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Monday March 08, 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
The Opposition and its leader has lost its way We are disappointed at the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon. The opposition group should be, too, but that is a matter for them and their internal deliberations. The bigger problem and concern for all Guyanese is that there is neither harp nor formidable opposition in this country at this time. With that as the sum of our political circumstances, the PPP government is then given free rein to run amok and heap its wrongdoings and scorns on a dispirited populace. The opposition lacks spirit, and nowhere is this more glaringly evident than in the person of its honourable leader. The leader is the head, and when the head is either misguided or lost, then the rest of the body flaps about and lurches around. We say don’t take our word for it, which is why we urge all Guyanese to take a real serious look at the opposition and its leader(s), and decide for themselves if what we say is not on the money. In fairness, we encourage citizens to start out with charitable kindness in their hearts, so confident we are that they will end up with what is unsparingly critical, a bellyful of what disgusts. In all of this, the opposition and its leader do not flatter to deceive: its members may think that they flatter, but desultory they are, and that is part of the deceiving attitudes embraced. The latest bit of evidence came last week from the mind and mouth of the Opposition Leader himself, when he stood up in parliament and threw some barbs at the media for the shortcomings of its practitioners. His specific words were: “Mr. Speaker, the daily revelations…in the media of the ERC, appears to be in my view, an attempt to dismantle this very important commission and to damage its impartiality.” Having embarked on that highly questionable road, the Opposition Leader then took the low road, and with relish: “We must guard against this insidious attempt by persons who are uncomfortable with the composition of the ethnic relations commission.” Surely, he did not go there, he did not allow himself to be convulsed with such foulness. Apparently, he did. And just as apparently, it is now a capital crime to speak out against what was wrong at the ERC, to expose what reeked of the self-serving and what was insulting to a longsuffering Guyanese public. To ventilate what is evidently improper now rises to the level of “an attempt to dismantle.” And then to top it all off, there was what we interpret as the knife’s twist in this subdued diatribe. There was resorting to that increasingly primary refuge of those who have no ground to stand on, in the opposition leader’s cry of “insidious attempt” regarding “the composition” of the commission under the microscope and the accompanying sharp heats of scrutiny. Now he plays what we interpret as the race card, which we condemn as the lowest of the low, when all the surrounding scorching circumstances are considered. On this occasion, it has absolutely no relevance, no value, and no foundation; and the same goes for anybody defending and rationalizing merely for the sake of doing so. The Leader of the Opposition should know this and reassure himself of this: what was done at the ERC was wrong, and there are no two ways about that, which is what he should not have pretended, did not occur. What the Leader of Guyana’s Opposition should do is what we not now humbly recommend to this honourable Guyanese. Do not waste time and energy to lambaste the media for doing its job as a constitutional and societal watchdog in a comprehensive manner. Rather, he and his group, should seize every opportunity to expend that same caustic energy and wrath at a PPP government that makes a mockery of clean stewardship over the nation’s oil wealth, its runaway borrowings, and its mysterious leadership secrecies on just about everything. That is what a vibrant opposition takes pride in doing. It holds a contemptuous government’s leaders feet to the fire, make them feel the heat, and never let go. That is, until they own up to the skullduggeries that are now part and parcel of their governance culture. We dare to ask of the opposition and its leader: How
The fight is still bitter against institutions and structures that are dominated by men Dear Editor, March 8th commemorates a celebration and reflection on women and their important contributions to their localities and the world at large. Crucially, what differentiates International Women’s Day from International Men’s Day is that women in particular had to fight through a series of struggles in their sociopolitical reality. Some of these struggles include, but are not limited to, being recognized as a cognitive agent endowed with freedom and choice, and an equal to men with respect to wisdom and understanding. Women have long endured male privilege that was a force that opposed their elevation in society, which commonly consists of institutions or companies predominantly occupied by men. Fundamentally, it is male insecurity, that functioned as a threat and active suppression to encouraging and enabling women’s independence, autonomy, and their important relevance in politics. Although the world,
especially Guyana, has made major progress regarding women’s rights, the woman’s struggle continues. Today, they are still fighting the system to assert respect and ensure their public safety. Some of these include: · The freedom to dress according to preference, and not an invitation to be harassed or, worse, raped. · The freedom to express an idea without being downplayed as intellectually lacking. · Access to affordable or possibly free birth control (a matter of choice) and menstruation kits (a matter of nature). In other places around the world, the fight is still bitter against institutions and structures that are dominated by men that compel policy about women from a man’s perspective of what their value and needs should entail. And there are debates within societies that have strong customs and traditions about the role of women that have been the norm for hundreds of years.
Perhaps the single most pressing issue Guyana must confront is violence against women and children. Regarding women, it is despairing to know how common it is for women to experience violence, sometimes leading to their deaths, caused by a partner, such as a spouse or boyfriend. The statistics show an alarming increase in the number of domestic violence cases that go officially reported. As a society, we must study the cause for this level of tragedy to know how to respond best and promptly. Regarding children, I know what it is like as a child to bear witness to everyday violence in and out of the home. To witness parents, neighbours and teachers at public schools use violence as a means of ‘correction’ warped my early childhood’s understanding of how to be better than those who did a misdeed. Psychologists inform us that for any child to witness violence at a tender age, violence will likely be considered a normal response. Because violence used at home or school implies it is a ‘good’ method of correction, which it is not, the
effect it has on children is that they too will mature the idea that violence is an acceptable way to deal with problems. We see this occur especially with boys. Yet, we sit and wonder why our society is becoming vile and savage, and why children are behaving aggressively in schools. Furthermore, the fact that we find it reprehensible when an adult woman is hit, we ought to find it equally morbid to hit children who are still developing to become adults. In closing, I would like to congratulate all the women who hold senior positions in Guyanese society. Their boldness and efforts will be admired for decades to come. Also, to those who are victims of domestic violence, women or children, please seek help. It can be with a close friend or family member, or an institution that can offer comfort or support. One institution I would recommend that is highly undervalued, but incredibly invaluable is the Red Thread Association. Yours truly, Ferlin F. Pedro
One way to start healing is to recognize those who spread misinformation Dear Editor, As we are now engaging in open discourse as to who should receive the “Order Of Democracy,” I must remark that it is necessary to put into perspective those who fought by whatever means, writing or recounting, against the attempts to rig the March 2020 elections. However, in dissecting those attempts, we have to place into perspective those forces who justified the rigging or tried spreading false narratives to favour the coalition. Why? This election has opened the wound in this nation, exposing how divided and broken we are. And one way to start healing is by recognizing those individuals who spread misinformation as well as other forms of divisive rhetoric. I will call three
names: Hamilton Green, Mark Benschop, Rickford Burke. The latter two names, sat in basements in their homes in the United States spreading wanton misinformation nightly. They also utilized racist and divisive rhetoric. Benschop and Burke, night after night drummed into their supporters’ heads that PPP was rigging the election and stealing the government from the Coalition. They spread the false narratives of dead voters and migrant voters immunity due to their geographical location. They still refer to the new Government as “Installed” spreading the narrative that the entire international community unseated the then Government and engineered the PPP into office.These extremists have played a vital
about some vigilance? Some intense pressure would help, any degree of pressure that is different from what has been seen since August last year. This country is a cast net where talk name and know all(s) and leaks are concerned; yet the opposition itself, despite its intelligence apparatus, knows nothing, and is a study in the distant and irrelevant. For here we are today with the coalition confronting messengers. Confront and call out the deceiving, cheating, and bankroll building leaders in the PPP government. Discontinue these Kathak movements around political dancing partners. If it has to be stepping on toes, then let it be so. And if it has to be heavy breathing down the necks of the leaders of PPP government, as well as staring openly at its low-cut bosom that exposes so much about how it governs, then the opposition must lead the way, with Mr. Joseph Harmon in the forefront of the charge. He has not been.
role in using misinformation to divide the people of this country even further, like how Trump has brainwashed his supporters into thinking the election was rigged in favour of Biden. Further, these men spread racial narratives by trying to tell their supporters that they will be discriminated against, based on their skin colour, if the PPP is sworn in. This move would intimidate Afro Guyanese into supporting the PNC . Hamilton Green, showed his slip clearly. This individual openly said on a radio interview with Benschop, “Put aside the constitution, put aside the laws. You are at this moment, and we hope for a long time, Commander-inChief.” This man openly
called for the rule of law to be plundered. That level of extremism is unhealthy for Guyanese national unity. However, a schoolchild can tell that sort of language is inciting and divisive and destructive. In analyzing the five months rigging period, those who stood up for the antithesis of democracy and played roles in inciting and dividing Guyanese need to be recognized. For once, we recognize and ignore such demagogues, then we can foster healthy discussions and steps to healing at a national level. There are many individuals who played such a role, I only pointed out three of the most prominent. Yours truly, Suresh Kissoon.
If the government is illegitimate, then talks with government are illegitimate Dear Editor The more it is pondered the more bizarre it becomes. If the government, often referred to as a regime, is illegitimate, as claimed by the side wanting talks, then it stands to reason those talks
would be illegitimate. So is an illegitimate process being pursued relentlessly? Are they caught between the devil and the deep blue sea? Yours truly, Shamshun Mohamed
Monday March 08, 2021
Videomega responds to Kaieteur News reporting on Cathy Hughes contracts Dear Editor I would like to refute the statements made in an article published in the Kaieteur News of Sunday March 7, 2021 entitled, “Videomega’s “clarification” contradicts Hughes’ claims of playing no role in $6M contracts award.” After submitting a letter to the Editor on Saturday March 6, 2021, I received a phone call from a young lady saying that she was requesting some clarification of the letter from the Editor of Kaieteur News, asking me about the ownership of the Videomega. The question that was asked was, whether the company was still owned by Catherine Hughes and I said that it was not. The caller further asked if there was any documentation to support same and I replied that I would clarify that and let her know on Monday. In the article published in the Kaieteur News, the writer who is not identified says that I said that ownership had been transferred to me, a question that was never asked and to which I gave no such comment. The information about company ownership rests in the public domain and could easily have been checked by any competent journalist, and this again makes me reiterate my disappointment at the shoddy journalism that is being practiced by some members of the media. The article continues on
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Kaieteur News
to mention the amounts paid to Videomega, without ever mentioning that Videomega was merely the conduit for those funds to be transferred to the media houses sans the 15% commission that normally accrues for such services. As stated in the letter, of the $6 million mentioned, $5,679,639 went to the print media alone; Kaieteur News $1,951,912; Stabroek News $ 1,328, 948; Chronicle $2,075,643; Guyana Times $341,136. There were also placements in the electronic media – TV and Radio, which would have taken the figure even higher. As such, I would request that the publication issue a retraction of said statement, publish my letter in its entirety and this response as well, since I would hate to think that we have now resorted to the peddling of falsehoods to sell newspapers. With Regards Russell Lancaster Managing Director, Videomega Editor’s Note. Kaieteur New stands by its reporting on this issue. Mr. Lancaster indicated that ownership was passed on to him, when contacted, and committed to providing evidence of same after consulting with Ms. Hughes. No [other] public domain information about the transfer of ownership for Videomega, a private company, from Ms. Hughes exists, nor has been
communicated prior to the explanation offered by Mr. Lancaster. Indeed, when contacted last week with regard to establishing current ownership of the company, Ms. Hughes did not herself respond. With regard to his claim that the article does not refer to his claim that the company acted as a conduit for government funds from a ministry under Ms. Hughes’ control, our article clearly states: “Lancaster stated that Videomega merely acted as an advertising agency for Hughes’ Ministry adding that ‘it is a well-established fact’ that advertising agencies receive a 15 percent commission for ad placements and that is what Videomega would have received. At the time however, during the Granger administration, the Department of Public Information was responsible for the placement of government ads. Additionally, the records provided also indicate that the services provided by Videomega did not only cover placement, but also some aspects of production.” This paper stands ready to publish any credible information on the ownership of Videomega at the time that Ms. Hughes occupied public office, including – as we asked – when the company was purported to have changed hands and to whom.
My nomination for a national award is Dr. Vishnu Bisram Dear Editor First I must congratulate President, Irfaan Ali, for considering the Order of Democracy. The debate on the subject is now going on in the press about who should be recipients. What needs to be clarified is whether this award is higher than the current Order of Excellence (OE) or is it above the second award the Order of Roraima (OR) or above the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH), which is the third highest award in Guyana. A few years ago the PPP/C minted a special posthumous award for Dr.
Cheddi Jagan. Wasn’t that higher than the OE?. It had to have been or they would given Dr. Jagan the OE. There has been a suggestion to award Freddie Kisson the Award of Democracy. Why? I do not know. Kissoon has no consistency in his writing for whom he supports; all he does is criticize. For the 23 years the PPP/C was in government he was a bitter critic paving the way for the APNU+AFC coalition to come to power. Then when the government changed, he began to criticize them non-stop.
My nomination for a national award, not necessarily the Order of Democracy, is Dr. Vishnu Bisram. Bisram has consistently fought against the 28 years of the PNC dictatorship and has done so since his student days at university level. He valiantly fought for free and fair elections in 2020, and he has been a voluntary writer in the Press, keeping us informed what goes on wherever Guyanese lives. For these reasons he would be a fitting recipient for an award for his efforts. Yours truly, Vassan Ramracha
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Monday March 08, 2021
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Guyana gets another donation of 80,000 vaccines from India Guyana has received another donation of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID19 vaccine in 80,000 doses from the Government of India. The vaccines arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport yesterday and were received by Prime Minister, Mark Phillips; Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugh Todd; Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony; and the Indian High Commissioner, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa. It is the third batch of vaccines to arrive in Guyana. The first batch was donated by Barbados in early February, which saw 3,000 doses of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccines arriving in Guyana and was used to kick-start the first stage of the country’s immunization campaign. The first to be vaccinated were
The crate of vaccines frontline health workers, who were allocated 2,800 doses and the remaining 200 doses were given to workers at the CARICOM Secretariat. The second batch of vaccines came as a donation from the Government of China. That donation saw 20,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine arriving in
Guyana, further boosting the immunization campaign. Upon its arrival last week, the Health Minister had stated that the vaccination of frontline health workers would have been initiated in all 10 administrative regions and with the donation of the 20,000, the government is hoping to cover as many
From left: Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony; Prime Minister, Mark Phillips; Indian High Commissioner, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd. people in frontline health as possible. The second stage will see
the vaccination of the elderly persons, 60 years and older. The Health Ministry will be collaborating with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, using their comprehensive database, which is used to distribute pension throughout Guyana, to identify the elderly persons eligible for vaccination. It was also disclosed that teachers would be next in line for vaccination as well. D r. A n t h o n y w a s quoted as saying, “Indeed, we have been looking at other opportunities to procure more vaccines. Wi t h t h e v a c c i n e w e currently have, we have about 100,000 now and that will help us to immunize at least about 50,000 people. And so, this is not going to be enough and so definitely we have to be able to procure more vaccines.” At the press conference following the arrival of the vaccines, the Indian High
Commissioner said that the donation of the vaccines is a mere gift from the Government of India and they will expect nothing in return. “I want to stress here that India donates these vaccines with nothing in demand (from) the country. We do not ask for any quid pro quos. India is donating the vaccines in a spirit of collaboration, in a spirit of friendship, and in a spirit of helping our friends to acquire these vaccines across the world,” he noted. India has earmarked around 570,000 doses of the vaccine for distribution across the Caribbean region. Additionally, more vaccines are set to arrive from the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility, which has recently initiated its global rollout of vaccines. Guyana will receive some 104,000 doses of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccines free of cost from COVAX.
...Sol Guyana denies massive From page 3 20,691,379 litres was delivered to the beneficiary. This meant that the balance of 13,862,701 litres should have remained in SOL’s possession. To this effect and based on the incontrovertible evidence obtained, the Revenue Authority demanded the forgone Excise Tax in the sum of Six hundred and six million, nine hundred and seventyeight thousand, three hundred and sixty-three dollars ($606,978,363) on the 13,862,701 litres of Gas Oil, which was imported, duly entered free of Excise Tax and was not delivered to Bosai company to be utilized for the intended purpose. In an email dated November 27, 2020, GRA said that Sol Guyana Inc. accepted the liability. However, it further alleged that in past periods, notably during 2018-2019 the company supplied in excess of 24
million litres of duty paid diesel at duty free price to Bosai company without exemption letters. GRA pointed out however that the alleged quantity (24M litres) stated when reconciled was found to be only 20.3M litres, clear evidence that Sol Inc., does not keep adequate records of acquittals. It was further noted that tax officials are currently examining Bosai’s Exemption records to see whether the company acquitted fuel from other importers in 2018 and 2019, since they were in receipt of exemptions during the period claimed. Taking the foregoing into consideration, the tax body wants to examine ways of having SOL prosecuted and the relevant taxes and interests recovered in light of the abuses committed. GRA believes that the Attorney General should have a say on the way forward too.
Monday March 08, 2021
Kaieteur News
Read between the lines You have to “read between the lines,” especially when dealing with politicians. Much of what they mean is said indirectly. When the Leader of the Opposition referred to Irfaan Ali recently as “President Ali,” it was not a Freudian slip. It was an implicit recognition that Irfaan Ali is the President of Guyana. Now, that may not be the full nine yards which the President demands. He has made it clear that he wants the Leader of the Opposition to own up to what was done with the elections and to directly recognize him as President. He does not want any implicit recognition. The latter surely has to be a non-negotiable position. The President cannot have political dialogue – as distinct from constitutional consultations – with someone who does not recognize him as President. But asking the Leader of the Opposition to own up to the attempt to rig the elections is unrealistic. The fact of the matter is that the best way to establish the attempted rigging is for a full-scale interna t i o n a l criminal investigation, not the piecemeal laying of charges against certain individuals. The public is not going to take lightly any failed prosecution of those complicit in perverting the course of the declaration of the results of the elections. Those involved must be brought to justice. The elections petition is immaterial to any admission of an attempt to rig the elections. The elections petition, which was supposed to provide the evidence of electoral malpractices, from all accounts, has been thrown out by the Court on the basis that it was not served in a timely manner on one of the respondents. The other petition, as far as reports go, and the one which will be heard by the Court, deals with
the constitutionality of the Recount Order. That said, it is unrealistic to expect the Leader of the Opposition to concede that there was an attempt to rig the results of the elections. This is not going to happen. But his reference to “President Ali” may be taken at the minimum as a de facto recognition of the PPP government. The public, however, has to also read between the lines as it relates to what the President and his Vice President said. The public must be on its guard when it comes to the model which the PPP/C will use to finance large-scale investment projects. The PPP/C has a seedy record when it comes to the model for the Berbice River Bridge and the Marriott Hotel. This model used for financing these projects favoured syndicated and special investors to the disadvantage of the State. This newspaper had long exposed this situation which has left the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) exposed in relation to the Bridge and which grants special rights to syndicated investors in the eventuality of the Marriott-branded hotel folding. If one were to read between the lines, the signals are pointing to the PPP/C looking to again utilize this model for the gas-to-shore plant. And if one reads between the lines of what the President and his Vice President are saying, then the groundwork is being laid for the use of this controversial model for major projects in Guyana. The Vice President recently addressed the Private Sector Commission and spoke about the high cost of finance faced by local investors. He skillfully then segued, into announcing that the government will be licensing non-deposit institutions to bring in additional capital. He
mentioned that one of the advantages of this was that they do not place local savings at risk. It is a pity he did not know this when his government formulated the financial model for the Berbice River Bridge. NIS investments are seriously threatened by that model. On Saturday, at a sodturning ceremony for a hotel, the President is reported to have said, “One of the things which we are working on right now is to bring together various consortiums to ensure 100 percent of the forward and backward linkage of the oil and gas sector come here…” Mouth open, story jump out. The formation of consortia, however, is usually a private sector initiative, not a government function. But when juxtaposed with what the Vice President said recently, what is being hinted at is that the government is returning to the discredited model of public-private partnerships. And the obvious choice for such a model, involving foreign capital and consortia, is the gas-to-shore project. So why then is the government speaking about the possibility of paying back the investment on the gas-toshore project in four years? Why not have the consortia and non-deposit financial institutions assume the full risk of the projects, free of any injection of funds from the government? Read between the lines people! Nothing has changed. The PPP/C is back and has returned to its old ways! (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper).
Dem Boys Seh…
Mr. Fix-It NICIL looking fuh a handyman. De person gat to be a jack-of-all trade. He or she gat to maintain and clean de parking lot and compound, do minor repairs to fixtures and fittings including tables, chairs and desks, assist with plumbing and blocked sinks, emptying and removing garbage waste from de compound, assist with deliveries and general handyman duties and also perform other related tasks. Dis is quite a handful for de handyman. Dis is nuff job in one. He or she gat to be outdoor janitor, gardener, carpenter, joiner, plumber, garbage disposer, delivery person and a porter. De person must have a wide repair-toire. Ah wonder what dem paying? What NICIL should get is a man like Jack. A taxi driver was telling he passenger about Jack. He said, “Jack was the most
talented handyman there was. He could fix anything. And he never made a mistake yet. He could fix a light bulb, repair the fridge, wash the clothes, repair the roof, run errands, weed the yard, repair the car and do the plumbing. He was a man of few words and he was stylish, always well dressed. His shoes were always perfectly shined. Never made a single mistake. There was no other man on this earth that even came close to him.” The passenger after hearing all this said, “Jack must have been an amazing man. Was he your friend?” “Friend? I never knew the guy. But I’m married to his widow and every day I get to hear how good he was at everything!” Talk half and if NICIL nah find somebody, let dem hire de man wah was to fix de Skeldon Factory!
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Kaieteur News
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Monday March 08, 2021
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Officer at G/Town Magistrates’ Court tests positive for COVID-19 VACANCY One (1) part time truck driver apply at Lens 136 Sheriff Street, C/Ville Tel#227-2486 For experience sales person & checkers call 623-1615 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. House plan drawing and estimate K. Lakeram building contractor. Call us 216-0671/ 692-8464 or whatsapp 6220267
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other officers have since been tested for the virus. Kaieteur News was told that the police sergeant attached to one of the courts is in a critical condition at the COVID-19 hospital. Guyana recently recorded its 200th COVID-19 related deaths. While speaking to officers who work at the Georgetown Magistrates’
to give officers the opportunity to be quarantined. Kaieteur News was also told that the police sergeant tested positive for the virus sometime between February 22, 2021 and February 25, 2021. The courtroom that the police sergeant works in has since halted all of its operations, but the other courtrooms are still fully operational.
Mitsubisi contact 4M40 6 months insurance goods & service and alarm system Contact 693-3003 Price $1.999.00
For Sale or rent, good for business - 4.018 acres of prime land in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Call 679-2497
One clerk for Eccles office English & mathematics, grade 1 & 2 Email application to techserigy@yahoo.com VEHICLE FOR SALE
A police officer attached to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court has tested positive for the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). As a result, concerns were raised and
Court, they shared that they are concerned about their health since not everyone at the court was tested. One officer stated that only the officers who worked in the courtroom with the police sergeant that tested positive were tested. He believes that the entire courtroom should be fumigated and that everyone should be tested. Others are also asking for the court’s operations to be shut down
Puri roti cooks apply @ Shanta's 225 Camp St
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Experience license custom broker with 5 plus year experience contact hr@buxoguyana.com
1 leyland DAF.65.210 flat bed top condition Contact 6268417
Wanted - Crane porter ages 25 - 50 years old please call 644-2564
The Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Suriname deports four Guyanese men Four Guyanese men who had been jailed in Suriname were yesterday deported to Guyana. The four deportees are, Andre Rajmangal, 39, of Lot 151 Fifth Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven; Govinda Dhanraj, 31, of 392 Block 12, Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Shanandeen Bacchus, 47, of Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six; and Nazim Shaw, 58,of Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). According to police reports, the men were handed over the Guyanese authorities at around 13:00 hrs. Before releasing them, they will be profiled by investigators at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary. A background check will be made on each one of them as well. This is to ascertain if they might have been wanted for any crimes committed in Guyana. Bacchus, according to police served two-years in a Suriname prison for trafficking narcotics. Rajmangal on the other hand, had been jailed for one month
Deportee Shanandeen Bacchus
Deportee: Nazim Shaw
Deportee: Andre Rajmangal
Deportee: Govinda Dhanraj
because he overstayed his time in the country. Dhanraj, was convicted of a domestic violence assault charge by the Surinamese
court and had been imprisoned for two months, while Shaw spent two years behind bars for unlawful wounding.
COVID-19 case toll increases with 35 new infections The Ministry of Health yesterday reported 35 new COVID-19 infections via its daily dashboard update, which shows the case toll increased to 8,807.
The dashboard also shows that eight patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, another 13 in institutional quarantine, 40 in institutional isolation and 444 in home isolation.
Additionally, a total of 8,114 persons have recovered to date, with eight new recoveries recorded yesterday. The COVID-19 death toll remains at 201 deaths.
Monday March 08, 2021
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International Women’s Day messages 2021 From the National Congress of Women (NCW) The National Congress of Women (NCW), the Women’s Arm of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), joins with all Guyanese women as well as women all over the world as we observe International Women’s Day (IWD) 2021, today, Monday March 8, 2021. This day is also observed when the entire month of March is dedicated to women. March is also recognized as Women’s History month. This year’s observances are celebrated under the United Nations theme. “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also aligned with the priority theme of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, ”Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in
public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls,” and the flagship Generation Equality campaign, which calls for women’s right to decision-making in all areas of life, equal pay, equal sharing of unpaid care and domestic work, an end all forms of violence against women and girls, and health-care services that respond to their needs. International Women’s Day provides an occasion to pause and reflect on how women of all colours and creeds have shaped the nation’s history and how they are influencing its future right now. We observe International Women’s Day to repair some of the damage the nation has suffered by stifling the talent and ambition of half of its population for centuries. A cursory review of the history of women in Guyana reveals that it was the likes of Jane Phillips-Gay, who was
one of the first three women to enter the Legislative Assembly in 1953, and along with Winifred Gaskin, organized our women to become actively involved in the political landscape of the then British Guiana in 1957. After the United Nations declared 1975 International Women’s Year, the likes of Viola Burnham and Shirley Field-Ridley pushed the woman’s political agenda and with a legal team headed by Desiree Bernard consolidated the laws of Guyana relating to women. More women became Parliamentarians and Ministers of Government. Today it is a prerequisite for any political list of candidates for an election must comprise 33% women. As a result, there are more women participating in the decisionmaking roles and the NCW looks forward to a 50% participation. There is much for women in Guyana and the world to celebrate. Vice Chancellor of (Continued on page 18)
GAWU International Women’s Day message 2021 The GAWU joins in saluting all women and girls on the occasion of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2021. It is indisputable that women have played an important role in the advancement of civilization and, increasingly today, they are engaged in all sphere of human endeavour in many countries across the world. We recall that International Women’s Day emerged out of the struggles of women workers in the United States, who organized themselves to strike for better working conditions, better pay, and voting rights and against women’s oppression and gender inequality. These struggles made us better understand the inseparable links between economic rights and political rights. Their struggles also show that the concerns of working people the world over are shared between women and men. The day dedicated to women, gained prominence when socialist women workers identified it as a day of action to rally against the First World War. On the same day in 1917, a strike of working women of Russia took place in protest at the killing of 2 million soldiers in the war and which provided a further impetus for the
history-making Russian Revolution which occurred in that year and which saw the birth of a socialist country for the first time in the annals of civilization. In-as-much that women have made and are making worthy contributions to mankind’s all-round development and generally made notable strides in their own lives they must still contend with multi-faceted problems – poverty, economic inequality, discrimination in work life, oppressions, and various manifestations of violence. Today, the heavy burden of austerity affects women – job opportunities are scarce and dwindling; services they rely on are discontinued or reduced; working-women face exploitation; millions live with oppressions literally on a daily basis, and yet millions make up a large contingent of refugees driven from their homes and settlements mainly due to destructive wars of aggression and severe bombardment of their countries. The past year as a difficult one. The COVID-19 pandemic has spared nobody and was particularly challenging for women around the world. Doctors, nurses, teachers, shop assistants – jobs often held by women – have found
themselves at the frontline of the pandemic. All this, while taking on greater responsibilities at home. We thank women for their bravery, their compassion, and their contribution in fighting the crisis, also by keeping our societies, care systems and most essential services running. This year’s IWD theme: “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in COVID-19 world” gives due recognition to the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the gaps that remain. We hold that women’s full and effective participation and leadership in all areas of life drives progress for everyone. We are convinced that the women of the world and working women especially remain a formidable force in mankind’s struggles to address unequal relationships and to bring about a just, democratic and peaceful world. With this in mind, we take this opportunity to express solidarity with our womenfolk worldwide and more with our Guyanese womenfolk. Happy IWD 2021.
Guyana Public Service Union Message from the President, Mr. Patrick M. Yarde, on the Occasion of International Women’s Day 2021 On behalf of the membership of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), it is a privilege and honour, saluting women on this memorable and significant occasion, “International Women’s Day.” In doing so, I want to express how relevant and appropriate I consider t h e t h e m e ’ Wo m e n i n leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.’ From the commencement of this year, internationally, the world has witnessed the achievement of Kamala Harris being elected and sworn in on January 20, 2021, as the 1st female Vice President in the history of the United States of America. At the other extremity, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, of Myanmar, was elected President by a landslide victory in the November 2020 elections and was overthrown by a military coup d’état on 1st February, 2021. In 2011, she was initially recognized as a civilian leader ushering in the hope of democracy, after 41 years of military rule. What is significant for me and deeply admired, is what she has achieved even though she has been incarcerated since February 2021. Much like Guyana, the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar consists of many ethnic races, and her removal from political office by the
military has galvanized all ethnic groups against what is considered the common enemy, that is the military and the oppressors of the will of the people. This form of unity among the people of Guyana is needed and long overdue and our women folk have the capacity and the competence to be in vanguard of this struggle and its achievements. However, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the many achievements made by women in Guyana. They have elevated to the highest National offices including: President of Guyana, Prime Minister of Guyana, Ministers of Government, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Chief Justice, Director of Public Prosecution, Chairperson of the Elections Commission, Heads of Overseas Diplomatic Missions and Permanent Secretaries, just to highlight a few. The only major barrier that exists to their wider range of achievement is the backward and unenlightened political doctrine that gives credence to political preferences. Here in Guyana and the world over, women are the vast majority of frontline workers in our ongoing efforts to restrict the spread of COVID-19 and hopefully, eventually its eradication. They have been very committed and selfless in
discharging their duties in providing quality healthcare in an environment with obvious inadequacies. They are continuously exposed to life-threatening risks, doing so without proper recognition, insufficient protection, and inadequate compensation. The insensitivities that have been shown to these most valuable human resources are appalling and unconscionable and require urgent and broad-based support to have it corrected in the national interest. This ungrateful and disrespectful conduct was exhibited in Linden recently, when the Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Hospital, associated members of this valuable workforce with very disparaging and vulgar comments. As the women took to the streets to protest such defamation, they were threatened with sanctions and unjust disciplinary actions. Even more disappointing, is that he seems to be supported and protected by all his superiors. We must demand that our leaders set a positive example and be held accountable for their actions. This is just one instance of the challenges we face in protecting, respecting, and advancing our women here in Guyana. We should be supporting and uplifting them with (Continued on page 18)
Message by the Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Collin Croal, M.P. on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2021 International Women’s Day gifts us the opportunity to celebrate the achievements that women have already made, and calls us to confront the significant challenges that they still face in this 21st century. It is a truth universally acknowledged that women deserve a world that is free from discrimination. It is no secret that the gender gap remains a challenge; that more women and girls experience violence and sexual harassment at work places; that not enough policies benefit from the input of women; that equality remains elusive. But today, as we contemplate these issues, let us also be grateful for, and
celebrate the women who have kept our families and homes together, while holding down jobs during the pandemic; our frontline workers who have kept us safe while endangering their own lives and those who keep our offices running and our eating-places clean. Let us redouble our efforts to end discrimination and stigma of all kinds against women and girls. Let us rage against stereotypes and reaffirm solidarity with women everywhere. Guyana’s first female President, Janet Jagan, a world renown politician and leader, and a comrade said, women must join in the struggle to bring about political and socio-economic
changes so that there will be equal opportunities for all. She recognized that without the contributions of women, the world would be poorer for it. And so today, let us choose to challenge every hindrance that stops progress for women. Though change is a tedious process, let us choose to persistently challenge its pace. I choose to challenge any policy at my Ministry that does not include women and girls, and endeavour to have more women become homeowners in the near future. What will you choose to challenge? Happy International Women’s Day!
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Monday March 08, 2021
Kaieteur News
World’s climate goals could make carbon removal a trillion dollar industry - Wood Mackenzie With over 100 nations seeking to reach ambitious climate goals in the next few decades, energy research and consultancy firm, Wood Mackenzie, projects that carbon removal could become a trillion dollar industry. The Paris Climate treaty seeks to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. “Getting to 1.5 degrees will be impossible without capturing, storing and using huge volumes of CO2,” said Wood Mackenzie Principal Analyst Energy Transition Practice, Tom Heggarty. Wood Mackenzie Asia Pacific Head of Markets and Transitions, Prakash Sharma, said: “To be on a 1.5-degree pathway, carbon support
prices will need to reach US$160 per tonne (t) of CO2 by 2030. The global average carbon price across various regimes stood at US$22/tCO2 at the end of 2020.” Sharma said: “It is time to think about making money out of CO2 emissions. Technologies to recycle carbon into new products are available, but they are expensive and need strong policy action. If all goes well, this could become a trilliondollar industry globally.” Altogether, the firm said that a lot of money could be made from carbon capture and storage. According to Wood Mackenzie Americas Head of Markets and Transitions,
“It is time to think about making money out of CO2 emissions.” Wood Mackenzie Asia Pacific Head of Markets and Transitions, Prakash Sharma David Brown, “US$ 50 trillion is the minimum capex level required to reach a 1.5-degree world. US$27 trillion will come from new power capacity, energy storage, electrolyzers and CCS [carbon capture and storage] deployments through to 2050, while US$23 trillion is required to cover associated infrastructure, battery metals and hydrocarbons.”
International Women’s Day messages 2021
...Guyana Public Service Union From page 17 pride in this challenging and deadly environment, to give of their best with confidence and the knowledge that their hard work is appreciated. The GPSU has always strived for the upliftment of women and for them to be regarded as equals and we will continue to do so. This policy and practice is evident in the composition of our Executive Council, our full-time staff, and our pursuit of human resources development, at all levels. We will always stand up
in defence of our women folk and their entitlement to be treated with respect, equality, and to be afforded every opportunity to develop themselves. Nonetheless, as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating economic impacts, we must ensure that women are not disproportionately targeted for unemployment, reduction in salaries and wages and deferred education. We will vigorously challenge any maneuvers to use the prevailing COVID-19 environment to discriminate
against women within and outside of the union’s membership. The GPSU will continue to strive to ensure that there are adequate and quality facilities that are available to women to provide much needed dependent care, other resources and considerations, while they pursue upward mobility and assume a stronger presence of leadership throughout Guyana. Once again, Happy International Women’s Day! We are indeed proud of you. March 8, 2021.
...From the National Congress of From page 17 the University of Guyana, Dr. Paloma Mohamed, is the first Guyanese woman to ascend to that position, Kelly Hyles, who graduated from the prestigious Harvard University, Rukia Henry, who developed a model to study herpes virus infections in the brain, Kesaundra Alves, for ‘Advancing Law to fight Cancer’ and Amrita RivasPierre of AT Investments, among others. More and more women are being elected to public office, including Black women. Amanda Gorman, a young woman and the United States’ first-ever youth poet laureate, recited a powerful poem, which she wrote for the inauguration of President, Joe Biden and Vice President, Kamala Harris. A nation hungry for optimism and seeking “light in this neverending shade” was wowed and inspired by a stirring call to civic duty, unity, and national purpose. Ms. Gorman urged us to ”Lift our gaze not to what stands between us but what stands before us.”
There are so many untold stories of valiant women who have made and remade the nation, in spite of and because of a culture that prefers them silent and submissive. There have always been women who were willing, able, and compelled to go against the grain and call for more political independence for women. It is sad and too frequent that some women feel compelled by artificially assigned roles even today to vote against their own interests. But even as we in Guyana celebrate women’s leadership before this COVID-19 pandemic, achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world seems distant for some of our sisters. The NCW condemns not only the Sexual and Physical violence meted out to many of our sisters here in Guyana, but also the Economic violence to many of our sisters, many of them being single parents, who have been strategically placed on the breadline with the wanton termination of their services
from their places of employment. As women, we are the focus today because it is International Women’s Day; the National Congress calls for an end to the verbal and physical abuse being bantered around in the hallowed halls of our National Assembly. The NCW calls for equality and justice. Guyana has been blessed with talented women and we of the NCW insist that they come out of the margins and take their rightful place as leaders of the nation. It is altogether fitting that as a nation; we should celebrate and amplify the voices of women leaders – not just to honour them, but to create a more perfect union. As Amanda Gorman reminds us, “Love becomes our legacy and our children’s birthright.” It is up to the women to ”Rebuild, reconcile and recover.” Happy International Women’s Day 2021! National Congress of Women (NCW) Monday 8th March, 2021
The firm said in a March 4 release that governments everywhere need policies geared at carbon reduction for hard-to-abate industries. The idea is that, with increases in carbon pricing, companies would be influenced to fund carbon capture strategies and solutions. ExxonMobil, for instance, has been pumping cash into carbon capture initiatives. In order for the oil industry, populated by the world’s largest emitters, to survive for another few decades, they need to invest in carbon removal.
Furthermore, “There are opportunities to commercialize and use captured carbon,” Heggarty said. Wood Mac noted that carbon already has established uses in enhanced oil recovery and beverage industries, with new uses emerging: “Captured carbon can also be recycled into new products, storing CO2 permanently, and reducing the carbon footprint of several key industries, such as cement, methanol and fertilizers. Currently, these products are produced using hydrocarbons. If these
industries fully switch to using recycled CO2, there is potential to eliminate 3.5 billion tonnes (Bt) carbon.” This firm posited that the power and industrial sectors have an important role to play in decarbonization, with the potential for the removal of eight billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2050 from these sectors alone. It said that there is also potential for the removal of four billion tonnes of carbon dioxide through nature-based solutions like reforestation, taking total carbon removal potential to 12 billion tonnes, equivalent to 350 billion trees planted.
Unions call for total strike in Myanmar; Suu Kyi party official dies in custody (Reuters) - Myanmar’s major trade unions called on members to shut down the economy from today to back a campaign against last month’s coup, raising pressure on the junta as its forces fired weapons and occupied hospitals in the main city Yangon after a day of massive protests. Witnesses reported sounds of gunfire or stun grenades in many districts of the commercial capital after nightfall, as soldiers set up camp in hospitals and university compounds, local media reported. It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a non-profit, said the army was “intentionally terrorizing residents” in Yangon. The show of force came after some of the largest nationwide protests since the Feb. 1 coup, and an alliance of nine unions said they planned a “full extended shutdown” of the economy. “To continue economic and business activities as
usual...will only benefit the military as they repress the energy of the Myanmar people,” they said in a joint statement. “The time to take action in defence of our democracy is now.” A spokesman for the military did not answer calls seeking comment and Reuters was unable to reach police for comment. The army has said it is dealing with protests lawfully. An official from the party of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi died overnight in police custody. National League for Democracy (NLD) official Khin Maung Latt had worked as a campaign manager for one of two
Muslim MPs elected in 2020. Ba Myo Thein, a member of parliament’s upper house which was dissolved after the coup, said reports of bruising to Khin Maung Latt’s head and body raised suspicions that he had been abused. “It seems that he was arrested at night and tortured severely,” he told Reuters. “This is totally unacceptable.” Yesterday saw some of the biggest protests in recent weeks. Police fired stun grenades and tear gas to break up a sit-in by tens of thousands of people in Mandalay, the Myanmar Now media group said. At least 70 people were arrested.
...Herd immunity will most likely not be From page 15 explained that it is not the nature of such viruses. The virus can be controlled, “but I still think, forevermore, there’ll still be cases,” he said. There will be clusters, “But if we can control it with vaccines, then we’ll be limiting that community, that mass spread that we’re seeing,” Fisher added. Further, he stated that as vaccines continue to roll out
to achieve herd immunity, there will be an ease in restrictions that were implemented to protect citizens and curb the spread of the virus. “We’re obviously a long way away from that in most countries. And I must say, before I hand over, this is — this is if things go well. We don’t know everything that’s needed to know about the vaccine yet,” the Chairman lamented.
He said that while everyone can be confident that the vaccine is safe and effective in the short term, there is a lot that needs to be learnt about what the future with the vaccines looks like. Additionally, he said that if the efficacy of the vaccines wears off after six or 12 months, then there’s going to be new problems arising.
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Monday March 08, 2021
Monday March 08, 2021
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Kaieteur News
...Sinclair’s (3-37 & 73) and Gopilall’s (50*) guide RHT Big Man Cricket to hold
Man-of-the-match Junior Sinclair who took 3-37 then led the run chase with 73, walks back after falling lbw. (Franklin Wilson photo)
From page 23 Thereafter, Sinclair took on the responsibility of batting out most of the remaining overs to see his team home and that he did even as he was eventually struck in front by Ramesh Kasinauth for 73 at 139-3. He {Sinclair} featured in a valuable third wicket partnership of 83 with Mahendra Gopilall who struck the winning runs, a towering six off the bowling of Kevin Umora to see his side to their first title at this level, Gopilall ending on 50* (4x4 2x6). Jonathan Rampersaud was on 10*; RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour, 160-3 off 24.4 overs to win by three wickets. Gopilall and
Monday March 08, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You've had a strong propensity for war lately, Aries. Your drive toward getting things done has rallied and you're anxious to make progress. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your balancing powers will be put to the test today when your desire to fight conflicts with your need to plan, Taurus. You might be even more indecisive than usual as a result of this internal tension. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Try not to get too frustrated by the indecisiveness that plagues you today, Gemini. The longer you stand still, the harder it will be to get moving. The key is to find a balance between planning and forcefulness. CANCER(June21–July22) Indecisiveness could be your biggest nemesis today. The general tone of the day is apt to be quite explosive as a feeling of restriction and discipline comes into conflict with a need to fight and conquer.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your best plan of attack today is to not attack at all. There is enough aggressiveness out there. You don't need to add any more to the fray. Let others duke it out. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might need to put on the brakes today. Your present trajectory isn't quite in line with the people and energy around you. Make sure you aren't stepping on other people's toes with your abrasive behavior. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may end up being the peaceful savior that calms everyone down today. Use your artistic nature and love of beauty and harmony to inspire others to put away their differences and concentrate on the positive aspects. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Your unique ability to communicate with many different groups and personalities will be extremely important today to maintaining a bridge between warring camps.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your plans meet with harsh opposition today, Leo. You've been going along at a slow and steady pace, but you will find that abrasive tension arises the more you try to force your will on others.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You might feel like you're getting worked up from all angles today, Aquarius. Find comfort in knowing that things will definitely improve by tomorrow.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You've had a strong propensity for war lately, Virgo. Your drive toward getting things done has rallied and you're anxious to make progress. The problem is that you might have to hold back a bit today.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Try to rise above the potential tension and rough spots of the day. Do yourself a favor and don't feel like you have to stoop to another's level. Take pride in your actions and do things with confidence.
Rampersaud featured in an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 21. BCB President Hilbert Foster was on hand to thank the players and officials for making the tournament a success despite the fact that the covid-19 pandemic delayed its completion from last March. This year’s tournament is expected to bowl off in the near future, whilst those players who would not be eligible can rest assured that a U-23 competition would be organised for them to continue to develop their skills, Foster informed. Cheques for $100,000 and $50,000 respectively were handed over to the winning Captain, Kevlon Anderson and Adrian Sukwa by BCB Secretary, Angelia Haniff and Committee Member, Neil Rudder.
...Belgrave From page 21 Head of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Mike Singh, had shared with Kaieteur Sport earlier in the week that the team will need a total of $15 million to cover expenses on the trip to the Central America country with $1 million being received from the state so far.
pre-tournament meeting Plans are heating up for the eagerly awaited commencement of the Big Man Cricket T25 Over45s tournament. The BMC Committee is inviting one or two representatives from each registered Team to be present at the BMC PreTournament meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday, March 9th at
5.30pm at the GCC Upper Pavilion. Umpires, scorers and commentators are also invited to attend this important meeting to uplift their copy of the playing conditions. The launch of this tournament is slated to be held on Friday, March 12th at the GCC Upper Pavilion at 2.00pm.
...Fruta Conquerors kick off From page 21 competition.” The GoFundMe campaign, which enables fans from all over the world to contribute with any size of donation to the team’s Club Shield journey via a secure online payment platform, can be accessed at: https://www.gofundme.com/ f/support-fruta-conquerorsin-the-caribbean-shield. Fruta Conquerors represented Guyana in the 2019 edition of the tournament but did not make it past the group stage. This year, the Conquerors have been drawn in Group C against Hope International (St Vincent and the Grenadines) and SV Racing
Club Aruba. “We believe we have a really good chance of progressing from the group stage to the semi-finals this year,” said Gittens. “Let’s all get behind the players and unite our resources to help them succeed.” The winners of the tournament will play the fourth-placed team in the 2021 Caribbean Club Championship for a spot in the 2021 Concacaf League. Additionally, the club would like to assure all donors that every iota of donation would be publicly accounted for in keeping with above board accountability.
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Monday March 08, 2021
Fabian Allen’s heroics earn West Indies thrilling three-wicket win over Sri Lanka - Take T20 series 2-1 SportsMax - Fabian Allen smashed three sixes off the penultimate over of the match to hand the West Indies a hard-fought threewicket win over Sri Lanka at the Coolidge Cricket Ground last evening. The West Indies, who took the series 2-1, was staring possible defeat in the face at 105-7 after 17 overs, needing 27 from the last 18 balls but with only Kevin Sinclair and Obed McCoy to come. With Jason Holder at the other end, Lewis hit the first ball of the 19th over bowled by Akila Dananjaya for six and then ran two leg byes off the second. He then smashed the third ball for six and then took a single off the fourth. Holder took a single from the fifth, leaving Allen to face the last ball of the over with four runs needed for victory. Allen duly obliged with his third six of the over to end unbeaten on 21 off just six balls. Holder was not out on 14. Chasing 132 for victory, the West Indies were put in a spin by Hasaranga de Silva 2-13 and Lakshan Sandakan 3-29, who combined to put the home side in a spin. The former removed Evin Lewis for 21 and Lendl Simmons for 26, both batsmen playing injudicious shots to the bowler, who prior to the start, they had planned to see off.
Dinesh Chandimal on his way to a half century yesterday.
Sandakan and Dushmantha Chameera (223) then combined to rip the heart out of the West Indies middle order. Sandakan bowled Chris Gayle for 13 early in the piece and then returned to bowl Rovman Powell for seven and then getting Dwayne Bravo caught at short fine leg for a golden duck from consecutive deliveries as the match headed towards a thrilling climax. Chameera had Kieron Pollard caught behind for a duck and then bowled Nicholas Pooran for 23 to leave the West Indies in a spot of bother at 95 for 5. Dananjaya ended with regrettable figures of 0-53 from his four overs. Earlier, an unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership of
85 from 63 balls between Dinesh Chandimal and Ashen Bandara helped take Sri Lanka from 46 for 4, after the West Indies bowlers had combined to restrict the visitors to 46 for 4 mid-way the 10th over. The pair took 13 off Dwayne Bravo’s final over to push the score to produce the highest fifth-wicket partnership for Sri Lanka to reach 131 for 4. Chandimal’s unbeaten score of 54 came off 46 balls. He only hit three fours as he and his fellow batsmen were made to work hard by the West Indies bowlers, who produced a disciplined display. Bandara’s 44 not out came from 35 balls hitting three fours and two sixes. So restrictive was the
home side’s attack they limited Sri Lanka to only eight fours and two sixes over the course of the 20over allotment. Fabian Allen, who returned figures of 1-13 from his four overs, took the first Sri Lankan wicket when he took a brilliant return catch to dismiss Danushka Gunathilaka for nine with only 10 runs on the board. Nirsoshan Dickwella provided Kevin Sinclair (119) with his second wicket of the series caught by Jason Holder at wide mid-on for four as Sri Lanka crept to 15 for 2 in the fourth over. Sinclair returned the favour when he took Pathum Nissanka at mid-off of Holder’s (1-27) short-of-alength delivery for five to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 27 for 3. Chandimal and Captain Angelo Matthews began to repair the damage with a stand of 19 when Matthews was caught behind off an Obed McCoy (1-29) delivery f o r 11 . H o w e v e r, h i s dismissal opened the door to the record stand that took Sri Lanka’s to a competitive total at the Coolidge Cricket Ground. The West Indies will now turn their attention to the ODI Series set to begin at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound on March 10, 2021.
Fabien Allen and Dwayne celebrate a wicket.
Kaieteur News
Monday March 08, 2021
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GSCL Inc President’s Cup
Regal clinch Masters and Legends titles; Regal, Speedboat declared joint winners after open final abandoned Regal All-Stars Captain Fazal Rafiek and Speedboat skipper Wazeer Hussain receive the trophy from GSCL Inc President Ian John.
The winning Regal Masters. By Zaheer Mohamed
R
egal won the Masters and Legends titles while Regal All-Stars and Speedboat were declared joint winners after the organisers put a halt to the final in the open category due a breach of covid 19 regulations by the spectators when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc P r e s i d e n t ’s T 2 0 C u p concluded yesterday. Regal beat Wellman by nine wickets in the Masters final at the Everest Cricket
Club. Batting first, Wellman Masters were handed a solid start by Greg De Franca and Azeemul Haniff. The duo put on 82 for the first wicket before Roy Persaud provided Regal Masters with the breakthrough by having Haniff caught for 24. De Franca struck two fours and six sixes before he was removed by Mohamed Ayube for a top score of 61. Wellman Masters then lost Troy Lewis, caught off Ayube for 14, however Rawl Reid and Patrick Khan with 24 and 13 not out
respectively saw them to 146-6. Ayube claimed 2-39. Anil Durga sent back opener Chien Gittens without scoring as Regal Masters lost their first wicket with the score on 10. However, Richard Latif and Ejaz Mohamed rallied their team to victory with an unbeaten second wicket stand of 138. Latif struck seven fours and a similar number of sixes in a top score of 84, while Mohamed slammed two fours and five sixes in scoring 54 as Regal Masters responded with 148-1 in 14.2
Fruta Conquerors kick off GoFundMe campaign for Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield Colin Gittens - Fruta Conquerors President
Reigning Elite League champions Fruta Conquerors have launched a GoFundMe campaign to seek the generous support of football fans in Guyana and the Diaspora for their 2021 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield campaign next month. The club has a minimum working budget of GYD $5Million to cover the squad’s preparation for and participation in the tournament, including the cost of training and travel. The Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield, open to titlewinning clubs from the 27 Caribbean Football Union
members that do not organise professional football, begins in Curacao on April 23rd. “Fruta Conquerors is deeply honoured to represent the Golden Arrowhead again in this year’s Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield,” said Colin Gittens, Fruta Conquerors President. “We know everyone wants to see the players have the best chance possible to showcase their talents on this stage and make Guyana proud, so we
are asking the nation and Diaspora to partner with us on this incredible journey.” “Preparing for and participating in the Club Shield requires a huge investment that stretches well beyond the resources of our amateur football club,” he said. “This GoFundMe campaign offers everyone the chance to play their own important and valuable part in helping Fruta Conquerors make its mark on this (Continued on page 21)
overs. Latif was named man-ofthe-match, while Ayube was voted MVP. Regal defeated Parika Defenders by eight wickets in the Legends final. Parika Defenders took first strike and lost openers Unnis Yusuf (00) and Oswald Chandler (01) both falling to Parsram Persaud as they were reduced to 6-2. David Harper sent back Ramesh Narine for five and Glen Fredericks for one as Parika Defenders were further reduced to 7-4. Parika Defenders never
recovered and were restricted for 66-8. Ramo Malone made 27 as Persaud took 2-9, David Harper had 2-12 and Fazleem Mohamed 2-18. Regal Legends lost Mahase Chunilall for 18 and Eon Abel for 10 in the chase before Eric Thomas and Harper saw them home as they replied with 69-2 in 13.1 overs. Thomas made an unbeaten 20 and Harper 17 not out. David Harper was named man-of-the-match and Ramesh Narine the MVP. Regal All-Stars were 18 -
2 in five overs in reply to Speedboat 116 all out in 18.4 overs when the game was halted. Ameer Mohamed made 23 and Vickash Dhaniram scored 20 for Speedboat. Bowling for Regal All-Stars, Delroy Pereira captured 4-27 and Ravindra Ramnauth 226. The winning teams in the Masters and Legends categories pocketed a trophy and $500,000 each, while the runners-up received a trophy and $100,000 apiece. The prizes in the open division were evenly distributed.
Belgrave looking to make big impact As preparations by the n a t i o n a l s e n i o r m e n ’s basketball team heighten for next month’s International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) 2023 world cup (WC) pre-qualifiers, 23year-old Guard; Travis Belgrave, during an interview with Kaieteur Sport, has signaled his intention to carry the intensity to help Guyana create history. Belgrave is hoping to be part of the 12-player squad that will represent the ‘land of many waters’ in their first appearance at the FIBA WC pre-qualifiers in El Salvador next month. The modest Eagles basketball club player will surely be in coach Junior Hercules’ plans after playing decent roles in Guyana’s maiden Caribbean Championship triumph in 2018, while he was also part of the side that played in the FIBA Americas prequalifiers in 2019 and for the
Travis Belgrave 3-0 sweep of Grenada in December 2019 as well. The last time competitive basketball would’ve been played in Guyana would’ve been that home series against Grenada in December 2019 but Belgrave revealed that he has always been particularly disciplined with his workout scheduled because depending on local tournaments to stay on edge is not a possibility in Guyana with the last Club Championship being
contested since 2018. In addition, the pandemic hasn’t done any favours with the closure of all gyms for the good part of a year but the young man has still managed to keep his fitness up with home exercises and conditioning work. Although the national men’s basketball team are only allowed to train twice a week at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Belgrave is satisfied with the work the unit has been putting in despite the circumstances and praised the energy of everyone. “ I t ’s n o t e a s y b u t everyone is going about their business with great positivity. We have a few challenges but we won’t let that stop us, we will give it our all and make the nation proud, the same way we did in Suriname in 2018 when we won the CBC Championships against all the odds”, Belgrave posited. (Continued on page 21)
Kaieteur News
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Monday March 08, 2021
Dorado Speed Swim Club stages protest M
embers of the Dorado Speed Swim have staged a peaceful protest at Lilliendaal after they have not been able to use the National Aquatic Center for training. According to a release, the protest stemmed after other groups, who are more at risk of contracting the virus than swimmers whose medium used during training is chlorinated water, being given permission to train and hold competitions. The swimmers and their parents/guardians are seeking answers, why they are not being allowed to train. The release stated that swimmers from Caribbean countries, with whom locals have to compete with are allowed back into the pool for training while following strict COVID-19 guidelines. Several of the clubs’ age group swimmers had made t h e 2 0 1 9 C A R I F TA Qualifying times before the lockdown. The competitive swimmers are feeling frustrated, especially after seeing competition results from their sister Caribbean
Members of the Dorado Speed Swim Club staged protest action on Saturday on their treatment. countries, and still no permission is being given for them to reopen the pool for training. The newly elected president of GASA, Mr. Dwayne Scott has been working assiduously in trying to get the authorities responsible to grant permission for a limited number of swimmers who have been considered as our ”CARIFTA” medal hopefuls to train, but to no avail.
The qualifying period for Carifta 2021 based on GASA guidelines is April 2020 to March 2021. The following swimmers are on course to obtain at least one qualifying time for Carifta 2021: Raekwon Noel (15-17): 200m (B), 1500m (A)Freestyle, 200m (B) Backstroke, 50m (C), 200m (A) Butterfly, 400m (B) Individual Medley Elliott Gonsalves (13-
14): 200m (B) Freestyle, 100m (B) Backstroke, 50m (B), 100m (C) Breaststroke, 200m (A) Butterfly, 200m (A), 400m (A) Individual Medley Maiya Ifill (15-17): 50m Freestyle, 50m (C) Butterfly Vladimir Woodroffe (1314): 50m (C), 200m (B) Backstroke Aleka Persaud (13-14): 100m (B) Freestyle, 50m (B) Breaststroke, 200m (C)
Individual Medley Paul Mahaica (13-14): 200m (C) Butterfly Athalcy Hunte (13-14): 50m, 100m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly Patrice Mahaica (13-14): 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke The following swimmers are within 2 seconds of obtaining a qualifying time: Donna Carter (15-17): 50m, 200m Backstroke
Latisha Blair (15-17): 50m Backstroke Monique Watson (1314): 50m, 200m Breaststroke Joseph Matthews (1517): 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly Daniel Claxton (15-17): 50m Freestyle Ethan Gonsalves (1517): 50m Freestyle Zara Crane (13-14) 50m Breaststroke
Rockaway Group of Companies Panko Steel Fabrication on support Strathavon SC board with Big Man Cricket
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CEO of Rockaway Group of Companies Hafeez Ali (2nd from left) presents one of the jerseys to Diaram Hemraj in the presence of members of the club.
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trathavon Sports Club of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara has benefitted from the Rockaway Group of Companies. Managing Director of the entity Hafeez Ali presented a set of team uniforms to the club at a simple presentation
ceremony held yesterday at the Everest CC. Diaram Hemraj of Strathavon SC thanked Mr Ali for his input and said it will help to motivate the younger members of the club. Ali said he is happy to support the club since his
mother hailed from the area and pledged his continued backing. Ali also plays for Everest Masters. Strathavon SC takes part in all East Coast Cricket Committee competitions. Ravi Etwaroo also donated a pair of wicket-keeping gloves to the club.
anko Steel Fabrication of Coldingen, East Coast Demerara is the latest entity to join the growing list of sponsors of Big Man Cricket which is scheduled to commence on Saturday, March 13th 2021. Panko Steel Fabrication has been in the fabrication business for several years now and has poured slabs, fabricated and installed several steel structures of various levels throughout the country and is well known for their excellent reputation in the steel fabrication business. The family-owned business is headed by Lakram Ramsundar popularly known as Panko and his son, Andy Ramsundar, who serves as the engineer of Panko Steel Fabrication. Panko readily agreed to co-sponsor this Big Man Cricket tournament since he was of the opinion that it would help to get our senior
Andy Ramsundar, Engineer at Panko Steel Fabrication hands over the sponsorship check to Chairman of the BMC, Raj Singh.
cricketers more actively involved in the game of cricket which ultimately would lead to healthier lifestyles and enhancement
of community involvement by these veterans. They can also serve as role models for their children and the other youths in the community.
Kaieteur News
Monday March 08, 2021
PAGE 25
BCB/Elizabeth Styles (2019) U-21 Final
Sinclair’s (3-37 & 73) and Gopilall’s (50*) guide RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour to title By Franklin Wilson in Berbice In another dominant allround display, Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour team led by solid knocks from man-of-thematch Junior Sinclair and Mahendra Gopilall guided their team to a comfortable 7-wicket win over arch rivals Albion Cricket Club on Saturday last in the final of the BCB/Elizabeth Styles Under-21 (2019) tournament. Played at the Area ‘H’ ground, home of the Rose Hall Town side, the match was originally scheduled for 50-overs but had to be reduced to 31-overs per side owing to a sharp shower of rain which chased the players and umpires off the ground around 11:20hrs after play got underway at 10:00hrs. Albion had earlier won the toss and elected to bat. When rain intervened, they were 18-2 off 10.3 overs with Captain Adrian Sukwah and Sarwan Chaitnarine at the crease. Following the resumption of play at 14:00hrs, Chaitnarine (03) did not last for long as he was smartly stumped by
Chanderpaul Govindhan off the bowling of Junior Sinclair; the first of his three wickets. The foundation for Albion CC’s eventual score of 159-9 was their Captain Adrian Sukwah who capitalised on two dropped chances at 28 and 35 (team total was 59-4) to top score with 65 (6x4 1x6). He eventually fell to a catch on the midwicket boundary by Keavlon Anderson off the bowling of off-spinner Jonathan Rampersaud with the score on 93-5. Anderson made amends as he was the player to drop Sukwah on both occasions. With the Albion innings stuttering, a late cameo from the pugnacious left-handed batsman Antonio February of 42 (3x4 3x6) and Kevin Umora’s 19 (1x4 1x6) added some respectability to the overall total as Albion ended on 1599. The only other batsman to reach double figures was Ramesh Kasinauth with 10; extras contributed 12 (11 wides & 1 leg bye). Sinclair was the leading wicket taker with 3-37 from his 7-overs. Support came from Jonathan Rampersaud (2-63)
RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Wicketkeeper Chanderpaul Govindhan stumps Albion’s Sarwan Chaitnarine of Sinclair. (Franklin (Franklin Wilson photo) photo) from 5 overs with Silus Tyndall (1-11), Kevlon Anderson (1-12) and Keith Simpson (1-23), chipping in. Set 160 to win their first Under-21 title having lost twice before to Blairmont Cricket Club, the powerful RHT batting made light work of the total as they ended on 160-3 to win by 7wickets. Classy batting by opener Sinclair who smacked 73 (7x4 4x6) saw him having to shore up the innings after his opening partner Lucas Arthur was run out for 05 with the score on 18. Captain Kevlon Anderson suffered similarly in another mix-up with Sinclair when he was looking dangerous on 19 (2x4) and the score at 56-2. (Continued on page 19)
AAG second development meet
Olympic hopeful Emanuel Archibal (right) won the 100m dash.
Archibald wins 100m dash again The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) held their second developmental meet of the year yesterday at the National Track & Field Center (NTFC) at Onderneeming. A decent amount of athletes turned out for the meet with the intention of qualifying for this year’s CARIFTA games and the Tokyo Olympics. Among the winners yesterday
were Cleveland Thomas, Devaun Barrington, Anfernee Headecker and Emanuel Archibald. Archibald won the men’s open 100m in 10.24s despite a slow start and up to press time was leading the incomplete long jump event with a leap of 8.07m. More details in tomorrow’s issue.
BCB Executive Members Angela Haniff (right) and Neil Rudder pose with RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Captain, Kevlon and his teammates following the presentation of the cheque and trophy.