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July 14, 2021 - Vol. 16 No.17

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Exxon concedes renewable cheaper, cleaner, direction the world is heading …says it’s your Govt. that’s pushing gas-to-energy project Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall joined other citizens last week Friday to protest the US$900M gas project and the 2016 Stabroek Block Agreement.

Drilling new oil well in Corentyne Block estimated to cost US$85M - CGX

Top cop refuses to disclose whereabouts of $3M reward money EPA’s old guidelines do not cater for gas-to-energy project

Systems to realise maximum value in Guyana’s oil sector - Says country secured weak weak - Int’l Body score on performance index @11:00am on Jagdeo and Exxon giving us a tablet Kaieteur Radio that they themselves can’t swallow 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

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EPA’s old guidelines do not cater for gas-to-energy project T

he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), six days before announcing that it would require ExxonMobil Guyana to conduct scoping meetings to guide the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed US$900M gas-to-energy project repealed the revised guidelines which govern that process.

It replaced the updated version with guidelines that date back to 2000.

Importantly, those old guidelines do not speak to the use of pipelines or onshore facilities utilising associated gases, which for this project, would be had from the Stabroek Block.

This damning revelation came to the fore last week when the EPA conducted a scoping exercise in collaboration with ExxonMobil Guyana for the project.

I n f a c t , t h e E PA representative, Candacy Thompson, gave the confirmation during the consultations when it was revealed that the old guidelines only take into account some aspects of offshore oil and gas operations.

Pressed on whether the EPA would insist on full coverage insurance before any permit is granted, stakeholders were told that this was not under the remit of the EPA.

The officials attached to the regulatory body insisted that the meetings are being held with the primary purpose of documenting

partners such as the World Bank to build its capacity. It reminded that its current 2000 guidelines are only meant to guide the

citizens’ concerns and questions that should be taken into account for the project’s EIA. The EPA also noted that the updated guidelines that it repealed have to undergo further review while adding that it is working with

independent third party in its scope for the EIA. It was noted that when that EIA is completed, additional concerns would be taken onboard after which a decision would be taken on whether to issue a permit for the project.

Top cop refuses to disclose whereabouts of $3M reward money In the face of a second round of queries by the m e d i a , A c t i n g Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie, has once again refused to disclose the ‘whereabouts’ (location) of reward money totalling $3M. The $3M reward money in question was for relevant information on the murder case of Joel and Isaiah Henry. It is being alleged that the cash might have gone missing. On Sunday last, Journalist, Travis Chase, had asked the Director and Deputy Director of the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Mark Ramotar and Stan Gouveia, respectively to confirm if this is true.

Chase had posed the question to them in the Joint S e r v i c e s / P r e s s Te a m WhatsApp Group. Hoppie, however, had “mistakenly” responded directly to Chase in the group saying, “Do not do any response.”

On Tuesday, the top cop attended the commissioning of a domestic violence (DV) hearing room at the Wales Magistrate Court. There, he was cornered again by another journalist to confirm if the money is missing.

The top cop in response stated that the allegation

Acting Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie.

made that the money has “gone missing” is unfounded. The journalist, Leroy Smith, then pressed him to say if the money was ever given to the police or handed over to assist in securing information that would see a breakthrough in the Henry Boys murder case. Hoppie only said, “My thing is that I do not want to speak regarding informants who have done their work or would have to be paid because it is internationally accepted that you do not want to jeopardise the lives of these individuals who have been cooperating with the police.”

Investigators had managed to make arrests in

representative, the project was not one being pushed by ExxonMobil but rather it is the Guyana Government and that the US oil major is only supporting same.

It was on June 22, 2021, that the EPA announced that it had taken the decision to withdraw the Revised EIA Guidelines (2020) for M i n i n g , F o r e s t r y, H y d r o p o w e r, T h e r m a l Power, Electricity Transmission and Offshore Petroleum Exploration and P r o d u c t i o n .

It has opted instead to use guidelines from two decades earlier, which is—the EIA Guidelines ( 2 0 0 0 ) Vo l u m e s 1 - 5 (Generic; Forestry; Mining; and Electricity Generation).

Firearm found under tree A firearm was discovered on Monday night after a search was conducted by police ranks.

According to a police report, ranks from the Anna Regina Police Station in Region Two, acting on information received, went to the Danielstown Backdam where they

the Henry Boys murder case since January and had disclosed that an informant provided them with key leads in cracking the case.

The informant is to receive $3M as a reward for assisting the cops in the case.

The individual has since granted multiple interviews with journalists including Smith and had told them that he is yet to receive any money from the force.

Recently, he even sat down with social media c o m m e n t a t o r, M i k h a i l Rodrigues popularly known as “Guyanese Critic.”

During that interview, the informant stated that the GPF “don’t check up on him to see if he is safe or ok.”

A d d i t i o n a l l y, E s s o Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’s (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—Production M a n a g e r, M i k e Ry a n revealed that the project is still at a concept stage and that no detailed designs have been had as yet.

Asked to comment on aspects of the operation such as the pressure of gas to be had from the pipelines, stakeholders were told that while the information was not on hand at the time, it has been handed over to the Guyana Government and as such questions s h ould be sent in that direction.

According to the

conducted a search at 23:30hrs. During the search, ranks noticed a blue cloth casing in a clump of bushes under a tree.Upon checking, they found what appeared to be a 12-gauge shotgun under the said tree. The firearm was taken to the Anna Regina Police Station where it was lodged pending an

investigation. No one has since been arrested in relation to the discovery of the shotgun.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 14, 2021

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

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

EDITORIAL

Where is the private sector and civil society?

We came across an interesting article in the June 19 edition of the New York Times, Dealbook section that was titled, “How Public Letters Became Companies’ Favourite Form of Activism” and the subheading of “Chief executives have signed countless statements in support of social causes over the last few years. Do they make a difference?” We at this paper think they could make a difference in the long run. It is something, which our own private sector business leaders, civil society contributors, and all citizens should use to act courageously and register their positions clearly.

In America, “strongly worded statements from some of the nation’s most prominent business figures” on such burning issues as “anti-LGBTQ legislation, police brutality against Black Americans, violence against Asian Americans and the recent efforts to restrict voting rights” have been made. We ask this simple question: where are our prominent Guyanese business leaders speaking out against governmental corruptions and secrecies, shady oil deals, and the frauds and trickeries of senior politicians, with our natural resources wealth? Where are those who talk big about democracy and clean governance, about reform? They can’t be so suspiciously silent and missing in action now.

As the Times article noted, “It can be easy to dismiss the significance of a letter as a tool of change. A signed statement is, quite literally, all talk, and it doesn’t guarantee any further action. But these letters also mark a shift in the relationship between companies and their employees and customers.”

These public statements and positions pinpoint who stand where regarding the big issues that mean much to citizens.

This publication has set aside significant space, sacrificed revenues, to speak out against oil skullduggeries, at the hands of corrupt national political leadership in this government and the previous ones. We have created space so that as many citizens as can be accommodated can have their say and announced their positions for or against publicly. We did hear loudly from citizens about democracy and elections, but hear little today of fears and anxieties concerning their wealth that is being wasted secretly.

Why only tiny sounds from citizens today on their own prosperity? Why no strong position from the private sector on the obvious mismanagement of our oil and other resources that can enrich? Of course, we recognise that the private sector is fearful of speaking (publicly) to truth, or come across as biting (treacherously) the hand that feeds it, or risk incurring the wrath (quietly) of government leaders and being locked out (permanently) from partaking in the rich business opportunities that abound.

In the US workers and consumers “do not accept silence as neutrality anymore,” said assistant professor, Nooshin Warren of the University of Arizona. In this society, ask any citizen and there is no such thing as ‘neutrality’ anymore, not even for those who see themselves as neutral, uninvolved, or independent. A reasonable expectation is that since the present and future of every single Guyanese is impacted, for better or worse, by how our wealth is managed, that an army of citizens would be out in the public and making known where they stand and what they like or dislike about how the nation’s oil and general business is being handled. Further, the Times article noted that it is safer to speak out and take a stance as group, which 100 companies did in a joint statement on restrictive voting rights. Thus, those Guyanese who pay attention have to be asking themselves one question of two groups: where is the private sector and the Chamber of Commerce? Casting a wider net, and with a bow to the spirited efforts of the Transparency Institute of Guyana, Inc. (TIGI), what has happened to civil society? Why is there a lack of voices, presences, and public outrage with leadership’s management of oil and other promising sectors? Malia Lazu, a lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management stated, “The most important thing a letter does is publicly commit the individual or company to change and it “gives people who want to hold corporations accountable an IOU.” To local companies we add the media, civil society and society in general. Where are they? And why the public indifference?

The EPA must be open with Guyanese Dear Editor, That the EPA is allowed to function in its present capacity is an insult and a mockery to all Guyanese. It is incredible, how by not embracing change, we can become ignorant of purpose.

I can safely say that for many, curiosity, the imagination and the ability to think did not survive formal education.

On July 9, 2021, I was present at a Gas-to-Energy consultation session at the Umana Yana. I got there with an open mind, carried on wings of...

(1) Benjamin Franklin who said....

“It is the first responsibility of every Citizen to Question Authority.”

(2) James Baldwin who said....

“Ignorance allied with power is the most dangerous enemy of Democracy and the Justice System.” Armed with this, one can only be

involved with Purpose and Conviction. I was expecting my fill of specific environmental aspects of the project/Global perspectives but it was not to be. Luckily, with the Energy I saved on the wings of the two gentlemen I mentioned, I was able to walk out of the Umana Yana with the weight of disappo i n t m e n t a n d t h e burden of the ignorance of our Leaders.

There was no consultation at the Umana Yana. Instead, there was a sales pitch. Mr. Mike Ryan, the Production Manager and the Senior Representative of Exxon, found it difficult in suppressing his colonial mentality.

He began his sales pitch by expressing his enthusiasm about working w i t h t h e E PA a n d t h e Government of Guyana to make the project a reality.

After working here for three years, Mr. Mike Ryan

should know that we are not little black Boys and little black Girls.

Speaking from my own gut, “I am not Exxon’s Niggar.”

The EPA has already rolled over. Carts don’t pull donkeys.

It is obligatory that the EPA present a Professional study on the environmental impact of the project to all and educate Guyanese before doing a consultation.

For years, we have lived the lies of having a Climate Tzar/Guru among us. I beg to know how Humpty Dumpty got on that wall.

The EPA should let the Climate Tzar/Guru give them a Lecture on the method used

by EXXON to slap around The SEC, The US Congress and the EITI, before being privileged to kick Guyana in the teeth.

The EPA must be open with Guyanese, tell us how you will carry out your Mandate with international standards as is expected if the

laws are not fine-tuned to give you the necessary powers. Is it possible that those who established the EPA 25 years ago, under the Environmental Protection Act, had self-seeking thoughts. After centuries of enslavement, it is beyond comprehension how the EPA is cornered behind a white washed fence; corralled and find fascination with the acquired colours. We are One People with a common Destiny.

We should stop the crap talk about best Practice and Capacity building and first learn the true meaning of Patriotism. We must deconstruct our past and find every deliberate rotting fibre that was used because of laziness and the inability of our Leaders/Authority to think and plan.

May God help us all.

I wish you the best moving forward.

Sincerely, Ray Daggers

Not only Indians know fear, live in fear Dear Editor, The letter “Indians live in fear – a generational problem” (July 11) penned by Vishnu Bisram appears to be a misinterpretation of sources of fear, mischaracterisation of communities, and misidentification of factors relating to suicide. For his misinterpretation of fear, although Bisram noted that the basis of fear among the Indian Guyanese community is irrational, he relies on psychologists to explain there is fear based in Burnhamism. Editor, this seems confusing because if the fear is irrational, why is the source of fear identified in reality? If the source is Burnhamism based on a “fear pervaded society” then why would only Indians be affected?

History reveals that Burnham’s rule affect many more than only Indians.

Didn’t Bisram himself speak to the issues s u r r o u n d i n g D r. Wa l t e r Rodney’s death? No one

would deny that Rodney was Afro-Guyanese, and that the opponents of Burnham included a wide demographic. Does Bisram want us to believe that Rodney along with his supporters and anyone in opposition to Burnham were left unscathed? The fact remains that many lived in fear.

Relating to his mischaracterisation of communities, in Bisram’s attempt to valorise IndoGuyanese, he relied on using Gandhi to exemplify peacefulness among all Indians.

We cannot argue as it relates to Gandhi and his support for non-violence.

However, the facts relating to the assassination of Gandhi are clear. If it were true that Indians are free from committing violence, t h e n h o w i s G a n d h i ’s assassination recorded in history?

Indians are also human, and I will confidently state

that like many people they also extol non-violence and are not immune from violence. The fact remains that no community is exempt from acts of violence. I will also confidently state that within communities around the world, many therein work hard, save money, and acquire property.

These activities are common among humans.

Sadly, suicide also affects some of us. For many communities, suicide is a reality and affects many families.

In the case of Guyana, we have the unfortunate position of a high suicide rate.

Editor, accounting for this position is not a simple summing up as selfviolence among Indians.

I am saddened that many families experience suicide of a loved one, yet optimistic that social scientists and others continue to look for

empirical explanations.

Among the many possible factors, include societal d i s o r d e r, h o p e l e s s n e s s , and alcoholism. If Bisram believes that, “other cultures stress resistance to violence” and among Indo-Guyanese self-violence leads to suicide, then ask him to explain empirically the high suicide rate in Guyana.

The fact remains that possible factors relating to suicide among Guyanese are not fully understood.

Collectively, we must look for solutions.

If Bisram has the data on suicides in Guyana, please encourage him to publish his research in a peer-reviewed journal.

His study would certainly be informative to the suicide research community. Bisram’s enthusiasm for advocacy is noted. However, while he is entitled to freely share his opinions, these cannot be represented as facts.

Sincerely, Les Archer

There must be a level playing field Dear Editor, It took great courage to pen this issue because I am scared of being victimised. I am an established contractor who has been in business for quite a number of years. Of recent, I notice that contractors are being told to take their bonds and insurances from a Trinidadian company who recently started business in Guyana.

Even the contracts are being awarded to the Trinidadian

companies and boycotting the local contractors. Can Guyanese go to the shores of other countries and practice this?

I am told that Ministers of the Government have close association to this insurance company. Who are we to turn to for help if the government is in collusion with their cronies?

Editor, I have been getting my Bonds and insurance for years from a local company

with whom I have developed a very good relationship.

Now it seems that we are being forced to break ties with our local insurers and join foreign companies with whom we have no knowledge about.

Is this the right thing to do?

I would prefer to support my local insurers than to end up like the policyholders of CLICO. As a businessman and a citizen, I must have a freedom of choice.

These foreign companies

are coming and setting up shops and stifling the local companies.

Thank you for allowing me the time and space to pen my concerns. I do hope this will bring about a change in the way things are being done.

This nonsense has to stop. There must be a level playing field.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully Concerned Citizen

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Love our local politicos like brothers but with conditions Dear Editor, Some good Guyanese folk think that I come down too hard on local political presences.

I disagree, and make a case for why and how I see what I say, write, and do to be not only different, but also well-intended and with the best results harboured for all concerned.

As strange and unbelievable as this may sound, I love Guyanese political participants like brothers, and where such is operable, like sisters. I mean it, for it is part my upbringing and learning, my teachings and belief system, and my own internal makeup.

Hence, I do love them government people, opposition people, and those who fall somewhere on either side, but pretending to be of neither – like brothers and sisters. It goes without saying that such love comes at a price.

It is a steep one, and it has no meaning to me whether it is accepted or not.

What matters to me is that this is how I am, and of no other can I be. To say another way,

even when pathetic attempts are made to drag into the gutter with them, I avoid or resist, and will be no part of that, with no spite for spite, or hate for hate. Just can’t be that way.

That is for them, I just gotta be me and that is my unchanging melody.

Editor, the genuine love of a genuine brother for his own - be they PPP or PNC or CCC (craven corrupt, and condemnable) – means that when hard calls have be made, they will be made.

That is, through calling things as they are, and even when that means there will be brothers or sisters on the sharp and unsparing receiving end.

It is best known as drawing the line and laying down the law; and, if this means that, there has to be occasional knocking of heads then, though most unfortunate, so it must be.

That is caring, that is real loving, and that is working to bringing about authentic changing.

For those multiplying in the disbelieving ranks, I think there will have to be a sit-

down with my biological siblings, who can confirm with as many details as needed regarding what I put before the wider Guyanese public today.

To be sure, it has caused more than soreness, lots of coldness, and much picking up of pieces.

But, at the end of it all, learning comes, and the humility to accept, if not welcome, sincere and muchneeded correction.

It goes without saying that this is a two-way street, with what is good for the goose must also apply to this gander.

So, when I initiate and launch scorching, or less than silky, sorties against President, Vice President, this or that minister, on the one hand, and the Leader of the Opposition, and one or the other former ministerial overseer on the next, I give everyone assurance that there is absolutely nothing personal involved. It is my way of caring, engaging, and correcting. Tough love, it is.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Government’s first year unexceptional, kudos for effort Dear Editor, The first year of the government in office, I would not describe as exceptional.

It must be recognised there were some missteps, mistakes, poor decisions and judgment calls and generally, some things could have been

done differently or avoided.

One of the poor decisions I would argue is the nonconferral of the 2020 national awards.

To m y m i n d , t h i s showed a lack of maturity that was hard to understand. On the other

Another promise undelivered?

Dear Editor, One year on and still, the promised CoI into the attempt to rig the election and steal the people’s will has not been

executed. Is this another failed promise? Failed promises do not build confidence.

Sincerely Shamshun Mohamed

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hand, the administration’s diligence to deliver on its manifesto promises must be recognised and applauded. So, for me the President and by extension the government is not deserving of a failing grade but rather a trying grade.

The administration can and must do better.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Indians do not live in fear, but by belief in Karma Dear Editor, Indians in Guyana and other parts of the world do not live in fear from violence and it is not a generational problem. It is part of their culture. Most Hindus, if not all, believe in Karma. This is the main reason for their fear.

To use their name they would be just as guilty as the person who is writing for them.

The underlying Hindu opposition to killing or violence is the concept of Karma, by which any violence or unkindness a person carries out will return to them at some time in the future by the natural law of the universe.

The Indian culture like many other cultures around the world is primarily formed through their “Holy Books.”

Like most religions (the teachings of Jesus excepted), Hinduism includes both teachings that condemn violence and war, and

teachings that promote it as a moral duty.

The teachings that condemn violence are contained in the doctrine of ahimsa, while those that permit it center around the Kshatriyas - the warrior caste.

Hindus believe that it is right to use force in selfdefence: The Rig Veda sets down the rules of war and says that a warrior will go to hell if he breaks any of them: do not poison the tip of your arrow, do not attack the sick or old, do not attack a child or a woman, do not attack from behind. Ahimsa is one of the ideals of Hinduism.

It means that one should avoid harming any living thing, and also avoid the desire to harm any living thing - the reason for them being vegetarians. Ahimsa is not just non-violence - it means avoiding any harm, whether physical, mental or emotional. In modern times,

the strongest proponent of ahimsa was the Indian leader Gandhi, who believed ahimsa was the highest duty of a human being.

When Hindus are violent (other than as a matter of duty), philosophers argue that this is because those who do harm do so because they have yet to evolve to a level where they understand and seek peaceful conduct.

Hinduism contains some of the earliest writings about peace, as this quote from the Rig Veda shows. Come together, talk together, and let our minds be in harmony.

Common be our prayer, common be our end, common be our purpose, common be our deliberation, common be our desires. United be our hearts, united be our intentions. Perfect be the union among us. Rig Veda 10 -191:2.

Yours truly Gloria Holder

CCWU not representing workers in DDL rum delivery section Dear Editor, I write on behalf of myself and colleagues employed by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) employed in the rum delivery section.

The Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) represent us and we are disappointed by our union’s lack of efforts in representing us. We heard GAWU and GLU were negotiating with the company on behalf of the employees they represent, but our union, while at the meetings, is not addressing our concern. We heard too that it was the GAWU leader

that spoke on behalf of us and whatever we may receive will be due to that Union. As a member of CCWU for many years I, like my colleagues, am very disappointed that, our union is not adequately representing us.

We cannot remember the last time we saw our union leaders and we see the other unions meeting with their members all the time. We feel we are ignored by CCWU and the union has become uncaring about its members.

This is not the union we joined but CCWU has gone done over the last years and its membership is suffering.

We heard that CCWU President, Mr. Clarke, hired some new fancy consultant but even that is not making a difference.

Worse yet someone told us that the consultant years ago was a big time manager who used to punish workers.

How really CCWU expects him to represent workers matters.

Editor, we plead with you to publish this letter and hope that it can open CCWU eyes and ears, which are shut for far too long while we continue to suffer.

Yours truly, Frustrated Worker

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Cane cutter attendance a significant achievement Dear Editor, The GAWU welcomes Mr. Jonathan Yearwood’s letter titled, “To what extent are GuySuCo and GAWU cooperating in order to turn around the industry?” appearing in the July 13, 2021, Kaieteur News. Indeed, like Mr. Yearwood, GAWU was heartened to learn that the industry netted $734M more than anticipated though realising 70 percent of its anticipated production. It demonstrates that the GAWU is correct, and the sugar industry has every potential to turnaround and become viable. Certainly, we believe, with other ventures we have referred to in the past even greater rewards could be reaped. Mr. Yearwood questions whether our Union is supportive of the reality that around 70 percent of cane cutters are availing themselves to work daily.

Maybe it is that the letter writer is not familiar with the sugar industry, but the turnout statistic described is a significant achievement. Mr. Yearwood will well know that cane cutting is a labourious

task and one that extracts a significant toll on cutters.

Certainly, it is difficult given the hardships of the task for all the workers to be present every single day.

Cane cutters may wish they could be present at work daily especially given they do not obtain year-round employment but, at the same time, they are not by any means superhuman.

While with the advent of mechanical loaders, the workers onerousness has lessened and contributed to increased productivity but yet it remains a challenge for them to wake up in the wee morning hours, travel several miles into the cultivation and cut and load several tonnes of cane day after day. The fact that cane cutters can regularly accomplish such feats is testimony to their commitment and sheer strength and will.

The letter writer urges the GAWU to encourage more workers to turnout daily. As a responsible organisation, we do advise sugar workers to avail themselves at work.

However, while calls are

heightened for workers to present themselves during the cropping periods daily, during the off-crop periods the workers are confined to four days work per week sometimes with tasks that are taxing and which they are unable to complete within their allotted work time. The point we wish to make there must be some equity when speaking about workers attendance to work. Maybe the Corporation with its strategy can seek to address workers pay, which sees some of them earning just a bit over $2,200 per day.

Certainly, any worthwhile improvement can play a meaningful role.

Finally, we agree with Mr. Yearwood that the target is attainable. If you ask us given the industry’s potential it is low but we recognise too where the industry is coming from. While the workers will seek to play their role, it requires several other factors to align as well.

Yours Faithfully, Seepaul Narine President GAWU

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Has sugar lost its sweetness?

Dear Editor, I have been following the exchanges between Dr. Vishnu Bisram and Mr. D.C. Daly on the challenges faced by the sugar industry. Dr. Vishnu has provided data to support a model based on the granting of sugar lands to excane farmers/workers and allowing the government or private company to run the factory; market the sugar; and provide technical services.

Mr. Daly questioned the validity of data cited by Dr. Vishnu as well as the rationale for the sugar subsidy. He (Daly) suggested that those funds (subsidies) could have been utilised to develop projects elsewhere, such as road construction.

There has been a litany of conflicting and inconsistent positions on the sugar industry.

A common perception is that the sugar industry is linked primarily to Indians. Of the 5,160 dismissed sugar workers, 26.8 percent were Africans, while 63.4 percent were Indians.

The average experience of workers was 26 years, but their skills-set would have been specific to that industry which made labour mobility difficult.

And the ranking members of the APNU+AFC coalition, for example, stated during their 2015 election campaign, “sugar is too big to fail,” and that they would give sugar workers a 20 percent pay hike.

They (coalition) have recanted on that position and denied the critical importance of sugar and its vital role in Guyana’s economy and history.

Upon taking up office in 2015, the PNC/R coalition government exclaimed that sugar has become a heavy d r a i n o n t h e c o u n t r y ’s treasury and that they could not continue to grant subsidies (amounting to an average of G$7 billion annually during the 2016-2019 period).

The sugar industry began to incur huge losses since 2006 when the EU’s (European Union) preferential treatment ended with the price of sugar falling immediately by 34 percent. The EU neutralised the impact by granting Guyana G$32 billion over the period 2007 to 2013.

(I have not been able to determine how much of that money was invested in sugar). Combined with production decline, the economic impact on the industry was harsh: in 2011 sugar earnings were US$123 million, in 2017 it was US$49 million, and it plummeted to $27.7 million in

2019.

Another measure of sugar’s rapid decline was that in 1996 sugar’s contribution to GDP was 14.7 percent but that slumped to 2.8 percent in 2014.

These figures give critics enough currency to make calls for the closure of the industry. But in their enthusiasm, they overlook the devastating impact such closure would have on the sugar communities and on the country, as also have failed to note that the CoI (Commission of Inquiry) recommended a 3-year turnaround time for sugar to attain economic viability. The recent ILO study highlights the plight of the lives and livelihoods of the dismissed sugar workers: rising poverty, rising alcohol consumption, escalating crime rates, and high unemployment particularly at Wales (60 percent) and at Enmore (55 percent).

Certain strategic industries like sugar and bauxite are “communitycentred” industries that are inextricably bound up with workers’ history, social relations, and culture.

The recent ILO study points to “the sheer dominance of the sugar estate in the economy of the communities that surrounded each estate.” Government’s policy therefore must be based not only on financial consideration (cost benefit analysis) but also on an interplay among financial, social, historical, and strategic factors.

To this end, the PPP/C Government has invested about G$10.5 billion since August 2020 in the sugar i n d u s t r y. T h e b u l k ( 7 5 percent) of the investment is for re-capitalisation.

Historical factors in policymaking are important. When sugar was profitable (during the 1960s-1990s), over G$92 billion in sugar levy were collected and not invested back into the sugar industry but were utilised to prop up other sectors of t h e e c o n o m y. I n 1 9 9 2 , sugar levy constituted 25 percent of government’s revenue, says GAWU. The PPP/C had asserted that the decision to close the sugar estates was political. Reinforced by the coalition government’s refusal to conduct a socio-economic s t u d y, t h e y ( P P P / C ) claimed its (closure) was designed to rupture their political base in the sugar estates.

With a current labour force of 7,414, GuySuCo is working to reverse the decline in production and

productivity.

They have moved production from 50MT per hectare during 2015-2019 to 61MT per hectare in 2021.

Their goal is to reach 7080MT per hectare.

Improvements are expected to be gradual but continuous.

This approach has allowed GuySuCo to double its revenues from the sale of sugar by focusing on packaging rather than on bulk marketing. Bulk sugar is being sold on the world market between US$320US$350 per MT, compared now with US$700 MT for packaged sugar. GuySuCo’s CEO, Sase Singh, believes that a proper sales mix combined with other measures will restore economic viability to the industry within the next four years.

Other than sales mix, there are additional positive signs pointing in this direction.

For example, although there was a shortfall of production by 12,959MT during the first half of 2021, the company has still been able to earn G$5.9 billion, thus exceeding its sales target by G$734 million.

It paid G$700 million to its creditors (including GAWU, NIS, trade creditors) over the past nine months.

And as part of the rationalisation process, GuySuCo has reduced the management payroll by an estimated US$175 million.

What should not be ignored is the “multiplier” effect of these sugar subsidies, which lead to economic activities several times the amount of subsidies.

GAWU estimates that the loss of wages totalling G$11.94 billion to sugar workers because of estates’ closure, has created collateral loss of G$10.15 billion to “shop keepers, market vendors, fisher folk, transportation providers, etc.”

Additionally, GAWU argues by, “using the income multiplier formula, a further G$70 billion have been removed from the economy.”

Sugar has not lost its sweetness. Some critics have lost their taste for sugar.

GuySuCo could tap further into the huge CARICOM market (of 400,000MT per annum (200,000 brown and 200,000 white).

Better methods of cane cultivation, including better varieties of cane, diversification, re-imagining, co-generation, ethanol production, value-added like white sugar, and innovative marketing strategies would lead to success.

Yours faithfully, Dr. Tara Singh

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

It is said that discretion is the better part of valour, which is what vendors around ‘Big’ Market are learning the hard way.

Should they dare to speak out, or even signal victims that they are about to be robbed, they will pay the price in pain and fear. In fact, one vendor who was so bold was slapped by a vengeful bandit for speaking out.

As a result, market vendors who see and know, stay silent.

We would like to see how silent the Guyana Police Force public relations pros remain on this matter and what spin they will put on what happens at will and daily at ‘Big’ Market square.

People are endangered and action is needed now. DO NOT SPIN THIS GPF! Guyanese need to be protected!

This lawlessness is unbearable!

PAGE 07

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Dealer under investigation for smuggling fuel from Venezuela The Global Commercial Import & Transport Inc. Parika site

… Was previously banned from Suriname

T

he Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has launched an investigation into a Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) fuel dealer for allegedly bringing in fuel f r o m Ve n e z u e l a b u t declaring that it is from Curacao instead.

This publication understands that the same senior investigator caught on tape soliciting business for a friend is heading the investigation.

The company identified as Global Commercial Import & Transport Inc. was

recently identified as a firm that had secured a licence from the GEA without meeting the legal requirements.

Kaieteur News understands that the matter came to light as a result of the company’s inability to pay its Venezuelan dealers without having to smuggle out the cash in US currency directly.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at GEA, Jerome Khan, in an invited comment told this publication, “I wish to confirm that the GEA as part of its routine due

diligence checks on documents submitted by licensed wholesale importers, did conduct checks on documents submitted by Global Commercial Import & Transport Inc. concerning a shipment of diesel fuel imported by that Company in July 2021.”

T h e c o m p a n y, t h i s publication understands, was recently banned from doing any business in Suriname after it was caught defrauding the authorities there for some two years.

This publication also understands that the company has three vessels, two with a capacity of about one million litres, another for 900,000 litres.

A c c o r d i n g t o information provided to this publication, the company reportedly colluded with personnel in Suriname in order to declare the vessels capacity at about 10 percent of its actual capacity.

When the Surinamese

authorities discovered the scheme and demanded that the fuel be pumped out from the vessels in order to determine their true capacity, the management of the company refused and decided to travel to another port.

Since it was a case of the company not paying the correct taxes on fuel deals conducted in that country, the management of the

company never returned to Suriname to conduct business, they then set up shop in Guyana.

Global Commercial Import & Transport Inc. was recently identified as having a location in Parika, East Bank Essequibo, where there is also no storage facility for fuel imports.

The company does not have a fuel storage depot for fuel imports—a requirement

to be met before any import licence is issued.

According to the application requirements for receiving such a licence, applicants, in addition to having a storage depot meeting the required specifications, are also expected to have completed an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Kaieteur News understands that the company in question never satisfied this requirement.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 14, 2021

PAGE 09

The Ecstasy and the Agony Euro 2020 and COPA America 2021 have just concluded. The former was the most absorbing football tournament seen for decades, despite the fact that the early rounds of the tournament was devoid of spectators because of the COVID-19 regulations.

What both tournaments showed was the large gap, which exists between Europe and the rest of the world. Europe is now far ahead of South America when it comes to the beautiful game, EURO 2020 produced football of an exceptionally high standard. The standard of play was far superior to that of the last FIFA World Cup, which was held in Brazil. In fact, it is hard to deny that the European Cup is now the world’s premier international football tournament. The World Cup by trying to attract teams from all over actually reduces the overall standard of the tournament.

While European football is surging ahead, the SouthAmerican version of Euro 2020, COPA America, was a major disappointment. The football was pitiful and the tournament was a damp squib.

It produced no fireworks, little excitement and no new superstars emerged. This has to be worrying since there seems no one in the wings to take the place of the great Diego Maradona or Socrates, Zico, Enzo Francescoli and even

Dem

boys seh...

Parkin is a problem in de city. Sometimes yuh does be late fuh wan appointment nat because yuh nah leff home pon time but because yuh does gat fuh spend a lang time looking fuh a parkin space.

It reminds dem boys of de time a man bin late fuh a meeting.

He deh looking fuh a parkin place, and can’t find one. In desperation, he look up to de sky and start fuh pray, “Lord, if you find me a parkin place, I promise to

Radamel Falcao. The European scouts who turned up looking for potential signings must have been disappointed.

The pitches used in many of the games were not up to standard. Even before Brazil and Argentina had reached the finals, officials of both teams had reason to lament the condition of the pitches used.

But the poor pitches cannot excuse the abysmal standard of football in that event. There was hardly a standout performance in the tournament. Turnovers were rapid and tactically the teams were poor.

This was in stark contrast to Euro 2020 where the football was exciting and the tactical and skills levels were far superior to what was on display over the last two FIFA World Cups. The quality of the football at that tournament made the standard of play in COPA America look like a schoolboy’s scrubby. It was a joy to watch EURO 2020 but an agony to endure COPA America It shows how far ahead the standard of football is in Europe. South America, the CONCACAF Region, Africa, and Asia are straggling far behind.

Europe is going to dominate international football at the next tournament and the European Cup is going to become the standard-bearer of international football.

Brazil and Argentina, long the footballing giants of

South America, have suffered a setback in the quality of their teams. These two teams, which reached the finals, would not have been able to reach the round of 16 in Euro 2020.

South Americans are proud of their footballing heroes. But what passed for football during the COPA America would not get far in any of the European Leagues. It is not that there is no talent. Quite a few players are good, but not good enough and not plenty enough.

The best team does not always win. And that is what made Euro 2020 so absorbing. Belgium, prior to the quarter finals seemed to be unstoppable but they were dethroned in a penalty shootout. France, the defending champions suffered a similar fate.

England did not always play the most attractive football. However, they reached the finals because of the tactical shrewdness of their Manager. This was a tournament not of skills but of tactics. And this is where South American football will suffer even more because it does not have the quality of coaches, which exist in America.

International football is no longer about simply putting the best players together and forming a national team. Matches are not going to be won solely on the basis of the performance of the superstars. It is going to be won primarily by the

Parking can be hazardous to yuh pocket never drink, smoke or be adulterous again.”

Miraculously, a place open up just in front he. He tun he face up to de heavens and say, “Never mind, I just fine one.”But some Guyanese don’t kay way dem park.

One day I been coming out a store when I see a traffic cop writing a ticket.

So I went up to he and say, “Come on buddy, how about giving a guy a break?”

He ignore me and continue writing de ticket.

So I call he a idiot.

He look at me strang and start writing another ticket fuh defective tyres.

I let out another insult at he. He start write a third ticket.

De more I insult he de more tickets he write, all de time putting dem under de windscreen wiper.

In all he mussy write bout 10 tickets.

I didn’t even care. Me car bin park till round de corna.

Talk half and park in de right place!

tactics on the field. And when it comes to team tactics, South American football has hit rock bottom.

It is time for FIFA to consider a pre-World Cup qualification tournament,

which would weed out some of the weaker teams, which usually make it to the FIFA World Cup Finals. Based on their performance at COPA America, none of the South American teams deserve to

be in Qatar next year!

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Wednesday July 14, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Random traffic stop: When people choose to be slaves

I

will not accept, now and into the future that a large number of drivers do not know that the Police Force does not stop drivers at random and request their documents. I have written about this harassment over a period of eight years.

Eight years will go back to 2013. For the past six years, two police commissioners, one acting commissioner, and three traffic chiefs have publicly stated through conspicuous coverage in the press that the police procedure for traffic conduct does not involve random stops.

There was an incident over random stops that was filmed and achieved national

saturation. That incident and the coverage it got will convince me that there are a large number of drivers in this country that at the psychological level feel being a slave is not something that they find humiliating.

A video circulated all over Guyana where two actors were seen in the clip.

Prominent Berbice attorney, Ryan Crawford, was seen berating a traffic cop using cuss-down vocabulary, asking the rank why he stopped him. The rank refused to tell Crawford why which was wrong. Both men acted improperly.

Crawford was given six charges. The traffic policeman was not

disciplined or dismissed.

Once Crawford requested the reason for the stop, the rank had to offer one even if it was whimsical or fictional but he had to offer one.

There isn’t any Police Force in the world where the normal procedure is simply to request a driver to pull over.

Once that is done, the citizen should ask the reason and the reason has to be given. Of course, the policeman could be lying by citing a weird reason but he has to offer one. In the video, Crawford is seen cussing.

But he is also recorded as repeatedly requesting the reason for being pulled over.

In the clip, the rank refuses to answer Crawford. For more

on this incident see my two columns; Monday September 17, 2018, “Me, Justice Donald T r o t m a n , Superintendent Kissoon and the police” and Tuesday September 25, 2018, “Ryan “Effing” Crawford threw away his rights.”

People all over Guyana with a smart phone were curious to see that video.

From thereon, drivers had to know that the police are not permitted to wave their hand at the car, stop you and demand to see your vehicular papers.

This is 2021 and here we go again. The Traffic Chief in May this year issued a public notice to the Police Force and the entire country.

In plain, simple language, he notified Guyana that the police are not allowed to bring vehicles to a halt to see the documents.Now in yesterday’s papers, there is a letter under the signature Colin Gill in which he points to the occurrence of routine/random instruction.

He wrote that since the Traffic Chief’s emanation, he saw routine halts outside Providence Police Station and at Friendship.

I spoke to the officer in charge of the Providence

Frederick Kissoon Station, A s s t .

Superintendent London. He said he is not allowed to speak to the media and I need to contact his superior who is Asst. Superintendent Shiwnarine. He indicated that since the Traffic Chief advisory of May, he has instructed his ranks not to indulge in random stops.

As a columnist entering 33 years of service, I am literally fed up writing about mistreatment of ordinary customers by all the commercial banks. After I quoted what the President of Guyana said to me and my publicised chat with the Governor of the Bank of Guyana, I thought that violation and abuse would have ceased.

I like to remind you that I have been penning exposures of this harassment

of ordinary customers for 10 years now just like random stops. After those 10 years, I am completely fed up with penning columns condemning random stops. Customers at the banks do not have the space to manouevre as drivers do. If the bank rejects the certificate of vehicular fitness as proof of address then your transaction cannot be processed.

In the case of drivers, all they have to do is gently say to the policeman that the Traffic Chief instructed that random stops cannot be made and you would like to know then why he/she is stopping you. Why are drivers afraid to ask this simple question? Maybe they have a slavish mentality.If you are a victim of a random stop by traffic ranks, please call me on my cell at 614-5927 or email me at fredkissoon@yahoo.com.

Don’t be stupid or asinine or imbecilic and tell me that you were stopped but you don’t want your name mentioned. Stop hiding under your mother’s dirty petticoat.

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

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Agri. Ministry’s extension arm being reorganised to ensure efficiency On Saturday last, A g r i c u l t u r e M i n i s t e r, Zulfikar Mustapha, met with residents and farmers from Canje, Berbice, and assured them that assessments are ongoing to determine the amount of losses they would have encountered as a result of the recent flooding.

During a meeting at the Betsy Ground Primary School in East Canje Berbice, Minister Mustapha informed residents that a

team from his Ministry has been in the Region conducting an assessment.

Some residents would have raised concerns about not being visited by any representative from the Ministry so far.

After hearing these claims, Minister Mustapha asked the various Heads of Departments for the list of farmers visited so far. It was later confirmed that farmers who made claims of being

omitted from the exercise were not at home when the officers visited their farms. It was also discovered that the extension staff did indeed capture their losses but in many cases, their relatives gave the officers ‘call names’ and not birth names.

The Minister said, “I’m sure you would’ve heard me say that an assessment must be done to verify the losses that people suffered during the flood. Those instructions

were given across the country. We have teams in Region Six comprising of officers from the National Agricultural Research and Extension institute (NAREI), Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), and the other agencies that are supposed to be going house-to-house to do these assessments.”

He added, “If those officers are not doing this, they will be held accountable. For too long people have been receiving salaries at the end of the month for substandard work.

Farmers have been saying that they are making requests but those requests are not being fulfilled and in turn, the government is being blamed.

We have been making the necessary resources available so there should be no excuse for not carrying out the work. This is why I’m in the process of reorganising the entire

extension arm of the ministry.”

Minister Mustapha also disclosed that $40 million has been allocated to carry out land clearing for agricultural development across the country.

Minister Mustapha also told residents that the Pepper Sluice, which is located in Canefield, Canje, would be reactivated and that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will be making machines available to execute all of the works residents would’ve requested. He also advised residents to work with their various Regional Officers to make requests for projects so that funds can be made available in the 2022 budget.

Moving ahead at the Rose Hall Estate Minister Mustapha also told residents that government was aggressively moving ahead with the planed reopening of the Rose Hall Estate.

He said, “We are pushing for Rose Hall. Last week we

signed a number of contracts for equipment for the estate.

Equipment to do tillage and so on. We’ve had several meetings with the estate’s manager. Planting there has commenced and hopefully we can get the factory going by the end of next year. It will take alot of resources to move Rose Hall.”

The Minister continued, “We have limited resources but we are working very hard. Our objective is to reduce the cost of production and over the next few years, GuySuCo will be working to ensure more effort is put into packaged sugar rather than bulk sugar because packet sugar is more lucrative.”

He added, “So when we open estates like the one at Rose Hall that will be our focus. We are also looking to i m p r o v e G u y S u C o ’s packaging plants. We have one at Enmore and one at Blairmont and we are looking to improve those by making them larger so that we can produce more packaged sugar.”

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Agri. Ministry receives seeds, planting materials from IICA as part of flood-relief assistance The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on Monday handed over a number of seeds and planting materials to the Ministry of Agriculture to assist with the government’s flood-relief efforts.

The items will be distributed to farmers who suffered losses as a result of the recent flooding.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, while receiving the items on behalf of the government, said the Ministry through the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has been working to ensure that the various plant nurseries have the necessary planting materials to assist farmers with returning to the land after the floodwaters would have receded.

The Minister said, “With the flooding that we’ve experienced over the past few months, almost the entire agriculture sector, in terms of crops, was devastated. We’ve been preparing our nurseries across the country so that we

can assist farmers with getting back to the land as soon as possible.

Floodwaters have been receding in many residential and farming communities across the country.”

“We are hoping for favourable weather so that farmers can return to the land as early as possible.

NAREI has been working to ensure enough planting materials are available for farmers once floodwaters h a v e r e c e d e d . We ’ l l continue to collaborate with our international partners like IICA to get the necessary materials to ensure our farmers are, once again, able to produce.”

A total of 5,000 seedling trays have so far been procured by IICA and given to NAREI to prepare seedlings for distribution.

Other planting materials like seedlings and seeds were also donated to aid with the government’s national flood-relief efforts.

I I C A’ s C o u n t r y Representative, Mr. Wilmot Garnett, said that following the onset of the rainy season, IICA has been collaborating

with the Ministry to monitor the flooding in agricultural areas across the country.

“Our team has been collaborating with Minister Mustapha and his team to monitor the recent floods in Guyana. Once we got an idea of the extent of the damage, a request came from the Minister for immediate support that was promptly approved,” Garnett expressed.

He noted as well that over the weekend, teams from IICA and NAREI commenced the preparation of the seedling trays and other planting materials. “…We are expecting two varieties that will be used by NAREI to propagate because with the flooding farmers lost almost all of their sweet potatoes. We are also expecting 10,000 cassava sticks (planting materials) from our partners in Brazil,” Mr. Garnett said.

The Ministry is currently preparing its flood assessment report to determine the losses experienced in farming communities across the country.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, receiving the donation from IICA’s Country Representative, Wilmot Garnett, in the presence of other officials

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Over $74.4 million in equipment commissioned to boost agriculture sector

A

griculture Minister, Z u l f i k a r Mustapha, on Monday commissioned several pieces of equipment that form part of the 2021 capital expenditure for the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agriculture Development

Authority (MMA-ADA) and the Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCI Ltd).

The respective agencies expended more than $74.4 million to procure two longreach excavators and a tractor with accompanying implements. These pieces of equipment will be used to

improve agricultural operations for farmers in the MMA Scheme and the Hope Estate farming community.

Last April, the MMAADA signed the contract for the procurement of two longreach excavators with Farm Supplies Limited, while the HCI Limited signed a

contract in May of this year with the General Equipment Guyana Inc. for the supply of the tractor and implements.

The two long-reach excavators were procured for $64 million and will be used primarily to enhance the drainage and irrigation system in the MMAScheme.

D u r i n g t h e commissioning, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, told those in attendance that since taking office, the government has been making the necessary investments to improve agriculture in the Scheme.

The Minister said, “This is only the beginning. Over the last ten months, we’ve seen a number of initiatives that were implemented by the government to enhance our agriculture sector. As a government, we see agriculture as one of the most important tools that can be

used to develop our country.

Although we are an emerging oil and gas producing country, we cannot depend solely on the resources that will be gained from that sector.”

He added, “Since taking office last year, I’ve been working to bring the sector back and as a government, we will ensure that the necessary budgetary allocations are made to develop the sector. Today is a testament to that commitment. When I became Minister, this MMA Scheme was in a terrible state. The first representation I made as Minister was to go to Cabinet for emergency funds to do rehabilitation works in this scheme.

Canals were blocked, drainage and irrigation structures were dilapidated, and dams were impassable.

When I presented that case for the approval of funds,

Cabinet gave its no objection because as a government we understand the role this scheme plays in the country’s overall agriculture output.”

Following that exercise, Minister Mustapha commissioned a tractor, with accompanying implements, which were procured by the Hope Coconut Industries Limited at a value of $10,441,100.

While offering remarks at that exercise, Minister Mustapha said the tractor would be used to assist farmers from the Scheme boost their production and improve their operations.

“This year we’ve allocated $70 million for Hope Estate. This tractor and implements form part of H o p e E s t a t e ’s c a p i t a l investments and it will be used to assist farmers in the Scheme. We’ll also be (Continued on page 22)

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Exxon concedes renewable cheaper, cleaner, direction the world is heading …says it’s your Govt. that’s pushing gas-to-energy project

M

ike Ryan, Production Manager for ExxonMobil Guyana, has conceded that renewable energy which involves the use of solar, wind and hydro is not only cheaper and cleaner for the environment but is also the direction in which the world is heading.

Ryan gave this position during a scoping exercise held with the public on Friday last at the Umana Yana as part of the public consultations for the US$900M gas-to-energy project.

Those meetings are being held in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to prepare guidelines for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) needed for the permit.

The ExxonMobil

Executive was asked directly why his company was pushing for the realisation of the project in light of the movement globally to renewables. He subsequently disclosed that it was the Guyana Government, which was pushing for the project.

He was keen to note that Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is only assisting the Guyana Government with the project.

According to Ryan, while the world is trying to lower emissions, “the Government of Guyana wants to proceed with this project, we want to partner and participate with them to help deliver on what they are trying to do, and we are happy to participate.”

Pressed on the idea of renewable energy such as

Solar panels mounted atop the GEA building.

wind and solar and its impact on the reduction of e m i s s i o n s , Ry a n t o l d participants, “I agree that any reduction in emission is where we are trying to go and other alternative energy I think we should pursue them

and I appreciate the efforts that Guyana is doing there.”

He was at the time making reference to projects proposed and in operation in Guyana that include solar farms and hydro power plants.

According to Ryan, with regards the pursuit of r e n e w a b l e e n e rg y, h e posited, “I would believe that the government is looking at a long term plan on renewables.”

He suggested however

that the pursuit of renewables “is a great question to have a talk with Government on how to continue to reduce emissions.”

Further conceding to the benefits of renewable e n e rg y, Ry a n t o l d stakeholders “globally, everybody wants to improve greenhouse gas emissions…we fully support that, I fully support that.”

The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) is currently pursuing a number of renewable energy initiatives including a proposed 0.60MW Solar PV site at Leguan.

The agency is also advertising for investors to submit their bids for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of an 88.6 kWp Off-Grid Solar (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Six-year-old critical after Kuru Kuru crash

A

six-year-old is among four persons who were left hospitalised on Sunday night following a two-vehicular collision on the Kuru Kuru Public Road, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

The accident, which left the four hospitalised and four others suffering from minor injuries occurred sometime around 17:35hrs. that day.

Currently at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are Rebekah Williams, who is in the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 22-year-old Rafeena Williams, who is in the female ward and 24-year-old Hubert Neil, who is in the hospital’s ICU, while Malvin Benn, 34, was admitted into the McKenzie Public Hospital.

According to information reaching Kaieteur News, moments before the collision occurred, motorcar PNN 7979 driven by Rafeena was heading north along the western side of the public road and on approaching the Kuru Kuru entrance, she had

stopped indicating to turn east onto the Village’s access road.

While doing so, motorcar PJJ 4529, which was being driven by Benn who was heading in the same direction at a fast rate, suddenly pulled further east and in an attempt to overtake motorcar PNN 7979 he ended up crashing into the right side of the car.

Due to the impact, Benn lost control of his car and further collided into two pedestrians who were walking along the eastern side of the road at the time.

Public-spirited persons along with the police, who were summoned to the scene, immediately picked up the injured persons and rushed them to various hospitals.

Benn was rushed in a conscious state to the McKenzie Public Hospital where he was admitted for observation, while the passenger of his car, Neil, was rushed to GPHC in an unconscious state and was admitted since he sustained a fractured skull.

The two pedestrians, (Continued on page 22)

Dead man found was last seen alive on Tuesday - Autopsy reveals injuries consistent with that of accident The dead man whose nude remains were found on Wednesday last, along New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was reportedly last seen alive the day before.

Police were successful in identifying him as Reginald Moore, 47, of Lot 7 Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

His remains were found on Wednesday night lying on the northern Carriageway of New Road with multiple lacerations to the head and body.

An autopsy conducted on his remains yesterday revealed that he died as a result of multiple injuries consistent with that of an accident. Investigators believe that he might have been a victim of a hit and run.

Speaking with this newspaper, one of Moore’s relatives recalled seeing him alive on Tuesday. That

Reginald Moore, the dead man whose nude remains was found along New Road. individual said he was of good health and “seemed fine except for troubling with high blood pressure.”

Moore was a father of two and worked as a security guard. He was reportedly renting an apartment located along New Road.

The scene on Sunday after the accident occurred (Ryan Carroll photo).

PAGE 17

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Systems to realise maximum value in Guyana’s oil sector

weak - Int’l Body

-Says country secured weak score on performance index

T

he Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) disclosed this week that Guyana’s oil and gas sector has placed in the “weak” performance band of its 2021 Resource Governance Index (RGI), with a score of 55 out of 100 points.

Kaieteur News had previously reported that the 2021 RGI assesses how 18 resource-rich countries govern their oil, gas and mineral wealth. The index score is made up of three components. Two measure key characteristics of the extractives sector – value realisation and revenue management – and the third captures the broader context of governance — the enabling environment.

These three overarching dimensions of governance c o n s i s t o f 1 4 subcomponents, which comprise 51 indicators, which are calculated by aggregating 136 questions.

Independent researchers, overseen by NRGI, in each of the 18 countries completed a questionnaire to gather primary data on value realisation and revenue management. For the third component, the RGI draws on external data from over 20 international organisations.

Its assessment of Guyana covers the period 20192020. Following this

exercise, NRGI said in its report that as a new producer, Guyana is yet to develop the institutional framework to successfully govern its oil and gas sector. In fact, NRGI said it was able to find evidence of weakness in the areas of value realisation, revenue management and the overall enabling environment. Considering this, NRGI stressed that the

government should prioritise the development of a robust resource governance framework, considering that production started in 2019 and is well underway.

Expounding further, NRGI said the legal framework governing Guyana’s licensing process for oil licences is cause for concern. It was keen to note however that the local

authorities have taken considerable time to disclose contracts, with negotiations and re-negotiations taking place behind closed doors.

It said too that the absence of fiscal rules governing public spending merit attention. NRGI therefore noted that G u y a n a ’s G o v e r n m e n t should establish such rules as soon as possible.

Further to this, the Institute articulated that G u y a n a ’s e n a b l i n g environment is also weak. It said that government effectiveness and regulatory quality are problematic, but commitment to open data standards is the most concerning indicator, with a “failing” score of just 12 points. “The governance of the sector, both in terms of

successful policymaking and public accountability, would benefit from an adherence to open data principles,” NRGI stated.

On the positive side, NRGI said government manages local impacts of the sector in line with best practices while adding that environmental and social impact assessments are publicly available.

Judiciary introduces virtual hearing/interview rooms for Domestic Violence court cases - dealt with over 5,000 DV cases last year

T

he Supreme Court of Judicature yesterday opened two new virtual hearing and interview rooms at the Wales and Leonora Magistrate’s Courts, West Demerara, to facilitate the hearing of Domestic Violence (DV) cases in a more suitable setting.

Addressing the virtual gathering at the opening of the new DV rooms, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yo n e t t e C u m m i n g s Edwards, noted an increase in

DV related matters that passed through the court system for the period 20192020. According to the Chancellor 5,758 domestic violence matters were dealt with by the court within that year.

She noted that the increased tension in the household during the lockdown had resulted in a rise in DV related cases.

The Chancellor noted too that though strained by the pandemic, the judiciary did not curtail access to legal

services for persons affected by domestic violence.

Cummings-Edwards said the matters were stipulated as the cases needed to be prioritised as urgent owing to a rise in cases of this nature during the pandemic.

Justice CummingsEdwards stressed that since the prevalence of domestic violence in Guyana is indeed undeniable and transcends all race, social and economic lines, it is pertinent for the Court to establish facilities to assist in adequately dealing

with such matters.

“What we would have found over the years is that many persons, whether you call them victims or survivors of domestic violence, they are hesitant to speak up, they are hesitant to come forward and report the crime,” she said.

The Judge noted further that due to the fear of being stigmatised or ridiculed, there is need for facilities where victims can be interview and heard in (Continued on page 22)

One of the DV rooms commissioned.

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Drilling new oil well in Corentyne Block estimated to cost US$85M - CGX C

anadian based exploration company, CGX Energy Inc., says that it is preparing to drill another oil well offshore Guyana in two weeks time and estimates the cost to be some US$80M to US$85M. The company made the announcement a few days ago when it provided an update on the activities related to its offshore exploration blocks, deepwater port project and on the results of the CGX Annual General Meeting.

According to CGX and its partner, Frontera Energy Corporation, the Kawa-1 well in the Corentyne Block is expected to be spud between August 1 and 15 and is expected to reach its total depth in approximately 85 days.

CGX said it is expected that the well will be financed from one or more options that are currently being considered by the company.

The options were not disclosed.

As previously announced, Kawa-1 will be drilled by the Maersk D i s c o v e r e r, a s i x t h generation semisubmersible currently working in Trinidad for another operator.

CGX Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CGX and operator of the Corentyne Block, said it has secured all the necessary contracts for the drilling of Kawa-1 and is now commencing operational activities to meet the targeted spud window.

The announcement by CGX comes following a

similar pronouncement in January this year that it would be looking to recommence drilling activities in its oil blocks following years of delay.

CGX’s decision to drill comes after years of delays on the part of this Canadianbased exploration company.

In fact, Kaieteur News had reported since 2012, CGX Resources Incorporated had been in possession of a licence for the Corentyne Block.

According to the agreement signed with the then government on November 12, 2012 for the offshore concession, CGX was supposed to drill at least four wells on the block by 2019. However, this did not occur. Instead of fully meeting its obligations, CGX had drilled two wells in

2012, both of which were abandoned — Eagle-1 as a dry hole and Jaguar-1 for safety concerns. Since then, it has made promises to drill more wells in search of oil but until recently, never did.

The primary target for the Kawa -1 well is a Santonian age, stratigraphic trap and is located in the northeast quadrant of the Corentyne Block approximately 200 km offshore from

Georgetown.

The water depth is approximately 355 meters (1,174 ft.) and the expected total depth of the Kawa-1 well is 6,575 meters (21,700 ft.).

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

More vaccines expected from COVAX, African Union agreement The Lyken Funeral Parlour

Health Ministry instructs police not to use Lyken Funeral Parlour Deputy Director of the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Stan Gouveia, confirmed yesterday with Kaieteur News that the Ministry of Health has instructed the force not to use the Lyken Funeral Parlour to store bodies.

Gouveia said that the GPF received the instruction on Monday. As a result, the force ordered its divisional commanders to cease all operations with the parlour until further notice.

Deputy CCU Director related that the decision to terminate operations with

Lyken is because it failed meet certain health standards.

Kaieteur News was told that the Funeral Parlour was found in breach of certain health protocols following an inspection. One such protocol, this newspaper understands, has to do with sanitation. The parlour was reportedly given some time to meet its obligation in operating with the health protocols recommended by the ministry.

However, it failed to make the changes, which resulted in the Ministry of Health instructing the force not to use the funeral parlour to store bodies.

M

inister of Health, Dr. F r a n k Anthony, says Guyana is expecting another consignment of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility and the CARICOM/African Union agreement, later this month.

The Minister made the disclosure during Tuesday’s COVID-19 Update.

“As you know, the Government has bought vaccines…we are going to continue to receive the vaccines that we’ve bought from the UAE [United Arab Emirates]. We have also been working with COVAX to get vaccines. Guyana is one of those AMC countries, and COVAX has promised

us that they will be sending additional vaccines to Guyana, sometime between now, in July and September.

So, anytime between July and September, we are expecting another shipment of COVAX vaccines.

We have also paid for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

And this is an arrangement that we have had with the African Union.

So, we were required to pay for these vaccines, which we did. And the latest information we have is that they’ll be able to ship those vaccines to us in August,” Minister Anthony said.

The Minister said the arrival dates would be made public once they are

confirmed.

In January, Guyana received 24,000 COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX. In May, another consignment of 38,400 vaccines arrived through the same arrangement.

Government then purchased the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, followed by the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine.

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony said there has been an uptake in the AstraZeneca vaccine, with all first doses administered. He noted that only the second dose of AstraZeneca remains in stock. He assured citizens that Government has adequate AstraZeneca for the second doses. (DPI)

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

Region Four residents succumb from COVID-19 The Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday reported that two more persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID19) disease, have died. As a result of this, the country’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 499.According to the Ministry, the latest fatalities are that of a 50-year-old woman and a 79-year-old man both from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). Both persons passed away on Monday, while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

Further, the MoH via its daily COVID-19

Paramakatoi miner stabbed to death at mining camp A miner from Paramakatoi, PotaroSiparuni, Region Eight, was stabbed to death during an argument with another worker at the Ithaki Backdam on the Mazaruni River, on Sunday.

According to police reports, Damieon best known as ‘Wild Buck’ and the other worker, a 27-year-old man, had a disagreement over the way the worker was treating a female employee, who is a cook at the Ithaki Backdam camp in CuyuniMazaruni, Region Seven.

The disagreement, police said, resulted in a fight between the suspect and Damieon.

During that altercation, it was reported that the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed Damieon to the neck, which left a gaping wound.

Damieon was subsequently picked up in a motionless state and escorted to Bartica Regional Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor. He was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was then placed in the Bartica Hospital mortuary where it awaits an autopsy.

Meanwhile, police said the suspect was arrested and placed into custody as investigations continue.

dashboard recorded 53 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 21,055. Out of the number of confirmed cases, 10,770 persons are women and 10,285 are men.

The dashboard statistics revealed also that 10 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 77 persons are in institutional isolation, 1,209 are in home isolation and three are in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 19,260 persons have recovered from the virus.

PAGE 22

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

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MOSCOW - (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday hosted the authoritarian leader of Belarus, who has increasingly relied on Moscow’s support amid increasing tensions with the West.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko thanked Putin for a “very serious support from Russia” and pledged that the country would duly repay its loans.

Putin, in turn, praised Belarus as a “reliable and stable partner” during their talks in St. Petersburg.

The Belarusian economy, which suffered from the coronavirus pandemic, received a new blow when the European Union has imposed bruising sanctions against some of its top exports over

sixth term in an August 2020 vote that was widely seen as rigged.

The authorities responded to demonstrations with a massive crackdown

that saw more than 35,000 people arrested and thousands beaten by police.

Leading opposition figures have been either jailed or forced to leave the country.

lence and sexual offences matters.

Pron expressed hope that the interview rooms would give survivors greater confidence in the work of the justice system.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police (Ag), Nigel Hoppie, welcomed the facilities, since the DV rooms, in his view will allow law enforcement agents to better carry out their jobs.

“It is with great pleasure, therefore, that I note that this provision of a conducive at-

mosphere for effectively dealing with domestic violence by the legal system is today being taken a step further,” the Police Commissioner said adding that the divisions now have domestic violence units with special rooms at police stations where reports are made and follow-up action is taken without any inconvenience.

Hoppie noted too that in recent times, the Force has been securing an average of just over 20 percent convictions for domestic violence cases.

Hoppie disclosed that in 2019 there were 1,499 reports of domestic violence out of which there were 918 cases and 261 convictions. He noted too that the police received 1,672 reports, 893 cases and 112 convictions in 2020.

So far, he said that as up to June 2021 there have been 896 reports, 439 cases and 104 convictions.

For the corresponding period last year, there were 733 reports from which there were 370 cases and 85 convictions.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during their meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, yesterday. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

...Judiciary introduces virtual hearing/interview rooms From page 18 comfort and privacy away from the perpetrator.

As such, she said that the Supreme Court teamed up with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the construction of the interview and virtual hearing rooms at the Leonora and Wales Magistrates’ Courts in West Demerara.

According to UNICEF Representative, Nicolas Pron, the agency was working with the Ministry of Human Services in areas of policy and legal reform on domestic vio-

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Belarus’ diversion of a passenger jet on May 23 to arrest an opposition journalist.

Lukashenko has denounced the restrictions and announced that Belarus would halt cooperation with the EU on stemming illegal migration in retaliation for bruising economic sanctions.

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domestic energy mix to be developed over the next five years of some 400 mega watts (MW) of installed generation capacity in the country.

According to Dr. Sharma, in the coming three years alone, some 39MW would be added to the grid using solar farms and other smaller such systems in the next three years.

Speaking to hydropower initiatives by the agency, Dr. Sharma pointed to one completed in Region One at Hosororo and the construc-

tion of another 150kw plant at Kato in Region Eight.

Additionally, he outlined that the GEA will soon be going out to tender for the construction of hydropower plants in Region Nine at Moco Moco at 0.7MW and in Kumu, a 1.5MW facility.

According to Dr. Sharma, government is currently awaiting finalisation of financing for the projects from the Islamic Development Bank, while another private developer is looking to construct a 2.2MW hydropower plant at

Tumatumari.

This, he said, is in addition to the GEA currently conducting countrywide studies and surveys in relation to the country’s hydropower potential.

Additionally, the GEA noted that there have been some progress made on the development of wind technology for the generation of electricity and pointed to an example of a wind powered lighting system – the 1823 Monument at the Georgetown Seawall.

...Over $74.4 million in equipment From page 14 establishing a number of coconut nurseries across the country as part of our 2021 work program. Since taking office, we’ve had to refocus the operations of the Hope Estate. A new management Board was put in place and

has since been working in the best interest of the farmers.

I’ve been working very closely with the Board to enhance not only the coconut production but the other crops that are being grown here,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha also

disclosed that despite the inclement weather over the past few months, there were no instances of flooding in the Estate.

This, he noted, was due to the infrastructural works that were put in place over the last ten months.

...Six-year-old critical after Kuru Kuru From page 17 Wendy Jeffery and Sherwin Glasgow, along with the occupants of motorcar PNN 7979; four-year-old Joanna Williams; the six-yearold girl, Rebekah Williams; Rafeena; and16year-old Eullana Williams, were all taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

The four-year-old and 16-year-old along

with the two pedestrians were treated and sent away, while the other two were referred to the GPHC. Up to press time, the six-year-old’s condition was still deemed as critical as she is suffering from head injuries.

Police have since launched their investigation into the incident.

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

FAO, NAREI launch virtual Berbice policeman Agroecology training dies following

T

he Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has collaborated with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) for a twoday Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) virtual training.

TAPE is an innovative framework established to provide policy makers and stakeholders with information on how agroecology can contribute to sustainable food and agricultural systems.

The exercise targets several youths from the Central Rupununi district and NAREI’s extension officers.

FA O C o u n t r y Representative, Dr. Gillian Smith, said the forum forms part of the project, “Enhancing production of and access to nutrition dense food through social protection programmes.”

She said the initiative was conceptualised over a year ago, with the aim of providing a case study on how the livelihoods of farmers could be supported, while improving nutrition of school-age children.

I n M a y, FA O a n d NAREI signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) to understand the agroecological status of smallholder farms in two

Administrative Regions; explore the synergies that exist on the ground between social protection programmes and develop farmer field school curricula that would be linked to implementation of a pilot homegrown school-feeding programme.

“FAO and NAREI have historically shared a great collaboration and we are excited to support the agency to complete this very important LOA within the given timelines; but more importantly colleagues, it is not just about meeting the deadlines and spending the funds, it is more so about ensuring that this innovative change effort is made sustainable beyond the life of this LOA and the Project,” Dr. Smith said.

NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer, Jagnarine Singh, underscored that the initiative will create guaranteed market for farmers, which will lead to food sustainability.

“We will continue to make sure that the agriculture sector in Guyana grows from strength to strength.

I cannot over-emphasise the fact that the Minister of Agriculture continues to talk about this, His E x c e l l e n c y, D r. A l i , continues to talk about this, that Guyana is rightfully

taking its place in CARICOM as the breadbasket as it relates to agriculture,” Singh noted.

M e a n w h i l e , Agroecology and Livestock Specialist, Dario Lucantoni, explained the importance of TAPE, noting that it uses agroecology for measuring the performance of any kind of agricultural system across the different dimensions (social, economic, environmental, health and governance.)

He said TAPE collects data at the farm level, but provide information and results at community and territorial level.

Further, he said diversification is key to agro-ecological transitions to ensure food security and nutrition while conserving, protecting and enhancing natural resources.

Meanwhile, for the first time in the history of TAPE, the methodology will be administered within the context of school feeding and social protection programmatic areas.

The Administration was able to customise the data collection tool to capture field data on social protection programmes, which will be administered by 23 enumerators identified from NAREI, to over 200 households in Regions Five and Nine.

Youth remanded for armed robbery, discharging loaded firearm

A

2 0 - y e a r- o l d male was on M o n d a y remanded to prison by Principal Magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, after he was slapped with two counts of discharging a loaded firearm and two counts of robbery under arms charges.

The defendant, Troy Rodrigues, appeared in Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he denied the charges read to him.

It is alleged that on May 13, on Campbell Street, Albouystown, while in the

company of another and armed with a gun, Rodrigues who is a mechanic robbed Eion Small of his Honda XR motorcycle valued $445,000, a silver chain valued $35,000, and an LG cell phone valued $100,000.

The second charge read that on the same day and location, while in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Manisha Tappin of $800 in cash.

The court also heard that on June 11, on Independence Boulevard, La Penitence, he discharged a loaded firearm

in the direction of Maneta Shepherd, with the intent of causing the person actual bodily harm.

The fourth charge read that on the same day and at the same location, he discharged a firearm within 100 yards in a public place.

P o l i c e P r o s e c u t o r, Annalisa Brummell, told the court that CCTV footage was reviewed and he was positively identified by the virtual complaints.

After remanding him to prison, the Principal Magistrate adjourned the matters to July 22.

breathing complications

T

he Guyana Police Force disclosed that one of its members, Albert Perriera, 44, died yesterday following breathing complications at his home in Sheet Anchor, Berbice. Kaieteur News understands that the Lance Corporal was attached to the Springlands Police Station, Upper Corentyne.

His wife, Indumattie Perriera, told Kaieteur News that her husband was fine prior to his death. In fact, she stated that Perriera went to the airport and returned home Monday night. ”He went airport and come back, eat and then he seh leh we watch some wrestling and then we go to bed,” said his wife through uncontrollable tears.

According to her, sometime around 5:00hrs.

Tuesday morning, she awoke to him panting for breath and she went to get

Lance Corporal, Albert Perriera (deceased)

some water for him, but when she returned to his side, he appeared motionless.

The grieving wife said she called a taxi and her sister-in-law ventured to the New Amsterdam Hospital for an ambulance.

There, she was told that there was no ambulance available by the nurse on duty. She then called the police but said at that point, the chances of saving him were slim to none.

When the police arrived, checks were made for marks of violence but none was seen. He was transported to

the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Indumattie stated that her husband suffered from no known illness and was in good health prior to his death. She added that a COVID-19 test was done and the results were negative. His body is presently at the Persaud Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem examination.

There has since been an outpouring of dismay and shock by colleagues of the late Lance Corporal.

Agri. Ministry to spend $58M to improve shrimp production in Region Six

A

griculture Minister, Z u l f i k a r Mustapha, has announced that a whopping $58M will be invested to improve the shrimp industry in Region Six. In March, Minister Mustapha had engaged fisher folk and shrimp farmers at the Albion Sports Complex, Corentyne, Berbice, where he had stated that as part of President Irfaan Ali’s master plan for aquaculture, the necessary investments would be made to boost the industry.

In light of this,

Mustapha stated that the $58M would be expended to enhance and develop shrimp ponds throughout the Region as a means of increasing the annual production to 500,000 kilos by year-end.He noted that an assessment was done to ascertain the works that would be required to develop shrimp farming in the ancient county.

“We are doing this not only to increase your livelihood in terms of income but we are doing this to increase the capacity of the shrimp production in

Region Six and at the same time you will also create employment for people,” Mustapha told those who gathered to meet with him.

Furthermore, the Minister stressed that while works are expected to commence this week, it is critical that the farmers ensure that the sea defence is not compromised during the process of making critical enhancements to the shrimp production industry in Region Six. Shrimp production currently stands at 150,000 - 200,000 kg. annually.

Haresh Singh murder case file was not missing - Crime Chief clarifies Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, has indicated that contrary to what was reported with regards to the Haresh Singh murder case file, “at no time whatsoever was the file missing.” The Crime Chief said the investigators were in

possession of the crime file doing some additional work.

The said file was later handed over to the Police Legal Advisor, Mr. Mandel Moore, who is now prosecuting the matter.

According to the Crime Chief, this is not a strange occurrence. He noted that

on a daily basis, in the criminal court, once a file is being completed by the investigators, it remains in possession of the investigators.

When it is completed, it is then forwarded to the court prosecutor for court presentation.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Olympics Tokyo governor vows city’s medical system is ready for Games TOKYO, (Reuters) Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said yesterday that a sufficient number of hospitals combined with a speed-up in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout among the elderly meant the city will be able to hold “safe and secure” Olympics in 10 days.

But Koike, speaking to Reuters in an interview at the Tokyo government headquarters that has for the last few weeks doubled as a vaccination site, also warned the coronavirus pandemic was far from over and the spreading Delta variant remained a risk.

“Very many people will be vaccinated in the coming 10 days and during the Olympics. The biggest change as a result of that will be a substantive fall in the ratio of deaths and severe cases among the elderly,” Koike said.

“Because of that, and because the medical system is ready, I think we can press ahead with a safe Olympics,” said Koike, who has returned to work after a brief break due to fatigue during which she was admitted to hospital.

Japan’s vaccination rollout got off to a slow start and has faced supply glitches

after speeding up. Only about 28% of the population has received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Japanese capital entered its fourth state of emergency on Monday causing bars and restaurants to close early, amid a rebound in COVID-19 cases that also pushed the Games organisers last week to ban spectators from nearly all venues.

Spectators from abroad were already banned months ago, and officials are now asking residents to watch the Games on TV to keep the movement of people to a minimum.

Wednesday July 14, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A project could be successfully completed today, Aries.

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

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

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

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

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

U.S. First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Tokyo for the opening ceremony on July 23, the White House said in an announcement yesterday that did not include her husband, President Joe Biden. “It’s very sad that the Games are being held without spectators,” said Koike. “It’s clear we’ll be able to lower the risks, but the spectators are also very important for the athletes and give them a big boost. It’s a big shame that we have to hold the Olympics without them.”

STRAIGHT-TALKING APPROACH Koike, 68, often floated as a potential prime minister, was re-elected governor in a landslide last year, winning public support for her straight-talking approach to the pandemic in contrast with a sluggish nationwide vaccination rollout.

The Citizens First party, linked to Koike, performed strongly in this month’s local assembly elections, leading to speculation - so far rejected

by Koike - that she may make a comeback to national politics. Yesterday, she did not directly address questions on the matter.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, who is in Japan ahead of the Games, will meet Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga today, news agency Jiji reported.

Bach also plans to visit the city of Hiroshima on Friday, Hiroshima prefecture said in a statement.

Hiroshima, in western Japan, was the first city to suffer an atomic bombing at the end of World War Two. Tokyo 2020 organisers also contacted Nagasaki prefecture earlier yesterday to inform them that senior IOC official John Coates would be visiting Nagasaki on Friday, a prefecture official said.

Nagasaki, on the island of Kyushu, was the second and last city to suffer an atomic bombing. Bach would also visit the cities of Fukushima and Sapporo, Japan’s Kyodo News agency said.

The Games, postponed from last year because of the pandemic, run from July 23 to Aug. 8, while the state of emergency - the capital’s fourth - lasts until Aug. 22, shortly before the Paralympics begin.

...Chris Gayle ‘grateful’ to From page 30 second match, Dwayne Bravo said that Gayle’s presence was more than about just runs, citing the calmness and experience he brings to the dressing room. Gayle explained after this innings that he and Bravo will often split the batting and bowling advice, while coach Phil Simmons lauded Gayle’s role in the team environment.

“We’ve seen what he’s been doing in practice, seen what he’s done in IPL in the UAE where the World Cup will be played and we thought this was a role he could fill for us,” Simmons told the host broadcaster.

“He started badly as it was highlighted, but we know

where his heart is and today he showed what we insisted he can do. Nice to see him back in a bit of nick. He was absolutely happy tonight, he’s always wanted to do well for West Indies and tonight he showed why we are backing him.

“He’s unbelievable in the dressing room. He doesn’t shout and scream - well he does when he has too - but he offers advice quietly. We have him as a mentor added to him playing. He’s allowed to say what he has to say and when he speaks all of us listen because there’s no greater T20 player that’s passed through the world.

That’s a huge part of having him there, not just the runs.”

...Federer withdraws from From page 31 He was also Switzerland’s flag bearer at the 2004 and 2008 Games.

Federer joins a list of big names to skip the July 23Aug. 8 Tokyo Games after Rafa Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Wawrinka, Nick Kyrgios, Serena Williams, Simona Halep and Bianca Andreescu also decided not

to compete.

Novak Djokovic, who has won the first three Grand Slams of the year, said he was “50-50” about competing in Tokyo following the organisers’ decision to ban fans from attending and the restrictions on the number of people he can take to the Games.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 26

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Ton-up Vince trumps Azam century as England sweep Pakistan

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FP - James Vi n c e h i t a maiden one-day international century and Lewis Gregory made 77 as a new-look England beat Pakistan by three wickets at Edgbaston yesterday to complete a remarkable 3-0 series clean sweep.

Set a challenging 332 to win, England, who without most of their first-choice players because of a preseries Covid outbreak within their camp, were faltering at 165-5.

But a stand of 129 between Vince, who made 102, and Gregory turned the tide.

Pakistan paceman Haris Rauf removed both batsmen in quick succession on his way to 4-65.

But England, to the delight of most of a sundrenched crowd of 19,500, won with two overs to spare when Brydon Carse, who had earlier taken five wickets, drove Shaheen Shah Afridi for four.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Babar Azam returned to form with a superb ODI best 158 during the tourists’ 3319.

Together with

England’s James Vince made his ODI debut in 2015.

Mohammad Rizwan (74) he shared a partnership of 179 — the highest for any Pakistan wicket against England in an ODI — after opener Imam-ul-Haq had made 56.

But from 292-2, Pakistan lost seven wickets for 37 runs.

Fast bowler Carse checked Pakistan’s progress

with 5-61, his maiden fivewicket haul at this level.

Azam, the world’s topranked ODI batsman, had been dismissed for nought and 19 by fast bowler Saqib Mahmood, the player of the series, as England enjoyed commanding nine-wicket and 52-run wins at Cardiff and Lord’s respectively.

- Bold start -

Despite being without their World Cup-winning top order, the home side’s chase started in bold fashion.

Phil Salt hit 16 off the first over of their reply courtesy of four fours off Afridi including a fine straight drive off the leftarmer.

But Hasan Ali dismissed Dawid Malan for a duck for

the second match in a row, with both teams unchanged from Lord’s.

Salt’s dashing 37 ended when Rauf struck first ball to have him caught at midwicket.

Zak Crawley made an attractive 29 including seven fours before he was bowled, aiming across the line, by Rauf.

Pakistan should have dismissed stand-in England captain Ben Stokes for just seven when he hoisted Shadab Khan straight to fine leg only for Ali to drop a routine catch and knock the ball on for four.

Stokes was reprieved again off leg-spinner Khan on 18 when a drive to longon was dropped by Sohaib Maqsood and deflected over the rope for another four.

But an elated Khan finally got Stokes for 32, with wictkeeper Rizwan holding a good catch off an edged sweep.

Hampshire captain Vince, so often an England nearly man, batted in typically stylish and brought up a 91-ball hundred when he pulled Ali for four.

Gregory, a more hardhitting batsman, struck four fours and a six in his fifty.

Earlier, Azam spent 14 balls on nought and went to fifty in a relatively sedate 72 balls.

But so long as he stayed in there was every chance he would increase his scoring rate, with a cut boundary off Mahmood taking him to a 104-ball hundred.

He was dropped on 126 when Carse failed to hold a tough chance at midwicket.

The 26-year-old Azam drove Carse through the covers for a stylish four and lofted leg-spinner Matt Parkinson for six, to the delight of Pakistan fans at Edgbaston.

Imam was bowled by a superb delivery from Parkinson that pitched outside the left-hander’s off stump and turned sharply between bat and pad.

But Rizwan’s fifty, off just 42 balls, however, gave Pakistan valuable impetus.

His exit led to a flurry of wickets, with Azam out in the last over after facing 139 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes.

Scores: England 332 for 7 (Vince 102, Gregory 77, Rauf 4-65) beat Pakistan 331 for 9 (Azam 158, Rizwan 74, Imam-ul-Haq 56, Carse 5-61) by 3 wickets.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 14, 2021

PAGE 27

Manny Pacquiao announces U.S. to send second biggest Aug. 21 fight with Errol Spence Jr team ever to Tokyo Games (Reuters) - The United States will send a team of 613 athletes to the Tokyo Summer Games, its second largest delegation ever for an Olympics, said the United States Olympic Paralympic Committee (USOPC) yesterday.

Only once before has the U.S. had more athletes competing at an Olympics and that was in 1996 when Atlanta hosted the Games and 648 were named to the team.

Delayed a year by COVID-19, qualifying for the Tokyo Games proved an immense challenge for many U.S. athletes with global sport brought to standstill by the COVID-19 pandemic, wiping out opportunities to earn Olympic spots.

“Team USA is ready,” said USOPC CEO Sarah

Manny Pacquiao, left, and Errol Spence Jr., pose for a photo at a news conference at the Fox Studios lot in Los Angeles ahead of their upcoming boxing match. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) LOS ANGELES (AP) — Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence Jr. formally announced Sunday that they will fight Aug. 21 in a bout pitting an eight-division world champion against one of the sport’s most dominant current champions.

Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) and Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) will fight for Spence’s WBC and IBF welterweight titles when they meet at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The 42-year-old Pacquiao is a senator in his native Philippines. He hasn’t fought since July 2019, when he beat Keith Thurman by split decision for his third consecutive victory.

At a news conference in Los Angeles, Pacquiao admitted he is taking a significant risk in returning against one of the top active fighters in boxing. Pacquiao said he could have picked “a much easier fight compared to Errol Spence” for his comeback bout, but chose to take on the unbeaten 147-pound

champion “because I want to give a good fight to the fans. I want a real fight.”

The 31-year-old Spence will be in the ring for only the second time since October 2019, when he survived a single-car crash in which he was ejected from his Ferrari 488 Spider.

Spence was convicted of driving while intoxicated, but received no jail time.

He returned last December in his native Dallas area with a unanimous decision over Danny Garcia.

Pacquiao has been stopped just once since 1999, but Spence said he won’t enter the ring looking for a highlight-reel knockout. Spence is 3 1/2 inches taller than Pacquiao, and his frame was significantly larger during their ceremonial faceoff.

“I definitely have the ability to finish him,” Spence said. “But for me, it’s about winning the fight.”

The pay-per-view event will be telecast

by Fox Sports.

South Korea draw 2-2 with Argentina in Olympics prep match

A

FP - The South K o r e a n O l y m p i c football squad drew 2-2 against Argentina yesterday after they netted an injurytime equaliser in a friendly match in front of empty seats.

The match held in Yongin, south of Seoul, was one of two warm-up matches this week ahead of the Tokyo Olympics set to begin next week.

It was played without spectators under tightened coronavirus restrictions as a recent surge in infections grips the greater Seoul area.

Argentina went ahead early when Alexis Mac Allister scored from just

outside the box in the 12th minute to give his side a 1-0 lead.

But South Korea caught up in the 35th minute with midfielder Lee Donggyeong’s long-range strike hitting the back of the Argentine net.

The visiting team took the lead again 10 minutes into the second half when Carlos Valenzuela made a curling shot into the far corner after receiving a cross. The home team then generated a last-minute turnaround when winger Um Won-sang delivered an equaliser in the 92nd minute.

The 2-2 draw gave the players “confidence that

they could play well against a strong team,” head coach Kim Hak-bum said in a postgame interview.

South Korea will play France on Friday in their last preparation match before heading to Japan, where they will start their quest for a second Olympic medal against New Zealand on July 22.

The South Korean team won bronze at London 2012.

Romania and Honduras are also in Group B while Argentina will face Egypt, Spain and Australia in Group C. The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals.

Hirshland in a statement.

“Our roster includes 613 remarkable athletes, one of our biggest teams ever, all who qualified to participate in these Games.

“In these extraordinary times — these athletes have shown perseverance, dedication and focus and have inspired us all.”

For the third consecutive Olympics, there will be more women (329) then men (284) on the U.S team that will feature 193 returning Olympians and 104 medalists, including 56 Olympic champions.

The youngest member of the squad will be 15-year-old swimmer Katie Grimes while equestrian Phillip Dutton will be the oldest competing at age 57.

Dutton will be taking part in his seventh Olympics,

having contested three Olympics for Australia in 1996, 2000 and 2004 and now four for the U.S. after becoming a U.S. citizen.

The U.S. squad will also include eight five-time Olympians; equestrians Steffen Peters and McLain Ward, basketball players Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, track athletes Abdi Abdirahman and Allyson Felix, fencer Mariel Zagunis and water polo player Jesse Smith.

Bird and Taurasi will be bidding for a fifth straight Olympic gold medal.

The U.S. has consistently topped the Olympic medal table including the Rio Summer Games where they claimed 121 medals, including 46 gold.

The Tokyo Olympics begin on July 23 and run through to Aug. 8.

Messi celebrated his first continental honour with Argentina in their Copa triumph over arch-rivals Brazil.

Messi dedicates Copa title to family, country and Maradona AFP - Lionel Messi has dedicated Argentina’s Copa America triumph over Brazil to his family, his country and also late idol Diego Maradona.

“I want to dedicate this success to my family, who have always given me the strength to continue, to my friends whom I love so much, to all the people who support us and above all to 45 millions Argentinians who have suffered so with this dreadful virus,” Barcelona megastar Messi wrote on Instagram.

Argentina is approaching a 100,000 Covid-19 death toll and weeks before the start of the Copa tournament Buenos Aires refused to co-stage the event with Colombia owing to the surge in pandemic cases.

South American confederation CONMEBOL ultimately transferred hosting rights to Brazil at the last minute despite that country having seen more than half a million virus deaths, the second highest global tally after the United States.

Messi, 34, also paid tribute to the memory of Maradona, who died aged 60 last

November, saying that “Diego was surely urging us on wherever he is”.

Argentina’s success over the Brazilians in Rio was not just Messi’s first major trophy for the Albiceleste but his country’s first continental honour in 28 years.

Messi had been desperate to lead the side to glory after a series of disappointments both at World Cups and the Copa.

Given its battle against the further spread of the virus, Argentina has not organised celebrations to mark their title win.

After arriving back in the country on Sunday, the squad were briefly received at the country’s football federation headquarters and then dispersed for a pre-season break.

Despite the low-key welcome, thousands of fans took to the streets despite tight virus restrictions.

“To continue to party we must continue to take care of each other — let’s not forget we have a long way to go to get back to normality,” Messi warned.

“Use this happiness to gather strength to fight this virus together.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 28

Allyson Felix to cover childcare costs for athletes at Tokyo Olympics

T

he Giro - “As a mom and an athlete, I know first-hand the obstacles women face in sports,” the five-time Olympian said.

Allyson Felix, one of the most decorated athletes in women’s track and field, has announced plans to pay it forward with a new partnership that will cover childcare costs for mothers participating in the Summer Games.

The mother has teamed with her primary sponsor, Athleta, and the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) to launch The Power of She Fund: Child Care Grants.

The programme will commit $200,000 to childcare costs for nine mom-athletes competing and participating in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, as reported by Fast Company.

According to reports, initial recipients are Olympic hammer thrower Gwendolyn Berry and Olympic saber fencer Mariel Zagunis, who will each receive $10K. The group also includes Natasha Hastings, Aliphine

Tuliamuk (track and field athletes), Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (sitting volleyball), Natalie Schneider (wheelchair basketball), Elana Meyers Taylor (bobsled), Lora Webster (sitting volleyball), and Jamie Whitmore (paracycling), per CBS 17.

“As a mom and an athlete, I know first-hand the obstacles women face in sports,” said Felix, six-time Olympic gold medalist, and three-time world champion.

“It was important to me and to Athleta that our partnership reflects that I am more than just an athlete. In fact, part of my contract includes provisions for my daughter, Camryn, to join me whenever I am competing.

But not everyone has access to this type of support from a partner or sponsor.

These grants are about showing the industry that all mom-athletes need this same comprehensive support to be able to participate in their athletic endeavors.”

The grant recipients will also participate in roundtable discussions about systemic change across the industry.

The event will be hosted by

WSF and advocacy partners Mother and the National Women’s Law Center.

“This money has given us such a big breath of relief in the past few weeks,” inaugural recipient Lora Webster added.

“One of my first races back after giving birth to my daughter, Camryn, was the World Championships,” Felix tells Fast Company.

“Not only was I still breastfeeding and physically and mentally exhausted from being a first-time mom while training and competing — I was assigned a roommate at the competition.

There was no way I could bring my daughter into a shared room with another athlete who is trying to get in her zone.”

At 35, Felix already has nine Olympic medals, making her the second most decorated American track athlete behind Carl Lewis, theGrio reported. The 2021 Tokyo Games will be Felix’s fifth and final Olympics performance where she is expected to compete in the 400 meters and 4 X 400meter races, according to ESPN. This will be the first

time that Felix will step out on the Olympic world stage as a mom.

In 2004, Felix, then 18, made her debut in Athens, Greece, winning a silver medal.

The six-time Olympic gold medalist said her daughter has been a motivating force this year.

“I just wanted to really show her, no matter what,

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Allyson Felix reacts after competing in the Women’s 400 Meters Semi-Finals on day 2 of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track (Credit: Getty Images)

that you do things with character, integrity, and you don’t give up. And to me, whether that was winning, losing, no matter the outcome, I wanted to stay consistent with that,” said Felix. “Having her as motivation through these past couple of years has just given me a whole new drive.”

Felix said her sponsor

A t h l e t a , G a p I n c . ’s activewear brand, “get that I am a whole person beyond the track.”

She added, “They jumped right in to support my training as well as my passions and advocacy platforms. In fact, part of my contract with Athleta includes provisions for Cammy to join me whenever I am competing. “

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana Ex B’ce division player signs with Romesh Munna on board HUMBL

F

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has been signed to represent software company HUMBL. SportsMax - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has been signed to represent HUMBL, the company announced Monday.

HUMBL provides merchant services software that is being developed to accommodate the migration by governments to digital forms of their national currency. It also serves to facilitate key functions like cross-border remittance, foreign exchange, bill payment, and lending products from smartphones.

“HUMBL has signed Jamaican track and field athlete Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to represent the brand for the coming year,” it said on Twitter this morning.

“Excited to have you onboard, ShellyAnn. Fraser-Pryce, 34, is a GraceKennedy Global Brand Ambassador and a brand

ambassador for digital company Digicel.

She is one of the most successful track and field athletes in history having won Olympic 100m titles in Beijing in 2008 and again in London in 2012. She was third in the 100m in 2016 in Rio. She goes for an unprecedented third Olympic title later this month in Tokyo.

In addition to her Olympic 100m titles, Fraser-Pryce is also a four-time World 100m champion. No other athlete - male or female has ever won four 100m titles. She also has a 2 0 0 m t i t l e f r o m t h e 2 0 1 3 Wo r l d Championships in Moscow.

She won silver in the 200m at the 2012 London Games.

She won the World Indoor 60m title in 2014 and has won four Diamond League titles.

ormer Berbice Cricket Board E x e c u t i v e Romesh Munna recently donated two cricket gear bags and one right hand batting gloves to “Cricket G e a r f o r Yo u n g a n d Promising Cricketers in Guyana” project. This initiative is a joint effort of Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry.

Their aim is to provide Cricket gear free of cost for young and talented cricketers in Guyana. The project is seeking new and used cricket gear which will then be distributed across the length and breadth of Guyana.

Munna was an outstanding First Division cricketer for Rose Hall Community Center and also played for Young Warriors Cricket Club in the latter part of his cricket career. He narrowly missed out on selection on Berbice teams,

junior and senior, on several occasions.

He now resides in Georgia, USA but continues to make meaningful contributions towards the development of cricket in Guyana. In a simple ceremony, the gear was handed over to his former long-time team mate Vishal Mohabir.

Munna said that he was delighted to be part of this initiative and will continue to contribute when possible.

Mohabir, speaking on behalf of the project coordinators, said thanks for the items.

Total cricket related items collected so far: cash for first aid kit, two cricket boots, twelve pairs of batting pads, eleven bats, nine pairs of batting gloves and four cricket bags.

Fifteen young players from Essequibo Coast and Pameroon have already benefited from five bats, six pairs of batting pads and four

pairs of batting gloves. Two clubs in the Pameroon area also benefited from two used bats.

Talent spotting will be done across Guyana along with guidance from club leaders to identify the players. Players must be in school and disciplined.

Players above school age will also be considered.

Das and Beharry would like to thank Imran and Javed Khan of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Travis Simon, Hilbert Foster of RHTY&SC, Ariel Tilku, Aaron Beharry, Devon Ramnauth, Sherman Austin, Teddy Singh, Leana Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Romesh Munna and Vishal Mohabir.

Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1-718-6640896.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 14, 2021

PAGE 29

Concacaf Gold Cup Roldan debut goal paves way for

El Salvador win; USA and Canada also triumph Frisco, Texas – Alex Roldan scored in his El Salvador debut to help earn his side a 2-0 victory over Guatemala in Group A of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup on Sunday night at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

With the result, El Salvador sit atop Group A with three points.

It was a hard-fought first 45 minutes between the two sides, with El Salvador generating more chances through playmakers Joshua Perez and Juan Portillo, but unable to land something on target to trouble Guatemala MF Nicholas Hagen.

Shortly before halftime, the best chance of the half came for Guatemala on a counterattack in which Jairo Arreola had a good crack at goal, but saw his effort sail over the crossbar.

El Salvador continued to press forward and after a wayward Jairo Henriquez header in front of goal in the 55’, Portillo looked set to

break the deadlock in the 61’, only to see his leftfooted shot sail wide.

MF Marvin Monterroza was next to have a look at goal in the 75’ after some good work from Perez, but the Guatemalan defense would not crack. The breakthrough would finally come in the 81’ for El Salvador, as a ball fell to the feet of Alexander Roldan, whose right-footed shot rocketed into net to hand El Salvador a 1-0 advantage.

Guatemala looked to respond and Darwin Lom was presented with a chance in stoppage time, but was denied by El Salvador GK Mario Gonzalez. El Salvador then capped off the night with a goal in the final seconds, as Joaquin Rivas took a pass from Walter Martinez and deposited a left-footed shot into net to complete the 2-0 scoreline.

Sam Vines helps U.S. edge Haiti The United States

overcame a scrappy Haiti team with a tight 1-0 victory to open its Group B action with all three points in Kansas City, MI. The Stars and Stripes got off to an ideal start, courtesy of Sam Vines.

The team had a wellexecuted charge into the box in the eighth minute. Gyasi Zardes redirected a slightly wayward cross into the box and he was able to poke the ball upward, which set up Vi n e s p e r f e c t l y. T h e defender’s trailing run into the box was rewarded with the opportunity on goal.

Vines left no doubt on his header, connecting well to beat Haitian goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre.

Zardes wrote his name into the U.S. national team’s history books on the play. He notched his 10th USMNT assist, which made him the second-fastest player in the country’s history to reach double-digits in both goals (12) and assists. The only player to accomplish the feat

Shepherd looking forward to be back in Windies colours

By Sean Devers At 26, fast bowling allrounder Guyanese Romario Shepherd, who has two wickets from three T20 Internationals, was not selected the T20I series against South Africa and Australia.

However, the Berbician who plays for New Amsterdam club, Tucber Park has been selected for the three-match ODI series against Australia in Barbados for July 20-24.

Shepherd is one of three pacers from Tuber Park (formerly Bermine) to play First-Class Cricket but the only one to represent the West Indies in ODIs and T20Is. In January it came as shock when Shepherd was tested positive for the corona virus and was ruled out of the West Indies tour to Bangladesh.

While 12 of the senior players opted out of the tour of Bangladesh due to safety and personal reasons, the pacer showed commitment to the West Indies by agreeing to tour and was one of the senior players on a depleted side ODI team.

After playing in the

Regional Super50 for the Guyana Jaguars where his performances were nothing to write home about, Shepherd was selected for Sri Lanka series in March in Antigua.

Shepherd, who has taken four wickets from seven ODIs and scored 15 runs from three innings, explained what were his preparations for a possible return to International Cricket.

“Well my training was mostly affected by the heavy rain fall recently in Guyana.

We been cleared to train once we followed the Covid protocols,” said Shepherd who made his ODI debut against Afghanistan at Lucknow on November 05, 2019.

Shepherd has played 37 List ‘A’ matches and taken 43 wickets with a best 4-36 and averages 33.20 and scored 333 runs from 27 innings with his unbeaten 58 being his only half century.

Shepherd, who played for West Indies, Chennai Super Kings, Guyana Jaguars, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Guyana Under19s, West Indies ‘A’, West Indies Cricket Board

President’s XI and West Indies President’s XI, informed that he was looking forward to this series. “ We l l I ’ m l o o k i n g forward to doing well this series, obviously, the last series for me was an average one. So I’m looking forward to do well in this one…to be more clear in my decision making of what to try when I am in the game,” said Shepherd who is only Berbician fast bowler to play ODIs. Port Mourant Fast bowler John Trim was the first Berbician to play Test cricket, while Blairmont Cricket Club’s Brandon Bess played one Test in 2010. Tuber Park’s Nial Smith is tipped to be the next pacer from Berbice to play international Cricket for the West Indies.

Shepherd made his FirstClass debut against Jamaica at Sabina Park Kingston on March 9, 2017.

The last time the powerfully built Berbician played First-Class cricket was in December 2020 in New Zealand when the West Indies ‘A’ opposed New Zealand ‘A’.

Nicholas Gioacchini of US (L) and Martin Experience of Haiti battle for possession.

(Concacaf photo)

faster was none other than U.S. legend Landon D o n o v a n , w h o accomplished the same feat in only 50 caps.

After an inspired opening 10 minutes, the United States suffered a setback shortly after their goal. In the 14th minute, veteran forward Paul Arriola had to leave the game because of hamstring tightness. He was replaced

by Nicholas Gioacchini.

For the rest of the opening half, both teams traded half-chances that didn’t come to fruition.

Duckens Nazon looked lively for Haiti and was a constant threat. The U.S. would close the opening 45

minutes with seven shots to Haiti’s five. One of the best chances for the Americans was shortly before the halftime whistle when Wa l k e r Z i m m e r m a n elevated in the box for a header that Sylvestre managed to collect. He would finish the game with four saves.

Wi t h a r e l a t i v e l y inexperienced U.S. roster, the team couldn’t find its best rhythm in the second half against a resolute Haiti defence. Still, the Stars and Stripes managed to hold on from an important opening victory in the 2021 Gold Cup. Meanwhile, Canada responded strongly to a

shock opener by Martinique with a resounding 4-1 comeback victory to open up its Gold Cup with three points in Group B. Martinique got off to a lively start, scoring a scrambling goal in the 10th minute against Canada thanks to Emmanuel Rivière.

Kevin Fortune intercepted a pass and sent in a quick ball to his feet, Rivière cut through an unprepared Canadian defense. With a touch from Rivière, the ball took a slow roll to the post and for a moment, it seemed like it might be saved off the line by defender Mark-Anthony Kaye, but he couldn’t quite hook his foot on it in time.

Stafanie Taylor regains top spot among batters and allrounders in ODI cricket

E

SPNcricinfo - West Indies Women captain Stafanie Taylor has reclaimed the No.1 spot among batters as well as allrounders in ODI cricket following her dominant performances against Pakistan. Taylor (766 rating points) displaced India’s Mithali Raj (762) from the top among batters. The last time Taylor had topped the batting rankings was in November 2014.

In addition to gaining two places to be the No.1-ranked allrounder, too, replacing Australia’s Ellyse Perry, Taylor also moved up from 19th spot to 16th among bowlers.

Taylor led the way for West Indies both with bat and ball in the first ODI against Pakistan in Coolidge, picking up 3 for 29 and scoring an unbeaten 105 - her sixth century in the format. All other West Indies batters have a combined five hundreds in ODI cricket.

In the second ODI at the same venue, she gave away only 18 runs in her six overs and didn’t get a chance to bat in West Indies’ chase of 121.

Deandra Dottin, who returned to ODI cricket after more than two years, re-entered the rankings at 28th place among batters and

47th among allrounders. Offspinner Anisa Mohammed moved up two places to be ranked 26th while seamer Shamilia Connell jumped up four places to occupy the 39th place among bowlers.

For Pakistan, Nida Dar gained three places to be ranked 29th and Diana Baig moved up one place to be 32nd among the bowlers.

Sciver in top ten among T20I batters England allrounder Nat Sciver broke into the top ten among batters, jumping up two places from No.11, after smashing a 27-ball 55 in the hosts’ 18-run DLS win over India in the T20I series opener in Northampton. She is now joint-ninth along with Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce.

India allrounder Deepti Sharma, meanwhile, advanced two places up to 37th among batters following her unbeaten 24 in the second T20I. India’s teenage sensation Shafali Verma continues to lead the batting rankings, with 773 points.

On the bowling front, legspinner Poonam Yadav jumped up five places to seventh while seamer Shikha Pandey leapt up from 35th to 27th.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Konrad soloes to Tour stage win as top guns keep powder dry

S

A I N T GAUDENS, France (Reuters) Patrick Konrad claimed a maiden Tour de France victory with a successful long-range attack on a rain-soaked 16th stage, a 169-km mountain trek from Pas de la Casa, Andorra, yesterday.

The Bora-Hansgrohe rider broke away from a small group 36.5 kilometres from the finish in the day’s last significant climb and never looked back as his chasers reacted too late.

The 29-year-old crossed the line 42 seconds before Italian champion Sonny Colbrelli, who outsprinted Australian Michael Matthews for second.

“I had already been in the breakaway three times and every time I waited too long,” Konrad, the Austrian champion, told a news conference.

“I noticed that those who won from the breakaway, Matej Mohoric or Bauke Mollema, attacked far from the finish and I took inspiration from that. I had decided to take the matter into my own hands.”

Konrad is only the third Austrian rider to win a stage on the Tour after Georg Totschnig in 2005, and Max

‘Heartbroken’ Omar McLeod blasts Jamaica for excluding him from Olympic team Omar McLeod

Hansgrohe rider Patrick Konrad of Austria celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win stage 16.

(REUTERS/Stephane Mahe) Bulla who won three stages and wore the yellow jersey for a day.

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey as the main contenders kept their powder dry ahead of Wednesday’s much-feared 17th stage to the Col du Portet, a 16-km ascent at an average gradient of 8.7%.

To get there, they will first tackle the Col de Peyresourde (13.2-km at 7%) and the Col de Val Louron-Azet (7.4km at 8.3%).

Pogacar’s group finished yesterday’s stage 13:49 off the pace as the top positions in the general classification

remained unchanged.

“For sure (my rivals) were focusing on tomorrow when everyone will try because it will be the hardest day in this Tour,” said Pogacar.

“If someone feels very good tomorrow they can make a big difference against someone who feels bad. I don’t know what their (my rivals’) tactics will be.”

After a long descent in low temperatures and drizzling rain to reach the actual start of the stage, a leading trio opened a gap on the peloton but they had a 10-man group hot on their heels, as the main bunch gradually let it slide.

Fabien Doubey, Konrad

and Jan Bakelants had 30 seconds on their chasers in the descent from the Col de la Core as they headed towards the Col du Portet d’Aspet (5.4km at 7.1%).

Konrad increased the advantage to 1:20 as he attacked on the climb.

France’s David Gaudu, a specialist climber, increased the pace from the chasing group and only Colbrelli, a sprint specialist, could follow, narrowing the gap to 30 seconds at the top.

But Konrad was the fastest in the treacherous descent where Italian Fabio Casartelli crashed and died in 1995, and he extended his lead again, holding off the chasing group.

Chris Gayle ‘grateful’ to Kieron Pollard for pre-match pep talk “He let me know where I stand within this team and he wanted me to go and express myself” ESPNcricinfo - Chris Gayle has thanked injured West Indies captain Kieron Pollard for a pre-match “pep talk” after he emerged from his lean run with a reminder of him at his best, scoring 67 off 38 balls to wrap up the series against Australia.

Gayle came into the match having made 102 runs in nine innings since his recall earlier in the year against Sri Lanka and hadn’t struck a T20I half-century since 2016. That all changed in a display that brought seven sixes, including three in a row off Adam Zampa, and during the innings he went past 14000 T20 runs.

“It’s a great journey,” he said at the presentation. “I’m so happy and so pleased to get a series win first of all. I just want to commend the stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran for winning a fantastic series against a

Wednesday July 14, 2021

great team. To Kieron Pollard, he played a big part as well even though he played in none of these games. You all knew I was struggling with the bat and to be able to get some runs today was very pleasing.

“I want to dedicate this half-century and milestone to West Indies, my teammates, especially Kieron Pollard. We had a team meeting before the game and...he let me know where I stand within this team and he wanted me to go and express myself. So I’m very grateful for that pep talk because sometimes it doesn’t matter how great you are, you need a bit of a talk sometimes.

“I have to commend those senior guys, they played a fantastic part with what happened today. With this strength and unity, we’re playing some great all-round cricket and I’m really

Chris Gayle - “Just respect the Universe Boss, let him play cricket and have some fun”. (AFP/Getty Images) pleased to win this series.”

Gayle then went into full Universe Boss mode and spoke of his desire to help West Indies defend their T20 World Cup title in the UAE in October.

“My main focus is the World Cup,” he said. “Don’t mind the numbers, Chris Gayle not getting the runs, soon to be 42. You guys should be happy to see Chris Gayle on the field still,

hopefully Chris will last as long as possible. Cherish those moments, commentators don’t put up no stats about Chris Gayle not scoring a half-century.

Just respect the Universe Boss, let him play cricket and have some fun. Enjoy the moment with Chris Gayle, a strong West Indies team and some good youngsters.” After the (Continued on page 25)

SportsMax - A bittersounding Omar McLeod said he is heartbroken after not being given an opportunity to defend his Olympic title in Tokyo later this month and has described as absurd, the Jamaica Athletic Administrative A s s o c i a t i o n ’s ( J A A A ) decision to exclude from the country’s Olympic team.

The 27-year-old McLeod was speaking Monday at a press conference on the eve of the Gateshead Diamond League meeting yesterday.

The 2016 Olympic champion hit the first hurdle at his country’s national championships on Sunday, June 27 and finished eighth.

He complained afterwards that he had suffered a cramp after being forced to run the finals on Sunday morning having won his semi-final on the night before in 13.04 his second-fastest time this season.

Ronald Levy, who was second in McLeod’s semifinal in a season-best 13.08, won the final in 13.10 ahead of Damion Thomas (13.11) and Hansle Parchment (13.16), all top 10 times in the world. However, the national record holder felt he should have been considered for selection, despite the competition rules which state that the first three places will be selected.

Asked about his situation, McLeod held nothing back.

“I am very heartbroken, honestly. I don’t think I was given or granted a fair opportunity to make the team with this ridiculous schedule that I have never seen in my years in track and field where they have semifinals late in the evening and then, without recovery and the country was in complete lockdown so we were unable to go back to the hotel and get food,” he lamented, his voice near the point of breaking.

“So, my team and I, we did the best we could and we went to a little lounge at the hotel and drank some soup and had a salad because that was all they had, trying to go back to the track and five in the morning for a final at eight, I mean, that’s stupid.

“For an event that has your reigning Olympic champion, you don’t treat the event like that. Give me a fair opportunity like everybody else to come and make the team. I didn’t have the audacity to not show up at the trials thinking I was obligated to make the team. I went there ready to compete and earn my spot.”

He said on the morning of the race he suffered a severe cramp and thought that his country would have ‘had my back.”

“We did a medical exemption. It’s been done for Usain Bolt and other athletes before where they couldn’t run in the final or something happened. I was in the same position where I won all the major gold medals and historic moments where I was the first Jamaican to win (110mh) gold medals in every championship so I thought I was going to be okay.”

McLeod said his team exhausted every possible avenue of appeal including sending emails and meeting with the members of the selection committee. He also put out a statement on social media explaining what happened prior to the race.

The distraught sprint hurdler, who said he was denied the chance to run ‘something ridiculous’ at the trials, perhaps a national or world record, suggested he doesn’t know what he will do at the meet yesterday as he will be running on pure emotion waiting for the season to end. “ To b e d e n i e d t h e opportunity is really absurd,” he said.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 14, 2021

PAGE 31

Chair of the AIBA R&Js Committee names key areas of work at meeting in Tbilisi A

IBA President Umar Kremlev, AIBA Secretary General István Kovács, Technical Delegate Dragoljub Radovic, and Boxing Scotland CEO and Chair of the AIBA Referee and Judges Committee Chris Roberts met with Referees and Judges at the EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Mr. Roberts advised on the work underway over the past several months, specifically that of the officials’ development programme that will be rolled out over the next 4-6 months.

The R&J Committee is focusing on the following areas: • An online e-learning programme that will assist all R&Js with continuous professional development • The AIBA R&Js Manual is currently under review in the areas of AIBA technical rules, current regulations and physical practices within the Field of Play.

• Included within the Referee and Judges Manual is the Code of Conduct; this is being further developed to support our AIBA sporting integrity reforms aimed at ensuring a fair fight • A key area of work is the production of a new qualification, that of AIBA

AIBA officials take time out for a photo with Referees and Judges at the EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Auditor. A number of specialists from within our organization, whether that be competition management, fully understanding the function of our R&Js, evaluators and senior delegates, will work towards the AIBA Auditor qualification in order to provide an internal validation and assurance mechanism that will give boxers and those who support them greater certainty around the provision of fair fights • The AIBA Instructor manual is currently being reconstructed to support sporting integrity goals.

Instructors will need to be educated to the very highest of standards to deliver the new and improved R&J Certification Course which

is due to be delivered as early as October 21; this will be applied to all those R&Js in the first instance, who are to be selected through a robust mechanism ahead of the Elite Men’s World Boxing Championships, to take place in Belgrade at the end of O ctober this year.

Education will continue for those who are to be considered as the very best candidates across AIBA • There was a preview of the principles for a new scoring system which will be introduced very shortly. Key members of AIBA discussed earlier in the week how this new product would be put together, to take advantage of the movement towards greater sporting integrity AIBA President added that he appreciates the

Federer withdraws from Tokyo Games with knee setback (Reuters) -Switzerland’s Roger Federer became the latest big name in tennis to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics after the 20-times Grand Slam champion said yesterday that he had picked up a knee injury during the grasscourt season.

Federer, who turns 40 next month, had two knee surgeries in 2020 which resulted in more than a year of rehabilitation, with the Swiss returning to action in March — 13 months after his Australian Open semi-final exit last year.

He withdrew from the French Open last month despite winning his third round match to save himself for the grasscourt season, where he sought a recordextending ninth title at

Roger Federer Wimbledon but was beaten in the quarter-final by Hubert Hurkacz.

“During the grass court season, I unfortunately experienced a setback with my knee, and have accepted that I must withdraw from the Tokyo Olympic Games,” Federer said on Twitter https://twitter.com/rogerfed

erer/status/1414982002760 159234.

“I am greatly disappointed, as it has been an honour and highlight of my career each time I have represented Switzerland.

“I have already begun rehabilitation in the hopes of returning to the tour later this summer. I wish the entire Swiss team the best of luck and I will be rooting hard from afar.”

Federer won the gold medal in the doubles at the 2008 Games in Beijing when he partnered with Stan Wawrinka while he had to settle for silver in the singles four years later in London when he was beaten by Briton Andy Murray on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

(Continued on page 25)

professional work of AIBA Referees and Judges.

“I see that our R&Js system is on the right track, with a lot of work ahead. We are not improvising: we have strong AIBA R&J Committee and a comprehensive plan. I truly believe that we will achieve full transparency and

h o n e s t y, i n o r d e r t o guarantee fair fights,” President Kremlev said.

Mr. Kovács added that new scoring system is to be presented soon and expressed hope that everybody will like it.

“To create a brand-new scoring system means to have new boxing and new

future. It is easy when judging system is clean and transparent.

We need to give our beloved sport great future.

We will present all the innovation internally and externally as soon as it will be ready and well-tested,” AIBA Secretary General added.