Kaieteur News

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Budget 2021 NEWS passed four days ahead of schedule

Friday Edition

AIETEUR

March 05, 2021 - Vol. 23 No. 10

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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There is no ‘cap’ on flaring - Exxon Venezuela ERC commissioner Exxon’s gas recommends proper compressor says aerial vetting system, fully repaired; to patrol is ‘normal’ induction training arrive in Guyana - GGDMA issues statement

- as current commission to expire next month

by month end

in support of Guyana’s territorial integrity

Foreign Minister updates U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary on Venezuela’s latest act of aggression Haslington man State willing to accept Marks of violence jailed 60 years manslaughter plea for found on taxi for murder of accused in Lusignan driver’s body in brother-in-law cosmetologist murder Bagotstown home

Cat will eat our dinner Guyanese leaders and peoples are focused on attacking and humiliating each other, while Venezuelan leaders are focused on our land and treasure.

The Venezuelan high-command keeps harassing Guyana (and indirectly Exxon) with incursions by ship and aircraft. On the other hand, Guyanese leaders are consumed with lowering the boom on their opponents, with things that should not be on our front burners.

This newspaper has repeatedly called for the highest priority to be given to skillfully and cleanly managing our natural resources wealth.

Instead of heeding this advice, our leaders laugh at us, since they prefer to engage in political jousting.

They are comfortable insulting and cussing out each other, instead of focusing on what is more important: being vigilant against both Exxon and Venezuela.

We are inviting problems by our petty divisiveness. It is just a matter of time before troops cross our borders.

We will be caught off-guard. Our biggest job, according to the PPPC, the PNC, and AFC, is to ‘buse’ down one another and get even with each other. If we continue this way, cat is sure to eat our dinner.

Draft Local Content Policy has room for political interference - US Analyst Crumbs for you from our massive oil find. Listen to Kaieteur Radio @ 11:00hrs on 99.1/99.5FM to find out!

Kaieteur News

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Friday March 05, 2021

There is no ‘cap’ on flaring-Exxon ExxonMobil’s Guyana President, Alistair Routledge.

By Shikema Dey

E

x x o n M o b i l ’s G u y a n a President, Alistair Routledge, yesterday made it clear that the oil company does not have a 14 billion ‘flaring cap’ for its Liza Phase One project as was reported in the past weeks.

That figure was first r e v e a l e d b y t h e Vi c e President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, at his February 9 press briefing. There, while addressing concerns regarding Exxon’s recent bout of flaring, the VP claimed that the company was given an allowance to flare 14 billion cubic feet of natural gas at its Liza Phase

One project.

That allowance, he had noted as well, was granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and was outlined in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Liza Phase One. Jagdeo’s claims were immediately questioned however; as the Former Director of the EPA, Dr. Vincent Adams, retorted that no such provision was ever outlined in the EIA. Checks done by Kaieteur News also revealed no such provision.

The agency where the figure was said to have emerged from, being the EPA, which is now led by Sharifa Razack, was also asked to provide some

Flaring at the Liza Destiny FPSO.

amount of clarity to the claims. To date, Kaieteur News still awaits answers.

Routledge yesterday during a press briefing clarified that the figure was merely an “assumption” and not a fixed flaring “limit.”

“It was never meant to be either a limit or an allowance and we do not view it as that,” he told the press.

Routledge detailed that while the number is in fact included in the Liza Phase One EIA, it was merely a preemptive figure for the

amount of gas to be flared 18 months into startup at the Liza Phase One project.

He explained further, that “[The] assumption was for the first 18 months after start up and normally, when we have an operation like this which will operate for 30, maybe longer years, the most intense period of flaring would be in the first 12-18 months.

As we have seen, when you go through the commissioning, you find something that needs to be

adjusted or sometimes very unusually, sometimes you have these more persistent issues that are more complex and difficult to resolve.”

“That is why the EIA contemplates this first as the most challenging and makes an assumption about the cumulative volume from an environmental impact perspective,” Routledge added.

He disclosed to that the company has flared close to 13 billion cubic feet of natural gas at the Liza Phase

One project since start up back in December 2019.

But that figure presented more questions than answers. Dr. Vincent Adams had explained to Kaieteur News that if the oil company had stuck to pilot flaring throughout operations, it would only account for one billion cubic feet of gas flared.

To amass such a figure, ExxonMobil would have had to been flaring during normal operations from day one.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 05, 2021

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Draft Local Content Policy has room for political interference - US Analyst U

pon examining the varying layers for regulation and implantation proposed in Guyana’s draft

Local Content Policy, CoDirector of Energy Practice at Americas Market Intelligence (AMI), Arthur Deakin, is of the firm

conviction that opportunities for political interference could certainly arise.

The analyst made this comment, among others,

Exxon’s gas compressor fully repaired; to arrive in Guyana by month end Following successful mechanical repairs and tests, ExxonMobil reported yesterday that its deflective flash gas compressor is now fully repaired, and is set to return to Guyana for installation by month’s end. This is in keeping with the eight weeks estimate provided by Exxon. It was Exxon’s Production Manager, Mike Ryan, who related these details during a virtual press engagement, yesterday.

Ryan indicated to the press that the compressor has been tested on the test bench within MAN Energy – the manufacturer of the compressor – within Germany, where repairs were conducted.

“We reviewed the data” the Production Manager said, “and the MAN engineers and the SMB engineers and ourselves, we’ve accepted the test results and the machine is getting ready to make its way back to Guyana.”

He continued, “We have also completed repairs on the discharge silencer on the other shell and the plate internally, and the discharge silencer is getting ready. The inlet silencer is ready to go, so good progress there.”

In addition to that, Ryan mentioned that Exxon had identified all of the key resources to assist it with installation, start up and monitoring of the machine offshore.

With this he explained, “You may recall from other updates that we have done, during COVID we take the safety of our

personnel first and foremost and as first priority. So we put everybody that goes out to the FPSO or our facilities through twoweek quarantine… That’s in time for the arrival of the equipment for installation and then start up.”

ExxonMobil has been flaring above safe pilot levels – the minimum amount of flaring required to maintain a safe operation – since January 30 after it encountered issues with the compressor. It has been flaring about 16-18 million cubic feet of natural gas every day. This year, it has already flared upward of 300 million cubic feet of gas, according to this newspaper’s calculations.

ExxonMobil had flared gas for an entire year, also due to an issue with its equipment, and had taken an entire year to resolve the issue. By then, it had already flared more than 12 billion cubic feet of gas.

ExxonMobil noted prominently in yesterday’s update that MAN Energy has confirmed there is no linkage between the production optimization activities and the technical issues with the flash gas compressor. “At the time of the incident with the compressor, it was only operating at 70 percent of its design capacity.

Production optimization is a normal process for operations around the world. A comprehensive safety evaluation took place prior to the optimization process.”

during his latest appearance o n K a i e t e u r R a d i o ’s Programme, ‘Guyana’s Oil and You.’ There, Deakin reminded that the draft policy notes that once the Petroleum Commission comes on-stream it would be tasked with implementing the document and its relevant regulations. It would be doing so through a dedicated Local Content Secretariat.

That body however would be overseen by an Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee, which would be made up of senior officials of the various government ministries and agencies that would be charged by the respective Minister to oversee the implementation of the Local C o n t e n t P o l i c y. T h e Committee would have several functions, which include reviewing and supporting the work of the Local Content Unit,

removing administrative barriers to local participation in the sector, and managing development and periodic review of this local content policy.

What is interesting too is that a “Multi Stakeholder Working Group on Local Content” will be set up involving representatives of key stakeholders’ groups, including the major Operators, international services companies, local private sector including the financial sector, education and training institutions, non-governmental organizations, labour and civil society. But that Working Group would only be able to “advise” the InterAgency Coordinating Committee and support collaboration and coordination between stakeholder groups and allow for early action on

AMI Co-Director of Energy Practice, Arthur Deakin. critical items required for operationalizing of this Local Content Policy. Here again, the government would ultimately have control as it would be the chair of this body.

With the foregoing in mind, Deakin asserted, “Yes, this arrangement could breed (Continued on page 22)

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Friday March 05, 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

After One Year Our national poet, Martin Carter, begin his poem, “After One Year” with the following three lines.

“After today how shall I speak with you?

Those miseries I know you cultivate are mine as well as yours…”

The poem was written and published in 1964, a year after the massive socio-political disturbances and was Carter’s meditation upon how the divisions of the society would be healed in the wake of the fact that only a year before the situation existed where “everywhere wrong deeds are being done.” What Carter was concerned about was, in light of the atrocities, in light of the feelings of mutual hurt experienced by ordinary people, how would a conversation of those who cultivated mutual miseries begin and proceed.

Today effectively marks the first year since this country, and the rest of the world, had the first clear indication that David Granger, at the helm of his incumbent political machinery, colluded with elements of GECOM, not restricted to Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, to thwart the will of the people in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. What would follow, to quote Carter, was a “carnival of misery”, of misinformation, of gaslighting, of sheer insanity and of unbridled cowardice coming out of the executive office to a degree unheralded in this country.

For most Guyanese, March 5 of last year and the five months that followed, up until August 2, was a blur, a surfeit of information, a surfeit of withheld information, and a surfeit of outright absurd lies emerging from those in high office in a bid to distract from their engagement and support of electoral fraud.

It was on March 5 that Mingo – after two days of obfuscating and seeking to thwart the process – made his first fraudulent declaration, one that was signed off on by the Granger coalition, to the shock and dismay of everyone else in the room at the time.

The embarrassment was not only national – every international electoral observer mission vehemently opposed the travesty that had taken place that day. The late Owen Arthur, former Prime Minister of Barbados and Head of the Commonwealth Observer Group wrote in response to this first act in the attempted coup: “Members of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) have been present at the Office of the Returning Officer, Region 4 in Georgetown over the last 24 hours. This morning and this afternoon, 5 March 2020, I personally visited the said office. It is the clear view of the Group that the tabulation of the final election results has not yet been completed and verified according to the established procedures and relevant legal and statutory provisions. We strongly urge the Guyana Elections Commission and all parties involved to ensure the process properly follows the legal steps dictated by the laws of Guyana and is in line with the country’s international commitments.”

Complementary to this straightforward and shameless collusion with GECOM was a macabre sideshow theatre that debuted on the same day. It was on that day that then Foreign Minister Dr. Karen Cummings threatened to expel observers, including Arthur, for daring to point out Mingo’s obvious attempt at manipulating the Region Four votes in favour of Granger. It was also on March 5 that then Minister of Telecommunications, now APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Cathy Hughes posted on her Facebook page that about a week earlier, the government of Guyana had discovered the presence of three Russians who were in the country to hack the elections, had detained two of them and ‘deported’ them, with the other one going missing. It did not matter that, even to this day, no actual evidence of the Russians was presented – Hughes and the rest of the coalition leadership would double down on this inane farce even as the Granger machinery continued to contort itself to both delay and corrupt the results of the election.

What finally ended the dementia of Mr. Granger’s attempt, which started on March 5 last year, to continue to run the country despite being demonstrably voted out of his office, was the threat and application of sanctions from our more powerful Western allies, including bipartisan condemnation and visa revocations from the very country that the Coalition

Confusion caused by flashing lights DEAR EDITOR, It is our duty as citizens to adhere to all laws, especially while on our roadways. I have reasonable trust in our Joint Service’s men and women in believing that they do make many good decisions. On the other hand, they are limited due to human nature and thus, are capable of making bad decisions as well. I would like to address the issue of the use of flashing lights by first responders as it could have cost me my life, several times while driving.

I’m very observant while driving since, at all times, my

windows are closed. There are quite a few instances where I saw flashing lights in my rearview mirror, especially at night, and as mandated by

emergency.

There are other cases when I see them coming from the opposite direction and I would do the same,

February 1-28, 2021 Category Total Number of Occasions Police Cars 4 Fire Trucks 1 Ambulance 1 Totals 6 law, pulled off to the left corner of the road. To my surprise, when the emergency vehicles (Police/ Ambulance) have passed, there are no sirens nor the vehicles are in any

sometimes causing a traffic jam, just to hear no sirens when the vehicles pass by.

To not make it seem isolated, I did an observation for one month while on my way to work and as I returned

home for my concern to be appreciated.

I would humbly recommend that the Home Affairs Ministry develop a Daytime 1 1 1 3

Nighttime 3 0 0 3

policy on the best use of flashing lights, considering the confusion it has caused when used in non-emergency situations.

Humble Citizen, J. Yearwood

Venezuela’s menacing; Guyanese better get moving DEAR EDITOR, The Venezuelans have done it again, and again, it is emphasized just how heedless and backward we are at every level in this country.

Though we have the world at our feet, it is obvious that if we refuse to listen, then we will have a barren wilderness in our hands.

It was first a couple vulnerable fishing boats and their crews victimized by the Venezuelan Navy. We made some polite noises, which is all we have at our disposal, and that was that: welcome home, compadres.

Wednesday, it was the emptiness of our suddenly unfriendly skies, with jet fighters swooping at low levels. It was not a ceremonial flyover. As I see it, this relentless ongoing intensification of tensions by Venezuela is going to result,

sooner than later, in the presence of ground troops across our border under various guises. I already can hear the defenses: pursuit of criminals. It may not be fullfledged official forays, but harassing and skirmishing guerilla tactics under the unofficial forays of Syndicato gangs. In that manner, everyone-from the Venezuelan Ambassador to the Venezuelan political and military leadership - is provided with what is called ‘plausible deniability.’ If the PPP and PNC luminaries think that they are the only ones who can play games and get away with misuse of the English Language, then they had all better think again. The Venezuelans may be Spanish speakers, but they are no slouches with English, as its Foreign Minister demonstrated during the

fishing boat episodes and embarrassments.

Editor, I must be clear here and now: I recognize our limitations at the leadership, manpower, and ordnance levels.

I recognise that we are deeply divided, and that the deep lasting scars of last year’s elections have pierced to the point of a casual and indifferent patriotism on the part of too many. I now put my stake in the ground on what I consider this existential Venezuelan threat, which is not going to go away, but intensify and multiply. I recognise also that we could also have numbers of around, if not over, probably 100,000 foreigners (legal and illegal and unaccounted for) resident here; great mischief could be involved. I put this on the table: Regardless of which government is in no

power, and no matter how detestable it is found (and be assured of that) I cannot look back, am not going back anywhere. I am as one with this government where Venezuela is concerned; and any governing apparatus, for that matter. This is not up for discussion. And I urge all my fellow Guyanese to be of the same mindset, if not ahead of me.

Last, in view of our known realities, I think it is time that every Guyanese adapt the mentality of those who were once called North Vietnamese.

If ‘irregulars’ have to the order of defensive regularity, then so be it. But the objective is to extract the harshest and costliest price for any and all invaders, who will come someday.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Lincoln Lewis takes Freddie Kissoon to task again DEAR EDITOR, I expect the fundamental right to respond in kind to Freddie Kissoon is honoured.

His article of March 2, 2020 entitled “What is the TUC’s position on the March 2020 election?” is nothing short of

was spending millions of dollars to convince that its attempts were justified, including pathetically presenting the Granger administration as a foil for China’s influence in the region.

Of course, after one year, the missing equation in all this is the man who throughout the indecent coup insisted and affirmed that he was at the helm of the political machinery engaging in that coup. As his machinery is – albeit unconvincingly – insisting, the elections of March 2 were stolen from Mr. Granger by an international conspiracy, the man himself remains in hiding, despite being the leader of the largest opposition party and the head of the list of the parliamentary opposition, minus one.

The former President does not have the honesty, integrity or decency to appear in front of the public to either admit the campaign of fraud his political machinery conducted from March 5 onward, or to placate his misinformed base that he is even sentient at this point. After one year, the dishonesty continues, the absurd theatricality continues, and demented cognitive dissonance of David Granger continues unabated.

After one year, this country needs an honest conversation that will lead to bridging the political and social divide, one that was strained. The chief architect of last year’s conspiracy has taken his voice out of the conversation, whether out of shame or basic cowardice – those echoing his royal madness need to stop doing so, or they can be no conversation in this country, at least involving them, on the way forward.

nincompoopism intelligent minds have come to associate Kissoon’s unkempt mind with.

The nonsense of this socalled academic arguing that the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is Lewis and Lewis is the TUC yet asking what is this the organisation’s position on the 2020 election, when both the TUC and I have dealt with this manner extensively, is an example of his idiocy. This is the height of intellectual nincompoopism, because if as he says I am the TUC and the TUC is me and the position on the 2020 election is a matter of public record/knowledge, then there is no need to ask the stupid question about “What is the TUC’s position on the 2020 election?” It means that he does not even believe what he is saying about Lewis and the TUC being one and the same but expects the public to.

The political scientist conflates Lewis’ personal

comments as that of the TUC to execute his agenda as an excuse not only to attack me but drag the TUC into the foray. What is evident from this is either this man is ignorant of fundamental industrial practices or he is unable to cover his real agenda; his Black attack and support of destruction of entities that he considers might be potentially challenging to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). I always suspected he was a degreed dunce, a hired pen, among other unsavoury characteristics.

Judging from his action it is catfish politicking where he hides his true identity and intent under various fakeries.

He assumes the identity of a caring and concerned private citizen without a political agenda, whereas his historical intent has always been to support a Black attack and fit the bulk of Black people into a mould where (Continued on page 6)

Friday March 05, 2021

Congrats to His Excellency DEAR EDITOR, I take off my hat to His Excellency, President Ali for misinterpreting him and being mistaken about him. He had it all right all along on that promise about transparency.

The president has been so outstanding with transparency that his ministers have followed suit, with Guyana’s Chief Minister, that would be the most Honourable and Most Esteemed Vice President, leading the way.

When the record of the last seven months is examined closely, President Ali has been exemplary with transparency. The president now stands as a tower of transparency on secrecy.

Rather wisely, he left out that qualifying word: secrecy. I detected that he spoke sotto voce or from the side of his mouth, as is now his hallmark.

However this has been done, Guyanese live with the daily realities.

Transparency in secrecy on the delivery of reports on oil. Transparency in the secrecy surrounding the finished Wales gas to shore project. Transparency on the secrecy of the connivances with a group that is a blood relation of the PPP government.

That would be the conspiratorial PNC-AFC opposition. I think the mainland Chinese are more informed by its totalitarian regime than Guyanese and the leaders that they follow blindly. It is the height of irony that this is happening today, with the technology revolution and the information oceans that inundate; citizens live in a state of constant information drought. Guyanese stumbled

through the Burnham era with two center pages for media fare, and they knew everything that needed to be known. Look at us today, and the contrast: we have online newspapers (how is that possible - paper in electronic?), we have almost 24-hour radio and talking heads (empty suits) on television, and we are dumber than doorbells. We have everything, yet we know nothing, thanks to the Ali Administration’s oaths on the good books to be about transparency. I thought I was handy with the mother tongue, but I have to hand it to the PPP, it makes the Queen of England sound like a heathen and a barbarian, with how it mangles the meanings of the English Language.

I should have been the first to say that President Ali is about lies when he speaks

of transparency. But I will be the first to defend him today.

For the man meant transparency on secrecy. As I examine the circumstances under which he operates, and the people he surrounds himself with, there was no intent to falsify and deceive.

Not at all! But there was always lurking in the head and the breast, every intention not to deliver. That is not a lie.

That is not a lack of transparency. It is of the now world famous Guyanese patented transparency that withholds and withers under the glare of inquiry. There is a dark side of me that has appreciation for skilled con men. They are usually not too occupied or concerned with the fine print. And that is where Guyana is today with those who mislead.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Response to Peeping Tom on nationalization and Republican Status DEAR EDITOR, Peeping Tom errs in interpreting the support provided by Jagan to Burnham on Republican status (March 1). It was conditional! Ditto Jagan’s support for nationalisation of various private entities including schools and barring private buses from plying the road (March 2). Given his political philosophy, Jagan could not have publicly backtracked on Republican status although in private, as Fenton Ramsahoye revealed, Jagan felt uncomfortable supporting Republican status because he had doubts about Burnham’s sincerity in breaking links with the Western (bourgeois) imperialist powers. It was okay to have links with eastern (socialist) imperialist powers.

Jagan ‘supported’ nationalising foreign business entities and breaking with UK because of his ideological and political convictions. He did not expect, naively so as scholars commented, that Burnham would transform Guyana into a totalitarian dictatorship. No

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Kaieteur News

one could have predicted that Burnham would transform Guyana into an oppressive dictatorship.

Given that Burnham rigged the 1968 elections and terminated appeals to the Privy Council, Jagan ought to have known that Burnham was up to no good and reserved support. But he was blinded by his opposition to western imperialism causing him to support any policy or act that appeared ‘progressive’ even from Burnham. It is not clear if Burnham needed PPP support to break the link with UK. Burnham cornered Jagan on Republican status as a test for his commitment against ‘Western Imperialism’. In the meanwhile, Burnham had no problem retaining close links

with the imperialists. And whenever the West squeezed Burnham for taking progressive measures, he would threaten that he would form an alliance with Jagan forcing the West to back off from punishing him. Burnham conveniently used Jagan to empower himself (Burnham).

Burnham was determined to cut all links from the UK and would have done so without Jagan’s support. Fenton said he advised Jagan not to support Republican status.

Jagan was troubled but did not want to publicly appear unsupportive of breaking from imperialism. Regrettably, his supporters paid dearly with food bans, loss of state employment, etc., causing hundreds of thousands to migrate to the imperialist

countries. PPP and UF supporters, a majority of the nation, were not supportive of Republican status.

It is also noted that Jagan did not support Republican status with any ‘categorical’ statement. The party did not issue a statement backing republicanism. Jagan allowed Burnham to declare republican status. And he had no role in organising the date to delink from Britain.

Similarly, the PPP was adamantly opposed to independence date. There (Continued on page 6)

Where is the middle ground?

DEAR EDITOR, After listening to the intense discussions in the recent sitting of Parliament, which were centred around the budget for the year, it has become clear that any hope for constructive discussion has been eliminated.

The middle ground which many have relied upon for the bringing forth of the best ideas into reality has disappeared.

Our Parliament has confirmed to all Guyanese that the little room that existed for compromise and the meeting of the minds is quickly disappearing.

No one party has a monopoly on good ideas as seen in the recent budget discussions.

However, the animosity, historical tit for tat, political persecution & victimization, and electoral disputes between the

parties has decisively increased the divide in the House of the National Assembly.

The small number of voters who have decided the last two elections now have an increased responsibility to bridge the divide in Parliament in order for our country to return towards a path of peaceful unity.

The rebuilding of a bipartisan atmosphere and the middle ground needed to foster constructive discussions that bring about better solutions to the problems facing our nation can only be achieved by the presence of a neutral and unbiased voice within our National Assembly.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Game plan?

DEAR EDITOR, Is the game plan with the upheaval in Parliament following the allegation of assault of one MP against a n o t h e r, t o g e t t h e assaulting MP out of the chamber?

If that happens both sides

are even, if the lone MP from the joiner list can be persuaded to join with the main opposing side, then an impasse is the outcome, as the budgetary allocations cannot be passed and approved.

Is that the game plan?

Shamshun Mohamed

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Friday March 05, 2021

Kaieteur News

Boat saga DEAR EDITOR, The saga of the boat with decomposed bodies continues. One minister stated it is not the same boat as was seen in Guyana waters according to one news outfit, while another believes it is the same boat, according

to another news outfit. One story two different takes. One minister is right, the other got it wrong. Question is which one, and are there boats out there with dead, decomposed bodies floating the seas this side of the planet?

Shamshun Mohamed

Lincoln Lewis takes Freddie From page 4 they are denigrated and can be controlled and subjugated by him and his political masters.

Even when he pretended to be a friend of African Guyanese, Freddie Kissoon was catfishing.

He thrives in an environment of lies, distortions, contortions, chaos, hate, division, tension and catfishing. Values like peace and harmony are enemies to the captain of chaos because were these to be held in esteem in society he will lose his relevance that he has a craving addiction for. Rights, the Rule of Law and order are easily changeable and convenient principles for him. I am convinced he feels mentioning my name or the TUC’s feeds that craving like when old higue smells blood.

Contrary to the catfishing mentality, President Granger was never called by me or the TUC “to use his presidential status to cancel the election results.” Let the academic

cheat provide to this nation the evidence that I or the TUC called on the President to use an authority not vested in his office “to cancel the election results.” Kissoon must stop catfishing the Guyanese community. We must not let him get off with lying and we must be prepared to confront his lies and hold his lies and the others like him, also driven by the same agenda to account AT ALL TIMES. As to my years of service as the General Secretary of the TUC, I have been in this position for less years than Kissoon has been a columnist. So, what makes him entitled and others not. The truth is he prefers me off the scene so he could be the only influencing publicopinion. Let me put him on notice - he does not have what it takes to determine my tenure in office or civic duty to this society. I understand that my activism worries him and those whom he serves in his catfishing role but that is their problem not mine.

Lincoln Lewis...

...Response to Peeping Tom on nationalization and From page 5 was a strike at Diamond estate in1966 in support of the PPP’s position opposing independence date. On republicanism, Jagan nominated Ashton Chase as the President (nominal head of state) while Burnham nominated Arthur Chung.

Burnham’s majority from the rigged elections of 1968 carried the day in parliament.

Then Burnham created the executive President in 1980 declaring himself with the title, wreaking havoc on the nation.

The PPP publicly opposed breaking from Privy Council.

The party recognised Burnham wanted to control the court and insisted that it remain as the final constitutional court of appeal. Burnham would have none of it.

Jagan did not partake in any Republic Day

celebrations, not as opposition leader and not even when he was President.

In fact, as a student on the Corentyne, from 1970 onwards, we were instructed not to support flag hoisting activities in school.

And PPP activists went around instructing PPP supporters not to attend any Republic Day celebrations.

Neither Cheddi nor Janet ever ‘mashed’ when they were Presidents – indication they were not supportive of it.

Cheddi and Janet stressed independence day festivities although they opposed the date.

The only time that Burnham and Jagan appeared together after independence was in 1976 in Rose Hall, Canje following the announced nationalisation of Bookers; Jagan boycotted independence festivities. And neither GAWU nor NAACIE

ever partook in Republic Day celebrations. In fact, both issued statements against republican status saying there was nothing to celebrate.

On nationalisation, Burnham nationalised Jessels, Bookers, Demba, Alcan, and the Banking system, etc.

On sugar, Burnham first nationalised Jessel (1975) – that included Demerara Company estates such as Diamond and Leonara estates and Sandbach Parker Complex.

A year later, he nationalised Booker Tate and brought the now state companies under one umbrella renaming it GuySuCo. Shahabudeen, one of Burnham’s many VPs, and a crony, wrote an extensive piece on the nationalisation process.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Friday March 05, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Friday March 05, 2021

Budget 2021…

Ramson details coalition’s ‘squandermania,’ ‘corruption’ Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jnr.

By Kiana Wilburg Along with its unprincipled efforts to rig the 2015 General and Regional Elections, the era of the APNU+AFC will be forever remembered for its unbelievable levels of squandermania and corruption, according to Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson Jnr. during the recently concluded 2021 budget debates.

During his contribution, Ramson lambasted the former coalition administration for its high levels of spending as he noted that it had found a surplus of $10B in 2015 in the Central Bank and upon demitting office, left it with an overdraft of $92B. He said too that the coalition had found gold reserves to be at $290B but its poor management saw that dwindling to $500M, while adding that the current account deficit had ballooned to a whopping $1.8B. In total, the Minister noted that the coalition spent $1.4 trillion of taxpayers’ m o n e y b u t t h e transformative development which was promised was never felt.

Instead, the Minister said what the citizens got was a slew of broken promises and projects for which millions of dollars cannot be accounted for. In this regard, Ramson reminded of the controversial D’Urban Park Project, which was flagged

by Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, in his annual report.

Kaieteur News would have reported that since 2017, Sharma did not receive the relevant documentation to account for $500M, which was paid to Homestretch Development Inc. (HDI), the private company that was created to implement the Project. This was paid over to the company so that it could

meet its obligation to its creditors. Sharma had found too that there was no documentation attached to the Payment Vouchers to indicate the works done or that supervisory checks were carried out. He had highlighted as well that Payment Vouchers to support the expenditure of $107.119M were never produced for audit examination.

In addition to the foregoing, Ramson also reminded of the former government’s failure to disclose the receipt of the US$18M signing bonus from ExxonMobil. Even when it was faced with questions from the media about the said sum, he reminded that the coalition was still less than forthcoming.

Further to the lack of accountability that overshadowed several projects embarked upon by the coalition, Ramson reminded of the coalition’s failed promise to provide jobs for Guyana’s youths.

Instead, the politician noted that the citizenry witnessed the loss of over 30,000 jobs, the majority of which were linked to the sugar industry.

Ramson articulated, “…Even the small man got pressured with Value Added Tax (VAT) on telephone, electricity, data and water.”

Taking the foregoing into consideration, Ramson said the people were essentially neglected while almost every member of the former regime was “on some kind of hustle.” And to make matters worse, he stated, they were shamelessly consumed by an unconscionable desire to retain power at any cost. The Minister noted that this wellknown track record of the political opposition would surely keep its clutches far away from the reins of office for perhaps, another 30 years.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 05, 2021

PAGE 09

The APNU+AFC is a deadly monster

T

he Opposition APNU+AFC is wounded and a wounded animal is at its most desperate and deadly.

As such, Guyanese have to be ready and prepared for an Opposition, which will unleash problems for our society because the Opposition can see no way out of its present predicament.

The wounds suffered by the Opposition were selfinflicted.

It tried to hold on to political power and when the hammer came down; it found itself discredited and disreputable.

An animal is at its most dangerous when it is wounded. Human beings, when they are cornered and wounded, have two main responses: flight or fight.

The APNU+AFC cannot run anywhere because it is cornered and will scratch, slice, stomp and slash at anything, which appears in its path when cornered.

The Opposition has boxed itself into a corner. It spread false narratives to its supporters in the hope that these supporters would not turn against it. These supporters were never going to rally behind the Opposition charges of electoral fraud; and so the Opposition took the next obvious course to protect their exalted positions by refusing to recognize the PPP/C government in the hope that this would deflect from their own obvious shortcomings, which led to

their electoral defeat to the PPP/C. The United States had imposed visa sanctions on those persons it is felt were responsible for undermining democracy.

Other places, such as the European Union and Canada, had threatened sanctions but did not impose any. It is not clear how many of those visas were restored, but the country will know when the restrictions of the pandemic are lifted and persons are free to travel.

The PPP/C has blundered by not sustaining the lobby for the maintenance and extension of the sanctions on those persons guilty of undermining democracy.

The lobby should have been carried to the member States of the Caribbean Community so that this disgraceful lot would never deplane in a foreign country again.

Faced with international ostracism and proving increasingly inept in their debates in the National Assembly, the Opposition is now seeing the writing on the wall. It substandard performance in the justconcluded debates on the National Budget is matched only by the visionless and vacuous Budget itself.

The Opposition has turned the Budget debate into a shouting match. And the government side, itself lacking in intellectual mettle, has been most willing to comply. The Opposition has offered

nothing of substance to the Budget debate. It has played no small part in reducing the debate to public spectacle better suited for a fish market.

The Opposition has been found seriously wanting. Its questions in interrogating the Budget Estimates have been feeble and embarrassing at times.

It has failed to expose the shortcomings of the g o v e r n m e n t ’s p l a n n e d expenditures.

Even when it questioned the electricity charges for one government agency, it found to its dismay that a huge chunk of these charges related to liabilities inherited from the time it was in government.

The APNU+AFC lack effective leadership. The APNU has now been reduced to the PNC/R and the WPA, and the PNC/R has little regard for the WPA. The AFC has in recent times saw a number of its leading activists depart from its camp. Internal problems are therefore dogging the Coalition and further splintering the grouping.

The PPP/C, in the meantime, is exposing the skullduggery and malfeasance, which took place during the APNU+AFC’s tenure. It is painting a picture of extravagance, nepotism, cronyism wastefulness and ineptitude. And the APNU+AFC has no answers to these charges.

The APNU+AFC therefore is like a cornered

Dem boys seh...

Prezzie tun a ‘R’ man Prezzie tell de Guyana Police Force how he will rebrand, retool, restructure, repair and reposition de organisation. Dem police asking about de main R remuneration.

De Bank of Guyana seh how de bank wah gat an agreement fuh buy de local operations of Scotia nah licence to operate in Guyana.

But what dah gat to do with buying Scotia. Dem had some people wah nah licence fuh drill fuh oil and dem get handed oil blocks.

And dem gan flip it when de time right. So wah wrong with de Citi Bank doing de other R - reselling.

And dem boys asking what about de other R – renegotiation….of de royalties and revenues from

de oil contract.

Is plenty blow-blow blowing. De President blow a lot of meaningless hot air at de Police Conference yesterday. Is nuff words but little substance. Dem boys wan know how he intend to reduce crime.

Not about identifying de gaps. De amount of gaps wah dem gat in de police force is enough to form a volcanic crater.

But de real blow-blow presentation come from de Vee Pee. De man address a function de Private Sector Commission had at Park Rayne (nah ask me how dem get permission fuh hold dat).

He called for a different mindset from de private sector to evolve. But he nah seh how dem gan develop

dat mindset when half of de private sector is familyowned businesses. Dem boys remember when there was a move to create a new private sector since it was said dat de traditional sector did not have de mindset to think big.

De private sector asking for another “R”- relief.

COVID hit some of dem hard and dem nah hear nuttin’ in de Bud-Get dat would ease dem troubles. All dem getting is blow-blow.

Some of dem private sector people gat good friends in government. And with dem friends in de government who needs a new mindset.

Talk half and sing de song … “Leh de blow-blow blow!”

rat. It has no way to run and can only now lash out desperately in the hope of escaping further political injuries.

As such, one can expect the APNU+AFC to resort to that old tricks of seeking to stir controversies – whether contrived or otherwise – as it did to exacerbate the outrage following the deaths of two

teenagers in West Coast Berbice last year.

The public must brace itself for some creative narratives emanating from the APNU+AFC. It must understand that the main Opposition is a badly wounded animal.

But the people must also know that such an animal is at its most dangerous when it

is wounded.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Friday March 05, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Defenders of election rigging: A Marxist and Freudian analysis It is one year since the failure of the fraud designed and perpetuated by elements of the election commission and the PNC and AFC. Almost 99 percent of the global writings on the five months journey into Mephistophelean oceans depict the PNC and AFC as the Draculean creatures and elements of the GECOM secretariat as the Macbethian witches that shaped the evil.

Though that is an accurate description, there must always be emphasis on other dimensions that when given profound analytical treatment will reveal the encouragement given to the perpetrators by the silent, subtle support of certain class and ethnic elements in Guyana.

The curiosity will forever remain – what could and would have happened if

these sections of Guyana’s class structure and ethnic anatomy had openly rejected the rigging?

Would the PNC and AFC have become so psychologically exhausted that the Faustian instincts would have died long before the month of July?

The analysis to follow looks at two aspects of Guyanese society that though voiced no open, overt

endorsement of the tampering with the results, their silence were deliberate and Machiavellian driven by race and class preferences. In an analysis like this, one column will not suffice so there will be part two.

The two compartments are the light-skin, Creole stratum and the middle class in general that opposed Burnham’s drift to socialism a n d s u p p o r t e d Wa l t e r Rodney and the WPA because they felt their class status was better assured under a WPA regime than B u r n h a m ’s e c c e n t r i c movement towards Black dictatorship.

The dialectics of class structure in Guyana are very interesting. It is not conceptually possible to separate these two aspects of Guyanese society and treat each one separately. The mulatto ethnic group was able to attract non-Africans from the Guyanese middle class and petty bourgeoisie.

For example, many elitist middle class Portuguese and light complexioned Indians were essentially part of the ethnic mulatto world of which light complexioned Indians like Lionel Luckhoo and those who were part of Peter D’Aguiar’s party, the United Force, stand out. In late 20th century Guyana, the Indian, light complexioned, middle class was essentially led by people like Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine of the WPA. Let’s start with the mixed ethnic group and apply Freud to them. Do you think that it was an oversight that not one person volunteered

to write an article in the weekly column, “In the Diaspora,” condemnatory of the shenanigans the PNC and AFC injected in the year long no-confidence motion controversy and the fivemonth election impasse was carried?

The light complexioned African middle class in Guyana have some formidable Freudian ghosts deeply embedded in their collective mind. They do not want rural Indians, nonChristian Indians, dark-skin Indians and the People’s Progressive Party to govern Guyana. This mental horizon is not related to ethnic hate.

They do not hate or dislike, rural and dark skin Indians and the PPP out of ethnic superiority. They simply feel deep in their Freudian mind that such people are not suitable for governance of West Indian Creole societies and make better business people. It is quite obvious to Guyanese who follow the news where the mulatto folks can be found – in women groups, the professional classes, highly concentrated, complex businesses, academia and a section of the print media.

It was this stratum that engineered the merger between the PNC and WPA opposed only by Walter Rodney’s family and his brothers.

They saw the marriage as one that could open up endless possibilities of permanently removing the PPP from government.

Elements in both the middle class in general and the

Frederick Kissoon mulatto group pushed desperately for a ménage á trios between the PNC, WPA and AFC. It was not by accident that the AFC was initially funded by one of the wealthiest Guyanese families. It was no accident also that only Indians from Berbice opposed the APNU+AFC merger.

In reality then the PPP’s defeat in 2015 was a class battle in which the mulatto group, the petty bourgeoisie and middle class Portuguese and Indians joined the working class PNC to topple the PPP. This columnist supported the AFC. I reacted to the excesses of the Jagdeo/Ramotar presidencies and wanted better for Guyana. I could not see that working class struggle would have been betrayed by APNU+AFC. I have apologized to my country several times for my involvement. I hereby apologize again.

Space has run out, we will conclude in another column but it is important to note that paranoia stepped in when on March 3, it looked like the PPP was coming back into power. The mulatto class and the middle class in general panicked. Part two is forthcoming.

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

Friday March 05, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Friday March 05, 2021

ERC commissioner recommends proper vetting system, induction training - as current commission to expire next month

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o m m i s s i o n e r, Haji Roshan Khan, has recommended a proper vetting system and induction training for the new set of Commissioners that will be installed after the current Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) expires next month.

N o t a b l y, K h a n h a s recently been very vocal

about the Commission and alleged malpractices within its operations. As a result of Khan’s public disclosures and condemnations, Kaieteur News would have reported on several occurrences within the ERC, which included the excessive granting of Christmas bonuses, other instances of unjust spending/malpractices with

public funds, disunity, and its failure to adequately step up during the harrowing five-month election controversy last year.

It was reported that the Commission received $900M in budgetary allocations in seven years with minute accountability for the public funds, which it w a s p r o v i d e d .

Commissioners sought to

grant themselves a $150,000 Christmas bonus and $100,000 for ERC staff, which went against the government’s advisory of $25,000 per person as a bonus in statutory bodies.

This was all despite being more than well compensated and earning exceptionally high remuneration for “parttime work.”

Late last month as Khan

l a m e n t e d t h e aforementioned, he stressed the need for an adequate vetting process and induction training for the new ERC Commissioners to prevent any reoccurrences.

It must be noted that the current Commission was reconstituted on February 22, 2018, by the former coalition government after a seven-year hiatus and saw the swearing in of 10 new commissioners by exPresident, David Granger.

Khan had said that when the Commissioners were sworn in, they were just left to find their way as they were left with “all this money,” hence, the professional induction training is pertinent according to Commissioner Khan. “I would also like to respectfully add that in the future, commissioners should not be sworn in and left to drown in the ocean, but should attend three days of preparatory training,” Khan had suggested, adding that he proposed it as a Commissioner of the ERC.

Ethnic Relations Commissioner, Haji Roshan Khan.

He had also said “...I completely agree with the Chairman: when selecting i n d i v i d u a l s a s Commissioners, the public should not place wolves in sheep’s clothing. They should not be able to occupy roles and be appointed to senior positions so as to be politically and/or ethnically controlled by their handlers and those who wanted them (Continued on page 22)

Two robbery accused walked free after charges dropped - Virtual complainant tells court he just wants back his stolen motorcycle A 53-year-old and a 21year-old were on Wednesday, charged for robbing an East Bank Demerara man of his motorcycle, but later had their matter dismissed after the virtual complainant requested no further action be taken into the matter and told the court that he just wanted his stolen motorcycle back.

Khemraj Shaffie, of Hadfield Street, Lodge, and Daniel John, of West Front Road, West Ruimveldt, made their first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, where they were charged with the offence of robbery with violence.

Both men pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on February 27, in the vicinity of D’Urban Park they robbed the victim of his CK4912 motorcycle valued $250,000, one Samsung cellphone valued

$25,000 and $1,500 in cash.

However the man told the court that he just wants his motorcycle be handed back to him, hence the matter was dismissed.

According to the police report, on the night of the incident, the man was riding his motorcycle at a slow rate on Vlissengen Road, when he stopped at the traffic light at the junction of Homestretch Avenue and Vlissengen Road.

The victim further told police that he was approached by a man who jumped onto the rear of his motorcycle and demanded that he ride to D’Urban Park. He recalled that he did as instructed and upon arrival, he was confronted by three other suspects who robbed him of his bike, cellphone and money. After the perpetrators escaped, the matter was reported and an investigation was launched.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 05, 2021

PAGE 13

State willing to accept manslaughter plea for accused in Lusignan cosmetologist murder

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n offer was made to have murder accused Lennox Wayne called ‘Two Colours’ plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Lusignan cosmetologist, Ashmini Harriram.

This is according a statement issued by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The statement followed reports that the murder accused has filed a civil suit in court to challenge the

State’s right to hold him for over seven years. Wayne is alleging that his rights to a fair hearing have been infringed upon.

However in response to the case, the DPP issued a statement clarifying that the accused has the option of pleading guilty to the lesser crime.

The statement stipulated that “on several occasions, Wayne has indicated that his wish was to plead guilty to t h e l e s s e r o ff e n c e o f manslaughter; the last

indication was made in November 2020.

[However] on each of these occasions, after the State commenced preparation for the taking of his guilty plea, he changed his decision, which he is entitled to do.”

The DPP noted that although the accused seems to have taken a different route to address the matter, the State is willing to accept his guilty plea to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Wayne and his co-

accused, Melroy Doris, had been incarcerated since 2014 over the murder of the Lusignan cosmetologist.

Harriram was shot in the neck moments after she disembarked a minibus along the Lusignan Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, on Thursday, July 10, 2014.

Back in 2017, Wayne and his co-accused faced a trial in the High Court but were remanded to prison after the jury failed to meet a verdict for the murder charge, which

they faced.

Following the verdict, Trial Judge, Jo Ann Barlow, had informed the accused the hung jury meant that they “will have to remain in custody and undergo another trial during another session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.”

Ever since then the duo has been behind bars.

Wayne has since filed civil proceedings against the State over what he calls a breach of right to a fair hearing.

Through his attorney, Nigel Hughes, Wayne is asking the High Court for several orders, including an order to admit him on bail pending the hearing and determination of his Fixed Date Application (FDA) challenging his incarceration.

He also wants a permanent stay of the m u r d e r c h a rg e a n d a declaration that his rights, guaranteed by the provisions of Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana, have been infringed.

According to court documents seen by this newspaper, the murder accused also filed for damages in excess of $100,000 for a breach of his fundamental right to a fair hearing as guaranteed by the provisions of Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana.

In an affidavit to support

Lennox Wayne called ‘Two Colours.’ his claim, the applicant asks the Court to consider inter alia that he had been incarcerated for the crime since October 2014.

He said that he has been awaiting trial since November 2015, after he committed to stand trial in the High Court by a Magistrate. Since then, Wayne explained that he underwent a trial, which ended in a hung jury in 2017, but ever since, he has not been afforded the opportunity to go before the Court.

The applicant said too, that his name was listed for retrial in the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, but his case never came up.

According to him, while he languished in jail, all (Continued on page 14 )

Herstelling man shot and robbed at betting shop

A

Herstelling man, w a s o n We d n e s d a y afternoon, shot and robbed while he was at a betting shop on Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown.

The victim has been identified as Terry Persaud, 60, of Herstelling Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara.

According to a police report, Persaud was robbed of $4M and during the robbery, he was shot to his right upper thigh.

The incident reportedly happened at All Seasons Horse Racing and Sports Betting, around 15:00 hrs.

Persaud was allegedly shot and robbed by an identifiable male, who is not yet arrested.

It is reported that Persaud was at the shop placing bets, when the lone gunman approached

him and told him to hand over his haversack, which contained the cash.

The police report further stated that Persaud refused and the bandit whipped out a handgun from his pants waist and discharged a round, which struck Persaud to his right upper thigh.

The bandit then used the opportunity to relieve Persaud of the bag before making good his escape on a black motorcycle without registration number that was parked on Robb Street.

The matter was reported and Persaud was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he is presently receiving medical attention.

The investigation into the alleged robbery under arms is ongoing.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

State willing to accept manslaughter...

From page 13 attempts made by him to expedite his trial had proven futile.

He noted that his concerns over the delay were raised at the level of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), but were not addressed. Wayne listed a number of other avenues, which attempted to get his

concerns over the delayed trial addressed, but to no avail.

In the circumstances, the murder accused said that he believes that his rights to a fair trial as guaranteed by the Constitution have been impeded. He is hoping that the High Court will address his concerns and grant the reliefs sought.

Friday March 05, 2021

Kaieteur News

Friday March 05, 2021

PAGE 15

First Citizens Bank does not have a licence to operate in Guyana – BOG Following Wednesday’s announcement by Scotia Bank of an agreement of sale of its Guyana operations to Trinidadian company First Citizens Bank Limited (“First Citizens”), the Bank of Guyana (BOG) has come out to state that First Citizens does not have a licence to operate here.

BOG noted, that First Citizens published a notice in the Trinidad Guardian on its decision to enter into a

purchase and sale agreement with the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) to purchase its operations in Guyana.

However, BOG stated that First Citizens entered the said agreement without informing them prior.

“FCB does not have a licence to operate in Guyana.

FCB has not submitted an application, in keeping with the requirements of the Financial Institutions Act 1995 (FIA), to the BOG to

Haslington man jailed 60 years for killing brother-in-law Jailed: Les Charles Critchlow.

L

es Charles Critchlow, was sentenced to 60 years in jail for the murder of his brother-in-law, Terence Adams, called “Uncle Terry” or “Sleepy.”

The sentence was handed down by Justice, Navindra Singh, at the Georgetown H i g h C o u r t y e s t e r d a y, following a probation report.

Critchlow who changed his plea twice at a previous trial was found guilty of stabbing his brother-in-law to death, earlier last month.

According to the indictment, Critchlow stabbed Adams several times on May 12, 2016, following a heated disagreement.

Critchlow was reportedly outraged after Adams made remarks about him being unemployed during an argument at their Haslington home.

The victim allegedly told the Critchlow, “You don’t even wuk no more, and can’t maintain my sister.” This is said to have angered Critchlow, who grabbed a long knife and trailed his brother-in-law from the house to a nearby shop, where the incident occurred.

Police reports indicated that Adams, 56, of North Haslington, was later found around 20:15 hours on the roadway in the village with stab wounds about his body.

A medical examination revealed that Adams had been

stabbed to both the left and right side chest, and his neck was partially slashed. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

During the trial before Justice Singh, witnesses had revealed seeing Critchlow grabbing a long, reddish handled knife, purported to be the murder weapon before leaving the house.

Relatives of the deceased also reported that a van load of policemen came to their home to inform them that Terry was stabbed to death.

At the trial, Critchlow was represented by Attorneyat-law, Rachael Bakker, while the indictment was presented by State prosecutors, Tiffani Lyken and Nafeeza Baig.

Dead: Terence Adams called “Sleepy.”

acquire control of a bank (BNS) operating in Guyana,” the BOG said in its statement.

Scotia Bank had announced that it reached an agreement for the sale of its banking operations in Guyana to First Citizens Bank Limited (“First Citizens”).

However, shortly after the announcement, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, made it clear that the deal, thus far, has not received government’s blessings.

In essence, Dr. Singh said that no approval has

been granted by the Bank of Guyana (BOG). He has deemed Scotia Bank’s announcement “premature and inappropriate.”

Dr. Singh explained that any such transaction is subject to a specified regulatory process.He said government finds it unfortunate that the announcement was made, since Section 12 of the Financial Institutions Act (FIA) stipulates no financial institution may transfer the entire or a substantial part of its operations without prior approval from the Bank of Guyana.

“Considering that the laws of Guyana require this

process, we consider it premature to announce a transaction of this nature, particularly given that the regulatory process to consider the request for any such transaction is yet to be initiated, much less to be concluded,” the Minister pointed out.“It is the intention of the Government of Guyana and indeed, it is the intention of the regulator and the supervisor of the financial sector, that is to say the Central Bank, to ensure that all applicable laws are complied with in the fullest and in particular, to ensure that appropriate processes of due diligence and other

processes required under the laws of Guyana are initiated and concluded before any such transaction can be proceeded with,” the Senior Minister added.

Meanwhile, Scotia Bank said in its statement, that the transaction supports the Bank’s strategic decision to focus on operations across its footprint where it can achieve greater scale and deliver the highest value for customers. Scotia Bank’s current operations in Guyana encompass four branches and approximately 180 employees. Following closing, it informed, all (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

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Friday March 05, 2021

Budget 2021 passed four days ahead of schedule A period of five d a y s w a s allocated for the parliamentary House Committee of Supply to consider the 2021 Budget Estimates. But just mere hours later, on the third day, yesterday, the Committee was able to pass the National Budget, four days ahead of its schedule, following consistent disruptions by the A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) opposition.

Coalition disruptions The day began with coalition supporters gathering outside of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal. Those supporters called for the removal of Member of Parliament (MP), Kwame McCoy, following allegations that he had assaulted opposition MP, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.

McCoy has since denied those allegations and a complaint by Sarabo-Halley has been lodged with the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

When the Committee reconvened at 10 am

yesterday morning, Opposition MPs made it clear that in order for them to proceed with the consideration of the estimates, MP McCoy had to first be removed. Chairman of the House Committee of Supply, Manzoor Nadir indicated that the opposition would first have to submit a motion in order for that to be considered.

Displeased by that decision, the coalition opposition got up, began banging on their desks and chanted, “Kwame must go!”

Despite a number of appeals for them to stop, the Opposition continued their b e h a v i o u r, a n d N a d i r suspended those proceedings.

When the Committee reconvened almost an hour later, Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones, stood up and repeated to the Chair that their position on the removal of McCoy remained the same. Nadir reiterated that the Opposition would first have to submit a “proper motion in line with the Standing Order

for that to be considered.”

Displeased once again, all Opposition MPs, except for Deputy Speaker, Lenox Shuman, got up and began protesting while chanting, “Kwame must go!”

Mps Jones, Sherod Duncan, Amanza WaltonDesir, Jermaine Figueira, Sherwayne Holder, Natasha Singh-Lewis were all suspended from the rest of the sitting during the afternoon period after they continued to film the proceedings via mobile devices.

This was done despite Standing Order 45 prohibiting the same.

Following the suspension of the sitting, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, indicated that any delay in the enactment of the National Budget is a delay in the delivery of services to the people of Guyana.

He said that the government is concerned by the actions of the Opposition to frustrate and obstruct the

passage of the $383.1 billion Appropriation Bill, which will affect the rollout of transformative projects that directly impact the citizens of Guyana.

“I am extremely disappointed in this and I condemn it because every action that is taken and every delay in the passage of the budget result in the people being denied the benefit from the policies, programmes and initiatives that were included in the Budget,” he said.

When an hour had passed, the Committee reconvened to consider the estimates. $353.8 billion budget passed Dr. Singh had initially presented a $383.1 billion budget for 2021. However, only $353.8 billion was passed, with the remaining $29.2 billion used to service debts.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Singh had noted that much work had been put into the crafting of the Budget with major contribution from large sections of society.

With this, the Minister explained, “A lot of work went into preparation of the National Budget and this

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. work reflected the input of many, many people. It reflected the input of nongovernmental stakeholdersthe wide range of stakeholders who we consulted with and whom made contributions to the preparation of the Budget. It reflects the hard work of literally hundreds of civil servants who work in the various Ministries and in the various sectors who spent a lot of time preparing their respective Ministry or Agency Budgets, identifying projects or developing projects and initiatives for inclusion in the budget.”

The Senior Minister had

also noted that crafting of the budget involved ‘tremendous work’ by the staff of the Ministry of Finance as well as Cabinet, which led ultimately to its conclusion prior to being presented to Parliament.

He recalled that many stakeholders following consultations with government and their perusal of the budget, had stated publicly that the 2021 Budget included a wide range of initiatives intended to move forward the development agenda in Guyana and that it was expected to benefit all sections of the country.

Serial rapist for court toady Serial rapist, Thurston Semple, 37, will appear in court today for the alleged rape, sodomy and battery of a Venezuelan woman.

Kaieteur News has been told by police sources that based on advice received, Semple will be charged with rape at the Georgetown Magistrate Court, today.

Semple allegedly raped, sodomized and brutalized the woman, a sex worker, on Wednesday last at his Lot 5A, Tucville Terrace, home.

The woman had to be rescued by neighbours, who were forced to watch on as Semple dragged and battered the woman in his yard.

One neighbour had told this media house that she was alerted by the woman’s screams and had rushed out just in time to see her plunging through Semple’s window to escape him.

She was reportedly being raped and sodomized repeatedly, while being held hostage at knifepoint. The woman told Kaieteur News that she used her fists to punch through the window. Another neighbour, Guyanese cricketer, Trevon Griffith, recalled Semple beating the woman mercilessly in his yard. In fact, Griffith assisted Semple’s victim to jump over his fence to safety.

The neighbours described that she was beaten beyond recognition and kept “blacking out repeatedly.”Semple was arrested that night, but later released. He was nevertheless re-arrested after the woman decided to speak out against him. Another victim has since come forward as well, accusing Semple of abducting and brutalizing her last year. He reportedly beat her into submission and

Appearing in court today, serial rapist, Thurston Semple. forced her to endure seven hours of sexual and physical torture.

That victim has also lodged an official police report against Semple. It is unclear, however, whether he will be charged today for raping her as well. He also has three other rape matters pending before the court, but has never been convicted, and had been out on bail.

As Semple faces the magistrate today, both victims have expressed fears, that if granted bail, he might seek to target them.

Neighbours too expressed similar fears. They had told Kaieteur News that they had been living for years in fear, after helping previous rape victims. These fears were birthed, they said, after Semple would only be locked up for a few days and be released again.

One man had said, “A man like that is dangerous, cause if you report him and he comes back to live among you, he can take revenge by harming us or our children.”

Friday March 05, 2021

Kaieteur News

Marks of violence found on taxi driver’s body in Bagotstown home The dead man’s body found on his living room floor.

A

31-year-old taxi driver, was yesterday morning found dead with several marks of violence about his body in his Bagotstown home.

The father of three, Raoul Anthony Melville of Norton Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara was discovered by his 11-yearold son lying motionless on the living room floor sometime around 08:30hrs.

Kaieteur News learnt that the father of three was last seen alive sometime around 01:00am on Thursday.

Kaieteur News learnt that the man resides with his wife and two children but since Tuesday he was staying alone since his wife went to stay with a relative because one of their children was not feeling well.

When Kaieteur News contacted the family for a comment, the dead man’s mother, Anne related that sometime after 08:00hrs she received a call from her neighbour who told her that

her son can come and pick up his car because it was finish being repaired.

The now devastated mother recalled that she sent her 11-year-old grandson to go and call his father so he could collect his car.

The little boy left and a few minutes later she heard him hollering that “Tony dead and he deh on the ground”.

Anne said that right away she left what she was dong and ran to her son’s house which is located two houses away from hers.

When she reached the house she observed her son lying on the floor and his music set was playing.

The woman stated that she called out for her son (asking him “Tony what happen, what happen”.

Realizing that he was not breathing, the woman started to panic. She said she left and went to call her other son who lived just nearby and alerted him to go and check on his brother. After he left and return back, he

Father turns in escaped prisoner One of the four men that escaped from the Lethem Police Station lockup, using an underground hole that they dug, was yesterday morning handed over to the police by his father.

Clive King, his father, brought the man, 20 year-old, Clarence Rodney, of Lethem, Central Rupununi, to the police.

According to the police, after Rodney was handed over to the police, he was told of the allegation, cautioned and he responded, “I do not have nothing to say.” He was then arrested and placed into custody at the Lethem Police Station, pending charges.

Rodney and three other men escaped on February 26, between 00:05 hrs. and 07:00 hrs. The man hunt continues

for, Jack King Paul, 36, of Kwatamang Village, North R u p u n u n i ; Yo n R o g g Hernandez, 26, a Venezuelan National, called ‘John Roberts,’ of Tabatinga, Lethem and Xarlos Edwards Thomas, 18, a Venezuelan National, of Tabatinga, Lethem.

Clarence Rodney

too started hollering that Raoul is dead.

The woman said immediately she made contact with her husband who had just left. When he came, they all returned to the 31-year-old’s house after which they observed the entire house was ransacked and dismantled.

She told this publication that the net was torn down along with the curtains; the bed frame was broken down at one end. Her son was found in between the dismantled chair set lying on his back. Injuries were seen on his neck, blood was seen on his mouth and nose.

The grieving mother explained that her son’s back had a few marks and his neck bore a black and blue mark.

When asked if she knew who would want to hurt her son, the woman told Kaieteur News that she has no clue, but informed that couple days back her son had an altercation with a man about his motorcar.

The dead man’s mother told this publication that on Saturday night someone had jammed her son’s car and (Continued on page 23)

PAGE 17

No update on investigation into businessman who received COVID-19 vaccine meant for frontline health workers ....More than a week later

Twelve days following an investigation being launched by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), into a senior staff member having allegedly facilitated giving a shot of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine meant for frontline workers to a local businessman, no update has been given.

Kaieteur News had reported that the man posted a picture of himself receiving the jab via his Facebook account, which was seen by this publication. It was also revealed that a senior staff member was said to have ties with the man.

This publication had contacted the GPHC, where it was confirmed that the matter is being investigated, however, there has been no word to date. Further, the GPHC had not issued a press statement highlighting the ongoing investigation.

The Government has constantly reiterated that the first preference for vaccination is being given to frontline health workers, the elderly and persons with comorbidities.

Frontline health care workers were the first to be vaccinated upon the arrival of vaccines as they have been given priority in the current phase of the government’s immunization program.

On February 13, Guyana received its first set of COVID-19 vaccines, which came as a donation from Barbados.

The donation saw Guyana receiving 3,000

A screen capture of the businessman’s Facebook post.

doses of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine, the same brand the businessman boasted as having received on his Facebook page.

President, Irfaan Ali, had stated that of the 3,000 doses, 100 persons at the CARICOM Secretariat will benefit and the remaining will be given to frontline healthcare workers. Since the vaccine is a double dose vaccine, the businessman’s receipt of what would have been the first dose, while not qualifying under the current rollout, raises questions about the government’s security, record-keeping and verification system for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Concerns are also being raised as to the lengthy investigation process at the GPHC and if

the businessman will receive the second dose, since he has already received the first.

Additionally, when this publication contacted the GPHC it was stated that if confirmed to be true, it would be a serious infraction and the senior staff member will face the consequences.

Guyana received another batch of COVID-19 vaccines this week, this time a donation of 20,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, which came from the Chinese government.

The Health Minister, Dr. F r a n k A n t h o n y, h a s disclosed that this batch of vaccines will be used to complete the immunization of frontline health workers and next to benefit will be elderly persons, 60 years and above.

Kaieteur News Vijay’s wrecked car lying over turned in the trench, after crashing into the culvert

PAGE 18

Friday March 05, 2021

Driver dead, wife critical after car slams into culvert Dead, Vijay Jaigobin, (right) and his critically injured wife, Alicia Jaigobin (left).

A husband was killed and his wife left critical, following a car crash along the Berbice River Bridge Public Road, Region Six. Dead is Vijay Jaigobin, 33, and currently hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is his wife, Sherry Alicia Jaigobin, 30, both of Lot 2C Bath Settlement,

Passersby at the scene who stopped to assist the young couple.

West Coast Berbice (WCB).

The car crash took place around 17:45 hrs.

According to the police, Vijay was the driver of the car and heading home at the time with his wife, Alicia, in the front passenger seat.

Vijay was reportedly speeding

along the southern side of the Berbice River Bridge Road, when he lost control of the car and slammed into a culvert, located on the northern side.

As a result of the impact, the car flipped through the air and landed in the trench. Passersby stopped to help the badly injured couple, who

were trapped in the wrecked car.

They were removed from the wreckage in an unconscious state and rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

Doctors there according to the police began treating them right away.

Unfortunately, while receiving

medical attention, Vijay passed away while his wife, Alicia, was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for further treatment.

She was still unconscious at the time of preparing this report, and police have been advised that her condition was still critical.

Speaker suspends Opposition MPs The Speaker of the National Assembly was yesterday forced to suspend the Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones along with Members of Parliament (MPs) Sherod Duncan, Amanza Walton-Desir, Jermaine Figueira, Sherwayne Holder, Natasha Singh-Lewis were all suspended from the rest of the sitting during the afternoon period after they continued to film the proceedings via mobile devices. This was done despite Standing Order 45 prohibiting the same.

The Opposition MPs were also at the time calling for the removal of Government MP and Public Affairs Minister Kwame McCoy after he allegedly assaulted another MP, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, the day prior.

Just as the Budget Estimates were about to commence, Christopher Jones stood up and requested that McCoy be removed from chamber business. The Speaker, Manzoor Nadir retorted that Jones should file an appropriate motion for his request. His response

however, did not register well with the other Opposition MPs who immediately began banging on their desks in protest, shouting “Kwame must go.”

The Speaker had requested that Jones take his seat for at least three times prior before suspending Parliament.

Alleged assault The Opposition MPs protest came after reports surfaced on Wednesday of MP Tabitha Sarabo-Halley being hit in her face with a mobile phone allegedly by Minister McCoy. Claims outlined that the two had an exchange of words and McCoy confronted her on the corridors of the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) where the alleged assault was said to have occurred. Minister McCoy in a statement denied the assault allegations but he did admit to verbal altercation.

“I emphatically and completely deny that I assaulted Ms. Halley as she has alleged or at all. At no time did I touch Ms. Halley with my phone or any part of my body,” he said in a statement.

Opposition MP, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley

The Minister continued “At the time in question, outside the Parliament C h a m b e r, I h a d j u s t completed a verbal exchange with Mr. Keith Lowenfield, who attended the Committee o f S u p p l y. A f t e r M r.

Lowenfield’s departure, I began to speak with Minister Anand Persaud. I observed the presence of Ms. Halley, who was approximately four feet away from me. We exchanged words, but there was absolutely no physical contact whatsoever. Minister Persaud was present with me at all material time. Ms. Halley’s allegation is totally false, malicious and intended to cause me embarrassment and public ridicule.”

Opposition Leader

Joseph Harmon at a press conference on Wednesday evening condemned M c C o y ’s a c t i o n s a n d demanded an apology from the MP. However, he remained tight-lipped regarding the details of the allegedly assault.

According to Harmon, there were several witnesses to the alleged assault, but he declined to indicate whether the witnesses were Government or Opposition MPs or even staffers of the Parliament Office.

Harmon told the press “I don’t have to tell you who are these witnesses. They are witnesses who the police took statements from. These are people who actually saw what happened. It doesn’t matter where they are from.”

Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy

Further to that, when the media insisted on obtaining more details of the incident, the Opposition’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Imran Khan cautioned against turning the press conference “into an investigation” as that is the role of the police.

Khan told the media that, “What I find very concerning is the fact that we seem to want to execute an investigation before we do any reportage on an issue.

The facts are before you. A Member of Parliament has made an allegation that she was assaulted by another Member of Parliament. One does not need any further facts to report that in the newspaper.”

On Thursday as well,

another press conference was held, this time featuring MPs Cathy Hughes, Natasha Khan and Amanza WaltonDesir who expressed that they feel unsafe after their fellow MP was assaulted. It was said that their unsafe feeling is what prompted the Chief Whip, Christopher Jones to ask for McCoy’s removal from the House.

Meanwhile, camera footage during the period of the alleged assault has proven unreliable.

According to the Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, the footage that was reviewed in his presence and that of other Opposition MPs revealed no indication of physical assault. The police will now have to rely on eyewitness accounts of the alleged assault to complete their investigations.

Statements have emerged from coalition parties, Working People’s A l l i a n c e ( W PA ) , t h e Alliance For Change (AFC), Volda Lawrence, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), and separately from the PNCR itself c o n d e m n i n g M c C o y ’s alleged actions.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 05, 2021

PAGE 19

Foreign Minister updates U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary on Venezuela’s latest act of aggression Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, indicated to the media last night that he met virtually with Acting Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of We s t e r n H e m i s p h e r e Affairs of the United States of America, Julie Chung.

Kaieteur News understands that among the areas of mutual interest they discussed, include r e g i o n a l s t a b i l i t y, d e m o c r a c y, a n d t h e enhancement of bilateral relations through economic and security cooperation.

Minister Todd said he conveyed his gratitude for the continued support Guyana receives from the

United States on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy. The Minister said too, that he informed the official of the recent actions of Venezuela, including the incursion into Guyana’s airspace, which resulted in the issuance of a protest note.

The Minister said that Chung conveyed her optimism for relations between Guyana and the U.S while adding that Ms. Chung was keen to note that the Biden Administration is focused on democracy, values, human rights, among other commonalities it shares with Guyana.

This publication

understands that the Foreign Minister and Acting Assistant Secretary noted that agreements inked during the high-level visit of former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and the recent visit of U.S. Southern Command Admiral Craig Faller have helped to advance economic and security cooperation between Guyana and the U.S. These, along with continued engagements with U.S. Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, further demonstrate the shared values of the two countries, the Minister said.

Additionally, Kaieteur News understands that

both parties discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the region and exchanged views on innovative and collaborative methods to stimulate recovery through private-sector investment and the strengthening of institutions. They also mentioned the ongoing

migrant situation and Guyana’s humanitarian response through the recent resuscitation of the M u l t i - a g e n c y Coordinating Committee for Addressing the Influx of Venezuelan Migrants and ongoing collaboration with international partners.

Minister Todd during the virtual meeting with Acting Assistant Secretary, Julie Chung.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Friday March 05, 2021

Friday March 05, 2021

Kaieteur News

Venezuela says aerial patrol is issues statement in support ‘normal’ - GGDMA of Guyana’s territorial integrity Venezuela has called its aerial patrol over Guyana’s airspace on Tuesday, normal.

At least this is what the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry related in a press statement it released yesterday.

According to that statement, Venezuela accuses Guyana of intending to generate false versions about “its regular patrolling operations of the Venezuelan borders.”

Venezuela added that such “regular patrols” carried out by its armed forces, is strictly limited to noncontroversial Venezuelan territory.

On Wednesday, videos surfaced of a fighter jet darting through the skies just over the Eteringbang airstrip.

Eteringbang is a community located along the Cuyuni River, Region Seven, which borders San Martin de Turumbang, a Venezuelan community, which sits on opposite end of the river.

The Guyana Foreign Affairs Ministry in a subsequent release that same day, detailed that the jet was one of two Venezuelan army’s Sukhoi SU 30 fighter jets that flew over Eteringbang and its airstrip at around 13:20 hrs. on Tuesday.

Residents of Eteringbang had confirmed too that the jets did fly over their community and circled once before heading away towards Venezuela.

Guyana has since moved to describe the flights over its airspace as the latest act of aggression by the Venezuelan armed forces. Through its Foreign Affairs Ministry, Guyana labelled the move as a clear indication that Venezuela is prepared to use aggression and intimidation to accomplish what cannot be accomplished by legal means – the surrender by Guyana.

Venezuela however, has chosen to accuse Guyana of running a false victimization campaign before the international community. Its Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that Guyana’s claim of Venezuelan fighter jets flying over its air space is unfounded and is only “based on videos published on social networks, without providing the precise and georeferenced location of the area in question.”

Hence, stated, the

A fighter jet, which flew over Guyana’s airspace on Tuesday.

Ve n e z u e l a n M i n i s t r y, “Guyana is trying to manipulate the reality with the intention to feed a negative matrix against Venezuela in relation to the territorial controversy over the Essequibo.”

Despite, stating that Guyana’s claims of fighter jets flying over its airspace was unfounded, the Venezuelan ministry saw it fit to mention in its statement that, “since there is a controversy over the Essequibo, neither Guyana or Venezuela can refer to this territory as its own or under its sovereignty and jurisdiction.”

This Venezuela stated, is supported by Article 5 of the 1966 Geneva Agreement. The Geneva Agreement was one that the two countries signed; agreeing that only the United Nations (UN) can solve the Essequibo controversy.

It is quite evident; however, that Venezuela itself has failed to honour this agreement. It was UN Secretary General, who had advised that the matter be brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

On December 18, the ICJ ruled that has jurisdiction to hear the case. Guyana’s argument is that it has sovereign rights over the coast and land territory because it was awarded to the then British Guiana in the 1899 Arbitral Award.

Venezuela on the other hand, has refused to participate in the proceedings and has openly rejected the ICJ’s decision.

In fact, since the court’s r u l i n g , t h e Ve n e z u e l a n President, Nicholas Maduro Morro, has been on the offensive against Guyana. He has made aggressive statements and

moves, while publicly claiming that Essequibo belongs to his country.

M o r e o v e r, on Thursday, Kaieteur News reported as its lead story that a high-ranking Ve n e z u e l a n o ff i c i a l , Herman Escarra, has proposed to include the Essequibo in its constitution. It was also pointed in the report that Ve n e z u e l a i n t e n d s t o conduct military activity in the Essequibo.

It seems as if the fighter jets flights over Guyana’s airspace might just be part of Venezuela’s most recent plan to carry out military operations in the controversial territory.

Meanwhile, as tensions between the two countries continue over the Essequibo, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) has come forward to condemn the recent invasion of Guyana’s air space by the Venezuelan armed forces.

GGDMA in a statement it sent out yesterday described the move as an act of intimidation by Venezuela and its flagrant disregard for international law and Guyana.

It stated too that all miners agree that the Essequibo rightfully belongs to Guyana and that it is presumptuous of Venezuela to baselessly claim exclusive sovereign rights over the territory.

The recent incursion by Venezuela into Guyana stated GGDMA clearly threatens the investments of miners and further create a climate of uncertainty, which is undesirable. It went on to mention that the thousands of miners it represents deprecate any actions, which will lead to a breach of the peace and loss of their livelihoods.

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

Friday March 05, 2021

Kaieteur News

Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll surpasses 200 benchmark VACANCY One clerk for Eccles office English & mathematics, grade 1 & 2 Email application to techserigy@yahoo.com SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#630-1600.

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From page 15 employees would continue to support the business.

First Citizens is one of the leading financial services group in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago, First Citizens offers a full range of retail, corporate and investment banking services, as well as wealth management, trustee and brokerage ser-

vices to clients through its operations in Barbados, Costa Rica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

The transaction, Scotia Bank said, supports First Citizens strategic growth across the region and leverages its strengths in innovation and excellence to the benefit of all stakeholders.

Until regulatory approvals are obtained and the trans-

action closes, the Scotia Bank statement assured that operations in Guyana would continue as usual.

In the meantime, it noted that First Citizens and Scotia Bank will work together to facilitate a smooth transition for the business.

A point to note though is that this is Scotia Bank’s second attempt in recent times to sell off its operations.

...Draft Local Content Policy has room government. So you can have all these bodies but if they are all filled with friends of the president then it is not going to be very effective.”

Deakin stressed that for local content regulation to be

efficient, it must be done by an independent body.

The analyst added that the regulator or anyone part of that group should have no connection to the government.

...ERC Commissioner recommends

2 Lorry drivers 3 porters Contact 626-4691/ 627-1835

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From page 3 opportunities for political coercion. It is a positive sign to have several checks and balances and we have seen that work in other countries but…it is still connected to

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VACANCY

Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll has surpassed the 200 benchmark following a new fatality being reported by the Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday.

The MOH in its press release stated that the deceased is a 62-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) who died while receiving treatment at their medical facility and has been recorded as the country’s 200th COVID-19 fatality.

Notably, in slightly over two months (January-March) Guyana has recorded 36 COVID-19 deaths, with at least three deaths being recorded each week. Most of the deaths have been elderly persons.

Further, a large number of the deaths originated from Region Four.

The MOH also reported 51 new infections via its daily dashboard update yesterday, increasing the case toll to 8,699.

The dashboard shows that seven patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, another 13 in institutional quarantine, 36 in institutional isolation and 383 in home isolation.

Additionally, a total of 8,074 persons have recovered to date with 31 new recoveries recorded yesterday.

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From page 12 in those positions, as we have seen in the past leadership of the ERC as it is today.”

With the expiration of the current ERC set for April 2, 2021, a new commission will require reconstitution by the Parliament and Khan is ap-

pealing to them for the oneweek induction training and proper vetting.

He added that the training team could comprise persons from the Attorney General Chambers, professional human resources specialists, a retired judge or a retired Chancellor.

The Commissioner also stressed the need to select persons that are not technically barred and are not constituent based, meaning that they will show national interest rather than prioritize those in their particular ethnic groups or religious bodies.

Friday March 05, 2021

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Doctor and two nurses suspended in Williamsburg’s mother and baby death - Minister of Health - other actions to be taken Malisa Playter-Harry Following an investigation conducted by the Ministry of Health, Maternal Review Committee, on the death of Venesha Lewis called Vanessa and her baby during delivery, a doctor and two nurses have been suspended with immediate effect. The Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, revealed this during his daily COVID19 update with DPI yesterday.

The Minister disclosed that the committee, which conducted the probe at the New Amsterdam Hospital, was able to interview “everyone who was connected with the challenges we had there” and a report was prepared and submitted to him. It was, based on the findings of the report, and recommendations from the committee, that the doctor who was in charge of Lewis during her labour and delivery was found to be negligent in executing his/her duties. He added that two nurses were also found to be negligent, and as such, he has taken immediate steps to suspend the medical professionals.

“Based on the report, we strongly believe the doctor who (oversaw) the patient seems to be negligent. The nurses were also negligent. I am taking immediate steps to suspend doctor and two nurses, and we will have some follow up actions we will announce later,” Minister Anthony said.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, David Armogan, during the monthly statutory meeting yesterday at the Regional Democratic Council, stated that the issue has garnered the attention of H.E, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and “all the levels coming down” and because of the nature of how Lewis and her baby died, there were “serious reactions by members of the public and the relatives.” He stressed that a mother and her child were lost, and she leaves behind three other children, “so it is not an easy situation for them, and we have to give them as much support as possible in these circumstances.”

Armogan pointed out that once the evidence shows that

persons did not execute their duties in the way they should have and if there has been any misconduct, those persons ought to be dealt with. He posited that more attention should be paid to cases such as Lewis’ because “time is very important when it comes to these cases and if you allow a lot of time to pass before you deal with these cases you put people at risk.”

He further divulged that since the story went viral, the maternity ward has become “empty because people lost confidence in the maternity section.” Armogan said, because of that, those who were preparing to deliver their newborn babies “they went away, they picked their bags up and walked and sometimes you can’t blame them because they are scared.”

The Regional Chairman believes that “we really need to put our house in order” and pointed out that he will not be covering up for anyone or any system but rather a mandate should be set so that what occurred with Lewis and her baby “does not repeat.”

He revealed that President Ali has appointed several persons to various regions who will now be visiting all hospitals and health centres to ensure that they are functioning the way it should be.

“I am not saying that all is lost, but this is a situation that we did not want to happen at all, I don’t know if it could have been avoided, but if it could have, then it should have been avoided,” he underscored.

Additionally, as it relates to drugs and medical supplies at hospitals, Armogan stated that President Ali has gotten involved and that “from now there will be a very serious improvement with the drug situation.

Everyone understands the problem and now we are addressing the problem in a holistic way, things will definitely improve.” He expressed his sympathy to the Lewis’ family on behalf of himself and the RDC and noted that the family has been very receptive towards them but has asked for justice to be served “and that is what we have to make sure.”

...Marks of violence found on From page 17 had agreed to get it repaired.

On Tuesday when she and her husband were going out, she said that he stop and told her that he went to the man to collect the money so he could repair his vehicle, he claimed that the man ran him with a cutlass and refused to pay him the money. Anne said that her son never told her who this man was. Police reports stated that the house bare no

sign of forced entry.

Melville’s body was removed and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where it was pronounced dead by a doctor and taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour where it is awaiting a post mortem examination. An investigation has since been launched. Raoul leaves to mourn his wife, two sons and daughter, and other relatives.

Meanwhile a Postmortem Examination conducted on the body of Venesha Lewis called Vanessa, revealed that she died from Hypovolemic Shock compounded by abdominal and pelvic hemorrhage, acute lung failure and brain edema with cerebellum herniation.

It was revealed through the autopsy result, that Lewis lost a considerable amount of blood and lacked oxygen and those issues resulted in several other complications during surgery at the New Amsterdam Hospital that ultimately led to her death.

The autopsy was conducted

by Government Pathologist, Nehaul Singh, upon the request of relatives, and was done at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Wednesday. Her baby, who

died during delivery at the New Amsterdam Hospital, hours before she succumbed, died from a deficiency of Vitamin K according to the autopsy report. The disease itself causes bleeding in a newborn baby but can be prevented by administering a dose of the Vitamin K one hour prior to delivery or within one hour of delivery; an uncle said their doctor advised.

Joseph Lewis, who has been very supportive of the family during this difficult time had said that they have sought the advice of their own doctor, who revealed to them that Venesha’s bladder was cut during surgery at the NA Hospital in Berbice and that the medical professionals who operated on her attempted to “suture it up back.”

Venesha Lewis called Vanessa, 32, of Lot 19, 3rd Street, Williamsburg, and her stillborn baby died after complications experienced at the New Amsterdam Hospital on Friday last.

Her baby died during delivery at the New Amsterdam Hospital but Venesha Lewis experienced several complications and was sent off to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she later succumbed.

The Lewis family is of the firm belief that while the medical professionals have been penalized, the Regional Health Officer for Region Six should also be held accountable. The family is still pursuing the option of having private autopsies done on Venesha and her baby.

Deceased mother, Venesha Lewis

Kaieteur News

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Friday March 05, 2021

President Ali outlines strategy to strengthen, reconstruct and rebrand GPF The Guyana Police Force (GPF) Officers’ Conference yesterday commenced with the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, outlining his strategy to strengthen, reconstruct and rebrand the force.

The opening ceremony for the three-day event was held at the National Cultural Centre, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

In attendance at the ceremony w a s P r i m e M i n i s t e r, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Philips; Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Yonette CummingsEdwards; Director of Prison Service (ag), Nicklon Elliott; Chief Fire Officer (ag), Kalamadeen Edoo; and other prestigious guests, as well as senior and junior members of the GPF. The theme for this year’s conference is, “Enhancing professionalism, Police Community Relations and Confidence through continuous Security Sector Reform and Partnership.”

The ceremony was hosted by Senior Superintendent, Calvin Brutus.

In his address, President Ali outlined his strategy to improve the GPF’s response to crime and highlighted that the force should build its capacity and improve its relations with society. He said, “I would like to share my views, on some things that are critical and essential, in ensuring the success of the force and the safety and security of the people of Guyana.”

The President stated that “The first thing we need to do is to understand where we are as against where we ought to be.”

“You can have the most advancement and modernization of the legal

system, but if you don’t have the corresponding development of the security sector, the police that administers a lot that happens in the legal system, then you will have a gap and the system looks sluggish where the law is far way more advanced than where we are operating and that brings a negative perception,” Ali said.

The President charged the officers to identify the gaps internally and externally.

He then highlighted factors that he thinks contribute to the gap within the force, he said, “Whether it is a skills gap, the gap of professionalism, the gap of attitude, the gap of resources, the gap of commitment or the gap of loyalty. We first examine that gap and then we have to look external to the force.”

According to President Ali, the police also needs to examine the external factors that are contributing to the gap, he stated, “societal behaviour, changes in community, conditions of work, bilateral arrangements, agreements with bilateral partners, changes in the international environment and changes in the nature of crime.”

Ali stated that in identifying the gap in the system, an assessment of the capability, weaknesses, strength, the opportunities, the direction the country and force is going and the requirements of the future demands of the force, must be conducted.

“Guyana’s future is going to change, are we preparing ourselves for that change, or are we transiting in a normal pace to what the future requires us to be?. If we are doing that we are marking time,” the President added.

He then stated that the first aspect of our work is repositioning in the environment that we operate, and that would lead to the restructuring of how the force operates.

He then listed several points to not only strengthen the force but to build regional capacity to increase the GPF response to crime.

As the GPF continue its annual officer’s conference, the event will conclude tomorrow.

President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

Friday March 05, 2021

...‘The show has to go on’ - JFF boss Ricketts cautions From page 29 however, warned that some players run the risk of being left out of the programme if no agreement can be reached in time.

“I want to say that if a player insists that he is not signing for what we can afford to pay, then we are not going to hold anything against that player or particular players but the show has to go on, and if there are players willing to play and some who are not willing to play then we will have to go with those who are willing to play,” Ricketts said.

‘More can be done to find funds for Reggae Boyz’ Jamaica goalkeeper Blake wants JFF to do better job Jamaica Reggae Boyz shot-stopper, Andre Blake,

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Kaieteur News

believes a lot more can be done by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to secure the funding necessary to meet or at least go close to the wage demands of the national players.

With the time running out for the deadline to sign contractual obligations, the parties remain far apart in terms of wage demands put forward. The Reggae Boyz have asked for US$7000 ($1,050,895) per player, per match for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The JFF has insisted that, due to financial constraints, US$ US$2000 ($300,256) is the highest that they are able to offer.

“I think that there can be a lot more marketing done to get sponsors on board and

Andre Blake (SportsMax) there are a lot more ways that funds can come in to compensate the players,” Blake told the SportsMax Zone.

“I think that there’s a lot more that can be done. I

Friday March 05, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Don't be surprised if the oldfashioned, practical solution doesn't make the grade today. Probably the new devices and special electronic shortcuts will be the most impressive thing going.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You may be able to zip through chores like lightning today, Taurus. There's an added swiftness to your step that helps in every one of your endeavors.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're likely to go to extremes today on many levels. The problem is that you may encounter opposition everywhere you turn.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Grab hold of the day's boisterous energy and run with it. This is a good time to kick up your heels and have fun.

You might find that people are a bit more high-strung than usual, so you may need to use your ability to go with the flow.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You might be frustrated by the fact that people are doing things hastily today.

You might have to accept the fast-paced energy of the day just so you can keep up.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) People may come into conflict with you today. More than likely, the issue at hand will have to do with others being a bit too focused on themselves, while you're more concerned with the collective.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Jump-start the day with a smile, Libra. Your generosity and sincerity won't go unnoticed on a day like this. People will probably need more attention than usual, so take the time to attend to the emotions of those you love SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There could be an unexpected tension coming out of nowhere today, Scorpio.

More than likely your emotions will be running at a high level.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your slow and steady approach might be met with a bit of opposition today.

People could be demanding of your time and energy.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) This is a terrific day for you, Capricorn, and you will find that the fast pace of the day suits you well for what you need to get done.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Do your best to keep up today, Aquarius. Things might move quickly. You may be raising your hand and waiting politely for someone to call on you.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) This is a good time to take control of the situation, Pisces. You've done your preparation and now it's time to put it to good use.

You're about to face your enemy eye to eye. Have confidence in your training.

don’t think there’s enough being done. It’s almost like I am asking someone to come and work for me and that person must figure out how they are going to get paid or how I am going to pay them.

Our job is to come and play not to worry about how we are going to get paid. The JFF has a job and they must do their job,” he added.

With a 22-man squad, the players’ current demands could see the federation spend US$2,156,000 ($323,675,752) on wages for the 14-match World Cup qualification round.

...South American From page 27 in March 2022, there is limited space for the games.

“It is difficult to postpone the FIFA dates, there is no space, you cannot tighten the qualifiers,” Ecuador FA president Francisco Egas told his local station Radio La Red. “There is strong pressure from European clubs not to give up their players for the qualifiers. FIFA must be in the middle to help get an understanding,” he added. However, FIFA has limited influence. Quarantine rules are set by national governments.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has struck a similar tone to Klopp.

“We’ve not sat down and made a proper call on that one, but it doesn’t make sense if you lose your player for 10 days of isolation, of course it doesn’t,” Solskjaer said on Wednesday.

Solskjaer’s squad includes Brazilians Fred and Alex Telles along with Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani. “We’re the ones paying the players, and from what I understand FIFA have given the rules that they don’t have to be released. So I would think that’s going to be a hard call to make to let them go and play in redlist countries, yeah.”

One option could be to play the games just before the June 11 start to the Copa America. One source indicated CONMEBOL may ask FIFA to create a special extra “window” for rearranged games.

...Soca Warriors to play 2 From page 26 weeks. So we have decided, through Terry Fenwick and me, to invite the national team to come to Tobago through the Orange Group of Companies, and what we have done is to put together a two-day programme, a training camp, and invite the local players of Tobago to get that opportunity to showcase their talent and get a possible opportunity to join the national team and probably play at the highest level.”

Though the names of no player from the sister-isle were given, the Tobago players have been in a live-in camp in preparation for the match. Joseph said he believes the game will help in planting seeds that will produce fruit for the people of Tobago and the twin-island Republic as a whole.

Fenwick’s men have been hard at training in preparation for the FIFA

World Cup Qualifiers which will begin with an opening encounter against Guyana on March 25 in the Dominican Republic.

The match was expected to be the country’s home match but the government, through the Ministry of Health and its Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram, blanked a proposed football bubble to host the match.

Fenwick’s men will play out of Group F of the qualifiers with only the top team advancing to the second round.

The other countries in the group are Puerto Rico, St Kitts/Nevis and the Bahamas.

Following the team’s opening match against Guyana, the Soca Warriors will be away to Puerto Rico (March 28) in their next encounter; away to the Bahamas (June 5), and home to St Kitts and Nevis (June 8).

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 05, 2021

India v England: Hosts on top

in final Test in Ahmedabad Virat Kohli and Ben Stokes exchanged words at the beginning of Stokes’ innings. (Getty Images)

BBCsport - England’s batsmen failed again on the first day of the final Test against India in Ahmedabad.

On a blameless pitch, entirely different from the third-Test surface that made run-scoring so difficult, England were bundled out for 205 after winning the toss.

Ben Stokes made 55 and the recalled Dan Lawrence 46, but the tourists fluctuated between repeating old mistakes and reckless overaggression. India were excellent with the ball, leftarm spinner Axar Patel once more at the fore with 4-68.

The home side lost Shubman Gill to the second ball of their reply, only for Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara to guide them to 24-1 at the close.

With India holding a 2-1

series lead, avoiding defeat will see them extend an unbeaten home record that stretches back to 2012 and also book a World Test Championship final against New Zealand.

England’s victory in the first Test had been rendered a distant memory by their batting failures against the India spinners in the next two - particularly the third, a 10wicket defeat on a snakepit of a pitch at the same Ahmedabad ground.

Expecting more of the same, England bolstered their batting and spin bowling by including Lawrence and Dom Bess at the expense of pace bowlers Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer, who was later confirmed to have been ruled out with a recurrence of his elbow problem.

For their approach to work, England ideally needed to bat into the second day, allowing the pitch to deteriorate in order to provide greater assistance to their spin-heavy attack.

Captain Joe Root called on his batsmen to be “full of confidence” and to play in a “controlled but fearless” manner. Instead, some carried their scars into this final Test, while others took the fight too far.

India’s first innings will provide context to England’s effort. It could be that the tourists have enough runs to be competitive and they should have the advantage of bowling last. However, the early signs from the pitch are that India will have the opportunity to bat themselves to a series victory.

Pollard hails experience in opening T20 win - vows to ‘work out kinks’ for Windies moving forward - 2nd T20I on today SportsMax - West Indies T20 captain, Kieron Pollard, hailed the role of the team’s experienced players in a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka, in the opening game of the three-match series on Wednesday.

In the end, the West Indies coasted to the line, in fairly comfortable fashion, with some 41 balls left, but at times the result had not always seemed like a foregone conclusion. With the ball, the team put in a dominant performance and restricted Sri Lanka to 131 for 9 at the end of 20 overs.

In response, things also got off to a flyer with openers Evin Lewis (28) and Lendl Simmons (18) putting on 52 for the first wicket.

However, following the dismissal of Lewis, by Akila

Dananjaya, in the third over, the team found itself in a real instance of concern with a flurry of lost wickets.

Dananjaya took a sensational hat-trick removing big hitters Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran for ducks.

Simmons departed the very next over to leave the West Indies struggling at 62 for 4. A captain’s innings from Pollard (38), which included a savage 6 sixes off Dananjaya, however, went a long way to restoring the situation. Jason Holder, who added a resilient, unbeaten 29 from 24 balls, safely carried the team over the line f o l l o w i n g P o l l a r d ’s dismissal.

“The objective was to win the game and we did that, obviously there’s a couple of kinks to iron out,

we have not played T20 cricket in a while. We had a couple of guys coming back into the set-up as well so we’ll take the win and have discussions about how we want to continue playing,” Pollard said.

“In terms of the batting collapse we have had, we have seen that but what is good is that this time around we got over the line with the experienced guys like Jason, using all his Test experience, Bravo using his experience as well. Having said that, well done to the openers for the start that they gave us, so we were able to cruise on the back end.”

The second match of the T20I series is set for today at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Coolidge from 18:00hrs.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 05, 2021

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Football thriving on windy, Covid-free Heligoland

F

IFA - Ask people what they most associate with the North Sea islands of Heligoland, and they will probably tell you high winds, red sandstone, the Lange Anna sea stack, unique birdlife or day trips to beaches teeming with seals.

Football would not be top of the list. Indeed, you could be excused for asking if the beautiful game is even played on Heligoland.

But football has penetrated some of the remotest places on earth, so it is perhaps inevitable that it found a home here. And with the archipelago belonging to football-loving Germany, it can boast a traditional multiteam club, VfL Fosite Helgoland, dating back to the late 19th century.

Moreover, the club has some 500 members, a hugely impressive number given that the total population is only 1500. Close to the main island’s northern beach, not far from the youth hostel, you can find Heligoland’s

football pitch – undoubtedly one of the most picturesque in all of Germany.

The artificial turf may need special care due to the harsh climate, but the ground is open to both visitors and locals, putting it in frequent use. Heligoland also hosts its own marathon, which usually involves five laps of an 8.4 km circuit that goes right around the main island.

Although Fosite is a member of the German Football Federation and could theoretically take part in national club competitions, its isolated location makes this unfeasible.

With the mainland a good two hours away by f e r r y, f i x t u r e s w o u l d invariably require an overnight stay for the islanders or visiting teams, which would simply be too big an expense for an amateur outfit.

“We’re therefore limited to playing friendlies,” Fosite’s chairman Oke Zastrow told FIFA.com. “On

the whole, it’s been a serious challenge to put together our teams in recent years. We often have to mix the teams or field a combination of men and women, typically ranging in age from 18 to 40 – though sometimes quite a bit older.”

As many a small-town club with populations like Heligoland will attest, working with a small pool of players presents its problems. Yet despite this, the islanders still cherish their football. “Adults train on an ad-hoc basis, usually once a week and arranged by mobile phone.

Then there are two youth sides, one for younger children and one for older kids and adolescents. They train regularly on Fridays,” Zastrow said. There are around ten friendlies per year for the adult players.

“We used to have cup games here and were virtually invincible because of the winds.

Well, that was the myth that was doing the rounds for

© Others

a while anyway,” the chairman explained.

“For friendlies, we admit to prospective opponents that we’re not the strongest, but teams visiting from the mainland don’t mind that.”

In normal times, there are always requests for training camps on the island, with even the Cuba national team once enquiring about the

possibility. Around 1970, Uwe Seeler, a runner-up at the 1966 FIFA World Cup™, played on Heligoland with Bundesliga stalwarts Hamburger on Fosite’s old cinder pitch – an occasion still fondly remembered by the club.

Currently, Heligoland is even a Covid-free thanks to strict entry and quarantine

South American World Cup qualifiers in doubt as clubs take hard line Reuters - This month’s World Cup qualifiers in South America are in serious doubt, with European clubs unlikely to release their players to travel amid concern over the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine restrictions.

Wo r l d s o c c e r ’s governing body FIFA has relaxed its normal rules about player-release for internationals because of the pandemic and worries about the impact of long-distance travel to areas with high case-rates. Clubs are expected to keep their players at home.

All 10 South American countries feature on the UK government’s “red list” travel ban, which does not include exemptions for athletes and sports people.

Any UK-based players who played in the games would face 10 days in hotel quarantine on return.

That in itself makes it difficult for clubs to consider agreeing to CONMEBOL’s requests. “I think everybody agrees — we can’t let the players go and play for their country and then quarantine for 10 days in a hotel. That’s not how we can do it,” said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, whose team includes Brazilian trio Alisson

Colombia vs Uruguay

Temba Bavuma has played 44 Tests, six ODIs and eight T20s for South Africa

B e c k e r, F a b i n h o a n d Roberto Firmino.

South American c o n f e d e r a t i o n CONMEBOL, which organises the qualifiers in the region for the 2022 World Cup, wants clubs to release their players for the March 25 and 30 games, but it is running out of options.

CONMEBOL said its council will meet on Friday to discuss the situation and added that it is in contact with FIFA as it searches for a solution. FIFA said it has yet to make any demands on CONMEBOL. “FIFA is in ongoing contact with all the confederations and the Member Associations on this matter. We are working and

monitoring the situation together and FIFA hasn’t made any specific request at this stage. Further information will be provided in due course,” said the Zurich based body.

CONMEBOL is reluctant to play the games without European-based players and has not considered moving the fixtures to “bubbles” in Europe. It faces a scheduling problem, however as their continental championship, Copa America, is set for June in Argentina and Colombia.

LIMITED SPACE With 14 rounds of matches still to be completed in the World Cup qualifying process, which is due to end (Continued on page 25)

BBCsport - Temba Bavuma has become the first black African to permanently captain a South Africa side after being appointed their l i m i t e d - o v e r s s k i p p e r.

Batsman Bavuma, 30, will lead the Proteas in the next two Twenty20 World Cups, later this year and in 2022 and the next 50-over World Cup in 2023.

Opener Dean Elgar, 33, has been named Test captain for the next cycle of the World Test Championship.

“This is one of the greatest honours of my life,” said Bavuma. “Captaining the Proteas has been a dream of mine for many years as those closest to me know.”

Bavuma and Elgar replace wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who had held the T20 and one-day international captaincy roles since last January and was named temporary Test

rules. “In this crazy time, it’s a real privilege to live here. It feels like we’re in a fortress and that the whole pandemic has sort of passed us by,” said Mayor Jorg Singer. It is fair to say then that, while football is an established part of life on the islands, the Coronavirus is most certainly not. And long may it continue that way.

South Africa appoint Temba Bavuma as first black African captain to lead limited-overs sides as Dean Elgar named Test skipper

skipper in December.

De Kock had taken over all three roles from Faf du Plessis, who retired from Test cricket last month and said he will now focus on T20s. Mixed-race players Ashwell Prince, JP Duminy and Justin Ontong have previously captained a South Africa cricket side on a temporary basis. Hashim Amla, the first Asian to play for South Africa, has also captained his country in matches in all three formats.

Prince was the first mixed-race player to captain South Africa when he led them for two Tests in Sri Lanka in 2006, while Graeme Smith was injured.

Bavuma became the first black African to score a Test century for South Africa, against England in Cape Town in 2016.

“The responsibility of captaining one’s country is

not one I take lightly, and I am looking forward to this new challenge and journey with Dean in the Test cricket format, as well as leading the team to not just one, but three World Cups in the very near future,” he added.

Elgar, who has 67 Test caps, previously captained the Test side twice when Du Plessis was unavailable.

“I’ve always said that to captain your country in any form of the game is the biggest honour that a player can be fortunate to receive,” he said.

“To captain my country’s Test team, which I believe to be the pinnacle of the game, is the biggest highlight of my career and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent my country in such an important way.” South Africa are currently ranked sixth in Test cricket and fifth in both ODIs and T20s.

Kaieteur News

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Friday March 05, 2021

NBA: James Harden shines as Brooklyn Nets win at Houston Rockets

B

BCsport - James Harden returned to former team the Houston Rockets and put on a stellar display to help the highflying Brooklyn Nets to a 132-114 victory.

Harden, who left Houston in January, served up 29 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds to complete his eighth triple-double of the season. “Once I get on that court, it’s just trying to win,” said Harden.

“I wasn’t trying to show off, wasn’t trying to do anything out of the ordinary that I hadn’t been doing.”

H a r d e n ’s c o n t r i b u t i o n helped earn the Nets a 10th win in 11 outings and leaves them second in the Eastern Conference behind the Philadelphia 76ers.

Joel Embiid scored 40 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to carry the 76ers past the Utah Jazz 131-123 in overtime on Wednesday - his

fifth 40-point haul of the season. “We’re playing good basketball. But there’s a great team in us,” said 76ers coach Doc Rivers after his players beat the team top of the standings in the Western Conference.

The Los Angeles Lakers - without the injured Anthony Davis and LeBron James - lost 123-120 to the Sacramento Kings, a the seventh loss in 10 matches.

Buddy Hield registered 29 points for the Kings, who moved 12th in the Western Conference, eight places below the Lakers.

Elsewhere, the Minnesota Timberwolves remain bottom of the Western standings after losing for the ninth game in a row. Terry Rozier’s 31 points inspired the Charlotte Hornets to a comprehensive 135-102 win.

Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr stepped up for the Dallas Mavericks in

the absence of the injured Luka Doncic by netting 19 points each in a low-scoring 87-78 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Zach LaVine scored 36 points as the visiting Chicago Bulls held off a New Orleans Pelicans fourth-quarter comeback in a 128-124 victory.

“There’s a lot of things we have to do better,” said Bulls coach Billy Donovan after the Pelicans’ late rally.

“This group, as young as they are, need to learn how to close games better than that.

There are certainly things we can clean up and do better.”Trae Young scored 32 points and made two winning free throws with eight seconds remaining to give the visiting Atlanta Hawks a 115-112 win over the Orlando Magic. Damian Lillard’s 29-foot threepointer with 14 seconds remaining helped the Portland Trail Blazers beat

James Harden has been in superb form since joining Brooklyn Nets in January.

the Golden State Warriors 108-106, while an injury-hit Detroit Pistons ended a three-game losing streak with a 129-105 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Mason Plumlee had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and Dennis Smith Jr

had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists - only the second time in team history that two players recorded triple-doubles in a single game.

“That was really special.

It was an excellent team win,” said Pistons coach

Dwane Casey.

“I didn’t think we had a snowball’s chance with all our guys out.” Elsewhere, TJ McConnell set an NBA record with nine steals in the first half as the Indiana Pacers won 114-111 at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

PSL 2021 postponed after more players test positive for Covid-19

The captains of PSL 2021 teams with the trophy. (Twitter/PSL)

E

SPNcricinfo The remainder of t h e 2 0 2 1 Pakistan Super League has been postponed, following news on Thursday morning that three more players had tested positive for Covid-19.

The decision was taken after an emergency meeting between the PCB and the franchises.

The three new cases on

Thursday brought the tally of total positives in the tournament bubble to seven, of which six were players.

The PCB said that the decision to postpone was taken “following a meeting with the team owners and considering the health and well-being of all participants”.

The board’s immediate next step is to focus on the

“safe and secure passage of all participants, and arrange repeat PCR tests, vaccines and isolation facilities to the six participating sides”.

Fourteen out of the scheduled 34 matches in the tournament have been completed.

The PCB had said the three most-recent cases are from two different teams.

They were tested on

Wednesday afternoon after reporting symptoms. The board said the new cases were not from any of the teams who played in Wednesday’s double-header matches, which rules out players from Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Sultans or Quetta Gladiators.

The first case reported by the PCB was on March 1, when Islamabad United’s

Australian legspinner Fawad Ahmed tested positive for the virus hours before the 12th match of the season.

The following day, the PCB said that two more overseas players, along with one local support-staff member - Kamran Khan of Kings - had tested positive. It was later revealed by Gladiators’ Tom Banton on his Twitter handle that he

was one of those who were among the positive cases.

Before the postponement was announced, the PCB was considering cancelling the Lahore leg of the season and playing all the matches in Karachi.

The PCB had also offered every member of the PSL bubble Covid-19 vaccine shots if they wish to take them.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 05, 2021

PAGE 29

Guyana’s basketball gem Victor “Fringe players can now announces retirement stake claim” - Mike Singh Ray Victor, at just 33years-old, during an exclusive interview with Kaieteur Sport, has revealed that he plans to call it a day on his playing career for the Golden Arrowhead. The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and the local basketball community has been rocked by this news because of how pivotal a player Victor has been for the national men’s side.

He was one of the more influential players during Guyana’s first Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship win in 2018 in Suriname after cashing in on a couple manof-the-match performances.

In addition, during Guyana’s last series against Grenada in December 2019 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Victor was the

MVP of the three-game series which Guyana swept.

The BVI based shooting guard (SG) has described his decision as saddening especially since the GABF had contacted him to join the local training squad ahead of n e x t m o n t h ’s F I B A Basketball World Cup 2023 Pre-Qualifiers in El Salvador.

Vi c t o r s h a r e d w i t h Kaieteur Sport that, “It came with great sadness due to family and Covid-19 restrictions. It was a personal decision and still I would like to thank Guyana for the time invested in me but I won’t be making the trip this year.

I’ve spoken to GABF and expressed my thoughts and mental state and basketball is not priority at this point. I know everyone

‘The show has to go on’ - JFF boss Ricketts cautions players not willing to accept what federation can afford risk being left out

Michael Ricketts - JFF President (SportsMax) SportsMax - Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss Michael Ricketts has called on the country’s national players to be ‘reasonable’ and ‘balanced’ in their demands, given what the organisation has laid out as severe financial limitations.

With one day left before the deadline to sign contracts for the upcoming campaigns, the JFF and representatives of some national players remain far apart on wage demands.

The JFF has submitted a final offer of US$2,000 (300,255.80) per match, per player for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, the players have, however, requested US$7,000 ($1,050,895.30).

According to Ricketts, however, the offer made by

the JFF is grounded in the reality of what the federation can afford and as a result, is unlikely to be adjusted.

“We are still waiting and hoping for an amicable settlement. I do hope that the players will be reasonable and balanced in whatever they decide to do. I hope that they will agree to something that is manageable,” Ricketts told TVJ Sports.

“The committee has been having talks in recent times with the lawyer who represents some of the players. How many of the players he legitimately and legally represents we are not sure but we want to ensure that we do have a relationship with our players,” he added.

The JFF president, (Continued on page 25)

will understand.”

GABF President Mike Singh has described the announcement as one that will leave a huge void in the team in the vicinity of 20 points per game. Singh described the shooter as, “Very professional and very coachable, he will be greatly missed on the team.”

However, looking on the positive side of things, Singh explained that this has now created an opportunity for fringe players to show up and stake a claim on the national team.

“It will be an awesome opportunity for whoever gets into the team now, to just play and rub shoulders with experienced professionals such as brothers Delroy and Gordon

James (who have confirmed their intent to represent Guyana) while Skipper Stanton Rose and Kevon Wiggins would’ve taken their game to another level from competing in the college circuit.”

Meanwhile, skipper of Guyana’s national men’s side, Stanton Rose, has empathised with Victor and has wished him success in his future endeavours.

The U.S. based studentathlete, who is set to link up with the local training squad this weekend, further shared that, “Sometimes you just need a break or to call it a day. Victor has served Guyana’s basketball well throughout the years and I am proud of everything he has done for us.”

Ray Victor

Kaieteur News

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Friday March 05, 2021

Inaugural WeCare/Strathavon Overseas based businessman Inderdass sponsors Fisherman Mahaica Softball Cup set for Sunday Businessman Rupesh Inderdass, owner of Bradley Mechanical Corp Hvac has sponsored the Fisherman Masters Cricket team supplying the team with equipment and uniforms for the GSCL Inc. President’s Cup which commences today.

Fisherman Masters Marketing Manager Zameer Hassan has expressed thanks to Inderdass for his generous contribution. Hassan also expressed gratitude to President His Excellency Dr. Irfan Ali for committing to the tournament and Mr. Anil Hardiyal of GSCL Inc. for his input in the sport.

Hassan said they are well prepared for this tournament and are looking forward to take the title. He added that they have a well balanced unit and informed that overseas based players such as Ravie Murray, Roger Parsaram, Mohamed Khan and Dost Mangru will join the team.

Other members of the squad are Jagdish Persaud, Captain Pooran Singh, Robert Mohan, Sham Boodram, Davanand Kannand, Troy Ramsewack, Stanley Mahabir, John Sumair, Danny Thomas and Baldeo Persaud. Fisherman will begin their campaign against Better Hope.

Rupesh Inderdass

BCB congratulates Nial Smith on call up to train with WI squad - Happy five Berbicians on West Indies training party

T

he Hilbert Foster led Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is happy that their hard work is paying

off.

The BCB is excited that a number of players from the County have been called up to train with the West Indies Cricket squad for possible selection to the West Indies Cricket team to face Sri Lanka in upcoming matches.

At the moment five Guyanese, all Berbicians have been called for possible selection. Just days after Kevin Sinclair received his first call up and subsequent debut alongside Romario Shepherd in the West Indies team for the T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka, three more have been added to the squad for possible selection for the Test matches.

The three called up are new comer Nial Smith along with regulars Shimron Hetmyer and Veersammy Permaul.

According to the release, “The selection of the players who are all Berbicians shows that our cricket is very strong. The Board extends congrats to Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair and best wishes to Shimron Hetmyer, Veersammy Permaul and Nial Smith in the trial matches. The BCB is also clamoring for the inclusion of outstanding players Gudakesh Motie and Anthony Bramble.”

The release continues, “All of us in Berbice should be very proud of the direction our cricket is moving and the best is yet to come.

We have to be doing right for our players to be performing so well. The BCB expresses thanks to the Administrators of the various clubs who work hard on a voluntary basis to make sure that the players becomes the best.

Please let us pray for Berbice cricket and let us always strive for excellence.”

Nial Smith

Secretary of Mahaica Sports Club Amanda Dyal (right) accepts the cheque from Natahsa Bessemer of Rohan Auto Spares

The Strathavon Sports Club and WeCare will be hosting the inaugural Mahaica Softball Cup on Sunday. The one-day limited overs competition will see teams and individual players vying for honours as cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to the winner, runner-up, man- of-series, best bowler and batsman in an innings and the player who hit the most sixes in the final.

The Mahaica Softball Cup will be played under strict covid-19 Guidelines and all teams are asked to follow the rules set out.

Masks will also be provided at the venue.

Several business entities in the area have

already pledged their support towards the hosting of the Mahaica Softball Cup. Businesses on board are Demerara Bank, Rohan Auto Spares, Shiwnauth General Store, Viscom, Gavin Persaud Photography, Boodram General Store, Khaliludeen and Companyand Rohan Lumber Yard (Enmore and Unity).

According to the orgnaisers a limited number of teams will be accepted and registration will be on a first come basis.

Interested teams are asked to contact Mr. Jermaine Persaud on 644 8172 or Mr. Gobindram Hemraj on 643 3319.

Demerara Bank Mahaica Branch Manager, Andy Alfred (left) presents the trophies to Amanda Dyal.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 05, 2021

PAGE 31

Sinclair is ninth RHTY&SC cricketer to play International cricket - Believes it’s a big achievement When 21-year-old Guyana and Berbice offspinner Kevin Sinclair made his T20 International debut for the West Indies against Sri Lanka on Wednesday evening last in Antigua he became the 9th player from the Rosehall Youth & Sports Club in Corentyne Berbice, to play International cricket.

Sinclair, who bowled the first ball in the game, got the breakthrough with Sri Lanka on 20 when Skipper Kieron Pollard held a stupendous catch at short mid-wicket, diving to his right to send Danushka Gunathilaka on his way and the youngster f r o m A n g o y ’s Av e n u e celebrated his maiden International wicket with an acrobatic double back flick.

Sinclair told Kaieteur Sport on Wednesday just after the West Indies, led by a Man-of-the-Match performance from Pollard who deposited spinner Akila Dananjaya for six sixes in one over, that it felt good to make his debut.

“It feels good to now get the opportunity to represent the West Indies... it is my dream come true. It is a very

big achievement representing the region and one I will cherish all my life despite how many matches I play….there could never be a second first” said Sinclair who took 1-26 from three overs with the new ball.

The cousin of Guyana First-Class pacer Kevin Darlington, Sinclair has represented West Indies, Guyana Amazon Warriors, West Indies Emerging Team which won the 2019 Regional Super50 in their first season in the tournament.

A supremely confident and likable individual, the young lad represented Guyana at U-15 & 17 levels as a batsman who bowled medium pace and it was only in 2017 that he became an off-spinner. But he made the Guyana U-19 team as a batting all-rounder.

Sinclair, who took the first of his 18 wickets in 16 List ‘A’ matches for the West Indies Emerging Players against Guyana in 2019 at the Brian Lara Academy in Trinidad, revealed that as he was about to bowl the first ball in his International

Debutant Sinclair (2nd left) celebrating the fall of a wicket with teammates

career he told himself to keep calm.

“Basically I wanted to consistently hit good areas, watch the batsman as long as possible and don’t try to do too many different things” explained Sinclair, who has taken 12 wickets from six First-Class matches since making his debut against Barbados in Barbados in January 2020.

He disclosed that he was

overjoyed when he realised Pollard had held onto the catch to give him his first wicket. “That was a special moment for me…getting my first International wicket …it was a special moment and felt overjoyed getting my first wicket,” added Sinclair who has six wickets in six CPL matches at an economy rate of 5.11.

“Playing at the International level requires

more consistency and doing the good things for longer periods,” said Sinclair whose highest score in FirstClass and List ‘A’ cricket is 44 despite his ability with the bat which suggests that he should be scoring more runs at the Regional level.

List of RHTY&SC players who played for West Indies: Under-15 (Assad Fudadin), Under-19 (Assad Fudadin & Kevlon

Anderson), Sixes (Esuan Crandon), West Indies A (Assad Fudadin), West Indies B (Assad Fudadin), T20I (Kevin Sinclair), ODI (Royston Crandon), Tests (Assad Fudadin). Females: ODI (Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Sheneta Grimmond & Shabika Gajnabi), T20I (Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond & Shabika Gajnabi).

Banks DIH Ltd. supports GSCL Inc President’s Cup which bowls off today

By Zaheer Mohamed Banks DIH Limited has supported the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL) President’s T20 tournament which bowls off today at several venues in and around Georgetown. At a simple presentation ceremony held recently at Thirst Park, Banks Beer Executive Brian Choo-Hen presented a cheque to President of GSCL Inc. Ian John.

Also present at the simple ceremony was Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart who said they are happy to be given a chance to be part of the tournament and wished the teams well. He pledged their continued support while John welcomed the partnership and stated that they are looking forward to their continued support.

The three-day tournament, which is organised jointly by the Honourable Counsel of Guyana to Florida, Ramzan

Roshanalli and the GSCL was launched on Sunday February 7 at the Everest Cricket Club Banquet Hall with Guyana’s President His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali delivering the feature address and officially committing to the mega tournament.

The inaugural tournament will be played in three categories; Open (All ages), Masters (Over-40) and Legends (Over-50.

Local powerhouses Regal All Stars and Speedboat are favourites to take the open title. Both teams have been dominant in recent times with Speedboat taking the honours the last time they faced each other which was in the final of the Prime Minister’s T20 Cup late last year.

Regal All Stars will look to go all the way this time around and will be wary of S p e e d b o a t ’s a l l - r o u n d strength with the likes of Ameer Yusuf, Kishore Smith, Wazeer Hussain, Shazim Hussain, Lennox

GSCL Inc. President Ian John (right) accepts the cheque from Brain Choo-Hen in the presence of Mortimer Stewart.

Marks and Peter Alleyne.

Regal All Stars have a balanced unit which includes Fazal Rafiek, Diyanan Ramnauth, Karamchand Persaud, Delroy Perreira, Patrick Rooplall and Chien Gittens. Among other teams

in this category are Hill Foot, Ariel and Essequibo Wild Oats.

The Masters category includes Fisherman, Regal, Wellman, HS Masters, Success and Trophy Stall.

Fisherman won this division

in the Prime Minister’s Cup in 2020 having beat Wellman in the final.

Regal Legends will look to continue their winnings ways in the Over-50 division and will face challenges from Wellman, President’s

XI, Rockaway, Enterprise and Floodlights. Teams will battle for a first place prize of $500,000 in each category, while the runners-up will collect $100,000. The tournament will conclude on Sunday at the Everest CC.