Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Monday June 21, 2021

Water affecting communities in Montgomery mines has receded The Regional Chairman of Region 10, Deron Adams, related to Kaieteur News, that the water affecting the three communities in Montgomery mines has receded, after the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) on Saturday morning, dug a four feet drain to channel the remainder of the water off the residents land. Last Thursday morning between 9:0010:00hrs, the tailings pond located in Montgomery mines, Region Ten, owned by BOSAI Minerals Groups, collapsed as a result of heavy flooding which caused a breach, and affected over 100 households in Maria Elizabeth, Three Friends mines and Coomacka. In an interview with this publication on

Friday, Adams said that the collapse was a result of heavy flooding that caused the sand to sink in the tailings, causing a breach. Tailings ponds are a mixture of water, sand clay and residual chemicals left over from the mining process. Several organizations and companies visited the flooded ground on Thursday in an effort to help those who were affected, and to also investigate ways in which the breach could be managed to prevent further damage. On site were representations from the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, BOSAI Minerals Group, the Ministry of Public works, and the Guyana Power and Light.

Victim’s friend, passerby shot during robbery Two individuals are now hospitalized after a bandit let off rounds while conducting a robbery on Saturday last. According to a police report, a 25-yearold male along with his friend, was standing on the northern side of a black and white bridge at 20:30hrs within Sophia, Georgetown. At that time, the two suspects approached them. One of the bandits quickly held the victim at gunpoint, and demanded that he hand over his two gold chains, which are valued at $300,000. The victim reportedly resisted, which lead the suspect to discharge several rounds.

As a result, one of the bullets hit the victim’s friend, wounding his right instep. At this time, the two suspects had already taken the gold chains and escaped from the scene. Also impacted by the burst of bullets, was a 32-year-old passerby of Rasville, Georgetown, who received a gunshot wound behind his left leg. Both men were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC), where they are receiving medical attention. Their condition is listed as stable. An investigation into the matter is currently ongoing.

Picture showing the drain dug to channel the remainder of the water.

Kaieteur News

Monday June 21, 2021

Put laws in place now to avoid being trapped, conned by oil companies – TT Expert urges When one reflects the extent to which Guyana has prepared for the effective regulation of its oil and gas sector and the revenues to come, Trinidadian Energy Strategist, Anthony Paul, asserts that there is indeed more the nation can do to protect itself. During one of his appearances on Kaieteur R a d i o ’s p r o g r a m m e , ‘Guyana’s Oil and You,’ Paul posited that Guyana needs to put robust laws in place as quickly as possible so that oil companies can have no room to debate or wonder what exactly is required of them. With such laws in place, the industry expert said, that Guyana would reduce the chances for regulators being surprised by certain tactics or simply being fooled. The Trinidadian said, “It has been a difficult year for everyone because of COVID-19 and Guyana, since it started, has had to move at a rapid pace, and has been forced to improve its institutional capacity as quickly as possible. But that aside, Guyana has been able to get its lifts offshore done on time, and it has managed to find partners to sell the oil to and get the revenue put away for the future.” He added, “…But the spotlight of the world has been on Guyana and how it is managing its resources. Now, we know Guyana has limited resources and it has been trying to do as much as it can with that.” Paul said that such circumstances are not unique to Guyana. He has seen it to

varying degrees with Trinidad and Tobago, and even Ghana. In the case of the latter, he said that this African nation had the luxury of having had a state oil company in the earlier years with technical people who knew the industry, and could have supported the current regulatory arm that was needed to monitor its industry. But even then, Paul said, that Ghana still took some time to get off the ground with its oil finds in 2010 and improve capacity. The expert said, “But once they did, they ramped u p v e r y quickly…Importantly, they put in very early, strong laws and regulations to underpin the experienced people who were doing the work. Now the challenge of small countries doing oil and gas and dealing with sophisticated companies, is making things right. At every point, there is a discussion or negotiation on what to do.” When countries like Guyana are in such a position, where the institutional capacity is not strong, Paul said, he would recommend putting in place, the strong rules and regulations as well as procedures, so that it is easy for companies to know what they must do and how they must do it. “That way, there is no discussion, argument or surprise where this is concerned. And it is easy for the government to get things right, so someone who is making a decision without

Bandits stick up man pushing punctured bike, ride away with it A man was robbed of his aunt’s motorbike by two bandits while pushing it to the vulcanizing shop on Saturday evening. According to a police report, the Grey Wave motorbike was given to the victim in the vicinity of Sixth Street Access Road, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The victim was reportedly pushing the bike to a nearby vulcanizing shop when at 22:30hrs, two individuals approached him on a black Honda XR motorcycle. The two suspects who were armed with handguns held the 19-year-old victim at gunpoint and robbed him of the said motorcycle. The suspects then boarded the motorcycle before fleeing the scene. The bike is said to be valued at $300,000. Investigations into the matter are currently ongoing.

Trinidadian Energy Expert, Anthony Paul strong experience, won’t be bullied or cowered or fooled.” Paul said he is aware that Guyana is still to do this, while adding, that he knows there are efforts being advanced to correct this. Be that as it may, he said it would be in the nation’s interest to spend some time looking back at what happened from discovery to production, and evaluate what it can do better and perhaps, assess what improvements could have been had, if the laws and regulations were where they needed to be. He said that this is a pertinent exercise since many of the decisions made in the past would have to be repeated. “I am sure you want to improve, there is no reason why you can’t learn from your past,” Paul concluded.

PAGE 03

Police Finance Officer back in Guyana, granted $250,000 bail on three conspiracy charges Police Finance Officer, Senior Superintendent (ag), Marcelene Washington, recently returned to Guyana and made an appearance before a City Magistrate for three conspiracy charges. Washington appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. She was released on bail to the tune of $250,000 and is expected to make her next court appearance on July 16, 2021. An investigation by the Special Organized Crime Unit (S.O.C.U), an arm of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) into the alleged misappropriation of $300M from the Police Finance Department, has led to several high-ranking members of the Force being slapped with fraud related charges and placed before the court. The first charge was brought against Washington during April, 2021, but at that time she was out of the jurisdiction. That charge alleges that Washington, along with Deputy Commander of Division 4 ‘B’, Senior Superintendent Lorraine Saul and former Deputy Finance Officer, Deputy Superintendent Frank Jackman-Wilburg, between November 2, 2020 and December 3, 2020 at Guyana Police Force (GPF) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, while being officers of the GPF, with intent to defraud, conspired with each other and other

Police Finance Officer, Woman Senior Superintendent (ag), Marcelene Washington persons, to falsify a feeding account in the sum of $2.2M, to purportedly show that meals were provided to ranks who performed fixed point duties at Mounted Branch, between October 16, 2020 and October 31, 2020. T h e s e c o n d c h a rg e alleges that the trio on the same date and at the same location, while being officers of the GPF, with intent to defraud, they conspired with each other and other persons to falsify a feeding account in the sum of $1.4M to purportedly show that meals were provided to ranks who performed fixed point duties at the Suicide Helpline between October 16, 2020 and October 31, 2020. The final charge states

that Washington, Saul and former Deputy Finance Officer, Assistant Superintendent Roxanne Griffith-Adams, between November 2, 2020 and November 24, 2020 at Guyana Police Force (GPF) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, while being officers of the GPF, with intent to defraud, conspired with each other and other persons to falsify a feeding account in the sum of $1.1M, to purportedly show that meals were provided to Officers and Inspectors of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) who performed fixed point duty at the Unit from October 16 to October 31, 2020. Washington was not required to plead to the three indictable charges after they were read to her. Kaieteur News had reported that Saul was stationed at the Felix Austin Police College Mess, as the officer-in-charge, and on the dates mentioned in the charges, she created feeding accounts for ranks that were performing fixed point duties. It is alleged that the accounts that Saul prepared were for duties that never existed. It is further alleged that, Saul conspired with Washington, JackmanWilburg and GriffithAdams, who approved and processed the accounts at the Police Finance Department.

PAGE 4

Monday June 21, 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

Exxon audits - a whitewash in waiting According to the KN headline of June 16, “ExxonMobil throws Guyana $8.5B bill for local spending– 2019, 2020 bills yet to be audited despite two-year deadline.” In view of how everything is falling favourably into place for Exxon, it is well-positioned to claim anything paid to Guyanese businesses, ranging from roti shop to municipal market presences. As we think of this, we are not sure whether to laugh or to throw eggs. Clearly, Exxon is sitting pretty with that $8.5B bill for local content spending for Quarter 1, 2021. At this rate, company chiefs must be grinning from ear to ear on their good fortune, since it stands to surpass the 2019 local content spending of $31.9B. We note that that $31.9B plus $24.3B in 2019 and 2020 respectively, are also inclusive of “investments to local suppliers.” Exxon has to be as happy as the proverbial cat around unattended milk, since those billions in local content bills are still to be audited. In keeping with “Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil and its partners, CNOOC and Hess Corporation for the Stabroek Block, the state has a two-year deadline within which to audit these costs. If that time elapses, the costs have to be accepted as correct.” We would be licking our lips too, if we were in the same situation as Exxon. For 2021 is almost half over, and the 2019 bills are still to be audited, and with a six-month expiration date hanging over Guyana’s head. This is not good; it is too tight a time window, and especially when one considers that the audit exercise would involve reviewing tens of billions in spending. Whatever the sampling strategy and approach, Guyana appears poised to own this monstrous financial baby. As provisioned for in the PSA, should Guyana fail to audit, in a timely manner, then those billions must be honoured by us, regardless of what Exxon does or doesn’t do. As we reported to citizens, this paper “has challenged ExxonMobil many times, to provide transparent, detailed breakdowns of how the money it claims was spent” but have got little in return. In fact, “for almost six years, the company has ignored calls to provide a disaggregation of the money it claims was spent on an annual basis.” The company has refused to furnish much of anything of substance, preferring to give what is convenient to its interests, and then only in the vaguest detail. In response to calls for specifics about who were the recipients of its local content spending, “a list was provided” which stirred more questions, than supplied any clear answers. To cut to the nitty-gritty of the games that senior managers of Exxon are playing, and how they toy with what they consider backward Guyana, when what was handed over was examined closely, the remarkable was found. It was discovered that “ExxonMobil padded its list with the names of places like Bourda Market, Haags Bosch Dumpsite, Royal Castle, Bounty Supermarket, Metro Office and Computer Supplies, Star Party Rentals, and Shanta’s Roti Shop.” And further, that “it listed utility companies such as the Guyana Power and Light and the Guyana Revenue Authority as part of its local content efforts too.” To keep up this mockery, “persons were also listed as registered companies, including Sonia Noel, Chontelle Sewett, Andron Alphonso and Mokesh Daby.” If anything, Exxon’s people have shown some intelligence on popular places in Guyana, as well as some of the known players around. But this question surfaces: how many millions in greens and veggies (Bourda Market) and curry and dhal puri (Shanta’s Roti Shop) can Exxon spend in any given quarter or year? Whatever it is (or isn’t), the company doesn’t miss a beat, and bills Guyana for local content spending like some mad bomber in full frenzy. Somebody must pay those bills come December 31st, and it is not our uncaring and useless political leaders. At the head of the line, the whole line itself stands Guyanese taxpayers and citizens. In terms of local content involvement, when it comes to paying Exxon’s bills, all Guyanese have a share. Now who cares around here? Want to do something about that today, or any other day?

Guyanese in Queens should vote for Adrienne Adams and Richard Donovan Dear Editor, Councilwoman for District #28 Adrienne Adams and Queens Borough President Richard Donovan shared the same NW corner of Little Guyana Square with OGGN (Oil & Gas Network) activists for some NY-style leafletting campaign Friday Afternoon, June 18th. Candidates Adrienne Adams and Richard Donovan are both running for reelection in Tuesday’s (tomorrow) primary election. OGGN activists were there holding up placards calling attention to the lopsided Oil Contract against the people of Guyana and collecting signatures for a petition calling on president Irfaan Ali to take the first steps to have the Oil Contract renegotiated. The elevated subway line terminates at Liberty & Lefferts Blvd – and that’s the heart of what has come to be known as Little Guyana. Seventy-five percent of the passengers getting off at this stop are Guyanese. As they descended to street level, they were greeted by candidates and

campaign aides handing out colored brochures and leaflets reminding voters to vote in Tuesday’s primary election – as well as by placard-holding activists from OGGN. It was four o’ clock in the afternoon at the busy intersection - a huge billboard (bearing the picture of real estate magnate Mohamed Osman) towering above the Square, stores and eating places side by side, major bus stops, on the NE corner scores of people were doing political leafleting for Tuesday’s primary election – and with the Bollywood pop music blaring over the intersection, it feels like a festival of sorts. I asked Councilwoman Adams if she would share a picture with the OGGN guys. She said, “Sure, but not with your signs”. I later popped the same question to Boro president Donovan; he too declined, saying, “I have heard of the controversial oil contract – but don’t know enough of the details and I don’t want to be seen as endorsing your campaign for renegotiation”.

So, we folded up our signs – and the candidates and their aides together with OGGN members cheerfully posed for the picture under the Little Guyana street sign. Councilwoman Adams asked whom I voted for four years ago. I said, “Of course I voted for Richard David”, and quickly added, “Don’t worry, I am voting for you on Tuesday”. (Richard David had lost that contest by 750 votes). Over the last four years, I have observed Ms. Adams several times leading/participating in Guyanese community events. She also voted on several Bills in the City Council that catered to Guyanese Community Causes. She has earned and deserves the Guyanese Community vote. I would urge all Guyanese voters to go to the polls on Tuesday – and do the right thing. About Richard Donovan, now in his first real campaign. He had filled out the term of Melinda Katz who had moved on to the District Attorney’s office mid-term. We had

developed a nice camaraderie with both Mr. Donovan and Ms. Adams. Mr. Donovan was very pleasant. I shall vote for him on Tuesday – and urge all Guyanese to do likewise. In city politics, you must have connections to elected office holders, if you want them to pay attention to your community. I had been active in the campaign for Free and Fair Elections in 1990 -1992. In those days it was hard to get an appointment with an elected representative at the Federal or local level. And, when you do, they would invariably ask: How many Guyanese live here, how many are citizens, do they vote? Today the Guyanese presence is small but significant. The rule of campaign politics here is to corral votes by communities. And, because of the Guyanese presence and participation in elective politics, it is much easier to get the attention of elected officials. But Guyanese must vote in larger numbers. Yours truly, Mike Persaud

WPA scuttled 2005 Rodney COI DEAR EDITOR, Now that the PPP government is rectifying some of the wrongs that had been piled on top of Walter Rodney’s 1980 assassination – such as rejecting the cause of death as “misadventure” – it might be time to comment on the aborted attempt to have a COI into his death in 2005. At that time, I was a Member of Parliament, representing ROAR since 2001. In the beginning of the year, ROAR had proposed a “Centre Force” rather than the “Third Force” that was gaining currency between the several smaller parties in (GAP, WPA and ROAR) and out of Parliament (UP, VP, Civil Society Group and several individuals). One of the crucial differences between the two proposals was that: “This Centre Force can deny both the PPP and the PNC a majority in Parliament and support either on programmes that were in Guyana’s interest.” This initiative encouraged a slew of meetings that included Rupert Roopnarine as the main representative of the WPA before and after the group was launched formally in October 2005, by which time, there were weekly meetings with a rotating Chair. A special commemoration

to mark the 25th Anniversary of the assassination of Walter Rodney was being planned by a very broad-based group that included ROAR because of our respect for the great man’s contributions. This necessitated many meetings with WPA leaders again including Roopnarine. ROAR organised the event of the Essequibo Coast and assisted with the one at Uitvlugt, WCD, my home village. The main event would be held at Queen’s College in Georgetown. Along with those events, there was an initiative launched to have the National Assembly pass a motion to establish a COI into the cause of Dr. Rodney’s death. As such, the PPP government introduced such a motion but insisted that it be an Inquiry into his “assassination”. The entire opposition, including ROAR, disagreed with this formulation since it was stating a conclusion. Sadly, the PPP abstained on the final wording on June 25, 2005: “That this National Assembly, in paying tribute to the memory of this illustrious son of Guyana and on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of his untimely and tragic death, support an international inquiry being

conducted without delay into the circumstance surrounding the death of Dr. Walter Rodney.” Against this background, there are two points, which I wish to make. One that the COI was never conducted because Rupert Roopnarine told others and me that the wife of Walter Rodney did not want the COI at that time since the PPP would use it for political mileage. It was therefore to my great surprise that in late 2019, in a Zoom Broadcast from London, Mrs. Rodney revealed, “I was in Guyana (in 2005) attending an international conference on Walter, it was agreed that, yes, we would have a Commission of Inquiry. By the time I got back to Atlanta, I don’t know what happened, but it was quashed.” Dr. Roopnarine should explain this discrepancy for the historical record, if not for his fallen comrade. The second point, I believe is connected to the first. During my discussions on the Third/Centre Force, I became very close to Dr. Roopnarine and spent quite some time at the WPA Headquarters on the East Coast. At one point, he revealed that he had been holding talks with Robert Corbin, leader of the PNC.

Now, in and of itself, there is nothing wrong about such talks: as a matter of fact, I had extended discussions with Mr. Hoyte early in 2002, before he passed away. But Roopnarine’s initiative violated the premise of the independent Third/ Centre Force, which we were working on. I informed Dr. Clive Thomas and Moses Bhagwan who happened to be in Guyana at the time. But apart from a very nasty spat with other WPA executives including Desmond Trotman, over emails around the WPA secretly engaging the PNC, nothing happened. The Third/Centre Force eventually collapsed over the insistence of Roopnarine and Joey Jagan to engage the PNC with the aim of joining their Big Tent. The group did meet with the PNC in late December while I was the Chair but out of the country. ROAR then formed a coalition with GAP for the 2006 elections with Paul Hardy of GAP as the presidential candidate. Nowadays, the WPA has conceded my surmise about the WPA working with the PNC as far back as 2005. I believe it was this subterfuge that scuttled the Rodney COI of that year. Sincerely, Ravi Dev

Monday June 21, 2021

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

We need the truth from politicians like Green Dear Editor, Reference is made to Eric Moseley’s “Continued hurling of poisons hurt and not help”, a reply to Ryhaan Shah’s excoriation of Hamilton Green’s stance on ethnic violence (Jun 19). I agree but Ms. Shah has not penned any poisons and has not committed any sins. She stated facts. We all must abhor all forms of violence, particularly those based on racial revenge. The country cries for ethnic reconciliation. We must work to build a

harmonious society. All Ms. Shah asked Green was why did he travel all the way to Tulsa, Oklahoma to reference the serious effects of ethnic violence? Why Tulsa and not some other ethnic violence (say like the Jewish Holocaust or the Armenian Massacre) or right here in Guyana like the Wismar Massacre? Shah did not examine the causes or after effects and referenced only one massacre. Green responded with references to other ethnic violence that he felt may have triggered the

massacre of Indians in Wismar. Green also made reference to the Sun Chapman bomb explosion. For the record, Sun Chapman (July 1964) occurred after the Wismar Massacre (May 26, 1964). Moseley said he has worked with Green and commends him for his effort at racial reconciliation as well as allowing “us to learn the truth of events”. Whose truths are they? Can Green answer truthfully the following questions: Who shot Dr. Joshua Ramsammy?

Vaccines - what price for a Guyanese life? DEAR EDITOR, Can I ask Joe Harmon what value he places on the life of Guyanese citizens? For instance, how much does Harmon think is too much to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine? Before answering Harmon’s queries as to the cost of the vaccines to taxpayers, I would wish to commend the Irfaan Ali administration on the tremendous job performed for the benefit and on behalf of the populace by providing free vaccines to (so far) over 46 percent of the population (first dose); had President Ali prevaricated, the cost to the taxpayers could have been a significantly higher number of lives lost, chaos and despair as witnessed in other countries. Harmon quoted a World Health Organisation (WHO) price of US$10 per shot of the vaccine, however, the UNICEF COVAX facility has accounted for less than a tenth of the vaccinations done in Guyana to date; the WHO quoted price is and remains theoretical. Guyana found a supplier that provided adequate and available supply; a supplier who arranged extraordinarily difficult charter flights for our vaccines; the logistical and political challenges of getting Russian manufactured vaccines to Guyana would make for eye-opening reading in itself. At all times, the Guyanese populace was informed by their government of the cost of the vaccines (US$17-24) via

various official pronouncements, we, the citizens, have never said the cost is too high, I would have supported the purchase at 10 times the price. Had President Ali been indecisive, fewer than 30,000 of our citizens would have been able to get vaccinated at this time. No doubt Joseph Harmon and his APNU+AFC elitist cohorts would have been among those demanding special consideration for one of those shots, as is, the Ali administration i s o n a campaign to encourage citizens to get the vaccines (which are widely available), after a politically motivated malicious whisper campaign to discredit the vaccines dissuaded persons from taking the life-saving shots; had political activists not engaged in such destructive practices, Guyana’s vaccination rate would have been over 70 percent and/or equal to the highest in the world today. Editor, President Ali and his administration scoured the world for a supplier to meet our needs and while Guyana is among the countries with the highest rate of vaccinations in the world and this country has secured enough vaccines to immunise her population at a time when suppliers were reluctant to engage small countries and the term ‘vaccine apartheid surfaced; Guyana still has a long way

to go to achieve the vaunted herd immunity. I do hope Joe Harmon’s haste to discredit our current reliable supplier does not lead to a situation where Guyana is considered an unworthy/ troublesome customer by that company and other suppliers in the future. The developed countries have also achieved high vaccination rates and are NOW making promises to assist the less-developed countries with vaccine shots in 2022. Only this week, the US was ridiculed by Chinese media for its donation of 80 vials of vaccines to our neighbour Trinidad despite the dire shortage caused by the Rowley administration’s reluctance to engage nonWHO endorsed vaccine suppliers. Thankfully, President Ali did not wait, for it is a wait that would have cost countless lives; lives most of us value more than money… Joe. Faithfully, Robin Singh

Who poured sand or sugar in the gas tanks of vehicles belonging to WPA activists? Who shot Vincent Teekah? Who murdered Shirley Field Ridley? Who rigged elections? Who opposed Jimmy Carter’s presence in the 1992 elections? Who was the intellectual author of Dr. Clive Thomas failed kidnapping? Who murdered Dr. Walter Rodney? Who scripted the murder of Fr. Bernard Darke? Who organized the Wismar Massacre? Who gave the instruction to murder WPA activists Ohene Koama and Edward Dublin? Who conceived the kick down door banditry against Indian homes? Who murdered Shakira Baksh and her boyfriend? Who beat up Guyana’s first light weight boxing champion breaking every bone in his body? Contrary to what Moseley penned, Ms. Shah’s letter is “very valuable” and “is not propagandistic” unlike Green’s. Shah’s letter reminds readers of historical facts that Green and others seek to bury and pretend never happen, and it is evidence driven to substantiate her argument. Historical facts are documented – they cannot be undone by a polygraph test. What Shah referenced, Wismar Indian Massacre, is well documented. A refugee camp was set up in Ruimveldt – the first ever refugee settlement in the Caribbean. Why do Moseley and Green want to suppress this important historical event? A Commission of Inquiry stated that the Wismar Massacre was politically and racially motivated. Who were the drivers of this massacre if not politicians? What about Green’s role in the X13 plot? The X13 was related to the massacre according to several media reports.

The ILO urged the government to respect the workers’ right to strike and protest. Green filed a lawsuit against the unions and the papers on the strike. Dr. N.K Gopaul has written about the incident in his book. Also, workers struck in Linden. What was Green’s role in Linden against the striking workers? There? Whose decision was it to tear gas workers when he was Minister of Labour? Also, Ms. Shah has not penned or “repeated untruths” and as such there can be no comparison with the Hitlerite Joseph Goebells, who is outrageous. And she is not engaging in race baiting, which characterized Green’s missive on the Tulsa massacre and relating it to Guyana. All Shah did was query why did Green choose to speak of violence against Black Americans and not the violence unleashed in Guyana like the Wismar massacre? Green is yet to answer the question. If Indians attacked Africans, these stories must be told. But

to justify one brutality with another is non sequitor. And we must condemn it. Moseley speaks of ethnic reconciliation. I am not a politician. I cannot speak for the Indian community as I have not been chosen to represent them in our divided nation. I fully support it and have called for a truth and reconciliation commission since the time of Burnham. It is not too late for us to address our division. But first, for politicians like Green to be believable, they must be honest to themselves and face up to their roles in historical events especially violence against other ethnic groups and activists of opposing political parties. We need the truth from politicians like Green who was around when the violence occurred. Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

PAGE 6

Monday June 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

We hate each other yet welcome the architects of our fallen paradise Dear Editor, I read a recent writing of Mr. Hamilton Green, and took the time to follow the reactions in the letter columns. They are revealing; frightening, too. Though, I am neither engaging nor joining nor upholding nor condemning any of the parties, I wish to share what this stirred within me. I remember the searing, smoky 60s, too. I can bypass the pain of then, because I have somehow learned along the way, so my own scars cracked and peeled away. Can the rest of us? On any side of the divide? We are good about caring for animals, better at caring about domestic violence, and best at all the other things in this Guyanese passage: suicide, crime, poverty, come quickly to mind. Yet, it gravely eludes us to care for each other, the relationships that we should have, but don’t. And from the white-hot heats of the letter commentaries, it appears that we may never. Given the sizzling national cauldron, thoughts of healing and reconciling:

what chance those? What likelihood those that clearly have no place in our hearts, no traction in our minds, no welcome in our souls? I can tell my fellow Guyanese of rage, wounding, draining. But to what purpose? To perpetuate prejudice, to sharpen passions, to incite deeper wounds? Of that I will have no part, no partnership. But of this I can share, with the little joy left in this land, the many lush joys with which this life can grace. I suggest my fellow Guyanese, no exceptions, try them sometime, and soonest. If not, we will continue to infuriate each other, flay at each other, and scorch each other endlessly, and kill the spirit of each other. The same result that leads us right back to the same place will concretize: we live and relive 1960s and 70s and all the other dismal deadly decades after. I am not an innocent, but I refuse to see guilt in others. It is a profound place to be, the higher ground I

have clawed for all my life, failing most of it. The self-enhancement that will not come from books, or the likeminded; but from life’s harsh, but enlightening trials. They furnish opportunities to reflect and renew; hopefully rehabilitate in a new direction. It is a peculiarity of Guyanese unyielding prejudices that we can hate each other, yet welcome the architects of our fallen paradise, our then circumstances and our future trampled upon, rearranged, and desecrated. The first word was Marxism. The next two happened to be Cheddi Jagan. And the third and fourth words have names like Americans and British. Look at what they did to us, how they cultivated ambitions, fostered separations, and yet we sanctify them today. But of our own prophets from our own little village towns, we are merciless in our unforgiveness, in the mental and emotional brutalities that make the bestial of us all. We l o v e t o s a y h o w

beloved is this country, but which part, but our own? We chatter about truth and reconciliation, but whose truths and to what manner of reconciliation, other than as defined and dictated by us? I assert that we lie and lie, but to what point? I prefer to say that we miss the boats that leave us stranded on these stormy shores. I leave my raucous Guyanese brethren in the divides with that familiar prayer from Aeschylus: to learn is to suffer. And even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget comes drop by drop on the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. That is the pain and pathos of Guyana; the pathos, because we cannot forget, so the pain festers. We resist understanding, too, so societal traumas paralyze, making us objects of mockery. What we persevere with is the tolerance of intolerance. It is what makes us enduringly proud. Yours truly, GHK Lall

Monday June 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

CANU officer arrested for discharging firearm at public event An officer attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) was on Sunday arrested at the Sea Breeze Bar in Corriverton, Berbice, after he fired a shot in the air during a confrontation with members of the police force. Kaieteur News understands that the incident occurred just after midnight yesterday, when a group of policemen went to the aforementioned location where persons were seen

imbibing. Reports are that, the ranks spoke with the proprietor of the business to close off the bar and while doing so, the CANU officer confronted the ranks and asked, “What makes the police rank think he can close off the party.” He further stated that such was not going to happen. A civilian noticed that the CANU officer was behaving in a hostile manner and sought to explain that his behaviour

was unacceptable. The CANU rank was reportedly annoyed by this as he was more disrespectful to the officers. Another civilian tried to calm the growing tensions but he too was attacked by the CANU officer. A large crowd quickly gathered to note the display of aggression. It was at this point that another CANU officer who was in the company of the aggressor was armed with a 9MM pistol and fifteen live

rounds. He then whipped out the pistol among the crowd and discharged a round in the air. The shooter’s colleague received injuries to the left side of the head and was escorted to the Skeldon Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor and sent away. The shooter was however arrested and placed into custody. His firearm was lodged for safe keeping as the investigation continues.

Monday June 21, 2021

Second dose of Sputnik vaccines can be administered up to three months later - HEALTH MINISTER While there is no official word on when the next batch of second dose Sputnik V vaccines will arrive in Guyana, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony has reassured citizens scheduled to receive their second dose, that the vaccines have a timeframe of up to three months in which it can be administered. Quoting the Russia’s Gamaleya Research Centre; the developers of the vaccine, Minister Anthony told reporters during his daily briefing on COVID -19 pandemic, this week, that the minimum interval between the first and second doses of Sputnik V can be extended from three weeks to three months. He was at the time responding to questions about the delay in the delivery of the second dose of Sputnik V vaccines, and the effect it will have on persons who were scheduled to receive it within the four weeks’ time frame, prescribed locally. Last May, the Ministry of Health had announced that there had been a delay in the shipment of the vaccines and since then, the country has been out of second doses of the vaccine. In fact, the second dose of Sputnik V has been unavailable in Guyana for close to a month, now. During his briefing this w e e k , D r. A n t h o n y explained that “while the Sputnik V, which is a totally different vaccine when it comes to the second dose, is not available in the country right now, the government is making arrangements to get it as soon as possible.” He said, “For those

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony concerned about missing the date prescribed to receive the second dose, the Gamaleya Institute, the people who manufacture the vaccine said, that you can receive the second dose within three weeks to three months.” In the meantime, the Minister said that health workers will continue to administer the first dose of the Sputnik V vaccines at vaccination centres countrywide. The Sputnik V has been among several vaccines approved for use in Guyana to safeguard against the d e a d l y e ff e c t s o f t h e COVID-19 virus. But unlike other vaccines, the Sputnik jab uses two slightly different versions for the first and second dose of the vaccine – set to be administered (initially) three weeks apart. “The idea,” a global report said “is that using two different formulas boosts the immune system even more than using the same version twice - and may give longerlasting protection.”

Teen robbed going to shop on Father’s Day A 15 year-old male of Phase Two Area ‘A’ Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, was on Saturday night held at knife point at approximately 22:00hrs while he was on his way to a shop located two corners away from his home. Kaieteur News understands that the teen and two others were on their way to a shop when he saw some of his friends liming and consuming alcohol. He approached them, but was soon after, held at knife point by a bandit in the area. The teen was robbed of one blue Samsung Galaxy cell phone, valued $34,000 and $7,000 cash. While the victim managed to escape, two of the four suspects have been captured and are currently assisting with the ongoing investigation.

Monday June 21, 2021

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The protests have gone international Yesterday, this newspaper reported on the actions of an overseas-based Guyanese group, operating out of Queens, New York, which has decided to go public with its calls for the renegotiation of the oil deals. The group which goes by the name Oil and Gas Governance Network has launched their campaign with the message “Renegotiate Oil Contract Now.” The group has embarked on a petition drive in Little Guyana and, from all accounts, the response has been enthusiastic with many persons in the Queens area, willingly signing the agreement. The action by the group follows the quiet but growing protests at home in which citizens are coming out and standing silently by their gates and chatting with the friends on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and which has also seen motorists toot their vehicles’ horns in support of the protests. Public expressions of disapproval, over the oil agreements are gaining momentum. People have been listening to Glenn Lall, and they are gaining a better understanding of why this deal is simply the worst in the world, and why it is unacceptable. This newspaper has been receiving a steady trickle of photographs of persons joining the thrice-weekly, fiveminute protests. Some of the images show people standing silently while others reveal images of persons holding up cardboard pickets, even in remote mining areas. Our leaders are only deceiving themselves into thinking that the Guyanese people are not concerned about the oil deals. The Guyanese people are keen followers of local events and they are reading and listening

to what is taking place. The feedback is not generous towards both the APNU+AFC regime and the incumbent, PPP/C, regimes. Because of Glenn Lall and this newspaper, Guyanese, both local and overseas, are coming to appreciate better how their leaders sold them out. The public is also gaining an appreciation about how no deal is cast in stone. The Production Sharing Agreement provides for renegotiation but requires consensus which is only fair. However, our leaders are hellbent on invoking an archaic legal principle called “respect for the sanctity of contracts” as an excuse for not renegotiating the contract even though the contract itself makes provision for renegotiation. Ironically, it was President Ali who is reported last week as having instructed his Attorney General to review drainage contracts and if needs be, to ‘renegotiate’ those contracts to insert penalty clauses for failure to discharge duties in relation to those contracts. Yet, the Head of State and his Second Vice President continue to foot the line that the Government will not renegotiate the Production Sharing Agreement signed between the GoG and Exxon Mobil, CNNOC and Hess but instead, will seek a better deal for future contracts. But what future contracts? The consortium which is operating within the Stabroek Block can use the existing contract to buy-in and gain the same rights for other blocks. So what future contracts does the PPP/C expect to renegotiate? Also, other oil companies will use the existing contract as a precedent. They will demand the same, if not more favourable terms than those

presently enjoyed by ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC. In June 2019 – six months before the no-confidence motion – now Second Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, was quoted in this newspaper as saying that the contract with Exxon had set a precedent for how contracts are made with other companies. It is therefore a tad strange that he should now be excusing his government’s failure to renegotiate that contract by claiming that future contracts will be different. Renegotiation is part of the risks which all oil companies assume. It is not unusual or impossible in the oil and gas business for contracts to be renegotiated. In February of this year, Nigeria, Africa’s largest exporter of oil, said that it will renegotiate its oil agreements with the foreign multinationals operating in that country. In April of this year also, Mexico indicated that it will renegotiate its oil deals with VITOL, the world’s largest independent oil trader. But why look so far. Trinidad and Tobago has renegotiated its energy agreements. At the time, the Prime Minister of Trinidad said this, “There’s a role for the government in ensuring that the people of Trinidad and Tobago, while being participants in this very lucrative business, get more than crumbs that fall off the table”. Guyanese should not settle for the crumbs which the oil companies are throwing Guyana’s way. And they should put pressure on the government to renegotiate the oil agreements. Glenn Lall is leading the way and his appeals are gaining traction, including in New York. But those joining

Dem Boys Seh…

De police in dem region need support Crime fighting is supposed to be everybody’s business. And fuh be successful den you gat to have coordination and cooperation between de strong and de weak regions. Dat is why dem boys nah gat no problem with this idea of a Regional Joint Support Team. Dem boys know dat in certain of dem regions, de police too small and not properly trained to go after certain criminals. Some of dem men wah attacking dem mining camps does be highcrime bandits and by de time de police reach to de crime scene dem long disappear and de place such big it hard fuh find them. Dat is why fuh some areas yuh need to bring in

de military fuh help find dem criminals. Is no way yuh can have a police force based in Lethem going after de criminals in de deep south or even de North Rupununi. Dem gat dem ‘syndicatos; who does terrorise people. So yuh need de support of a stronger support team fuh go after dem criminals. Dem boys therefore surprise dat people suspicious about dis Regional Joint Support Team. Is not an original idea. Soulja Bai bin talk about regionalising de police administration. But dat don’t solve de problem unless de regional units gat de response capability. And dem boys know dat given de size of

some of dem, de response capability gan always be wanting. So dem boys nah getting excited about de criticism of de Regional Joint Support Team. We get big companies digging fuh gold; we gat miners who facing attacks from both foreigners and locals and de only way to improve hinterland security is to have a strong support network. So dem boys support de establishment of dis support team and dem looking forward to dem helping de regional police fuh ketch dem bandits wah flying in with plane and moving through with jet boat. Talk half and nah criticise fuh criticising sake.

have to be tactical. Appealing to President Ali will not be enough. Unless President Ali has persons around him who accept the need to renegotiate, then he cannot be

expected to push for renegotiation. (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 21, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

What has been the historical relation between Granger and Roopnaraine? I am quoting the words of Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine in an interview of September, 2017, that he gave Dr. Dhanpaul Narine for The West Indian, a Guyanese run n e w s p a p e r i n N e w Yo r k . “President Granger was concerned about my workload, the amount of work I was carrying. He looked at my health report and he was concerned. The President and I go back a long way. We were in the same House in school… David Hinds and the others are not as attentive to my needs as the President.” With the official recognition of the legacy of Walter Rodney, there is a crescendo of analyses on exactly what was the relationship between the WPA and Rodney. Jamil Changlee, frequent letterwriter in the newspaper, writing in the June 17, issue of this newspaper observed, “… it raises questions as to the true circumstances surrounding the death of Walter Rodney. How are we to now continue to believe what their party leadership says?” Rakesh Rampertab, another name that has appeared often over the decades in the

newspaper, had this to say in the June 19, issue of the Stabroek News, “This subject of betrayal or treachery (by the WPA) is perhaps more relevant now since an inquiry had been done. Ravi Dev wrote the following yesterday, “But apart from a very nasty spat with other W PA e x e c u t i v e s , i n c l u d i n g Desmond Trotman, over emails around the WPA secretly engaging the PNC, nothing happened.” If Roopnaraine and Granger go back to school days, could Roopnaraine tell us if the friendship was still alive when Granger was one of the most trusted of Forbes Burnham’s officers in the army? What did Granger know about the following given his strategic role in the army: 1 - The killing of three protestors in Berbice trying to stop the army from taking away the ballot boxes in the 1973 election 2 - The WPA’s burning down of the Ministry of National Development 3 - The WPA’s theft of the guns confiscated from the People’s Temple after the Jonestown massacre 4 - The assassination of Walter

Rodney At the time of the WPA’s activism in the seventies, Joseph Harmon was chief of army intelligence. Is it logical to argue that Granger and Harmon did not know anything about the above named events? One must always bear in mind, that Granger along with Vincent Alexander are the custodians of Burnham’s so-called achievements. Granger has four foundations dedicated to Burnham in his former private house and is the patron of the organisation that Alexander runs, the Burnham Foundation. Let us stay with the Roopnaraine interview. Asked why he did not testify at the Commission o f I n q u i r y i n t o R o d n e y ’s assassination, here is how Roopnaraine responded, “I felt too close to the events. It was not something I wanted to speak on. I have not emotionally or intellectually come to terms with Rodney’s passing to date. Walter was my friend and June 13th will always be a traumatic date for me.” This is a shameless, pathetic, sinister deviousness. The words, “I

felt too close to the events,” is simply mind-boggling. If you want to establish the truths of history and assign justice for those who deserve it then you have to record history. Roopnaraine’s refusal to testify does not have anything to do with the commission for reasons people can find out if they keep researching. Ravi Dev yesterday, brought out interesting aspects of Roopnaraine’s politics a part of which is an accusation by Dev of Roopnaraine’s role in scuttling a commission of inquiry into Rodney’s death, a story that has been circulating long before Dev wrote about it in June 2021. Leyland DeCambra, a founding member of the UK branch of the WPA in the seventies, remarked that to me years ago. The quote from Dev about WPA’s invisible covenants with the PNC is potent material for which research should be pursued. Emphasis should be placed on Dev’s words, that he complained to the WPA and there was no responsive action. Dev noted that he complained to Moses Bhagwan

Frederick Kissoon and Clive Thomas about the secret meetings. Dev had to know that he was taking his case to two persons who were part of the conspiracy that he, Dev, was raging against. Why Dev thought that the rest of the WPA leadership did not know that certain WPA leaders had many unpublicised meetings within the PNC? I will never forget the place where Dr. Josh Ramsammy said some words to me. He was ProChancellor of UG at the time occupying an office inside the now defunct Mortgage Finance Bank directly at the corner of Parade and Barrack Streets, Kingston. He told me Roopnaraine always had a strange relation with the PNC. Do the research please! (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Monday June 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Monday June 21, 2021

Tradewinds Exercise to equip underdeveloped nations with skills for joint operations Member of the Florida National Guard, Staff Sergeant Matthew Georgio

GDF ranks training with the US Army.

One of the benefits nations, such as Guyana with limited capabilities in terms of resources for its army, can receive from the Tradewinds exercises, is obtaining the necessary skills to perform joint operations with developed countries. The 2021 Tradewinds exercises are currently being hosted by Guyana and 24 nations are said to be participating in the event. One of the main objectives of the exercise is to help participants learn the skills they need to better respond

to natural disasters and land and maritime threats. During a tour of the exercises on Friday last, the local media fraternity had pointed out that some of the nations participating in the event, do not have the sophisticated equipment or weapon like the United States (US) and other developed countries, and therefore asked how they will be able to truly benefit from exercise in such circumstances. The US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch

said that exercises will enable such countries to work together with the USA. “Having these exercises show that we can work together and the more we do it, the more we have what you call muscle memory, where you can learn quickly and remember what you ought to do in making an exercise or an action successful,” the envoy stated. In an earlier interview during the tour, member of the Florida National Guard, Staff Sergeant, Matthew

Georgio had related to reporters, that part of his country’s (US) primary mission is to provide training for participating nations to work together with the US coalition forces. He had said, “So one of our primary missions here is to provide medical casualty evacuation in the event of whether our US soldiers or our host nation soldiers or any of our coalition partners get injured, we have the ability to fly them in our helicopters.” Gerogio then continued,

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch “And to provide training for our host nation (Guyana) and other nations in working with US coalition forces is crucial; that way, if the need arises, and if that becomes a big issue, they already know how we operate, and we know how they operate, and it works well as a partnership”. One example that he gave of such a possible partnership, is synchronizing with local medical personnel and facilities here in the event of casualties. “So one of the things we have been doing is flying with a medic on board, and so there is coordination between our medical folks and the medical facilities here that are sharing information as to how we treat patients, how we identify them as priorities, who becomes a higher priority, who becomes a lower priority and that allows us to work more quickly and effectively with those agencies as we get along in the training,” the official had said.

Monday June 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Monday June 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

Monday June 21, 2021

PAGE 15

Trial for Pharmaceutical supplier charged with providing fake HIV testing kits continues this week On June 25, 2021, the trial for the pharmaceutical supplier who allegedly provided the Ministry of Health (MOH) with fake HIV testing kits will continue in the Leonora Magistrate’s Court. Magistrate, Zameena Ali-Seepaul, is presiding over the matter, and the defendant, Davendra Rampersaud, Technical Consultant to Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc., is the representative who is facing the charge. The company, Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc., of Area ‘G’ Hydronie Railway, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, is one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical supply companies. The charge was brought against the company last year by the Government

Charged, Davendra Rampersaud

Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD). A c c o r d i n g t o information provided, Magistrate Seepaul, is now in trial mode for the matter. On the last hearing of the matter, the trial commenced

15-year-old cyclist in serious condition following Queenstown accident Fifteen-year-old Joshua Sookra is now in a serious condition at the Suddie Public Hospital, after he was struck down by a car on the Queenstown Public Road last Saturday night. The teen’s relative who lives at Richmond on the Essequibo Coast, told Kaieteur News that he has been complaining of serious headaches, and may be transported to Georgetown today. Reports are that the accident occurred around 20:30hrs last Saturday night, on the Queenstown Public Road, on the Essequibo Coast. The teen was reportedly struck down by motor car PTT 2222, which is owned and driven by 25year-old Manisha Rampersaud. Details surrounding the incident suggests, that motorcar PTT 2222 was proceeding north on the western driving lane. The driver told police that as she was about to turn right into a street, she saw a cycle with no light proceeding south on the western carriageway. Kaieteur News understands that the cycle came into the path of the vehicle, and despite attempts to avoid a collision, the cyclists collided with the left side front of the car. As a result of the impact, the cyclist fell onto the road surface where he received injuries about his body. The teen was subsequently picked up and

rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was admitted as a patient suffering from multiple injuries about his body. Police indicated that investigations are ongoing into the matter.

and the matter was adjourned to June 25, 2021, when the prosecution will continue to call witnesses to testify. On his first court appearance, Rampersaud denied the charge which alleged that on January 16, 2020, Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc., allegedly sold and supplied 400 units (20 packs) of Uni-Gold HIV Test Kits, Batch #HIV7120026, with misleading representation, a violation of the Food and Drugs Act of 1971. Rampersaud is charged for selling and supplying the devices with misleading representation, which is a violation of the Food and Drugs Act, Cap 34:03 part V section 18 (1) of 1971, to the

Materials Management Unit located at 55-56 First Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara. According to reports, a quantity of the testing kits was seized by the GA-FDD from the Materials Management Unit of the MoH at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and from local hospitals and laboratories. This publication had reported that the probe was launched into the fake HIV testing kits after an Irish manufacturer wrote to the former Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, during January 2020, warning that it is aware of counterfeit Uni-Gold HIV test kits in Guyana. The Irish company s upplied photographic evidence, which indicated clearly that the kits expired since July 2019. In its complaint, the company, Trinity Biotech, named Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc., as the company that was allegedly supplying the expired testing kits. According to the company, the fake boxes were created with expiry dates extended by 17 months, and the kits repacked in them. Trinity Biotech said that the products were already six months out of date when they were brought to

Guyana. The company further claimed that its Trinidadbased authorised distributor,

Transcontinental Medical Products Limited, is the only authorised distributor for the Uni-Gold kits to Guyana.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Monday June 21, 2021

Monday June 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

In one week, 760 persons Flooding will be recovered from COVID-19 ‘more devastating’ From June 14 to June 20, the Ministry of Health has moved 760 persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID19) disease to its list of recovered individuals. Last Monday, the country saw a total of 16,313 recoveries, while yesterday a total of 17,073 persons reportedly recovered, amounting to the 760 recoveries. Between Thursday and Friday a total of 255 persons recovered making that the highest number of recoveries in a 24 hour-period for that week. As the Ministry of Health (MoH) continues to record high cases of recoveries, it did note yesterday that there were three more COVID-19 deaths. As a result of this, the country’s COVID-19 death toll now moves to 447.

According to a press release from the Health Ministry, the latest fatalities are that of a 43-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), a 66-year-old man and a 73-year-old man. The two men were from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). All three persons died over a two-day period while receiving treatment at a medical facility. Furthermore, the MoH in its daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 123 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 19,096. The dashboard also shows that 21 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 107 persons are in institutional isolation, 1,448 in home isolation and one person is quarantined institutionally.

than 2005 floods - AGRI MINISTER Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday last, made another visit to the ancient county of Berbice and met with farmers and residents of Moleson Creek, Crabwood Creek, and the Corentyne Fishery Association. A number of issues, including the need for veterinary services, feed for livestock, more drainage of lands, and more machines to help in clearing of canals and blocked drains were raised. Minister Mustapha while addressing farmers and residents of Moleson Creek mentioned that with the heavy flooding throughout the country, Region six may be the last to be drained while adding that for the next few weeks, the water level will remain high, although efforts will be made to provide relief. “This flooding will be more devastating than the

2005 flood...The government will give help to each and every person that lost. Assessments will continue, and long term development will continue.” The Minister said at Moleson Creek. At Crabwood Creek, where the second meeting was held, residents and farmers expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and Water Users Association at Crabwood Creek. Upon hearing their concerns, Mustapha told residents that an investigation will be launched. At the meeting in Bushlot, Minister Mustapha informed residents that the Guyana Livestock Development Authority and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, will be conducting

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha assessments in all of the flood-affected areas. He also told residents that veterinary services and feed for livestock will be given to affected farmers. Meanwhile, Poonai’s Pharmacy and General Store, donated a number of animal medical supplies to the Guyana Livestock Development Authority to aid in their flood-relief efforts. Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, while receiving the supplies in the presence of other ministry officials, thanked the business owner for the timely donation, and called on other private sector bodies to come on board and assist those who are affected by the ongoing flooding.

PAGE 18

CAR RENTAL

AIDAN'S CAR RENTAL & TOW TRUCK SERVICE: PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINIBUS,GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE #698-7807.

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158. REPAIRS AT LOW COST: F R I D G E S , A I R CONDITIONER,WASHING MACHINE,FREEZER,SALE OF AC'S. TEL#6294946,225-4822.

FOR SALE 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 1 Toyota Allion PWW Series $1.8M & 1 Honda CRV $3.2 negotiable.Contact 649-0956 for more info. Massey Ferguson Tractor( Foreign used). MF165$1.5M, MF 135-$1.1M, Pickup Ford Ranger-$1.1m, F150-$1.2M. 682-5230, 6154414.

FOR RENT

3 bedroom,fully furnished North & Oronoque St.Bourda bottom flat.Contact 226-7012,6240041. Fully furnish apt, one bedroom,two bedroom & three bedroom.Providence and diamond.Call:6046664,216-2299.

Monday June 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

FOR RENT Business: South Road, Saffon, Hadfield, Wellington, North Rd, Residene: Meadow Bank, North Ruimveldt Ray's Realty 627-9685. 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. Property at Kuru Kururu concrete one flat house plus chicken pen. Call: 622-8265. S h e r i f f Street,Kitty,Norton,Charlotte,Enterprise East Coast,Uitvlugt & Zeelught West Coast.Contact Ray's Realty 627-9685.

WANTED 1 porter from Georgetown.Must be able to fetch rice,flour & sugar.Tel#223-9677. One male able bodied clerk.Call#231-2029,6165954. One professional cook for family of four and one experienced cleaner.Call#5030359,608-2444. Family to live & work on a farm.Contact: 622-1976 or 227-1744. 1 general domestic to work in Providence, from age 30.Please call:673-5300. Domestic must know to cook and bake, salary $25,000 weekly.Call:6103974. Looking for honest & reliable person for cleaning job.Age between 45 & up.Tel#231-4933.

VACANCY LAND FOR SALE

One land for sale,Lot 251 Section 'C' Turkeyen.60 ft x 80 width with unfurnished property.Tel#627-7718. Carmichael St, Mc Doom, La- Penitence, Qeenstown, Beterverwagting, Canal No.1, Soesdyke Highway, East Coast Contact Ray's Realty 627-9685.

WANTED Wanted one experienced Gold Smith, Jacobs Jewellery and Pawn shop 16 Pike street Kitty Tel#622-4970 Wanted (2) experienced Welder/Fabricator. Contact Tel#222-3844. Experienced Cooks and Servers,Cleaners, Handyman. Call:626-7285 to book interview. 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.

Night guard between age 40-60 years, from Liliendaal or Cummings Lodge area.Call# 688-2464. Lorry driver, Factory work male & female.Apply in person to R.P Enterprise E.C.D. 220-2818/3710. One cashier to work at Ice house,18yrs and older.Call: 223-7165.

Pump Attendant & Cashier. Shifts (6AM-2PM & 2PM10PM). Shell Station Providence E.B.D. Email: Shellramsburg@gmail.com R o o m Attendant,Supervisors,Receptionist, 30-50 years old. 233 South Road Lacytown. Tel#2252304. Driver must be able to assist in workshop,age 25-45, Car/Van licence.Call: 6429823. Male cleaner for a workshop.Call: 642-9823. Auto Electrical apprentice age 19-25 yrs.Apply in person, Lot 120 Forth Street Albertown G/Town or call 610-0340. Pitmen for interior location.Applicants must be experienced.Call:231-2250. Experienced masseuse/cosmetologist required. Nalini's hair salon,225 New Market Street (opposite Maggies). 226-6705/609-6259. Vacancy exists for one office assistant.Must be computer literate with organiztional skills.Send application:innovationsamericam ng@gmail.com. Maid to cook and clean for East Bank call: 615-9132.Female cleaner for office call: 642-9823.

Sha’Carri Richardson sprints to Olympic debut with 100m win

Sha’Carri Richardson sprinted straight to her Olympic debut in Tokyo when she won the women’s 100m at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in 10.86 seconds. NBC Sports - With her long orange hair and trademark long, multi-colored nails, Sha’Carri Richardson sprinted straight to her Olympic debut in Tokyo. The 21-year-old won the women’s 100m at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials with a time of 10.86 seconds, bursting into the lead in the final few meters. She immediately ran up into the stands at the new Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, for a long embrace with her grandmother. “Emotionally — unbelievable,” she told NBC reporter Lewis Johnson, “the fact that I am an Olympian no matter what, a dream since I was young. Being happy is an understatement. Happy, nervous, all of those emotions.” Richardson then shared with Johnson that her biological mother died last week. “My family has kept me grounded,” Richardson said. “This year has been crazy for me, going from last week losing my biological mother and I’m still here.” Richardson, whose name first became known when she won the 2019 NCAA title as a freshman in a college-record 10.75 seconds, has been a

favorite for both the U.S. Olympic team and an Olympic medal since running 10.72 seconds in April — the sixthfastest legal time in history. She ran a wind-aided 10.64 seconds in Saturday’s semifinal. Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medalist in this race, ran the year’s fastest time, 10.63 seconds, earlier this month. Both women are chasing Florence Griffith Joyner’s world record of 10.49 that has stood for 33 years. “I think her energy is incredible, and obviously she has so much talent,” ninetime Olympic medalist Allyson Felix said of Richardson. “It’s really fun for all of us to be able to watch her and just see that spirit of hers.” Felix and Richardson could meet on the track later in the meet. Both are entered in the 200m, which starts Thursday, June 24. Richardson will be joined in the women’s 100m in Tokyo b y J a v i a n n e Oliver and Teahna Daniels, also first-time Olympians, who ran 10.99 and 11.03 in the final, respectively. 2016 Olympian Jenna Prandini met the Olympic standard, coming in fourth at

11.11 seconds, and could be named to the team for the 4x100m relay. Twenty minutes prior, Valarie Allman won the women’s discus to secure a spot on her first Olympic team as well. The former competitive dancer, whose throwing form exudes some of the grace she learned in that sport, was in a league of her own with a second-round throw of 69.92 meters. Allman, 26, had set a meet record and season’s best of 70.01 meters, not far off her American record of 70.15. The 2014 junior world silver medalist — who was seventh at the 2019 Worlds — will be joined in Tokyo by third-place finisher Rachel Dincoff, who was in fourth until her penultimate-round throw of 60.21 meters. Micaela Hazlewood was second but does not currently have the Olympic standard of 63.5 meters. She must reach that by June 29, or potentially be invited via world ranking, to be named to the Olympic team. 2016 Olympians Kelsey Card and Whitney Ashley were fourth and fifth, followed immediately by 2012 Olympian Gia LewisSmallwood.

Monday June 21, 2021

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

National Senior Champions Day 3

Bright completes double, Williams & Cornette storm to 200m win

Daniel Williams wins the men’s 200m final.

Following a personal best performance in the women’s triple jump on Friday, Chantoba Bright returned yesterday; the final day of the championships, to complete the double with a win in the triple jump despite a niggling toe injury. Bright, who reached the NCAA D1 regionals this year, won her pet event with a best leap of 6.28m. Ruth Sanmoogan (6.02m) and Toyan Raymond (5.82m) finished second and third respectively. National and meet long jump record holder, Emanuel Archibald leaped to the men’s title, with a best effort of 7.82m which was not close to his season-best of 8.10m that he had produced earlier in the year at Leonora. Damon Williams (7.57m) and Micaiah Washington (7.57m) were second and third. Daniel Williams made an

Monday June 21, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Electrical or plumbing problems with your house might come up. Call a professional, Aries. Don't try to fix it yourself, because you could make it worse.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your physical energy is very high today. You're likely to want to get out and exercise, perhaps jog through the park or attend a virtual aerobics class. Be careful!

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Stay close to home today. Spending too much time in the car could lead to stress or, in extreme cases, minor accidents. On the job, this could turn out to be one of those days.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Uncertainty about spiritual matters and doubt about your insights might have you down in the dumps today. Don't try to force any solutions - it won't work.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Money matters might take a turn for the worse today. Don't fly off the handle because of this, Gemini. Use every bit of financial savvy you have to put things straight.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) If a friend or acquaintance gives you adv i c e a b o u t money or investments today, don't take it. To follow this unknowledgeable person's lead might prove to be disastrous. Participation in group activities also isn't advisable.

CANCER(June21–July22) Cancer, check your house to make certain everything is in working order. There are indications that small hazards could exist that need correcting. Tension might run high among family members, and quarrels could result. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Short visits in your neighborhood could catapult you into some negative situations. It's best to stay close to home if you can. An angry letter or call could put you in a shaky mood. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) oday you might be a bit worried about your financial affairs. A past mistake could have led to some rather upsetting consequences. Now you need to harness every bit of skill you have in order to set things straight. Your knowledge of modern technology could help.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Gossip and bad feelings among co-workers or in a group could occur today, and there might be some political shenanigans that it would be in your best interests to avoid. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Too much running around might have you feeling exhausted and under the weather today, Aquarius. You may have been exercising a little too much. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You could feel extremely passionate today. You might want to connect with a love partner but be prevented b y c i r c u m s t a n c es. You might be attracted to racier novels or movies.

...Christopher Griffith, Susan From page 22 Alex Mendes (Carlton Wheelers CC) closed out the top six places. Deeraj Garbarran won three of the six sprint prizes with once each to Jason Cameron, De Nobrega and Griffith. Grant-Stuart and Mendes placed 2nd and 3rd behind Fernandes in the Masters class, while Ian ‘Deaf Boy’ Jackson was the first Over-50 rider to cross the finish line. The race started in rain at Schoonard, West Bank Demerara proceeded to Busy Park, East Bank Essequibo before returning to the starting line for the finish. Claiming the top junior spot was Mario Washington of Flying Ace Cycle Club based in Berbice ahead of Team Alanis’ Sherwin Sampson and Justin Thom. The Female winner was National champion Susan Hamilton of Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club who comfortably won from her club mate, 17 year-old Clevicia Spencer. The ladies turned back at Uitvlugt and the winning time recorded by Hamilton was One Hour 12 Minutes 17.94 Seconds. A total of 35 cyclists faced starter’s orders. Veteran organiser Hassan Mohamed of the host club, Carlton Wheelers, was on hand to assist with the presentation of prizes and expressed thanks to Banks DIH Limited for their continued support of the sport which has been affected like others by covid-19.

Chantoba Bright’s winning leap in the women’s long jump. emphatic return to track following an injury and stormed to the men’s 200m crown. The 21-yearold ran an impressive time of 21.06 seconds ahead of Akeem Stewart (21.35s) and Nolex Holder (21.46s). Williams, who is on scholarship at Hinds Community College in the U.S. shared with the media following his race, posited that he is delighted to be competing again after recovering from numerous injuries. The women’s 200m was won by Juvonna Cornette of Tytans Athletics in a time of 24.85s ahead of Ruth Sanmoogan (25.13s) and Keliza Smith (25.24s). In the middle-distance showpiece, Devaun Barrington of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) successfully defended his national title in a time of 1m 53.02s to win the 800m ahead of fellow GDF clubmate Nicholas Daw (1:55.84s) and Anfernee

Headecker (1:55.94s). Philip Drayton, who had hyped himself and staked a claim for the 800m title was a no show. On the distaff side, NCAA regional finalist; Joanna Archer annihilated her competition with a time of 2m 12.62s and she was followed in by Shaquka Tyrell (2:19.30s) and Tia Azore (2:32.34s). Meanwhile, Cleveland ‘Fish’ Thomas got some retribution after triumphing in the men’s 5000m in 16m 1.72 seconds ahead of Sir Kennard Hartog who had orchestrated a major upset against him in the men’s 10,000m on Friday. Hartog stopped the clock at 16m 29.28s for second and Marlon Nicholson (16:40.05s) was third. The National Youth & Junior Championships is the next event on the cards for the Athletics Guyana and it is tentatively set for next month.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Monday June 21, 2021

Max Verstappen wins French Grand Prix with late pass

R

oad and Track Back in May, Mercedes AMG F1 won the Spanish Grand Prix by making a late decision to bring Lewis Hamilton back into the pit lane for an extra stop and putting him in position to make up all that time on track. Yesterday, Red Bull got Mercedes back by reversing the situation, putting Max Verstappen in position to pass the entire field with just enough time to win the race. In both cases, the driver pulled it off. While Verstappen started on pole and held the lead into turn 1, a slide off track in turn 2 gave Hamilton the lead almost immediately. The Mercedes and Red Bull seemed evenly matched throughout the race, allowing Verstappen to stay on par with Hamilton throughout the first stint and

take the lead with an aggressive undercut on the first stop. Hamilton fell to a close second, but what did him in was that he also had slightly newer tires, putting Verstappen further into his wear cycle and giving his team the earlier opportunity to make another stop. Red Bull did so while Verstappen was leading, adding an extra stint to their strategy with a used set of medium tires from qualifying. Because Verstappen’s team made the choice from the lead and did so early, it was effectively a strong undercut against a Mercedes pit stop that never actually happened. Having already gained the lead with the first undercut, Verstappen here gained so much time against a theoretical strategy switch for Hamilton that Mercedes had no choice but to keep

Max Verstappen celebrates winning the French Grand Prix. (Mark Thompson - Getty Images)

Hamilton in front and hope he could hold the lead for enough time that Verstappen never got into DRS range. Both stops were timed and

executed brilliantly. The Red Bull stopped with 20 laps to go. It took 11 laps for Verstappen to catch and pass Valtteri Bottas, whose sole job in this race was to slow the Red Bull driver for as long as possible. It was a valiant effort, but not valiant enough. The lead was down to 3 seconds with five laps to go, then one second with two to go. That was enough to get into DRS range, and the Mercedes had no real counter for repeated assaults by a car with DRS and better tires. Verstappen made his move just before the final lap, Hamilton had no chance to defend, and Red Bull Racing’s 23 year-old ace has one of the most memorable wins of his career. After the catastrophic tire failure from the lead for

Ve r s t a p p e n a n d uncharacteristic late mistake for Hamilton canceled each other out in the last race, y e s t e r d a y ’s w i n f o r Verstappen moves him into the best championship position of his career with a 12 point gap on Hamilton. The gap from Verstappen to third-placed Sergio Perez is now 47 points, nearly two full weekends worth of possible points. T h e c o n s t r u c t o r ’s standings are another story. Thanks to the win Perez salvaged for Red Bull Racing after the Verstappen crash at Baku and a nice late pass to take third from Bottas, the team has now won three races in a row and leads the championship for teams by 37 points. Lando Norris, comfortably the best driver

outside of the elite teams this season, finished today’s race in a familiar fifth, just ahead of his teammate Daniel Ricciardo after the team split t h e i r s t r a t e g i e s e a r l y. AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly, Renault’s Fernando Alonso, and the Aston Martin duo of Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll rounded out the points-paying positions. Notably, a non-scoring 12th for George Russell has given Williams a tiebreaker over Haas F1, another team that has not scored a single point this season, for ninth in the 10-team constructor’s battle. Red Bull Racing is at its best ahead of back-to-back races at their home track, the former A1 Ring now named after the energy drink giant. The first, the Styrian Grand Prix, will be held next Sunday.

Van Niekerk finally qualifies to defend Olympic 400m title

M

ADRID, (Reuters) Olympic 400m champions Wayde van Niekerk belatedly confirmed he will defend his title at the Tokyo Games, finishing inside the qualifying time in Madrid on Saturday. Beset by injury since his Rio heroics five years ago, the South African ran 44.56 at the Continental Tour event at Estadio Vallehermoso to finish 0.34 seconds inside the qualifying time, although

he was runner-up to Colombia’s Anthony Jose Zambrano. It was the first time the world record holder had run under 45 seconds for four years but he has barely competed since being injured in a charity touch rugby game in October 2017. Va n N i e k e r k , w h o smashed Michael Johnson’s 400m world record at the 2016 Rio Olympics to claim gold in 43.03, moved last

month to train in the United States under sprint mentor Lance Brauman, who has had him concentrating on the 200m. But a bid to qualify for 200m in Boston last month saw him pull up before the finish line, sparking more concerns about his fitness. Van Niekerk, however, said at the time it was only precautionary and has since told reporters he is excited and optimistic about the year.

Kaieteur News

Monday June 21, 2021

PAGE 21

Rassie van der Dussen 75* sets West Indies 324 to level series

E

SPNcricinfo South Africa set West Indies 324 to win the second Test and square the twomatch series in St Lucia. We s t I n d i e s h a v e successfully chased a score over 300 seven times before second only to Australia and twice in the last four years, but after failing to cross 200 in this series, face an uphill battle. South Africa managed 33 more runs than their lowest total against West Indies, a record in danger of being

rewritten, when they teetered on 73 for 7. Rassie van der Dussen scored the sixth halfcentury of his Test career and shared a 70-run eighthwicket stand with Kagiso Rabada to save South Africa’s blushes. Rabada finished with a career-best 40, the secondhighest score on the South African card. Kemar Roach and Kyle Mayers shared seven wickets between them and asked tough questions of South Africa’s line-up. Despite a heavy morning

downpour and high humidity, there was not much swing through the air but the West Indian attack generated movement off the seam and challenged South Africa’s top and middleorder with consistent lines on off stump. West Indies asserted themselves more dominantly than they have at any stage in this series and reduced South Africa to 63 for 6, 78 runs adrift of their lowest total against them. Mayers led the pack with three wickets, while Roach and Jason Holder claimed one apiece to run through South Africa’s top and middle order. However, with the lead above 200 runs, South Africa are still in a relatively comfortable position and will fancy their chances of closing out the series 2-0. Play started two hours and forty minutes after the scheduled time thanks to a wet outfield following heavy morning showers, and the first session finished 30 minutes early as the rain returned. The moisture was not having much effect on

the conditions, but the West Indies pack generated movement off the seam and challenged South Africa with tight lines and challenging lengths. Roach struck with his third delivery when Aiden Markram was forced to play at a ball that moved away from him and outside edged to Holder at second slip. Keegan Petersen was almost dismissed off the next ball as well when Roach beat his inside-edge, but the ball snuck through the bat-pad gap. In Roach’s next over, Petersen inside-edged onto his pads; in the one that followed, Roach beat him with a full delivery, and two overs after that, Roach got his second wicket though it wasn’t Petersen. Dean Elgar’s uncertain innings ended when he pushed at a ball outside off that seamed away from him and edged to second slip. Petersen saw off Roach and was just starting to settle, though he would be disappointed with his lack of foot movement against Mayers, as he bottom-edged

Kyle Mayers led the way with three wickets for West Indies. (AFP Getty Images) onto his stumps. He looked to cut a short and wide delivery but stayed rooted in his crease instead of moving outside off, and chopped it on, thus finishing his debut series with a top-score of 19. Mayers continued to ask questions of South Africa and could have had Kyle Verreynne caught in the cordon as well when he edged a full delivery between third slip and gully. And though Verreynne took South Africa’s lead past 200, he was caught behind off the next ball off Mayers. West Indies snared the biggest fish four balls later when Quinton de Kock

defended a Holder delivery away from his body and edged to Joshua Da Silva. After a hundred in the first Test and 96 in the first innings of this game, de Kock was dismissed for a duck, and West Indies could see into the lower order. Wiaan Mulder, who is in the side as a batting allrounder, has so far done more with the ball and continued in that vein. He drove at a Mayers’ delivery that was pitched on fourth stump, but edged and was caught at gully. Rassie van der Dussen then took South Africa to tea, with just the tail to come.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Monday June 21, 2021

Kyle Jamieson, Devon Conway nudge New Zealand ahead

E

SPNcricinfo Seven wickets for 71 runs with the ball. Two wickets for 101 runs when batting. New Zealand wrested back control of the World Test Championship final after a first day that would have left them nervous after they had won the toss and inserted India. Kyle Jamieson picked up his fifth five-for in just his eighth Test to deny India the impregnable position they would have hoped for after ending the second day at 146 for 3. Devon Conway then unsurprisingly became the first half-centurion of the match before leaving the door ajar for India, falling minutes before bad light e n d e d t h e d a y ’s p l a y prematurely. New Zealand were now trailing by 116 runs with eight wickets in hand. Both teams, though, know that the conditions are treacherous and ripe for collapses, the kind that was seen in the morning. Which is why despite only 144 overs of cricket over the first two days, a result cannot be ruled out. A maximum of 294 overs remain in the Test thanks to the reserve day, but the forecast for day four is not promising. Things did look promising for India at the start of the day with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane resuming a 59-run stand and domination a session’s batting away. That, however, was a long way away if the bowlers got it right in overcast conditions aiding swing and seam. And New

Kyle Jamieson pinned Virat Kohli plumb in front. (Getty Images)

Devon Conway made a patient fifty before falling right at the end of the day’s play. (AFP/Getty Images) Zealand got it spot on unlike at the start of the Test. Jamieson found swing each way, and also seam to go with it, and hardly bowled any loose balls. Three overs into the day, having bowled only six balls out of 93 until then that would have hit the stumps, Jamieson produced the perfect seventh. Full, just outside off, making Kohli defend the line, and then finding the seam movement to defeat him and trap him in front. Kohli failed to add to his overnight score. The flamboyant Rishabh Pant found nothing he could score off without taking extravagant risk. He chose not to take the risk. So he had to wait 20 balls to score his first run. Before that he survived a close lbw call through an umpire’s call. Finally he threw his bat at a wide one, and the movement took the edge, sort of

justifying his earlier restraint. Rahane now looked for some urgency, but walked straight into the Neil Wagner short-ball trap. This happened four balls into the 79th over. The field went back. Two men behind square on the leg side, two just in front and also a deep midwicket. The plan was telegraphed, and was, in all likelihood, going to last three balls before they took the new ball. Rahane, though, took the first short ball on, and failed to keep it down, giving forward-square leg an easy catch some 30 yards from the wicket. India were down to needing runs from the allrounders now at 182 for 6, something they had produced regularly in Australia against tired bowlers and a softer

Kookaburra. R Ashwin did provide 22 quick and crucial runs, but once Tim Southee found his edge, the rest folded quickly to a five-man seam attack in conditions not even remotely as trustable as those in Australia. India were unrelenting in the areas they bowled in, which shows in New Zealand’s run rate of barely over two an over, but they didn’t find the swing that New Zealand bowlers did. The seam movement they did find was enough to create 53 false responses from the batsmen, giving them a control percentage of around 82, which wasn’t way better than India’s. India lost all their 10 wickets in 108 false responses. So there was an element of bad luck around, especially with Mohammed Shami, whose anomalous

numbers in England continued after 11 wicketless overs, but he had both the openers in trouble. He hit the shoulder of both their bats only for the edges to balloon over the cordon. Conway and Tom Latham didn’t make India’s job easier, playing with great discipline. As the partnership grew and went past 50, India might have missed a fourth seamer had R Ashwin not put in a performance of class, bowling not even a single bad ball in his first eight overs that went for 10 runs, and then getting Latham caught at short extra cover in his ninth, ending the partnership at 70. Kane Williamson and

Conway recovered from that loss, and even began to accelerate before a cloud arrived and India’s seamers strung together 24 dots. Then Ishant Sharma overpitched on the pads, Conway saw release, unfurled that extravagant flick he plays with his back leg in the air, but was early into the shot and ended up caught at wide mid-on. A repeat of his dismissal from his previous Test when he found deep square leg instead. Two balls later, the umpires took the players off for bad light. Scores: New Zealand 101 for 2 (Conway 54) trail India 217 (Rahane 49, Kohli 44, Jamieson 5-31) by 116 runs.

Malta Supreme/Rainforest Water/Powerade/Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club Father’s Day Race

Christopher Griffith, Susan Hamilton, Mario Washington, Stephen Fernandes are category winners Stephen Fernandes won the Masters and was 2nd in the senior category.

Junior winner Mario Washington collects his prizes.

By Franklin Wilson Team Evolution’s Christopher ‘Chicken Legs’ Griffith crossed the line in One Hour 41 Minutes 36.22 Seconds to win the Banks DIH sponsored Malta Supreme/Rainforest Waters/Powerade Father’s Day 44Mile Road Race yesterday on the West Demerara, organised by Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club. A dominant display by Griffith’s teammates saw them claiming four of the top six positions; Stephen Fernandes was 2nd and also won the Masters category, Curtis Dey was 3rd with Paul De Nobrega 5th. Their dominance was broken by Walter Grant-Stuart who copped 4th, while (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Monday June 21, 2021

PAGE 23

Women’s International cricket Motor Trend supports returns to the Caribbean Independence Softball Cup West Indies to host Pakistan Women and first ever A Team Tour

ST JOHN’S, Antigua Cricket West Indies (CWI) yesterday announced an eight match white-ball series between the West Indies Wo m e n a n d P a k i s t a n Women and a historic six match white-ball series between the West Indies Women A Team and Pakistan Women A Team, with both series taking place in Antigua from June 30 to July 18. The Tour will see the r e t u r n o f Wo m e n ’s international cricket to the Caribbean for the first time in nineteen months due to the impact of COVID-19. Pakistan will arrive in the Caribbean on June 23 ahead of the T20 International (T20I) Series, which starts on June 30. The T20Is and T20 A Team matches will be played on the same day and at the same venues as “double-headers”. The teams will then switch gears as they head into a fivematch CG Insurance One Day International (ODI) Series and three-match CG Insurance A Team One-Day Series starting on July 7 and 10 respectively. All matches will take place at the two ICC accredited grounds in

Antigua, the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and the Coolidge Cricket Ground. The ODI series will be vital preparation for both teams as they will face each other in the ICC Women’s C r i c k e t Wo r l d C u p Qualifiers that are due to take place in Sri Lanka in December for one of the three remaining qualifying spots for the Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, 2022. CWI’s investment in Women’s cricket is one of eight key initiatives within C W I ’s s t r a t e g i c p l a n , designed to develop the next generation of women cricketers, increase participation in the sport and generate additional opportunities for competition at the highest level. C W I ’s D i r e c t o r o f Cricket Jimmy Adams said: “This is a very significant home tour for our women and we are delighted that our counterparts at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have worked with us to arrange these two series despite all the challenges we face with COVID-19. CWI continues to invest in our international Women’ program by hosting

extended High-Performance camps between tours, two of which have already been held this year. In addition, the opportunity to host our first ever ‘A” Team Series is brilliant, as it means that our developing players will get the chance to compete against high-quality international opponents and push for selection to the senior team. The series is also an important part of our preparation for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in December. Our goal post this Pakistan series, is to have our squad play against more international opposition and take part in our Regional Tournament before heading to the Qualifiers in Sri Lanka at the end of the year.” The West Indies Women last played in the Caribbean in a bilateral series against India in November 2019, following which all home cricket was postponed in 2020 due to the impact of Covid-19. The West Indies Women last played on the S a n d a l s We s t I n d i e s Women’s Tour to England in September 2020 in a fivematch T20I Series.

Motor Trend has thrown their support behind the We C a r e C o m m u n i t y Services and Promotions inaugural Independence Inter-Region Softball Cup which is currently underway. The entity handed over a cheque to the organisers at a simple ceremony held recently at its location in Enmore. The organisers have expressed gratitude to the company and other sponsors. The competition is being played on a knock out basis and the two top teams will advance to the playoff stage. There are over $200,000 in cash and trophies to be awarded to the winner, runner-up, man-of-thematch in the final among other outstanding performers.

Representative of WeCare Mr. Fazal Khan receives the sponsorship cheque from a sales representative of Motor Trend.

Usain Bolt, partner Kasi Bennett announce newborn twins with uniquely fitting names

Usain Bolt and Kasi Bennett along with their children. (NBC Sports via @usainbolt–Twitter) Yahoo Sports - Usain Bolt will not be competing in the Tokyo Olympics this summer, but he does have another life milestone to celebrate. Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medalist, and his partner Kasi Bennett announced the arrival of twins recently with posts on Instagram for Father’s Day. And as with their oldest daughter, Olympia Lightning, the two carry fitting names. Welcome Saint Leo Bolt and Thunder Bolt. The couple announced the arrival of Olympia Lightning in July 2020, again in a slightly subtle way. Bolt wished Bennett a happy birthday and mentioned their “new chapter together” with photos of the mother

and daughter. The baby girl’s name lit up social media. Serena Williams, who also gave her daughter with Alexia Ohanian the name Olympia, replied with four heart-eyed emojis and four hearts. Bolt is an 11-time world champion and holds world records in the 100 meters at 9.58 seconds and 200 meters at 19.19 seconds. He is the only sprinter to win 100m and 200m gold at three consecutive Olympics (2008, ’12, ’16). He retired from Olympic competition following the 2016 Rio games. It will be the first Olympics since 2000 in which the Jamaican will not be on the track.