Kaieteur News

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Residents file Thursday Edition AIETEUR NEWS objection with EPA over Trini concrete factory for oil sector p.

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October 07, 2021 - Vol. 14 No.37

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 94,375

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

- public hearing to be held today

GRA nets

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$129 billion - tax collection represents 95% of total revenue- Mid-Year Report

Applications filed for receivership of K/News assets, suspension of garnishment order set for Friday

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Brickdam Police Station inferno…

Provocation Prisoner admits at mining to setting fire willingly in video camp leaves recorded confession one dead p.

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Protest to change all foreign CCJ President commends Chancellor, CJ p. for commitment to Guyana's Judiciary 11 contracts continues.

Govt. expends over $25B for COVID-19 response - says $2B more may be needed p.

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The Govt. is ignoring Prospecting Licencse Agreement from which we are losing billions of US dollars but ashamed to tell the sugar workers they're shutting down the industry. @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Court matters filed for receivership of K/News assets, suspension of garnishment order set for Friday

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pplications filed in the High Court f o r t h e receivership of Kaieteur News' assets and suspension of the Garnishment Order against the company is expected to be heard before Justice Nareshwar Harnanan.

The matters are set to be

heard by the judge this Friday at 14:30hrs. The hearings were deferred to Friday after the scheduled proceeding before Justice Harnanan was rescheduled owing to the absence of certain parties involved in the matter.

Kaieteur News had filed an Application requesting a suspension of the

Garnishment Order obtained by former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, in several matters in which he was awarded millions of dollars in damages from a judgment for libel.

Brassington, through his attorney Timothy Jonas, has secured an order to garnish monies from Kaieteur News' accounts after he won seven of 19 separate lawsuits he filed against the newspaper for libel. So far, the former NICIL Head was awarded $36M in judgments of which he collected some $18 million from the company's bank account via a garnishment order from the Court.

However, Kaieteur News has since filed an Application to suspend the Garnishment Order and requested time to pay the judgment sum. In the meantime, Brassington filed another Application to put the company's assets in Receivership.

According to court documents, Brassington has asked the Court for an order to appoint a Receiver to recover income and or capital of the defendant company, Kaieteur News, to satisfy the judgment for $10M, which was granted to him on February 12, 2021.

Both matters are expected to be heard by Justice Harnanan.

In 2014, Brassington filed 19 separate lawsuits for libel against Kaieteur News over contents published in the satirical “Dem Boys She” column, which he deemed to be defamatory.

The Courts have since upheld his contention that statements published by Kaieteur News were defamatory and meant or

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall

Former Chief Executive Officer of NICIL, Winston Brassington understood to mean that he a s h e a d o f N I CIL, a government holding company responsible for contracts in a number of multi-million dollar projects, was “dishonest, had been guilty of criminal activity , fraud and corrupt

practices.”

Last year, the former CEO won five of the 19 cases before Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln in which he secured judgment awards of $3.5 million for each case totaling $17.5 million.

In another case, which was heard by Justice Navindra Singh earlier this year, Brassington was awarded $10 million against Kaieteur News by the Court.

The sums calculated with an interest rate of four percent per annum along with legal fees brought the total to $34.4 million.

In the latest judgment which was handed down in August, Brassington secured an additional $2 million in damages against the newspaper.

This figure takes the amount to a total of $36.4 million. Despite the fact that the former NICIL Head has started cashing in on the judgment via the Garnishment Order, the newspaper has applied to the court for an Order to Stay the Garnishment and grant the publication a reasonable installment payment plan, given the economic issues stemming from the COVID19 pandemic.

Kaieteur News' Publisher, Glenn Lall, had lamented the impact of the climbing volume of judgments during the COVID-19 pandemic on The Glenn Lall Show which is aired on Kaieteur Radio Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Guyana records 9 more COVID-19 fatalities - Ministry says 8 were unvaccinated

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esterday, the Ministry of Health reported that nine more persons, who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died. As a result of this, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 816.

The country's latest fatalities are that of eight unvaccinated persons and one partially vaccinated person.

The fatalities are that of four men – a 55-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West

Demerara), a 63-year-old, a 58-year-old and a 52-yearold from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and of five women – a 61-year-old from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), a 59-year-old and 79-year-old from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and a 60-year-old and an 83year-old from Region Four.

According to the Ministry, two persons died on August 26 and August 29, two died on October 1, and the remaining five died on October 5, while receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, in its daily

COVID-19 dashboard, the Ministry noted that within the last assessed 24-hour period, 250 new infections were recorded bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 32,951. Out of that amount, 17,341 are women while 15,610 are men.

Presently there are 34 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 151 persons in institutional isolation, 3,553 in home isolation and six in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 28,397 persons who tested positive for the virus have recovered.

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 07, 2021

GRA nets $129B

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Ex-cop, co-accused on trial for murder of reputed wife

- Tax collection represents 95% of total revenue - Mid-Year Report

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he Ministry of Finance revealed, in its latest MidYear Report, that the Guyana Revenue Authority's (GRA) tax collection grew by $22.2 billion to $129 billion. It said this represents 95.4 percent of total revenue collections by the Government for the first half of 2021.

In providing a breakdown of the taxes collected, the Finance Ministry said internal revenue collection totalled $66.6 billion, an increase of 19.1 percent over the same period for 2020.

The Finance Ministry said this was mainly due to a $5.1 billion increase in Corporation Tax collection from private companies in the mining and quarrying, retail trade, and telecommunications sectors.

In addition, the Ministry said Personal Income Taxes collection increased by $2.9 billion or 16.4 percent, primarily due to higher payment from companies within the oil and gas sector.

Furthermore, in the first half of the year, it was noted that net Property Taxes grew

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

by $1.6 billion or 56.5 percent to $4.5 billion, reflecting higher payments of $1.3 billion by private companies, including those within the manufacture of b e v e r a g e s a n d telecommunications industries.

Further, the Finance Ministry said Withholding Tax collection rose by $1.3 billion, or 8.6 percent above the $15.1 billion collected

Correction

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n October 4, 2021, Kaieteur News published an article with the headline: “New bio-fortified rice variety to be ready for local and international markets in 2022." It should be noted that this is not the case.

The Ministry of Agriculture has since clarified that the bio-fortified rice would be released to farmers during the second crop of next year for field trials and not local and international markets.

during the same period in 2020, mainly due to higher remittances from the mining sector.

As for collection of Customs and Trade Tax, this grew by $2.7 billion, to $12.3 billion, when compared with the same period in 2020.

The Ministry said Import duties which represented 87.5 percent of total customs and trade collections increased by $2.4 billion above the corresponding period in 2020, consistent with the higher import levels reflected in the Balance of Payments.

In the area of ValueAdded Tax (VAT) and Excise Tax collection, it was noted that this grew by $8.9 billion, or 21.5 percent when compared with the level at the end of June 2020. Within this, the Finance Ministry said VAT increased by $1.2 billion to $27.4 billion, when compared with the same period in 2020.

Kaieteur News understands that this was primarily due to a $1.8 billion increase in VAT collection from imported goods and services, outweighing the $0.6 billion c o n t r a c t i o n i n VAT collection from domestic supplies.

As for non-tax revenue collection, the Ministry said this increased by $1.4 billion to $6.1 billion mainly due to higher Bank of Guyana profits.

Charged: Former Police Sergeant, Colin Bailey

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he trial of former Police Sergeant, Colin Bailey and his co-accused Colin Grant, for the murder of Bailey's reputed wife, Sirmattie Ramnaress, has commenced at the Georgetown High Court. The men pleaded not guilty to the murder charge when they appeared virtually before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the High Court yesterday.

A jury was empanelled to hear the evidencewhich will start on October 12, 2021. In the matter, the State is represented by Prosecutors, Sarah Martin, Nafeeza Baig and Latifah Elliot, while the defendants are represented

by Attorneys-at-Law, Dexter Todd and Nigel Hughes and his Associates.

According to the indictment,on August 30 or 31, 2013 at Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank

Charged: Colin Grant Demerara, Bailey and Grant murdered Ramnaress.

The body of the 36 yearold business woman Ramnaress called 'Sabo', was found lying face down at her Diamond, East Bank Demerara residence. She was reportedly killed in the garage of her home by an alleged hitman.

A blaze coming from the woman's home led firefighters to a bond where they stumbled upon her body.

Her body reportedly bore two stab wounds – one to the neck and another to the hip.

The Police, in a statement said that Ramnaress' house was ransacked and drenched with a flammable liquid, and a storage bond at the rear of the building was destroyed by fire. A post mortem examination performed on her remains revealed that she died as a result of a ruptured spleen and brain

Murdered: Sirmattie Ramnaress haemorrhaging.

In 2015 Police charged Grant who was Ramnaress' neighbour and later arrested Bailey after Grant claimed that he was paid by the policemanto kill his spouse and remove the device that stored her surveillance footage. Bailey was subsequently arrested and charged jointly with Grant for the capital offence.

By then, Bailey had been dismissed from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) following corruption accusations against him and another Police Officer. Bailey and the other Officer were placed before the courts for allegedly accepting bribes in order to dissolve a criminal matter.

They are accused of obtaining $300,000 as inducement to forgo charges for illegal arms and ammunition possession.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday October 07, 2021

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

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

EDITORIAL Guyana’s Local Content comes up short repeatedly Among the numerous concerns, surrounding this country’s newborn oil wealth is local content. It has a couple of sides, which we will explore in some detail, since every which way that it is looked at, the picture is not encouraging.

The current local content problem is primarily focused on why Guyanese, owners of this oil wealth are not more in the mix of projects, goods and services, and the rest. In a nutshell, Guyanese should get much more but they don’t.

It is clear that the PPP Government and its senior leaders recognise this, and are not pleased.

At least, this is what one gathers from their public pronouncements and postures. It is perplexing, therefore, as to why Government and Leaders have not moved with more speed, energy, and determination to finalise, through laws and policies, that which we believe is a low hanging fruit. To put it differently, deal with Guyanese’s interests as a high priority. Address those interests satisfactorily and quickly, as it is not only obvious, but also rewarding on many fronts.

This being said, the other side of the local content coin is that Guyana does not have what it takes in certain areas.

It is worth repeating, so that there is no mistaking our position or thrust. In certain areas, we lack the skills, expertise, and experience, and those areas are crucial and pivotal. We can think of engineering, geology, and law, to name a few.

On the other hand, we have more than enough transportation equipment and machinery for at least current needs, yet Guyanese are locked out. We have under-utilised manpower in such areas as accounting and management but these are off-limits to Guyanese. Moreover, Guyana has its fair share of Entrepreneurs whose talents and visions go abegging. In view of the flurry of on the ground activities occurring, it boggles the mind that Guyanese are by passed for outsiders. The key is that there is Guyanese Local Content which is simply ignored, or which comes up short repeatedly in the competition for the fruits of our oil wealth.

Some of this has been traced, by those left out of the commercial awards, to favours being returned by powerful political decision-makers to foreigners. Some to foreigners who monopolise certain places, at which levels the existing condition and mindset is as good as the 21st century equivalent of “Guyanese need not apply or bid or harbour any hope of making the grade”. The reality is that they do not.

This is the unacceptable and angering state at which things related to oil operate, at present. We don’t agree with any of this, don’t like any of it, and don’t have any hesitation in standing for this, and saying so repeatedly.

Further still, though the present is cause for much concern, the future of local oil and local content is even more worrying. The first handicap we are faced with as an oil-producing nation is that we don’t have enough specialist people of our own. As said before, those that we have don’t possess what makes us a knowledgeable and influential participant in our wealth. We have approximately 750,000 citizens in total, with a heavy tilt to a young working population in its prime producing years. It is a plus and a minus.

They are of some numbers, but they are now learning and still not in a position to have their feet wet in the nuts and bolts of oil oversight, oil wisdom, and recognised oil prowess and power. Since all three are understood for what they mean, we are sitting ducks ready to be picked off.

Moreover, wherever a natural resources rush is in motion, the hordes of outsiders flock. It has been so with gold and oil in other places at other times. Thus, as we are overwhelmed, the opportunities that may have been available are quickly being gobbled up. Those with the capital and connections and corporate knowhow will outlast and overpower the locals. This has always been so before, and this is the same future that stares at, and could sideline Guyana’s local content ambitions. It is why some things have to be in place and made mandatory, where Guyana’s local content is concerned. If not, we will be spectators, and the boat will pass us by.

HOLD YOUR PARTY ACCOUNTABLE OR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT LOSING POWER DEAR EDITOR, As I listened to the stories coming out of the burning down of the Brickdam Police station, I was sad but not surprised at the conduct of the Fire Service.

I live at Section C Enterprise and I witnessed a house on fire. The firemen arrived with the fire truck. We received news that one fire vehicle had overturned. I do not know if this put them in shock or their conduct could be explained by some unknown circumstances. But I looked through my window and witnessed the unbelievable.

The firemen were milling around like ants not knowing what to do or where to go.

There was plenty of water in a large drain over six feet wide on the same side of the road where the building was burning. They could have saved the building.

But that was not all as there was another wooden building behind it. And I watched with horror as a little flame started on the second building and it was only when the flames began to engulf the second building that they

commenced to throw water on it. Water that was readily available and waiting to be utilised. The second building was also burnt to the ground as I watch in horror and frustration.

The Minister responsible was Clement Rohee. I was Personal Assistant to the President of Guyana.

I met Minister Rohee and attempted to tell him what I witnessed. I thought at least because I was a long standing member of the PPP well known to Rohee and I was the Personal Assistant to the President he would listen to me and investigate. Instead, he was upset with me and commenced to defend the fire services.A mechanic was fixing my vehicle in my yard under a shed attached to the house. It caught fire. It would have burnt and my house too.

Quick action by one of them, he ran into the house grabbed the fire extinguisher and put out the fire.

Now I have two fire extinguishers and a number of smoke alarms. I have a pump operating on solar power and a connection upstairs to

which I can attach a hose. I do not know who is thinking and planning, but I would now suggest as quickly as possible that a number of fire extinguishers and smoke alarm be purchased and placed in strategic locations in every government building. There must be tanks and solar pumps and hoses.

New buildings must be equipped with sprinklers.

Each department must have fireproof safes to safe- guard documents. We must move to digitise all documents and store same in cyber space. I was flabbergasted to learn that one department had its computers crash and they lost the data base. No backup!

I did business in an Amerindian Mission and witnessed first-hand the misuse of the mission’s income. I ran into the then Minister, Pauline Sukhai, and attempted to tell her. And she became angry as if I criticised her and I got a little “tell off”.

On another occasion a worker reported to me how fuel going to the Canje GPL Location was being siphoned out of the tanker and where it

was taking place. I reported this and the worker was fired.

We are not supposed to talk. This is typical of many Ministers across the floor.

Many letters are written in the press by various persons. I have a habit of not only writing but reading letters. Looking at how some ministries are run I doubt whether these ministers even read the press.

Cheddi Jagan made it a habit of reading what people write.

It would seem when some persons are selected to be Ministers to serve the people, they become Leaders with the repertoire of all knowledge.

There are those who would listen, and they perform much better.I wish the day would come when our people would recognise that Ministers are their servants paid by them and so demand efficient service. It is the people’s duty to hold the people who are paid by their money accountable.Remember the past. If you do not hold your party responsible and accountable you may be the cause for your party to lose power. Learn from the past.

Rajendra Bisessar

The Brickdam Station fire - I’d take the word of the police over its dishonest detractors any day DEAR EDITOR, Like every other law enforcement organization, the Guyana Police Force may have its flaws but when it comes to its investigation of the fire which destroyed the Brickdam Police Station I’d take the word of the police over its dishonest detractors in the APNU+AFC any day.

The GPF has within its ranks officers with decades of investigation experience that

have been exposed to numerous training, both local and overseas. It is this sort of experience and training that have allowed them to crack numerous cases that have resulted in successful prosecutions. On the other hand, its detractors in the APNU+AFC accepted that it had been defeated by a 33-32 margin in a no-confidence vote then argued all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice that it

was not defeated as 33 is not the majority of 65. It then mounted one of the most comical attempts at election rigging ever witnessed and when caught claimed that Russians were attempting to hack the paper-based voting system on behalf of its opponent. To this day it claims that it won the elections and has copies of the Statement of Poll to prove but refuses to make them available to the

public or anyone else.

So you see dear readers, the Police ranks currently investigating the Brickdam Station fire have far more credibility than their dishonest detractors aligned to the APNU+AFC whose sole aim is to discredit them and to protect the perpetrator of this most heinous act for reasons known only to themselves.

Yours very truly, Anson Paul

Is the President contemplating relocating GuySuCo to the Berbice River banks?

DEAR EDITOR, Upon his recent visit to the Soya and Corn trial plots up the Berbice River, President Ali clearly expressed his hope or wish for one or both of these crops to be the answer for the diversification of GuySuCo. I am inclined to think that GuySuCo owns the Lands where the Corn and Soya trials are ongoing and the intent is to relocate GuySuCo operations to that area if the trials are successful. One does not have to be an agronomist, horticulturist or whatever to know that if you have intentions of cultivating a crop on a large scale in an area, any trials to determine the viability of that crop in that area has to be done in the intended area to capture the main ingredient, mainly soil type and atmospheric

conditions.

I would not want to think that the president at any time would have entertained the idea of testing Corn and Soya up the Berbice River with intent to replicate those trial results on GuySuCo cane lands hundreds of miles away on the coast where the soil type and atmospheric conditions are different from the trial area. This scenario begs a question. Is the president really contemplating relocating GuySuCo operations to the Berbice River bank if the Corn and Soya trials are deemed successful or was he entertaining the absurdity of replicating the test results on GuySuCo cane lands? It won’t be surprising if the latter is true. Governments have done sillier things in the name of expediency - the oil con-

tract with Exxon is a quintessential example!The APNUAFC had already done the dirty job that the PPP couldn’t do - scaling down GuySuCo. It would have served a better purpose for the PPP to have given the sugar workers that had loss jobs, the now proposed 250,000 in a phased out manner rather than to waste billions to attempt to resuscitate the dying Industry - the resuscitation attempt did nothing to capture or alleviate the sufferings of those who had lost jobs. It would seem that now the VP is awakened to that reality.

Hence the now proposed cash grant to GuySuCo workers who lost jobs! The VP as opposition leader had confessed that “we (PPP Govt.) should have done better with

sugar”. It seems their learning curve in this area remains flat. The fact that President Ali is talking about diversification is a clear indication that he has little or no faith in the resuscitation attempt.

What is unfathomable is that despite the VP telling the budding Guyana Hemp industry that the cabinet has already given its “no objection” for the cultivation of hemp, hemp was not included in the trials as a possible replacement for sugar cane for GuySuCo. Hemp is a versatile plant easy to grow and instrumental in the manufacturing of more products than crude oil. The president needs to explain why hemp was not shortlisted for trial like corn and soya.

Yours respectfully, Rudolph Singh

Thursday October 07, 2021

India/Gandhi and the World DEAR EDITOR, Among some of the many prominent members of society, I was honoured to be invited as part of a cultural event at the Promenade Gardens to commemorate the 152nd birth anniversary of one of the world’s greatest leaders, Mahatma Gandhi.

First and foremost, I wish to express my gratitude to the Indian High Commission in Guyana and the Indian government for always being intrinsically connected to Guyana’s history, legacy and culture. It is truly laudable that, although still under British control at the time, India ensured that its citizens who arrived in Guyana were sent missionaries and prominent individuals to keep us informed about India and to ensure its citizens remained true to the essence and value of the Indian culture. This can be said about Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, India’s current High Commissioner to Guyana and his efficient team, H.E. Mr. V. Mahalingam, Dr. P.V. Joshi, and all those before them who have ensured that the cultures, customs, faiths, and values of our forefathers remained unscathed. Today, the impact of Indian culture is evident throughout Guyana and the Caribbean, even in Fuji, Mauritius, South Africa, and many other countries.

As the Indian High Commission is well known for hosting informative and entertaining programmes, the event was truly memorable. I thoroughly enjoyed watching our youths in action; in poetry, songs, and dances.

Among the most distinguishing qualities of the Indian

Culture Centre in Guyana is its openness to all Guyanese, which represents the spirit and legacy of Bharat/India.

Through the tapestry of the mosaic of Indian civilisation, India has protected, guided, and raised our children, and has repeatedly provided grants, low-interest loans, roads, medical relief, scholarships, and friendship to Guyana - regardless of which government is in power - so that all people, irrespective of race or religion, may prosper despite being a country beset by its own problems.

Further, more should be said about the thousands of scholarships the Indian government has offered. It is wonderful that, rather than requesting that these scholarships be awarded exclusively to Indian descendants in Guyana, the scholarships are accessible to all Guyanese, and even individuals throughout the Caribbean, the Pacific, Africa, South Korea and other countries who qualify, including thousands for the ITEC programme.

In light of the foregoing, I am truly disappointed to note the complaints and criticisms expressed by some individuals opposing the proposed renaming of Middle Street to honour Mahatma Gandhi despite the significant contributions the Indian government and people have made to Guyana.

One may also ask: how is it that none of us, whose ancestors came from India and made such significant contributions to the formation of our beloved country, Guyana, has ever complained about

Draw your own conclusion DEAR EDITOR In his address to the nation on July 31 a solemn President Ali reported that some 50,000 acres of rice were affected by the floods.

This represented 20 percent of total rice lands under cultivation (225,000).

It was portrayed as a catastrophe for the rice farmers who would receive $3.2B or US$15M. Yesterday the Ministry of Finance reported that the rice sector GREW “by an esti-

mated 7.8 percent in the first half of the year, marginally lower than the target set for the period.”

Readers can draw their own conclusions based on the above.

Yours sincerely, Lynn Nicholas

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Kaieteur News

Nelson Mandela Avenue?

This writer firmly believes that in the same way Gandhi had a profound influence on Nelson Mandela, there should not be much objection if a street or location is named after him or any other icon, past or present.

It must also be noted that it was Gandhi who broke the yolk of colonialism through his nonviolent campaign to bring liberation to the ancient historic land of India/Bharata.

It was refreshing to listen to His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali as he eloquently spoke about Gandhi’s place among the change-makers of history. In his remarks, President Ali presented himself as a stalwart of international peace and goodwill, which impressed the Universal Peace Federation and yours truly, as the National Chairman of the Universal Peace Federation.

In a nutshell, President Ali is certainly an emerging giant of peace walking in the path of Gandhi.

In his remarks, His Excellency expressed his view that India is a real cradle of cultures and a true bastion of human freedom and liberty.

Gandhi’s sacrifice sparked a nonviolent revolution, and India became the first country in the British Empire to gain freedom, followed by hundreds of other nations across the world, including Guyana, seeking independence.

Gandhi’s legacy lives on in the minds of our own leaders: late Presidents Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham who (Continued on page 6)

Brickdam Police Station fire: I anxiously await the outcome of the trial DEAR EDITOR, The Brickdam Police Station was razed to the ground by fire and in the aftermath of the conflagration there comes a confession statement as to the cause of the fire.

Now, the prisoner, confessant at the time of the blaze is Clarence Greene, who has come out with damning evidence as to cause of the fire. Soon after there was a flurry of news reports and counter opinions - I say opinions because they weren’t there - as to “real” cause of the crime, all which raises more questions than answers as to the true cause.

Now, the message coming through from the politically aligned media, is that Clarence Greene is either some sort of snitch, stupid, a fool, a jackass, he like talk, all geared to produce a desired outcome, that the police is responsible for burning down their own facility.

That media hype makes good sensationalism but could their theory stand the litmus test?

That’s the question to which sensible answers have to be provided, so the trial by media continues.

I was fortunate to listen in to an interview by a known career political criminal, now living in New York. In his interview he asked certain pertinent closed ended questions with the usual criminal subtlety to add to it.

His questioning went, “so Clarence Greene is a junkie,” meaning the informant was not in full control of his faculties when he confessed to the police. However, he was

promptly exposed with that theory when the relative vehemently rejected that her cousin is not a junkie.

To bolster her claim, she cited several instances of him acting as a hardworking and responsible citizen, even building a house for his girlfriend among other things a responsible person would do.

But, and this is the important part of her statement, she stated that he had had several run-ins with the law.

This did not go down well with the interviewer who kept probing away with his prescribed agenda, to make Greene as the hapless victim and the police as the perpetrators of the crime. He also made mention of Greene giving a false address like this is a strange phenomenon of criminals.

The relatives gave another address of the man while subsequent newscast gave another two addresses.

This might seem strange to those who are not familiar with criminals, but this is not strange behaviour to anyone who deals with criminals on a daily basis. Criminals do this all the time, they choose whatever means is most convenient to them and one of these is to give the wrong address.

There are several other suppositions where the confessant was said to be asleep when the fire started and as such was not a party to the act, but these are all coming from persons who were not there and cannot stand the test of time in a court of law.

Now, we are told that Greene has since recanted,

something that has long been expected to happen given the pressure he is subjected to by certain political big wigs of the day.

After all of that politicising of the matter Clarence Greene would have had sleepless nights trying to figure out who to please.

Caught between the devil and the deep sea he might have decided to go with his criminal political buddies and say he didn’t say what he said.

But the fact remains he gave a sworn statement to the police corroborated by some of his peers and this would be hard to disprove when the matter comes up in court.

Asinine questions are asked as to where did the lighter come from and where did he get the sponge to light the fire? In the same token I would ask the question where did the incendiary device/s come from in the Lusignan fires or where did incendiary devices come from in the Camp Street Fire.

In the Camp street fire several fires were started before the major one, in which 17 prisoners met their fiery demise; ever wondered where those lighters came from?

Negligence on the prison officers part in not making proper checks, but my theory comes again criminals are smart people, they have the capability to make it happen.

Most shocking in the Camp Street Fire was the order to lock the doors, I wonder what would have been the pseudo sleuths’ message now, had the order been given to lock the doors at Brickdam, (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

The fire at Brickdam Police Station should be a wake-up call DEAR EDITOR, No one knows for sure whether the destruction of the Brickdam Police Station by fire could have been, avoided, but almost everyone knows that fire hydrants, fire trucks and access to water should be the ultimate choices in any future housing development in Guyana.

Proper single and commercial building designs, safety systems and building codes regulations should also be of high priority for future housing development. From the inception of a flame, safety measures must kick start the process of containment and evacuation of personnel while those trained in Disaster Management (fire fighters, ambulance attendants, etc.) must be on hand to save lives and to evacuate and assist in other ways possible. This scenario suggests that Guyana would at some time in the future get modern, well designed, and fully equipped fire service stations. But this is not the case today.

The Brickdam Police Station fire is yet another episode where the Fire Service displayed the gaping holes in its function and equipment.

The question on most minds was: Were there any smoke alarms/detectors and fire extinguishers on the premise or fire hoses inside the standard glass cabinets?

What is even more mind boggling is the time taken for the fire trucks that were only a few blocks away to arrive at the conflagration site at Brickdam. It seems that the incompetency and poor service of the Fire Service has

once again been exposed to the entire public.

The public but especially disaster management personnel must be cognisant with the five primary methods that are employed worldwide in cases of fire. The acronym RACEE aptly depicts this: R=Rescue anyone in immediate danger, A= Alarm-Call the fire department, C= confine the smoke/fire by closing doors and windows, E=Evacuate all persons, E= Extinguish small fires with portable fire extinguishers if possible.

In Guyana, strict building codes and regular inspections are needed to prevent fires, save buildings and most importantly, save lives. This can be achieved by a complete overhaul of its building codes and safety standards that includes: 1. The Ministry of Housing must make sure that all buildings in Guyana confirm to the country’s building codes and that single family homes are not secretly converted into tenant occupied residences so that homeowners can obtain some extra income from rental. The reason is that the original plumbing and electric systems for a single-family home will have to support tenants with additional appliances for the same outlets after the conversion is made. In other words, in a single-family house the electrical system was built to accommodate one microwave oven, a specific number of air conditioners and a fridge, among others, however, having tenants in a converted single family

building to a multi-family structure means more appliances that could induce overloading of the electrical circuits and thus result in overheating . In some cases, extension cords are hidden under carpet, and their multiple connections could induce sparks from overload which in turn could result in burning the carpet.

2. It is time for the electrical system, components, and installation codes are updated to international standards.

For example, the main power distribution centre in both residential and commercial buildings should be equipped with Circuit Breakers that would trip and shut off the power in the event of an overload.

3. For the safety of all Guyanese, young or old, the Bureau of Standards must monitor the quality of electrical fittings and accessories, most of which are imported from China. And while these electrical accessories are cheap, the Bureau of Standards should not sacrifice life for cost. Also, the Housing Authority must determine the safety features and occupancy of commercial buildings. Single and multi-family buildings should be inspected regularly, perhaps twice a year as a safety measure to prevent fires, and to make sure that they conform to their specific Occupancy codes.

4. Building codes and zoning regulations should be updated to allow a minimum space of roughly eight feet between buildings to facilitate evacuation as well as allow

access to firefighters and ambulance attendants, etc.

5. Given the spate of recent fires on commercial buildings, it should be mandated that all commercial buildings be fitted with modern sprinkler systems to prevent their entire destruction in case of fire. Automated oxygen retardant systems (halogens are often used) should also be installed inside commercial buildings so that an increase in temperature (say at 110 F) will trigger off the chemical spray which will reduce atmospheric oxygen thus containing the fire. Smoke alarms should be installed in homes and along the corridors of commercial buildings which are the principal pathways for smoke.

6. Fire hydrants which are generally taken for granted by many should be seen as a means of emergency water supply to put out fires.

In the final analysis the authorities should put safety first and institute polices which must be mandated by law, to prevent further tragedies. All buildings must have sprinkler systems and undergo regular inspection by the Fire Department where pitfalls will be identified and corrected. Fines must be imposed on all forms of noncompliance if Guyana is truly serious about preventing fires. The burning down of Brickdam Police Station should be a wake-up call for all Leyland Chital Roopnaraine, Real Estate Builder (New York)

Brickdam Police Station...

From page 5 of did they ever stop to think about that?

I must hasten to a close, what is pellucid in the criminal minds of the political operatives here is that the Brickdam Station should have been burnt flat and no one being held accountable, a job well done, “anything to

destabilise the government” as one political activist said.

However, their plans failed miserably, someone made an open confession and this is utterly embarrassing for them.

And you know what, I anxiously await the outcome of this trial.

Respectfully Submitted, Neil Adams

Thursday October 07, 2021

CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE DEAR EDITOR, My late and honoured friend who would have been one of the most outstanding legal minds in the Commonwealth, having won four consecutive appeals before the Privy Council, Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, advises that one of the things a man/woman doesn’t know is that ‘he/she does not know’.

This was the mute reaction too many felt when they heard of the audacious reference to the ‘Middle Street’ and the ‘Promenade Gardens’ (indeed at a time when the current Indian Administration shows disrespect for the philosophy of Gandhi, as it continues to mistreat the more than twenty million muslims in India).

But that apart one wonders by what authority the suggestion could be conceived that: The name of the Promenade Gardens should be changed in recognition of a foreigner who has absolutely no connection to this country.

The following is but a brief profile of this restful place in our Capital City: “Currently located on a portion of the field then known as the Parade Ground.

During the day, the Promenade Garden in Cummingsburg is a quiet place to relax, read and enjoy the flowers.

Its tranquility is in stark contrast to its role in the 19th century as a public execution site during the Demerara Revolt, a slave uprising that took place in 1823.

Occupying one city block, with its main entrance located on Middle Street in Cummingsburg, in 1851 steps were taken to transform the site into the Promenade Gardens, a garden which was designed by a Trinidadian botanist in 1851, with seats constructed for the public in 1859.

The Promenade Garden is home to a Victorian-looking Bandstand erected in 1897 in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and it is considered the oldest bandstand of three in the city.”

Middle Street It was on Middle Street that key activists of the 1823

Demerara Revolution were forced to drag their coffins on their way to being beheaded. 200 slaves were beheaded and their heads placed on stakes at the Parade Ground.

It is exceptional in any case for a monument to be erected in any country to anyone who has not been a contributor to its history in any way.

In any case, surely commonsense must speak to the reality of further exploding the division amongst a population too small and too tense to absorb more.

This Administration could find no justification for attending to what in the final

analysis is a most simplistic notion that could only have originated from a local community – erratically implicating the particular resident High Commissioner.

Elijay Bijay

India/Gandhi and the World From page 5 fought for the cause of our own independence, as well as in the minds and hearts of other leaders in Trinidad and Tobago, the Pacific Islands, Africa, just to name a few. We know from history that even the great Nelson Mandela was also inspired by Gandhi’s Satyagraha (nonviolent) struggles and revolutions and kept a portrait of India’s infamous half-naked fakir (beggar) in his house.

He was also an inspiration and mentor to the late great American nonviolent freedom fighter, Dr. Martin Luther King, who stated that Gandhi had influenced him in his nonviolent revolution, which eventually delivered tremendous rights to African Americans who had suffered for hundreds of years.

Mahatma Gandhi, in my opinion, is/was the modernday saint who lived the Bhagavad Gita.

The Bhagavad Gita is a Holy Scripture for all peoples, not only Hindus/Sanatanists.

My life has been a reflection of Gandhi’s principles and philosophy, and consequently, I will never object to any location or street being named in honour of this extraordinary individual, or other heroes like him, past or present.

Former Yugoslav Leader, Josip Broz Tito; Former President of Ghana, Mr. Kwame Nkrumah; t he founding

President of Tanzania, Mr. Mwalimu Julius Nyerere; Former Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. Patrice Lumumba, and other heroes, trade unionists, late politicians, and even one of our own stalwart politicians, Mr. Ptolemy Reid, are all notable examples.

Sincerely, Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.

T N U L B . . .

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Guyanese read and understand for yourselves.

GY$50M is NOT chicken feed money. Though it was for a seed paddy facility it is not bird seed money for a poor country like Guyana.

The present regime cannot blame the last one for this, since it is from 13 years ago.

But now, another GY$25M must be spent to get the seed facility going.

Which poor society can rise up with leaders like these?

Lots of 'spending and borrowing' and 'talking and thieving'.

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

World must fix current developmental pathway instead of making new ones T

here is no need to create a new developmental pathway since the focus should be placed on fixing weaknesses and strengthening the existing system. This is according to President Irfaan Ali who, according to a government release, also said that developing nations are not asking for hand-outs or preferential treatment but fairness, especially as it relates to COVID-19 vaccination and vaccines.

The Head of State was at the time responding to a question at the 15th United

- President Ali Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Leaders Summit Dialogue III, where he was asked: “The current crisis has highlighted the need to change our development path. In your view, how willing or able are we to do so?”

In his response, the President noted that modifying the current approach might be more beneficial in the long run.

“It is not about the new

pathway. It is how do we fix this path? How do we ensure that this path does not lead to greater isolation? That's the first question that we must answer. Then let us take the whole issue of where this leads us.”

He emphasised that the “difficult questions” must be asked and that the world cannot speak about a new pathway or finding new means when the existing framework has structural and institutional problems.

President Irfaan Ali makes a point at the UN Conference.

“We all speak glowingly about the importance of multilateralism in advancing the world, but we should introspect a bit, and ask ourselves, are the institutions that would allow multilateralism to work and t o d e l i v e r, a r e t h e y delivering? Are they geared towards the achievement of what we want to achieve, or is there manipulation in the system?”

VACCINE POLARISATION The Head of State added that in its current state, the world is not recovering from the pandemic because developed countries have achieved a vaccination rate of more than 80 percent while developing countries are below three percent.

He noted that recovery is being impeded by vaccine polarisation and discrimination.

It was further explained that the lessons of the world's interconnectedness that were taught by the pandemic outbreak have been forgotten, as nations are beginning to isolate themselves by restricting travel from persons who took a specific type of vaccine.

“We're seeing policies now that will expand that isolation, and I want to make this very clear; it is not that

developing countries did not try to get the vaccines.

Africa, for example, coordinated through the private sector, a single individual to negotiate the purchase of vaccines from all the suppliers. In CARICOM, we did the same. Many countries did the same, but the vaccines were just not available to us in the developing world.”

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEM President Ali said that the problem extends beyond vaccination and has morphed into social and economic issues, more so since the Caribbean region has lost 70 percent of its revenue gained from tourism. The implications are not just financial, since, according to President Ali, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will be difficult. He said that developing countries are forced to rewrite expenditure with decreased revenues.

Compounding this is the fact that the region spends US$500M to US$1B annually to repair damages to infrastructure caused by natural disasters with a development package for the Region that stands at $US4B. “So there is a mismatch, and unless we're willing to

correct the mismatch, unless we're willing to address the issue of fairness and how we're treated, then this will be a prolonged problem for us.”

The Head of State noted that this is also compounded by the medium and longterm impacts of COVID-19, which are still to be assessed.

STRONG SOUTHSOUTH COOPERATION President Ali also spoke about the hindrance to multilateralism. He said that those hindrances must be identified and fixed, and as a result, he feels that a stronger bond between Africa and the Caribbean and more “southsouth cooperation” is critical.

He explained that it is important for the two regions to come together with common objectives and goals to “apply enough pressure on the system for us to understand that for multilateralism to work, the framework that supports it must work, and must work independently”.

The President added that the issue of inequality is also a big problem that must be addressed. “We have to address inequality from a developed and developing perspective. We have to address it from an intercountry perspective and a regional perspective.”

Two in custody for stolen truck batteries

A

3 6 - y e a r- o l d businessman, who parked his canter truck, GZZ 1756, in front of his home on Monday evening, woke the next day to find that two batteries were missing from the vehicle.

Kaieteur News learnt that the businessman of Good Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD), parked and secured his vehicle around 20:30hrs on Monday in front of his home. The following morning after awaking around 6:00hrs to

leave for work, he discovered that two truck batteries valued $70,000 were missing from his vehicle.

An investigation was launched by police which resulted in the apprehension of two male suspects – ages 26 and 38.

Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Where were you last year?

A

group of men were standing in one of the city's avenues a few days ago.

They were having what appeared to be an interesting discussion.

As I was passing, one of the persons in the group recognised me as someone he knew by face but not name. He turned to me and said, “Big Man wah yuh think about the President not wanting to meet with the Leader of the Opposition?”

I turned to him and asked, “What do you think about the rigging of the elections last year?” And I walked away before he and the other stunned members of the group could reply?”

A lot of persons have suddenly found their voices.

They are freely and brazenly criticising the government on every conceivable issue under the sun. They are eager to vent their anger and voice their views.

But during the five months between March and July 2020 when the country was hijacked by the attempt to rig the elections, most of these persons were silent.

They said nothing while the country was being held at a standstill and attempts were being made to rig the elections, including by seeking legal authorisation and through disingenuous declarations.

Not a tweet was heard from the many voices that are now very animated in being critical of the government. But when democracy – the very system

Dem

boys seh...

D

em boys bin to nuff fete and party in dem days. And dem boys know dat every party does gat it own factions.

Nuff people does get invite to party but not everybody is de same and so when dem come dem does divide in factions.

Dem rich people does like sit down together. Dem does wan laugh and gaff with dem rich friends and talk bout wah dem buy de other day.

Dem nah wan poor people join in and mention wah dem tek pun hire

which protects their right to express their opinion – was under siege, many of these voices were quiet.

Some of Guyana's foremost academic who would usually rattle off opinions, said nothing during the elections impasse.

They kept their peace.

One major AFC supporter never condemned the rigging but now wants to throw shade at government officials. But that only came after his attempt to ingratiate himself to the President by praising him, failed.

Suspicion is being raised about everything that the government does. The antivaxxers are now having a field day after a 12 year old boy died after taking the vaccine.

The post-mortem report into the child's death found that he died from bleeding on the brain caused by a burst vessel. This is not one of the known side-effects of the vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine which was administered is known to cause blood clots in extremely rare cases (one in a million). But there was no evidence of any blot clots causing the aneurysm which led to the 12-year old's death.

But that is not what many of the skeptics want to hear.

They want to indulge in conspiracy theories and so they are refusing to accept the results and implications of the post mortem.

It is the same baloney in relation to the destruction of the Brickdam Police Station.

The Police claimed it had a

written confession.

Immediately, the skeptics began to claim that this is not the truth but that a cover-up is taking place. They want to believe some conspiracy theory about how the Government was behind the fire.

They refuse to condemn the work of the Fire Service because the President was critical of its response. But, they are quite willing to accept some unsubstantiated theory about what caused the fire.

The skeptics could not have been happier when they read a news item that the suspect is claiming that he could read and his confession was obtained under duress. Without a shred of evidence, they are refusing to believe the Police.

But, during the fivemonth elections impasse not a word could have been heard from the antigovernment brigade. The shame was too much for them to bear. But many of them were also hoping, beyond reasonable hope that somehow the APNU+AFC would have managed to pull from the attempted rigging.

They were quiet and kept their fingers crossed.

But when the attempt failed and the PPP/C was declared the winner, it was then that the animosity rose to the surface. The criticism of the government and what they would do, began even before the Cabinet was sworn-in.

No one bothered so say

Factions is good fuh de party purchase. Dat is wah yuh call class factions.

Dem poor people does sit together. And tun up dem nose pun dem rich people and buss out some big laugh also.

Dem ugly people does stick together and dem pretty faces ones does do de same. Dat is wah yuh call beauty factionalism.

Dem party does gat plenty factions. But dat nah stop de fun.

Yuh does gat dem wah wan talkin' name all night.

Dem does sit with yuh and talk yuh name too. Dem know more bout de host dan

de host know bout heself.

Dat is de gossip faction.

Dem does cuddle close to wan another so as not to miss a word.

And yuh gat another group wah does hang out permanently by de bar. Dem deh fuh drink free rum whole night free.

Yuh gat de scraven faction. Dem does plant demself down by de food table. Dem chewing more dan dem talking.

No party would be enjoyable without de factions.

Talk half and enjoy de factionalism!

that the 40 year-old President should be given a chance to show what he can do. At every step, the poor fellow is being assailed.

They are even critical of the numerous relief efforts which are being

implemented, including the COVID-19 cash grant, the school's cash grant and the pensioners' cash grant.

But, they are still collecting what is due to them despite their objections to the cash grants.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday October 07, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The Buxton Proposal: Subliminal ethnic instinct I

n August 2018, at an indoor presentation in Buxton, Dr. Clive Thomas made the proposal that poor households should be given a cash grant of 5000 American dollars from oil revenue.

Dr. Henry Jeffrey then wrote to inform us that the idea originally came from him in 2017 (see my c o l u m n o f F r i d a y, September 28, 2018: “The circus is in town but was always in town”).

An expanding debate ensued. It was stirred by the rejection of the idea by the then APNU+AFC regime.

From August 2018 until now the suggestion has been referred to by many names the most popular being, “oil grant,” cash transfer from oil revenue,” “cash payout from oil,” “oil money payout.” Each person in favour or against has never used the words,

“Buxton Proposal” before to describe it.

In his last Sunday column in the Stabroek News, Dr. Thomas referred to his advocacy as the “Buxton Proposal.” I never saw anyone referred to the oil cash transfer idea as the Buxton proposal. I had set about an exhaustive Google research on the debate. I couldn't find any person who labelled the suggestion as the Buxton Proposal.

There are things in life that don't make sense. If you go to Leguan, and in your speech you suggest the renaming of the capital, the issue is the “capital renaming suggestion.”

How could it be the Leonora proposal? If you go to Enmore to make an address and advised that the government privatise UG, then the ensuing debate is the “privatisation of UG proposal.” By what logic

would you name it the Enmore proposal? It is not the place where the delivery occurred but the central issue, the subject, the idea.

The name therefore, should contain the idea.

Why did Thomas, and Thomas alone, give it that title? He knows the title is pregnant with political meaning.

He links the oil money disbursement issue with Buxton to invest it with political clothes. But there is more than that.

There is a subliminal residue lurking dangerously in the Buxton Proposal. I would opine that Thomas used the appellation “Buxton Proposal” to generate a sense of ethnic belonging. This is the route the remnants of the WPA have long gone into.

If you look at every, and I m e a n e v e r y, W PA remnant who is African,

there isn't even a vague reference to multi-racial politics.

The two high profile Indians in the carcass of the WPA – Rupert Roopnaraine and Moses Bhagwan – write and say nothing about the political narratives in this country.

It may be correct to say that they are gone from the political landscape of this country – a loss that the young population should not regret because they were b o t h m a s s i v e disappointments to the young ones who are in need of an expansive education into the multi-racial struggle for freedom and justice.

Thomas has been a colossal disappointment for me. I will never see him the way I did when I was a radical youth. That such a fine revolutionary icon with tremendous scholarly endowment could morph into an ethnic activist is beyond belief. I have done about 10 pieces on Thomas since he acquired state power in the 2015 election as part of APNU.

T h e o n e column that I would like to remind Frederick Kissoon readers of is Tuesday, February principled argument against 19, 2018, titled, “ C l i v e T h o m a s : Thomas.

Write and speak on it as Transformation into dependency.” Here is what I a matter of obligation wrote back then: “As a whether what you have to growing activist, I never deliver is positive or c a r e d f o r F i t z p a t r i c k , negative but write and talk Roopnarine and de Caires; about your government's serious elitists that were achievements or lack of. You proud to belong to bourgeois have a moral obligation to do society. But I did care for and so.

The country would admire Clive Thomas.

I did not have even a understand that if, like Dr. modicum of surprise of Roopnaraine, you are no what Fitzpatrick, de Caires longer part of Guyana's and Roopnarine turned out political discourse. But to be. But Clive Thomas Thomas is.

He writes a weekly has been a soulful disappointment to me and column. He participates in has left me with a tinge of two online programmes based in Buxton. He needs to philosophical sadness.”

I saw Thomas recently express his thoughts on the lambasting the economy five years he and his party, under President Ali and I the WPA, were part of the say with deep honesty, I Government of Guyana.

(The views expressed in was incensed and this article are those of the disgusted.

Why not write and speak a u t h o r a n d d o n o t on the economy of your own necessarily reflect the government when you were o p i n i o n s o f t h i s in power? Here is my newspaper.)

Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday October 07, 2021

Rotary Club of Georgetown successfully hosts Curry Fiesta Fundraiser

T

he Rotary Club of Georgetown successfully held its Curry Fiesta on Saturday last at Palm Court Restaurant and Bar, Guyana's leading entertainment safe haven.

The Fundraiser got underway at 12:00 pm and was deemed a sold-out event despite only having a take away option due to the COVID19 regulations.

The Rotary Club reported that there was a variety of Curries being sold including duck, chicken and mutton. Patrons described the meal as irresistibly sumptuous and satisfactory.

Representatives opined that they hope to take the annual, signature event to new heights in time to come. They also expressed their sincerest gratitude to the sponsors of the event.

(From left to right): Director Sueanna Lovell, Dominique Harris, Secretary Liselle Blankendal, President Elect Sheldon Hazelwood, Director Harryam Parmesar, Director Nerissa Moore, President Ramona Singh, Director Gautam Thani and Treasurer Goswami Parmesar.

Residents file objection with EPA over Trini concrete factory for oil sector R

By Kiana Wilburg

esidents of Felicity, Happy Acres, Le

Ressouvenir, and Atlantic Gardens on the East Coast of Demerara, are contesting efforts by Trinidadian firm, Vista Trading and Logistics,

to establish a specialised concrete batching plant and storage facility in their community.

The protest follows the

decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to exempt the project from the requirement of an Environmental Impact

Assessment (EIA). The residents are challenging this decision on several grounds and are expected to register their concerns at a public hearing today.

In a letter seen by Kaieteur News, it was noted that the first appeal against the project was lodged by Shahabudeen Ahmad and Singer Guyana Inc. in a letter dated June 25, 2021. In the appeal filed by Dhurjon Chambers, Attorneys-atLaw, it was noted that both clients are residents in the immediate community being Le Ressouvenir, where the project is to be constructed.

The first issue of contention by the concerned parties pertains to “deceptive and inadequate” information of the project being exempt from an EIA. Ahmad and Singer through their lawyers s a i d , “ C r u c i a l l y, t h e publication (of the EPA notice on June 6, 2021) concealed from the public's knowledge, the fact that the intended project is truly a specialised concrete batching plant and distribution centre in addition to a mere storage facility as was suggested by the notice. This can only be realised through reading the summary submitted by the developer.”

In fact, the concerned residents noted that the developer intends for the primary function of the facility to be batching and distribution of cement for oil wells rather than storage.

With this in mind, it was noted by the concerned

parties that the publication by the EPA on June 6, 2021 effectively deceived the public and deprived it of knowing the true nature of the intended project.

It was noted that the said publication of the EPA failed to mention whether the EIA was waived for the construction of the facility or its operation.

Additionally, it was highlighted that the public documents used in connection with the project contained no plans (approved or otherwise), illustrations or explanation of what would be the physical layout or actual methodology of the intended facility across the acre it intends to occupy.

“Only such information could enable the EPA to determine that the facility would not 'significantly affect' the environment,” the parties noted to the EPA Head, Mr. Kemraj Parsram.

Other residents have since lodged similar concerns about Vista's project.

In another letter dated October 5 to Parsram, residents were keen to note that the proposed location of this facility being Tract A2 Felicity and Le Ressouvenir, poses significant risks to the c o m m u n i t y, i n c l u d i n g exposure to harmful air pollutant emissions associated with cement plants.

Residents highlighted that the United States Environmental Protection (continued on page 18)

Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday October 07, 2021

Guyana/Suriname ferry to operate 3 times weekly; daily service from Oct. 24 being considered O

n M o n d a y, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, led the team of Directors from the Boards of the Canawaima Management Company and the Canawaima Ferry Service Inc. to a joint meeting with their Surinamese counterparts to discuss the operations of the ferry plying the Moleson Creek-South Drain route.

The Surinamese delegation was led by Minister of Transport, Communications and Tourism, Albert Jubithana.

Among the agenda items discussed were the readiness of the Canawaima vessel to resume operations after an extensive period in drydock, the development of an online booking platform, the auditing of the accounts, and several management, operational and financial

matters, all aimed to improve the service, and the management of the company.

Minister Edghill in his opening remarks thanked the Surinamese team for their arrangements and hospitality and after a brief introduction of the Guyanese delegation, lauded the cooperation between Guyana's President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Suriname's President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi.

The Minister informed the delegation that it is important to have a service where there is a greater level o f a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, transparency and shared information. Under these objectives, there is a need for a new approach to how the Canawaima Ferry is managed and dealt with.

Despite historical issues, u n d e r t h e n e w

administrations of both countries, a new approach and cooperation built on shared partnership will be instituted. Guyana's Minister lauded his counterpart for embracing this approach.

“At the end of the day, it is about the interest of the people of both countries and as such the transportation system linking both sides must be developed,” Minister Edghill continued in his opening remarks.

After briefly going through the Agenda, the delegation divided into two groups for in depth discussions and decisionmaking. The six-member Board of both Canawaima Management Company and the Canawaima Ferry Service Inc. made several key decisions.

It was agreed that effective from Monday 11th October 2021, the M.B. Sandaka which is currently plying the route will now operate three (3) times per week; Monday, Wednesday

Minister Edghill was able to engage his Suriname counterparts and Friday.

The vessel is currently operating twice per week.

The increase in service will observe all COVID-19 regulations from the health authorities in both countries.

Subject to a joint final inspection and approval from regulatory maritime authorities, the Canawaima Ferry will resume daily service on 24th October, 2021.

A j o i n t Te r m s o f Reference will be drafted and advertised to hire a Consultant who will assess the booking systems with a view to propose an online booking platform.

Contractors to fix substandard roads in Linden

By Vanessa Braithwaite

I

n an effort to ensure that the residents of Region 10 get value for the monies allocated to the region by the government in the 2021 National Budget, regional officials are holding errant Contractors accountable for producing substandard work. In fact, one contractor is now in hot water for a road that is already deteriorating that was completed only a few weeks ago.

The road, located in Rainbow City, Mackenzie, has visible breakages and its surface is uneven and some parts void.

This was observed by regional officials who were in the field inspecting roads that were recently completed. The team included Regional Chairman, Deron Adams and a team of Councillors. He told Kaieteur News that the unevenness of the road was felt even in the vehicle.

Upon disembarking the vehicle, he observed several parts already deteriorating.

This was even though the road markings were painted, indicating the work on the surface has been completed.

“All of the Councillors registered questions with respect to the longevity of

Regional Chairman, Deron Adams, inspecting the road at Rainbow City Mackenzie

“

I am encouraging contractors to get proper technical people to assist them because not all contractors are engineers, so you have to make sure you have your technical people, your engineer, draftsman, surveyor and so forth because if you mess up the road, or the bridge or the building you will do it back.

”

the road, given their observations, so that residents can receive value for their money,” Adams said.

The Regional Executive

Officer, Dwight John, was summoned and upon inspection, he too expressed similar sentiments that the road was poorly done. He ordered the contractor to

Regional Executive Officer, Dwight John, engaging Councillors on the poor state of the road resurface it immediately. He expressed dissatisfaction and called out the contractor for negligence.

In this regard, John said Contractors should ensure they are properly supported and have the necessary human resources before bidding for contracts.

"I am encouraging contractors to get proper technical people to assist them because not all Contractors are Engineers, so you have to make sure you

have your technical people, your Engineer, Draftsman, Surveyor and so forth because if you mess up the road, or the bridge or the building you will do it back," he asserted. Like the Councillors, John said he has to ensure residents get value for the money allocated to the region by the Government.

In addition, Councillors have expressed concern over the rehabilitation of roads without accompanying

drains. This will decrease the longevity of the structure. RC Adams said that while a motion was moved earlier in the year to have drains accompany each road rehabilitated, funding did not allow these to be included this time.

However, as roads are completed, an inspection team will assess to ensure that all roads are completed to the requisite standard. Out of the $4.7B budget for 2021, a total of $550M was allocated for infrastructural works.

Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 07, 2021

CCJ President commends Chancellor, CJ for commitment to Guyana's ...

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From page 11 all to see. He added that the Chancellor and CJ's leadership has been exemplary, and added that throughout the Region and beyond, onlookers can see the results for themselves.

Justice Saunders further explained that the establishment of a Judicial Code of Ethics and the participatory manner, in which that code was developed, is yet another indication of the Chancellor and CJ's impressive guidance.

The Code of Ethics contains principles and rules which all persons who administer justice are required to observe in their day-today relationship with the legal profession and the public. It also outlines the standard of ethical conduct of all judicial officers and in particular, key values by which a judicial officer is expected to live and work. They are propriety, independence, integrity, impartiality, equality, competence, and diligence.

Moreover, Justice Saunders stated that the increase in media pressure and

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public scrutiny further constraint judicial conduct both on and off the bench. To this end, he noted that the level of behaviour towards judicial officers is understandable because even in their private capacity, the conduct of a judge can have serious effects on the public's perception of their impartiality.

“Public confidence in the administration of justice can only be achieved if we consistently conduct ourselves in an ethical manner both in our judicial and personal life,”

the President of the CCJ noted.

According to him, a Code is symbolic of the maturity and the willingness of the judiciary to commit to a set of principles which help judges and other judicial officers to supplement and give force to the Judicial Oath of Office.

“The Code demonstrates the solemnity by which the Judicial Oath is regarded by those who hold judicial office,” Justice Saunders stated.

He further disclosed that the Code is actually a contract

between the judiciary and society, and added that it sets out the standards of behaviour that judicial officers voluntarily establish for themselves and to which they invite the public to hold them accountable.

Justice Saunders then noted that the Code acts as a guide course for judicial officers because in his view, “Ethical infractions mostly occur through inadvertence or a lack of insufficient awareness or appreciation of the relevant ethical principle.”

Thursday October 07, 2021

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Brickdam Police Station inferno…

Prisoner admits to setting fire willingly in video recorded confession

By Shervin Belgrave A video recorded confession has proved that Clarence Greene, called “Molly”, had willingly admitted to setting the fire that destroyed the Brickdam Police Station on Saturday.

Recent reports had circulated that Greene, through his lawyers Ronald Daniels and Kiswana Jefford, had denied any involvement in the fire. In fact, the suspected arsonist is now claiming that he was assaulted and forced to sign a statement that was never read to him.

There were also claims made that the Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, and an officer by the name of Caesar were present at the time when he was being forced to sign the statement.

Consequently, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had sent out a press release refuting those allegations and the suspect’s video confession tape, seen by Kaieteur News and a few other media houses, has proved that Greene willingly admitted to setting the Brickdam Police Station on fire.

The video seen by this media house was recorded around 22:56hrs on Saturday and showed that neither the Home Affairs Minister nor officer Caesar were present at the time Greene made his confession.

Present were two male officers - one of them conducting the interview with Greene and the other who operated the video camera and a female sergeant who took notes.

The investigating officer, before commencing the interview, introduced himself on camera and put forward

the allegation to Greene.

He asked, “Do you know why you are here?” to which Greene responded, “yes, concerning the fire.”

The officer then advised Greene that he could choose to remain silent or request that his attorney or a family member be present during the time of the interview. Greene acknowledged and gave the go ahead for them to proceed with the interview. The officer had also asked him to state on record if he was assaulted or mistreated while in custody to which Greene responded “no.”

Greene was then asked by the officer to explain everything that had transpired from the time he was arrested for an alleged robbery to the moment he was brought to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters at Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Greene began his confession by indirectly establishing the motive behind setting the fire.

“First, I was there (at the Brickdam lock-up) on an innocent charge,” Greene started off by saying.

According to police, Greene was arrested around 04:00hrs Saturday last at Leopold Street for robbing two vendors - a female and male - at the Stabroek Market of their cellphones sometime around 00:03hrs.

The victims had told the cops that one of them had gone to buy plantains from the other when two men approached them. One of the men described as a mix-race individual pulled out a gun and demanded that they hand over their belongings. The victims gave them their cellphones and the men escaped.

Mooted U.S. expulsion of Russian diplomats would mean U.S. embassy closure, says Moscow MOSCOW - (Reuters) A Congressional proposal to expel 300 Russian diplomats from the United States would lead to the closure of U.S. diplomatic facilities in Russia if implemented, Russia’s foreign ministry has said.

U.S. Democratic and Republican senators urged President Joe Biden on Tuesday to expel Russian diplomats if Moscow did not issue more visas for Americans to represent Washington in Russia.“Those proposing

such steps are apparently pushing for the closure of U.S. foreign institutions in Russia,” Russia’s foreign ministry said, the Interfax news agency reported.“They must understand that the blame for this will lie with them,” the ministry said late on Tuesday.It said that Moscow did not have that number of diplomats in Washington and that the proposal appeared to include diplomatic staff at Russia’s mission at the United Nations.

Investigators learnt that the female vendor alerted a security guard who was nearby and they had gone in search of the gunmen together. They reportedly caught up with one of them (Greene) and alerted the cops.

He was subsequently arrested and, according to the ranks who arrested him, the vendors’ cellphones were found in his possession and he was positively identified as one of the bandits.

During the video confession seen by this newspaper, Greene said that indeed the stolen articles were found on him but he was not the one who had robbed the woman. Greene claimed that he was detained innocently because all he did was hand over the stolen items.

With the evidence against him, the ranks at the Brickdam Station decided to place him in the lock-up to keep him in custody as they continued their investigation.

He was reportedly placed in a cell located on the second floor of the lock-up which is situated extremely close to an office located on the upper flat of the eastern half of the Brickdam Police Station.

As it relates to how he was able to enter the cell with a lighter (which he reportedly used to set the fire), Greene said on camera that he was searched by an officer who had initially taken away the item from him. However, he had requested that the officer return the lighter because, “I does want to smoke one, one cigarette some time.”

The officer, he said, was a bit reluctant to give him the lighter but he managed to get a cigarette from a policeman which he showed to the officer. He was given the lighter and, according Greene, the officer had seen him entering the cell with the prohibited item.

“The officer that does run the station, he, I ask he fuh a cigarette and went to collect back the lighter. When I collect the lighter the officer see when I carry in the lighter on me,” Greene told the investigating officer during the video recorded confession.

It was while in his cell, confessed Greene, that he started to become frustrated about being detained for what he labelled as “something he did not do”.

“He carry me upstairs, we collect the mattress, he put me in the cell…I deh inside deh I get frustrated as the thing keep coming back to me head.

I getting mo frustrated, frustrated because they put me in deh a long time about something me ain’t know about and me able spend time jussa dry,” Greene said.

Sometime later, Greene continued, he had asked one of the prisoners who was outside (one of the inmates that had told police that he was one who had set the fire) to pass him a wire that was nearby.

“Getting frustrated that me alone in the cell, the guy wah give the statement, he went doing something outside and I see the wire and

A screengrab from the video confession tape of Clarence Greene, the suspected arsonist.

I tell he pass the wire fuh me deh.”

The suspected arsonist then went on to give details of how he used the wire, a piece of sponge he had torn from his mattress and the lighter he took with him into the cell to start the inferno.

“I ben the wire in two half suh and push it through the sponge about this size and remember the sponge can’t go through the diamond hole (the diamond shape mesh that grilled the air vent to his cell) suh piece guh through and piece lef in,” Greene explained.

He revealed that he had lit the end of the sponge that was left in his cell and went to sleep. A short while later, added Greene, the same inmate who had passed him the wire came knocking at his cell door alerting him about the fire.

“He come and wake me up at the door and seh ‘watch wah going on deh…fire’ and

I went like between sleep and wake and I deh sweating all because the heat penetrating coming back.”

According to reports, it was the prisoners who had alerted a subordinate officer that smoke was emanating from Greene’s cells.

That officer had said that immediately after the smoke turned to flames, with the help of one of the prisoners, he had filled a bucket of water and had thrown it through the vent in Greene’s cell. That, however, did not contain the blaze which resulted in 80 percent destruction of the Brickdam Police Station.

Greene is expected to appear in court today to face the charge of alleged robbery.

With regards to a charge of committing the act of arson, investigators told reporters last night that the case file was still being reviewed by their legal advisor before it is sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

PAGE 18

Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Govt. announces further cut in Excise Tax on Fuel - Prices at pump expected to reduce Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, last evening announced that the PPP/C Government has reduced the excise tax on gasoline and diesel from 35 to 20 percent so as to ease the domestic impact of the continuous rise in the world market price for fuel.

The prices at the pump are expected to also be reduced with immediate effect, with gasoline prices expected to reduce from $213 per litre to $198per litre, and diesel prices from $200 per litre to $185 per

litre.

It could be recalled that on February 17 of this year, the Government reduced the Excise Tax rate on both gasoline and diesel from 50 percent to 35 percent.

Since this time, oil prices have continued to rise steadily on the world market, moving from over US$60 a barrel to over US$80 a barrel at close of trade on October 5, 2021.

This steady rise in the world price has had a resultant effect with prices rising on the domestic market also.

Minister Singh explained that the adjustment in the excise tax rate on fuel from time to time is part of the measures that the PPP/C Government will implement to cushion the domestic impact of world market price fluctuation.

He emphasized that implementation of these measures are in keeping with President Irfaan Ali’s commitment to ensuring that Guyanese consumers continue to be protected from escalation in fuel prices on the world market as far as possible.

Residents file objection with EPA over Trini concrete factory for ...

From page 12 Agency (USEPA) has substantiated these risks, finding that the cement sector is the third-largest industrial source of pollution, emitting more than 500,000 tonnes per year of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide.

It was further noted that cement dust plumes are inevitable and are far-reaching especially because of the airflow and Trade-winds on the Coast. With this in mind, they posited that hundreds of Guyanese who have been living in these densely populated residential areas for decades, will be subjected to breathing one of the deadliest kind of air pollution—Particulate Matter—which is linked to serious health conditions, including reduced lung development in children, higher rates of asthma, bronchitis, heart disease and cancer.Additionally, residents noted that heavy-duty trucks loading and offloading will cause noise pollution while waiting to pick up as many loads every day, emitting even more pollutants like black carbon and nitrogen dioxide. They said these trucks will tear up roads, drainage

ditches and other infrastructure while adding that attempts to wash away the dust may end up creating an ugly, muddy, slurry that tracks all over the affected communities.

In their letter to the EPA, residents said, “We are concerned about the health risks from these detrimental airquality issues, especially in such close proximity to our homes and our families. For these reasons, we strongly believe that the plant's proposed location is wholly unsuitable for the intended purpose and firmly assert our objection to the approval of this project.”

POOR DISCLOSURE Residents also protested the poor disclosure by the EPA of the project as first noted by Singer and Ahmad.

In their missive, they said, “We only now discovered that there was a single 'Public' Notice published in the least read newspaper in Guyana, the Guyana Chronicle, on June 6, 2021.

That notice required appeals against the decision of the EPA to not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), to be filed within

30 days of that notice.”

They continued, “…We find it unreasonable and unacceptable that a 'Public' Notice would be published only once in a newspaper with the least circulation, and not in the other daily newspapers in Guyana which have much higher readership.”

The residents are of the view that the EPA deliberately endeavoured to keep their actions secret, “to the detriment of the people of Guyana whose health and welfare ought to be protected.”

The residents stressed too, that this manner of publication of the said notice effectively deprived all citizens of the opportunity to file/register an appeal within the prescribed time of 30 days from the date of publication.Be that as it may, the residents said they will attend and participate in the Public Hearing of the Appeals which is fixed for October 7, 2021 at 2pm via Zoom as well as at the EPA's office. The residents warned that if they feel their concerns are not heard, they will immediately commence legal action “to stop the perpetration of unlawful and illegal activities.”

Mustapha, Chilean delegation engage on improving Food...

From page 13 oriented methods and stipulations which were prescribed by international bodies, such as World Health Organization (WHO), European Union (EU), and the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA).

During the meeting, Minister Mustapha explained that since the establishment of the GFSA, it has not been fully operational.

“Since the establishment of the Food Safety Authority in 2019, it has not been fully operational.

As a Government, we are now working to put systems in place to get it into opera-

tion. I know that Chile has very good skills in this area so we look forward to your guidance.

With all the investments coming into the country now and the interest being shown, agencies like the GFSA will be very important,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha also said that there needed to be amendments to the Bill to correct measures that were considered harsh on certain classes of businesses.

“In 2019, all the legislation might not have been captured that were critical in the Food Safety Bill. So, we'll have to look at amendments. For

example, when the Bill was passed, it had certain measures in it that are considered harsh on small businesses in the country so we have to review those measures.

Additionally, we have to implement new, modern measures that will be important for the Authority,” Minister Mustapha added.

Some of the areas identified for collaborations are in the development of Guyana's Food Traceability System, the Food Safety Standard, Practices and Principles, technical assistance in the area of Food Policy Development, Implementation, and Training, among other things.

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 07, 2021

PAGE 19

CCJ President commends Chancellor, CJ for commitment to Guyana's Judiciary pursuing judicial excellence and to being a responsive institution. The indications are evident and have been noticed by us at the Caribbean Court of Justice.”

He further noted, “I see them [Guyana's Judiciary] in

Chief Justice (Ag), Roxane George-Wiltshire

P

resident of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders, on Tuesday, during the launch of the second edition of the Code of Ethics for Judicial Officers, commended the Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag), Yonette CummingsEdwards, and Chief Justice (Ag), Roxane GeorgeWi l t s h i r e , f o r t h e i r

CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders commitment and what they have been doing for Guyana's Judiciary.

Eighteen years after the first Code of Ethics was launched for Judicial Officers in Guyana, the second edition was on Tuesday launched at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown.

Justice Saunders was among other Regional Judicial Officers who made a

Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards virtual appearance at the event. The CCJ President gave the keynote address during which he praised the Chancellor and CJ for their dedication to Guyana's Judiciary and also expounded on the Code of Ethics.

In his address, Justice Saunders said, “It's obvious to me that the Judiciary in Guyana is committed to

Provocation at mining camp leaves one dead

P

rovocation at a mining camp in Region Eight has left one miner dead and another in custody for murder. Dead is 38-yearold Eon Anthony Ramnarine of Lot 34 Third Avenue, Bartica.

According to Police, the murder occurred on Monday at a mining camp i n O b a n n a Backdam/Kurubrong, Potaro, Region Eight.

Kaieteur News understands that Ramnarine and the 25year-old suspect are known to each other since their camps are located next to each other. It is alleged that the suspect is in the habit of cursing and talking to himself, and that Ramnarine usually provokes the suspect, calling him names like “madman” and “gay”.

Around 11:00hrs on Monday, the suspect was reportedly passing by Ramnarine's camp to take a knife for his father to scrape an engine head when an argument ensued between them.

Dead, Eon Anthony Ramnarine The argument escalated and Ramnarine armed himself with a piece of wood and a pick-axe handle and reportedly used it to lash the suspect to his head and left foot. This resulted in the two men fighting, and the suspect, who was armed with the knife, dealt Ramnarine several stabs about his body.

Ramnarine collapsed and the suspect ran to

informed his father about what transpired. A man who was passing by the area saw Ramnarine's motionless body on the ground and notified the police.

When the Police arrived at the crime scene, they saw Ramnarine's body and a piece of wood next to it. The suspect was also still in the area and was told of the allegation and cautioned. He then reportedly admitted to stabbing Ramnarine during a fight and even handed over the alleged murder weapon to police ranks.

The suspect and the body of the deceased were escorted to the Mahdia Hospital where the suspect was examined, while the body of Ramnarine was officially pronounced dead on Tuesday around 11:26hrs.

When Ramnarine's body was examined, 11 suspected stab wounds were seen on the left hand, chest/abdomen and back.

The suspect remains in custody as the investigation into the murder continues.

the efficient disposition of cases, the elimination of backlogs, the embrace and deployment of technological innovations, the premium placed on judicial training programmes, the employment of alternative

dispute resolution mechanisms, and one can go on and on.”

According to the CCJ President, like the country, Guyana's Judiciary is on the move and there are signs for (continued on page 16)

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 07, 2021

Agri. Ministry receives pepper seeds to assist with ongoing flood-relief efforts

PAGE 21

Govt. expends over $25B for COVID-19 Response - says $2B more may be needed

F

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha (second left), receiving the seeds from CARDI Guyana's Officer-in-Charge, Mr. Jhaman Kundun. Also pictured is the Ministry's Director-General, Madanlall Ramraj, and CEO of Caribbean Agricultural Commercial Services Hub Limited, Maurice Wilson.

O

n Tu e s d a y, officials from the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) handed over a quantity of Pepper seeds that were propagated by the Institute to assist the government with its ongoing flood-relief efforts.

During the meeting, Guyana's CARDI Officerin-Charge and Integrated Pest Management Specialist, Jhaman Kundun said they were able to understand the level of devastation the

recent floods had on the sector and therefore, CARDI is willing to offer its full support to the Government with undertaking its ongoing flood-relief efforts.

The Hot Pepper seeds propogated by CARDI are Moruga Red, Scorpion, West Indies Red, and Scotch Bonnet.

In addition to the seeds, CARDI's subsidiary, the Caribbean Agricultural Commercial Services Hub Limited (CACSH) said it will be providing new varieties of Onion seeds to

the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) for field testing in the local ecosystem. These varieties, Kaieteur News understands, were specifically bred for the tropics.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, thanked CARDI for its timely donation and said that his ministry looks forward to continuing to partner with the institute to develop and improve Guyana's agriculture sector through agricultural research.

Mustapha, Chilean delegation engage on improving Food Safety Authority's operations

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha (centre), along with officials from the Chilean embassy in Guyana

A

griculture Minister, Z u l f i k a r Mustapha, on Tuesday met with a delegation from the Chilean Embassy to discuss how the two nations could collaborate to advance the operations of the Guyana Food Safety Authority (GFSA).

The Food Safety Bill,

which is intended to integrate all aspects of Guyana's Food Safety System was first read in 2016 and later passed in 2018 with amendments following the adoption of the report of the Special Select Committee on the said Bill.

The passage of this Bill later made way for the establishment of the GFSA

in 2019.

Even with the passage of the Bill and the establishment of the GFSA, the previous Government failed to ensure that the Authority fulfilled its mandate fully. That was, to implement systems to introduce and reinforce cautionary and solution(continued on page 18)

rom 2020 to mid2021, the PPP/C Government has expended $25.7B on its COVID-19 response programme.

In order to achieve herd immunity among the adult population, it may very well need another $2.1B before the year is over.

This was noted in the latest Mid-Year Report of the Ministry of Finance.

In the document that was released yesterday, the Ministry shared that in 2020, the government expended $16.7 billion on COVID-19 response, of which $7.1 billion related to the health sector, representing 13.9 percent of the total health sector spending. The Finance Ministry said this included outfitting the annex to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in Liliendaal, to adequately receive and treat moderate to severe COVID-19 cases.

Further, the Ministry said $7 billion was expended on the COVID-19 Cash Grant Programme which saw the commencement of distribution of $25,000 to every household across the country as a form of livelihood support. It was noted too, that additional sums were expended to procure sanitising agents, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Ventilators, and o t h e r necessary equipment and

supplies.

Government, the Ministry said, also received external in-kind support from bilateral partners including China, India, and Colombia in the form of PPEs, Ventilators, and vaccines, among others.

With respect to 2021 spending, Kaieteur News understands that the government rolled out an aggressive vaccination campaign given the gradual improvements in the global vaccine supply chain.

Towards this end, over $2 billion was expended for the first half of 2021 through the National Budget, on the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Barring further supply-chain challenges, the Finance Ministry said an additional $2.1 billion could become required to facilitate achieving high levels of immunity within the adult population.

The Ministry was keen to note that this vaccination programme alone is anticipated to place an additional demand on the Treasury by approximately 0.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), even though government received, through the COVAX facility, 62,400 vaccines to support national vaccination efforts, as at the half year. It is anticipated that the balance of the Guyana C O VA X a l l o c a t i o n o f

38,400 will be received in the second half.

Apart from its disclosure on expenditure for COVID19, it was noted by the Ministry that the advent of the pandemic continues to place a strain on public health systems.

To address the challenge of limited human resources, the Finance Ministry said health authorities endeavoured to reassign healthcare workers to support an aggressive response to COVID-19 in order to prevent greater loss of life, though this has created challenges in delivering regular healthcare services which were further compounded by the restrictions on movement imposed by the COVID-19 Emergency Measures.

It was noted as well, that GPHC has also afforded the COVID frontline healthcare workers a risk allowance, while eligible workers continue to receive their oncall allowance.

To supplement the human resource needs, the Ministry said government has pursued the temporary employment of retired healthcare workers. In response to the challenge of inadequate drugs and medical supplies, the ministry said Government has also undertaken to procure sufficient quantities of same to ensure stock availability into 2022, at minimum.

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 07, 2021

Thursday October 07, 2021

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Could Australia vaccine requirement cost Novak Djokovic chance at record grand slam?

USA TODAY - Since his bitterly disappointing loss in the U.S. Open final, Novak Djokovic has basically gone underground.

Even with Daniil Medvedev in position to potentially catch him for the No. 1 ranking, Djokovic chose not to return to the U.S. this week for the Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open, one of the top tournaments of the year outside the Grand Slams. His last Instagram post was Sept. 13, and his Twitter feed lately hasn’t offered much of anything. It’s also unclear whether he plans to play the last two big tournaments of the year at the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals.

After the emotionally and physically draining quest for the calendar Grand Slam and the Olympic gold medal, both of which ended unsuccess-

fully, it’s possible we won’t see Djokovic back on the court until January at the Australian Open, a tournament he’s won a record nine times.

But the intrigue around Djokovic’s next bid to win his 21st Grand Slam title has been heightened in recent days after reports out of Australia suggesting that players coming into the country for the tournament will have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with no exceptions — even for arguably the greatest of the all time.

“The only title that will protect you is you being able to have had your first dose and second dose,” Daniel Andrews, the head government official in the state of Victoria, recently told reporters. “If you are coming to visit, the notion of you get-

ting in here without being vaccinated, I think, is very, very low.”

Djokovic has refused to answer whether he received the COVID-19 vaccine, but he’s been skeptical about it in the past and said earlier this year it shouldn’t be a requirement to play on the tour. Fair or not, the assumption around tennis has been that Djokovic, like so many of his colleagues, remains unvaccinated.

This isn’t just a Djokovic issue. Around the time of the U.S. Open, the ATP and WTA both acknowledged that only about half of their players had been vaccinated with many of the holdouts spewing misinformation. Stefanos Tsitsipas got a public rebuke from the Greek government after saying in August, “I don’t see any reason for someone of my

Thursday October 07, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Equipment you've come to depend on in your daily life might suddenly go down today. This might throw you into a panic, but don't fall into this trap.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Romantic matters suddenly take a turn for the better as a long, fascinating conversation takes place between you and your partner. This could involve a subject that intrigues you both, so let the information fly!

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Excitement mounts in your household when some new equipment comes into your possession. This could involve a computer, phone, or some other device.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Expect a full day of activity.

You might spend a lot of time on the phone, perhaps making arrangements for a social event.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) This could be a lucky day as far as money matters are concerned. Perhaps a sum you were expecting and gave up on will arrive unexpectedly, or a chance to earn some extra

income could come up.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You tend to be unconventional, but today you could outdo even you. A spiritual experience could be at the heart

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Unusual dreams, visions, and audio phenomena may come to you today. You might think you're hearing voices.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Some fascinating news could reach you today through a friend or group activity. This could involve something close to home or an intellectual subject, perhaps one discussed by the group.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Knowledge of a specialized nature could come into your possession today. At some point you could be the center of attention. Everyone, including those with influence over your career, wants to know what's going on.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) If you've wanted to take a class in astrology, science, or computers, it's time to sign up. If you're already taking such a class, expect a fascinating, stimulating discussion in connection with it.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) If you're trying to learn a computer program, you might obsess about it. In fact, it might even haunt your dreams.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A social event today could put

of it. You're changing in ways that are obvious to everyone.

Don't worry if they're con-

you in touch with fascinating new people in interesting fields.

Intriguing discussions could take place throughout the

fused.

evening.

age to do it.” Earlier this year, women’s No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka said she didn’t “trust” the vaccine. She ended up testing positive or COVID-19 this past week and had to withdraw from Indian Wells.

Up until now, there have been no significant consequences for unvaccinated tennis players, even though they’re flying from country to country and often playing in stadiums where proof of vaccination is mandatory to get in as a fan.

But Australia isn’t messing around — especially in the region around Melbourne, where the tournament takes place.

A year ago, Tennis Australia negotiated an arrangement with the local government where players and their coaches coming into the country had to quarantine for 14 days at a hotel. Within that span, they were allowed to practice for several hours a day, though around 70 players were subjected to a hard quarantine because they were on a flight with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival.

For 2022, the tournament has hinted at a less strict ar-

rangement where players can move freely within a bubble during the quarantine period.

But if local health authorities determine that all players must be vaccinated to compete — and the recent signals from Victoria indicate that’s where it’s headed — it could put a lot of pressure on the unvaccinated to go ahead and get the shot.

The Age newspaper in Melbourne recently reported that Craig Tiley, the head of Tennis Australia, “spent months raising concerns about a mandate because of its potential to turn away a group of top players” but has since “become resigned to it” in his conversations with government officials.

We know that Djokovic, at this point in his career, is only focused on winning major titles and breaking the current tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who each have 20. It’s also logical that Djokovic would want to do it in Rod Laver Arena, which he’s called his favorite court in the world and where he’s almost been unbeatable over the course of his career.

The notion of Djokovic skipping a Grand Slam, particularly one he’d be favored to win, is almost unthinkable.

But unless he acknowledges that he’s been vaccinated, whether Djokovic even attempts to win his 10th Australian title will remain an open question.

England players set to agree...

From page 27 quarantine before a long tour.

But the move to let a second group into Victoria would be welcome news, given they do not need to spend as much time away from home. There could be some freedoms for families in regional Victoria.

That deal is not officially over the line with the state government, but would be in line with the road map out of COVID-19 as Victoria edges

closer to 70 and 80 percent double dosage rates.The last concern for CA will now be the Perth Test, with officials adamant they will be granted clearance to play in Western Australia just days after being in Sydney. If that does fall through, Canberra or Hobart could seize their first Ashes Test. Alternatively, the match could be held as a second fixture at the SCG or MCG.

Michael Holding...

From page 25 difficult it is for black people and people of colour to be keeping this thing inside, try ing to ignore it and live a normal life.

“That is what I was trying to explain to people that this is not the way people should live. A lot of people are living on the edge.

“I don’t think I’ll be alive to see equality for everyone but I am hoping that we are heading in that direction. I see some signs that we are heading in that direction.”

Holding added: “You still have some people behaving like fools. I don’t think you will get rid of everyone.

“But more and more good people are speaking out and more and more people are opening their eyes and their ears.

“I run across a lot of people on the streets of England, messages I get, coming around and understanding what is going on.”

Leguan Boyz overcome Young Warriors ...

From page 25 Cds $500 as well, while Young Warriors pocketed $300.

Mohan informed that Leguan Boyz donated their incentive which will go towards orphanages in Guyana. In the Association’s previous two tournaments, they donated a part of the proceedings to Sick Kids Foundation in Toronto.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Thursday October 07, 2021

Bhuvneshwar ruins Royal Challengers’ shot at a top-two spot ESPNcricinfo - AB de Villiers was left to get six off the last two balls. They were both full tosses but he failed to hit them as he usually does and so the Sunrisers Hyderabad were able to savour victory by four runs.

With 13 needed off the last over, bowled

by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, de Villiers drilled the fourth ball for six, but fell short in the end.

The defeat means Royal Challengers’ chances of finishing inside the top two are all but over, as the eliminated Sunrisers pinched their third win of the season following contributions from pretty much all their bowlers, and Jason Roy and Kane Williamson.

H a r s h a l ’s h o t r u n c o n t i n u e s Harshal was introduced just after the powerplay ended, with the Sunrisers sitting pretty at 50 for the loss of one wicket. His first over went for eight - including a boundary from Roy, who pulled him to deep midwicket - and he was taken off after that.

By the time he returned for the 12th over, Sunrisers had managed to maintain the momentum, with Roy and Williamson having added 67 runs together. But two balls and three runs later, Harshal foxed Williamson with an offcutter that landed bang on a good length, and took off to strike the top of middle stump.

Sunrisers lost track once that 70-run stand was broken. They made just 50 runs off the last eight overs. There were five wickets as well. Two of those went to Harshal, taking his tournament tally to 29. Brought back to bowl two of the last three overs, he beat Wriddhiman Saha with a lack of pace too, as another offcutter landed in the hands of longoff. And off the final ball of the innings, he went for a slow, dipping full-toss to Jason Holder, who found long-on with his slog.

Malik pushes the speed gun Malik, brought on as a short-term replacement for the Covid-positive T Natarajan, attracted eyeballs with his ferocious pace and accuracy. Like Harshal, he too started immediately after the field restrictions were lifted; but contrastingly, he beat the batters with his extra pace. Malik began by hitting 141kph, and conceded just a single off his first four deliveries. The fifth one produced a wicket, KS Bharat caught behind off a searing short ball.Malik continued to work the speedgun, cranking it up to 153 kph. His first over cost just a single.

His second just five. Williamson took him off at that point and brought him back with the Royal Challengers needing 29 off the last three. The pressure was on but Malik was able to handle it well, finishing with 1 for 21 off his four overs.

M a x w e l l ’ s

B i g

S h o w

Lisa de Vanna (2L) Samantha Kerr (2R) and Leena Khamis of Australia celebrate a goal against of Equatorial Guinea during their Women’s World Cup Group D soccer match in Bochum July 3, 2011.

(REUTERS/ Ina Fassbender)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck in the first over. (BCCI)

Australia sets up independent complaints body after abuse allegations Maxwell arrived at the crease with Royal Challengers at 38 or 3 in the seventh over.

While Devdutt Padikkal at the other end was taking his time, Maxwell got stuck into Rashid Khan, launching the second ball he faced - and the first from the legspinner - over deep midwicket for six. That was followed by another maximum over long-on off a tossed-up ball as well as a four two balls later, when he hoicked Rashid to deep midwicket again.Maxwell dominated pace as well, pulling Siddarth Kaul for four, and also stealing another four off the inside edge off J a s o n H o l d e r. H e t r i e d a t t a c k i n g Bhuvneshwar in the 14th over, but tight lines from the bowler meant Royal Challengers could manage just six runs.Then the game changed as Maxwell was run out for 40 off 25. It happened when Padikkal tapped the ball to cover and the batters set off for a nonexistent single. Williamson was standing pretty close in, and swooped on the opportunity, his acrobatic direct hit catching the batter well short.

Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 141 for 7 (Roy 44, Harshal 3-33, Christian 2-14) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 137 for 6 (Padikkal 41, Maxwell 40, Malik 1-21) by four runs.

SYDNEY, (Reuters) Football Australia (FA) announced an independent complaint management procedure yesterday after recently retired international striker Lisa De Vanna said she had been the victim of sexual assault, harassment and bullying during her career.

De Vanna made her initial allegations in response to a Twitter post by Megan Rapinoe, in which the U.S. international commented on allegations of misconduct against former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley.

The 36-year-old De Vanna, who played 150 times for her country over two decades, replied that she had witnessed women in the game abusing younger female players, and organisations protecting the abusers.

“There needs to be consequences. There needs to be accountability,” she said in an interview with

News Ltd media.

“I have seen cultural problems at all levels throughout the years - from men and women - and girls coming through need to be brave, and also the girls that have been through this also need to be brave and know they are not alone.

“Have I been sexually harassed? Yes. Have I been bullied? Yes. Ostracised?

Yes. Have I seen things that h a v e m a d e m e uncomfortable? Yes.” FA said in a statement it would investigate any abuse allegations and Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) would oversee an independent complaints process for former players and staff.

“We’re committed to safe, inclusive environments for all footballers and staff,” FA chief executive James Johnson said.

“There is no place for abuse, harassment or bullying in our sport and it’s incumbent on organisations

like ours to take the lead when it comes to dealing with these issues head-on.”

FA s a i d i t h a d approached SIA, a government agency that oversees doping and corruption in sport, recently to discuss an independent complaints procedure and Johnson welcomed the “timely” announcement.

FA said in a Tuesday statement it had met De Va n n a t o d i s c u s s h e r “grievances” but some of the allegations she made in the media had not been raised at the time.

Another recently retired Australian professional, Rhali Dobson, told New Ltd that she had been the target of predatory behaviour from senior women players.

Professional Footballers Australia, the players’ union, said it was deeply concerned about the allegations made by the former players.

“All players should feel safe, included and respected,” it said.

Brazilian footballer charged with attempted murder after kicking referee

TV footage showed Ribeiro kicking out at the referee on the floor. (UOL)

BBC Sport - A Brazilian footballer has been charged with attempted murder after kicking a referee in the head during a lower league match.Sport Club Sao Paulo player William Ribeiro attacked Rodrigo Crivellaro after he awarded a foul against him on Monday.The match against Guarani was suspended in the second half and Crivellaro was taken to hospital.The referee was later released from hospital, while Ribeiro has been sacked.The club said the incident, which

happened in the year of their 113th anniversary, was “one of the worst in its history” and that they are evaluating what further action to take.

Sport Club Sao Paulo are based in the city of Rio Grande, 200 miles south of the state capital Porto Alegre, and play in the second division of the Rio Grande do Sol state championship.Guarani won the restarted match 1-0 a day later, the state football federation said.

Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Michael Holding says people must ‘call out’ and ‘embarrass’ racists BBC Sport - West Indies great Michael Holding says people must “call out” and “embarrass” racists if equality is to be achieved.

Earlier this year, Holding released a book about racial discrimination and revealed he suffered “barbaric” abuse as a player in England.

The 67-year-old was widely praised last year after speaking eloquently on the topic following George Floyd’s murder.

Now he has called on people to be “anti-racist”,

saying: “You need good people to stop being silent.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 L i v e ’s A l l A b o u t programme, Holding said: “It is no longer good enough to say ‘I am fine, I am not racist’.

“You have now got to be anti-racist. You have got to call out the racists and you have got to embarrass the racists.

“Don’t just be silent and say to yourself ‘I am not like him or her’. You have got to be anti.”

Former fast bowler Holding was part of the legendary Windies attack of the 1970s and 1980s - taking 249 wickets in 60 Tests - and played county cricket for Lancashire and Derbyshire.

The Jamaican then enjoyed a successful career in broadcasting for more than 30 years before retiring in September.

Holding said of his speech on Sky Sports after Floyd’s death: “A lot of people don’t understand how (Continued on page 23)

Michael Holding took 249 wickets for the West Indies before beginning a career in broadcasting.

(Getty Images)

Leguan Boyz overcome Young Warriors by six wickets - donate winning prize towards orphanages in Guyana

Leguan Boyz with their hardware after the game.

Leguan Boys beat Young Warriors by six wickets and three balls to spare to emerge winner in the speciallyarranged eight-over one-day competition on Saturday under the auspices of the Canadian Softball Cricket Association (CSCA) at Greenbriar Park, Brampton.

Chasing a tricky target of 57, Leguan Boyz reached the total for the loss of four wickets, thanks to a steady 21 from Canada-based Guyanese Faoud Mohammed.

Imtiaz Bradshad contributed 15 as

Muhammad Ali sketches fetch knockout prices at NY auction (Reuters) - A boxing sketch in felt pen by the late Muhammad Ali sold for more than $425,000 at an auction in New York on Tuesday of his little-known art works, some of which went for many times over estimates.

The sketch, called “Sting Like a Bee,” and drawn on paper in 1978 was the most sought-after work among more than 20 paintings, drawings and sketches by the former heavyweight champion that reflected Ali’s interest in religion, social justice and his own career.

It carried a pre-sale estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.

“Ref, he did float like a butterfly and sting like a

PAGE 25

bee!” reads the speech bubble from a boxer knocked out by an opponent whose arms are raised in victory. Ali famously used the phrase to describe his boxing style.

Bonhams auctioneers said that 26 art works by Ali sold for a total of $945,524, more than three times the lower end of estimates.

“Sting Like A Bee” was bought by a British-based collector of Ali memorabilia, Bonhams said. Other buyers were not identified.

Ali’s passion for art was little known but he liked to sketch as a way of unwinding after a fight or training.

Some of the works for sale were traditional nature paintings, while others were

more personal cartoon-like sketches.

A 1979 red, white and blue painting on canvas, with the words “I Love You America,” sold for $150,000, while a 1967 sketch in felt pen comparing Islam to Christianity fetched $24,000.

The former world heavyweight champion, who announced his conversion to Islam in 1964 after winning the title for the first time when he went by the name Cassius Clay, died in 2016 at age 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

His paintings and drawings came from the collection of Rodney Hilton Brown, who worked with Ali on his art.

Rofel Boodhu took two wickets for 16 runs from his allotted two overs. Nishal Singh and Linden Persaud grabbed one wicket each.

E a r l i e r , Wa r r i o r s ’ innings only got some momentum from Rashaud Badshaw with a top-score of 14, the only batsman to reach double-figures.

Abdool Azeez bagged four wickets for seven runs from his maximum two overs, while Mohammed was responsible for one victim as well, conceding 13 runs in his only over.

Azeez, who hailed from Leguan, was named playerof-the-match for his sterling bowling performance. He also took home the prize for claiming the most wickets (7) of the day. Farouk Hussain, an ex-Guyana youth player, won the prize for accumulating the most runs (88) for the event.

President of the CSCA Rishi Mohan thanked the seven participating teams and congratulated the victorious combination, too.

Leguan Boys cashed in on (Continued on page 23)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 26

Samuels to contest ICC anti corruption charges

Guyana to host 50th Carifta Games in 2023

The 50th Carifta Games will be hosted by Guyana in 2023 at the National Track & Field Center

G

uyana will have to wait until 2023 to host the much anticipated 50th Carifta Games following the announcement that Jamaica will host the 49th edition of the event next Easter.

Head of Athletics Guyana (AG), Aubrey Hutson, during an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport has confirmed that the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Athletics Association has called upon Jamaica through the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) to host the 2022 CARIFTA Games.

The last event was hosted

in 2019 in the Cayman Islands with the 48th that was scheduled to be hosted

by Bermuda being pushed back two years now due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Bermuda was scheduled to host the 48th games this year following 2020’s obvious postponement but was unable to do so due to a spike in cases and NACAC has taken the decision to cancel based on the Covid19 regulations outlined by Bermuda.

Reports indicated that the Government of Bermuda required a 14-day quarantine for unvaccinated visitors and said this was non-negotiable, making it highly impractical

Thursday October 07, 2021

for there to be an Under-17 category as is the norm and for NACAC to stage the region’s premier junior track and field meet.

Garth Gayle, president of the JAAA, when asked of the possibility of Jamaica hosting the CARIFTA Games in 2022, responded: “Very strong.”

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Hutson noted that the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Sport along with Athletics Guyana has welcomed the 50th Carifta Championships being pushed back because it will allow for more time to ensure all

systems are in place, especially on the infrastructural front.

Works have begun on a new stand at the National Track & Field Center (NTFC), Leonora, with the foundation also being set for a warm-up track.

Ideally, the administrator mentioned that apart from the much needed resurfacing of the track, a long jump pit that runs alongside the 100m pathway is on the wish list of Athletics Guyana.

Hutson was keen to mention that the Athletics Guyana will not be able to host the 50th Carifta Games without the continued support of the state.

SportsMax - Former West Indies cricketer Marlon Samuels will contest recent charges made against him under the ICC anticorruption code.

The 40-year-old former batsman retired from the sport in 2020 but was charged by the ICC on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching the anti-corruption code during his participation in the 2019 T10 league.

Samuels was charged on four counts of breaching the code relating to: A breach of Article 2.4.2 – Failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality or other benefit that was made or given in circumstances that could bring the

Participant or the sport of cricket into disrepute.

A breach of Article 2.4.3 - Failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official receipt of hospitality with a value of US $750 or more.Breaches of Article 2.4.6 – Failing to cooperate with the Designated AntiC o r r u p t i o n O f f i c i a l ’s investigation.

Breaches of Article 2.4.7 – Obstructing or delaying the Designated Anti-Corruption Official’s investigation by concealing information that may have been relevant to the investigation.

Samuels who had 14 days to contest the charges has since hired legal representation and informed the ICC of his intent to contest the allegations brought against him.

V Net Communications supports coach Hercules V-Net Communications has presented cricket coach Ryan Hercules with a laptop to aid in his studies for the rigorous and in-depth programme organised by Cricket West Indies (CWI).

The donation was made yesterday at the company’s Delph Street, Campbellville location.

According to V Net Communications Chief Executive Officer Safraz Sheriffuden, the support is part of the mantra they have to assist in the grassroot development of the sport and he knows the passion Hercules has for coaching.

The former national cricketer said he was extremely grateful for the support of the company whose brand Ambassador is West Indian cricketer, Keemo Paul.

According to Coach Hercules, the 12-month course has a lot of online classes which really makes this support extremely

meaningful.

Thus far, Hercules said the focus has been on the mental side of the sport and he has already learned unique techniques he can impart in training camps.

He is set to leave on October 22, 2021, for Antigua where he and three other Guyanese – Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Mark Harper, and Vishaul Singh - who are part of the 17 being qualified, will undergo practical assessments.

Once successful, Hercules said it will be a major achievement for himself and Essequibo cricket since he will be the first Level Three Coach from the Cinderella County.

This initiative is part of CWI’s “Cricket First” strategic plan to invest in building coaching depth and quality across the region, considering the vital role coaches play in developing cricketers’ skills across all age groups and abilities.

Thursday October 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 27

England players set to agree to Ashes tour after further talks ESPNcricinfo - The men’s Ashes is set to go ahead this summer with England’s players reportedly agreeing to tour in a move that will green-light the A$200 million series.

England’s cricketers spoke with Cricket Australia (CA) bosses again on Tuesday evening, to thrash out their concerns over strict Covid-19 protocols. Players have been given until the end of this week to make a decision by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), with the team only set to tour

if an adequate number of front-liner players agree to travel.

However, those fears have now seemingly been allayed with the UK’s Daily Telegraph reporting that captain Joe Root has led a group of players committing to the series.

According to the report, wicketkeeper Jos Buttler could be the only England player not to agree to tour.

He had previously indicated his concerns over the tour and potential time away from family.

EXCLUSIVE Athletics Jamaica’s Carter tests positive, faces disciplinary hearing KINGSTON, Jamaica, ( R e u t e r s ) - J a m a i c a ’s Olympic and world championship medallist Nesta Carter, whose positive doping test caused Usain Bolt to be stripped of his Beijing 2008 Olympic 4x100 metres relay gold, has tested positive again and faces an anti-doping hearing next week.

Confirmation of the nowretired Carter’s positive test came from the Chairman of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel and the sprinter’s lawyer Stuart Stimpson.

“We have a matter with Nesta Carter ... We do have a disciplinary hearing that was referred to me by JADCO (Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission),” Kent Gammon told Reuters by telephone on Tuesday.

Gammon, who declined to name the banned substance, said the disciplinary hearing will start on Oct. 14.

Stimpson declined to provide any details on the substance or the

Jamaica’s Nesta Carter after competing.

(REUTERS/ Gilbert Bellamy)

circumstances surrounding Carter’s positive test.

The latest anti-doping violation comes three years after Carter lost his appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the International Olympic Committee’s decision to strip him and the rest of the Jamaica men’s sprint relay team, comprising Bolt, Asafa Powell and Michael Frater, of their gold medals from the 2008 Beijing Games.

In August, 35-year-old Carter issued a news release saying he had retired due to a private medical condition which had hindered him from training and competing since March 2021.

He indicated at the time that a medication prescribed by his doctor to treat the condition violated antidoping rules and as such he had chosen his health over athletics.

Carter has a personal best of 9.78 seconds for the 100 metres, which ranks as the ninth fastest time ever and the fourth best by a Jamaican sprinter in history.

Allrounder Moeen Ali will be unavailable after he recently retired, while Ben Stokes is taking a break from the game and Jofra Archer is out injured. CA are yet to officially be informed but will no doubt be breathing a massive sigh of relief given the magnitude of the decision.

In a series of two separate meetings with England players in recent days, it’s understood fears over snap lockdowns and quarantine conditions for families were the chief

concerns.

But CA CEO Nick Hockley stressed to England players that conditions in Australia were improving, w i t h t h e c o u n t r y ’s vaccination rate on the rise.

Likewise, it’s believed a move to have a second group England’s players’ families arrive before Christmas to quarantine in Melbourne has also been crucial.

Players had feared that families would only be able to arrive with them in November, meaning a hard (Continued on page 23)

Joe Root is set to lead England on the Ashes tour.

(Getty Images)

V Net Communications supports coach Hercules Marlon Samuels

Coach Ryan Hercules (far left) collects his laptop from Sales Representative Whitney Brock in the presence of V-Net’s CEO, Safraz Sheriffuden.

Samuels to contest ICC anti corruption charges t

r o Sp Muhammad Ali sketches fetch knockout prices at NY auction

Lennox Lewis poses at the Muhammad Ali exhibition. (Action Images via Reuters / Matthew Childs Livepic/File Photo)

Aubrey Hutson (Head of the AAG)

Guyana to host 50th Carifta Games in 2023

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