Kaieteur News

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Robert Persaud NEWS threatens Jan Mangal with US$2M libel suit

Thursday Edition

AIETEUR

October 08, 2020 - Vol. 13 No.40

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

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 102,650

Have a public vote on Exxon deal - Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer p. 3

-‘Govt. cannot run from the will of the people’ ‘wood-ants’ are Businesswoman Venezuelan Political eating out our house among three new - Autopsy COVID-19 fatalities cook was reveals - death toll now at 98 strangled, raped p.

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As election fraud probe continues…

‘Gully side’ on GECOM Deputy trial for murder CEO, Roxanne Myers, of Sophia remains in custody shopkeeper p.

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Political ‘wood-ants’ have infested the national house. As Guyanese know too well, ‘wood-ants’, if not detected and exterminated, can cause untold damage.

This is exactly what is happening with our oil wealth.

Guyanese political ‘wood-ants’ (leaders) and their helpers (cronies) are swarming all over this country’s oil properties. They are eating into our wealth to satisfy their insatiable greed. They diminish the worth of the oil properties by biting off chunks and carting them away under secretive corporate deals.

It is time Guyanese take action to rid the country of its political ‘wood-ants’ who have eaten away at our oil prospects, leaving the national house shaky and tottering.

GCAA submits Blairmont Sugar Estate Witness in E’bo hotel claim to LIAT for to focus exclusively on shooting millions owed export market - GuySuCo CEO vanishes p.

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Private Sector will be adequately consulted for local content legislation

- PSC Chair

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Who really owns the Kaieteur and Canje oil blocks, do the leaders of this land care to tell the nation?

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Kaieteur News

Thursday October 08, 2020

Thursday October 08, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Have a public vote on Exxon deal - Govt. cannot run from the will of the people' - Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer

By Kemol King

G

overnment should put the Stabroek Block agreement to referendum, and let the people decide what should be done with the contract, suggests Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer.

The businessman, who currently serves as Chair of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), appeared on last Tuesday's edition of Kaieteur Radio's Petroleum 101.

Invited to comment on the deal, the National Hardware owner said that it would benefit Guyana to do a comparative analysis of Guyana's Stabroek Block deal and other contracts across the region, such as from its neighbour to the East, Suriname. Sharing the Guyana-Suriname basin, the Dutch-speaking country has managed to secure a deal

Businessman, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer (Photo taken from Energy Chamber of Trinidad & Tobago's website) Bharrat Jagdeo has criticised the deal, he has refused to renegotiate it, only offering that the Irfaan Ali administration will seek to renegotiate every other deal.

He even recently acknowledged that the deal is bad, but rebuked

you talk to the average man on the street, “ If they'll say let's renegotiate the contract.

- Businessman, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer” with the developers of its very lucrative Block 58 that would allow the State to take home 36 percent of the revenue from the sale of the crude.

Guyana, on the other hand, is taking home 14.5 percent of the revenue from the sale of the Liza crude currently being produced in the Stabroek Block. The rest is going to ExxonMobil, the operator, and its partners, Hess and CNOOC. To many in Guyana, the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed by former Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, is lopsided and should be renegotiated. To ExxonMobil and its joint venture partners, paying a mere two percent royalty and benefitting from a permanent tax holiday, among other enviable terms, the deal is a steal. The companies have boasted about Guyana being a priority in their portfolios.

While Vice President

propositions to have it renegotiated. There were advocates for the approval of the Payara development permit to be used as a bargaining chip, so Exxon

explained, “is that if the population of Guyana wants the government to do something, they have to act.

They cannot run from the fact that, that is what the people of Guyana want them to do.”

In February, DeygooBoyer had expressed his disapproval with the contract, on Petroleum 101.

He had said that the government negotiators let Guyana down.

The businessman has stressed the importance of hiring expert negotiators who are able to represent Guyana's interests well.

A report released earlier

A referendum is a public vote taken by citizens of a country or other jurisdiction on a proposal of national or universal interest. and its partners would come to the negotiating table.

Jagdeo said that proponents of that were engaged in wishful thinking.

Deygoo-Boyer said that that the government of Guyana is a representative of the voice of the people, and that if the people say they want the contract renegotiated, the government will have to act in accordance.

“If you talk to the average man on the street,” he said, “they'll say let's renegotiate the contract.”

“What you want to [say] to the international investors,” Deygoo-Boyer

this year revealed that there wasn't much negotiating done, to speak of. Global Witness said that Trotman negotiated the deal in 2015 in an unusually short period, ignored expert advice and left US$55B on the table, while in Texas on a luxurious Exxon-paid trip.

Kaieteur News has been on the forefront exposing over the years various provisions in the Stabroek Block deal which render it sub-standard and outdated.

The agreement governs the likely development of more than eight billion proven oilequivalent barrels, said to be Guyana's ticket to

prosperity.

Referenda have been used to decide matters of national interest. In 2016, the United Kingdom allowed the public to vote on whether the country should leave the

European Union. A slim 5248 vote in favour of leaving, set a series of processes in motion for Britain to eventually leave the EU. Other high profile referenda include the 2015

Irish vote to allow same sex marriage, and the recent Swiss vote to set the minimum wage at the equivalent of US$25/hr, believed to be the highest in the world.

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL New York City: The centre and soul of America is dying For decades New York has been a safe harbour for fleeing and hopeful Guyanese. The exodus has been going on so long and at such a heavy volume that there must be hundreds of thousands of locals, who left for the Big Apple and now call it their first home. Now the atmosphere of that once teeming place, that immigrant bastion, is largely dismal and broadly negative.

The evidence from all around - most sections and neighbourhoods - is of a war zone under heavy fire, of opportunist criminals and politicians adding to the ruins, of leadership failures at many levels, and of a once vast and vital environment in the throes of a seeming death spiral. There was the sustained and remorseless battering from the COVID-19 pandemic that just about shut down the economic engines of the five boroughs that make up the City, including glittering Manhattan. In conjunction with the viral, the human in the form of chaotic protests and generalized paralysis introduced a second nail into the coffin and has left it all but dead on its feet.

One proud New Yorker, a former hedge fund manager and bestselling author, said that New York City is ‘dead forever’ (Market Watch, August 17, 2020). Between March and May of this year, at the height of the pandemic, upwards of 400,000 residents fled. Vacant apartments are at a record number and most New York City offices are closed, with downsizing on the cards. The agonizing question, never before imagined or faced, that residents ask of themselves now is this: “Is New York City worth it anymore?” The more relevant question that Guyanese living there, or heading there is this one: is it worth staying there or going anymore?

The jobs have dried up, quality of life has faded rapidly, and the overall energizing culture of the greatest city in America is shattered and scattered all over the place. For it was the same depressing story coming out of the New York Post on August 2, where the caption conveyed where people are: “Business leader say wealthy New Yorkers don’t want to come back’ to the city.” According to the New York Post, “The top one-percent of earners account for 40 percent of New York state revenue.” If those folks have little desire to work and play (theater, restaurants, nightlife) in New York City, the erosion of the tax base is sure to ripple furiously outward and impact many communities in many ways.

With existing budget deficits already burdening, the departure of wealthy taxpaying citizens could sound the death knell a place that was, at one time, thought to be unconquerable and immortal. With this as context, it is exasperating that the kind of decisive and timely leadership so vital in circumstances such as these is conspicuously missing. Political leaders curse each other and fight among themselves, from the mayor and governor, and then both of them exchanging frequent bitter barbs with the current occupant of the White House. As if not wishing to be left out, the influential City Council is fragmented, the NYPD is at war with its civil and political detractors, and nobody is in charge. This is not helping anyone, especially those who most need authoritative leadership in the crises facing residents.Crime is out of control, the economy is severely depressed, businesses are shuttered, and many are out of work, with no relief coming from any quarter on any draining issue. The man in the White House, who has been called every dirty name in the book, was proud to conclude that New York City is a ‘ghost town.’ That certainly further depletes flagging spirits but is a sampling of wisdom from ranking politicians.

Separately, the ultra-leftists and limousine liberals awake and find the homeless in their neighbourhoods and, worse yet, right at their doorstep, and the response is: not in this backyard! Reality collides with ‘not in my backyard (NIMBY). From their perspective and visions of pristine Manhattan, the barbarians, vandals and Visigoths are inside the gates and now overrun everything held dear.

This is the scarred and worn-down battlefield in which Guyanese live and where locals plan to go. Suddenly, right here looks like the better option.

Thursday October 08, 2020

None can deny frontline workers are facing grave threats in the workplace Dear Editor, Admittance by the government that at least 40 workers of the Georgetown Public Hospital have contracted the novel coronavirus, COVID19, is disturbing enough for those who value the right to life, human decency and workers giving of their labour in an environment that protects their health and safety.

This is the environment our first responders, our frontline healthcare workers are being asked to give of their labour, take care of the sick that visit or stay in the hospital and any in their homes. This is the environment a society expects these workers to function in without Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and appropriate compensation.

Self-preservation is mankind’s strongest emotion.

Healthcare workers are human beings and they have a basic, fundamental entitlement to safety and protection of their lives. No worker should be unduly exposed knowingly to hazardous threats and potential life-threatening circumstances without adequate PPE. The lives of healthcare

workers matter and as important and essential as their services are, if we recognise this, then we must protect them so they can continue to deliver this essential service.

In industrial relations, it is not only the employee that has a responsibility to conform to the laws, the responsibility is equally that of the employer. Healthcare is classified as an essential service and the operation of those workers accordingly guided.

At the same time, the Essential Services Act (ESA) does not operate independent or in isolation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and all other laws impacting the working environment and welfare of these essential workers.

Whereas the ESA is to avoid shut down and strikes in the essential services, the OSHA specifically says an employee can refuse to work under any condition that threatens their safety. It follows, an employer that values the service of the workers will provide all the necessary tools, safety equipment, and continuously engage the workers’ representative to re-

solve differences and problems that impact their health and safety in the workplace.

None can honestly deny these frontline workers are facing grave threats in the workplace. These threats will impact on the ability to function and provide services badly needed in this pandemic. If those who have to provide care to others are not taken care of, it compromises their ability to serve and the wellness of those who seek their care.

The fact that healthcare workers continue to put their lives at risk in service to the lives of others, and are asking to be treated justly, they are not deserving to be caught in the vice of political upmanship. I reiterate, healthcare workers are not callous, they are caring professionals and all they are seeking is protection to do their job. Those who deny them this, and are supporting this denial, are callous and uncaring. They are the ones placing the lives of the healthcare workers and this nation at risk.

This issue is not only about law or seeking to score

political points; it is about life and death of workers/citizens. People are getting sick and people are dying from the pandemic. The level of cruelty and callousness in handling the concerns of the healthcare workers must stop, for the longer it takes to be addressed the greater will be the adverse impact on the health of this society.

In these times the heroism of healthcare workers cannot be underestimated, overlooked or abused. They remain a key bulwark between the spread of this deadly virus, illness and death. This is not the time to pussy foot.

The Government is being called on to put the health and wellness of this nation and its people first, to recognise in whose hands primarily that daily responsibility lies, and to treat the guardians (frontline healthcare workers) of this responsibility with deserving dignity and respect. There must be meaningful engagement with the Guyana Public Service Union to resolve the grievances forthwith.

Yours truly, Lincoln Lewis.

Appoint qualified diaspora specialists for scene and assisted with Ramharack have doctorates postings in the USA the penning press releases over in international relations or

DEAR EDITOR, I write to urge the Guyana government to appoint specialists in foreign affairs and diplomacy for vacant postings in the US. There are three vacant diplomatic postings in America: UN Rep, Ambassador to Washington and the OAS, and Consulate General of New York. The Consulate General of Miami, Mr. Ramzan Ally, should be retained as he is a long serving professional career service diplomat and has been doing a very good job.

My informed view and advice is that anyone who ran away from the PPP in 2015, and there are a few, after the party’s defeat should not be rewarded with a government appointment — not at the UN, not in the Foreign Ministry, and not to monitor foreign investment or in any of the three positions in the US. Those positions should be filled with competent, qualified individuals skilled in the required areas of foreign service, international relations, community affairs, and diplomacy from among the diaspora. A criminologist or someone with a background working at a prison would not meet the requirement of serving as Consulate General.

Someone working in labor relations or have had a running conflict with Guyanese

groups in America would not meet the requirements of competence in foreign service and diplomacy at the UN, OAS, and as Ambassador or CG. Such individuals would be square peg in round holes and lead to disastrous consequences and public relations for the government.

Deserving persons should be appointed to these prestigious positions.

Having lived in New York for several decades and been immersed in Guyanese community affairs and deeply involved in PPP support group political activism, there are a few names who are most qualified and appropriate to fill vacancies in Guyanese missions in America. They are Messrs Chuck Mohan and Flattie Singh, and Drs. Tara Singh, Baytoram Ramharack, Dave Rawana, Randy Persaud, and Vishnu Bisram.

Chuck and Drs. Singh, Ramharack, and Bisram and Flattie have been quite active in community affairs in NY while Randy is based in Washington restricting himself to academia. Singh, Ramharack, and Bisram have had a consistent presence in the media, the latter more than the other two, writing on Guyanese related issues.

Bisram writes almost daily and has connections globally.

Dave works quietly behind

the last few years and working closely with support groups. Chuck is more activist-oriented among American and immigrant groups. Very few from America have contributed more than Chuck Mohan and Flattie and Drs. Bisram and Ramharack in the struggle for free and fair elections in Guyana during the period of the dictatorship; they pioneered the anti-dictatorial movement in America during the 1970s. Dave Rawana was also involved in the FFE movement since the 1980s. Randy Persaud, Bisram, and Singh were closely involved in the struggle for FFE in 2020, particularly during the five months ordeal, helping to bring about that change on August 2 that led to the swearing in of Irfaan Ali as President. The President should appropriately reward them.

Chuck Mohan and Drs. Bisram, Singh, Ramharack, and Persaud are all qualified for a positing in America as they are all academics and educators par excellence.

They are all trained in the social sciences and understand diplomacy and foreign service. Mohan, Persaud, Bisram, and Ramharack are experts in American foreign policy and international organizations like OAS and UN. Bisram, Persaud, and

politics from accredited reputable universities, making them amply qualified for the foreign service positions.

Dave is a mathematician.

They did not purchase degrees from diploma mills like others that call themselves doctor when in fact they did not attend universities.

They studied in classrooms settings acquiring skills. Persaud, Ramharack, Rawana, and Bisram master how Washington and the UN, and OAS work. In addition, they lobbied members of Congress and the US Administration for free and fair elections in 1992 and 2020. They know how Washington works and have friends in the administration and diplomatic circles.

It would be ideal for the PPP administration to appoint one of the above or some other qualified personnel from the Guyanese diaspora in the US to fill vacant positions.

The government would save money utilizing their skills and service. In addition, having a grounding in the community, they would get enormous support to champion Guyana’s interests.

They are also deserving of positions have done so much in voluntary service to the nation for which we can never repay.

Yours truly Ruben Khusial

Thursday October 08, 2020

Reflecting on evolution of term ‘Guyanese diaspora’ DEAR EDITOR, The usage of the term Guyanese, Caribbean, Indian diaspora was initiated in the late 1970s and early 1980s by a group of us who were involved in academic studies at City College and the laborious struggle for restoration of democracy in Guyana. We worked closely with nationals from India and initially coined the term overseas Guyanese and overseas Indians.

And later on we coined the term Indian diaspora and Guyanese diaspora.

The overseas struggle for free and fair elections in Guyana, whether in UK, North America, Trinidad, Surinam, and elsewhere was carried out primarily, though not exclusively by IndoGuyanese. Afro-Guyanese and other overseas based ethnic groups were not keen in supporting a movement for restoration of democracy in Guyana for obvious reasons.

In a democratic election, the party the Afros and Mixed supported would lose power.

There were a handful of Africans and Mixed in the overseas WPA support groups that championed democracy for Guyana. However, all of the other support groups were almost exclusively Indian based. In protests and rallies I organized and attended relating to the struggle for free and fair elections (FFE), 99% or 100% were Indian attendees. It was natural, therefore, for them to gravitate towards Indian nationals who had close connection with officials in Washington. The Indian nationals opened doors in US government circles for Guyanese to seek assistance in the struggle for FFE. The concept of a Guyanese diaspora and the coinage of that term emerged out of that liberation movement in America to free Guyana from the throes of the dictatorship.

Baytoram Ramharack, Vassan Ramracha, and myself were initiators in the late 1970s of the concept of linking the overseas Guyanese groups that was labelled the diaspora.

We pursued unity among overseas Guyanese and were early pioneers of the overseas

movement for the liberation of Guyana. Later, we were joined

by Ravi Dev and for a very brief period by Randy Depoo, and other rights activists.

Some in the movement were more interested in working with the Indian diaspora because of our association with Indian Americans desiring to deepen connection with Mother India while individuals like Chuck Mohan, Arjune Karshan, and Mel Carpen were more attracted to the concept of a West Indian or Caribbean diaspora.

At any rate, IndoGuyanese belonged to all four diasporas and can claim credit for initiating usage of that term that would be popularly used post 2000 long after it was introduced in the 1980s in the lexicon and vocabulary of government officials and people of the Caribbean (Anglophone West Indies and Guyana) and India. By this time, my voluminous writings had transitioned from using the term overseas Guyanese and overseas Indians to Guyanese diaspora and Indian diaspora.

In February 1987, Ravi Dev and myself were in a meeting at CUNY Grad Center to establish an organizing committee to plan organizing the Fourth Conference of Indians in the Caribbean. Using term “Indian diaspora” was formally introduced by Dev and I, rather than the term “Indians in the Caribbean”.

The title of the committee was “Fourth Conference of Indians in the Diaspora” and the conference was held in 1988 at Columbia University.

And the term took on a life of its own with the concept of Indo-Caribbean diaspora and Indo-Guyanese diaspora also becoming in vogue.

There also emerged the usage of the terms Guyanese diaspora, Indo-Trini diaspora, Trini diaspora, Indo-Jamaican diaspora, Jamaican diaspora etc. Dev and I also played a leading role in the founding of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) in 1989, an Indian diaspora organization that comprised of several Guyanese including Yesu Persaud and later Ashook Ramsaran.

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In 1999, I was involved in an organized conference to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the founding of GOPIO. An initial meeting was held at the home of Prof. Jagat Motwani on Long Island.

Ramsaran and former UG Economics lecturer Prakash Singh were there as part of the discussion.

The conference focused on varied issues pertaining to the Indian diaspora including Guyanese and Trinis. At my advice, it was agreed to invite President Jagdeo as the keynote speaker.

Yesu was instrumental in getting Jagdeo to deliver the feature address at the September diaspora conference.

By this time, the usage of the term diaspora was increasingly being used in the Indian Guyanese media.

Ramsaran would later become head of GOPIO, and he and I would engage in almost daily conversation over a long period of time on the Indian, Trini, and Guyanese diasporas.

We suggested and planned diaspora activities in the US, Trinidad, Guyana, and India and worked closely with the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in India.

We conceived the idea of monuments pertaining to indentureship in India, Guyana, and Trinidad that were later effected. Because of our experience and expertise in diaspora, we were occasionally invited for discussions in Delhi on how to take tap into the resources of the diaspora for India’s development.

Later, a group in El Salvador solicited the expertise of Ramsaran on developing a framework on how that country can tap into the resources (Continued on page 6)

The wealth that will come from Payara could strengthen and diversify our economy DEAR EDITOR, The past six months of delays and political uncertainty almost halted Guyana’s opportunity to become one of the biggest oil producers in the Caribbean before it even began, but last week, the Irfaan Ali government finally approved the Payara project.

The approval brings Guyana one step closer to a better future in terms of development, new jobs, higher income, and a diversified economy. More importantly, the thousands of Guyanese employed in the industry and the dozens of companies that have eagerly joined the thriving industry servicing the projects can breathe a collective sigh of relief. Millions of dollars and

thousands of hours of training have been invested to build up the capacity needed for Guyanese to take part in their own oil industry.

Many local companies are already well integrated into Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas sector, from the MatPal Marine Institute and Strategic Recruitment Solutions, which train and place technicians on offshore platforms, to Arrow Oilfield Services and Panthera Solutions, which provide scaffolding and construction services for offshore rigs.

Thousands of Guyanese are already employed by domestic and international companies working in the sector.The wealth that will come from Payara and its successors could allow the government to strengthen

and diversify our economy— increasing access to education, healthcare, and other social programs through an expanded budget.

Investment in infrastructure projects has the power to bold better trade relationships with Brazil and Suriname and create new opportunities for Guyanese business to thrive here at home.

But all that development depends on a steady stream of new projects like Payara.

It would have been a tragic error to halt that development and put those investments to waste just as they were beginning to bear fruit. I applaud the Irfaan Ali government for taking a step in the right direction.

Yours truly, Donald Singh

Duty free concession on vehicles should be given to nurses DEAR EDITOR, Nurses have to get up every morning (or afternoon if they work nightshift) and prepare for the possibility that they will encounter a patient with a deadly virus. The weird part is that they do this every day, but usually no one pays attention.

In times where the world is on watch, people suddenly become keenly aware of the risk that nurses take every day. They think about the care they provide to the most vulnerable and the support they provide their loved ones.

The difference between nurses and the rest of the world during a crisis like the novel coronavirus is that nurses still go to work.

Nurses are on the front line of the defence against this

deadly disease, and that is why duty free concession to purchase motor vehicle for nurses should be considered by the Government of Guyana. However, strong rules must be enforced on those who are benefiting from duty free concession to purchase motor vehicle to carry out their official duties. If the

Auditor General were to do an audit into all those public officials who are benefiting from (Continued on page 6)

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The idea of asking for reports on ‘virtual teaching’ is farcical DEAR EDITOR, COVID-19 has affected more than two hundred countries throughout the world in unprecedented ways.

This pandemic has created massive disruption of the education systems in our history, affecting over 1.6 billion children in the world.

Most countries have crafted policies and have shifted to a ‘remote learning model’ trying to provide the best learning experience for their children through meaningful engagement and frequent learning opportunities since the COVID-19 crisis and the unparalleled disruption in education is far from over.

All schools across Guyana have been closed since March 13, 2020 and to date teachers were never given any guidance or direction on the way forward. Many of our teachers took it upon themselves, utilizing their own resources to engage learners on a virtual platform, mainly on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

The sad reality is, teachers are now being asked by the Ministry of Education to prepare and submit a weekly report on what was done through virtual teaching.

How can you prepare a report when the MoE has done nothing to establish any virtual teaching platform for its learners? That is, of course, unreasonable and the idea of asking for reports on ‘virtual teaching’ is farcical.

The MoE is giving parents the idea that teachers must engage their children in distance learning when they have not invested in any of those platforms. For many years now, teachers have always been asked to ‘improvise’ and to be ‘innovative’ but this, need to come to an end. Why aren’t they being provided with the requisite tools/materials needed for education delivery particularly for remote learn-

ing?

Many are displeased with the fact that teachers are still receiving their monthly salaries while away from schools but these persons fail to understand that we are living in an unprecedented time and teachers, like every other person, have a family to take care of. It should be noted that teachers are still being instructed to go out there in the midst of rising COVID-19 cases and distribute textbooks, exercise books, NGSA result slips along with printed learning materials. We can therefore say that our teachers are working for their salaries while putting their lives at risk for the nation’s children.

I wish to applaud the Ministry of Education for investing in the Guyana Learning Channel and its wide coverage which has been delivering curriculum to our children across Guyana along with the printed learning materials that are being distributed to them.

However, it is disappointing to know that only learners who do not have internet connectivity are receiving those materials.

Since the online platforms were never the MoE’s initiative I think they need to provide equal opportunity for our children and each child should receive printed materials. I am therefore, recommending to the Ministry of Education to utilize the postal service to provide these supplemental learning materials, such as workbooks and worksheets, to keep the children engaged during this period and stop instructing teachers to go out there and distribute these materials.

It is quite simple.Have these learning materials delivered to schools, teachers will then uplift same, make an arrangement with the Guyana Post Office so that teachers can take these packages to be

posted, since they have the address of every learner and it will be delivered to these learners. In that way, our educators will remain safe from this deadly disease and every child will be given the opportunity to have access to printed materials.

Apart from that, a meeting was held on the 28th August with the Honourable Minister of Education and Grades Five and Six teachers via Zoom.

Teachers suggested to the Minister that the $15,000 cash grant, promised by her administration, for every child in the public school system, should be withheld and used to purchase tablets for the children instead which can be used to establish a virtual platform.

One may question, why purchase tablets for every child when there isn’t internet connectivity throughout the length and breadth of Guyana? It is common knowledge that these very electronic gadgets can also have offline educational programmes installed. We can then talk about equal opportunity for our children. I would like to think that the Honourable Minister would have rubbished that idea proposed by those educators since earlier last month when the government announced the cash grant.

The Learning Channel, electronic gadgets in the form of tablets or iPads and supplemental learning materials such as worksheets and workbooks will certainly provide an equal opportunity for every child and only then we will be on a level playing field.

I am hopeful that my ideas be considered useful to the MoE and that something will be done anytime soon so that our children can benefit through distance learning as we all battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

Yours sincerely, Ashan Bacchus

Duty free concession on vehicles ...

From page 5 duty free concession to purchase motor vehicle for official use, it will expose that majority of those duty concessions were never taken into official use.

The majority of Guyana’s top public officials who are beneficiaries o f duty free

concessions have state vehicles assigned to them 24 hrs

at their disposal with a driver, while their duty free concession vehicles are parked under their house waiting to be sold in three years with a nice profit.

Why the same cannot be extended to Guyana’s nurses who are presently risking their lives to serve the people of

Guyana.

Some of these nurses must travel all hours in the nights to reach to work.

Guyana does not have a reliable public transportation system and as such all the necessary support must be given to our health care workers without a protest.

Finally, public support for healthcare workers is critically important. Any negative commentary about healthcare

COVID-19 pandemic continue – helping to promote a sense of pride in the critical role our healthcare workers have played.

Yours truly, Govind Singh Former Deputy Regional Executive Officer

As Chair, I reached the Gold Board with a $12 billion deficit and reduced it to $4 billion DEAR EDITOR, A good friend called to share that someone named Erika Smith wrote in the Guyana Chronicle attacking me and my work at the Guyana Gold Board. Although I have done this before and am doing this blindly (not having condescended to read what the so-called Ms. Smith penned) I proceed to do this again in the interests of setting the record straight.

The editor of the Guyana Chronicle is included in this writing for him or her to decide what truths matter and whether such should be shared with Guyanese.

I was told that Ms. Smith’s writing said that I should stop misleading the public and tell the truth about the GY$4 billion Bank of Guyana deficit left under my watch. I do so now with the facts, which are supported by the GGB’s accounting records, the Bank of Guyana records, and all other related documents. In March 2017, when I assumed the chairmanship of the Gold Board, the Bank of Guyana deficit stood in excess of GY12 billion. In three years, that deficit was reduced by almost 66% to approximately GY$4 billion when I left. I repeat for emphasis and in the interests of clarity: the deficit at the start of my tenure was over GY$12 billion; when I left it was GY$4 billion. I challenge Ms. Smith, the Hon. Vice President, the Hon. Minister Indar, the Hon. Minister of Natural Resources to all be honest enough and truthful enough to contradict or come clean with the truth and the facts, as they stand. Not be-

cause of what I say (again) today, but as the records testify and as truths bear out. I dare them all to manifest the integrity to be about such transparency, even if only for the first time in their existences. Then, let the Guyanese people decide who is misleading whom.

Also, I have no lands, mining permits, contractual relationships, or anything related to gold or the people’s business in any other area in any shape or form that I took, or can be attached to me, or is held by me. My business is an open book, and again I challenge all those honorable people to send their people to scrutinize my private and official dealings, to determine what I owned before, what I accumulated since, and what I have now that doesn’t belong to me by the sweat of my brow.

Now I appreciate that the people I direct my challenges to cannot do the same, but that is not my interest. Anybody can come after me, but they must make sure that they come good. I suppose that when the Erika Smiths surface, that this is the degree of honesty that His Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, had promised so stirringly at his inauguration. Obviously, we are far apart, and to the detriment of the president, on what honesty is all about and at the core.

Separately, we talk of democracy in this country, and all that that represents is another buzzword. I remind all of the PPP brain trust and propaganda artistes, from the president and Vice-president

on down, that genuine transparency means continuing scrutiny, through the intensity of honest inquiry. It is becoming apparent that the PPP government is all about empty words and nothing about ethical deeds. For there is this Ms. Erika Smith (who could be man, woman, Black or Indian) who is created out of nothing and put to work like one of Pavlov’s mutts.

This was what was practiced as far back as in the 1990s, as I can attest, when nonexistent creatures-sometimes with Afro sounding names-were produced by the propaganda mill to mislead. I caution today, like I did then, do not pick the wrong person. Pick a thief, which should be easy, given their proliferation and the close understanding of PPP leaders of what large scale thievery encompasses.

Last, I remember the instruments used to rightly batter the PNC during the elections’ hiatus, that are now largely ignored, found contemptible.

I remind the PPP leadership of the EU report that spoke of dark money campaign financing and the problems they posed, which today’s leaders and ministers are struggling to dodge. I also remind of what that EU report recommended about state media ownership. The antics of mystics such as Ms. Erika Smith, who deal in the occult stand as stark testimony of the tangled webs weaved by the PPP and that, despite all the blabber, it is the same dirty business as usual.

Yours truly, GHK Lall

When will the politicians start accepting Guyanese prowess and potential?

DEAR EDITOR (Re. Kaieteur News Oct. 6, 2020). Our politicians seem to be enamoured with foreigners coming to Guyana to do jobs that Guyanese can do. When will they start respecting or at least accepting local Guyanese prowess or potentialities in doing just as good a job as the foreigners they contract? This is a case of a prophet having no honour in his own country. If our politi-

cians have no confidence in our local capabilities, they can pick whomever they think is good enough to be sent overseas to learn the best of the trade. First it was the Russians and our bauxite. Then it was the Chinese and the deforestation of our treasured greenheart trees. Haven’t they learnt anything from the plunder of our greenheart timbers? Then it was the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Now it is the Aurora Gold Mines (AGM) that is at stake to be plundered without conscience by the Chinese once again. Only in Guyana do such things happen. It angers me, as it should anger every Guyanese, when our politicians act so

discriminately against their own people. This isn’t about any race, it is about looking out for our fellow Guyanese.

Yours truly, Gloria Loo

Reflecting on evolution of term ‘Guyanese...

workers and the difficult choices they may be forced to make needs to be avoided.

We ho pe that govern-

From page 5 of her diaspora.Guyana has diaspora specialists who can help the government develop a framework on linkage with the diaspora that has so much resources to contribute to Guyana’s development. I penned countless articles about the critical role the diaspora can play in Guyana’s development. All were

service and dedication of healthcare workers during the

ignored. Leyland Roopnarine told me he used the term Guyanese diaspora in conversation with a Minister. She wanted to know what was that, exposing the limitation in knowledge of that Minister.

President Ramotar had initiated with much fanfare in a Manhattan

ment and public expressions of gratitude for the

Thursday October 08, 2020

hotel some kind of infrastructure linkage with the diaspora in

2013, but it came to nought as there was no department in the foreign affairs ministry to follow up on utilizing the talent and resources of the diaspora. The coalition also ignored the expertise of diaspora despite promises by both AFC and APNU to work collaboratively with it for advice and input in national development. President Ali should break tradition and tap into the expertise and capital of the diaspora.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday October 08, 2020

Kaieteur News

When politicians have something to hide, it is then they refuse to provide information.

The more skullduggery is involved, the less transparent our leaders become.

All over the world, there are laws which allow for persons to know the beneficial owners of companies. But in Guyana, trying to find out who are the beneficial owners of the fabulously oil-rich Kaieteur and Canje blocks is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Guyanese have a right to know who got these blocks. And more importantly who are the politicians who will benefit from these deals.

We are providing these politicians with a chance to come clean. The people are entitled to know.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Thursday October 08, 2020

As election fraud probe continues….

GECOM Deputy CEO, Roxanne Myers, remains in custody

By Renay Sambach

U

p to press time yesterday, Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers, was still in police custody as an investigation continues into her actions during the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections process.

Myers was arrested on Tuesday after she turned herself in at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters Eve Leary, Georgetown. She was in the company of her attorneys – Nigel Hughes and Ronald Daniels.

This happened less than 24 hours after it was made public that Myers was wanted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for questioning in relation to the investigation of fraud during the 2020 elections period.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday, in a press release, stated that Myers was arrested for conspiracy to commit fraud and that she had evaded the police for over a month.

Police also refuted claims that were made by one of the lawyers representing Myers, Nigel Hughes, that she was arrested and detained because she exercised her

Still in custody: Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers

right to remain silent.

Hughes' conclusion, according to police, is in fact a distortion of the truth which the force rejects.

But Myers' attorneys did not take lightly to the remarks emanating from the police force and provided individual statements in this regard.

Hughes said, “I have had the benefit of reading the press release issued by the Guyana Police Force on the arrest of Roxanne Myers. I stand by all the statements I previously made and invite the Guyana Police Force to

release the contents of the Station Diary at the CID HQ which records the arrest of Ms Myers at 12.30 for the offence of perverting the court of justice as entry number three recorded on the 6th day of October, 2020.”

Daniels on the other hand said that on Tuesday he remained at CID Headquarters with Myers after Hughes was required to return to the Criminal Assizes. He noted that at no t i m e t h e o ff i c e r t h a t conducted the interview or any other officer, on/off camera had put the allegation of conspiracy to commit fraud to his client.

He added, “Might I state categorically that the narration of the police of the events subsequent to Ms. Myers voluntarily attending the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve L e a r y, i s a r a d i c a l , deliberate, and unfortunate departure from the truth.”

Daniels explained further that “the interview was conducted by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr. Caesar, Head of Major Crimes Unit, who introduced himself in these terms. He introduced Inspector Nigel Stephens as his scribe and Corporal Desmond Johnny as the

operator of the video equipment.

The interview commenced at 12:07p.m.

This time was relayed to me

by ASP Caesar.”

According to Daniels, after the investigators conducted a video recording interview with his client, Stephens signalled Caesar for them to talk outside and they return a few moments later and put the allegation of perverting the course of justice, to his client.

According to police, for more than a month several efforts were made to contact Myers at home and even at her place of work in relation to post-March 2, 2020, elections incidents.

However, those efforts

were futile, police said, as Myers made every effort to elude the police. As a result, a wanted bulletin for Myers was prepared by the GPF but before it was issued she turned up at CID Headquarters in the company of her attorneys.

Police announced in August last that they will be conducting a comprehensive investigation into the criminal conduct of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, Returning Officer of Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, and others in relation to the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections and the events that followed.

Lowenfield and Mingo are currently before the

Georgetown Magistrates' Courts facing separate electoral fraud charges.

Lowenfield is facing three charges alleging fraud, misconduct in office and breach of public's trust, and Mingo was slapped with four charges alleging that he misconducted himself in public office.

Mingo is also before another court facing a joint electoral fraud charge, with former Health Minister and PNC/R Chairperson, Ms. Vo l d a L a w r e n c e , f o r conspiracy to commit fraud.

Lowenfield is scheduled to make his next court appearance tomorrow and Mingo's next court dates are November 16, 2020, and December 15, 2020.

Venezuelan cook was strangled and raped - Autopsy reveals

A

n autopsy report has revealed that Dimas Emilia Lezama Fermin, 28, a Venezuelan cook who was found murdered last Sunday at Big Hope Backdam, was not only beaten but strangled and raped.

Even as investigations continue, the two suspects – a dredge owner and a miner, are still in police custody.

Lezama was discovered at around 06:30hrs on October 4 floating in a mining pit located behind the suspects' camp.

Investigators reported that Lezama's body was clad in a blue Jersey with its

underwear missing.

Multiple “black and blue” marks were seen about her body as well.

The autopsy was conducted yesterday by pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, who reported that Lezama had died as a result asphyxiation due compression injuries to the neck, compounded by multiple blunt trauma.

This newspaper learnt that Lezama who hails from San Felix, Ciudad Guayana, Estado Bolivar was employed as a cook by the dredge owner and according to police investigations, the woman had also shared an

intimate relationship with the said dredge owner.

The man, according to reports, had left her cooking at the camp on the night prior to the discovery of her body.

He reportedly went to the Big Hope Landing along with his workers which included the other suspect (miner).

Investigators said the group of men was imbibing at a shop when the miner got up and left at around 21:30hrs.

The miner had reportedly headed back to the camp to take a bath.

Police believe that it was sometime after then that Lezama was murdered.

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 08, 2020

PAGE 09

It is time for the people to take control of this pandemic T

wo weeks ago, I counted no less than 30 persons within a half mile stretch who were not wearing masks. Many of them were in groups chatting.

One week ago, I counted more than 100 persons at midday on the Georgetown Seawall without masks.

Throughout Guyana, you can find persons not taking the necessary precautions.

Some of those who are wearing masks are wearing them below their noses.

The police are supposed to have some role in enforcing the COVID-19 regulations. but one Sunday afternoon, about a month ago, at a location in which members of the Force are p r o v i d e d w i t h accommodation, a tent was erected and persons could be seen imbibing alcohol in plain few of the public and the persons who live in that compound.

The chickens have now come home to roost. The chickens have been on their frolic and now the time has come when they will reap the bitter rewards of their reckless behaviour.

The COVID-19 infections keep rising at a disturbing rate. And it will continue to rise because there has been massive spread of infections, particularly over the past three months when the economy began to be reopened.

Institutional spread is now rampant. Yesterday it was reported that an

Dem

boys seh...

De Mighty Sparrow bin sing ah song with de chorus line: “We can't love without money, We can't make love on hungry belly Johnny you'll be de only one I'm dreaming of You're my turtle dove, but - no money, no love!”

Now a days dem woman mo blunt. Dem does tell you “No money, no honey!

Dem boys used to like money. But dem nah want be friends no more with money.

employee of the Guyana Revenue Authority tested positive for the coronavirus.

This person works at the GRA's Headquarters, a building which, despite the obvious risk of transmission, employs hundreds of persons and serves hundreds more each day. In this age of virtual services, it is amazing that the GRA would have allowed so many persons to be in one building at the same time.

But that was not the only bad news for the GRA. It is now being reported that four persons may have tested positive for the virus at their New Amsterdam location.

But it gets worse. It is being reported that the tests were done on 29th September but that the results came back on the 5th October. If this is indeed the case, this is totally unacceptable.

Delays in receiving tests results may mean delays in treatment. This could be the difference between life and death. No one in the media is asking the Minister of Health about the status of the G$52M machine which is supposed to increase testing and reduce the turnaround time between tests and the availability of results.

The situation in the country now demands drastic measures. But do not look towards government for that. Once the approval was given since July for the reopening of the economy, it was always going to be difficult to reverse course.

People therefore will have to perform the national

rescue act. They will have to take the necessary precautions to stem the infection and death rate.

Wearing masks is just one way to do so. The other most important thing is to restrict travel. Only essential travel out of the house should be undertaken.

This is not rocket science or guesswork. Once you limit physical contact with people, then the rate will be reduced. Once you increase physical contact, the opposite happens. This is why the reopening of the economy has led to massive spike in cases. Social distancing is not just about being six feet away from other persons. It is also about limiting contact with others.

The Regions have to now take control of the situation in their jurisdictions. Most of the regions are now reporting increased cases but Region Four remains the main problem area because it has an uncontrollable number of active cases which can, if it has not already done so, overwhelm the country's health system.

There are also some issues to be resolved. A health official of Region One was reported a few days ago as saying that there were only 10 cases from that Region and that all of them were over the age of 65 and eight of the 10 deaths were confirmed as COVID-19 positive post mortem.

There is something wrong with these numbers.

Reports in the press have reported persons dying in the

No money, No love!

We both leffin de house at de same time but is only dem boys coming back home.

It reminds dem boys though of how enjoyable it is to be a man. You can refuse to lend yuh relatives money and instead of blaming you, dem does blame yuh wife.

One man talk how he cannot discuss he problems with he wife. When dem boys ask he why, he seh, “Yuh can't discuss yuh malaria with de mosquito.”

One of dem boys friends been propping sorrow all day. He tell dem boys how he gat problem: he girlfriend leff he and he nah gat nobody

he can talk to about it…. not even he wife.

Is dat kind of two-timing dat does cause some men fuh end up in divorce court. One man end up in de Divorce Court in front of a judge. De judge tun to he and seh, “Mr. Clark, I have reviewed this case very carefully. I have decided to give your wife $70,000 per week.”

“That is very fair, Your H o n o u r, ” r e p l i e d d e husband, “And every now and then I will try to send her a few bucks myself.”

Talk half and wait fuh see who coming to discuss dem problems with you.

region who were below 65.

Also, the number 10 does not appear to be accurate given that one senior health official had spoken about as many as 22 deaths from that Region.

It could be that the 10 deaths referred to may have been those that died within Region One. But certainly, the daily reports on COVID19 deaths suggest that there were persons under the age of 65 who died.

Deaths of young people have occurred. Yesterday a 41-year-old woman died and the day before that someone as young as 38 had died.

Prior to this there were two cases of persons in their 20s who died, and a young man from the East Bank who was in his early 30s who passed away.

Those persons who are therefore walking around the country without masks, as if they are invincible had better

take note. They should also realize that not wearing a mask places others at risk because these persons can be infected by those who are walking around without masks and who may be asymptomatic.

(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

Thursday October 08, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Is UG's Deputy Vice Chancellor, Melissa Ifill, displaying ethnic instincts?

I

was surprised at two d i r e c t i o n s D r.

Melissa Ifill took during the election rigging that went on for five months. I am not on Facebook but when individuals known to me make unpalatable pronouncements on Facebook, persons would send me screenshots.

One was when Dr. Ifill wrote, “I believe that the unanimity of views expressed by the international actors is not accidental or primarily due to principles but is due to the intense and sustained lobbying by Mercury (the American company) on behalf of the PPP. Mercury supplied the talking points and likely even crafted the messages put out.”

To this appalling insult, I penned a responding column (May 17, 2020). When I reach the part where Dr. Ifill says she lives her life fundamentally as a Black person, I will show the contradiction of her Mercury pronouncement and how it insults Black people.

The second direction was when she gave an interview to the Chronicle harshly condemning those who criticized the behaviour of GECOM chairperson, Claudette Singh, categorizing the chastisement as an insult to women.

This was bizarre because it implies that women cannot do horrible things and Singh was doing horrible things for which she should face perpetual condemnation. See

my column of Sunday, May 10, 2020 - “After this, we will never see some Guyanese the same way again.” During the election crisis, Dr. Ifill wrote on Facebook, the following, “I am unapologetically Black - always was and always will be! I am unapologetically feminist - always will be! I march through this life and world as a Black woman.”

There is a huge contradiction in being unapologetically Black and being unapologetically feminist. Space would not allow for a discussion of what feminism means but if, as Dr. Ifill claims, she journeys through life as essentially a Black woman then what happens when she has to make a choice between her Blackness and her feminism,

and should non-Black women trust her to protect women's rights when those rights are violated by Black rulers?

This is what happened to Dr. Ifill during the five months of election rigging.

The rights of women who were disenfranchised by one of the worst fraudulent elections in the 21st century were overlooked by Dr. Ifill because her Black existence dictated that she support the election riggers because they were of her ethnicity.

Here is what Dr. Ifill wrote in that same Facebook post. “I will fight against any system/structure that kills, exploits and/or relegates people of African descent to the margins, to second class citizenship.”

Let us now connect the absurdity of her Mercury statement with her insults assigned to African people who were part of the international observers. If the international observers were victims of the relentless propaganda of Mercury and that drove them to castigate GECOM as election riggers rather than out of principles then Dr. Ifill is saying that a White American lobbying firm was able to con two former Black CARICOM Prime Ministers (Owen Arthur and Bruce Golding)

and two serving Black CARICOM Prime Ministers (Mia Mottley and Keith Rowley), a Black head of the Commonwealth Secretariat, a CARICOM observer team that were all Black, a Black UWI Vice Chancellor, and a Black Nobel Prize winner

Frederick Kissoon w h ow a s a f o r m e r president of Liberia.

The question are as follows; (a) is Dr. Ifill so pompous and narcissistic that she thinks she has a higher psychological makeup than those Black icons named above so White propaganda cannot penetrate her; (b) is Dr. Ifill an instinctive ethnic advocate and that drove her to write her pathetic nonsense; (c) as someone trained in history does she lack profound familiarity with Guyana's sociology?

Now, since Dr. Ifill will

fight any system that relegates African people to second class citizens, will she do the same when in certain situations where women are reduced to second class citizens and the persons perpetuating the exploitation are Africans? There are more questions for Dr. Ifill. Should non-African employees and students at UG feel they will be treated fairly when the deputy head of the institution openly exclaims that she lives her life as a black woman?

Should any person see the essence of their journey through life as determined by their ethnicity? When Ryhaan Shah said, “I would never negate my Indian self. It is my DNA. It is my history, my legacy, my traditions, my culture. I t is my spiritual home,” African Guyanese and this Indian columnist disagreed. I have the same feeling towards Dr. Ifill. It is not that Shah and Dr. Ifill should not be proud of their ethnic DNA. What is worrying is that both say that it is that kind of DNA that determines how they see the word. Nature then determines nurture. It shouldn't.

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

Thursday October 08, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Thursday October 08, 2020

Blairmont Sugar Estate to focus exclusively on export market - GuySuCo CEO

By Malisa Playter-Harry

T

he ISO certified packaging plant at the Blairmont Sugar Factory will be tapping into the export market exclusively. This will be done as the estate moves in the direction of exporting more value-added products to the international markets.

This was disclosed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Sasenarine Singh, during a tour of the packaging plant yesterday.

Singh, who led a team of executives from GuySuCo and the estate, during a tour provided an opportunity to media operatives to see the operations of the packaging plant – from the grinding to the packaging stages.

Singh stated that currently Blairmont and the Enmore packaging plant are producing “excellent quality packaging products”.

GuySuCO, he said, is on a “change plan” and what has been done over the past three weeks was the reengineering of “the way we think in GuySuCo. The whole vision of GuySuCo right now is to move up the value chain as fast as we can.”

Presently, GuySuCo produces three main products (packaged sugar, bag sugar which is sold in 50kg bags and bulk sugar).

The CEO said that the chunk of the revenue is earned from selling the packaged sugar while others are sold at a loss.

“The vision is to move GuySuCo away from bulk

A section of the Blairmont Factory s ug ar to valu e added products, so we are building a short term, medium term and long-term plan,” he said.

He noted that presently what Blairmont is producing

The packaging process

is being supplemented and as such Blairmont will now “be focusing exclusively on the export market for packaging sugar while Enmore will be focusing on the local market…”

Singh believes “greater” can be achieved by selling sugar at the right price and the right products.

“Also by looking at the cost chain and ensuring that we can cut out, we identify what are the value added cost and segregate them and the ones that are not value added we are gonna make our enemy,” he said.

Moreover, Singh said, the focus will be placed on the factories, the fields, the cane transportation groups so that greater value can be brought to GuySuCo in the short term.

It was divulged that the government, on Monday, released $3B to GuySuCo

with some capital investment projects to be executed across six estates. It was also noted that $2.2B will be put aside for the three estates that are to be reopened and $.8B will go towards recapitalising the current estates.

“GuySuCo gave over to NICIL, several years ago, several moving tractors, moving implements, moving elements for cane production and what we got back was several bits and pieces of iron.

We are gonna rebuild the sugar industry brick by brick and prove to those people who want to destroy it that they can come back,” he said.

The CEO added that what they are hoping to do is to engage and have a public/private partnership to build the value-added elements around sugar.

“We are talking about refined sugar, ethanol and rum manufacturing…this is the level where we want to be at so that we can make it a viable element to continued contribution to the human development in Guyana.

There are many people who said GuySuCo is a loss m a k e r, e c o n o m i c a l l y GuySuCo has been one of the main contributors to the human development of the people of Guyana and because of that GuySuCo has to get some support from the people of Guyana in these times and reenergise,” Singh noted.

He mentioned that an official will be visiting the estates with the Agriculture Minister over the coming weekend and one of their expectations is to secure private participants at the value-added level in the (continued on page 14)

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 08, 2020

Businesswoman among three new COVID-19 fatalities - death toll now at 98

F

orty-one year old G u y a n e s e entrepreneur, Michelle DePeana, is among three persons who died as a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) complications yesterday.

The owner of Michelle Boutique and Twinkles Elementary located at Barima Avenue, Bel Air, Georgetown is being remembered for her “bubbly nature” and “couth business sense”.

She reportedly died at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Her husband, Ray DePeana, told Kaieteur News that his wife was previously admitted to the Woodlands Hospital for 10 days when she started experiencing organ failure.

He noted that his wife had done a rapid test at the private hospital but it did not confirm any infection.

She was subsequently admitted to GPHC where a PCR test was done and it confirmed the COVID-19 infection.

The businesswoman was later admitted to the COVID19 ICU of the hospital where she died. She leaves to mourn her husband and 16year- old son among many relatives and friends.

DePeana's death is recorded along with that of a 64-year-old male, both from Region Four (Demerara-

Michelle DePeana Mahaica) and a 58-year-old male from Region One (Barima-Waini) all of whom died while receiving care at medical facilities. The three deaths have taken the number of fatalities from the pandemic to 98.

The Ministry of Health

also recorded 104 new COVID-19 cases yesterday.

The figure increases the overall known cases in the country to 3,292.

Of the 104 new cases, 43 are in Region Four; one in Region Five; 23 in Region One; one in Region Two; six in Region Three; three in Region Six; seven in Region Seven; 13 in Region Eight; two in Region Nine and five in Region 10.

There are a total of 1,098 active cases of which 15 are in the COVID-19 ICU, 159 in institutional isolation and 939 are isolating at home.

The number of recoveries stands at 2,084 while 55 persons are in institutional quarantine.

Meanwhile, as regards to the deaths, the Ministry noted in a statement that the necessary contact tracing will be undertaken as it relates to the relatives and friends of the deceased.

At the interim, the Ministry continues to appeal to the public to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures (No. 9), which are in effect until October 31, 2020.

This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID19.

PAGE 13

Robert Persaud threatens Jan Mangal with US$2M libel suit

From left: Former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, and Former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal

By Kemol King

F

ormer Minister of N a t u r a l Resources, now Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud, has threatened to sue former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal, over various statements he made about the signing away of the Kaieteur and Canje oil blocks in the weeks leading up to the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

In a 38-page document prepared by Attorney-atLaw Devindra Kissoon, Persaud reveals that he will sue for US$2M plus lawyer fees if Dr. Mangal does not immediately retract and apologise for 36 listed articles in various

newspapers, public videos, and social media posts which altogether give the public the impression that Persaud intentionally signed away the Kaieteur and Canje blocks in a fraudulent and corrupt manner.

Dr. Mangal has been on the forefront of speaking out against the lack of transparency surrounding the awards. It was his words on the matter which alerted the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) to start an investigation into the matter, in 2018. “[Mangal's] statements,” Persaud's lawyer said, “have impacted Mr. Persaud p e r s o n a l l y a n d professionally by damaging his credibility, causing much

distress and damage.”

H e a d d e d t h a t D r.

Mangal's statements impugn his client's integrity and constitute actionable libel per se.

Seeking to clear Persaud's name of wrongdoing, the document states that it was not he who awarded the blocks in 2015, but former President and Minister of Petroleum, Donald Ramotar.

Kissoon also noted that Global Witness, the nongovernmental organization that looked into the matter, reported it found no wrongdoing on Persaud's part.

This would make the second lawsuit to be filed in (continued on page 14)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday October 08, 2020

'Gully side' goes on trial for murder of Sophia shopkeeper

By Rehanna Ramsay

O

del Roberts called 'Gully Side' of 'C' Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown is currently on trial for the 2015 murder of shopkeeper, Shawn Anys.

His trial commenced yesterday morning before Justice Priya Sewnarine Beharry and a mixed 12member jury at the Georgetown High Court.

The matter is being heard in a virtual setting with the accused joining the proceedings from the Georgetown Prison via zoom.

Roberts, has since pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleges that he murdered Anys during the course of a robbery on May 1, 2015.

According to the facts of the case, Anys of 'D' Field, Sophia who owned and managed a small grocery shop at his home, was confronted by the bandits just before 23:00 hours on the night in question.

The man was at home when he heard his dogs barking and decided to

venture out of the house to investigate when he was confronted by two armed men who forced him into the house and shot him while demanding money and valuables.

The gunmen made off with $40,000 in cash along with jewellery.

Anys was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

State Prosecutors, Tiffni Lyken and Nafeeza Baig, called at least four witnesses to testify in the trial yesterday. Among the witnesses who took the stand were the sons of the victim who were reportedly at home when the shooting occurred.

Shakeem Anys, who was 13 years old at the time of the incident, recalled that his father heard the dogs barking and went to check to see who was at the gate.

The witness claimed that moments later two armed men confronted his dad. He said one man was fully masked and the other was not wearing anything to cover his face. According to the witness, the gunmen appeared to be engaged in a

Murder accused: Odel Roberts confrontation with his father shortly before shots were heard.

The witness was later confronted with questions f r o m a t t o r n e y - a t - l a w, Damien Da Silva, who is representing Roberts. Da Silva questioned the witness about what he saw on the night of the shooting.

The lawyer enquired from the witness whether he

Murdered Shopkeeper: Shawn Anys

ever attended a police identification parade and pointed out the accused among the suspect placed on the parade.

Anys, in response, told the court that he did attend the parade but that he never identified the accused as one of the shooters.

Mark Anys, the victim's other son also told the Court that he was at the family's

Sophia resident when he heard the gunshots.

He said that he did see what took place but found out shortly after it happened that his father was the victim of an armed robbery.

State Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, also testified in Court after he was deemed an expert in his field. Dr. Singh gave the victim's cause of death to be multiple

gunshot injuries. He told the Court that Mr. Anys died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head and two in his chest.

Photographic exposures of the crime scene were also tendered into evidence by the Court.

Retired police detective and ballistics expert, Eon Jackson testified to examining the firearms and ammunition allegedly used in the shooting.

Jackson, who is currently attached to the forensic lab, testified to examining fired 9mm bullets, gun powder and a pistol.

Another police witness detective inspector, Suraj Singh, told the Court in his evidence that he was tasked with taking a caution statement from Roberts.

The policemen testified to Roberts being processed at the Turkeyen Police Station where he was stationed in 2015.

During his testimony, the policeman recalled that Roberts had denied any involvement in the shooting and even at times refused to answer any questions posed by the investigating officers.

Robert Persaud threatens Jan Blairmont Sugar Estate...

Mangal with US$2M libel suit From page 13 relation to the signing away of the Kaieteur and Canje blocks, next to that which was filed by Ramotar against Kaieteur News. The circumstances under which the blocks were awarded has gotten international attention, including when Global Witness reported on this matter and pointed to Persaud as a person of interest. While the NGO said it found no wrongdoing on Persaud's part, it suggested that investigators look in his direction if they wanted answers.

The People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C)'s Donald Ramotar administration had awarded the blocks just before the elections, as well as before E x x o n M o b i l ' s announcement of its first oil discovery in the Stabroek

Block. It has been over a year since former government officials, including Ramotar and Persaud, were questioned by Kaieteur News about their involvement in the signing away of the oil blocks to companies who appeared not to have sufficient track records or wherewithal to conduct deepwater drilling activity in those blocks.

The Kaieteur Block was awarded to Ratio Energy and Ratio Guyana on April 28, 2015. Those companies did no work on the blocks, but have instead sold stakes to other companies. Presently, the Block is owned by four companies: ExxonMobil (Operator – 35 percent), Hess (15 percent), Ratio Guyana (25 percent) and Cataleya (25 percent).

The Canje Block was awarded to Mid-Atlantic Oil

and Gas on March 4, 2015.

JHI Associates farmed in s h o r t l y a f t e r. T h o s e companies did no work on the Block. JHI only claimed that it purchased data on the Canje Block after it farmed in. Presently, the block is owned by four companies: ExxonMobil (Operator – 35 percent), Total (35 percent), Mid-Atlantic (12.5 percent) and JHI Associates (17.5 percent).

Kaieteur News has demonstrated how the circumstances of the awards raise several major corruption red flags to look out for in awards in the global extractives industry, according to the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI).

Kaieteur News reached out to Dr. Mangal yesterday, who opted not to comment at the time.

GuySuCo CEO, Sasenarine Singh, in conversation with the Blairmont Estate Manager

From page 12 sugar sector. This, he said, is to attract major investments in a refinery either at the Albion Estate or the Skeldon Estate.

This, he added, will be done so that GuySuCo can tap into the Caribbean markets by using the Caribbean External Ta r i f f G r o u p a n d b e competitive but still make a profit in that market space with the production of white sugar from the refinery.

He said too, that GuySuCo is presently

engaged in compiling a business turn-around plan and two consultants have been selected to work along in the office of the CEO. “I will be leading that effort to ensure that GuySuCo has a five-yearturn-around plan which will give us different options on what is the most efficient way to produce sugar going forward, do we need a COGEN plant, a refinery, an ethanol plant, combinations of these, what

is it we do need to get?

Right now, GuySuCo is hiring over 10,000 people and we will be bringing on an additional 3,000 people to the new estates. If we fail, we will be bringing great poverty…” he noted.

For the next 18 months, Singh assured that efforts will be made to push the packaged sugar product so that Guyana and Guyanese can benefit.

It was revealed that already the first production out of Enmore has been sold.

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 08, 2020

Witness in E'bo hotel shooting vanishes

Vanished: Cordell Grimes

C

ordell Grimes, who is the only witness to the shooting of his friend Reeaz Khan, has reportedly vanished. Based on information reaching Kaieteur News, Grimes, who sustain a gunshot wound, was self-discharged from the Suddie Public Hospital, before leaving the Essequibo Coast.

Police sources close to the case told this publication that Grimes, who is currently the only known witness to the shooting, is still wanted for questioning.

On September 29, 2020,

Murdered: Reeaz Khan

Grimes and the now deceased Khan, were ambushed in front of a hotel on the Essequibo Coast. According to a police report on the incident, Khan was reportedly shot twice while re-entering a car PRR 1219.

Grimes, who was shot to the arm, unofficially told police that additional shots were fired, as he and Khan fled the scene. He said that when he looked at Khan, he noticed that he was shot to the face and the arm. Khan remained unconscious at the Suddie Public Hospital, until his death on Monday.

Information sourced by this publication suggests that Khan was shot to the head.

On the scene, police recovered one spent shell, which matched a .32 caliber weapon. Police sources told Kaieteur News that no official statement was taken from Grimes, and he will most likely have to make contact with them, or be sought.

Kaieteur News also understands that to date no suspects have been sought.

It is anticipated that a post mortem will be conducted on Khan's remains today.

GPSU's decision to abandon nurses' strike “is a mature step”- Health Minister

M

inister of Health, Dr. F r a n k Anthony, has welcomed the decision by the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) to abandon its threat to authorise strike action by nurses over risk allowances.

The Minister has described the move as “a mature step to resolving concerning issues.”

The decision is particularly well received, the Minister said, as the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is according to a report disseminated yesterday by the Department of Public Information (DPI).

According to Minister Anthony, “I am really happy that decision was made and that we will work to resolve whatever issues come up and we can do that in a very cordial way because all of us want the best for our healthcare workers and we have to work together to improve the system.”

The nation, he said,

remains grateful for the sacrifices and efforts of healthcare professionals to provide due care, particularly during the pandemic.

“I have really met some wonderful people during this short time who really go beyond the call of duty trying to make sure that patients are cared for. That's what nurses and doctors and other healthcare professionals do,” he said.

Moving forward, Dr. Anthony said he expects cordial deliberations to take place as the government continues to augment measures to ensure that healthcare professionals, and other frontline workers, are given the requisite gear to deliver the best service.

More than 250 health workers employed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), who work directly with COVID19 patients, have been receiving risk allowances.

The GPSU had expressed concerns that all healthcare workers were not

benefiting from that allowance. However, during an interview on Friday, GPHC's Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier (Ret'd) George Lewis, had said allowances were given to those who worked in the infectious diseases' wards and psychiatric ward, in keeping with a circular issued by the Public Service Ministry in 2019.

Frontline healthcare workers are also the beneficiaries of other provisions, including $150 million allocation for risk allowances and a $25,000 per household cash transfer grant in the recently passed Emergency Budget.

Provisions have also been made, through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, to provide care for the children of frontline workers while on duty. These workers can also access the $15,000 per school child and $4,000 per school child uniform allowances catered for in the Budget, along with other provisions.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday October 08, 2020

GCAA submits claim to LIAT for millions owed

T

he Guyana Civil A v i a t i o n Authority (GCAA) has submitted a claim to LIAT for monies it owes. Director-General of the GCAA, Egbert Field, told Kaieteur News that his agency had submitted the claim directly to LIAT's Administrator, Cleveland Seaforth, who also serves as the Chairman of BDO Antigua and Barbuda.

The Guyana-born administrator was appointed in July by the Courts of Antigua when that country's government decided to take a legal course in reorganizing and saving the regional airline.

The Director-General stated that the cash strapped airline owes monies for several things including landing and navigational charges. Further, he noted that following Seaforth's appointment, the authority was asked to submit their account of LIAT's debt, as the airline was seeking to pay off what it can.

Kaieteur News understands that the sum owed by the airline is around $21M. It was also reported in other sections of the media that the airline's total debt to Guyanese entities is close to $80M. According to reports LIAT owes the Ogle Airport Inc. just under $60.5M, which dates back to December 2019 and most of it is for unpaid passenger facilitation fees collected by LIAT. The rest of the money

covers landing and parking fees, security fees, and office rental.

The airline is also in debt to its former handling agent, Trans Guyana. The sum owed in this latter case was not specified but it was disclosed that the debt is for handling fees.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Director-General stated that the GCAA is yet to hear from LIAT about its future operations in Guyana. Just months ago the authority wrote to the airline to query about its operations in Guyana so that a swift decision can be made.

The authority had hoped then, that a response with clarity would have been given. The decision to contact the airline was made after the authority learned of LIAT's halt in the liquidation and its aim to rebrand.

Further, the GCAA had revealed that it only became aware of the halt in LIAT's liquidation via the media since it had failed to provide the local aviation authority with the necessary updates.

LIAT recorded a loss of EC$12M (US$4.4M) last year and said US$5.4M was needed for it to recover.

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, announced in late June that the airline will be ceasing operations but then there were discussions held between stakeholders and it was decided that the airline will be rebranded and revamped because it is a regional brand whose legacy shouldn't die.

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 08, 2020

PAGE 17

Community involvement to put GDF in “different light”

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oves are apace to make the G u y a n a Defence Force (GDF) more integrally involved at the community level. Speaking on this vision yesterday was President Irfaan Ali during an engagement with members of the GDF's Engineering Corps.

During the meeting at State House, discussions were had on the GDF's role in national development through the implementation of infrastructural projects within communities across the country.

“Your involvement in community projects will help the communities to see the army in a different light. It will also have a meaningful, multifaceted impact on every s e g m e n t o f s o c i e t y, ” President Ali said. Other officials who attended the meeting were: Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall; Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., and Advisor on National Security to the President, Captain Gerry Gouveia.

During the engagement, President Ali pointed to the critical role that the GDF will play in the country's infrastructural transformation.

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess and Brigadier Gary Beaton used the opportunity to express the Force's commitment to implementing the identified projects which are central to the development of the country. Among them were

- President Ali

President Irfaan Ali met with members of the GDF's Engineering Corps at State House yesterday the construction of community roads, the building of bridges and the construction and enhancement of community grounds.

During the Badging ceremony for newly promoted GDF officers in August, President Ali had announced government's desire to make the military more communityoriented, engaged and aligned with national development goals, particularly as Guyana emerges as an oil economy.

“Guyanese must not only see these distinguished men and women in uniform as just members of the Army. They must see you as a key and integral part of development.

Our military is blessed with great men and women, with tremendous skill sets and experience and the knowhow. The time has come for us to harness this great potential in our military to uplift and build communities all across the country,” the president had said.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Thursday October 08, 2020

A crying shame!

T

hese photos show items imported by ExxonMobil. These items can be produced cheaper and of the same quality locally.

Yet, ExxonMobil prefers to pay the huge freight and shipping costs to import these items.

Had there been better local content legislation, local businesses would have had the opportunity of supplying these items.

But this is something which those morons we have for leaders refuse to do.

Private Sector will be adequately consulted for local...

From page 11 he has confidence in the panel to deliver, and that it doesn't matter whether he sits on the panel, once its output considered the voices of leaders in the sector.

He said too that he has a relationship with Nokta, with whom he will liaise to make sure the various

business service organizations are heard.

Deygoo-Boyer is President of the GCCI. As Chair of the PSC, he is well connected with other business service organizations.

“I'm expected,” DeygooBoyer said, “to marshal the troops of all the business service organizations

who I sit down cross table with to get their feedback.

So, that consultation process is going to happen.”

“I'm not going to go soft on the panel,” he said.

The National Hardware owner said that while he is not particularly concerned about the panel's ability

to deliver, he will not shirk the responsibility of representing the interest of Guyanese businesses, so the panel understands that they must capture as much value as they can.

The recommendations of the private sector were largely ignored in the current l o c a l c o n t e n t p o l i c y,

according to President of Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Maniram Prashad.

The government has committed to reviewing and building the capacity of Guyana's regulatory framework, including updating and introducing legislation.

Another of the City Chamber's former Presidents, Deodat Indar, had advocated for local content legislation, and the Chamber had even demonstrated that it could easily be done by releasing its own draft local content legislation. Deodat is now Minister of Public Works.

Thursday October 08, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Thursday October 08, 2020

Thursday October 08, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News WANTED Wooden dwelling home 1 or 2 bedroom for purchase and removal within Region #3, call# 604-1010/ 693-9379

Thursday October 08, 2020

Advocate meaningfully in call for justice for WCB teens - group urges

Backhoe Operator Tel#6663303/ 623-8285.

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Vacancy exist for high & low range driver security field supervisor (linden) send appilcation to s.rahim@cevons.com. Call 218-1455

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Dynamic Individual with cxc Maths/ English Sales Stocking Experience Apply KeyFood Mc Doom Village.

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Dead: Isaiah Henry

Dead: Haresh Singh

Advocates Guyana Inc. is calling on all Guyanese to advocate meaningfully within the boundaries of the law to produce a society which respects and encourages people of all races to live in harmony and peace. This, the group said, must be embraced even during the call for justice for the three teenage boys who were brutally killed last month.

The group has joined in the condemnation of the murders of Isaiah Henry, 16; Joel Henry, 19, and Haresh Singh, 17 at West Coast Berbice, Region Five.

The butchered bodies of Isaiah and Joel Henry were found dumped in clumps of bushes next to a coconut Estate in the Cotton Tree Backdam.

Their tragic deaths gained nationwide attention which led to intense protest action demanding justice which eventually escalated into violence in several Berbice villages.

Singh was found brutalized in the Number Two Backdam, days after the Henry boys’ butchered bodies were discovered. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Singh is the grandson of one of the suspects’ who was in custody in relation to the death of the Henry boys.

In a statement, the advo-

cacy body said it was saddened and hurt by the horrific acts.

“It is our prayer that the love of God will consume and comfort their families at this time. We mourn with them. We join our voices in the call for justice which must not only be done but must also be seen to be done. We also recognize the old adage that justice delayed is justice denied and call for timely investigation and prosecution of these matters,” the statement added.

Advocates Guyana Inc. is a nationwide fellowship that serves the legal profession by deepening and strengthening the spiritual lives of its members.The committee encourages and facilitates among believers in the vocation of law, the integration of a Biblical faith with legal, moral, social and political issues. They also inform the Christian community about legal issues affecting them.

While the investigation into the murder of the three teens continues, persons claiming to be relatives of the Henry boys and other residents of Number Five Village, last Sunday, began to block the Number Five Village Bridge with old tyres and debris and lit same.

The Advocates Guyana Inc. condemned all acts of violence and other criminal acts

by persons who sought, or are seeking, to hijack the protest action of the residents of West Coast Berbice in their call for justice.

“We have a duty to act lawfully and hold each other accountable in love. We must show mercy, patience, compassion, and kindness to our fellow citizens and support the investigations of the Police and Joint Forces,” it stated. The body posited that as a nation, “we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to prejudice, hate, racism, violence, and other unjust acts which pose a threat to the lives and well-being of others as well as the proper functioning of our society.”

Even as it appealed for the country’s motto of ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’ to become a reality, the group called for “meaningful social dialogue among all stakeholders, including political leaders and representative organizations, leading to a semblance of truth, fairness, social justice, equal treatment, reconciliation, and togetherness for the future of Guyana.”

Currently, an Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology (Equipo Argentino de Antropologia ForensicaEAAF) is being engaged to lend assistance into the investigation of the murdered teens.

UN calls for universal health coverage without delay

CAR RENTAL

WANTED

Dead: Joel Henry

AFP - United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said yesterday that the coronavirus pandemic had shown that countries must increase efforts to provide universal health care coverage without delay.

“We must all draw the

hard lessons of this crisis,” the UN Secretary-General said in a video message.

“One of those lessons is that under investment in health can have a devastating impact on societies and economies,” he added.

Universal health coverage is one of the UN’s sustainable development goals for 2030.

But Guterres said the pandemic, which has killed more than one million people worldwide, had shown that greater urgency was needed.

“We cannot wait 10 years.

We need universal health coverage, including mental health coverage, now.”

In a report containing rec-

ommendations, the UN said all individuals and communities should receive “the health services they need without undue financial hardship.”

The report added that health care should be provided despite the costs incurred.“(It) is challenging during an economic recession, but COVID-19 has shown that effective epidemic control benefits the economy,” the UN said.The body also stressed the need to “massively expand access to new rapid diagnostics and treatments and ensure future Covid-19 vaccines are a global public good with equitable access for everyone everywhere.”

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 08, 2020

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$1B Westminster Secondary School for November completion

The Westminster Secondary School under construction.

(Photo Credit: Ministry of Education)

with the hopes of achieving the promise of universal secondary education with improved quality.

The contract for the construction of the school which was signed on October 1, 2018, was awarded to R. Bassoo and Sons Construction Inc., and works began on October 18 of the same year.

At the site visit,

Minister Priya Manickchand engaging with site workers

T

he Ministry of Education has announced that t h e $ 1 B We s t m i n s t e r Secondary School that is currently under construction at La Parfaite Harmonie, Region Three (Essequibo Island- West Demerara), will be completed by November 30.

The Ministry revealed that already 85 percent of the works have been completed.

Upon completion, the Ministry added, the school is expected to meet international standards and will accommodate 1,000 students. “Added to that, when completed, the new state of the art school will see the reduction of secondary departments in Primary

schools (Primary Tops) in the Region. Students will be drawn from La Grange, L'Aventure, Goed Fortuin, and other areas within that catchment area,� the Ministry said.

It will also feature classrooms that cater to children with disabilities and m o d e r n Te c h n i c a l Vo c a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n Training (TVET) departments for Home Economics, Home Management, and Clothing and Textiles. There will also be Information Technology, Mathematics, Language and Audio Visual, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics laboratories.

Also to be established will be an Allied Arts unit, a

modern Library, a multipurpose hall, and a modern administration block.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Saturday last visited the site and was accompanied by the Project Coordinator of the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project (GSEIP) and the Regional Education Officer (Region Three), Annesta Douglas.

T h e s c h o o l ' s construction falls under the GSEIP that aims to build two new secondary schools: the Westminster Secondary School and the Good Hope Secondary School on the East Coast of Demerara. The multimillion-dollar project is funded by the World Bank

Private Sector will be adequately consulted for local content legislation - PSC Chair

C

hair of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Nicholas DeygooBoyer, assures that the private sector will be consulted adequately for the upcoming legislation for local content.

Appearing on Kaieteur Radio's Petroleum 101 on Tuesday, Deygoo-Boyer said that he has been in

contact with the Government-appointed Chair of the local content advisory panel, Shyam Nokta.

Deygoo-Boyer was responding to concerns that the private sector did not have enough representation on the panel. With six members on the panel, Nokta is the only private business service leader. He heads the

Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA). Senior Vice President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Timothy Tu c k e r, h a d s a i d i n September that there needed to be representatives from more business service organizations on the panel.

Deygoo-Boyer said that (continued on page 18)

Manickchand received a progress update on the project and addressed the issue of the initial deadline being met. The construction of the school was supposed to be completed since January this year, but the Ministry stated that several factors resulted in the deadline not being met.

Nevertheless, at the site visit, Manickchand was assured

by the company that the November 30 deadline will be met.

Minister Manickchand maintained that she will be very keen-eyed in regards to the project because a whole generation of students would have embarked on and finished their high school journey since the construction of the school was deemed a necessity.

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Thursday October 08, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Rahul Tripathi, bowling innovations carry...

Thursday October 08, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You're likely now on the brink of completing a major move of some sort. Your first reaction may be to sit in solitary deliberation as you wrestle with the pros and cons of each piece of the situation.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) This is one of those days when you will be walking along and all of a sudden hear a street performer playing music.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't take things that don't belong to you, Gemini. Your penetrating eyes are apt to spot things that are easily pocketed, even though you know deep down that those things aren't meant for you to keep.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Try not to think too much about what is "supposed" to happen next, Cancer. The truth of the matter is that things don't necessarily.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Water your plants today and make sure they're getting enough light, Leo. If you don't have any plants, take this opportunity to go to the nursery and pick up a couple for your home or office.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) You're on a roll today, Virgo.

Don't let other people's insecurities or shallow understanding about an issue get in the way of your progress.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may be wondering whose shoulder you should cry on, Libra. Usually yours is the shoulder that everyone else likes to use.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your coals have been smoldering for a while, and there is a great deal of smoke pouring from your blackened embers, Scorpio.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Be wary of big promises today, Sagittarius. This could be one of those days when people are more likely to take a gamble because they're unrealistic about how things are going to work out.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Feel free to go shopping online for yourself, Capricorn. While you're at it, you might as well pick out some things for others, too. You're apt to be in tune with the pleasant spirit of the people around you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) If you own your home or have any kind of investments in real estate, Aquarius, you might hear some great news today about the value of that investment.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You're likely to gravitate toward those who can put on a show and carry your imagination to a far-off land today, Aquarius. Look for this quality in others instead of turning to the TV to satisfy this need. If you aren't careful, you may end up a couch .

From page 32 asking rate that was comfortable began to mount, and the combined pressure from the bowlers and the scoreboard eventually proved too much for the Super Kings middle order.

Tripathi as opener, Narine at No. 4 - Narine’s failures at the top of the order had come against quick bowlers who could dig the ball in and get it to rear up uncomfortably. The Super Kings didn’t have that kind of bowler, but the Knight Riders decided to move Narine down the order anyway, pushing Tripathi up.

Tripathi’s best performances in the IPL have also come as an opener, and he showed that the promotion was a sensible one. He didn’t try to knock the ball around at the start, swatting across the line more often than not and getting good returns.

At the end of the powerplay, he had 31 off 18, having kept the Knight Riders’ run rate healthy despite Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana both scoring at less than a run a ball.

Tripathi was particularly severe when the bowlers pitched too short or too full, which they did often enough.

Narine himself came in at No. 4, being used tactically as a

floater. The move worked, with the left-hander making 17 off nine balls, which injected momentum when the match was poised, and left enough time for Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell to capitalise at the death - that, however, didn’t come.

The Super Kings fightback Karn Sharma, in the XI ahead of Piyush Chawla, bowled his full quota in one spell after coming on when the powerplay ended, and did a significant job in reining the Knight Riders in. He picked up 2 for 25 despite going for 12 runs in his first over, and dismissed both Rana and N a r i n e .

The latter fell to a superb onetwo act on the long-on boundary, Ravindra Jadeja running to his right from midwicket and getting hold of the ball while diving full length but flicking it up to Faf du Plessis before he grounded it.Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo and Shardul Thakur then bowled excellently, as the Knight Riders’ batting unravelled. In the first ten overs, everything had gone to plan for them, and it was all set up for a grandstand finish. Instead, the Super Kings seamers found the goodlength area, which made the

ball stick, denying batsmen space to rock back or pace to go over the top.

Morgan gloved a sharp bouncer from Curran behind and Russell was out in similar fashion to Thakur, though the ball wasn’t as short. Tripathi seemed to be tiring, but not so much that he didn’t punish bowlers when they erred.

Deepak Chahar strayed too full down leg twice in his last over and was taken for a four and a six, while Bravo was slashed over point when he went short and wide.

Tripathi fell to Bravo soon after, but he had amassed a substantial score and kept the Knight Riders fighting in an almost solo effort. The Super Kings began in much the same manner as the Knight Riders had. Du Plessis continued the form he’d shown against Kings XI Punjab, before edging a short and wide one from Shivam Mavi behind, and Watson and Ambati Rayudu were in perfect control thereafter.

Runs came at a fair clip, and the first ten overs all had at least one boundary each. The second-wicket pair had added 69 runs when Rayudu holed out to long-on, but with 69 needed off 47 balls with eight wickets in hand, the chase was well within the Super Kings’ control.

The Knight Riders’ strangle - Narine struck the first blow in the final unravelling, trapping Watson in front for a 40ball 50 an over after Rayudu had gone. The batsman reviewed but the bowler won out on umpire’s call with ball tracking suggesting the ball would clip leg stump. Crucially, the Super Kings now had two new men with 67 needed off 41 balls, with 17 of them to come from Narine.

Karthik had also held back two of Varun Chakravarthy’s overs, and on a slowing pitch, two mystery spinners to batsmen fresh at the crease began looking like a masterstroke.

Narine’s first two overs went for just eight runs and netted the wicket of Watson, while Chakravarthy proved an able foil. Although Curran biffed a four and a six in Narine’s third over, the Super Kings’ final assault never materialised.

Chakravarthy foxed Dhoni, and Russell’s pinpoint backof-a-length delivery hustled Curran into a weak slash.

Russell’s lengths proved impossible to get away at the death, and it was only off the last three balls of the match that he went for boundaries, Jadeja hitting 6, 4, 4 when any runs added were only acad e m i c .

Kolkata Knight Riders 167 all out (Tripathi 81, Bravo 3-37) beat Chennai Super Kings 157 for 5 (Watson 50, Russell 1-18) by 10 runs.

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Kaieteur News

Major Companies join GTU to celebrate World Teacher’s Day

T

he Guyana Teach ers’ Union is cel ebrating World Teacher’s Day with a variety of activities and awards ranging from phone credit, hampers, plaques, powerpacks, and other forms of recognition to help honour our hard working teachers.

World Teacher’s Day was observed on Monday last but due to the current pandemic; GTU has embarked on hosting several activities throughout the week. President of Nexgen Golf Academy and the Guyana Golf Association Aleem Hussain joined forces with GTU, CIMGRO Maraiko Bay Resort and Survival Shopping Complex on Sherriff Street to contribute hampers in recognition of the teacher’s efforts.

Parshu Arjune of Survival Shopping Complex said that he will provide special treatment and discounts for teachers throughout the month as a part of his company’s way of giving back. With the ongoing pandemic creating difficulties for education world-wide, teachers have to be stronger than ever as they chart new territory in education.

General Secretary of GTU, Coretta Mc Donald said they wanted to help celebrate World Teacher’s Day in a big way this year. “2020 has taught us all to better appreciate the importance of those who choose to spend

their lives teaching others, she added. ”The covid-19 pandemic has significantly added to the challenges faced by our education system throughout the country, and teachers’ leadership is critical in terms of their contributions.

Teachers have to provide remote learning, support to vulnerable populations, reopen schools and ensure that learning gaps have been filled,” said Mc Donald.

According to Hussain, “President Mark Lyte and McDonald have done an excellent job of getting the message out that teachers are an important part of the fabric of our society and it is important for all Guyanese to see their teachers as every day heroes not just as day babysitters while they work.”Mr. Hussain reflected, “It is important to recognize the impact educators have on our country and the world remembering that their students will become our doctors, lawyers, business owners and future leaders.””Our teachers make sacrifices every day and just one day is not enough to show them how much we care, especially in light of their new challenges this year,” said GTU President Mark Lyte. Hampers were distributed to a number of teachers yesterday while powerpacks will be handed out to hundreds of teachers today as the activities continue.

Liverpool star Mo Salah ...

From page 30 for Mr Craig as he is harassed by the men walking past the forecourt.

The 50-year-old former labourer told The Sun: ‘Mo was every bit as wonderful as he is for Liverpool on the pitch.’He heard what a group of lads were saying to me, then turned to them and said, “That could be you in a few years”. ’I only knew I wasn’t hallucinating when Mo incredibly handed me £100. What a complete legend.’

In June, Liverpool fans lavished further praise on Mohamed Salah after a picture of him filling up his car at a petrol station while wearing training gear circulated on social media.

The star was said to have paid for everyone’s fuel in the forecourt in a heart-warming gesture.

In June, Liverpool fans lavished further praise on

Mohamed Salah after a picture of him filling up his car at a petrol station while wearing training gear circulated on social media.

Salah was spotted wearing rubber gloves and holding disinfectant spray as he followed the strict coronavirus measures to ensure safety. One person tweeted: ‘Pull up to a petrol station in a Bentley, wearing Liverpool training kit and pay for everyone’s petrol. My hero my mate.’

The Egypt international’s club team-mate and close friend Dejan Lovren praised Salah but not without having a cheeky dig. Lovren tweeted: ‘I heard that @MoSalah paid couple of days ago the gas for everyone at the petrol station...Great gesture. ’But can you pay at least once for me the coffee?? Usually you are tight guy so I am surprised, but anyway well done.’

Thursday October 08, 2020

WNBA Finals: Seattle Storm beat Las Vegas Aces to secure record-equalling fourth title

The Seattle Storm won the WNBA Finals for a fourth time.

BBCsport - The Seattle Storm hammered the Las Vegas Aces as they completed a clean sweep to win the WNBA Finals for a recordequalling fourth time. The Aces took an early lead but the game’s standout player Breanna Stewart registered 26 points as the Storm won 9259 to seal a 3-0 series win.

Their entire WNBA season took place inside a quarantined campus in Florida because of the coronavirus out-

break. “We kind of rolled with the punches,” said Stewart, the WNBA Finals MVP. The 26-year-old, who missed the whole 2019 season through injury, added: “I remember where I was last year during the WNBA Finals. I was in North Carolina with my family and it was hard for me not to be upset because I wanted to be a part of the league. ”To be able to be here, to get through all that we’ve

gone through as a team, and obviously individually, it’s an amazing feeling.” The Storm’s fourth title means they have equalled the record held by the Minnesota Lynx and the Houston Comets. ’This is for Kobe’ - Storm guard Jewell Loyd dedicated the win to former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash in January. “For me, this season, I had to pay tribute to him,” said Loyd, who had

previously worked on her game with Bryant. ”This is my first season without him. I just focused in.

He’s the first person to ever believe in me before I got into the league.

It’s special.” Lloyd also paid tribute to Breonna Taylor. The WNBA devoted the season to Taylor - an AfricanAmerican woman who was shot dead by police in her home during a botched raid in March

Dean Jones farewelled in final lap of the MCG ESPNcricinfo - Dean Jones was privately farewelled by his family with a lap of honour of an empty MCG on Saturday, as the ground’s public address system played tunes by Elton John and INXS, musicians the former Australian batsman had counted among his many f r i e n d s .

In a memorial service limited to just 10 attendees by Victoria’s ongoing coronavirus lockdown, Jones was remembered by those closest to him, before his coffin was conveyed around the venue where he played six of his 52 Test matches and countless state and club fixtures: Jones moved from his father Barney’s club Carlton to the Melbourne Cricket Club in the 1980s.

While a public memorial service is planned for a time when more mourners will be permitted to attend, Jane Jones said that the family had been extremely moved by the

A private service was held at the MCG in memory of Dean Jones Melbourne Cricket Club way her husband’s life and cricket had been remembered and revered by so many. ”We have been deeply moved by the outpouring of love for Dean over the last week and can’t thank everyone enough for their support and for sharing their memories with us,” she said. “It has been an awful time to navigate as a family, but I could not have

thought of a more fitting place to say goodbye to my husband than under the lights of his beloved MCG. ”What better way to honour him than with the music of his friends Elton John and INXS echoing throughout the empty stadium. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the Melbourne Cricket Club and the MCG for their willing-

ness to create our personal tribute to Dean and for Cricket Australia’s support. ”We would also like to extend a big thank you to the Department of Foreign Affairs for ensuring Dean was returned home to us as quickly as possible. We will forever miss Dean’s energy, his zest for life, passion for cricket and his love for us as a family.”

Thursday October 08, 2020

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

FIFA President praises Qatar’s World Cup preparations during his first visit to Al Bayt Stadium Qatar 2022

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ as “impressive” during a whistle-stop tour of the country this week. President Infantino met with tournament organisers and took part in a seven-a-side match at Al Bayt Stadium, a 60,000capacity venue designed to resemble a traditional Arab tent.

The striking arena will be inaugurated in the coming months and has been confirmed as the venue for the opening game of the tournament. “It is an absolute pleasure to play football at this amazing stadium, where on 21 November 2022, we will kick off the greatest FIFA World Cup ever,” said President Infantino. ”Al Bayt Stadium is incredible: a true football stadium. It has a real football feel and a local touch. The tented shape makes it truly unique, and the Arabic patterns in the roof are just beautiful. I am speechless.”

Preparations for Qatar 2022 have continued despite

the pandemic following the implementation of stringent health and safety protocols to protect workers from COVID19. Khalifa International, Al Janoub and Education City stadiums have all been inaugurated and are fully operational, with three others – Al Bayt, Al Rayyan and Al Thumama – in the final stages of construction. All eight venues will be completed well in advance of the tournament. ”I am very pleased with Qatar’s progress ahead of the tournament. We have seen the plans, but when you see the reality, it is even more impressive. Qatar has been able to continue to advance during the last six months while the world stood still – from infrastructure preparations to important developments such as the recent labour reforms announced by the government. If I was confident before, now I can say I am even more,” added President Infantino. ”In 2022, everything will be close by and fans from all nationalities will have the opportunity to gather in the

President Infantino played in seven-a-side match at the 60,000capacity venue. © LOC same public areas and enjoy Qatar’s mild temperatures at this time of the year. It’s a World Cup like no other was or ever will be.”

H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, echoed President Infantino’s comments and said he was proud of the foundations laid by the country in

the lead-up to the tournament. ”We are immensely proud to be hosting the Arab world and Middle East’s first FIFA World Cup in 2022. “With that pride comes a sense of responsibility, and that factor has been enhanced since the world has had to come to terms with COVID-19. We are optimistic that by kick-off in

November 2022, we’ll be ready to welcome fans from every continent here in Qatar to celebrate together, united by their shared passion for football.”

Al Thawadi added: “It was a pleasure to welcome President Infantino to Al Bayt Stadium today.

Al Bayt is particularly meaningful to us as it repre-

Novak Djokovic beats Pablo Carreno Busta to reach semi-finals BBCsport - World number one Novak Djokovic overcame early physical struggles to beat Pablo Carreno Busta and reach the French Open semi-finals. The Serb arrived on court with tape on his neck, repeatedly massaged his left biceps and grimaced on his way to losing the first set, but went on to win 4-6 62 6-3 6-4.It was a rematch of September’s US Open encounter where Djokovic was defaulted for hitting a line judge with a ball. Djokovic faces Stefanos Tsitsipas next.

“I definitely didn’t feel great coming into the court today,” Djokovic, 33, told a news conference. ”A few things happened in the warm-up. I had to deal with those physical issues coming on to the court. As the match went on, I felt better, didn’t feel as much pain.

“But, you know, I don’t want to take away anything from

his good performance. Especially for a set and a half he was the better player, dictating the play.”

Victory puts him into his 10th Roland Garros semi-final and the last four of a Grand Slam for the 38th time.

It also keeps Djokovic on course for a blockbuster final against 12-time champion Rafael Nadal, who is chasing a 20th Grand Slam title while the Serb seeks an 18th.

Djokovic, the champion here in 2016, is seeking to become the first man in the Open era to win all four Grand Slams twice.

Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Andrey Rublev to reach semi-finals - Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas reached his first French Open semi-final with a commanding straight-set victory over Andrey Rublev.

Both players competed fiercely in the opening stages but pressure seemed to get the better of the Russian 13th seed when he served for the first set. Tsitsipas, 22, took advantage to turn the tide and earn a 7-5 6-2 6-3 win. He will play top seed Novak Djokovic for a place in Sunday’s final in Paris.

Novak Djokovic was bothered throughout by an issue with the top of his left arm, as well as a neck problem.

Stefanos Tsitsipas was playing in his first French Open quarter-final.

sents the town of Al Khor as well as the culture and history of Qatar through its special design. We’re all looking forward to the first ball of the FIFA World Cup 2022 being kicked in this stadium two years from now.”

Nasser Al Khater, CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, said Qatar was in excellent shape and looking forward to welcoming fans from all over the world in a little over two years’ time. ”When it comes to World Cup infrastructure, we’re in a great position, with construction nearing 90 per cent completion across all projects,” said Al Khater.

“At this point on the road to 2022, our focus is now shifting from delivering infrastructure to refining and optimising the detailed operational planning and fan experience for the tournament. We are also now significantly stepping up our promotion of the tournament to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to attend and enjoy this unique World Cup.”

PAGE 30

Thursday October 08, 2020

Kaieteur News

British Gymnastics mistreatment allegations: Athletes cannot ‘heal’, says Aly Raisman

BBCsport - Gymnasts will not be able to “heal” if an investigation into allegations of mistreatment in British Gymnastics takes a long time, says Aly Raisman. American Raisman, 26, is a survivor of the biggest abuse scandal in US gymnastics history.

Several British gymnasts have recently alleged there has been a culture of mistreatment in the sport. GB Olympic bronze medallist Amy Tinkler said she “would give up that medal to not have gone through what I did”.

Tinkler, 20, submitted a complaint over allegations of mistreatment within the sport in December 2019, which was dismissed in August. “It’s so devastating to hear and it’s heartbreaking because as a little girl you dream about going the Olympics,” threetime Olympic champion Raisman told BBC Sport about her own experience.

“It’s such a magical thing as a kid. ”Every time an adult enables the abuse, or gaslights you or doesn’t believe you, it feels like you’re being abused all over again and it’s continually traumatising, so the healing and the aftermath of the abuse is so important for people to understand.”

The Whyte Review, an independent review into the allegations of mistreatment within British Gymnastics, is under way, with a call for evidence running until Friday (yesterday). Raisman, 26, added: “I feel like it is so important for British Gymnastics

Aly Raisman.

Getty Images

Tinkler, competing here at Rio 2016.

Marc Aspland to really listen to the athletes, listen to the parents, listen to the family and the friends around the athletes and really understand what happened. ”There needs to be accountability.

In order for the athletes to believe in real change they need to do the right thing. “In order to fix the problem, in order to believe in change, there needs to be a complete independent investigation to make sure that we understand exactly why this happened, and in order for the trust to be back in athletes, the athletes need to be in the room and it can’t just be like a few conversations over tea. ”It really has to be real, meaningful conversation and really allowing these athletes to be

a part of it and empowering them to really want to speak up and share their story, and making an environment where there are no repercussions if an athlete does speak up because that I think is something that athletes are very afraid of.” ’It really is a problem with the culture’ - Raisman was one of many gymnasts who addressed the court at Larry Nassar’s sentencing hearing in 2018. He was sentenced to more than 300 years in jail after being convicted of the abuse of at least 265 women at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University.

But she has criticised the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for being “very quiet” on the abuse allega-

tions that have rocked the sport.

“I have been really disappointed but I guess I’m not surprised,” said Raisman. ”I think a lot of the issue with these organisations and the FIG is that these people have been in these positions of power for a really long time and it’s time to take a hard look at who’s working there and ask important questions like why does the FIG think it’s OK to not step in and not do something. ”It’s very clear it’s not just a few people speaking up, it really is a problem with the culture and I think it’s really important for people in leadership to really do the right thing, and if they don’t feel like they have what it takes or

they don’t want to then they really shouldn’t be in that position.”

In an open letter in July, FIG president Morinari Watanabe said the “bravery” of athletes speaking out gave him hope because “there is a genuine will for change”.

“From the bottom to the top of the pyramid, everyone can and must be part of the solution,” he said in a later statement. “ As the sport´s governing body, the FIG can certainly give the impetus but it is all together that we can build a positive culture where everybody can thrive and fully live their passion for the sport.”

Raisman said: “The way that abuse is handled really greatly impacts how we are

feeling and so the longer that it takes it really affects our healing and our journey. “It can be so exhausting and it can be more triggering because we don’t have that control. Every time they make a statement that we don’t agree with, it just feels like another set of triggers and it can just be really exhausting.”

She added: “If our abuse was handled the right way from the beginning I think the trajectory of our healing would be in a very different place.

“And of course if the right precautions and the prevention and education was in place from the very beginning, I don’t believe the abuse would have even happened.”

Liverpool star Mo Salah confronts yobs harassing homeless man in petrol station - before giving rough sleeper £100 The 28-year-old was captured on CCTV coming to the aid of David Craig, before giving him some cash

This comes after the Egyptian King paid for everyone’s fuel at a petrol station in June (pictured)

MailOnline - Mo Salah defended a homeless man from a group of yobs before giving him £100 cash. The Liverpool forward confronted a group of men who were heckling the victim at a petrol station after his team’s 3-1 win against Arsenal on September 28.

The 28-year-old was captured on CCTV coming to the aid of David Craig, who sleeps rough around Liverpool’s stadium. The heartwarming moment came just three months after the Egyptian King paid for everyone’s fuel at a petrol station.

CCTV footage from September 28 shows Salah pulling up at the station in his Bentley. He then stands up (Continued on page 28)

Thursday October 08, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Cheptegei and Gidey break world records in Valencia WorldAthletics - Joshua Cheptegei and Letesenbet Gidey smashed world records* over 10,000m and 5000m respectively at the aptly named NN Valencia World Record Day on Wednesday (yesterday).

Gidey’s winning time of 14:06.62 took almost five seconds off the previous world 5000m record, set by fellow Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba in Oslo in 2008.

Cheptegei, meanwhile, covered 10,000m in 26:11.00 to break Kenenisa Bekele’s mark of 26:17.53, set in Brussels in 2005.

Spain’s Esther Guerrero paced Gidey through 1000m in 2:51.10, then world steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech took up the pacemaking duties, going through 2000m in 5:42.73 and 3000m in 8:31.85.

Gidey had just the wavelight pacing technology for company over the final two kilometres and she doggedly stuck to the very front

of the stream of blue lights.

She reached 4000m in 11:19.17 and managed to crank up the tempo even more for the final 1000 metres, eventually crossing the finish line in 14:06.62.

Just five minutes later, Cheptegei took to the track for the 10,000m.

The Ugandan, who won world titles at 10,000m and cross country last year, had broken the 5000m world record in Monaco earlier this year, clocking 12:35.36.

Shortly after that run, he announced his intentions to break another of Bekele’s marks.

Australia’s Matthew Ramsden was the pacer for the first 3000m, bringing the small field through 3000m in 7:52.79.

Kenya’s Nicolas Kimeli – who finished second to Cheptegei in his 5000m world record run in August – then led Cheptegei through the half-way mark in 13:07.73.

Cheptegei ran alone for the second half, but by this point

Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei.

Pool | NN Running Team

Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey.

Pool | NN Running Team he was locked into the required record pace.

His 8000m split of 20:59.48

Giro d’Italia: Filippo Ganna wins stage as Simon Yates stays in touch

confirmed he was still on course for the world record.

With a 60-second final lap,

champion Kvitova, 30, is bidding for a first Grand Slam title since returning from a careerthreatening knife attack in 2016. She will face American Sofia Kenin for a spot in Saturday’s final.

Australian Open champion Kenin progressed 6-4 4-6 6-0 against compatriot Danielle Collins, after the world number 57 needed treatment in the

Sofia Kenin. Yoan Valat/EPA, via Shutterstock

BBCsport - Ineos Grenadiers’ Filippo Ganna won stage five of the Giro d’Italia as Britain’s Simon Yates just stayed in touch with the overall contenders. World road time trial champion Ganna spent the whole 225km stage in the breakaway, going clear up the category one climb of the ‘dark mountain’.

Deceuninck-Quick-Step’s Joao Almeida remains in the leader’s pink jersey. Yates, a favourite for the overall win, remains in touch despite a poor stage three costing him time.

Ganna, 24, also won the time trial on the Giro opening stage into Palermo and only lost the pink jersey after trying to nurse the injured Geraint Thomas up Mount Etna on stage three.

The Italian surprised the peloton by staying out at the front of the race across the huge 225km stage from Mileto to Camigliatello Silano - the first on mainland Italy after the race began on Sicily.

Valico di Montescuro - known as the ‘dark mountain’ - is a 19km climb shrouded in pine trees and on Wednesday greeted the riders with thick fog. As others in the break faded the peloton increased the pace up the mountain, in particular the Trek-Segafredo team of two-time winner Vincenzo Nibali, who aggressively tried to hunt down Ganna while putting pressure on the pink jersey and other general

classification contenders.

One Trek-Segafredo rider who had to abandon the race was Dutchman Pieter Weening with suspected concussion. He struck a discarded drinks bottle on Tuesday’s stage four - just as Thomas had on Monday leading to his abandonment - and, as he tried to save the bike, hit his head on the road.

After being assessed, Weening was allowed to continue but decided to abandon a day later. The incident fuels questions about how the sport deals with head injuries and potential concussions, following Romain Bardet being allowed to finish stage 13 of the Tour de France despite suffering a bleed on the brain after a crash.

Thursday’s (today) sixth stage is a 188-km route from Castrovillari to Matera in the Basilicata region. Meanwhile, new world road race champion Julian Alaphilippe of Deceuninck-Quick-Step won the De Brabantse Pijl one-day classic race in Belgium on Wednesday (yesterday).

The win comes days after an embarrassing end to the Liege-Bastogne-Liege ‘monument’ classic race when Alaphilippe celebrated victory too early and was beaten to the line by Tour de France runner-up Primoz Roglic of Jumbo-Visma.

man in history to concurrently hold the 5000m and 10,000m world records.

Petra Kvitova & Sofia Kenin through to semi-finals

BBCsport - Petra Kvitova reached the French Open semi-finals for the first time since 2012 as an emotional run continued with victory over Germany’s Laura Siegemund.

The Czech seventh seed maintained her record of not dropping a set at Roland Garros this year with a 6-3 6-3 win.

Two-time Wimbledon

Filippo Ganna climbs the fog-covered ‘dark mountain’ in southern Italy.

Cheptegei crossed the line in 26:11.00.

He now becomes the 10th

Petra Kvitova is seeking a third Grand Slam title.

deciding set. Collins claimed the second set but was broken to love in the opening game of the third and appeared to be struggling with an abdomen problem on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Kenin, the 21-year-old fourth seed, quickly dispatched of her opponent without losing a game in a 29minute final set to reach the semi-finals in Paris for the first time. “This is really special, I am super happy and really loving the French crowd here,” she said. ”I knew I needed to be aggressive myself and take my chances. I feel I did a great job overall. I am proud of myself.”With the other semifinal featuring qualifier Nadia Podoroska and world number 54 Iga Swiatek, Kvitova is presented with her best opportunity of adding a Grand Slam title on her least favourite surface.

Conditions on the Paris clay this year have been playing into her hands, with the tournament being held in the European autumn rather than in May-June. An asthma sufferer, Kvitova will not be missing the springtime pollen and the cooler temperatures have suited her flatter hitting of the ball.

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Thursday October 08, 2020

Kaieteur News

LeBron scores 28 as Lakers close in on title

Field Level Media - In the waning seconds of Miami’s victory in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, Heat star Jimmy Butler warned LeBron James that the Los Angeles Lakers were “in trouble,” returning a jab James had sent his way at the beginning of the contest.

It looked as if Butler would be the right one at the start of Game 4 on Tuesday. James played sloppily, turning the ball over five times in the first half while being limited to eight points. Still, Los Angeles held a two-point lead.

Twenty-four minutes is plenty of time to turn trouble into triumph, as James has proven many times over during his illustrious career.

The superstar finished with game highs of 28 points and 12 rebounds as the Lakers moved one win away from their 17th championship with a 102-96 victory at the NBA bubble near Orlando.

Anthony Davis added 22 points, Kentavious CaldwellPope scored 15 and Danny Green 10 for the Lakers, who will look to close out the series Friday. A victory would tie Los Angeles with the Bos-

Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat defended LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty

ton Celtics for most championships in NBA history.

Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 22 points, 10 rebounds and

nine assists. Tyler Herro added 21 points and Duncan Robinson had 17. Bam Adebayo returned from two

games missed with a neck/ shoulder injury to score 15 while Goran Dragic (foot) remained sidelined.

James’ early struggles Tuesday mirrored his performance in Game 3, when he was responsible for eight of the Lak-

ers’ 19 turnovers. He buttoned things up in the second half, losing the ball just once while his team kept Miami at bay. ”A perfect game is not going to happen, but that doesn’t mean you still don’t strive to be as great as you can be every night,” James said. “Tonight was one of those games where we had to win on the defensive end and make some timely shots.”

The timely shots in this one belonged to CaldwellPope, who buried a 3-pointer with 2:58 remaining to put Los Angeles up 93-88. After Adebayo couldn’t beat the shot clock on a jumper, Caldwell-Pope finished a layup on the other end for a seven-point lead.”KCP down the stretch, big guts to take and make those shots that he took,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. Jae Crowder nailed a trey to cut the Heat’s deficit to four with 1:37 left, but Rajon Rondo scored his first bucket of the game, and Davis followed from 3-point range to seal the game for Los Angeles. ”We know we’ve got to be better. We know that we can be better,” said Butler, who was unable to repeat his 40point heroics from Game 3.

“We’ve got to play damn near

perfect to beat them — we didn’t do that tonight.”

Down by five to begin the fourth quarter, Miami knotted the score at 83 on a Butler layup with 6:27 left.

The Lakers scuffled to begin the third before James nailed a deep 3-pointer for a 55-54 edge. That kicked off an 11-3 stretch during which James either scored or assisted on each of his team’s buckets.

The Los Angeles lead reached 71-64 on back-toback threes from Kyle Kuzma and Davis. The Lakers ended the quarter up 75-70. Trailing 27-22 after one, the Heat began the second quarter on a 12-2 run to grab a five-point lead of their own.

Los Angeles equalized at 39 on a Markieff Morris trey and pulled away to 49-45 on an Alex Caruso 3-pointer with 27.6 seconds remaining. A Herro jumper just before the buzzer cut Miami’s deficit at the break to two.

Despite the loss, the Heat benefitted from the return of Adebayo, who played 33 minutes. “I thought he was great, considering he hasn’t played in a week,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He’s the heart and soul of who we are, so it was just great to have him back out there.”

Rahul Tripathi, bowling innovations carry Kolkata Knight Riders to ten-run win ESPNcricinfo - An intensely tactical battle between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Chennai Super Kings ended with the Knight Riders triumphant by ten runs, with both teams having dominated the first half of their batting innings, only for the opposition to come roaring back. Eventu-

ally, the Knight Riders’ comeback trumped that of the Super Kings.

That was down in no small measure to Rahul Tripathi’s excellent 81 off 51 at the top of the Knight Riders order.

Back in his favoured opening spot, Tripathi was brisk in the powerplay, and then carried the innings on his bat when

Rahul Tripathi goes over the leg side ©BCCI

the expected fireworks from the star-studded middle order didn’t materialise.

Shane Watson got a fifty of his own in the Super Kings chase, but only one other batsman crossed 25. That’s not because this was a bowlers’ pitch - though it certainly wasn’t a batting beauty - but because bowlers from both sides executed their plans with precision.

The Knight Riders were 93 for 2 after ten overs after opting to bat first, but the Super Kings kept them to 167 when they looked like getting in excess of 190. The Super Kings in turn were 99 for 1 in 12 overs and in cruise control mode, but Dinesh Karthik had held Sunil Narine back entirely for the death, and the Super Kings stumbled against a bowler who hasn’t just been among the T20 greats, but been particularly thorny for a majority of the Super Kings batsmen.

Narine bowled overs 12, 14, 16 and 19 while Andre Russell was also kept exclusively for the death, bowling overs 18 and 20, as the Knight Riders choked off the batsmen’s run supply. An (Continued on page 27)

Thursday October 08, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 33

Fraser looking to pick up where he left off The last competitive track meet which was the ‘Early Season Classic’ hosted by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) was contested on March 16 at the National Track & Field Center (NTFC) at Leonora.

At that Meet, Police

Davin Fraser is accustomed being at the front of the pack.

Progressive Youth Club (PPYC) sprinter, Davin Fraser emerged as the fastest man on the day; he registered a blistering time of 10.26 seconds to finish ahead of Emanuel Archibald (10.32s) and Akeem Stewart (10.42s) in the event that had a fair amount of participation

despite the threat of the covid-19 pandemic which is still affecting the nation s e v e n m o n t h s l a t e r.

Speaking Kaieteur Sport Fraser explained that he had a great off-season in 2019 and he was really feeling himself heading into the 2020 season and like most

athletes, he is very disappointed not to have been able to compete due to t h e p a n d e m i c . ”The 2020 season started off well with the AAG hosting a few developmental meets where I ran well and was able to assess my level of preparedness.

My coach and I saw that I was fit and ready to explode on the track which I did at the Early Season Classic.

Even though I got the win, I was sure that I still had a bit more in the tank to register even faster times at the following meets; I am also sure that the likes of Archibald and Stewart would’ve pushed me all the w a y t o r u n q u i c k e r. ” Last month, the AAG announced that several Meets on their calendar will not be contested this year including the National Youth and Juniors Championships, South American 10k, Aliann Pompey Invitational and the National Senior Championships, the latter which Fraser was most

disappointed to miss out on.

The sprinter shared that although he understood the seriousness of the covid-19 virus and the social distancing guidelines in place; he stayed focus and kept fit during the lockdown period, filled with optimism that he would have a shot at dethroning Archibald as sprint champion.

However, Fraser will have to wait until next season to compete again and although regaining form can be challenging after not competing for a while, the 100m specialist is looking to pick up where he left off in early 2020 when athletics is given the green light for competition again.

(Calvin Chapman)

Major Companies join GTU to celebrate World Teacher’s Day

President of Nexgen Golf Academy and GGA Aleem Hussain (seated right) and General Secretary of GTU Coretta Mc Donald (seated left) with some of the recipients at GTU head office yesterday.

rt o p S

LeBron scores 28 as WNBA Finals: Seattle Storm Lakers close in on title beat Las Vegas Aces to secure

p.

30

Qatar 2022 FIFA President record-equalling fourth title

praises Qatar’s World Cup preparations during his first visit to Al Bayt Stadium

FIFA President Gianni Infantino met tournament organisers at Al Bayt Stadium. © LOC

The Storm got dominant performances from Breanna Stewart as they swept the Aces for their franchise’s record-tying fourth championship. Credit...Octavio Jones for The New York Times

Cheptegei and Rahul Tripathi, bowling Gidey break world innovations carry Kolkata records in Valencia Knight Riders to ten-run win Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.