Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

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

GPF audit

Monday Edition November 23, 2020 -Vol. 13 No. 48

reveals over 150 weapons missing

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

- Minister Benn says findings “alarming”

Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 126,077

ExxonMobil’s behaviour in Guyana is an attempt - Int’l Lawyer, at colonisation Melinda Janki

All Guyanese must speak out!

Heath-London pins blame on dead former NICIL CEO for amended lease clause in

Peter’s Hall land giveaway scandal

Exxon identifies over 50 more drillable wells Ministers to visit Chinese-owned gold mines on discrimination of local workers

Guyanese should take note of how the coalition operates. On some things it is engaged and lively, on others it is as cold as a tombstone. It blows hot and cold.

On former NICIL chief, Colvin HeathLondon, and the secret land deals, the coalition is a bundle of energy, with strong d e n i a l s a n d pronouncements.

The Coalition leaders go into overdrive when they are required to plug holes in their leaky boat.

On the other hand, the same leaders are as cold as death when it comes to Guyana’s oil.

They are frozen stiff and unable to say a n y t h i n g o f significance on this

issue.

APNU+AFC is not inspired by what the Surinamese leaders have done with their oil. It is content to muddle along as though oil has no bearing on Guyana’s prosperity, and as if it is the last thing on its agenda.

Given what the PPP has done with our oil, and all the lopsided deals that the APNU+AFC signed away during its time, Guyanese should be asking themselves if there is any hope left for a good future for them and their children..

It is not time that Guyanese speak out about the many oil corruptions and skulduggeries that harm their future?

“We still need to find the balance and not open up as if things are normal”

COVID-19 impact...

- Emergency Medicine Specialist warns

Oil companies must employ locals in front of foreigners

- Suriname oil law ...while Guyana has no Local Content legislation 5 years later

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Monday November 23, 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

Vaccine democracy Since we live in a nobler world, it would be comforting if the limited amount of highly anticipated COVID-19 vaccines were spread out in the way that the West likes to preach to poorer nations. From all indications, any such hopes are non-starters, with lesser endowed nations left to manage on their own.

The world had its first piece of good news in a long time. It was that an almost surefire vaccine was close to being finalized by American pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer.

No sooner that that slug of encouraging news registered than another drug frontrunner, Moderna, announced its own successful trials with a pandemic vaccine. The news is that effective rates at immunization and prevention from the pandemic ranged from a low of 90 percent to a top of about 94-95 percent. And a later development, as carried by the BBC on November 18 was that the Moderna vaccine was found just as workable on people 65 years and older.

However, looked at in this early stage, there is much on which to pin hopes for being able to survive feared pandemic onslaughts.

For over seven months, there was nothing other than the precautionary measures enforced by governments and sometimes strictly observed by some citizens. It was all that the world had, while nations such as the United States, Great Britain, China, Russia, and India, among others rushed to find something, anything, that would offer some form of shield and relief in the fight against the virus.

Now there is a vaccine almost on the market and in hand, that should be good news all around, except that there is a little catch; in fact, it is a big one, and several of them presently.

First, only several hundred million doses (at the most) would be available by the end of this year, with a promised 1.3 billion doses more from aggressive production rollouts in 2021. That was part of the preliminary anticipation from Pfizer. Now that Moderna has its own version of a successful vaccine, there is hope that more hundreds of millions of doses would be coming to the market. Still, it is opportune for us to share some additional information that has come to light.

Whatever the number of doses that is available - early or later - it would have to be cut in half, since for the vaccine to be effective, a two-shot dose is mandatory. As a practical matter that just wiped out the availability of the vaccine to at least a half a billion people around this time next year. Of course, this is dependent on quick official approval and quicker mass production schemes. But the bottom line is that a lot of people would be left out in the waiting line.

To cut a finer point on this, and bring this closer to home, over six billion people globally (somewhere upwards of 75 percent of the world’s population) would not be anywhere nearer to a vaccine within the foreseeable future.

And this is the hard, unsparing reality with regards to those left in the medical wilderness and waiting for a vaccine: they are all from poor, undeveloped, struggling Third World societies. As the vaccine, from whichever source, becomes available, a number of rich advanced countries are already at the front of the line to collect their share of the vaccine for their populations.

The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, Japan, and Australia are all well-positioned to carry away the overwhelming bulk of whatever number of vaccines is available. They have the money, the positioning, and the clout to call the shots and get their way by cornering the market for whatever vaccine supplies are present. It looks as though most, if not all, Third World nations are on their own with only their prayers to offer some solace.

It would be nice if there was some form of distribution methodology implemented where there is a more evenhanded vision and approach. That is, where vaccine wealth is spread out more democratically, where rich and poor could have a chance to cope better and to survive.

Of course, democracy covers much yardage, but medicine is not one. On this, the advanced democracies could lead the way differently.

Derailing the new by using the old that has served so well Dear Editor, I note with some interest the recent announcement from a new voice about political interest for leading at the highest level.

What I offer on this and any similar future development speak not to the merits or otherwise of any such new figures, but to the stark realities sure to be encountered by those visions and ambitions. I hope that in so doing, I would succeed in getting my fellow Guyanese to minimize their hysterias and do something they are not famed for, which is to be receptive and possessing of some reasoning.

First, they don’t stand a chance, less than that of a snowflake in a raging forest fire. Regardless of the caliber of the new face, the new programme, the new outlook, the new promise, no one stands a ghost of a chance. They are dead in the water, and that is that, with utter unalterable finality. It is Guyana’s reality and here is why.

First, any newcomer or group challenging the mighty PPP does not have the numbers. Not today, not just yet, and that should not require any explanation or sophistication.

I steer naysayers (and

hopefuls) to the Bureau of Statistics, and if that is too much heavy lifting or incomprehensible, then I point them to Elections 2020 configurations.

Nothing could be easier for understanding, than that or what comes next.

For second, even as new faces and voices appreciate the numbers arrayed against, they must come to grips with this: the Guyanese voter is not moving. Not his or her ‘X’.

Not through any changed thinking or position or loyalty or belief and trust.

I comfort by saying maybe in a hundred years or thereabouts, definitely not the next 50.

In sum, the already immovably committed Guyanese voter does not have any terrorist, simply freedom fighters, absolute tribalists they are. That is not of the heights, it is the domestic Himalayas, one of the many unconquerable frontiers in this society. There is neither educated, rational nor patriotic voter in this country.

At best, there is the race voter and the party voter, which is all there is to the Guyana democratic story, its frail country character.

Thirdly, even if by some unimaginable, immeasurable miracle there were inclinations in Guyanese voters to stand in opposition to my positions,

then the leadership of both major parties would move ruthlessly to sabotage the prospects of any such new presence and effectively neutralize them.

Cult leadership, blind loyalty and following and unmatched obeisance would all combine to derail the new by using the old that has served so well.

That is, buy them out, chase them out, or dismiss them out of hand. Regarding the latter, potential newcomers would have only the record to lament.

It is because, fourth, the fresh, stirring and promising have flattered to deceive.

More bluntly, when the charm and pretenses are cut through, there is nothing of authenticity left, no sincerity found compelling. It is because, from within that sorry pantheon of political panjandrums, they have dissembled (full out) and lied (outright) and betrayed (flat out).

There is not one residue of trust or confidence left for those, whether from before or in those who come from now on to warm Guyanese hearts with promises of a new day.

Unwittingly perhaps, but unerringly undoubtedly, political newcomers are considered Guyanese lepers of the worst kind: they are seen as incestuous and traitorous.

Both have earned well, given what they have done

in the past to those who placed their futures in their soiled hands, their devious plans. I think that that is irrefutable and, therefore, now beyond the pale of the retrievable, even if the wisest and most honest were to come.

Fifth, there is that trump card that I saved for last.

It is a trump card and wildcard and the only card that matters in the grand Guyanese scheme, now made grander by oil. It is the American card.

The only thing that I have to say about that card, that it is necessary to say, is that that has functioned as Guyana’s GECOM (the real one) and Guyana’s version of a final electoral college. I admit that there is nothing profound about this, as I merely mention reality.

Neither numbers, money, ideals nor the will of the people matter. What matters with unassailable power is this: what America stands for, none can prevail.

Forbes Burnham experienced that dubious blessing before. Today, it is the PPP’s turn. America has been Guyana’s political arbiter, negotiator, mediator, peacemaker, and (if compulsory) troublemaker. It is their way or no way. Now whoever wants to argue can do so with self.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Guyana has to take a serious look at its gun laws Dear Editor, A recent story involving the slaying of a young man in the prime of his youth caught my attention and for salient reasons I have decided to write on this matter. The story is reported that the two teenagers were friends and one was called for a sleepover at his friend’s house. While there, it is alleged that one of them breached the lock of his parent’s safe and took out the gun and “accidentally” shot the other to his head where he later died of his wound. I immediately began to grieve with the sorrowful mother of the dead teen knowing that a young promising life has been lost, cut down in such a senseless way. But as much as I was sorrowful, my sorrow quickly turned to anger as I questioningly started to put together the pieces of this story.

Now there are many troubling aspects to this episode and the first thing that comes to mind is why would two teenage friends

who ought to be down in their books battling with their SBAs be taken up with such a dangerous weapon, why?

Instead of devoting their time and energy to study these two were fiddling around with a dangerous weapon, again why? It just boggles the mind to think that this was their preoccupation.

Secondly, where were the seniors in that house, what about the “responsible” adult members of the household? I am talking about the owner of the weapon how responsible was he or she knowing fully well that there are teenage boys present in the home, leaving them unsupervised is simply asking for trouble?

As reported, was this gun properly secured, if at all and could we get the authenticated report of the investigating officers to corroborate that claim? Further, was this gun a legally acquired weapon and was it currently registered? These are pointed questions that deserve sensible answers. Was this gun ever in any illegal activity

prior to this incident? Is there a report of these teens ever in possession of this weapon, if so why and for what purpose were they in possession of the weapon? I am more inclined to treat this story with a lot of suspicion. If believable answers to my questions are not forthcoming then that owner should cease being the owner of a firearm. We need licensed firearm holders to be careful and responsible people at all times.

Turning to the accused, I would ask were the teens ever at loggerheads with each other and mention of settling the score with the use of a weapon in this case a gun? I am talking about a dispute over a girlfriend was there ever trouble brewing over a girlfriend, because the shooter friend went straight for his head which is an indication that some malice or some level of hate was involved?

This was not a scene where teenagers were experimenting at a weapon’s find or playing around with a parent’s gun, this was a

situation where his aim was directed at a specific target.

He did not aim for his friend’s hand or feet he went straight for his head which tells that he wanted to maim or permanently disable him. I would grill the daylight out of him to get down to the bottom of it, a life has been lost and this is in no way a joke. Too many lives have been lost in our country due to the cavalier actions of some gun toting fool and no significant action done to the perpetrator.

In fact gun crimes are at an all time high and something has to be done about it; government, opposition, civil society as well as the respective authorities have to wake up to the call and put measures in place to arrest the upsurge.

I have posed these questions to you because gun crimes have been a bugbear for too long now.

Too many lives have been lost as a result of this scourge and immediate severe solutions needs to be put in place to deal with it.

Respectfully Submitted, Neil Adams

Monday November 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

UG isn’t ready yet!

The University of Guyana (UG) is a third-rate university.

Regardless of who says otherwise, UG is not in any league of its own, much less to be in the Ivy League.

Comparing the University of the West Indies (UWI) to UG is like comparing cheese to chalk. UG simply does not have the resources and the leadership, intellectual and administrative, to compare with UWI. UG has some good quality lecturers but there are dozens who are simply not up to standard. There was a time, a few years ago, when persons with first degrees were allowed to lecture at UG. To lecture at UWI, the minimum qualification is a doctorate.

To gain entry into UWI you need at least ‘A’ levels or CAPE. UG admission requirements are far lower and a great many alternative qualifications, which are accepted by UG, such as the Certificate in Industrial Relations from Critchlow Labour College.

When you think about the long-standing issue of sanitation blocks at UG and the complaints about these blocks, which went on for years, it should be obvious that there should be no attempt to compare the administration of the two universities. UWI would never tolerate its students having “stables” as classrooms.

Despite the improvements over the last decade, UG’s library facilities leave much to be desired. Students can now access databases to which UG subscribes but UWI has firstclass libraries and access to some of the best online academic journals and e-books.

For over 40 years, UG has had a resource problem. It has long recognized this problem but has been unable to overcome it. UG has failed to generate sufficient resources to meet its basic needs.

Without government

support, UG would flop overnight.

At one time, a variety of ideas was floated as to how UG could generate additional funding apart from student fees and government subventions. It was touted that the University can use its brainpower to undertake consultancies and provide educational services, which would bring in revenues. It was all hot air!

When you look at private education in Guyana; when you think about the lack of skills within the economy, there is a large market out there, which UG should have long tapped into and dominated. They have not, because UG is being run like a school rather than along the lines of a business model. This column had long suggested that the University convert itself into a campus of schools, each semiautonomously administered.

However, this was too ambitious a model for our university administrators.

UG runs a medical programme and a law degree programme, which attracts higher fees than other courses. Yet every year dozens of students with the requisite qualifications are not accepted into these programmes because places are limited. The obvious solution should have been to expand the number of places to be able to meet the demand for these programmes.

The UG Law degree should have been marketed as a regional product and the school should have been turning out hundreds of law graduates each year. The same should have happened with our medical degree.

Instead of students having to go to Cuba to train as doctors, we should have been asking the Cubans to send their medical lecturers to lecture to a much larger cohort than presently exists. A number of medical schools are now competing with the UG medical degree and it is only a matter of time before they force the closure of UG’s

medical programme.

The advent of Open Campuses in which online learning is targeting a wider market for students was always going to sound the death-knell for UG. Instead of going regional and international by having its own Open Campus brand, UG’s brand emphasizes it as being a national university. In the meantime, UWI and other universities are extending their reach internationally.

UG should have been able by now to be offering courses internationally, using online platforms, in areas such as forestry, agriculture, West Indian cricket, law and medicine. It is not ready and therefore other universities are going to target the Guyana market. With the use of technology, these external universities will establish a virtual presence rather than physical presence. UG has no future; it cannot compete and it will have to close; that is the reality.

These foreign universities do not need any government permission to come. They can advertise their programmes online conduct student registration online, lecture online, hold online or inperson examinations and host virtual graduation ceremonies. No government permission is needed for this.

The government nor students should wait on UG to get its act together. It will never get its act together. The intellectual class in this country has been a failure.

With technology, UG’s vulnerability to competition will now be further exposed.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Dem Boys Seh…

Trump is a Guyanese?

Trump want to see Soulja Bai. He running out of gimmicks to halt de declaration of defeat. He want see Soulja Bai fuh find out what should be he next move. He see Soulja Bai last five months but it nah look like if he gan last five weeks.

Is suh when you gat big ego. Yuh does can’t tek yuh licks like a man. Yuh does don’t want accept dat yuh could get defeat.

America now will have a hard time lecturing to de rest of de world about democracy. Trump mekkin he own country shame.

Imagine Pompeo did tell we President fuh step aside and now Trump nah wan do de same after he lose elections.

Dem boys hear how Trump team bin studying closely wah did happen in Guyana. And dem doing de same thing.

Dem ask fuh recount, dem going to court without evidence fuh stop count and now talking how de actions of some states were unconstitutional. Is Guyana dem learn all dem tricks from.

Is dat why dem Caricom leaders nah play when dem come here. Dem did afraid that

dem own countrymen would ah try de same tricks wah de Coalition bin try in Guyana.

And so, dem had to draw de line. De Mottley Lady talk she story straight. She seh de truth hurts. Dem people nah intend fuh leh Guyana mek dem look shame.

Now Trump big up de same tactics. He nah wan concede. But dem boys know dat he nah gat fuh concede. Once de Electoral College mek a decision, he gat fuh walk!

Talk half and check and see if Trump is not a Guyanese!

PAGE 9

Monday November 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

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Kaieteur News

Monday November 23, 2020

116 persons arrested in Berbice for breaching COVID-19 orders A total of 116 persons were arrested and placed on station bail for breaching the COVID-19 orders Gazetted by the Ministry of Health. Based on statistics provided by Guyana Police

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

persons were swabbed on Sunday following contact tracing.

Authorities are urging persons to desist from public gatherings and continue to wear masks, sanitize and social distance.

...An aspiring entrepreneur’s last day on earth From page 13 because sometimes he would sleep over at friends or come home late. But he was scheduled to return to work the following day, so when he did not show up, they understandably became worried.

Calls were made to his cellphones but these all went to voicemail. Contact was made with his friends but they too had not seen him since Sunday.

“I remember mom becoming frustrated and was repeatedly saying ‘this is not Kellon, no this is not Kellon; where is he, I need to go find him’,” Anita said, “She (mom) began searching but the police were hesitant in assisting. One of her church sisters then advised to

check with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).”

Anita remembered her mother asking why, and to this the ‘sister’ disclosed that there were two accidents the previous night.

“I did not want to believe that my little brother got into an accident and my mother did not want to either, but she went anyway,” Anita recalled.

Kellon’s mother got up early on the morning of Wednesday, November 4, 2020, she dressed, placed a photo of him in her bag and headed to the GPHC. “I can only imagine how she must have responded when one of the staff told her ‘yes this guy came in here but he was dead and we took him to Lyken’s Funeral Home,”

said Anita. She paused for a bit, took a deep breath and said, “Little brother went home without saying goodbye.”

Kellon’s mother later confirmed with police that her son was a victim of the second road accident which took place on that fateful Sunday night – November 1, 2020.

A captivating headline in the Guyana Times newspaper the following day read, “Mother finds missing son in GPHC morgue.”

An eyewitness who was at the scene when Kellon was struck down, read the article and located his family. He provided them with photographs and videos of his final moments.

“We were told that my brother was almost across the

road when the car hit him,” said Anita.

Kellon was reportedly flung into the air and landed on the car’s bonnet before being thrown on to the roadway. The driver then lost control of the vehicle which came to a halt in a nearby trench.

Sprawled in a pool of his own blood, Kellon was soon after pronounced dead. The driver of the car was taken into police custody but was subsequently released on bail.

Even as his family continues to mourn his passing, police investigators await advice on possible charges for the driver who was behind the wheel of the car that facilitated Kellon’s departure to the great beyond.

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“We still need to find the balance and not open up as

Salim Security officers change phone numbers to 639-6648 only

From page 12 more we gather the higher the odds of our cases rising.”

Surviving COVID-19, therefore, means embracing a plan, Dr. Bux said, that “includes us all doing our part to prevent a second wave. By now, we should all be aware of the risks and where they lie. Being responsible while doing our daily necessities will allow us to sustain our livelihood while avoiding the dangerous second wave.”

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Cardiovascular diseases, Cancer, etc., are at higher risk of dying or becoming hospitalized with the disease, Dr. Bux said that emphasis should be placed on protecting them. This, he said, should include ease of access to services for them so that they do not have to be out and about.

Many countries, he revealed too, are now starting to show evidence that early use of some medications, such as: Ivermectin, Hydroxychloroquine, Vitamins C and D and Zinc, and Azithromycin/Doxycy-

cline, decrease deaths and hospitalizations.

In fact, he disclosed that countries such as India, Australia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Greece, etc. have started one or more of the treatments and have lower death rates than others that are not using them.

“Some countries are distributing vitamins, especially Vitamin D, to their high risks populations so that their immune systems can be prepared in the event that they are infected.

The young that live

with high risk relatives, need to be even more responsible to ensure they do not take home the infection to them,” Dr. Bux related.

Also, a recent study from Egypt, he said, showed that there were no deaths and only one hospitalization in 100 patients who had COVID-19 and used Ivermectin early. “I remain baffled why these treatments are not being used widely especially given how cheap and safe they are and how long they have been in existence,” said Dr. Bux.

...Police officers should be role models

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Force in Berbice, these persons were arrested and placed on bail on Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21, 2020 during ‘Operation COVID’.

They are all expected to

be charged shortly.

It was just two days ago that the daily COVID-19 dashboard revealed that there has been a stark increase in coronavirus cases, 35 to be exact.

Kaieteur News was informed that several other

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From page 6 they will claim innocence of any knowledge. Granger sat quietly and had no idea what was taking place in the country? Who was running the country? Why did he cherry pick certain law enforcement officers for certain positions, in both the police force and the army?

Where was Harmon with all his military experience?

Williams, the lawman was too busy at sea? How can the Guyanese public ever trust

them again to govern this nation when all of their actions smelle d of impudence, impertinence and doltishness? Police o ff i c e r s i n p a r t i c u l a r, should know that, crime does not pay and, they should be the last ones to dirty their hands, if any.

The Commissioner of Police must be a disturbed and worried man to learn what is going on with his tried and trusted officers.

The Home Affairs

Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn, certainly has his hands full and need to weed out all the criminal elements in the force and the army. President Irfaan Ali must be in a state of shock and dismay to know that the men he entrusted with safety and security cannot be trusted with security.

As Head of State, he should be deeply concerned and not sleep on the job like his predecessor. Honesty is the best policy and those police officers and soldiers who are honest should be commended and encouraged to not let the hands of President Irfaan Ali fall.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Monday November 23, 2020

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Brazilian man ExxonMobil’s behaviour in Guyana is an attempt at colonisation - Int’l Lawyer, Melinda Janki wanted for Balamani International Lawyer, Melinda Janki believes that ExxonMobil’s relationship with Guyana amounts to an attempt at colonisation Speaking to anticolonialist Kingston University Professor, Andy Higginbottom, during an online forum, Janki said last month that “the main point of colonization is to take a country’s resources and to pay little or nothing. The colonizing entity co-opts the political elite, [then] the colonizing entity and the coopted political elite rely on agents and accomplices.

Together, you have an unholy trinity that completes the colonization.”

She explained that in order to get away with this, ExxonMobil has to fool people. She reminded that in the old days, European colonizers promised civilization and a better faith.

“We know what that looks like,” Janki said. “We’ve heard that. Genocide, slavery, brutality, land dispossession.

Grinding poverty for the colonized; riches for the colonizing power.”

“The lie,” she said, “isn’t gonna work now. So today, the colonizers say we’ll get economic development – the holy grail of the capitalist system.”

What is promised as economic development, Janki posited, tends to turn into genocide, land grabs,

International Lawyer, Melinda Janki grinding poverty for the colonized, riches for the colonizing power and the elites, and their accomplices and agents, and destruction of the natural world…”

Former Petroleum Advisor to the Government, Dr. Jan Mangal, had also raised concerns about this issue. He had said that the Government is welcoming the colonization of Guyana if it approves the Payara permit.

At the time, he had advised the government to use the permit as leverage to convince Exxon to come to the negotiation table for a better Stabroek block deal.

The Government refused, and approved the project quickly.

Dr. Mangal had told Kaieteur News “They are saying ‘welcome to the new

colonization of Guyana’. We replaced ‘Bookers’ with ‘ExxonMobil’.”

Bookers, a British business firm, had operated in British Guiana, with sugar plantations being the lifeline of its wealth.

The company’s economic power and reach into colonial Guiana’s affairs was so pervasive that the country had sometimes been called ‘Booker’s Guiana’.

ExxonMobil first struck a commercial discovery of oil in the Stabroek block in 2015, and has been aggressively drilling ever since, racking up 19 discoveries in two blocks, amounting to more than nine billion oil equivalent barrels.

Publicly available information indicates that the supermajor expects to find at least 12 billion more barrels in the

blocks it operates.

The caveat to the discovery of this oil is that Exxon is operating with an oil contract which grants it extremely generous concessions, and has been internationally condemned as unfair and lopsided. Both major parties refuse to renegotiate the Stabroek Block agreement, which global Witness said left tens of billions of dollars on the negotiating table.

Both major parties have made problematic hires in their management of the oil and gas sector, involving major conflicts of interest and or controversial specialists.

Both major parties have also signed away oil blocks under suspicious circumstances, leading to calls for independent, forensic investigations into the circumstances surrounding the awards.

After five years managing the oil and gas industry, Guyana’s political leaders have allowed the production of oil with updating a single shred of legislation pertinent to its management.

The Petroleum (Exploration & Production) Act, the principle legislation to govern the sector, is more than three decades old.

As a result of Guyana’s antiquated legal framework, ExxonMobil has managed to obtain an effective monopoly over Guyana’s oil sector.

Lockdown likely for Region Six village as COVID-19 cases spike - Chairman - as country’s death toll climbs to 144 Regional Chairman of Region Six, David Armogan, said yesterday that a lockdown is likely to take effect as the coronavirus/ COVID-19 disease continues to spread in villages within the region.

Armogan made this disclosure in wake of the recently recorded spike in cases within the once COVID-19 free region.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 88 new COVID-19 cases of which Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has chalked up 35—representing more than 40 percent of the new cases.

As such, in an invited comment with Kaieteur News, Armogan revealed that steps are being taken to contain the disease to the most affected district within Region Six. According to the Regional Chairman, Siraputa – a small Indigenous village

Regional Chairman of Region Six, David Armogan. located about one and a half miles up the Corentyne River —accounted for at least 16 positive new cases—making the district with the highest concentration of cases within Region Six. Armogan said a decision was made to conduct mass testing in the village after a few students tested positive for the disease.

He said that the tests conducted revealed Siraput, which has a population of approximately 600 people, had (Continued on page 18)

backdam stabbing A Brazilian man is wanted by the police in relation to a stabbing incident at Balamani Backdam, Cuyuni River, which left one miner dead and another injured.

Wanted by the police is Marcio Magalhaes Santos, 32, of Boa Vista, Brazil, and Balamani Backdam, North West District.

According to police, the incident occurred on November 3, 2020. On the day in question, Santos, the deceased and Vivian Lacruz of St. Ignatius, Lethem, were imbibing when an argument erupted between them.

As a result of the argument, Santos reportedly whipped out a knife and dealt the deceased and Lacruz multiple stabs about their bodies before making good his escape on foot.

The two injured men were rushed to the Bartica Hospital where the unidentified man was pronounced dead and Lacruz was treated for wounds to his neck and hand and referred to the GPHC. He was later discharged.

According to Regional Commander, Dion Moore, after Lacruz was sent home, he told police that he

Wanted: Marcio Magalhaes Santos knows the deceased by the call name “Shorty” from Wouna, Mabaruma, North West District, Region One but he could not provide a name for the dead man.

The investigations into the murder and attempted murder are ongoing.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Marcio Magalhaes Santos is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers: 777-5007, 7774007, 911 or the nearest police station.

...Probe completed into female mastermind’s From page 10 continue their efforts to recapture the fugitive, anyone with information that may lead to her arrest are asked to contact them on telephone numbers: 229-2289, 220-2222, 2271149, 911, or the nearest police station.

Tapsie is believed to be the one who planned and directed the suspected robbery and murder of the Ramjit.

Ramjit, a La Grange businesswoman, was strangled to death in her two-storey

house.

Detectives had obtained leads from video footage, which led to the arrest of a juvenile in Berbice. He admitted his involvement and was remanded.

Investigators were able to establish that a car was used in the crime.

It is alleged that the Kitty taxi driver, Rishiram Singh, was the driver of that car. He too has since been remanded as investigations continue.

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Kaieteur News

Monday November 23, 2020

...Lockdown likely for Region Six village as COVID-19 From page 17 the highest number of cases.

The other positive cases were spread across different areas in the Corentyne.

Nonetheless, Armogan said that a lockdown of Siraputa is imminent. “We have a medical team up there doing more tests and conducting contact tracing.

Some persons have been in quarantine or isolation and we made arrangements for those in need of critical care to be transported out of the area.

At present, the situation is being monitored but if the cases increase there will likely

be a lockdown,” the Chairman said.

In the meantime, another COVID-19 death has been reported in Region Six. The death of an 80-year-old male from Siraputa, takes the nation’s death toll to 144. This is according to the COVID-19 dashboard released by the MOH yesterday.

The MOH noted that there are 40 new COVID-19 cases.

Of the new cases recorded, Region One has nine new cases, Region Two has four, Region Three has five, Region Four has

fourteen, Regions Six and Eight have one new case each while Regions Seven and Ten have recorded three new cases each.

There are 886 patients in home isolation, 78 in institutional isolation and 7 are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Total recoveries now stand at 4,019, according to the Ministry’s dashboard.

An additional 57 persons who were exposed to positive patients are in institutional quarantine. Yesterday’s confirmed cases have moved the COVID -19 figure to 5,133, the MOH revealed.

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Kaieteur News

Monday November 23, 2020

Monday November 23, 2020

GCB Tropical Spring T20 Cricket

W/B’ce win 2nd game in as many days West Berbice won their second consecutive game, while three of six games scheduled for yesterday were washed out without a ball being bowled.

Both games at Everest were washed out yesterday in the second round of GCB Tropical Spring T20 Cricket for the second day in a row due to torrential rain accompanied by thunder and lightning in the City.

However, the sun was out at the Jai Hind ground in Albion Berbice as Jai Hind Masters beat Sarjoo Tigers by 38 runs after making 154-7 in 20 overs with Mangali

Subramani top scoring with 36.

Subramani added 51 for the second wicket with John ‘Kemraj’ Sumir who scored with 29 after Mark Ferreirahad removed Imran Hussain for six to leave the score on 9-1 in the third over.

Rakeek Kassim had 2-14 for Sarjoo’s Tigers who were restricted to 116-7 when their overs expired.

In the afternoon game in Berbice, General Marines made 71-9 in 20 overs with Daiaram Hemraj being the only batsman to offer resistance with 29.

Action in the match at Enmore where play was possible. (GCB) Rajban Hemraj had 4-8 f o r We s t B e r b i c e w h o reached their target for the

Monday November 23, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It could be that close friends or family members are in sharp disagreement regarding a certain issue. Try not to be too distressed by divisions among the people you love.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) In an attempt to merge with infinity, you might overlook some basic life principles. Be careful about being seduced by those who want you to be involved in their drama.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) In your attempts to always be the nice, helpful one, you might find that you're compromising some of your values.

Know that balance and harmony are wonderful things, but they aren't always worth the price of self-sacrifice.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Feel free to stand up for yourself, a cause, or another person today, even if you know it will cause tension among the others around you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Actions could be quick and intense today, Gemini. Things may hit you like lightning, so be prepared for just about anything.

CANCER(June21–July22) Your playful attitude is apt to be opposed by someone who refuses to see things your way, Cancer. Walk away from those who aren't committed to helping the situation.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today may be one of those days in which you're trying to paint a large area, but you only have a small brush. Your strokes are careful and calculated. You're doing a neat and precise job, but you're also doing things the hard way.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may be barking up the wrong tree today, Virgo. Before you waste all your energy on your podium proclaiming your thoughts to the world, it would behoove you to stop, look around, and notice your audience.

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Kaieteur News

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your mind is apt to be fixed on one thing today, and you won't rest until you've obtained it. Perhaps it's a physical place you're trying to get to, a new gadget that you want to own.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) hings may happen right under your nose today, and you may not even be aware of it. The thing that will be obvious is your reaction to the situation when this hidden event suddenly comes to light.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It could be that close friends or family members are in sharp disagreement regarding a certain issue, Aquarius.

Try not to be too distressed by divisions among the people you love.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) There is a great deal of emotion and drive to the day, just the way you like it. Make sure you don't get stuck with the short end of the stick as the day comes to a close. An honest fight or debate is one thing, but a harsh manipulation of people is another.

loss of four wickets to win their second game in as many days. Kemchan Persaud had 2-6 in a losing effort.

At Enmore, after the morning game between KV Construction Maters and West Demerara Mavericks was abandoned, Bel Air Rubis Ultra Tec were limited to 78-9 in the afternoon game which was reduced to 15 overs due to a 58-minute delay caused by morning rain on the East Coast.

Richard Ramdeen followed up first day half century with a top score of 18 but no other batsman passed 10.

Abdul Hanif had 2-14 for West Demerara Masters who reached 79-3 in 13.1 overs to take their second win in as many days.

Romario Thakur top scored with 19 while an unbeaten knock of 17 each from Chabiraj Ramcharran and Patrick Khan saw their team home after Sudesh Persaud was dismissed for 18.

The tournament continues t o m o r r o w, Tuesday 24 November 2020, with matches in Demerara. The first match at the Enmore Community Centre will also begin at 0930 hours where West Demerara Mavericks will c o m p e t e a g a i n s t We s t Demerara Masters, while the afternoon will have RP Construction Legends versus Everest Masters.

At the Everest Cricket club ground, Bel-Air Rubis Ultra Tec will battle Regal Masters in the morning encounter which begins at 0930 hours, while at 1345 hours KV Construction Masters will compete against Sand Pipper Masters. (Sean Devers)

‘Advisable does not mean “Required” Sports Minister responds to article In an official press release by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Minister Charles Ramson Jnr, who is also an attorney at Law, states: The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has noted the Media (20th November 2020) with headlines “CWI says approval for Big Man Cricket must come from Territorial boards” in the Guyana Chronicle and “CWI tells Big Man Cricket organisers to get GCB approval”.

The Ministry has seen and read the email communication emanating from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cricket West Indies (CWI), Johnny Grave cited in the news reports and respectively directs attention to the statements contained therein by the CEO. “In short, in order to officially host your Big Man Cricket Tournament in Guyana, it is advisable that you solicit the Guyana Cricket Board’s approval or no objection by them” The Ministry agrees with

the statement from the CEO in this regard but notes that this was not accurately reflected in the reported Headline and the contents of the Media report of referenced above.

The Ministry respectively directs attention to the word “advisable” used by the CEO and underscores an important distinction with to use word “required” as stated and/or suggested in the news reports “Advisable” does not mean “required”.

For the sake of definitive clarity, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for the approval/imprimatur conferred on the “Big Man Cricket” tournament i.e, “…the approval or imprimatur for any sports tournament by respective Sports Associations/ Federations, while inherently beneficial, is not strictly required unless it is a vehicle for advancement within the structure of a World/International sports body (in this case the CWI or ICC).

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Monday November 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

Prime Minister Mark Phillips receives RHTYSC Dolphin Award of Excellence The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS is well known across Guyana for honouring and recognizing its own heroes and outstanding Guyanese.

Each year, the clubs holds the country’s largest award ceremony to honour its outstanding performers and also hosts award ceremonies like Tribute to Heroes, Tribute to Outstanding Teachers, Tribute to Retired Teachers, Region 6 Sports Awards, Ansa Mcal Award of Excellence, Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers and Tribute to Medical Workers.

The highest of the awards is the Dolphin Award of Excellence, which is specially reserved for sixty outstanding Guyanese and five nonnationals.

On Thursday last, the Club presented the Award to Prime Minister Mark Phillips during a simple ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister located at Camp Street, Georgetown. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster along with Vice President Mark Papannah, Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu along with Youth Ambassador Marissa Foster handed over the award to the Prime Minister.

The Dolphin Award is

RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster collects the donation from Prime Minister Mark Phillips. given to outstanding friends of the club who have played a major role in the development of the RHTYSC, MS and most importantly is a positive role model to members of the club as they resist the evil ways of Satan.

The first awardee was late General Manager of Guyana Beverage Company, Robert Selman. Others to receive the award includes former President David Granger, former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, former

Regional Vice-Chairman Dennis Deroop, Bakewell General Manager Rajin Ganga, Dr. Aaron Fraser, West Indies female captain Stefanie Taylor, medical doctor Dr.Tulsi Dyal Singh, Joseph Red’s Pereira, Journalist Gregory Rambarran, Namilco Manager Bert Sukhai and Regional Chairman David Armogan.

The Prime Minister is the 50th person to receive the award. Foster noted the Prime Minister outstanding service

Prime Minister Mark Phillips receives the Dolphin Award of Excellence from RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster. to Guyana in the military sector, his role-model status to youths across the country and stated that over the years, Mr. Phillips had assisted the club on numerous occasions especially as Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force.

Foster handed over the award which included a plaque, trophy and a Medal of Excellence.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the club for honoring him and urged the members to uphold

their high standards. Stating that he felt humbled to be honoured, he committed to working along with the RHTYSC to continue making a positive difference in the lives of youths and to visit the club soon.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also handed over a significant financial contribution to the ten cricket teams of the club towards their 2020 Christmas Charity Programme which would be held during the month of

December.

The donation would go a long way to assisting the teams to fulfill their objective of sharing out one thousand food hampers, five hundred special Christmas packages, five thousand Christmas toys and provide Christmas breakfast to hundreds of less fortunate senior citizens.

Foster expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the timely contribution.

Daniil Medvedev makes history with final O2 ATP Finals win MetroUK - Daniil Medvedev became the first man to beat the top-three ranked players at the ATP Finals as he fought back from a set down to beat Dominic Thiem and win the final title at the O2.

Medvedev, the world No. 4 from Russia, has finished this season with a bang, picking up a third Masters 1000 title in Paris-Bercy before beating Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Thiem en route to the biggest title of his

career. He’s the second Russian to win this tournament after Nikolay Davydenko, who won the the first edition held at the O2 in 2009, and showed real resolve to recover from an early setback to win 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 in two hours and 52 minutes. It’s been some November for the longlimbed Russian. He’s won all 10 of his matches this month, including seven top-10 wins, and pockets £1.2million after going unbeaten at this

tournament.

The former US Open finalist was on the brink of defeat in both his semi-final and final match in London, but roared back against Nadal – who served for the match – and Thiem to clinch a second title of the season. Medvedev became only the second man – after Djokovic in 2008 – to win the title in his second appearance, having lost all three matches on his debut.

He’ll hope to follow in Djokovic’s footsteps by

finishing this event as the last champion – as Djokovic did in Shanghai – before becoming the most successful player in its next destination – as Djokovic, a four-time winner here, did at the O2.

For US Open champion Thiem, it’s another final defeat. He has losing records in finals at Grand Slam level, Masters 1000 level and a 0-2 record at these finals having been beaten by Stefanos Tsitsipas in last year’s final.

The pair will no doubt be heading to Turin next season as one of the top-eight players for the first edition of a five-year-contract for this tournament to be held in Italy.

Despite the lack of fans, this has been a high-quality end to an event that has served London well for the past 12 seasons.

Londoners packed the 17,000-capacity O2 in day and night sessions every week throughout its stay since 2009 – Turin has a tough act to follow. The event finishes at the O2 with six different champions in its final six years, but it will surely be Thiem who leads the new

generation in these finals’ new home.

It was Medvedev who started the stronger. He held with back-to-back aces and then applied pressure on the Thiem serve, forcing the nervy world No. 3 to save two break points. In the fifth game, Medvedev looked on course for another comfortable hold but lost five points in a row from 40-0 up.

His third game point was a dreadful miss, dumping a smash into the net and Thiem reeled off the next two points to take a 3-2 lead.

Medvedev’s five-point horror show proved to be enough for Thiem to clinch the set. A cruel net cord in the Austrian’s favour sealed it. It was the fifth game of the second set – as was the case in the first – where Medvedev faced a break point, but this time he held firm to keep his nose in front in the set. He held on again in the seventh game of the second, saving two more break points and Thiem – who took an awkward tumble at the start of his next service game – followed suit by saving one in the eighth.

It needed a tiebreak to split them and it was Medvedev who prevailed. He reeled off seven points in a row after losing the first two to level things up. In the third game of the deciding set, Thiem fell 0-40 down but boldly saved three break points with first-strike tennis. Two games later, he cracked. In a marathon service game, Medvedev returned relentlessly to finally break through and clinch the vital break, with a smart approach and two-volley finish at the net.

History was made in the doubles final earlier on Sunday. Dutch-Croat duo Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic became the doubles pairing to win their first title as a team at the ATP Finals.

They beat Jurgen Melzer and Eduoard Roger-Vasselin 6-2 3-6 10-5 and will now split as a pair. Mektic will team up with compatriot Mate Pavic, who binned Bruno Soares at the end of this season. The Brazilian will reunite with Jamie Murray. For Melzer – one of two Austrians in the finals at the O2 along with Thiem – he will retire. His final shot as a professional tennis player was a double fault on match point.

Monday November 23, 2020

Team Guyana completes ASICS Marathon Relay Yesterday morning, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), continued a second successive week of activity after organising the participation of Team Guyana in the ASICS World Ekiden Marathon race.

The race began at KK Gas Station at Mahaica on the East Coast of Demerara and concluded at the Seawall band stand in Georgetown.

The virtual race that will see Team Guyana’s time being compared with athletes from across the globe was is titled Japanese Ekiden: The Asics World Ekiden 2020.

The Ekiden is a Japanese

relay that’s all about teamwork, rivalry and competition.

Runners pass along their tasuki (or sash) as fast as possible, and while each leg is run separately, teams compete as one.

A team is comprised of six athletes running different legs of the race. Guyana’s participants included, Jonathan Fagundes, Ronnell Newton, Royston Fordyce, Cleveland Forde, Winston Missigher and Cleveland Thomas, who combined for a decent time of 2 hours 27 minutes.

Up to press time, the

online standings showed a total surmounting 8000 entries into the completion but Guyana’s time of 2hrs 27mins should put them into the top 100 of the men’s category.

In an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, Aubrey Huston; head of the AAG, noted that he was happy that the athletes braved the weather and came out to compete in the race and expressed thanks to them.

He also revealed that the South American 10k, which was originally scheduled for this Sunday, has been rescheduled until December 6th.

Marlon Williams wins first time trial as cycling resumes Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams set the stage for an intriguing second and third stage with victory in the first men’s time trial yesterday as cycling resumes following a hiatus of some eight months due to the pandemic.

Williams proved too good his rivals as he clocked 11m: 18.39seconds in the five-mile contest which attracted 33 starters.

The event commenced at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara and proceeded through Kitty before turning at the

Roundabout and finishing at the COVID-19 Hospital, Lilliendaal.

Jamual John took the runner up spot with a time of 11:26.04, while Brighton John placed third in 11:38.70.

Marcus Keiler finished in fourth position with 11:47.26; Kwame Ridley was fifth in 12:05.92, while Alex Mendes occupied sixth position in 12:09.61.

The event was sponsored

by Zoon Online Shopping, Star Party Rentals, Professional Business

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Services and Friends of Guyana’s cycling in the Diaspora.

The second stage will be held on Sunday in Berbice while the third will be contested on December 6 in Linden.

The top three finishers of each Time Trial will be rewarded, along with the top six overall.

The organisers followed strict covid guidelines and cyclists were required to take a temperature test prior to the start of the event.

Gold is Money, Mix Up among victors

Organiser Samantha Vickiere (left) and sponsor Odessa Primus display the prizes.

Gold is Money and Mix Up have announced themselves as favourites to take the winning prize with comfortable wins when the Samantha Vickiere dominoes competition commenced on Saturday at Favourite Sports bar, Meadowbrook Gardens.

Gold is Money chalked up 81 games to win their encounter against C6 with 78 games and Beacon 69. Mix Up marked 82 games to beat Phantom 72 and Turning Point 68. Players scored 80 games to come out

victorious over Spartons 78 and Providence SC 66 games.

F and H Supreme tallied 84 games, beating F and H 75 and Executive with 64. Quiet Storm made 78 games to defeat Fresh Cash 74 and Gangster 69.

Spartans triumph with 81 games over Executive 78 and Phantom on 62. Gold is Money registered another victory as they chalked up 82 games against Players and Providence SC with 74 each.

The winning team will pocket a trophy and $150,000,

runner up a trophy $75,000 and third place a trophy and $40,000. The most valuable player will receive $5,000.

The competition is being sponsored by overseas based Guyanese Odessa Primus.

In an invited comment, Primus said she is pleased to be given an opportunity to be part of such a tournament, adding that she is happy to see the large number of female players involved.

(Zaheer Mohamed)

Players in action during the opening round of matches on Saturday.

‘Cornwall putting pressure on his body’ former WI pace bowler worries spinner’s unusual run-up could cause injuries

Cyclists at the starting line yesterday. (GCN photo)

SportsMax - Former West Indies pace bowler Tony Gray has expressed concern with the bowling technique of spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, which he believes could eventually lead to the player suffering injury issues.

Another former player, legendary spinner Lance Gibbs, sparked controversy after questioning the effectiveness of the player’s short run-up technique last year. Taking the analysis a step further, however, Gray believes the unusual technique could also put a strain on the player’s body.

Cornwall has constantly

faced criticism for his overall fitness level but has achieved some measure of success despite that. At an estimated 1.96 m and 308 lbs, he is believed to be the heaviest man to ever play Test cricket.

“I ask the question that has never been answered. Is Cornwall’s problem genetic, because if it’s genetic it’s going to be difficult to lose the weight? If not, why hasn’t he lost the weight yet, since the under-19 level,” Gray said recently on the Mason and Guest radio programme.

“I share Lance Gibbs’s opinion…the thing about it is

if you look at Cornwall’s mechanics, he is a big guy, he takes two steps and it puts a lot of pressure on his body,” he added.

“He had a knee operational earlier this year, not a serious one but he still had some pressure on that knee. My thing with him is that early on in his career he should have been coached with better mechanics, giving him at least four or five steps.

Spinners who can rip the ball, they don’t only use their wrist or their fingers, but obviously, their body as well and you can’t use your body if you are taking only two steps.”

Monday November 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

Minister Mustapha fulfills promises to BCB hands over funds for scholarship and Cricket One month ago, Region Six Member of Parliament and Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha met with the executives of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) at the Fyrish Primary School during one of his outreaches in Berbice. The Minister, a Berbician, had committed to playing a major role in the development of Berbice Cricket and the two delegations discussed a wide range of plans.

On Thursday last, the Minister started to fulfill his commitments to the board by handing over two cheques, valued at $500,000 combined for a University of Guyana educational scholarship and the hosting of an Under-15 cricket tournament for clubs in the Ancient County. BCB President Hilbert Foster, who accepted the two cheques in the presence of Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, stated that the one year educational scholarship was awarded to Neem Khan of the Albion Cricket Club.

The seventeen years old all rounder, who bowls off spin, attended the New Amsterdam Multilateral School and obtained ten subjects at the CSEC. He has

been accepted at the Tain branch of the University of Guyana to study for a Bachelor Degree in Agriculture. Khan is the son of former Berbice all rounder Zamal Khan and also plays part time for his home village of Chesney.

The Ministry of Agriculture Under-15 tournament would bowl off the BCB 2021 cricket season and would be played on a round robin 50-Overs per side basis.

About eighteen teams drawn from across Berbice are expected to participate in the tournament, which would be used to select the Berbice inter county team. Among the teams expected to participate are No73, Scottsburg, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes, Albion Community Center, No19 Kendall’s Union, RH Canje, Mt. Sinai, Edinburgh, East Bank Blazers, Blairmont, Achievers, Bush Lot United and Bush Lot All Stars.

Foster stated that the tournament would be very important for the BCB because after the enforced stoppage of over nine months, the board was uncertain of the current

status of many of the players.

The date of birth cut-off date would be the 1st of September, 2006 and players are expected to be attending school if they desire to play in the tournament.

The BCB President announced that 2021 would see a very active calendar for the board with the hosting of thirty cricket tournaments at the Under 13, Under 15, Under 17, Under 19, Under 21, Female, Internal Zone, Intermediate, Second Division, Double Wickets and First Division Levels.

Additionally, special emphasis would be placed on expanding the coaching programmes of the BCB and providing assistance to clubs and less fortunate cricketers.

Foster expects the BCB assistance programme to players and cricketers to exceed over $3M in 2021.

The BCB President extended gratitude to Minister Mustapha and Permanent Secretary Ms. Nedd for their cooperation. He pledged that the tournament would be well organised, while the BCB would monitor the performance of Mr. Naeem Khan on a regular basis to make sure that he upholds his required standards.

BCB President Hilbert Foster receives the sponsorship cheque from Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in the presence of BCB PRO Simon Naidu and Permanent Secretary Ms. Nedd.

rt Spo

From L-R, Jonathan Fagundes, Ronnell Newton, Royston Fordyce, Cleveland Forde, Winston Missigher and Cleveland Thomas, who competed for Guyana in the Ekiden marathon. (Calvin Chapman photo)

Team Guyana completes ASICS Marathon Relay Marlon Williams wins first Windies draw with New Zealand time trial as cycling resumes after Young and Conway flourish - 3rd day, Tour Match

Daniil Medvedev makes history with final O2 ATP Finals win

Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams was too good for his rivals yesterday (Guyana Cycling News photo)

‘Cornwall putting pressure on his body’ - former WI pace bowler worries spinner’s unusual run-up could cause injuries

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