K
Cop accused NEWS of brutalising wife turns self in
Friday Edition
AIETEUR
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
p. 21
July 09, 2021 - Vol. 23 No. 28
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 85,123
Govt. finally moving ahead with beneficial ownership registry p. 3
Three arrested, two confess to burning Linden’s GECOM building last year p. 21
- fourth person sought as ‘intellectual author’
Exxon’s gas-to-energy public consultation at Umana Yana today Govt. threatens no-confidence motion against Joseph Harmon p. 3
p. 12
GAWU appealing with St. Mary’s Quarry the Ministry of Labour found in breach p. to address DTL’s 17p. of labour laws, 19 employees concerns BK gets clean bill
Ex inmate murders uncle over plantains
p. 21
Pres. lauds “respectful,” “valuable” relations between Guyana and US p. 13
Everything is secret in this land, including the oil sale
@11:00am on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM
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Kaieteur News
Friday July 09, 2021
Kaieteur News
Friday July 09, 2021
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Exxon's gas-to-energy public consultation at Umana Yana today
A
s ExxonMobil concluded its first virtual public scoping meeting on Thursday afternoon, it prepares to continue to facilitate public opinion, comments and questions on pertinent issues for consideration in the gas-toenergy project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). These public scoping meetings conclude on July 22, 2021, and are meant to serve the purpose of public consultations. The next meeting will be held today, July 9 at 3pm, at the Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown. Exxon's project proposes the installation of a pipeline from the FPSOs Liza Destiny and Unity to an onshore facility located at Wales, West Bank Demerara, to convert Associated Gas from petroleum extraction operations into usable electricity. The project is primarily governed by the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement, which has been deemed by a wide variety of commentators to be lopsided.
The provisions under Article 12 speak to Associate Gas “all costs and expenses incurred by the Contractor in the production, use and/or disposal of the Associated Gas of an oil field as stipulated under Article 12.1 and those incurred in carrying out any feasibility study on the utilisation of the excess Associated Gas shall be charged to the development cost of the oil field and shall be recoverable contract costs.” In an article previously carried by this publication, it was revealed that the gasto-energy project summary admitted that the project could have long lasting and serious repercussions for the Guyanese marine and terrestrial environments. The proposed pipeline has the potential to injure or kill a plethora of benthic, or seabed dwelling flora and fauna, especially in the vicinity of the underwater pipeline. Additionally, marine fish species could also be adversely affected, w h i c h a s previously stated by this publication can result in the disruption to Guyana's
fisheries, one of the largest agricultural sectors in Guyana, which has coincidentally already been negatively impacted. Riverine species are also at risk for being adversely affected by construction activities associated with the pipeline. Additionally, such a fossil fuel project appears to be inconsistent with Guyana's commitment to a green agenda and to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. This inconsistency is derived from the fact that the gas-to-energy project will inevitably increase the country's Co2 emissions. This remains especially worrisome in the face of evidence previously elaborated upon by this publication which appears to suggest that renewable energy plants with a similar capacity to the proposed Natural gas plant, such as those proposed by solar power companies in Louisiana, United States of America, can deliver a source of power that is more than nine times cleaner and three times cheaper.
Govt. finally moving ahead with beneficial ownership registry
T
he Ministry of N a t u r a l Resources has indicated that it intends to start a beneficial ownership register, and is now seeking consultants to assist in this regard. An individual consultant is needed to conduct a comprehensive Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI) systematic disclosure feasibility study. The EITI has produced a standardised model Terms of Reference (TOR) for implementing countries that wish to conduct such a study for systematic disclosure of EITI data. The study would outline any barriers or gaps to timely, comprehensive and reliable disclosures as well as technical or financial support needs. The study would also propose a roadmap for embedding EITI processes and disclosures in governmental and corporate systems. In addition, the Government is seeking individual consultancy to
conduct a comprehensive GYEITI beneficial ownership register scoping study. Ethiopia had a study of this nature done as part of its EITI obligations. That study was done to provide a review of the legal and institutional framework for beneficial ownership. The EITI typically publishes studies of this nature done for its implementing countries. As a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Guyana is late in its work on this register. EITI required all its member countries to establish this registry before the end of 2020. Requirement 2.5 of the EITI Standard (2016) specifies what countries are supposed to do to uncover beneficial owners. They have to ensure that all oil, gas and mining companies that apply for, or hold a participating interest in an exploration or production oil, gas or mining licence or contract, publish the names of their real owners. According to
GYEITI, this should include the identity of the owner (name, nationality and country of residence), and whether they are politically exposed. The EITI recommends that all beneficial ownership information is made available through public registers - at a minimum, published in the country's EITI report. EITI decided to crack down on the absence of public registers because its position is that hidden identities in the extractive sectors only help to feed corruption and tax evasion. It said that people who live in resource-rich countries are at particular risk of losing out, when faced with systems that are not transparent, as extractive assets are too often misallocated for corrupt reasons. Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, had said last year that the government would seek out the beneficial owners of the oil blocks, but has made no further pronouncements in this regard.
Exxon's schedule for public consultations
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Duelling Motions This week, the citizens of Guyana have been treated to what will no doubt go down in our proud history as the Battle of the No-Confidence Motions. First up is the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, who continued his, to be generous, ‘quixotic’ political strategy of giving notice to table two no-confidence motions against Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn. In no doubt cynical retaliation, the government, through Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, threatened its own No-Confidence Motion against Harmon. The Constitution itself – no doubt due to the wisdom and foresight of its framers – only ever mentions the word “confidence” four times, only two of which deal with the issue of expression and consequences of an absence of confidence in a political leader in office. In this regard, the government should know that the NCM against Harmon is a non-starter. It is only under 184(3) of the Constitution that the Opposition Leader can be removed via a petition and then a vote involving only the non-governmental (meaning opposition) members of the National Assembly. This means that the PM, as head of government business in Parliament, has no legal standing to bring an NCM against the Opposition Leader. With regard to motions brought by Harmon, the Constitution does not contemplate a vote of confidence against a single minister – it is either a NCM is filed against the entire executive under 106(6), (7) of the Constitution, as successfully happened to Granger, or not at all. One would think by now that when it comes to NCMs, APNU+AFC should be expert students, at least over the past three years, considering the numerous drubbings on this matter they would have had in Parliament and in the courts. We can suppose that the APNU+AFC is seeking to recreate what they achieved in 2012, as a combined but not coalition parliamentary majority when they used their 33-32 advantage (and the Speakership of Raphael Trotman) over the minority Donald Ramotar administration to first try to force the resignation of then Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, and then, failing that, successfully banning him from speaking in Parliament. That, however, was a circumstantial anomaly, one that was effectively corrected by both judicial and parliamentary decision. An NCM, whether ultimately successful or not, has to have an intrinsic consequence of passage, not a nonbinding resolution, and the question of whether or not the National Assembly has the power to oust or restrain an MP/ Minister for conduct outside of and not in breach of Parliamentary Standing Orders, was settled effectively when David Granger lost to then AG, Anil Nandlall, in a 2013 High Court decision in the Rohee matter, forcing Trotman to reverse his gag order against Rohee. As Trotman would write in his lengthy decision reversing that order: “Because all executive power rests in the President, a person designated by him as a “Minister” is for all intents and purposes, his “representative.” It is my considered opinion that refusing the right of a Minister to address the House is tantamount to refusing the President the right to speak in the House, a very unconstitutional and untenable situation. The National Assembly can refuse to listen, but it cannot restrict the right of the President to speak, or that of his representatives, to speak and to fully participate in the business of the National Assembly.” Harmon’s legal eagle and the man on the losing end of almost every constitutional challenge engaged in by the Coalition, Roysdale Forde, seems to have not consulted with Trotman in advising his leader on the sheer idiocy of the two motions. Either way, as has been typical of his decision-making as Opposition Leader (granted under the nebulous and not too competent shadow of a David Granger in hiding), Harmon appears to have acted more on the basis of opportunistic theatricality and melodrama than from any position of either genuine integrity or even calculating political strategy. In the ultimate analysis, he cannot make the case that his motions are to be heard and debated and acted upon, considering the judicial and parliamentary precedent set in the Rohee matter, and then simultaneously argue that there
Guyanese people and Parliament need to know all details of Gas-to-Shore project DEAR EDITOR, I am in support of OGGN (Oil and Gas Governance Network) leader, Mike Persaud’s call that Parliament should review major projects pertaining to Guyana’s natural resources to prevent giveaways, such as the current oil contracts signed by a Minister in the previous PNC Government, defeated in a no-confidence motion and defeated in the subsequent general election of 2020. Mike, a Guyanese patriot and an indefatigable fighter for the restoration and preservation of democracy, lives and breathes Guyana in his heart although he lives abroad. His idea of parliamentary review makes very good sense for governance, and the Government should draft legislation to prevent the giveaway of natural resources such as oil, gold,
bauxite, timber, manganese, etc. The PPP blames the PNC for the oil giveaway through a bad contract signed in 2016. The PPP said it was not consulted and everything was done in secret. If that is wrong under the PNC, the PPP would want to prevent that from happening again. Therefore, the PPP should have no problem with parliamentary review of any major deal involving billions of dollars, and should support full disclosure to the public. Guyana’s wealth belongs to the People. We must always remember that our resources belong to the people, not crooked politicians, parties and governments! Right now, ExxonMobil Guyana is “participating in a series of engagements across the coastal Regions of Guyana to gather comments and questions that will determine the scope of the
environmental impact assessment for the gas-toenergy project.” The problem is, the PPP Government has not released any of the studies that were done, and they have not provided any more details on this project that would gobble up trillions of Guyana dollars. The VP said, “It’s a no brainer.” The recent picture of a gas fire burning in Mexico’s waters should send shivers up your spines, and cause us to be more vigilant about the Gasto-Shore project. Wake up people! Guyana got royally screwed in the worst oil contract ever signed by a Government. How do we make sure the Gas-to-Shore agreement is not a sell out too? The Government has shown only weakness so far in dealing with Exxon doing excessive flaring, and acting as an “Exxon Parrot,” doing everything Exxon wants. Do
you trust the crop of politicians we have now? Stand up for Guyana! The PPP Government has reneged on its election promise to renegotiate the oil contract. That’s a promise made, promise not kept. They milked the Global Witness report on the campaign trail that Guyana stands to lose about US$55 billion because of the PNC’s wickedness. Once they got in, they are talking now about the “four corners of a contract” and acting as the PR spokesman for Exxon. I say the Government must end all secrecy, lay open all the details of the Gas-to-Shore project, share all details with and involve the legitimate parliamentary opposition, and move forward with the utmost transparency and accountability. Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall
PPP and PNC are in bed, always been DEAR EDITOR, I disagree with the PPP insistence on the PNC recognising its ‘legitimacy’ as the standing Guyana government. Surely, it cannot be this insecure, this in need of PNC authentication. PPP leaders should not be this lacking in confidence and self-esteem that they need - indeed, crave the signoff, nod of approval, and handshake endorsement of the lost PNC. I also disagree with the PNC on the group’s ‘illegitimate’ posture, though I appreciate the Catch-22 in which its leaders find
themselves. For to withdraw claim of ‘illegitimate’ means that elections court petitions have to be kissed goodbye. Incidentally, I keep using PNC because it is the coalition, regardless of the alphabet snakes and ladders that comprise the group; it goes up and down, with some gobbled up, others regurgitated. And at the core of my thorough disagreements with, and towering disrespects for, both groups and their luminaries, is how Guyana and its peoples are held to ransom, and suspended on a butcher’s meat hook. Moreover, I contend that
both PPP and PNC play a crooked game with Guyanese. I suspect that the leading spokespeople of both parties are fully committed to an under-thetable relationship, which pays handsome dividends to both sides. They answer to Exxon, which they recognise has the deep pockets, and is not below resorting to use such with host country political, business, and social elites to solidify presence and cause. One exhibit of this criminal state of politics in Guyana is the opposition that was supposedly incensed at the removal of its PAC chair, and
vowed ‘defiance.’ In the next breath, the deceptions continue, when the ousted chair is seconding the new chair from his group; such are the smokescreens from this parade of jokers on the nation’s comedy show. So much for opposition self-respect and threatened defiance, it is that of a onelegged ballet dancer. Naturally, the resonant and ready defense is that if there is no opposition presence, then the PPP will run amok, with no watchdogs in sight. It does that anyway, coalition (Continued on page 6)
There is power, unity and strength in numbers DEAR EDITOR, The tragedy of life is not found in failure, but complacency. Not in doing too much, but doing too little. Not in living above your means, but below your capacity. It’s not failure but aiming too low. That is life’s greatest tragedy. – Benjamin E. Mays Both Mahatma Gandhi
and Nelson Mandela fought for what they believed in and were victorious in their long struggles against indignities meted out by foreign powers that controlled the wealth of India and then South Africa respectively. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi single-handedly started non-violent resistance to lead the
is no way a similar motion can be brought against him. It is that same conveniently applied absurdly liberal and inane interpretation of the Constitution by Granger as President that in great part led to the continued embarrassment in court from 2018 to today and ultimately the loss of executive power in 2020. You either allow both sets of motions, or you allow neither. As is, it simply seems that the Opposition is using the NCMs as an opportunity for hours of free advertising of its political rhetoric via obligatory parliamentary broadcast of speeches and the media coverage resulting from the ‘debates.’ Indeed, would-be leader of the PNC, Aubrey Norton, stated as much in a social media post yesterday: “While the installed regime will be able to vote down noconfidence motions against their incompetent ministers, they will not be able to conceal the information that will come out of such a debate… Success should not be measured by the
successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule and in turn inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, a black South African antiapartheid revolutionary, became involved in anti-colonial and African nationalist
politics for which he served 27 years in prison eventually becoming President of South Africa. Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham both fought for Guiana’s independence from the British because Guiana’s wealth was being dispersed overseas and not benefitting Guiana. Today (Continued on page 5)
outcome of the vote but by its contribution to the raising of political consciousness and to the long term objective of the people getting rid of this installed regime.” In this regard, the only real losers of this duel will be the people who elected these people as members of parliament in the first place. Hours spent on masturbatory speeches in the National Assembly first of all have a real economic cost to taxpayers, including expenditure on everything from meals to electricity to Wi-Fi to man-hours wasted. Moreover, there is tremendous wasted opportunity cost when it comes to moving forward on legislation that will have direct and lasting impact on the people of Guyana, whether we are speaking about marijuana decriminalisation, condominium ownership reform legislation, copyright and cultural industries enhancement, stewardship of our oil and gas industry, or the thing that has long been promised, Constitutional Reform. This country deserves better.
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Positive police crime statistics do not tell the whole story DEAR EDITOR, I am a bit weary of listening and watching Regional Police Commanders on the programme, “Police and You,” giving accounts of their stewardships and positing figures of certain categories of reported serious crimes and traffic accidents to indicate how well their divisions are performing. These figures presented so far give the perception that reported serious crime and traffic accidents are on the decrease. However, the reality is that although the stats show that certain serious crimes have decreased, others have spiked, and that overall crime and traffic accident rates are too high, although it is challenging to draw the base line. One commander boasted that he had a 100 percent decreased in murder. The simple fact is that there was one reported case of murder last year, while none was documented this year. Hence, 100 percent decreased in murder. Wow! Ask any Regional Commander to evaluate the performance of his/her division. The automatic response will be that there was a minus or plus in certain categories of reported
serious crimes and accidents. Assistant Commissioner, Simon McBean, Commander Region Police Division 4C was sincere when he said that if there is one reported serious crime, it is one too much. There is also the ‘dark figures’ in crime, that is, crimes not reported to the police for diverse reasons including the belief of victims that the police will be unable to solve the crimes. In addition, there is the possibility of ‘ghosting’ that is, falsifying patrol logs to ‘make numbers come out right.’ Wayne W. Benette and Karen H. Hess in their book ‘Management and Supervision in Law Enforcement,’ explained that many people tend to use crime rates, number of arrest and case clearance rates to measure how the police are doing. They suggest that such measures have several problems: low crime rates do not necessarily mean a police agency is efficient and effective; a high arrest rate does not necessarily show that the police are doing a good job; a high ratio of police officers to citizens does not necessarily mean highquality police service; responding quickly to calls for service does not necessarily indicate that a police agency is efficient.
...There is power, unity and strength From page 4 however, neither the PNCR nor the PPP/C governments did/ does nothing regarding our wealth that is being given away on a silver platter. Today, we are no longer physical slaves to the British but have become mental slaves to foreign companies under the guise of cultural differences. For whatever reason every time the Government changes in Guyana the cost of living goes up sky high, allowing the rich to get richer and the poor - poorer. Guyana is being inundated with heavy rainfall due to flaring of gas by ExxonMobil that give off carbon dioxide - a colourless, odourless (has no smell) gas that can be very toxic at high levels, yet instead of decreasing the amount of gas flared per day, our Government has allowed Exxon to flare more gas emitting even more Carbon dioxide in the air. ExxonMobil has said that by 2025 they will be producing 1.2 million barrels of oil per day while our Government does nothing about
it. Complacency is the worst form of failure. We shall have no better conditions in the future if we are satisfied with all those, which we have at present – Thomas Edison. Carbon dioxide toxicity includes high blood pressure, flushed skin problems, headache and twitching muscles. At higher levels from flaring, you could experience panic, irregular heartbeat, hallucinations, vomiting, and potentially unconsciousness or even death. People have been known to die in their sleep from high levels of Carbon dioxide. Arise my brothers and sisters of Guyana, like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela; we must let those in power know when we are dissatisfied with their performance and the living conditions that persist in our communities. There is power, unity and strength in numbers. Sincerely, Gloria Holder
Kramer and Fielder (2000) summaries the problem aptly, “Traditional measures, such as Uniform Crime Reports..... arrests and tickets tabulate only events. They do not measure whether the activities were completed effectively or efficiently, and they don’t describe what impact the activities had on the community.” They explained that rather than looking at crime rates, number of arrest and response time, evaluation should assess whether or not the police are fulfilling their responsibilities to the communities they swore to serve and protect. While evaluating the efficiency, effectiveness and productivity of the Force, leaders must focus heavily on their mission statement. Here is the police mission statement, “The mission of the Guyana Police Force and its auxiliaries is to serve all citizens and communities in a professional and accountable manner. To achieve this we will work in partnership with communities, public agencies and private bodies to enhance and support an environment where all people are preventing crime and building a safer and secure Guyana.” A mission statement must be specific, measurable, achievable,
realistic and timely (SMART). This mission statement is not achievable and realistic in part. All people cannot be involved in preventing crime and building a safer and secure Guyana. It is utopia. On July 01, 2021, in his address to the police at their Drum-Head Service at Eve Leary to mark the Guyana Police Force’s 182nd Anniversary, Reverend, Dr. Murtland Raphael Massiah, posited, “If you do not understand your mission, you will not be able to achieve the level of success that you set up or those who plan and organise the programme have determined. Leaders not only have a keen sense of mission, but leaders must leverage the power.” He further advised them to ensure that they not only seek advice, or work based on the advice of their advisors, but that they must also take the time to ensure that they do their own research to gather what the public expects of them and how their performance can be improved. The police have many bright university graduates, some with multiple degrees, who they can utilise to pick up the challenge issued by a man of God, and do research to measure their performance and come up with strategic plans for the future,
instead of banishing them to the COVID-19 Secretariat, the Civil Defence Commission and elsewhere to count the number of persons who died from COVID-19 or are affected with the disease, to engage in flood watch at the CDC and to watch over non existing projects. During the early part of the year the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that it was embarking on an online survey to find out how well the police were performing. Hoping that the COVID-19 did not kill it or that it was not washed away by the floods. I am still hoping that the results of that survey will be made public. If properly done it should be instructive. Citizens survey is critical to measure the performance of the police, not just looking at percentage increase or decrease in specified reported serious crimes. The police must consider what citizens want and expect of their protectors as alluded to above by Reverend, Dr. Murtland Raphael Massiah. Most citizens want to live in safe orderly neighbourhood. The police are considered effective when they produce the perception that crime is under control. Reduction of the fear of crime is a very important measure.
Citizen’s approval or disapproval is generally reflected in letters of criticism or commendation, support for proposed police programmes, cooperation with incidents being investigated, letters to the editor, and public reaction to a single police citizen incident or response to police-initiated survey. One way to assess citizen approval or disapproval is through citizen surveys, which can measure trends and provide positive and negative feedback on the public’s impression of the police. It is a win-win situation. Citizens are better served and police receive positive feedback. Community surveys can also be key in establishing communication. Surveys can help set organisation goals and priorities, identify departments’ strengths and weaknesses, identify area of improvement and needed training and influence ranks to be motivated. Yours respectfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)
Guyanese pay tribute to Bollywood legend DEAR EDITOR, The death of Bollywood legend, Dilip Kumar, is the talk among Indo-Guyanese in the diaspora. He was one of the brightest stars of Indian Cinema. He was popular during the 1950s thru 1970s, along with such actors Pradeep Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor and Sunil Dutt among others. He was taken over by newer actors Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Sanjay Khan, Feroze Khan, among others. His role faded as new and younger stars came into
existence. He began playing father role in films during the 1980s and 1990s. He received India’s highest honours and countless awards for his acting including best film actor award. The iconic actor passed away on Wednesday at age 98 and was buried the same day according to Islamic rites. He was undoubtedly the most popular actor in India and in the Indian diaspora. In fact, his fellow actors referred to him as “The Actor.” Almost every Bollywood
actor (actresses), including the Big B (Amitabh Bachchan), Dharmendra, Hema, Jeetendra, Anil Kapoor, SRK, went on social media paying tribute to him. Politicians (including PM Modi) and cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar showered accolades on the great actor. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, tweeted that “he was a ‘cinematic legend,’ blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled. Our world is a little
less bright today. His passing away is a loss to our cultural world. Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable admirers.” He had shared the screen space with countless celebrities during his career spanning over five decades. He was an institution in Bollywood. (Continued on page 6)
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Attention must be given to this wholly unreasonable state of affairs DEAR EDITOR, Every human, I believe, has dreams of how they would like to enjoy their later years. This was certainly the case for 72-year-old Lynda Gomes. The odds were certainly stacked against her at a fairly early age, having to find a way to provide for six children as a single parent. But she was not going to let those odds deter her. And so she dedicated over 30 years of her life to a career that she fell in love with – teaching. She worked her way up the ranks, with her zenith being Deputy Headmistress for the Santa Rosa Primary School in Moruca, Region One. After retirement, she travelled to Georgetown where she worked on contractual basis for Ministry of Education programme called ‘BEAMS’ and also worked at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs on projects in the various Administrative Regions. In all of this, her dream had always been to return to her home village of Koko in Moruca, Region One, where she planned to build a small comfortable home on 1.5 acres of land she had inherited from her father many years before. Finally, four months ago, she decided to journey to her village to make her dream a reality. The
land she inherited was one-half of three acres, with the other 1.5 acres belonging to her brother, Basil Gomes. When she returned to her land, she realised that over the years villagers had developed a road, which was directly through her land. The original had become impassable, so rather than repair, they started walking through her land, which eventually became the “new” road. Having discovered this, and after numerous trips to the Toshao’s office, she eventually succeeded in having the boundary re-established. She also sought and eventually succeeded in getting permission from the village council to build a simple fence along her boundary line. Little did she know that this was going to be the beginning of a nightmare that she is still fighting to overcome. Led by a village councillor of Koko, residents began to make her life a living hell. She has been verbally abused, threatened and now lives in constant fear of what else to expect. Having erected a portion of the fence, villagers again led by the infamous village councillor, proceeded to destroy the entire stretch of fence. They even stole part of the mesh she had gone to great lengths to acquire. Reports to the Acquero Police Station yielded no results since she was
told she needed to provide proof. With the election of a new Toshao and village council, I am therefore calling for urgent remedial action to be taken to correct the injustice being meted out to this daughter of the soil. It is also my hope that this missive gets the attention of the Hon. Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, and that she mediate to solve this problem. Mention should be made that Ms. Gomes only means of realising her dream of retiring modestly in her own home is by using her pension. The fact that her fence was completely destroyed means that she now has to find additional cash to replace what was so callously destroyed. No person should be made to endure such treatment. Worse yet, to treat someone who has dedicated her life to teaching many of those who are now abusing her. Measurements do not lie. The entire land was originally three acres. It was divided in half. Basic common sense tells me that all that is needed is to ensure both sides measures 1.5 acres each with the road separating the two sides. I sincerely hope that this is done as early as possible so that this phenomenal woman gets the opportunity to enjoy her golden years. Yours sincerely, Andres Atkinson
...PPP and PNC are in bed, always From page 4 watchdogs or not, and the opposition’s watchdogs look for their own bones. Results are the same. The opposition has to make up its mind: it can’t be half in bed with the PPP, and simultaneously half in make-believe confrontation with it. Decide one way or another: cooperation or none at all. Stop these charades, which fool none.
Friday July 09, 2021
Kaieteur News
I cut closer to the chase: I believe that opposition people have been cut into the money, plenty of it. Study carefully those party defections, and there is the proof. The VP will deal; they get a meal. I take matter a step still further: black commercial interests have a choice: starve or surrender. Both they and the VP have a twoword euphemism for the
leadership orchestrated Mafia shakedowns: confidential agreements. There is political deviousness and back scratching going on here, while a mentally empty citizenry hope for the best. Guyanese can dream, but first they must exist with these political decayed dreamboats for leaders/parties. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Paid work alone cannot eliminate poverty in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, Without question, job creation and high employment must remain priority for national development goals. It is wrong to assume, however, that salaries and wages are the ultimate relief for the poor of working age. This fallacy often prompts the snide remark that social protection is merely an excuse for giving free money to lazy people. The fallacy also lurks in the apparent attitude of successive governments here that social protection schemes should be mostly temporary or minor fixes. As a counter, the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) saw the need to emphasise that while employment is a major channel through which the benefits of faster economic growth can be distributed throughout the population, “it is not enough.” It added, “Complementary social policies are also necessary” (UNRISD, 2010. Combating Poverty and Inequality). No country has stamped out poverty – let alone provided a high living standard to its masses — through paid work alone. The requisite quantity and range of high-paying jobs are beyond the reach of market economies. Guyana (oil wealth and all) will not buck this trend. Even if it can, it will take too long to get there. To understand why paid labour alone cannot eliminate poverty, let’s examine employment in the public and private sectors. Public sector employment, based on the examples set by Kuwait and other oil-rich Gulf States, is now a recognised mechanism to provide citizens with a
proper living standard. In Kuwait, for example, public servants are over 60 percent of the total labour force and do live comfortably. In Guyana, public employment hovers around 20 percent or just around 51,000 workers (Guyana Labour Force Survey, 2020). To make public service employment a route to decent living would require a significant spike in the minimum wage and other benefits. But high remuneration raises several problems. For one, it forces the private sector to compete for workers by raising its own pay. This drives up its cost of production, leading eventually to retrenchment or business closures. Secondly, the ethnic and urbanised composition of our public service raises issues about who would benefit and who would not. Thirdly, a high minimum wage makes loss making state-owned entities a greater national burden and deters efforts to divert their human resources to better opportunities. Our sugar industry is a case in point. In summary, work in the Guyana public sector will never be Kuwaiti-generous and deliver the working poor from their struggles. What about the private sector? It employs over 70 percent of our workers. The largest employers by sectors are agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, and accommodation and food service. These jobs are mostly low skilled and lowpaid. According to the World Bank (using the 2017 GLFS data), a considerable number of persons work in the private sector with only primary
education or less. This simpleness of private-sector production in Guyana makes it the unlikely saviour of lowlevel employees and the selfemployed in both formal and informal activities. The World Bank calculated that just under 45 percent of selfemployed persons and close to 40 percent of private sector employees are poor (the remainder work in the public sector). Looking forward, can the private sector boost its complexity and productivity to offer high pay and remain competitive? Can Guyana be an attractive investment destination as a high-wage country? If the answer is yes, let us hear the case. Of course, paid employment cannot eliminate poverty for those who do not work due to particular circumstances, such as the elderly, children, the unskilled, the redundant, and job seekers. Likewise, employment cannot help those who are engaged in unpaid labour, such as informal caregivers and domestics (who speaks for these women?). Building a poverty-free and contented society would require the provision of decent work opportunities as well as the creation of a comprehensive social protection system. The average working Guyanese must have a good take-home pay, free or cheap social services (inclusive of transportation, nutrition support, and justice), subsidies (for water and electricity), tax breaks, (for mortgage payments, etc.) and transfers (child allowances, etc). Yours faithfully Sherwood Lowe
...Guyanese pay tribute to Bollywood From page 5 Everyone who knows of him says his death is heartbreaking. Guyanese were not left out with almost every Guyanese who was born before the 1990s expressing appreciation for his acting skills. He acted in over 100 films, many of which were big hits. Anyone who grew up in an Indian village in Guyana or Trinidad or Suriname or any other diaspora country would have been exposed to a staple of Bollywood hits. Almost every Indian village in Guyana had a cinema showing Indian films. Dilip Kumar was a favourite. Cinemas were usually packed when movies were shown with popular stars like Dilip Kumar. He put in
breathtaking performances in movies, according to Guyanese. And he held in awe by every film critic. He was born Yusuf Khan, a Muslim, in Peshawar, Pakistan in 1922 and moved to Mumbai before the division of British India, becoming an actor in the 1940s. He married Saira Bhanu, who acted opposite him in several films. She was a legend in her own rights, also a favourite classical dancer among fans. Kumar, his stage name, remained in India post division and rose to great heights in the film industry. Though a Muslim, he was enormously popular among Hindus and film attendees of other faiths. Almost all of his films were Hindu oriented. Many Guyanese I spoke
with expressed sadness of his passing. They considered him as the greatest actor of all time who appeared on the screen long before Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, and other legends. In fact, he tutored those actors. I remember Dilip Kumar as a child growing up going to repeatedly watching his film “Ram Aur Shyam” in which he played a double role. That film was one of the all-time hits in Guyana watched multiple times by film enthusiasts. As Guyanese Bollywood fans noted, he is irreplaceable on the screen. It is the end of an Era in Bollywood. They will miss him. He will continue to live in their hearts. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N B T . U . L . L T B . . N . U N U T L N B . U T . . L N N U T B . U . N L U BL BLUNT. B . . T . T T N N U . U L . . L B . T B . . . . N . T U T N N T U N U L L U B . L B . . . . B . T . . T . N N T U N L LU U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B . T L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B . T . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . . LU ...BLUN B T . . . N T U N L U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T . U B . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T BB T...BLU U N L U B . L . . B . T . . N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . . N . B . T . . N T U N N N U L U U B L . BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Friday July 09, 2021
Kaieteur News
Crime is so rampant in this society that even our protectors are being robbed. The latest is of a current Guyana Police Force Officer who was robbed of an official firearm and valuables. If the police themselves are being targeted and victimised, then who is safe? The GPF tells the nation that serious crime is down, those involving weapons. At least, that is what the statistics say. But ask the ordinary man and woman in the street, and that means absolutely nothing to them. There is fear stalking our land at every corner, in our places of business, even in our homes. Some pretend that all is well, and we are safe. WE ARE NOT SAFE. WE ARE IN CONSTANT AND GROWING DANGER FROM RUNAWAY CRIME. Where is the government? What are the leaders really doing, other than public relations gimmicks, and hopefully not with the statistics?
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Friday July 09, 2021
Oil Companies ordered to help cover US$7.2B Gulf of Mexico cleanup bill www.wsj.com: Some of the world's largest oil companies have been ordered to pay part of a US$7.2 billion tab to retire hundreds of aging wells in the Gulf of Mexico that they used to own, capping a case that legal experts say is a harbinger of future battles over cleanup costs. A federal judge ruled last month that Fieldwood Energy LLC, a privately held company that currently controls the old wells and had sought bankruptcy protection, could pass on hundreds of millions of dollars in environmental liabilities to prior owners and insurers of the wells as part of its reorganisation plan. ExxonMobil Corp., BP PLC., Hess Corp., Royal
Dutch Shell PLC and insurance companies had objected to the plan. The dispute, litigated for months in federal bankruptcy court in Houston, centered over who should bear the enormous costs of capping and abandoning wells, primarily in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico where an oil spill could wreak havoc. The companies could still appeal the ruling. The exact future costs of the cleanup are still unclear, but lawyers for BP estimated its liability could top US$300 million, while lawyers for Exxon said its exposure could total as much as US$373 million. A group of insurers said they could be on the hook for more than US$1 billion.
F o r o f f s h o r e wells—unlike most onshore wells—the Department of the Interior can hold
previous operators liable for the cleanup if the current operator is unable to cover the expenses, to avoid taxpayers incurring the costs. Such fights are likely to become more common in the years ahead as countries aim to reduce carbon emissions to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement, said Jason Bordoff, founding director of Columbia University's Centre for Global Energy Policy. That will result in trillions of dollars in expenses to decommission oil-and-gas infrastructure worldwide, he said. "Who bears the costs?" he said. "There will be people who want to pass the buck." BP and Shell have pledged to reduce their carbon emissions to zero by 2050. To accomplish that, those companies will have to sell off some oil-and-gas wells to get their related emissions off their books,
say energy analysts. Shell and BP could look to unload more of their older Gulf of Mexico assets, which have higher carbon emissions intensity than early-life projects, said Mfon Usoro, an analyst at energy consulting firm, Wood Mackenzie PLC. But such asset sales present huge risks for big oil companies because many of the buyers are smaller, privately held firms, like Fieldwood, which may not have the financial wherewithal to bear cleanup costs, Ms. Usoro said. This was Fieldwood's second bankruptcy in two years. These smaller companies buy the wells for pennies on the dollar and assume the cleanup expenses in the hope that they can reduce the assets' cost structure and squeeze out the remaining barrels of oil profitably. "I've always questioned this business model," said Ms. Usoro. "Are these guys able to take care of the end of
Pensioner robbed, beaten by bandits
W
hile heading to the clinic, an elderly woman was robbed and beaten by four bandits on motorcycles on Wednesday. The 68-year-old woman of Thomas Street, North C u m m i n g s b u rg , Georgetown, was on Thomas and New Market Streets, in the vicinity of the Rabby's Parlour, when she noticed four identifiable males riding on two motorcycles on New Market Street.
The four men then reportedly turned around and rode up in front of the victim where one of the riders began to assault her by hitting her about her body with his hands before snatching her handbag which contained a Samsung S10A cell phone valued $34,000 and $72,000 in cash. The four suspects then escaped on the said motorcycles in an unknown direction. Investigations into the matter are currently ongoing.
life?" Fieldwood, backed by private-equity firm Riverstone Holdings, said it sought bankruptcy protection after the rapid decline in oil prices in 2020 caused by the global pandemic left it short on cash. Lawyers for the company said in court papers that its reorganisation plan, which will spread older assets in shallow waters across several stand-alone companies and separate most younger wells in the Gulf's deep waters into a different company, leaves the new companies sufficient money to handle cleanup costs. "The plan…creates a framework for the decommissioning obligations to be managed in a n o r g a n i s e d , environmentally safe manner and with no liability imposed on the American taxpayer," Fieldwood said in court papers. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Marvin Isgur, said in a hearing last month that it was reasonable for all the companies to bear some of the costs and that the plan was in the best interest of the creditors and the country. Lawyers and a spokesman for Fieldwood didn't respond to requests for comment. The Department of the Interior along with some of the previous well operators, including Chevron Corp. and Apache Corp., signed off on Fieldwood's reorganisation plan, according to court documents. But Exxon, BP, Hess, Shell, a group of (continued on page 22)
Kaieteur News
Friday July 09, 2021
PAGE 09
The PPP/C has fire in its belly T
h e P P P / C suffered at the hands of the APNU+AFC for five long months during 2020. Despite winning the March 2nd elections, the PPP/C's presidential candidate – one of the world's youngest Heads of State – was unable to take up his rightful place as the Executive President of Guyana. But this was a PPP/C which was not going to do like what Cheddi did in 1992: they were not going to turn a blind eye to what was done to them, what was done to the country and the people and the wrongs which were done during the previous five years of the APNU+AFC rule. The PPP/C was not prepared to allow the elections to be stolen from them. And they kept the pressure up. They launched a struggle for democracy in Guyana and internationally. They fought politically, and in the courts, and they won in all the arenas in which they contested. The PPP/C of today is not the same as in 1992, when Cheddi decided to let bygones be bygones. The present PPP/C is not going down that route. They are determined to ensure that what happened to them between March and August 2020 is not repeated. In addition, they are determined to hold the APNU+AFC accountable for any skullduggery, which was discovered to have taken place during the rule of the Coalition. The PPP/C is not tolerating nonsense from the APNU+AFC. Already, they
have begun to engineer the dismantling of the AFC. The AFC has begun to selfdestruct; it will be impotent by the time the next election comes around. But do not for one moment believe that the PPP/C is also not nudging the AFC over the abyss. They have already engineered the crossover of AFC leaders to the PPP/C. This is a smart strategy. They know that the PNCR cannot ever win an election without support from other parties. The main party, which was responsible for the PPP/C's loss of its majority in 2011 and its eventual defeat in 2015, was the AFC. And so, by taking the AFC apart, the PPP/C is securing its future in government for a very long time. The struggle for leadership within the PNCR is mistimed. No matter whom the PNCR elects as its leader, that person cannot become the President of Guyana in 2025. The APNU+AFC sealed the fate of the PNCR when it attempted to benefit from an attempt to rig the 2020 elections. The PNCR has lost face and it has lost support. Thousands of its supporters were embarrassed by what took place between March and August 2020. Those supporters wanted the Coalition to win but not dishonestly. The supporters of the PNCR may not all like Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C. But they know who won the elections, and they know it was not the APNU+AFC. If the Coalition had won or if its
supporters genuinely believed that it had won, nothing would have prevented these supporters from taking to the streets en masse. That did not happen because they knew the truth. The PNCR is not fooling anyone when it says that it was cheated out of power by foreign States. The APNU+AFC coalition was the American darling in 2015. But democracy is more important to the Americans than who rules, because it does not matter who is in office, the US will get its way. They have shown this by stifling any attempt by the PPP/C to renegotiate the oil contracts. Does anyone really believe that former US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, came here to celebrate the saving of democracy? No, he came here to remind the PPP/C about the sanctity of contracts. All those so-called lions in the PPP/C became lambs when it came to the renegotiation of the oil contract. But make no mistake about it, the PPP/C is not going to sit by and allow the PNCR to run roughshod over it. The PPP/C did not allow the PNCR to bully it during the elections and it is certainly not sitting back and allowing the PNCR to do as it pleases. For every action, which the PNCR and its sidekicks launch, the PPP/C has had a response. The latest is in relation to the tabling of the so-called no-confidence motion against two Ministers. The PPP/C is not allowing itself to become any easy target for the
Dem
After one time boys seh...
is another twine
S
ome people 'tekkin on.' Dem used to get invite to dem July 4th bingee at de US Ambassador Residence. And dem used to dress up in dem dan-dan and tun up. Dem used to pose with dem friends and tek out picture and put it pon Facebook fuh show dem friends how dem get invite to Uncle Sam national day reception. Dem used to deh putting up dem invitation pun Facebook, just like how de
young Minister bin put up he visa de other day. When dem boys ask dem why dem gat fuh show-off so much, dem used to say, “If yuh gat it, flaunt it.” But time langer dan twine. And dem balla run outta slack. Dem now could only read about dem July 4th celebration. Dem get strike out. Dem can't even get to go in de embassy because dem bin try fuh kerfuffle de elections and dem visa get pull. So dem now turning up
dem nose but dem nat getting fuh sit at de US dinner table. De fox can't get de grapes no more and so de fox crying foul. But is suh when yuh used to like fuh show-off. Now yuh can't even show-on. So fuh tek shame out of dem mouth dem start fuh cuss Uncle Sam. But dem know dem can't ever go America again fuh see July 4th fireworks. Talk half and tell dem if dem want visa, nah rig elections!
APNU+AFC. It has made it clear that it too can file a noconfidence motion against the Leader of the Opposition. This is a new PPP/C, one with more fire in its belly. It is not bending over to hold talks with the riggers. It insists that the Opposition drops the charade about an
illegitimate government before any talks can take place. It is right. And the APNU+AFC does not realise the absurdity of its stance. Because if the results of the elections threw up an illegitimate government, these results must also have thrown up an illegitimate
Opposition. Do fuh do nah obeah! (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
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Friday July 09, 2021
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
We must directly address African Guyanese about their deceitful leaders I
t has to be a joke of immense hilarity for an African Guyanese to tell an Indian academic that he cannot speak for African Guyanese when that leader is a fraud trying to fool African Guyanese. It has been written in the daily newspapers in the past year by several prominent African figures that I cannot speak for African Guyanese. In addition to them, I have been informed that there are many more such statements on social media. I don't know why these people think I
want to speak for any ethnic community in this or any other country. I straddle three worlds – I am an academic; I have over 50 years of praxis and 32 years as a media practitioner. This background enables me to analyse things, people, places and events in my country for which I have no other document other than a national ID and Guyanese passport. I will not be deterred by ethnic groups telling me I cannot assess their culture, religion and politics. What I
can elongate on is fraudulent, manipulative, deceitful leadership in any cultural, religious or ethnic community. In Guyana, African Guyanese are being fooled mercilessly by pretenders who have no love in their hearts for seeing a productive future for African Guyanese constituencies. The heartless manipulation must be exposed because it goes on relentlessly. I had to appear in court to argue for bail for a Black youth charged with
two grams of ganja because his friends contacted James Bond who told them what his fees were. For more on this see my column of Tuesday January 8, 2019, “African Guyanese 52 y e a r s a f t e r Independence.” Does James Bond speak for Black people? Does James Bond have more of an interest in seeing a future for African youths than an Indian like me? What do you in the Black communities in Guyana think? African Guyanese leaders fooled African youths in 2015 when WPA and PNC leaders promised them if they come to power, they will change the law relating to the possession and sentencing for marijuana. They spent five years in office and actually refused to pass the legislation in the name of parliamentarian Michael Carrington. It was Carrington who told the media that President Granger did not want the Bill. More importantly to note, no African political leader in the WPA, PNC and A F C e v e r o ff e r e d a n explanation much less an apology. But guess what. When they became the opposition last year, they tabled a Bill to change the very law that they refused to scrap when they were in power. Are these the African Guyanese leaders Black Guyana wants? Did any member of the Rastafarian community
Frederick Kissoon actually vote in 2020 for the PNC, WPA and AFC to return to power? I cannot believe they did. No human can be so masochistic. There isn't a day that goes by in this politically unsettling land that African political leaders opposed to the PPP haven't uttered a cruel deception that misleads Black Guyana. Harmon took the Sputnik vaccine then condemned it. The effect could be disastrous for African people who put their faith in their leaders. Simply put – they could listen to Harmon and avoid the vaccine. How could Black people in this country listen to what Harmon said and put their fate in him? Take the WPA. They have been pimping Walter Rodney's name for years in ways that are so depraved that they should be ostracised by every citizen in this land. They are currently accusing the PPP government of seeking to
acquire political capital over the official recognition of Rodney's legacy. But it was the man's family that asked for his achievements to be recognised as part of Guyana's history. The family did not ask David Granger or Clive Thomas or Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, three African Guyanese who were policy-makers in the government 2015 – 2020. Founder of a paper political party, Sarabo-Halley has joined the chorus of denouncing the PPP government for doing what she should have tried to get h e r A P N U + A F C government to do. These very Black leaders are completely silent on the Donald Rodney travesty. It was a PPP administration that is less than a year in power that facilitated a Court of Appeal hearing to remove the stain of a fraudulent criminal conviction against Walter Rodney's brother, Donald. What is sickening and immorally terrifying is that in telling Black people that the PPP is getting publicity from Rodney's name, they are so contemptuous of Black Guyana that they refuse to offer African Guyanese an explanation of why they didn't do what the PPP has rightfully done. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Friday July 09, 2021
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Friday July 09, 2021
Govt. threatens to file no-confidence motion against Opposition Leader L
ess than 48 hours after he filed a noconfidence motion against two ministers of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, has himself become the subject of a similar no-confidence motion, which is to be filed on behalf of the Government. According to the motion signed by Prime Minister, (ret'd) Brigadier Mark Phillips, on Wednesday, the House expressed its lack of confidence in the Leader of the Opposition for a number of reasons outlined and therefore, calls for his immediate resignation. In the reasons outlined in the motion, inter alia, cites Harmon for his crucial and integral part of the process of
undermining democracy. To this end, the motion outlined that Harmon continues repeatedly and consistently to misinform the public and the National Assembly, that the A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition had won the 2020 General and Regional Elections. Further to his charge, the Government says that Harmon has continually engaged in the reckless peddling of misinformation as it relates to the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. “Whereas, the Leader of the Opposition has recklessly misinformed the public and the National Assembly with regards to the COVID -19 vaccine, its efficacy, and its acquisition by the Government, thereby
endangering people's lives and increasing vaccine hesitancy among the most vulnerable population,” the motion stated. Additionally, the ruling administration alleges in the motion that the Opposition Leader, opportunistically used the horrific murders of the Henry cousins from West Coast Berbice, as a means to incite ethnic disharmony. Harmon is also cited, for his alleged consistent denigration of the representative of the joinder parties, Lenox Shuman, the Deputy Speaker and legitimate member of the parliamentary opposition, and for even going so far as to deny him holding an opposition seat on any parliamentary committee. The no-confidence motion against Harmon
Prime Minister, (Ret'd) Brigadier Mark Phillips came one day after he presented similar motions of no-confidence against Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, to Clerk of the N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y, Sherlock Isaacs. O n We d n e s d a y, President, Irfaan Ali, dismissed the two noconfidence motions, stating that the documents lacked effort and meaningfulness. Since then, the PPP/C Administration has said that it stands ready to defend the performance of Dr. Anthony and Minister Benn in a parliamentary debate. A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e government said it is confident that the motion
Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon will not succeed due to its one seat majority in the House. This is not the first time a motion of no-confidence was filed against a sitting minister. In 2012 by way of a vote by the opposition majority, a motion of noconfidence to bar former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, from speaking or participating in the affairs of the National Assembly was passed. The original motion was to remove Rohee from his ministerial portfolio but considering that, that could not be legally done; the decision was made by then Speaker, Raphael Trotman, to prevent Rohee from
speaking in Parliament. That decision later became the subject of a court case, filed by Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, and in a subsequent ruling, the late Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang, overturned the decision to gag the then Minister. In his ruling, Chang noted among other things, that Parliament could not through any bill or motion be empowered to negate the powers of any member of the National Assembly. The CJ had further determined that whenever the Court's jurisdiction is invoked on any issue, the Court's decision is final and binding. As a result, Trotman overturned his decision. In a ruling issued to the House on February of 2013, Trotman explained that in the exercise of his duty, he should not be interfered with, or fettered, by the Courts, but added, the National Assembly is respectful of, and grateful for, opinions and interpretations provided by the High Court He explained that the issue that was to be considered is whether the House, acting through a majority, or unanimously, can impose sanctions on a Member, and if so, in what instances. The former Speaker explained, “For the reasons, (continued on page 22)
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Friday July 09, 2021
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President lauds “respectful”, “valuable” relations between Guyana and US celebration. Today, the United States is the world's foremost economic and military super power” The Country's Head of State highlighted the role of the Guyanese diaspora in the USA, noting that “Many Guyanese have made the
United States their home and indeed, the largest segment of the Guyanese diaspora can be found in the United States.” The president consequently noted, that these overseas based Guyanese have in turn, aided the US on the assent to its
current position: “Guyanese have also distinguished themselves and contributed to the development of other parts of the United States” He further subsequently noted, that their contribution did not go unnoticed, and says that the recent renaming of a corner of Liberty Avenue
in Queens, New York to 'Little Guyana' has shown an acknowledgement of the contribution that Guyanese have made to the state of New York. According to the President, the two states have “enjoyed excellent relations since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties 55 years ago” and that as a testament to this (continued on page 18)
E’bo. High Court to hear case of boat captains charged for killing ten passengers
T
President Ali delivering remarks on the Anniversary of the US' Declaration of Independence
P
resident of the Coo p e r a t i v e Republic of Guyana, Dr. Irrfan Ali, at a function to commemorate the 245th Independence Anniversary of the United States of America, on July 8th described the relations shared by Guyana and the
United States of America as a “Strong, healthy, respectful and valuable relationship”. In his address, the president noted the tremendous progress the US has made: “The strides made by the United States since its declaration of independence are a worthy cause for great
he High Court in Essequibo has commenced hearing a case into the unlawful death of 10 persons by way of a boat accident. The two boat captains, D e v o n Thompson and Cabesh Persaud, are indicted on a charge of manslaughter, which stemmed from the January 22, 2013, collision in the Mazaruni River, in which ten passengers on board their boat lost their lives. The deceased are Francisco Oliveria Alves, Deon Moses, Ricky Bobb,
Zaheer Baksh, Christopher Ramnarine, Jermaine Calistro, Geewan Seeram, Ulric Grimes, Kevin Ambrose and Keenu Amsterdam. The men have since pleaded not guilty to the offence when they appeared before Justice Simone Ramlall at the Suddie High Court in Essequibo, on Wednesday. Their trial has been fixed for July 13th, 2021. Meanwhile, a judge and jury are scheduled to hear the case of Akeem Haymer called 'Curry' and Affiba
Yenkana called 'Dugla' at the High Court in Georgetown. The duo are jointly charged with the January 20, 2017, murder of 43-year-old Leopold Street, Werk-enRust, mason, Rawle Rodrigues. Their case came up at the Georgetown High Court yesterday before Justice Sandil Kissoon. Yenkana and Haymer pleaded not guilty to the charge and are being represented by attorneys-atlaw Hewley Griffith and Rachael Bakker. State Counsel Lisa Cave is
appearing on behalf of the State. She is expected to call 18 witnesses. According to police reports Rodrigues was killed in the vicinity of Demico House at Stabroek, Georgetown, following an altercation with two men. During the altercation, he was allegedly stabbed once to his chest by one of the men with an object. The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
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Kaieteur News
Friday July 09, 2021
Police destroy ganja farm
The marijuana wrapped in plastic bags
Some of the marijuana plants found at the location
R
anks of the Cove and John Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Wednesday carried out an intelligence-led operation, which resulted in the arrest of a 39-year-old man who was busted for the cultivation of marijuana at the Northern section of Seawall at Golden Grove Village, ECD.
The man was found cultivating marijuana plants ranging from 2ft to 11ft in height – ranks found a total of 150 plants at the scene. After arresting the suspect, officers further searched the area and found 21 transparent bags and two black plastic bags containing sizeable amounts of cannabis, along with a set of
camouflage clothing. The Guyana Police Force in a statement said the estimated weight of the cannabis is 130kgs and it carries a street value of $9M. The farm was destroyed by fire and the suspect placed in custody after the suspected cannabis was weighed in his presence. Investigations are ongoing.
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Friday July 09, 2021
GAWU appealing with the Ministry of Labour to address DTL's employees concerns
T
he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), is appealing with the Ministry of Labour to address the concerns that the employees of Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) are having. Recognising the Minister's recent visit to Vaitarna Private Holdings in addressing employees concerns, GAWU in a statement yesterday noted that it had written to the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, to conduct a similar inspection at the DTL, Mabura Hill location, where workers have raised concerns with them on the situation at the work site. Following that letter, the Union said that the Labour Ministry had reached out to them indicating that a visit would be arranged. GAWU stated that they continued to follow up the matter with the Ministry and was told that the visit is still being arranged. According to the
Union's statement, on one such occasion, they were told that the Ministry did not have any vehicles available. The Union, which has been representing the workers issues of the company, stated that the workers have continued to highlight that the conditions have not improved. GAWU noted that DTL has adopted an arm's length approach to them, and the efforts of both the Union and the Ministry to address the situation have so far been unsuccessful. “We have told the Ministry that it is obligated to ensuring that workers' rights are protected, more so, considering that the foreign-owned DTL benefits from our nation's patrimony,” the Union pointed out. In applauding the Ministry's efforts in protecting the well-being of workers, GAWU hopes that its public appeal to the Ministry would cause them to act on the issues DTL's employees have raised.
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Two more women have died from COVID-19
T
he Ministry of Health (MoH) y e s t e r d a y reported that two more persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Health Ministry d isease, have died. According to the Health
Ministry, the latest fatalities are that of two women, a 47year-old from Region Four
(Demerara-Mahaica) and a 68-year-old woman from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). Both women reportedly died on Wednesday while
receiving treatment at a medical facility. As a result of this, Guyana's COVID-19 death toll moved to 486. Further, the Ministry in its daily COVID-19
dashboard recorded 112 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 20,757. Out of the confirmed cases, 10,616 persons are women while 10,141 are men. The dashboard also shows that 13 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 90 persons in institutional isolation, 1,373 in home isolation and no one is in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 18,795 persons have
President lauds “respectful”, “valuable”... From page 13 fact “The Trade Winds Exercise 2021 led by the United States southern command, was a further demonstration of shared commitment to partnership in the face of shared challenges and pursuit of common goals.” The president also acknowledged the United States for its support in the maintenance of Guyana's democracy, and for its support in Guyana's quest to ensure the preservation of its territorial integrity. He additionally pointed out that Guyana highly anticipates the US's continued support in these areas. He further noted, that “Guyana applauds the bull plans announced by US President, Joseph Biden to rejoin the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.” Additionally, he lauded the US's recommitment to reduce greenhouse emission by 50 percent of 2005 levels by 2030, to accelerate transition to renewable energy sources to enable a carbon free energy system by 2030, the move to increase green infrastructure spending and to develop energy efficient technologies. The President also concluded that “Guyana looks forward to working closely with the government of the United States to build a more resilient and sustainable post COVID-19 future, and to combating and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.”
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St. Mary's Quarry found in breach of labour laws, BK gets clean bill Inspection conducted at BK Quarry by Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, and his team.
Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, along with team members at the St. Mary's Quarry on Tuesday
D
u r i n g a Ministerial visit to the St. Mary's Quarry located in Bartica, Region Seven, the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, found that the company has been in breach of Guyana's labour laws. The Minister and his team comprising of Senior Labour Officers Denise Duncan and Prandatt Basdeo, on Tuesday met with some of the quarry workers who highlighted to them some of the inhumane working conditions they are forced to endure at the site. The mining site currently has 37 workers and their families all living on location.
According to a statement from the Ministry, they found that the workers are forced to work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, without any day-off and are granted only four days Vacation Leave. The Ministry revealed also that there is lack of safety equipment for the workers to utilise in order to carry out their duties. Additionally, they found that the Guyanese employees have different contractual agreements as against the foreign workers. “It was shared that while Guyanese workers receive no day-off, the contract with foreign workers allows them
to have days off and vacation leave,” the Labour Ministry noted. Upon listening to their concerns, Minister Hamilton expressed that the working conditions are unacceptable for any worker and that the company seems to be applying “its own labour laws.” In addressing the concerns raised, Hamilton said that his Ministry would reach with the management of the company to discuss what must be done in rectifying their infractions so as to create a better working environment for the workers. Following his
Unidentified body of man found
T
he body of an unidentified male was discovered on Wednesday night, at New Road, Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD). The naked body of African descent was lying on the northern carriageway of New Road with lacerations to the head and about the body.
The deceased was picked up by the police and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where it was seen and examined by the doctor on duty. The body is presently lying at the West Demerara Regional Hospital Mortuary awaiting identification and a Post Mortem Examination.
impromptu visit at St. Mary's mining site, the Minister on Wednesday conducted a similar visit to the BK Quarry, which is also located in Region Seven. There, the Minister and his team were able to meet with the company's General Manager, Charles Kertzious, and Project Manager, Lionel Moonsammy, who gave them a tour around the
quarry and the mines. It was observed that the company had adequate Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) protocols in place for its workers. Hamilton during his visit also held discussions with mangers concerning employees' welfare and salaries. Before concluding his visit, the Labour Minister
told the on-site management that the Ministry's Chief L a b o u r O ff i c e r ( A g ) , Michelle Baburam, would write to the company's m a n a g e m e n t i n Georgetown, requesting an urgent meeting. According to the Ministry, they intend to release full details and the outcome of the discussions pertaining to that meeting.
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Ex-inmate murders uncle over plantains Melroy Moore, 27, an exinmate is now in custody after he was caught on camera beating his uncle to death over some plantains; the deceased was identified as Aubrey Jonas, 51, a farmer of Phoenix, Leguan. The incident occurred at approximately 14:55hrs. on Leguan Island, Essequibo River, on Wednesday. Kaieteur News understands that the suspect entered into his uncle’s farm and picked some plantains. Shortly after, the now deceased came out of the backdam with a cutlass in his hand and questioned the 27year-old as to who gave him permission to pick the plantains. An argument then ensued after the deceased said “You touch the plantains and you gon see wa gon happen to you.” After the argument, they both left to go their separate ways and shortly after the suspect armed himself with a knife and went to the Phoenix Koker and sat. As the deceased was walking pass him heading into the village, they started arguing again. The now deceased then lashed the suspect with the
Jonas lying on the ground after being bludgeoned to death. cutlass on his leg. This resulted in the suspect going into his mother’s yard and arming himself with a piece of wood, which was used to deal several lashes to the victim’s head, resulting in severe injuries. The now deceased was picked up by his niece who had videoed what transpired - and others and taken to Leguan Cottage Hospital.
While being treated for his injuries, the victim succumbed about 16:00hrs. Around 17:00hrs, acting on information received, police went to an abandoned house in Phoenix, where the suspect was contacted, told of the allegations and arrested. The body of the deceased is presently lying at the Leguan Cottage Hospital Mortuary awaiting a Post
Cop accused of brutalising wife turns self in Police constable, Sereste Brittlebank, the man accused of brutalizing his commonlaw-wife on Thursday July 1, turned himself in yesterday at the Vigilance Police Station, located on the East Coast Demerara (ECD). Brittlebank had allegedly beaten his wife on Thursday for two hours, causing her to fall unconscious at least three times. He had started to brutalise her at his friend’s birthday party around 23:30Hrs that night, and ended the assault at her home. It might just be that the woman’s life was saved by her daughter who had opened the back door after hearing her screams. Brittlebank left the home with a bag and was not seen since then. A report was lodged with the police (the said night) and the woman was taken to the hospital for medical attention. While she was recovering from home, Brittlebank threatened to finish her if she continued to pursue the case against him. Fearful for her life, she reached out for help by contacting the head of “You Are Not Alone” (YANA), Melissa Atwell, popularly known as Melly Mel. Atwell informed this media house of the woman’s situation because she was afraid that Brittlebank would follow up his threats and kill her. Brittlebank, a rank attached to the Mahaica Police station, had reportedly been in hiding since then, and had even
The abused woman bleeding from her eyes after Brittlebank brutalized her on Thursday last.
Constable Sereste Brittlebank, the cop accused of brutalizing his wife.
threatened to kill the woman if she continued to talk about his brutal assault on her. It is believed that he decided to surrender after the media exposed his heinous act of beating his spouse almost to the point of death. Kaieteur News had received information that he was hiding out at his mother’s home in Linden, Region 10. His relatives, however, has since denied that he was being harboured there. Now in custody of the police, Kaieteur News has learnt that this was not the first time that he has brutally assaulted the woman. On one occasion, his mother had promised the woman that should he do it again, she (the mother) would take her to the police herself. Brittlebank did so again on November 7, 2020 around 01:30Hrs. He had
beaten her severely and strip her naked on a public road. She had managed to escape without her clothes and ran towards the Mahaica Police Station. She recalled that she was climbing up the flight of stairs to the inquiry’s office of the police station, when Brittlebank caught up with her. He allegedly dragged her down the stairs, forced her into his car, drove to a location where he continued assaulting her before driving home. The next day, when he was out of the house, the woman claimed that she called his mother and reminded her about her promise. The mother, however, did not keep her word and allegedly said, “Look me ain’t got time with yall two.”
Mortem Examination. Investigations are still ongoing. Melroy Moore is no stranger to the law; he is one of the 57 prisoners that were released for “character and good behaviour” following the fire that destroyed the Camp Street prison in July 2017. He was later arrested in September 2017 for drug trafficking.
Murdered Leguan Farmer, Aubrey Jonas
Three arrested, two confess to burning Linden’s GECOM building last year - fourth person sought as ‘intellectual author’ Police have arrested three men for the act of arson committed on the Linden GECOM building in July of last year. Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, confirmed with Kaieteur News that one of the suspects has since confessed, while another supported what was revealed in the confession. According to a release from the Guyana Police Force, Teon February called “Nut,” 23, a Labourer of Lot G 5, Canvas City, Wismar, Linden, and Marlon Hunter called ‘Bushy,’ 21, of 4th Street, Silver Town, Wismar, Linden, were arrested yesterday and confessed to having been paid $75,000 each to set the building on fire. February told police that Bryon Kendall called ‘Murgie,’ of Wismar, Linden, called him on 13th July, 2020, in the evening and told him to burn the GECOM building. February said he subsequently contacted his cousin, Marlon Hunter, to carry out the instructions on a promise that they would be remunerated with $150,000 total once it was done. They were then driven to the building at night in the company of Kendall who then handed them a 5-gallon bottle of gas from his car trunk. The suspect said that Kendall then left and he and his cousin hid
Teon February.
Marlon Hunter.
the gas in the nearby bush, not too far away from the GECOM building. It was just around midnight on July 14, 2020, February said he left with his cousin on foot to the building and retrieved the gas they stashed. He said they entered the compound from the back and ventured to the upper flat where the storeroom is located. There they splattered the gasoline and set the building on fire. However, the blaze caused an explosion and the two arsonists received burns to their feet. They then escaped on foot and went home. At February’s home, they met three other female cousins with whom they told what happened, and as the female cousins were tending to their wounds, Kendall arrived with $75,000 cash and
handed it over to him. February said he gave his cousin Hunter the money and the following day Kendall paid him another $75,000, which he kept. February told police that sometime after, Kendall told him that they burnt the building because David Granger’s swearing in was delayed. Kendall was subsequently arrested yesterday and investigating ranks are looking for a fourth person who is said to be the “intellectual author behind the burning of the GECOM building.” Firefighters responded to a report of a fire at the Linden GECOM building in the early hours of July 4, 2020. The security guard on duty then had told police that she saw two males running from the scene.
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Friday July 09, 2021
Kaieteur News
...Oil Companies ordered to help VACANCY
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From page 8 insurers and others argued the new companies created by Fieldwood would be short on cash and doomed to fail, unable to handle the costs of decommissioning the wells and potentially creating an environmental disaster. Spokespersons for Chevron and Apache said they would honour their cleanup liabilities. Lawyers and spokespersons for the oil companies and insurers that objected declined
to comment or didn't respond to requests for comment. "The plan fails to formulate any such conditions to ensure the protection of the public's health and safety, and instead seeks to shift such responsibility to predecessors," lawyers for BP said in court documents. Companies that provided surety bonds, often required by regulators for offshore operations to insure cleanup costs and other expenses, argued they could bear the brunt of the costs. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.,
Hanover Insurance Group Inc., Travelers Cos. Inc. and XL Specialty Insurance Co. warned in court papers that approving Fieldwood's plan could have a chilling effect on oil-and-gas insurance. "There is a high likelihood that sureties will exit the market altogether," the lawyers for the insurers said in court papers. "This would lead to a crumbling of the oil-and-gas industry, as bonds are required to operate."
...Govt. threatens to From page 12 I am of the firm opinion that the National Assembly can only exercise a supervisory and disciplinary jurisdiction over a Member who has fallen into error of the Standing Orders, but such authority cannot carry over to the Ministerial portfolio of a Member; except as authorised by the Constitution. The decision to dismiss a Minister is solely that of the Executive President. Likewise, the decision of a Minister to resign is solely that of the individual Minister…” As a consequence, Trotman noted that “the correct course of action to take, would be to allow the Hon. Minister, Clement Rohee, M.P., the right to participate fully and unhindered in the business of the National Assembly, both in his own right as an elected Member of Parliament, and as the individual designated by His Excellency the President, to be the Minister of Home Affairs.” Following the issuance of the proposed no-confidence motion against Harmon, yesterday, APNU+AFC, Shadow Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Roysdale Forde, issued a statement claiming that the threat of a no-confidence motion against the Opposition Leader only serves to expose “the desperation of the beleaguered PPP to deflect attention away from the potent no-confidence motions filed against Frank Anthony and Robeson Benn, installed Ministers of Health and Home Affairs, who by their incompetence and inaction are placing the lives and security of our people at risk.” Moreover, Forde said that the opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) has every confidence in the Leader of the Opposition. “The PPP is not only desperate, but is also seeking to pervert the Constitution and inject into it that which it does not provide for. The Leader of the Opposition in accordance with Article 184 of the Constitution is elected by the non-governmental members of the National Assembly,” he added. Further, Forde claimed that the Leader of the Opposition can only be removed by a majority of the non-governmental members of the National Assembly. By definition, he said the Leader of the Opposition does not have to enjoy the support of the Government members of the National Assembly. As such, the APNU+AFC MPs claims that “any attempt by the PPP to file a no-confidence motion against the Leader of the Opposition will be baseless, frivolous, unconstitutional, vexatious and an abuse of the National Assembly.” Forde said further that the Speaker will have no basis to allow such a motion and will have no choice but to discard it.
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Man walks to police station after beaten unconscious in front court A cutlass-wielding man, who was yesterday reportedly beaten unconscious in front of the Georgetown Magistrates Courts by a gang of men, got up and walked to the Brickdam Police Station to lodge a complaint against the assailants. According to investigators, the man was assaulted around 13:30hrs, with the beating captured on camera. A cellphone-
recorded video, which surfaced on Facebook, showed the victim armed with a cutlass and involved in an intense argument with one of the suspects on the pavement just in front of St. Andrews Kirk Church located along the Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown. It appeared as if the argument was over signs posted on the fence of the church. Another suspect approached and pelted at the
victim with a stone. The stone missed and the victim chased after him with cutlass. They ended up at the opposite end of the Avenue in front of the court. As he attempted to chop the suspect, he was attacked by other men, who together with the suspect brutally assaulted him until he fell onto the road. One of them was seen pounding away on him with a piece of wood while the
others kicked, stamped and cuffed him about his body. Onlookers intervened, some could be heard saying “yall save he.” The attackers left him alone and ran away from the scene. In the video, the man was seen lying on the road
motionless. Kaieteur News was told by one of the eyewitnesses that at first they thought he was dead but later found out that he was “black out.” Investigators confirmed this too and said that he got up from the road moments
later and walked to Brickdam Police Station to lodge a report. The cops at the station took him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for medical attention and an investigation has been launched.
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Friday July 09, 2021
...England v Pakistan: Saqib Mahmood takes From page 29 Crawley, another playing his first ODI, eased England to victory with 28.1 overs more than half the innings - remaining. Malan finished on 68 not out from 69 balls and Crawley unbeaten on 58 from 50 - the pair putting on 120 from 107 balls. England take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second ODI at Lord’s on Saturday (tomorrow). England’s XI was their least experienced since 1985 with just 124 caps to their name - 98 of which belonged to captain Ben St o k e s . S u s s e x ’s S a l t , Kent’s Crawley, Middlesex wicketkeeper John Simpson, Somerset allrounder Lewis Gregory and
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Durham fast bowler Brydon Carse were the debutants, but it was Mahmood, a relatively experienced head in this team on his 11th international appearance, who impressed most. The Lancashire fast bowler needed a wise review from Stokes to dismiss Imam lbw first ball before Babar nicked one with a defensive prod two balls l a t e r. D e b u t a n t S a u d Shakeel was then trapped lbw for five to leave Pakistan 26-4 off seven overs. The 24-year-old Mahmood bowled with pace throughout, hitting a good length, and his fourth wicket came from a backof-the-length ball that cramped left-hander Faheem Ashraf from round
the wicket before taking an edge. Overall it was a clinical bowling performance from England’s new-look attack. Gregory, who has previously played seven Twenty20s, shared the new ball and bowled a perfect away swinger to take a thin edge off Mohammed Rizwan’s bat in the fourth over. Parkinson chipped in and Overton claimed the final two wickets with bouncers. First one-day international, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff: Pakistan 141 (35.2 overs): Fakhar 47 (67), Mahmood 4-42 England 1421 (21.5 overs): Malan 68* (69), Crawley 58* (50). England win by nine wickets; lead series 1-0.
Friday July 09, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A friend or neighbor you need to contact could be in and out all day, Aries, and so you could have trouble reaching him or her.Phone or email probably won't work. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This probably isn't a good day to do work that concerns money, Taurus. Your mind may not be in the right space. You could make errors that cause problems. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A lost object could have all the members of your household going through every room trying to find it, Gemini probably without success. CANCER(June21–July22) This could be a very busy day in your community, Cancer. Some kind of rally, protest, or other public gathering might take place. If you attend, you may not hear much because of all the noise, and the event could seem disorganized at best. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A future course of action that you may or may not take could depend on information you might receive today, Leo. However, don't be surprised if the information is vague and needs to be clarified. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Are you unhappy or uncertain about your current profession, Virgo? Are you thinking of making a change? News could reach you today of possible avenues to explore, but you shouldn't make any decision today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your natural psychic or intuitive abilities could be short-circuited today, Libra. Interference from the minds of other people could cloud issues, and this won't do you any good. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The atmosphere around you could seem somewhat unreal today. If you get a weird vibe from someone, take everything this person says with a grain of salt. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Communication could take some extra effort today. A business or romantic partner could seem like they're keeping things from you. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Messages from a distant state or foreign country, possibly through fax, email, or website, might not be totally accurate, Capricorn. If any information presented in this fashion sets off an alarm bell in your head, be sure to do some research. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Staying in touch with a love partner could be difficult today, almost to the point of causing a minor panic. Don't jump to any unwarranted conclusions about possible problems in the relationship. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Are you having problems with the lighting or heating in your home, Pisces? If so, you might not be able to get a professional out today. There could be problems in the entire neighborhood.
...Stellar Brazil ...Motie ignored for ODIs against page 31 Veerasammy Permaul and vs Argentina From List A; Guyana vs Windward Devendra Bishoo as the
From page 28 the 2019 Copa due to injury. He said after Brazil’s 1-0 win against Peru on Monday that he wanted to face Argentina in the decider. “But Brazil wins the final,” Neymar jokingly said. He was one of the players who expressed concerns about the late decision to stage the tournament in his country after Argentina and Colombia were dropped as co-hosts. Brazil became Copa America host only two weeks before the opener. Messi and Neymar, who won the Champions League together with Barcelona in 2015, are good friends. They were on opposite sides in 2011 when the Catalan giants thrashed Brazil’s Santos 4-0 in the Club World Cup final. Argentina and Brazil have faced off more than 100 times, but only in four deciders. Argentina won the first of them 2-0 in 1937 for the South American championship, the predecessor of the Copa. Brazil won the other three. Brazil beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties to win the 2004 Copa after striker Adriano leveled the game at 2-2 withthe last shot in regular time. One year later, the two arch rivals met for the Confederations Cup title in Germany. The Selecao hammered Argentina 4-1 after another great display by Adriano, who was playing alongside Kaka and Ronaldinho. Argentina was heavy favorite to win the 2007 Copa, but Brazil crushed Messi’s hopes with a 3-0 win in the final. Brazil also beat Argentina in the previous Copa. A 2-0 victory in the semifinal came with goals by Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino. Jesus is out of Saturday’s (tomorrow) final due to suspension and Firmino may have lost his place to Lucas Paquet. Argentina hopes to win its 15th continental title and equal Uruguay’s record tally. Brazil seeks its 10th South American trophy. The final will be played in an empty Maracana due to health protocols.
Is — 1/37 21-Feb-2021 North Sound List A; Guyana vs Trinidad & Tobago 6* 2/36 19-Feb-2021 Coolidge List A; Guyana vs Jamaica 3 4/55 1 3 - F e b - 2 0 2 1 Coolidge List A; Guyana vs Leeward Is — 4/45 11-Feb2021 Coolidge List A; Guyana vs Barbados 13 1/14 07-Feb-2021 Coolidge List A. Motie made his National U-15 debut in 2007 as an 11year-old and four years at that level before representing this Country for two years at the U-17 level and three years at the U-19 level making him the most capped Guyana youth player. In 2013 Motie was selected for the West Indies U19 team for their tour of Bangladesh before playing for the Regional side in the 2014 U-19 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The talented left-arm spinner has also played in T&T, Barbados, St Kitts and Dominica and his best ever bowling figures at any level is 7-15 for Albion against New Amsterdam side Bermine at U-17 level. After Motie made his First-Class debut he has also shown his worth with Red ball and was good enough with the bat to score 71 which suggest he could perform in all formats. In 2015 at the Providence Stadium over 100 miles from his home in Belvedere in East Berbice, he joined fellow Albion spinners
only Guyanese to register a 10-wicket haul at that venue. Playing in only his second First-Class match, Motie, bowling with lots of variety, took 6-20 for the Guyana Jaguars against the Leewards Hurricanes to help send the visitors crashing to 85 all out. He then grabbed 5-85 in the second innings to finish with match figures of 11-105. Bishoo has achieved the feat three times, while Permaul has one 10wicket haul at Providence. Ironically, it was Permaul’s ankle injury that paved the way for Motie’s inclusion and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands taking three wickets on debut against the Windwards Volcanoes before bagging 11 in the next match. Motie recently returned home from Los Angeles where he represented Nepali Rhino in a T20 Tournament and ended fourth on the wicket-takers list in a tournament. The tournament included several West Indian and Guyana players like Chanderpaul Hemraj, Ashmead Nedd, Sherfane Rutherford and Chris Barnwell. Motie, who was first picked for Albion’s U-15 at age eight and made his Berbice U-15 debut a year later, confirmed that he informed the GCB that he was leaving for the tournament and that he had no fitness or injury issues.
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Farmsup/Doosan/Team Alanis 45-miler set for July 20 on the West Side The nation’s cyclists will hit the roadways again come Tuesday July 20 next to participate in a lucrative 45-mile contest on the West Demerara sponsored by Farm Supplies Ltd. (Farmsup) under their Doosan brand; the race is organised by Team Alanis Cycle Club (TACC). Farmsup Supplies Ltd., located at Rome Access Road, Mc Doom, Greater Georgetown has pledged to put up a total of $485,000 in prizes for the top six in the open
category as well as the top three cyclists in the female, junior, masters under and over-50 categories. The race which will commence at 08:00hrs from Schoonord, West Bank Demerara, proceed to Bushy Park, Parika, East Bank Essequibo before returning to the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish will see the masters and females covering a distance of 30-miles. The prize payout is as follows:
$485,000 in prizes up for grabs
Friday July 09, 2021
Kaieteur News
Tokyo Olympics: Fans largely barred as Covid emergency declared BBCnews - The Olympic Games in Japan will be held without spectators at venues in and around the capital after a spike in coronavirus infections. Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa made the announcement after talks with officials and organisers on Thursday (yesterday). A state of emergency in Tokyo will run throughout the Games, to combat coronavirus. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters it would run from 12 July and remain in place until 22 August. Bars and restaurants will not be allowed to serve alcohol and must close by 20:00 (11:00 GMT). Venues in Tokyo and other areas near the capital city will not be allowed to hold events with fans during the Games. But stadiums in the regions of Fukushima, Miyagi and Shizuoka will be permitted to have spectators up to 50% of capacity and up to 10,000 people. Coronavirus infections are rising in Tokyo as the 23 July opening ceremony edges closer. There has been widespread opposition to the Games in Japan, with calls for them to be postponed or cancelled. After meeting government officials, Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto said: “It is regrettable that we are delivering the Games in a very limited format, facing the spread of coronavirus infections. “I am sorry to those who purchased tickets and everyone in local areas.” Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike said that holding Olympic events without spectators
was “heart-breaking” for those who wanted to attend. It was not immediately clear if refunds will be made available to some or all ticketholders. Mr Suga announced the state of emergency in Tokyo earlier in the day. “Taking into consideration the effect of coronavirus variants and not to let the infections spread again to the rest of the nation, we need to strengthen our countermeasures,” the prime minister said. The state of emergency was announced after a meeting between the organising committee, the government and the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach, who has just arrived in Japan. The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in the Japanese capital between 23 July and 8 August. The Paralympic Games are between 24 August and 5 September. A new wave of infections began in April, but overall the country has had relatively low case numbers and a death toll of around 14,900. On Wednesday, there were 2,180 new cases reported in the country. Some 920 of those were in Tokyo, up from 714 last week and its highest since 1,010 on 13 May. Japan’s vaccination rollout has been slow, and just over 15% of the country is fully vaccinated. There is rising concern over the threat of the Delta variant. In Tokyo and Osaka, the two cities hit hardest by the recent surge, authorities hope over-65s will be fully vaccinated by the end of July. Entry to Japan by foreigners from 159 countries - including the UK - is currently banned.
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Friday July 09, 2021
Mexico’s title defense begins with Trinidad & Tobago tilt
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iami, Florida – Reigning champions Mexico will begin the defense of their Gold Cup title by tangling with Prelims winner Trinidad and Tobago in Group A on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It will be the fifth Gold Cup meeting between the two sides and if it is anything like their previous Gold Cup encounter, fans can expect plenty of goal-scoring fireworks. Six years ago in the 2015 group stage, the two sides played to a thrilling 4-4 draw and there is enough attacking power on both sides to see a possible repeat. El Tricolor boast a lot of star power, led by FW Hirving Lozano, who has 14 goals in 47 matches with Mexico. AT&T Stadium is also friendly territory for the Napoli danger man. In his last match in Arlington, Lozano scored two goals in a 2-1 friendly win versus Iceland on May 29. Another striker to watch
In 2019, the Central Americans opened their group with a 1-0 triumph against the Caribbean side in Kingston, Jamaica. will be Rogelio Funes Mori, who made his Mexico debut last Saturday in a friendly with Nigeria and scored just four minutes into the match. Not to be overlooked is winger Uriel Antuna, who scored four goals for Mexico in the 2019 Gold Cup, including a hat trick in a 7-0 win over Cuba. Trinidad and Tobago c o m e i n t o S a t u r d a y ’s
encounter on a wave of confidence after defeating French Guiana in the Second Round of the Prelims to punch their group stage ticket. The Soca Warriors got big-time performances from MF Kevin Molino, who scored two goals in the Prelims, plus Reon Moore, who scored two goals in the First Round win versus Montserrat. Trinidad and
Tobago can also count on the steady hands of GK Nicklas Frenderup, who allowed just two goals in the Prelims and made the decisive save in Trinidad and Tobago’s 8-7 penalty shootout win over French Guiana. Two teams who don’t shy away from the big moment will make for an entertaining affair. Familiar foes El Salvador, Curacao ready to open
Gold Cup Familiar foes El Salvador and Curacao will open the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup with the first match in Group A on Saturday (tomorrow) at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. It marks the third Gold Cup meeting between the two sides, with Curacao having faced the Cuscatlecos in each of their previous two Gold Cup appearances. In 2017, El Salvador pocketed a 2-0 win in Denver, Colorado, while two years later the Central Americans opened their group with a 1-0 triumph against the Caribbean side in Kingston, Jamaica. Under the guidance of Assistant Coach and European football legend Patrick Kluivert, Curacao will be hoping that the third time is a charm. They certainly have the talent to earn the three points, with the likes of veteran MF Leandro Bacuna, who is one of two players to have scored in a Gold Cup for Curacao, and experienced GK Eloy
Room, who has been in goal for all seven of Curacao’s previous Gold Cup matches. Also aiding the cause will be FW Jarchinio Antonio, who arrives into the tournament in good form after amassing three assists during Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022. El Salvador, led by Head Coach and former United States international Hugo Perez, will also be feeling confident after having qualified for the Final Round of CWCQ. FW David Rugamas scored eight goals in El Salvador’s six matches in CWCQ, while fellow FW Joshua Perez chipped in with three goals. The midfield is also well-stocked with key figures like Marvin Monterroza, Narciso Orellana and the experienced Darwin Ceren, who is likely to appear in his 15th Gold Cup match on Saturday (tomorrow). A winning start for either side would go a long way toward punching a ticket to the knockout round.
We want to get some wins Stellar Brazil vs Argentina final under our belt - Pollard for emergency Copa America The Indian Express (File)
CG Insurance T20 International (T20I) Series West Indies Captain Kieron Pollard said they want to get some wins under their belt as they take on Australia in the first of the five-match T20 series today at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia. Speaking at a press c o n f e r e n c e y e s t e r d a y, Pollard said they always try to improve and to come up with the best plan and hopefully they can get the better of the Australians. “I don’t like to take anything for granted, so we want to get some wins under our belt. Each game is important and we would like the contributing factor from every one of our members.” “The guys have a fair idea of what we are expecting from them so let’s see if we can replicate what we have spoken about. We continue to work with individuals, something’s may take longer than some, but everything that we do is work in progress,” he added. Pollard stated that their bowling has been fantastic, but they need to improve in other areas.
“Our bowling unit has been fantastic, Obed Mc Koy and Dwayne Bravo have done well. Our fielding has let us down over a period of time, but the attitude and willingness shown by the guys despite the heat at different times are two of the positives that came out of the last series.” “We have had a high percentage of dot balls and it has been spoken about, but we try not to leave any stone unturned and not take anything for granted. We have a wealth of experience so there is a lot of conversation taking place so we need to do put it into practice and get it right, “he posited. Pollard noted that Australia has some world class players who are hungry, but they will come out and give it their best. “We are still looking to come up with the best combination and there is a long stretch and expectations are high.” “Within a series where you have back to back games, the toll that it takes on the body is very high so how much can you actually
work from a practical perspective to actually get it right and to also get an open net to get it done. So sometimes the most we can do is to have conversations and when we do get the opportunity we try to work on it.” The skipper stated that they are working with Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran so that they can show what they are made of. “We have 18 guys on the ground and Hetty is a really talented player. We have a lot of time for him and we want him to do well. So we are working with him and hope to reap the rewards of his talent. Pooran is young and talented and in any sportsman’s career they go through that period like this, so this is an opportunity to be there for these players and give them that sort of hug and protect them so we are willing to work with them because we know they have what it takes to take West Indies cricket forward. Game time this evening is 19:30hrs.
Argentina and Brazil have faced off more than 100 times, but only in four deciders.
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heIndianExpres s - The most improvised Copa America will have the final most of the fans dreamed of. Brazil and Argentina play for the South American title on Saturday (tomorrow) at Rio de Janeiro’s historic Maracana Stadium, one of soccer’s spiritual homes. It should be a memorable ending to a tournament plagued by setbacks and moved at the last minute to
one of the countries hardesthit by COVID-19. Neymar’s Brazil team, the defending champions, and Lionel Messi’s challengers have won a combined seven Wo r l d C u p s a n d 2 3 continental titles. The Argentine star wants to lift his first major trophy with his country, which hasn’t won any since 1993. Messi played and lost the Copa America finals of 2007, 2015 and 2016 and the 2014 World Cup, the latter
against Germany at the Maracana. “What I want the most is to win a title with the national team,” captain Messi said after Tuesday’s 3-2 penalty shootout victory against Colombia in the semifinal. “We aim high, we managed to get the first objective, which was to play the final, play every match. Now we aim higher than ever.” Neymar was ruled out of (Continued on page 25)
Kaieteur News
Friday July 09, 2021
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Edghill’s training in California Nils Politt wins stage 12 as going well, TT star set to arrive in Tokyo on July 18 Tadej Pogacar retains lead Tour de France 2021
Nils Politt’s only previous stage win had come at the Deutschland Tour in 2018
BBCsport - Nils Politt soloed to victory on stage 12 of the Tour de France as Tadej Pogacar retained the leader’s yellow jersey. The German broke clear with 12km left on the 159.4km run to Nimes after being involved in a long-range 13man breakaway. Pogacar finished safely in the peloton behind Britain’s Mark Cavendish. “It’s a dream to win a stage in the Tour de France. It’s the biggest win you can have,” Politt said. Today the race travels 219.9km from Nimes to Carcassonne. Politt’s victory came after his Bora-Hansgrohe teammate and three-time world champion Peter Sagan was forced to withdraw prior to the start in Saint-Paul-TroisChateaux. But while Sagan, who has won a record seven green jerseys at the Tour, is still feeling the effects of a crash with Caleb Ewan on stage three, Politt showed he was
in excellent condition, a day after a punishing double ascent up Mont Ventoux. He latched on to a strong group of riders containing current world champion Julian Alaphilippe and launched a superb late attack to ride away from Imanol Erviti and Harry Sweeny, who finished second and third. “I felt good in the last few days, I was trying to do my best today but to come away with aa victory is unbelievable,” he added. All the pre-stage talk had centred on Mark Cavendish with the flat parcours designed to favour the sprinters. However, after a 10minute delay to the start due to the wind, the conditions then contributed to a frenetic start as several early attacks split the peloton. And it ensured that the Manx sprinter would have to wait for his opportunity to equal Eddy Merckx’s record of 34
England v Pakistan: Saqib Mahmood takes 4-42 as new-look hosts thrash tourists by nine wickets BBCsport - A depleted and inexperienced England thrashed Pakistan by nine wickets for a stunning win in the first one-day international in Cardiff. After a Covid outbreak forced the hosts to name an entirely new squad on Tuesday, England picked five debutants and bowled
stage wins. Peter Sagan withdraws because of knee injury Triple world champion Peter Sagan withdrew from the Tour de France on Thursday because of a knee injury. The 31-year-old from Slovakia was unable to start the Tour’s 12th stage. He said: “In a sprint stage I hurt my knee. Yesterday I managed to finish the stage but was in a lot of pain and this morning I could barely get up.” Sagan said he would rest his knee but was unsure if he would compete in the road race event at the Tokyo Olympics, with the race scheduled for 24 July. Sagan, who rides for the Bora-Hansgrohe team, has won a record seven green jerseys for the points classification at the Tour de France and was ninth in the 2021 points classification after 11 stages. The 12th stage is over 159.4km from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Nimes.
Zak Crawley made an assured 58 not out on his ODI debut.
Pakistan out for 141 in 35.2 overs at Sophia Gardens. Saqib Mahmood dismissed opener Imam-ulHaq with the first ball of the match and had Pakistan captain Babar Azam caught at second slip for a duck with the third. The near fullstrength tourists never recovered, with seamer
Mahmood - playing his fifth ODI - taking 4-42, Craig Overton claiming 2-23 in only his second match and leg-spinner Matt Parkinson 2-28 in his third. In reply, debutant Phil Salt edged to slip off Shaheen Afridi for seven, but Dawid Malan and Zak (Continued on page 25)
By Sean Devers wenty-three-year old former Caribbean U-21 Table Tennis Champion and Pan-Am Games Qualifier Chelsea Edghill is one of seven Guyanese set to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the Tokyo Olympics which is scheduled to run from July 23 to August 8. The others are Aleka Persaud and Andrew Fowler (swimming), Emanuel Archibald, sisters Jasmine and Aliyah Abrams (Track and Field} and Keevin Allicock (Boxing). Edghill, Guyana’s highest-ranked female player reached the quarterfinals of the Olympic qualifiers in Argentina and was granted a ‘Wild Card’ to participate in the Olympics. “I’m training in California at the ICC and I’ll be here just until I leave for Tokyo. I am supposed to arrive in Tokyo on July 18, 2021" informed the four times NSC’s Junior Sports Woman of the year. The talented lass who was born in Brooklyn New York on July 6, 1997 to Godfrey Edghill and Deirdre Baynes-Edghill, spoke about her training in California where it is three hours behind
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Guyana. “I am currently engaging in high level sparring and just working on some key areas of my game” explained the 2018 NSC senior sportswoman of the year. Her first Caribbean Table T e n n i s C a d e t s Championship was in Trinidad where she won Silver U-11 Team and another Silver U-11 in the Doubles and since then she had not looked back; now becoming Guyana’s first ever Table Tennis player to compete at the Summer Olympics since it was first held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. Edghill is the 2018 Caribbean Women U-21 champion, Caribbean Wo m e n ’s D o u b l e s champion, Caribbean Women’s bronze medallist 2019, several collegiate tournaments wins, Caribbean Cadet and Junior champion, Caribbean Wo m e n ’s t e a m s i l v e r medallist 2018 and 2019. Edghill took a six-month break from Table Tennis to study for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination before being awarded a partial scholarship to attend Lindenwood University in Saint Charles,
Missouri. The five-year scholarship allowed her to train, play and participate in high-level competitions against top level players on a consistent basis in view of achieving Olympic qualification. She Graduated with a BS in Chemistry from the Lindenwood University. Edghill, who trains twice daily explained that she is satisfied with her living conditions in California. “The accommodations and meals are good. I’m staying at a hotel and I’m pretty satisfied with it” informed Edgill, who plays locally at the Malteenoes Sports Club. Edghill played her first match in July 2006 after the “ Te a c h t h e m y o u n g ” programme. “It was at that programme that I learned to play Table Tennis under the tutelage of Coach Linden Johnson” remembered Edghill, who is now about to venture on the World’s biggest stage for Amateur sports. The newly appointed Smalta Brand Ambassador informed that long-time Malteenoes member Idi Lewis is her Coach and he will be going with her to Japan.
Coach Poole upbeat ahead of AMBC qualifiers By Calvin Chapman Kaieteur Sport caught up with veteran coach, Terrence Poole M.S. (Medal of Service), during one of his daily training sessions at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Boxing Gym in Callendar Street, Albouystown where he is diligently preparing a five-boxer team he’ll accompany to the 2021 American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) youth qualifiers. It is scheduled to be hosted in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico from July 11th to 19th and the successful fighters will qualify for the first ever Junior Panam Championships, scheduled for Cali, Colombia from November 25th to December 5th, 2021. According to President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, the team comprises of several of Guyana’s most promising pugilists and it will be spearheaded by reigning Caribbean Champion Alesha Jackman with Travis Inverary, Wayne Castello and Patrick Harvey being the other members of the team. Poole, who is the Head Coach of the Guyana Defence Force Boxing Gym which has dominated the sport locally for many
years, revealed that, “The most important thing right now is getting these boxers exposed at a very tender age, which we are doing now with this tournament.” “We are oftentimes left behind throughout the years because other national boxing associations would’ve exposed their younger fighters to much more competition and so I applaud this move by our President, Steven Ninvalle.” Poole continued, “This is why (Keevin) Allicock actually made Olympics. It was because of his exposure from competing at different tournaments that allowed him the opportunity to fight and get a good ranking. And, we will be using the Keevin Allicock model to produce other high level boxers.” Highlighting the level of fitness and preparedness for the AMBC qualifiers by his five young fighters, Coach Poole said, “They aren’t at a hundred percent, we had a lot of setbacks during to the pandemcic but from my point of view, knowing their ability, I am very confident that my fighters can do themselves and Guyana proud. Everyone may not qualify but they will definitely represent the Golden Arrowhead well.”
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Kaieteur News
Friday July 09, 2021
Kaieteur News
Friday July 09, 2021
Essequibo Committees to benefit from generous Star Sports donation
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he Cricket Development Committee (CDC) of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) recently donated as set of coaching equipment to Mr. Ryan Hercules, Chairman of the Special Development Sub-Committee of the Essequibo Cricket Board. The equipment was donated to the CDC of the GCB by the proprietor of Star Sports, former national player, Mr. Sheik Mohamed. GCB Territorial Development Officer Mr. Colin Stuart handed over the equipment to Hercules and in so doing complimented Hercules and his Deputy Chairman for the high levels
of enthusiasm and interest demonstrated to action the work of the newly formed sub-committee responsible for assisting the development of cricket in Essequibo. He pointed out that there is clearly much work to be done to improve the standard of cricket across Guyana and that the GCB looks forward to collaborating with all affiliated associations in structuring a sustained approach to the development of the game. Stuart also noted that the GCB is grateful to Star Sports for their generous donation and feels confident that the coaching equipment will go a far way in
enhancing the activities of Essequibo’s coaching and education programme. Hercules in accepting the donation was high in praise of Star Sports, indicating that the equipment will assist coaches at the county level in delivering their related tasks. He commended the CDC of the GCB for the work they are doing and pointed out that by placing a sub-committee arm of the CDC to focus on E s s e q u i b o ’s c r i c k e t development,gives the assigned individuals the opportunity to narrow their focus on critical development areas required for Essequibo cricket in a timely manner.
Motie ignored for ODIs against Australia despite taking most wickets in last Regional Super50 By Sean Devers The none selection of 26year-old Guyanese left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie in the West Indies 15-man squad to face Australia in a three-match ODI in Barbados from July 20, has raised eyebrows. Since his List ‘A’ debut for Guyana against the Windwards in St Kitts on January 6, 2016, the Barbican has played 18 matches and captured 27 wickets at an average 23.66 and an economy rate of 4.20. The last time Motie played for Guyana in List ‘A’ cricket was in February 26, 2021 against T&T in Antigua in the last Regional Super50. Motie plays for Albion which has produced the last Guyanese Test spinners in Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo. In this year’s Regional
Super 50 in Antigua, Motie played seven matches, bowled 372 deliveries, conceded 283 runs with a best of 4-45. His 17 wickets were taken at an average 16.64 and an economy rate 4.56 while all of his three 4wicket hauls were achieved in his last tournament. Motie, who also has 100 wickets from 29 First-Class matches with four 5-wickets hauls, has produced the ‘goods’ the Roger Harper led selection panel was looking for at the Regional level and speculation is rife as to why was he has not been selected in a 15-man ODI squad. Motie’s performance in the 2021 Regional Super 50 reads: Guyana vs Trinidad & Tobago 28 1/43 26-Feb-2021 Coolidge List A; Guyana vs Windward Is — 4/53 24Feb-2021 Coolidge (Continued on page 25)
Gudakesh Motie. CWI Media
Ryan Hercules (left) and Colin Stuart.
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