Kaieteur News

Women abducted K NEWS by gunmen in front home, duct taped, robbed AIETEUR

Friday Edition October 08, 2021 - Vol. 23 No. 41

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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Residents bash EPA’s decision to exempt Trini company’s cement facility from EIA - fear project poses serious health risks to communities

- expose misleading information in project document

Guyana's proven reserve climbs to over 10 billion barrels - Exxon Technician who stopped to urinate, robbed of car, cash at gunpoint Berbice Man stages own ranchers car theft for Protest to change all foreign robbed of contracts continues. food bowl Insurance money

Four companies bid to fix 'new' CJIA roof - ministry estimate is $23.2 million The Govt. is ignoring Prospecting Licence 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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The Noble Tom Madden that made the discovery.

Friday October 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

Guyana's proven reserve climbs to over 10 billion barrels - Exxon

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u y a n a ' s recoverable oil r e s o u r c e s increased to over 10 billion oil equivalent barrels with the newest Cataback-1 well discovery according to the Ministry of Natural Resources, which in a public statement yesterday noted this new recoverable resource estimate, includes discoveries made in Guyana through early September 2021.

As such, Guyana is now the country with the third highest oil reserves in the Latin America and Caribbean Region, “and as the petroleum sector continues to drive the country's economic growth, the Ministry of Natural Resources on behalf of the Government of Guyana is pleased to announce Guyana's newest Oil Discovery by Exxon Exploration and Production Guyana (EEPGL) and partners at Cataback Offshore Guyana, within the Stabroek Block.”

According to the Ministry, this newest discovery has increased the Stabroek Resource estimate to over 10 billion barrels of oilequivalent (10 BBOE) and further enhanced the development potentials of Guyana's offshore blocks.

Additionally, it was noted that the new discovery offshore Guyana at the Cataback-1 well, now indicated that there is a total of 25 economically viable discoveries within the Stabroek Block to date.

The well, according to the Ministry, encountered 243 feet (74 meters) of net pay in high-quality hydrocarbonbearing sandstone reservoirs.

It is located approximately 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) west of Turbot-1 and was drilled in 5,928 feet (1,807 meters) of water by the Noble Tom Madden.

“In transforming the hydrocarbons sector, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Government of Guyana remain committed to enhancing the exploration and development of Guyana's oil and gas resources.”

According to Minister of Natural Resources with responsibility for Petroleum, Vickram Bharrat “I would like to once again remind all Guyanese and stakeholders

that the oil and gas investments and activities will be undertaken in a manner that is keeping with international best practices for compliance and transparency within the petroleum sector.”

He additionally said that government “is continually working through consultations to enhance local content with policies and legislation that will create a sustainable development pathway to ensure maximum economic benefits for all Guyanese.”

Meanwhile, the Minister in his statement reiterated that the Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel is halfway on its journey to Guyana and it is expected to arrive offshore in midNovember 2021 with an anticipated startup of production in early 2022.

The Liza Unity FPSO has a capacity of approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day, which will complement the Liza Density FPSO, which is currently producing approximately 120,000 barrels of oil per day, bringing Guyana to producing approximately 330,000 barrels of oil per day in 2022.

ExxonMobil in announcing the discovery said the find at the Cataback-1 well builds confidence in the greater Turbot area.

ExxonMobil's affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—is the operator of the 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers) Stabroek Block.

It holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.

Commenting on the new discovery Hess CEO, John Hess said, “We are pleased that Cataback is our 21st significant discovery on the Stabroek Block and further underpins the potential for future developments.

We continue to see multibillion barrels of additional exploration potential remaining on the block.”

Kaieteur News

Friday October 08, 2021

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Pregnant women, nursing Women abducted by mothers now required to gunmen in front home, be vaccinated -Health Minister duct taped, robbed

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s part of a comprehensive effort to reduce the number of positive COVID-19 infections among pregnant and breastfeeding women, the Ministry of Health is now requiring that they get vaccinated.

During yesterday's COVID-19 update, Minister o f H e a l t h , D r. F r a n k Anthony announced that the Ministry will be rolling out a new vaccination campaign targeting these two groups of women.

The Minister explained that, earlier this year, there was a lot of skepticism surrounding pregnant and breastfeeding women taking the COVID-19 vaccines as there was limited scientific data on the issue.

However, he noted that recent studies have shown that the vaccines are safe for those women to take.

In addition, the increase in COVID-19 infections in pregnant women and new mothers, has prompted a more focused rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines among these women.

“Most of the obstetric societies globally have been encouraging pregnant women to get vaccinated in any one of the trimesters whether first, second, or third, because the vaccine is safe and it is protective,” the Health Minister added.

He explained that there

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony. were some issues of verifying the status of the women, who claim to be pregnant or nursing so as to not take the vaccines.

The Minister further said: “In terms of pregnant women, they have to be enrolled at one of our clinics, so we can verify the pregnancy and that would be done at any one of the clinics.

So that's how we'll verify that. In terms of how do we know who is breastfeeding, again, when you were discharged from your clinic, having been pregnant and delivered the baby, when you're discharged from the hospital or the clinic, you will get a clinic card.”

In the meantime, Dr. Anthony said there have

been a significant number of pregnant women who became infected with the disease.

As such, he is urged breastfeeding and pregnant women to visit any one of the vaccination sites to take their jabs, and save their lives.

“We have seen a number of cases of persons who are pregnant coming in with COVID-19.

We have seen that at the Ocean View Hospital, we have seen that here at the Georgetown Hospital, and at several of our other regional hospitals and all of these women are unvaccinated.

“Some of them, luckily would have a milder form of the disease, while others go on to have a very severe presentation of the disease and in a few cases, we had to do emergencies in Csections.

This can be avoided if women take the vaccine during their pregnancy.”

While the ministry has been offering the AstraZeneca, Sinopharm or Sputnik V vaccines to women in this category, Dr. Anthony noted that a recent survey was done, which indicated that many of them would prefer to take the Pfizer B i o N Te c h v a c c i n e .

There have been four maternal deaths recorded this year after the women were infected with COVID-19.

A 40-year-old businesswoman and a 21year-old housewife, who were conversing outside of their Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara (WBD) apartment, were abducted, duct taped, tied up, and relieved of cash and valuables by three armed bandits.

According to the police report, the two live in separate apartments in the same building.

At 18:00hrs on Wednesday, the businesswoman told police,

she closed her shop and went inside when her friend came to visit; the two remained outside chatting. While they were chatting, police said three armed suspects held them up at gunpoint.

The women were forced into the businesswoman's apartment and bounded with zip ties, while duct tape was placed on their mouths.

The gunmen removed $900,000 in cash, a quantity of gold jewellery (value unknown) and two Blu topup cell phones valued at $7,500 each from the

businesswoman's bedroom.

They then went over to the housewife's apartment and removed a pair of gold earrings valued at $10,000, an Amazon tablet valued at $15,000, a hand purse containing two silver bands, a pair of earrings, and $20,000 in cash before escaping on foot.

A report was made later to the police station at 19:00hrs.

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

Technician who stopped to urinate, robbed of car, cash at gunpoint

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our armed gunmen on We d n e s d a y r o b b e d a 2 7 - y e a r- o l d technician of his vehicle, a quantity of cash, and a cellphone when he stopped in Tucville Terrace, East La Penitence, Georgetown, to urinate.

According to a police report, the robbery occurred at 10:50hrs. Police stated that the technician was driving through Tucville Terrace, when he stopped to urinate leaving the driver

side door opened and the ignition on. The gunmen reportedly rode up on two motorcycles from an eastern direction. Police further stated that one of the pillion riders dismounted, pulled a handgun from his waist and held the technician at gunpoint.

After demanding cash and valuables, the armed pillion rider went into the technician's white and black Toyota Fielder Wagon PWW 9299, which contained one iPhone X

valued $100,000, one Lenovo laptop valued $80,000, and $17,000 cash and drove away.

The other suspects followed suit and escaped in an eastern direction on Tucville Terrace.

A group of police officers was dispatched to the location, where several checks were made to locate the perpetrators, but this was unsuccessful.

Investigations into this matter are currently ongoing.

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Friday October 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

COVID-19 billions According to the latest media reports as embedded in the 2021 Mid-Year Report, the PPP/C Government has expended over GY$25B on COVID-19 protective and relief measures. It is a huge sum which is bound to increase by several billions more since we are now three months past mid-year, and a similar number of months are left in 2021.

The Government says that another “$2B more may be needed” (KN October 7). These are massive numbers, no matter which way they are examined, and should have done enormous good for the Guyanese public, but only if all of it was expended in an honest and principled manner.

We at this paper first commend the PPP/C Government, its Leaders, and the Cabinet, for moving with energy and speed to deliver relief on a number of fronts to frightened citizens, especially those suffering from some of the pandemic fallouts. These include loss of work and earnings due to closure and an absence of confidence, given the mysterious and elusive nature of a virus that has proven difficult to nail down and bury forever. Vaccines have helped restore some confidence and, so too, have the reopening of facilities and protective equipment being furnished as needed. These are all positive components in Guyana’s COVID-19 fight and the PPP/C Government is given a round of applause for making available money to fund different needs in different areas.

But that only goes up to a point. Because prior circumstances, human nature, and governmental realities then take over, and with those come a healthy dose of skepticism, prompting varying schools of thought. As should be known, put that kind of money ($25B) in the hands of politicians and public servants the world over, and unimaginable and unpardonable things happen. Such things have happened in war, when men were dying on battlefields, when the rallying public was giving of its all for the national cause. It is called war profiteering, and it has a long history because in times of great conflict, still greater sums of money are spent to deliver the hardest, swiftest, and most telling blow to the enemy. The invisible enemy today is this COVID19 virus which has now mushroomed into a near nuclear winter with devastation everywhere. Yet, that doesn’t stop men from profiting.

They are usually politicians, and the powerful men and women that they surround themselves with and put in charge of the business of their respective nations. These officials have a record of helping themselves from the immense sums that are freed up, and let fly around to fill one urgent need after another.

In times of peace, it is the same vulgar story from politicians speaking fluently about what they have set aside to combat this, cure that, and fix some other area. The scandals of money siphoned off by corrupt bureaucrats, many times working in tandem with street smart Contractors, rob the people of what is rightly due to them: a clean process, a completed project, a product well worth the millions or billions spent in their name for their benefit.

The record attests that this has happened in the United States in one costly undertaking after another, and particularly at the state level. New York and New Jersey are names that are notorious for such thieveries and wrongdoings that hurt the people, sometimes even endanger them later.

Though not as bad, this has unfolded from time to time in countries in Europe. When we consider all of this, we end up right back here with this GY$25B spent on COVID-19 measures, with more billions needed, which we think could easily reach into another GY$5B, if not more.

Prior PPP and PNC Governments have been a rat’s nest of skullduggeries with leadership obscenities and utter lack of integrity.

Today, the PPP’s approach may be different, the language more comforting, but it is the same corrupt leaders and some of the same corrupt people in charge of delivery. With the amount of money identified, it would be encouraging to learn whether all went where it was officially earmarked to go: COVID-19 requirements.

We are not optimistic, given how the PPP/C Government and its leaders have concealed other details where corruption reigns.

Local stakeholders ask critical questions about Guyana’s energy mix at Moray House event Dear Editor, I would like to congratulate Ms. Isabelle DeCaires and the Moray House Trust for recently hosting a very informative panel discussion on “Shifting Power: Guyana’s Energy Mix” (video available on YouTube).

Presenters included Dr. Simone MangalJoly who gave an overview, Mr. Alfred Bhulai (focusing on solar/wind), former Minister David Patterson, MP (focusing on the gasto-shore project) and Maurice Veecock (focusing on Amaila Falls/ hydropower). The broad questions included: What will it cost? Who will benefit?

What experiences are we drawing fromit? How long will it last? What is the wider context?

Dr. Mangal-Joly focused on what is the best energy mix for Guyana, what factors must be considered, and who should be involved in deciding and why? She said all stakeholders are not all being involved. Mr. Bhulai’s

presentation concluded that comparing costs of energy provided by GPL, and the proposed costs of Amaila Falls Hydro, Offshore gas, and solar power, that solar is overwhelmingly the cheapest alternative.

Participants posed some very perceptive questions to the panelists including: -Can Mr. Patterson say why his Government chose the Mahaica site as a better place for the gas-to-shore project, while the current Government has chosen the Wales site, although the current Government said they used the previous studies to decide on locating the project at Wales?

-Can Mr. Patterson say what accounts for the difference in the cost of the gas to solar energy project proposed by the past and present Government?

-Do all of you agree solar should be the way to go, of all the options available?

-Are there alternative sites for a hydropower station in Guyana? It seems to me a dam

closer to the major areas of consumption would make more sense.

-There was a picture showing a “dry” Amaila Falls where the water had stopped flowing. Will this not affect the viability of the hydro project?

-Production Sharing Agreement 2016 and Environmental Impact Assessment 2017 concur that associated gas should be reinjected, that is why Liza-1 has three gas and six water injection wells. Where will gas for the pipeline be obtained?

-ExxonMobil 12-inch gas pipes 200 km laid across mud banks moving east to west at 1000-1300 metres per year.

Pipeline would not be anchored to fixed foundations. Exxon does not seem to have considered that moving mud will break this pipe.

-Can the panelists weigh in please on projected rainfall for the next five, 10, 15 and 20 years in Guyana and how these projections may impact

on the viability of investments in hydropower?

-Can you also speak to the projected availability of sufficient sunshine to ensure that there is enough solar power generation for daytime usage and storage for nighttime usage.

-Instead of burying garbage in landfills, is the Ali government considering using waste and garbage incineration (alternatively) as a source of energy?

-When will the national energy strategy be updated by the Guyana Energy Agency? The current version expired in 2020.

One participant said, “The Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) would like to commend Moray House for hosting this forum. It is important to consult with folks who have ideas for our energy mix. There is nothing to lose and the nation gains. Much learning from this webinar.”

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

Is there a PPP deal for East Coast oil development? The questions abound Dear Editor, Rumours abound that the Vice President has promised one of his closest friends to be the main player behind a proposed Private Public Partnership (PPP) in the development of the East Coast, “the mud flat in the ocean’ from Kingston to Better Hope – an area bigger than the entire Georgetown.

Are the rumour mills true?

The friend is said to be

one who benefited from an East Bank complex, the Marriott deal and the Berbice Bridge deal, among other PPP deals pre-2011.

The arrangement in those deals, as Kaieteur News had exposed, saw government investing the overwhelming majority of funds and the private investors only a small portion, but the private investor gets a majority of shares, run the company, and is the first to

recover investment and receive dividends. The friend does not invest much money, but his returns are fantastic in the thousands of percent.

Is it true that several private investors had developed an oil and gas plan and submitted proposals for development of sections of the East Coast without government injection of funds? Are the plans for development proposals from private investors being

expanded into a PPP plan for the area to benefit friend(s) of officials of the Government? With expected Government financing the studies for this mud flat project, shouldn’t the public be allowed to participate and invest in it? Is there no limit to the menacing greed of high ranking officials and their close friends and cronies?

Yours truly, Budhram Singh

From no qualified Afro-Guyanese to an Afro-Guyanese Foreign Minister Dear Editor, Whilst it is only natural to look forward to a life with no problematic challenges or hurdles with stumbles, and knockdowns, it is also known by many that one learns more from one’s mistakes than from the triumphs.

There was once a time when it had been infamously asserted, during a previous term in office of the current Government, that there were no Afro-Guyanese persons qualified to hold a single ambassadorial post. Things are very different today. It was noted in a recent letter [KN, 6 Oct 2021, Sieyf Shahabuddeen] that the face of Guyana to the world is African in the person of Hugh Todd, who holds the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Perhaps this is a lesson about one of the positives of democracy as a political system. A huge mistake has been amended. Without being democratically unseated in 2015, and then seizing the opportunity to recalibrate and refresh during the following five years, it is quite possible that a complacent PPP might have continued with that repugnant approach, thus not presenting the credible international profile that it does today – and just at the juncture of Guyana’s journey when the international presentation of our country matters so much. The visible activity on the ground by a number of Ministers is also very refreshing to any Guyanese looking on with objective eyes.

Still, many old cracks remain. We’ve not stopped hearing about police taking money – and now the whole Brickdam Police Station burn down flat! What about that particular crack? There is now talk also about the alleged arsonist’s confession coupled with on-the-street incredulity at the speed of the clean-up operation inside the burnt-out police station compound.

I also noted with approval the closing comments of Mr Shahabuddeen, about the changing demographics of Guyana, rendering it foolhardy for any major political party to focus only on one group. In the immediate term it would thus be prudent to purposively apply the ‘One Guyana’

approach advocated by President Ali in his inauguration speech. In the medium term this will have to extend also to the Brazilians, Venezuelans, Cubans, Chinese, Caricom Nationals and others, many of whom will in time become citizens.

One day their children will comprise a significant percentage of the eligible vote – completely unconcerned about the traditions of postcolonial Guyanese politics. Led decisively by the Government, we must all embrace and contribute to the ‘One Guyana’ approach so that we achieve voting solely for policies and track record well before the impact of the new Guyanese citizen comes into play.

Yours truly, Ronald Bostwick

Friday October 08, 2021

Severance pay to whitewash Estates closures?

Dear Editor, Reference is made to the Vice President’s announcement, without engaging cabinet colleagues, that every worker who was severed from the four closed sugar estates by the APNU+AFC AFC coalition would receive a one-time payment of $250,000. It is welcomed. But why hasn’t the VP informed the severed workers and the communities around the four estates that Government will sell three of them imminently? The three estates will be sold to friends from the Middle East and elsewhere. Will there be drawbacks? Some members of the opposition know about the sale deal of the three estates. They are kept in the loop, if you understand what I mean. Are some of them also in the drawback scheme?

Wales will be transformed into an oil and gas industrial complex for private developers and not for investors and workers from the area. Fourteen months into this administration and the government is yet to reemploy the 7,500 terminated workers.

Instead, Government fools them with a onetime $250,000 grant to take their attention away from the plan to sell the estates to friends.

While the severed workers are happy for the $250,000 cash grant, injection of money into the economy amounts to dilution of savings because it causes inflation. The Government’s Bureau of Statistics announced that inflation is officially 20 percent. Any shopper will tell Government officials that vegetable prices have gone up by an average 200 percent with some items as high as 400 percent. Real consumer inflation is more like 40 percent not 20 percent.

Nevertheless, going by that 20 percent official inflation rate, while severed sugar workers are being given $250K as a whitewash for closure of the estates, official inflation will eat away $50,000 dropping the real value of the grant to $200K. And the spending of the $250,000 would fuel more inflation; perhaps, driving it officially to 25 percent. All shoppers would see a loss in value of their cash as prices go up continuously. It means further erosion of purchasing power of these unassuming sugar workers is more ways than the cash grants they receive. Once the money is gone, and go it will in a year, what happens to the severed workers? The estates would be sold. What happens to

them, then? Their condition would be the same as under the coalition or maybe worse off.

The cash grant not only impacts severed sugar workers, but those with savings and all shoppers. If a person has $3M in the bank.

The inflation would eat away at least 20 percent in value driving down the real savings to $2.4M, a loss of $600,000 in value. It is a poor economic policy to give cash grants to the severed workers. People with honorary and fake degrees are not economic experts. They don’t make for sound economic Analysts.

Can the Bank of Guyana intervene in this questionable practice of money grants?

The Governor of the Bank of Guyana and the Finance Minister who are real economists, please advise the nation about this practice.

Isn’t it better to provide the severed workers with productive jobs? Why not fulfill the manifesto and employ them? Let them be on a permanent payroll producing for the economy at all the estates! Why are workers not being informed about the impending and permanent closure of the four estates?

Yours truly, Samuel Gittens

Corruption and Dutch disease Dear Editor, There have been incessant cries of doom from a certain media house and other oil and gas ‘experts’ and they have been churning out ill-conceived and outrageous statements about non t r a n s p a r e n c y , unaccountability and corruption in our fledgling oil sector. The manner in which this is peddled would make the gullible believe that we are on par with Nigeria when it comes to corruption. This example is now abused.

Let us look at Nigeria, for instance. The Nigerian

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Kaieteur News

government has earned over US$400 billion since 1970. It is worthwhile to note that oil earnings comprised 85 percent of government revenues and 99 percent of export earnings. It is also important to note that according to reports, ‘oil wealth fuels the instability, corruption and patronagedriven politics which characterises governance in the country’. Matthew John wrote, ‘Corruption runs through every level of Nigerian Government. From massive contract fraud at the top, through petty bribery,

money laundering schemes, embezzlement and seizing salaries from fake workers, it is estimated that corruption within the state apparatus costs the country billions of dollars every year’.( Campbell, Page, John, Matthew (2018). Nigeria: What Everyone Needs To Know.

(Continued on page 6)

Gandhi - confessions and acknowledgement Dear Editor, I have confessions to make, and they all surround this startling development about renaming Middle Street after the global icon, Gandhi.

My thoughts follow.

The letters from Guyanese Elijay Bijay and Hamilton Green in SN’s edition of October 6 caught me off guard, as I had never heard of a conversation and contemplation about renaming Middle Street to honour Gandhi. My second confession is the story of Middle Street, especially its place in slavery’s ghastly narratives which was also outside my range of knowledge although I read prodigiously. As for Gandhi himself, his distinctive advocacies in South Africa for Indians, to the disadvantage of native blacks was not his finest hour. Whether because of convenience or calculation or conviction or circumstances, he is both upheld and condemned by the record of his own words and postures.

I think that in the context of his time and vision, he did what was best for his own people. His own only. From the vantage point of time and

distance, I think he erred and it was not a little one. Was this his version of ‘all deliberate speed’ or racial gradualism? Despite this stain, I think he still stands as a great man on the world’s stage; one to be well-regarded for the sum of his works. I think he failed at a crucial hour but I believe he still towers as one of those noble, but all too human figures.

That said, I have difficulty with this renaming. If it originated with the learned Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, he transgressed.

This is not maintaining that required inviolable distance from host country matters. It is a bit too self-serving of him for Guyanese, particularly those of African heritage. We do not need another controversy in this polarised society.

And as much as I regard Gandhi highly, my position is simple: Not there! Not anywhere here. India has enough room for honouring the man, do it there. I wonder if I were to propose a street in India being renamed after Cheddi Jagan, how the Indians would react. They

would think I am presumptuous, and rightly so.

The energetic Indian High Commissioner should connect the dots.

Editor, I have difficulty processing these kinds of developments in this country, some homegrown. A few months ago, the word was to rename Duke Street after the great Sarah Ann Lynch, United States Ambassador to Guyana. I believe that it is also taking things too far. Her Excellency should be recognised for the outstanding work in America’s interests. I hail her in that regard, give her a national award. I remind fellow Guyanese that what we have here today are native colonial masters sponsored by foreign ones trying to make things right for them. Further, I appeal to Guyanese to shake this blind obeisance to things and people foreign. If we want to rename streets, do so with Guyanese names: Amerindian, Black, Chinese, Indian, Mixed, Portuguese, and Whites - local ones. Let national pride guide us.

Honour our own.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

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Friday October 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

Gandhi name appropriate for renaming places in Guyana Dear Editor, Reference is drawn to comments by Elijah Bijay (KN October 6) and Hamilton Green denigrating Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as the Mahatma (Great Soul) dismissing proposal to rename Promenade Garden or Middle Street after the iconic leader. Was renaming of places, including a city “Linden”, after the dictator Forbes Burnham and his children and wife, Viola, not an insult to the nation?

While not agreeing with some positions of Gandhi, like the rest of the world, I revere and salute Gandhi’s contributions to India’s freedom movement, paving the way for independence.

Because of his struggle, other countries in Africa and Asia in the 1950s and subsequently the Caribbean, including Guyana in the 1960s and 1970s were able to gain their freedom from colonial rule. That in itself is worthy of naming a place after him.

Green and Bijay refer to Gandhi as a foreigner. They are wrong. Gandhi has outlived the physical features of an Indian and as foreign.

He is claimed by every territory as theirs. The Gandhi of today is a representation of utmost humanity. Gandhi has been widely accepted as a global citizen and revered everywhere including by those who ordered his beating and put him in jail in South Africa and India. Green and Bijay state that places should not be named after a foreigner. What should we do with Nelson Mandela Avenue? Or is Green and Bijay only seeing “race” in their thoughts and actions?

Is naming a place after Mandela ok but not after Gandhi?

Green states that Middle Street or Promenade Gardens, if name were to be changed, should be named after someone who was connected to emancipation. Gandhi helped emancipate not only Guyana but the world. He was not born (1869) during

slavery, but he fought against indentureship which was a new form of slavery that was practiced in Guyana. His struggle helped to end the new slavery in 1920 and emancipated the “new slaves”.

Every country and culture celebrated Gandhi’s achievements and paid tribute to him, except maybe the Burnham Government that Green served. But even Green’s leader, the dictator Forbes Burnham, admired aspects of Gandhi’s struggle comparing a few miles of his march at national service in 1974 with the Dandi Salt March; there is/was no comparison as Gandhi marched for 240 miles defying British authority and Police beatings, landing Gandhi and several of his peace organisers in jail.

Green made reference to Gandhi’s struggle in South Africa and the removal of his statue in 2019 in Ghana. The latter was done out of ignorance of Gandhi’s ideology and positions and

...Corruption and Dutch disease From page 5 New York. pp. 89–103.) The reason why this high level of corruption exists in Nigeria is because, ‘these gas industries are under the control of the stateowned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and many politicians own or have shares in this industry.

Tax revenues from the energy sector are diminished and the benefits from Nigeria’s energy wealth are not evenly distributed throughout the country but with Lagos State b e n e f i t t i n g disproportionately’. This avenue does not exist here and does not pertain to Guyana. We collect our share of oil profit which is subject to audit and this Government has made it clear that our oil wealth will ensure that the socio-economic development takes precedence. In other words, the other sectors will not be allowed to retrogress and infrastructural development will continue to

be a priority.

It must be noted that Guyana receives 50 percent of the profits from EXXON and this revenue is not unaccounted for and available for corrupt practices. The receipt of oil revenues began in February 2020. Moreover, the Local Content Policy ensures that Guyanese receive a fair share of the oil takings. The primary aim and objective of the Policy is ensuring the education, inclusion, and advancement of as many as possible in the value chain of the oil and gas industry. This Government is spending our monies wisely and with great prudence unlike the Coalition, which spent close to 2 trillion dollars with nothing to show.

We should recall that the US$18 million bonus was a mystery, and it was nearly siphoned off by the Coalition after many denials and excuses. This is not the case with this Government. I will agree that if the Coalition was

still in Government there would have been a similar scenario as Nigeria. The corruption of the Coalition started since the signing of the PSA and that would have continued to grow and fester with each receipt of oil revenue.

The PPP/C Government rescued Guyana from being somersaulted down this corruption abyss.

No wonder the Coalition fought relentlessly to stay in power. Guyana is different.

There is such a Natural Resources Fund which was set up in 2019 by the Natural Resources Act in accordance with the Santiago Principles.

It must be noted that to date not a dollar from the oil revenues has been spent which would have amounted to nearly US$500 million.

The naysayers need to come to reality, that this Government has so far been implementing both short-term and long-term policies which will ensure that Guyana will never suffer from the Dutch Curse or Disease. Oil and gas as well as the other sectors are vitally important, and this Government has been ensuring that that emphasis is fostered. Our real GDP is growing as is evidence by the Mid-Year Report which showed 14.5 percent despite the vicious pandemic and the catastrophic floods. In conclusion, it is time for all Guyanese to support the developmental thrust of this Government and stop making unsubstantiated and misconceived assumptions.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

struggle on behalf of Black Africans. Gandhi was merely 21 when he had his first encounter with Blacks in South Africa. He didn’t know the culture or conditions of Blacks and made unfriendly remarks about them. After his experience with White racism, he better understood the predicament of Black Africans as well as Indian South Africans. He recognised that the struggle against injustice

by Blacks, Indians, Coloured were intertwined, and he fought for justice for all groups. Gandhi got into the political arena in South Africa and India because of disadvantage and racial discrimination that was imposed on Blacks in their homeland in South Africa. He was perhaps the lone figure at the time to fight the British for liberations of Africans first and later people of his native India. When he left South Africa in 1914, he expressed regret for his initial views about Blacks in 1893. And he urged the Blacks and Indians to work together. His struggle against racial injustice was continued by Ahmed Khatrada and other

prominent Indians. The African National Congress was modeled after Gandhi’ Congress organisation. All South African Black leaders paid tribute to Gandhi and several places have been named after him postapartheid. Mandela and others inaugurated events after Gandhi and praised him in helping to help liberate South Africa from white only rule.

The removal of Gandhi’s statue in Ghana was not surprising given the attitude towards Indians in that country. Did the Ghanaian leaders support Idi Amin when he told Indians to swim out of Uganda? Were not Indian assets expropriated in Ghana following the confiscation of Indian properties and businesses in Uganda by the cannibalistic Idi Amin?

On honouring Gandhi, derogated by Winston Churchill, Gandhi was recently honoured with a statue in London’s Parliament Square, looking out over the Palace of Westminster in the company of Benjamin Disraeli and Churchill. Then British

Prime Minister, David Cameron said “Gandhi’s approach of non-violence will resonate forever as a positive legacy, not just for the UK and India, but the world over”.

Gandhi was a symbol of tolerance and non-violence.

His lifestyle and struggle was the direct opposite of the violence unleashed on Africans during slavery in Guyana and in apartheid South Africa. It was a direction of beheading of slaves. That slaves were beheaded and their heads posted on stakes would have been condemned by Gandhi as he condemned all forms of violence. His behaviour is that of the triumph of tolerance and of peace over slavery. Again, this perfectly justifies the placement of his statue and or renaming of Middle Street or another street or Promenade Gardens – that symbolism of peace, non-discrimination, equality, and respect for all. His name is most appropriate for renaming places in our country.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

A brutal home invasion and horrifying experience of another Afro-Guyanese at the hands of the GPF/SWAT teams Dear Editor, I am presenting the facts of a harrowing experience for me and my family at the hands of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). It is of the intimidation and ongoing attacks against black Guyanese, by what I must term a racist PPP Government, using SWAT team goons to invade private homes, menace and humiliate black Guyanese, and also infect family members with the deadly COVID-19 virus.

These are the facts.

I am a black American citizen of Guyanese birth and origin. I am a retired medical doctor, and a re-migrant residing with my family in Lamaha Springs, Campbellville. On Thursday, August 5, 2021, between the hours of 20:00 to 21:00hrs, a heavily armed team of GPF officers, I believe from the SWAT team, invaded my private residence in the gated community - the Haynes Apartments Complex. They broke the door, held guns to my head and the heads of my other family members, including my wife and children, and other female present. We were stripped of clothing, some of us naked.

Our space was invaded

without a warrant, any legal basis, and without any explanation. Our home was ransacked. Our family harassed, shouted at, cursed and threatened, and all with frightening gun barrels pointed at our heads.

I believe that these unvaccinated, unmasked State thugs infected me and my family with the dreaded virus.

They were spitting, coughing, and sneezing all over the place. It is my understanding that the same was done to other families in the Haynes Apartment Complex. I am extremely angry at this illegal violation of my family’s rights, the gross disrespect aimed at black Guyanese, with dangerous agents of the State let loose on innocent citizens. Because of what subsequently happened to the late Orin Boston of Dartmouth and Mr. Orin Klass of Onderneeming, Essequibo, I detect that there is a pattern of harassment and criminal conduct by agents of the State against primarily black Guyanese. I was the earlier victim since August.

I went to lodge a report at the Kitty Police Station, which was taken down by

hand by the Desk Officer on duty. I subsequently did the same to the Civilian Complaints Department at the Brickdam Police Station, and from there was referred to Eve Leary.

Reports were repeatedly taken down. Yet I am in the same place with no developments, no GPF follow-up with me, no understanding of why this happened, who is responsible, and where things stand. My next report, more in the form of escalation, was to the Office of Professional Responsibility. I have names, dates, and ranks of every GPF office visited, and its oversight body. What I don’t have is any progress reports, any idea as to where matters are at this time, bearing in mind that the incident occurred, and reports have been made over TWO MONTHS AGO. Editor, this is unacceptable and unconstitutional.

Sincerely, Dr. C. N. Kendall Editor’s Note: The Crime Chief, though unable to comment on the matter yesterday, revealed that it is still being investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility.

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Kaieteur News

Guyanese better take note of that California oil spill.

After decades of experience in oil production in America, billions in technology development, and all manner of protections, oil spills are still happening and devastating the sea and landscapes.

Look at California!

Guyana has little going for it: no trusted leaders, no vibrant EPA, and no safety-first oil partner.

Most importantly, it has no insurance protection against catastrophic oil spills.

Guyanese: are you listening?

Guyanese: are you taking note?

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Friday October 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

CH&PA expended more than half - Ministry of $8.8B budget by mid-2021 Finance report

D

uring the first half of 2021, Government spent $4.8 billion of the $8.8 billion budgeted for housing development.

According to the Ministry of Finance's 2021 Mid-Year Report, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), via its Dream Realised Initiative, allocated 2,046 house lots in Regions 2, 3, 4, 6 and 10, and distributed 652 land titles in the first half of the year. It is expected that over 7,000 house lots will be allocated across Regions Two, Three, Four, Nine and Ten. The report outlined that, of the $6 billion budgeted to advance infrastructure and utility works in new and existing areas, the sum of $3.4 billion was expended in the first half of 2021.

Under infrastructural expenditure, the CH&PA

commenced works on the construction of roads, bridges, water distribution networks, drainage systems and the preparation of land in 19 housing areas across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six. These areas include Onderneeming, Edinburg, Anna Catherina, Cornelia Ida, Meten-Meer-Zorg, Stewartville, Little and Great Diamond, Providence, Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Annandale, Mon Repos, La Bonne Intention, Vigilance, Bladen Hall, Strathspey, Experiment, Nos. 75 and 79 Villages, Ordnance Fort Lands, Williamsburg and Hampshire to benefit approximately 9,780 households.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, infrastructure works are ongoing under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme for

the construction of drains and sidewalks, and the upgrade of roads in the Sophia housing area to benefit over 1,000 households.

Similar works are also anticipated to commence in the second half of the year across the communities of La Parfaite Harmonie, Westminster, Onderneeming, Recht-Door-Zee and Lusten-Rust to benefit more than 1,500 households.

Moreover, the report said that preliminary works are in progress for the extension of the programme boundaries to include La Bonne Intention housing areas, for the installation of LED street lamps and the upgrade of recreational facilities.

As it relates to home ownership, applications for core home support were approved for 97 persons, with construction expected to commence in the second half

of 2021 in the La Parfaite Harmonie and Sophia housing areas.

The document also highlighted works, which commenced on the construction of 300 homes for low-income earners and young professionals in Region Four at Cummings Lodge and Prospect, with the preparation of lands to build 100 homes in Region Three at Edinburg, Anna Catherina, Cornelia Ida, Meten-MeerZorg, and Stewartville.

It was noted that the CH&PA is in the process of acquiring lands for the construction of 100 homes at Amelia's Ward in Region 10.

Further, the report said that the single window approval system for construction permits is expected to be completed in the second half of the year.

“There were also 100 successful applicants for

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal.

home improvement subsidies in the first half of the year.

It is anticipated that 100 households will benefit from core home support and 500 households will obtain home

improvement subsidies to the value of $260.6 million by the end of the year, “the Finance Ministry report anticipated. Additionally, the (Continued on page 11)

Kaieteur News

Friday October 08, 2021

PAGE 09

Bikini at a funeral T

en years ago, a pastor was so appalled at the attire he witnessed at funerals in Barbados that he indicated to those planning to attend future funerals that it was okay for them to wear whatever they had and not be restricted in wearing black and white clothing.

The same thing may have to happen in Guyana.

Traditionally, the colours for mourning are black and white or dark maroon. Most Guyanese at funerals try to stick to these colours.

However, it is not the colour coding that is presenting the problem but the nature of some of the outfits worn by mourners.

There are men who are going to funerals dressed in banditos. And whether it is raining or shining, a great many of the mourners at funerals don dark shades these days.

The headwear and shades are not making a cultural statement. It is all about fashion. With this display of fashion, sobriety is being thrown out of the window.

You sometimes wonder whether some of the female mourners are dressed for a funeral or whether they are dressed for a party. If you attend a funeral these days, you will find that many female mourners are wearing evening clothes and some of these outfits are far from modest.

In fact, many of them are downright outrageous with deep plunging necklines and short hemlines. There is a lot

of cleavage and much leg on display breaking with tradition, which dictated simplicity and modesty in dress at funerals.

Things are changing rapidly at funerals these days and many old timers feel that there is a need for us to return to basics when it comes to funerals.

Unfortunately, we may have long passed that stage.

We may in fact be entering a phase in which we are unable to distinguish between a wake house and a party, whether someone is dressed for requiem service or a night out at the discotheque.

Inhibitions are being let go when it comes to funerals.

There used to be a time, for example, when if a criminal died, persons would be embarrassed to be seen at his funeral.

The onlookers used to outnumber the mourners because even close friends used to be ashamed to be seen at the funeral of a criminal.

Not anymore. In fact, many persons now take great pride in being seen at the funerals of those associated with criminal wrongdoing.

And they are keen not just to be seen at these funerals but they dress in a way to make themselves very noticeable.

Some of them relish in the occasion, often making an exhibition of themselves by their dress and behaviour.

What we are seeing is a change in our value-systems.

The funerals of criminals are now occasions for grand processions and partying.

Loud music and elaborate

dress are on display and alcohol is consumed freely both during and after the funeral.

In the old days, you could not see a beer bottle at the b u r ial g r o u n d . To d ay, persons stand outside the church consuming alcohol.

Beers are distributed at the funeral parlour.

And when the funeral procession is moving, drinking takes place and loud music can be heard.

There also used to be a time when a funeral procession was underway that persons would either tip or take their hats or caps off out of respect for the dead.

These days, persons are attending funerals with all manner of things on their heads and there is no tipping of hats when a funeral procession passes.

In fact, no one now gives way to a funeral procession.

In the old days when a funeral procession was passing, drivers not in the procession stopped to give the procession the right of way.

These days, no respect is shown to funeral processions.

B u t t h e m o s t disconcerting aspect which no doubt triggered the response of that pastor from Barbados concerns the outfits that are worn at funerals. Some mourners need an education about how to dress at funerals.

Given the price of some of the outfits on display at funerals including highheeled shoes, it cannot be a case of those persons who

Put on boys seh... yuh mask!

Dem

Deh gat some people presumptuous in dis country.

Dem does put on dem mask jus fuh get in dem store and shop. But when dem inside, dem does either tek it off or pull it under dem nose or chin.

Dis is exactly wah dem boys experience de other day while standing in line at de supermarket. Deh had dis lady wah bin standing in de line. She mask was below she chin and she didn't seem to care one bit.

De person, in front of she

in de line to de cashier, tun round and notice she not wearing she mask properly.

He tun to she and say, “Madam, put yuh mask over yuh face!”

De woman got highly offended, “I am fully vaccinated and I am standing four feet away from you. I don't have COVID.” De man look at she and say, “Madam, it is not COVID I am scared about.

Please put on yuh mask!”

De lady got angrier. She tun to de man and say,” Wat

are you really saying? Are you saying dat I am ugly?”

De Man answer back, “Madam, did I say anything to dat effect.”

De woman wouldn't give up. She tun to he and ask, “So wat am I? Am I pretty or am I ugly?”

De man tun to she and reply, “You are both.”

“How can I be both pretty and ugly?” she queried.

“You are pretty ugly,” he answered.

Talk half and keep yuh mask on.

are inappropriately dressed not having any other clothing to wear. The cost of the accessories alone can refinance an entire wardrobe.

What we are seeing is a

case of a break with tradition and it is always sad because traditions are so important.

One day someone is going to turn up at a funeral in a bikini.

(The views expressed in

this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

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Friday October 08, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

“In the Diaspora” and Moray House: In the house in the gutter

T

he Stabroek News has a weekly column titled, “In the Diaspora” (ITD). It is edited by Dr. Alissa Trotz, one of the leading figures in an overseas group named Overseas Friends of the WPA. The article at the time of writing in ITD is by Dr. Trotz's father who looks at the energy sector in Guyana.

Before I proceed, let me be pellucid, I see nothing wrong with Dr. Trotz inviting her father to do a piece in ITD. He is a scientist with a viewpoint to offer. I will return to Dr. Trotz's incredible hypocrisy below.

Moray House is a thinktank run by the family of the late David DeCaires. It is in fact, the residence of the DeCaires family. Moray House sponsors frequent symposia, the latest being a

talk by David Patterson, former Minister of Public Infrastructure. Here is where things get opaque.

M r. P a t t e r s o n i s scheduled to talk on energy in Guyana. Why that topic and not on the role of the AFC in five circumstances – dual citizens in parliament; the no-confidence vote (NCV) of 2018 and the subsequent legal battle to invalidate it; the AFC's position on the five-month election drama; the secret dimensions of the renewed Cummingsburg Accord of which Patterson was the AFC's chief negotiator, the AFC's five years in power.

From December 2018 to September 2020 when Volda Lawrence extinguished the flames of mo fyaah/slo fyaah in Region Five, Guyana was literally at the precipice.

That continuous period

constitutes one of the most vulnerable moments in postIndependent Guyana. A very young population still talks about the events that resided in that moment.

Why invite Patterson to dwell on energy in Guyana when that is not his forte. His forte is politics. He has been a parliamentarian since 2006. He was a minister of government for five years.

He holds the position of General Secretary for his party, the Alliance for Change.

The subject here is not Patterson. It is Moray House.

Why this institution has not s p o n s o r ed an ev en in g discussion on at least two subjects - how coalition in power operates and the fivemonth election imbroglio.

What is the reason? It has to do with my theory adumbrated several times on

this page – an anti-Indian, middle class bias. I will come to that after looking at ITD. Since the NCV of 2018, the editor of ITD, Dr. Trotz has not touched the two issues of the NCV and the five-month election fiasco.

Not one column has been devoted to the NCV and the March 2020 election. I repeat - not one column.

Here is where astute editorship of a media house comes in.

The role of an editor-inchief (eic) is to shape a media house to give readers and viewers an opportunity to understand the world by providing news that is important to be reported on and providing explanations on the meaning of events that make the news. The eic just don't sit and proof-read.

As an academic since 1978 and a media practitioner since 1988, I was honestly sickened when I read the first edition after the election rigging of the Guyana Review which is a quarterly intellectual

supplement in the Stabroek News.

There was nothing on the rigging. No interviews, no scholarly analyses, no recap, nothing.

Frederick Kissoon An editor decides M ull a which event holds to/Creole middle class importance for a nation. It a p p r o a c h t o I n d ian was the job of the eic at Stabroek News to request Dr. l e a d e r s h i p i n Trotz to find analysts who government.Let's quote have some expertise on Dominic Gaskin on the constitutional and election election rigging from his systems to publish their Facebook page of July 2020, thinking. You cannot tell me “While I empathise with this was ever done by the eic many who do not wish to see and Dr. Trotz when the NCV the PPP return to power, the was in December 2018 and harm that will certainly t h e e l e c t i o n i n s a n i t y ensue can never justify what disappeared in August 2020. is contemplated.” Certain That is one year and eight M u l l a t o / C r e o l e months. To date ITD and personalities, certain women Moray House have refused groups, certain civil society or are unwilling or don't care entities for reason of class to deal with both crucial and colour do not want an Indian party to rule Guyana. events.

This instinct if kept alive What is the explanation?

What is the reason? In other could and will destroy words, what is the analysis? I Guyana.

(The views expressed in have made my interpretation this article are those of the before on this page several times. I think it had and has a u t h o r a n d d o n o t t o d o w i t h t h e necessarily reflect the

Friday October 08, 2021

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Residents bash EPA’s decision

to exempt Trini company’s cement facility from EIA - fear project poses serious health risks to communities - expose misleading information in project document

By Kiana Wilburg The intention of Trinidadian firm, Vista Trading and Logistics, to establish a storage and distribution facility for oil well cement at Tract A2 Felicity and Le Ressouvenir is not being well received by residents in these areas of the East Coast of Demerara.

Specifically, residents of Felicity, Happy Acres, Le Ressouvenir and Atlantic Gardens are of the firm belief that the project poses serious health risks, given the hazardous chemical composition of oil well cement. They have since objected to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to exempt the project from an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Over 20 residents registered their concerns about the project during a public hearing that was held virtually and in-person yesterday by the EPA's Environmental Assessment Board (EAB).

Before appeals into the project were heard, the EAB allowed the developer and shareholder, Vinush Dindial, to make a presentation on the project. He noted that Vista's parent company, which is based in Trinidad and Tobago, has been managing cement storage and deliveries for contractors serving Guyana's oil industry. He said this was being done for the last five years. He said however, “Our objective and reason for starting our company in Guyana was due to the Directors of the company standing firm in their decision that our operation and staff should be based in Guyana to ensure that Guyanese staff and the economy could directly benefit from our operation rather than it being done from our Trinidad-based company.”

The Vista official further noted that the company identified the Le Ressouvenir location, since it is close to the shore base facilities, which would, therefore, reduce its environmental impact. The developer further noted that the equipment that would be used in the storage and distribution facility are modern and from the USA. He was keen to note as well that the operation at Le Ressouvenir would “include receiving, storing, and delivering large bags of cement to the customer's location in Guyana where they can then process the cement at their sites.”

Following Dindial's presentation, the EPA was required to provide reasons that underpinned its decision to exempt the project from an E I A . T h e E PA ' s Representative on this matter was Odessa Duncan, who was quick to note that the application by the developer for environmental authorization was received on October 19, 2020.

Duncan said it is the EPA's understanding that the project would entail the distribution of oil well cement and the transfer of same to silos, then to bulk tanker wagons and trailers for transport to clients. The E PA o ff i c i a l s a i d a l l activities would be conducted in an enclosed warehouse, which would be constructed at the project location. Duncan stressed that the approval process for the project is not completed, while adding that it is ongoing and would entail consultation with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and other stakeholders before being approved.

Duncan said prior to the E PA ' s a p p r o v a l , a n Environmental Assessment and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) must be submitted by the

Map showing the proposed location of the project (Source: Google Earth, 2020)

Proposed Project Site

developer. Further to this protective measure, Duncan outlined that an EIA was not required since the potential impacts as identified by the developer in the project documents are not significant given that they are reversible, localized, and of low magnitude. She also said that the project documents detailed mitigation measures that the project will implement to alleviate identified impacts.

Since the EPA's public hearing only allowed input from persons who formally submitted objections, Siand Dhurjon, Attorney-at-Law for Appellants, Shahabudeen Ahmad and Singer Guyana Inc, was first to speak.

During his remarks, Dhurjon expressed dissatisfaction with the EPA's decision being made solely on the project proposal prepared by the developer, while adding that the industry regulator should have had an independent assessment and documents for consideration. Dhurjon further stated that residents remain unaware of the screening tool used by the EPA to assess the project,

despite several requests for same. Turning his attention to the project summary, Dhurjon noted that the developer and its affiliates have been dishonest, as they claimed Vista is a subsidiary of Toolsie Persaud Limited, a reputable Guyanese firm.This turned out not to be so.While residents remain resolute in their belief that Vista is desirous of building a specialized cement batching facility despite claims to the contrary, Dhurjon said one fact remains irrefutable—the project will involve dangerous substances, which can have damaging effects that are detrimental to health.

In light of the health risks, the lawyer said his clients are of the firm conviction that the project should not be allowed in Felicity and Le Ressouvenir.

Another Appellant who had 20 minutes to present, concurred with the viewpoints, and even raised several questions that the E PA o u g h t t o h a v e considered during its review.

To prove his case that a thorough assessment was not

done, he challenged the EPA to answer the following questions, among others: Was there any consultation with residents before exempting the project from an EIA? What is the volume of cement that would be stored in the facility? What is the capacity of the ships bringing the materials into Georgetown?

How many trucks would be utilized to transport the cement between Georgetown and other locations?

If staff members have to wear full eyewear, respirators and suits, then why does this not create sufficient concern to consult with residents before waving the EIA requirement?

Why is it that the project summary was amended after the waiver of the EIA? Why was a separate period of 30 days for objections not held for objections to the amended document?

Would there be any water storage tanks, fuel storage tanks and would the facility be running on

GPL energy supply or on generators?

While most of the foregoing questions could not be answered by the EPA representative, the Appellant was keen to note that he does not agree with the facility being established in his neighbourhood, since it would be storing hazardous cement particulate that can pollute the airspace, and lead to cancer and ultimately death.

The EPA was keen to note that while it was not in a position to speak on the number of trucks or ships or quantity of cement to be stored at the proposed site, among other issues, the review process for project approval was not completed.

It also noted that, while there was no consultation with residents, due to the concerns raised, this would now be considered.

Following the feedback received during the two hour long hearing, Dhurjon said he has been instructed by his clients to note that legal action would be taken if enough is not done to protect the interest of concerned citizens.

Friday October 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Guyana among regional beneficiaries to get COVID-19 testing kits from Japan T

hanks to a bilateral c o o p e r a t i o n programme, the JapanCARICOM Friendship and Cooperation Fund, the CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory (CMML) received twenty-three (23) Viral RNA Test Kits valued at US$43,411, which will assist in conducting approximately 5,750 tests. The laboratory supplies will go a long way in supporting CARPHA's capacity to test for COVID-19.

In addition to the support to CARPHA, the Government of Japan also provided the sum of US$267,724 from the Association for Promotion of International Cooperation (APIC) for the purchase of kits to conduct approximately 72,090 tests for Guyana, Jamaica and Suriname.

This is according to a public statement issued by CARPHA, which said the donations, made by His Excellency Tatsuo Hirayama, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, were received by the CARPHA Executive Management Team at a ceremony, which took place on October 5, at the Agency's headquarters located in Port of Spain.

Dr. Joy St John CARPHA Executive Director receives Viral RNA Test Kits from His Excellency Tatsuo Hirayama, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. (center on monitor) Dr. Douglas Slater, CARICOM Secretariat's Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development looks on.

Dr. Lisa Indar, Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at CARPHA welcomed the delegation, and expressed thanks to the Government of Japan.

Following this, Dr. Mark Sami, Director, Corporate Services, provided a brief presentation on the history of the Government of Japan's support to CARPHA, which includes four (4) active projects, as well as projects in the pipeline.

CARPHA is leading the regional health response to COVID-19, in keeping with its Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and mandate as a CARICOM institution, and recommendations from the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD)Health Working Group on Regional Coordination for Response Management.

“CARPHA is pleased to receive these items which will add to our

ability to provide support to the Governments and People of the Region in their continued fight against COVID-19,” said Dr. Joy St. John, CARPHA Executive Director at the handover ceremony.

“We would like to express our gratitude for the continued and considerate support to fight this COVID-19 pandemic from the Government and People of Japan, through the Japan-CARICOM Friendship and Cooperation Fund.

This contribution to enhance the testing capacity of the CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory is the latest in a long history of support provided to the Region by the Government and People of Japan.

Dr. St. John also expressed her appreciation for the ongoing collaboration between CARPHA and the CARICOM Secretariat and, more importantly, for the trust and confidence that the Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr. Carla Barnett - represented by Assistant Secretary General Dr. Douglas Slater - has placed in CARPHA to execute these important projects, which bring benefits to the people of the Caribbean.

The CARICOM Secretariat's Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, Dr. Douglas Slater, voiced gratitude to the government and people of Japan for their continued support, cooperation, and partnership with the Region. Dr. Slater, who was speaking on behalf of the CARICOM Secretary General said, “We are focusing today on the handover of the RNA kits to address the challenges we have had with COVID-19. Due to the impact of (Continued on page 22)

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Confessed arsonist slapped with two charges Clarence Greene, 24, the confessed Brickdam Police Station arsonist, was yesterday remanded by the Georgetown Magistrates' Court, where he was brought to face the two charges slapped on him.

Greene, a labourer of Howes and Russell Streets, Charlestown, appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, to face the charges of robbery under arms, and for setting fire to a building belonging to the State.

It was alleged that around 00:03 on Saturday, October 2, 2021 Greene in the company of an accomplice, and armed with a gun, robbed two vendors at Stabroek Market of two cellphones valued at a total of $160,000.

It was also alleged that

around 11:06hrs that same day, Greene committed an act of arson by setting fire to the Brickdam Police Station.

Greene, who was represented by his attorney, Keswana Jenford, denied both charges and made applications for bail. The prosecutor in the matter, however, requested the charges remain indictable considering the seriousness of the offences.

Chief Magistrate McLennan then decided that he be remanded to prison until October 28, 2021.

According to the facts of the matter, Greene was arrested around 04:00hrs on Saturday last at Leopold Street, after he and another man had allegedly robbed two vendors-a male and female-at

Female patient found dead at GPHC The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation is investigating the death of a female patient, who was discovered hanging in the hospital's washroom at approximately 11:05hrs. yesterday.

According to information released from the GPHC, the female patient was discovered hanging in the ward's washroom by one of the staff members.

“As a hospital dedicated to providing the very best care to the most acutely ill and injured patients, we are deeply saddened that this death occurred and are taking action to prevent this type of event

from ever occurring again,” the GPHC said in the statement.

In the meantime, the release outlined that the Guyana Police Force and the family of the patient were immediately notified by members of the GPHC's management team.

“A team from the GPHC has been identified to support the family of the patient and provide all the necessary information to assist the GPF in its investigations.

The GPHC's Management extends our deepest condolences to the patient's relatives and loved ones,” the release added.

Stabroek Market. The female vendor, after being robbed, alerted a security guard and had gone in search of the suspects and caught up with one of them (Greene) on Leopold Street.

Ranks were notified and called in to make the arrest.

According to the arresting rank, the stolen cellphones were found in his possession, (Continued on page 22)

A screengrab of Greene from the video recorded confession he gave detectives.

Clarence Greene at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Friday October 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

GNBS launches speed Aunt who hid electrician's killers guns verification service out on bail T

The two suspects that were shot dead by police, David Smith and Quacy Jupiter.

O

ut on $100,000 station bail is the woman who had allegedly harboured Joshua Denny's alleged killers from the cops on Friday, October 1.

This is according to C r i m e C h i e f We n d e l l Blanhum who told Kaieteur News on Wednesday that investigators are still awaiting legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on recommended charges against her.

Denny, a 19-year-old

electrician, was shot dead for his 20 pennyweight gold chain by two motorbike bandits on Thursday September 30, at Mittleholzer Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt.

The Guyana Police Force identified his alleged killers as Quacy Jupiter, 20, and David Smith, 21, who were later killed by ranks during a stakeout operation on Saturday October 2, along the UG Access Road located on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

Cops were reportedly

forced to open fire on the suspects after they had pulled a gun on them.

However, police noted that ranks could have arrested Jupiter and Smith at a location in Albouystown on Friday, October 1, but a woman identified as an aunt of one of the suspects had hidden them when the lawmen arrived.

She was arrested and later reportedly admitted to investigators that she had harboured and helped the suspects to elude the ranks.

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Wednesday, October 06, 2021 launched a new service to verify the speed guns used by Traffic Ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Using its newly acquired MultaRadar Equipment and Compact Device, the GNBS, as the National Measurement Institute, will be verifying speed guns submitted by the GPF to ensure they are delivering accurate readings.

During a press conference held at the South Dakota Circuit to launch the service, Executive Director (Ag) of the GNBS, Ms. Ramrattie Karan, pointed out that accuracy is key when using a measuring instrument. She noted that the acquisition of the equipment followed several complaints that the speed guns used by Police Officers on the roadways may not be delivering accurate readings.The ED acting also stated that, "The GNBS, with support from the

An officer demonstrates how the speed gun works.

Government of Guyana, will continue to identify areas for collaboration, and support stakeholders while providing key measurement services to Guyanese."

The launch followed a two-day training on the Commissioning & Use of the MultaRadar Equipment and Compact Device for Inspectors of the GNBS and ranks of the Guyana Police Force who will be the direct, if not the sole beneficiary of this service.The training was conducted by Solutions Architect Manager, Mr.

Corlan McDonald of JENOPTIK. He noted that the training included not only "a handson" approach to using the verification equipment but also its setting up, installation and c o n f i g u r a t i o n . M r.

McDonald further stated that the device is used across the world in various conditions.

On Wednesday, the new verification equipment was also tested at the South Dakota Circuit to verify one (Continued on page 24)

Kaieteur News

Friday October 08, 2021

Berbice ranchers robbed of food bowl

Man stages own car theft for Insurance money A 27-year-old businessman has confessed to staging the theft of his car just to collect insurance benefits.

The man had lodged a report with police claiming that he had lost his car after parking it with the engine left on in front of a bar, so that he could collect some Chinese food.

He had claimed that incident took place at Alexander Street, Kitty, Georgetown around 21:00hrs on Wednesday.

His false report led detectives to send out a release stating that the businessman's white SUV Volkswagen PYY 7703 was stolen from in front Seepaul's Sports Bar. The man even misled the detectives to believe that his stolen SUV contained

various important legal documents including, land transport, insurance certificate, a revenue licence, and $500,000.

Detectives began to investigate and were able to obtain surveillance footage from nearby business.

Kaieteur News had seen the footage and it showed that after the man entered the Chinese restaurant, an individual seen wearing a white sweatshirt proceeded from the eastern side across the road, and headed directly to the parked vehicle. The suspect entered without hesitation, and drove off.

As investigators continued their enquiries they discovered that individual who drove off with the SUV was the businessman's friend and (Continued on page 24 )

CH&PA expended more...

From page 8 report noted that the Government has started reviewing proposals for housing development from 10 companies within the diaspora, and for remigrant homeownership.

Meanwhile, to address the issues of squatting and informal settlements, the document said that the C H & PA l a u n c h e d t h e Guyana Strategy for Informal Settlements Upgrading and Prevention Programme for sustainable

housing.

“In the first half of 2021, regularised house lots were allocated to 100 persons in the communities of Cummings Lodge, Vryheid's Lust South, Mon Repos, Edinburg, Golden Grove, Kaneville, Section 'C' Turkeyen and Anna Catherina.According to the document, it is anticipated that regularised lots will be distributed to a minimum of 100 persons across the country in the second half of the year.

Stolen items recovered by the police.

Two Berbice cattle ranchers were beaten and robbed of their haversacks and other items while on duty at Gurman Gate, Corentyne, Berbice yesterday.

Kaieteur News learnt that the two men, ages thirty-two and forty-four were in a guard hut while at work when they were confronted by the two suspects. During the confrontation, the suspects dealt them several lashes about their bodies and relieved them of the following items: one haversack valued $7,000, a second haversack valued $2,000, one torchlight valued $700, and one food bowl valued $500. The men were also relieved of their two bicycles,

the value of which is unknown.

The police, after the matter was reported, acting upon information received, proceeded to a home at Miss Pheobe, Corentyne Berbice, where they saw a 24-year-old man lying in a hammock underneath the house.

A search was conducted and police recovered the two missing haversacks and torchlight on a bench next to him, and three bicycles in the house, two of which were identified by the victims to be their property. The suspect was then arrested and placed in custody, while checks were made for his partner in crime, which proved futile.

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

Friday October 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

MOH procures Oxygen plant for ‘COVID’ Hospital

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The Ministry of Health (MOH) has procured an oxygen plant for the COVID19 Hospital, located at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. This is according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony.

While giving the daily COVID-19 update on Wednesday, the Health Minister said, “We are expecting to have an oxygen plant coming in shortly that we will be setting up at the Ocean View Facility, so that we can self-generate our own oxygen. That would help to reduce the amount of oxygen that we have to purchase on a daily basis.”

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Dr. Anthony further stated that they are currently 136 people hospitalised with the virus and of this number 81 patients require oxygen.

The Minister’s announcement on the Government’s new purchase came less than a month after he had revealed that it costs the State more than US$5000 to treat one COVID-19 patient.

According to the Health Minister, on average, the bill would be US$5,000 to treat one COVID-19 patient. He explained that one reason the cost to treat a patient would go up is due to buying oxygen for patients. “Some of the persons would require 15 litres of oxygen per minute, in other cases they require 30 litres of oxygen per minute and we have to buy the oxygen,” Dr. Anthony added.

Kaieteur News had reported that the government had installed a huge tank at the Ocean View Hospital, which is being filled with oxygen every 24 hours.

However, he stated that the refilling of the tanks could change depending on the patient load for that day. The Minister noted that the aforementioned also occurs at the regional hospitals.

As a result, the

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony.

Government has procured the oxygen plant to help cut the cost that is currently being spent to purchase oxygen.

The Ministry of Health had also requested support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to assess the oxygen supply infrastructure in the regional hospitals.

From this, measures were proposed to increase the distribution of oxygen.

In August, a Consultant from PAHO, Lucio De Magalhaes Brit visited

Guyana to analyse the medical oxygen supply capacities in hospitals across this country. The consultant had recommended a comprehensive approach to re-structuring oxygen supply and, in some cases, upgrading health services in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

For the month of September, Guyana had recorded a significant increase in positive COVID19 cases and deaths. Despite the aforementioned, Dr. Anthony stated that, unfortunately, there are still a large number of persons who are not heeding the Ministry’s advice to get vaccinated and added that that can lead to more recorded cases. According to the Health Minister, “This is avoidable, because if people take the vaccine we will see less hospitalisation.”

He was also keen to note that the Government is not forcing anyone to take the vaccine, and highlighted that individuals have the choice to take the vaccine. He said, however, that those unvaccinated are subject to restrictions, if they fail to provide a negative PCR test.

...Confessed arsonist slapped with two charges From page 19 and he was taken to the Brickdam Police Station and placed in cell #4 of the lockups. Around 11:06hrs that Saturday, a fire erupted at the police station and eventually destroyed 80% of the buildings in the compound.

Kaieteur News, which had visited the scene that day, was told by officers on the ground that it was suspected that the prisoners held in the lock-ups might have started the fire.

Later that day, investigators decided to question the prisoners. Two of them then related to police that it was Greene who had started the fire.

Those prisoners claimed that, after they were evacuated, they were placed in a cell with Greene, and he had told him that he had set the fire.

Greene was later interviewed at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) located at Eve Leary. At

around 22:56hrs according to the police, Greene allegedly agreed to a video recording, in which he confessed to setting the fire, because he was frustrated over being detained regarding a matter of which he claimed his innocence.

That confession tape was viewed by this newspaper and a few other media houses and it showed that he admitted willingly to setting the fire that left the Brickdam Police Station in ruins.

...Guyana among regional beneficiaries to From page 14 this disease on all aspects of our lives, we sincerely appreciate how important this is for us to be best prepared through our lead public health institution CARPHA, to help our Member States manage the process going forward.”

His Excellency Tatsuo Hirayama, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago commended CARPHA stating, “I take this opportunity to pay my respect and tribute to the Agency for its essential role in fighting against the pandemic in this region.

His Excellency went on to say that “Japan and CARICOM have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship based on our shared principles and values that include, among others, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Building on our long-standing cooperative relations, it is my utmost

pleasure to witness the procurement of approximately 77,840 PCR test kits utilising more than US$300,000. He expressed his hope that the test kits will facilitate CARICOM member countries in conducting necessary tests expeditiously, thus contributing to detecting infections early.

Ms. Aneesa DoodnathSiboo, Principal Pharmacist, Ministry of Health, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago delivered remarks on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Health, Mr. Terrence Deyalsingh. Ms. DoodnathSiboo highlighted the close and beneficial relationship with CARPHA, stating, “The value of this affiliation has definitely been made evident by the collaborative approach to the fight against COVID19. In closing, she said, “RNA extraction is the first step of the PCR testing process.

Thus, I cannot stress enough the importance of these contributions towards the

COVID-19 management programme for the Caribbean community. This significant donation will ensure the receipt of quality and equitable test results from COVID-19 testing facilities and utilise the latest technology for COVID-19 diagnosis.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), acting through the Caribbean Community Secretariat, and CARPHA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to support CARPHA member states in managing and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by the Government and people of Japan, through the JapanCARICOM Friendship and Cooperation Fund, this project is aimed at strengthening the capacity of CARPHA's Medical Microbiology Laboratory to undertake additional testing on behalf of its member states.

Kaieteur News

Friday October 08, 2021

PAGE 23

Four companies bid to fix ‘new’ CJIA roof During the opening of Tenders yesterday, at the National Procurement and Tender Administration B o a r d ( N P TA B ) , f o u r construction firms bided to execute rehabilitation works to the existing roof at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The procuring entity is the Ministry of Public Works according to the Engineer’s

estimate is pegged at some $23,223,375. The companies vying for the contract are DKE Enterprise, N & S General Engineering and Contracting Services, Triple S Supplies and Contracting Services, and BS Narine and Sons Investment.

The expansion of the CJIA, which has been going on for years was signed in

Ministry of Public Works Rehabilitation of Existing Roof-Option 3 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

2011 under then President, Minister commissioned a Bharrat Jagdeo, and was new runway, that was passed through the truncated completed at a cost of p r e s i d e n c y o f D o n a l d GY$518 million. It formed Ramotar. part of the wider expansion As the country awaits project being undertaken by the completion of the the Chinese Contractor, project, Minister of Public China Harbour Engineering Works, Bishop Juan Edghill Corporation. recently stated that the total Prior to this, the Public c o s t w i l l n o t e x c e e d Works Ministry had awarded US$200 million. a contract for US$2 million Just recently, too, the to a local firm named Total Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Consultancy for Pre-investment studies and design for Waste Management Facilities.

- ministry estimate is $23.2M

Solutions for the supply of country close to US$2M two additional air bridges. more.

The Minister had Minister Edghill noted, explained that Guyana was too, that the airport was supposed to receive an expected to be completed by airport with eight air bridges, December 31, 2021, but due but due to the adjustments t o t h e c o n s t r a i n t s o f made to the contract by the shipping, as a result of the previous government, the global pandemic, works Contractor only provided might not be completed until two of the air bridges and early 2022. two more were purchased, Below are the which ended up costing the companies and their bids: Consultancy services for Geotechnical Investigations for the Design of the Bartica to Timehri Road Link.

Ministry of Health Supply and delivery of Emergency COVID-19 consumables.

Development of Waste Management Plans for Regions.

Rehabilitation of Access Dam Columbia, Essequibo Coast.

Health Ministry records five more COVID-19 fatalities

Y

esterday, the Ministry of Health reported that five 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 821.

The countries latest fatalities are that of five unvaccinated persons, who all died over a two-day period (October 6 to 7), while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

The fatalities are that of an 80-year-old man from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and four women, a 93-year-old from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), an 88-year-old, a 56-year-old, and a 72year-old all from Region Four. Meanwhile, via its daily COVID-19 dashboard, the Health Ministry recorded 224 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 33,175.

Presently, there are 32 patients admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 157 persons in institutional isolation, 3,473 in home isolation and seven in institutional quarantine.

To date, a total of 28,692 persons who tested positive for the virus have recovered.

PAGE 24

Chinese national drowns in Essequibo River A Chinese national working with a foreign company called Huixin Mining Company, reportedly drowned on Wednesday in the Essequibo River.

Police identified him as Sude Tui, age 57.

According to Investigators, Tui went underwater sometime between 15:00 and 15:30hrs in the vicinity of Trail Boss Landing and failed to resurface. Trail Boss Landing is located at Buck Hall on the Essequibo River in the Region Three.

Kaieteur News understands that he was one of 200 Chinese nationals who were passing through the area fishing with the intention of heading into the gold fields later. The Investigators reported that the Chinese national and a friend had

reportedly entered the river that afternoon to bathe.

Eyewitnesses told Investigators that the men had first entered the water with lifejackets, but five minutes later they exited, took off their lifejackets, and went back in.

The eyewitnesses continued that while two were swimming, they noticed them “going up and down in the water.”

Realizing that the foreigners might be in danger, an individual who was standing close by on the landing, decided to jump in to save them.

That person managed to save one of the two, but Sude Tui went down and never came up again.

The area was searched to recover his body but it is yet to be recovered.

Labourer with one-foot dies in backdam bee attack A 57-year-old labourer of Eversham Village, Corentyne died following a bee attack in the Eversham backdam yesterday.

Dead is John Sutherland of Eversham Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Reports are that Sutherland, who has only one foot (right), had left his home at Eversham for the backdam with Bryan Bagot of Philippi Farm, Corentyne and Suresh Binda of Alness Village, two farmers. They has gone there to make preparations on the land.

Police said that Binda disclosed that they were sitting on the tractor fender when the driver, who was ploughing the field at the time, stopped his tractor, and shouted that there were bees

in the vicinity. They all ran Binda said, but Sutherland was left behind because of his foot limitation.

Sutherland was swarmed by the bees and stung until he collapsed.

After sometime had elapsed, they returned to where Sutherland was and they saw him lying motionless on the ground, with several stings about his body.

The body was escorted out of the backdam with the tractor to his home, and was then taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is presently at the Skeldon Public Hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination.

...GNBS launches speed guns verification service From page 20 of the speed guns used by the GPF. Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Ramesh Ashram welcomed the new service.

He said the GPF is looking forward to working with the Bureau of Standards as it relates to further calibration of its current speed guns, new guns that will be acquired, and other equipment relating to policing in Guyana.

The GNBS, earlier this year procured a Breathalyzer Test Bench, capable of verifying a wide range of Breathalysers used by the GPF and other companies to

Friday October 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

test the alcohol levels of drivers and employees, respectively.

GNBS inspectors were trained to provide the verification services by the supplier of the breathalyser equipment and by the Measurement Institute of Argentina (INTI).

In addition, over the past two years, the Bureau has trained 239 Police Officers in the use of speed guns and breathalysers.

The Bureau looks forward to working with the Police to ensure reliable measurements are made when administering the law.

U.S. Senate Democrats give new details on Trump’s bid to overturn election WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A review by U.S. Senate Democrats of Donald Trump’s attempt to use the Justice Department to overturn his 2020 election defeat provided new details yesterday about an official’s bid to push out the acting attorney general to advance Trump’s false claims.

The report by Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats details how Jeffrey Bossert Clark, then a senior Justice Department official, met with Trump more than once in late 2020.

The then-president was growing angry that acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen would not launch a public investigation into Trump’s false claim that his defeat to now-President Joe Biden was the result of widespread fraud.

Rosen assumed his position in the final weeks of Trump’s presidency after William Barr resigned effective Dec. 23, 2020, rather than use the department to pursue Trump’s false claims, which were rejected by multiple courts, state election officials and his own administration.

“Today’s report shows

Donald Trump

Jeffrey Bossert Clark

the American people just how close we came to a constitutional crisis,” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin said in a statement.

Rosen told the committee that Trump opened one meeting with him by saying, “One thing we know is you, Rosen, aren’t going to do anything to overturn the election.”

Trump also asked Clark if he would be willing to take over as acting attorney general, the report said, adding that Clark relayed this message to Rosen.

“Rosen recalled Clark indicating that he hadn’t yet decided whether he would accept Trump’s offer, wanted to conduct some ‘due

diligence’ on certain election fraud claims, and might turn down the offer if he determined that Rosen and (Rosen’s deputy, Richard Donoghue) were correct that there was no corruption,” the report said.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during his first postpresidency campaign rally in Wellington, Ohio, U.S., June 26, 2021. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton The report also found that Clark sought to attend a meeting with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to ask about a baseless conspiracy theory that a Dominion voting machine “accessed the Internet through a smart

thermostat.”

Clark pushed for a letter to Georgia, urging a special legislative session to contest the election results, the report said. The request was refused.

Clark’s efforts ultimately failed, after all of the department’s remaining senior leadership threatened to resign in protest if Clark were installed.

Durbin said the committee has asked Clark to testify.

Yesterday’s report also contains new details about how former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows tried convince Rosen to launch “at least four categories of false election claims” in places such as Fulton County, Georgia and New Mexico.

Republicans on the committee issued their own report, which drew different conclusions.

“The available evidence shows that President Trump did what we’d expect a president to do on an issue of this importance: He listened to his senior advisers and followed their advice and recommendations,” Ranking Member Charles Grassley said.

Cash airlifts planned to bypass Taliban and help Afghans - sources B R U S S E L S / F R A N K F U R T / WASHINGTON - (Reuters) As desperate Afghans resort to selling their belongings to buy food, international officials are preparing to fly in cash for the needy while avoiding financing the Taliban government, according to people familiar with the confidential plans.

Planning for the cash airlifts is going ahead against the background of a rapidly collapsing economy where money is short, although diplomats are still debating whether Western powers can

demand that the Taliban make concessions in return, according to internal policy documents seen by Reuters.

The emergency funding, aimed at averting a humanitarian crisis in the face of drought and political upheaval, could see U.S. dollar bills flown into Kabul for distribution via banks in payments of less than $200 directly to the poor - with the Taliban’s blessing but without their involvement.

As well as flying in cash to stem the immediate crisis, donor countries want to set up a “humanitarian-plus” trust

...Man stages own car theft for Insurance money From page 11 they staged the car theft.

Caught red handed they led detectives to a location in Ogle on East Coast Demerara where they had abandoned the SUV. The businessman later confessed to investigators at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Eve Leary that he had staged the robbery with his friend just to collect insurance benefits.

He told them that his SUV was involved in an accident with another vehicle and the insurance company had refused to pay him for the damage.

The businessman said he became frustrated and decided to a stage robbery. He said his intention was to destroy the car so that he could get the insurance benefit but his plan was thwarted. He is currently in police custody.

fund that would pay salaries and keep schools and hospitals open, two senior officials said.

Many Afghans have started selling their possessions to pay for ever scarcer food. The departure of U.S.-led forces and many international donors robbed the country of grants that financed 75% of public spending, according to the World Bank.

The West’s unorthodox strategy reflects the dilemma it faces. Still eager to help Afghanistan after two decades of war, and to prevent mass migration, it is also loathe to give money to the Taliban, who seized power in August and have yet to show significant change from the harsh way they ruled the country between 1996-2001.

The United Nations has warned that 14 million Afghans face hunger. MaryEllen McGroarty, U.N. World Food Programme Afghanistan director, said the economy could collapse in the face of the cash crisis.

“Many parents are foregoing food so that their children can eat,” she has said.

In recent days, Western diplomats and officials have stepped up efforts to

establish a cash lifeline.

The United Nations World Food Programme has distributed about 10 million Afghanis ($110,000) in cash via a local bank and intends to disburse more soon, said one person with knowledge of the situation.

The cash runs are a trial for larger air deliveries of dollars from Pakistan, the person said.

A senior diplomat said two approaches are under consideration that would inject cash into the Afghan economy. Both are in the planning stages.

Under the first plan, the World Food Programme would fly in cash and distribute it directly to people to buy food, expanding on something the agency already has been doing on a smaller scale.

The second approach would see cash flown in to be held by banks on behalf of the United Nations. That would be used to pay salaries to the staff of U.N. agencies and non-governmental organizations, the diplomat said.

A third person said U.N. officials had talked with Afghan banks about opening up cash distribution channels.

Kaieteur News

Friday October 08, 2021

PAGE 25

Residents bash EPA’s decision

to exempt Trini company’s cement facility from EIA - fear project poses serious health risks to communities - expose misleading information in project document

By Kiana Wilburg The intention of Trinidadian firm, Vista Trading and Logistics, to establish a storage and distribution facility for oil well cement at Tract A2 Felicity and Le Ressouvenir is not being well received by residents in these areas of the East Coast of Demerara.

Specifically, residents of Felicity, Happy Acres, Le Ressouvenir and Atlantic Gardens are of the firm belief that the project poses serious health risks, given the hazardous chemical composition of oil well cement. They have since objected to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to exempt the project from an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Over 20 residents registered their concerns about the project during a public hearing that was held virtually and in-person yesterday by the EPA's Environmental Assessment Board (EAB).

Before appeals into the project were heard, the EAB allowed the developer and shareholder, Vinush Dindial, to make a presentation on the project. He noted that Vista's parent company, which is based in Trinidad and Tobago, has been managing cement storage and deliveries for contractors serving Guyana's oil industry. He said this was being done for the last five years. He said however, “Our objective and reason for starting our company in Guyana was due to the Directors of the company standing firm in their decision that our operation and staff should be based in Guyana to ensure that Guyanese staff and the economy could directly benefit from our operation rather than it being done from our Trinidad-based company.”

The Vista official further noted that the company identified the Le Ressouvenir location, since it is close to the shore base facilities, which would, therefore, reduce its environmental impact. The developer further noted that the equipment that would be used in the storage and distribution facility are modern and from the USA. He was keen to note as well that the operation at Le Ressouvenir would “include receiving, storing, and delivering large bags of cement to the customer's location in Guyana where they can then process the cement at their sites.”

Following Dindial's presentation, the EPA was required to provide reasons that underpinned its decision to exempt the project from an E I A . T h e E PA ' s Representative on this matter was Odessa Duncan, who was quick to note that the application by the developer for environmental authorization was received on October 19, 2020.

Duncan said it is the EPA's understanding that the project would entail the distribution of oil well cement and the transfer of same to silos, then to bulk tanker wagons and trailers for transport to clients. The E PA o ff i c i a l s a i d a l l activities would be conducted in an enclosed warehouse, which would be constructed at the project location. Duncan stressed that the approval process for the project is not completed, while adding that it is ongoing and would entail consultation with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and other stakeholders before being approved.

Duncan said prior to the E PA ' s a p p r o v a l , a n Environmental Assessment and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) must be submitted by the

Map showing the proposed location of the project (Source: Google Earth, 2020)

Proposed Project Site

developer. Further to this protective measure, Duncan outlined that an EIA was not required since the potential impacts as identified by the developer in the project documents are not significant given that they are reversible, localized, and of low magnitude. She also said that the project documents detailed mitigation measures that the project will implement to alleviate identified impacts.

Since the EPA's public hearing only allowed input from persons who formally submitted objections, Siand Dhurjon, Attorney-at-Law for Appellants, Shahabudeen Ahmad and Singer Guyana Inc, was first to speak.

During his remarks, Dhurjon expressed dissatisfaction with the EPA's decision being made solely on the project proposal prepared by the developer, while adding that the industry regulator should have had an independent assessment and documents for consideration. Dhurjon further stated that residents remain unaware of the screening tool used by the EPA to assess the project,

despite several requests for same. Turning his attention to the project summary, Dhurjon noted that the developer and its affiliates have been dishonest, as they claimed Vista is a subsidiary of Toolsie Persaud Limited, a reputable Guyanese firm.This turned out not to be so.While residents remain resolute in their belief that Vista is desirous of building a specialized cement batching facility despite claims to the contrary, Dhurjon said one fact remains irrefutable—the project will involve dangerous substances, which can have damaging effects that are detrimental to health.

In light of the health risks, the lawyer said his clients are of the firm conviction that the project should not be allowed in Felicity and Le Ressouvenir.

Another Appellant who had 20 minutes to present, concurred with the viewpoints, and even raised several questions that the E PA o u g h t t o h a v e considered during its review.

To prove his case that a thorough assessment was not

done, he challenged the EPA to answer the following questions, among others: Was there any consultation with residents before exempting the project from an EIA? What is the volume of cement that would be stored in the facility? What is the capacity of the ships bringing the materials into Georgetown?

How many trucks would be utilized to transport the cement between Georgetown and other locations?

If staff members have to wear full eyewear, respirators and suits, then why does this not create sufficient concern to consult with residents before waving the EIA requirement?

Why is it that the project summary was amended after the waiver of the EIA? Why was a separate period of 30 days for objections not held for objections to the amended document?

Would there be any water storage tanks, fuel storage tanks and would the facility be running on

GPL energy supply or on generators?

While most of the foregoing questions could not be answered by the EPA representative, the Appellant was keen to note that he does not agree with the facility being established in his neighbourhood, since it would be storing hazardous cement particulate that can pollute the airspace, and lead to cancer and ultimately death.

The EPA was keen to note that while it was not in a position to speak on the number of trucks or ships or quantity of cement to be stored at the proposed site, among other issues, the review process for project approval was not completed.

It also noted that, while there was no consultation with residents, due to the concerns raised, this would now be considered.

Following the feedback received during the two hour long hearing, Dhurjon said he has been instructed by his clients to note that legal action would be taken if enough is not done to protect the interest of concerned citizens.

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Kaieteur News

Friday October 08, 2021

Friday October 08, 2021

France stun Belgium with dramatic comeback to reach Nations League final

France also beat Belgium in the 2018 World Cup semi-final. (REUTERS)

BBCsport Theo Hernandez scored a superb 90th-minute winner as France hit back from 2-0 down to stun Belgium and reach the Nations League final. Didier Deschamps’ side looked out of contention at the break after conceding two goals in the space of four minutes, but a thrilling second-half fightback set up a meeting with Spain.

AC Milan full-back Hernandez was the matchwinner, collecting the ball on the edge of the box and firing home a finish into the far corner to spark joyous scenes at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.

Friday October 08, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) There's a great deal of transforming energy in the air that you should harness and capitalize on. You may be a fan of the diet that you'll start "tomorrow."

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You may experience writer's block in every sense of the phrase. Even if you don't consider yourself a writer, for some reason it may be difficult to get even the simplest words down on paper.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Action should be your main priority, especially when it comes to love and romance.

You may not be too concerned about what sort of action you take.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) A surprise in love and romance is on its way to you.

Things are coming full circle, and the investment you made in this realm is finally paying off. Something new is cropping up, but in reality, this is a result of things you set in motion long ago.

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Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your heart may be hurt by misfortunes that have befallen you. Thinking about times past is just pulling up buckets of tears from a well.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're filled with joy!

There's a tremendous wave of love coming your way.

Everything involving romance could be taken to extremes.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Instead of dragging on with something old, tired, and worn out, why not start something new? If you refuse to give up on a project that's doomed to fail, you'll be in for a long, frustrating road ahead.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Social engagements will be your saving grace. Without them, you may be confused and sad about issues that are reaching a climax. In some form or another, you're being asked to make some major transformations.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Be more aware of your personal appearance and how you're perceived. Make sure that your attire is appropriate for the people you're with and the situation.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) The intensity should increase around an issue regarding love and romance.

Unfortunately, this tension may be unavoidable. It's likely that some sort of power struggle is being thrown into the mix.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Know what you're getting yourself into, especially if it has to do with love and romance. You may be like a fly on a tree branch, carefully inspecting the beautiful spider web at your feet.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Let your heart shine. Love surrounds you like a beautiful pink cloud, and you can't help but attract people to you. Take romance to a higher level with someone really special tonight.

It started well for Belgium, who took a 37th-minute lead when Yannick Carrasco cut in from the left and drilled in a finish at the near post, wrongfooting goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Just four minutes later, Roberto Martinez’s side doubled their advantage as Romelu Lukaku latched on to Kevin de Bruyne’s through ball and fired a blistering shot into the roof of the net.

But Karim Benzema pulled a goal back on the hour mark, turning and sliding a finish into the bottom corner from Kylian Mbappe’s lay-off. And they drew level through Mbappe’s confidently taken penalty after Youri Tielemans’ trip on Antoine Griezmann inside the area.

Lukaku thought he had won it with three minutes remaining after slotting in from Carrasco’s low cross, but the strike was ruled out by VAR for offside. There was still time for Paul Pogba to rattle the crossbar with a sublime curling free-kick from 30 yards out, before Hernandez struck late on.

The final takes place at the San Siro on Sunday while the third-place play-off between Belgium and European champions Italy is in Turin on the same day.

...RHT Namilco Thunderbolt From page 31 including Dr. Puran Singh, Brian Ramphal, Bissoondyal Singh, Mr. Kumar GK Inc., Abbas K Hamid (Vitality), Michael Khan, Anasha Ally, Chandradat Chintamani, Rajendra Daniel Sadeo, Lucille George, Ave Ramzan, Romaro Samaroo, Farfan and Mendes, Bakewell, Faizal Jafferaly, Hollis Schwiers, Sheik Mohammed, Shabika Gajnabi, Shimron Hetmyer, Zaeer Ali, Therbhuwan Jagdeo and Navendra Persaud.

Assuria signs up to support ‘Lady Jags’ World Cup Journey Leading insurance company Assuria has thrown its support behind the Guyana Football Federation as a sponsor of the Senior Women’s National Team for the forthcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

“At Assuria, we take our corporate social responsibility very seriously. We’ve had a very fruitful relationship with the Guyana Football Federation for quite a number of years with Mr. Forde at the helm of that organisation,” said Erwin Daniels, Head of the Life, Pensions and Health Department at Assuria.

“This donation is another aspect of us giving back to the community. It is geared towards the medical needs and other enhancement needs of the footballers,” he said, presenting a cheque for an undisclosed sum to Lisa Ahmad, Chairwoman of the Federation’s Marketing Committee.

The Lady Jags are

preparing for a week-long training camp in Puerto Rico, between October 18 and October 24, with practice matches against the hosts scheduled for October 20 and October 23.

Guyana has been drawn in Group F of the CONCACAF W Championship qualifiers with Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, Turks and Caicos and Dominica. The winner of the group will join the five other qualification group winners and automatic qualifiers, Canada and the U.S., at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship which acts as the region’s gateway to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “On behalf of the Guyana Football Federation, we want to thank Assuria for coming on board once again to support the Lady Jags as they embark on these World Cup qualifiers,” said Ahmad. “We want to welcome Assuria again to partner with us as we embark on this journey.”

Kaieteur News

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Friday October 08, 2021

Clinical Knight Riders all but in playoffs after Royals demolition job ESPNcricinfo - Unless Mumbai Indians pull off a miracle even more miraculous than their great

escape of 2014, Kolkata Knight Riders have sealed the fourth and final playoffs spot in IPL 2021.

On another Sharjah pitch with treacherous low bounce, Knight Riders enjoyed the perfect game

yesterday - a solid opening stand to ensure they’d get to a competitive total after being sent in, a series of cameos from their middle order to lift them to the season’s best total on this ground, and a ruthless bowling display to keep Rajasthan Royals to their second successive sub-100 total.

They might have preferred to chase given all the net-run-rate permutations, but this route suited them just fine too.

They began the day with an NRR of 0.294, and their 86run win lifted it to 0.480.

Mumbai, who are on 0.048, will have to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by a ridiculous margin today to bridge that gap How ridiculous? They’ll need to win by 171 runs if they bat first. And if they lose the toss and bowl, they’ll have no chance of making up their NRR deficit.

The Knight Riders don’t just have a foot in the playoffs; they have everything but their trailing little toe in them.

Gill and Iyer lay solid platform - The pattern of the game was quite clear during the opening exchanges.

Royals bowled exclusively seam through their first 10 overs, and all their seamers looked to hit the shorter side of a good length and bowl cross-seamers and cutters into the pitch. With neither pace nor bounce to work with if they batted normally, Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer looked to counter this tactic by shuffling out of their crease to manufacture momentum towards the ball.

The first nine overs produced a contest that neither side dominated, with the runs coming at barely over a run a ball, but with no wickets falling Knight Riders came out of it the happier side.

Then Iyer hit two sixes in the 10th over, with Jaydev

Unadkat overpitching on one occasion and bowling a perfectly acceptable ball on the other, only to be met by a straight-bat hit back over his head off a shortish length.

In the next over, Gill stepped out to the evening’s first ball of spin, found himself a long way from the pitch of the ball, and reached out to hit Rahul Tewatia for a not-entirely-controlled onehanded six over long-on.

Knight Riders were 75 for 0 in 10.1 overs.

Middle order blasts off - Tewatia ended the 11th over strongly, bowling Iyer as he attempted to reverse-sweep, and the match was interestingly poised, with Knight Riders having nine wickets to play with over just 9.1 overs. Would their middle order bat with a suitable lack of fear about losing their wickets?

They would. Nitish Rana set the tone, lasting just five balls but hitting 12 off them, feasting on the Royals’ decision to bowl a part-time offspinner at him. Rana is one left-hander who’s definitely not troubled by offspin, as his IPL record against that style of bowling - an average of 42.00 and a strike rate of 162.79 - and his past takedowns of R Ashwin have testified.

Glenn Phillips is no Ashwin, and he overpitched twice to Rana to concede a carved four behind point and a big six down the ground.

Even though Rana holed out immediately afterwards, Phillips ended up conceding 17 off the 12th over with Rahul Tripathi whipping its last ball for a first-ball four.

Rana, Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan together tallied 60 off 41, and Gill did his bit too, going from 27 off 27 to an eventual 5 6 o ff 4 4 , u s i n g h i s wristwork to defy the sluggishness of the surface and manufacture exquisite leg-side boundaries off Mustafizur Rahman and

Chris Morris along the way.

The last 10 overs brought Knight Riders 102 runs, leaving the Royals a highly tricky chase against one of the best attacks in the competition.

Mavi and Ferguson show the value of high pace - Slower balls and cutters work very well on slow, low pitches, but their utility mainly lies in drying up boundaries and sucking the life out of innings. They aren’t necessarily a means of full-frontal attack.

In Lockie Ferguson and Shivam Mavi, however, Knight Riders had two of the quickest bowlers in this match, and they showed that high pace can be utterly devastating when there’s low bounce on offer.

Royals were already three down before this became apparent, and there had been no grand design behind the first three wickets. Yashasvi Jaiswal was bowled attempting to reverse-sweep Shakib Al Hasan, Sanju Samson hit an uppish flick too close to short midwicket, and Liam Livingstone lost his shape while trying to pull.

Thereafter, however, Mavi and Ferguson ripped through the Royals largely by means of bowling fast and getting the ball to skid through low from the shorter side of a good length, with Anuj Rawat, Phillips and Shivam Dube all stuck on the crease and either bowled or lbw to balls of this nature.

Then Morris was lbw trying to sweep Varun Chakravarthy, and the Royals were 35 for 7 with no way back into this game.

Tewatia is always the last man to concede defeat, however, and he slog-swept his way to a 36-ball 44 to ensure the Royals didn’t threaten the record for the lowest IPL total. They did, however, end their season by being bowled out for the lowest total of the season.

Lockie Ferguson marked his comeback from injury in style BCCI

Kaieteur News

Friday October 08, 2021

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T20 World Cup Covid-19 FAQs: ten-day isolation for positive tests, fans to wear masks ESPNcricinfo - The ICC will host its first World Cup since the start of the Covid19 pandemic when the 2021 men’s T20 World Cup begins from October 17. The 16team tournament will be played in the UAE and Oman, countries with some of the highest proportion of population vaccinated against Covid-19.

In fact, the UAE, which will host some of the firstround games and then the entire Super 12s and the knockouts, is top of the list of countries with the highest percentage of vaccinated population - with 94% receiving at least one jab.

But as Alex Marshall, the Head of Integrity and Biosafety at the ICC, says, hosting a multi-team event across four venues in two countries is a “complex” issue with multiple moving parts and several safeguards needed to keep all participants safe both physically and mentally.

Following are some of the key questions Marshall answered during a media briefing yesterday.

What happens if there is a positive/asymptomatic case in the bubble? If someone tests positive, even if they are asymptomatic, that person will need to

Green Machine announce squad for RAN 7s US$19,000 needed to fulfill budget requirements

T

he Guyana Rugby Football Union ( G R F U ) announced at a press conference yesterday at the National Racquet Center, Woolford Avenue, the list of players who will make up their 12-man squad for the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens competition which would be held on October 16-17 in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos.

This will be the official return to competition for the sport not only for Guyanese athletes but for all in the region following the covid19 pandemic and the last time there was competition at the RAN level was January, 2020.

Theo Henry who is the Internationally certified Fitness Trainer and a former Captain of the Green Machine; Guyana’s national Men’s Rugby side, will have his first outing with the team since being appointed as Sevens Coach last year while Jamal Angus will continue as team Captain.

The other 11-players making the cut are Godfrey Broomes, Osei McKenzie, Rondel McArthur, Lancelot Adonis, Avery Corbin, Peabo Hamilton, Phibian Joseph, Tyresse Prescod, Oniel Charles, Jonathan Garnett and Lionel Holder while Akeem Fraser is the

Physiotherapist; George David will serve as Manager.

Guyana is grouped with Bermuda, Curacao and Belize and Coach Henry is optimistic about his team’s level of fitness but stressed that game time is vital during the brief presser yesterday, “I’m about 90% comfortable with the preparation we’ve had so far but I would’ve liked for us to have some sort of competition.”

Player and Union’s Public Relations Officer, Godfrey Broomes, noted that the entity was disappointed to not have the go ahead to be able to train in their full numbers ahead of this very important clash but maintained that the GRFU will continue to engage the Covid -19 Task Force for guidance on the best way forward.

The Green Machine has been very competitive in the RAN Sevens competition for the past decade but since relinquishing the title in 2017 they have yet to recapture that glory.

The GRFU expressed disappointment that despite their usual competitiveness, the struggle continues in terms of getting enough, and timely, financial support from the State and Corporate Guyana. Currently the team needs US$19,000 more to reach their budget of US$38,000.

isolate for ten days.

What happens with the close and casual contacts?

A close contact is defined as someone who is not wearing a mask and is less than two metres from the individual for at least 15 minutes and 48 h o u r s p r i o r t o test/symptoms. The close contacts, Marshall said, would need to isolate for six days. For casual contacts those who are within physical contact but have their faces covered - there will be a 24-hour period where they are tested and accordingly released.

What happens if an opposition team does not want to or is anxious about taking the field due to positive case/s in the rival camp or due to some other concern related to Covid19? Such a scenario would be dealt with by the Biosafety Scientific Advisory Group (BSAG).

The BSAG would be headed by an independent chair in Dr Gurjit B. Also part of the expert panel are: Dr Abhijit Salvi (event chief medical officer), Dr Peter Harcourt (chair, ICC medical advisory committee), and Dr Dave

Musker (ICC Covid compliance officer).

It would be BSAG’s responsibility to address all concerns of the participants and explain the level of risk/s, if any. “We know from other sports, the Olympics in Tokyo is a good example, they had no cases of competitors outdoors taking part in sport passing on Covid-19. So playing outdoors on a cricket field against another team will be very low risk to other players,” Marshall said.

The BSAG will provide support and expert advice to the ICC in the planning and delivery of a safe event.

During the event, they will meet on a daily basis to ensure all Covid-19 matters are dealt with appropriately utilising expert scientific and medical advice. They will assess and recommend to the Covid Response Group on any material changes in the regulatory environment or the status of the pandemic and their impact on the event.

What happens if a player needs to leave the bubble to go to the hospital f o r s c a n s / t re a t m e n t ?

Dedicated biosecure hospitals and detailed protocols are in place to protect the player as well as the integrity of the bubble.

What will the sanction be in case of a bubble breach? There is no clear guideline yet, but Marshall said it would be something the team management must take “very seriously”.

“We do not want to see any breaches,” he said. “We do not think there will be. We think people understand how important this is, but we also expect team managements and their squads strictly adhere and ensure to the rules. If people understand the rules and maintaining discipline is the answer to this problem means we won’t have issues that disrupt the tournament or their own enjoyment of it.”

Will families be allowed in the tournament bubble?

“Small number of families”, Marshall said, would be allowed to stay with the players. But they would need to follow the same protocols to operate in the bubble.

“Being able to see close families can be a very important factor in reducing

stress and making a more enjoyable environment for people,” Marshall said. “We have seen this in other events as well, for example the IPL.” Will there be counsellors to manage mental-health issues? The ICC will have a psychologist present at all times through the tournament.

Do crowds need to be doubly vaccinated?

Marshall pointed out that fans would have to follow the local government’s rules concerning vaccination to attend public events like a cricket match. In Oman and Abu Dhabi, fans need to be doubly vaccinated to be at the stadium, but not in Dubai and Sharjah.

Will fans need to wear masks? Yes. Can the fans interact with players? Marshall said the players would be “kept separate” and would not be “ m i x i n g d i r e c t l y, physically” with the fans.

Kaieteur News

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Friday October 08, 2021

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream York United FC signs Golf tourney on tomorrow 20-year-old Guyana The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) will be hosting the long awaited Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Golf tournament tomorrow with tee off time set for 12:30hrs. The tournament was scheduled to be held April last, but was postponed due to the sudden passing of LGC member Colin Ming.

An earlier date was not possible since the club had closed its doors because of inclement weather. This weekend’s tournament is expected to generate much excitement with some of the nation’s top golfers set to take part, leading up to the Guyana Open. Prizes will be handed out based on net scores to the winner, runner-up and third place, best net front nine, best net back nine and nearest to the pin.

Players can contact the club on 220 5660 for registration which closes at 12:00hrs today. The tournament will be played over 18 holes using the shotgun format. A shotgun start is a format in which all groups of players tee off simultaneously from different holes. A shotgun is shot into the air to signal the start of the tournament. Each hole on a course will be the tee off hole for each foursome.

All covid-19 guidelines will be observed and participants are advised to

Defending Guyana Open champion Avinash Persaud will fancy his of doing well leading up to the Guyana Open. contact the club’s manager on the day of the tournament to collect their score cards, pay the entrance fees and proceed to their allocated tee boxes.

A release from the club stated that Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is committed to sponsoring a yearly Easter Saturday Golf tournament as well as continuing its charitable contributions. The recipient of the club’s inaugural $50,000 gift was the COLAACO School. The club is also focused on promoting the sport in an inclusive way

by teaming up fans.

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is proud to partner with the Lusignan Golf Club and the club’s Vice President Paton George has expressed gratitude for their support. The LGC has declared that players who participated in tournaments from September 18 to October 25 will be eligible for consideration for free entry in the Guyana Open Tournament via a competition format.

The points for free entry will be for the 10 best net scores for each tournament. Points will also be awarded to the top five players of the day, based on their net scores. The player who accumulates the most points at the end of the exercise will be declared the winner, and will be given a free entry in the Guyana Open which is set for October 30th and 31st. The entrance fee is $3,000 for members and $8,000 for non-members.

All trophies will be complemented with a Bruster’s product and among the players set to participate are defending Guyana open male champion, Avinash Persaud, Patanjilee Persaud, Paton George, Patrick Prashad, Pandit Rabindranauth Persaud, Hardeo Ganpat and Eureka Giddings.

Int. Javier George

Y

ork United FC confirmed yesterday the signing of Javier George on a permanent deal through the end of 2021. The 20-year-old midfielder is a native of New Amsterdam, Guyana but moved to Canada at the age of six.

George has already played senior international football for his country of birth, making his debut in a Gold Cup qualifier against Guatemala in April. He followed that up with another appearance for Guyana in a World Cup qualifier against Puerto Rico in August.

At club level, he was involved with the Toronto FC Academy while he also enjoyed a stint with lowerleague French club Stade Beaucairois.

“Javier is living locally and has trained with us a few

times now since returning from the Gold Cup with Guyana,” says Angus McNab, York United FC President/CEO & GM. “It’s a good fit for us all with the last 50 or so days of the season approaching and ensures we have 23 players that are fully fit and challenging each other on a daily basis as we push on and try to achieve playoff qualification.”

George commented on his signing: “I’d like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to play the sport I love. I’m extremely delighted to sign for my hometown team. I’d like to give my humble gratitude towards Juan Carlos for this opportunity. I’m excited and am prepared for the hard work ahead, as this is an opportunity to further develop my qualities as a footballer.”

Kaieteur News

Friday October 08, 2021

PAGE 31

Cox first to carry Queen’s Baton as Birmingham 2022 Relay launched at Buckingham Palace

I

nthegames - Little more than a month after winning double Paralympic cycling gold in Tokyo, Kadeena Cox has received the ceremonial Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Baton from the Queen in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Cox was the first of more than 7,500 Baton bearers in a journey which is scheduled t o v i s i t a l l 7 2 Commonwealth nations and territories in a journey lasting 294 days. Cox was the first Para athlete to launch the Relay, although Australia’s wheelchair marathoner Kurt Fearnley delivered the baton to Buckingham Palace before Anna Meares began the Relay for the Gold Coast four years ago.

The Queen, who is p a t r o n o f t h e Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), placed

her message of greeting to the athletes inside the Baton after a short ceremony in front of the Palace.

The Queen was joined by the Earl of Wessex, the CGF’s vice-patron, and CGF President Dame Louise Martin.

Cox took the Baton to the Centre Gate of Buckingham Palace, where it was passed to 2018 squash bronze medallist Declan James and O l y m p i c a n d C o m m o n w e a l t h middleweight boxing champion Lauren Price to be taken around the Queen Victoria Memorial.

Paralympic and Commonwealth swimming champion Alice Tai , Gold Coast 2018 balance beam champion Alice Kinsella, Olympic hockey bronze medallist Sarah Robertson and world cycling bronze medallist Mark Downey also carried the Baton along the Mall.

The Bearers reflected the four home countries of the British Isles, with Downey from Northern Ireland, Robertson, Price Welsh and the others English. “It was an absolute honour to participate in this once-in-alifetime event,” Cox said.

“Receiving the Queen’s Baton from Her Majesty The Queen was a moment I’ll keep with me for the rest of my life. “It was also a privilege to share this special moment alongside six other incredible athletes from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It’s so exciting to think that this Baton will now travel across the Commonwealth, where other inspirational individuals will become Batonbearers in their own communities.”

The Baton had arrived in the custody of a group of Birmingham 2022 “Hometown Heroes”, chosen for their contribution

to grassroots sport in the We s t M i d l a n d s a s volunteers, coaches and managers. They were accompanied by a military band drawn from the three services.

As the Royal Standard flew above Buckingham Palace, the Queen and the E a r l o f We s s e x w e r e introduced to the group of young designers who conceived and manufactured the Baton, which is said to be inspired by the Queen herself.

For this reason the Baton features a strand of platinum, to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession. It has been made from the non-precious medals of brass, aluminium and copper in tribute to the gold, silver and bronze medals at the Games.

Since 2002, when the Baton first included a heartrate monitor, the design has incorporated a range of technological features and

The moment that Her Majesty The Queen received the Baton from CGF President, Dame Louise Martin to officially begin the QBR 2022.

this year it includes the capacity to record atmospheric conditions and air quality.

A performance by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra was streamed live into the ceremony and secondary school teacher Casey Bailey, Birmingham’s current poet laureate, recited an original poem.

Birmingham-based acapella group Black Voices sang to bring the ceremony

to an end. The Baton is scheduled to return to the host nation on July 4.

Buckingham Palace has not yet confirmed who will read the message at the Opening Ceremony on July 28.

Since 1958, it has been a member of the Royal Family.

If the Queen does so, the message will officially be known as an “address”. CGF President Dame Louise said today was “a very important day for Commonwealth sport”

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Friday October 08, 2021

Members of the various clubs pose with BCB President, Heilbert Foster after the presentation.

BCB hand over first aid kits and manuals to clubs with junior sections “Never in the history of Guyana cricket has a Board worked as hard to make a positive difference as we in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has done over the last three years.

My executives are fully committed to lifting our cricket even higher and I would like to urge you to take care of every donation you receive from us, but

most importantly, use it for the intended purpose.”

Those were the words of BCB President Hilbert Foster as he and his executive handed over first aid kits and coaching manuals to clubs with junior sections and first division teams.

The meeting was held at the Area ‘H’ Ground and was attended by

representatives of 20 of the 24 clubs invited.

Foster noted that since his election in early 2018, clubs in the County have benefitted from over 15 million dollars worth of items as the Board was committed to assisting all clubs to fulfill their mandates and also to allow all youths the same opportunities to fulfill their

potential.

Clubs with junior section each received a first aid kit along with copies of the BCB historic coaching manual while the remaining ones who play at the first division level carried home a first aid kit.

Foster stated that the Board was fully aware of the ongoing pandemic and had earlier in the year donated over half a million dollars worth of protective items including face masks, face shields and hand sanitisers to junior clubs.

The first aid kits were donated to the BCB by businessman Ricky Deonarine of the popular 4 R Bearing Store on Duncan Street, Georgetown and are intended to assist clubs to render assistance on the spot

for players.

The coaching manuals would be given to individual players to allow them to work on their game in the safety of their home and the BCB President warned the club executives to ensure that follow up is done on the players.

The BCB, he noted is doing all in its power to assist and now it is up to them to play their part if the legacy of Kanhai and Butcher is to be upheld.

The BCB he disclosed would update the manual on an annual basis and clubs would be provided with copies on a regular basis.

Noting that several promising players might have quit the game over the last two years due to the pandemic, Foster urged the

clubs to seek out new players and even encourage others to return as the future of Berbice cricket is exciting.

Once the permission is granted for a restart of the cricket season, the Board has plans to host over 30 tournaments at the junior, female, intermediate, second division, internal zone and first division levels.

Foster also discussed some upcoming activities including social skills seminars for junior players, cricket academies in four sub associations, distribution of cricket gears for junior players, production of a coaching manual, 2021 Christmas Charity Programme and more educational grants to assist players in the pursuit of educational careers.

Kaieteur News

Friday October 08, 2021

PAGE 33

RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour and Vitality Cricket teams hand over home to Naidu

T

he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Under-21 and First Division teams along with their Vi t a l i t y U n d e r- 2 3 counterparts on Wednesday last handed over a home they constructed to Assistant Secretary/CEO, Simon Naidu.

The handing over of the home was the fulfillment of a commitment made by the c l u b ’s S e c r e t a r y / C E O Hilbert Foster to Naidu who h a d s o u g h t F o s t e r ’s assistance to upgrade his family home which was in a state of despair and to construct a lower flat for him and his family.

Foster stated that the RHTY&SC M.S, over the last 31 years had successfully completed thousands of projects but was never involved in the construction of a house. He noted that the Club’ s parent b o d y, t h e S t F r a n c i s

Community Developers has assisted hundreds of less fortunate families to obtain houses but this venture represented the first effort by the vibrant youth and sports club.

Foster, who is also the President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) recalled that Naidu had approached him for assistance for the project and he readily agreed that the cricket teams would assist.

He further stated that as a 15 year-old, Naidu joined the club in 2015 and within one year was elected to the position of Assistant Secretary/CEO and over the last five years has played a major role in the work of the club.

The 21 year-old Naidu is now responsible for the day to day operations of the club office, serves as a cricket Manager at the junior level and is also the Public Relations Officer of the Berbice Cricket Board.

Under Naidu’s tenure, the BCB has the most progressive public relations campaign for any sports organisation in the country.

Foster stated that with his young assistant in charge of the daily operations, he has been able to focus on his other duties especially at the BCB and the other organisations he is part of.

He described Naidu as a visionary, hard working and dedicated person who serves others without looking over his shoulder for personal rewards. An emotional Naidu stated that joining the RHTY&SC in 2015 was the best decision of his life.

A former member of the Albion Cricket Club, he was encouraged to join the Rose Hall Club by his classmate, West Indies U-19 player Kevlon Anderson.

He stated that he never expected to be a part of the executive but noted that under Foster’s leadership, youths are given the opportunity to perform and

RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Captain Shawn Perriera (left) hands over house keys to a proud Simon Naidu. that the word failure is not part of the RHTY&SC dictionary.

Naidu expressed gratitude to all the sponsors who came on board to assist, members of the club especially the Namilco Thunderbolt Flour U21, First Division and Vitality Inc. U23 teams. He committed himself to working even harder to make sure that the club remains the leading club in the country.

Captain of the Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt First Division team, Shawn

Perriera handed over the keys to Naidu and congratulated him on being a homeowner at such a tender age.

Perriera, a former national youth captain stated that the club has had a positive influence on every single youth who have joined it since being formed in 1990 and hailed Foster as a positive role model and father figure.

The two teams are sponsored by the National Milling Company of Agricola and Vitality Inc. of

Providence, respectively.

Among the players in the teams are Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Clinton Pestano, Eon Hooper, Junior Sinclair, Shemaine Campblle, Shabaki Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Khemraj Mahadeo, Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jermey Sandia and Slyus Tyndall.

The RHTY&SC would like to express thanks to all its friends who came on board to support the construction of the home (Continued on page 25)