Kaieteur News

Agents withholding K NEWS repayments to investors AIETEUR

Monday Edition May 24, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 20

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

- Alleged Ponzi Schemer, Yuri

Online readership yesterday, 76,093

ExxonMobil could recover $47B in decommissioning costs by 2024 - Int’l Report Two dead, one critical in car crash CCTV footage reveals Toddler dies two pastors were after drinking gasoline trailed, then robbed

Fugitive found in makeshift Camp Previous photo of Kenraul Perez before he escaped.

- Tried to mislead cops with weight gain

Perez when he was nabbed on Saturday night.

Listen @11:00hrs Aurora decides what Royalty to pay Guyana, while on Kaieteur Radio VP Bharrat Jagdeo brush aside US$20B interest rate 99.1/99.5FM

Kaieteur News

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Monday May 24, 2021

Agents withholding repayments to investors - Alleged Ponzi Schemer, Yuri A

lleged Ponzi scheme operator Yu r i G a r c i a Dominguez has stated that his agents have collected millions to re-pay his company’s investors but are now withholding their monies. As a result of this, Garcia-Dominguez has advised the investors to report the matter to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum told this newspaper yesterday that several of the company’s investors have since lodged reports with the GPF against the agents and investigations have begun.

A c c o r d i n g t o information received, the agents collected a commission for every investor they recruited to invest with GarciaDominguez’s company, Accelerated Capital Firm Inc. (ACF). The agents allegedly collected some $900M from ACF to

payback its investors but to date no money has been repaid. Kaieteur News was told that the monies being withheld by the agents are reserves that were set aside to repay investors in case the c o m p a n y ’s o p e r a t i o n s should ever run into issues.

According to a WhatsApp message seen by this publication, GarciaDominguez informed ACF investors, “Your agent[s] collected commissions on your behalf.

A percentage of that commissions earned are to give back to the clients being that the company had to stop operating.”

The message further stated, that ACF will return 30% of investments made back to its investors, while the 70% ought to be returned by the agents.

However, the message detailed that in order to get that 70% of investments back from the agents; investors must report them

Alleged Ponzi scheme operators, Yuri GarciaDominguez and his wife Ateeka Ishmael.

(agents) to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Garcia-Dominguez believes that if this is done,

then the agents would be forced to re-pay the investors. “After making the report to CID you will then contact us. The company will repay you the 30% and

because of the report made an investigation will be done against the agent for them to return to you the remaining of the capital,” the message stated.

Garcia-Dominguez is a Cuban national who was granted citizenship in June 2020. He and his wife, Ateeka Ishmael are accused of bilking Guyanese millions of dollars.

The alleged Ponzi scheme operators, are currently before the court facing 80 plus fraud charges and two charges under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism(AML/CFT) Act. The charges were brought against the couple by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and signified the first time SOCU has instituted charges under the AML/CFT Act. The AML/CFT Act, chapter 10:11, prohibits businesses from operating as financial institutions without

the necessary registration for regulation and supervision by the Regulatory Authorities, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Guyana Securities Council.

The duo is currently before three different courts facing charges, which allege that they obtain monies under false pretense. They were released on $30M bail after spending over a month in prison on remand.

Garcia-Dominguez and Ishmael are officials of ACF Inc., a company that lured thousands of Guyanese to invest their money and promised them a 40% profit on their investment. The company also encouraged its investors to enlist others in order to earn a 10% commission for each person they enlist.

The “investors” included businessmen and church members, with a number of religious leaders accused of playing roles in recruiting unsuspecting Guyanese.

Health Ministry records four more COVID-19 deaths T

he Ministry of Health yesterday announced that four more persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have died. Their deaths now bring Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll to 359.

According to the Health Ministry’s press release, the latest fatalities are a 78-yearold from Region Three ( E s s e q u i b o I s l a n d - We s t Demerara), a77-year-old from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), a 42-year-old from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and a 73-year-old man also from Region Five. All four persons died while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

Furthermore, the Ministry in its daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 116 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 16,130.

The dashboard also shows that 19 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 96 persons are in the institutional isolation, 1,911 in home isolation and four persons are quarantined institutionally.

To date, 13,745 recoveries have been recorded.

Kaieteur News

Monday May 24, 2021

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ExxonMobil could recover $47B in decommissioning costs by 2024 W

hen the Liza Phase One Project in the Stabroek Block comes to an end in the next 20 years, ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), would be responsible for executing a decommissioning or abandonment plan. Such a plan would entail costs associated with the safe removal of pipelines and other infrastructure that were fixed to the ocean floor to extract the oil. This exercise often calls for millions of US dollars to be invested.

What is interesting to note however, is that ExxonMobil does not have to wait until the next 20 years to start recovering this money. It can, and is most likely is doing this since production kick started in the Stabroek Block in December 2019. Highlighting this “abnormality” recently was the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in its latest publication called, “TOXIC ASSETS: Making Polluters Pay When Wells Run Dry and the Bill

Comes Due.” Founded in 1989, CIEL uses the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society.

In its report, CIEL pointed to ExxonMobil’s overview of its operations in Guyana which shows that it may drill as many as 92 wells in the Liza One, Two and Payara oil fields alone. In fact, ExxonMobil has drilled exploration wells at more than 16 different potential production sites so far. CIEL said it should be noted that ExxonMobil drilled the wells at an average water depth of 1782 meters (5846 feet) and some are as deep as 2735 meters (8973 feet).

The organization also highlighted that the eight wells already in production at Liza One are drilled in water depths of 1500-1900 meters (4921-6234 feet).

To put those depths into context, CIEL noted that the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement defines any well drilled in more than 122 meters (400 feet) of water as “deep water,” and the average water depth of wells in the

- Int’l Report North Sea is 185 meters (607 feet).

With the foregoing in mind, CIEL said it is critical t o n o t e t h a t decommissioning such deep offshore wells is expensive.

While the cost depends on a number of factors, including

down these offshore operations, CIEL highlighted that the Production Sharing Agreement for the Stabroek Block does not require the companies to set aside any money for decommissioning in a dedicated fund, or

ocean conditions, CIEL said it is significantly more expensive than the closure of conventional onshore wells.

It said too, that estimates consistently place the costs o f d e e p w a t e r decommissioning in the tens of millions USD per well, once all associated measures are taken into account.

Despite the significant looming expense of closing

provide any form of financial security while the wells are producing.

Instead, the Agreement permits the ExxonMobilled consortium to deduct the estimated future costs of decommissioning as

Man shot during row over money Police are investigating the shooting of a man, 32, which occurred on Saturday last during a row over money on Victoria and Britton Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

A c c o r d i n g t o information received, just after the heated argument

ensued, the suspect reportedly left the scene on his motorcycle and headed in an unknown direction.

Shortly after, he returned and was armed with a handgun.

It was reported to detectives that he fired two shots in the victim’s direction, which hit him on both of his legs. The

alleged shooter then made good his escape in an unknown direction. The injured 32-year-old was then escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he remains a patient.

The police are still in pursuit of the known suspect.

Gunman robs businesswoman in her yard

A

business woman, along with some of her closest family members, was robbed yesterday in the vicinity of their home.

According to a police report, the 45 yearold business woman along with her family, were sitting in the yard of their home located in Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), when at 22:15hrs, a man entered the yard and told them to “freeze” while aiming a handgun towards them.

The family complied and the suspect started to search them for valuables.

One of the victims, a 44 year-old fisherman, reportedly tried to stand up from his chair but was dealt a blow to the left side face with the handgun from the suspect. The

perpetrator then pointed the handgun to the businesswoman’s head and demanded money.

He then proceeded to take a list of items from the family including one Samsung A21s valued $70,000, a Samsung A10 valued at $50,000, a 10 pennyweight gold chain valued at $100,000, three gold rings valued $60,000, an Alcatel cell phone valued at $6,000, a diamond ring valued $175,000, a gold band valued at $30,000 and $80,000 in cash. The perpetrator then exited the yard with the articles and made good his escape via a white Axio motor car.

The registration for the vehicle is c u r r e n t l y u n k n o w n ; h o w e v e r, a n investigation is ongoing.

current operating expenses, according to a schedule based on production rates, without demonstrating that it has reserved those funds for future use.

CIEL also cited an independent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) which estimates that ExxonMobil could charge Guyana as much as USD$227 million or $47B in amortized abandonment costs between 2020 and 2024.

With this in mind, the Center for International Environmental Law noted that the recovered costs ultimately diminish the amount of profit oil shared with Guyana, effectively passing the bill of decommissioning on to the government up front.

In its report, CIEL said, “The high costs of closure costs may come due sooner than expected. The economically viable lifetime

of the deepwater wells in Guyana is uncertain, given trends in the global oil and gas market, which is now unquestionably in decline.

As a result, the time frame over which it is possible to spread those costs may be shorter than anticipated, and the revenues earned from the production may be lower than projected.”

Due to both the structure of the Production Sharing Agreement and market conditions, CIEL said Guyana faces higher costs and lower earnings than anticipated. “Expense is not the only concern associated with the shutdown of deepwater drilling operations. If funds are insufficient to cover the costs of properly decommissioning the wells, there could be significant and lasting consequences for the marine environment and the human and biotic communities that depend on it,” the organization concluded.

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Monday May 24, 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

Guyana is not powerless, it has leverage The government of this country can do one of two things: its leaders can throw up their hands in resignation and accept the status quo, which is the first and easy choice. Or they can appreciate where Exxon is in its current state, and what Guyana represents to the immediate and long-term prospects of the company. With that clear understanding, they must then move purposefully to wrest more for us, from the tight fists and tighter minds of Exxon.

The first state of mind is passive and defeatist, while the second is manifesting that the government, leaders, and peoples, of this country will not yield, will not surrender, but will continue to look at and analyze the circumstances surrounding our oil, all of them, and come to new understandings of the decisions, the hard steps, that have to be taken, to squeeze small, then larger concessions, out of the foreign oil companies, starting with Exxon. We admit that the latter is the more demanding, tougher and more confrontational approach, which could lead to unending bad blood; but is better than the present situation, and future prospects, where it is our blood alone, our lifeblood, that is being drained rapidly. It is this second option that must be prioritized and pursued, and we at this paper will press for this, never retreat from this.

The Saudi Arabians made the decisive step, and took the hard road with their fabulous oil riches. Though they were not liked for it, their people and society are extremely better for those actions. The Venezuelans did the same, under the guiding hand of Carlos Andres Gomez, and were also better for the thinking and results that came. But save for leadership missteps, political mismanagement and misdirection, that neighbouring country did not have to be where it is at, given what it has, which is estimated to be more than that of anybody else’s. The Libyans and Iranians and others took their destiny in their own hands, and leveraged what they had in their ground and beneath their sands. If they had not, then it is highly likely that those countries would have been locked in the same state of imbalance, unfairness, and impoverishment, and this despite having all the wealth with which they had been blessed.

They had leverage and they used it fearlessly and that was when such thoughts and actions were unthinkable. Let us be clear: we at this publication are in no way recommending going the full nelson and for the jugular of Exxon and others. All we say is that we have leverage at our disposal and we must use it sensibly and courageously. We have to be unflinching in our outlook, since Exxon needs us more than we need it. We have said this before, and on more than one occasion. We say it again, and this, too: when we come to that point of using our leverage, tactically and wisely, which is today, we must then be unalterable in our positions and convictions. We must not wilt or fade, in the face of the frustrations that Exxon and its kind are sure to marshal and deliver with muscle.

What we stand for and what we are saying is what Guyana’s only real oilman, Dr. Vincent Adams, said recently.

Under the caption of “Exxon cannot survive without Guyana” (KN May 20), Dr. Adams has this to say specifically, “…we need to understand that, and use it as leverage…rather than have them take advantage of us.” Exxon’s financials are shakily perched. Exxon is depending on its quarterly numbers, which Guyana helps to boost the most, since the oil is so dirt cheap to produce. Exxon needs to impress Wall Street, so that its stock does not fall out of favour, and investors are rushing to sell and be rid of its burdensome cost of carry, and the stigma that comes from holding the company’s securities.

Exxon’s management is vulnerable and where it counts, namely, inside its own board of directors. This is due to intensifying pressures from powerful shareholders to perform better with the all-important bottom line, and to do something, much more, about climate change, through its environmental programme and record. Added to those are

Is Guyana really a democracy?

DEAR EDITOR, President Abraham Lincoln has described a democracy as “a government of the people, by the people, and FOR the people”. Based on this description or definition, can one honestly say that Guyana is a democracy? I don’t think so!

Since Guyana attained its Independence in 1966, none of our governments have been FOR the people. None of them! Therefore, one can only conclude that our country is, in fact, a pseudo democracy - yes, a sham!

The pervasiveness of political and racial discrimination which is inherent in the system of governance has certainly disqualified us from calling ourselves a democracy. Our race-based politics in a deeply divided society has always produced a government for SOME of the people, which in the context of Guyana translate to half of the population.

At least, this is the general perception of the people. If it were not so, why then is there always such mistrust, anxiety, resentment and cries of discrimination by a large section of the population against whichever party is in government?

Albert Einstein has defined insanity as: “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. After over 55 years of the PNC and PPP in government, does anyone still believe that any of these

two parties can bring true democracy to the country, given that their very nature is antithetical to democracy?

We must be insane!

As a first step to be elevated to that esteemed political status (democracy), Guyana needs to have truly multiracial parties to run its affairs - not parties with racial window dressing, as we see in both the PPP and PNC. The AFC, I believe, was truly a multiracial party, but maybe they were undemocratic and unfortunately they have lost their way. In fact, Freddie has already written their epitaph.

Guyana has a very strange electorate. They continue to cling to the two age-old undemocratic parties with all their flaws. So it seems that we are stuck.

This being the case, in order to add credibility to our system of governance, we should revert to the old electoral system in which the country was divided into geographic constituencies; where the representatives of the constituencies were elected by the people and will therefore be accountable to the people of the constituencies. It follows therefore, that the elected representatives will be the ones to sit in Parliament to represent the rights of their constituencies.

This kind of arrangement will provide some guarantees that the people’s concerns will be attended to by the government. Thus promoting a system of democracy.

But as noble as the above arrangements may be, our leaders are still required to dig their heads out of the sand and face reality that neither Africans nor Indians have any desire to be under the political domination of the other, certainly not for any prolonged period of time.

Hence, the system of governance must be addressed sooner rather than later in a way that promotes peace and racial unity.

Currently, the media is inundated with racial bickering over the remarks made by an MP. This shows how racially sensitive we are.

In Guyana, one’s race is sacrosanct, so one has to be careful whenever making any remark which may be construed to be negative or offensive.

People are very passionate about their race.

So it is not unusual to see fierce interracial rivalry especially between the two major racial groups – Indians and Africans. This has always been the case and will remain so. So ways have to be found to alleviate the intense rivalry. Governance is core and is also a sore issue.

There is therefore the need for a paradigm shift in the system of governance to make it more democratic. We probably need a system which will allow participation in the Executive of all political parties which have been allocated seats at the general election. To stubbornly continue with a system which invokes racial

strife and disunity, is inimical to peace and development.

But you know something? The current leaders of both the PPP and PNC have no genuine interest in sharing of the pie. They don’t see how more than one party can run a government.

In fact, hypocritically, the PNC talks about sharing the Executive when that party is in the Opposition. But when in government there is complete silence. The PPP, on the other hand, emphatically opposes such notion, because it foolishly believes that it has the numbers to win any free and fair election.

Once these two parties have their way, Guyana will continue along its merry way of racial animosity and strife, which will only embolden the likes of ExxonMobil to recolonize us in the 21st century.

At the very core, Guyana is a multiracial society and needs to have its affairs managed by mature, truly multiracial governments. The PPP and PNC have proven that they do not fit the criteria.

They have taken the test time and again and have failed each time. The nation yearns for fresh untainted blood to take up the mantle of leadership to democratically govern the country in the 21st century, so that we don’t have to continue to ask ourselves the embarrassing question: “What democracy?” We are better than that!

Winston Richards

Earl’s Court, LBI residents complain about heavy duty machine workshop DEAR EDITOR, I would like to highlight a situation that is currently ongoing within the community of Earl’s Court, La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara, and is severely affecting residents of the community.

Here is an outline of the current situation: 1. A businessman has converted the parapet and the reserve area of Earl’s

Court into a heavy-duty equipment repair workshop.

There are several excavators, low-bed trailers, road rollers, front-end loaders, 40-foot containers being parked, repaired and operated on the reserve.

Even a mobile house has now been placed there. On May 06, 2021, there was the clearing of new areas of the reserve, which can only facilitate the expansion of his operations. The

the instances of exposures and embarrassments in the courts on this most sensitive of areas, meaning, environmental irresponsibility and failure. That is the stigma. When all of this is combined, Guyanese leaders are more able to appreciate where Exxon is, and where we are. Where it is weak and where we have strengths. Strengths that must be mobilized and brought to bear, because Exxon depends so much on this country’s cheap and easy oil.

We must make it harder and less cheap for Exxon. It is where we get more, through well-thought-out strategies, approaches, and concessions. It is where Exxon still gets to reap a handsome return. We have the company by that proverbial part of its anatomy. We must make it flinch. We must use our leverage to make Exxon give us more: less expenses, more sharing, more respectful partnering.

community is zoned as a residential area, so how can this commercial activity be allowed to happen?

2. This situation presents risks to human and environmental health.

Waste is burned on the site; there is improper disposal hazardous material such as oils, lubricants and fuel which are associated with the operation; build up of solid waste (especially those which cannot be burned) and due to the pile up of machinery, drivers cannot see on-coming traffic. The welding, power washing, constant hammering, and driving of the equipment greatly impacts residents.

Vibration that result from the operation of heavyduty machinery has been so severe that it causes people’s homes to vibrate.

3. With the extensive clearing of the vegetation on the reserve that has occurred, the risk of

erosion and flooding during the up-coming rainy season becomes high.

Additionally, there is a risk that the reserve can collapse into the main drainage canal due to the weight of machinery that is stored/operated/repaired.

This behaviour by the businessman has been ongoing since early 2020; in fact, your newspaper published the story in the January 7, 2020 edition. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2020/01/07/ndc-to-correctwork-and-hand-bill-to-lbiresident/).

The residents would like this operation to be stopped and are calling on the relevant authorities to take action.

There are many areas along the East Coast Demerara that are designated as commercial zones which the operator can access and use.

Kind Regards, Concerned Residents of Earl’s Court

Monday May 24, 2021

The Case of Future Generations!

DEAR EDITOR, The case filed by two Guyanese vs. Exxon should be considered the case of the Guyanese People vs. Exxon.

It is turning out to be of utmost importance. The constitution does state clearly the constitutional rights of the citizens of Guyana.

Not only is there a requirement to protect the current generation, but also a clear requirement to safeguard the future of subsequent generations via ensuring a healthy environment.

Furthermore, the constitution which is the supreme law of Guyana, must be upheld by all elected officials that have sworn to do so upon becoming a Member of Parliament.

In reviewing Chapter II (PRINCIPLES AND BASES OF THE

POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEM) of our Nation’s Constitution, Chapter II, 25 of the constitution states clearly, “Every citizen has a duty to participate in activities designed to improve the environment and protect the health of the nation”. In addition, Chapter II, 36 of the constitution reminds us, “The well-being of the nation depends upon preserving clean air, fertile soils, pure water and the rich diversity of plants, animals and ecosystems”.

Although the constitution also calls for the development of the economy, as stated in Chapter II, 38 of the Constitution, it is clear that creating wealth while permanently destroying the environment’s health is not an acceptable and sustainable path to pursue. In addition,

Vic Persaud was an honourable man DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Eshwar ‘Vic’ Persaud who died recently was one of three pioneers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The other two were Mr. Errol Lee and Mr. C ‘Pryor’ Jones. They were recruited from other Government agencies shortly after Independence (November 1967 and January 1968) and were the first sent overseas to deal with the financial administration of some of Guyana’s Missions.

Errol to London, Vic to Washington and Pryor to New York. Such, however, were their skills, attitudes and capability that subsequently they were appointed to senior positions in the Consular and/Diplomatic fields.

Vic possessed several endearing qualities. For me,

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Kaieteur News

however, what was preeminent was his civility. It is regrettable that this quality was not more widely emulated in society.

Simply put, Vic was an honourable man and decent human being.

Farewell, my friend.

Yours faithfully, Rashleigh E. Jackson

the environment takes precedence over destructive unsustainable economic development.

Furthermore, Chapter II, 38A (a), 38B and 39 (1) state respectively: 38A (a), “the State shall facilitate the engagement of citizens in activities designed to achieve their sustainable livelihoods” 38B “The best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration in all judicial proceedings and decisions and in all matters concerning children” 39 (1) “It is the duty of Parliament, the Government, the courts and all oth e r public agencies to be guided in the discharge of their functions by the principles set out in this Chapter, and Parliament may provide for any of those principles to be enforceable in any court or tribunal.”

This substantial and extremely significant case will have an impact on all future generations of Guyanese. It is essential that every thinking Guyanese seriously consider the merits of this case. Some may argue that the gold mining industry also falls into this category and causes similar environmental damage as does oil & gas.

It can be agreed that alternative methods of mining should be used to prevent the damage caused by the use of mercury in the gold industry.

There are also ways to

reverse the damage done thus far as a result of mercury usage, but prevention is better than a cure.

The key difference in this case is that the oil & gas industry can cause irreversible damage to a healthy environment. The threat is essentially existential. Meaning that the oil & gas industry poses a threat to Guyana’s future existence. As stated in a previous letter, our country can become uninhabitable to humans if climate change is not urgently addressed.

Clearly we should not be adding to our own destruction.

Constitutionally, our leaders have an obligation to ensure our existence is perpetual.

For this fundamental reason, ensuring our existence is of the highest priority within our Constitution. The outcome of this case, which one may classify as the Guyanese People vs. Exxon, is of utmost importance and every Guyanese should be paying close attention to how the court defends our right to exist.

As stated in the preamble of our Nation’s Constitution “May God Protect our People”.

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

Amerindian communities should not have to beg for handouts DEAR EDITOR, Even though the deadly COVID-19 is causing tremendous damage worldwide and is still rampant, it’s commendable to see this present administration taking chances and traversing around Guyana to reach the people and at the same time, attempting to fulfill the various areas in needs, which is very much and will not be completed anytime soon.

The education sector is one of the most affected areas for me because the children are not being able to get proper attention, especially in the hinterland regions. I must say that it’s admirable to see that even though schools will not be opening anytime soon, the Education Minister is using all available means to ensure everyone is given an equal opportunity to get access. Electricity and access to internet is the main hurdle preventing many to have access, but all efforts are being made to ensure the situation changes in a hurry.

Editor, many Amerindian communities are recipients of cash grants/loans to help develop communities and

whilst they have much needs, they should properly consult before spending. Residents from one community informed me that one village was contemplating to buy a generator to power the community, and I informed him that it’s better to explore the possibilities of going solar. To run an average generator to power a small community, it takes around two gallons of diesel to run for one hour. Given their location, it would be more expensive to get fuel there, and then they wouldn’t be able to run the generator for 24 hours. Should the generator develop problems, they would have to wait long for parts to be imported and repaired. In comparison, batteries are the most expensive for a solar system, but with solar, they could get 24 hours electricity, during the day, possibility exists to use all appliances once the sun is (Continued on page 16)

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Freddie Kissoon is bold, courageous, objective, and independent Dear Editor, Tacuma Ogunseye pens (KN May 19) that “Kissoon’s motive is not objective or fair, but driven by his unending desire to be recognised as an Indian ‘Bad man’ and to satisfy his lust for public attention amid an inability to write beyond a few narrow and repetitive topics”. I totally disagree. Kissoon is bold, courageous, objective, and independent. He is not partisan. His articles revolve around every day Guyanese and critical issues. His writings gather significant acclaim for shedding light on previously unreported issues.

Most of the columns are a pleasure to read. He is perhaps the most iconic newspaper columnist in a generation. No columnist writes more than him and no columnist is more read. He is deserving of journalistic awards in Guyana.

Freddie has never seen or considers himself as an Indian writer. This is in sharp contrast with say Ogunseye or David Hinds or Vincent Alexander or Lincoln Lewis or other Black writers, who see themselves as African rights activists and write from an African perspective. Nothing is wrong with that. I salute their work on behalf of Africans. There is no Indian equivalent.

Freddie never took up or defended Indian causes or write on “Indian issues”. He has made it abundantly clear that he does not see issue or people in terms of color. He sees things or arguments in terms of intrinsic value or lack thereof.

He grew up in a mixed neighbourhood. His siblings are married to Africans. He has criticized Indians for not holding their political leaders accountable. His writings

have been very objective, far more objective than any Africanist writers. Many don’t agree with some of his claims, arguments, and positions. But he supports them with evidence. One can’t argue against evidence.

Freddie is an intellectual who taught at the University and is so regarded by many.

He is widely read. His knowledge of history and philosophy is second to none in Guyana. I don’t think any Guyanese has mastered the philosophies of so many global thinkers.

There is nothing inconsistent about his writings. He still subscribes to long held position against fraud. Freddie always stood up for democracy during the period of the PNC dictatorship. He called a spade a spade. He has a knack for saying things the way they are. When Freddie criticized PPP for decades, there were no ‘racist’ allegations against him by African rights activists; he was seen as a hero by Africanists. When he campaigned for the AFC in 2011 and the coalition in 2015, he was a hero. His work was cheered. During PPP tenure, Indians opposed his position while Africans loved him.

When he criticized coalition rule, Africans disliked him and Indians liked him. When he started criticizing the coalition from 2016, he became an enemy of theirs.

When he spoke out against attempted electoral fraud in 2020, he has become an Indian bad man for Ogunseye.

But Freddie took a principled position, consistent with his own standing with respect to the election, where he saw first-hand the PNC attempt to perform a coup that was corroborated by so many international and local

observers. Others like the African rights activists were silent, condoning the rigging.

Now he is deemed an Indian bad man, a code word for racism, for opposing fraud.

Freddie was truthful about the attempted rigging.

It was writers like David, Ogunseye, Vincent, Lincoln, who were all defiant about the rigging. Not once, did they condemn rigging. I also note that not once did they call for sharing power on March 4.

They and the coalition defenders claimed victory in the first week after the election and then fraud thereafter when it became evident that the coalition lost.

Only on August 2 when Gecom was about to declare PPP the winner, they called for power sharing. Their argument is the White Man engaged in fraud to put the PPP in office. That could not sell when the whole world knew the coalition lost fairly.

Freddie is a celebrated writer. He has the greatest number of readers. People look forward to reading his articles. He presents truths, and he gets to the facts.

Random sampling of people I spoke with reveals that almost everyone has great respect for Freddie’s writings. They say he gets to the bottom of issues. That is why people like him. Even Africans like him.

Ogunseye says Roshan Khan and others who were critical of Amanza WaltonDesir for denigrating Indians developed a wrong and strong attitude. He has it completely wrong. That is typical of the perpetrator claiming to be the victim. It is Ogunseye and Walton-Desir who are behaving wrong and strong.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Weeding of grass must be accompanied by the collecting and bagging of it Dear Editor, On Saturday, May 22 at about 18:00 H (6:00 p m) in the fading light, I observed weeding taking place on the parapets of Cummings Street, Alberttown and North

Monday May 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

Cummingsburg. It was observed that while the weeders with their grass cutting machines were engaged in slashing and trashing the area, they was no picking up or collecting of the cut grass and garbage and bagging of same. So they came in the darkness of nightfall to do what they could have done in the brightness of daylight, and left the area in a worse state

than it was found in.

Too often these works are undertaken as mere tokenisms with no proper planning on acceptable outcomes.

Weeding of grass must be accompanied by the collecting and bagging of it.

What passed for weeding of the parapets on Saturday evening in my area was just plain unacceptable.

Yours truly, Shamshun Mohamed

Given the publicity with these land deals, why is there now secrecy with the settlements?

Dear Editor, The more I observe developments, the more mystifying the actions of the PPP government, as led by its obsessively secretive Vice President. Ironically, the more secretive he is in the conduct of the business of the people, the more revealing he is. Take this latest development involving three Guyanese companies.

Car Care, Cevons Waste Management, and Courtney Benn Construction are local outfits that had problems involving land sales, and for which settlements have been reached.

It is a positive when agreements can be had out of court, and something I support occasionally. But that is all that is supportable in the settlements finalized.

There are no details about what is involved in those settlements, as announced by the Vice President (Demerara Waves, May 21). This is troubling.

This is because most things, if not all things of substance, in which the Vice President is in the mix, have

come to be characterized, more and more, by secrecy or its similarly pedigreed cousin confidentiality.

This is the business of state and people; their dignity and interests were violated, as can be gleaned from those questionable land sales.

There was a big trumpet blast in the media and much hullabaloo over the land sales, and rightly so. So, it is befuddling that matters about resolution have petered out now into the usual ether of the silence of secrecy. This is not a private matter between the People’s Progressive Party and those three companies.

It is not a personal civil issue between the Vice President on his lands and principals of Car Care, Cevons Waste Management, and Courtney Benn Construction.

This is the people’s business; their assets have been rearranged and disposed of in a manner detrimental to their best interests.

Given that there was so much strident publicity when the land sales stories came to light, why are we now reduced

to dealing in the ominous darkness of secrecy. There has to be full disclosure. That is, unless there are aspects of the settlement that favor the party more than the country, that political markers are issued for calling in later. The Vice President and followers may believe that these settlement agreements are enlightening.

An early Payara report was promised; now it is a national security secret. The contracts in the nation’s natural resource sector should be public property, but they have been stamped “State Secrets” by the PPP and its main man, who relishes the darkness of ignorance that he spreads over supporters and citizens. And now on something as routine as these settlement agreements, the regular rubberstamp comes out: Top Secret. His Excellency did promise transparency.

Clearly, his definition of transparency includes tomfoolery and these perversities.

Yours truly, GHK Lall

We need the integration of moral education into police training Dear Editor, The recent happenings in which members of our police force are involved in acts of fraud and violence towards members of the public, must be a wake-up call for us to make a serious effort to address the need to include the instilling of some sort of ethical education into their training programme.

Apart from these events in which these guardians of our community security are involved, it is disturbing to note the number and nature of the criminal acts of violence by our citizens that are reported on a daily basis.

This void can only be addressed in a positive manner in all sectors of our education, from the students at all levels of schooling, to the teachers and security personnel in their training courses and during their working lives, to our professionals in their working environments, and even in our communities by regular efforts by our regional leaders.

This all-important aspect of our personal

development is being dealt with in an off-hand manner, as we seem to feel that this would have been taken care of by our religious practice, and by the instructions and examples set by parents and outstanding members of our communities.

This is indeed a mistake, as the adoption of moral principles can only really occur when we take definitive action to inculcate these into our intuition, which helps us when we have to make the decisions on what is truly right or wrong in the various situations we encounter in life.

This can readily be seen when we realise the steps necessary to adopt these principles and make them guide us towards truly good and just living: 1. Make a conscious effort to determine the values which we need to lead us to living moral lives. These will be clear when we use our reasoning abilities, our experiences, and most importantly our consciences.

2. Commit oneself in

advance to using these principles when making decisions, whether or not these lead to our own comfort.

3. Develop the skills and discipline to make decisions based on moral values and principles.

I know that it would seem a herculean task to adopt this type of education into our present systems, but I ask all involved, to think of the impact this would have on our livelihood, compared with the negative results of carrying on as we are now.

It may be recalled that there was once a programme in schools and the teachers’ training college, of which I played a prominent part, called “Health and Family Life Education”, which was designed to deal with imparting moral education into students, and I strongly feel that revival of this course can help tremendously in filling this moral void in our society. I stand ready to assist in the formulation and implementation of any programme towards this cause.

Yours truly, Roy Paul

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Monday May 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

As this paper has been exposing, the provisions of secret contracts in the extractive industries do not only rob this country of much needed revenue – they also set local players in those industries at a significant competitive disadvantage.

If something is good for the country, if it is fair to all involved, there is no need for it to be secret.

There needs to be greater transparency in the extractive industries to prevent the robbery and disadvantage that has been taking place.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday May 24, 2021

Truck driver charged Region Six gets $8M pick-up, $4.6M boat engine to for causing death boost service delivery of Soesdyke woman

T

he 51-year-old truck driver, who was involved in the accident that claimed the life of Lucretia Alberts of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, was on Friday charged with causing her death.

The defendant, Ian Jhaman of Back House, Soesdyke, made his first appearance in the Providence Magistrate’s Court. Jhaman pleaded not guilty to a charge which alleges that on May 5, last, on Adams Road, Soesdyke, he drove motor lorry GJJ 3292 in a manner dangerous

to the public, causing the death of 36-year-old Alberts.

Jhaman was released on $500,000 bail and the matter was adjourned to June 16.

On Wednesday last, two weeks after being involved in the Arrival Day vehicular accident, Alberts succumbed to her injuries while a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Police revealed that the woman died without regaining consciousness.

The accident reportedly occurred sometime around 14:00hrs, at the time Alberts

was attempting to cross the road, when she was struck down by the truck.

As a result of the hit, she fell some distance away from where she stood.

Public spirited persons on the scene immediately rushed to her aid and escorted her to the hospital where she was later admitted until her death.

Her dead body was later transported to the GPHC’S mortuary for a post mortem examination to be conducted. Upon completion, the cause of death was given as a fractured spine.

The new engine

T

he administration of Region Six, has acquired a brand new pick-up and a 200HP boat engine to power up a boat that was bought in 2017 under the APNU/AFC administration but never used.

The pick-up was acquired at a cost of $7,980,000 while the Ya m a h a e n g i n e w a s procured at a cost of $4,560,000.

A simple ribbon cutting and handing over ceremony was held at the Regional Democratic Council Compound and was made possible through the intervention by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall.

During the ceremony, Regional Chairman, David Armogan disclosed, that in the year 2017, a boat was purchased by the regional administration to be used by officials of the region when making trips to the riverain

The brand new vehicle

areas. The Chairman said, “But when the boat arrived it was never used, because the engine never started and so the engine had to be discarded.” Efforts were made to have the engine assessed for repairs to be done but “it didn’t make sense” Armogan said, hence the decision was made to procure a new engine.

With a working boat in possession of the RDC, trips to areas such as Orealla,

Siparuta and Bara Cara will be more convenient for officials when venturing to those areas on outreaches.

Minister Dharamlall while speaking briefly before the engine and pick-up were handed over said that such investments are necessary as it falls in line with the transformation goal of the government.

He also implored the staff of the regional (Continued on page 12)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 24, 2021

PAGE 09

The Truth of the Matter T

he problem with the PNC/R is the absence of selfcriticism. But that is not a problem which is unique to the party.

Every time the PNC/R loses an election or is accused of some grievous wrong, it blames someone else. It loves to absolve itself from wrongdoing.

When the PNC lost the 1992 elections, it did not accept that its failed policies and authoritarian rule for 24 long years had long created the need for change. It seemed to have assumed that Guyanese were comfortable with its excesses and deprivations which included food shortages.

Its refrain then was that Jimmy Carter had come and rigged the elections. One section of the party, which had attempted to derail the elections by bussing in supporters to create mayhem in front of the Guyana Elections Commission on Croal Street, claimed m a s s i v e disenfranchisement. But the PNC never blamed its own policies and history.

When the PNC/R lost the 1997 elections, it blamed everyone else but itself. And when violence broke out as a result of its protests, it was always somebody else who was responsible. Whenever violence broke out during its protest marches, the PNC/R always claimed that the protests were infiltrated. It never accepted any responsibility for what ensured during those protests.

Even when a used drinks-bottle peddler was kidnapped and taken to Congress Place and interviewed by Desmond Hoyte, the PNC/R accepted no responsibility for the abduction of an innocent man.

Dem

boys seh...

After one incident in which persons left Congress Place and began stoning the home of then TUF Leader, Manzoor Nadir, the PNC/R refused to accept responsibility. It never does.

The PNC/R never accepted any responsibility for the inflammatory remarks of its leaders which precipitated the West Coast Berbice violence in August 2020. The PNC/R has not even bothered to deny the alleged incitement.

After the 2020 elections, it refused to accept its defeat.

And it has refused to concede that it has acted undemocratically. The party barefacedly blames the international community for what it deems regime change and continues to perpetuate the false narrative that the elections were rigged in favour of the PPP/C. The PNC/R operates as if it is without sin. It behaves as if it is not guilty of any wrongdoing. It refuses to even concede that mistakes were made.

There is not one person or organisation which can claim to be faultless. It is human nature to make mistakes, now and then.

Unless persons admit to their mistakes, unless they have the openness to admit that they did something that was wrong or could have done something better, they will never improve. Unless they face up to the truth, they will never do better.

The APNU+AFC made mistakes while in office and these mistakes contributed to its electoral defeat. From very early in its term, the PNC/R committed a cardinal error when it took timid action in relation to the rental of the drugs bond in Sussex Street. Those responsible should have been sent packing immediately.

The Coalition made

mistakes when it granted its Ministers a 50 percent increase in salaries. This upset even its most ardent supporters.

The Coalition imposed huge burdens on workers in the form of taxes and fees. It upset many when it imposed certain taxes on private education.

It alienated a large section of the professional and middle classes when the Georgetown City Council introduced parking meters.

The City Council is dominated by the APNU+AFC. I t s f i n a n c i a l management of the economy left much to be desired. In June 2020, the deposit account at the Bank of Guyana was in deficit of G$91B from a positive balance of G$15B in 2015.

Personnel costs of the government increased by almost 60 percent, and this was attributed to the overstacking of the public bureaucracy.

Th e G u y an a d o llar depreciated rather than appreciated. In some cases, businessmen were forced to pay as much as G$230 to US$1 on their credit cards.

This led to an increase in prices.

Workers were upset.

While public servants do not enjoy a bonus, the APNU paid a bonus in their first year, then cut it in half the next year and it totally disappeared after that.

Teachers had to threaten industrial action before the government finally settled on wage talks.

The Coalition’s handling of the sugar industry resulted in the retrenchment of almost 7,000 sugar workers.

And the humiliation of these workers was compounded when some of them had to wait for a long time for their severance payments.

Midnight fishing!

Dem boys bin driving around midnight last night when de police stop dem car. De police ask dem boys weh dem going at dis hour of de night. Dem boys answer, dem going fishing.

De police ask, “Fishing, at this hour of de night? Which part you going fishing?”

Dem boys reply, “De Boerarsie!”

De policeman seh, “Yuh don’t know de curfew is from 10:00pm and dat recreational fishing is not an essential service.” Dem boys reply, “Is nat de service which gat to be essential; is who doing de fishing!” It mek dem boys remember de time when yuh bin have to get ‘pass’ fuh fish in dem cane field trench.

One night two men bin fishing when de GuySuCo ranger come up and ask fuh see dem “pass”.One man buss a sprint. He run and run with de ranger sprinting behind him.

When he reach de public road, de ranger catch up with he. De ranger ask he again “Where is you ‘pass’ fuh fish in GuySuCo trench?”De man open he wallet and tek out a piece of paper which was de pass fuh fish in GuySuCo trench?

De ranger was flabbergasted. “If yuh had a pass why yuh run away from me,” he asked.

De man looked at him and said, “I gat me pass but meh friend nah gat he own?”

Talk half and remember curfew start at 10pm.

The Coalition, however, did a lot of good things. It had a progressive minimum wage and old-age pension policies. Its environmental programme (Green State) was impressive as was its plan to reduce educational anomalies and offering free transportation to poor school children. The holding of local government elections and the decision to establish new towns were also positive moves. It failed however to make a big impact on crime, it did not implement any major new

infrastructural project – and did poorly with the inherited public sector investment projects which it inherited from the PPP/C, including t h e b e s i e g e d Ti m e h r i International Airport Project. The city clean-up effort was impressive also but the effort was not sustained.

But the one misstep which probably cost the Coalition political office was the secretive signing of the Producing Sharing Agreement with ExxonMobil, Ness and

CNOOC. The APNU+AFC have to be honest with itself and admit to its mistakes. It cannot continue to try to deflect blame onto others; nor can it hope to gain political redemption by being delusional.

(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

Tuesday May 24, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The Electoral Reform Group: Part of Guyana’s dilemma I doubt 99 percent of the population from March 4, when Guyana stood precariously near the abyss never experienced since Forbes Burnham died in 1985, ever heard the names of the people who formed a group named the Electoral Reform Group (ERG).

No matter how patriotic you claim to be, your credibility will not rise and expand if you choose to be silent on the five-month rigging of the March 2020 election. No one can be so stupid and dishonest to say that it was a partisan affair and they want no part of it.

The rigging of the March 2020 election was unrelated to the PPP which eventually was declared the winner on the last day in July. I would apologise to the ERG if it or any of its leading names can explain why denouncing

fraud on March 4 was a partisan act.

Here are the words of the ERG’s leader, Dr. Desmond Thomas, in a published newspaper letter of May 20, 2021, “… every act or expression of opinion is interpreted as an indication of political bias, whether for the PPP or PNC. It is constantly amazing to see how educated people allow a partisan perspective to override any exercise of commonsense. A tactic of persons out to mislead for narrow partisan purpose is to tack on all kinds of extraneous issues and nonsequiturs to a statement, then beat them to discredit the statement or position taken. How we can expect to make progress and prosper individually and collectively as a nation if we operate like this beats me. When will

Guyanese people appreciate that this behavior will only impoverish us further…”

This is familiar territory to the Guyanese people.

Those who are part of the problem, by some strange psychic contortion, lift themselves above the fray and claim they are independent and want to solve the problem. They will not succeed because they are part of the enduring plight.

A meticulous analysis of that quote will show how devious is the ERG, thus my position that it is part of Guyana’s perennial political tragedy. When does Dr. Thomas say “tack on all kinds of extraneous issues and non-sequiturs to a statement, then, beat them to discredit the statement or position taken,” what is he referring to?

He is responding to the evasion

people have accused the ERG of. It avoids making a statement on the five-month election atrocity.

The election drama he refers to as an extraneous issue. Yet this body wants to be taken seriously. How can you form an entity whose raison d’être is electoral reform and you stubbornly refuse to discuss the worst rigged election in postIndependence Guyana? Why D r. T h o m a s a n d h i s colleague think Guyanese cannot see through him and his group. The ERG will not analyse or interpret what went on for five months last year, because it does not want to displease the PNC. I may be wrong but this is my interpretation. Dr. Thomas asks, “How we can expect to make progress and prosper individually and collectively as a nation if we operate like this?” This question is relevant to the ERG itself.

Why would the ruling party and civil society want to include the ERG in consultations about election reform when it takes partisan

positions? Here is strong evidence o f a b s u r d partisanship of this group that calls itself Frederick Kissoon independent. I quote Dr. Thomas once Republican Institute. They more, “What the (ERG is) objecting to is a r e c o m m o n s e n s i c a l IRI’s role in the execution dimensions.Some examples of the project. Their are in order. The statements argument is that IRI’s role of polls (SoPs) should be i s i n a p p r o p r i a t e a n d distributed to the media, all u n l i k e l y t o y i e l d a contestants, all observers, successful outcome for and posted online as soon as Guyana.”

One word the count is final in the should be used to describe particular polling station. this statement – nonsense. It Anyone who thinks the IRI shows the deceptive attitude can twist this is being of the ERG. Electoral dishonest. Secondly, the law changes are not rocket should stipulate that the science. No one from Chief Elections Officer is Greenland or Iceland or IRI legally bound to accept each or PRI or CRI can come to verified SoP. Thirdly, the Guyana to assist in electoral international observers must transformations and birth be empowered to observe the legislation that will favour counting of every ballot and one party over the other. In must sign off on the final electoral legislation that is tabulation. More on the ERG just not possible. The need later.

(The views expressed in for transparency in the conduct of election and the this article are those of the reform of GECOM are not a u t h o r a n d d o n o t a r e a s t h a t c o u l d b e necessarily reflect the m a n i p u l a t e d b y t h e opinions of this newspaper.)

Monday May 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 24, 2021

PAGE 13

Flood assessment continues in Region Nine

The house that collapsed.

The CDC Director addressing the residence.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) will be continuing its flood assessment in Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) after heavy rains within the area caused massive flooding.

According to a statement by the Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig, who led the mission, the initiative saw the community Sand Creek in South Central Rupununi, Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo, being closely assessed on Thursday to determine the impact of floodwaters.

The statement also included input from the Toshao of Sand Creek, Eugene Andrews, who stated that one home collapsed as a result of the flooding and small amounts of livestock have died. The CDC Director General reportedly told residents of the area, at a meeting on Thursday, that nearby schools will be used as shelters but residents must observe all COVID-19 Protocols if they relocate. He

additionally advised persons not to play or traverse unnecessarily through the floodwaters to minimise water-borne diseases.

The CDC reassured that it would continue to work closely with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the Toshao, and residents of Sand Creek to provide relief and support where necessary.

The CDC also stated that Residents of Region Nine and other Regions across Guyana are urged to be vigilant and cautious during this rainy season and to report any impact from floodwaters immediately.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who heads the CDC, spent yesterday visiting several communities inundated with water and meet with the flood-affected residents. He was accompanied by Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar and Member of Parliament and Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran.

Toddler dies after drinking gasoline A toddler died on Saturday sometime after 13:00hrs after he reportedly drank gasoline.

Police have identified the toddler as Ken Jacobs and reported that he ingested the gasoline at a mining camp located at the Hymaraka Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River, Region Seven.His mother told investigators that she had left him unattended for a brief moment to clean up around her camp. When she returned to where he was, she reportedly observed the two-year-old vomiting what appeared to be blood.

The woman picked himup and began investigating.

Jacob’s mom soon realized that he had drunk some

gasoline which she had stored in a bottle inside of the camp.Kaieteur News was told that she saw the bottle removed from where it was and lying on the ground uncovered.

Jacobs’s mother rushed him immediately to Isseneru Health Post located some distance away where he was attended by a health worker stationed there. While receiving treatment, the toddler lost consciousness and was subsequently pronounced dead. The child’s death was then reported to the police, and his remains were transported to the Bartica District Hospital’s mortuary where it awaits a post mortem examination.

The current state of Sand Creek.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday May 24, 2021

Fugitive found in makeshift Camp A fter being on the run for about a year since escaping from the Lusignan Prison, Kenraul Perez of Mabaruma, North West District was on Saturday

night captured in a makeshift Camp in a village l o c a t e d o n t h e Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

Police sources close to the investigations informed Kaieteur News that acting

on information received, ranks and members from the Circuitville Community Policing Group (CPG) went into the community of Longcreek where the murder accused was

apprehended. During the arrest, this publication learnt that 28-year-old Perez attempted to mislead the officers about his identity by using the weight he gained (Continued in page 15)

- Tried to mislead cops with weight gain

Previous photo of Kenraul Perez before he escaped.

Perez when he was nabbed on Saturday night.

Two dead, one critical in car crash

Dead: Pascal Dainty

Dead: Delon Whitehead

Two friends are now dead and another critical, after the car they were traveling in crashed into two utility poles on the Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara, on Saturday last.

The dead men have been identified as Pastal Dainty, 24, of Lot 1841 Unity Place, F e s t i v a l C i t y, N o r t h Ruimveldt and Delon Whitehead, 32, of Lot 41 Williams Street, Kitty, Georgetown. The other passenger who remains in a critical state was identified as Michael Kendal, 25, of Block ‘X’ Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

Kaieteur News understands that Dainty was the driver of motorcar PXX 5192, a blue, new model To y o t a P r e m i o , w h i l e Whitehead and Kendal were passengers at the time of the accident. This publication also learned that the men had just left a bar-b-que in Timehri when the tragic accident occurred.

According to a police report, around 20:30hrs, the three friends were proceeding north along the western side of the Timehri Public Road, heading to Georgetown when Dainty reportedly lost control of the motorcar and ran off the road. The report further stated that the car collided with two utility poles before turning turtle several times, then coming to a halt on the western parapet.

Dainty, Whitehead and Kendal were picked up in an unconscious condition by police and public-spirited citizens, placed into an ambulance, and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). They were examined by a doctor who pronounced Dainty and Whitehead dead on arrival, while Kendal was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Kendal’s condition was listed as serious. According to the police, the men received severe injuries to their bodies and head.

Region Six gets $8M pick-up...

From page 8 administration to keep improving and building relationships with various communities.

Kaieteur News understands that the new

pick-up will boost the already existing fleet of vehicles attached to the region, and will be used by officials when venturing out to regular community outreaches within Region Six.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 24, 2021

PAGE 15

Diaspora support key in building a new Guyana (DPI) President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, assured overseasbased Guyanese today that his Government remains committed to Diaspora engagements and is vigorously pursuing policies and plans to ensure that they are integrally involved in the process.

The Head of State made this assertion during his address to the inaugural Virtual Diaspora Conference which was held under the theme “A New Era of Engagement for the Guyanese Diaspora.” More than 500 overseas-based Guyanese participated in the three-hour-long discussion.

The President told the gathering that it is essential to have a two-way communication process to ensure the viability and longevity of the proposed plans and opportunities available in the country.

“We would like feedback on how we can ensure that not only the Diaspora Unit but the entire strategy is developed in a way that makes it sustainable, workable; ensuring that the plan and outputs can be realised. And this is critical for me because we have to get this right from the start.”

In emphasising the importance of the Diaspora in helping to build a better Guyana, the President referred to their prodemocratic stance in the 2020 elections and remittance support over the years.

“Your role in securing our democratic values, your role in securing the rule of law cannot go understated. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you sincerely for your interest, your time, your dedication and your commitment. Indeed, during very difficult times, it is remittances and the

contribution of the Diaspora that saw many Guyanese breaking the barriers of extreme poverty. It is the remittances of Guyanese in the Diaspora that contributed significantly to the eradication of many social problems. It is your commitment over the years that have helped us during many difficult times,” the President stated.

He charged the Diaspora to use their influence, finances and expertise to help develop the country and the lives of their fellow Guyanese.

“As we navigate into the future, we would like the hands of the Diaspora to be a key element in the new Guyana that will bring with it great opportunities, great prosperity…. The unification and coming together of the Guyanese people is paramount to the prosperity we will achieve.”

PILLARS AND PRINCIPLES OF DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT The President pointed to five important pillars of the Diaspora: influence, investment, information, identity and integration. He said that “in each of these pillars, we have seen how important the Diaspora can be.”

He added that the forum and the Diaspora Unit provide a platform to integrate the Diaspora and link the ‘powerful asset’ that they represent with the development pathway of the country. It also provided the platform to separate the real information from the misinformation. The Head of State noted that the Diaspora Unit and the way it supports development and integration must further be founded on the principles of coordination, participation

and facilitation. He pointed to the response of the Diaspora following the eruption of the volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a perfect example of how the output of the three principles led to a positive outcome.

“And at its very early stage, we are seeing the impact of the unit in facilitating, coordinating and participating with St. Vincent and the Grenadines in dealing with the aftermath of the volcano. Guyana indeed has a Diaspora in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Diaspora Unit from a very early stage…was able to engage and connect with the Guyanese community and the leadership of that country.”

THE PATH FORWARD The President elaborated on the plans moving forward and pointed to the importance of democratic values—which he said will be guarded vigorously. As important, will be the rule of law and the active involvement and participation of Guyanese.

“What we want to achieve is not only prosperity for the people in an economic and monetary way, but for us to leave lasting prosperity. We have to have social development and advancement, political development and advancement and indeed, economic advancement and development.”

In this regard, he acknowledged that key areas need to and will be addressed, including access to healthcare, education, security, infrastructure and access to affordable and reliable energy.

“We’re talking about world-class education and health systems for all Guyanese and included in

CCTV footage reveals two pastors...

From page 13 along Craig Street.

As they were riding past the supermarket the pillion rider jumped off while his partner rode a little more and then stopped.The pillion rider ran up to where the pastors were and attacked them with a hand gun he had pulled from his waist. It could be seen

quite clearly, that there was a scuffle between him and them as he took away their belongings.

The footage did not depict clearly whether or not any shot was fired during the scuffle. However, after the bandit rejoined the waiting motorcycle, the video showed that he took aim at

Fugitive found in makeshift...

From page 14 over the period as a disguise.

Despite trying to hide his identity, the ranks were able to recognise him and he was arrested. Perez is currently in police custody pending charges.

On April 20, of last year, Perez along with three other inmates had escaped from the prison by jumping one of the fences.

Back in January, 2020 he was remanded to the Lusignan Prison for murder.

his victims, and appeared to have fired a round at them as the motorcycle sped off east towards South Sophia.

Kaieteur News had reported on Friday last, that the pastors had initially refused to hand over their belongings to the armed bandit, but were forced to do so after a gunshot rang out.

They told the cops that the bandit had taken aim and shot at them but missed his target.

The motorcycle bandits had carted off with a total of $5000 in cash from both pastors, one iPhone 12 Max Pro, their respective bank cards, ID cards and NIS cards.

- President Ali that too are plans and a strategy for investment that would see healthcare services for members of the Diaspora too…”

He revealed that work has already commenced on a comprehensive strategy to address security, as this is an important factor in the Diaspora’s decision-making process.

MORE THAN OIL AND GAS President Ali urged those present to move away from the misguided notion and “narrow narrative” of where Guyana is heading and realise that the excitement is not only about oil and gas.

He elaborated on several i n n o v a t i v e a n d

transformative plans ahead in key areas, including agriculture, the environment and eco-tourism.

“Yes, oil and gas will give us a massive push, but we are planning much, much bigger than oil and gas. We are planning to be the leader, r e g i o n a l l y, i n f o o d sustainability and agricultural production. And we have an entire strategy.

We have recently assumed once again the leadership on agriculture in the region.”

He pointed to the Jagdeo Initiative on Agriculture.

The goal, he explained, is for Guyana to become not only a full supplier of our own food but a net exporter regionally.

President Ali said that he is

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

confident that the Government will provide the incentives to support this drive.Environmental (Continued on page 16 )

PAGE 16

Monday May 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

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From page 15 leadership is another important aspect of the Government’s agenda moving forward and, the President disclosed that the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, is already engaging not only Norway, but many other multilateral development partners in pursuit of this goal.

Additionally, the President stressed the importance of making informed decisions that match the country’s development agenda. An example of such is the idea of moving the support services for oil and gas to Guyana and not wanting to open up the necessary lands along the Demerara River to create opportunities for those investments.

PURSUING DEVELOPMENT GOALS He guaranteed that his PPP/C Government will pursue the creation of 50,000 jobs, as it committed to in its manifesto, the provision of 50,000 house lots, the facili-

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tation of foreign direct investment, the provision of 20,000 scholarships and having a competitive oil and gas support infrastructure in Guyana to provide employment.

“We are in pursuit of these goals. And they’re not fly-by-night objectives of the Government. We campaigned on these. We asked the Guyanese people to support us on this, on these projects and this vision, and we have a responsibility to execute.”

He pointed to the importance of the Diaspora in also taking advantage of the opportunities ahead and encouraged them to participate in the process as the future of Guyana depends on their skills, experience and their investment.

“Importantly, these attributes must be driven by a vision and ideas, and today gives us an opportunity to engage in that vision and those ideas that will fuel the future of Guyana.”

After the keynote address, President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo fielded questions from the participants in several areas, including access to education, agriculture, the natural resources sector and women’s empowerment.

ACCESS TO EDUCATION When asked about the systems that will be put in place to address the unemployment of youths and school drop-outs, President Ali explained that the Government is developing a system to harness the best potential of each individual. This system, he said, will focus on the expansion of technical and vocational education that will be integrated into the secondary school system.

“What we are doing now is developing community learning facilities. And these community facilities are linked to the programmes of Government.

So in the housing programme now we have many of these young persons who are

trained in block making, not only trained but also given seed capital to start up the operations from a community level.”

Vice President Jagdeo added that the Government is opening up several servicetype opportunities. In addition, it is co-sponsoring the training of young people and has introduced apprenticeship programmes through the heavily-invested Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

The Vice President pointed out that as it relates to the Diaspora getting involved in the education sector, the Government has already incentivised investments into the private education system by removing Corporate Tax on education at every level—this it achieved within the first 30 days of assuming office.

POLITICS AND PROFESSIONALISM In answering a question about job security for skilled members of the Diaspora, who are interested in taking up positions in the Government, President Ali emphasised that professionals and public servants have nothing to worry about or fear.

“Professionals and true public servants, you have nothing to fear; but there is a line between professional and political, and I have made it very clear we have to make choices. If you are a politician, don’t hide it under being a public servant. If you are a politician and you pursue that route, then you must understand that you are pursuing a political career.”

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT In addressing women’s empowerment, President Ali stressed that the Government takes responsibility for the removal of barriers in society that inhibits the participation of women and girls very seriously. “We started to change legislatively, the role of women and girls in policymaking, in decision

making and in Government.

We have seen over the years greater and greater participation at every level, at the level of policy or level of management in the private sector itself, and now the universities.”

One of the participants also raised the issue of the availability of lands to members of the Diaspora who meet the criteria.

Both President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo said that the allocation and sale of lands will be market-driven.

“The land will be available, but it is not going to be free land in those areas. It will be closer to market price because we use resources from the sale of those lands to cross-subsidise low-income housing, middle-income housing, and so on,” President Ali said.

Lastly, the two senior Government officials were questioned on the Sovereign Wealth Fund and what model would be used to guide its development. The Head of State explained that in addition to the Norway Model, various other models are being examined, notably the Kazakhstan Model.

“We are in dire need of transformation in the health sector, in the education sector, in the energy sector. And we have to create the framework for the expansion of these and other important sectors that will bring jobs and create the platform, through which our country will evolve into the future, and through which these funds can be modelled and that is the stage we are in now in Guyana.”

Moving forward, the President noted that the drive is to enhance the lives of all Guyanese.

“Giving Guyana that opportunity to become competitive, giving the people of Guyana the opportunity to get world-class services, giving Guyana the opportunity to get world-class infrastructure. That is the stage that we’re concentrating on at this moment.”

...Amerindian communities From page 5 out. Residents could even use electric stoves to cook, reducing their bills by not using the gas/kero stoves.

With solar, as time goes on, they could add more panels.

There’s lots more benefits using solar, instead of using a generator.

Finally Editor, former President Jagdeo, whilst on a radio programme did mention that the whole world is looking to utilise the solar energy, and they should start finding ways to make solar system more affordable to people locally. In addition, they should also find ways to educate people about solar and the benefits, which is a lot! Once installed properly, it’s guaranteed that a solar system could give you at least 10 years trouble free with

proper maintenance of batteries and monitoring.

Solar panels are guaranteed to last at least 15 years.

There are quite a few places including farms that have quite a lot of houses that have set up solar system and they are working without any problem for years. Without a doubt, Guyana have the climate for wind and solar system, whilst the system is costly here, many countries working in all direction to make it cheaper, and Guyana should start exploring that same avenue.

Communities in need of electricity should be informed of the advantages of going solar, instead of getting the grants/loans and not spending properly. One Amerindian village is thinking of buying a pickup. I ask one

of the villagers who the pickup will benefit, why don’t they see to get a cargo boat to take their produce to Georgetown. The pick-up cannot reach Georgetown, or take the amount of produce available there very far.

Leaders should not get excited with the money their villages are getting and spend foolishly. They should see to spend it in such a way, that the village/community will benefit. Most Amerindian villages/communities are desperately in need of electricity and some sort of transportation to get their produce to market. Many Amerindian communities could sustain themselves once proper mechanism is in place, instead of them waiting like beggars for handouts!

Sahadeo Bates

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 24, 2021

PAGE 17

Flood assessment continues in Region Nine

The house that collapsed.

The CDC Director addressing the residence.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) will be continuing its flood assessment in Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) after heavy rains within the area caused massive flooding.

According to a statement by the Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig, who led the mission, the initiative saw the community Sand Creek in South Central Rupununi, Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo, being closely assessed on Thursday to determine the impact of floodwaters.

The statement also included input from the Toshao of Sand Creek, Eugene Andrews, who stated that one home collapsed as a result of the flooding and small amounts of livestock have died. The CDC Director General reportedly told residents of the area, at a meeting on Thursday, that nearby schools will be used as shelters but residents must observe all COVID-19 Protocols if they relocate. He

additionally advised persons not to play or traverse unnecessarily through the floodwaters to minimise water-borne diseases.

The CDC reassured that it would continue to work closely with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the Toshao, and residents of Sand Creek to provide relief and support where necessary.

The CDC also stated that Residents of Region Nine and other Regions across Guyana are urged to be vigilant and cautious during this rainy season and to report any impact from floodwaters immediately.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who heads the CDC, spent yesterday visiting several communities inundated with water and meet with the flood-affected residents. He was accompanied by Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar and Member of Parliament and Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran.

Toddler dies after drinking gasoline A toddler died on Saturday sometime after 13:00hrs after he reportedly drank gasoline.

Police have identified the toddler as Ken Jacobs and reported that he ingested the gasoline at a mining camp located at the Hymaraka Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River, Region Seven.His mother told investigators that she had left him unattended for a brief moment to clean up around her camp. When she returned to where he was, she reportedly observed the two-year-old vomiting what appeared to be blood.

The woman picked himup and began investigating.

Jacob’s mom soon realized that he had drunk some

gasoline which she had stored in a bottle inside of the camp.Kaieteur News was told that she saw the bottle removed from where it was and lying on the ground uncovered.

Jacobs’s mother rushed him immediately to Isseneru Health Post located some distance away where he was attended by a health worker stationed there. While receiving treatment, the toddler lost consciousness and was subsequently pronounced dead. The child’s death was then reported to the police, and his remains were transported to the Bartica District Hospital’s mortuary where it awaits a post mortem examination.

The current state of Sand Creek.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Monday May 24, 2021

Monday May 24, 2021

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

Marquino Mindley tests positive Asher-Smith stuns Richardson in for Covid-19 women’s 100m as Duplantis fails Gros Islet, St. Lucia — Following PCR Tests administered on Friday 21 May for all members of the West Indies Men’s red ball training camp being held in St Lucia, Jamaican fast bowler, Marquino Mindley, tested positive on his second COVID-19 test.

In accordance with the medical protocols established with the St. Lucian Ministry of Health, Mindley, who is currently asymptomatic, will now self-isolate in his hotel room under the supervision of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Medical Team until he returns two back-to-back negative results.

All other members of the training squad and coaching team were re-tested and isolated in their rooms, with training cancelled for the weekend. All of these training squad and coaching team members have now tested negative following their repeat tests and the squad will train in small groups starting on Monday 24 May, at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.

The West Indies red ball training camp is

Marquino Mindley being held in a bio-secure environment ahead of the ICC World Test Championship twomatch Series against South Africa, scheduled to start on June 10.

CWI continues to work with all the regional governments and CARPHA to encourage and assist all squad members to get vaccinated. To date, 43 members of West Indies Men’s playing and coaching staff have received vaccination doses.

Monday May 24, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) There is some likelihood that the mood at home is fraught with tension. Did you dare to express some contrary intellectual opinion? In any case, it looks like your self-confidence is stronger than usual right now.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) It would seem that your sensitivity is in slight conflict with your actions. You continue to go through the motions and do what you planned to do, but it seems like your heart isn't in it anymore.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may have been spending or saving too much money, Gemini. It's clear that a rebalancing is in order if you're to find pleasure rather than eternal frustration.

CANCER(June21–July22) You've been stamping the ground impatiently. You're waiting for the moment to jump into new adventures with renewed vigor after your meditation of the last few months.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you find yourself tired and irritable now, Leo, you should know that this is normal. You may have had a few months that were a little too studious.

Would you like to continue with the same rhythm?

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) This is going to be a good moment to look elsewhere.

You should do just as the artist does when he has worked on a painting for too long, which is take a step back.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is the right moment to extricate yourself from relationships that have seen their day, Libra.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You took off like a bullet a few days ago, Scorpio, making great progress in a short amount of time. But now you're grappling with doubts that are undermining all your energy.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) There is some likelihood that thoughts of your love life will haunt you today. Perhaps you're intrigued by the idea of exploring certain realms of your relationship that remain secret.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today more than ever you will yearn to escape from the daily routine. You're thirsty for new sights and sounds, new faces and places.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Finally, you're on the mend, Aquarius. The minor ailments that have been dragging you down lately are beginning to disappear, and you're about to regain all of your physical energy.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Do you feel a little under the weather, Pisces? It's possible, considering all the emotional turmoil you've been through lately. It takes time to recover from those storms. As you know, the work itself isn't what gets you down but rather your worries about the future.

AFP - Dina Asher-Smith shocked US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson to win the women’s 100m as Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis suffered a rare defeat in the first Diamond League meet of the season on Sunday (yesterday).

The northeastern English city of Gateshead stepped in to host the pre-Olympic event after Rabat pulled out because of coronavirus restrictions in Morocco.

There are only six Diamond League meetings after Gateshead before the Olympic Games in Japan, which start on July 23.

And after a 2020 season badly disrupted by the global Covid-19 pandemic, there is no shortage of athletes in search of top-quality competition. Britain’s AsherSmith, 25, started the final

strongly in wet and cool conditions and crossed the line to take gold in a time of 11.35 seconds, with Richardson second in 11.44.

The Ivory Coast’s MarieJosee Ta Lou was third in 11.48. Richardson is fresh from clocking 10.72sec at the Miramar Invitational last month, making her the sixthfastest female sprinter ever.

The field for the final also included Jamaican 100m world champion Shelly-Ann FraserPryce, who finished fourth, and Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria.

It was the kind of statement Asher-Smith desired after taking a prolonged absence from the track following her 200m gold at the world championships in Doha in 2019.

American Sam Kendricks beat Sweden’s Duplantis —

who set a pole vault world record of 6.18m in Glasgow last year — clearing 5.74 metres. Duplantis was second with a jump of 5.55m.

Double European gold medallist Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway justified his favourite tag in the men’s 1500m, winning in a time of 3min 36.27sec. Poland’s Kamila Licwinko won the women’s high jump with a best of 1.91m, with three-time world champion Mariya Lasitskene trailing in fourth place.

In-form American Kenny Bednarek won the men’s 200m in 20.33sec, coming home ahead of Canadian pair Aaron Brown and Andre de Grasse. Home favourite Laura Muir destroyed her rivals in the women’s 1500m, charging down the home straight to take victory in 4:03.73.

...Josh Taylor defeats Jose Ramirez by From page 22 pickings in the talent-stacked welterweight division.

He says: ‘Jack on a big night for Scotland at Edinburgh Castle sounds terrific. So does fighting the great Terence Crawford. I’m ready for anyone.’ On this proof of his big heart in a small music theatre, in what used to be the Hard Rock but is now a Virgin Hotel, yes he is. Taylor had to survive a punishing start by the attackconscious Ramirez, including a third round in which it looked like he might be the one dropped and also sustained a minor nick by his left eye, before asserting himself with left hook and then uppercut.

As Ramirez - a folk hero in California for championing immigrant causes - recovered and rallied, Taylor had some big shots to take himself.

If Ken Buchanan, who he now stands alongside in Scottish folklore, was watching, he would have been proud of him. And Taylor doffed his cap to his idol, saying: ‘Ken, you were my inspiration and I’m coming home to see you.’

He will also be reunited with his family and fiancée who were refused permission to be here by US anti-Covid travel restrictions.

The two 10-8 rounds in his favour gave Taylor the unanimous decision by 114112 on the cards of all three judges. Taylor came to the ring in his tartan shorts and to a chorus of jeers from the Hispanic majority in the permitted attendance of 1,000 fans.

Ramirez made his entrance to ear-shattering proof that

even that number can kick up a patriotic din. Taylor looked crisp and sharp behind his southpaw jab in his attempt to stifle the expected Ramirez and probably did enough to edge the opening round.

Ramirez met the challenge with a series of storming attacks and stinging rights in the second and battle was well and truly joined. They roars of Mexico, Mexico rose

as Taylor was trapped, rocked by combinations, hurt and left holding on in the third. As Taylor looked likely to level matters up, Ramirez poured it on again in the fourth and despite some good work was taking too many punches at this stage.

He rectified that in the fifth with his smartest boxing thus far but sustained a slight cut by his left.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Monday May 24, 2021

Monaco Grand Prix

Max Verstappen takes title lead from Lewis Hamilton with win BBCsport - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a dominant victory in the Monaco Grand Prix to wrest the championship lead from Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. The Dutchman controlled the race after pole-sitter Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari broke down before the start.

Hamilton finished in seventh place, frustrated and angry after Mercedes’s prerace plans fell apart. He lost

places to two drivers over the pit-stop period as Mercedes reversed their intended strategy.

Adding to a bad day for the world champions, H a m i l t o n ’s t e a m - m a t e Valtteri Bottas retired when mechanics were unable to remove his right-front wheel at his pit stop when the wheel gun stripped the nut.

Bottas was running second to Verstappen but had been losing ground before

his stop and his hopes of victory had evaporated and turned into concerns as to whether he could protect second place from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

The Spaniard finished in a comfortable runners-up spot, with McLaren’s Lando Norris taking the final podium place, fending off late pressure from Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who drove a strong race to recover from qualifying ninth.

Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel - who, along with Perez, passed Hamilton during the pit-stop period was fifth, ahead of Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly and the Briton, who made a late pit stop to secure the point for fastest lap.

Verstappen’s second victory in five races, coupled with a bad day for Mercedes, moved the Red Bull driver into a four-point championship lead, while

Red Bull have taken first place in the constructors’ championship from Mercedes by one point.

It is the first time in his F1 career that Verstappen has led the world championship.

Ve r s t a p p e n w a s disappointed to miss out on pole position on Saturday, feeling he was on target to beat Leclerc’s time on his final lap before the Ferrari driver crashed and brought the session to an end.

Ferrari inspected Leclerc’s car after the accident and again on Sunday morning and came to the conclusion that they did not need to change the

gearbox, which meant he left the pits expecting to take up his place at the front of the grid for his home race.But halfway around his reconnaissance lap, Leclerc came on the radio to say he was having gearbox problems. He pulled into the pits and before long Ferrari had concluded they could not repair the car, saying that they had discovered a problem with the driveshaft.

His retirement gave Verstappen a clear run into the first corner and, after fending off an attack from Bottas off the grid, the Red Bull driver moved into a lead he was never to lose.

NBA: Milwaukee Bucks & Brooklyn Nets win first play-off games

Khris Middleton registered 27 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Milwaukee Bucks. (Getty Images) BBCsport - The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 109-107 with 0.5 seconds remaining in overtime in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Khris Middleton followed up his 27 points with a pull-up jump in the final moments to give the Bucks a 1-0 lead in the seven-game series.

The Heat came close to a late victory through Jimmy Butler but he was blocked by Jrue Holiday as time expired.

Elsewhere, the Brooklyn Nets claimed a 104-93

victory over the Boston Celtics.

Brooklyn’s ‘Big Three’ of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden combined for 82 points in just their ninth match together. “I liked the way we fought,” said Harden, who notched 21 points.

“It just shows every game isn’t gonna be perfect.” In the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-103, while the Portland Trail Blazers won 123-109 against the Denver Nuggets.

Kaieteur News

Monday May 24, 2021

PAGE 21

GCF National Championships Senior Road Race

No winner declared as race ends in protest; GCF to send video of finish to UCI for decision

T

he Senior Road R a c e championship of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) ended in protest yesterday with two cyclists protesting the outcome claiming that Briton John (unofficial winner) pulled in their path as they all sprinted to the finish line just outside the entrance to Banks DIH, Thirst Park.

It was a demanding 100mile event which started in rain and ended in hazy sunshine in a three-way sprint home which John won but no official results were released as the protest was heard and is being investigated.

Third Vice President of the GCF Enzo Matthews

held an initial hearing with t he three cyclists and representatives from their clubs whilst also showing some video evidence to them and allowing them to represent their claim.

Following this exercise, Matthews declared that the GCF would not be making a decision but would be sending the video evidence to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for that body to review and make a decision.

Matthews spoke following the meeting with the cyclists and their representatives: “The GCF at this time will not be making a decision regarding this. We had a formal protest

by Mr. Paul De Nobrega, seconded by Mr. Romello

GCF VP Enzo Matthews, reviewing some video evidence with concerned parties following the GCF National Championship Senior Road Race which ended in protest. Franklin Wilson photo Crawford. The reason why we would have taken this decision, because, I’m going to say it in a very Guyanese manner, everyone seems to know the rules, and when you are in a position of that state it means that we need to send it to the proper authority, which is the UCI, the governing body.

We have rear camera video and we have front

camera video of the last two hundred meters of this event, we will be sending off this information to the UCI and depending on their decision that would be final. At this time, we do not have an official winner. We do apologise that all the curtains could not come down at this time.”

Matthews who is responsible for fund raising

in eth GCF noted that he was happy to see cycling up and pedaling and the ability to be able to bring it live to viewers to show the love for the sport here.

“Because, as much as we are in a pandemic, we still have the youngsters, very energetic, very motivated to ride and that is the most important thing. We are not here as a Federation to not

motivate guys, to kill the sport, we are here to promote and make sure everyone is happy having fun with their families also because there is no support in cycling without your family and then your sponsors. So again we would like to say thank you to the fans and we will be giving you a decision as soon as it is forwarded back to us.”

(Franklin Wilson)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Ariel J. Tïlkú (left) and Aaron Beharry

Monday May 24, 2021

Tilku and Beharry are latest to support ‘Cricket gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana’ venture

U

nder-19 Inter County players, Ariel J. Tïlkú and Aaron Beharry made the latest contribution to Cricket g e a r f o r Yo u n g a n d Promising Cricketers in Guyana programme.

Both young players are members of the Everest Cricket Club and participated in the recently concluded Inter County Under 19 Cricket Tournament with Tilku representing Demerara and Beharry Berbice.

They presented two used bats. The young players said that they were both happy to make a contribution and wished that the bats be distributed to players in the County of Essequibo, noting that they are impressed with

the talent there.

In addition, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club presented another pair of batting pads. Gear collected so far include: 12 pairs of batting pads, 11 bats, eight pairs of batting gloves and two cricket bags. Four pairs of batting pads and four bats have been distributed so far leaving eight pairs of batting pads, seven bats, eight pairs of batting gloves and two gear bags.

Eight young players from the Essequibo Coast already benefited from four pairs of batting pads and four bats.

Pomaroon youths will be the next players to receive gear.

This project is a joint initiative of USA based Kishan Das and Anil Beharry.

Gear will be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana.

Skills, discipline and education will be important attributes of the recipients.

Talent spotting will be done across the country and club leaders will also assist in identifying players.

The initiative is ongoing and anyone who wishes to make a contribution can contact Kishan or Anil Beharry.

They thanked Javed and Imran Khan of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Hilbert Foster o f R H T Y & S C , Tr a v i s Simon, Ariel Tilku and Aaron Beharry.

U.S., El Salvador qualify for Beach Soccer World Cup

M

iami, Florida – The United States and El Salvador have qualified for the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Russia after posting semifinal victories in the 2021 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship on Saturday at the Sports Complex FedefutbolPlycem in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The day kicked off with long-time rivals U.S. and Mexico squaring off in a rematch of the 2019 CBSC Final won by Mexico. But on this occasion, the U.S. turned

For the U.S., it is their sixth time to qualify for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and their second straight World Cup appearance. the tables with a 5-2 victory.

Wilfredo Ramos scored a pair of goals and was joined on the score sheet by Nicolas Perera, Tomas Canale and David Mondragon, while a U.S. own goal and a Cristofher Castillo goal accounted for Mexico’s scoring.

For the U.S., it is their sixth time to qualify for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and their second straight World Cup appearance. The

second semifinal then saw El Salvador defeat Central American rivals Guatemala 6-2. A Guatemala own goal and scores from Heber Ramos, Exon Perdomo, Elmer Robles, Ruben Batres and Francisco Velasquez paved the way for the Cuscatlecos, while Guatemala got goals from Christopher Gonzalez and William Alvarez. For El Salvador, it is their fifth World Cup qualification.

Josh Taylor defeats Jose Ramirez by unanimous decision to become the UK’s FIRST undisputed world champion of the four-belt era MailOnline - Josh Taylor claimed his place in the legend of not only Scottish but also British and world boxing by gallantly prevailing in a battle of drama and attrition with American-Mexican warrior Jose Ramirez.

Tw o k n o c k - d o w n s inflicted by vicious left-

hand punches in the middle rounds proved decisive as the Tartan Tornado became the UK’s first undisputed world champion of the fouralpha-belt era and only the sixth boxer on the planet to achieve that feat in any weight division.

Those twin trips to the canvas by the also-

undefeated rival who held the two other belts e s t a b l i s h e d Ta y l o r ’s dominance at lightwelterweight and he must decide now whether to make a mandatory defence of one of his titles against England’s Jack Catteral or move up to financially richer (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Monday May 24, 2021

PAGE 23

“I love FC cricket but the focus now is T20” says Sinclair One of two Guyanese named in CWI’s T20 Squad

By Sean Devers At 21, Off-spinner Kevin Sinclair has been named in an 18-man T20 squad for a packed home series against South Africa, Australia and Pakistan which starts with the first T20 match on June 26.

Fifteen T20s are scheduled between West Indies the three nations between June 6 in Grenada and August 3 in Guyana.

South Africa play five T20s in Grenada, Australia play five in St Lucia and Pakistan play two in Barbados before playing the remaining three at Providence in Guyana.

These games will be used as preparation for The 7th ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled for October and November 2021 in India.

West Indies are presently ranked at 10 in this format.

Sinclair, who has played in three T20 Internationals and captured three wickets and an average of 38.5; has 12 wickets from six FirstClass matches and 18 wickets from 16 Regional 50-over encounters.

The former Guyana U15, 17 and 19 all-rounder has also played eight CPL games and taken seven wickets at an Average of 19. 71 at an economy rate of six runs per overs. Sinclair, who along with fellow Berbician Shimron Hetmyer are the Guyanese selected for the CWI T20 Squad, informed that the Pandemic has prevented him from playing cricket since March when he

represented West Indies against Sri Lanka.

“I didn’t play much cricket but I was in training at the LBI facility on the East Coast (of Demerara) to keep myself safe by putting in some work on my game” posited Sinclair.

Only the fifth Guyanese and second Berbician to play in a T20 Internationals, Sinclair became the third Men’s international player from the Rosehall Town Youth and Sports Club, when he made his T20 debut for West Indies against Sri Lanka on March 3, 2021.

Sinclair’s improvement since his Regional Super50 debut has been rapid, especially his bowling. But while he has gotten in the 40s in both First-Class and 50overs cricket, he has not done his batting talent much justice.

“I have learnt to be more consistent in every aspect of the game and with my batting, that’s my main focus I’m working on it very hard.

I haven’t changed anything much, I just look to be more consistent in my performance,” disclosed Sinclair who was an opening batsman and medium pacer at the U-15 and 19 levels.

Sinclair, who celebrated his 21st birthday last November, is very dedicated and committed to improving his craft and always willing to learn and seems to be mentally improving all the time.

“Yes, I am maturing because I’m learning from

Guyanese Kevin Sinclair made an unbeaten 34 in his debut for the WIEP against the Jauars. Sean Devers photo

the senior players and having advice from coaches around the circle. I just added a few varieties to my game in terms of my tactics. I am looking to learn as much as I can and walk away with a bag of information and knowledge from the senior guys like Gayle, Pollard,” explained Sinclair, who also competed in the US Open in Florida last December.

He also explained how he developed his trademark double back flick. “It’s a childhood thing from small, back in Cow dam, Angoy’s Avenue so I decided to do it as I represent my area where I’m from” added Sinclair who, despite plying his trade for a Corentyne Club, still resides in New Amsterdam, one of three Townships in Berbice and Guyana’s oldest Town.

Sinclair made his List A debut on 7 November 2019, for the West Indies Emerging Team in the 2019–20 Regional Super50 tournament. The hyperactive Sinclair had the best economy rate among all bowlers in last November’s Colonial Medical Life Super 50 Cup as the West Indies emerging players won the title in their debut tournament by beating the host Trinidad and Tobago in the final.

He performed well with both bat and ball in his debut senior Regional Tournament. In July 2020, he was named in the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad for the T20 Caribbean Premier

League (CPL) and made his debut in this format on 30 August 2020.

In February 2021, he was named in the West Indies’ limited overs squads for their series against Sri Lanka. He made his first-class debut on 16 January 2020, for Guyana in the 2019–20 West Indies Championship.

The Jaguars, five-times Champions, included s p i n n e r s Ve e r a s a m m y Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Gudakesh Motie and Jamaican Ramaal Lewis.

But Sinclair scored a fifty and took four wickets in the practice match which was used as trials for the First Class team and everything progressed from there.

“I do enjoy first class cricket and I am trying to bowl a bit slower and flight the ball a bit more. It is a matter of time before I start dominating at that level,” stated Sinclair, whose cousin is former Guyana FirstCoach Keven Darlington who presently a Coach in the USA.

Sinclair executes his trademark flick in West Indies Colors.