarding of blocks under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) marred in controversy that promoted public outcry.

Just days before exiting office in 2015, former President Donald Ramotar had signed over two of the country’s oil blocks to firms he said he was unfamiliar with and was unaware of the exploration capabilities.

The Opposition Leader’s call stemmed somewhat f r o m t h e Vi c e N e w s

revelation where the controversial Chinese national Su implicated Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in collecting bid (s) in relation to the oil operations. He said that Guyanese were legitimately alarmed when they heard Su speak about other amounts of money(allegedly collected by Jagdeo)-before, being much bigger “like the oil company.” Norton claimed that “Su’s allegation that bribes were paid in connection with an oil contract raises a series of questions in particular, whether the upcoming auction of oil blocks in Guyana is a sham, with winners already chosen because they have already paid the so called consultation fees to government ministers.” He said that the nation’s assets worth billions of United States dollars is now not going to the highest bidder, but the highest briber.

The Opposition Leader reiterated calls for civil society and the international community to join the push for an impartial investigation

into the numerous allegations of bribery against the Vice President. Norton also reiterated calls for Jagdeo to step aside or be fired by President Irfaan Ali to facilitate an investigation.

“This is not a light matter,” he asserted. He said tens of billions of US dollars belonging to Guyanese are on the line. “It is not Jagdeo’s m o n e y, i t i s n o t t h e government’s money; it is the people’s money. No oil block auction should take place under the present corrupt circumstances,” he insisted.

N o o f f i c i a l announcement has been made on which oil blocks will be auctioned come September, but based on the review of the respective Production Sharing Agreements (PSA), it is believed that they will include relinquished portions of the Kanuku, Corentyne, Demerara, Canje and the Kaieteur Blocks when the country engages in its first auction of the offshore resource. VP Jagdeo had told reporters that onshore oil blocks will

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton not be part of the September process. No part of the Stabroek Block is expected to be included in this maiden bid round since the 2016 PSA allows for 20 percent of the acreage to be relinquished after seven years, which will come to terms next year.

The Kanuku Block is operated by Repsol which gave up 20 percent of the block this year. It holds a 37.5 percent stake while Tullow holds 37.5 percent and TOQAP, a company jointly owned by Total E&P Guyana B.V. and Qatar Petroleum, holds 25%.

The Corentyne and Demerara Blocks are operated by Canadian explorers, CGX Energy Inc and Frontera Energy Corporation. CGX has successfully relinquished parts of the Demerara and

Corentyne blocks to the State. Like Stabroek, the Kaieteur and Canje oil blocks are operated by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). In the case of Kaieteur, 25 percent had to be relinquished since February 2021. This is yet to occur. As for Canje, 20 percent was relinquished in 2019. In the Canje block, EEPGL holds a 35 per cent interest. The remaining partners are Total Energies E&P Guyana with a 35 per cent stake, JHI Associates with 17.5 percent and MidAtlantic Oil & Gas with 12.5 per cent. In Kaieteur, Esso has 35 percent working interest, Hess Corporation holds 20 percent, Ratio Guyana Ltd has 25percent and Cataleya Energy Ltd. 20 percent.

CJIA misses yet another completion deadline Chinese contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), has once again failed to meet yet another completion deadline for the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, had announced during a press conference earlier this year that the deadline for the additional works at CJIA was June 30, 2022. On June 6, this publication had contacted Minister Edghill for an update on the progress of the works being undertaken by CHEC, to which the minister said, “We expect the Chinese contractor to hand over the airport at the end of June 2022 and as far as I’m aware, this is on track.”

However, on Thursday following a media tour at the airport, it was disclosed that the airport is ‘almost complete.’ Minister Edghill

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill.

[Photo Credit: Ministry of Public Works.] a l o n g w i t h C h i n a ’s Ambassador to Guyana, H.E Guo Haiyan, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CJIA, Ramesh Ghir, among technical persons conducted an inspection of works at the airport.

The CJIA project with Chinese contractor, CHEC, remains at US$150M: $138M from the China Exim Bank and $12M from the

consolidated fund – taxpayers’ money. Minister Edghill had explained that the additional works being undertaken by CHEC are at no cost to Guyana, but through negotiations with the government which the contractor agreed to do at their own expense.

The additional works being done by the Chinese contractor include the

superstructure, corridor and curtain wall. Notably, while the contract cost with the Chinese contractor remains at US$150M, the government is undertaking several multi-million upgrades to the airport which were separated into three parts.

The government signed a $513M contract last year with construction company CALCO for the construction of a new building attached to CJIA’s terminal building, the new building will house a conference room, offices for the airlines and the other support agencies as well as storage bonds for the dutyf r e e s h o p s a n d concessionaires.

In September 2021, Edghill’s Ministry awarded a contract for US$2M to a local company named Total Solutions for the supply of two additional air-bridges for CJIA, some US$350,000 more than what was paid for

the other air bridges.

Edghill had stated that government funded the additional air bridges.

Kaieteur News had reported that according to the minister, “The air bridges are being funded by the Government of Guyana and that is as a result of the agreement made with the APNU/AFC, when they ended up with two air bridges and then we had to get a supplementary from the Parliament, Government of Guyana, to buy the other two.”

Some other projects at the airport that the government is funding are: $38 million for an international apron and the taxiway Charlie; $23M for the rehabilitation of the existing roof at the airport; construction and rehabilitation works of the VIP Lounge and new and existing commercial buildings of the airport at an

estimated cost of $612M; $518M runway which comes with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and $420 million which was approved by the National Assembly for a baggage handling system for the renovated airport.

On Thursday, Minister Edghill stated that the major civil works now give CJIA the capacity to take in Code E and D aircraft. It was stated that only minor works are left to be completed at the airport. Minister Edghill highlighted that the retrofitting of the superstructure is on schedule for completion and the air bridges are slated to arrive in Guyana on July 16.

Meanwhile, the additional spending by the government has increased the amount of money spent on the airport which falls way below expectations and international airport standards.

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Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Governments, political parties and leaders don’t own oil resources

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il resources dont belong to any Govt. or political party…it belongs to the people and future generations should benefit -Surinamese President says at oil conference” (KN June 30). Truer, more accurate, words have not been said by a head of state in a long time, which is why we are as one with what Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the Surinamese leader presented to his assembled guests.

We dont think that we can be clearer than this: no government, no political party, and no leader of any kind, owns the natural resource wealth of this country. It doesnt matter what it is, oil or gold or bauxite or timber, as we have in such bulk, they dont own anything, nothing belongs to them. The wealth of this country, all of its resources, are the inheritance of all its peoples, and all of it. So, let that be put to bed in the cleanest, simplest of terms.

Governments and political parties and leaders do own something, though.

They own the responsibility to govern and lead honestly and beneficially for the citizens who put them there to run things for them. Governments and political parties owe a duty, have a total obligation, to the people to do right by them. It is through a number of things, the sum of what they do, that they fulfill what is their mandate, given to them by the people. That is, manage the wealth properly, watch over it like a hawk, and get the best for the people.

The best is not for them and their cronies, which is what has happened here for too long and too often.

The best is not those outsiders who come here to grab as much as they can get and as cheaply as they can get it.

The best is for those around today, and it must be handled so prudently that much of the benefits of oil and other wealth are retained for future generations to participate in and enjoy their fair and rightful share of their national patrimony.

For some reason, most, if not all, of this have failed to penetrate the twisted minds of governments of Guyana and the men and women who form the leadership teams that make decisions for us.

We have spoken of corruptions and the inestimable costs of those that shorten what should come to the people.

Corruptions still rage uncontrollably and, with the arrival of oil, the situation in Guyana has only gotten worse, if that can be imagined. It had better be because that is what is causing us so many problems, why so many leaders are so strung out from having their feet held to the fire, and being forced to come up with honest answers, which is the last thing that they want to do.

For a place rewarded with so much by way of natural resources, the latest of which are these discoveries of massive quantities of oil, we ought to be in a far better place. Look at leaders, and there is the source of this nations problem that just will not go away. Crookedness is their first and middle name, deception and failure their title that accuses them.

Their falsehoods fuel more failures in an endless cycle, and it is all because they are so greedy, so inclined to do what is wrong and bad for the people, while misusing and abusing the power given to them by the people.

After the longest wait, and the lasting speculations, oil is now here in Guyana. Already, the worst has surfaced in them, from the previous APNU+AFC Coalition to the present PPP/C Government. It is tiring and disgusting and enraging, as to what they have done with this oil, how poorly they have taken care of its fruits.

All this must be made known to them, and in the most unsparing manner. We must call our leaders to account, for this is not their wealth to have and to hold onto for themselves.

This oil is ours and we, the people, must never let them forget that, and we must make them pay for their many mistakes with it. We must confront them and compel them to come clean.

Mid-year report DEAR EDITOR, More oil, more celebrations, more speeches, more plans are among the first things that impress about this first half of 2022. Peering into the fine print, I come across the half-truths of leaders, the shaded language of those with things to conceal. Leaders and their kind live large.

Then, there is the rest, and it looks and sounds like a country with oil, and without it.

There is justification to question whether this oil is really here, and in its copious quantities; well, at least, by those not touched by its sweet, rich breaths. Of course, there are those others who can testify that it is actually here, those few (less than a hundred in the inner circle) who drink deeply of its drafts on land and downstream, who are all over in the slipstream of oil. They had given before and by the millions, so now they collect by the billions, which is a handsome return on an investment that pays off in aces. It is more of politics than business. At least, a few Guyanese got something back for their commitment, confidence, and their cash.

But lest we forgot them in the frenzied rush, what about the others, the bulk of Guyanas crushed mass of humanity? Indeed, I hear of economy and GDP and prosperity, but for whom? I am loathe to report that they missed the boat - no room at the top. Come to think of it, might be better to say that the boat overlooked them, didnt stop where they are huddled in hope, in want and fear. They are the ones wondering if all this talk about Guyana being visited by oil is real. Ask them what they got from it, and their faces convey messages of blankness. Perhaps in their ingratitude, they are forgetful.

Maybe it is more on the money to assert that because

they got such a comparatively piddling patrimony that it went in a jiffy and it just didnt register.

Meanwhile, we have a President feeling so good about himself that he spares a few curses for selected folks. Hotels being built, and infrastructure on the move; get with the programme or get out of the way. Now we are talking, but how I wished that he had mentioned that little bit of how money is being laundered in this country today using those ventures as covers; and of how he himself doesnt look too good when his name comes up in certain whispered contexts.

The other, bigger feller for a leader swears innocence. In my time, I have encountered atheists, serial killers, and pathological liars claiming the same when cornered and confronted with the goods. It is when they are all piousness and pureness. My position is unchanged: having been near to the best in the world where the worst is conducted, I know perversity when I see it. There is a certain smell about it that makes dogs growl and howl nervously. This is my verdict, given that local leaders like slumming with overseas gangsters. The absolute worst part of this is not the one fingered, but those who run to the rescue, thus proving their worth again. Men perjure consciences for a rusty penny. And the nation is being told that there isnt money to spare for public servants and pensioners and the dratted poor that refuse to say out of sight, so that the better things in Guyanese life can be prioritised and pursued. It is where every project and every contract and every undertaking have its benefits.

Please understand what I mean, and which is (Continued on page 5)

The Labour Code of Guyana National Labour policy DEAR EDITOR, The system of industrial relations is informed, influenced and functions within the norms of national legislation, international labour standards, and regional labour policy of CARICOM. The Constitution of Guyana, the labour laws, and International Labour Conventions of the ILO, ratified by Guyana as treaty and international law, provide the legal basis, foundation, and framework for the conduct of labour relations by the Government, its agencies, and the social partners represented by trade unions and employers and their organisations. Together, these instruments constitute the Labour Code of Guyana as follows: The Constitution Chapter 1:01 of the Laws of Guyana Part 1, Chapter III of the Constitution on Fundamental Rights: Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the individual entitle every citizen basic fundamental rights without distinction and discrimination including the right, regardless of his/her race, origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex subject to the rights and freedoms of others and the public interest to freedom of conscience, of expression, assembly, and association. (Articles 40, 145, 146, 147) Part 2, Title 1 of the Constitution provides specific rules for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of the individuals including: Ø from slavery and forced Labour: “no person shall be held in slavery or servitude. No person

shall be required to perform forced labour.” (Article 140) Ø the protection of freedom of assembly and association - the right of all citizens and residents to assemble and associate freely or to form or belong to trade unions or associations of their own choosing to protect their interests. (Article 147) Principal Labour Laws: 1. The Trade Unions Act, Chapter 98:03 (No. 17 of 1921) provides for registration and regulation of trade unions, their rights, protection, obligations, the registration of rules, changes in rules, amalgamation, the rendering of financial accountability, audit of accounts, and the report of the Registrar to the National Assembly.

2. Public Utility Undertakings and Public Health Services Arbitration Act, Chapter 54:01 (No. 44 of 1956) provides for the establishment of an Arbitration Tribunal to determine trade disputes in public utility undertakings and the listed essential services. The Act also prohibits strikes and lockouts, and provides for a trade dispute procedure, and for the establishment and functioning of the arbitration tribunal.

3. Labour Act, Chapter 98:01: (No. 2 of 1942) provides for the establishment of the Department of Labour, for the regulation of the relationship between employers and employees, appointment of the Chief Labour Officer and staff, the statutory responsibility of the Chief Labour Officer and the Permanent Secretary. The Act also provides for the conciliation in (Continued on page 5)

If Dr. Yog Mahadeo decide to lead a new third party, the PPP could easily find itself in the opposition benches DEAR EDITOR, When I read that the recent protest on the East Coast of Demerara, which resulted in the beating and robbing of Indo-Guyanese and burning of their properties, was started by a misleading news report from a media house, I immediately recalled an article some years ago in the UK Guardian newspaper under the caption “Journalists jailed for inciting Rwandan Genocide”.

I note that the editor of the news outlet was suspended for his misleading report.

However, will this individual or his news outlet face any legal consequence? I seem to recall that irresponsible news reporting helped to foster the post jailbreak mayhem on the East Coast during Mr. Jagdeos term as President and there was no consequence. The PPP is in government once again and once more, it seems to be open season of beating, robbing and burning of properties of innocent Indo-Guyanese.

It is good to see that President Ali has promised to com-

pensate all those who suffered loss during this most recent outbreak of violence.

However, financial compensation will not heal the psychological harm that has been done, not only to those who were beaten and/or robbed but to the entire IndoGuyanese community who cower in fear every time they hear of a protest by AfroGuyanese.

The Guyana Police Force has once again proved ineffective in protecting innocent Indo-Guyanese.

Some

months ago, the Acting Commissioner of Police promised to reform the Police Force to make it more reflective of the make-up of the population. To date neither President Ali nor any of his ministers has offered any public support of this initiative while IndoGuyanese continue to be unsafe and vulnerable. They are crying out for protection.

With a one seat majority currently and roughly two more years before the next General elections, (Continued on page 5)

Friday July 01, 2022

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Kaieteur News

The Labour Code of Guyana National... Mid-year report...

From page 4 industrial disputes, defines the powers of the Minister to intervene in trade disputes, and to establish advisory committees, procedures for the regulation of wages and hours of work, rights and obligations of employees, and the status and enforceability of collective agreements.

4. Trade Union Recognition Act Chapter 98:07 (No. 33 of 1997) provides the procedures for determining appropriate bargaining units and for certifying trade unions as recognised majority unions for collective bargaining purposes by a sevenmember trade union recognition and certification board, a corporate body. The Act also defines the composition of the board, their appointment by the Minister, the secretariat of the Board, the duties of the board, procedures for hearing, and determining compulsory recognition, and the duty to treat and bargain in good faith by employers and trade unions.

5. Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, Chapter 99:08 (No. 19 of 1997) provides for the conditions governing termination of employment, and the grant of redundancy or severance payment to employees for reasons connected with redundancy. The Act defines unfair dismissals and the process of termination, including termination on the grounds of redundancy, and the formula for severance allowance.

6. Prevention of Discrimination Act, Chapter 99:09 (No. 26 of 1997) provides for the elimination of discrimination in employment, training, recruitment, and membership of professional bodies. The Act also provides for the promotion of equal remuneration for work of equal value. It further prohibits discrimination, defines

If Dr. Yog Mahadeo...

From page 4 President Ali and his government should not take the Indo-Guyanese vote for granted. Should someone like Dr. Yog Mahadeo of the Article 13 Group decide to lead a new third party in the next election, the PPP could easily find itself in the opposition benches. Dr. Yog Mahadeo is the son of a late PPP stalwart and his brother is a leading member of the PPP. His entry into politics with individuals like Mr. Christopher Ram and newspaperman Mr. Glen Lall could upset the PPP apple cart.

Harry Hergash

unlawful discrimination, and protects against discrimination in employment, and protection against discrimination in other areas.

7. Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 99:10 (No. 32 of 1977) provides for the registration and regulation of industrial establishments, and for occupational safety and health of persons at work. The Act also provides for the establishment and functions of national advisory council, and Authority on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), defines the power and authority of an inspector of labour, medical inspector, OSH commissioner and their appointments. The Act further provides for the participation of non-governmental agencies through safety and health representatives and joint workplace and health committees with defined functions and powers. The duties of the employer, supervisors, workers, occupiers, owners, and directors are clearly set out in the Act. In relation to hazardous chemicals, physical and biological agents, the Act requires their identification and hazardous nature with appropriate inventories, and regulates their use, storage, instruction and training. Notification of accidents and occupational diseases, inquest in case of death by accident or occupational disease are further requirements of this Act. 8. National Insurance and Social Security, Chapter 36:01 Act No. 15 of 1969.

This Act provides for a system of national insurance and social security for old age, invalidity, survivors, sickness, maternity, and funeral benefits. The Act also complements compensation under the Workmens Compensation law for injury or

accidental death arising out of or in the course of employment or disease due to the nature of employment. The Act further establishes a National Insurance Fund.

Other Acts The regulation of hours of work, wages and other conditions of work, duties and obligations relating to employers and employees are covered by the following legislation: Ø Licensed Premises Act, Chapter 82 (No.22 of 1944) Ø Shops (consolidation) Act, Chapter 91:04 (No. 33 of 1958) Ø Wages Council Act, Chapter 98:04 (No. 51 of 1956) for the establishment of wages councils Ø Employment Exchange Act, Chapter 98:05 (No. 21 of 1944) for the establishment of employment exchanges Ø The Recruitment of Workers Act, Chapter 98:06 (No. 9 of 1943) to regulate the recruiting of workers Ø Employment of young persons and children Act, Chapter 99:01 (No. 14 of 1933/ No. 9 of 1999) Ø Holidays with Pay Act, Chapter 99:02, (No. 6 of 1995)

to provide for the grant and regulation of annual holidays with pay for all categories of workers Ø Labour (Conditions of Employment of certain workers) Act, Chapter 99:03 (No. 18 of 1978) to regulate the conditions of employment of certain workers Ø Accidental Deaths and Workmens Injuries (Compensation) Act, Chapter 99:05 (No. 21 of 1916) to make certain provision for accidental death and personal injury.

This is in addition to any benefits obtained under the National Insurance and Social Security Act or any entitlements from any other service. Ø Bakeries (Hours of Work) Act Chapter 99:07 (No. 4 of 1946) to regulate the working hours in bakeries. Ø Household Service Workers (Hours of Work) Act (No. 17 of 1980) to regulate the working hours of household service workers.

(Reference: The System of Industrial Relations in Guyana by Samuel J. Goolsarran, and published by the ILO) With thanks, Samuel J. Goolsarran

From page 4 what they used to call here the 10 and 15 and 20 percent society. Thinking of all this, I come to one conclusion: we have a leader who lives in an alternate universe and the other who rules in his own separate governance kingdom.

But nobody wants to hear about these little distractions.

Tell them about prosperity, no matter that it is a mirage for the men and women that dont matter.

Some say that people cant eat infrastructure and GDP dont translate to Guyanese having a good time, as in being able to afford rent money and medicines. My advice is that citizens on the wrong side of the equation and the sticky end of the stick had better start figuring out just how to do that, since that is what stares in the face, as Guyanese may be forced to eat grass.

Yes, we have oil, but for the big people only; I recommend checking Nigeria and Venezuela.

For sure, there will be jobs galore. Fetchers of water and pushers of wheelbarrows and servers of masters,

which should suffice to keep contentment on the palate. I close out by reminding my brethren that if they think that that mob on the warpath along the East Coast was about a police killing, then they had better come to their senses.

Sixteen may sound sweet, but everyone please get some sense, as there are multiples of that number who are disgruntled, which is a grave problem.

It is the one Guyana of which we can be sure, and as the oil comes that state of mind is here to stay. It is intense and widespread, and not going away, like I now do.

Hopefully, the second half of 2022 will be better. Different?

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor.

Say no to it.

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Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

Terrorism (Racism) in Guyana We must let the system function DEAR EDITOR, Dear Land Of Guyana, we have domestic terrorism within our midst. It is very clear who is the known terrorist organisation in Guyana with a cult like following who use every excuse to cause havoc on our beautiful nation - (rich with more than enough resources to feed all Guyanese) Throughout the history of Guyana, it has been shown and proven that the Indian Guyanese have been marginalised, intimidated, bullied, beaten, robbed and killed at the behest of others.

Tuesday we witnessed a failure by the armed services to protect and control the ‘protesters’ that walked from Golden Grove miles east of the Annandale to Mon Repos block where the police and

army allowed the crowd to pass at the Vigilance police station. This confirmed something sinister was afoot.

The BV police station was notified and the police were mobilised in numbers only at the BV police station but not deployed to stop the mob from proceeding further towards Mon Repos where they wreaked havoc on the vendors and other persons of Indian descent in the Market Area. Police were deployed to Industry area instead of further east where the actual terrorism occurred.

If anyone is right thinking, it is clear that we have a domestic terrorism problem within our country and need new laws and policies along with dedicated men and women as police officers who

would treat persons fairly not because of the tone of their skin. I say tone because we are not far apart from the same tone.

It is time to identify and bring more serious laws and policies that have to be enforced to prevent any of the above from ever recurring in this modern time with access to so much technology and training.

We have a resource rich country that requires all Guyanese to work together in order to make our country better.

Police need to be proactive and act fairly and do their work for every citizen, not just the rich and influential who gives bribes.

THIS IS THE LAST STRAW! C. Singh

Mr. Norton lost a glorious opportunity to prove himself DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Aubrey Norton, leader of the PNC, lost a glorious opportunity to show himself to the Guyanese people and the world that he is worthy to lead the nation during the mayhem on June 28 on the ECD. Norton could have proved himself as potential statesmanship material and win

hearts as well as votes had he stepped in and stopped the madness in which (Indian) businesses were thrashed, persons beaten, vehicles burned, and goods and other stocks which were blatantly stolen from innocent, hardworking people.

Where was the opposition leader when the

Guyanese people needed him? He was nowhere to be found! His absence was palpable and discernable. One can t help asking what was in the mind of the opposition leader. With all the recent blunders of Mr. Norton, is it time for a new PNC leader?

Yours truly, Dr. Devanand Bhagwan

DEAR EDITOR, The Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana Inc. (AOAG) strongly condemns the violent and completely lawless behaviour that occurred on the 28th June, 2022, on the East Coast of Demerara.

We join the nation in the call for justice for Quindon Bacchus and reiterate our confidence in our justice system. We must let the system function.

We lend our support to

the grieving family. We are confident that the system will provide fast, efficient, and accurate investigations in this case.

Violence has only increased the amount of suffering we feel as a nation and as a people.

The AOAG always supports the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression within the rule of law.

We will never accept nor tolerate those who attempt to use this tragedy as an oppor-

tunity for violence and endangering the peace and the lives and property of others.

We fully support the security forces in their enforcement of the law and the maintenance of peace and safety of our neighborhoods and country.

We must come together when violence threatens the peace and challenges the rule of law in support of one another as patriotic Guyanese.

Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana Inc.

Red Thread in solidarity with Bacchus family, condemns violence meted out to vendors DEAR EDITOR, Red Thread stands in solidarity with the family of Quindon Bacchus, the young African-Guyanese man and father killed by police.

We join those who took to the streets to join a grieving family and Golden Grove and other residents standing with them and demanding justice for the son of this community in the face of this most recent extra-judicial killing. Citizens have a right to peaceful and determined protest and assembly when faced with injustice.

We also condemn the violence visited upon vendors at Mon Repos. An IndianGuyanese single mother was

assaulted and lost her “boxhand” which was to pay her daughters school fees. An Indian-Guyanese vendor was attacked, robbed and had his minibus set on fire.

Each of us has a responsibility to speak out against wrongdoing, whether it is police violence or intercommunity violence. We have a responsibility to condemn racial behaviour, actions and attitudes, past and present.

We have a responsibility to speak up and insist that there is no excuse or justification for looting, physical and verbal assault, threats and the destruction of people’s livelihoods.

Violence against any one

of us demeans all of us. We cannot continue to be divided in our responses. This kind of separation is our downfall and feeds the fear, anger and distrust. It must stop.

There must be justice for Quindon Bacchus and there must be justice for the vendors at Mon Repos market.

It is only collective action, within and across our various communities that can bring a halt to these deadly divisions.

Sincerely, Susan Collymore Karen de Souza Joy Marcus Halima Khan Vanessa Ross Alissa Trotz Wintress White Red Thread

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

President Ali must always remember one thing: Presidents in word and deed must be for all the people. This is even in attitude too.

Quite reasonably and humanly, the President found a way to get to Mon Repos on Tuesday. Most regrettably, President Ali could not find it in himself to go to Golden Grove, where the first blow was delivered, a great harm was inflicted upon a young man now gone, and a community left behind to pick up the pieces.

The people there hurt too, just like our Guyanese brothers and sisters from what occurred at Mon Repos.

Presidents must be even-tempered and evenhanded in appearance and in action. Given what President Ali rushed to do at Mon Repos and what resisted doing for Golden Grove confirms that his learning curve is both long and steep. For the peace and tranquility of this society, may he grow up quickly.

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

The City Hall building that is under construction.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 01, 2022

City Hall restoration on track to meet 2023 deadline - Mayor

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eorgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine is anticipating that by second quarter of next year works to restore the historic City Hall building will be completed.

Speaking at a recent press conference, the Mayor told the media that he believes that the contractors can meet the deadline which was stipulated in the contract, based on the work they have put out. Narine said, “The restoration is going very well based on what we have seen, I believe that the building is scheduled to finish May-June 2023.”

The Mayor also updated the media on the progress of the reconstruction of an

administrative building to house City Hall employees.

According to him, an issue was raised with figures in the bill of quantities for the project. “The entire bill of quantities that the City Engineer outlined in this contract, most of it is inaccurate.

It’s that I don’t have too much knowledge on the issue but I heard the contractor used the money, maybe a few million dollars; and I believe we paid for unmeasured works. So both contractors in the City Engineer’s Department have faults,” he outlined.

The Mayor noted that the admin building should have been completed two months ago but “the contractor

complained numerous times that the bill of quantities within this contract is not matching the building.”

According to the Mayor, until the council is looking to investigate to get to the bottom of the issue.

Last year, a contract for the Georgetown City Hall restoration project totalling $780M was signed between the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the contractors of Fides Guyana Inc. The contract related to the restoration of City Hall combined efforts of the Central and Local Government, the European Union Delegation and the M&CC.

Friday July 01, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Blocking of a public thoroughfare by protestors is not a peaceful act In the United States, particularly in recent times, violent protests have erupted following killings of suspects. But in Guyana, the violence broke out, not following the killing of Quindon Bacchus but following reports that the police rank, who is alleged to have fired the fatal shot that killed Bacchus, was ordered by the courts to be placed under open arrest rather than close arrest.

Given that the violence erupted in response to news concerning the nature of his alleged assailants status of confinement prior, in some jurisdictions in the United States, the lawyers would have already approached the court with an application that in such circumstances, an accused could not be assured of a fair trial within the jurisdiction.

Many years ago, a man named Arnold Rampersaud was tried three times on a charge of murder. When he was first brought to trial at the New Amsterdam High Court, the State filed an application for the trial to be moved to Georgetown. It contended that a fair judgment could not have been had in Berbice since the shooting was a protest against road tolls on the Corentyne highway.

A policeman is presently under open arrest pending the completion of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Bacchus. If per chance, the policeman is charged, there is nothing which can prevent his lawyers from challenging his right to a fair trial in the East Coast jurisdiction.

If the matter goes to a High Court trial, the defence can argue that the right to fair trial had been prejudiced by the protests. This is something which the protestors may not have factored into

their actions.

The protestors also seem to be of the opinion that it is lawful to blockade the public roads. They need to disabuse themselves of this belief.

The right to peaceful assembly and protest is a protected right. But that right is only protected so long as the protests are peaceful and do not impinge on the rights of others. That is, the exercise of the right to demonstrate is only lawful when it does not interfere with the rights and freedoms of other persons.

The blocking of a public thoroughfare infringes on the rights of others to freedom of movement. It is therefore unlawful and is not a peaceful act. The police are also within their rights to intervene to restore public order or to prevent a breach of the peace or ensure public safety.

However, in Guyana there has been much confusion between the right to demonstrate and the right to cause disturbance. There are some individuals and organisations that are of the misguided view that unless protests create disturbance they are not effective.

Much of the tragedies which have occurred during protest action have been as a consequence of the failure of the organisers to distinguish between a peaceful demonstration and a disturbance. A disturbance, including through blocking of public thoroughfares, is not lawful and is not a legitimate form of protest.

From the shooting of sugar workers at Enmore in 1948 to those killed a few years ago during protests at Linden, people have been led to believe that preventing the free movement of others is a legitimate form of protest. At Enmore, the striking workers

tried to prevent other workers from entering the workplace.

The Linden Commission of Inquiry Report found that at the centre of the circumstances surrounding the events at the bridge was the breach of the conditions imposed in relation to a march by the protestors. The COI believed that had the protestors responded favourably to the withdrawal request made by the police, the result of the event would have been completely different.

The COI found that there were conditions attached to the permission for the march and that these conditions were breached. And that was the source of the problems which ensued.

The Commissioners found that the bridge was blocked at several points both by persons and foreign material, e.g. logs. Persons going about their lawful business were unlawfully denied access to the bridge and some were set upon and beaten.

They noted that in those circumstances, the police had an obligation to prevent the blocking of the bridge and the assault of persons.

In their report, the Commissioners said, “The justice of a cause seldom if ever justifies a breach of the Constitution and certainly in this situation, we are of the view that, whilst we empathise with the citizens, resorting to unlawful means could not have been condoned by the police.”

The Commissioners argued that the organisers must accept some responsibility for what transpired since blocking of the bridge was unlawful and unconstitutional.

They sounded a caution when they said: “Organisers of and participants in demon-

Dem boys seh...

Things deh pon a roll Nuff unusual things does happen in Guyana. People does do things hay dat dont happen nowhere else in de world. But wey yuh know people does go out and buy one roll toilet paper? Dem boys never hear about anybody buying one roll toilet paper.

People does buy a bale, a packet or even a few rolls depending pon how yuh money does stretch. But one roll?

Things must be tight or it hit rock bottom fuh somebody guh and buy one roll toilet

paper.

Dem boys never hear bout somebody walking down de road with one roll in dem hand and not even in a plastic bag. Dat is one fuh de books!

Imagine dis is wat Guyana come to. People walking down de highway, not just any road or dam, with toilet paper.

Dem nah know whether dem coming or going. And dem certainly nah had nowhere fuh guh if de need de arise.

But dem was not unhappy

about de situation. Yuh see when yuh gat toilet paper, yuh does always be happy because yuh always deh pon a roll. But is when de roll done dat de party done.

People use to feel dat toilet paper does help de police solve crimes. Dem seh de toilet paper does get to de bottom ah things. But we local police done mek dem story clear. Dem cant investigate any stolen toilet paper because dem dont have anything to go on.

Talk half. Leff half.

strations, we hope, will agree that obedience to the law in carrying out justifiable demonstrations can enhance their cause amongst well thinking members of the society whilst behaviour that is chaotic can cause mayhem, death, injury and alienate empathisers.”

Protests do not need to create a disturbance to be effective. The most effective protests in recent times did not involve the blocking of any roads. The peaceful but large protests against the parking meter contract led to the abandonment of the

scheme.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Friday July 01, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Election 2020, Cotton Tree 2020, Mon Repos 2022: I know Guyana

I

haven’t spent over 55 years in social, political and human rights activism and over 48 years as a trained university mind and learned nothing about the nationality named Guyanese.

On the contrary, I’ve learned a lot about the nationality named Guyanese. I know this country. I know its people. I know their deep-seated flaws. I know their innate philosophical absenteeism. I know their flaky moral character.

I encounter a sentiment on social media, in the mainstream media, in emails and in physical contact all the time since the general election of March 2020. It goes like this – “Freddie you don’t criticise the government any longer, Freddie you supporting the PPP.” In my recent television interview with Naim Chan, he asked the question. A

letter as recent as last week in this newspaper made a comment on the issue.

I don’t read the Stabroek News online since I buy the print version. Dozens of persons have informed me that in the online edition, in r e s p o n s e t o r e a d e r ’s comments, the moderator would attack me. I have been sent screen-shots of some of those comments which include accusing me of hypocrisy in supporting the government.

Here is a bet and Kaieteur News’ management should do the morally right thing and ask me to stop writing because a sacred principle is involved.

If I lose the bet, I will stop writing.

Let anyone in and out of this country produce just one editorial from the Stabroek News on the termination of my UG contract in December 2011 despite two weeks of strike and protest on the campus against the

action.

Let anyone produce even one word, I repeat, one word, from the Guyana Human Rights Association on the dismissal that was ruled illegal by the Ombudsman.

Let anyone produce one word, yes one word, from the Trade Union Congress on the dismissal even though my union which called the strike was a member of the TUC. Let anyone produce any word in the media between 2015 and 2020 asking the new APNU+AFC government as to why my wife was not asked if she would like to resume her job at GOINVEST. Guyanese people in and out of the land would get a stroke if they know what Khemraj Ramjattan last week told Norman Brown of the PNC group in UK. It was about why the APNU+AFC government didn’t seek to reinstate me at UG. I leave it to those interested to ask Ramjattan

and Norman, who I consider a principled activist who would not lie.

The line that is about to follow, I penned three times before on this page and I am doing so for the 4th time because I know Mr. Glenn Lall, the owner of this paper, is not the kind that would deny a policy or action he initiated.

Of the 11 libel writs I received in the 28 years that I wrote for Kaieteur News, I had to find my own lawyer. I have never seen any reaction to that disclosure.

Let me say with pellucid vociferousness, I consider as clowns, idiots, hypocrites and depraved minds those that have accused me and are accusing me of being soft on the government or supporting the government.

I am unapologetic about who I have become since 2022.

I am not a coward, not a hypocrite therefore, people who are such have no moral

right to criticise me. I am unmoved at the expressions of their ugly minds.

Frederick Kissoon The Guyanese nationality is an ugly, nasty people was sickening. I am saying now, that silence will one.

I know this country and be repeated over what its people. I wrote that as happened at Mon Repos last soon as the new government Tuesday.

Just watch me and see takes office in August 2020, those who remained silent on how accurate will be my the election rigging will find prediction.

Give it a few weeks and their voice to write antit h e letters against government things. I was government policies by the right.

Just weeks after, there usual suspects and their was a letter in the press with acolytes will start pouring 72 signatures, condemning it. This is the state of t h e g o v e r n m e n t f o r Guyana.

I end with a bold accepting a visit by then Secretary of State, Mike statement. I have fought for rights and justice in Guyana Pompeo.

I wrote that there will be for over 55 years. Those in people barefaced enough to 2022 who criticise me for not stay silent on the inciting role being part of their agenda PNC leaders played when can kiss you know what.

(The views expressed in they went up to Cotton Tree in September 2020, then this article are those of the violent attacks on Indians a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the followed. opinions of this newspaper.)

The silence of these

Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Friday July 01, 2022

Tucville man gets 11 years for raping, battering sex worker

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n his address to the court moments before his sentencing was handed down, Thurston Semple, 38, a taxidriver of Lot 5A, Tucville Te r r a c e , G e o r g e t o w n , maintained his innocence, claiming that he did not rape or batter a Venezuelan woman.

Semple’s matter was heard by Priya SewnarineBeharry in the Demerara High Court. The case was prosecuted by State Counsel, Nafeeza Baig, Muntaz Ali and Latifah Elliot, while attorney-at-law, Everton Singh-Lammy, represented Semple.

Semple had denied that between February 24 and February 25, 2021, at Tucville, Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration with a 30-yearold Venezuelan woman without her consent. He had also denied that on the same day and at the same location,

he caused the woman actual bodily harm.

However, on Friday March 25, after two hours of deliberating, a mixed 12member jury returned with two guilty verdicts, finding Semple guilty of battering and raping the woman who at the time was a sex worker.

Earlier in June, when the matter was called, Semple’s lawyer had requested that a psychiatric evaluation be conducted on his client rather than a psychological evaluation.

It should be noted that a psychiatric assessment is more specific, as it focuses on mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. On the other hand, a psychological evaluation looks at attitude, emotions, thoughts, and behaviour.

Justice SewnarineBeharry had deferred Semple’s sentencing and ordered that a psychological

evaluation be conducted on him.

She had also ordered that a probation report be prepared in his favour.

During Wednesday’s virtual hearing of the matter, Dr. Menawattie Rajkumar, a forensic physiatrist, attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) reported to the court that based on her evaluation conducted on Semple, she diagnosed him with antisocial personality disorder.

She explained that someone with anti-social personality disorder is unable to accept when they are wrong since they only think they are right, lack empathy and remorse about harming others. She told the court that someone with such disorder often have criminal behaviour.

According to the doctor, Semple gave very detailed information in relation to the crime but calls himself the

Rapist, Thurston Semple. victim, and blames third party for what occurred. She pointed out that he showed no form of mental illness, just a personality disorder.

Justice SewnarineBeharry then asked Semple if he has anything to say before his sentencing was handed down. In his address, Semple lashed out stating: “She [the doctor] asked me to talk the truth and when I did, she telling me I have a disorder when she only talk to me for five minutes.”

He then went on to say that he is facing an injustice since he was seduced by the woman and did not commit any crime or raped anyone before. The convict even verbally attacked his lawyer stating that he never came and visited him in the prison since he has been incarcerated.

The judge then reminded him that he had a chance to lead his defence during the trial and now is not the time for what he was saying. To this, Semple responded, “Whatever you give me, I will accept same way.”

In a plea of mitigation, Semple’s lawyer reminded the court that his client is young, a model prisoner and needs to be assisted medically.

The lawyer noted too that his client was physically attacked twice since being incarcerated.

Justice SewnarineBeharry then handed Semple an 11 years sentence for the rape charge and four years for the assault charge – his charges will run concurrently. However, she noted that the time he spent

Semple during the hearing on Thursday as he proclaimed his innocence. on remand must be deducted and ordered that Semple undergo a psychological evaluation at the GPHC. Kaieteur News had reported that according to the victim, on the February 24, 2021, she was on the corner of Jenny’s Family store in front of the Nova International Hotel, Georgetown when around 22:30 hours, Semple drove up in his vehicle and spoke with her.

He eventually made an agreement with the woman for $10,000 and as such, she left with him and they went to his residence.

Upon arrival, she went into his house, sat on his bed and smoked a cigarette. The two then engaged in sexual intercourse.

However, during the sexual intercourse, the condom broke, and she replaced it but informed Semple that he only had 15 minutes remaining and if he does not finish within that time, she will leave.

In response, Semple told the victim ‘ok’ and walked into the kitchen and returned with a knife while the woman was getting dressed.

He then told her, inter alia, that she is “not going anywhere.” As such, the woman then told Semple to keep the money and she will leave in peace.

However, he grabbed her hair, placed the knife to her neck, removed the condom and inserted his penis into her mouth.

The victim recounted that Semple then ordered her to perform oral sex on him and she complied. Sometime after, she stopped, and Semple slapped her. The woman then asked Semple for some water and as he turned his back to get the said water, she scrambled her clothes and jumped through a glass window.

However, Semple ran

behind her and grabbed her by her hair. The woman recounted that she was naked when he held onto her and stabbed her.

She then managed to hold onto the knife but Semple then armed himself with a plastic tube filled with cement and continued to beat her.

A passerby then stopped and asked Semple what happened and he said, “Nothing.” However, the woman cried out for help, telling the person that she was a prostitute. Two of his neighbours also called out to him to stop and he told the victim no one is going to help her because they are afraid of him and that she is going to be his 24th victim.

The woman then gathered strength and jumped the fence. Semple’s neighbours promptly went to her rescue. The police were subsequently alerted and arrived some time after. The victim was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was examined.

When Semple was cautioned by the arresting officer he said, “Officer, I did have sex with her; I pay her for the service, and she refuse to do what I asked and I assaulted her in her face with a PVC pipe.”

Notably, Semple is no stranger to the court and also has similar matters pending before the court. There are media reports of Semple’s past indiscretions.

Reports indicate that Semple was charged for allegedly engaging in sexual penetration with a woman without her consent on August 31, 2017, at Quamina Street, Georgetown.

Also, on January 12, 2018, Semple was charged for allegedly tying up two sex workers on separate occasions and having sex with them.

Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Elderly Mon Repos One more COVID-19 woman stabbed to death death, 70 new cases

A

71-year-old man from Region Four is the country’s latest COVID-19 fatality. This is according to the Ministry of Health, which on Thursday reported that as a result of this, Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,254.

Meanwhile, in its updated COVID-19 dashboard, the Health Ministry recorded 70

new infections, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 67,395. The dashboard data shows that two patients are admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 26 persons are in institutional isolation, 821 in home isolation and two in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 65,292 persons have recovered from the virus.

An 86-year-old woman of Mon Repos was on Thursday morning found stabbed to death in her home, police have confirmed.

The dead woman has been identified as Agnes Dilon of 32 Mon Repos North, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Dilon, according to police, lived alone and was last seen alive around 1 7 : 0 0 h r s o n Tu e s d a y washing clothes. Kaieteur News was told that Dilon would normally “be up and about” very early in the morning but on Thursday, she did not come out of her house. Her landlord decided to call her phone but the calls went unanswered.

As time went by, the landlord became concerned and decided to contact a neighbour for assistance in prising open a window so that they can check up on the woman. It was then they made the gruesome discovery of Dilon lying in a pool of blood. Police were summoned to the scene as well as an Emergency Medical team. The woman’s body was examined and pronounced dead on the scene. Crime scene detectives suspect that woman was brutally stabbed and chopped to death. They

A photo taken of the crime scene

observed what looked like stab wounds to her left and right upper chest. Suspected chop wounds were also seen on her right hand and right side face. Her killer,

however, remains a mystery.

So far, no one has reported seeing any one visiting the woman or hearing any screams.

Investigations continue.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

Friday July 01, 2022

PAGE 15

Govt. could have avoided pitfalls in Local Content Bill but ignored calls for amendments - Patterson

O

pposition Parliamentarian and Former Minister of P u b l i c Wo r k s , D a v i d Patterson is of the view that the Government of Guyana could have avoided pitfalls of the Local Content Bill (LCB) had they heeded the calls for amendments when the issues were raised in the National Assembly.

His comments come even as concerns are being raised over one Trinidadowned company’s ploy to benefit from Guyana’s local content provisions. Ramps Logistics Guyana Inc. has complained that it was denied a local content certificate even though the company is 51 percent Guyanese owned, given its Chairman Trinidad born Deepak Lall, has strong connections to Guyana through his patriarchal family. Lall was granted citizenship in Guyana just after three months.

Alluding to the scenario, Patterson said that some of the issues being highlighted in the media could have been avoided if the government had taken into account the proposed amendments to the LCB before it became law. In a letter to the editor, the former minister noted that several issues including the need for Guyana Citizenship Act to be amended and a completely new immigration policy to be in place before the LCB is passed was raised.

“The intention of the law basically is for Guyanese to have the benefit of the oil and gas industry. Our laws are very loose, since it never envisioned this oil bonanza, so an example is that we currently allow dual citizenship, so all that any of the say US companies operating here, can apply for citizenship, be granted same, and then qualify for the full benefit of the Local Content provisions,” Patterson told Kaieteur News in a follow up interview.

He therefore believes that the full purpose of the proposed law cannot be realized until a holistic immigration policy is put in place. Referencing, the Ramps Logistics, Patterson lamented that the local content law is really useless if anyone can go through the backdoor…and be granted citizenship in three months.”

Pointing to US, the Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) noted or a Guyanese to become an American citizen, he has to go there, live in that country for a set time (say three years) once then can he apply for citizenship - if he qualifies - this is true for most countries with local content laws.

He continued, “So it was recommended that until we amend holistically the Citizenship laws, that the beneficial persons be limited to the existing group of Guyanese citizens —those can be changed, which would allow persons who have a right to become citizens because of their d e s c e n d a n t s t o a p p l y, however it would also be a requirement that they live in the country for some time (say two years) before same is granted.”

The A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Parliamentarian also pointed to the other challenges that were highlighted regarding the route that the Government was taking during the debate on the LCB Bill in the National Assembly, last December.

According to Patterson, the proposed amendment was for any application that was rejected to have the right of appeal to an independent review panel appointed by the minister. The proposal, he said was for the Minister to appoint a panel comprising of not less than three persons, one of whom must be from civil society – such an amendment would have gone a long way in

addressing the current impasse between the secretariat and the logistics operator. Patterson noted that a submission of proposed amendments was made to the LCB, to avoid some of the most oblivious pitfalls. “All the proposed amendments were rejected by the Government in their rush to pass this bill and their continued posture of a lack of inclusivity.” “…There was much laughter and heckling from

the Government side [of the House], when the issue of the proposed LCB conflicting with Article 7 of Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas – an issue that has since come to light and is yet to be resolved and which may eventually engage our apex court,” Patterson added, while emphasizing that all recommendations which would have gone a long way to providing a clear path to dealing with local content issues now and in the future.

Opposition Parliamentarian and Former Minister of Public Works, David Patterson.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Friday July 01, 2022

Missing hairdresser found dead on - soldier roadside, wrapped in plastic in custody A hairdresser who had left her home on Wednesday to do business in Canje was found dead Thursday morning with her body wrapped in a plastic bag and tucked away in a clump of bush on the Courtland Public Road, Corentyne Berbice.

Dead is 29-year-old Donalesa Park of East Canje, Berbice. Police have arrested for the crime, a member of the Guyana Defence Force, 33-year-old Collin Hazel also of Courtland, Corentyne.

In a statement, the Guyana Police Force said

Onlookers outside the home of the soldier

that the body was found at about 07:00hrs. According to the Donalesa’s sister, she last saw her sibling alive on June 29, 2022 at about 08:00hrs at their East Canje home where they both reside. The deceased woman reportedly told her sister then that she was going to braid someone’s hair at Fort Ordinance, East Canje, Berbice. According to the police about 06:00hrs Thursday, the sister called the individual whose hair Donalesa told her she was going to braid but the individual told her that Park

Donalesa Park’s body being removed from the scene

Donalesa Park never showed up and explained that the woman called and told her she had to go to Corentyne.

Subsequently, at about 07:00hrs, Donalesa Park’s body was found wrapped in plastic on the Courtland Vi l l a g e P u b l i c R o a d , Corentyne, Berbice.

Meanwhile, Regional Commander Boodnarine Persaud said the 29-year-old woman appeared to have been strangled. According to an uncle of the dead woman, Mortimer Amsterdam, after Park did not return home, he along with the woman’s sister and her mother visited the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam to file a missing person report with the police. They then travelled to the Corentyne to the home of the soldier since they knew she had conducted business with him before.

Amsterdam said, “she left to go and comb a girl hair

Uncle of the deceased, Mortimer Amsterdam

in (Islington) but when she reach, the girl wasn’t there.

And based on what I understand is that this gentleman (soldier) does bring some detergent for her from Lethem and so she apparently left to collect the detergent from the boy and when she come to collect it

from he that is what took place.” Amsterdam disclosed that when the mother arrived at the soldier’s home and made enquiries from his relatives.

“They know the boy does live there and his sister told them that the boy (soldier) (Continued on page 20)

Kaieteur News

Friday July 01, 2022

PAGE 17

US$3.2M contract given to Indian firm to supervise Ogle to Eccles road project

T

he Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) on Wednesday signed a US$3.2 million contract with RITES Limited to supervise the construction of the new Ogle to Eccles by-pass four-lane road.

RITES (Rail India and Technical Economic Service) Limited is an Indian enterprise which was established in 1974. The company is a multi-disciplinary consultancy organization in the fields of transport, infrastructure and related technologies.

RITES will be providing supervision services for some 34 months and this includes the period for defect liability. As reported on, the Ministry on Friday signed a contract with Ashoka Buildcon Limited an Indian firm which will be constructing the road. Ashoka won the US$106.4M through a public procurement process and is

Op-Ed: How fitting that the United States hosted the Ninth Summit of the Americas in June, when we celebrate Caribbean American Heritage month.

Through a coincidence of timing, the Summit of the Americas took place at the same time as my own, long-planned family reunion

expected to complete the road in two years. The project is being financed through a loan provided by the Indian Export Import Bank.

The project would see the construction of a 7.8 kilometres four-lane highway, each one of the lanes would be 3.6 metres wide and will include a median in the middle of the highway. Some of the features of the project include a connector to the Eccles access road, sidewalks and a number of structures that would be constructed along the way.

The highway road when completed will not only ease traffic congestion but to help commuters who wish not to travel through the city, to get to areas of the East Bank.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill has stated at the signing ceremony that the road is just phase one of connecting the East Coast Demerara to the East Bank

The Ministry of Public Works, Permanent Secretary (ag) Ron Rahaman (seated left) signing the contract with a representatives of RITES Limited yesterday. (Photo: MoPW) Demerara.

“The intent is that this must be able to get all the way linking the Ogle International Airport with the Timehri International Airport. This

is just Phase one and in that linkage, there is a number of connected roads bringing to us to what is now commonly known as the East Bank road,” he briefed. The road which

would not only be connecting the two areas would also open new lands for housing, agriculture and industrial development, Minister Edghill pointed out.

The Summit of the Americas Hits Home: Our Relationship and My Family History in Barbados. This confluence of events led me to reflect on my history and the generations of ancestors that led me to the Summit in Los Angeles. My paternal grandfather, Charles Nichols, was born in Saint George, Barbados in 1877.

He worked on the Panama

Canal with others from the Caribbean; particularly 75,000 Bajans, the largest nationality group to labour on this great engineering project. Through this work, he earned enough money to emigrate to the United States with his wife, Julia King, and their children. My father was born in

Brooklyn, the youngest of eleven and the second to be born in America. As the youngest son of a youngest son, myself, I am proud that my roots connect me so strongly to the Caribbean.

Events like the Summit of the Americas recognize the ties that bind our hemisphere together, and I

feel grateful to reflect on the values and the heritage that we share with our Caribbean neighbors. I count myself as a member of the Caribbean diaspora that helped build the United States. Our country continues to benefit from this community’s many (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Friday July 01, 2022

Gas-to-Shore project to commence by year end …as President touts profitability without final price tag

By Gary Eleazar

T

he Government of Guyana has concluded its latest round of negotiations with ExxonMobil Guyana and its Stabroek Block partners on the Gas to Shore Energy Project, and according to Head of State, President Ali, the final agreement will see the project coming in much less than had been previously envisioned.

While not giving a final price tag, since that will be determined through the final bidding process, President Ali has concluded that the project will cost the nation over the course of its life between four and five US cents per kilowatt hour. The President is adamant that this figure, down from the previous seven US cents per kilo watt hour, includes the full repayment of the 22"

pipeline that would be providing some 50 million standard cubic feet of Natural Gas daily to the onshore project.

President Ali was at the time outlining the course forward in relation to the development of the project at a special briefing held at State House yesterday. The activity saw in attendance senior executives from each of the oil partners, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration and CNOOC. Additionally, there was representation from members of the Diplomatic Corps, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister mark Phillips and key Cabinet Members.

Others present included Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop and a number of business

principals.

Mental Transformation President Ali in addressing the issue of a final price tag for the project, intimated that while there have been a number of figures being floated, a final cost for the project could not be had as yet since that would be determined through the final bidding process. According to the President, with the negotiations now concluded and with deadline for Request for proposals ending in September, it is expected that contracts would be signed for the project in the last quarter of the year.

He did disclose that in the coming days, the administration would be looking to secure a Project Manager through a public tender process. Speaking to the benefits to be had from the project, the President

said the initiative includes the natural gas liquids plant and a 300 mega watt (MW) electricity project. To this end, he was adamant that the initiative could not be viewed as an isolated project but must be situated in the overall development transformation of the country that includes Energy Security. “To fit the gas to shore project narrowly in just a singular project would be doing an injustice to the overall development plan and agenda of the country.”

He was adamant that the project was linked to each of the other developmental pillars, namely i n f r a s t r u c t u r e transformation, the greater embrace of technology, improved services such as health and education, energy, food security as well as economic transformation and diversification.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e President said, he was looking to add “mental transformation” since the new developmental agenda of the country is being pursued on a larger scale, a scale that requires a new mindset. With some 220,000 households on the national grid being supplied by the Guyana Power and Light Company Inc., President Ali noted that the company

Head of State, President Irfaan Ali (at podium), provides on outline on the way forward for the Gas to Shore project generates some $40B in revenues annually.

Savings According to the President, with electricity bills slashed in half, it would mean that $20B would immediately be saved through the initiative, which would mean an additional $20B in disposable income in the pockets of Guyanese.

Additionally, President Ali said with the new power plant in place, it would also mean an additional US$11M in monthly savings as a result of the savings to be had from purchasing less fuel for electricity generation.

As it relates to the other proposed facility, namely the NGL plant, President Ali noted that the industry generates some $10.1B in revenue.

As such, he noted that with the NGL plant being able to supply some 3,500 barrels daily, it would surpass the local demands

which requires about just over 780 barrels.

With this in mind, the President said that not only would there be a $7B saving but with cooking gas presently retailing at $4,500 per 20 lbs cylinder, the President said with the NGL plant up and running, the administration would be able to provide its citizenry with cheaper cooking gas.

He did rule out the provision of free cooking gas to the public, since according to President Ali that would not be sustainable.

Prefacing his pronouncements on the project and the administration’s desire to move ahead with the project, the president was adamant that there had been enough time given to the citizenry to question the merits of the project. According to the President, the matter had been fully ventilated and all (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Friday July 01, 2022

Gas-to-Shore project to...

From page 18 questions answered. It should be noted that there has been no formal briefing by the President or the Vice President on to fully question the project as intimated by Ali. Prosperous Road He said, “…for this industry to be successful, for Guyana to be successful, it requires partnership” including with developmental partners and importantly the people of the country.

“If we as a country are to be successful, you have to have strong and bold decision making and I want to assure the Guyanese and our developmental partners that we are prepared to make those strong, decisive, bold decisions always in the interest of the people of Guyana and to their greater prosperity.”

To this end, he said, “we welcome critical analysis of all decisions; even the Vice President himself leading in this process has opened up every single process to whatever question there might be in the public domain.”

He continued saying, as far as I am aware, every single question has been provided with an answer because there is absolutely nothing to hide in this process or project, it is above board, it is transparent, it is open.”

President Ali was adamant the project has undergone “every single test of scrutiny but the time has come that we must move forward, having regards for all the questions in the equation, we have to move forward now and that is why we are here today to outline that process through which this project will move forward in bring the desired benefits to the people of this country and advancing the prosperity of the people of this country.”

According to President Ali, the administration has consistently preached of a prosperous road ahead and

that “prosperity can only be derailed by our own action.”

To this end, he quipped, “there is a lot of commentary sometimes that draws analysis on different society but I assure you in each of those analysis, the level of distraction that those societies had to undergo to arrive at where they are, was significantly less than we have here in Guyana.”

Feasibility Studies He said, “…it is very good that we have a very active society but that activism must not ever lead to the detriment of good initiative and good projects.”

President Ali has since concluded in pushing ahead with the project, that it has been tested through public scrutiny, “it fulfilled the test of transparency, it fulfilled the environmental tests.”

On the matter of the project’s feasibility, the President was adamant “this project did not happen by accident.” To this end, he noted, there is a list of feasibility studies that we can reference. To this end, he highlighted that in 2017, there was the GPL System Expansion Study, the Desk Study of the Options cost economics impacts and key considerations of utilizing and transporting natural gas for offshore Guyana for the generation of electricity, the feasibility study for G u y a n a ’s n a t u r a l g a s offshore pipeline, NGL separation and LPG production plant and related electricity infrastructure, Inter-American Development Bank studies, the Ministry of Natural Resources studies, others funded by Mitsubishi out of Japan and a gas to power feasibility assessment in Guyana.

According to President Ali, “there are detailed studies and work that went into where we are today, this is not guess work, this is work that is based on the best possible existing information and data.”

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Friday July 01, 2022

Man who set couple on fire charged with murder C

hristian Joseph, called “Son Son” o f K i t t y, Georgetown, who allegedly set a couple on fire, was remanded to prison for murder.

Joseph appeared in the Bartica Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Crystal Lambert. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on June 20, 2022, he murdered Sheldon Harry, 22, of Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

According to reports, on Sunday June 5, 2022 at

Puruni Landing, Mazaruni River, Region Seven, Joseph had doused Harry and his girlfriend, Greici Mota, 30 with gasoline and set them on fire.

While Mota was treated and discharged from the hospital, Harry who suffered from third degree burns, succumbed on June 20.

Following the incident, Joseph had gone into hiding and it was on June 23, 2022, he was apprehended at ‘Top Side’ Puruni. Kaieteur News had reported that prior to the couple being set on fire;

Joseph and his girlfriend reportedly had a misunderstanding which led to her going over to the camp of the couple to seek help. It was stated that Joseph then followed his girlfriend over to the couple’s camp where he had threatened to hurt her and anyone else who intervened.

In fact, in a video seen by this publication, Joseph clad with a red and black jersey and black shorts armed with a cutlass confronting his girlfriend. He said, “You left me alone with a f@#king broken heart right good. You

feel he could f@#king represent you that deh deh right. You feel he could represent you, you feel he could do everything right.

Alright good. Good, good, good, good.”

In the other video, he can be heard saying, “Them is Spanish, we is Guyanese.

I do what I gah do. I waiting on any of the f @#king police to come… I gah go for some more rum, y’all gon see, y’all gon see. You make your own demon, you mek your own demon come in me…trust me…wuh I telling you, you mudda

Remanded, Christian Joseph

Dead, Sheldon Harry sk#nt gah feel pain, pain you gah feel, pain and whoever wan come in and include with you and feel they can represent you, them mudda sk#nt gah feel pain to.

That I want you know.”

Following the argument with

Harry and his girlfriend, Joseph can also be seen in another video running the couple with a red bucket of gasoline and a stick on fire.

It is alleged that he threw the gasoline on the couple and then set them afire.

Missing hairdresser found dead on...

From page 16 collected a bottle of wine and go upstairs with the girl (Park) and the next morning, they say, he leave to go back to work but that he supposed to go back to work till next week.”

Amsterdam said that a pair of slippers belonging to his now dead niece was found near the steps of the house and this prompted a search by her mother and other relatives around the area.

It was during that search that they discovered a plastic bag with what appeared to be a body inside, in the bushes opposite the soldier’s home on the other side of the road.

They immediately contacted the police.

“Opposite the house, in a bush, they see a bag and when they discover the bag, they call in the police and the police come and search and they find the bag with the girl inside”, he said.

It was not long after that the body was identified to be that of Park. The father of Park’s five-year-old child was also present at the scene and expressed anger at what had taken place.

The body was removed subsequently and taken to t h e R a m o o ’s F u n e r a l Parlour. An investigation is underway by ranks of the Major Crimes Unit and detectives in Berbice.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 01, 2022

PAGE 21

Safety data sheet says spilled Asphaltene Inhibitor bad for aquatic life

A

safety data sheet outlining information about the chemical asphaltene inhibitor which spilled during a transfer to the Stabroek Block Liza Destiny floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) has been noted to pose long term hazard to the marine environment.

Kaieteur News became aware of the incident over the weekend and was told that earlier this month, over 900 gallons of the chemical was spilled into the ocean when a GBoats Guyana vessel was making the t r a n s f e r. T h e s a f e t y document states that outside of the chemical being “combustible,” it is “hazardous to the aquatic environment- long term hazard, Category 1” and “Acute hazards to the aquatic environment Category 2.”

It is understood that the various categories speak about how hazardous a product is. Category 1 is always the greatest level of hazard, that is, it is the most hazardous within that class and could be divided further into Category 1A within the same hazard class and is a

A part of the safety sheet highlighting the dangers of the chemicals

greater hazard than category 1B. A United Nations document on Environmental Hazards explained that where the product has a pictogram, then the main concern is its toxicity for aquatic life. Aquatic hazards may include short-term (acute) hazards which look at short-term impacts on various aquatic life forms such as fish, crustaceans, algae, and aquatic plants.

Category 1 deals with the seriousness of toxicity.

The safety data sheet also related other effects of the chemical on human contact.

It highlighted also individual effects of some of the chemicals within the mixture.

These complications include irritation, redness of the eyes, blurred vision and possible permanent damage.

Irritation, corrosion to the skin, burns on absorption of

harmful amounts was also related to the chemical as when as negative effects on the lungs if inhaled. The document continued that and accidental release requires the spill to be cleaned with absorbent material and the required equipment.

Specifically, it was noted that it should be avoided that the chemical runoffs into waterways. The information given in the document said that it is designed only as a guide for safe handling, use, processing, storage, transportation, disposal and release and is not to be considered a warranty or quality specification.

H e a d o f t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Khemraj Parsram has confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the leak of 925 gallons of chemical. He told the Kaieteur News on Monday that the spill occurred earlier this month and a report was made. So far, he said, the matter is still under investigation and all the facts are being ascertained before further steps could be taken.

Kaieteur News reported that the spill would have leaked approximately 18.5 barrels of the chemical into the ocean.

The newspaper was told that the spill occurred on

June 7. It is said that a milky substance was noticed floating atop the water before the transfer was stopped and calculations were conducted to ascertain the amount of substance that was leaked. The newspaper was told that “The chemical asphaltene inhibitor resulted in several fishes dying and floating to the surface.” “I gather no one was paying attention and the hose that linked the two vessels leaked.”

Asphaltene inhibitor is described as a chemical used in the oil and gas industry to remove asphaltenes from crude oil. Asphaltenes are the impurities found in crude oil that if not removed can choke refining equipment.

Asphaltenes can cause significant damage to machinery as they tend to clog highly capitalized infrastructure such as well tubulars, crude oil pipelines and subsurface equipment such as pumps and compressors. This clogging can eventually halt the crude oil refining process.

PAGE 22

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Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

VACANCY Pitmen for interior location.

Applicants must be experie nced.Call:231-2250.

Experienced Joiners,very attractive salary.For further details,please call:640-8969.

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93-year-old man shoots home intruder, fends off others near Los Angeles - A relative said the homeowner had been burglarised multiple times (ABC NEWS) - A 93-yearold suburban Los Angeles homeowner, who a relative said was frustrated over being the victim of numerous home break-ins, shot and critically wounded a burglar and scared off the would-be thief’s accomplices, according to authorities.

The retired plumber, identified as Joe Howard Teague by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, turned the tables on the group of home invaders early Wednesday when he grabbed his gun and confronted them inside his house in Moreno Valley, the sheriff’s office said.

Teague called 911 at about 12:30 p.m. and reported a burglary in progress at his home, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. As deputies responded, Teague told a dispatcher he was holding several men at gunpoint, according to the sheriff’s department.

When deputies arrived at Teague’s home, they found one of the suspected burglars suffering from a gunshot wound.

A witness told deputies that several people were seen fleeing Teague’s home on foot prior to the arrival of deputies.

The wounded suspect, identified as Joseph A. Ortega, 33, of Moreno Valley, was hospitalized in critical

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condition, according to the sheriff’s department.

“Investigators have established that several individuals, including Ortega, were inside Teagues property when a shooting occurred,” the sheriff’s department said.

Teague was not injured.

He was taken to a sheriff’s department station, questioned and released, authorities said.

Sheriff’s department officials said it appears the shooting was justified, but added that the investigation is ongoing.

“Based on the severity of Ortegas medical condition,

the Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation,” the sheriff’s department said.

Investigators are working to identify the other assailants. No arrests have been announced.

Teague could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Oscar Malma, whose wife is related Teague, told ABC station KABC in Los Angeles that Teague had been the victim of a string of recent break-ins, including one that occurred on Friday.

Malma said the elderly man had grown increasingly

frustrated over his home being targeted by thieves and the response from local police.

“He was tired because every time he calls the police, the police were taking forever to come and assist him,” Malma said.

He said a burglary Friday at the man’s home occurred in broad daylight.

“And now this happened in the middle of the night,” Malma said. “He was defending his property. That happened inside of his home. So, I don’t think there would be any reason for him to be arrested.”

The Summit of the Americas Hits Home: Our...

From page 17 contributions. We will rely on this support, ingenuity, and energy in implementing the promises of this Summit. We are committed to supporting our Caribbean kin and neighbours, and to implementing the ambitious goals that President Biden and Vice President Harris have set for us. We have already begun this work and it will continue in the weeks and months ahead. During the Summit, the President and Vice President co-hosted their Caribbean counterparts for an indepth and substantive meeting that will further strengthen our partnerships with the region. Our Caribbean neighbours spoke of their economic challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of climate change, food and energy insecurity, and lack of access to low-cost financing. Seized with these challenges, President Biden and Vice President Harris committed to working with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic to form

three high-level committees tasked with developing immediate and concrete, joint, and near-term solutions.

The first of these committees, which I will co-chair for the United States, addresses the critical issue of food security, something I know Guyana has been thinking about for some time.

Guyana’s recent Agri-Investment Forum & Expo highlighted a lot of ambitious goals that the United States would like to assist with to address the region’s needs.

Food and nutrition insecurity are on the rise in the Caribbean, with approximately 67.5 percent of the population experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity. To address these challenges, the United States and CARICOM will launch a Caribbean Zero Hunger Plan to promote food and nutrition security in the Caribbean. President Biden also announced the United States will provide $28 million in new food security assistance to Caribbean countries.

The White House also pledged to strengthen our engagement on energy and climate change. Building on Vice President Harris’April 29, 2022, meeting with Caribbean leaders, the United States launched the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030) to facilitate renewable energy infrastructure development, including by increasing access to financing, and to bolster the region’s resilience to climate based natural disasters.

The leaders stressed the need to strengthen security cooperation and engagement, including countering small arms trafficking. The United States and Caribbean countries will build on the longstanding

Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) through broader engagement in combatting trafficking in persons, cybersecurity, and cybercrime. The United States, the Dominican Republic, and CARICOM member states support the development of national action plans to counter firearms trafficking.

These national action plans will help the United States more effectively tailor our support to CBSI member countries to address trafficking of illegal handguns and assault weapons throughout the region. We also agree on the importance of acceding to the Treaty of San José concerning illicit maritime and air narcotics trafficking. This treaty provides states with a valuable legal mechanism that facilitates international cooperation to disrupt illicit maritime trafficking and transnational criminal organizations in the Caribbean. We encourage Caribbean countries that have not yet acceded to the Treaty to consider doing so.

It is of no small consequence that Vice President Harris, a daughter of Caribbean heritage, co-chaired this meeting with the President of the United States. As a son of Caribbean heritage myself, this historic moment made me deeply proud. Our nations share values, culture, history, and family ties. As governments, we will work in partnership with civil society and the private sector to ensure that democracy delivers for all our people and to build safe, inclusive, prosperous, equitable, and climate-resilient societies. (Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the United States Department of State.)

Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 01, 2022

Friday July 01, 2022

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Alia Atkinson elected as FINA Athletes’ Committee Chair

SportsMax - FINA on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Jamaican swimming legend Alia Atkinson to the CHAIR of their Athletes Committee.

FINA is the international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee for administering international competitions in water sports.

The represented disciplines are Swimming; diving; artistic swimming; water polo; open water swimming and high diving.

T h i s a p p o i n t m e n t in the first instance is effective for four years.

In this position, Atkinson will have responsibility for

Athletes affairs not only for swimming, but in all water sport disciplines.

As Chairperson, she represents the Committee and Athlete voice at the highest level of decision making.

When contacted, Atkinson said how thrilled and honored she was with the appointment and indicated that she is looking forward to making a contribution to the development of swimmers and aquatic sports globally.

“Today marks another significant step forward for both FINA and all aquatics athletes,” said Atkinson.

“The Athletes’ Committee will act as a criti-

cal link between athletes and FINA. Having the athlete community choose those who represent them in important decisions is critical for the future development of our beloved sport,” Atkinson added.

Atkinson, the current world record holder in the short course 50m and 100m breaststroke, retired from the sport in 2021 after competing at t h e Wo r l d S w i m m i n g Championships in December.

She won a total of 31 major championship medals for Jamaica since her debut at the 2004 Summer Olympics including 15 gold, 10 silver and six bronze.

Alia Atkinson

Guyana Rush Saints FC male...

Friday July 01 , 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Keeping things in balance will be a challenge today, Aries. You're likely to find that there's conflict brewing that doesn't seem to want resolution. It's OK. Don't press the issue.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You could find that what was so light and active yesterday runs into roadblocks today, Libra. It might seem as if you're suddenly heading straight for a brick wall regarding.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Tension is likely to arise in many different areas of your life, Taurus. It's possible that you're either too dreamy or too practical for the issue at hand.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The pace of things is likely to slow down a bit compared to what was happening yesterday, Scorpio. This is probably for the best. Take this time to do some planning and stabilizing. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You might find that there's a quality of dreaminess to your emotions today that keeps you from focusing on the task at hand, Sagittarius.

People are likely to be stubborn and confused.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Yesterday's trajectory might run into a couple of snags today, Gemini. You could find that your dreamy nature conflicts with the planned and steady.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Try to keep yourself in line with your emotions today, Cancer. It's possible that a powerful yet subtle force is slowly trying to pull you off track.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Little voices are whispering in your ear today, Capricorn.

They could be asking you to join them in the clouds.

You might get the feeling that there's a lot of tension.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You could find that an emotional issue rubs you the wrong way today, Leo. Your tendency is to want to escape. Try to do so in a healthy manner.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Someone could be prodding you to take action today, Aquarius. It might be best if you beat them to it and motivate yourself. Stay a step or two ahead of the herd

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Your artistic side may want to take to the airwaves in some way today, Virgo. Perhaps you should consider building your own website or getting a spot on a local radio show.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You might experience a great deal of emotional confusion today, Pisces. There's a debate brewing inside you. You're having a hard time deciding whether to pursue the practical.

From page 31 Stephna who was the hero as he jumped the highest to head in a floated free kick in the 90th minute which secured all three points for Falcons.

Over in East Central Rupununi, in Group B, Kanuku Warriors FC male team finally got off the mark points-wise, when they trounced Hiawa Undertakers 4-0 at Hiawa ground.

McGyver Alfred led the victory charge with a hat-trick of goals in the 12th, 34th, and 52nd minutes, while Simon Alfred netted the other in the 21st minute.

In the female match, Kanuku Warriors remained unbeaten when they recorded their fourth win in as many matches to move to 12 points, taking care of Hiawa Undertakers, 3-0.

Action will continue with matches slated for the North Rupununi, East Central Rupununi, Central Rupununi, and Deep South Rupununi.

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Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

Cameron Green stars as Australia build strong lead on truncated day ESPNcricinfo - Two sensational seventies from Cameron Green and Usman Khawaja gave Australia a vital lead over Sri Lanka on a weather-affected second day in Galle as the pitch continued to deteriorate quickly.

Green made 77, his fifth Test half-century, and Khawaja 71 while Alex Carey put on a sweeping masterclass to add a valuable 47-ball 45. The trio produced the two highest partnerships of the match on the difficult surface. Khawaja and Green put on 57 in 77 balls before Green and Carey combined for 84 in just 93 to help Australia to 313 for 8 at stumps when bad light stopped play just moments after Pat Cummins hit his third six out of the ground. Cummins’ 26 not out helped Australia’s lead swell to 101 with two wickets remaining.

Ramesh Mendis bowled tirelessly to collect 4 for 107, but Sri Lanka bowled just one maiden in 69 overs, at a team economy rate of 4.53. Sri Lanka’s three other specialist bowlers, Asitha Fernando, Lasith Embuldeniya and Jeffrey Vandersay combined for 2 for 175 from 33 overs.

Play on the second day was delayed by three hours and 45 minutes after a storm had thrashed Galle overnight and during the morning. The roof collapsed on one temporary stand while a pane of glass was blown over on another tent. Several camera structures were damaged as was the sightscreen.

The players arrived to see the ground entirely covered and soaked by the rain. Australia briefly contemplated leaving the venue and heading back to the hotel but the clouds parted and the strong winds dried the ground quickly.

When play finally began, Travis Head only lasted seven balls.

He closed the face too early trying to work ill-advisedly against the offspin of Dhananjaya de Silva only to offer a return catch off the leading edge.

But where Head looked all at sea without a paddle, Khawaja and Green brought out their brooms and executed their plans to perfection.

They rotated the strike with ease using crisp, precise footwork and sharp decisionmaking. Both batters moved

Cameron Green scored an enterprising half-century. (Getty Images) up and down the crease in addition to consistently sweeping to not allow Sri Lanka’s spinners to settle on a length or line.

Khawaja cracked two magnificent slog sweeps forward of square, while Green unveiled a superb sweep of his own to dissect two men in the deep and showcase the power of work he had done in the lead-up to this series.

The strong wind did not help Sri Lanka’s spinners settle but the surface was still playing tricks and Australia needed some luck.

Green survived a very close lbw shout sweeping at the wrong length from Ramesh. He was given not out

and survived a razor-thin review having been hit in line, but with the ball only clipping leg stump the umpire’s call stood. He also could have been stumped two overs later when an offbreak from Ramesh ragged through the gate after he skipped down, but it spun too sharply for keeper Niroshan Dickwella and ran away for four byes.

Khawaja was beaten repeatedly but he cleverly played for the ball that didn’t turn and never followed it as deliveries exploded past his outside edge from a surface that was crumbling by the hour.

The pair raced to a halfcentury stand in just 11 overs.

It took a terrific delivery from Vandersay to finally break the stand when a sharp legbreak caught Khawaja’s inside edge and was brilliantly held at short leg by Pathum Nissanka to give the debutant his first Test wicket.

But Carey upped the ante from the moment he walked out. He reverse swept his first ball and scored off 11 of his first 12 deliveries, including a strong reverse sweep for four in front of point against the turn of Vandersay.

Carey’s relentless sweeping could not be contained as Green calmly fed him the strike.

Dimuth Karunaratne turned back to the pace of Fernando in the 45th over for just his second over of the match and Carey slapped him twice contemptuously through cover for four.

Australia raced past 200 inside 47 overs and into the lead two overs later. Green played one of the shots of the day, skipping down to Vandersay to whip him against the turn wide of midon. Carey then delivered another outrageous reverse sweep to find the rope.

The scoring slowed after tea as Fernando bowled bouncers at Green from around the wicket to force him to duck repeatedly.

Karunaratne then changed the field for Ramesh to Carey.

The left-hander had scored exclusively square of the wicket against the spinners.

Karunaratne brought longoff up to invite Carey to go over the top with the spin, he was tempted first ball but miscued.

Dinesh Chandimal ran back with the flight at mid-off to take a superb catch.

Such was the confidence of Green, the dismissal did nothing to curb his proactive batting.

The very next ball he skipped down to Ramesh and produced a dazzling drive against the turn past mid-off.

He cruised to 77 with the help of Mitchell Starc before finally being undone trying to sweep.

Ramesh dipped one under his bat from around the wicket and trapped him plumb lbw to leave him 23 short of that elusive maiden Test century. He has fallen between 74 and 84 each time he has passed fifty.

Starc fell shortly after to a great caught and bowled from Vandersay.

But his ecstasy turned to agony when Cummins clubbed him for three huge sixes and a four, with the last ball of the day landing near the fort outside the ground.

Friday July 01, 2022

Erratic Swiatek reaches third round, extends winning streak to 37 LONDON, (Reuters) World number one Iga Swiatek struggled with unforced errors but found her composure when it mattered most to see off Dutch lucky loser Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove 6-4 4-6 6-3 to reach the third round at Wimbledon and extend her winning run to 37 matches.

With yesterday’s victory, Swiatek went past Monica Seles and matched Martina Hingis’ run in the 1997 season. The all-time longest winning streak is held by Martina Navratilova, who had 74 successive victories in 1984.

“I mean adding another match to this number is pretty special for me but when I’m out there I’m not really thinking about that,” Swiatek said on court.

“I’m just trying to play the best tennis possible on grass and the result is going to come. I’m pretty happy that it’s 37 now. I’m going to do my best to get even more.”

Pattinama Kerkhove lost in the final round of qualifying at the grasscourt Grand Slam but was granted a berth in the main draw when Danka Kovinic withdrew with injury.

Playing against an opponent ranked in the top-10 for the first time in her career, the 30-year-old Dutchwoman came out swinging freely to put Swiatek under pressure on a sun-bathed Court One, as the Pole fell 4-2 behind.

The 2018 junior Wimbledon champion smiled

Javelin meet record for Anderson Peters while Rushell Clayton runs season-best time for second place in Stockholm

Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates winning her second round match against Netherlands’ Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove. (REUTERS/ Hannah Mckay)

Anderson Peters and Rushell Clayton

in frustration at her errors as the crowd wondered if this could be the end of her incredible winning run which began in February on hardcourts, continued on clay and has reached the All England Club lawns.

Swiatek slipped and fell awkwardly behind the baseline while trying to hit a return as the 138th-ranked Pattinama Kerkhove broke her serve a second time.

But once Swiatek found her feet and range, it was oneway traffic. The 21-year-old, who has won six consecutive titles including a second French Open trophy, won the next four games to take opening set.

Pattinama Kerkhove, who reached the second round at

Wimbledon last year for her best showing at the majors, would not give up though.

She got the crucial break in the seventh game of the second set to level the match at 1-1.

But Swiatek, who committed 31 unforced errors, found her groove in the deciding set and nosed ahead with a break in the fourth game and then took a 4-1 lead. It proved enough as the top seedwent on to win in two hours and four minutes.

Swiatek next meets Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, who earlier beat American Claire Liu 6-3 6-3, for a chance to match her best performance at Wimbledon where she reached the fourth round in 2021.

Lewis Hamilton responds to Bernie Ecclestone and Nelson Piquet: ‘Why are we giving older voices a platform?’

The Telegraph - Lewis Hamilton has questioned “why we are giving the older voices a platform” following former Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet’s alleged racist slur against the British driver.

The 69-year-old Brazilian apologised “wholeheartedly” but insisted the word he used had been mistranslated.

Hamilton, speaking ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, said: “I don’t know why we are giving the older voices a platform. “We are looking to go somewhere different and they are not representative of who we are now in the sport. “If we are looking to grow our audiences and give the younger people a platform that are more representative of today’s times... it is not just about one individual or the use of that term but the bigger picture.”

Hamilton continued: “I am in-

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Kaieteur News

Lewis Hamilton credibly grateful to all of those who have been supportive within the sport, particularly the drivers.

“It has been two years since many of us took the knee at the first race in Austria and we are still faced with challenges. “I have been on the receiving end of racism and criticism and that negativity and archaic narratives for a long time and undertones of discrimination, so there is nothing new for me.”

Discussing former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s

comments on Good Morning Britain that he would “take a bullet” for Vladimir Putin, describing the Russian president as “a first-class person”, Hamilton added: “There needs to be accountability.

“You know what you are going to get with that and I don’t know what their [GMB’s] goal was, whether it was to create and divide.

“We don’t need any more of it, to hear from someone that believes in the war, and the displacement of people and killing of people, and supporting that person [Putin] is beyond me. I cannot believe I heard that. “This is going to put us back decades, and we have yet to see the real brunt of the pain.

“Why? We do not need to be supporting that but looking into the future. If you don’t have anything positive to contribute, don’t give them any space.”

SportsMax - Anderson Peters set a new meet record in the javelin while there were podium places for Rushell Clayton and Kyron McMaster at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm, Sweden yesterday.

Peters, who must now surely be favoured to win the gold medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon next month, threw 90.31m breaking the previous mark of 89.78m set

by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen in 2006.

In winning, the Grenadian had to overcome a national record and personal best mark

by India’s Neeraj Chopra, 89.94m, which was his opening throw. Julian Weber was third with his fifth-round mark of 89.08m.

After overcoming an injury that kept her out for an

entire 2021 season, Clayton qualified for the World Championships when she finished third at Jamaica’s national championships last weekend in a season’s best 54.20. She lowered that time to 53.90 while finishing second in the 400m hurdles to Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who set a new meet record of 52.27, a time that makes her the second fastest in the world behind US champion and newly minted world-record holder Sydney McLaughlin.

Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos stormed to victory in the men’s event in a new meet record 46.80, which was also the fastest time in the world this year. Dos Santos, the bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, dismantled the field over the first 200m and led by almost 10m as they turned into the home stretch.

He eventually won by more than a second over the USA’s CJ Allen who clocked 48.28 for second place and Commonwealth Games champion Kyron McMaster, who was farther back in 48.58, a season’s best.

Danielle Williams also ran a season’s best but just missed out on a podium in the 100m hurdles won by the imperious Jasmine CamachoQuinn. The Puerto Rican Olympic champion held off a stern challenge from Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan to win in 12.46, the Nigerian clocking 12.50 for second place. Reigning world champion Nia Ali was third in 12.53 with Williams clocking 12.59 for fourth.

Mondo Du Plantis had another outstanding outing setting a new national record of 6.16m to seal yet another win in the pole vault.

Jamaica U-20 Reggae Boyz fail to reach World Cup after 1-0 loss to Dom Rep

Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Boyz lost 1-0 to the Dominica Republic.

SportsMax - Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Boyz failed in their bid to advance to the semifinals of the Concacaf Men’s U - 2 0 C h a m p i o n s h i p a n d F I FA U - 2 0 World Cup, following a 10 loss to qualifiers Dominica Republic.

In a match that saw few clear cut scoring opportunities, Ángel Montes got the all-important goal for the Dominican Republic in

the 10th minute.

From a throw-in, the forward slipped away from a napping defense and fired the ball w i d e o f J a maican goalkeeper C o n i a h B o y ce Clarke.

The Dom Rep, who defended stoutly against a listless Jamaican att a c k , s eemed to have doubled their lead headed to halftime but Edison Azcona’s 41st-minute strike

was ruled to have been offside.

The Dominica Republic will now a d v a n c e t o p l a y the winner of Guatemala and Mexico City i n t h e c o m p e t i t i o n ’s semifinal.

By virtue of making t h e f i n a l f o u r, h o w e v e r, the team has advanced t o t h e F I FA U n d e r - 2 0 Wo r l d C u p f o r t h e first time in its history.

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Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

WI Women’s Captain want to play Test Cricket

Hayley Matthews’ focus is B’dos competing in C/Wealth Games

By Sean Devers Barbadian Hayley Matthews led Barbados to its fourth 50-over title last Saturday in Guyana and was recently appointed West Indies Women’s Captain to replace Jamaican Stefanie Taylor who will continue to play in the side.

Speaking on last Tuesday Night’s ‘Sean Devers Sports Watch’ on Kaieteur Radio, the 24-year-old Matthews spoke about her early days in cricket, her team’s performance in this season’s Regional 50-over and T20 tournaments, what she thinks could be done to improve the Women’s game in the West Indies, next month’s Commonwealth Games, the inaugural women’s CPL and her desire to play Test cricket.

The double defending champions, who lost just one game in Guyana, were dethroned in the T20 Blaze on a superior net run rate by Jamaica after both teams finished on 16 points, while they retained the CG United super50 Cup, winning their third consecutive title.

The charismatic Matthews said despite the unavailability of Deandra Dottin and the injury to pacer Shamilia Connell, the top order consistently produced, while apart from the final when they dropped a few catches, the fielding was of a high standard and bowling was good.

Matthews, the leading scorer in both formats, was high in praise of the Knight twins and the work of

Aaliyah Williams who stepped in when Connell got injured.

Barbados conceded the most extras in the tournament including 53 in T&T’s 133 all out and Matthews, who also captured the All-Rounder Award, admitted that this was the biggest area of concern heading to Commonwealth Games in the UK where the ball will swing more.

Head Coach Corrie Collymore and his Assistant Ryan Hinds, who was a 17year-old when the Barbados men’s team participated in the 1998 Games in Malaysia, will also be the Coaches as Barbados Women travel to England.

Barbados will face Pakistan on July 29, Australia next day before battling India on August 3. The two top teams from each group will advance.

“We will have a week rest and resume sessions for the Commonwealth Games and the extras we conceded in Guyana will be addressed. It will be challenging for us since Australia and India are in our group. Deandra is back and that will be a massive boast for us. It will be a learning experience for the younger players and that will be the biggest benefit for us,” said Matthews, who along with Dottin were the Bajan batters who participated in last month’s Franchise in Dubai.

The inaugural Women’s CPL will be played in St Kitts with Matthews being appointed Captain of the Barbados Royals.

“The Girls are looking for-

Barbados skipper Haley Matthews had 3-20 before making 53 at Providence. (Sean Devers photo)

ward to this since we had trials in Trinidad in 2019. We are excited about and this is great for Women’s cricket in the West Indies. There are three strong teams (B’dos Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors &Trinbago Knight Riders) and it will be entertaining with high scores,” promised Matthews, who has scored three centuries and six fifties and taken 78 wickets in 69 WODIs. Matthews says she performs better and is more comfortable in ODIs where she spends more time at the crease and knows what she has to do and when to change gears.

“In T20s you need the score quicker…take more risks. I am still trying to figure out the best approach for me in T20 cricket,” continued Matthews, who has a century and four fifties and 56 wickets in 61 WT20Is. Taylor and Dottin are the

two most experienced batters while off-spinner Anisa Mohammed has been the leading bowler, yet they have not played a single Test match. The last Test match played by the West Indies Women was in 2004. Between their first Test in 1976 and their last, West Indies have only played 12 Tests.

Matthews says it’s her desire to play in a Women’s Test match before her career is over. “Yes! I would love to play Test cricket, as we speak South Africa are playing England in a Women’s Test match. Most people say we are better at ODIs or T20s but Test cricket gives you the opportunity to spend more time at the crease and I think it will help our ODI cricket.

We have seen a lot more Women’s Test cricket being played recently,” informed Matthews, who gave her views on how to improve Women’s cricket regionally.

“I believe Barbados is strong in Women’s Cricket because we have a strong core at the moment and some very experienced players in our camp. The BCA is doing a lot more for Women’s cricket for the last few years but with that being said there needs to be structures put in place throughout the Region if we hope to see West Indies Women’s cricket improve.

Trinidad has a fairly good structure down there but when you look at the other places like Guyana, Jamaica…the Leewards and Windwards…they need a lot more improvement. I hope CWI can invest more in the structure of Women’s cricket at the Regional Boards since it will make West Indies cricket stronger. I think having cricket (Boys & Girls) in Secondary Schools is very important and there should be a programme where past and present male and female players visit schools to coach and inspire the students that if they work hard, one day they could play for their Country and West Indies,” suggested Matthews, who hit 66 off 45 balls in 2016 World Cup Final to help her team chase down Australia’s 149 and win their first world title.

Matthews said she be-

came interested in cricket at age six when she and her brother would tag along to the Kensington Oval with their Dad Michael Matthews, who played and coached there. She played in her Primary School’s Boy team at second grade and was the Captain in fourth grade.

“I joined the Wanderers Cricket Club which produced Chris Jordan, Jason Holder, Kirk Edward and West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite. I went through Boys cricket until I got into women’s cricket at 10 and made my Barbados debut at 12. I was eight and playing U19 cricket with Dottin and Selman,” said the elegant right-hander. The multi-talented lass, who won Gold in Javelin at the 2015 Carifta Games, a year after she made her West Indies T20I debut in 2014 against New Zealand, scored 55 in her first ODl against Australia the same year. She says being West Indies Captain should not affect her cricket since she has been Barbados Captain and still able to perform with bat and ball and knows she will get support from senior players including Taylor whom she has learnt a lot from since making the team as a 16-yearold.

Fitness Express supports GBFF competition Fitness Express has supported the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation intermediate competition which is set for Berbice High School on Saturday.

The entity recently presented a cheque to Videsh Sookram of the GBBF. Sookram expressed gratitude for the support and said the

event is expected to be keenly contested.

Participants will battle for Mr. Berbice, Mr. Physique, Miss Bikini, Mr. Best legs and novice bodybuilder titles.

Action gets underway at 18:00hrs and tickets cost $1,000 and $1,500 at the door.

Tickets are also available at gyms in Berbice.

Friday July 01, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Masters Cricket now extends to over 40s...

CWIMA invites interested O40s players to register online Masters cricket continues to grow exponentially and it is a tribute to those cricketers who are still active and still possess that deep love for the game that a private group of individuals has since established structures for the efficient administration of these masters’ series and world cups. Presently there are 2 different bodies that have undertaken the responsibility for the administration of Masters’ cricket. There is a governing body headed by Stirling Hamman, an attorney based out of Sydney, Australia that has taken on the responsibility for firstly, Over 50s cricket and more recently Over 40s cricket. Their website is www.over50scricket.com.

Another body headed by Rod Rice out of Queensland, Australia has undertaken the smooth administration of Over 60s cricket with its website being www.over60scricket.com.

The O50s body has been existence since 2018 when the first ever O50s World Cup was hosted in Sydney, Australia where 8 teams participated Australia, Canada, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Pakistan & Wales.

Australia defeated Pakistan in the final of that tournament.

Due to the tremendous success of this inaugural World Cup, it was agreed to have this World Cup held at different venues every 2 years and to encourage more countries, especially India and the West Indies, to join the band

wagon.

As fate would have it, 4 countries were added to the above 8 for the 2nd World Cup held in Cape Town, South Africa during March 2020, namely: India, Namibia, West Indies & Zimbabwe.

That World Cup started off with a bang but came to a screeching halt half way through the 3rd round matches when the deadly COVID virus begun to wreak havoc around the world. As could have been expected there was a mad scramble for everyone to get back home with airlines cancelling flights, airlines filing bankruptcy and several countries closing off their borders.

Since the relaxing of the COVID restrictions around the world earlier this year the organizers have now rescheduled this 2nd World Cup to be held in March 2023 at the same venue. USA & UAE have now been added to the growing list of countries mak-

Milo School’s football games rescheduled to Sunday and Monday Due to the present inclement weather the organiser of the Milo Schools Football tournament, Petra Organisation, has been forced to make changes to their weekend schedule of

matches.

A release from the organisation noted that the games scheduled for this weekend will remain the same but the dates are shifted from Saturday and

Sunday to Sunday and Monday instead.

This is in the very best interest of protecting the ground, while benefiting from the Holiday on Monday 4th July the release noted.

The scheduled games set for Sunday will see: 7/03/2022 12:30 HRS 9 Carmel vs Christian Burg 7/03/2022 14:00 HRS 10 West Riumveldt vs Marian Academy 7/03/2022 15:30 HRS 11 Uitvlugt vs Cummings Lodge 7/03/2022 17:00 HRS 12 North Ruimveldt vs Canje On Monday: 7/04/2022 12:30 HRS 13 Golden Grove vs Annandale 7/04/2022 14:00 HRS 14 Dolphin vs New Central 7/04/2022 15:30 HRS 15 Tucville vs Friendship 7/04/2022 17:00 HRS 16 Lodge vs President College

Berbice beat Rising Star by 13 runs Berbice defeated the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Rising Stars by 13 runs when the GCB Inter County U17 50over tournament continued on Wednesday at LBI. Berbice made 132 for 9 off their reduced 45 overs. AriAfrizal Kadir and Romesh Bharat added 21 for the opening stand before Kadir (07) was taken off Jayden Dowlin.

Rampertab Ramnauth (09) was bowled by Collis Harcourt, while Rashaad Gaffur (04) was caught off Anthony Khan as Berbice

continued to lose wickets at regular intervals including that of Bharat for 15 off 84 balls, and were subsequently reduced to 68-5. A sixth wicket stand of 39 between Matthew Pottoya and Sanjay Algoo added some respectability to the score. Pottoya made 44 off 53 balls with one four and three sixes while Algoo scored 15 as Wavell Allen claimed 3-15 and Nityanand Mathura 2-21. GCB Rising Stars lost opener Khan (11) caught off Algoo with the score on 15, while Kevin

Kisten (14) bowled by Afraz Ali Budhoo leaving the score at 36-2. Wickets continued to fall regularly, before Nyron Hicks and Wavell Allen put on 50 for the ninth wicket to frustrate Berbice somewhat.

But their resistance ended when Allen was run out for 25 off 38 balls. Hicks was also run out for 29 off 40 balls as Rising Stars were bowled out for 119 in 45 overs. Sanjay Algoo captured 3-20, Afraz Ali Budhoo 2-20 and Salim Khan 2-21. Pottoya was named man of the match.

ing it 14 countries in competition. The O60s body will be hosting its first ever World Cup in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia in September 2022 where 12 countries will be vying for championship honors- Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Rest of the World, South Africa, Sri Lanka, USA, Wales, West Indies and Zimbabwe. Some of the teams have already announced their squads with West Indies expected to name theirs in the next week or so.

Realizing that there was a vacuum in the administration of O40s cricket, the O50s body has since decided to extend its mandate to now incorporate this age group level of masters’ cricket. A competitive bidding process was held

earlier this year where Pakistan earned the right to host the first ever O40s World Cup in September/October 2023.

This World Cup is expected to be most competitive but do present some challenges to most of the countries that are in the fledgling stages of masters’ cricket development.

Masters cricket is at various stages of development around the world. Most major cricket-playing countries around the world such as England, Australia, Wales, South Africa, Canada, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan have established masters’ leagues for the various age groups in their home countries whilst other countries such as the USA, India and the West Indies have had to play catch up with the rest of

the world.

However, West Indies have had and will have it much tougher than other countries due to the geography of its territories. Players can come mostly from all parts of the Caribbean and North America and this in itself makes it very difficult to have trials and such like, bearing in mind, that players are usually self-sponsored and Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) does not own nor have ready access to any grounds. In this regard, CWIMA is inviting interested O40s players to register on its website if they are interested in representing the West Indies at the O40s level-http:/ /www.windiesmasters.org/ c w i m a / registerUser.do?clubId=30679.

GFF hails success of Barcelona’s Braithwaite visit as GFF-DBU Goodwill Ambassador The successful visit of Barcelona and Denmark forward Martin Braithwaite to Guyana last week will inspire a new generation of girls and boys to follow their dreams through football, according to Guyana Football Federation President (GFF) Wayne Forde.

The historic visit of Braithwaite, whose father is Guyanese, was the first time a Barcelona player had visited Guyana, through support from the Danish Football Association (DBU), UEFA Assist, and Concacaf – underlining the progress the current Forde administration has made in repairing and then building the image and reputation of the GFF among its global football partners.

Braithwaite, 31, was in Guyana to officially take up the role of goodwill ambassador for the football development partnership between the GFF and the DBU, which is also facilitated by UEFA Assist and Concacaf. The attacker has played 58 times for Spanish giants Barcelona and 60 times for the Danish national team.

“This was not only a historic visit for Guyana, it was a chance for someone who performs at the highest level of football to connect with his roots and to inspire a new

Martin Braithwaite engages national U16 Boys team.

generation of players – both girls and boys,” said President Forde.

“This extremely successful visit shows just how far we have come in raising the image of Guyanese football on the international stage, and we look forward to building further on our close relationship with Martin, the DBU, UEFA Assist, and Concacaf to drive the development of the game in Guyana,” he added.

The aim of the goodwill ambassador position is to promote and support development work conducted through the innovative partnership between the GFF and

DBU, which has included financial support for the GFF Women’s Development League and post-COVID capacity building support, under the auspices of the UEFA Assist programme.

While in Guyana with his family, Braithwaite took part in a range of footballing activities, met government dignitaries, and reconnected with the land of his father. The trip included a tour of attractions in Georgetown, a courtesy call on the Government of Guyana, participation in a novelty futsal match at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, and a range of grassroots activities.

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Friday July 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

General Secretary, Treasurer cite corrupt practices by AAG President - No submission of Financial Statement since 2017 - AGM overdue by 5 months The operations of President of the Athletics Association of Guyana, Aubrey Hutson, have been brought under the microscope following a four page letter addressed to the President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), K.A Juman Yassin, which Kaieteur Sport was able to peruse.

It was presented by two senior AAG officials and copied to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Honourable Charles Ramson, Director of Sport - Steve Ninvalle, President of South American Confederation - Helio Marinho Gesta de Melo and President of World Athletics - AAG’s Executive Council, Sebastian Coe. The letter was a rebuttal on the subject, “Request for support in improving governance mechanisms at the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG)”. The other two titles of the letter were ‘Financial Accountability and Transparency of the AAG’ and ‘Lack of Accountability, Governance, and Transparency’.

It began: “We wish to highlight several concerns and issues facing the AAG

and its operations, which we believe have had and continue to have adverse effects on the development of the sport in Guyana.

The AAG is in a crisis and it requires urgent interventions to restore its integrity and credibility as well as its public trust, which have been eroded.”

After that, the letter addressed its first issue, ‘Financial Accountability and Transparency of the AAG’.

In June 2021 the AGG held its election and installed a new Executive Council. On that council, Hutson has been performing the duties of the Treasurer since the previous administration and has never provided an audited financial statement to the AGM, according to the document. He performed the duties of the Treasurer due to his failure to have the accounts of the association audited.

Article 13 (2) of the AAG’s Constitution requires the Treasurer to present an audited statement of accounts to the affiliates and members 7 days prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

It was further disclosed that: “at AGMs he (Hutson)

would produce a generic 2page document (P&L statement and a balance sheet which are produced by him) and an Auditor signs the document on the spot. This Auditor is always late for another engagement, and cannot be taken to task over the financial matters of the Association. In the past, he has had a very senior person in the sporting and academic fraternity making a mockery of the membership. This individual posed as an Auditor at an AGM and purported to have conducted an audit of the AAG’s accounts. Section 170 of the Companies Act 1991 clearly outlines the requirements and qualifications of an Auditor. Finance remains a sore point for the Association.”

The document went on to say the AAG President’s transparency on the Association’s account is very questionable. Owing to the fact that he is a businessman and accounting should be no stranger to him, the AAG President claims to have presented an audited financial statement to the membership at the AGM then he clearly states that there is no such

account while preparing the Association’s 2020 Annual Report to World Athletics.

“This is the case because the World body will request a copy of the audited financial statements if he claims one was done.

This is evidence that he knows very well what he is doing and he carefully chooses his act according to the audience,” the letter revealed.

Hutson further promised the entire membership of the AGM that they will meet to discuss the financial standing of the association, which has not been done to date.

The revelation continued to outline the wayward acts by the AAG President against the constitution of his association which includes failing to inform members of the council about the Association’s account balance, non-accountability of financial transactions he undertakes unless they are done publicly among others and refusal to facilitate the Treasurer as a signatory to accounts, despite numerous requests.

“More, recently, the treasurer was able to obtain a commitment from Christopher Ram to undertake an audit of the accounts at no cost to the association. Hutson has frus-

trated the process of commencement of the audit to the point where Mr. Ram has refused to conduct the audit,” it said.

It continued, “It is also very worrisome that Mr. Hutson allegedly borrows monies from his business to pay forward or underwrite expenses of the AAG and repays himself without the knowledge and/or approval of the Executive Council. This has been going on for years.

In fact, it is something he usually boasts about. In the absence of consultation and approval, this practice creates a conducive environment for massive corruption, as the Council is unaware of the revenues and expenditures of the AAG.” In the final section labelled ‘Lack of Accountability, Governance and Transparency, more troubling issues were revealed which included reports of bias in selecting athletes and coaches to represent Guyana, exclusion of Council members from the decision-making processes, criteria bypass for coaches that are close friends and the refusal to erect a national selection policy.

Added to that, Hutson controls everything; “The AAG’s official office is hosted within the building of Mr.

Hutson’s private business.

The association’s records cannot be easily accessed.

Meeting times and durations are subject to his availability.

For example, an emergency meeting was held on June 20, 2022.

The General Secretary provided an agenda for the meeting. At a certain point, Mr. Hutson declared the meeting adjourned because he had to leave, thereby leaving several important matters hanging.”

“Article 8 (1) of the AAG’s Constitution requires an AGM to be held in December but no later than the 31st of January of the following year.

It is midyear and Mr. Hutson cannot discuss with the Council, preparations for an AGM. Therein lies yet another constitutional breach. Several coaches and club executives are asking about this long overdue AGM along with the audited financial statements.”

In closing, the letter made the expected request for a kind intervention along with three other requests which are: urgent financial support to conduct an audit of the AAG, Only Decisions coming the Association’s official email to be considered valid and an available office space to run the affairs of the Association.

Nick Kyrgios wins and is fined as Rafael Nadal reaches third round BBC Sport - Nick Kyrgios said he “just wanted to remind everyone” that he is “pretty good” after reaching the third round at Wimbledon in straight sets, as two-time champion Rafael Nadal also progressed.

Kyrgios dominated in a 62 6-3 6-1 win over Filip Krajinovic and plays Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas next.

He was later fined $10,000 (£8,200) for his conduct in his opening match.

Nadal continued his pursuit of a third successive Grand Slam title with a fourset win over Ricardas Berankis.

The Spanish second seed, 36, beat the 106thranked Lithuanian 6-4 6-4 4-6 6-3 to set up a meeting with Italian 27th seed Lorenzo Sonego.

Argentine 12th seed Diego Schwartzman was knocked out as he was stunned 6-2 4-6 0-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 by British wildcard Liam Broady.

Meanwhile, 13th seed Denis Shapovalov - a semifinalist last year - suffered a shock defeat by American Brandon Nakashima, losing 62 4-6 6-1 7-6 (8-6).

Nick Kyrgios has reached the third round at Wimbledon in six of his eight singles appearances at SW19. (Getty Images)

The Canadian is in a real slump in form, losing seven of his past eight matches since beating Rafael Nadal on clay at the Italian Open.

Nakashima moves on to play Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan in the third round.

Kyrgios zones in to set up ‘exciting’ Tsitsipas tie Australian Kyrgios 27, admitting to spitting in the direction of a “disrespectful” spectator at the end of an incident-filled five-set victory over Britain’s Paul Jubb in the first round on Tuesday.

He was critical of the line judges and spectators

throughout his opener - even asking the umpire to remove people from the crowd.

But the 2014 Wimbledon quarter-finalist produced a no-nonsense performance in his second match, winning 93% of points on his first serve and firing 24 aces on his way to a commanding victory.

“I have been playing some really good tennis over the last month so I was really surprised with the way I played the other day,” Kyrgios said.

“There were a lot of positives. I didn’t play anywhere near my best and I got through it. Today I was in my

zone, great body language. I just played well.

“I just wanted to remind everyone that I’m pretty good.” Kyrgios and teammate Thanasi Kokkinakis, the Australian Open men’s doubles champions - dubbed the ‘Special Ks’ - have withdrawn from the doubles event to allow the world number number 40 to focus on his singles campaign. On facing 2021 French Open semi-finalist Tsitsipas, who progressed with a 6-2 6-3 7-5 victory over Australian Jordan Thompson, Kyrgios said: “I’m excited.

We’re two of the biggest

stars in the sport. Hopefully if we both bring our best tennis, it’s going to be amazing to watch.”

Nadal comes through Berankis test Should he register a third triumph at Wimbledon, Nadal would become only the sixth man to win the first three Grand Slam tournaments of the season.

That achievement would be all the more remarkable given the events of last year, when he feared he might have to retire because of a chronic foot condition.

The Australian and French Open winner battled past Francisco Cerundolo in four sets two days ago to make a winning return on his first appearance at the All England Club since 2019.

Nadal was far from his scintillating best in his second match on Centre Court on Thursday, but the record 22-time men’s Grand Slam champion came through after conceding the third set.

Former top-50 player Berankis brought up the first break point in the fifth game but he was punished for his failure to capitalise when Nadal claimed the opening set on the Lithuanian’s serve.

Bidding to reach the

Wimbledon third round for the first time, Berankis responded early in the second set, holding off two break points to consolidate his advantage for a 3-1 lead.

That sparked Nadal into action, with the world number four winning five of the following six games and clinching his fourth set point to close in on victory.

Berankis forced a fourth set as he impressively held serve after breaking in the opening game of the third.

But after rain forced a short delay as the roof was closed, Nadal, by then a break to the good, returned to serve out a 16th successive win in Grand Slam matches. The Spanish great will continue his bid to become just the sixth player to win a calendar Slam - and the first man to do so since Rod Laver in 1969 against Sonego on Saturday.

Because of rain yesterday, two men’s second-round matches are yet to be completed. American Jack Sock leads compatriot Maxime Cressy 6-4 6-4, while Australia’s Jason Kubler was on the verge of victory before the rain began to fall leading Dennis Novak 6-3 64 5-4.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 01, 2022

PAGE 31

Rupununi FA Champions League

Guyana Rush Saints FC male and female teams dominate Snatchers FC to maintain ascendancy When play continued in the Rupununi Football Association (RFA) Senior League on the weekend, Guyana Rush Saints Football Club male and female teams did enough to solidify their respective positions at the top of the points standings in Central Rupununi following resounding wins over Snatchers Football Clubs at t h e Wa d a p n a G r o u n d , Lethem.

In the female clash, Glauciane Ines Gomes De Assis continued her rich vein of goal-scoring, banging in five goals for Guyana Rush Saints in their thumping 8-1 win over Snatchers.

In the male encounter, Guyana Rush Saints cantered to a 5-0 win over Snatchers, the scorers being Phillip Xavier, Franklin Parks, Eric Atkinson, Jude Mc Donald, and Ofancy Winter.

Goal scorers from the Seven K United (green) vs Spartans FC clash.

Over at Rising Stars Ground in Tabatinga, the Rising Stars female team was a no-show resulting in a walkover for the ladies from Gladiators FC while in the male match, Gladiators FC eased to a 5-0 victory over Rising Stars FC. With the win, Gladiators have moved into the third position in the points standings with twelve (12) points, while Rising Stars remain rooted at the bottom of the table having suffered

their seventh defeat of the tournament.

Guyana Rush Saints head the male points standings with 22 points followed by Tabatinga FC on 13. Guyana Rush Saints female team are tied on points with Gladiators but have a superior goal difference. Far East United remain in the third position with eight (8) points.

Over in Karasabai Village, Seven K United male and female teams

Goal scorers in the Falcons FC vs Strikers FC match.

booked their places in the North Rupununi/South Pakaraimas playoff after seeing off Spartans FC male and female teams respectively in the second leg of their two-legged playoff.

In the female match played in front of a massive home crowd, Seven K United team easily took care of business against Spartans 9-1 to wrap up the playoff win. Seven K United male team had a harder time,

however, as Spartans fought back from two goals down to draw the match 2-2.

However, this was in vain as defeat in the first leg ultimately meant that the young but highly talented Spartans side could not move on. Seven K United male and female teams will now await the winners of the North Rupununi playoff.

Over in North Rupununi, action in Group B continued as Falcons FC male team snatched victory in the 90th

minute of a pulsating match against Strikers FC played at the Massara Sports Ground to keep the team’s hopes alive of making the North Rupununi playoff.

Facing elimination with a draw or defeat and even after falling behind in the 5th minute to a strike from Raylon Francis, Falcons drew level through a superb Owen Brown volley in the 10th minute.

But it was Treioun (Continued on page 25)

Fitness Express supports GBFF competition

s t r o Sp

New West Indies Captain Hayley Matthews.

Jamie Mc Donald (left) of Fitness Express presents the cheque to Videsh Sookram.

GFF hails success of Barcelona’s Braithwaite visit as GFF-DBU Goodwill Ambassador

WI Women’s Captain wants to play Test Cricket Hayley Matthews’ focus is B’dos competing in C/Wealth Games Nick Kyrgios has reached the third round at Wimbledon in six of his eight singles appearances at SW19.

(Getty Images)

Martin Braithwaite signs a T-shirt for a fan.

General Secretary, Treasurer cite corrupt practices by AAG President Nick Kyrgios wins and - No submission of Financial Statement since 2017 - AGM overdue by 5 months

is fined as Rafael Nadal reaches third round

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