Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR NEWS

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

NICIL Head sent packing p.

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Saturday Edition October 31, 2020 - Vol. 14 No.42

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

- failed to protect Guyanese's interests; issued lands without receiving full payments

Online readership yesterday 103.610

Ruling on Exxon’s Liza permit sets - Khusial precedent Health Ministry p.

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Kwebana Lawyers claim approves conditional man died of prejudicial haemorrhage evidence led opening for schools in and shock to conviction new COVID-19 measures - post mortem Gaskin still hopeful Canadian High Commissioner for judicial review Chatterjee leaving of Stabroek contract for Barbados p.

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Neesa Gopaul case…

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Guyana sets new oil discovery record p.

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- now the largest new conventional liquids play in the last decade

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 31, 2020

Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Guyana sets new oil discovery record - now the largest new conventional liquids play in the last decade

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he Yellowtail-2 and Redtail discoveries which were made in July and September respectively have pushed Guyana's recoverable estimate to approximately nine billion oil equivalent resources.

In light of this development, Guyana is now the largest new conventional liquids play in the last decade says Senior Vice President at ExxonMobil, Jack Williams.

The ExxonMobil official made this revelation during the company's third quarter earnings call that was held yesterday.

Williams recalled that the Yellowtail-2 well had encountered 69 feet (21 meters) of net pay in a newly identified, high quality oil bearing reservoirs among the o r i g i n a l Ye l l o w t a i l - 1 discovery intervals in the Stabroek Block. He said it also serves as ExxonMobil's 17th oil discovery in the block.

With respect to the Redtail discovery, he said it was ExxonMobil's 18th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block and encountered approximately 232 feet (70 meters) of high-quality oil bearing sandstone. It was drilled in 6,164 feet (1,878 meters) of water.

In light of this new resource increase, both ExxonMobil and Hess Corporation have confidently

stated that Guyana remains a priority investment asset given its high cash flow returns in a short period of time.

Both are also excited about other development projects which will be coming on board soon. In this regard, ExxonMobil was keen to remind shareholders that the Liza Two project

remains on schedule for 2022 start-up, while noting that the Liza Unity FPSO is under construction in Singapore.

Kaieteur News understands that the first offshore installation campaign is underway. Also in the third quarter ExxonMobil reminded that it sanctioned the Payara project, its third major deepwater

development on the Stabroek Block. Williams said the oil giant anticipates first production in 2024 while adding that the FPSO that will

support the project will have a capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day. He also noted that Payara has a resource base of 600 million barrels of oil. The

FPSO construction for Payara will follow Liza Two, utilizing many of the same contractors and fabrication yards.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 31, 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

The End of America Today marks the final full week of the elections countdown in the United States. On Tuesday, Americans will go to the polls (indeed many have already, taking advantage of opportunity of early voting measures), deciding what will likely be the most consequential American election ever.

Set by law as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, the date has a symbolism rooted as it were in economic/meteorological practicality. The date falls within the final days of autumn or the fall season, set for when the last of the crops have been harvested but before the icy winds of winter extend over most of the massive land space that constitutes the United States. And winter is a symbol for death.

The St. Lucian poet, Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, a sort of subaltern voyager in the American south at the time, would, in 1965, write a poem, ‘The Gulf’ in which he warns of an “air charged with the extremities”, a socio-political situation set to explode due to racial hostilities. This was of course the year of the Selma to Montgomery marches, two years after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and three years before the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Walcott’s analysis of the pending crisis was simple: ” fear/thickened my voice, that strange, familiar soil prickled and barbed the texture of my hair, my status as a secondary soul.

The Gulf, your gulf, is daily widening, each blood-red rose warns of that coming night” What came after – the nebulous interregnum of the 1970s, 80s and 90s – was crowned by the questionable (some have argued ‘compromised’) zenith of the Obama Presidency, when the effete term, “post-racial America” was floated up until the infamous ‘Birther Conspiracy’ – that Obama was not in fact born in America and hence ineligible to be president – caught aflame and in 2016, America elected the chief arsonist of that scandalous bonfire to the Oval Office.And from there, the descent began. Four years later, (fifty-five after Walcott’s poem), the gulf in America has widened to arguably the widest point possible short of outright civil war.

According to an article in yesterday’s issue of The New York Times, high-end stores like Nordstrom and Tiffany are boarding up in expectation of violent unrest, whatever the outcome of the election. Reads the piece, entitled ‘Boarded-Up Windows and Increased Security; Retailers Brace for the Election’:“The nation is on edge as the bitter presidential contest nears an end, the latest flashpoint in a bruising year that has included the pandemic and widespread protests over social justice. Anxiety has been mounting for months that the election’s outcome could lead to civil unrest, no matter who wins. In the retail industry, many companies are not simply concerned about possible mayhem – they are planning for it.”

This sort of hyper-caution by retailers in expectation of post-electoral violence is something Guyanese would be very familiar with – this is something that took place in Georgetown’s central business district earlier this year in the aftermath of our own historically contentious elections, the eventual peaceful resolution of which the American government played no small part in. It is therefore ironic that the most powerful democracy in the world appears to be on an irrecoverable descent into anarchy or despotism with Donald Trump threatening to do essentially as David Granger did, which is to hold on to power after losing an election outright, a loss he seems set to receive consider that he is significantly trailing Democratic contender Joe Biden in the polls at this eleventh hour.

America today is in freefall, weighed down by the gravitational pull of decades of unresolved racial, economic and social baggage, even if Trump loses – indeed, the argument can be made that this would continue especially if he loses. What we may very well be seeing is the effective end of America, as both Great Society and Great Empire, the shining city on a hill becoming the cautionary tale of the Age.

Plaudit for Gafoor Indentureship Institute DEAR EDITOR, The Ameena Gafoor Foundation deserves plaudits for initiating the Indentureship Institute to conduct research on the legacies of indentureship. Finally, there should be a center dedicated to studying issues pertaining to indentured ‘slaves’ and their descendants. The generosity of the Gafoors on promoting the arts and now focusing on the indentureship experience must be applauded.

Al Creighton, a scholar on the Afro Caribbean experiences, is commended for his rare piece on Indian Indentureship informing the public of the launch of this much needed institute that will fund research on indentureship. There is a paucity of research on the indentureship experience. Al Creighton’s works are to be emulated, contributing much to understanding the Afro Caribbean history. He has researched and published extensively on the Afro Guyanese and Afro Caribbean experience including on the Afro indentureds, some 60K of who came to the Caribbean to work on plantations post emancipation but abhorred the indentureship experience which was akin to slavery of their moth and kin. There is no equivalent Indian academic like Al Creighton at UG or in the Caribbean on indentureship or the Indo Caribbean experience. The Ameena institute will hopefully fill the vacuum by encouraging Indian scholars to study the indentureship legacy.

Ameena boasts an impressive record of supporting public service, promoting the arts, and scholarly research work. She is highly respected

by Guyanese in the diaspora

for her work. It is hoped that the Ameena Gafoor Institute on Indentureship will encourage research to fill the void of limited research on indentureship. Such an Indentureship institute is long overdue. No such institute exists anywhere in Guyana or the Caribbean.

There are state sponsored institutes and research projects on the legacies of slavery but none on indentureship or the Indian experience. The governments in Guyana and Ministry of Culture have not been very supportive of programmes or activities pertaining to indentureship. Indentured servants from India accounted for 90% of the indentured labourers in Guyana post slavery and 95 percent in Trinidad. But succeeding governments in Guyana and in the Caribbean have not shown much interest in or been forthcoming on sponsorship of projects relating to indentureship.

Scholars on indentureship tell this writer that an Institute to examine the Indian legacy in Guyana and elsewhere is welcomed. Gratitude is expressed to Al Creighton for using his column to announce the launching of the institute. Al Creighton’s work is to be emulated. He has researched and published extensively on the Afro Guyanese and Afro Caribbean experience including on the Afro indentureds.

And he has been promoting Afro Caribbean arts. There is no equivalent Indian academic at UG or in the Caribbean writing on the indentureship experience or in Indian arts.

A similar research private institute as Ameena’s on Indian indentureship (Global Girmit Institute) was launched in Fiji four years ago by a

group of us doing research on indentureship also known as girmitya labour and we organized an international conference in July 2019 but funding has since dried up. A similar private institute is being initiated by a group of us in Sydney, Australia and New York with our own limited funds.

And a research center is being launched at the prestigious Benaras Hindu University in Varanasi, a project being initiated by this writer and Profs C.S Bhatt and Ghanshyam of India. It is indentureship oriented. The BHU center plans to publish an Indian Diaspora journal similar to the one conceived for Gafoor Institute with the first issue scheduled to be out in December. Articles are still being accepted. The first issue focuses on the legacies of Indentureship, and like the Gafoor Institute, BHU Indian Diaspora Journal would be published semi-annually.

The Gafoors are applauded for conceiving this indentureship Institute. It is fitting to start it now since this year marks the centennial of the official end of indentureship. The recruitment of indentured labourers

ended in March 1917 and the inhumane practice of indentured servitude came to an end on January 1, 1920.

Ameena Gafoor is saluted for her leadership and commitment in conceiving this worthy institute. The institute is urged to provide college scholarships for underprivileged high school students especially from the neglected rural areas to promote research into the history and culture of Indian indentureds.

It is expected that this Gafoor Indentureship project would fund research of new and experienced academics and that it would help to produce budding scholars on the indentureship experience like the internationally acclaimed David Dabydeen, Clem Seecharran, Baytoram Ramharack, Basdeo Mangru, Rhyaan Shah, Gaiutra Bahadur, and Ameena Gafoor, herself, among others. It is hoped that the Ameena Gafoor Institute on Indentureship would also produce outstanding new scholarship (research) and that it would help to make a make a positive impact on Indo-Caribbean people.

Yours faithfully, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

JAMES BOND; MISSING IN ACTION!!!

DEAR EDITOR, Just a brief enquiry...

Haven’t heard from the Political Spy Chief, James Bond, since the US million dollar disclosure or is it a “bust”, which is SO STRANGE as he is such an informative chap to hear from. Come on Jamesie boy, all Guyana is anxiously waiting to hear your outburst, and please bring in the racial overtones of victimization.

By the way, I see that your Party has thrown you under de bus.

I hear other disclosures are to follow, and some of dem “b… biting.”

Best regards, H N Nawbatt

Saturday October 31, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Health Ministry approves 70-year-old male is the conditional opening for schools latest COVID-19 fatality in new COVID-19 measures Works being conducted at schools before opening (Photo Credit: Ministry of Education)

T

The Ministry of Health yesterday announced a 70year-old Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) man as the latest COVID-19 fatality.

The Ministry stated that the man died while receiving medical treatment at a medical facility. The new death brings Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll to 124 deaths.

The Ministry also re-

ported 45 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,143. Information presented in the Ministry’s daily dashboard update shows 10 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, 75 persons in institutional isolation, 740 persons in approved

Formal Apology for Unacceptable Post Made on Facebook To: Justice Claudette Singh SC, CCH Chairperson Guyana Elections Commission 41 High & Cowan Streets, Kingston, Georgetown.

Guyana.

I, Ryan Williams, am writing this letter to as a formal apology for the absolutely unacceptable posts that I made on Facebook on the 9th June, 2020 under the name “Raheem Raahman”. The Facebook account under the name ‘Raheem Raahman’ was created and exclusively controlled by me. The threats to your life were reckless and irresponsible. I made these Facebook posts without thinking about the consequences they would have on the recipient’s life. I take complete responsibility for my posts and wish to convey my sincerest apology to you and your family for the pain and any harm the threats would have caused. The contents of the post were deeply hurtful and I am unreservedly asking for your forgiveness.

Sincerest apologies, RYAN WILLIAMS

home isolation and 37 persons in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, 3,192 persons have recovered from the virus to date and 19,266 persons have been tested nationally.

he Ministry of Health (MOH) has provided for the conditional opening of schools in the newly gazetted COVID-19 measures for the month of November.

Schools will be allowed to open for 2021 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) students, given that all necessary guidelines mandated by the MOH are implemented, to decrease the risk of the virus being transmitted in schools.

Over the past week, the Ministry of Education has been engaged in deep discussions about the reopening of schools with both teachers and parents to come up with

measures and solutions that ensure efficient learning and safety.

In the new Gazette, the curfew was also moved from 9:00 pm- 4:00 am to 10:30 pm04:00 am.

Gyms were also given the green light for reopening; however, a 50 percent capacity must be kept to ensure social distancing.

It was stated that the owners will be responsible for ensuring compliance and if they are found to be non-compliant their establishments will

be subjected to closure.

Restaurants with outdoor dining, delivery services/ curbside pick-up, gas stations, postal and shipping services, salons and barber shops, automotive repair shops and clothes, shoes and book stores can now operate from 4:00 am to 9:30 pm.

Strict restrictions on indoor dining, social gatherings and the opening of rum shops and bars remain.

The gazetted measures will be in effect from November 1 to November 30.

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Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

Neesa Gopaul case…

Lawyers claim prejudicial evidence led to conviction

Lawyers arguing on behalf of Bibi Shareema Gopaul and her former lover, Jarvis ‘Barry’ Small, have raised contentions over what they term as prejudicial evidence led in the trial against the duo convicted for the murder of the Neesa Gopaul. Gopaul and Small have been notoriously linked to the gruesome killing of the 15-year-old Queen’s College student whose partially decomposed body was found in a suitcase submerged in a creek along the Linden Soesdyke Highway.

The body was recovered days after the teen was reported missing. In the suitcase, there was a sheet, black gown, passport and bank card bearing her name. A pair of dumbbells was also found attached to the case.

The dead teen’s mother and her stepfather Small were arrested, tried and sentenced to a combined 202 years by High Court Justice, Navindra Singh for the murder. However, the case which is regarded amongst the most widely publicized in recent years, has become the subject of an appeal.

Both Small and Gopaul have asked the Judges of the Appeal Court to review and repeal their conviction and sentence citing its severity and yesterday, attorneys

Murdered: Neesa Gopaul Convicted: Bibi Gopaul Arud Gossai and Nigel Hughes, who are appearing for Gopaul and Small respectively have raised contentions over the evidence led in the trial, before the Appellate bench which was comprised of Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory.

During their oral presentation, the attorneys pointed to several pieces of evidence, which they believe created a

Convicted: Jarvis Barry Small

prejudicial basis for which their clients were convicted and sentenced.

Both lawyers claimed that the trial judge erred and misdirected the jury on several issues brought out in the trial including the evidence led by the prosecution’s alleged star witness, Simone De Nobrega, who shared a lockup cell with Gopaul. As it regards the issue of severity, the lawyers also relied heavily on a ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the case of Linton

Pompey versus the State.

According to the lawyers, the CCJ in that case had ruled that the trial court should not hasten to pass sentences in matters but should apply the appropriate base, or starting point, before deciding the ultimate sentence.

The attorneys noted further that the prescriptions of the Criminal Law Offences Act identifies 15 years as the base for murder, whereas Justice Singh in imposing sentences for the co-accused started with a base of 60 years each. Added to this, the lawyers noted that the trial judge offered no reasonable explanation for imposing such a lengthy sentence.

Hughes noted specifically that the only evidence led in the trial which allegedly linked his client, Small, to the murder is “a pair of dumbbells which were found submerged in a creek, along with the body of the teenage victim.”

The dumbbells, the lawyer noted, were purportedly identified by witnesses in the trial as the ones that belonged to his client. However, the lawyer pointed out that there was no clear cut evidence that could tie his client to the scene of the crime.

“No one knew how those dumbbells got there. All they had was a pair of dumbbells purportedly belonging to Mr. Small.

There was no evidence led that could have tied him to the crime scene or the crime to properly have him committed for trial in the High Court or to eventually be convicted,” Hughes contended.

Further, the lawyer noted that based on the records of the trial, it is clear that the judge’s decision to overrule an application to sever the indictment resulted in highly prejudicial evidence been led against his client.

In this regard, Hughes cited the cellmate confession of De Nobrega, whom noted spoke to an alleged confession by Gopaul in which she implicated Small in the crime.

The lawyer noted his client was not given a fair opportunity to rebut the alleged evidence of De Nobrega. Similarly, Gossai noted that the trial judge erred in law by admitting evidence which was more prejudicial than probative.

According to him, with regards to De Nobrega, the judge failed to properly caution the jury on the effect of her evidence. He noted that the trial Judge only told the jury that De Nobrega was a convicted prisoner awaiting trial.

“The judge failed to properly caution the jury in that he failed to put to them the fact De Nobrega was facing charges for crimes of dishonesty,” he stated.

Gossai stressed further that while the judge promised to properly guide the jury on the evidence of the cellmate confession, he stopped short in his warning calling on them to only be mindful of her alleged confession.

As such, Gossai held if the jury were given a fair warning that De Nobrega “was tainted by crimes of dishonesty or in Guyanese paradox someone who can con you” they would have been in a better position to decide

whether they believe the story told by De Nobrega or not. The lawyer noted that while De Nobrega testified that Gopaul told her that Barry [Jarvis Small] placed a rope around the neck of her daughter and that she was fighting up and kicking the dashboard as he did this, there was no evidence in the post mortem report of any marks of violence from the neck to the toes of the deceased.

“The learned trial judge directed the jury that the Appellant spent several hours with the other Appellant, Jarvis Small, at a hotel on the same day when she reported that the deceased was missing but failed, fundamentally, to direct the jury that the Appellant had given an explanation as to why she was there with Mr. Small,” the lawyer contended.

In response to the arguments of the two defence attorneys, State Counsel Stacy Goodings noted among other things that the evidence of De Nobrega was not inadmissible but rather relevant and cogent evidence against the accused.

Goodings, who represented the Director of the Director Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the case, noted that trial Judge cautioned members of the jury that De Nobrega, at the time when the story was told to her, was not a convicted prisoner but was awaiting trial and it is not unknown for such a person to place themselves in favour of the police. Goodings nonetheless said that she agreed with the defence lawyers as it regards the severity of the sentence.

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

The government is upset about allegations of Mr. Bond flipping State lands to “shell companies”.

How about the number of “shell companies” working with the major oil operators now, and shell companies involved in the buying and selling of the Canje and Kaieteur Blocks? Is that not bad also?

Should the government not be concerned and do something about those shell companies? Should there not be new laws to prevent this?

Oh, the hypocrisy never ends!

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Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Gaskin still hopeful for judicial review of Stabroek contract R

amon Gaskin says that a judicial review of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) governing ExxonMobil's Stabroek Block operations is necessary, and that he's still hopeful that it could happen.

The activist made these comments during a recent edition of Kaieteur Radio's Petroleum 101.

“It is my considered opinion,” he said, “having looked at and studied it carefully, and discussed it with legal people, that the production sharing agreement is flawed in law… It is illegal. Many parts of the production sharing agreement are not consonant with the laws of Guyana, including the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act.” Gaskin had first advocated for a judicial review of the controversial 2016 agreement, late last year after identifying a series of provisions he determines to be illegal.

Gaskin is of the view that once the Court determines certain provisions to be in conflict with the law, it can strike them down and force ExxonMobil to come to the table to renegotiate those specific clauses.

The contract was signed by former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. The contractors are ExxonMobil/Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (Operator – 45%); Hess Guyana Exploration Limited (30%); and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited (25%). Exxon is currently producing oil at the Liza-1 field, and has received approval to produce at Liza2 and Payara.

From left: Activist, Ramon Gaskin and former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman Here are some of the provisions Gaskin considers illegal.

ROYALTY One of the illegalities, claimed Gaskin, is a difference between the royalty provision of the PSA and that of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act. The PSA states that the contractor shall pay a royalty on the petroleum “produced and sold”. The provision allows the contractor to take as much from the production as is needed for its operations, in terms of fuel and transportation.

On the other hand, Article 45 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, states that the Contractor shall pay “to the Government royalty in respect of petroleum obtained by him in the production area to which the licence relates.”

Gaskin had posited that the Act clearly denotes royalty as being payable on the petroleum “obtained”, instead of specifying “produced and sold”.

“So there's a difference between the agreement and

the Act, on this question of how royalty is to be charged.

The Act is clear. They used the verb 'obtained'. If you obtain it, you pay,” Gaskin said during a forum last year.

being allowed by the contract to self-insure, even though the law does not allow it. Earlier last year,

Head of the Department of Energy, Mark Bynoe, said that discussions had been initiated with Central Bank to ensure oil companies comply with the nation's laws on having a recognised insurance policy.

Bynoe had said that there will be no approval for oil companies to self-insure, explaining that the contract will only allow the Contractor to self-insure if the Minister grants a waiver.

FREE PETROLEUM

Gaskin also has drawn attention to the matter of “free” petroleum for Esso, as International Lawyer

Melinda Janki has termed it.

This refers to the section of the contract that allows the contractor to take as much as it is needed for its operations.

Janki had said that the quantity of the production that the companies are allowed to take covers all the prospecting operations and all the production operations that they carry out. Gaskin said that while the definition of “operations” in the contract is open-ended, operations is defined in the Act differently.

“Operations in the Act do not include those things that the agreement speaks about.” Gaskin had said.

EXCESSIVE BLOCKS Otherwise, Gaskin had raised the issue of Esso being granted more blocks on the licence than the law allows.

A licence should hold a maximum of 60 graticular blocks (a mode of land m e a s u r e m e n t , approximately equal to 5,073 sq. km), according to law, but the licence grants Esso and its partners approximately six times what the law allows. In fact, research conducted by Kaieteur News indicates that almost all the oil companies holding an offshore prospecting licence were awarded, and continue to hold, way more blocks than they are legally entitled to.

SELF INSURANCE There is also the matter, raised by current President o f t h e Tr a n s p a r e n c y International Guyana Institute (TIGI) Fred Collins, about oil companies

Kwebana man died of haemorrhage and shock - post mortem

A

man, Kamal Wilson, 35,who was on Monday ambushed and chopped to death by his own relative at Kwebana Village, North West District (NWD) died of haemorrhage and shock due to multiple incised wounds.

This was confirmed on Thursday by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Kumaka District Hospital Mortuary, who performed a post mortem examination with dissection on the body of Wilson.

The body was then handed over to the relatives for burial.

According to the police

report, the incident occurred at around 19:30hrs.

It is unclear as to why the suspect would want to murder Wilson, since the two reportedly never had any grievances prior to the incident.

Investigators further reported that Wilson was at the time checking his generator at the back of his yard when he was approached by the suspect.

Wilson's father told police that the suspect walked up to his son with a cutlass without any explanation and began chopping him repeatedly to his head, neck and shoulder.

The man added that his son started to scream for help and managed to run into his house shutting the door behind him, while the suspect escaped.

The man claimed that he rushed over to his son's house to assist him and found him lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood.

Wilson was taken to the Kumaka District Hospital, where he later passed away while receiving treatment.

The matter was reported to the police and the suspect was later arrested a n d taken into police custody.

Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Many more people will die T

he government has learnt nothing from the rest of the world. And because of this, we are going to suffer dire consequences.

There is a second wave of coronavirus infections and deaths across Europe. Paris, the capital of France, is now on a lockdown. People are racing to the countryside in order to avoid the restrictions. Supermarkets and stories are being besieged by persons seeking to stock up for the monthlong lockdown.

All across Europe, there has been a resurgence of the co r o n av ir u s . Tig h ter restrictions are being imposed. The less from Europe is clear; it reopened too quickly.

On Thursday, the United States recorded more than 91,530 infections, surpassing the previous day's record total of more than 70,000 cases.

The death toll yesterday was back in the four digits. A total of 1,047 persons died.

Canada has also seen a massive spike in infections and deaths. Their epidemiologists have said that contact between persons need to be cut by 25% if the caseload and deaths are to be curbed.

In Guyana, the number of cases continues to rise. The graph of new infections has not been bent to the right. The number of active cases however is declining since the start of the month but this

Dem

boys seh...

W

e have a more s e r i o u s problem in dis country. De problem bigger than de coronavirus pandemic. It affecting some of dem politicians. Dem suffering from memory loss.

Some of dem sign major agreement. And yet dem seh dem can't remember wah dem sign. But dem remember lots of other things. Dem boys seh is dem memory short circuiting.

Some of dem forget wah dem bin seh when dem bin in de Opposition. Dem promise fuh ensure we get a better deal. Now dat dem deh in power, dem can't remember wah dem promise.

It reminds dem boys

is a moot point considering the low levels of testing and the fact that there may be numerous asymptomatic cases prevalent.

Guyana's per capita infection rate is higher than Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o , J a m a i c a , Ve n e z u e l a , Barbados, Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Cuba, Dominica, St Lucia, St. Kitts Nevis and Grenada. The only countries in Caricom which have a higher per capita infection rate than Guyana is Belize and Suriname.

Guyana's death rate remains unusually high.

There is no evidence of poor treatment involved and therefore the high rate by be indicative of a far higher number of infections that is being recorded. Guyana has one the highest death rates in the Caribbean.

Guyana therefore is not doing well. The country is not yet safe to be reopened. In fact, even the six-phases reopening plan was far too ambitious as is now evident.

We did not need the world to tell us that we reopened too quickly. From the last week in July now, the numbers indicate how disastrous has been the reopening of the economy.

Yet, the government is opening up the economy with a further slackening of social restrictions. Sport is going to be allowed subject to approval from the Ministry of Health. Gyms are going to be reopened and the curfew

will now run from 10:30am to 4:00am.

The new curfew amounts to no curfew at all. As someone said in social media recently, what is the use of having a curfew if there is not going to be any implementation. The Guyana Defence Force was to be involved in a form of soft implementation. They have not only gone soft.

They appear to have disappeared.

With the new curfew hours, the only effective strategy which is left on the table is the wearing of masks.

But this is being flagrantly violated each day. Even some of the persons who are wearing masks are doing so deliberately incorrectly.

They know they are not being allowed entry into some places without a mask and so they are wearing their masks but without covering their noses.

People who are not wearing masks are not placing themselves at so much risk as they are placing y o u a n d m e . We a r e protecting them by wearing our masks but they are endangering us by not wearing theirs. And yet, the government has not as yet seen it fit to pass legislation to enforce the only effective measure which they have in place but which is being poorly enforced.

At present, the majority of persons dying are old people.

This has led to complacency.

Politician suffering from memory loss about a man named Toto who used to go to wedding house.

He used to like listen to dem people wah does mek toast to de bride and groom fuh hear dem jokes wah dem people talking who toasting to de bride and groom. He does listen and when he go to another wedding, he does talk back dem jokes like if was he own.

One night, he listen when a man tell de reception, "The best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman who wasn't my wife!"

The invitees were in silence and shock. The speaker then added: "And that woman was my mother!"

Laughter and applause erupted.

Toto man listen good and the next time he go to a wedding, he decide fuh use this joke. He went with his wife. He got up and said, “The best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman who wasn't my wife!"

You could have heard a pin drop. His wife turned red with anger.

Toto lips started to move again but his memory suddenly failed him. He stood there trying to recall the joke he had heard previously.

After 20 seconds of silence, he said, “And I can't remember who it was?�

Talk half and nah ask dem politician fuh remember wah happen yesterday!

Young people feel that even if they catch the virus, they will not succumb. What they do not realize is that by catching the virus, they risk transmitting it to the members of their families.

The government is slothful when it comes to the coronavirus measures. It is taking a long time to get things done. We hear about antigen tests being ordered.

By the time that gets here, another 40 persons may succumb in the hinterland

regions.

Three weeks ago, we were told that screening was going to be done for the elderly in Region One. Last week, it had not yet begun.

Kwebana, an area in that Region, is now under lockdown.

The government promised to have regional plans for combatting the pandemic. To date, there is only one strategy, directed from central government.

And amidst all this

uncertainty, the Minister of Education is having discussions with stakeholders about the reopening of schools in Region 5. Is anybody following what is taking place in the world?

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Saturday October 31, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

James Bond: On His Majesty Secret Service T

he fact that the local 007 is silent about G$220 million he collected from lands awarded to him by NICIL, then sold, does not mean that '007 at Ocean Eleven' (those at my age would remember that ska hit

by Desmond Dekker; I was 16 then); that does not mean he is guilty.

But why a loudmouthed, pro-violence, politician like Bond would not want to defend himself against some formidable journalistic reporting on events that do not look good for him? In fact, anyone reading those news items in the press would want to

believe that Bond's adventure was not above board. The fictional James Bond always defends himself. The real life James Bond is more and more looking like a sheep.

Here is my take. If the APNU+AFC government could have called in the police to investigate Pradoville 2 then the current administration has to summon SOCU to interview Bond.

What occurred with Bond has no parallel in pre and post independent Guyana. Pradoville 2 is child's play in comparison to the story of NICIL and 007.

How a man could be awarded state lands without a track record of entrepreneurship in agriculture or housing construction or a related business field? Then the lands are sold and the man

collects $220 million.

There is a pressing question about the James Bond drama. Who gave him his licence to make a killing?

My answer is that President Granger had to know about the transactions that were taking place in his government long before 2020 came into being.

This analyst, this academic, this columnist, this social activist, is saying with unambiguous assertion that I believe the president knew what was taking place among his Cabinet subordinates.

When the secret oil deal signing was exposed, Granger was automatically catapulted into the limelight.

Questions began to be asked about his knowledge about questionable transactions.

From the surreptitious oil signing, things began to fall apart and they were falling

apart rapidly. I will advise readers to read between the lines when I use the term, “things falling apart.� I use this term to avoid opening myself to libel.

Readers must be aware that once you accuse any bigwig of corruption in the APNU+AFC house of illegalities and immoralities, you will get sued because they will use the court writ and injunction to stop you from further exposure. By 2017, it was clear to me that APNU+AFC was the most corrupt government Guyana had ever seen.

We were all reduced to fools when we were running around shouting about corruption in the Jagadeo government and Ramotar administration.

With each passing year, I acquired information about massive corruption among certain AFC personnel.

By 2019, levels of corruption in the halls of power had made the PPP ministers from 23 years in power look like a baby taking a chocolate bar at the checkout counter. AFC bigwigs had exceeded the skullduggery of any PPP minister from 1992-2015.

Why was the level of corruption so massive in

2019? The APNU+AFC were uncertain of the election outcome.

I n F e b r u a r y, t h e y received a poll result they had commissioned from a respected pollster that showed no clear winner.

Subsequent professional surveys by both PPP and

Frederick Kissoon P N Cput the PPP in front.

From there on, tensions and anxiety pervaded the APNU+AFC war room.

What happened then is that a vicious land-grabbing operation began within the halls of APNU+AFC. If one thinks that the James Bond land controversy is big, they will get apoplexy when information comes out as to who owns what in the APNU+AFC hierarchy. The

amount in the James Bond saga is 20 acres. That is peanuts when compared to what certain top boys in the APNU+AFC acquired.

What role did David Granger play in all of this?

Can Guyanese still accept the description of David Granger being Mr. Clean? Is it possible that within a fiveyear period, you can have such colossal levels of corruption within the hierarchy of a government and the man at the top of the pyramid did not know? The answer is obvious. He had to know.

To what extent was Granger involved. I am going to stay away from any comment. But I will not let fear of libel prevent me from offering my opinions on a matter of political interest.

Here are two of my opinions. One is I do not believe that whatever shocking conspiracies his ministers were involved in, President Granger did not know. The other is that I do not accept the label that Granger was above the fray.

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

Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Man who threatened - says letter a GECOM Chaircondition for charge apologizes to be dropped

T

he man charged for making a post via Facebook threatening to kill the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice (r'td.)

Claudette Singh and her family, has been tasked with making a public formal apology in order for the charge to be dropped against

him.

The accused, Ryan Williams, 41, of 27 Silver City, Wismar Linden, was charged on July 20, 2020, for using a computer system under the name “Raheem Raahman” to threaten the GECOM Chair and her family between July 13, 2020 and July 14, 2020, at

Saturday October 31, 2020

Ryan Williams letter of apology to GECOM Chair

Wismar Linden.

According to the report, under the fictitious name, Williams made a post stating, “If you Claudette Singh think you will declare fraudulent votes so that the PPP will win, well think again bcuz you and everybody in ur house will f@#$ing dead.” He had initially denied the charge and was released on $500,000, bail.

However, as a condition for the charge to be dropped against him as requested by the Justice Singh, Williams has written a letter titled “RE: Formal Apology for Unacceptable Post Made on Facebook.”

In the letter he stated, “The Facebook account under the name 'Raheem Raahman' was created and exclusively controlled by me. The threats to your life were reckless and irresponsible… I take complete responsibility for my posts and wish to convey my sincerest apology to you and your family for the pain and any harm the threats would have caused.”

During a phone call with this publication, Williams said that earlier this month, he wrote a letter of apology to the GECOM Chair with his phone number attached.

He added that a few weeks ago Singh had contacted the investigators at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters informing them about the conditions under which she would drop the charge against Williams.

H o w e v e r, t h e investigators failed to contact Williams and Singh reached out to Williams herself and told him that she will drop the charge against

him if he makes a public formal apology in the four daily newspapers and a public formal apology on online media websites.

Williams said that after the apology is made public, he hopes the next step is that the charge is dropped against him.

According to reports, Williams is the first person to be charged under the Cyber Crime Act, Section 2, Chapter 19:1(b), “using a computer system to coerce, harass, intimidate or humiliate a person”.

The nature of the charge alleged that, with intent to compel the GECOM Chair to do an act, which she is not legally bound to or to abstain from doing the act which she has a legal right to do, Williams allegedly threatened her and her family by using a computer system to publish or transmit computer data.

The post was circulated on Facebook and the police launched an investigation.

Eventually, the police were able to make an arrest and the suspect allegedly confessed to issuing the threat and claimed that he is a supporter of the A Partnership for National Unity / Alliance For Change (AFC+APNU) party and that he is unhappy with the current situation.

(See full letter in today's letter column.)

Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice (r'td.) Claudette Singh

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 31, 2020

PAGE 13

Ruling on Exxon's Liza permit sets precedent - Khusial D

arshanand Khusial of the Oil & Gas Governance Network (OGGN) has hailed the recent ruling of the High Court on the legal duration for ExxonMobil's Liza Phase One permit as a good step, and an indication that Guyanese can make real positive changes.

The challenge was brought against the environmental permit by former President of Tr a n s p a r e n c y I n s t i t u t e Guyana Inc. (TIGI) Dr. Troy Thomas, as the permit granted several years ago was for a duration of 24 years, when the law only allows for five.

The order, granted by Justice Jo Ann Barlow, has effectively reduced Exxon's environmental permit to the correct period prescribed by law.

“Thanks to Dr. Troy Thomas, Seenath Jairam SC, Melinda Janki, and Pratesh Satram for successfully

challenging the oil companies,” Khusial said.

He indicated that the ruling sets a precedent for positive change in the oil industry, moving forward.

“To echo Ms Janki,” he said, “we need more patriotic individuals like Dr. Thomas to step forward.”

He noted that there are other laws that have been broken when it comes to the management of Guyana's oil industry, and that this court ruling should be taken as a victory, a good signal.

He referred to the recently published book 'Crude Intentions' by Alexandra Gillies, which chronicles corruption cases, which have occurred in the lucrative petroleum industry.

“The book details how corrupt and incompetent politicians disadvantage their own citizens,” he said. “But if there is one glimmer of hope from the book, it is the rule of law prevails when citizens take a stand.

Berbice money changer, vendor robbed at Skeldon market

Robbed vendor: Vibert Dan

A

money changer who plies his trade at the Skeldon Market was robbed for the second time this year while another vendor was also pounced on.

Daneshwar 'Peter' Panalall, 40, of Lot 114 Eliza Mary, Springlands had reportedly just turned up to the market to start his day yesterday when an unidentied male approached him and robbed him of the cash that he had in his possession. Another stall operator was reportedly robbed as well.

Panalall told reporters

Robbed money changer: Daneshwar “Peter” Panalall that it was approximately 7:45 am while he was sitting on a bench in the passageway of the market with another vendor when he noticed a man walk towards them with "a bag across his shoulder".

He said the individual tucked his hand inside the bag and whipped out a gun and then started to "run through my pockets". The businessman disclosed that he had in his possession $500,000 inclusive of $240 US, all of which the robber relieved him of. Kaieteur News also was (continued on page 15)

The Liza Destiny operates offshore Guyana

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Saturday October 31, 2020

COVID-19 has political impact on America's voter turnout

By Kemol King

A

s, November 3, t h e U S Presidential Election date approaches, candidates have had to be cognizant of the effects of

the COVID-19 pandemic on the turnout of voters. It turns out that the persons likely to vote for Democratic Party nominee, Vice President Joe Biden are more likely to wear masks and vote by mail than those likely to vote for

Republican Party nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump.

Dr. Mark Rozell, the Dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, said that polling data has

indicated that much. The Virginia-based political scientist, addressing foreign reporters during a September 21 briefing, said that the statistics has raised concerns.

America is one of the countries, which is worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with nine million reported cases and more than 229,000 deaths recorded as of yesterday. Trump has faced sustained criticism over his administration's general

handling of the pandemic as well as specifically over his personal statements and actions perceived to be downplaying the danger of the pandemic and the importance of taking p r e c a u t i o n s . Tr u m p ' s posturing is likely to have had an impact on the behaviour of his voter base.

To prevent the election from having a dire effect on the spread of COVID-19, the US has systems to at least mitigate the incidence of in-

Political Scientist, Dr. Mark Rozell person voting on Election Day, which revolve around early voting.

States across the US have (continued on page 19)

Zeelugt, Tuschen assured infrastructural works will be carried out

One of the meetings with residents on the West side (West Demerara/East Essequibo) yesterday.

M

inister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, has assured residents of Zeelugt and Tuschen housing schemes that work to improve current infrastructure will commence shortly, following the passage of the 2020 national emergency budget.

The Minister spoke of these plans as he met with residents of these communities on an invitation from the Regional Chairman, Region 3, Inshan Ayube.

Meetings were held in Zeelugt, Tuschen, and Parika, where there was a repeated call for infrastructure development in existing schemes.

While residents lauded the government's effort to working on the development of new housing schemes to meet the housing demand, they noted that several existing schemes are left without basic infrastructure.

Speaking to the issues

raised, Minister Croal pointed out that the community of Zeelugt will benefit from road upgrade works in the coming weeks, under the Ministry's 2020 work programme while the sum of $40M has been committed for road upgrades in the Tuschen Scheme.

Contracts for these works are expected to be signed in the new week, following which works will commence in the preceding week.

These and other communities within the region will also benefit from other social infrastructure development projects, inclusive of the installation of solar streetlights.

Additionally, citizens were also told of the regional authority's development plan for their respective schemes.

These works are expected to fast track the government's housing drive and should aid in reducing the number of occupied lots found in schemes owned by the Central Housing and

Planning Authority.

Meanwhile, persons used the opportunity to raise several other issues affecting them including the need for a health centre to better serve the growing population in these schemes, improved access to potable water as well as improved quality of potable water.

The need for a recreational facility and police outpost in the Tuschen and Zeelugt schemes were also raised. With regards to improved access to potable water, the Minister committed to examining existing systems in a move to find long and short-term solutions.

The Minister also spoke of the government's plan to emphasize better filtration systems for water systems throughout the country. In response to the other issues raised, Minister Croal told residents that these will be forwarded to the respective subject minister for their intervention.

Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

NICIL Head sent packing - failed to protect Guyanese's interests; issued lands without receiving full payments The AG went on to flag the NICIL Head for “Procuring the execution and gazetting the aforementioned vesting orders without first ensuring that payments were made in accordance with the terms of the various agreements executed by the parties.”

Minister Nandlall further mentioned the agency's Head failure to facilitate and procure the necessary NICIL

Sacked CEO of NICIL, Colin Heath-London

C

hief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Industrial Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Colvin HeathLondon, was yesterday sent packing with immediate effect, thereby bringing an end to his two-year employment under the agency.

In a letter to HeathLondon from the Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, it was stated that the NICIL head had failed to protect the best interests of the agency, thereby costing the government to lose billions in investments.

The letter had reminded that the government had retained Heath-London to perform various duties on its behalf, including those related to a Special Purpose Unit (SPU) for the privatization and divestment of identified assets of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

When the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) assumed government, an immediate review was conducted on NICIL and SPU's operations, which revealed “illegalities and serious failures” in the performance of HeathLondon's duties—“all of which were approved or

performed by you, or at your request or under your ostensible authority, which have had a detrimental effect to the governments, NICIL's and the State's best interest,” the letter stated.

These illegalities included, but are not limited to, according to the AG, the issuance of various leases of various NICIL properties located in Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara without public tender, valuations, board approval, Cabinet approval, review by approved NICIL counsel and ensuring that the issued leases contained the standard and customary provisions relating to the termination and non-assignment and other protections to NICIL. Secondly, the AG flagged Heath-London for the issuance of approximately 14 agreements of sale and leased for NICIL land located at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and the subsequent vesting of seven tracts of lands without ensuring that full payment was received for those lands in accordance with the terms of relevant agreement, and without ensuring that the vesting orders issues were drafted by approved NICIL counsel or contained the usual and customary language sufficient to protect NICIL's interests.

Berbice money changer...

From page 13 informed that a vendor was also robbed by the said individual after he pounced on Panalall.

According to that man, Vibert Dan, the individual pointed the gun at him and searched his pants pockets and took "all my change money me does get" along with his cellphone and wallet. He was relieved of

$21,000 Guyana currency.

The robber then escaped and the men contacted the police.

In January of this year, Panalall was assaulted by three men armed with cutlasses and pieces of wood as he was making his way to the market on motorcycle through his street.

The men robbed him of $3M then, but no one was charged in that matter.

account reconciliations in order to allow the Auditor General to audit NICIL's account from 2014 to 2019, these reconciliations being performed within six weeks of the appointment of new management, as well as the “failure to facilitate and procure the auditing of SPU's account by the Auditor General for several years.”

“Your failure in the

performance of your duties a n d r e f e r e n c e d transgressions,” the AG wrote, “constitute serious misconduct and dereliction of duty generally, not only breaching applicable laws and violating policies established by the government and NICIL, but causing NICIL and the government to lose billions of dollars. Your actions also amount to a breach of the

fiduciary duties and duty of care owned by you to NICIL imposed by the relevant provisions of the Companies Act 1991 and generally.”

Heath-London was requested to immediately surrender all government and NICIL property in his possession, including but not limited to his company vehicle, as well as the keys to the premises, which he currently occupies.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Saturday October 31, 2020

Demerara Banks gets US$7M line of credit from IDB for small businesses D

emerara Bank Limited (DBL) has received a US$7 million line of credit from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Trade Finance Facilitation Program (TFFP) to fund small and medium scale business lending services to Guyana's blooming oil and gas sector.

The funds are made available from IDB Invest, a member of the IDB Group serving as a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector.

Chief Executive Officer ( C E O ) o f D B L , Pravichandra Dave at the simple signing ceremony yesterday explained that the line of credit will be extended to those businesses that have no collateral.

“The Trade Facility will be extended to small scale entrepreneurs, small businesses, for the preshipment facilities, preshipment and post-shipment finance.

There are a lot of suppliers to the oil and gas companies who are not able

to provide the necessary collateral to the bank and what we can do now is create a charge over the receivables and we can provide the facility to them,” he told the media.

Additionally, Dave said that DBL aims to provide similar services to small businesses in the Forestry, Mining and Agriculture sectors.

Given the current context of high volatility in international markets and macroeconomic pressures from the COVID-19 health crisis, this line will help support existing industries and new and emerging businesses in sustaining productivity and job creation.

Not only that, the line will also allow increase foreign trade products to its SME clients, adjusting its menu of products to the current context of client demands.

Meanwhile, IDB Group Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen, pointed to the need for private sector development as they play a key role in economic growth.

“We want to support the private sector through this

IDB country representative Sophie Makonnen with Chairman and founder of DBL, Dr. Yesu Persaud; Chief Executive Officer of DBL, Pravinchandra Dave along with a local Investment Officer. arm, which we call IDB Invest,” Makonnen said, adding “We understand that the private sector plays a pivotal role in development.

A strong and healthy private sector is what we see as the engine of growth. It is pivotal for the country to generate investment through employment.”

Echoing similar sentiments was IDB Group

CEO, James Scriven who joined via the Zoom platform.

Scriven added that the IDB Group is willing and ready to assist any banking facility that is eager to provide financial services to the local productive sector.

He said, “This is a starting point for us to prepare the institution to do so much more. We feel that

the consequences of the global pandemic is going to have a disproportionate impact on many people and all our economies and Guyana is not going be an exception to that as well as many other economies so we are extremely pleased to be signing this today.”

IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial

results and maximize economic, social and environmental development in the region.

With a portfolio of $13.1 billion in asset management and 385 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients in a variety of industries.

Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

UN sets six-point climate action plan U

nited Nations (UN) SecretaryG e n e r a l , M r.

António Guterres has laid out a six-point positive climate action plan developing countries could use to rebuild economies impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Secretary-General delivered his feature remarks on Thursday, at the flagship event on the occasion of G u y a n a ' s 2 0 2 0 Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China.

“We need to use the recovery from COVID-19 to put us back on track with the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] and win the battle against climate change,” he told the virtual meeting.

A m o n g t h e recommended actions, the SG proposed an investment in sustainable jobs and services, through a clean and just transition. “Investments must accelerate the decarbonisation of all aspects of respective economies,” SG Guterres said.

He also recommended a clamp-down on polluting industries, advising developing countries against offering any bailouts unless those industries commit to the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement seeks to strengthen the global

- for sustainable COVID-19 recovery response to climate change by keeping global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. It also seeks to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the United Nations Framework on Climate Change says.

To this end, the SG also called for an end to subsidies for fossil fuel saying, “carbon must have a price to deliver a market-driven shift to a decarbonised economy.

Polluters must pay for their pollution that is harming

communities, employees and consumers.”

Countries should also consider climate risks in all their financial decisions and policies. They must work together to better recover from the pandemic, he said.

The transition to a carbon neutral economy must be fair and inclusive, Mr. Guterres stated. “We must leave no one behind. And we must ensure that more women are in decision making positions.”

The Secretary-General noted that the pandemic has already shaken the core of all

developing nations. Due to t h e d i s e a s e , undernourishment has been on the rise, and childhood vaccinations have been gravely threatened.

Education has been severely affected, while focus on other diseases has been disrupted.

The pandemic will see more than 215 million people around the world being pushed into poverty.

The climate action plan could help to reconstruct economies, helping millions of people to get better paying jobs and improving health as

polluting industries will be replaced with clean and efficient economies.

The meeting of the G77 and China sought to raise

awareness on climate actions amid the pandemic, while moving towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (DPI)

PAGE 18

Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

Critically injured Success squatter remains in ICU, others discharged The uprooted tree

A

woman that was critically injured after a tree fell on a group of squatters at Success on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), still nursing serious injuries.

This was confirmed by a senior official at the hospital who also said that the other seven injured persons were discharged.

Kaieteur News understands that the woman is undergoing treatment in the ICU for the serious injuries received, but no specification could be given

regarding what the injuries were. The woman was admitted to the hospital since last week at the GPHC Accident and Emergency Unit after the tree fell and was the only one out of the eight persons injured by the tree to receive such serious injuries.

Police reports stated that

the women were sitting on a make-shift structure near a tree that was situated on a dam running east-west, which was uprooted and fell on the women.

Attempts were made to run to safety, but the tree fell swiftly giving no room for escape. Persons from the (continued on page 20)

Canadian High Commissioner Chatterjee leaving for Barbados

C

anadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee has been appointed as the new High Commissioner for Barbados.

This announcement was made yesterday by Canadian Foreign Minister FrançoisPhilippe Champagne.

Several other new diplomatic appointments were also made during the announcement.

Chatterjee was accredited as Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana in September 2017. She was one of the envoys that played an important role during the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections in calling for adherence to democratic principles and rule of law in the aftermath of the polls.

According to Chatterjee's biographical notes, she started her career as a journalist, and before working at the House of Commons. She subsequently worked for several international nongovernmental organizations, before joining the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in 2003 where she eventually served as Director General, a post she would also hold for Global Affairs Canada. Most

New High Commissioner to Barbados, Lilian Chatterjee recently, she served as High Commissioner in Guyana, with concurrent accreditation as ambassador to Suriname and plenipotentiary representative of Canada to the Caribbean Community.

On her Twitter account, moments after the announcements of the new appointments were made, Chatterjee posted, “Sorry to leave Guyana and Suriname but glad to remain in the (CARICOM) family with my new appointment as High Commissioner to Barbados.

A privilege to represent Canada.”

Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Cabinet moves to reconstitute parole board T

he Cabinet is currently in talks to reconstitute Guyana's Parole Board given that the previous board expired in June this year.

This was confirmed by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn with Kaieteur News last night.

It was reported that the government engaged in discussions about the Board's reconstitution in light of a significant number of applications being sent in by prisoners for early release and since the board expired in June, there was no one to cater to these applications.

Kaieteur News understands that the last prison board functioned from July 2018, with Oslen Small serving as the Chairman.

In the past months, over 300 prisoners were given early release due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was confirmed by Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels and former Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. These released prisoners were mostly incarcerated for assault, larceny and

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels

possession of narcotics.

Prisoners that were incarcerated for more serious offences would have already served one-third of their sentences as required for early release, according to Ramjattan.

Samuels had also disclosed that the prisoners were not only released from Guyana's main prison- the Camp Street Prison, but some were released from the Mazaruni Prison and the Lusignan Prison as well.

It was stated by the former Minister that the previous administration's move to decrease Guyana's prison population with early releases was to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the inmate population at the Mazaruni, Lusignan and Camp Street, Georgetown prisons.

Ramjattan had previously told Kaieteur News that he had signed off on 50 early releases initially, adding that many more were

COVID-19 has political impact...

From page 14 laws which allow for early in-person voting, in-person absentee (by proxy) voting, and voting by mail.

Unlike Guyana, where all but the disciplined services vote on Election Day, US citizens started voting nearly two months before November 3.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, early in-person voting may start as early as 45 days before the Election Day. In Alabama, in-person absentee voting starts 55 days before E-Day. The systems vary state-by-state.

The average starting time for early voting is about three weeks early.

By Election Day, some states will have already received the ballots for just about everyone who intends to vote.

According to an October 30 Axios report, 10 states have already gathered ballots amounting to a

significant portion of the votes cast in the 2016 Presidential Election, namely Montana (91.2%), Te n n e s s e e ( 8 9 . 6 % ) , Washington (88%), New Mexico (87.9%), Georgia (86.9%), North Carolina (85.6%), Oregon (82.4%), Nevada (82.2%), Florida (81.6%), and Arizona (80.4%).

Dr. Rozell said that the political impact of COVID19 is likely to determine how the vote count plays out.

“It's strange that we're talking about the pandemic as having a political impact,” he said, “but it is possible that the election results as they're coming in on election

night will show Donald Trump winning and winning and winning all over the place, but that's based on more of his voters showing up to vote in person… Then as the results come in from the mailed in ballots, his margin is going to narrow, narrow, and perhaps be overtaken by Biden after several days.”

After the in-person votes are counted, some states will have millions of mail-in votes to count.

It is not expected that America will know the outcome of the election on the night of November 3.

The count is expected to take several days.

to be signed off later.

“We have to ease the prisons. So, what we have been doing is checking with the prisons to make sure that most of these prisoners that we decide to release have already served about a third of their sentence and were of good conduct while incarcerated,” Ramjattan had said.

Other measures to curb infection included a complete ban on visitation at prison facilities; however, an alternative was presented by the government which saw virtual visitations through

the use of electronic tablets provided to the prisons. The prisoners were able to contact their relatives, attorneys and members of the judiciary system.

The method is still being used to date with inmates attending court hearings online via applications like Zoom and Skype, ensuring that justice is still served given the restrictions COVID-19 has brought.

Inmates and their families had complained about the overcrowding in prisons. T he daughter of an elderly

man serving time at the Lusignan Prison for attempted murder had stated to this publication that she feared for her father's life since the prison was overcrowded and he is elderly, which poses a greater risk to him. Weeks later, the prison recorded 140 positive cases sending the entire facility into a panic.

Since the government is now in talks about the board, no one has been appointed to serve, but once this is done, more prisoners will be given early release, given that they meet the requirements.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday October 31, 2020

More illegal mining, fishing activities found in Iwokrama's forests

T

he Iwokrama International Centre has reminded that any illegal activities conducted within the Iwokrama Reservation would be subject to the application of the law inclusive of penalties outlined in the Iwokrama Act. This came after Iwokrama staffers along

Mining operation with excavator in a buffer zone at Iwokrama Forest

with full support from the Ministry of Natural Resources Corp of Wardens and the Guyana Police Force, in the week of October 16, 2020, witnessed more intrusions of illegal mining operations, not only in the Iwokrama protected forest, but also in the one kilometre buffer zone on the other side of the Siparuni River.

A discovered mining pit in the Iwokrama Forest These activities, the Centre believes, are being perpetuated by individuals taking advantage of the current restrictions and lockdown protocols established to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Centre would like to once again remind the public and other stakeholders that these activities are not allowed in the Iwokrama Forest, unless the Centre gives express written permission for any of these activities to be undertaken.”

The Centre warned that any person who contravenes

the provisions of the law shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of $100,000 or to imprisonment for a period of one year, “and where the offence is of a continuing nature, to a further fine not exceeding $25,000 for each day during which the offence continues after conviction”.

In September 2019, a miner was arrested for illegal mining in the Iwokrama forest and was placed before the courts.

In May 2020, two 'four inch' dredges were found, although no one was apprehended. Last week, the team noted even more significant damage and clear indications of preparations for further mining in the forest.

The team also noted the burning of large trees, no doubt to aid in felling to enhance mining activity.

Due to the unexpected nature of the operation, the team found itself targetted by gun fire from miners who quickly scampered away into the forest. One arrest was made and the person is

before the courts.

“In the buffer zone, miners claimed,” the release said, “as they often do, that they did not realise that they were in the one kilometer buffer zone and that they received approval to be there following a deal with a miner that had claim at the location.

In this case, there was an excavator and small dredges working the area.

They were given two days to remove from the area as there is absolutely no mining allowed in the buffer zone.”

Iwokrama said it has spent enough time and resources on education and awareness with regard to these illegal activities.

“As such, Iwokrama Management is continuing its zero-tolerance approach to these activities, especially gold mining and other illegal activities.

With the recent support including the acquisition of the high-tech drone funded

by ExxonMobil, monitoring and enforcement operations will be scaled up and the (continued on page 22)

Critically injured Success...

From page 18 area also told this newspaper that dirt around the roots of the tree was dug up, which might have contributed to it falling.

Despite this, the police report stated that no work was being done in the area at the time when the incident occurred.

The police said that the seven other women received minor and serious injuries to the head, feet, arm and other parts of their bodies and they were assisted by law enforcement officers and transported to the GPHC as well.

The other seven

discharged persons were identified as 25-year-old Dallyan Donald; 34-yearold Shevon Bell; 33-yearold Pinky Benjamin; a person whose name was given as “Smart”- age u n k n o w n ; 4 6 - y e a r- o l d Sunita Persaud; Nafeeza Persaud whose age is also u n k n o w n ; 4 7 - y e a r- o l d Nalini Lalland and 40-yearold Sonia Nazir.

The most recent update received stated that some of the injuries, which they are still left with include damaged ligaments, injuries to the back and fractured jaws and legs.

The land on which the

squatters reside belongs to Guyana Sugar Company (GuySuCo) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and is being used to cultivate new cane species in light of the Enmore/ La Bonne Intention Estates set for reopening soon, according to the government.

Information reaching this publication indicated that the tree was located in one of the fields currently being flooded by GuySuCo to “flush out the squatters”, but they have contended that they will not be moving under any circumstances.

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 31, 2020

Giftland to begin supplying GPL's grid from tomorrow

T

he Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) will begin receiving, from tomorrow, a maximum five megawatts (MW) of power from the Giftland Mall.

This was disclosed by Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Operations, Samaroo Ramtahal. Ramtahal said this initiative forms part of GPL's efforts to provide more reliable energy to Guyanese. “ We a r e w o r k i n g aggressively to bring on this five-megawatts of power to the GPL grid because of the generation capacity shortage that we have. From time to time, we have reliability issues, so we are hoping that this five-megawatts would be on stream Sunday,” he said.

The 5MW of power will be added to GPL's Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System.

Ramtahal added that the company is training 12 operators of the Giftland Mall to ensure a smooth transition and operation of the system when it's up and running.

“Today we are in the final stage … We have a full team

GPL's Deputy CEO of Strategic Operations, Samaroo Ramtahal here to provide the training, dot the I's and cross the T's so that when we go live, we have no issues or challenges,” the Deputy CEO said.

Manager of GPL's System Control and Engineering Services, Deryck Phil conducted the training.

Speaking on the importance of the training, he said Giftland was like an island, which supported itself, but when connected, it will be “a different kettle of fish.”

“You have a network of over 140 megawatts of power and they are just five

megawatts. So, coming on to the network, there will be a number of issues. They will have to be able to synchronise … their system with ours. They have to look at load flows; they have to understand the dynamics of the power system,” he explained.

“We are going to have some of our operators spend about two weeks with them to give them a feel on operating the power system,” Phil added.

GPL will be paying Giftland Mall $35M per month for the supply of energy through a Power Purchase Agreement.

Officials meeting yesterday

Education Ministry holds stakeholders meeting on public transportation

T

h e C h i e f Education O ff i c e r, D r.

Marcel Hutson, and his team, yesterday met with representatives of the Guyana Police Force's Traffic Department; President of the United Mini Bus Union, Eon Andrews; Pastor Felix Walker of Route 42 United

Mini Bus Society; Gobin Persaud of Route 44 United Mini Bus Society (UG); Director of the Department o f C o n s u m e r A ff a i r s , M i n i s t r y o f To u r i s m , Industry and Commerce, Muriel Innis Duke; and Senior Consumer Affairs Officer, Kushana Archer of the Department of Consumer

Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

The Special Stakeholders Meeting, according to the Ministry, was convened to discuss transportation service, safety and security of students for the possible reopening of secondary schools for Grades 10, 11 and CAPE students.

PAGE 21

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Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

More illegal mining, fishing activities found in ...

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From page 20 Minister of Natural Resources and the Guyana Police Force have given their full support towards stamping out these illegal activities.”

The team also noted that there were several persons fishing in the buffer zone of the Iwokrama Forest, some claiming to be engaging in sport fishing, yet large seines were encountered within waterways in the Iwokrama protected area, even after being

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told by some of these fisherfolk that they had placed no seines in the area.

“In this regard, Iwokrama would like to remind fisher-folk that the protected area buffer also applies to them and commercial fishing is prohibited in the buffer zone as well.”

Meanwhile, the Centre is offering a reward for any information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of persons involved in illegal activities in the Iwokrama For-

est.

The Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general”.

It brings 20 local commu-

nities, of approximately 7,000 persons, who are shareholders and participants in the IIC's sustainable timber, tourism, research operations and forest management activities through complex co-management and benefit sharing arrangements as well as scientists and researchers engaged in ground breaking research into the impacts of climate change on the forest and measuring the scope and value of its ecosystem services.

Saturday October 31, 2020

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Tender Board opens 300 bids (Part 2) Following the passage of the emergency of Finance (MOF) office on Main and $330B budget, the government is now in a Urquhart Streets.Notable projects included the rush to expend the remainder of funds on —-supply and delivery of 25,000 feet of galprojects before the end of this fiscal year. vanized wire rope for the Demerara Harbour With this, the National Procurement and Bridge; the rehabilitation of ten regular ponTender Administration Board (NPTAB), on toons; as well as the rehabilitation of hinterTuesday, opened ——-over 300 bids for 25 land roads under the Ministry of Public Works. major governmental projects at their Ministry Below are the companies and their bids.

Ministry of Public Works- Rehabilitation of hinterland roads 2020, lots 25-33

Rehabilitation of hinterland roads 2020, lot 17-23

Supply and delivery of precast box culvert to Wisroc site, Linden

New Zealand votes to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill patients (CNN)New Zealanders have voted in favor of legalizing euthanasia for people with a terminal illness — clearing the way for the controversial proposition to become law in 2021.

More than 65% of voters backed the proposed law, according to preliminary results of a referendum announced by the country’s electoral commission Friday.

Lawmakers voted 69-51 to approve the End of Life Choice Act 2019 last year before sending the issue to a referendum.

More than 2.4 million people took part in the poll, which was conducted alongside New Zealand’s general election on October 17. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won the election by a landslide, securing a second term and an unprecedented majority for her center-left Labour Party.

New Zealanders were also asked to vote on whether cannabis should be legalized — 53.1% said no.

New Zealand Electoral Commission information materials on the End of Life Choice (euthanasia) and Cannabis Legalisation and Control referendums.

Official results of the

euthanasia vote will be published November 6, and the law will take effect one year later.“New Zealand has become a more compassionate and humane society. Thousands of New Zealanders who might have suffered excruciating deaths will have choice, dignity, control, and autonomy over their own bodies, protected by the rule of law,” said the ACT political party, whose leader David Seymour sponsored the End of Life Choice Act. The law contains several stipulations for those eligible to receive “assisted dying.”

The person must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident over the age of 18 with a terminal illness “likely to end the person’s life within 6 months”; is in an “advanced

state of irreversible decline in physical capability”; and is experiencing “unbearable suffering that cannot be relieved in a manner that the person considers tolerable.”

They would have to be evaluated by multiple medical professionals, including one from a government-appointed medical practitioner.

Doctors and nurses are not allowed to start the conversation about assisted dying, and health practitioners are not obligated to assist people who wish to die if they have a conscientious objection.

Assisted suicide and euthanasia are only legal in a handful of countries and jurisdictions around the world, including Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Canada.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 31, 2020

Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News Denis Shapovalov

Saturday October 31, 2020

Saturday October 31, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Los Angeles 2028 progress praised during first IOC Coordination Commission meeting

insidethegames - Los Angeles 2028 has been praised for its “great progress” during the first meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission, with its brand launch, youth development funding and venue masterplan among the items discussed.

The IOC said its President Thomas Bach joined the opening part of the two days of virtual meetings, which were led by Coordination Commission chair Nicole Hoevertsz.

Bach reportedly appreciated work carried out by Los Angeles 2028 during the coronavirus pandemic. ”2020 has provided unprec-

edented challenges to the world and the Olympic Movement, but we have demonstrated that flexibility and innovation will be embraced to adapt to the new landscape and deliver Olympic Games fit for a post-corona world,” Bach said. ”We have shown in recent months that we are indeed stronger together.

“This was uniquely illustrated in the launch of the Los Angeles 2028 brand last month – the Organising Committee’s innovative and creative approach receiving plaudits from across the world. ”From its inception, the Los Angeles 2028 project has embedded the very essence

of Olympic Agenda 2020 in all its strategic plans.

“These recommendations have opened the door to leverage the unique level of existing event experience present in Los Angeles and the ability to embrace an event-centred approach to planning and delivery. ”These Games will therefore leave a positive legacy for the citizens of Los Angeles and the United States at large.”

Los Angeles 2028 unveiled its new logo last month, with the digital design featuring an “ever-changing A.” Officials have said this will allow co-creation with members of the public able to design their own version. Los

Saturday October 31, 2020, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your mind could be going in many directions, Aries. Direct your energy toward small projects that require intellect.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) People will listen to you much more than usual, Taurus. Sometimes when you say something, people hear you but minutes later forget what you said.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're apt to disagree sharply with information you receive, Gemini. Perhaps your attitude is a bit selfish, so you aren't able to appreciate ideas that are more humanitarian in nature.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Climactic events are apt to occur in your life, Cancer. It's time to condense and solidify your grand schemes and bright ideas in such a way that makes them more practical.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) It's time to take your communication to the next level, Leo. Expand outward and upward. For the last three weeks you've gone through a serious mental process that has helped you define what you stand for and believe in.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) A new cycle is beginning for you in which you may find yourself throwing away old beliefs and mental processes, Virgo.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may feel like you're on a cliff with your legs dangling over the edge, Libra. You're searching for handholds while your feet struggle to support you on a tiny ledge.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Someone has suddenly put the fan on high, Scorpio, and papers are blowing everywhere. Neat piles whisked into large swirls of chaos. Everyone is shouting opinions about what should be done about it.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Try not to get tangled in other people's words, Sagittarius. It could be that you're accidentally misconstruing their statements because you aren't listening

closely.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) There's a terrific expansive feeling to the day, Capricorn, which you will appreciate more than anyone. For other people, this energy might expand into a headache.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) There might be some unexpected communication coming from a long-lost friend or old roommate today, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) This is one of those days when you just can't wait for someone to stop talking so you can say something, Pisces. It's likely you won't even wait. Don't be surprised if friction results from such strongly held opposing views. that they

are right.

Angeles 2028 unveiled a set of 26 examples – created by celebrities like four-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson and Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon – to coincide with the launch on September 1.

Los Angeles 2028 also announced Delta Air Lines as the inaugural founding partner of the Games back in March . The Atlanta-based airline has since been hit by major losses, due to the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the airline industry.

Los Angeles 2028 has been praised for the brand launch and commercial agreements, with several licensing agreements and more an-

Nicole Hoevertsz chaired the two days of virtual meetings ©Getty Images nouncements claimed to be in the pipeline. ”We’re really pleased with the progress made by the team in Los Angeles, highlighted by the launch of their unique brand and agreements

with a number of high-profile commercial partners,” Hoevertsz said. ”The extensive dialogue we’ve had over the past two days has been very encouraging, reinforcing Los Angeles 2028’s determination to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave a legacy for generations of Americans to enjoy. ”They’ve made a great start and, over the coming years, we look forward to working closely with them, drawing upon the abundance of event expertise within the city and utilising the experience of those within this Commission to deliver truly memorable Games in 2028.”

A tripartite agreement was reached in 2017, which saw the IOC agree to award Paris and Los Angeles the 2024 and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games respectively.

A key part of the agreement was Los Angeles receiving advanced funding for youth development.

The Coordination Commission meeting said the $160 million (£123 million/€137 million) in funding for local youth sports in the build-up to the Games has been delayed due to the pandemic.

Discussions reportedly centred on the next steps for the project.

The venue masterplan was also discussed, with the Games not requiring the construction of any new venues.

It is claimed this will allow Los Angeles 2028 to focus more on delivering an “unforgettable experience for everyone involved in the G a m e s . ” ”Los Angeles is a city that’s always changing and evolving,” said Casey Wasserman, Los Angeles 2028 chairperson.

“It’s a place where creativity and innovation thrive. ”As a world-class sports and entertainment city with a creative edge, Los Angeles is built to host the Games and deliver fans and athletes an unparalleled Olympic and Paralympic experience.”

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Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

Maradona at 60: In search of the real Diego - Guillem Balague column BBCsport The footballing maverick, genius and contradiction that is Diego Maradona celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday (yesterday), a day many of us doubted this most complex of men would ever see.

His has been a life that has hit the very highest of peaks before descending into the deepest, darkest troughs of despair, unable to cope with the adulation that came with stardom and the god-like status bestowed upon him, yet seemingly incapable of surviving without it.

To understand Diego properly you have to know the enigma that is Argentina; a country that needs the Diegos of this world to be the Messiahs that can carry it to the level of greatness of which it considers itself worthy. And to appreciate that this is a man who has lived a story replete with incredible paradoxes, a host of mistakes and subsequent corrections, epic feats and anecdotes about declines and resurrections. Which one is the real Maradona?

Diego the boy from the Buenos Aires shanty town of Villa Fiorito, a prodigiously talented street urchin and man of the people? Or maybe Maradona the god, the myth, the great avenger and the embodiment of the people’s dreams, aspirations and ultimate confirmation that Argentina is the best country in the world? Maybe both are.

In 1968 Francis Cornejo, the coach of a youth side affiliated to Argentinos Juniors that he called Cebollitas (little onions) had to travel to Villa Fiorito to check the kid’s age on his ID. “He’s tiny, there’s no way he’s eight,” was his stunned reaction as he watched him play in a trial.

His mother Dalma Salvadora Franco confirmed his age by showing them Diego’s birth certificate from Evita Hospital. Francis had just performed the footballing equivalent of striking oil. He had found a gem that could slot into his side. From March 1969 onwards, the team did not tire of winning, recording a 136game unbeaten run.

In his youth, Maradona’s dad, or as his friends called him Chitoro, piloted a ferry that moved cattle from village to village and later on he went on to work in a chemical factory, where he barely earned enough to make ends meet for his large family in the shanty town where they lived.

The success of his son, the fifth of eight children, meant

that apart from becoming the “king of the barbecue”, he would never work again. By the time Diego was 15 he had already become the head of the family and told his dad to be by his side.

From an early age Diego learned that leadership was a natural step forward, particularly when there was a vacuum to fill, no matter what your age. “We went to play in Brazil,” recalls team-mate Ruben Favret who, like the rest of the squad, played midweek friendlies in Argentina and abroad to take advantage of Maradona’s pull. ”It was the era of the colour television and we all wanted to bring one back. But we had not been paid our bonuses.

Diego, who was 18, stood up for everyone and told Consoli [the president of

out in front of the Spanish king in the Copa del Rey final which led to a five-month ban from domestic competition, his fate was all but sealed.

In fact, he was close to bankruptcy at that point and a move, with new financial incentives, was a necessity.

Also, he never adapted to life in Catalonia, where he was made to feel an outsider.

Two months later he signed for Napoli, where he would enjoy his most successful and ultimately most punishing times. The move to this noisy, crowded, overheated goldfish bowl of an existence - in which the Neapolitan criminal organisation, the ever-present Camorra, were involved from the start - was the moment Diego the kid from Fiorito became Maradona the brand.

Napoli have won Serie A twice and lifted one European trophy (the Uefa Cup) - all in Maradona’s time at the club.

Argentinos] that if they didn’t pay us, he wouldn’t play.”

A complicated, convoluted move to Boca Juniors followed, mostly orchestrated

by Maradona himself who revealed - incorrectly - to a friendly journalist that talks to sign him from Argentinos were at an advanced stage.

It kick-started the first great media-led transfer in history, for what was then a still fairly green 20-year-old. The deal morphed into the surreal.

What began as a straight purchase for the not inconsiderable sum of $10m became a last-minute loan using six Boca players, some cash and dodgy cheques as collateral.

Nothing was simple or straightforward when it concerned Maradona.

Barcelona, where he went next, never saw the best of him. Of the two years he spent there he was out ill or injured for about half of that. He suffered an appalling ankle injury after a dreadful tackle from Athletic Club’s Andoni Goicoechea and then, when he became the main protagonist in a massive brawl played

Suddenly he was more the character than the kid, falling in love with the notion of being Maradona, lapping up the glory and adulation yet always fully aware of just how asphyxiating the whole situation was.Cocaine became his new reality, a place of excitement higher than he had ever been before; his drug of choice removed him from the

demanding realities of having to constantly demonstrate that you are the best player in the world.And in between it all came the moment that confirmed his status as something much more than merely a great footballer. How would things have transpired if Argentina had failed to beat England in the “Hand of God” match in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the “revenge” four years on of the defeat in the Falklands War? That match served to grant him immortality in the eyes of his country. My latest project is a biography on Diego, up until his retirement as a footballer. The rest is too personal and unsavoury. In order to write it, I had to go back to where it all started, to Villa Fiorito. No-one would take me. It was my last day in Buenos Aires in early 2020, and eventually I managed to persuade a very nervous taxi driver who had picked me up on my arrival to drive there.

We travelled in a nervous silence. The houses started to be small boxes, surrounded by uneven paving with halffinished fences or filled with neglected plants. Rubbish bins were parked outside the tired small gardens and children were kicking a ball about barefoot.The street narrowed and it became an uneven dirt road. I guessed possibly not much had changed since that first trip Cornejo had done with Diego to find out his age.

We turned right. A man was walking down the middle of the narrow road to avoid the mountains of rubble that had piled up on the pavement.

Without stopping and having barely wound down his window, the taxi driver asked with an apologetic tone for Diego’s house. “Over there, 200 metres away.” He stopped the car outside Maradona’s first home, but kept the engine running.All the plants were overgrown. It was halfway

Maradona inspired Argentina to victory at the 1986 World Cup.

through the afternoon. Towards the back, you could make out a shabby bungalow that had a shadow cast over it. A man in a white vest swiftly got off his rocking chair. “What are you looking for?” “Nothing, sir. My friend here just wanted to see...” responded the taxi driver while putting the car in gear and driving off at speed. On the left I saw a dirt pitch with a single goal.

There is not one sign en route to that spot that signals the history of the area and its most famous inhabitant. And there is absolutely no intention to turn it into a tourist attraction.

Nobody likes to showcase its miseries.

In reality this was Diego’s home; Maradona, the man the boy grew into, never lived there 60 years ago. In fact, it is difficult to find what is left of that kid these days. Now manager of Argentine Primera Division side Gimansia de la Plata, he has never been able to abandon the big stage.

His life after he retired as a footballer is complex to say the least - it is common knowledge that he has at least 11

children, and his relationship with his former wife, Claudia Villafane, ended up in court, as happened with his agent and close friend Guillermo Coppola.He has managed a few clubs (he is adored in Sinaloa, the Mexican team he led between 2018 and 2019) after failing to impress in charge of his nation from 2008 to 2010. But he has never come close to reaching the same heights as a manager that he did as a player.

He says he stopped consuming cocaine three years ago but the medication he takes leaves him in a state of sedation. That, his excessive weight from liking the high life, and the numerous operations from having played at a time when football artists were neither respected nor protected, explain his physical difficulties.

Maradona, who admits he feels no remorse for his actions, always understood that life had to be lived to the full.

That is why, now at 60, with an accumulation of experiences of someone much older, he can consider himself lucky to be alive. And he will celebrate daily that he is.

Diego Maradona’s second goal against England at the 1986 World Cup is considered one of the greatest of all time.

Saturday October 31, 2020

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Nobby Stiles: World Cup winner and former Man Utd midfielder dies aged 78 BBCsport - World Cupwinning England midfielder Nobby Stiles has died aged 78 after a long illness. The former Manchester United player had prostate cancer and advanced dementia.

Stiles is the seventh member of the England team that started the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany to die, after captain Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, Ray Wilson, Gordon Banks, Martin Peters and Jack Charlton.

Manchester-born Stiles was made an MBE in 2000. A statement issued by his family said: “The Stiles family are sad to announce that Nobby Stiles passed away peacefully today surrounded by his family after a long illness.

“The family kindly ask for privacy at this sad time.”

Stiles won 28 caps for England and played a key role in neutralising Portugal star Eusebio in the 1966 semi-final, before another fine showing in the dramatic 4-2 extratime win over West Germany. ”Hugely sad to hear Nobby has passed away,” said Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick in the final. “Great

character, and the heart and soul of the team, he will be sorely missed.” At club level, Stiles won two English league titles and the 1968 European Cup during an 11-year career with Manchester United.

He made almost 400 appearances for the Red Devils between 1960 and 1971, going on to play for Middlesbrough and Preston North End before retiring in 1975. He moved into management with Preston between 1977 and 1981, then had a brief and unsuccessful spell in charge at West Bromwich Albion during the 1985-86 season.

In 1989, United asked him to return as youth team coach, and he helped develop players such as Red Devils legends Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. “Rest in Peace Nobby. Thank you for all you did for us. You taught us how to fight for everything in that red shirt,” said Neville. ”Saddened to hear that Nobby Stiles has passed away,” said former England striker Gary Lineker. “Another of our 1966 World Cup winning heroes leaves us. He had a heart that was even bigger

than the gap in his teeth. RIP Nobby.”

The England national team said they were “incredibly saddened” to learn of Stiles’ death and that “all of our thoughts are with Nobby’s loved ones”. Former Manchester United goalkeeper and Stiles’ team-mate Alex Stepney said the midfielder was “a real diamond”. ”A lot of people thought that he was just a hard man, but in a team there are certain times when a player has to mark someone for 90 minutes and Nobby could do that immensely,” he told BBC Sport.

“We saw that with Eusebio in 1966. He could read the game tremendously well and knew it. ”He would tell me off during a game if I made a mistake. If he told you, you didn’t do it again. He just wanted to be a winner.

“Manchester United was in his heart and they were his team.”

After leaving Old Trafford in 1993, Stiles became a popular after-dinner speaker.

But he moved away from the

Nobby Stiles was a key part of England’s World Cup-winning team in 1966 public spotlight as his health deteriorated - he had a minor stroke in 2010, and was then diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and prostate cancer.

In 2010, he sold his World Cup and European Cup medals, which Manchester United bought for a combined total of more than £200,000.

A road was named after him in Collyhurst - the inner-city area of Manchester where he grew up - in May 2016. In a

BBC documentary screened in 2017, Stiles’ son John told former England captain Alan Shearer he was “utterly convinced” heading a football was responsible for his father’s dementia.

Former Preston and Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson said Stiles “more than anyone made me into a player at Preston - absolute gentleman as well.

Love to the family, a very

sad day”.

Preston said that everyone at the club is “saddened to learn of the passing of former player and promotionwinning manager Nobby Stiles - our thoughts are with Nobby’s loved ones at this incredibly sad time”.

Middlesbrough paid tribute to “the toothless tiger” and called Stiles “one of the most colourful characters ever to wear our shirt”.

Guyana Golf Association hands Dimitrov upsets Tsitsipas over Check to Cancer Institute in Vienna As Cancer Awareness month ends, The Guyana Cancer Institute received a check from the Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and Nexgen Golf Academy to help in the fight against a disease that affects so many families and friends.

This was as a result of the event held at the Nexgen Golf Academy and Driving Range over the past week in an effort to raise funds and Awareness. Since 2017, with the participation of local and Guyanese-Canadian players, the Lusignan Golf Club and GGA have been supporting the efforts of the Cancer Institute and plan to continue to use the sport to bring awareness and raise funds.

On hand for the presentation to Monette Harry of the Cancer Institute was former President and Prime Minister Sam Hinds who said that he was pleased to be part of both the golf event and the fight against cancer.

“I have always been a strong advocate of the search for a cure and am happy to see that this young organisation has stepped up to play a role in this particular issue. Both I and young

Marcus (Hinds) participated in the event but unfortunately did not win.”

Mr. Hinds, who was recently introduced to the game by GGA President Aleem Hussain, is now using the sport as a way of bonding with his young grandson, Samuel Marcus Hinds, Jr. as well as getting regular exercise. ”This is an opportunity for everyone to participate in a physical activity that is covid19 compliant and helps to relieve stress and improve concentration. I wish that I could have started years ago,” said the former President/Prime Minister.

Harry thanked the organisation and especially the players and companies that participated to make the event a success.

“We understand that it was a challenge to organise a covid compliant event and are grateful to all those who took part, and contributed in whatever manner to our ongoing efforts to win our battle against cancer.” ”In many ways, we have been prepared for our current fight against the covid-19 virus by our constant battle against cancer.”

The contribution to the Guyana Cancer Institute was made possible by the joint efforts of: CIMGRO Maraiko Bay Golf Resort, Trophy Stall, Assuria General, Sissoons Paint, AR Printery, Survival Shopping Complex, Guyana Beverages, Vivaanta Spa and Salon through the Nexgen Golf Academy and Driving Range.

Recently, Sports Minister Charles Ramson said in a meeting with GGA President Aleem Hussain that we must learn to live with covid and figure out a way to move forward in a manner that allows us to continue our lives without fear.

“We should plan for the worst, pray for the best but always live for the moment because the memories we create are all that we leave behind,” said Hussain.

Hussain reminded that it was former American sportscaster (the late) Stuart Scott who said, “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live,” adding that we have to adopt a similar attitude to our current health crisis.

Field Level Media - Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria recovered from a one-set deficit to knock off third-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (5), 64, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, Austria.

Dimitrov outplayed Tsitsipas over the final two sets to earn a spot against Brit Daniel Evans, who registered a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Austria wild card Jurij Rodionov. Secondseeded Austrian Dominic Thiem, the defending champion, also moved on with a 63, 6-2 triumph over Chile’s Cristian Garin.

Thiem next faces fifth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev, who was leading 2-1 in the opening set when Italian wild card Jannik Sinner retired with a right foot injury. In other matches, fourth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev defeated Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; and Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego beat Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (6), 7-6 (2).

Astana Open - Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan staged a strong rally on Thursday to post a 6-7 (4), 76 (2), 6-1 victory over topseeded Benoit Paire of France in a second-round match at

Grigor Dimitrov Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

Paire was two games away from a straight-set victory before Kukushkin recovered from a 4-1 deficit to win the second set. Kukushkin then dominated the final set to seal a quarterfinal berth.

Kukushkin next faces Finnish qualifier Emil Ruusuvuori, who recorded a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 win over eight-seeded Australian Jordan Thompson. In other matches, third-seeded Frenchman Adrian

Mannarino sailed to a 6-1, 61 victory over Japanese qualifier Yuichi Sugita, and American Mackenzie McDonald prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 over Italian wild card Andreas Seppi.

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Valcke receives 120-day suspended sentence as Al-Khelaifi acquitted in FIFA corruption trial insidethegames - Former FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke has received a 120-day suspended prison sentence and beIN Sports chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi acquitted as the verdict of their 10-day trial was announced. Valcke had been charged with accepting bribes, multiple counts of aggravated criminal mismanagement and falsification of documents in connection with the awarding of media rights for various FIFA World Cups and Confederations Cups.

Al-Khelaifi, a member of the UEFA Executive Committee and President of French club Paris Saint-Germain, had been charged with inciting Valcke to commit aggravated criminal mismanagement.

He was alleged by the prosecution to have given Valcke, who was banned from football for 10 years by FIFA, exclusive use of a luxury villa in Sardinia, which they claimed was linked to beIN Sports extending its Middle East and

North Africa broadcasting rights for the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cups.

Prosecutors requested a 36month prison sentence for Valcke and a 28-month term for Al-Khelaifi. Both denied the charges. Valcke, FIFA’s secretary general for eight years before he was sacked when the corruption allegations emerged in 2015, has been ordered to pay world football’s governing body €1.75 million (£1.6 million/$2 million) plus interest.

The Frenchman, a former journalist, was cleared of the most serious corruption charges. He was found guilty of forging documents relating to Italian and Greek World Cup rights. Following his acquittal in the first FIFA corruption court ruling in Switzerland, Al-Khelaifi described the verdict as “a total vindication”.”After a relentless four-year campaign against me that ignored the basic facts and law at every turn - I have finally, fully and

completely cleared my name,” he said in a statement.

“Today’s verdict is a total vindication.”It restores my faith in the rule of law and in due process, after four years of baseless allegations, fictitious charges and constant smears of my reputation - all of which have been proven to be completely and wholly unsubstantiated. ”I can now devote all my energy to my various roles, which are all focused on building a positive future for world sport - at a time when the industry needs strong leadership the most.” AlKhelaifi’s defence had argued the rights in question were not undervalued, that the villa never belonged to AlKhelaifi and there is no evidence of him inciting or encouraging Valcke to do something illegal.

The defence had also argued the trial was “muddied” by allegations of collusion between Swiss prosecutors and football’s world governing

Nasser Al-Khelaifi said the charges against him had been “baseless allegations” following his acquittal ©Getty Images. body FIFA. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Switzerland’s former Attorney

General Michael Lauber were both charged with “obstructing criminal proceedings” in

Jérôme Valcke July. Lauber resigned from his post because of the allegations.

Vuelta a Espana: Primoz Roglic retakes lead with third win on stage 10 Primoz Roglic has now won four Vuelta stages and 10 Grand Tour stages in total in his career.

Mohamed confirms 2021 calendar Just two events were able to be contested from the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) 2020 calendar namely the Endurance Championship Meet Round 1 and the Race of Champions Round 1 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

However, as measures are gradually being relaxed, the GMR&SC are optimistic that 2021 will be a smoother ride and President Rameez Mohamed has confirmed that a 2021 Calendar has been approved.

The calendar features 13 events as was the case this year and will open with the customary Endurance Championship Round 1 which will shift into gear (pending approval) on January 24.

The second and final round will boost off on May 8 and hopefully, fans may get to witness live whether or not multiple time reigning champion Adrian Fernandes or Team Ramchand Wreckers will retain his crown.

On St. Valentine’s Day, Drag racing will return to the South Dakota strip which has undergone tremendous work during the pandemic and records are expected to be broken on the smoother, more leveled surface.

The much subscribed International Drag Race Meet is set for August 15 and some keen rivalry is anticipated with many drivers from Trinidad & Tobago already signaling their interest to the GMR&SC of competing as soon as possible. The 2021 drag racing season will conclude with its third and final meet on October 3.The GT MotorSports Karting Championships will have four rounds next year with the dates set being March 13, April 24, July 17 and August 21. Round one of the National Race of Champions (Circuit meet), is slated for March 28 at South Dakota where Team CAMS of North America is expected to have a large contingent being spearheaded by Afraz Allie. July 4 is the day for Round Two of the circuit championship will get underway while the popular International Circuit Meet which usually serves as the final round of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) will have high octane energy on November 7 to close off the season.

Mohamed, in an invited comment, urged motor racing fans and competitors to remain patient and to exercise the right safety measures as the fight against covid-19 continues.

Bikes in action during a circuit meet on 2019.

BBCsport - Primoz Roglic retook the overall lead in the Vuelta a Espana from Richard Carapaz with victory on stage 10.

The Slovenian defending champion kicked clear of his rivals in the final 150m of an uphill sprint finish to claim his third stage win of the race.

He finished three seconds ahead of Carapaz and took 10 bonus seconds for victory, meaning the pair are tied on time.

But Roglic takes over the leader’s red jersey on better stage placings so far.

Britain’s Hugh Carthy was caught on the wrong side of a late split and lost 10 seconds, meaning the EF Pro Cycling rider is now 51 seconds back in fourth. ”I’m back in red but it doesn’t really change things for my team,” said Roglic, who took the first leader’s jersey of the race before losing it to Carapaz on stage six. “We

need to keep the momentum going - we have a weekend in the mountains, it will be fun to watch and we’ll do our best.”

The 185km route from Castro Urdiales to Suances was expected to be contested by the sprinters but the 4.5% average gradient in the final kilometre proved steep enough for a wide variety of riders to compete for the stage.

Guillaume Martin launched a strong attack before he was reeled in and Ineos Grenadiers’ Carapaz came to the fore, only for Jumbo-Visma’s Roglic to time his jump perfectly to take the win, adding to his victories on stages one and eight.

Bora-Hansgrohe’s Felix Grossschartner took second just ahead of Andea Bagioli of Deceuninck-Quick-Step, whose sprinter Sam Bennett was dropped with 27km to go.

Ireland’s Dan Martin finished

seventh and is now 25 seconds down in third overall.

Saturday’s (today) stage 11 is a tough mountainous route that ends with a summit finish on the Alto de la Farrapona, before Sunday’s stage 12 culminates in the brutal climb of L’Angliru.

Stage 10 result: 1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Jumbo-Visma) 4hrs 14mins 11secs 2. Felix Grossschartner (Aut/BoraHansgrohe) Same time 3.

Andrea Bagioli (Ita/ Deceuninck-Quick-Step) 4.

Alex Aranburu (Spa/Astana) 5. Robert Stannard (Aus/ Mitchelton-Scott).

General classification after stage 10: 1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Jumbo-Visma) 40hrs 25mins 15secs 2. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time 3. Dan Martin (Ire/Israel Start-Up Nation) +25secs 4. Hugh Carthy (GB/EF Pro Cycling) +51secs 5. Enric Mas (Spa/ Movistar) +1min 54secs.

Saturday October 31, 2020

Tokyo 2020 confirms refund process for Olympic and Paralympic Games insidethegames Ticketholders residing in Japan will be able to request refunds for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games from November 10 to 30. Tokyo 2020 confirmed their refund policy for the Olympics and Paralympics following the rescheduling of the Games to 2021.Tickets for the postponed Games will be valid for 2021, but Tokyo 2020 will offer refunds to fans who are no longer able to attend.

Organisers confirmed the expected process, which will allow fans to apply for Olympic ticket refunds next month before ticketholders for the Paralympic Games are able to do likewise in December.

The window to request refunds on Olympic tickets will be between November 10 to 30. The Paralympic window will take place from December 1 to 21. This will only apply to ticketholders living in Japan.Organisers said the process differs for ticketholders outside of Japan, who purchased tickets through Authorised Ticket Resellers (ATRs). Each ATR will have their individual refund procedure.

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. 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

Refunds for Olympic tickets will be accepted from November 10 to 30 ©Getty Images 5.The competition schedule for 2021 mirrors the schedule planned for 2020 and events will take place at the same venues. 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. Tokyo 2020 said an additional refund phase could be possible if there are further changes in circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This could be caused by lingering uncertainty over whether fans will be permitted to attend the Games because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Several Japanese sporting events have taken place in recent months with specta-

tors permitted, albeit with limited numbers.

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.

The return of spectators has sparked hope that next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games will not be held behind closed doors.

Top two seeds Djokovic, Thiem ousted in Vienna Open quarters Vienna (Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic and U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem crashed out of the Vienna Open in the quarter-finals on Friday, with both top seeds beaten in straight sets by Lorenzo Sonego and Andrey Rublev respectively.

Djokovic, who had a 39-2 record this year, failed to convert a single break point in a 6-2 6-1 loss while Sonego broke the Serb five times for the biggest win of his career.

Sonego’s first top-10 victory capped a dream week for the 25-year-old, who lost the final qualifier but entered the main draw as a lucky loser. ”For sure it’s the best victory of my life,” Sonego said in an on-court interview. “I played so, so good today. I like this tournament, I like the conditions here. It’s unbelievable.”

Djokovic said knowing that he had already secured the year-end number one spot in the rankings affected his per-

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Novak Djokovic AP Image formance and the 33-yearold, who will not be defending his Paris Masters crown, is already looking forward to the season-ending ATP Fin a l s . ”I’ve done what I needed to do and why I came here. I move on completely fine with today’s result and looking to the next chapter,” Djokovic

said. “I’m healthy and looking forward to a strong finish in London.”Earlier, Russian Rublev ousted defending champion Thiem 7-6(5) 6-2, firing 30 winners and saving both break points he faced.

With neither player dropping serve in the opening set, it was Rublev who managed to swing the momentum his way in the tiebreak with what he described as “two unreal rallies” at 4-3 before early breaks in the second allowed him to seal the tie.

Rublev is seeking a Tour-leading fifth title of the year having won in Doha, Adelaide, Hamburg and, most recently, St Petersburg earlier this month. “I came here with the mood that I have nothing to lose,” Rublev said. “I already (had) a really great season. ”I came here with zero expectations, just to do my best. To try to fight every match. At the end, I am here in the semifinals.”

‘Oh, man!’ Chris Gayle climbs another mountain, becomes first to hit 1000 T20 sixes ESPNcricinfo - When Chris Gayle tonked young Kartik Tyagi over the lengthy leg-side boundary for his seventh six of the night, for the Kings XI Punjab against the Rajasthan Royals, it took him up to an incredible 1000 career sixes in T20 cricket, the first to get to the mark. Already more than 3000 runs in front of Kieron Pollard when it comes to most runs in T20s, Gayle has - again - gone where no man has in the shortest format, stretching his lead at the top of the sixes’ chart to 311 by the time he finished up, with Pollard second at 690. ”A thousand maximums - another record? Oh, man,” he joked when asked about the achievement on Star Sports.

“I don’t know, I just have to give thanks. Have to give thanks for hitting it well at age 41. A lot of dedication and hard work has paid off over the years. Still here, still doing it, same way. Very

grateful.”Here’s a look at Gayle’s incredible achievement, through numbers.

1001 - Sixes for Gayle in T20s.

His first six came playing for Jamaica against Bermuda in the Stanford 20/20 in 2006. He has 1041 fours in the format too, just 40 more than his number of sixes.

349 - Number of sixes by Gayle in the IPL, which are the most by a batsman in any T20 league. He also has the most sixes in the CPL (162), Bangladesh Premier League (132) and T20 World Cup (60).

263 - Sixes by Gayle for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the most he has hit for a single team, followed by 124 for the Jamaica Tallawahs, and 105 sixes for West Indies (in T20Is).

61 - Sixes Gayle has hit against the Kings XI Punjab, his most against a single opposition. He has also smashed 84 sixes for Kings XI since he joined them in 2018.

135 - Sixes hit by Gayle in 2015, his most in a calendar year. He next best is 121 in 2012. Overall, he has hit 100plus sixes in six different years - 2011 to 2017, barring 2014.

18 - Most sixes by Gayle in a T20 match, for the Rangpur Riders against the Dhaka Dynamites in the BPL final in 2017. He hit 17 sixes in his knock of 175* for the Royal Challengers in 2013. No other batsman has hit more than 16 sixes in a T20 match.

17 - Sixes for Gayle against Dwayne Bravo in T20s, his most against a single bowler.

He has hit 12 sixes against Imran Tahir and 11 each against Piyush Chawla, Rashid Khan and Shahid Afridi.

18 - Number of times Gayle has hit ten or more sixes in a T20 match. No other batsman has done it more than three times - Evin Lewis, Andre Russell and Shreyas Iyer.

Cricket South Africa: Haroon Lorgat back on interim board BBCsport - Former Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Haroon Lorgat was on a nine-man interim board given the task of restoring the image of the scandal-tainted organisation.

The 60-year-old ex-International Cricket Council chief executive led South African cricket for four years from 2013 before departing after a breakdown in his relationship with the national body.

Administrative crises led to the entire board resigning earlier this week and the nine replacements headed by a judge, Zak Yaqoob, have been given a three-month tenure. Sports minister Nath Hetherward, who announced the stand-in board, said the members were “men and women with a range of skills in law, governance, business and international relations”. ”We think that within three months they would have delivered, especially because this is a group of people who would know what to do.”

Jacques Ful, who was temporarily chief executive, said this week that cricket in South Africa had lost credibility and those in leadership positions were responsible. ”People do not trust us (cricket officials) to do the right thing and I do not think credibility will come back overnight. “A lesson we have learnt from this mess is that officials must love the game and have an understanding

Haroon Lorgat has been asked to return to help restore the image of Cricket South Africa. of sport and cricket rather than be interested only in personal gain. ”Hopefully we now have people who are willing to serve cricket and help the sport get its credibility back.”

Months of disarray - Ful had stepped in to replace former chief executive Thabang Moroe who was blamed for much of the CSA mismanagement and, after being suspended last December, was sacked two months ago.

Before his suspension, Moroe alienated the national cricketers’ association and banned five journalists who had been critical of his decisions. Later, one member of the former board splashed more than 550,000 rand ($35,000/30,000 euros) on a full-page newspaper advert without authority even though the CSA is heavily in

debt.

CSA president Chris Anzanian, who was repeatedly criticised for poor leadership, quit soon after amid reports of “gross credit card abuse” within the governing body. Sponsors, including one of the big five South African banks, abandoned the organisation, saying involvement with cricket was affecting their reputation.

South Africa will host England for three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches during November and December behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Proteas will also host Test matches against Sri Lanka (two) and Australia (three) and welcome Pakistan (three one-day internationals and three T20 matches) during the 2020/2021 season.

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West Indies begin quarantine period in New Zealand after 54-hour journey West Indies are the only international team to have embarked on two overseas tours in the Covid-19 era Getty Images

ESPNcricinfo - West Indies have begun their twoweek quarantine period in Christchurch ahead of their T20I and Test series in New Zealand, after a gruelling 54hour journey from Barbados.

Squad members not involved in the IPL left Barbados on Tuesday, initially flying to London before further stops in Dubai and Auckland. Having already played a threeTest series in England in July, West Indies are the only international team to have embarked on two overseas tours in the Covid-19 era.

After passing their first health test on arrival, the touring squad will initially be based at the New Zealand high-performance centre at Lincoln University in Christchurch, where they will be able to train after day four of their quarantine period. The low incidence of Covid-19 in New Zealand means that players will be able

to interact with society following their quarantine, unlike on the England tour when the squad was confined to a biosecure bubble.

Speaking to the Mason and Guest radio show in Barbados, Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave said that the board had learned from the England tour that it was important to keep those players not picked for the Test side active, and as such, two fourday West Indies A fixtures have been scheduled: the first at Mount Maunganui to run alongside the first Test, the second at Nelson coinciding with the second Test. ”At the end of the T20 series, about half the squad are going to fly back to the Caribbean, and about half the team - along with the six reserves, and probably the 14th and 15th members of the Test squad - will form an ‘A’ team,” Grave said.

”For some of those T20 players who have played so much white-ball cricket for West Indies during the West Indies Championship over the last couple of years, it’s going to be the first opportunity they’d have had in probably two years to play some red-ball cricket.” While discussions are ongoing as to which play-

ers will stay on, Fabian Allen, Brandon King and Nicholas Pooran are expected to be among them.

Grave also confirmed that players and support staff will continue to receive 50% of their salaries, as has been the case since July, though match fees will be paid in full. The backroom staff on the tour are

Australia officially give up on Adelaide bid for 2026 Commonwealth Games insidethegames - Hopes that Adelaide would step in as potential hosts for the 2026 Commonwealth Games are officially over after Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) announced it had given up hope of persuading the South Australia Government to back a bid.

Earlier this month, the CGA had begun a push for Adelaide to reconsider a bid for the Games by publishing a new PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report claiming it could boost the local economy by AUD$2.5 billion (£1.4 billion/ $1.8 billion/€1.5 billion).

The report was quickly dismissed as “flawed” by South

Australian officials, who had announced in September 2019 they would not enter the race, and the CGA has now admitted defeat after Premier Steven Marshall ruled out a bid. ”Despite the widespread support for a Commonwealth Games bid, we have received confirmation from the Premier that the Government is not interested in pursuing a Commonwealth Games for Adelaide,” CGA President Ben Houston told the Adelaide Advertiser. ”Obviously, we are disappointed, the new delivery model and the significant community benefits of a Games would bring tremen-

dous economic benefit to the host city, something South Australians recognised. ”However, we accept the Government’s decision and thank them for considering a South Australian bid.”

The Commonwealth Games Federation had also been actively pushing a potential bid from Adelaide for 2026 due to increasing doubts over whether Hamilton will be in position to take their interest forward.

The Canadian city is currently the only candidate but the privately-funded campaign has been told by the Ontario Government that they would not support a bid because it would clash with the FIFA

World Cup, which Canada is co-hosting with the United States and Mexico.

Houston, however, is not giving up hope of finding an Australian city to bid and follow Birmingham, the 2022 hosts.

“We look forward to conversations with other states who might be interested in a 2026 Games bid as part of their big event vision for their state,” he told the Adelaide Advertiser. Australia have so far hosted five editions of the Commonwealth Games.

The first time was at Sydney in 1938 followed by Perth in 1962, Brisbane in 1982, Melbourne in 2006 and Gold Coast in 2018.

Australia has hosted the Commonwealth Games five times, most recently at the Gold Coast in 2018 ©Getty Images

largely similar to the group that travelled to England, with Monty Desai, Andre Coley and Trevor Penney added and Floyd Reifer - who is standing as an MP in Barbados replaced.

West Indies were winless on their last tour of New Zealand in 2017-18, losing both Tests, all three ODIs, and escaping with a 2-0 defeat in the T20I series thanks to a noresult in the second match.

Roddy Estwick, one of the assistant coaches, admitted that New Zealand would be a “very, very difficult” side to play against, but said on arrival that he was optimistic about their chances. ”I think we’ve got to win series now,” Estwick said. “We win the odd Test match - you can look at all the teams we’ve played in the last two years we’ve won one Test match, but we haven’t won the series. It’s important that we put

two or three performances together, not one good performance and we tend to fade away. We’ve got to win series and there’s no doubt about that, and we’ve got to start here in New Zealand by trying to win this series by playing good, positive, hard disciplined cricket. ”New Zealand is a very, very difficult side playing at home.

We’ve got to be up and we’ve got to execute properly. We’ve got to sit down, and we’ve got to plan. We know what it was like last time and we’ve got to make sure we’re ready because nobody goes to New Zealand and wins easily. ”You’ve got to be prepared to scrap. Sometimes they can be very patient and you’ve got to match that patience as well. We’ve got to leave no stone unturned to make sure we can combat New Zealand.”

GABF AGM set for December 13 via Zoom In a release to the media, General Secretary of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF); Patrick Haynes, has shared that the Federation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2020 will be held on December 13.

The letter sent to the GABF sub-associations read: Following the GABF Executive Board meeting held on 22 October 2020, the GABF 2020 AGM aims to keep the Sub-Associations and Affiliates informed on the progress that the GABF is making on its objectives and to provide information and useful knowledge on essential strategies of the GABF’s work.This will give us an opportunity to look back at everything that has been achieved over the last two years.Each Sub-Association and Affiliate are limited to two delegates and must register

to attend. Observers may register but must consult and channel their remarks via their first delegate. All delegates must register with an individual email address, via the GABF online registration website by clicking on the link below, no later than 5 December 2020. https://tinyurl.com/ GABF2020AGM. Important: It is each delegate’s responsibility to duly complete his/her online registration, indicating all necessary information.

GABF will not be responsible for any issue arising due to incomplete, incorrect or unupdated information.”

The 2021 calendar will be released during the GABF’s December 13 AGM which will include the dates for the long awaited National Club Championships (Mecca 6) which has not be contested in over two years.

Saturday October 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 33

Kings XI Punjab’s winning streak ends, Ben Stokes helps Rajasthan Royals stay alive

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SPNcricinfo - A breath-taking half-century from Ben Stokes and a perfectly-paced 48 from Sanju Samson trumped a belligerent 99 from Chris Gayle to keep the Rajasthan Royals alive in the playoff race with a seven-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab in Abu Dhabi, where KL Rahul’s team is yet to win a match.

The Royals’ chase of 186 was set up in the powerplay itself by Stokes’ 26-ball 50, and even though he fell in the sixth over, Samson’s classy 25-ball innings and some enterprising batting from Steven Smith and Jos Buttler against a dew-wet ball took the Royals to 12 points level with the Kings XI and the Kolkata Knight Riders and helped them jump from seventh to fifth place.

Samson and Stokes carried forward their form from the win against the Mumbai Indians; Stokes’ handsome pulls and unorthodox reverse sweeps helped him collect six fours and three sixes for a strike rate of 192.30, and Samson’s well-timed strokes against both pace and spin brought down the Royals’ asking rate dramatically to just seven by the 14th over.

Samson took the baton after Stokes’ dismissal and reduced the equation to just 41 from 34 balls by the time he fell, which made it fairly easy for Smith and Buttler to seal the Royals’ fifth win while chasing.

A Royal performance by the top order Right from the first over, the Royals’ batsmen took on each one of the Kings XI bowlers.

If it was Stokes who went after M Ashwin in the powerplay for 16 runs, aided by two sixes, later it was Robin Uthappa and Samson who kept finding boundaries against Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh.

Openers Uthappa and Stokes attacked Mohammed Shami and Singh early on, which meant that as soon as Stokes found mid-off in the sixth over off Chris Jordan, the Kings XI brought legspin on from both ends against two right-hand batsmen.

Barring an expensive ninth over from Singh for 14 runs, Ashwin and Bishnoi bowled six overs on the trot, and

Uthappa and Samson milked them for 52 runs.

Uthappa relied on singles to give Samson the strike, and the younger man aited until the tenth over to tear into the bowlers.

When he saw flight, he lofted it straight back, and when he saw the length even marginally short, he cut and pulled to propel his strike rate to nearly 200 at one point.

Uthappa holed out off Ashwin for 30 while attempting a second straight six, and Samson was run-out while attempting an unnecessary single in the 15th over, but their fifty partnership had done enough for the middle order.

Gayle gets two lives, and makes the most of them On two occasions, Gayle’s attempted boundaries gave the Royals chances to send him back and both times he survived.

The first time, when he was on 4, Gayle skied the ball really high towards deep square-leg, where Riyan Parag also saw Robin Uthappa running towards him from the 30-yard circle and grassed a catch he should have taken.

The second time, with Gayle on 50, the ball was lofted towards mid-on where Stokes ran in from the deep, but Rahul Tewatia, the bowler, went for the catch but couldn’t reach it.

KL Rahul was playing second-fiddle at the other end as he tried to up the rate but couldn’t time the ball as well as he normally does during his 41-ball 46.

Gayle was almost batting in a different game.

The duo saw off the dangerous Jofra Archer’s two-over first spell, which accounted for Mandeep Singh with a nasty short ball, so that they could take on a wayward Varun Aaron, who came in place of Ankit Rajpoot, and make use of K a r t i k Ty a g i ’s p a c e .

Tyagi’s approach of bowling yorkers also did not work as Gayle made room to either find boundaries or dispatch the low full tosses into the stands.

After the trio of fast bowlers couldn’t get rid of Gayle in the powerplay, the Royals had to turn to their legspinners whom Gayle d i d n ’ t s p a r e e i t h e r.

Stokes and Archer keep

Ben Stokes brings on the aggression with the bat ©BCCI

things tight - When speeds slower than Archer’s was being hit for runs, Stokes figured it was better to take the pace off the ball.

He sent down knuckle balls, cutters and slower ones under 130kph, which were much tougher to hit for boundaries. One of those accounted for Rahul in the 15th over, but Nicholas Pooran and Gayle then went after Aaron and Tyagi again i n t h e e n d .

With two overs left, Gayle was on 84 and he stormed into the 90s with his 1000th T20 six before launching Archer over long-on to reach 99.

But Archer, from around the wicket, followed it with a near-yorker that deflected o ff G a y l e ’s p a d s a n d cannoned into the stumps.

An emotional Gayle lost his bat when he tried to hit it into the ground in frustration and then walked off after shaking Archer’s hand with his helmet perched on his bat.

Rajasthan Royals 186 for 3 (Stokes 50, Samson 48) beat Kings XI Punjab 185 for 4 (Gayle 99, Rahul 46, Archer 2-26, Stokes 2-32) by seven wickets.

A rare sight - Chris Gayle loses his cool and is about to fling his bat after getting out on 99 ©BCCI

‘Oh, man!’ Chris Gayle climbs another mountain, becomes first to hit 1000 T20 sixes ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Adrian Fernandes leads the pack during an endurance meet in 2019.

Mohamed confirms 2021 calendar t r o Sp

Guyana Cancer Institute representative Monette Harry accepts the cheque from former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in the presence of from left, winner of the Women’s Amateur division Leota King, Aleem Hussain, Marcus Hinds Jr., and Niketa Ashby.

Guyana Golf Association hands over Cheque to Cancer Institute 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.