Kaieteur News

K

Pres. Ali tells Region 6...

Flooding NEWS situation classified as a Level 2 disaster AIETEUR

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

Thursday Edition June 10, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 21

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership - says Govt. yesterday, can now seek p.

95,372 14

int’l support

Over 100 Guyanese challenge Exxon’s Yellowtail Project p.

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- Citizens question who would compensate Caribbean economies in the event of catastrophic well blowout

Exxon’s contract must be changed!

The protest for renegotiation of the oil contracts continued yesterday with citizens, including staffers of K/News, demanding better for all Guyana.

More charges p.8 for Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers First Guyanese 12p. woman selected for US Air Force Academy Man gets 10 months after telling Magistrate p.

“I’m guilty, that’s it” 14

Linden woman 13p. beaten to death by mentally-ill son

Another Stabroek

p.

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Block discovery tied to lopsided Exxon deal 27 oil questions sent to our leaders for answers

Listen @11am, 4pm and 7pm on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Thursday June 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

Another Stabroek Block discovery tied to lopsided ExxonMobil deal A

merican oil explorer, ExxonMobil Corporation, disclosed yesterday that it made another discovery, the 20th to be exact, in the Stabroek Block. The latest find was made at the Longtail-3 well which encountered 230 feet (70 meters) of net pay, including newly identified, high quality hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs below the original Longtail-1 discovery.

ExxonMobil noted that the well is located approximately two miles (3.5 kilometers) south of the Longtail-1 well and was drilled in more than 6,100 feet (1860 meters) of water by the Stena DrillMAX. It should be noted that the Longtail-1 well was drilled in 2018, encountering approximately 256 feet (78 meters) of high-quality, oilbearing sandstone reservoir.

Upon hearing the news of the discovery, Senior Vice President of Exploration and

N e w Ve n t u r e s a t ExxonMobil, Mike Cousins, intimated that combined with its previous recent discovery at the Uaru-2 well, the resource estimate at the Stabroek Block could now go well beyond nine billion barrels of oil equivalent resources.

Cousins was keen to note that the latest discovery will allow the oil giant to continue to leverage its core competitive advantages in its ongoing exploration campaign, thereby delivering substantial value to its partners and shareholders.

It should be noted that ExxonMobil would be able to reap the maximum benefits for its investors from the development of the Longtail-3 discovery, among others, thanks to the loopholes in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) covering the Stabroek Block.

Kaieteur News would have exposed via an

extensive study published in 2019 that the PSA has some of the world's worst provisions when compared to 130 other deals. For example, the PSA says the Government of the day must pay the oil giant's income tax out of the country's share of the profits from the Stabroek Block projects. However, none of the 130 PSAs examined by Kaieteur News had this type of outlandish arrangement.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Guyana-ExxonMobil PSA is the only one out of 130 contracts, which has no ringfencing provisions to prevent costs of unsuccessful wells being carried over to that of successful wells. In the absence of these crucial provisions, ExxonMobil can also discount the expenses attached to developing future projects against those that are already producing.

In other words, if the oil king decides to start developing the Longtail-3 find today, it can discount those costs

against the Liza Phase One Project that is currently in operation. By so doing, it would lessen the profits to be split between Guyana and ExxonMobil.

What is also worse is that the contract contains no sliding scale provision. Such a clause would say that royalty to the country must increase as production improves. Put simply, if ExxonMobil starts producing more barrels of oil than it originally projected, the country's royalty should increase accordingly.

In the absence of this

provision, Guyana will collect a mere two percent royalty irrespective of how well the project does. It should be noted that royalty is only calculated after ExxonMobil takes as much as it desires to cover transportation and operations.

The mindboggling loopholes do not end there.

Guyana's PSA is the only one out of 130 that allows insurance premiums to be fully recovered as well as interest on loans and financing costs that are incurred by the contractors.

The 130 PSAs examined are part of a register on www.resourcecontracts.org. (https://resourcecontracts.org /search?q=Production+Shari ng+Agreement+) That website offers over 620 PSAs from around the world for perusal.

The Stabroek Block PSA was signed on June 27, 2016 and was up for renewal four years later (June 27, 2020).

ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC/NEXEN would be required to relinquish 20 percent of the contract area after June 2020.

Taxi-driver in Loo Creek accident gets two traffic charges

F

ifty-one-year-old Lindon Lamaizon, the taxi-driver involved in the horrific accident on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway which claimed the life of Mark Ault, a father of three, was yesterday charged for causing his death and failing to render assistance.

Lamaizon of Brusche Dam, Friendship Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD), made his first court appearance in the Providence Magistrate's Court before Magistrate, Judy Latchman, where the charges were read to him.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleges that on June 6 while on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway he drove motor car HC 9662 in a manner dangerous to the public causing the death of 48-year-old Ault of Republic Drive, Beterverwagting, ECD. He also denied the charge which states that on the same day he failed to render assistance to Ault.

The defendant was granted bail to the tune of $600,000 for the causing death charge and $20,000 bail for the other charge. The

Killed, Mark 'Paper man' Ault matter was then adjourned to June 30.

A third vehicle had collided with Ault's minibus on the same night, leaving three other persons injured.

Those injured have since been identified as Julian Elliot of Central Amelia's Ward, Linden, Akeemo Elliot and Candace Gordon.

Kaieteur News was told that before tragedy struck, Ault had just completed his routine newspaper business in Linden and was on his way to his Republic Drive residence.

Reports are that around

20:30 hrs. on June 6 while in the vicinity of Loo Creek Village, Ault was heading to Georgetown, when Lamaizon, who was travelling in the opposite direction, entered the lane of the bus.

According to police, while trying to swerve from the bus, the front right side of the car collided with the back wheel of Ault's bus, which caused him to lose control of his vehicle. The bus then ended up slamming into the right side of motorcar PLL 3468, which was being driven by Elliot with Akeemo and Gordon as passengers. Due to the collision, Ault along with the occupants of motor car PLL 3468 received several injuries about their bodies.

They were rushed to the Mackenize Public Hospital where Ault was pronounced dead on arrival. Akeemo and Gordon were admitted, while Elliot was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) suffering from a fractured pelvic and fractured spine.

A post mortem examination conducted on Ault's body revealed that he died from a fractured skull and fractured spine.

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 10, 2021

PAGE 03

Over 100 Guyanese challenge ExxonMobil's Yellowtail Project - Citizens question who would compensate Caribbean economies in the event of catastrophic well blowout

By Kiana Wilburg

O

v e r 1 0 0 Guyanese, including university lecturers and students, civil society activists and representatives of organisations that represent communities across the country, have sent a list of detailed questions to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be answered in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Yellowtail Project.

Yellowtail is poised to be the fourth development project in the Stabroek Block b y E x x o n M o b i l Corporation's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

The questions in the public submission cover climate impact, harm to the ocean, the danger of a well blowout, flaring, noise, discharges into the ocean and whether Esso has the financial resources to carry out Yellowtail and safely decommission the wells when production stops.

The submission to the EPA reminded that the Macondo well blowout by British multinational BP in April 2010 had devastated the Gulf of Mexico and cost the oil company US$468bn.

Noting that a well blowout could have a catastrophic impact on the Caribbean economies and environments, the submission ask searching questions about Esso's ability to prevent and mitigate a blowout. It also asks whether Esso, a limited liability company, will compensate Caribbean countries for any damage to their tourism and fishing sectors in the event of a blowout.

Furthermore, the public submission requires the EIA to state the total amount of greenhouse gases that will be emitted and the impact those emissions will have on the climate system and the ocean.

Finella Martin, one of the students who helped to garner support for the submission, was keen to note

International Lawyer, Melinda Janki

the importance of the document that was submitted to the EPA as she said, “We are running out of time; we need to be more aware and educated on the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions from offshore drilling not just in Guyana but globally.”

Martin added, “Climate Change is no longer an assumption but our reality.

We are seeing one of the worst flooding in history. I am proud that Guyana has strong environmental laws that empower us, the citizens, to stop the causes of climate change and not only preserve our beloved country but also our world.”

A t t o r n e y - a t - L a w, Melinda Janki, also shared her thoughts on the submission. Janki said, “Article 23 of the Constitution says that every citizen has a duty to participate in activities designed to improve the environment and protect the health of the nature. This is a good first step - to get the facts so people can make informed and educated decisions. This public submission to the EPA on Yellowtail is breathing life into the Constitution.”

According to Ms. Janki who drafted the Environmental Impact Assessment provisions 25 years ago, “The integrity of the EIA process depends on people being willing to look at what is proposed and ask questions. It's not a top down exercise.”

The lawyer added, “It's supposed to be a fully participatory process with the public scrutinising what is going on and holding the EPA and private sector to account...”

Below is a list of the persons who co-signed the submission to the EPA 1. Natalia Aaron, Student, University of Guyana 2. Medino Abraham 3. Charlise Adams, Student, University of Guyana 4. Akeem Babb 5. Jamal Bacchus 6. Trevon Baird, Lecturer, University of Guyana 7. Leroy Blair 8. Anne Braithwaite, Social Justice Activist 9. Jack Brodie 10. Natalie Brown 11. Karishma Budhram, Student, University of Guyana 12. Shevonne Canzius, S e c r e t a r y, R e g i o n 1 0 Conservation Society 13. Immaculata Casimero, Chairperson, Aishara Toon

Women's Association 14. Jeuve Cherizol 15. Joseph Chin 16. Frederick Collins 17. Karen Davis 18. Marcella De Clou 19. Duane De Freitas 20. Quadad De Freitas 21. Samantha De Freitas 22. Justin De Freitas 23. Kayla De Freitas 24. Sandra De Freitas 25. Karen de Souza, Coordinator, Red Thread 26. Jerri Dias, 7Re INC. 27. Leila Doobay 2 8 . To s h o y a D o u g l a s October 29. Allison Duncan 30. Udel Edwin, Supervisor, Atta Rainforest Lodge/Iwokrama Canopy Walkway 31. Walter Fisher 32. Tamiko Foo 33. Chelbie Gilkes 34. Vishal Gobin 35. Swatantra Goolsarran 36. Pamela Grant 37. Nawaz Haniff 38. Charles Harley 39. Razia Hassan 40. Zameer Hassan

41. Naveed Hassan 4 2 . S i n i k k a H e n r y, University of Guyana 43. Shemar Henry 44. Lissa Holder 45. Anna Iles, Administrator, A Fair Deal for Guyana – A Fair Deal for Guyana 46. Audrey Jackson 47. Melinda Janki, Director, Justice Institute Guyana 48. Philip Hiscocķs 49. Christopher Johnson 50. Alejandro Octavius Jose 51. Ras Khafra 52. Sayaad Khan 53. Robert Lall 54. Uma Lam 55. Tamara Leah, Student, University of Guyana 56. Vanessa Lee 57. Michael Lee 58. Yasmin Lee 59. Eudene Luther 60. Hazel Marshall 61. Finella Martin 62. Charles Martin 63. Julie Matthews 64. Mark Mc Gowan 65. Mihaela McRae, Woodlands Hospital 66. Elton McRae 67. Melanie McTurk

68. Neal Millar, Programme Coordinator, South Rupununi Conservation Society 69. Kimesa Mingo, Student, University of Guyana 70. Phillis Montague 71. Ruth Mootoo 72. Siddi Nandkishore 73. Homa Naraine, Forest Ranger, Guyana Forestry Commission 74. Mary-Peter Ngui 75. Sonia Noel of Sonia Noel Inc. 76. Trevor O'Dowd 77. Omar Paul 78. Kenneth Paul 79. Gerald A. Perreira, N a t i o n a l C o o r d i n a t o r, Organisation for the Victory of the People 80. Chenny Persaud 81. Uma Prashad, Student, University of Guyana 82. June Prince 83. Nathan Prince, Editor/Member, University of Guyana Biology Club 84. Richards Quintiana 85. Danuta Radzik 86. Vanda Radzik (continued on page 12)

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Thursday June 10, 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

All Guyanese journalists should look at themselves Through the courtesy of a relation from Down Under, an editorial that should be timely and eye-opening for Guyanese media professionals was shared. The title of the editorial dated June 8 from The Australian is, “Greatest enemy of truth is those who conspire to lie.” We took the liberty of extracting some of the editorial’s most hard-hitting positions, and present to local practitioners of journalism (and our reading audience) with some supporting thoughts. The work from The Australian speaks for itself, and the hope is that all will be motivated to look at their own work product, the guiding principles behind it, and appreciate where we are, and where true responsibilities begin.

“The best journalists often operate on the edge, are a little different.” They are consumed by the passion for a story, and where it can take, the truths told. A journalist’s energies can appear to be wasted, the fruitlessness of unending frustrations, but he or she must persevere. All the President’s Men come to mind, and Guyanese are familiar with Woodward and Bernstein, who brought down the mightiest leader in the world - Richard Nixon, U.S. President.

They would neither be deterred, nor intimidated, nor sidetracked, nor bought out, nor surrender to partisan pressures. There is a standard for local reporters and news institutions.

In Guyana, we need to know the truths about oil (political management). Guyanese media must be bold enough to follow faithfully the scents that lead to the substances of corruptions. For the most part, our journalists are not doing as much as they can in either area. There is fear and bias, the usual cowardly retreats.

Woodward and Bernstein toiled endlessly, chased people and leads, wore out shoes, buttonholed everybody, and came up with the story of the century. It was all driven by industry, the truth that “sure wasn’t pretty.” The two young men took as their calling, their raison d’etre, what The Australian editorialised is the imperative of those in the Fourth Estate: “The essential work of journalism at its very best, and its most important, is to expose wrongdoing in public life.”

We agree with the Australian that commendable journalism scrutinises microscopically “those in power; politicians, public servants dispensing taxpayer funds, business leaders, union bosses, and those running big institutions, such as churches and universities.”

This is because “politicians lie without a glimmer of guilt.” They have done so in Guyana for the last 50 years, and do so more today. Politicians and businesses spend millions to conceal revealing information from reaching the public. As The Australian pointed out, “truth runs a distant last in the race” to present information. Though there is so much information around, or that should be in the public arena, citizens remain in the dark as to how their affairs are run, and at what cost to them. Guyanese society loses when the efforts and expenses of politicians are concentrated on: “Lying, disseminating and dissuading inquiring minds from extracting fact.” We at this paper challenge anyone with this, by saying that it has been so, and never as much as now.

Corrupt leaders and groups have their defenders, for there are the handiworks of Guyanese politicians that speak almost overpoweringly. Rather than do the right thing, what is present and well-equipped (finances, tools, rewards) is a mob of “social media scoundrels and half-witted hopefuls, desperate to destroy, through nefarious and any other means possible, anyone who disagrees with them.” They are here in Guyana, and we invite our fellow citizens to look for themselves. We close with two parting extracts from this piercing editorial from The Australian, as a reminder to ourselves of our calling, and as an invitation and piece of unsolicited advice to our Guyanese media brethren. “To be good, you often need to be brash, and brave. But to be really good, you need to be beyond reproach.” The first loyalties must be to “truth…fairness and balance.” When those are worshipped, then the public is served and honoured. We in the Fourth Estate would have done our job, fulfilled our responsibilities, and can hold our heads high. This has no price tag attached, since it cannot be bought, must not be bartered. Never! Ever!

It is mind-blowing that City Hall has been allowed to deteriorate DEAR EDITOR, The news that the Guyana Fire Service has had to condemn and deem as a public hazard Guyana’s most famous and picturesque nineteenth-century Gothic Revival building, the City Hall of Georgetown would have been funny if it weren’t so sad.

Imagine the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown, the entity that has responsibility for ensuring the structural soundness of all edifices in our capital, the agency that has been condemning and demolishing buildings in the Garden City over the years has had its headquarters condemned and sealed off from occupation by another agency due to the absolutely dilapidated state of it.

It is simply mind-blowing that this agency which has on

its bloated payroll tons of engineers, building inspectors and other personnel primarily concerned with designing and constructing buildings have allowed this building to not only be allowed to deteriorate to this ruinous state, but to be recklessly and negligently occupied until the Fire Service was forced to step in. It is incomprehensible how the administrators there, at the risk of life and limb of the scores of persons occupying that building, both staff members and visiting members of the public, could have heedlessly and negligently allowed business to be carried on as usual each day at that facility. What were they waiting for? A major disaster to strike? How could the City’s Fathers and Mothers attend almost daily,

meetings and be filibustering whilst the building fell apart one chunk at a time? Indeed, there continues to be a considerable risk being posed to pedestrians and motorists using the area contiguous to City Hall to commute particularly now with heavy winds and rainfall.

In other societies where high levels of ethics and morals exist, the senior officials of the Council who sat day after day, year after year without ensuring that monies were put aside in each year’s budget and expended on the maintenance of City Hall would have been deemed to not have been operating in the common interest and public good of society, but instead they are paid super salaries and treated as if they are assets to the city.

There is an old proverb

that says, ‘A stitch in time, saves nine’. Had a mere ten million dollars been allocated each year and honestly used to maintain that structure, there would never been the situation now where rehabilitation is pegged at a whopping one billion dollars.

But no, instead hundreds of millions were wasted on building unfinished presidential parks, a ‘Hair Stylists/Cosmetologists Row’, wholesale vending spots that resemble dog kennels, a petting zoo all on the Merriman Mall which are a complete disgrace and eyesore, a white elephant car park on East Street between Middle and New Market Streets, a still incomplete Kitty Market and so much more.

Yours truly, Mark Roopan

Urgency is indeed necessary in reaching out to flood-affected Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, The move is indeed most necessary, and I hope that it will be totally automatic. I speak here of “When the National Assembly resumes sittings on Thursday, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government will be using the occasion to seek supplemental funding to the tune of $10 billion, to assist with flood mitigation measures throughout the country.”

We just cannot wait. The devastation is unprecedented and I am all for the Government in its move to make pre-emptive plans to aid those affected by the torrential rainfalls and

flooding that have plagued communities, particularly in Regions Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and 10.

Let me state clearly that nothing should stand in the way of reaching out from a national standpoint. It is the duty of the government of the day, and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) to take the necessary steps, and hopefully will not be stymied in this planned effort.

I add that experiencing damage caused by extreme weather such as storms or flooding is not easy to deal with. At the mental level, there can be an increase in the chances of facing mental health problems such as

stress and depression by 50%. Data can be accessed that show a quarter of people who have been flooded still live with these issues, at least two years after the event.

So, when the Government goes to the Parliament for supplementary provisions to address the flooding issues, seeking $10 billion in supplementary provisions, I hope that all Guyanese will be able to grasp the magnitude of what has happened and what must be done.

According to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, “It (the money) would help us to give enough to the farmers, the miners, all of those who have had their livelihoods

disrupted, so we can give them some help to get back to productive activities. And of course, it would assist us in continuing to provide immediate assistance.”

In this regard, it is essential for us to be certain of a few realities of life after flooding: find out if the water supply is safe to drink before consuming water; avoid floodwaters, as they may be contaminated; drive cautiously as roads and dams are prone to be undermined after flooding.

I like the fact that the Vice President brought up the study done by the Economic Commission for Latin America (Continued on page 6)

GWI spending was immoral in nature DEAR EDITOR, It is beyond embarrassing. I am reading that “In two years, GWI spent $103M on overseas travel and food.” The former boss, Dr. Van West-Charles explains that “… it was for studies and overtime meals.” On one level, this kind of wanton waste speaks of corruption, and to flippantly state that the purpose was for food and studies, is to display a high level of arrogance and naivete.

As expected, by August 2020, GWI was on the verge of collapse and one of the reasons for this was the “reckless spending” that characterised GWI during the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change’s (APNU+AFC’s) tenure.

When I go through the list of spending, it is most immoral in nature: in 2018, $26.8M was spent for overseas travel; in 2019, $26M for overseas travel; also in 2019, $50M in meals, and ‘enough is enough’. I think that the atmosphere at GWI, under Van West-Charles, was one of happy traveling and eating.

Let us remember that GWI’s was essentially cashstrapped to the point where it could not pay its electricity bill for a year and had owed Guyana Power and Light (GPL) some $7B for the period 2018 to 2020. If on hand we had wanton waste, on the other side, it was a classic example of not knowing how to prioritise. I really hope that there is a legal way of ‘calling to account those responsible

for the financial mess that GWI was left in and is now so hard trying to disentangle itself from.

This GWI fiasco makes me recall what transpired with APNU+AFC supporter Larry London, who was paid $500,000 separately for a Director of Parks position even though the man was out of Guyana. He also was the one who spearheaded the controversial Durban Park project, and claimed that he was also the President and Secretary of a defunct Florida-registered company that was paid to print birth certificates.

Usually, it was local printers who produced Guyanese birth certificates.

So, when the former government had moved away from this long standing

practice, a bad smell was detected, and that led to a whole lot of unsavoury discoveries. As one article noted: “Some 100,000 birth certificates were reportedly ordered from the company between 2019 and 2020 and paid $23M.” That contract was signed by APNU+AFC supporter Larry London who was the controversial coordinator of the D’Urban Park project which was shrouded in secrecy and financial impropriety. I have my doubts if many of these improprieties will ever be fully dealt with. But for now, the GWI is being cleaned up, and when surplus employees are sent home, I hope the supporters of APNU+AFC will not cry foul.

Regards, Alvin Hamilton

Thursday June 10, 2021

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

The ‘peasants’ of The Mayor and City Council needs to redeem itself Triumph continue to suffer from poor infrastructure DEAR EDITOR, Over the decades, the ‘peasants’ of Triumph raised the issue of moon-like craters in Dasrat Street, Triumph Front Lands. And despite much persistence, local authority organs year over, the BV/Triumph NDC and the Region 4 RDC could be least bothered with us menials dwelling here. As we can no longer rely on the mouth organ of the NDC, the ‘peasants’ of Triumph thought the RDC’s presence in the village would catapult interest in our wellbeing. But, led by its adept engineering team, the RDC year asphalted an already well paved road in their adjacent housing compound to service all 6 houses with 9 cars so that we the 40+ peasant homes must know our place!

Dasrat Street remains the epitome of Guyana! Callous disregard for citizens’ wellbeing, constant eye-pass, wanton favoritism, misplaced priorities, and esoteric planning!

Charged with a new Regional Executive Officer, the RDC advertised a few months ago, the renewal of a bridge leading to this cratered road. It appears that contract was recently awarded, as last Sunday (6th June) the contractor decided he would raise the bar by dropping off letters dated 31st May to residents to inform us of the commencement of the bridge would be in 7 days’ time (letter attached). Mind you have no consultation by the brilliant RDC team, they know it all.

The Regional Engineer and team, whose level of knowledge and experience clearly elude and supersede me and that of most engineers, could care less about the state of the cratered road, which traffic will now be rerouted, Dasrat Street. I share just a few photos of what moon landing is like now. It

must have taken a very philosophical approach to award the building of a new bridge without repairing a fully depreciated detouring road, but like in law, precedent rules “eye-pass” in Guyana.

When the Chinese built the new East Coast highway, the Regional engineer and his team were perhaps the most outstanding students of road building, so why am I upset or even surprised, they saw long lines of cars, potholed roads, loss of down time, damaged cars, dust pollution, injured pedestrians, you name it, it’s normalised now!

Despite the Guyana Met Office recently declaring a rainy season until August, the contractor further emphasised in his letter, “The basic nature of work is to block the main trench and remove the existing bridge” and further “Because of the recent inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances may alter the completion date”.

Nothing is lost on a good contractor! Flooding = Blocking the main trench x Recent Inclement Weather2 .

Is our flooding mainly caused by rain? Previous slave masters have taught us well, flood their crops so they do not farm again; force them into submission! Do not build their road until they grovel! Will Central Government follow suit?

Yours truly, Name Provided

DEAR EDITOR, Georgetown’s biggest eye-sore happens to be no other than the City Hall building itself. Recently, the Guyana Fire Service conducted a survey on the City Hall Building and this resulted in its condemnation, deemed to be a public hazard, as per their inspection report.

The Mayor, His Lordship Ubraj Narine, himself had confirmed that the building was even condemned since in 2016 as they continued to occupy it. Some well-known personalities who served as mayor for the City of Georgetown include, LFS Burnham, Claude Merriman, John Ford, Patricia-Chase Green and Hamilton Green.

Notably, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council has always remained under the dominance of a PNC controlled body and by extension, one of its surrogates. Aligned in the jurisdiction of Region 4, this region is predominantly influenced by a PNC affluence and has always been one of the strong arms of the party with their supporters residing in the vicinity.

Plagued with a history of corruptions, scandals, collusions, financial misappropriations, fraud, money squandering, bankruptcy, payment delays to contractors, court proceedings, poor management, mal practices, neglect, un-audited reports, bullish and dictatorial attitudes, an unhealthy public relationship, and non-cooperation with PPP/C administration, this consistency has resulted into

a “Garden City” being run down to a “Garbage City”.

The building itself is in such a poor state of condition, its shabby appearance makes the small man’s hut looks like a castle in comparison to this disdainful and despicable sight.

But then again, the people in charge of the city and its administration are progeny of a PNC elite group who are pronged for a type of organisation who can break only, rather than make, reputation. They have skillfully established a blatant track record for the reverse Midas Touch. Anything they put their hands on turns to not gold but old. The PNC Party has been internationally known to be an “eat, drink and be merry” party, incapable of being spend thrift and known to live for the current day only. They lack any concept of planning for the future and remain visionless. Trust them to squander every penny, which they inherited and then turn around and beg, borrow or steal, as evident by the many years, which the PNC has been in power ruling the nation and ruining the country to economic disaster.

The M & CC has always been in need of a bail-out situation.

It is unimaginable how all the revenues collected cannot suffice for the running of the city’s administration.

So often, eye-brows are raised when the question of finance arises, giving way to seeded speculations as a result of gross inefficiency and defective controlled mechanism. Too much of a relaxed and laid-back attitude, incorporating the “bullish standoffishness” from management and the politically secured barrier barricading legitimate reproach from exterior sources, contribute to the M & CC remaining as an impregnable fort. This laxity was not only condoned by previous mayors but more so, encouraged by the previous PNC government. All of the City’s mayors have been a mouth piece for the PNC Party and so they do no wrong in the eyes of all the years of PNC administration.

Head of State, President Dr. Irfaan Ali had stressed on the swearing in of the mayors and their deputies last March that, “Councils are facilitators of development and should not be barriers, creating unnecessary bureaucracy.”

Unfortunately, this advice fell on some deaf ears as seen

recently by the heavy rain fall and the flood. There were obvious reasons for insinuating that mischief was a foot and those guilty are agencies of the enemy within the state. Former President, Dr. Bharat Jagdeo, now Vice President, appeared this week on a social media programme and adumbrated that the government remains committed to helping the M &CC towards the restoration of the City Hall Building. He mentioned that a $100M will be available towards this programme but the money will not be handed over to them, thus denying them its control. This action speaks volumes and underlines the unscrupulous behaviour of the Mayor and his management deficiency. This is certainly a slap in the face and confirms that honesty and integrity must form an integral part of the M & CC infrastructure. Trust is certainly one of the missing element in the equation and as long as the mayor-ship remains under the fold of the PNC, this flock will never have the confidence of any PPP/C administration. The M & CC needs to redeem itself. Can they?

Yours truly, Jai Lall

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Thursday June 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

There could be no justification What is the system doing to for the overmanning protect the citizens of Guyana? and redundancy at City Hall DEAR EDITOR, There has been quite a buzz recently about a public utility company that has decided to rationalise and downsize its human resources in order to save cost and improve its efficiency. One has to wonder whether the Georgetown Municipality would not wish to borrow/take a page out of their book and also downsize to improve its economic performance and operating efficiency.

I don’t think there is a citizen of Georgetown who does not have a dissatisfaction with regard to some aspect or the other regarding the services to which they are entitled but which they hardly get from the Council.

It may be the lack of maintenance of the roads and bridges, or the dreadful state of the cemeteries where their loved ones have been interred or the lack of meat inspection or hygienic slaughter of their animals at the abattoir, or the high rate of criminality in the city which the City Police don’t have a handle on, or it may be the putrid condition of the municipal markets or the closure of the day care centres or it may be the poor street lighting in several areas of the city or the clogged drains, the profusion of mosquitoes at night or the

wanton occupation of the pavements by itinerant vendors.

There could be no justification for the overmanning and redundancy at City Hall, especially now that many of its services are either farmed out to contractors or being carried out by some arm of central government.

Why have sections been upgraded to large departments with a lot of cushy positions added to it?

An example would be the Personnel Section that has been transformed into a Human Resources Department with a string of Managers and senior officers added to it?

Why is there a fully staffed Audit Section when the Council’s financial records have not been audited and qualified in decades? Why are resources being allocated to protocol services when the Council hardly facilitates public diplomacy nor encourages collaboration between international private and public entities? Why is there a Public Relations Division when the city does not have a radio station, a newsletter or even a proper social media presence?

In today’s world of cutting-edge information and communication technology,

most cities are having services delivered and transactions undertaken online rather than having citizens in line, why not the Georgetown Municipality?

Why the need for so many engineers when the city no longer maintains the road network, builds bridges nor even keep the clocks on the markets running.

In the days when Georgetown was the ‘Garden City’, when the city was effectively drained using only sluices and not with the help of high capacity flood control pumps, when the parapets were manicured with grass scythes and not the fancy brush cutters and trimmers currently used etc, etc. there was a small competent engineering staff.

Why the need for so many managers, deputies and assistants?

When Georgetown was a model city, a city that was noted for best practices, a clean, healthy, orderly and well managed city, the municipality had less than half of all those fancy, high paying plum jobs.

Is it not time for that monstrous monthly payroll cost of well over a hundred million dollars be cut in half and use the savings to provide a much higher level of service to the citizenry?

Yours truly, Magagula Jackson

...Urgency is indeed necessary in From page 4 and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on the 2005 floods and its economic impact. As we can all see, it was found that Guyana lost approximately 59 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So quite wisely, Jagdeo stated that “We have to plan for the future. We have to find solutions by building bypass

canals, where if we want to open up more lands in the inner depth of the country so you can bypass the settlement and take inner water into the Atlantic Ocean.

And we’re considering that even now.”

Readers must appreciate that torrential rainfalls and floodings leave almost permanent scars one way or

another - uprooting of lives, disrupting livelihoods of persons as well as communities; and the setting back of sectors such as agriculture and mining.

The onus is on the Government to alleviate the issue and corporate Guyana must lend full support.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

DEAR EDITOR, I want to bring to your attention an incident that took place on June 6, 2021 at approximately 7:40am in the village of Agricola on the East Bank of Demerara. This is not easy for me to pen this letter because it speaks to an age old problem that exists in Guyana that is often swept under the rug, which no government has attempted to address over the years. The problem referred to here is a lack of safety and security for the citizens of Guyana, which is a direct result of the Guyana Police Force’s inability to respond to calls for help in a timely state.

The manner in which the incident referred to here went down, and I am sure many more incidents, begs the question as to who the Guyana Police Force are called to serve and protect.

On June 6, 2021, at approximately 7:40am Pastor Atwell and his family, along with another church member arrived at the Rome Methodist Church early to prepare for Sunday service.

As pastor Atwell was setting up the hand wash sink at the church entrance, in accordance with the standard COVID protocols, he noticed a man, later identified as Kwesi Alves of 71 Remus St., Agricola, approach the church waving a cutlass chanting, “yah s***** gon dead today a fed up a yah”.

With quick action of those present, they managed to close the doors and windows preventing the man from entering; however, he managed to cut Pastor Atwell across his eyebrows and nose with the cutlass.

Immediately, a call was placed to the police for assistance from the Police Outpost which is within three minutes walking distance.

The response, which they were met with, was that the patrol would be there shortly.

Fifteen minutes passed and yet there was no response from the patrol. A few more calls were made to the outpost, which resulted to a response, “I told you the patrol will be there, what else do you want me to do?”

While they waited for

police to arrive, the assailant continued to walk back and forth lashing the doors and walls of the chapel and pushing the cutlass through the door crease terrorising the family seeking refuge in the church. Pastor Atwell’s wife pleaded with the assailant and kept inquiring why her husband’s life was being demanded.

The man related, “I have to kill Atwell because he allowed someone to be buried in front of my mother and he has to take responsibility with his life.

If I don’t kill him now, I will kill him soon”. It must be noted here, that this individual’s mother was buried some 21 years ago and the pastor had nothing to do with his accusations.

The Pastor who made countless calls trying to get help, reached out to a former councillor of the community who showed up within minutes and tried to render some assistance by speaking to the man.

It took approximately 30 minutes for the police patrol to arrive in the area and arrested the perpetrator who was out on the road.

They left without even approaching the church to conduct a wellness check on the family seeking refuge from this machete-wielding man.

Not knowing what to do, the family stayed in the church

and continued to redirect church-goers to their homes because of the volatility of the situation.

According the Pastor, he called the Police Outpost to find out what was happening and was then informed that the man was in their custody and he was to report to the Police Outpost to provide a statement. What was surprising and worrying to me was when I heard this man was released from custody on the same day of the incident.

Editor, this situation was unfortunate for Pastor Atwell who by the way is an outstanding citizen and a sports ambassador for Guyana but more so the fate of the average Guyanese citizen who chose not to take matters into their own hands and seek the right course of action by calling the police for protection.

I ask this question over and over again…Didn’t the police take an oath to serve and protect?

Had Kwesi succeeded what would the police say?

Had any of them within the chapel defended themselves and killed this man, what would have been the response of the LAW, which they so waited upon?

I ask Editor, what is the system doing to protect the citizens of Guyana?

Denise Hope, Concerned Citizen

If we can afford to give pensioners an increase then we should do so DEAR EDITOR, I know that COVID-19 and the flooding has temporarily curtailed Guyana’s economic progress even though our economy is projected to grow by 16% this year. But, shouldn’t we be looking to increase old age pension that will benefit thousands of elderly people?

If Government finances is in good order, as is likely to be since oil prices is now

nearly US$70 per barrel (meaning more money for Guyana and Guyanese), we could give pensioners a top up which I do not think will damage the Guyana economy but increase consumption spending.

Do the math. If we can afford to give pensioners an increase then we should do so.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Thursday June 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

Is it too much for us to ask for national unity in a democratic society, especially at a time when we are faced with a pandemic and a natural disaster?

Without unity, our nation could become so divided that the notion of being each other's keeper will be dependent only on shared affiliation. st

Our nation in this 21 century cannot afford to embrace division, which only serves to stifle progress. Maybe the rains have come to remind us that 'together we stand but divided we fall'.

We at this publication call on the leaders of this nation, from both sides of the divide, to join forces to truly unite Guyana.

PAGE 08

Thursday June 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

More charges for Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers C

hief Elections Officer (CEO), K e i t h Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers, and Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, have been slapped with two new charges in relation to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The three embattled employees of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), who are already facing multiple elections fraud charges, yesterday failed to appear in court to

CEO of GECOM, Keith Lowenfield

answer two joint conspiracy charges. The matter was called in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

The charge alleges that between March 2, 2020 and August 2, 2020 at Georgetown, they conspired with each other, together with former APNU+AFC Coalition Minister and current Chair of the People's National Congress, Volda Lawrence; Coalition activist, Carol SmithJoseph; Sherfern February, Enrique Livan, Denise

Region Four RO, Clairmont Mingo Bobb-Cummings, Michelle Miller and others, to defraud the electors of Guyana by declaring a false account of

votes for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The trio was not in court when the matter was called and as a result, Principal Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus issued three summons before adjourning the matter to June 29, 2021 at 11:00hrs.

On Tuesday, Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers were called into the Criminal Investigations Department ( C I D ) a t E v e L e a r y, Kingston, Georgetown.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, had related to this newspaper that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) would be instituting two additional charges of conspiracy to defraud against Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo.

Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo are currently facing multiple criminal charges related to alleged attempts to rig the March 2, 2020 elections. Lowenfield was slapped with three counts of misconduct in public office and three counts of forgery, while Myers was slapped with two counts of misconduct in public office.

Mingo also faces four charges alleging that he misconducted himself in public office by failing to

GECOM's DCEO, Roxanne Myers

disclose the number of votes that were counted during the elections. Apart from those charges, Mingo was charged jointly with Lawrence as well. The joint charge alleges that on March 5, 2020 in Georgetown, with intent to defraud the public, they uttered a certain forged document, that is to say, a report purporting to be a true declaration of all votes cast in District Four for the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections, knowing said report to be forged.

He also faced another joint charge with SmithJoseph, which alleges that on March 13, 2020, they uttered a forged document purporting to be a true report of all votes cast during the elections while knowing that the report was forged. The trio is currently out on bail.

Kaieteur News had

reported that the controversial Region Four Statements of Poll (SoPs) for the March 2 elections were recently handed over to investigators at CID. The handing over of the documents followed an order by the Chief Justice (Ag), Roxane GeorgeWiltshire, for them to be turned over to police by the Supreme Court's Registrar, Sueanna Lovell.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, and the Commissioner of Police (Ag), Nigel Hoppie, had filed an application in the High Court for the SoPs and the Statement of Recounts (SoRs) to be released to investigators. They had requested the documents of the election in order to facilitate a fair hearing for the charges against the key GECOM officials.

Region 4 man is latest COVID-19 fatality -134 new cases recorded

T

he Ministry of Health (MoH) y e s t e r d a y announced that a 79-yearold man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), has died. His death has now brought the country's COVID-19 death toll to 417.

In a press release, the Ministry revealed that the man died on Tuesday while

receiving treatment at a medical facility. According to the daily COVID-19 dashboard, there are 134 new cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 17,939.

A breakdown of new cases per Region shows that Region Four leads with 49, Region Six with 37, Region Nine with 16, Regions Three and Five with nine each, Region 10 with eight,

Region Two with three, Region One with two and Region Seven with one.

The dashboard also revealed that 20 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 99 are in institutional isolation, 1,566 in home isolation and four are quarantined institutionally.

To date, a total of 15,837 recoveries have been recorded.

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 10, 2021

PAGE 09

It is all about the money T

he majority of the people of Guyana are opposed to a lockdown because it will affect their livelihoods. But this is a foolish position because the pandemic continues to hurt businesses and it would be much better to make a short-term sacrifice, in the form of a lockdown, in order to create the conditions for the full and sustained opening of the economy.

Businesses and people are however more concerned with the immediate. Even during the period in 2020 when non-essential businesses were closed, there were businesses that could have afforded then – and can still do so now – by selling from side entrances or closing their gates and taking orders which would be delivered to customers.

Some non-essential businesses were brazen enough to open full-blown.

The business class wants to maximise their earnings.

And therefore they are not prepared to support any closure which would affect t h e m m a k i n g m o n e y, regardless of the state of the pandemic in the country. It is all about the money!

Guyana has a large informal economy – unreported economic activity. A study was done four years ago which estimated that Guyana's informal economy is between 35-44 percent of the economy.

The informal sector is not only large in size but also in the share of the country's

employment. In 1991, the number of persons employed in the informal economy was believed to be close to half of the workforce.

The Guyana Labour Force Survey done in 2017 found that between 48.3 percent and 52.6 percent of those working did so in an informal employment. Many of these persons survive on a day-to-day basis, that is, unless they worked they cannot eat or provide for their loved ones.

This is a reality in Guyana. During the fivemonth shutdown of the economy last year while the electoral mischief was taking place, there were persons walking around begging for jobs since they needed to put food on their tables. This is one of the reasons why many workers cannot afford a lockdown – they are fearful of not being able to feed themselves and families. Guyana may be an oil economy but we are nowhere near a bed of roses and it is not likely to get there either because of the oil deal which was inked by the APNU+AFC and which the PPP/C is refusing to renegotiate.

The government knows this but does not wish to admit it because it represents an indictment against 33 years of PNC rule and 23 plus year of the PPP rule. Our leaders know that it is hard for people to survive once the economy goes into a lockdown.

But it is not quite true that the economy or the population cannot afford a

lockdown. After every election which the PNC/R has lost, the country has always gone on a lockdown for weeks and at times, such as in 1997, for months. All it takes is for one small protest demonstration by the PNC/R during those days and the entire commercial district of the country grinds to a halt.

Guyana can afford a lockdown for a month. This would be a short-term sacrifice which would allow for the economy to be reopened more fully. As things stands business is stunted because the economy is still reeling from the COVID-19 effects and production and other economic activity is still lacklustre.

The Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, keeps talking about the number of jobs being created by his government's programme.

But he does not have his antennas to the ground because, if he did, he would have known how difficult it is for persons to find work.

There are lots of persons who are unemployed in Guyana but they are not interested in working. And some of them when they receive their pay on Fridays or Saturdays are absent from work on Monday because they are stale-boozed from the weekend's drinking binge.

A lockdown will not be easy, that is understandable.

But it will also not be fatal for the economy. A total lockdown is impossible but there can be a closure of nonessential businesses, rotation and an increase in the curfew

Common Entrance boys is now bare pressure seh...

Dem

D

em pickney write dem mock exam yesterday.

In de ole days, we used to call it Common Entrance. It was like auditioning fuh yuh life; yuh bin feel dat if yuh nah do good, yuh chances of success in life slimmer dan a razor edge.

Long ago Minister nah used to visit dem school when dem exam writing.

But dem parents used to stand up outside de gate at lunch time and give dem children a treat. Some of dem things wah dem children does get fuh lunch, dem does only see once in a

blue moon. But is suh dem parents does buy de best and treat dem children de best on exam day in de hope dat dem gan put dem best foot forward.

Dat is one exam wah people nah stay away from.

Dem does go and write it, unlike wah dem boys bin do in university overseas.

One night before final exams, two of dem boys went drinking and dem get suh wasted, dat both of dem tun up late fuh de test.

Dem go straight to de professor and tell he how dem could not reach pon time because dem suffer a

punctured tyre and dat cause dem to be late.

De professor tell dem dat is okay. He tell dem fuh come back de next day and he will give dem another test.

Dem two friends go home all night and bun de midnight oil. Dem cram fuh de exam and when dem tun up de next day, de professor put dem in different rooms and hand dem de test paper.

Dem each look at dem paper and see one question only for 100 marks. It read, “Which tyre?”

Talk half and nah mek excuse pon exam day.

hours from 5½ hours to 10½ hours.

The government will not agree to this because its friends in the business community want to make money. And it knows that the average man has mortgages and hire purchase loans to repay, they are likely to want to continue to make as much as they can. In other words, it is all about the money.

Money talks and COVID walks, except that COVID is

doing more than walking; it is killing. And so long as the country does not go on some pause, the deaths will continue to mount.

Vaccination is not going to end the coronavirus epidemic in Guyana. Herd immunity is impossible since more than 25 percent of the population cannot be vaccinated since there are no vaccinates available locally for persons under 18 years.

Guyanese will learn the

hard way. More persons will die before this is over – deaths which could have been prevented if only the people and the government were prepared to make a brief sacrifice.

(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

Thursday June 10, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The world knows Indians would have been targeted if the PPP had done it N

inety percent of the emails I get are from Guyanese who live abroad. The questions are too many, so if the senders are understanding folks, they will know I cannot offer my submissions to even half of the queries, one reason being I am a lazy guy who is also disorganised. My daughter constantly berates me for not doing a book.

This gentleman sent his curiosity twice. I am printing my reaction, adding more. He refers to my column on Tuesday in which I made reference to Dr. Alissa Trotz not carrying anything in her series titled, “In the Diaspora” for the past 19 months when Guyana witnessed the tragedies surrounding the noconfidence vote and the fivemonth election criminalities.

He pointedly inquired if Trotz would have acted that way if the PPP was the bullyboy as the PNC was during the five months of rigging. I am not

contacting him directly. I am speaking to him through this column.

My answer is trenchant and unapologetic. If the PPP tried to tamper with a national election and prolonged the process for five months, Alissa Trotz would have used her column each week to get anti-PPP writers to engage in a blitzkrieg.

I am still at a loss to understand the editorial principles of the Stabroek News. Trotz works under the jurisdiction of the editor-inchief (EiC).

Given that the rigging was taking place in front of the world, then the EiC should have asked Trotz to find commentators to analyse the negative intrusions, the illegal interferences and the violent dimensions of the imbroglio. That was his obligations to readers and shareholders.

I was doing daily analyses in the Kaieteur Radio studios

when the publisher, Glenn Lall, took a position on the election rigging and outlined his policy to two columnists – David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis – and then editor-in-chief, Adam Harris.

I heard Lall's pronouncements and there were times my opinion was asked for. Lall told both columnist and his editor that the paper's policy is not to remain silent on what the paper accepted as election rigging and the policy is to not carry news and views that supported the rigging.

We all know what happened after.

If the PPP were rigging those elections for five months, each week “In the Diaspora” would have featured weekly commentaries of pro-PNC scholars, African rights activists who hate the PPP, women rights groups who detest the PPP and civil society groups who dislike the PPP.

There is no question about it; Transparency Institute – Guyana Chapter and Guyana Human Rights Association would have gone on a rampage against the rigging.

I mentioned above, I will answer the question about Dr. Trotz and add more. Here are my additional thoughts. Eusi Kwayana would have been enraged. We would have received a letter a week from him telling us why the PPP is rigging the poll. The TUC would have called out its workers. There would have been a general strike at UG, closing down the campus.

The hypocritical women groups would have corrugated the narrative in a clever way.

These anti-PPP women groups would have found a way to make women the victims of PPP rigging thus adding gasoline to the flames As we are on the topic of fire, the PNC, ACDA and the AFC would have used inciting

vocabularies.

Georgetown would have seen violence against Frederick Kissoon innocent young Indian workers who have to Forbes Burnham and the PNC travel to Georgetown to feed began to rig elections. themselves, their families From 1968, Indian people and relatives. Ministries felt Guyana was not their would have been torched. home and winged impulse Public buildings would have took hold of them. National been set on fire. The election after national election, Chronicle and NCN would Indian people were beaten up. have been visited by Then came the “Buxton arsonists Troubles.” This was a violent Wasn't this predictable? anti-Indian project in which Well if the answer is difficult, Indian businessmen were killed then, just look at what happened simply because they were in Region Five last September. Indians.

If the PNC lost yet David Remember the words of Granger and Joseph Harmon the common-law husband went up to Region Five and of one of the WPA leaders, incited PNC supporters, B o n i t a B o n e . R o n a l d then think of what would Waddell told Indians on have happened to this channel 9 that they voted for country if the PNC had won the PPP thus they were and the PPP was tampering legitimate targets. with the election for five (The views expressed in consecutive months. this article are those of the This is the kind of tragedies a u t h o r a n d d o n o t Indian people have had to necessarily reflect the live with since 1968 when opinions of this newspaper.)

Thursday June 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Thursday June 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

Myers sues lawyer, Newsroom for defamation over 2020 elections D

eputy Chief Elections O f f i c e r (DCEO), Roxanne Myers, has initiated legal proceeding against attorneyat-law and People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), Sanjeev Datadin, and online media entity, Newsroom (Guyana), claiming in excess of $150M in damages for libel.

According to court documents drafted by her lawyer, Nigel Hughes, and seen by this newspaper, the DCEO is suing for$150M in damages in relation to a news interview done on March 6, 2020 and published by Newsroom on that same date.

According to Myers, in that interview, Datadin used words to the effect that, “the Deputy CEO has been saying that no one is allowed to serve any orders” and the “DCEO is still refusing to let anyone into the building and specifically refusing to allow the marshals in to serve” which was meant to convey that she in effect acted illegally and corruptly in the performance of her duties and barred court marshals from serving legal documents of operatives of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

“The defendants published the official designation of the claimant as one who acted illegally, corruptly, ultra vires in her capacity as Deputy Chief Elections Officer as it pertains to the March 2, 2020 elections,” Myers said in the Statement of Claim (SOC) matter.

untrue, undiluted and penned in a malicious falsehood,” the document added, while noting that Myers denies obstructing or otherwise impeding the court Marshals in the functions of their duties on March 6, 2020.

She denies further ever denying access to anyone lawfully entitled to be present at the GECOM command centre at Ashmin's building located at High

Attorney-at-law and PPP/C MP, Sanjeev Datadin Based on the published assertions of the lawyer, Myers said too that it is safe to say that Datadin as well as Newsroom intended to convey to the public that she was acting above the law, having “arrogated or attempting to arrogate herself jurisdiction or influence the outcome of the of the Region Four elections result and control or otherwise direct Marshals of the Supreme Court of Guyana.”

In addition, the document noted that the willful malice of this allegation is to be found in the failure of the defendants (Datadin, Newsroom) to contact the claimant (Myers) and give her an opportunity to exonerate herself.

Specifically, it noted that Newsroom never put the allegation to her or invited her to counter the utterances of the attorney, who now sits as a MP for the ruling PPP/C

Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers party.

Further, Myers contends that given Datadin's lack of experience of the processes and procedures of the Guyana Elections Commission in the conduct of the Regional and General Elections,” it was reckless for the defendants to publish those slanderous statements in the context of such advertised ignorance.”

Additionally, the DCEO noted that the gravity of the allegations made by the defendants constitutes an intention to not allow her the opportunity to defend herself or “at the very minimum educate Datadin on the role, if any, that she played on the day, which he made the slanderous/defamatory statements.”

“The defendants falsely and maliciously published t h e a f o r e s a i d slander/defamation. The words contained in the impugned interview expressly referred and were understood to refer to the claimant… The words were

Street, Georgetown on March 6, 2020.

In this regard, Myers said that the interview, which was published on the Newsroom website, as well as the company's Facebook page portrayed a false narrative that she is was dishonest, of questionable character, devoid of integrity and unfit for the office she holds.

Taking all of the above into consideration, the DCEO has asked the Court

several reliefs, in addition to the more than $150M in damages. The claimant has requested an injunction that will prevent the defendant from making any further p u b l i c a t i o n ; a retraction/apology for the false, malicious and defamatory statements, as well as a mandatory injunction, which will prevent the online news outfit from publishing similar statements.

First Guyanese woman selected for US Air Force Academy Ambassador Lynch congratulates Emmanuela Desir

E

mmanuela Desir of Georgetown is the first female from Guyana to attend the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In a release, it was noted that she attended a pre departure ceremony at the U S E m b a s s y, w h i c h included representatives from the Military Liaison Office.

Ms. Desir, according to the release, will receive a

full four-year scholarship to the Academy, sponsored by the US Government. Only 15 international students per year are admitted to the academy from around the world. This scholarship, the release said, “builds on the US commitment to women, peace and security, as we recognise the unique and necessary skills that women bring to the security forces.

The United States knows that when we invest in a

woman, she changes not only her own life, but also that of her family and community.

Add that change in a key institution, such as the military, and she will change that institution and her country.”

Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch praised Ms. Desir's strong desire to serve her country in the area of science and noted her plans to return to Guyana to work in the field of green energy.

Over 100 Guyanese challenge...

From page 3 87. Davindra Rajaram, Auto dealer, Global Auto Sales 88. Adit Ramcharan 89. Thallia Roberts Murray 90. Temeka Rodrigues 91. Kelly Rodriguez 92. Analise Samaroo 93. Sasha Sanichar

94. Varun Singh Student, University of Guyana 95. Robert Skeete 96. Leonel Skeete 97. Alethia Somerset 98. Cedric Stephens 99. Keziah Stoll 100. Joel Thompson 101. Alain Van Veen,

Coordinator, Region 10 Conservation Society 102. Charlene Wilkinson, Lecturer, University of Guyana 103. Akeel Williams 104. Danielle Wilson 105. Michael Wilson 106. Si-Ra Won 107. Cathryn Xavier

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 10, 2021

Linden woman beaten to death by mentally-ill son

T

he battered body of a 56year-old woman was discovered Dead:

by Linden police in her Wanda Kara Kara, Mackenzie, Linden home on Tuesday Wilson morning.

D e a d i s Wa n d a Wilson also known as Sheila Wilson, a security guard, of Kara Kara, Mackenzie, Linden. The main suspect in the murder is her son, Hosia Ajadia, of the same address. He is currently in custody assisting with an investigation.

The police were summoned to the house by a friend of the family, who was asked by the woman's brother, who lives overseas, to check on her since she too is mentally ill.

The friend told Kaieteur News that when he visited the home, the son approached him at the door but was not allowing him access to the building. friend related. The friend He was acting very suspicious. He said when he then proceeded to the peeped into the house, the Mackenzie Police Station entire place was ransacked. where he reported his “I can't believe that people observation and the ranks living in there, table chair left with him to investigate everything turn over,” the further.

According to police, ranks did a walk-through of the scene and observed that the entire house was ransacked. The victim's body was discovered in a bedroom on a bed with a door on top of it.

The body was examined for marks of violence and the head and face appeared to be “smashed in,” this publication was informed. The body was escorted to the Linden Hospital Complex where it was pronounced dead on arrival.

The news sent shock waves in the Kara Kara community but neighbours said they were not surprised. “The boy does always act up; I don't know why they (the family) left them alone to live. He used to bully her a lot,” one neighbour said.

The friend, who visited the home, said that from the looks of things, there was a fight between the two. “If you see this house, you would believe a bull cow pass through it. I'm just happy I went and didn't leave him and her alone in there for more days.”

Relatives hand over Lusignan Prison escapee to police

Still at large, Shazam Kalil

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day after he escaped from the L u s i g n a n Prison, Andrew Chaung, was yesterday returned into police custody by his sister and fiancée. On Tuesday, 26year-old Chaung, along with Shazam Kalil, escaped from the Prison's Quarantine Section.

Kaieteur News had previously reported that around 07:30 hrs. Tuesday,

Recaptured, Andrew Chaung

during the unlocking of the Quarantine Section by Prison ranks, it was observed that the two were unaccounted for during the checking of the tally.

Immediately an alarm was raised and a manhunt was launched for the two.

The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) in a release yesterday stated that Chaung is presently at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Eve Leary, Kingston,

and is expected to be charged for escaping from lawful custody.

Still in hiding is 24-yearold Kalil of Lot 53 Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice. Back in 2016, he was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of murdering 19-year-old Shazina Mohamed outside of a Rosignol, Berbice Chinese restaurant in January 2015.

PAGE 13

Three buildings destroyed in Bagotsville fire

The scene of the fire yesterday

T

he Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is c u r r e n t l y investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed three buildings yesterday at Lot 150 Public Road, Bagotsville, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

One of them, a twostorey building, housed the Good Life Chinese Supermarket. Public Relations Officer of the GFS, Silyne Griffith, related that the fire originated there in the early morning hours.

GFS received the call around 05:59 hrs. and fire tenders from the La Grange, We s t R u i m v e l d t a n d Leonora Fire Stations

responded. A fire truck from the Central Fire Station was also dispatched to the location.

A cell phone recorded video of the blaze, which surfaced on Facebook, showed fire fighters in the rain trying to extinguish the flames as onlookers, some with umbrellas, stood closeby.

Thick black smoke accompanied by yellow flames could also be seen emanating from the upper flat of the two-storey building.

Griffith told Kaieteur News that despite the firemen's efforts, the fire destroyed the entire

building.

The flames also spread to another building located in the same lot destroying it completely too. Griffith said that it was a one-flat structure that was used as a storage bond.

The fire was eventually extinguished, but not before severely damaging a third building situated in the same yard.

All three buildings are said to be the property of a local (name not provided) who had rented one (the twostorey building) to a Chinese couple who lived in the upper flat and had converted the bottom flat into a supermarket.

PAGE 14

Thursday June 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

Flooding situation classified as - President Ali a Level 2 disaster tells Region 6 - says Govt. can now seek int'l support President Ali at Kilcoy/Chesney Housing Scheme

President Ali at Black Bush

A resident making a point at a meeting at Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant.

President Ali at Manchester Village

By Malisa Playter-Harry

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resident, Irfaan Ali, during an outreach to Region Six yesterday announced that the countrywide flooding situation is now considered a Level Two disaster.

This, according to the Head of State, is based on the advice of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

According to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency's (CDEMA) Regional Response Mechanism, a Level Two event is one in which the national capacity to respond

is not overwhelmed but external assistance is required.

The affected State may or may not declare a disaster. In this scenario, the CDEMA Coordinating Unit may provide technical assistance, specialised equipment, support personnel and information sharing. In comparison, a Level Three Event overwhelms the capacity of an affected State to respond.

The President, during the outreach, was accompanied

by Ministers, Zulfikar Mustapha and Nigel Dharamlall, who hold the portfolio of Agriculture and Local Government

respectively.

During a meeting at Kilcoy/Chesney Housing Scheme the President told residents that "the CDC advised this morning (yesterday) that the disaster is a Level Two disaster so that we can now move the situation to the international community to get international support."

President Ali further said that his Government is working on a supplementary provision to take to parliament for more

resources/monies to be available to assist with the current disaster and it's after effects.

President Ali also visited the Fyrish/Gybralter area, Chesney Old Housing Scheme, Miss Phoebe, Port M o u r a n t , M a n c h e s t e r, Mibicuri, Johanna (Black Bush Polder), No. 52/53, No. 59 and No. 70.

All of the areas visited have been heavily affected by flood and several mechanisms were implemented by the Minister

of Agriculture during previous visits to the Region.

However, residents from the various areas requested more interventions with the inclusion of more tubings, pumps and machines to clear canals and drains.

"We are going to support you after the flood, we will support farmers...I could have asked the ministers to give me a report but I am here and we understand and we care.

We would like to put a pump all over but we don't

have enough pumps.

The reality we are dealing with is the volume of water," said the President while addressing residents at Miss Phoebe and Port Mourant.

Meanwhile, CDC Director General, Kester Craig, also committed to providing further support with the distribution of hampers and cleaning supplies to persons.

President Ali and his team had visited Region Five the previous day..

Man gets 10 months after telling Magistrate “I'm guilty, that's it”

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efore being sentenced for robbing a man, a 28-yearold labourer appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts and told the court that “I'm guilty, that's it”.

The defendant, Dwayne Bestford of Lot 625 Grove, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, to answer to the charge read to him.

Bestford pleaded guilty to the charge, which states that on June 3, 2021 at Water Street, Agricola while in the company of another and armed with a handgun, he robbed Ryan Calendar of his iPhone 5S valued at $150,000, a Samsung A20S valued at

$145,000 and $48,000 in cash.

The Police Prosecutor told the court that on the day in question between 19:15hrs and 19:30hrs, the virtual complainant was walking on the street when he was approached by the defendant and another individual.

One of them placed a metal object to Calendar's back and robbed him before escaping.

A r eport was made to the Ruimveldt Police Station and on June 6, Bestford was arrested.

Bestford told the court that he does not have a gun and that “I'm guilty, that's it”. The Chief Magistrate then sentenced him to 10 months imprisonment.

Jailed: Dwayne Bestford

Thursday June 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News VACANCY

PROPERTY FOR SALE

87-E-Albert St, Albertown, third building from Lamaha in Albert Street. Price 24 Million(Land 82x20) negotiable.

SERVICES

REPAIRS AT LOW COST: F R I D G E S , A I R CONDITIONER,WASHING MACHINE,FREEZER,SALE OF AC'S. TEL#6294946,225-4822.

FOR SALE

Shares in Regent Street Property @8am. Tel# 6537628.

3 Combines,132 fiatgari John Deere. 7300 tractors 399 and 290 massy. Cal: 6952220.

Massey Ferguson Tractor( Foreign used). MF165$1.5M, MF 135-$1.1M, Pickup Ford Ranger-$1.1m, F150-$1.2M. 682-5230, 6154414.

1 Toyota Allion PWW Series $1.8M & 1 Honda CRV $3.2 negotiable.Contact 649-0956 for more info.

WANTED Wanted one experienced Gold Smith, Jacobs Jewellery and Pawn shop 16 Pike street Kitty Tel#622-4970

Wanted (2) experienced Welder/Fabricator. Contact Tel#222-3844.

Urgent: Malachi Christina and Emir Alleyne. United States of America. Contact Lennox Alleyne at 627-6070/ 602-5008.

Experienced Cooks and Servers, Cleaners, Handyman.

Call:626-7285 to book interview.

Female Domestic for house keeping $3500 daily. Wardrobe $10,000 empty water barrel $5000. 682-5230, 615-4414.

Wanted Security.

InterService Enterprise Security. 21 Seaforth Street Campbellville. Tel#653-2832/ 626-6845.

Back to Eden Bakery. Experienced bakers,pastry,puri makers,sales rep. 85 Dand Street, Subryanville G/town.

Looking for one certified operator for a 60 tonne Terex Crane, qualified persons.

Contact: 696-1814.

1 Boat Propeller 34" right hand pitch. Contact 6040342.

VACANCY

FOR RENT

Upper flat Bel Air (3) bedrooms apartment furnished$2000 USD,unfurnished$1500 USD. 225-4106.

8:00AM-4:00PM. 1-2 bedroom fully furnished apartment- 237 Gorden St.Kitty, $190,000 monthly. Water included.

Contact 696-7163.

Room Attendant, Supervisors, Receptionist, 30-50 years old. 233 South Road Lacytown. Tel#225-2304.

Vacancy for Legal Secretary.

Call 633-0237 for details.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop,age 25-45, Car/ Van licence.Call: 642-9823.

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

Customs house brokerage service. For Motor vehicles i n d u s t r i a l equipment,barrels. Registered broker asycuda certified.661-3043.

Pump Attendant & Cashier.

Shifts (6AM-2PM & 2PM10PM). Shell Station Providence E.B.D. Email: Shellramsburg@gmail.com

Security officers male and female 18 years and above. Contact 223-4172,632-0101 or 6320909.

Maid to cook and clean. Call: 615-9132.

Hotel Attendants.Call: 2277714 & 223-3448.

Workers for P.S.G.C.S cleaner, labourers and maintenance workers Contact 621-6969/ 6157784 serious inquiries only.

Two bedroom apartment to rent on E.C.D. Tel#629-6237.

Two upholsterers and a frame builder needed. Please contact 227-3660. Must have NIS and TIN number.

3 Bedrooms,Livingroom Pouderoyen W.B.D.Asking $70,000.Front road, 10min from bridge. Contact: 6824622 & 617-7389.

Experienced masseuse/cosmetologist required. Nalini's hair salon,225 New Market Street (opposite Maggies).

226-6705/609-6259.

Male cleaner for a workshop.

Call: 642-9823.

Trained grade 1&2 Teachers needed. Payment will commence with experience and will be in 6 digit. 623-1615.

For porters apply at Alabama Trading. 65 Robb Street Bourda.

For painter,carpenters & Mason. Call: 623-1615.

Vacancy for females to assort and pack goods. Aplply at Alabama Trading. 65 Robb Street Bourda.

Vacancy for female accounts clerk/cashier.Apply at Alabama Trading. 65 Robb Street Bourda.

Thursday June 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 10, 2021

PAGE 17

GPSU highlights govt.'s shortcomings - as it celebrates 98 years of existence

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u c c e s s i v e governments have abandoned their legal obligation to respect collective bargaining. This is according to President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Patrick Yarde, in a message, which he delivered last Tuesday to mark the 98th anniversary of the union.

The observance was held under the theme, “Ensuring an efficient, professional and credible Public Service; committed to the delivery of Quality Public Services”.

According to a release issued by the GPSU, Yarde also rapped the current government for “deliberately undermining the integrity of our Public

Service.”

The GPSU President also highlighted Guyana's lack of appreciation for climate change and the country's current state of unpreparedness to effectively respond to national disasters, as is evident by the many hinterland communities devastated by floods associated with the May/June rains and in need of urgent assistance. Many friends of the Union also reflected on the theme as an integral part of their greetings, the release noted.

Also, in light of the ongoing Covid-19 related restrictions, the Union opted to restrict its anniversary celebrations to a simple

Dead: 12-year-old Varshanie Ramroop

Girl, 12, killed in accident

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young girl lost her life on Tuesday after being struck down by a motor vehicle along the East Bank Essequibo (EBE) public road.

According to police, 12year-old Varshanie Ramroop, of Parika Façade, EBE, was travelling in a minibus and at around 15:15 hrs. she exited the said vehicle when it reached the village of Farm, EBE. The bus, police revealed, had stopped on the southern side of the road and Varshanie was attempting to cross the road when she was struck down by a motor pickup bearing number plate GXX 7522. The owner and driver of the vehicle at the time, has since been identified as Benjamin Parks of Windsor Estates, East Bank Demerara.

As a result of the collision, the young girl fell onto the surface of the road where she received severe head injuries. She was picked

up by police in an unconscious state and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where she was seen and examined by a doctor on duty. She was pronounced dead on arrival.

When Kaieteur News reached out to Ms. Rishma Ramroop, mother of the deceased girl, yesterday, she said that her daughter was a student of the Greenwich Park Primary School and was preparing to write the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). She said that, at the time of the accident, the child was returning home from a lessons class which was held opposite the School.

The body of Varshanie is c u r r e n t l y a t t h e We s t Demerara Regional Hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination. Also, police revealed that a notice of intended prosecution has since been served on the driver of the motor pick-up.

luncheon and prayer session at its Head-office. The gathering consisted mainly of members of the Executive Council, select Branch officials, staff members, and a few special invitees.

Accordingly, the Union said in its release that it “takes this opportunity to once again extend well wishes to its members and to reflect on the many successes in the past as we vigorously confront the challenges before us.”

GPSU President, Patrick Yarde, and a few other officials attended the anniversary luncheon

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 10, 2021

Thursday June 10, 2021

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

Letesenbet Gidey Nadal drops set, beats Schwartzman breaks 2-day-old world to reach French Open SF PARIS (AP) — Rafael Nadal’s French Open set streak is over. His pursuit of a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title — including 14 at Roland Garros — remains very much intact.

Nadal shrugged off dropping a set in Paris for the first time in two years and regained control Wednesday, whipping violent forehands punctuated with first pumps and yells of “Vamos!” en route to a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory over 10th-seeded Diego Schwartzman to reach the semifinals at the claycourt major tournament.

After taking the last nine games against Schwartzman, No. 3 seed Nadal will play in

Friday’s semifinals against either No. 1 Novak Djokovic, in what would be a rematch of last year’s final and their 58th meeting anywhere, or No. 9 Matteo Berrettini. The Djokovic-Berrettini quarterfinal was scheduled for last night.

The other men’s semifinal will be No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. No. 6 Alexander Zverev.

Nadal, who turned 35 last week, is now 105-2 for his career at Roland Garros.

He is just two wins from eclipsing the men’s mark for most total Grand Slam singles championships that he currently shares with Roger Federer.

In addition to his 13 trophies at Roland Garros — four in a row from 2005-08, five in a row from 2010-14 and another four in a row so far since 2017 — the Spanish lefthander won four titles at the U.S. Open, two at Wimbledon and one at the Australian Open.

There are four first-time Grand Slam semifinalists left in the women’s bracket, something that last happened at the 1978 Australian Open.

In yesterday’s quarterfinals, No. 17 seed Maria Sakkari ended Iga Swiatek’s title defence by beating her 6-4, 6-4, and unseeded Barbora Krejcikova stopped the run of 17-year-

Thursday June 10, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may feel the urge to get up and go today. Follow this instinct and get to work.

You're anxious to get the ball rolling on certain projects.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You may find that there is some opposition from other people today, especially concerning emotions. You may feel threatened in some way.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're terrific at following through with projects, Gemini, but perhaps not so great at starting them. Today is the perfect time for you to prove this theory wrong.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your self-esteem is apt to be quite high today, Cancer, and you may feel an extra bit of fire helping you throughout the day. Take the lead on projects that seem to be going nowhere.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) There may be a bit of tension and conflict in your world today. Be prepared for mild contention that could turn into an all-out war if you aren't careful.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) There may be tension in your heart today that could be difficult to shake, Virgo.

You might find it hard to relate to people or that others aren't hearing you very well.

Keep in mind that you may have to translate your thoughts in order to get your message across.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Try not to be impatient today, Libra. This could be one day in which you feel restless, and everything seems to take much longer than you'd like. Try your best to go with the flow.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) To fight or not to fight may be the question of the day.

Your sensitive, feminine side is likely to say one thing while your masculine, combative side says another.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Be careful that you don't put your foot in your mouth today.

You may have a tendency to jump the gun, so be conscious of how you use your energy.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) This could be a highly productive day for you if you approach it in the right way.

You will find that you have an added burst of energy that could help you conquer just about any task you set your mind to, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may feel a bit anxious today, and it may be hard to settle down. You probably have many irons in the fire right now, and they're all starting to heat up at once.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your heart should feel quite generous today. You're most likely feeling the need to keep everyone smiling. Spread your radiant sunshine everywhere - it will be appreciated on a day like this.

old Coco Gauff 7-6 (6), 6-3. So Sakkari faces Krejcikova today, when the other semifinal will be No. 31 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova against unseeded Tamara Zidansek.

Nadal entered his quarterfinal with a 35-set run at Roland Garros that began during the 2019 final. That grew to 36 yesterday, before Schwartzman outplayed him for a stretch, surprisingly winning more of their exchanges that lasted at least nine strokes.

Ah, but what matters is who wins the match, and Nadal asserted himself quickly after Schwartzman was ahead 4-3 in the third.

Nadal would not drop another game, breaking to go up 5-4, before holding at love to take the third set. Then he broke again to open the fourth and really remove any remaining sense of suspense.

Schwartzman — now 1-11 against Nadal, including a loss in the 2020 French Open semifinals — started muttering to himself and bounced his racket off the clay a moment before getting broken again to trail 3-0 in fourth.

...Krejcikova ends nervy From page 20 Krejcikova seeing off another couple of set points.

The Czech was less wasteful, hitting a forehand winner on her first set point to take control of the contest.

She won 10 points in a row as she opened a 4-0 lead in the second set. Krejcikova’s nerves got to her too as she wasted three match points at 5-1 and allowed Gauff to pull a break back.

Gauff saved another match point with a service winner in the next game.

Krejcikova buried a forehand into the net on the next one, but she ended it on her sixth opportunity when her opponent sent a woeful shot wide.

record in 10,000m

NBC Sports Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey lowered the women’s 10,000m world record, two days after Sifan Hassan broke it on the same track in Hengelo, Netherlands.

Gidey, who on Oct. 7 broke the 5000m world record, clocked 29:01.03 at the Ethiopian Olympic Trials (yes, the Ethiopian Trials are being held in the Netherlands). She took 5.79 seconds off Hassan’s record from Sunday.

Hassan, an Ethiopianborn Dutchwoman, brought the record down 10.63 seconds from Ethiopian Almaz Ayana‘s winning time at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In total, 30.75 seconds

have been taken off the world record since Rio. Before that, the dubious record of 29:31.78 set by Chinese Wang Junxia had stood since 1993.

All four men’s and women’s 5000m and 10,000m world records have been broken over the last 10 months. Runners have benefited from technology — new spikes and pacing lights on the track.

In 2019, Gidey took 10,000m silver at the world championships. In 2020, she took 4.5 seconds off countrywoman Tirunesh Dibaba‘s 12-year-old 5000m world record.

Gidey, 23, was previously briefly expelled from school for refusing to run in physical education classes.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Thursday June 10, 2021

West Indies versus South Africa First Test

Clash of pace attacks in favourable conditions under new leaders today

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SPNcricinfo West Indies and South Africa meet so seldomly that they may wonder if the other still plays international cricket and they are about to find out they do, and quite similarly.

While their encounters of old were largely dominated by a South Africa side on the up against a West Indian outfit on the decline - and their last one in the Caribbean was in 2010, at the same time as South Africa was hosting the football World Cup - those roles have just about reversed. That means this series has all the ingredients to be among the most closely competed contests going around.

Both are teams in transition albeit from different directions. South Africa enter this series from as low a spot on the ICC rankings as they have ever been at No. 7, and West Indies, from a position of progress. They sit at No.6.

From their mid-table places, they both maintain they are eyeing the top spot and this is step one. It’s actually not.

Because this series was due to be played last year, it does not fall part of the new World Test Championship and so there will be no points on offer for either side.

I n s t e a d , t h e r e ’s t h e opportunity to find some form before they will really need it, to test out combinations and to learn to play under new leaders.

Kraigg Brathwaite is in his second series in charge of West Indies while Dean Elgar will lead for the first time as permanently appointed captain.

Keegan Petersen is set to make his Test debut for South Africa.

(Stu Forster/Getty Images)

West Indies players go through their paces yesterday. (CWI) The battle lines are expected to be drawn by the bowling attacks, with both teams acknowledging that as their strongest suits. While they don’t have the reputations of the pace packs of the past, they have the chance to make bigger names for themselves in favourable conditions against batting line-ups that are prone to losing wickets in clusters. As such, building partnerships will be key and the series could hinge on which side can produce a match-winning one.

U l t i m a t e l y, a n d unpopular as this may be, the Test series will be a curtainraiser for the five-match T20I rubber that follows and will form part of both sides’ build-up to the T20 World Cup in October.

In the spotlight Jason Holder is just 29 years old but is already talking like someone in the winter of his international

career. After being removed as captain in Tests and ODIs, Holder told ESPNcricinfo he is now, “enjoying however many days I have playing international cricket.” His age and his form suggest there should be plenty of those and West Indies intend to get as much out of him as possible.

Coach Phil Simmons called him one of the most technically sound batters in the squad and indicated Holder will have a big role to play in the line-up, as well as with the ball in hand. While Holder has already played a series since being relieved of the leadership responsibility, this one will be an opportunity for him to “express myself a bit more and have more fun.”

At the other end of the spectrum is Dean Elgar, whose leadership journey is only just beginning. Elgar has been in charge of South Africa once before when Faf

du Plessis was on paternity leave and at the time suggested long-term captaincy was not in his future.

Four years have passed since then and Elgar has changed his mind. In the lead-up to this series, his team-mates spoke about how much he wants the job and how it’s unlikely to change him as a rough-around-theedges and fun-loving personality.

What they will really hope is that it also doesn’t change him as a run-scorer.

Elgar has been the most consistent of South Africa’s batters in the last three years albeit he wants to contribute more readily. Without du Plessis, he is also the most capped member of the squad and the expectation will be on him to make his experience count.

Team news Kieran Powell is back in the Test side after an absence

of more than two years and will partner his captain at the top of the order, followed by another returnee, Shai Hope.

That may leave no room for Nkrumah Bonner. Shannon Gabriel’s hamstring injury, which has ruled him out of the series, makes a debut for teenager Jayden Seales highly likely. If that happens, it will be Seales’ second firstclass match.

Keegan Petersen is set to make his debut in the middle order and will likely bat below Rassie van der Dussen. Temba Bavuma is struggling with a left hip problem and he will undergo a fitness test on Wednesday.

If he doesn’t play, Kyle Verreynne will make his Test debut. Though South Africa have travelled with four spinners, conditions in the lead-up to the Test have appeared to favour the quicks and Keshav Maharaj is set to operate as the only slower bowler. The four-man

pace attack will include Wi a a n M u l d e r a s t h e allrounder.

Pitch and conditions Before leaving South Africa, new captain Elgar said he had anecdotal evidence that conditions would be slow and low but the visitors quickly revised that opinion on arrival.

Bowling coach Charl Langeveldt noted that not only had he never been to the Caribbean when it rains but also that the combination of humidity, the Dukes ball and recent conditions favouring quicks convinced him that there may be much more in it for his pace pack than was initially thought.

That’s good news for those of us who want to see a battle of the bowlers but not so good for batters on either side, whose confidence is low. The weather is set to stay warm throughout the match with some rain predicted for Monday.

Krejcikova ends nervy teenager Gauff’s run to reach French Open semis PA R I S ( R e u t e r s ) Unseeded Barbora Krejcikova reached the semi-finals of the French Open on her fifth appearance in a Grand Slam main draw as she beat a nervy Coco Gauff 7-6(6) 6-3 yesterday.

The 33rd-ranked Czech saved five set points as she recovered from a slow start and benefited from her 17year-old opponent’s lack of composure to book a meeting with either defending champion Iga Swiatek or Maria Sakkari.

It was the 25th-seeded

Gauff’s first quarter-final at a major and after a promising start, the American appeared to crumble under pressure, making 41 unforced errors as she served seven double faults.

Krejcikova is looking to become the first player from the Czech Republic to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup since Hana Mandlikova in 1981.

Almost 5,000 spectators - up from 1,000 until then were allowed on a sunkissed court Philippe Chatrier as COVID-19 measures started

Barbora Krejcikova ends nervy teenager Coco Gauff’s run to reach French Open semis.

to ease yesterday.

“Thank you so much, it was amazing, we were more

pumped. Thanks for cheering,” Krejcikova said on court.

“I had never dreamed of being here on this court, reaching the semi-finals. I was behind in the first set but decided to go for every ball and just enjoy myself.”

MISFIRING GAUFF Gauff, who geared up for the tournament with her second WTA title in the Emilia Romagna Open in Parma, raced to a 3-0 lead with some aggressive service returns.

But Krejcikova, on a nine-match winning streak on clay on the main tour after winning the Strasbourg title

before Roland Garros, broke back for 2-3 as Gauff started to misfire.

Gauff took advantage of a dip in her opponent’s first serve percentage to move 53 up and serve for the set, only to then lose her composure and drop serve for the second time after wasting a set point.

Krejcikova was again in difficulty on her serve in the 12th game but she saved two more set points to force a tiebreak, in which nerves played a central part with (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 10, 2021

Asher-Smith eyes Tokyo, dubs Fraser-Pryce ‘amazing’

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FP - World 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith said yesterday that Shelley-Ann FraserP r y c e ’s s c i n t i l l a t i n g 10.63sec 100m run was “amazing” for the sport.

At the age of 34, and having taken time away from the track to give birth to a baby boy, Fraser-Pryce has hit some of the form of her life just six weeks before the Tokyo Olympics.

The Jamaican looks poised to be the women’s sprinter with the biggest target on her back, not least after the reigning world and two-time Olympic 100m champion’s performance at the Olympic Destiny meeting in Kingston on Saturday.

Only late US sprinting star Florence GriffithJoyner, who holds the world record of 10.49sec, has run faster.

Britain’s Asher-Smith s a i d F r a s e r- P r y c e “ i s absolutely amazing, I sent her a message saying ‘Oh my god, you’re amazing’”.

“My coach sent me a video showing her leg speed and he said ‘this is what I’m talking about, you need to move your legs like that!’.”

- ‘100% rust’ Asher-Smith, who won the world 200m title in Doha in 2019 and silver in the 100m, added: “I’m a competitor, but you can’t ignore the fact Shelly-Ann is an amazing athlete.

“It’s amazing not only for her but also our sport,” the 25-year-old Londoner said of her rival’s new world leading time.

Turning to her own season, Asher-Smith admitted to some ring rustiness after time away from the track due to Covid19 restrictions.

“To be fair, I’m definitely

still getting back into swing of things,” she said.

“I’m definitely one of those people that when championships come I’m ready to go.”

Asher-Smith could only finish fifth in the 200m at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but had the consolation of picking up a bronze with the 4x100m relay team. Likewise at the 2017 London worlds, she finished fourth in the 200m, but won relay silver.

A year later, she hit treble European gold in the 100, 200 and 4x100m relay in Berlin.

“As always racing like anything else is a skill which you’re never, ever going to forget how to do,” said Asher-Smith, who qualified for the 100m at the July 23August 8 Tokyo Games after running 10.92sec in Hengelo on the weekend. She also won the opening Diamond League meet in a rainswept

Gateshead ahead of US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson.

“But for me I need a few to warm up and I’m going to continue to navigate my way through the season and get to the Olympics in the best

PAGE 21

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has thrown the gauntlet to all pretenders at the Tokyo Games.

possible shape and the best shape to perform well out there.

“Not racing for a year you definitely have some rust to get rid of, 100 percent!”

Asher-Smith added:

“I’m really excited to compete here tomorrow. I’m really excited to do another 200m.

“I’ve had a good winter block of training, so I’m hoping to put together a good performance.”

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 10, 2021

PAGE 23

Atwell receives death threat from cutlass wielding assailant - Perpetrator released on bail until Court hearing on Friday

By Sean Devers

F

ormer Boxing Wo r l d t i t l e contender Clive Atwell must have thought of his near death experience six years ago, on October 24, 2015, when he fought Dexter Gonsalves in the WBC FECARBOX Lightweight title fight, would be the last time someone would attack his head.

However, at 7: 40 AM last Sunday while preaching the Gospel at the Rome Methodist Church in Agricola, 40-year-old Kwesi Alves of 71 Remus Street, Agricola, brandishing a cutlass, threatened to kill Atwell and even fired a few chops to his head which grazed the former Caribbean Featherweight and WBC–CABOFE Super Lightweight Champion just above his eyebrow and his nose.

The cuts he sustained were not series but left his seven-year-old son Alex, his wife Altavi and the congregation, severely traumatised.

The incident was sparked by allegations that Pastor Atwell allowed someone to be buried in front of Alves’

Kwesi Alves (pictured) has threatened to kill Clive Atwell. mother ’s grave in the Cemetery which is located opposite the Church in Agricola.

Alves claimed that Atwell has to take responsibility with his life.

Alves’ sister said that their mother was buried 21 years ago and her brother would usually consume alcohol and that she was fed up with his behaviour.

His sister said she told him that somebody burying their family member in front of where their mother tomb was built has nothing do with Pastor Atwell or him and the pastor has nothing to do with his accusations.

“If I don’t kill him now I will kill him soon,” the irate

Alves allegedly threatened.

Atwell’s distraught wife Altavi Atwell, who is pregnant, claimed that alcohol was not the real excuse with him wanting to kill her husband and feels this seems to a personal by the way he ranted and raged.

According to a member of the congregation, Pastor Atwell and his family, along with another church member arrived at the Rome Methodist Church early to prepare for Sunday service.

As pastor Atwell was setting up the hand wash sink at the church entrance, in accordance with the standard COVID protocols, he said he noticed Alves approach the church waving a cutlass chanting, “yah s***** gon dead today a fed up a yah”.

With quick action of those present they managed to close the doors and windows preventing the man from entering however he managed to cut the Pastor Atwell across his eyebrows and nose with the cutlass.

Atwell informed that he called the Police Outpost to find out what was happening.

“I was then informed that Alves was in their custody and he was to report to the

Mark Wilshire and Tanda Cross man display one of the trophies.

Champion of Champions dominoes set for Sunday

S

enior Organising of the Guyana Dominoes League Mark Wiltshire will be hosting the Champion of Champions dominoes competition on Sunday at R and R Sports Club 75 Meadowbrook Gardens.

Entrance fee is $15,000 and the wining team will take home a trophy and $175,000 along with nine medals, while the runner up will receive a trophy and $75,000, third place a trophy and $35,000 and fourth place a

trophy and $15,000.

Prizes will also be given to the best female player, MVP, female sharing first love, and man of the match in the final.

All GNDF rules in will in effect and covid guidelines will be observed. Among the teams set to participate are Spartans, F and H, Gold is Money, Angels, C6, Players, Thunder, B13, Executive and All Season.

Teams can contact Wiltshire eon 659-8672 for registration.

Police Outpost to provide a statement. What was surprising and worrying to me was when I heard this man was released from custody the same day of the incident,” said Atwell.

Despite his threats the perpetrator was released on bail and is free to carry out his threats before his Court hearing is scheduled for Friday.

On the night of his last fight he was rushed to a city hospital where he was diagnosed with Subdural Hematomas Hemorrhage and an emergency surgery was done to decompress the swelling which was jamming on his central nervous system.

The former world rated pugilist, with a professional record of 17 fights, 13 wins, 3 losses with 7 KOs, did not let his situation get the best of him but instead was determined to be a fighter out of the ring with the continued l o v e , s u p p o r t , encouragement and help of his wife, Altavi, who continues to be his number

Clive Atwell his-wife and son were traumatised by the events on Sunday. one supporter.

A successful Corrective Surgery which was done on August 17, 2016 at the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, where a titanium mesh was used to cover the hole in his skull.

A committee member of the Central Management Committee for Constituency 15, Atwell has resuscitated the Ricola Boxing Gym and functions as Coach when

called upon to assist young Boxers by President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle.

As an Entrepreneur, Atwell, owns an establishment offering Plumbing and a Documentation Services centre, he is also the Coach of Ricola Boxing Gym and is also the Lay Pastor where he plays a key role in the repairing of the Church building.

De General Pest Control and Marketing Agency supports Independence Softball Cup De General Pest Control and Marketing Agency has supported the WeCare Community Services and Promotions inaugural Independence Inter-Region Softball Cup. The entity recently handed over a cheque to the organisers at a simple ceremony held at its location at 93 ‘B’ John Street, Campbellville.

The competition commenced last Sunday in Region four and will continue this weekend with matches in region 6 at the Lochaber ground, in region 5 at the Bush Lot Sports Club Ground and in region 3 at the Zeeburg Sports club ground and games get under way at 09:00hrs.

The competition is being played on a knock out basis and the two top teams will advance to the playoff stage.

There will be over $200,000 in cash and trophies to be awarded to the winner, runner-up, man of the series, best bowler and batsman in the tournament,

Director of De General De General Pest Control and Marketing Agency Michael Williams presents the cheque to a representative of the organising committee. man of the match in the final, for the most sixes hit in the

final and man of the match in all the games.