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AIETEUR NEWS

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Boy, 10, shot dead in Sophia home invasion

Friday Edition March 12, 2021 - Vol. 23 No. 11 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday 94,545

Guyana boasts of collecting billions in oil money but no evidence to back it

US Financial Analyst says...

14 months later...

Guyana New EPA Head Exxon cannot be

operating at gets US$266M in drops action oil production to fine Exxon for maximum and …as operators extract in flaring under - Dr. excess of US$1B in crude hydraulic spills maintenance Adams from Stabroek Block

ExxonMobil facing another lawsuit over alleged inflation of US assets DPP recommends $500M set Taxi driver aside for pleads guilty to Patrick Doolichand Speaker handle reinstated as investigations into poultry self killing Lusignan Police Chaplain alleged assault on MP sufficiency hairdresser Reverend

Trevor Benn remains in lock-ups as land probe continues

Govt. to send COVID-19 test samples to NY Medical School to test for variants

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!

Friday March 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Guyana boasts of collecting - US billions in oil money but Financial no evidence to back it Analyst For five years, Guyanese have heard varying accounts from previous and current government officials about the billions of dollars the nation is poised to receive from the exploitation of its oil resources. But what continues to be withheld from citizens is evidence to support such claims.

Making these and other assertions in his most recent column on the state of affairs in Guyana is Director of Financial Analysis at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Tom Sanzillo.

Sanzillo said there is a crying need for more transparency in Guyana’s oil industry while noting that he is left to wonder for how long Guyanese will continue to accept this level of non-disclosure.

The IEEFA Director said years after the Stabroek Block deal was struck with ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC/NEXEN, Guyanese remain in the dark about the

“

The many stories filling the airwaves today about Guyana often chatter about earnings in the billions with spending only in the millions.

There are, however, no publicly available government or corporate financial disclosures to check these rumors beyond mere gossip.

”

anticipated revenues from the project, how much it costs the country to obtain its share, and the size of its share compared to ExxonMobil’s.

Sanzillo wrote, “…The many stories filling the airwaves today about Guyana often chatter about earnings in the billions with spending only in the millions.

There is, however, no publicly available government or corporate financial disclosures to check these rumors beyond mere gossip.”

The IEEFA Director added, “Five years after the signing of the contract, public disclosure at a higher level is important for ExxonMobil’s shareholders who have to be concerned about the

company’s weak position and for Guyanese who are interested in what their government is doing with their money.”

Further to this, Sanzillo noted that the oil deal with ExxonMobil requires several pieces of information be submitted to the government but it remains hidden from the people who are the true owners of the resource.

Expounding in this regard, Sanzillo asserted that Annex C, Sections Four through Nine of the ExxonMobil-Guyana deal, categorically state which state that the oil giant must submit regular reports on production, costs, profit calculations and other basic information to the Guyanese government.

He said that some of the information also predicts future production and revenue targets.

These statements presumably are then reviewed or audited by the Guyanese government or its designated representatives.

Director of Financial Analysis, Tom Sanzillo.

Sanzillo said that the release or disclosure of these fundamental reports/statements would not only lend to the promise of transparency, but help Guyanese to see the truth about the lopsided Stabroek Block deal.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

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Exxon cannot be operating at maximum and flaring under maintenance - Dr. Adams ExxonMobil Guyana’s claim that its increase in flaring at its Liza Phase One project falls under the category of maintenance and repairs should be deemed “nonsense” says Dr. Vincent Adams, former Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Dr. Adams’ position emerges in light of the fact that the US super major continues to operate at the m a x i m u m c a p a c i t y, producing 120,000 barrels of oil while flaring 16 million cubic feet of gas daily on the Liza Destiny vessel despite its gas compressor malfunction.

The Former EPA Head made those comments and

more on Tuesday’s edition of K a i e t e u r R a d i o ’s Governance, Corruption and Justice hosted by Senior Journalist, Kiana Wilburg.

There, Dr. Adams sought to respond to ExxonMobilGuyana’s President’ Allister R o u t l e d g e ’s c o n t i n u e d insistence that the oil company’s increase in flaring is not illegal and falls within the purview of the Permit.

For reference, Section 3.6 of the Liza Permit outlines that, “Routine Flaring and Venting are prohibited on the FPSO (excludes tank flashing e m i s s i o n , standing/working/breathing losses.) Routine flaring does

not include flaring related to production rate that is t h e F P S O s t a r t u p , allowed by the EIA. They are emergencies/process upsets operating at maximum and saying this is under and maintenance events.”

It is under this latter maintenance,” he outlined. bracket Exxon that ExxonMobil flaring at their Dr. Adams then asked, places its current increase in “Now, who with common Liza Destiny operations flaring. offshore Guyana sense would put in the permit However, the Former that you cannot flare during EPA Head stated forthright routine or normal operations that ExxonMobil should not but now you going to come b e f l a r i n g w h i l e tell me you can flare under simultaneously producing at maintenance? So you are maximum. This is why he is telling what the permit of the firm conviction that its saying is nonsense because latest “excuse” that the that was never the intent of flaring falls under the the permit.”

Further on, he outlined as maintenance and repairs s c o p e s h o u l d n o t b e well that Exxon’s breach of the permit extends to it not accepted.

“This is even worse having spare parts aboard the because they are operating at Liza Destiny vessel.

Section 3.13 says that the safe maximum

Exxon should have spare equipment on hand to cater for any event of equipment malfunctions. However, the company was forced to send the malfunctioned gas compressor to Germany back to the manufacturer for repairs.

Dr. Adams, who is also an expert in environmental engineering informed that since this was not the first occasion that ExxonMobil experienced equipment malfunctions, it would only be practical to have spare parts readily available in the event of a mishap.

He went on to say, “Anybody with any sense would say that it is a critical piece of equipment that you

Former EPA Director, Dr. Vincent Adams. would need to keep spares for.”

The company had stated at its last press update on March 5 that following successful mechanical repairs and tests, its deflective flash gas compressor was now repaired fully and is set to return to Guyana for installation by month’s end.

This is in keeping with the eight weeks estimate provided by Exxon.

New EPA Head drops action to fine Exxon for 2019 hydraulic spills The new Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sharifah Razack, has moved to drop fines against ExxonMobil for two hydraulic fluid spills that occurred in the Stabroek Block in 2020.

According to Razack, who spoke with Kaieteur News on March 9, these two fluid spills had occurred in April 10 and May 9, 2020.

She indicated, however, that because the volume of oil spilled into the ocean was “small”, the EPA rescinded any intentions to fine the oil company.

“It’s really a barrel that we [EPA] consider a spill and five gallons are not really a spill,” the EPA head said to Kaieteur News.

She then went on to say that even though a letter had been sent out to Exxon indicating that they had to pay a fine, a letter retracting the same was sent out to the oil company in October 2020.

“But we emphasized in our letter that they have to avoid such incidents by paying attention to proper maintenance,” Razack added.

Notably, Kaieteur News had reported on August 2, 2020 that since it started oil production in the Stabroek

Block, ExxonMobil has had six fluid spills, three of which occurred in 2020.

Albeit the spills were small in nature, the former EPA Director Dr. Vincent Adams had said he was deeply concerned about the “dangerous signal” these spills send about ExxonMobil’s safety culture and its approach towards addressing environmental infractions.

During an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Dr. Adams had noted that the company was fined $100,000 (US$500) for each incident, bringing the total payment to $600,000 (US$3,000).

But what had left him disappointed and appalled is the company’s opposition to paying the paltry fine. Dr.

the spills being small but that’s not my business…We are maintaining our position that they have to pay up. Our

Adams noted that the company had sought to make a case to underpin its resistance as it noted that the spills of hydraulic fluid was negligible and therefore had no significant impact on the environment.

“They are making a case using that argument about

position is grounded in the law which says zero emissions and zero discharges and if they refuse

to comply, we will go to court,” the EPA head had insisted.

Turning his attention to the cause of the spills, Dr. Adams had said they occurred due to ExxonMobil’s failure to follow basic manufacturer’s guidelines for a hose on the vessel. He had said that the instructions are clear on having an inspection done before use, but added that such was not done.

He had said, too, that

ExxonMobil is in breach of its permit which states that it has to follow the manufacturers’ guidelines.

During his tenure as the EPA Director, Dr. Adams had signaled his intentions to take Exxon to court for the fines for its refusal to pay it them. When Kaieteur News spoke with Dr. Adams on Tuesday, he had indicated that the documents to take Exxon had been drawn up and it was only a matter of taking the company to court.

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Friday March 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

The Police Chaplain There was this rapid flowing storm in a teacup that was over before it had even begun. The Police Chaplain was fired in short order and quickly unfired in less time than it takes to say: there was a mistake in judgment or severe overreaction or grave misunderstanding at a basic level.

In what has since become widely quoted media coverage in an abbreviated form of what the Police Chaplain said in fervent prayer, and publicly, the man of God covered a lot of territory: hard, dirty, and dark Guyanese territory. It is what most people, especially political figures, wish not to go near to, or hear mentioned in their presence.

The chaplain words spoke of corruption, which is something that all Guyanese know that exists, but which everybody distances from the substance and sum of it. He prayed about racism and division and that, too, is something that Guyanese pretend exists only during times of elections, and at no other time. Though there is some regard for hearts being in the right place, through seeking to obscure the negatives that plague this society, it should be clear that our heads are screwed on wrong, as in backwards. Racism does exist in this country and in thick impenetrable layers, so much so that it would take a chainsaw and blowtorch to cut through the steely resistance of a great many citizens, who revel in its passions and the prejudices that such provoke.

To say that it does not exist in the Guyana Police Force, appears to us to be a more than a bit of exaggeration or understatement, it is the height of denial. Yet as we say so, there has to be recognition for the efforts to address and come to grips with what is as wide as the nation is long. We have a serious problem, chronic and acute and persistent, with racism in this country, and virtually no institution, no community, no place, and no mentality is alien to it, or that remote and immune from its poisons. We must be blunt as usual: the Guyana Police Force is no exception. But this is bigger than the GPF. And it is bigger than the public service and the private sector and the major political groups and large and small institutions of worship in this country.

We must repeat that so that the point is not missed. In this country, even our houses of worship are plagued by the radioactive toxins of racism. When the well populated spiritual world of Guyana should set the tone and standard for the dominant way of life here, that has been infiltrated and overwhelmed by the sicknesses of deep and sprawling bigotries. Instead of the world of the good books and the standards of sacred scriptures - the brotherhood of man, the equality of all - taking charge and leading the way, it has been the other way around, with the political cum racial calling the shots and penetrating every nook and cranny of our society, and almost without fail.

Then there is that other evil, which does not disappear, despite fervent promises of clean governance and zero tolerance for wrongdoing by one victorious political party after the other. It is called corruption, and it is a cancer and virus on this society in its long reach and more lasting and lethal effects.

There is corruption of and by their own (condoned or covered up), corruption of political enemies (exposed and rejoiced over), and corruption in most places (some smartly, some stealthy). But as in the highly charged racial environment, when we deny its runaway existence, it is burying heads in the sand and deserving of a well-directed kick (a series of them) in prime spots on the behind.

Let us face it: we have got numerous problems in this society: untrustworthy leaders, serial inciters and dividers, and great hypocrites and blatant falsifiers. Let us not compound those problems by making still bigger fools of ourselves by putting paper bags over our heads.

We have only touched the tip of the iceberg and in passing. But what the Police Chaplain, abruptly fired, then rapidly rehired, did was simple: he told the truth. He prayed sincerely and courageously about our sins. They are not only of the Guyana Police Force, but of Guyana at large. If the man was so out of touch, so far out on a limb, and so woeful and wicked in his heartfelt prayer, then why did they (Office of the President or Home Affairs, or whoever and wherever was responsible) rush to restore him to where he was before? Think of that.

Helpful get out of jail card DEAR EDITOR, The article titled, “Questions raised over bail decisions for man facing multiple rape charges” (SN March 10). I raised questions via another public channel, and I do so again today.

One rape charge may (may) be understandable, but two of them? And when there are three such charges, what could be the reasoning by our sitting jurists for the granting of bail? To be unsparingly frank, when three charges of rape are laid on separate occasions, there is no justification. There can be absolutely none. Discussion done. Case closed.

Editor, I appreciate discretion and judgment call and burdensome case backlog, but there is something terribly wrong here and disproportionate to the circumstances at hand. In

the circumstances surrounding this alleged serial stalker and rampaging predator, any questioning and deploring is not second guessing or belated wringing of hands. I mean there were three of these heinous incidents of violations. Our jurists cannot be this asleep at the wheel, so out of touch as to be unconscious of reality, comatose to it. From the media reports, it would appear that the allegations that could be levelled against this perpetrator may total in the low double digits. It is my belief that more painful and humiliating revelations will come to light, once traumatized victims can summon the courage to get past the pain and stigma.

I have said this time and again, and there is no problem with saying this yet again. I am all for leniency, but we are

going overboard in situations like these to the disadvantage of the weak and vulnerable.

And this is endorsing the dangerous assumption that all is aboveboard in the realm of jurisprudence, and where the granting of bail is concerned. It is a most helpful, considerate, and cooperative effort at delivering from the bench ‘get out of jail cards.’

Those in robes should be benched for such glaring lack of mental soundness, of judicial unwisdom. It is not Solomonic, it is diabolic, to the extent of being bizarre. I have to ask myself whether we are taking any bottom of the barrel legal denizens in the forlorn hope of converting them into prudent stewards, protectors of society. They are not, and I now move farther afield.

Editor, guns are used at will and almost without fail to

terrorize honest citizens all over, but yet we learn of those who have been charged with possession of illegal firearms used in the commission of felonies being out on the street, and caught in the act of repeating their intimidations and injuries, sometimes lethal. Very few attack the innocent with a knife or stave or screwdriver anymore; the weapon of choice is an illegal firearm.

This is what saturates this society, with due regard for that report of double-digit drop in serious crimes. Tell that to Guyanese looking over their shoulders everywhere they go. There is something horribly wrong with our system of granting bail, with our judicial system.

Overhaul, anybody? I recommend.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

NY State Senator misrepresents US Role in Guyana’s 2020 elections DEAR EDITOR, Shocking and incredulous might be inadequate words to describe the outburst of Senator Roxanne Persaud in the august New York State Senate floor on the outcome of Guyana’s 2020 elections when she rose to commemorate Guyana’s 51st Republic anniversary last month. Senator Roxanne, an Afro-Guyanese American, represents the 19th District in Brooklyn, lambasted US role in guaranteeing democracy in Guyana. The Senator Roxanne came across as misinformed and mis-represented on the outcome of the election as well as America’s role in it.

Local and international observers, the media, diplomats and the global community of nations would not agree with her statement criticizing the US government that supported the democratic outcome.

Apparently, she relied on biased information from and pandered to her base of support in Brooklyn rather than take an objective stand on democracy.

Somehow, because the US insisted that the APNU led coalition accept the democratic will of the voters, the Senator concluded that US decided the winner of the elections. She is plain wrong.

The Guyana voters decided the outcome when they cast their ballots on March 2. I was in Guyana as a reporter and travelled around, including spending time with foreign observers.

After the votes were counted that very evening, observers and the media reported that the opposition

PPP had won the elections.

The ruling APNU claimed victory and said that the election was free and fair, free from interference, and the best conducted elections in decades. However, a day after the election, attempts to declare the right winner was stopped by rogue elements within GECOM, who then made several efforts to rig the elections. The Chair of GECOM, diplomats, and international observers also praised Election Day procedures. Issues arose over the counting of ballots a day after the election when APNU realized it had lost.

Diplomats, observers, and the media urged APNU to present SOPs, the public documents of vote counts that were posted outside polling stations. Elements within GECOM refused to use the official Statement of Polls to declare a winner of the elections.

The matter was taken to the court. Chief Justice, Honourable Roxanne George, ruled in the High Court that the official statement of polls must be used to declare a winner. Representatives from ABCE, CARICOM, OAS, Commonwealth of Nations, UN, and other organizations and countries witnessed the attempt to flagrantly rig the election.

They demanded that the official statement of polls be used to declare the winner.

They condemned the effort to rig. The US and the international community simply asked that the will of the people of Guyana be accepted. The PPP/C, after five months of delay, was

declared the winner on August 2. Clearly, Senator Roxanne made a terrible mistake to assail the US government for being a neutral observer in the election. The US did not decide the outcome of the 2020 elections but admittedly played a leading role in the outcome of the 2015 elections that resulted in the PPP being removed from office, replaced

by APNU. In 2020, it was only after APNU realized that it lost the election that a plan was effected to barefaced rig the outcome. The former Jamaican PM, Bruce Golding, said it was the most transparent effort he had ever witnessed to rig an election.

It is beyond comprehension why Senator Roxanne did not fact find her information on the election.

She would have found out that Caricom nations, rather than the US, played a significant role in helping to certify the outcome for the elections commission (GECOM).

There was a recount that was conducted in the presence of a Caricom auditing observer group.

Then President Granger invited the Caricom group to supervise and certify the recount, saying it was the best interlocutor to resolve an impasse.

The recount was done under public camera. Caricom recount concluded that PPP won the election. The APNU led coalition rejected the outcome. GECOM accepted the recount numbers as credible. APNU started a campaign to vilify Caricom

leaders.

The global community acknowledged the outcome of the elections as declared by GECOM with PPP as the winner. Not one country or observer agreed with APNU that it won or that there was electoral fraud in declaring the outcome.

Senator Roxanne failed to mention that APNU refused to honour the outcome of a no confidence motion that it lost on December 21, 2018 that required elections by March 2019; the election was not held until a year later and only after the regime caved in to international pressure.

APNU also defied the court that ruled elections be held within the three months’ time frame. In addition, there was an aversion to rule of law and other tenets of the constitution such as in the appointment of a Chair of GECOM. The Senator made no mention of efforts by some demanding the swearing in of a President when the outcome was not declared and when challenges were before the court.

Instead of attacking the US, Senator Roxanne should have instructed APNU to adhere to constitutional principles and democratic norms. Guyanese praised the US and the international community role in securing the democratic outcome of the vote.

The Guyanese people want America to play a greater role in protecting the country’s democracy.

To redeem herself, Senator Roxanne should read the judgments of the Chief Justice, the CCJ, as well as

Friday March 12, 2021

I am a citizen, not a science experiment DEAR EDITOR, It took me a considerable time to pen this letter, for I believe in government and country. However I am afraid for my health and that of my grandchildren. Last year, one of my grandsons drank the filaria pills and a few weeks later two abscess came out on his arm. The abscesses left a mark on his arm until today.

All along, we resolved that it was bad lifestyle choices on his part and would warn him to practice safe sex.

Over the past months, he became shy and would often wear a t-shirt to cover the scar.

Low and behold, a few weeks ago, a nephew of mine

complained of pains in his groin, neck glands and armpit after drinking the filaria pills.

A similar story was related by another villager who complained that she developed skin rash followed by abscess on her back. This led to my granddaughter who is a second year biology student at UG, searching the internet for the side effects of the pills being distributed by the Ministry of Health.

Our research revealed that the side effects of the pill diethylcarbamazine are itching and swelling of the face, painful and tender glands to the neck, armpits and groins, loss of vision,

skin rash, etc.

As a senior citizen, I am very concerned and afraid of what the last government and the present government is doing to their own people.

They have repeatedly said that the only side effects are dizziness, nausea and vomiting. But several internet sites are saying otherwise. Is it that my government is lying to me so that I will be a good guinea pig or is the information on the internet wrong?

Have we become guinea pigs to the developed world; a science experiment? They say 70 percent of us must take the filaria pills, but I don’t

even see five percent of us with ‘big foot.’ Why is my government caught up in fooling us?

These so-called saviours cannot offer us debt write off but they can afford to give us free filaria and COVID-19 pills which their own people need more than us. What is in this COVID-19 vaccine? What are the true side-effects? Does my government care to tell me? Does my government care about me? Does my government value my health and life?

Regards, Kellman David Morgan (Retired Nursing Assistant)

We need exemplars as leaders and not artificial models DEAR EDITOR, I have respect for Guyana’s laws and constitution, likewise all Guyanese should; but it is evident that our politicians/ parliamentarians, wealthy and influential groups can flout the laws and constitution with impunity. A few months ago, an ordinary citizen was charged for driving a motorcar with false licence plate, was fined $1M and jailed for one year by the courts; a wealthy man was found likewise, was never charged and placed before the courts, but paid the custom duty he was evading after the matter was exposed.

A Chinese businesswoman displayed in her store a sign “US currency accepted,” her store was searched; she was charged and fined $30,000 by the courts.

Over forty (40) persons (foot cambios) can be seen daily around Water, America, and Longden Streets buying and selling foreign currency and gold fully knowledgeable to our parliamentarians, police, ministers of government, the Governor of the Bank of Guyana, and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce with impunity.

Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean and South America openly displaying such an illegal activity.

Why the hesitancy?

DEAR EDITOR, On the anniversary of COVID landing in Guyana, the revelation that the minister of health, who should be leading from the front, is still thinking of taking the jab, (as published by

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Kaieteur News

another news entity) sends a mixed message and is not a confidence booster.

Why the hesitancy? Is it a case of do as I say not as I do?

Yours truly, Shamshun Mohamed

A young police constable under cross examination in a criminal matter unwittingly changed his sworn testimony and was jailed for three months by the court (lying under oath).

At present there are persons before the courts charged for receiving money under false pretense (Ponzi scheme, etc.). In December 2018, it was exposed that several parliamentarians, who were also government ministers were dual citizens and as such were not eligible to be members of the National Assembly, but knowingly qualified themselves by dishonestly taking the sacred oath, swearing allegiance to the state of Guyana; obtain high office, highly paid salaries with various allowances, etc.

The actions of these individuals are similar to the above mentioned, i.e. flouting the laws and constitution, lying under oath, and receiving money under false pretense with impunity.

In 2018, a Minister of the government was compelled to apologize to the Speaker of the National Assembly, members of parliament, and the Nation for lying about drugs stored in a bond (bond gate). Well the Speaker demands an apology from those now in parliament who lied to the nation as mentioned above. The majority of Guyana’s population is under 35 years (my grands and great-grands) must have exemplars as leaders and not artificial models. They are the future and must be shown respect guided by truthful and sincere leadership. May the love of God dwell within us.

Sincerely, Gerald Schomburgh

India is shifting to green hydrogen as a renewable energy source DEAR EDITOR, India is following other world leaders and placing focus on using solar energy for the production of hydrogen to fuel automobiles and other sectors in their economy. The recently announced partnership with a European firm comes on the heels of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s announcement of a comprehensive “National Hydrogen Energy Mission.”

Norway and India are also jointly moving towards this venture in the R&D space and are establishing a Centre of Excellence in Hydrogen.

Guyana’s strong historical relationship with India and Norway provides a great opportunity to possibly participate in this venture.

Allowing for an expansion and shift in our energy portfolio that keeps us at the forefront of renewable energy development. Considering the speed at which

technology changes in the energy space are occurring, it may be best to also participate in other key R&D initiatives that may require us to adjust to technology which impacts/reshapes the power grid and energy distribution network.

In the event that our resources do not permit for such a level of involvement, the Ministry with responsibility for the energy sector portfolio should consider developing a business intelligence unit to allow for a fast follower approach. This will ensure that our developmental initiatives remain current and our infrastructure can accommodate the technology of tomorrow while also leveraging the newest forms of sustainable energy.

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

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Friday March 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

Venezuela’s recent action DEAR EDITOR, Two Russian-made Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jets, remarkable for their speed, manoeuvrability, and versatility sent shivers down the spine of many Guyanese and left the elites in power and the military brass grasping for explanations of Venezuela’s recent act of bellicosity. But for Caracas, it was simply a message couched in a visual display of strength and resolve to the Guyana government and its people. For Guyana, it was an ominous sign, a harbinger of

what might lie ahead.

Venezuela’s air incursion into “disputed” territory was both a provocative operation and a reminder to Georgetown of its military impotence.

Aerial incursions are normally undertaken for reconnaissance purposes and to probe defences, but in this case, it was meant to provoke responses not just from Guyana, but from Washington. While Takuba Lodge loudly protested, Washington remained silent.

And that silence not only emboldened Caracas that it

can undertake future incursions with impunity, but it also telegraphed a powerfully anticipatory message to Maduro that the Biden Administration may not be prepared to come to Guyana’s aid in the event of escalating tensions between the two disputants.

President Maduro’s decision to order two fighter jets from the Bolivarian Military Aviation (AMB) to fly over Guyana’s airspace was not a miscalculation. In the first place, Maduro does not accept the 1899 Arbitral

Award that Guyana is the legitimate owner of Essequibo, but rather that this territory was wrested from Venezuela and is in dispute.

It is now only a matter of time before Venezuela ups the ante. Guyana can expect more and more aerial incursions.

And with each one, the chorus in Caracas will become louder and louder. And in the context of this cacophony of deafening exuberance, Maduro will make his move and truncate Guyana, finally bringing to an end an old and contentious dispute.

Guyana does not have the capability or the political will to defend “its” territory from a Venezuelan onslaught. Its military strength is minuscule compared with Venezuela.

And its Army of nearly 5,000 men and women is woefully ill-prepared and ill-equipped to mount a challenge. This fact is not lost on Maduro.

Maduro may be a risk taker but he is not crazy. He will not, for instance, drop bombs on Georgetown or attack or invade Guyana’s legitimate territory. Rather, he would seize what he claims rightfully belong to Venezuela. In the context of such a reality, what can Guyana do?

Brazil is the key to Guyana’s security and longevity as a sovereign state. Political leaders in Guyana have squandered opportunities in the past to forge and deepen Guyana’s relationship with Brazil. Time is not on Guyana’s side. Its leaders must act with alacrity as this is a life and death situation staring them in the face. The question is how to do this? Operationalizing this relationship would require, inter alia, two decisive and sustainable undertakings: 1. The Guyana government must embrace a bold venture of inviting and then awarding contracts and licences to Brazilian companies to come into what Venezuela refers to as the Zona de Reclamacion and establish extractive enterprises, particularly in the mining and hydro sectors.

Giving away forest lands and other concessions to China or Russia, for example, does not augur well for Guyana’s security. Brazil is a technologically sophisticated country with an abundance of skilled people. It is eager and willing to explore and forge a closer relationship with Guyana. Look at it this way: if Brazilian companies are embedded in the Essequibo region with hundreds of their own citizens in situ, Brasilia will not stand by and allow Maduro to invade and takeover said territory.

2. Language holds the key to deepen this relationship. Guyana must make overtures to the Brazilian government, expressing its desire to introduce the Portuguese Language as the second language in Guyana, and requesting that Portuguese Language teachers be sent to all elementary schools. Guyana must further undertake to provide these teachers with housing and boarding and half their salary. The Brazilian government will pick up the other half. These details can be negotiated, but the important point is this: language is a cultural instrument and Brazil would be elated that a neighbouring

state, Guyana, is ready and willing to adopt Portuguese as its second language.

There is no better way to deepen this relationship and build bridges across the Takuba River. It will be a new day for Guyana and the first cock’s crow heralding and cementing this new relationship.

What can also rescue Guyana and buy some time would be an early and final decision by the ICJ in its favour, but such a decision would not dilute or eviscerate Venezuela’s claim to Essequibo. In the meantime, however, our political leaders should not wait to forge and tangibly solidify Guyana’s relationship with Brazil.

Having joint military exercises with counterparts in Brazil will not cut it. That is woefully inadequate and myopic. And the reason?

Maduro is not going anywhere, and if he should be replaced by Juan Guaido, that would spell disaster for Guyana. Finally, Maduro has the full support of all four branches of the Venezuelan military. His grip on power is solid. The doomsday clock for Guyana is ticking. It is two minutes to mid-night. And the Americans are not coming.

Several years ago, the Kurds waited for promised military help from Washington, it never came, and Saddam Hussein slaughtered thousands of them. I was in Kurdistan for a year exactly eight years ago. And I heard and saw the anguish.

Yours truly, Daniel K. Gibran Editor’s Note – Venezuela’s claim on the Essequibo is not a legitimate claim, the boundary having long been established and accepted.

Venezuela’s nonparticipation in the current ICJ case is an indication of the strength of Venezuela’s belief in the legitimacy of its own claim. Additionally, the US and other governments have expressed explicit for Guyana in the wake of the fighter jet incursion.

...NY State Senator From page 4 the recount reports from Caricom and the remarks of all western diplomats. Guyanese, observers, media people, and Caribbean nationals are most disappointed in the Senator for her ill-informed remarks.

She should correct her misstatements about the election on the Senate floor as well as apologize for her misrepresentation of the facts!

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram (Political Scientist/Pollster)

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Kaieteur News

Here’s the condition, moving forward - If you do not respect us, DO NOT invite us to cover your forum.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Guyana gets US$266M in oil production 14 months later...

…as operators extract in excess of US$1B in crude from Stabroek Block The Ministry of Natural Resources has released the figures for the amount of money deposited into its Natural Resources Fund (NRF) with just about US$246.5M in profits along with $21.5M earned in royalties over the past year.

With royalty charged at two per cent, it would mean that the royalty earned reflects total production worth some $1.1B during the course of the reporting period.

The profit oil for Guyana, as announced by the Ministry—uplifted in five shipments totalling some five million barrels of oil—has earned Guyana US$246.5M. Under the Petroleum Lifting

Agreement signed between partners, Guyana receives one in every four lifts.

According to the information released by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the country obtained its first shipment of oil in February 2020, collecting 1,006,321 barrels of crude and sold it for US$54.9M. The second shipment earned the least so far with the country selling its 980,854 barrel take for just over US$35M.The highest earnings to date, comes from the February 2021 shipment of 997,420 barrels which was sold for US$61M. This publication was reminded that the current Irfaan Ali administration has

committed to revamping the Natural Resources Fund legislation which is expected to alter the drawing down provisions from the account.

Under the Production Sharing Agreement signed with ExxonMobil Subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) and its partners—Hess Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Company—the country will share profits 50/50, minus royalty and cost oil.

The two per cent royalty accepted by Guyana under its PSA with the oil consortium has been long criticized domestically and internationally by experts in the field.

Friday March 12, 2021

Boy, 10, shot dead in Sophia home invasion A

10-year-old boy had his life snuffed out yesterday, after he was shot dead by bandits during a home invasion. Killed by a bullet that struck him in the chest area is Anthony Cort, of Packet Corner, C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

The young boy was shot sometime around 13:00 hrs., while he and his mom were at their neighbour’s home located just two lots away from their house. His mother has been left devastated by the tragedy and up to press time was still in a state of shock.

According to police, two masked-men armed with a gun had invaded the neighbour’s home around that hour.

Anthony’s mother was at the time chatting with the neighbour and another woman in the bottom flat of the house, while the young boy was upstairs with the neighbour’s son.

The neighbour told this newspaper that the invasion took them by surprise and that she did not see where the gunmen came from.

They were held at gunpoint; police stated and stripped of their gold jewellery, including bands, rings and a chain. The bandits also robbed them of two cellphones. After robbing them, they forcefully took three women upstairs at gunpoint. As they were almost at the top of the stairs, Anthony ran out of a bedroom and one of the bandits fired a round, which struck him to the chest.

He fell to ground and the bandits aborted the robbery by running out of the house and scaling the fence. An ambulance was summoned, but by the time it arrived, Anthony was dead. The paramedics examined his body for signs of life but found none. They pronounced him dead and the police were called in to carry out the necessary investigations. Based on a spent shell found by detectives at the scene, Anthony Cort was shot with 9MM caliber pistol.

As the hunt is now on for his killer, Anthony’s sister remembers him as pleasant child who was loving and always willing to help, and a lover of video games.

Shot dead during a home invasion, Anthony Cort.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

PAGE 09

Political unity is a smokescreen It is about time we disabuse ourselves of this nonsense about the need for all the political parties to come together to work for the betterment of the country. If that is what is called political unity, then the country is destined for disaster.

Guyanese have had a taste of the country’s three main political parties. The PNC/R, the PPP and the AFC have all failed this country.

And if you put them together, they will end up destroying Guyana because they are intellectually bankrupt.

The PNC, PPP and the AFC have all failed. They lack the intellectual mettle which is needed to successfully govern. They think they possess the knowhow but they do not know how little they know.

Imagine what happens when you put the hopeless leadership of these three main parties within the same government. What we will have is a government which knows little about how little it knows.

Bringing the parties together will simply transfer the present political conflicts to inside the government. It will result in an unstable government, constantly in gridlock and warring within.

Corruption will become further institutionalized.

Instead of brokering compromis es – w hich everyone hopes will happen – it will end up leading to trade-offs. Power sharing will simply allow these three parties to divide the spoils of government among themselves. And the people of Guyana will be worse off

Dem

boys seh...

since the spoils will have to be split three ways.

The rationale for power sharing in Guyana has nothing to do with political competence. The raison d’être of power sharing or shared governance is ethnic security. And right now the ethnic security dilemma bubble has burst.

The ethnic security dilemma was based on the idea that one party holds a perpetual stranglehold on power so long as ethnic voting takes place. No one ethnic group commands the numbers to win a majority in an election. The PNC was able to combine with the AFC to oust the PPP in 2015.

Therefore the ethnic security dilemma, as originally contemplated can no longer be used to advance claims for power sharing.

What can be argued is that people want to be ruled by their own. But if this is indeed the case, it makes a case against power sharing rather than for power sharing.

The Guyanese people have been brainwashed into believing that the ‘other’ is the enemy. They have also been indoctrinated into believing some idealistic notion that if the two main parties come together that would be the solution to our problem. But this is just a theoretically desirable position. None of the two main political parties have demonstrated the tendency to want to share power; if anything they want to hog political power.

What Guyana needs is not for the parties to come together. That is a recipe for

trouble. Every country needs an Opposition. When you don’t have an Opposition, you are pawning your future to those who wield political authority. So there is need for a government and an Opposition, not for the government and the Opposition to be one and the same.

The AFC became the footstool of the PNC, one of the larger parties. The AFC because of the greed for political power ended up becoming the victim of the very thing which they were formed to counter.

The problem with Guyana is ideological. There is no longer any genuine working class party. And so the working class will suffer because all three of the country’s main political parties are in bed with the propertied class. The persons who benefitted the most from land deals under all government are not the poor people. It is rich people who are benefitting from the land deals and from the tax and other concessions offered by government. The country’s three main political parties are all proxies for the propertied class.

They would have you believe in trickledown economics. They preach the mantra that when the private businesses do well jobs are created for the poor. But who takes the hog share of the country’s wealth.

A few days ago, a property was advertised for sale in the newspapers. The owner was calling $160M. Which poor man can ever dream about owning a property of that value?

Dis situation sound confusing

Dem boys wan know if dem petrol companies running de GRA. Because de GRA gat dem boys confused about dis socalled abuse of duty free letters on petrol.

Dem boys nah buying dat crap about dem petrol companies abusing duty free petrol. It nah sound right, and it looking like sheer nonsense on de part of de GRA. Is de GRA who is supposed to be monitoring dem duty free concessions pun petrol. Dem petrol company just selling and delivering based pun dem letter wah GRA give dem. So if GRA nah doing dem wuk properly, dem should not blame dem petrol company.

Dem boys know dat when dem big company gat to get duty free petrol dem does gat to apply to de GRA, which does give dem

a letter to take to de petrol company. If you tell a man dat he entitled to 1,000 gallons duty free and he only buy 500 gallons one time duty free, dat is not de petrol company fault. It can only deliver what de customer want.

And is nat like de petrol company can tek dat extra 500 gallons and give to somebody else. De petrol companies does pay dem petrol tax based on what dem receive and what dem sell. If dem sell duty free fuel dem nah gat fuh pay no tax.When de petrol come in de country it does go into some big tanks.

Dem can only know what dem gat fuh pay tax pun after dem sell and based pun dem same letter wah de GRA submitting to dem.

Talk half and nah accuse dem petrol company without de evidence!

Which poor man can ever dream, at present, of buying a property in Georgetown?

The rich people are gobbling up all the residential properties in the city and somehow are getting approval to establish businesses even in areas which are zoned as residential.

A feature of Guyanese politics has been deception.

The main political parties pretend to be interested in the working class but it is the rich who get richer under their rule. When both the PNC were in power, a small group of rich people did well. And while they were milking the national cow, the Guyanese people were lining up under the PNC for basic food items. Did you ever see

a rich person in any line?

They have other “lines” which they use to avoid the lines!

Political unity is a smokescreen. It will allow for the perpetuation of a system in which the rich get richer and the gap between the poor and the rich widens.

Political unity is a smokescreen. It allows the working class to blame the main political parties for the country’s problems. This serves to divide the people and allows for a system which continues to discriminate in favour of the rich.

The Guyanese people need to rid themselves of this idea that political unity will solve our problems; it will compound them. What

Guyana needs is ideological rule in which the poor and powerless become prosperous and powerful.

What Guyana needs is a working class government not neo-liberal parties masquerading as working class parties.

The PPP, the PNC or the AFC are all of the same ideological ilk. They are pretenders at being working class parties. A genuine working class party is needed, one that will have to be prepared to ditch the favours which are granted to the rich - the friends of the PPP, PNC and AFC. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Friday March 12, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The APNU+AFC in power: Horizons of disbeliefs

I

got an email from a Guyanese who is known throughout the length and breadth of Guyana but resides overseas.

He emailed to ask if I could explain what was taking place at UG based on the last line of my column yesterday. He confessed that he follows mostly the macropolitical issues in Guyana so he didn’t really pay attention to matters at UG. My description to him led me to write this column.

After replying to him, the idea came to write this piece about how monumental were the mistakes of the APNU+AFC that caused them to lose the 2020 election. When I described

how difficult it was for the Council of the University to ascertain the salary of the last Vice Chancellor (VC), the idea of this article was born.

I believe the APNU and AFC leaders are going to spend the rest of their lives in mental agony over the thought of what could have been. In a country with a prodigious oil discovery in which related investments and oil revenues could shape a meaningful future, they simply threw it away.

It is my contestation that if those monumental mistakes weren’t made, the APNU+AFC could have won the last general election and could have been set to win more contests in the future.

The rest of the argument here will be outlined in the framework of what I call logical expectations.

The citizenry wanted a 2015 non-PPP government to be the opposite of what they saw the PPP doing in the past.

Instead an insane pathway was followed by the APNU+AFC that the Guyanese people found incredible. The

APNU+AFC’s excesses, insensitivities, stupidities, corruptibility, arrogance and illogical policies far exceeded those of the PPP. The PPP won the election because of one factor that was huge and graphic – people no longer thought that the PNC and the AFC were of better quality than the PPP. Three post-2015 configurations can be cited: 1 – The AFC voters regretted their 2015 choice and reverted back to the PPP; 2Amerindians were not impressed with the PNC and AFC leaders; 3- A quota of mixed race and African voters either stayed home or voted for the PPP and some small parties.

It must be remembered that the small parties pulled almost 9,000 votes among themselves.

Let’s look at the insane pathway referred to above.

Space will not allow for a comprehensive account but since the defeat of the APNU+AFC, I have examined some essential causes that led to the election defeat. This article then, is a

continuation.

When the gentleman asked me about UG, immediately the VC’s salary controversy came to mind.

Looking back at it, one can clearly see the seeds of election defeat were on the horizon. UG was always a hotbed of raging controversies from presidents Burnham to Ramotar.

It was silly not to put democratization on the top of your UG agenda.

On the contrary, the UG administration under Granger was the most undemocratic than any dispensation under any PPP president.

It was unbelievable arrogance on the part of the Granger regime to refuse to disclose the salary of the VC to the people who are legally entitled to know that - the Council.

The Council employs the VC. They are his bosses. The VC takes instructions from the Council.

That imbroglio had to generate deep chagrin in UG employees who thought the APNU+AFC leaders would

be more understanding. We will never know how many of them voted against the PNC in the 2020 poll.

I still believe that the closure of the sugar estates was a judgment that no

Frederick Kissoon g o v e r nment could have avoided. Most intelligent people in Guyana knew the industry was no longer viable in the form it was in the late 20th century.

In what may possibly be the most macabre policy mistake in politics anywhere in the world, the APNU+AFC simply closed the estates and said that was that.

How could politicians who want you to vote for them be so stupid?

In laying off 5,000 sugar workers, you were devastating more than 20,000 family members.

How could you have hoped to win the next election with that Draculean misdirection?

A commonsensical approach was to cushion their income loss through another form of livelihood.

Either put money into the birth of another industry (for example, aqua-culture, farming, etc.) or give the lands to the retrenched workers.

What was amazing was that Moses Nagamootoo was hoping the same victims vote back for him in 2020. Clive Thomas, the “great” economist was in charge of GuySuCo at the time of the estate closures.

It is time PNC supporters open their eyes.

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

Friday March 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Friday March 12, 2021

DPP recommends Speaker handle investigations into alleged assault on MP The Director of Police Prosecution (DPP) has advised that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, oversee the probe into allegations that Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Tabitha S a r a b o - H a l l e y, w a s

assaulted by Public Affairs Minister, Kwame McCoy. This comes after the Guyana Police Force (GPF) commenced its own investigation into the matter.

It was just last Friday, that six Opposition MPs were suspended from the

House, after protesting the removal of McCoy over the incident.

Kaieteur News had reported that MP, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, claimed to have been hit in her face with a mobile phone allegedly by Minister, McCoy. Reports

are that the two had an exchange of words and McCoy confronted her on the corridors of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Wednesday last, where the alleged assault was said to have occurred.

Minister McCoy, in a statement denied the assault allegations. He did admit however to a verbal altercation. Giving her account, Halley told the media during a press conference that she remains

traumatized over the incident, with there being a possibly that McCoy may be charged.

She recounted that during the 2021 Budget Estimate considerations, she had observed Keith Lowenfield, Chief Elections Officer (CEO), being harassed by Minister McCoy and others on the corridors of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). She said that she had signalled to Lowenfield (Continued on page 22)

Opposition MP, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley

Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

PAGE 13

Trevor Benn remains in lock-ups as land probe continues

Still in police custody as a probe continues into the illegal leasing of State lands is Trevor Benn, former Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GL&SC), according to Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum.

Benn was arrested on Wednesday for the alleged illegal leasing of six acres of State lands located at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The lands, according to allegation leveled against him, belonged to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and not GL&SC. Despite this fact, it is alleged that Benn moved ahead to illegally lease the plot of land to a company c a l l e d J a n i c o Vi d e Engineering Limited for some $27M. Kaieteur News

understands that apart from this allegation, the exGL&SC Commissioner is being grilled for more wrongdoings pertaining to the leasing of State lands. A source close to the investigation said that more files were being prepared and will be handed to investigators.

Since Benn’s arrest, he has been back and forth between the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Eve Leary and the Brickdam Police lock-ups as investigators continue to question him.

The lease of the lands to the engineering company by GL&SC reportedly took place on May 8, 2017. Benn was Commissioner at the time and the $27M transaction was made pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU),

the company and GL&SC signed. That MoU dictated that the engineering company would lease the land for 50 years and pay $200,000 per acre annually.

It is further believed that under Benn’s tenure as boss of GL&SC, other large plots of prime lands were transferred to the control of persons under “very strange and abnormal procedures”.

This was what Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs had relayed to media back in November last year.

Nandlall had spoken of MoUs being signed for large sums of cash to lease lands that had not yet been identified.

One person, the AG had revealed received some 200 acres of land at Ogle. By standard procedure, Nandlall had stated, State lands are either given by

permission, by lease, or by title. This he had added would allow for interested parties to either pay a purchase price, a licensing fee or a lease fee to acquire the asset.

However, the AG had pointed out, in the case of the

200 acres land, which at the time could not be identified, an MoU was signed with GL&SC and a large sum of cash was paid. That MoU, he had said, seemed to entitle the person who signed it to get a lease for that plot of (Continued on page 20)

Currently in the lock-ups, Former GL&SC Commissioner, Trevor Benn.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Friday March 12, 2021

Govt. to send COVID-19 test samples to NY Medical School to test for variants

M

inister of Health, Dr. F r a n k Anthony, has revealed that

the government will be sending COVID-19 test samples to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai,

New York, USA, to have them tested for the different COVID-19 variants. This is f o l l o w i n g A n t h o n y ’s

announcement last month that the government is actively exploring additional avenues to have test samples sent abroad for genetic sequencing.

The government had fostered an agreement with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to have test samples sent there for genetic sequencing. At least 10 COVID-19 test samples were sent a month ago for testing at CARPHA and took almost two weeks to have the results returned.

In recent months three new variants of the SARSCoV-2 virus emerged and spread across the globe.

These variants are the B.1.1.7 or the United Kingdom (UK) variant, the B.1.351 or the South Africa variant and the P2 or Brazil variant. It has been found that these variants are more transmissible, which means that they are more readily spread from person-toperson.

Notwithstanding, Anthony had said that every effort will be made to detect the new strains.

Notably, Guyana lacks the capacity to test for the new variants since it is done using genetic sequencing and neither the private nor public health sector has access to such resources.

“That school, they have a special department that has been doing a lot of research using genetic sequencing and with Covid they have been tracking the evolution of the virus around the globe and so they have been working in different countries, and they have been accepting samples and sequencing these samples to get a sense of the mutations that are occurring with the virus,” the Health Minister said as he spoke about the medical school to which the samples will be sent.

He disclosed that the partnership has already been initiated and very shortly test samples will be sent to analyze and detect the possibility of any variants circulating in Guyana. “It is important that we track the variants that are circulating because some of these variants can have faster

The Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony transmission so moving from one person to another can increase and it means that more people can get infected,” Anthony noted.

Dr. Anthony had also announced the government exploring the possibility of having test samples sent to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States of America, through the Pan American Health O rg a n i z a t i o n ( PA H O ) , adding that they were working it out.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

PAGE 15

NBS housing loans dwindle to 400 last year from 2012 high The New Building Society (NBS) over the past five years saw the number of new loans granted annually falling sharply to 400 by 2020, prompting government’s intervention, resulting in the institution now being able to lower its interest rates charged in addition to increasing its loan ceiling for low income housing.

The official approval was given to the domestic housing financial institution on Wednesday, during a simple ceremony held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, handed over the approval for an increased mortgage ceiling to NBS Chairman, Floyd McDonald.

According to Dr. Singh, the move comes as part of g o v e r n m e n t ’ s implementation process of some of the Budget 2021 measures. It was noted that with this approval, the mortgage ceiling for the financial institution now moves to $15 Million. up from $12 Million, allowing for persons to acquire mortgages up to this higher amount.

The Senior Minister, while lauding the NBS for the important part they play in the facilitation of home loans, reminded that the Society has come a long way in terms of their loan offers to the public, recalling that in 1991, NBS granted only 125 new loans while by 2014, the Society had granted 896 new loans, having achieved an alltime high of 1,234 in 2012.

“President, Irfaan Ali’s Government, has repeated and reiterated since our assumption of office, our firm conviction that home ownership is perhaps the single most important achievement for almost every family, and that acquiring one’s own home will perhaps for many of us be the single most important investment we would make in our entire lives,” Minister Singh in his presentation reiterated, “our commitment to promoting and facilitating home ownership is because we recognize how important home ownership is to the individual family, but we also recognize how important home ownership and home construction and construction activities are to the economy as a whole…the generation and creation of

jobs, the generation of income …the improvement of livelihoods.”

In 1992, the NBS was offering loans at a rate of 18 percent per annum reflecting the state of the economy and the financial sector at the time, but that since then favourable government policies had facilitated a steady reduction of interest rates to the point where today the NBS is able to offer its low income loans at 4 percent.

Dr. Singh’s sentiments were echoed by his Cabinet colleague, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, who in his remarks said that the 2021 Budget measures are expected to significantly boost the housing sector.

“This signals from Government’s perspective our deep underlying intention of ensuring we bring greater relief to our home owners, potential borrowers but also… walking the walk,” Minister Croal added.

He noted that more persons would be able to access financing for home loans as well as be able to afford to build their homes with more choices available in terms of types of homes to be constructed, as he alluded to the other budgetary measures that would assist in this regard, especially the reduction of duty and zerorating of specific construction material.

Croal posited that with the increase in the loan ceiling, it will not only allow for Government to achieve its overall goal of distributing 50,000 house-lots, but also encourage home ownership.

The NBS Chairman, McDonald, in his remarks to the gathering, noted that with NBS now able to offer further reduced interest rates to borrowers, the company will additionally now offer loans up to $6M at a rate of four percent per annum reduced from 4.25 percent. Loans between $6M and $12M will see the interest rate now being marked up at 5.95 percent down from 6.15 and 6.75 percent, while loans above $12M up to $15 M will be offered at a rate of 6.25 percent per annum.

“The Society is indeed appreciative of the improved ceiling approved by Government. We know that our collective efforts will redound to an improved standard of living for Guyanese,” the NBS Chairman added.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh hands over the approval for NBS increased mortgage ceiling to Chairman of NBS, Floyd Mc Donald (fifth and sixth from left) in the presence of Ministers of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and Susan Rodrigues and Members of the Board of the NBS.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Friday March 12, 2021

Two remanded for cocaine discovered in bones of salted fish Two men were yesterday remanded to prison when they appeared in court for the alleged trafficking of a quantity of cocaine that was discovered concealed in the bones of salted fish.

The defendants are Navindra Sarwan, 46, called “Tallman”, a shipper of First Street, Cummings Lodge, Georgetown, and Adrian David, 39, a taxi driver of 127 Shell Road, Kitty Georgetown.

Sarwan and David made their first court appearance in the Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Courts before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.

It is alleged that between March 7, 2021, and March 8, 2021, between First Street Cummings Lodge, Georgetown and Amerijet Cargo Shed, Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri, East Bank Demerara, the duo trafficked 3.304 kilograms of cocaine. It was reported that the cocaine was intercepted at Amerijet’s

The items that were discovered.

cargo shed, CJIA. According to the facts of the charge that was presented to the court by Custom Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford, Sarwan and four others were arrested for questioning after the cocaine was discovered in the salted fish. The court heard that while Sarwan was interviewed, he revealed that David supplied the cocaine for him to ship.

David was later arrested at his home. When the ranks arrived at David’s home, they found samples of salted

fish with the same concealment method in his refrigerator. He was then arrested and then taken into custody.

Kaieteur News had reported that on Monday last, C.A.N.U ranks discovered 280 pieces of “plastic wrapped, pencil shaped parcels” with suspected cocaine in the bones of salted fish.

According to CANU, the drug bust was made at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and the salted fish was destined for Miami, USA.

Remanded: Navindra Sarwan and Adrian David (right).

Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

PAGE 17

Reverend Patrick Taxi driver pleads Doolichand reinstated guilty to killing as Police Chaplain Lusignan hairdresser Melroy Doris, the taxi driver who was charged alongside Lennox Wayne called ‘Two Colours’ for the murder of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara cosmetologist, Ashmini Harriram, has pleaded guilty to the lesser crime of manslaughter.

Doris pleaded guilty to the lesser count virtually before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the High Court in Georgetown.

According to the charge presented by State Prosecutor Tyra Bakker, on July 10, 2014, he unlawfully killed Harriram, called “Monisha Harriram”.

According to the facts of the matter, on the day in question, Harriram was shot in the neck moments after she disembarked a minibus along the Lusignan Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara.

The shooter purportedly emerged from a burgundy motorcar, PRR 8370 parked along the said road. Doris was later identified as taxi driver of the car in the situation.

D u r i n g y e s t e r d a y ’s proceeding, the confessed killer was represented by Stanley Moore, SC, but was however not sentenced. He has been remanded to prison pending sentencing, which is scheduled for March 25, 2021. Doris’ plea comes one week after his co-accused Wayne filed a civil suit in court to challenge the State’s right to incarcerate him for several years for the crime.

In the lawsuit, Wayne is alleging that his rights to a fair hearing have been infringed upon.

Wayne claimed that he and Doris had been incarcerated for the crime since October 2014.

He said that they have been awaiting trial since November 2015, after he committed to stand trial in the High Court by a Magistrate. Since then, Wayne explained that he underwent a trial, which ended in a hung jury in 2017, but ever since, he has not been afforded the opportunity to go before the Court.The applicant said too, that his name was listed for retrial in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, but his case never came up.

According to him, all attempts made by him to expedite his trial had proven futile.He noted specifically that his concerns over the

H

Guilty: Melroy Doris

Lennox Wayne called ‘Two Colours.’

Murdered: Ashmini Harriram delay were raised at the level of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), but were not addressed.

Wayne listed a number of other avenues through which he attempted to get his concerns over the delayed trial addressed, but to no avail.In response to the lawsuit, the DPP issued a statement clarifying that the accused has the option of pleading guilty to the lesser crime.

The statement stipulated that “on several occasions, Wayne has indicated that his wish was to plead guilty to t h e l e s s e r o ff e n c e o f manslaughter; the last indication was made in November 2020.

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

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

Back in 2017, Doris and his co-accused Wayne faced a trial for crime in the High Court. They were remanded

to prison after the jury failed to meet a verdict for the murder charge.

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

Ever since then the duo has been behind bars.

ours after it was reported that Reverend, Patrick Doolichand, of Success, East Coast Demerara, was dismissed from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as the Force Chaplain, he was reinstated to his position.

Kaieteur News had reported yesterday, based on the dismissal letter seen by this publication, that Reverend Doolichand is being investigated for alleged financial crimes.

Also referenced as reason for dismissal in the letter signed by Senior Superintendent, Calvin Brutus, was Doolichand’s prayer at the opening ceremony of the Annual Officers’ Conference last Thursday.

The letter noted that D o o l i c h a n d ’s c o n d u c t “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, fallacious and inappropriate utterances at the dignified and professional activity.”

It further stated that D o o l i c h a n d ’s p r a y e r wrongfully and deliberately portrayed the Force’s image negatively.

However, at around 22:08hrs on Wednesday, the GPF in a statement noted that Reverend Doolichand’s revocation was reviewed and the revocation letter was withdrawn. According to that statement, the Commissioner of Police

Reverend Patrick Doolichand.

[Photo Credit: DPI]

(ag), Nigel Hoppie, had communicated with Reverend Doolichand, who agreed to be reinstated and continue to serve as the Force Chaplain.

“Contrary to what was said in the revocation letter – His Excellency the President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has indicated that he appreciated the eloquent and forthright prayer by the Force Chaplain Pastor Patrick Doolichand at the Annual Officers’ Conference and that he never had any issue with it,” the release further stated.

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 able to say that this Force is haemorrhaging right now.

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

Doolichand then said, “Above all, we confess 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.”

Additionally, the GPF had announced on Wednesday afternoon that Reverend, Doolichand’s appointment was revoked and that he has been replaced

by Former Assistant Commissioner, Reverend, Eric Bassant.

PAGE 18

Friday March 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

$500M set aside for poultry self sufficiency

Newly appointed NAREI CEO (left) Jagnarine Singh along with Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha.

Government has allocated $500M in this year’s budget to commence infrastructural work in the Intermediate Savannah, with a number of investors already expressing interest in the sector as part of the charge laid by President, Irfaan Ali, that the country becomes self-sufficient, in the production of protein for the poultry industry.

This charge was handed to newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute – former head of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRD) – Jagnarine Singh.

Singh takes over from Dr. Oudho Homenauth, who was employed by the agency for the past 20 years. The new CEO, along with NAREI staffers met recently with Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, to discuss how the agency is expected to implement the new policies set by the government in an effort to reposition and revamp agriculture in Guyana.

Minister Mustapha told the staff that, with Guyana taking back its rightful place with agriculture in the Caribbean, and that NAREI has an important role to play, as the agency is mandated to manage agriculture research and development.

“We are looking to revamp the agriculture sector. If we want to take our rightful place regionally and internationally, institutions like NAREI have to play a very important role.”

As such, the Minister charged NAREI to strategize, saying, “We have to come up with innovative ideas and we have to implement the policies of the government.”

Mustapha noted that what has been done, as a government, was to craft a number of policies for the various sectors and that “last year we had the emergency

budget and we were able to successfully implement a number of those initiatives.”

He projected that “This year, the goal is to build on what we started last year in addition to the new programmes that will come on stream. We have to change the traditional way we have been doing things here.”

The Minister is adamant that “while we have been giving support to farmers, we have to now ramp up our activities and bring new ideas because we cannot continue to do things in a subsistent way, we have to move a step further.”

Singh, in his remarks as the newly appointed CEO, surmised that there needs to be some amount of improvement to the services offered to farmers and that science must be incorporated into the extension services offered to the farmers.

“This (NAREI) used to be the central agricultural station and I would like for us to go back to those days when we used to be the central agricultural station in the country.”

He drew reference to the fact that “over the years at the Rice Board, I remember I had some problems with soils management and I had to end up going around the circle and sending soil samples to Miami.”

Recognizing Guyana, as a “big agriculture producing country;” the CEO was emphatic that “we need to enhance and improve our services to the farmers. Not just soils, but our technical and diagnostic capacity in all areas of plant science; I would want some science involved.”

According to Singh, scientists must be involved and that “whatever we are doing must be climate smart, it must be sustainable and profitable, so that our farmers can live a good life.”

Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

Writing of NGSA slated for 4th & 5th August

Students sitting the examination last year following COVID-19 protocols

- over 14,000 students expected to sit exam During a press conference at the National Centre For Educational Resource Development ( N C E R D ) y e s t e r d a y, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, announced that the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be written on the 4th and 5th of August this year.

Last November, the Education Ministry had declared the postponement of the examination, which is usually written in March/April. The examination was postponed due to the physical closure of schools resulting from the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and the possibility that some students would not be prepared.

Notably, the NGSA, unlike the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and

Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), is administered by Guyana so the Education Ministry had the power to postpone the NGSA or decide whether students were going to write it at all.

Further, during the press conference, it was disclosed that some 14,300 students across all ten administrative regions of Guyana will be writing the exam. A mock exam will also be administered before the NGSA to ensure students are ready for the August sitting. The methodology and content of the NGSA will also remain intact according to Manickchand, who stated that a 20-week curriculum has been taken from the regular 40 weeks curriculum that is usually practised.

Manickchand also revealed that students have

the option of opting out of the examination, however, that will result in the Ministry having to utilize its placement policy. She said that this will be done using the regional average and following that the child will be placed in a secondary school chosen by the Education Ministry saying that, “We cannot award marks to a child who does not sit the exam.”

Additionally, private educational institutions wishing to have their students write the examination will be given a single educational package from the Ministry and will need to replicate the package and distribute them to their students.

The decision to administer the NGSA came after long consultations with parents, teachers and students.

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Friday March 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Man stabbed multiple times

trying to protect friend A father of three from Mabaruma, North West District, had to be air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Wednesday, due to the severe stab wounds he received from another man, while trying to protect his female friend.

Nursing at least six stab wounds to his upper body is Micheal Pierre, 40, of Hubu Hill, Mabaruma.

According to police reports, the incident, which landed the man in the hospital, occurred between 18:30 hrs. and 22:30 hrs. on Tuesday at Hubu Hill, Mabaruma.

When Kaieteur News made contact with Pierre’s family yesterday, the man’s mother told Kaieteur News that on the night of the incident, just after 18:00 hrs., her son informed her that he was leaving to go home.

After he left, the woman recalled that she went upstairs in her house to watch a movie like she usually does.

Sometime around 22:00 hrs., she was heading downstairs to lock her gate when she heard a sound like someone’s panting for breath coming from underneath the house. The person then called out for her

granddaughter’s name and immediately she recognized it was her son. The woman said she rushed downstairs immediately only to discovered her son lying in a pool of blood. Pierre, in his semi-conscious condition, managed to tell her that “Bash” had stabbed him.

Kaieteur News was told that the suspect, Roy Joseph called “Bash,” and Pierre are very much well known to each other and for almost three years he resided with them. Pierre’s mother stated that she immediately alerted her husband, after which they rushed him to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Pierre told this publication, that after he left his mother house, he and the suspect and their female friend went to Joseph’s father house, where they were imbibing alcohol. He remembered there the suspect started to pick trouble with the woman and refused to stop. He claimed that he told Joseph to stop troubling the woman, but again he didn’t listen.

Sometime later they left and went to attend Pierre’s aunt’s wake, which was a short distance away. Pierre said that on their way there, again Joseph started to trouble the woman and in the process he

Micheal Pierre. tried to calm him down, but because he was intoxicated, Joseph refused to listen. The father of three said as he was about to turn back to head home, the suspect turned on him and dealt several stabs to his back. Pierre claimed that he didn’t get into any argument with Joseph, but had just asked him to stop troubling the woman and because of this Joseph got angry.

The now injured man said that after he was stabbed, he ran to his mother’s house where he collapsed.

He was subsequently rushed to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor who later referred him to GPHC for further medical treatment. Kaieteur News learnt that Pierre was discharged from the medical facility yesterday.

The suspect was later apprehended by the police, and is in custody assisting with the investigations.

Meanwhile, the knife that is believed to be the weapon used to commit the act has since been recovered by the police.

Construction worker released on bail for stabbing Sophia man A 30-year-old construction worker was yesterday released on $150,000 bail after he was remanded to prison on Tu e s d a y f o r a l l e g e d l y attempting to murder 28year-old Vishal Singh two weeks back.

The defendant, Joel Haynes of Sophia, Greater Georgetown appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Roschelle Liverpool on Tuesday and was remanded to prison after he was charged

with attempted murder.

However, yesterday the matter got called back due to the virtual complainant’s condition, who is in a stable condition in the hospital.

Haynes pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on February 3, at ‘C’ Field, Sophia, he stabbed Singh, a groundsman about his body after an altercation ensued between them.

Meanwhile, Haynes was released on bail and the matter was adjourned to May 25 for report.

Trevor Benn remains...

From page 13 land at a future date despite the land itself not being identified.Benn was appointed boss of GL&SC in 2016 by the David Granger administration, and was granted presidential powers related to the sanctioning of renting and granting of leases, licences, and permission of occupancy of all public lands.

When the Irfaan Ali

administration took office in August 2020, he was stripped of those powers and was later sent packing in November.

Following the revocation of his presidential powers, Attorney General Anil Nandlall had stated that his government will review all the leases, licences and permissions to occupy Public Lands granted by GL&SC after the No Confidence Vote, December 2, 2018.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

PAGE 21

ExxonMobil facing another lawsuit over alleged inflation of US assets A

merica’s largest o i l e x p l o r e r, ExxonMobil Corporation, is facing another lawsuit over claims that it allegedly inflated the value of its Permian Basin assets. Representing aggrieved shareholders of the multinational conglomerate is Klein Law Firm which is headquartered in New York.

According to a statement from the firm, the complaint filed against Exxon Mobil Corporation alleges that it made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: it had forced its employees to use unrealistic assumptions regarding the timelines for well drilling in the Permian Basin; that the said assumptions served to artificially inflate the value of the company’s well operations in the Permian Basin; and that the foregoing conduct, when revealed, subjected Exxon to a heightened risk of regulatory investigation and oversight.

The law firm noted that shareholders have until March 29, 2021 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status.

Apart from this, Kaieteur

News would have reported on February 24, last, that ExxonMobil was facing a similar lawsuit from Block & Leviton LLP, a firm that represents investors and helps to maintain the integrity of US financial markets.

Back in mid-January last, Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announced that it had launched an investigation into potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of ExxonMobil Corporation.

The foregoing cases all stem from a publication by the Wall Street Journal on January 15, 2021, that the oil giant was being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the inflated valuation of its Permian Basin Assets.

The article reported that the U.S. Securities Commission probe is premised on a whistleblower complaint that during a 2019 internal assessment, workers were forced to use unrealistic assumptions about how quickly wells in the Permian Basin could be drilled to reach a higher valuation, and that at least

ExxonMobil CEO, Darren Woods.

one worker who complained about the assumptions was fired. On this news, Exxon’s stock price fell US$2.42 per share, or 4.81%, to close at $47.89 per share on January 15, 2021.

Following the release of the WSJ report, ExxonMobil was quick to inform the media and its shareholders that the claims made by an alleged whistleblower are demonstrably false. It had said that actual and provable performance exceeded drilling plans for the Permian, and such performance has been accurately represented to the investment community while noting that the Wall

Street Journal has been aware of these facts since September.

Further to this, ExxonMobil had said it has an extensive and rigorous planning and budgeting process that considers many sensitivities and ranges of

outcomes. The oil giant said it takes into account thousands of inputs including hundreds of drilling curves over a sevenmonth period.

The Stabroek Block operator said, “Learning curves were developed as a collaborative effort between the drilling team executing the work, who had the most expertise with current drilling performance, and the development team, who leveraged data from demonstrated learning curve performance in other unconventional projects.

There were multiple learning curves considered and evaluated throughout the process.”

Taking this into account, Exxon had said it is obvious that the employees who are alleged to have made the

‘false’ claims lack the breadth and depth of experience to understand how and why drilling curves are routinely revised as technologies improve and understanding of the resource base expands.

Exxon was keen to note as well that historically, the company’s unconventional drilling performance has increased in short timeframes as engineers and planners gather more data in basins across its portfolio.

In conclusion, Exxon had said that it stands by its statements to investors, and, if it were to be asked about this matter by authorities, it would provide information that shows the accuracy of its valuation of the Permian assets, and that actual drilling performance exceeded the plans.

PAGE 22

Friday March 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

Region Ten woman dies from COVID-19 FOR SALEFOR SALE

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VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Premio,192, 212 Carina, Fielder wagon, raum, Avensis, Bluebird, Allexis, Spacio, L Touring wagon Tel#650-7501 Bus for sale 2RZ excellent condition BMW Call 6883288

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 Power tools repair friendship East Bank Call 627-7835

FOR RENT Furnish apt one bedroom,two bedroom, three bedroom, providence and diamond Tel#672-1906, 6826238, 216-2299 One bottom flat for business to rent, preferrable chinese 192 Duncan st, newtown, kitty 649-3783/ 225-6571

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Call 624-7155

Pure bred pitbull pups 7 weeks old vaccinated and deworm price $50,000 Call 612-2258

The Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday reported the death of a 39-year-old female from Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) as the 206th COVID-19 f a t a l i t y. I n i t s p r e s s release, it was stated that

the woman died while receiving care at its medical facility.

The MOH also reported 65 new infections via its daily dashboard update yesterday, increasing the case toll to 8,993.

The dashboard shows that seven patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, another 16 in institutional quarantine, 31 in institutional isolation and 519 in home isolation.

Additionally, a total of 8,230 persons have recovered to date with 19 new recoveries recorded yesterday.

Juveniles responsible for most crimes in Stabroek Market area - Region 4 ‘A’ police commander

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 One experience general domestic call 623-1615 One female teacher to teach a grade one & two child. Interested person call 623-1615

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 One (1) male able bodied clerk call: 225-2313/ 226-1497

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

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Commander Khali Pareshram meeting with representatives of the Minibus Union on Wednesday at the Brickdam Police Station.

Commander of Region 4 ‘A’, Khali Pareshram said that based on analysis undertaken by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) most of the crimes that occur in the Stabroek Market Area are committed by juveniles.

Pareshram related this to the Minibus Union during a meeting he held with its representatives on Wednesday.

The Commander also pointed that according to his analysis, crimes around the various minibus parks in area has been reducing significantly in recent times.

This, he added, is because of the frequent raids, which his ranks have been conducting in the area.

Pareshram noted too that his ranks’ increased presence at the Stabroek Market – both in plain clothes and uniform – might have been playing a major part in the crime reduction as well.

In the past, Kaieteur News has been in receipt of many reports of petty crimes being committed in the Stabroek Area. Persons have been complaining of being “picked” of their belongings while boarding minibuses.

Vendors have complained too of being robbed of their sales by knife-wielding bandits especially in the evening hours.

Not so long ago, a Venezuelan national while in the vicinity of Demico at the Stabroek Market area was attacked by a bandit who robbed him of his cell phone and wallet. Luckily, that suspect was captured that said afternoon and later charged.

A Kaieteur News reporter, Shervin Belgrave was also robbed in November last year by two bandits at knife-point while approaching the Diamond bus park.

In order to further reduce

the crimes that occur in the area, Pareshram during the meeting told representatives that they can feel free to share concerns that affect them. This he explained will pave the way for a safer and secured working environ.

The Commander also promised that emphasis will be placed on the use of “WhatsApp” for the sharing of information between the two parties.

Other concerns raised in the meeting by the representatives of the Minibus Union were drivers operating minibuses and drinking alcohol, vendors encouraging thieves in the bus park, schoolchildren loitering in the area and nonadherence to the Covid-19 guidelines.

Police officers have since pledged their commitment to working along with the Minibus Union to address the concerns.

...DPP recommends Speaker handle From page 12 to leave the ACCC and avoid confrontation, but this led to Minister McCoy following her with his phone.

Seconds later, the MP said, McCoy struck her to the temple with the mobile device.

Halley relayed as well that she has since obtained a medical, which revealed that she suffered “head trauma.”

With regards to video evidence, the MP informed that no camera was pointing in the

direction where the incident occurred.

This coincides with statements made by the Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, who had disclosed that camera footage reviewed in his presence and that of other Opposition MPs revealed no indication of physical assault.

While it was reported that several persons witnessed the alleged assault, to date, there has been no indication of who those witnesses are.

Kaieteur News had made attempts to ascertain such from the Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, but he remained tightlipped about the incident.

Harmon told the press, “I don’t have to tell you who are these witnesses. They are witnesses who the police took statements from.

These are people who actually saw what happened. It doesn’t matter where they are from.”

Friday March 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

Friday March 12, 2021

Athletes in limbo as COVID-19 scuppers Tokyo Games qualification events Reuters - Four months remain before the start of the rescheduled Olympics in Tokyo but the cancellation of qualifying events in various disciplines due to COVID-19 restrictions is once again disrupting the run-up to the Games.

With a deadline of June 29 set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to wrap up qualification, 25% of athlete quota places are yet to be filled, with another 14% to be decided based on rankings.

May’s artistic gymnastics All-Around World Cup in Tokyo was cancelled this week following the cancellation of events in Stuttgart and Birmingham, forcing authorities to

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Kaieteur News

consider the 2019 world championships as a means of awarding entries to the Tokyo Games.

Meanwhile, April’s PanAmerican Canoe Sprint Olympic qualifiers in Curitiba, Brazil, were also cancelled with 14 spots to be determined by the International Canoe Federation, who are in discussions with the IOC over the next steps.

European boxing qualifiers, which began in London last year before the pandemic shut down sport, will now be held in Paris in June but the final world Olympic boxing qualifier was cancelled, to the dismay of many boxers.

The IOC — which

suspended the International Boxing Association in 2019 — now has the job of allocating over 50 spots across several regions based on results since 2017. Triathletes are also anxiously waiting for qualification events to restart in May, with the World Triathlon Executive Board set to take a final decision on March 18. In recent weeks, the IOC has firmly reiterated its stance on being committed to ensuring the Tokyo Games go ahead, with the option of postponing the event a second time off the table.

However, many athletes who are still to punch their ticket to Tokyo will be waiting with bated breath until international federations make things clear.

Friday March 12, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your intuition and imagination are operating at their peak today. Don't be surprised if you get the urge to write or paint.

Even if you don't have all the necessary equipment, get started anyway.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Welcome back to the land of the living, Taurus. You've been so preoccupied with your existential questions lately that you've missed the point about playing the hand that life has dealt you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may feel a little unsure of what you believe in now.

Your mind is filled with questions and contradictions.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may be obsessed with finding your true purpose in life, Cancer. Although you may not like to admit it, this could occupy your thoughts a lot. Try not to be so stressed about it.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may feel rather introspective today, and decidedly out of step with everyone else's frenzied pace.

You're a thoughtful person with deep spiritual beliefs.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) There are many social demands on you now, in addition to the usual demands of home and work. This is when you need to be selfish and guard your time. If you try and accommodate everyone else's wishes, you will sacrifice your own.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may feel a strong urge to run away from it all, but where would you go? The restlessness you feel may be in response to all the pressures on you now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You take great pleasure in a neat, organized house. In your mind, cleanliness really is next to godliness. Today you may be dismayed by how rundown your home has become.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you may feel out of sorts, Sagittarius. You aren't sick, just exhausted from the effort you've been putting in at work lately.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today is a domestic sort of day. You've been neglecting your home recently and now is a good time to make up for it. Clear out the clutter and get organized. If you're ambitious, you might even want to try a little cooking.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You're feeling extremely romantic and passionate today. If you've experienced a rift with your spouse or loved one, this would be the day to make amends.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You're adapting to your changing environment as quickly as you can. You may seem a little preoccupied or distant to those around you, but this is because you actually need all of your energy to adjust.

Everest Masters overcome Wakenaam Masters by 5-wickets in T20 clash Everest Cricket Club Masters defeated Wakenaam Masters by five wickets when the teams collided in a T20 fixture on Sunday last at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. Batting first, Wakenaam Masters managed 129 for 9. Imran Khan struck four fours and six sixes in a top score of 65 while Siddiq Mohamed made 17 with two fours and one six.

Anand Persaud picked up 4 - 12 including a hat-trick, while Amir Khan took 2-14 and Randy Lindore 2 - 23.

Everest Masters responded with 134 for 5. Gavin Singh slammed three fours and one six in scoring 49 not out while Khan scored 36 including two fours and four sixes and Imtiaz Sadik 29 with two fours and one six.

Anand Persaud was named man-of-the- match.

The game was sponsored by Safraz Sheriffudeen of V-Net Communications.

Everest Masters Skipper Rajesh Singh (right) accepts the winning trophy from Wakenaam Masters Captain, Mustak Mohamed.

Dominoes action set for Sunday and $150,000, runner-up a trophy at Turning Point aandtrophy $75,000 and third place $30,000.

Big Boss and Executive will be hosting a dominoes competition on Sunday at Tuning Point starting at 14:00hrs. Entrance fee is $15,000 and the winning team will take home

Among the teams expected to take part are Mix Up, Big Boss, All Season’s Racing Service, Providence, West Side, T and T and Gold is Money.

Alaphilippe beats Van der Poel to win Tirreno-Adriatico stage two Chiusdino, Italy (Reuters) - World champion Julian Alaphilippe won the second stage of the weeklong Tirreno-Adriatico race yesterday with an impressive kick in the uphill finish to Chiusdino.

After the 202 km stage from Camaiore, the Frenchman held off Mathieu van der Poel, five days after the Dutchman beat him in the Strade Bianche classic.

Belgian Wout van Aert took third place to retain the overall lead after sprinting to victory in the opening stage on Wednesday.

Today’s third stage is an undulating 219-km ride from Monticiano to Gualdo Tadino.

Kaieteur News

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Friday March 12, 2021

BRATHWAITE REPLACES HOLDER FIFA President congratulates AS WEST INDIES TEST CAPTAIN Thomas Bach on re-election ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced that Kraigg Brathwaite will replace Jason Holder as the West Indies Test Captain.

Brathwaite, who has previously led the team in seven Tests whilst deputizing for Holder, including the recent two-nil Test Series win away to Bangladesh, becomes the 37th Test Captain of the West Indies.

Holder, the current No. 1 all-rounder in the ICC Test rankings, captained the West Indies team in 37 Tests since taking over from Denesh Ramdin in 2015, leading the side to 11 wins, 5 draws and 21 defeats.

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket paid tribute to Holder saying: “On behalf of CWI, I would like to thank Jason for all he has given to the game in the region while serving as Captain of our Test team. Throughout his five-and-a-half-year tenure, he has led with dignity while always upholding the highest values of the sport. As the world’s leading Test all-rounder, we all believe that Jason still has a tremendous role to play in West Indies Test Cricket for many years to come.”

Roger Harper, CWI Lead Selector said: “We all believe that Kraigg is the right man to lead our Test side at this point in time and I’m delighted that he has accepted the role. In the recent Test series against Bangladesh, Kraigg was able to motivate his players to play to a very high level and create the culture we are looking to establish where the team showed a collective determination to fight and a real hunger for success.”

Kraigg Cornwall and Bonner.jpg Kraigg Brathwaite, said: “It is a huge honour to be given the Captaincy of the West Indies Test team. I feel extremely proud and humbled that the Board and Selectors have

Kraigg Brathwaite.

(CWI)

given me the opportunity and responsibility to lead the team. The recent Test Series win in Bangladesh was a fantastic achievement and I’m really looking forward to the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and I’m excited about what I believe this team can achieve in the future.”

The squad for the 1st Test against Sri Lanka will be announced on tomorrow (Friday March 12th) during the interval of the 2nd CGI Insurance ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS).

Test Series Schedule | West Indies v Sri Lanka March 21-25: 1st Test at the SVRS – 10am ECT/9am JT March 29 to April 2: 2nd Test at the SVRS – 10am ECT/9am JT

IOC President Thomas Bach (right) and FIFA President, Gianni Infantino FIFA President and IOC Member Gianni Infantino has joined the opening of the 137th IOC Session and delivered the following message to Thomas Bach on the occasion of his reelection as IOC President for a third term.

The FIFA President said: “Hello Mr President, dear Thomas. I have just three t h i n g s t o s a y : congratulations, thank you and I am looking forwards.

“Congratulations for Agenda 2020 and the way you have been implementing it. A masterpiece, clearly.

Congratulations as well, for the way you mastered this

pandemic. You navigated all of the sports movement; all of us through this.

“Thank you, Mr President, to you, to your team, to Christophe De Kepper, his team, to the Executive Board, to all members of the IOC, because I am coming from a team sport, but this is valid as well for individual sports.

Alone nobody can win and we all must work as a team.

We have one captain, and that captain is you. For this, our thanks, are with you.

“Finally, dear President, I am looking very much forward to the “+5”. You are right. We cannot ever be

satisfied in sport. We always have to look forwards, and when we achieve Agenda 2020, we need to look at something else to keep us always at the sharp end.

“I am looking very much forward to the “+5”; all 15 new elements of this agenda, but most importantly as well, the collaboration of working together with you, Mr President, with your team, with the same passion, with the same energy, as we did so f a r. P r o t e c t i n g , m o s t importantly, the values of our sports. So, President, dear Thomas, in conclusion, well done, keep going, and see you soon.”

Man City rout Fiorentina to reach Champions League quarter-finals

Manchester City were knocked out of the Women’s Champions League

by Atletico Madrid at this stage of the competition last season BBCsport - Manchester City reached the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals as they swept aside Fiorentina 5-0 in their last-16 second leg. City led through Ellen White and the tie was wrapped up within 20 minutes as Caroline Weir doubled their advantage from the spot following a handball.

White added a second before half-time and Sam Mewis scored on the hour mark.

Mewis smashed home from close range late on for her second as City eased to an 8-0 aggregate win to go through.

The result means City will go at least one better than last season, when Atletico Madrid

knocked them out at this stage of the competition. The Spanish side were beaten by Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea in this season’s competition, eliminated 3-1 on aggregate after Wednesday’s 1-1 second-leg draw.

City came into the return leg off the back of outclassing the Italians in a one-sided initial encounter before beating Everton on Sunday for their ninth successive Women’s Super League win.

England striker White, who had helped City into a three-goal lead after the first leg, linked up with Lauren Hemp for both of her first-half goals in Florence.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

PAGE 27

Sri Lanka look to avoid familiar slip-ups with series on the line

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SPNcricinfo Big picture: It had been over a year since Sri Lanka played ODIs, and yet the script for Wednesday’s ODI seemed so familiar.

For decent stretch of the game, they appeared confident - dominant, even as Dimuth Karunaratne and Danushka Gunathilaka sailed to half-centuries and put them seemingly on track for a total in the range of 300.

The collapse that followed was tragicomic.

There were two run-outs, both extremely avoidable.

Gunathilaka was given out unfairly - bizarrely, actually obstructing the field, when there was scant evidence of wilful obstruction.

Experienced batsmen floundered under the pressure West Indies put

them under, and it fell to a 22-year old debutant - Ashen Bandara - to provide respectability to the total with a middle-order halfcentury.

To the extent that form exists in pandemic cricket, West Indies went into that first match with worse form than Sri Lanka, but so comfortable was their first win, they must now like their chances of sealing the series today.

The attack, which at one stage seemed insipid, was inspired by Captain Kieron Pollard’s intensity in his first spell, and once they had Sri Lanka by the collar, refused to loosen their grip.

On the batting front, Shai Hope’s hunger for ODI runs has proved to be undimmed by the monthslong hiatus.

Perhaps even more importantly, they were able to play out their tormentor from the T20s - Wanindu Hasaranga - without giving him a wicket.

This was helped by a track that took little turn, and the fact that there was next to no pressure to score runs off his bowling, so paltry was the Sri Lanka target. But still - top-order batsmen now have had time in the middle against him.

In the spotlight: Shai Hope may have done Shai Hope things, but almost as impressive was Evin Lewis’ departure from his regular style, to play an innings that fit his team’s circumstance.

While Hope was fluent almost from the outset, striking a variety of pleasing off-side boundaries, Lewis was almost stodgy in

Oasis Café/Akamai Trading golf tourney on tomorrow

LGC Treasurer Maxim Mangra (left) accepts the cheque from William Walker of Oasis Café in the presence of Patangaliee Persaud (right) and Paton George.

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olfers will test their skills when the Oasis Café/Akamai Trading tournament tees off using a new format at the Lusignan Golf Club. The format for the tournament will be match-play where two teams will be competing against each other while there will also be individuals competing on a points system.

Match play is a form of play where a player (or players) plays directly against an opponent (or opponents) in a head-to-head match. You win a hole by completing it in the fewest number of strokes, and you win a match when you are winning by more holes than remain to be played.

Speaking at the launching ceremony on Wednesday at Oasis Café, Vice President of the LGC

Paton George said the winning team and individuals will be given prizes. Each team will comprise of about 20-25 members selected by the Captains.

“There will be a $30,000 prize for the winning team which will be available through the bar and restaurant located in the clubhouse,” he added.

George expressed gratitude to the sponsors and urged the players to turn out in the covid friendly environment.

Manager of Oasis Café and passionate golfer, William Walker thanked the club for accommodating such format. Walker said that match-play format is a very pure form of golf which he enjoys like his opposite team captain, Brian Hackett.

“I also encourage members of the public to come out and get involved in

golf more, it’s a very interesting game and something we want more people to be a part of,” he stated.

President of LGC, Patangaliee ‘Pur’ Persaud thanked the media, Walker and Brian Hackett of Akamai Trading for their support. He said that it’s going to be an exciting tournament since some of the top local golfers will be competing. “It’s going to stand up with the best in the country and I estimate we will have about 50 players competing.”

Persaud noted that this format would normally be played on a friendly basis but the Club decided to take it one step forward and have the players competing. He is calling on the fans to observe the covid protocols. The 18hole tournament will begin from 12:00hrs. (Zaheer Mohamed)

comparison, where ordinarily he would be expected to provide the impetus in the powerplay.

Of the 90 balls he faced, 52 were dots. And of the 65 runs he scored, only 28 came from boundaries, where the remaining 37 were from singles and two’s - and almost obscene scoring split for him. Don’t expect his big-hitting to go anywhere.

But perhaps know that when the team needs him to, Lewis has this safer, low gear as well.

While Hasaranga was being played out safely, Dushmantha Chameera became Sri Lanka’s primary wicket-taking threat, beating both Lewis and Hope with raw pace as he bowled them both, if a little too late in the game to make a serious impact.

Though he played his first ODI for Sri Lanka as far back as the 2015 World Cup, Chameera’s has been a frustrating career so far, as injuries - including a stress fracture - have seen him sidelined for months, as the

likes of Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha leapfrogged him on the seam-bowling list.

He seems to be in excellent rhythm in the Caribbean, though, and he has been the quickest bowler on tour so far. Sri Lanka are desperate to find limitedovers wicket-takers for their post-Malinga era. Could Chameera become that regular penetrative force?

Pitch and conditions: Just as was the case on Wednesday, there is patchy rain forecast for early in the morning in North Sound, but it should clear up in time for the match. The pitch may be another batting-friendly one, if slightly more worn than the first track, thanks to a match having been played on the square.

Team news: West Indies have no real reason to mess with their XI, with almost all their bowlers having pitched in, in the first match, and no batsman having been dismissed for less than a fifty.

West Indies (possible): 1

Shai Hope (wk), 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Jason Mohammed, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Kieron Pollard (capt.), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Romario Shepherd, 9 Fabian Allen, 10 Akeal Hosein, 11 Alzarri Joseph.

Sri Lanka may toy with leaving out Kamindu Mendis - who made little impact with ball and bat - for the experience of Thisara Perera. But then perhaps they will show a little more faith in 22-year-old Mendis.

Dasun Shanaka is still in quarantine, and unavailable.

There may also be a temptation to bring in offspinning allrounder Ramesh Mendis.

Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt.), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Pathum Nissanka, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Ashen Bandara, 7 Kamindu Mendis/Thisara P e r e r a , 8 Wa n i n d u Hasaranga, 9 Lakshan Sandakan, 10 Dushmantha C h a m e e r a , 11 N u w a n Pradeep.

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

Overarching confidence in GFF camp ahead of WC Qualifiers this month President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde has disclosed that the body is very confident that the ‘Golden Jaguars’ will deliver the goods when they take on Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas on the 25th and 30th of this month in the Dominican Republic.

It would be the commencement of Guyana’s quest to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Preparations, within a covid19 setting, given the challenges that have been presented by this global pandemic would have commenced in January (10th) of this year and have been ongoing five-days per week, ever since.

Forde posited that his confidence is derived from tangible things, including the fact that they have been able to invest in the continuous training of the team; the investment made in engaging Head Coach Márcio Máximo as well as the investment in new technologies for the national team.

“I believe we have the right men involved, we have the right man in charge, I believe we’ve made the right and smart investments and I have to believe that we will earn some dividends on

those investments. As the head of the Guyana football fraternity, I derive my opinion on these things based on the specific decisions that I take as leader and the investment. So the short answer is that I am confident that the team would be extremely competitive against any opponent within our region.”

Meanwhile, Coach Máximo who shared the head table with President Forde at a press briefing on Tuesday of this week, reminded that not many nations have had the opportunity to play friendly matches owing to the pandemic, Guyana was lining up two friendly internationals but this had to be called off due to travel restrictions brought on by the pandemic.

He said to counter that, the 27-man squad here has been involved in intense training whilst the international players have been competing within their various leagues, especially in England which will go a long way in terms of the team being ready to compete.

“Each coach will minimize his problems with intensive and proper training to take a good result.”

The experienced Brazilian also noted that

what the players do now is of importance to him; their adapting to the intense and quick playing style. He stated emphatically that Guyana is blessed with many young and talented players who are in the programme and should be given the opportunity to show what they can do.

“We have a lot of potential players here and we should give them the chance to show themselves.

It does not make sense to have a national programme here five-days per week and you don’t use the players; it’s not real development. Real development is that you should use your young players without being afraid but you must maintain the level of competition.”

Coach Máximo said that he respects all of his players and is happy to see many players, here and abroad wanting to be a part of the national programme, something he has not experienced since taking up the job here in August, 2019.

The Golden Jaguars team for the matches against Trinidad and Tobago and Bahamas would be released to the public on March 17 next, the same day the team is expected to wing out to the Dominican Republic.

(Franklin Wilson)

Rockaway Group of Companies supports Kato SC

CEO of Rockaway Group of Companies Hafeez Ali (center), Leo Ramalho (right) and Gary Jhagdati display the items.

Rockaway Group of Companies recently presented a quantity of cricket uniforms and bats to the Kato Sports Club of Region 8. At a simple ceremony which was held recently at the Everest Cricket Club, CEO of Rockaway Group of Companies Hafeez Ali presented the items to Leo Ramalho who accepted on behalf of the club.

Ali said that during a recent visit to the community he promised the club that he will lend support and he is happy to fulfill that promise. He added that once they utilise the items justly, he will continue to support the club adding that this is something he does across Guyana.

Ramalho thanked Ali for his support.

Kaieteur News

Friday March 12, 2021

PAGE 29

BCB/Minister Zulfikar Mustapha U-15 Tournament underway Some sixteen teams are participating in the 2021 Berbice Cricket Board/Minister Zulfikar Mustapha Under-15 tournament which bowled off last week in the Ancient County. The BCB is using the tournament as preparation for the 2021 edition of the Guyana Cricket Board Inter County Under-15 tournament.

Among the top performers in the opening rounds were opening batsman Rampersaud Ramnauth, medium Pacer Tyrese Smart of Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes, All Rounder Afraz Budhoo of Albion, the talented Ravin Boodwah of Port Mourant, Romario Ramdehol of RH Canje, Raphael Fraser and Deeraj Ramjit of Rose Hall Town and Troy David of Edinburgh. Scores from the first rounds of matches are as follows: Rose Hall Canje defeated Edinburgh Warriors by 140 runs at the Canje Ground - Rose Hall Canje 173 all out; Zadeem Larose 40, A. Hetmyer 20 and Romario Ramdehol 18. Bowling for Edinburgh, W. Castello 3 for 34, D. Persaud 2 for 41.

Edinburgh 33 all out in 17.1 overs. Troy David 12; Aaron Craig 4 for 18, Romario Ramdehol 6 for 9.

Kendall’s Union edged Edinburgh by one run at the Edinburgh Ground – Kendall’s Union 95 from 27 overs; G. Harris 48, Wesley Castello 4 for 16, D. Cort 2 for 10, D. George 2 for 12.

Edinburgh 94 all out in 23 overs; Troy David 17, Rakeem Peters 17, Darren George 14. K. Premnauth 5 for 12, Goberdhan 2 for 10, N. Kashi 2 for 11S. Edinburgh hammered East Bank Blazers by 9 wickets at the Edinburgh Ground - East Bank Blazers 68 all out in 26 overs; James Kesney 24, David Ellis 19.

Wesley Castello 4 for 23,

Troy David 3 for 5, Denesh Persaud 2 for 17. Edinburgh 70 for 1 in 13 overs; Raheem Peters 30, Troy David 16*.

Albion defeated Port Mourant Kennard by 48 runs at Albion - Albion 116 all out in 48.1 overs. Dion Seetal 43, N. Ramsammy 26.

Y. Mohan 3 for 13, R. Boodwah 3 for 16. Port Mourant 68 all out in 30.2 overs; Ravin Boodwah 12; Afraz Budhoo 4 for 18, Devindra Lalbehari 3 for 13.

Port Mourant Prem Kennard breeze past Upper Corentyne ‘B’ by 10-wickets at the No. 72 Ground - Upper Corentyne ‘B’- 27 all out in 14.2 overs; Ravin Boodwah 5 for 11, Yoganand Mohan 2 for 15.

Port Mourant Pre Kennard 28 without loss in 6.2 overs; Rampertab Ramnauth 11*, Vishal Williams 10*.

Port Mourant Prem Kennard defeated RHTFM by one-wicket at the Area H Ground RHTFM - 128 all out in 44.3 overs; Imran Mohamed 25, Raphael Fraser 14, Rahul Mohan 5 for 32, Ravin Boodwah 2 for 27. Port Mourant Prem Kennard 130 for 9 in 47.4 overs.

Rampersaud Ramnauth 39, Romesh Bharrat 21, Ganesh Seosahai 19. Imran Mohammed 2 for 22, Tyron Smartt 2 for 30, Khemraj Tika 2 for 32.

Albion Community Centre ‘A’ trounced Upper Corentyne ‘A’ by 9 wickets at Albion - Upper Corentyne ‘A’ 23 all out in 10.2 overs.

Govin Doodnauth 12; Afraz Budhoo 8 for 9. Albion 24 for 1 in 8.3 overs, Dion Sital 11. Hoopchand Dhanraj 1 for 4.

Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes made light work of Upper Corentyne ‘B’ by 10-wickets at No. 69 Red Rose Cricket Ground Upper Corentyne ‘B’- 15 all out in 11.2 overs. Tyrese Smartt 5 for 6, Khemraj Tika 2 for 8 and Deeraj Ramjit 2 for 01. RHTFM, 16 without

loss in 3.2 overs. Tyrese Smartt 10*.

Port Mourant Prem Kennard flayed Albion ‘B’ by 10-wickets at the Port Mourant Ground - Albion ‘B’ - 12 all out in 14 overs; Ravin Boodwah 5 for 1, M. Rampersaud 3 for 6. Port Mourant 15 without loss in 4 overs, Rampersaud Ramnauth 11*.

Upper Corentyne ‘A’ got past their ‘B’ counterparts by 36 runs at No. 72 Ground - UCCA ‘A’100 all out in 16 overs; Navin Chalitar 18, Jahmiel

Clark 15. L. Sukhwa 2 for 10, J. Bissoon 2 for 15, H. Hemchand 2 for 17. UCCA ‘B’ 64 all out in 19 overs; B. Hemchan 13, Devin Persaud 3 for 10, George Doodnauth 3 for 12.

Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes mauled Upper Corentyne ‘A’ by 265 runs at the Area ‘H’ Ground RHTFM 286 for 8 from 50 overs; Raphael Fraser 77, Deeraj Ramjit 60*.

Hoopchand Dhanraj 2 for 42. Upper Corentyne 21 all out; Khemraj Tika 4 for 10, Tyrese Smarrt 5 for 12.

Ravin Boodwah Afraz Budhoo

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Friday March 12, 2021

David Persaud Investments Limited on board as Big Man Cricket to be launched today

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he Big Man C r i c k e t tournament is set to commence tomorrow at several venues across Guyana but the official launch of the tournament which has attracted eight teams so far will be done today at GCC from 14:00hrs.

Chairman of the Big Man Cricket Committee, Raj Singh told the media on Wednesday at Oasis Café, Carmichael Street that no fans will be allowed and there are lots of prizes to be won. He added that the fixtures will be released shortly and the tournament caters for players over 45years of age.

He added that the tournament will be used as a yard stick to select a Guyana team to compete at the regional tournament set for October. Singh indicated that following the regional tournament, a West Indies

team will be selected for the Over-50 World Cup in 2022 in South Africa.

Singh said that the tournament is designed to get retired cricketers back into the club system so they can assist with the development of the game and club structure. “They can also be role models for the youths and even start helping with umpiring, scoring and being part of the administration of the clubs.”

The tournament has not been sanctioned by the Guyana Cricket Board, but Singh said that is not necessary as they have gotten a legal opinion from their Attorneys. Meanwhile, David Persaud Investments Limited of Sub Lot ‘X’ Plot ‘A’ Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara is the latest entity to join the growing list of sponsors.

David Persaud Investments Limited has

been in operations for over 33 years. They are the largest Importer and Distributor of steel products and high quality building materials in Guyana.

Mr. Christopher Persaud, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer readily agreed to co-sponsor the tournament since he is an ardent cricket fan and strongly believes that BMC has a role to play in the development of cricket in Guyana.

“Surely it would attract our masters to get back more actively involved in the game of cricket which ultimately it would lead to healthier lifestyles and enhancement of community.

These guys can also serve in various capacities in our Clubs and Area Associations, etc and assist in strengthening the pool of administrators and officials of the game.”

Administrative Assistant of David Persaud Investments Limited, Jandoo Singh (right) presents the sponsorship cheque to Chairman of BMC, Raj Singh.

Friday March 12, 2021

Kaieteur News

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“We can beat these teams” - Moe FIBA 2023 WC Americas Pre-Qualifiers Anthony Moe dunks one for his club Unan Leon during the action in the El Salvador top flight last season.

Just over a month remains before Guyana’s Senior Men’s Basketball Team embarks on their first ever International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup (WC) pre-qualifiers in El Salvador and co-captain; Anthony Moe, is extremely upbeat ahead of the tournament.

Guyana are the highest ranked team in the tournament at 100 and will be pitted alongside Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua. The top three teams of the group that will be consist of one-off roundrobin matches will move on to th e n e x t r o u n d o f qualification.

During an invited comment, Moe revealed to told Kaieteur Sport, his 100% optimism of not only moving forward to the second round of qualifications but of topping the group as well. The towering Power Forward (PF) was among the top

performers for UNAN Leon which finished second in the Nicaraguan top flight and he would’ve played against some of the top players for the nations that the ‘Golden Arrowhead’ are currently pitted against.

He analysed that, “I know our guys, we made light work of the competition to win the Caribbean Championships in 2018, I know our guys’ player IQ and their strengths and I am 100% certain that we will make it to the next round of qualifications.”

Moe continued saying during the telephone interview that, “Delroy James is a top guy with tremendous talent and experience in the US and European league, winning the Champions league in 2019 and his presence in our team after not being able to play in 2018 will just make our unit more clinical. I am very happy and super excited at what we can achieve as a

unit once we stay focused.”

The co-captain explained that he was saddened by the announcement of Ray Victor’s retirement but he has been reaching out the Guard to try and convince him to take a ‘last dance’ with the National team as they embark on this historic journey.

Moe will not return to Guyana to join the local training squad but will travel over to the El Salvador from Nicaragua, this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has a bill of $15 million to ensure that the men’s team reaches to El Salvador and are equipped to bring glory to Guyana once again as they did in 2018 when they won their first Caribbean Basketball Championship under the guidance of current head coach, Junior Hercules.

So far, the federation has received $1 million in support from the state.