Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR $3M reward offered by

Wednesday Edition

NEWS police is an “admission Online: www.kaieteurnews.com of failure” in solving Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most murder of Henry boys - Attorney popular weekly ...Recommends Argentine team to probe murder November 04, 2020 - Vol. 15 No.42

Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 94,199

Guyana has very narrow window to get right what other countries struggled Billions with for decades -IDB for free?

Husband, wife burnt to death

...Fire set by husband COVID-19 hospital Bandits beat, rob pensioner to become - Health Minister

operationalised of his cash in a week’s time and foodstuff

Canadian company

We place something simple before you, our fellow citizens. If Vice President Jagdeo owns a piece of mining land and doesn’t have the money, the experience and expertise to mine the land for gold, do you think that he will make an agreement with someone who has no cash, no experience, no expertise in the gold business to enter onto his mining concession? Certainly not!

Well citizens that is what is taking place before our eyes in relation to the Kaieteur and Canje Oil Blocks! Donald Ramotar and Robert Persaud handed out both oil blocks, virtually for free, to Dookie and four others who had no cash, no expertise and no experience in oil production.

These blocks are worth billions of US dollars.

Then they authorized them to sell the blocks and keep the cash.Citizens, this is what is taking place with your oil wealth.

Where are your voices?

bought in to Canje Block even before licence was granted

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Canadian company bought in to Canje Block even before licence was granted

CEO and Director of JHI Associates, John Cullen

Director and Sole Shareholder of Mid-Atlantic, Edris Kamal Dookie

Director of Mid-Atlantic, Hewley Nelson

Former Director of Mid-Atlantic, Nicholas Chuck-A-Sang

Corporate Secretary of Mid-Atlantic., Glenn Low-A-Chee

JHI Associates revealed on its website that it farmed into the licence in 2014, one year before former President Donald Ramotar granted the license to Mid-Atlantic Oil & Gas. JHI is the Canadian company, which currently co-owns the Canje Block alongside ExxonMobil, Total SE and MidAtlantic and currently has a 17.5 percent stake.

According to a graphic on jhiassociates.com, the company was founded in Ontario, Canada in 2011 and expanded its core team to support Mid-Atlantic’s application for the Canje Block in 2013. JHI said that in 2014 it completed a

“pre-licence farmin” with MidAtlantic in 2014. The company actually became an owner of the block in May 15, 2015 – days after the 2015 General and Regional Elections, which saw Ramotar unseated by the David Granger-led Coalition.

However, this information shows that the companies’ principals had plans for the licence long before the infant Mid-Atlantic, with no qualification to develop the ultra deepwater Canje Block, was granted it.

Together, the two companies held on to the block for a year, then sold a 35 percent interest and the

operatorship to ExxonMobil in 2015. They also sold a 35 percent stake to Total SE in 2018.

The two companies have worked in synchrony for years in their handling of the Canje licence.

Yet, prior to the transactions in which they sold the block, no exploration was actually done as required under the agreement. They simply ceded the responsibility to ExxonMobil, save and except for some seismic data packages, which JHI says it purchased.

The principals of JHI and MidAtlantic have worked together prior to their involvement with the Canje licence. Mid-Atlantic’s sole

shareholder, Edris Kamal Dookie co-founded CGX in 1996 alongside JHI’s Chief Executive Officer and Director, John Cullen. CGX was granted the Corentyne Block in 1998… In 2000, the company’s rig was forced away from location by Surinamese gunboats while working to fulfill the company’s commitments under the agreement.

After the settlement of this matter, CGX was awarded a Petroleum Licence on November 27, 2012 for the Corentyne Block and then in February 13, 2013, a Licence for the Demerara Block. In October, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had said that work

on CGX’s Corentyne and Demerara Blocks is long overdue, as the company has not been fulfilling its commitments.

It was reported in March 2013 that Dookie was no longer part of CGX, but it is unclear why he left, or whether he was fired. In that very month, the application for the Canje Block was made. Cullen is also no longer with CGX. In addition to that linkage, Cullen directs a company called Jaguar Holdings.

This company, Dookie and Scott Young (one of JHI’s directors) are all shareholders in a Canada company called Oyster Oil & Gas Limited.

Graphic found on JHI’s website

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 04, 2020

PAGE 03

$3M reward offered by police is an “admission of failure” in solving murder of Henry boys – Attorney The move by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to offer a $3 million dollar reward for any information that may be pertinent in solving the gruesome murders of West Coast Berbice teens Isaiah and Joel Henry is merely an admission of its own incompetence at solving the case says Nigel Hughes who is representing the interest of the Henry family.

The Force in a release early yesterday said that while the probe is ongoing, investigators are “diligently exploring every possible lead” to bring the killers to justice and implored on the public to assist in that effort.

“As such, the GPF hereby announces that a reward in the sum of G$3,000,000.00 (three million Guyana dollars) is being offered to any person or persons who can provide information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of these gruesome murders,” the Force said in its statement, adding that the information would be treated with the strictest confidence.

But such a move, according to Hughes, is an “admission of failure”.

- Recommends Argentine team to probe murder

MURDERED: Joel and Isaiah Henry “I think that the fact that they are offering a reward is an admission of failure and an admission that they are unable to solve the crime with their present means and, therefore, they are hoping that by a financial incentive that somebody will come forward,” Hughes told the media during a press conference.

In his experience,

Hughes explained, when rewards are offered for crimes, many people who do not possess reliable information and some who may sometimes “create” information come forward with the aim of only claiming the reward.

“The mere fact that they decided to offer a 3 million reward for information indicates that they have

School dropout remanded for La Grange murder - other suspects still at large

Kaieteur News has been informed that the school dropout who had admitted his involvement in the murder of Bibi Ramjit, 86, a La Grange businessman, has been charged and remanded.

The 16-year-old, according to sources, was nabbed by police in Berbice, after an intense investigation was launched by detectives.

It was later discovered that he was not the only perpetrator of the heinous crime.

Sources close to the investigation did not reveal how many more persons are involved, but said that other suspects are still at large.

Ramjit was strangled to death on Sunday October 25 at her two-storey home at La G r a n g e , We s t B a n k

Demerara (WBD), which houses a grocery shop on the bottom flat. According to police, the elderly woman’s body was found at around 17:00 hrs. with hands and feet bound. A farmer had made the discovery after he reportedly returned to Ramjit’s shop to pay for some eddoes, which he had purchased from her at 15:00 hrs.

Kaieteur News reported that investigators believe that her killer or killers might have entered her premises sometime after she had sold the eddoes to the farmer.

Though not quite sure, sources close to the investigations believe that she might have been murdered during the progress of a robbery. This

Murdered, Bibi Ramjit paper had reported that detectives were following a lead based on video footage obtained. Investigators also spoke of a strange car seen close to the woman’s premises during the time when they believe she was murdered.

failed in their efforts to solve the case,” he said.

What the authorities should do, Hughes suggested, is secure the best forensic experts available to solve the murders with the best being the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team – EAAF. Investigators had already received outside assistance with the probe from the CARICOM Regional Security Service (RSS).

While the team’s report has not yet been made public, President Irfaan Ali had disclosed that the team recommended that additional works be conducted. He also said that the team was “satisfied” with the work being done by local police.

To bring in the Argentine team with the necessary equipment needed to conduct their investigations, Hughes said, would cost $4 million with the exception of travel, meals and accommodation.

An additional US$1,000 would be needed to ship the needed equipment and that team would comprise of a forensic anthropologist from Argentina, two forensic pathologists and a criminalist.

While the Force had expressed positive reports, welcoming the assistance of the team, there has been no response to the several letters dispatched to the Home Affairs Minister regarding their involvement.

Family members also pointed out that when the

issue was raised with President Ali, merely two weeks ago, his response was not positive.

At the moment, there is no confidence that the Force would be able to solve the murders, Hughes stated, owing to many factors.

He pointed out that they are yet to locate the crime scene where the boys were brutally slain and DNA sample results from a cigarette butt retrieved from the scene did not match DNA taken from the suspects who were arrested.

The Force had hit a bump in their investigations after it was revealed that the teens were killed elsewhere and their bodies dumped at Cotton Tree. Detectives had encountered difficulties accessing the crime scene due to the several days of violent protests by the West Coast Berbice residents.

However, after the chaos subsided, investigating ranks were able to access the scene and only then could have determined that the boys were not killed at the spot where they were found.

The Force had said that a full-fledged team that consisted of 75 police ranks, the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters along with ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh conducted a “methodical” eight-hour search in the backlands with the hopes of finding anything of evidential value to the investigations. Ranks on the ground also received aerial support via a helicopter from the GDF. The team led by the Regional Commander unfortunately failed to find any evidence to aid their investigations.

Added to that, Hughes revealed that Joel was found in pants other than the ones he was last seen with. But the police, he said, did not send those for forensic analysis.

Asked how he knew of this, Hughes said he asked an officer pointed questions but he did not receive a definite answer.

“I asked a very specific question of one of the investigators and he was unable to respond positively.

Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes My history of dealing with the Guyana Police Force is that they are normally not reluctant to share that kind of information if they are in possession of it…As a matter of fact, my analysis of his response was almost as if he was saying ‘Oh God we should have done it’ so that is the basis upon which I said that,” the Attorney said.

The family will continue to press for Government’s assistance in bringing the Argentine team to Guyana to solve the murders, Hughes said. Asked whether there is a timeframe, which they are working within, Hughes said, “The clock has been ticking since the bodies were found.”

“This event, these murders have left an open gaping wound in the Guyanese society. It is not healing and it is not likely to be healed unless this is solved,” he added.

The mutilated bodies of Joel and Isaiah Henry were found back on September 6, in clumps of bushes near to a coconut estate located at Cotton Tree Backdam, WCB. Protests marred by violence had erupted over the news of their gruesome murder and days later, the body of another teen, Haresh Singh was found, lying in a patch of grass and bleeding from the nose at the Number Three Village backdam.

Singh was later pronounced dead at a hospital and was identified as the grandson of one of the suspects, a rice farmer, who was in police custody at the time for the murder of the Henry boys.

"Guyanese: No more 'Nancy stories' from leaders; DEMAND they tell ALL on our wealth."

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 04, 2020

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

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

EDITORIAL

Oil and Democracy in Guyana Michael L. Ross prefaces Chapter 3 of his book, ‘The Oil Curse – How Petroleum Wealth Shapes the Development of Nations’ by quoting former United States Vice-President and former oil company executive, Dick Cheney: “The problem is that the good Lord didn’t see it fit to put oil and gas reserves where there are democratic governments.”

That was a fitting quote to begin the chapter, entitled “More Petroleum, Less Democracy”, one in which Ross lays out the case that for much of the developing world oil and, like water, democracy do not mix. As he notes, revealingly, and in keeping with the theme of our coverage over the past few months: “The greater the oil wealth is, the more secretive the budget. The budget secrecy of the African oil producers is especially pronounced: four of the region’s five most opaque governments – Angola, Chad, Nigeria and Cameroon –are significant petroleum exporters. The five most transparent countries – South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Uganda and Namibia – have little or no petroleum.”

The status of democracy in Guyana suffered greatly in the post-independence era with the unapologetic manipulation of the votes in 1968 devolving even further into the rigged referendum a decade later, one that led to the establishing of the infamous Burnham Constitution of 1980.

During that era, petroleum was a footnote, a background motif, with the oil embargo; for example, playing fourth string to the complex ideological games of the Cold War, games that saw the undermining of democracy here in Guyana as a convenient play for the benefit of the West.

Forty years later, with the Cold War over for half of that time, it is no surprise that the greatest attempt to hijack the democratic process since the 1970s came during the period of our fledging exploitation of our oil resources.

Considering the revelations on the oil sector as managed by the APNU+AFC coalition, from the highway robbery in the Exxon deal itself to the sectorrelated land giveaways from 2017 to even the post election period, it is clear where the source of the rabid desperation to hold on to power was.

Even if we were to somehow miraculously dispel the spectre of criminal corruption from the David Granger administration’s stewardship of first oil, its twin, the spectre of criminal incompetence remains. Also remaining, as is being revealed daily in our coverage on the Canje and Kaieteur Blocks, are their almost identical siblings, birthed by the Donald Ramotar regime and now reaching maturity.

The thing is, both governments were elected by the people and were for the most part (except for the handful of dual citizens) from the people.

The political realm that is particularly dangerous in Guyana is not simply that subsequent democratically elected governments have acted to shield shady oil deals from the light of public accountability - it is that in doing so, and the degree to which they have done so, they are comfortable in placing the interests of the entirety of the Guyanese population below that of a handful of corrupt people and foreign companies.

At the very basis of democracy is the concept of government for the people and this is where both sides of Guyana’s factional political system seems to have decided, one would say ‘conspiratorially’, to abdicate their responsibility. This is not a reality that bodes well for the future.

All is not well at Moruca DEAR EDITOR, Since the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana, Region One became the main source of concern to everyone due to the rapid spread and deaths there.

As a result, certain villages in that Region were the first to go under lockdown.

Eventually, the infection rate reduced, but, they were still being monitored after everyone considered there the ‘Hotspot’ for the COVID-19.

Recently, I was contracted to journey to Moruca to conduct some tests, and whilst there was a reluctance to send me there, because of the urgency of the job, I decided to take the chance and go.

Approximately five hours travelling via minibus, speed boat, taxi and speed boat again, I reached Moruca, with my phone filled with pictures and videos of the beautiful sights I enjoyed along the journey.

Guyana is indeed a beautiful place with breathtaking scenery, which I admired whilst travelling and I wasn’t the least bit disappointed when I reach Moruca. I spent a few minutes admiring the savannah, the river and the

wide spread vegetation around.

Leaving the stelling, I observed that no one was there to test our temperature, and I asked the guide why not, and was informed that they had before, but he didn’t know what became of it. Due to the pandemic, Moruca is one of the most watched areas in Guyana.

I was worried after seeing no tests conducted and the residents walking around without face masks.

Travelling from Berbice to Charity, at all the ports of entry, there are officials available, conducting temperature tests, while at Moruca’s main port of entry, there’s none.

For the next five days, I travelled daily, passing villages and eventually stopping in Kumaka, Parakese, Cal Water, Rincon, Waramuri and Koko.

Print and electronic media is missing greatly there, and because of that, I’m assuming not everyone is fully aware of the dangers lurking, thus, steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

I must admit that on my third day there, I observed a police sergeant and three constables walking around

the market area and sharing out masks.

On questioning, the sergeant informed me that it is their own initiative to walk around and share the face masks, instead of arresting people for not wearing one. I applauded them for that bold move.

Editor, since the PPP/C took back control of governance in Guyana, the President and his Cabinet Members could be seen journeying to various places in Guyana, meeting people, listening/seeing issues effecting them and exposing faults of the previous administration, but to date, I haven’t seen anyone visiting Moruca and I am wondering why they haven’t as yet and if they have intentions to, knowing that the area is considered a ‘Hotspot’ for the COVID-19.

After speaking to many, I’ve learnt that since the discovery of the COVID-19 in that area, nothing much have been done to assist the residents there and my only assumption is that because they are not getting proper media coverage, Government is not giving the area their full attention.

What is sickening to know

is that on my first day there, someone died of the COVID19, and at the time of my departure, two more relatives had died.

They all were living in close proximity of each other and no one considered going and quarantine the area or conduct tests to see how many more were infected.

Instead, they are left alone to roam freely and recently, I learnt that another relative died due to the same reason.

Finally Editor, after the deaths, I learnt that the bodies are stored in a non-functioning mortuary, and once someone died and have to be stored there, the family/relatives have to purchase ice from around to put on the body until burial.

It’s hurtful to know that the mortuary stopped working before Donald Ramotar demitted office and during the four years of the APNU+AFC, no attempt was being made to rectify that situation.

Some four month after a new government, the situation still remains the same.

Added to that, some 10 months now, staffers from the hospital have not been paid, and only recently a few were (Continued on page 6)

Region Five is one big family DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to share my views as to the prolonged call for justice for the Henry boys as the situation is being used and fuelled by some politicians.

The Henry boys were brutality murdered by unknown persons. I will like to once again extend my sympathies to the parents of the Henry boys, family of Haresh Singh, and all those who were murdered by unknown persons. No one deserves to die this way.

I wish that those who committed those acts of murdering the innocent will be brought to justice swiftly after comprehensive, credible investigations are being done.

As we all know, investigations in cases like these take time and should not be rushed because someone wants it to.

Rushing into charging people for the acts may see innocent persons being charged and their characters tarnished.

Justice should be served and served in a manner that the innocent must not pay for those guilty of committing the acts and are walking free, roaming the streets and roads.

Those who are guilty of the acts of murdering our brothers and sisters must face the consequences.

Over the years, we saw many innocent ones being

convicted for things, which they were not involved in.

Many innocent ones are paying the price that they should not have to.

Many of those persons who are innocent but yet convicted and sentenced are the poor because they have no money and can’t afford a lawyer to defend them. So they have to face what they have to because of being poor and moreover because of poor investigations by the Guyana Police Force.

I must say, as I pen this letter, it feels me for the innocent who have to pay for another man’s act, because I was once sentenced innocently when I never did or was involved and I was put to pay for my innocence through poor investigations and political involvement.

But this letter is not about me; it’s about all those innocent people who are being murdered, beaten, etc., and also about those who are innocently accused and have to pay for an act they didn’t do.

Since the murder of the Henry boys, I keep following the matter closely especially since one politician used it to create a huge and massive unwanted unrest in West Berbice and parts of Guyana just for political gains and purposes.

Not one time did I hear that person, a political candi-

date, ever voice his concerns for all the innocent people who are being convicted. Not one time did I hear that very young man voice his concerns for all the others who were innocently murdered, beaten, robbed, etc.

But all of a sudden, he found his voice and makes it known through his racial and political acts.

Yes, I said racial because he used racism to stir up the violence in Region 5, the very night he went live on his Facebook page.

It is my personal view and I firmly believe that the murder of the Henry boys had nothing to do with politics because they were not politicians.

I do not believe it had anything to do with race because they grew up in a multiethnic and cultural society.

It’s my humble view that it has nothing to do with either of that mentioned, as that candidate put it over to the public.

In Region 5, I can say that we never had a racial problem, since I know, we live as a big family and, yes, we may have our differences but we live together.

I know many more Indians who will go to Number 5, Hopetown, Paradise, Ithaca, Belladrum, etc, and support the road corner food shops; we will hang out on weekends; etc.

My African brothers and sisters will do the same in villages like Bath, Bush Lot, Cotton Tree, etc.

We will sit together; we will eat together; we will drink together; we will laugh together; we will mourn together; we will dance together; and never have I experienced any such racism than what this candidate did, all because of political mileage.

I must say thanks to Volda Lawrence for coming out and showing leadership qualities.

The law is there and the law also at times sends innocent people to jail; I am one of those people.

There are processes that have to be followed in ensuring justice. There will be investigations that have to be done, but yet again, can we trust the local police to investigate anything?

I call for justice for the Henry boys, Haresh Singh, and all who were murdered.

But please let’s not try to get justice by accusing the wrong people and allowing those who commit the acts to walk the road free.

We can only have justice if we are all in it together and allow the law to takes its course whereby the innocent do not have to pay for the guilty.

Abel Seetaram Former Regional Councillor

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Triumph Village needs more support from Region 4 RDC DEAR EDITOR, It has been two and half years (April 2018) since publicity was given to the bush trail at Triumph Front Lands, East Coast Demerara. With nothing done to make Dasrat Street traversable, we must thank the BV/Triumph NDC with bold support by the Region 4 RDC for their foresight.

Little did we recognize how important this bush trail would become in the current flood. By allowing the trail to add gullies and ravines, residents secured an additional one and half feet depth of floodwater storage.

Had it not been for such enlightening, homes would not have been 24 inches levels under water, but rather 30 inches.

Thank you.

Not to be outdone, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) with their newly added expensive local consultants perhaps thought this area, like Success Village, was also the target for cane cultivation resumption, so by some level of competence ensured sufficient water levels to fallow the land. After three months of

parched weather, their bypass pump at Triumph ceased. Not surprisingly, the incomplete Triumph koker remains under construction after several years of prudent supervision by the NDIA. You may recall the only person held accountable and fired for the four-week 2005 coastal flood was an attendant who operated the Triumph koker. Geniuses!

For context, the Region 4 RDC Head Office is located in this very tiny area of Triumph front lands, while the BV/Triumph NDC is located way down Triumph at Market Street, well over two miles away.

During the recent elections impasse, the Region 4 RDC decided its gated-like community, housing senior officials, also located in this little area, needed an asphalted road upgrade for its six houses and 10 cars. Mind you, this road was well above the trail-like qualities of the outer perimeter bush trail, now canal.

Distant past roadwork on the bush trail by the RDC only linked the Region 4 RDC office to the few wealthy homes

in the community.

Not to be outdone, the BV/Triumph NDC recently jumped another gear of ingenuity and began building a new trail alongside the Triumph koker/pump/drainage canal to another entrance of the community.

Using their newly found road building expertise, a wonderful mud (not sand) foundation was prepared. We can only guess the intention of such creativity is not to fix the treacherous bush trail (now canal) but to create a bush-truck styled bypass. We will pay closer attention to this new trail to track movement of any wildlife.

As we sit in this cesspool of nothingness (floods, trails/ canals and innovation) and having just finished placing my furniture on top of several concrete blocks, I also reflect on the recent termination of garbage collection by the BV/ Triumph NDC. Residents are now forced to succumb to a sole, unregulated private collector charging an unconscionable $400 per barrel collection and visiting when space provides.

M.L.

Things not to do with the sugar industry DEAR EDITOR, GUYSUCO is not only a productive but financially viable industry.

I know what to do and can do if given the chance.

Firstly, the following needs to be done: -

1. Reduce the cost of production by getting rid of all indirect charges and decrease other charges.

2. Add value to sugar by producing value-added products apart from those they have currently.

3. Add new crops that can be integrated with sugarcane.

Things not to do: 1. Diversify, instead integrate.

2. Downsize, instead increase acreage.

3. Sell bulk sugar, package and process.

I am willing to help if called upon to do so.

Peter Khatoo, Agriculturist

COVID mis-information DEAR EDITOR, The Coronavirus is undoubtedly on the minds of all Guyanese and it’s very worrying.

Recently, the Government said that no COVID-19 case came from the airport since its re-opening to commercial flights. This can be very misleading because of a number of factors.

One is that persons can pick up the virus after the PCR pre-flight tests or during travel to Guyana, either at the origin airport or during the flight.

Secondly, there is no way the Government can monitor the arrivals after the passengers left the airport for their homes.

The Government simply does not have the resources to do that. Without a doubt, there will be cases where travellers will bring the Coronavirus.

Two Guyanese travelled

to Trinidad and Barbados respectively and they took the virus to those two islands.

With millions of cases in the United States, what can stop the virus from infecting travellers bound to Guyana?

If a person gets infected hours before the PCR test, there is no way the result will show the recent infection.

The person can become infected after the PCR test and the infection does not show up because the virus has an

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

incubation period of up to 14 days.

Two of the most worrying pathways for the virus situation in the country now are the opening of the airports while the second wave is happening in the North because of winter and the opening of schools.

We are bound to have outbreaks especially in this Region Four where the vast majority of our population lives.

B. John

Bauxite and Orealla DEAR EDITOR, A few years ago, I visited Orealla to look into the potential for the bauxite industry.

What I found was a wellestablished small Amerindian community that was healthy and thriving in a healthy environment.

In years past, I had also visited Linden and saw a thriving town, but one filled with dust and consumed by a large number of health problems caused by the bauxite industry.

Kidney issues appear to be the main problem that continues to affect the residents.

The recent announcement to exploit the bauxite deposits on Orealla will require careful consideration of how to prevent a repeat of the health problems that have plagued

the Linden community.

The dust will be an issue and although Orealla is a sparsely populated place, it has an Amerindian community worth preserving.

If the plan does become to develop the alumina production fully, then it may be safer to relocate residents and convert the area into a bauxite industrial complex that also makes products for adjacent industries.

These are not very healthy environments in which to live even with extremely strict OSHA requirements, but if managed with the implementation of the most recent technology, the impact of toxic by-products can be reduced.

However, I have reviewed and participated in this industry with one of the global leaders of the sector and

would recommend preventing the establishment of residential communities in close proximity.

A good test of what may be possible in just the basic mining of the bauxite can be carried out in Linden.

Fixing the contamination and health issues there will provide great experience for those who will need to be involved in managing the sector ’s development in Orealla.

Hopefully, with the help of the families on Orealla, we can find a win-win solution that allows for both the economic development and the continued healthy development of the Amerindian community.

Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Advertise the positions for CEOs for State companies DEAR EDITOR, Governments are custodians not owners of State enterprises.

Any government of the day is just the custodian of State enterprises with the consent of the people and not the owners.

Hence, they must manage the business of these enterprises in a very transparent manner that can withstand public scrutiny.

Both Indo and Afro– Guyanese have common fears that they respectively associate with governments that is primarily different from their ethnicity. They both commonly fear discrimination by the hands of the State in the following areas: appointments of CEO and executive staff; selection to members for Board of Directors; method of land distribution; awarding of scholarships; promotion in the public service, awarding of tenders etc…

We can begin to address

these fears by starting with the appointment of CEO and executive staff to State enterprises.

The recruitment of these managers should be done according to best practices in Human Resource Management with full transparency and accountability.

These executive positions should be advertised as widely as possible in the daily newspapers as well as the various government websites for at least a minimum of three consecutive weeks.

An interviewing panel should consist of selected members of the Board of Directors with or without independent practitioners of a firm that specialize in recruitment, a clear and precise job description and a guideline for the methodology for conducting the interview.

Based on this, the shortlisting of the potential candidates should be done

followed by their interviews and then their ranking for selection to fill the vacancy.

We cannot continue to appoint these managers to the various State enterprises stealthily and surreptitiously in the night and more so if they are of one ethnicity and hope to achieve national confidence of our citizenry in the functions of the State.

Their appointments must be premised on a system of meritocracy, equality, fairness and full transparency.

Reggie Bhagwandin

PAGE 6

A demoralized APNU/AFC is not the answer DEAR EDITOR, As noted in yesterday’s Washington Post: “With attacks on journalists increasing and the space for free expression shrinking, Tuesday’s presidential election will be decisive for the future of press freedom in the United States and around the world,” penned a writer.

Freedom of the press is guaranteed under President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s new administration and the fair distribution of government’s advertisement.

Under the past APNU/ AFC government, this was not only lacking but also, the State’s machinery was solely used for that party’s propaganda programme.

The distortion of truth, spreading of lies and the blatant tongue twisting were channeled fluently and flowingly without reservation through this medium.

As a result, many writs were filed suing for large sums of money because of APNU/ AFC coalition’s falsity and recklessness and now, ironically, it is the PPP/C government who is faced with footing the bill.

All the lawyers’ fees created as a result of the APNU/ AFC Party government’s frivolous and vexatious litigations against the PPP/C Party have to be mockingly borne now by said PPP/C government.

The dastardly raping of the Treasury by the APNU/ AFC coalition has to be replenished by an impoverished PPP/C government.

The misappropriated financial excursions enjoyed by the cunning APNU/AFC coalition is now the PPP/C’s headache to consolidate and appropriate.

The APNU/AFC coalition’s corrupt transactions while in power now become a monster and a storm for the PPP/C Party to tame and calm.

The APNU/AFC coalition had synchronized a network of convoluted and complexed proceedings while in office by ignoring, changing or reworking the legal ramifications to disguise the legitimate requirements so that the requisites will conveniently suit their purposes.

It is the job of the PPP/C Party to harness all resources to unwind all the puzzles and perplexed problems that were intricately woven with callous and meticulous foresight.

This premeditation was carefully contemplated upon by the devious ingenuity of the APNU/AFC Party so that they could have pursued all possible avenues in order to manufacture veins of financial

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

drains to extract perks and pocket-filling remunerations.

It is up to the PPP/C Party to not only plug these loopholes but also to discover the sources and destinations.

The APNU/AFC coalition had to make up for the missing chances during their 23 years of absence from domination and now had to utilize their five years of opportunities that were gifted in their short life span.

The five months leading up to August 2 were crucial because they realized that this cherished occasion may not arise again and so they did excruciatingly vandalized the circumstances, accordingly.

An animal being led to the slaughterhouse wouldn’t care where the faeces would land.

Now that the APNU/ AFC’s royal excrement has hit the fan and the spill can be found nationally, it is the laborious loyalty of the PPP/C government, who has to patiently clean up their pile of “caca”!

Ask if the APNU/AFC coalition followers care or are concerned and you will most likely be greeted with a scorned expression and a turned-up nose in a number of probable cases.

Their die-hards would remain belligerent and still condone their criminal and outrageous behaviour.

In fact, they will not only condemn you for racking up dead carcass and denying the established facts but also, accuse you of wicked fabrication to cause strive and caucus. How do you temperamentally rationalize with such absurd insanity and contemptuous antagonism?

But, a ray of hope burns at the end of a lit channel, exposing the APNU/AFC’s fragility as they crumble daily with supporters deserting or abandoning their lost cause, enveloping a mirage of hopeless, visionless and illusive aspirations.

It is without any pressure but a conscientious effort that onlookers are observing the true nature of a demonic APNU/AFC coalition, which deliberately destroyed and demolished the innocent simpletons who were chastised and castigated for the greed of personal gains at an expensive cost.

Thousands chose to dive in the realm of silence and disbelief rather than confront the enlisted horror and face the terror that has endangered their very welfare and honour.

They preferred to cower in shame and avoid any discussion pertaining to this magnanimous monstrosity.

They feel overwhelmed in

being let-down and want to hide in the shadow of lower heads with eyes scorching the ground rather than eyes admiring the beauty of a promised future hand-held by the PPP/C Party.

Do you blame them for feeling let down by heartless and villainous leaders who shunned their very basic needs and wants?

This is a representation of an outer edge, blunted, but advancing on thin ice, lying on a foundation of uncertainty, doubt and disbelief.

This coin has three sides and we have explored the flat side of those depressed in oblivion and those in abeyance dangling on a narrow, rounded surface.

Flip it and the opposite side of the enraged prostrators will surface to demonstrate a campaign that reflects frustration, condemnation, aggravation and revulsion.

They blatantly feel repulsive and are beginning to express their dissatisfaction with the APNU/AFC coalition for failing to uphold the campaign motto to run on honesty and integrity.

Gradually, the truth is sinking in with the unveiling of all the catastrophic humiliations they have suffered because of the party’s dirty work and devious corruptions.

Again, they are too ashamed to discuss and deny the hard and established facts that are portraying the dishonesty of a satanic government, whose officers were consumed with selfish ambitions meant to serve a good life to be realized by themselves only.

How foolish, injudicious, pugnacious and unreasonable could they have been, knowing that their imprudence would cause them the wrath of intelligent party members and the attention of law-abiding associates.

No wonder many are currently distancing themselves from this pile of bilge that is overflowing and hog-washing the shores of Guyana.

The end is near and there is an urgent need for a new beginning, but, from where do you start, with whom and based on what?

The prognosis for checks and balances as a modicum of control is imminent, yet the responsibility lies with genuine commitment from patriotic Guyanese, sworn to loyalty to the nation.

The defunct APNU/AFC coalition is demoralized and certainly not the intended answer!

Is the haughty Donald Trump the answer to America’s cause or the humble Joe Biden?

Sincerely, Jai Lall

Advertise the positions of CEOs for State companies DEAR EDITOR, Governments are custodians not owners of State enterprises.

Any government of the day is just the custodian of state enterprises with the consent of the people and not the owners. Hence, they must manage the business of these enterprises in a very transparent manner that can withstand public scrutiny.

Both Indo and Afro– Guyanese have common fears that they respectively associate with Governments that is primarily different from their ethnicity. They both commonly fear discrimination by the hands of the state in the following areas: appointments of CEO and executive staff; selection to members for Board of Directors; method of land distribution; awarding of

scholarships; promotion in the public service, awarding of tenders etc….

We can begin to address these fears by starting with the appointment of CEO and executive staff to state enterprises.

The recruitment of these managers should be done according to best practices in Human Resource Management with full transparency and accountability.

These executive positions should be advertised as widely as possible in the daily newspapers as well as the various government websites for at least a minimum of three consecutive weeks.

An interviewing panel should consist of selected members of the Board of Directors with or without independent practitioners of

a firm that specialize in recruitment, a clear and precise job description and a guideline for the methodology for conducting the interview.

Based on this, the shortlisting of the potential candidates should be done followed by their interviews and then their ranking for selection to fill the vacancy.

We cannot continue to appoint these managers to the various state enterprises stealthily and surreptitiously in the night and more so if they are of one ethnicity and hope to achieve national confidence of our citizenry in the functions of the state.

Their appointments must be premised on a system of meritocracy, equality, fairness and full transparency.

Reggie Bhagwandin

Key priorities for the Local Content Policy DEAR EDITOR, The local content policy is the Legally Binding Instrument, which represents a unique opportunity to end the impunity for corporate human rights violation.

Many companies have resorted to abruptly ending the procurement of goods and services and even to defaulting on prior commitments made with the consequence of a disastrous impact for workers in global supply chains.

Simultaneously, others designated as key workers in the COVID – 19 pandemic crisis, including seafarers and packing and distribution centres, continue to work afloat at huge personal risk of exposure and often without adequate personal protective equipment.

To ensure that the Guyana economy is not only resilient but also conducive to social progress, the Government of Guyana must now step up their engagement in the Binding Treaty process.

We also believe that that provides a sound basis for effectively addressing existing accountability and liability gaps arising from the complex structures of transnational companies and their supply chains dominating the global economy.

A key priority for trade unions is that the Legally Binding Instrument ensures that trans-national companies can be held liable for human rights violations throughout their activities, including those by supply chain entities, irrespective of the mode of creation, ownership or control.

Another significant is a provision that explicitly requires state to ensure that any existing or new trade and investment agreements are compatible with the human rights obligations under the Legally Binding Instrument.

However, we believe that a supplementary article that obligates state to integrate a binding and enforceable human rights and labour clause in trade and investment agreements will further boost the case for sustainable trade and development.

While we have the expanded scope of human rights protected under the Legally Binding Instrument, it is essential that respect for fundamental principles and rights at work is divorced from the requirement to ratify Core ILO Conventions.

We have advocated for the following key priorities to be included in Guyana Petroleum Sector Local Content Policy:

...All is not well at From page 4 given a one or two month salary. Even contractual workers there are facing the same dilemma. Moruca has been heavily hit, financially, since COVID-19 surfaced there, and

it’s heartbreaking to hear what the people are enduring there presently.

Sadly, all is not well in Moruca, and I will be penning more.

Sahadeo Bates

• A broad substantive scope covering all internationally recognised human rights, including fundamental workers’ and trade union rights, as defined by relevant international labour standards.

• Regulatory measures that require business to adopt and apply human rights due diligence policies and procedures.

• Reaffirmation of the applicability of human rights obligations to the operations of companies and their obligation to respect human rights.

• A strong international monitoring and enforcement mechanism.

The need to consult relevant stakeholders, we believe that there should be an express provision that human rights due diligence should be informed by meaningful engagement with trade unions.

It should also be recognized that consultation is a right in itself in many labourrelated instruments.

The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct makes this very clear, and this should also be reflected in the Legally Binding Instrument.

Sherwood Clarke General President Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Businessman gets six and a half years for killing driver, wounding passenger who turned on bridge 2016 driveway shooting…

A Tucville, Georgetown businessman was yesterday sentenced to six and a half years in prison after he admitted to fatally shooting a driver and wounding a passenger of a motorcar, which turned on his bridge.

On August 23, 2016, Robert Benn had fired at a car on his bridge, killing 24year-old Colin Perreira, called “Malcolm” of 213 Barr Street, Kitty and injuring 22-year-old passenger, Gailann Chacon of Region One.

Benn reportedly opened fire with his licensed 9 mm handgun when he saw the car – Toyota Allion PRR 4393 – turning on his bridge.

Reports indicated that Perreira was teaching Chacon to drive at the time of the shooting. The businessman, who claimed that he initially thought that bandits were in the vehicle, opened fire, firing at least six shots at the front windscreen.

He was charged for murder and attempted murder as a result.

Yesterday however, when he was given a chance to plead, Benn opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the death of Perreira and guilty to the attempted murder charge for Chacon.

He was thereafter handed a sentence by High Court Justice, Navindra Singh.

Prior to the sentencing, Benn‘s attorney Dexter Todd in a plea of mitigation, asked the Court to take a number of factors into consideration.

Killed, Colin Perreira.

Todd told the Court that the 42-year- old contractor is deeply remorseful for his actions. Todd explained that Benn led a successful career prior to the incident but faced many threats against his life and business.

“On the night of shooting, Mr. Benn, a licensed firearm holder, did not have any ill-intent towards the victims. He only perceived that the

occupants of the car, on his driveway looked suspicious and that they were coming to cause harm to him and his family and so he reacted. He recognizes now that it was a ‘rash,’ decision and the wrong thing to do,” Todd stated as he beseeched the Court for mercy on his client’s behalf.

Todd said too, that before the unfortunate shooting, Benn was an accomplished businessman, working to further the advancement of his education and career.

“And, even after he was incarcerated for the crimes, he continued to pursue educational goals and even advocated for certain educational opportunities to be offered to his fellow inmates,” Todd revealed adding that so much was Benn’s commitment to the reform that he made donations of computers and other equipment to the prisons.

Businessman, Robert Benn.

“This was for the prisoners to have access to tools to help better their capacity not just in theory but in practice,” the attorney continued.

The lawyer noted that his client even offered $5M to family of the deceased young man to assist with certain expenses.

“I am saying all of this to give the Court a glimpse of Mr. Benn’s character and I

"Guyanese: stop leaders from deceiving.

Pressure them for disclosures on all deals."

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 04, 2020

PAGE 09

Do not condemn innocent people because of rank speculation Lawyers would be familiar with the principle of Blackstone ratio. It urges that “All presumptive evidence of felony should be admitted cautiously; for the law holds it better that 10 guilty persons escape than one innocent party suffer.”

It is better for 10 guilty persons to go free than to condemn one innocent man.

The Blackstone ratio is about finding a balance between protecting the innocent and condemning the guilty.

Justice involves finding and convicting those guilty of offences. But justice also involves protecting the innocent from being falsely condemned. It is better for 10 guilty persons to go free than to cause one innocent party to suffer.”

In the haste to bring to justice the killers of the Henry boys, let us not condemn innocent persons!

Let us not let haste result in innocent persons have to face charges for something they did not do!

Forensic material was gathered from the crime scene. It was sent to St. Lucia and the forensic results gathered during the course of the police investigation have been returned. They do not provide a link between the suspects and the murders.

In the haste for justice, fingers were pointed at certain individuals on account of where the bodies were found and the ethnicity of the suspects. The situation was aggravated because of intemperate statements made by idle politicians who no longer have any credibility. According to reports, one family suffered as a result of this finger

pointing. The family related that their tribulations began on the very afternoon that the boys’ bodies were found.

Persons began to throw incendiary objects in the home; they had to hire private security to protect them. They have been living in fear and torment ever since. If this family is not linked to the deaths of the boys, then a grave injustice would have been done to them. This is what happens when people are in a mad rush to solve crimes without any regard to unearthing incriminating evidence.

It is understandable that the family will be disappointed with the present state of affairs. But this does not mean that investigative work is not taking place. When it comes to investigating certain crimes, the race is not for the swift. Things take time and who knows, something will break eventually and the killers will be identified both for the Henry boys and for the other youngster who was killed in what may be a retaliation killing.

D e s p i t e t h e disappointment, it is ridiculous, to say the least, to conclude because of the recent developments, the police have failed. The danger with speculation is that it is just that: speculation. It may lead to all manner of unintended consequences, including the targeting of innocent people.

The police are now being made a scapegoat. One assertion is that the offer of a reward constitutes an admission of failure. The offering of rewards does not mean that the police are at

their wits end. Now that the forensics are in, the police may be able to look at new angles and new suspects.

The offer of a reward may imply that the police are now seeking more human intelligence especially since there is no forensic evidence to link any of the suspects to the crime.

We like to put down our own police investigators.

But the fact is that any international team which comes here cannot reinvent the crime scene and obtain new forensic evidence. They will have to rely on the same evidence which was obtained.

This call about bringing in some team from Argentina is just ‘blow-blow’ talk. How will this team get here?

There are travel restrictions throughout South America so how will this team be able to reach Guyana in light of the COVID-19 restrictions.

And what will they do given that dozens of persons contaminated the crime scene when the bodies were discovered and the villagers blocked access of the forensic investigators during the protests.

Forensics alone do not lead to convictions.

Forensics must be complemented by human intelligence and this is what appears to have been lacking all along in this case.

All that nonsesense about looking for vehicles which go into the backlands is poppycock. Once the dams are dry, any vehicle can go into the backdam. You do not need any special vehicle to do so.

Perhaps, it is time to reexamine the suspected

Small man boys need small wuk seh...

Dem

BREAKING NEWS…Lo-lo-field and Mingo just arrived in the USA to tally the votes…dem boys hear!

Dem boys also hearing a lot of talk about a new bridge over de Demerara River, about a new bypass road linking East Bank to East Coast and a four-lane highway from de site of de new bridge to Parika. Dem plans nice. It show de government wuking hard even with de COVID-19 around.

Dem boys feel dat if a referendum is held today dat de majority of Guyanese will not support a lockdown of the country like what tekking place in Paris and England. Dem boys know dat a lot of people feeling the strain of the five months when nuff of them not been getting any wuk.

Dem boys know many small businesses wah get battered by the COVID regulations.

Business grind to a halt but de banks, de

landlords and de suppliers still gat to get pay.

Dat is why dem boys wan congratulate Minister Indar fuh dem 100 small contract wah he offer to dem small business. Dem small business and self-employed hustlers should be supported because is dem wah face the brunt of the recession.

So while dem boys glad fuh hear about dem big plans wah de government gat fuh build bridge and highway, dem boys want see more emphasis on ‘small wuk’ and de ‘small man’.Dem boys feel dat dem big road and bridge project nah create much jobs as people think. But you give a man money fuh do ‘gutter and drain’ wuk and de man gan spend de money in de shop and it can circulate throughout de economy more than dem big wuk contractor wah does lock off dem money and ship it overseas.

Talk half and ask Indar fuh give out more ‘small wuk’.

motives for the killings.

Perhaps, it is time to look at other motives and examine whether these deaths are something other than what people presumed they were.

The rewards may cause someone to talk something which can be of value to the investigators.

Perhaps, it is time to dispense with the old narrative which could have led to the condemning of innocent persons. Perhaps, it is time to slow down and not hurry anything because in the haste for justice, we may be condemning the innocent.

(The views expressed in

this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Wednesday November 04, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Kaieteur News’ editorial of Sunday, November 1 was psychotic

E

very newspaper in the world has persons outside of the house writing editorials. At one time, the Stabroek News carried two editorials at different times, with one being the opposite of the other.

Time can cause these things to happen. You can have an editorial describing Toby Soby as the best voice in songs in the 20th century, then years after the editor forgets that and another guest editorial says Barry Sarry was the best singer for that century.

There is no question in my mind that the person who

wrote that editorial is a gentleman with grave issues with the world. I have been around a long time so I think I know who that person is because I am familiar with the style. I have absolutely no respect for that person who I think is inherently a dangerous opportunist. That editorial is the second most pernicious, vicious, sick and immoral editorial, which I have ever read in my life after one that was carried in the Chronicle of July 3, 2012.

I was part of a picket exercise outside the Chronicle protesting the racist venom in that editorial

purported to be written by an Indian woman, Parvati Persaud. In its edition of July 11, Kaieteur News reported that Ms. Persaud was fired and then editor, Rashid Osman, suspended.

Here is the part of that editorial that makes it the most demented thing, which I ever read in my life living in this country, “Black youths are socialized by opposition leaders to think that Indians robbed them to get rich, so they automatically feel that they have to wrest by force, even murder, anything Indians have. Hatred of Indians is ingrained into their psyche. Many Indian

persons, who grew up in the arms of black people in rural communities have today become fearful anytime a black youth gets too close to them.”

I feel the same moral revulsion at the KN editorial.

I rang the publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall to express my vociferous rejection. He agreed to this commentary. I honestly feel ashamed of myself to repeat some of the words in that editorial. What I will do is to look at its themes and sub-themes and offer my rebuttals.

The commentary was extremely insulting to the embassies of the EU, Canada, Britain and the USA. It casts aspersions on the representatives of those countries and questions their motives for supporting the election results of 2020.

Here is my rebuttal, which is an extract from my column about the efforts of those countries and their diplomats in saving Guyana.

It is taken from my article of Wednesday July 29. I wrote back then these words, “I appealed to the next PPP government to erect a bust of the following persons: Bruce Golding, Owen Arthur; American

A m b a s s a d o r, Sarah-Ann L y n c h ; Canadian High Commission, Lilian Chatterjee; British High Commissioner, Greg Frederick Kissoon Quinn; and EU everything in life. In the Ambassador, Fernando context of what took place in Ponz Cantó.”

Region Five recently and the Here is what I wrote dangerous minds waiting to earlier, Wednesday, April 15, 2020, “Do you realize that incite more of this, Guyana once these six persons had and its young people do not a c c e p t e d G E C O M ’ s deserve to endure that kind conspiracy to alter the votes of violent rhetoric.

That editorial was for Region Four on that fateful day of March 4, 2020 penned by a frustrated mind through the antics of still reeling from the shock Clairmont Mingo then of the APNU+AFC defeat.

Guyana would no longer That person probably lost his have had free and fair or her perks and his or her elections and the People’s importance and, perhaps, National Congress would plans to find emotional have ruled Guyana for solace in writing pathetic nonsense. decades to come?”

Let me end with a part of To describe the ABC what I told Mr. Lall. I believe countries, the EU and OAS deep down in my heart that as interfering in the 2020 national elections for their d e s p i t e h i s p o l i t i c a l own narrow, selfish reasons preferences, Adam Harris is miasma that could only would never have penned come from a sick mind. such feted thrash.

This gentleman is a sad, These people saw the worst electoral vulgarity in the past pathetic figure and we all 50 years in any part of the have a duty to our young world taking place before Guyanese population not to their very eyes and let such sickness go conscience allowed them to unanswered. He hasn’t heard the last of me. denounce election rigging.

(The views expressed in Here now is a sub-theme this article are those of the of the editorial. It refers to ethnic genocide (pogroms) a u t h o r a n d d o n o t taking place against African necessarily reflect the Guyanese in the public opinions of this newspaper.) service. Context is

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Targeted election ads hindering US democracy - Global Witness

By Kemol King Online advertising has become increasingly popular in the past few years during elections campaigns.

Guyanese received ad blasts during the General and Regional Elections, which concluded in August. The new phenomenon of targeted political advertisements has become an issue plaguing American elections too. The problem seems to be a lack of regulation.

Instead of putting out

adverts, which are meant for the entire general public, electioneers are now utilizing this method which allows them to reach specific demographics.

Imagine advertisements placed on Facebook and made to reach persons from a certain income bracket, while evading the attention of another bracket. Imagine ads targeted only to folks of a certain race. Imagine ads targeted to meet just a few of your friends, but not to you.

This is what has been happening in America on social media platforms like Facebook, and US voters in key states don’t seem comfortable with it.

Internationally respected anti-corruption watchdog, Global Witness said that new data has found that most voters who are regular social media users in key battleground states in the US would support a ban on online targeted political advertisements. A

battleground state or a swing state is a US state in which the jury is still out on who would win that state in the Presidential election, as a opposed to red and blue states, which journalists and pundits have already determined will vote Republican and Democrat respectively.

The non-governmental organization (NGO) said that polling carried out on its behalf by data company, YouGov indicates that in the

three swing states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, 68 percent of respondents think online advertisers should ensure political ads are viewable by everyone, and that only 15 percent think these ads should be targeted and only made available to certain groups. It is notable that the majority of persons who identified with both parties (68 percent Democrat, 63 percent Republican) would support a ban on online targeted political ads.

According to Global Witness, more than US$93M was spent on Facebook ads by the Donald Trump and Joe Biden campaigns during this election season.

The respondents to the YouGov poll returned a majority saying that they believed that they saw advertising on social media that was targeted at them because of their gender, location, age, race, previous voting record and personal data provided to social media sites. Furthermore, 31 percent of respondents said that they wanted to reduce the time spent on social media, with a little over half (52 percent) of that group citing false information as one of the reasons.

A simple majority (54 percent) of the respondents said they have seen ads on their social media, which call into question the integrity or validity of the US election and 19 percent of those said they could rarely or never

identify who was funding the ads. Global Witness said that the issue is particularly important when it comes to ads micro-targeted to a niche audience based on personal data accumulated by Facebook, as they can stir up division or cement prejudice.

The Head of the Digital Threats to Democracy campaign at Global Witness, Ava Lee, said that there is too little regulation of the operations of these platforms’ operations, in this regard.

“Big Tech has pervaded our lives to an astonishing degree.” Lee said.

“Facebook has 2.7 billion monthly active users, and over 85% of people using search engines to go through Google. These platforms are the new public realms, where news is shared, friendships are formed and political movements rise and fall.”

She added, “The current situation cannot continue. It is undermining democracy, embedding division, and has the potential to disenfranchise swathes of the population. It is time for governments to regulate Big Tech and, as a starting point, ban the use of microtargeting for political advertising.”

Bandits beat, rob pensioner of his cash and foodstuff Two bandits armed with a wood on Saturday attacked and beat a pensioner before robbing him of cash and his rations.

Currently recovering from injuries sustained to his hands and thighs is Thomas DeSouza, 66. DeSouza was robbed at around 22:00 hrs. at a ball field located at Oronoque, Port Kaituma, Region One, North West District.

According to a police report, the man was heading home with his 18-year-old son when the robbers approached him.

Investigators reported that they were walking through the ball field when one of the bandits, identified by the men as Sherwin George, allegedly approached them

with a wood in his hand.

George allegedly told the pensioner’s son to run.

The teen obeyed and ran away. The bandit then proceeded to beat DeSouza with the wood while his accomplice joined him in searching their victim’s pockets. They stole $8000 cash and snatched his bag which contained $15,000 worth in dry goods.

The man’s son who had run away, notified several persons in the area who returned with him to rescue his father.

The bandits, however, escaped and DeSouza was taken to the Port Kaituma District Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

Investigation into the incident continues.

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

Almost 100 weeding, cleaning contracts awarded - 75% awarded to small contractors The Ministry of Public Works yesterday awarded close to 100 weeding and cleaning contracts for Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

According to a press release, 75% of the contracts were awarded to new bidders and the awarding of the contracts was done by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary (PS), Vladim Persaud.

The signing of the contracts was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. Present at the signing of the contracts was Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill. Minister Edghill said, “Don’t see yourselves as doing small jobs but see it as very important, do the work not just for the money but for the country.”

While addressing the contractors, Minister Indar said, “We reached a total of over 600 hundred bids and a total of 100 contractors were selected. Minister [Edghill] illustrated that each contractor is expected to employ on average a total of five persons that means, we

will be providing employment for well over five hundred persons.”

In his speech, Minister Indar encouraged the awardees to do their job properly given that taxpayers’ money is being used to provide a service and that will be for the beautification of the communities within the regions.

He added that the Irfaan Ali administration is seeking to create employment and to put money into the hands of the small businesses.

The Minster said, “We are in government to ensure that the procurement process is opened to all and because of this, we have deliberately not allowed big contractors to bid in this process.”

Meanwhile, PS Persaud said, “The Ministry expects that the works will be done in keeping with the standards, therefore, the contracting service must perform excellent[ly] to be recommended for future projects.”

He highlighted that the contractors must take pride in doing their jobs since they work for the Government of Guyana and the people of Guyana.

Businessman gets six and ...

From page 8 make meaningful contribution to society.”

Similarly, when he was given an opportunity to address the Court, Benn, who joined the proceeding from prison via zoom, asked for leniency.

The former accused told the Court that he is deeply sorry for what happened.

“I hope that the family of Mr. Perreira can forgive me…

I am truly sorry for my reckless actions and I don’t know how, but I hope something positive can come from this…” Benn said.

Despite the pleas, State Counsel Natasha Backer asked the Court to consider the life of the victim who was shot down due to the recklessness of the businessman. She noted that the Court should send a strong message that such recklessness will not be condoned.

Backer subsequently asked the Court to hear the victim’s impact

statement offered by the mother of deceased, who was present at the hearing.

In her statement, Perreira’s mother told the court that she did not believe that Benn was remorseful for his actions. She revealed that he tried to offer her aggrieved family, $4M as a form of compensation.

“My son was an excavator operator when he died…He was just 24-years-old; he had a daughter and he was building his home… Mr. Benn cannot compensate me for my child. I am left without a son, my granddaughter without her father, and his siblings without their brother…” the woman said calling on the Court to execute justice.

However, Justice Singh noted that given the circumstances of the case, the Court must consider that Benn had no motive or intention to kill. He most likely acted out of fear and not aggression, the judge explained before imposing the sentence.

PAGE 13 Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Vladim Persaud with the contractors.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Orealla/Siparuta to get an Extension Officer to assist farmers - Agriculture Ministry restarts several programmes

A villager receiving her cash grant from Minister Mustafa (left) with the Minister Bharrat (centre) looking on

The people of Orealla and Siparuta will soon be benefitting from an Agriculture Extension Officer to assist farmers and provide advice when it comes to farming in their villages. This was announced during a visit to the villages on Monday by the Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha and team.

It was recognized by the Minister that the primarily Indigenous communities of Orealla/Siparuta have been farming without the guidance or help of Extension Officers. He told the villagers gathered to identify someone that they

believe is capable enough to hold that portfolio and his Ministry/Government will train and hire that individual. �For a long time, I know you have not had an Extension Officer in Orealla/Siparuta to help plant your crops and give advice and so I want you to select someone here who is capable, we will train that person and we will hire that person to help you in the community of Orealla and Siparuta,� the Minister assured.

An Agriculture Extension Officer is responsible for ensuring that all the agricultural practices and products are in sync with the State and Local

Regulations. Their main objective is to inspect, investigate, sample and test everything, in order to determine whether the farmers are complying with the State and Local Rules and Regulations.

Toshao Carl Peneux had mentioned that his village is currently engaged in citrus and pineapple farming. The Minister took note and pledged assistance to develop farming of these crops. Incentives were also offered to farmers who are willing to plant corn and soybean. The Minister said that it is costing the Government US$30M (Continued on page 19

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Cops hunt man Imported brewed products must include the name and address of local importers - GA-FDD who allegedly killed drinking buddy

Product label with the name and address of Guyana's distributor.

Persons or companies importing brewed products must now have labels displaying their names and addresses included on the products.

The Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) in a release stated that the “label of all brewed products (beers, stouts, shady and malta) imported into Guyana among other standard labeling requirements, must include also the name and address of the local Importer and Distributer”.

This is in keeping with the Laws of Guyana Food and Drug Act Charter 34:03 Section 18 and the Caricom

Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)- Caricom Regional Standard (CRS 40:201X)- Labeling of Brewed products, GA-FDD noted.

The release further states that imported brewed products that are noncompliant with the label requirement would be refused entry into Guyana.

I n a d d i t i o n , manufacturers of local products must be able to furnish a copy of their No Objection Letter in cases of cottage industry or a valid License to Manufacture issued by the GA-FDD to ply their trade at wholesale and

Product label without the name and address of Guyana's distributor. retail outlets in Guyana.

GA-FDD highlighted that its inspectors would be enforcing these requirements along with Environmental Health Officers (EHO) (Sanitary Inspectors) in the regions and municipalities.

Failure of importers, distributors, supermarkets, wholesalers and retailers to ensure compliance with the listed requirements would see enforcement proceeding and legal action being taken against non-compliant commodities found in their possession and/ or their businesses being placed before the courts in accordance with the laws of

Guyana Food and Drug Act Charter 34:03, for trading in unlicensed products or improperly labeled imported brewed products.

The Department disclosed that these measures are being taken in the best interest of consumers to ensure unlicensed or smuggled commodities that may have been manufactured, processed, transported, stored or be exposed to unfavourable and insanitary conditions are not released for the sale in local markets.

Since this could put consumers at risk, exposing them to the inherent dangers associated with food fraud.

Police are now looking for man who allegedly murdered his drinking buddy and friend at Meten-MeerZorg, Ocean Garden, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

The victim, Keron Williams, a seaman also of Meten-Meer-Zorg, was discovered on Sunday a little after 17:00 hrs. by friends, bleeding on the ground from wounds to his left shoulder.

He was picked up and rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital but succumbed to his injuries whilst receiving treatment.

Williams’ aunt, Susan, told Kaieteur News that the doctors did all they could to save his life, “but he was bleeding too much and lost a lot of blood.”

A Police Report later identified the prime suspect as “Grasie” a friend and drinking buddy of Williams.

It was stated that Grasie was seen drinking with Williams just minutes before he was found bleeding.

A c c o r d i n g t o information received by this media house, there might two other persons who might have witnessed Williams being stabbed. Those two individuals have been identified as friends of both the suspect and Williams.

They, Kaieteur News was told, have been dodging detectives since the incident occurred.

The police had detailed in its release, that several persons were questioned but

no useful information was obtained. Nevertheless, Kaieteur News was told that an argument had allegedly erupted between Grasie and Williams while they were drinking with the two friends.

Things turned ugly after Williams reportedly tossed a bicycle at Grasie. Williams, sources said attempted to follow-up with a punch but Grasie reacted quickly by pulling out a knife and stabbed him to his left side chest in the vicinity close to his shoulder.

The friends ran away while Grasie too escaped.

The suspect was last seen receiving a drop on a motorcycle along the MetenMeer-Zorg Public Road, mere minutes after Williams was found deserted and wounded.

Williams’ aunt said that he had been out at sea for four days and had only returned on Sunday, while his uncle had told her that he came in at around 12:00 hrs. put down his bag and left.

Susan recounted that later that afternoon, while relaxing at home, that an individual came running towards their house shouting, “Keron get stab, Keron just get stab, like he na gon mek it.”

Before she arrived at the scene, he had already been taken away to the hospital.

Susan recalled standing at his bedside in the hospital Continued on page 17

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Husband, wife burnt to death

Wednesday November 04, 2020

The gutted remains of the couple’s home.

(Photo credits Isanella Patoir)

…Fire set by husband Police late last evening recovered the burnt remains of a man and his wife in their Eccles, East Bank Demerara home. According to a police report, the man had allegedly set the two-storey unpainted concrete house on fire killing himself and the woman.

The blaze was reportedly seen by neighbours at around 20:45hrs who contacted the Fire Department immediately.

Fire trucks arrived promptly and firefighters were able to put out the blaze. Just before 22:00hrs, the charred remains were pulled from inside house. An online media house reported that the couple was found clinging to each other, identified them only as Cindy and ‘Redman’.

Inquiries carried by investigators revealed the two were seen fighting and arguing with each just minutes prior to the blaze. It is believed that after the dispute between the two, the husband decided to set the house on fire.

Check tomorrow’s edition of Kaieteur News for more details.

COVID-19 hospital to become operationalised in a week’s time - Health Minister The Ocean View Infectious Diseases Hospital.

According to the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, the $2B COVID-19 Hospital at Liliendaal will become operationalized in a week’s time, thereby opening its doors to treat COVID-19 patients.

During the daily COVID-19 update, Minister Anthony indicated that the Ministry should have “substantially” completed the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), thereby starting the process of transferring patients from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to the Liliendaal facility.

During the emergency budget, it was revealed that an additional $790M was needed for the Ocean View Infectious Diseases Hospital to make it operable. That large sum comes after the previous A

Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition government spent a whopping $1.6 billion to ‘rehabilitate’ the old facility.

It is due to these deficiencies and the “poor planning” that went into the conceptualization of the facility that the new Government claimed it was forced to fish out funds to operationalize it. Against this, Minister Anthony indicated that the majority of the equipment to treat those critical patients has been installed.

Further, the Health Minister went on to indicate that preparations have already begun for health workers to be transferred to the COVID-19 hospital, which has an occupancy level of 200.

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Guyana Telecoms Agency, engages stakeholders on the new regulatory regime On Monday, the Guyana Telecommunication Agency (GTA) hosted the first of its series of engagements with stakeholders in the sector to inform them on the new regulatory regime following the enactment of the Telecommunications Act 2016 and associated regulations.

The agency stated that the event was conducted via the Zoom platform which lasted for about two hours and attracted approximately twenty stakeholders- most of whom held frequency licences under the Post and Telegraph Act for the provision of Internet services. Other stakeholders comprised of individuals and firms who had submitted applications for frequency authorizations for other services which had not been processed on October 5, 2020.

The Agency noted that the team conducted a highly interactive and productive session with the stakeholders, who were guided through aspects of the application process and given the opportunity to present their questions and concerns to the GTA. Lastly, the Agency stated that subsequent engagements would take the form of both virtual and in-person formats with a team from the GTA who will be visiting the various administrative regions. These outreaches would be subject to strict compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.

Region Eight bridge collapses Tiger Creek Bridge, situated approximately half an hour drive off Central Mahdia, Region Eight, yesterday collapsed under the weight of a truck said to belong to BK International. (Sherlock Rodrigues photos)

Cops hunt man who...

From page 15 and holding onto his hands. “He was still conscious, but he was groaning in pain and could not speak,” she said. The woman remembered asking her nephew to relate to her “What really happen?” “As he held my hands he just ‘hmmm, hmmm’ and shook his head as the sheet became drenched with blood,” recounted his aunt.

Susan told this newspaper that as the doctors continued their battle to save his life, she hurried home to pick up some clothes for him, but, before she returned he had passed away. Cops have been trying to locate the suspect but he has since gone into hiding.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Opposition demands Parliament release Tourism Minister’s US renunciation certificate within 24 hrs …or face legal action

The APNU+AFC Coalition Opposition gave Parliament an ultimatum yesterday to publicly release the Certificate of Renunciation of US citizenship by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond-Allicock within 24 hours.

Failure to comply with the request, the Opposition said, “would result in the

institution of legal proceedings to prevent this flagrant breach of the Constitution.”

In a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, the Opposition noted that on October 25, it requested a copy of the certificate submitted by the Minister.

However, to date, it is still awaiting a copy which prompted this new request

with the ultimatum.

“The information released by Mrs. Oneidge Walrond-Allicock and which is in the public domain,” the Coalition said “indicates that Mrs. Oneidge WalrondAllicock was not qualified to be appointed as a Minister of Government and or Member of Parliament. It is clear that the appointment of Mrs. Oneidge Walrond-Allicock was in breach of the

Constitution and consequently invalid.”

As such, the Coalition stated that the Tourism Minister is not a “lawful member of the National Assembly” and ought to be so declared.

Further, the Coalition

told the Clerk, “The inaction by yourself and the Speaker of the National Assembly in the face of the unconstitutional appointment of Mrs. Oneidge Walrond-Allicock is unacceptable and constitutes a violation of your obligation to uphold the Constitution of Guyana.”

The concerns regarding the renunciation of the minister’s dual citizenship status came to the fore after the Clerk of the National Assembly related that he had not been provided with evidence to support such.

M i n i s t e r Wa l r o n d Allicock later on revealed that she opted to do so out of an abundance of caution, despite it not being a legal requirement since she sits in the National Assembly as a Technocrat Minister.

Article 155 of the Constitution states: “(1) No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who – (a) is, by virtue of his or her own a c t , u n d e r a n y acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

But Minister WalrondAllicock was not elected, seeing as she was not on the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic list of candidates.

Minister Walrond-Allicock had explained that after she was asked by President Irfaan Ali to serve in his Cabinet on August 5, she immediately began making arrangements.

On August 18, she wrote to the US Consular Office renouncing her citizenship and compiled with that process by August 27 before she took her oath of office on September 1.

It should be noted that a person immediately loses their citizenship on taking the oath before a Consular Officer. That was revealed by US Embassy spokeswoman, Violeta Talandis who was quoted in another section of the media as saying that a person loses his/her citizenship “on the day they appear before the Consular Officer” and not the date on the Loss of Nationality Certificate issued after.

Therefore, as per US laws, Minister WalrondAllicock lost her US citizenship since on August 18.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond-Allicock

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs It is unclear how the Opposition plans to take legal action against the Minister’s appointment since the time for any effective legal challenge has expired.

In 2019, the former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran had, in a comment to Kaieteur News, alluded to the ruling of the Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, in which she had said in her decision, in the case challenging the legitimacy of the Persaud NCM vote, that, “If you have dual citizenship, you are in breach of Article 155 (1) (a).”

Ramkarran reminded that one has the discretion to vacate the office, but the CJ has also added that if anyone is going to challenge the validity of the member to remain in the House, they could only do so by way of an Election Petition. Ramkarran had noted too that the time for a petition is 35 days after the election, and that time has already passed.

The issue of Member of Parliaments (MP) possessing dual citizenships arose after a case was brought up and upheld against former Alliance For Change (AFC) m e m b e r, C h a r r a n d a s s Persaud. Since then, political parties have been adamant that dual citizens cannot hold a seat in Parliament.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 04, 2020

PAGE 19

Tender Board opens 86 bids The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), on Tuesday, opened bids for eight government ministries at their Ministry of Finance office on Main and Urquhart Streets.

Notable projects included the environmental assessment and management plan for the GEA- Environmental assessment and management plan for Kumu 1.5HW hydroelectric project Bidder’s name

Financial and technical forms submitted

Environmental Management Consultants

Financial and technical forms submitted

Development Solution Consultancy

Financial and technical forms submitted

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) - Supply and delivery of water meter boxes Bidder’s name Peter P. Imports & Exports E&J’s Automotive Establishment & Auto Sales S. Jagmohan Construction & Supplies Day Contracting Services Y2K Construction

Bidder’s name

25,545,280 20,056,000 12,640,320 19,200,000

Ministry of Public Works (MoPW)- Sectional paving of access road to derelict site, Kuru Kururu, Region Four Bidder’s name S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies

Amount GYD ($) 25,567,256

GuyAmerica Incorporated

35,869,000

KP Thomas & Sons Construction Incorporated

29,052,750

H Nauth & Sons

32,056,000

Million Mountain Engineering

38,521,000

Colin Talbot Contracting

29,523,000

KP Project Management Incorporated

30,645,000

K&P Project Management Incorporated Eron Lall Civic Engineering

30,645,000 29,724,000

Engineer’s estimate

30,826,000

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) - Procurement of new tractor with accessories and training Bidder’s name Farm Supplies Incorporated General Equipment Guyana

Amount GYD ($) 12,500,000 16,824,987

Procurement of dry and fresh ration, fresh fruit juices (retender) Bidder’s name GuyBiz Establishment

Amount GYD ($) 63,423,600

Supergraphics

219,170,000

GuyNaz Green Grocery

422,520,495

Dabi’s Variety

289,982,370

Saiku Andrews Investment

119,434,280

Andrew’s Enterprise

241,274,940

R. Warton Minimart

82,734,900

H. Dhanraj & Son Woodworking Establishment

552,379,383

KP Ration Depot

568,227,360

Molo Enterprise

228,818,260

Rite Cutz Enterprise

119,000,000

AZ Halal Butchery

613,900,640

A Rahman’s Enterprise

Million Mountain Engineering D5 Contracting & Procurement Services QA Civil Works Carison Enterprise Pacific Service System

1,098,009,753

S&K Construction, Consultancy & General Supplies

671,532,640

Paradise Food Product

754,979,960 34,234,800

Ramotar & Sons Contracting Services

186,287,858

Memorex Enterprise

509,810,500

P. Ramroop & Sons

316,346,107 24,282,000

Amount GYD ($) 26,560,724 1,907,098 4,639,774 29,683,360 25,058,389

Grass & Tree Trimmers

Amount GYD ($) 13,160,000 12,960,487 29,640,000 28,728,000 27,360,000

Toolsie Persaud Limited M&P Investment Meditron Incorporated Manohar Services

Press Enterprises

Provision of weeding and pruning of trees- various bases

Amount GYD ($)

Engineering Agri Consultant Incorporated

Rick’s & Sari Agriculture Industries Limited

Kumu 1.5HW hydroelectric project under the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), as well as the rehabilitation of the Albouystown, East Ruimveldt and Mon Repos Markets under the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

Below are the companies and their bids:

9,838,272

Telo General Contracting Dey & Sons Trucking Service Royal General Construction Service RR Contracting Services Limited Mob Construction & Services Resolute Engineering

36,632,364 7,297,606 2,997,600 3,749,150 5,640,894

Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development - Rehabilitation of Albouystown Market, phase two Bidder’s name S&K Contracting, Consultancy & General Supplies Gem & Sons Hardware Store BMC Engineers TBL Engineering & General Construction Kaleo Guyana Incorporated Extreme General Construction & Supplies K&P Project Management AJM Enterprise Engineer’s estimate

Amount GYD ($) 7,954,410 6,187,310 6,101,041 4,427,614 4,735,775 5,221,546 5,836,094 4,640,350 4,966,314

Orealla/Siparuta to get an Extension...

From page 14 staples and as such, it is looking to expand local farming of these crops.”We are giving incentives to farmers who are willing to plant corn and soybean because these things we have been importing ... so which farmers are interested, we will help you to start that. We will work with you”.

Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha recalled that in Orealla, there was a guava cheese factory in the village.

H o w e v e r, t h a t f a c t o r y deteriorated over the years and production of the sweet treat has ceased.

To loud applause, the Minister committed to helping the village in bringing the factory back to life. ”We will get the guava cheese factory working again, so that the community can have a viable activity going on. We will work along with you to start it back,” he said.

In addition, the Minister stated that the 1,762 Indigenous persons who were fired under the previous government will be given back their jobs and even more are expected to be hired. ”They were receiving $40,000 stipend so what we are doing is [to] implement a programme and that money will once again be in your village economy.

They will be rehired and $8M has been set aside to restart that programme,” he said.

Some other programmes that are set to be revitalized are the seeding programme and the Acushi ants programme – the Acushi or leaf cutter ants is a pest that has wreaked havoc on crops in the villages of Orealla and Siparuta. The Minister distributed both seeds and Acushi ant bait.

Meanwhile, the COVID-

19 $25,000 grant was also distributed to villagers in both communities on Monday. The distribution was led by its Coordinator and Vice Chairman of Region 6, Zamal Hussain.

Also on the visit was the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat.

Rehabilitation of East Ruimveldt Market, phase three Bidder’s name Jem’s & Sons Hardware Store BML Architect & Engineers TBL Engineering & General Construction S&K Construction, Consultancy & General Supplies Chung’s Global Enterprise Kaleo Guyana Incorporated STP Investment Incorporated Extreme General Construction K&P Project Management Incorporated AJM Enterprise Engineer’s estimate

Amount GYD ($) 6,904,677 4,855,460 8,549,360 13,623,200 10,531,800 9,030,800 17,707,240 10,822,800 12,191,560 8,504,500 8,996,160

Rehabilitation of Mon Repos Market, phase one Bidder’s name Jem’s and Son Hardware Store

Amount GYD ($) 7,998,375

KV Contracting Services

12,967,026

JCA Manohar Group

11,644,640

BMC Architect Engineer’s

12,159,004

JJ Construction & General Electrical

8,917,296

R. Kissoon Contracting Services

12,768,030

TB Drawing Estimate Office

12,643,675

TBL Engineering & General Construction Extreme General Construction Kaleo Guyana Incorporated K&P Project Management Incorporated

8,794,241 11,983,455 9,706,584 12,626,966

AJM Enterprise

9,280,810

STP Investment Incorporated

9,751,489

Engineer’s estimate

9,970,798

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Guyana participates in Inter-Parliamentary Union 206th Governing Council The Parliament of Guyana is participating in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), 206th session of the Governing Council.

The IPU is a global organization of national parliaments, and on Sunday last, it commenced hosting its 206th session of the Governing Council. The

session is being held virtually and is expected to conclude today.

According to a press release, 145 Members of Parliaments and 412 Governing Council Members are participating.

The Parliament of Guyana is being represented,

by Manzoor Nadir, MP,

Hon. Manzoor Nadir, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly.

Speaker of the National Assembly; Mohabir Nandlall, MP, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs; and Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams, MP. The observers from the Parliament of Guyana are Deputy Clerk of the National A s s e m b l y, H e r m i n a Gilgeours and Parliamentary Executive Officer, Carlleta Charles.

Duarte Pacheco of the Parliament of Portugal was elected as the new President of the IPU and Speaker Nadir

was nominated as a member to serve on the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development and will serve on the Preparatory Committee for the Fifth

Wo r l d C o n f e r e n c e o f Speakers and Presiding Officers that is to be held in Vienna, Austria, in 2021, representing the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) Geopolitical Group of the IPU. Pacheco approved spending for 2019 and passed the IPU budget for 2021. A number of reports on the work of the IPU are expected to be shared during the session.

The objectives of the IPU is to promote democratic governance, institutions and (Continued on page 23)

Wednesday November 04, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Two additional deaths; Appeal Court commences seven new COVID-19 cases hearing challenge to 62-year jail sentence for Linden man

Two more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died, taking the nation’s death toll as a result of the pandemic to 130.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported yesterday that latest fatalities are a 77-yearold woman from Region Two (PomeroonSupernaam) and a 92-year-old man from Region One (Barima-Waini). Both persons died while receiving care at a medical facility.

Additionally, the MOH recorded seven

new cases from 264 tests; this brings the total number of confirmed cases since March to 4,245.

Six of the new cases were recorded in Region Four and one case was recorded in Region Three.

Meanwhile, there are nine patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, 73 in institutional isolation and 712 in home isolation. To date, 3,320 persons have recovered.

A

ttorney Mark Conway has asked the Appeal Court for time to amend the grounds of appeal in relation to the case of Abdul Budhoo.

Budhoo is currently serving a 62-year sentence for the unlawful killing of the two brothers, his cousins, from Mackenzie, Linden, Shaheed and Imran Bacchus.

In 2017, he was convicted and sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh on a count of manslaughter and murder for the siblings. Conway had initially challenged the sentence based on claims that the trial Judge erred on a number of pertinent issues leading up to the verdict of his client’s trial in the High Court.

However, yesterday at the commencement of the hearing, he told the court that he wished to amend the grounds of his challenge to include the conviction since he believes that there is a strong likelihood that the guilty verdict will be overturned. Following his initial presentation on the issue before the Appeal Court, Conway was granted leave until November 16, to provide submissions on the issue.

In the initial appeal, the attorney contends, among other things, that the trial judge erred in law in the direction he gave to the jury as regards the issue of provocation – an element to consider in finding someone guilty for manslaughter.

As it relates to the severity of sentence for the offences, he also claimed that the trial judge erred in law by failing to apply case law principles that promote fairness in sentencing.

He noted that the sentencing guidelines council states that a number of elements had to be considered and balanced by the sentence such as the

Murdered: Brothers Shaheed and Imran Bacchus.

Convicted: Abdul Budhoo.

degree of the provocation; the extent and timing of the retaliation; the circumstances of the killing; the relationship between the offender and the victim; the behaviour of the offender after the killing; the type of weapon used and whether it had been to hand or had been carried to the scene.

Budhoo was sentenced to serve 62 years in prison for the unlawful killing of two brothers, which occurred at

Mackenzie, Linden, in September 2012. Reports indicated that the brothers were murdered as a result of a dispute over money at Wismar Street, Mackenzie, on September 30, 2012.

On the day of the incident, an argument over outstanding monies had ensued between Budhoo and Shaheed Bacchus, when Shaheed’s brother, Imran intervened.

Both brothers were fatally stabbed.

LIAT owes millions in severance payment to former workers ST. JOHN’S, Antigua CMC – Former employees of the regional airliner, LIAT, are owed an estimated EC$80 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) in severance payments, but the court appointed administrator, Cleveland Seaforth, says payment will not be made in the near future.

“The estimate for severance right now is approximately 80 million EC dollars and clearly the company does not have those funds.

Somewhere as we go forward in the process the matter of severance is going to be address I cannot tell you exactly when.

“I am in discussions with prospective investors and some of them are prepared to address the matter of severance but we are not at the stage yet where we can say when severance will be paid and the quantum of it,” Seaforth said on the Observer Media radio programme yesterday. LIAT has so far terminated 500 workers.

He acknowledged that the airline had no funds when he was brought it, adding “so we had to obtain funds (and) we got some funding from the government of Antigua and Barbuda.

“Some of the challenges we have faced we have had

to be dealing with the creditors, some of them who have been quite understanding and some of them who have not been. We have had to deal with maintaining the coverage for both facilities here in Antigua and also the planes.

We got numerous complaints from the passengers and we have had to procure a number of services in the absence of cash,” he told radio listeners.

LIAT was forced to suspend services in April 2020 due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which led to several destinations imposing travel bans and closing their bor-

ders.

The airline is being restructured to improve its viability and the sustainability following a decision by the Antigua and Barbuda government to reorganise the airline.

Last month, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that his administration is prepared to “collapse” the regional airline if it does not emerge as a “new and lean,” entity as part of the re-organisational plans.

Browne said then that practically all of the countries in the region are collaborating and that the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica had

written to the administrator agreeing to write off their debts written off “If I am not mistaken, we are talking close to EC$70 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) in debt would be eliminated from the balance books of LIAT as a result of those countries agreeing to write off the amount due to them,” he added.

Prior to its collapse, LIAT, which owes creditors an estimated EC$100 million, flew to 21 destinations, operating an average of 112 daily flights within a complex network combining profitable and uneconomic routes.

Airline observers said that

these 39 unprofitable flights were to 18 territories.

Seaforth said the airline, which last Sunday took to the skies, flying to Dominica, said that the present staff compliment has not been paid for months and that St. John’s has been the main source of funding so far.

“The government of Antigua and Barbuda has provided one million US dollars, the government of Grenada has stepped in and they paid some outstanding salaries that was due to the employees in Grenada, but so far the main source of funds has been the government of Antigua.

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

VACANCY Receptionist ages 30-45. Located at 233 South Road.

Call# 225-0195 Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call # 6159132

SERVICES Repairs,Services,Spares to Wa s h i n g M a c h i n e Refridgetor Store, Treadmill, Deepfryer,Cooler, Dryer, Grains mill.Call:#694-9733

CAR FORRENTAL SALE AIDAN'S CAR RENTAL & T O W T R U C K SERVICE:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE#6987807.

PROGRESSIVECAR RENTAL: CARS & SUV'S CALL:656-0087/6435 1 2 2 , E M A I L : P ROAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM

Immediate vacancy exists for male workers to work shifts @ Del Ice Co.Call :#231-1408/ 642-9191 One (1) Part-time truck driver.

Apply at: Lens, 136 Sherrif Street, C/Ville. Tel: 227-2486 Sales persons at ARK Enterprise/The container house.

Apply in person with written application.

Security Officers to work, preferably ex army, police or disciplined services.Age 2440.Contact#609-8184/6396648.

Live-in domestic boys and girls for the interior. Tel#6792772 or 686-2201.

Office Assistant / Sales, PAYE & NIS knowledge, 2 years min experience, Lot 8 s h e r i f f s t r e e t mimadecor12@gmail.com, 227-0176/ 86 Security guard. Must have experience, mature persons can apply. Contact 223-5274 / 227-5003

FOR RENT Bond, East Bank Demerara, 40x40.Saffon street,Kitty furnished restaurant. Residence: Diamond & Pearl, Contact Ray's Reality 627-9685.

Office space-top flat king street and North Road$100,000. Call: 225-4708 from 8am-4pm.

2x3 bedroom.Fully furnished uxury apartments to rent.

Long and short term. Tel:6822585/691-1432 Furnished lower flat at Vigilance North,E.C.D, 3 bedrooms, toilet & bath, Kitchen, etc. $60,000 light & water included. Tel# 639-9345 Furished 2 bedroom apartment-Issano Place, Bel Air Park. Parking available$150,000. Call:225-4708 from 8am to 4 TO LET Rooms in Albertown appartment in Eccles. Call# 225-3234

One experienced dispatcher to work at a Taxi Service. Contact 621-9356.

Allion, Primo, Spacio, Blue Bird, Field Wagon, 212, Carina, RZ, Pit Bull and Canter Tel#650-7501 Buying corilla bush $150 lb & soursop, Noni Leaves $250.

Call: 609-8281 PROPERTY FOR SALE 3- Story Building Located lot 1486 Plot B Herstelling E.B.D Tel#609-3777, 697-4557, 6413893, 686-0522 2 -Story Building Located Lot 1488 Parfate Harmany 16M Negotiable Tel#641-3893, 6860522, 609-3777, 697-4557

LEARN TO DRIVE N.Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square.Affordable Package.Call#644-5166/6912561/681-2808.

GR TAXI. CALL: 24 HRS 219-5000 225-7878

227-2100 227- 1982

WA N T E D C O N T R A C T CARS TO WORK.

Urgently needed internationally experienced Human Resource Manager.Please contact Aulicio Mining Inc. at careers@auliciomining.com Required two Senior Managers with international management experience.Contact Aulicio Mining Inc. careers@auliciomining.com Urgently required six internationally experienced compliance and procedure reviewal managers.Contact Aulicio Mining Inc. at careers@aulicomining.com Experienced Senior Managers with international management experience with computers.Contact Aulicio Mining Inc.at careers@auliciomining.com Vacancy for a domestic maid with cooking experience Call:6271154 Experienced washplant technicians with experience working with non-chemical washplants.Apply to Aulicio Mining Inc. careers@auliciomining.com Experienced washplant technicians with experience working with non-chemical washplants.Apply to Aulicio Mining Inc. careers@auliciomining.com

LAND FOR SALE Garden of Eden, Dalgin (Highway). 37 acres Public road to river.Batchlor's Adventure.

Contact Ray's Reality 6279685.

WANTED Sales Clerk to work in Georgetown. Age 25-45 .Must have 5 CXC Subjects Call #:225-9026/27 Mature experienced female for live-in, strong knowledge of creole foods, secondary education graduate.Tel# 656-9313 / 695-6550 One able bodied male clerk.Call:#231-2029,616-5954 1 Domestic worker. Tel 6799449 1 Taxi Driver Tel# 698-7807 One Eperience Sale Girl Urgent, 37 A Bourda Market Tel# 227-3407

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Guyana has very narrow window to get right what other countries struggled with for decades

With an estimated nine billion barrels of oil, equivalent resources and a projected fiscal windfall of US$49 billion in revenues over the next few decades, Guyana is poised to be a significant player in regional and international energy markets.

However, the direction and magnitude of transformations that could come from the wealth Guyana holds will depend on a combination of cohesive policies and strong institutions to ensure benefit transfer to all segments of Guyanese society, for this generation and the next. Making this assertion was the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

In one of its latest reports which focused on the challenges facing Guyana and the development of its resources, the IDB said that as a new oil-producing country in a turbulent global energy market, navigating the challenges and risks associated with overreliance on the petroleum sector should be designed as part of the country’s long-term development strategies.

It noted that the recent price swings for crude oil on the market, triggered by both traditional sources of instability (the interplay among producers and underinvestment), and the new phenomena such as the novel coronavirus and the proliferation of renewable energy technologies, will gradually displace the reliance on fossil fuels.

Taking this into consideration, the IDB said that Guyana “has a very narrow window to get what

other countries in the past have struggled to get right over decades.”

The financial institution said it is imperative that authorities embrace the lessons learnt by countries that have had successful hydrocarbon sectors and avoid the mistakes of those that have failed to create longl a s t i n g v a l u e .

With strong political will, the bank said, successful countries have overcome challenges and established models of good governance within their extractive sectors.

In this regard, it said that Guyana may consider several actions that can improve transparency and the realization of tangible outcomes from the development of its resources.

The IDB said for success, Guyana must have a defined national integrated plan for its oil and gas sector with clearly established Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and timelines for achievement, supported by operational and funding plans to support implementation. It said these plans will be used as the driver of the sector’s development. Further to this, the financial institution said that transparently delineating the roles and responsibilities among and within government entities would also put Guyana at an advantage in properly managing the sector and avoiding mistakes made by others. It said that the clear assignment of goals, roles and responsibilities has been identified and considered as one of the most valuable lessons learned by various countries.

Guyana participates in...

Frome page 20 values; to work with Parliaments and Parliamentarians; to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people; and to work for peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment and sustainable development through political dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary action.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

Biden leads Trump by 11 points - Quinnipiac University Poll

By Kemol King The most recent Quinnipiac University Poll released just one day before US Election Day has Democratic Presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden leading Republican nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump by 11 points.

The poll gives Biden 50 percent of the likely vote and places Trump at 39 percent.

It is the second highest lead Biden has held over Trump in Quinnipiac’s polls, behind the poll featured in its July 15 release, which showed Biden raking in 52 percent of the likely vote, to Trump’s 37

percent. All of the institution’s polls since September have placed Biden in the lead by at least 10 points, nationally.

The poll, conducted from October 28 and November 1 found that 49 percent of likely voters reported a favourable opinion of Biden, with 42 percent saying the opposite. The majority of likely voters (54 percent) reported an unfavourable opinion of Trump, with only 39 percent reporting to have a favourable opinion of him.

Notably, Quinnipiac said that only 27 percent of likely voters will cast in-person ballots on Election Day,

75,000 locally sewn masks delivered to Human -7 2 persons Services Ministry employed

Minister Vindhya Persaud speaks with one of the persons who delivered masks to the Ministry yesterday.

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security yesterday received over 75,000 facemasks, which represents the first batch sewn by individuals who were hired under the Ministry’s Garment and Accessories Cottage Initiative to supply masks to various entities, including schools.

The initiative was piloted

by Dr. Vindhya Persaud, the subject Minister on October 19, 2020 to create job opportunities for vulnerable A few specimens of the masks. groups impacted by the i n i t i a t i v e s t o b e n e f i t COVID-19 pandemic. vulnerable groups. She Now two weeks after, 72 u n d e r s c o r e d t h a t t h e persons are employed. The facemasks is “just one of next step is training. many projects that will target M i n i s t e r P e r s a u d vulnerable groups.” One of revealed that a four-week the persons who delivered training programme has been m a s k s y e s t e r d a y w a s drafted for the individuals Kamlawattie Rampersaud of and will commence the third Cornelia Ida. She disclosed week of November. Areas to that she and three other b e c o v e r e d i n c l u d e women worked together to Introduction to Business sew 500 masks within seven Literacy; Microenterprise; days. She is therefore Entrepreneurism; Conflict encouraging women to take Resolution and Social Issues. advantage of the Ministry’s Since her appointment to the project —”it was fun… we ministerial post, Persaud has bonded, doing something we declared her intention to liked and are getting paid for e s t a b l i s h c o t t a g e l e d it.”

while 37 percent reported casting or intending to cast ballots by mail or absentee ballot. Meanwhile, 35 percent reported voting or intending to vote at an early location. This may have an impact on the result, because Virginia-based political scientist Dr. Mark Rozell has indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has a political impact on voters. He had told foreign journalists during a September 21 briefing that persons likely to vote for Biden are more likely to wear masks and vote by mail than those likely to vote for

Trump.

The survey reached 1,657 likely voters in Florida with a margin of error of +/2.4 percentage points, 1,440 likely voters in Ohio with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points, and 1,516 likely voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/2.5 percentage points.

Quinnipiac’s most recent 2020 survey was directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D, who is the Director and Vice President of Quinnipiac University Poll. Quinnipiac is one of the most respected pollsters of nationwide and

statewide opinion in the US. The count of the actual results of the Presidential Election are not likely to be completed for a few days past Election Day, as the mail-in ballots arrive and are incorporated. So the election likely will not be called today. “Will it be a tidy game, set, match on Tuesday night? Or should we brace for an agonizing and ugly overtime, further enflaming a divided and troubled country?” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy. “The Biden numbers lean toward the first scenario, but 2016 lurks in the memory of Democrats.”

In 2016, several pollsters had predicted Hillary Clinton would win the presidency. While those pollsters got it right that Clinton would win the popular vote – and she did, by nearly three million votes – the 2016 Democratic nominee lost the presidency t o Tr u m p , g i v e n t h e configuration of the Electoral College.

The College is a unique mechanism to the US, which decides the presidency based on the votes of delegates assigned to represent candidates in each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 27

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Wednesday November 04, 2020

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Jesus returns from injury to seal Man City victory ...St Vincent and Grenadines

Ferran Torres’s first-half goal made him the third-youngest player to score in four consecutive Champions League games, behind Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. (PA Media)

BBC Sport - Gabriel Jesus marked his return from injury with a fine finish as Manchester City beat Olympiakos to maintain their 100% record in Champions League Group C. City had taken an early lead through Ferran Torres’ cool finish but made hard work of what should have been a straightforward night against the Greek champions.

They needed Jesus, who had not played since 21 September because of a knee injury, to come off the bench and fire home their second goal with nine minutes remaining, blasting into the roof of the net from a narrow angle.

Another substitute, Joao Cancelo, added gloss to the scoreline when he brilliantly curled home a third goal before the end.

...Rodrygo’s late strike gives Wednesday November 04, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today, you can expect to be somewhat more enterprising in your relationships.

You may find new friends or enjoy spending quality time with some old ones.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You can interpret today's aspects in several ways, Libra. The planetary configurations correspond to a search for space, whether physical or intellectual.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Recent aspects have allowed you to affirm yourself at work and, in a more general way, cement some aspects of your personality.

Now you will be consolidating things.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) In navigating the seas of your emotional life, Scorpio, you may feel as though you've made a great effort over the past month.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today's planetary aspects herald the beginning of an especially agreeable period.

You will carry confidence, clarity, and positive influence wherever you go.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today's planetary configurations indicate that this would be a good moment to get rid of everything that's still holding you back from an impending rebirth.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) oday's planetary configurations indicate that you can expect a very profitable period coming up, Leo. You've worked hard lately, and it's only natural that you should finally arrive at this stage.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today's aspects ask you to make more of an effort. You will have to come back down to Earth and join the rest of us mere mortals. You may be cultivating your independence a bit too much.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) With today's celestial configuration, your emotional universe will once again glow with positive energy. You will be meeting more people, and your encounters are likely to be more profound.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) For you, Capricorn, the changing planetary configuration portends a period of timidity. You will probably go out less, introduce yourself to fewer new people, and be less prone to show off.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may have spent the past few weeks exploring new horizons, talking to new people, going out more frequently in the evening, when possible.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You're likely to enjoy today's change of tone, Pisces. Don't you feel a need to take friendships beyond the superficial level?Perhaps you should reestablish contact with some former friends

From page 27 Gladbach thrashed Shakhtar 6-0, with Alassane Plea scoring a hat-trick, with his first three Champions League goals.

Real rally after being pegged back Real Madrid, European champions for a record 13 times, were bottom of the group after losing 3-2 to Shakhtar and drawing 2-2 with Gladbach.

They were without a win in four Champions League matches including last season’s last-16 elimination

by Manchester City.

At one stage it looked as though they were going to have a comfortable night at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium at their training base, which remains their temporary home while the Bernabeu is being redeveloped.

Achraf Hakimi’s terrible backpass, against the team he left in the summer, let Benzema round the Inter keeper before opening the lead.

Ramos then headed in a landmark goal for Real from Toni Kroos’ corner. That was his 55th headed goal and he becomes only the 19th player to reach a century of Real goals.

But that 2-0 lead only lasted two minutes as Martinez scored from a brilliant flicked assist from Barella, who also hit the bar with a header.

From page 28 also benefits for local athletes. “Usually, our athletes would have to travel to Barbados or Grenada to try for Olympic qualifying standards,” said Dyke Cato, who declared that the island’s athletes can now achieve their Olympic qualifying standards at home. The stadium will also be outfitted with long and triple jump pits as well as facilities for the pole vault, high jump, discus and the hammer throw.

A new electronic timing system is also to be acquired for the facility.

Cato, a sports officer attached to the Division of Sports in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, said another phase of the government-funded project is set to begin in early 2021.

That phase will involve the installation of stadium lights and the construction of a perimeter fence and a parking lot.

For now, work is ongoing

to complete the first phase of the construction work.

“It is 90 percent complete, the only things left is some landscaping and a concession area,” Cato said.

He added that they will also be retrofitting shipping containers to convert them into changing rooms.

But while the government is expecting to host the NACAC Age-Group Championships next year, they will not be quite ready for larger events like the Carifta Games because of an inadequate number of hotel rooms, an issue that is expected to be remedied in the coming years.

Cato revealed that the Sandals, Holiday Inn, The Marriott and Black Sands hotel chains are all expected to begin building hotels in close proximity to the facility in early 2021.

The stadium is next door to a Home of Football facility being constructed under the FIFA Goal Project.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Judge jails Adrien Broner after boxer posts stacks of cash on Instagram while claiming he can’t make court payments Yahoo Sports - A judge threw boxer Adrien Broner in jail on Monday after holding him in contempt of court as part of a civil lawsuit filed by a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her at a nightclub in 2018, according to Cory Shaffer of cleveland.com.

Cuyahoga County judge Nancy Margaret Russo reportedly found that Broner failed to cooperate with multiple deadlines to submit documents and other evidence explaining why he was unable to make the $830,000 payment the judge ordered him to make in December.Apparently, the judge cited a certain Instagram post from just days ago in which Broner displayed large stacks of cash.

Given that Broner reportedly claimed in an Oct. 5 court filing that he only had $13 in cash to his name, it’s understandable why Russo lost patience with a boxer who has openly ignored her.

Russo reportedly ordered that Broner remain in jail until he provides complete and truthful information about his

Adrien Broner has been jailed for again ignoring the legal system.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) finances to the plaintiff’s law firm. A hearing is scheduled for today for Broner’s attorney to show they are complying with Russo’s order.

Broner has reportedly claimed he is preparing for a fight scheduled in January that will earn him “a significant purse,” at which

point he will supposedly make his required payment.

Broner reportedly pinned woman down, kissed her in club Broner pled guilty to misdemeanor assault and unlawful restraint back in 2019 following the incident for which he is now facing a sixfigure payment.

The assault reportedly occurred on June 9, 2018, at Park Social, a nightclub in Cleveland.

The victim alleged that the boxer, whom she did not know, approached her as she sat with two friends, thrust himself on her, pinned her down and forcibly kissed her.

After attempts to remove Broner from her, the boxer only ceased the assault after a bystander threatened to take a picture.

After Broner’s guilty plea, the woman filed a civil suit.

She did not have much problem winning because Broner declined to appear in court or contest the charges, leading to a default judgement of $500,000 in punitive damages and $250,000 in compensatory damages, the victim’s legal fees.

Just one of many incidents for Broner In the last three years, Broner has participated in as many sexual assault arrests as fights. In addition to the Cleveland assault, he was arrested in Atlanta in 2018 for allegedly groping a woman at a shopping mall.

He has also encountered

Adrien Broner posted a video on Instagram with stacks of cash that got him into hot water with the judge. (adrienbonner Instagram) trouble for threatening to shoot gay people in a homophobic rant on his Instagram story and has been a wanted man in Florida multiple times for failing to appear in court over a 2017 speeding arrest. In the latter case, he was seen at a Los Angeles Lakers game despite

being a wanted man in Florida. Broner hasn’t appeared in a boxing ring since Jan. 2019, when he was dominated by a 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao. It has been over three years since he has won an official boxing match.

He has demanded $10 million for his next fight.

Jota hat-trick as Liverpool thrash Atalanta BBC Sport - In-form Diogo Jota scored a terrific hat-trick as Liverpool made a big Champions League statement of intent with a stunning win at Atalanta 5-0.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have won all three Group D games without conceding a goal, and victory in one of their remaining fixtures should be enough to take them through to the knockout stages.

Portugal international Jota showed why he was given a start ahead of Roberto Firmino by scoring for a fourth consecutive game, dinking in a delightful opener before doubling the lead with a thumping strike at the near post.

He completed his triple in the second period, collecting Sadio Mane’s pass before going round goalkeeper Marco Sportiello and slotting into an open net.

In between Jota’s third, the Reds netted two quickfire goals at the start of the second half as Mohamed Salah took full advantage of an exposed backline to run clear and curl home and Mane clipped in the fourth.

The Serie A side had sniffs of goal, but Duvan Zapata’s strike from the

angle hit the post, while two efforts from Luis Muriel were comfortable for goalkeeper Alisson to deal with.

I n t h e g r o u p ’s o t h e r game, Dutch side Ajax picked up their first of the campaign by beating Midtjylland 2-1, as the Danish team remain bottom of the group and without a point.

Joyous Jota stakes his claim Alongside Mane and Salah, Firmino has been an automatic choice in Liverpool’s front three during the club’s period of success in recent years.

But the Brazil international has been offcolour this season, scoring just once in 10 games, and so Jota was given an opportunity in Bergamo which he grabbed in sublime fashion.

Some eyebrows were raised at the £41m fee paid to sign the player from Wolves, but the 23-yearold looks every bit a Liverpool player as he took his tally to seven goals in 10 games this term.

Buzzing around in the final third, he latched on to Trent Alexander-Arnold defencesplitting pass before warding off the attentions of defender

Jose Luis Palomino and chipping in a cool finish.

He took his second with aplomb, bringing down Joe Gomez’s raking pass and firing in at the near post, before rolling in the third on 54 minutes to take home the match ball.

Jota’s goals have been crucial this season, scoring winners against Sheffield United and West Ham and another superb performance has given boss Klopp a pleasant selection dilemma, with a colossal trip to rivals Manchester City coming up on Sunday (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

There was a feeling of doom for Premier League champions Liverpool at the start of October when they went three games without victory - losing on penalties to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, humiliated 72 b y A s t o n Vi l l a a n d drawing 2-2 at Everton.

Further gloom followed at Goodison Park when key centre-back Virgil van Dijk suffered a knee injury which will keep him out for much of the season.

But the trouncing at Villa Park has proved to be merely a blip as they have responded in style by claiming five wins in a row, with this display in

Diogo Jota has scored seven goals in 10 games for Liverpool. (Getty Images) Europe their most devastating of the season so far.

With a defence featuring England Under-21 international Rhys Williams, Liverpool blunted a muchlauded Atalanta side that had reached the quarter-finals last season and scored 40 goals in their previous 19 games in Europe.

At the other end of the pitch, they kept Sportiello busy, with the Atalanta goalkeeper making a stunning full-stretch save to stop Mane’s curler, as well as keeping out a drive from the Senegal international.

They may well have had

more goals late on but Salah screwed wide after darting clear again and Mane’s free header from six yards out was straight at Sportiello.

Ultimately, all three of the attacking trident brutally exposed a high Atalanta backline, as Mane and Salah served a reminder that despite Jota taking the plaudits, they too are still very much a menacing prospect to deal with.

Liverpool have reached two of the past three Champions League finals finishing runners-up in 2018 and lifting the trophy for the sixth time a year later - and

the early signs are they will take some stopping in their bid to reach the showpiece once more.

Results of games player Tuesday 3rd November 2020 Lokomotiv Moscow 1 Atl Madrid 1 Shakhtar Donetsk 0 - B Mgladbach 6 RB Salzburg 2 - Bayern Munich 6 Real Madrid 3 - Inter Milan 2 FC Porto 3 - Marseille 0 Man City 3 – Olympiakos 0 Atalanta 0 - Liverpool 5 FC Midtjylland 1 – Ajax 2

Wednesday November 04, 2020

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Sandeep, Nadeem and Warner put Sunrisers in the playoffs; Knight Riders out

Lots of reasons to smile when David Warner and Wriddhiman Saha are opening the batting © BCCI

Matarkai Sports Committee AGM set for November 15 The Annual General Meeting and elections of office bearers of the Matarkai Sports Committee will be held on November 15 at Port Kaituma Community Centre, Region One at 13:00hrs.

Current Chairman Sherlon Rodrigues, who will be seeking re-election, told Kaieteur Sport that most of the current executive members are not functioning as they should have, and is calling on the members to elect reliable individuals on the new executive body since sports is vital for the community’s development.

He added that the representatives have sufficient time to decide on who they want to serve on the new executive and is urging them to consider members who will reflect the true image of Matarkai.

A minimum of two representatives from Baramita, Matthew’s Ridge, Arakaka, Falls Top, Four Miles, Oronoque, Compound, Fitzburg, One Mile, Citrus Grove, Canal Bank, Sebai, PK United and Port Kaituma Football Foundation are requested to attend the meeting.

The Matarkai Sports Committee was formed on July 30, 2015 and organises sporting activities including

ESPNcricinfo - The Sunrisers Hyderabad had to beat the top three teams in the IPL to qualify for the playoffs this season. And they did.

With style.

Sandeep Sharma was a menace in the powerplay. He finished with 3 for 34. Mumbai recovered in the middle overs but Shahbaz Nadeem broke them again. He finished with 4-0-19-2.

Kieron P o l l a r d ’s intervention gave them 149 on the board, but having rested Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, the bowling did not have enough firepower to pick up even a single wicket.

David Warner made his highest score of the season 85 not out off 58 balls - and Wriddhiman Saha provided his value as a hitter up the order as the Sunrisers waltzed into the playoffs.

Their win also meant the Kolkata Knight Riders, who had the same points (14) as the Sunrisers and the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of the league stage, lost out on a playoff spot because of their inferior net run rate.

The unheralded. Part I Sandeep is a medium pacer. Batsmen don’t fear that lot. In fact, they often taunt them by batting outside the crease. You can’t hurt me, but I’m going to hurt you.

Even under this pressure, the 27-year-old has been a steadfast performer. He dismissed Rohit Sharma for 4 and battled back from a pasting by Quinton de Kock to knock over his stumps.

Early wickets like that can stall a T20 innings, but Suryakumar Yadav wouldn’t let it happen to his team. With sublime clarity of thought especially against Rashid Khan - he helped Mumbai back to a position of strength.

They were 78 for 2 after 10 overs.

The unheralded. Part II Even with Hardik Pandya, Bumrah and Boult rested, this Mumbai line-up had proven it had enough game-changers to be a threat. They had a launch pad. And the Sunrisers had to tear it down all over again. This time they used spin.

Nadeem is an extremely diligent cricketer. He needs to be because he is often asked to take on terrible responsibilities.

The Sunrisers often match him up against big hitters like AB de Villiers and Shane Watson.

This is a man who bowls left-arm orthodox. And he still outsmarts players of that pedigree. He did it here too, getting Yadav stumped for 36 off 29, and three balls later having Krunal Pandya caught

off a miscue for a duck.

Mumbai were now 81 for 4 in the 12th over. Then they lurched to 115 for 6 in the 17th over. But Kieron Pollard decided enough was enough and unleashed himself, hitting 41 off 25 balls and lifting the total up to 149.

The unheralded Part III Saha is a powerplay supernova. He loves batting with the field up. And this year, against the Delhi Capitals, he showed that he has developed his game enough to remain a threat even when those five men retreat to the boundary.

With Mumbai refusing to give Warner any room at the start of his innings, it was the wicketkeeper who kicked the Sunrisers into gear with a Test quality straight-bat shot over mid-off for six. It was all timing and grace.

Soon enough the Sunrisers captain joined in on the fun and by the time the powerplay was over (56 for 0), his team was looking at a required rate of a little over six to win one of their most important games this season.

After that it was just a matter of time.

Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 151 for 0 (Warner 85*, Saha 58*) beat Mumbai Indians 149 for 8 (Pollard 41, Sandeep 3-34) by 10 wickets.

West Indies contingent clears first Covid-19 test in New Zealand ESPNcricinfo - All members of West Indies’ touring party in New Zealand have cleared the first of their three Covid-19 tests.

Following this test, which was conducted three days after their arrival on October 30, the West Indies contingent will undergo two more - on days 6 and 12 of their two-week quarantine at the New Zealand highperformance centre at Lincoln University in Christchurch.

Having returned negative results in their first test, the players and staff will no longer be required to stay in isolation in their respective rooms. They will be allowed

These seven players - of whom six are part of the T20I squad - will only end their quarantine on the eve of the first T20I in Auckland, which is to take place on November 27. West Indies will play three T20Is in all, followed by two Test matches in Hamilton (December 3-7) and Wellington (December 11-15).

West Indies are the only international team to have embarked on two overseas tours since the worldwide pause in global cricket brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Before this tour of New Zealand, they played three Tests in England in July.

Rodrygo’s late strike gives Real Madrid win over Inter Milan in five goal thriller

Sherlon Rodrigues football, cricket and volleyball.

The current executive is; Rodrigues - Chairman, Ralph Parris -Vice Chairman, Trevor Jocintho -Secretary, Enoch Benjamin -Assistant Secretary, Joycelene Abrams -Treasurer, Stephanie Miguel

to train, gym and socialise within three bubbles comprising a maximum of 15 members each from days 4 to 7. From days 8 to 14 of their quarantine, the West Indies camp can split into two bubbles comprising a maximum of 20 members each.

Seven members of West Indies’ 35-strong playing contingent - T20I captain Kieron Pollard, Test captain Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran and Oshane Thomas - will only arrive in New Zealand after the conclusion of the IPL, which ends on November 10 in the UAE.

- Assistant Treasurer and Orison Sealey -Public Relations Office. The current committee members are Renney Phillips, Patrick Adams, Aubrey Fraser, Natalie Jacobs, Lolita Roberio, Earl Gill and Fitzroy Nicholas.

BBC Sport - Rodrygo’s late strike gave Real Madrid victory over Inter Milan - their first Champions League win of the season 3-2.

Real looked in control when Karim Benzema rounded Samir Handanovic to put them ahead and Sergio Ramos

headed in his 100th goal for the club.

But moments later Lautaro Martinez scored from Nicolo Barella’s backheel pass and Ivan Perisic levelled with a composed finish from a Martinez header.

Rodrygo was Real’s hero

with a powerful effort from Vinicius Jr’s pass.

Real are level on four points with second-placed Shakhtar Donetsk, one point behind leaders Borussia Monchengladbach. Inter are bottom on two points.

(Continued on page 25)

PAGE 32

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Innovative “A” team tour to expand opportunities, says CWI’s Grave BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Cricket West Indies believes its decision to incorporate two four-day “Tests” into the upcoming tour of New Zealand will pay dividends by expanding the opportunities for specialist white ball players to play the longer format.

The Caribbean side will play three Twenty20 Internationals and two Tests on the November 27 to December 15 tour, and left for the Caribbean last Tuesday with a 15-man Test squad and six reserves, along with a 14man T20 side.

At the conclusion of the three-match T20 series, CWI will pull half the squad to join the reserves and in addition to the two non-playing members of the Test squad, will form a likely 15-man squad for four-day “Tests” in Mount Maunganui and Nelson against the hosts’ “A” side.

Both matches will run parallel to the official Tests in Hamilton, from December 37, and in Wellington from December 11-15, and CWI chief executive Johnny Grave said it was an innovative way to add a developmental aspect to the tour.

“It’s one of the things we learned from the England tour.

It’s a fantastic opportunity for the reserves to come together

CWI chief executive, Johnny Grave. and train with the first team, help prepare them and be there in the event we had any injury or illness that curtailed or ruled out any players,” Grave said.

“But once the Test matches started in England, there wasn’t a huge amount for those reserves to do other than continue to prepare the players and do some training while the Test match was ongoing.

“I think to give them competitive cricket against New Zealand “A” is great and for some of those T20 players who have played so much white ball cricket for West Indies during the West Indies

championship over the last couple of years, it’s going to be the first opportunity they would’ve had in probably two years to play some red ball cricket.

“It’s a great opportunity and certainly one which we as management are looking forward to seeing how that “A” team perform in those two games.”

The tour is only the second of the year for West Indies amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which forced a lockdown of international cricket last March. Until the pandemic outbreak, CWI had planned a busy home itinerary but were

St Vincent and Grenadines to open historic new stadium facility today

The new EC $5million stadium facility with a synthetic track.

SportsMax - A new EC $5million stadium facility with a synthetic track, the first of its kind of St Vincent and the Grenadines, will be officially opened today in what is the first phase of the project that began in February this year.

Situated in the South

Windward area at the Diamond Industrial Estate, five minutes from the Argyle International Airport, the stadium will have a synthetic 400m running track, an international standard football field, temporary seating for 1500 spectators

including the disabled and is intended to host regional and international track and field events.

The first of those events will likely be the 2021 NACAC All-Age Championships set for July 2021, but there are (Continued on page 25)

forced to scrap every series due to public health concerns.

One of the series cancelled was a South Africa “A” tour of the Caribbean, comprising three four-day “Tests” and five 50-over matches, and Grave said the New Zealand tour offered the opportunity for the “A” team programme to be revived.

“To travel all that way [to New Zealand], to then go through 14 days of quarantine for three T20s played across four days, it’s an awful long way to go for fourth days worth of cricket,” Grave pointed out.

“That’s when we started listening to the feedback from the players and management from around the England tour and thought with the six reserves that we’ve got, with some of the T20 players the selectors wanted to encourage to play red ball

cricket and give them opportunities – which isn’t always easy when our 50over and T20 schedules are so packed tight – it just seemed a really good idea for us to work on.

“Clearly we don’t really play “A” team cricket against New Zealand and Australia because it’s so far to travel … but it’s a great opportunity.

“Obviously conditions in New Zealand are fairly unique, they’re going to be different challenges for the players so it’s going to be a great opportunity.”

After travelling with 10 reserves for the three-Test tour of England last July, selectors have only carried six to New Zealand but Grave explained this was due to the more relaxed COVID-19 regulations in place.

“It’s a different tour to the England tour. The reality is that after the 14-day

quarantine, the whole touring group will join New Zealand society – as long as the New Zealand level of COVID remains at Level One, the lowest possible threat level,” the Englishman said.

“So we’re not having to play a three-day game amongst ourselves which was obviously the case in England. We’re also not having to use our own net bowlers throughout the whole tour. They’ll be able to have young New Zealanders as part of the practice.

“So the whole practice and preparation after the 14day quarantine will be as a normal tour whereas in England, we not only had to have a full XI to play against in terms of warm up games, but we couldn’t have any net bowlers or additional support to prepare the team. That’s not the case in New Zealand.”

England rest Archer, Stokes and Sam Curran for ODIs on tour of South Africa (Reuters) - England have named the squads for their limited-overs tour of South Africa, with Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Sam Curran featuring in the Twenty20 group but rested for the oneday internationals.

Stokes missed the second half of the English summer programme to be with his father, Ged, who has brain cancer.

The all-rounder, along with Archer and Sam Curran have featured heavily in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and England have decided to manage their workload and time spent in another biosecure bubble.

Captain Eoin Morgan, who is also playing in the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders, will lead England in three T20s and three ODIs to be held without spectators from Nov. 27.

Jos Buttler was involved in 13 of Rajasthan Royals’ IPL fixtures but is picked in both squads.

Left-arm seamer Reece Topley was also named in both squads after making his international return against Ireland in August, four years on from his last England appearance.

Warwickshire fast bowler Olly Stone gets an opportunity as part of the 15man ODI squad.

The team will travel to South Africa on Nov. 16, with games scheduled to be played at Cape Town’s Newlands and in nearby Paarl.

England T20 squad: Eoin

England’s Jofra Archer checks his foot after a wicket is disallowed.

(Pool via REUTERS/Shaun Botterill) Morgan (Middlesex, captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Tom Curran (Surrey), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Surrey), Mark Wood (Durham).

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire),

Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Reece Topley (Surrey), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

Reserves across both formats: Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Tom Helm (Middlesex).

Wednesday November 04, 2020

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

Zimbabwe beats Pakistan in super over to end ODI losing run

Standing tall - Blessing Muzarabani picked up five wickets in regulation time and two more in the Super Over. (AFP via Getty Images) RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Zimbabwe ended a 10-match losing streak by beating Pakistan in a super over to cap a thrilling third and final one-day international yesterday.

Blessing Muzarabani grabbed two wickets off four balls in the super over as Pakistan scored only two runs off the tall fast bowler.

Zimbabwe raced to a winning 3-0 through Brendan Taylor and Sikandar Raza off Shaheen Afridi’s first three balls to deny Pakistan a series clean sweep.

Pakistan No. 10 batsman Mohammad Musa hit a four off the last ball of their 50-over innings against paceman Richard Ngarava to tie the scores as Pakistan ended up at 278-9. Zimbabwe made 278-

6.

Captain Babar Azam’s run-a-ball 125 lifted Pakistan close to the target in a century stand with Wahab Riaz, who scored 52 off 55 balls.

But Muzarabani’s 5-49 included the wickets of Afridi and Babar off his last two deliveries to turn the game before Musa hit the last-ball ball boundary through covers off Richard Ngarava and forced a super over.

Earlier, Sean Williams survived three dropped catches to score 118 off 135 balls for Zimbabwe. The 20year-old fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain snared 5-26, but Williams’ fourth ODI hundred gave Zimbabwe its highest total of the series.

“This win is huge for us,”

Williams said. “A lot of people do panic under pressure, but I feel we deserved to win … we are tired of getting beaten, it’s way too long.”

Zimbabwe’s pacemen finally came good after below par performances in the first two ODIs. Ngarava struck in his first two overs of Pakistan’s chase by claiming the wickets of Fakhar Zaman, playing his first game of the series, and young Haider Ali. Paceman Donald Tiripano grabbed his first opportunity in the series when he dismissed Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed as Pakistan slipped to 88-5 in the 18th over.

But Babar revived the chase by adding 63 runs with debutant Khushdil Shah (33)

Zimbabwe’s pacer Blessing Muzarabani, left, celebrates after taking wicket of Pakistani batsman Imam-ul-Haq, center, during their 3rd one-day international cricket match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) and then 100 runs with Riaz until the skipper gloved a sharp bouncer off Muzarabani in the penultimate over.

“I am sad that I couldn’t finish the game after I established a partnership with Wahab, but we have learnt a lot from today’s defeat,” Babar said.

Hasnain, playing his first ODI after more than a year, rattled Zimbabwe’s top order.

Captain Chamu Chibhabha, who won his second successive toss, was out for a duck to end the three-match series with only 19 runs combined.

But Williams shared three half-century stands and profited from dropped catches. Hasnain could have got rid of Williams in his last over but Musa dropped a sitter at third man.

Williams added 84 runs with Brendan Taylor (56)who was caught at mid off to give Hasnain his five-wicket haul.

Williams propelled Zimbabwe’s total with a 96run, sixth-wicket stand with Sikandar Raza (45) as they plundered fast bowlers Afridi (0-42), Riaz (1-65) and Musa (0-80).

Pakistan’s lone spinner, Ahmed, who grabbed five

wickets in the second game, was also off color and ended up with 0-60.

The 2-1 victory gave Pakistan 20 points in the World Super League while Zimbabwe earned 10 points.

The top seven teams out of 13 nations participating in the league will get automatic qualification for the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India.

Scores: Zimbabwe 278 for 6 (Williams 118*, Taylor 56, Hasnain 5-26) tied with Pakistan 278 for 9 (Azam 125, Riaz 52, Muzarabani 5-49).

Super Over: Zimbabwe 3 beat Pakistan 2.

Dhoni vows to return for 2021 IPL as CSK end Punjab’s play-off hopes

Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he would return for Chennai Super Kings.

AFP - Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni vowed Sunday to return for Chennai Super Kings in next year’s Indian Premier League, after his team ended Kings XI Punjab’s play-off hopes in both sides’ final game of the season.

But the 39-year-old said the team — which has many over-35s including Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis — would need an overhaul before going into next season, scheduled for April-May. And coach Stephen Fleming said it would be a “great challenge” to rebuild the team — dubbed “Dad’s army” in the media — for the upcoming season.

Three-time IPL winners Chennai were the first of the eight teams to drop out of contention, raising doubts about captain Dhoni’s future with the franchise.

But they signed off their campaign with three successive triumphs, including this comprehensive nine-wicket victory in Abu

Dhabi.

Punjab, who had been rooted to the foot of the table for much of the tournament, ended with back-to-back defeats after a five-match winning streak had got KL Rahul’s men back into contention.

Veteran wicketkeeperbatsman Dhoni, who ended his international career in August, assured fans ahead of the match that he would return in the yellow jersey.

“Definitely not,” Dhoni said at the toss when he was asked by former New Zealand paceman Danny Morrison if the game against Punjab was his last for Chennai.

The comment set Twitter alight, with the hashtag #DefinitelyNot trending in India.

Chennai kept Punjab to

153-6 and then surpassed the total in 18.5 overs with opener Ruturaj Gaikwad hitting an unbeaten 62 — his third successive half-century.

“We need to slightly change our core group and look for the next 10 years,” Dhoni said after the win.

“At the start of the IPL (in 2008) we made a team and it served well for us 10 years.

There comes a time when (you) need to shift and change a bit and hand it over to the next generation.”

Gaikwad, 23, has been one of the few impressive younger players in the team, which includes England’s 22-yearold all-rounder Sam Curran.

Gaikwad though joined the Chennai XI late in the season after contracting the coronavirus ahead of the start.

“He is a big story. We

couldn’t play him earlier, the Covid really knocked him around. We knew how good he was,” Fleming told reporters.

South Africa’s Du Plessis, who made 48 in the final game to lead the team’s batting charts with 449 runs in 13 innings, said his career was still far from over.

“I have got a lot of cricket left in me, at least five years,” the 36-year-old said.

The virus-hit 13th edition of the tournament ends on November 10.

Punjab’s loss leaves Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders fighting for the three remaining play-off places, behind Mumbai Indians.

PAGE 34

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Brady throws for 2 scores as Bucs hold off Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws the ball during the first half as New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) defends at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-USA Today Sports)

Tom Brady threw two second-half touchdown passes as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied from an early 11-point deficit to post a 25-23 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night at East Rutherford, N.J. Brady completed 28 of 40 passes for 279 yards as Tampa Bay (6-2) won its third straight game and moved a half-game ahead of the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans caught touchdown passes, and Ryan Succop booted four field goals.

Daniel Jones connected on 25 of 41 passing for 256 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Giants (1-7), who dropped to

1-3 at home. Wayne Gallman rushed for a touchdown while Dion Lewis and Golden Tate caught scoring passes for New York.

The Giants pulled within 25-23 on Jones’ 19-yard scoring pass to Tate with 28 seconds left. Antoine Winfield Jr. broke up the twopoint conversion pass to Lewis, and Justin Watson covered the ensuing onside kick to seal the Buccaneers’ victory.

Tampa Bay went ahead to stay on Brady’s 8-yard scoring pass to Evans with 9:02 left in the game. The diving grab in the right corner of the end zone gave the Buccaneers a 22-17 advantage, and Succop added a 38-yard field goal with 3:41 remaining.

The two touchdown passes raised Brady’s total to an all-time leading 561, one ahead of Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.

Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting notched interceptions for the Buccaneers, who were outgained 357 yards to 344.

Tampa Bay moved ahead at 15-14 on Brady’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski with six minutes

left in the third quarter. A twopoint conversion pass for Evans was incomplete.

The score marked the 93rd time — counting the postseason — that Brady and Gronkowski teamed up for a touchdown, moving the duo into second place on the alltime list, ahead of the San Francisco 49ers’ combo of Steve Young and Jerry Rice.

The leaders are the Indianapolis Colts pair of Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison at 114.

The Giants went back ahead at 17-15 on Graham Gano’s 33-yard field goal with 15 seconds left in the quarter.

Earlier, Jones threw a 7yard touchdown pass to Lewis in the first quarter, and Gallman scored on a 2-yard run with 1:46 left in the second as the Giants held a 14-3 lead.

Succop connected on a 40-yard field goal — his second field goal of the first half — with seven seconds left before intermission as Tampa Bay cut its deficit to eight points. Succop added a 43-yard field goal with 10 minutes left in the third quarter as the Buccaneers moved within 14-9.

(Field Level Media)

Diego Maradona to have surgery on blood clot on brain BBC Sport - Argentina legend Diego Maradona is to have “routine surgery” on a blood clot on his brain, his doctor said.

The 1986 World Cup winner, 60, was admitted to Ipensa clinic in Buenos Aires on Monday, suffering from anaemia and dehydration. Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal physician, said the surgery was set take place later on yesterday.

“He is lucid, he understands, he agrees with the intervention,” Luque told reporters.

Maradona had been transferred to the Olivos

Clinic in La Plata, where he will be operated on at 8pm local time (23:00 GMT) by Luque, who is a neurosurgeon.

Maradona now coaches Gimnasia y Esgrima in Argentina’s top flight.

He attended the side’s game against Patronato on Friday, his 60th birthday.

Supporters of Gimnasia y Esgrima have been congregating outside the hospital carrying messages of support for the former Argentina forward.

His former club Napoli, who he helped to two Serie A titles, tweeted a message of support.

Wednesday November 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 35

Alexander Povetkin v Dillian Whyte Thompson-Herah nominated for IAAF postponed as Russian has Covid-19 Female Athlete of the Year award

S

B

BC Sport Dillian Whyte’s rematch with Alexander Povetkin has been postponed after the Russian tested positive for coronavirus.

Povetkin, 41, produced a stunning knockout win over the British heavyweight in August and the pair were due to fight again on 21 November.

Promoter Eddie Hearn tweeted Povetkin was “in hospital”.

“Povetkin-Whyte II is postponed with a new target date of 30 January 2021,”

portsMax Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah has been included on a shortlist of athletes for In August Povetkin knocked the IAAF Female World Whyte out after twice being Athlete of the Year award.

Despite the impact of the on the canvas himself. (Mark COVID-19 pandemic, the Robinson/Matchroom) 28-year-old double Olympic champion has put together a strong season. ThompsonHerah won all seven of her 100m races and finished the campaign with a worldleading time of 10.85 seconds, which was recorded at the Rome Diamond League in September.

In addition to ThompsonHearn’s Matchroom Boxing challenging for the WBC Herah, the list includes tweeted. heavyweight title - held by Femke Bol (Netherlands), Matchroom said it would Tyson Fury - in 2021. announce news on whether Povetkin found a clinical Letesenbet Gibey (Ethiopia), the rest of the 21 November punch to end their August Sifan Hassan (Netherlands), show would go ahead in due contest after being on the Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya), course. canvas twice himself in the Faith Kipyegon (Kenya), Laura Muir (Great Britain Whyte v Fury instead? bout. and Northern Ireland), The news is a blow to 32And Hearn was quick to Hellen Obiri (Kenya), year-old Whyte, who has raise the prospect of Whyte been preparing at his training now being available to Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela) camp in Portugal and become Fury’s opponent on a n d A b a b e l Ye s h a n e h (Ethiopia). worked remotely as a pundit 5 December.

The Jamaican will face for BBC Radio 5 Live during Fury is due to fight in the still competition to land the Oleksandr Usyk’s win over UK on the date but so far has Derek Chisora on Saturday. no opponent and Hearn Whyte knew a win over posted on Twitter: “Dillian Povetkin would put him in W h y t e v Ty s o n F u r y w i t h a c l e a r s h o t a t anyone?”

Australia’s Watson set to end career after IPL disappointment AFP - Australian allrounder Shane Watson has decided to retire from all cricket after Chennai Super Kings failed to reach the Indian Premier League playoffs, a team member told AFP yesterday.

The 39-year-old has made nothing public but told his Chennai teammates of his decision in an “emotional” speech after their last IPL game on Sunday. Tributes have already been made to the former stalwart of the Australian Test side.

“The curtain closes on a remarkable IPL career.

Congratulations mate you’ve done yourself proud and made every team you’ve played in so complete,” wrote another former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody on Twitter.

Watson quit international cricket in 2016 but kept playing in Twenty20 leagues such as the IPL. He retired from Australia’s Big Bash last year. He has played more than 700 international and domestic matches, scoring more than 25,000 runs with

Chennai Super Kings and former Australia cricketer Shane Watson is to call time on his glittering career. his big-hitting style and claiming in excess of 600 wickets with his pace bowling. Watson won the inaugural IPL in 2008 with t h e S h a n e Wa r n e - l e d Rajasthan Royals and secured a second with Chennai in 2018.

He has scored 3,874 runs and taken 92 wickets in the world’s richest cricket tournament, where he has played 145 matches for Chennai, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has warned the three-time champions will be making major changes after failing to make the playoffs for the f i r s t t i m e . Wa t s o n i s expected to be the first of many veterans to leave.

Watson was to make a formal announcement on his retirement on his return to Australia from the United Arab Emirates, where the IPL has been held behind closed doors because of the coronavirus.

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah prize, with world records broken this year by Gidey (5000m), Hassan (hour run), Jepchirchir (half marathon, women only), Rojas (triple jump, indoors), and Yeshaneh (half marathon).

The list will be trimmed to five athletes after voting takes place among the World Athletics Council (50 percent), World Athletics family (25 percent), and by

fans (25 percent) by liking individual athlete graphics o n Wo r l d A t h l e t i c s ’ Facebook and Instagram or by retweets.

Thompson-Herah is the only Jamaican nominated on either the male or female list.

American Dalilah Muhammad took the honour last year when she twice lowered the 400m hurdles world record.

rt Spo

West Indies contingent clears first Covid-19 test in New Zealand

West Indies are the only international team to have embarked on two overseas tours in the Covid-19 era. (Getty Images)

Maradona to Sandeep, Nadeem and Diego have surgery on Warner put Sunrisers in the blood clot on brain playoffs; Knight Riders out

Gimnasia y Esgrima coach Diego Maradona before a match March 7, 2020.

(REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian)

All’s well that ends well - in the league stage for SRH anyway, Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians, IPL 2020, Sharjah, November 3, 2020 ŠBCCI

Zimbabwe beats Pakistan in super over to end ODI losing run Thompson-Herah nominated for IAAF Female Athlete of the Year award

Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.