PAGE 02
Kaieteur News
Monday June 14, 2021
Ramjattan sent 12 cops to the U.S to learn to ride bicycles the country donated to Guyana Former Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, had sent 12 members from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Georgetown City Constabulary to the United States of America (U.S.A) to acquire special riding skills for “high-class” bicycles, which that country donated to Guyana. Kaieteur News learnt of this after a civilian was caught examining one of the bicycles. While doing so, the individual was told to be careful as it is a “high-class bike” and ranks had to be sent overseas to learn how to ride it. The individual related that they became curious and asked to do a test ride. After being permitted to do so, the individual noted that the only difference between their bicycle and the Force’s donated bike was that, “It have rash breaks and the seat very comfortable”. According to reports, 200 of the “high class” bicycles along with accessories were donated to the GPF by the USA’s Department of State through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL). An article posted on the US Embassy in Guyana’s website noted that the bicycles cost US$145,000. They were handed over to
Ramjattan who at the time was in charge of public security. The GPF received 170 bicycles and the City Constabulary received 30. USA had told Guyana that they will be providing training for some of its officers to learn how to ride the bikes. The training commenced on November 28, 2016, and concluded on December 2, 2016. The officers were trained with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The officers did not only learn how to use the bicycles but were also trained to pass on their sophisticated skill set to other officers upon returning to Guyana. It was reported that the officers were exposed to practical and classroom exercises on how to ride safely and comfortably in traffic. Additionally, they were taught enhanced riding skills and given the opportunity to practice in diverse traffic conditions so that they could employ techniques to keep themselves safe and free from accidents while traversing public roads. They were also taught defensive tactics to use while on patrol and how to best maintain and repair their bikes.
Former-U.S. Ambassador, Perry Holloway handing over bike to former-Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. [Photo credit: U.S Embassy in Guyana website]
Row between neighbours over missing music box leaves one injured A row between two neighbours over a missing music box has left one injured and the other in hiding. According to the police, the injured man has been identified as 29-yearold Davindra Harrikissoon, called “Sunny.” He is also a fisherman of Lot 18 Edinburg, Anna Catherina, We s t C o a s t D e m e r a r a (W.C.D). The suspect is known as “Bum”. The incident occurred last Saturday around 16:30hrs at No.2 Koker, Anna Catherina, W.C.D. On the day in question, Harrikissoon and the suspect were at the koker when an argument ensued after Harrikissoon accused the
suspect of stealing his brother’s music box. Harrikissoon’s allegation annoyed the suspect who then armed himself with a sharp object and began stabbing Harrikissoon about his body. According to the police, Harrikissoon managed to free himself from the suspect. The matter was reported at the Leonora Police Station. Harrikissoon was then escorted to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was treated for two stab wounds to his back, one to his chest, one to his navel area, and one over his left eye. His condition was listed as stable. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Some of the bicycles that were donated. [Photo credit: U.S Embassy in Guyana website]
Kaieteur News
Monday June 14, 2021
PAGE 03
Guyana yet to install five years of IMF recommendations O
ver the last five years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been one of Guyana’s key partners in developing the technical capacity that is needed to properly govern the oil and gas sector. In addition to this, the financial institution has been at the forefront of highlighting many loopholes in Guyana’s oil deals as well as its legislative and regulatory framework, which can aid in mitigating significant value loss. In this regard, it has produced several reports between 2015 to now which
o f f e r c r i t i c a l recommendations that should be adopted. In spite of the prudent advice it has offered in these documents, there has been no significant progress by Guyana’s political leadership on this front. For example, on numerous occasions, the IMF has appealed to Guyana to strengthen its petroleum fiscal regime through the revision of the Petroleum [Exploration and Production] Act 1986 (PEPA), the Petroleum [Exploration and Production] Regulations
1986, as well as other tax laws and sector regulations. The IMF has been keen to note that while the PEPA gives the government broad powers to grant petroleum prospecting and production licences, and to negotiate oil contracts, it is silent on processing and refining of petroleum products, pipelines and other modes of petroleum transportation, as well as how petroleum marketing arrangements are to be observed. In spite of this, the country has been pushing ahead with the marketing of its oil and plans to bring gas
Police capture bandits on the way to robbery An undercover operation by police on Thursday led to the arrest of four bandits who were on their way to rob a businessman. The four bandits were captured between 17:50 and 19:00hrs in Campbellville, Georgetown. According to what Kaieteur News was told, the men are known criminals by the police and were being investigated for a number of suspected robberies. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported yesterday that an intelligence-led sting operation by some of its ranks paid off and foiled the bandits’ plans of committing another robbery. GPF stated that its ranks first cornered one of the bandits, a 23-year-old, at a location in Campbellville. They searched him and found an axe and a knife in his possession. The cops grilled him and put forward the
allegation to him that he was on his way to commit a robbery. Realising that he was caught, he decided to cooperate with the ranks and led them to arrest his three accomplices. He took the cops to a house in John Smith Street, Campbellville where one of the accomplices was found in front the yard. The policemen also searched the house and found a motorcycle and two iPhones which are suspected to be stolen items. A quantity of marijuana was also discovered. The two bandits then led the cops to two other accomplices who were at another location in the same area. They were placed into a police vehicle and taken to the Brickdam Police Station where the 23-year confessed to investigators that he was on his way to rob a businessman and alleged that his three accomplices were also part of the plan.
to shore. Additionally, with regard to the lopsided oil deal, the IMF has expressed alarm over the opportunities Guyana gives Exxon Mobil and its partners to be abusive in the way they add interests to its expenses, all of which would be recovered in full. Left unchecked, the IMF said that this can have a detrimental effect on the oil profits that would be left to share. In one of its reports, the IMF said it is a wellestablished industry norm to have limitations on how much interest can be charged and deducted on loans by oil companies. It noted that some countries disallow interest
expenses or limit the amount of debt permitted for cost recovery purposes through caps. Other countries, it advised, go the route of prescribing that interest may be deductible only on borrowing to fund development costs or a maximum percentage of such costs. Interest on loans to finance exploration is not allowed. Considering the dire consequences this loophole can have for Guyana, the IMF said it would be appropriate for Guyana to limit the amount of debt for cost recovery purposes or disallow interest expense altogether. Further to this, the IMF has called on Guyana to close other fiscal loopholes in existing Production Sharing Agreements; undertake a policy review of fiscal terms contained in existing PSAs to ensure that these are implemented appropriately, and assess areas of improvement for future investment; design a new generally applicable fiscal regime for upstream
petroleum projects that increases the government take and limits the scope for individual negotiations; introduce a revised production sharing mechanism for new PSAs that provide the government with a higher share of profit oil as the profitability of projects’ increases; and publish a model PSA that includes the minimum fiscal terms accepted by the government for future contracts. The IMF has also called on Guyana to apply tighter ring-fencing arrangements to contracts so that oil companies would be unable to deduct the costs associated with exploring other wells or developing other projects from another field that is producing oil. The foregoing represents a mere fraction of the IMF’s recommendations which the nation’s leaders have failed to implement, yet continue to tell the nation that every possible measure is being put in place to protect the oil sector.
PAGE 4
Monday June 14, 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
Public Consultation Guyana is getting better at engagements that are called ‘public consultation’. Better should not be misinterpreted as any political attitude, interest, or intent at a more credible result. In the instances of the public consultations going on in Guyana, as piloted by governmental agencies, better has come to mean one thing only. There is more of it. With regard to substances and conclusions of these public consultations, the best that can be said is that it may have been better for us not to have had them, given what has been the result, and with a view to future expectations. We at this publication must be unequivocal upfront: we are for public consultations on how the government’s business is conducted, since it is the business of the people to be involved, and in the know. That is, to know as much as they can, and to participate fully, and then come up with the kind of results that matter. The results which confirm that there was true consultation, that there was actual listening, and there was respect for what was shared, relative to fears and anxieties, about dangers and about welfare, and about present and future. But we can and will only be for public consultations that are genuine, and that live up to that perception, through engagement in a process that is credible, with still more credible outcomes. If not, then what Guyanese have for public consultations is nothing but a farce, the going through the motions to produce a record of proceedings that were jiggered from the start. As should be clear by now, we are skeptical about these shams that are identified as public consultations, and on just about everything that the leaders of the current government have the brazenness to say is so. There has been too much hesitation, followed by too much haziness, and then the usual decisions that confirm these public consultations are no more than a public relations exercise that is a one-way street. It is a street that unfolds in a single direction only. First, make a big noise that consultations on this or that are scheduled to happen. Next, make sure that everybody knows, by covering all the required steps, including media announcements. Then, hold open forums, where there is opportunity to attend, and voices heard. This is supported by invitation to submit written positions, including objections with justifications. Continue away from the public gaze in agency offices with official reviews of all that came before, and as gathered. And after analysis, then decide on how to proceed, with disclosure following on the heels of where all the submissions, discussions led. When the above are complied with, then there is hope that right will be done, and the right result will be forthcoming: process genuine. Yet, for some strange reason, this has not been, and more often than not. It has happened with oil and gas. It has been the same story with electoral reform. This is almost the norm with the all-important Guyana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We know that we have oil, and that a costly gas-toshore project is on the cards. But look beyond that, and it becomes obvious that the Guyanese people, the ones who actually own these things know less than they should know, with little of anything that means something. With regard to this great national wealth, the citizens of this nation have to content themselves with whatever skimpy information leaders give them, and nothing else. They have nothing on which to go, and when public consultations have been part of the fraud, it has always favoured either local companies or foreign ones that endanger our communities and people, that enrich themselves, and impoverish citizens. Think gas flaring, fishing, noise, and health for starters. Which company has been rejected, declared unhealthy? And that is the same thing that was done with electoral reform. The VP said that the government consulted, and it is moving on. It is the sum of government’s recklessness. This is how much Guyanese matter, and on the bigger things today. It is why the EPA is looked upon so scornfully, one government puppet among many others. The joke is on Guyanese, and of that, we will have no part.
As Guyanese, we should rightly pay an everlasting tribute to Dr. Rodney Dear Editor, May I take this opportunity to convey due admiration for the highly commendable actions stated in the Parliament of Guyana on 10th June 2 0 2 1 , t o “remove and expunge all public records that intimate any level of guilt and wrong doing” falsely attributed to Dr. Rodney during his outstanding life, tragically ended by political assassination on 13th June, 41 years ago. All measures proposed
to pay tribute and indelibly recall the world-renowned scholarly achievements and exceptional commitment to justice, that are embodied in Professor R o d n e y ’s w ritings, teachings and groundings with Caribbean, Latin American, Asian and African peoples and societies, might also be seen as a “gift of genius to the world”, in which all Guyanese can truly share. As Guyanese, we should rightly pay an everlasting tribute to Dr. Rodney, not only
in monuments of stone and a Professorial Chair at UG, but also by building a nation and society, liberated from racial insecurity and ethnic animosity, while ensuring justice, peace and progress for all – a Guyana for which Walter paid the ultimate price. The illustrious tributes consistently accorded to Dr. Rodney by countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States are also deservedly shared with Dr. Patricia R o d n e y, h i s w i d o w o f
exceptional courage and devotion and their children, who can truly enjoy the memory of their father so highly revered across the Global South as teacher (Mwalimu), father, and brother of his and future generations. Yours truly, P. I. Gomes, Rtd. Ambassador of Guyana & former SecretaryGeneral, ACP Group of States. Port of Spain, June 13, 2021.
Vincent Alexander’s opposition to GWI’s laying off of redundant workers falls woefully short Dear Editor, Vincent Alexander’s “GWI terminations exemplify duplicitous policies,” dated June 11, 2021, is a classic continuation of the demise of the mind. Alexander has taken ‘death’ to the extreme, and at every level. Let me demonstrate in this short missive. This man still posits that the Opposition did not lose the Guyana March 02, 2020 Elections. He cannot bring himself, against incontrovertible evidence, to admit that the Opposition was engaged in repeated attempts to rig the said Elections - and I can go on, but these two cases more than suffice for my argument. Now let me get to his fallacious reasons for saying that “GWI terminations exemplify duplicitous policies.” He posits, in a general way, that “These (170) terminations will impact the
lives of far more than 170 persons and exemplify the duplicity of policies that are applied to different constituencies of our society.” I ask Mr. Alexander to read the following: “The manner in which the previous government went about shutting down four of Guyana’s sugar estates was “a bad decision from any perspective,” said Dr. Thomas B. Singh, Director of the University of Guyana’s GREEN Institute, who presented this finding of a socio-economic impact study sponsored by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) of the United Nations (UN). This study revolved around the ‘sustainable livelihoods framework’, and focused on examining the impact that the estate closures had on the lives of some 7000 sugar workers and their families. It concluded
that “As a result, the closures compromised the livelihoods of scores of dismissed workers, exposing many and their families to the “poverty trap.” Then Alexander selfdebunked when he stated that “GUYSUCO’s workers work in a company that is profit oriented, while the GWI workers work in the service sector that is not profit, but service oriented.” The obvious question then is why did the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) close the Skeldon, Rose Hall, and East Demerara Estates? Why now is he admitting to the viability of these estates? Dr. Clive Thomas, the Coalition’s economic point man was the Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), even though the then Opposition PPP/C objected, stating that Thomas was a notorious head, having
presided over the failure of the Globe Trust and Investments Company Ltd. Let me state that it is quite normal public policy for countries to subsidise agriculture, including sugar. For instance, the European Union and the USA subsidise agriculture in the sum of €59 billion and $(US) 22 billion respectively. In India, the annual subsidy on sugar is $(US) 1.7 billion. These countries rightfully view subsidies as investment. So, by virtue of size, numbers and economic contribution, Vincent Alexander’s opposition to GWI’s laying off of redundant workers falls woefully short and is unconvincing. He is clutching at straws, and it is only a matter of time before he becomes self-extinct. Yours truly, Alvin Hamilton
When we persist with these linguistic antics, we make utter idiots of each other Dear Editor, In view of the continual crowding of the English Language, soon I would not be able to recognise it. Worse still, what came almost unconsciously would now have to be accompanied by stealthy pause, looking over shoulder, and then proceeding on tiptoe. I don’t like it, sir (or madam, pardon me); not one bit. Today, the mother tongue is so constricted, so tangled, that the best of us can’t help biting it, sometimes swallowing it. We are choking on our tongue, in our gyrations to be good soldiers in the politically correct era of nonderogatory, nontolerant use of the Queen’s (or American) English. Some examples should help to relay the predicament of a fellow like myself, who pays scant attention to, and still less
regard for, what amount to mostly hypocrisies and, on occasion, stupidities. The world has proceeded from ‘coloured’ to ‘negro’ to ‘Black.’ I was with this all the way, until I got lost somewhere, and missed out on the settled correctness of Afro or African. Not a bad progression, if you ask me; but, by that standard, BLM is misnamed. My position is simple: if it isn’t a slur, malicious, or degrading, then let there be a stop somewhere. The problem is that perception (and interpretation, as convenient) resides with the beholder. Like beauty, it can be on the subjective side, with outliers up the wazoo. I trust that that word (wazoo) doesn’t offend anyone. Sticking with ethnic pride, and tribal parades, I have always wondered about hyphenated people, not to be
confused with ‘dougla’ or mulatto, or such. By hyphenated, I mean Indo- and Afro-Guyanese. What the hell, since when have we been partitioned; definitely, in the mind and politically and racially, but not physically or demographically. Hmm, this bears further investigation. I am still unsure, in the world of hyphenated citizens, what to do about Indian Guyanese residing in America. How about East Indian of West Indian heritage now converted Indo-GuyaneseCaribbean American; and not to be mistaken for Indian Americans from the subcontinent, or Native Americans. It should be noticed that I left out ‘Indian’ after American, as I am unsure as to what holds water or what could merit censure from the pc police. Being me, my response would be something
like: get a life, a real meaningful one. Now, to shift gears, and in a bow to my sisters, I am trying to figure what to do about ‘manholes.’ The obscene stares in the face, and even someone as adventurous as yours truly will not go near there. Also, I know and like the practice of nicknames and identifiers. Like ‘Squeaky’ Hinds (football), ‘mantequilla’ (Carlos Hernandez of Venezuelan boxing lore). And ‘savage’ sisters and “Dixie Chicks.” Try risking that chick business with a dame (ah shucks -the Bogart in me) today, and it is curtains. The bottom-line is that when we persist with these linguistic antics, we make utter idiots of each other. This is where I part company. Yours truly, GHK Lall
Monday June 14, 2021
Walter Rodney was both scholar and activist Dear Editor, Kudos to Mohabir Anil Nandall, SC, Guyana’s Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs for finally setting the long overdue record straight on the death of Dr. Walter Rodney. To our young Guyanese who don’t know who Dr. Walter Rodney was, here is brief summary of the life and death of one of the most (if not the most) brilliant minds ever to be born in Guyana. Walter Anthony Rodney was born to Edward and Pauline Rodney in Georgetown, Guyana on March 23, 1942. He developed into an intellectual and scholar and is recognised as one of the Caribbean’s most brilliant minds. Rodney’s academic record is filled with awards, open scholarships and honours. He attended Queen’s College, the top male high school in the British Guiana, and in 1960 graduated first in his class, winning an open scholarship to the University of the West Indies (UWI). He pursued his undergraduate studies at UWI Mona Campus in Jamaica, where he graduated with 1st class honours in History in 1963. Rodney then attended the School of Oriental and African Studies in London where, at the age of 24, he received his PhD with honours in African History. Rodney’s thesis, A History of the Upper Guinea Coast, was published by Oxford University Press in 1970. Rodney combined his scholarship with activism and became a voice for the underrepresented and disenfranchised – this distinguished him from his academic colleagues. His interest in the struggles of the working class began at a
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
young age with an introduction to politics by his father, and continued with his involvement in debating and study groups throughout his student years. His PhD thesis illustrated his duality as an intellectual and activist as he challenged the prevailing assumptions about African history and put forth his own ideas and models for analysing the history of oppressed peoples. Influenced by the Black Power Movement in the U.S., third world revolutionaries and Marxist theory, Rodney began to actively challenge the status quo. In 1968, while a UWI professor in Jamaica, he joined others to object to the socio-economic and political direction of the government. Unlike his counterparts, however, Rodney involved the working class, including the Rastafarians (one of Jamaica’s most marginalized groups) in this dialogue. His speeches and lectures to these groups were published as ‘Grounding with My Brothers’, and became central to the Caribbean Black Power Movement. Rodney’s activities attracted the Jamaican government’s attention and after attending the 1968 Black Writers’ Conference in Montreal, Canada, he was banned from re-entering the country. This decision was to have profound repercussions, sparking widespread unrest in Kingston. In 1974, Walter returned to Guyana to take up an appointment as Professor of History at the University of Guyana, but the government rescinded the appointment. But Rodney remained in Guyana, joined the newly formed political group, the Working People’s Alliance. Between 1974 and 1979, he
emerged as the leading figure in the resistance movement against the increasingly authoritarian PNC government. He gave public and private talks all over the country that served to engender a new political consciousness in the country. During this period, he developed his ideas on the self emancipation of the working people, People’s Power, and multiracial democracy. As the WPA gained popularity and momentum, the PNC began a campaign of harassment including police raids, house searches, and beatings. On July 11, 1979, Walter, together with seven others, was arrested following the burning down of two government offices. Rodney and four others (known as the “Referendum Five”) faced trumped-up charges of arson, but without proof and scrutiny from international supporters, the government was forced to drop these charges. Rodney’s voice was not confined to Africa and the Caribbean but was also heard in the U.S. and Europe. In the early-mid 1970s, he participated in discussions and lectures with the African Heritage Studies Association at Howard University; the Institute of the Black World in Atlanta, GA; the African Studies and Research Center at Cornell University; and the State University of New York at Binghamton. The persecution, however, continued: two party members were killed, and the government denied Rodney and others permission to travel. Despite
this, Rodney continued his political work and attended Zimbabwe’s independence celebrations in May 1980. The PNC party headed by Forbes Burnham realised Dr. Rodney was a political force to be reckoned with, and they were afraid of his rising popularity among both the Africans and Indians in Guyana. On Friday, June 13, 1980, Walter Anthony Rodney was assassinated by a bomb in Georgetown, Guyana. He was 38 years old. Though Rodney lived with constant police harassment and frequent threats against his life, he nonetheless managed to complete four books in the last year of his life: an academic work, ‘A History of the Guyanese Working People, 1881-1905; A political call to action, ‘People’s Power, No Dictator’; and two children’s books, ‘Kofi Baadu Out of Africa’ and ‘Lakshmi Out of India’. Walter Rodney was married to Patricia Rodney and together they have three children – Shaka, Kanini and Asha. They also have three grandchildren – Asia, Kai and Skye. A bust memorial should be set up to honour the life, works and legacy of Dr. Walter Anthony Rodney one of Guyana’s most brilliant minds. Yours truly Gloria Holder
The Ali Administration continues to show that they are willing and able to take the high road Dear Editor, When I saw the news on what our esteemed Attorney General did concerning Walter Rodney of the WPA, at first I was surprised that this was a priority for the Administration. This step to honour Rodney is one that our (AG and I) schoolmate Crum-Ewing would also be proud of if he was here. After all, it was the WPA’s leadership that made the call and implemented the shutdown in the sugar industry that affected so
many of our Indian families and communities across the country. The Ali Administration continues to show that they are willing and able to take the high road and look beyond the callous acts of the vengeful few. Clearly, this Administration will also be capable of bringing the much needed closure to the Mackenzie massacre that has left a nasty mark on our nation. Only time will tell. Yours truly, Mr. Jamil Changlee
PAGE 6
The University of Guyana needs to do better Dear Editor, I am a first year law student of the University of Guyana and while I acknowledge that the institution has always been faced with numerous difficulties from both internal and external forces, it is sad that to this day, more than five decades after its establishment, UG still cannot get it right. The current academic year started late due to the COVID-19 pandemic and examinations for the first semester were held in the period February 13 to March 5, 2021. It is appalling to know that close to four months later, the majority of grades for that examination has not yet been issued. Several inquiries were made via the Head of the Law Department and the UG Law Society. While genuine efforts were made by both parties to to fix the situation,
Monday June 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
at the time of writing this letter, there has been no issuance of grades. This is unacceptable coming from an institution that is supposed to be Guyana’s premier academic institute of excellence. What is more worrying is that this is coming from one of the most prestigious departments within UG - the Law Department. For four out of the six courses for this semester, we haven’t even received a mid-term grade. This violates the very tenets of academia, which is all about checks and balances and transparency in grading. Students have a right to know where they stand with a particular course before going into the final exam for that course, yet it seems as though some lecturers believe this is a privilege that can only be enjoyed at their discretion.
While it is understandable that due to the effects of the pandemic, the situation is much more difficult than usual and lectures and other staff of the university are working under dire constraints, three to four months after exams and no grade is unacceptable. Even for UG. What will become of students who have scholarships and need their grades in order to receive funding for semester two for which mid-terms have already passed? I can’t even begin to imagine what the third year students, who need their grade to transition to law school, are going through. I do hope that this letter comes to the attention of someone in authority and that some relief is given to the situation. We can do better and we must. Yours truly, Name provided
Dr. Walter Rodney National Day of rule race politics in Guyana, the 13th June Remembrance and every year, ought to be declared a Dr. Walter Dear Editor, While it is great that the Government of Guyana has very belatedly recognised the wrongs perpetrated against Dr. Walter Rodney and his family, given Dr. Rodney’s huge contribution to Guyana and the world, not least in his partly undoing of the colonialist divide
Rodney National Day of Remembrance in Guyana, where his writings are focused on, and public discussions and events around racial unity, held. Yours truly, Lalu Hanuman, Attorney-at-law, Barbados.
The revitalisation of the Sugar Industry is a must Dear Editor, No one can argue with what was recently reported in the press, that is, the findings of the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO), that “… has pointed to an increase in the rates of suicide, crime, and alcohol consumption in communities that relied heavily on the sugar estates for their livelihood that were closed by the Coalition government.” In fact, the day before, I did read a letter in one of the dailies, that the planned reopening of the Enmore Sugar Estate will redound into a better society. It is universally accepted that “Being unemployed is associated with a two-fold to three-fold increased relative risk of death by suicide, compared with being employed.” Locally, the ILO stated that “Entire communities were sent into depression.” This was the emphatic conclusion of local economist, Dr. Thomas B. Singh, who authored the socio-economic impact study, which was sponsored by the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO). I need to emphasise that
this is not some whimsical ‘guess work’. The findings cover at least 5,000 sugar workers, their families, and their communities. These workers, as we all recall, in 2016 and 2017, were callously dismissed by the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government, when they closed the sugar estates at Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon. This widespread closure, as the report pointed out, “… was also so disruptive to those economies, that the households of many of the affected workers could have been driven into poverty traps.” The actual money stats read quite frightening: “… weekly household income had fallen by 64 percent, from an average of G$32,238 to G$18,450.” Let us bear in mind that “… the majority of dismissed workers were fathers, who were the sole breadwinners of their families.” So, the APNU+AFC, without a doubt, wrecked not only the daily lives of these workers in a financial way, but
made negative inroads in the student children population, whose education, at a young age, had to be seriously compromised, and maybe permanently so. I need not belabour the point, but suffice it to say that a Crudele report states that in the United States, “Every one percent rise in unemployment leads to 40,000 deaths.” These deaths, it was pointed out, had nothing to do with Covid19 virus and a distressed economy. I add that unemployment has both individual and social consequences that require public policy interventions. For the individual, unemployment can cause psychological distress, which can lead to a decline in life satisfaction. It can also lead to mood disorders and substance abuse. I must commend the Government for its immediate intervention, in revitalising sugar and estate employment, on assuming office. This must be pursued until all the estates are fully operating. Yours truly, Attiya Baksh
It is by prayer that the walls of Jericho came tumbling down Dear Editor In the Peeping Tom’s column, “All Guyanese should kneel” (KN, 13th June 2021) I sense frustration in Peeping Tom with Guyana’s progress. Peeping Tom says we Guyanese should pray for the politicians to be given the wisdom to lead Guyanese. Prayer to God requires faith in God (for us Christians, through Jesus Christ).
The Christian Bible says that faith without deeds is dead. And, all of it is useless without love for people. My advice to Peeping Tom is not to lose hope as Guyana is not a cursed nation but rather a nation without understanding. And, because of our naivety, we are being taken advantage of by a savvy
operator with respect to the ExxonMobil/Guyana oil contract. I concur with Peeping Tom that we need to humble ourselves before God. When we put God first in our lives, everything else will fall into place. It is by prayer that the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Yours faithfully Sean Ori
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N B T . U . L . L T B . . N . U N U T L N B . U T . . L N N U T B . U . N L U BL BLUNT. B . . T . T T N N U . U L . . L B . T B . . . . N . T U T N N T U N U L L U B . L B . . . . B . T . . T . N N T U N L LU U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B . T L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B . T . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . . N get theLfruits LU ...BLUThey B T . . . N and T U N U B T . L . . N we get screwed. B T . U . . N L T . U B . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T BB T...BLU U N L U B . L . . B . T . . N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . . N . B . T . . N T U N N N U L U U B L . BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Monday June 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
Everybody is making handsome money with Guyana’s oil. The Chinese made $9.3B PROFIT in 2020. But Guyanese are making next to nothing.
The Americans are making good money too. Exxon is doing very well on Guyana’s oil. Hess can’t even count the money reaped from Guyana, and it is already planning for the next 5-10 years for more and more money from Guyana’s oil. But how is Guyana doing? Don’t ask: it is shameful.
Now we are hearing that the French suddenly wants to help Guyana. Don’t be fooled, Guyanese. All these bloodsuckers want to do is help themselves to our oil wealth.
PAGE 07
PAGE 08
Kaieteur News
Monday June 14, 2021
Two men are Guyana’s Man shot for latest COVID-19 fatalities being in the wrong T neighbourhood A 23-year-old man was forced to run away from a house party yesterday after he was beaten and shot to his lower right leg for being in the wrong neighbourhood. T h a t w r o n g neigbourhood was identified by police as the Plaisance Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The wounded individual was beaten and shot around 00:45hrs. He told police that he was about to pour himself a drink at the party when his shooter approached him. Before beating him, the suspect reportedly told the victim that he (the victim) was in the wrong
neighbourhood. The suspect then began slapping him several times. Kaieteur News understands that the victim was able to free himself from the beating and ran to find his bicycle. As he was riding out of the yard, he saw the suspect chasing behind and decided to ride faster. The victim claimed that when he looked back, he saw the suspect pulling out what looked like a gun. He then heard a loud explosion and felt a sharp pain in his lower right leg, which started to bleed. Police reported that the injured victim jumped off his bike and started to run
but reportedly stumbled and fell into a trench. He somehow recovered, managed to make it home, and related to his mother what occurred. She reportedly took him to Sparendaam Police Station where he lodged a report. The victim told the ranks on duty at the time that he knows his shooter since they have an old grievance with one another. He was later taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was admitted and treated for the gunshot wound. An investigation has been launched as the suspect remains on the run.
he Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday announced that two men who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have died. As a result of this, the country’s COVID-19 death toll is now 426. According to the Ministry’s press release, the latest fatalities are a 63-year-old from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and a 71-year-old from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Both persons died on Saturday while
receiving treatment at a medical facility. Further, the Health Ministry in its daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 83 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 13,386. The dashboard also shows that 23 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 115 persons are in institutional isolation, 1,542 in home isolation and four persons are quarantined institutionally. To date, 16,280 recoveries have been recorded.
Kaieteur News
Monday June 14, 2021
PAGE 09
The President was ‘rough’ on the Regional Health Officer The President’s recent handling of complaints by members of the public was not demonstrative of the sort of standards one expects in such a situation. A Regional Health Officer was publicly embarrassed, and this ought never to have occurred on the basis of hearsay and unsubstantiated evidence. The President, politically, is still in pampers. He is young and inexperienced being only 41 years old. As such, he must be forgiven for his youthful impetuosity and immaturity but not at the expense of others. The recent incident was reported in the media. During a tour of one of the areas on the Corentyne, it is reported that some residents complained about the public health facilities not having the medication which they needed. One resident said she was forced to source the medication from a private pharmacy. In response, the President is reported to have read the ‘riot act’ to the Regional Health Officer. He is reported as saying that that the information, which he was receiving was that there were no shortages and this is at odds with the claims of residents. The President should be mindful of hearsay evidence. He ought never to take at face value what is told to him in such settings. A person making a complaint will highlight his or her
Dem
boys seh... D e Wo r s t P o s s i b l e A l t e r n a t i v e ( W PA ) i s shameless and barefaced. Dem now pimping off Rodney. And dem nah gat no s c r u p l e s a b o u t misrepresenting de man. Dem seh how he was a tireless advocate for multiracial power sharing as an alternative to one-party, one race dictatorship. Dem believe dat people memory short. But dem boys gat de memory like elephant. Rodney was a MarxistLeninist to de bone. He believed in a dictatorship – de dictatorship of de people. Dat is why he slogan was “ P e o p l e ’s P o w e r, N o
experience and may be tempted to embellish the truth or may be selective. Things can be e x a g g e r a t e d o r misrepresented. It is not unusual within the health system for certain drugs not to be unavailable. This happens from time to time for various reasons. But the occasional unavailability of particular medications or their brands does not necessarily amount to a shortage. Also, there are some persons who may be prescribed a particular medication for a condition but the identical product may not be available or not even stocked, or the brand to which the patient is accustomed to may have been exhausted. The patient may feel that the hospital does not have the medication when in fact it may not have the particular brand name, which the patient is accustomed to. It is unreasonable to expect the public health system to have every medication, which is needed. This is simply not feasible. It makes no sense to stock certain items because only a few patients may need these drugs. As such, it makes practical sense to inform patients that the particular item is not stocked and they need to obtain it privately. At present, patients have to pay for CT scans. It is not free and most people who
need such scans have to pay a portion of the fee. Some persons are also forced to pay for dialysis treatment since the public health system only offers limited free treatment. And people pay and claim the refund from the National Insurance Scheme. It should therefore not be considered an aberration for patients to be asked to procure certain medications privately. It would be expected however that basic medications such as the treatment for blood pressure and diabetes, should always be in stock. These noncommunicable diseases are among the highest contributors to deaths and therefore there should always be adequate quantities of medications to treat these conditions. The President has to be circumspect about rushing to judgment in these matters. Not because a few persons claim that certain prescriptions were not fully filled, means there is a shortage. And there have been cases of known agent provocateurs conspiring to use public outreaches to try to malign certain public officials. This may not have been the case in this instance but it highlights the need for circumspection. It is quite a different matter when it comes to firsthand information. The President had visited a number of sluices in
WPA singing de wrong lyrics to de right tune Dictator”. He nah know nothing about dis power sharing thing which come up long after he dead. He know about class rule but he did propose a Government of National Unity and Reconstruction which was supposed to be a 50-person arrangement with a 15-member Executive Committee. De WPA nah telling people how Rodney leff out de PNC out of de arrangement. He exclude dem totally. It was de PPP/C wah object to de WPA proposal. Dem insist dat de PNC cannot be left out.
So dem new song wah de WPA singing nah matching with de old time lyrics. Rodney’s Government of National Unity and Reconstruction nah had place fuh de PNC. After Burnham bumped off Rodney, David De Caires asked de WPA fuh state dem ideological position. De WPA seh how dem nat in favour of any kind of class dictatorship but dem bin support democracy. It was as early as den dat dem bin diss Rodney. Now dem against democracy. Talk half and remember dat Rodney teach how history is a weapon.
Georgetown and found the pumps not working at the time. He witnessed this for himself and therefore has first-hand information and therefore would have been justified in arriving at his conclusions. But more importantly, the President should never litigate a matter in public. If there is an allegation, there should be an investigation before anyone is given a tongue-lashing, especially a senior public servant. If that official is negligent, he or she should face the appropriate sanctions, but not without a proper investigation. It was
unwise of the President to publicly upbraid the Regional Health Officer based on second-hand information and without an investigation. It was also surprising that the President would ask the Minister of Local Government, rather than the Minister of Health, to undertake such an investigation. This is poor judgment; the Minister of Health should have been the appropriate Minister to investigate except where an independent investigation is required. The President has won great admiration for his
hands-on approach to the management of problems. He is seen as a “go-getter” and has a good heart. But in his enthusiasm, he has to be careful not be rash, much less brash, and he should be extra careful in taking for granted what members of the public tell him. And he has to be fair to public officials and not subject them to public humiliation. (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
Monday June 14, 2021
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
This country has produced one of history’s most demonic, evil political parties
H
ave you read the W P A ’ s statement accepting the Guyana Government’s request from Walter Rodney’s family for his legacy to be officially commemorated? If you have and you did not feel a complete sense of genuine, human revulsion then you are not a normal person and you are unfit to be part of the 21st century society. I make no apologies in saying what I wrote above and display my genuine emotion and philosophical denunciation of the WPA by repeating my perspective on such humans. I say that if on
reading the WPA’s statement on government’s official recognition of Rodney’s legacy you are not deeply disgusted, then you are not a normal human person and you are a human with no moral purpose in life. I will use selected quotes from the WPA’s statement with my comments to argue my case. Quote – “This is a moment of overcoming for Guyana, the Caribbean and the world…a moment of justice for others of that revolutionary moment such as Ohene Koama, Edward Dublin and Father Bernard Darke.” Comment – How can any
political party write this for the people of Guyana, the Caribbean and the world to see when Rodney, Koama and Dublin were part of that party and that party came into power and governed Guyana for five years. In that time, there wasn’t even the vaguest attempt to put on the agenda of the Cabinet the very request that the Rodney family made. Even if such an action was on display but rejected by the APNU+AFC regime, then patriotic, decent citizens could understand that Rodney’s comrades, now in power tried. But the WPA never, never discussed
at the party level anything whatsoever about bringing up Rodney’s legacy with the Guyana Government of which it was a part. This writer knows of an attempt in 2018 to get the WPA to request a court of appeal hearing for Donald Rodney by an American diaspora group that the WPA did not respond to. Quote – “…this necessary step is the direct result of four decades of relentless advocacy and struggle by many colleagues, friends and admirers of Dr. Rodney …and although the party has been in the forefront of this fight …” Comment – This is sickening, insane immorality. The WPA stopped being in the struggle to get official recognition of Rodney’s legacy when it avoided any mention of Rodney’s name after it merged with the PNC in 2011. For the five years the WPA has been in power, there has only been one June 13 commemoration of the assassination and not one of the surviving comrades of Rodney was there at the National Library. In Parliament, Rupert Roopnaraine voted against the release of the findings of the commission into Rodney’s assassination. Q u o t e – “Notwithstanding the fact that the PPP takes this
initiative at a time when that party is engaged on the worst assault on n a t i o n a l jointness, they m u s t b e recognised for doing the right and honourable thing.” Comment – If the PPP is so terrible a Frederick Kissoon group of politicians, if t h e W PA i s s o Comment – What has no opposite to the PPP, why parallel in the modern give the PPP the opportunity history of the CARICOM to impress the nation about group of family and the its recognition of Rodney’s wider world is the evil legacy when the WPA could character of a Guyanese have done the exact thing party named the Working when it was in government. People’s Alliance some of After such a barefaced whose people at the apex display of degenerate, may have conspired with sadistic immorality, the President Burnham in the WPAs need to explain to the assassination of their leader. Guyanese people why it did It is simply incredible not do between May 2015 that the WPA could deem the and July 2020 what the PPP act of the APNU+AFC not did in August 2021 in releasing the report of the support of Rodney. Commission as an evil Quote – “The WPA direction of the government condemns in the strongest of the day, yet the WPA possible terms both the past s t a y e d i n t h a t v e r y and present leadership of the government four years after PNC. the PNC chose not to release The former presided over the report. Rodney’s murder while the And since March 2020 latter, when given the that very WPA has been part opportunity to redeem itself, of the machinery with the chose to assassinate our P N C t o c r e a t e r a c i a l brother a second time by the hostilities over their failure blunt refusal to implement to rig the 2020 election. the Commission’s report (The views expressed in r e f l e c t i n g a p o l i t i c a l this article are those of the viciousness that has no a u t h o r a n d d o n o t parallel in recent Caribbean necessarily reflect the political history.” opinions of this newspaper.)
Monday June 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
Monday June 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
Exercise Tradewinds 2021 opens E
x e r c i s e Tradewinds 2021 was opened officially yesterday. The formal session was held at the Drill Square, Base Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown. Exercise Tradewinds is a Caribbean-focused training programme designed to help participants better respond to natural disasters, land and maritime threats. Guyana is the host of this year’s exercise and it is sponsored by the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). T h e e x e r c i s e commenced on Saturday, June 12, 2021, and will conclude on June 26, 2021. The security exercise is multi-national in nature and will see the involvement of 17 nations. The participating nations are; Belize, Bermuda, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican
Republic, France, Haiti, Mexico, Netherlands, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and the United States of America. Military representatives from 14 nations are currently in Guyana for the exercise and were yesterday present at the official opening of the exercise. Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, in his brief remarks said, “Today, we begin the execution of our plans for this exercise in realtime. Up until June 26, we aim to work alongside each other, putting to work best practices as far as joint interagency collaborative engagement is suitable for addressing the various challenges in our nations.” Brigadier Bess told the members of the various contingents that he was looking forward to a high degree of professionalism
across the spectrum of training elements and a successful exercise. He then affirmed the government’s commitment to the exercise and thanked the participants for their bravery due to the COVID19 pandemic. Brigadier Bess also
urged the participants to exercise all safety protocols throughout the conduct of the exercise. The USSOUTHCOM Director of Exercises and Coalition Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Kevin Bostick, praised Guyana for hosting this year’s exercise
and also the work of the key exercise planners. He added that despite challenges posed by the pandemic, the event planners were able to mitigate the ‘common enemy’ and complete the exercise in the best way possible. Lieutenant Colonel Bostick
Scenes from the opening yesterday for Exercise Tradewinds 2021.
also acknowledged that it is indeed a great endeavour to continue with the exercise in the current circumstances, and noted that it is also important that the exercise be used to build partnerships and strengthen capacity in security efforts to defeat threats if need be.
Kaieteur News
Monday June 14, 2021
PAGE 13
Chinese oil partner is set to recover $39.4B for decommissioning A
fter a careful review of the company’s latest financial statements, Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram has found that CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, the Chinese partner with a 25 percent stake in the Stabroek Block, is poised to recover $ 3 9 . 4 B f o r t h e decommissioning of wells and facilities for the Liza Phase One Project. Decommissioning is a practice that occurs when an oil-producing field is nearing its end. It entails the safe removal of pipelines and other infrastructure that were fixed to the ocean floor to extract the oil. Since this exercise runs into millions of dollars, oil-producing countries often times establish a fund so that the operator can make deposits to handle those expenses when the time comes. If the money that accumulated over time is found to be less, the company is required to meet the shortfall. If the money is
found to be in excess, a reimbursement is issued. This is standard industry practice. Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) with ExxonMobil, Hess Corporation and CNOOC does not confirm to this international best practice, which ultimately safeguards the interest of the nation. What it does allow is for the company to begin recovering costs for the decommissioning, more than 20 years before it is required to fund the said exercise. It is on this premise that CNOOC has already started to add up how much it will recover from Guyana years in advance. It should be noted as well that this is being done in spite of the fact that the government of the day has to a p p r o v e t h e decommissioning plan, which in terms of costs, could only be known at the end of the life cycle for the project. But CNOOC is not the
only one guilty of recovering decommissioning costs years in advance. Its partner and Operator of the Stabroek Block, Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is already recovering money too. Highlighting this “abnormality” recently was the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in its latest publication called, “TOXIC ASSETS: Making Polluters Pay When Wells Run Dry and the Bill Comes Due.” Founded in 1989, CIEL uses the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. In its report, CIEL pointed to ExxonMobil’s overview of its operations in Guyana, which shows that it may drill as many as 92 wells in the Liza One, Two and Payara oil fields alone. In fact, ExxonMobil has drilled exploration wells at more than 16 different potential production sites so far. CIEL
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram said it should be noted that ExxonMobil drilled the wells at an average water depth of 1782 meters (5846 feet) and some are as deep as 2735 meters (8973 feet). The organization also highlighted that the eight wells already in production at Liza One are drilled in water depths of 1500-1900 meters (4921-6234 feet). To put those depths into context, CIEL noted that the
US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement defines any well drilled in more than 122 meters (400 feet) of water as “deep water,” and the average water depth of wells in the North Sea is 185 meters (607 feet). With the foregoing in mind, CIEL said it is critical t o n o t e t h a t decommissioning such deep offshore wells is expensive. While the cost depends on a number of factors, including ocean conditions, CIEL said it is significantly more expensive than the closure of conventional onshore wells. It said too, that estimates consistently place the costs o f d e e p w a t e r decommissioning in the tens of millions USD per well, once all associated measures are taken into account. But what alarmed CIEL the most is that the Production Sharing Agreement for the Stabroek Block does not require the companies to set aside any money for decommissioning in a dedicated fund, or
provide any form of financial security while the wells are producing. Instead, the Agreement permits the ExxonMobil-led consortium to deduct the estimated future costs of decommissioning as current operating expenses, according to a schedule based on production rates, without demonstrating that it has reserved those funds for future use. CIEL also cited an independent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) which estimates that ExxonMobil could charge Guyana as much as USD$227 million or $47B in amortized abandonment costs between 2020 and 2024. With this in mind, the Center for International Environmental Law noted that the recovered costs ultimately diminish the amount of profit oil shared with Guyana, effectively passing the bill of decommissioning on to the government up front.
Guyana, Suriname NDCs update CDEMA on flood impact The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) on Saturday last engaged National Disaster Coordinators (NDCs) to discuss the impact of the floods in Guyana and Suriname and the relief management approach to be taken. The meeting chaired by C D E M A’ s E x e c u t i v e Director (ag) Ms. Elizabeth Riley saw Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig and Head of S u r i n a m e ’s N a t i o n a l Coordination Center for Disaster Relief (NCCR), Colonel Jerry Slijngard updating the region on the
Head of Suriname’s National Coordination Center for Disaster Relief, Colonel Jerry Slijngard
situation which is affecting thousands of residents in both countries. The meeting was informed that eight out of 10 districts in Suriname are inundated, affecting at least 8,473 households, while in
Guyana more than 29,000 households in more than 300 communities are affected, with 205 persons placed in shelters. CDEMA’s Programme Manager for Preparedness and Response, Ms. Joanne
Persad, said the meeting also sought to explore priority needs of both regional partners and come up with a system to prevent a flood of unsolicited goods. Guyana was commended for implementation of a Tracking Matrix which allows it to update its Needs List, based on resource allocation, which CDEMA has promised to further discuss, with a view of synchronising the information.Both countries were asked whether there is a list of organisations to which relief items can be consigned, and whether duty free concessions were being offered to these organisations since there was an issue in a member
state where containers purporting to transport relief items were found to be carrying personal items. Lt. Colonel Craig explained that in Guyana’s case, the CDC is not providing concession to items s h ip p ed to an y organization adding that the Commission encourages a Coordi ated Approach where supplies are handed over to the CDC for packaging then distributed to residents through local government bodies. C D E M A a l s o acknowledged Guyana’s request for technical assistance in the form of sectoral damage assessment teams to assess the five severely impacted regions.
Director General of the Civil Defence Commission Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig The regional disaster body further urged Guyana and Suriname to start looking at recovery planning which is critical to accessing financing and livelihood planning.
PAGE 14
Monday June 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
Regions 5, 6, & 10 receive additional supplies from CDC Supplies being offloaded in Region Six.
The food and medical supplies arriving in Region 10.
T
he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in its efforts to assist flood affected areas, distributed additional medical and food relief supplies within Regions Ten, Five and Six yesterday. he shelters that were set up and managed by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) within Region Five received an additional supply of flood relief items from the CDC. The Mortice Primary School a n d C H F ( F a r m e r ’s Association) Building in Region Five, received cleaning agents, hygiene
T
products along with cots, which were donated by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). The items are said to be enough for 60 persons. However, the CDC stated that it is prepared to provide more supplies should the need arise. In Region Six, the CDC delivered relief supplies to the Number 56 Primary School Shelter. These included water purification tablets, face masks and cleaning agents, which are calculated to be enough for 25 persons. Shelters have also been established to provide direct relief to
residents who need to be relocated. Several villages within the region also received 425 food hampers and 825 additional cleaning hampers. On Friday, Region 10 which has been hit the hardest by the floods, was visited by the Prime Minister, Mark Phillips; Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag; and Public Wo r k s M i n i s t e r, J u a n Edghill. The team distributed a quantity of flood-relief hampers and supplies. The CDC along with President Irfaan Ali and the mentioned ministers had visited the region, two weeks ago to conduct an
assessment of the severity of the floods and its impact on the residents. Through the CDC, the Ministry of Health
donated 1800 separate packs of medical supplies to Kwakwani in Region 10. The items arrived at the
village via the Berbice River as part of a continuous nationwide flood relief effort.
COVID-19 takes life of Reg. 10 Vice Chairman
V
ice Chairman of Region 10 R e g i o n a l Democratic Council (RDC) Douglas Gittens, on Sunday, passed away from COVID 19 complications at the COVID-19 unit. He was admitted into the Unit in Region 10 on Friday after exhibiting several symptoms of the virus, including loss of taste. He was subsequently tested for the virus and the results retu ned positive. In a statement, the Regional Democratic Council said all councillors are saddened by the passing of the VC… “Vice Chairman Gittens is remembered as a very friendly and approachable person who shared his affable character in interactions with persons from all walks of life and in communities across Region 10. One of his last work assignments was to deliver food and other supplies to the people of sub-region 2 including Kwakwani and Landers Ville, which formed part of his direct responsibility, to assist in relief efforts.” The release said that the RDC will certainly miss the dedication and commitment to public service that Vice Chairman Douglas eschewed, and again
Vice Chairman of Region 10 RDC, Douglas Gittens extended sympathy to the bereaved relatives and friends. Gittens served as a Councillor in the recent previous Councils before being elected as Regional Vice Chairman. He started his career as a politician about 10 years ago. Gittens also served as the Vice Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Region 10 Chapter. Aside from being a politician, Gittens was a teacher. At the time of his death, he was an Information Technology and Caribbean
Studies teacher at the Mackenzie High School. Gitten’s death sent shock waves throughout the Linden community, as he was loved by many and described as a “people’s person” and a dedicated teacher. Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon, also extended heartfelt condolences to the Gittens’ family. He said in a statement to the press, “I am in a state of shock and am deeply saddened having learnt of the sudden passing of Mr. Douglas Gittens. He was a tireless worker and fastidious Vice Chairman who dutifully served the people of Region 10 to his last day. His positive personality and contribution to the advancement of r be sorely Region 10 will missed and the void he leaves will be a challenge to fill. The APNU+AFC Coalition will examine ways in which his legacy will be honoured and these will be announced in due course.” Douglas Gittens is the second councillor of Region 10’s RDC, who passed away from COVID 19. Councillor Gem Narine also passed away from COVID-19 two months back.
Kaieteur News
Monday June 14, 2021
PAGE 15
Liza 1& 2 licences to wipe out over a billion oil-equivalent barrels still shrouded in secrecy
T
he Irfaan Ali administration still has not published all oil development production licences granted to ExxonMobil, despite Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, committing to do so on October 2, 2020.
Notably, it was Jagdeo who had encouraged media operatives to read all of the permits, so they could verify his claim that the Payara permits from the current administration are superior to the permits granted by the D a v i d G r a n g e r administration for Liza
Phases One and Two. ”So look at the petroleum licence for Liza that Trotman signed, and do a comparison with the petroleum licence for Payara that we signed,” he had said, during a press conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, “and therein, you will see the
massive improvements and how we have moved to protect our patrimony.” Dr. Jagdeo had also said that the improvements are there to ensure that the Payara development would be executed in a more environmentally safe manner, among other critical
considerations. When informed that the media did not receive these
d o c u m e n t s , t h e Vi c e President said that he would (Continued on page 16)
PAGE 16
Monday June 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
UN says pandemic created an ‘unparalleled’ employment crisis
One (1) female able bodied sales clerk. Call#2252313,226-1497. Male able bodied sales representative.Contact Tel#227-3580 for more info. Female sales representative experience in P.O.S system would be an asset.Contact Tel#227-3580.
h t t p s : / / www.independent.co.uk/: The COVID-19 pandemic has created an “unparalleled” global labor market crisis that will affect the employment market for years, the International Labor Organization said in a report Wednesday. The U.N. agency said that “all countries have suffered a sharp deterioration in employment and national income, which has aggravated existing inequalities and risks inflicting longer-term `scarring’ effects on workers and enterprises.” The 164-page World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2021 report said the crisis has hit vulnerable workers, including 2 billion in the informal sector, women and young people the hardest. During 2020, an estimated 8.8% of total working hours were lost — “the equivalent of the hours worked in one year by 255 million full-time workers,” the agency said. By contrast, it said, if there had not been a pandemic, the world would have created an estimated 30 million new jobs in 2020. The Geneva-based agency said recurring waves of the pandemic around the
Driver for Route 42 Minibus.Call# 649-7371.
VACANCY
WANTED Wanted one experienced Gold Smith, Jacobs Jewellery and Pawn shop 16 Pike street Kitty Tel#622-4970 SERVICES 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.
FOR SALE
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. 1 Boat Propeller 34" right hand pitch. Contact 6040342. 1 6 cyl Doosan Marine Engine, complete- gearbox, propeller & shaft 5 million neg Tel#627-8898
FOR RENT
Upper flat Bel Air (3) bedrooms apartment furnished$2000 USD,unfurnished$1500 USD. 225-4106. 8:00AM-4:00PM. 3 Bedrooms,Livingroom Pouderoyen W.B.D.Asking $70,000.Front road, 10min from bridge. Contact: 6824622 & 617-7389. 3 bedroom,fully furnished North & Oronoque St.Bourda bottom flat.Contact 226-7012,6240041.
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. Wanted Security. InterService Enterprise Security. 21 Seaforth Street Campbellville. Tel#653-2832/ 626-6845. Back to Eden B a k e r y. E x p e r i e n c e d b a k e r s , p a s t r y, p u r i makers,sales rep. 85 Dand Street, Subryanville G/town.
Armed Security, age 30-45 yrs. Military background or previous work experience.Call#231-6052. Female Domestic for house keeping $3500 daily.Wardrobe $10,000 empty water barrel $5000. 682-5230, 615-4414. Wanted 2 male sales boy must have knowledge about smart devices age 17-25 Contact 688-5951/ 225-7579 1 NIS pay roll clerk, other duties, mature male or female, 25- 40 yrs Tel#675-0587/ 2231229 1 Machanic with knowledge of welding, perferably from E.B.D, driving would be an assest. Tel#675-0587
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. 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. 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.
PROPERTY FOR SALE
8 7 - E - A l b e r t St,Albertown,third building from Lamaha in Albert Street. Price 24 Million(Land 82x20) negotiable.
R o o m Attendant,Supervisors,Receptionist, 30-50 years old. 233 South Road Lacytown. Tel#2252304.
VACANCY Hotel Attendants.Call: 2277714 & 223-3448. Experienced masseuse/cosmetologist required. Nalini's hair salon,225 New Market Street (opposite Maggies). 226-6705/609-6259. For painter,carpenters & Mason. Call: 623-1615.
Salesperson with experience, Courtney's Boutique Stall B Bourda Market.Behind wireless connection.Tel#2273407. Pump Attendant & Cashier. Shifts (6AM-2PM & 2PM10PM). Shell Station Providence E.B.D. Email: Shellramsburg@gmail.com
world have caused working hour losses to remain high, with a 4.4% loss corresponding to 140 million full-time jobs in the first quarter of 2021 and a 4.4% loss in the second quarter equivalent to 127 million fulltime jobs. “The crisis is far from over,” the agency added, pointing to Latin America and the Caribbean Europe and Central Asia as the worst affected regions in the first half of this year. The report said an uneven economic recovery is expected to begin in the second half of 2021, driven by progress in vaccinations and large-scale fiscal spending. It projects that the recovery will create 100 million jobs this year and an additional 80 million in 2022, but says that is still far short of prepandemic levels. “To make matters worse, many of the newly created jobs are expected to be of low productivity and poor quality,” the report said. The agency predicts
employment growth will be insufficient to make up for the losses suffered as a result of the pandemic until at least 2023. It said that many businesses — especially micro and small enterprises — “have already gone bankrupt or are facing a highly uncertain future.” A survey of 4,520 businesses in 45 countries worldwide in the second quarter of 2020 found that 80% of micro-enterprises and 70% of small firms “were facing significant financial difficulties,” the report said.
“Recovery from COVID19 is not just a health issue,” said the agency’s director, Guy Ryder. “The serious damage to economies and societies needs to be overcome too.” Without accelerated efforts to create decent jobs and support for the world’s most vulnerable people and hardest-hit economic sectors, “the lingering effects of the pandemic could be with us for years in the form of lost human and economic potential and higher poverty and inequality,” Ryder said.
Caution on Iran nuclear deal as G7 leaders vow to stop bomb Diplomats from outside t h e E u r o p e a n Union cautioned Sunday that negotiations with Iran to salvage a landmark nuclear deal still need more time, as leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations reaffirmed a commitment to stop the Islamic republic from building nuclear weapons. Iranian envoys held another round of negotiations with
international delegations in Vienna a day after EU coordinators suggested that differences over the 2015 accord limiting Iran’s nuclear activities had narrowed further. But Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian state media he thought a deal was unlikely to emerge in the coming week. A diplomat from Russia also said more time was needed to work out
details. The Vienna meetings are aimed at rebuilding a nuclear containment agreement between Iran and major world powers that the Trump administration withdrew the United States from in 2018. U.S. President Joe Biden and other G-7 leaders expressed support for the Vienna process after a threeday summit in southwest England that ended Sunday.
...Liza 1& 2 licences to wipe out over a From page 15 ensure they do. So far, Kaieteur News is in possession of the environmental permits for Liza Phases One and Two, and Payara. This newspaper also has the Payara production licence released by the Ali administration when it announced the approval, last September. Kaieteur News under-
stands that the Vice President has to give the approval to subordinates to release the remaining documents for Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two. The Government rode into office on one promise, among many, that it would be more transparent than the administration before it. The Granger government
never released the production licences for the Liza Phases One and Two projects, which collectively allow ExxonMobil the right to wipe out over a billion oil-equivalent barrels. It had released the Stabroek Block production sharing licence (PSA), and came under harsh criticism for the industry-low revenue share and other poor terms.
Kaieteur News
Monday June 14, 2021
Agri. Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha presenting one of the hampers to a resident
Private Sector contributes to flood-relief efforts in Mahaicony
O
n Saturday last, Agriculture M i n i s t e r Zulfikar Mustapha presented a number of relief hampers to flood-affected persons from Wash Clothes, Mahaicony. The donations were made on behalf of Crown Mining Supplies and We s t e r n S c i e n t i f i c Company Limited and comprised of food items and sanitation kits. Minister Mustapha was at the time conducting an outreach to flood-affected areas in Region Five. While making the
presentation, Minister Mustapha thanked the entities for their timely donations and urged other private sector entities to execute their corporate social responsibilities by offering assistance to those affected by flooding. “These acts will contribute to the country’s development because the government cannot do it alone. I want to thank the owners of Crown Mining and Western Scientific for coming on board and making these donations. These efforts will go a far
way in terms of assisting those persons who were severely affected. “This area has been flooded for a number of days. This is my third visit since the flood and the President (Dr. Irfaan Ali) himself has also visited the area. It is indeed heartening to see that corporate bodies are stepping up and making a contribution to the needs of the citizens. I want to encourage other organisations and companies to come on board and offer assistance to those affected,” Minister
Mustapha said. Officials from Crown Mining Supplies who were present for the presentation said that they were happy to contribute to the national flood-relief efforts and that they hoped the hampers would assist with providing some amount of relief to the families that were affected. Even as the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) continues to provide assistance to those affected, several companies have also come forward and offered their support to those affected by the ongoing flooding across the country.
PAGE 17
PAGE 18
Kaieteur News
Monday June 14, 2021
Monday June 14, 2021
Netherlands beat Ukraine in five-goal thriller BBC Sport - Denzel Dumfries headed a dramatic late winner to earn the Netherlands victory after Ukraine had come back from 2-0 down in a Group C thriller in Amsterdam. Oranje boss Frank de Boer is hoping to use Euro 2020 to prove to fans he is the right man to lead the team into a successful new era after an unconvincing start in the role. It looked like going to plan for De Boer when Georginio Wijnaldum, who scored eight times in qualifying, pounced from inside the box before Wout Weghorst’s instinctive finish doubled the lead. But Ukraine pulled one back through Andriy Yarmolenko’s outstanding 25yard dipping finish and, four minutes later, Roman
PAGE 19
Kaieteur News
Georginio Wijnaldum scored eight goals in Euro 2020 qualifying for the Netherlands. (Reuters) Yaremchuk header the equaliser to silence the Dutch fans. However, Dumfries’
excellent 85th minute header, after substitute Nathan Ake’s cross, earned the Netherlands
Monday June 14, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A friend or neighbor you need to contact could be in and out all day, Aries, and so you could have trouble reaching him or her. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This probably isn't a good day to do work that concerns money, Taurus. Your mind may not be in the right space. You could make errors that cause problems. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A lost object could have all the members of your household going through every room trying to find it, Gemini probably without success. CANCER(June21–July22) This could be a very busy day in your community, Cancer. Some kind of rally, protest, or other public gathering might take place. If you attend, you may not hear much because of all the noise, and the event could seem disorganized at best. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A future course of action that you may or may not take could depend on information you might receive today, Leo. However, don't be surprised if the information is vague and needs to be clarified. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Are you unhappy or uncertain about your current profession, Virgo? Are you thinking of making a change? News could reach you today of possible avenues to explore, but you shouldn't make any decision today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your natural psychic or intuitive abilities could be short-circuited today. Interference from the minds of other people could cloud issues, and this won't do you any good. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The atmosphere around you could seem somewhat unreal today. If you get a weird vibe from someone, take everything this person says with a grain of salt. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Communication could take some extra effort today. A business or romantic partner could seem like they're keeping things from you. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Messages from a distant state or foreign country, possibly through fax, email, or website, might not be totally accurate. If any information presented in this fashion sets off an alarm bell in your head, be sure to do some research. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Staying in touch with a love partner could be difficult today, almost to the point of causing a minor panic. Don't jump to any unwarranted conclusions about possible problems in the relationship. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Are you having problems with the lighting or heating in your home, Pisces? If so, you might not be able to get a professional out today. There could be problems in the entire neighborhood.
victory on their return to the major tournament stage after a seven-year absence. Will the Oranje be Euro 2020’s great entertainers? De Boer headed into Euro 2020 on the back of 11 games in charge that have seen five wins, four draws and losses to Mexico and Turkey. Not all fans are convinced he is the right man for the role. Yet his team of youth and inexperience showed grit and determination to edge the highest scoring game of the tournament so far - much to the delight of most of the 16,000 fans in the ground. While 19-year-old defender Jurrien Timber made just his third appearance for his country, Maarten Stekelenburg started in goal at the age of 38. It was Stekelenburg’s opposite number, Georgi Bushchan, who looked like frustrating the hosts as he made excellent saves to keep out Memphis Depay and Wijnaldum before the latter opened the scoring, the first of five goals in 33 minutes. Yarmolenko’s long-range finish to begin Ukraine’s comeback was the pick of the bunch but it was Dumfries’ header which lifted the roof as the Netherlands got their campaign off to a winning start.
...Big showdown anticipated in From page 20 athletes in Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname and Barbados, seeking permission to compete in the Championships this weekend. Of Note: The Annual General Meeting and Elections of executive members of the AAG will be held on the morning of June 20th at the National Racquet Center where the current President Aubrey Hutson has confirmed that he will be looking to be reelected to serve another term.
...After remarkable recovery, Bromell keeps the faith at U.S. From page 22 ‘No’.” He rolls into Eugene, Oregon, this week with a world-leading time of 9.77 seconds in the men’s 100 metres - the only event in which he will contend at the Trials - all but assuring him a spot on Team USA. It’s a tantalizing chance to fill the void left behind by Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who retired in 2017 with eight Olympic golds as the world’s most famous and beloved sprinter. But while the world of athletics eagerly awaits the coronation of a worthy heir to Bolt’s legacy, Bromell made clear his focus is elsewhere. “For me, personally, it’s all about purpose. I’m not thinking about no medals. I’m not thinking about no
times, I’m not thinking about what people see or none of that,” said Bromell, who has adopted a strict “no days off” policy on the road to Tokyo. It’s an approach that has certainly paid off, as he clocked his second sub-10second performance of the year last month at the Track Meet in Irvine, California. “People don’t understand, you can’t stop moving. You can’t just stop and get complacent. So for me every day is grind,” he said. “For me every day is another day to be prepared for when God presents you with that opportunity.” The U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials begin Friday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 20
Monday June 14, 2021
Djokovic fights back to win second French Open title
R
euters - Novak D j o k o v i c captured his second French Open title as he recovered from being outplayed for two sets by Stefanos Tsitsipas to win 6-7(6) 2-6 63 6-2 6-4 yesterday. D j o k o v i c ’s s e i s m i c semi-final win over 13times champion Rafa Nadal looked like being in vain as an inspired Tsitsipas won the first two sets to stand on the brink of becoming Greece’s first Grand Slam champion. After failing to convert a set point in an enthralling 72minute opener full of brutal rallies, and then crumbling in the second set, Djokovic looked drained. His hopes of banking a 19th Grand Slam title looked bleak but he rediscovered his mojo in the nick of time to turn the match around in emphatic fashion. The 34-year-old, who won his first French crown in 2016, rattled through the third and fourth sets as Tsitsipas, playing in his maiden Grand Slam final, lost his intensity. Fifth seed Tsitsipas valiantly tried to dig in at the start of the fifth set as the shadows spread across a sunlit Court Philippe Chatrier. But, having left so much perspiration on the red clay in the past week, Djokovic remained steadfast. There were nerves as he served at 5-4, netting an easy volley and then seeing a Tsitsipas backhand flash by him on championship point.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates winning the final against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas poses with the runners up trophy after losing the final against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)
But Djokovic knocked off a volley to end the contest after four hours and 11 minutes. In moving just one behind the record of 20 shared by Nadal and Roger Federer, Djokovic also became the first player in the professional era to win each Grand Slam title at least twice. “It was again an electric atmosphere. Nine hours of tennis in less than 48 hours,” Djokovic said on court. “It’s not easy; physically and mentally it was very, very difficult for me, these three days. I believed in my capacities and in my game. It’s a dream come true.” Tsitsipas, 22, looked forlorn as he slumped in his chair, having fallen short of striking a blow for the next
generation trying to loosen the grip of the old guard. “It was a big fight out there, I tried my best and did as much as I could,” he said. No one can deny Djokovic earned his 19th Grand Slam title the hard way. Not only did he inflict only a third ever Roland Garros defeat on Nadal, he also came from two sets down to beat Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round. Having also won the Australian Open this year he is halfway to a calendar-year Grand Slam and will be favourite when the focus switches to Wimbledon later this month. For Tsitsipas there was no easing in to his first Grand Slam final. He saved two
break points in his opening service game, one with a backhand and one with an ace. ROCK SOLID He settled quickly, however, marking out his territory with his backhand looking rock solid. Favourite Djokovic was thrown off his stride when he took a heavy tumble chasing down a drop shot at 3-3 and the Serb was in trouble at 45, framing a forehand high into the stands to hand Tsitsipas a set point. The players traded backhands but Djokovic produced a clever angle to fend off the danger. He then served for the set at 6-5 but produced a poor game and a tiebreak was needed to separate them.
It was Djokovic who looked to be feeling the effects of his battle with Nadal as he double-faulted on the way to falling 4-0 behind. But he regrouped and produced a sensational drop volley at 3-5 before forging 6-5 ahead only to see his set point whipped away by a fizzing Tsitsipas forehand. Djokovic then shunted a backhand wide to hand Tsitsipas a second set point and this time the Greek took advantage as Djokovic’s forehand misfired. There was a hint of despondency about Djokovic and Tsitsipas sensed it, dominating the second set after breaking early. Djokovic netted a forehand to fall 2-5 down
and offered scant resistance as Tsitsipas held to take a two-set lead. Then the backlash began. The Serb began striking the ball more aggressively and closer to the lines and engineered five break points in an energy-sapping fourth game — eventually converting for a 3-1 lead when the Greek missed a backhand. It proved a pivotal moment as Djokovic carried the momentum into the fourth set with Tsitsipas, who needed treatment on his lower back, starting to fade, dropping serve twice. From then on only one outcome looked likely as Djokovic made sure the status quo at the top of men’s tennis remains.
National Senior Athletics Championships
Big showdown anticipated in men’s 100m By Calvin Chapman The National Track & Field Center (NTFC) at Leonora will come alive this weekend with some much missed athletics action when the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosts their 2021 National Senior Championships. The competition will last three days with the action set to run off this Friday with the curtains scheduled to fall on Sunday afternoon. Although approval has not been granted to host fans at the venue by the National Covid-19 task force, head of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, has confirmed to Kaieteur Sport that the event will be
livestreamed on the AAG Facebook page and their w e b s i t e ; www.Athleticsguyana.org. One of the more anticipated events will be the men’s 100m final that will feature members from the entire team that won a historic bronze medal for Guyana in the 4x100m showpiece at last month’s South America Senior Championships which was held in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Those athletes are USbased Jeremy Bascom, local boys Noelex Holder and Akeem Stewart along with reigning champion, Emanuel Archibald who studies and trains in Jamaica.
Archibald is the clear favourite for the race and he will be feared as he is the second fastest in the South America after claiming Guyana’s only silver medal (in the men’s 100m) at the S o u t h A m e r i c a Championships last month. In fact, Archibald, who holds several meet records locally in the 100m and long jump (National record holder), is hardly fazed by the opposition and is looking to reset Adam Harris’ 10.12s mark en route to qualifying for the Tokyo Games since a time of 10.05s is needed. Police Progressive Youth Club (PPYC) Davin Fraser, who would’ve felt hard
down by not making the national 4x100m team that won bronze in Ecuador, will be out with a big point to prove! Fraser showed much promise during the early stages of the season with some good battles with Akeem Stewart during the AAG’s Development meets and once fit, Officer Fraser is a very good candidate for the title of National Champion. Earlier in the month, the AAG had mentioned that since this competition may be a last ditch effort for many athletes to gain qualification to the Tokyo Games, they have received interest from (Continued on page 19)
Akeem Stewart. (Calvin Chapman Photo)
Kaieteur News
Monday June 14, 2021
PAGE 21
New Zealand thrash England to seal series win
New Zealand celebrate their Test series win over England at Edgbaston yesterday. England’s Olly Stone walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket to the first ball of yesterday’s play in the second Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston.
A
FP - New Z e a l a n d overpowered England by eight wickets in the second Test at Edgbaston yesterday as they sealed a 10 series win with more than a day to spare. Set a target of just 38 after England tailender Olly Stone was out to the very first ball of the fourth day, the Blackcaps finished on 41-2. Tom Latham, captaining the team in place of the injured Kane Williamson, hit the winning boundary to be 23 not out after the first Test of a two-match series at Lord’s last week ended in a draw. Vi c t o r y g a v e N e w Zealand just a third win in 18 Test series in England, and a first this century after their
1986 and 1999 triumphs. And it means they will head into next week’s i n a u g u r a l Wo r l d Te s t Championship final against India at Southampton in confident mood. “It’s great to get an extra day of rest before India but we’ll celebrate as well — we’ve not won here since 1999 so it’s important to celebrate those achievements,” said Latham at the presentation ceremony. By contrast, this was England’s first series loss at home since a 2014 defeat by Sri Lanka. - ‘Massively underperformed’ “It hasn’t been our best week, has it?” England captain Joe Root told BBC
Radio after his side came into this match missing Ollie Robinson, with the Sussex seamer suspended after a promising on-field Test debut at Lord’s for historic racist and sexist Twitter posts. “I think we’ve massively underperformed. Credit to New Zealand, they have outperformed us throughout the game.” A lively crowd at a sundrenched Edgbaston roared James Anderson, making an England record 162nd Test appearance, onto the field when the No 11 walked out to bat with Stone and again when he opened the bowling. But it was longstanding new-ball partner Stuart Broad who took the first
New Zealand wicket to fall on Sunday when he had Blackcaps player of the series Devon Conway caught behind for three. New Zealand were in sight of victory when Will Young was bowled by Olly Stone. Latham then ended the match courtesy of a four down to third man off fast bowler Mark Wood as New Zealand reached their target in 10.5 overs, with only 52 minutes play on Sunday needed to wrap up the match. England resumed on the brink of defeat at 122-9 in their second innings, a lead of just 37 runs, after slumping to 76-7 on Saturday. Stone then fell for his overnight 15 when caught
behind off left-arm quick Trent Boult. Matt Henry, one of an extraordinary six changes to the New Zealand side that played at Lord’s, took the first three wickets to fall in a return of 3-36, with Neil Wagner following up with 3-1 Such is the Blackcaps’ strength in depth, however, that either bowler could be replaced by the rested Tim Southee in the WTC final. Henry was named player of the match following overall figures of 6-114. “It’s pretty easy to get motivated to play for your country,” said fast bowler Henry. “We’ve had a strong squad for a while and every time you get the opportunity
you want to do your best.” South Africa-born opener Conway was named New Zealand’s player of the series after he followed a remarkable 200 on Test debut at Lord’s with 80 in the first innings of this match. “Definitely didn’t believe it would go this well,” said Conway. “It’s very special to win here in England and it’ll take some time for that to sink in.” Scores: New Zealand 388 (Young 82, Conway 80, Taylor 80, Broad 4-48) and 41 for 2 (Latham 23*) beat England 303 (Lawrence 81*, Burns 81, Boult 4-85) and 122 (Wood 29, Wagner 3-18, Henry 3-36) by eight wickets.
Fraser-Pryce set sights on Flo-Jo’s 100m world record
J
amaica Observer Still fresh from her barrier-breaking run just over a week ago Wo r l d a n d O l y m p i c champion Shelly-Ann Fraser- Pryce has already adjusted her sights and says the once-forbidding world record of 10.49 seconds might not be so daunting after all. Fraser-Pryce exploded from the starting blocks at the third Jamaica Olympic Association/Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association Olympic Destiny Series at the National Stadium on June 5
and, when she crossed the finish line, the clock showed a jaw-dropping 10.63 seconds (1.3m/s), making her the second-fastest woman ever to run the event. The late Florence Griffith-Joyner, known worldwide as Flo-Jo for her speed as well as her flamboyant costumes, set the world record under controversial circumstances in Indianapolis in July 1988 and Fraser-Pryce admits that she has thought about breaking the record. After finally dipping under the 10.7-second barrier she said new vistas
have been opened and her sights have adjusted higher. “I’ve said this over the years. For me to think about 10.4 I have to first break 10.7, which I just accomplished, so I’m taking it one step at a time. I’m excited to take up new challenges,” she told the Jamaica Observer last week. She admitted that a week after her run she was still processing what she had accomplished. “It hasn’t sunk in as yet, I’m still feeling, like, wow! To finally achieve something I wanted for so long, coupled
with the bonus of it being on home soil...” She described the race as her best technically after watching the race with coach Reynaldo Walcott. “It was definitely one of the most technically sound races my coach and I put together. The result was a new national record and the fulfilment of a long-standing goal to break the 10.7 barrier, but definitely there is room for improvement.” The argument that she is the best female sprinter ever has gathered momentum, and Fraser-Pryce says she likes the feeling it gives her.
“Naturally I feel good knowing my body of work speaks for itself.” Despite her successes dating back more than a decade to 2008 when she won her first major medal at the Beijing Olympic Games, it took a while for her to start seeing herself among the best. “Honestly the belief came over time,” she said. “The more I grew as an athlete the more I found myself believing anything was possible. The more I achieved the more targets I found myself setting. I just continue to feed that
hunger.” She is not looking too far ahead, however, and while saying her focus was on making the Jamaica team to the Tokyo Olympics next month, the idea of defending her World Championships title is a good one. “I have always taken each competition at a time. Right now I’m not focused on next year. The goal right now is making the team to Tokyo. We will see what happens at the Olympics. I am looking forward to the opportunity to defend my [World] Championship title in Oregon.”
Kaieteur News
PAGE 22
Monday June 14, 2021
Sterling blocks out the noise to let Three Lions roar
S
portsMax Raheem Sterling felt it was important to “block the outside world off” ahead of his match-winning turn in England’s 1-0 Euro 2020 victory over Croatia. Manchester City forward Sterling was played in for the only goal following some fabulous play by Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips after 57 minutes at Wembley. The 26-year-old’s club future has been the subject of mounting speculation after losing his place as an automatic starter for Pep Guardiola, while there has been little progress in talks over extending his contract at the Etihad Stadium that expires in 2023. A solitary goal for City since the end of February, allayed with the enviable options Gareth Southgate has in attack for England, led to calls for Sterling to be ditched in favour of Jack Grealish ahead of the Group D opener. Additionally, Sterling had failed to score in 12 previous outings at major tournaments for his country, but now has 13 in his past 17 appearances for the Three Lions. “To be honest with you, I think playing football and being in major tournaments for a long time now, one of the things you learn is knowing when to block noise out,” he told a postmatch news conference after being named UEFA’s Star of
the Match. “That’s what I’ve done. I’ve blocked the outside world off and just tried to focus on coming into this tournament with a clear head, fully focused to help my team and that’s the most important thing. “I’ve haven’t tried to listen to any noise outside – focus on myself, I know what I can bring to the team and it’s as simple as that.” Speaking to reporters afterwards, Southgate hailed S t e r l i n g ’s a l l - r o u n d contribution on a sweltering London afternoon, with the winger’s 12 duels contested more than any of his teammates. “He’s been a reliable performer for us for a long period of time and his goals record in the last two-and-ahalf years with us and with his club… even this year, I know people are saying he hasn’t hit the heights but he’s still one-in-three for his club,” he said, seemingly joining Sterling in the blocknoise-out club. “We can’t have all the scoring burden on Harry [Kane]. You’ve got to have players in those wide areas and in midfield who can chip in as well. “I thought he looked a threat the whole day. I have to also say his work without the ball was phenomenal, positionally and the desire to track and stop them advancing.” Phillips was another player to catch the eye with and without the ball.
He was second to Sterling with 11 duels contested and recovered possession more often than any other England player (seven). The 25-year-old completed 31 of 33 passes overall and 19 of 20 inside the opposition half, including his assist for Sterling at the end of a driving run and a wonderful piece of skill. “To be able to work with the coach [Marcelo Bielsa] that he has and to have a season of playing in the Premier League will have given him tremendous confidence,” Southgate said. “All those attributes were there – the range of passing, the athleticism, the desire. He’s just a very good footballer – high performance, low maintenance. We like that a lot.” S t e r l i n g w a s understandably very appreciative of Phillips’ performance. “He was good in there, he brings a lot of energy to the team. He’s on the front foot, at opposition midfielders and always in their faces,” he added. “At the same time he’s great with the ball, uses the ball well. For our goal you can see the clever play, the drive with the ball, the little skill at the end and a great weight of pass. “He brings a lot to the team. It’s a credit to him – first major tournament and he’s done brilliantly today.”
After remarkable recovery, Bromell keeps the faith at U.S. Olympic trials Reuters - Nearly five years since he was carted off the track at the Rio Games with a torn Achilles, Trayvon Bromell attributes his remarkable comeback to one thing: An act of God. The devoutly religious sprinter has endured a litany of injuries on and off the track in his 25 years: breaking both his knees, and fracturing his arm and hip, before the pivotal injury in 2016 that threatened his career and sent him on a multiyear journey of recovery. That he is even competing again after a two-year absence is a testament to his oddsdefying will to succeed. That he’s a favourite to win the 100-metres in Tokyo is enough to make a believer out of anyone. “People want to make it all, you know, luck - No. Science - No. I’m sorry,” he told Reuters ahead of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials that kick off this week. “Every doctor that I’ve seen these past couple years has told me ‘No, you will not be back in top form. You will not be able to run what you ran years prior.’And God said (Continued on page 19)
Trayvon Bromell (USA) wins the 100m in 9.92 during the Track Meet in a World Athletics Continental Tour competition at Crean Lutheran High School. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Raheem Sterling and teammates celebrate his goal.
CWI President Ricky Skerritt lauds Haynes, Constantine on ICC Hall of Fame induction Desmond Haynes and the late Sir Learie Constantine.
SportsMax - Cricket We s t I n d i e s ( C W I ) President, Ricky Skerritt, has paid tribute to Desmond Haynes and the late Sir Learie Constantine, who are to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame later this month. The two are among 10 cricketers from across five eras who will be inducted. “This is another special day in West Indies cricket history as these two exemplars of the wonderful game of cricket, have been honoured globally through the ICC Hall of Fame – true indicators of their performance and their impact,” Skerritt said. “Sir Learie Constantine was the quintessential West Indian cricketer – a lively fast bowler, attacking batsman and superb fielder, a man who took to the field on that famous day at Lord’s 93 years ago when the West Indies started the challenging but exciting
journey as a Test nation. He embodied what we as West Indians value most in our players – dedication, commitment and strength of character. After his playing days were over he also made his name as a popular lawyer and politician, with a dedication to serving and improving the lives of others.” With regards to Haynes, who will now be enshrined alongside his opening partner Gordon Greenidge, Skerritt, described the Barbadian as being integral to the success of the West Indies team that dominated the world for almost two decades. “Desmond’s cricket career showed early promise as a member of the Barbados U19 team. It wasn’t long before he shot onto the world stage with a sensational century and never looked back. He was an opening batsman and a close-to-thewicket fielder par
excellence, and together with Gordon Greenidge set the standard for how the new ball should be played,” the CWI president said. “Out in the middle, Desmond was lion-hearted and never surrendered no matter the circumstances. As an integral and valued member of the West Indies all-conquering team, he proudly represented Barbados and the West Indies and opened doors for many others to follow.” The duo now joins a list of West Indians Hall of Famers that comprise Sir Curtly Ambrose, Joel Garner, Lance Gibbs, Sir Gordon Greenidge, Sir Wes Hall, George Headley, Michael Holding, Rohan Kanhai, Brian Lara, Sir Clive Lloyd, Malcolm Marshall, Sir Viv Richards, Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Garry Sobers, Courtney Walsh, Sir Clyde Wa l c o t t , S i r E v e r t o n Weekes, and Sir Frank Worrell.
Monday June 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
PAGE 23
Shuttle Time programme introduced in Berbice
Players at the Berbice High School during the programme.
T
he Guyana Badminton Association introduced the Shuttle Time Project to the Multilateral Secondary School and the Berbice High School last weekend (Friday and Saturday), to continue the development of Badminton around the Country. This Project was organized by the association and
Players and officials at the Multilateral High School in Berbice during the event.
was conducted by Guyana’s Top National & International Badminton Players Narayan Ramdhani, Priyanna Ramdhani & Akili Haynes. The GBA also presented the two Schools with the Shuttle Time Kits of Rackets, Shuttlecocks and Nets to help them with keeping the Sport of Badminton active at the
schools. Guyana’s Top players Narayan and Priyanna also made their personal presentation of 11-rackets to the potential players of both schools to encourage them to play badminton. The GBA would like to thank the Headmistress of Berbice High School Ms.
Coleen Liddell and the Head of Allied Arts Mr. Ceon Bristo of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School along with the PE Teachers for arranging the large turnout of Students for this Shuttle Time Project at their respective schools. The GBA plans to take Shuttle Time to Linden next week.