Kaieteur News

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Thursday Edition

AIETEUR

October 21, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 39 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, p.

78,679 8

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

ExxonMobil warns in EIA Report…

Guyana does not have market to utilise gas from fourth project p.

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- says export alternatives may be needed

Man who killed teen for gold chain charged with two murders p.

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Missing girl found, alleged abductor in custody Life sentence for man who pleaded guilty to murdering British teen p. 24

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s e u n i t n o c t s e t o r The p for change to act r t n o c l i b o M n o x Ex

Police still awaiting legal advice in Permanent Secretary's bribery matter 2 weeks later...

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Where are ExxonMobil's production reports and when will Guyana get its long overdue 45% of the Kaieteur Block Messrs. Ali, Jagdeo and Harmon? @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Thursday October 21, 2021

Thursday October 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil warns in EIA Report…

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Guyana does not have market to utilise gas from fourth project

By Kiana Wilburg

A

merican oil giant ExxonMobil and the PPP/C Government have already initiated plans to handle the excess gas from the Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, and Payara projects. The solution is to have the resource utilised via a US$900M gas-to-shore venture.

But with ExxonMobil intent on bringing a fourth oil project onboard by 2026, another dilemma lies ahead—what would be done with the associated gas?

According to the Environm e n t a l I m p a c t Assessment (EIA) submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Yellowtail Project, there

- says export alternatives may be needed is significant gas for which Guyana simply does not have enough market to offtake.

With this in mind, ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), said three primary alternatives were considered. They include gas re-injection, continuous flaring, and gas export.

The company was keen to note that gas re-injection was determined to be feasible for the project, while adding that it also provides benefits in terms of reservoir management by helping to maintain pressure in the reservoir (thereby increasing the amount of crude oil that

can be recovered over time) and reduced air emissions (as compared to continuous flaring). Under this alternative, EEPGL said associated gas not used as fuel gas on the FPSO will be re-injected under normal operations.

With respect to continuous flaring of the associated gas on a routine basis, it said this is not preferred, primarily due to the associated air emissions. Taking this into consideration, the company said gas export alternatives for future development continue to be evaluated, with due consideration of the challenges related to commercialisation of

Police still awaiting legal advice in Permanent Secretary's bribery matter 2 weeks later...

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wo weeks after the Permanent Secretary (PS) attached to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was caught in a sting operation collecting a bribe from a contractor, the police are still awaiting legal advice on the matter.

Sharon Hicks, 42, of 811 Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was arrested at her Quamina and Thomas Streets, South Cummingsburg office on Thursday October 7, 2021 during the police operation.

According to Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is awaiting legal advice on the matter.

K aieteur News had reported that the sting operation was setup after a businessman who usually provides security services to the Ministry reported to the police that the PS was demanding money from him before she signed off on his invoices.

Hicks and the businessman's father had a deal in which she would help him secure a contract with the Ministry and in return he pays her $200,000 a month.

After the businessman's

office, identified himself and cautioned her. She was then told of the allegation and arrested.

Hicks was later sent on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Sharon Hicks, the Permanent Secretary who was caught collecting a bribe father died, he took over his father's business and that is when Hicks approached him to strike the same deal with him, to which he first agreed.

However, after reportedly paying Hicks for three months, he became tired and reported the matter to the police.

As such, the sting operation was setup and marked notes were handed over to the PS by the contractor while in her office. After Hicks collected the money, a plainclothes police rank walked into her

associated gas.

EEPGL recalled at this point that there is currently a separate project being proposed to transport a portion of the gas from the Liza Development Projects to shore, where it would be used to generate power in a gasfired power plant. Since this would satisfy the currently identified gas demand in Guyana, ExxonMobil warned, “There is not enough additional demand in Guyana to consume the quantities of associated gas that will be produced from the Yellowtail Development Project.”

With this in mind, the subsidiary said any proposal for implementation of gas export would be addressed under a separate environmental authorisation process, and is therefore outside the scope of this EIA. ABOUT THE YELLOWTAIL PROJECT EEPGL, on behalf of itself and its co-venturers, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, is seeking an environmental authorisation from the Environmental Protection

Agency for a fourth project development in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block.

The area that will be developed as part of the Project is located approximately 203 kilometres (approximately 126 miles) northeast of the coastline of Georgetown, Guyana.

As part of its regulatory role, the EPA, considering recommendations from the Environmental Advisory Board and other government entities, is responsible for deciding whether and under what conditions to grant EEPGL's application for environmental authorisation which was filed with the EPA on April 1, 2021.

Based on an initial assessment of the application, the EPA determined that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was required in support of the Application.

The purpose of the EIA is to provide the factual and technical basis required by the EPA to make an informed decision on EEPGL's application for environmental authorisation.

According to project documents, Yellowtail will consist of the drilling of

approximately 41 to 67 development wells (including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells); installation and operation of Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines equipment; installation and operation of a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block and— ultimately—Project decommissioning.

EEPGL has said the FPSO will be designed to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day. Onshore logistical support facilities and marine/aviation services will be used to support each stage of the Project.

EEPGL is expected to use proven and good international oilfield practices.

The company said it has incorporated many embedded controls into the overall Project design to reduce environmental and socioeconomic impacts.

The initial production is expected to begin by end of 2025–early 2026, with operations continuing for at least 20 years.

The project is expected to employ up to 540 persons during development well drilling, approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and 100 to 140 persons during production operations.

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Thursday October 21, 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

Mental Health - the elephant ignored Guyanese clinical psychotherapist and author, Mr. Shane Mark Tull, refocused our attention to the elephant in our midst. It is one that has long been ignored in the local environment, given the longstanding cultural contempt with which it has been viewed. It is of mental health realities in the local sphere, now made worse by the stresses of the global pandemic, and which calls for urgent discernment and attention. This is required, to avoid having more Guyanese pushed over the edge by depression, or other clinical conditions that make for a wretched and dangerous existence and for us to be less of bystanders and more of helpers.

The mental health elephant in Guyana is a baby, but one that is growing rapidly, one which we mostly dismiss, because we think it is beyond us, even below us and, hence, outside the scope of our interests. Even today, we are largely impatient and ignorant of what is involved in the psychoses and delusions that hamper individuals and families, and with little by way of a local support system. We are aloof and keep a distance from what could be the first signs of mental health illness in loved ones, friends, neighbours, or colleagues. Our leaders should not be exempt, since mental health has no boundaries. In a less correct era, many delighted in speaking about obvious mental health situations in such scornful terms as ‘off his rocker’ or ‘lost his marbles’.

In Guyanese lingo, the description is that ‘he head ain’t good’.

The issue is, no matter how dressed up, we have some seriously mentally ill people around today, some of whom roam our streets, and our other crowded places of everyday social interaction.

We no longer speak about ‘mad’ or ‘retarded’ people, but of the mentally challenged or mentally impaired. Neverthe-less, the fact remains that we have sick people in our midst, and severely so, when mental health is considered.

The stresses of the global pandemic, one which is stubborn, of many mutations, hard to overcome, and still mysterious in understanding, have only added to what were torturous demands of Guyanese life.

How to manage with what is in hand became extremely difficult. This was then intensified by having the little in hand taken away by job closures, and restrictions in movement. When adults can’t manage their homes with dignity, the walls close in, and the mental systems in frailer persons rupture. In other words, what was present and stirring before (unknown) inside a person at a low level suddenly needed to find an outlet for escape before fullfledged explosions occur, such as depression, violence against self or others, the despair that makes one not care anymore.

Being limited to indoors for extended time periods with little to do, but reflect on the poverty of one’s circumstances, wreaked havoc on the fragile mental systems of those known to be vulnerable. Having fewer prospects makes a bitter pill even more unpalatable, with people crumbling; substances, partners, and circumstances could mean a toxic stew. Some we see on the streets, others we read about in the news – suicide. Or to sum up: they just couldn’t take it anymore, this combination of a demanding life made unbearable by the pandemic.

We must teach ourselves as to what this means. Second, what does it look like in other persons, then take it to its final conclusion, which is how to recognise it in ourselves. When we seek to familiarise ourselves with what mental health is about, the forms in which it can be near to us, or even in us, then we would have positioned ourselves to view it - as more than abstract concept, or something left to medical professionals.

Discernment empowers us to contribute to the supporting healing process, the delicate continuous steps that are involved, and to look upon others differently. Regarding the latter, this has reference to those huddled on the streets, or talking to themselves, or posing a danger to both themselves and others. When we can come to appreciate mental health in numerous appearances, we know what we have to do, and to be thankful for our own state. We must not ignore the mental health elephant in the room anymore.

Make your views known as Guyana undergoes first EITI validation which commenced on October 1 DEAR EDITOR, According to a notice on the Guyana EITI (GYEITI) website (www.gyeiti.org), Guyana is undergoing its first validation visit which started on October 1.

The EITI based in Norway will give Guyana scores on three indicators: stakeholder engagement, transparency, and outcomes and impact, using the scale - not met, partly met, mostly met, fully met, and exceeded. This validation covers oil and gas, mining and quarrying, forestry, and fisheries.

Guyana became an EITI Implementing country on 25th October, 2017 and this is its first EITI Validation. Validation will reflect the country’s performance against each of the Requirements listed in the latest EITI Standard approved in 2019.

According to the Validation procedure (See https:// eiti.org/document/2021-eitivalidation-procedure), the GYEITI was asked to share this “Call for Views” from the

Guyanese stakeholders.

While this information was not placed in the Guyana newspapers where it can be seen by all Guyanese it is on the GYEITI website.

The EITI International Validation Team has already disseminated this information to a list of stakeholders currently in its database of contacts for GYEITI/Guyana.

EITI will be interviewing some of these stakeholders. GYEITI encourages you, “Please share the call for views as widely as possible.”

The EITI Standard requires that the government, extractive companies and civil society to be fully, actively and effectively engaged in EITI implementation.

The Secretariat is seeking views on the following questions: 1. Are the government, extractive companies and civil society fully, actively and effectively engaged in EITI implementation?

2. Are there any obstacles or barriers to the participation

of any of these constituencies or their sub-groups in EITI implementation?

The Secretariat is seeking views on the following questions related to industry engagement: 3. Are oil, gas and mining companies participating actively in the work of the multistakeholder group and providing or disclosing the data requested by the EITI? 4. Is there an enabling environment for company participation in the EITI? The Secretariat is seeking views on the following questions related to civil society engagement: 5. Are civil society organisations able to engage in public debate related to the EITI process and express opinions about the EITI process without restraint, coercion or reprisal?

6. Are civil society representatives able to operate freely in relation to the EITI process?

7. Are civil society representatives able to communi-

cate and cooperate with each other regarding the EITI process?

8. Are civil society representatives able to fully, actively and effectively engage in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the EITI process?

9. Are civil society representatives able to speak freely on transparency and natural resource governance issues, and ensure that the EITI contributes to public debate?

The Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) would like to encourage you to promptly send your viewpoints and opinions on transparency and stakeholder engagement to the EITI Validation team (please copy all): Ida J. Krog (IJKrog@eiti.org); Alex Gordy (AGordy@eiti.org); Francisco Paris (FParis@eiti.org); and Emmanuel Burgoa (eburgoa@eiti.org).

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall for Oil and Gas Governance Network (www.oggn.org)

Minister Teixeira misrepresented happenings in the PAC DEAR EDITOR, I take this opportunity to respond to the senior Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Gail Teixeira, member of the Public Accounts Committee of Guyana. The Hon. Member who was on the national and social media platform on Monday October 18, 2021, gave “her version” on matters of the PAC, which was grossly inaccurate with a deliberate intent to mislead and deceive the audience.

It must be made abundantly clear that the PAC is made up of government and opposition members who do not always agree on matters of importance. What was agreed upon by both sides and the wider public however, is that the work of the PAC is lagging too far behind, and much work has to be done to get it up to date. The general public should be aware, that the Public Accounts Committee is presently looking at 2016 accounts in the year 2021; five years ago work. In light of this glaring reality and the continued readiness of members on the opposition side of the PAC to get the work done, a motion was put.

On Monday 11th of October 2021 at the PAC’s meeting, member Ganesh Mahipaul properly put a motion for the PAC to meet two times a week, on Monday which is the statutory day, and the other being Friday, to get much needed work done.

Members on “both sides” spoke to the motion and it was put and successfully

passed.

On the morning of Monday18th October 2021, members were made aware that member Teixeira brought a motion to rescind the motion to have two meetings a week of the PAC. Discussions on her motion were entertained, there were opposing views on which one of the identified standing order, took precedence. Having experienced what transpired earlier in the year with the removal of Mr. Patterson, where both sides had opposing views on a motion of which guidance was sought by the Clerk of the National Assembly and an independent Lawyer, I indicated to members that I have no difficulty in putting the motion, but I required

some time to consult before the motion is put and voted on.

I proposed to the committee to allow me to seek advice on the motion and that we will entertain it on Monday 25th October, 2021, which is the statutory meeting time of the PAC, and it was unanimously agreed to and accepted by all.

Editor, it must be made very pellucid, that member Mahipaul’s motion was not rescinded and the decision to hold two meetings a week was still in effect, hence the decision to have the meeting on Friday 22nd October, 2021.

Ms. Teixeira’s discombobulated and emotionally expressed views on the state and social media platforms, has grossly misrep-

resented the truthful and accurate happenings of the PAC on Monday 18th October 2021.

The Hon. Teixeira indicated that I requested that the live feed of the PAC be taken off was true; however, that decision was made in relation to an agreed position of the PAC, which got unanimous support to only allow media/ cameras in the proceedings when examining agencies.

When the live feed came off and the media was asked to leave, the committee was no longer examining an agency.

The committee was addressing any other business, then the planning of the agenda for the next meeting ensued.

Ms. Teixeira, on the state (Continued on page 6)

THE MOBILE OPTION DEAR EDITOR, It is great to see the enthusiasm in the media around the prospects of having a cleaner energy source that will last a number of decades.

We must remember that as the current natural gas discovery depletes and others are discovered, being able to move the gas to the factory planned for Wales becomes more complex if a pipeline is used.

Flexibility also becomes more important as the useful life of the current gas discovery nears its end.

This reason in itself should guide all decision makers to relook at other options beyond the pipeline.

The useful life of our Capital Expenditures needs to better

match the investment projects undertaken and we should be ensuring that a long-term view is always our perspective.

If Exxon makes a new gas discovery of similar or larger magnitude to that which is currently driving the pipeline investment, we cannot afford to make a second pipeline and facility for processing.

The option to move the gas to the facility via a mobile vessel is a better investment if this is the energy path that the electorate approves.

Keep in mind that the environmental consequences are clear and the other renewable options are cleaner. Sale of the natural gas to other nations is a better overall op-

tion to pursue.

Local content has also been mentioned as a driver for the current gas line investment. Another way to achieve the benefits of local content is to have locals participate in the building of the mobile gas vessel overseas.

They will learn the skills and additional engineering capabilities needed.

Then upon their return, they will be able to teach others and further develop our maritime industry, thus creating jobs while upgrading our techniques and capabilities.

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

Thursday October 21, 2021

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Kaieteur News

A Belgian company has energy solutions The lawlessness on for rural, low-income communities Palmer’s Street, La DEAR EDITOR, The government, in partnership with the IsDB, recently placed an advert in the paper for hydropower design and construction services.

Upon seeing this, I started to reel.

In my letter to the Editor titled “Will Guyana take advantage of these remarkable victories in sustainable energy generation?” KN News August 2, I presented the current view of renewable energy implementation in the context of a traditional power grid.

Power coming from solar panels will be mediated by software systems, being buffered at first into batteries at home.

These home systems use the internet to signal the transfer of power across the network, sharing power

among homes when panel production exceeds consumption and battery storage. Together, and at given moments, all the homes in a battery networked neighbourhood may produce more power than they consume. This ‘overflow’ of power would then be transferred to nearby consumers - like dense, more vertically constructed population centres that lack for rooftop space or industrial estates; or in the case of Australia, entire city centres.

Homeowners may even earn money by generating power for the grid. At the utility scale, software will allow wind, solar, fuel and other sources to cooperate in an intelligent manner.

Wärtsilä tested such a software system in an undisclosed location. In this test,

fossil fuel generator usage was reduced by 80%. They used the same dual-fuel engine deployed here in Guyana. For the sake of convenience, I provided the information sources for these developments in an enclosed note to the Editor.

In that same letter, I briefly mentioned turbulent turbines. I feel urged to suggest that this solution might be ideal for rural communities in need of hydropower solutions. Turbulent is a company based in Belgium with experience in delivering hydropower implementations in the region, more specifically, to rural communities in low-income countries.

They recently deployed one of their turbines in neighbouring Suriname. The turbulent turbine does not

block waterways. Turbines can be instantiated almost indefinitely along the sides of streams, meaning you can add more and more turbines over the long term, to the same stream. These ‘top-down’ turbines are a demonstrated solution that protects wildlife, does not adversely affect the flow of an attached stream and can be scaled to meet any power requirement, large or small.

Here is a link to a very friendly page on their website where organisations can submit details about proposed hydropower projects https:// www.turbulent.be/for-whom.

If the government is already on to this, then colour me excited.

Sincerely, Emille Gidding

LESSONS FROM MEXICO’S OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY…POSSIBILITIES FOR GUYANA DEAR EDITOR, Even as we think of the possibilities for Guyana as a new oil and gas producing and exporting country and what governance structures would be best to ensure that all Guyanese benefit from the country’s wealth, I would like to focus this letter on some lessons from reforms in Mexico’s oil and gas industry which presents possibilities for Guyana.

These are mostly extracts from an academic assessment I did on Mexico, one of the world’s leading oil producers, ranked tenth worldwide and the top oil producer in Latin American and Caribbean. Its crude reserves in 2013, was documented at 10.1 billion barrels and 17.0 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

The population of Mexico is about 126 million and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020, was 1,076 trillion US dollars.

The study was basically a rapid legal assessment of the reforms in the Mexican energy sector from 2013 to December 2019 and examined what further reforms could be undertaken to encourage broader and fairer distribution of growing revenues as a result of those reforms.

I am sure that Mexico presents a good example for Guyana in terms of an inclusive approach to the kinds of reforms necessary, as well as developing a more equitable system of wealth distribution for the country.

For almost 80 years, there has been a deadlock over Mexico’s energy sector and several efforts to reform the nationally owned Pemex, were unsuccessful or partially

successful.

The energy sector, specifically oil, was the centre stage of controversy in various chapters of Mexico’s modern history.

A critical point to note is that the fragmented and predominantly tripartite nature of politics in Mexico has had important legislative ramifications.

Since 1997, no president has had a congressional majority, and consequently major reform measures were either blocked or diluted.

After decades of the myths and taboos about the Mexican energy sector, in December 2013, the legislature in the state of San Luis Potosí voted in favour of constitutional amendments and reform measures.

The approval by the state-level legislature was the key moment in what was described as an audacious endeavour by the new administration, as it observed its first year in office and saw twentyfour out of thirty-two states and federal districts ratifying the reforms.

The Pacto por Mexico, or Pact of Mexico, which was the agreement between the three major political parties and which allowed for the reforms, ushered in a new era of changes in the economic structure of the energy markets and opened the hydrocarbons industry in Mexico.

The reforms were a paradigm shift in the way the country’s energy sector operated; it was now aimed at attracting private investment through market competition and liberalisation.

It is important to note that the Pact of Mexico was

signed the day after the new administration, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), came into office in December 2013.

The other political parties to the pact were: the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and the National Action Party (PAN).

The agreement provided an immediate political and strategic roadmap for the PRI and included timelines and goals for translating it into policy and delivering fiscal, education, political, and energy sector reforms.

The reforms were essentially, to establish largely autonomous, independently funded regulators for licensing, safety, and environmental protection in the energy sector.

The reforms also established new regulations, which would provide a basis for regulators to supervise the opening of the sector to greater competition and more efficient use of national resource wealth. Implied in this initiative was that these reforms would result in a broader and fairer sharing of wealth from the energy sector.

A key factor to note is that Mexico’s energy sector is owned and operated by the Federal Branch and the reforms of 2013 open the doors of the sector to private investment. Constitutional amendments and the complementary secondary legislation facilitated legislative, institutional, as well as administrative changes and broke almost four decades of myths and taboos.

A profound point to note is that key stakeholders were

institutions in the Federal Branch, as well as political parties.

At the institutional level, the reforms facilitated constitutional reform, new legislations and regulations, and give greater autonomy to and created new independent regulatory and financial agencies. The history of the United Mexican States (Mexico) will record 2012 as a groundbreaking year.

In December 2012, leaders of Mexico’s three most prominent political parties at that time, agreed to and signed on the Pact of Mexico and this set in motion a new path for Mexico and its economy.

Guyana has an excellent opportunity to evolve as one of the best examples of a resource-rich, and more specifically, an oil producing country.

However, it would require a high level of political and leadership maturity, whether there is sufficient awareness, conviction and commitment to the fact that it is only through an inclusive governance approach that Guyana and Guyanese would finally realise the potential that we have been talking about since Independence on May 26, 1966.

Can Guyana break the myths and taboos that the Peoples National Congress (PNC) and People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and AfroGuyanese and IndoGuyanese; and all six ethnic groups cannot work and govern together, for the happiness and prosperity of Guyana?

Yours faithfully, Citizen Audreyanna Thomas

Grange is incredible DEAR EDITOR, The lawlessness on Palmer’s Street, La Grange is beyond anything we have ever seen.

The street, on the surface, appears to be a peaceful, multi-ethnic and multicultural settlement, but at nightfall, it transforms into a lawless, putrid and scornful place.

Several days ago, a popular bar owner along with her sister and nephew were assaulted and robbed.

Two days prior to that, a sand truck owner was forced to expel two bandits from his property.

They were trying to invade his home after stealing truck parts. Last Saturday around 23:00hrs, a carload of heavily intoxicated men stopped in the street, exited and began partying on the roadway.

All attempts by residents to have them lower the volume were met with threats of buggery, kidnapping, murder and invasion.

At the end of the street, is a ‘club’ that operates with no respect for villagers.

This literal bottom-house rum shop is not sound proofed and, therefore, the noise that emanates from there is overbearing.

Editor, we don’t have to remind you of what comes out of the mouths of drunken men.

Children, who live in close proximity to this ‘club’, are exposed to the vulgar utterances and actions of intoxi-

cated men and, not so often, women.

The police are doing nothing. The ‘club’ is operated at the premises of a senior police official. It is a mystery how a licence was issued to the owners of this bar, given the foregoing.

Then, again, we’re only assuming that the owners have licences to operate.

The ‘club’, however, is very strict in adhering to the curfew, but their patrons move to the street to continue their partying after the establishment closes.

Herein lies the problem.

The street is littered with empty beer bottles, plastic, condoms and tissue every morning. Something needs to be done and it must be done urgently because we, the residents, can no longer tolerate this kind of torment.

We’re calling on the police to address this matter and other relevant authorities to act with haste.

Given the apparent increase in crime in the street, we’re asking that there be more patrols in the neighbourhood and a probe into the operation of this club.

We need peace, Editor.

We are hardworking individuals who love the comfort of our homes after a long, hard day of work, but what we get is torment. Peace is being denied us. Please help us, someone.

Regards, Villagers of Palmer’s Street, La Grange

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Kaieteur News

Our number 1 enemy is the coronavirus DEAR EDITOR, Throughout my 80 plus years on this planet, I have never seen so much sickness, disease, stress, and premature death worldwide, all because of a simple virus, known as the Coronavirus. It is almost two years now, and no one seems to have a clear understanding about this virus, why?

Intelligence and information currently, is at its highest peak, we know so much about Mars, the sun, moon and stars, and very little or nothing about the virus.

If we take a close look at our two major organisations, the WHO, and the Ministries of Health around the world, who are spending trillions of our tax dollars every year to offer us more comprehensive guidance for better health care, all we can see is total failure.

We also take a look at the enormous increase of medical equipment, doctors, nurses, hospital, and medications, and all we can see is more disease, sickness, and premature death. All I can think about is, the combine approach of these organisations, is one hundred and eighty degrees upside down, because, every year, the situation is not getting any better, but worst instead.

Now, let us take a quick look at some basic facts, figures, and evidence about the coronavirus.

First, what is the Coronavirus? Based on evidence, the virus is simply a molecule of protein, covered by fat. It is not a creature with limbs and body. It is more of a substance.

It cannot fly, swim, or walk on any surface. It can dissolve easily by soap and water, alcohol or strong detergent. I also believe, that as soon as the virus was exposed to the strong drugs and chemicals in the laboratory, it developed the chemical magnetic spike which can be attached to the weak cells in human, then invade the cell, all the way to the nucleus.

After interacting with the chromosome, genes and DNA

in the nucleus, it can now begin to multiply, and become the killer. The virus cannot invade strong healthy cells.

The virus was here long before us, and it was never a death threat, until we started interfering with it in the lab to make flu shots, etc. after exposure to the strong drugs, and chemicals it blew up into a monster killer.

Now what can we do to protect ourselves, we now have two options: - The vaccines versus our immune systems. First, let’s deal with the Vaccine.

The facts and figures clearly show that the vaccine is not a full cover insurance against the virus because very many vaccinated people are still being infected and dying from the virus around the world.

Iceland has the highest rates of vaccinated people 96% of the females, and 90% of males, 16 years and older are vaccinated, and the infections and deaths keep rising.

In Guyana, in 2020, we see about 97% of all the positive cases recovered without any known medications or vaccines whatsoever...without any known medication or vaccines whatsoever.

In September 2021, we had the highest number of recovered positive cases, plus the highest numbers of vaccinated people and still we had the highest numbers of infections and deaths, far higher than when no vaccines were available in this country.

Now I am not putting up a fight against vaccinations.

My biggest concern is the mandate for these Vaccines.

No person or Government has any right mandating these experimental vaccines.

It is against all International Human Rights laws to forcefully, inject any manufactured substance into any human body.

People must always have the right to choose what they want or don’t want in their bodies.

This vaccine mandate is totally wrong, because it is totally impossible to vaccine every citizen in this country.

Even if eighty percent of the people are vaccinated, and have their cards to show, does the other twenty percent have to go through the rest of their lives blocked from all public places? Although vaccinated people are still being infected and can spread the virus, they are given full permission with the card to visit all public places, where they can still spread the virus.

Because we are all different from each other, it is stupid to give the same vaccine to thousands of different people, and hope to have the same results.

We learn about the fourteen-year old child who died shortly after taking the vaccine. I listened to many cheap comments about how the child had preconditions, etc.

I will say it loud and clear, if that child was not vaccinated, he would still be alive, happily united with his family and still studying; instead of lying in the grave yard all alone.

Preconditions are not an excuse, because more than fifty percent of the people of Guyana and worldwide are living with preconditions and living a fairly normal life, until God is ready for them. I am calling on our Minister of Health.

Please cancel the mandate now before it is too late. Because when you force people to take this vaccine and something goes wrong and someone dies you become morally guilty of an offence. Save yourself. Offer the vaccine, educate and encourage the people to take it, and let them take the vaccine on their own free will and choice.

Mandate also shows great disrespect for the very many people, who dedicate themselves, to maintain good health, and a strong defence force. We were all designed and created with a natural, God given immune system.

So all that is needed is for us to educate ourselves, and do the right thing. Live a healthy life, with a strong immune system.

We remember many years ago when hundreds of sailors were dying with sickness and

Minister Teixeira misrepresented happenings...

From page 4 media, deliberately tried to give the impression to her audience that I apparently wanted to evade the public before the decision to hold a meeting of the PAC on Fridays, leaves much to be desired.

That was blatantly deceptive, and it was an abuse of the state media.

Her reference about puppet, someone’s clone and being his own man are comments that need to be redirected to her PPP barn-yard. Additionally, Editor, the Hon.

Member’s comments about having a “déjà vu” moment is not rooted in memory that is clothed with a truthful, factual account of what transpired at Monday’s meeting and I challenge the member to provide

evidence where I was in breach of the standing order.

The PPP wants to hoodwink and bamboozle the people that they are for good go vernance and accountability when they are not.

That is being duplicitous and shows a lack of integrity and

no one should trust them.

This regime wants someone who will beckon to their whims and fancies, one who slavishly carries out their requests without question.

I see no such person on the opposition side in the PAC and moreover, this man will be no one’s stooge.

I will always serve the people of Guyana without fear or favour, affection or ill will in the execution of my responsibility, so help me God. Yours respectfully, Jermaine Figueira MP Chairman of PAC

disease on their voyage, it was the simple juice of the humble lemons that save the situations; not medication or vaccine.

Now my humble advice to all our leaders, and policy makers, let us take a close look and learn from all the animals and birds in the wild, they don’t wear face mask or sanitise anything, they don’t suffer with Coronavirus, diabetes, aids, obesity, etc. why?

Simply because they don’t drink alcohol, and sweet drink, they don’t smoke cigarettes, they don’t use manufactured drugs, chemicals, medications, or vaccines.

They know what to eat, how much to eat, when to sleep, and when to wake. If or when something goes wrong, they can take good care of themselves, without doctors, hospitals, medications or vaccine. We learn in Israel that fifty-nine percent of COVID patients in hospitals are fully vaccinated. Texas, in the U.S.A has cancelled all their vaccine mandates. Now the evidence is crystal clear.

There is no substitute for our natural God given immune system.

The more drugs and chemical we put into our bodies, the weaker our immune system will become, resulting in more sickness, disease and premature death.

Now what can we do to enjoy a strong, healthy immune system? First, we must remove all the things that weaken our defence force.

Too much animal food, deep fried, salty, or sweet foods, obesity, lack of sleep, lifestyles diseases, radiation, polluted environment, etc.

Now to rebuild and maintain a strong healthy immune system.

We must maintain a healthy blood ph, blood sugar, blood pressure, body weight, good kidneys, and colon functions, and a healthy internal environment.

Consume a healthy diet, e.g. fifty percent of healthy cooked or processed foods and fifty percent of raw, fresh fruits, vegetables, and their juices, plenty of fresh air, and enough clean water, sun light and daily consumption of raw citrus fruits, garlic, onions, turmeric and ginger.

We must always remember that sickness, and diseases were not caused by a lack of medication, drugs, or vaccines.

They are all caused by a lack of proper nutrition, and toxic waste inside the body.

Now we all should join hearts and hands and do whatever it takes, and help each other to preserve our precious God given life and good health.

Thank you, Edward Singh Lethem

Thursday October 21, 2021

Education Ministry responds to Swani Aksharananda DEAR EDITOR, The Ministry of Education wishes to respond to a letter published in the Tuesday, October 19, 2021 edition of the Kaieteur News, the Stabroek News and the Guyana Times newspapers written by Swani Aksharananda concerning the recital of the Universal Prayer at last Thursday’s announcement of the CSEC and CAPE 2021 results.

The Ministry wishes to inform the writer and Guyana at large that during the event, the prayer recited by the 2020 Most Outstanding Student for CSEC, Bhedesh Persaud, was the Universal Prayer which does not subscribe to any particular religion.

It is the same prayer that is recited at the sittings of the National Assembly.

The Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, during her previous stint as Education Minister had insisted that wherever a prayer is done at any function hosted by the Ministry or any of its departments, the universal prayer or a silent prayer is done with the only exception being those events held in Amerindian communities.

The Ministry agrees that no one religion, ethnicity, gender, etc. is or should be

made to be seen as dominant over the other and has noted that there have been some events where the intention of the Ministry and its policy was not followed and had re-issued a memo, with the universal prayer attached, reminding of said policy.

Education Ministry

Smiling during a funeral tribute is how politicians ridicule themselves DEAR EDITOR, Dr. David Hinds in one of his recent broadcasts said that ridiculing politicians by showing they do not speak the Queen’s English, or showing that they do not have the refinement of good manners, will puncture the balloon of their pomposity.

Measure the following occurrence against Dr. Hinds’ adage: Catherine Hughes and Joseph Harmon, the two shining stars and great powers of the AFC/APNU, recently gave their condolences on the death of dear comrade and friend Imran Khan. Their words were all so moving, but when you look at their faces,

it was all smiles. Catherine Hughes, for example, with her lovely, dimpled smile on the verge of hilarity and Old Harmon, with his famous pouty, were casting doubts on the sincerity of their solemn words. The canons of good manners and good taste would forbid the looks of happy pleasure when giving your sympathy. I am, however, sure they would quickly be able to live down this breach of good manners and good taste by pointing out these smiling pictures were put there by the editors.

Yours sincerely, Paul Validum Ramlochan

Guyana does not have iron ore, I see prospect of Local Content corruption DEAR EDITOR, When I read a schedule contained in the Draft Local Content Legislation 2021 about Guyana providing 100% of the steel for offshore oil projects within the next ten years I was confused. Guyana does not have iron ore.

Guyana does not have a steel plant and I have not heard of one being built.

So that could only mean a Guyanese company would buy these steel plates from somewhere then sell them to whichever contractor is building an FPSO, even if it was in Singapore. The steel

would not even come to Guyana. It will simply be a paper transaction involving a local company sending an invoice and putting on its markup.

It will not create jobs, which is the most beneficial aspect of local content. One can only imagine how members of the local private sector will scheme to win these steel contracts. Needless, to say the prospect of collusion and corruption is high. This is not what local content should be about.

Yours sincerely, Lynn Nicholas

T N U L B . . .

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Thursday October 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

In Essequibo, residents joined forces to seize some bandits. This is what more Guyanese have to do.

More Guyanese must summon the courage to do, for their own benefit.

Guyanese must stand up to bandit leaders.

Guyanese must corner PPP/C, PNC and AFC over oil banditry, contract banditry, and natural resources banditry, and general governance banditry.

PAGE 07

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Thursday October 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

K/News declines to file defence in Granger's libel case K

aieteur News has declined to file a defence in the matter in which the newspaper is being sued, along with two other media houses, by former President, David Granger for libel. The matter came up for hearing before Justice Narweshwar Harnanan at the High Court yesterday.

During the proceeding, the Court noted that the fact that Kaieteur News had not filed a defence within the required time and therefore was liable to pay court cost for not filing a defence in time.

Justice Harnanan initially imposed a cost of $150,000 for the non compliance in relation to the filing but later recalled the cost after the lawyer for Kaieteur News, Shaunella Glen, indicated that the newspaper will not be filing any response to the libel claim.

Ms. Glen explained that the newspaper will rely on the judgment of the court after a trial, as it does not see the point in filing a defence when the alleged libelous information

did not originate from the paper.

The lawyer explained further that the newspaper is the only medium by which Christopher 'Kit' Nascimento published his letter and comments. As such, the judge noted that the matter will proceed with trial. The court is expected to set a date for trial following a case management hearing at a date to be announced.

Granger had filed a libel lawsuit claiming a total of $2,650,000,000 from local communications consultant, Kit Nascimento and a list of media houses including the Guyana Times, Stabroek News, and Kaieteur News for publishing a letter which he wrote.

The lawsuit claims that the news entities published defamatory information about Granger, contained in letters and opinion pieces written by Nascimento last year following the March 2, Regional and General Polls.

The former President made a total of 53 claims for damages

to the tune of GYD$50 million for each instance that the information was published, t o t a l l i n g GYD$2,650,000,000.

To support his claim filed earlier this year, Granger outlined that Nascimento had described him as being, “dishonest and deceitful, habitually hypocritical, a liar, of dubious credibility and of unsound mind.”

According to the lawsuit, Granger notes that Nascimento suggested that he was complicit in an obvious and determined decision of the APNU+AFC to remain in Governmen t regardless of the expressed will of the people in the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

He contended that the attacks were unyielding and a blatant disregard for the truth.

He stressed that during the election period, he made several public statements that: “As President of Guyana and Leader of the Government, it is my policy that any declaration coming from the Chairman of GECOM will

Christopher 'Kit' Nascimento be accepted by the Government of Guyana.”

H o w e v e r, G r a n g e r claimed, in his writings, Nascimento inferred that he wanted to remain in power without any regard or care of the consequences it would have on the country.

To this end, the claimant cited Nascimento's letter which read, “David Granger, in power as a de facto President, with the full support of the police and army under his command, if not in absolute control, is

Former President, David Granger

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall

most certainly complicit in an obvious and determined decision of APNU+AFC to remain in government regardless of the expressed will of our people in the 2nd March Elections.”

As a result of the said headlines and articles and their dissemination, Granger said his personal and professional reputation and standing have been “irreparably and severely damaged, lowered in the estimation of right-thinking members of society” and that he and his family have suffered and continue to suffer financial injury, constant grave distress,

humiliation, embarrassment, i n d i g n i t y, p a i n , a n d suffering.

Moreover, Granger said that the publications would cause people to believe that he used invented irregularities to claim a victory for himself as President and the APNU+AFC at the national elections, and that he consistently and dishonestly refused to accept the results of those elections.

He claimed that the statements have no basis in fact, are malicious, grossly inaccurate and intended to deceive the public and damage his reputation and character.

Thursday October 21, 2021

The best of all possible worlds T

he Guyana I grew up in was grim.

Times were hard.

The country was broke.

Despite the Comrade Leader's best efforts, the people were unhappy. The economy was on its last legs and you paid an arm and a leg f o r c o n t r a b a n d f l o u r, potatoes, and split peas.

If there was one good thing I could say about those times it was that people could queue.

These days people will happily cut in front of you in a line and if you dare protest, you will receive a mouthful in return.

Back then people would wait their turn in line, sometimes for hours, for a loaf of bread. If on my way back from work, I saw a queue, I would ask someone in the line what they were queuing up for. That person had no idea. That person had seen a line and assumed something must be good at the other end.

Even in those trying times, people were optimistic. Optimism was all they had.

People are more than happy to describe themselves as 'optimists', but this used to be a rare bit of philosophical jargon.

Dem

boys seh...

D

e law seh a minibus wah wuking hire muss gat a conductor.

But it look like dem hire car drivers does be conducting orchestra when dem driving.

Dem boys cruising along de highway when one ah dem hire car drivers flash he light twice pun dem boys and put he palm downwards, pointing to de road.

Dem boys friend explain dat dah mean de Popo dem ahead and deh short – nah far away.

If de finger bin point upwards, it would mean de Popo dem ahead but at some distance.

Dem boys ask wah is de signal fuh de Popo deh midway. De friend explain, dat in dah case all yah gan get

Leibniz coined it to explain his solution to the problem of theodicy – if God is all good and all powerful, why is there evil and suffering? He assumed that since God is all-powerful, and could have created any possible world, this world that he did create must be the best of all possible worlds.

Leibniz also invented calculus, causing maths students, even today, to pessimistically believe that that we live in the worst of all possible worlds.

N o w, r e t u r n i n g t o Guyana, the Guyanese people still had hope.

In 1992 democracy was restored and the PPP/C took office, promising things would get better. After all, Cheddi was President and we were living in the best of all possible worlds.

Of course, things were never going to be quite rosy.

Hoyte had flogged the country's assets for a bag of beans. And Cheddi was in no mood for renationalisation.

By the 1990's however, many were pessimistic and the PNC stalwarts were the most pessimistic of all.

For brief periods in the first decade of the 21st century, in between riots, mass killings and death

Kaieteur News

Electronic vaccination card closer

G

squads, some people did live the good life. Times were getting better.

The economy was improving. Jagdeo was President and this was the best of all possible worlds.

Much of the country, however, felt differently.

When the PNC (for it was the PNC) returned in 2015, they too discovered the joys of optimism. We had struck oil.

The economy was growing, Granger was President – truly this was the best of all possible worlds.

The past two years have been difficult. Rigged elections (by whomever), floods and global pandemic blanketed the country.

As the year draws to a close, I reflect on the national mood. It is 2021.

Guyana is the fastest growing economy in the world.

We are supposed to be rich and the future is supposed to be bright.

Jagdeo is President… sorry Vice President… and we live in the best of all possible worlds. And yet no one is happy!

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

Some car drivers does be conducting orchestra is a double flash of de lights.

But yesterday beat all.

Dem boys know dat some ah dem drivers does signal with dem hands when dem want to mek certain yuh know dat dem turning.

So dem boys see de car ahead ah dem with de driver hand horizontal, but den he fingers point upwards, den he knack de top ah de roof ah he car with he hand.

Dem boys nah know whether to stop or overtake.

So dem boys honk dem horn.

And de same orchestra conductor give dem boys de middle finger.

All dem hand signals mek dem boys remember de story of de woman wah went up to de barman and start play with he beard with she hands.

"Are you de manager?"

PAGE 09

she ask he as she stroke he face with both hands.

"Actually, no," he say.

"Can you get him fuh me? I need to speak to he," she said, running she hands beyond he beard and into he hair.

“I'm afraid I can't," said de bartender. "But is there anything I can do?"

"Yes. I need for you to give him a message," she continue, running she forefinger across he lips and slyly popping a couple of her fingers into he mouth.

"What should I tell he?" de bartender stammer. " Te l l h i m , " s h e whisper, "There's no toilet paper, hand soap, or paper towels in de ladies room."

Talk half and careful with dem hand signal!

uyana will later this week sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of India that will see the Guyana accessing the COVID-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network (COWIN) software, to produce electronic vaccination cards.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, MP, made the disclosure on Wednesday, during the COVID-19 update.

The new electronic type vaccination cards, according to a Department of Public Information news release, will curb the forging of vaccination documents. “During this week, we'll be signing off the Memorandum of Understanding, which will allow us to now get the COWIN software.

Once we get that COVID software, that's going to be what we will be using. So, we will

migrate the electronic data that we have into that software, and then we'll be able to produce the new cards that people would have,” he said.

The minister said the manual registers of vaccine distribution and vaccination booklets are currently being converted into digital format. “We have recruited staff for that purpose. We have designated special areas where we are doing all that, with the equipment and so forth, to make sure that that is happening. So that is an ongoing process,” the minister noted.

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony said it is still important for persons to keep their current vaccination cards, as the COVID-19 measures stipulate that persons must produce those cards to transact business at government ministries and agencies.

Persons who operate public transport must also produce their cards if asked by a police officer, or by anyone working on behalf of the Ministry of Health.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday October 21, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The PAC imbroglio: The PNC's self-destruction continues T

here has been an advocacy in some quarters that the ruling party needs to have dialogue with the Opposition. As a precondition, the leadership of the PPP wants open recognition of the government's legitimacy frame worked in the March

2020 election results.

From my research, these quarters consists of the editorial position of the Stabroek News, some civil society groups who dislike the PPP, and the PNC and their surrogates. The rejection of the PPP putting a condition for dialogue is not without its intellectual and

political strengths.

The political factor first.

At the recent conference of the British Conservative Party, the Prime Minister and his ministers discussed more government business than party matters. I think all the highlighted issues were the British Government's attitudes and positions on

crucial developments in the country.

Such party affairs constitute democratic accountability. If you are going in front of the party delegates that were responsible for electing you to govern then, you have to tell them about your work as a government. There can be

no alternative arrangement. At all such conferences, delegates speak on Frederick Kissoon what they want or don't want their party is helpless. It is not. government to do.

The party in office Therefore, it has to use derives its strength from the political power responsibly. s t a y i n g p o w e r o f i t s It is the same with the PNC. members. Its members must It has 31 MPs. It controls be consulted on political important municipalities and strategies and high policies. local authorities. It holds the A ruling party cannot pursue chairmanship of a very directions if its members are c r u c i a l p a r l i a m e n t a r y dead set against those committee - Public Accounts Committee (PAC). It then pathways.

Modern politics is about has to act responsibly to elections and once elections allay fears of the ruling party.

The situation in the PAC are won, you have to seek party support for your is yet another manifestation policies. You may not have of the PNC wanting to have liked him, but Donald Trump its cake and yet eat it. The did exactly that. He sought ruling party is making support from Republican accusations of unruly and Party loyalists throughout undemocratic conduct by the PNC in the PAC. The ground the US. therefore is not being laid for The demand on the PPP talks on inclusivity. to have dialogue with the It takes two to tango.

Opposition contextually is How can demands be made not simple politics.

There exist in Guyana on the ruling party to birth memories of brutish politics dialogue on inclusive that occurred just one year governance because it has ago. Not only was there five state power when political months of election rigging power by the PNC is being but deadly attacks on PPP used recklessly? One then is supporters in Region Five making unfair demands on using the pretext of the the party in power.

There is another murder of two African dimension of intellectual youths. strength that ties in with the The question and the point are, do PPP members factor of political strength throughout Guyana endorse which the PPP has in its inclusivity talks between favour, as mentioned at the their party and the PNC? beginning of this column.

Does the PPP have an The PPP can argue that there obligation to canvas the is a credibility game being views of its members? The played out in which if it does answer is obviously yes. not strategize competently, it Now for the factor of can lose the embrace among its supporters and members. intellectual strength.

If you have a reluctant The PPP is saying that we opposition that behaves will not talk to you if you do undemocratically as in the not recognise that we won a free and fair electoral case of the PAC, then to put contest. Detractors of the no requirements for a series PPP are saying it has power, o f c o n f a b u l a t i o n s o n it is the government inclusive governance therefore that has to use that obviously makes the PPP power to reach out to the looks weak.

In actual fact, what will Opposition. happen is that one party That argument is flawed. stands to enhance its Political power cannot be equated with state power. credibility while the other They are two distinct loses credibility. The loser s p h e r e s . T h e B i d e n has to be the PPP. The latest presidency has state power. tyranny of the PNC inside The Republican Party the PAC indicates that it is through it state governors still in self-destructive and state legislatures and mode.

(The views expressed in federal lawmakers have this article are those of the political power.

You cannot ask the Biden a u t h o r a n d d o n o t presidency to reach out to the necessarily reflect the Republican Party as if that opinions of this newspaper.)

Thursday October 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday October 21, 2021

GNBS to seize cigarettes over labelling concerns

Some of the cigarettes that were seized by the GNBS

T

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) recently seized 542

packs of cigarettes which do not meet the requirements of the National Standard “GYS 9-3:2014 Labelling

of Tobacco Products” and t h e To b a c c o C o n t r o l Regulation of 2018.

According to the GNBS, the items were seized from a number of sale outlets in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six, following surveillance inspections that were conducted.

During surveillance visits to shops and supermarkets, GNBS Inspectors found several brands of cigarettes, which were not labelled in English, while other packages did not include a pictorial warning as specified by the Tobacco Control Regulation. The Regulation specifies that pictorial warnings should be placed on each packet and must cover 60 percent of the top front and back of the packets.

Additionally, Inspectors found that some packets did not include a declaration relating to the constituents and emission information, name and address of the manufacturer, importer or distributor, the date of manufacture or batch number.

Further, some brands were not approved for sale in Guyana. The many brands of cigarettes seized include Atlanta, Milano, SPEED, Marshal, Bulls and Bears, Aurora, Record, Silver Elephant, 51, Royal, Darkis, Indosu and Nashville.

GNBS Inspectors conduct regular surveillance to ensure that tobacco products, which do not conform to the requirements, are not sold to local consumers. Such items are seized and

destroyed. Earlier this year, the GNBS destroyed 290,000 packs of imported cigarettes found at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

The cigarettes, which were branded “US Mild 1” and imported from Brazil by a local business, were destroyed at the Lethem dumpsite in the presence of the GNBS Inspector stationed in the Region.

Additionally, in 2020, GNBS Inspectors seized 664 packets of cigarettes, which were also destroyed.

To avoid seizure of items, importers and dealers are reminded to ensure that their products adhere to the requirements of the standard and regulation.

Retailers are also cautioned against purchasing cigarettes, which do not contain warnings and other required information on the individual packages.

According to the GNBS, it will continue surveillance exercises across the country to remove substandard products from retail outlets.

Other products monitored by the GNBS include Electrical and Electronic Appliances, Weighing and Measuring Devices, Te x t i l e s , G a r m e n t s , Footwear, Safety Helmets, Safety Matches, Tyres, Gas Stoves, Cigarettes, PVC Pipes, Furniture, Toys and Playthings, Christmas Trees and Decorative Lighting, Cellular Phones, Gold Articles, Electrical Equipment and Fittings.

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 21, 2021

Father wants justice for teenage son injured in Duck Creek shooting - hopes mystery behind missing cattle will be solved

By Malisa Playter-Harry

A

13-year-old from Duck Creek, Corentyne River, Berbice, is nursing an injury to his right foot after a labourer working with a businessman in the same location shot him.

Police in a statement said that the teen was shot by the suspect who is employed with Mool Persaud Maniram called Rakesh, a cattle farmer of 1806 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.

The suspect resides at Maniram's Duck Creek property where he takes care of animals. Kaieteur News understands that the victim's father, Ram Nermal, also rears cattle on a portion of land next to Maniram's property.

According to police, Nermal's animals would "normally damage Maniram's barbed wire fence and enter his property" and on the October 18, 2021 at around 07:00hrs, Nermal, his son and two of his workers went into Maniram's property to look for his cows when the suspect confronted them with a shotgun. An argument reportedly erupted between Nermal and the suspect, after which Nermal told his 13year-old son to use his cell phone to video the suspect with the gun.

The suspect then fired six rounds from the gun in the direction of Nermal and his son. A pellet, according to reports, struck the right foot of the 13-year -old. The suspect then escaped into the bushes.

The teen was taken to Skeldon Public Hospital where he was treated and sent away.

According to Nermal, who resides with his son (the injured teen), his wife and two labourers at Duck Creek, he has been rearing cattle for a number of years. He disclosed that on Friday last, while tending to his animals, he noticed six heads of cattle missing.

Nermal said he was calling out at the gate of Maniram with his labourer to inquire about his missing cattle. The man said that someone answered and told them not to enter the yard to search for the cattle.

Nevertheless, Nermal said that he attempted to enter the

The teen's injured right foot

yard from the bottom of the gate but Maniram's labourer, known to him as 'Marvin' (suspect), shot at him.

According to Nermal, although he was not hit, they immediately left the area and went to the Springlands Police Station where he filed a report and returned to his cattle ranch with the police on Saturday.

"When we go and the police ask them where the cow is, they said dem loose the cow and the bai that shoot dem na find him; me na know if Rakesh hide out the wukman (suspect) and this was Friday incident," Nermal said.

He added that he returned to the Corentyne with the police and ventured back to Duck Creek on Sunday and saw his animals penned on the property of Maniram. It wasn't until Monday that he decided to go over as Maniram's labourers were chasing out their cattle from the yard to check for his cows.

"Me deh walk with me son and me wukman dem to guh search fuh the cow dem and me see the Marvin guy and another guy who had a gun and he put down the gun and reach we pon the cross dam and me ask he bout me cow and he said it na deh with dem cow and all of us walking going and (the suspect) pick up the gun and walk and come about 50 rods away and he seh he go kill we

and then he buss a load pon we (shoot) and it knock me son," Nermal recounted.

According to Nermal, the suspect then ran away and he immediately took his son out to the Skeldon Public Hospital and afterwards visited the Springlands Police Station. Although police ranks had turned up to investigate, they were unable to locate the suspect.

Police subsequently arrested another labourer, who works for Maniram and was present during the shooting.

Nermal said he wants justice for what happened to his son and also for the six heads of cattle that he has lost, which amounts to $800,000.

He mentioned that just a month ago he lost 12 heads of cattle. "Me and dem people did never get in problem but everytime me lose all my cow dem and dem does tell me how tiger kill dem cow, tiger na go kill all d e m c o w. . . " , N e r m a l insisted.

He is calling for a thorough investigation into the matter since his son is unable to walk because of the gunshot injury he sustained.

Nermal currently has 260 heads of cattle and was among the dozens of farmers who suffered major losses during the recent flood situation.

Up to the time of writing this article, police said checks were still being made for the suspect.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday October 21, 2021

Man who hacked wife to death in 2019 pleads guilty

A

3 3 - y e a r- o l d man who was accused of chopping his 20-year-old wife to death in 2019 on Dr. Tulsi Street, Williamsburgh, Corentyne, Berbice, yesterday pleaded guilty to murder.

Gavin Gill, who was a taxi driver residing at 10th Street, Whim Village, Corentyne, Berbice, prior to his incarceration, appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Berbice High Court (virtually) and pleaded guilty to the capital offence.

Sentencing was subsequently deferred to November 5, 2021. Gill was represented by Attorney-atlaw, Surihya Sabsook while the state was represented by Abigail Gibbs.

On March 30, 2019, Gill struck down his wife Omawattie 'Anjalie' Gill while she was walking to work through Dr. Tulsi Street, Williamsburgh.

The victim had separated from Gill weeks prior to her death and had secured a job at a store in Rose Hall Town about a week before she was killed. Initial reports by this publication stated that the two had shared a daughter who was seven months old when the incident occurred.

Gill, it was reported, was driving his rented white Toyota IST car when he struck down Omawattie whom he had married in

Gavin and Omawattie Gill in happier times.

January 2018.

He then whipped out a cutlass and knife from the car and hacked her to death.

She sustained multiple chop wounds to her neck and stab wounds to her back and right side. It was a police patrol that was passing at the time of the incident that apprehended Gill.

Omawattie was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where she was

pronounced dead.

A post mortem conducted on the body revealed that she died from shock and haemorrhage due to multiple incised wounds to the lungs.

Kaieteur News had also reported that just a week before the young woman met her demise, she had taken out a restraining order against Gill at the Whim Police Station.

CAL is Caribbean's leading airline for 5th consecutive year

C

aribbean Airlines has for the fifth consecutive year, emerged as the “Caribbean's Leading Airline Brand 2021” at the 28th Annual World Travel Awards™.

T h e Wo r l d T r a v e l Awards™ was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate

excellence across all key sectors of the travel tourism & hospitality industry.

Caribbean Airlines in a release noted that it is heartened to receive the distinguished accolade, which affirms that the airline is providing value to its customers as it fulfills its vision to be the preferred

carrier serving the Caribbean.

“Now more than ever, Caribbean Airlines re-asserts its commitment to the development of the region and continues to partner with stakeholders to deliver the air transport needed to rebuild tourism,” the release added.

Thursday October 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

Health Minister appeals to parents to get children fully vaccinated

W

ith efforts being made to g e t t h e education system back to some level of normalcy, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, is encouraging parents and guardians to get their children fully vaccinated.

The Minister's appeal was voiced during his daily COVID-19 update yesterday even as he revealed that vaccination for children “are lagging behind in terms of second dose.”

As was previously reported, the government in August last had commenced the rollout of its vaccination programme among the adolescent population. The country, back then had received about 146,250 doses of the US-made Pfizer vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 18 years.

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Anthony, “The important thing here is that I think everybody would like to see schools reopen; I think everybody would like some sort of normalcy with the education system. But if we have a large unvaccinated children population, then it's going to be problematic and therefore, the faster we vaccinate children, the better it is going to be for the education system to return to that level of normalcy.”

The Minister shared that to date there are approximately 26,554 individuals between the ages of 12 and 18 who have received their first dose, and there are about 16,802 individuals in that age cohort who have received their second dose. He noted that there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that children are vaccinated since there are an estimated 104,000 children in the country.

For children who are not in school, Dr. Anthony said that his Ministry is using the Bureau of Statistics' numbers to target them. Additionally, he said that health teams will be going into the various communities, Regions and villages in order to reach more persons so that they can come out and get vaccinated.

He stressed that the importance of being vaccinated is that it helps in reducing the number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths recorded in the country. “In countries that have had high uptake of vaccination, we have seen that it has made a difference.

There is a deduction in cases, hospitalisation and deaths.

Using that as a proxy, we know that once we have higher numbers in this age category that it will certainly

help to reduce hospitalisation and infections,” the Minister pointed out.

To this end, he is

encouraging parents not only to be vaccinated but to ensure that their children are as well.

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 21, 2021

2 years, 6 months for man convicted of assaulting woman

B

h o l a Bhagwandin k n o w n a s 'Buddy', who was acquitted of rape last month, has been sentenced to two years, six months imprisonment for

assaulting a woman in 2019.

The 49-year-old carpenter was sentenced by Justice JoAnn Barlow at the High Court yesterday.

Prior to being sentenced, Bhagwandin apologised to

the court for his actions but said that he wanted nothing to do with the victim. He asked that she keeps her distance from him. The man promised to do better for the sake of his children.

Bhagwandin had initially denied two rape charges which allege that in the County of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration with the woman without her consent. He had

also pleaded not guilty to the third charge, which stated that on the same date and location, he assaulted the same woman thereby causing her actual bodily harm.

On September 30, after deliberating, the jury returned with a unanimous not guilty verdict on the two counts of rape, and a guilty verdict on the assault charge (continued on page 22)

Thursday October 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Ministry records 4 more COVID-19 fatalities

Y

esterday, the Ministry of Health reported that four more persons, two men and two women, who contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died. As a

result of this, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 881.

The fatalities are that of two unvaccinated persons, a partially vaccinated person and another who was fully vaccinated. The four

individuals, it was reported, died over a two-day period (October 19 and 20) while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

The two men are a 63year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and an

89-year-old from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) while the two women are a 68-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and a 51year-old from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Meanwhile, the Ministry via its daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 118 new cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 34,726.

The dashboard also shows that 23 patients are in

the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 113 are in institutional isolation, 3,503 are in home isolation and seven are quarantined institutionally. To date, a total of 30,206 recoveries have been recorded.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 21, 2021

Thursday October 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Man who killed teen for gold chain charged with two murders

By Shervin Belgrave

K

a p i l d e o Gangadin, the suspect who had reportedly confessed to killing a 19-year-old man for his gold chain, was yesterday remanded to prison for two murders. He appeared before Senior Magistrate, Fabayo Azore at the Cove and John Magistrate's Court and was slapped with two murder charges.

The defendant, who hails from Annandale on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), is accused of killing Ganesh Persaud, 19, also known as “Chris”, on Friday last for his gold chain at Strathspey, ECD. He was also charged for stabbing a 24-year-old fisherman, Mukesh Mangra known as 'Paul', to death in January 2020. Gangadin was not required to plead to the indictable charges and is expected to return to court on January 17, 2022.

Kaieteur News had reported on Wednesday that prior to the murder of Persaud, Gangadin was

wanted for two other murders – that of a male juvenile and a fisherman. It was expected that Gangadin would have received a total of three murder charges yesterday.

However, Kaieteur News was informed that detectives need more evidence to charge him for the third murder.

While in custody for the murder of Persaud, detectives were able to secure another confession from Gangadin, admitting that he had killed Mangra in January, 2020.

Mangra's body was found lying on a dam at Coldingen, ECD, with multiple stab wounds around 18:30hrs on Saturday January 18, 2020.

A blue-handled knife suspected to be the murder weapon was found some 50 feet away from Mangra's remains.

Relatives of the dead fisherman had related to the press back then that based on information they had received, Mangra was killed during a robbery. He had recently returned from a fishing trip and had gone out with some of his workmates

on the day he was killed.

According to reports, information gathered by investigators had revealed that Mangra was murdered while returning home by four men.

Family members who had seen his bloodied corpse had told the media that it appeared that Mangra was beaten and stabbed five times. They related too that his personal belongings were missing.

Investigators had arrested one of the suspects identified as Vivekanand Ram, a 20y e a r- o l d c a r p e n t e r o f Lusignan, ECD. Ram was later remanded to prison for the offence. Gangadin was one of the suspects being sought by police too but he had managed to stay out of their radar for more than a year.

Police were able to finally apprehend him after his involvement in another crime last Friday.

Gangadin had told police in a confession that he had walked into the Deals on Electronic Store located at Strathspey and approached

Remanded for two murders, Kapildeo Gangadin

Murdered for his gold chain, Ganesh Persaud

Murdered while returning home, Mukesh Mangra

his victim, Persaud, who was alone at the time and had asked him about the price for a speaker box.

The self-confessed murderer said, when his victim stepped out to show him the item, he scrambled onto his gold chain.

Persaud, he said, had resisted and they ended up in scuffle. Gangadin recalled that he used a little knife to stab his victim “couple well places” before escaping. With the gold chain in his possession Gangadin said that he had stopped a bicycle

and asked the rider to drop him to a location where he changed his bloodied clothes.

He was nabbed sometime later by police with the stolen chain in his possession.

Persaud's father had related that the last time he saw his son alive was just after he was stabbed to his neck reportedly by Gangadin.

He recalled, Persaud came running towards him holding his neck while relating that he was stabbed and robbed.

The man tried his best to save his son's life by immediately rushing him to a

private hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Persaud's life was snuffed out days shy of his 20th birthday, October 25.

Moments after seeing Gangadin at the Cove and John's Magistrate Court yesterday, Persaud's father broke down in tears as he spoke with reporters. The tearful man said, “I will have to live with this for the rest of my life. It is paining my heart.

He killed my son. He could have just taken something and leave. Why did he have to kill my son?”

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 21, 2021

Single father of 3 among recipients of new homes in Food For the Poor/St Francis initiative

“

Today is a happy day," said Neil Archer, a 43-yearold single father of three boys who resides at Lot 800 Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, as he received a brand new semifurnished house made possible through the Food For The Poor (FFTP) in collaboration with the St. Francis Community Developers (SFCD) of Berbice.

Archer is among 10 people who received homes recently, providing them with the opportunity to own a home of their own and live comfortably with their family.

The father of three who broke down in tears while expressing gratitude, said that he has taken care of his children since they were small and added, "once they are happy, I am happy. I could

remember me and one of them was gaffing and the second one said 'daddy this is we house you know', so I want to say thanks to Mr. Foster and Food For the Poor..."

Some 16 adults and 45 children are the beneficiaries of the new homes which are situated in the Canje and East Bank Berbice areas, and to date 385 homes have been built in Region Six through the non-governmental organisations.

Mr. Kent Vincent, CEO of FFTP, expressed that his NGO is confident that continued collaboration and support will be given to the region.

He added that when the programme commenced, smaller homes were built with the washroom facilities located outside but they have since upgraded the homes

with indoor washroom facilities, with water tanks and more included, all of which were made possible through the kind compliments of overseas donors.

Additionally, Project Officer of FFTP, Andrea Benjamin, said “at the end of the day, food for the poor, its collaborating partners, everybody here and those who are not here...are contributing to the social development of this country."

Meanwhile, Mr. Alex Foster, CEO of the St Francis Community Developers, said during the recent handing over ceremony that the goal is to have at least 500 homes constructed in Region Six, for the vulnerable. In March of this year, 10 houses were also handed over by FFTP and SFCD.

Thursday October 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

Confessed killers move to Appeal Court to challenge life sentences

T

wo confessed killers have moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge their respective life sentence.

Anthony Jones, who had confessed to the 2018 fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Nyron Vyphuis and Kevin Persaud, who had confessed to the fatal shooting of Purcell Moore Jr. during a robbery at Craig Old Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in 2017, are now asking the Court of Appeal to overturn their life sentences.

The men were sentenced earlier this year when they appeared at the High Court to answer to the charge. They each accepted that they had unlawfully killed their victims by pleading to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Jones was sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon who ordered that parole only be possible after he served 20 years and Persaud was sentenced to life by the same

Judge, with possibility of parole after serving 15 years in prison.

In separate applications to the Appeal Court filed this week, Jones is arguing that the sentence is manifestly excessive and severe in all the circumstances of the case.

Persaud is raising similar objections.

Prior to being sentenced, Jones admitted that on October 13, 2018, he killed the teenager by stabbing him to death. He said he was intoxicated on the day in question and pleaded with the court for a second chance and even apologised to the victim’s family.

But Justice Kissoon noted how Jones had “ruthlessly and violently” ended the life of Vyphuis, who at the time was still a teenager. The teenager died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he had been brought for treatment after

Confessed killer, Kevin Persaud. he tried to prevent Jones’ common-law wife from being stabbed while the two were quarrelling at their liquor shop.

In handing down the sentence, the judge said he took into consideration that the crime was a premeditated act, a deathly weapon was

Confessed killer, killer, Anthony Anthony Jones.

Jones.

Confessed

used and the element of domestic violence.

Meanwhile in the instance of Persaud, Justice Kissoon imposed life sentences on him and his accomplice who were on trial for the murder of Purcell Junior Moore. Moore, a 40year-old clothes vendor, was

gunned down at Craig, East Bank Demerara during a robbery on December 20, 2017. Reports revealed that the father of two was robbed of his gold chain and other jewellery.

Reports are that the man had returned from French Guiana several weeks prior

and may have been monitored by his attackers.

The man had lived in Cayenne, French Guiana with his wife and two children, but came to Guyana for the birth of his son.

Kevin Persaud called “Boyce”, formerly of 14 Avenue, Diamond, EBD, and Selwin Dawson, called “Crack Skull”, formerly of First Field, Kaneville, EBD, had been charged with his murder. The duo had initially pleaded not guilty to murder, but pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter before Justice Kissoon.

Before passing the sentence, Justice Kissoon directed the jury to return a formal verdict of guilty in relation to the lesser count.

As such, Dawson and Persaud were each sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum term of 15 years.

COPSQUAD2000 graduates equipped to deal with Gender Based Violence matters Participants of the second and third batches of COPSQUAD2000 on Saturday last expressed how useful they’ve found the training and shared with s u b j e c t m i n i s t e r, D r.

Vindhya Persaud some of the things that they especially appreciated learning.

One comment that was repeated by several graduates was that the training brought out how Gender Based Violence (GBV) is not just subjected to women, but affects children and men too. In a release the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security revealed that multiple participants appreciated learning how to interview a survivor of GBV and how to deal with persons coming to make a report.

The graduation ceremony took place at the Police Officers’ Training Centre in Kingston in the presence of MHSSS, Dr. Persaud, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, and Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie.

So far, 75 policemen and women have received their certificates and badges identifying them as COPSQUAD officers. The brainchild of Dr. Persaud, the intention of the initiative is to have at least one officer

The second and third batches of COPSQUAD2000 graduated on Saturday. trained to handle matters of domestic violence at each police station across the country.

Dr. Persaud is moreover targeting half of the Force to be trained by the end of this year and plans on ensuring that the other half is trained next year. With the ‘train the trainers’ programme functioning effectively, the pace of COPSQUAD can now be accelerated so that simultaneous training can take place in multiple regions.

“It was fun through learning. I took away that, there are many options available to a survivor of

GBV. I have learnt a new way to interview a survivor and I will continue to move in a swift manner to ensure that justice is served,” expressed one participant.

“I’ve learnt how to guide and counsel perpetrators, and how to communicate with persons who went through such trauma. I’m looking forward for more training in the advanced level of this programme,” another graduate added.

A third graduate shared that even though he came to the programme with a negative attitude, he couldn’t be happier that he participated. “I thought GBV

was just for women. I realised this was not true. I got to understand that we men can share how we’re hurting so we can get justice.

I learnt that it is possible for me to rape my wife,” he said.

The training featured role plays which helped the participants to better understand what they were learning in theory.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is playing an integral role in providing technical assistance and training.

Dr. Persaud continues to urge participants to do justice to their training and to be agents of transformation.

Human Services Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, presents a certificate to one of the graduates.

She is also hopeful that the graduates will use their training to influence the rest

of the police force and to call out, and even report, errant officers.

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News VACANCY Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles,age 25-50, Car/ Van licence. Call 642-9823.

FOR FORRENT RENT 3 bedroom, recently reconditioned. Excellent condition. Enmore/Haslington Access Road. Call: 667-3799

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

Tel#650-7501.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

WANTED

Charlotte street, Louisa Row, Better Hope, Enterprise, Diamond. Contact: Ray's Realty 627-9685

Experience Taxi driver at Princess Hotel Providence.

Call:265-7075/616-5419.

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Repairs at affordable prices: F r i d g e , A i r c o n d i t i o n e r, Washing machines, Dryers , TV, Microwaves & Freezer.

Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158.

1 operator for excavator to wok in the interior. Tel: 6984064, 660-5010.

One experienced Procument clerk to work in the mining sector. Call:223-5180.

Skilled Carpenter, Mason and Labourers to work long term in Georgetown and Linden. Contact: 602-9469, 6575800, 666-2887.

Live in waitress 18-25 years.

Call:648-7866.

Upholster to work on chairs, car and bus seats Contact: 680-1967

FOR SALE Dobermann and German Shepherd mix pups for sale.

Contact Devi on 639-2828.

One male able bodied clerk and one female sales representative. Call:225-2313 / 226-1497 One cook and one kitchen assistant for interior locations. Call: 698-6200

EDUCATION Electrical wiring,Auto electrical wiring training courses.

Tel:225-9587. Technical Studies Institute.

1 full time Industrial mechanic to manage workshop at JFWW Network Outlet.

Call:622-1957, 671-9015, 2336997.

VACANCY FOR RENT Vreed-En-Hoop junction, place to rent for Office, Bond, Hair Salon other.

Call: 603-6400.

Shop for rent opposite StewartvilleSecondary School.Contact: 649-2197.

One bedroom apartment for rent,471 East Ruimveldt $40,000 per month. Call: 225-2737.

2 & 3 bedroom house in Vreed-en-Hoop. Apartment furnished in Providence & Diamond. Call: 604-6664/ 216-2299

Auto Electrical apprentice age 19-25 yrs. Apply in person, Lot 120 Forth Street Albertown G/Town or call 610-0340.

Vacancy exist for water delivery driver. Tel: 692-6768/ 676-1363.

Lorry drivers.Must have valid licence, send application survival. human resources @gmail. com /6092995.

One female cleaner. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda.

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area.Call:615-9132.

LAND FOR SALE 1 house lot for sale,Cove & John E.C.D 50X100FT. Contact:664-1856 or 698-7152.

Middle Road La Penitence, Eccles, La-Grange, Cornelia Ida, Soesdyke Linden Highway. Contact Ray's Realty: 627-9685.

Thursday October 21, 2021

2 years, 6 months for man convicted of...

From page 16 for Bhagwandin. The State was represented by prosecutor, Sarah Martin, and the accused was represented by attorney-at-law, Teriq Mohammed.

According to the facts of the charge, the woman was at the back of her yard on the day in question, when Bhagwandin came into her

yard. It was stated that the accused then began holding the woman's breast and her hand and she told him not to do that.

The facts further stated that, the accused started to hit her with his hand in her back and belly.

The woman had also related to the police that the accused picked up a piece of

wood from her backyard and started to beat her all over her body – her hand, foot, and back.

It was alleged that after beating the woman, Bhagwandin committed two forms of sexual penetration on the woman.

The matter was reported and Bhagwandin was later slapped with three charges.

Thursday October 21, 2021

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Life sentence for man who pleaded guilty to murdering British teen Twenty-eight-year-old Stayman George was yesterday handed a life sentence for the murder of British teen, Dominic Bernard. The sentence was handed down by High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon, in the Berbice High Court.

On October 7, 2021, George had pleaded guilty to the charge which states that on October 14, 2015, at Kildonan Village, Corentyne, East Berbice, he murdered 18year-old Bernard.

His sentencing was deferred to yesterday’s date when he received a life sentence and will only be eligible for parole after serving 35 years.

On October 13, 2021, George’s alleged accomplice, and his friend, Aaron Hing, appeared before Justice Kissoon to answer to the same charge.

After the charge was read to Hing he pleaded guilty but his guilty plea was refused by the High Court. Hing admitted to killing his god-brother, Bernard, but in his address to the court, he explained that he is also a victim of a crime and had noted that George was

Dead, Dominic Bernard.

Accused, Aaron Hing (left) and Stayman George. the one who committed the murder.

Hing stated that at the time of the crime they were all under the influence of drugs and further noted that George hammered Bernard to death over a broken cell phone. The murder accused also told the court that George had threatened to kill his family if he went to the police.

As such, Justice Kissoon had entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Hing and disputed the facts of the State’s

case.

The State is being represented by attorney-at-Law, Latchmie Rahamat who was appointed as Special Prosecutor by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali Hack, S.C. Hing is being represented by attorney-at-law, Sanjeev Datadin.

Hing’s matter will go to trial as a result of the not guilty plea that was entered on his behalf by Justice Kissoon.

Kaieteur News had reported that George’s child

mother, Krystol Thomas, her mother, Sinfine Henry called “Coreen”, and George’s friend, Jahmil Sinclair are charged with accessory to murder.

It was reported that Bernard had arrived in Guyana on October 14, 2015, for a threeweek vacation with his godbrother, Hing.

He was scheduled to fly back to England on November 5, 2015, but failed to do so.

His father, Andrew Ber-

nard, had contacted his godson (Hing) about his son’s whereabouts after he did not return home.

However, Hing reportedly told his god-father that he was unaware that the teen was coming to Guyana. This raised suspicions and the elder Bernard flew to Guyana to locate his eldest child.

His visit led to the intensification of the investigation which later resulted in the discovery of the teenager’s body. On January 8, 2016, a

badly decomposed body, suspected to be that of Bernard, was found in a shallow grave at Nurney, Corentyne, Berbice, by CID ranks from Georgetown and Berbice.

They were acting on an anonymous phone call.

A post mortem examination revealed that he had sustained a fractured skull, as well as a broken neck. A DNA test results showed that the samples taken from the badly decomposed body matched the DNA of Bernard’s father.

Innovative Systems Inc. gets ISO 9001:2015 certification Yesterday, Innovative Systems Inc. of Lot 43 Croal and Alexander Streets, Georgetown became the newest addition to Global Compliance Service’s (GCS) list of ISO 9001:2015 certified companies in Guyana.

Innovative Systems Incorporated is a software development company and the only Oracle partner in Guyana.

They have developed one of the largest Human Resource Management Information Systems, being used by the utilities and banking industry in Guyana.

GCS revealed in a release yesterday that the highly sought-after achievement, ISO 9001 Certification, began in 2020 when a Direct Support Grant Programme was extended to small businesses in the Caribbean, funded by the European Development Fund and facilitated by the Caribbean Export Agency. Innovative Systems Inc. applied for the grant and was a successful applicant.

Through hard work, dedication, and commitment from their leadership team, and with the assistance of a quality management consultant, they were able to accomplish the required documentation and implementation in record time.

Mr. Richard Langford, the Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Systems Inc. remarked, “we encourage other companies to seek ISO 9001 certification since it’s based on best practices and standards, captured through good implementation of

The ISO 9001 certification ceremony for Innovative Systems Inc.

critical processes, SOPs, policies, and other means of documentation (Quality Management System). Customer focus and satisfaction are the hallmark of this standard.”

He further added, “We would like to express a hearty thank you to all our valued customers who have remained with us during good times and bad times and assure you of our commitment to the improvement of quality products and services, as we endeavour to use this ISO Certification platform to engage other businesses regionally and globally to establish a mutually beneficial relationship for the delivery of our cloud base and on-premise software solu-

tions.” Companies certified to the ISO 9001:2015 standard have established a Quality Management System, which provides a framework for the delivery of consistent quality products and services as defined within its scope of certification. ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for a quality management system (QMS) that was developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

This certification provides a model for companies of all types and sizes to improve internal systems, build quality management systems and operate effectively at different

levels, including the ability to focus on customer requirements and constantly find ways to become resilient and sustainable.

This standard is actually based on seven quality management principles, which highlights having a strong customer focus, involvement of high-level company management, employee engagement, evidencebased decision-making, an outlined process-based approach, relationship management, and ongoing improvement of business operations.

All administrative arrangements, including the application for ISO Certification to any ISO Management System Standard or request for

Training Services on any ISO Management system standard can be processed through GCS Guyana Inc. located at Lot 20 ‘A’ Public Road, McDoom, East Bank Demerara.

GCS is said to be the only accredited ISO Certification body with a resident office in Guyana. “Our business profile represents an excess of over 20 years of experience within the Audit, Inspection, Training and Certification Industry. Currently, we have 8 Offices servicing 36 countries globally,” GCS noted in its release.

It added, “Global Compliance Service Guyana Inc. is a Guyanese owned and operated business; our team consists of Guyanese professionals who are qualified ISO Management Systems Trainers and Auditors.

Our ISO Certifications are issued from our GCS office in the USA through a seamless accredited process. Our vision is to provide more affordable and competitive ISO Certification, Inspection and Training Services to companies within Guyana.

They can be contacted via (592) 223-6666, email guyana@gcsregistrar.com or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/GCS Guyana, for more information on the steps to becoming ISO Certified.

According to GCS, its presence in Guyana eliminates the exorbitant cost for airfare and accommodations and will make ISO Certification more affordable for many local businesses.

PAGE 24

Thursday October 21, 2021

Kaieteur News

Missing girl found, alleged ‘Husband’ remanded for Mahdia abductor in custody businesswoman’s murder The teen girl who had reportedly gone missing after dropping her brother off to school has been found and according her, she was abducted. Kaieteur News understands that the alleged kidnapper, identified as a 23year-old man, has been arrested and is presently in police custody at the La Grange Police Station.

The teen, Varshnie Ramdass, a resident of Jetty Squatting Area, Vreed-enHoop, West Bank Demerara (WBD) had disappeared sometime after 11:30hrs last Wednesday. Her mother, Pinkey Ganga, had told Kaieteur News that her daughter had left home that morning to drop her younger brother to the Vreed-en-Hoop Primary School.

The teen was supposed to return home to pick up her mother for a visit to the Vreeden-Hoop Secondary School to see if she could be transferred there but Ramdass never returned.

A missing person’s report was filed and Ramdass’ relatives had been looking for her together with the police since then.

They had received calls that she was spotted in Crane Village on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD). The relatives headed to the location but she was not found.

Almost a week later,

Found, Varshnie Ramdass.

Ramdass’ relatives received a call that she was seen at a location in Belle West, Canal Number Two, WBD. They reportedly contacted police and headed to the location around 23:00hrs on Wednesday where they found her at a house in the company of the alleged abductor and a woman. Police arrested both of them and Ramdass was taken home.

Kaieteur News understands that woman was released on station bail and ordered to return to the police station yesterday but she never did. However, Kaieteur News was told that Ramdass has since told police that after dropping off her brother

at school she was allegedly abducted by the suspect.

She alleged that the man pulled up in a “taxi” and forced her inside.

Ramdass claimed that she was taken to a house in Belle West. She recalled that along with the suspect there was another man and two women there.

The teen further alleged that she told them that she wants to go home and asked to be taken back but they gave her “something” to drink which made her dizzy and she fell asleep.

He mother had told the press that when they found Ramdass, she had noticed some bruises on her skin.

She added too that the alleged kidnapper is known to them. Ganga said he is a man that Ramdass had complained about. Ramdass had told them that the man would frequently molest her on the roadways and that she “does like the way he would approach her”.

Ramdass’ stepfather had reportedly found the boy and complained to his parents about his actions and approach towards the teen.

A man popularly known in the Mahdia, Region Eight community as “Umbrella Dread” was on Monday remanded for allegedly killing his common-law-wife, Denise Vieira, 47, on Wednesday last.

The defendant, whose correct name is Marvin Verbeke, 33, appeared virtually before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Mahdia Magistrate’s court. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge of murder and is expected to make his next court appearance on January 12, 2022.

According to reports, Verbeke had reportedly given detectives a confession that he had unintentionally choked Vieira to death.

Verbeke and Vieira had shared a common-law relationship for eight years but had separated some six-months ago.

The dead woman’s relative had related the couple’s relationship turned sour about a year ago. Vieira and Verbeke would have frequent arguments over domestic issues and sometimes they would end up fighting.

Vieira had decided to move out from the wooden house they shared and moved into a concrete structure she had built in the same yard and had been living and conducting her business there for six months now.

Vieira’s neighbours had related, however, that despite living apart, Verberke would still go over to her place and verbally abuse her every day.

On Wednesday, the day she was killed, those neighbours had recalled overhearing a verbal confrontation between the two just moments before her remains were found lying on the kitchen floor of her grocery shop and home. The woman’s body was found with blood oozing from the nose and mouth around

Dead, Denise Vieira

13:45hrs that day.

Neighbours had narrated to police that they had heard, Vieira telling the accused, “Get out of my (expletive) place, leff me alone.” Verbeke had initially denied that he had anything to do with Vieira’s death but later decided to admit that he had killed her.

During his confession, he had admitted to the cops that indeed he had gone over to Vieira’s place but his intention was not to kill her. He claimed that he had just wanted to talk to her. Verbeke claimed that when he entered the kitchen, Vieira was cooking and instead of alerting her, he placed his arms around her neck from behind with the intention of pulling her aside for a chat.

Vieira, he said, resisted and they ended up in a scuffle and he had tightened his grip around her neck to keep her under control but she kept on fighting. According to the man, they had fallen to the floor where Vieira allegedly hit her head.

Verbeke claimed that he had stopped fighting and he decided to release her from his grip not knowing that she was already dead. After noticing that she was unresponsive, Verbeke claimed that he tried to revive her but his attempts were futile.

Verbeke confessed that

Remanded for killing his common-law wife, Marvin Verbeke after realising that Vieira was probably dead, he decided to make some checks around her house before heading to a location nearby where he was reportedly seen hanging with friends.

Family members and investigators, however, have since related that they believe that Verbeke did not only choke the woman to death but might have beaten her in the process with a heavy object. An autopsy conducted on her remains had showed that in addition to being killed by manual strangulation, the woman suffered blunt trauma to the head. Crime scene experts had also reported that there were multiple marks of violence on her body.

Thursday October 21, 2021

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FIFA Council endorses global summit to discuss the future of football

The FIFA Council has endorsed the holding of a global summit on Monday, 20 December 2021 by videoconference in order to discuss the future of football after receiving a detailed update on the ongoing consultation process on the topic. ”We need to think about how we develop the football of the future and to ensure our sport is meaningful, exciting and robust for future generations across the entire world,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the latest FIFA Council meeting, held by videoconference. ”This is not necessarily the case today, and as the international match calendars are not decided beyond 2023 and 2024 for women’s and men’s football respectively, this is a crucial moment to

ensure the further development of our sport across all 211 FIFA member associations. As mandated by the recent FIFA Congress, FIFA is considering all opinions in an inclusive and thorough consultation process.” ”As world football’s governing body, it is FIFA’s responsibility to stimulate such a debate, and I am encouraged by the healthy exchanges that have been made to date from all sides,” the FIFA President added.

“Everyone should have their voice heard, and precisely through the consultation process, I have discovered that many stakeholders have never had the opportunity to discuss this topic properly.

This consultation process is addressing that, and we will

continue with the objective of reaching a consensus with solutions that work for everyone’s benefit.

By hosting a global summit later this year, we will now have the opportunity to present one plan and to provide feedback to all our FIFA member associations.”

Following the request by FIFA’s member associations at the 71st FIFA Congress in May 2021 that a feasibility study be carried out to explore the possible impact of holding the FIFA World Cup™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ every two years instead of four, FIFA has been implementing a comprehensive consultation process involving all stakeholders.

This process has focused on addressing international match calendar issues for

Gianni Infantino

both women’s and men’s football, presenting proposals for global youth tournaments, and ensuring all proposals support player health and well-being.

The FIFA Council’s decision will now provide the platform for FIFA’s 211 member associations to further discuss the proposals in the coming weeks, with the ob-

jective of reaching an agreement on the structures of club and national team competition windows within the international match calendars for women’s and men’s football.

NBA: Milwaukee Bucks beat...

Thursday October 21, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may not be terribly im-

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) There's an inspirational qual-

pressed with the activity going on around you, but that doesn't mean you have to be miser-

ity about you today that you should make more public. Instead of shrinking into your imagination, you should expand your energy outward to the

able because of it. This isn't the time to sit back and let others take the lead.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) There's a trajectory of truth to maintain today. If you try to go against the flow, you'll have a difficult time achieving your goals.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're competing with someone today as you fight for dominance in a situation.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Don't hesitate to dive into whatever project or situation suits your fancy today.

Your luck will make you victorious in whatever game you choose.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Don't blow things out of proportion today. You're apt to have a tendency to exaggerate everything to such a degree that you completely lose touch with the true reality of the situation.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your emotions are dynamic and extreme today. They're apt to control every action you take whether you realize it or not. Be aware that it's best to realize it so you can then control these volatile feelings instead of being controlled by them

people around you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) In many respects, the energy of the day can't get much better for you. It's up to you to direct this energy into action that will nourish your soul.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) If you're in the mood for love, remember to be sensitive to your partner's needs and give lots of love in return.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Consider cooking dinner for a large group tonight. Ask everyone to pitch in some money and you'll be surprised at the fantastic masterpiece you can create with just a small amount

of effort on your part.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You could feel a great deal of pressure from the people around you to join in their festivities. Perhaps you're being lured into the frenzy of activity. Don't feel like you have to be a part of the party if you

don't want to be.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may have so much fun today that you forget to check on the happiness of the people around you.

From page 32 point guard Kyrie Irving who refuses to get a Covid-19 vaccine. Nets coach Steve Nash said.

“We weren’t as sharp as we needed to be, we weren’t as physical as we needed to be, we weren’t as organised as we needed to be. “We just didn’t play well.” ’Lakers are finding their way’ - On the west coast, the Warriors, led by a 21-point, 10-assist and 10-rebound triple-double from Steph Curry, came from behind to beat the 2020 champions. Six Warriors players scored double figures, while Nemanja Bjelica added 15 points and 11 rebounds from the bench. ”This is a good feeling,” Curry said. “We had a lot of excitement coming into this season — a new cast of characters mixed with our core.

“We weathered the storm. I played like trash — shot the ball terribly — but if we can win a game like that where we just stuck with it defensively, it’s a good omen for us.”

Russell Westbrook, who was making his competitive Lakers debut, was limited to eight points, five rebounds and four assists. Lakers coach Frank Vogel praised Davis and James, calling the pair “spectacular”. ”We’re going to be pretty good if we get those type of performances,” said Vogel.

“We just have to be better defensively.

“This is a team which is all new to each other. Everyone is finding their way a little bit, and each day they’re getting a little bit better.”

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Thursday October 21, 2021

Damning WADA report confirms ‘potential wrong doing’ from British Cycling MailOnline - British Cycling broke anti-doping rules by carrying out their own private drug testing of riders in the run-up to London 2012, a damning investigation has confirmed.

Sportsmail revealed in March that a UK AntiDoping employee allowed British Cycling to screen urine samples of their athletes for the banned steroid nandrolone at a private laboratory in 2011, breaching World AntiDoping code.

That sparked a probe by the World Anti-Doping Agency, who on Tuesday published their findings and confirmed ‘potential wrongdoing by individuals in both British Cycling and UKAD at that time’.

WADA’s investigation also criticised UKAD for failing to search properly for evidence about the illicit testing — as well as allegations of a coach attempting to dope athletes — despite an anonymous tip-off in 2018.

H o w e v e r, d e s p i t e t h e findings, UKAD have escaped further action by WADA as ‘those involved in the events of 2011 are no longer employed’ and the agency have ‘already put

A British cyclist reportedly gave a positive test before the London 2012 Games. Tom Jenkins/ The Guardian

safeguards in place to avoid a repeat occurrence’.

WADA launched Operation Echo earlier this year after a Sportsmail investigation revealed how a urine sample of a British team member was found to contain traces of nandrolone following an out-of-competition test at the e n d o f 2 0 1 0 .

We reported how UKAD alerted British Cycling to the

abnormal test result and the national governing body responded by testing some riders’ urine privately at HFL Sport Science in Cambridgeshire – a nonWADA laboratory – which goes against rules.

In a statement on Tuesday, WADA said: ‘Operation Echo confirmed that in February 2011, as part of a study into potential

contamination of supplements, British Cycling collected samples from elite riders and screened these samples for the androgen and anabolic steroid, nandrolone. ’Contrary to the rules laid down by the World AntiDoping Co d e a n d t h e relevant International Standard, the samples were collected by British Cycling staff rather than doping control officers, analysed by a nonWA D A - a c c r e d i t e d laboratory, and provided by the athletes on the basis that UKAD would never know the results.’

Operation Echo also established that at least one

UKAD employee was aware of the study and that the samples could be collected and analysed at a nonWA D A - a c c r e d i t e d laboratory.

To this day, UKAD has no record of ever receiving the analysis results and emails that would have showed UKAD’s real-time knowledge of key events.’

WADA also criticised UKAD’s own investigation – Operation Blackout which they started after receiving anonymous letters in 2018 alleging they and British Cycling had concealed doping.

The letters claimed that ‘a coach was attempting to dope’ athletes, that there was

a ‘clear trail of emails’ about these events, and that laptops of a former British Cycling held material evidence.

However, WADA found that UKAD did not search the British Cycling laptops.

In the report published on Tuesday, WADA noted: ‘Operation Echo is concerned by the failure of Operation Blackout to search the BC Laptops for relevant emails.

‘Had Operation Blackout conducted this search, it would have discovered the same emails found by Operation Echo in 2021, which indicate UKAD (or at least an employee of UKAD) was aware of the nandrolone study and that samples were to be collected and analysed for a prohibited substance by a non-accredited laboratory.’

In a statement on Tuesday night, UKAD said: ‘We welcome the findings.

The report makes no recommendations for UKAD to follow and notes that all samples related to their investigation were negative.

We acknowledge that these matters would not take p l a c e t o d a y . ’ British Cycling said: ‘WADA’s finding that this was supported by UKAD is in line with our own understanding of events and attaches no fault to British Cycling or to the riders involved in the study. ’British Cycling only conducted the testing having sought and received the express approval of UKAD’s director of legal.’

Thursday October 21, 2021

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David Wiese special gives Namibia first World Cup win ICC - David Wiese smashed five sixes in an unbeaten 66 off 40 balls as Namibia overcame a midinnings stutter to overhaul a target of 165 with six wickets and six balls to spare. The Netherlands, despite a second consecutive halfcentury by Max O’Dowd, find their campaign in tatters after two losses in as many games.

In the 10th over, Namibia were three wickets down and had two new batters at the crease in Wiese and Gerhard Erasmus. However, the duo refused to go on the defensive. Roelof Van der Merwe was taken for two sixes – of which Wiese’s went straight down the ground – in an over that cost 16 runs. Colin Ackermann conceded 19 as Wiese again went over the bowler.

Wiese’s fifty came off just 29 balls – fittingly with his fourth six of the day, this one o v e r c o v e r .

Erasmus’ 32 off 22 balls was vital in the match-winning partnership of 93, off just 51 balls. The Netherlands had little answer to Wiese’s ball striking. While they managed to send back Erasmus and Fred Klaassen bowled a tight spell at the death, JJ Smit completed the

Pele (left) with French star Kylian Mbappe pose during a photo call in Paris in 2019. AP file

Ailing football legend Pele says he is getting ‘closer to the goal’

Gerhard Erasmus and David Wiese shared a 93-run fourth-wicket partnership ICC via Getty formalities for a famous win.

The Wiese innings turned a game that had been keenly balanced till then. The Namibia openers had got off to a steady start, before the Netherlands were rewarded for attacking the stumps. In the second over of the chase, opener Zane Green began with back-to-back fours off Colin Ackermann, bringing out the sweep and the reverse sweep. That set the tone for the Powerplay.

Stephan Baard used his feet well, walking across the stumps to open up the leg side. He survived a run-out chance and made Netherlands pay with a

boundary the very next ball.

Getting to 41/1 in the Powerplay, Namibia kept pace with the Netherlands.

The reintroduction of Klaassen got the Netherlands a much-needed breakthrough, as Green chopped on to his stumps.

Craig Williams and Baard then fell in back-to-back overs, both undone by spin.

But with Wiese and Erasmus in the middle, Namibia were still in the hunt.

Namibia 166 for 4 (Wiese 66*, Erasmus 32) beat Netherlands 164 for 4 (O’Dowd 70, Ackermann 35, Frylinck 2-36) by six wickets.

C & V Shipping Limited Golf tourney on this Saturday

G

olfers will have another chance to fine tune their preparations for the Guyana Open when the C & V Shipping Limited tournament tees off 12:30hrs on Saturday at Lusignan.

The tournament will be played using the Medal Play formant over 18 holes.

Prizes will be given based on both gross and net scores to the first, second and third place golfers, best net front nine, best net back nine, nearest to the pin male and female players, longest drive male and female players, best gross for females and best gross for males.

Prizes will be complimented with a gift from the sponsors.

Five participants that failed to win a prize in the tournament will have a chance to take home a gift from the sponsor if they are on hand for the presentation ceremony.

This activity will take the form of a scorecard lottery.

Players are asked to note that all covid-19 guidelines will be observed and are advised to contact the club’s Manager on the day of the tournament, to uplift scorecards, pay the entrance fee, and proceed to their allocated tee boxes.

Director of C&V Caribbean Shipping, Jennifer Prashad said the company is proud to lend support to the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) by way of tournament sponsorship.

“Our group of companies has been serving the shipping industry for over 20 years and is always happy to take advantage of any opportunity to give back whenever needed,” she added.

Prashad stated that as a company involved mainly in facilitating logistics, import and export they have on occasion been called upon to advice, support or assist the

Lusignan Golf Club. “Most recently our interactions with the management team of the club have helped us to appreciate the unique opportunities the sport provides for both recreation and service to the community,” she posited. ”Our group of companies prides itself on offering the highest tier service to its customers and therefore recognises the past and recent efforts that the Lusignan Golf Club has made in improving accountability and inclusivity. C&V Caribbean shipping offers its tournament sponsorship proudly to the Lusignan Golf Club and wishes all of the participants the best of luck.”

LGC Executive member Patrick Prashad expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their support.

The presentation will be held at the completion of the competition.

Sao Paulo: Former Brazilian soccer player Pele, not long out of the hospital after surgery to remove a tumour, told fans yesterday to start celebrating his life because he was getting “closer to the goal.” ”I suggest you start to catch your breath to celebrate with me, because with each passing day I get closer to the goal,” Pele wrote on Twitter.

He did not give any details,

but the former Brazil, Santos and New York Cosmos player, who will be 81 on October 23 (Saturday), has been in poor health for some time.

He is undergoing chemotherapy following September’s tumour surgery.

That ailment came after hip and kidney problems as well as what his son Edinho last year said was a bout with depression, something Pele

later denied.

Widely considered to be one the greatest players of all time, Pele is the only soccer player to hold three World Cup winner’s medals, lifting the trophy with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

He scored more than 1,000 goals in a glittering career and transcended sport to become of the most recognizable faces on the planet.

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Thursday October 21, 2021

Buttler, Wood, Rashid on song as England top resurgent New Zealand ESPNcricinfo England’s main batters all found time in the middle, and Jos Buttler made the most of it with a typically stylish half-century, before Mark Wood and Adil Rashid triggered a collapse to a budding New Zealand chase.

A last-wicket stand of 47 between legspinners Ish Sodhi and Todd Astle took New Zealand within 14 runs of victory with five balls to go, before Astle was out hitwicket off Chris Woakes to hand England the win. New Zealand have now lost in both their warm-up games.

England captain Eoin Morgan came into the XI after sitting out the game against India and lost the toss. England then lost Jason Roy first ball of the match, before Buttler took charge in a 48-run stand with Dawid Malan.

Buttler was happy hitting

through the line and over the infield during the powerplay, and even brought out his scoop, as he kept the pace up with Malan scratching his way to 11 off 15 at the other end.

Sodhi was the only one to put the brakes on Buttler’s innings, and he went on to get Malan and then Morgan, the latter a fortuitous lbw for which he had barely appealed. Morgan seemed to have got a big inside edge on his attempted reverse sweep but was given out immediately on appeal.

Buttler kept his scoring up, eventually falling for 73 after having hit 11 boundaries and two sixes.

Jonny Bairstow batted at No. 5 and till the last over, but it was Sam Billings who made a ripple in the death overs with an unbeaten 17-ball 27.

New Zealand’s chase took off immediately with Martin

Guptill enjoying the pace of the pitch as he got off to his free-flowing best. Much like Buttler, Guptill looked far more comfortable than the batters at the other end as he got his eye in early.

He holed out to long-on immediately after the powerplay, but his 41 off 20 had taken New Zealand to 66 by then.

D e v o n C o n w a y ’s scrappy innings ended with a run-out and from that point on, England tied New Zealand up through Rashid and Wood, who took seven wickets between them as 81 for 2 swiftly turned to 103 for 9.

But Astle and Sodhi made use of the five-andsome overs still left in the innings, with the asking rate not too far out of reach thanks to Guptill’s early exploits. Sodhi played the aggressor, taking a particular

Jos Buttler top-scored for England with a fluent 73 Getty Images

liking to Woakes, and Astle managed to get a six off Chris Jordan in the 19th over to leave New Zealand 15 to get off the last over.

A scrappy victory wasn’t to be, though, as he stepped on his stumps trying to turn Woakes behind fine leg.

England 163 for 6

(Buttler 73, Bairstow 30, Sodhi 3-26) beat New Zealand 150 (Guptill 41, Wood 4-23, Rashid 3-18) by 13 runs.

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Sri Lanka through to Super 12 after thumping win over Ireland

Rassie van der Dussen hits 101* as South Africa score 19 off last over to win ESPNcricinfo - A visibly tired Rassie van der Dussen pushed his limits and pulled off a stunning lastover win for South Africa in their warm-up game against Pakistan.

South Africa needed 19 to win in the last over, bowled by Hasan Ali, and van der Dussen started the over off with a six, before returning to strike and hitting the last two balls for four to seal a win as well as complete a 51-ball century.

At the other end was David Miller, who also hit a six in the last over as Hasan conceded 22. van der Dussen was in as early as the third over, when Imad Wasim dismissed both openers and the chase looked tall. But on a good batting surface, he kept South Africa’s scoring rate healthy as he put together a 107-run stand for the third wicket with captain Temba Bavuma, who struggled for rhythm during a 42-ball 46. But that partnership came only off 12 overs, despite Pakistan managing to bowl plenty of dot balls in the middle overs.

That was down to van der Dussen’s ability to find and clear the boundaries at regular intervals - in all, he hit ten fours and four sixes and that eventually left South Africa enough wickets to go big at the end. They needed 74 from the last six overs, and Heinrich Klaasen played a part with an eight-ball 14 from No. 5.

Pakistan had the upper hand, with South Africa needing 47 off the last three, but 18 and 22-run overs on either side of Shaheen

Afridi’s ten-run 19th over proved costly. Earlier in the evening, after winning the toss, South Africa opened the bowling with Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, who kept the scoring down in the powerplay. Rabada managed to get Babar Azam cheaply with a yorker, while Anrich Nortje closed the powerplay off with M o h a m m a d R i z w a n ’s wicket.

But that was the only phase of the bowling innings that South Africa would manage to control, as Fakhar Zaman showed off the sixhitting ability that lifted him from the reserves into the main squad last week.

Fakhar hit five sixes and two fours on his way to 52 off 28 balls before retiring out as Pakistan managed to score 120 off their last ten overs.

Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik batted at Nos. 4 and 5 respectively, with the

former scrapping through a 14-ball 13, while the latter got deep in the innings before falling for 28 off 28 balls. It was Asif Ali, however, who turned the course at the end of the innings with a belligerent 32 off 18 from No. 6.

In all, Pakistan managed to hit 11 sixes as South Africa produced an average bowling display with the exception of Maharaj, Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.

Tabraiz Shamsi bowled only four balls before sitting out the remainder of the match as a precaution due to a tight g r o i n . S o u t h A f r i c a ’s medical staff said he would be assessed overnight and steps will be taken as required.

South Africa 190 for 4 (van der Dussen 101*, Bavuma 46, Wasim 2-19, Afridi 2-30) beat Pakistan 186 for 6 (Fakhar 52, Asif 32, Rabada 3-28) by six wickets.

Rassie van der Dussen had a good outing at No. 3 Getty Images

ICC - Sri Lanka made it two wins out of two in Round 1 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a thorough all-round performance against Ireland.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though, as they found themselves at 8/3 batting first before Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga revived the innings with fantastic halfcenturies.

Ireland, on the other hand, were dealt their first loss of the tournament but don’t have much time to ponder as they face Namibia tomorrow in the hopes of qualifying for the Super 12.

Chasing 172 for the win, Ireland, faltered early in their innings and never

m a n a g e d t o r e c o v e r.

Apart from the 53-run partnership between Andy Balbirnie and Curtis Campher, the batting order failed to live up to its billing as they crumbled under the pressure of the asking rate.

After crushing the top-order, Sri Lanka continued to turn the screws, putting further pressure on Campher and Balbirnie with the required run rate climbing over 10 at the halfway stage. Campher tried to hit his way out of his slow innings but had his stumps disturbed by Theekshana.The wicket opened the floodgates for Ireland, who lost four wickets in the next three overs. Lahiru Kumara accounted for two of those

wickets, including that of skipper Balbirnie whose resistance finally came to an end in the 16th over.

Theekshana scalped one more wicket to make it his second three-for in as many games.

Ireland did manage to take their score past the 100run mark but succumbed to their first defeat of the tournament as they went from 85/3 to 101 all out. Sri Lanka bagged the two points but more importantly, received a massive boost to their net run rate with a huge margin of victory.Sri Lanka 171 for 7 (Hasaranga 71, Nissanka 61, Little 4-23) beat Ireland 101 all out (Balbirnie 41, Theekshana 3-17) by 70 runs.

Motie added to Windies World Cup Squad …injured Allen out

By Sean Devers Left arm spinner Akeil Hosein, who was originally named as a travelling reserve, now joins the official squad to the injured left arm spinning all-rounder Fabian Allen as West Indies begins the defence of the T20 World Cup in the UAE. Guyanese left-arm spinner, Gudakesh Motie, has been called up as a reserve player.

The World Cup starts in earnest on Saturday with West Indies facing off with the number one ranked team England in the opening match. Motie left Guyana on Tuesday night to fly to the UAE where he will be able to join the West Indies squad as a Reserve, once he has completed the six days of mandatory quarantine with the required negative Covid19 test results.

In a short comment on his way to the UAE, the 26year-old Motie said he is very happy to be a part of the World Cup and is looking forward to maximise on every opportunity to the fullest. ”I was at my club doing a lot of work on my fitness and skills work on all three aspects of my game during the pandemic period after I returned from the US where I went to play cricket after the CPL,” said Motie who took

eight wickets from six T20 matches, all in the 2021 CPL. President of Albion, Vemen Walters, who has played a pivotal role in the lives of four of the five Albion players who graduated to play Test Cricket, Sew Shivnarine being the exception, spoke about Motie. ”We are very excited as a club on Gudakesh Motie’s call up. We are confident that he will use the opportunity to learn and further develop his game which will undoubtedly enhance his chances of representing the West Indies at the highest level in the not too distance future.

Motie is a very disciplined, dedicated, determined cricketer and without any doubt, has what it takes to excel at the international level in any format of the game. We are extremely proud of him as a Club and would like to wish him the very best.

His inclusion in the WI Reserves for the T20 World C u p i s a n o t h e r demonstration of the outstanding work the club has been doing and will also serve as a tremendous motivation to young cricketers of the Club.”

President of the Berbice

Cricket Board, Hilbert Foster, on behalf of his Executive extended congratulations to Motie on his selection as a Travelling Reserve. ”The BCB is very proud of you and we are very confident that you would be an outstanding sports ambassador of our country and county. You truly deserve your selection and we are confident that this would be the start of a long and successful stint at the international level.

Congrats are also extended to the management and members of Albion on producing another player who has been called for international duties. There can be no doubt that the club is one of the backbones of Berbice cricket and we would like to urge you to continue your outstanding work.

Berbice cricket is strong when all clubs like Albion continues to invest in youth development.

To Mr. Walters, Mr. Outar and the rest of the Albion CCCC, we extend congrats. Good Luck Mr.00 Motie and may God Bless you. As a cricket Board, we are very proud to have two Berbicians in the West Indies travelling team,” Foster stated.

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Thursday October 21, 2021

Rohit Sharma leads the charge as India finish T20 World Cup warm-ups with victory over Australia ESPNcricinfo - A rollicking fifty by Rohit Sharma led India to a comfortable nine-wicket win against Australia in both teams’ second - and final warm-up game ahead of their main T20 World Cup campaign. India’s bowlers, led by R Ashwin’s 2 for 8, had kept Australia to 152 for 5, and the batters then motored through the chase.

Rohit retired out after getting to 60 in 41 balls, leaving Suryakumar Yadav to apply the finishing touches to a chase that had been well set up by an opening stand of 68 between Rohit and KL Rahul.Rohit had captained India in this game, with Virat Kohli sitting out of the batting innings, though he did play an active role in the first innings, being on the field and even bowling two overs. India had Australia in early trouble after Aaron Finch had chosen to bat first, reducing them to 11 for 3 in the fourth over, striking with spin through Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. India had

rested both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami in this game, and turned to the spinners for half of the powerplay overs.

Ashwin, sharing the new ball with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, made an immediate impact, having David Warner lbw for 1 and then Mitchell Marsh caught at slip next ball to r o c k A u s t r a l i a e a r l y.

An over later, Jadeja trapped Finch in front, and it was left to Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell to rebuild.

Maxwell was uninhibited despite the loss of wickets, playing his reverse hits whenever he saw an opportunity.

The two had added 61 runs in 52 balls before Maxwell dragged on against R a h u l C h a h a r .

Australia found a bit of a finishing kick via Marcus Stoinis, who stayed unbeaten on a 25-ball 41, while Smith also picked up his pace in the death overs, to drag the score beyond 150.India used seven bowlers, but Hardik Pandya

was not among them.

However, with Kohli turning his arm over, it suggested India were looking at giving themselves bowling options.

India’s chase was largely untroubled, Rahul reprising his attacking role and not reining himself in as he has done often in the IPL. H e d i d n ’t a l w a y s connect with his attempted big hits, but the intent was unmissable. He had three sixes, and was out trying to hit another to Adam Zampa f o r 3 9 o f f 3 1 .

Rohit had started rapidly and then played anchor, but he sped up again once Rahul was out. He was on 28 off 25 when Rahul fell, and blasted 32 from his next 16 balls. He retired when 26 were needed in the last 30 balls, allowing Hardik to have a hit.

Suryakumar stayed unbeaten on 38 off 27.

Ishan Kishan, the back-up opener, has also been in terrific form, but it seems likely he’ll not be in the first XI. Suryakumar and Hardik getting time in the middle

further pointed to them being part of the team’s preferred starting XI. Like India had done, Australia also used the warm-up game to allow overs under the belt for a variety of bowlers, using eight overall in 17.5 overs, though none of them posed any sustained threat.

However, their key takeaway was Stoinis bowling two overs after recovering from an injury.

India had won their first warm-up match against England, while Australia had beaten New Zealand in their previous warm-up fixture.

Australia will open their T20 World Cup campaign against South Africa on October 23, while India will face Pakistan in their first game, on October 24.

India 153 for 2 (Rohit 60, Rahul 39, Suryakumar 38*) beat Australia 152 for 5 (Smith 57, Maxwell 37, Stoinis 41*, Ashwin 2-8) by seven wickets.

Rohit Sharma plays down the ground ICC via Getty.

NBA: Milwaukee Bucks beat Cristiano Ronaldo completes Brooklyn Nets, LA Lakers stunning second-half comeback - Red Devils battle back from two-nil down to top Group F lose to Golden State Warriors

BBCsport - Reigning NBA champions the Milwaukee Bucks crushed the Brooklyn Nets 127-104 on the opening night of the league’s 75th anniversary season. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was the most valuable player in last season’s finals, contributed 32 points and 14 rebounds for the Bucks against one of the pre-season favourites.

Meanwhile the Los Angeles Lakers lost 121114 to the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James scored 34 points and Anthony Davis added 33 in the defeat.

Bucks come through ‘emotional’ opener - A sold-out crowd packed into the Fiserv Forum Arena as the Bucks unveiled their championship banner and celebrated

Los Angeles Lakers lost 121-114 to the Golden State Warriors.

their first title win in 50 years before the game. ”It was hard, we all were excited to get the r i n g s , a n d s e e i n g o u r b a n n e r, ” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s kind of hard to balance that, to go from that excitement and emotional state to go and play a game. “But I think we did a great job. We were able to focus on our gameplan and ourselves and get a win.”

The Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in July to be crowned NBA champions for the f i r s t t i m e s i n c e 1 9 7 1 .

Kevin Durrant was Brooklyn’s top scorer with 32 points, but the Nets were without (Continued on page 27)

MailOnline - Well, they did it again. It is hardly unjust however to ask how a club that can bring on Paul Pogba, Jadon Sancho and Edinson Cavani from the substitutes’ bench, can ending up chasing a home game against Atalanta.

The resilience is always to be admired, buy why is it needed so often. Manchester United came back from 2-0 down at half-time here because of that tried and tested strategy: moments.

They created moments of great pressure because they had to, having afforded Atalanta an enormous advantage.

And when a team has so many fine players at its disposal throwing the kitchen sink at it produces results. So two down after 52 minutes somehow became three up in 81st because Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the finest goalscorers the world has ever seen, Marcus Rashford is a superb striker and Atalanta will not face a team with such a concentration of players like this in Serie A all season.

Manchester United went

from bottom of the group to top in the space of six minutes, but do not be fooled. Nothing can be guaranteed. Their next two games are away to Atalanta and Villarreal and they cannot keep relying on second-half fightbacks.

Eventually one will not go their way; and this is a very tight group.

Still, credit where it’s due. United were brilliant in the second-half when they simply frightened the life out of Atalanta, scored three and could have had more. Often the Italians had no answer to their offensive marauding.

At one point, three Atalanta players were booked in as many minutes.

And three United goals were scored without reply, in what is probably the high point of the season so far – a 28 minute spell in which they swept the opposition aside. It began in the 53rd minute with a moment of good fortune, s poor pass from Josip Ilicic straight to Bruno Fernandes. His clever flick sent Rashford clear and, having missed a couple in the first-half, third time proved a

charm, his second goal in two games since returning f r o m i n j u r y .

Scott McTominay hit the post, Ronaldo forced a wonderful save from goalkeeper Juan Musso and Atalanta looked rattled.

Harry Maguire stayed up after a corner was cleared and was rewarded when Cavani ducked under Fernandes’ cross, confounding Atalanta’s defence and finding the captain unmarked to equalise.

The winner came from, well, who else. Another setpiece recycled, this time a cross from Luke Shaw and there was Ronaldo, rising higher than anyone in the box to power the ball home.

This was why he came here.

One imagines, however, he didn’t expect to do so much of the work himself.

Results from other matches yesterday: Barcelona 1 Dynamo Kyiv 0, RB Salzburg 3 Wolfsburg 1, Benfica 0 Bayern Munich 4, Young Boys 1 Villarreal 4, Lille 0 Sevilla 0, Chelsea 4 Malmö FF 0, Zenit St Petersburg 0 Juventus 1.

Kaieteur News

Thursday October 21, 2021

PAGE 33

Mohammad Nabi leads the way as Afghanistan romp past West Indies Mohammad Nabi put up a stunning display, returning 4-2-2-3 ICC via Getty

ESPNcricinfo Afghanistan combined a belligerent batting performance with tight bowling to stomp to a 56-run win against a somewhat lethargic West Indies in both teams’ second and final warm-up match for the T20 Wo r l d C u p 2 0 2 1 .

Mohammad Nabi opened the bowling for Afghanistan and bowled his four overs straight through to return figures of 4-2-2-3, completely stifling West Indies’ chase. Nabi bowled 22 dot balls out of 24, conceding only two singles off the bat all through.

Nabi’s effort came after both openers hit fifties for Afghanistan, off the blocks with a tear right from the first over. Hazratullah Zazai made 56 off 35, while Mohammad Shahzad hit 54 off 35, as the opening stand realised 90 runs in 8.5 overs when Zazai fell. Afghanistan didn’t let up after that, as Shahzad then took charge.

Shahzad, who had last played a competitive seniorlevel game more than a year ago in the Shpageeza Cricket League final in 2020, showed no signs of rustiness.

The Afghanistan batters were helped by some wayward bowling by West Indies, with the innings having seven wides and four no-balls, along with a smattering of hittable deliveries.

New-ball bowlers Obed McCoy and Oshane Thomas - who are likely to compete for one spot in the playing XI - were particularly loose, giving up 71 runs in the six overs they bowled. The West Indies’ fielding was also lacklustre, with overthrows, catches put down and moments where they didn’t commit fully to chasing or stopping the ball - perhaps mindful of any injury

p o s s i b i l i t i e s .

Afghanistan’s momentum slowed only after both openers had gone, with West Indies slowing things up a bit through spin. However, they still built a formidable total.

West Indies’ chase was in early trouble with Nabi establishing a stranglehold over the run rate. He bowled all his overs at a stretch, and when he was done, West Indies were 27 for 3 in seven overs.

Nicholas Pooran rode his luck early on via a dropped chance and some edges, but got the run rate moving for West Indies. However, with the required rate having ballooned early on to more than two runs a ball, West Indies needed all their bighitters to come off, and that d i d n ’ t h a p p e n .

The one positive for West Indies was the return of Andre Russell from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the best part of IPL 2021’s second leg in the UAE and the first warm-up match. Russell bowled two overs, including the final one of the first innings, in which he conceded just four runs with a tight display. Russell was sent in to bat at No. 6, but while his bowling rhythm showed signs of having returned, he couldn’t find his timing with the bat.

The frugality of the early overs meant Afghanistan could keep Rashid Khan back for the second half of West Indies’ innings, and as always, Rashid proved tough to get away. Roston Chase, who is likely to be the batter around whom a big-hitting line-up does its work, stayed the course of the innings after walking in to bat on the third ball of the innings, ending with 54 not out off 58 b a l l s .

The lack of pace and wickets early on meant a very slow

start for Chase, but he picked up some pace in the second half of the innings, taking 35 runs off the last 25 balls he faced. However, with the big-hitters who got some time in the middle not really coming off, that was never going to be enough.

Defending champions West Indies will thus enter the tournament proper with losses in both warm-up games, this defeat coming on the back of one against Pakistan. Afghanistan had lost against South Africa in their opening warm-up game, but will be pleased with how their overall game came together in this one.

Afghanistan 189 for 5 (Zazai 56, Shahzad 54, McCoy 2-43) beat West Indies 133 for 5 (Chase 54*, Pooran 35, Nabi 3-2) by 56 runs.

Motie added to Windies World Cup Squad …injured Allen out Fabian Allen

Gudakesh Motie

Akeal Hosein

Patrick Prashad of LGC accepts the sponsorship cheque from C&V Director Jennifer Prashad.

t r o Sp Cristiano Ronaldo completes stunning second-half comeback - Red Devils battle back from two-nil down to top Group F

C & V Shipping Limited Golf tourney on this Saturday

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 137 goals in the Champions League.

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