Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR NEWS

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

Repsol targets

Tuesday Edition September 03, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 37

200M barrels of oil with

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

first well in Kanuku Block

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 107,637

Thousands of motorists stranded; marine, vehicular traffic halted as…

Harbour Bridge slammed by runaway tug and barge - crewmen arrested

The misaligned section of the Demerara Harbour Bridge as a result of the early morning collision

Golden Grove man found with head almost severed

Dead: David Gentle

Man accused of murdering wife over 21 years ago remanded

Orinduik PSA very unusual by any standard - Energy Consultant

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Golden Grove man found with head almost severed

T

he body of a man was discovered y e s t e r d a y

morning around 05:30hrs, near to a bridge in Haslington, with what

appeared to be chop wounds that left his head and neck almost severed from his shoulders.

The deceased has since been identified as 58-yearold David Gentle, of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.

According to reports, Gentle was at a bar popular in the area for a Karaoke session, when he got into a confrontation with another patron.

Gentle reportedly left that location sometime around 01:30 hrs. This was the last time he was seen alive.

His body was found at the edge of a bridge, next to a trench running alongside the Haslington Bus Shed Street north of the public road. The gruesome discovery was made by a female resident on her way to work.

Gentle was lying face down, with his head and hand on the bridge and a bicycle next to him.

Th er e w er e g ap in g wounds which appeared to be chops to the centre of his head and the back of the

neck.

All the contents of his pockets as well as his other personal belongings and valuables were left intact, suggesting that robbery may not have been the reason he met his demise.

Residents told Kaieteur News that Gentle would usually visit a sister of his who lives some distance away from where his body was found.

There was some speculation that he may have been killed elsewhere and then brought there, due to the small amount of blood present at the scene, considering the severity of his wounds.

Some also said it was “impossible� for someone to be hacked to death in that area and no one heard or saw anything.

Up to press time no eyewitness had come forward and no arrests had been made.

The body was taken to Jerrick's Funeral Parlour where an autopsy will be conducted. Police are investigating.

Dead: David Gentle

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

Thousands of motorists stranded; marine, vehicular traffic halted as…

Harbour Bridge slammed by crewmen runaway tug and barge - arrested

T

housands of motorists were left stranded yesterday morning on the West Bank of Demerara after a barge and tug, helped by a strong current, drifted down the river and slammed into the Demerara Harbour Bridge, just after midnight.

The bridge, which was shifted out of alignment, was c l o s e d f o r e m e rg e n c y repairs, with vehicular and marine traffic halted.

It will take a number of days before normalcy to resume, with light traffic, barring any unforeseen circumstances, expected to be allowed by tomorrow, authorities said.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 persons who either work or conduct business in the city, are living in the West Demerara area.

Emergency measures involving the police and other law enforcement officials were put into place to deal with the crowds who rushed to the aging speedboat stelling at Vreeden-Hoop.

Compounding the situation was that yesterday was the start of the new school year.

Yesterday afternoon, the crowds had swelled, with children caught in the confusion.

There was a frustrating backup for hours on the West Bank public road with drivers blaring their horns in frustration in the morning.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, during a midday press conference at the Peter's Hall headquarters of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, disclosed that the crewmen and captain who sent out 'May Day' calls were all taken into custody and are being questioned.

The crewmen initially claimed that the barge and tug broke loose of their anchor and drifted from the Diamond area.

Pulled by the tide, it slammed into the floating bridge at two different points, breaking critical suspensions.

A section of the bridge immediately separated leaving a lone car, driven by a woman, in the opening that was created. Fortunately, the woman was able to exit, badly shaken with the car suffering significant damage. Minister Patterson

This section of the bridge had to be strapped with cables to keep it from separating.

The situation yesterday around midday at the Demerara Harbour Bridge said that there will be emergency measures and temporary river lights to allow speedboats to operate beyond the normal time until 10pm.

Four vessels have been placed on standby to transport passengers for emergency situations.

The situation has brought into sharp focus the critical

importance of that one bridge which has been in existence for 41 years.

Patterson disclosed that local and international technical personnel are currently assessing bid documents for investors in relation to a new bridge that has been earmarked to be located at Houston.

In the midday press conference, General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, Rawlston Adams, disclosed that the tug and barge - the latter a Panamanian-registered vessel, “broadsided” the bridge around 00:35hrs.

The barge was loaded

with material.

DOUBLE WHAMMY Two different areas, west of the retractor spans, were hit.

During the assessment, engineers found severe damage, with the bridge out of alignment between the (continued on centre)

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Got to have it: Addiction The report in this newspaper on August 21 was stark: “Around 21:30 hrs last Saturday, the man was reportedly beaten to death by his drinking partner, for the remaining alcohol that was in the bottle.” According to eyewitness statements, the men were sitting at the table sharing a bottle of vodka when an argument erupted as to who should be taking the last shot. On many occasions, that ‘last shot’ is elusive; the one for the road is the road to hell, a fatal one, because it never ends: not with that bottle or in that session, or on that day.

The proverbial, traditional ‘last shot’ in this sad, fateful instance was literal. It is a troubled world that is either obscured from, or avoided by, or denied by, less-than-thoughtful, less-than-honest Guyanese. Other than for an occasional glimpse, through a frank and searing writing or comment in public, from some well-meaning soul, this alcoholic culture in Guyana goes largely observed (how can it not be?) but largely unaddressed and untouched.

We have seen them, haven’t we? Take a frank look, those who dare to not avert their eyes. There they are: the helpless figures among well-dressed family and friends; the almost naked, sometimes dirty creatures, always visible shadows on every corner and cranny of the street; the sly strangers, who talk up many a clever storm to get closer to the next dollar that holds the passage to their liquid (or smoky) paradise.

The next dollar for that next drink, that next puff, the next sweet rush of solace and the passing flash of that healing, relieving, soothing, lifting, loving spot. There is a problem with that supposedly ‘last shot.’ Or last draw. Or last snort. It is not the last one, or the second-to-last one, or the one before that. Whether the individual swagger of not going on ‘one foot’ (in Guyanese drinking idiom), or the carnival of a drinking, smoking, injecting bacchanal, the last one (whatever it happens to be) doesn’t last long.

Tomorrow (or later today and, sometimes, at any hour of the night), there comes on tortured feet another craving, still more thirst, of mind and body long battered and tormented to a certain feeding of nostrils and lungs. It wants another, then more, and then still some more in an endless, harrowing cycle. Sooner or later, there arrives that practice of fueling starved cells crying, screaming for the boost, then the blur of blessed unconsciousness.

The ‘head built’ and the ‘sweet’ state of satisfaction and the bliss of not knowing nor caring nor thinking nor living.

A nation living partially on rum manufacturing: blends formal, foreign, and famous. Then there is the other side: the products from under the cover of forests, as in ‘bush-rum.’ Drink is more than an industry in this country; it is a settled way of life, a national pastime, almost a national religion: alternately loved and hated.

Worshipped too. As if these are not enough, there are thoughtless political promises in this already drunken election season about lifting that sensible 2 a.m. curfew. Perhaps, the noise nuisance will distract from the nuisances that are each other.

At the commercial and foreign exchange levels, money comes in from local and overseas registers ringing. It is satisfying. How about some money - real money for real facilities and real interest and real caring experts - for treating what is really a national tragedy?

Real money would lend a helping hand to those minds and bodies and hands that once lifted bottle and glass in casual and reckless disregard for present, future, and forever, but are now crippled in the throes of prisons made from liquids with names like gold and premium. Those warning labels are nice, but given as much attention as some news headline about the detection of life forms on Jupiter. Frankly, there is little help coming, outside of the charitable and the private. Thus, in the haze and agonies of harrowing withdrawals, there is one sighting: the next newcomer, the latest newcomer: marketplace, traffic light, church, street, from under storefronts. Objects of assistance: something in that purse, in the pocket, in the car, in the house. Got to have it. Remember: the fix. It is a final solution that is not so final, in that it extends and extends for a lifetime wasted and made wretched. There is palpable and alarming danger. It can be destructive, when unleashed in full uncontrolled madness.

It is nothing personal, simply of addressing the hurting, demanding, disabling, infuriating need of the moment. There is vulnerability and menace: Will not take ‘No’ for an answer.

Will harass, even intimidate; will steal anything and sell for anything all the way to zero. Got to have it. Got to get that next ‘shot’; that next drag, that next thrill that fills and eventually kills. Trouble is that the innocent could end up being killed.

Who is listening and doing something? Anything?

GPL needs a thorough shake-up DEAR EDITOR, It is time our power company, GPL, gets a shakeup that will bring about much needed changes that is necessary for our country’s future. The much talked about first oil must coincide with supporting efficient performance from GPL in particular. I would not deny that there are many hard working individuals in this company. However the regular blackouts that has been going on for long is indicative of problems that need urgent attention. As soon as the rain set-up and two heavy wind blow, is blackout. It is mind boggling as to what is the relationship between black-out and the rain.

The next point I want to raise is, I have a GPL post near my home that was marked for changing five years ago.

Wood-ants ate the post from

bottom to the top. There is video evidence of GPL post on my Facebook page. I made a report via GPL WhatsApp on the 3rd May 2019. After repeated reporting no less than 4 times, I was given a reference number (440211). I even made a report also to the Government outreached held at the Leonora Stadium. To this day, no one has made any attempt to give us some peace of mind.

Editor, this an inherent attitude that has been continuously displayed by GPL overtime. Sometimes you see wires sparking and may stop one of the passing GPL vehicle or even call in to report it, until the wires burnt out resulting in blackout or other damages, only then the power company personnel will respond.

Right on the public road, you see big bundles of bird vine overgrown on many

post. The power company officials would pass weeks, months, and even a year, with no concern for safety or unsightliness. Today, modern electricity standards require using secure methods of joining wires by recommended connectors.

Our power company technicians are seen using pliers and twitching 2 wires, worst of all, not even to wrap a piece of installation tape for safety.

Look up on GPL post in Regent Street or anywhere and you see a bundle of unsightly wires worst than bird vines. Isn’t there a neater way these wire could be arranged to look better. This is a reflection of the quality of personnel we have incharge of this power company and its operation.

GPL uses wallaba post for their transmission lines mainly. These posts can be

cost effective once they are maintained. A wallaba post can last as long as 30 years or much longer. All that is required is to ensure water doesn’t lodge at the bottom and that wood-ant treatment is administered when necessary.

Editor, almost 8 in every 10 GPL transmission post are wood ant infested. Who cares! Just past the high cost of replacement on to the consumer and end of story. A post can twist and fall, tearing away transmission lines or damaging transformers, leaving communities without electricity for days, who cares? This had been the attitude of GPL for the longest while. If we are to truly develop this country, there must be a complete overall of the management of this vital sector.

Yours sincerely, C. Woolford

Measuring the performance of our leadership DEAR EDITOR, In this and future elections seasons, it is important that we are given the opportunity to take an objective view of our leaders while also being able to make an informed decision at the polls. How will we measure the promised performance (before taking office) vs. actual performance (at the end of their term) of our leaders, independent of party affiliation?

It is important that our leaders can clearly articulate and successfully debate and justify their plans for our country along key dimensions of performance by being able to answer the following questions for the populace: 1. What is their economic

plan to both sustainably maintain and grow by each key sector (Bauxite, Construction & Infrastructure / Housing, Energy & Oil, Financial: direct & indirect Investment, Fishing, Forestry, Gold, Manufacturing, Rice, Sugar, Transportation, Tourism and Wholesale / Retail & Trade)?

2. What is their fiscal policy and plan for budgetary controls to both ensure good governance and controlled spending, especially in government compensation at the upper levels of their administration?

3. What is their unemployment reduction plan by county and town?

4. What is their law &

order, safety and security plan by town?

5. What is their border security and defence plan?

6. What is their plan to reduce drug & human trafficking and the associated anti-corruption policy?

7. What is their plan for the usage of the funds generated by the oil sector?

8. What is their education plan by level (nursery, primary, secondary and university)?

9. What is their health and medical plan for the country & for each town?

10. What is their environmental sustainability plan?

These plans should also take into account the impact

& development of our villages and the public service & unions where applicable.

Over the years, we have unconsciously judged our leadership’s performance by these dimensions. It is time that voters demand a higher level of accountability and are allowed to overtly judge our present and future leadership along these key dimensions going forward.

Leadership’s performance across these key dimensions are essential to determining whether our leaders have earned the right to lead us as we move our great nation into the next level of development.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee

Suspect voters’ lists are prelude to national crises DEAR EDITOR, Respectfully, please permit a response in accordance with Shawn James, “We need a clean list”, in another newspaper on August 30, 2019.

Of course, I fully support James’ position that such voters’ lists, is an absolute for any national elections, inclusive of Guyana, and irrespective of the glaring dishonest claims and fraudulent arguments against the methodology for achieving same. So much has been written in your pages, ad nauseum, about such a necessity that it may have perhaps, taken on a monotonous tone. However, since it is an issue that is consistently being twisted and distorted in all strange directions to suit deceptive mental securities.

Shawn James has quite

rightly referred to a Nutana Singh’s claims in a letter that has been published in another newspaper of August 26, 2019, making what are not only “erroneous’’, but deliberately twisted to suit the current PPP/C disgusting lies being peddled.

Nutana Singh must be reminded that such responsibilities of the state, in terms of protecting the ‘’just rights’’ of its resident citizens overseas, as represented through its consulates, certainly cannot include non-resident Guyanese, meaning persons not resident in Guyana at the time of house-to-house registration for voting purposes, or when such verification is being done, as James has correctly underlined. It would seem that Singh believes that her scenario must fit Guyana into

the category of a State that has overseas territories, in which its citizens are entitled and allowed to participate in the mainland electoral process. Unfortunately, Guyana is not in that category, as a state with overseas territories, such as France, or the United States.

This is another PPP/C concoction, being publicised through one of its supporters, as Singh undoubtedly is.

It is another crooked example of attempting to twist the law to suit her groundless case.

In fact, Nutana Singh, is here reminded that there are provisions for the Chief Immigration Officer to inform GECOM of those citizens who have departed Guyana for periods of more than six months, and that their names be removed from its list.

The reason is simple –

they are no longer in Guyana, and cannot be part of any national electoral process; and this extends to deceased persons.

Why should such a category of Guyanese not be removed from the national electoral list, especially when they are dead, is best understood by the dishonest minds who do not support a clean voters’ list.

A suspect voters’ list is a prelude to very serious national crises, with untold consequences, and it is only those imbued with the intentions to support rigged elections would espouse such groundless representations for its existence.

It would be a national tragedy if the Nutana Singhs are allowed to have their way.

Regards, Carla Mendonca

Tuesday September 03, 2019

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Kaieteur News

During this ‘silly’ season almost Why are smart meters being everything is being politicised installed in only certain areas?

DEAR EDITOR, It is clear that maintaining Law and Order at the Anna Regina Old Market, by the Anna Regina Town Council operatives, especially on market days, have become a bit challenging. The state of affairs is now negatively impacting on passenger bus and car service operators from the Amerindian communities of Lake Mainstay and St. Deny’s.

Indeed, it is chaotic on very busy days and, indeed one has to consider the implications when there is not enough room for vendors.

That is important.

However, officials of the Mayor and Town Council appearing without prior notice and placing ultimatums for the removal of buses and cars from an area which was once earmarked for a parking lot to give way to sellers is not the way to go. During this ‘silly’ season almost everything is being politicised, so may I submit to you, whoever is responsible, that whatever posture is taken by you, or lobbyists/campaigners, and especially in this case, I guarantee it’s not going to

render one iota of good to your organisation! Local Government authorities cannot afford to do silly things during this ‘silly’ season.

Furthermore, the Indigenous communities, abovementioned, call on officials, particularly at this time to consult with us, not to insult us. We, too, need to make a living and must not appear to be discriminated against.

Yours truly Joseph Atkinson Lake Mainstay Amerindian Community

A vexatious litigant DEAR EDITOR, For Anil Nandlall to announce another High Court challenge to the existence of the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government, as a result of the NCM, is beginning to assume the situation of an abuse of process.

Editor, this matter has been twisted and distorted so many times by the PPP/C and their legal representatives that it has become shapeless, and void of any discernible ground for further debate. In fact, Nandlall has again resorted to the effect of 106(6), but without reference to 106(7) even though he is aware that the government is in ‘interim’ mode, which it has acknowledged, and

acting in accordance.

For Nandlall to be referring to 106(6), in his announced intention to approach the High Court, amounts to cherry picking, as the learned Chief Justice some time ago reminded another “constitutional expert” in a failed attempt to have her overturn a CCJ decision that it would not be making political decisions for Guyana, since such is clearly out of its remit.

It is very difficult to understand this latest action

by Nandlall, of course on behalf of the PPP/C, as it would mean asking the Court to rule on a matter which had already been done by the CCJ. It is therefore Res Judicata, with Nandlall becoming a

vexatious litigant.

This latest legal tactic is another in the line of devious political strategies, seeking to pressurize the GECOM in hurrying its preparations for national and regional elections, with the main target being the post-House-toHouse procedure of merging the latter results with the NRR, for the extraction of a new register, which it hopes to have aborted. One also, should not doubt the party’s worried eye on the possible trial of its presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali, and his conviction, which would effect a crushing blow especially on his political handler’s grand dream.

Regards, Earl Hamilton

By exercising judicial restraint, the CCJ has allowed the opportunity for a political solution DEAR EDITOR, We now hear from Mr. Ralph Ramkarran that the CCJ’s decision-making was “timid, indecisive and ineffectual” after he wholeheartedly referred to the very ruling in his August 4th column, “as these clear and telling words”. Mr. Ramkarran, as Chairman of the 1999 Constitutional Reform Commission and one of the influential shapers of the constitution, has a special

national responsibility in the aftermath of the passage of the no-confidence motion (NCM). First, he, more than most, must know that the NCM was not introduced into the constitution to be used as a personal and secret scheme by any one MP, whether or not under the influence or funding of private plotters. In fact, the so-called antidefection provision and the party whip system clearly show the effort of the

constitutional framers to thwart such hijacking of our supreme law, to maintain political stability, and to respect the will of the people as expressed in elections.

(Continued on page 6)

DEAR EDITOR, A meeting between residents of a certain section of Enmore and a GPL Contractor together with Representatives from IDB is scheduled for tomorrow, 28th August, to advise residents about the installation of Smart-meters in Enmore. We have not been advised if GPL personnel will be part of that meeting.

As a resident of Enmore, I have a few major concerns which are also of concern to residents of Enmore, and further afield.

1) Consumers of power have a contractual relationship with GPL, not any

contractor or IDB. The provision of (Smart) meters is contractually the responsibility of the provider, i.e. GPL. 2) As far as we have heard, Smart-meters are being installed in certain areas only: LBI, Lusignan, Enterprise, now Enmore.

These areas are populated mainly by Indians. Why are certain villages in between are being skipped?

3) The above-named areas are already serviced by meters. But I can call any number of areas which have NO METERS but enjoy free electricity. My money is financing that “thiefing” and

GPL is promoting that “thiefing”! Recently, a Facebook post showed a huge area in Sophia “thiefing power”. Why are not these areas targeted for meters – Smart or Stupid?

4) Are these meters rejects from another country because of defects and are being dumped into Guyana? This is a question, which will need to be answered by the Contractor/IDB team.

If this meeting comes off at all, the residents of Enmore will ask searching questions.

And there will be picketing.

Yours respectfully Taaj Jadunauth (Resident)

This is an opportune time to reflect on the contributions made by Amerindians DEAR EDITOR, I wish to congratulate all my Amerindian brothers and sisters on the occasion of Amerindian Heritage Month which is celebrated in the month of September. This is an opportune time to reflect on the contributions made by Amerindians to the growth and development of our country.

To say that Amerindians have contributed to the economic, cultural and political life of Guyana would be an understatement. They are our first people. All the other ethnic groups came and met them and together a society was forged. We are a much more diverse and richer society for our Indigenous peoples.

It is not without some

significance that September is also designated Education Month. Indeed, there is a strong and dialectical relationship between education and Amerindian development.

There can be no doubt that Amerindians are today much more empowered than in past years and are now in a much better position to make informed choices on the way forward.

Amerindians are also playing a much more proactive role in the decisionmaking processes at the national and sectoral levels.

This was greatly facilitated by

the previous PPP/C administration, which for the first time in our history established a Ministry of Amerindian Affairs which was headed by the late Vibert DeSouza. Several pieces of legislation were also enacted to give Amerindians greater access to their resources in particular land titling.

Amerindians are now the fastest growing segment of our population according to the most recent population census report, thanks to enhanced access to health care and better access to education delivery. The (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Guyanese must strive for racial, political respect and tolerance DEAR EDITOR, Guyanese at home and abroad keep clamouring for unity among the people, fully understanding only a unified people will take Guyana forward to a brighter future.

The first step to unity is to respect and tolerate one another ’s differences, particularly race and political views, since this is a staple of daily politics in Guyana.

Based on Guyana’s political history since independence, bringing about unity by respect and tolerance will be a herculean task. Good on the people who try to reach outside their own group for peace, unity and friendship, they prove it can

be done.

There are also haters in society who opposes tolerance, political leaders who survive by divisiveness find these people useful; it guarantees them a base support as is now clear in the USA and also in Guyana. I grew up listening to teachers, political and religious leaders and other influential people telling me not to like others from the other group, but meeting the good people from the other group through school, work, sports and my stint in national service, I realise they told me something wrong. When I ran into the haters, I realised they told me something justified.

However, the choice was mine to make whom I like and whom I did not as per own and experience, not because someone told me. With elections coming soon, the language of divisiveness will be pumped up to a frenzy, but people it is up to you to be respecting of the results, celebrate if your team wins and be gracious if your team loses, while still continuing to fight for your right to good governance regardless who wins. Guyanese should be proud that, with all the racial divisiveness, only a few people have died in the elections process, although nobody should have to die over elections. Kudos to the

There should be compromise in the nation’s interest so we have peace and not conflict DEAR EDITOR, There was a letter published in another newspaper on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 titled “Constitution provides clear path through obstructions and partisan views being thrown in its way.”

These are fine words, a similar sentiment I might have expressed as a school-boy, that is, before entering the real world in the early 1950s.

We need to commend Ryhaan Shah for expressing an ideal for which we must strive, ceaselessly to achieve.

However, the truth is our world east, west, north and south is made up of fragile human souls who for some strange reason put on that proverbial blinkers as we seek to govern, be it, in the Mosque, Temple, Synagogue or Church – be it, in the sports club,

or in the community. This has been a severe weakness from the dawn of civilisation.

This for example explains the emergence of the Protestant Church in Christendom.

In Guyana, as elsewhere, we need to seek ways of living with each other that create some level playing field and the elusive goal, justice for all.

For now, I’ll avoid the tedium of human history save to state thanks to our inherent weakness –wars and battles for physical supremacy have shaped the planet earth we inhabit.

A Constitution can be no more than a guide but like the requirement in all of our Holy ‘Books,’ it is who and how we interpret these several injunctions.

How decent and proper are our leaders?

Daily, we hear issuing forth from certain quarter bellicose remarks. These are not helpful.

But the billion dollars’ question, will we learn from our experiences. After being in the hustings for three generations, it is that unwillingness or inability to learn from our human experiences that is bothersome – did I say burdensome?

But then, should we conclude, that this ignoring of past experiences and the unwillingness to find compromises is a recurrent recipe for a journey down the rocky road of stupidity and stubbornness.

Shah and others must prevail upon our leaders to sit and talk to make compromise in the Nation’s interest so we have peace not conflict.

Hamilton Green

By exercising judicial restraint...

From page 5 With 20-20 vision, we now know that the safeguarding articles require more precision such as in the constitutions of other countries. Given the legislative history and intention behind Article 106 and the other articles aimed at preserving stability and respecting the popular will, the campaign by Mr. Ramkarran, Mr. Ram and others for hasty elections is most troubling. There is no democratic mandate underpinning this campaign, no people’s power energizing or legitimizing it. Moreover, and very importantly, a rushed election that fails the smell test has the distinct potential of compounding the current problem.

In contrast, both of the country’s previous cases of early elections (shortened terms of office) were people driven. The 2001 election was the result of popular protest and the

Hermandston Accord. The 2015 election was precipitated by the fact that we had a minority government, with the parties with the combined majority support in the opposition.

But on December 21, 2018, a democratically-elected government, enjoying majority popular support, facing no social or economic crisis, was blindsided by the treachery of one of its parliamentarians. His act was so without honour; he saw no need to share his stated concerns with his party leadership or with those who reside in his constituency or who generally support the government. Indeed, he spent the previous week publicly praising the very government he later stabbed with his NCM vote.

This treachery, illegitimised by legislative history and the tenets of representative democracy but made constitutional by imperfect

drafting, is now being used to nullify the 2015 election result and to precipitate a constitutional crisis. As I pointed out in a previous letter, this matter goes far beyond legalities. And those who are innocently or deviously trying to take our gaze away from the bigger political picture are doing a disservice to our fledgling democracy.

The CCJ has therefore done the country a good favour by not reaching outside of its judicial boundaries and venturing into political matters.

Its restraint allows us to confront the reality that we face a situation characterized by a tension caused by the democratic will of the electorate being thwarted by the dishonourable act of MP, facilitated by loose constitutional text. We need a fair political solution, not blind legal imperatives.

Yours faithfully Sherwood Lowe

security forces who made sure post election violence did not get out of hand and the justice system to charge the woman who threw water on the PPP marchers, this is how stupid behaviour should be dealt with.

Guyanese it is up to you to strive for racial political respect and tolerance leading to unity since your leaders will not. Leaders cannot risk losing their base also, they’re afraid of history. Yitzhak Rabin of Israel and Gandhi was killed by one of their own because their policies was tolerant to the outsiders; Mandela lost his wife and political party because he declared after he won the elections, that white South Africans were also his countrymen while others wanted to run them out the country; Hoyte and Jagan reached outside the PNC and PPP to other Guyanese for unity, this gesture however did not change the way

Guyanese vote.

So Guyanese, it is up to you to strive for unity through respect and tolerance, be encouraged that there is increasing unity among the diaspora in their respective countries abroad since they have woken up to the harsh reality that their brothers and sisters from Africa and Asia do not consider them fellow citizens and thus alienate them.

The UN now runs a reconciliation programme in the African countries that had civil wars and people from both sides are now coming together and making peace, India and Pakistan had a home and away cricket series and prior to the games the leaders of both countries upped the divisive rhetoric, put the military on standby and, five hundred thousand Indians went to Pakistan and one hundred thousand Pakistanis went to India for games and there was not one

incident of violence. In fact, the crowd cheered good performance from players on both teams causing the leaders rethink their divisive strategies. Closer to home, I lived close to Zeeburg WCD, an Indian fishing village a few decades ago was off limits to strangers particularly black people, one of the recent editions of this newspaper showed a photograph with the winning Zeeburg cricket team having half the players being black. So Guyanese respect, tolerance and unity can only come from you, do not follow leaders who will preach divisiveness and do not attack your countrymen over elections, remember you the poor who usually lead the charge always end up with nothing. With the leaders selling or giving away everything in Guyana peace and unity through tolerance and respect is the only thing that can save Guyana’s soul.

R. David

Some writers were in hibernation in the last decade DEAR EDITOR, Since GECOM had made the decision to end the House-to-House registration process before its scheduled time, there has been so many letters written twisting the narrative.

Please permit me a space in your Newspaper to respond to a letter that was published in another newspaper dated August 30th, 2019. Haseef Yusuf’s in a letter titled, “Guyanese are too tired and cannot be held hostage”, declares that, “The Coalition Government has once again shown its total disregard and insensitivity for the hard-earned taxpayers’ dollars of the Guyanese people. It matters little that value for money is sacrificed for political expedience and the usual few getting filthy rich in the process”.

The Haseef Yuseefs of Guyana must have been in hibernation in the last decade or so in respect to our taxpayers’ money and “the usual few getting filthy rich in the process”. Let me remind Mr. Yuseef that the abuse of taxpayers’ money and the few getting filthy rich is the hall-mark of the previous administration.

Let’s take a few examples: -the 20x20 flat concrete NIS building at Corriverton for$69M,the Fip Motielall Amaila Falls road to nowhere cost US$40M-plus, the $400M float away Supenaam Stelling, and the US$57M ‘investment’ in the Marriott Hotel while schools across the country were falling apart. The latter example is the epitome of

insensitivity. And that is just the tip of the iceberg of the PPP/C’s ‘investment’ with taxpayers’ money.

The APNU/AFC will not continue with the old conception of trickery and scam that the PPP/C held Guyanese under for the 23 years in their government when they blatantly abused tax payers’ money.

However, this government’s vision is to transform Guyana to a more developed and modern country for All Guyanese.

It is clear that given the facts that Yusuf, in my opinion has one main aim, to spread false propaganda and try to cause disruption in Guyana.

Editor, the money approved by parliament for the House-to-House registration is not the responsibility or in the hands of the APNU/AFC. In November 2018, the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly approved $5.4 billion dollars for the Guyana Elections

Commission for the conduct of House-to-House registration. That was well before the treacherous No Confidence Motion of December 21, 2018. It is hypocritical for Yuseef to now claim that, “the CCJ ruling would have negated the H2H Registration in keeping with the three-month timeline as stipulated by Article 106, but GECOM saw this as a priority to execute the will of the coalition”. The three-month deadline would have expired in due process of litigation, which was the Coalition’s right to pursue constitutionally.

It is so disgraceful to read that Yuseef and cohorts are holding the government accountable for GECOM, which is a constitutional, autonomous body.

The GEOCOM must be allowed to carry out its functions without hindrance or directions from the likes of Yuseef and his cohorts.

Yours sincerely, Ceion Rollox

This is an opportune time to reflect on the contributions made by Amerindians...

From page 5 physical landscape is also changing and there is much better transportation and communication infrastructure between the coast and hinterland areas.

Much more, however, remains to be done to bridge the developmental gap between the coastal and

hinterland communities. This continues to be a major challenge for policymakers.

With oil money looming on the horizon and the political will to expend significantly more resources to Amerindian development, the prospects of a brighter future can become a reality.

Hydar Ally

Tuesday September 03, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Orinduik PSA very unusual by any standard - Energy Consultant

By Kiana Wilburg When one examines the fiscal provisions of the Orinduik Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), it is very unusual by any standard says Partner and Lead Consultant at Global Energy Advisory Services, Randall Mohammed.

In one of his recent commentaries on the Guyana oil industry, the Trinidadian who is working in the United Arab Emirates, said he found the provision that allows for a measly one percent royalty to the State to be recovered, troubling.

The Lead Consultant at Global Energy Advisory Services said, “... A one percent royalty is very low... This is one of the disadvantages with frontier plays, its risky for investors and they require a greater level of financial incentives to de-risk the prospect, more so in territories where governments dont have the experience or financial strength.”

Mohammed noted, however, that there are cases where governments, aware of their inabilities, took the time to learn what is necessary before going to the negotiation table with experienced oil majors.

In this regard, the Trinidadian said, “I recall the scenario in Tanzania whereby the government hired experts on a three-year contract to

train and impart knowledge to the Governments Negotiating Team before going to the negotiation table with investors in a planned LNG project.”

Mohammed alluded to the fact that this is the type of cautious approach governments new to the oil industry need to take a note of.

In addition to this, Mohammed cited the recent revelation by Kaieteur News that Guyana is being billed $64M by Tullow Oil and its partners for costs incurred prior to the deal being signed in 2016 with the Granger administration.

The Consultant noted that recoverable costs by the oil company may include exploration and development cost or be limited to development cost. He asserted that usually, oil companies want to recover all the costs incurred to bring the resources to the surface.

Mohammed added, “At times, it appears to be a onesided game, as governments new to oil and gas have little expertise and experience to identify costs that are applicable.” Considering this, Mohammed stressed that training of government officials on these matters is essential.

IMFADVISES The International Monetary Fund (IMF) which is providing technical assistance to Guyana on the oil

sector has made it clear that it is only the development costs that are supposed to be recovered by the operator.

In its report called, Selected Petroleum Fiscal Issues, the IMF explained that in a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), an oil company agrees to cover all the costs required to explore for and produce oil in return for a share of production. In the event that the exploration does not lead to the exploitation of a commercial discovery, the Fund said that the oil company has no right to be reimbursed for the costs it had incurred.

For this reason, the IMF said that the oil company bears all of the exploration risks associated with an oil project. But the financial institution did not stop there. It went on to stress, “If the company finds oil in commercial quantities, meaning that the project is economically viable, and decides to exploit it, the contractor will recover costs it incurred to develop the project from a portion of the total value of production. This amount of production used to recover costs is called cost oil. The remaining oil is called profit oil.”

DISCOVERY / EXPLORATION Due to the 13 discoveries

that were made by ExxonMobil on the Stabroek Block, Tullow Oil and its partners, Eco Atlantic and Total, had agreed to bring forward their drilling programme three years ahead of time.

Just a few days ago, the company struck black gold when it drilled the Jethro-1 well. Tullow s Chief Executive, Paul McDade noted that the discovery could hold more than 100 million barrels of recoverable oil.

The company is now drilling the Joe prospect in hopes of replicating a similar success story.

ORINDUIK JV PARTNERS In January 2016, Eco signed a Petroleum Agreement and is party to a Petroleum Licence with the Government of Guyana and Tullow Oil for the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana.

Tullow Oil as the Operator of the Block paid past costs and carried Eco for the first 1000km2 of the 2550km2 3D Survey. Further, Tullow contributed an extensive 2D seismic data set and interpretation.

The Companys 2550 km2 3D seismic survey was completed in September 2017, well within the initial four-year work commitment the Company made for the initial 1000km2.

In September 2017, Eco announced that its subsidiary, Eco Atlantic (Guyana)

Randall Mohammed, Partner and Lead Consultant at Global Energy Advisory Services Inc. entered into an option agreement on its Orinduik Block with Total, a whollyowned subsidiary of Total S.A. Pursuant to the option.

Total paid an option fee of US$1 million to farm-in to the Orinduik Block. An additional payment of US$12,500,000 was made when Total exercised its option to earn 25 percent of Ecos working interest in September 2018.

Following the exercise of the option by Total, the Blocks working interests be-

came: Tullow 60% (Operator), Total 25% and Eco 15%. In October, last, the Government approved of the Total farm-in on the Orinduik Block, which has the potential for almost three billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Just a few days ago however, Total sold 10 percent of its interest in the Orinduik Block to Qatar Petroleum.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Tuesday September 03, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Bridge over troubled waters The government can be commended for its handling of the closure of the Demerara Harbour Bridge yesterday. The bridge, which was damaged when a tug and barge reportedly drifted into it, is likely to be back in operation by late this afternoon or tonight.

This is quite an impressive turnaround. At the end of the emergency works, the government should undertake a review of its handling of this disaster to see how it can improve things, should something like that happen again.

Yesterday’s closure was not the first time that a major disruption to the bridge occurred. Many moons ago, a large section of the bridge floated away just as a school bus was about the cross onto that particular section. It was a close shave.

There were other accidents which occurred and which caused great suffering and hardships to commuters who use the bridge. The authorities, therefore, should have been better prepared to deal with yesterday’s emergency. From the moment the bridge was closed to traffic, the Civil Defence Commission should have sprung into action.

Ostensibly, this is not quite how things played out.

The closure of the bridge caused great inconvenience.

Some overseas-based Guyanese missed their flights because they could not get across. There was concern about what would happen to patients who needed to be transported from the West Demerara Hospital to the Georgetown Hospital. The Coast Guard was called into action to deal with this problem. Wardens were placed at the stellings to control the boarding of the speedboats which were shuttling passengers across the river.

But there was still chaos, because too many Guyanese are undisciplined and do not like to wait their turn or to line up in an orderly manner.

The closure of the bridge was a good opportunity for the authorities to test their emergency response plans. And the verdict would be mixed in terms of an emergency response.

From the moment the bridge was forced to close, emergency plans should have been activated by the Civil Defence Commission. It makes no sense trying to have thousands of persons crossing the river at the Vreed-en-Hoop and Stabroek stellings, both of which are in poor condition and are unsafe.

Other crossing points,

utilising private and public facilities, should have been activated.

There are a number of companies which would have been willing to allow the use of their facilities to move the large numbers of persons across the bridge.

This would have avoided the congestion on both sides of the river. Secondly, persons going to the airport should have been advised to use crossings further up the bank, where the authorities could have put some vessels into commission. Thirdly, a number of vehicles were stuck on either side of the river, unable to get across. Immediately, the Joe Vieira Park should have been put into action as a temporary parking lot, with security, for vehicles which were from the other side of the river and which were unable get across.

In short, the authorities did an impressive job in not allowing the situation to get out of control. Things could have been disastrous if the accident had occurred during the daytime.

This would have seen far more persons stuck on each side of the river.

But in terms of an emergency response, there was much to be desired. The authorities have to get this right in the future, because you can never tell when

Dem boys seh ...

People like see but dem don’t see wha dem should There was a time when people use to cross from Vreed-en-Hoop to Georgetown by big boat, de same boats wha running to Bartica and Essequibo. Then dem build a bridge across de Demerara River. Some people use to walk across de bridge every night because it was a night thing.

De big boats disappear and people didn’t have to get stranded in de city when night set in. People from de West Side only use to party in de city if dem had family to stay at.

De bridge change all of that, but dem had people who look like if dem want shut down de bridge fuh good.

In de past de bridge use to break away.

One time a lady going to de airport get trap pun a piece that look like if it was floating to Trinidad. Every Tom, Dick and Harrylall who use to tek a boat and sail up and down de river suddenly see de bridge as an obstacle.

Nuff of dem knock de bridge and bruck it.

Every time that happen people got to use

boat to cross and dem boat don’t wuk in de nights. Yesterday, a barge bruck de bridge.

Dem boys hear de river people did seize barge.

Nobody don’t know why. This barge break away.

In Guyana people does see everything. If a man trying to hide from he wife people gun show she wheh he deh.

Just de odda day three men try to break into a house in Republic Park. People see and de police shoot one of dem. Suh when this barge break away and people claim how dem ain’t see.

De barge bruck de bridge and this happen when some people was driving over it. A lady driver get hurt. Dem boys seh she was lucky to get off.

De police arrest de people pun de tug because some people believe that dem was trying to get away real quiet.

After-all a man did thief a barge from de bridge and hide it in Mahaica. How he manage to sail it till up deh only de Man above know.

Talk half and put railings round de bridge.

Johnson threatens election ahead of Brexit battle in parliament LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson implicitly warned lawmakers yesterday that he would seek an election if they tied his hands on Brexit, ruling out ever countenancing a further delay to Britains departure from the European Union.

Johnsons promise to take the United Kingdom out of the European Union on Oct. 31 with or without a divorce deal has propelled the nation towards constitutional crisis and confrontation with the blocs 27 other members.

With less than 60 days before a possible

no-deal exit, an alliance of opposition lawmakers are plotting with rebels in Johnsons ruling Conservative Party to block that and force him to delay Brexit for three months.

But Johnson, who made his name as an EU-bashing journalist in Brussels before entering politics, said he would never do that, after his predecessor Theresa May twice postponed Brexit.

“I want everybody to know there are no circumstances in which I will ask Brussels to delay: we are leaving on 31st October, no ifs (Continued on page 12)

another accident will happen.

A new bridge is not the short-term answer. A new bridge is not going to be built in the foreseeable future. It will take about six years to be completed, considering the problems which the government has with project implementation.

The authorities have to cater for possible future emergencies at both the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the Berbice River Bridge, which has now been taken over by the government. They must also put in place contingency plans for other types of emergencies. What is going to happen should the seawall give way? What are the

plans in place should the airport at Timehri have to be closed?

What is going to happen should the East Coast Public Road sink?

These are all scenarios which it is hoped never happen, but if they do, then there must be some pre-planned response. There seems to have been no preplanned response to the closure of the Demerara Harbour Bridge yesterday.

There is a lot of work to be done. And judging from the present performance, help is needed to effectively launch an emergency response such as the one which was required on both sides of the Demerara River in the aftermath of the accident.

The government should seek help. The emergency response to yesterday left much to be desired.

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

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Tuesday September 03, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Does the PPP have a monopoly on political nastiness?

I lived under the administration of five PPP presidents beginning with Dr Cheddi Jagan. Every PPP president was severely chastised by opposition parties, for the most harmless policy to national blunders. This columnist participated consistently in those condemnations. I was in countless picketing activities alongside the leaders of the PNC, AFC and several trade union leaders.

There has to be an answer as to why invisibility has taken over these faces.

Let us start with Tabitha Sarabo-Halley. She represents the WPA in the Cabinet. No other person has put the

WPA on the map more than Walter Rodney. To date, no one in the current WPA hierarchy or anyone associated with the WPA has rejected Rodney as the spiritual leader and ideological guide of the WPA. In fact, the WPA’s public relations television programme is named Walter Rodney Groundings. The WPA head office is named Walter Rodney House. Each press conference of the WPA is done so that the cameras can capture the huge image of Rodney in the background.

But with the conspicuous exception of David Hinds, all WPA hierarchical members, including those that belong

to an amorphous thing named Overseas Associates of the WPA, are so badly tattered that Rodney’s wife and children should save the name of their husband/father and demand the WPA no longer uses Rodney’s name and image.

Sarabo-Halley was just days into her role as minister when she arrogated to herself semi-fascist power and peremptorily fired three public servants from her ministry.

Not only was the act of dismissal a manifestation of political degeneracy, but equally so was the minister’s explanation. She accused them of leaking information. She produced no evidence. She did

not seek an inquiry. She did not offer them due process.

Had any PPP minister had done that, this scrawny social activist and columnist would have hit the picket line denouncing the PPP minister as semi-fascist. Next to me would have been that very lady, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, donning a T-shirt with Walter’s visage and holding a placard with the words Walter left in the lexicon of street protest – “people’s power, no dictator.”

Also in the picket line would be the man currently serving as a GECOM commissioner – Desmond Trotman.

Also wearing a T-shirt with Walter’s face, Trotman’s placard would have read – “Walter Lives! Power to the People! Well, Walter is still living, but far from us, and he is turning in his grave to see what the WPA has become, and the pretenders that speak in his name.

Trotman voted for the termination of the contract of Deputy Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud, over a candidate that patently lacked the experience and qualifications of Persaud.

To date, no one from the Overseas Associates of the WPA ,and the WPA, has said even half of a word about what Sarabo-Halley and

Trotman did. Here is something that Walter once said about PNC autocrats during the reign of Burnham. He told a public meeting that he wondered if these autocrats were not afraid that when they speak their hypocritical nonsense the words do not choke them.

When Sarabo-Halley and Trotman sit down around the table at Rodney House and glance at the large face of Walter staring down at them, are they not afraid he may rise from his grave and choke them? If the APNU+AFC coalition wins the next election (God forbid) is Sarabo-Halley going back as a minister? If yes, then the creeping fascistization I saw under Jagdeo and Ramotar will emerge again. If SaraboHalley can arrogantly fire three public servants without any pretence of giving them the right to be heard, then think of what she may do if the APNU+AFC chooses her again.

On a related matter, I voted for Sarabo-Halley’s husband in the 2016 local government election. I wrote positive things in my columns about him at the time. This same guy has publicly invited Guyanese to think about boycotting certain businesses that make up the Private Sec-

Frederick Kissoon tor Commission.

The political venalities of the PNC and AFC are tumbling down like water from the Kaieteur Falls but the vociferous voices , the reverberating cries and the screaming vocabularies that dominated Guyana when the PPP was in power are all gone.

I will ask you to say a little prayer for me if you believe in God. When I go out on the picket line to protest the violations of the current government, I know when I look over my shoulder my soldiers that used to be with me during the hegemony of Jagdeo and Ramotar will not be there.

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

Man accused of murdering wife over 21 years ago remanded Almost twenty-one years to the day that he allegedly committed a heinous crime, a 46-year-old resident of Hururu Mission, Upper Berbice River, was yesterday hauled before the courts where an indictable charge of murder was read to him by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

It was alleged that Philbert Thomas called “Gilbert Thomas”, murdered his wife Viola Thomas on September 5, 1998, at Cubacalli, Waini, North West District. He was not required to plead to the charge which was read to him in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts.

According to information, on the day in question the man reportedly stabbed his wife multiple times about the body at a fun-day event. Police said he then went into hiding.

Subsequent to the incident, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended that Thomas be charged with murder. Police said that the matter was heard at the Acquero Magistrates Court in Region One. Several witnesses testified against the accused.

A police release stated that the matter was re-called

Philbert “Gilbert” Thomas eight years later at the same court, and it was adjourned with no appointed date for resumption.

It was Alina Thomas, the 63-year-old mother of the slain woman, who spotted a photograph in the Kaieteur News of Philbert Thomas, a man who gave his name as “Gilbert Thomas” to the police.

At the time, Gilbert Thomas was on remand on two charges of felonious wounding. He was accused of stab-

bing his ex-girlfriend, Dolly Gobin, 48, and Leymond Smith, her 40-year-old partner.

It is alleged that Gobin and Smith, were consuming alcohol at Gobins home at Hururu Mission, Upper Berbice River, when Thomas, with whom Gobin had shared a relationship, attacked them.

He allegedly stabbed Gobin under the left breast, while Smith was stabbed to the left side chest.

Police said the accused then fled. However, police arrested him at a camp in the Hururu backlands.

The deceased womans mother immediately recognized the photograph of the accused in a news article after the details of his arrest was published. She went to the Acquero Police Station and made a report.

A court order was filed and the accused was identified by Alina Thomas. Police indicated that he has since confessed to killing his wife 21 years ago.

Magistrate Daly remanded the defendant to prison until September 9, when he is expected to return to court for continuation of the matter.

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Johnson threatens election ahead....

From page 9 or buts,” Johnson said in a hastily-organised statement at a lectern outside Number 10 Downing Street.

“We will not accept any attempt to go back on our promises,” Johnson added. “I dont want an election. You dont want an election. Lets get on with the peoples agenda.”

Britains Brexit dilemma is its most consequential politi-

cal decision since World War Two. Opponents of a no-deal exit say it would be a disaster for the economy, while Brexit supporters are eager to cut Britain free from what they see as a doomed experiment in integration that has seen Europe fall behind China and the United States.

Johnson, the face of the Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum, said that if

lawmakers voted to delay Brexit they would “plainly chop the legs out from under the UK position and make any further negotiation absolutely impossible”.

If parliament defeats the government on Brexit, a vote on holding an election will be held tomorrow with an election date of Oct. 14, according to a senior government source.

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Repsol targets 200M barrels of oil with first well in Kanuku Block

R

epsol Exploration Guyana yesterday kicked off its drilling campaign at the Carapa-1 well site within the Kanuku Block of the Guyana Maritime Zone.

According to the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), this exercise is scheduled to conclude on November 30, 2019, and will incorporate the use of the MODU Rowan EXL-II and the OSV Bourbon Calm vessels which will be displaying the international signal for vessels engaged in such activities.

The department notes that the survey area is approximately 72 nautical miles from the Coast of Guyana, and covers an area of 2 square kilometres.

Kanuku is a block covering 1,937 km2 in the Atlantic Ocean. Repsol holds a 37.5% stake and operates the Project, while Tullow Oil holds 37.5% and Total 25%.

The Carapa prospect is a 200-million-barrel Cretaceous target located in 70 metres of water and will be drilled using a jack-up rig.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Map showing location of the Carapa prospect on the Kanuku block

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Junior Cornette cops $1M in raffle aimed at supporting athletes

A

large crowd gathered on Saturday night last to in great anticipation of who was going to cart off the $1M top prize, as Payless Store (and collaborative partners) made ready to announce winners in their humanitarian-driven raffle geared at raising funds to help talented local sportsmen/women The crowd enjoyed presentations from a cultural mix of local artistes before the raffle was drawn.

Taking home the milliondollar prize was Junior Cornette (ticket # 4675) of Georgetown, while Vanessa

Deokarran of Edinburgh Village, Corentyne, Berbice, took home the second prize of a Hero Motorcycle. A Berbician housewife was elated to have won both a microwave and refrigerator (tickets # 4281 and 431) while a 32- -inch flat screen television was won by D. Green (ticket # 0588) Just recently, the store's Managing Director, Joseph Ramkarran, joined forces with popular comedian, Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones and National Award-Winning Athletics Coach, Leslie Black, to raise funds to help athletes at the school and national level.

To make this possible they

have solicited the help of several local artistes, and are taking an edutainment approach, where by the artistes perform at several live shows in the form of drama and vocal presentations.

To date they have been able to support athletes representing Guyana at the Commonwealth and Carifta Games, and also athletes and gifted sportsmen and women at the school level.

Not so long ago they were able to raise $5M to assist talented Guyanese boxer, Clive Atwell, who suffered head injuries during one of his fights.

Badly placed?

These posts at the head of Brickdam and Vlissengen Road were not sturdy enough for the expensive surveillance cameras they protect. There are criticisms that the cameras were poorly situated. (Mark Jacobs photos on Facebook)

“I thief de battery but don't send me to jail,” man cries in court

W

ith tears streaming down his face moments after admitting to a simple larceny charge, a man begged the Magistrate to give him community service instead of sentencing him to jail. Twenty-six-year-old Kumar Shaw appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

Shaw pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on July 15, 2019, at Regent Street, Georgetown, he stole one battery valued at $22, 000, property of Kim DeSantos. “Yea ma'am I carry it away,” Shaw told the court as he entered a guilty plea. The defendant further mentioned that he sold the battery and when he went back to the man he sold it to, the man refuted his claims and beat him up.

“I ask back the man for the battery and the man lash

me to my mouth and beat me up,” Shaw told the court, pointing to a scar on his face.

Police prosecutor Sanj Singh told the court that, on the day in question, the virtual complainant secured her minibus and then left for h o m e . H o w e v e r, t h e following day when she returned and checked her bus, she noticed the battery was missing.

The woman then made a report at the police station.

CCTV footage subsequently revealed Shaw removing the battery from the bus. He was later apprehended and charged for simple larceny.

“Give me to clean up the court your worship. I thief de battery, but don't send me to jail… I don't want to go to jail,” Shaw continued crying as he begged the Magistrate for community service.

However, Magistrate Daly explained to the defendant that he doesn't have a fixed placed of abode and if

Kumar Shaw given community service they won't be able to track him. Shaw was ordered to pay a fine of $15,000, or in default he will spend two months in prison.

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Tuesday September 03, 2019

Banks DIH Limited presents bursaries to 23 children of employees, shareholders

Mr. George McDonald - Managing Director/Marketing, Mr. Andrew Carto-Human Resources Director and other executives of Banks DIH Limited pose with the Bursary awardees.

B

anks DIH L i m i t e d presented bursaries to 23 children of employees and shareholders who were successful at the 2019 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) during

its annual presentation ceremony last Saturday at the Sports Club, Thirst Park.

The bursary awards were presented by Mr. George Mc Donald, Co-Managing Director/Marketing Director during the ceremony

attended by the recipients, parents and senior executives of the Company including Mr. Andrew Carto, Human Resources Director.

The feature address was delivered by Mr. David Carto, Procurement and

Operations Executive, who congratulated the awardees and encouraged them to be motivated and strive for excellence.

The recipients were: (Employees' children) Nathan Kellman, Uvraj

Arjune, Israel Van Buckley, Duveena DeAbreau, Anique Fields, Mandisa Doodnauth, Macy Barclay, Tejasvi Kishur, Akeela Smith, Mauricisa Payne, Devyani Singh and Ronnel Roach.

(Shareholders' children):

Shivali Challu, Ajala Maharaj, Dasha Venture, Lakeram Ramnarain, Saskiyah Wilkinson, Julia Bacchus, Julia Bacchus, Joshua Naraine, Khemesh Persaud, Marzuku Smith and Alwyn Adams.

E'bo minibus and hire car body increases in membership …following introduction of new fare structure

Late last month, more than forty hire car and bus operators became registered members of the Essequibo Minibus and Hire Car Association.

W

i t h t h e introduction of a new fare structure on the Essequibo Coast, it now appears that being a registered member of the Essequibo Minibus and Hire Car Association is compulsory.

Late last month, more than forty hire car and bus operators became registered members.

Secretary of the association, Mr. Nateram said that a photocopied fare structure would not be authentic. He pointed out that persons must first be registered members before they can obtain an original structure, signed by the association.

“The chairman has to sign on to it, because if you

give persons and they don't sign on, they can photocopy it and say they are a member.

When you register you will have a typed out structure that is initialed by the chairman of the association, which is legal and authentic.” Said Nateram.

Kaieteur News understands that prior to the introduction of the new fare structure, there was a functioning association with less than half the minibus and car drivers.

The association's secretary pointed out that being a registered member is now compulsory since the intervention of the Ministry of Business. “Persons never wanted to become members of the association, it's a must now, because the ministry of

business has intervened saying that you have to become a member of the association before you can be issued with a fare structure.”

Earlier this year, drivers on the Essequibo Coast had been making multiple complaints of alleged police harassment. Drivers made claims that they were 'harassed' after being found without the fare structure in their vehicles. Nateram pointed out that the benefit of being a part of the association is that representation can be made on behalf of drivers. He went on to say, “We recently had a very successful meeting with the commander, and she made it clear that if you have information call her and she will deal with the matter.”

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Harbour Bridge collision creates I havoc in West Demerara

t was all chaos and confusion in West Demerara yesterday as news of the indefinite closure of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, due to an early morning collision of a tug and a barge with the 41-year-old structure, spread like wildfire.

What would have been for some an exciting day, as many children were preparing to experience their first day of school, and even more were returning to school for the new year, turned into a melee, as hysterical parents rushed about frantically, trying to avoid the massive crowds awaiting river transport at the Vreed-en Hoop, West Demerara Speedboat Stelling.

There was hardly any space on the roadways for people to traverse as drivers were forced to park wherever they could, desperately hoping for repairs to the bridge to be soon affected.

School children not wanting to endure the jostling at the Vreed-en-Hoop stelling were seen lingering at the roadsides, since their schools were located in various areas in Georgetown.

Vegetable vendors could be heard lamenting, since they were transporting perishables to be sold at the Stabroek and Bourda Market locations.

Some of them opened the backs of their vehicles and attempted to sell in that fashion, hoping to rake in a few dollars, than to lose it all. Pensioners travelling to Georgetown were very saddened yesterday, as they were unable to brave the speedboats to collect their much needed finances in the city.

Businessmen transporting goods to stores in Georgetown, too, were bemoaning the fact that they would lose sales, since many items were too hefty and cumbersome to be transported by speedboats. Of course, the speedboat captains were smiling, since the disruption created a steady flow of traffic to and from the Vreed-en-Hoop and Georgetown Stellings, and of course, maybe doubled or tripled daily earnings.

According to reports, around 00:35hrs yesterday, a drifting barge being towed by a tug, crashed into a section of the bridge, causing it to become misaligned. A car reportedly by a female narrowly missed plunging headlong into the Demerara River when several metal plates on the bridge became dislocated as a result of the collision. The female driver, screaming for all she was worth, was rescued by a mini bus driver who it is said, was the person who alerted Harbour Bridge officials about the accident.

The scene at the Georgetown Stelling

There was a mad rush to access speedboats at the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling in the early hours

Kaieteur News

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Caribbean urged to “break-up” with single use plastics

B

RIDGETOWN, B a r b a d o s (CMC) – The Global Environment Facility-funded Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (GEF IWEco) project has launched a video urging Caribbean people to “breakup” with single use plastics.

“In the Caribbean, plastic waste makes up a large proportion of debris reaching the sea from sources on land.

In the ocean it harms marine life, threatens ecosystems, health and the region's tourism-based economy. Plastic pollution not only diminishes the natural beauty for which the islands are known; it also compromises the role of the ocean as a provider of food, other resources, and livelihoods,” GEF IWEco

said.

It noted that a report on the Status of Styrofoam and Plastic Bag Bans in the Wider Caribbean published by the UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme in May this year, noted that the Caribbean is the second most plastic-contaminated sea in the world after the Mediterranean Sea. Estimations of the volume of plastic waste in this area range from 600 to 1,414 plastic items per square kilometre (km) in different locations.

Two years ago, the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) launched the #CleanSeas Campaign to engage governments, the public, civil society, and the private sector in the fight against marine plastic litter.

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Early screening and education remain - Institute key factors to fighting cancer reiterates

C

ancer is the name given to a collection of related diseases that attack the body, in forms more different than the other. With Cancer, the cells become abnormal, grow until they form into tumours, and this can develop and grow in almost any part of the human body. This disease has a major impact on societies across the globe. In 2018 alone, an estimated 1,735,350 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the United States, with 609,640 losing that battle.

This disease is not your typical flu that attacks your nervous system and then subsides after a few days—it can last for years. And while the symptoms are not specific, it is important that people limit their risk factors and undergo proper and early screening.

This preventative measure is something that

the Cancer Institute of Guyana (CIG) has been pushing for a number of years now, especially with the help of Dr. Sayan Chakraborty, the medical director and a clinical oncologist at the CIG. The CIG is highly recognised for their cancer diagnoses and treatment in not just Guyana, but the Caribbean region. At the cancer institute, diagnostic screening and treatment such as internal/ external radiation, mammograms, pap- smears, X-rays, sonograms, chemotherapy and CTscanning are readily available for all the different forms of cancer, with the exception of cancers that children develop.

Dr. Chakraborty, who has been working at the Cancer Institute since March of 2015 expressed that, “The most important part is not the diagnoses and treatment.

Remember, prevention is better than cure, and it is why screening is pivotal, along with education to the patient, and education to the general society.”

The oncologist, who treats some 200 patients yearly, noted that when they can detect the cancer early, the prognosis of the cancer and the treatment is “very good.”

Considering that the most

common types of cancer for women in Guyana are breast and cervical cancers, the CIG conducts screening programs such as the sonograms, which Chakraborty adds, is a combination diagnosis of performing an x-ray and an ultrasound in the breast.

“With pap-smears what we do is that we have a swab and take scraping of the lower part of the womb, called the cervix. [We] take some swabs from the vagina, the lip of the cervix and the inner parts of the cervix, put it on a slide and then view it under a microscope. This too is also one of the best procedures to detect cervical cancer,” says the oncologist.

He noted that the papsmear and mammogram are two very simple procedures, and the report can be completed in less than 24 hours, with no hospital administration required afterwards. Prostate cancer which is more common in men in Guyana is also a very simple screening test.

“None of these tests are expensive. Most of the time we spend more money on an evening or a weekend with our friend,” the oncologist said. Questioned about whether the Institute is understaffed or underequipped, Chakraborty said no. “Guyana has a small

Dr. Sayan Chakraborty population. If the population becomes 3, 4, 5 million we might need another centre.

But right now the population is right, I think that one centre is more than enough.”

“I would suggest that if someone is finding a lump in the breast, if there is a long standing pain in the breast, I think it would be best for you to go see the doctor or visit the cancer institute. If a person is having a vaginal discharge, bleeding or unusual pain then you should visit the doctor.

These are the symptoms that might indicate to you that something might be wrong. If one is experiencing these symptoms, one should not be staying at home, but seek the doctor's advice,” Chakraborty concluded.

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Kaieteur News

Back to school!

Despite the shadow cast by the Demerara Harbour Bridge going down, there were these and other heart-warming scenes yesterday as the new school year commenced.

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Tuesday September 03, 2019

Kaieteur News

Wildlife trader charged for trafficking Venezuelans FOR RENT

SERVICES

FOR SALE

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

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Contact# 697-1141/612-6672

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PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

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A 62-year-old wildlife exporter was yesterday charged for trafficking in persons.

The man, Fazel Shaw, of 69 Soesdyke, Linden Highway, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts. Shaw denied both charges which stated that between February 14, 2018, and June 14, 2018, at Soesdyke, Linden Highway, E.B.D, he engaged in trafficking in persons, in which he recruited, transported or harboured two men, and did not pay them.

According to the reports, on February 14, 2018, the Venezuelans entered Guyana ille-

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Teachers wanted: Common Entrance Lessons. Grades 1-6 Teachers, Nursery Teachers.

Call: 690-9378

gally and on the following day, they were taken to the defendants home in Soesdyke, the Venezuelan nationals were told that they would be paid $10,000 for each cage they built for exotic animals, which the defendant exports.

After working for three days with Shaw, the Venezuelans complained about the work and the fact that they were not paid as promised for their labour.

On June 6, 2018, the victims were each given $100,000 and were promised the remainder of the money that was owed to them, but they never received any more money from Shaw - the defendant allegedly took away the mens passports and kept it in his custody. The matter was later reported, an investigation was then carried out.

Fazel Shaw Shaw was charged for the offence. He was released on 100,000 bail by Magistrate Singh, and the matter will be called again on September 11.

Tuesday September 03, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Region Six NGSA standouts...

Sugar workers children rewarded by NICIL The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has started an initiative to reward children of current and past sugar workers who excelled at the National Grade Six exams.

Three of Region Sixs Top Performers were awarded by the entitys Special Projects Unit at a simple ceremony held at the Regional Education Officers office on Friday last.

The recipients who all gained places at Queens College and The Bishops High School have opted to stay in their region, and have begun their new school year at Berbice High School.

Pawan Ketwaro and Chitra Ramdeen who both scored 520 marks tied for first place in the region. Marissa Siriram who got 514 marks and was awarded fifth place for the region, placed third for former and/or current workers of GuySuco.

All of the students were in the company of their mothers, and while they expressed happiness at their achievements, they all preferred to stay close to home and their families. This bit of information was revealed by the CEO of NICIL, Mr Colwin Heath-London, who indicated that NICIL is prepared to lend assistance to ensure that students attend the schools they had secured places at, when they sat the Grade Six Exams.

He extended congratulations to all of the students and wished them all the best in their future academic endeavours.

From left: Marissa Siriram, Chitra Ramdeen, Pawan Ketwaro, Secondary Education Officer, Ms. Celeste La Rose, Estate Manager of the Rose Hall Operation, Mr Edward Anderson and NICIL CEO Mr. Colvin Heath- London.

While the first two indicated their interest to become doctors, Marissa has her eye on the field of Law. Estate Manager of the Rose Hall operation, Edward Anderson, said that he was very proud. He said that he was elated to see young Pawan Ketwaro in the batch, noting that he knows the childs father whom he worked with for a number of years be-

fore the father became an ex-employee. “I want to congratulate you the parents, as you are seeing that the sacrifices and investment that you have made are already paying off. And let me say that this is just the start, as there is more to come, because I am confident that these three children in five years time will be part of our countrys top CSEC per-

formers,� he posited.

Each student was presented with backpacks packed with books and stationery supplies,

$60,000 to open a savings account, a weekend trip for themselves and parents to either Berbice Inn or Watooka Guest

House, and other financial contributions to ensure that their transition into a higher level of schooling is easy.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Tuesday September 03, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Hurricane Dorian ‘Unprecedented’ devastation in The Bahamas NASSAU, Bahamas CMC – Foreign Affairs Minister, Darren Henfield, yesterday described the damage caused by a virtually stand still Hurricane Dorian on the Abacos “as tremendous…the kind of which we have never seen” as Bahamians continue to experience the fury of the Category 5 storm that began lashing the country on Sunday.

The Bahamas Press reported on Twitter that a boy drowned in the northern Bahamas, the first recorded fatality of one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record. There were no other confirmed reports of deaths or casualties.

As many as 13,000 homes in the Bahamas may have been destroyed or severely damaged, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.

Houses in a neighbourhood in Freeport on Grand Bahama Island were engulfed by six feet (1.8 m) of water.

Henfield, who is the Member of Parliament for North Abaco, said in a mes-

sage aired on ZNS News that residents of the area “are coming out of the last of the storm at the moment.

“We have severe damage, compromise to buildings and homes. We are holding strong. We have no real communication right now because all of the networks are down,” he said, adding “we are moving about right now, we are basically in search and recover mode.

“We received catastrophic damage here and in Abaco we have not heard from the Keys as yet. On the mainland we can see tremendous damage the kind of which we have never seen before. Continue to pray for us, we are holding strong,” Henfield said.

The Foreign Minister said “multiple persons” were holed up at the government complex “and there are still some in shelters, some still remain at homes.

“We are okay, we are going to be okay, just continue to pray for us,” he said in his message which lasted just over one minute.

The Miami-based Na-

Debris from Hurricane Dorian is seen in Elbow Cay, which is just off Abaco in the Bahamas yesterday. (Josh Terrells)

tional Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that Dorian is moving west at one mph and a slow westward to westnorthwestward motion is forecast during the next day or so, followed by a gradual turn toward the northwest and

north. The hurricane was expected to move dangerously close to the Florida east coast last night through tomorrow evening,” NHC said.

“Dorian is a category 5 hurricane…and although gradual weakening is fore-

cast, Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next couple of days,” it warned.

Videos posted on social media showed the damaging effect of the storm as house were without roofs, cars over-

turned and wide spread flooding as trees and branches bend to the force of the winds.

Minister of State for Grand Bahamas, James Kwasi Malik Thompson, said yesterday that Freeport was feeling the brunt of the hurricane.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Tuesday September 03, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Caribbean, UK help on the way NEWSDAY - A British naval ship and a Caribbean assessment team are heading to The Bahamas to try to help after damage done by category five Hurricane Dorian.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Mounts Bay is a support ship, UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces Mark Lancaster said on Twitter. The ship is designed to land Royal Marines and their equipment during amphibious operations. It is equipped with specialist personnel, stores, and transport and a helicopter, and has been in the region since June preparing for hurricane season.

The Caricom website said the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) in Barbados has sent a team to the Bahamas to co-ordinate the regional response mechanism (RRM).

“CDEMA has maintained a high level of readiness in support of all participating states threatened by Hurricane Dorian. We took a decision to pre-deploy in this instance in view of the threat and after consulta-

Uprooted trees, fallen power lines and the debris from damaged houses scatter on a road as Hurricane Dorian sweeps through Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, Sunday. (Ramond King via Reuters) tion with the Bahamas,” said CDEMA head Ronald Jackson. “Being on the ground will allow the regional support to be mobi-

Trini charged with plotting attack in Washington DC Trinidad Express - A Trinidad-born man living in Maryland, United States accused of planning an Islamic State-inspired attack at a shopping and entertainment complex near Washington, DC, was indicted last Wednesday on a terrorismrelated charge, five months after his arrest.

A federal grand jury indicted Rondell Henry, 28, of Germantown, on a new charge of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation, the Islamic State (ISIS), NBC4 Washington reported. Henry is a naturalised US citizen who moved to the country from Trinidad and Tobago about 11 years ago.

He was arrested on March 28 and remains detained pending trial. He was initially indicted in April and pleaded not guilty to one count of interstate transportation of a

stolen vehicle.

Henry allegedly stole a UHaul van in Virginia and parked it at the National Harbour.

Police arrested him the next morning after they found the van and saw Henry jump over a security fence.

NBC4 reported that Henry told investigators he planned to carry out an attack similar to one in which a driver ran over and killed dozens of people in Nice, France in 2016.

Assistant US Attorney Thomas Windom said during an April 9 detention hearing Henry intended to kill as many “disbelievers” as possible.

Federal public defender Michael Citara Manis, who represented Henry at the hearing in April, urged the court to be sceptical of authorities’ claims and argued that the government “is trying to fit certain facts into their narrative”, NBC4 reported.

lized immediately after the all clear. CDEMA deeply appreciates the support of the government o f t h e United Kingdom to the Regional Response Mechan i s m . ” CDEMA sent two rapid needs assessment teams to The Bahamas.

These teams included representatives of CDEMA participating states (Antigua and Barbuda, and the Turks

and Caicos Islands), the Caribbean Media Corporation, the Caribbean Public Health A g e n c y, t h e Pan American Health Organization, Port Managers Association of the Caribbean, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the University of the We s t I n d i e s a n d t h e World Food Programme.

“This deployment is in direct response to a re-

quest from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

The rapid needs assessment teams are expected to support assessments on the islands most impacted by Dorian in the

a f t e r m a t h of the event.

The teams will support the government of the Bahamas in rapidly assessing the damage from the hurricane and in prioritizing needs.”

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Guatemala arrests former presidential Trump went candidate on eve of U.N. graft team exit golfing as Hurricane Dorian threatens US

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemalan police arrested former presidential candidate Sandra Torres at her home on Monday on charges of violating campaign finance rules, just hours before the departure of a U.N. anti-corruption commission that shook the political class.

A former first lady, the 63year-old Torres finished second to President-elect Alejandro Giammattei last month in her third attempt to win the office.

For more than a decade one of the Central American country’s most prominent politicians, she has long faced accusations of corruption, allegations she has denied.

The fight against corruption has dominated Guatemala’s political scene since the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, CICIG, helped topple a president in 2015.

Torres’ arrest and a case against a sitting minister last week appear to be final blows by the body. Its mandate ends on Tuesday, after 12 years, after being terminated by former President Jimmy Morales.

Without the CICIG, widely viewed as one of the most

Sandra Torres, former first lady and presidential candidate of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) political party, attends a hearing in Guatemala City, Guatemala September 2, 2019.

REUTERS/Luis Echeverria successful anti-corruption bodies in Latin American history, judges have said they fear it would be difficult to proceed with cases.

Torres was detained by several police officers at her house a few miles outside Guatemala City, her face mostly covered by a headscarf and large dark glasses.

She was taken to a courthouse in the city to appear be-

fore judge Claudette Dominguez, who ordered Torres to placed in custody to await trial.

“She is charged with the crimes of failing to register election financing, and unlawful association,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement. The office said the warrant against Torres was issued on Friday.

Torres has denied the accusations.

“We reject this disproportionate and unnecessary measure against Sandra Torres,” said one of her closest aides, lawmaker Orlando Blanco, on Twitter.

Her center-left National Unity of Hope (UNE) party called her arrest politically motivated, saying in a statement that she had recently offered to cooperate in the case.

At the court house, Torres said she felt unwell and was afraid she would faint. She was allowed to sit in an office to catch her breath.

The charges she faces stem from a case by the CICIG. According to the attorney general’s office, UNE received some $3.5 million in undeclared financing during the 2015 presidential election.

UNE holds the largest number of seats in the new Congress.

Responding to the arrest, Giammattei, who has previously said he would like to see Torres behind bars, said the news put a smile on his face. “I’m happy that the attorney general’s office is fulfilling its duty, in this and all the cases that have to do with corruption,” he told reporters.

Chinese deepfake app, Zao, sparks privacy row after going viral (The Guardian) - A Chinese app that lets users convincingly swap their faces with film or TV characters has rapidly become one of the country’s most downloaded apps, triggering a privacy row.

Released on Friday, the Zao app went viral as Chinese users seized on the chance to see themselves act out scenes from well-known movies using deepfake technology, which has already prompted concerns elsewhere over potential misuse.

Users provide a series of selfies in which they blink, move their mouths and make facial expressions, which the app uses to realistically morph the person’s animated likeness on to movies, TV shows or other content.

The company was forced to issue a statement on Sunday pledging changes after critics attacked the app’s privacy policy, which it had “free, irrevocable, permanent, transferable, and relicenseable” rights to all user-generated content.

There has been growing concern over deepfakes, which use artificial intelligence to appear genuine. Critics say the technology can be used to create bogus videos to manipulate elections, defame someone, or potentially cause unrest by spreading misinformation on a massive scale.

“We understand the concerns about privacy. We’ve received the feedback, and will fix the issues that we didn’t take into consideration, which will take some time,” a statement released by Zao said.

Zao is owned by Momo Inc, a Tinder-like dating service that is listed on the US Nasdaq.

It has since changed its terms to say it will not use headshots or videos uploaded by users, other than

to improve the app. It also pledged to remove from its servers any content that was uploaded but subsequently deleted by users.

The backlash has not dented the app’s popularity.

As of Monday afternoon it remained the top free download in China, according to the app market data provider App Annie.

Concerns over deepfakes have grown since the 2016 US election campaign, which saw wide use of online misinformation, according to US investigations.

In June, Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, said the social network was struggling to find ways to deal with deepfake videos, saying they may constitute “a completely different category” of misinformation than anything faced before.

Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump spent Monday visiting his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, and tweeting political grievances as a massive hurricane prepares to barrel up the East Coast of the United States.

Trump’s visit to Trump National marked the 289th day he has spent at a Trump property and the 227th day he has spent at one of his golf clubs as President.

The President did speak to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday. DeSantis, a Republican, said in a news conference that Trump is “fully engaged” with federal, state and local officials. And as the President spent a few hours playing golf at his course outside Washington, he continued to be briefed “hourly” on Hurricane Dorian, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said.

But early Monday morning, Trump’s attention was — at least in part — on other things.

He touted the economy on Twitter. He slammed political foes, including former FBI director James Comey and the four Democratic congresswoman of color known as “The Squad.” And he used Labor Day to tweet an attack on the AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, writing that he “likes what we are doing until the cameras come on.”

Earlier, Trumka had ap-

peared on Fox News slamming the Trump administration for the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, meant to replace NAFTA, which has yet to receive a vote in Congress.

Trump also retweeted warnings from the National Hurricane Center on the storm but had not written any missives on the hurricane since Sunday.

Hurricane Dorian, a slowmoving behemoth, continues to pound the Bahamas. In the United States, residents on the southern East Coast have been warned to prepare for hurricane-force winds, though forecasts vary about when and where it may make landfall, from Florida to the Carolinas. At its strength, Dorian was a Category 5 hurricane, the highest possible.

On Monday morning, it was reclassified as a Category 4.

Trump said Sunday that he’s “not sure that (he’s) ever even heard of a Category 5" hurricane, despite four such storms — including Hurricane Dorian — having threatened the US since he took office.

“We don’t even know what’s coming at us. All we know is it’s possibly the biggest. I have — I’m not sure that I’ve ever even heard of a Category 5. I knew it existed.

And I’ve seen some Category 4’s — you don’t even see them that much,” Trump said Sunday at a briefing with officials at FEMA headquarters.

PSA leader bows out to concentrate on elective politics PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad CMC – President of the Public Service Association (PSA), Watson Duke, yesterday said he intends to step down from the post to concentrate on leading his Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) party into the next general elections constitutionally due by December 2020.

Duke, who was released on TT$250,000 (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) last week after he was slapped with a charge of sedition, told a news conference that as of November 30, he would no longer be heading the union. He is due back in court on December 13.

Duke, is also the minority

leader of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), and says he intends to become a full time representative.

Duke said many people had become dissatisfied with the PNM and he intends providing a viable option.

Duke, who is also charged with rape, four sex related offences from an earlier incident, said that Laventille, which is situated along the east-west corridor in the capital, is no longer a PNM stronghold, as Penal in south Trinidad was no longer a stronghold of the main opposition United National Congress (UNC).

Tuesday September 03, 2019

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Kaieteur News

‘Happy to be among the greats’ - Kemar Roach ESPNcricinfo - Two balls.

Two edges. Two catches for the wicketkeeper. Kemar Roach had taken out the struggling KL Rahul for 6 and Virat Kohli for the fourth duck of his Test career.

And when Ajinkya Rahane edges the hat-trick ball towards the stumps, Roach is sure the ball is going to hit. But it doesn’t. It misses by an inch and the fast bowler slumps to the ground. He sits there for a long moment unable to believe his luck.

“Of course!” Roach exclaimed when asked if, for a second, he thought he’d got the hat-trick. “Inside edge and missing the stumps - a bit unlucky, but I am pretty happy with what happened. It was a good feeling. Obviously, the Indian batting line-up is very

strong, so to be on a hat-trick against those guys is obviously a good feeling. I’d have liked to get it, but a little more luck the next time it hits on the stumps and it will go my way, but I am pretty happy for what happened.

“I think as a bowling group, there is satisfaction in how we have done so far.

Kudos to the guys. Happy for myself to be, obviously, be among some of the greats, so it’s a great achievement for me as well.”

The focus is on West Indies’ batting now with India setting them a massive 468 to win. But Roach has a plan. “There is more than enough time,” he said.

“Two days left in the Test match. Just bat. Nothing more to be said about that.

The guys haven’t had a good score in this Test series so far, so it’s about just applying themselves and going out there and being positive and put some runs o n t h e board.”

West Indies can take heart in conditions becoming a little better for batsmen, but Roach said it would still be a challenge with bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma conjuring nearperfect deliveries.

“It’s flattened out a bit more. It’s not as bouncy as it was the first couple of days,” he said.

“There is still enough there for the bowlers. Still have to apply yourself as a batsman and have to grind and get that score, but I think once you get in it gets way

Tuesday September 03, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Stop being an enabler to someone you care about.

You may let someone continue a dangerous addictive behavior simply because you want to avoid a confrontation.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Stop hiding behind your intellectual barrier, Libra. Playing games will get you nowhere. True strength is standing up and demonstrating that you can say what you feel in any situation.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You may have some issues with food, Taurus. Maybe your sense of self-worth isn't at its highest, and you're trying to make up for this by sabotaging your relationship with your body.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Stop trying to feel everyone else's emotions and focus on yours. Being empathetic is certainly laudable, but at some point you need to face the music and look in the mirror.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) If there's an issue with your partner that needs airing, this is a good time to do it, Gemini. Don't hold back just to maintain the equilibrium in the relationship.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) The intensity of the day may bring unexpected opposition, Cancer. Whether it's verbalized or not, the confrontations are quite real.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Give your loved ones the attention they need today, Leo. Don't let another day go by without saying you love them. Life is short and getting shorter with each passing day.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Don't run away from the tension today, Virgo. Any emotional stress you feel will be compounded if it isn't dealt with right away.

Be in the moment while the moment is here.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) It may seem like neither side of the bed is the right side to wake up on today, Sagittarius. The only solution may be is to just go back to dreamland if you can.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may feel like you're being double-crossed by a loved one today, Capricorn.

Maybe your words are being used against you in such a way that makes you look like the bad guy.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may say one thing one minute and the opposite the next, Aquarius.

Most of the time you jump from one issue to the next with no hassle, but today people probably will call you on it.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) The tension in the air might be what you need in order to become more aware of subconscious issues that affect your behavior, Pisces.

easier - so it’s all about the guys being positive and grinding and obviously getting the score.”

Roach is eager to help out in that regard as well. “Yeah, obviously I am pretty confident with the bat recently. Just backing my ability, trust my talent and go there and hit the ball. I have been doing it pretty well and pretty proud of that. I just keep it simple for me - I know my shots and I just wait for the balls to come in that area.”

Speaking about the West Indies bowling unit including his relationship with captain Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel, Roach felt they had been performing exceptionally well in the last two years, and were communicating well as a unit.

Angel, Small, Wong, Stoll...

From page 31 before Angel and Small staged a recovery. Angel struck five fours and one six before he was dismissed for a top score of 39, while Small hit one four and two sixes in scoring 30. Azoomah Alfred made 12 as Young Achievers managed 129-6; Layne picked up 2-13 and Ally 2-18.

In reply, Young Guns loss opener Jarrard Allicock bowled by Sinclair for six, Saeed Hack went for six and Randy Ragubeer was dismissed without scoring, however resolute batting by Stoll and Wong resurrected the chase nicely, and despite losing them both in the latter stages of the innings, Young Guns finished on 130-8.

Stoll struck six fours in a fluent 31, while Wong made 30 with two fours and a similar number of sixes. Sudra Shane chipped in with 10 as Young Guns finished on 1308 in 20 overs. Angel took 231. Young Achievers won the second encounter by nine runs. Batting first in a match which was reduced to 15 overs, Young Achiever’s loss Sinclair (11) and Angel (13) before Collis Noble steadied the innings somewhat with a patient 22 that contained two fours. His innings saw his team ending on 90-7. Avick Nandalall had 2-4, Joel Fortune 2-16 and Kurtin Layne 2-21.

Young Guns were put on the back foot early in the chase, losing four wickets for 22, but Shane Wong tried to keep his team in the hunt with a robust 29 that included three sixes. However, following his dismissal, Young Guns found it difficult to score at the required rate and were limited to 81-8. Angel claimed 39, Jaden Samuels 3-11 and Sinclair 2-9.

HS Masters, Two Sisters Car Rental...

From page 29 made 40, while Pooran Singh took 2-8.

Fisherman Masters responded with 79-9.

Robert Mohan made 29 as Manoj Arjune picked up 413 to take the man-of-thematch award.

In the Open final, Two Sisters Car Rental overcame Bee Hive by 22 runs.

Two Sisters Car Rental batted first and scored 42-2

off their reduced quota of three overs. In reply, Bee Hive made 20 in three overs.

The group has expressed gratitude to Rockaway Auto Sales for their contribution, the participating teams and ground staff.

The group would also like to thank Pristine Water, Omesh and Son Seafood, Lakeram, Shell Shack, Yougie and Son Smoke Fish and Sniper Sound System.

Hamilton relishing many...

From page 28 fans. Team boss Mattia Binotto warned it would still be tough, however.

“The best way to approach Monza would have been to win many races before and not only Spa,” he told reporters.

“But...we proved that our package is competitive here at Spa, and we maybe expect to be competitive in Monza as well.” Leclerc’s win at SpaFrancorchamps came in the 13th race of a 21-round season and was Ferrari’s first since Kimi Raikkonen, now at Alfa Romeo, won the U.S. Grand Prix last October.

The sport’s oldest and most successful team had been favourites to win in

Belgium, with their car aerodynamically suited to the high speed track’s fast sweeps and flat-out blasts, and will be fancied again for Monza. The layout of the historic track near Milan, with long flat-out straights mostly broken only by fast chicanes, should suit Ferrari even more than Spa. They have not won at home since 2010 but Leclerc’s breakthrough, with the Monaco anthem sounding out for the first time, will have sent expectations soaring.

“Last year, coming to Monza was probably one of the best experiences in my life,” said the Monegasque, who raced for Sauber (now Alfa Romeo) in 2018.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

GFF Annual FIFA Referees Assistance Programme wraps up Twenty Referees, including three FIFA Referees, have completed the annual Referees Assistance Programme (RAP) held in Guyana from August 27-31, 2019. The programme, hosted at the National Stadium, Providence, saw both theory and practical sessions led by FIFA Technical Instructors Javier Santos and Jeffrey Stolis, and Fitness Instructor Alan Brown.

According to Santos, three key areas were covered over the period: “The first was the fitness condition of the referees, second was the technical knowledge and working in the classroom sessions with the Technical Instructors and the third area was the Technical and Practical Training in the field of play.

In the fitness condition aspect, a fitness test was done but two different types of tests were administered for the Referees and the Assistant Referees respectively. For the technical knowledge, video tests were done – evaluating handball decisions, tactical fouls and offside decisions and challenge, the most important thing in the field of play.

The third aspect was done using players and the Referees and Assistants had to take the best decisions depending on the play.”

While noting that the participants were receptive to the information shared, looking ahead, Santos said the major challenge is the referees’ commitment to the task at hand: “They have to show that they are ready to officiate at the elite level matches regardless of

President Forde and FIFA Instructors flanked by RAP participants, 2019. whether if it’s just here in Guyana or internationally and this is not just for the FIFA referees. They have to show they are ready physically and technically so they have to train continuously and keep working together with the support of the Referees Department and the GFF to enable them to be prepared and ready for matches in this part of the region.”

At the conclusion of the programme, a Certificate of Participation was given to each participant. The RAP is a capacity building programme which seeks to create uniformity among elite referees and enable same to meet the demands of the game.

Javier Santos, FIFA Technical Instructor - interacting with a RAP participant during one of the classroom sessions.

Djokovic’s U.S. Open title defence derailed by injury NEW YORK (Reuters) Novak Djokovic’s U.S. Open title defence came unstuck on Sunday when a nagging shoulder injury forced the world number one to retire from his fourth-round match against Stan Wawrinka, prompting a chorus of boos from the crowd at Flushing Meadows.

Wawrinka was leading 64 7-5 2-1 when Djokovic decided he could not continue, the pair embracing at the side of the court before the Serb walked off with his head down low but his left

thumb stuck high in the air.

“The pain was constant for weeks now. Some days higher, some days with less intensity, and obviously taking different stuff to kill the pain instantly,” said Djokovic, who has won the U.S. Open three times.

“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

“You just know when you know, I guess, when you feel like you’re not able to hit the shot anymore.”

After dropping the second set, Djokovic immediately called for medical

attention and sat courtside without his shirt on while the trainer gave him a massage.

He returned to the court but the 16-times Grand Slam winner was still clearly hampered by the issue and after being broken to love following a double fault decided he could not go on.

The shoulder injury nearly saw Djokovic retire from his second-round match on Wednesday but the 32year-old seemed to have recovered by Friday, saying he was almost pain-free after winning in straight sets to

reach the last 16.

While frustrated in his bid to inch closer to Roger Federer’s all-time record of 20 career Grand Slam titles, Djokovic was confident there would be plenty more chances to add to his collection.

“It’s a long road ahead hopefully for me,” he said. “I hope I can play for many more years. I’m planning to. I mean, I don’t see an end behind the corner at all.

“Now it’s a matter of keeping my body and mind in shape and trying to still peak

at these kind of events that are majors and that are the most significant in our sport.”

Djokovic was off the pace in a lackluster first set against three-times Grand Slam champion Wawrinka but seemed to right the ship in the second when he took a 4-1 lead. But a determined Wawrinka, with his serve clicking, fought his way back and twice held to love en route to taking the set for a 20 lead.

Wawrinka, who had not faced Djokovic since beating him in the 2016 U.S. Open

final, said he could see his opponent was struggling but did his best to focus on his own game. “For sure I could see some little thing that he was in trouble,” said Wawrinka, who will face Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals.

“But I was most likely, most of the time, focused on myself because I know how well he can fight. I know how well he can come back.

Doesn’t matter how he’s feeling on the court, and that’s what I was focusing on.”

Tuesday September 03, 2019

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Kaieteur News

NAFICO claim Insurance Institute of Guyana Tapeball title

NAFICO skipper Anil Singh accepts the winning prize from Priscilla McIntosh.

NAFICO were crowned champions of the Insurance Institute of Guyana 7-a-side 5-over Tapeball cricket competition which was contested on Saturday last at the GNIC SC, Woolford Avenue.

NAFICO were largely indebted to Anil Singh who propped up the total in the latter stages of the innings with some lusty hitting and Dinesh Singh who produced a fine spell of medium pace bowling to take a hat-trick.

Watched by a large and colourful crowd, NAFICO defeated GTM by 25 runs in the final. NAFICO took first strike and recovered from a slow start to post a challenging 68-4. Singh struck two fours and four towering sixes in a top score of 38, while

Dinesh Singh contributed 12.

In reply, GTM found the going tough and were limited to 43-4. R. Seepersaud made 22 as Dinesh Singh grabbed 3-4 from one over. He was named man-of-the-match.

Both teams registered comfortable victories in their respective semi-final games.

NAFICO defeated Diamond Fire and General Insurance Company INC by 32 runs in their encounter. Batting first, NAFICO managed 92-1 with Devendra Singh scoring 60 not out including eight sixes.

Diamond Fire and General Insurance Company Inc responded with 60-1. Hansraj Sookdeo made 39 not out.

GTM overcame Assuria by 27 runs in the second semi final. GTM took first strike and scored 74-2. S. Solomon made

The victorious NAFICO team.

28 and R. Seepersaud 26.

Assuria replied with 47-4. Anil Persaud made 30.

Earlier, Hand-in-Hand went down to Diamond Fire and General Insurance Company Inc by eight wickets. Hand-in-Hand took first strike and managed 75-4 with P. Bani scoring 25.

Diamond Fire and General Insurance Co. Inc replied with 78-2 in 4.5 overs. Hansraj Sookdeo struck an unbeaten 45.

NAFICO beat Hand-inHand by five runs. Batting

The NY Business Group Under-19 Cricket Tournament

Ramcharitar bags 6/24 as Albion defeat Rose Hall Town by 7 wickets Leg-Spinner Surendra Ramcharitar bagged 6 for 24 as Albion defeated Rose Hall Town by 7 wickets to emerge winner of Zone C in the NY Business Group Under-19 50 Overs Cricket Tournament in Berbice.

Playing in their final preliminary fixture at the Area H Ground in Rose Hall Town, the home team were dismissed for a paltry 60 in 21.5 of their allotted 50 Overs after winning the toss and decided to take first strike on a pitch that was good for batting.

Opener Junior Sinclair and fellow national Under-19 batsman Kevlon Anderson made 16 each as none of the other batsmen reach double figures.

Kelvin Omrow, who shared the new ball with fellow left-arm-spinner Gouraf Ramesh, started Rose Hall’s misery in the second over of the match when Vikash

Subramani was trapped in front of his stumps for a duck when the score was on 2.

Sinclair was then joined by Anderson and the pair slowly carried the score to 22 before Ramcharitar struck a double blow in his second over, the 12th of the innings. He first produced a beauty to dislodge the stumps of Sinclair and then had Jonathan Rampersaud (0) caught at mid-wicket.

It soon became 24 for 4 when Chanderpaul Govindhan (1) became Ramcharitar’s third scalp and when Anderson became another victim of Ramcharitar with the score on 37 for 5 in the 18th over, the Rose Hall innings thereafter quickly folded.

Ramcharitar, the son of former Albion all-rounder and Berbice batsman Ramperssud Ramcharitar, received excellent support from skipper Omrow with 2 for 4 for 4 Overs and off-spinner Beesham

Surujnarine 2 for 9 form 2 overs.

Albion in reply reached 61 for 3 in 12.2 overs. Berbice Under-19 batsman Jeetendra Outar made 17 and national Under-17 batsman Sarwan Chaitnarine 10. Opener Raayad Karim (1) was the other batsman dismissed.

Leon Cecil and Guyana Under-15 batsman Tameshwar Mahadeo were unbeaten on 6 and 4 respectively.

Anderson took 2 for16 with his off-spin bowling for Rose Hall Town.

Despite their defeat, Rose Hall Town will also advance to the Quarter-Finals having ended as runner-up to Albion in Zone C. Based on the fixtures three teams will be going forward into the QuarterFinals from Zone C. Port Mourant, #73 and Rose Hall Town ‘B’ are the teams still in the race for the third spot.

first, NAFICO made 73-2.

Stephon Bennett slammed 32.

Hand-in-Hand responded with 68-2. Danesh Singh scored 25.

Assuria overcame IBGL by 19 runs. Assuria took first strike and scored 77-1. Suruj Dass made 30. IBGL made 581 in reply. Romel Johnson stroked 44.

The tournament was organised by the Insurance Institute of Guyana which is an arm of the Insurance

Association of Guyana.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Debbie Ramsaroop Vice President of IIG congratulated the teams and thanked the organisers.

President of the Insurance Institute of Guyana Anil Singh expressed gratitude to the Insurance Companies, GNICSC and Regal Stationery and Computer Centre for their input. He said the tournament was

organised to foster unity and more such tournaments will be held.

Singh also expressed gratitude to CEO of Nafico Basil Mahadeo, CEO of hand in hand. Keith Evelyn, General Manager of Assuria Yogindra Arjune, General Manager of Diamond Insurance Tara Chandra and President of Insurance Association of Guyana Omadatt Singh.

(Zaheer Mohamed)

Defending champion Naomi Osaka loses to Belinda Bencic BBC Sport - Defending champion Naomi Osaka has been knocked out of the US Open, losing 7-5 6-4 to S w i t z e r l a n d ’s B e l i n d a Bencic in the last 16 yesterday.

Osaka, 21, was broken late in the opening set and then again in the fifth game of the second at Flushing Meadows.

It means the Japanese player will lose her world number one ranking, with French Open champion Ashleigh Barty of Australia to return to the top spot.

For Bencic, 22, it is her second appearance in the quarter-finals.

She also made the last eight in 2014 and will now play Croatia’s Donna Vekic after the 23rd seed beat

Germany’s 26th seed Julia Goerges 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-3 in a match that lasted two hours 42 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“I was so excited to come on the court, the challenge cannot be bigger - Naomi Osaka is a great player and won the US Open last year,” said Bencic. “I had to be on top of my game and am really pleased with how I played.

“She has a lot of power, I was just trying to play it a little bit like chess, anticipate and make a tactic on the court.”

Osaka, who beat Serena Williams in last year’s final for her maiden Grand Slam title, started off badly as she lost her serve at the first opportunity and had to save two break points to

avoid going 3-0 down.

She then fought back with a break before Bencic took the decisive break in the 11th game and then served out the set.

In the second set, an Osaka double fault gifted Bencic another break and the Swiss player took the final game of the match with a service game to love.

After winning the Australian Open in January for her second Grand Slam, Osaka became the world number one, a position she held until June before Barty took over.

Osaka returned to the top eight weeks later but Barty will become number one again, despite losing in the last 16 to China’s Qiang Wang on Sunday.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

NAMILCO 50th Anniversary Sports – Essequibo

Imam Bacchus CC defeat NAMILCO Thunderbolt Team to win T20 showdown A well paced half century off the bat of opener Parmesh Parsatam and an equally responsible 37 from opening partner, Navindra Persaud guided Imam Bacchus Cricket Club to a comfortable eight wicket win over the NAMILCO Thunderbolt Team when the NAMILCO 50th Anniversary Sports programme, Essequibo leg came off on Sunday last at the Imam Bacchus Ground, Columbia, in the Cinderella County of Essequibo.

A colorful crowd including well over 50 NAMILCO staff members, host Sam Baksh of the famous Imam Bacchus & Sons – host of the day’s proceedings along with NAMILCO’s Fitzroy McLeod (Finance Director) and Atomaram Lakeram (Personal Assistant to Managing Director Bert Sukhai) all soaked up an absorbing day of action in very sunny conditions.

The programme, which had been put back by a few

weeks owing to the prolonged raining season, was well received by the participants and dozens of spectators who were on hand.

After winning the toss and deciding to take first strike, the NAMILCO Thunderbolt Team started well but were kept in check by some steady bowling form the home team. Opener Travis Persaud looked the part in his innings of 38 off 26 balls decorated with eight (8) fours, timing the ball well as he set the foundation for their eventual total of 117-5.

But once Persaud succumbed to the Imam Bacchus bowling attack, his teammates were not able to get the better of the pace and spin attack even though they got starts. Sudesh Persaud was left unbeaten on 18 when the overs ran out.

Support came from Abdool Razzak (17) and Daniel Basdeo who was left not out on 12. N. Cadogan and K. Persaud were the pick of

Imam Bacchus & Sons Cricket Team Captain collects the winning trophy and cash from NAMILCO’s Fitzroy McLeod and Atomaram Lakeram. the Imam Bacchus bowlers with two for 12 and 13 runs, respectively.

Needing to score 118 to win off their 20 overs, Imam Bacchus CC were very businesslike in their

Sam Baksh of Imam Bacchus & Sons (right) and NAMILCO’s Finance Director, Fitzroy McLeod.

approach, led by openers Parmesh Parsatam and Navindra Persaud.

The duo blasted the ball to all parts of the ground as neither of the NAMILCO Thunderbolt Team bowlers escaped the willow.

Parsatam hit the boundary ropes on eight occasions in his match winning 51 before he fell. And even though his opening partner, Navindra Persaud went back for 37, the foundation for victory and the winning prize of $50,000 was already laid.

Formalising the win were Yogeshwar Lall and Latchman Rohit who were left unbeaten on 16 and 13 respectively when the win was achieved. For their efforts, NAMILCO

Thunderbolt Team collected $10,000; both teams were also presented with trophies.

During brief opening and closing ceremonies, host, Sam Baksh expressed delight at being able to host the programme for the NAMILCO 50th Anniversary celebrations.

He said that Imam Bacchus & Sons was more than elated to welcome Executive and staff of the National Milling Company of Guyana.

McLeod in his remarks stated that Imam Bacchus & Sons have been a faithful partner of NAMILCO from the time it started business in Guyana and the company thought it fitting to host such a programme there.

Sincere gratitude on behalf of Managing Director Mr. Bert Sukhai, who was

unavoidably absent, was extended to Mr. Baksh, Imam Bacchus & Sons, players, staff members and fans by Sukha’s Personal Assistant, Lakeram.

He stated that the company was more than happy to give back to the community as they celebrate this milestone. A similar programme was held in the Ancient County of Berbice in May of this year.

NAMILCO is also the title sponsor of the Guyana Football Federation national Intra Association Under-17 League which involves all nine (9) Regional Members Associations. The two entities inked a five-year back in 2016.

NAMILCO was the first company in Guyana to sign a multi-year partnership deal with the federation.

Hamilton relishing many more battles with Leclerc

NAMILCO’s 50th Anniversary Essequibo Sports Day winners, Imam Bacchus & Sons CC pose with company officials following the presentation of prizes.

S P A FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) - Five-times world champion Lewis Hamilton is looking forward to many more battles with Charles Leclerc after the young Monegasque took his first Formula One victory in Belgium on Sunday and ended Ferrari’s win drought.

Leclerc, the Italian glamour team’s youngest winner at 21, won from pole position on an emotional afternoon at Spa overshadowed by the death on Saturday of French F2 racer Anthoine Hubert.

A chasing Hamilton finished second for Mercedes, stretching his

overall lead to 65 points, with Ferrari’s four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel only fourth.

“He (Leclerc) has been really unlucky in quite a few races this year. It could easily have been the third win (for him) today,” Hamilton said.

“So there’s a lot more greatness to come from him and I’m looking forward to seeing his growth and racing alongside him. It was fun today, trying to chase him. He was just a little bit too quick.”

Monza, Ferrari’s home race, is next up on Sunday and the Italian team can hope for a triumphant homecoming in front of their passionate (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday September 03, 2019

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Kaieteur News

CPL T20 Cricket U-19 players Anderson & Warriors play last practice match today -Omrao to train with GAW Yesterday, at the Marriott Hotel, where the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) team is being accommodated, Team Operations Manager of the local Franchise Trinidadian Omar Khan introduced his team to the Media.

The Warriors, four times bridesmaid but never the Bride, will start their 2019 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T2O campaign against St Lucia Zouks on Thursday at 18:00 hrs, after playing their second and final Practice match today at Providence.

The South American Franchise, which in addition to being in fours finals, reached two semi-finals since the CPL was inaugurated in 2013, will face-off with the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots on Saturday before facing former Champion Barbados Tridents next Sunday.

Zuficar Ali, speaking on behalf of Franchise owner Bobby Ramroop, said they look a very strong one and this could be the year that the Warriors goes all the way and win their first title.

Also speaking was President of ExxonMobil

Guyana, Rod Henson who stated that this was ExxonMobil’s third consecutive year as a sponsor.

“It’s been a long wait but the Cpl is finally here. We are always willing to support sports which has the power to unite people and provides happiness to Guyanese,” Henson informed.

“It’s great that we can come and support the Warriors as one nation and celebrate their success. The Warriors not only entertains fans on the field but participate in social actives and I hope Exxon Mobil could be involved this year,” Henson said.

The ExxonMobil top man in Guyana stated that this is a time to talk about sports for a while instead of talking about Elections and Oil. Also present yesterday were Deedra Moe, Senior Director, Public & Government affairs and Nicholas Yearwood, E x x o n M o b i l ’ s Communications Adviser, while Public & Government Affairs Advisor Janelle Persaud did an excellent job

as chairperson.

Henson and Moe were presented with Warriors team shirts and training uniforms.

Australian off-spinner Chris Green, who led the team last year after Malik’s departure, thanked ExxonMobil, one of the World’s largest publicly traded International Oil and Gas Companies for their support and said he was confident the Warriors could clear final hurdle this year.

“I love the Green Stand,” Green joked referring to the name of one of the three Stands at the Providence Stadium.

Khan informed that while Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul are with the West Indies team which lost the two-Test series 2-nil yesterday in Jamaica, Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan was expected in Guyana last night.

Guyanese Romain Ramkellawan and Englishman 21-year-old Wicket-Keeper James Seward are the pair of U-21 players who will travel with the team. This is the second year with the GAW for Ramkellawan.

The GAW includes eight

HS Masters, Two Sisters Car Rental victorious

The victorious HS Masters side.

HS Masters and Two Sisters Car Rental won the Masters and Open categories respectively when the Lusignan Central PPP group

staged its softball competition on Sunday last at Lusignan Community Centre ground, East Coast Demerara.

HS Masters beat

Fisherman Masters by 21 runs in the final. HS Masters batted first and made 100-7 in 10 overs. Darmendra Mohabir (Continued on page 25)

Limacol football tournament continues today Play in the fourth annual Limacol Football tournament, which is sponsored by the New GPC Inc. and supported by W.J. Enterprise, got underway on Saturday Evening at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta

Avenue with a double header, continues tonight with another double header.

Tonight’s action will see Mahaica Determinators challenging city side Pele from19:00 hrs, while from 21:00 hrs Beacons will come up against Pouderoyen of the

West side in the nightcap.

The 2019 champions will pocket $400,000 while the runners up will walk away with $200,000. The winner of the third place playoff will receive $100,000 and the fourth place finishers will enjoy $50,000.

Skipper Malik presents President of ExxonMobil (Guy) with a Warriors’ shirt as Omar Khan shares the moment.

Guyanese players while the 37-year-old Skipper Shoaib Malik who has played 345 t20 matches will hope to better his highest score of 95 not out in this year’s CPL. Khan informed that unlike

in past tournaments, Malik will be available for the entire duration of the seventh edition of the CPL and with calm and level-headed demeanor, the Warriors are confident of going one better

than they did in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

Khan also informed that for the first time the Warriors had acquired a Video analysis and statistician from India.

(Sean Devers)

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

India beat West Indies by 257 runs, win Test series 2-0 AFP - India completed another crushing victory over the West Indies, demolishing the home side by 257 runs on the fourth afternoon of the second and final Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica yesterday.

Set the improbable target of 468 late on day three, the home side tumbled in the postlunch session, losing their last six wickets for 51 runs as they were dismissed for 210 to hand Virat Kohli’s side a clean sweep of a Test series in the Caribbean for the first time ever.

This result also completed a 100 percent record for the tourists in all completed matches played on this tour.

The 2-0 Test series triumph followed a 3-0 success in the T20 Internationals and a 2-0 victory in the One-Day Internationals, with one match ruined by rain.

Pacer Mohammed Shami and spinner Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each as the Indians once again had too many varied weapons for the home side.

Shamarh Brooks completed a maiden Test halfcentury but it was little consolation for West Indies captain Jason Holder who was last out, bowled by Jadeja for 39 to trigger the Indian celebrations.

“This was pretty comprehensive again for us,” said Kohli in assessing his t e a m ’s dominant performance yet again.

“We played good cricket and getting the result in the manner yo u want is crucial as a team. This is a real collective effort.”

Amid the jubilation there was concern for the welfare of key West Indies batsman Darren Bravo, who retired hurt on 23 just 15 minutes into the day’s play. He was eventually replaced by Jermaine Blackwood in the team according to the game’s new concussion protocol.

Resuming his innings in partnership with Brooks with the score at 45 for two, Bravo appeared to be feeling unwell and was attended to and subsequently led off the field

on his own steam.

He was struck on the back of the helmet by fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah during the final over of the third day’s play and continued batting for the remaining three deliveries of the day after receiving treatment.

Australian Marnus Labuschagne was the first concussion replacement in the history of the game last month when he replaced Steve Smith during the second innings of the second Test against England at Lord’s after Smith was struck on the neck by fast bowler Jofra Archer.

Blackwood was called into duty within minutes of being drafted into the team after Shimron Hetmyer fell to yet another poor shot, caught at extra-cover to give fast bowler Ishant Sharma his second wicket of the innings.

With Bravo and Blackwood both batting in the same innings, it gave West Indies the first 12batsman Test scorecard under the protocol.

Earlier, Roston Chase was the first wicket to fall in the day after coming to the

crease when Bravo went off, being trapped leg-before by Jadeja.

Blackwood dominated a 61-run fifth-wicket partnership with Brooks but when the attacking righthander became Bumrah’s only wicket of the innings via a catch at the wicket, it signalled the beginning of the end of the West Indies resistance with Brooks’ own carelessness contributing to his demise as he was run out by a direct hit from the effervescent Kohli.

“We’ve got lots of problems with the batting,” said a despondent Holder.

“It’s a tough question as to how we fix this situation.

There is quite a bit of time before our next Test so it’s up to the players to take ownership of the situation.”

Despite the dominance of the Indian bowlers, it was batsman Hanuma Vihari who earned the “Man of the Match” award for his maiden Test hundred in the first innings, which he followed with an unbeaten halfcentury in the second to help hasten Kohli’s declaration on the third afternoon.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 03, 2019

Angel, Small, Wong, Stoll shine in opening fixtures

Shane Wong

Shamal Angel

Avick Nandalall

Uriah Stoll

By Zaheer Mohamed on the Essequibo Coast O u t s t a n d i n g performances from Shamal Angel, Kayambu Small, Shane Wong and Uriah Stoll saw host Young Guns of South Essequibo and Young Achievers’ Youth and Sports Club of West Berbice chalking one win each on Saturday in their three-match T20 series at the New Opportunity Corps ground at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast.

The matches, which were organised by the host, brought the curtains down on the home team’s cricket camp which was held at Zorg

and NOC grounds.

Young Guns won the opening fixture by two wickets. Young Achievers Youth and Sports Club were reduced to 26-4, batting first in scorching heat. However a 61-run fifth wicket stand between Angel and Small resurrected the innings, but their efforts could not prevent a Young Guns victory.

Young Achievers lost opener, former Guyana U19 player Kevin Sinclair lbw to Kerton Layne for one, Collis Butts caught off Imtiaaz Ally for five, Odel Miller and Daniel Milne for five each (Continued on page 25)

Kevin Sinclair

PAGE 35

CPL T20 Cricket

Warriors play last practice match today P.

30

t r o Sp

- U-19 players Anderson & Omrao to train with GAW

The Guyana Amazon Warriors with Ali and the sponsors (missing is Hetmyer, Paul & Shadab Khan).

India beat West Indies by 257 runs, win Test series 2-0 P.

29

As Darren Bravo showed signs of suffering, KL Rahul offered assistance.

(AFP / Randy Brooks)

Sharmarh Brooks was top scorer for West Indies but was run out just after reaching 50. (AFP / Randy Brooks) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.