Kaieteur News

Chaplain dismissed K NEWS over prayer for “troubled” Police Force

Thursday Edition

AIETEUR

March 11, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 09

p.

15

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday 91,379

PPP/C Govt. reduces information in latest oil report

p.

2

Former Lands & Surveys Commissioner, Trevor Benn, arrested over lands probe p.

17

Government slaps Tug and barge owner pays off Leguan Stelling contractor with over debt for damage $400M lawsuit to Harbour Bridge p.

11

p.

12

Case dismissed against ex-detective accused of accepting bribe

p.

18

Customs Officers, major oil importers resisted p.

3

measures to reduce abuse -GRA of tax exemption letters Boss Since Independence Guyana has been living on donations, loans and handouts.

Listen to Kaieteur Radio @ 11:00hrs on 99.1/99.5FM to find out!

PAGE 02

Thursday March 11, 2021

Kaieteur News

PPP/C Government reduces information in latest oil report

By Kemol King

T

he Ministry of N a t u r a l Resources sent out a release yesterday, announcing receipt of payment for Guyana's fifth oil lift from production at the Exxon-operated Liza Phase One operation.

Though this report gives some information on lifts dating back to the start of oil production, it is immediately noticeable that the report contains a vastly reduced account of information on oil production and revenues, when compared to a report from the Ministry of Finance under the previous administration.

This report comes after a month of advocacy by Kaieteur News for Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, to keep his commitment made during a February 9 press conference, to release reports on Guyana's production.

The Ministry of Natural Resources said that it “recommits to transparency and accountability within the Petroleum Sector...”

The report concluded by saying, “The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Natural Resources is committed to providing updates on oil lifts and sales as may be necessary to ensure all stakeholders and

The entirety of the public disclosure made by the Ministry of Natural Resources and subject Minister, Vickram Bharrat on Guyana’s fifth oil lift members of the public are informed.”

On the fifth lift, the Ministry stated, “On February 05, 2021, 997,420 barrels of oil were lifted from Liza Destiny with a

value of US$61,090,968.03 with a grand total to date of 5,009,797 barrels of oil worth US$246,542,662.

Inclusive of Royalties, the total in the Natural Resources Fund Account

n o w s t a n d s a t US$267,668,709.12.”

In addition to a singular table which provides basic figures on the laden date, volume of oil, and value of each of the five lifts, the

aforementioned represents the e n t i r e t y o f t h i s adminis tration' s public dis clos ure on G uyana's oil and revenues.

A photo attached to this article shows the singular page of information from Vickram Bharrat's Ministry.

This is accompanied by excerpts from a five-page document pro v i d e d b y t h e p r e v i o u s administration for January 2020, for comparison.

In stark contrast, the report envisioned by former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, provided pages of detailed information on Guyana, with several tables.

Jordan's report, titled R e p o r t o n P e t ro l e u m Production and Revenues, included information on production, including all oil produced in that month, barrels used for facility fill, crude remaining in the hos e and piping of cargo tanks and the crude offloading point that connects to the offloading vessel, whether changes are made to volume of ballast crude, whether there were operational losses or crude used for transportation.

A table accompanies this

information, which shows the mathematics to ensure the public knows where all its oil went.

Furthermore, Jordan's report provided information on sales and entitlement, which includes a breakdown of government's share and the contractors' share, cost oil in relation to the cos t ceiling, profit oil; w ith tabular and diagrammatic illustrations. Jordan's report also reveals information on transfers to the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), including that of royalties.

There is a diagram to illustrate.

Jordan's report notes the need for the monthly oil reports to be produced, in addition to several other reports, for which the law mandates publication. It states “Th e s e r e p o r t s w ill allow the public to monitor deposits in, and withdrawals from, the NRF so as to ensure that petroleum revenues are being managed according to the provisions of the NRF Act 2019.

However, these reports may not contain sufficient information to allow one to determine how government (continued on page 8)

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 11, 2021

PAGE 03

Customs Officers, major oil importers resisted measures to reduce abuse of tax exemption letters - GRA Boss A

fter its initial investigations found that the nation's major oil importers—SOL Guyana Inc., Rubis, and GUYOIL—were abusing their tax exemption letters, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) sought to implement measures that would bring an end to this dreadful state of affairs.

But instead of cooperation to ensure greater transparency and accountability, the tax authority saw great resistance from not only the oil importers but even its Customs Officers too.

This was detailed in a letter seen by Kaieteur News from GRA's Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali;

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall; and Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh.

In that document, Statia noted that the major oil importers were habitually abusing tax exemption letters which allowed them to import fuel at duty free rates but with the understanding that it was only going to certain beneficiaries.

The tax exemption letters also allowed the importers to have access to GRA's Permission for Immediate Delivery (PID) system.

GRA's probe later found that companies were bringing fuel into the country under the guise that it was intended for certain companies but when a reconciliation of the books was done, millions of

GRA's Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia dollars worth of fuel were never delivered.

GRA sought to tighten this system by proposing that

UG teams up with NASA to build capacity ...will enable use of US Satellites to monitor local eco-systems, deforestation rates

T

he University of Guyana has teamed up with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and SERVIR-Amazonia as part of a collaborative effort aimed at preparing Guyanese students for the monitoring of Guyana's ecosystems, which will be enhanced via academic research.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked on Tuesday between the partners with the collaboration expected to conclude on December 20, 2023.

According to a statement from the University, following the signing of the MoU, the tertiary institution underscored

that the partners will prepare the nation's Geospatial Scientists, and that the partnership will result also in the monitoring and evaluation of mangroves in Guyana using the latest geospatial technologies and satellite imagery to map the extent and structure of mangrove forests along the coastland.

It was noted too, that the collaboration with both the Government of Guyana (GoG) and Civil Society actors to better analyze mangroverelated land-use changes and act on hotspots of deforestation—to stop them on time. The University said that the data retrieved will allow for better land-use planning,

policy-making and actions that protect mangroves from being converted to other land uses, as well as to plan mangrove protection efforts for farmers in low-lying coastal regions.

“UG will participate in the co-development of the mangrove monitoring platform, and support the validation of data products with field data. It will also engage in workshops and training events led by SERVIR-Amazonia and its partners, and participate in activities related to the methodological development to monitor mangrove forests along Guyana's Coast,” the statement said. It was noted that the signing of (continued on page 6)

Apology and retraction of article Dear Readers, Kaieteur News has in recent times taken the lead in reporting on stories both directly related to Guyana’s emerging oil industry and further afield.

We have set a high bar in ensuring depth and accuracy on what is a complex industry.

Ye s t e r d a y, a n e w

reporter submitted an article titled “ExxonMobil hands over ‘blank cheque’ to US court for future violations of Environmental Laws” which did not on the surface appear to be incorrect.

We s u b s e q u e n t l y , however, discovered that the article was rewritten from a satirical piece published on the Onion website.

We believe that both the production and publication of the article fall short of the high standards of reporting this news organization has established, in both print and radio.

We therefore offer our unreserved apology for the printing of the article and immediately retract it from publication.

with each payment and the clearing of a PID, a computation must be attached showing Imports, Exemptions vs Acquittals for each import, along with the importer submitting a monthly schedule detailing similar information, but advising on who are the beneficiaries.

It was proposed that thereafter, GRA's Law Enforcement Unit would utilise the monthly submissions and reconcile same with the beneficiaries, thereby allowing for timely and easier reconciliation and payment.

In his letter, Statia said, “Suffice to say that notwithstanding the agreement reached r e g a r d i n g t h e aforementioned process, the oil importers expressed reservations and gave every reason as to why this new

requirement should not be thrusted upon them (for obvious reasons). There was also pushback by Customs officers who for one reason or another, did not see the need or understood the rationality for the change, or resisted the changes for their own gain. This led to a piecemeal approach and the eventual return to the old system…”

Over the weekend, Kaieteur News and other media outlets had exposed the extent of the abusive behaviour of oil importers regarding the tax exemption letters.

In the case of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), $482M worth of fuel was not delivered by SOL, along with $53M for Aurora, and $61M for Rusal.

In late 2020/early 2021, it was noted that

ExxonMobil was also a beneficiary. In this regard, GRA said that evidence so far reveals that as early of 2015, the system was being abused by SOL Inc., whereby exemption letters were utilised to clear fuel while the full quantity was not delivered to Exxon. With the exception of Exxon, which is now awaiting final decision on $2.6B cleared and not delivered, all amounts have been paid, the tax body said.

Taking the foregoing into consideration, along with other damning findings, 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.

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 11, 2021

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

How the mighty has fallen New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo, provides a case study of a leader at the top, who can do no wrong, and was seemingly politically invincible. That is, until he is alleged to have done huge wrongs, which are now becoming public for the first time, according to the allegations so far lodged.

The governor is but the latest example of a man unravelling quickly, leaving him to scramble around to pick up the pieces. He has his work cut out for him, and look a lesser figure, as the days pass.

The governor is alleged to have covered up the true number of nursing home deaths from the COVID-19 virus in New York State, and by a wide margin. Of the over 15,000 nursing home deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is alleged that “the state’s health department had logged just over 8,550 fatalities” (BBC, February 25). That amounts to underreporting by almost 40 percent, or to put another way, not reporting two out of every five deaths from the virus.

According to media reports, “a top aide to Mr. Cuomo confessed to covering up the real numbers and withholding the information out of concern that the data ‘was going to be used against us’” (“Lindsay Boylan accusations: why is NY Governor Andrew Cuomo under pressure?” BBC February 25).

It is bewildering that a man who was widely hailed as the kind of leader needed during the height of the pandemic and because of his response has sunk to this low. The questions are: how much did he know about what went on?

Was he in some manner behind the deliberate fudging of the nursing home numbers? And what could he have hoped to have gained from such massaging of the facts? Whatever he did or didn’t know or did or didn’t do, Governor Cuomo has taken a hit, and he comes across as cheap and low to be in the midst of something as scandalous as engaging in (or allowing) manipulations of pandemic fatality figures. He made a good start at taking responsibility by saying that it was his “mistake” in hiding the numbers, but then lost some goodwill when he used a hedge word that feels sick. It was when Governor Cuomo said that the true numbers were “delayed.”

We think that he looked sick and made his believers sicker. It sounded lame and he took too long to come clean, and it still looks incomplete.

The fact that he has ordered an independent investigation is helpful, but he has an uphill struggle to undo what could be lasting political damage, with credibility shattered.

However he emerges from this scandal, his leadership prospects certainly took a deep dive, as compared to a few months ago, when he was riding the crest of waves of admiration and popularity. His name was bandied about, and seriously, as a possible presidential presence in the last elections, and as definitely one, who would be at the head of the pack and to be watched for 2024. Now, though still highly thought of by New Yorkers, on the national scene he lunches on ashes. It is a textbook example of how the mighty can fall fast in societies that hold their leaders accountable.

As if the nursing home fiasco is not, there was first one allegation of sexual harassment, which was followed in short order by a second; now there are six accusers. Thus, the once high-flying governor is forced to navigate a way out of a fierce thunderstorm. His accusers have a credible air about them, and his enemies are going to make sure that he does not quickly forget about them, or that they fade away from the public center, like they do here in Guyana.

Here leaders shrug and move on at the nuisance of it all.

The mighty are untouchable, a caste all by themselves.

Leaders run interference (protection rackets) for glaringly errant subordinates, while blinded supporters could care less whatever either does. Covering up of the facts is established culture, and withholding information is now a settled practice of old governments and this new one.

Allegations of sexual harassment, which are swiftly suppressed, brings a wink and nod from the political people, and a bored yawn from the public. After all, boys will be boys, and leaders are inviolate, no matter how and what they violate. In Guyana, the mighty are not made to fall, they grow mightier.

BEWARE OF AMERICANS BEARING GIFTS DEAR EDITOR, I remind fellow Guyanese of that familiar: beware of those bringing gifts.

I speak not of Greeks, but my fellow Americans, who are poised to invade and overrun Guyana.

As said before, I prefer them to the Easterners, who play the long game, which I think will triumph eventually.

I say this because the Americans are coming in droves, but they could just as quickly be going: permanent interests, never permanent friends.

Today, the converted capitalist PPP government is beside itself with joy.

It should, as the Americans don’t care what it does here. How it savages standards, quietly discards regulations, purposely ignores all those recommendations in those reports from the EU, CARICOM, and the other champions of democracy.

Like state ownership and

control of media. Such as dark money campaign financing.

And of clean governance.

There is only scorn for and dismissal of those kinds of things.

Just too much money to be made, and by any means available.

As a quick aside, I detect that the cocaine cowboys are back in action, which is a resuscitated part of the vast, and still expanding, world of Guyanese entrepreneurship and business opportunity.

I like it and am tempted, but stay with the straight and narrow.

While government and Guyanese rejoice over pronouncements and presences of ballooning American in-

terests, I caution that, should circumstances provide the openings, those same Americans that come under various covers (joint chambers, joint ventures, joint relationships) could be

gone in a jiffy. I say this because our resources are a nice rich sideshow to sort out positioning and readying for the real big one. That is Venezuela with the largest known reserves anywhere.

Exxon repositioning for emphasis on here is prospering in the short term, but on a limited scale.

There is Venezuela and its own gargantuan oil basin in Orinoco and Maracaibo; what Guyanese call ‘big fish’, the real one. Move over Permian.

Editor, sooner than later, the Americans and Venezuelans will have to come to their senses and appreciate that both are hurting each other, most of all themselves.

There are better ways to go about things, friendlier ways to engage.

Look at how wise (and near) Exxon would prove to be: talk about two sweetness out of one bone. Now all of

that may be over the heads of Guyanese who pretend at lack of understanding, including PPP chiefs.

But this little morsel may help. The Saudis and Russians (these people just don’t go away) are talking how not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

There is danger there. It requires a counterweight, an

assured energy one. Well, it is right here, meaning mainly over there in Venezuela; something has to give in what has been MAD; that is, Mutually Assured Damage.

That is where the action is going to be.

As I share this, I urge my fellow Guyanese basking in the glow of American interest.

Be warned. Be careful.

We could be left holding the bag.

Yours truely, GHK Lall

I again make a clarion call for us to respect our Symbols of Nationhood DEAR EDITOR Sometimes I wonder why certain things in Guyana are so inherently incredible. On March 04, 2021 while I was passing through Main Street, Georgetown I observed the colours of the flag of Guyana posted on the front of the building of the Bureau of Statistics. Guess what?

It was upside - down. I wondered what is happening with the stats in the building when the outside is upside down. I proceeded to Brickdam and discovered to my chagrin that the colours of the Golden Arrowhead was displayed on the fence and the front of the Ministry of Natural Resources building and like the Bureau Of Statistics it was also upside - down.

I again wondered if what is happening outside of that building is a reflection of what

is taking place inside, but then again there is a saying, do not judge a book by its cover. I then went to the National Culture Center to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Police Officers’ Annual Conference 2021.

Flying proudly on stage were the Presidential Standard on the right and the Guyana Police Force on the left. I smiled, because they were in their rightful positions.

Cheers to the police for getting the protocol right.

Last year I wrote a letter to the editor expressing my displeasure with the improper positioning of our flag during a ceremony at Moleson Creek at the proposed landing site for the Guyana/Suriname River Bridge.

The Suriname flag was positioned on the right and the flag of Guyana on the left

when it should have been the other way around. As a schoolboy, it was embedded in me that in Guyana whenever the flag of Guyana is flying alongside another flag it must be on the right of that flag and that when it is flying among other flags it must be in the centre and slightly above the other flags. In my letter I pleaded for us to respect our Symbols Of Nationhood: The National Anthem; The National Pledge; The Coat of Arms and the National

Flag - The Golden Arrowhead.

I am perturbed that after over half a century we are showing disrespect for one of our Symbols of Nationhood, The Golden Arrowhead, the flag.

I again make a clarion call for us to respect our Symbols of Nationhood.

I hope that I will not get the opportunity to flag this issue again.

Yours faithfully.

Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

HOW IRONIC? DEAR EDITOR How ironic that the alleged thief of a motor vehicle, when cornered after an epic chase, ran into the compound of the party that tried to steal the elections. The taxi driver and others who apprehended the alleged thief must be commended for their public spiritedness.

Yours truly, Shamshun Mohamed

The government’s outreaches should be commended DEAR EDITOR, It has now become the operational trademark of the PPP/C Government and its Ministers to do not only constant and regular outreaches but meaningful ones which permeate each and every Region of our country.

The Ministers not only listened to all Guyanese, with no discrimination to any political party’s support base, but provided prompt solutions to a number of issues which have been plaguing Guyanese over the most painful and excruciatingly difficult five years of Coalition rule. A period in which, not unlike the ignominious 28 years of PNC dictatorship, which Guyanese at home and in the

Diaspora and in this generation and the future generations would never forget.

I must note here that the Coalition did venture to have a few outreaches, but this was only after the successful passing of the No Confidence Motion in December 2018.

These outreaches not only cost the taxpayers hundreds of millions but they produced nothing except more empty promises.

In fact the Coalition had started their election campaign under the guise of outreaches and rode extravagantly on the backs of the already overburdened and impoverished taxpayers.

The outreach of the PPP/ C Government at the Albion

Sports Complex saw hundreds of issues being ventilated to the various subject Ministers and resolutions for most of these was almost instantaneous.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Zulfikar Mustapha was at his usual best; walking with his A-Team he doggedly sifted through the various problems raised by people both from the length and breadth of Berbice. He did this for over 5 hours nonstop. What can be solved immediately he did, leaving the remainder with definite instructions and timelines to bring about speedy resolutions. Everyone went away completely satisfied that this Government is working by

their sides. The outreach echoed the words of the President that his Government will work on behalf of all Guyanese to make their lives better.

Guyanese are now seeing what the ‘good life’ means not only with the Budget 2021 but by walking with the people and ensuring that the monies reach the intended beneficiaries. I know for a fact that the success of these outreaches can only multiply in the days ahead.

The President and his Ministers had hit the ground running from Day 1 and they have now accelerated the pace.

Yours truly, Haseef Yusuf

Thursday March 11, 2021

Freddie Kissoon is not to be trusted DEAR EDITOR: Response is made to Freddie Kissoon’s letter, “This man is unfit to be part of civil society’s functionalism” (KN: 7th March 2021).

Freddie is in no position to determine anyone’s fitness for societal functionality.

He does not qualify and has proven himself, time and time again as a cheat, a distorter of reality and a scoundrel whom no one can take seriously or trust. He is now bawling that I used “adjective” to respond to him, but he didn’t when he wrote about me.

In his 2nd March column, he asserted that the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is me and I am the TUC, on a position addressed by me and also by the TUC separately, yet asked the stupid question, “what is the TUC’s position?”

When his deception was exposed (see response, “Lincoln Lewis takes Freddie Kissoon to task again” 5th March) he responded on 7th March to distort by suggesting he “was prompted to write the piece because Lewis indicated that his published position in the print media was his own and he didn’t sign as TUC’s General Secretary.”

He wants to interfere with my life, my career, my future, my legacy, the TUC of which I am a leading part, then determine how I must respond.

He has the audacity and is

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

now presumptuous enough to be the aggrieved victim (which he is not) when I respond.

But even as he plays victim, puts his tail between his legs and running into holes, I will pursue him and give him the proverbial sledgehammer.

No apologies.

His appeal to the editorin-chief about “polemics/academic” does not impress or fool me. The degreed dunce wants to tell me how I must speak.

This is not a game of polemics; this is not an exam where a teacher has to mark or he, Freddie determines what standard he prefers. He started the fight but will not get to determine how I fight back. Nobody dictates my fight other than me.

Kissoon is not somebody to be respected in society and therefore I will not treat him with any kid gloves. He loves to attack people to give him relevance in KN. If his lies attract readership or is a strategy to, any time he comes at me with his catfish politicking he will incur my wrath, the proverbial sledgehammer.

In his previous article (2nd March) he accused me of calling on President Granger “to cancel the 2020 election results” but has switched to saying I called on Granger to “cancel the 2020 election” when asked to provide the evidence of his lie.

The pseudo academic is empty on evidence and could only meander all over the place hoping he will be ignored or not challenged.

Now he comes up with more lies that I am engaging in “race hate” and before the court on “criminal charges for assaulting a woman half [my] size.”

Only a nincompoop would accuse me of race hate minus evidence and of grabbing land that my ancestor (Cudjoe McPherson) has transport for, even as he ignores the squatters and their efforts to covet the lands which belong to McPherson heirs.

The only reason he is spreading these lies is because of the racial mix in the land issue and assumption that accusing me of race hate will adversely impact my militancy for racial justice.

Every organisation he is not part of or cannot dictate to is the subject of his attacks.

He is now turning to involve the Catholic Church and the Catholic Bishop – who is part of the Civil Society Forum that he detest – to shape a lopsided fight against me, to attack or marginalize me on lies because of my strident position for respect of all Guyanese, particularly the working class and blacks who are targeted by the Ali/Jagdeo regime marginalization policies and programmes.

Yours truly, Lincoln Lewis

We are all victims, not beneficiaries, of the divide and rule policy DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the letter titled “It is ironic that Green a beneficiary of the ‘divide and rule’ strategy is now cautioning against it” dated March 9, 2021 written by Harry Hergash.

To the many assumptions and I sincerely believe misunderstanding of the whole gamut of events, personalities that existed in the height and may I add the heat of the Post World War II Cold War, this writer has drifted like an Easter kite in our tropical winds and has lost touch with reality.

One should also take account of the former imperial power, Great Britain as it relates to the Independence struggle and the determination by European powers to exercise control over the resources and more importantly, the thinking of us colonials.

I make that brief observation in response to his unsubstantiated and ridiculous statement that I am a beneficiary of the Divide and Rule Policy.

The insinuation is clear but let me state fearlessly that

for many of us who took part in the effort to gain Independence and I began as a teenager, it required tenacity and skill to understand the genesis of imperial strategy and the tactics of local colonial administrators.

Tutored by my two earlier political icons, Dr. Cheddi B. Jagan and L.F.S. Burnham, along with others, we had to traverse the turbulent and treacherous territory of a divide and rule policy.

At a recent talk, I sought to explain the history of Guyana and the different contributions of our co-called six races. Divide and Rule has a very deep and historical significance. During slavery, when some of the enslaved Africans ran away from the plantations, the Europeans used our Amerindian brothers to capture them and bring them back dead or alive.

When this became cumbersome, the Amerindians were paid a substantial sum to bring back the severed right hand of a slave. A classic earlier example of ‘divide and rule.’

I am a proud descendant of slaves and apart from my

early teachings by my parents, I understood the importance of harmony of all races and classes.

Clearly to state that I am a beneficiary of ‘divide and rule’ is preposterous. If the writer knows even a portion of our social history, if he is a Guyanese, and I assume he is, he would know that we are all victims, not beneficiaries of the divide and rule policy.

It is known, for example, that this imperial policy of divide and rule was practiced as a fine art throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, Africa and India.

We are all victims of divide and rule and my contention is that every Guyanese everywhere should study and understand what in essence became a tradition. I urge that we all be true and faithful to the sentiments expressed in the Song of the republic written by Cleveland Hamilton (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

THE SITUATION AT THE LINDEN HOSPITAL REQUIRES ADEQUATE HUMAN RIGHTS INTERVENTION DEAR EDITOR, Clearly Guyana has different work rules and definitions of what is acceptable behaviour in the workplace.

If the situation with the Nurses vs CEO, Re: KN 10th”Linden Nurses continue to bar CEO from entering office” was transplanted to certain countries, the CEO would have been dismissed or resigned, apology letter or no apology letter.

Then again, such behaviour and even worse comments made by any authority in power not conducive for a smooth workforce environment would be nothing to even think about in other places.

Again, it all depends on country. The nurses with the upper hand are clearly correct in asking for his dismissal, that is, if Guyana wants to take the High Road.

What makes a strike legal or illegal, when workplace behaviour is at the crux of this matter? (Any well trained HR person would be able to provide the answer in 10 minutes).

As it stands, this is a classic textbook example of a hostile workplace environment; and there is no going forward if a hostile environment exists.

On the other hand, regardless of the crudeness of the CEO’s remarks as reported; on the alleged nurses’ alleged mid-

night runs, that itself has to be investigated. Is there any validity to that or not? Or no one wants to open a can of worms and complicate matters? Fair is Fair.

This is strictly a workplace issue, one that falls squarely in the office of HR, or equivalent personnel whose function is also to resolve workplace conflicts, union or non-union, otherwise everyone will believe they have free reign to conduct themselves in any manner.

There are boundaries.

Any political interference, with a political slant is just to stir the pot, and make matters worse. So, are we taking the HIGH ROAD or the LOW ROAD; in this clearly open and shut case of a classic casebook study of a hostile work environment?

Yours truly, Chi Kansi

Thursday March 11, 2021

We are all victims, not beneficiaries...

From page 5 and music by Frank Daniels which says, “Unyielding in our quest for peace, Like ancient heroes brave. To strive and strive and never cease; with strength beyond the slave.”The other issue of significance raised in his letter has to do with Elections 2020.

We can for the moment ignore the arguments as used in his letter dealing with the interpretation of our laws and application of constitutional niceties.It is obvious to anyone that if you go into any Election, be it national elections, some company elections, the elections of a sports club, if the list used is unverifiable or as was in the case in 2020, clearly bloated then we are building a purported democratic structure on a fragile and unreliable foundation.Those who analyzed the list used in 2020 showed beyond the shadow of a doubt that Guyana’s adult population could not have increased so dramatically within a few short years. I need not

burden this letter with details but the circulated statement

by Mr. Stanley Ming has never been and could not be challenged.I will leave the snide remarks and the attack on some of our leaders for another place and time. Save to advise the writer Harry Hergash, if he is truly interested in Guyana, I can secure an invitation for him to attend and take part in a series of lectures throughout discussions hosted by the Georgetown District and kept in the Covid19 friendly safe and open air

environment of my residence, Plot ‘D’ Lodge.I hope he genuinely seeks knowledge, so that his writings will be accurate and show intellectual depth, and qualities, For his benefit, I quote this from the English Philosopher and Physician John Locke “Knowledge being to be had only of visible and certain truth, error is not a fault of our knowledge, but a mistake of our judgement, giving accent to that which is not true.”

Yours truly, Hamilton Green

UG teams up with NASA...

From page 3 the MoU is the culmination of a series of workshops over the last 18 months led by NASA scientists and those from UG's Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES) and Centre for Study for Biological Diversity (CSBD) which included over 15 GoG entities. According to the University, the project was spearheaded by Dr. Temitope Oyedotun, Dean of UG's FEES.According to Dr. Oyedotun, the initiative was conceptualized with a con-

versation in 2018 and he is pleased that it has blossomed into one that will benefit not only the University but also, the people of Guyana and the Caribbean.

The Agreement was signed by Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice-Chancellor XI,

University of Guyana, and Jesús Quintana, Managing

Director for the Americas of the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and attended by senior officials of UG and representatives of NASA and USAID. Professor Mohamed in her remarks at the signing ceremony said, the University is aligned with Guyana's goal as an environmentally responsible State and that the signing of the MoU with SERVIRAmazonia and partners is part of a response to improve the use of geospatial data and information. She noted too, that with the historic signing of the agreement, the research conducted will assist the University with the development of its Human Resiliency Systems programme, its new Geosciences programme, and Data Scien ces

programme—now in its developmental stage Similarly, Quintana hailed the MoU as an important milestone saying that, “the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT works on landscape and biodiversity conservation, as well as on digital inclusion. Based on our joint research we can collectively innovate and design better policies to confront the challenges the Amazon basin faces.”

T N U L B . . .

T B N U T L N T B .

U .

L .

L T B .

N .

U .

N U T L N B .

U .

T .

L N T U N B .

N U .

L U L LUNT. B .

T . .

T T N N B U B .

U .

L .

L T B .

B . .

N . . .

T U T L N N T U U L N L B U .

B . .

L . . .

T B T . .

N .

N T U L N LU B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

NT LUNT...B NT...BLU N U L B . .

B .

U . .

T L .

N T B . .

U N .

L N T B U N . .

L .

U T L B . .

N B . . .

T U .

L N T B U . .

L .

UN T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L B U UN .BLUNT. . .

L .

T B . .

N .

T U .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

LU ...BLUNT LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . .

L N .

T B BLU T...BLUN BLUNT... UNT...B . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B BBLU T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU .

T .

N .

N T T U L U L N L B U T...BLU U B .

L .

N .

B T . . .

N T U N N N L U U U B L .

L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday March 11, 2021

Kaieteur News

Former President, David Granger's administration, was not very forthcoming with its public disclosures on oil. It set a low bar for transparency in the oil sector, with few exceptions. It also displayed immense incompetence in its management of oil companies, and its negotiation of oil deals.

Because of this, the administration of President, Irfaan Ali, seems to be operating under the impression that transparency advocates will give it a break. If so, we urge President Ali and his government not to labour under this and other delusions about the people letting them down easy.

We demand steady, accurate, detailed and reliable information about the production of our oil and the management of our revenues.

We should not have to beg!

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Thursday March 11, 2021

Kaieteur News

PPP/C Government reduces...

From page 2 revenues that are deposited into the NRF are calculated.

As such, the Report on Petroleum Production and Revenues (RPPR) serves to bridge this gap by providing regular updates on petroleum production and revenues.

The regular publication of the RPPR will allow for greater transparency in this new sector of the economy, ensuring that the public is fully aware of the amount of petroleum being produced and revenues being generated.

Such transparency is important, given the magnitude of revenues that will be generated from this resource.”

Though former Minister Jordan noted the legal requirement for these reports, many of these documents expected from 2020, before the David Granger administration was unseated, cannot be found.

With this lack of information from both administrations, through 2020, the public is left to speculate about its oil revenues and production details, after the precedent for transparency set by Jordan at the start of oil

Sales and Entitlement

PALO

Estimated Recoverable Costs

Costs Recovery Ceiling

1,308,682

1,308,682

Costs Recovery Ceiling

Sales

Cost oil

1,308,682

1,025,305

1,025,305

(1,744,910) * 75% 1,308,682

production.

The People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration intends to replace the Natural Resource Fund Act, and is looking for experts to revamp Guyana's almost entirely outdated petroleum legal framework.

However, there has been no amendment to the Act to move responsibility for

publication of these reports from the Finance Ministry to the Natural R e s o u r c e s M i n i s t r y.

Notably, the Act does not specify the extent of detail to be placed in these reports.

However, not publishing the legally mandated monthly reports on the Finance Ministry's website is a breach of the law.

PALO 1,744,910

Cost Oil

Profit Oil

Contractor

(PALO - Cost Oil

1,025,305

719,605

Transfers to the Natural Resource Fund

ent

r

cto

a ntr

nm ver

Co

Go

359,802

359,802

Production Production The production of oil from the Stabroek Block was reported to be 1,745,930 BBL for January 2020, or 56,320 BOPD (see Table 1).

Of the 1,745,930 BBL produced, a total of 1,020 BBL was used for facility fill. As noted in RPPR Dec 2019, as a result of the first lift of crude oil in January 2020, this volume of crude will remain in the hose and piping between cargo tanks and the crude offloading hose point that connects to the offloading vessel.4 There was no change in the volume of crude used as ballast in the cargo tanks.5 Additionally, there were no operational losses reported for this period and no crude was used for fuel or transportation in petroleum operations.

The production after losses and operations (PALO) during January 2020 was 1,744,910 BBL, i.e. 1,745,930 – 1,020. This was the volume available to be lifted in January 2020.

Former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan provided a more detailed report in January 2020

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 11, 2021

PAGE 09

Cheddi Jagan has become an afterthought T

he absence of the top echelons of the PPP/C leadership, past and present, from the Babu John last weekend is inexcusable. It is a sign of political conceit and insult to the memory of the party's patriarch.

It has been traditional, each year, for the PPP to host an annual activity at Babu John, Port Mourant, to mark the death anniversary of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan. It has also been traditional for the top leadership of the party, and for the PPP/C President to be in attendance.

The PPP is the party of Cheddi Jagan. He was the central figure in the party for more than 50 years. Those who presently hold political power in Guyana are indebted to Cheddi, eternally indebted. This is not the way to treat someone to whom so much is owed.

Of some consolation was that this fact was acknowledged by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha. He conceded in his remarks at the Crematorium site that it was due to Dr. Jagan's teachings and legacy that the PPP/C was able to overcome the recent attack on democracy.

He was also quoted as saying that the PPP/C has remained true to the founding principles of the great leader. Not many are so sure about this.

It is inexcusable for the PPP/C to organize the annual Babu John memorial, and for none of the senior political leaders of the PPP/C,

including the venerable Vice President and the President to be present. It is shocking and it is a disgrace.

The old guard of the PPP/C must be outraged that Cheddi has become an afterthought. Such a lowlevel event is undeserving of Cheddi, especially considering the fanfare that is being raised about the struggle for democracy.

The present cabal, which runs the PPP, are deluding themselves into believing that they are heroic figures who saved Guyana from the clutches of dictatorship.

They had resigned themselves to being cheated out of power after the APNU+AFC dragged out the declaration of the results of the March elections for five months.

The PPP leadership could not be sure that APNU+AFC would have stepped aside. The PPP leadership had become demoralized by the long drawn out court battles and the stubbornness of the APNU+AFC to comply with the democratic will of the people.

Were it not for the then United States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, who made it clear that Granger had to step aside, the PPP/C would have been in deep distress today.

They were never sure how the election crisis would have panned out and this was evident in the time it took for them to name their Ministers and to put measures in place to fight the pandemic and to

produce a Budget.

There was little planning for getting into office, so unsure was the PPP/C as to how the election crisis would have ended.

The ultimate hero of democracy in Guyana was Cheddi Jagan. He never gave up during the 28 years when he and his party were cheated out of office. And this is how his party repaid his sacrifice: with a lowlevel death anniversary commemoration.

It is not as if the pandemic stood in the way of the top leadership of the party attending the hurriedly put-together event. The President attended public events organized over the same weekend for a sugar worker, who was killed even before he was born. He turned the sod for a hotel. He even went to the Everest Ground, where hundreds of spectators and players were breaching the COVIDregulations, during a cricket tournament.

So why could the upper echelons of the PPP leadership not be at Babu John for the death anniversary of the patriarch of the party. This is gross disrespect to those who established and developed the party.

The party's matriarch, Mrs. Janet Jagan, died a bitter woman. She was deeply aggrieved after she was called a private citizen by a party leader, whom she virtually handpicked for the position of President. She died gravely concerned that

Grandpa Cheddi nah boys seh... hear tassa drum Dem

D

em boys get a vision from de afterlife. Dem see Cheddi sit up and waiting fuh dem red flag fuh wave over he grave and fuh tassa drum fuh awaken de dead at Babu Jaan.

Cheddi wait and wait.

But he nah see no crowd come.

He nah hear no tassa drum. Instead of red flag and thousands of people, all he see is couple red shirt and nuff wreath come fuh put pun top he head.

Was Grandma Janet wah did tek lil boy fuh do big man wuk. Lil puppy now grow into big dog. And de puppy biting he master.

Dem send de Minister of Crops fuh lay de wreath.

Grandpa Cheddi bussin' he brains fuh remember if he know dis chap. He looking fuh he old friends, Donald and Sam, but he nah see dem.

Grandpa Cheddi so disappointed dat even if Prakash and de man wah bin part de Red Sea bin turn up

he would a hug dem. He remember wah wan English poet bin seh, “Ingratitude is monstrous; and for the multitude to be ungrateful, were to make a monster of the multitude.”

Babu Jaan quiet since last week. Grandpa Cheddi wait 28 years fuh get back in office. So he seh he gan wait one more year and see whether de tassa drums and de red flags gan return.

Talk half and remember wah old people bin seh about ingratitude.

certain individuals were being catapulted to high office and those persons had played no part in the party's struggle for free and fair elections.

The old guard of the party was deactivated after the 2015 defeat. They should

now recognize the dangers, which is facing Cheddi's legacy by a group of leaders whose policies are completely at odds with the working class philosophy for Cheddi.

It is time to rout the charlatans who have seized

the reins of control of the party. Otherwise, Cheddi will turn from an afterthought to an afterglow.

(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

Thursday March 11, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

President Ali means well, but Guyanese are weird creatures

A

nswer this question. There is a stray dog at the airport in Greenland.

Five persons are watching at it. They are an engineer, a fireman, a policeman, a bank manager and a veterinary doctor.

The airport security rank says, “It is time to kill the dog, what do you gentlemen say, let's vote.”

Which one of the five categories will vote not to kill the animal? Human

behaviour cannot be put down to science. All psychologists will tell you that. In this case with the dog, the answer is scientific.

It is the veterinary doctor that will vote no.

Transport that situation to Guyana. Which one will vote not to kill the dog? The answer is none. Why the animal doctor will kill the stray pet? Because that story, metamorphically, occurred right at the airport here in Guyana. For two weeks,

dogs that arrived at the Ogle airport were killed because the owners' didn't have papers of country of origin.

Now mind you, the dogs were not quarantined or vaccinated. They were put to death on the spot not by overzealous soldiers or excited accountants but by veterinary doctors themselves.

Which other country will you find that inexplicability?

None. Only in Guyana.

Why? The Guyanese

nationality is a psychologically inscrutable nation. It is not easy to understand how they think and the rational, logical basis for their thinking.

What happens then is that if you get a government that means well and uses oil revenue to offer free university education, free water supply, free sanitary pads for every woman, free day care facilities, modern transport system, subsidized e l e c t r i c i t y s u p p l y, increase NIS benefits, etc., this country will remain a shambolic, dystopian land.

Guyanese have formidable Freudian torments that render them illogical.

I wrote the paragraphs above against the background of questions as to why a serial rapist was given bail twice. If you think that is strange just sit in front of your computer use Google and you will see the irrationalities that happen in this nation.

The following examples you should reflect on intensely and deeply. Why would the managers of Movie Towne and GTT sponsor a Caribbean Soca festival on the tarmac of Movie Towne which is located in the heart of five residential communities?

We r e t h e s e m a n a g e r s thinking? The answer is no.

People do not think rationally in this land.

Go back to the past 15 years to the letter sections of the newspapers and see how the banks tormented small income earners. In 2021, there is a letter in the

newspaper about the exact mistreatment.

This is coming after I wrote a column in 2020 in which I mentioned that the President of Guyana told me he has always been concerned about how the commercial banks treat

Frederick Kissoon small income earners.

Last week the WPA, a party that was part of the previous government, made the same complaint against the banks.

Fast forward the tape 15 years from now, and you will see the identical picture.

Why? Guyana doesn't move, doesn't live. Spirit and humanity took flight a long time ago.

In which country, a homeless man picks up a spent shell on the roadway and is jailed for two years? In which country there is mandatory imprisonment on conviction for trafficking in person and the magistrate defied the essence of the rule of law and assigned a monetary punishment and the magistrate is still on the job?

In Guyana a man gets 45 consecutive years for inserting his finger in a

teenager's vagina. No convicted rapist during the past 20 years in Guyana, who brutally penetrated his victim, has received more than 20 years.

I was so moved by this injustice. I knew the father of the accused after long years of political activism. I asked attorney Madan Kissoon to lodge an appeal. He said it cannot be done because the judge is yet to write the judgment. This was five years ago.

In which capital of the world, the fire service is located in the busiest section of downtown? In which country other than Guyana, on all public sector buildings there is a sign that says, “No sleeveless dresses are allowed”? Can any sane mind explain to the Guyanese nation what is wrong with a woman wearing a dress that has no sleeves?

In which nation the country's central prison is burnt right down by marauding prisoners. The inquiry recommended that overcrowding due to excessive jail terms and frequent remanding of accused is the primary cause.

Yet not even an ounce of change has occurred in the magistrates' erratic sentencing structure.

In which country a university spent more scarce funds on entertainment than on expansion.

Ask a man nicknamed, “Bowtie Jesus.”

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

Thursday March 11, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Thursday March 11, 2021

Kaieteur News

Tug and barge owner pays off debt for damage to Harbour Bridge

T

he Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) yesterday announced that it has received the final tranche of outstanding payments from the owner of the tug and

barge that slammed into the bridge on December 9, 2020.

DHBC in a brief statement outlined that the owner of Rediston and Surtrans, D. Sookram, is no longer indebted to the company.

Kaieteur News had reported that the barge slammed into the Harbour Bridge causing it to shift out of alignment and as a result of the hit, only small vehicles and mini-buses were allowed to cross until the

The owner of the barge that hit the Harbour Bridge in 2020 has paid in full for the damage that was caused

necessary repairs were completed.

The barge had damaged the high span of the bridge and consequently disrupted the smooth flow of vehicular traffic for persons seeking to cross from the East and West Banks of Demerara.

The Harbour Bridge is the main link between the two banks of the river.

The Maritime Department had issued instructions for water taxis from Georgetown to Vreeden-Hoop to continue to operate late into the evening until the bridge repairs were completed.

When Kaieteur News had visited the Stelling at Stabroek, shortly after the incident, persons had already started to gather in

their numbers in order to utilise the boat service there to cross the river.

S u b s e q u e n t l y, a n agreement was signed between the DHBC and Mr. Sookram for a payment plan which required him to make an initial payment upon signing and the balance in quarterly installments until the (continued on page 18)

Govt. slaps Leguan Stelling...

From page 11 for all monies owning on the Advance Guarantee and Performance Bond, all interest in accordance with Section 12 of the Law Reform Miscellaneous Act, Chapter 6:02, Laws of Guyana and all other costs the Courts deems just and reasonable.

Following an 11-hour deliberation with the Public Wo r k s M i n i s t e r , t h e contractor and a team from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) back in F e b r u a r y, t h e t e a m

determined that the contractor did not possess the wherewithal to successfully execute the project valued at $413 million.

The Ministry reported that the contractor received payments totalling $199,435,000, almost 50 percent of the contract sum, an “unheard of scenario,” which, it notes, is outside of normal procurement practices and a breach of the Fiscal Management Accountability Act (FMA).

Despite the contractor receiving almost $200 million of the contract sum for a project that was awarded two years ago and was scheduled to last six months, actual works and materials on site were estimated at just about $100 million, the Ministry also noted.

“A contract that should have been completed in six months and signed on September 20, 2018, received an advanced payment on September 26, 2018, but the contractor only received his order to commence works on December 6, 2018. So the contractor was in possession of tens of millions of tax payers' dollars for almost three months before he was required to begin work,” the Public Works Ministry

revealed.

The Ministry had stated that on April 19, 2019, close to 20 months beyond the completion date, the advance payment bond as well as the performance bonds had expired.

In addition, it was indicated that the contractor, having received the contract for the building of a stelling, used the argument of a faulty bill of quantities and earned himself by October 30, 2019, an additional $20,650,000 for the supply and delivery of piles for the same Leguan Stelling.

What was notable was that the contract did not include piles, one of the most important components for the construction of the stelling. The Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, had informed that at the time of the audit, the contractor was paid for measured works, but there was no break down attached to the payment certificates.

Minister Edghill sought to remind that on four occasions he had engaged the contractor and the Transport and Harbours Department on the completion of this project, which yielded no success.

It was against this backdrop that the contract was terminated with immediate effect.

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 11, 2021

PAGE 13

Ramps Logistics partners GPHC launches probe into with Giftland for 'Device death of newborn baby Drive' T

By Alliyah Allicock

A

child's most important school supply is now a technological device. The disruption in face-to-face education has put many less privileged children at a substantial disadvantage. In December 2020, Ramps launched its Cross Border Device Drive initiative to assist families throughout Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

To continue bridging the digital divide in online schooling, Ramps partnered with Giftland Group of Companies to provide devices to many students who still lack the resources to access and successfully participate in online learning.

In a statement issued yesterday, Ramps revealed that it recently executed the first phase of distribution of these devices.

They distributed sponsored devices to St. Ann's Girls Home, Joshua house, and community families throughout Guyana. These areas included Central Georgetown, East Bank Demerara (Eccles, Diamond, Herstelling), and West Coast Demerara (Leonora, Tuschen and Parfait Harmonie).

Darren Etherington, Country Manager for Ramps Logistics Guyana, noted the importance of every child

Ramps Logistics' Country Manager, Darren Etherington (left), and Giftland Group of Companies' Marketing Manager, Lorenzo Persaud having a right to an education. Etherington said, “Children were forced to adapt to this new normal of online learning unexpectedly. Not having access to technological resources has put a strain on their ability to adjust. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and excel. We hope that our Device Drive supports

parents and students in this transition.”

At the handover of the devices, Lorenzo Persaud, Giftland's Marketing Manager, stated, "The Giftland Group is proud to partner with Ramps Logistics with their Cross Border Device Drive. We recognize that both organisations share a mutual (continued on page 14)

he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has launched an investigation into the death of four-day-old, Aklima Mohamed, who passed away at the hospital last Sunday.

The hospital's Communications Manager, Ms. Chelauna Providence, told Kaieteur News yesterday that a thorough investigation into the child's death will be done. She was however unable to offer any other comment on the incident.

Stephanie Burnett, the mother of the dead infant, told this publication that after giving birth to her baby last week Thursday through a caesarean section, she was assured by the doctor who attended to her that she was safe and the baby was healthy.

The 26-year-old mother recalled that on Friday, she was discharged from the hospital but her baby girl was not since she was told that she had an infection. The grieving woman claimed that her baby was receiving antibiotics treatment for the infection.

On the day of the infant's death, Burnett recounted that sometime after 06:00 hrs.,

Stephanie Burnett was able to capture this photo with her baby girl after her child was given a dose of her medication, she observed that the colour of her skin gradually changing to blue. After seeing this, she said that her baby started panting for breath and this got her worried.

Immediately, she said, she raised an alarm with one of the nurses. According to the woman, the nurse had asked her about the child's colour and she had explained that it occurred after the

medication was administered to the child.

Upon hearing that, the woman said her baby was taken from her and rushed to a doctor, who examined her.

After watching the doctor in action, Burnett said that she became convinced that something was wrong with her child. She said that she waited for a while before asking the doctor what was wrong with her baby, but at (continued on page 14)

PAGE 14

Thursday March 11, 2021

Kaieteur News

India in talks with Guyana to buy Stabroek block oil T

h e I n d i a n Government is currently in talks with Guyana for the purchase of crude for short-term oil contracts in order to offset its earlier high priced long-term contracts entered into.

This development has been confirmed by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, who in an invited comment told this publication that while the request has been made, a decision is still to be taken.

The move by the Indian Government — according to a r e c e n t C N B C report—comes amidst rising

crude price which is impacting the petrol and diesel prices.

According to the report, “the (Indian) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is in discussion with Guyana and Mexico for short-term oil contracts which will help a tad bit in offsetting earlier high-priced, long-term contracts.”

India already has about six million tonnes of oil contract with Mexico, according to the CNBC report. The publication said that “it also learnt that if the US lifts sanctions on Iran for oil production from its

existing fields, it may bring some relief to India but that may take six months' time to come online.”

India is reportedly 86 percent dependent on crude import and the Indian crude basket is a little above US$61 per barrel. Brent prices have since rebounded to US$70 per barrel and constitute almost 75 percent of the Indian crude basket.

The Indian crude was priced at US$20 per barrel in April 2020 when the demand was at its lowest low due to Coronavirus-led lockdown.

The central and state governments have also

increased taxes on petroleum products like petrol and diesel which are now hurting consumers with an increase in crude prices.

India's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, is reported as constantly urging OPEC and OPEC+ countries to increase production to meet the growing demand and balance pricing.

However, OPEC decided to continue production cut and Saudi Arabia made a comment that India should use its strategic crude reserves to cool down prices.

ExxonMobil along with

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat its partners—Hess Corp and China National Offshore Oil

C o m p a n y (CNOOC)—began production of high quality crude oil in Guyana's Stabroek Block in December 2019. The country collected its first lift of one million barrels in February, the first year under a lifting agreement that was inked between the partners.

Under that agreement, Guyanese authorities have since sold several of its lifts with the country in the process of finalising the recruitment of a marketing firm, on a term basis, to assist in selling Guyana's future crude entitlement.

To date Guyana has uplifted a total of 5,009,797 barrels of oil, sold for US$246,542,662.

Ramps Logistics partners...

From page 13 goal to help impact the lives of others. It is something that the Giftland Group is extremely passionate about.

We a r e d e d i c a t e d t o changing lives with the most authentic partners who have the passion and expertise for sustainable change. Helping children and adults, especially in this time of need, is the forefront of everything we do at Giftland."

This initiative could not have been possible without the collaboration and cooperation within the business community. Ramps believes that the private sector has a vital role in the outreach and assistance of different communities in need, especially children.

“No child should be left behind or disadvantaged due to a lack of resources.

As part of Guyana's bus ines s s ector, it is everyone's duty to mobilize resources and channel them

into community support and upliftment, the statement added. Ramps Logistics is a supply chain technology company that provides integrated logistics solutions globally.

It noted in its statement that “Our organisation's core ideals surround our people, processes, and technology to achieve increased operational efficiency and excellence. Since 2013, our Guyana office has provided Customs Brokerage, Freight Forwarding, Personnel Services, Marine Agency Services, Shorebase Management, Third Party Services to companies in the Distribution, Retail, Manufacturing, and Energy sectors.

In every office location, we embed ourselves in the culture and the social issues that matter to our employees. Our purpose fuels us to enhance the lives of the communities in which we operate.”

GPHC launches probe...

From page 13 the time got no answers.

Burnett said that after sometime, she and her husband were called downstairs to speak with the doctor. The woman said that she and her husband, in the company of her mother-inlaw, responded to the invitation.

When they arrived, the woman said that the doctor told them that the baby had died. It was also explained to them that the reason the child was rushed to the doctor was because she was not breathing. Burnett related

too that the doctor revealed too that the child's lungs were damaged and that they could not resuscitate her.

Burnett, who said that she is still in a state of shock and disbelief, is hoping that the hospital can provide some plausible explanation as to what really happened to her baby since she was assured that all was well after delivery.

This publication was informed that a post mortem was conducted on the child's remains, but the cause of death is yet to be related to the grieving parents.

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 11, 2021

PAGE 15

As World Kidney Day is observed...

Chaplain dismissed over prayer Foundation engages public for “troubled” Police Force on chronic kidney diseases

C

hronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects about 10 percent of the world's population (about 700 million people) and causes about 1.5 million deaths each year when compared to COVID which has just over 2.5 million deaths, so far.

CKD is a major public health problem because affected persons have reduced life span, reduced quality of life and kidney failure requires dialysis or transplant, of which both are not always readily available or costly.

Most of the burden of CKD is among the poorer nations where there is limited access to health care, among other factors that make patients more vulnerable.

In observance of World Kidney Day today, the Kidney Foundation of Guyana (KFG), a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) that engages in public sensitisation on chronic kidney diseases is providing educational materials for patients and health professionals on kidney diseases.

Vice President of KFG, Dr. Areefa Alladin The NGO has been engaged in a week of activities aiming to promote awareness on CKD and building support for patients and families.

A c c o r d i n g t o Vi c e President of KFG, Dr. Areefa Alladin, preventing chronic kidney disease and slowing the progression of CKD may improve the lives of 10 percent of the Guyanese population.

She noted that being diagnosed with kidney disease can be a huge

challenge, both for the patient and those people around them.

Dr. Alladin explained that, “the diagnosis and management, particularly in advanced stages of kidney disease, impacts severely upon their lives by reducing their ability, and that of their family and friends, to participate in everyday activities like work, travel and socializing whilst causing numerous problematic side effects such as fatigue, pain, depression, cognitive impairment, gastrointestinal issues and sleep problems.”

Dr. Alladin emphasized too that “people living with kidney disease tend to, above all, want to be able to live well, maintain their role and social functioning, whilst maintaining some semblance of normality and a sense of control over their health and wellbeing,” “ We b e l i e v e t h a t investing in patient wellbeing and providing support is a cost-effective strategy that may reduce the need for dialysis and transplant. We want patients (continued on page 16)

Accused found not guilty of 2003 murder of Blue Iguana patron

M

ark Lowchee, t h e m a n charged for the 2003 murder of Club Blue Iguana patron, Collis De Abreu, has been found not guilty of the crime by a mixed 12-member jury before Justice, Navindra Singh, at the Georgetown High Court yesterday.

Lowchee, who was represented by attorney-atLaw, Ravindra Mohabir, had previously pleaded not guilty to the crime.

Yesterday, after a period of deliberation, the jury unanimously found Lowchee not guilty of murder. The panel also found Lowchee not guilty for the lesser offence of manslaughter on a majority verdict 10-2. As a result, Lowchee was told that he was freed of all the allegations and would be able to return home. The case relates to the September 21, 2003 shooting outside Club Blue Iguana in Alberttown, Georgetown.

According to the indictment presented by

Freed: Mark Lowchee State Counsel, Tiffini Lyken, Lowchee, known as Marc Lee, was charged for gunning down Albouystown resident, Collis De Abreu, outside the Blue Iguana nightclub at Light and Fifth Streets, Alberttown.

Lowchee reportedly used a handgun and opened fire outside the then-popular Blue Iguana nightspot, killing De Abreu and injuring two other persons.

The shooting likely stemmed from a misunderstanding between the accused and the owner of the nightclub, over a drinking glass belonging to Blue Iguana.

It was further alleged that Lowchee discharged several rounds in the vicinity of the nightclub.

After the incident, De Abreu and the other injured persons were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment. De Abreu was however pronounced dead upon arrival. Police investigations were conducted but Lowchee was not immediately arrested.

He evaded the police for 14 years until his capture in 2017. The former accused, who by then had become partly handicapped due to a stroke to his left side, faced a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) in the Magistrate Court. The PI was presided over by Magistrate, Leron Daly, who concluded that there was enough evidence for him to stand trial in the High Court.

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) y e s t e r d a y dismissed Reverend, Patrick Doolichand, of Success, East Coast Demerara. In the dismissal letter seen by this publication, it was noted that Doolichand is being investigated for alleged financial crimes.

Also referenced in the letter signed by Senior Superintendent, Calvin Brutus, Doolichand's prayer at the opening ceremony of the Annual Officers' Conference last Thursday, was also a major bone of contention.

The letter noted that Doolichand's conduct “precipitated His Excellency (Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali), Ministers of Government and other distinguished guests in attendance of the ceremony to express utter disgust at such repugnant,

Reverend Patrick Doolichand fallacious and inappropriate utterances at the dignified and professional activity.”

It further stated that Doolichand's prayer

wrongfully and deliberately portrayed the Force's image negatively.

Last Thursday (March 4, 2021), the GPF launched its three-day Annual Officers' Conference at the National Cultural Centre, H o m e s t r e t c h Av e n u e , Georgetown. In attendance were President Ali; Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards and other distinguished guests of the Joint Services.

During Doolichand's prayer, he asked God to protect the president and give him wisdom and understanding to lead Guyana into great success.

The Reverend then went on to pray for the GPF. He said, “We lift the Guyana Police Force before you…if we are honest we are (continued on page 17)

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 11, 2021

Foundation engages public on chronic kidney...

FOR SALEFOR SALE

Cat 428 back-hoe. Cat 215 Excavator used parts road spray painting machine 683-7225/ 227-0367 CAR RENTAL AIDAN'S CAR RENTAL & TOW TRUCK SERVICE:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE#698-7807.

VEHICLE FOR SALE

320 cat Excavator bucket.

Used surveying instruments.1200- Gals Bitumen spray kettle.Call 227-0367/ 683-7225 Body temperature thermometer $7,000, retail wholesale.

Call 624-7155

Allion, Premio,192, 212 Carina, Fielder wagon, raum, Avensis, Bluebird, Allexis, Spacio, L Touring wagon Tel#650-7501 VACANCY Noah 2012 for sale just arrived from japan newly registered 4.6 M negtiable Call 623-3440 or 233-5600

2 supervisor/ western uinon rep francis plaza 69-71 friendship Telephone 274-0144 / 646-3117, 5 cxc subject inclusive maths & English One experience general domestic call 623-1615 One female teacher to teach a grade one & two child. Interested person 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

Kitchen assistant, cleaner, accounts clerk, cashier contact via email chungsvacancy@gmail.com #603-0886, 640-4522, 640-4520, 624-3048

Hauler/ trailer driver, truck driver, welder/ frabrication contact via email chungsvacancy@gmail.com #686-0886, 640-4522, 640-4520, 624-3048

FOR RENT

One bottom flat for business to rent, preferrable chinese 192 Duncan st, newtown, kitty 649-3783/ 225-6571 One semi furnish two bedroom house located at belle west canal, WBD. 267-1361, 622-2739, 653-4441 Sherry.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Commercial property for sale or rent Providence old road Call 623-3440 / 233-5600 PEN PAL A mature male wants to meet mature adventurous females.

Call 642-3208

VACANCY Excavator operator, hauler operator, servicemen and pitmen for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call 2312250 One office manager with experience in MS office must have own vehicle, contact shazam 673-6210

Engineer, labourer, security guard contact via email chungsvacancy@gmail.com #603-0886, 640-4522, 640-4520, 624-3048

One clerk for Eccles office English & mathematics, grade 1 & 2 Email application to techserigy@yahoo.com Furnish apt one bedroom,two bedroom, three bedroom, providence and diamond Tel#672-1906, 6826238, 216-2299

From page 15 to be more content, engaged and constructive with regard to their treatment, and thereby improving clinical outcomes.

Patients need to feel that their symptoms are effectively managed and be intrinsically motivated to become active participants in their treatment.

Ensuring life participation is equally important for both patients and their care-partners, as opposed to feeling consumed and constrained by kidney disease,” she added.

As such, Dr. Alladin said that the Foundation advocates the need for consistent, accessible and support for kidney patients.

She explained too that, the KFG now has persons with chronic kidney disease, dialysis and transplant patients and caregivers on board.

Female cleaner for office. Call: 642-9823 Taxi & Bus drivers 225-3234, 628-1183 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 Maid to cook and clean for the East Bank area Call 615-9132 Delivery riders - Country 120 jobs available to ride company o w n e d motorbikes.Phone:658-9124 or email jobs@gorchum.com Male and female security officers experience will be an asset must be over 18 years old. Call 223-4172 Shop worker & handyman to work in interior Tel#231-0363

WANTED Kitchen manager must have experience must be able to motivate apply @ Shanta's 225 Camp St 2 Lorry drivers 3 porters Contact 626-4691/ 627-1835 Experienced counter server, kitchen assistant, roti/ puri cook apply Hack's Halaal, 5 Commerce St 1 truck driver Call 223-9677 8am to 5pm One (1) male able bodied clerk call: 225-2313/ 226-1497 Puri roti cooks apply @ Shanta's 225 Camp St Wanted - Crane porter ages 25 - 50 years old please call 644-2564 One female cook to work Iteballi landing Carol Bobb Tel#672-7275 Farm workers in Timehri E.B.D Tel#661-1585/ 617-2032 Wanted cashiers, cooks apply @shanta's 225 champ st

“We think that patient advocacy and involvement is essential for a patient centered approach to health care.

We call for more effective

and more integrated and holistic symptom management for all patients with kidney disease beyond traditional kidney therapies including effective strategies to identify and manage symptoms that cause suffering, including pain, sleep issues, anxiety, depression, stress, mobility, frailty and

others and; ask for more education and management strategies to alleviate these symptoms so that patients and

their care-partners can have a better health-related quality of life,” explained Dr. Alladin.

The KFG recently installed a new board which now consists of Chairman Major General (R'td). Joseph Singh; Vice Chair, Dr. Alladin; Secretary, Dr. Maranatha Persaud; Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer; Dr. Nicolas Elliott

and Treasurer Dr. Omadele Thorne.

Other members include: Dr. Jarrel Watson, Dr. Neil Jafar, Nadine Luthers-Williams, Ivonnna Samaroo, Roshini Razack, Somant Heeralall, Allana Heeralall, Richard Rampersaud, Dr. Kevon Tracy and Dr. Tariq Ramsaroop.

Members of the public can reach out to the KFG on its Facebook page Guyana Kidney Foundation for more information.

Thursday March 11, 2021

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Former Lands and Surveys Commissioner, Trevor Benn, arrested over lands probe Ex-Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GL&SC), Trevor Benn, was yesterday taken into police custody for the alleged illegal leasing of six acres of state lands located at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The lands, according to sources, belonged to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), but were leased illegally by GL&SC to a company called Janico Vide Engineering Limited.

Kaieteur News has learnt that Benn was the Commissioner at the time when the transaction was made. He is currently held at the police force’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters at Eve Leary and will remain there as investigations continue today.

In fact, a senior police source said that investigators would be questioning him for some additional allegations made against him.

Speaking with this media house late last evening, another source close to the in-

Former GL&SC Commissioner, Trevor Benn. vestigation highlighted that the ex-GL&SC Commissioner “is implicated in a lot of things (illegal transactions).” The individual went on to note that more files are being prepared and will be sent to investigators.

Just last month it was reported by state newspaper, the Guyana Chronicle, that Janico Industrial Engineering Limited (JIEL) had paid GL&SC some $27M for six

acres of land at Ogle that seemed to be non-existent.

The monies, according to the report, was paid pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between JIEL and the then Commissioner of GL&SC on May 8, 2017.

That MoU dictated that JIEL would lease the land for 50 years and pay $200,000 per acre annually.

The report was based on a letter that was reportedly sent out by the current acting Commissioner of GL&SC, Enrique Monize, to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., seeking advice on the matter.

Monzie had reportedly written that he was unable to locate any vacant land in Ogle that is under the control GL&SC. He explained too in the letter that the lands located in Ogle belonged to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) except for those that were given to the government for the Ogle Airport and to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for schemes.

Region Four man is latest COVID-19 fatality

The Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday reported the death of a 59-year-old man from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) as the country’s latest COVID19 fatality. In its press statement, the Ministry revealed that the man, who has been recorded as the 205th COVID-19 death, succumbed while receiving treatment at its medical facility.

The MOH also reported 81 new infections via its daily dashboard update yesterday, increasing the cases to 8,928.The dashboard shows that eight patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, another eight in institutional quarantine, 32 in institutional isolation and 472 in home isolation. Additionally, a total of 8,211 persons have recovered to date with 11 new recoveries recorded yesterday.

Chaplain dismissed over prayer...

From page 15 able to say that this Force is haemorrhaging right now.

We stand in the gap and we confess the sins of this noble organization, we confess every spirit of racism in this organization, we confess the spirit of corruption and bribery, we confess the spirit of injustice.”

Doolichand then said, “Above all we con-

fess the disunity, and we pray oh God, right now, that the Force is so fragmented that unless you help this Force, this Force will continue to be in trouble.”

The GPF in a brief statement yesterday afternoon noted that Reverend, Doolichand's appointment, was revoked effective yesterday.

He has been replaced by Former Assistant Commissioner, Reverend, Eric Bassant.

Monzie had also pointed out in the same letter that the Ogle backlands were leased to GuySuCo as well, but are

now vested in NICIL. Nandlall had reportedly advised Monzie that if GL&SC had no authority over

the lands, but still moved to lease it, then it is a criminal offence, which must be investigated by the police.

PAGE 18

Thursday March 11, 2021

Kaieteur News

Case dismissed against ex-detective accused of accepting bribe

By Malisa Player-Harry

A

fter nearly eight months of going back and forth to the court, ex-Criminal Investigation Department (CID) rank, Richard Persaud, said that he has been vindicated despite losing his job.

Persaud, who was embroiled in a scandal in which he was accused of accepting money from two women in East Canje, Berbice,

was hauled before the Magistrate's Court in Berbice and charged with corrupt transaction by an agent on July 21, 2020.

His accusers were two former employees of a Superbet outlet in Reliance, East Canje. They had claimed that he had accepted bribe from them in the sum of $60,000 each to assist them in a matter at the court.

He was charged with two counts for one of the individuals, another count for

Tug and barge owner...

From page 12 completion of payment.

In 2019 too, a tug and barge had slammed into the bridge and the owner was ordered to pay $100 million to the Government to repair the damaged structure.

That incident happened on September 2, 2019.

On that occasion a tug, Marina Oceanic, and a barge, manned by Cubans and registered in Panama,

crashed into the Harbour Bridge, badly damaging the decades old structure and leaving hundreds of commuters stranded for several hours.

That resulted in the bridge remaining inoperable for almost 36 hours.

Under the laws, the cost for fixing such damage to the bridge must be covered by the offending parties.

the second and was remanded to prison. Persaud on his second court appearance was granted bail in the sum of $150,000 on each count ($450,000).

The matter was called again at the Reliance Magistrate's Court on February 10, 2021 and the two female witnesses from East Canje were summoned by the Magistrate to appear in court.

The women showed up but things took an interesting turn.

They were placed in the witness box and sworn evidence was taken. They both told the court that the police rank had visited their home multiple times one night during the investigation of a matter they were involved in, and they were told to sign several statements. They said that Persaud never collected any money from them and they apologized to the court.

The Magistrate then asked the prosecutor if there were any other witnesses or if there was additional evidence and

the prosecutor responded in the negative. Magistrate Singh then dismissed the case.

Persaud, after the dismissal, revealed that since the allegations were levelled against him and charges were laid, his character has been tarnished and he was forced to resign from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) because of the pressure he faced during that time. He added that since he was charged in July of last year he has been unable to get a job and that his partner has been supporting him tremendously throughout his difficult time.

According to Persaud too, now that the matter has been dismissed and "the truth was revealed that I didn't take any money," he is hoping to have an audience with the GPF's hierarchy to possibly get his job back. He said he still believes that he can be an asset to the Force. Persaud is also hoping that Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, will take interest in his case.

In 2019, proprietors of the

Superbet business had accused Persaud and another uniformed rank of entering his yard and reportedly planting drugs. However, surveillance footage that had been withheld by the GPF at that time was seen by this publication and the footage had eliminated Persaud from doing such.

The footage had shown the uniformed rank, who accompanied Persaud on a report to the East Canje business place, walking near the hut and picking up an item then bringing it to a couple's attention.

Persaud was all the while just standing with his hands on his waist observing and interacting with the couple while the uniformed rank appeared to be showing the woman and her husband what he found.

That uniformed rank was never held accountable but Persaud was placed on close arrest for days. It was shortly after reports that the video did not show Persaud committing the act that the new allegations of bribery surfaced. Persaud

Ex-detective, Richard Persaud was accused of taking a bribe from two women who worked at the said Superbet business to settle the matter and police sources had confirmed that statements were taken from the women.

Persaud said that while he feels he may be targeted, once he returns to the Force, he would only strive to execute his duties to the best of his abilities.

"I will just do my work and go home; I have been through enough and I just want my job back. It has been very hard for me and my family knowing that I could not get a job during this time," Persaud added.

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 11, 2021

Govt. slaps Leguan Stelling contractor with over $400M lawsuit

T

he State, through the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., has slapped the contractor working on the Leguan Stelling, S. Maraj Contracting Services, with a lawsuit seeking to recover over $400 million of taxpayer dollars.

This move comes just weeks after the contract was scrapped and over two years of project delays.

According to the court documents seen by this publication, the State is seeking to recover general damages in excess of $100 million for the breach of the contract dated September 18, 2018; $41.3 million in liquidated damages, along with another $41.3 million under the performance bond agreement.

The State is also seeking $81.3 million under the mobilization bond agreement.

Additionally, the State is seeking to procure an Order of Restitution in the sum of $81.3 million and $100 million in aggravated damages for the breach of the contractual agreement.

Further on, the documents outlined as well that the State is seeking another Order of Restitution (continued on page 12)

PAGE 19

The photo shows the state of the Leguan Stelling in February

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 11, 2021

Thursday March 11, 2021

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

REDS JAGUARS SUPER50 FINAL ANALYSIS From page 23 bowling of the promising Seales and Shepard became another Rampaul victim.

With the scoreboard displaying Guyana at 55-6, it was almost over except for the courage and commitment of Raymon Reifer. Together with Sinclair, Reifer added 39 for the seventh wicket. Sinclair however, joined the ranks of the injudicious Jaguars, needlessly throwing his wicket away caught in the deep attempting a shot that was highly unnecessary. Permaul also stuck around a bit to add 38 to the Barbadian born all rounder, while Motie playing most sensibly in getting to 28 that saw Reifer into the 90s before he was dismissed.

Following Motie’s departure, the West Indian all

rounder Reifer did try to jockey the bowling with his list A century in mind, getting as far as 97. Smith at the other end saddled with the job of facing two deliveries so that Reifer may have achieved his quest of 100 in the following over was, however, bowled

by Seales first ball, attempting an attacking shot instead of defending. That left Reifer undefeated on 97, made off of 112 balls and including seven 4’s and three 6’s. A most gallant effort as Guyana disappointingly ended on 210 all out off of just 43.5 overs.

Looking ahead I think it is time for Hetmyer to be given the captaincy of the T20 and ODI squads. The organizers of the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise may also consider that he be given an op-

portunity to lead that entity.

He, Hetmyer, must clearly understand, however, that leadership begins with him. As such he must demonstrate and carry out a much more disciplined performance with the bat, as opposed to his far too often adopted ill advised approach of attempting to hit bowlers out of the ground irregardless of the state of his team’s innings!

Hetmyer must also adopt a sense of historical appreciation for those who came before him and made all of the West Indies and Guyana extremely proud of their achievements. He needs to look at the careers of fellow left handers such as Roy Fredericks (311 ODI Runs/12 matches/Avg. 25.91), Sir Clive Lloyd (1977 ODI runs/87

Thursday March 11, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Too many communications may prove distracting today, Aries. The phone could be ringing off the hook and your email inbox overflowing. Everyone around you seems to be talking at once.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) A sudden but necessary expense could make a big hole in your budget today, Taurus.

Perhaps some repairs need to be made around the house or to the car.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This could be a hectic day, Scorpio. You will probably try to go too many places and do

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Generally you're pretty emotionally stable, Gemini. Today's events might seem to conspire to create erratic moods that you aren't used to feeling.

Some rather bizarre news could come to you today about metaphysical or paranormal matters, Libra. This isn't anything that affects you directly, but more likely concerns discoveries of anomalies.

too many things at once.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You might hear some rather bizarre rumors today, Sagittarius. Someone has misinterpreted a piece of information and blown it into something far different from reality.

CANCER(June21–July22) If you've been studying astrology, numerology, or any other occult science, Cancer, today you might find some of the concepts you're studying a bit confusing.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today you might plan a quick trip by air, Capricorn. This could be business related.

Someone else may have been meant to go but couldn't, so you may be taking his or her place.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A friend could be having financial troubles and ask you for a loan, Leo. You like this person and understand what he or she's going through, so you want to help. But it could be a while before your friend is solvent again.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A date to get together with a romantic partner might have to be broken at the last minute, Aquarius. Your friend might not give a reason, and you might wonder if this means he or she doesn't really want to see you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Some equipment that you use a lot, perhaps an appliance, computer, or TV, might go on the blink today, Virgo. Don't try to fix it yourself even if you think you know how. Call a professional, and hang the expense.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Sudden and unexpected problems could have your household in chaos, Pisces. This probably doesn't relate to difficulties with your housemates. It's more likely to involve problems with

wiring, appliances, or phone lines.

matches/Avg.39.54) Alvin Kallicharran (826 ODI runs/31 matches/Avg.34.41) and Shiv Chanderpaul (8778 ODI Runs/ 268 Matches/Avg 41.60).

They were all attacking players when needed, but they each also appreciated the need to get a start and build an innings for their team.

Hetmyer’s over-zealous attacking approach did not start yesterday. Whilst playing in St. Lucia for Guyana against the Windwards in November 2016, he tried to square cut a delivery from the medium fast bowler-Mervin Matthews just as his innings was getting started, only to be caught at backward point

by Devon Smith. That demonstrated rashness has continued ever since.

After my duties as the

Match Commentator had ended at close of play, I sought and obtained the respective permissions from his Captain and Manager to speak to the talented left handed. During our conversation I pointed out that cut shots square of the wicket are not advisable at the start of an innings and should ideally be shelved until after both the pace and bounce of the pitch had been definitively determined. I further advised him to play mostly into the “V” for the early part of any innings.

The entire Caribbean heard what I can only describe as an act of contrition in Hetmyer’s interview before the Final against the Red Force. During the actual match he was, however, unfortu-

nately back to his worst habits, displaying yet again another atrocious performance when his team needed him to bat deep into the overs.

I have no doubt that Hetmyer’s financial future is well assured as he heads back to another IPL Season, as the tournament goes back to India. Whether he will in-fact regain his place in all formats of the game and especially the WI test team, will depend heavily on how he performs if and when given any further opportunity in the 2021 home series. In the interim, he would also be well advised to make the same choices Allen has in terms of his hairstyle.

Leon Johnson as Captain of the Guyana first class outfit is expected to continue to lead Guyana in the 2021 WI Season. He may also want to consider going lower in the batting order at number 6 to play that Captain’s role that he is very capable of producing.

At the end of the day what is now of the greatest importance for the immediate future of Guyana’s cricket is that all cricketers can be provided with opportunities to play the game that they so love under an atmosphere of a settled National cricket administration.

Joseph ‘Reds’ Perriera

Berbice Educational Institute ...

From page 25 that cannot be played at this time.

It has caught the attention and imagination of hundreds of new players who are being given the opportunity to participate because of the approach being taken by the Guyana Golf Association, which has focused on providing equipment, calls, training and tournaments thereby ensuring access to the sport by many persons who would not previously been able to play.

With dozens of Secondary Schools slated to start the Golf program in September, it seems certain that with more than 3,000 new players in less than one year, Golf is set to become a dominant sport in Guyana.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Thursday March 11, 2021

Shai Hope’s 110 leads Windies to comfortable eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Antigua SportsMax - A century from man-of-the-match Shai Hope and a half-century from Evin Lewis helped West Indies cruise to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka with 18 balls to spare at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series yesterday in Antigua.

Man-of-the-Match Hope scored 110 and Lewis featured in an opening stand of 143, a record-opening stand for the West Indies against Sri Lanka in the West Indies, which was ended when the latter was bowled by an in-swinging yorker from Dushmantha Chameera for 65.

Lewis had faced 90 balls in

his 109-minute stay at the crease hitting four fours and two sixes.

Hope, who dropped from the West Indies Test squad last year for loss of form, was a picture of composure, facing 136 balls from which he hit 12 fours and a six before he, too, was bowled

by Dushmantha Chameera who finished with 2-50 from his 10 overs.

Hope also shared in a 72-run second-wicket stand with Darren Bravo who hit two fours and a six and in his unbeaten on 37 at the end.

Wi t h h i m w a s J a s o n Mohammed, who was not out on 13.

Sri Lanka would have been disappointed after winning the toss and opting to take

first strike, were given a solid platform of 105.

The partnership was broken two balls into the 20th over

by Kieron Pollard, who brilliantly caught Dimuth Karunaratne off his own bowling for 52.

He had faced 61 balls and struck four fours in his 89 minutes at the crease.

Eleven balls later it was 112 for 2 when Danushka Gunathilaka, who was going well on 55 when he was controversially given out for obstructing the field, ending his 98minute stay at the crease during which he struck seven fours from the 61 balls he faced.

The incident seemed to rattle Sri Lanka as two run-outs

(Pathum Nissanka and Angelo Matthews) followed that saw Sri Lanka slide to 126 for 4.

Ashen Bandara scored the third half-century of the Sri Lankan innings that provided some stability to the lower order but by then the run rate had fallen before five runs and over and he was without a partner who could successfully take on the West Indies bowling attack.

His was the ninth wicket to fall in the 48th over bowled

by Jason Holder for an even 50 that included four fours.

Holder, who also accounted for the wicket of Chameera returned figures of 2-39.

Jason Mohammed, who was introduced into the attack late had 2-12 from his four

Dimuth Karnunaratne hauls one away to the leg side © AFP via Getty Images Evin Lewis scored 65 for the Windies in a excellent opening stand. (CWI)

overs having claimed the wickets of Kamindu Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva.

There was a wicket each for

Alzarri Joseph, Pollard and Fabian Allen, in a performance of which Coach Phil Simmons would be proud.

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka Innings (50 Overs Maximum) Danushka Gunathilaka obstructing the field 55 Dimuth Karunaratne (c) c & b Pollard 52 Pathum Nissanka run out (Bravo/Hosein) 8 Angelo Mathews run out (Shepherd/Pollard) 5 Dinesh Chandimal † c sub (HR Walsh) b Allen 12 Ashen Bandara c Hosein b Holder 50 Kamindu Mendis c Allen b Mohammed 9 PWH de Silva c Holder b Mohammed 3 Dushmantha Chameera c †Hope b Holder 8 Lakshan Sandakan not out 16 Nuwan Pradeep c Shepherd b Joseph 1 Extras (lb 5, w 8) 13 TOTAL (49 Ov, RR: 4.73) 232 Fall of wickets: 1-105 (Dimuth Karunaratne, 19.2 ov), 2-112 (Danushka Gunathilaka, 21.1 ov), 3-119 (Angelo Mathews, 23.3 ov), 4-126 (Pathum Nissanka, 24.5 ov), 5-151 (Dinesh Chandimal, 31.2 ov), 6-183 (Kamindu Mendis, 37.5 ov), 7-189 (PWH de Silva, 39.1 ov), 8-207 (Dushmantha Chameera, 43.2 ov), 9-224 (Ashen Bandara, 47.4 ov), 10-232 (Nuwan Pradeep, 48.6 ov)

BOWLING OM R W

Alzarri Joseph 10 0 49 1 Jason Holder 10 1 39 2 Akeal Hosein 8 0 44 0 Romario Shepherd 5 0 30 0 Jason Mohammed 4 1 12 2 Kieron Pollard 5 0 15 1 Fabian Allen 7 0 38 1 West Indies Innings (Target: 233 Runs From 50 Overs) Evin Lewis b Chameera 65 Shai Hope † b Chameera 110 Darren Bravo not out 37 Jason Mohammed not out 13 Extras (lb 3, nb 3, w 5) 11

TOTAL (47 Ov, RR: 5.02) for 2 wkts 236

Did not bat: Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein Fall of wickets: 1-143 (Evin Lewis, 28.2 ov), 2-215 (Shai Hope, 42.6 ov) BOWLING OM R W

Nuwan Pradeep 8 1 46 0 Dushmantha Chameera 10 0 50 2 Kamindu Mendis 3 0 21 0 PWH de Silva 10 1 26 0 Danushka Gunathilaka 5 0 25 0 Lakshan Sandakan 10 0 57 0 Ashen Bandara 1 0 8 0

Danushka Gunathilaka gestures to Kieron Pollard that he didn’t kick the ball away intentionally.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Match Details: Venue: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua Toss: Sri Lanka, elected to bat first Player Of The Match: Shai Hope ODI Debut: Ashen Bandara Pathum Nissanka Umpires: Gregory Brathwaite Joel Wilson TV Umpire Nigel Duguid Reserve Umpire Leslie Reifer Match Referee Richie Richardson Points:W est Indies 10, Sri Lanka 0

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 11, 2021

PAGE 23

Vitality Inc donates $1.4 M in cricket gears to eight Berbice clubs and two youth cricketers Eight cricket clubs from the Upper Corentyne area along with two young cricketers from Port Mourant and Tucber Park on Tuesday last received over $1.4 M worth of cricket gears from Vitality Inc. The company, which would be officially launched in Guyana shortly, is headed by overseas based Guyanese Sureian Sawh, a former resident of Upper Corentyne before he migrated to the United States.

The clubs receiving the gears were No 73 Young Warriors, No 72 Cut and Load, No 72 All Stars, No 70 MYO, NO 68 Turn team, No 68 Darkners Superstars, NO 69 Red Rose and NO 69 Vikings Cricket teams.

BCB President Hilbert Foster, who spearheaded the progect, stated that the presentation was another red letter day in the continuing development of Berbice cricket. He stated that the ongoing pandemic was affecting many clubs from organising fund raising events to obtain cricket gears and as such donations such as the contribution from Vitality are much welcomed.

Foster noted that since his administration came into office in 2018, clubs and youth cricketers have benefitted from over thirteen

millions dollars worth of items. These includes cricket gears, cricket balls, stumps, bicycles, school bags, uniforms, scorebooks, water pitches among others. The BCB President disclosed that he was surprised to be contacted by Sawh, who indicated that he was very impressed by the development taking place in Berbice cricket and wanted to contribute to clubs in his birthplace.

The donated items included batting pads, batting gloves, helmets, stumps, gears bag among others and each club received a package worth about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The company also handed over two cricket packages to two promising youth players from the Port Mourant Cricket Clubs. They each collected a pair of batting pads, batting gloves and a bat. Foster urged the clubs and players to take care of the donated gears and to use them for the intended purpose. He also advised the management of the clubs to invest in youth teams so that the future of each of the clubs can be assured.

Director of Vitality Inc, Mahesh Ramoutar speaking on behalf of the company stated that numerous

- BCB and RHTYSC honours Sawh with highest awards

The two young cricketers pose with the gears along with executives of Vitality INC. donations were done across the country in private over the last few years and as business expands in Guyana, it would be broadened. He stated that Vitality was pleased to be associated with Berbice Cricket and expressed confidence that the relationship would be expanded in the future.

Immediately after the presentation, Foster and Sawh led their delegation in talks to strengthen the relationship. Discussions centered on a cricket tournament for the Upper Corentyne area, an educational scholarship and

assistance for first division teams. The BCB would soon release updates on the progress of the talks.

Lakeram Latchman speaking on behalf of the eight teams expressed thanks to Vitality Inc for the much needed assistance. He hailed the leadership of Foster at the BCB as remarkable and reassured the donors that the gears would be taken care of.

The BCB and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club also conferred their highest awards-Tribute to Heroes and Dolphin Award of Excellence respectively on Sawh.

BCB Secretary Angela Haniff hands over Tribute to Heroes Award to Sureian Sawh.

Letter to the Sports Editor... Reds Jaguars Super50 Final Analysis Dear Sports Editor, I would be most grateful for you to consider carrying my thoughts on Guyana’s performance during the recent CG Caribbean Regional Super50 Tournament for the Sir Clive Lloyd trophy. A performance which having promised so much ended yet again in what has now become almost predictable disappointment for us in white ball cricket tournament finals!

When the Guyana squad was selected, I was no doubt quite happy with the bowlers who were chosen. I must however, admit to having been disappointed that neither Jonathan Foo nor Kevlon Anderson made the cut into the final squad.

I saw Foo as an X factor, aggressive middle order batsman capable of changing the game at any stage. On the other hand, the West Indies Under19 star Anderson seems to be fully in

possession of both the foot work and skill that are required to score at a fairly good rate in white ball cricket.

It is also important, however, that I focus on the final which is very much in my thoughts. Although having accepted in my mind that the T&T Red Force would have undoubtedly started as the favorites, Guyana were capable of a least competing against their experienced opponents.

Taking first strike, the Red Force did in the end produce what looked to be an unassailable total, even though Guyana was able to break the 100 partnership when Lewis fell to Moti for 57. The Jaguars did not get the rub of the green however, when Simmons seemed to be fully adjacent when struck on the pad and should have been adjudged LBW to the left arm spinner just about half way through his innings.

Simmons went on to score a

majestic 146 with Darren Bravo 47, Nicholas Pooran 39 and Kieron Pollard all scoring at well over a run-aball rate to build on the excellent start of 121 off 19.4 overs that had been made by the Red Force’s openers.

I also honestly felt that Jaguars captain Leon Johnson made a crucial initial error by not starting the bowling attack with Nial Smith. The in form Smith had demonstrated throughout the competition that he was capable of taking top order wickets with his aggression. Instead Johnson opted for the more defensive Raymond Reifer, who admittedly had bowled an important spell of containment against the Windwards in Guyana’s previous match. When Smith was eventually brought into the attack, the Red Force batsmen were already well set. Smith however, showed his class and character by taking 1-59

off of 9 overs. He must also have been both surprised and disappointed that his captain Johnson did not allow him to bowl his full quota of 10 overs.

Gudakesh Motie again displayed his talent to the West Indies selectors by producing 10 skillful overs and conceding only 43 runs for his one scalp. The major bowling disappointment for the day however, was Romario Shepherd. We must all admit that he had a most disappointing showing, never once producing the excellent work with the ball and bat which he displayed previously in New Zealand.

I n d e e d S h e p h e r d ’s lengths throughout the tournament were ragged, but it was in the final that he sadly saved his worst for last.

He seemed to have lost total confidence, spirit and will to end up with 2–105 from his 10 overs.

This was definitely not the same Shepherd we had

seen before. Not the one who had deservedly earned a place in the West Indies ODI squad by bowling just back of a length on the top of the off stump and on an impressively consistent line that was heavily applauded by our world renowned commentator, Ian Bishop.

It is hoped that it was just a series of bad days at the office for Shepherd. My further hope is that Phil Simmons and his coaching staff will provide the necessary supporting work to get him back to his customary consistency and control.

With all due respect to the experience of Verasammy Permaul, I did not think it was at all wise for him to be included in the playing XI for the Final. He had played little or no cricket while in Bangladesh for almost a month and a half, following which there was the long flight back to Antigua and a short period of

quarantine.

When the Guyana Jaguars began their task of getting close to the T&T Red Force’s total of 362, it was, most disappointingly, not outstanding bowling that took the wickets of their toporder batsmen. Rather their rapid, procession like, successive downfalls were the direct result of sheer irresponsible and senseless batting, each finding unique ways to bring about their own demise!

Imlach was guilty of playing across the line instead of hitting into the V. His dismissal was soon to be followed by a reckless shot

by Shimron Hetmeyer from a wide innocuous Ravi Rampaul delivery, Skipper Johnson was the next to go, playing a weak shot off the same bowler to be well caught in the gully by Philip.

Barnwell picked out Mohammed at deep backward square off the (Continued on page 21)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Two realistic KPI’s set by GFF for World and Gold Cups - TD Greenwood Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Ian Greenwood has disclosed that that the Federation has set two realistic Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for the Senior Men’s National Team (SMNT) to achieve in the coming months as Guyana embark on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers as well as the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification tournament.

At a press conference hosted by the GFF on Tuesday to announce plans for the World Cup where Guyana would be playing its first two matches in the Dominican Republic later this month, Greenwood took the opportunity to shed some light on their aims.

He also indicated that lots of work would have been taking place behind the scenes with regards to adding young and exciting non-domestic based players to the group that would be in the provisional squad for Head Coach Márcio Máximo to select from.

Assisting in this regard Greenwood informed are R a w l e A d a m s ( Te a m Manager) and Faizal Khan who is the Head of

Thursday March 11, 2021

Leslain Baird in pain after the knee ligament tear.

Ian Greenwood - GFF, Technical Director

Olympic hopeful Baird tears knee ligament R e c r u i t m e n t .

The first KPI is to reach the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers: “We feel that the work has been done on and off the field and with the support from the executive committee and corporate Guyana we feel that this is a realistic target.”

Greenwood, who was appointed TD by the GFF in 2016 indicated that the second main KPI for this year is to improve on the nation’s 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup performance stating that the first outing was a very credible one for the ‘Golden Jaguars’ against the USA, Panama and

Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o . ”But Máximo, the players and the staff’s task is to improve on that.

Again, we feel that the work that has been done on the field has been fantastic with a real strong quality of domestic based players and the training five days a week has really improved that level. It’s obviously a very difficult time with the pandemic situation in terms of getting the preparations games in.”Greenwood reiterated that the KPI’s are realistic targets that can be attained and they have every faith in the playing group that they have assembled.

(Franklin Wilson)

World Test Championship final to be staged in Southampton AFP - The inaugural World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand will be held in a bio-secure bubble in Southampton, ending hopes that the event could be safely staged at Lord’s.

The plan had originally been to have the marquee match take place at the “home of cricket” in June but the ongoing shadow of the coronavirus pandemic forced a rethink.

The Hampshire Bowl was one of only two grounds selected to host men’s international cricket in England last year, along with Old Trafford. Both venues have on-site hotel facilities.

If the British government’s phased easing of Covid-19 lockdown measures goes ahead as planned, a limited number of fans will be allowed into the ground for the match, taking place from June 18 to 22.

“The ICC (International Cricket Council) World Test Championship final is the pinnacle event in the Test calendar and is intended to be a week-long celebration of the oldest form of the game,” said Geoff Allardice, ICC general manager for cricket.

He added: “We are confident that in selecting the Hampshire Bowl, we have given ourselves the best possible chance to successfully deliver the final whilst keeping everyone involved safe and healthy.”

New Zealand were the first team to

National men’s Javelin record holder, Leslain Baird’s chances of making it to the Tokyo Olympic Games may have suffered a huge setback last Sunday during the Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) second development meet, but the Coast Guard man, during an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport mentioned that he’s staying optimistic.

Baird, who won the men’s Javelin throw last Sunday at the National Track & Field Center (NTFC) on the West Coast of Demerara with a distance of 75m was some 10m off the Olympic Standard before tragedy struck.

The Senior Petty officer was seen writhing in pain and it was later diagnosed that he had suffered a ligament tear in his knee. The South American games silver medalist had been pegged as one of the top Olympic hopeful athletes via to represent the ‘land of many waters’ and he is hoping that he won’t be out of commission for too long.

Further consultations with experts are expected to be done in the coming weeks while he will begin rehabilitation with Guyana Defence Force (GDF) attached physiotherapists.

Research has shown that milder knee ligament tears usually last two-four weeks, while the more severe cases would see rehabilitation ranging from four months to as long as a year.

Head of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, during an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, bemoaned the terrible injury to the promising athlete that has represented Guyana well throughout the years and shared the

Leslain Baird.

collective sentiments of the entire track & field community of a speedy recovery for Baird.At the first development meet, Baird had tossed the spear a top distance of 77.53m and was highly motivated to keep pushing on but he is adamant that he will stay positive and is hoping to fully recover for the AAG’s National Senior Championships that is scheduled for the April 17-18 and will also serve as another Tokyo Olympic qualifier.

Brathwaite XI beat Chase’s XI by 4 wickets India captain Virat Kohli. qualify for the final and were joined by India following their series win over England, which concluded on Saturday.

Tom Harrison, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, said of the stadium: “As the world’s first fully bio-secure cricket venue, it has shown itself capable of delivering international matches to the highest of standards, even against the backdrop of a global pandemic.”

Kraigg Brathwaite’s XI defeated Rolston Chase’s XI by four wickets in the four day ‘Best v best’ practice match at the Coolidge Ground in Antigua yesterday.

Brathwaite’s XI resuming on their overnight 242 for 5 responding to 326 made

by Chase’s XI, were dismissed for 346.

Following Brathwaite’s 94 earlier, Kavem Hodge 59, Paul Palmer Jr 32, Rahkeem Cornwall 63 and Preston McSween 34 saw their team with a small lead. Among the wickets for Chase’s XI, Nial Smith 3-91, Jomel Warrican 3-72, Raymon Reifer 2-71 and Chemar Holder 2-66.

Batting a second time, Chase’s XI were bundled out for 113. John Campbell made 55, Jahmar Hamilton 25 and Roston Chase 19

being the only batsmen to double figures as Veerasammy Permaul was excellent with 421, Rahkeem Cornwall 2-23 and Preston McSween 2-25 destroyed the opposition batting.

Chasing 93 for victory, Brathwaite’s XI reached 95-6 with Kieran Powell making 29, Paul Palmer Jr 21 and Shamarh Brooks 15 being the top scorers. Joshua Da Silva not out 5 and Rahkeem Cornwall not out 8 saw their team home.

Raymon Reifer 2-15, J ermaine Blackwood 2-17 and Imran Khan 2-16 were the wicket takers for Chase’s XI. Scores: Chase’s XI 326 and 113 lost to Brathwaite’s XI 346 and 96-6 by four wickets.

Kaieteur News

Thursday March 11, 2021

PAGE 25

BCB/ Lets Bet Sports Countywide 100 balls finals Rose Hall Bakewell, D’ Edwards,

RH Canje and Dukestown to battle for Championship

Kevlon Anderson Junior Sinclair

T

he countywide finals of the historic Berbice Cricket Board Lets Bet Sports 100 balls cricket tournament would be played on Saturday 13th of March at the Albion Sports Complex under very strict covid-19 regulations.

Powerhouse Rose Hall Town Bakewell along with D’ Edwards CC, Dukestown Warriors CC and RH Canje CC would be the four teams playing in the finals.

The draw was done on Tuesday morning at the St. Francis Developers Training Centre by representatives of

the BCB and the clubs D’ Edwards CC would play Rose Hall Canje @ 9AM, while Rose Hall Town Bakewell would play Dukestown Warriors at 11.30AM. The final would start at 2.15PM. D’ Edwards CC are known to have players who are powerful hitters and among their players expected to be on show would be skipper Jaipaul Heeralall, Keith Fraser, Devindra Lalsa, Heeralall Bridgelall, Azad Khan and Hemraj Heralall. Rose Hall Canje have proven over the last two years that they are no

easy walkover and can match fire with fire.

They would be led by the hardworking Ameer Rahaman and he is expected to be supported by the hard hitting Sasenarine Sukhu, former national youth player Balran Samaroo, Lloyd David, Mark Sampson, Medium Pacer Zaheer Hussain and the talented Michael Campbelle.

Rose Hall Town Bakewell have dominated the second division level in Berbice for years but with their former skipper Kevin Sinclair debarred from the level and several players like Jonathan

Rampersaud, Jeremy Sandia and Mahendra Gopilall unable to play due to age limit, they could be tested on Saturday. No players under the age of eighteen years are allowed to play in the tournament.

RHT Bakewell Challenge would be led by the talented Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Surendra Kissoonlall, Sylus Tundall, Chanderpaul Govindhan, Ty r e s e S e a l e y, E r v a Giddings and the wily Collis Butts. On the other hand, Dukestown Warriors would benefit heavily on several

veterans like Errol Byass, Jermaine Reid, Clavern Beresford, Clarence B e r e s f o r d , Wa y n e Amsterdam, Budram Sookdeo and Noland Richards to upset the youthful Rose Hall Town team.

BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu stated that the overall final is the final stage of the historic hundred balls tournament.

The first stage of the tournament involved the hosting of four separate internal Zone tournaments for teams in West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje,

Lower Corentyne/Central Corentyne and Upper Corentyne. Dukestown Warriors emerged the winner in the Upper Corentyne area, D’ Edwards CC in West Berbice, Rose Hall Canje in New Amsterdam/Canje and R o s e H a l l To w n i n Lower/Central Corentyne.

After the final on Saturday, one of the four sub zones winners would be crowned the overall Berbice Second Division 100 balls champion.

BCB President Hilbert Foster and representatives of Let’s Bet Sports would share out the prizes.

Berbice Educational Institute - Unstoppable Up against tough competition from Anna Regina Multilateral S e c o n d a r y, L e o n o r a Secondary, President’s College, and Wisburg S e c o n d a r y, B e r b i c e Educational Institute outperformed the competition to capture the Champions Title in the First Inter-School Golf Skills Championship held on Friday March 5th by the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit and the Guyana Golf Association.

Hard on the heels of the champions were Anna Regina Multilateral and Leonora Secondary schools with the effects from tournament pressure causing President’s College and Wisburg Secondary to place 4th and 5th respectively.

Final results were: Berbice -1st Anna Regina - 2nd Leonora Secondary - 3rd President’s College - 4th Wisburg Secondary- 5th Two schools failed to provide a qualifying team and the competition will only get stronger as Linden

Berbice Educational Institute gets set to add another 5 schools to the fast growing sports programme. Linden’s Regional Education Officer, Nigel Richards, sees the advantages and interest that the sport is generating and has allocated the resources to help develop the game in the region.

Of particular note, with special awards for the top individual male and female qualifiers, in highly contested matches which resulted in a tie for the girls between Subrina Balgobin (BEI) and Suzette Joseph (ARMS).

Elishan Smith

took top Male qualifier away from strong challengers Steffon Lewis and Anthony Tyrell, all from ARMS. In the finals, dominant performances by Jamal Campbell (BEI) and Exyana Persaud (ARMS) led to them taking the titles of top individual male and female in the national skills golf Championship.

“Overall, it feels great to know that this is my first time playing this sport and I’m enjoying it. I’m very proud of myself and my team members and teachers who cheered and supported one

another. Because together yes we can,” said Subrina Balgobin (BEI) who was tied for the top female qualifier with Suzette Joseph (ARMS).

Over 200 students have been involved in the pilot programme and the tournament which was designed jointly by the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit and the Guyana Golf Association to conform with the strict COVID-19 guidelines. Most notably, the competition was executed remotely with all participants competing from

their respective school grounds. This set-up came with its own unique challenges.

Despite the challenges, the competition proved that Golf, one of the few sports that fully comply with covid guidelines can be safely played around the country, as the schools competed in their various regions and scores were computed instantly with results being posted along with photos and videos of the players.

According to BEI’s Head Te a c h e r a n d P h y s i c a l Education teachers Osafa

Dos Santos and Trolston Embrack, “‘The fruit of your own hard work is the sweetest’. Today it was a privilege to compete in the first ever inter-school national golf championship.

Emerging victorious rendered great happiness and greater motivation for the students who competed. All of us at Berbice Educational Institute are proud of the competitive effort displayed by the students and are eager to compete in future competitions, because as a team ‘We did’ and together ‘We can”.

BEI also praised the efforts of GGA President Aleem Hussain who took extraordinary measures to ensure that their ground was brought into shape to allow the kids to practice.

Golf is one of the sport disciplines that can be chosen as a sports elective at CSEC/CAPE, and is being promoted by the Allied Arts Unit since it allows for social distancing and replaced many of the contact sports (Continued on page 21)