Kaieteur News

K

Two fully AIETEUR vaccinated NEWS

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

Thursday Edition September 02, 2021 - Vol. 14 No.32

persons with co-morbidities

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 88,077

succumb to COVID-19

As Delta COVID-19 hospital variant surges... increase in cases - Dr. Carpen

braces for massive

The protest continues for change to the Exxon contract.

Inequity in education among challenges to be addressed in new MOE’s five-year plan

Ex-con back in WHO monitoring new coronavirus jail for stealing variant named ‘Mu’ from sibling - said to be “variant of interest”

Patterson releases information on Liza gas composition

GNBS already doing real time monitoring of oil production President Ali is calling on the Council to manage the taxes @11:00hrs on to benefit the city and its people but he is mum and dumb Kaieteur Radio on our resources to benefit our country and the citizens. 99.1/99.5FM

PAGE 02

Thursday September 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

Two fully vaccinated patients with co-morbidities succumb to COVID-19

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

T

w o f u l l y vaccinated patients have succumbed to health complications as a result of COVID-19.

However, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, confirmed yesterday that the deceased persons had comorbidities – diabetes and hypertension, in addition to other ailments which were all contributing factors.

Both patients were elderly men ages 73 and 81 years old. The 73 year-old man passed away on August 12 and the 81-year-old man passed away on August 25.

Both men were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, East Demerara.

They died while requiring aid to breathe through the hospital's ventilators.

Minister Anthony noted that the patients were “extremely sick” and as a result, they died. He however insisted that this was not because of “the COVID-19 virus alone.”

In the meantime, Minister Anthony expressed concern over the spike in new cases.

“The numbers are climbing, we are seeing more people getting infected and it is also very worrying because if we don't manage this carefully our hospitals can easily become overwhelmed… It is going to be challenging going forward as we get more and more hospitalisation. We

have already spoken about other contingencies, and if it becomes necessary, close some of the services at some other hospitals and convert those hospitals solely for COVID hospital patients,” Dr. Anthony added.

His comments came even as Guyana recorded 222 new infections over the past 24 hours, taking the overall number of confirmed cases to 25,770.

The new cases were reported in Region One - one case, Region Two - 10 cases, Region Three -33 cases, Region Four -131 new cases, Region Five - nine cases, Region Six - three cases, Region Seven - 20 cases, Region Nine - two cases and Region 10 - 13 cases.

In addition, the Ministry recorded two more COVID19 deaths yesterday, putting the country's overall death toll at 624.

According to the Ministry of Health, the latest fatalities are that of a 70y e a r- o l d w o m a n f r o m Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and a 95-year-old man from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) who both died while receiving care at a medical facility on August 31.

Meanwhile, there are now 34 patients in the ICU at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, 107 are in institutional isolation and 1,809 are in home isolation.

Thus far, 23,196 patients have recovered from the virus.

Thursday September 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

Patterson releases information on Liza gas composition Opposition Member, David Patterson

F

ormer Minister of P u b l i c Infrastructure, David Patterson, on We d n e s d a y r e l e a s e d information he received in 2017 from ExxonMobil's

l o c a l s ubsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), on the composition of the gas from the Liza operation.

This comes after a m e m b e r o f t h e Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI), Alfred Bhulai, rapped the Department of Public Information and officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for making statements about expected reduced emissions from the gas-to-energy project, even as the Government refused to provide information on the gas composition when requested by the anticorruption body.

“ T h e g a s - t o - e n e rg y project proposed to be located at Wales estate continues to raise questions in the public sphere while several remain unanswered,” Patterson said.

“One such question relates to the composition of the gas that will be piped to shore.

My records reveal that a similar question was asked of Exxon in May 2017 by the then Minister of Natural Resources (Raphael Trotman).”

Patterson posted a table on Facebook, which he said was provided to the Government from Exxon's then project manager.

The table indicates that Methane (79.1%), Ethane (7.3%) and Propane (6.7%) make up the natural gas constituency, with some other components.

The note attached from the Exxon project manager states, “This composition reflects composition at the outlet from the Liza Destiny FPSO early in the life of the field production.”

It is stated in the note that the Liza gas is expected to contain significant quantities of natural gas liquids (NGL) such as propane and butane, and that these products can be used to supply liquefied propane gas (LPG) for cooking.

It is on this premise that the project manager advised that it may be of commercial interest to extract the NGLs for separate sale while the remaining gas (methane and ethane) could be used for power generation.

The project manager added that the gas composition will change over time, particularly as a result of gas and water injection which is done during oil production.

He said, for example, that hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is not even 0.1 percent of the quoted constituency, is expected to increase over time.

“Gas at the outlet of the FPSO will have received

some processing insofar as it has had limited treatment through the FPSO topsides.

It has also been dehydrated to meet the requirements of future gas use,” the project manager wrote in the note.

The official further stated that when it comes to subsequent processing, Liza gas would be delivered to shore at relatively high pressures, and that onshore facilities would be required to reduce the pressure to a level suitable for downstream use.

“Beyond that, Liza gas does not require significant processing as it is expected to be high in hydrocarbon content and low in impurities.”

GNBS already doing real time monitoring of oil production

By Kiana Wilburg

O

ver the last six years, financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as well as regional experts have urged Guyana to put in place, rigid technological systems that would allow for real time monitoring of the oil production taking place in the Stabroek Block.

But to the surprise of many industry stakeholders, Head of Corporate Communications at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Mr. Lloyd David, disclosed on Tuesday that the agency is already doing real time monitoring of the ExxonMobil led operations.

He said this was due to the “Prov IT electronic software” that they have in place.

During his first appearance on Kaieteur Radio's Programme, Governance, Corruption, and Justice, David said the system cannot be compromised while adding that there are always inspectors onboard the Liza Destiny vessel to ensure the integrity of the oil measurements for each lift is preserved.

While he could not say how long the software has

been in place or confirm if it belongs to ExxonMobil, he was keen to note that GNBS has an Oil and Gas Department, which was officially named this year.

He said it has 10 well-trained inspectors including its head of department. David also shared that they operate on a rotational basis to ensure the quality and quantity of the lifts are copasetic. In this regard, he said an inspector is usually out at sea for 48 days.

Expounding on the role of GNBS in the oil sector, the Head of Corporate Communications said, “GNBS has a very multifaceted role. We monitor the flow meters that dispense fuels from the FPSO (floating, production, storage and offloading vessel) and onto the ship that transports the fuel.

Therefore, we observe the calibration of those meters and then as they dispense, we also observe the process to ensure it is working properly. Now in terms of quality, we are responsible for taking samples of crude and sending them in sealed containers to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for testing.”

As regards the training that was done by the inspectors, David intimated

that two exercises were done in Trinidad and Tobago.

They are: the Emergency Breathing System Training and the Tropical Underwater Helicopter Escape training.

Both are to ensure the inspectors are equipped with the safety skills they need onboard an oil vessel.

He said too that inspectors had done a fiveday measurement training with overseas experts. David said it covered aspects related to flow process, verifying measurement points and the valve sealing process so as to ensure calibration is not compromised.

A previous release by GNBS had also noted that Oil and Gas Inspectors had completed an advanced Petroleum Measurement Course offered by the University of Texas at Austin, Petroleum Extension (PETEX).

David further noted that of the 10 inspectors, five have been trained to work on the Liza Unity FPSO, which is scheduled to arrive in a matter of weeks.

While GNBS highly anticipates the government's fibre optic cable project coming on stream so as to boost its technological capacities offshore, David was keen to note that inspectors will be on the vessels all year round to

ensure the integrity of the process is protected.

FIBRE OPTIC SUPPORT The fibre optic cable, which will allow Guyana to monitor Exxon's operations offshore is expected to be laid by the third quarter of 2021, so that Guyana can

monitor ExxonMobil's producing Liza Phase One operations.

ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), according to a project summary published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “proposes to (continued on page 6)

Head of Corporate Communications at GNBS, Lloyd David

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 02, 2021

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

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

EDITORIAL

Our leaders need to take note Though many Guyanese are not into socially conscious investing activity, they have to start doing so. For we have Exxon here, and its already lengthy and dangerous record with gas flaring into the environment. We all complain about how hot it is, and that it was never like this before. It can be traced to what Exxon and other companies with their mindset dismiss as hoax. That would be climate change, its perils, and urgencies.

Unlike the lions, rhinos, and other endangered species, over which action was long delayed, humans (in general) and Guyanese (in particular) had better come to their senses quicker than what it took to start doing something about saving endangered life in the animal kingdom, as well as the wider environment around, below, and above us. If we don’t, we run the risk of becoming an endangered species ourselves.

This is why the visions, attitudes, and actions of the people behind Engine 1 should mean something to us, with its Transform 500 ETF (exchange traded fund), currently before the Securities and Exchange Commission for review and approval to begin trading. The leaders of Engine 1 are demonstrating that they are serious and mean business. Things have to change at Exxon and other corporate places. For their Transform 500 ETF is not just about energy (oil and coal), but “financial services, healthcare technologies, utilities, among others.” As Engine 1’s prospectus stated, “it seeks to encourage transformational change.” We need that here in leadership ranks.

It is an eye opener, could be a game changer. For, as we see this ETF, it would be about analysing how corporations invest, and the projects they prioritise. As examples, we think of the Wall Street companies that arrange and underwrite their financing (are they socially conscious and responsible?); in healthcare, what are businesses offering in their products that could be harmful to people (tobacco, liquor, and medicinal standards); and utilities and how they power plants and grids (fossil fuels and more). The range of interests and possibilities for “socially conscious investing” and the changes that are wrought from that could be groundbreaking in the quality of life with which ordinary citizens live.

Corporate leaders are put on notice. There are sure to be imitators of Engine 1 upping the pressure on boards and senior executives to think twice and come up with the right blend of products and remedial programmes that improve the welfare of society and the planet on which we live. There is a lesson, many such lessons, for our own leaders in Guyana.

The first lesson for national political leaders is that they, too, must be socially conscious, meaning, that they must be as expansive as possible in their visions, as inclusive as they can be, and squeeze those who come to this modern day El Dorado to explore and profit. Our leaders must be wise enough and committed (honestly) enough to push Exxon to do more for the environment, to give back more to Guyana.

They must never let up. And if they don’t do it, then we will not ease up.

The excesses of Exxon in Guyana’s environment must be broadcast before the world, shared with Engine 1 to give it ammunition for intensifying the heat, through their new 25 percent presence on the company’s board.

Exxon is being forced to come clean, by being socially conscious; other companies are being warned through the proposed Transform 500 ETF. Guyanese leaders must be about more than the socially conscious. All of the top PPP, PNC, and APNU+AFC leaders must also be about what is politically conscious (not for elections only), what is racially conscious (not for their own solely), and what is economically conscious (not for themselves merely). Our leaders must not know no, nor take no for an answer from Exxon and its kind.

Engine 1 showed our leaders that it can be done and how to make a start doing so. The leaders of Engine 1 showed the world that it is the little company that could and did. We at this paper call upon government and opposition leaders in this little country of little people (also) to show Exxon and all the others that we can and will.

AN ACTION GUIDE IS NEEDED AGAINST ALCOHOL ABUSE DEAR EDITOR, This has reference to news report and commentaries on the the beating to death of a pandit in Skeldon. Our adults seem not to have much respect for religious figures, a break down of societal rules when the White man governed us.

The police didn’t have time to visit the neighbourhood to stop the drinking binge and end the noise nuisance, but they found time to visit the murder victim. A simple police visit could well have prevented the murder.

The politicians have not issued any statements, condemning the murderous act or proposing how to address noise nuisance and public consumption of alcohol. Both must be banned and effectively enforced, fining (heavily) and locking up the perpetrators for long periods with.

I travel all over the coast and frequently, every couple of months and for decades.

I can attest through my observations that alcoholism and noise nuisance are widespread problems throughout the country, more particularly so in poor neighbourhoods.

The loudness of minibus music can turn one deaf; the drivers and conductors don’t respond to complaints and the police don’t take effective action.

A proposed solution to minibus noise nuisance is to ban all music on public modes of transport and to put a decibel limit on music loudness at private events.

I am not an expert of specialist on the effects of alcoholism or loud noise although some three decades ago, I did teach a course on hygiene and health sciences for a few years. My memory on both issues is they have deleteri-

ous effects on health and go together — imbibing alcohol tends to be accompanied with loud music – damaging the brain, liver, ear drum, etc. As I found in my travels, men tend to be violent when they are drunk and don’t get their way.

Drunkenness has a tendency to cause people to lose control over their senses and feelings.

That would have played out in the murder of Pandit Bharat. And that is why it is important that laws against public consumption of alcohol be enforced. If there are no laws, then parliament must legislate! It must be made punishable.

And the murder of the religious figure has given politicians on both sides of the aisle an opportunity to effect legislation on the subject. In the Guyanese diaspora developed societies, especially in North America and Europe, public consumption of alcohol is against the law and violators are fined. Alcoholic drinks cannot be displayed in public, and underage drinking is also prohibited and laws enforced against sales of alcohol or cigarette to minors.

We must enforce same in Guyana as too many underage youngsters are seen drinking alcohol and smoking.

Alcohol has the toxic effect to impair one’s ability to think rationally and to function optimally whether at work or at home or in the public, not to mention its effects on the physical health of drinkers.

Health experts say that anything above four drinks daily will lead to health issues.

In my observation, most drinkers gobble down a dozen shots if not more and in a short time span, not allowing the body to process and dispose of the poison substances in

Oil revenue speculation could be cleared up if government published projections DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to add to the comments of Sherwood Lowe in response to Dr. Tara Singh and the issue of oil revenues. Dr. Singh is either misinformed or misinforming with his claim that next year Guyana may get only $500M in revenues. A simple calculation proves otherwise. The Liza Destiny will likely give Guyana another six lifts and the Liza Unity, if in place by early 2022, could give perhaps 10 lifts as it has a daily production twice that of Destiny of 220k. That would be 16 lifts

in all. Being conservative with the price of oil that would be $60 per barrel times 16M barrels for a total US$960M plus the 2% royalty...maybe $150M. That is $1B to add to the $430M that is stuck in a New York bank losing value each day due to world inflation.

All of this could be cleared up if the government were to be transparent and publish its projections for revenue for the next five years, that it surely has.

Yours truly.

Lynn Nicholas

alcohol. That leads to all kinds of health and social problems, including violence in the home where females and children are abused.

As experts note, alcoholism contributes to a range of health and social problems, including automobile crashes, drowning, heart disease, hypertension, varied cancers, interpersonal violence, HIV infection, unplanned pregnancy, alcohol poisoning, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. A lot of money is spent to address health related disorders resulting from drinking.

It also leads to many deaths with over 100K Americans dying ‘from overdose’ of alcohol every year; not to mention the hundreds of thousands who die annually from alcohol related health effects. Figures for Guyana on alcohol related deaths are not available but must be higher per 100K than the developed countries given the widespread consumption of alcohol. Everywhere I travel, there seems to be drinking binges all over the country and people drink until they can’t walk properly.

We must limit alcohol consumption. For many decades, alcohol consumption was banned on Sundays in the US and most developed countries. It was also the law during White man rule (probably still is but not enforced).

Wedding house bars that pop up ad hoc must be banned; their liquor must be confiscated and dumped.

Government must also ban licensing of bars or rum shops in residential communities, especially in close proximity to schools or religious buildings. In the US, bars or liquor stores are not allowed within a few blocks from a school.

An action guide is needed against alcohol abuse. Public health related Ministries and agencies must take the lead to combat alcohol abuse, playing a vital and necessary role in efforts to reduce alcohol consumption. They must team up with NGOs and community-based organisations on educating the public about the dangers of alcohol on the body and society at large so as to reduce its consumption.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

The Guyana Police Force was apparently not represented in InterGuianas security meeting DEAR EDITOR, I perused with keen interest an article in the Guyana Times, dated Tuesday, August 31, 2021, under the caption, “ Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname to develop common security master plan. “ According to the article, the meeting which was held last week was hosted by Cayenne, French Guiana, with Guyana being represented by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips. At the trilateral engagement, the discussion centered on joint security threats and challenges facing the countries.

The missive stated that, “ ...it was agreed to thrive for a global and coordinated approach against illicit trafficking and serious crimes, including drug trafficking, illegal gold mining environmental crimes and irregular immigration with a focus on anticipation, treat assessment, prevention.”

As someone who several years ago led a similar Guyana delegation to French Guiana and who has an abiding interest in law enforcement, I checked the list of key members of the Guyana delegation published. I was perturbed. I found the list fully loaded with

army personnel and advisors.

I searched scrupulously for the name of at least a policeman but found none. I wonder, if no member from the premier law enforcement agency in Guyana, the Guyana Police Force was not part of the delegation or if present, why his/ her name was not worthy to be mentioned. I wonder if the writer of the article had inadverntly failed to mention the name of any police officer who was present on that trip to Cayenne.

I wonder whether or not the GPF had abrogated their legal role of dealing with serious crimes, immigration, illicit trafficking, drug trafficking and other pertinent matters and that the army and advisors were in command and control. l wonder if there was or is a role for the GPF to assist to develop the proposed Common Security Master Plan. I wonder why things in Guyana are so inherently incredible. I wonder.

I wonder. I am still wondering.

Yours respectfully Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

Thursday September 02, 2021

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Kaieteur News

TIGI’s selective advocacy The gas-to-shore project is a DEAR EDITOR, It is with much disappointment that I write to you today regarding the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI).

As an institution that is supposed to be focused on transparency in the affairs of the country, we have seen them selectively speaking out on matters.

In my opinion, and I am sure many of your readers would agree, it is very transparent where the TIGI stands.

I ask that you kindly allow me to voice some of my concerns.

First and foremost, there are a plethora of reasons as to why the TIGI in its current construct should be condemned by Guyanese.

However, I know if I were to list them all, there would not be enough space in your publication to record them. As I said at the beginning, the TIGI is supposed to be focused on promoting transparency. Yet, they are always silent when their voice is needed the most. I bring attention to the fact that

throughout the entire 2020 General and Regional Elections fiasco which we faced as a country, we heard nothing from this so-called “transparency institute”.

When the APNU+AFC tried desperately to rig the elections in front of the nation and the world’s eyes, the TIGI was silent.

We heard not a word from them when Mingo and Lowenfield tried to alter the results of the elections in favour of the coalition. One would assume that as a protransparency organisation, they would’ve at least called on the APNU+AFC to be transparent by releasing copies of their ‘winning’ SOPs. We are yet to hear anything in this regard. I ask this; where is the voice of Alfred Bulhai and the TIGI in this regard?

I wish to also point out that during the period 2015 to 2020 when the APNU+AFC coalition was in office, several exposures of massive corruption were made. Where was the TIGI then? They were silent throughout it all.

THE UNIONS ARE NOW OPPOSING COVID-19 MEASURES UNDER A NEW GOVERNMENT DEAR EDITOR More than a year after draconian COVID-19 measures were implemented by the former government, the anti-PPP government unions now recognise this, and has filed court papers to have these and other measures revoked and overturned.

Nothing was seen wrong before, suddenly certain measures implemented by the current government, found to be unfavourable, the court rounds begin. Not surprising in the tale and saga of COVID measures.

Yours truly, Shamshun Mohamed

However, prior to 2015 when the PPP/C was in government, the TIGI was very vocal. They spoke out aggressively against the government on every topic under the sun.

The trend here is very clear. They spoke out in the pre-2015 period, were silent during the 2015 to 2020 period, and then suddenly became vocal again in the postAugust 2020 period.

Where were Alfred Bulhai and TIGI when the APNU+AFC hid the signing bonus for a year? When the Minister of Finance Winston Jordan said later that he thought it was a gift; we heard not even a murmur from TIGI. Suddenly, Bulhai and the other fossils at GHRA have found their voice once again and they are enabled by certain media interests.

It is very obvious where the TIGI stands and as such, anything that they say here onwards should be condemned as they are biased and have lost whatever credibility they had.

Yours truly, Alvin Hamilton

disaster waiting to happen

DEAR EDITOR, The legendary World Chess Champion Alexander Alekline was once asked, ‘how do you manage to beat your opponents so quickly?’

He replied, ‘because I make them use their own brains.’

If EXXON was asked how it manages to obtain highly favourable deals from a vast array of Global South (Third World) countries, its answer will be a simple duplicate.

Last week, a high-level team headed by Vice President Bharat Jagdeo scurried off to Texas to attend a highly relevant oil and gas meeting, obviously planned months ahead. Suriname which is way ahead of Guyana in its oil and gas personnel and benefits also attended the meeting in Texas.

As reported in the media, Suriname was well prepared with its top-class Foreign Minister, a career diplomat who worked with the CARICOM Secretariat and the OAS. From all appearance, it

seems that Suriname had secured a much better contract from the oil conglomerates than Guyana.

Suriname gets 36 percent taxes from oil; Guyana gets zero. Suriname gets 6.25 percent royalty; Guyana gets 2 percent.

Suriname also has a 20 percent share in its oil blocks while our oil blocks in Guyana were given away free to relatives and friends.

Then there is the huge fallacy consistently fed to Guyanese that natural gas will reduce carbon emissions. As pointed out by many oil and gas experts, and my former Chemistry teacher at St. Stanislaus College Mr. Alfred Bhulai (KN Aug 25, 2021), natural gas from oil wells is also a fossil fuel that emits Carbon Dioxide (a greenhouse gas).

And when burnt, it will emit an equal amount of gas as the other fossil fuels because an equal amount of Carbon Hydrogen (CH) bonds will have to be broken in hydrocarbon fuel for the

Carbon and Hydrogen to react with oxygen.

In other words, no matter whether the hydrocarbon is liquid (oil) solid (coal) or gas (propane), the same energy will be produced when combustion with oxygen occurs.

Ask any high school chemistry student.

So, the government must not mislead the people about the benefits from the gas to shore project, but it should strive to tell them the truth about the impending fallout from the project which is estimated to cost roughly US$1B. The current regime should not risk putting the lives of future generations in jeopardy simply for monetary benefits. Life is too precious.

Yours truly, Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine

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Thursday September 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

New APA project to enhance protection of Indigenous rights, The unions seeking to stop the government vaccination the forest and the environment programme are fronts A section of Guyana’s forest. (Photo Credit: Guyana Forestry Commission )

T

he Amerindian P e o p l e s Association (APA) has embarked on a new project geared at enhancing the protection of Indigenous rights, the forest, and the environment.

This is according to a release issues by the APA in which it stated that the project, “Protecting Indigenous rights, the forest and the environment in Guyana” is being supported with funds from the Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects (FSPI), a French Government grant valued €252,500.

The project, which began in June 2021, will run for one year with the possibility of renewal for another year.

The project aims to influence national policy towards better forest management and Indigenous

peoples’ rights; strengthen Indigenous peoples governing bodies for improved territorial governance and protection of forests, engage in territorial monitoring in efforts to reduce forest crime, and mainstream women and youths’ involvement in community economies.

It will support the governance and decisionmaking processes of Indigenous peoples through their District Councils and other representative bodies, the strengthening of their institutional and technical capacities to monitor their lands, as well as provide some livelihoods support.

The APA will collaborate with Indigenous communities in Regions One, Seven and Eight through three District Councils, including the

Upper Mazaruni District Council, North Pakaraimas District Council and the Moruca District Council.

The APA believes that new revenue from Guyana’s offshore oil development can either be spent in ways that protect forests and achieve sustainable development goals, or it could expose vast portions of the country’s remote interior to poorly planned infrastructure development and subsequent resource plundering.

This project, the APA added, focuses on win-win strategies, by taking advantage of this critical window in time, including government’s promise to add two million hectares to the country’s protected areas portfolio to provide long term protection to Guyana’s forests and staggering natural beauty.

for the APNU+AFC DEAR EDITOR, Through media reports, the public was made aware that three trade unions came together to file legal proceedings against the Attorney General of Guyana in which they are seeking to quash the entirety of the Government’s vaccination programme.

These three unions; the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), and the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC); have taken a stance against the Government’s vaccination policy where they are now trying to get rid of all the government’s recommended guidelines and established protocols in relation to the opening of buildings, etc.

I write to you today because it is important for all Guyanese to understand what these court proceedings actually mean for the country in the context of Covid-19.

The proceedings filed by

the GTU, GPSU, and GTUC seek to stop the Government from going forward with its vaccination programme.

This basically means that the unions want the Government to stop vaccinating citizens.

Have these unions even considered what that would mean for the people of Guyana and the level of death and disaster it can cause?

I don’t think that they have given any consideration to such because the reality is that without the vaccines and the existing policy, hundreds of Guyanese would die every day. In this regard, I am repulsed by the fact that these unions would file proceedings knowing fully well the seriousness of COVID-19 and the need for countrywide vaccination.

It has been stated time and time again by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the only way out of this pandemic is for people to get vaccinated.

The Government of

Guyana has rolled out a robust vaccination programme and has established a vaccination policy geared at protecting the lives of all citizens.

Against that backdrop, why would the GTU, GPSU, and GTUC want to steer away from that?

The actions of these three unions over the last couple of months in particular have proven that they are nothing more than fronts for the APNU+AFC coalition.

They can argue that they are independent unions representing the people but it is very clear where they stand.

In fact, the very lawyer, Darren Wade who filed the proceedings for the unions was on the APNU+AFC’s list of candidates at the last election.

This just proves yet again that these people are biased and will do everything to attack the Government even if it means gambling with the lives of Guyanese.

Yours truly, Anson Paul

GNBS already doing real time monitoring...

From page 3 construct the Project starting in Q4 2020) and ending in Q3 2021…”

No cost is mentioned in the document.

It is understood that the company's intended highspeed fibre optic/wireless transport service will connect its onshore and offshore facilities.

The summary states, “This connection will establish a foundation for highspeed / low latency connectivity of onshore and off-

shore facilities to Guyana foundation infrastructure, allowing implementation of digital technology to improve productivity (field access data and planning), support remote operations, and support reliability (process monitoring and inspection).”

Furthermore, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has said it will make use of this facility to monitor Exxon's offshore operations.

The tax agency had said last year that it would have a CCTV system set up, follow-

ing the installation of a fibre optic cable.

This will allow the authority to see what is happening at the operation 24/7.

The agency has had to rely heavily on vessels, which come to shore, for whatever reason, to report on what's happening offshore, through various forms, utilising regulations in the Customs Act. GRA had also contemplated manned presence on the oil vessel(s) at all times, but it is unclear whether that was ever achieved.

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Thursday September 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

Peeping Tom recently reminded Guyanese of the Pareto Principle.

The Pareto Principle estimated that 20% of the people in an organisation did 80% of the work.

It could be sales or customer care for hard jobs done consistently.

Now we take the Pareto Principle further: we believe that 10% of the people in an entity are responsible for 90% of the output. It could be stores, hospitals, or governments.

Now here is the problem.

When 10% of workers are dedicated, that means the other 90% are slacking off or stealing.

Now think of successive PPP and PNC governments, and this is what happens here: some 90% of elected officials and selected servants are skulking or cheating the nation.

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 02, 2021

As delta variant surges…

COVID-19 Hospital braces for massive increase in cases - Dr. Carpen W

ith a rise in COVID -19 cases due to what is suspected to be a surge in the deadly Delta variant locally, healthcare workers are bracing for a massive increase in admittance at the COVID-19 Hospital.

Head of Medical Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Mahendra Carpen, told Kaieteur News yesterday that preparations have begun at the COVID19 medical facility located at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara in anticipation of a higher influx of cases.

Dr. Carpen disclosed that at least 85 beds at the hospital, which is built to accommodate 250 infected persons, are currently occupied.

GPHC's Head of Medical Services, Dr. Mahendra Carpen

The COVID-19 Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

He noted since Guyana is experiencing a similar surge of the virus to that which is happening in other countries, which have been

confirmed to have the new Delta variant of SARS- CoV2 virus, it is safe to assume that the variant is already here. As such, he noted the

need for preparations to be made for a rise in cases. In fact, he noted that the Ministry of Health has been proactive in this regard.

According to Dr. Carpen, the Ministry has already started to equip the COVID19 Infectious Diseases Hospitals with the necessary resources. “Based on what we are seeing and anticipating, a 300 percent increase in the cases can be expected, but I must commend the Ministry of Health for being proactive on this. We have already started planning and preparing for it. We are

looking to cater for 250 more persons at the COVID-19 hospital [alone], so we are looking to add that quantity in beds and other equipment including ventilators and monitors as well as the necessary human resources,” he shared.

As it relates to safeguarding the public against the new deadly variant, Dr. Carpen said that there is no real defence against the infection except being vaccinated.

“Everyone is at risk; the virus is highly contagious.

The only way to continually protect yourself is to ensure

that you wear your mask, practice social distancing, and good hand washing hygiene and most importantly ensure that you get vaccinated,” Dr. Carpen said.

He noted too that the same category of people who were at higher risk of contracting the virus initially, remain susceptible to the Delta variant. “These include older persons and those with co-morbidities,” he said.

Added to this, Dr. Carpen explained that while the symptoms of the new variant are generally the same, there are added indicators with the (continued on page 17)

Ex-con back in jail for stealing from sibling “I does be on drugs so anything happen in the area, I does get blame,” were the words of 41-year-old Devon Marks, an ex-convict who yesterday appeared in court for allegedly stealing from his sibling.

Marks appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman – who appeared virtually.

The court heard that the defendant stole $20,000 from the apartment of his sibling, Lashawn James.

A c c o r d i n g t o information received, James and Marks reside at the same address but in different apartments. On August 28, 2021, at Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, Marks allegedly broke and entered James apartment and stole the cash, while she was at work.

The woman told the police that on the day in

Remanded, Devon Marks

question, she secured her apartment and left for work.

Around 19:00hrs when the woman returned from work that said day, she noticed that the lock on the door of her

apartment was damaged.

Checks were made and she discovered that her cash was missing. The matter was then reported to the police and the defendant was later contacted.

According to reports, while in custody Marks reportedly confessed to the crime. The court was informed that the defendant was recently released from prison after serving a sentence for a similar offence. The police prosecutor made objections to bail being granted to the defendant based on the grounds that the defendant is a repeat offender and has previous convictions.

After Marks told the court that he uses drugs, Principal Magistrate Latchman entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, remanded him to prison and the matter was adjourned to September 29, 2021.

Thursday September 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Vaccines are not perfect but are working I

n Guyana, more than 313,000 adults have b e e n f u l l y vaccinated. Only first doses have been administered to children since their inoculation started a few days ago.

Two fully vaccinated persons died yesterday. This is neither unusual nor unexpected.

Vaccines are not 100 percent effective. The best vaccines will tend to prevent seven to eight out of every 10 persons from being infected but it will prevent a much higher number from being seriously sick or killed.

The two deaths of fully vaccinated persons yesterday were elderly persons. They were both said to have serious comorbidities, and certain underlying conditions are known to weaken a person's immune response.

The vaccine's work by priming your body's immune response mechanism.

Persons with compromised immune systems will not respond as well as other persons. As such, even though vaccines do protect, in the case of persons with compromised immune systems, it will not work as well.

However, these numbers tend to be small. A recent survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States found that 99.99

Dem

boys seh...

W

hen yuh running yuh country like a cakeshop, yuh gan get nuff stale cake leff over. And dat is wah happening now. De country running like a cake shop and nuff stale bread leff over.

Dem boys know dat certain position in dem embassies and overseas missions does be reserved fuh career diplomats.

Yesterday dem boys read how wan person who is not considered wan career diplomat get appoint secretly to a top diplomatic post in de United States.

Dem boys wan know why de secrecy and why de

percent of fully vaccinated persons have NOT had what is called a breakthrough case, which requires hospitalisation of which results in deaths.

The elderly are particularly at risk for breakthrough cases. The survey found that almost three-quarters (74 percent) of all reported breakthrough cases were among seniors, age 65 or older. And of those who died, about 20 percent died from something other than COVID-19 even though they were infected after vaccination.

The United States has fully vaccinated more than 171 million persons. And of the fully vaccinated only 2,063 have died as a resulted of being infected with the virus.

This means that for every 83,000 persons who have been vaccinated fully, only one would have died since being fully vaccinated. This is marginal when compared with the one death for every 61 infected cases.

The bottom line is that vaccinations are not perfect but they work and have been working.

The bottom line also is that you have far less a chance of getting sick and dying from being vaccinated than if you refused to be vaccinated.

The recent deaths of two fully vaccinated elderly patients in Guyana should

therefore not discourage the elderly from being vaccinated. It should do the opposite. It is better for the elderly to be vaccinated since their immune systems tend to be weaker and the elderly are the most vulnerable.

The Reg io n al Administrations and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils should take the lead in trying to save their elderly population.

In every village, town and neighbourhood, field workers should be deployed to do a census of the elderly and to determine who is vaccinated and who is not.

And from the list of those not vaccinated, a special effort should be made to encourage them to become vaccinated.

Children are leading by example. And perhaps as a science SBA project, the seniors can be utilised to go house-to-house to compile a list of the 18 percent of the over 62 year-old population that are not vaccinated. This targeted intervention will go a long way towards reducing deaths.

The development of vaccines for children will go a long way towards reaching as close as possible to herd immunity because children constitute a large chunk of the population.

It is for this reason that it is downright reckless of the Ministry of Education to be proceeding with the opening

After paint is varnish! position is not fill by somebody from de local Foreign Service.

More dan one year past and no announcement mek bout who gan head de embassies and High Commission in London, Caracas and Brasilia and in other places.

But friends getting appointed to lower level positions while nuttin saying bout dem other diplomatic appointments.

Now dem boys reading how Private Sector responsible for bearing de cost of painting State House.

De next thing dem might want to paint is somebody

mansion.

De private sector don't do nothing fuh free. Dem can call dem price later on.

And it is conflict of interest and shameful fuh de official residence of de Head of State to be painted by de private sector.

Now everybody gan want volunteer fuh paint government building.

Is not like de government short ah cash.

Dem sharing out money Wild West. Is nat like State House need a coat of paint.

Soulja Bai leff it in de best condition it ever been in. So why paint it now?

Talk half and wait fuh de varnish!

of schools when only a small number of students are being vaccinated, notwithstanding the controlled opening process.

It would not do irreparable harm for the Ministry to have delayed vaccination until at least 70 percent of students aged 1217 years have been vaccinated.

At the rate at which

students are turning up to be vaccinated, this should not take more than a month.

Ironically of course, schools are being reopened at a time when the Minister of Health says the country is in a third wave.

The bell-shaped curve however, establishes that this is no third wave but part of a continuing fourth wave.

The Ministry of Health

should advise against the opening of schools and should have not permitted the recent actions of allowing snacks to be on sale at cinemas, regardless of how powerful is the lobby by friends of the government.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday September 02, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Khemraj Ramjattan: The fault dear Brutus is Indian competitors

I

n one of my columns in the ongoing analysis of the politics of Khemraj Ramjattan, I mentioned that I

will expand on the theory that Ramjattan directly sought confrontation with every conceivable highprofile Indian leader in the

AFC with the intention of weakening their role and influence. The motive was deep insecurity and fear of being displaced.

Here is a list of major Indian names in the AFC that are no longer there and the departure of each had to do with confrontation with Ramjattan. Dr. Tarron Khemraj, Sasenarine Singh, Dr. Ramaya, Gerhard Ramsaroop, Rajendra Bissessar, I m r a n K h a n , Charrandass Persaud and Moses Nagamootoo. All of these names were highly educated people well known in professional life.

Of those names listed here, the most vocal denouncer of Ramjattan was Imran Khan.

Mr. Khan made public statements against his leader that were extremely shocking. This was at a time when they were both in the leadership of the party.

Here are the words of Mr. Khan: “A well-known hooligan, thug and convicted felon who is being protected by a very senior executive of my own political party has threatened me and my wife that when his benefactor attains a certain political office my wife and I will be chased back to Antigua.

A g e n t s a n d collaborators of this high executive conspired to have my wife, removed as a WFC delegate at the very last minute. These developments are not the usual cut and thrust of politics but is (sic) the politics of stench and destruction which the AFC must demolish with haste lest it begins to infect the entire party.”

Rajendra Bissessar last week broke his silence on his feelings on Ramjattan. In a published interview with me (see my column last Saturday), he intoned, “Ramjattan chopped down any Indian with a high profile in the AFC because he lived in fear of being challenged by such.”

Before Nagamootoo

Frederick Kissoon emerged to eclipse Ramjattan in the AFC, there was Gerhard Ramsaroop. He was half-White and found extensive admiration among the country folks. It would not be incorrect to say the rural folks saw Ramsaroop with more fondness than Ramjattan.

Shortly after the 2011 election, Ramsaroop told me that Ramjattan broke his promise to him about his selection to parliament. He told me in no uncertain terms that he could no longer stay in the AFC with someone like Ramjattan. As 2012 drew to a close, Ramsaroop distanced himself from the AFC. My advice to him was to stay and fight but he chose to leave.

After the announcement of Nagamootoo's entry into the AFC for the 2011 election, Ramjattan's insecurity became morbid.

But by this time, a new element had entered into the equation, which Ramjattan could do nothing about. With the decline of Ravi Dev's party, ROAR, highly placed elements of ROAR found refuge in the AFC and ROAR's diaspora groups began to bankroll the AFC. There was enormous cajoling by ROAR's financiers for Nagamootoo to team up with the AFC. After the 2011 election, Ramjattan sought to

undermine Nagamootoo's future role as an Indian leader in the AFC by pressing the AFC to nominate Nagamootoo for the role of Speaker of the National Assembly.

Since Nagamootoo didn't get the job, it allowed Nagamootoo scope to continue his politics in and out of parliament heightening Ramjattan's insecurity.

It was the 2015 campaign that ended the relationship between the two.

Nagamootoo virtually eclipsed Ramjattan in the 2015 campaign.

After power was achieved in 2015, the two hardly gelled and by 2019 were not on speaking terms, which have lasted up to this day.

After 2015, with Ramjattan in power and busy w i t h p o w e r, t h e t w o powerful Berbicians – Dr. Ramaya and Charandass Persaud - were seen as a threat. David Granger's words in the 2011 election results were never forgotten

by Ramjattan. During the disagreement between the PNC and AFC on Nagamootoo's selection as Speaker, Granger said that the 2011 election results in Berbice were not due to Nagamootoo's presence only and cited vote-getting by Charrandass.

Dr. Ramaya was denied any role after 2015. This columnist saw an email from President Granger to the top echelons of the AFC requesting a suitable occupation for Ramaya.

Ramaya complaints were met with forceful rejection

by Ramjattan and he resigned.

T h e s t o r y o f Charrandass' mistreatment is well known and it led up to his role in the no confidence motion. Both Dr. Khemraj and Sasenarine Singh had a falling out with Ramjattan.

Both opted out of the AFC. There was never any episode of a direct fight with an African leader in the AFC and Ramjattan. There couldn't be. They were no threat to his leadership only the rising Indians were. And they were guillotined.

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

Thursday September 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday September 02, 2021

WHO monitoring new Ministry begins countrywide collection exercise coronavirus variant - Todata update records of vulnerable groups - said to be named 'Mu'"variant of interest" A

T

he World Health Organization has said it is monitoring a new coronavirus variant known as "Mu", which was first identified in Colombia in January 2021. Mu, known scientifically as B.1.621, has been classified as a "variant of interest", the global health body said Tuesday in its weekly pandemic bulletin.

The WHO said the variant has mutations that indicate a risk of resistance to vaccines and stressed that further studies were needed to better understand it.

"The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape," the bulletin said.

There is widespread concern over the emergence of new virus mutations as infection rates are ticking up globally again, with the

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highly transmissible Delta variant taking hold – especially among the unvaccinated – and in regions where anti-virus measures have been relaxed.

All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19, mutate over time and most mutations have

little or no effect on the properties of the virus.

But certain mutations can impact the properties of a virus and influence how easily it spreads, the severity of the disease it causes, and its resistance to vaccines, drugs and other countermeasures.

The WHO currently identifies four Covid-19 variants of concern, including Alpha, which is present in 193 countries, and Delta, present in 170 countries.

Five variants, including Mu, are to be monitored.

After being detected in Colombia, Mu has since been reported in other South American countries and in Europe.

The WHO said its global prevalence has declined to below 0.1 percent among sequenced cases. In Colombia, however, it is at 39 percent. (AFP)

In wake of Campbellville resident's death...

Fire Service issues crucial protocols to follow when a fire occurs

I

n wake of the fire in which an elderly city resident perished during the wee hours of Tuesday, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) yesterday issued some protocols that citizens should follow to help safeguard themselves when a fire erupts.

On Tuesday 77-year-old Angold Thompson of Lot 73 John Street and Stone Avenue Campbellville, Georgetown died in his home after he had rescued his family and returned to retrieve some of their belongings.

Even as the GFS expressed condolences to the family members and friends of the deceased, it pointed out in a release that “material things can never be compared to a life; if a fire occurs, you should leave all your belongings and save yourself.”

Moreover, the GFS protocols include the following: -If you smell smoke or discover a fire in your home, business or workplace, you

Angold Thompson, 77, perished in a fire on Tuesday should call the Guyana Fire Service immediately via our toll free hotline number 912.

-You should make use of a fire alarm or any other method available to alert others that there is a fire.

-Every person should then proceed to evacuate the building in a safe, timely and orderly manner via the fire escape or the nearest exit.

-If you must escape through smoke, get low and

go under the smoke to your exit. Close the doors behind you to contain the fire.

-If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with doors closed. Place a wet towel under the door and call the Guyana Fire Service or 911.

-You should then open a window and wave a brightly coloured cloth or flashlight to signal for help.

-If your clothes catch on fire, stop what you're doing, drop to the ground and cover your face if you can, then roll over and over or back and forth until the flames go out.

Please note that running will only make the fire burn faster.

-Once outside the building you should stay a safe distance from the fire and wait for the Fire Service to arrive.

-Most importantly, DO NOT go back into the building for anything. By going back into the building, you will prevent the fire fighters from doing what they need to do and will put your life at risk.

s part of its efforts to update its records, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security commenced a countrywide data collection exercise last Wednesday which will run throughout the month of September.

According to a release, the Ministry is updating its database of persons with disabilities, single parents, and unemployed women in

an effort to develop and deliver programmes which will benefit these groups of people and other categories of persons as well.

Eligible persons, according to the Ministry, are asked to register Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am to 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 9 am to 12:30 pm.

Officers will be stationed at the locations to facilitate a smooth process of

registration.

Registration can also be done online by downloading the form from the Ministry’s website and emailing it to registration@mhsss.gov.gy.

Below is the list of offices that persons can visit to register. For more information, persons can call 226-6110 or 225-6545 or v i s i t t h e M i n i s t r y ’s Facebook page. The deadline for registration is September 30, 2021.

Thursday September 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 02, 2021

Guyana Thermo-Plastics Ltd. - awarded for continually recertified by GNBS meetingstandards manufacturing P

VC (Polyvinyl chloride) pipes can be considered one of the most widely used plastic material in the world because of its strength, durability, easy installation and low cost.

However, given its duty to transport liquid including water and other products for consumption, the manufacturing of PVC Pipes requires great precision and quality assurance.

Established in 1973, Guyana Thermo-Plastics (GTP) Limited –a subsidiary of Toolsie Persaud Limited –was among the first

companies to begin the manufacture of PVC pipes in Guyana. As a major player in Guyana's building and construction industry, GTP Ltd. began the production of PVC pipes in 1975 with its major customer being the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), then the Guyana Water Authority (GuyWA).

Fast-forward to the late 1990s, to ensure that it meets the requirements of local and international standards; GTP Limited was also the first company to seek certification of its pipes by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). After fulfilling the

Ms. Annesa Permal, employee of Guyana Thermo-Plastics (GTP) Limited at the company's Providence location on August 13. requirements of the National Standards “Specification for (PVC) plastic pipe, schedules 40, 80 and 120” which was adopted from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), GTP's PVC pipes were certified in 1999.

The current Operations Manager of GTP, Mr. Mahendra Barran, who was a member of the Technical Committee that adopted the standard in the late 1990s, strongly believes that product certification is the key for many local products to access the export market; and it is for companies looking to increase their local customer base.

According to Mr. Barran, “When you certify your pipes, you can start exporting them; and of course, you have to produce to a certain standard for other countries to accept your products.”

He suggested that there must be an organisation or institution to certify that products are being produced to standards and the GNBS is the fittest organisation to do so.

The GTP Manager boasted that since the company achieved certification of its pipes under the GNBS Product Certification Programme, it has continued to realise benefits including increased customer confidence in the product and reorders.

He suggested that many local companies can accrue similar benefits by certifying their products, especially being able to guarantee and deliver quality to customers.

The National Standard GYS 99:2010 stipulates requirements for dimensions and tolerances, sustained pressure to avoid bursts or leaks, hydrostatic strength, and burst pressure. In

GNBS Technical Officer Latchman Mootoosammi handing over the certificate on August 13.

Supervisor at Guyana Thermo-Plastics (GTP) Limited Mr. Jermine Gaskin and Operations Manager Mr. Mahendra Barran pose with the plaques handed over by the GNBS on August 13. addition, the standard states that pipes must not show evidence of splitting, cracking, breaking or any disintegration when tested.

Meeting testing requirements is a prerequisite for certification; and through certification,

companies are permitted by the GNBS to affix the National Standard Mark to their certified products.

The PVC pipes manufactured by the company is also certified to the GYS 107: 2010 - Poly (continued on page 16)

Operations Manager at Guyana Thermo-Plastics (GTP) Limited Mr. Mahendra Barran signing the Terms and Conditions for the recertification on August 13 as Technical Officers Mr. Keon Rankin and Mr. Latchman Mootoosammi.

Thursday September 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Thursday September 02, 2021

Kaieteur News

Boy, 12, finds mother and stepfather dead - murder-suicide suspected VEHICLES FOR SALE

FOR RENT

Tractor Massey Ferguson 165-$1.7M,Massey Ferguson 135-$1.1M,Ford Ranger pick up $1.3M,Ford F150 pick up $1.3M. 6825230/615-4414.

Two (2) bedroom apartment for rent,$45,000 per month.

Tel:696-1680.

SERVICES

TO LET

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

One bedroom apartment with bathroom & living room, Cummings Lodge E.C.D. Call:222-0401 or 673-2467.

Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#656-0110.

Modernfurnished airconditioned 2 bedroom apt inclusive of M/room , garden & sanitary environment, $1200 U.S month. 6745019.

Apartment for rent.Peters Hall & Albertown.Tel:6481391/698-5800.

A 12-year-old boy yesterday morning discovered the lifeless body of his stepfather and mother – his stepfather hanging from the roof and the his mother lying on a bed covered in blood – in their West Bank Demerara home.

The discovery, according to reports, was made sometime around 09:00hrs in the family’s Recht Door-Zee, Parfaite Harmonie residence.

Dead are 36-year-old Camile Robertson-Rodrigues and 42year-old Rollin Rodrigues.

Though details surrounding the couple’s death are unclear, police believe it might be a case of murder-suicide.

It was reported to investigators that the woman had gone to an interior location some days ago against her husband’s wishes to attend a party and only returned on Tuesday.

On her return, sometime around 18:00hrs, she was met with an intoxicated Rodrigues, according to

The premises where the couple was found.

FOR SALE 1 6x6 Truck,1 Freightliner,1 Sylphy,1 Hilux LN 172,1 JCB loader.Tel:673-4002/ 665-3676.

1 Jet Boat $30,000,000.

Call:695-1356/671-2486.

Fresh pluck chicken, $320 per lb retail. Tel:2192192,225-0480,225-3593.

DIG.Colour copy,folder machine,papercutter,LG laminating machine, AB Dick machine paper,sticker.

Tel:233-2725.

1 new 43 inch TCL smart TV for sale.Price $90,000. For more details,contact 6271050.

LAND FOR SALE Roadside land for sale @ GoodHopeMahaica 500ftx42ft. Call:691-8420.

Mining property located, K u r u p u n g River,Umbambaru Creek area. Contact:681-3512.

8 acres farming land at Kuru-Kururu good road access nearby creek. Contact:681-3512.

Prime Residential Lots, West Coast Berbice,ideal for a gated community. Tel:6512444/626-3454.

WANTED Taxi driver & dispatcher at Princess taxi.Located at RamadaPrincess Hotel.Tel:616-5419,2657075,265-7076.

Male seeks common law wife,ages 18-38. Light housework,salary $80,000monthly. Call:6039085.

VACANCY Cook/Baker,Kitchen assistant & Pitmen for interior location.Applicants must be experienced.Call:231-2250.

Delivery,Lorry license driver.Tel:621-9336.

For Carpenters.Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

For Security Guard.Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

Able body porters needed.Apply@Why Pay More Trading,7 Public RD Houston E.B.D with application.

In all departments: Prep,Meat, Service, Kitchen.

Apply:Bettencourt's Diner.

Call for information:2311368/223-1938.

Experienced general domestic to work in G. Town,must know to press. Call:615-3379 for more info.

One salesman,5 subject cxc.

Experience in writing bills,stocktaking & cashing.

Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom village.

One male able bodied clerk.

Call:693-8462/231-2029.

One live in babysitter, serious enquiries only. Interest person can contact Devika on 677-8963/622-4576.

One clerk for TSI Eccles office.English& Mathematics,grade 1 or 2.

Email application:techserigy @yahoo.com or call 6429823.

Maid wanted.Light house keeping $3500 daily.Semi skill labour $4000 daily. 6825230-1/615-4414.

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

1 live in maid.Tel:674-9114.

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

1 maid needed.Tel:6170508,226-5795,663-3872,6663569.

Porter log truck driver, Eccles Industrial Site E.B.D. Call:609-7675/674-1705.

Found dead, Rollin Rodrigues. Found dead, Camile Robertson-Rodrigues. police.Yesterday, according to reports, the couple’s son was outside the house calling for his mother but his calls went unanswered. After getting no response, he decided to peep through one of the windows where he saw his mother lying motionless on a bed covered in blood and his stepfather suspended from the roof with a polythene rope around his neck.

This publication was told that the child related to an uncle what he saw after which

efforts were made to contact a police station. Police in a release stated that upon examination of the woman’s body, “what appears to be stab wounds were seen at various parts of her body.”

Upon further inspection, the alleged weapon used to inflict the fatal injuries was found some distance away on a chest of drawers.

The couple’s bodies were removed and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where they were pro-

nounced dead officially by a doctor. Their bodies were then taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour where they await post mortem examinations.

While an investigation into the incident has been launched, Kaieteur News was informed that the couple was married for some seven years during which they would oftentimes argue. The woman leaves to mourn a son and daughter whom she shared with a previous partner.

Guyana Thermo-Plastics Ltd. recertified...

From page 14 Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Pressure – Rated Pipes.

The GNBS Certification for Products is issued to companies for a period of one year following which the product is recertified if it continues to meet the requirements of the standard.

To continually upkeep requirements to ensure recerti-

fication, GTP Ltd. has established a laboratory facility to test each set (batch) of pipes produced. The results of these tests are also documented for traceability purposes.

In fact, the company was recertified on Friday, August 27, 2021. It was also awarded two plaques from the GNBS for continually meeting the

requirements of the standards.

In addition to PVC Pipes, the GNBS also certifies gold jewellery, concrete hollow blocks, bath tubs and shower units. Finally, as the relevant standards and testing facilities become available, the list of products which can be certified by the GNBS to ensure quality will increase. (GNBS)

Thursday September 02, 2021

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Inequity in education among PPP/C’s lawyer is new challenges to be addressed in AmCham Guyana President new MOE’s five-year plan With its focus on providing quality education and lifelong learning for all, one of the Ministry of Education’s visions in the coming years is to further reduce inequity in the education sector.

This, among other objectives, is entailed in a five-year (2021-2025) education strategic plan launched by the Education Ministry. The strategic plan was launched yesterday even as the Ministry unveiled its month of activities to commemorate Education Month 2021 under the theme, “Education for all: Innovative teaching and learning in a global pandemic.”

During her opening remarks, the Minister of Education, Praia Manickchand, said that the plan is a culmination of extensive consultations and collaboration with a range of local and international education stakeholders and partners. The strategic plan was crafted around five pillars and, according to the Minster; it will “effectively capture all the core areas demanding our sustained focus and attention over the ensuing years.”

These five pillars are mainly to improve governance and accountability to improve performance at all levels, to improve the efficiency of the education system, to reduce inequities in education and to contribute to lifelong learning and employability.

Giving a brief overview of these pillars was the Chief Planning Officer (CPO) of the Ministry of Education, Nicola Johnson.

Speaking on governance and accountability, Ms. Johnson shared that the Min-

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

istry is looking at strengthening its management at the central, regional and school levels by 2025. The aim, she revealed too, is to have an integrated education management information system fully functioning by that time. This system, she said, will provide them with data on various education processes.

By 2025 too, she said the Ministry is aiming to improve students’ performance even as teachers at all levels receive “at a minimum, 30 hours of continuous development every year.”

Elaborating on the matter of inequities in education, the CPO explained that the Ministry’s target is to reduce the performance gap at the national and regional assessment between hinterland and coastal students. Another target she highlighted is to “en-

sure that students with sensory disability, the blind and deaf, those with speech impairment, participate in national and regional assessments by 2025.”

She also noted that the Ministry is also aiming to ensure post literacy and skills programmes are developed so as to provide opportunity and entrepreneurial skill development for youths.

Meanwhile, the Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson, in his remarks mentioned that the plan provides for “good governance and decision making…further it provides direction for the future.”

He noted too that it is a road map which can track, evaluate, and modify to facilitate better governance, decision and direction for all schools.

COVID-19 Hospital braces for ...

From page 8 Delta variant; these symptoms are not usually associated with persons suffering from respiratory illness.

He explained that, “in addition to the usual fever, coughing, shortness of breath, there are some added indicators including headache, abdominal pain, fatigue, weakness, runny nose, diarrhoea and vomiting.”

As such, Dr. Carpen emphasised the importance of being vaccinated against the virus. While, he agreed that the vaccine does not provide any guarantee that people will not get sick, Dr. Carpen believes it is their last defence against the deadly infection.

“We look around in the ICU and people who are dying in the numbers are the ones who are unvaccinated.

Vaccinated persons usually don't end up in the ICU or die.

When we look at the statistics, over 95 percent of unvaccinated persons or that same figure succumb or end up really sick due to COVID-19,” Dr. Carpen added.

His comments came on the heels of an announcement by Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, on Tuesday that Guyana is experiencing a surge of the COVID-19 pandemic and he suspects it is the Delta variant.

The Minister said the situation is “worrying” as COVID infections and deaths continue to climb.

This, the Minister explained may also result in more hospitalisations and, as such, plans are being made to increase the capacity at the Infectious Diseases Hospital and may also see other hospitals being converted to COVID-19 hospitals.

In the meantime, Guyana's

COVID-19 infection rate continues to rise rapidly. Out of over 25,323 confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded in Guyana since the pandemic started in March last year, some 2,555 persons tested positive from August 1 through 27 alone.

This includes a total of 63 persons, mostly women, who lost their lives after falling victim to the deadly disease.

During this period too, specifically on August 24, the Ministry of Health recorded 207 new cases, making that the highest number of cases recorded within a 24-hour period than any other day of the month.

The least number of new cases recorded on a single day in that month was August 8, which had 12 cases. As of yesterday, the country has recorded a total of 624 deaths due to COVID-19.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s old lawyer, Devindra Kissoon, has been elected to head the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Guyana. This was revealed by outgoing AmCham President Zulfikar Ally during the Chamber’s third Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre yesterday.

Ally, it was revealed by Kissoon, has been appointed by the government to be Deputy Chief of Mission to the United States.

President Ali, in his remarks at the AGM, told Kissoon to use his new post to advance Guyana’s business interests with the US, and pointed to Ally as a key contact in Washington to meet those ends.

The President stressed that AmCham must not see itself only as a representative of businesses in the oil sector, as Guyana offers a wealth of opportunities in non-oil industries as well.

Kissoon was a lawyer for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) when it battled election cases in the courts last year. He talked about the relationship Guyana has enjoyed with the United States in the past year, and congratulated Ally on the new post.

With Ally’s leadership, AmCham fielded an electoral observer team to the

Lawyer, Devindra Kissoon

elections process last year.

Both men supplied critical support in the struggle, as the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government made relentless attempts to steal the elections.

Ally said he is proud of the role the Chamber played in saving Guyana’s democracy. He nevertheless said that AmCham had enjoyed a good relationship with the David Granger administration.

Ally also expressed pride in AmCham’s work promoting corporate social responsibility among its businesses, facilitating entry for US companies into Guyana, and facilitating

diversity and inclusion.

Part of his advice to the private sector in Guyana as he prepares to move on is that businesses must form consortia as Dr. Ali has often encouraged. Ally said if businesses don’t evolve and adapt, they will be left behind.

Kissoon said that with his leadership, AmCham will do its part to facilitate access for Guyanese businesses and its members, to financing from American businesses looking to work in Guyana. One of the primary goals of AmCham, he added, will be to work towards an improvement in the ease of doing business in Guyana.

Kissoon also said that AmCham will continue to maintain an apolitical stance.

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Thursday September 02, 2021

Evin Lewis and Oshane Thomas to replace Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes at Rajasthan Royals ESPNcricinfo - The Rajasthan Royals have signed West Indies opening batter Evin Lewis and fast bowler Oshane Thomas as replacements for Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, for the second leg of IPL 2021, which will run from September 19 to October 15 in the UAE and Oman.

Lewis is West Indies’ fifth-highest run-getter in T20Is, with 1318 runs, including 103 sixes. Only Chris Gayle (121) has hit more sixes for West Indies in T20I cricket. Lewis is currently part of St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the ongoing CPL 2021 at Warner Park, where he has started the tournament with scores of 6, 62 and 30.

This will be Lewis’ first

stint with the Royals and second overall in the IPL, having been part of the Mumbai Indians side in 2018 and 2019.

For Thomas, this will be his second stint with the Royals in the IPL; he played four games for the franchise in 2019, taking five wickets at an economy rate of 7.90. Thomas will be the second player from the Barbados Royals in the CPL to join the Rajasthan Royals for the second chunk of IPL. Earlier this month, New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips was lined up as a replacement for Jofra Archer.

Thomas can regularly hit speeds upwards of 140kph and most recently at the CPL, he bowled Gayle with a 142kph dart. With the absence of Buttler and Stokes, the

Evin Lewis sets off for a run © Randy Brooks/ AFP via Getty Images

Royals will now be without three of their England stars.

While Buttler has opted out due to the impending birth of his second child, Stokes has taken an indefinite break from the game for mental-health reasons. Archer is the other

Thursday September 02, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You have a generous spirit, Aries. And today you're feeling particularly altruistic. Finally, you have a chance to help your fellow man in a very real, direct way.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Things should be running smoothly for you, Taurus, and you'll accomplish a lot with surprisingly little effort.

Although there may not be any Earth-shattering developments, you should find that things go well.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may feel like you're being tested in some way, Gemini, like you're on trial and must defend yourself, including what you believe and how you operate.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your vitality is low. It may be difficult to fight adversity, Cancer. Try not to get discouraged. Instead, realize that this is part of the natural cycle.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may find it hard to admit that you can't do everything, Leo. There are some jobs that you aren't cut out to do. Why pretend when a better option would be to delegate the task to someone else?

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your hard work is paying off in ways that may not be noticeable to you now, Virgo.

Things are flowing naturally, and you seem to have all your responsibilities under control.

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Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) There are opportunities for achievement, so stay open to new energy coming your way, Scorpio. If you don't turn at these fortuitous junctions, you may never find this spot in the road again.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There are opportunities for achievement, so stay open to new energy coming your way, Scorpio. If you don't turn at these fortuitous junctions, you may never find this spot in the road again.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may find it hard to relate to others verbally, Sagittarius. You may have everything figured out in your head, but the words get in the way as soon as you share your ideas.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may be coming to a point of reckoning in something you set into motion years ago, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your thoughts may be scattered and confused, Aquarius, especially regarding responsibilities that are important to you. You need to be disciplined and focused, but frivolous chatter may fill your brain.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) There's a chance that incredible luck will befall you, Pisces, but nothing will come without hard work on your part. Don't expect someone else to hand you the treasure chest.

absentee, with an elbow fracture ruling him out of cricket for the rest of the year.

The Royals, placed fifth in the points table, will resume their IPL 2021 campaign against the Punjab Kings on September 21.

IPL to become 10-team tournament from 2022 BCCI invites bids for two new franchises; six cities in the fray ESPNcricinfo - It’s now official.

The IPL will be a 10-team tournament from the 2022 season, with the BCCI inviting bids for the two new franchises yesterday.

Interested bidders will need to buy the tender document by October 5, after which the IPL will carry out a technical evaluation before selling the two franchises.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the minimum bid price for each of the new franchises will be INR 2000 crore (USD 270 million approx) and that there are six cities in the fray including Ahmedabad,

Lucknow, Guwahati and Cuttack.

It is learned that successful bidders will own the new franchises for perpetuity.

While it announced the launch of the bidding process yesterday, the BCCI did not reveal details such as whether bids would be made via sealed envelope or an e-auction, and by when it would unveil the two new franchises.

The BCCI pointed out that any interested bidder is allowed to pick more than one bid document, which costs INR 10 lakhs, but would be allowed to own only one franchise.

While the decision to add two new franchises was finalised by the IPL Governing Council on Monday, the BCCI has been contemplating the move for the last two years.

At its annual general meeting in December 2020, the BCCI got the approval to do so from its members - the state associations.

How will having 10 teams affect the IPL on the field?

The 2022 edition will not be the first time the IPL will comprise 10 teams - that already happened a decade ago after the Pune Warriors and the Kochi Tuskers were added to the original roster of eight franchises in 2011.

It has been confirmed

that the tournament format will follow the 2011 model, which scrapped the simple home-and-away format, and included a total of 74 matches.

In the 2011 edition, the 10 teams were split into two loose groups, and the tournament comprised 70 league matches and four playoff games, with all the teams ranked in one composite league table.

During the league phase, every team played the same number of league matches, which was 14.

Each team played the other four in their group both home and away (eight matches), four of the teams in the other group once each (four matches, either home or away), and the remaining team in the other group twice, both home and away.

A random draw decided the composition of the groups as well as who played whom across the groups once and twice.

The last time more than eight teams played in the IPL was in 2013, when nine teams took part and played a total of 76 matches.

Kaieteur News

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Thursday September 02, 2021

Chelsea charged for failing to control players against Liverpool (Reuters) - Chelsea have been charged with two counts of disorderly conduct during their ill-tempered 1-1 draw against Liverpool at the weekend, the Football Association said yesterday.

The game at Anfield was marred by Chelsea players fuming at referee Anthony Taylor after he sent off defender Reece James for handball and awarded Liverpool a penalty in first-

following the half-time whistle.”

The London club have time till Friday to respond.

Kai Havertz had put Chelsea ah e a d b e f o r e Mohamed Salah equalised with the contentious penalty.

The visitors, however, held on for a draw, meaning that both sides are unbeaten in their opening three games of the season.

half stoppage time.

“Chelsea FC has been charged with two breaches of FA Rule E20.1 following their Premier League fixture against Liverpool FC on Saturday (28/08/21),” the FA said in a statement.

“It is alleged that Chelsea FC failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 48th minute of the first half and

Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta and teammates argue with the referee after he gave Liverpool a penalty and Reece James a red card. (REUTERS/Peter Powell)

Rain forces abandonment of 1st Women’s CG Insurance T20I ST. JOHN’S, AntiguaHeavy rains forced the abandonment of the first CG Insurance T20 International between the West Indies Women and South Africa Women at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

West Indies Women’s interim captain Anisa Mohammed told CWI Media, “I’m really happy with the way the girls bowled today. I think we had them good up until the 18th over but with wickets in hand we expected them to come hard at us.

Having said that I still believe that 135 was a good total for us to chase, unfortunately the rain had

other plans.

We now have a day to refocus and fine tune carrying through the consistency until the end of 20 overs.”

The second and third CG Insurance T20Is take place at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground today, September 02 and Saturday, September 04 respectively.

The five CG Insurance ODIs will be played from September 7 to 19, with the first three matches being played at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) and the last two at the SVRCG. Fans in the Caribbean can watch the all of the CG Insurance T20Is and CG

Insurance ODIs live via the Flow Sports app with live radio commentary available on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel. Fans can also follow live ball-by-ball s c o r i n g i n t h e www.windiescricket.com live match centre.

Scores: South Africa Women 135/3 (20 overs) Marizanne Kapp 36 Anisa Mohammed 4-0-23-1 Laura Wolvaardt 35* Hayley Matthews 4-0-27-1 West Indies Women 21/1 (2.5 overs) Hayley Matthews 8 Marizanne Kapp 1.5-0-15.1 Kyshona Knight 3* Ayabonga Khaka 1-0-2-0

The women’s 200m will feature firebrand American Sha’Carri Richardson, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson as well as Olympic silver medalist and World U20 champion Christine Mboma of Namibia in an expected explosive showdown.

Jackson, Richardson, Mboma set for epic 200m showdown in Brussels SportsMax - The Women’s 200m at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels on Friday promises to be an electric affair as it features a few of the fastest women in the event in the world this year.

The world’s fastest woman Elaine Thompson (21.53) is a late withdrawal but the field is still stacked.

It features firebrand American Sha’Carri R i c h a r d s o n , J a m a i c a ’s Shericka Jackson as well as Olympic silver medalist and Wo r l d U 2 0 c h a m p i o n Christine Mboma of Namibia, both of whom have run faster over the half-lap sprint than the upstart American.

The 18-year-old Mboma ran a lifetime best 21.81 for the silver medal in Tokyo and 21.82 to win the World U20 title in Kenya last month. She will prove to be a

handful not just for the American but also for the Olympic 100m silver medalist Shericka Jackson, who ran a personal best 21.82 in June.

However, in a pre-meet media conference on Friday, Richardson, who will be running on fresher legs, said she hopes to go below her previous best.

“I feel like a baby in such a company because a lot of ladies have a time of 21 seconds behind their name. I get into the starting blocks with the same eagerness for a 200m as I do for a 100m, so hopefully, I can prove that with a fast chrono. My coach and I are also working very hard to excel in both distances, so I’m really looking forward to diving under 22 seconds,” said Richardson whose personal best is 22.00 but has a season-best time of 22.11 run

in Gainesville, Florida in April.

She might very well need to, if she is to win, because also included in the line-up is the reigning European champion Dina AsherSmith, who hampered by a hamstring injury, was forced to withdraw from the event at the Tokyo Olympics last month.However, the Briton, who is gradually returning to full health, ran a season-best 22.06 in Italy in June and will be hoping to get close to that time after a promising 22.19 for third in Eugene, Oregon on August 21.

Olympic finalist Beatrice Masilingi is also included in the line-up. The Namibian teenager, the sixth-place finisher at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, ran a personal best 22.18 for the silver medal behind at the World U20 Championships in Kenya last month.

DVA A division league

Achievers better Strikers to top table Young Achievers remains undefeated in the Demerara Volleyball Association (DVA)A Division league thus far after notching their third win in as many games on Tuesday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

The league leaders; Achievers, placed any doubt to rest after beating second place Castrol Strikers Volleyball Club by a margin of 3-1 in a thrilling game at the Homestretch Avenue venue.

Castrol Strikers came out swinging in the first set winning it 25-18 and seemed on course for another straight set victory as they did against the Eagles Volleyball Club last Friday.

However, Young Achievers then

responded by winning three straight sets 2522, 25-12 and 25-22.

The top scorers from the winning team were Juan Valesquez with 13 points, Corwin Richards with 11 points and Klondyke Rodney with 9 points. The win has now earned Young Achievers a total of nine points while Castrol remain second with five points and Eagles are in the cellar position with three.

The league action continues tomorrow with Young Achievers battling Eagles Volleyball Club from 19:30hrs at the CASH venue.

The game will also be live-streamed on the Guyana Volleyball Federation GVF Facebook page from 19:15hrs.

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 02, 2021

A brutal Kennar Lewis and the graceful Sharmarh Brooks saw the Tallawahs comfortably home. (CPL)

Lewis powers Tallawahs to victory

C

PL - Jamaica Tallawahs earned their second victory of the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a six wicket victory over the Barbados Royals.

The Royals won the toss and opted to bat, Azam Khan’s fluent 50 off just 30 balls taking them to 151/8.

However, the Jamaica Tallawahs were able to chase the target in 17.4 overs through the sublime batting of Kennar Lewis, his innings of 89 the highest score of the tournament so far, supported by the graceful play of Sharmarh Brooks, who hit 47 not out off 26 balls.

Barbados Royals had found themselves in early trouble, losing key batsmen

Shai Hope and Kyle Mayers in successive balls in the Powerplay to Fidel Edwards, who was making his first appearance in this year’s H e r o C P L .

A recovery mission was led

by Azam and Phillips; the pair putting on a partnership of 71 runs off 51 balls to build a foundation for the innings. Joshua Bishop then struck 18 off 8 balls at the back end of the innings to take his side to a respectable total.

Migael Pretorius was the standout bowler for the Tallawahs, taking four wickets, while Rovman Powell led by example with three excellent catches in the field.

Tallawahs response was led by Lewis, who powered

the innings despite his team losing early wickets to the spin of Joshua Bishop, including captain Powell, who was dismissed by a superb piece of fielding as Jason Holder held on to his shot with one hand at long off.

Barbados Royals will count themselves unlucky as star bowler Mohammad Amir had to leave the field injured during the second innings. The win takes the Jamaica Tallawahs up to second in the Hero CPL standings.Scores: Jamaica Tallawahs 155/4 (Lewis 89, Brooks 47; Bishop 3/20, Holder 1/44) beat Barbados Royals 151/8 (Azam 50, Phillips 31; Pretorius 4/45, Edwards 2/32) by six wickets.

Andreescu outlasts Golubic at U.S. Open NEW YORK, (Reuters) Bianca Andreescu overcame stomach pain and a stiff challenge from Viktorija Golubic to advance 7-5 4-6 7-5 into the second round of the U.S. Open.

The 21-year-old, making her return to Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time since she won the tournament in 2019, got all she could handle from the Swiss in the nearly threehour affair on a hot and humid night in New York.

But the sixth-seeded Andreescu’s seven aces and punishing groundstrokes ultimately proved too much for Golubic.

The Canadian yelled “Come on” and pumped her fist after Golubic sent a forehand wide on match point to seal the win.

Few knew what to expect

from Andreescu coming into the year’s final Grand Slam tournament.

After defeating Serena Williams in the 2019 final, Andreescu’s 2020 Grand Slam campaign was written off by injury and sickness that included everything from tearing the meniscus in her left knee to testing positive for COVID-19.

This year, she has managed just one win at a Grand Slam tournament - a first-round victory over Mihaela Buzarnescu at this year’s Australian Open.

That was followed by first-round exits at both the French Open and Wimbledon.“It’s definitely emotional,” Andreescu said in an on-court interview after the match.

“I didn’t play here last year and I honestly didn’t

play anything in 2020. I’ve been struggling a lot this past year so for me, I’m just thinking about all those struggles and how it’s all worth it.

“Winning on this court again is just incredible.”

Andreescu needed a medical time out midway through the second set to attend to an upset stomach, but said it turned out to be fine.

“My food was just rumbling in my stomach and I felt like I had to throw up, which is random because I ate like, five hours ago,” she said.

“It was totally fine after a couple games but it was a little tough.”

Next up for Andreescu is a second round clash with American Lauren Davis today.

PAGE 23

Osaka gets walkover into U.S. Open third round NEW YORK, (Reuters) - Defending champion Naomi Osaka advanced to the U.S. Open third round after Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic withdrew ahead of their secondround match yesterday due to illness, tournament organisers said.

The Japanese third seed and world number 145 Danilovic, who was competing in her first U.S. Open main draw, were scheduled to be the day’s second match in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Naomi Osaka of Japan in action against Marie Bouzkova of Czech Republic in the first round on day one of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie King National Tennis Center.

(Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports)

“I am so sad to have to (withdraw) from my match this morning,” Danilovic wrote on social media.

“I have been feeling unwell these past few days dealing with a non-Covid related viral illness. I was really looking forward to playing against Naomi on Arthur Ashe Stadium today, but not to be this time.”

Osaka will face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez or Estonian Kaia Kanepi in the third round.

Bangladesh v New Zealand: Visitors bowled out for 60 in losing first Twenty20 by seven wickets BBC Sport - New Zealand were bowled out for 60 to equal their lowest Tw e n t y 2 0 t o t a l a s Bangladesh won the first of their five-match series by seven wickets.

The visitors won the toss in Mirpur and opted to bat, but their top four fell for just nine runs.

Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls, both with 18, were the only players to score double figures.Bangladesh lost both openers for one before Mushfiqur Rahim and captain Mahmudullah led them to victory.

New Zealand were last bowled out for 60 in their World Twenty20 defeat by

Sri Lanka in Chittagong in 2014.

The second match in the series will take place at the same venue tomorrow.

Scores: New Zealand 60 (16.5 overs): Latham 18, Nicholls 18; Bangladesh 62-3 (15 overs): Shakib 25.

Result: Bangladesh won by seven wickets.

Bangladesh Bangladesh batsman batsman Shakib Shakib Al Al Hasan Hasan top top scored scored with with 25.

25. (Getty (Getty Images) Images)

Kaieteur News

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Thursday September 02, 2021

Shepherd the star as Amazon Warriors down Knight Riders in Super Over showdown ESPNcricinfo - The match belonged to Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Romario Shepherd.

He first took 3 for 24 to restrict Trinbago Knight Riders to 138 for 9, then hit a nine-ball 18 to take Amazon Warriors to the same total, and finally conceded just four runs in the Super Over to help his side do the leaguestage double over the defending champions.

Defending six runs in the Super Over, Shepherd first had Knight Riders captain Kieron Pollard hole out first ball.

Then he did not allow Colin Munro or Tim Seifert to hit a boundary off the other five balls. His allround effort justifiably earned him a Player-of-theMatch award too.

N i c h o l a s P o o r a n ’s Amazon Warriors needed just 139 to win after Shepherd and offspinner Mohammad Hafeez picked three wickets each to restrict Knight Riders to a below-par total.

Shepherd made the most damage in the first innings’ death overs removing

Romario Shepherd celebrates the fall of Kieron Pollard.

(CPL T20/ Getty Images)

Mohammad Hafeez rattled Trinbago Knight Riders with his offspin Aug 31, 2021 © Randy Brooks - CPL T20 / Getty

Pollard, Denesh Ramdin and Isuru Udana. Hafeez had made the early inroads by dismissing opener Sunil Narine, No. 3 Tion Webster and an off-colour Tim Seifert.

Colin Munro, who struggled with a 47-ball 40 in his team’s last CPL match found his form to anchor the innings with a 28-ball 32.

However regular wickets

never allowed the Knight Riders to push for a big total, and if it wasn’t for Udana’s nine-ball 21 in the slog overs, the Amazon Warriors might have been chasing a much lower total.

However, the Knight Riders fought back with the ball in the second innings powerplay. Chandrapaul Hemraj and Odean Smith fell in the first two overs to

R avi Rampaul’s deliveries that had a tendency to snake into the stump line after pitching.

Shimron Hetmyer and Hafeez then began a rescue act, but the Pakistan international eventually perished for a 16-ball 30.

Narine then had Hetmyer and Shoaib Malik caught behind in quick succession, and after Rampaul picked off

Pooran and Brandon King in consecutive balls, it looked like the Knight Riders were going to win the contest.

It however needed the Amazon Warriors’ Nos. 9 and 10 to take them to a tie.

Shepherd tonked two sixes and a four to score 18, and then Naveen-Ul-Haq hit a five-ball 13. Amazon Warriors needed two off the final ball to seal a one-wicket

win, but a run out while searching for the double dragged the game to overtime.

Scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors 138 for 9 (Pooran 27, Rampaul 4-29, Narine 2-9) tied with Trinbago Knight Riders 138 for 9 (Munro 32, Hafeez 318, Shepherd 3-24) Result: Guyana Amazon Warriors win the one-over

Only vaccinated person allowed in Gym from September 1.

Vaccination now needed to enter GYMS

O

nly vaccinated staff and gymgoers are allowed to visit gyms and other fitness centres according to the newly-updated COVID-19 measures that take effect from September 1.

“The operator of a gym or fitness centre shall be responsible for ensuring that (i) only vaccinated persons, including staff and patrons are at their place of business, and those persons have in their possession an official identification document and their vaccination card…”

Paragraph (3)(b) of the new measures states.

It also states that people must produce these documents when requested to do so by the operator of the facility or any person authorised by the Minister of Health.

Importantly, the guidelines published in the Official Gazette also stated that these fitness facilities should only operate at 50 per cent capacity of the building and by appointment to minimise the risk and spread of the novel coronavirus.

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 02, 2021

Former Guyanese youth player Mandolall blasts 142 in OSCL tourney Former Guyanese youth player Rovendra Mandolall slammed a belligerent 142 on Sunday when action continued in the 2021 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) 20-over Regular Season competition.

The right-handed Mandolall hammered 15 sixes and 11 fours as his team Carr Tec whipped Miss Pheobe Cricket Club by 105 runs at Dean Park ground, Scarborough.

Mandolall and another ex-Guyana player, Eion Katchay, put together a steady 102-run secondwicket stand to see their side post a respectable 247-6 off 20-overs, while Miss Pheobe only replied with 142 all out in the 18th over. Katchay assisted with 25 while Troy Gobin, who also represented Guyana at the under-19 level, was left not out on 21.

Ken Ramiah went for 36 runs from his three overs but was the most outstanding bowler for Miss Pheobe having taken three wickets.

When Miss Pheobe batted, Ravi Konduparthi offered fight with 30 and Ashok Sridharan got 29.

Ishree Persaud grabbed three wickets for seven runs off three overs to lead Carr Tec’s defence. Prabhu Balkaran and West Indies over-50 player Mohan Harihar were supportive with two wickets each.

PAGE 25

Flying Stars Cycle Club to host road races on September 19 and October 10

Rovendra Mandolall The round-robin stage of the tournament is completed too with Carr emerging the grand champion having topped the points table with 70 points inclusive of ten victories from 11 matches, while Mercenary came in second with 69 points also ten wins from 11 outings.

The playoffs will begin on September 11. No other scores were available.

Meanwhile, Mandolall has joined Ravi Bodo, Amit Arjun and Avinash Sookdeo as the other centurions so far in this year’s season. The Essequibian Mandolall has been a prolific softball batsman over the past two consecutive decades in the OSCL, already raking up over 30 centuries.

William Howard (left) sanitising the hands of cyclist Warren ‘Forty’ McKay prior to collecting his prize at an event earlier this year.

A release from the Flying Stars Cycle Club (FSCC) has indicated that the club is proposing to host two road races, one later this month and the next, in October.

Subject to approval from the National Covid-19 Task Force, FSCC Executive Member William Howard said the first race will be on September 19 and it’s the annual Victor Macedo Memorial Road Race commencing at 07:30hrs from Banks DIH, Thirst Park Complex.

Competitors will proceed along the East Bank carriageway on to the Linden Soesdyke Highway and will turn back at the Long Creek School junction and the

Yarrowkabra junction. The following categories would be contested, open, juniors, pre-juniors, ladies, Under and Over-50 On Sunday October 10, riders in the same categories would be at it again, this time however, they’ll be battling in the Kadir Mohamed Memorial ‘Ounce of Gold’ road race also commencing outside Banks DIH, Thirst Park from the same time as the above race.This time however, the turn back points are Dora at the Coca Cola sign and Yarrowkabra junction. Registration of competitors would be done the day prior to both events.

Cricket Zone of the US supports local cricket venture

Ravi Etwaroo owner of Cricket Zone in the USA.

Cricket Zone of the USA is the latest entity to offer support to the ‘Cricket Gear for Young & Promising cricketers in Guyana’ project with a donation of one E4 cricket bat towards the project.

This project is the brain child of Kishan Das of the USA and former BCB President Anil Beharry who extended a special thank you to a very generous friend of cricket Ravi Etwaroo, proprietor of Cricket Zone and the original owner of the E4 Brand.

B e h a r r y, a f o r m e r Berbice 50-over interco u n ty all- r o u n d er, informed that the total cricket related items collected so far is cash for first aid kit, two cricket boots, twelve pairs of batting pads, twelve bats, nine pairs of batting gloves

and four cricket bags.

“Sixteen young players from Essequibo Coast, Pomeroon and the East Canje area have already benefited from a junior gear bag, five bats, six pairs of batting pads and four pairs of batting gloves. Two clubs in the Pomeroon area will soon benefit from two used bats,” continued Beharry, a senior Banker by profession.

This project is a joint initiative by Das and Beharry, who added that the Cricket related items, used or new, will be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana.

“Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting will be done across the country and club leaders will also assist to identify

talent.

Persons who wish to make a contribution can contact me or Kishan,” said Beharry who still plays softball cricket.

“We also take this opportunity to say thanks to Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romesh Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Vi s h a l M a h a b i r a n d Sherman Austin.

More distributions will be done as I receive the gear from the USA,” concluded Beharry who has played for Berbice Police, Bermine, Young Warriors and Everest in the City. (Sean Devers)

West Indies Sports Complex made the first donation to Beharry (left) to start the ball rolling.

Lifts off today, Manager confident of success; Shepherd the as Taharally and Brisport go into action Romario Shepherd celebrates the fall of Kieron Pollard Aug 31, 2021 © CPL T20/ Getty Images

star as Amazon Warriors down Knight Riders in Super Over showdown

DVA A division league

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Action between Castrol (left) and Young Achievers.

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