Kaieteur News

Two murdered K NEWS hours apart …one for owing money, the other over a woman AIETEUR

Satuday Edition November 06, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 42 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 77,988

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

Murder of Kingston doctor...

Two suspects

captured, confess

to gruesome crime - Friend admits lashing him to head in self defence

Murdered in his office, Dr. Colin Roach

- Accomplice says it was a planned robbery Ghana assists Guyana to fine tune Local Content Bill for Parliament Preliminary Pilot, co-pilot results show QC students say they were lost top CAPE, CSEC

Foreign registered plane lands at Mahdia…

The protest continues for change to ExxonMobil’s contract.

GDF rank gets 3 years for multi-million dollar gold heist

Urgency of Climate Action in Latin American, Caribbean cannot be overstated....

Damage could cost

region US$100B

- IDB warns

Upgrades to GPL grid for additional power to cost US$686 million VP Jagdeo calmly glosses over not checking or verifying US$9.5B for Liza 1 and 2 Project costs of which Public Servants’ salaries could have been doubled for the next 66 years if we had saved half on Kaieteur of that US$9.5B thrown at us. Listen to him yourself while the Opposition is silent.@11:00hrs Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Saturday November 06, 2021

Urgency of Climate Action in Latin American, Caribbean cannot be overstated....

Damage could cost region

US$100 billion - IDB warns

By Kiana Wilburg If urgent action on climate change is not taken in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations, the damage could cost the region US$100B annually by 2050.

This was noted by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), one of Guyana's key partners in strengthening its legislative and regulatory framework for the oil industry.

In its November 2021 report titled: IDB Group and Climate Action-Position Paper (COP26), the IDB stressed that the devastating effects of climate change and the action needed cannot be overstated. In fact, the IDB noted that climate change is already considered one of the major disruptors of

agriculture and food systems, while noting that some of the worst impacts on sustainable development are expected to be felt among those whose livelihood depends on agriculture and the coasts.

The financial institution said this reality makes it so that, despite the socioeconomic setback generated by the COVID-19 crisis, 14 of its borrowing member countries have updated their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) since first submitting to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) while adding that, to date, six countries already have LongTerm Strategies (LTS) in place.

In spite of the foregoing,

the IDB said the technical and financial needs of LAC countries to transition to decarbonized climateresilient economies are varied and vast.

It stressed that investment is needed to decarbonize infrastructure, halt and reverse deforestation, develop and implement policies that manage climate risk and ensure the transition is just and inclusive, manage its extractive sector, and engage the private sector as a critical actor in climate action.

Expounding further, the IDB said, “LAC is ready for ambitious climate action.

Nine countries have pledged net-zero targets, and this number is continuously growing. That is why we are actively supporting our

clients in the updating of their NDCs and development of LTSs and integrating climate factors in the formulation of country and sector strategies.

These are essential countryand client-led processes that will build the roadmaps our region needs for a decarbonized and climateresilient future.”

The IDB Group in particular said it understands the challenge ahead and, for this reason, it has traced a roadmap that will take country-specific priorities and needs as a basis, and strategically intervene in ways that support further Paris Agreement alignment.

The IDB said it is already working in this direction through several actions, one of which includes systematic incorporation of long-term

Mauricio Claver-Carone, President of IDB decarbonization and climate resilience objectives in sector and country strategies, ensuring they consider transition risks, contributing to a just transition, and

tooling to address the vulnerability of the country and sector to the impacts of climate change.

The IDB is also working (Continued on page 3)

Foreigners eat first offshore, while Guyanese have to settle for 'lef lef' …as allegations of more discriminatory practices in oil sector surfaces The Liza Destiny FPSO producing crude from the Liza I oilfield in the Stabroek Block.

T

he Oil and Gas Branch of the G u y a n a Agricultural Workers' Union (GAWU) says it is dumbfounded over recent allegations of workers, mainly stationed off-shore and employed by one of the leading firms, “informed our Union that their foreign counterparts would be provided with meals before

them.”

Compounding the situation the Union said “they indicated to us that it is only after the foreigners have finished eating that they are allowed to have their meals with whatever remains,” what is commonly referred to in Guyanese parlance as the 'lef lef'. Additionally, the workers informed the GAWU, “on some occasions, they learnt

that foreigners enjoy special meals and treats, which are not extended to them; They indicated that they are deeply disturbed by the treatment they are receiving at the hands of their foreign bosses.”

The union representative body also said that, through its interactions with the workers “we also learnt that should workers decide to speak up or (Continued on page 8)

Saturday November 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

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UN hammers lofty Climate plans with no clear financing strategies …says countries of the developing world require 10 times more than it receives now As nations gather for the latest round of climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has called for urgent efforts to increase the f i n a n c i n g a n d implementation of actions designed to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.

This is necessary since countries of the developing world require as much as ten times more in financial inflows—for mitigation and adaption measures—than previously thought.

In fact, of the US$100B that had been committed to assist Small Island Developing States and Low Lying Coastal States such as Guyana, only about US$75M of those pledges are being met.

This obtains, since the monies being recorded as outflows to some developing countries cannot be traced as inflows.

The UNEP's 'Adaptation Gap Report 2021: The

Gathering Storm' found that, while policies and planning are growing for climate change adaptation, financing and implementation are still far behind target.

Additionally, the report, which was released this week, finds that the opportunity to capitalize on the fiscal recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic to prioritize green economic growth is largely being missed.

“As the world looks to step up efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions – efforts that are still not anywhere strong enough – it must also dramatically up its game to adapt to climate change,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “Even if we were to turn off the tap on greenhouse gas emissions today, the impact of climate change would be with us for many decades to come. We need a step change in adaptation ambition for funding and implementation to significantly reduce

damages and losses from climate change. And we need it now.”

Current promises under the Paris Agreement point to global warming of 2.7°C by the end of the century.

According to the report even if the world limits warming to 1.5°C or 2°C, as outlined in the agreement, many climate risks remain.

“While strong mitigation is the best way to lower impact and long-term costs, raising ambition in adaptation, in particular for f i n a n c i n g a n d implementation, is critical to keep existing gaps from widening.”

The report also noted that the costs of adaptation are likely to be on the higher end of an estimated US$140 to US$300 billion per year by 2030 and US$280 to US$500 billion per year by 2050 for developing

countries only.

The report lamented, too, that climate finance flowing to developing countries for mitigation and adaptation p l a n n i n g a n d implementation reached US$79.6 billion in 2019.

“Overall, estimated adaptation costs in developing countries are five to ten times greater than current public adaptation finance flows, and the gap is widening.”

It was noted, that despite marked incremental progress being made in some quarters, the report finds that broader vision is needed in f i n a n c i n g a n d implementation, since this is woefully lacking, along with the absence of a clear strategic plan.

“The world needs to scale up public adaptation finance through direct investment and by

Executive Director of UNEP, Inger Andersen overcoming barriers to private sector involvement; more and stronger implementation of adaptation actions is needed to avoid falling behind on managing climate risks, particularly in developing countries.”

Additionally, it was noted that the world needs to consider higher-end climate scenarios projected by the Sixth Assessment Report of

the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

This report found that governments should use the fiscal recovery from the pandemic to prioritize interventions that achieve both economic growth and climate change resilience.

They should set up integrated risk management approaches and establish flexible disaster finance frameworks.

Collapsed 'lift' kills labourer

Correction Yesterday, Kaieteur News published an article which quoted Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram as describing the government's failure to audit ExxonMobil's pre and post 2017 costs for the Stabroek Block as “irresponsible, misleading and unfortunate.” It should be noted that the first descriptive word being “irresponsible” was inadvertently printed as part of its supplied commentary. KNews regrets any harm that resulted from this honest error.

Damage could cost...

From page 2 towards strengthening collaboration between its public and private arms in ways that help garner the multi-stakeholder support countries need to trace socially legitimate, technically robust, and financially viable net-zero pathways. It has also increased efforts to provide technical and financial support to governments and private companies, to implement decarbonization technologies and develop decarbonization financing schemes.

With respect to its fiscal support to climate change, the IDB Group was keen to

note that it delivered almost US$4.9 billion in Climate Finance, amounting 29% of total lending volume. In 2020, it said COVID-19 redirected lending towards urgent fiscal and social measures, thereby limiting opportunities for climate finance.

Nonetheless, the IDB Group said its active role in promoting a green and sustainable economic recovery has paid off, while adding that in 2021 it is observing an uptick in clients' interest for projects related to policies for a green and resilient economy, and new investments in lowcarbon technologies.

The supermarket where the fatal incident occurred.

Picture depicting an example of the 'lift' that fell on the labourer.

Twenty-two-year-old Sudesh Charran, a labourer of Westminister, West Bank Demerara on Monday afternoon lost his life after a metal lift/elevator collapsed pinning and crushing him.

According to the police, Charran was involved in the freak accident sometime around 16:20hrs that day,

while entering the F & R Supermarket located at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara. Police revealed that the young man was walking under a metal lift to enter the supermarket, when it collapsed from the upper flat and pinned him.

Workers immediately rushed to his assistance and used a piece of wood and

jack to pry up the metal lift in order to remove him from underneath. After pulling him out, they noticed that he was motionless and bore a large wound at the top of his head. They notified the police, and ranks came to the scene and transported him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead by a doctor.

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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

Biden and bad law hurt Democrats Blinders were not necessary to see what came on November 2nd in America. In the early November races, the Democratic party and some of its candidates got trounced fair and square. This time, there can be no blaming of the bogeyman who occupied the White House last. For, the scarecrows are themselves, with the ghosts of past opponent(s) who profaned the democratic process slowly fading, noticeably limping.

The biggest bogeyman is the man in the White House, Joseph Biden, which is the savage plight of the Democratic party. It won and didn’t know what to do with electoral triumph in November last, but to squabble and wrestle with each other, in one faction after another, that lost touch with their foremost responsibility: to be about the law, and to make laws that mean something to the people.

President Joe Biden, at times, couldn’t seem to make up his mind about what he stood for, what are his priorities to deliver. The king of compromise found strength in being the king of confrontation, though, in a more subtle way, and not the tough guy manner of his predecessor. It didn’t help, because he wanted to spend too much, roiled moderates in his own party, and ignored pleas for a more restrained approach.

He picked the wrong side in some of the political and social fights that raged across America. In Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties, his people were booted in resounding fashion. The people in some communities did not want to hear about defunding the police, bail reform laxity, and the soaring crime rates that accompanied such political thoughtlessness and indecisiveness. The message from voters was of safety first for our families and communities, safety every time. It should be a message not wasted on the socialists and anarchists within both of America’s political parties, as they prepare for next year’s suddenly razor-wired midterm elections.

History has been unfavourable to incumbent presidents and their parties in those elections, with Democrats feeling the brunt of voters’ wrath. When President Biden’s unsteadiness is weighed against that, the prospects don’t appear too inviting for his party. When that is coupled with the appalling ignorance of newcomers to the House of Representatives, the Democrats as good as dug their political graves. The day of reckoning was this first Tuesday in November, which is an indicator of what could be in store come next year.

Virginia, which was solidly Democratic for the last 10 years, has now been surrendered to the Republicans, and in almost every tier. The surprising aspect of Republican candidates’ victories was they made sure to keep a safe distance from their former president, now appearing to be increasingly irrelevant. In New York City, Eric Adams won, as expected, because he dared to be brave and spoke about what mattered to minorities and centrists, and not special interests that ruled the roost for too long, and those so far out that they put the old lunatic fringe to shame.

One of the confirmations that came out of Tuesday’s races and results is that in America there is still a meaningful middle that matters (New York Times, November 3). For sure, America is a deeply polarised society relative to both reciprocal race rage and deep class distinctions. But it does have that tangible middle that makes its voice and vote count, when the ship must be steadied, and politicians and their parties have to be reminded: what was done and where was gone are too far, so there is this price.

It means losing and getting out, and from those there had better be understanding of what is missing, and what must be done to fill the voids. It would be something worth shouting about, really celebrating, if Guyanese possessed a mindset that was national and not tribal, and so politically criminal. We permit leaders, groups, and their goons to wreak havoc without letup, and then resort to the only solution we know, which is to brawl with and batter political foes. We like things America; perhaps, we can learn something from it, on our responsibilities as citizens. Get rid of the political failures, losers, schemers, and pretenders. They are universal in Guyana.

Saturday November 06, 2021

The US$9.5 Billion giveaway Dear Editor, Reference is made to the article titled, “Govt’s. failure to meet 2-year audit deadline; Guyana is now forced to pay US$9.5 billion for Liza 1 & 2 Projects (KN November 4).

My reactions follow.

People who don’t know to read and write- like many of our great-grandparents, doggedly pressed for details, some explanation, any clarity, when money was involved.

The bigger the sum, the more careful they were; they had to be, since they were usually very poor. They didn’t drag their feet, pretend that the bills presented for payment didn’t exist, or played stupid. Not when they knew that they were dealing with a ‘fast’ partner (customer). This is how Guyana should have been for almost two years now where those US$9.5B in bills were concerned, because its political masters know that this country is far from rich.

Because, they knew, too, that

Exxon stood as Exhibit A for the slippery and crafty. To refresh memories, Exxon did so before with approximately 20% or US$92M of its expense submissions. So, when US$9.5B was dumped in Guyana’s lap, it had to be full speed ahead to get to the bottom of that pile of billions, and with the greatest skepticism. For US$9.5B has a lot of wriggle room for the underhanded, as in the imaginary and creative, which had to be anticipated, given the tricky partner Exxon has always been with Guyana.

Instead of full speed ahead, the PPP Government already had a plan of its own, which was to let the two-year audit clock run out. The President, who fancies himself a Flying Dutchman, and the Vice President, who figures himself to be God’s gift to Guyana, both gave themselves the longest timeout possible. They did nothing of substance or

persuasive merit. Now the Vice President puts on his best game face (a most unconvincing one) to tell Guyanese that we lack the forensic auditing skills. It is a study in the slimy. Merely to say something like that should be made a felony.

Having arranged the environment for arrival at this point of shortfall and failure, the Hon. Vice President then unveiled his US$9.5B baby: it has to be honored. if that is not the height of the discrediting, then few things willever be.

Surely, we could have found and interest some Trinidadians or some of our newfound Arab friends, who were long immersed in oil accounting and auditing, given their years with this liquid banshee. My problem is not that we don’t know what was there, and who we may have got. It is that we didn’t even give a real, sincere, and spirited try to obtain the type and caliber of

examiners needed. The big oilman in Guyana spoke of possibly a couple of locals, and lamented the scarcity.

Guyana could run and recruit all kinds of questionable characters for this and that under-the-table project. But it was curiously slothful in contracting with foreign specialists, who would drop whatever they had to get a piece of our auditing business, since so much more could stir later.

No! we will pay the US$9.5B today, and move on that better tomorrow. In presenting those steroidpowered bills, it is my position that Exxon cleverly circled around foreign corrupt practices. In paving the way for matters to come to this piteous state about lack of local content auditing, PPP leaders made sure that their generosity will get rewarded handsomely and sophisticatedly, maybe Florida to start. The world has (Continued on page 6)

The pandemic, not the government causing the rise in food prices Dear Editor, At some point in time, the Opposition should stop trying to blame the government for everything and start utilising some amount of logic and honesty to its dwindling number of supporters. It is my view that one clear character trait that cloaks many of those who form part of the Opposition is dishonesty.

They simply cannot be trusted and the 2020 General and Regional Election saga was a clear demonstration of such.

Their continued attempts to blame our country’s duly elected government which is headed by His Excellency, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ai for the increases in food prices is despicable, but then again, we are speaking about a group of people who have demonstrated that they will go to all lengths to remain relevant in the public domain.

Guyana, like many other countries in the Caribbean and globally, has seen a significant increase in the cost of food and products that are imported. It is no secret that Covid-19 has had a crippling impact on the global

economy. Almost two years have passed since the first reported case of the dreaded virus and there seems to be no end in sight. Two of the most noticeable impacts the pandemic has had on the world’s population is restrictions that were placed on travel and cross-border trade.

Due to the nature of the virus and how it is spread, countries were forced to close their borders which, in turn, stopped trade. Although many countries have lifted most of their restrictions, there is still a global backlog of cargo that has affected food prices and food availability.

Freight costs have also moved from US $4000 per container to US$20,000 per container. Only recently, an article was published in the T&T Guardian which pointed to the fact that the twin island republic could soon see further rises in food prices.

Trinidad is not the only country in the Caribbean that has experienced this. Jamaica, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname have also seen challenges in

this regard.

According to the Caribbean COVID-19 Food Security & Livelihoods Impact Survey that was published in November 2020, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the pandemic had impacted food security so much that 38% of respondents reported skipping meals or eating less than usual, 8% reported going one whole day without eating, while 19% of households had no food.

The Opposition has and continues to play a dirty game when it comes to the pandemic and ways it has negatively impacted Guyana’s economy and the cost of food prices. However, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Guyanese are in a far better place now than where they were between March and July 2020. The Opposition was too busy fighting to hold on to office that they neglected the people, offering no relief all while spending millions of tax-payers dollars to create an illusion of being a caring government.

I am utterly disgusted, to say the least, that they can now fix their lips to criticise

what the government is doing for the people when they themselves did nothing for the people of this country in the midst of the pandemic.

COVID-19 has inevitably shifted the paradigm of trade and Caribbean countries are now left with the most farreaching global crisis in history.

It has long been the case that between 80 and 90 percent of all food consumed in the region originates from foreign countries. I commend our President and Agriculture Minister for the work they have been doing at the level of CARICOM to reduce the regional import bill and barriers to trade among member states. The ordinary citizen might not be able to see how important achieving those two things would be to Guyana and the region as a whole but developing sectors like agriculture remain paramount to reducing the regional food import bill. I commend our leaders for taking the bold steps needed to lead CARICOM’s agriculture agenda and, as a people, we must continue to support them in this regard.

Yours Sincerely, Francis Benn

Hetmyer grit and determination give hope Dear Editor, It pained to watch West Indies during this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. However as I watched Shimron Hetmyer bat in the game vs Sir Lanka I saw a grit and determination that has been lost from Windies Cricket for about a decade.

Take nothing away from Nicolas Pooran’s effort, but with wickets continuing to fall around him, Hetmyer assumed a never give up attitude.

This was evident in every shot he played. He was determined to win the game.

It was physically evident just

how much it mattered to him.

What I saw from Hetmyer in that game is what Windies Cricket has been lacking; players who play the game knowing that an entire nation is behind t h e m a n d not from the standpoint of them being bigger than the game.

My only hope is that what we witnessed from Hetmyer in this game is the ushering in of a new brand of Windies Cricket even as we say good bye and thank you to the likes of Champion Dwayne Bravo and others.

Regards, Clayon F. Halley

Saturday November 06, 2021

NIS should pay without further delay Dear Editor, This is my second letter on the issue of the denial of earned pension by NIS to my fellow villager Ingrid Arthur – A6219976. Since then, a formal request has been made to the NIS for a review of the tabulation of the contributions of this lady but to no avail. It is for this reason that a second public appeal is made with the hope that someone in authority would take notice and action so that justice can be achieved. The following serves to inform the reasons for this public appeal: i) A NIS print-out of her contributions dated January 26, 2015, determined that she accumulated 752 contributions from 1997 to 2014; that is over a seventeen years period. Additionally, over the said period, she earned $5,268,312 and contributed $685,058 to the NIS. This information has been extracted and verified by NIS officials with the official stamp of the NIS authenticating same. Based on this information, she was qualified for a pension with two contributions over the qualifying figure of 750 contributions.

ii) She reached the age of 60 years on August 21, 2018. She approached NIS for her pension but was denied same. She was subsequently given a second print-out of her contributions dated December 6, 2018. This time it read as follows: accumulated contributions 748, thereby disqualifying her of a pension by two contributions. Wages earned for the said period 1997 to 2014: $5,266,360. contributions to NIS $684,804.

A perusal of the differences in figures in the two print-outs reveal glaring arithmetical error in the computation of her contributions for the year 2014 - the last year contributions are recorded for her. The figures for the printouts have matched unto the year 2013.

In the print-out dated January 26, 2015, she is credited with 45 contributions in 2014.

However, in the print-out dated December 6, 2018, she is credited with 41contirbutions in 2014 – a reduction of four contributions, therefore making herineligible for a pension by two (2) contributions.

A further perusal of her

contributions in 2014 reveal the following: i) - Print-out - January 26, 2015 value of contributions to NIS in 2014; $ 70,128 - Print-out - December 6, 2018 value of contributions to NIS in 2014; $ 69,874 ii) Difference in value of contributions made to NIS in 2014; $70,128 less $ 69874 =$ 254 ii) Using the December 6, 2018 print-out it is determined that the value of each contribution would be $ 69,874/41=$ 1704 iv) A shortfall of four contributions would be $ 1704x 4=$6,816. But the NIS has a shortfall of four contributions with a value of $ 254! v) It should be clear then, that the figures presented by the NIS are patently erroneous.

The question then is, why is NIS not paying this lady her pension even though the glaring error in their computation has been pointed out to them?

The NIS should pay this lady her pension without further delay, inclusive of the arrears dating back to August, 2018 when she would have attained the age of 60 years.

Sincerely, Patrick Hamilton

Hope Zimbabwe will resume its place in international cricket Dear Editor The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup currently taking place in UAE has brought no brief moments of joy and despair for both the recognised and not so recognised teams, as the tournament heads into the home stretch.

Particularly impressive were Afghanistan and lesser known Namibia and Scotland. Disappointing were Bangladesh, India and our own West Indies.

So too was the performance of Sri Lanka.

The notable absence of Zimbabwe in this premier event cannot go without

comment as it was a saddening situation, whatever the reason for its omission. It is hoped the country will resume its place in international cricket soon.

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Winners and losers alike: games well fought. You were all magnificent. Hope to see you next time.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Commendation to Minister Frank Anthony Dear Editor The advent of the dreaded disease Covid-19 raised its head in March 2019 when the world became aware of it but the seriousness of the consequential effect was not then felt. When the PPP took office in August 2020, the catastrophe of the disease was manifest and they knew that the task ahead was of mammoth proportion. The appointment of Dr Frank Anthony as the Minister of Health by President Irfan Ali was a masterstroke. Dr Frank Anthony had been in the last PPP Government, the Minister responsible for Culture, Youth and Sports. I sincerely believed that with his professional background, he had yearned for a change but that was not to be.

However the opportunity came up in last August and he was made the Minister of Health.

The question to be asked is, how is he to be graded since taking the mantle of being responsible for the health of the nation. His primary focus was Covid-19 and his ministry was given the required funds to execute a national program. Guyana did not hesitate in securing vaccines despite the huge cost and praise must be given to President Ali and Minister Frank Anthony for having the foresight to order and ensure

that Guyana was in a position to vaccinate its citizens.

There was and still are some in Guyana who are opposed to being vaccinated and I do hope that this reluctance will dissipate shortly as the statistics clearly show that ninety eight per cent of those dying from Covid-19 are those who have not been vaccinated and if vaccinated or partially vaccinated that they suffered from other under-lying heath issues. Minister Frank Anthony this week reported that there was a decline in Covid-19 cases across the country but that there were some areas that can be considered as hot spots. He also stated that there was a decrease in the hospitalization of Covid-19 cases and that there were a total of sixty hospitalization cases nationally. This is good as far as I am concerned but we all need to keep our distance and guard up.

I would give our Minister of Health a grading of A Plus on his handling of the Covid19 battle. As regards the other components of his Ministry, he still has a lot of work to do.

The recent maternal deaths at Government hospitals are not good and he has to investigate and implement plans to stop this rut. But as is in all cases, a leader can only do with the resources

that he has at his disposal and if given the assets to improve, then it will take time to see any improvement. This is why Minister Frank Anthony must set up a team of competent and objective persons to recommend the way for a better health system. We have a lot of doctors but are they being given continued education? Are their conditions of work and benefits encouraging for them to go above and beyond what is expected? There is a shortage of nurses but what can be done to attract and keep them in the system and more so in Guyana? Better wages, better training, better working conditions and benefits? He must ensure that there are more trained technicians to ensure that the equipment in the health sector are maintained and kept in prime conditions. He must make sure that competency is rewarded and efforts be made to bring up those who lag behind. Motivation is essential and it is not only the Minister who must have this quality but all the heads of departments and those are in a supervisory capacity. In conclusion, I would say that Minister Frank Anthony is doing a good job and should be commended.

Regards K.A. Juman-Yassin S.C, A.A.

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We need to get back to family values Dear Editor, I looked at our daily newspapers, and stared at the picture of a young man, shot and killed as he allegedly tried to execute a r o b b e r y, a n d I s i l e n t l y exclaimed..” this is just a child!” and I wondered...where are his parents?

I am glad that I have absolutely no idea who his parents are, but these questions swirl through my mind...Is his mother a single parent struggling to make ends meet? Did he finish school? Would he

have had access to online learning? Did he know his father, and if he did, did he have a relationship with him?

Why should a young man, brimming with potential, meet such an untimely death? We need to have homes where our children are taught to pray; taught the fear of God and respect for man at a young age...and if they miss this at home they should get it in our schools where they are taught more than the three R’s ( Reading, ‘Riting and ‘ Rithmetic), but also

prayers, respect for each other and for authority as well as a sense of National pride, one embedded in the prayer found in the last line of our National Anthem: “ God guard you great Mother, and make us to be more worthy our heritage.

Land of the free.”

Did I hear someone say “ is good fuh he”? I say “ shame on we”.

Let us build again our broken down family altars as we are reminded in the last verse of the last book in the Old Testament “... he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Regards, Claudia Heywood

The US$9.5 Billion...

From page 4 had the Pandora Papers, soon enough Guyanese will get the PPP Papers. If something looks like a rotted carcass and smells like one, it usually is. I congratulate Exxon’s and PPP leaders for a job well done.

The public relations and narrative capture could have been better, though. Some things just stink to the high heavens.

Indeed, kudos to His Excellency for transparency and accountability (a strange kind, for sure) on this one involving US$9.5B in unaudited bills.

I close with this favorite: to understand a thief, think like a thief. Just work hard at not also becoming one in the process.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Saturday November 06, 2021

Guyana needs a reliable, cleanerburning source of energy while we work to pursue net-zero Dear Editor, I write in response to the Stabroek News editorial “No to gas” published online November 1, 2021. I share many of the sentiments expressed on corruption and identify strongly with the statement that “Guyana deserves an opportunity to extract and monetize its oil sensibly”. But I find the analysis and premise for “no to gas” lacking in a few key areas.

Firstly, achieving decarbonization and meeting both the spirit and the letter of the Paris Climate Agreement requires a fundamental restructuring of the global oil-based economy that will not occur overnight.

That is why it is necessary to pursue an energy strategy that looks at every possible option to get us there with existing fuel sources. Guyana has abundant oil, natural gas, and hydropower potential.

The editorial correctly identified a key issue with heavy fuel oil; the primary fuel currently used in electricity generation. Replacing heavy fuel oil with natural gas achieves two things; it immediately lowers

emissions, is a cleanerburning fuel, and provides an insurance policy from intermittency of wind and hydropower. If there are changes to the climate that affect the rate of water flows, rain and wind patterns, Guyana will have a backup plan. It’s already clear that the climate will continue to change, even if we stop pumping oil tomorrow.

Secondly, if the energy crisis in Europe is any forbearer of what we can expect the energy transition to look like, we are in for a rough ride. Even closer to home, United States President Biden, after banning new oil and gas leasing on government land in the United States, recently called on OPEC to pump more oil so Americans can avoid paying higher prices at the gas pumps.

Meanwhile, much of the European Union depends on their adversarial neighbour Russia to supply natural gas for the coming winter, an unenviable position. Guyana should not abandon energy independence, energy abundance and the chance to usher in the lowest electricity

rates in our lifetimes for a symbolic gesture.

Finally, the argument that Guyana forgoing gas to shore and favouring reinjection is the “ambitious move” needed at COP26 falls on deaf ears. India, the third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, committed to net zero emissions by 2070, and China, the largest emitter, has made no new commitments.

How could one then conclude that Guyana, with a mere fraction of a percentage of global emissions, whose forests also act as one of the world’s largest and bestpreserved absorbers of carbon will make any dent at all by forsaking gas?

The editorial cites the promise of “fair and just compensation for ecosystem services”. I call this a faint hope at best and a recipe for dependency at worst.

Countries like the UK and Norway show no signs of stopping their own oil and gas production, no matter what they call on other countries to do. Perhaps, that is the lead we should be following.

Sincerely Donald Singh

Government’s failure to audit Exxon’s expenses erodes confidence Dear Editor, The current Administration’s failure to strengthen its understanding of the costs associated with the oil and gas sector gives pause and reduces confidence in the Administration’s ability to make prudent fiscal decisions.

Its inability to audit what is by far one of the largest expenditures in our nation’s history is a sign of utter incompetence, and the Ministry of Finance needs to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their

neglect to carry out the Nation’s business.

It also brings into question other planned major expenditures such as the gas to shore project and the Amelia Falls undertaking.

“Waste not want not” is the lesson we teach to our children and our leadership must also set the example. The Administration must tighten its belt and ensure that no further waste of the Nation’s hard earned funds occurs in the future. The magnitude of this error with Exxon calls for a major restructuring within the Ministry of Finance and the current Administration.

Those responsible must be held accountable.

We as a Nation cannot afford to continue to be wasteful and irresponsible in

how our treasury is managed, especially while our citizens continue to struggle with putting clothes on their children’s backs and putting three square meals on the table.

The funds that could have been saved as a result of the audit would have been very helpful in strengthening our flood prevention infrastructure. CRG calls for an immediate & urgent change, and urges the current Administration to take the necessary steps to ensure that no such lapse in fiscal prudence occurs again in the future.

With concern, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Saturday November 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Exxon is dumping sewage overboard (KN Oct 29).

With our leaders giving the green light, Exxon could soon be dumping sewage on our heads.

Watch out, fellow Guyanese.

Don't believe for a moment that our leaders have Guyanese interests at heart.

Fishermen and their families are suffocating while our leaders and their families are prospering.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday November 06, 2021

Preliminary results show QC students top CAPE, CSEC

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reliminary results into the Caribbean S e c o n d a r y Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency (CAPE) examinations show that two Queen's College students are the country's top performers at the 2021 exams.

The preliminary results of the country's top performers were announced yesterday by the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD).

In announcing the top performers, the Minister cautioned that the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) body is currently reviewing the results and that the grades of the students can change.

“We do not have the jurisdiction to announce the top performers for CXC from this podium because we do not know that, that is a CXC function, the Caribbean Examination Council body….CXC is still currently engaged in a review exercise that could change grades and could change what that picture looks like,” she explained.

She added, too, that the Council has a different

The Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand alongside some of the country's top CSEC and CAPE performers.

process and combination that will determine who the top students are. As such, at yesterday's ceremony the Education Minister only announced those students with the most Grade Ones at the examinations.

T h e o f f i c i a l announcement of the country's top performers will be forthcoming at a later date.

The Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson, who shared a breakdown of this year's CSEC and CAPE

results noted that Guyana has topped the Caribbean in 20 of the 33 subjects at CSEC. He disclosed that for CSEC 2021, there was an overall pass rate of 66.3 percent at the General and Technical proficiencies for Grades One to Three from the 9,808 candidates who registered for the exams back in May. Additionally, 75 percent of Guyanese candidates acquired Grade One to Three passes, which is higher than the regional

average of 66 percent.

As it relates to CAPE, from the 723 students who wrote the exam there was a 90.86 overall pass rate recorded.

According to Dr. Hutson, some 88 percent of Guyanese students at the CAPE level attained acceptable Grades One to Five passes as opposed to the Region's 87 percent pass rate.

When the country hosted the opening ceremony of the 2021 CAPE and CSEC results last month, CXC Director, Dr. Nicole Manning had mentioned that Guyana recorded higher pass rates than the Regional average at both the CSEC and CAPE levels.

Meanwhile, the country's top 11 performers with 16 or more Grade Ones are: Sarena Razak of Queen's College who obtained 19 Grade Ones, two Grade Twos and one Grade Three; La Shea Chelsea Patoir of Queen's

College with 18 Grade Ones; Zaynab Shaffie of Queen's College with 18 Grade Ones, two Grade Twos; Roshini Samaroo of Queen's College with 17 Grade Ones; Anuradha Basdeo of Abram Zuil with 17 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos; Faraz Yassain of Saraswati Vidya Niketan with 17 Grade Ones and one Grade Two; Savitri Mahadeo of Saraswati Vidya Niketan with 16 Grade Ones and one Grade Two; Ronaldo Khemchan of Saraswati Vidya Niketan with 16 Grade Ones and three Grade Twos; Karuna Lall of Saraswati Vidya Niketan with 16 Grade Ones and three Grade Twos, Roushime Lall of Saraswati Vidya Niketan with 16 Grade Ones and four Grade Twos; and Keely Sankar of Anna Regina Secondary with 16 Grade Ones and four Grade Twos.

The country's top CAPE performers for Units One (1) and Two (2) are: Daniel

Roopchand of Queen's College with 10 Grade Ones and one Grade Two, Samuel Haynes of Queen's College with nine Grade Ones; Abdul Subhan of St. Stanislaus College with nine Grade Ones, five Grade Twos and three Grade Threes; Jorrel DeSantos of Queen's College with eight Grade Ones; Alex Abraham of St. Rose's High School with seven Grade Ones and three Grade Twos; Yu Quing Zhou of Queen's College with eight Grade Ones; and Alicialall Hiralall of Queen's College with eight Grade Ones.

Top performers at CAPE Unit One (1) are: Atisha Seenarine of Saraswati Vidya Niketan with nine Grade Ones; Bhedesh Persaud of Queen's College with eight Grade Ones and one Grade Tw o ; a n d S h i v n a r i n e Chaitram of Saraswati Vidya Niketan with seven Grade Ones, one Grade Two and one Grade Three.

Foreigners eat first offshore...

From page 2 even question the differential treatment, they face the wrath of their foreign colleagues in a seeming attempt to force them to leave their jobs.”

As such, GAWU said it finds such actions and attitudes simply unbelievable, “to know that our Guyanese brothers and sisters are treated in such a detestable manner evokes memories of a bygone era, which should remain only in our history.”

It was noted by GAWU that the workers also shared that when they return to shore, “sometimes at unholy

hours of the night, they are not provided with any transportation.”

Foreign workers, on the other hand, receive transport to their residences, or wherever they need to go.

“They, like us, find it most discriminatory and consider it an affront to our Guyanese workers. They said what was most disturbing for them is, there are Guyanese who have accumulated experience and skill and would, at times, have to demonstrate to their foreign superiors how they should undertake their tasks.

Despite this reality, they shared they are playing

second fiddle.”

To this end, GAWU said it was the workers desire that their experiences be shared with the wider public “as they felt there was a need for Guyanese to know what was really taking place.” They, however, pleaded with the GAWU to protect their identities adding that “the workers informed us that they have been muzzled and they are not allowed to speak to anyone about what is really taking place. This is a serious development, and we thanked the workers for their courage in letting us and the nation knows of the travails they are facing.”

Saturday November 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Bharrat Jagdeo does not get it!

Guyana's Second Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, hosted an extended press conference this past week, ostensibly to respond primarily to criticisms levelled against the government by former President, David Granger.

Had Jagdeo taken the time to carefully assess Granger's criticisms, he could have saved himself and the press corps the agony of his almost two-and-a-half-hour diatribe.

The former President and leader of the PNC/R, David Granger had been critical of the last-minute consultations into the revised Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), mindful that it is this strategy which ought to inform Guyana's commitments at COP26.

Further, the PNC/R had lambasted the government for the rushed attempt at consultations over the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which every country is required to make as part of its revised ambitions under the Paris Agreement.

By no stretch of the imagination could former President David Granger be implying that the LCDS has to be presented at COP26.

But what he certainly implied was that the LCDS, as the country's environmental/development strategy, must be the basis

for the NDCs and Guyana's presentation at the conference.

But instead of having the expanded LCDS completed in time for COP26 so as to inform Guyana's NDCs, the PPP/C on the eve of the conference launched consultations on the document. This meant that the country's representatives were going to COP26 without the benefit of a completed LCDS and without finalising its NDCs. Jagdeo continues to harp on the fact that the APNU+AFC had set an unrealistic target of near 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. But he fails to inform the public that this NDC was part of a conditional contribution and is recorded in the official document which Guyana submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He also failed to concede that in his original LCDS there was reference to near 100 percent renewable electricity.

He also claims that since there were no announced projects to enable the 100 percent target to be met, it was unrealistic. But he forgets that a process of conversion had begun to power government buildings with solar power which is now the cheapest source of renewable energy.

Private businesses also

had begun to use solar power. Kaieteur News utilises solar power to power some of its operations as does some other business entities.

While it would have taken some doing to move Guyana to anywhere close to 100 percent renewable energy, it is not true to say that APNU+AFC did not have any projects in mind to meet its target. It did.

In fact, the government had committed to making public the report by Norconsult on the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project.

But the groundwork had been laid since 2017 for the transition towards renewable energy development. In that year, the then Minister of Finance announced concessions for hybrid and electric vehicles. Today, thousands of electric motorcycles are on the roads and selling at an affordable price.

Other concessions were also granted to encourage the use of renewable energy. The APNU+AFC offered tax concessions for the establishment of electric charging stations.

In the 2017 Budget, it set aside $1B for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The PPP/C now hardly talks about energy efficiency.

The APNU+AFC may not have had the same drive

De audit done boys seh... before it start Dem

De audit deadline pass and de bill gat fuh pay. Is nuff money we gat fuh pay and dat is why people vex dat we nah do de audit.

But boat done gone a falls. De money gat fuh pay.

And is nat altar boys yuh dealing with in dem oil companies. Dem gat dem own reputation suh we should have been on we Ps and Qs. Long ago if yuh wukkin' in a firm and yuh hear de auditors coming, yuh does get jumpy because yuh know dem can find some mistake which yuh overlook. But sometimes some people does get de better of dem auditor.

Once upon a time a lil boy bin grazing he sheep when a man drive up in a fancy looking car. De man had on a suit and fancy sunshades and wristwatch.

He tun to de lil boy and seh, “I bet yuh one ah yuh sheep, I can tell you how much sheep yuh gat.”

De lil boy tek de bet and de man tek out all kind ah equipment and when he done he start fuh punch in figures. He produce a 100page report and den tun to de lil boy and seh, “Yuh gat, 567 sheep.”

De lil boy tell he how he correct and de man pick out one ah de animals he think was fluffy and cute.

He put de animal in de car but just before he drive off, de lil boy tell he, “If I guess yuh profession yuh gan give me back me animal?”

De man said yes and de lil boy tell he how he is wan auditor. “But how yuh know dat?” ask de man.

De lil boy reply, “Fuss yuh come here without me inviting yuh.

Then yuh tell me something I know already and yuh charge me fuh it, and third yuh nah understand nothing bout me business. Now give me back meh dog!”

Talk half and ask de Vee Pee who auditing de books.

as the PPP/C has today. But it is the same studies which the APNU+AFC did in respect to bringing gas-to-shore that the PPP/C is using to justify its gas-to-shore project from the Stabroek Block to Wales.

The APNU+AFC also had a number of much smaller renewable energy plans. These included, establishing a solar farm at Mabaruma and the restoration of the Moco Moco Hydroelectric facility.

Jagdeo therefore has his facts all tangled up. The

target of near-100 percent renewable energy was ambitions but we do not know for sure what the APNU+AFC would have been able to achieve between 2020 and 2025 given the resources which are now available to the country.

What we do know is that despite claiming at the United Nations that Guyana would be a global leader on climate change, the President went to COP26 without NDCs and without the benefit of a finalised

LCDS.Jagdeo must answer for this delinquency. Seeing that he holds responsibility for the environment and for the oil and gas sector, and given the foul-ups with the oil expenses' audit and with the NDCs, the President may now wish to determine whether the time is ripe for a review of Jagdeo's on-thejob performance.

(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

Saturday November 06, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Have you read the AFC's reasons for leaving the coalition with the PNC? Whether you believe it or not, I counted 72 persons who requested the 17-page document by the AFC which outlines the reasons for the AFC breaking with the PNC come March next year after the AFC's congress endorses the divorce. I indicated in my column of Friday, October 29, 2021 that I would share it with the Guyanese people.

This is a weird country. It has always been. When you read that document the first exclamation is: “are these people living in the real world?” I would offer extracts with a comment on

each quote.

(1) – “The AFC is the third largest party in Guyana. Consequently, it holds the balance of power to influence the behaviour of the governing party and, indeed, the activities and temperature on the opposition benches.”

Comment - This is simply not true. The combined opposition parties, apart from the PNC, got 9,000 votes in the March 2020 election.

Researchers cannot determine how many votes the AFC received because it did not contest the election on

its own. What the GECOM records show for 2015 is that the APNU+AFC won the election by 50.30 percent vote and for 2020, the APNU+AFC received 47 percent. What these figures reveal is that from 2015 there has been a steady weakening of the physiology of the AFC. GECOM's records show that the APNU+AFC did not collect votes in Indian areas.

Where then is the AFC's existence.

(2) – “The AFC must redefine itself to its original cause as the vanguard for political and social change

and the watchdog for c o r r u p t i o n , marginalisation, and good governance. The AFC must first redefine what it stands for and its mission.”

Comment – Unless the authors of that document have a low opinion of people, then such a task will be met with extensive ridicule by even high school kids. Here is what rational humans will say: “now that they have lost power, they are telling us how different they are, why not before?”But more importantly which group of persons in this entire country will have the capacity to believe and accept that the AFC is a watchdog for corruption, marginalisation and good governance? On each of these three levels, the AFC not only failed but its performance can be described as evil.

Let us quickly look at each level. Marginalisation – it was the co-leader of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, who wrote in the Stabroek News that from 1956 to 1964 when the PPP was in power, Africans felt left out. In 1964 to 1992 when the PNC was in power Indians felt excluded.

In 1992 to 2015 when the PPP was in power, Africans felt powerless.

Now read this – Trotman observed that in 2015-2020 when the PNC was in power, Indians felt marginalised. In

what will remain an incredible admission, Trotman interpreted the 2015 Frederick Kissoon dispensation as a PNC s eek court intervention to administration that did not find favour with get it. More than 42,000 I n d i a n s . T h e o b v i o u s persons connected to the question is when this pro- s u g a r w o r k e r s w e r e P N C g o v e r n m e n t w a s adversely affected.

(3) – “The AFC has for running the country and Indians felt alienated where an exceptionally long time was the great multi-racial faced the decision to either AFC? For a critique of l e a v e o r s t a y i n t h e Trotman, see my column of Coalition. Indeed, it has Monday, December 14, b e c o m e a p o l i t i c a l 2020, “The sickening imperative to exit the present admission/confession of arrangement for selfpreservation.” Comment Raphael Trotman.”

C o r r u p t i o n – F e w The interesting, fascinating Guyanese, if there are any, thing about this statement is believe that the AFC was a w h a t f o r m t h i s s e l f clean hand in government. preservation is going to take?

Many believe it was a deeply Where are the supporters corrupt cabal.

T h i s coming from? The PPP, PNC columnist knows that the and, to a small extent, Lenox present government has Shuman, have support s t e p p e d o n a m a j o r among the Indigenous corruption scandal involving communities. Blacks will the AFC when it was in stick with the PNC with a government. The revelation p e r c e n t a g e o f B l a c k s switching to the PPP. Indians, will shock Guyana.

Good governance - If since March 2020, do not good governance appeared as want to hear about any Jaws in front of the AFC, its opposition party. They will leaders would not recognise vote solidly behind the PPP. it. The APNU+AFC won by Where is the AFC's selfless than one percent. Yet it preservation coming from? dismantled the sugar industry The Le Repentir Cemetery of without even an ounce of course. More later.

(The views expressed in consultation with the O p p o s i t i o n a n d w i d e r this article are those of the society. Not only were the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t l a i d - o f f w o r k e r s n o t necessarily reflect the compensated but they had to opinions of this newspaper.)

Three more women died of COVID-19

The Ministry of Health yesterday reported that three more women, who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died. As a result of this, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 933.

According to the Ministry, the latest fatalities are that of an unvaccinated 55year-old woman and a fully vaccinated 64year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and that of a 22-yearold unvaccinated woman from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). These women died over a two-day period (November 3 to 4) while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

Meanwhile, in its latest COVID-19 dashboard the Ministry recorded 64 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 35,993.

Presently, there are 14 patients admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 54 persons in institutional isolation, 2,451 in home isolation, and six in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 32,541 persons who tested positive have recovered.

Saturday November 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Saturday November 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Ghana assists Guyana to fine tune Local Content Bill for Parliament G

uyanese, with the help of their G h a n a i a n counterparts, have extracted several provisions of Local Content legislation from a number of countries which is to be inserted as part of the domestic version of a Local Content Bill—slated to be tabled, debated and voted on in the National Assembly before the end of the year.

This came about on We d n e s d a y l a s t , w h e n technical staff at the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) and the Attorney General Chambers met with a delegation from Ghana. The team comprised of Benjamin Asante, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National G a s C o m p a n y, K w a k u Boateng, Director of Local Content, Petroleum Commission and Abraham Mensah, Snr. Technical Manager, Ghana National Gas Company.

The delegation met with the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs,

Anil Nandlall, SC, and a team of lawyers at the Attorney General's Chambers.

Minister of Natural Resources and the E n v i r o n m e n t , Vi c k r a m Bharrat and a technical team from his Ministry also attended the meeting.

According to a subsequent statement from the Ministry, the meeting evaluated Guyana's draft Local Content Bill and compared it with the Ghanaian legislation, as well as legislation in Nigeria, Uganda and Norway.

To this end, the visiting delegation offered practical guidance, as well as insightful recommendations.

According to the Attorney General Chambers, “various components of the Bill were discussed and critically examined, with segments from the various legislations extracted and made part of the local Bill.”

Additionally, it was announced that a local legal committee was established by the Attorney General

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall (Centre) along with Minister Vickram Bharrat (to his left) during the meeting with the Ghanaians and local technical and legal officers. comprising of lawyers and drafters from the Attorney General's Chambers, persons from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and officials of the MNRE. It was pointed out that “this team will spearhead Guyana's pursuit of legislative changes in the oil and gas sector” and that “it

was agreed that this team and the visiting delegation will continue to collaborate and work closely in helping to develop a modern and effective Local Content Bill, and will continue to collaborate on other matters relating to the legislative infrastructure of the oil and gas industry.”

Meanwhile, upon the request of the Attorney General, the Ghanaian delegation promised to send academic writings, as well as court rulings on their legislation, which will be used to guide Guyana's efforts Minister Nandlall used the opportunity in welcoming the delegation to Guyana to express his gratitude to the team “for

offering their assistance, experience, guidance and expertise, in respect of the oil and gas sector generally, and, more specifically, on the issue of local content.”

Also present at the meeting were G. Bobby Gossai Jr., Snr. Petroleum Coordinator, Martin Pertab, Snr. Petroleum Economist, Joanna Simmons, Snr. Legal Coordinator, Visal Satram, Legal Officer and Michael Munroe, Legal Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, as well as members of the Oil and Gas sub-committee at the Chambers of the Attorney General, which comprised of Ronetta Sargent, Arti Outar, Janet Ali, Ayana Fable and Debra Singh.

Meanwhile, the African Caribbean Chamber of Tr a d e , C o m m e r c e a n d Industry—a body focused on improving trade between Africa and the Caribbean Region with its headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana—in a subsequent missive welcomed “the expansion of relations between Guyana and the world's secondlargest and second-mostpopulous continent.”

It said the African Caribbean Chamber of Tr a d e , C o m m e r c e a n d Industry reiterates “the enormous opportunities to improve trade between Guyana and the wider Caribbean with countries on the African Continent.”

As such, the Chamber in (Continued on page 15)

Soft approach to teachers being vaccinated will not be tolerated - Education Minister

E

d u c a t i o n Minister, Priya Manickchand, during a press conference stated that there will be a clock on when the current soft approach to teachers being vaccinated gets activated, and ends.

Minister Manickchand stated, “Teachers had said to us in large numbers, well large enough for us to pay attention, that if the Pfizer became available they will take the Pfizer, and Pfizer is now available to teachers in this country, you asked and we heard.”

She further went on to stress the fact that these vaccines will not always be available, as they are not

easily accessible, and they have a shelf life. So she encourages that they be made use of now. Subsequently, she acknowledged that she wrote each teacher imploring them to get vaccinated and stated reasons why they should take the vaccine.

Minister Manickchand stated that there was a record of around thirty percent of teachers vaccinated; but after the Ministry of Health went the extra mile to ensure that those teachers, who have receive their first doses of SputnikV vaccines get their respective second doses that percentage increased to about sixty-three.

“We can no longer have teachers saying I don't want

to get vaccinated and schools forgiving that,” the Education Minister stated.

She then went on to say that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the usage of the Pfizer vaccine as an emergency measure for children between the ages of 5 to 11 years.

Following on the heels of the FDA approval, the Center of Disease Control did the same a few days ago, and the roll-out is now set to begin in America. Minister Manickchand gave assurance that once that begins the vaccine will be administered to children between the ages of 5 to 11 in Guyana.

Saturday November 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Foreign registered plane lands at Mahdia…

Pilot, co-pilot says they were lost A pilot and copilot, who were found onboard the foreign registered aircraft that landed unauthorized in Guyana, told investigators that they became lost in their quest to find gold.

The duo was detained in Mahdia, Region Eight, after they landed at an airstrip in the area.

According to investigators, the men landed about 18:00hrs in a six-seater red and white twin-engine Piper Seneca plane.

The men have been identified as Juan David Caicedo Villa, a 32-year-old pilot of Villavicencio, Colombia, and Gustavo Adolfo Riascos Gomez, a 4 8 - y e a r - o l d pilot/businessman of Tachira San Cristobal, Venezuela.

Investigators further stated that when they received reports of the incident, a party of policemen was dispatched to the area. There, the plane was found in front of the Trans Guyana's hanger, and the men were standing in front of the aircraft talking to the security and ramp attendant.

When confronted by the police, one of the men, speaking in English, said:

The twin-engine Piper Seneca plane that landed at an airstrip in Mahdia.

“We are lost, we came from Venezuela and going to look for gold”.

F u r t h e r m o r e , investigators said a search of the men and the plane found nothing illegal.

Meanwhile, the aircraft contained three 15-gallon drums – two of which

contained fuel suspected as smuggled - one hammock with netting, one bag containing clothing and personal effects.

Also found was a black bag with identification cards documents, one Garmin GPS, one Iridium Phone, one Icom radio set, one spot trace device, two phone chargers, one ear piece, one lighter, one torchlight, one

Motorola phone, one Samsung phone, one knife, two wrist watches, one wallet, two grams of suspected cannabis and bamboo wrap.

The items have been lodged with the police, and the aircraft is currently under guard, while both men were arrested and placed into custody pending investigations.

Saturday November 06, 2021

GDF rank gets three years for multimillion-dollar gold heist Ex- Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank, Keyon King will spend the next three years behind bars for his participation in a multimillion-dollar gold heist, which took place on Thursday August 5, 2021 at Wallison Enterprise, located on Gordon Street, Kitty.

King was handed his jail sentence yesterday from Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus during his scheduled appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate Courts.

The ex-GDF rank had on Friday October 15 pleaded guilty to being part of a heist, which saw gunmen carting of jewelry, cellphones, $38M in cash, and $20M worth of raw gold.

King, while making his guilty plea had begged the court to grant him leniency.

He had said that he did not think twice when an offer to rob Wallison's Enterprise was made to him, because he was under tremendous pressure to provide for his family and, at the same time, source cash to finish his house.

King claimed, too, that he had been recently demoted from his substantive post in the army, and this made it even more difficult for him to fulfill his responsibility as the sole breadwinner of his household.

The convicted man then ended his plea by apologizing for causing embarrassment to the GDF and his relatives.

Jailed GDF rank, Keyon King.

Meanwhile, two of King's accomplices remain on remand for the crime, while three others are still being hunted by police.

The two on remand were security guards of the business establishment at the time it was robbed.

On Thursday August 5, three gunmen, posing as customers, entered Wallison Enterprise, held up its employees at gunpoint, and carried out the heist.

They then cuffed the employees with plastic zipties and locked them in a room before escaping.

Police were able to crack the case by tracking one of the stolen cellphones and, as part of their investigations, later went to King's home, where they found $18M of the stolen cash buried in his backyard.

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Upgrades to GPL grid for additional power to cost US$686 million The planned upgrade to the transmission and distribution grid for electricity currently generated by the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), is estimated to cost some US$686M. Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo during a press engagement had expanded on the need to improve the electricity distribution network to a smart grid in order to be able to absorb the expected additional power from a proposed Natural Gas Power Plant and the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP).

Dr. Jagdeo on Monday told reporters “we have a problem now with the grid and so we are now doing a study, so by next year we can have an overall improvement of the grid.”

He did not give details on the price tag for the proposed upgrades. A perusal of his administration's expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 outline, however, noted that “GPL's Development and Ex p an s io n P r o g r amme estimates the need for an investment of US$686 million over the next five years to upgrade, expand and equip the power system to take off and manage the forecasted electricity demand, and to provide services and operate at the required reliability levels of a modern power utility company.”

Dr. Jagdeo had told reporters, the administration has already mapped the electricity demands for the country over the coming five years and it is assumed that the demand will double in that time.

As we had noted in our November 4th edition, the Vice President said that government would be installing triple the demand, and rationalized the position by saying “we assume that in the future when the power becomes more stable and the price is cut by half—which is our intention by 2024 as soon as the Gas to Energy Project comes on stream, to cut the price of electricity by 50 percent to business and consumers across Guyana—that a lot of the private generation capacity would go into reserve and people will come on to the grid.”

The Expanded LCDS documents in its treatment of

the Modernization of Transmission and Distribution (T&D) network, the manner in which it plays a critical role in power evacuation from power plants and delivery of electricity to customers across Guyana.

The electricity service provided to GPL customers does not meet the reliability and quality requirements of utilities in developed countries.

Moreover, it was pointed out that the low reliability is due to the low capacity of generation, the lack of redundancy in key lines, and the low remote supervision and control of the T&D network.

Elaborating some more, he said that “utilities have been increasing their generation capacity at the same pace as the demand has been growing, keeping a low reserve and excess capacity that is inadequate to cater for downtime in their generators,” the document said.

Projecting rapid growth in expected electricity demand over the next decade, the LCDS predicts “even with a conservative forecast, the demand in 2025 would be three times more the electricity demanded in 2020.”

The expansion on the firm capacity that is planned in the next decade with new power plants, using natural gas and renewable energy, will increase reliability and resilience to generate the electricity demanded at a much lower cost than currently; “but besides that, all the public grids will need important improvements in their T&D, which have been developed in a radial way and built with single lines, meaning that a failure in any of those single lines will disconnect customers connected downstream of the faulty line.”

It was noted that in order to increase reliability in the transmission network to world-class utility requirements, the new transmission lines and substations will be designed to comply with 'N+1 redundancy criteria' (with at least one back-up component).

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e transmission network will also “be expanded to form a real network, avoiding radial configurations where possible.”Meanwhile as part (Continued on page 15)

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Govt. to upgrade GPL distribution network to a smart grid.

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Two suspects captured, confess to gruesome crime Murder of Kingston doctor...

- Friend admits lashing him to head in self defence - Accomplice says it was a planned robbery

By Shervin Belgrave The two suspects captured yesterday for the brutal murder of Dr. Colin Roach at his Kingston office on Tuesday night, have confessed to the gruesome crime. Confirming this development with Kaieteur News was Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum.

One of the suspects is a close friend of the slain doctor and was identified by police as 25-year-old Hilton Oliver Junior Franklin.

Sources detailed that Franklin told investigators that he had lashed Roach to his head with a metal object in self-defence.

However, his accomplice in the murder, identified as 18-year-old Lenrick Mosai Byass, said that he did not see when Roach was bludgeoned to death but confessed that they had gone to doctor's office to rob him that evening.

Franklin was the first to be nabbed by cops yesterday during the early morning hours while Byass was apprehended later at a call centre where he works.

According police,

Franklin was their prime suspect and they had caught him at Corentyne, Berbice attempting to flee the country into neighbouring Suriname via the back track route.Sources had said that mere hours after the cops had taken him into custody he decided to tell them his version of what happened.

He claimed that he had visited Roach's office in his car that evening and had met Byass there. They then started drinking Guinness together and during the session Roach got drunk and made advances towards him.

Franklin alleged that the doctor pushed him down on a cot in the examination room and he fell. The suspect continued his claims that he retaliated by lashing the doctor twice to his head with a metal object that was close by.He further alleged that after realizing that Roach was dead, he, Byass and one of Roach's employees, removed evidence from the scene to avoid being pinned to crime. Byass however, told police a slightly different story. He said that Franklin had devised a plan

with him rob Roach but something went horribly wrong that evening.

According him, he was not around when Roach was killed and he does not recall being helped by the doctor's employee to clean up the scene before their escape.

Byass added too that he is not acquainted with the slain doctor but has been friends with Franklin for three years.

They had worked together at the same call centre where he (Byass) is still employed.

The accomplice said that Franklin had told him that he frequents Roach's office and had observed the man has large amounts of cash.

Following their discussion, they orchestrated a plan to rob him and decided to execute their plan on Tuesday.

Byass said that Franklin had picked him up from his home that afternoon in his black Fielder Wagon.

They drove to a location in Water Street, Georgetown where they parked and secured the car before heading to the doctor's office in a taxi. Roach greeted them at the entrance and then they

left together in his SUV to purchase alcoholic drinks at a location on Regent Street.

They began imbibing on their way back to the office where they continued the drinking session for a while.

Byass continued that sometime later, Roach gave him some cash and sent him to purchase Guinness with the money at a nearby shop.

When he returned from the errand and re-entered the office he saw that Roach was dead and lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

He said he asked his friend what happened and Franklin told him a “story”.

It was at this point, recounted Byass, that they both removed two gold rings from the dead man's fingers and US$600.

They divided the items equally among themselves and then began the process of ensuring that no trace of evidence was left behind.

Franklin, he said unplugged a DVR and a nearby camera and they sanitized the area and had even packed up the glasses and empty bottles that they were using during the

Two murdered hours apart…

One for owing money, the other over woman Two men were recently murdered hours apart; one was killed over unpaid debts and the other relative to an old grievance over a woman.

The deceased have been identified as: Paul Braithwaite, 28, of Lot 6 Barnwell North, Mocha, East Bank Demerara, and Andre Collison called 'DJ Choppy' 38, of Bartica, Essequibo River.

A c c o r d i n g t o information received, Braithwaite and his alleged killer were known to each other, and once shared a friendship up to September 2020.

It was reported that their friendship ended as a result of a misunderstanding over a girl, and this led to Braithwaite and the suspect getting into occasional heated arguments.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported that around 23:20hrs on Thursday, Braithwaite and the suspect were both hanging out at Pepper Hill, Arcadia Street, Mocha, when a heated argument erupted between them. The argument resulted in both men brandishing

Dead, Paul Braithwaite. knives and stabbing each other several times about their bodies.

The police reported that Braithwaite attempted to flee the scene, but he collapsed on the western side of the road, while the 31-year-old suspect ran to the Mocha Police Outpost and reported the incident.

The suspect was then cautioned and arrested. A party of police responded to the said report and, upon arrival, they found the victim with several stab wounds about his body. Braithwaite was then escorted to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre,

where he was pronounced dead on arrival, and subsequently transported to the Memorial Funeral Gardens where a postmortem examination will be conducted.Based on the suspect's injuries, he was also escorted to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was seen by a doctor on duty, treated, and placed back in custody.

The investigation into the murder of Braithwaite is ongoing.

Hours after Braithwaite was murdered, Andre Collison was fatally stabbed for reportedly not paying his debts. The police reported that around 01:00hrs on Friday, Collison left his room in search of food and went to a restaurant located at Puruni Landing, Middle Mazaruni, where he was murdered.

While Collison was waiting at the restaurant to collect his food order, the suspect walked into the said establishment and an argument ensued between the two men over the monies owed.

The suspect then

Dead, Andre Collison. reportedly whipped out a knife from his pants waist and stabbed Collison to his abdomen before making good his escape.

Collison was picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Puruni Health Post, where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

He was later pronounced dead by a doctor at the Bartica Regional Hospital, and his body was then transported to the hospital's mortuary.

The investigation into the murder of Collison is ongoing, and the manhunt continues for the suspect.

Prime suspect in the murder Franklin's accomplice, of Dr. Roach, Hilton Lenrick Mosai Byass Oliver Junior Franklin. drinking session.

The suspects then picked up the unplugged DVR and camera along with the doctor's two cellphones, some expensive liqueur, the packed up glasses and bottles and the murder weapon before exiting the building.They loaded the items into the Roach's SUV and drove back to Water Street where Franklin's car was parked. There, Franklin secured the liquor in his fielder wagon before reentering the SUV and continuing their journey to West Bank Demerara Along the way, said Byass, they discarded the murder weapon, the camera, DVR and the bottles and glasses.

They had even got rid of the stolen cellphones.

Byass told detectives that

when they crossed over the Demerara Harbour Bridge, he exited the vehicle and went home while Franklin sped off in the opposite direction. The following day (Wednesday) he changed his part of the stolen US currency into GYD dollars.

Kaieteur News was reliably informed late last night that cops had found a total of $42,000 in Byass' possession.

It was related too, that when they arrested Franklin, the prime suspect, the doctor's stolen rings were found concealed in his c r o t c h . A d d i t i o n a l l y, US$200 was also in his possession. He has since denied that it was a planned robbery.

The investigation into this gruesome murder continues.

Nigerian found guilty of fleecing female pensioner Uche Raymond Okoye, also known as 'Uche Parker,' of Lot 9 Delph Street, C a m p b e l l v i l l e , Georgetown, who was charged for fleecing over $6 million from a female pensioner, was recently found guilty of the offences.

Magistrate Annette Singh in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts found the Nigerian national guilty on Wednesday of 10 counts of obtaining money under false pretenses. He was remanded to prison until his sentencing on November 11, 2021.On February 25, 2021, Okoye made his first court appearance for the matter and he was slapped with the charges.

He was not required to plead to the 10 indictable charges read to him. The charges alleged that between October 15, 2020 and November 16, 2020, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $6,060,000 from Suruj Dei Balkaran by falsely claiming that he was in possession of a package for Suruj Dei Balkaran.

Okoye preyed on the

elderly woman via WhatsApp and Facebook by falsely claiming that he had a package intended for her.

He lied to the woman that the package included money and other valuables, which led to her transferring monies from her bank account to other accounts ten times, under the directions of Okoye, since she believed that he, indeed, was in possession of such a package for her.

During the trial before Magistrate Singh, the elderly woman testified that, during the period of October to November 2020, she transferred her life savings totaling $6,060,000 to the accounts of several persons unknown to her on Okoye's instructions.

She testified that she has been a vendor all her life, and that she believed that the person she met on Facebook did send a package with money for her. Other persons also testified that monies were sent to their accounts, and that they received a percentage after withdrawing the said (Continued on page 15)

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Upgrades to GPL grid for...

From page 15 of the T&D improvement programme, the existing lines and substations will be progressively upgraded to meet the new redundancy requirements.

On Monday, Dr. Jagdeo told reporters that when the 165MW power is delivered to the Sophia substation in Georgetown from the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, coupled with the 250 MW to be generated from the natural gas fired plant at Wales, government is looking to ensure “that the grid can handle it, it's stable and we don't have all these blackouts.”

He hinted at a change out “of all the transformers” as part of stabilizing the grid saying, “that's the next big thing we are working on.”

According to Vice President Jagdeo, the administration is pursuing the establishment of a smart grid, “so that when we have all this new power, that the grid can handle it; a stable smart grid…because fibre will be in all the electricity lines.”

As such, he posited that an individual from a control room would be able to “…know, without having to send a crew out and get a report when there is a power outage in any part of this country.”

He told media operatives that as it relates to the establishment of a smart grid the studies are presently being done.

The Vice President was adamant that a smart grid, once implemented efficiently, will help to reduce the technical and commercial losses experienced by the power company.

Nigerian found... from page 19 deposits. According to the police, Okoye is suspected to be part of a criminal network involving Nigerian nationals, who collaborate with associates to solicit cash from their victims by promising high valued merchandise to be delivered following the payment of a charge or fee.

VACANCY One general domestic.Must be able to prepare vegetarian meal.Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

225-5800/623-1615.

WANTED 1 full time Industrial mechanic to manage workshop at JFWW Network Outlet.

Call:622-1957, 671-9015, 2336997.

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONER, WASHING MACHINE, FREEZER, SALE OF AC'S. TEL: 629-4946, 2254822.

Female ages 25-40 to take care of elderly male in Trinidad.

Accomodations provided.

Call: +1 (868) 489-4087 Customer Service Rep/ Dispatcher, must be familiar with locations around Georgetown. Call: 621-9356.

Drivers & Office Clerk. Apply at Survival lot 10 Vlissengen Road , Newtown ,Kitty.

Mature canter driver wanted from 7am-5pm. Call: 676-0455.

Supervisor, Counter Clerk, Hymac & Diesel Mechanic to work in charity. Call: 2235273/688-0417.

FOR SALE Transported house lots for sale.Gated community,4Mil per lot.Call:671-9015/6221957.

1 able bodied driver, ages 25+. Must have truck license.

Ice Factory Mon Repos, Call: 220-3459, between 8-4.

One male able bodied clerk.

Call: 225-2313/226-1497.

1 living in general domestic cleaner.Contact 637-4605.

Waitress for bar. Call:6576547.

FOR RENT 3 bedroom, upperflat & lower flat. Newly renovated, in residential area with parking. 266 New Market Street. Call: 6105472.

3 bedroom upstairs unfurnished, New Road V/Hoop & furnished 2 bedroom Apartment in Providence. Call: 6046664 or 216-2299.

1 bedroom apartment to rent in Blygezight Gardens.Fully grilled air conditioning & free wifi.Contact 673-3100.

PEN PAL Male seeks female 18-38 to live with or marry. Call: 6039085.

VACANCY Auto Electrical apprentice age 19-25 yrs. Apply in person,Lot 120 Forth Street Albertown G/Town or call: 610-0340.

Exist for Security Officers, Male & Female. 18yrs & above. Contact: 223-4172/ 632-0099.

Cook/baker, Kitchen Assistant, Servicemen & pitmen for interior location. Applicants must be experienced.

Call: 618-2020 or 231-2250.

For truck drivers, must know how to operate Hiab & have knowledge of Georgetown.

Call: 223-5273-4/621-5907

Ghana assists...

From page 12 commending the President of Ghana, Nana AkufoAddo, for his commitments towards working with Guyana and the Caribbean Region, outlined that “the framework for exchanges between Guyana and Nigeria is already established through the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps—a framework for the exchange of resources, technology, and knowledge between Nigeria and…African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.”

Saturday November 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Exists for Porters. Call: 2235273-4/621-5907

2 bedroom wooden house for sale in Ulverston Berbice for $1.5million,land not included. Contact: 650-5626.

Experienced carpenter & apprentice. Contact: 624-9507/ 624-9509/624-9508.

Maintenance workers & labourers to work with P.S.G.C.S. Preferably from E.B.D. Call: 621-6969/ 6157784.

Immediate vacancy exists for male workers @Del Ice Co.Call:231-1408/642-9191.

Trained Grade 1 & 2 teachers needed. Payment will commence with experience and will be in 6 digit,6231615.

Experienced Manager/Supervisor needed.Send application to Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

Tel:225-5800.

For porters & lorry driver.

Apply at Alabama Trading.

Tel:225-5800.

Senior & Sales Clerk,Cashier with 4 years working experience. Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

Immediate vacancy exists for One female cashier to work@ Del Ice Co.Call:642-9191,2311408 between 8AM-1PM.

LEGAL NOTICE 2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-1076 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION BETWEEN:PETITION NO. FD- 1076 BABOOLAL (BAS MA TIE) nee ETW AROO Petitioner/ Applicant -vs- BABOOLAL (GA VIN GUPTA) Respondent TO: GA VIN GUPTA BABOOLAL (Last Known Address) Lot 116 Lusignan, East Bank Demerara TAKE NOTICE that on the 12 day of August, 2021 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by BASMA TIE BABOOLAL nee ETWAROO, the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 12 day of October, 2021, the Petitioner/Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur NewsNewspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online).

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the

LEGAL NOTICE Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty five) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 14"” day of December, 2021 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge in the Directions Hearing Room via Zoom Meeting ID: 845 1426 6584 and Password: 786 445 of the High Court at Georgetown. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 13th day of October, 2021 .

2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1237 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-1237 BETWEEN:-(SULAMAN) RHEA nee AZEEZ Petitioner -and (SULAMAN) RASHEED AMAR Respondent TO: RASHEED AMAR SULAMAN Formerly of 1771 Parfait Harmony West Bank Demerara, Guyana.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 9 day of September, 2021 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by RHEA

LEGAL NOTICE SULAMAN nee AZEEZ the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 18 day of October, 2021, the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a newspaper published and circulated in Guyana and on the World Wide Web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents .AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty-five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Wednesday the 5th day of.January,2022at9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 772 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf. IN DEFAULT of your filing anAcknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara].

The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 22nd day of October.

2021.

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Saturday November 06, 2021

Saint Lucia to host hybrid Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly Insidethegames - Saint Lucia is set to host the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) with the event taking place in a hybrid format for the first time. A two-day General Assembly is planned with delegates participating in-person and online, starting today.

CANOC has also arranged a workshop as part of the event, focusing on clean sport advocacy.

Participants attending the event in-person have travelled to Castries in the Saint Lucian capital for the meeting.

The General Assembly has been given the theme “Transformative Modernisation”. A total of 26 National Olympic Committees, Commonwealth

Games Associations and national sporting organisations in the Caribbean region are expected to take part.

The General Assembly will be opened by CANOC secretary general Keith Joseph, with Saint Lucia President Fortuna Belrose then delivering a welcome message. CANOC President Brian Lewis will present his message to the organisation’s members.

Remarks will also be made

by Centro Caribe Sports President Luis Mejia Oviedo, Panam Sports President Neven Ilic and Dame Louise Martin, Commonwealth Games Federation President.

An update on the first edition of the Caribbean Games is likely.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will also send a greeting to the General Assembly. The inaugural Games was initially scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 4 this year.

The rescheduling of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games led to changes in the sporting calendar, including the postponement of the Caribbean Games in Guade-loupe. The Games is now scheduled to take place

Saturday November 06, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You could feel confident today, and you should have a strong idea of exactly what it is you want. Information is power. Others are working to wield power over you.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your mind will expand today.

You'll feel like there's a ton of information crammed into your head that needs processing. Regarding big projects, try to finish them as quickly as you can.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Try not to read too much into other people's words today.

You may have spent hours tearing apart every off-thecuff remark.

CANCER(June21–July22) You have a keen mind and you're thirsty for knowledge.

A recent accomplishment may make you look for the next challenge. Consider looking to your hobbies for the next big thing in your life.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may be feeling nostalgic for old friends and faraway family. Even if you haven't spoken to them in a while, pick up the phone and call them up.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) With the current aspects, you can expect positive job changes. You've worked hard these past few months and contributed important ideas.

Don't be surprised if you get rewarded with recognition, raise, or promotion.

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LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Take care that you don't exhaust yourself. You could be doing too much for others right now. Your kind heart often have you saying yes to requests when you should be refusing.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you hit the ground running. You're happy, energetic, and optimistic. You feel love for all mankind. Don't be surprised if this brings new people into your life.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You're a traditionalist at heart and happy to do the same thing year in and year out. Your partner could be tiring of the old routine. Today your friend may want to do things differently.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) The love you feel for everyone today draws new people into your orbit.

You're in love with all, even people you couldn't stand yesterday.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You have a gentle way of expressing yourself to your loved one. It isn't your style to make grand gestures or buy extravagant gifts.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may be expecting some visitors. Happy as you are about this, you may be feeling overwhelmed by what remains to be done.

Pace yourself.

in 2022.

The Games will feature under-23 athletes from nations in the region. Futsal, 3x3 basketball, athletics, netball, swimming, cycling and judo feature on the sport programme. Preparations for the 24th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games will likely be discussed, with the event scheduled for May 2023.

Netball has been included in the Games for the first time, following a successful campaign led by the Jamaica Olympic Association. Panama had initially been due to host the Games, but withdrew last July. El Salvador was then awarded hosting rights by the Centro Caribe Sports.

A discussion over FIFA’s proposal to host the FIFA World Cup every two years may also be an area of discussion at the General Assembly.

2022 CMU20 Qualifiers

Guyana commence quest to win Group D against Cayman Islands today Both Head Coach Wayne Dover and Captain Omari Glasgow have expressed confidence that Guyana’s Under-20 ‘Golden Jaguars’ will commence their quest to win Group D of the 2022 Concacaf Men’s Under20 Championship Qualifiers in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The young Guyanese will also compete against Nicaragua and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Head Coach Dover commented: “The preparation we’ve undergone has given us a feeling of optimism about performing excellent in the tournament.

That leaves us with the expectation of being competitive in the first game tomorrow (today) which we hope brings a positive result to start with that will set the tone for us.”

Captain Glasgow, an experienced Golden Jaguar with senior team experience and a goal, said that it’s an honour to be named Captain and is looking forward to pushing himself and team to victory.

“The preparation has been great, so we have to just put out the final work on the pitch. Preparation has been solid, a massive improvement from the first time the team started training to now, so we are expecting good results.”

This will be Guyana’s third time at the CMU20s while it would be Nicaragua’s ninth time with both Cayman Islands and the USVI having appeared once each.

The winner of each group will advance directly to the Round of 16 of the 2022 CMU20, scheduled to be played next summer.

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Saturday November 06, 2021

NSC serves $1M support to GTTA for Senior Pan Am C/ships The National Sports Commission (NSC) recently presented the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) with $1M, which will go towards Guyana’s participation at the Pan American Senior Table Tennis Championships.

The GTTA will be sending a six-member team to the event which would be played in Lima, Peru, from November 13 – 19.

According to the Association, Guyana’s Men’s and Women’s Team has gained qualification to

the Pan American championships as a result of their performance rankings and participation in key events, regionally.

The GTTA will make an announcement on the squad in the coming days. Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle said. “The NSC’s support stems from a request for support from the GTTA and the Commission would’ve voted to

extend a hand relating to assisting with a grant of $1M.” Ninvalle pointed out that the NSC will continue to assist the country’s sports associations and athletes in their quest for development.

With the restart of competitions occurring globally in the sport and with world ranking becoming a major factor in determining qualification for key events given the covid-19 pandemic, Association President Godfrey Munroe pointed out, “It has become critical that our association is able to have our players participate in key competitions and training camps as a means of having our players continue to gain the requisite exposure and preparation in view of positioning them to gain world ranking points.”

Munroe lamented that this is to, “Maximize our chances of qualification and success at key international competitions and games while improving our trajectory at key and major international competitions.”

“Further the Pan American championships will be used to select the teams for the World Table Tennis championships in Chengdu, China, in March of 2022, the teams for the Pan American Cup among other key competitions in addition to world ranking points being a key criterion in selecting participating teams for the 2022 Commonwealth Games,” Munroe highlighted.

He further stressed that will the change in the tennis landscape, mostly because of covid-19, “It has therefore become absolutely critical and imperative that Guyana

attend these championships in order to have the team gain the necessary ranking points, in order to stay ahead of key teams regionally, so as to be able to gain qualification spots for Commonwealth Games, World Championships and maintain our trajectory.”

Kaieteur News

Saturday November 06, 2021

PAGE 25

T&T’s Boxing Coach Sinnette impressed with Guyana Camp Hopes T&T follows Guyana Government’s support for Boxing

By Sean Devers Trinidad & Tobago’s Juan Rodriguez’s preparation for the Junior Pan American Games in Colombia from November 25 to December 5 has begun in Guyana. Rodriguez is in Guyana with his Coach, Kirt Sinnette for a two-week Camp, organised by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA).

The Camp is being held at the Andrew ‘Six-Head’ Lewis Gym and at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gym at Camp Ayanganna with Coaches Blake, Sinnette and former Guyana Boxer, Joseph Murray.

Speaking on the ‘Sean Devers Sports Watch’ on Kaiteur Radio, Sinnette, one of only four boxers from T&T to qualify for the Olympics, thanked the President of the GBA Steve Ninvalle for his support and Guyana’s Boxing Coach (Sebert) Blake for putting some ‘nice work’ in place.

Sinnette informed that Rodriguez and he have settled in nicely in Guyana and said meals is of a very

Kirk Sinnette T&T Boxing Coach good quality. “The cooks ask us what we want to eat and make sure we are comfortable and get the right meals for sportsmen.

Everything is going well and Juan listens to what I tell him which is always important. I believe that Boxing is 99 percent thinking and the one percent is power. I am quite impressed with the way he has started to develop and what is taking place and what I would like him to do.

He told me that he never trained so hard in his life and I told him if you are stepping

up in the sport your mind set and preparation will have to become much more rigorous” said the 47-yearold Sinnette,who won bronze at the 1995 Pan American Games and attended the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

“I discovered Juan, who is a member of the East PortSpain boxing Gym, when I was a director on a Board building infrastructure and realised that many of them would become white Elephants. I decided to become a coach and go into the depressed communities and try to help them and that’s how I unearthed Juan.

Sinnette said there is no boxing in Trinidad at present due to pandemic.

“Before I was, and during my time, large crowds watched Boxing but now boxing in Trinidad has died. The Government and other stake holders need to see sports on a different level and until they understand what it could do for a Country” revealed Sinnette, who lost just three of his 25 Pro fights in career as a Light Heavyweight which lasted

GFF begins covid-19 vaccination drive ahead of year-end competitions, today The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will start the roll out of its nationwide covid19 vaccination drive today, ahead of a planned trio of year-end men’s and women’s football tournaments, to protect the wider community as competitive senior football returns to the field of play.

The GFF will host three tournaments over the Christmas and New Year holiday season – the GFF-Kashif & Shanghai Super 16 Cup, the GFF Women’s Super 16 Cup, and the GFF Futsal Championship Cup. All participants, including players, coaches, staff, match officials and fans, will be required to show proof of vaccination to access the competitions. Today, players, officials and fans will be able to attend Ministry of Health Emergency Operations Centre vaccination sites at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence on the East Bank and the Egbert Benjamin Exhibition Centre in Linden.

The vaccination sessions will run from 09:00hrs until 15:00hrs today, November 6th, with repeat clinics next Saturday, November 13th. The vaccination drive will also be expanded to the seven remaining GFF regional associations next weekend with details to be announced shortly.

“We respectfully urge all members of our community to get vaccinated as soon as possible to ensure the swiftest return to play possible for senior football across Guyana,” said GFF President Wayne Forde. “We are

proud to be able to partner with the Government of Guyana and our pilot regional associations, the East Bank Demerara Football Association and Upper Demerara Football Association, to kick start and facilitate this vital endeavour.”

“We have made it mandatory for all participants in our year-end football bonanza to show proof of vaccination as we believe this is the most effective way to safeguard the wellbeing of the wider community and to support the global effort to combat and overcome the pandemic,” he said.

from 2004-2015.

Sinnette informed that Boxing Board in Trinidad is trying to get sponsorship but most businesses only come on board after the boxer does well… they don’t understand the process to get there.

He feels a coach most times know more about the kid’s problems than the parents who don’t come to support them.

“As a coach, any young boxer under my watch has to be going to school and have to be doing fairly well” said Sinnette, who was the first Trinidadian to qualify for the Olympics and was also was a four-times Caribbean Champion. “I would like to see the Government in Tr i n i d a d d o l i k e t h e Government in Guyana by supporting sports since any

Juan Rodriguez

athlete leaving their Country become ambassadors.

Many people might not know the President or Prime Minister but they will know Brian Lara or Carl Hooper and where they come from.

Governments must

understand that Sportspersons represent the country and they should be invested in. I am very impressed with what the Guyana Government is doing for sports” Coach Sinnette concluded.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 26

Saturday November 06, 2021

India smash Scotland by eight wickets to boost qualification hopes

I

CC - India demolished Scotland in Dubai, tying them in knots with the ball after winning the toss and opting to field first, bowling the Scots out for 85.

And in reply KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma starred as India raced to 89/2 in just 6.3 overs, securing the win and a huge net run rate gain boost.

Virat Kohli’s side went into the Group 2 fixture knowing that only a win would keep their qualification hopes alive.

And the quest for that victory got off to a terrific start as four Scotland wickets fell inside the first seven overs after Kohli had won the toss.

India’s spin trio then hammered home the advantage, with Ravindra Jadeja the pick with 3/15 off his four overs, as Scotland succumbed to 85 all out after 17.4 overs.

And the openers put on the quickest 50-run opening stand of the tournament so

far, with the chase wrapped up in just 39 deliveries to lift India’s NRR to +1.619, the best in Group 2.

Astonishing chase Rahul and Rohit put in a devastating display of power-hitting to race to the required target in Dubai. The impressive Mark Watt took the ball for the start of the Powerplay and leaked just eight runs in a tidy first over.

Yet that was as good as it got for Scotland, with every other over going for doublefigures as the opening batters tore into the Scottish attack.

Brad Wheal did pick up the wicket of Sharma for 30 off 16 balls, but that barely slowed the scoring, with Rahul reaching his sparkling 50 off just 18 balls in the next over. The 29-year-old was caught in the deep off Watt, going for a big hit to wrap up the win. And Suryakumar Yadav sealed it in style with a stunning six off his second ball.

Powerplay wickets set

the tone - Earlier, opener George Munsey had got Scotland off to a strong start with a gorgeous flicked six off Jasprit Bumrah and three c o n s e c u t i v e f o u r s o ff Ravichandran Ashwin. But a bamboozling slower-ball from Bumrah got rid of captain Kyle Coetzer before Mohammad Shami had the dangerous Munsey caught

by Hardik Pandya.

And the spinners took control of the game after the seamers’ breakthroughs, with Jadeja striking twice in the seventh over to leave Scotland 29/4 and with a mountain to climb.

Leask’s efforts not enough - Scotland’s lively middle-order hitter Michael Leask showed his class with a quickfire 21 off 12. But any hope of his side reaching a competitive total evaporated when Jadeja had Leask trapped LBW. And the innings crumbled thereafter, with three wickets falling in three

balls in the 17th over two Mohammed Shami dismissals sandwiched an Ishan Kishan run-out. And Bumrah finished the job with a trademark delivery to clean up Mark Watt and finish with 2/10 off 3.4 superb overs.

NRR opportunity Defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand in the opening two matches have taken India’s fortunes at the tournament out of their own hands, but Kohli and company could still qualify if Afghanistan beat the Kiwis on Sunday.

In that circumstance Group 2 will come down to a tie on six points, with net run rate critical. And the crushing nature of this win is a big help to India in the NRR stakes, meaning they will know exactly what is required against Namibia to seal that qualification spot.

India 89 for 2 (Rahul 50, Rohit 30) beat Scotland 85 all out (Munsey 24, Jadeja 315, Shami 3-15) by eight wickets.

Ravindra Jadeja © ICC/Getty Images

Four overs, 67 runs - Jimmy Neesham and Glenn Phillips provide death-overs clinic Congratulations GettyImages

ESPNcricinfo - Namibia may be the smallest country in this T20 World Cup in terms of population but they had the largest fanbase in the world behind them in Sharjah on Friday. India knew their semi-final hopes would be over if New Zealand won their last two games of the tournament, meaning that an Associate nation of 2.5 million people became the World Cup’s best-supported team for all of three hours.

It became apparent within 10 minutes of the start that this would be another tricky pitch to bat on after the final ball of Ruben Trumpelmann’s first over scuttled through to Zane Green like a grubber but even still, New Zealand struggled.

They were 96 for 4 after 16 overs, going at exactly a run a ball with Glenn Phillips and Jimmy Neesham battling for every single as the ball stayed low from a good length; with David Wiese just behind Jos Buttler as the competition’s leading six-hitter, a target of around 130 might have felt within Namibia’s range.

Instead, New Zealand walked off with 163 to defend after a clinic in deathovers batting from Phillips and Neesham, who used the

Jimmy Neesham goes over the off side Getty Images lop-sided dimensions - one square boundary was just 57 metres long, some 16 metres shorter than the other - to their advantage and ran Namibia into the dirt.

The 67 runs they put on in the final four overs broke India’s tournament record for that phase, and Namibia’s seamers bowled only two dot balls between them at the death.

They were ruthless in targeting the short boundary as a pair - only one of the seven boundaries they shared was hit to the long side, a late cut by Neesham past backward point - and managed ten twos between them in their six-over partnership.

“We knew that if we could get in, and have that left-hand/right-hand combination at the end, one of us could be trying to attack

and the other one could basically be trying to get the other one on s trike,” Neesham said. “It ended up working quite well.

“When you’re playing on a surface like that, it’s not going to be like it is in Dunedin or the Cake Tin or Eden Park - you’re not going to come out and hit four or five boundaries in 10 balls, so it’s about trying to put pressure on bowlers in different ways. [Running twos] was extremely important.”

Namibia’s bowlers were culpable, failing to hit the part of the pitch between six and eight metres from the stumps which has proved so effective in Sharjah throughout the tournament.

A c c o r d i n g t o ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, their seamers conceded 50 runs from the 48 balls that

pitched on or just short of a good length, but 32 off 13 when they went full and 19 off 5 when they dropped short. “I don’t think our plans were necessarily right,” Stephan Baard admitted. “We exposed the short boundary way too much.”

“It’s the nature of how we play our T20 cricket, even back in New Zealand,” Neesham explained. “I can’t imagine I would have faced more than 20 balls very often for New Zealand. It’s all about trying to load up the

back end with wickets in hand and come out and be explosive. It’s just the nature of this team.

“Luke Ronchi [New Zealand’s batting coach] is putting a lot through his shoulder for me to try and keep in nick off the park so it’s about being as free and clear as I can be when I’m out there. The nature of being that No. 6 allrounder is that you’ll be tasked with the game when the game is in hand.”

Neesham won the Player-of-the-Match award

for his efforts with the bat and the wicket of Michael van Lingen in his only over in what was his first contribution of note during the tournament, following three tight overs against Pakistan and scores of 1 and 10 not out in his two previous innings. He insisted that he was not overly fazed by his lack of opportunity in the middle: the 23 balls he faced against Namibia made this only his second-longest innings in 33 T20I caps.

Kaieteur News

Saturday November 06, 2021

PAGE 27

31 Special Force Squadron are GDF 56th Anniversary Inter-Ranks Relay champs The winning 31 Special Forces Squadron Team.

Third Place Training Corps team led

by Lieutenant Colonel Lorraine Foster.

Officers and Ranks turned out with riveting spirits of competition and camaraderie yesterday for the 56th Anniversary Inter Ranks Relay Competition which was won in dominating style by 31 Special Force Squadron, led by Lieutenant Colonel Natasha Stanford.

The race began at approximately 05:45hrs at the Base

Camp Ayanganna (BCA) front gate, turned left onto Vlissengen Road, right onto the Rupert Craig Highway, U-turned at UG Road, headed down back the Rupert Craig Highway, and concluded at the BCA playfield. Thirteen (13) teams participated in the competition which saw 2nd place taken by the Guyana People’s Militia with

Second place Guyana People’s Militia led by Lieutenant Colonel Ron Caulder.

Training Corps coping the bronze.

The teams comprised eight members each and covered eight legs totaling a distance of approximately 10 miles. The teams were made of ranks from Privates to Lieutenant Colonels. Chief of Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess, Colonel General Staff Colonel Julius Skeete, and Colonel

Administration and Quartering Commander Vernon Burnette awarded the winning teams trophies and medals.

Brigadier Bess, in brief remarks, extended congratulations to the teams and indicated his pleasure in the competition’s conduct, lauding the participants’ competitive spirits. The relay

competition will be followed by a day of sports that will see the Officers and Other Ranks involved in competitive games of cricket, football, and volleyball, among others.

The competition is one in a series of events scheduled to be held in celebration of the GDF’s 56th Anniversary.

GFF Exco approves special five-day Transfer Window from Nov 8

The GFF Executive Committee has approved a special five-day transfer window, starting on November 8th.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Executive Committee has given the green light to a special five-day transfer window, starting on Monday, November 8th, to enable the movement of players between clubs in the run-up to the senior men’s and women’s year-end football bonanza.

The decision follows a meeting with the ten Elite League clubs to address challenges ahead of the safe and fair return of play. The transfer window will close at midnight on Friday, November 12th.

“We want to make sure all our clubs and players have equal opportunity to prepare in the best possible way for the upcoming year-end tournaments,” said GFF President Wayne Forde. “We encourage clubs and players to make the best use of this special transfer window, and we hope that any resulting transfer activity will build excitement among fans as we prepare for this year end festival of football.”

The GFF will host three tournaments over the Christmas and New Year holiday season – the GFF-Kashif & Shanghai Super 16 Cup, the GFF Women’s Super 16 Cup, and the GFF Futsal Championship Cup.