Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR Chinese company Saturday Edition NEWS gets school contract despite lower bids from local contractors October 02, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 37

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

p. 18

Online readership yesterday, 80,165

Local businesses being neglected; foreign companies given preference in oil sector p. 2

- Business Chamber complains

Woman who paid to have father killed gets death sentence along with hitman p.

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Corentyne GGDMA to pilot test businessman new technology to beaten, robbed push mercury-free by armed bandits mining in Guyana p.

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Driver beaten, robbed by bandits in Goed Fortuin

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Protest to change all Foreign contracts continues

Govt. targets 30,000+ homes for solar power through IDB, India loans p.

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HEAR IT FROM THEIR MOUTHS HOW BORA, PEPPER AND PUMPKIN GON DEVELOP on Kaieteur GUYANA IN THIS TRILLION DOLLAR OIL SECTOR - PRES ALI AND VP JAGDEO @11:00hrs Radio 99.1/99.5FM

Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Local businesses being neglected; foreign companies given preference in oil sector L

ocal content, at its core, involves companies utilising as much as possible, indigenous goods and services for their operations as well as the transfer of skills, knowledge and technology.

Since assuming office, the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government has pledged to ensure local content is achieved especially in the infrastructure and petroleum sectors.

However, local private sector organisation, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has aired complaints about what it deems as the preference of foreign companies and the bypassing of local companies when it comes to executing projects in the oil sector.

In a statement to the press yesterday, the business chamber noted the

- Business Chamber complains “overwhelming number” of infrastructure work that is being executed by foreignowned companies.

Further to this, GCCI highlighted the “high volume” of trucking, logistical and other support services, which are being operated by foreign-owned companies, particularly as it relates to the oil and gas sector.

Against this background, the chamber wrote, “The GCCI has been in receipt of several complaints from its membership of cases in which they are being bypassed for work in favour of the aforementioned category of companies.

This occurs in spite of the indigenous Guyanese enterprise being both commercially competitive and having the technical capability.”

While the Chamber reiterated that it remains supportive of foreign investment in Guyana, it was quick to note that this should not be done at the expense and displacement of indigenous Guyanese companies.

“The Chamber has been encouraged by the posture of the government as it relates to local content and calls on the government to table Local Content legislation before the end of the year,” the GCCI said.

President of the GCCI Timothy Tucker has been militant about local content both in his professional and social media life.

Almost daily, Tucker calls for the Government to

enshrine into law the local content legislation.

Earlier this year, the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said that the government is carving out entire sectors for Guyanese in the oil industry.

In other cases, where Guyanese do not have the capacity to supply all of the services, the Vice President said that the government will impose quotas.

Multiple Ministers of Government have told the private sector that while the government is doing its own studies to determine how Guyanese can service the needs of the industry, the business service organisations, such as the GCCI and the Guyana Oil

9-yr-old dies in Corentyne accident

A

9-year-old is dead following an accident that occurred on the Islington Public Road yesterday morning at approximately 9:00 am.

The child has been identified as Carleisa Lewis of lot 40 Islington, East Berbice, Corentyne (EBC).

She was a student of Overwinning Primary School.

Kaieteur News understands that the driver involved in the accident is in police custody and has since told police that on the day in question, he was heading north along the western drive lane while driving PJJ 2394 when Lewis ran from east to west and into the path of his

vehicle.

The child immediately came into contact with the front of the vehicle, fell to the ground and sustained injuries to her body and head. She was picked up by her sister Drusila Lewis who was nearby and taken to the New Amsterdam Public hospital by the driver involved in the accident.

She was pronounced dead on arrival and her body is presently at the New Amsterdam Hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination. A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver of PJJ 2394 and there was no alcohol found in his system.

Investigations are ongoing.

and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), the private sector should do independent studies.

However, the studies and quotas cannot be of much use if they are not enshrined in law. Multiple experts have warned Guyana that a local content policy, without enshrinement in law and

enforceable penalties, has no teeth.

And for the past six months or so, all the government has been saying that it is “finalising” the local content legislation before it goes to Parliament.

The National Assembly is currently in recess, which comes to an end this month.

ExxonMobil has said in the meantime that it is not waiting for legislation to make use of Guyanese talent and services. Exxon's Country Manager, Alistair Routledge said it will be moving almost all of its supply work from Trinidad & Tobago to Guyana come 2022.

COVID-19 claims lives of six more persons

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esterday, the Ministry of Health reported that six more persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died. As a result of this, Guyana's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 792.

The country's latest fatalities are that of four unvaccinated persons, a fully vaccinated person and another whose vaccination status is unknown.

The fatalities are that of three women: a 49-year-old f r o m R e g i o n Tw o (Pomeroon-Supenaam), a 74-year-old from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and a 58-year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and that of three men: an 85-year-old from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), a 45-year-old

from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and a 57-year-old from Region Four.

According to the Health Ministry, all six persons died over a five-day period (September 26 to 30), while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

Meanwhile, in its daily COVID-19 dashboard, the Ministry within the last 24hour period recorded 228 new infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 32,055.

Presently, there are 30 persons who are admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 142 persons in institutional isolation, 3,651 in home isolation and four in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 27,440 persons who tested positive have recovered.

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 02, 2021

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Govt. targets 30,000+ homes for solar power through India, IDB loans T

he Government is looking to provide solar powered electricity to more than 30,000 hinterland homes through loans from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of India.

Guyana and India signed an agreement on Wednesday at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, for a line of credit to Guyana totalling US$7.2 million.

Guyana was represented by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, and India was represented by the Indian High

Commissioner, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa.

Dr. Singh said the agreement will facilitate the provision of solar power for 30,000 hinterland homes. He thanked the Indian High Commissioner for making the initiative possible.

“On a deeply personal level, to those 30,000 families, delivering electricity to their home for the first time will literally be the single biggest thing that will probably

happen to them in an entire generation,” Dr. Singh said.

It might not be the big project on the radar with the Ministry of External Affairs of India, but this project will have a truly transformative impact for 30,000 Guyanese families.”

The signing occurred on the 57th anniversary celebration of Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC) day. The Line

of Credit agreement forms part of the ITEC programme.

ITEC is offered to Guyanese by the Government of India, to develop Guyana's human resources. The program typically finances education and capacity building programs. Minister Singh said programmes like ITEC play an “extremely important role” in the rapid development of Guyana.

Additionally, the Government is finally advancing a plan to provide solar farms for Bartica and Lethem through the installation of transmission lines.

The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) is currently seeking bidders

from qualified persons to design, supply and install the lines to accommodate solar photovoltaic (PV) plants for Bartica in Region Seven and Lethem in Region Nine.

Bidders have the option to bid for one or both lots.

For Lot One, the works are for the design and procurement of all materials and specialised equipment, and construction of 2.5km of 13.8 kV three-wire (3W) three-phase bare conductor overhead interconnecting transmission line for the solar PV plant at Bartica.

With regard to Lot two, the (continued on page 17)

Over 900 Guyanese admitted to Indian University through GOAL Initiative

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he Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and the Indira Ghandi National Open University (IGNOU) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) as 922 Guyanese have been admitted to the university.

Speaking on behalf of the Government of Guyana, Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, MP, lauded the initiative by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who listened to the needs of the people during the elections campaign.

During his travels, the President noted the people's need for more opportunities for higher learning, and acknowledged the need for quality tertiary education.

The Minister said the first batch of 922 students from the 10 administrative regions will pursue studies in 25 different programmes.

T h i s o p p o r t u n i t y, t h e Minister said, will pave the way for better opportunities and a brighter future for the beneficiaries. She urged students to perform to the best of their ability.

“When you are educated, no one can take that away from you, it is perhaps the most valuable asset that you will have in your lifetime,” Minister Parag noted.

She pointed out that Guyana is on a transformational cusp and human resources in many areas are necessary at this time. Minister Parag wished the new students success and offered her assistance should

they need it.

The Minister also noted the benefits that Guyana has enjoyed in 22 years of the I n d i a n Te c h n i c a l a n d Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, where many were trained in various skills. The Minister said the commitment by IGNOU shows that the special relationship will continue with India.

Professor Nageshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, in his feature address noted that the institution has been accorded A++ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in India that assesses and accredits higher education institutions.

He noted that interactions between the two

agencies began 10 months ago and are now being put in a MOA. Professor Rao assured learners that they “will gain a lot in terms of the knowledge, requisite skills and exposure which is required for the particular programmes.”

He noted that IGNOU has collaborated with countries around the world and is a popular university. “ O u r p r i m e consideration is support services to learners of Guyana, offline as well as online learning,” he said.

The learners will be

given all online and offline support needed to successfully complete their programmes with specific requirements. Head of the GOAL, Professor Jacob Opadeyi said the MOA was long awaited and he looks forward to the partnership Minister of Public and the support the students Service, Sonia Parag, MP will enjoy.

IGNOU was established in 1985 and is the world's largest university with the learning and has fulfilled its mandate of providing largest enrollment rate.

The university regularly a c c e s s i b l e , e q u i t a b l e updates its curriculum to affordable and quality keep up to date with the education for students around c h a nging dynamics of the world. (DPI)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 02, 2021

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

Guyana’s oil and gas - a runaway bus on steroid Most places blessed with commercial quantities of oil ended up cursed. It’s as if the curses are to compensate for the generosity of providence, nature, and circumstances.

They end up being failed states, still poorer places, with divided and raging sections. And all of those same failed oilrich societies have one common defining characteristic that stand as their biggest curse of all. It is that greedy, crooked, criminal leaders are running the oil show.

Advanced countries, like the United States, Canada, and those in Europe, rise up above the leadership curse, because they have robust structures, many checks and balances, some corporate accountability, influential watchdog groups, powerful pressure groups, among other arrangements. On the other hand, impoverished largely coloured Third World countries live with a different reality. From Africa to Latin America to the Caribbean, and now Guyana, it is the same sick and dispiriting tale repeated again and again.

Political leaders with unchallengeable power (Nigeria, Angola, and Venezuela) tell hopeful dependent peoples of their struggling societies how well they are doing for them, plan to do for them, then stab those same citizens in the back. The same people who voted for them are ignored repeatedly and shamelessly. Oftentimes, things have deteriorated so far that arrogant leaders don’t bother to consider the intelligence, or reasoning capacity of their citizens, so contemptuous they become, so determined they are to cheat the people.

After decades as an oil-producing nation, Nigeria is worse off than before. It is the same sad situation in nearby Trinidad and Tobago, also a decades-long oil producing nation, which was confirmed in the news article titled, “TT’s oil and gas sector has been a slow train wreck for the last decade -Lack of transparency, accountability among major issues to be blamed -Energy Expert, Anthony Paul” (KN October 1). The key lies in only two of those words: ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’.

When transparency is lacking, there is no proper accountability. Citizens of the Twin-Island Republic were long the toast of the region, due to their oil wealth, but look at them now; for today, they are looking to Guyana to get a footing and start over. Despite decades of pumping oil, our neighbours are struggling, emigrating to wherever would take them. Crime is a rampaging monster, while racial tensions are sharp, with the usual finger pointing, which is all that politicians have left going for them. Indeed it has been, as Anthony Paul said, “a slow train wreck.” One would think that Guyanese leaders, newly in charge of a nation that is blessed with abundant oil discoveries, would want to avoid completely, the oil pitfalls experienced by other countries.

They don’t have to go far, for Trinidad and Tobago is just next door. That is, if our political leaders, in both the previous Coalition Government and currently in the PPP Government, were interested in learning of the harsh lessons from those who let the bright dream slip away because they were too consumed by personal covetousness.

While Trinidad and Tobago was “a slow train wreck” Guyana has been an early runaway bus, with little driver control left, or brakes (safety systems) to apply to stop carnage from the beginning. Those same two words, transparency and accountability, or the absence of both, that devastated our once oil rich brethren, have taken a stranglehold here, because leaders have neither time nor interest in either. As we said earlier, commitment to one means that the other must also happen to be devoted to, since they go together. What we have here are tricks for transparency and accountability. We have a President who says things are transparent, knowing fully well that it is a verbal fabrication, a heavy untruth, and offer it for public consumption. It is what he says it is, and to hell with what anybody else says. That is accountability for President and his Vice President, who is so transparent that he hides from any probing light. Both President and Vice President are so accountable that they put material oil reports under lock and key with police guards in riot gear to lock out truth from the nation. Guyana is not a slow train wreck, but an out-ofcontrol truck. Guyana, watch out.

Time for a US military base in Essequibo?

Dear Editor, Venezuela’s growing aggression towards Guyana regarding its claim for a huge chunk of Essequibo is deeply worrying.

It is clear that the domestic desperation from the economic and political situation have forced leaders to find ways to cool the tempers of its people down.

Venezuelans have been fleeing by the thousands from the hardships as food, medicine, runaway inflation and foreign currency shortages continue to wreak havoc on this oil-rich

country.

What better way than to drum up a century-old claim that have been settled a long time back.

President Nicholas Maduro must know that legally and diplomatically the renewed claim is going nowhere yet he continues to bluster.

Venezuela has now refused to recognise the UN’s World Court in The Hague as the final, binding decider on their claim.

The claim is for almost all of Essequibo, a mineral-rich area and the biggest county in Guyana.

Recent news that President Maduro has collaborated with elements from the Opposition to present one front on the claim is not good news.

Venezuela has also stated clearly that it will not recognise any decision by the World Court and would rather continue talks with Guyana.

Those bilateral talks have gone nowhere in more than two decades. A mere waste of time and money for Guyana with Venezuela not budging from its all or nothing posture.

It is clear now that Guyana

cannot continue to sit on its hands.

President Irfaan Ali may seriously have to consider allowing the US to build a base in Essequibo.

In addition to the obvious economic benefits for Guyana with such facilities and personnel, we should recognise that there are existing agreements to combat the drug trade.

This has little to do with giving up our sovereignty. It is strictly a pragmatic way of solving a situation.

How about it President Ali? Cobeer ‘Anand’ Persaud

Promoting and facilitating agro-processing and value-added is the way to go Dear Editor, With every passing day, we hear our government ministers, more so the Minister of Agriculture promoting agro-processing and value-added.

Presentation and longevity of basic agricultural commodities are now taking precedence in the minds of our consumers when deciding on what to buy and from which manufacturer. Stressing on the importance of making products more value-added, the government is definitely on the right track with ensuring the development of Guyana’s agriculture sector is done holistically.

If Guyana is going to realise its full potential as the agriculture powerhouse in this hemisphere, areas like agro-processing and valueadded must be discussed and the necessary investments

must be made to facilitate this.

Many raw commodities have intrinsic value in their original state, but when transformed, they can be some of the most sought and consumed commodities on the market.

The ‘produce-and-thensell’ mentality of the commodity business is being replaced by the strategy of first determining what attributes consumers want in their food products and then creating or manufacturing products with those attributes.

With the continuous shifting of the global economy, the international market for value-added products continues to grow.

Market forces have indeed led to greater opportunities for product differentiation and adding value to raw commodities because of

increased consumer demands regarding health, nutrition, convenience, efforts by food processors to improve their productivity, and technological advances that enable producers to produce what consumers desire.

Producers involved with adding value will become more than commodity producers, absorbing all the shocks brought about by global markets in this transitional period of agriculture.

They should think of themselves as producing products for end-users, instead of producing only raw commodities.

During the 2021 National Budget exercise, Minister Mustapha had announced plans to retrofit approximately five agro-processing facilities across the country. Plans were also announced to retrofit a

packaging facility in Region One. The government, therefore, understands that for change to take place, the accompanying facilities must be made available to its citizens.

Once completed, the agroprocessing facilities will enable farmers to transform their products, making them more value-added. The processing facility should also help farmers with the value-added aspect. Making products more appealing to consumers is a basic way of adding value.

I would like to encourage farmers to make full use of the opportunities that lie ahead once these facilities become operable. For the first time, I am excited about where Guyana is heading in terms of agro-processing and agricultural development and diversification.

Yours truly, Joy Spencer

The UN and its Security Council provides the best venue for the discussion Dear Editor, I have read the recent thoughts put forward concerning the suggestion of approaching the UN Security Council to start the process of compensation to leave the Oil & Gas in the ground.

The concerns raised are valid and the current reality of the situation is as has been stated.

The permanent members of the UN Security Council do continue to be major producers of Oil & Gas. What has changed is the momentum behind the shift to alternative energy sources, and the uproar against the Oil & Gas industry has substantially increased. The US has also identified climate change as a National Security issue.

US President Biden has made it a top priority and in J a n u a r y, former

Secretary of State John Kerry was assigned to a new role “Special Presidential Envoy for Climate” and will sit on the US National Security Council to focus his efforts entirely on the issue of Climate Change.

It should also be noted that in February, the UK hosted a special session in the UN Security Council on Climate and Security.

The issue is also becoming a much higher priority within NATO. As a result of the serious security issues that climate change is raising, the world’s largest militaries are integrating climate change into their national defense strategies and policies.

They are also accelerating shifting their energy footprint away

from fossil fuels. COP 26, which is the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, will be held in the UK, in November of this year and offers the opportunity for new oil producing countries such as Guyana to set an example by putting forward a robust proposal to help reduce the risks in the National Security that vulnerable members of the U N a nd the permanent members of the UN Security Council will face.

Leading a diplomatic effort to leave discovered oil & gas resources in the ground, while obtaining a substantial level of compensation for doing so may be just what the UN Security Council needs to accelerate a solution to the major problems that lay ahead.

Otherwise military might will remain the focus. The choice is before us and the world as to how serious we take the threat of Climate Change and how much cooperation can be achieved in fairly resolving this issue.

Guyana does retain the option to exploit this sector of our national resources responsibly in the absence of a fair solution, but we must also keep in mind our own vulnerabilities and that “Prevention is better than a Cure”.

This in itself should be a highly motivating factor to guide our Government to make the best long-term decision to combat Climate Change.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Saturday October 02, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Rohit’s positivity to politics and his contributions were an inspiration for his party Dear Editor, It is with sadness I read of the passing of Rohit Persaud, a PPP stalwart who served the party and the country with distinction, honour, integrity, commitment and dedication. He was kind, caring, and compassionate.

He was a hero of political struggle. He underwent depravations. But that did not prevent him to have a huge impact on the politics and in championing the plight of others. He sacrificed his life, family, high office, and wealth for the party. While we were not friends, I engaged him because of our Port Mourant connection. During holiday breaks from my studies or teaching in New York, I would engage him. He wanted to tell of his political life and his views of politics.

There were/are few like Rohit in the PPP and in the country who committed their life the way he did to uplift the lives of others, particularly the working class (sugar workers and farmers).

I know of his political work because of my grounding in Port Mourant where his name was well known from the

1970s thru the 2000s.

Today’s PPP politicians may not know him. Some have had no regards for his contributions during very hard days of the 1970s and 1980s. He helped to build the party, to get into office in 1992. Others benefited from his political struggle while he was neglected. His friends told me Rohit was marginalised, used, abused, discarded, and put to political pasture. His last political will and testament is an indictment of some in his party. I would not want to reveal some unpleasant things and choice words he said about some political figures. He gave instructions about his funeral rites (cremation) – simple with limited speeches. He did not care for certain individuals present at his last rites, which he wanted to be done quickly.

(His body was due to be cremated on Wednesday).

Though from Upper Corentyne, Rohit was encouraged to settle in Port Mourant. He grounded with activists in Tain, Port Mourant and throughout the Corentyne where he was very

active in PPP politics. He was an outstanding party organiser and a dedicated warrior against the Burnham dictatorship. I grew up admiring the political activism of the likes of Rohit, Swasi Deola, and others from Port Mourant. As it was for so many of us during the era of our youths, Dr. Jagan was their hero. Rohit, like Swasi, and several others were committed foot soldiers, fearlessly organising activities for Jagan’s party. He was a committed Jaganite, a man of principles and integrity refusing lucrative offers to betray the party and leader.

A story was related about his encounter with Burnham who made a financially rewarding job offer to him.

Rohit had driven to Georgetown for a party meeting at Freedom House.

On his way back to Port Mourant, his vehicle broke down on the East Coast at dusk. Burnham happened to pass the same time.

Burnham’s vehicle drove past Rohit’s old, broken down car on the parapet, and recognised Rohit. After being

driven for some two miles past Rohit, Burnham ordered his driver to turn back and stop next to Rohit’s disabled vehicle. Burnham came out of the vehicle and warmly greeted Rohit, telling him: “Comrade Rohit, Look at your condition! Look at how Jagan punishing you. Sand flies and mosquitoes are eating you now. Join me and you will have a better life. Here is my phone number. Call me tomorrow. Any job, any position you want it’s yours.

And you will also get a vehicle”.

Rohit related the incident to Jagan and several of his colleagues. I too heard of it.

Jagan was worried that Rohit would cross over to Burnham as several opportunists did and pleaded to Rohit not to join Burnham. Rohit was a man of principles.

He would never entertain the thought of joining Burnham. He was a Jagan loyalist. Rohit declined Burnham’s offer. He could not join a man who oppressed and persecuted people and who rigged elections. He remained committed to his party to the point that he

Large-scale farming programmes could benefit Amerindian community Dear Editor, As we wind down our celebration of Amerindian Heritage 2021, it would be amiss of me, an Amerindian, not to highlight the very important sector of Agriculture, as it relates to Amerindian development.

Over a period of say, 10 years or more, there has been quite a shift from agriculture among youths in Amerindian communities; most opting to become employed in the mining and lumber industries, instead of finding themselves self-employed at home.

The attitudinal change is in stark contrast from what it was in the past. This nevertheless has been opening up opportunities for the older folks growing staple

food crops, with very little for market, since the returns are low.

The perception, too, in some of our communities, especially those closer to the coastline of Guyana, is that farming is old-fashioned. “It is an old people thing and only old people must farm,” they say.

Putting that into perspective, Editor, I would like to posit that given the opportunity and expertise, most, if not all of our communities, could become better farming communities, once there is an attitudinal change, with some guidance being urgent and necessary.

Since our soils cannot be compared with the rich alluvial soils of the coast of Guyana,

returns are comparatively poor, resulting in lower incomes. Very simple.

The point is, and to be pragmatic about it, we the Amerindians cannot afford to continue with the subsistence farming culture forever.

Since we have vast uncultivated areas of land space, the position should be to exploit extensive, instead of intensive farming techniques. Extensive type farming would require larger land space, obviously, but with a possible bigger profit than in a smaller, subsistence farming context.

This, of course, would require the use of the latest technology, such as the use of chemicals for weed and pest control, a culture that

may not sound quite ‘Amerindian,’ as we are all accustomed to practising basically organic crop cultivation for ages on our subsistence plots.

But, as we weigh the economics between outdated, non-productive crop culture and the more advanced agricultural techniques, this might be the only way to go. But technical help is needed.

With sound exposure to, and proper use of new technology, the prospect of a new generation of commercial farmers could soon be achieved for our own benefit and that of our own communities.

Yours faithfully, Rev’d Joseph C. Atkinson

became estrange from his family.

I’ll never forget how Rohit, Swasi Deola, and others travelled around by bicycle and on foot throughout the greater Port Mourant area soliciting funds and goods to help striking workers during the long strike of 1975 for GAWU’s recognition.

Regrettably, Rohit would become disappointed in the behaviour of certain political figures. During the last decade, while party comrades seemed to have forgotten about him, I regularly queried about his welfare on visits to the Corentyne. I also visited him a few times at his Topside residence. He felt very honoured that I visited him.

He applauded my political activism and writings and revealed a lot to me about his views of politics and about party figures. He didn’t have very favourable things to say about certain individuals in the PPP although he respected their views and applauded their activism. He cheered the return of the party

in government last year. Rohit died a disappointed man. He lived in poverty with very few showing appreciation of his work. As happened to so many stalwarts, they were never recognised, rewarded, or honoured for their sacrifices to the party or their service to nation. He spoke fondly of Feroze Mohammed and the old guard of the party; the new guard does not know him that well. He also spoke well of Harry Nokta and Indra Chanderpal, both of whom also visited him occasionally.

Clement Rohee, Hydar Ally, and Donald Ramotar, among a few others, would also visit him when on the Corentyne.

Rohit’s positivity to politics and his contributions were an inspiration for the party on the Corentyne. The party owes him a debt of gratitude! Thank you Rohit for your contributions to nationhood and against the dictatorship. His memory will live on in those of us who knew him.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

It’s good that the police are getting tough with the breach of COVID regulations, curfews Dear Editor, I am grateful that the Guyana Police Force is getting tougher with those who are breaching the government-imposed curfew and regulations.

I understand that the

authorities are going to publish the names and pictures of businesses, individuals and organisations, which are found in breach of the curfew.

This move is one, which will (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 02, 2021

New PNCR executive needs to proclaim an end to rigging Dear Editor, I write this letter as an alternative to, and prompted by the Demerara Waves article of September 27, entitled “New PNCR executive needs to get rid of maximum leader approach”, written by my former Cabinet colleague and still friend, Dr. Henry Jeffrey. I differ comprehensively and totally with him. I wish he had seen the occasion and opportunity here for getting on to what he has been calling for, getting on the road of “a historical narrative to which we could all subscribe”.

Neither the “decisionmaking” nor the “Who is the leader, leader?” question is the PNC/R executive’s major problem: it is the question of “what is their business plan, their winning plan?” It ought to be a plan to win elections fairly and squarely: proclaiming an end to rigging: regretting the historical fact that Forbes Burnham and most leaders and supporters of the PNC and latterly, the PNC/R/APNU, succumbed to the argument that rigging was the only way for the PNC/R/ APNU to win, and that there could be nothing in the world worse than losing to the PPP/ C.

A “Proclamation to End Rigging” would open many wonderful doors for all our people, our country and most of all those who for understandably good reasons support the PNCR/ APNU. What a great relief for all of us, some relieved from having to deny and others from being angered in hearing the denials of what is well known. And take it from me, the PPP/C is not all that bad.

There have been recently in our newspapers and other media so many allusions to, explicit references to, and even seeming justifications of the PNC historical rigged elections and the rigging narrowly averted last year, that the admission inherent in a “Proclamation to End Rigging” would not be an admission to something secret, not known, should not take any skin off of anyone’s nose. It would take a great burden off all of us Guyanese chests, particularly so, I say again as an Afro-Guyanese, the chests of so many of my Afro-Guyanese parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters – who earnestly believed and wanted an opportunity to demonstrate that the PNC/ APNU would be good for

Guyana. Our hopes and aspirations may have been noble: we all know and the whole world saw the behaviour of Mr. Clairmont Mingo, the Region Four Returning Officer. He was a man knowingly facing a subsequent life of ridicule, which many would consider worse than death – we must put aside and leave behind us, the worldview that would have motivated him so.

Our hopes and aspirations were noble but turning from our Christian foundations of truth and honesty to rigging has been our doom, initiating a slide to group and national disaster.

It is timely, to deliberately and firmly turn that page – avert the need for our younger people of great potential for our Guyana nation, like Amanza Walton-Desir and James Bond to go down that same road of make believe on which we have been so long stuck.

It is time to extend new hands of fellowship to our fellow comrades in Guyana, and in the much wider world that is much more one, and in which we must fraternise.

If the story of about 20 years ago has any truth, my former fellow MP, Raphael

Trotman, then a rising star in the PNC, had the right inclination in his suggestion to former President Hoyte that the PNC/R apologise to our country (and to many of its own supporters). There could and must be a PNC/RAPNU that could and would be good for all Guyanese and Guyana. The new Executive must work at getting there.

Yes, the arguments for rigging did seem so strong to us Afro-Guyanese, to do a little wrong, a little rigging, to avert a greater wrong – the stealing of our entitled birthright of succeeding the departing British colonial masters under whom we had suffered so much, endured so much and learnt so much. We were ready to take over. Not that we did not recognise Cheddi and his PPP supporters as brothers in the anticolonial fight but they were younger brothers, recently come, whose time had not yet come – they should wait their turn. And when those sentiments were aligned with the instigations of the cold war against ungodly atheistic communism, they were irresistible and so deep given that they also aligned with our self-interest – they are still

deep in the bones of many of us, our organisations, and are being transmitted to our new young generation– we must work at dissipating them.

A “Proclamation of an End to Rigging” by the new Executive of the PNC/R would open the door to us all becoming Guyanese first, One People, One Nation with One Common Destiny. One

Independent Nation fewer than a million people altogether getting on amongst ourselves, and getting on with the more than seven thousand millions of other peoples in nearly two hundred other nations.

Yours truly, Samuel A.A. Hinds Former Prime Minister Former President

Agri. Ministry may have foiled a plan to exploit a well-known loophole Dear Editor, Governance is filled with challenges; the recent retender brouhaha is a good example. It would seem the explanations offered are too technical in nature and layman’s terms are preferred, so here goes: an agency budgeted a fixed sum (say 10 dollars) for steel, went out to tender, and then cancelled the tender thereby causing some confusion. The agency was faced with three courses of action: A. Cancel the tender and ask for a retender. B. Cancel the tender completely or until a new budget could accommodate the higher costs. C. Accept a bid at 10 dollars with the knowledge that steel prices had risen, dramatically the winning bidder would have supplied and asked for a variation on submission of the invoice.

Contract Variations are changes in the amount or cost of works/service/supply stated in a contract. These can be either an increase or

decrease in the work needed to be done, changing the scope of work. These contract variations may be instructed by the client or proposed by the contractors, which are to be agreed upon by all parties. The use of variations is a method used by unscrupulous contractors and government officials to bypass tender regulations; very often the lowest bidder’s final bill exceeds the highest bidder’s tender as the contractor and officials collude to approve a series of variations.

The Ministry of Agriculture’s decision to firstly retender and then cancel the supply request is altogether proper and may have foiled a plan to exploit a well-known loophole in the tender laws. Minister Zulfikar Mustapha’s instruction is a ‘variation’ on business as usual that is welcome and long overdue.

Yours truly, Robin Singh

...It’s good that the police are From page 5 get kudos from the lawabiding citizens of Guyana. I support the police enforcement activities.

It is sure to shame and embarrass those who want to go beyond the curfew. It will make sure people think first about going to these crowded areas and partying in breach of the curfew.

Also, the secret parties and functions will cease because of the associated risk. It will become harder to attract large gatherings once would-be party goers find out their employment information would be published too.

All readers would agree with me, that the Police Force have waited and procrastinated in arriving at this point. But every day, someone is losing the fight to

the COVID-virus and these persons are not heeding the advice. Bar owners and business must feel the squeeze if they do not want to abide by the party restrictions.

We got to do much better.

People are seriously ill and dying at an alarming rate as a direct result of the spread of COVID-19. If the police cannot seem to get this lawlessness under control, the government should impose reintroduction of the 6am to 6pm curfew and lockdown, and we will see if that stops the wanton spread of COVID. We cannot continue to sacrifice the safety of nation because of a few partygoers and businesses.

Yours truly, Suraj Singh

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

Nigeria is begging for billions to survive. Guyana could be Nigeria in a couple of years, despite also having fabulous oil wealth.

Nigerian leaders went on a borrowing binge and pocketed billions. Guyanese leaders are also bingeing with billion-dollar borrowings, and will leave us scrambling to borrow more for survival too if they continue in a reckless manner.

Who will lend us then when the oil is gone? Who will want anything to do with Guyana, other than to use it as a doormat?

PAGE 07

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 02, 2021

Suriname oil: Keskesi South-1 well turns up unsuccessful

A

PA Corporation r e c e n t l y announced that the Keskesi South -1, an oil well drilled approximately 6.2 kilometres from the discovery well Keskesi East1 on Block 58, has encountered non-commercial quantities of hydrocarbons.

As such, the company stated, the well has been plugged and abandoned.

“The first appraisal well at Keskesi was a substantial step-out designed to assess the southern extent of the f e a t u r e , ” s a i d Tr a c e y Henderson, APA's Senior Vi c e P r e s i d e n t o f Exploration.

She continued, “This location had the potential to c o n f i r m a v e r y l a rg e resource in place if connected to the reservoir sands in the discovery well.

H o w e v e r, s u i t a b l e reservoir quality sands were

not developed in the Campanian target at the Keskesi South-1 location.

Data gathered from the well will be used to calibrate our geologic model and inform the next steps for Keskesi appraisal.”

The Maersk Developer has moved to the Sapakara South-1 well, where it will conduct a flow test of the previously announced appraisal success.

Following the completion of the Sapakara South-1 flow test, the exploration program will continue with the spud of the next exploration well, targeting the Krabdagoe prospect just to the east of Keskesi.

The Maersk Valiant is currently drilling Bonboni, the first exploration prospect in the northern portion of Block 58. Both rigs are operated by TotalEnergies.

Block 58 encompasses 1.4 million acres and is in the early phases of exploration and appraisal.

APA has participated in four exploration discoveries and one appraisal success offshore Suriname in the past two years.

In addition to its 50% working interest on Block 58, the company also holds a 45% working interest in Block 53, where it plans to drill an exploration well in 2022.

A PA C o r p o r a t i o n , through its consolidated subsidiaries, explores for and produces oil and gas with operations in the United States, Egypt and the United Kingdom and exploration activities offshore Suriname.

APA Suriname holds a 50% working interest in the block, with TotalEnergies, the operator, holding a 50% working interest.

Corentyne businessman beaten, robbed by armed bandits

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o l i c e a r e investigating an alleged robbery under arms, committed on a 60-year-old businessman of B e l v e d e r e Vi l l a g e , Corentyne, Berbice.

Reports are that an identifiable male and an unknown male, armed with handguns entered the premises of the elderly man sometime around 19:18 hrs on Thursday. This was shortly after the man closed his business place for the day and had gone home with an undisclosed amount of cash, along with other items.

It is alleged by the victim that as he arrived home and exited his motor van to open his gate, the two men confronted him and whipped out their guns from their pants waist. They then demanded that he hand over all that he had in his possession but the victim hesitated.

This angered the men and they dealt him several lashes to his head and face with their guns. One of the men held on to the victim while the other removed the bag with cash from the van following which they made good their escape.

The businessman subsequently filed a report and was escorted to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was examined by a doctor on duty.

He was treated and sent away.

Police are investigating the matter and have since launched a search for the two men.

The items stolen include an undisclosed amount of cash, two Samsung Galaxy tablets valued at $100,000, one Bluetooth Automatic box valued at $60,000, a quantity of Digicel & GT&T Phone cards for which the value is unknown and several personal documents.

Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

A SCHOOL OF MUSIC A

bout 10 years ago, a decision was taken to establish a National School of Music. Such a school is needed to foster the development of the finer arts. This, when coupled with the drama training, will help Guyana to nurture the artistic potential of its people.

Recent talent-spotting shows have revealed that local talent is often raw and in need of polishing. The establishment of a school of music will aid not only those with good-sounding voices but also those who are keen on playing the various musical instruments. More fundamentally, it will ground our talented musicians in the theory of music, something that many of them lack at the moment.

Such a school can only produce better musicians.

There are of course those who feel that it would be better to concentrate on individuals with potential.

According to this view, you either have it or do not have it.

This viewpoint is however outdated thinking.

Those who have it today are those who took the time and effort to develop their talents and long gone are the days when only a select few, mainly from the country's middle class, were afforded the opportunity to have it.

Many countries, the most notable of which has been

Jamaica, have converted the talents of the poor and turned these artistes who would have otherwise been disadvantaged into international superstars. If Jamaica had adopted the adage about developing only those “who had it”, then that country would not have been producing the large number of international superstars that it is presently turning out.

The entertainment industry, of course, has long been touted locally as a money spinner. It has often been said that once this industry is developed it can earn more foreign exchange than some of our major industries. So, the economic possibilities have long been recognised, but until now, very few practical steps have been taken.

In the distant past, Guyanese were promised a recording studio. Year after year, this promise was being made but nothing ever materialised. Today there are a number of small recording studios in Guyana but not very many productions are being made.

Part of the problem of course is the cost of making music and the prohibitive cost of marketing but as Guyana's artistes become better known, it is going to become worth the while for local productions.

The establishment of a musical school is therefore something that will be a

good way to kick start the arts. It will hone the talents of our young musical artistes and allow them opportunities that they never had.

Obtaining the resources to operate such a school is not going to be easy. The money is obviously there, but there is a need to bring in the best resources in order to assist the students. In addition, the theoretical aspect of the school's teaching will need to be examined carefully to ensure that they meet international standards.

As mentioned before, a musical school is not just about helping people to sing and play instruments. It is also ensuring that they are versed in the theory of music at the various levels.

One of the main challenges that will face a school of music is how to reach out to the far flung areas of the country where many individuals have the interest, but there are very few opportunities available.

It is important that a school of music be truly national in scope, and that persons from all walks of life are able to gain the opportunity to develop themselves musically.

Music is not a cheap profession. Instruments are very costly, and many a poor family can hardly afford to buy a guitar much less a keyboard.

Here a music school will

Dem

Pitbull without teeth boys seh...

D

em minibus does behave as if dem own de road. Dem does fly pass yuh as if dem is ambulance, pull out from de corna without signalling, run red light as if dem colour blind and stop in de middle ah de road fuh put off passenger.

But is only time with dem. Dem days numbered.

As long as more and more people buying car, dem gan gat less people fuh dem minibus and hire car fuh transport and eventually dem hire car gan start wuk short drop and put dem minibus out ah business.

Dem gat wan model ah dem minibus wah dem does call pitbull. Dem boys seh it

square like a coffin but it does tapple like if it round.

Nuff accident happen in which de slightest hit does cause dem fuh tapple.

And when a bus tapple and yuh deh pun de side wah hit de road surface, yuh does lose yuh limbs like if is butcher shop yuh deh in. Dat is why dem boys seh is nat safe fuh travel in de bus wah does speed and wah liable fuh tapple.

Dem boys wan ask de guvament fuh do a test pun de pitbull bus fuh see whether it stable because dem boys reading too much bout minibus tappling because ah de speeding.

It mek dem boys remember de man from Guyana wah guh America.

As soon as he come off de

plane he join wan taxi wah does gat metre. After a few minutes he tell de taxi driver how in Guyana dem hire car does drive fast. He tell he how dem American nah know fuh drive fast.

Just den he see one ah dem big buses. He tun to de taxi driver and tell he how in Guyana dem gat minibus and it does move like a bullet train. He seh how de bus in America too slow.

When he reach he hotel, de Guyanese look at de metre and see dat it reading $200 US dollars. He tun to de taxi drive and seh: "How come de metre running suh fast?"

De taxi driver tun to he and seh, “It mek in Guyana.”

Talk half and tell dem minibus fuh slow down!

face some important challenges. On the one hand, there will be the temptation to provide the disadvantaged with instruments that they cannot afford. But there is the downside to this position, wherein persons should not become too dependent on the state.

There needs to be a balance, in which persons are given support until such time as they can acquire their own instruments.

But before anyone gets their hopes too high, about a school of music, they may have to ask the Ministry whether music is considered

a core or non-core activity.

(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

Saturday October 02, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The PPP/PNC song and bell have been sung out and rung out T

here is an entity named Overseas Friends of the WPA (OFWPA). It is headed by former Secretary to the Anglican Diocese under Bishop George's leadership in the 1970s. His name is Keith Branch.

I only met Mr. Branch once when he was on a visit and we had breakfast at the Tastee Snack Restaurant on David Street, Kitty.

After that our relationship deteriorated when he threatened to sue me for libel over my analysis of the degeneration of WPA's politics. Mr. Branch returned to Guyana for the election campaign of March 2020.

In that campaign, one video clip I saw with him, he came across more of an Africanised politician than a Rodneyite. But then again, who in what is left of the WPA is a Rodneyite? All former high profile leaders of the WPA in Guyana who have migrated constitute the

core of OFWPA. The list includes Eusi Kwayana, Moses Bhagwan, Dr. Nigel Westmaas and Dr. Alissa Trotz. One of the main figures behind OFWPA is New York based Rohit Kanhai, a WPA fanatic. Mr. Kanhai publishes a newspaper dedicated to keeping the WPA alive. It is titled “Caribbean Daylight.”

N e i t h e r M r. K a n h a i , Caribbean Daylight or OFWPA has any light about them. A more appropriate name would be Caribbean Darkness.

O n T h u r s d a y, M r.

Kanhai published a letter in the newspaper. Its title is: “In politics, the struggle for power always obliterates logic.” Interestingly, Mr. Kanhai did not sign in his personal capacity but as belonging to the WPA. The letter has an ironic title because there is nothing logical in his adumbration.

Mr. Kanhai's fulmination against the PPP and PNC is

outdated. Such analyses are no longer valid except for the recording of history. History has recorded the sins and virtues of the PPP and PNC. The analysts have to understand that the dynamism of politics have thrown up new dimensions by new actors.

In my column of Saturday, September 25, 2021, captioned, “Recording history: Dr. Tarron Khemraj adds his two cents,” I observed, “Researchers then need to focus on the changing nature of Guyanese politics since 2011.

The configurations, permutations and variables have changed. Guyanese politics has become more d a n g e ro u s a n d m o re unpredictable because the mainstream players – PNC and PPP - have been sharing space with other political parties whose capacity to shape events have led to more deleterious

effects.

The AFC and WPA have played no small part in taking us to the uncertain stage we are at.”

Mr. Kanhai's long letter traces the mentality and political culture of the PPP and PNC and brings it up right to the present time.

But if you are from another planet, on reading Kanhai's, you would never think, even for a fleeting second, that Mr. Kanhai's party was in the halls of power for five year – 2015-2020 – and some of those leaders were iconic figures long established as revolutionary actors from the seventies onwards until March when they began to support rigged elections.

I quote from the letter of Kanhai and I would urge readers to reflect carefully on what the man penned because for me this is not only a dishonest offering but propaganda trying to pass itself as academic analysis.

Here is Kanhai's propaganda.

“The non-ideological struggle for power currently centers on the trillions of

Frederick Kissoon dollars in new-found oil wealth. Both the PPP and the PNC recognize that money is not colored by ideology, but by power and in the Guyana currency, race. This was starkly revealed in the last elections, when every attempt was made by the PNC, to hold on to power. This included a repudiation of the very electoral process that had brought it to power.”

Would one believe that the Manager of Rodney House (the WPA's head office), Desmond Trotman, who sits as Kanhai's colleague in the WPA is one o f t h e G E C O M

commissioners? Trotman was a non-objective, nonpartisan player in Kanhai's own admission of electoral rigging in March last year.

There is nothing in Kanhai's missive, not even a line, that questions the role of his party in government from 2015-2020. Instead we read about the race for oil money by the two traditional actors – PNC and PPP. The obvious question is: When this race was going on between 2015 and 2020 was Kanhai's party an innocent bystander? Was the WPA a small party in the opposition crying in the wilderness that the two giants were fighting for Guyana's oil wealth?

On the contrary, the WPA was part of the ruling entity and by not resigning from government when the race for oil money was on, showed that it was part of the “hustler culture.” It is part too, of the tragedy of March 2020.

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

Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Woman who paid to have father killed, gets death sentence along with hitman

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ifty-five-year-old Bibi Nazeela Habiboodean was yesterday handed a death sentence for paying to have her father killed. The hitman, Linden Lewis called “Bullets” also received the same fate for the death of 76year-old Habiboodean [only name] a businessman of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo.

Bibi and Lewis were sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon in the Demerara High Court.

During August 2021, the duo had denied the charge which stated that on February 15, 2008, they murdered Habiboodean. They were represented by attorneys-atlaw Latchmie Rahamat and Roger Yearwood, while evidence was led by Senior State Counsel Lisa Cave.

Bibi Nazeela Habiboodean and hitman Linden Lewis After deliberating, the jury returned with unanimous guilty verdicts against both Bibi and Lewis. Even after the verdicts were delivered, the

duo still maintained their innocence. Justice Kissoon in handing down the sentence stated that it was made following due consideration

of the circumstances of the crime along with the fact that Bibi was motivated by greed to get her father's assets and hired Lewis to inflict injuries on him.

Habiboodean was the owner of a gas station at Ruby, East Bank Essequibo.

He died at the Woodlands Hospital on February 15, 2008, one day after he was badly beaten at his home.

According to reports, in 2016, Bibi had turned herself in at the Leonora Police Station, West Coast Demerara, and had implicated other persons in the murder. The woman had confessed that, along with Lewis, they sat down in her father's house with five individuals and plotted his death.

Police had previously arrested and charged Bibi and 38-year-old Terry Lewton, of

Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, but the case was discharged because of insufficient evidence.

However, the lawmen got a real break in the case after Lewis and four others, were detained for the murders of Mohamed Munir, 75, and his wife Bibi Jamila Munir, 69, who were burnt to death in their Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo home.

It was while he was in custody that someone tipped off investigators that Lewis had vital information about Habiboodeen's death.

Police said that while being interrogated, Lewis admitted to killing Habiboodeen, while complaining that he had never received full payment for the job. According to what Lewis had told the police, it all

Murdered, Habiboodean began sometime in 2008, when Bibi complained that other relatives had received properties and other assets, while she had received nothing.

The woman had also stated that she wanted the old man's fuel station, cash he had in a bank, and assets he had in Georgetown. She then contacted an uncle of Lewis and he hired Lewis to kill her father. He was promised $6M, a house, and land.

More than 11,000 adolescents fully vaccinated against COVID-19

M

ore than 11,000 children between the ages 12 to 17 have been fully vaccinated against the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, MP, has revealed.

Since the beginning of the adolescents' vaccination drive on September 1, some 24, 460 secondary school students have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Of that number, 11,601 children received the second dose.

With students becoming fully vaccinated, the Ministry of Education announced Thursday that students of Grades 10, 11 and 12 will

r etu r n to f ace- to - f ace learning during October.

The ministry said there will not be one fixed date for the reopening of all secondary schools, since it is being done according to the vaccination programme.

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony said the Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four) continues to lead in the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

The region's overall first dose vaccination rate stands at 78.3 percent, with second doses at 44.8 percent.

Other regions for first dose include Region One with 76.8 percent, Region Two with 57.3

percent, Region Three, 66.6 percent, Region Five, 68.6 percent, Region Six, 71.3 percent, Region Seven, 69.4 percent, Region Eight, 44.1 percent, Region Nine, 71.6 percent and Region Ten with 29.7 percent.

Meanwhile, second dose is as follows: Region One with 34.8 percent, Region Two, 33.5 percent, Region Three, 35.1 percent, Region Five, 41.2 percent, Region Six, 39.6 percent, Region Seven, 34.7 percent, Region Eight, 29.4 percent, Region Nine, 39.3 percent and Region Ten with 13.2 percent.

The health minister is urging more vaccination in

Region 10, which has the lowest rate. He said Regions Two and Eight are also lagging.

“As you can see there, what we're having is that Region Ten is not doing so well both in terms of first and second dose vaccination, because there are 29.7 [first dose] and 13.2 [second dose] …they still have a far way to go…

“All the places they need to keep working to improve their vaccination rate, we have to get these numbers up to, second dose closer to 75 percent, once we get that we'll start see a turnaround of cases.”

Meanwhile, the minister said the number of persons taking their COVID-19 jabs has been improving as the country has again recorded its highest vaccination on Thursday.

“The total numbers as of yesterday, would be that for adults we have 359, 222 persons who would have received the first dose of one of the COVID-19 vaccines.

That really would put us now with 70 percent of our adult population would receive at least one dose of the vaccine.

We also have 199, 978 persons who received a second dose and so now we have 39

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony percent of our adult population, who would have been fully vaccinated.”

The minister is urging persons to get vaccinated as it has been proven effective against the Coronavirus. (DPI)

Body of second victim in boat mishap found

T

One of the victims who perished in the mishap, Darmindra Dean.

he remains of the second victim, a pensioner 68, who had drowned in Wednesday's boat mishap floated yesterday not too far away from where the first victim was found.

Wednesday's boat tragedy took place in the rapids of the Quarawak Falls, located in the Essequibo River, in the vicinity of Chinese Landing, Region Eight.

Losing their lives as result of the tragedy were 53-year-old businessman, Darmindra Dean of Aranaputa Valley, North Rupununi, Region Nine and the pensioner, Roach Leo of Fairview Village, Region Eight.

Dean's remains were recovered on Thursday around 14:00hrs but Leo's body was fished of the river around 08:00hrs. Kaieteur News had reported that the tragedy that took their lives occurred around 13:30hrs on Wednesday, some 22 miles downstream from the Kurupukari Crossing.

Dean, the owner of the boat, had a business at Chinese Landing and had left earlier that day to supply some fishermen with ice. It was while dropping off the ice that he met Leo who had been fishing in the river with his son and son-in-law in the river

for nearly a month.

Leo's relative said that Leo was recently laid off from his job as a security guard and decided to “ketch his hand” by making a trip away from home to fish.

After spending one month there, they decided to head home and while waiting for transportation, Damindra who was acquainted with Leo offered him a free drop to Chinese Landing.

The plan was, according to the relative, to take a next boat from there to Fairview.

Those plans never became a reality for Leo. Just minutes away from reaching their

destination, the aluminum boat powered by a 15HP outboard engine in which they were travelling capsized amidst the rapids. While the other passengers made it to safety, both Leo and Dean went under and failed to resurface.

The Toshao of Fairview, Bradford Allicock, related that survivors had told him that a wave from the rapids had knocked the boat over after its engine reportedly sucked air. They reported that the captain was steering the vessel through the rapids up the falls when the motor accidently tilted up.

Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News WANTED Fitter/Machinist,Welder Fabricator, Mechanic, Apprentice. Apply in person at:Technical Services, Industrial Site Eccles.

Experience Taxi driver at Princess Hotel Providence.

Call:265-7075/616-5419.

Domestic- live-in or liveout,cashiers. Contact: 6236383.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

FOR RENT

Allion, Primo, Spacio, Blue Bird, Field Wagon, 212, Carina, RZ, Pit Bull and Canter.

Tel#650-7501.

2 and 3 bedroom apartment house unfurnish and furnish, Vreed-en-hoop, Providence, Diamond. Call:604-6664,2162299.

Two bedroom house for rent in Parfaite Harmonie,West Bank Demerara. Call:6840159.

Sale!Sale! One mini Yacht 20"feet,140 single engine works with gasoline $3,000,000 negotiable 6766238.

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

Appliance/equipment repairs and service to Bakery, Restaurant,Hospital equipment, Remote gate, Backwash & filtration system. Call:6949733.

2017 Toyota CH-R,low mileage. Excellent condition.

Call:657-9237.

Sale!Sale! One mini Yacht 20"feet, 140 single engine works with gasoline $3,000,000 negotiable 6766238.

Inboard Fishing for sale (Complete in good working condition. Contact:615-3237/ 227-0399.

WANTED TRUCK DRIVERS TO WORK WITHIN THE INTERIOR. MUST KNOW TO OPERATE BEDFORD TM TRUCKS. CONTACT 2235273,223-5274.

Male & Female worker for car wash in town.Call:669-4676.

Security officers Male & Female 18+ Lamaha St,between Waterloo & Parade. Call:2234172.

Seamstres,Tailor wanted.

Tell:691-1918 whatsapp.

Professional,polite,neatly attired license riders with or without bike for a delivery service.Call:642-6832.

Seeking person to wash and clean at a hotel in the interior Call 677-3891 One male able bodied clerk.

Call:225-2313,226-1497.

Counter Clerk to work in charity. Contact 223-5273 / 2235274.

One male clerk. Call:2312029,616-5957. Genuine.

TO LET One bedroom apartment with bath & living room.

Cummings Lodge E.C.D. Call:222-0401 or 673-2467 whatsapp 516-805-2048.

Enmore mall commercial space for medical facility. Call centre and any other type of business 609-7675/674-1705.

Persons to assemble bicycle.

Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

Carpenters & Painters.Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

Wanted land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie or anywhere on the West Coast.

Tel:673-7087.

FOR SALE

Driver & Porter to travel in and out of the interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call:231-2250.

Trained grade 1 & 2 teachers needed. Payment will commence with experience and will be in 6 digit, 623-1615.

House plan drawing and estimate. Call K.Lakeram, Building Contractor 2160671,692-8464/Whatsapp 622-0267.

Appliance repairs/service for Refrigerator,Washing Machine, Stove, Treadmill, Dryer, Pressure pump, Oven, Deep Fryer.Call:694-9733.

VACANCY

Vacancy exist for maintenance workers and labourers.

Contact:621-6969/ 615-7784.

For a porter,truck drivers/ salesman.Experiences will be an asset.Contact:661-1000.

Hardware & Home Decor Sales rep at Innovations America. Contact Rohan #226-9416/19. Experience will be an asset.

Vacancy exist for cashier at Innovations America. Contact Rohan #226-9416/19.

Vacancy exist for bond delivery personnel/porter at Innovations America. Contact Rohan #226-9416/19.

Porters,TM log Truck drivers, Chainsaw & Mill operator. Call:609-7675/674-1705.

Vacancy for: 1.Skilled Mason 2.Skilled Carpenter. Contact:602-9467,657-5800,6662857.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 25-45, Car/ Van licence. Call 642-9823.

One clerk for Eccles office , grade 1 or 2 in Maths & English knowledge of Quickbooks. Call: 642-9823 oremail:techserigy @yahoo.com.

Live in general domestic must know to cook $25-35000 wkly & live in waitress $20,000 wkly. Call:610-3974.

One experience Arc/Acetylene welder.Mature persongood rates offered.Tel:2271813.

Males for interior to work,female for bar & 1 live in domestic for Georgetown over 18. Call:687-7638/6913942.

LEGAL NOTICE 2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-732 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION

LEGAL NOTICE FAMILY DIVISION Petition No. FD-732 BETWEEN:MACAKADIA ISLA SEALEY nee NEDD Petitioner -and-MAURICE HUBERT SEALEY Respondent TO:MAURICE HUBERT SEALEY (Last Known Address) Lot 2613 Tuschen New Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, Guyana.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 2" day of June, 2021 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by MACAKADIA ISLA SEALEY nee NEDD the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 16 day of July, 2021, the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the worldwide web (online).

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE’ that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file anAcknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday_the_ 8"”day_ of_November, 2021_ at9:00_am_before_the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious at the High Court at Georgetown via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 772 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between

WANTED LEGAL NOTICE 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 13th day of September, 2021.

2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-704 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-704 BETWEEN:-(WILLIAMS) SHELDATIFANYAN ASHA nee DOWNES Petitioner -V-(WILLIAMS) MARVIN OTHNEIL Respondent TO: MARVIN OTHNEIL WILLIAMS Last Known Address Block 43 ‘B’ Wismar, Linden. TAKE NOTICE that on the 27 day of May, 2021 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by SHELDA TIFANYANASHAWILLIAMS nee DOWNES the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 16" day of August, 2021, the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a newspaper printed, published and circulated in Guyana and or the worldwide web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for

LEGAL NOTICE Directions Hearing on Thursday the 9" day_ of December,_ 2021 at 11:00 am before the Honourable Madam Chief Justice Roxane George via Zoom Meeting. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 18th day of August, 2021.

...New Request for Proposals From page 14 Surinamese Public Works Minister, Dr. Riad Nurmohamed visited the proposed site for the bridge.

The following month, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the construction of the bridge during a joint press conference. President Ali at that time said the bridge will link not only Guyana and Suriname but the rest of South America.

“We recognise the enormous benefit that this can bring in the area of tourism, transportation and trade. To this end, we have expanded our discussions where we can jointly promote business opportunities and tourism opportunities for both countries. It is therefore expected that the proposed road alignment will create within its vicinity the possibilities for free trade zone, enhanced land value, reduce the cost of doing business and increase the ease of doing business,” President Ali stated. Guyana and Suriname have shared diplomatic relations since November 25, 1975.

(DPI)

Saturday October 02, 2021

...Govt. targets 30,000+ homes From page 3 works are for the design and procurement of all materials and specialised equipment, and construction of 0.5km of 13.8 kV three-wire (3W) threephase bare conductor overhead interconnecting transmission line for the solar PV plant at Lethem.

The project is being funded in part by the proceeds of a loan from Guyana's development partner, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), under the Energy Matrix Diversification and Institutional Strengthening of the Department of Energy Project.

The main objective of the programme which costs $10.58M, is to support Guyana's evolving energy sector by improving the reliability of its electricity supply, investing in sustainable energy solutions, and strengthening the country's capacity to regulate the oil sector.

The Government is marketing solar projects as a clean alternative to heavily polluting fossil fuels.

The President, Dr.

Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has promised that the Government will provide more than 500 MW of new power to residential and commercial/industrial users. The administration intends to operationalise the controversial Amaila Falls hydro power project as well, and is looking for a partner to start developing the project in 2022.

The Prime Minister's Office, in a notice said, government wants the project operationalised by 2025.

Furthermore, the Government is also looking to have ExxonMobil start work on the gas-to-energy project, which is expected to pipe natural gas from the Liza Phase One project offshore, to an onshore plant.

A recent release from the Department of Public Information states “Government sees energy as key to Guyana's economic growth, and for an improved quality of life for all Guyanese. It has therefore committed to ensuring affordable, stable and reliable energy is delivered to households and businesses across the country.”

...Ruling on DPP's appeal of From page 13 require her to conduct a PI to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial in the High Court.

The charges against Myers allege that between March 4 and March 14, 2020, in Georgetown, while being a public officer, she willfully misconducted herself together with Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, and others, to declare a fraudulent account of votes for the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, which amounted to a breach of the public's trust in the office of the DCEO of GECOM. She is currently on $300,000 bail for the two cases.

Magistrate Daly has since embarked on holding a PI to determine whether there is enough evidence against Myers for her to face trial in the High Court. The Magistrate had reasoned, inter alia, that the case should not be tried summarily, “since the matter is a very serious matter.”

In court documents, the DPP contends that the course of Magistrate Daly's action will lead to undue delay of the proceedings. According to the DPP, the Magistrate failed to consider that the High Court could impose no greater penalty than the Magistrate's Court on any conviction for the offences and erroneously preceded on the basis that the High Court could in certain circumstances impose a greater penalty for offences charged than was possible for a Magistrate to impose.

The DPP said that the Magistrate in her ruling stated that the charges against Myers were serious and should be heard indictable, likening the offences to charges for robbery underarms.

However, the DPP noted that the decision of Magistrate Daly offends Article 144 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana, which provides that all criminal cases should be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time.

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 02, 2021

Chinese company awarded contract despite bidding higher than local contractors

Screenshot from the minutes of the bids submitted for the St. Rose’s High School Project on July 2021

Despite bidding higher than local contractors, a Chinese company, Shandong Degian International, was still awarded a contract to build the St. Rose’s High School located on Church and Camp Streets, Georgetown.

The contract for the construction of the school, which totals $515M was signed between the foreign company and the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Wednesday last.

MOE in a press statement boasted that a legal tendering process was conducted for the project before it was awarded to Shandong Dergian International. The commencement of that tendering process took place on July 20, 2021 and the Chinese company submitted its bid for the project alongside five other local companies.

Those local companies were: R. Bassoo and Sons Limited, Eron Lall Engineer Works, Nabi Construction Inc., Kares Engineering Inc.

Representatives of the Chinese company signing the new $515M contract with the Ministry of Education last Wednesday. and L’Heureuse Construction Service.

Three of those companies, R. Bassoo and Sons Limited, Kares Construction Inc. and L’Heureuse Construction Service had bid millions less

than the Chinese company.

According the minutes of tendering process published on the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board’s (NPTAB) website, Shandong Degian International submitted a bid

to construct the school for a total of $518M while the three local companies, R. Bassoo and Sons Limited, Kares Construction Inc. and L’Heureuse Construction Service, placed bids of $487M, $445M and $459M respectively.

The bids placed by Kares Construction Inc. and L’Heureuse for the school project were even lower than that of the engineer’s estimate of $467M. Although there were lower bids made by the local companies, it was eventually awarded to the Chinese Company.

The MOE had stated that the St. Rose’s High School Project is expected to last for 19 months with a defects period of one year.

The $515M that will be paid to the Chinese Company, according to the MOE is for a three-storey building, a sanitary block, modern classrooms, a canteen block, modern data facilities, laboratories and a lift which

will have the capacity to accommodate 350 to 400 students.

This is not the first time, however, that a contract was awarded to build the St. Rose’s High School. In fact, the construction of the school should have been completed already. In 2018, the former Coalition Government had awarded a contract carrying a price tag of $352M to Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited to construct a brand new, state-of-the-art St. Rose’s High School (SRHS).

An advance of $60M was handed over to the company and works were scheduled to commence in August 2018. It was agreed that the new state-of-the-art building would have been completed in 18 months.

However, two years went by and only a few piles were driven into the ground for the foundation.

In May of 2019, Chairman of the SRHS Board of Governors, Kenrick Thomas,

had indicated that an alteration in the school’s design had resulted in the delay of construction. A year passed after then and still nothing was done.

No other excuse by the chairman or the company was given since then as to why no significant progress was made in construction.

The St. Rose’s School Board had broken the silence in September 2020 claiming that Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited had abandoned the project.

Two months later, the current administration terminated the contract with the company and shortly after in 2021, the Attorney General Anil Nandlall filed a lawsuit on behalf of the State against the contractor for a total of $400M. The project was retendered in July 2021 and it is still unclear whether the $60M advance paid to the previous contractor was ever recovered.

GGDMA to pilot test new technology to push mercury-free mining in Guyana The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) will soon be pilot testing a new piece of technology that can possibly see the increase in mineral recovery with a significant reduction in the use of mercury in Guyana’s mining sector.

Through a joint partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the “Riven Mineral Recovery System” is expected to be pilot tested for the next 12 months, as part of the GGDMA’s commitment to exploring and finding effective and feasible technology solutions to improve recovery and effectiveness of minerals.

Kaieteur News understands that the joint agreement was signed on Friday.

The purchase and deploy for testing of the Riven Mineral Recovery System also called the “Maroker” will be funded jointly by the GGDMA and the government.

GGDMA explained in a statement that for years, several options have been

touted as practical solutions to help small and medium scale miners in Guyana transition to mercury-free technologies.

But there was some level of skepticism due to the hefty costs attached.

Nonetheless, the Miners Association pointed out that it continued to seek out practical, adoptable and adaptable technologies, applicable to both its physical and financial operating environment, which led to the use of the “Maroker”.

Further, the Association said too that for years, miners have struggled to recover the smaller particles of gold, but the new “Riven Mineral Recovery System” is touted as a safer and more efficient solution that local small and medium scale miners can adopt.

Kaieteur News understands it is said to be “a continuous mineral recovery system” contrasting the traditional sluice box used and with potential benefits chief among which is no use of chemicals in the mineral recovery process.

“The Riven Mineral Recovery System flowsheet consists of a coarse gold recovery circuit, followed by:

(L to R): GGMC Commissioner, Mr. Newell Dennison; Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat and GGDMA’s Andron Alphonso sign the agreement a fine sizing and desliming circuits. The core of the Riven System revolves around a specially designed continuous cleaning Conveyor Micro Riffle Sluice engineered to improve retention of the fine, flat gold particles,” GGDMA explained.

Additionally, it was noted that the “Riven Mineral Recovery System” requires minimal use of water, has a

high recovery of fine gold with a reduced physical footprint, better environmental and social benefits and increased profit to the miner.

And this is all compared to the use of the toxic chemical mercury which has detrimental effects on the environment and human life.

Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram

Bharrat at the signing remarked that the acquisition of the “Maroker” is government’s way of “incentivizing miners” to adapt improved recovery and mercury-free technologies.

The Minister pointed out too that the government through the GGMC will continue to work towards maintaining Guyana’s momentum and reaffirming

the country’s global commitment to the achievement of the objectives of the Minamata Convention, in a realistic manner.

The international treaty on mercury was designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Minister Bharrat endorses upcoming International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana 2022 T

he International E n e r g y Conference Expo Guyana 2022 (IECEG2022) yesterday announced the endorsement of the Minister of Natural Resources with responsibility for Petroleum, Vickram Bharrat M.P. for the upcoming conference in February 2022.

Minister Bharrat's endorsement comes at a time when the conference continues to receive tremendous support from the local, regional and international business communities, regional government leaders, and industry experts.

Minister Bharrat, in a release from his ministry, said he is pleased to be associated with the International Energy Conference and Expo under the theme “Charting a sustainable energy future.”

The energy conference and expo is expected to be held from February 15th – 18th, 2022 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Georgetown, Guyana.

Minister Bharrat in his statement said “The hosting of this conference is timely and will further strengthen Guyana's recognition as an emerging oil and gas leader

and as a country with enormous potentials for investments and business opportunities.

It is anticipated that this event will catapult Guyana into the spotlight that will continue on a path of economic and infrastructural transformation.”

The Minister pledged the Ministry of Natural Resources' and the Government of Guyana's full support in hosting the energy conference and expo and remains committed to supporting the organizers of this very strategic event that is geared towards creating partnerships and prospects for all participants, both foreign and local.

Kaieteur News understands that this International Energy Conference will act as a catalyst to promote, strengthen and enhance local content which is an integral component for oil and gas development in Guyana.

It is expected that the Conference and Expo will showcase Guyana as the oil and gas investment destination, create and build effective industry relationships, provide the medium for local businesses to access collateral and joint ventures, which is in keeping

Corentyne man released on bail for beating brother to death

D

eodat Dhurup, the man who had beaten his brother to death was on Thursday granted bail in the sum of $250,000 at the Springlands Magistrate Court.

The resident of No.72 Village, Upper Corentyne, Berbice appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh and was charged with manslaughter committed on Lakeram Dhurup of the same address.

The accused was unrepresented in court and was not required to plead to the charge. He was subsequently granted bail in the sum of $250,000 with the condition that his passport is lodged and that he reports to the Springlands Police Station every Friday at 9:00 am.

The accused was arrested

on Monday for reportedly beating his brother to death with a two by four piece of wood on Sunday night. He has since admitted to committing the act. He had told police that he and his brother were arguing and it escalated into a physical fight.

He said the deceased choked him and he retaliated by picking up the wood and dealing several blows to his brother's head, back and arms until he was unconscious.

After failed attempts to revive him, the deceased was rushed to Springlands Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem conducted on the body of the deceased revealed that he died of shock with cerebral and cerebellar haemorrhage and a ruptured aneurysm.

with the goals and objective of the Local Content Policy.

Furthermore, it was noted that the Government intends to highlight its complement of spin-off oil and gas investments in addition to national infrastructure projects in the short to medium term.

Interim Chief Executive Officer of the IECEG2022, Angenie Abel, said “This announcement by Minister

Bharrat is a signal that we are moving in the right direction as we look to create the much-needed forum for the further development of Guyana's energy sector.

The IECEG2020 team w e l c o m e s t h i s announcement by the Minister of Natural Resources and by extension the Government of Guyana.”

Abel added “This is just one of many more to come in

the upcoming weeks and months leading up to February 2022, we have seen so far, an outpouring of persons who want to have a seat at the table, from exhibitors to attendees who have so far started the preregistration process”.

The registration portal for the conference and expo can be found on the IECEG's w e b s i t e , www.guyanaenergy.gy.

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat

Kaieteur News

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Saturday October 02, 2021

Ruling on DPP's appeal of Magistrate's decision in former GECOM employee case deferred to October 13 A

ruling on the appeal by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, into the decision of Senior Magistrate Leron Daly's to have former Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers' matters be tried indictably instead of summarily, was deferred to October 13, 2021.

On that date, Justice Franklyn Holder will rule on the DPP's application. The DPP had initiated legal proceedings in the High Court seeking orders to quash the Magistrate's decision to hold a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the electoral fraud case against Myers.

According to the case which was filed on behalf of the DPP through attorneys, Darshan Ramdhani QC, Glenn Hanoman, Ganesh Hira, George Thomas and Mark Conway, the applicant is seeking a declaration that the decision made by Magistrate, Daly to hold a PI

proceeds by way of summary trial. The DPP also asks that Magistrate Daly reconsider her discretion afresh under Section 61 of the Summary Jurisdiction Procedure Act Cap 10:02.

On the grounds to support her application, the DPP relied on Article 187 of

the Constitution, which she notes gives her office supervision over all criminal matters within Guyana.

Further, the applicant explained that the charge against Myers is classified in criminal procedure as a 'hybrid offence', which can be heard and determined

indictable or summary – heard and determined by the Magistrate's Court.

On February 11, 2021, the Magistrate had ruled that the two charges for misconduct in public office against Myers will remain indictable which would (continued on page 17)

Driver beaten, robbed by bandits in Goed Fortuin Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC. into the misconduct allegations, engages the provisions of Article 144 of the Constitution with the likely result that the case may not be tried within a reasonable time.

As such, the DPP asked for an order of certiorari to quash Daly's decision to hold a PI into Myers case on the grounds that it is irrational,

Former Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers ultra vires, illegal, without legal foundation, without legal authority and contrary to natural justice.

The DPP is also seeking a declaration in accordance with the Judicial Review Act that in the circumstances of the charges, and in compliance with the constitution, that the two charges against Myers

A

4 2 - y e a r- o l d man was last evening beaten and robbed by two bandits at Goed Fortuin Housing S c h e m e , We s t B a n k Demerara (WBD). At 19:45hrs, the victim was driving a car in the area when he noticed two men on a bicycle. One of the men shouted at him saying, “Who is you coming through this area?”

The driver claimed that he continued driving as he was on his way to pick up a

family member. However, the suspects started to follow him on their bicycle.

One of the bandits then hit the victim's vehicle with his hand, causing the driver to stop the car.

As he exited the vehicle, the other bandit threw the bicycle at him. They then approached the driver and kicked and cuffed him about his body. He was then relieved of a cell phone valued at $45,000, one transition lens glasses valued at $45,000, and

$10,000 in cash.

The bandits then made good their escape in an unknown direction. The matter was reported and the driver was advised to seek medical attention at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH).

Several checks were made in the area for the two men. Those efforts, however, proved to be futile.

The police confirmed with this newspaper that an investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 02, 2021

Saturday October 02, 2021

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Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil & YBG to develop basketball at Canje, LBI register victories the community level Canje and LBI registered victories when the New York S o f t b a l l L e a g u e / We s t Indian Softball Association P r e mier Division 20-over competition continued on Sunday last at Baisley Park.

Canje defeated Citi Star by 18 runs to maintain their unbeaten run in the tournament and have qualified for the playoffs.

Batting first, Canjie managed 139-9. Sumesh Wazid made 31, Roger Laker scored 26, Moonsammy Permaul contributed 22 and

Gomel Mattai 18. J. Gopaul grabbed 4-25. Citi Star were bowled out for 121 in 19.1 overs in reply. J. Rahim scored 32 as Ishwar Mohanlall picked up 3-22 and Shaun Khan 2-12.

LBI beat Rebels by five wickets. Rebels took first strike and scored 125-8. K. Ramroop struck 30 and Mark Bobb made 26.

Abul Mulla claimed 3-30.

LBI replied with 126-5 in 18 overs. Ryan Ramlall made 22 as Burjes Ramlall took 2-29.

The competition will continue this weekend.

The Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Academy is a “Community Partnership’’ which seeks to provide an alternative in the interim for core student-athletes ages 13 – 19 years-old, who have been without structure for almost two years, to train and play safely.

“Through the ExxonMobil Community Partnership, YBG will be allowed to continue its good and firstly it will allow access to expand the YBG Academy in several communities”, YBG’s CoDirector, Rayad Boyce stated during the press conference at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) yesterday.

ExxonMobil Guyana has partnered with YBG in the past supporting league competitions and investing in

the community and this time around their partnership with YBG will offer support to the sport as a vehicle for transformation; educational intervention and support for student-athletes; and Leadership and Community empowerment.

Alistair Routledge, President of ExxonMobil Guyana, said they are extremely happy to renew their partnership for the “outstanding work” since YBG is not just teaching Basketball but also life skills.

“This is a great way to learn and a fun way, but remember that you are learning more than just how to play with the ball”, Routledge told the participants at the CASH that is located on Homestretch Avenue.

The initiative is also

...Petra Organization Saturday October 02, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today a piece of information for which you've been searching could suddenly become known. You might use your business and money-management skills to help a friend.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A social event in your neighborhood, perhaps in your home, could bring practical information your way that you can put to use to advance your business.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Heightened imagination and ingenuity could bring new ideas for advancing yourself in money and business affairs.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Social events, especially those unrelated to business, could bring exciting new contacts.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Social events, especially those unrelated to business, could bring exciting new contacts. Relationships with partners should be mutually beneficial, when the people you're dealing with are friends.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You feel mentally and physically great, and your business and financial interests may take a sudden turn for the better. A contract could be involved.

CANCER(June21–July22) Your efficient and practical abilities are operating at a very high level. A long-term goal that you've been working toward could finally be reached today, bringing good fortune and open acknowledgement.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your strong business head and practical skills couple with imagination and innovation to bring advancement your way. Information received from far away could prove especially valuable now.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Busi n e s s c o l l e a g u e s o r prospective partners could visit today. Any partnership formed now shows promise of being a step in the right direction.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Your strong business head and practical skills couple with imagination and innovation to bring advancement your way. Information received from far away could prove especially valuable now.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today a piece of information for which you've been searching could suddenly become known. You might use your business and money-management skills to help a friend or a group with which you're affiliated.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Efforts to advance your career that you've made over the past few weeks could finally bear fruit. Success and good fortune are strongly indicated where business and money are concerned.

From page 20 from Pee Wee (Primary) to Secondary S c h o o l s a n d then to the senior level as a disciplined football player. Mr. Denny remained a very focused, disciplined and hardworking youngster. He took his game serious and his academic pursuits also by becoming a gainfully employed electrician. This young man to our mind exemplified what a young person can do to make progress in a society where there are challenges.”

“We therefore cannot begin to imagine how devastating this loss has caused his family and the pain and suffering to the hands of his assailants, we (Petra Organization) would nevertheless and for a long time to come, mourn the loss of JOSHIE with his family, his friends, our Organization, the football fraternity and civil society.

Heartfelt condolences are being expressed to his family, relatives, his school friends and colleague and to those who knew him.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE,” the release from Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of the Petra Organization concluded.

supported by G-Boat, California Guyana Basketball Foundation, and the National Sports Commission.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, applauded YBG for their efforts in developing the sport from the nursery level since he noted, the “youths

are the future”.

YBG has developed a process of identifying central hubs which are then cleaned and sanitised, and resourced with equipment, administrator, coaches, and a roster of student-athletes within their zone/region.

...Sports Ministry to host inaugural From page 23 Federation: Mike Singh (President) • Hockey - Guyana Hockey Board: Phillip Fernandes (President) • Volleyball - Guyana Volleyball Federation: Levi Ned (President) • National Sports Commission -Chetram Ramdial LUNCH BREAK 1:30pm -2:15pm - Panel 3 Topic: Nutrition, Injuries and Psychology • Moderator: Avenash Ramzan • Football - Guyana Football Federation: Wayne Forde (President) • Rugby - Guyana Rugby Football Union: Godfrey Brooms (Public Relationships

Officer) • Tennis - Guyana Tennis Association: Cristy Campbell (President) • National Sports Commission - Mr. Dellon Davidson (Commissioner) 2:20 -3:05pm - Panel 4 Topic: Tournaments, Elite Training and International Competition • Moderator: Franklin Wilson • Table Tennis - Guyana Table Tennis Association: Godfrey Munro (President) • Badminton - Guyana Badminton Association: Emilia Ramdhani (Secretary) • Swimming - Guyana Amateur Swimming Association: Dwayne Scott (President) • National Sports Commission - Mr. Steve Ninvalle (Director of Sport)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Saturday October 02, 2021

Petra Organization saddened on tragic loss of Joshua Denny “The Petra Organisation has been saddened by the untimely and vicious death of Mr. Joshua Denny, who on Thursday 30th of September 2021, at approximately 06:00 hrs.while on his way to work had his life snuffed out at the hands of two bandits,” a release from the

organisation stated.

“Mr. Joshua Denny’s long lasting relationship with the Petra Organization started in 2012 when he represented the Redeemer Primary and North Georgetown Primary School as a Pee Wee football player in our “Courts U-11 Pee

W e e F o o t b a l l Tournament.” Mr. Denny then went on a few years after to represent the Lodge Secondary School participating in our “Milo U18 Football tournament”, “ G u y o i l Tr a d e w i n d Tankers Football league” where his team emerged as

the 2019 league champions.

Also, and most notably Mr. Joshua Denny was a key and critical member of the Lodge Secondary School team that beat tournament favorites Shiva Boys in the”KFC Goodwill International Secondary School Football Tournament” ensuring that

title remained in Guyana.”

“Mr. Joshua Denny has even represented the Camptown Football Club with distinction at the senior level in our “Turbo KO Tournament” and in our “Limacol Football Tournament” to ours and his parents delight. In

particular, Mr. Denny’s parents particularly his Mom Ms. Afeah Denny and his sisters would have been present at most if not all the games he participated to see him play.

For us (Petra) we were pleased to see his transition (Continued on page 19)

Saturday October 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

Punjab Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets

B

BC Sport Punjab Kings kept their Indian Premier League play-off hopes alive with a thrilling five-wicket win over Eoin Morgan’s Kolkata Knight Riders.

Venkatesh Iyer hit 67 off 49 but Morgan once again failed with the bat, scoring just two, as KKR posted 1657 in Dubai.

Captain KL Rahul - the top run-scorer in this year’s IPL - scored a patient 67 off 55 as his side chased down the target with three balls to spare.

KKR remain in the fourth-place play-off spot, with Punjab in fifth.

Both teams - alongside sixth-placed Mumbai Indians - are on 10 points, but KKR have the superior net run rate while Mumbai have played a game fewer.

Iyer stars again but Morgan’s woes continue The IPL has a rich history of unearthing a wealth of Indian talent, and Iyer could be a new name to add to the list.

The 26-year-old playing in just his fifth IPL game since making his debut last month - looked at ease at the crease in cricket’s most lucrative competition as he scored his second halfcentury of the tournament.

Iyer hit nine boundaries and one six, before he was caught in the deep by Deepak Hooda off the bowling of Ravi Bishnoi.

England and KKR captain Morgan made his way to the middle with his team on 120-3 with 5.2 overs remaining.

But he could not make the most of the opportunity, his poor form with the bat continuing as he was quickly out lbw to Mohammed Shami.

Morgan moved across his crease, looking to flick the ball to the leg side, as Shami bowled full and straight on the batter’s boot.

“It was a straight delivery and a very poor shot,” commentator and exIPL player Abhishek

Jhunjhunwala said on Test Match Special.

Morgan has been dismissed for single figures in each of his four innings since the tournament resumed in the United Arab Emirates, after it was postponed because of coronavirus.

Rahul leads from the front Things then went from bad to worse for Morgan after he dropped opener Mayank Agarwal on the second ball of Punjab’s reply.

Agarwal drilled Tim Southee straight to Morgan at cover, who spilled a regulation waist-height catch.

The opener made KKR pay by smashing a 27-ball 40 and sharing a stand of 70 with Rahul, before he was dismissed by spinner Varun Chakravarthy - Morgan slightly making amends by taking the catch.

But Agarwal’s departure allowed Rahul to take over.

The India opener reached his half-century in style, launching Southee for six.

Late drama and dropped catches cost KKR Punjab made it hard work as Nicholas Pooran (12), Aiden Markram (18) and Deepak Hooda (3) fell to give KKR some late hope.

With 11 needed from nine balls, there was more late drama. Rahul swept to the leg-side and Tripathi, running in from the deep, dived full length to take a spectacular catch. But after a long delay the TV umpire ruled the ball had been grounded as Tripathi took the catch and Rahul was reprieved.

Rahul was dismissed in the next over, however, caught by Shivam Mavi off the bowling of Iyer.

KKR could sense an unlikely win, with Punjab needing four off four, but the match finished in remarkable fashion.

Shahrukh Khan - who contributed a significant 22 off just nine balls - hit the ball towards mid-wicket and Tripathi spilled a simple

catch, the ball dropping over the boundary for six.

Scores: Kolkata Knight

Riders 165-7 (20 overs): Iyer 67 (49), Tripathi 34 (26); Singh 3-32, Bishnoi 2-

22; Punjab Kings 168-5 (19.3 overs): KL Rahul 67 (55), Agarwal 40 (27);

Chakravarthy 2-24.

Result: Punjab Kings won by five wickets.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 26

Saturday October 02, 2021

Ashwin hits back in ‘disgraceful’ run controversy at IPL AFP - Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday lambasted England captain Eoin Morgan and New Zealand’s Tim Southee after their acerbic confrontation over a controversial run in an IPL match.

Ashwin, no stranger to

“spirit of cricket” disputes was labelled as “disgraceful”

by Australian legend Shane Warne for running a single after a fielder’s throw ricocheted off his Delhi Capitals partner Rishabh Pant.

Usually a batsman

avoids a run when a fielder’s throw hits him and deviates away, although there are no rules prohibiting a run.

Ashwin exchanged sharp words with Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain Morgan and bowler Southee and had to be led away from the

confrontation.

“I turned to run the moment I saw the fielder throw and didn’t know the ball had hit Rishabh,” Ashwin said on Twitter.

“Will I run if I see it? Of course I will and I am allowed to,” he added,

insisting there was no “disgrace”.

“Did I fight? No, I stood up for myself and that’s what my teachers and parents taught me to do and please teach your children to stand up for themselves,” he said.

“In Morgan or Southee’s world of cricket they can choose and stick to what they believe is right or wrong but do not have the right to take a moral high ground and use words that are derogatory.

“What’s even more surprising is the fact that people are discussing this and also trying to talk about who is the good and bad person here.” Morgan has not commented publicly. But Warne, who led Rajasthan Royals to victory in the first IPL in 2008, said on Twitter: “The world shouldn’t be divided on this topic and Ashwin. “It’s pretty simple — it’s disgraceful and should never happen.

“Why does Ashwin have to be that guy again? I think (Morgan) had every right to nail him!”

Two years ago in the IPL, Ashwin equally controversially ran out England’s Jos Buttler while the batsman was backing up at the non-striker’s end.

While legitimate, the socalled Mankad dismissal is

widely considered unsporting.

The latest incident set off a social media fury.

Delhi co-owner Parth Jindal recalled the 2019 World Cup final when England were awarded four runs after Martin Guptill’s throw for New Zealand came off Ben Stokes’ bat and went to the boundary.

“So when the ball ricochets off Ben Stokes for four additional runs which single handedly allows England to win the 50 over World Cup there are no issues?” Jindal tweeted, calling the criticism of Ashwin “hypocrisy at its best”. Delhi captain Pant said the run was in the “spirit of the game” and described the incident as “part and parcel” of cricket.

Kolkata wicketkeeperbatsman Dinesh Karthik intervened to cool tempers in Tuesday’s match which Kolkata won.

“I do not think Morgan appreciates that he is someone when the ball hits the batter, he expects them not to run because of the spirit of cricket,” Karthik said. “It is a very grey area, a very interesting topic. I have my own opinion on it, but I can just say I am happy to play peacemaker.”

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 02, 2021

PAGE 27

Canada-based Guyanese cricketers on show today Devon Ramnauth Bobby Parasnauth Guyana lost the doubles to Bermuda

Guyana lose to Bermuda to finish fourth

U-12 Development ITF COTECC team Tournament Excitement galore is highly anticipated today at Ashtonbee (Reservoir) where Mercenary and an AllStars X1 will clash in a oneoff match from 1:00pm.

This game is being organised by the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) to end the season which will coincide with their presentation and award ceremony after the match and a large number of Canada-based Guyanese cricketers will be on show.

According to president of the OSCL and Essequibian Ravin Babulall, the day is promised to be exciting since there will be other activities including Kiddies games at the same facility.

Babulall also informed that the All-Stars fixture

should be fascinating as well. Mercenary came out victorious in the recently concluded OSCL’s 20-overs tournament beating Canadian Legends while they carted off the prize for being the top team at the conclusion of the season with the most points.

This is another opportunity for them to showcase their brilliant talent and their winning combination. The All-Stars side is made of players who would have represented various teams that participated in the competition as well.

Councillor Michael Thompson for the City Area of East Toronto is expected to grace the occasion, according to Babulall.

Mercenary had a

GFF commiserate with Joshua Denny’s family following his death

plethora of seasoned campaigners in their lineup.

Some names are Avinash Sookdeo, skipper Looknauth Ramsichit, Sunil R a m k i s s o o n , Av i s h Rukhram, Bobby Parasnauth, Yadram Bogh and Richard Dias among others. These players will be on show again.

The leader stated that the encounter will be 20-overs per-a-side and prizes are also up for grabs. The OSCL’s All-Stars team will be captained by Troy Gobin and he will have Devon Ramnauth, Rakesh Ramotar, Reyaz Prahalad, Wasim Parsram, Kelvin Shivrattan, Vic Mangal, Mike Kadir, Amit Arjune, Harrienarine Chattergoon, Zakir Khan, Daven Parsram, Rishi Samuel and Akaash Pala.

Joshua Denny

To be laid to rest today Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Executive Member Dion Inniss, who is also Head of Refereeing, has expressed sincere condolences to Joshua Denny’s family following his shooting to death on Thursday morning last in Festival City. The 19 yearold was gunned down whilst on his way to work after he was robbed of his gold chain.

Inniss, a former FIFA Assistant Referee who made the rounds here in his development career, recalled officiating with Denny as a player some years ago as Denny was an active member of the Camptown Football Club where his uncle, former national player Troy ‘Bugs’ Prescod and many other nationals had an impact on his {Joshua} own

career.

“On behalf of the Guyana Football Federation and the entire football fraternity, I would like to extend deepest condolences to the family on Joshua Denny’s killing. We got the news of his senseless gunning down while on his w a y t o w o r k . We commiserate with the family.

I personally have known young Joshua from the days when I officiated, very conscientious and enthusiastic youth playing football at the Camptown and GFC grounds. It was very gut wrenching to hear such sad news, so we sympathise with the family who we are thinking about them during this trying period.”

Inniss also stated that the family can take comfort

from the fact that he {Joshua} was on the right path whilst making a call for killings of this nature to be tackled with a view of eliminating them.

“We have to continue to keep our young people on the right path, and I think it was no fault of his.” The late Joshua Denny would be laid to rest today following a funeral service under Muslim rites at his 2109 Nutmeg Street, North Ruimveldt residence. He has left to mourn his mom, dad, three sisters, a pregnant fiancé, family and friends, especially in the football fraternity.

G

uyana finished fourth among nine teams in U-12 development ITF COTECC Team tournament which concluded yesterday in the Dominican Republic with the usual presentation ceremony not held due to Covid-19 Pandemic.

Guyana defeated Barbados, US Virgin Islands and Haiti while suffering their lone defeat to the Country’s ‘B’ team to book a place in the yesterday’s semi-finals after ending second in their group.

However, they lost to Bermuda yesterday

and the Dominican Republic’s team ‘B’ with their ‘A’ team having won this year’s tournament. The host Country was allowed two teams.

In yesterday’s matches Nathan De Nobrega lost 6-0, 6-0 to Bermuda’s Jaden Jones, while the South American pair of De Nobrega and Elwyn Levius lost the doubles 6-2, 6-2 to Tristan Petti and Dexter Snaith.

The pair and their Coach Shelly Daley were busy yesterday trying to get the results of their Covid test before heading for home today. (Sean Devers)

Sports Ministry to host inaugural Sports Conference today The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport will host its Inaugural Guyana Sports Conference today at the National Cultural Centre from 08:30hrs.

A release from the MCY&S informed that the objectives of this year’s Guyana Sports Conference are: i. To explain and discuss in greater detail the design of G u y a n a ’s f i r s t S p o r t s Academy; ii. To increase interassociation collaboration; and i i i . To d i s c u s s improvement of sports administration and governance.

The conference will bring together the representatives of the v a r i o u s s p o r t s associations/federations and will feature an opening address from the Prime Minister, the Honourable Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips MP. There will also be a presentation on the Sports Academy by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Honourable Charles S. Ramson MP, which will be launched in the coming weeks.

The design of the conference is paneldiscussion driven and will

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips MP Sports Minister Charles Ramson MP include participation from the representatives of the twelve (12) core sports and the National Sports Commission.

The conference will also serve to continue to fortify the relationship of partnership between the President Ali led Government of Guyana and S p o r t s Federations/Associations.

The programme in its entirety is as follows: 9:00 am - Feature Opening Remarks: Prime Minister, Honorable Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips 9:30 am - Presentation on Sports Academy: Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Hon. Charles S. Ramson MP COFFEE BREAK

10:45am -11:30am Panel 1 Topic: Governance/Responsibil ities, Nurturing Talent and Mindset • Moderator: Akeem Greene • Athletics - Athletics Association of Guyana: Aubrey Hutson (President) • Cricket - Guyana Cricket Board: Bissoondyal Singh (President) • Squash - Guyana Squash Association: David Fernandes (Vice President) • National Sports Commission - Mr. Kashif Mohammed (Chairman) 11:35am - 12:20pm Panel 2 Topic: Revenue, Sponsorship, and Media • Moderator: Rawle Toney • Basketball - Guyana Amateur Basketball (Continued on page 19)