Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly Dead: Bharrat Dass

Dying watchman

Friday Edition

tells sons to check

November 13, 2020 -Vol. 22 No.44

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 123,199

Govt. gives no guarantees on implementing policy to slow down emptying of Guyana’s oil basin Kaieteur News libel trial…

NICIL had sweeping powers for practically anything under the sun - Winston Brassington tells court

$1B deal inked with Prison Officers Farfan & Mendes, arrested after ganja found overseas company stashed in for Bartica, Lethem Lusignan solar power plants barrack room

168 test positive for COVID-19 at St Cuthbert’s

From Blessing to Burden Our oil which should have been a blessing is becoming a burden. The numbers tell the story of shady dealings, covetous politicians and cunning middlemen.

From ExxonMobil Guyana would get approximately US$200M in 2020. But the bill from CGX for preliminary work on one dry well in the Corentyne block is US$155M. CGX must really think that Guyanese are illiterates and idiots. They must be required to provide the evidence that they actually drilled a well.

That US$155M must be fully scrutinized for possible overstated costs. It is the equivalent of renting an apartment for GY$50,000 per

month, but the tenant presents a bill for imaginary repairs for nonexistent damages (that he himself caused) totaling GY$60,000.

As can be seen, on a net basis, the landlord is paying the tenant for living in the apartment.

Now think of the landlord as Guyana and the tenant/operator as CGX. CGX is the kind of tenant/operator that PPPC leaders saw fit to conduct our oil business.

It is the same CGX that the APNU coalition was so impressed with, that it gave it a 3-year extension. The way we look at it is that both the PPPC and the Coalition are in bed with CGX. That US$155M confirms our suspicions.

ExxonMobil gets back part of Stabroek Block it relinquished years ago Want to know whose hands the Kaieteur oil block landed into? And who gave them FOR FREE? Tune into Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM at 8:30pm

Kaieteur News

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Friday November 13, 2020

ExxonMobil gets back part - source of Stabroek Block it reveals relinquished years ago While ExxonMobil, like all oil companies operating in Guyana, has the responsibility to relinquish sections of the oil blocks it owns, this oil major strategically positioned itself to regain an area it had to relinquish years ago, according to a source.

ExxonMobil has had the exploration rights to the behemoth Stabroek since 1999.

However, it could not have kept the entire block, due to the relinquishment clause it has committed to in the agreement with the Government of Guyana.

The provision provided that the company would have to relinquish parts of the block to the government, at intervals.

Relinquishment is provided for in the Petroleum (Exploration and

Production), in which it states that if an area is relinquished, the licence ceases to have effect in relation to that area.

When Mid-Atlantic applied for an exploration licence in early 2013, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) knew that the area was relinquished by ExxonMobil.

By then, the area was available. So the regulator, having satisfied itself that the application met all the conditions required, was awarded the block.

Kaieteur News understands that ExxonMobil had conducted 2D seismic work, which extended to the area that is now the Canje block, prior to its relinquishment.

Hence, seismic data on that area reverted to the

exclusive domain of GGMC when the area was relinquished.

That data serves to inform oil companies of the prospectivity of their licences.Fast forward to February 2016, ExxonMobil made a deal with MidAtlantic and its partner JHI Associates to farm in to the Canje block, and become the operator.

There is no publicly available information about how much was paid to the initial owners of the block.

Total SE also farmed in, in 2018. Information on the transaction is similarly scarce.

As a result of its ownership and operatorship of the Stabroek, Canje and Kaieteur blocks, ExxonMobil now has control of 11.8 million acres of Guyana’s offshore area.

Friday November 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News libel trial…

NICIL had sweeping powers for practically anything under the sun Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the stateowned National Industrial Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, has revealed, in court, that the Articles of Incorporation which guide the operations of the entity, gives it broad and sweeping powers to do practically anything under the sun.

The former NICIL head made the statements yesterday, while responding to questions posed by Kaieteur News’ lawyer, Nigel Hughes, in relation to a number of government projects.

The statements were made during a continuation of the trial, accusing the newspaper of libel, brought

by Brassington.

Brassington was previously questioned extensively on his role as CEO of NICIL in the transactions. He faced a similar line of questioning during a continuation of the trial before Justice Navindra Singh at the Georgetown High Court yesterday.

Kaieteur News’ Publisher, Glenn Lall, and its former Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris, also took the witness stand in defense of the claims.

The former NICIL head had sued Kaieteur News for libel over the “Dem Boys Seh” articles, which he claims, contained offensive and defamatory content against him.

According to him, the reference in the article to “that fat crook Brazzy” in the satirical column of the newspaper meant and was understood to mean that the newspaper and its editor sought to convey that he, as N I C I L’s h e a d w a s “dishonest, had been guilty of criminal activity and corrupt practices” in the conduct of his work. The projects included the award of a road construction contract for US$18M in the first phase of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

Under further crossexamination yesterday, Brassington revealed that NICIL, was incorporated in 1990 to acquire and hold Government shares, stocks, debentures or other types of assets, has unlimited powers in its sale and distribution of

Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NICIL, Winston properties belonging to the state.

In response to questions about the handling of the Pradoville Two Housing Project, East Coast Demerara, in which former President Bharrat Jagdeo resides, Brassington insisted that all of the transactions were above board.

He noted that there were certain articles which guided the operations of NICIL and that those very articles were contained in the by-laws which “gives the company broad and sweeping powers to do practically anything under the sun.”

The witness told the court that the articles were not present in front of him so that he could refer to them properly.

“Those articles are not present here,” he said referring to documents which contained NICIL‘s by-laws.

Brassington had previously perused the documents but claimed that he could not be sure that they are complete.

Further, in answer to the questions by Hughes, Brassington noted that there were no restrictions on NICIL’s power to carry out its functions as a holder and distributor of Government shares.

Cabinet Sanctioned In response to queries about the role of NICIL in the Pradoville Two housing project, in which several top officials benefitted before 2011, the witness said that: “I don’t have any of the documents in front of me but I know everything that was done was sanctioned by (the then) Cabinet and the board.”

Asked whether the funds from the government, diverted by NICIL for development of the project was expected to be repaid, Brassington said he could not recall.

At this point, B r a s s i n g t o n ’s l a w y e r, Timothy Jonas, objected to the line of questioning noting that his client cannot speak for actions of NICIL, but only represent what he did as CEO of the company.

The objection was taken into consideration and Hughes rephrased his question. This time, he asked Brassington about his role in the transaction as CEO of the company. “ Wa s a n y s u c h agreement to repay the funds signed?” the lawyer asked “I cannot recall,” Brassington said.

The lawyer suggested to Brassington that he approved funds for the Pradoville Two project without the resolution of the board of NICIL. Brassington rejected the suggestion. “That is absolutely untrue,” declared the witness.

He later noted that all the transactions were subject to approval of the Board, Cabinet and was even audited by the Auditor General.

“I don’t remember that I did anything that was improper or illegal.

Everything I did was done on behalf of the board and not in my personal capacity,” he said.

Added to this, Brassington revealed that he was not the only officer of NICIL authorised to be a signatory on transactional documents.

“Other persons were authorised to sign in my absence,” he said. With regards to the sale of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Brassington told the court as an officer of NICIL, he was duty bound to act on behalf of the company in the sale.

According to Brassington, the sale of Government‘s shares in GTT raked in US$30M which was four times more than it could have secured elsewhere.

“But did you transfer the dividends to the government of Guyana?” Hughes

- Winston Brassington tells court

Former Editor-inChief, Adam Harris questioned.

“Everything was done in keeping with the company’s Articles and by-laws.”

H u g h e s , h o w e v e r, interrupted, reminding the witness that the question was whether the dividends were transferred to the government.

Not Mandated In response, the witness said that NICIL was not mandated to transfer anything to the government.

“We are not a post office…. There is nothing illegal or improper about that,” he said maintaining that the powers of NICIL were clear.

Meanwhile, the Kaieteur News’ Publisher in his testimony, agreed with the suggestion that ‘Dem Boys Seh’ articles are part news and part satire.

Asked by Jonas whether Brassington had ever requested a retraction of the article, Lall told the court that he did receive a letter. He said, too, that Brassington has never spoken to him about the retraction.

He admitted, too, that as publisher, most of the newspaper content is under his control.

The publisher also agreed with the suggestion that the newspaper takes on the role of exposing, what is perceived by him to be corrupt excesses by the Government of the day.

Lall also agreed that the Kaieteur News had the widest distribution countrywide and readership online.

“Have you are ever seen a signed resolution document belonging to NICIL?” Jonas queried “No sir,” responded Lall.

“Have you seen the sale documents related to the sale of GTT?” continued, Jonas

Kaieteur News’ Publisher, Glenn Lall “No sir, not other than what I have read,” Lall stated “Have you seen any of the Berbice Bridge documents?”

“I can’t recall if I have seen those documents,” Lall responded.

He said, too, that he could not recall if he had any conversation with Christopher Ram about the documents.

Harris faced similar questions about his role in the newspaper given his work as the former Editor-in -Chief of the newspaper.

He, too, said that he could not recall seeing the documents.

Want to know whose hands the Kaieteur Oil oil block landed into? And who gave them FOR FREE? Tune into Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM at 8:30pm

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Kaieteur News

Friday November 13, 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

Men of God, or Men of Straw Any survey of the public service and private sectors in Guyana is certain to encourage, then disappoint, and last disturb. It is where many who identify themselves as men of god fail glaringly.

Regrettably, the majority of these so-called men (and women) of god are nothing more than pretenders at being honourable, who stand out brightly for the unprincipled traits they practice.

In the public service, there is an absence of the values and practices that could make for a satisfied, trusting citizenry. Publicly, their words are uplifting, their supporting behaviors’, however, condemn them. Privately, there are the knowing whispers of who has compromised themselves; and is seller, fraud, even a bigot; or all of those combined.

They are the many that are known through inconsistencies, unanswered questions, troubling gaps, their evasions and silence on ethical things. So-called godly shepherds fool themselves - that they have slickly covered their tracks that people do not know.

Most of them call themselves by a small variety of names.

They are deacons, pastors, pundits, imams, ministers and evangelists. They are chiefs, finance people, and usually mid-level functionaries; most of them have a history of not being able to tell a straight story or take a firm stance for what is positive and constructive. There is always some hidden agenda in this country. It is where the man or woman, with whom is shared a conference room or a conversation, will place hand over heart, cast eyes to the heavens, swear on a pile of sacred books and falsify prolifically. No qualms, not even a trace of the flinching that come from that strange mysterious thread called conscience; ulterior motives abound.

Government service is the place to be, to harvest richly and the coming oil opportunities are anticipated with panting breath and crafty calculations. Men of god worshipping money; men and women of straw seeking to capitalize via the misuse of trust, the abuse of principle, and deceiving god and fellow citizens. They are all over the public service; the private sector has more than its fair share. If only these holy men and women were the genuine article, truly humble and cleanly functioning servants, this nation would do very well, given the abundant presence of them. Instead, we have what we have, which is why we are where we are, with huge sections of the population exploited or misled.

If this cohort of men and women, announced agents of what is held out as righteous and wholesome for this society, are like this, and so unprincipled, then not much could-or should-be expected from the multitude of regular people, who make no pious representations. Credit must be given to the admittedly self-serving lesser-equipped and more ungodly masses who make their story clear and plain: money matters, what is valued is what enriches. There are no games over morality, the straight and narrow and the rest. Just show me, money is the mantra. We do not look upon such with favor, but there is grudging respect for straight talk and knowing where people really stand. The same cannot be said for those who patter about holiness, only to unravel when tempted. Many political people proudly identify with God and things divine; we must wonder which god, if not money. This applies to both high-level government and opposition people. In addition, as said before, this cohort of public service self-enrichers have their counterparts in the private sector. Since this is so, it does not leave any room for what could take the nation and people to a different place, possibly a better place. Men and women of god have sold out to the devil when their visions and decisions are converted into actions that are, in turn, fed by rank ambitions.

Oil can be a devil.

If religious leaders from across the unrighteous brotherhood are our seniors, executives and managers, then there is not much hope for us. Our elections settled that once and for all, when men of god worshipped false political gods. Across the board, poor Guyanese continually pay prices that they cannot afford. The spiritual people who could make a difference are just like the crooked rest.

Kwayana would appreciate recorded oral history Dear Editor, This is in reference to Eusi Kwayana’s retort (KN Nov 12) refuting the claim by (elder) villagers that he was responsible for cutting down fruit trees on the East Coast.

As someone with a doctorate in history, it is incumbent upon me to record history of events or human experience (as accurately as possible) as well as to present the viewpoints of the public. The recording of events is simply that. It is not about Sydney King changing his name to the African (or Swahili) Eusi Kwayana. The latter is an act to be saluted, returning to one’s ancestry by restoring a traditional name and practicing ancestral African spirituality. I admire Eusi for his African nationalism and for the role he played in restoring democracy in Guyana in 1992. Few dared to confront the dictatorship as he did.

Every human experience is worthy of consideration as long as they are not fibbing.

In that context, I related the views of the people regarding the destruction of their fruit trees in their property.

What better way to record history than to speak with the people who witnessed and or experienced history? It is their

narrative – their story. It is called oral history that complements document based history documents peoples stories that have long been neglected in historical research. Oral history allows a people to reconstruct their history, especially when the one in the public domain is inaccurate and not told from their perspective. And their views or accounts of their experience cannot be dismissed or ignored.

Everyone’s experience is important and it must be reported. The people who write history put their own spin that may be clouded by various factors. The peoples’ history is the kind that is far more fascinating that the one written by those who did not experience the events.

Oral history is an account of narrators with personal experience of historically significant events, with the goal of adding to the historical record. It is a primary source and is not intended to present a final, verified narrative of events.

It is not etched in stone.

It may reflect personal opinion offered by the narrators, and as such it is subjective. It is simply used to gain an understanding and insight into comprehensive history of various experiences. It is about

collecting and interpreting human memories to foster knowledge, and where possible, to restore peoples’ dignity that was bruised by terrible experiences as was the case of chopping down harmless trees or violence on the East Coast. My task as a historian is to record these events as accurately as possible as I understand the narrative that was/is related to me.

The history of the cutting of fruit trees was on the minds of the property holders. The incident troubled them and it is permanently etched in their psyche. They remember that episode. They brought it out to me. My task is to narrate it.

I leave it to others to interpret or dispute the events. At least it is recorded.

It reveals their thinking of him and how he was viewed – whether correct or not. This is an aspect of history that Eusi must address. Surely, as a man grounded in village movement, Eusi would appreciate my role in documenting ordinary peoples’ history giving Eusi and others knowledge of how people view their role in certain historical events.

The narration of the events is but one example of how they perceived the former Sydney King. There are several others. Another

one was about that great Buxtonian, Randal Butisingh (the world’s oldest blogger who died at 100 in 2012). Shri Butisingh was a proud Buxtonian who did so much for the village uplifting lives and educating so many in the village, even Eusi himself. Yet Butisingh, a great patriot, was pushed out of the village. He wrote about the 1962 racial disturbances when, as a teacher, he was transferred to Lusignan Primary because he was told he would’ve been beaten in Buxton. He wrote about his experience. ”At one time during the strike, a hostile band, led by a young African teacher from the neighbouring village of Buxton, were heading towards the school. Some of the children saw this and began running out of the school.

I tried to restrain them but a fellow teacher thought it the right thing to do to let them go. Seeing this, the hostile band changed direction and departed”.

Elders of the area claim Sydney King was that teacher who led the hostile gang. Perhaps Eusi would want to clarify whether he was that “young African teacher” and his role in that particular event.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Our children must be protected from sexual abuse Dear Editor, It is with a heavy heart that I write to you. While we wait for the police to complete their investigations into the heartbreaking death of the four (4) days old baby girl, many thoughts flood my mind.

It breaks my heart every time I read about a child or baby that was sexually abused. While I in no way support sexual abuse to anyone, it is even more painful when I read or hear of the sexual abuse of babies and children. It boggles my mind to think that anyone can look at a child or baby and be sexually aroused. The term “Pedophilia,” is used by

experts to describe such an individual. Call it what you may, I call it “sadistic,” and “inhumane.” I believe it is inexcusable and those found guilty should be punished to the full extent of the law.

While I am no psychologist or expert, I believe I can pronounce on the lasting impact, the trauma that is left on the abused.

Most abused victims are almost never able to trust which affects almost every relationship they try to build.

Some remain devoid of personal attachment while many experience problems with physical intimacy. Some even have trouble looking at themselves in the mirror. Some

take extremely long showers in the attempt to wash away the filth. The effects of abuse are life long and there really aren’t proven ways to deal with the lifelong effects of sexual abuse. One copes on a daily basis. Some days are better than some. The lasting effects of Child Sexual Abuse are plentiful and would require more than just a letter to explain and discuss.

My appeal is for the adults, the older siblings, the neighbours, the family members. Please help to keep our little ones safe. Please protect them at all costs. Do not hurt them. Do not abuse them. Do not take their innocence from them. It is our

responsibility to ensure they are loved and cared for. I have always said that we don’t get to choose our parents and as such parents have a right and obligation to protect the children they chose to bring into the world. I know this is another debatable topic, let’s leave that for another time.

It is my hope that good sense and compassion would prevail and we are able to stop sexual abuse in any shape and form.

Yours truly, I. Ram Editor’s Note: The autopsy on the four-day-old infant showed no sexual penetration or other signs of sexual assault.

Freddie Kissoon made an atrocious statement in his Kaieteur News Nov. 12 column In his column dated November 12, 2020. Freddie Kissoon wrote: “Only a racist would categorize Granger as a competent president.”

This racist statement from Freddie Kissoon is abhorrent and ignoble.

Clearly, Dr. Kissoon is speaking to a specific demographic in Guyana, many of whom voted for

President Granger and see him as a competent leader.

The context in which Freddie uses this appalling statement, leaves no space to doubt that he is referring to a specific group of people as racists Africans!

More often than not I read Freddie’s daily columns and his proclivity to describe leaders of a certain

demographic of the population as stupid, foolish, clowns and failures, cannot be understated.

These are words that were frequently used to refer to Africans throughout slavery and the Jim Crow years.

Freddie continues to use these derogatory and demeaning labels in the 21st century, when referring to African-

Guyanese leaders.

The racist language assault on the consciousness, conscience and cognition of African Guyanese must stop!

Such a flaming racist remark has to be rejected by all Guyanese. Freddie needs to apologize immediately.

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

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Kaieteur News

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...The Glenn Lall show is spell-binding and informative From page 5 dossier and file, lined with damaging, disgusting and provocative evidence. His proof can undermine not only the relevant stakeholders but also, the many architects who attempted to confuse and cautiously graft a draft that was meticulously contrived and not contrite in convoluted intricacies, meant

to stress and strain any studious student or a simple stranger. His facts and figures are challenging and they cater to an audience whose intelligence is not necessarily limited, but, such documentation fuels a fire by fanning a flame that is scorching and scathing.

There now lies an unquestionable urge to return

to fill a void manufactured by this show, waiting for more witty, weighty and worldly sagacity to wisen the wise, infuse wisdom and defuse ignorance. Here comes an opportunity that presents itself with more problematic questions that demands immediate satisfying answers, but, can only supply a turbulent path, laden with

obstacles and impediments larger than life to grapple with.

Meanwhile, polished politicians are precariously poised, pervading and prevailing with pretentious, poisonous and perilous purposes. They pollute the premise with pernicious and potential perceptions which the innocent people tend to

perceive as promises that will provide prosperity and prevent poverty. These perverse degenerates profess that they possess professional particulars to predict and pronounce positive procurements which will provide a pavement populated with precious probabilities. So persuasive are their powerful proposals and postures that, any errors or mistakes committed by them are readily pardonable and acceptably permissible by their supporters! New York was once painted as a place where you found money on the streets. Guyana is now being portrayed again as “The City of Eldorado,” where liquid gold is flowing like water for all to dip freely.

So many shady deals were serviced by suspicious servants of the State. While the good news was received that Guyana received US$4.3 million for its third oil and gas royalty payment which was deposited in its NY based Natural Resource Fund account, the bad news is that it reflects a sore eye to look at and a sour note to digest. The ugly news is that it should have been at least three times that amount as enjoyed by our less experienced Suriname neighbour.

Such a ghastly spectacle will be printed again for Guyanese to pierce their eyes and feast on gory details in another three months when, we will be receiving another miserly, miserable and meagerly royalty payment because of disloyalty from oil slick treasonous executioners.

To extol that no laws were

broken is keeping within a safe confinement where the parameters do not border any written rules that regulate a defined control. Thus, no corruption may be confirmed because of the presence of dictated “freebies” and the absence of stipulated “regulations.” The door was conveniently left open so that entry and exit is unhindered, foot prints and hand prints cannot be discovered and the trace of tracks is erasable.

Why do Guyanese immediately reflect on the APNU+AFC’s contracts for political appointees where specific clauses for dismissals were cleverly and deliberately absent and what was present was indefinite employment period?

Again, who are the ingenious architects who cunningly engineered the carefully worded legal agreements to ensure that no stone is left unturned to convict anyone for any misdemeanor and that players from all teams are completely protected? Such a piece of fine art cannot be composed overnight and would have incurred a premeditative planning period a while earlier. Yet, the infrastructure is probably bui l t o n a compromised foundation and a penetrable framework and the arm of the law can be lengthy and reachable, if it needs to be. Wake up, Guyana, because Mr. Glen Lall is constantly asking and pleading vociferously, painfully and patriotically, “Are you with me Guyanese?”

Yours truly, Jai Lall

Friday November 13, 2020

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Friday November 13, 2020

Govt. gives no guarantees on implementing policy to slow down emptying of Guyana’s oil basin In December 2018, the former APNU+AFC Government had taken a US$11.6M loan from the Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank (IDB) to i m p r o v e t h e n a t i o n ’s capacity to effectively manage the oil sector.

A portion of that money was dedicated to developing a depletion policy. This is a crucial document that helps to slow or put a brake on the aggressive rate at which oil companies extract and sell the nation’s oil and gas resources.

With such a policy in place, experts have opined that it would give Guyana the time it needs to properly build its capacity to regulate the sector.

The policy once implemented, would for example, give Guyana the time it needs to develop the

in-country skills necessary to properly audit ExxonMobil’s expenses for the Stabroek Block. However, since the APNU+AFC signed onto the loan two years ago, this policy is yet to be produced.

Kaieteur News recently called on Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, to say what would be the way forward with this document especially when one considers the fact that it is a condition of the IDB loan.

The official noted that he is not au fait with all the conditionalities of the loans taken by the former regime but pledged to review same.

And while he did not give a clear-cut guarantee that this document would be part of t h e P P P ’s g o v e r n a n c e structure for the oil sector, Jagdeo stated that such matters would have to be examined not just for

Energy Strategist, Anthony Paul individual companies but at the national or legislative level too. Jagdeo said that personally, he would like to see oil production increase to a maximum level.

While there are no guarantees on whether Guyana would have a depletion policy in place to t a m e E x x o n M o b i l ’s

aggressive rate of production on the Stabroek block, Trinidadian energy strategist, Anthony Paul, had previously advised that having such a document would be key to ensuring the longevity of the industry here.

But in pursuing this document, Paul had told Kaieteur News that Guyana needs to have a proper understanding of the geology of the basin.

The Chatham House Advisor had said: “You need to understand the quality of your reservoirs. This means that you need to have good seismic data, good technology to acquire that data and the experienced people who can read that data for you. Those people can tell you without relying on the oil companies, what wells have oil and which have gas. They will also advise on what should be developed now and how fast…”

The energy expert added: “You must also bear in mind that these companies will stumble on gas and most

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo would not want to bring it up because economically, it is more profitable to bring up oil rather than gas. So if there is a reservoir that has more gas than oil, the company would not drill to complete it. It will stay in the ground…”

Taking this scenario into account, Paul stressed once more that Guyana needs experienced industry analysts who can put together a policy that will seek to tie those gas finds to proper development strategies.

The Trinidadian said: “It, therefore, means that Guyana needs a regulator who can interpret reservoir performance and make sure you have the right economics around the development plans too. Only then can you say to the company- “Fine, we understand field by field what is going on but let us l o o k a t t h e c o u n t r y ’s perspective, what the country needs.” What is the right level of production for this country given the capacity we have to manage it?”

At the same time, the energy advisor cautioned that a depletion policy is in stark contrast to the company’s interest, which is to extract the resources as fast as possible. “ R e m e m b e r, t h e s e companies want to make quick money so there will be a conflict with the interest of the government. This is where you need skillful negotiators to manage that conflict in interests. And it can be done,” the official concluded.

Friday November 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Abuses by traffic ranks must be stopped!

I like what I see each morning. But, I also do not like some of the things which I see soon after I like what I see.

Let me explain this paradox. There has been a noticeable increase in the presence of traffic ranks on our main public roads each morning. They can be found on the West Coast public road and the West Bank public road, the East Bank public road, the East Coast public road and at select junctions in Georgetown.

These ranks are out early and therefore they help to coordinate the early morning traffic. They are doing a fantastic job when they are at their posts directing traffic, especially during rush-hour.

The problem is that too many of them, especially at certain junctions in the city, only work for half an hour and then stand idly by at the side of the road. After a half an hour of work, they get tired and abandon their station. And police vehicles are passing them and no one is coming out to instruct them to resume their work.

Two hours is a long time to be in the sun in the mornings. But to conk out after half an hour is too overbearing. The traffic ranks should be at their station and should be working until either they are relieved or their shift is over.

It may be that they did not have had a filling breakfast and therefore are short of energy after waving their arms in directing traffic after half an hour. It may be that some of them are soft-babies for whom hard work is a

problem. But they are not always in position when they should be, and this is giving the police force a bad name.

The second problem is that while ranks are out in the city in the morning, they are not at most city junctions during peak afternoon traffic from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

Motorists end up wresting with each other to get out of the city and this really is a problem.

So all the good work which is done in the mornings is undermined by the absence of ranks at most city junctions in the afternoon.

Near to Cove and John, ranks are out in the afternoons. But they have their own agenda and therefore they are not much help in directing the traffic at that narrow point.

The Police Force is short of staff, but you can bet if job applicants feel that they will be appointed as traffic cops, the Force would be overflowing with job applications.

Traffic ranks are still illegally stopping vehicles.

According to information provided in the past, the police should not be making routine stops of motorists except at road blocks. In order to circumvent this rule, what is happening is that two ranks would set up their own stop-station and would be pulling motorists over and questioning them – especially females – as if it were an official road block.

The Traffic Chief should issue some form of clarifications on this matter.

It is known that the police can

stop you for a traffic violation. And armed with radar guns, traffic ranks are secreting themselves either around turns or behind parked vehicles, only to suddenly pop out and point the speed gun at your moving vehicle. This is called entrapment. It should not be allowed.

By their presence, the police should be deterring motorists from speeding, not seeking to entrap them, just in order to be able to issue a traffic ticket or collect a bribe. A few weeks ago, a recording appeared on social media in which a female driver was seen in an act which appeared to have put another female rank in a compromising position. I am sure that some senior police officers would have seen that video. But what have they done about it?

There is now a nononsense Minister of Home Affairs. If anyone still has that recording of that incident, he or she should send it to the Minister of Home Affairs so that an investigation can be launched.

We cannot continue to do the same things over and over and hope to obtain different results. We cannot have sporadic actions being taken against the police and expect them to stop with their scheming ways.

It is time for the renegade conduct by the traffic ranks to be brought to an end.

Traffic ranks have an obsession with stopping trucks. Perhaps that gentleman who likes to write about police matters in the

Yog get boys caught napping! seh...

Dem

Dem boys bin listening to de boss man of de Waterfall paper. De man gat he own show. It named after he but it gat wan moderator. Dem boys wan know if de show named ‘The Glenn Lall Show’ how come Glenn Lall is not de moderator.

Dem boys find out why.

De boss man testing fuh see whether de moderator understand wah he seh. He whisper to dem boys that if Yog can understand wah he talkin den everybody gan understand.

Yog ask de fuss set of

questions and then give de microphone to de boss man.

Yog know that when de boss man start talk is like koker door open. Words does flow faster and more powerful than de Kaieteur Falls.

So Yog hand over de microphone to de boss man thinking that he night was over.

Lo and behold, in the midst of everything de boss man turn around and ask Yog a question.

He ask and he nah hear an answer. Was like Yog fall asleep. De bossman had to ask it again. The interviewee become the interviewer.

Everything de boss man seh mek sense. He exposing dem kavacamites wah give away we oil fuh nuttin and still gat de gall fuh tell we dat dem negotiating a better deal fuh we.

It mek dem boys remember de time wan girl come to wuk at de Waterfall paper. One day she walk in de boss man office and told him “I’d like to be paid what I’m worth.”

The boss man turn to she and replied, “And I’d like to pay you what you’re worth, but I can’t because there are minimum wage laws.

Talk half and listen to de boss man pun Kaieteur Radio.

letter pages may wish to speculate as to why the traffic police are so fixated in stopping trucks on our roadways.

(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

Friday November 13, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

London conference on Rodney snobs WPA betrayers The Centre for African Studies at Cambridge University together with the newly established Walter Rodney Programme @ Pluto Educational Trust has commenced an annual Walter Rodney conference.

The first one was held online last Wednesday, November 11, 2020 due to the pandemic and featured a number of international scholars headlined by a Guyanese historian who is a professor at Cambridge University, Dr. Richard Drayton, son of famous Guyanese academic, Harold Drayton who was one of the organizers in the establishment of the University of Guyana in 1963.

International law specialist, Melinda Janki, also addressed the event. The event opened with an address by the wife of Walter Rodney on behalf of the Walter Rodney foundation.

I was informed that the organizers were firm on their decision to avoid any invitation to the WPA

remnants in Guyana and their close associates in the diaspora. The world is a global village. The scholars in this world who know about Walter Rodney’s legacy are not stupid people.

They know about the way Rodney’s wife feels about the WPA. They know how his brother, Donald, who almost lost when Rodney was assassinated, feels about R o d n e y ’s o n c e c l o s e comrades.

The people who organized that conference last week are no fools. They know what has been going on in Guyana because they know Rodney’s party, the WPA came to power in 2015.

They were aware of the neoliberal economic policies of the government of Guyana headed by two top army officers who had to know about Burnham’s violent intentions toward Rodney – deputy heads of the army, David Granger and chief of military intelligence, Joseph Harmon.

There can be no question

that if you are a Rodneyite scholar and an admirer of Rodney and want to preserve his legacy then you will obviously follow the news about Rodney’s party, the WPA and his country, Guyana. Rodneyite scholars around the world have knowledge about what went on with the Granger regime.

They know Dr. Clive Thomas was chairman of GuySuCo when thousands of sugar workers were laid off without the required legal payment that resulted in their union taking the government to court. They must be familiar with the pseudorevolutionary credentials of Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine when it was revealed in the Stabroek News’ letter pages by one of the WPA seniors, Tacuma Ogunseye that Dr. Roopnaraine told an executive meeting of the WPA that as a Minister he cannot discuss government’s business with the WPA, the very party that he was representing in the Cabinet.

He repeated that

assertion in an informal meeting with three top WPA officials – Dr. David Hinds, Keith Branch and Dr. Allisa Trotz. Surely, those who worked with Rodney and supported the WPA were in mortal shock when that information came out, information that Dr. Hinds, Branch and Dr. Trotz kept s e c r e t a n d R o d n e y ’s followers only knew because Ogunseye published the information.

Dr. Hinds has written a letter denying that the two of us discussed the action of President Granger raising his voice at Dr. Thomas when the PNC and WPA leadership met to discuss the removal of D r. R o o p n a r a i n e a s Education Minister. That took place and I cling to that fact tenaciously. Dr. Hinds is still to admit to Guyanese what Dr. Roopnaraine told him, Branch and Dr. Trotz in Dr. Roopnaraine’s office.

Let’s return to why not one of the remnants of the WPA in and out of Guyana was invited to the Rodney

conference last Wednesday. Do you think these people do not know about five months of election rigging in w h i c h t h e s e W PA Frederick Kissoon remnants openly displayed racist and a Westmaas, among others. In depraved political culture actuality what this betrayer that made Rodney turned in was telling the world was his grave? The chief racist that the WPA was in support was Dr. Hinds. Do you think of rigged elections. they do not know about the Finally, you think the barefaced support for rigging Rodneyite scholars around in six letters Eusi Kwayana the world do not know that wrote? the WPA pulled out of the Do you think they do not APNU arrangement only know that Desmond Trotman after they were denied a who is the manager of parliamentary seat after the Rodney House, the head 2020 election and that the office of the WPA (a person they nominated for a dilapidated building that seat to represent WPA, Tabita City Council ought to Sarabo-Halley, jumped ship demolish) wrote a long and joined the PNC. These epistle in the newspapers in WPA remnants betrayed a which he noted that his truly great Guyanese actions in GECOM as a PNC liberator. commissioner would find (The views expressed in acceptance by Rodney and this article are those of the others in the WPA and he author and do not named Dr. Thomas, Dr. necessarily reflect the Maurice Odle, Moses opinions of this newspaper.)

B h a g w a n , D r. N i g e l

Friday November 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

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Friday November 13, 2020

Attorney General tells terminated public servants to challenge their dismissals

T

he Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, have made it clear that the dismissal of public servants, following the PPP/C’s government assumption into office in August, was in compliance with the law.

Nandlall also said that any dismissed public servant is free to challenge their dismissal.

He made this disclosure during his weekly “Issues in the News” program in which he also highlighted several c h a l l e n g e s t h e administration encountered since assuming office.

He also spoke about the achievements made in their first 100 days.

Following the conclusion of Guyana’s five month-long General and Regional Election process and the government taking office, a number of public servants

were sent packing.

They ranged from Permanent Secretaries, advisors and other ministries’ staffers.

The A Partnership For National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), now in Opposition, on many occasions accused the PPP/C g o v e r n m e n t o f discrimination in their firing of government employees.

Former President David Granger had contended that the government started their tenure off on the wrong foot by firing these persons.

“At a personal level, you would have mothers and fathers going home to their households, going home to their children, saying I don’t have a job.

This is in the middle of a pandemic. People are without work, people are wondering where their next meal is coming from, and you sending people home,”

- says law was complied with

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall Granger had said.

However, Nandlall, on his program, lamented that he would have been reading the contracts carefully and that their dismissals comply with the law and the contracts that they were employed under.

He said that those

dismissed were “political sycophants” installed into the public sector by the former government.

These persons, he said, in some cases had no qualification and expertise, but still got the job because of “political connections” and not a meritocracy.

The Attorney General described them as politicians, not public servants, and evidence of this could be seen on their Facebook pages and other

outlets, actively engaging in politics.

“They’re not public servants, they’re politicians and they were given sinecure appointments – and sinecure appointments are to be terminated,” he maintained.

M i n i s t e r o f Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira had also made it clear that the PPP/C administration was not looking at public servants only political appointees.

Upon terminating the

contracts of these persons, it was explained several times by the government that with the change in Government, political appointees under the Coalition were expected to resign from their posts.

A number of persons refused and the Government decided to issue termination letters to those appointees.

There were also instances where persons refused to demit office, locking them out and refusing to return state property.

Security guard hospitalized after riding into pothole A security guard, 55, of Rampoor, Corriverton, is hospitalized in a serious condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital following an accident involving the motorcycle he was riding.

Hospitalized with head injuries is Biswagit Seepersaud.

Reports are that the accident occurred on Wednesday about 18:10 hrs. on the Number 75 Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

Reports are that Seepersaud was riding his motorcycle, license plate number CG 4324, and was proceeding south along the eastern drive lane at a fast rate of speed, when he rode into a pothole.

He lost control of his motorcycle. He fell and was badly injured.

According to the police, it was reported that the man may have been drinking.

He was picked up in a semi-conscious condition by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where he was seen and examined by a doctor who referred him to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. He was later transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital.

Kaieteur News was informed that the motorcyclist was not wearing a safety

The motorcycle which is lodged at the Springlands Police Station. helmet when he was found at the scene of the accident.

The motorcycle is presently lodged at Springlands Police Station to be examined by a Licensing and Certifying Officer.

Kaieteur News

Friday November 13, 2020

Neighbour accused of pushing Patentia pensioner to death granted bail The labourer who caused the death of a pensioner after he allegedly “pushed him down” during an argument, was yesterday granted $200,000 bail.

Rajindra Ramlall, 33, called ‘Fino’, of 166 P a t e n t i a , We s t B a n k Demerara (WBD), was charged with manslaughter.

He appeared before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty at the Wales Magistrate Court.

Ramlall was not required to plea to the indictable charge which alleges that on November 7th, 2020, he p u s h e d R o n a l d Harrypersaud, 63, causing him to receive severe injuries. The pensioner died after.

The labourer is expected to return to court on December 10th, 2020.

Kaieteur News had

reported that Ramlall was Harrypersaud’s neighbour and had reportedly gotten into an argument with him on Saturday last over garbage.

A c c o r d i n g t o information received, Harrypersaud had confronted the defendant for throwing refuse into a trench next to his home.

During the alleged confrontation, the defendant reportedly cuffed Harrypersaud to the face and then pushed him down.

Harrypersaud hit his head and fell unconscious.

This newspaper was told that the defendant used a bucket of water to revive the pensioner and even assisted in placing him in taxi that took the wounded man to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Harrypersaud was

$1B deal inked with Farfan & Mendes, overseas company for Bartica, Lethem solar power plants

Dead: Ronald Harrypersaud treated and sent away but was found dead in his bedroom the following day.

An autopsy report revealed that he died from brain haemorrhage as a result of blunt trauma to the head.

Harrypersaud also sustained a fractured skull.

Death of man, 61, pushes COVID-19 death toll to 138 The Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday announced Guyana’s 138th COVID-19 death.

This latest one is said to be a 61-year-old male from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

It was stated that the man died while receiving care at a medical facility.

The MOH also reported 44 new COVID19 cases yesterday, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 4,662, as indicated in their

PAGE 13

daily dashboard update.

Further, it was disclosed that 11 persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, 56 in institutional isolation, 839 in approved home isolation and 29 are in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, to date, 3,616 persons have recovered from the virus with 23,552 tested for the virus nationally.

Signing of the agreement: (From left) Dr.Mahender Sharma, CEO of GEA; Mfon Akpan, Project Coordinator of GEA; Derrick Cummings, PS of Office of the Prime Minister; and Martin Carto, Alternative Energy Manager of Farfan & Mendes Ltd. and SOVENTIX Caribbean (DPI photo).

The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) on We d n e s d a y i n k e d agreements with Farfan & Mendes Limited and SOVENTIX Caribbean S.R.L for the construction of two solar power plants- in Bartica, Region Seven, and Lethem, Region Nine.

The contracts are for the engineering, procurement, construction and installation and commissioning of solar photovoltaic(PV) power plants including Battery Energy Storage Systems.

The contracts are to the value of $1.098B. Present at the signing ceremony which was held at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) were the P e r m a n e n t S e c r e t a r y, Derrick Cummings—; Chief Executive Officer of GEA, Dr. Mahender Sharma; Alternative Energy Manager of Farfan & Mendes and SOVENTIX, Martin Carto;

and Mfon Akpan, Project Coordinator of GEA. From the eight companies, both local and international ones, which participated in the bidding process that commenced with the openings on January 7th, this year, Farfan & Mendes Ltd and SOVENTIX Caribbean had emerged as the winning bidder.

Both companies would have complied with all the requirements necessary for the execution of the project, inclusive of being substantially responsive to the terms and conditions of the bidding documents and also representing the lowest evaluated cost.

The duration for the completion of the two sites is estimated at 330 days.

It was reminded that the projects fall under the renewable energy solutions for the hinterlands, which is

one of the major components under the Energy Matrix Diversification and Strengthening of the Department of Energy (EMISDE) programme, f u n d e d b y t h e I n t e rAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

By the end of 2023, this programme would be able to finance the investment in solar technology by providing a reliable electricity source to the expanding needs of power supply in the three hinterland townships that are currently relying on fossil fuels.

It would involve the installation of three solar PV farms in Bartica (1.5MW), Lethem (1.0MW), and Madhia (0.65MW), totalling approximately 3.15 megawatts. It will also see the implementation of a storage capacity to manage intermittence of these sources.

Want to know whose hands the Canje oil block landed into? And who gave them FOR FREE? Listen at 11:00hrs TODAY on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM for a rebroadcast of THE GLENN LALL SHOW

Kaieteur News

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Friday November 13, 2020

COVID-19 grant distribution starts next week - Region Four in Region Five to follow COVID-19 cash grant distribution in Region One.

More than 200,000 Region Four and Five residents are to start receiving the Government’s $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant over the next two weeks.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall made this disclosure during a meeting with the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Thursday evening.

“Billions of dollars have already been injected in the economy as a result of this and within a week and a half, Region Four will benefit.

The region itself is quite

expansive in terms of the number of persons and I think the resources will have to be compressed in such a way that we spend enough quality time to deliver the resources to Region Four,” he said.The Minister urged the Councillors to inform the residents about this development since hiccups are likely given the region’s population. Several teams, including police officers, will soon begin registering households.

The Minister cautioned the Councillors not to do any registration.

“It will only serve well if we work together so that people can genuinely get

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall what they deserve,” he stated.The Minister said the distribution will take a few weeks and should be completed before Christmas.

On September 7, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, announced that every household would receive the cash grant to cushion the effects of the pandemic. Distribution

began on September 29.

Residents from Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine

were the first to benefit given the hinterland’s vulnerable economic state. (DPI)

Female cop, Childcare workers injured in Port Kaituma accident A policewoman is now in severe pain after the car she and four other persons were traveling in was involved in an accident on the Ten Miles Access Road, Port Kaituma, North West District, Region One. Among the injured are Daniel DaSilva, 28, driver of motorcar, PRR5084, of Citrus Grove, Port Kaituma; and occupants, Bibi Samad, 59, a Childcare and P r o t e c t i o n O ff i c e r o f Oronoque; Marlene Wi l l i a m s , 2 9 , a l s o a Childcare Officer of Cat Walk; Samya Goodman, 18, of Waterfront, and Keisha Newton,28, the police woman attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

According to the police report, the accident occurred at around 20:30hrs on Wednesday.

Investigators disclosed that the vehicle was proceeding at a fast rate and whilst negotiating a left turn, hit a slush puddle which resulted in the driver losing control. The car then hit a bump and ended up on its side.

The driver and the occupants were taken out of the vehicle by publicspirited citizens and taken to the Port Kaituma District Hospital.

According to the police, they were seen and examined by a doctor on duty, who admitted the policewoman. She had severe pains to the left hip, left arm and head while Samad had injuries to the left hip. She, too, was admitted.

The rest were treated and sent away. Investigation into the matter is still ongoing.

Friday November 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

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PAGE 16

Want to know whose hands the Canje oil block landed into? And who gave them FOR FREE? Listen at 11:00hrs TODAY on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM for a rebroadcast of THE GLENN LALL SHOW

Kaieteur News

Friday November 13, 2020

Culturally Tolerant:

This was the scene at the Ministry of Housing and Water/Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Brickdam, yesterday. Ministers Collin Croal (r) and Susan

Rodrigues, were not to be left out of the Rangoli decorations with their outfits reflecting the diversity. Diwali, a major Hindu holiday, is being celebrated in Guyana tomorrow.

"Guyanese: stop leaders from deceiving.

Pressure them for disclosures on all deals."

Kaieteur News

Friday November 13, 2020

PAGE 17

Dying watchman tells sons to check security cameras The last words of a dying security guard who was found battered and sleeping on a bloodsoaked card board behind his work place were: “Check the security cameras… The cameras have everything”.

Bharrat Dass, 43, of Forshaw Street, Alberttown, was discovered at around 5:30hrs, on Friday, November 6th, on the back steps of Medi-Care Pharmacy, located at New Market Street, Cummingsburg.

One of his sons, Kaieteur News was told, had made the discovery that morning. The young man had gone to ply his trade as a hot dog vendor in front of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and decided to check on his father.

Speaking with this newspaper, the son said that he found his father “asleep”.

He shook him and asked what happen. ”He could hardly speak,” the son recalled. “All he managed to say was “dem boys beat me and rob me”.”

Dass told his son: “Check the security cameras… The cameras have everything”. He then fell into a

Dead: Bharrat Dass semi-conscious state.

The son notified the rest of his family and Dass was taken to GPHC where he was admitted in a critical condition.

It was observed that the security guard bore what appeared to be a cut to one side of his head while the other side was severely swollen.

Five days later, on Wednesday, November 11th, Dass succumbed to his injuries while being treated at the hospital. He never regained full consciousness to say what really took place.

The matter was reported and police commenced a thorough investigation into his death.

According to family members, Dass began his night shift duties as a watchman at Medi-Care Pharmacy at a round 17:00hrs on November 5th.

Not only did he guard MediCare but would also walked around the area, keeping an eye on nearby buildings since he was quite friendly with its owners.

Inquiries revealed that he was last seen sometime after 22:00hrs that evening sitting under the shed at ‘Rabbies’, a popular business place located on the corner of New Market and Thomas Streets.

Investigators also learnt that three individuals were seen with him around that time. Those persons were taken into custody and questioned. Kaieteur News learnt that one of the individuals claimed that he had been imbibing with Dass that night but had left after the drinking session.

Medi-Care Pharmacy- where Bharrat Dass was found battered on a blood-soaked cardboard.

It is believed that the watchman might have been attacked and beaten sometime after 22:30hrs.

However, where he was attacked, and how he ended-up lying on a blood-soaked cardboard remains a mystery.

Kaieteur News reached out to his employers about video footage but they were reluctant to disclose information.

Nevertheless, this newspaper was reliably informed that Dass’s cellphone was not found in his possession. Blood splatters were also seen on the walls of a bathroom located behind the Medi-Care Pharmacy.

Dass leaves to mourn his three young sons whom he raised without their mother- she died some 15 years ago.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News The Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara.

Two prison officers have found themselves in hot water after two parcels of suspected cannabis were discovered in their barrack room.

The officers, Quincy Jemmott, 34, of Schoonord, West Bank Demerara and Seon Alert, 39, of Fort Ordinance, East Canje Berbice, are under close arrest since the discovery was made.

According to a police report, the parcels were discovered on Wednesday between 22:00 hrs. to 22:15 hrs. at Lusignan Prison

Friday November 13, 2020

Prison Officers arrested after ganja found stashed in Lusignan barrack room Barracks, at the Cecil Kilkenny Training College, East Coast Demerara.

The report revealed that both officers are attached to the Lusignan Prison and stayed in the same barrack room.

The search was conducted by prison officials of the Georgetown Prison (B), Lusignan.

During the search, a black plastic bag was found in a cupboard underneath a sink.

The bag was then opened in the presence of both prison officers and it

revealed two large, transparent Ziploc bags with a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

The suspected cannabis was handed over to the police and in the presence of both prison officers; it was weighed and amounted to 894.5 grams.

Both ranks were placed under close arrest, as the investigation is ongoing.

It is not the first time Prison Officers have been nabbed with narcotics.

It is said to be big business.

Kaieteur News

Friday November 13, 2020

PAGE 19

168 test positive for COVID-19 at St Cuthbert’s - active cases reducing in Region One

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

St. Cuthbert’s Mission has recorded 168 positive cases of COVID-19 with the community in a lockdown.

T

he Ministry of Health is administering more tests i n S t . C u t h b e r t ’s Mission, even as the restrictions remain in place to curb transmission of COVID-19.

Minister Frank Anthony made this statement during Thursday’s COVID-19 update.

“We have continued to do testing and today, we have 168 persons who are positive. As we do more testing, I expect that those numbers will go up,” Dr. Anthony

told DPI. The Minister said the cases can be controlled, but for this to happen residents must self-isolate, reduce social activity and practice social distancing.

“I think in about two to three weeks, we should be able to control the amount of cases that we have there and we should see a steep decline,” Dr. Anthony said.

The Minister highlighted that the main entrance and exit to the community are being monitored

and they are deterring residents from going out.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has helped to sustain homes by providing hampers.

On Monday, St. Cuthbert’s Mission went into voluntary lockdown to curb the increase in COVID-19 cases.

This restriction is being enforced by the police and the CDC, with support from the Village Council and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

The village consists of about 200 households and is located up the Mahaica River.

Meanwhile, infections at Kwebanna, Barima-Waini (Region One) continue to stabilise, with active cases now down to 37 from an initial 62 infections.

The Minister noted that residents in Kwebanna and nearby communities have been cooperating with the medical teams on the ground and are seeing positive results.

“I think the measures we have put in place in Kwebanna have been working and that is why we have gotten a reduction of cases. Those numbers have gone down again, and I think once we remain vigilant, once the community remains vigilant, that we would see those numbers decreasing even further,” Dr. Anthony said.

He noted that the village council was working closely with the Ministry and this should lead to a further reduction in cases.

New water well Eccles Water Treatment plant water quality drilled in Culvert City being upgraded -improved for residents soon In keeping with the Government’s commitment to provide safe and adequate water for all, a new potable water well has recently been drilled in the community of Culvert City Lethem, Region 9.

More than 1200 residents within the community of Culvert City and the surrounding areas within the township of Lethem are set to benefit from this new well which will improve the service “GWI is currently working to interconnect this new well to the existing water supply system in the community,” a statement of that state-owned company said yesterday.

The new well was drilled by the company’s in-house team of Engineers and Technicians.

This new well was drilled within a period of five days to a depth of 80 meters.

The installation of the well casing.

More than 2500 households in Eccles and surrounding areas on the East Bank of Demerara will soon benefit from an improved water quality.

This is as a result of ongoing water quality improvement works at the Eccles Water Treatment plant, which serves residents of Eccles, Bagotstown, Republic Park, Nandy Park, Republic Gardens and Windsor Estate.

Chief Executive Officer of GWI, Shaik Baksh and a technical team visited the facility on Thursday 12th November, 2020 to assess the improvements to the aged filtration system which was out of operation for the past three years.

According to GWI, the filters are being modified to facilitate the introduction of manganese dioxide filter media, which has a better efficiency in iron removal

GWI’s Executive Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako beside one of the filters that was modified. and an improved hydraulic filtration rate than the silica sand media from a traditional treatment process.

This re-engineering of the existing treatment process is being executed by GWI’s in-house technical team.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Friday November 13, 2020

Shopkeeper chopped after taking away miner’s gold detector

A

chopping incident has left both a miner and shopkeeper nursing wounds to their bodies.

The shopkeeper was allegedly chopped by the miner on Monday last, after he (shopkeeper) took away the miner’s gold detector.

Meanwhile, the miner told the police that he was

also chopped by the shopkeeper.

Kevon Douglas, 24, the shopkeeper of Big Creek B a c k d a m , N o r t h We s t District and of Pakera Village, Matthews Ridge, North West District, was chopped to his hand while the 27-year-old miner of Big Creek Backdam, North West District, was arrested in

relation to the incident.

According to a police report, the incident occurred around 18:30hrs at Big Creek Backdam.

The report revealed that on the day in question, the s u s p e c t ’s b r o t h e r a n d D o u g l a s h a d a misunderstanding over a gold detector which resulted in Douglas taking possession

of the gold detector which belongs to the miner.

The miner’s brother then went home and told his brother what transpired and the suspect allegedly armed himself with a cutlass and confronted Douglas.

The miner dealt Douglas a chop to his left hand before escaping into the bushes.

Douglas was taken to the

Matthews Ridge District Hospital, where he was treated and admitted and later transfer to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment.

On Tuesday, around 15:45hrs at Big Creek Backdam, the police apprehended the miner who was also injured. The police observed that the miner had lacerations to his head.

The man told the police

that Douglas first chopped him and he chopped him back in retaliation.

He was cautioned, arrested and escorted to Matthews Ridge District Hospital where he was seen and treated by the nurse on duty, before he was then taken to the nearby police station where he was placed in custody.

The investigation into the matter is ongoing.

GNBS to monitor electrical devices from January -building capacity to test concrete blocks

T

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) will start monitoring electrical fittings and equipment from January to ensure defective goods are not sold on the local market.

Public Relations Officer, Lloyd David, said the bureau has developed 30 National Standards for these apparatuses, which will be used for monitoring.

“We want to get on board with that; it is very critical that we do so. Many times, complaints are made regarding poor quality electrical equipment and fittings coming into the country and made available to consumers,” he told DPI in a recent interview.

The GNBS said it has advanced work on creating the standards, as faulty equipment can cause injury and fires.

The bureau has already done some groundwork to inform stakeholders about the standards, their roles and responsibilities and the actions that will be taken when monitoring starts.

“When we find defective items, items that do not comply, we will either seize and remove them or place them on hold so that persons will not be able to sell those items […] We will be very firm with it because we have given the stakeholders adequate grace time to take the necessary actions to ensure they have quality products

when our monitoring fully commences,” David explained.

The GNBS is also working on building capacity to test concrete blocks.

“A lot of persons would like to determine the quality of blocks they have purchased or they have manufactured, so we see a need in that area,” he said.Currently, the GNBS monitors 17 categories of commodities on the local market, but there are difficulties.

“Overall testing of products is a challenge to the GNBS. In the meantime, we rely on the certificate provided by the manufacturer/importer, saying that the product is of quality. Of course, that certificate comes from a thirdparty testing body,” he explained.

The certificates provided by the third parties are authenticated by the GNBS before the item is approved for sale locally. “ Te s t i n g r e q u i r e s equipment, laboratories and the right conditions, so we are looking to build our own stateof-the-art facilities sometime in the near future where we can have the various laboratories available to conduct those testing,” David said.

In the meantime, the GNBS is in the process of identifying the critical areas where testing is needed to develop the required laboratories. (DPI)

Friday November 13, 2020

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Bids open for COVID-19 relief The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) on Tuesday

opened ---- bids for 12 governmental projects at their Ministry of Finance (MoF) office on Main and Urquhart

Streets.

One notable project included the --supply and delivery of COVID-19 relief

items under the Office of the Prime Minister.

Other notable projects included the provision of

Audit Office of Guyana - Provision of audit services

Office of the Prime Minister: Civil Defense Commission- Delivery of COVID-19 relief items

Ministry of Local Government & Regional Development – Rental of building

Procurement of electrical items, Command Centre at Liliendaal

Ministry of Health - Supply and delivery of janitorial supplies

audit services for the Audit Office of Guyana, as well as the supply of a new 15-seater sports utility vehicle for the

Ministry of Education (MoE).

Below are the companies and their bids.

Ministry of Home Affairs - Procurement of stationery for Guyana Prison Service

Ministry of Education- Supply of a new 15-seater sports utility vehicle

Supply, delivery and testing of one tractor Ministry of Agriculture- Expansion of NDIA finance building at La Bonne Intention estate compound, East Coast Demerara Supply, delivery and testing of one two super long reach hydraulic excavator

Supply and delivery of information technology equipment

Protected Areas Commission - Supply and delivery of aluminum boats and outboard

Supply, delivery and installation of medical equipment

Supply and delivery of a double cab pickup Supply and installation of 200 Cusec drainage pump at Trafalgar Pump Station, Region Five

Procurement of uniform materials for Guyana Fire Service Ministry of Amerindian Affairs - Supply and delivery of radio trans-receivers

Supply and delivery of sewing machines with cabinets

Ministry of Agriculture - Supply, delivery, installation and testing of laparoscopic equipment

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Kaieteur News

Friday November 13, 2020

Friday November 13, 2020

‘He needs to focus on his batting’ - Windies chief of selectors explains why Brathwaite dropped as vice-captain SportsMax - Kraigg Brathwaite has been dropped as West Indies Test vicecaptain in order for him to be able to concentrate on improving his batting, CWI chief of selectors Roger Harper has revealed.

Brathwaite was replaced as vice-captain by all-rounder Roston Chase and batsman Nicholas Pooran ahead of the start of the team’s tour of New Zealand. The opener, who was first appointed the Test vice-captain in 2015, had averaged 21 from his last 15 Tests heading into the England series.

He did show signs of a promised recovery with half-

centuries in the first Test, where he scored 65 in the first Test and 75 in the second.

Brathwaite, however, also had scored of 4, 12, 1 and 19 to average 21. According to Harper, the decision panel is hoping less responsibility will lead to more consistency from the player.

“We thought it important at this time to allow Kraigg Brathwaite, who has been the vice-captain for a while to just pay a little more attention, to focus a little more on his batting,” Harper told members of the media from the team’s training base in New Zealand.

“He has not been in the

Kraigg Brathwaite best of form for a little while.

I think he began to get himself together on the England tour,

Friday November 13, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your intuition should be very high right now, as is your power of manifestation. Today you need to try to curb your thoughts and only think beautiful things.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Your immediate goals and wishes might suddenly appear to come together today, seemingly of their own accord. This might be strange, Taurus, and perhaps a bit frightening.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) If you've been working toward manifesting extra money in your life, Gemini, you will probably see it happen today.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Obstacles that you encountered in attaining your cherished goals could suddenly seem to melt away, clearing the way to make your dreams come true, Cancer.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A lot of activity could occur at home today, Leo. Perhaps you will have visitors or do some work on the house. Your intuition is particularly strong right now, and you could pick up too much of the thoughts and feelings of others.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Whatever goals you've been trying to reach may finally become reality today, Virgo. Finalizing everything could involve a lot of running around in the car and meeting with other people.

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Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Events over which you seem to have no control seem to be coming together to make things happen for you, Libra.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your energy is probably high today, almost to the point where you feel you might be able to run a marathon! Seriously, Scorpio, you're probably thinking in terms of getting out of town for a while.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your inner power is probably at an all-time high. You should be feeling especially confident. You're likely to have a stronger influence on others than usual.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Some fascinating conversations with friends, relatives, and others close to you could take place today, bringing new ideas your way.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your career and financial goals should be within your grasp, Aquarius. Both your physical energy and inner power are operating at their peak, making this an ideal day to make clear plans.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today you're likely to feel like the powerful creature you are, Pisces. Your physical energy is high, and you look and feel great. Your intellect is sharp, so if you indulge in any kind of learning process, you will benefit greatly.

we want him to build on this.

We thought the relieving of the responsibility would allow him to focus some more on his batting.”

...Jamaica’s Olympic From page 28 the minute and at every level there is the athlete. Every line item speaks to performance and the overall goal is ‘Jamaica to the world’,” Foster emphasized.

The postponed Tokyo Olympic Games is now scheduled to take place from July 23, 2021 to August 8, 2021. Despite the setbacks caused by the pandemic, the government and people of Japan promise the world a memorable spectacle and experience. ”Sport takes a lot of investment to achieve sustainable growth and the JOA is pursuing a game plan that is long term in its gains with short and medium milestones that continue to make our balance sheet in sport healthy and bankable,” Samuda said.

...Squad tests negative for From page 27 indication that any of the members of the squad left or had contact with anyone outside of the managed isolation facility in which they had been confined since arriving in the country almost two weeks ago.

But New Zealand health officials said the team had been given certain exemptions from the strict rules of managed isolation in place in the country and they had violated them.

The players and support staff are scheduled to leave the managed isolation facility today and travel to the southern island city of Queenstown, where they will play a three-day match and a four-day match against New

Zealand “A” at John Davies Oval.

Nine other Windies players that took part in the Indian Premier League, including Test captain Jason Holder and Twenty20 International captain Kieron Pollard, arrived in Auckland on Wednesday from Dubai.

NZC said they have all passed initial health checks and processing and were cleared to board a charter flight to Christchurch ahead of beginning a 14-day period of managed isolation.

The nine players will end their period of managed isolation one day before the Windies meet the Black Caps in the first T20I on November 27 at Eden Park in Auckland.

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Welterweight Terence Crawford continues quest for all-time greatness Yahoo Sports - LAS VEGAS — The betting odds would suggest that this will be little more than a sparring session for Terence Crawford in his fight tomorrow for the WBO welterweight title on ESPN against Kell Brook at the MGM Grand conference center. At the MGM Grand sports book, Crawford is a 1500 favorite, meaning in order to make a $100 profit, a bettor would have to risk $1,500.

A $100 wager on Brook would return a $750 profit if he were to pull the upset.

Those odds would suggest this figures to be a rout of epic proportions, but nothing about the fight says that.

Brook is 39-2 with 27 KOs and his only losses were to Gennadiy Golovkin and Errol Spence.

Crawford, who is No. 2 on the Yahoo Sports pound-forpound list, has shown all the signs of being an all-time great, but he hasn’t had the kind of elite victories over bigname opponents like welterweights Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather had.

And so while Crawford’s talent suggests he belongs up there with the best ever — and the oddsmakers seem to indicate they agree — he has one more hurdle to climb. He needs that elusive super fight.

A bout with Spence, the

IBF-WBC champion, would accomplish that purpose, but that fight is at least several months, if not more, away.

Crawford, though, is hardly concerned. If someone is going to dub him an all-time great, it won’t be him.

“It’s all opinion,” said Crawford, who is 36-0 with 27 KOs and has won world titles at lightweight, super lightweight and welterweight.

“Like I said before, everybody has their own opinion of how they view Terence Crawford and the type of fighters and the caliber of fighters I have faced in the past. You’re going to have some mixed emotions, mixed feelings and that’s OK. Me personally, deep down inside, I do feel in my heart that I’m one of the best welterweights out right now.”

Crawford is 4-0 with four TKOs at welterweight, but none of the four men he faced was considered a serious threat to him.

Brook is a different matter.

He’s physically bigger than Crawford, and he’s proven himself to be a world-class fighter. He fought Golovkin and Spence in back-to-back fights and suffered broken orbital bones in each. He fractured the right orbital bone against Golovkin, then fractured the left one when he went back down from middleweight to fight Spence.

The fight with Spence

was stopped in the 11th as Brook was having difficulty seeing. But as a fighter, Crawford understands the challenge that awaited Brook, trying to cut from middleweight to welterweight while facing one of the best in the world.

“I felt like his body wasn’t prepared to lose all that weight [going into the Spence fight] and it was already broken down from Gennadiy Golovkin to fight Spence in back-to-back tough fights like that,” Crawford said. “Given that he had the time to relax and get away from boxing and then to come back to boxing and get two victories, I feel he’s in a different space right now before he was when he fought Spence.”

If Crawford can get past Brook, a fight with Spence may loom. Spence will defend his titles on Dec. 5 in a difficult pay-per-view bout with the always tough Danny Garcia.

If they both win, everyone will resume the calls for Crawford-Spence.

Crawford admits he didn’t want to fight Spence now, but it’s not for the reasons you think.

He wasn’t ducking him.

Rather, he wanted Spence to be at his best and he felt that wouldn’t be possible with Spence going into his first fight since an Oct. 10, 2019, auto accident in Dallas that

Terence Crawford defeated Lithuania’s Egidijus Kavaliauskas by TKO in the ninth round on Dec. 14, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Michael Owens, File) nearly took his life.

“First of all, I respect him as a champion and I wouldn’t want to fight him if he wasn’t at his best,” Crawford said of Spence. “Given that he’s recovered from a crazy accident, I didn’t want to fight him on his first fight back given the circumstances.

If I would have won, there would have been an excuse

for me beating him [because they’d say he wasn’t the same fighter after the accident].

“I didn’t want any excuses. When me and him fight, I want it to be No. 1 versus No. 2, both of us 100 percent and nobody is injured and nobody is at their lowest point. Then, may the better man win, which I think is me.”

So there is plenty at stake

for Crawford in a fight in which the betting odds don’t tell the story. Brook is a far better opponent than bettors in Las Vegas appear to be giving him credit for, and Crawford has a lot on the line.

Expect to see a version of Crawford that understands those points, and rises up with another brilliant performance.

Yamaha MotoGP rider Rossi tests positive for COVID-19 again A u t o s p o r t - Ya m a h a MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi has tested positive for COVID-19 again just a week after testing negative following a two-round layoff with the virus last month.

Rossi was forced to miss the Aragon double-header in October when he caught the virus between the French and Aragon Grands Prix.

The Yamaha rider tested positive for the virus last Tuesday at home, but another test on the Thursday cleared him to head to Valencia where he underwent another PCR test.

Passing this on the Friday of the European GP, Rossi was able to take part from Saturday onwards, having been replaced by American World Superbike rider Garrett Gerloff for the first two practice sessions.

Rossi’s race ended after only five laps due to a mechanical issue, meaning he has not seen a chequered flag since the Emilia Romagna GP. And his participation in this weekend’s Valencia GP is

Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi has tested positive for COVID-19 again. now in doubt after testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Autosport has learned.

Rossi will need to undergo another test to determine wither he will miss this weekend’s race.

With the final round of the 2020 season coming up in just over a week’s time in Portugal, Rossi could well miss his final race as a factory Yamaha team

rider.

Rossi’s latest positive tests raises questions about the PCR tests he passed last week, particularly on Friday before being allowed to enter the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, and whether he was still positive without knowing it or has been reinfected since Saturday.

While scientists are still discovering how the virus

works, cases of reinfection have been reported throughout the world in recent months.

Five members of Yamaha have been forced into quarantine since last weekend when one of Maverick Vinales’ crew tested positive for COVID-

19.

This follows on from six Ya m a h a t e a m m e m b e r s being forced to isolate ahead of the French GP when one member tested positive for the virus.

Yamaha named Gerloff as his official standby replacement for the

E u r o p e a n G P, a n d t h e American will remain ready to take over should Rossi test positive once more.

However, if Rossi has tested positive a second time, then more members of Yamaha may be forced into isolation, depleting its track numbers further.

Friday November 13, 2020

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Reifer eyes future in politics Jahmar Hamilton and Floyd Reifer during West Indies’ President’s XI training, Barbados, January 18, 2019 © Getty Images

Indians land in Sydney and go into quarantine

Tim Paine and Virat Kohli shake hands. (Getty Images) BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Former Barbados batsman and West Indies captain, Floyd Reifer said he plans to contest the next general elections in Barbados, possibly putting his career as a cricket coach on hold.

Reifer was one of five losing candidates in a byelection on Tuesday for a vacant seat in the House of Assembly to represent the rural St. George North electoral district.

Toni Moore, the current general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, the island’s largest trade union, polled 3,154 votes to win the by-election for the governing Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and become the first woman to represent the electoral district.

Reifer gained 1,327 votes to finish runner-up and was seeking to become the lone member in the House from the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), the second oldest political party in the island, after they failed to win a single seat in the 30-member assembly in the 2018 general elections.

“I will be here again,” Reifer told reporters following

the announcement of the byelection result. “For the general elections, I will come back stronger. When a man is down, it shows his true character and I am a lion. I said that in the campaign. I am a strong lion and I will be back.”

He said: “The people have spoken. In an election, someone has to win, and someone has to lose. I have learnt a lot through this election. I want to congratulate Ms. Moore on winning. It was a very intense campaign for both of us, but the people made their choice.

I wish her well.”

Reifer, who hails and still lives in the electoral district, said his greatest disappointment was failing to win in the polling districts in and around his neighbourhood.

“The most disappointing thing for me is not winning in my backyard,” he said. “We failed to win the boxes in which the party is strong, but when you look at the stats, a lot of people still did not come out and vote.

“That is something that is disheartening for us. It was an opportunity for the DLP to gain a seat in the House of

Assembly and an opportunity for us to have a voice.”

He said: “That’s something we will have to delve into in terms of why people did not come out and vote. The public may be still upset about what has happened in the past, but I don’t know why.

“People may be fed up with the politics. People may be fed up with all the unfulfilled promises. They are a lot of reasons why and for the general elections in the next year or two, we will be trying to find out why.”

Moore replaces longserving representative Gline Clarke. He was the incumbent for the past 26 years, but he stepped down last month and will now take up a diplomatic post in Canada.

The result meant that t h e B L P, u n d e r t h e leadership of Prime M i n i s t e r Mia Mottley, maintains its super majority in the House of 29-1.

The outcome of the byelection was a major disappointment for candidates from a number of fledgling parties, none of whom polled more than 100 votes.

ESPNcricinfo - India’s squad has landed in Australia yesterday for a two-month long tour comprising three ODIs, three T20Is and four Tests. Most of the players have flown directly from the UAE, where the justconcluded IPL took place.

Some of them - like Cheteshwar Pujara, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja - have travelled with their immediate families.

The Indian touring group will go into quarantine for two weeks, during which they are allowed to train subject to clearing the Covid-19 testing protocols put in place by Cricket Australia in coordination with the local government. It is understood they will start training from November 14 in Sydney.

Most of the players have already been living the biobubble life for nearly three months now and they’ll be going through its rigours for two more.

Rohit Sharma - who led the Mumbai Indians to their fifth IPL title this week - and Ishant Sharma were not a part of the touring party. Rohit, along with Ishant, will be joining the squad only before the Test series starts on

December 17. While Rohit is being rested from the limitedovers leg of the tour due to a hamstring injury he got during the IPL, Ishant suffered an abdominal muscle tear that had ruled him out of much of the tournament.

India’s captain Virat Kohli will be returning home after the first Test concludes on December 21 in order to attend the birth of his first child.

The Australian government’s quarantine rules of 14 days - applicable for the entire squad despite flying from a biobubble in the UAE - means it would be very difficult for Kohli to come back to Australia and play any part in the remaining three Tests.

India also remain wary about their Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who missed the last two matches for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL after injuring both his hamstrings.

They also had to pull out mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy from their T20I squad after he was learnt to have been suffering from a shoulder injury, with pacer T Natarajan taking his place.

Meanwhile, Sanju Samson -

who was initially a part of only the T20I squad - was added to the ODI squad as a reserve wicketkeeper.

The tour starts with the first ODI in Sydney on November 27, followed by the three T20Is ending on December 8. But the second and the third T20Is clash with a three-day tour match between Australia A and India A, which begins on December 6. That follows another warmup fixture starting December 11, before the first Test begins in Adelaide.

The Adelaide Test will also be the first time that India will be playing a day-night Test away from home, with their only pink-ball Test having come against Bangladesh in Kolkata last year. The tour then moves to Melbourne and Sydney - who will be hosting the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests - before concluding on January 21 with the fourth and final Test in Brisbane.

Despite restrictions around the Covid-19 pandemic, Cricket Australia had confirmed that crowds of varying degrees will be allowed to attend each of the fixtures between Australia and India.

Squad tests negative for COVID-19 for third time in NZ CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, CMC - West Indies players and support staff currently enduring managed isolation for the COVID-19 virus on the Tour of New Zealand have been given a clean bill of health, cricket officials in the country have announced.

New Zealand Cricket, the governing body for the sport in the country, said in a media

release yesterday that the third and final round of COVID-19 tests, which the players took this week, have all returned negative for the virus.

This will come as a great relief to the players and support staff because it will allow them greater freedom of movement to train and prepare for their series of three Twenty20 Internationals and

two Tests against the Black Caps, and the ability to freely leave the isolation facility and mix with the general population.

The outcome of the tests have come into sharp focus, after New Zealand health officials prevented the Windies from training on Wednesday because members of the squad had “contravened” strict COVID19 managed isolation protocols. There was no (Continued on page 25)

The BCCI posted these photos on their Twitter page. (BCCI)

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Tokyo Olympics athletes exempted Bangladesh selector Habibul from 14-day isolation: organisers Bashar tests positive for Covid-19 TOKYO (Reuters) Athletes arriving in Tokyo for next year’s Olympic Games, postponed from 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, will be exempt from the 14-day isolation period Japan has imposed on anyone arriving from overseas to help stop the virus spreading.

Olympic organisers said yesterday details still need to be worked out, but measures for athletes are likely to include coronavirus testing within 72 hours before arriving in Japan. But they warned decisions on spectators from overseas have yet to be made, saying a 14-day quarantine was “impossible”.

“Athletes, coaches and Games officials that are eligible for the Tokyo Games will be allowed to enter the country, provided significant

measures are made before they get to Japan,” Tokyo 2020 Chief Executive Officer Toshiro Muto told a news conference.

Muto was speaking after a meeting between officials from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the national government and Tokyo 2020 organisers on infection prevention procedures during the Games.

He said a decision on foreign spectators would be made next year, depending on pandemic developments.

Japan has held several recent test events, including a four-nation gymnastics meet last weekend that was attended by spectators from Japan.

“By next spring, we will be coming up with a plan for spectators, including nonJapanese spectators,” he said.

“It is impossible to set a 14-

day quarantine period for foreign spectators, so tests before and upon arrival are needed.”

If fans are allowed into the venues, they may be requested not to shout or chant to reduce the risk of airborne droplets spreading the virus, Muto added.

The no-scream guideline has been in place for months at Japan’s professional soccer and baseball stadia.

“There is a possibility that spectators may be asked to refrain from shouting or talking loudly,” Muto said, although no decision has been made yet.

Muto said he expected details of coronavirus counter - m e a s u r e s t o b e ironed out during a threeday visit to Japan by International Olympic Committee head Thomas Bach next week.

West Indies coach Phil Simmons apologises for ‘embarrassing’ Covid-19 breaches, players clear final tests ESPNcricinfo - West Indies coach Phil Simmons has apologised to New Zealand health officials after several of his players breached Covid-19 safety protocols and said his team would be scrabbling to get up to speed having had their training privileges removed.

The West Indies team had been allowed to train in small groups while undergoing a mandatory 14-day isolation, but the Ministry of Health revoked that privilege on Wednesday after they discovered players had shared food and socialised together.

It was confirmed yesterday after that all members of the West Indies squad had cleared their third batch of Covid-19 tests which were conducted on day12 of their stay and they are schedule to leave isolation today.

“I have to apologise to the New Zealand public and the government who have allowed us to come here,” Simmons told Newshub. “It’s embarrassing from our point of view.”

Simmons added the players would be subject to

Suhrawadi Shuvo, Abdur Razzak, Habibul Bashar and Heath Streak at a training session. (BCB) ESPNcricinfo - Habibul Bashar, the former Bangladesh captain and current national selector, has tested positive for Covid-19.

The news comes soon after Test captain Mominul Haque and allrounder Mahmudullah had also tested positive earlier this week in a spate of infections among the regulars to the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

Bashar is isolated at home, but hoping to return to

work in time for the Bangabandhu T20 Cup scheduled for later this month.

“I was really careful, but still I got infected,” Bashar told Bangla Tribune. “There’s nothing we can do. The virus won’t let go of anyone. I felt feverish from Monday, and then it got to 102 degrees. It continued into Tuesday, so I tested on Wednesday morning and received the result in the evening.”

Bashar is one of two

senior selectors employed by the BCB, and has been a constant during training and matches at the ground over the last few months.

In recent weeks, Abu Jayed, Saif Hassan and Mashrafe Mortaza, as well as a few cricketers and coaching staff from the Under-19 camp have all tested positive.

According to the official figures, there have been 425,353 Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh, with over 6000 deaths.

Jamaica’s Olympic hopefuls to benefit from large cash injection from JOA

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons. (Getty Images) internal sanctions.

They had lost a total of four days training because of the breaches. They have two warm-up games in Queenstown from November 20 and Simmons said they might be a little slow to get their conditioning and match fitness back.

“We were just getting to the levels that we would normally start at, but coming from no cricket, we had to start slower,” he said.

“Hopefully everybody tests negative and then we can move to Queenstown and

ramp it up as quickly as possible because later in the week we have a training game.”

Meanwhile, the West Indies and New Zealand players who had been at the IPL arrived in Auckland yesterday and passed their initial health checks. They will board a charter flight to Christchurch ahead of beginning their 14-day period of managed isolationThe first of three T20Is is in Auckland on November 27 before the two-test series starts on December 3.

SportsMax - The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) will continue its developmental initiative dubbed ‘Olympic Invest’ to honour its commitment to athletes who are challenging for an Olympic berth in Tokyo next year, by investing JMD$40,000,000 in their preparation and qualifying events of the greatest global sporting event.

The ‘Olympic Invest’ campaign started in 2018 in the Gold Coast with the most successful Commonwealth Games to date in terms of medals won, the most disciplines represented and the largest contingency.

This record-breaking momentum continued for both the 2019 Barranquilla Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia and the 2019 Lima Pan American Games in Peru.

“The JOA is serious about powering our athletes in empowering them to achieve the gold medal, yes, but more importantly the platinum pride of self-accomplishment, which is an invaluable dividend of ‘Olympic Invest’,” said JOA President Christopher Samuda.

With the postponement

Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) President, Christopher Samuda (right), presenting a Jamaica shirt to Mayberry CEO Gary Peart. of the Tokyo Games as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which has created uncertainty and anxiety for athletes, the JOA has reaffirmed its support of Jamaica’s Olympic hopefuls.

Secretary General and CEO of the island’s parent body for sports, Ryan Foster, made it clear that “2020 is on in 2021 and the JOA, irrespective of the time of an event, is prepared for all

seasons, all times, in solidly backing our national campaigners in their efforts to achieve timeless gains for country and self”.

Foster continues to ready the operations for Tokyo next year and is treating the event with almost scientific precision.

“Our business spreadsheet and strategic plan for Tokyo drill down to (Continued on page 25)

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Hamilton prouder of equality Windies get greenlight to leave push than seventh F1 title isolation ahead of warm-up match (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton said yesterday his campaigning for equal rights and diversity made him more proud than an imminent seventh Formula One world championship.

The 35-year-old Mercedes driver will match Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s record seven at this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix if team mate Valtteri Bottas fails to beat him by eight points.

“Winning a world championship is very much a personal thing... and that doesn’t necessarily impact people’s lives,” he told reporters at the Istanbul Park circuit.

“Something I’m much prouder of (is)... trying to improve conditions for people around the world... that’s the most important thing for me.”

Hamilton said he would still be “incredibly proud” to pull level with “an icon like Michael” and seven was way beyond his wildest dreams, but numbers and titles maybe meant more to those on the outside.

“When you’re in it, it’s different,” said the winner of a record 93 races.

“What’s important with the journey this year is it’s been combined with the fight for equality and a real growing process of learning what’s happening around the world and being a little bit more aware of surroundings

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during a press conference ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix. (FIA/Handout via REUTERS) and starting to see progress with that.”

Hamilton said he hoped also to send a message, mostly to children, that “you have to dream bigger than you think you can dream and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t go for that.”

When Schumacher clinched his seventh title in 2004, many felt the German’s record would stand the test of time.

Hamilton had always hoped to emulate his late boyhood hero Ayrton Senna by winning three titles and he did that in 2015.

Those who felt his move from McLaren to Mercedes in

2013, as Schumacher’s replacement, was a mistake have been eating their words for years.

“I knew it was the right thing for me, but did I know we’d win six world titles? No,” said Hamilton.

“I think what it says is that in life we’ve got to definitely make sure we take that leap of faith, do what you think is right for you and not what people tell you to do.”

Hamilton said he felt refreshed and ready to go.

“For me this is another race. I need to approach it exactly the same as I have in the past because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he added.

Former FA chairman Clarke steps down from FIFA Council LONDON (Reuters) Greg Clarke stepped down from the FIFA Council yesterday, two days after resigning as English Football Association chairman having referred to “coloured footballers” during questions from members of parliament.

European soccer governing body UEFA said Clarke had spoken to its president Aleksander Ceferin yesterday and agreed to resign as one of its representatives on the FIFA Council, the main decision-making body of the world soccer organisation.

“Following a telephone call this morning between the UEFA President and Greg Clarke, they agreed with Greg Clarke’s proposal that he should step down with immediate effect from his position as a UEFA representative on the FIFA

FA chairman Greg Clarke before the match England vs Germany at Wembley Stadium.

(Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine) Council,” UEFA said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Clarke, 63, was widely criticised after making a series of inappropriate comments while taking questions from members of the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport

(DCMS) select committee on Tuesday.

He later apologised for his choice of words.

Former Leicester City chairman Clarke was elected to the FIFA Council in February 2019.

SportsMax - All members of the West Indies team have returned negative results from their third and final COVID19 tests, conducted on Day 12 of the ongoing tour of New Zealand.

The players, management and support staff are scheduled to leave managed isolation today and travel to the southern town of Queenstown, where they will play a three-day match and a four-day match against New Zealand “A”. These matches will be on November 20-22 and on November 26-29 at John Davies Oval.

Additionally, all of the West Indies players who arrived in Auckland yesterday following the end of the Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates, have passed initial health screening checks. They are to spend the next two weeks in isolation in preparation for the first T20 International which will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on November 29.

The T20I Series will start with the defending World Cup champions facing the Black Caps at Eden Park in Auckland for a match under lights. The

series then moves to Mount Maunganui for two matches at the picturesque Bay Oval – the first a day match and the second under lights. West Indies will then travel to Hamilton for the first Test at Seddon Park and then south to Wellington for the second match at the historic Basin Reserve.

The T20Is will be the start of an 11-month schedule of matches building up to the ICC T20 World Cup, rescheduled for October 2021 in India.

The opening contest at Eden Park will have added significance as this is the venue where the two teams met in their first T20I contest back in 2006. That match ended in a tie which forced a dramatic bowl-off, won by the home side. Three years later the teams met again at the same venue and played to another tie which was decided by the first ever T20I Super Over, won by the West Indies.

FULL SQUADS T20I Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre

Fletcher, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kesrick WilliamsTest Squad: Jason Holder (captain), Roston Chase (vice-captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Chemar Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach Test Reserves: Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua DaSilva, Preston McSween, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Jayden Seales Match Schedule: November 20-22: vs New Zealand “A” at Queenstown November 26-29: vs New Zealand “A” at Queenstown November 27: 1st T20I at Eden Park, Auckland November 29: 2nd T20I at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui November 30: 3rd T20I at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui December 3-7: 1st Test at Seddon Park, Hamilton December 11-15: 2nd Test at Basin Reserve, Wellington

We have to see sports tourism as a business - GGA head Aleem Hussain President of the Guyana Golf Association (GGA) Aleem Hussain said sports tourism should be seen as a business in order to combat the challenge faces by sporting organisations during this time.

Speaking at a stimulating and well attended virtual seminar on how to overcome the challenges of the Covid19 virus in the coming year, Hussain along with several other speakers gave a variety of perspectives on how Guyana can succeed.

Hussain gave insights of how virtual sports tourism can change the way we address and promote travel; generate revenues and increase tourism awareness.

He spoke about using major sports that attract the most attention to generate online viewers at a low access cost and sharing the gross revenues with the lesser known sports. “We have to get less dependent on handouts and see sports tourism as a business that gives our sponsors a greater return on investment through revenue share, greater

advertising reach, future sales and brand awareness,” he stated.

Hussain emphasized that only by working together can all sports organizations benefit and suggested that they create a sport management agency that would put on grand viewer events to put Guyana on the world stage.

Director General Donald St. Clair spoke on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, THAG and the Guyana Tourism Authority and welcomed the participants, emphasizing the importance of the month of Tourism Awareness and activities.

Michael Hall, Caribbean Premier League Tournament Director, Barbados provided great insight into the operation of the game of cricket on an international level, speaking to the challenges faced by teams, players and countries hosting events and the associated expenses as it related to compliance with covid-19 restrictions.

Assistant Treasurer of the Guyana Olympic

Association, Tricia Fiedtkou related that her organization was focused on building the brand of the country, literally on the backs of athletes using advertising on uniforms and having our stars act as spokespeople for the country’s attractions.

Wayne Forde, head of Guyana Football Federation explained that the challenges of a contact sport have severely affected the manner in which they operate in the current covid guidelines. “It’s virtually impossible to conduct an activity in the circumstances we face today.”

St. Clair thanked the speakers and stated that it was the start of great ideas that he felt could propel the country in a very short time into a leadership role.

PAGE 32

Kaieteur News

F1 to hold race in Sao Paulo until 2025 - governor SAO PAULO (Reuters) Formula One has renewed until 2025 its contract to hold races at the Interlagos track in Sao Paulo, city mayor Bruno Covas said yesterday.

“The contract has been finalised and will be signed in the next few days,” Covas told reporters at a joint news conference with the state governor Joao Doria.

“In November (2021) we will have the GP Sao Paulo here in Interlagos. The contract is for five years and renewable for another five years.”

A spokesman for Liberty Media-owned Formula One, approached separately, said the sport “never discussed commercial decisions with partners or promoters”.

Formula One cancelled its race in Brazil this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and had been negotiating the possibility of moving Brazil’s race to Rio de Janeiro.

The move has been controversial for environmental reasons, with six times world champion Lewis Hamilton saying he would be against cutting

Friday November 13, 2020

Big runs needed for consistent success, Rainford-Brent says

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action at the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix race. (REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes/File Photo) down forest to build a circuit.

“My personal opinion is the world doesn’t need a new circuit. I think there are plenty of circuits in the world that are great and I love Interlagos,” the Mercedes driver said last month.

The contract with Interlagos terminates at the end of 2020 but Formula One included it on a provisional

23-race calendar for 2021 published this week.

When asked why Sao Paulo was chosen over Rio, which has yet to build the circuit and would need an environmental permit, Covas replied: “Well, we already have a racetrack.”

Last year the race netted 111 million reais ($20.53 million) for Sao Paulo, with

the creation of 8,500 jobs.

The new deal will involve a different promoter to the past and incur a hosting fee payable to Formula One, unlike recent seasons.

Local media said last year that the city, home of late triple world champion Ayrton Senna, was willing to pay $20 million as an annual fee. ($1 = 5.4076 reais)

Former England Women’s international Ebony Rainford-Brent. (Getty Images) BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Former England Women’s international Ebony RainfordBrent said West Indies is on the rise, but their deficiency in posting big totals consistently remains the missing link to long-term success.

Rainford-Brent, the first black woman to play for England Women and now a respected radio and television commentator on the sport, said the Windies team appeared to be heading in the right direction, but it was very important for the batsmen to show more durability.

“The bowlers are more than capable, but the biggest challenge for West Indies is the weight of runs,” she said in the latest episode of the Anything Cricket – Let’s Talk webcast. “(The Windies) have talented batsmen, but the concentration to bat for long periods is the thing. The coach Phil Simmons is brilliant, and I think he can make a real difference. I think they have a really high-quality team.”

She added: “Jason Holder is an outstanding leader that can make a huge difference from a Test perspective. But if (the Windies) can get a few batsmen that could just grind it out and (they) can get to that 300 or 350 total regularly, (they) are in the game. “(The Windies) have got the bowlers I believe.

Consistency of runs – and

(they) can be in the game.”

Rainford-Brent made her assessment after watching the Windies closely during the previous England Tour of the Caribbean last year and on their Tour of England this past June.

The Windies won the Wisden Trophy, symbol of Test supremacy between the two sides, 2-1 on England’s previous Tour of the Caribbean, drew a One-day International series 2-2 before losing all three matches in a Twenty20 International series.

In the return Test series to England, the Windies lost the last two matches of a three-Test series, after clinching the opener by four wickets.

“I think West Indians are harsh on the Windies players, that’s just my opinion,” she said. “I have seen some real progress that I hope the West Indian community supports.

“I am seeing a real improvement from the culture of the team, the discipline of the team, and the performances are starting to go up.

“I think it is a team with real talent, real experience and making strides, but consistency of runs is the thing for me.”

The Windies are currently in New Zealand, where they are preparing for a bilateral series against the Black Caps comprising three T20Is and two Tests.

Kaieteur News

Friday November 13, 2020

PAGE 33

Pompey promoted to Associate Head Coach at St. John’s University T

he St. John’s A t h l e t i c Department officially announced on Wednesday that four-time Olympian Aliann Pompey has been elevated to the position of Associate Head Coach.

The Guyanese on receiving the news noted that, “I have to thank Mike Cragg and Coach Hurt for t h i s h o n o u r, a n d I ’ m appreciative of them for their support and tutelage.”

She continued, “They’re both part of the reason why I am able to continue doing what I love here at St. John’s University. I am grateful for this opportunity, and look forward to working closely with our administration on continuing our tradition of success.”

Since joining the St. J o h n ’s t r a c k & f i e l d programme as an assistant coach in 2014, Pompey has seen her athletes break the Red Storm’s indoor records twice in the 200 metres and 400 metres, while also eclipsing previous programme bests in the 60metre hurdles and in the 500 metre and the 4 x 200-metre relay.

Pompey has also helped the Johnnies’ sprints and hurdles squad break outdoor records in the 100-metre hurdles, 800 metre race, the 4×200-metre relay, and the 4×100-metre relay events.

Most recently, Pompey guided Leah Anderson to three gold medals at the 2020 BIG EAST Indoor Championships, as she took first place in the 200 metres, 400 metres and the 4×400metre relay. Anderson was named the conference’s most outstanding performer in track events and earned the BIG EAST High Point Performer award, leading the field with 22.5 points.

P o m p e y ’s s p r i n t s a n d hurdles squad accounted for at least 60 percent of St. John’s total team points at the meet.

“I am very pleased and proud to have Coach Pompey become our associate Head Coach, as she is exceptional in every way,” said Head Coach Jim Hurt.

“She is a great and winning coach, keenly intelligent and insightful, and a person of great character. She has made a significant impact on our programme over the past six years, and will continue

to do so in the years to come.”

In 2017, Pompey assisted Adriana Wright in capturing the indoor BIG EAST High Point Performer Award after winning three gold medals in the 60-metre hurdles, 60-metre dash and the 200-metre dash.

The following year, she helped Maya Stephens earn the conference’s most outstanding co-performer in track events accolade for her wins in the 200-metre and 400-metre dashes at the 2018 Indoor championships.

Throughout her time with the Red Storm, Pompey’s athletes have claimed three of the BIG EAST’s last four most outstanding track performer awards at the outdoor championships, while earning the accolade at the 2018 and 2020 conference Indoor championships.

Pompey has continued to spread her knowledge and extensive track & field experience to international sports administrations, and was named President of the Pan-American Sports Athletes Commission in 2019.

She was also elected to

Day of sports set for Vryheid’s Lust tomorrow Vryheid’s Lust Sports Committee will be hosting a day of sports tomorrow, Saturday at Vryheid’s Lust play field commencing at 10:00hrs.

Teams will vie for supremacy at football and cricket among others sporting disciplines. At stake are trophies and medals sponsored by Johnny Barnwell.

represent more than 6,600 athletes across 41 countries that compete in the Pan American Games, and has served as a standing member of the Athletes’ Commission since 2015. She also serves o n t h e o rg a n i s a t i o n ’s executive board and as the International Olympic Committee’s athlete liaison.

Pompey is now in her third year as the Metropolitan Athletic Conference President and is the founder of the Aliann Pompey (AP) Invitational, a premier international track & field competition that was added to the World Athletics Continental Tour in 2020.

The inaugural meet held in Guyana hosted 11 athletes who went on to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, and serves as a gateway to Olympic qualification.

Aliann Pompey is the new Associate Head Coach at St. John’s University.