Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR Locals complain Friday Edition about being paid NEWS less than expats for doing the same job at GYSBI

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

July 16, 2021 - Vol. 23 No. 29

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 67,617

Guyana to foot US$1.3M daily to rent supply boats for ExxonMobil

Opposition MP to appear in court today on cybercrime charge Twenty-nine cops presently before the court on criminal charges

Citizens in support of change to ExxonMobil’s oil contract

BK Quarries Inc admits breach of overtime payment laws, given 3 months to comply

World Bank’s Guyana oil outlook inconsistent with supporting climate change action - UK NGO Guyana given a fail grade in oil sector - NRGI report

Listen @11am on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

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BK Quarries Inc. admits to breach of overtime payment law, given 3 months to comply O

n July 14, 2021, the Minister of Labour, Hon. Joseph Hamilton, and Senior Labour Officer, Mr. Prandatt Basdeo, met with representatives from BK Quarries Inc. to discuss issues highlighted during the Minister and team’s routine visit to the company’s Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven) operations on the 7th of July.

During the visit, the Minister and his team lauded t h e c o m p a n y ’ s c o m p r e h e n s i v e housekeeping and occupational safety and health (OSH) protocols, which included the presence of safety signs and the availability of safety equipment for both workers and visitors.

Despite this however, the Chief Labour Officer, Ms. Michelle Baburam, was instructed by the Minister to invite the company’s senior

management for a meeting to urgently discuss issues surrounding employees’ welfare and overtime payments.

Those representing the company at the meeting were its Director, Ms. Gail Tiwari; General Manager, Mr. Charles Kertzious; Manager, Mr. Richard Inniss and Payroll Officer, Mr. Clive Muridall.

During the meeting, the Minister praised the company’s OSH protocols but also raised the concerns of employees’ welfare and complaints of employees not being paid for overtime. In response, BK Quarries Incorporated admitted that it is not in full compliance as it relates to overtime payments and sought to provide some justification for this failure by stating that free laundry services, three daily meals and a snack and free accommodation are provided for all workers on

site at the expense of the company.

In disregarding such justifications, Minister Hamilton reminded and c a u t i o n e d t h e representatives that the law is the law and must be complied with at all times, adding that employees must receive compensation for all overtime hours worked.

T h e c o m p a n y ’s representatives subsequently committed to ensure that the company will be in full compliance with the law in the near future, and to this effect, they were given three months to achieve full compliance as it relates to the legal provisions for overtime compensation.

In addition, the Ministry committed a number of staff members of the Labour Department to work along with the company to oversee that transition.

These Labour Officers were tasked to verify that the

The meeting between the Ministry of Labour and BK Quarries Inc.

company is in compliance after the 3-month period elapses. The Minister also noted that as routine inspections continue to

occur throughout the country, it is not the intention of the Ministry of Labour to target any specific company.

The routine inspections are

to ensure workers’ rights are respected, all necessary protocols are observed and the country’s labour laws are adhered to.

Labourer who attempted Guyana Manganese Inc. employees to kill youth, remanded reach out to GAWU about inhumane treatment at workplace

Employees attached with the Guyana Manganese Inc. (GMI) have engaged the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers (GAWU) concerning some of the inhumane working conditions they are presently enduring there.

G AW U i n a p r e s s statement yesterday revealed that through its outreach activities with workers there, the Union learnt that GMI was actively sideling workers in favour of foreigners.

The Union shared that the workers have expressed their dismay over what they described as their abominable conditions-ofwork.

“They shared that many tasks being undertaken by foreigners could be done by locals but inexplicably they are denied such opportunities. They felt that it seemed the company was seeking for them to leave the e m p l o y, ” t h e U n i o n d i s c l o s e d . G AW U a l s o lamented that the workers highlighted to them that foreigners are enjoying adequate housing conditions and appropriate meals, whereas in their case the situation is unsatisfactory.

According to the Union, the workers claimed that skilled employees were being told to carry out tasks that are below their skills.

This, the workers say are

demeaning, considering that they would have undergone extensive training in the specific field of work.

Apart from that, workers pointed out that their statutory deductions were not being paid over to the relevant agencies.

GAWU, who is disturbed by the treatments of the workers, said that “It is simply unbelievable that firms are seeking to benefit from our natural wealth yet fail to uphold even the basic rights of our workers and people.”The Union, which represents workers’ interest, concluded that it will stand with the workers and continue to advocate for their rights to be upheld.

One of the three men, who brutally attacked Sabutaro Singh last month while he was visiting his girlfriend at Back Street, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, was remanded to prison by Principal Magistrate, Judy Latchman, on Wednesday.

The defendant, 28-year-old Steven Bannister, of Herstelling Sea Dam, East Bank Demerara, was arraigned in the Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Court where he denied the charge read to him.

It was alleged that on June 20, last, at Back Street, Herstelling, Bannister attempted to murder 21-year-old Singh.

After remanding him to prison, the Principal Magistrate then adjourned the matter to July 29 for report.

Singh of La Grange, West Bank Demerara, was left in a critical state in a city hospital after he was severely beaten and chopped on Father’s Day night by his

girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend and two other male individuals.

It is alleged that the men had attacked him sometime between 20:00hrs. and 21:00hrs. while at his girlfriend’s residence. Based on information received, it was reported to the police that Singh had not too long arrived at the house when he was approached by the exboyfriend and his friends. There, the exboyfriend and his accomplices threatened to kill Singh before beating and chopping him about his body.

According to police reports, the young man suffered an open skull fracture, a fractured right wrist, partially severed forearm and a deep cut to the left side of his neck. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was admitted in a stable but critical condition. An investigation into the matter is still being conducted.

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Friday July 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Gas-to-shore is over Gas-to-shore is over. It was over before it started.

The official expenditures in time and energy to address nuisances had to be borne, which means payment for observing the associated mechanics and cosmetics. It is a cheap price to be paid, and the PPP government readily pays it as part of the masquerade.

No harm, no foul, and it is already a done deal, regardless of what is said, so we all should move on, except it is not so for some.

Citizenship comes with some sacred obligations. And if numbering among those is a duty to contest and confront, then so it is for a few. Let the chips reign down, for what else can leaders do, even if that amplifies into the worst ordeals.

At this paper, there is the foresight of gas-to-shore transforming to an inevitable gas chamber for trapped, vulnerable Guyanese. The memory of what happened to hapless Jews in Germany is renewed almost a century later through financial genocide at the hands of craven political leaders. The Guyanese who lost out would be the ones on the part of the ladder that is below the low water level.

It is a lot of people, but they have no champions in their corner, no sponsors for their cause.

Political champions and leadership sponsors are already booked and bought out by those with deep pockets from the outside, those with the economic muscle inside Guyana. The former would be oil companies; the latter function under that bland, harmless tag - private sector.

Except that, it is neither bland nor harmless, but most powerful and extremely dangerous. What its members (business cabal circle) can partner in, or wrest from, or pay for, compliments of cash addicted politicians (leaders, they call themselves) means that poorer, weaker Guyanese remain always on the receiving end of the rip-offs and rogueries of this nation’s commercial-political complex.

The rich benefits of the members of this complex are extravagant and endless; so, too, is the dreadfulness and wretchedness on the ordinary rank and file citizen left on the hostage and paying ends of this grand oil bargain.

Gas-to-shore is but one of many more to come.

The insiders already have the blueprints lodged in their heads on how to monopolise the distribution of all related Natural gas business to feed the national demand. It is an incredibly prosperous business set-up for the next several decades for those controlling the flows and calling the shots.

There is much attention and some intensity brought to bear on that billion-dollar project price tag, but that is still relative chickenfeed money, and it is not going to be US$900M, but most likely closer to 25 percent to 40 percent more, by the time the commercial-political complex is done with it. Because every step of the way, there will be opportunity to pad and to create what is not there and what is not needed, and then to submit in the tens and hundreds of millions more than the original estimated cost.

Incidentally, on the matter of money, it is but a small bother for the foreign oil powers, of which Exxon is the spearhead.

The numbers look like this: US$1M a year for each parliamentary lawmaker in this country, and it is over. For less than a hundred million US annually, Guyana’s oil is a steal. It is a bigger steal, when that expense is booked under whatever billing that suits Exxon’s fancy, and for which we are on the hook. If this is not one of the biggest steals ever, then nothing else qualifies for that dubious honour.

The kicker is that poor ignorant Guyanese would be none the wiser, and still drowning too much in their petty passions and prejudicial preoccupations to understand the full import of what has happened to them.

We summarise what it means. A crooked government supported by more private sector crooks. There is no opposition, but one going through the motions. No media to speak of, no civil society to recommend to anyone, not even an honest religious presence. On the nation’s oil, poor Guyanese have failed dreams, shattered hopes.

Meanwhile, the super elites grow richer, more powerful.

Is EPA’s Engagement a Farce?

Dear Editor, I write in response to Edward Burrowes (July 10) on why government is not renegotiating the contract and letter comments (July 10) about the EPA public consultation held virtually (over the internet) Thursday on the gas-to-shore project.

It is a lopsided contract and must be renegotiated for greater benefits to Guyanese.

There are several reasons why the contract is not renegotiated. Graft, bribe, or corruption is the main culprit on why the contract is not renegotiated. As Glenn Lall stated, politicians from both sides seem to have been bought out by giant oil companies. They sold us out for their personal gains. They got a few million American dollars, peanuts or crumbs, while the oil companies cheat Guyana of US$55 billion just

on one oil block.

The properties of certain politicians and their families and friends are being rented by a giant oil company. Some of the properties are empty lots.

And some of the properties are not being utilised. But rent is paid for them. An audit will expose the culprits who are receiving high rental fees. A media house and several businesses in town are among the recipients of rental money.

Did that media house report on the oil disaster off the coast of Mexico? Protecting its monetary interests! Only KN and SN reported on the oil disaster.

On the EPA engagement with the public on gas-toshore, as others commented, it was a sham, a farce, a charade. The extent to which government goes to fool the

public is unbelievable. The usual suspects who benefit from contracts were there on the virtual consultation to lend credibility to the project.

Questions asked were not properly answered. But when the exercise is over in three months, the gas-to-shore project will receive overwhelming approval from EPA. The VP said it is a done deal. EPA can’t undo it. This EPA exercise is merely going through the motion that there is public consultation as required by law.

One can be certain that those who get private contracts for environmental evaluation will give a favourable report of the gas project when we all know it is a potential disaster in the making, as Mr. Glenn Lall commented several times on his radio programme. One environmental evaluation

company is owned by a man who tried to mislead readers about the institution where he studied. The company gave the green light to other projects.

He attended a college that is located in Oxford, England, but the public mistakenly felt that he studied at Oxford University. What a farce?

People try anything to impress and fool the gullible Guyanese public. Rest assured that said company will get the contract on environmental evaluation and will give green light.

Guyanese must take lesson from what happened in the Gulf of Mexico and so many other oil and gas disasters. Let your voices be heard! The country will never be able to recover from an environmental disaster.

Yours truly, Samuel Gittens

Water Street Abattoir in a deplorable state Dear Editor, I would like to express my considerable disappointment having observed the very basic and stopgap repairs that are currently being carried out to the almost 90-year-old Municipal Abattoir building located on Water Street, which was damaged by a falling crane a year and a half ago.

One would have thought that the opportunity of this accident would have been taken to tear down this dilapidated building, which has been around since 1933 if there were any City Fathers and Mothers and Administrators with any vision or foresight at the City Council. Instead, they seem

pretty proud of themselves to be propping up an old ‘Slaughterhouse’ rather than building a new and modern Abattoir and Meat Processing Facility. One built to international standards where the Council can have it ISO certified to allow for the export of meats to other parts of the world.

The floor needs to be ripped up and re-laid to remove those cracks and holes in the floor that encourage the growth of microorganisms. The current old concrete floor cannot even take the pressure of falling animals, some weighing as much as eight hundred pounds. The gates securing the pens of the

lairage, where animals are placed approximately 24 hours before being slaughtered are all broken and or severely damaged with rails, etc. missing. The lairage has no sheds to protect the animals from harsh weather conditions such as currently being experienced, another abominable state of affairs.

Could you believe that the Abattoir uses a fireside to get access to hot water instead of a proper industrial heating system? This is how they process the heel, the tripe, the face and runners. The Abattoir is also in dire need of plumbing fixtures. They need modern scales to weigh the animals, better water supply, a pig de-hairing machine and

the list goes on.

There is vast potential for Guyana’s agricultural sector with the boosting of beef and pork production, with the long-term aim of tapping into the international market for meat, but the City Council needs to step up to the plate, unfortunately however with the square pegs in the round holes at City Hall such a plan cannot even be conceptualised. They are in a time warp, somewhere still in the 1930s when the Abattoir was built. I know the tune that they will sing, that they are cash strapped that is the tune the old cow died on. All they have to do is issue municipal bonds as all cities do, to raise (Continued on page 6)

Guyana’s de facto head of state’s report card Dear Editor, August is coming; time for calling things as they are, through this report card on Guyana’s political jefe. It’s spectacular.

The Supreme Leader takes charge of everything with the whiff of money; the man with tangled title and responsibility mere lipstick.

There is the rich natural resources sector with, best of all, oil. He charges ahead, like Barry White of “Can’t get enough of your love baby” meaning cash. Thank God for light sweet crude, and a now sweeter, smoother leader casting long shadows that overpower lesser Guyanese mortals. Whether bright boys or ambitious young Turks inside his own circle, sucking straws and pacifiers doled out, or the main opposition cringing before force of nature bowling over, the situation is unchanged. Indeed, the nation is blessed with a head

that is the stuff of legend; a man more than a legend in his own mind and that of delirious worshippers, he is a legend bigger than his time. He is finance man, oilman, lumberman, and Goldman (not Wall Street one, but close) all in one. He is garbage man also, since nothing is left for anybody; not even the other elected and selected rodents.

Mention the word money and he is spring-loaded jack-in-the box shooting out of nowhere and everywhere. His one known Achilles heel is money. Money to borrow, money to spend, money to collect (for the party, of course), and any kind of money, regardless of the smell or source, reduces him to rutting like a pig in swill. Or panting dog in heat. Anything moving or dying, with clothing on, better beware.

No dollar is ever disliked; only those who object stand in way, and say: no clothes on the local King Kong. Woe

unto them! My position stands: complete lack of basic trust.

There is a cabinet, but the big man has sidelined to that of an ornament - nice for display, to use, as convenient, willing doormat.

Hence, the spectacle of ministers operating in the court of an Oriental potentate of yore. They mind manners, walk on eggshells, hold tongue, speak only the language (money, what else?), with ritual bows, as expected. There are a few exceptions in this money hustle. Health smells, and education demands much babysitting. There is money action, but it is better to spread the wealth and keep the political family happy.

They clutch small mercies, which begins with the letter B. That would be billions to kick around, before deciding who gets what and what gets done, for anything that will

holdup. It is one grand holdup this democracy now racing to the next decade on speed and steroids. Not to worry, in this country, everything is legal, once the Minister General says that it is so. The leader of the local pack is a party man, race man, moneyman, ladies’ man (so they say!), and a man’s man (ask them, not me). Of course, the jilted opposition will have none of Guyana’s Marlboro man; now full-out Exxon man, whose glow speaks not to sincerity or credibility. The foreigners decide he bears watching: too much like Burnham, only more clever, more sinister, and definitely greedier. This is the story of this nation’s prodigal son, a combination of golden child, Iron Man, and Captain Guyana. It is not the president of this Sopranos state.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Friday July 16, 2021

Reject the efforts of hypocrites to hinder development Dear Editor, From the moment the Government announced that it will be moving ahead with the reintroduction of the “Because We Care” and School Uniform cash grants, the opposition APNU+AFC began peddling all sorts of ridiculous narratives as they opposed it, especially on social media. Just recently, Aubrey Norton wrote an epistle criticising this initiative.

Norton contends that the reintroduction of the cash grant should be rejected by all Guyanese as it is a “slap in the face” and not sufficient.

He forgets that it was his government that denied these kids close to $1.8B annually when it stopped this initiative upon assuming office in 2015. In my opinion, the amounts of $15,000 plus $4,000 may not be anything substantial to Norton and his cohorts who are accustomed to raking in the hundreds of thousands every month.

However, for the ordinary Guyanese, $19,000 will definitely go a long way.

I would like to point out that in the January 30, 2020 publication of the Guyana Chronicle, there was an article, which was headlined “President promises cash grants for families with

school children.” This article reported on the promises made by the then President, David Granger, as he addressed residents of Region 2. Granger’s exact words were “We will put oil money in your homes and households…we will ensure that every family with a child, in school, gets a cash grant…the money will come to you.”

I find it so amusing that the entire coalition has banded together in opposition to this initiative they themselves had promised the same to Guyanese while campaigning for re-election in 2020.

In this regard, I think the only logical conclusion that can be made is that the APNU+AFC is opposing just for the sake of opposing.

They have no actual reason to be against it since it is geared at benefitting every single child in the public school system.

Why would they be so hell-bent on taking away such provisions from the Guyanese people? I personally call on all Guyanese to reject these efforts that are being made by the hypocrites of the Coalition to hinder development and progress in Guyana.

Respectfully, Anson A. Paul

Contract awarded before tendering deadline?

Dear Editor, Tenders are out for pumps (almost rewarded) but bids have not been submitted as yet or deadline reached and bids opened as yet. Are decisions already made on who will get what? Is it true the Cottage pump station in Mahaicony is assigned to the Jagmohan group? Is it true that the Andrews pump

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Kaieteur News

station in Essequibo is assigned to Samaroo Investment? Were these done to make up for the imbroglio relating to sheet piling that went to Dax? How much more corruption can there be? Would the President intervene to check the violations at Agriculture?

Yours truly, Jillian Adams

Choice at PNC congress is between violence and non-violence Dear Editor, Freddie Kissoon in his daily KN column of 7-13-21 “argued that society should continue to engage African Guyanese about their political leadership.

It is becoming overbearing in the cruel ways that the PNC and their surrogates in the trade union movement, academia and civil society are deceiving African people in this country.”

Freddie is so right. But it goes further. The PNC continues to deceive all Guyanese of their policies.

What has become obvious is whenever there is PNC anger among its

predominantly Afro Guyanese base it is the Indo Guyanese who feels the wrath of their anger by violent means.

The Indian has no defense. What is the solution? Affirmative action in the armed forces? If not what else? Eusi Kwayana’s final partition solution?

When former President, David Granger, and Joseph Harmon visited the West Coast Berbice rioters and riled up PNC supporters it was the Indian that felt the brunt of the attack as the African mobs burned cars and buildings.

Not all PNC leaders follow the same approach.

Govt. must be more inclusive and “more caring” with initiatives Dear Editor, There is much ranting and raving about the Government’s “because we care” cash grant.

We must be able to think logically when such initiatives are introduced; some allow loyalty to political parties to cloud their judgment.

This initiative has moved some to tears of joy as reported on social media by media houses.

We know during this pandemic how cost of living has surged and many lost jobs. The initiative whether funded by taxpayers or will be

repaid by tax payers is a good one, could have been even better if all students (public and private school) could have benefitted.

This because we care grant should have extended to our teachers in both the public and private sectors.

And yes while we are on the topic of grants and initiatives, the public servants do deserve a chunk of the cheese too! All in all, kudos to the Government but please be more inclusive and be “more caring” with your initiatives.

Yours faithfully Tanya Niamatali

PNC Chairman, Volda Lawrence, visited the same West Coast Berbice area and calmed the rioters.

The choice between the two PNC factions is now between violence and nonviolence. In the upcoming October Congress, high drama is likely to take place.

Granger as Leader of the List used his power to leave Lawrence out of Parliament.

Lawrence has proven that she is no pushover.

She has been a tempestuous critic of Granger ever since he conceded to US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, that the PNC lost the elections. With Granger announcing his decision to run for PNC leader, does Lawrence have the support to challenge him and win?

Harmon has also announced his decision to run for the chairmanship and no doubt, he is no match for Lawrence for election to this position.

If Granger, as party leader, openly campaigns for Harmon, it would be a reenactment of Cheddi Jagan’s 1956 campaign to elect Brindley Benn as PPP chairman against the charismatic Balram Singh Rai. Benn won.

Lawrence controls the critical Georgetown PNC group from where she draws her strength. Harmon has no constituency of his own. With Freddie’s prediction so early, that the Congress will be rigged against Lawrence she has her work cut out to do.

Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

Stop being a puppet Dear Editor, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton’s letter in KN of July 15, 2021 left me flabbergasted beyond belief.

Where was Mr. Norton in 2015 when the APNU+AFC coalition Government came to power and immediately reduced the cash grant given to parents of school age children from $10,000 (the amount allotted at the time) to $2,000 while increasing their salaries by 50 percent?

A concerned parent said to me two thousand Guyana dollars can’t even buy her child decent underwear.

Instead of condemning the PPP government for bringing back the “Because We Care” initiative, Mr. Norton should read Erin Northe’s letter adjacent to his to get the true facts and stop being a puppet to the party of his choice.

Sincerely, Gloria Holder

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Friday July 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

Was the fluff just bluffÿ Quality time is not being spent attending to the people’s business

Dear Editor, It was finally admitted to, worrying as it is and which I am sure was suspected: there are not enough ranks patrolling the streets in the capital, so

citizens are left to their own devices in order to protect their life and property.

So was all the fluff just bluff?

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

...Water Street Abattoir From page 4 capital and within a couple of years that money would have been repaid. But as they say, ‘you can’t be arguing with individuals who refuse to broaden their perspectives.’

It is just such a dichotomy that at the national level there is such transformative, progressive and insightful

planning whilst at the level of the city, the capital and only city there is such a lack of vision, primitive thinking where the administrators seem brain dead. Shouldn’t the city and the country be moving forward together in the new oil and gas economy?

Best regards, Deodarie Putulall

Dear Editor, Reportedly the Clerk of the National Assembly, on the advice of the Speaker, has written the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs for his office’s legal counsel on the no-confidence motions brought against Leader of the Opposition and two government ministers.

On the surface, this may appear to be all well and good, though it should not be ignored in the case of the motion against the Leader of the Opposition the Attorney General is a party of interest, and in the motions against the ministers, he is a comrade.

It therefore would be instructive to see in his advice whether the motion against the Leader of the Opposition

is proper or not. The Attorney General is the Legal Counsel of the Government of Guyana, and ought to be the principal custodian of the Constitution and Laws of Guyana. The group that happens to be in government presently is the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

The Attorney General is also a member in the leadership of the PPP/C, where the philosophical position is unlocked and implemented, and also shapes the policy positions of the government.

Further, he has been the most vocal proponent in the attacks against the opposition. It would be a stretch to believe he did not play an important role in crafting and giving the stamp of approval to the motion against the Leader of the Opposition. On the motions against the ministers brought by the Main Opposition, the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For

Change, the nation awaits his pronouncement.

This nation continues to be held hostage by those not desirous of pursuing the welfare of the masses and working poor, respecting basic rights and common decency, and allowing for the realisation of the political directive of “inclusionary democracy” as stipulated in Article 13 of the Constitution of Guyana. Presently Guyanese are facing a clear and present threat to the environment as a result of flaring and refusal by the Irfaan Ali regime to decisively address this problem.

The clarion call from many quarters in society, including the main opposition, to review the existing oil contracts continues to be ignored as foreign capital plunders our resources because many find it more lucrative to create and sustain internal strife and division. This country has so much to offer its citizens if greed and self-interest could

be set aside for the common good. People are hurting, economically and socially, and good sense must prevail.

This foolishness that is passing for governance must come to an end.

Quality time is not being spent attending to the people’s business. More time is spent looking for ways for one-upmanship rather than working towards making resources available in creating a better life for all Guyanese. Too much effort is being expended to avoid accountability consistent with the Rule of Law. And whereas some feel ignoring the politicians is best or less stressful, unfortunately they cannot be ignored. Their decisions, including inactions, affect all of us from the cradle to the grave, and ours is a duty to ensure they manage the affairs of state in our collective interest. We must not shirk from this duty, regardless of who is in office.

Yours faithfully Lincoln Lewis

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Kaieteur News

Guyana’s senior finance man, Dr. Ashni Singh, shared that his “government will ensure a diverse, resilient economy” to the visiting Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) people. He can mislead them, but Dr. Singh cannot mislead us.

The question is: for whom? Certainly, he is not talking of the hungry, poor people of Guyana? Or the many Guyanese youths without a job? He definitely has in mind the private sector bigshots, who line up to collect their rich piece of the action. And the foreign predators who flock to Guyana, now that they smell oil, all the way, at wherever they are.

A diverse, resilient economy it will be for them. But for the bottom of the barrel Guyanese, it will be most frustrating, waiting and hoping, and more of the same old disappointment.

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Locals complain about being paid less than expats for doing the same job at GYSBI Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI)

Friday July 16, 2021

Life sentences for confessed killers of Leopold Street mason

T

Local workers attached to the Guyana Shore Base Incorporation (GYSBI) are complaining about being paid less than expats for doing the same job within the company.

A number of local workers from the company visited Kaieteur News on Wednesday and voiced several issues that they are being faced with in the company; the workers claimed that during conversations with some of the expats, they were made to understand that they are being paid less than the expats that are working in the same field as they are and stated that this act is

“very unfair” and that as local employees they are being taken advantage of by the company. Some of the workers presented their payslips to this publication and it showed that the senior workers are being paid $210,000 net with the gross being $230,000, the workers claimed that “we are seeing nothing close to what the foreigners are seeing and its very unfair to us.”

A general labourer who has been employed at the company for over 5 months said that he is yet to receive his increase in payment after his three-month probation, which was up over a month ago. He further stated that he

is currently being paid $150,000 gross and $118,000 net and that his transportation fee alone amounts to $80,000 per month, leaving him with only $38,000 to manage his family and also pay rent.

“No overtime, one standard payment for 12 hours and we work every day including holidays,” one of the workers stated.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e workers stated that when they try to address these issues to the HR of the company, they are being threatened and chased out of the office.

Guyana Shore Base Inc. provides specialised shore

base management and integrated logistics services for operators in Guyana’s Petroleum Industry. GYSBI has become known as a leader in supporting o ff s h o r e o i l a n d g a s operations and related services for Guyana’s developing Petroleum Industry.

The GYSBI’s website discloses that there are over 350 employees and that it maintains an average of 95% local workforce.

Several attempts were made by this publication to contact the company and verify the workers’ complaints but all calls went unanswered.

wo confessed killers were on We d n e s d a y sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of 43-year-old Leopold S t r e e t , We r k - e n - R u s t , Georgetown mason, Rawle Rodrigues, back on January 20, 2017.

Akeem Haymer called ‘Curry’ and Affiba Yenkana called ‘Dugla’ were sentenced after they opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. The men‘s guilty plea came one week after they appeared before Justice, Sandil Kissoon, on the capital charge of murder. Their trial was scheduled to begin when they opted to plead guilty to manslaughter.

The two men had killed Rodrigues in the vicinity of Demico House at Stabroek, Georgetown, following an altercation in January 2017.

During the altercation, the victim was allegedly stabbed once to his chest by one of the men with an object. The

injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Prior to sentencing the two men on Wednesday, Justice Kissoon said that the Court must play its role in eliminating the prevalence of homicide in society by imposing sentences that will serve as a deterrent.

He noted that the killers are both young and appear to be in excellent health “but yet you have elected to resort to the practice of crime and preying on citizens.”

According to the sentence, Yenkana and Haymer will become eligible for parole only after serving 15 years. At the hearing, Yenkana was represented by attorney-at-law Rachael Bakker, while Haymer was represented by attorney-atlaw Lawrence Harris. State Counsel Lisa Cave and State Counsel Muntaz Ali appeared on behalf of the prosecution.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

PAGE 09

The PPP/C and its diaspora have dropped the ball

Y

esterday was July 15, a historic day in Guyanese history. It was on July 15, 2020 that then US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, announced that travel restrictions were being imposed on persons who were involved in undermining democracy in Guyana.

In making the announcement, Pompeo s a i d : “ To d a y, I a m announcing visa restrictions on individuals who have been responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Guyana.

Immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions.

In my public statements since the election, I have been very clear that the United States stands with the Guyanese people and that t h e r e w o u l d b e consequences for individuals who seek to undermine democracy.”

At that time, a number of top government officials were attending a birthday reception being held in honour of David Granger at State House. Upon learning of the announcement, no doubt through social media, the faces of a number of the top officials turned sour.

It was clear from their facial expressions that they had not taken Pompeo’s earlier threats seriously.

They should have. The United States is not one to make idle threats.

The identities of those who were penalised with travel restrictions have not

been made public. US law apparently does not allow for this information to be revealed. It is only when the person is about to travel or applies for a US visa that he or she knows about the visa restrictions.

Up to now, no one knows for sure of the names of those whose visas were blacklisted from travelling to the United States. However, people have their suspicions and have been watching closely to learn if any of the suspects recently travelled to the United States.

Time will tell. But time will also tell if the United States has slackened its stance. Canada and the United Kingdom had also threatened travel restrictions but did not do so because the rightful winner of the elections was sworn-in two weeks later.

The PPP/C launched a massive international campaign following the attempt to rig the 2020 elections. And its international advocacy should have continued after the elections to ensure that the travel restrictions are never lifted.

If those who undermined democracy in Guyana in 2020 are allowed to regain their visas to the United States it would be a retrograde step. The international community has taken a principled stand against flouting democracy and has deployed sanctions, including travel sanctions, to deter attempts at rigging elections or unlawfully seizing power. To restore

those visas would send the wrong signal.

The United States has not been consistent. Jovenol Moise, the assassinated President of Haiti was no saint. He was flouting constitutional rule by refusing to hold elections and by trying to foist a constitutional reform process so as to continue to administer Haiti by decree.

His mandate was achieved in elections in which only 18 percent of the population voted. But it was the US which recognised him and which has to share some responsibility for his descent into authoritarian rule.

When it comes to those guilty of undermining democracy, the US should ensure a permanent deterrence. It should never lift the sanctions against those who are complicit in undermining democracy.

Those persons must be permanently banned from entering the United States.

The PPP/C should not relax in keeping up the pressure for a permanent ban to be imposed on the riggers.

It should keep up the agitation within the United States to ensure that those who tried to rig the elections are declared as persona non grata in that country.

The PPP/C however seems not too bothered. Its support groups in the United States have also failed to maintain the pressure. It is for this reason that those persons within the United States, who were supporting the rigging of elections in Guyana, have become so

Dem does gat rich boys and poor beggars seh...

Dem

Is nuff stink people dem gat walking around de town.

It seems dat de more well-off Guyana become de more beggars we does get. Dem now gat more cars pun we roads dan pedestrians.

And we cussing nuff ah dem immigrants but none of dem nah deh nasty and begging pun de streets.

Yuh does frighten to walk pun dem pavement these days because nuff ah dem vagrants smelling stink and if yuh pass too close, dem smell could tek to yuh.

But some ah dem beggars clean.

In fact some ah dem gat dem own property. And now dem hunting in packs.

Dem gat good business at dem junctions.

It mek dem boys remember de time when dem had two immigrant beggars begging in

New York. Every day one ah dem does collect a mere $2 to $3 in coins. De other one does bring home a suitcase full of $10 bills.

So de poorer beggar ask de richer one how come he begging just as much but he not making as much.

De richer tun to he and say, “Look at your sign, what does it say?”

De poor beggar said, “It reads ‘I have no work, a wife and six kids to support’.”

De rich beggar says, “No wonder you only g e t $ 2 - $ 3 p e r d a y. ” De poor beggar ask, “So what does your sign say?”

De rich beggar reply, “It reads ‘I only need another $10 to move back to my country’.”

Talk half and pay attention to what de beggars dem doing.

emboldened.

The PPP/C should renew the pressure to have the travel restrictions become permanent. It however should recognise that the United States laws will not allow this ban to be indefinite unless there is just cause to do so.

It is therefore for the Irfaan Ali administration to cease its political pussyfooting and to launch the long-awaited

Commission of Inquiry into the elections. The hearings can be virtual as this will reduce the costs of having to fly in and provide accommodation and meals for the appointed Commissioners.

The Commonwealth and the Caribbean Community should be approached to provide support.

In the meantime, the PPP/C’s support groups in the United States should

lobby the US State Department to ensure the continuance of the travel restrictions as a measure of the seriousness with which the US Government towards election rigging.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Friday July 16, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Women’s Lawyers Association, diaspora and clowns: The dead live in Guyana

I

walk my dog almost daily at the Georgetown seawall, the National Park, the spacious parapet at Giftland and the sprawling compound of Massy Supermarket; I live very close to the last two structures.

A few years ago, I just developed this irresistible habit of letting the dog off the leash while I stare intensely at people.

I look at them with perplexed eyes. So preoccupied at staring at them, sometimes my dog would wonder off. In the vortex of my intensity, I would ask myself the question all the time; “who are these people, what really is the Guyanese nationality?”

I would pick my dog up, leave the National Park, the

seawall, Giftland and Massy Supermarket with the swirling emotionalism of resignation and the traumatism of psychic vacuum. I am a part of this philosophical detritus known to the world as the Guyanese nationality. The next day, my dog and I begin the cycle all over.

So who are the dead that are living in Guyana and who are the asinine people in a never-ending circus in a land known to the world as Guyana?

To see the dead and the clowns you have to read two letters published in two daily newspapers. One is written by the former mayor of New Amsterdam, Mr. Sheik Deen - Kaieteur News, July 3.

Deen laments the dystopian reality that the replacement of lost ID card is almost impossible to procure. He asserts that in other countries, a lost card can be easily replaced. He went on to add that in Guyana, you can only secure another ID card when

national elections are due or when GECOM goes on a national registration campaign.

I haven’t researched it so I don’t know if what Mr. Deen is saying is factual but I have lived long in Guyana to know it is a country where the most backward values the world left behind hundreds of years ago are the norm here.

An ID card in Guyana is a matter of life and death. If the President or the US Ambassador send you with an official letter head to the bank saying you are Michael Black, working with the president or the ambassador, all the commercial banks will tell you – “let the President and the US Ambassador go to hell, bring me an ID card.”

The other letter is written by a woman whose name is real because she has published letters before.

Carried in the June 25 edition of the Stabroek News, Narissa Deokarran said she was refused entry into the

Region Four administration office because her dress was sleeveless. If you think you are reading comic book stuff, then re-read the letter. It is about a country in the 21st century.

Enter David Granger.

This man was the most pathetic government head in the history of the CARICOM Region. I doubt CARICOM will produce another jejune, head of government like Granger.

As president, Granger gave an interview with the Chronicle in which he denounced the ban on women entering public buildings wearing a sleeveless dress.

Granger never had his government issue a proclamation. Granger never sent out an edict to public institutions requesting them to remove that archaic dress code.

Granger may have been an arid president with no leadership qualities. But he perhaps is not as silly as an organisation named the

W o m e n ’ s L a w y e r Association (WLA).

That school of Frederick Kissoon clowns knows that the ban is a violation of a backward country where woman’s constitutional right. You cannot prevent a traffic signals do not work; woman from accessing street lights do not work; the justice by imposing a banks are sadistic to lower sartorial anachronism on her. income customers; the But it happens in a banana replacement of an ID card is impossible; a phone call to republic name Guyana.

The WLA never issued most public institution is e v e n a s e n t e n c e o f never answered; the Guyana condemnation of this asinine Livestock Development Authority kill your puppy at imposition.

The WLA never sought Ogle airport once you cannot to test the matter in court. prove it is born in Guyana; What about the Guyanese GPL does come when summoned, the Fire Service diaspora?

They extol their talent comes alright but after the and wealth and promise to inferno begins, etc, etc, etc. come and save the wretched But the diaspora never raises of the earth that lives in these insanities with the Guyana. But that is all they power establishment or even talk about - the money they e x p o s e t h e m i n t h e have to invest and the newspapers.

(The views expressed in training they have that should land them lucrative this article are those of the author and do not employment.

The diaspora folks know necessarily reflect the that this is a horribly opinions of this newspaper.)

Friday July 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

7 excavators procured to enhance country’s drainage capabilities - Studies underway for construction of massive relief canals in vulnerable areas - Minister In an effort to maximise its performance and increase the country’s drainage and irrigation capacity, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) o n W e d n e s d a y commissioned seven excavators.

These excavators, which were supplied by Farm Supplies Limited at a cost of $125,300,000, will add to the NDIA’s current fleet that is spread out across the country.

At the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, was keen to note that currently, 95 percent of the drainage responsibility in the country rests on the shoulders of the NDIA and the Ministry of Agriculture.

He said these pieces of machinery will add to the fleet that we already have, thereby complementing NDIA’s efforts to boost the country’s drainage and irrigation system. He said, “We recently witnessed, and in some areas, we are still witnessing unprecedented levels of rainfall. During this time, our capabilities were put to the test. I can safely say, given the amount of rainfall that fell over the last two months, the NDIA should be complemented for executing its duties around

the country.”

The seven excavators that were commissioned will be used for the excavation and desilting of primary channels and to clean secondary drains within residential areas.

Minister Mustapha also highlighted the role of the Hope Canal in evading severe flooding in Region Four and some parts of Region Five. Further to this, the Minister said, “The PPP/C Government has always been a Government with a vision, making preparations for the future by learning from the past. With that being said, our technical officers are going to be conducting studies to determine vulnerable areas across the country that need those types of investment and we will make those investments so that we can mitigate flooding in our country.”

In support of the Minister ’s sentiments, Chairman of the NDIA Board of Directors, Lionel Wordsworth said the NDIA will be upgrading and expanding the country’s drainage and irrigation infrastructure to improve the authority’s responsiveness to instances of flooding. He also stressed that the machines that were

commissioned went through the necessary procurement processes.

“There is a huge programme that will be undertaken within the NDIA and the Ministry, whereby a lot of infrastructures will have to be upgraded or expanded to respond to effects that we would’ve experienced as a result of the flooding. Investments like these will provide us with the necessary tools so that we can deliver on these planned programmes. The equipment we’ve acquired forms part of our 2021 programme and I’m happy to say that it went through the procedure as prescribed by the laws of Guyana and the National Procurement Process,” Wordsworth said.

Chairman of the Demarara-Mahaica Regional Democratic Council, Daniel Seeram, while offering remarks said NDIA should be complimented for its works in Region Four as that Region was the least affected during the recent flooding.

He also said stakeholders should be consulted to ensure informed decisions are made moving forward.

“I know at this point in time we had a wake-up call at the level of the Board from the Minister in terms of what

Cop under close arrest for robbing colleague Kaieteur News has confirmed with police that one of its ranks, a female constable, has been placed under close arrest after she was caught on camera robbing a colleague.

Under police guard is Nelisha Mahaica, attached to the Mahaica Police Station located on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

She was reportedly arrested on Tuesday after investigators found out that an ATM camera recorded her withdrawing cash with a stolen bankcard.

Mahaica reportedly stole the card from one of her colleagues and was using it to withdraw cash from the person’s account at Republic Bank. The cop had made several withdrawals with the card totalling $500,000 between June 29 and July 6, 2021.

Kaieteur News understands that the colleague had discovered that her card was missing but only realised that it was stolen after money started disappearing from her account.

Mahaica had reportedly told investigators that she knows how to hack account passwords and that it how she was able obtain her colleague’s pin to withdraw cash with the stolen card.

Under close arrest for robbing her colleague, Nelisha Mahaica.

transpired across the Regions. I am thankful that the Demerara-Mahaica Region was one of the least affected Regions. However, many of the farming areas in the backlands were underwater. The drainage and irrigation industry requires constant monitoring.

“All stakeholders must be consulted in order for policymakers to make informed decisions and plan for the way forward. The acquisition of these pieces of

The excavators that were commissioned to support NDIA’s work.

machinery is timely and I look forward to them being equitably distributed across the country,” Seeram said.

During his brief contribution, General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association, Dharamkumar Seeraj said the Government has made a step in the right direction with the acquisition of these pieces of equipment.

“Because we are below sea level, drainage is even more critical. It is of critical importance that we are, as a

country, in a position to address high-intensity rainfall over a short period of time. I think this move by the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Agriculture to acquire equipment that can enhance our drainage and irrigation services is a step in the right direction. It is also fulfilling one of the promises of the Government,” Seeraj said.

This year, the NDIA was allocated $12 billion as part of the Government’s 2021 fiscal package.

Alleged serial fraudster slapped with three more charges, gets remanded Alleged serial fraudster, Micah Sonaram, on Wednesday appeared before a City Magistrate where he was slapped with three additional fraud charges and remanded to prison for the offence.

Sonaram of Lot 2273 Flying Fish Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The charges were laid summarily and the defendant denied the charges that were read to him.

The first charge alleges that on November 3, 2020, at North Road, Georgetown, while being solely entrusted with $1M by Yohance Smith to purchase and deliver one Bobcat, he fraudulently converted the money to his own use and benefit.

The remaining charges allege that on November 13, 2020 and November 20, 2020 at North Road, Georgetown, while being solely entrusted by Yohance Smith, with $35,000 and

Remanded, Micah Sonaram. $1M to purchase an electric control joystick and 210model excavator respectively, he fraudulently converted the money to his own use and benefit.

After the court was informed by the police prosecutor that Sonaram has other similar matters before the court, Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded the defendant to prison and the matter was adjourned to July 28, 2021.

The 24-year-old

businessman had previously faced the court on multiple occasions for fraud related charges but was placed on bail for those matters.

On a previous appearance, he had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleges that on November 4, 2020 at North Road, Georgetown, while being solely entrusted with $7M by Steve De Costa to purchase and deliver one excavator, he fraudulently converted the money to his own use and benefit.

Prior to that Sonaram faced three similar charges, after he reportedly defrauded several persons using his social media business page, Parts Zone Gy, which advertises that he ships parts and machinery. It was also reported that he faced two fraud charges, which alleged that he defrauded persons of over $11 million. During December 2020, he was charged for defrauding a businessman of $4.5 million and in 2017; he was charged for defrauding another man of over $5.8 million.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

PAGE 13

Gas-to-shore pipeline unusually small for

T

he proposed pipeline to be used for the intended gas-to-shore project being promulgated by the administration, “is unusual in its small size, placing it outside of typical construction and installation practice in deep-water.”

This, according to the findings of a study conducted by Energy Narrative back in a 2018 Report for the Government of Guyana and the InterAmerican Development Bank.

According to that report, it was the preliminary engineering by ExxonMobil, which indicated that the depth of the water combined with the internal pressure of the gas leads to a minimum wall thickness of 1-inch.

It had found that based on the water depths encountered, 1,800m / 5,900-ft water depth to shore, the project will have to employ at least three different types of laying methods, each costing different prices per kilometre laid.

It was noted that J-lay / Slay / barge may all be required for installation of the offshore pipeline.

The deep-water installation methods, J-lay and S-lay, typically use larger diameter and wall thickness pipe.

According to the report, the installation methods and equipment therefore may need to be modified to accommodate the smaller pipeline diameter for the proposed Guyana project,

Guyana’s water depths- Report An example of an onshore gas pipeline

especially concerning bending and fatigue during installation.

It was noted at the time

Landlord’s son remanded for allegedly killing GRA officer in eviction row The landlord’s son, who allegedly killed an Enforcement Officer of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) during an eviction row, was yesterday remanded to prison when he made his first court appearance.

The defendant, 45-year-old Rawle Lamaizon, of Durban Backlands Squatting Area, Georgetown, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleges that on July 12, 2021, at Middleton Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, he murdered 24-year-old Dwayne Daniel Taitt. Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded Lamaizon to prison and the matter was adjourned to August 12, 2021.

Kaieteur News had reported that Taitt was stabbed around 00:30hrs. on Monday in the region of his chest.

According to a police report, on Sunday around 17:30hrs, Taitt’s landlord, Jacklyn Lamaizon, told Taitt and his wife that they had up to July 14, 2021, to move out of her Lot 2 Middleton Street, Campbellville apartment.

The couple was residing at the aforementioned address with their two-yearold daughter. Lamaizon was reportedly in the company of his mother when she gave the tenants the notice to vacate her apartment.

Taitt’s wife had told investigators that they were asleep when they were awakened by the defendant banging on their apartment door with a piece of wood while shouting for them to move out.

The police reported that Taitt then got up, opened the door and went outside to Lamaizon who was armed with a knife. The defendant reportedly used the knife to attack Taitt. The man then ran out onto the street opposite the apartment, but Lamaizon chased after him and dealt him a stab to his chest.

Taitt collapsed and the defendant fled the scene with the murder weapon.

Taitt’s wife, assisted by a security guard, rushed the wounded man to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor. His body was then examined and a single wound was seen to his left upper chest.

Dead, Dwayne Daniel Taitt.

Remanded, Rawle Lamaizon.

Taitt’s body was then escorted to the hospital’s mortuary, Lamaizon was later arrested, and the knife he reportedly used to stab Taitt was also recovered.

that the Government of Guyana had partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to commission Energy Narrative to conduct a feasibility study of the planned offshore Natural gas pipeline, the NGL separation and LPG production facility, and the Natural gas-fired generation plant and related electricity infrastructure.

The primary objective of the study was to determine the overall feasibility of transporting Natural gas

from offshore Guyana, building an NGL separation and LPG production plant to market the liquids from the Natural gas stream, and building a new electricity generation station to use the remaining dry Natural gas.

The proposed gas pipeline will be co-owned by ExxonMobil Guyana, the operator of the Stabroek Block, since the piece of infrastructure is expected to be paid for out of cost-oil from the oil produced offshore.

This will result in a 50/50 ownership between the operator and Guyana.

At least this is according to Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who had given the pronouncement during a recent special briefing on the proposed gasto-power project at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

The operator has committed to providing the country with an initial supply of some 50 million cubic feet of gas per day.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

Twenty-nine cops presently before the court on criminal charges

A

ccording to the Commissioner of Police (Ag), Nigel Hoppie, a total of 29 ranks are presently before the court on various criminal charges.

The Commissioner made

the disclosure yesterday while speaking at the Awards and Incentives Ceremony, where a total of 3,258 ranks and 28 Community Policing Groups were awarded for their outstanding contributions in support of

the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The Top Cop lamented that there are members of the Law Enforcement community who are faced with allegations of rape, robbery, manslaughter,

assault, corruption and neglect of duty.

Despite those that have breached the Police Force’s Code of Conduct and Standing Orders and the oftentimes-unmerited criticisms, Hoppie said the

Force continues to perform its duties and responsibilities creditably.

He urges members of the Force to be professional in their behaviour and conduct, to show courtesy towards members of the public and to

Acting Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie, delivering his presentation at the awards ceremony yesterday.

avoid corrupt practices.

“Remember the Force is one Station. We must be responsive anywhere we are called upon by the public.

We are here to serve and providing an efficient and effective service must be the hallmark of our performance,” the Acting Commissioner concluded.

This publication previously would have reported on some of the matters where officers were brought before the courts.

Just a few days ago, Police Constable, Sereste Brittlebank, was remanded to prison after it was alleged that he brutalised his common-law wife for about two hours causing her to fall unconscious at least three times.

Brittlebank, a rank attached to the Mahaica Police Station, after committing the act, went into hiding for some days before turning himself over to the police.

During this month too, Michael Kendall, was committed to stand trial in the High Court for the alleged rape of a minor, which occurred in December last year.

B a c k i n F e b r u a r y, Steffon Ramsay, a Constable attached to the Force’s Tactical Service Unit was charged for the causing the death of 59-year-old Dulmatie Deochand.

The fatal accident, which occurred at Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, saw Ramsay being released on $600,000 bail.

In April, two female officers, Jenneka Carmichael and Tatyana Smith, were charged for deleting electronic data, which is relevant to a fraud case in relation to millions being misappropriated from t h e G P F ’s F i n a n c e Department. The two denied the charges and were placed on $150,000 bail each.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

PAGE 15

World Bank’s Guyana oil outlook inconsistent with supporting climate change action - UK NGO According to a July 14 article by Bretton Woods, the Wo r l d B a n k ’s f i r s t Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) for Guyana, has been met with doubt by various proponents of the Guyana civil society.

The document posits that despite the urgent need to transition to a low-carbon global economy, the country will experience a substantial windfall from its new offshore oil development.

According to the document, the development could see Guyana’s per capita GDP rise to $16,900 by 2030, more than 2.5 times its current size.

According to the article, this comes on the heel of research published in September 2020 which showed that the World Bank and IMF have routinely over-estimated future revenues from new oil and gas discoveries over the past two decades, resulting in a ‘presource curse’ in many countries characterised by a severe mismatch between policies and actual revenues.

Despite the Bank ostensibly supporting all

countries to achieve global climate goals, through its newly released Climate Change Action Plan for 2 0 2 1 - 2 5 , t h e B a n k ’s projection – which is purported to frame engagement with Guyana over the next five years – flies in the face of positive action for climate change.

The Bank previously backed Guyana’s offshore oil development through a combination of development policy and technical assistance.

This was met with widespread criticism from both national and international civil society as they effectively served to ignore increased calls to abandon new oil and gas extraction projects.

Bretton Woods noted that in the World Bank’s Net Zero Report released in May, even the historically conservative International Energy Agency noted that limiting average global temperature increase to 1.5°C compared to the preindustrial period would necessitate “no new oil and gas being approved for

development.”

The Bank’s projection is also at odds with analysis of Guyana’s oil prospects produced by the US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) published in October 2020. In contrast to the Bank, IEEFA found, “that oil revenues won’t cover Guyana’s annual budget deficit over the next three years and meet its pledge to build a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

This will lead to a shortfall of $482 million in the first three years.”

Even with a predicted improvement in the following two years, IEEFA notes, “the aggregate fiveyear annual cash deficit still is likely to be $160 million,” with the following period looking highly uncertain: “the outlook for the oil and gas industry is largely negative. New, long-term global market and political forces have created a permanent oversupply of oil and gas, low prices and new competitors that will keep markets unstable.”

The article further

highlights that the World Bank’s strong support for oil-based growth in Guyana is also counterproductive in light of the country’s severe vulnerability to the physical risks posed by climate change, even as the development pathway it endorses means these impacts will be more severe.

Ironically, the SCD fully acknowledges these risks, noting, “fiscal risks emanating from climate and natural disasters could derail…growth and

development efforts; necessitating targeted public investment to build resilience. Coastal flooding is an especially serious risk, as much of Guyana’s population and economic activity—especially agriculture—is concentrated in low-lying areas along the Atlantic coast.”

Melinda Janki, a Guyanese International lawyer, has been quoted by the article as saying “Joseph Stiglitz and Lord Stern, two f o r m e r Wo r l d B a n k

economists, say renewable energy offers better economic returns. The International Energy Agency says no new fossil fuel p r o j e c t s . Ye t c o u n t r y director, Tahseen Sayed, and the World Bank team are pushing Guyana to transition to oil and to go from a carbon sink to a 3.87-gigaton carbon b o m b d i s a s t e r. T h e Executive Directors must stop this lunacy before the country team destroys Guyana and the entire planet.”

PAGE 16

Friday July 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

Hire car driver acquitted of raping passenger

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Ronald Alli was on Tuesday acquitted of a rape charge after he was found not guilty of the allegation by way of a unanimous verdict from a mixed 12 member-jury at the Georgetown High Court. The case was heard before Justice, Jo Ann Barlow.

According to allegation, Alli, a hire car driver, committed the rape on the passenger after he picked her up on May 1, 2019 at the Mc Kenzie car park in Linden, Region Ten. During his trial in the High Court, Alli pleaded not guilty to the charge and was represented by attorney, Adrian Thompson, while State Counsels, Nafeeza Baig and Sarah Martin presented the case against him.

According to the facts of the case, on May 1, 2019, around the midnight hour, the victim left her home with her cousin, to go to a show held in celebration of Linden Town Week.

They caught a car, which then took them to Amelia’s Ward car park.

The complainant and her cousin were together but after the party, she left alone to go home. The victim reportedly found a hire car at the Mc Kenzie car park and the male driver whom she did not know at the time, promised to take her to her destination.

However, instead of

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taking the woman in the direction of her home, the driver diverted and the vehicle went in another direction.

She was reportedly taken to a lonely road, where there were no houses, only trees, even though she tried to fight with the driver and protest for him to take her home.

It was there, the woman claimed that Alli had locked the car doors, parked the car and forced her to perform oral

sex on him without a condom.

According to the victim, the act lasted for 2-3 minutes.

During that time, the woman claimed that the man’s left hand was on her head pushing it down and his right hand was on the car seat he was sitting in.

The woman claimed the accused ejaculated into her mouth and she spat that out inside the car. This is when, she claimed that the former accused told her that he was

not satisfied and that he wanted to have sex, and he asked her if she ever had sex before and she said no, she was a virgin. The victim said the accused later put her out on the dark road and she managed to find her way to safety.

According to the victim’s account, a report was later made to the police and the stranger whom she later learnt to be Ronald Alli was arrested and charged.

Friday July 16, 2021

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Guyana to foot US$1.3M daily to rent supply boats for ExxonMobil The Russell Bouziga, another of the vessels being rented.

One of the supply vessels being rented.

The Stena Carron drill ship being employed by ExxonMobil.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—is currently utilising 24 supply vessels to support its drilling operations at the Urau-1 well in the Stabroek Block at a cost of some US$1.3M daily.

This, according to a notice published by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) in a notice to mariners published in yesterday’s dailies.

According to the notice, ExxonMobil from Monday last continues with its drilling operations in the Stabroek Block, this time using the MODU Stena Carron to spud its Urau-1

well some 101 miles offshore Guyana.

The drilling area, in the MARAD warning encompasses an area of 0.29 and mariners are being warned to stay clear of the vessels and navigate with extreme caution when in the vicinity.

The supply vessels being employed to support the drilling activity include Gary Rook, Russell Bouziga, Robert Adams, Seacor Nile, Sanibel Island, Jack Edwards, Holiday, C-Installer, Kirk Chouest, Roger White, Charlie Commeaux and the Ted Smith.

Others being employed are Paradise Island, Seacor

Demerara, Clarence Triche, Seacor Congo, Horn Island, Russell Adams, Seacor Murray, Seacor Amazon, Seacor Mixteca, Emily Day McCall, Michael Crombie and Guyana Hero.

This publication understands that each vessel is being rented at approximately US$55,000, which would mean ExxonMobil pays some US$1.3M in rent for each of the supply vessels being used.

Kaieteur News has since been reliably informed that according to the company’s contracts, they are to be paid whether the vessel is used in a day or not.

PAGE 18

Opposition MP to appear in court today on cybercrime charge A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson, is slated to make her first court appearance this morning before a City Magistrate in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for a cybercrime charge.

According to Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, the MP will be charged in relation to a Facebook post in which she reportedly made false allegations against a highranking member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Ferguson was arrested on June 30, 2021, after a senior member of the GDF made a report against her alleging that she made false allegation against him in a Facebook post. She was later released on her own recognisance [self-bail] pending the outcome of the investigation into the matter.

However, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in an updated release on the matter yesterday stated that legal advice was obtained from the Police Legal Officer to institute a charge of using a computer system to humiliate a person, contrary to Section 19 (5) (a) of the Cyber Crime Act, against the Opposition MP. Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, had issued a

Opposition MP, Annette Ferguson. statement in relation to the MP’s arrest. Harmon had condemned the arrest and also shared his view that members of the GPF had arrested Ferguson on false grounds and also called the arrest a clear case of political harassment.

The police in an initial release on the matter had stated that the GDF rank’s allegation is that Ferguson falsely alleged in a Facebook post that the said GDF rank would be in charge of a ‘killing squad.’

Kaieteur News understands that Ferguson’s post which refers to “setting up of Death Squad and Black Clothes groups” stemmed from discussions had during the considerations of Financial Paper 2/2021 during the parliamentary session on

June 14, 2021.

During the debate, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, told the House that the concept of the Regional Joint Support Teams is a new crime-fighting initiative formulated in April 2021, and that the supplementary provision for the period ending December 2021 is to “set up” the initiative.

The Government MP had explained that the Regional Joint Support Teams will not denigrate or usurp the functions of the GDF or the GPF, but is intended to enhance the capacity of the law enforcement agencies in Guyana to fight crime, regardless of the type of crime, with the support of the GDF. However, following that parliamentary session, an online news agency published a story headlined, “Exclusive: PPP secures $250 million budget to resuscitation Black Clothes Death Squad.”

The Opposition MP subsequently shared the article with her own commentary. Both the Joint Services Coordinating Council (JSCC) and the Ministry of Home Affairs had condemned the Opposition MP’s post and cautioned citizens against the “reckless and irresponsible social commentary.”

COVID-19 claims the lives of three more persons Yesterday, the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported that three more persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died. As a result of this, the country’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 506. According to the Ministry, the latest fatalities are those of a 61year-old woman from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) who died on June 28, a 65year-old man from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWe s t D e m e r a r a ) w h o passed away on July 13 and a 59-year-old man also f r o m R e g ion Three who succumbed on July 14.

All three persons passed away while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

Further, the MoH via its daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 51 new infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 21,274.

Presently there are 10 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 83 persons in institutional isolation, 1,130 in home isolation and one person quarantined institutionally.

To date, a total of 19,545 persons have recovered from the virus.

Friday July 16, 2021

Kaieteur News

Biden sees U.S. child tax credit as ‘giant step’ to counter poverty

U.S. President Joe Biden flanked by President of McHenry County College Clint Gabbard and Senator Tammy Duckworth, speaks with a child, as he tours the Children’s Learning Center at McHenry County College. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some 35 million American families have started receiving their first monthly payout from the U.S. government in an expanded income-support programme that President Joe Biden said yesterday could help end child poverty.

Under the Child Tax Credit programme that was broadened under Biden’s COVID-19 stimulus, eligible families collect an initial monthly payment of up to $300 for each child under six years old and up to $250 for each older child.

Payouts made to families, covering nearly 60 million eligible children, totaled about $15 billion for July. The payments are automatic for many U.S. taxpayers, while others need to sign up.

Biden wants to extend

expanded, monthly benefits for years to come as part of a $3.5 trillion spending plan being considered by Senate Democrats, who expect strong Republican opposition to the full bill.

“It’s our effort to make another giant step toward ending child poverty in America,” Biden said in a speech. “This can be life changing for so many families.”

The Child Tax Credit is being likened to a universal basic income for children, although it has income limits.

It is expected to help people meet monthly expenses from rent to food and daycare.

The Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University estimates the expansion can reduce the U.S. child poverty rate by up to 45%.

Critics say the expanded credit is expensive and may discourage people from working.

Some experts say it may not reach some of the poorest Americans who are not in the tax system.

The Democrat-backed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 legislation known as the American Rescue Plan enacted in March increased how much is paid to families under the programme.

The law made half of the tax credit for the 2021 tax year payable in advance by the Internal Revenue Service in monthly installments from July through December this year.

Biden proposed making the monthly advance payments permanent and maintaining expanded benefits through 2025 at least.

Dutch crime reporter De Vries dies after Amsterdam shooting THE HAGUE, Netherlands - (AP) — Peter R. de Vries, a renowned Dutch journalist who fearlessly reported on the violent underworld of the Netherlands and campaigned to breathe new life into cold cases, has died at age 64 after being shot in a brazen attack last week, his family said yesterday.

“Peter fought to the end, but was unable to win the battle,” the family said in a statement sent to Dutch media.

While the motive for De Vries’ shooting remains unknown, the July 6 attack on an Amsterdam street had

the hallmarks of the gangland hits taking place with increasing regularity in the Dutch underworld the journalist covered.

Two suspects have been detained. Dutch police said the suspected shooter is a 21year-old Dutchman, and a 35-year-old Polish man living in the Netherlands is accused of driving the getaway car. They were arrested not long after De Vries was wounded.

De Vries rose rapidly from a young cub reporter to become the Netherlands’ best-known journalist. He was a pillar of support for families of slain or missing

children, a campaigner against injustice and a thorn in the side of gangsters.

“Peter has lived by his conviction: ‘On bended knee is no way to be free,’” the family statement said.

“We are unbelievably proud of him and at the same time inconsolable.”

De Vries had been fighting for his life in an Amsterdam hospital since the attack. The statement said he died surrounded by loved ones and requested privacy for De Vries’ family and partner “to process his death in peace.” Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

PAGE 19

Chinese Bauxite Co. installs additional 4MW to expand operations …as Bharrat makes first visit to large scale operations since taking office

C

hinese mining company, Bosai Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc., is currently installing an additional four megawatts (MW) of electricity at its Region Ten operations, bringing its total installed capacity some 21MW, in order to facilitate expanded operations.

The company currently generates some 17MW of electricity to power its operations.

The disclosure was made when Minister with responsibility for the Natural Resources Sector, Vickram Bharrat, visited Bosai—one of Guyana’s largest mining operations—for the first time since taking office almost a year ago.

During the visit on Tuesday last, it was noted that in anticipation of the increased demand for electrical power when the new kilns are in operation and the rapidly growing Linden community due to the Government’s house lot

drive, the company is in the process of installing an additional 2 MAN Gensets.

This would add a further 4MW of operating capacity.

The information was had when the team visited the site’s power plant, which has an operating generating capacity of about 17 MW of power, utilising six Wartsila and four Cummins Gensets.

It was noted that the Bosai Power Plant does supply electrical power for the company’s operations as well as for the Linden Community, which currently utilises about 10MW at peak.

The visiting party included members from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, during its tour of the company’s two Dust Collectors at its Refractory Kilns #13 and #14.

B o s a i ’s G e n e r a l Manager, Eric Yu, told the team that the Dust Collectors were constructed at a cost of approximately US$8M and was commissioned in September 2013 by the then

Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud.

The team during the visit to the site were also taken on a tour of the construction location of the new Refractory Kiln #15 and the new Dryer Kiln #16, which is ongoing and is expected to be completed in the new year.

The company is said to employ some 600 locals.

Speaking to the expansion of the company’s operations, the General Manager used the opportunity to affirm that the investment demonstrates Bosai’s confidence in the Guyanese economy and workforce.

Minister Bharrat at the conclusion of the visit to the Bauxite Company asserted that his visit was to have a first-hand look at the operations and that Government embraces development and investment, and he “was very impressed with Bosai’s work.”

The company had found itself in hot water early last y e a r w h e n t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on January 10, last, halted production and other operations at the Chinese-owned company, following a breach in their tailings pond.

The breach was said to have caused several houses down-slope in the Linden community of Noitgedacht to be flooded with a red bauxite-type wastewater, which can be harmful to humans.

The company was later fined $1M—a second sanction imposed on the bauxite company within a month, the first dating back to December 24, 2019 when the company was immediately charged for discharging wastewater into the Kara Kara Creek.

The EPA arrived at its $1M maximum fine based on what is stipulated by the country’s legislation.

Earlier that year the

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, (centre) listening to some company officials during the site visit. company had also come under scrutiny over royalties being paid to the country.

This publication had reported at the time that Guyana received royalty for the first time that year to the tune of US$3M since the

company commenced operations locally.

The company, which came here in the latter half of the 2000s, is operating the G o v e r n m e n t ’s b a u x i t e facilities in Linden, Region Ten.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

Friday July 16, 2021

El Salvador top Trinidad & Tobago to reach next round Frisco, Texas – A first half strike from Jairo Henriquez and a late Walmer Martinez goal powered El Salvador to a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in Group A of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup on Wednesday night at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

With the result, the Cuscatlecos have qualified for their first Gold Cup quarterfinal since the 2017 edition. El Salvador came out the stronger of the two sides and soon started testing Trinidad and Tobago GK Nicklas Frenderup, beginning with a Joaquin Rivas effort in the 26’ that produced a diving save. Four minutes later though, there was nothing Frenderup could do to stop

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Gold is Money is sponsor of the late Faye Joseph birth anniversary dominoes

Exciting dominoes action is expected this weekend.

Henriquez from giving El Salvador a 1-0 lead by receiving a pass and shaking

a defender with a brilliant turn before hammering a rightfooted shot past Frenderup.

Friday July 16, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) More than usual, you're probably craving solitude today, Aries. Although you may have committed to attending a party or get-together, now the idea may seem irritating.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Although you're normally a sociable person who feels most comfortable in the company of others, today you may prefer to be alone.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Someone close to you might seem more preoccupied than usual, Libra, and perhaps a bit difficult to deal with. Don't take this personally.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might feel a bit tense, Scorpio, and you probably won't understand why. The reason? The planets. You might jump at unexpected noises or take offense where none is intended.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You tend to enjoy solitude, Gemini, but today you might feel more reclusive than usual. Friends could invite you out, but you aren't likely to accept the offer.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You probably aren't going to feel like socializing even though friends want you to go out with them. Your patience could be worn a bit thin.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You tend to enjoy solitude, Gemini, but today you might feel more reclusive than usual. Friends could invite you out, but you aren't likely to accept the offer.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Uptight is the mood for today. You might be the center of attention at some point. While you normally wouldn't mind, today it might make you nervous.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Some mysterious telephone calls might come your way wrong numbers or hangups. Other people might seem less communicative than usual, Leo, and you may be preoccupied.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you may want to be left alone with your thoughts. Relaxing with a good book could be at the top of your agenda, and you aren't likely to want to be interrupted.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Confusion over money matters might arise, Virgo. You may need to check your records to shed light on past transactions. Don't worry.

All should be well once you ascertain the facts. You might have some intense dreams tonight.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Money worries might have you more on edge than usual, Pisces. While you may be doing well, you could still be insecure enough to think that your funds might not stretch far enough. Consider the situation objectively.

Henriquez then nearly notched his second of the day in the 38’, only to see his shot from distance glance off the post. Trinidad and Tobago looked to respond in the second half and moments after Aubrey David nearly scored off a corner kick, Marcus Joseph was denied the equalizer in the 66’ when his stabbing shot off a cross struck the crossbar.

El Salvador looked to put the three points on ice and it was all there for Juan Portillo to do it, but Frenderup had other ideas and snuffed out Portillo’s shot right in front of goal. The insurance goal arrived in the 90+1 with Martinez finishing off a frenzied sequence that started with Amando Moreno’s short squirting past Frenderup, hitting the post and rolling across the face of goal on the line.

...Fireworks from Funes Mori as From page 22 four minutes later in the 29’, there was nothing Hagen could do to stop Funes Mori from scoring Mexico’s first goal of the Gold Cup when he collected a pass on the left edge of the area and curled a right-footed shot off the post and into goal for a 1-0 lead.

The opportunities continued for Mexico into the second half and Orbelin Pineda was inches away from making it two in the 47’, but a diving last-ditch save from Hagen prevented the goal.

Funes Mori would strike again, this time in the 55’, when he received a cut-back pass from Pineda and fired into goal to double the Mexico advantage to 2-0.

Mexico were keen to increase their lead to leave no doubt and Jesus Corona came within a whisker of a third in the 75’, but saw his shot trickle wide. Pineda would get the job done, though, with a flying header in the 79’ off a Luis Rodriguez cross from the right wing to round out the 3-0 scoreline.

Gold is Money will be staging the late Faye Joseph birth anniversary dominoes competition on Sunday at Favorite’s venue starting at 14:00hrs. Joseph was known to have hosted a dominoes competition every July to mark her birth anniversary and Gold is Money Dominoes Club Captain, Imtiaz Alli has therefore taken up this slack.

The club has committed to ensuring that a minimum

of $250,000 and trophies will be up for grabs. The competition will climax on Wednesday. All Covid-19 Protocols will be put in place and enforced by the game officials.

This competition has been sanctioned by the Georgetown Dominoes Association (GDA) and only registered teams and players will be allowed to participate.

Registration closes at 14:00hrs on Sunday.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Friday July 16, 2021

Pakistan get their first win after Kyshona’s career-best

K

yshona Knight made a quality maiden halfcentury for West Indies Women but they fell to Pakistan Women for the first time in their ongoing CG Insurance One-Day

International Series, on Thursday (yesterday).

Left-hander Knight struck a career-best 88 off 140 balls as West Indies recovered from 29-2 in the eighth over to reach 210 all out with two balls remaining

in the innings. Captain Stafanie Taylor made 49 off 77 balls but was the only other batsman to reach 20 as CG Insurance Player-of-theMatch Fatima Sana (4-30) and left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu (4-49) bowled well

for the visitors.

Knight rallied the innings, striking eight fours and a six in a 142-run, third wicket partnership with Taylor who counted five fours.

Ta y l o r ’s d i s m i s s a l , caught at the wicket sweeping at Nashra in the 40th over, sparked a collapse as the last eight wickets went down for only 39 runs.

In the second half, asked to chase a competitive 211, Pakistan reached their target with eight balls to spare, with Omaima Sohail top-scoring with 61 off 89 balls and Sidra Ameen getting 41 off 87 balls. Sohail hit four fours in an 81-run, third wicket stand with Sidra Ameen and then Sohail posted a further 33 for the fourth wicket with Kainat Imtiaz (16) before Nida Dar hit a breezy

Fatima Sana (right) and Nashra Sandhu shared 8 wickets evenly. unbeaten 29 off 34 balls with three fours and see the visitors home.

West Indies lead the five-

match series 3-1 with the final match left to be played on Sunday at the same venue.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

Carlos ‘The Showstopper’ Petterson-Griffith is latest MVP Sports Ambassador Sponsors ticket for 18th FESUPO/NAPF Pan-Am Regional Powerlifting C/ships MVP Sports under its motto, ‘Get in the Game’ is ensuring that Guyana’s #1 strongman and powerlifter, Carlos ‘The Showstopper’ Petterson-Griffith stays in the game as he works towards attaining his true potential.

The reigning 93kg champion as well as Squat, Deadlift and Total record holder was branded the latest MVP Sports Ambassador at a simple but significant ceremony held earlier this week at the business’ Giftland Mall location.

To c e l e b r a t e t h e occasion, MVP Sports also sponsored a return ticket for Petterson-Griffith to attend n e x t m o n t h ’s 1 8 t h FESUPO/NAPF PanAmerican Regional

CEO of MVP Sports Ian Ramdeo (left) and Carlos Petterson-Griffith going though some of the apparel in store.

P o w e r l i f t i n g Championships set for August 17-21, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Orlando, Florida, USA. Annalisa Banwarie who handed over the sponsorship cheque to the new Ambassador, welcomed him on board as part of the family whilst also noting that, “MVP Sports is proud to support talented and hardworking athletes like Petterson-Griffith on their journeys to excellence.”

An elated PettersonGriffith expressed profound

gratitude to the MVP Sports team and CEO Ian Ramdeo for their investment, promising to make all and sundry proud whilst fulfilling his role as an Ambassador for the entity.

He would be seeking gold in the 93kg weight class in both the Classic (Raw) and Equipped competitions.

“Besides placing among the top three, I’ll be looking forward to qualify for the upcoming World’s Classic Powerlifting Championship which is set for late September, 2021.”

(Franklin Wilson)

PAGE 23

GCOS continue support of athletes

By Calvin Chapman The Guyana Committee of Services (GCOS) which aims to assist Guyanese in sport and the arts has once again stepped up in a major way to give young athletes a timely boost as they endeavour to reach greatness.

This time, the GCOS has lent a helping hand to National Women’s 200m champion, Juvonna Cornette. The 18-year-old 100m and 200m sprint specialist has gained an academic scholarship to the University of Arizona where she will be studying Business and Professional Industries for two years.

Juvonna, who also competes in the long jump event, during an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, mentioned that the reason why she chose her major was because it interests her the most and she f i n d s b u s i n e s s administration quite fun although it’s an arduous task.

A simple but significant ceremony for the handing over of the voucher which will be redeemed to purchase

supplies for the book smart athlete was done at the Payless Variety Store, Wellington Street location yesterday in the presence of the media, GCOS committee members and track & field stakeholders.

Also receiving support from the GCOS were five other athletes who would be heading to Kingston College in Jamaica for one year.

Those junior male athletes ranging from 17-19 yearsold and their corresponding events are as follows, Shamar Horatio (National 100m (10.92) finalist and 200m (22.34) Silver medalist, D’Quan Williams National 200m Gold medalist and 100m Silver medalist, Trevon Prince 400m - 800m, Gabriel Lim (discuss & javelin) and Omari Walcott (800m1500m).

Coach of the athletes and Ti t a n s U n i t e d , K e v i n Cornette, during remarks at the handing over ceremony said that, “It’s a pleasure for me to extend my congratulations to these athletes who will be heading to Jamaica and my daughter,

who has attained a full scholarship to Arizona.”

“The King Medas PansyA d o n i s ( K M PA ) orchestrated this, it was Andy Medas-king who made contact so that these athletes would’ve gotten this opportunity so we are very grateful to him.”

“Our goal (at Titans United Track Club) is to have our athletes reach to the Olympics and to be educated. So any athlete we see with vast potential, we try to identify them and give them that extra push.”

Committee Member of the GCOS, Leslie Black, posited that the, “GCOS is once again supporting athletes and we are very happy to support. We hope that the athletes grasp this opportunity and make themselves and Guyana proud.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Friday July 16, 2021

NBA Finals

Tour de France: Khris Middleton scores 40 Tadej Pogacar points as Milwaukee Bucks holds on to yellow level series with Phoenix Suns after stage 18 win

BBCsport - Khris Middleton scored 40 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns 109-103 to level the best-of-seven NBA Finals series at two games apiece. Middleton scored 10 consecutive points in the final quarter as the Bucks rallied from a nine-point deficit.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points and made a crucial block on Suns centre Deandre Ayton to keep the Bucks ahead with one minute 15 seconds left. The teams meet in the fifth game of the series on Sunday.

Suns shooting guard Devin Booker scored 42 points, including 18 in the third quarter, but it was not enough to stop the Bucks from sealing a crucial win.

Antetokounmpo, who played down comparison to

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) drives to the basket during their clash with the Phoenix Suns (AP)

Tadej Pogacar now holds the white, yellow and polka dot jerseys after winning at Luz Ardiden.

B

Michael Jordan after becoming only the sixth player in NBA Finals history to score 40 points in consecutive games, notched 26 points including 14 rebounds for the Bucks, along with eight assists.

However, it was the 26y e a r- o l d f o r w a r d ’s sensational block on Ayton that proved the 2020

Defensive Player of the Ye a r ’ s m o s t t e l l i n g contribution.

The result effectively leaves the series as a best-ofthree shootout for the championship.

The Bucks won their only title in 1971, while the Suns have yet to win a title since joining the league in 1968.

Fireworks from Funes Mori as Mexico down Guatemala Dallas, Texas – Rogelio Funes Mori produced some goalscoring fireworks with a pair of scores to help lead Mexico to a 3-0 victory against Guatemala in Group A action of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup on

Wednesday night at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.

The goals served as just the second and third international goals for Funes Mori with El Tricolor and his first in Concacaf

competition. Mexico started off on the front foot with a trio of chances, including an Erick Gutierrez shot in the 25’ that required a reaction save from Guatemala GK Nicholas Hagen. However, (Continued on page 19)

BCsport Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar claimed back-to-back Tour de France stage wins to underline his dominance in the leader’s yellow jersey. Pogacar accelerated clear on the summit finish on stage 18 at Luz Ardiden to extend his overall lead to five minutes and 45 seconds.

Jonas Vingegaard and Richard Carapaz finished second and third. Pogacar is expected to win the time trial on the penultimate stage on Saturday to seal his Tour defence. The 22-year-old’s victory also sees him move to the top of the king of the mountains classification and he is now likely to arrive in P a r i s o n S u n d a y ’s processional final stage as the owner of three of the four race jerseys - the yellow, the polka dot and white jersey for the second consecutive year.

Britain’s Mark Cavendish, who wears the

green jersey as the leader of the points classification, rolled over the finish line more than 32 minutes after Pogacar, but well inside the cut-off time for the day.

Ineos Grenadiers had tried to use the final climb to set up Carapaz for a late attack. But it was Pogacar, a i d e d b y U A E Te a m Emirates colleague Rafa³ Majka, who made the first significant move, and then rode clear after chasing down Movistar’s Spanish GC hopeful Enric Mas. “It’s unbelievable,” said Pogacar. “After yesterday, I felt really good and I’m really happy with the win.

It’s crazy. There’s still three days to go so you never know, but it looks good. “It was super hard. Already on the [Col du] Tourmalet the pace was such that you just sit in the wheel and forget about everything and then on the last climb, that was the maximum.”

Asked if he should be

worried about the time trial still to come, Pogacar added: “Why should I be worried?

You can lose six minutes in a time trial. It’s happened before, but I’m pretty confident.”

Stage 18 results: 1.

Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 3hrs 33mins 45secs 2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo) +02secs 3.

Richard Carapaz (Ecu/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time 4.

Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) +13secs 5. Dan Martin (Ire/Israel Start-Up Nation) +24secs.

General classification after stage 18: 1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 75hrs 00minutes 02seconds 2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo) +5mins 45secs 3. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/Ineos Grenadiers) +5mins 51secs 4. Ben O’Connor (Aus/AG2R Citroen) +8mins 18secs 5. Wilco Kelderman (Ned/BoraHansgrohe) +8mins 50secs.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 16, 2021

PAGE 25

GAPLF name athletes and officials for 18th FESUPO/NAPF Pan-American Regional C/ships The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) has named its team for the 18th FESUPO/NAPF Pan-American Regional P o w e r l i f t i n g Championships set to take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Orlando, Florida, USA from August 17-21, 2021.

Headlining the team is Carlos ‘The Showstopper’ Petterson-Griffith along with the lone female, Nadira Taharally (78kg M1/Open Classics). The other members are, Roger Rogers (120kg M2 Classics), Wasim Mohamed (93kg Open Classics), Martin Webster (93kg M2 Classics), Nairanjan Singh (USA based 83kg M4 Equipped),

Nairanjan Singh

Gordon Spencer GAPLF President

Franklin Brisport-Luke ( 6 6 k g M 2 Classics/Equipped), Gordon Spencer (93kg M3 Equipped), Andrew Austin and Kerma Singh (USA based) who would double as Manager/Coach.

Carlos PettersonGriffith 93kg Class sets a new National Deadlift record of 350.0kg-771.6lb.

Franklin Wilson photo

Brisport-Luke, Spencer and Austin (not competing) are the three Referees on the team. Qualifiers for next month’s championship took place on April 24th last, the same day the Novices championship took place.

Martin Webster

Nadina Taharally Deadlifts 155.0kg-341.7lb.

Franklin Wilson photo

Franklyn Brisport-Luke

Roger Rogers 120kg Class squats 227.5kg-501.6lb.

Franklin Wilson photo

Wazim Mohamed Deadlifts. Franklin Wilson photo