Kaieteur News

Harmon commits K NEWS to providing info on Kaieteur, Canje Blocks

Saturday Edition

AIETEUR

October 03, 2020 - Vol. 14 No. 38

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

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Online readership yesterday 115,353

CGX holds on to prime oil blocks for 13 years without honouring agreement - VP Jagdeo

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Argentine forensic Telecoms Sector likely assistance being to be liberalized next sought in WCB murders week - Vice President p.

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Trump gets COVID-19

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Harmon questions GPL meter reader Critical Care Unit constitutional role fired, charged after nurses at GPHC of Gail Teixeira sting operation stay away from work p.

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Coalition destroyed procurement system

- VP Jagdeo p.

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“Wishful thinking” that Payara could have been leveraged to renegotiate Stabroek deal -VP p.

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

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 03, 2020

Saturday October 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

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“Wishful thinking” that Payara could have been leveraged to renegotiate Stabroek deal - VP

By Kemol King

V

ice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said that it is wishful thinking to assume that the Payara development permit could have been leveraged to demand a better Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) from ExxonMobil.

The politician delivered his latest rebuke of calls to get a better deal during a press conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The 2016 deal signed for Exxon's operations in the Stabroek Block by former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman has been widely condemned for a string of poor provisions, including a paltry two percent royalty share. The People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), which took office in August, has criticised, but refuses to renegotiate, the deal.

“There is a group,” Jagdeo said, “that believes we should have held up Payara

and not issue the licence, and use it as leverage to change the production [sharing] agreement. And it's wishful thinking, frankly speaking.

It's wishful thinking that you could have done that now.”

The Vice President reported speaking to experts whose assessments of the market are very different from the comments being made by persons like former Petroleum Advisor to the Government, Dr. Jan Mangal.

There is a large group of people, he said, who believe that calls for renegotiation cannot be substantiated because of the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the oil industry. He said many companies are losing value, and that means their ability to raise money is also diminished. In this regard, Dr. Jagdeo pointed to the US$9B development cost Exxon claims Payara will need, and said that Guyana cannot raise that much money on its own.

“That's twice the size of our total economy [which is

just over US$4B] on this one investment.” Dr. Jagdeo said.

He alluded to divestments of assets by oil companies in other part of the world, noting that Guyana is privileged. The VP also worried that the growth of the global renewable energy industry could one day hurt oil prices, which he asserted made it necessary to approve the Payara project quickly.

“There is a short window of opportunity,” he said, “the renewables are yapping at people's feet.”

He noted that Exxon is here because of the low breakeven price to produce Guyana's oil and the fiscal conditions, and that it is important to ensure that the investment moves forward.

“We made it clear,” Jagdeo said, “that the production [sharing] agreement was signed already and that Exxon, when it comes to future agreements that will happen when they start developing the Canje Block and the Kaieteur Block, that those agreements

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo are going to be very dissimilar to the one that they signed for the Stabroek Block… The conditions of those agreements will be established when we work out what a model production [sharing] agreement for the future will be. So that is when, for future developments outside of the Stabroek Block, the terms will change substantively.

That is clear.”

He said, however, that the government is undertaking a “review” of the agreement, and that a team is expected to

report to him on ways that the government could claw back value from various provisions in the agreement. For instance, he has indicated that the administration wants Exxon to dedicate more funding for training locals than is stipulated by the agreement. In this regard, he said that the government believes it can get more v a l u e w i t h o u t “renegotiating” the contract.

The Vice President took the opportunity to respond to Mangal, who is a major critic of the government's handling

of the sector. Mangal and lawyer, Melinda Janki had both advised that Guyana should take all the time it needs to review Payara. Dr. Mangal very specifically advocated for Payara to be used as leverage for a better deal. Jagdeo wondered about the petroleum expert's advocacy for renegotiation when he advised the David Granger administration, even suggesting that the consultant should have resigned from his advisory post when he realized what the Granger administration had done with the Stabroek Block deal.

He criticised Mangal's approach to giving advice in the press, and opined that the good governance advocate tends to disparage and brand as corrupt people he doesn't know anything about. The VP said that he doesn't have a problem with Mangal and that if he has technical expertise, then his expertise should be put to use but that “it's the lecturing” that does not sit well with him.

Coalition destroyed procurement system - Jagdeo

V

ice President Bharrat Jagdeo was of the strong view that APNU+AFC Coalition Opposition leader Joseph Harmon is in no position to lecture the governing People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration on its procurement procedures after his regime destroyed an entire system of procurement.

Jagdeo blasted Harmon for the comments he made at a press conference, stating that he cannot testify to anything that is “proper and

legal.”

Harmon during his weekly press meet yesterday expressed concerns over the recent appointment of Taramchan Balgobin as the National Procurement and Tender Board (NPTAB) acting Chair.

With Balgobin also serving as the Project Cycle Management Division (PCMD) within the Finance Ministry, Harmon claims that his new appointment merges the two divisions and takes away the independence of NPTAB. “This new and

incestuous relationship between PCMD and NPTAB imposed by Cabinet, Harmon said, “Threatens the integrity, transparency, fairness and public trust in the procurement system.”

But according to the Vice President, Harmon should refrain from making such assertions as he once sat on the National Industrial & Commercial Investments Ltd. (NICIL) Board when that agency signed away “hundreds of acres of lands, worth billions of dollars” to investors in a deal reeking of illegality.

Kaieteur News had detailed in reports, the transaction by the previous APNU+AFC administration where over 130 acres of prime lands were vested to

high profile investors. Not only were the large plots of State lands on the East Coast of Demerara transferred without transparency, no payments were received for

them.

“So he now wants to give testimony as to who should be on the Tender Board,” Jagdeo pointed out “and who (continued on page 8)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 03, 2020

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

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

EDITORIAL

An Area of Complicity

T

his paper over the past month in particular has intensified our already strident campaign for transparency in the oil and gas sector, particular when it comes to revealing who are the persons behind the companies that have been gifted our oil blocks, the Canje and Kaieteur Blocks in particular.

We have frontally challenged players from both sides of the political divide to simply reveal who these people are, considering that, as we have calculated, even the most conservative estimate of revenue over the next decade would make a single owner of either block a billionaire.

The logic here is simple – any political entity that is both competent and truly interested in protecting Guyana’s patrimony should be radical about transparency, whether it is in the Opposition or in the Executive.

What we appear to have instead is complicity when it comes to the silence and obscurity surrounding the beneficial ownership of the oil blocks.

Despite our campaign, despite our best efforts, we have been met with temporizing, dodging, empty promises and feigning of ignorance by people who otherwise try to sell themselves as the smartest minds in the room.

When it comes to the APNU+AFC, there is either the pretence that they were not in power over the past five years or a very selective amnesia when it comes to the specifics of beneficial ownership.

For the PPP, there is the pretence that they were not in power when the awards were given or a convenient amnesia on the particulars of the deal. In both cases, politicians with otherwise apparently prodigious memory on the errors of their ‘rivals’ across the aisle are somehow forgetful on what specific measures they took to ensure transparency as well as what those rivals did to breach it.

Opacity with regard to the issue of beneficial ownership in the fledgling oil and gas sector is – unless it is explicitly proven otherwise – the most successful area of complicity, perhaps to the point of collusion, between the two political juggernauts in this country. This cannot stand.

We can put every other public accountability measure in place from this point going forward, including as Vice President Jagdeo has proposed stringent transparency laws on oil revenues, but unless it is that we have transparency on everyone who has an ownership stake in every existing oil block, those measures are not only locking the barn door after the horses have escaped, but leaving a back door in the barn for newborn foals to run through.

There is a particular mindset that infects the developed world, one that taints virtually every single relationship, which they have with less developed countries like Guyana.

It is sentiment of superiority accompanied by an ironic sense of ‘benevolence’, one that says that since we poor former colonial subjects, the descendants of the enslaved and the indentured, wouldn’t know how to handle our wealth in any case, it is only fair that they ‘help’ us in extracting it, giving us the pittance they believe we can handle while they take the lion’s share for their happiness and development.

This paper hopes that in the very near future, some epiphany is going to descend upon the leadership of this country, one which shows them that even if they are not directly involved themselves – and good sense indicates that some of them are – what they are doing to Guyanese is exactly what the developed world has done to countries like Guyana for decades, centuries even.

The continued impoverishment of our people starts and ends with transparency about the individuals behind the companies who have been given ownership and control of our patrimony, our wealth.

If Guyana is to set a credible and sustainable infrastructure for exploitation of our oil wealth to the equal benefit of all Guyanese, the complicity between the sides of the political leadership when it comes to keeping beneficial ownership of the oil blocks hidden from public scrutiny.

The silence suggests that APNU+AFC and PPP drank the same Kool-Aid

DEAR EDITOR, KN’s front page comment nailed it on October 1 with, “Why is the APNU + AFC silent on the carting off of our oil blocks?”

The avid reader would quickly recall that since the 2nd of August, not a word of praise nor condemnation had emanated from APNU or AFC on the PPP’s handling of oil and gas or the “give away” of the lucrative oil blocks adjacent to the proven oil-rich Stabroek Block. In the Coalition’s tenure, there was a big hallaboo when it was discovered that President Ramotar, with perceived knowledge that oil was struck in commercial quantity in the Stabroek Block, had signed away two blocks (Kaieteur and Canje) adjacent to the Stabroek Block days before

the 2015 general elections to relatively unknown players in the oil industry - players with neither capital or experience in deep sea extraction.

The Coalition’s big dog SARA - vowing to get these assets back for the state - was unleashed.

Then there was silence!

Later, it was disclosed that one of the dog handler’s officials had invested in oil blocks rather than attempt to recover them for the state.

Presently! We can safely conclude that two teams of archeologist (APNU+AFC and PPP) remain reluctant to unearth the real owners of these two lucrative oil blocks for public scrutiny.

These two groups have knowledge of the records and for some sinister reason, they have both chosen to keep the

facts archived away from the prying eyes of the public, whilst hypocritically calling for transparency in governance.

The author of the frontpage comment asked the big question, “Why are APNU and AFC at one with the PPP/ C in saying nothing about the plundering of our oil and the disappearance of oil blocks into unknown private hands?”

Could it be that major personnel on both sides of the political divide are part owners or stand to benefit from the “carting off of the Kaieteur and Canje Blocks?

This kind of unison in silence and non-pointing of fingers between these two political adversaries, known to be up at each other’s throats on matters of much lesser

significance is difficult to understand and raises more questions than answers.

The public would recall that the PPP as opposition has never been vociferous in condemnation of the lopsided contract signed by APNU+AFC. In the hey days of controversial contract, opposition leader BJ was invited and spoke to by Exxon’s top officials, when asked by the media what Exxon had told him, he had told them that they must ask Trotman what Exxon told Trotman first. As the roles of APNU+AFC and PPP changed and their silence on oil and gas continues, one has to wonder if they both drank the same kool-aid from Exxon.

Yours respectfully, Rudolph Singh

NOT LOOPHOLES BUT TRAIN TUNNELS

DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the article titled, “License gives Exxon wiggle room for Payara flaring” (SN October 2). I recognize and have regard for SN’s delivery of the tempered. But I must differ and present this shocking licensing reality in sharp and unsparing terms.

“Wiggle room” is an understatement when Exxon has just been granted approval “for its Payara project” that “allows for flaring for 60 days upon the startup of operations.”

And allowing Exxon to “submit its own research studies on the effects of the release of reservoir water.” That is a recipe for disaster and giving a drunk the keys to the

distillery. If he doesn’t kill himself, he will kill somebody.

That somebody is Guyana.

These clauses are so open-ended that they are more than “wiggle room”; they represent a whole wrestling zone in which to roll around, jump about, and play dangerous games with Guyana’s oil and its safety record. Sixty days grace for free flaring at the beginning is the equivalent of ‘go ahead and experiment with our dreams through trial and error, the cheapest risk management, and leave the rest to us.’

Is somebody kidding me or take Guyanese to be damn fools?

Editor, surely this has to

be the height of unequalled stupidity and the most comprehensive ignorance imaginable.

Sixty days is an eternity, and could blow up in our faces, and make deep inroads in the “trillions” of which the president spoke so glowingly.

I wonder if he has any idea of that which he speaks.

An Exxon misstep - and I am not confining myself to that 60-day interval alone has the potential to erase many of those zeros found in a trillion. All it takes is a Black Swan event, which I must educate the president about one of these days.

Then, according to the same SN article, there is “ambiguity in the language used

pertaining to insurance liability for oil spills and other disasters” and “distances parent company ExxonMobil from liability commitments…”

I thank SN for this sobering and well-written coverage, but I had to stop reading. I wanted to puke, and a migraine threatened despite never having one before. For what I read was not about “wiggle room” or loopholes but a whole damn train tunnel through which ExxonMobil can drive any concoction, charge any price, and make its own rules as it goes along. The bottom line is this: Guyana is on the hook and up to its neck.

And this is what (Continued on page 5)

In support of joint USA-Guyana coastline patrol DEAR EDITOR, The US Ambassador (Oct. 1) calls for joint US-Guyana patrol of Guyana coastline.

The President Irfaan Ali-led government should quickly embrace this offer in order to strengthen relations between our two democratic countries.

It would consolidate support for democracy in Guyana in light of authoritarian tendencies that took place between December 22, 2018 and August 2, 2020, particularly since March 2 of this year. Joint patrol on the coast and on the borders would send a strong message to those with designs on Guyana’s territory and to those who prey on Guyanese fishermen and infiltrate our border in narcotrafficking.

Guyana has had a history of fishermen’s boats being attacked by pirates relieving them of catch, equipment, ration, engines, and even the boats. Several of our fisher-

men lost their lives. Just a few days ago, there was a news report of at least one fishing boat, which was attacked and the fishermen were robbed by pirates from Venezuela.

Guyana lacks the capacity to patrol and by extension protect the coast and deter attacks.

The coast guard is underequipped and lacks technology, skills, manpower, and confidence to take on pirates and drug traffickers. Also, some of our coast patrols are compromised by drug traffickers and can’t be completely relied upon to protect our fishermen and the coastline. Joint patrol with the US would boost confidence and reduce if not altogether eliminate issues pertaining to monitoring the coastline. The US would train a new, untainted coast guard.

I have long argued for closer relations between Guyana and US in all areas –

diplomacy, trade, culture, military, naval, education, technology, geo-strategy, among others.

The Guyanese group I belonged to in America advocated that position which was in direct contrast with other (left wing) Guyanese groups that took an anti-American position. While a few Guyanese joined the antiAmerica protest activities in the US, we stood on the proAmerica side.

We considered it neemakharism to accept US hospitality while attacking the US. America was described as the premier imperialist nation by some left wing Guyanese; yet, these so called socialists owned multiple properties and won’t share any with fellow workers.

Many Guyanese were upset that the US installed Burnham and the PNC in office in December 1964 and closed its eye to the estab-

lishment of a dictatorship.

The US propped it up until Burnham turned against Washington and embraced the Soviet bloc that threatened US security interests in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Although a majority of Guyanese, particularly PPP supporters, was disheartened with the US for installing and supporting Burnham, almost every one of them wanted to settle in America.

Only 3% of PPP supporters, as opposed to a third of PNC supporters, in a survey opposed closer links with the US (PNC supporters are angry that with US for supporting democratic elections that cause their party to lose power). As the country deteriorated economically during the 1970s and 1980s amidst the rise of fascism and racism, almost every Guyanese (95% in a survey) looked to (Continued on page 6)

Saturday October 03, 2020

GUYSUCO – Expressions of Interest

Price Waterhouse Coopers reps meeting with SPU recently.

DEAR EDITOR, It was interesting to note the Sugar Corporation’s invitation, in Stabroek News of 30th September, 2020, for Expressions of Interest ‘from the private sector who are prepared to work with the company (corporation) in a joint venture partnership...in relation to the operationality of ‘six (6) cultivations….supported by six sugar mills.’

This intervention (not an initiative) should recall to minds of those involved at the time the Guyana Chronicle of December 07, 2017 carrying the following headline “GuySuCo Operating in Rogue Manner”, over an interview conducted with then Head of the Special Purpose Unit appointed by the last Government.

The following are extracts of some of the observations made by the official: i) “Several proposals were made for privatisation and/or diversification of Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara (Enmore) factories (note not estates).” ii) “The possibilities, he said, are that maybe multiple factories may remain in sugar, but the current manage-

ment of GuySuCo does not want the possibility of a new owner or management to succeed at making the cane-producing industry profitable, because it would make them look bad.” iii) “ … G u y S u C o should have handed over stewardship to the SPU, and in so doing sever the workers, who would have later been rehired by the SPU. This should have happened on December 31 in order to have a smooth transition.” iv) “…GuySuCo is operating in a rogue manner, because when the entity needs money for operations, it cooperates with the State, but when there are decisions to be carried out, the sugar company claims to be a limited liability company and does not have to follow orders.”

The following extract from Kaieteur News of December 08, 2017 may also be of interest and worth pursuing by the current executive management team of GuySuCo: “PricewaterhouseCoopers selected to value GuySuCo’s assets”.

The Special Purpose Unit (SPU) under the National Industrial and Commercial In-

vestments Limited (NICIL), yesterday announced that that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been selected as the firm to value the assets of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in the ongoing privatisation and divestment process.

In the announcement yesterday, SPU which has its offices at the LBI estate, East Coast Demerara, selected tenders that were invited from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst and Young, Deloitte, and KPMG. “All negotiations with PwC have been completed and a contract is expected to be signed by December 18, 2017,” SPU disclosed.

“After the valuation exercise, PwC will develop an investment prospectus and will, through the SPU, distribute to all interested investors. PwC will be tasked with ensuring a level playing field for all interested parties and stakeholders.”The returns by PricewaterhouseCoopers logically belong to the current administration.

For further verification see below photograph copied from Kaieteur News of December 08, 2017: E.B. John

NOT LOOPHOLES BUT TRAIN...

From page 4 His Excellency, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, takes to the microphones to cheer himself. As he does so, we need to cheer up ourselves.

For if this is of excellence and the presidential and what it means to be of doctorate caliber, then all of us Guyanese are, at best, grave diggers and bottom feeders. I would hang my head in shame and take a 600-day interval (not Exxon’s 60-day sorcery) to hide from the world.

Who are the Guyanese political stewards that stood watch over this monstrosity without ceiling? How dumber and more of a seller of our protections can the PPP leadership be, while leaving us

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Kaieteur News

bare and vulnerable in the process?

Guyana’s trillionaire speaking leader gave away the house and then seeks to fool the nation by pointing to the colour of the paint. Trillions, he called it. I would go easy and cautiously on that trillions business, since any balance sheet black (pluses) could quickly transform into the red (negatives).

Since red is the PPP’s colour, it may be foolishly and blindly embraced as a blessing. I have been near a place where big money numbers (in US dollars, mind you) were routine, changed hands abruptly, and left a trail of tears in its wake. But this is the first time, I have come so

close to trillions evaporating, without the people most involved having any input, any weight, any contribution.

May God help Guyana down the road when Exxon sends it up the creek.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Help and Shelter concerned about increasing COVID-19 cases and domestic violence DEAR EDITOR, We at Help and Shelter are concerned about the increasing levels of COVID-19 cases in all regions of Guyana and the mounting number of deaths attributed to the virus.

We are also concerned and alarmed that too many people are not taking mandatory preventative measures such as wearing face masks and observing social distancing and in so doing are contributing to not only the spread of the virus but the death toll. We also are of the view that resumption of international travel be linked to reduction of COVID-19 case as has been used successfully.

One of our greatest concerns, however, is the increasing level of domestic violence (DV) taking place all over Guyana and the death and injury and psychological and emotional trauma being suffered by women, children and families.

We have noted the continuing trend of femicides.

For too many women, home is not a place of safety and security but a dangerous and violent psychologically traumatizing environment.

Children are often both direct and indirect victims of domestic violence.

When they witness it, they experience the same kind of trauma as if they were hit, beaten, or verbally and psychologically abused. Wellestablished research has shown that adults who were exposed to frequent domestic violence as children have shorter life spans, are more prone to suffer from ill health, tend to be less successful in life, are more prone to abuse alcohol and drugs and have less successful intimate partner relationships.

Domestic violence cripples the entire structure of family life as its victims live in constant fear of when the next violent episode will oc-

cur. Mental health issues are often entwined with domestic violence as depression and anxiety are too often a daily experience.

All of us must take an active part in the prevention of domestic violence and protection and support for victims/survivors. We can individually and collectively reduce if not stop this violation of human rights.

Help and Shelter calls on the Guyana Police Force as a key agency in DV prevention and victim/survivor protection, to: (1) continue to respond immediately to all reports of domestic violence; (2) use their powers under the Domestic Violence Act to enter without a warrant any house where they suspect abuse is taking place to protect and secure the lives of those being abused; (3) follow the force’s Domestic Violence Policy; (4) record all reports of DV; (5) investigate, arrest and charge those responsible for it; (6) enforce the wearing of face masks and social distancing, and (7) strictly enforce the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, especially as they relate to the ban on the opening of rum shops, clubs and night spots, parties and other social gatherings without favour or exception.

We also call on the Minister of Education to put in place measures for the protection of all schoolchildren from all forms of child abuse - in particular sexual abuse and exploitation, utilizing ongoing virtual educational platforms, educational TV channels and flyers for those children who are unable to access online or TV programmes, identifying

and explaining form/types of abuse and how and who to report to directly.

Direct reporting is essential as children confined to the home are at risk and need urgent protection from abusive family members/relative/ friends who have access and perpetuate violence against children.

Consumption of alcohol reduces inhibitions, making those with abusive and violent tendencies more violent and uncontrollable and as such contributes to intimate partner violence, sexual abuse of girl and boy children and teens.

We therefore call on the authorities to ensure strict adherence to the laws regarding the sale of alcohol, including the ban on the sale of alcohol to minors and to ensure that all COVID-19 measures for restriction of rum shops, bars are duly enforced. Fines and charges for any such breaches must be enforced.We call upon all agencies, including the Guyana Police Force, to ensure that all children are afforded protection from all forms of physical, sexual, psychological abuse and neglect as required by the Protection of Children Act. In partnership with other NGOs, CSOs and state agencies, Help and Shelter continues its work towards the elimination of all forms of violence, particularly domestic and sexual violence and child abuse.

Yours faithfully, Danuta Radzik Josephine Whitehead Colin Marks Linda Hustler-Gray For Help & Shelter

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Saturday October 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

Amid national, regional and int’l ramifications, Guyana openly signed the Payara contract DEAR EDITOR, Earth’s axial tilt (a/k obliquity) is about 23.5 degrees.

Due to this axial tilt, the sun shines on different latitudes at different angles throughout the year. This causes the seasons. It rotates on the axis (taking 24 hrs. to complete and causing day and night) at a speed of about 1,037 MPH at the equator, the circumference being 24,898 miles as per NASA. At the said time, as it orbits around the sun (92,955,807 miles away from earth), it is speeding at approximately 67,000 MPH to complete the revolution of about 607 million miles in 365 days. Greenland is on track to

lose more ice this century than it has at any other point in the Holocene, the 12,000year period in which human civilization has flourished, an alarming new study has found as published in the journal, Nature. The latest evidence that Earth’s northernmost ice sheet, which contains enough frozen water to raise global sea levels by 24 feet, has entered a period of rapid decline and may melt away entirely if humanity continues burning fossil fuels at current levels. Wildfires continue to ravage hundreds of thousands of miles in California, destroying man and nature. The world pandemic

death toll eclipsed the one million and Guyana is quickly approaching the one hundred mark. As the Jews finished atoning, thousands of Thai devotees lined the banks of a river winding through Bangkok on Thursday to hurl lotus flowers (as a sign of purity) onto a barge carrying a golden Buddha to celebrate the end of a three-month period marking Buddhist Lent.

Known in Thai as “Khao Phansa”, the period of Buddhist Lent is a time when monks stay in their temples to meditate. Back in the US, former President Jimmy Carter marked his 96th birthday Thursday, the latest mile-

Supporters cannot be taken for granted as in elections past taining office.

Now that we have won the 2020 Elections, it is imperative that our PPP leaders perform serious retrospection of behaviours and performance in previous PPP administrations.

There are claims, perceived or real, of arrogance and rudeness, among other reprehensible behaviours such as nepotism and cronyism, from ministers, high government officials, and senior party officials. The voters have given the PPP a second chance to prove itself worthy of governing the land; therefore, this must be considered with utmost urgency. PPP supporters cannot be taken for granted as in elections past. Voters cannot be ignored and disrespected and then be expected to provide unwavering support at voting time. Times have changed, supporters are more assertive, and very serious options exist for voters today.The PNC misbehaved badly from independence to 1992 when they were booted out. They claimed to have

changed their ways and was given a second chance in 2015. They took their supporters for granted and again misbehaved badly. They felt the wrath of the voters at the polls in 2020.

They may never be given a chance to govern Guyana again. And they should not. Not unless the PPP fails to recognize and correct its own real, and perceived weaknesses. The PPP got into government in 1992 after many decades out in the wilderness. They should have never allowed themselves to be perceived in such a negative and damning way upon at-

Their supporters in Guyana, and in the diaspora stuck with them and supported them energetically. The Carter Center and other organizations supported them in the hopes of preserving democracy. For reasons, I am sure known to them, they felt the wrath of voters in 2011, thus stunned into a minority government. Soon after a most serious defeat, they seem to have ignored the signs of disillusionment and apparently became filled with overconfidence.

Again, in a more vociferous way, PPP supporters voiced their displeasure and threw them out in 2015. The PPP was given a second chance in 2020, just as the PNC was in 2015, by their supporters and some disillusioned crossovers with the backing of the ABCE countries. The PPP must now set high standards for their office holders with a written list of principles and/or rules to guide conduct and behaviours and they must not hesitate to enforce the rules. Should the PPP behaviours in the next five years show any semblance of corruption, perceived or not, as they were in 2011 and 2015, that might very well signal their demise. The ABCE countries are a powerful force and you would want them on your side thus their Ambassadors must be treated with respect and grievances or issues addressed in private rather than in social settings and public places.Good luck to the new government.

Chandra K. Singh

stone for the longest-lived of the 44 men to hold the highest American office. The 39th president, in office from 197781, has largely receded from public view amid the coronavirus pandemic and his own health challenges due to a series of falls in 2019. He previously survived a dire cancer diagnosis in 2015. Yet Carter remains a quiet force in politics at home and, through his post-presidential Center, in public health and human rights advocacy around the world (Carter Center as observer for Guyana’s election). The legend of Mahatma Gandhi lives on as the world celebrates his 151st birth anniversary.

As the world, intrigued with COVID-19, spins on political and financial power under the influence of greed and governance, it wheels around the pretext of pretense and the frustration of oppression; it turns to face global destruction and the struggle for survival through climate changes and social disintegration; and, the universe stands apocalyptically appalled at discrimination and the Trump supremacist fiasco, as allies together look to the US to set the standard as the beacon of democracy and the realization of dreams. President Trump and the First Lady now join other world leaders in testing positive for COVID-19. As reported in Trinidad, people are refusing to be tested and Ja-

maica has seen one of its senior citizens committing suicide after falling prey to the virus. The death toll keeps rising globally and yet, right here at home, Guyanese still keep down playing the deadliness of the pandemic and not adhering to all of the required protocols. Do we have to wait until death strikes home before we realize the danger and its intensity?

In the heat of all of the national, regional and international ramifications, Guyana openly signed the Payara project contract with ExxonMobil and their affiliates, representing the third field development in the Stabroek Block, increasing oil production by another 220,000 bpd in 2024. Amidst all the discussions, advice, talks, warnings, guidance, counseling and consulting, the agreement is limited, not transparent and it falls short of expectations, despite its improvisation from the predecessor and the protective environmental clauses included.

Guyana witnessed the selling out of her rights from the Liza 1 project, followed by the barefaced skullduggery with phase 2. Liza 1 project hasn’t reached maximum production capacity; it is contaminated with numerous imbroglios; pre-production cost auditing hasn’t commenced; Liza 2’s oil production will not materialize until 2022; as per President Ali, Guyana will not be spending any amount of money from her oil revenue for now; Liza 1’s production

cost is yet to be confirmed; Liza 2’s cost cannot be determined; Payara’s cost is agreed to an additional US$3B over Phase 2. Guyana is still in a learning stage for managing the oil industry and is now teaming up with external experts to understand the production and marketing process. Guyana’s current economic development is not contingent on her oil revenue. Guyana’s robust and wide variety of rich agricultural crops, and valuable natural resources have financed her economy in the past. Corruption and stealing in the past have plagued the country from reflecting a healthier financial situation.

Factoring these basic but salient elements, why did Guyana sign the third contract in such a hurry? What is the rush? Why didn’t Guyana wait like Uganda did? Why didn’t Guyana utilize her strong driving seat as a bargaining power? Did Guyana secure maximum local content protection? Why did Guyana allow herself to look junior to Suriname? Are there provisions to recover the US$55B left on the table?

Is Guyana fully satisfied that she has received the best deal? Are there some things that Guyanese need to be made aware of? Are there avenues for Guyana’s ultimate autonomy? The question is, who is wearing a big smile, who is having a laugh and, who is crying?

Respectfully, Jai Lall

In support of joint USA-Guyana ...

From page 4 migrate to the US. The US provided sanctuary to Guyanese at a most difficult time when the country was experiencing starvation. Hundreds of thousands of Guyanese, including PNC supporters, migrated to the US. Today, there are more Guyanese and their descendants in America than in Guyana.

As a young 17-year-old, I enrolled in a college in New York (thanks to the White man for allowing us to get a tertiary education in America). In that era of the 1970s, it was fashionable for youngsters and aspiring intellectuals to gravitate towards the left and embraced socialist ideas. We romanticized radical politics and revolutions against racist authoritarian rulers like Burnham. But as I matured as a university student and learned from my political studies and independent readings about the failure of left wing politics and radicalism and the might of the US, pragmatism stepped into my thought and philosophy.

Anyone who studied international relations, realpolitik, US foreign policy, and geo-strategic interests would know that any nation or ruler that is anti-American would experience serious problems in domestic politics and governance. The group I belonged to that included Rennie Ramracha, Baytoram Ramharack and Vassan Ramracha, among others, all of us graduates of international relations and US foreign policy, recognized the importance of close relations between Guyana and USA. More importantly, we recognized the importance of not being anti-America. We knew that to remove the Burnham/Hoyte dic-

tatorships, the opposition had to make the US feel comfortable with security and capitalist interests. Governments were toppled or destabilized for being anti-America. Governments in Guyana didn’t quite understand the implications of being anti-America or being pro-Soviet Union and were engineered out of office. Cheddi Jagan was twice victim and Donald Ramotar in 2015. Ivelaw Griffith, long before he became UG VC, understood the strategic importance of APNU+PNC close links with the US. He chaired an Afro-Guyanese group that authored a scathing strategic interests report during the Ramotar administration that assailed the PPP on security compromises against US strategic interests. There was no response from the Ramotar people.

The US bought into the Griffith report.

Ramotar was creatively ousted from office in May 2015. Griffith became VC (Griffith has penned another security report in September for a Washington think tank).

Then Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo seems to understand the critical importance of having close relations with the US. He embraced advice and courted America and it has paid off well. The US supported free and fair elections in Guyana in 2020 resulting in the election of Irfaan Ali as President. Without US, there would not have been free and fair elections in Guyana in 1992 or 2020. President Ali has an opportunity to strengthen relations by accepting the offer of joint US-Guyana patrols on the coastline and even on the borders with other nations.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Saturday October 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

Telecoms Sector likely to be liberalized next week - Vice President F ollowing years of broken promises and delays on the part of the former APNU+AFC regime, the PPP/C administration has revealed that GTT's monopoly will soon expire, as the new government plans on liberalizing the telecommunications sector next week. Details of these and other pressing topics were shared by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, doing a press conference, yesterday.

The Vice President told members of the media at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC) that following thorough technical work, the new government is looking to liberalize the sector within a week's time.

“We have spent the last few weeks going through this in great detail. It is a promise that we made a long time ago; both parties agreed to this and we need to get it implemented,” the VP said.

A question was posed to Jagdeo about what plan the government has is in place to clear the US $44M tax debt owed to GTT by the country.

In response to this, Jagdeo stated that the tax matters would have to be discussed, but the liberalization is not dependent on that. “If that's the case then GTT can always say that we never reached a settlement with you, and then you can never liberalize,” he asserted.

With the liberalization of the sector, Jagdeo reminded that it sets the basis for 5G networks, improvements in cell services, more competition, allowing more fibre optic cables to come in.

“It sets up the basis for ICT platform and we want to create thousands of jobs,” the VP added.

Since coming to office in 2015, the former APNU+AFC government had promised to break the 30year-old monopoly, but encountered some “sticking

points”, including the fact that the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) was demanding an agreement on the award of spectrum as part of a deal.

Notably in 2016, Parliament had passed the Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s (Amendment) Bill, intended to liberalize the sector, and all that was left was for the Former Minister of Public Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , Catherine Hughes, to sign the order to bring the law into effect. However, she failed to do so.

Then in late 2019, the former government and GTT had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the government's planned liberalization of the telecommunications market, but there was very little word on when the liberalization would happen.

With anger at the seeming sloth of investments, like the unrolling of landlines in unserved areas by GTT and

poor internet service, the delays in concluding the negotiations have been causing unease across the spectrum.

Notably, appeals to liberalize the telecoms sector date back to years, with GTT's main competitor Digicel heavily advocating for the change.

According to the Irishowned company, the change that the people of Guyana are demanding is long overdue; after three decades locked into a telecom monopoly, Guyanese suffer from a poor choice of services, the mobile phone company said.

“The people of Guyana are tired of poor, unreliable broadband services and remote communities not being able to realise the dream of modern communications in their homes and are fed up of limited choice and not having the benefits of true competition,” Digicel had said in January of this year.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Former Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes

It had signaled intentions to bring a submarine fibre optic cable to Guyana once the sector has been opened to allow other players.

“Meanwhile, other operators are being held back from offering the better services, which they are ready and willing to provide.

Poor broadband coverage — a shameful 90% of Guyanese still have no access to broadband services at home.

Poor quality of services – even when they do have

access to services, speeds are slow and unreliable,” the company said.

Digicel said that from indications, there is poor response time from GTTany issues are resolved at a snail's pace. Guyanese too had aired their frustration with GTT's monopoly, resulting in over 4,000 persons signing a petition in which they called for government to get serious and formally announce the liberalization of the sector.

39 new COVID-19 cases recorded Y

esterday, 39 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, taking the total number of recorded cases to 2,968.

Information published in the Ministry of Health's daily COVID-19 dashboard shows that 15 persons are currently in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at

the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Further, it states that 165 persons are in institutional isolation, 927 persons are in approved home isolation and 281 persons are in institutional quarantine. There have also been 1,776 recoveries recorded to date.

Of all of the confirmed

cases; 1,581 are male and 1,387 female, according to the Ministry dashboard.

The regional distribution of confirmed cases shows Region One with 44 cases, Region Two- 36 cases, Region Three- 226 cases, Region Four- 1,377 cases, Region Five- 18 cases, Region Six- 44 cases, Region Seven-288 cases,

Region Eight-78 cases, Region Nine-355 cases, and Region Ten- 97 cases.

The total number of tests conducted to date is 14,520, with 11,552 persons bearing

negative test results. The COVID-19 death toll remains at 85.

Saturday October 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Argentine forensic Govt. deploys 500 GDF ranks assistance being to assist police in enforcing sought in WCB murders COVID-19 measures

Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Godfrey Bess

T

he government will be deploying approximately 500 Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks to assist Guyana Police Force (GPF) officers and several civil society groups in ensuring that all members of the public adhere to the COVID19 regulations.

This was disclosed by the Guyana Defence Force Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess at a press conference held by Prime Minister Mark Phillips, and the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) on Thursday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Bess stated that they will be working assiduously to interface with citizens while utilizing a “thought cogent approach”.

This approach will ensure that citizens wear their masks at all times once in public, in a proper manner, follow all given social distancing guidelines, and adhere to the curfew as mandated by the Official

Haresh Singh Prime Minister, Mark Phillips

COVID-19 Gazette Order.

The disclosure came as the extension of the curfew was defended by the Prime Minister who said that the relaxation of the COVID-19 measures only serves to lessen the pressure on Guyana's economy.

He explained that the previous curfew was hampering economic activity to an extent, like persons selling at the market, who would usually need to be up early and off the streets by a certain time. He maintained that the extension provides a more flexible way for persons to conduct their business with extended hours.

It was previously stated that the previous curfew saw heavy amounts of congestion in the town area, as persons would be rushing to conduct business, especially during the lunch hour.

Despite the extension, Prime Minister warned that the new curfew does not cater to partying and other forms of socializing.

He said, “We have not reduced or relaxed the measures for anyone to go out there and party and socialize… we did it so that people could conduct their activities, whether it be work, their place of business or farming, and get home to their families, and get up early in the morning to start their activities again.”

Also announced at the press conference was the government's firm stance against businesses going against the COVID-19 measures. Prime Minister Phillips said that a first warning will be given to business owners who fail to comply and upon the second warning their businesses will be shut down.

All of these efforts fall under a national operation launched to fight COVID19. The initiative founded by NCTF named COVI-CURB was announced by the Prime Minister which aims to ensure national compliance with the Gazetted COVID19 measures.

T

Isaiah Henry

Joel Henry

he Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology (Equipo Argentino de Antropologia ForensicaEAAF) is currently being engaged to lend assistance into the investigation of the murders of Isaiah Henry, Joel Henry and Haresh S i n g h o f We s t C o a s t Berbice. This was disclosed by the Guyana Police Force Public Relations Department.

In a release, it disclosed that talks are currently underway to have the services of “one of the world's foremost agencies in forensic anthropology to support the investigation of the Guyana Police Force into the murders of the trio youths in the West Coast Berbice backlands.”

The team is said to have conducted investigations on many “high profile” cases around the world and as such has since offered to send a team to Guyana. The team will include a forensic pathologist, a forensic anthropologist and a forensic radiologist and will also bring along with them the equipment they need.

“Discussions with the Director of the EAAF to

bring this initiative to fruition are being u n d e r t a k e n b y representatives of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Human Rights Association and the law firm representing pro bono the interests of the families, Hughes Fields and Stoby.

The anticipated outcome will be an unprecedented collaboration of local, regional and international forensic expertise, the EAAF team will build on the forensic work of the regional security system which is currently examining samples from the crime scene, victims and suspects”, the police said.

The team is expected to be in Guyana for a week and a report of its findings will be made available within a month.

“Engagement of a prestigious team such as EAAF increases the possibility of providing the families of the victims with some form of closure as well as securing a successful prosecution of the perpetrators”, the GPF release stated, adding that the report given at the conclusion of the team's probe “would provide a

foundation on which to build more harmonious communities both on West Coast Berbice and throughout the country”.

The organization has worked in 55 countries and most notably dealt with the case of the disappearance of 43 students in Mexico currently attracting much international attention.

EAAF is made up of 70 members with qualifications in different scientific fields, such as anthropology, archaeology, medicine, criminalistics, information technology, biology, and genetics. They work at the different offices that the institution has in Argentina (Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Tucumán) as well as in New York, Mexico, and South Africa.

The Henry boys were found butchered in the Cotton Tree backdam a few weeks ago and, three days a f t e r, H a r e s h S i n g h ' s unconscious body was found in the Number 3 backdam and his motorcycle burnt. He subsequently died at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The deaths of the three boys had sparked nationwide protests that turned into violent riots.

From page 3 should not, when they just destroyed an entire system of procurement.”

Jagdeo was also quick to point out that under Harmon's administration, a string of public procurement procedures were breached.

He cited that the APNU+AFC had ceased the publishing of awards on the procurement website, which is required by law.

It should be noted that it was only after Kaieteur News brought the issue to the fore that the website was

u p d a t e d b y N P TA B .

Further, the Vice President stated the previous administration also raised the limits to Ministerial Tender Boards.

Not only that, Jagdeo highlighted that while in caretaker mode, the Coalition also dished out billions worth in contracts, fully aware that they had no authority to do so.

One such example was the $352 million contract handed to Brian Tiwari's BK International Inc. for the repairs of breached sea

defence at Content, Mahaicony.

“Contrary to the law, they awarded contracts, billions of dollars, that led to massive rollovers into 2020, illegally so,” Jagdeo added.

Jagdeo mentioned that the PPP/C had passed a law that prohibited Cabinet from awarding contracts.

He explained that under this law, Cabinet only has a no-objection role but the previous administration, he said, reversed it “and started awarding contracts, contrary to the law”.

Harmon questions constitutional role of Gail Teixeira Coalition destroyed procurement system...

T

he constitutional role of Guyana's Parliamentary and Governance Affairs Minister, was called into question yesterday after Opposition leader, Joseph Harmon laid claims that she was usurping the functions and duties of the public office of Secretary to the Cabinet.

At his weekly press update, Harmon stated that the governing People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) “unabatedly” continues to breach Guyana's Constitution, citing Article

117 as a prime example.

Article 117 provides for the public office of Secretary to the Cabinet.

The Opposition leader explained that the duties and functions of this office are inclusive of "...arranging the business for, and keeping the minutes of, the Cabinet and for conveying the decisions of the Cabinet to the appropriate person or authority."

However, since the PPP/C assumed office on August 2, he said, Minister Te i x e i r a c o n t i n u e s t o arrogate the functions of that

Parliamentary and Governance Affairs Minister, Gail Teixeira constitutional office.

Providing his justification, (continued on page 14)

Saturday October 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Testing is still too low and too slow T

he local airports will reopen within the next nine days. The reopening increases the risk of imported coronavirus infections.

In order to reduce this risk, the government has indicated that persons have to be tested at their point of origin, that is, the country from whence they came.

However, since it is possible that they got infected during the period between testing and when they actually arrive in Guyana, if the test was done more than 72 hours prior to arrival, then any such person will have to be tested on arrival.

It means that provision has to be made for taking samples at the airports. This apparently is being arranged but at the rate at which the Ministry of Health gets emergency things done, it is not clear whether proper arrangements are going to be in place by October 12, 2020.

There is also another major problem. Assuming four or five flights each day at each of the two main international airports, it could mean that as many as 500 tests may have to be done at the airport.

Does the country have the capability to read these tests results within a day or for that matter within two days?

The news is now reporting that Donald Trump is being taken to Walter Reed Medical Facility. Just hours

Dem

boys seh...

S

ickness is nah thing fuh mek joke about. But dem boys bin remember dat was de same Donald Trump who bin talk how de coronavirus was going to disappear one day like a miracle.

He bin seh also dat when de weather get warmer, de virus would ah disappear. De opposite happen.

He bin talk about bleach and all manner of crazy things.

De man bin announce a major breakthrough with the use of hydroxychloroquine.

He even seh how he does drink it. He bin talk how 99% of the cases are

before his coronavirus positive test was announced, he appeared normal and was addressing a gathering.

Within hours, all the major news outfits were reporting that he is being taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

It shows how quickly a person's condition can deteriorate.

If the Government of Guyana does not have the capability to return test results within a few hours, they may be contributing to increased deaths. The President did announce big plans to increase testing and reduce the testing time to a few hours. This has not happened as yet.

While the country is now testing an average of eight times more persons than prior to August 2020, the average daily tests is nowhere near 300 tests per d a y. S o h o w i s t h e government going to cope with the increases need for testing when the airports reopen to international commercial flights?

Two weeks ago, we were supposed to be importing automatic testing machines to decrease the turnover time between tests and results. A special plane should have been chartered to bring in these machines.

We are sill to learn about the gene testing machines and the cartridge, which was supposed to be procured to make these machines operable.

The government has

become less specific in relation to increasing its testing capacity.

It is now saying just how may samples it is capable of taking each day and how many of these it can return results in the same day.

Given the way this virus operates, a 48 or even a 24hour wait for results is extremely dangerous.

People need to know their status early so that they can take precautions.

The time has come for the government to appoint someone to become the interface with the public regarding the coronavirus.

While COVID-19 is understandably the Minister's number one priority, he needs to have a go-getter to get things done faster regarding testing, treatment and the procurement of equipment, including ventilators.

This person must be high-level. This job requires a full time job and someone who is prepared to work 16 hours per day to get things in place.

You cannot expect the Minister of Health to have to brief the media every day plus address all the other problems within the country's health system.

The Minister has some help in the form of PPP/C acolytes.

But he should keep very far from some of these political appointees and in fact should try his best to push them out of the system because some of them are

Sickness is nah thing fuh joke about harmless. He nah talking suh now.

He bin blame China, and at one time, even Mexico fuh spreading de virus. Dem boys wan know who he blaming now?

Brother Bob bin talk how de biggest man was once a baby. Today, de most powerful man in de world, is infected with an organism wah de eye can't see.

Trump son come out and ask de people of America fuh pray fuh he father. Dis is de same father wah bin downplay de same virus.

But Dem boys admire how some people react to de news dat de President of de

United States gat de virus.

Barack Obama come out and seh dat regardless of wah, de man is de President and he wish him and all dem other COVID-19 patients a speedy recovery.

Trump challenger, Joe Biden, react like a real gentleman. Dem two bin go at each other during the debate.

But Biden yesterday pulled all he campaign ads criticizing Trump. He wished de President well.

And even though dem boys too bin vex with Trump fuh how he bin downplay de virus, dem boys want wish him well too.

only there to look after their own material interests.

Yesterday, there were just more than 200 tests done. This shows that enough testing is not being done throughout the country but especially in Region Four.

Te s t i n g h a s t o b e

increased corresponding with an increase in the capacity to return results the same day.

The situation in the country is already frightening. Every day we get the results from the COVID dashboard and then later we hear about the

deaths.

(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 03, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Vincent Alexander: Who speaks for African Guyanese?

I n my column of Saturday, August 29, 2020, I indicated that a response was forthcoming to a letter Vincent Alexander wrote on me in the newspapers of August 22, 2020 headlined: “AfricanGuyanese do not need Freddie Kissoon to speak for them.”

Alexander was reacting to a trenchant criticism I made of him for which I am unapologetic and would repeat for polemical clarity.

My accusation was moral hypocrisy.

It was Alexander himself who informed the Guyanese public that when the five CARICOM Prime Ministers came here to mediate in the election impasse, the International Decade for People of African Descent – Guyana chapter (IDAPADA-G) of which Alexander is the chairman,

wrote them and the UN to request consideration of issues that were more exigent and compelling than the election results. There were no follow up from the CARICOM and the UN. I suggested in a column that Alexander may have been the reason for the dismissal of the letter because the five PMs had to know that he was part of the GECOM commission and was in support of a fraudulent process that GECOM was involved in that would deform the factual results of the election.

Alexander replied.

Whether he gave his letter the title or it was the editors, I don't know, but I didn't see the relevance of the caption; in fact, it was irrelevant but it betrays a Freudian mind set characteristic of African Guyanese leaders like Alexander. Why is it when a

non-African criticizes a Guyanese Black, the issue of who speaks for which community comes up?

I do not speak for East Indians. I don't want to be seen as someone who speaks for an ethnic community. But at the same time, I question if we can identify who speak for whom.

It is an undeniable fact that Indians vote for the PPP. The electoral choice for Africans is the PNC. Outside of election campaigns, who speaks for Indians and Africans?

People like Alexander and David Hinds arrogate to themselves the title of defenders of African Guyanese interests. A survey hasn't determined how African Guyanese feel about personalities like Alexander and Hinds. Is it possible that substantial numbers of Black people in 2020 did not vote

for the PNC and rejected people like Hinds because they felt betrayed?

How do Black people feel about the refusal to follow-up on the retirement age for public servants; the draconian penalties for small possessions of marijuana, and substantial salary hikes for state workers, particularly, the police force.

There is the failure of people in the WPA like Clive Thomas, Tacuma Ogunseye and Hinds to instill a Rodneyite aura in governance from 2015.

There was the humiliation of Hinds when he was expelled from the Chronicle column pages, etc?

My point is people like Alexander and Hinds (a column is forthcoming on Ravi Dev's reply to Alexander's angelic posturing and Hinds' forming a new organization) come across as leaders of the African community and they might not be accepted at all.

How do we know that African-Guyanese want them to speak on their behalf?

One of the problems people like Alexander and Hinds have is that they cannot see that they reduce the dignity of African

Guyanese by asserting that Black people in this country cannot use moral criteria to judge indecent and morally unclean behaviour of fellow African-Guyanese. The other side of that coin is that

Frederick Kissoon p e o p l e like Alexander and Hinds believe that any type of egregious lapses Black Guyanese will overlook.

They transport this condescending attitude to Black people to Africans worldwide.

Some African politicians in Guyana were annoyed that Black international personalities like Mia Mottley; Owen Arthur; Keith Rowley; Bruce Golding; Hilary Beckles; former Liberian president and Nobel Prize winner, Ellen Sirleaf, did not use

ethnically based judgment in examining the Guyana election rigging.

Alexander thought the five CARICOM PMs would have listened to his Black reasoning but they wanted the rule of law to prevail something Hinds doesn't believe in. So the question should be asked; who speaks for Black Caribbean folks?

Someone like Hinds, Alexander or Eric Phillips? Is the brilliant historian and current UWI Vice Chancellor, Hilary Beckles, a conscious Blackman? He is head of the Caribbean reparations committee. He denounced election rigging in Guyana and accepted the results in favour of the PPP. What does that make him? Is he a betrayer of African Guyanese interest?

There was an interesting dimension of the recount that no one has commented on.

Five African Caribbean officials initially came to observe the recount. The PPP did not object?

Why? Because not all Africans are like Hinds and Alexander.

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

Saturday October 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Saturday October 03, 2020

CGX holds on to prime oil blocks for 13 years without honouring agreement - VP Jagdeo V

ice President, D r. B h a r r a t J a g d e o disclosed yesterday that a number of new companies are knocking on the door of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to engage in discussions on the exciting prospects of Guyana's oil industry. In contrast, those exploration companies such as CGX Resources Inc., who have been awarded oil blocks but are not performing, will be in for a rude awakening particularly via rigid performance reviews.

Speaking to members of the media fraternity at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Jagdeo said that CGX is one of those companies which would have been in receipt of offshore licences but has done little to no work to date.

T h e c o n c e r n e d Vi c e President said that work on CGX's Corentyne and

Demerara Blocks are long overdue while adding that, “it has been 13 years since any work has been done.�

The former Head of State recalled that prior to 2007, CGX was awarded a Petroleum Licence in the offshore Guyana Basin but when efforts were initiated to drill the Eagle-1 well, it was prevented from doing do

by Surinamese naval gunboats. Legal proceedings commenced at the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to resolve the maritime border dispute with Suriname and in 2007, the Tribunal awarded Guyana at least 93% of the disputed area.

Following this settlement, CGX was awarded a Petroleum Licence on November 27, 2012 for the Corentyne Block and then in February 13, 2013, the company was awarded a Licence for the Demerara Block. Since these awards, Jagdeo alluded to

his expectation that significant work should have been done.

The Production Sharing Agreement for the Corentyne Block stipulates that for the first four years, at least two wells should be drilled. CGX did honour this part of the work commitment when it drilled the Jaguar-1 and Eagle-1 wells in 2012, both of which were subsequently abandoned.

When the license was renewed in 2016, CGX was required to drill at least two wells but that was not done.

Despite this, the APNU+AFC regime allowed for the licence to be renewed in 2019 for another three years. The licence is due for renewal in 2022.

As for the Demerara Block, CGX was required to drill one well and complete one well drill within the first four years of having the licence. That well was not drilled. When the licence (continued on page 17)

Map showing CGX's blocks

Saturday October 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

Foreign Minister meets with Brazilian counterpart

M

inister of F o r e i g n Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, on Thursday met with Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil,

Ambassador Ernesto Araújo.

Among mutual areas of interest, they discussed the enhancement of bilateral relations, the Linden to Lethem Road link, SouthSouth cooperation, technical cooperation, and trade.

Guyana and Brazil established diplomatic relations on August 26, 1968.

Cooperation covers a broad range of areas including trade, health, agriculture, transport, and security matters.

Housing's new Board of Directors introduced services.

There are over 50,000 applications for house-lots and turn-key homes on database of CH&PA. This week, police clashed with squatters at Success, East Coast of Demerara forcing the CH&PA to engage residents on the need to apply for lands.

Minister Susan Rodrigues meeting virtually with Board members yesterday

T

h e n e w l y appointed Board of Directors for the Central Housing and Planning Authority ( C H & PA ) h a v e b e g u n meeting virtually, with the aim of fast-tracking the mandate of the agency in the interest of all Guyanese, according to a release from the Authority. Cabinet recently granted approval for the new board to take up their respective appointments.

The Board is chaired by Dr. Emanuel Cummings and its other members include J u l i u s F a e r b e r, D a v i d Armogan, Michael Hutson, Cosmos De Santos, Azeena Baksh, Yonnick David, and Chandrowtie Sarran.

Dr. Cummings once served as a board member in the past. The Board held its first meeting on Tuesday last and another meeting was c o n v e n e d y e s t e r d a y.

According to the authority, the members were welcomed by the Collin Croal, Minister of Housing and Water; Susan Rodrigues,

Minister within the Ministry; and Chief Executive Officer, Sherwyn Greaves.

“Minister Croal said he looks forward to working with the Board on a number of policy matters which will see the fast-tracking of processes relating to house lot and planning permission applications. Given the challenges facing the housing agency, Minister Croal noted that it is imperative that the Board meet as often as possible.”

In wake of the COVID19 pandemic, the Board will continue to meet virtually until some level of normalcy is returned. Meanwhile, Greaves in his pitch to the Board said he stand ready to work collectively in the best interest of all citizens to realize their dream of homeownership.

While he stressed the need for expediency with the processing time for some services offered by the agency, he noted that emphasis will be placed on the quality of these very

PAGE 13

Contractor donates motorcycles to Guyana Police Force

Through its ongoing strategy of strengthening partnership, the Guyana Police Force yesterday said it has received two Honda motorcycles from Gaico Construction Inc. Office Manager, Champa Maraj, handed over the motorcycles on behalf of the General Manager, Komal Singh. The intention of the donation is to aid the GPF in its fight against crime, the police said. Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie, DSM received the donation on behalf of the GPF.

Saturday October 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Harmon commits to providing info on Kaieteur, Canje Blocks L

eader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon yesterday said that he would gather information held by the Coalition on all owners of the Kaieteur and Canje Blocks, which were signed away by the Donald Ramotar administration under questionable circumstances.

During a virtual press

conference, Harmon said that he has some information on the matter, when asked whether he knows of all the beneficial owners. However, he did not want to put out information into the public, which was unverified, as he said this is information he received from someone overseas who reached out to him.

Kaieteur News reminded that, in addition to information from outside sources, the Coalition should have already been in possession of such information while in Government. This is because, every time stakes were transferred in the two blocks, the government is responsible for approving

the transfer. In this regard, when signing deals, the government has to know the hands the stakes are leaving, and the hands to which they will go.

Harmon yesterday committed to passing on the question to the Member of Parliament with responsibility for natural resources to see how they

Longer operating hours for GT/Vreed-en-Hoop water taxis from Monday

T

he Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) yesterday

announced that with effect from Monday, October 5, 2020, the hours of operation of the water taxis on the

G e o rg e t o w n - Vr e e d - e n Hoop service, will be from 06:00 hours (6 AM) to 20:00 hours (8 PM).

“Access unto the stellings on both sides will be from 06:00 hours and close at 20:00 hours.

However, they will remain open shortly thereafter to allow all commuters to exit,”

a MARAD release noted.

MARAD reminded passengers and boat operators that social distancing is still in effect on the stellings and water taxis.

“This is being enforced by the Department's monitors particularly during the peak hours,” MARAD stated.

may assist. Subsequently, he explained, information may be shared in an upcoming oil and gas press conference to be held by the Coalition.

“We will have a specific press conference on oil and gas,” he said, “and at that time, the question will be answered once it is posed.”

The Kaieteur Block was initially split 50/50 by Ratio Energy and Ratio Guyana (owned by the Israeli company, Ratio Petroleum) on April 28th, 2015. As of today, the Kaieteur Block is split between four companies: ExxonMobil (35 percent), Ratio Guyana (25 percent), Cataleya (25 percent) and Hess (15 percent).

The Canje Block was awarded to Mid Atlantic on March 4, 2015. Currently, four companies have stakes in the Canje Block: ExxonMobil (35 percent), Total (35 percent), JHI Associates (17.5 percent) and Mid-Atlantic (12.5 percent).

Notably, it's not just the

Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon

blocks that changed hands but some of the companies which owned stakes in the blocks.

For instance, in February of 2017, Ratio Energy was sold to a company named Cataleya, run by two miners, Canadian Mike Cawood and the Guyanese, Ryan Pereira.

This process has even less oversight from government.

The State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) had started an investigation into the suspicious awards of the Kaieteur and Canje blocks in 2018. Nothing has come from that investigation.

The Opposition Leader said that it will be important moving forward to scrutinize all activities in the oil sector, as it is the people's “national patrimony.” He urged the media, in particular, to be persistent in its scrutiny of the sector, and urged citizens to share information with the press and the Opposition.

“It is public scrutiny that will tend to keep the actors in an honest place.” Harmon said.

Harmon questions...

From page 8 Harmon explained that Teixeira by September 11

notification in the Official Gazette is listed as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance.

Delving further, Harmon said “Article 232 of the Constitution provides that “public office” means an office of emolument in the public service and further, Article 232 (5) of the Constitution expressly excludes the service as a Minister as service in the public service.”

Harmon's contention is that the act of Minister Teixeira signing documents which convey the decisions o f C a b i n e t a r e “unconstitutional and are ultra vires and of no effect.”

Many of those Cabinet documents relate to the recent appointments of State Boards but Harmon pointed to the appointment of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and the Go-Invest Board.

“We advise that all such decisions affected by this unconstitutionality be reversed,” he said.

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 03, 2020

GPL meter reader fired, charged after sting operation

A

meter reader for the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is in deep trouble after reportedly demanding a bribe and then getting caught in a sting operation. GPL, in a statement yesterday, said that the incident regrettably involved one of its field staff and his accomplice who have been accused of defrauding a customer.

As was previously reported, sometime between 17th September and 19th September 2020, it was alleged that Mr. Gairy Major, who was attached to the Meter Reading Department of the GPL Inc. and an accomplice approached a customer in Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara where they defrauded the customer of an undisclosed sum of money.”

The customer made a report to the police and also made a complaint to one of the GPL Inc. offices.

According to GPL, it alerted the police and it was decided that a sting operation would be launched: “Following this investigation, the two men were arrested and charges were filed by the Guyana Police Force against Mr. Major and his accomplice for obtaining by false pretence, demanding money and impersonation and giving false information to the Police and (they) are awaiting a court hearing.”

GPL said that it has since terminated Major's contract

Fired, Charged: Former GPL Meter Reader, Gairy Major with immediate effect as “the company has zero tolerance policy for such actions.” The company also warned that monetary transactions are prohibited in the fields.

“All monetary transactions for our company must be done only at our commercial offices for which a receipt will be issued. Under no circumstance(s) should a GPL Inc. employee request payment for services rendered at their homes or businesses or to avoid any penalty from our company,” the release stated.

The state-owned company made it clear that if any GPL Inc. employee requests/demands payment from a customer for a service while conducting field work, customers are advised to reject such requests and

report the matter with any supporting information to its Call Centre at 226-2600.

“GPL employees are required,” the company noted, “to wear identification badges when executing field work. Additionally, our staff will be outfitted in official company uniforms or shirts/jerseys bearing the company's logo. Customers reserve the right to refuse entry to their premises if a staff is not attired as described above.”

GPL also noted that its primary access to customers' premises legally ends at the point of the Metering Instrument (Meter and Meter Enclosure) and at no time should anyone demand access into homes or businesses.

“However, if a situation presents itself where entering a customer's home/business becomes necessary, the standard operating procedure stipulates that the customer should be informed prior to the visit to allow for customers' approval. Additionally, if a customer is still uncomfortable with the request, that customer is encouraged to call for verification.”

It was also advised that if a customer wishes to verify the presence of a field agent within their community, they can contact the Call Centre on 226-2600, Public Relations Unit on 225-1471 or F a c e b o o k v i a www.facebook.com/GPLInc orporated.

Ex-lover stabs horse cart operator in scrotum after alleged rape

A

horse cart operator was allegedly stabbed in his scrotum by his ex-lover after he allegedly raped her.

The man was yesterday slapped with a rape charge and was released on $100,000, bail.

The defendant, Christopher Howes, 54, of 4675 Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown, was arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates' Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The matter was heard incamera, and members of the media and the public were not allowed in the courtroom. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on April 5, 2020, at Rasville Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration with a woman without her consent. Howes is being represented by attorney-at-

Charged: Christopher Howes law Bernard DaSilva.

According to information, Howes and the virtual complainant were once in a relationship. On the day in question, the virtual complainant visited the defendant's home and while there, he allegedly raped her.

Kaieteur News understands

that after the incident, the woman allegedly armed herself with a knife and stabbed him to his scrotum.

The matter was reported and an investigation was launched. Howes was subsequently arrested, charged and put the court. The Chief Magistrate granted the defendant bail in the sum of $200,000, but later reduced it to $100,000, after the defendant's attorney made an application for a reduction.

The condition of the bail is that defendant stays 100 feet away from the virtual complainant and report to the Ruimveldt Police Station fortnightly until completion of the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

The matter was then adjourned to October 16, 2020, and transferred to Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News LEGAL NOTICE

SERVICES Repairs,Services,Spares to Wa s h i n g M a c h i n e Refridgetor Store, Treadmill, Deepfryer,Cooler,Dryer, Grains mill. Call: 694-9733 House Plan Drawing, Estimates General Construction Work. Foundation ETC Call 216-0671, 692-8464 or WhatsApp 622-0267.

VACANCY

FOR RENT

School teachers are invited to submit applications. Attractive salary based on qualification and experience: educationgy3@gmail.com

Fully Furnished Luxurious 4 Bedrooms Apartment Large Kitchen, Living Room Dining & Laundry Room Call 6168842/ 226-9337.

Vacancy for male domestic cleaner caretaker for evening job. Call: 627-1154

Single Room apartment @ kitty for rent internet, Gas, Electricity and water inclusive @ an affordable price Contact :611-2250, 699-9117

Control your finances by joining CM Investment Intl.Contact Agent-Althea on # 6 0 4 - 6 4 6 2 o r CMinvestmentintl@gmail.com

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

First aid / cpr/ aed and home nursing courses st. John Association Tel# 225-9082 to register.

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

FOR SALE

Office Assistant 5 Subjects cxc, 2 years min experience, Lot 8 sheriff street mimadecor12@gmail.com, 227-0176/ 86

New Pulp egg trays for Sale.Tel:#688-4264 Purebred German Shepherd Puppies seven weeks old and vaccinated Contact Adit 6541903, 683-3560, 222-4974, 2222381 1 Canter truck GTT series excellent condition Tel 626-6480

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVECAR RENTAL: CARS & SUV’S CALL : 656-0087 /643- 5122 E M A I L : pro_autorental@yahoo.com AIDAN'S CAR RENTAL & TOW TRUCK SERVICE:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE#698-7807.

VEHICLE FOR SALE Pitbull BRR579.Call:#6820433

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227-2100 227- 1982

E-mail appilcation to maxboxcafe@gmail.com or drop it off at 56 Brickdam Stabrock. Contact 592-2264605 / 592-643-4070.

E-mail application to maxiwilliamsdesigns@gmail.com or drop it off at 56 Brickdam Stabroek Contact 592-2264605 / 592-643-4070 Looking for one professional hair dresser and two nail techinican, Grove Market Street. Contact 652-5800 Pitmen for interior location.

Applicants must be experienced. Call 618-2020 Experience Sales girl Apply in person at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda.

1 Apartment building Lot 204 Yubani Avenue Eccles East bank Tel#626-6480 Unfurished for single, working/ studying males Atlanticville, $16,000- $17,000 Tel# 225-0168/ 226-3087 call Mon- fri 9:00am to 2:30pm 1 three bedroom apartment for rent in diamond tel#608-2563/ 625-9592 3 bedroom upstairs fully grilled,concrete,parking,master bedroom from Tuschen.Tel:#692-5525/2663973 2 Bedroom Apartment Furnished AC, Hot & Cold, Brand New Eccles Call 624-8884.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE 2 -Srory Building Located Lot 1488 Parfate Harmany 16M Negotiable Tel#6413893, 686-0522, 609-3777, 697-4557 3- Story Building Located lot 1486 Plot B Herstelling E.B.D Tel#609-3777, 697-4557, 6413893, 686-0522 Commecial Property for sale east bank public road next to harbour Tel#622-1957 transported property

2020-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-137 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND M AT R I M O N I A L JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD.-137 BETWEEN: (BEHARRY) PHILIP SAMUEL aka SAM SUNDAR RAGUBEERBEHARRY Petitioner -and(BEHARRY) BIBI SHAKEELA nee JAITOON Respondent TO: BIBI SHAKEELA BEHARRY nee JAITOON San Felix, Buen Retiro, Sector 1. UD 147 Calle Anzoategui, Casa #9 Parroquia Chirica, Municipal Caroni, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 30th day of January, 2020 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you

by PHILIP SAMUEL BEHARRY aka SAM SUNDAR RAGUBEER BE HARRY, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an

LAND FOR SALE WANTED Driver/ Expediter Contact 223-5273/ 223-5274.

Female cleaner for Eccles Office.Call:#642-9823

Two house keepers to work shift system Tel: 225-6337 Handyman.Ages 19-30 to work 5 days per week.Duties clean yard/bond.Tel:#6833360 Gasoline Mechanic/ Trainey Needed. Call 623-0318 Lorry Driver-A.Wahab Trading,#227-6659/627-5726 Driver for route 42 minibus to work 7:30am to 3:30pm Tel#640-0624 Experience k-9 Trainers wanted for SIAG'S state-ofthe-art Dog Section 592-6466850 HR@SIAG-Security.gy Body workman ark welding.

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Saturday October 03, 2020 Order made on the 4th day of August, 2020 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of his Petition on you by publication of-this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily 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 the 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), an Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 42 (forty-two) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the Divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on ....

Monday the 12th day of

October, 2020 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge in the Directions Hearing Room of the ,.

Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of you filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, an 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 6th day of August, 2020

Saturday October 03, 2020 LEGAL NOTICE 2020-HC-DEM-CIV -FD-94 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND M AT R I M O N I A L JURISDICTION . FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-94 BETWEEN: (CUMMINGS) SHONDEL ENEKA nee WINTZ Petitioner -V(CUMMINGS) MARK ANTHONY Respondent To the Respondent MARK ANTHONY C U M M I N G S Last Known Address Lot 225 McRae Street, West Bank Berbice, Guyana.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 23rd day of January, 2020 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you

by SIIONDEL ENEKA CUMMINGS nee WINTZ, 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 19th day of June, 2020 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday

Issue of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily 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 the 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 tile 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 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday the 2nd day of November, 2020 at 9:15 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall in

Court Room Six (6) of the High Court at Georgetown. ,IN DEFAULT of your tiling 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 7th day of September, 2020

Demerara offshore blocks.

According to Professor Suresh Narine, Executive Chairman for local subsidiary CGX Energy, the agreement was designed to provide CGX with significant working capital and liquidity since it had faced significant cash flow problems over the years.

Following the signing of the agreement, Frontera acquired a 33.33% working interest in

LEGAL NOTICE 2020-HC-DEM-CIV -FD-527 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMI~ Y, DIVORCE AND M AT R I M O N I A L J U R I S D I C T I O N FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO.: FD- 527

GODETTE (RACHAEL) nee ATKINSON Petitioner -andGODETTE (JOSEPH KENNARD SEMUEL) Respondent TO: JOSEPH KENNARD SEMUEL GODETTE (Last Known Address) Samatta Point, East Bank Demerara, Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 12th day of August, 2020 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you

by RACHAEL GODETTE nee ATKINSON, 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 11th day of September, 2020, the Petitioner was directed to effect service

CGX holds on to prime oil blocks for 13 ...

From page 12 was renewed in 2017, it was expected that two wells would be drilled but that commitment is yet to be fulfilled.

US$33M RECEIVED Almost two years ago, CGX had announced that it had inked an agreement with another Canadian firm, Frontera Energy Corporation (FEC), to pursue exploratory works in the Corentyne and

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

the two blocks in exchange for a US$33.3 million signing bonus to CGX. Frontera agreed to pay one-third of the applicable costs plus an additional 8.333% of CGX's direct drilling costs for the initial exploratory commitment wells in the two blocks. Frontera and CGX had also agreed to arrangements to provide additional financial support for CGX.

of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the World Wide 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 the 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 Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 17th day of

November, 2020 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Simone Morris- Ramlall in Court Room (6) of the High Court at Georgetown.

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 16th day of September, 2020

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Trump gets COVID-19 US (BBC)- US President Donald Trump has been flown to hospital less than 24 hours after testing positive for coronavirus.

The White House said the decision to transport him to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was taken “out of an abundance of caution”.

Trump - who had a fever said early on Friday he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for Covid-19.

The White House said he was feeling “fatigued but in good spirits” and was experiencing mild symptoms.

The news comes just over a month before presidential elections, where he will face Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

Wearing a mask and suit, Mr. Trump walked out across the White House lawn on Friday afternoon to his helicopter, Marine One, for the short trip to hospital.

He waved and gave a thumbs-up to reporters but said nothing before boarding the aircraft.

In a video posted to Twitter, Mr. Trump said, “I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support. I’m going to Walter Reed hospital. I think I’m doing very well.

“But we’re going to make sure that things work out. The first lady is doing very well.

So thank you very much, I appreciate it, I will never forget it - thank you.”

The president’s children,

Ivanka and Eric, retweeted his post, praising him as a “warrior”. Ms Trump added, “I love you dad.”

Upon arrival to Walter Reed, the President did not go to the Emergency Room for treatment, but went directly to the hospital’s presidential suite, according to the BBC’s US partner, CBS News.

A White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement: “President Trump remains in good spirits, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day.

“Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the president will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days.

“President Trump appreciates the outpouring of support for both he and the first lady.”

Mr Trump’s symptoms include a low-grade fever, according to CBS. Walter Reed, in the Washington DC suburbs, is one of America’s largest and most renowned military medical centres. It is where US presidents usually go for their annual check-ups.

White House, Communications Director Alyssa Farah said the President had not transferred his powers to Vice-President Mike Pence.

“The President is in charge,” she said.

Under the US constitu-

tion, if Mr. Trump did become too ill to carry out his duties, he could hand over his powers to the vice-president temporarily. That means Mike Pence would become acting president until Mr. Trump is fit again and could resume work.

“The US presidential election has been turned on its head”.That sentence could have been written about any number of moments in a tumultuous year in American politics, but nothing quite like this has occurred this year, this decade, this century.

Just 32 days before the presidential election, Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid-19. Given his age, 74, he is in a high-risk category for complications from the disease. At the very least, he will have to quarantine while he is treated, meaning the US presidential contest - at least his side of it - has been fundamentally altered.

The initial implications are obvious. The president’s rigorous campaign schedule which included visits to Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, Florida and North Carolina in just the past week - is on indefinite hold.

Trump will certainly have surrogates on the trail for him, but given that he has relied heavily on his family and senior administration and campaign officials for such tasks in the past, and many of them may have to quarantine because of their own exposure

to the virus, that campaign operation will be disrupted as well.Mr Trump’s physician Sean Conley said in a statement earlier on Friday that the president had “as a precautionary measure received an 8g dose of Regeneron’s polyclonal antibody cocktail” at the White House.

The medication is administered to help reduce virus levels and speed recovery. He was also taking zinc, vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and aspirin, Dr Conley said.

“As of this afternoon he remains fatigued but in good spirits,” he added. The first lady was “well with only a mild cough and headache”.

Saturday October 03, 2020

US President Donald Trump

Critical Care Unit nurses at GPHC stay away from work

Following serious threats of strike action by health workers, many nurses are now refusing to turn up to work. It was reported that last night a significant number of nurses at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), reported sick, while some simply did not turn up. Further, reports stated that some of the nurses absent were working in critical units at the hospital like; the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the Accident and Emergency ICU, and others.

The first protest action started in Linden when nurses from the Linden Hospital Complex staged a protest calling for better risk allowance, timely salary payments, and the provision of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for them to properly do their jobs. Their protest action later saw nurses from the West Demerara Regional Hospital joining and eventually nurses from the GPHC. The protest actions were endorsed by the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) who on October 1 gave the government and the GPHC an ultimatum, stating that they have 72 hours to address the vital concerns of nurses and all frontline workers. “We will mobilize for full strike actions, if within 72 hours we do not get what we consider as a positive response, to mature and professional decisions focused on an outcome in resolving this matter”, President of the Union, Patrick Yarde stated.

Nurses of the GPHC sought to take action before the 72 hours would have expired. According to the circulations on social media, since so many nurses stayed away, there was no one to cater to and monitor critical patients, which increased the risk of patient deaths in critical units.

There were also claims that the hospital was so un-

GPHC Director of Medical and Professional Services Dr. Fawcett Jeffrey

derstaffed that doctors were forced to take up the duties of some nurses and the hospital’s administration would have sent out requests to nurses at home, asking them to turn up for duty because they were in dire need of their services.

Kaieteur News contacted the Director of Medical and Professional Services Dr. Fawcett Jeffrey who countered the social media claims, stating that the situation was entirely misunderstood. Jeffrey admitted that some nurses have stayed home, but it is not a situation that is out of control. He related that to provide the necessary care for critical patients, hospital supervisors conducted a rotation of staff, taking nurses from units that aren’t in much need of monitoring and transferring them to the critical units.

The Director communicated that a list of important measures to sustain the facility would have been distributed to all heads of departments, however persons saw this as the GPHC anticipating a crisis if nurses were to strike following the expiry of the GPSU’s ultimatum.

One of the measures

reads,” In the absence of Nurses in Clinic areas, the Wards or Operating Room, doctors will be asked to assist with basic interventions like medication dispensation, vital signs, and dressings on patients who for one reason or the other could not be discharged or referred to another institution for care. Teams should be created with the available personnel to identify who will be responsible for which duties to allow for patient care to continue in crisis mode.”

Additionally, the GPHC issued a statement late last night stating that they cannot comprehend the GPSU’s “posture in threatening industrial action” despite them working to address the matters listed in their letter.

They said that they remain devoted to timely and constructive engagements while they consider the requests of Guyana’s health care workers and strongly advise that they refrain from accepting “inappropriate advice” and abandoning their duties to support even more illegal protests since every avenue in the relevant legislation has not been exhausted.

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 03, 2020

PAGE 19

Judiciary assures precautions 'Career' robber caught in place for restart of jury trials

T

he Judiciary of Guyana has assured that it has consulted and taken the necessary precautions to protect stakeholders who are using the courts' systems.

According to the Supreme Court in a release yesterday, it is in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 Task Force to work assiduously to facilitate the safe resumption of jury trials for the October Session of the Demerara Assizes.

“This partnership,” the release stated, “which started since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen discussions on health and safety protocols for the Courts, its staff, attorneysat-law, jurors and all court users. To this end, there has been the assignment of Community Health Officers to the Judiciary to do temperature screening and related health care associated with the prevention) and spread of the coronavirus.”

It was explained that these community health workers are stationed at the entrances to many courts, particularly in Regions 3, 4, 6, and 10.

“It has also yielded medical advice,” the release noted, “information visits and care and the provision of supplies to court staff and

Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George users over the past six months.”

It was revealed that during the month of September 2020, officials from the Ministry of Health and the National COVID-19 Task Force met with the Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George; Justice Brassington Reynolds; Justice Nareshwar Harnanan and Sueanna Lovell, Registrar of the Supreme Court.

“The high-level team comprised Col Nazrul Hussain, Head of the COVID-19 Task Force; Dr. Karen Boyle, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Colin James, Head of the Emergency Response Unit.

Discussions were had with the team and inspection was

done of the existing facilities for criminal trials with the jury.

The layout of the courts along with the installation of plexi-glass, transparent screens around fixtures and furniture and proposed physical distancing of the judge, court staff, prosecuting and defence counsel, and jurors in the courtrooms have been approved.”

There were also discussions pertaining to sanitation protocols: “The Ministry facilitated the visit of another team of officials and sanitisation of all the courts and court offices at the High Court was done on October 1, 2020. The resumption of jury trials guidelines were shared with the team and have been considered to be acceptable and on par with international best practices.”

According to the Supreme Court, together with the Ministry of Health, it is assuring court users that all necessary public health arrangements for the safe conduct of criminal trials are in place.

“The Supreme Court,” the release noted, “will continue this invaluable collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the National Task Force to ensure that all courts throughout the length and breadth of Guyana are safe for all.”

Identified as a career 'choke and robber', this man was nabbed yesterday by vigilant residents of Wo r t m a n v i l l e a f t e r snatching a 67-year-old woman's purse shortly after she exited her motorcar.

The man reportedly held a pair of scissors to the woman's neck and snatched her purse before taking off.

It was woman's screams that alerted residents to his presence and a sound trashing was administered before he was handed over to the police.

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Europa League draw: Arsenal, Tottenham, Leicester, Celtic & Rangers discover groups Arsenal were beaten by Olympiakos in the last 32 of the 2019-20 Europa League.

Saturday October 03, 2020, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Don't get so stuck in your ways today that you insist on having the one true answer without really considering the options.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Quietly step into the background if things aren't going the way you'd like, Taurus. Don't try to stick your nose into someone else's business, even if you think you know the right way to proceed.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You m a y h a v e g o t t e n yourself tangled up in a deep mental drama over a series of recent incidents, Gemini. Your mind may be working overtime in order to solve the riddles.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may feel as if your smile is unwelcome today, Cancer. It may seem to you like there's some sort of gloom and doom to people's attitudes that makes them unwilling to accept any sort of good news.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is a good time to take a stand on an issue that you may have been vacillating about lately, Libra. People will lose confidence in you if you can't seem to make up your mind.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today is one of those days in which you will be bursting at the seams to share big news with your friends, Scorpio. Perhaps you just received an important package or piece of in-

formation and you can't wait to spread the news.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your reluctance to speak could

get you in trouble today, Sagittarius. You may hesitate to share what you know for fear of what others might think.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) There may be a great tension between you and someone older today, Capricorn. Perhaps there's someone who's adopting a sort of "parent knows best" personality that's start-

ing to annoy you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) There's apt to be a comfort-

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Keep careful track of things today, Leo, for you will find that the smallest detail will make the biggest difference.

able feeling about today that should make you feel quite secure and nurtured, Aquarius.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) You may feel as if your hands are tied today and you're faced with absolutely no options, Virgo. Don't despair over a situation that seems insurmountable.

maze today, Pisces. Walls and long, narrow corridors take you around corners and through doorways, yet there's no indication that you're going in

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You could feel like a rat in a

the right direction.

BBCsport - FA Cup winners Arsenal will face League of Ireland side Dundalk, Rapid Vienna and Molde in Group B of the 2020-21 Europa League.

Tottenham have been drawn alongside Bulgarian champions Ludogorets, LASK and Royal Antwerp in Group J. Leicester City will face Braga, AEK Athens and Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk in Group G. Scottish champions Celtic face a tough task in Group H as they take on AC Milan, Lille and Sparta Prague.

Rangers are in Group D alongside Benfica, Standard Liege and Lech Poznan.

The first three group matches will take place on successive Thursdays from 22 October.

Arsenal qualified for the group stage by beating Chelsea to win their record 14th FA Cup in August. The

Gunners lost to Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League final.

Dundalk beat Faroe Islands club KI Klaksvik on Thursday (yesterday) to secure their spot, while Austrian side Rapid Vienna were eliminated from the Champions League third qualifying round.

Tottenham, two-time winners of the preceding Uefa Cup, beat Maccabi Haifa in the play-off round, while Leicester were beaten to a top-four

place on final day of the 2019-20 Premier League season to end up in the Europa League.

Celtic beat Bosnian side FK Sarajevo on Thursday to qualify and Rangers progressed against Turkish giants Galatasaray. CSKA Moscow, who won the 2005 Uefa Cup, are in Group K along with fellow former winners Feyenoord, Croatia’s Dinamo

Zagreb and Wolfsberger of Austria.

Napoli, the 1989 champions, face Real Sociedad, AZ Alkmaar and Croatian club Rijeka in Group F. Bayer Leverkusen, who won in 1988, play Slavia Prague, Hapoel Beer-Sheva and Nice in Group C, while 1978 winners PSV Eindhoven take on Paok, Granada and Cypriot club Omonia in Group E. Draw in full: Group A: Roma, Young Boys, Cluj, CSKA Sofia. Group B: Arsenal, Rapid Vienna, Molde, Dundalk.

Group C: Bayer Leverkusen, Slavia Prague, Hapoel BeerSheva, Nice. Group D: Benfica, Standard Liege, Rangers, Lech Poznan. Group E: PSV Eindhoven, Paok Thessaloniki, Granada, Omonia. Group F: Napoli, Real Sociedad, AZ Alkmaar, Rijeka. Group G: Braga, Leicester, AEK Athens, Zorya Luhansk. Group H: Celtic, Sparta Prague, AC Milan, Lille.

Group I: Villarreal, Qarabag, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Sivasspor.

Group J: Tottenham, Ludogorets, ASK Linz, Royal Antwerp. Group K: CSKA Moscow, Dinamo Zagreb, Feyenoord, Wolfsberg. Group L: Gent, Red Star Belgrade, Hoffenheim, Slovan Liberec.

Simona Halep & Elina Svitolina ...

From page 27 2019, she has reached the second week at Roland Garros this time around.

Alexandrova doublefaulted to hand her opponent two match points and then went long to see Svitolina safely through.

She will now face France’s Caroline Garcia, who came from a set down to defeat Belgian 16th seed Elise Mertens 1-6 6-4 7-5. Garcia, a quarterfinalist in 2017, had two match points in the 10th game of the third set but could not convert either and was broken.

She eventually got over the line in the 12th, much to the delight of the partisan crowd inside Philippe Chatrier.

Swiatek, 19, booked her spot against Halep with a 6-3 6-2 win against 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard. Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska continued her fine form this year with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, who could not back up her win in the previous round over US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka.

Podoroska, 23, who is playing in just her second Grand Slam main draw, has won 11 successive matches and takes her record since the restart to 20 wins and three losses.

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Rafael Nadal beats Stefano Travaglia to make French Open last 16 Stan Wawrinka loses BBCsport - Rafael Nadal sent another ominous warning to his French Open rivals by dropping five games in a third-round win over Italy’s Stefano Travaglia. Nadal, 34,

is looking for a record-extending 13th title and looked comfortably at home on Court Philippe Chatrier in a 6-1 6-4 6-0 victory.Travaglia, 28, won just six points in the first set

but settled down to make it more of a contest for the Spaniard. However, Nadal upped the tempo again to set up a meeting with Sebastian Korda.”To win against a

player like Stefano with this score is because I did a lot of things well, I played more aggressive than the previous days so I’m happy with that,” said second seed Nadal. I went to the net more often, I hit a lot more winners, my serve is working.”

American 20-year-old Korda became the first qualifier in nine years to reach the fourth round by beating Spain’s Pedro Martinez. Son of the 1992 French Open finalist Petr, Korda won 6-4 6-3 6-1 to reach the last 16.

Korda, who is ranked 213th in the world, had not even won a tour-level match in three previous attempts before impressive victories over Italian veteran Andreas Seppi and American 21st seed John Isner at Roland Garros. Facing 19-time major champion Nadal will be a different prospect.Korda described Nadal as his “biggest idol” and during his post-match news conference, while Nadal was still playing Travaglia, said he was “praying” for the Spaniard to win. He even has a cat named after him. “That says a lot about how much I love the guy,” laughed Korda.

Korda, who is a former world junior number one, will be hoping not to be overawed by the occasion like Travaglia.

Travaglia, ranked 74th, looked overwhelmed at facing one of the all-time greats and struggled to find his rhythm as Nadal took the opening set in just 23 minutes.

Stan Wawrinka loses to Hugo Gaston - Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 champion, is out of the French Open after a 2-6 6-3 63 4-6 6-0 loss to world number 239 Hugo Gaston in the third round.

The Swiss, who beat Andy Murray in the first round, was broken three times in the final set by the French wildcard, who was cheered to victory by the home support inside Suzanne Lenglen. Gaston

to Hugo Gaston

Rafael Nadal is aiming for his 20th Grand Slam title

Sebastian Korda

had not won an ATP Tour match before this year’s Roland Garros.

The 20-year-old will now play US Open winner and third seed Dominic Thiem. The 2018 and 2019 Roland Garros finalist booked his spot in the fourth round with a hardfought 6-4 6-3 6-1 victory over Norwegian Casper Ruud.

The Austrian, 27, faced eight break points in the opening two sets, but was only broken once by the 28th seed, in the fourth game of the first set. Thiem converted six of his chances as he gradually took control en route to victory in two hours and 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, sixth seed Alexander Zverev also progressed with a comfortable victory over Italy’s Marco Cecchinato. The 23-year-old German, who lost in the US Open final last month, took one hour and 47 minutes to see off the world number 110 in a 6-1 7-5 6-3 win.Zverev,

Hugo Gaston is playing in only his second Grand Slam looking to reach the quarterfinal stage at Roland Garros for a third successive year, will face Jannik Sinner, after the promising 19-year-old Italian saw off Argentine Federico Coria 6-3 7-5 7-5.

Elsewhere, Italian Lorenzo Sonego won the longest men’s singles tie-break in Roland Garros history to oust American 27th seed Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 7-6 (19-17).

Saturday October 03, 2020

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Champions League Group Stage Draw

Manchester United face PSG on October 20 while Liverpool start with tricky trip to Ajax

MailOnline - Manchester United visit Paris SaintGermain in their first Champi-

ons League group game of the season while Liverpool will launch their bid to regain

Liverpool will launch their bid to regain the Champions League in Amsterdam against Ajax.

the European cup in Amsterdam against Ajax.

UEFA have released the group stage fixtures and Jurgen Klopp’s 2019 winners, whose title defence ended in defeat to Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 last season, face Group D rivals Ajax on matchday one. Manchester City face Porto at home on the same evening in their first Group C match.

Chelsea will play Group E rivals Sevilla at Stamford Bridge on October 20, the same night United travel to play last season’s beaten finalists PSG in Group H. Liverpool’s first group-stage home game is against Danish side Midtjylland the following

English Side’s Champions League Group Stage Fixtures Manchester City (Group C) Chelsea (Group E) Porto (H) - October 21 Sevilla (H) - October 20 Marseille (A) - October 27 Krasnodar (A) - October 28 Olympiacos (H) - November 3 Rennes (H) - November 4 Olympiacos (A) - November 25 Rennes (A) - November 24 Porto (A) - December 1 Sevilla (A) - December 2 Marseille (H) - December 9 Krasnodar (H) - December 8 Liverpool (Group D) Manchester United (Group H) Ajax (A) - October 21 PSG (A) - October 20 Midtjylland (H) - October 27 RB Leipzig (H) - October 28 Atalanta (A) - November 3 Istanbul Basaksehir (A) - November 4 Atalanta (H) - November 25 Istanbul Basaksehir (H) - November 24 Ajax (H) - December 1 PSG (H) - December 2 Midtjylland (A) - December 9 RB Leipzig (A) - December 8

South American qualifiers pose significant risks for players, says union Bern (Reuters) - The decision to play South American World Cup qualifiers this month poses significant risks, the global footballers’ union FIFPRO said on Friday (yesterday) as it warned that around 250 players face longhaul journeys a m i d t h e COVID-19 pandemic.

Two rounds of qualifying matches will be played between Oct. 8 and Oct. 13, featuring many of the world’s top players, includi n g B a r c e l o n a ’s L i o n e l Messi and Paris St Germain’s Neymar who have been called up by Argentina and Brazil respectively.

FIFPRO said that players should have the right to turn down a call-up without facing disciplinary action, adding that it would support players and challenge sanctions where necessary. ”Many players will be travelling in and out of countries with some of the highest inci-

dence of COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 100 cases per 100,000 people,” it said. ”There remain significant risks and legitimate concerns for players and their families and we maintain that all players must have a free choice to participate in national team activities or not.”

Global soccer body FIFA confirmed on Thursday that clubs would be obliged to release players for the matches although it also imposed conditions, a move which was welcomed

by FIFPRO and the European Club Association (ECA).

FIFA said that players must be exempted from any travel or quarantine restrictions, both in the countries where they are due to play matches and in the country where their clubs are based, otherwise their clubs would not have to release them.

This potentially opened

the door for clubs to withhold players although there were no immediate reports of withdrawals. One source told Reuters that FIFA and CONMEBOL, the South American Confederation, were helping negotiate exemptions with public authorities.

FIFPRO said that 30 of the 35 players named in Argentina’s provisional squad play for clubs outside the country, while 33 out of 34 of Colombia’s squad were based abroad along with the entire Paraguay and Uruguay squads. Only Bolivia has a predominantly home-based squad.

However, FIFPRO also called on clubs not to stand in the way of players who wanted to play. ”National team football is an important part of our game and players who wish to participate under the provided safeguards and regulations should be free to do so without interference,” it said.

Manchester United visit PSG in their first Champions League group game - the scene of their dramatic comeback victory in 2019.

week (October 27) when Pep Guardiola’s City travel to play Marseille.

United play RB Leipzig their first home group game at Old Trafford on October 28 and Chelsea face Krasnodar in Russia on the same night.

Liverpool and City will complete their group-stage fixtures at Midtjylland and at home against Marseille respectively on December 9.

Chelsea and United both travel to face Krasnodar and Leipzig away respectively in

their final group-stage matches on December 8. Holders Bayern Munich begin their defence of the title at home against Atletico on October 21 and play Lokomotiv Moscow in their last group game.

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Kaieteur News

Garg, Abhishek shine for Sunrisers as CSK lose three straight ESPNcricinfo - Every so often in the IPL, talented young players seize the stage and bring notice of their incredible ability to a worldwide audience.

Sunrisers Hyderabad had two such players bursting through in a seven-run win against Chennai Super Kings.

Priyam Garg hit a sparkling half-century in just his second innings for the Sunrisers, while Abhishek Sharma also made his highest score for the franchise to drive them to a competitive 164 for 5.

That nearly wasn’t enough in a dramatic finish as Super Kings mounted a furious late assault.

The drama heightened with Bhuvnehswar Kumar going off clutching his thigh after one ball of his final over - the 19th of the innings - to have David Warner throwing the ball to the third youngster in the Sunrisers line-up.

Abdul Samad had bowled only seven overs in his entire T20 career before this game and was in the XI primarily due to his batting, but ended

up finishing his full quota. His final over went for 20 runs, but the Sunrisers bowlers, including Samad himself, had done enough before that to squeeze out a win.

Super Kings finished on 157 for 5, for a third defeat in a row, which hasn’t happened to them since 2014.

That they couldn’t get over the line despite coming so close was down largely to Garg and Sharma.

Garg had walked in when Warner was caught by Faf du Plessis completing an in-and-

out boundary catch at longon. Next ball, Kane Williamson was run out in a mix-up which left the normally unflappable New Zealand captain fuming.

But Garg, calmly shrugged that off to unleash some death-overs carnage in smashing 51* off 26. Sharma (31 off 24) had been the one to inject initial momentum when both players - barely out of their teens - had the task of dragging the Sunrisers to a good total with their top four of Jonny Bairstow, Warner, Manish Pandey and Williamson all dismissed in the first 11 overs.

The two added 77 in just seven overs even as Super Kings’ fielding wilted, conceding dropped catches and overthrows aplenty. It was also the first half-century stand by players aged 20 or less in the history of the IPL. Sunrisers’ bowlers kept things tight - Rashid Khan bowling four overs for just 12 runs - and their initial good work went a long way in clinching victory even though the last four overs

went for 70 runs.

Sunrisers’ slow start Bairstow was bowled by a banana inswinger from Deepak Chahar in the first over, while Warner never got out of second gear. Pandey, a sedate starter normally, came out swinging to keep the Sunrisers’ heads above water.

But he fell when looking good, and the WarnerWilliamson double-strike meant the team was 69 for 4 in 11 overs.Super Kings had made several changes to their XI. Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo were both fit and included, as was Shardul Thakur, while M Vijay, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Josh Hazlewood sat out.

That combination gave them greater depth in batting as well as bowling. MS Dhoni used his seamers up front in rotation, with only two overs of spin in the first 11 overs.

Garg, Sharma, take off Garg started his innings with nudges and flicks, easing himself in. Sharma, whose T20 strike rate of 150.25 is suggestive, was more adventurous early on.

He took on Ravindra Jadeja, who had been held back while Warner was the crease, reverse swatting him to the point boundary and then slugging him over midwicket. He also was confident enough to drive Bravo over mid-off, having read his variations.

Garg then took off, beginning in the 16th over, bowled

by Thakur. First there was a steer to third man that resulted in three runs, the young guns pushing hard for two and drawing an overthrow, and he ended the over with a dismissive pull.

The next over, by Sam Curran, saw Garg unleash three fours and a six, as Sunrisers put on a burst of speed to break the hold the Super Kings bowlers had till then.

Sunrisers clattered 64 runs in the last five overs, and 53 in the final four.

Sunrisers Hyderabad 164 for 5 (Garg 51, Sharma 31) beat Chennai Super Kings 157 for 5 (Jadeja 50, Dhoni 47*, Natarajan 2-43) by seven runs.

Honda: Red Bull engine partner to leave F1 at end of 2021 BBCsport - Red Bull’s engine partner Honda is to leave Formula 1 at the end of 2021.

The move leaves Red Bull and Alpha Tauri needing to find an engine supplier and the sport with just three engine companies.

Honda said the move was a result of the transformation of the car industry away from internal combustion engines. They are pursuing “carbon neutrality by 2050” through “future power-unit and energy technologies, including fuel-cell vehicle and battery technologies”.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “The shifting focus within the automotive industry has led to Honda’s decision to re-deploy their resources and we understand and respect the reasoning behind this. ”Their decision presents obvious challenges for us as a team but we have been here before and with our strength in depth we are well prepared and equipped to respond effectively, as we have proven in the past. ”Our joint focus for the remainder of the 2020 and 2021 seasons are unchanged, to fight for victories and challenge for the champion-

ship.” Red Bull said they “remained committed to the sport in the long term” having signed a new contract with F1 last month. ”We look forward to embarking on a new era of innovation, development and success,” said Horner. “As a group, we will now take the time afforded to us to further evaluate and find the most competitive power-unit solution for 2022 and beyond.”

Honda returned to F1 in 2015 and spent a difficult three years with McLaren, with both engine and car not at a competitive level. The company switched to Red Bull’s junior team Toro Rosso for 2018 and then Red Bull itself for 2019, and have won a total of five grands prix over the last two years.

However, Red Bull and Honda have been unable to provide a consistent challenge to world champions Mercedes, who this year have increased their margin on the field. Honda president Takahiro Hachigo said that despite the decision, it would press ahead with plans for a new power-unit design for 2021, with the aim of challenging for the world championship.

Saturday October 03, 2020

Simona Halep & Elina Svitolina reach last 16 at Roland Garros Simona Halep will return to world number one if she wins a third Grand Slam title with victory in Paris.

BBCsport - Top seed Simona Halep underlined why she is widely considered the French Open favourite by thrashing American teenager Amanda Anisimova to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros.

R o m a n i a ’s H a l e p , 2 9 , needed just 54 minutes to win 6-0 6-1 in Paris.

Halep won her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in 2018 and the next step towards another is a fourth-

round match against Polish teenager Iga Swiatek. Third seed Elina Svitolina also progressed with a straights e t v i c t o r y .

The 26-year-old Ukrainian won 6-4 7-5 in one hour and 40 minutes against Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Dutch fifth seed Kiki Bertens, who left the court on a wheelchair after her second-round win because of cramps, had a more

Svitolina has twice reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

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Kaieteur News

“No racing until 2021” – GMR&SC boss There were no drag race events in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

straightforward victory against Czech Katerina Siniakova, needing just 58 minutes to secure a 6-2 6-2 win.Few players - if anyone have been considered as much of a favourite for the women’s singles at a Grand Slam in recent years as Halep is generally perceived to be at Roland Garros. The draws have been wide open over the past few years, leading to the crowning of 11 different champions in the past 15 majors.

Halep, however, came into the event as the player to beat after winning back-toback titles on the clay in Prague and Rome. A natural c l a y - c o u r t e r, H a l e p ’s chances have also been boosted by the absence of defending champion Ashleigh Barty, who does not want to leave Australia during the coronavirus pandemic, and US Open champion Naomi Osaka.

Svitolina is aiming to win the first Grand Slam title of her career on a surface which she considers her most natural.

After disappointing thirdround exits in 2018 and (Continued on page 23)

The head of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC); Rameez Mohamed, in an invited comment informed Kaieteur Sport that there will be no official event by the club for the remainder of the 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although the recently gazetted covid-19 emergency measures states that no person shall attend, host or visit a competitive sporting event, many racing fans and some competitors maintained their optimism since the initial lockdown in March that they could’ve had some form of competition.

Mohamed disclosed that he was proposing to have an event behind closed doors but fans would’ve been able to get in on the action via live streams on social media but his request was denied by local authorities.

The administrator explained that although many fans and competitors may be disappointed, he encouraged everyone to be safe and follow the guidelines of local authorities since the only way to return to the South Dakota Circuit at Timehri is to lower the infection rate in Guyana.

The GMR&SC hosted two race-meets at the Timehri race track this year, namely the Endurance Championship round one and the National Race of Champions round one in January and February, respectively.

The Dexterity Challenge and the Drag Championship which were scheduled for March and April were cancelled as will the marquee event, the November International Meet which will not take place for the first time in many years. (Calvin Chapman)

“No racing until - GMR&SC boss 2021”

No more motor sport for the rest of 2020 including the consistent November Int’l race meet.

t r o Sp

Priyam Garg provided a late surge for Sunrisers Hyderabad ©BCCI.

Simona Halep & Honda: Red Bull Elina Svitolina engine partner reach last 16 to leave F1 at at Roland Garros end of 2021

Garg, Abhishek shine for Sunrisers as CSK lose three straight

Abhishek Sharma goes on the attack ©BCCI.

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