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Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 03, 2021
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Hughes and Ferguson We must say that we are deeply disappointed in former ministers, Cathy Hughes and Annette Ferguson, and particularly the former. There are certain things that are just not done, certain steps simply not taken, certain developments not associated with, and simply because they lead to the worst possible places of conjecture and condemnation. In this country, women may still not be present in many places of power or hold much influence. But, it is undeniable that in this society women are largely looked upon as a source (the source) of profound and enduring truths, of being above the ugly fray, of going a different way from that which the blustering and conquering local men travel and make their own. Said a different way, our women from forever, it seems, are of a timeless wisdom that speaks of those deep graces that lift us up and comfort us, and never more than when it is dark, and it appears that all is lost. Men, most of them who listen, know that, and for one simple reason: they have benefitted enormously from the womanly wisdoms that set them apart. That is why it is so surprising and discomforting to learn of the handiwork of Ms. Hughes and Ms. Ferguson, who should both know better, and actually knew better, but still threw caution to the wind and let us down. For one thing, they did not do the cause of women, uneven and unequal to begin with, much justice, did not subscribe to what helps to level the playing field for their sisters, and especially in the minds of the unreconstructed male chauvinists and cultural relics. According to the reports, Ms. Cathy Hughes, former Minister of Telecommunications, was the ultimate beneficiary to the tune of six million dollars in contracts awarded to a company that she owned. As disclosed in parliament by another member from across the political aisle, it would seem that former minister Hughes might have actually approved a payment to her company. Surely, she didn’t! Surely, she should have known better! And just as surely, we believe, that if this is accurate (and we must rely upon it to be so, since it was presented by another honourable member in no less an august body than that of the National Assembly), then anything goes. At the very least, we believe that former minister Hughes is savvy enough and schooled enough to know that she ought not to have been a party to any official payment document that authorized the release of public funds to her company, which, by extension, is to herself. If she did not know, then it was the easiest of steps (the closest and most available to her) to obtain guidance on what could or should not be done by her. We do not know whether such counsel was sought. But what is obvious is that there is a payment for six million dollars and a piece of paper with former minster Hughes’ signature clearing the way for that check to be drawn. That was unministerial; it now stands unmasked and highly unnerving. We wish that we do not have to present this over and over again, but developments of this nature from our political stewards, in one government after another, force us to say that this is not of proper governance, or public service. Rather, it is of what is angering in the reporting and commenting, because it is so much about what is selfserving, which is precisely what has come to the fore during official travels of another former minister. Annette Ferguson is her name and travel expenses is the name of the game. In the instance of Cathy Hughes, it was six million of the taxpayers’ dollars; in the now disclosed journeys of Annette Ferguson, it is in the high six figures. It is clear that our political people know how to make the numbers work for their interests. To go from the capital city to any part of the interior cannot be over a half million, and almost a million. This is runaway greed that knows no bounds. It is the arrogance that comes from the belief that anything can be done, and nothing can be done to call to task, to mete out the kind of punishment that may bring remorse, which makes others of like mind pause and retreat. Ms. Hughes and Ms. Ferguson are but two examples of how the business of the people is overseen here. It encircles the bizarre in what is now a huge bazaar, and a honey pot from which the well-placed few help themselves abundantly.
Don’t let the creeps slip through the system and back into our society DEAR EDITOR, The story of the Venezuelan woman being raped, beaten and brutalized was horrifying to read. No one deserves to be treated like this, and to find out that the perpetrator is an alleged serial rapist that was charged several times for this behaviour, released, and continued to prey on women tells much of our justice system. How can we have sexual predators driving taxis?? What confounded nonsense is this?? Where are our monitoring bodies, like the Guyana Police Force, that requires these persons report
periodically to the station?? How does the justice system work so that we don’t allow these broken people to be amongst us to harm us?? Who will look out for us commuters who use taxis and public transportation that we don’t fall prey in the hands of one of these monsters?? Let’s not dare judge this woman and say that she deserves it because of her profession. We now know she has children and has to put food in their mouths. Prostitution is one of the oldest professions and people use their services but it has to be paid for. No one
has a right to abuse these women during or after the job. In days gone by our Guyanese people fled and went to Venezuela for a better life, now we must reciprocate and help them in their time of need. About two years ago, I was told of a similar incident with a minibus driver who would rape and, in one case that I know, killed his victim and threw her on the roadside. The young woman’s friend said that she exited the bus and her friend was the last to get off. She never arrived home and her
battered body was found the next day. This incident outraged me and I called the mother and asked her to make this incident public so that the travelling public would be aware, but she was scared and didn’t want to tarnish her daughter’s name. I put the incident on Facebook as I couldn’t keep it to myself. We right thinking Guyanese women hereby plead with the authorities to don’t let these creeps slip through the system and be put back amongst us. No lawyer should take their cases and allow them, because of (Continued on page 5)
March 2nd: a saga to remember DEAR EDITOR, A year has passed since the nightmare that was the March 2020 election. Never again must we return to such a dark period in our nation’s history. Never again! Democracy was put on trial, as we were nearly transported back to totalitarian days of the 70s and 80s. The struggle brought out the hero in some and the hypocrite in others. The former group should have their contributions recognized, while the latter in need of serious introspection. Personally, I didn’t think the huge mess could’ve happened but it did. I honestly felt that we had come a far way from the rigged elections of 1968, 1973, 1980, and 1985. I scoffed at the elders around me fearing that the PNC-led coalition would have tried to rig to stay in power. Boy, was I wrong. A big salute to everyone who
stood up for the will of the people to be heard during those dark five months. There are so many people whose names should be honoured on record but may go down as unsung heroes. Every single person who guarded the ballot boxes and took part in the recount should go on record as champions of democracy in Guyana. Further, how can one forget the unbiased journalists who exposed the transparent attempts to rig in favour of the Coalition? Their coverage throughout the saga day after day painstakingly must not go unnoticed. They are champions of democracy in Guyana. Every single activist, who advocated for democracy to be upheld through the press or social media shouldn’t go unnoticed, as every single voice mattered. It was
beautiful to see many youths see past ethnicity and political bias to call out the attempts to rig. It was also saddening to see those who could not see past such biases, but that underscores the need for national healing. One cannot forget of course, those who tried their hardest to racialize the issue of the election as well as spread misinformation to deceive and exploit the coalition supporters. This dangerous “Trumpian” style utilized by individuals at home and in the diaspora, claiming to care about their support base should go on record. For such poisonous rhetoric showed how even free speech could be turned into a weapon against democracy. These individuals are demagogues. However, the story does not end here. We know what is needed: Much needed
strengthening of electoral laws to prevent such an incident from reoccurring and traumatizing future generations. Also, national healing is needed. This election showed how divided we are as a nation. One-half of the country was lied to, and made to feel that they will be victimised if the PPP gets into power. The other half was worried of mass post-election violence that typically targets PPP supporters. There is no national unity at all here, and not only is it on the Government to put in the work to fix it, but it’s on us too. We have to embrace each other, find common areas of understanding, accept differences and march onwards to the hope that one day we can achieve the elusive “one people, one nation, one destiny.” Yours faithfully, Nikhil Sankar.
Guyana-Suriname Commission is a timely initiative DEAR EDITOR, The proposed establishment of the GuyanaSuriname Commission to focus on the mutually exclusive economic, social and cultural development of both countries is indeed a timely initiative. The recent discovery of our mega oil reserves in the Guiana shield has provided both countries with the opportunity to foster a collaborative and synergistic approach to development. The following areas of focus will surely be on the radar, namely: - 1. Joint venture approach to an onshore base industrial site or an Energy Frontier for the added value production of the collective oil and gas reserves of our respective countries. This should include a deep port harbour, gas power generation plants, refinery, petro-chemical plants, production of
lubricants, LPG plants and polymers. 2. Amalgamation of business that can provide technical support services to the floating platforms at the various oil wells. Services such as non-destructive testing and welding to pipelines and tanks, safe entry and cleaning of hazardous materials, environmental disposal of hazardous waste, safe air transport in the form of helicopters and others. 3. Infrastructural projects that will enhance the physical connectivity of our countries. The bridge from Moleson creek to South Drain where the bids for the feasibility and concomitant design have already been received is a tremendous step for mutual progress. The bridge will definitely see an increase in the movement of people and goods in both countries. Developing further our
respective regional airports especially the Zorg En Hoop in Suriname may result in cheaper airfares. 4. The facilitation of private enterprise expansion in each other’s country. At present, we have a few Surinamese companies operating in Guyana with the most recent announcement of the Fernandes Company opening of a modern bakery here. The Private sectors of both countries through the auspices of the proposed commission should develop reciprocal business. 5. Facilitating collaboration in the rice industry to the benefit of both parties. Sharing of research data and best practices in land tillage, rice varieties, pest control, fertilizer management, harvesting techniques, milling technology and added valve production will rebound to the benefit of the collective
rice Industry. 6. Promotion of more cultural and sporting exchanges. Both countries share almost a similar history of slavery and Indentureship albeit different colonial masters. We share similar connections in our music, dance and arts forms, which will only be enriched by more interactions. With respect to sports, we already have the inter-Guiana games for the under 19 youths. We can encourage more club and national teams’ exchanges in football, volleyball, basketball, netball, swimming and athletics. There will be a multitude of areas that the proposed Guyana-Suriname Commission would conceptualize in the future with its formation to the benefit of both nations. It is indeed a welcoming initiative. Yours truly, Reggie Bhagwandin
Wednesday March 03, 2021
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Kaieteur News
The agony of senior citizens and contributors of NIS in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, I’m saddened at the state of affairs that has resulted in the never-ending suffering of senior citizens in Guyana after 53 years of independence. This ongoing plight, which continues to affect this delicate group of people, ought to be a matter of urgency and as such, needs to be dealt with swiftly. It’s most distressing to see how senior citizens are treated as outcasts and the royal run-a-round they endure to get a pension that they can barely survive on in an all-time rich country like Guyana. How long such torture will continue remains questionable. Many of these citizens, over the years, are pushed to spend non-refundable sums of money and time to photocopy documents that continue to be re-submitted over and over again to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) – Head Office in Georgetown and then, forced to trot to and from NIS like beggars with high hopes of becoming a beneficiary oneday. These disgruntled people who are only anxious to get what they think is rightly due to them, complained of times they are being rudely handled by some of the obnoxious and unprofessional staff at NIS who probably feel they would never get old and they are just there to attend to issues affecting their families and friends. The arrogance exhibited by those who were hired as professionals and is meted out to the defenceless, is certainly a form of abuse that needs to end forthwith. Dissatisfied senior citizens don’t know where to go after they would have left NIS. It is therefore suggested that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security be equipped and assigned with the duty of dealing with matters/complaints affecting senior citizens in Guyana. The workers of the NIS – Head Office in Georgetown need to be reminded that senior citizens need a pension just as the staff of NIS needs a salary to survive and if
those who were hired have become tired in executing the duties they are paid to perform, then they need to do the honourable thing…. just RESIGN! This predicament of old people in Guyana is a shame and a total disgrace!!! What is even more disgraceful and disturbing, is the cry of the senior citizens falling on deaf ears of a Government that was consisted of a 90 percent ratio of senior citizen/pensioners and which would have failed to address such matters affecting their very own group. It is obvious that the pension of the aforementioned ratio was intact so to hell with those who are affected. SHAME ON YOU!!! It is interesting to know the number of citizens deprived of a NIS pension in this era and it’s glaring that some major factors are responsible. i. Those rouge/ unscrupulous employers who would always make the necessary deductions to pay NIS from the employees’ salaries but to no avail. ii. The sluggishness/ tardiness of NIS Inspecting Officers, who fail miserably in their attempts to go after these fraudsters. iii. Monthly Contributions are paid in to NIS, yet, upon examination, records reveal lapses by months and even by years. As a consequence, persons may become ineligible for a NIS pension since they would have fallen short of 750 contributions. NIS owes more than a passive apology to its
contributors and the people of Guyana for the spate of its unsatisfactory service and continued inconvenience. The complexity of attention and feedback is lengthy and time consuming, and this has been unbearable for years. It is unfortunate that this group of Guyanese citizens choose to remain in Guyana for whatever reason(s). They work all their lives for what can be considered a meagre salary. It’s only fair that when they would have attained the age to receive their benefits from NIS, it should be done without a hassle. The harassment senior citizens normally go through in Guyana to get what can be considered ‘ravellings’ for a pension is no joke. Worldwide, it’s normal for senior citizens to be treated with respect and be well taken care of and Guyana ought to be no different. An outreach was held by President Irfaan Ali during the latter part of 2020 in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Promises were made to the affected citizens to have them paid before the Christmas holidays but to date; payments are yet to be made. It is without any doubt that the current Government has been trying since it regained power. However, it has a mandate to fulfill, and needs to be reminded that it is a servant of the people of Guyana and therefore, the duty of a Government of the day is to take care of its people’s welfare and to make them happy. A Government can never make its people happy by putting them
through struggles. They are not elected to make themselves Lords over the people who paved the way for them to be in authority and as such should never be hesitant in dealing with matters of such nature and urgency. Failing to do so can result in a Government looking very incompetent. People are waiting and longing for their pension since before 2008 and at this stage, they’re being asked by NIS to be patient. This is probably a JOKE! What would be the outcome of benefits for the period in wait, should a senior citizen die? Who stands as the beneficiary in such an event? What is preventing NIS from making payments whenever necessary when
there is an influx of funds on a monthly basis? There are more questions than answers. All these irregularities and on-going issues are certainly pointing in the direction of fraud. If that is indeed the case, the regulatory body should intervene to protect the citizenry from this wellorganized pernicious imposition. Further, it is utter nonsense for Citizens to retire at the age of 55 years and have to wait in limbo for five years… until they are 60 years old to be qualified for a NIS pension. Who tends to benefit from the five years pauses…at least not the contributor. If this initiative is not a scheme then it is backwardness to its highest
and it would be welcomed if this desolation can come to an abrupt end. The Government took drastic measures in its approach towards the dismantling of the Ponzi Scheme. Who is there to take the necessary action/ measures against the National Insurance Scheme? If the Government of the day has difficulties in fixing the predicament of NIS that is causing people to live in hell while on planet earth, then assistance should be sought from the international community in an effort to find solutions to eradicate the misery that has been brought upon vulnerable contributors of NIS. Yours truly, Royston Sheppard
...Don’t let the creeps slip through From page 4 some lack of evidence or technicality, to be free to continue to perpetuate this violence. Neighbours must find a way to discreetly inform the police if they suspect someone has abusive behaviour. Violence against women is a No, No, even if that woman is your woman. I have professional friends who do work with women and children in this country and the horror stories that I hear are occurring too often now. Men are supposed to be the protectors of women, not to abuse and kill us. If you are not pleased with us instead of brutalizing us then probably just walk away. Men and especially family
members are now molesting and raping our babies and young children. It’s in the news every day. So much so, that a child sexual abuse court had to be established. We are a small society and the per capita for these incidents is very, very high. A total overhaul of all systems has to be undertaken for a more humane society to come about in years to come. We have to start with baby steps. Men, spend more time with your kids. Do not leave the woman to be a single parent and the struggles begin from day one. Go to church as a family, go to picnics with your family, do things so that your kids would see and learn correct behaviours to be good citizens.
Report men who indulge in harming children. The authorities should use the North American model for persons who are sex offenders, once released from prison, they should be monitored constantly. Rehabilitation Centres should be established, so that people can be given a chance to change their lives. My heart bleeds for our women. Please let’s all look out for each other. Peace!!! Regards, Saudia Ferouz
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 03, 2021
Our problems will not go away with riches to come DEAR EDITOR, I wish to comment on a letter written to another newspaper, Stabroek News on March 2 titled, “The Administration must govern openly to reduce inequalities within and between groups of Guyanese.” The letter was authored by Mr. Nigel Hinds. Mr. Hinds raised several crucial points regarding the state of society in Guyana and the urgency for good governance. I think Mr. Hinds’ letter was a wonderful articulation encapsulating the essence of the Guyanese predicament: that a nation divided will not stand. However, I want to elucidate some key points highlighted in Mr. Hinds’ letter to illustrate that the work of truly bringing a nation together goes beyond political branding, and it is yet to begin. At every election, Guyana has faced racial tensions due to a longstanding rivalry
between two major political parties that have found themselves configured along race/ethnicity. This is not entirely of their own accord, for history tells us how it happened. From the year 1950 onwards, two charismatic figures, Cheddi Jagan (of East Indian descent) and Forbes Burnham (of African descent), led Guyana out of British colonial rule. Their cause was unified and focused, that is to rid of the imperial order of the day. Once that was accomplished, the territory of postindependence politics commenced, where the landscape was not just about international relations but also domestic politics. Political competition for the Presidency ensued. Superpowers, namely the United States and Great Britain, did not stray away from being involved in Guyana during this time, and
they played an integral role in shaping the nation’s political configuration, resulting in the system of governance and inorganic political philosophy we have today. Because of political strife between the two young and visionary leaders, Guyana found itself clustering by ethnicity due to issues of trust developing between East Indians and Africans who were originally isolated and not socially integrated under colonial rule. The face and ethnicity of leadership would ultimately decide the course of race relations in Guyana. Though many scholars of Guyanese history treat the colonial period as the root of today’s political dismay, not much attention is paid towards how the legacy of political parties—the PPP/ C and the PNC/R—have continued a tradition of divide-and-rule tactic once employed by the British empire. Throughout the postindependence era, domestic political parties have contributed tremendously to the disarray we see unfolding in Guyana, particularly at every major election. We cannot continue to ignore the reality that the two major political parties have caused and contributed to great angst and animosity in the social fabric over the last three decades.
We are still stuck in an age-old crisis. How do we promote better ethnic/race relations in politics in a fragmented society of which the political leadership taunts and torments the electorate and yet the electorate subscribes? This question is not only a matter for East Indians and Africans to decide on, but also Chinese and other nationals who call Guyana ‘home.’ So, I echo Mr. Hinds’ sentiment that everyone has to be included in governance if we are to see an easing of the racial turmoil. Now, the question of how we include everyone in executive government is vital. We know representation matters in a diverse society, and we know the impact representation has on ours. There are different and interesting views out there; some allude to some form of shared-governance, which commonly seeks to focus on a top-down approach to politics whereby the elite representatives of the electorate share the executive arm (the Presidency and Cabinet) of government. My own proposal is a bottom-up approach to shared governance, whereby the electorate and civil society organizations are first and foremost embedded into the democratic functions of the National Assembly, including the ability to vote directly on
certain legislation as well as having the ability to truly hold representatives accountable, rather than rely on the elite grouping to hold each other accountable. This is to encourage a participatory democracy that focuses on citizenry empowerment rather than the elite political class. But ideas are open to conversation and debate, as they should. Lastly, there is another aspect of Mr. Hinds’ letter that I want to add commentary on. Mr. Hinds said, “The noninclusive mentality seems to come to prominence once executive power is bestowed. Due to the support base of the two political parties, the vindictive actions largely target African-Guyanese and Indian-Guyanese depending on if the administration is controlled by the PNC or PPP.” He goes on to express disappointment in the situation that compels “wellintentioned Guyanese” to participate in derogatory talk against each other that goes outside of their character. Every Guyanese knows precisely what Mr. Hinds is talking about, including the political leaders. Yet, the leaders, who are elected, ignore the race/ethnic problem set before them. The major political parties have paraded themselves as being representative of “all Guyanese,” a phrase often
overused by their leadership. But do they truly represent much less commit to the interests of “all Guyanese” given their actions? What about their reluctance towards fundamental change that is required in governance and the electoral body (GECOM) to take Guyana out of the two-party ethnic dichotomy? On the latter note, the political framework in place— democratic proportional representation—serves to include rather than exclude. By itself, political parties, though from within, form their membership according to representation. (Note, the electorate does not vote directly who gets to form the party’s core constituency). If this is so, why then do we still see heavily concentrated race/ethnicity between the two major parties? If the electorate could have voted who forms a party’s membership directly, would the end result be any different? And if Guyanese society broadly wishes for more inclusivity, why then are the PNC/R and the PPP/C still in power? Hopefully, these questions can promote the reflection needed as we brace for the age of oil production and newfound wealth, for our problems will not go away with riches to come. Yours faithfully, Ferlin F. Pedro.
Wednesday March 03, 2021
Kaieteur News
WE CAN DO BETTER The Diaspora remains an important constituent. While the members of the Diaspora cannot vote in local elections, they certainly have earned the right to be included in the decision-making of the country. Overseas-based Guyanese can only enjoy that right on the condition they register. And while this requirement excludes many of them from having a direct say in the election of local leaders, it is their birthright to be involved in the affairs of this country. This does not necessarily translate to a constitutional right to vote, but added to the contribution that the Diaspora makes to the welfare of families back home, they can be said to have achieved a moral right to have a say in the affairs of their country, even if this is limited to making known their views on developments within their homeland. One of the criticisms made about comments from the Diaspora is that judgment is usually passed on conditions in Guyana based on firstworld standards. It is a legitimate concern. There is however sufficient historical memory existing within the Diaspora about the way things were years ago and thus to moderate the views of those, who when they come home, tend to look down on social and living conditions. Too many of the criticisms about conditions back home center on living and social conditions. There is, however, an equal need to concentrate on attitudes beginning at the point where visitors deplane – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Without question, the
attitudes of the Immigration and Customs staff are far friendlier and professional but still somewhat intimidating. A few smiles can make a big difference. Persons visiting the country need not feel nervous when approaching the authorities. But there is that mild trepidation amongst and often the experience is that when one tries to engage in friendly chitchat with the staff that there is sometimes a less than warm response. Guyana needs to cultivate a more visitor-friendly attitude, particularly at the airport. In return, visitors need to not be condescending towards the locals and to show respect to the authorities by following the procedures. There are times, for example, when differences can flare in relation to the manner in which forms are filled. And many of those who get upset whenever they are told to refill their forms would not dare argue back to an official or immigration officer at JFK or Heathrow airports. But in Guyana, some feel that they should not be told to refill a poorly filled out incoming or outgoing form. Attitude is important on both sides, including the bag handlers, who always seem anxious to rush ahead with the baggage while visitors are trying to greet their relatives. Perhaps a system can be introduced that would ensure that these bag handlers or Red Caps as they are called, simply retrieve trolleys from the waiting area and the car park rather than having the responsibility of ferrying your baggage all the way to your vehicle. This is one area where Guyana perhaps needs to and
can easily catch up with First World standards. Guyanese always seem to be in a hurry. During the interval between innings at the National Stadium, there was a mad rush to get to the concession booths that were selling food and drinks below the stands. In one instance a group of young English schoolboys formed a line and waited for service at one such booth. They were orderly and willing to wait their turn. Except that most others were not. Instead of forming a queue, persons pushed and maneuvered their way to the counters while the young schoolboys from England stood patiently waiting their turn. However, there was generally great fun and friendliness otherwise and one hopes that eventually people will appreciate that things would be much easier for all concerned if when there are many persons waiting for a service that an orderly line is formed and everyone wait his or her turn. Guyanese who migrate learn to adapt when they go overseas. They generally do not attempt to jump a queue, they are friendly to others and they certainly do not dispose of their wrappers and napkins by dropping them beneath their chairs. Guyana, we can do better! (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Dem Boys Seh…
When people gat ‘lines’ De police used to have a zero-tolerance policy for domestic abuse. It don’t matter how severe de abuse, who involve or whether or not de victim want to press charges. De zero-tolerance policy mean dat no matter wat, once a man hit a woman in de home, he getting lockup and carry before de court. Dem boys read about a horrifying incident in which a taxi-driver carry a woman by he home and allegedly rape and brutalize she. In fact de ambulance and de police
de get call and de police had to see de condition of de woman. Even if de police didn’t know then about the rape allegation, dem had to see de battered condition of de victim. So how come dem put de alleged assailant pun bail? How come he nah get lockup whole night and carry before de courts? Dat is what dem boys want an explanation about? So dem boys asking whether is different strokes fuh different folks. Dem boys also still waiting fuh find out about de
investigation wah bin launch into de man wah use he ‘lines” fuh pope de vaccine line at de hospital. Dem boys nah hearing nuttin about dat. As if it sweep under de carpet. Dem boys asking de Auditor General fuh go and audit de list of people wah get de vaccine fuh find out how many of dem working with de public healthcare system and how many other people pope de line. Dat is something we must also have zero tolerance for. Talk half and wait fuh de answers.
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Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday March 03, 2021
Man walks into court, admits to giving visually-impaired man bag with cannabis
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Receptionist 30-55 yrs old 233 South rd Lacytown Tel#225An Agricola man has 0198 found himself in hot water after he walked into Court One (1) part time truck driver Three at the Georgetown apply at Lens 136 Sheriff Magistrates’ Courts on Street, C/Ville Tel#227-2486 Monday and admitted to Porter, clearner apply with giving a visually-impaired application/ photo to 16 man a bag that contained cannabis. However, the man Vlissengen rd. Newtown told the court that he was Cashier- CXC English/ Maths unaware of the contents of apply with application/ photo the bag. The defendant, Michael to 16 Vlissengen rd. newtown Solomon, of Lot 168 Agricola, Taxi & Mini bus drives East Bank Demerara, was Tel#225-3234/ 225-9223 taken into custody and is expected to be charged for the One clerk for Eccles office offence. He appeared before English & mathematics, grade Principal Magistrate, Sherdel 1 & 2 Email application to Isaacs-Marcus, with his techserigy@yahoo.com lawyer, Paul Fung-A-Fat. Three men were Maid to cook and clean for the East Bank area Call 615- previously charged for the offence. Those men are Perez 9132 Cush, 43, a barber of Newton Delivery riders - Country 120 Kitty, Georgetown; Troy jobs available to ride company Jacobs, 46, a businessman of o w n e d Penny Lane, South motorbikes.Phone:658-9124 Ruimveldt, Georgetown; and or email jobs@gorchum.com Ivor Anderson, 75, of Region Exits for laboures, carpenters, Eight. The trio appeared in court painter & security. Call 623on February 15, 2021, and 1615 were all placed on $500,000 One experience cook 30-50yrs bail each, with the condition (female) attractive salary. Tel#610-3974 WANTED Kitchen manager must have experience must be able to motivate apply @ Shanta's 225 Camp St Puri roti cooks apply @ Shanta's 225 Camp St
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Cat 428 back-hoe. Cat 215 ExUrgent: 1 experience kitchen cavator used parts road assistant/ domestic live- in spray painting machine 683available 25-45yrs Tel#675- 7225/ 227-0367 2550/ 656-9313 1 leyland DAF.65.210 flat bed Male & Female for interior top condition Contact 626over 25yrs Tel#687-7638 8417 Factory workers, male & female apply in person to RP German Shepherd pups vacEnterprise Leressouveneir cinated & dewormed. Tel#622-0015 E.C.D Tel#220-2818 One live in maid must be 320 cat Excavator bucket. spanish age 25-30 Call 643- Used surveying instruments.1200- Gals Bitumen 4423 spray kettle.Call 227-0367/ 2 Lorry drivers 3 porters Con- 683-7225 tact 626-4691/ 627-1835 Mitsubisi contact 4M40 6 One experience bartender, months insurance goods & waitress for lounge and one service and alarm system Condomestic living around ogle tact 693-3003 Tel#648-7866 One disel generator 10-15 Taxi drivers for new taxi ser- KVA. USA made Contact 699vices Tel#653-4318 4300/ 228-2734 for more details
Charged, Perez Cush
Charged, Troy Jacobs
Charged, Ivor Anderson
attached that they all lodge their passports. Those three men made their second court appearance on Monday when Solomon who was not charged for the offence, turned up at court and admitted to giving the blind man the bag. In his address to the court, Solomon said that on the day in question, he had given Anderson the bag, which
contained 3.156 kilograms of cannabis. Fung-A-Fat told the court that his client is willing to plead guilty to the charge that Cush, Jacobs and Anderson are charged for. As a result of what the lawyer said, Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford, told Principal Magistrate Marcus that Solomon would be escorted to CANU’s headquarters for
questioning. The matter was adjourned to April 19, 2021. According to reports, Cush, Jacobs and Anderson were intercepted on February 12, 2021, by CANU ranks while they were travelling along the route of Homestretch and Mandela Avenue, Georgetown. A search conducted on the vehicle and a parcel allegedly containing the cannabis was unearthed.
MOH confirms 31 new cases, over 8,000 recoveries from COVID-19 Thirty-one new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed yesterday according to a release from the Ministry of Health. The cases were confirmed in wake of another fatality from the disease and over 8,000 cases of recoveries. According to the Ministry, of the new cases, 18 were recorded in Region Four,
nine in Region Three, one new case each were found in Regions Five and Seven, and two new cases were from Region Nine. Earlier in the day, the Health Ministry had announced the country’s 198th COVID-19 death. As it regards the other statistics, the Ministry noted
that there are 371 patients in home isolation, 28 patients are in institutional isolation and six patients a r e i n the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at the Infectious Diseases Hospital. Of note, it was pointed out that 8,024 persons have since recovered from the disease.
Boat with decomposed bodies found near The country’s waters. A search was Nicaragua migrants. Interior Ministry said that a launched but the boat had The mystery boat that was spotted last month, drifting in the Atlantic Ocean offshore Guyana with what appeared to be decomposing bodies might have reappeared again. According to an ABC news report published yesterday, Nicaraguan authorities, on Monday, found a small boat with six decomposing bodies drifting off the Caribbean coast near Cayo Las Palomas. The report also detailed the remains may be that of
Republic of Guinea passport belonging to a 31-year-old man was found on one of the bodies. Based on initial examination, Nicaraguan authorities believe those on board died of dehydration or heatstroke. It is suspected too that they probably died about a month ago. On February 15 a supply vessel contracted by ExxonMobil had alerted the Guyanese authorities about a small boat with decomposing bodies drifting in its territorial
vanished and searchers returned to Port Georgetown empty handed. Nevertheless, the Guyana Maritime Administration (MARAD) had notified its international counterparts to be on the lookout. The technical team at MARAD had also speculated that based on the direction the boat was drifting from it could have come from as far as Africa. The Republic of Guinea is a West African country with an Atlantic coast.
Guyana containers found with kilos of cocaine in Jamaica Jamaican law enforcement agents on Monday made a major drug bust after they found kilos of cocaine hidden in two
containers shipped from Guyana. According to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) the containers were destined for Haiti and China. The discovery was made at Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited, Jamaica. Jamaican authorities reported to its Guyanese counterpart, CANU, that one container which was stacked
with lumber contained a small box with neatly wrapped parcels of suspected cocaine. The other had multiple duffle bags containing more parcels of the narcotic. In total, the Jamaican lawmen were able to retrieve from both containers a total of 139.4 kilograms of cocaine (over 300lbs). CANU has since been in contain with the Jamaican authorities as investigations are ongoing.
Wednesday March 03, 2021
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Efforts to impose stiffer penalties for littering at a standstill Efforts to impose stiffer penalties for littering the city are said to be at a standstill, as the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC) continues to grapple daily with the incessant problem of garbage piles at almost every quarter of the municipality. Head of the Solid Waste Department, Walter Narine, told Kaieteur News recently that he has his work cut out. As part of his responsibilities, Narine manages strategies and oversees work aimed at keeping the city clean. He recently addressed the Council on the frustrations of having to clear the unnecessary waste piles across Georgetown. The Solid Waste Director called on the Council to address the issue in a more aggressive manner. Narine noted that until proper systems are put in place; stiffer penalties imposed on errant vendors, the problem will persist. “The Solid Waste Department does not have the capacity or the financial wherewithal to pick the filth of vendors who choose to allow the social rejects to dump garbage in open spaces. I am sick and tired of having to clear garbage which was dumped in abandoned empty lots around the City,” Narine told the Council at a recent meeting. He stressed too, that the laws of the city permits property owners to take responsibility for their lots by fencing, weeding and providing the other amenities. Narine noted therefore, it is not the responsibility of the Council to have to cater for piles on these properties while many of the owners may not even be paying their taxes. Given his portfolio, he is among those at the Council lobbying for the
Walter Narine, Solid Waste Director amendment of laws to impose a stiffer penalty for littering. In the meantime, as part of his efforts to help address the problem, the Solid Waste Director has created a Facebook page aimed at exposing litterbugs. The page “Shame on Yo u , L i t t e r B u g , ” w a s created so that persons can post pictures of those that are caught in the act of dumping garbage or littering the city. As it regards the amendment to increase the penalties for littering, efforts were being made to increase the fine from $10,000 to over $25,000 has been stalled. Kaieteur News understands that the Council is yet to hold adequate consultations on the issue despite the strain the garbage situation poses on the operations of City Hall. Previously, City Mayor, Ubraj Narine, had shown support for a reboot of an aggressive enforcement campaign to address the problem of littering in the city. Describing the situation as disturbing, the Mayor opined that an increase in
the fine for littering would help the situation. “As part of the s t r a t e g y, w e a r e a l s o considering a raise in the fee from $10,000 to $50,000.” In 2015, an anti-littering unit operated under the City Constabulary Department and proved as a deterrent to persons who were prone to dumping garbage around the city, because not only were persons taken before the Courts for littering, but their names and addresses were published in the newspapers. Within the first month of the launch of the antilittering campaign, at least 50 persons were charged, placed before the Court, and fined for littering. Litterbugs caught in the act were fined up to $10,000 by the Courts. A d d i t i o n a l l y, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, along with the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA), had put in place stiffer penalties for those littering the city. Among the new regulations are implementations where persons found littering will be served littering tickets on the spot, which will mean that they will have f i n e s t o p a y. I t a l s o includes motor vehicle drivers bearing the responsibility for anyone throwing litter out of their vehicles. It was added that for now, some 12 litter wardens will be hired to monitor public areas, specifically for litterbugs. However, where the M&CC under the Municipal and District Act Chapter 28:01 is allowed to find persons $10,000 for littering, the EPA can find a person $50,000.
Govt. spends $1.45B annually to rent buildings across the globe
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, indicated that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government spends $1.45B annually to rent buildings across the globe. These buildings, according to the Minister, house Guyana’s diplomatic missions and are also where its diplomats reside. He revealed these details during the consideration of the 2021 budget estimates at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, yesterday. It was Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Amanza Walton-Desir who requested from the Foreign Affairs Minister, a breakdown of the buildings the government rents, which countries these buildings are being rented in, and the sum to rent same. In response, Minister Todd indicated that the Foreign Affairs Minister currently rents over 53 buildings across over 15 countries. Meanwhile, Todd revealed to the Committee of Supply that the Guyana Embassy in Brazil is set for completion in April, 2021.
A dump heap at an empty lot on Lombard Street.
...Another woman comes forward, From page 15 dropped her to point and left her there. Luckily she was able meet a good Samaritan, another taxi driver, who dropped her home. There she related to her husband what had transpired and he rushed her to the hospital. Her husband also took her to the Alberttown Police Station to lodge a report. The victim said the ranks tended to her, but the female rank they ordered to take her statement did not speak Spanish. “We waited for a while and my husband became annoyed at them and said that he will take the matter into his own hands,” she said.
A week later, she said that Semple trailed her to a location. He reportedly sent a friend of his with a message, warning her that should she take the matter any further, she will land in big trouble. “I was fearful, how did he find me, how did he locate me, I have my sister in Georgetown. I didn’t want him to do the same thing to her, so I never followed up the case,” she said. Seeing Semple’s photo, yesterday, the woman said she was prompted to come forward and not only share her story but testify against him so that he will never be able hurt someone else. Thurston Semple was pre-
viously charged in 2018 for allegedly tying up two sex workers on separate occasions and raping them. Those charges read that on November 30, 2017 and December 1, 2017 respectively, Semple engaged in sexual penetration of a woman without her consent. It was also reported that he sexually assaulted another woman on January 3, 2018. Semple has never been convicted and was out on bail. Note: Anyone who may have been a victim of Semple’s, can feel free to contact the nearest Police Station or Kaieteur News on telephone numbers 2258473, 624-6456, 689-1219.
...APNU+AFC did more for its cronies than From page 8 over 300 house lots in Mon Repos, Mr. Speaker I can take you to show that only now the land is being cleaned, graded and roads are being constructed. What the Honourable member distributed as house lots were cane fields and cow pasture.” Likewise, the AG pointed to several projects and actions by the APNU+AFC, which he considers to be a failure to deliver on its promises to its constituents. These include taking away land from farmers, its handling of the teachers’ strike for better wages and conditions, stalling of public servants’ promotions, former Minister Tabitha Sarabo-Halley’s unlawful dismissal of public servants, closures of sugar estates resulting in thousands of workers being placed on the breadline, etc. “The Honourable members come here pretending to be representatives of Afro Guyanese,” Nandlall said, “when all they have done in government is pauperized the ordinary people of this country, including Afro Guyanese.” He went on to state that APNU+AFC is wrong to assume authority to determine who is more qualified to rep-
resent Afro-Guyanese. “Let me make it abundantly clear Mr. Speaker,” Nandlall told the House, “none of the Honourable members on that side is more qualified to represent AfroGuyanese than anyone on this side, and the record will show that successive PPP/C governments have done more for Afro-Guyanese and indeed every racial group in this country than you have ever done since Independence. This Afro-centric charade of the Honourable members must be dismantled. How dare the Honourable members look at Mark Phillips, the Prime Minister of this country with substantial portfolio responsibilities and label him a mere token? How dare the Honourable members look at Oneidge Walrond, the Minister with portfolio for Trade, Industry and Tourism in this country and label her a token?
How dare the Honourable members label Joseph Hamilton, the Minister with the portfolio for Labour as a token, label Bishop Edghill, the Minister responsible for Public Works as a token, Kwame McKoy with responsibility for the entire State media, a mere token, Hugh Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs, as a mere token, and Minister Robeson Benn, the Minister with responsibility for National Security as a mere token. Are these Honourable members not Afro Guyanese? Were their foreparents not brought in chains and enslaved on this land?” The Attorney General said that Guyana is at a fundamental juncture, where Guyanese of every race and class must make a choice about whether they will themselves to be abused and manipulated by APNU+AFC.
...Neighbours take cover after From page 20 own cousin, a 39-year-old, fisherman, of La Bonne Intention (LBI). Harrinandan told police that he and the alleged shooter were arguing over money that was owed to him (Harrinandan). He further claimed that the shooter had
threatened to kill him during the telephone argument. Yesterday, while he was sitting in his pick-up he noticed his cousin (alleged shooter) walking towards him with a gun. The man, he said, pointed it at him and began shooting before escaping in white car.
Wednesday March 03, 2021
Lewis Hamilton still committed as Mercedes launch 2021 Formula 1 car BBCsport - Lewis Hamilton says he is still fully committed to success in Formula 1 despite signing only a one-year deal with Mercedes this winter. The seven-time champion, 36, said he had twin goals of winning an eighth title and pushing for real change on diversity within motorsport this year. The Briton said: “I am fully invested in this season. I still love what I do. “There was great discussion around diversity last year, but what’s really important is that we’re taking action.” Mercedes have maintained the black livery to which they switched their cars in 2020 as a continuation of their push for diversity and anti-racism. Hamilton said he
was “proud” of the steps Mercedes were taking to make their team more inclusive and increase opportunities for minorities, and that his commission investigating the reasons for a lack of diversity in motorsport would deliver its first report in the summer. “We are starting to see that progress and it takes one step at a time,” he said. “That’s my driving force this year too - to make sure we continue to push for accountability. And on top of that hopefully I can deliver some good performances.” After taking the knee before races last year to highlight anti-racism, he said he had not yet decided what actions to take on the grid this year. “It is not the most
important thing that everyone takes the knee,” he said. “It is more the action in the background.
ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Being of service to others is important, Aries, but make sure that you're taking care of yourself, too. Turn up the heat and let yourself expand into other worlds today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The events of the day might leave you feeling a bit confused and bewildered, Libra. Perhaps you're feeling like you aren't getting the attention you feel you deserve.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) If there is an imbalance in your relationship with someone close, it's important to take a stand now, Taurus.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is a terrific day for you. You will find that your mind and your urge for action are on the same page. The fire within you is raging hot.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Things should go nicely for you today. You will find that the brighter you shine, the more prosperity will come your way. Things should flow smoothly, and your mind will be clear and strong. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You might find it necessary to give yourself a bit of selfhealing. Other people may want your attention, looking for advice and help with their own sob stories, when in reality you have your own matters to take care of. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) There may be important lessons about balance that come up today, Virgo. Make sure you're ready to handle the fire, because it will be coming at you. Egos are large, and everyone is going to have an opinion on everything.
BCB/Premium Asphalt U-19 Tourney
Brilliant Ramsammy leads Tucber Park into finals
Hamilton is the reigning world champion after taking his record equalling seventh championship at last season’s Turkish Grand Prix
Wednesday March 03, 2021
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) There could be a great deal of friction in your world today, as stubborn minds aggressively come into conflict with each other.
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SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Feel free to be a bit more selfish than usual, Sagittarius. You might find yourself turning inside out in order to get your point across. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You might find that your desire to conquer is active today, and that your mind is right in line with the urge to take action. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You might find it necessary to give yourself a bit of selfhealing. Other people may want your attention, looking for advice and help with their own sob stories, when in reality you have your own matters to take care of. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) This is a terrific day for you, Pisces. You can accomplish a great deal when you set your mind in motion. There's a strong, warlike instinct within you that's fired up and ready to fight. Leave your worries at the doorstep, because there's no need to hesitate on a day like this.
“It continues to be an issue that affects my day-today life and so many people out there. It is really important to continue to hold uncomfortable conversations with people - change is possible and change is needed.”
...RAF reinstatement From page 26 recommendations. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe thanked all involved in developing the reinstatement plan and said: “I don’t think a week has gone by during my presidency when I have not been answering questions about Russia and our sport. I am extremely grateful to the Taskforce, its experts and RusAF for creating a detailed roadmap to rebuild trust. This is not the end but the beginning of a long journey, with an incredible amount of work for RusAF to do to rebuild trust. The international experts believe the team that is now in place will be able to deliver on the milestones they have put in place. The Taskforce, with ongoing advice from the international experts, will monitor progress and report to Council.” The Council also decided in its December 2020 Council meeting that it will consider whether to allow Russian athletes to compete again as ANAs in international competitions (including allowing up to 10 ANAs to participate in World Athletics Series events and the Tokyo Olympic Games) at its March 2021 meeting, or earlier if the Taskforce so recommends, based on the progress made by RusAF to that date. The Taskforce said that it will address the question of ANAs in its report to the Council meeting of 17-18 March 2021.
A brilliant performance from Berbice youth allrounder Abdul Ramsammy led his team, Tucber Park into the finals of the historic Berbice Cricket Board/ Premium Asphalt Under-19 tournament. Ramsammy took 3 for 17 from his 10 overs and then returned with the bat to score 39 to spearhead Tucber Park to an easy six wicket victory. Playing at the historic Rose Hall Canje Community Welfare Centre, the home team won the toss and batted first. They made 106 all out in 30.1 of their allotted 50 overs. National youth players Sanjay Algoo and Isiah Thorne top scored with 15 and 14, respectively while Kevin Budhoo supported with 11. Ramsammy 3 for 17, Ravishkar Sobhai 2 for 35 (8 overs) and Kevin Kisten 2 for
4 (1.4 overs) were the top bowlers for the impressive Tucber Park bowling attack. Needing to score 107 from 50 overs to reach the finals, Tucber Park raced to 109 for 4 from 13.2 overs. Ramsammy completed a fine game with a solid 39 (3x4) and received support from Ravishkar Sobhai 23 and Zeynul Ramsammy 16. Sanjay Algoo took all four wickets to fall to end with figures of 3-0-26-4 in a losing cause. Tucber Park would now clash with East Bank Blazers in the finals which would be played this weekend at the Rose Hall Canje Ground. The BCB/Premium Asphalt Under19 tournament is one of four that would be played in each of the Sub Zones. Meanwhile, a Berbice wide Under-19 tournament would start in early April.
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Wednesday March 03, 2021
Success for Guyanese student-athletes over the weekend
L
ast weekend, three female G u y a n e s e
student-athletes made it to the podium as the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) Division One Track and Field season got underway in
the United States of America (USA). Those athletes that tasted success were Natricia Hooper, Chantoba Bright and Andrea Foster. At the Atlantic Coast Conference ( A C C ) I n d o o r Championships, Foster registered a personal best (PB) time of two minutes three seconds to finish third in the women’s 800m middle-distance race for Clemson University. The time was the third fastest in the school’s history. The Health Science major came close to resetting the National Indoor record of 2m 2s, currently held by Marian Burnett. The NCAA Southeastern Conference (SEC) Indoor Championship saw University of Florida’s
Natricia Hooper leaping 13.43m to pick up the bronze medal in her pet event, the triple jump. Chantoba Bright was the most successful individually with a second place finish in the women’s triple jump. At the NCAA BIG 12 Conference Indoor Championships, Bright, competing for Kansas State, leaped 13.60m, a PB, to earn herself the silver medal. The Lindene recorded another PB of 6.22m in the long jump but it was only good enough for a fourth place finish. Joanna Archer of Texas Tech helped her school to win the overall title at NCAA BIG 12 Conference Indoor Championship. T h e f o r m e r We s t
r
Natricia Hooper Demerara Secondary School student ran a PB of 2 minutes 6 seconds in the women’s 800m finals to finish fifth.
Andrea Foster won bronze in the 800m for Clemson
Chantoba Bright took silver in the triple jump
RAF reinstatement plan approved by WAC Wo r l d A t h l e t i c s Following detailed work by World Athletics’ Russia Taskforce, its independent experts, and RusAF, a final plan for the reinstatement of RusAF to membership of Wo r l d A t h l e t i c s w a s recommended to the World Athletics Council last week. In an email to the World Athletics Council, Taskforce Chairman Rune Andersen wrote: “The Taskforce has now reviewed and provided detailed feedback on three different drafts of the Reinstatement Plan. The three international experts a p p o i n t e d b y Wo r l d Athletics have worked closely with RusAF on the development of the Reinstatement Plan and advised the Taskforce that
they believe the Plan is fit for the purpose of embedding in Russian athletics the deeprooted change in culture that Council has been demanding for the past five years. In addition, although RusAF President Peter Ivanov has been required to step down for two years because of his appointment as a senior official of the Russian Government (to respect the CAS sanctions imposed on Russian Government officials in the WA D A / R U S A D A compliance case), the international experts also consider that the senior management that Mr Ivanov has put in place will be able to move the Plan forward in his absence, under the temporary leadership of
RusAF Vice-President Irina Privalova as Acting President. “For its part, the Taskforce stands ready to monitor the milestones and KPIs in the Reinstatement Plan carefully, so that it is able to report to future Council meetings whether RusAF is keeping up with the enormous work that will be required to implement the Reinstatement Plan successfully. “On this basis, the Taskforce recommends that Council resolves (1) to approve the Reinstatement Plan; and (2) to publish it on t h e Wo r l d A t h l e t i c s website.” World Athletics’ Council unanimously agreed the Taskforce (Continued on page 25)
Wednesday March 03, 2021
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Sri Lanka series first step to finalise ‘make-up of our team’ for T20 World Cup - First T20I starts today ESPNcricinfo - West Indies coach Phil Simmons feels that the key to success during the T20I series against Sri Lanka will be to adjust to the dimensions one side smaller than the other - of Antigua’s Coolidge Cricket Ground as soon as possible. All three T20Is of the series will be played at the same venue, which is hosting international cricket for the first time, commencing today from 18:00hrs. Simmons is also looking at this series as a step to start firming up the squad for the T20 World Cup later this year. “The key to winning the T20I series on this size of a ground is how we can limit their batsmen,” Simmons said. “There are two sides here, there is a big side and there is a small side. There is breeze. How early we access that and how we bowl to that is going to be the key because on these grounds we have batsmen right down the order who can hit the ball and we need ensure that we bowl well and we field well.” The series will also mark the return of Chris Gayle and Fidel Edwards to the West Indies squad. Gayle last played for West Indies in the home series against India after the 2019 World Cup, while Edwards’ last international appearance was a Test in Bangladesh in 2012. Before being named in
the squad for the Sri Lanka series, Gayle had scored 107 runs in two innings at a strike rate of 167.18 for the Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing PSL. Prior to that, his contribution - 288 runs at an average of 41.14 and a strike rate of 137.14 - in the IPL 2020 had helped the Kings XI Punjab revive their sagging campaign. The 39-year-old Edwards, meanwhile, picked up nine wickets in as many games at an economy of 7.66 in CPL 2020, where the pitches were mostly spinfriendly. “We see what Chris Gayle did in his last IPL stint,” Simmons said. “He shows that both with the bat and on the field, he looks fitter and feels better and he is still hitting the ball as we want to see him do it. We’ve seen Fidel in the last CPL and we have seen that he can still muster over 90mph with his searing yorkers, both at the top end and at the back end of the innings, so it is great to have the two of them with us.” While West Indies will have the experience of Gayle and Edwards to draw from, the squad also includes two uncapped players: spinbowling-allrounder Akeal Hosein and seamer Kevin Sinclair. “Akeal showed his ability in Bangladesh and he’s put himself up for selection, and young Sinclair has shown in CPL what he
can do with the ball and even in this last Super50 here. It is good to have the youngsters in and give them a chance to show us what they can do. “I have no plans to rotate [players] as such. We are going to pick the best XI for each game and then we’ll see how things work out. It’s a case of also trying to win games and win series, so we play it as we see it.” One reason for going with the best XI could be the upcoming T20 World Cup in India. “We need to start seeing how the make-up of our team goes,” Simmons said. “We need to make sure people are able to do the job that we want them to do, whether it is at the top of the batting order, the middle, or the end. And it is the same with the bowling. We’ve got to identify as soon as possible who’s going to bowl our new ball and who’s going to bowl at the death and so it starts from now. “So by the time we are playing Australia in some T20s in July, we must know who is our final 15 or 16 to go to the World Cup.” West Indies have named four openers in their 14member T20I squad. Apart from Gayle, they have Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis and A n d r e F l e t c h e r, a n d Simmons expects them to be flexible about their batting positions. “The batting, when we get to the game, for me there is no set position. People
Kieron Pollard (CWI Media)
have got to learn to do what they have to do for the team wherever they are asked to do it and that is what these guys are prepared to do,” he said. “We are trying to make
sure that our combinations, as I said when it comes to July or maybe the beginning of August, maybe the Pakistan series, we know exactly what the
combinations are that we need to take to the World Cup because we have a fair idea of how the Indian grounds are what we are taking there.”
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Wednesday March 03, 2021
Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield
Guyana Lottery Company support for Fruta Conquerors The Guyana Lottery Company yesterday made a contribution to the Fruta Conquerors Football Club (FCFC) at the Blast Gaming Centre, Mandela Avenue, East Ruimveldt. Daniel Thomas, Secretary of the
Tucville based club which will represent Guyana in the fourth edition of the Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield in Curaçao from April 23 to May 3, thanked the Lottery Company for their timely assistance.
Thomas thanked Brand Ambassador Guyana Lottery Company Rawle Toney and General Manager Tracy Lewis for delivering on their promise to contribute to Curaçao trip. “This is our first public event and this
will go a long way in raising awareness of our club’s need for assistance and let the public know what we have done to deserve this,” continued Thomas. Thomas informed that his club intends to meet the Honorable Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport Charles Ramson Jnr., who he said is keeping his promises of improving sports in Guyana. Toney reminded that FCFC last played an Elite game on March 29 while saying the Guyana Lottery Company always honors its commitment to sports. Fruta Conquerors FC have been placed in Group ‘C’ of the Concacaf
Caribbean Club Shield and will oppose Hope International FC on April 23 from 17:30hrs at the Ergillio Hato Stadium before doing battle with SV Racing Club of Aruba on April 27 at the same venue. The 2021 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield will be the fourth edition and is the second-tier annual international club football competition in the Caribbean region, held amongst clubs whose football associations are affiliated with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), a sub-confederation of Concacaf. The winners of the 2021 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield, as long as they fulfill
Welsh side, Connah’s Quay Nomads FC signs ‘Golden Jaguars’ Neil Danns
‘Golden Jaguar’ Neil Danns has been signed by Connah’s Quay Nomads Football Club, a Welsh professional football club based in Connah’s Quay, Flintshire and current champions. The 38 year-old Danns, whose move is subject to international clearance has expressed delight at being given the opportunity to play even at this matured age for a side that would have featured at the Champions League at the start of this season. “It feels brilliant to be given the opportunity to play professional football again. The club is a full time club so, plenty of hard training but I am really happy to be given eth opportunity at this age, it’s brilliant.” Midfielder Danns who has made over 400 appearances in the Football League, coupled with his international experience as a ‘Golden Jaguar’ said that his pure love for the game is
what keeps him going. “Anyone who watches me play concedes that I still have the enthusiasm that I had when I was a youngster. This, obviously filled with passion, helps me to keep going and keep myself in good condition and always ready. So to be given the opportunity to carry on playing is absolutely unbelievable and like everyone says, age is nothing but a number.” Danns, who commenced his at Blackburn Rovers during which time he had loan spells at Blackpool, Hartlepool United and Colchester United believes that as long as a player performs well enough, that player should be given the chance to continue playing. He then was a more permanent fixture at Colchester United from 2004 m- 2006 after which he joined Birmingham City. The Guyana international made 103 appearances for
the Concacaf Regional Club Licensing criteria, will play against the fourth place team of the 2021 Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship in a playoff match to determine the final Caribbean spot to the 2021 Concacaf League. Robinhood, having won the title in 2019, are the title holders, since the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the title was not awarded. Among those present at y e s t e r d a y ’s s i m p l e c e r e m o n y w e r e To n y, Thomas, Fruta Conquerors and National Footballer Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson and Tracy Lewis. (Sean Devers)
Neil Danns
Crystal Palace, whilst also having permanent spells in the Football League at Leicester City, Bolton, Bury and Tranmere Rovers. Most recently, Danns has played for the likes of Radcliffe, Halifax Town and was on trial at Chorley, where the Nomads spotted him after their season was curtailed. He donned national colours in March 2015 and assisted in both goals in Guyana’s 2-0 victory over Grenada. Also a part of Guyana’s historic debut at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup where he inked his name in the history books netting all three of this nations goals in the competition, Danns said he is fit and ready having been pretty active, to come and represent Guyana for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers later this month. “Like I said, I am fully fit and ready to go. I am fully committed to doing so, so hopefully I am given that chance.”
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Gary St. Clair ‘Superhero’ Fight Night Promotion Int. Boxing Card in August By Sean Devers The Gary St. Clair Superhero Fight Night Promotions is set to stage a potentially pulsating International Boxing Card which is scheduled for August and could be shown on a Pay-per-view channel. According to St. Clair, speaking from his home in Sydney, Australia, the planning for this mega event is in its infancy stages and if all goes well, including approval for the Ministry of Health and National Covid19 Task Force, USA based Elton Dharry and Dexter Marques are expected to feature in the main and supporting bouts, respectively. The Pro/Am Card will also include Caribbean and South American pugilists who will be vying for supremacy in the Ring with the possible venue being the Providence Stadium. Plans
are also in place for a rated Venezuelan to battle a rated Guyanese in a contest dubbed…not a blade of grass. Owner of the Gary St. Clair Boxing and Fitness Gym in Sydney Australia, the 46-year-old is one of six Guyanese boxers (including two females) to win world titles. He is the last one to do so when he defeated Cassius Baloyai in South Africa (July, 2016) to claim the IBO and IBF World Super Featherweight title. “The objective is to have interviews with the directors of Ansa McAl, Banks DIH, DDL all the Oil Companies operating in Guyana. The reason for this is to prepare our promotion group to alert these Megga Companies of our plans to televise pay-perview in the main Guyanese Diaspora.” These places would be Miami, New York, Toronto,
WTA roundup: Top Clara Tauson seed falls in Lyon opener Field Level Media Teen qualifier Clara Tauson of Denmark upset topseeded Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia 6-3, 6-4 on Monday in the first round of the Lyon Open in France. The 18-year-old Tauson saved six of nine break points and improved her 2021 record to 15-3 with the victory in one hour and 32 minutes. Her next opponent will be Hungary’s Timea Babos, a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 w i n n e r o v e r R u s s i a ’s Varvara Gracheva. Other seeded players in action included No. 2 Fiona Ferro of France, who rallied for a 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 win against Poland’s Magdalena F r e c h . S e r b i a ’s N i n a Stojanovic upset No. 6 Sorana Cirstea of Romania in 75 minutes. No. 8 Arantxa Rus held off China’s Wang Xiyu 7-6 (6), 6-4. Qatar Total Open Two-time champion and N o . 8 s e e d Vi c t o r i a
Azarenka of Belarus rolled to a 6-2, 6-3 win against R u s s i a ’s S v e t l a n a Kuznetsova in the opening round in Doha, Qatar. Azarenka, who won the event in 2012 and 2013, saved seven of nine break points during the one-hour, 51-minute match. She will face either Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina or Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the second round. E s t o n i a ’s A n e t t Kontaveit eased past No. 7 seed Jennifer Brady 6-1, 62 . L a t v i a ’s J e l e n a Ostapenko crushed No. 5 Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-0, 6-2. Spain’s Garbine Muguruza posted a 6-2, 7-6 (4) win against Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova. Germany’s Angelique Kerber was a 64, 6-2 winner against Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay. Maria Sakkari of Greece defeated Egypt’s Mayar Sherif 6-0, 6-3.
London and the Caribbean” informed Sinclair, who has a pro record of 60 bouts, 46 wins, 18 KOs, with 12 losses and two draws. “Our hospitality industry has got be prepared for the influx of Guyanese and Caribbean boxing fans and the Guyana Boxing Board President Mr. Peter Abdool is optimistic that with the pandemic out of the way we have a chance to take the sport of boxing to a world class level, the airline industry will flourish, our card will be talked about long after the event. But we have to get the support of Public, Gyms, Sports M i n i s t e r, M i n i s t e r o f Tourism and the Private Sector Commission,” St. Clair added. St. Clair informed that Dharry, Marques and the other fighters of the supporting bouts have had verbal discussions about the proposed event. “The promotion group is carefully and professionally putting together all aspects of the arrangements. Presently we are doing PR work and as we delve deeper into the arrangements all signed confirmations will be given. We are basically at this point selling the fight card to the public and professionals as we continue
to do public relations with corporate Guyana to solidify the arrangements we are
adamant all will be done.” concluded St Clair who represented Guyana in the
1994 Commonwealth Games before turning professional later that year.
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Wednesday March 03, 2021
Clubs to benefit from scorebooks and catching cribs under joint RHTYSC/BCB project Representatives of four West Berbice clubs pose with their catching cribs and scorebooks.
The development programme of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to gather stream as the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS came on board to distribute scorebooks to over 80 active clubs. The scorebooks were donated by Odyssey Sight Seeing Tours Company. Additionally, the BCB with the support of the Club and several friends of Berbice cricket would also be sharing out over a dozen catching cribs to cricket clubs across the county. BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that since his election in 2018, clubs and over 300 youth players have benefitted from over $12M worth of items. The donated items include cricket gear, scorebooks, stumps, cricket balls, uniforms, groundsmen rain coats, school bags, bicycles, educational materials and food hampers among other items. Additionally, the BCB has also awarded educational
scholarships while dozens of clubs have also received trophies, medals, certificate frames and special gifts to assist them to host award ceremonies, cricket academies and fund raising events. The catching cribs are being donated to clubs with junior sections and cost $24,000 each. The clubs that would benefit are the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association - UCCA (2), Port Mourant, Albion, RHTY&SC, RH Canje, Tucber Park, Edinburgh, Blairmont, Achievers, Cotton Tree and Paradise. The UCCA two catching cribs would be used by No.73 Young Warriors CC, No. 69 Youth Club, No. 73 Radha Krishna Foundation and the Scottsburg United teams. Foster urged the clubs to take care of the catching cribs as it took great efforts to obtain them. Funds for the cribs were obtained from former national players Jerry Angus and Ray Joseph, RHTY&SC, Bissan Trading
RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster receives scorebooks from Odyssey Tours representatives.
and another overseas based Guyanese. The main objective of the project is to improve the fielding standard of Berbice youth players. Foster, also stated that efforts are been made to obtain another six more cribs for distribution by the end of A p r i l , e a r l y M a y. Meanwhile, Odyssey Sight Seeing Tours (Guyana) Inc. donated $300,000 worth of scorebooks to the RHTY&SC Cricket Development Programme as it has done for close to a decade. The books would be donated to every active club in Berbice. Clubs in the Upper Corentyne and West Berbice have already received a total of 40 books. Scorebooks are currently been distributed in the Lower Corentyne and New Amsterdam/Canje areas while some would be sent to the Berbice River area. Foster, in accepting the scorebooks expressed gratitude to the Management of the company for their continued cooperation.
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Berbice FA Administrator Joseph Simon pays tribute to the late Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey It is with a heavy heart and streaming eyes that I make this announcement to the football fraternity and the wider communities within this global village of ours. Well known Berbice football icon, Mr. Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey passed to the great beyond on February 28th, 2021. We found a little solace when it was reported that he passed quietly in his sleep. I take this opportunity, on behalf of the football fraternity, to join the Humphrey’s Family and the rest of Guyana in paying tribute to the late local football icon. I agree that God created us all equally but in persons, whose athleticism stood out like ‘Grizzly’, meant that he added some special ingredients. As a sports enthusiast and sports administrator I shared my passion for cricket and football almost equally. To date I am both an administrator of cricket and football. It is in the capacity as a Football Administrator that I pen this tribute to the passionate local Legendary Football Icon, the late Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey, upon learning of his recent passing. Neil Humphrey, who recently (this February) celebrated his 65th birth anniversary much like the Alphonso’s, Jones’s, Inniss’ and later the Forde’s, was born into a footballing family that passed down through several generations. In two previous tributes both Michael King and Granton Inniss, they remembered him as being one of the main contributors in a national schools championship when the Berbice team that they were a part of dethroned Georgetown in the early 1970s. For inter-school exploits, I recall being in the defense of a Martin Inniss led Mission Chappell School team that drew first blood against the domineering Vryman’s Erving School team and was in total control until the second half. At that point, the diminutive but robust ‘Piggy’, at that time the more popular knick name for Neil Humphrey and the even more diminutive Roger Alphonso came off the bench and the two combined to
destroy our midfield and breached our defence on four occasions in that final championship match, on a field which now houses the NA Multilateral School. Neil played for the Cougars Football Club, a club which was dominated by the Alphonso’s and Humphrey’s, ‘Grizzly’ stood head and shoulders with them. He was also a member of the National Football squad of that 1970s era, joining an illustrious group which included fellow Berbician’s, Oral Samuels, Skip Price, Roger Alphonso and others that followed. “Grizzly’ also played a very solid role in Berbice’s dismantling of Inter Mongotapoe 2-0 during an early 1980s tour of Suriname. Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey later got together with other aging players and formed the Hearts of Oak Football Club. Although the new club was geared towards organising veteran football, ‘Grizzly’ took on the part of massive coaching sessions for youths in schools for both genders and organised annual Primary and Secondary School tournaments. These competitions were later used as memorial tournaments in memory of his late father, Mr Hilbert ‘Beef’ Humphrey, who was still actively playing interward football way past his 60’s, prior to his passing. Those school tournaments were curtailed due to covid19. ‘Grizzly’, through the Hearts of Oak Football Club also held an annual “Teach Them Young” football camp, for just about two decades. This camp was second to none and would usually culminate in a tour to engage teams in other jurisdictions. Incentives are distributed to the many youths who attended. This camp was also curtailed last year, 2020, by covid-19. Humphrey was also very passionate about female participation in sports and their participation from the broader society included those that were incarcerated in the women’s prison. Through his advocacy the female inmates were able to receive football training as part of their recreational schedules. He also had the
distinction of being Head Coach for the 2012 inaugural Ministry of Culture Youths & Sports Guyana Girls team, basically a New Amsterdam selection that toured Suriname in a meeting of the Inter Guiana’s tournament. I think that he would agree that was his most disastrous undertaking. However, it was good for the experience. Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey was much more than just football development, he was also very much involved in community development and character rehabilitation, which clearly emanated from his overall interaction with people of all disciplines within our society and community, especially the prison system and the All Saints Presbyterian Church. Both for which he performed invaluable community services for. Like many persons in the sporting world, as a sports administrator, I will forever remember his exploits on and off the football field which rightfully earned him a place alongside other local Legends/Icons of the sports arena and education departments. A s a p l a y e r, N e i l Humphrey’s dexterous two footed skills along with pace and natural power, accentuated by his girth, allowed him to take on all comers when negotiating the midfield. This helped to earn him his pseudonym, ‘Grizzly’, the name synonymous specifically to his football prowess but which stuck to him throughout the years. As an educator/instructor he worked along with the school’s Sports Departments to bring CXC students up to speed with their Physical Education Curriculum and even further assisted the examiners with the practical and theoretical exams. Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey aka “Piggy” was truly a Football Legend in his own right to his many fans across Guyana and within the Diaspora. We the executive and members of the Berbice Football Association and our families pray for the Lord God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest. S.I.P my long-time friend, Champion Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey and thanks for the many memories. Joseph E Simon, BFA Administrator
Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey with some of the youths at his 2018 Teach Them young Grassroots Programme.
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