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Kirk Hollingsworth NEWS got 3,200 square feet land, not acres - lawyer says

Tuesday Edition

AIETEUR

November 12, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 47

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 130,757

ExxonMobil banks on Guyana for 20% of its global crude …company now offering stock for high interest at rock bottom prices

Who will pay for the damaged road?

A driver was seen operating this heavy duty excavator on Croal Street Saturday.

(Photo Credit: Brian Andre Smith)

Man caught on camera chopping street dweller to death Not enough house lots to meet demand - Minister Hughes

Another miner Jamaican woman seeks killed in mining $70M for false imprisonment pit collapse …spent nine months pending deportation Non-performing Two years later…

Ruling on SOCU Special constitutionality Prosecutor of SARA Act could be charged still on hold

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday November 12, 2019

Non-performing SOCU Special Prosecutor could be charged - Source A

ccording to well placed sources, S p e c i a l Prosecutor Lawrence Harris could be charged for a breach of contract in relation to his absence from a court proceeding. He was fighting a court case on behalf of the state. Upon taking office in 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition Government, hired six attorneys to represent the state in corruption cases levied against certain high ranking officials. These lawyers were placed under the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Apart from Attorney-atlaw Harris, the lawyers retained were Michael Somersall, Hewley Griffith, Patrice Henry, Compton Richardson, and Trenton Lake.

The failure of Special Prosecutor, Lawrence Harris, to turn up at court caused Guyana the loss of a corruption case. In relation to that matter, Senior

Magistrate Leron Daly threw out four charges against the six former high-ranking officials of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

These officials were slapped with fraud-related charges and placed on $500,000 bail each for failing to make a proper entry into a register of a company with the intent to defraud $362M from the entity's Republic Bank account.

Based on information from several persons, Special Prosecutor Harris can be charged for a breach of contract. This is because, upon being retained by the State, the special prosecutors were given a contract to sign as agreement to go behind these cases.

The selection was very simple as the lawyers were told what the cases of interest are and they were given the opportunity to choose which matter they would like to go after. It is still unclear why the prosecutor was absent from the proceeding.

However, sources hinted that it could be as a result of poor preparation of cases.

For all the cases that were thus far brought before the courts, SOCU is yet to secure a conviction in any of the matters. The cases were mainly thrown out based on i n s u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n c e .

Moreover, the penalty or penalties Attorney-at-law Harris faces if it is found that he breached his contract will be to pay compensation to the victims and also pay for damages to that persons' name, character, reputation, etc.

Dismissal of Court Case The officials charged were former GRDB General Manager, Jagnarine Singh; former Deputy General Manager, Madanlall Ramraj; General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association ( R PA ) , D h a r a m k u m a r Seeraj; former Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Nigel Dharamlall; former General Manager of the Guyana Oil Company, Badrie Persaud,

and the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Finance), Ministry of Agriculture, Prema Roopnarine.

Attorneys-at-law Glenn Hanoman, Anil Nandlall and Sase Gunraj represented the defendants.

The charges alleged that between January 1 and December 31, 2012, with intent to defraud, they omitted or concurred to be omitted $77.3M from the general ledger of the GRDB's Republic Bank account.

S i m i l a r l y, b e t w e e n January 1 and December 31 of the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 with intent to defraud the entity, they omitted or concurred to be omitted from the said Republic Bank account, $9.7M, $130M and $145M for the three respective years. They all had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In August 2019, following the dismissal of the first charge against the officials, the defence counsel had asked for the other charges to also be dismissed.

That charge had alleged that in 2011 at 166 -177 Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown, they omitted to enter some $52M in the GRDB ledger.

Special Prosecutor Harris, was given time to be briefed by SOCU and report to the court whether they are proceeding with the other charges or withdrawing them against the defendants.

The Special Prosecutor failed to return to the court and an order was made by the magistrate for a court notice to be sent to him.

On October 2, last, which was the adjournment date after the court notice, the prosecutor did show up.

However, his report remained the same – that he had to be briefed by SOCU. Another adjournment was given and again the prosecutor did not show up.

According to information, the prosecutor did not show up on three different occasions and the defence counsel kept fighting for a dismissal of the charges. Magistrate Daly

eventually upheld their fight and dismissed the charges against the officials.

GRDB is the authority charged with overseeing the rice industry throughout the country. With regards to the GRDB report, it was noted that over a three to four-year period, more than US$500M from the PetroCaribe proceeds (Venezuela ricefor-oil deal) would have passed through the accounts of the entity. Among some of the “anomalies� found were loans without proper paperwork or promissory notes. There were other instances of persons in the agency using GRDB's money to trade in foreign currency.

The losses for the Government would have been significant, especially if the money was traded for less than it should have been.

The Auditor General and the forensic audit reports have all pointed to severe deficiencies in the manner the monies of the state have been handled by the entities.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 12, 2019

PAGE 03

ExxonMobil banks on Guyana for 20% of its global crude E

xxonMobil stocks during the third quarter for this financial year, have seen its share prices plummet on the world market, to the point where it has begun offering shares at lower rates with higher returns, while banking on Guyana to bring in about 20 percent of its annual crude production in the near future.

According to market reports, the company's stock is now being offered at a nine-year low, while a dividend yield of 5.2

percent—the highest offer in two decades—is being promised.

In fact, the company has been unable to substantially increase its production in recent years. Output fell from 4.2 million barrels per day in 2012 to 4.0 million barrels per day in 2014 and has remained on a plateau since.

The company is, as such, placing considerable importance on its discovery of more than six billion barrels in the Stabroek Block off the Guyana coast.

…company now offering stock for high interest at rock bottom prices While other companies have drilled about 40 dry holes in the area, Exxon boasts an 87 percent exploration success rate.

ExxonMobil has almost doubled its estimated reserves in the area since early 2018, from 3.2 to 6.0 billion barrels now.

The Oil Giant is now poised to produce at least

750,000 barrels per day in Guyana by 2025, which is almost 20 percent of the current output, according to company disclosures.

The company has thus projected a resumption of positive growth, its total output next year, for the first time in more than a decade.

ExxonMobil, as such, is expecting to grow its

Kirk Hollingsworth got 3,200 square feet, not acres - lawyer says

Kirk Hollingsworth

T

he Official Gazette appeared to have erred by suggesting that a North Ruimveldt resident benefited from almost 3,200 acres of land in the Georgetown area.

In fact, says attorney-atlaw, Emily Dodson, the '3,200 acres' should really read square feet.

She said that the transaction was the result of Kirk Collingsworth regularising his occupation of his house lot in North Ruimveldt. The size of the house lot is 80 feet by 40 feet.

The story gathered steam yesterday with persons expressing shock at the amount of lands involved.

It was explained that it was impossible for such a large plot to be available in the Ruimveldt area.

According to Official Gazette publications of November 2, 2019, the land has been awarded to Kirk Andrew Hollingsworth, a

A screenshot of the Official Gazette notice North Ruimveldt resident.

According to the Official Gazette publication, the parcel of land is known as 2242 Block XXX Zone, East Bank Demerara.

The application for the land appeared to have been made in 2017.

Hollingsworth was actually awarded 3,199.92 square feet, according to the Official Gazette.

The order, signed by Tandika Adams, on behalf of the Commission of Title,

was made on October 14, 2019.

Hollingsworth is a director of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. and was a former Executive Director of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

He was also reported as a member of the African Business Roundtable Executive, where he was promoting the Green Guyana Expo and International Small Business

Summit.

The publication had raised eyebrows with the Opposition which said it will protest the transaction this week.

Hollingsworth, according to his Linkedin.com account, said he is a former British Diplomat, serving at senior levels with the British Government- (UK, Caribbean, Middle East and Southern Africa) for over 25 years.

earnings per share by 135 percent, from $3.59 in 2017 to $8.44 in 2025, assuming an average oil price of $60 in 2025. Earnings growth is expected to be much higher if the oil price exceeds $60 in 2025.

The company will be taking the first three lifts of crude oil from Guyana's Stabroek Block when production commences in the coming month from the Liza D e s t i n y, F l o a t i n g , Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel.

Director of Guyana's Energy Department, Dr. Mark Bynoe, this past week confirmed that ExxonMobil

(Guyana) would be uplifting the first entitlement of crude to be produced by the FPSO. The parties are expected to conclude a Crude Lifting Agreement (CLA) this week, which aims to articulate the terms and conditions under which ExxonMobil and its partners—Hess, CNOOCNEXEN, and the Government of Guyana will collect each entitlement of crude.

According to, Energy Director, the agreement not only sets up the schedule for crude cargo lifts based on volume entitlements, but also lays out the strict procedures for efficient crude lifting.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 12, 2019

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Guyana’s amnesia and myopia Just a while back, there was secrecy, abuse, assault, and felonies. There was a criminal type of economy, with an architecture built to prosper and partner with a collaborating government. Today, it is as if none of those ever happened.

Where are the ethics of those making much noise today, their values, now that they have summoned courage, something resembling conviction? What happened to their memory of that way of life that sunk all, except a favoured few? What did become of the eyesight of those who once lamented an environment of psychological terror? Today, amnesia and myopia reign supreme as they cry for Barabbas.

They have decided that they can live with thieves, but not with clean tax collectors, for those are menacing heresies.

All those billion-dollar projects that, to some degree, are still shrouded in mystery, and they forget. Forget all the shady businesses that flourished, but the tax monies went everywhere but to the State Treasury. That is what the newly revived smart money men desire heartily.

Perhaps, they prefer the supply side school of economics that was practised and perfected in the glory years with the booze and babes and bankrolls and big machines worth the abject, craven kowtowing to the vicious and vindictive.

They want more and will sell, including what is left, if anything, of ethics and character for grabbing the quickest dollar; that elixir to the addict, who see nothing wrong with a little pubic prostitution of self, of so-called wisdom. Go for it!This ranges from being allowed by cooperating political leaders and powers to drink rum 24-7, batter spouses, neighbourhoods, and civilities, to be allowed by the same venal politicians to desecrate the city and seawall by throwing our garbage wherever we please, only for the rains and tides to remind us of how inseparable we are from our garbage; and to park wherever political heroes and friends support us in doing.

These are the street-level standards that point to the barbarities that Guyanese once relished and now yearn for more.At the heights in power boardrooms, the kingpins preside over narcotics dens and money laundering havens in the national economic free-for-all that enriched the favoured, and their political conspirators, those economic magnates want more freedom, less rules.

The political people rejected generous security reforms before so they can protect their generous friends. Those are the ones getting the protection; it is not the poor supporter, waiting for largely tainted law enforcement to answer, to investigate cleanly, and to pursue aggressively.

Let’s have more of that, they say.

The white-collar professionals exhibited many lapses, all enriching, they want more, through hoping for a place on the inside. They can have it, if their political fellows consent to remembering them afterwards.

At least, they can be assured of a free hand to cheat on their taxes and game the system for personal or professional benefit, which has its own kind of people, plenty of them.

Who wants to do anything with any of them, be they benefactor or beneficiary?

As said many times before, some recoil from the mere thought of returning to and living with a certain kind of governance, with certain kinds of standards, by certain kinds of governors. There is struggling with what is present, which is not as bad, but not too far off in so many troubling respects.

The hustlers listen, they learn, they wait for the change that allows for particular licences. Today is the day still being waited upon by honest citizens for what could truly transform, as this government promised, occasionally delivered, and mostly disappointed.

To return to Roman times, principled Guyanese find themselves caught between two thieves. There is a government that is its own worst enemy (and doubted), an opposition that is all about itself (and distrusted), and newcomers (dismissed) that may lack the opportunity to let their merits serve as testimony to betterment.

Why would the current US president undo policies that were providing Cubans an improved quality of life?

DEAR EDITOR, I am writing this letter from Havana, Cuba, where I have been over the past week attending the Havana International Fair and Expo and cannot resist the compulsion to publicly express the folly of the Trump policy toward this Caribbean island nation.

The recently imposed restrictions/sanctions, which represent a reversal of the Obama policy that is responsible for enhancing the quality of life of the Cuban people, coupled with the continuing embargo, do nothing but hurt the Cuban people….especially women and children.

I have visited Cuba a few times since 2015 and was afforded the opportunity to witness the efforts of private Cuban citizens, perhaps with help from their relatives in the US, upgrade their homes, get involved in business enterprises and enjoy aspects of American popular culture including music, movies and dance. One could not help but admire and appreciate that finally there was emerging a seat at the hemispheric table for the citizens of every nation of the Americas.

Why would the current

US president undo policies that were providing Cubans an improved quality of life and access to those aspects of western-style democracy which they are prepared to embrace?

As if the reversal of the policies of President Obama is not enough, the current US president has recently imposed sanctions and restrictions on remittances as well as US airline service to all cities in Cuba except Havana as from December 10, thus making it more difficult for Americans who had begun to enjoy visiting Cuba on vacation.

Cuban Americans had also begun returning home for the Holiday Season each year to be with loved ones.

Further, because of Cuba’s support for Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, the US president has threatened to punish countries that help Cuba, especially those that would facilitate Venezuelan fuel getting to Cuba. The fuel situation in Cuba has now occasioned long lines at gas stations and the sporadic availability of fuel.

What one finds hard to reconcile is how this US president, a friend of President Putin of Russia, is seeking to

punish Cuba over its Venezuela policy which is no different from Putin’s.

Will he be punishing Russia and China which have embarked on major projects in Cuba to help develop electrification and railroad transportation? Will he punish Putin?

Can he punish Putin?

During the recent FIHAV, Cuba expressed interest, as it has done previously, in a number of products from CARICOM member countries. The problem with supplying Cuba is mainly with the length of time some private sector companies have to wait on payments - up to 360 days in some cases. I was informed sometime ago that Republic Bank, which has an office in Havana, offers a form of line of credit under which it pays a part of the invoice to CARICOM suppliers which provide for some upfront payment which is later recovered from the Cuban buyers. I am not sure how well this has worked thus far.

However, from my interaction with representatives of the CARICOM private sector at the event, the payment issue remains a barrier to expanded trade, seemingly except for Jamaican enterprises

which apparently benefit from an arrangement put in place by its government to advance payments to suppliers to the Cuban market.

I would like to recommend that CARICOM governments, perhaps through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), examine putting in place a trade credit arrangement that could provide for companies to supply critically needed products to Cuba and receive payments in the usual 30 to 60 days timeframe, with Cuban repaying the CDB over an extended period of time. This would be a “win win” situation for both Cuba and CARICOM, as Cuba would get much needed supplies and CARICOM producers would enjoy an expanded export market.

CARICOM should not be afraid of any reprisals for entering such an arrangement with Cuba. CARICOM member states must seek to maintain excellent relations with the US. They should negotiate for it when necessary, even sacrifice for it when necessary but never surrender for it.

Regards Wesley Kirton

GUYANA SHOULD WORK TOWARDS MARIJUANA LAWS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE US DEAR EDITOR, Any government has the right to criminalize or even regulate the use of cannabis, and the recent proposal to the Cabinet, which will allow for the removal of custodial jail sentences for the possession of up to thirty (30) grams of cannabis (as part of its move to reduce prison populations) should raise concerns for the future marijuana laws of Guyana to be in accordance with international standards.

If Guyana were to adopt laws similar to that of the United States of America and Jamaica, this new marijuana proposal would also spark questions on local imports and exports of legal quantities of the drug.

Were Guyana to act in accordance with this international standard, the country would definitely see the establishment of Cannabis Licensing Authorities and regulating bodies, i.e., if the Government of Guyana does not decide to regulate cannabis on its own, which would be something great, because somewhere in this local plea bargain is a farmer reaping and distributing cannabis in large quantities (Guyana has one of the best climates and high-fertility soils for growing marijuana),

and this should not be allowed through the new law, expect of course, with a licence.

With this being said, the majority of cannabis in Guyana is locally farmed, and it is these farmers who would be the main cause of the local marijuana possession, and if nothing will be done about them, marijuana quantities will be on a greater scale in Guyana than ever before.

So henceforth, I would like to propose that the Government of Guyana regulate and distribute marijuana through dispensaries, outlets etc. so that people can have a safe way to fund what is mainly nowadays, a recreational habit, or if not, a medical or medicinal support or requirement - and thereby prevent the local need of mixing with the criminalized local marijuana sources and going to the ‘’blocks’’ or ‘’farms’’ for marijuana.

If not the government, it would be great to have licensed cafes and marijuana shops as is seen internationally, with ‘’experienced’’ people who actually know about what they have and not just anybody with an interest in selling or money – meaning, and as straight to point as can be, the person should have experience

and knowledge of marijuana through its ingestion.

Now one of my major concerns with this proposal is that no real discussion or public forum has been launched to highlight the outcome of such a law, as Guyana would have to look at international marijuana laws as a guideline, e.g. the United States of America and Jamaica.

There is a lot of international research and data which promotes it as a medicinal herb with a variety of positive benefits, which can be ingested in many ways, and it is used by people of all races and cultures, so if Guyana’s laws were to allow half of what Jamaica is allowing, without decriminalization, local steps must be taken to authorize mari-

juana sales and even regulate its use.

I think Guyana should follow in the steps of the United States of America, and work towards marijuana laws that are similar to theirs (Jamaica would have followed this) and create grounds for the legal and recreationally used ‘’medicinal marijuana’’, which is authorized and regulated by the government.

International laws have also created ways that allow recreational purchases of marijuana in legal quantities, as not everyone who uses the herb is medically in need of it, and therefore would not be able to acquire a medical certificate to purchase it.

Yours sincerely Michael Khan

WHAT TATTOOS DO TO YOUR BODY DEAR EDITOR, The tattoo business on human bodies has become more common in today’s world, mostly among youths and a set of adults. Tattoos breach the skin which means that infections and other complications are possible. Tattoo dyes can also cause allergic reactions. There are strict guidelines on tattooed people donating blood.

It is time for our Public Health Ministry to sensitize our people about tattoos on human bodies.

Yours Faithfully, Parmanand Ram

Tuesday November 12, 2019

ARE WE GETTING THERE? DEAR EDITOR, Just recently, Minister Sharma announced that massive steps will be taken against the inferior electrical products being imported and a timeframe would be given for the plans to be fully executed.

Immediately I got mixed feelings about this. Is this a political gimmick to gain mileage or are they serious?

During the PPPC’s tenure, I penned my disapproval about these inferior products that are on the shelves and my experience using them on the client’s house wasn’t much to my approval, but because of the expense, there wasn’t an option, even though I strongly objected to using them.

To my knowledge, the quality products were replaced with the inferior products for the same price and

the quality product price was jacked up enormously.

Should this plan materialize, I would be quite pleased, because people’s houses would be safer and they would save a lot. This is so, since many times I would have to go and change inferior products maybe two/three times a year and had they bought the quality products, they would have saved in the long run.

Editor, approximately twelve years ago, I penned my experience buying medicine for my just born baby and the horrible time I had getting the place to be checked because they were re-stamping the drugs after they had expired.

Sadly the drugs were seized but the crooks still carry on business as usual.

Expired products are easily obtainable everywhere and not being taken off the

shelves/markets, neither is anyone being charged, even though you could trace to the importer. While government officials are jumping up and tooting their horns, they should know that the relevant agencies responsible are very incompetent.

Look around the country, you will see millions of dollars are spent to create billboards to promote the government’s achievements, but if you want to report somewhere selling expired drugs you are lost. In other words, expired drugs are rampant throughout Guyana and instead of seeing billboards to educate people about where or who to call, they are promoting themselves. The previous administration was the same.

What a wonderful country we living in.

Sahadeo Bates

The choice for Guyana in 2020 could not be clearer or starker DEAR EDITOR, Guyana, according to Bloomberg Markets, is about to become the world’s newest petrostate and potentially the richest.

U.S investment bank, Morgan Stanley, reports that Guyana is projected to be among the world’s largest per capita oil producers and estimates of its reserves, which currently stand at over 6.6 billion barrels of oil and gas, is expected to be revised higher over the next 12 months with additional appraisal and exploration.

Dr. C.Y. Thomas, earlier this year, had presented a “bullish estimate of 13 – 15 billion barrels of high-quality oil as Guyana’s reserve potential” with the capacity at maximum output of 1.5 – 2.5 million barrels of high-quality crude oil per day.

Guyana already accounts for 15% of conventional oil discoveries made globally since 2015 with the discovery of 16 wells, in less than 5 years, by ExxonMobil and Tullow Oil in the Stabroek and Orinduik blocks offshore Guyana and the potential for more crude strikes remain high as exploration and development are moving forward elsewhere in Exxon’s Stabroek block as well as the Orinduik and Kanuku blocks, and the

government has accelerated the drilling programmes for Tullow Oil, Repsol and CGX Energy.

Industry analysts have described Guyana as the world’s most “oil-rich country per capita” and assess that Guyana could become the second-largest oil producer in South America behind only Brazil, surpassing Venezuela, and OPEC’s 12th largest member after Angola.

Guyana’s oil sector already boasts an impressive roster of leading exploration companies in the world including companies from the USA, UK, Canada, Spain, France, Qatar and China, and others are seeking to join. Its economy, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$3.63 billion, a growth rate of 4.1% in 2018 and 4.6% in 2019 and the lowest public debt in the Caribbean, is expected to further grow by 33.5% and 22.9% in 2020 and 2021 respectively with petroleum activities to account for about 40% of GDP by 2024.

Guyana is expected to earn an estimated US$300 million next year as Exxon ramps up to 120,000 bpd which could increase to more than US$5 billion by 2025, with production of more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day utilizing five FPSOs in the Stabroek

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Kaieteur News

block.

Multilateral agencies, like the IMF, have applauded the government’s “plans to establish a comprehensive legal framework for managing oil wealth”, and along with the World Bank and IDB are collaborating with the government in providing technical assistance and advisory services to build national capacity in the oil and gas sector.

The Natural Resource Fund (NRF) which was created earlier this year sets out the framework and rules for the management of petroleum revenues and includes rules for deposits, investments, withdrawals, reporting and auditing and a mechanism for public oversight.

In addition to the establishment and upgrading of the Department of Energy, several (Continued on page 6)

The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh DEAR EDITOR, Today, November 12th 2019 marks the two hundred and second birth anniversary of Baha’u’llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith.

The advent of Baha’u’llah marked for Bahia’s all over the world, of all racial and cultural backgrounds, the promised return of the prophets of old, the renewal of religion and the revelation of a new, divine, spiritual and social cycle destined to spread peace and unity around the globe.

There are currently several million people of all racial and cultural backgrounds called Baha’is, in every country on earth, and who follow His divine and universal teachings, based on the oneness of mankind.

Baha’is regard Baha’u’llah as the promised Lord of Hosts of the Jews; the reincarnation of Krishna and the Tenth Avatar to the Hindus; the fifth Buddha, named Maitreye, the Buddha of universal fellowship to the Buddhists; the return of Christ in the glory of the Father to the Christians; the return of the Imam Husayn to the Shi’a Muslims; the descent of the

Spirit of God to the Sunnis.

Baha’u’llah fulfills the prophecies and promises of the world’s great Faiths, consummating and confirming all of the religious revelations of the past.

Baha’is see the appearance of Baha’u’llah as the return of the spiritual springtime, reviving the souls and establishing a new Faith, a new reality and a new spiritual oneness among all humanity.

In April 1890, Professor Edward Granville Browne of Cambridge University met Bahá’u’lláh in his prison cell in Akka, Israel, and after his four successive interviews, Professor Browne wrote of his first meeting: “The face of Him on Whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one’s very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow. No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain.”

He was the first known Westerner who met Baha’u’llah

Addressing mankind, Baha’u’llah stated, “Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the drops of one ocean”.

Bahá’u’lláh passed away peacefully as still a prisoner to the rulers of the erstwhile Ottoman Empire on May 29, 1892.

Throughout Guyana there are several local Baha’i administrative communities, and in Georgetown, the national administrative centre and National Assembly. There are to date several hundred Guyanese from all racial backgrounds who are Baha’is.

The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh is one of nine holy days in the Bahá’í calendar that is celebrated by Bahá’ís and during which work is suspended for Baha’is.

Bahá’u’lláh was born on 12 November 1817 in Tehran, Iran, and this holy day was instituted in the Kitáb-iAqdas, His book of laws, where Bahá’u’lláh first refers to four great festivals of the Baha’i Faith.

The cardinal teachings of Bahá’u’lláh is the oneness of mankind. He stated in His holy writings that the world is one country and mankind (Continued on page 6)

LEADING CANDIDATE DEAR EDITOR, The country is now on the political carousel; bells are ringing, horses with riders going up and down. The bells are so loud that none can hear what the political actors say as they seek to arrive at positions of power. Everyone has seen promises get lost between Election Day and presence in parliament.

Guyana will not move from its disappointing past if its people continue to employ the standard predictable developmental malaise as their track record ably demonstrates.

The most consistent voice, over the years, pointing to the inert weakness of the country is the outstanding and honourable Raymond Gaskin, Esq. No one can put any argument against anything he espouses. If Guyanese sincerely want progress for themselves; their choice is simple.

I saw where he suggests his party’s name as: GUYANA FIRST, may I offer to include INTEREST, so we have Guyana Interest First?

All hail! Raymond Gaskin for President!

John De Barros

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Tuesday November 12, 2019

The choice for Guyana in 2020 could...

MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT FOR From page 5 way to severe poverty like so the Natural Resources Fund agencies like the many resource-rich countries Act. THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTIONS government Guyana Revenue Authority have done previously.

This has been the ratio-

DEAR EDITOR, In March 2020, Guyanese will cast their votes to decide which party will govern us as we become an oil-producing nation. This has huge implications for all of us, as it is pivotal that we choose leaders who will put aside partisan differences and make prudent decisions that will be beneficial for all.

I want to encourage my fellow citizens to explore governance options outside of the PPP and PNC. There are several new political formations who intend to contest for leadership, and each of these groups was born out of frustration with the way our country’s governance has been shaped by the two major forces who have governed post-Independence. I’ve lived in Guyana all my life, and am yet to see transformative change happen.

Sure, we have had moments when a few new roads have been built, schools commissioned and other

endeavours undertaken to improve our quality of life, but we must ask ourselves the direct question: ‘Have I seen holistic development, constitutional reform and consistent policies that have really improved my circumstances?’ Partisanship and racial divisions have littered our journey to 2020, and this is because we, the people, have allowed ourselves to ‘play it safe’ and vote for what we are accustomed to instead of what we deserve.

There are many who view the formation of new political parties as opportunistic moves to position and cash in on our incumbent oil revenue, and while I understand the skepticism, I would like to point out that this is the first time in our country’s history that we are positioned for oil.

Many of the new groups have come about because their core membership understands how important the next election is, and we can ill afford to continue chasing our tail as a nation.

The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh From page 5 is one, i.e., there is only one race -the human race, and that we are like different colours of flowers in one garden.

On this holy day, some Baha’is devote the day attending to the poor and the homeless.

Regards Rooplall Dudhnath

I encourage my fellow Guyanese to take their time, listen to the new groups and ask hard questions. There is no obligation to vote for anyone, including the traditional giants.

We should however feel obligated to invest our votes wisely to ensure we have competent minds untainted by partisan history leading our country into new horizons.

We have the power to hire and fire our leaders, let’s ensure we shop around smart.

Go to the community outreaches, public meetings and other campaign activities, and ask as many questions as you can about what the new groups want to do and how they intend to do it.

We must vote for leaders who have a plan and are able to walk us through their vision, so we can see the endgame as being beneficial for us all.

It will take courage, patriotism, pragmatism and an open mind for our country to install the leadership necessary to realize our potential as a progressive, inclusive and wonderful nation of proud people. You can do it, we can do it.

Sincerely, Shazaam Ally The Citizenship Initiative

(GRA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and MARAD are also being strengthened as Guyana steps up preparations for the lifting and marketing of oil.

The government is also working with our neighbours and other friendly countries, international agencies, firms and NGOs to develop human and institutional capacity and plans for dealing with developments in the oil sector, including the development of a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan.

The expectation and desire for a bright future based on unprecedented economic growth powered by the oil and gas sector is not shared by everyone, but for different reasons.

Some persons, like Jamil Changlee, argue that “we would be better off with the oil left in the ground” and Melinda Janki, an international conservation lawyer, opines that the “oil dream is really a nightmare” and predicts the collapse of the oil industry in the near future due to international climate change efforts.

Others confidently and regularly predict that Guyana would succumb to the dreaded “Dutch disease” and mismanage and corrupt its

In the view of the latter, oil wealth inevitably leads to economic distortions and dependence, burgeoning social and economic inequality, ecological and environmental disasters, political corruption and instability and conflict.

While these persons may be opposed to the oil sector on some principle, the opposition of others seems to be driven by opposition to the APNU+AFC government and political ambition which led to the No Confidence Vote (NCV) and the continued attacks on the President, Cabinet, the National Assembly, the Guyana Elections Commission and the courts.

These persons have sought to portray the country as a pariah state, administered by an illegal, unconstitutional and corrupt administration, and to encourage international actors to curtail relations with Guyana, to suspend cooperation, assistance and investments and to impose punitive sanctions.

The Leader of the Opposition has maintained that because of the passage of the NCV, the APNU+AFC government “is not in any capacity to work with the development of the oil sector” and therefore his party will not support any government initiatives and seek to replace

nale for the NCV and at the heart of PPP/C decision-making since the almost immediate public announcement of oil discoveries following their loss in the 2015 elections.

Recently, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, felt compelled to warn against those forces which have become “envious and skeptical of the country’s progress and prospects” and are seeking to disrupt and prevent progress in Guyana. Centuries ago, William Shakespeare issued a similar warning: “It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, and that craves wary walking”.

President David Granger has declared that oil production will be the most transformative economic development in Guyana’s history and that APNU+AFC will lead the country into a “Decade of Development” which will lay the foundation for sustained progress and prosperity through the prudent management of petroleum resources and the repositioning of the economy for rapid and sustainable development which will be underpinned by the Green State Development Strategy.

According to the President, the Decade of Development will “witness the emergence of a world-class education system” and include at least 10 major sectors, including: economic expansion, diversification, restructuring, value-added manufacturing and food security; energy security and transition to renewable and clean energy; environmentally sustainable management of natural resources; infrastructural expansion, aviation and river transport and hinterland development; internationally competitive trade and investment; increased investment and improvement in national and public security; empowerment of regional and local communities; eradication of extreme poverty, homelessness and destitution; and institutional strengthening and constitutional reform for good governance.

Government is also looking at the construction of a US$500M onshore oilfield services hub on Crab Island on the Berbice River and the possible development of a deep-water harbour as well as the establishment of a 188megawatt power plant powered by natural gas.

The choice for Guyana in 2020 could not be clearer or starker.

Sincerely Oscar Dolphin

Tuesday November 12, 2019

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

CDB charges region to tackle shortfalls in business climate

By Kemol King The reforms that are needed to improve the business environment are not monumental in nature. They are “low hanging fruits”, and Governments should be proactive in implementing them, according to President of the Caribbean Development Bank, William Warren Smith.

He was, at the time, addressing the 2019 Caribbean Forum on Regional Transformation for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, in Bridgetown, Barbados.

In the presence of cohosts for the forum, the Barbadian Government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Smith charged the public sector to take heed of its responsibility for creating an environment that is “appropriate” for the private sector, as it strives for economic growth. The forum is one of many that are used to devise fruitful strategies for the region to work on, as it bides complete regional integration.

The World Banks Doing Business 2020 report had pointed out that the economies of the Caribbean carried out a record 19 reforms and that 11 of 16 economies implemented business-facilitating reforms primarily focused on starting a business, getting electricity, paying taxes, and enforcing contracts.

President of the Caribbean Development Bank, William Warren Smith (CDB Website) But there is more to be done. The Caribbean Banks President identified and corroborated starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity services, and trading across borders as key areas that need attention across the region.

He said that reforms to these could take place very quickly and with minimal effort, if these countries would just take advantage of the criticisms. He cautioned countries to use the criticisms as an opportunity for targeted redress.

The report, which analyses the ease of doing busi-

ness of 190 countries, has placed Guyana at rank 134/ 190 same as last year but with a worse score.

Notably, Jamaica (71/190), Trinidad and Tobago (105/ 190), and Barbados (128/190) are all ahead of Guyana.

Guyanas overall score on the report is 55.5, down from 55.6 in the previous report.

The slight decrease was caused by the country now being a little more difficult to trade across borders, according to the World Bank. That indicator measures the costs, regulations and the time taken to trade, and finds Guyana ranking 151/190.

The report found that Guyana made trading across borders more expensive by increasing the fees for mandatory inspection through scanners for exports, thereby increasing the cost of export border compliance.

Guyanas Getting Electricity indicator sees the country having one of the worst ratings in the region and in the world 170/190. That indicator considers procedures, time, and cost to get connected to the electrical grid; the reliability of the electricity supply; and the transparency of tariffs. The issue has plagued Guyana for years.

Kaieteur News has undertaken to identify, with the help of leaders in the business community, solutions for pub-

Rehabilitation of Parika Ferry Stelling given new deadline The Parika Ferry Stelling, which was scheduled for renovations about two years ago, has been given yet another extended deadline. According to General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department, Marcellene Merchant, the contractors have been given about three weeks to complete the work. Merchant had previously explained that the planned renovation and rehabilitation of the Parika Stelling will be done in phases. The Parika Ferry Stelling is among projects to undergo extensive rehabilitation under a US$15M loan has already been secured from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to cater for the upgrade.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, said, “We will rehabilitate the Parika Stelling completely, with similar features to that of the Bartica Stelling.

“It will have commercial space, a shed so that persons can go there and sell their produce, persons can also open a restaurant or two.

“It just wouldn’t have the opening that the Bartica Stelling has,” Minister Patterson explained. The CDB loan will also finance the upgrade of the Lethem airstrip into a regional hub and international aero-

drome. This imminent upgrade is a fulfilment of the Ministry’s commitment to rehabilitation of infrastructure across Guyana.

Additionally, tenders have already been presented for feasibility studies of the Stabroek Wharf and the Waterfront Recreational Areas.

The work on the Stabroek

Wharf is expected to commence before the end of the year.

In the 2018 budget, $250M was allocated, for the upgrade of stellings at Bartica and Leguan.

A further $160M was allocated to support the reconstruction of the Vreed-en-Hoop and Stabroek Stellings, into modern water taxi terminals.

lic sector actors to implement for the improvement of the local business environment.

Already, former Private Sector Commission (PSC) Vice Chair and former Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President, Deodat Indar, has pointed out that the long and onerous process of getting a construction permit could be remedied by simply having a

single unit process them.

Deodat and other business had explained that they would have to go from agency to agency, depending on the nature of the intended construction, to secure all approvals, and that that would typically take months.

For ease of getting construction permits, Guyana currently scores 52.5/100, placing it at rank 167/190.

Time and the procedures of the process are listed as two factors of this indicator that need refining. Furthermore, World Banks building quality control index, which assesses the quality of building regulations, quality control before, during, and after construction, liability and insurance regimes, and professional certifications indices, finds Guyana ranking poorly.

PAGE 8

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

Two years later…

Ruling on Constitutionality of SARA Act still on hold The ruling on the legal challenge to the State Assets Recovery Agency,(SARA), is still pending. This is two years after the case filed by social commentator and activist Ramon Gaskin was completed in the High Court.

Gaskin has been questioning the reason behind the

delay in the case. He noted that the decision in the case, which was filed in 2017 has seen considerable delays.

The social activist has since written to Chief Justice Roxane George to query the reasons for the delay, noting that the con-

siderable impact the constitutional motion can have on the State Assets Recovery Agency, a department critical to protecting and recovering stolen or misused resources belonging to the State.

Already one case filed

by SARA against Queens

Atlantic Investment Inc. (QAII), the company which bought the Sanata Complex— a sprawling industrial estate sitting on prime land —has been put on hold to facilitate the ruling on the SARA. SARA is looking to recover over $3B from the sale of the Sanata Complex.

However in the Fixed Date Application, Attorney-at- law for Gaskin, Devindra Kissoon, cited 37 challenges to the Act, which he deemed unconstitutional, unlawful and void.

It would be recalled that following the May 2015 general elections, the Coalition Government announced that it was establishing SARA to go after properties and resources stolen from the people.

However, SARA’s power was not covered by any laws, and the administration then moved to introduce legislation.

The Bill was assented to in May; however, there have been misgivings about the new laws, with some opining that too much power would be in the hands of the State Assets Recovery Agency.

According to the court documents filed, the challenges are centered on a number of key issues, including interfering with the legal professional privilege and the

Social Activist, Ramon Gaskin. possible violating of a citizen’s right to privacy, by allowing the Director of the State Assets Recovery Agency to access confidential financial information from banks and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) without a court order.

Gaskin is arguing that the Act does not give a citizen equal protection before the law and there are no requirements to have reasonable grounds to commence investigations.

It is also being argued that the Act violates the doctrine of separation of powers, since it directs the Court how to act in certain circumstances, and even allows exparte orders to be granted

without procedural safeguards to protect citizen’s interests, or without providing that the orders be limited in duration.

The ex-parte orders seemed to be a major bone of contention, as it is felt that a citizen would not be in a position to cross-examine an officer about the contents of his affidavit to show its unreliability or otherwise.

Another issue that is being raised, Gaskin said, is that the Act also permits proceedings to be filed and heard in secrecy, in violation of Section 144(9) of the Constitution, which requires all civil court matters to be heard in public.

This, in effect, will reverse the burden of proof in criminal proceedings, interfering with a citizen’s right to the presumption of innocence and his/her right to silence and his constitution right of protection against self-incrimination.

Also being challenged is Parliament’s “impermissible” powers of appointment of the staff of the St a t e A s s e t s R e c o v e r y Agency; and that of the Minister of Public Security to appoint policemen in violation of Article 212(1) of the Constitution.

Gaskin is also challenging the Act “unlawfully” affords the Director and Staff of SARA absolute immunity for all actions and restricts the amount of damages that can be recovered against them for their conduct.

The Act in its present form has been met by huge criticism from various public interest groups, including the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and the Private Sector Commission.

Tuesday November 12, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

OVERPAYMENT AND UNDERPAYMENT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE The claim of a 75% increases in public service pay over the past four years is yet another of the ingenious claims of the APNU+AFC government. There have been no such increases across the board.

The APNU+AFC is contending that since it came into office it has increased public service wages by 62%. It has arrived at this figure almost in the same manner as it has contended that 34 is the majority of 65.

In 2013, the PPPC administration had established a baseline minimum wage for all workers in the country. Such a minimum wage did not exist at the time. It was set at $35,000 per month. The reality, however, is that very few public servants, if any at all were working for $35,000 per month.

When the PPPC was booted out of office in 2015, the national minimum wage stood at around G$39,000 but the public service minimum wage was G$50,000. It is now $64,000 an increase of 28% and not 62% as some may be deceived into believing.

For the lowest level workers, public service wages have increased by 28%. Because of the sliding scale increases, those at the top have increased by less. So if it is now being said that with the forth-

coming increases public service minimum will be capped at 75%, it can only mean that the minimum pay in the public service, consequent upon this week’s announcement will be around $87,500 or an increase of 36.7%.

But we know no Finance Minister, election season or no election season, is going to grant an increases in the minimum wage in the public service of 36.7%. That is not going to happen at all, so all the fancy footwork which is being played with umbers should be ceased forthwith.

We were told earlier this month that oil production was likely to commence by Christmas, four months ahead of schedule. If this materialises, then it would mean that the government would be entitled to a full quarter year of oil revenues which it may not have been anticipating.

ExxonMobil had projected that the annual oil revenues would be around US$300m. A quarter of this would be US$75M or $15 billion, enough to allow for a living wage to be paid and sustained.

It is high time that the government addresses the issue of a living wage for public servants. The annual wages increases which are being paid to public servants are being eroded by inflation.

Dem boys seh ...

Everybody mekking promises When dem boys was young, dem use to promise dem gyal all kind of things. And when dem was mekking de promise dem was serious, very serious. Politicians does wait till elections coming before dem start mekking promises.

Soulja Bai busy mekking promises but dem boys reminding him dat dem still waiting pon promises he mek before he get into government. He refuse to promise any payment increase of any bonus but he done tell de River Man to mek sure he give dem people a good small piece.

He tell de River Man dat when Jagdeo want set up a protest, he does promise to pay de protesters $5,000 and a box of food. He was anodda promising fella. He promise Desmond Hoyte dat he wouldn’t do nutten wid de radio licence till he nearly give away all.

Now he coming back wid more promises. He was a man who always hide all dem contract in some corner wheh nobody could see dem. Elections coming and he promising to release de airport contract. Why he never release it all de time he had it?

Dem boys want to know why he never release de Sanata contract or de Marriott contract or de Skeldon Sugar Factory contract or de Berbice Bridge contract? He was de longest serving president. He serve as president fuh longer than even Burnham and he never release on contract.

Dem boys want to know why he promising to release one of dem now. And dat is only if he win de elections. But dem boys know wha does happen when dem mek promise and dem get wha dem want. Dem does forget de promise.

But as dem boys know, not only he can mek a promise.

Dem promising to keep dem eye pon whatever dem oil company do. De, also keeping dem eye pon all who want to fill dem pocket. And nuff people trying.

Talk half and watch out wid dem election promises

The government says inflation is low but the prices in market, including for rents and transportation, reflect a different reality. Whatever is paid each year as an increase is being eroded by inflation and real ages therefore have hardly increased.

One way of settling the dispute about inflation is for a more transparent system to be put in place which can be monitored by the unions within the public service and by the private sector.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service (2016) avoided the issue of a living wage. It resorted to a human resources approach to the issue of workers’ compensation. The Report of the COI called for the development of a base pay programme (read minimum wage) which would ensure workers are equitably paid in relation to what their counterparts receive in similar positions in the country.

What this really means is that instead of one minimum wage there should be a base pay for every level of employee and this should be measured in relation to what others in similar positions in the private sector.

One observation of the

COI which has not yet been addressed is the practice of some senior public servants receiving a higher wage than the maximum in their scale.

These people’s wages should be ‘red-circled’ since as the Commission notes it could imply that they are being overpaid.

There is no reason why instead of offering annual wage increases, the government cannot offer increases which would eventually merge with a living wage adjusted for realistic inflation.

There is no reason why also the government cannot set base wages for the different levels in the public service rather than the present situation whereby some contracted employees are enjoying super salaries which even some of the top CEOs in the country are not receiving.

Oil revenues offer the opportunity also for some workers to be treated differently.

Teachers, nurses and policemen should be receiving far more than they are presently receiving and far more than

junior public servants.

By the way, an increase in public service wages is not something that is contemplated under a caretaker administration since it is a decision which binds any succeeding administration.

PAGE 10

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

I urge President Granger and Minister Patterson to look at the tapes I have spent all my life reading and studying politics.

I am finely educated to understand how societies function but I admit today here in this column, I will never understand the politicians who run Guyana. I believe I am capable of comprehending the meaning of political behaviour in politicians around the world but not in my country. I can explain why the Conservatives want to leave the EU. I know the meaning behind the various racist diatribes of President Trump. I understand but do not agree with

the attitude of past and present Trinidadian leaders toward CARICOM. I believe I know the motives behind traditional Russian oligarchic rule. These are just a few examples. I do have a grasp of how world leaders operate even though I don’t live in those countries. But right here in Guyana, it is questionable whether anyone can make sense of our shambolic leadership.

If you travelled the roads of Guyana 20 years ago, then ten years ago, you would know with absolute certainty

they were far less congested and the number of vehicles were far, far fewer than what they are now. Even if you do not own a car, you cannot miss the metal jungle that exists as part of our infrastructure.

He is dead and gone but 20 years ago, the former Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis, recommended the government pass restriction on the number of cars a citizen can own. He made his statement as a reaction to the number of vehicles on the roadways.

Imagine if Lewis was frustrated by the influx of vehicles back then, what would go through his mind if he were alive in 2019.

Two of the ways of making the roadways safe are traffic cops regulating smooth passage and traffic lights which naturally bring order. If you live in Eccles and you are turning onto the East Bank Highway, you will be dead one day if those lights are not working. You will literally become paranoid in seconds in an attempt to cross over.

The reason is simple- the East Bank traffic is non-stop.

Unless the red light in the opposite direction allows you to come onto the highway from Eccles, then you literally cannot.

You don’t need any fancy university degree as a president or a transport minister to know when the signals at such a dangerous junction malfunction, it has to be a priority to be fixed.

No decent government anywhere in the world would neglect to pursue that priority.

I live very close to the junction of UG Road and the Railway Embankment. For more than a month, when night comes, the signals die.

A nightmare literally takes over. Now here is a descrip-

tion of the importance of that spot.

When I moved to that area, there wasn’t in existence the following nearby buildings; Aquatic Centre, Giftland Mall, Amerindian hostel, CARICOM Secretariat Annexe, Movietowne Complex, police command post for monitoring the surveillance cameras in Georgetown, Rama Khrisna church, Gafoors Complex, American Ambassador’s residence.

In addition, several business places have gone up in Cummings Lodge, Turkeyen, Pattensen, Industry, etc.

The value of those signals at the Railway Embankment and UG Road is priceless. Since they stop working, I see an accident every four days. What President Granger and his Minister of Public Transport have to do to see how neglectful or incompetent the governance of this country is would be to look at the surveillance cameras at the police command post next to Giftland Mall.

They willey hery see how humans are reduced to creatures of the jungle. The tapes would show them what Guyana has been reduced to To see how drivers try to successfully manoeuvre this junction now that the traffic lights are gone is sad and pa-

Frederick Kissoon thetic. I honestly thought that when Robeson Benn was Minister of Public Works, he was incompetent. I was angry when I wrote about his performance in these columns and the ubiquity of dead traffic signals. Now we have David Patterson. I thought Benn was Guyana’s nemesis until Patterson came along.

And what about Granger?

A few weeks ago in defending many of his decisions, he said that people will blame him because he is the president. He is damn right. I am laying the blame on him for the non-functioning traffic lights where I live because it is an extremely dangerous place to drive without the signals and his government should see that it is a priority area.

If there is anything I am sure about in my life in 2020 is that I am voting against APNU+AFC.

Tuesday November 12, 2019

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

Guyana to earn 1M barrels only after Exxon & partners get 8M …country then has to pay taxes for oil companies from its share Guyana will only qualify to uplift its first earned million barrels of oil, after ExxonMobil and its partners, HESS Exploration and CNOOC-Nexen would have collected two turns each or almost eight million barrels of oil.

This, since the country would have only earned

570,000 barrels of crude out of the first four million barrels to be recovered.

This includes 80,000 barrels of royalty on the first four million barrels while 490,000 barrels would represent Guyana’s 12.5 percent profit split after the recoverable amount has been taken out.

The country will then

have to market this oil, after which it will be paying the taxes due for the companies involved.

Department of Energy Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe, in an interview with this publication yesterday sought to clarify just how the country would be receiving its oil dues.

Public Service assured of pay hike Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, recently announced that the servants within the public sector will be assured of a salary increase, nearing the years end.

He made this proclamation during a November 9, 2019 meeting with residents of Kwakwani, Upper Demerara-Berbice, where he spoke of the overwhelming success of the current administration over the last four years, among other topics.

Late last week, Minister Jordan announced that public servants would receive increases to their salaries that will be retroactive to January 1, this year. He is expected to provide details of the salary hike to Cabinet for approval during this week.

In 2017 and 2018, no bonuses were granted to public servants.

But since coming into office in 2015, the Coalition Government has boasted about providing retroactive salary increases. Between 2015 and this year, the minimum wage has been hiked by some 62 percent.

“Look at the space of time; we started increasing salaries from the 1st July 2015 and the last increase pushed salaries by over 64 percent by the time we are finished with salaries for this year. “I can guarantee you that between July 1, 2015 and January 1, 2019, it will be over 75 percent of the 2015 figure,” the Minister said with enthusiasm.

A total increase of 75 percent from 2015 would place the minimum wage at about $70,000.

According to the Finance Minister, the previous increases were done while giving back to Guyanese whose taxes were previously extracted from their monthly contributions to the

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

Furthermore, the Coalition Government increased the personal allowance of public servants. Before 2015, their personal allowances stood at $50,000. This means that if their salary was $60,000, $50,000 remained as the personal allowance, while the other $10,000 was taxed at 30 percent. Minister Jordan told Kaieteur News in a telephone interview yesterday that there is, however, an inhibitor to paying public servants even higher wages i.e. that the workforce is too labour intensive. He explained that there are many jobs that can be replaced by technology, and could result in a downsizing of the top-heavy public sector.

During his presentation at a BRAND You Tax Forum held on November 9, last, the Finance Minister explained, “If you really want to downsize government,

you are talking about another 15,000 to 20,000 workers to really make that saving to pay those who will remain and you know that cannot happen. Even if it can happen, it would not happen overnight.”

He continued by relating that the tax rate draws a parallel with the magnitude of the governments expenditures.

The Finance Minister added that the smaller the government, the lower the taxes. “So in developing countries, especially the ones like Guyana [which have] a very big government, we literally end up taxing everything.”

He related that this acts as a disincentive to the expanding businesses in the private sector.

President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Patrick Yarde, has consistently criticised the Government for imposing increases rather than renegotiating the wages and salaries.

Taxi driver hospitalised following armed robbery in Leopold St. A night of fun ended on a sour note when three friends were relieved of their cash and valuables by armed robbers on Leopold Street, Werken-Rust.

The incident occurred in the wee hours of Monday morning and has left a 21-year-old taxi driver hospitalised.

According to information received, the three friends, Travis Moore, 24, of New Road, Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara; Brandon Lam, 21, a taxi driver of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo; and Timothy Morrison, a police constable were at a bar in Kitty around 11pm.

They left the bar with an unidentified male in their motorcar and made their way to Leopold Street at 4:30am when they were accosted by three men,

one armed with a gun.

Kaieteur News understands that the suspects upon approaching the vehicle immediately began firing shots.

The robbers then assaulted and relieved the men of a quantity of cash, two cell phones and a gold band, then made good their escape.

The other unidentified male was said to have fled the scene while the shots were fired.

Both Travis Moore and Brandon Lam were rushed to the Georgetown Hospital; where Lam currently remains hospitalised in a stable condition.

Several .32 spent shells were recovered from the scene.

The police investigations are ongoing.

He told reporters this past week that ExxonMobil (Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited) will be taking the first entitlement of crude to be produced by the Floating Production and Offloading Vessel (FPSO), the Liza Destiny.

According to Dr. Bynoe, the parties would take turns

in uplifting their entitlements and while Guyana would not be collecting its share upfront, the records will be reconciled.

The Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that was inked between Guyana and the parties stipulates that the country will be paid a royalty of 2% for every barrel of oil produced and sold.

This means that on the first four million barrels of oil

produced (one million each to be collected by each party), Guyana would earn a royalty of 80,000 barrels of oil.

The profit to be had from the first four millions will be 490,000 barrels of oil.

This means that in order for Guyana to earn its first million barrels of oil, then the remaining partners will have had earned just under seven million barrels of oil.

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Booted PPP councillor accuses REO of “manipulating the law” It was announced at the Region Six Regional Democratic Council’s recent statutory meeting through a correspondence issued by the Regional Executive Officer to the Chairman that PPP/C Councillor, Zamal Hussain, has been removed from the Regional Tender Board and replaced “with another person” selected by the “Regional Administration”.

The development which the Chairman, David Armogan, referred to as “somewhat of a controversy” has raised a mountain of questions among opposition aligned councillors. They have argued that stringent efforts are being made to manipulate the law at RDCs managed by the People’s Progressive Party.

In the correspondence seen by this publication that was addressed to Armogan and signed by Regional Executive Officer, Kim Williams-Stephens, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Tender Board, said that each Regional Tender Board (RTB) shall consist of five members; three members appointed by the National Tender Board and two members appointed by the (regional administration) from among persons with

During the RDC meeting

qualifications not dissimilar to those required for appointment to the National Board. The Regional Tender Board has since come in for heavy scrutiny after it appeared that efforts are being made to have the “Regional Administration” instead of the “Regional Democratic Council” elect two members to sit on the Board together with the three members selected by the National Tender Board.

The persons who sat in those two positions were

PPP/C councillors Zamal Hussain and Phillip Rose, with Kim Stephens as the Chairman of the Board.

Hussain who was removed was replaced by someone chosen by the “regional administration” while Rose made it clear that he will only sit on the Board if he was recommended by the “Regional Democratic Council”.

The RDC, however, has made it clear that it is its responsibility to select two members to sit on the Board

and not the “Regional Administration” headed by Kim Stephens.

Hussain has since stated that, “this is a clear case of the practice of the government and that is to manipulate the laws of Guyana. This is to ensure that they hijack the treasury.

“That is the basic concept of what is happening in this entire country.”

He quoted from the Ministry of Communities website, which underscores that “the Regional

Democratic Council is the supreme local democratic organ in each region with the responsibility for overall management and administration of the region.”

He stressed that as such the REO functions as the accounting officer and clerk of the RDC. “The main function of the democratic council is to administer all services required within the boundaries by the service such as health, education, public works etc,” he noted.

While making reference to the correspondence sent by the REO, Hussain argued that at no point mention was made that “the regional administrator must appoint two persons.”

“It said regional administration and administration means the management of public affairs that is government, so when it says the regional administration, it does not mean the REO.” Hussain further went on (Continued on page 23)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 12, 2019

PAGE 13

Two new logging concessions for Ituni

T

he Guyana F o r e s t r y Commission ( G F C ) , o n S u n d a y, announced the award of two new concessions to the Ituni Small Loggers Association (ISLA).

This move will see the R e g i o n Te n ( U p p e r Demerara-Berbice) loggers getting into action in less than two weeks.

The 12,500 acres in the Berbice County and 9,933 acres in Demerara, will be available to the loggers as soon as they sign their contracts with the Forestry Commission and also complete the demarcation process.

Together, these could be done in less than two weeks.

At a meeting on Sunday, GFC's Corporate Secretary, Attorney Jacey Archibald, said where usually groups are allowed only one concession, the commission's technical committee took into consideration the good

the country on a three-day workshop to discuss the future of the associations.

Meanwhile, the GFC's Corporate Secretary said the ISLA will have to consider the responsibilities that will come with the amalgamation of the two concessions, which, when combined, will become a large concession.

“Since anything over 8,097 hectares falls into the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and GFC's Corporate Secretary, attorney-at-law Jacey Archibald stewardship demonstrated

by ISLA, fully utilising existing areas.

“They took into account the manner in which you have been able to honour your obligations to the commission, including the paying of debts.

“In light of that, we recognise as well that your membership is growing and therefore there is a need for you to have more areas to be able to more effectively carry out and sustain

yourselves,” Archibald explained.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, was happy to deliver the “good news” on behalf of the government.

He explained that whatever is in the best interest of all loggers, remains a priority with the Ministry.

To this end, later this month, the Ministry will be meeting with stakeholders and associations from across

Another miner killed in mining pit collapse

D

eon Henry, a 21-year-old miner did not survive after the walls of a mining pit collapsed, Saturday afternoon at the Triangle Backdam, Barmita North West District (NWD).

According to reports, there were several miners working in the pit at the time of the incident, but luckily the others were able to escape alive.

Some eyewitnesses said that Henry was operating the “Gravel Pump” and as a result was trapped in the “Marrack Hole”.

Due to his inability to move quickly, the earth fell and entombed Henry.

His colleagues rushed quickly to remove the earth with the hope that he would still be alive. But they only succeeded in pulling Henry's motionless body from the mud.

The traumatised workers did their best to revive Henry but to no avail. They were left with no option but to summon the police.

Kaieteur News understands that the mining operation is owned by a well-known businessman from Barmita area NWD. In addition, the pit being mined was

The lifeless body of Deon Henry after being pulled from the mining pit approximately 20 feet deep and 80 feet wide.

The body of Henry was transported to the Port Kaituma Morgue where it awaits a post mortem examination.

Investigations are currently ongoing.

parameter of large concession and carries different rules and regulations, treated differently to that of small concessions including the payment of fees and increased reporting requirements.”

The announcement came three weeks after Minister Trotman met with the loggers, who had then

expressed concerns over their inability to carry out logging activities due to the exhaustion of their allotted tags. So far, the association has used up over 13,000 tags issued by the GFC, including almost 50% of their 2020 allocation.

Minister Trotman relayed there may be some remaining tags that could be issued to the loggers.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Office of the First Lady, BIT launch second ICT workshop in Mahdia

T

he Office of the First Lady, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection's Board of Industrial Training (BIT) u n d e r i t s Yo u t h Development Initiative, launched its second Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training programme in Mahdia, Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight), yesterday.

The programme caters for 30 participants from across the region and aims at

providing young adults with training in the areas of Information Technology, Literacy and Numeracy, Entrepreneurship, Sexual Reproductive Health and S c i e n c e , Te c h n o l o g y Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

On completion of the programme, graduates will receive a BIT accredited certificated signed by First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger.

The township of Mahdia has recorded the highest pass rate with an average of 98.6

Participants in the second Board of Industrial Training, Information and Communication workshop in Mahdia, which is spearheaded by the Office of the First Lady. per cent, far surpassing all the other regions, over the past three years of the programme.

At the opening

c e r e m o n y, D e p u t y Chairman, BIT, Mr. Donald Ainsworth, noted that in the past, the hinterland regions were neglected, but when they are given equal opportunity and access to education, the region's youths are just as capable of excelling as those on the coastland.

“It is thanks to the vision of President David Granger that [BIT is] investing so heavily in our youth… We are the custodians of the resources on your behalf and we have a duty to create the opportunities for you to excel and prosper… All you need is the opportunity and we have given you that opportunity so that you can learn and progress,” he said.

Mayor of Mahdia, Mr. David Adams, said that the administration has made education a priority and it continues to ensure that all youths, regardless of their geographical location, are

exposed to a high quality of education.

Mr. Adams noted, too, that the township is young and as development continues, there will be more job opportunities for residents across all of the sectors.

“Education is an ongoing process by which your abilities and interest will be developed and I'm happy that the Government has indicated education is a priority… ensuring every youth in this country regardless of where they live, are given the opportunity to have a good education,” he said.

The Mayor reminded that the administration has dedicated the next ten years the 'Decade of Development' explaining that “for that development to happen you, the young people, would need to have the necessary skills to take us forward [into] the future… Grasp this

opportunity.

“Take whatever lesson there are to be learnt and ensure that you leave at the end of this course with the knowledge that will enhance your livelihood as you get older.”

Meanwhile, Regional Education Officer, Ms. Penelope McIntosh, noted that the overall response from the region's youth to the programme reflects a change in the culture as many of them are now embracing and becoming empowered by education and are stepping away from the traditional mining culture and into other careers.

She said that 2019 has been a year of excellence for the region's youth as there has been a marked increase in the pass rate both at the National Grade Nine Assessments (NGSA) and the Caribbean Entrance Examination (CXC), (continued on page 19)

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Early morning fire destroys bond at Coldingen

E

arly yesterday morning a fire erupted and completely destroyed a bond located at the Industrial Estate, Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, (ECD).

Kaieteur News understands that the bond was privatelyowned and has not been in use for a very long time. A taxi driver who works in the area said that he lives close by but had no idea that the bond was on fire. He claimed that when he came out of his house, all he saw was smoke emanating from the area. The man became inquisitive and ventured out to investigate. When he arrived, he was greeted with the sight of the charred remnants of what was once a bond. One man said

that the place was always dark and appeared to be deserted but he had heard that the bond which was mostly made of zinc sheets also stored sheets.

Other residents said they heard the sounds of sirens and peeked through their windows with curiosity. They saw the fire trucks speeding into the old estate area and noticed the thick black smoke. They too rushed out to investigate and saw the building engulfed in flames.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the scene, it was unclear who might have alerted the fire service and there were no details of who the owners might be. According to reports, an investigation has been launched.

The remains of the bond

Bypass road created as Pirara Bridge inaccessible following damage - safety signs erected to guide commuters

T

he Ministry of Public Infrastructure has deemed the Pirara Bridge in Region Nine inaccessible following damage to a beam.

In the interim, the Ministry has begun to create a bypass road that will facilitate traffic in the area.

“The bypass will be used in the interim as emergency works are being conducted on the bridge,” the Public Infrastructure Ministry stated in a public advisory.

Regional Engineer within the Ministry, who has responsibility for Region Nine, Rafael Lewis, said a contractor has been engaged and is

expected to mobilise soon.

Engineer Lewis told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that all necessary measures are being made to ensure the safety of commuters.

“A blockade with highly visible reflectors was put up last night so drivers can see from a distance that there is a problem with the bridge,” Lewis added.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has dispatched advisories for motorists and pedestrians to traverse the area surrounding the bridge with extreme caution and to adhere to all road safety signs.

The damaged section of the Pirara Bridge

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Linden nurse killed in ambulance accident laid to rest - residents want allowance, insurance for medical workers who accompany patients

By Jacquey Bourne

I

t was an afternoon of sadness; tears rolled down the faces of all present at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground on Sunday for the funeral service of the late Nurse Eon Reddock. Reddock died on October 26, last, when the ambulance in which he was in, collided head on with a car while returning to Linden from Georgetown. Reddock, who was deemed a dedicated nurse, was a Registered Nurse and a midwife.

One tribute from a teacher and friend of Reddock; Christopher Charles, with tears in his eyes asked the Minister of Health to ensure that nurses get an allowance.

Nurses accompanying patients to Georgetown are not given allowances and they are not insured so their lives do not matter, Charles opined.

A very emotional Charles pleaded with the relevant authorities to ensure that nurses are rewarded for their job.

"Ms. Minister please, I want to say that nurses are humans too and their lives

Nurses and others saying goodbye yesterday.

Killed: Eon Reddock matter." Charles also said that he would ensure the whole of Linden vote for her again, to loud laughter from the crowd, if she ensures the nurses receive an allowance and are insured.

Charles said that Reddock is the second nurse to have died by accident in the past six months. He also made reference to the present Nursing Tutor of the Charles Rosa Nursing School, Hillary Christopher who is in a wheelchair.

"Nurse Christopher, thirty one years ago, met in an accident while transporting a patient again in the ambulance and is in a

wheelchair to this day. This must stop. Relatives and friends cannot continue to lose their loved ones for nothing; their lives matter."

Minister of Health Hon. Volda Lawerence said that Nurse Reddock's death did not only affect Region Ten but the entire Ministry of Health and the country as a whole.�

Tributes were also given by members of the South Stars Cricket Team of which Reddock was a member.

Also present were the Regional Chairman Rennis Morian and other officials from the Ministry of Health.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Become guardians of the environment - students encouraged during schools outreach

I

n celebration of its 3 0 - y e a r commemoration of the pledge of the one million acre Iwokrama Forest to the international community, a team from the Iwokrama International Centre visited several schools and hosted outreach programmes.

The programmes were extended to students of the Kingston, Tutorial and Dolphin's High Schools and the Ptolemy Reid Centre this past week.

The Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest “in a manner that will lead to lasting

ecological, economical and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general�.

In highlighting the significance of the Iwokrama Forest Reserve during the outreach, Dr. Thomas-Caesar explained that it lies within the heart of the Guiana Shield – which is one of the only four remaining large tracts of intact rainforest ecosystems in the world. The students were also enlightened about the importance of protected areas to the global ecosystem.

Dr. Thomas-Caesar, Director, Resource Management and Training, charged the students to be guardians of their environment. In one instance, she encouraged them to speak out against

Dr. Racquel Thomas-Caesar, Caren Wilfred, and Huichang Yang pose with some of the students of Tutorial High School

littering. She explained the harmful effects of improper garbage disposal, especially for marine animals like sea turtles who mistake plastic in the oceans for food.

Caren Wilfred, organiser of the school outreach and

tourism staffer, in her presentations to the students, spoke about proper solid waste management. She reiterated the dangers of littering, such as pollution to the airways and waterways.

In addition to posing health threats, littering can block the drainage system and can lead to severe flooding, she explained.

H u i c h a n g Ya n g , a Biologist, sought to encourage students to pursue a career in biology, as she delved into the exciting aspects of working at Iwokrama.

She underscored the importance of protecting animals, and showed students some of the activities, which are undertaken right at Iwokrama to ensure these

animals are protected.

Moreover, she spoke about the importance of the Iwokrama Forest to the country's biodiversity. She highlighted that of the 225 species of mammals in Guyana, some 130 are found at Iwokrama; of the 814 species of birds in the country, 476 are found at Iwokrama; of the 176 species of reptiles, 82 are found at Iwokrama; of the 148 amphibians, 59 are found at Iwokrama; of the more than 800 species of fish, 400 are found at Iwokrama; and of the more than 8000 species of plants, 1250 are found at Iwokrama.

These figures, she explained, are based on 2005 data. Therefore, to date, the numbers may be significantly higher.

A t t he e n d o f t h e sessions, students had a better appreciation of the

need to protect the environment, about the concept of conservation, and about the work of Iwokrama.

In fact, for Tutorial High, some students expressed an interest in setting up their own environmental club; the Iwokrama team committed to provide assistance in the establishment of the club.

Furthermore, the Iwokrama team handed over several informative materials to all the schools visited, including guides to the birds, mammals and plants of Iwokrama and educational posters.

For the remainder of the month, Iwokrama will be reaching out to other secondary schools such as Charlestown, Central High, St. John's College, North Georgetown and Christ Church. A session will also be held with The Blind Society.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 12, 2019

PAGE 19

Police unearth 1076 DEMTOCO rakes in $1.3B during - profits increase despite grams of ganja in first half of 2019 tougher tobacco regulations Werk-en-Rust

A

The suspected narcotics that was discovered

R

anks of 'A' Division, yesterday made another drug bust. They discovered 1,076 grams of what was suspected to be cannabis in a house.

An intelligence-led operation conducted by the ranks under the command of an Assistant Superintendant, went to Norton and Hardina Streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, about 13:00hrs yesterday and the search was conducted.

According to a release made by the Public Relations Officer for the Guyana Police Force, two men are in custody assisting with the investigations.

Office of the First Lady, BIT launch second ICT...

From page 14 compared to previous years.

Regional Chairman, Mr. Bonaventure Frederick, expressed gratitude to the First Lady and the Government of Guyana for continuing to provide programmes to empower Mahdia's youth.

"We have seen a rise in region eight and I must thank the government for the

opportunities extended to us as a region. We have come a long way and we look forward to our youth being uplifted further," he said.

The programme is being facilitated by Mr. Fitzroy Younge.

It is the final workshop of its kind in the region for the year. The opening ceremony was held in the Regional Boardroom.

ccording to their interim financial report, for the six-month period which concluded on June 30, last, the Demerara Tobacco Company (DEMTOCO) recorded profits of $1.3 billion.

These sums of money were recorded as pre-tax profits and represented a four percent increase for the corresponding period in 2018. The gross profits during this stage were further recorded at $1.8 billion, reflecting an increase of three percent in the previous year.

According to the tobacco company, these “positive results” were driven by the excellent trade marketing efforts of the staff members, the on-going and positive distribution efforts by their business partner, Edward Beharry, and the disruption in the supply chain in the illicit trade in cigarettes which flowed from the impact and implementation of anti-illicit trade measures by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Administration, distribution and marketing expenses $425 million, which stood at $419 million in 2018, represented a one percent increase. ` In June, after publishing the 2018 annual report, the company which is responsible for providing Guyana's marketing support to the British American

Tobacco Group (BATG) brands had raked in pre-tax profits of some $2.9 billion.

This represented a significant 14.4 percent increase compared to 2017 and the highest growth in profits for the company in the past five years.

D e s p i t e t h e implementation of tougher tobacco regulations set out across the board, the major tobacco company still

products.

The Act provides for a minimum fine of $10,000 for a person who is caught s m o k i n g i n t h e aforementioned prohibited spaces. However, imprisonment is not prescribed for the offence.

Even though the Ministry of Public Health has made progress in keeping tobacco companies in line with the new legislations, heavy and

manages to pull in and increase profits.

That regulation came as the Tobacco Control Act of 2017 was aimed to serve as an international public health treaty and guidance framework, with its agenda to fight against the global tobacco epidemic.

This act further mandated the adoption and implementation of tobacco control policies such as the one hundred percent smokefree environments in all indoor public, work, public transportation and specified outdoor spaces; a ban on sale of tobacco products to minors; prohibition on vending machine sales; and a ban on the manufacturing, sales of toys and candies in the forms of tobacco

consistent enforcement is needed on the parts of the Public Health Ministry, officers from the GRA, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), among others.

It is in this regard that the Ministry of Public Health was granted US$95,000 ($19,833,817) to train enforcement officers and heighten awareness on the Tobacco Court Legislation and the National Tobacco Control Focal Point.

Director of the Chronic Diseases Unit, Doctor Kavita Singh, who serves under the Health Ministry, stated that the grant was provided by the International Union against tuberculosis and lung disease.

According to the PanAmerican Health

Organization, tobacco is responsible for seven million deaths per death worldwide.

Of that number, 900,000 of them die from diseases related to exposure to tobacco smoke.

Taking this into heavy consideration, the Public Health Ministry along with other stakeholders d e v e l o p e d a To b a c c o Cessation Programme for primary healthcare facilities within the country on September 30.

To b a c c o c e s s a t i o n interventions can be extremely effective and providers who perform even brief interventions of 'advice to quit' to patients can significantly increase abstinence rates.

Health care providers should present a clear, concise and consistent “quit” message to all their patients who use tobacco.

Effective interventions can be brief (three- ten minutes) or intensive. Brief three-minute interventions advising patients to quit can enhance abstinence rates.

Even without a tobacco cessation programme, brief counseling and medications provide as part of ongoing health care can be effective.

Smoking is the most clinically important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor for all patients.

Smoking cessation can reduce and prevent many smoking-related health problems.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Man caught on camera Jamaican woman seeks chopping street dweller to death $70M for false imprisonment …spent nine months pending deportation

J

CCTV Footage showing alleged suspect committing the murder

A

known street dweller was on M o n d a y morning discovered lying in a pool of blood at the junction of Regent and Light Streets, Georgetown, sporting a huge gash to his throat.

The man was identified only by 'Sponge Bob' and was known to have slept in the very area where he was killed.

Although details into the man's death remain sketchy, a nearby CCTV camera was said to have captured the entire murder.

The footage seen by Kaieteur News captured a male armed with a cutlass running in the direction of the now dead 'Sponge Bob'.

At 2:29am, the suspect clad in a white short pants, a dark coloured jersey and

carrying a backpack appeared to be searching for something.

Seconds later, the footage captured the man bending over and dealing several chops in the area where the vagrant was said to be sleeping.

The body was removed from the scene and taken to the Lyken Funeral Home.

Police are investigating.

amaican National, Sandra Russell, who is alleging that she was kept in police custody for an additional eight months after she had completed serving a sentence of three and a half months for trafficking 70 grams of marijuana, has filed a lawsuit against the State in which she is claiming in excess of $70M for false imprisonment.

Russell, 54, says that she is a citizen of Jamaica and resides locally at Pouderoyen Squatting Area, Pouderoyen Village, West Bank Demerara, and that her fundamental rights as guaranteed under Articles 139, 141 and 148 of the Constitution were breached, encroached and infringed by the Guyana Police Force and Immigration Officers.

According to the woman's lawyer, Darren Wade, his client arrived in Guyana on May 13, 2013.

Wade said that on June 25, 2018, Russell was held by police at Omai Landing in the Essequibo River with 70 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Three days later, on June 28, 2018, his client was placed before the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts where she pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, along with a fine of $180,000.

Russell in an Affidavit in Support of her claim said, “I was taken to the New Amsterdam Prison to serve my sentence. I had a reduction of sentence to three and a half months in prison.

“I was released from prison on the 10th November, 2018.”

The woman said that she was released into the custody of a female Immigration Officer who informed that she had to be taken to the Immigration Office to be processed for deportation to Jamaica.

According to Russell, while travelling to the Immigration Office, the Immigration Officer received a phone call and later informed her that she would be taken to the East La Penitence Police Station, instead.

She further claims that she was only released from police custody on July 7, 2019 on $10, 000 bail after the intervention of Kaieteur News.

Sandra Russell

Russell swore in the Affidavit that, “Whilst I was at the East La Penitence Police Station, I was informed by a female office and verily believe that a Kaieteur News reporter came to the police station to interview me and they sent the reporter away.”

She said that while in custody, she was never taken before a Judge or Magistrate.

Russell pointed out that the conditions at the East La Penitence Police Station were poor. She disclosed that she was without proper and adequate meals and supplements and as a result had to be taken to the East La Penitence Heath Centre for medications.

She complains, “While at the East La Penitence Police Station, I became depressed and stressed. At the East La Penitence Station, the lighting and ventilation were very poor and I spent all the time in the cell and had no leisure or physical activities.”

She continued, “There were no beds at the East La Penitence Police Station and I slept on a thin mattress that was very stink, on the concrete floor. As a result, I suffered from back pains.

There are only three cells at the East La Penitence Police Station and at times, it could be about three to twenty of us prisoners in those cells. There were many of us; we were packed like

sardines in order to fit on a mattress and the place was very humid because we had no fan nor AC.” In all the circumstances, the Jamaican national believes that the police had no legal authority to keep her in custody after 72 hours without charging her or seeking an extension of time from the courts.

In her lawsuit filed against the Attorney General, Commissioner of Police and Chief Immigration Officer, Russell is seeking in excess of $50M for false imprisonment; a declaration that she suffered inhuman, degrading treatment by the State; a declaration that the Guyana Police Force and Immigration Officers of the State had no legal authority to further imprison her beyond her prison sentence; a declaration that the Guyana Police Force and Immigration falsely imprisoned her.

In addition, she is also seeking, $10M per day for everyday she spent in unlawful custody; in excess of $20M for inhuman and degrading treatment suffered by her; in excess of $20M for the breach of her Freedom of Movement.

The woman is also asking the court for exemplary and aggravated damages and any further or such other order that the court may deem just.

Tuesday November 12, 2019

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Youman Nabi - a day to reflect Mexico grants asylum to Bolivia’s Evo Morales, demands safe conduct MEXICO CITY - (Reuters) - Mexico granted asylum to Bolivia’s former President Evo Morales yesterday as unrest shook the South American nation, helping cement the Mexican government’s emerging role as a bastion of diplomatic support for left-wing leaders in Latin America.

Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Morales’ life was in danger, and the decision to grant him asylum was in Mexico’s long tradition of sheltering exiles.

Morales’ government collapsed on Sunday after ruling party allies quit and the army urged him to step down in the wake of a disputed election, adding to a sense of crisis in Latin America, which has been hit by weeks of protests and unrest.

Looting and roadblocks convulsed Bolivia after Morales stepped down. He said “violent groups” attacked his house. His exact whereabouts were unknown, though it was believed he had left in the presidential plane for his stronghold of Chapare province.

“His life and integrity is at risk,” Ebrard told reporters.

“We will immediately proceed to inform Bolivia’s foreign ministry that under international law, it should offer safe conduct.”

Mexico has informed the Organization of American

Evo Morales States, and will inform the United Nations, he added.

The Washington-based OAS delivered a report on Sunday citing serious irregularities during Bolivia’s October vote.

The departure of Bolivia’s first indigenous president, one of a wave of leftists who dominated Latin America’s politics at the start of the century, comes amid a widespread rejection of incumbent leaders from either side of the political divide in the region, from Mexico to Brazil and Argentina.

Mexico elected its first left-leaning government in decades last year, moving closer to like-minded governments and distancing itself from diplomatic initiatives aimed at pushing socialist President Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela.

Argentina last month elected a left-leaning leader, as voters rejected economic policies aimed at stabilizing the economy but that deepened poverty and inflation.

The resignation of Morales, who governed for 14 years, followed protests in Ecuador and Chile that forced their governments to step back from policies raising fuel and transport prices.

Ebrard said earlier on Monday his government viewed Sunday’s events in Bolivia as a “coup” because the military broke with the constitutional order by pressing Morales to resign.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador praised Morales saying he chose to resign rather than put the lives of Bolivia’s citizens at risk.

Opposition parties agree on “interim” candidate should Moise steps down PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti CMC – Opposition political parties have agreed on an unnamed judge of the Court of Cassation to replace President Jovenel Moise in the event that the embattled head of state agrees to step down from office pending fresh presidential elections in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. But the Fanmi Lavalas political party, whose

most prominent member is the former president Jean Bertrand Aristide, has expressed reservations and refused to sign the agreement that had been reached last Saturday.

President of the Lower House, Gary Bodea, has welcomed the agreement reached by the parties that included representatives from Mache Kontre, the Democratic Bloc, the

Alternative Consensual to Rebuild Haiti, Papaye Patriotic Forum and the Passerelle The political and economic crisis in Haiti was triggered by the publication in January 2019 of a report on the Venezuela-funded PetroCaribe Oil initiative, under which Caracas provided oil and other petroleum products to Haiti under a preferential agreement.

EU Extends Venezuela Sanctions For A Year BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is extending sanctions against Venezuela for a year due to the political and economic crisis that it blames on the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

EU foreign ministers decided at a meeting yesterday to prolong an arms embargo and ban on equipment sales that

could be used against demonstrators until November 14, 2020.

They also extended an asset freeze and travel bans against 25 Venezuelan officials.

The EU says it’s targeting the Maduro regime over “persistent actions undermining democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights.”

The ministers say the sanctions “are flexible and reversible” and do not target ordinary Venezuelans.

The US, EU and many other governments recognise opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president.

They say Maduro wasn’t legitimately re-elected last year.

On Sunday, Muslims observed Youman Nabi- the birth and death anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Many Muslims gathered in Mosques which hosted lectures and Quranic recitation to widen their knowledge about the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the religion of Al-Islam.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is seen as the perfect role model.

The lessons taught by him can be beneficial to all mankind; caring for the less fortunate, duty to one’s parents, respect for all, mercy and forgiveness, care for the sick, charity, prayers and fasting to name a few.

These principles have formed the basis of Islam and are also the foundation of becoming better citizens and shape better societies which we can all be proud of.

Youman Nabi is a mark of the enlightened approach that Guyanese have for the peaceful co-existence of religions that even though Muslims constitute possibly only ten percent of Guyana’s population, their major festivals receive equal public observation with those of the other

major religions – Hinduism and Christianity.

In today’s world, religion has unfortunately become a source of conflict more than a source of peace. In this regard, Guyana, small as it is, has a lot to offer the world.

Much of the tension among religious adherents arises out of not necessarily the making of exclusivist claims that raise hackles in the followers of other religions, but in the insistence of some to act on those claims by proselytising among the latter groups.

From this perspective, Islam in Guyana has the most to offer to peaceful co-existence. Islam does announce that it presents the only path to God (specifically “Allah”) and salvation.

In an invited comment, Brother Imran Ali of the Muslim Yo u t h Organisation said, “We have the living experience of Muslims giving charity to others, taking care of their bereaved, and generally striving to live as one big family.

The “anomie” or “alienation” that so many complain about in the modern world has to be less in the Muslim

community, because of the conscious cultivation of the network of relationships that create strong communities.

Others in the wider society see living cohesiveness and are attracted to the religion.”

He added that Youman Nabi has a lesson for those who will be vying to lead this nation for the next five years.

“The Prophet Muhammad left a living example of how a leader of a country should act and behave. Modesty, frugality, fairness, mercifulness, and practising what is demanded of others were some of his watchwords.

“While there is great stress nowadays on academic qualifications, the life of the Prophet Muhammad demonstrates that more than all the “learning”, a leader must be imbued by positive values.”

The National Islamic Sister’s Association (NISA), the women’s arm of the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT) also hosted a sports day on Sunday at Muslim Youth Organisation ground, Woolford Avenue.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on 12th of Rabi-Al-Awwal (3rd month on the Islamic Calendar), 571 AD and died at the age of 62 in Medina.

PM pleased with official visit to China KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ended an official visit to China over the last weekend, negotiating no new loan programmes with the Asian country in keeping with its firm commitment to reduce debt rapidly, according to a government statement issued here.

It said that Holness, who held bilateral talks with President Xi Jingping and addressed the opening ceremony of the China International Import Exposition, also reviewed Jamaica’s current cooperation framework with China and explored additional areas of cooperation agreed upon under a new strategic framework.

The statement said that under the new strategic framework, the two governments have agreed to focus efforts on increasing trade, particularly to encourage more Jamaican goods and services to be exported to the Chinese market.

“Already we have seen great inte r e s t a n d increased demand for Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and Rums” the statement quoted Prime Minister Holness as saying during a wrap up in-

Prime Minister Andrew Holness and President Xi Jingping t e r v i e w.

It said on the investment side, Prime Minister Holness informed that while cooperation on infrastructure will cont i n u e , t h e g o v e r n ment “ i n k e eping with its firm commitment to reduce debt rapidly, would not negotiate any new loan programmes with our

Chinese partners.

“He went on to say that infrastructure projects will therefore take the modalities of joint venture partnerships, public private partnerships, or private sector transactions directly between Jamaican firms and Chinese firms as the normal course of business.

PAGE 22

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

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“We are not able to generate enough house lots to meet the demand. Now we are working to ensure all who applied for land are catered for,” Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, stated in a community meeting on Friday.

The Minister said that it was recognised that the issue has been prevalent for some time and therefore there is backlog of applications, which would consume some time to address.

However, she assured those residents who gathered at the Kingston Secondary School that there are plans in place where the governments housing scheme initiative will be expanded to provide more

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house lots.

The Telecommunications Minister added that the expansion of the housing programme will result in the reduction of the volume of applications at the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

She explained that apart from more house lots being provided, there will be the infrastructure to go with it. The expansion of the housing programme will be in the next budget.

In hearing the concerns of the residents as these were was based on the allocation of the house lots, Minister Hughes stated that there has been collaboration with Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC) and Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) to locate vacant lands that can be used to develop housing schemes.

The residents also voiced their complaints to the Minister about the long period of time they have been waiting on the applications to be processed.

The Official Gazette of November 2019 states that there is an area comprising approximately 83Km2 or 20,510 acres.

Under the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the gazette stated that the large area of land is located approximately 200 meters along the Left Bank of the Demerara River and 60 metres inland upstream the mouth of the Dakoura Creek.

It also specified that in a Northerly direction, it is along the watershed of Kukurukukabra Creek and a tributary of the Illikabuta River to a point north of the Linden/Lethem Road.

According to the gazette, Central Housing and Planning Authority may by resolution decide to adopt with or without variation a scheme forwarded to the Central Housing and Planning Authority by a joint Committee under Section 7(1) (c) of the Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 20:01 Laws of Guyana.

In the case of no existing Planning Scheme for zoning of the Dakoura Creek Watershed, the Planning Scheme will identify provisions that are necessary for prohibiting or regulating the development of land, with the required buffers, for the purpose of establishing a protected Watershed Area.

Furthermore, while there is a need to generate more house lots, the political parties have been making promises of providing large numbers of house lots.

Tuesday November 12, 2019

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Climate Lawsuit against ExxonMobil…

New York drops 2 of 4 fraud charges as case closes

By Karen Savage The New York attorney generals office said in the closing arguments of its climate fraud case against Exxon it is dropping two of the four fraud charges it had levied against the company. The announcement came as a surprise and drew the ire of Exxons lead attorney, who said the state should have dropped the chargers much earlier.

“Your honor, we did not come to this trial … to have them stand up after the evidence had been presented and after I gave my summation, to stand up and say they are not pressing the two claims that have caused in most respects the most severe reputational harm,” said Theodore V. Wells, who added that Exxon employees who testified are now left with a “cloud over their heads.”

To prove the charges of equitable fraud and common law fraud, the AG would have to show Exxon intentionally defrauded investors, something the state indicated it doesnt think it has done. Instead, the state is concentrating on violations of the Martin Act, New Yorks powerful anti-fraud statute that does not require the AG to prove intent. To earn a conviction on those charges, the AG needs to prove only that investors were deceived by the company.

Wells said he wanted a

stipulation from the AGs office stating that there had been no intentional misconduct by Exxon.

“Well I dont think theyre going to give you that stipulation,” New York Supreme Court Judge Barry Ostrager said, adding he will dismiss the two charges with prejudice, meaning the charges cant be refiled later.

The late morning fireworks notwithstanding, closing arguments revealed little new information. Both sides recounted their arguments, with the AGs lawyers alleging that Exxon violated the Martin Act by failing to disclose it used two different sets of numbers to assess climate risk, one for shareholders and the other for its own internal calculations.

Over the course of nearly three weeks, the court heard testimony by Exxon employees, accountants, auditors and experts, and saw documents offering a glimpse into the inner workings of the oil giant, including a look at several versions of its DataGuide, an internal, previously confidential planning document that guides the companys investment planning.

Exxon hasnt denied that it used different numbers, but said it has made adequate disclosures and did not deceive investors.

The company said it used a proxy cost of carbon, which it for years has disclosed in

New York Supreme Court (Wikimedia)

its annual Outlook for Energy, to determine how climate-related regulations might affect the future demand for energy.

It said it uses a greenhouse gas (GHG) cost, as first disclosed in its 2014 Managing the Risks report, to calculate the costs climate-related regulations might have on potential projects.

Managing the Risks,

Booted PPP councillor accuses...

From page 12 to explain the three appointments by the National Tender Board with the REO as a member “does not say in the law that the REO should be Chairman of the tender board”.

He however mentioned that in 2003, the National Procurement Tender Administration Board Act, implemented by then President Bharrat Jagdeo was “to ensure there was scrutiny, it was then that they decided that the Regional Executive Officer be the Chairman of the Board.”

The Councillor added that since 2003 the RDC has been appointing two members to sit on the Board. He argued that, “if the government of the day was keen on scrutiny, keen on accountability and the rule of law then you cannot allow the chairman of a tender board to choose two members that they want”.

He surmised that such a development is unfair.

Premised on the Procurement Act, “It shall be the duty of a member of a body who is in any way whether directly

or indirectly interested in any deliberation of that body regarding the bidding process to declare the nature of his interest at the meeting of the body this arise as a big conflict of interest, there is cronyism, families.”

The REO is the aunt of Jevaughns Stephens, Regional Health Service Director.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, David Armogan, pointed out that the RDC is the body that “sets the principle to which two members are elected to the tender board apart from those three that are appointed by the National Tender Board”.

Armogan posited that the new development raises eyebrows and questioned the “sudden change”.

“Why all of a sudden at this period when we are so close to the national elections has it become so convenient for a custom and practice, that all of a sudden we are changing it?”

According to Armogan, he wrote to Stephens on the issue but she responded by quoting Section 19 (2) of the

Act. He added, “So that is why I wanted this discussion to take place and do the right thing and if the authorities want to do the wrong thing, they can go ahead.”

At that point, a decision was made to have Hussain and Rose (recommended by the RDC) remain on the board.

Stephens said that when she took up her posting as REO in 2016, there was no meeting by the RDC to deal with selecting two persons to sit on the board.

She said, “I would like to refer again to the Act 19 (2) which stipulates the appointment for the board and I want to further suggest if there is need for clarity, we should get that rather than to be a part of sitting and recommending in respect to the appointment.”

It was however, pointed out by a PPP Councillor that Hussain and Rose were already selected as members of the board when she took office as REO in 2016; hence, there was no need for a meeting on the issue.

along with Energy and Climate, was released by Exxon in exchange for the withdrawal of a shareholder proposal asking the company to disclose how it is managing climate risks, including a report on whether any of their assets are at risk of being stranded.

Witnesses for the attorney general have testified the disclosure was deceptive and raised more questions than it answered about how Exxon was managing the risks of climate change.

No one is disputing that climate change exists and must be addressed, Wells said in his closing arguments.

“But just because theres a serious problem about climate change … does not mean a regulator can bring a meritless case that hurts peoples reputations,” Wells said.

Wells said regardless of what investors understood, Exxon employees have testified that the proxy cost of carbon is embedded in Exxons cash flow models and therefore is incorporated in its planning and budgeting for potential new investments.

“This is not a case where we said one thing to the public externally, but then ignored it internally,” Wells said.

Wells reminded the court that Exxons financial expert Allen Ferrell on Wednesday told the court that stock prices remained unchanged after the report was issued.

“That confirms no one cares and confirms it didnt happen,” Wells said.

Wells concluded by saying the attorney generals

case “changed from theory to theory to theory” before settling on the subject of disclosures that he said Exxon is confident it has made.

“We said put up or shut upwe will try this case, we will not settle because we have done nothing wrong,” Wells told the court.

Jonathan Zweig, an attorney for the attorney generals office, said the case is not about whether Exxon used two sets of numberswhich it has for yearsbut whether Exxon made deceptive statements that would sway a reasonable investor in making decisions about investing.

Zweig reminded the court that the AG does not have to prove Exxon intentionally deceived investors.

He reviewed internal memos which revealed that the company aligned the two numbers, which initially had different values, shortly after the release of the reports.

In talking points attached to a slide presentation given to the companys management committee, one rationale given for the update was that “we have implied that we use the [Energy Outlook] basis from proxy cost of carbon when evaluating investments.”

Testimony and documents presented by both sides reveal shareholders werent the only ones confused, Zweig said.

An internal email showed William Colton, Exxons former vice president of corporate strategic planning, made edits to the Managing the Risks

report, including changing “proxy cost” to “GHG cost.”

“We need to be more precise in how we talk about applying CO2 costs in project evaluations,” Colton wrote in an email to Robert Luettgen, secretary of Exxons management committee.

That wasnt just an isolated incident.

Richard Auter, head of Exxons auditing team at PricewaterhouseCoopers testified that he used the terms greenhouse gas cost and proxy cost interchangeably in memos written prior to 2017.

Both sides agree that Ostragers decision could hinge on a single sentence nestled on the 18th page of Managing the Risks and whether it constitutes adequate disclosure.

“Perhaps most importantly, we require that all our business segments include, where appropriate, GHG costs in their economics when seeking funding for capital investments,” Exxon said in the report.

Exxon contends the words “where appropriate” clearly signals to readers a transition from a discussion of its proxy cost of carbon, to the disclosure of something new that it considers GHG costs when evaluating potential future investments.

Exxon employees have testified that the value of the GHG cost is proprietary, but have not explained why they didnt explicitly state that in the report. They have also not explained why the report carefully distinguished between its proxy cost and (Continued on page 24)

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Tuesday November 12, 2019

Trump fumes over impeachment probe as public hearings approach WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump seethed yesterday as Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives prepared to enter a crucial new phase - the first public hearings - in their impeachment inquiry centered on his request that Ukraine investigate political rival Joe Biden.

Tomorrow and Friday, U.S. diplomats William Taylor, George Kent and Marie Yovanovitch are due to detail in public their concerns, previously expressed in testimony behind closed doors, that Trump and his administration sought to tie $391 million in security aid to Ukraine to an investigation of the former U.S. vice president and his son Hunter Biden.

The public testimony before the House Intelligence Committee will be carried by major broadcast and cable television networks and is expected to be viewed by millions of people, as Democrats seek to make the case for Trump’s potential removal from office.

The panel’s Democratic chairman, Representative Adam Schiff, has been a target of the Republican president’s attacks since the

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures while exiting a Veterans Day Parade and Wreath Laying ceremony in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 11, 2019. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly impeachment probe was launched in September after a whistleblower within the U.S. intelligence community

brought a complaint against Trump over his July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Democrats, who control the House, have argued that Trump abused his power in pressing a vulnerable U.S. ally to carry out investigations that would benefit Trump politically. Biden is a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face the Republican president in the 2020 election. Hunter Biden served on the board of a Ukrainian energy company called Burisma.

Trump has denied there was a quid pro quo - or exchanging a favor for a favor in his dealings with Ukraine, defended his call with Zelenskiy as “perfect” and branded the probe a politically motivated “hoax.” Trump wrote on Twitter on Monday that the inquiry should be ended and the unnamed whistleblower, the whistleblower’s lawyer and “Corrupt politician” Schiff should be investigated for fraud.

Democrats consider the open hearings to be crucial to building public support for a vote on articles of impeachment - formal charges against Trump. If that occurs, the 100-seat Republican-controlled Senate would hold a trial on the charges. Republi-

cans have so far shown little support for removing Trump from office, which would require two-thirds of senators present to vote to convict him.

No U.S. president ever has been removed from office through the impeachment process. It has been two decades since Americans last witnessed impeachment proceedings against a president.

Republicans, who then controlled the House, brought impeachment charges against Democratic President Bill Clinton in a scandal involving his sexual relationship with a White House intern.

The Senate voted to keep Clinton in office.

GIULIANI’S ROLE UNDER SCRUTINY The House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday will first hear from Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine.

He told lawmakers in closeddoor testimony he was unhappy the administration had held up the congressionally approved aid to help combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine.

Taylor said he also became uncomfortable with what he described as an “irregular channel” of people involved in Ukraine policy,

including Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer.

Kent, a senior State Department official who oversees Ukraine policy, will appear at Wednesday’s hearing as well. Kent was also concerned about Giuliani’s role in conducting shadow diplomacy - and has testified he was cut out of the decisionmaking loop on Ukraine matters.

On Friday, the committee will hear from Yovanovitch, who Trump removed as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine in May. She has testified that she was ousted after Giuliani and his allies mounted a campaign against her with what she called “unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives.” Giuliani had been actively trying to get Ukraine to carry out investigations of the Bidens.

Democrats are likely to call further witnesses after this week.

Trump and Giuliani have made accusations - without providing evidence - that Joe Biden sought the dismissal of a Ukrainian prosecutor to block a corruption probe of Burisma. The Bidens have denied wrongdoing.

Election gift for PM Johnson: Brexit Back to jail, or run for president: the legal maze facing Brazil’s Lula Party stands down in Conservative seats BRASILIA (Reuters) - In allowing Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to walk out of jail last week, Brazil’s Supreme Court has blown open a legal labyrinth that could see the leftist former president return to prison just as easily as run for election again.

The second chamber of the Supreme Court will soon hear an appeal from Lula’s defense team that Sergio Moro, the judge in the wide-ranging “Car Wash” corruption probe who secured Lula’s conviction and who is now justice minister in farright President Jair Bolsonaro’s cabinet, did not act impartially.

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a person can only be imprisoned once all appropriate avenues of appeal are exhausted, so-called “res judicata”, which overturned the court’s opinion three years ago that convicted criminals face mandatory imprisonment if they lose their first appeal. Seventy-four year old Lula had been imprisoned for 19 months on corruption convictions carrying a nearly nine-year sentence.

HARTLEPOOL, England (Reuters) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson won the most significant boost of the British election campaign to date when Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party pulled out of 317 Conservative-held seats in a bid to prevent opponents of Brexit controlling the next parliament.

The move dramatically increases the chances that Johnson will stay prime minister, and then finally deliver on the 2016 referendum result to take Britain out of the Eu-

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during a speech after being released from prison, in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil.

REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo He is also facing several other corruption charges. If the Supreme Court’s second chamber annuls Lula’s conviction, he will once again be eligible to run for office, potentially opening the way for him to stand as the Workers’ Party (PT) candidate in the 2022 presidential election.

On the other hand, if he

loses an appeal relating to one of his other charges known as the “Atibaia” case, Lula could return to prison. Following last week’s Supreme Court ruling, lawmakers have advocated speeding up a constitutional amendment reinstating automatic jail time for convicts who lose their first appeal.

ropean Union.

Farage said Brexit was in peril, so he would focus his party’s efforts at unseating opponents of leaving the EU - primarily in seats held by the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats.

The United Kingdom voted by 52%-48% in 2016 to quit the EU, albeit without deciding how it would be done. But parliament has been deadlocked since a 2017 snap election over how, when and even whether to leave.

A week ago, Farage had

promised to field 600 candidates unless Johnson went for a “no-deal” Brexit.

But yesterday, he said his party will now “concentrate our total effort into all of the seats that are held by the Labour Party, who have completely broken their manifesto in 2017,” he said. “We will also take on the rest of the ‘remainer’ parties.”

Sterling leapt as much as 1% against the U.S. dollar after Farage’s announcement, and hit a six-month high against the euro.

New York drops 2 of 4 fraud charges...

From page 23 a “social cost of carbon,” but did not clarify the difference between its proxy cost and its GHG cost.

Investors have testified that the wording in Managing the Risks was deceptive and made even more so because of its placement below a map depicting CO2 “proxy” costs.

Documents show Exxon

used the terms “GHG costs,” “proxy cost,” “cost of carbon” and “proxy cost of carbon” in Managing the Risks and used the terms “GHG gas proxy cost,” “proxy cost,” “proxy cost of carbon,” “cost of carbon,” in Energy and Climate.

“Climate change risk may well be the defining risk for oil and gas companies like Exxon for the coming de-

cades,” Zweig said, adding that Exxon is free to assume governments will back down and not impose climate-related regulations and the AGs case is not questioning the accuracy of those predictions.

“All the Martin Act requires is that ExxonMobil be honest and not mislead its investors,” Zweig said.

“Thats not too much to ask.”

Tuesday November 12, 2019

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Tuesday November 12, 2019

Tuesday November 12, 2019

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Marlene McDonald co-ordinates PNM PoS campaign NEWSDAY - Confident representatives filed their nomination papers yesterday morning in hopes of becoming councillor in one of the 12 districts in Port of Spain that will be contested in the December 2 local government elections. People’s National Movement (PNM), United National Congress (UNC) and Port of Spain People’s Movement (PPM) supporters gathered from 9 am at the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) office on Henry Street to back their representative. Among them were Minister of Security Stuart Young and PNM MP Marlene McDonald, campaign coordinator for Port of Spain.

Young said, “We feel very confident and are not afraid of our competitors. Port of Spain has been a traditional stronghold (of) the PNM.” The United National Congress (UNC) slate was accompanied by opposition senator Wade Mark, who also expressed confidence in his party’s candidates. Candidate for St Ann’s Cascade/Mon Repos West DeniseAnn Robinson said a main concern in her area is youth development.

“We have a lot of youth that are skilled but not certified, because of the gang war.Askill bank is one way to certify them so they can go out there and make an honest living.”

Opposition Senator Wade Mark, MP for Port of Spain North/St Anns West Stuart Young and Alderman Wendell Stephens greet each other as a crowd of PNM and UNC supporters converged at the Office of the Returning Officer District Office located at 123 Henry Street, Port of Spain. - ROGER JACOB

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Tuesday November 12, 2019

Tuesday November 12, 2019

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Springboks celebrate victory at legendary Mandela site

Rainbow nation: Springbok scrum half Faf de Klerk holds the William Webb Ellis Trophy alongside his teammates outside the South African parliament in Cape Town. (AFP / David Harrison)

Tuesday November 12, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You could be cleaning your house when you hear some wonderful news about money today. This could make your day.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today could be one of the happiest days you've had in a long time. Perhaps you'll spend it with a current or potential romantic partner, going to quaint places in your neighborhood..

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you could receive an unexpected sum of money. Perhaps a friend who owes you could repay the debt, or you could get an unexpected opportunity to earn a little extra on the side.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Love and romance blossom as a current or potential love partner comes on strong with passionate affection.

This person could have a lot to say that catches you by surprise.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Someone who may be something of a local celebrity might suddenly be attracted to you, although at this point neither one of you may be inclined to pursue it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you may be powerfully attracted to someone from a distant state or foreign country. The person may be highly educated and stimulating.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you might be catapulted into the public eye in some way - and you won't be very comfortable there!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A wedding could take place.

It might be yours or it could be that of someone close to you. Whoever is getting married is very happy.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you might do some routine work, perhaps as a volunteer, with an interesting person whose company you enjoy. Lively conversations should make the day go faster.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A new love relationship could appear on the horizon, perhaps with someone as creative as you. This could cause some self-doubt, particularly about your appearance, but don't succumb to that.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Some visitors could come to your home today, perhaps a couple with a child. You'll go through the place like a whirlwind and want everything to look just right.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A call from a close friend or love partner could bring good news today. You'll be so happy about it that you'll want to get word out to everyone you know. This could involve romance or it might concern a creative project of some kind, perhaps involving writing and speaking.

AFP - South Africa’s rugby stars yesterday hoisted the World Cup before thousands of ecstatic fans at Cape Town’s City Hall, where Nelson Mandela made his first speech after his release from prison.The Springboks’ final stop on their victory tour pounded home the message

of unity in a country still nursing the wounds of apartheid a quarter-century after its end.

“Look how we are all different, different races, different backgrounds, and we came together for South and we made it happen,” Siya Kolisi, the Springboks’ first black Test captain, told thousands of fans.

“I’m saying to you today, just take a look around you, there is different races, different people with different backgrounds, but look how you are making it special for us.”

“It’s time for us South Africans to stop fighting, to stop arguing... and move forward as a country,” he said, to wild applause from fans in the vast square.It was in that same square in front of City Hall on February 11, 1990, that Nelson Mandela spoke to euphoric crowds hours after his release from 27 years in prison.That was Mandela’s first major speech as a free man and a key moment in South Africa’s rebirth as white-minority rule crumbled.

The Springboks beat England 32-12 victory against England in Japan on Novem-

ber 2, earning their third world crown in rugby’s paramount tournament.

But this team broke new ground, being the most racially-mixed in a national sport which was once the preserve of the white elite.

- ‘Reach for the stars’ Earlier Monday, the Springboks visited anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who sported a green Springbok jersey.

“What this group of youngsters has achieved speaks, beyond rugby, to the possibility of what we can be.

No matter where we come from, if we reach for the stars, we can actually touch them,” said Tutu in a statement.

Dwarfed by most of the squad, Tutu appeared particularly impressed by Trevor Nyakane and Tendai Mtawariras size — while scrum half Faf de Klerk gave the archbishop a glimpse of his “famously patriotic underwear he revealed to Prince Harry after winning the cup” eight days earlier, said the statement.The Springbok also met lawmakers outside the parliament building.

The speaker of the legislature, Thandi Modise, told the triumphant squad: “You have enabled South Africa to recall who we are”.

“You have again made us able to forget our racial tensions, to forget the genderbased violence and to focus on that which makes us great as South Africa.”

She urged them to “continue to unite this country.”

“If politics fails, our fallback is sports, because there... we understand the rules of the game, we understand who and what makes us a people,” Modise said In a brief response to the members of parliament building, Kolisi said “we hope that we make you proud and we hope that we have inspired you”.Team members wore yellow T-shirts with inscription “stronger together”.

Three decades ago, the Springboks were widely viewed as a pawn or a symbol of white-minority apartheid regime.Their victorious homecoming tour, aboard an opentopped bus. has taken them to Soweto, a township near Johannesburg where they were once reviled, and to the seat of government in Pretoria where they met President Cyril Ramaphosa.

They also took the trophy to Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth, Kolisi’s home town.

Throughout the tour, thousands of South Africans, from all backgrounds, have come out to cheer the national team.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Hope hundred inspires Windies whitewash LUCKNOW, India, CMC Elegant stroke-maker Shai Hope carved out a seventh one-day hundred as West Indies completed a rare series whitewash with a five-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the third One-Day International here yesterday.

In pursuit of 250 for victory at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Stadium, West Indies recovered from a nightmare position of four for two in the third over to reach their target with eight balls to spare.

At the heart of the effort was Hopes enterprise, the 26year-old striking a Man-ofthe-Match unbeaten 109 off 145 deliveries to control the run chase. The knock saw him end the series with 229 runs at the same average, and move his career average to 50.

Roston Chase, adjudged Man-of-the-Series for his tour average of 72 and six wickets, finished on 42 not out off 32 deliveries while Brandon King hit 39 from 56 balls and cap-

tain Kieron Pollard, a quickfire 26-ball 32.

The result was still somewhat in the balance at 182 for five in the 38th over but Hope and Chase put all doubts to rest in a 71-run, unbroken sixth wicket stand.

Afghanistan had earlier managed their best total of the series when they rallied to 249 for seven off their 50 overs, behind Asghar Afghans top score of 86 and an unbeaten 50 from Mohammad Nabi.

Opener Hazratullah Zazai belted a lively 50 off 59 balls while Najibullah Zadran chipped in with a busy 30 off 32 balls down the order.

The hosts were languishing at 118 for five in the 29th over after seamer Keemo Paul ((3-44) hurt the innings with an incisive burst but Asghar and Nabi put on 127 for the sixth wicket, giving West Indies their first real challenge of the series.

Opting to bowl first, the Windies were rewarded in the third over when debutant Ibrahim Zadran missed a flick

at a full length delivery from pacer Alzarri Joseph (2-59) and was lbw for two at 15 for one.

Zazai, who struck seven fours and two sixes in a polished knock, then inspired a 30-run second wicket stand with Rahmat Shah (10). They were beginning to stabilise the innings when Rahmat lifted Paul to Nicholas Pooran at deep square in the 10th over.

When Paul removed Ikram Alikhils off stump for nine in the 18th over and then had Zazai holing out to deep midwicket at 74 for four in the 20th over, Afghanistan were beginning to wobble.

However, Asghar started the turnaround first by anchoring a 44-run fifth wicket stand with Najibullah, before finding a firm ally in Nabi to complete the rescue mission.

All told, Asghar struck three fours and half-dozen sixes while Najibullah counted four fours in a partnership which pushed their side beyond the 100-run mark.

Chase eventually claimed

Kirton, Ottley see off minnows Canada BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC Left-hander Nicholas Kirton struck his second halfcentury in three innings as Barbados Pride rebounded from a shock defeat to CCC Marooners, to crush minnows Canada by nine wickets here yesterday.

Set a paltry 162 at Conaree Cricket Centre, Pride made light work of the target to get home with 20 overs to spare.

Opener Kjorn Ottley finally tasted form following low returns in his previous two innings, top-scoring with an upbeat unbeaten 70 off 84 deliveries while Kirton was yet again fluent in notching 56 not out off 48 balls.

Leniko Boucher got a start with 26 but once he departed in the 13th over, Ottley and Kirton took charge in an exactly 100-run, unbroken second wicket stand.

Choosing to bat first, Canadas innings of 161 was underpinned by Arslan Khan who struck a defiant 76 off 128 deliveries, after new-ball speedsters Chemar Holder (332) and Roshon Primus (3-34) rocked the top order.

The 20-year-old Arslan arrived at the crease with his side in turmoil at six for two in the third over and watched as they slipped further to 29 for four in the 15th over.

The 20-year-old then put his head down in an innings containing five fours and a six, putting on 21 for the fifth wicket with Kanwarpal Tathgur (5), 38 for the sixth

Najibullah to a catch at slip

by King in the 29th over as the left-hander defended but Nabi joined Asghar to strike three fours and a six off 66 balls, and frustrate West Indies at the back end.

Asghar finally perished in the penultimate over, slicing Joseph to Romario Shepherd at short third man.

Off-spinner Mujeeb-urRahman then gave Afghanistan a sensational start, trapping both Evin Lewis (1) and Shimron Hetmyer (0) lbw in the space of four balls in the third over of the innings.

Hope remained solid, however, posted a critical 64 with King for the third wicket before adding a further 51 for the fourth with left-hander Nicholas Pooran who made 21.Circumspect early in his innings, Hope reached his fifty off 76 balls in the 27th over by punching seamer Yamin Ahmadzai to the cover boundary and completed three figures off 133 deliveries in the 44th over, with the Windies all but assured of victory.

Overall, he struck eight fours and three sixes two of these straight hits coming in the 23rd over from off-spinner Nabi as he raised the tempo of the innings.

When Pooran holed out to long off in the 29th over, West Indies were facing a required run rate of nearly six an over but Pollard entered to crunch a four and a pair of sixes in a 63-run, fifth wicket partnership with Hope, which put the visitors in command.

Against the run of play, Pollard clipped Nabi to Najibullah at short mid-wicket in the 38th over but Chase and Hope quickly settled the issue.

NFL roundup: Tannehill, Titans stun Mahomes....

Nicholas Kirton … stroked an exciting 54 not out. (file photo) wicket with Harsh Thaker (18) and 34 for the seventh wicket with captain Kanwar Mann (8).Arslan finally perished in the 43rd over, swinging Primus to short mid-wicket where Ashley Nurse took a low catch.

In reply, Ottley and Boucher put on 62 off 77 balls for the first wicket to ensure there were no hiccups in the run chase.

Left-hander Ottley counted 10 fours while Boucher hit five boundaries in a 48-ball knock before missing a straight one from leftarm spinner Shahid Ahmadzai and falling lbw in the 13th over.

Kirton, who featured last

season for reigning champions CCC Marooners, joined Ottley and set about the Canadian attack with relish, pummelling five fours and two sixes, to race to his half-century off 46 balls by clearing the ropes at long off with seamer Nauman Zafar in the 30th over.

He finished the game with the very next delivery, dragging Zafar to the mid-wicket boundary.

Scores: CANADA 161 off 48.2 overs (Arslan Khan 76; Chemar Holder 3-32, Roshon Primus 3-34).

PRIDE 162 for one off 30 overs (Kjorn Ottley 72 not out, Nicholas Kirton 54 not out, Leniko Boucher 26).

From page 30 Bay broke a four-game losing streak at the expense of Arizona.

Ronald Jones had 106 yards from scrimmage and rushed for a touchdown, and O.J. Howard caught a scoring pass from Winston, who engineered the 10th fourth-quarter comeback of his career as the Bucs (3-6) played their first game in Raymond James Stadium in 49 days.

Kyler Murray completed 27 of 44 passes for 324 yards and tied a career high with three touchdowns. Christian Kirk caught all three scores while setting career highs in receiving yards (138) and touchdowns as the Cardinals (3-6-1) lost their third straight.

Dolphins 16, Colts 12 Miamis defense intercepted Brian Hoyer three times, and kicker Jason Sand-

ers boomed three long field goals, including the go-ahead and insurance kicks in the fourth quarter of an upset in Indianapolis.

Sanders 48-yarder with 5:45 left in the game gave the Dolphins (2-7) a 13-12 lead, and another 48-yarder just over two minutes later upped the lead to four. That occurred five plays after Nik Needham intercepted Hoyer at the Indianapolis 35.

The Colts final drive ended at the Dolphins 8 when Hoyers fourth-down pass to tight end Eric Ebron came up 2 yards shy of a first down, as Needham made the tackle with 45 seconds remaining.

Hoyer, making his first start in two years as Jacoby Brissett (knee) sat out, finished 18 of 39 for 204 yards.

Vikings 28, Cowboys 24 Kirk Cousins completed

23 of 32 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns, both to tight end Kyle Rudolph, and Minnesota held on for a win over host Dallas in Arlington, Texas.

Dalvin Cook finished with 26 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota (7-3), which won for the fifth time in six games. Cook also had seven catches for 86 yards out of the backfield.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott completed 28 of 46 passes for 397 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, which came on a “Hail Mary” from the Dallas 46 as time expired. Amari Cooper had 11 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown, while Randall Cobb had six catches for 106 yards and a touchdown for the Cowboys (5-4).

(Field Level Media)

Tuesday November 12, 2019

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Kaieteur News

NFL roundup: Tannehill, Titans stun Mahomes, Chiefs late Ryan Tannehill fired a decisive 23-yard touchdown pass to Adam Humphries with 23 seconds remaining Sunday, and the Tennessee Titans stunned the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-32, in Nashville, Tenn.

Harrison Butker, who made a field goal as time expired to enable the Chiefs to beat Minnesota last week, had a 52-yard attempt blocked at the buzzer.

Tannehill passed for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and Derrick Henry rushed for 188 yards and two more scores.

On their previous possession, the Chiefs (6-4) lined up for a field goal after going three-and-out inside the final two minutes, but holder Dustin Colquitt could not handle the snap and was flagged for intentional grounding on a desperation pass.

Tannehill and the Titans (5-5) took over and covered 61 yards in four plays to spoil the return of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who missed the two previous games with a dislocated knee.

Mahomes, playing with a

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) passes against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at Nissan Stadium.

(Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports) brace on his right knee, passed for 446 yards, going 36 of 50, with three touchdowns.

Packers 24, Panthers 16 Preston Smith stopped Christian McCaffrey inside the 1-yard line on the games final play, and Green Bay survived Carolinas lengthy, lastminute drive to win at snowy Lambeau Field.

McCaffrey was stopped

on second-and-goal from the 2 with the ruling upheld upon review ending an 18-play, 88yard drive by the Panthers (54) that included a fourth-and10 conversion from quarterback Kyle Allen to D.J. Moore.

The Packers (8-2) rode three touchdowns from Aaron Jones and 156 combined rushing yards from Jones and Jamaal Williams.

Nadal beaten by Zverev in ATP Finals opener LONDON (Reuters) World number one Rafael Nadal made a disappointing start at the ATP Finals as he suffered a first career loss to Germanys reigning champion Alexander Zverev, going down 6-2 6-4 yesterday.

The Spaniard, seeking a first title at the event and hoping to secure the year-end number one ranking for a fifth time, showed no sign of the abdominal injury sustained in Paris this month, but was comprehensively outplayed.

Zverev broke serve in the fifth game and again two games later when Nadal blazed a wild forehand wide.

The 33-year-old dropped his serve again at the start of the second set and with Zverev rock solid on his own delivery he never allowed the Spaniard a glimpse of an opportunity.The statistics told the story of the match with Zverev striking 26 winners to Nadals 13 and winning 30 of 34 points behind his first serve.

World number seven Zverev, 22, has now beaten Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Nadal in consecutive matches at the O2 Arena where last year he claimed the biggest title of his career.

It proved quite the day for ending losing streaks.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev celebrates after winning his group stage match against Spain’s Rafael Nadal. (Action Images via Reuters/Tony O’Brien) Just as Zverev claimed a first win in six meetings with Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas had earlier beaten Daniil Medvedev 7-6(5) 6-4 in the battle of the debutants having been 0-5 against the Russian in previous meetings.

Nadal, who missed last years ATP Finals and played only one group match in 2017 because of injury, arrived in London with a 640-point lead over Novak Djokovic in the rankings.With 200 points for each round-robin match,

Djokovic cut that deficit on Sunday by thrashing Italian Matteo Berrettini.

Nadal takes on Medvedev in his second round-robin match on Wednesday in a repeat of this years U.S. Open final in which he took his Grand Slam haul to 19. Zverev faces Tsitsipas next.

Djokovic, seeking a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title, can close the gap further on Tuesday when he takes on Austrian Dominic Thiem.

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) tackles Pittsburg Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) in the end zone for a safety during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports) Aaron Rodgers finished 17 of 29 for 233 yards.

Falcons 26, Saints 9 Matt Ryan threw two touchdown passes, and visiting Atlanta ended a sixgame losing streak by stopping New Orleans six-game winning streak.

Ryan, who completed 20 of 35 for 182 yards, threw scoring passes of 8 yards to Austin Hooper and 10 yards to Brian Hill for the games only touchdowns. The Falcons (2-7) limited Drew Brees and the Saints offense to three Wil Lutz field goals.

Brees, playing in his second game after a five-game absence due to thumb surgery, completed 32 of 45 passes for 287 yards and was sacked six times by a defense that had seven sacks total entering the game.

Steelers 17, Rams 12 Mason Rudolph passed for 242 yards and a touchdown to James Washington to complement a strong Pittsburgh defense in a win over visiting Los Angeles.

The Steelers (5-4), who won their fourth straight game, held the Rams (5-4) without an offensive touchdown and had four takeaways.

Washington had six receptions for 90 yards, including the touchdown, which tied the game at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter. Minkah Fitzpatrick had a fumble recovery and return for a touchdown and sealed the win with an interception with 20 seconds left.

Ravens 49, Bengals 13 Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes and scored on a long run as visiting Baltimore ripped Cincinnati.

Jackson completed his

first 11 passes, two of those touchdowns to Mark Andrews. He also scored on a 47-yard run, fooling a pair of defenders with a spin move before accelerating into the end zone.

The Bengals (0-9), the NFLs lone winless team, didnt appear to have solved anything even as they came off an open week on the schedule. Rookie Ryan Finley ended up 16 for 30 for 167 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He replaced Andy Dalton, who was benched after eight games, as the starter.

Bears 20, Lions 13 Mitch Trubisky threw for 173 yards and three touchdowns to help host Chicago snap a four-game losing streak with a victory against Detroit.

The Bears (4-5) won for the first time since Week 4 to take sole possession of third place in the NFC North. The Lions (3-5-1), playing without injured starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, lost for the fifth time in six games.

Backup quarterback Jeff Driskels fourth-down pass toward the end zone from the Bears 25-yard line fell incomplete as time expired. Stafford missed the game with what ESPN reported were multiple fractures in his back, snapping a streak of 136 consecutive starts, the sixth-longest by a quarterback in NFL history.

Browns 19, Bills 16 Baker Mayfield found Rashard Higgins for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 1:44 remaining to help Cleveland snap a four-game losing streak by defeating visiting Buffalo.

Buffalos Stephen Hauschka missed a 53-yard field-goal attempt with 17 sec-

onds to go. It was his second missed field-goal try of the game.

Mayfield finished 26 of 38 for 238 yards and two touchdowns for the Browns (3-6), who had been 0-3 at home.

Nick Chubb ran for 116 yards on 20 carries. Clevelands winning drive went 82 yards in 10 plays, taking 3:42.

Jets 34, Giants 27 LeVeon Bells 1-yard touchdown run eight seconds into the fourth quarter gave the “host” Jets the lead for good, as they defeated the Giants in a battle of skidding New York teams who share MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets (2-7) snapped a three-game losing streak, while the Giants (2-8) have lost six straight. Quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 230 yards and accounted for two touchdowns one passing and one rushing for the Jets.

Safety Jamal Adams had two sacks and two forced fumbles and scored the other touchdown by stripping the ball from Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and racing untouched into the end zone for a 25-yard score early in the third quarter.

Jones connected on 26 of 40 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns two apiece to Golden Tate and Darius Slayton but was sacked six times. The Giants had just 23 yards on 17 carries, including 1 yard on 13 carries by Saquon Barkley.

Buccaneers 30, Cardinals 27 Jameis Winston passed for 358 yards and a touchdown, and Peyton Barber scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run with 1:43 remaining as host Tampa (Continued on page 30)

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Tuesday November 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Jokic, Nuggets recover to top Wolves in OT Nikola Jokic hit a 15-foot jumper with 3.3 seconds left in overtime, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 100-98, in Minneapolis on Sunday.

Jokic finished with 20 points and hit a last-second game winner for the second consecutive game. Paul Millsap had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Will Barton scored six of his 13 points in overtime and added 12 rebounds.Denver has won four straight, despite allowing a 16-0 Timberwolves run in the final 6:43 of regulation to force overtime.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, Andrew Wiggins also scored 25 and Josh Okogie had 17 points for Minnesota.

The Timberwolves played without their two top point guards. Jeff Teague was out due to illness, and Shabazz Napier sat with a right hamstring strain.

Raptors 113, Lakers 104 Pascal Siakam scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and short-handed Toronto used a second-half surge to beat Los Angeles for the 10th straight time.

Fred VanVleet had 23 points and 10 assists for the Raptors, who snapped the Lakers seven-game winning streak. Toronto, which played without guard Kyle Lowry and forward Serge Ibaka, has won six of its last seven contests.Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 27 points to go along with eight rebounds and four blocks. LeBron James recorded his fourth triple-double in five games, finishing with 13 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds.

Bucks 121, Thunder 119

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) passes the ball while Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) defends in the third quarter at Target Center. (David Berding-USA TODAY Sports) Giannis Antetokounmpo collected 35 points and 16 rebounds, and Brook Lopez sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 25.4 seconds left as Milwaukee won at Oklahoma City.Eric Bledsoe finished with a season-best 25 points, marking the fourth consecutive game that he has scored at least 20 after being held to 18 or fewer in each of his first six contests. Lopez joined Bledsoe in making a trio of 3pointers for the Bucks, but none bigger than the one he sank after Oklahoma City went on a 13-2 run to forge a tie at 114.Dennis Schroder shot 9-of-12 for 25 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 22 for the Thunder, who saw their four-game home winning streak come to a halt.

Trail Blazers 124, Hawks 113 (OT) Outscoring Atlanta 17-6 in

the overtime period, Portland broke a four-game losing streak with a home victory.

Kent Bazemore, the former Hawk traded to Portland in the offseason, catalyzed the Blazers offense in the extra period, scoring the first six points on a pair of 3-pointers. He finished with 13 points and took on the difficult task of guarding Atlanta guard Trae Young, who scored a teamhigh 35 points but shot just 9 of 30 from the field.

Damian Lillard led Portland with 30 points, supplemented by 23 from CJ McCollum, 21 points and 12 rebounds from Hassan Whiteside and 20 points off the bench from Anfernee Simons. Atlanta got 27 points and 11 rebounds from Jabari Parker and 15 from Kevin Huerter.Pacers 109, Magic 102 Domantas Sabonis led a

balanced attack with 21 points as Indiana rallied from a halftime deficit to turn back host Orlando.

T.J. Warren and Malcolm Brogdon chipped in with 19 points apiece, and Doug McDermott added 18 off the bench as the Pacers, down 6051 at the half, dominated the final 24 minutes en route to their third straight win.

Evan Fournier paced Orlando with 22 points. Nikola

Vucevic grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds to go with 18 points for the Magic.

Suns 138, Nets 112 Devin Booker had 27 points and nine assists, Ricky Rubio had his third straight double-double with 22 points and 12 assists, and host Phoenix made a season-high 19 3pointers in a victory over Brooklyn.Kelly Oubre Jr. had 18 points, rookie Cam Johnson had a season-high 15 points, and Aron Baynes and Tyler Johnson had 14 apiece for the Suns, who at 63 are off to their best start since the 2009-10 team won eight of its first nine.Spencer Dinwiddie had 18 points off the bench, reserve center DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Kyrie Irving had a seasonlow 15 points for the Nets, playing the second game of a five-game road trip.

76ers 114, Hornets 106 Six players scored in double figures for Philadelphia, which rallied from a halftime deficit to beat Charlotte after losing three straight to end its four-game Western Conference road swing.

Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 18 points and nine rebounds, followed by Furkan Korkmaz with 17 points, Al

Horford with 15, Tobias Harris with 14, Trey Burke with 12 and Josh Richardson with 11, as star Ben Simmons sat out with a shoulder injury.

Cody Zeller scored 14 of his game-high 24 points in the second quarter for the Hornets, who outscored Philadelphia in the period 3420. Reserve guard and season-long Hornets leading scorer Devonte Graham provided his usual spark off the bench, finishing with 19 points and a game-high 10 assists.

Cavaliers 108, Knicks 87 Collin Sexton scored a career-high 31 points, and Cleveland won for the 11th straight time at Madison Square Garden, a wire-to-wire victory over New York.

The Cavaliers led by double digits for the last 30plus minutes and won consecutive games for the first time this season, while the Knicks failed for the second time this season to record back-to-back wins.

Kevin Love added 17 points and eight rebounds, while reserve Jordan Clarkson also contributed 17 for the Cavaliers. Julius Randle led the Knicks with 20 points and 16 rebounds.

(Field Level Media)

Kenya’s Kiptum gets four-year ban for doping

Tsitsipas gets win he craved over Medvedev From page 31 nerveless volley onto the sideline and converted when Medvedev netted a forehand.World number four Medvedev saved three break points at 3-3 in the second but an error of judgement at 4-4 gave Tsitsipas another break point chance which this time he converted.Tsitsipas claimed victory with a smash.

NEW RIVALRIES Medvedev played down suggestions that losing to Tsitsipas for the first time stung more, saying he was happy with the way he played after some poor form in the lead-up.“He was better today, but I felt like I was missing some things,” Medvedev said. “That would frustrate me against any other opponent. Of course, I wanted to make it even bigger headto-head, but its the way it is.”With fans and media craving new rivalries to carry the game forward when the sun sets on the golden age of Roger Federer, Nadal and Novak Djokovic, it is understandable that any potential bad blood between players is seized upon.Tsistipas was asked outright why he does not like Medvedev. “Thats a strong statement, I never said I dont like him,” he said before describing an incident in a match

Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, Kenya’s Abraham Kiptum, Great Britain’s Mo Farah, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopia’s Tola Shura Kitata pose ahead of the London Marathon. (Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs) Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates winning his group stage match against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev.

(REUTERS/Toby Melville) against Medvedev in Miami last year when words were exchanged.“I mean, our chemistry definitely isnt the best that you can find on the tour,” he said. “It just happens with people that its not that you can just like everyone.“Its not that I hate him. I guess, as he said, we will not go to dinner together. I respect him, for sure.”

(Reuters) - Kenya’s former world half marathon record holder Abraham Kiptum has been banned for four years over an anti-doping violation, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said.

The AIU, which oversees integrity issues in international athletics, including doping, had provisionally suspended the 30-year-old on April 26 for an Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) violation.The passport uses blood tests to detect the likelihood of doping rather than testing for specific substances.

Kiptums four-year ban commences from that date and all his results going back to Oct.

13, 2018 including a half marathon world record (58 minutes and 18 seconds) that he had set in Valencia later that month have been disqualified.His time was five seconds better than the previous mark set by Eritreas Zersenay Tadese in Lisbon in 2010.

Kiptums compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor broke the world half-marathon record by 17 seconds in Copenhagen in September.

Kenya is known for its middle and longdistance running pedigree but has suffered damage to its reputation due to a number of doping violations in recent years.

Tuesday November 12, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Linden crowned NISA Sisters day of sports champs

Essequibo took the runner up spot.

Members of the victorious Linden team with their hardware.

By Zaheer Mohamed Linden emerged champions of the National Islamic Sisters Association (NISA) sports day held on Sunday at Muslim Youth Organisation, Woolford Avenue.

Following the opening remarks by the Ameera of NISA Taaherah Ally, the event got underway with the sprint events on a day that Muslims commemorate the birth and death anniversary of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Apart from the sprints, there were some novelty events and the sisters from the mining town chalked up 195 points to take the overall title while Essequibo took the runner up spot on 187 points followed by Upper East Coast Demerara on 160.

West Coast Demerara/

Bartica placed fourth on 155 points followed by West Bank Demerara and Georgetown on 151 points each, New Amsterdam and Lower Corentyne on 131, Lower East Coast Demerara 120, East Bank Demerara 110 and West Coast Berbice on 108.

Safeena Mohamed of West Coast Demerara won the 100m U9 race ahead of Ronalisha Baird of Linden.

Akeelah Hinckson of Georgetown grabbed the 100m U13 event while Quinola Richmond of Linden placed second. Akeelah Eastman of Georgetown won the 100m U15 race and Lecia Dorrick of West Coast Demerara placed second. The 16-20 100m event was taken by Asiyah Eastman of Georgetown ahead of Marisa Sue of Essequibo.

Erika Khan of Linden carted off the 21-30 100m title, while Fazeena Ali of New Amsterdam and Lower Corentyne took the runner up spot.

The 60m U8 was won by Atiesha Sugrim of Upper East Coast Demerara and Bibi Isheka Ali of West Coast Berbice finished second.

The penalty shoot out was won by Salmah Ghanie of East Bank Demerara ahead of Sheliza Haroon of West Coast Demerara; Titania Chow of West Coast Demerara took the top podium spot in 60m 31-40 and Asiyah Haqq of Linden claimed second place; Ackulma Thomas of Linden won 60m 41 and over event while Faatimah Wilson of West Bank Demerara placed second.

Athletics-CAS confirms Salazar appeal against four-year ban LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) American Alberto Salazar, who has coached some of the worlds top distance runners, has appealed against his four-year ban for doping violations, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said yesterday.

Salazar was given a four-year ban by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on Sept.

30 for “orchestrating and facilitating prohibited doping conduct” as head coach of the Nike Oregon Project (NOP), a camp designed primarily to develop U.S. endurance athletes.

CAS said in a statement that it had registered an appeal from Salazar and endocrinologist Jeffrey Brown, who also worked on the NOP project and was banned for four years.

Both have denied wrongdoing.

The Swiss-based tribunal said that “parties have requested additional time to file their written submissions and evidence.”“At this stage, it appears that the hearings in these two matters are unlikely to take place before March 2020,” said CAS. CAS routinely takes several weeks to reach its verdict after a hearing has taken place.Nike has previously said it would support Salazars appeal. The sportswear giant has since shut down the NOP, saying the deci-

The 60m Ameera race was taken by Fazeena Ali of New Amsterdam and Lower Corentyne and Tahirah Gafoor of Upper East Coast Demerara placed second.

Quinola Richmond of Linden won the 200m U13 event and Lecia Dorrick of West Coast Demerara placed second. Ceria Smartt of West Coast Demerara took gold in the 200m U15 race while Shanesa Mc Laggen of New Amsterdam and Lower Corentyne took the second podium spot. Marisa Sue of Essequibo won the 200m U16 ahead of Erika Khan of Linden. These events were followed by the novelty contest and among the winners were; Zahrah Alli of Essequibo, Aleema Khan of East Bank Demerara; Ameera Ally of Essequibo and Shanesa Mc Laggen of New Amsterdam and Lower Corentyne.

Speaking with Kaieteur Sport following the presentation ceremony, Taaherah Ally, said this is the first time in over a decade they have hosted this event which includes all the districts across Guyana.

“The objective was to bring everybody together so

Nabiyah Britten and Fatimah Bristol were victorious in the U9 three legged race. as to build sisterhood thereby making the bond stronger whereas we can meet at one venue and compete in a friendly atmosphere.”

She added that every-

body was happy about the event and it will be staged annually.

NISA is the womens arm of the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT).

Pitbulls 3.0 are the first Mackeson 3x3 classic champs Coach Alberto Salazar stands in front of Galen Rupp of the U.S.A. in the Bird’s Nest Stadium at the Wold Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, August 21, 2015.

(REUTERS/Phil Noble) sion was made “to allow the athletes to focus on their training and competition needs.”

Britains multiple Olympic and world champion Mo Farah, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, is among the athletes who have been coached by Salazar.

T

he first Mackeson/Rawle Toney 3x3 classic basketball tournament con cluded on Sunday night at the Burnham hard court on Middle and Carmichael Streets where Pitbull 3.0 emerged as the inaugural champions of the majorly successful event.

Pitbulls 3.0 defeated Smooth 22-12 while Plaisance Ballers finished third after besting Ion Know 22-20.

For their sensational run, Pitbulls 3.0 pocketed $300,000 and their standout player, Ryan Stephney was named MVP which meant he pocketed an extra $25,000 and the Andrew Ifill trophy, compliments of FireSide Grill N Chill.

Dominic Vincente won the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federations (GABF) sponsored three-point shootout contest and pocketed $25,000 for his efforts.

Smooth pocketed $150,000 for finishing second, Plaisance Ballers cashed in $100,000 for third place and Ion Know $50,000 for fourth.

This event was sponsored by Distribution giants ANSA McAL, under their Mackeson brand, along with the Guyana Lottery Companys Lets Bet Sports, STUFF, Slingerz Family Entertainment, the National Sports Commission (NSC),Trophy Stall, JD Carn and Allegiance Corp.

PAGE 34

Kaieteur News

Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup Barnwells 80 and Reifer 5-35 lead Jaguars to second win

By Sean Devers in Trinidad Last night at the Queens Park Oval Chris Barnwells eighth half century and Manof-the-Match Raymon Reifers second five-wicket haul in 50over cricket led Guyana Jaguars to a 13- run win over the USA to register their second win in three matches and move the eight points.

(Scores: Jaguars 226 all out in 50 over, USA 213-9 in 50 overs) Tagenarine Chanderpaul made 40 from

104 balls with two fours and faced 76 dot balls. He shared in a 61 run-stand with Skipper Leon Johnson whose 43 lasted 57 balls and included three fours and two sixes before he added another 66 with Barnwell who smashed in his 63-ball 80, seven fours and four sixes.The 32-year-old Barnwell shared in a 40-run stand for the fifth wicket with Johnathon Foo who slammed 41 with three fours and a six as Jaguars reached their first 200 plus score in three

matches.Skipper Saurabh Netravalkarin bowled a frugal 10-over spell of left-arm fast bowling taking 2-20. Left arm spinner Karima Gore took 338 and Australian Ian Holland 2-35 for the USA who finished 13 short when their overs expired despite a fighting 43 from Monank Patel, 32 from Guyanese-born Akshay Homraj and 28 from Ian Holland and 23 from Jamaicanborn Steven Taylor.

The 28-year-old left-arm seamer Reifer had 5-35, while

Pollard praises Pooran’s ‘maturity’, Chase’s ‘cleverness’ in rare series win ESPNcricinfo - Their first bilateral ODI series win since 2014, their first away ODI series win since 2011, and a few youngsters stepping up as the main performers to help West Indies take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series against Afghanistan - captain Kieron Pollard is understandably upbeat.

Pollard, in his first ODI series as captain, praised two players who have both played fewer than 25 games in the format: Nicholas Pooran, for showing the “maturity” lower down the order, and Roston Chase, for his “cleverness” as a bowler.

“Very happy to win an away series since I think 2011, a series in itself since 2014,” Pollard pointed out after winning the second ODI, by 47 runs. “It’s a great achievement for us. At the end of the day, we ask the guys to do certain things and they’ve responded pretty well and the results show the way that we prepare for the matches.”

West Indies won the opening game after bowling out Afghanistan for 194, and then chasing it down with solid half-centuries from Shai Hope (77*) and Chase (94) for a seven-wicket win. In the second ODI, they defended 247 on the back of three-fors from Sheldon Cottrell, Chase and Hayden Walsh Jr. Pollard was, however, also appreciative of the fact that West Indies had beaten a team ranked lower than them.

“So far, what has gone well is guys are sticking to the plans, sticking to what we actually want to do, and it’s actually coming off,” Pollard said. “The longer we do that and more consistently we do that, we’re going to put up consistent performances. Yes, it’s against Afghanistan but Afghanistan has beaten us

Nicholas Pooran sweeps for four.

(Getty Images)

recently.“A lot of people say, ‘it’s just Afghanistan’, but we take pride in what we want to do and the guys have shown by effort even off the field and then coming onto the field and trying to deliver the goods.”

Chase has taken five wickets for 61 runs in his 20 overs in the series so far, with an impressive economy rate of three per over. He was also the first-change bowler in the second game and removed opener Hazratullah Zazai, Asghar Afghan and Ikram Alikhil to put Afghanistan in trouble at 109 for 5.

“Roston, two games consistently he has played his role to perfection,” Pollard said. “Yes, he didn’t get many with the bat today, but again he showed with the ball the experience that he has, the cleverness, changing of pace, setting the fields in different aspects, trying to get the results.

“The bowlers have been doing a very good job, limiting Afghanistan to 194 in the first ODI and then coming tonight, again just over 200, I think it was a fantastic effort by them, led by Sheldon and

Jason [Holder], opening the bowling, getting the early wickets, those are the things we asked for.”

West Indies got good starts with the bat in both games, but it was Pooran’s 50ball 67 in the second ODI that helped them put on a competitive score when as no other batsman could score as quickly on a pitch that was not as easy to bat on.

“If you look how we set up, our first four batsmen are guys who we want to just bat and bat long, and then from No. 5 Pooran, coming down, again changing that tempo and trying to clear the boundaries as well, as per the roles the guys have been given,” Pollard said. “He came in, he got his eye in, it was not a wicket where the ball was coming on to the bat, and he stayed there till the end. We needed one guy staying till the end or getting that one fifty for us, and he did it.

“He hasn’t played many games and he’s showing that level of maturity as an individual, but again we’re not surprised by the results because of the work he’s been putting on and off the field.”

Hemraj took 2-13. When Veerasammy Permaul removed Aaron Jones for nine he reached 100 wickets in 50over cricket; only behind countryman Mahendra Nagamootoo and Barbadian Sulieman Benn. Earlier, Jaguars were asked to bat on a good track in a slight drizzle and Chanderpaul faced a maiden from Netravalkar before the rain got harder and sent the players off the field.

After a short delay play resumed and Hemraj survived a raucous LBW shout off the first ball he received from Cameron Stevenson before he was trapped LBW off Netravalkar for one at 2-1.

Both opening bowlers, especially Netravalkar, kept the shackles on the batsmen before Stevenson had Kemol Savory (1) caught behind at 7-2 to bring Johnson to join Chanderpaul in overcast conditions.Johnson cut Stevenson past point for the first boundary in seventh over to take the score into double figures as two men and a dog watched as Johnson hit the Aussie for his second boundary, but USA dominated the power-play overs with Jaguars managing just 20 runs from 10 overs. Holland replaced fellow Australian Stevenson in the 11th over but with the score on 29-2 in

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Skipper Saurabh Netravalkar had 2-20 from 10 overs as he had the Jaguars in shackles yesterday.

Raymon Reifer © CWI Media/Philip Spooner the 14th over, another shower sent them off the field.After a delay of 30 minutes, play resumed and the left-handed Johnson cut Netravalkar to point for the first four off his bowling as his first eight overs cost nine runs.

Off-spinner Taylor replayed his Skipper in the 17th over, while Johnson pulled Holland for four.The 50 was posted in the 20th over before Johnson clipped Taylor for a single to bring up the 50 partnership before he cut Gore for four.However, when seven short of his first 50 in nine innings for Guyana, he was taken at slip off Taylor at 67-3 to bring Barnwell to the wicket.The 32-year-old Barnwell lofted Taylor into the Carib stand off his first ball before sweeping left-arm spin-

ner Nosthush Kenjige for four as the sunshine returned in all its glory.Kenjige was flicked for four by Barnwell as he moved past C h a n d e r p a u l s score.Chanderpaul was then LBW to Gore at 133-4 to break the second half-century stand of the innings.

Chanderpauls demise brought in Foo as Barnwell brought up his eight 50-over fifty from 39 balls with six fours and a six.

Barnwell launched into leg spinner Nisarg Patel, lofting him over long-on for six, crashed him past extra cover for four and deposited him into the Scotia Bank sign over straight mid-wicket for another six in an over which cost 18.Reifer (10) fell to Gore before Foo joined Barnwell and quickly got going as he and Barnwell added 40 for the sixth wicket when Barnwell fell to Holland at 191-6.

Foo kept going but lost Ramaal Lewis (3), Veerasammy Permaul (1) and Ronsford Beaton (1) in the space of 10 runs as the Jaguars slipped to 211-9 before Netravalkar got rid of Foo off the last ball of the innings.

After drawing the bye in the next round, Jaguars next play the Windwards Volcanoes on Friday at the Queens Park Oval.

Chris Barnwell hits a massive six during an explosive 81 yesterday.

Leon Johnson ducks under a bouncer at the start of his innings yesterday.

Hope hundred rt inspires Windies o p S whitewash

Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Afghan celebrate a landmark, Afghanistan v West Indies, 3rd ODI, Lucknow, November 11, 2019 Š AFP

Shai Hope drives stylishly through the off-side during his unbeaten 109 in the third ODI against Afghanistan.

Pitbulls 3.0 are the first Mackeson 3x3 classic champs Champions Pitbulls 3.0 players L-R Ryan Stephney, Jermaine Slater, Ryan Gullen and Travis Belgrave of Pitbull 3.0 pose with organiser Rawle Toney after winning the title on Sunday.

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