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Duo accused Monday Edition of executing key witness in K/News
AIETEUR NEWS
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
October 26, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 44
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grenade attack walk free
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Online readership yesterday, 98,775
The Fleecing of Guyana series…
Kaieteur Oil Block red flags warrant P.3
investigations Estimated to have 2.1 billion barrels
Kaieteur Oil Block Ryan Pereira (left) and Michael Cawood, Directors of Ratio Energy Limited, to which the Kaieteur Oil Block was awarded.
Jagdeo’s Silence Three things are obvious when we think of promises given by Guyana’s Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo. These three things do not speak well of him either as a leader or as a citizen vowing to deliver on promises made. When Mr. Jagdeo was President, he stated that if he personally had to lead the charge to restart the Skeldon sugar factory, then he would. When reminded later of that commitment, Mr. Jagdeo said he couldn’t recall. And now that the PPP is back, the Skeldon sugar factory is being readied to resume operations. As Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Jagdeo said he supported an independent, international investigation into the award of the contracts for the Canje and Kaieteur blocks. He swore that those found guilty of wrongdoing would be jailed. He was all for that then, but today, when Mr. Jagdeo is reminded of where he once stood so loudly and firmly, he is strangely silent. The three lessons Guyanese should learn are these: Firstly, when leaders give their sacred word, they sometimes develop convenient and selective amnesia. Mr. Jagdeo did that before with Skeldon. Secondly, when they determine that there should be honoring of promises, they move with haste. Again, Skeldon stands as evidence of this. Thirdly, when leaders swear to do something, only to discover that it can be politically embarrassing, they pretend or feign memory loss and do absolutely nothing. This is what Mr. Jagdeo has done with the Canje and Kaieteur oil blocks. He is silent. He is distant from his prior promise. He feigns ignorance because of the many illegalities which were committed. We remind the Vice President: honourable men honour their word. Your word is your bond! It must not be broken. Ever!
More than 18 countries lost US$ billions in revenue due to poor hydrocarbon accounting systems P. 3
- TT expert urges Guyana to avoid making same mistakes
Kaieteur News
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Monday October 26, 2020
Activist sees house on fire while washing clothes Minutes after a resident stepped out of her house yesterday to “wash clothes”, she saw it being engulfed in flames. She managed to alert her family who were inside the building. The two-storey concrete and wooden home is located on Norton Street, Lodge. It is said to belong to the head of Guyana Trans United, Quincy McEwan- it caught fire sometime before 15:00hrs. McEwan said that she was about to “soak down two tub of clothes” when she heard a loud sound that prompted her to look up at her house. “When I raise up my head I see the smoke and fire coming from the back room upstairs,” said the woman. McEwan said that she began shouting “fire fire” and alerted her brother, his girlfriend and her son who were still in the upper flat of the building. They managed to escape, she said, before the blaze got out of control. A c c o r d i n g t o eyewitnesses, the fire spread quickly and engulfed the entire top flat within minutes.
Lost her home: Quincy McEwan A fire fighter battling the flames.
The Deputy Fire Chief of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Kalamadeen Edoo, said the Fire Department received the call at 15:00hrs and responded with multiple fire trucks. When they arrived, McEwan’s house was almost burnt to the ground. The fire even destroyed her small grocery shop located at the front of house and scorched the wall of another house close by. One of the occupants of
that house said that they suffered major water damages to their home. After about an hour of battling the blaze, fire fighters were finally able to extinguish the blaze and carry out their investigations. Meanwhile, McEwan says she does not know her next move. Nevertheless, she said that she has been living there for 25 years and was totally unprepared for such a disaster. McEwan estimates her losses to be in the millions.
One of the occupants of Quincy McEwan’s home speaking with a fireman
Monday October 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
The Fleecing of Guyana series…
Kaieteur Oil Block red flags warrant investigations
Ryan Pereira (left) and Michael Cawood, Directors of Ratio Energy Limited, to which the Kaieteur Oil Block was awarded.
The circumstances surrounding the Kaieteur oil block award, made by former President Donald Ramotar, and the subsequent farm-ins, have demonstrated several red flags which warrant a thorough independent investigation. Kaieteur News will, for the rest of the week, demonstrate how major tropes common in
international extractives industry corruption scandals are applicable to the Kaieteur block scenario. The Kaieteur block is currently estimated to hold 2.1 billion oil-equivalent barrels. It was awarded April 28th, 2015 – just two weeks before the 2015 general and regional elections, by Ramotar, on the advice of
former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud. Two companies received the block with 50-50 stakes, Ratio Energy Limited (now Cataleya Energy Limited) and Ratio Guyana Limited. Ratio Energy was incorporated in Gibraltar on April 15, 2013, and registered in Guyana on October 23rd later that year.
Independent watchdog, Global Witness, said in its damning report Signed Away, that at the time of receipt of the block, the company was owned by an Israeli-based lawyer named Richard Roberts. Ratio Energy’s name was changed on August 3, 2017 after it received the Kaieteur Block. Its two directors are the
More than 18 countries lost US$ billions in revenue due to poor hydrocarbon accounting systems Now that Guyana is more than nine months into facilitating lifts of its light, sweet crude being produced in the Liza Phase One field, industry experts are of the firm view that the nation’s leaders ought to have in place, effective hydrocarbon accounting systems. Specifically holding this viewpoint is Petroleum Consultant, Randall Mohammed. During an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Mohammed explained that hydrocarbon accounting systems are used by petroleum nations across the world to ensure they are able to track gas and oil ownership from the point of production to the point of sale. If these systems are not effective, Mohammed said there can be errors and delays in hydrocarbon accounting which can result in significant financial loss for the state. Taking this into consideration, Mohammed said it is essential that the Guyanese authorities make every effort to ensure that not only hydrocarbon computer systems that execute such
-TT expert urges Guyana to avoid making same mistakes accounting rules are correctly programmed, but that measurements are accurate, and that reporting is timely. Mohammed said: “Guyana has commenced lifting and selling oil from Liza One and soon Liza Two will come online...The objective is to implement a proper accounting system ahead of future production and sales so that Guyana can ensure it is not suffering any losses. It is the job of every government to protect the state…” To further cement his case, Mohammed shared that four years ago he had commissioned a survey to be done on the importance of hydrocarbon accounting systems. Mohammed said he had hired a consultant, Dr. Hisham Nofal, to conduct the survey on his behalf. The industry expert who hails from Trinidad and Tobago said: “In total, we surveyed 53 national oil companies across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin
America with crude oil production from a low of 50,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) to a high of 2.6 million bpd for South America including Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Cuba, Peru and Bolivia.” The Energy Consultant said that the survey concluded that more than 35% of the national oil companies and governments around the world did not have a proper hydrocarbon accounting system to reconcile volumes. He said that they simply accepted what was invoiced by the oil companies. Ideally, Mohammed said that data should be reconciled from the metering system at the wellhead to FPSO (floating production storage and offloading vessel) and FPSO to sales pipeline or tanker accounting for the difference in contaminates such as water. In the absence of this,
Canadian, Michael Cawood and Guyanese, Ryan Perreira, who have experience in mining. Cawood’s LinkedIn page lists him as Cataleya’s Director and Chief Executive Officer. His reported mining experience spans several companies, including the Mexico-focused Mammoth Minerals Inc., the Ghanaoperating Bonte Gold Mines Ltd., and the Canadian Riva Gold Corporation. Pereira’s LinkedIn page lists him as Cataleya’s Director and Co-founder. Pereira’s reported mining experience is with the companies Golden Eruption and Vertex Mining. He also has experience with a company called JRX Holdings Inc. The Pereira Group has history of collaboration with Riva Gold Corporation. In 2010, agreements were announced meant to allow Riva the option to acquire the rights to certain groups of mineral properties in Guyana, specifically gold. Neither of these men had any experience in oil exploration to talk about, prior to Cataleya’s receipt of the
Kaieteur block. Two other names are important in Cataleya’s corporate structure. Incorporation articles list Finsbury Corporate Services Limited as a director, and Finsbury Secretaries Limited as the company secretary. Both of these companies are based in Gibraltar. The other initial owner of the Kaieteur block is Ratio Guyana, a subsidiary of the Israeli company, Ratio Petroleum. The parent company has said that it has been active in the oil industry for decades, and has touted assets in several countries in Asia, Europe and South America. The company says that in addition to Guyana, it currently owns rights in Suriname, Ireland and the Philippines. Notably, Global Witness reported that Pereira, who is a director in Cataleya, represented Ratio Energy in April 2015 when it received its stake in the block. This means Pereira was involved in both companies which received rights to the Kaieteur block at the time of receipt. More to come tomorrow…
Key meetings with CSEC, CAPE stakeholders today Petroleum Consultant, Mr. Randall Mohammed he said that nations suffer significant revenue leakage. With this in mind, the TT expert cautioned that it is in Guyana’s interests to ensure that it has the right systems in place to ensure it is not suffering any major losses. He commented that a good accounting system will ensure better performance monitoring. It also forms the basis of any future study for improving the current system.
The Ministry of Education announced yesterday that it will be hosting an online meeting with parents and teachers of Georgetown and Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) for students writing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency (CAPE) examinations in 2021. The meeting will be held via the ZOOM application. For the Georgetown parents/guardians, it was stated that their meetings will be held at 2 pm today, while the Region Three parents will have their meeting at 6:00 pm. Parents/ Guardians of Georgetown are advised to use the Meeting ID: 932 6238 8883 and the Passcode: 216058. Region Three Parents/ Guardians are advised to use Meeting ID: 998 8083 0096 and the Passcode: 933746. Further, the Georgetown and Region Three CSEC/CAPE teachers will be having their meeting at 10:00 am today where they will engage with Senior Education Officers. “Teachers are advised to contact the headteachers of their respective schools for the Zoom credentials to join the meeting.”
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Kaieteur News
Monday October 26, 2020
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL TEL:624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Similarities here of the Boeing 737 Max saga
The saga of Boeing’s 737 Max is of Guyana. There was knowledge, wrongdoing, coverup, collusion, denials, refusal to share evidence, non-acceptance of total responsibility. It is familiar, since it parallels closely what has happened here.Here we do not have the robust checks and balances, but we do have rogue political leaders. Here we do not have the restraining power of outside watchdogs, like the European Union Agency Safety Agency watching out for its own, protecting the people. We do not have the parliamentary oversight equivalent of a skeptical and scathing United States Congressional committee inquiring and determined to get to the bottom of a costly set of circumstances and conditions. Truth involves the safety of committee members themselves, their constituencies, and more widely dispersed countrymen, which could be mortally jeopardized. There was personal skin in the game (selfinterests and self-protection) that necessitated the big people in Europe and America getting serious. If anyone thinks that the lost lives of Ethiopians and Indonesians matter that much, then they know little. If only we had a nucleus of people here, who were so engaged and ferocious in calling out political leaders for their many grievous misconducts - criminal ones - then we would have been in a position of confidence with clean governance, with comprehensive oil oversight, with constancy of purpose and integrity that places the wellbeing of the ordinary society before all else. But we do not, which is the stark reality that the man-in-the-street lives with, must come to grips with in forlorn resignation that, despite all the glowing promises, his lots remains that of one betrayed and condemned.For a brief shining moment, the foreigners were all over the affairs of Guyana, as they strode like so many Colossi among peasants and political circumstances (elections) to show us the way out of our impasses. The Americans and the Europeans were piercing, penetrating, and potent in presence. But, as is clearer today, those formerly furious foreign fighters were not about democracy, or the sanctity and safety of Guyanese interests, but of their own visions and unswerving objectives. Guyana and its sordid elections circumstances served as the springboard for interventions to further their own causes: oil monopoly, as well as hemispheric ideological, strategic, and military monopolies. Those who were less inclined to be critical, more prone to give the outsiders the benefit of possessing noble objectives for Guyana are encouraged to look at what has occurred and form their own conclusions. It can only be one or the other of this: we are a country and a budding oil power. Or we have been converted and are now controlled as pawns without a say in our destiny. What price electoral democracy and political ascendancy! We encourage our fellow citizens to take a closer look, a more critical but clean one. The powerful people that were bent on getting to the bottom of Boeing’s weaknesses and failures had uppermost in mind the welfare of their own peoples, be they Americans or Europeans. They have done admirably, and to their satisfaction, which is why the Boeing 737 Max can fly again. And when the people from A, B, C, and E countries took it upon themselves to intervene here, they were not looking out for Guyanese. They were looking out for their own settled plans on their drawing boards that were straining to be implemented. It included developing a dominant economic position here for themselves; that this would eventually reduce the Chinese to incidental damage was not accidental, but part of the broader calculations and intentions. In close association with those, there was Venezuela and the range of troubles it represented, alongside the vibrancy that it held (because of its placement and
its possessions) in the visions harboured. Those are now coming to pass, compliments of the leaders of this country. The people who looked unsparingly at Boeing took care of their own. The foreigners who were sharp about Guyana’s electoral crashes took care to position themselves to feather their national nests. Unlike Boeing leaders not allowed to get away with making others lose their lives, Guyanese leaders are enabled to get away with killing the dreams of their young, plus the present and the future.
Can collusion be conceptualized in a better way? DEAR EDITOR, When it was announced in 2019 that Tullow oil had discovered oil in the Jethro and Joe 1 wells in the Orinduik block in August and September respectively, the public was expecting a better contract than Exxon’s two percent royalty, having been promised better contracts, going forward by Trotman. Lo and behold! Tullow got a one percent and recoverable, much to the dismay of the people. At that time I was wondering why no condemnation of the Coalition from the opposition PPP. Little did I know that the Coalition was just following a precedent set by the PPP in the Persaud/ Ramotar giveaway in the
Kaieteur and Canje deals. The Coalition had joined the “soup drinkers’ club” and the creators of the club (PPP) dare not point an accusing finger having set that precedent. I am now beginning to get the gist of what Jan Mangal meant, when he had said that our oil contracts would have been worst off in the hands of others - a statement that continues to earn him resentment. Given the facts available, one has to cringe at the audacity of the usual suspects. Reinvigorated and empowered by a certain post, the threat from a certain official is tantamount to terrorism unleashed on the citizenry - a bullyboy approach to silencing critics.
Back to the blocks. In handing out the Canje block on a platter, Ramotar added another gift – US$500,000 as precontract cost at the expense of the state. I wonder what was the enticement or how he interpreted the statement from Robert Persaud that, “these people are patriots”, his words - to justify giving the owners $100 million from state funds for no specific reason. Imagine a government elected by the people to look out for their best interest, giving out the rights to an oil block adjacent to one with proven reserves to a company with no proven financial or technical ability to extract oil or gas - granting that company rights to dispose of that
block through sale and specifically exempting that company from taxes on profits made on that sale then adding 100 million dollars of the people’s money as a bonus but disguised as precontract cost for the company! Can the term collusion be conceptualized in a better way? I need some expert help on the following! Let’s suppose, for argument sake, that Exxon did not find oil in the Stabroek block, would Guyana have been obligated to pay the US$960 million that Exxon claimed was their bill for their search for oil as soon as they made their first discovery? Yours respectfully, Rudolph Singh
The role of parents in education during this pandemic DEAR EDITOR, The psycho-social impact of online learning to youth: how parents can provide support The pandemic has brought an abundance of challenges along with it and that fact is not debatable. From worldwide chaos in the form of fear of the spread of the disease to the negative impacts on workplaces, sleep patterns and bank accounts, the coronavirus is the thing that many of us never thought would happen but came along and brought our worst, unknown fears to life. In response to the pandemic, the option of online learning was concocted as a valuable method to curb any issues relating to children and their schooling. Despite how you may feel about online learning, the system is the very best since it keeps you and your family safe, and makes certain that your children do not fall behind in their classes. The parents’ role is of paramount importance in this new process and while the schooling may be for your children, this is also an opportunity for you
to learn new skills that can assist you even after the children have returned to school. Two heads are better than one… First, parents, be sure to change the way you refer to the process of learning. It should not be school work or any type of work since we already associate work with fatigue and low gains. Instead, alter your perspective by referring to it as more openended terms like class time, learning hour, brain power hour or something else that you made up that sounds more fun. After that is done, you now have a different perspective and will show interest in the class and the child. The children will notice the interest given and whether it is welcomed or not, they will always do their very best when they see their parents motivated and those around them motivated and happy about the lessons. We are social beings, and thus, the normal forms of socializing in the classroom is over for now, so while they are at home, make sure that you socialize and play, talk and learn along with them. Seek out activities
Deplorable ‘Six head gym’ DEAR EDITOR, I am writing this letter hoping that this matter would reach the right authority to get some attention. I am very disheartened to see the state of the ‘Six Head Gym’ known as ‘The Young Achievers Gym’ also. This gym has produced some of Guyana’s finest boxers and it is tragic to see how the previous government had allow it to deteriorate. I have seen multiple calls to the authorities to help, but no action pertaining to the same. It was then President Bharrat Jagdeo who opened this gym many years ago after Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis
triumph to a first world title. This gym was supposed to serve the community in many capacities, such as a training center for the young people in the community. I was appalled in March when I went there to vote, it was filthy and utterly disgraceful to behold. Mind you, pensioners, prior to Covid-19, had to go there to uplift their pension. The gym is now surrounded by bushes and small structures dominate the outskirts. I once more make a call to the Ministry of Sports to intervene. Yours truly, Concern citizen
in the home that will connect to the topics being taught. For example, if they are learning a new language, then label the items around the house in that new language and greet each family member using this new language as much as you can. This will show the child
that the lessons are not just class work, but are applicable in real life. It will also show you the same and encourage further engagement. Bond, Bond, Bond Children can get distracted easily and sitting, staring at a screen may be against (Continued on page 5)
Let the discourse of the committed continue DEAR EDITOR, I pen this response to Ravi Dev’s letter of October 18 with the hope that the national importance of the exchange, in the media, between Ravi and myself, and the manner of the exchange, is good reason for your continued facilitation of the discourse. In this response, I will not address the two substantive issues raised by Ravi, since I am of the view that first of all we must find common ground in our approach to the problematic, which is being described as the Ethnic Security Dilemma (ESD) and secondly, we have to determine the premises on which we are advancing the discourse. However, before doing so, there are two observations that should be made. First, Ravi’s ‘hope for our leaders to recognize validity of substantive positions from all “sides” in our Guyanese tragedy’ is no different from Kwayana’s assertion of 1999 that there is “No Guilty Race”. Our dilemma was engineered by the plantation owners and colonizers and subsequently unwittingly and or selfishly adopted by us notwithstanding its inherent antithesis to our cohesion as a nation state. Second, Ravi’s insistence “that all groups are treated equitably” is at the kernel of our problem and its solution. While, I agree with Ravi that “ethnic differences in and of themselves do not cause a
problem” we have to accept that our ethnic (cultural) differences have been a major factor in the engineering/ evolution of the problem, in this instance and will have to be catered for, in its resolution. Not only were our ethnic differences exploited; our physicality defines our ethnicity. It invokes stereotyping and prejudicial reactions as if it is in and of itself the problem. Secondly, we have to accept that equity, in our circumstance, speaks to the redress of historical wrongs; and the accommodation of diversity, while we seek to be cohesive. Our solution is beyond the creation of the traditional western democratic regime which evolved in; and is responsive to; and some might even say sustains dissimilar circumstances. Much of the above speaks to Reconciliation which has been recently touted by the current regime. What has not been touted is truth, which is the only basis for the realization of lasting reconciliation. We must, initially, establish the cause of, and the framework within which we seek to determine and confront, our fundamental problem. Let the discourse of the committed continue. Acceptance of, and coming to terms with, the truth shall set us free. Vincent Alexander
Monday October 26, 2020
Comparing and contrasting US and Guyana presidential elections DEAR EDITOR, Contrary to what many Guyanese may believe, the US and Guyana Presidential elections are very different. The candidate with most or a majority of votes is not necessarily elected President in the US unlike in Guyana. America is probably the only country where a Presidential candidate can win the most votes and still not elected as President. The electoral votes of the 50 states plus Washington DC matter. Al Gore and Hillary Clinton won the popular votes but did not win the Presidency because they lost in the electoral college. Leaving aside the process of selection of a party’s candidate, who is selected by members of the party through a delegate process, there are major differences from Guyana’s Presidential election. (The delegates who gather to choose the Presidential candidate are selected by members of the party in transparent, competitive elections, not in back room, closed door dealings). While the Guyana President is elected directly by voters, the US President is indirectly elected by voters. Voters cast ballots for electors who in turn elect the President and Vice President. When citizens, registered voters, go out to vote on November 3, they are voting for a list of electors (called electoral college) who will gather in December to cast ballots for the President and Vice President. The votes that are cast by the voters will be counted that very night (plus early voters casting ballots over last two weeks and absentees ballots) while the votes of the electoral college vote will be counted in January and an-
nounced by Congress (Vice President) declaring the winner. There are 538 electors and a majority of 270 is needed for victory. The American President, unlike in Guyana, is not chosen by the popular (or most) votes but by the electors of each of the 50 states plus Washington DC. The 51 entities decide the winner of the elections. There are 51 mini presidential contests. Each state has a number of electors equal to its Congressional size (minimum 3 as in Alaska to maximum 55 as in California that depends on the size of the population of the state). When people vote, they cast ballots for a list of electors (identified by a party with names given but are not on the ballot). Whichever party or candidate receives the most votes will win that list of electors. (Two states divide up the number of electors by proportion of votes). When all the electors of states won by a candidate that are added cumulatively, the party or candidate that wins a minimum 270 votes is declared President Presumed or President Elect. The electors would gather in December in Washington and vote for the President. They can change their mind and vote for another candidate for President and VP; and it is known to happen in the past. The ballots are opened by Congress in January and counted. Whichever Presidential nominee gets the threshold of 270, wins and the Vice President announces the winner. The actual popular votes are also counted and added cumulatively in state won by a candidate. The vote
The role of parents in... From page 4 the nature of all children, who are active by nature. Make sure you allot breaks for them from that screen and encourage them to be active even if you have to whip out your old running shoes and take a few laps with them around the house, or outside. Bonding is everything so bond, bond, bond. Be on the lookout for explicit or inappropriate content including cyber-bullying, scammers, grooming, etc. Children may be oblivious to the dangers of the internet but as adults, some of us may see danger, even if we have little or no clue how to operate the internet. Teamwork makes the dream work Finally, be open to learn from your child. Give yourself mental space to understand
that they are in a new era and some of the things they may know, you may not be good at. Use whatever time you have to brush up on your tech skills. Find videos on YouTube where you can learn new teaching skills or elsewhere (ask friends or teachers) to help both you and your child get the best out of the teaching and learning experience at home. Make sure the furniture and surroundings are as comfortable as possible and don’t forget to be patient. Your child is as unhappy being stuck at home as you are so don’t forget to work together on this. Yours respectfully, Khadidja Ba Communications Associate ChildLinK Inc
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Kaieteur News
count is to determine the popularity of a candidate. When people cast ballots, there is only one vote for President and VP. But when the electors cast their vote in the electoral college, they vote separately for President and VP. If no candidate gets the minimum 270 votes or if there is a tie of 269, then the election is thrown to Congress to choose the President and VP. The House determines the President based on the 51 entities, each having one vote with 26 needed for victory. The Congressional delegation from each state would gather and decide by a majority how each state will cast its vote between the two contenders. The Senate chooses the VP from the 100 Senators; 51 needed for victory. In Guyana, there isn’t a vote for Vice President or Prime Minister; the President appoints someone. In the US, there are separate ballots for President, Members of Congress, and for other offices. In Guyana, when one votes for President, one also votes for the number of seats for a party assigned to the parliament in a PR system. The head of the party list chooses the MPs in Guyana. In the US, people vote directly for Members of Congress. The President or leader of the party plays no role in choosing a member of Congress. The President or party leader cannot select the candidate for Congress or any elective office. All nominations for office are done democratically in elections restricted to party members. Who will win the US Presidency is the subject of another article. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram (Political Scientist)
Continuous illegal dumping of garbage in North Sophia
DEAR EDITOR, Once again I am writing to express my disappointment in the dumping of garbage in the North Sophia village. It has been a bit over a month that I first addressed this situation surprisingly people were scared to dump after seeing the article published. However that fear only lasted for a short time, sad to say the dumping has continued. Only recently on 19th October, a young man with a horse cart decided to bring a cart load of tyres to dump it at the same location. When he was told he cannot dump there, the young man went on to mouth profanities. One of Albert Einstein’s famous quotes says, “Any fool can know, the point is to understand”. I don’t think people understand that this reckless dumping of garbage is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, houseflies, other in-
sects and not forgetting wildlife (snakes, etc.), that can lead to many infectious diseases. It is their lack of education on basic life etiquettes and unhygienic lifestyle that reproduces such atrocious behaviour. Folly behaviour have consequences. They are breaking the laws. There is only so much I can do. I have done a bit of
cleaning. The experience was unpleasant. Bags and bags of garbage, from old household appliances to human waste. I am pleading with the authorities, this is something that is becoming a nuisance. It is a nasty habit of people within the Community. Respectfully, A concerned citizen
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Kaieteur News
Monday October 26, 2020
A MORAL GATEKEEPER OF GUYANESE POLITICS DEAR EDITOR, There is still hope in Guyana for the good and betterment of some Guyanese to redeem themselves from any sense of finality that paints a picture of doom and gloom and, look forward to the day when a sense of tranquility will finally prevail with good triumphing over evil. In the ambience of Navratri, with Guyanese and the rest of the world observing the essence of the Universal Mother’s doctrine of this theme, arising with the refreshing Atlantic Ocean breeze, is the honesty and integrity portrayed by the renunciation of dual citizenship of technocrat Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge WaldrondAllicock. “Despite advice that this provision did not extend to technocrats,” the Minister said, “Out of an abundance of caution, I decided to renounce my citizenship to put the matter beyond all doubt and avoid any distraction to the good work of the government.” She must be commended
for her advertent display which reflects royalty, nobility and loyalty. On the other hand, there are destabilizers bent on a destructive course to undermine democracy, place an indent on the lives of Guyanese, create mayhem and chaos in society, usurp peace, spread mischief, seed doubts and despair in the minds of the gullible and naive, derail the economy and to impede progress of the country. Take for example the head of a trade union organization who has arrogated to himself the role of a moral gatekeeper of Guyanese politics. He has criticized the PPP/ C government handling of the Success squatter problem but kept silent when his PNC/R government bulldozed squatter settlement at Lodge, Greater Georgetown. The danger of illegal squatting has been exemplars by the fallen tree that injured seven squatters. Not to mention the squalor of the area. How could he focus on compassion alone when the squatters committed two major offenses,
namely trespass and destruction to property? Indeed the latter damage was estimated at $2billion. Acquiescing that squatting is an illegal act and not supporting squatting for public health reasons, why wasn’t this problematic issue highlighted with the previous government and a solution resolved? Would a compromise have been too challenging or contradicting to that administration or too accommodating for comfort? Why should the government allow the squatters to continue to break the law? Isn’t it enough for the government to provide them with alternative shelter, and include them in the list for house lots? It was stated by other writers that the Success squatters have created a bad precedent. Emboldened by the defiance of the Success squatters, the squatting community at Johanna Cecilia picketed for their rights to have house lots. The Attorney General and the Minister of Housing had to visit that community, listen
to their concerns, and try to work out a legal solution. Other squatting communities will seek similar treatment. Recently, he went to West Coast Berbice, accompanied by two aides who brandished cutlasses to enforce a land claim based on supposedly ancestral rights. Villagers there claimed that they have been eking those lands for decades. As a self-announced moral activist, why didn’t he take the matter to court to have a ruling? Why didn’t he produce his title deed? Why did he resort to fear and intimidation tactics (video refers). Then the regards to the mother of all fraud and corruption, he never condemned the blatant act of Clairmont Mingo to call out fictitious figures in respect of Region 4 voter tabulation. This deprived act was observed by the world on internet and TV, including accredited local and international observers, who all condemned the attempt to perpetrate an end total coup d’état in bright daylight and in the
presence of the world. How could a moralist remain silent on this colossal travesty? It is this same morally selfanointed trade union that caused over 500 workers to lose their jobs at Kwakwani because he wrongfully called for industrial action which forced the company Rusal, to close down bauxite operations. Since the closure of Rusal operations, what compassion did this individual impart to the unfortunate workers? Instead he has left them with considerable pain and despair. Isn’t it fair to ask the applicable question, how can he live with his conscience inflicting this unconscionable act on his fellow citizens? When the PNC/R closed four sugar estates and threw 7,000 workers on the breadline, this union official failed to condemn this brutal act or express solidarity with the sugar workers. Again, quite relevant is to query, what lesson is he giving his children and others by not participating in an exercise of national emergency but one of political expedi-
ency? Indeed, something is seriously wrong with this picture with a conflict of interest involving the element of condoning and condemning! And at the West Coast Berbice uprising, the union leader failed to condemn the arson, looting, and destruction to property on innocent people who were passing through the village. One cannot be selective on issues of morality. Double standards are unacceptable. There are other instances of moral contradictions. He has put himself into this dilemma because of his loyalty to his political party. Nothing is wrong with that. Everyone is free to choose his party of choice. But having made your decision, you have to live with it. There are many who have eschewed pointed involvement for selective participation in the preference of discriminative choices. The convenience of discerning silence speaks louder than volumes of words. Respectfully, Jai Lall
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DEAD: Kelvin Walters
Monday October 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
Duo accused of executing key witness in K/News grenade attack walk free Two men accused of gunning down a man in front of his five-year-old daughter and wife on the East Bank Public Road at Eccles, in middle of the busy traffic early last year, have walked. Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Friday discharged the capital offence of murder against
Devon Allen, 31, of 148 Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown and Roderick Thomas, 29, of William Street, Kitty, Georgetown. They were on remand for the murder of taxi driver, Kelvin Walters, who was executed on January 22, 2019, at Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara.
When the matter was called for ruling in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Magistrate Marcus upheld a no-case submission that was presented to the court by the accused attorneys, stating that there is not sufficient evidence against their clients. The Magistrate then discharged the capital offence of murder against Allen and Thomas. According to reports, investigators believe that both men, who were nursing broken left legs, were injured when Walters rammed his car into their motorcycle just as they shot him. Walters was gunned down at around 19:30 hrs on the day in question, while driving south along the eastern carriageway of the East Bank Demerara Public Road. Police said that he was in the vicinity of Two Brothers Service Station when two men, on a motorcycle, turned in front of his vehicle. The pillion rider then whipped out a handgun and shot Walters in his face. Although wounded, Walters struck down the suspects, who fled the scene on foot, leaving their motorcycle and
CHARGED: Devon Allen
CHARGED: Roderick Thomas (left)
a .9mm Taurus pistol, with 14 rounds, at the scene. Walters was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The injuries the men sustained were said to be consistent with that of a motor vehicle accident. CCTV footage reportedly showed an individual hopping north along the East Bank Public Road.
The deceased was the key witness in the June 2016 Kaieteur News grenade attack case. A grenade was lobbed in front of the vehicle of the newspaper’s publisher, Glenn Lall, but failed to go off. The grenade was later removed by explosive experts and detonated safely. A number of persons were arrested.
Months after conclusion of case…
Judgment in wrongful dismissal of second NBS manager still pending The ruling in the second case filed against the New Building Society (NBS) over the wrongful dismissal of former manager, Kent Vincent, is still pending, several months after a trial in the Georgetown High Court concluded. Vincent had filed a lawsuit claiming over $500M worth in damages from the institution after he was dismissed and charged along with two other managers for conspiracy to defraud the NBS of $69M, back in 2007. NBS is a mortgage financing entity. Vincent has since moved on, and is the chief for Food For The Poor (Guyana) Inc., a non-profit organization. The sum was allegedly withdrawn from an account belonging to a customer, Bibi Khan, using unverified, bogus documents. Along with the former Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Maurice Arjoon, Vincent challenged NBS in court citing irreparable harm from the negative publicity and loss of salaries and benefits that the incident caused. Both men had claimed that they were set up and fired
Waiting: Former NBS Manager, Kent Vincent from their jobs because they refused to accede to the request of a high ranking politician to invest hundreds of millions in the Berbice River Bridge project. NBS still invested in the project after the men were fired. Arjoon’s trial over NBS’ wrongful dismissal took about seven years in the High Court before he was finally rendered a judgment in his favour. He received over $50M.
Vincent‘s lawsuit commenced only about a year after that trial concluded; approximately eight years after it was initially filed. Vincent was the last witness in a second matter which concluded before Chief Justice (Ag), Roxane George in February of this year. During the trial, NBS’ lead attorney; Devindra Kissoon, had pressed the former manager about the rules, systems, manual and principles which guide transactions at the institution. The lawyer specifically questioned Vincent about the process of verifying documents produced to conduct transactions at the society. The lawyer was at the time verifying whether Vincent had followed all the protocols and rules of the mortgage financing institution at the time the money went allegedly missing from the account to ascertain if negligence had played a role in his dismissal. Kissoon had posed several questions on the issues of guidelines and rules of NBS which Vincent maintained that he followed.
Monday October 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
The PNC/R is not interested in democracy The PNC/R has no moral authority to speak about electoral reform. By that party’s actions between March and August of 2020, it has demonstrated that it has no place within a democratic formation in Guyana. The Party is more committed to deforming our country’s electoral laws rather than reforming them. No one is going to take seriously any proposal which is made by the PNC/R on the question of electoral reform. It is hard to divorce that party from what has been described as the most blatant and barefaced attempt at rigging an election. The PNC/R was caught with its pants down and its jewels exposed. After what it did it has had the temerity to file an election petition. How serious then can anyone take the PNC/R’s calls for electoral reforms? The PNC/R is not interested in electoral reforms. In its five years in office, it made no attempt to promote electoral reform. The Party saw the existing system as advantageous to it and in no need of reform. In its five years in Office, it did more damage to the independence of the Guyana Elections Commission than was done in the previous 20 years. The PNC/R was involved in the most dispicable plan to impose a Chairman on the Guyana Elections Commission, a violation of the Constitution. And even after the CCJ ruled that the appointment was unconstitutional, the PNC/R was still up to its
tricks. It sought to argue that the CCJ ruling gave the President a role in nominating candidates. The PNC/R in the end bullied Bharrat Jagdeo into agreeing to a candidate which was always favoured by the PNC/R. The PNC/R could not have rigged the elections on Election Day. There were too many checks and controls. So, it attempted the next best thing. It tried to rig the tabulation process. It was only foiled because of the presence of the international community which was prepared to put a halt to the thievery of the elections. Imagine what would have happened had international observers not been present. The PNC/R would have bullied its way to remain in office. But it could not do that the devious plot to rig the tabulation process was exposed. Electoral reforms are needed to strengthen democracy, not weaken it. And the PNC/R has proven that it is not interested in strengthening democracy. But democracy and PNC/R do not go together. The PNC/R has proven itself as the most undemocratic party in the history of the Caribbean. It is an utter disgrace to the Region. The Caribbean leaders saw right through its shenanigans. They refused to be part of the PNC/R’s ploy. They made it clear that those who lose an election must take their licks like a man. The PNC/R’s gambit in having a Caricom Team here was with the hope that that team would
have thrown a lifeline to allow the party to remain in power. No such lifeline was offered. The PNC/R stood exposed for its attempts to foist itself on the Guyanese people. What reforms could the PNC/R support? The PNC/R is only interested in reforms which will give it a clear advantage to regain political power. It had that power and it squandered it. The present electoral system when combined with the country’s demographics now allow for either of the two main political parties to have a chance at winning an election. The APNU+AFC had won the 2015 elections by the skin of its teeth. The PPP/C only trumped the Coalition by slightly more than 15,000 votes in the 2020 elections. The present system, therefore, gives both of the main parties a chance at winning. But the PNC/R has squandered any chance of ever returning to power. It tried to steal the election or to have it stolen in its favour. Unless there are sweeping changes within the PNC/R, it cannot be trusted to operate in a democratic manner. The Party represents a threat to itself. After what it attempted from March to August of this year, it is fortunate that there have not been calls for it to be banned from any future participation in elections. But that would be undemocratic. The PNC/R’s crisis is of its own making. Electoral reforms are not going to help it. It has
Dem boys seh ...
Who is de Man? De Stabber bin carry a report last week about the preliminary report of the RSS team wah bin come to Guyana fuh investigate dem Henry boys’ deaths. According to de report, a politicallyexposed person bin ask people fuh lie and seh how de killing was political. De politically exposed person, according to reports, bin seh how dem who lie gan get something. De question is what de investigators doing about questioning dis politicallyexposed person who tried to turn de deaths into a political crime and, who knows, may have instigated violence as part of de protests.
Dem boys bin seh how de protests were a case of political muscle-flexing. Is time we stop ignoring when people do wrong. There are reports of a political operative who bin asking people fuh lie. Does this not constitute an attempt to pervert the course of justice? The police must investigate dat too. Dem boys bin done seh that you could bring how much forensic investigation yuh want, dem gan face de same problems. De gathering of forensic evidence is something which is time-bound. If you too late pun de scene, de evidence can be lost. If too much
people bin around de crime scene, de evidence gan be contaminated. De protests wah bin launch after dem lil boys get killed, affected the gathering of evidence. De police were prevented from doing dem wuk. By the time they were able to do so, the crime scene would have been compromised. Dis case gan only get solve when people talk wah dem know. Dem village small and people does know wah happen. Somebody must know. Just like dem must know who is de politician who bin ask people fuh lie. Talk half and wait fuh de rest of de report fuh buss out!
ostracized a significant section of its own base by its electoral dishonesty and its sinister attempt to revert this country to political dictatorship. That such an attempt could have even been contemplated show the depths of depravity to which the PNC/
R has descended. The PNC/R is poisonous to democracy. No electoral reform can redeem that party. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Kaieteur News
Monday October 26, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Civil society in Guyana is sicker than in any other country Let me adumbrate my philosophy about society which I cling to inflexibly. A society’s people must be concerned first and foremost with the existence of the comprehensive package of rights, freedoms and justice and the frequency with which people have these values. All other dimensions of society are of lesser importance than this holistic picture. One can tell if a society is philosophically dead and spiritually bankrupt by the silence that greets the non-existence of these values or the violations of rights and freedoms. I read an editorial in the Stabroek News last Sunday about civil society, and after reading it, I wondered if the person that wrote it is a dentist or botanist or lives outside of Guyana. The person who wrote it cannot be someone familiar with the following areas in the study of Guyanese society – sociology, history and political economy. Here is the part of that editorial that literally stunned me. I have studied this country since I was a 16-yearold kid working in the Michael Forde Bookstore, stealing philosophy books like Plato’s The Republic and going home to read till my eyes popped out of my forehead. I was 16 years old a long, long, long time ago and have been studying the countless dimensions of my country
since then, yet there are things in Guyana that I should know and don’t know. It was not until Sunday, October 25, in the year 2020 in a Stabroek News editorial, I was made aware that there is a coalition of 20 civil society groups with the name Policy Forum Guyana (PFG). I know there is a group named Policy Forum Guyana which was initiated by that perennial fellow, Mike Mc Cormack from the Guyana Human Right Association (GHRA), a body that I honestly think exists only on paper. I read where PFG held a symposium at Moray House. I sincerely did not know PFG consists of 20 civil society entities. If one umbrella group alone has 20 civil society entities, then there must be other nongovernment organizations (NGO) in this country making Guyana to be a country with highest numbers of NGO per capita. Can someone out there please identify these 19 entities for me apart from the GHRA? I need this type of information for my work as a columnist. My cell number is 614-5927. My home numbers are 222-1615/6 and my email address is fredkissoon@yahoo.com. If Guyana has this huge number of civil society groups then this is the largest contradictions in Guyanese sociology, mind you not one of, but the largest. What do these entities do in relation to
rights, freedom and justice? This country for a population of just under 800,000 souls have per capita the highest levels of rights violations in the world. Dissect the spheres of functionalism in Guyana and on, in each one of those compartments, the abuse of people is horrible. Let’s name some – the judicial system; the police force and its arms that include immigration, traffic; CANU; UG; NIS; public medical institutions, private hospitals; exploitative doctors and lawyers; the private sector, private security guard services; the general public sector, Central Housing and Planning Authority; Lands and Survey; GPL; GWI; GTT;
trade union leadership; the National Parks Commission; I could go but let’s make the essential point. Where are these civil society groups and NGOs in a country where the abuse is more extensive than in countries with mountainous populations? Several times, I wrote in these columns that I was a student in a university (University of Toronto) where the student population was 28,000 compared to UG with 5,000 yet students complaints were almost nonexistent at Toronto while at UG, most students hated the place because of mistreatment. I doubt the social bestialities that take place here exist in other countries.
Do you know a judge sentenced the son of one of Guyana’s most prominent politicians to 45 consecutive years in jail for the insertion of his fingers into the vagina of an under-aged girl? No birth certificate was tendered in court. The semi-literate guy defended himself. I asked Madan Kissoon (no relation) to file an appeal. It cannot be filed because five years now, the judge is still to write her decision. A man is sentenced to three years for possession of a spent shell he found on the parapet. Where are the voices of civil society that Stabroek News believes exist in Guyana? Where was this vibrant, dynamic civil society when for five months the
Frederick Kissoon world was appalled at election rigging in this country? Give me some politicians any day some of the clowns who masquerade as civil society like several of our women’s groups. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
GuySuCo’s assets held by NICIL to be returned Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, told cane farmers at Skeldon, Corentyne, Region Six, that the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) management will be revamped and be more responsive to them. The Minister made these statements at a meeting at the Skeldon Training Centre in East Berbice on Saturday. Senior officials in the industry also attended the meeting. The Minister said he held discussions with Chief
- major management revamp in the works
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha Mustapha listens as this farmer voices his concerns. GuySuCo CEO, Mr. Sasenarine Singh is also pictured, second from right. Executive Officer, Sasenarine Singh and has given the Board a guideline on how it must work. “We know over the years management has neglected GuySuCo so much. We have had so much corruption and so much wastage in GuySuSo that that too has contributed to the downfall of GuySuCo,” Minister Mustapha said. He said he would ensure the management is responsive to the needs of the Corporation and can deliver. “We will relook at the performance of the entire managerial staff of GuySuCo,” the Minister said. He also revealed he has a list of issues that are plaguing the existing factories. The transferral of GuySuCo’s assets to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited under the APNU+AFC Government is one of them. The Minister stated that the assets would
be returned to GuySuCo. Minister Mustapha also said Cabinet would discuss the Cane Farming Act, but in the interim, a system could be put in place from which everyone could benefit. “The main issue is to get you back into cultivation and how we should do that,” he said. Cane farmers at Skeldon are required to produce 33 per cent of the canes. However, funding is one of the issues hampering them. Several farmers said they have loans from commercial banks they are unable to repay due to the effects of the closure of the estates. They called for financial help as they could not access new loans due to non-payment on existing loans. The Agriculture Minister iterated the Government’s commitment to remove the corporate tax from loans as part of an agreement with the farmers. He told farmers that
giving out cash is not practical now, but the Government will offer other support to farmers. “I agree that you need assistance. The loan is heavy. We will give loans. We will give incentives as much as possible. We will do D&I [drainage and irrigation] work to benefit all the farmers. We will ensure that the canals and dams are okay. We will look at concessions as much as possible. My main task as Minister is to ensure that we come at a breakeven point and then talk about profitability,” he said. The Minister also highlighted the measures in the Emergency Budget that will benefit farmers. He reassured them they will have better responses from management this time, and they will have representation in various tiers of the management structure at GuySuCo.
Monday October 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
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Monday October 26, 2020
East Bank residents object to planned construction of oil waste treatment plant, storage warehouse - EPA says no impact assessment needed Residents living around the environs of Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, are objecting to the planned construction of an oil waste treatment plant and a chemical storage and warehouse facility near their homes. The construction is expected to commence shortly but residents are now seeking legal advice, expressing grave concerns over the impact of the operations on the environment and those living in the area. Even more concerning is the fact that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that these projects – meant to treat the harmful solids and waste oil produced by Guyana’s expanding oil and gas industry – do not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). These studies are normally conducted prior to construction. The EPA published a notice on September 27th, listing projects that were submitted for environmental authorization. Among those were the construction and operation of
a “Waste Treatment Plant at Plot “A21” Plantation Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara” being undertaken by Oilfield Waste Management Services (OWMS). The notice also spoke of the construction and operation of a “Chemical Storage and Warehouse Facility and Laydown Yard, A3 & A4, Plantation Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara” being undertaken by Glass Holdings Inc. Mapped images showed that both facilities would be housed in close proximity to residential housing schemes, including Eccles and Windsor Estate, a gated community that is home to several prominent business owners. On that very notice, the EPA said: “In accordance with Section 11 (2) of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05, Laws of Guyana, the application for each project listed above has been screened by the agency to assess its potential environmental impacts and it has been determined that these projects will not significantly affect the environment or human health, and therefore are exempt from the requirement
Legend (Nearest Resident) Nearest Resident
263 M West (Nearest Resident) Glass Holding Inc.
525 M South East (Nearest Resident)
Map showing the distance being the intended site of the chemical plant to the nearest residential area, at the Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara area. for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).” But that bit did not sit well with residents living there. One resident who requested anonymity told Kaieteur News in an
interview that: “The EPA ruled that the analysis is not needed, so they are not requiring it. Well, that is very unsettling. It seems to me that petroleum waste and products have high vapor pressures and consequently will leak into the immediate atmosphere and surroundings with the best of intentions. This means that air quality and its effects on our health and our homes are of a major concern.” Summaries of the projects were posted to the EPA’s website detailing what will be housed at the facilities. For the Chemical Storage and Warehouse Facility, GLASS Holdings Inc. stated that they planned to store chemicals such as “Asphaltene I n h i b i t o r, Corrosion inhibitor, Biocide, Hydrate Inhibitor, D e m u l s i f i e r, C h l o r i n e Scavenger, Defoamer and Hydrate Inhibitor.” Those chemicals, it said, would be stored in ISO Tanks constructed from 316 stainless steel meant to hold 5,000 gallons, plastic tanks constructed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) meant to hold 275 gallons and steel drums constructed from carbon steel either lined or lined meant to hold 55 gallons. F o r t h e O i l Wa s t e Treatment Plant, Oilfield Waste Management Services (OWMS) said that they
planned to construct “a thermal desorption waste treatment plant.” It said the plant is based on a thermal desorption separator (hammer mill) which uses friction to heat wastes so that oil residue are evaporated. The evaporated oil and water contents are then condensed and recaptured or separated. The remaining solids can then be safely disposed or reused. Further, OWMS plans to recycle the recaptured oil so that it can be used in the Liquid Mud Plant manufacturing process. The solid wastes will be used in the bitumen (asphalt) manufacturing process and in addition, no solids are expected to be sent to landfills, it said. Already in the area, residents are hit with the fumes emanating from the Haags Bosch Landfill Site at Eccles. With the construction of the chemical plant, the Peter’s Hall resident said, the neighbourhood would be hit twice with the harmful fumes. “There is already a similar facility at GYSBI and the chimney emits mainly water vapor but also a slight smell, which is noticeable when the wind changes direction,” she explained “It had EPA attention. Luckily that plant is close to the river and with the North East prevailing winds it blows over the
Demerara River but in our case Windsor would be directly downwind and we get a double dose from the garbage dump and this processing plant.” Turning their attention to the chemical storage facility, one stakeholder noted that while the threshold for approval by the EPA was “rather low”, transport issues should be a critical point. Explaining further, the resident said that “the major danger of spills is with road accidents. We all know the condition of the road, very narrow, major embankment slippages resulting in road deformation, potholes. In my opinion, this is where the real danger is. A scenario like a truck loaded with chemical crashed and ends up in the drainage canal and a few containers fall. Those chemicals get into the water and our supply is contaminated.” A bigger issue, too, the resident added, is whether the rules of zoning apply for such facilities to be constructed, so close to residential areas. “Zoning industrial entities amidst established residential entities is a recipe for depressing property values and quality of life.” What should have happened, it was stated, was for consultations to be done with the residents and most importantly, the EIA before approval to build is granted.
Monday October 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Region One once again a COVID-19 hotspot
R
egion One (Barima-Waini) has once again become a COVID-19 hotspot causing the Ministry of Health (MOH) to ramp up their measures to tackle and manage its spread. A senior official of the Ministry told this publication that over the past month, an alarming surge in COVID19 cases was observed in the region, which was followed with the MOH sending in personnel to conduct testing and isolation. Also in their plan to properly detect and manage the virus will be the use of antigen tests. The Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, recently announced that the government has ordered 20,000 antigen tests, which was stated to be perfect for testing in hinterland areas since the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests samples taken in those areas have to be sent to the National Public Health Reference Lab located in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) to be processed. The official said that the transportation of test samples to Georgetown was causing a serious backlog in the delivery of test results, which also affected efficient contact tracing when persons test positive for the virus. It was explained that when tests results take longer to return, persons infected with the virus would have already interacted with multiple people making it harder for everyone to be traced. With the antigen tests, persons in remote areas will have access to onsite testing and have their results within an hour. Kaieteur News understands that health authorities in the area have taken the initiative of placing
persons in institutional quarantine near the Kumaka District Hospital so that if their condition worsens they can be quickly transported for medical attention. The official further disclosed that the influx of cases came as a result of persons not adhering to the mandated COVID-19 regulations. Region One currently has the second-highest number of cases in the country with 663 confirmed cases. In the past month, it has recorded multiple COVID-19 deaths and over 200 new cases. A particular community within the region named Kwebanna has since been put on lockdown for 14 days after being named the COVID-19 hotspot of the region. The village which has a population of just fewer than 1,000 has recorded over 50 COVID-19 cases and two deaths in one month, which is alarming, according to the official. It was announced that during the lockdown period that no one will be able to exit or enter the village unless authorization is given and ranks of the Guyana Police Force and regional authorities will be monitoring to make sure the lockdown measures are followed. Months ago, the region was declared a COVID-19 hotspot with many of the infections occurring in Moruca. A lockdown was put in place to curb further spread of the virus and in August, regional health authorities reported that they were COVID-19free. The Health Ministry believes that if an improved approach including methods used previously is enforced, then the region can recover once again, swiftly.
COVID-19 isolation tents that were set up in the Region.
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Kaieteur News
Monday October 26, 2020
Mendes bestowed prestigious regional award for contributions
President Irfaan Ali with businessman, Andrew Mendes on Saturday at State House.
President Irfaan Ali on Saturday recognised the achievements of Guyanese e n t r e p r e n e u r, A n d r e w Mendes, who is the recipient of the 2020 Anthony N Sabga C a r i b b e a n Aw a r d s f o r E x c e l l e n c e i n entrepreneurship. The well-known businessman was among four persons in the region to receive the prestigious award this year, which honours people who have made significant contributions to the areas of art, entrepreneurship, civil
society and science. Other winners included Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o astronomer, Dr. Shirin Haque; St Lucian sculptor, Jallim Eudovic and Jamaican social scientist Dr. Olivene Burke. “Please allow me to recognise and celebrate Andrew for his tremendous contribution to Guyana, for the upliftment of so many lives and the fulfillment of your social responsibility in all that you do in growing y o u r c o m p a n y, � t h e President said as he paid tribute to Mendes, during the event at State House on Saturday. While the Head of State lauded the Guyanese
businessman for his achievement, he also charged him to inspire the next generation, and to take the lead in building local capacity. He acknowledged that the Awards serve as a reminder of the enormous reservoir of talent within the Caribbean and have become the regional equivalent of the Nobel Prize complete with its laureates. The President said that the awardees exemplified the inherent capacity of our people to overcome the most daunting of challenges. The Head of State also recognised other Nobel Laureates from the region Continued on page 15
Chalkboards erected in several city wards
A team, on Saturday, led by Dr. Marcel Hutson, Chief Education Officer; and comprised of teachers- Leanchor Rowland and Caren Charles; Lisa Liza Ryce-Inspector; Kerwyn Jacobs -Technical Facilitator- and Deborah HutsonDistrict Education Officer, visited the communities of East Ruimveldt, Albouystown, Rasville and Wortmanville to deliver education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chalkboards were erected in the communities along with the distribution of learning materials to assist with education delivery.
Monday October 26, 2020
Delays on Sheriff/Mandela expansion project…
Govt. will only accept high quality work - Edghill Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, has said Government will only give its approval for high quality works from the ongoing Sheriff-Mandela road expansion project. While he is satisfied with some of the outcomes to date, Minister Edghill maintained that the process needs to be accelerated since it is way behind schedule, according to a release from Government. The Minister highlighted concerns about the delays and inconveniences residents and businesses are faced with due to the unfinished work. “While we do infrastructural development and maintained economic activity, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our people is paramount importance … we have a very competent project engineer on-site and the supervisory consultant. I am continuing to engage them,” he said The project now has six sub-contractors; five of whom are Guyanese. The last is a Trinidadian company
Bishop Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works focusing mainly on drainage works. Minister Edghill said milling and installation of the first trial of 300 square metres of asphalt should have already commenced and this will allow for the paving of the thoroughfares to begin shortly. “Because it’s a sevenkilometre stretch of work, there is still room for more
human resources. Both in terms of the Chinese experts as well as local subcontractors to get some work done,” the Public Works Minister added. Moving ahead, he said there would be a revised date of completion after a full assessment of the project is done. He hopes to arrive at a reasonable timeline. “We have lost some months because of COVID19. We have to take that into consideration. They were unable to get some of their experts who went home to China. We are going to have another in house meeting,” the Minister said. There are ongoing works at several sites en route to the ending point. The project begins at the junction of Sheriff Street and Rupert Craig Highway and finishes at DSL junction, Ruimveldt Industrial Estate. The project is valued at over US$30M and was awarded to China’s Sinohydro Corporation Limited.
The Sheriff-Mandela project in 2019.
Mendes bestowed prestigious regional... From page 14 including Sir Arthur Lewis, Derek Walcott and V.S Naipaul. “Here in Guyana, it is the people of your country, the human resource capacity of our country who will have to be the shining star, resilient amidst the odds and committed to bringing our country together and ensuring as a people and as a country we succeed. We have examples here, and Andrew, you are one such person.” The President then charged Mr Mendes to lead the way in bringing together similar minds in the private sector to bolster the country’s technical capacity, particularly with the emerging oil and gas sector. “Let us discuss a common platform where the government can provide technical institutions to equip our people, Guyanese and regional people … I am convinced that we can build the capacity to provide essential services and the talent that is required to shape and take our country forward.” The profile of Mr. David Andrew Mendes, shared by the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean
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Kaieteur News
Awards for Excellence, describes him as an entrepreneur who brings a welcome change to the extractive industries (logging and oil), which are becoming more unpopular due to environmental concerns. He is the Managing Director of Farfan and Mendes Ltd (FML – a family business in Guyana). Mendes is also a passionate advocate of corporate responsibility, highquality customer service and products, and improving standards. As well as giving back to his industry, Mr. Mendes gives back to wider society – supporting various causes related to youth, community and conservation. He is an advocate and activist in addressing alcoholism, drug abuse and mental health in society through active support of groups that focus on these issues. Given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chairman, Mr. Andrew Sabga, in consultation with the Eminent Persons Panel, decided that the circumstances require separate ceremonies in the Laureates’ home territories.
NICIL, GuySuCo, Lands and Surveys to help identify lands for housing The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL); Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) and Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) are working with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA)to help the department identify lands for new housing projects. In an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal told reporters that the collaboration is part of government’s push to find new lands to allocate to thousands of Guyanese who have applied for houselots. According to Minister Croal, several areas have already been identified for land acquisition in some regions with funds available from last month’s emergency budget. Croal reminded that despite a system backlog, ”the government is working every single day to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to commence new allocations for a number of regions.” “Immediately, that will include Regions Three and Four while we acquire lands for some of the other regions including Region Two,” he added. The Minister further assured that an aggressive
allocation process would commence in the not too distant future. “[In] 2021 you can look forward to a massive programme by our Ministry,” Minister Croal said while noting that land preparation in key areas will begin in the same year. Additionally, the Ministry recently published an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a private-public partnership to construct housing units- this has received much traction from investors. “That Expression of Interest, of course, is closed. In fact, they are finalising the evaluation and very shortly we will be shortlisting for those contractors whom our developers would be engaging for the construction of our initial first set of houses,” the Housing Minister said. He noted that the initiative is set up to help stimulate the economy and foster employment in a range of sectors. Croal said that the Government’s removal of taxes from construction materials will also make it
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal easier for many citizens to become homeowners at a cheaper cost. He noted that the raising of the low-income threshold for corporate tax relief from $8million to $10million and the reverting of the income tax relief ceiling from $15 million to $30 million will also complement the housing sector’s massive development in 2021 and the coming years. Government has said that over 60,000 applications for house and lands are on file.
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Kaieteur News
Monday October 26, 2020
Guyana‘s COVID-19 cases now over 4,000 - 3,000 recover
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The Ministry of Health (MOH) has recorded 29 new COVID-19 cases bringing the overall confirmed total to 4,023.According to the daily COVID-19 dashboard, of the new cases, Region Two has three, Region Four-17, Region Seven-two, and Region Eight -three, while Regions One and Ten have one each.Though the MOH‘s board pointed to an increase in the confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Guyana, it also disclosed that 3,000 persons recovered from the pandemic. Additionally, the Ministry noted there are 15 persons in the Intensive Care Unit; 788 persons on home isolation and 101 persons isolated at Government’s institution and 38 persons on quarantine.
So far, a total of 18,417 persons have been tested for COVID-19.In total, 119 persons have died.
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ISLAMABAD - (Reuters) - Pakistan’s prime minister has written a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg seekLEGAL NOTICE **ATTENTION** JULIA DUNDAS of 95 Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, Guyana and TESSA DANIELS of 341 Cummings Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Guyana. Please make urgent contact with the Chambers of BERNARD DA SILVA, Attorney-at-Law, in relation to Probate matter of MANGRA also known as ARJUNE also known as ARJUNE MANGRA also known as MANGRA MANGRA, where your signatures were witnessed on the Last Will and Testament of ARJUNE also known as MANGRA. Contact the Chambers at 217 South Road, Lacy town, Georgetown, Guyana, or on numbers (592+) 621-6366/ (592+) 226-7023.
ing a ban on Islamophobic content on the site, warning of an increase in radicalisisation amongst Muslims, the government said yesterday.In the letter, shared by the Pakistani
government on Twitter, Imran Khan said that “growing Islamophobia” is encouraging extremism and violence across the world — especially through social media platforms such as Facebook. “I would ask you to place a similar ban on Islamophobia and hate against Islam for Facebook that you have put in place for the Holocaust,” Khan said.Facebook said this month it was updating its hate speech policy to ban any content that denied or distorted the Holocaust. Facebook did not immediately reply to Reuters’ request for comment on Khan’s letter. “One cannot send a message that while hate messages against some are unacceptable, these are acceptable against others,” Khan said, adding that this was “reflective of prejudice and bias that will encourage further radicalisation”.Khan in his
Prime Minister Imran Khan letter made reference to the situation in France, where, he said, Islam was being associated with terrorism.Early yesterday, Khan said that French President Emmanuel Macron had “attacked Islam” by encouraging the display of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad. Khan’s comments came after Macron paid tribute to a French history teacher beheaded by an Islamist radical who wanted to avenge the use of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad in a class on freedom of expression.
Monday October 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Change attitude or be fired -Minister Mustapha tells GuySuCo managers During a recent meeting with several senior managers from the Albion, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha once again affirmed Government’s position to restructure the management style of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Minister Mustapha told those in attendance that the ‘top heavy’ attitudes of managers when dealing with lower level staff must be corrected. “Over the years, some managers from several estates have developed an attitude that is not conducive to a proper functioning establishment and, as a result, workers have been complaining bitterly about the way the estates are functioning. Since taking office, several workers from a number of estates have been coming to my weekly open days to complain about the attitudes of some of you. One worker even informed me of an incident where they told a manager that there were damage to a structure and that repairs should be done
and the manager said to wait until it’s broken. Those types of attitudes and behaviours will not be tolerated,” Minister Mustapha said. Minister Mustapha went on to say that, if managers do not change their attitudes, GuySuCo will be left with no other alternative but to “part company” with them. Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Sasenarine Singh, said that the corporation also plans to conduct a review of management at the end of the second crop. “We will be conducting a review to assess your management styles and skills at the end of the crop. We understand that some of you genuinely had challenges that affected the way you operated due to lack of funding in the past. Government has since injected large sums of money into GuySuCo in order to get the estates to a place where they can function and function effectively. You have no excuse now. Change your attitudes or be prepared to say goodbye to GuySuCo,” Singh said.
Get your act together: Minister Zulfikar Mustapha meeting with the estates’ officials recently where he made it clear that they must change their attitudes. Minister Mustapha also took the time to listen to some of the issues and needs of the managers in order to ensure the estates function effectively. Apart from much needed repairs to a number of factory and field machinery, the man-
agers cited the need for improvements in crop husbandry, better industrial relations and timely inputs of fertilizer to improve the quality of the canes and ultimately lower the factories’ TCTS (tons cane tons sugar). Minister Mustapha as-
sured the managers that, with the funding Government is investing in the Corporation, a lot of those issues would be resolved. “Issues like mechanical downtime due to the lack of key spare parts, fertilizers for canes, infrastructure and
other basic factory maintenance issues will be addressed. With the immediate allocations, a number of these issues have already been addressed and over time, we will work to ensure most, if not all the issues are corrected,” Minister Mustapha said.
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Monday October 26, 2020
Monday October 26, 2020
Report:
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More than 30,000 Guyanese emigrate annually
A
ccording to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a think-tank based in the United States of America, more than 30,000 of Guyanese migrate out of Guyana every year—a sizable portion for a country with a total population that has never reached one million. Collaborating with the Embassy of Guyana in Washington, D.C. and with other public and private stakeholders, the Americas Program had initiated an ongoing series of presentations and publications on Guyana as well as efforts to gather the growing group of individuals and organizations, public and private, with an interest in and commitment to Guyana, including members of the Guyanese diaspora living in the United States. In one of their recently published reports, CSIS indicated that since the 1960s, the Guyanese emigrant population has increased. This was to be blamed on the “difficult economic conditions, a tense social and political
- political instability, inefficient health and education systems blamed
A part of Liberty Avenue, Queens, where thousands of Guyanese shop and visit. environment, a weak educational system, high levels of insecurity, and an inefficient healthcare system.” Simultaneously, the report states that favorable immigration laws first in the United Kingdom, and later in Canada and the United States, as well as better job and education opportunities abroad, have helped to motivate high levels of emigration among Guyanese. “As the number of Guyanese living abroad has
increased since the 1960s, the pull factor represented by a growing number of diaspora family members has only helped to keep the emigration flow steady,” the report states. The document records that the US continues to be the most popular destination for emigrating Guyanese. It is estimated that over 400,000 persons in the United States are Guyanese or of Guyanese ancestry. It notes that the majority of Guyanese in the United States live in New York,
N e w J e r s e y, F l o r i d a , Georgia, and Maryland, though smaller communities exist in other places, including Illinois, Minnesota, and California. Canada is listed as another popular destination for Guyanese emigrants since the 1980s. “In 2016,” the center writes, “88,570 people living in Canada reported Guyana as their country of birth, although some members of the diaspora estimate that Canada could be home to as many as 120,000 to 200,000
Guyanese. Most members of the Guyanese diaspora live in Ontario, mostly in To r o n t o , w i t h a l s o significant populations in Montreal.” CSIS goes on to say that approximately 30,000 Guyanese live in the United Kingdom, mostly in the North East region, the East Midlands, and in the London metro area. Unlike the US and Canada, the UK’s Guyanese immigrant demographic is mostly made up of wellestablished communities of older generations, given that its biggest immigration waves were in the early1960s. Other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean also have significant populations of Guyanese immigrants. Suriname, Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o , Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados each have small Guyanese diaspora communities ranging in size from 5,000 to 15,000. A key recommendation
of the center ’s report, directed at both the public and private sectors in Guyana and at Guyanese diaspora communities around the world, is to work collectively and deliberately to establish broader communications, engagement, and collaboration between Guyana and the diaspora through a “Guyana Global” initiative. “Given the global dispersion of the diaspora and the current landscape brought on by the COVID19 pandemic,” the CSIS says, “This initiative should be based on a comprehensive digital strategy to harness the human capital within the Guyanese diaspora as a resource to be tapped in Guyana’s development. A cloud-based “portal,” including an online “community/platform” of diaspora experts, could serve as a framework and a formal means of communication between Guyana and the diaspora community.”
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Monday October 26, 2020
Monday October 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Exclusive: Russia’s former NBA star Kirilenko claims WADA sanctions will end dreams of innocent athletes insidethegames Russia’s former National Basketball Association star Andrei Kirilenko has warned the proposed four-year package of sanctions against which his country is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) next week would punish many innocent athletes. The 39-year-old former Utah Jazz player, now President of the Russian Basketball Federation, told insidethegames the punishments handed down by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following its investigation into alleged statesponsored doping would be “really unfair to a lot of athletes who have never been
involved in doping”. The CAS is due to hear the Russian appeal against the sanctions, imposed after WADA found the country had manipulated the Moscow Laboratory data, from November 2 to 5. If sport’s highest court uphold WADA’s decision, Russia’s flag and anthem will be banned at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics next year and the Beijing 2022 Winter Games. Russia could also be stripped of World Championships it has been awarded and the country has been barred from bidding for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. There would be a route to competition at major events for Russian athletes who can
prove they had no involvement in the doping scandal that emerged in the wake of the Sochi 2014 Winter Games or the cover-up. But it would be up to individual International Federations, in conjunction with WADA, to decide which Russian athletes can compete. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the sanctions as “unfair”, and earlier this month characterised his country’s athletes as victims of “unsportsmanlike means”. Kirilenko, speaking personally rather than officially, acknowledges that Russia has “a problem” with doping, but believes that the idea of a “collective” punishment is fundamentally flawed. “I see a little
bit like tunnel vision right now,” he said. ”It’s ‘this is collective, let’s punish the country, let’s take their flag away…this and that’. “And nobody is thinking about the athletes that have never been involved in cheating. “They are punishing the ones who have stayed away from all of this all of their careers and all their lives. ”And that’s what I don’t like.” The 6ft 9in Kirilenko, who earned the nickname AK-47 during his playing career, refutes the idea that there was a “collective” system of doping in Russian sport by reflecting upon his own experi-
Russia’s former NBA star Andrei Kirilenko ©Getty Images ence since participating in junior events up to his time as President of the RBF. ”As an athlete participating in basketball I never met a
situation where somebody from the Ministry of Sport or from the Government came to the team,” he said. “As a player usually you see what is going on with the team, so if somebody would offer you doping or something strange you would see that. “This has never happened. ”And that’s why I am quite positive that there is not a system in Russian sport for doping. “Because if there is a system of the whole sport, at any level, people are going to come to the team and offer you something. “So we should not be judging clean young athletes and preventing them from their dreams.”
Giro d’Italia: Tao Geoghegan... Monday Octomber 26, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Problems with machines could have your nerves on edge. This may be one day when everything seems to break. Some problems you might be able to fix yourself. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today you might attend a small party or group event with some friends, if possible, and become separated from them. Don't panic, Taurus. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Surprise visitors could result in a small impromptu party of some sort, if possible. This could be fun for you, Gemini, but it could also be a bit irritating. CANCER (June 21–July 22) This isn't the day to plan a trip by air, Cancer. Everything that can go wrong with such a trip will - delays, lost luggage, obno xious
seatmates. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) One of your ambitions in life is to be financially independent, and lately you might have made great strides toward attaining that goal. Today, through no fault of your own, you may receive information that indicates there may have
been a setback. VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) A surprising revelation from a friend or acquaintance might wake you up to the fact that you don't really know this person as well as you thought you did.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your mind is likely to be going a thousand miles an hour today, Libra. Thoughts and ideas are
pouring into your head like rain from the sky. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) An old friend you haven't seen for a long time may suddenly resurface, perhaps contacting you through social media. This could take you by surprise, Scorpio, but you won't be any less happy to talk to him or
her again. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A sudden, unexpected problem at home could be rather upsetting. This probably relates to plumbing, electricity, or some other kind of home equipment. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Upsetting news that you receive from far away, perhaps by phone or email, could send you into an emotional tailspin. There's an
aura of uncertainty about what you hear - it may not make sense. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Computer glitches or bank errors might send erroneous information to you about your finances. Perhaps the bank says you have less money than you do, or a bill is higher than you thought it should be.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You and someone close could disagree on an issue that both of
you feel strongly about. Stubborn pride on both your parts could keep you from working things
out. Let it go, Pisces.
From page 25 sink in.”eoghegan Hart grew up in Hackney in east London, where he joined Cycling Club Hackney. He is also a keen swimmer and at the age of 13 was part of a group of teenagers who swam across the English Channel. As a fan, he attended an event in London to mark Team Sky’s launch in 2009 and would later sign for the British team, competing full-time on the top-tier World Tour since 2017. He has remained with the team, who became Ineos in 2019, ever since. His previous best finish at a Grand Tour was 20th at the Vuelta a Espana in 2019. After winning the Giro he shared a kiss with girlfriend Hannah Barnes, also a professional British cyclist. “Tao bunked off school to come and ride behind the other guys [when Team Sky launched] and he has gone and won a Grand Tour,” team boss Sir Dave Brailsford said. “It is the stuff of comic books.” Final general classification: 1. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) 85hrs 40mins 21secs 2. Jai Hindley (Aus/Sunweb) +39secs 3. Wilco Kelderman (Ned/ Sunweb) +1min 29secs 4. Joao Almeida (Por/ Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +2mins 57secs 5. Pello Bilbao (Spa/Bahrain-McLaren) +3mins 9secs 6. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana) +7mins 2secs 7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Trek-Segafredo) +8mins 15secs 8. Patrick Konrad (Aut/BoraHansgrohe) +8mins 42secs 9. Fausto Masnada (Ita/ Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +9mins 57secs 10. Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut/BahrainMcLaren) +11mins 5secs.
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Monday October 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
NAMILCO and RHTY&SC continue to carve out empowering relationship In September 2019, the National Milling Company of Guyana. Ltd (NAMILCO) took on the challenge of being the official sponsor of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) First Division team, replacing Gizmos and Gadgets. The partnership is now celebrating its first anniversary and the achievements over that period of time has cemented the Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour team’s position as the country’s leading cricket team with an unmatched list of achievements on and off the field of play. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster informed that NAMILCO has been a strong supporter of the First Division team and also the Under21 team which it also sponsors. On the field, the Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour First Division won three tournaments and reached one semi-final before the Covid-19 pandemic stopped the active Berbice cricket season. The team won the Busta Champion of Champions 40 overs tournament, Ivan Madray Memorial T20 and the Sky Vodka 50 overs tournaments. The team has also
Kevin Sinclair
qualified for the semi-finals of the historic Banks Beer First Division two-day tournament, finishing second behind arch-rivals Albion Cricket Club in Zone B. They were scheduled to play Young Warriors CC in the semifinal but have been unable to do so due to the pandemic. The Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Under-21 team is also waiting to play Albion in the final of the Berbice Cricket Board Elizabeth Styles tournament.
The two teams have also produced several players who have gone on to represent Berbice, Guyana and even the West Indies. Matthew Pottaya, Christopher Deroop, Jonathan Rampersaud, Nyron Hicks, Mahendra Gopilall and Jeremy Sandia represented Berbice at the junior levels. At the senior level Clinton Pestano and Kevin Sinclair played for Guyana while Assad Fudadin turned out for the Jamaica team. Kevin Sinclair also played for the
The First Division Team making a donation to the Rose Hall Town Primary School West Indies emerging team that won the Cricket West Indies 50 overs tournament and then went on to be a sensation for the Guyana Amazon Warriors T20 team in the Caribbean Premier League. Three of the team’s female players Shemaine Campbelle,
Gaikwad fifty guides Chennai Super Kings to comfortable win ESPNcricinfo - The Chennai Super Kings built a squad for the slow, turning pitches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. On Sunday, when they were all but out of IPL 2020, they got to play in conditions not dissimilar to those back in Chennai, and pulled off a performance that made you wonder how their season might have gone had Covid-19 not transplanted the tournament to the UAE. They were abetted by a Royal Challengers Bangalore batting display that seldom got out of second gear, which set them a target of just 146, but some of the hallmarks of the classic Super Kings performance were also on show.
Accurate medium-fast bowling with frequent
changes of pace, an expert middle-overs strangulation by spin featuring typically clever MS Dhoni fields, and a controlled chase fea-
turing timely six-hitting to keep the required rate in check.
There was also, as has often been the case, an opposition attack that wasn’t entirely suited to the conditions. Along the way, there was even one unusual detail, a young player who batted with - let’s use the word spark, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who anchored the chase with an unbeaten 51-ball 65 while Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu brought urgency at the other end. With their eight-wicket win, the Super Kings kept the barely flickering flame of their campaign alive, just about, but the result might have more of an impact on the Royal Challengers. They began the game with a chance of rising to the top of the table and ended it with their chances of a top-two finish significantly diminished. Chennai Super Kings 150 for 2 (Gaikwad 65*, Rayudu 39) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 145 for 6 (Kohli 50, de Villiers 39, Curran 3-19, Chahar 2-31) by eight wickets.
Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi also represented the West Indies on a regular basis. Off the field, the NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Under-21 and First Division teams hosted over seventy community development programmes as part of their Personal Development Project. They included Youth Information Booklet, NAMILCO Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers, NAMILCO Tribute to Medical Personnel Programmes, Gregory Gaskin Berbice Sports Awards, Walter Nero Memorial Father of the Year and DTV-8 Mother of the Year, among others. Other programmes included assisting over one hundred youth cricketers with their own gear and distribution of six thousand food hampers under the Basil Butcher Trust Fund. Additionally, the team also co-produced the RHTY&SC 30th Anniversary Magazine and co-organised numerous activities to mark the historic anniversary. Foster hailed the relationship between the company
and NAMILCO, noting that the company for over two decades has been very supportive of the club. NAMILCO on an annual basis supports the club by cosponsoring its Christmas Village, awards ceremony, cricket academy, review magazine, Say No/ Say Yes campaign among other programmes. The club and NAMILCO in 2019 had come together to organise a highly successful Day of Sports at the Albion Sports Complex in observance of the company’s 50th anniversary. The event was a huge success with club members, several volleyball clubs and students from 20 Primary and Secondary Schools participating in cricket, volleyball and athletics events for attractive prizes. Foster hailed the cooperation of the Management of the company and made special mention of Managing Director Bert Sukhai, Assistant to the Managing Director Autamaram Lakeram, Finance Controller Fitzroy Mc Leod, Human Resources Manager Michelle Majors and Jamie Shultz.
Ben Stokes’ 107* gives Rajasthan...
Ruturaj Gaikwad gets into position to punch through the offside ©BCCI.
From page 25 half-century, off 27 balls, with a brace. A couple of streaky fours further ate away from the target. With ten required, Stokes was three short of his hundred. He reached the landmark in style by hitting Pattinson for a six over midwicket and then sealed the game with a four on the next ball. Rajasthan Royals 196 for 2 (Stokes 107*, Samson 54*, Pattinson 2-40) beat Mumbai Indians 195 for 5 (Hardik 60*, Yadav 40, Gopal 2-30) by eight wickets.
Monday October 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
IOC honorary member and Samsung chairman Lee dies age 75 insidethegames - South Korea’s Lee Kun-Lee, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) honorary member, has died at the age of 75. Lee, the chairman of Samsung Group, suffered from health problems after suffering a heart attack in 2014. The heart attack had required Lee to receive care and little has been revealed about his condition since. He had been virtually unseen publicly in South Korea and had not attended any Olympic meetings during this time. Lee officially stepped down as an IOC member at the 2017 Session in Lima, where he was made an honorary member. He had been an IOC member since 1996 and was influential in helping Pyeongchang secure the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympic and
Paralympic Games. ”Lee Kun-Lee made a great contribution to the Olympic Movement and the success of the Olympic Games by not only making Samsung a TOP Partner of the IOC, but also by promoting the Olympic Games worldwide and by fostering the bond between sport and culture,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. ”This Olympic legacy of Lee Kun-Lee will continue to live on. “To commemorate him, the IOC will fly the Olympic flag at half-mast in Lausanne.” Lee was a former member of the IOC Cultural and Finance Commission. He was also President then Honorary President of the Korean Amateur Wrestling Federation from 1982 to 1997. Lee was also a member of the Korean Olympic Com-
mittee, later serving as vicepresident from 1993 to 1996 and then becoming Honorary President. The South Korean was fined and given a suspended three-year prison sentence in 2008 after being found guilty of embezzlement and failing to pay $39 million (£24 million/ €33 million) in taxes. He voluntarily gave up his membership only to return to the IOC in 2010 after being granted a Presidential pardon the previous year. The IOC Ethics Commission concluded Lee had “tarnished the reputation of the Olympic Movement” but allowed him to return in the middle of Pyeongchang’s successful campaign to host the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Lee was the third son of
Lewis Hamilton breaks Michael Schumacher’s win record at the Portuguese Grand Prix BBCsport - Lewis Hamilton passed Valtteri Bottas to take a commanding victory in the Portuguese Grand Prix and break Formula 1’s all-time win record. Hamilton dropped to third in a manic first two laps that ended with McLaren’s Carlos Sainz leading, but fought back to crush Bottas’ hopes. After both Mercedes passed Sainz, Hamilton tracked Bottas before taking the lead on lap 20. From there, Hamilton dominated to take his 92nd career Grand Prix victory. Hamilton received a standing ovation from the socially distanced crowd, before celebrating with team members and then a long embrace with father Anthony. Hamilton said he “owed it all” to his Mercedes team, adding: “I could only ever have dreamed of being where I am today. “I didn’t have a magic ball when I chose to come to this team and partner with these great people, but here I am.”Everything we do together - we are all rowing in the same direction and that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing. “And my dad’s here and my step mum Linda, and Roscoe [Hamilton’s dog]. It is going to take some time for it to fully sink in. I was still pushing flat out as I came across the line. I can’t find the words at the moment.” How did it all unfold? His victory, on a humiliating day for team-mate Bottas, gave Hamilton a 77-point advantage in the championship as he moves ever closer to a seventh world title, which would match Schumacher’s other
Samsung founder Lee Byungchul. Samsung joined as a member of the IOC’s The Olympic Programme (TOP) sponsorship scheme in 1998 - two years after Lee became a member.The company is the worldwide TOP programme sponsor in the wireless communications equipment and computing equipment product categories. Samsung extended its international partnership with the International Olympic Committee until 2028 in December 2018. The company’s first Games as a TOP partner was the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998. Lee was viewed as key to turning Samsung into a leading electronics company worldwide. The company paid tribute to their chairman, saying his legacy will be “everlasting”. ”It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kun-hee Lee, chairman of Samsung Electronics,” a Samsung statement read. “Chairman Lee passed away on October 25 with his family,
Lee Kun-Hee served as an IOC member until 2017 ©Getty Images including vice-chairman Jay Y Lee, by his side. “His legacy will be everlasting.” Samsung vice president Lee Jae-Yong, Lee’s son, last week went on trial in South Korea. It was reported last month by the Financial Times that South Korean prosecutors had indicted Lee JaeYong on charges of stock manipulation relating to the merger in 2015 of two Samsung units, and over allegations of an accounting fraud.
Lee’s lawyers were said to have called the prosecutors’ accusations “groundless”, while Samsung itself was said to have denied all wrongdoing related to the case. Lee was jailed for five years in 2017 after being found guilty of offences in the bribery scandal which led to South Korean President Park Geunhye being forced from office. In 2018 an appeals court reduced the sentence to twoand-a-half years and Lee was released.
Bach to accept Seoul Peace Prize remotely due to COVID-19 concerns
Hamilton embraces his father Anthony after the race after Lewis broke Schumacher’s 14-year record for race wins surviving record. Hamilton had to do it the hard way, cool temperatures and a sprinkling of rain at the start leaving his Mercedes gripless on its medium tyres on the opening lap, on which he was passed by both Bottas and Sainz. Sainz, using his soft tyres to great advantage over the medium-shod Mercedes, produced a stellar opening lap from seventh on the grid and passed Bottas for the lead at Turn Five on the second lap. But once the Mercedes’ tyres were up to temperature, they wasted no time in dispatching the McLaren and disappeared into a race of their own. Hamilton never let Bottas get much more than a couple of seconds ahead and then after 15 laps started to pour on the pace, setting fastest lap after fastest lap to close in on the Finn and then
pass for the lead into Turn One. Once ahead, Hamilton left his team-mate behind, pulling out a lead of more than seven seconds in the next 10 laps, and continuing to inch further clear over the remainder of the race. Hamilton extended his lead even further after they made their pit stops, as he was able to get the hard tyres into their temperature window more effectively than his team-mate. The 35-year-old’s only concern was cramp in the final 10 laps but it did not seem to affect him unduly, and he still crossed the line 25 seconds clear of his team-mate. It was a masterful performance, befitting the monumental nature of his achievement, supplanting Schumacher at the head of the all-time win lists, where the German had been for 19 years.
insidethegames - International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach is to receive the Seoul Peace Prize remotely after deciding against travelling to the South Korean capital to accept the award because of the coronavirus pandemic. A spokesperson for the IOC confirmed Bach would not attend tomorrow’s ceremony in person and would instead take part virtually. Bach had been due to travel to Seoul to accept the prize, which he was awarded for his role in staging the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. Pyeongchang 2018 saw South Korea and North Korea march together in the Opening Ceremony, while the two countries, still technically at war, also combined to form a joint women’s ice hockey team. ”Because of the deteriorating situation in Switzerland and Europe, which makes travelling even more difficult, the IOC President, together with the IOC and the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, has decided that his participation in the award ceremony on Monday would be virtual,” the IOC spokesperson said. The visit to Seoul to accept the award - established in 1990 to commemorate the success of the 1988 Olympics in the South Korean capital of Seoul, celebrating the harmony and friendship of com-
The IOC President was named the winner of the Seoul Peace Prize in September ©IOC petition - was set to be Bach’s longest trip since the COVID19 pandemic hit. Typically Bach is a frequent international traveller, but restrictions imposed across the world have forced him to conduct business remotely over the past seven months. The IOC President is planning a trip to Tokyo next month to meet new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga but no dates have been confirmed.
He has not been able to visit the Japanese capital to inspect preparations for the postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games since the coronavirus pandemic ground international travel to a halt, but World Athletics President Sebastian Coe went to Tokyo earlier this month. Bach’s last trip was a short visit to Imola to attend the International Cycling Union Road World Championships last month.
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Monday October 26, 2020
Ticket refund process for Tokyo FIFA welcomes Appeals 2020 expected to begin next month Court victory over TTFA Hopes have been raised of holding Olympic events with spectators with limited attendances allowed at Japanese sporting events ©Getty Images
insidethegames - Tokyo 2020 are reportedly set to open applications for Olympic ticket refunds next month following the rescheduling of the Games. Organisers confirmed in July they would issue refunds to ticketholders for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Around 4.48 million tickets for the Olympics have already been sold as well as 970,000 for the Paralympics, through the official ticketing website and various lotteries. According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, the refund process is expected to begin shortly. It is expected that fans with Olympic tickets can apply for refunds next month. Ticketholders for the Paralympic Games would then apply in December. Tickets for the postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games are valid for the rescheduled events next year in the Japanese capital. Refunds are expected to be sought by buyers who are now unable to attend because of the postponement of the Games. The rescheduled Olympic Games is due to take place from July 23 and August 8 next year, followed by the Paralympics
from August 24 to September 5. Ticket sales were forecast to provide ¥90 billion (£657 million/$857 million/€727 million) in revenue. The sale of tickets for the Games are currently suspended. Uncertainty remains over whether fans will be permitted to attend the Games because of the coronavirus pandemic. Both Tokyo 2020 and the International Olympic Committee have expressed hope spectators will be able to attend, and fans are included in planning for the rescheduled Games. Attendance of spectators is one of the main topics being discussed by a three-party council, consisting of the Japanese Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo 2020 and which is helping to devise coronavirus countermeasures for the Games. Several Japanese sporting events have taken place in recent months with spectators permitted, albeit with limited numbers. The return of spectators has sparked hope that next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games will not be held behind closed doors.
Vuelta a Espana: Richard Carapaz takes lead from Primoz Roglic BBCsport - Richard Carapaz took the overall lead from defending champion Primoz Roglic on a wet stage six of the Vuelta a Espana. Ineos Grenadiers rider Carapaz dropped Roglic, who had led since the opening day, on the final ascent of the 146km mountain stage to Aramon Formigal. Ion Izagirre attacked with 3km remaining to take the stage, 25 seconds ahead of Michael Woods and Rui Costa. Britain’s Hugh Carthy finished eighth to climb to second overall. The 26-year-old EF Pro Cycling rider trails Carapaz by 18 seconds. Ecuadorian Carapaz, who won the Giro d’Italia with Movistar last year, crossed the line 55 seconds behind Spaniard Izagirre, alongside France’s David Gaudu and Spaniard Marc Soler, with Roglic a further 43 seconds back. Jumbo-Visma’s Roglic slipped to fourth overall, with Ireland’s Daniel Martin’s 18th-place finish moving him up to third, 20 seconds off the lead. Roglic blamed problems putting on his rain jacket on the penultimate climb for losing time to his rivals.
Carapaz is in his first season with Ineos Grenadiers
”It is not the way we wanted it, but at the end I give it all to do my best,” the Slovenian said. “As long as we are still in one piece the show will go on. It’s not finished yet.” Monday (today) is a rest day, while stage seven of the shortened 18-stage race on Tuesday takes the riders 160km from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Villanueva de Valdegovia.
Port of Spain, Trinidad, CMC – Football’s world governing body, FIFA, on Saturday hailed the Trinidad and Tobago Court of Appeal decision to squash a recent High Court ruling against them, in the controversial case brought by the embattled country Football Association. Earlier this month, Justice Carol Gobin ruled in favour of beleaguered TTFA president, William Wallace, contending that the normalisation committee installed last March by FIFA “was unwarranted and indefensible” and also “made in bad faith and for an improper and illegal motive”. However, FIFA on Friday won their case in the Court of Appeal with Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Justice of Appeal Nolan Bereaux concluding that Wallace and his TTFA executive members had violated the local governing body’s constitution by challenging FIFA’s decision in the local courts instead of before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. ”FIFA welcomes the decision of the Trinidad and Tobago Court of Appeal, which ruled that the former leadership of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) had acted unlawfully by appealing to a local court to contest the appointment of a normalisation committee for the TTFA,” a FIFA statement said. ”Among other relevant legal considerations, the Court of Appeal stressed that in accordance with the TTFA statutes and the FIFA statutes, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) is the proper forum to resolve such disputes. ”The ruling, which has been served to the parties yesterday (Friday), fully recognises the established global football governance structure, which relies on the CAS as the exclusive internationally recognised tribunal for the resolution of sports-related disputes.” It continued: “A normalisation committee was installed in Trinidad and Tobago by a decision of the FIFA Council after it was established that the former leadership of the TTFA had engaged in various acts of serious mismanagement. ”The former leadership of TTFA lodged a claim before the local Courts in Trinidad and Tobago in order to contest the decision of the FIFA Council. “Yesterday’s decision of
the Court of Appeal overturns the first-instance decision of the local Court and concludes that, should the former leadership of TTFA wish to dispute the appointment of the normalisation committee it should appeal to CAS.” The latest move allows FIFA to proceed with the normalisation committee headed by local businessman Robert Hadad, which was put in place last March because of what FIFA claimed were “extremely low overall financial management methods, combined with a massive debt”, leaving the TTFA “facing a very real risk of insolvency and illiquidity”. Wallace, who had only replaced incumbent David John-Williams following elections last November, initially challenged the move before CAS but eventually resorted to the local courts after accusing CAS of “apparent institutional bias”. However, against the backdrop of the High Court’s ruling, Bereaux wrote in his judgement that the TTFA was bound by its constitution to resolve all disputes with FIFA before CAS. “The fact that such a provision is enshrined in the TTFA’s Constitution means that the TTFA and its executive are bound to comply. The result is that the filing of these proceedings was a breach of the TTFA’s Constitution,” he said. ”Having made its choice and having bound itself by its own Constitution to comply, it cannot now act outside of its provisions.” In a further blow, the Court of Appeal also ordered the TTFA to pay FIFA’s legal costs. Only recently, Wallace said if the Court of Appeal ruled against the FA, he would walk away without challenging the ruling before the Privy Council in London. “If we lose this matter, that’s it for me. There is no more appealing,” he said. ”I [would] say, ‘Thank you very much’, and I walk away. There is nothing like that (appealing to the Privy Council). I have no intention of going beyond our court.” In the interim, Trinidad and Tobago remains under a ban by FIFA, imposed last month for a “direct breach of article 59 of the FIFA Statutes, which expressly prohibits recourse to ordinary courts” in disputes by member associations.
Monday October 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
GFF establishes Marketing Ben Stokes’ 107* gives Rajasthan Committee for FIFA World Royals playoffs boost; CSK eliminated Cup Qualifiers and Concacaf Gold Cup 2021 The Guyana stage. Football Federation In an invited (GFF) has appointed a c o m m e n t , Marketing Committee President of the for the Guyana Senior G F F, Wa y n e Men’s National Team’s Forde, remarked: participation in the “ T h e F I FA Wo r l d C u p international Qualifiers and the successes of the Concacaf Gold Cup Guyana Golden 2021 that will be Jaguars over the responsible for past few years promoting the brand of have significantly the Golden Jaguars, elevated the coordinating public profile and engagements, and visibility of our facilitating the flagship brand. We c r e a t i o n o f have seen very c o m m e r c i a l encouraging sponsorship evidence of how investments and this has helped to corporate social promote Guyana as responsibility an attractive partnerships. tropical destination, Ms. Lisa Ahmad The five-member along with the committee, whose mandate consequential will be for one year, is an ad hoc one in positive benefits to the international accordance with Article 56 of the GFF reputation of the GFF. What is critical now, is Constitution and consists of Ms. Lisa that we engage the broader Guyana society Ahmad, who is the Chairwoman, Mr. Dion here at home and abroad in ways that Innis, Mr. Dustanni Barrow, Mr. Roger encourage greater support for the team and Roopchand, and Mr. Orin Walton. identification with the brand. There is also a Commenting on the committee’s role, plethora of commercial opportunities and Chairwoman Ms. Ahmad said: As a sports relationships that will have to be carefully enthusiast, it gives me great pleasure to serve cultivated, leveraged and managed. as chair for this committee, which was set up The GFF Marketing Committee will be with the aim of establishing strategic tasked with the responsibility for developing partnerships with an intent to generate the strategies, policies and programmes to i n t e r e s t i n t h e a r e a o f f o o t b a l l . achieve these objectives. I take this Our TOR is very clear and our mandate is to opportunity to say thank you to Chairperson place the Golden Jaguars at the forefront of Ms. Lisa Amhad and her colleagues for their football not only in Guyana but on the world generous support to Football.”
Giro d’Italia: Tao Geoghegan Hart wins first Grand Tour BBCsport - Tao Geoghegan Hart became only the second British man to win the Giro d’Italia as he took the title in Milan. The 25-year-old won Saturday’s stage 20 to share the lead with Jai Hindley before the final stage, the first such instance in the race’s history. Ineos Grenadiers’ Geoghegan Hart finished 39 seconds ahead of Hindley in Sunday’s 15.7km time trial. “Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine this would be possible when we started,” said Geoghegan Hart. “It’s incredible, really incredible.” Chris Froome is the only other British man to win the Giro, in 2018. Geoghegan Hart is the fifth British man alongside Froome, Bradley Wiggins, Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates - to w i n a G r a n d T o u r . In only his fourth Grand Tour, Geoghegan Hart began the race as one of Geraint Thomas’ domestiques and was in 126th place after the opening stage. Geoghegan Hart described his victory as
“bizarre”, adding: “All of my career I’ve dreamed of trying to be top 10 - top five maybe - in a race of this stature, so this is something completely and utterly different to that and it’s going to take a long time to (Continued on page 21)
Tao Geoghegan Hart pronounced “Tayo Gaygan Hart” - abandoned the 2019 Giro after a crash on stage 13
ESPNcricinfo - Ben Stokes finally came to the party with an unbeaten 107 off 60 balls as the Rajasthan Royals chased down Mumbai Indians’ 195 for 5 with relative ease in the end in Abu Dhabi. The win not only kept the Royals in the race for the playoffs - they are now sixth on the points table with ten points from 12 games - but also brought the curtain down on the Chennai Super Kings’ campaign. Earlier, Hardik Pandya’s 60 not out off 21 balls, studded with seven sixes and two fours, had lit up the evening. But that didn’t prove enough as Stokes and Sanju Samson added 152 off 82 balls in an unbroken third-wicket partnership to take the Royals home with ten balls to spare. Archer snares in-form de Kock early - Quinton de Kock had scores of 53, 78*, 53 and 46* coming into this game. He looked primed for another good knock when he pulled a 149.6kph Jofra Archer delivery for a six to get off the mark. Archer, however, pitched the next ball a little fuller and a bit wider, and de Kock chopped on with an angled bat. From the other end, Ankit Rajpoot was a bit wayward and Ishan Kishan, opening once again in the absence of Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav took full advantage of that. In the sixth over, both of them hit Rajpoot for a six each to take the side to 59 for 1 at the end of the powerplay. Gopal double-strike pulls Mumbai back - The Royals turned to their two legspinners - Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia - after that and the move worked straightaway as the next two overs produced only eight runs. Yadav then tried to take Gopal on by going inside-out but ended up slicing it over point for four. He attempted the same shot on the next ball and this time ended up hitting it in the air towards deep cover. Tewatia charged towards the ball, put in the dive, got his fingers underneath the ball but couldn’t hold on to it. Kishan, who was struggling to score beyond a run a ball, then slashed at Kartik Tyagi. The ball flew towards third man where Archer misjudged it before plucking it one-handed over his head to leave his team-mates
gasping. A couple of overs later, Gopal dented Mumbai further by removing Yadav and Kieron Pollard in the same over. While Yadav holed out to long-off, Pollard failed to read a googly and was bowled through the gate. That was the first time Pollard was dismissed since the opening game of the t o u r n a m e n t . Hardik blitz gives Mumbai powerful finish - Mumbai were 120 for 4 when Tewatia dropped Hardik on the last ball of the 16th over. This was a bit easier than the one he grassed earlier, the only
losing Robin Uthappa in the second over, who mistimed James Pattinson to mid-on, didn’t help. With the Royals 13 for 1 at the end of two overs, Stokes was yet to face a b a l l . But he soon hit his stride with four fours off Trent Boult in the third over. Steven Smith, who promoted himself to No. 3, then struck a four and six off Jasprit Bumrah in the next over before Pattinson bowled him with an inducker. But Stokes hit the last two balls of the sixth over for fours, bowled by Krunal, to ensure the Royals didn’t bog down. The Stokes and Samson show - Stokes
Ben Stokes and Sanju Samson produced a match-winnig partnership ©BCCI differen ce being he was fielding at deep midwicket this time. Hardik made full use of the opportunity and smashed Rajpoot for four sixes in the 18th over, three of them off full tosses. Archer conceded only three in the 19th over but Hardik wasn’t done yet. After Krunal Pandya took a single off the first ball of the final over, Hardik unleashed himself on Tyagi. Standing deep inside his crease, he hit the next five balls for 6, 4, 4, 6 and 6 to take Mumbai to a daunting total, with 74 runs coming off the last four overs. Royals off to quick start despite Pattinson doublestrike - Before this game, Stokes had scored only 110 runs off 103 balls in IPL 2020. Questions were being raised if opening with him was the right thing to do, and if the Royals should move him down the order and open with Jos Buttler instead. The Royals needed a quick start to chase down 196 and
w a s now growing in confidence. In the eighth over, he slogswept Rahul Chahar over deep midwicket for his first six of the season. The next ball was sent past backward point courtesy a reverse sweep. That allowed Samson to settle down as well. While the Royals reached 99 for 2 at the end of ten overs, they still needed another 97. A couple of quiet overs made it 89 required from 48 balls. It was then Samson who took the pressure off Stokes with some timely blows. On 19 off 18 at the end of the 12th over, Samson hit two sixes and two fours in the next two overs to bring it down to 52 needed from the l a s t s i x o v e r s . With both batsmen in top gear by now, that wasn’t a big ask. With Bumrah straying down the leg side, Samson took him for two successive fours and then brought up his (Continued on page 22)
NAMILCO and RHTY&SC continue to carve out empowering relationship
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The Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Team after winning the BCB Ivan Madray T20 tournament. Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao after dominating the field on Sunday
Lewis Hamilton breaks Michael Schumacher’s win record at the Portuguese Grand Prix
GFF establishes Marketing Committee for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and Concacaf Gold Cup 2021 Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8452, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.