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Thursday May 27, 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
Independence We have freedom, but are we free? Fifty-five years after the removal of the colonial yoke from our necks, is long enough time for us to appreciate what it is to really be free. It makes no sense, if we as a people within the construction of a nation, have not learned any valuable lessons in the last five decades plus, that make us understand what is involved in this long-awaited Independence, this national and individual freedom, and the sum of it. At first glance, there is every indication that we have replaced the foreign Caucasian masters with coloured domestic ones. From every additional glance and with looking deeper and in a more measured manner, there follows the confirmation that our national Independence is more the celebration of a holiday, but that not much else has changed. Without a doubt, the places of power are populated by Guyanese, but they answer to no one but themselves and to foreigners. It is beyond debate that our leaders in one political party after the other, and in as many Governments as we have had, have not put this treasured Independence to the best use for the most that can be had for us. Citizens are given information on the important matters of State, but with qualifications. That is, when it pleases local leaders, when it serves their selfish interests. As Guyanese have come to realise (and to regret) the interests of our political leaders and their allies and friends are not the same as that of the people. There has been this special failure that has wreaked havoc with the hopes of Guyanese, ruined the prospects that they harboured; especially those that soared in the light of several eye-catching oil discoveries. The politicians that pilot the ship of state have fixed things to suit themselves only. They have the freedom to dump whatever half-truths and half-baked ideas, they wish upon a naïve and believing population. They are given free rein to get away with those, and come back to deliver more of the same. So, it has been round and round on the same merry-go-round for the Guyanese people at the lower levels, the unconnected strands, of this poor, undeveloped, and struggling society. Our politicians are not bound by any hard obligations to better be about what is real, upright, and beneficial for the citizens and country. So, they take advantage of the freedoms that Independence has placed in their hands, and they make a mockery of what that Independence should mean. The leaders in the present government have the freedom to play games with the national oil fund, that precious savings pool and reserve provision. They will; and unless Guyanese exercise the freedoms to stand up and speak out, question courageously, and criticise constructively, anything and everything about this most promising oil treasure, then they will have contributed most irresponsibly and shamelessly to the squandering of their own future, and that of their children’s up the road. Citizens are under an obligation to speak out on this oil and other natural resource gifts, it is one of the freedoms that come with Independence, and one that must be used unhesitatingly. If not, then we might as well still be tied to the British Crown, and take whatever pittances are allocated in the budget for the colonies, including Guyana’s share of it. But we have what is called Independence today, and for us to live up to that, we must manifest that we are up to the tasks involved in national self-determination. Our selfdetermination is not about the frenzies of elections alone. That is just the beginning of it, the process of it. There is so much more at work, so much which is at risk, if we do not rise to the challenges and responsibilities that come with National Independence, which must, of necessity, hold leaders to the strictest accounting. It must not be based on the gambles of any one man and his shrillness, or the growing madness of any one leader, or group. Independence is no use for us, if we exchange the yoke of the British for that of the American, or the Chinese, or any other. Independence is meaningless if the best we can
At some point all the silliness surrounding the oil sector has to stop DEAR EDITOR Please permit me some space to respond to a letter by Jamil Changlee which supports the lawsuit being brought by persons associated with Fair Deal for Guyana trying to shut down offshore oil production in that it violates the country’s Constitution and the rights of citizens to enjoy Guyana’s biodiversity inter alia. The lawsuit is publicity seeking and entirely frivolous but I suppose the Attorney General will have to offer a defence at the taxpayer’s expense. And I have to wonder the purpose of such a fringe group that does not in fact want any Fair Deal but wants zero oil produced offshore. Those involved in bringing the case are of course well off with cushy jobs so prefer to ignore
that part of the Constitution which talks of the citizen’s “right to work in accordance with personal qualifications.” It would be nice to hear the opinions of the thousands who now have jobs in the energy sector which by and large offers better wages and employment conditions including physically safe working environments, and for women, ones largely free from discrimination and harassment. There is of course in our midst an industry that is also a significant contributor to global warming, that is rice cultivation which emits 12% of the world’s total methane output, a gas that is 23 times more damaging to the environment than C02. Many studies have been done on this and estimates range from around 200 to 600 kg of meth-
ane released per hectare of wetland, double cropped rice. With 98,000 hectares under cultivation in Guyana that amounts to up to 58,000 tonnes of methane being released annually into the atmosphere. So will these same environmentalists also be bringing a case against the GRDB? Should the EPA require EIAs for new rice projects? Should they charge farmers for each tonne of methane produced? Probably not. The point is that all economic activity creates GHGs. All that industries can do is try to mitigate such emissions but it should not come at the expense of human development. Especially for a country whose people have struggled for centuries to reach a level of economic comfort many in
the developed world have enjoyed at our and other former colonies’ expense. And that goes for those mangroves too. In this regard, the government is right by stating it will replant mangroves elsewhere to make up for those lost in the development of the West Bank of the Demerara River. What a simple solution. What would the mangrove huggers prefer? That those jobs from any shore base go to Trinidad so Guyana can feel self-righteous for saving the planet? How does that even help? At some point all the silliness surrounding the oil sector has to stop or maybe the elite will always need something about which to emit their own hot air? Yours truly, Lynn Nicholas
In September 2019, Dr. Gobind Ganga had verified that there was smuggled Venezuelan gold in Guyana DEAR EDITOR Reference is made to the article titled, “No evidence of smuggled Venezuelan gold in domestic trading system…” (KN May 26). This is a strange country that gets stranger with every new development. Perhaps, strange is not the word and hallucinating is the one more suited. I elaborate. On Thursday September 19, 2019, the Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga, was kind enough to invite me to a meeting, where other very senior officers of the Central Bank were present. After I extended the preambles of professional courtesies, the business of the day commenced. Governor Ganga’s words were; the country was in big trouble and that he has “the evidence of Venezuelan gold being smuggled into Guyana.” To those, the distinguished Governor added that there was the risk of the country being “blacklisted.” My response was simple: I am glad that others are finally speaking my language. And, that any available evidence should be shared at the highest levels with the appropriate people. I do not know where the matter progressed from there, but I do read now that, com-
pliments of Guyana’s Vice President, there is no evidence of Venezuelan gold being smuggled into Guyana’s mix. If accurate and untainted, then I applaud this news. But, the inquiring part of my mind that still functions raises this question: where is the Governor of the Bank of Guyana today on this issue, since reports of such smuggling have intensified, not diminished? It becomes even more relevant, when I understand that Dr. Ganga is now Chair of the Guyana Gold Board, a place where I think, now that he wears multiple hats, that he can be a game changer in certain directions. I would humbly recommend that the Governor share his prior intelligence with the Hon. Vice President, as there is some contradiction. Whatever the Governor and the VP do, I would hope that it is what is best for Guyana; of a venerable Governor of the Nation’s Central Bank, coupled with that of Chairman of the Gold Board, I think that Dr. Ganga is wellpositioned to do so, and I would expect no less. As the Governor himself did state in no uncertain terms to me and others, the country is at risk, very high risk. Accordingly, this country should expect
do is to substitute rapacious outgoing foreign predators, with those of the homegrown variety. And allow them to handcuff, blindfold and muzzle us. That is not Independence, it is surrender. That is not freedom, it is slavery. Fifty-five years after the granting of Independence, Guyanese have to grow up, manifest the maturity to think for themselves and do for themselves. They must not be anybody’s doormat, or any leader’s village idiot. It is time to take our destiny into our own hands, and recognise what Independence really means. Starting right here – now!
from him only what is protective of its interests, its reputation, and nothing else. Again, I respectfully suggest the Governor enlighten the Hon. Vice President as to what really pertains. Nothing and no one should get between that professional and patriotic obligation. As for the erudite VP, I confess to bewilderment that a man of his astounding brainpower could conclude privately and then articulate publicly that, “If you ask me, there is enough evidence to support the otherwise (sic) that Guyana’s gold is leaving our borders and going to Brazil and Venezuela.” This is mindboggling; well, at least to someone with a small brain like me. It is known universally that the bite of draconian U.S. sanctions have virtually jettisoned the Venezuelan currency into the realm of the undesirable and unacceptable. The Venezuelans are not looking to buy anything, since they don’t have an abundance of U.S. dollars that enables their participation in potentially six or seven figure purchases and sales of gold; or most other things for that matter. Such smuggled gold from here to there would have to be consummated in U.S. dollars. Now where would that come from, since it is such a scarce commodity over there? As a man of the incomparable business wisdom that is claimed to be incontestably embedded in the Vice President, I would have thought that this would be known to him and urge him to withhold such a statement re. the di-
rection of gold traffic. To cut a real fine point on this, the Venezuelans are so strapped, and so correspondingly desperate, that their gold is being sold into a buyer’s market. Meaning, that they (the sellers) cannot select their price, as they are in no position of strength to haggle. That is for the Middle East, where they conduct other business of particular interest to American sentinels, and some of which is also reported to pass through here. To make this completely clear, I say in another manner: the gold over there is useless to Venezuelans, since they cannot consume it. They need to offload it (just like the Colombians). And, there is this convergence of circumstances present in Guyana that is perfect for their purposes. First, a long and porous border; a border that suffers from manpower deficiency. Second, a questionable confidence in our guardians to be vigilant, where professionalism and principles are concerned. Third, there is the presence of a potential swarm of buyers, who scent a bargain buying opportunity, and desire to cash in on the bonanza. I am not in any kind of business, but I am tempted by the possible high returns, since the Venezuelans are in no position to demand top dollar, as in world market prices set by the twice daily London Fix. We do our own fixing right here. I suggest comparing our struggling Venezuelan neighbours to the troubled (Continued on page 5)
Thursday May 27, 2021
Ethical education urgently needed all over Guyana 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 offhand 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 (Continued on page 6)
President Ali is insensitive and tone deaf DEAR EDITOR, The President recently posted a picture of himself and Bharrat Jagdeo midnight fishing on the Boaeraserie Creek. Several thoughts passed through my mind. The first was, clearly in Guyana it is a case of ‘do as I say and not as I do’ with this Government. They set no example. There are COVID-19 regulations which are in place that Guyanese are required to
obey, or else they are subject to arrest and a fine. Midnight fishing on the Boaeraserie breaches a number of these regulations, including the ones relating to a curfew, the ones relating to activities at creeks and beaches, and the ones requiring wearing a mask in public. Before those who say that I am nitpicking rush to their defence to say the President and Vice President have hard jobs and should be able to
In September 2019... From page 4 and needy state of those left with no option, but to approach pawnbrokers. It is take what could be had, and this is it. Fourth, there is a sufficiency of American dollars locally to transact business (which led to city shortages) to the satisfaction of the Venezuelans, and make money magic for both seller and buyer in the trade at hand. Last, I would not insult any Guyanese, by seeking to educate him or her on the strengths or ricketiness of our public institutions; specifically, those manning oversight and enforcement responsibilities. Those speak for themselves and as to how and what is aided and abetted For all of the aforementioned reasons, with much left unstated, I think that what the
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Kaieteur News
Vice President said about gold smuggling, if and when subjected to thorough and genuine smell and taste tests, would fall short on both counts. It should be noted that I took a page from the Vice President’s book and said absolutely nothing about cerebral or ethical tests. Sincerely, GHK Lall Former Chairman, Guyana Gold Board
relax…yes they do, but do it privately. To publish such a photograph is tone deaf and insensitive. The ordinary working class Guyanese man and woman who labour day in and day out to build this country want to relax as well. But we can’t. We have to worry about how our children will eat given the rising cost of basic food items, we have to worry about how we will keep a roof over our family’s head and we have to worry about the rising cost of gas and transportation. We have to worry about all of this while given no increase in salaries. So forgive me if I don’t smash the like button on this one; a photograph of two men who are living high off of taxpayers’ monies to fund their lavish lifestyles while the ordinary Guyanese people are battling the scourge of COVID and are on the verge of starvation. Sincerely, Joy Adisa
Tacuma errs about Freddie, not rigging. Now he is deemed bad man, a code an Indian Bad man anwordIndian for racism, for opposing 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. He 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 he does 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 colour. 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 criticised 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 criticised 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 criticised coalition rule, Africans disliked him and Indians liked him. When he started criticising 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
fraud. Freddie was truthful about the attempted rigging. It was writers like David, Ogunseye, Vincent and 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 a strong attitude. He has it completely wrong. That is typical of the perpetrator claiming to be the victim. It is Ogunseye and AWD who are behaving wrong and strong. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
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Thursday May 27, 2021
Kaieteur News
Small hedge fund delivers historic blow to ExxonMobil - Wins two Board seats to represent climate change issues
By Kiana Wilburg
E
ngine No. 1, a rela tively small hedge fund, delivered a massive blow to ExxonMobil Corporation, America’s powerhouse in the fossil fuel industry, as it was able to get two of its four nominees elected to the company’s Board. In the preliminary results released yesterday for the Annual Shareholder’s Meeting, Re-elected ExxonMobil Directors were Chairman of the company, Darren Woods; Michael Angelakis, Susan Avery, Angela Braly, Ursula Burns, Kenneth Frazier, Joseph Hooley and Jeffrey Ubben. Elected from Engine No. 1’s nominees were Gregory Goff and Kaisa Hietala. This newspaper understands that Goff has a long track record of success in the energy industry. He served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Andeavor (ANDV), a leading petroleum refining and marketing company formerly known as Tesoro, for eight years ending in 2018. He was also named one of the “Best-Performing CEOs in the World” by Harvard Business Review in 2018. With regard to Ms. Hietala, Engine One was keen to note that she is an experienced leader in strategic transformation in the energy sector who began her career in oil and gas exploration and crude oil trading. She played a central role in the strategic transformation of Neste into the world’s largest and most profitable producer of renewable diesel and jet fuel, which was named by Harvard Business Review as one of the “Top 20 Business Transformations of the Last Decade” in 2019. Up to press time, the outcome was not yet determined for ExxonMobil director, candidates Steven Kandarian, Douglas Oberhelman, Samuel Palmisano and Wan Zulkiflee, and for Engine No. 1 candidate Alexander Karsner. A fourth Engine No. 1 candidate,
ExxonMobil’s New Director, Gregory Goff. Anders Runevad, was not elected. In a statement, ExxonMobil Corporation said the Board will reconsider two shareholder proposals that received majority shareholder approval, one of which is dedicated to climate lobbying. Kaieteur News understands that the preliminary vote count is subject to certification by the Independent Inspector of Elections. It should be noted however, that yesterday’s voting process was not without its fair share of challenges as there was an unprecedented move by ExxonMobil to adjourn the voting for more than an hour. Upon noting this, Engine No. 1 said, “In seeking to delay the closing of the polls, ExxonMobil is using corporate machinery for its own purpose rather than that of shareholders and avoiding the election of individuals with the transformative energy experience required to position the Company for long-term success in a changing world.” It added, “Shareholders should not be fooled by ExxonMobil’s last-ditch attempt to stave off much-
ExxonMobil’s New Director, Kaisa Hietala.
needed board change in response to significant shareholder pressure and the prospect of losing a proxy contest. Shareholders have spoken. ExxonMobil should accept the result, take the vote and move forward.” Furthermore, the Coalition United for a Responsible Exxon (CURE) that recently published a paper that analyses ExxonMobil Corporation’s critical governance failures and poor performance disclosed to the international press that it sees the election of Engine No. 1 nominees, Gregory Goff and Kaisa Hietala, to the Board of Directors as significant steps towards bringing Exxon in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. “Today, shareholders sent a strong signal to Exxon and other oil majors that business as usual is not an option,” said Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow, a member of CURE. “The fact that at least two of Engine No. 1’s four board candidates were elected reflects the right of shareholders to escalate the demand for transformation at companies such as Exxon,” expressed Behar. He added, “The new
ExxonMobil President re-elected, Darren Woods.
board should act on this mandate for change and adopt Paris compliant transition plans immediately and begin the hard, but necessary work of creating the roadmap to transform the company’s core business.” As of today, CURE represents over 135 stakeholder organisations, which collectively represent $2.5 trillion in assets focused on sustainability and committed to delivering long-term returns that account for the realities of a changing energy
sector. Since December last, Kaieteur News had reported that Engine No. 1’s challenge for board seats was rooted in its dissatisfaction with ExxonMobil’s emissions output. According to Bloomberg, the oil giant’s annual emissions from its operations are set to increase from 122 million metric tons in 2017 to 143 million metric tons in 2025. The investment firm was also concerned about the company’s decisions, which have led to its declining fiscal health.
In a statement to industry stakeholders, Engine No. 1 had said, “Investors increasingly want to see companies focused on the long-term and ExxonMobil is no exception. We believe that ExxonMobil’s Board needs new members who have proven success positioning energy companies for today as well as tomorrow, and who are sufficiently independent from the current Board to ensure a clean break from a strategy and mindset that have led to years of value destruction and poorly positioned the Company for the future.” While ExxonMobil has recently taken incremental steps to improve its performance in the face of financial and shareholder pressure, Engine One said it is of the firm belief that a reactive short-term approach is no substitute for a proactive long-term strategy that addresses the threats and opportunities facing the company in a changing world. Taking this into consideration, among other factors, the new investment firm had proposed four independent nominees – each of whom it said brought a differentiated skill set that made them uniquely suited to help the Board chart a new value-creating path, including better long-term capital discipline, strategic planning, and management incentives.
Request from Lusignan for attention
Ethical education urgently needed... From page 5 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, in 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. Sincerely, Roy Paul
DEAR EDITOR, I am a resident of Lusignan. Now, the garbage trucks are dumping the garbage on the
dam behind the Lusignan
prison, which greatly influences our life and work. Please kindly publish this photo in your media to attract attention of the management
department for this issue, so that our life and work can come back to normal. Thank you, Resident of Lusignan
Thursday May 27, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Thursday May 27, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Thursday May 27, 2021
The Importance of Guyana’s 55th Independence Day (May 26, 2021) By Melissa D. Goolsarran Ramnauth, Esq. Guyana’s 55th Independence Day can be celebrated with a look back at the history of Guyana, and its promising future in the oil industry. Guyana’s recent oil discoveries have put the nation at a fork in the road, with one path leading towards riches, and one path leading towards unrest. The new government would therefore benefit from analysing the effect of oil on several Middle East countries to ensure that Guyana remains independent from unjust foreign interference. El Dorado El Dorado is a tale about gold. There are several versions (some about a king cloaked in gold and some about a golden city) and many theories about where it all took place. One “eyewitness” account placed a city of gold in Guyana. The famous British explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh, led four excursions to the treacherous Guyana jungles in hopes of finding this city of gold. Raleigh came across a written account of a captured Spaniard while Raleigh was in Trinidad. The Spaniard claimed that he was captured by an Amerindian tribe in Guyana and taken deep into the jungle. The tribe led him to what seemed like a bustling site in the middle of an uncharted frontier. It was as if the tribe created a city made entirely of gold. The Spaniard escaped but the only reference point that he could relay was that there was supposedly a large lake nearby. Raleigh never found El Dorado and he lost many years, and even his son, in his quest to find it. The Middle East Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran are unique but there are underlying similarities that Guyana should note. Afghanistan was part of an original cradle of civilisation (the Indus Valley), and also sits on at least 3 billion barrels of oil formed millions of years ago. During its ancient and medieval times, the region saw many dynasties, several conquests, flourishing trade, and cultural and religious changes. The modern era is marked by war and outside influence from Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States. In 1978, the People’s
Democratic Party of Afghanistan seized power, oppressed dissidents, allied with the Soviets, and fought against guerilla mujahideen. The mujahideen were covertly trained by the United States and Pakistan. In 1979, Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan to stabilise the unrest. The United States and Pakistan continued to support the mujahideen rebels with cash and weapons. The Soviets withdrew but, in 1994, the Taliban emerged as a rebel militia of students aided by the Pakistani government. In 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan after the Taliban refused to surrender Osama Bin Laden. The United States joined the Northern Alliance and eventually overthrew the Taliban. Iraq, too, has a deep history. The Sumerian era is credited as producing the first writing system, among many other firsts. Iraq was part of the Babylon, Assyrian, and Ottoman empires. Baghdad became the largest multicultural city in the Middle Ages until the Mongols burned down the city and destroyed the l i b r a r y. I r a q g a i n e d independence from the British and overthrew its own monarchy in 1958 to create a republic. In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. The United States intervened (the First Gulf War) because of the war’s effect on oil prices, and the Iraqi armed force was severely destroyed. In March 2003, the United States and its allies invaded Iraq based on false intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. The Coalition Provisional Authority was then established but the nation remained in postinvasion disorder. In the summer of 2003, an insurgency against U.S. troops began and jihadist terrorist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) formed. Though all U.S. troops were withdrawn in 2011, a civil war erupted in 2014 due to ISIL’s rise. Lastly, Iran’s history begins in the ancient Lower Paleolithic times. Ancient Greek writings referred to the Iranian province of Persia but the name “Persia” persisted and is often used culturally in reference to the whole country. Iran is
actually one of the largest countries in the world with 83 million residents, and like Iraq, it was part of the Assyrian Empire. During WW2, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin Roosevelt issued a declaration for postwar Iranian independence and boundaries, but Soviet troops remained until Iran granted it oil concessions. Iran then nationalised its petroleum and oil industry. However, the United States quickly participated in a covert operation to overthrow the government. On January 3, 2020, Iran’s revolutionary guard Qasem Solemani was assassinated by the United States in Iraq. Some thought the assassination would lead to a world war. Of importance, Iran’s gas supply is the largest in the world and its oil reserves are the third largest. History of Guyana Guyana is located on the northern tip of South America, between Venezuela and Suriname, and north of Brazil. The Caribs, Akawois and Arawaks were the most populous and most powerful natives, known as Amerindians. The Dutch were the first Europeans to colonise the area. After that, there were shifts in the reign between the British and the French. Britain ultimately prevailed and ruled “British Guiana” (as Guyana was known during that time) for over a century. The British colonised Guyana in order to capitalise off of its sugar. To do this, they first enslaved Africans to labour in the fields. It is estimated that nearly two million Africans were enslaved in the Caribbean from 1651 to 1807. However, the date that the first Africans arrived in Guyana is unknown. It is believed that the Dutch imported the first enslaved Africans in the 1600s. Their labour was the vital aspect of the sugar trade hierarchy. The British ended slavery in the 19th century and replaced it with a system of indentured servitude. The British began importing Chinese labourers for a short period and eventually began importing Indians. The Indians were told that they would work for a certain period of time and then return home to India. In reality, the inhumanity of
indentured servitude was not much different than slavery. After importing hundreds of thousands of indentured workers to Guyana, the British ended this system because it was no longer profitable. Many Indians remained and formed the majority of Guyana’s population. One lasting effect of British reign was that it created and promoted racial tensions between Africans and Indians. Africans in Guyana The enslaved Africans continuously rebelled against their inhumane conditions. One of the most well-known revolts was led by Cuffy. Cuffy was a Guyanese slave from West Africa and laboured in Berbice. On February 23, 1763, there was an uprising in a nearby plantation. The uprising gained momentum and spread to several plantations. Cuffy became the leader of the rebels and led a revolt that lasted several months. It is remarkable that Cuffy and his runaway slaves were able to resist capture and hold their ground for such an extended time against the Dutch soldiers (which outnumbered the rebels) and the soldiers’ artillery. When the slave trade ended, many Africans formed their own villages and/or relocated to the interior of the country. Indians in Guyana While written historical data on Africans and Indians in Guyana is limited, there is arguably more accessible information on Indian indentured servitude compared to African slavery. The Indians in Guyana can trace their history back 30,000 years to the beginning of human civilisation (as one of the three cradles of civilisation was Southern India). Emperors and kings reigned over distinct regions in India. With time, the Indian culture began to share certain commonalities. In the 16th century, the Mughal Empire ruled. The emperors were direct descendants of the infamous Ghengis Khan. They did not impose Islam and the locals were free to continue their native practices. The relatively peaceful empire allowed the arts to flourish with a mix of Persian and Indian aspects.
Modern India began when the British defeated the Mughals and ended the golden age of art and coexistence. The poverty rate during British’s colonisation contributed to Indians seeking employment under the indentured servitude system. Some Indians accepted the job offer to work overseas for five years and then return home to India. Others were deceived and thought that they were only going to work in another part of India. Africans and Indians in Guyana Today Both Africans and Indians faced three gruelling months at sea en route to Guyana. They ate rationed food and shared communal spaces. The ship’s docking was probably a welcomed end to the difficult and isolating conditions on board. The enslaved and servants were eventually taken to their assigned plantations, which included communal barracks. They were forced into hard labour cultivating sugar, cocoa, and rice. Moreover, like slavery, indentured servitude was condemned for its oppressive, violent, unhealthy, and depressing nature. Many Indians never made it back to India and likely no Africans made it back to Africa. The Africans and Indians who ended up staying in Guyana often continued the gruelling labour associated with the agricultural trades. Britain initially refused to provide equal schooling. As a result, employment opportunities were limited and they had to take jobs in towns and villages far from home. Racial tensions remained high and stemmed from the British orchestration to keep the groups distinct from one another. Education and other resources improved slightly, but many Guyanese felt that there were better opportunities in the United States, Canada, and Europe. This caused a surge in emigration. Once again, many of the Guyanese (as they now identified themselves) had to leave their parents, families, friends, and life as they knew it in order to attempt to secure a more promising future. The continued hardships and displacement of the
Indians/Africans, to the workers in the Caribbean, and to the recent generations who left for northern countries explain the lack of thorough and diverse history sources. There were either no opportunities or rare opportunities to document history while travelling across the Atlantic, working in the fields, or relocating to a foreign area. Thankfully, younger generations are more likely to enjoy their parents and grandparents without the imminent threat of relocation for better opportunities. Guyana’s Treasured Oil There are oil reservoirs all over the world but several o f t h e l a rg e s t k n o w n reservoirs are in the Middle East and the United States. ExxonMobil, America’s largest oil company, initially discovered crude oil off of Guyana’s coast in 2015. Since then, there were 16 extraordinary oil finds. Five of the six largest oil discoveries in 2019 were in Guyana. Exxon and Guyana’s oil deal raises concerns as to whether the contract is disproportionately in favour of Exxon to the extreme disadvantage of Guyana and its people. Of note, the parties entered into an oil contract and three days later Exxon announced a major discovery. Some claim that Exxon purposely withheld evidence of the find to m i n i m i s e G u y a n a ’s negotiating power. As a result, Guyana would receive a below-average share in oil production. The deal was also made hastily during heightened tensions with Venezuela over the Venezuela-Guyana border, with hopes that Exxon’s presence would deter Venezuela’s attempts to expand their borders. Is Guyana oil the modern El Dorado riches? Or is Guyana on the precipice of outside influence creating unrest in order to benefit from potential oil profits? In light of its 55th independence day, the government should take note of the above-mentioned history to promote fair policies relating to international oil investments. The unequal bargains of colonisation should not repeat itself and it is the time for the Guyanese to have equitable opportunities.
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6 more succumb to-236COVID-19 new cases, 20 in ICU
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has added six more persons to its list of COVID-19 related fatalities. The dead persons have been identified as a 47-year-old female and an 80-year-old male from the Upper Takutu, Upper Essequibo Region; a 53-year-old female, a 73-year-old male, a 60-year-old female and a 67-year-old male from Demerara/Mahaica. According to a chart released from the Ministry, the six deaths were recorded between May 24 and 25, 2021. According to the MOH, the patients were admitted with COVID-19 like symptoms but died while receiving care at medical institutions. Their samples were taken at the time of admission which subsequently returned positive results. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry recorded 236 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours.According to its updated COVID-19 dashboard, the total number of confirmed cases in the country is now 16,556.
Thursday May 27, 2021
Kaieteur News
It was also pointed out that so far, some 14,144 persons have recovered from the lifethreatening virus. Further, there are 2,018 persons in home and institutional isolation, five more persons in institutional quarantine and 20 persons in the COVID-19 ICU. As such, the MOH reminded that all Guyanese must observe the protocols of the COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES (NO.17), which are in effect until May 31, 2021. This order emphasises, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they can contact the COVID-19 hotline: 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 IMMEDIATELY or visit www.health.gov.gy.
'Cash-strapped' GWI prepares to send 100... From page 11 the anniversary activities. GWI observed the anniversary at the end of May 2018. This was followed by a subsequent disbursement, acknowledged for the month of June, for $9,325. Another amount totalling $50,000 was obtained in November 2018 for an anniversary advertisement, making the cumulative amount for GWI's anniversary some $15.58M. Activities for the entity's anniversary included a retreat, a prize giving and awards ceremony, held at the Ramada Princess Hotel. Finally, for the year, the document reveals that at the end of that year, the utility company hosted a Christmas party expending some $14.5M. As such, GWI for 2018, spent a total of $30M for its Christmas party and anniversary celebrations from its coffers. The expenditure by the utility company is coming under focus in light of the company's position that it is essentially cash-strapped, to the point where it was unable to pay its electricity bills for that year. It was reported last year that GWI owed the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) some $7 billion for the period 2018 to 2020.According to Patterson, the development to retrench workers at GWI represents another assault on public sector workers that continues to go unchecked and reminded that earlier this month, the entire marketing staff of the Guyana Oil Company
(GUYOIL) was summarily dismissed and that no reason was offered for the 36 persons being placed on the breadline.Speaking to the cash woes at GWI, Patterson reminded of two major frauds of $30M and $100M at the utility company.He said too that all the regions and central water treatment plants “have been running without sufficient chemicals to adequately treat the water according to WHO standards.”Additionally, “there is a major shortage of treatment chemicals such as Lime, Alum, and Salt to treat water at these plants for over three months – that's the main reason for GWI customers complaining about the poor quality of the water.”He said that after millions of dollars were budgeted in 2020 and the 2021 budgets, the government reported that 92 percent of this amount was spent in 2020, but “despite this claim there is no Alum or Lime in the system – where did this money go?”Patterson suggested that “despite this poor track record of obvious mismanagement, instead of GWI seeking to solve these issues, they are proceeding with a witch hunt against their employees—most of whom they suspect are supportive of the coalition.” According to Patterson, “in the next week,
over 100 staffers of GWI will be dismissed; GWI cannot be allowed to discriminate against these workers – after all, water is life and this unchecked assault on Guyanese will affect all of our lives, now or in the near future.”
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Kaieteur News
Thursday May 27, 2021
Thursday May 27, 2021
NBA playoffs 2021: Davis responds as Lakers level series, Durant stars in Nets win Anthony Davis responded after his poor Game 1 by leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 109-102 win over the Phoenix Suns to square their NBA playoffs first round series on Tuesday. Davis was self-critical after their Game 1 loss, stating “this is on me”, and responded with a doubledouble with 34 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and seven assists. LeBron James was brilliant with 23 points, including a final quarter threein the final minute which was the nail in the coffin. James also had nine assists and four rebounds. The Lakers led by seven at the final change but Phoe-
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nix came hard at them, albeit largely without Chris Paul who played limited minutes in the last quarter due to a shoulder issue which hampered him all game. But the reigning champions rallied, with a Davis block followed by a three-pointer pressing them ahead in the final minutes. For the Lakers, Dennis Schroder had 24 points, while Andre Drummond had 15 points and 12 rebounds. Paul only managed six points from 23 minutes in a major worry for the Suns moving forward, while Devin Booker impressed with 31 points. KD gets it done, Mavs down Clippers
Kevin Durant got it done at both ends as the Brooklyn Nets claimed a 2-0 series lead against the Boston Celtics with a 130-108 win. Durant was dominant with a game-high 26 points as well as five assists, eight rebounds and four blocks for the Nets who led by 24 points at half-time. Joe Harris shot a playoffs career-high seven threepointers among his 25 points, including 22 in the first half, while James Harden added an impressive 20 points, five rebounds and seven assists for the Nets. Blake Griffin made two big dunks for the Nets, having not attempted one in his final 25 games for the Detroit Pis-
Thursday May 27, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Try not to get too caught up in any potential conflicts brewing around you, Aries. Your job lies in calming things down and bringing a more practical perspective to the situation. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This is a great time to move forward on a writing project, Taurus. Any large, long-term project involving communication, film, or long-distance travel is begging you to take action. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This is an expansive time for you. You can make great progress on your goals, Gemini. The key is to clear up any miscommunication or dishonesty before you move forward with a clear conscious. CANCER(June21–July22) Your engine is revved and ready, Cancer. You have a full tank of gas. Unfortunately, you may feel like there's a large obstacle in your way. Perhaps this obstacle is your mental attitude and inability to make confident decisions. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) No one likes rejection, but no one likes rejection less than you, Leo. You may hesitate to take risks in the unknown. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Be flexible in your communication, Virgo, and doors will open to you that you didn't even know were there. There's a tremendous amount of physical energy at your disposal.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may be in a difficult position, Libra. You want to explode into a new way of life yet feel stuck. Perhaps you feel chained to your current routine. SCORPIO (Oct.23–Nov. 21) You're getting support for and confidence from one aspect of your life and physical energy from another. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Success will come to you when you work with the energies at hand. Go with the flow of the situation instead of trying to undermine or manipulate it. There's a tremendous force at work. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You may end up in some arguments, Capricorn. Your nature is expansive and generous, but if others take advantage of this good nature, your mood quickly turns to anger and detachment. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may be confused about asking for help, Aquarius. Your usual resources could be occupied with issues and conflicts that have nothing to do with you. You may then offer to help others. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You're in the middle of a terrific yearly transition. You have a great deal of physical energy, Pisces. You have an actionoriented mind ready to tackle anything. The key to making the most of this fortunate period is communication.
tons before his move. Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard traded blows with massive individual performances but the Dallas Mavericks claimed a 2-0 lead in their series against the Los Angeles Clippers with a 127121 win on the road. Doncic scored 39 points with seven rebounds and seven assists, with able assistance from Tim Hardaway Jr who made six three-pointers among his 28 points, with Dallas moving ahead in a 3019 third quarter. Leonard had 41 points, six rebounds, two steals and four assists, while Paul George scored 28 points with 12 rebounds and six assists for the Clippers, who face an uphill task to turn around the series in Texas. CP3 and Tatum injuries Injuries to both Paul and Celtics forward Jason Tatum denied spectators the best contest possible, with the former barely entering the court in the last with his shoulder issue which remains an issue for the rest of the series. Tatum left the game in the third quarter after a poke to the eye from Durant. He only managed nine points from 21 minutes, shooting at 25 per cent from the field. Harden’s three-point playoffs feat Harden went past Reggie Miller into sixth on the all-time NBA playoffs three-pointers made list, scoring four-fromeight beyond the arc in the Nets’ win over the Celtics. The 31-year-old has 321 playoffs three-pointers, behind Stephen Curry (470), LeBron James (417), Ray Allen (385), Klay Thompson (374) and Manu Ginobili (324). Tuesday’s results Brooklyn Nets 130-108 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 109-102 Phoenix Suns Dallas Mavericks 127-121 Los Angeles Clippers
Argentina has been asked to host ... From page 25 take all precautions. That’s what we are working on.” CONMEBOL officials visited two stadiums this week, at Estudiantes de La Plata and Velez Sarsfield, to gauge their readiness, a source told Reuters. The move comes in spite of a surge in COVID-19 cases in Argentina over the last two weeks. The death toll in Argentina is 74,480, according to the World Health Organization, and the country has been under a strict lockdown since Saturday, with all sport, religious and social gatherings
banned and non-essential businesses closed. Neighbouring Uruguay is also experiencing a surge while Brazil has seen 450,000 deaths from the virus, more than any country except the United States. CONMEBOL is still determined, however, that the Copa America, the oldest international tournament in the world, must take place. Thirteen games were due to be held in Argentina, including the opening match between Argentina and Chile at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires. Another 15 had been planned for Colombia.
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Thursday May 27, 2021
Seaton Swims two PBs in Puerto Rico Olympic qualifiers By Sean Devers Competing in the Puerto Rico international Open (PRESO), Silver Shark Aquatic Swim Club’s 17year-old Leon Seaton Jr clocked a personal best of 28.10 in the preliminary rounds of the men’s 50m fly to shave of .0.3 off his entry time and followed it up in the with another PB time 1:08.04 in the 100m backstroke after starting the Event with a time of 1:10.87. In the four-day Event which climaxed last Sunday, young Seaton swam in four races; finishing the 50m Fly in 24.99, falling .0.15 short of his entry time and 24.99 in 50m free after starting the with a time of 24.84. Aleka Persaud, the other Guyanese competing at the Meet, swam times of 30.98 in the women’s 50m fly, 1.02.39 in the 100m free, shaving off .0.54 of her entry time.“I did not achieve the qualification times in any of the races but I came close to qualifying ‘B’ standards and that is still something I can set as goal for me to achieve in the future,” informed Seaton.“At the Event many
persons from different clubs and Countries attained B cuts and some A cuts and some attained the Qualifying standards but nobody from Guyana reached the qualifying standard,” Seaton added.Guyanese Jamila S nmoogan and Andrew Fowler, who not attend the meet in Puerto Rico, were given ‘Wild Cards’ to participate in the Tokyo Olympics. According to Seaton, the Puerto Rico qualifier benefited him in a lot of ways.“It showed me that I could never give up…It showed that team work be an important factor, it provided me with the experience of swimming in a competition in which everybody was vying for a spot in the Olympics…over 40 Countries and different clubs. So I think that was a very good experience. The rivalry was very high, the emotions and competitive spirit was very high. It was something that I was exposed to and I am grateful for that exposure.”Seaton rated his performance as not what he was expecting. “My two pet events that I
Aleka Persaud and Leon Seaton.
focus on more, I did not improve in them but based on the time trials that I would have done, the passion that I had to improve… I would give myself a 10 out 10 because of the fight I put up to the very end because I wanted to prove that I could improve on that best time. As it turned out at the end of the competition I did break the 25 barrier but I just didn’t swim faster than my personal best, but the passion I had to see myself overcoming my best time, I rate 10 out of 10,” continued Seaton.In the time Trials Seaton swam 24.99 in the 50 meters’ freestyle. “In my other events I rate myself 10 out of 10, especial the 50 Butterfly and 100 back,
- Junior Swimmers only Guyanese on Show
those were the two events I improved in so that was big for me as someone who don’t train backstroke that much...that a was really nice,” said Seaton. Last June Seaton received a sevenmonth FINA Scholarship to train in Florida, USA for the 2021 Olympics which has been extended by three months. The talented teenager, who will now return home next month, spoke about his scholarship on his return to the Florida from the US controlled Caribbean Island Monday.At the time when the scholarship was offered Seaton and Fowler had fast times and were the two top Guyanese Olympic contenders in the 50-mters
free style races.“It has been very good for me in terms of the level of experience I have gained from the high standard of competition I have been exposed to. My next International competition should be in December in the World Championship in the short course… 25 meters…in the United Arab Emirates. So I am focusing on that. But between now and then there a lot of smaller companions that I could attend,” said the fifth former at the St Roses High school. He said he is not sure if he will attended another qualifying tournament before June 27 when Olympics qualifying period ends to give him another chance of getting to the Olympics. “But if not I will be training for the December Event in the United Arab Emeritus,” Seaton noted. He also spoke about the other Guyanese at the event, Aleka Persaud.“Aleka swam well taken into account that
she was in Guyana and not being able to do any training in the pool due to Covid-19 Pandemic. She had some pretty strong races. I saw her races and she was very strong and ended seconds from her best times which is commendable since was not competing since Covid struck last year march,” he opined. In terms of what he would like as he starts his journey to the next Olympics in three years’ time, Seaton said the swimming programme in the US is great.“As Swimmer I would say improve on my selfcharacter and focus would defiantly make me a better Athlete because no matter how old you are you always learning new things,” Seaton concluded. President of GASA Dwayne Scott recently stated the work will start soon to ensure that Guyana’s top junior swimmers (Seaton & Persaud) qualify for the next Olympics in 2024 in Paris.
Thursday May 27, 2021
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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers
Enticing final round matches loom for the ‘Golden Jaguars’ as spot in next round on the line
GFF President Wayne Forde (center) in discussion with Head Coach Márcio Máximo (left) and Assistant, Wilson Toledo. (Franklin Wilson photo)
Putting in the extra effort even with the intense and consistent rainfall. (Franklin Wilson photo)
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Thursday May 27, 2021
Thomas, Henry triumph in male 10k; Sheama and Shaquka Tyrell shine in female events By Zaheer Mohamed leveland Thomas o f P o l i c e Athletics Club produced a sterling performance as he overpowered a sturdy field to win the men’s 20-49 10k run when the Exathletes and Friends Inc. in collaboration with the Athletics Association of Guyana held its Independence road race events on Sunday last in Georgetown. The athletes braved the early morning showers as the race commenced with 24 runners at Carifesta Sports Complex and proceeded to the traffic light at the University of Guyana before returning to the starting point for the finish. Thomas overcame Mauro Cucul and his team mate Winston Missenger to win the duel in a time of 35 minutes 09.21 seconds. Cucul placed second in 35:33.46, while Missenger took third placed in 36:12.97. Samuel Henry of Ruralities Athletic Club won the boys 16-19 10k in 37:53.12 ahead of Darmot LaRose in 40:03.96 and Cordell Charles of Guyana Defence Force in 40:55.20. The boys 13-15 5k event, which commenced at Carifesta Sports Complex enroute to Conversation Tree and return, was taken by Timothy France of Ruralities
C
Respective prize winners with their accolades. (Zaheer Mohamed photos)
Kumar Isurdeen collects his prize from one of the organisers.
Athletic Club in a time of 18:57.61, while Joel Cort took the runner spot in 19:46.78 and Jerome King of New Amsterdam United (NAU) was third in
10k male winner Samuel Henry receives his award.
20:38.21. Timothy Spriner of Mercury Fast Laners took the top podium spot in the boys 12 and under 1000m in a time of 3:167.76, Kendell
Girls 14-15 5k winner Jennifer Byass accepts her prize.
Prince of Police Athletics placed second in 3:18.28 and Zackery Favourite of Ruralities was third in 3:27.90. Gary Hartog of Police
Athletics Club grabbed gold in the men’s over 50 10k in a time of 44:13.26, while Kwame Bright took the runner up spot in 52:28.33 and Oswald Phill placed
third in 53:51.43. Kumar Isurdeen was the lone participant in the 5000m paraplegic and he completed the distance in 20:38.38. S h e a m a Ty r e l l o f Christianburg Wismar won the women’s 20-49 10k contest in 46:01.88 while Delicia Tinnis of Police Athletics Club placed second in 57:08.08 and Tia Azore of Christianburg Wismar was third in 58:24.93. Shaquka Tyrell of Christianburg Wismar carted off the girls 16-19 10k race in 47:38.01 ahead of Aaliyah headley in 53:52.74 and Jelessa Wright of Mercury Fast Laners in 1:03:13.04. Jennifer Byass of NAU took the top podium spot in the girls 13-15 5k in 21:14.89 while Tianna Springer of Mercury Fast Laners placed second in 21:42.89 and Merissa Thomas of DeChallenger was third in 22:36.28. The girls 12 and under 1000m was taken by Ty r e i s h a H u g h e s o f Christianburg Wismar in 4:01.67, Shania Lucas of Police Athletics Club placed second in 4:16.60 and Ajouba Sandy was third in 4:48.82. Cash Prizes, tablets and bicycles were handed out to the outstanding athletes.
Franchises opt for youth and experience in CWI Professional Cricketers Draft 2021-2022 ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) hosted the Professional Cricketers Draft for the 2021-2022 season, which took place over two rounds via a videocall with representatives from all six Territorial Board Franchises. Several teams drafted young, emerging players to complete their 15-member squads, while others chose to boost their ranks with more experienced players. Among those drafted, are several former West Indies Under-19 players, two of whom won the ICC Under19 World Cup in 2016. Batsmen Jyd Goolie and Kirstan Kallicharan, who were both members of the team which won the world title in Bangladesh, were drafted by their native Trinidad and Tobago to the Red Force team. The left-handed Goolie,
who turned 24 earlier this month, has so far played four first-class matches and has a highest score of 128. Left-arm spinner Barbadian Joshua Bishop, who bowled impressively in this year’s CG Insurance Super50 Cup, was snapped up by the Barbados Pride. The Pride’s second pick was another Barbadian, seam bowler Akeem Jordan, who, like Bishop, took a fivewicket haul in the marquee 50-over event earlier this year. Wi n d w a r d I s l a n d s Volcanoes has also chosen youthful talents in Darius Martin, a fast bowler from St Vincent and the Grenadines a n d G i l o n Ty s o n , a Dominican fast bowler who is also capable lower order batsman. Guyana Jaguars went for the more experienced Guyanese duo of wicket-
keeper/batsman Anthony Bramble and fast bowler Keon Joseph; while Leeward Islands Hurricanes chose seamer, Antiguan Nino Henry and Daniel Doram from St. Maarten, a tall leftarm spinner. Jamaica Scorpions have put their faith in Jamaicans, Nicholson Gordon, the livewire fast bowler with eight first-class matches under his belt, as well as Alwyn Williams, a mediumfast bowler who bats lefthanded, and who had so far made five appearances at the first-class level. Starting July 1st 2021, a total of 90 professional cricketers inclusive of the 12 cricketers drafted today, will receive regional retainer contracts for the next twelve months. The draft was conducted over two rounds, with each franchise allocated ninety
(90) seconds to make their pick. Round one picks were completed in the reverse order of the tournament standings at the end of the 2019/2020 West Indies Championship, won by the Barbados Pride, meaning the Leeward Island Hurricanes had the first pick. The draft was independently supervised by BDO Eastern Caribbean. Full Squads for West Indies Championship 2021/2022: Leeward Islands Hurricanes: Colin Archibald, Sheno Berridge, Keacy Carthy, Jahmar Hamilton, Amir Jangoo OHT, Kofi James, Kian Pemberton, Ross Powell Jeremiah Louis, Devon Thomas, Damion Williams, Tyron Williams, Terance Ward, Nino Henry*, Daniel Doram*. Wi n d w a r d I s l a n d s
Volcanoes: Sunil Ambris, Alick Athanaze, Keron Cottoy, Kenneth Dember, Larry Edward, Kavem Hodge, Ryan John, Obed McCoy, Desron Malony, Preston McSween, Kimani Melius, Denis Smith, Devon Smith, Darius Martin*, Gilon Tyson*. Jamaica Scorpions: John Campbell, Sheldon Cottrell, Akim Fraser, Patrick Harty, Brandon King, Andre McCarthy, Jamie Merchant, Marquino Mindley, Paul Palmer, Rovman Powell, Jeavor Royal, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas, Nicholson Gordon*, Alwyn Williams*. Guyana Jaguars: Kelvon Anderson, Christopher Barnwell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Leon Johnson, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy
Permaul, Romario Shepherd, Vishaul Singh, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Anthony Bramble*, Keon Joseph*. Trinidad &Tobago Red Force: Bryan Charles, Terrance Hinds, Imran Khan, Anderson Phillip,Khary Pierre, Jason Mohammed, Uthman Muhammed, Isaiah Rajah, Denesh Ramdin, Jayden Seales, Keegan Simmons, Jeremy Solozano, Tion Webster, Jyd Goolie*, Kirstan Kallicharan*.. Barbados Pride: Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Jonathan Carter, Dominic Drakes, Shane Dowrich, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Chemar H o l d e r, K y l e H o p e , Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer Ashley N u r se, Jomel Warrican, Akeem Jordan*, Joshua Bishop.
Kaieteur News
Thursday May 27, 2021
PAGE 25
Sheltez Independence Junior GOA encourages athletes to get vaccinated Tennis Finals postponed to Saturday due to rain T
Shelly Daley (left) with her players.
T
he Sheltez Independence J u n i o r Te n n i s Tournament which was launched at the Le Ressouvenir Tennis Club and should have concluded yesterday (Independence Day) will however, have to continue a bit longer. According to the organiser, the finals were set for yesterday when the closing ceremony should have been held, but due to torrential rain the Finals have been postponed to Saturday at the same venue. On Saturday weather permitting, the first match is scheduled for 11:00hrs
followed by the boys U-18 final and the presentation ceremony. Coach Shelly Daley said that all covid-19 Pandemic regulations are being adhered to and she thanked the Task Force for allowing the Junior tournament to be played. In the latest action over the weekend, Nathan DeNobrega defeated Elwyn Levius 2/4 5/3(10/6) in the Boys U12 to win that category. In the Girls U14, Renola Jordan won, Paula Kalekyezi with being the runner up. In the Girls U16 - Renola
Argentina has been asked to host Copa America, government official says BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina has been officially asked to host the whole of this year’s Copa America and is working on the possibility of replacing Colombia as co-host, a top A rg e n t i n e g o v e r n m e n t official said yesterday. The tournament was due to be held in both nations between June 13 and July 10 but the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) last week removed Colombia as cohost because of ongoing civil
unrest there. “There is an offer to hold the complete (tournament) in Argentina, but first we have to resolve the part we’ve already committed to,” Santiago Cafiero, the cabinet c h i e f i n A r g e n t i n a ’s government, told Radio La Red. “The debate and the task that we have now is to discuss the venues,” he added. “We have nothing against it from a health point of view but we do have to (Continued on page 23
The Nike Cachana, the official soccer ball for Chile’s 2015 Copa America, is seen during Argentina’s team training session in Buenos Aires.
Jordan def Nandanee Ramdyhan 6/0 6/0 Norella Jordan def Akilah Jones 6/2 1/6(10/7) Saskia Persaud def Renola Jordan 5/7 6/4 (13/11) In the Boys U14 - Gerald Scotland def Hayden Mentore to take that category 4/2 5/3. In the Boys U18 Quarterfinals, Wayne Baker def Gerald Scotland 1/6 6/4 11/9 and Adam Genofire def Isiah Cambridge 6/3 6/3 and Donnie Anderson def Ricky Romascindo 6/2 7/6(7/2). In the girls U12, Madison def Naiesha Jaikissoon 4/0 4/0.
he Guyana O l y m p i c Association (GOA) is encouraging all athletes and coaches, who have intentions of going to the Olympic Games in Tokyo from July 23 to August 8, to get their COVID-19 vaccine. GOA Vice-President, Dr. Karen Pilgrim, during a press conference last Saturday, noted that while it is not a necessity that athletes be vaccinated, she advised the sensible thing to do to further safeguard one’s self and others would be to get it done.“I know there is a lot of resistance still in Guyana and around the world on being vaccinated, and we can’t force anyone I suppose, but we are really urging all athletes and officials for your own safety,” the VicePresident expressed. Dr. Pilgrim, who is also a Doping Control Officer, said all athletes competing for Guyana through the GOA are required to do AntiDoping Education within the year of competition. She advised all athletes, coaches, and support personnel that the World Anti-Doping Agency’s online platform, AntiDoping Education and
Dr. Karen Pilgrim Learning (ADEL), has a multitude of courses, some of which specifically target the Tokyo Olympic Games which they must complete. A d d i t i o n a l l y, G O A Treasurer, Garfield Wiltshire, indicated that the International Olympic Committee has taken some initiatives with Pan American Sport O rg a n i s a t i o n . Wi l t s h i r e explained that, “They will give funding of up to [US]$500 for any athlete who can get to Miami; they will administer the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which is one dose, but the requirement is that it is administered 30 days before you go to Japan.”
Head of the GOA, K.A. Juman-Yassin Wiltshire further indicated that persons can also go to Huston, Texas, where the vaccine will be administered at the airport and one can return to home territory immediately after. The GOA Treasurer explained that all National Olympic Committees who will attend the Olympics are now mandated to have a COVID-19 Officer, and in consultation with the Guyana Physiotherapy Association they have identified Angelica Holder to perform the dual role. GOA President K.A. J u m a n - Ya s s i n a l s o encouraged all athletes and members of the sport fraternity to get vaccinated.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers Christopher Enticing final round matches loom for the Griffith pipsin next round on the line ‘Golden Jaguars’ as spot
Briton John on the line to win; Washington takes junior class; Mendes rules veterans division
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NBA playoffs 2021: Davis responds as Lakers level series, Durant stars in Nets win
‘Golden Jaguar’ Assistant Coach Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard working with some of the defenders. (Franklin Wilson photo)
Leon Seaton swimming.
Anthony Davis responded after his poor Game 1 by leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a win in game 2.
Seaton Swims two PBs in Puerto Rico Olympic qualifiers - Junior Swimmers only Guyanese on Show Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.