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AIETEUR NEWS

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Granger on leave of absence from PNC/R

Friday Edition September 03, 2021 - Vol. 23 No. 36

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 78,467

Wales Gas-to-energy project …

Under coalition it was US$400M but now its US$900M - Patterson The protest continues for change to the Exxon contract.

Despite daily reports of robberies...

Region Four Commander says there is a reduction from last year GPF to tackle high Cop gets enamel incidence of cup to head violence in Swan from woman Bourda Market vendors complain of stalls being robbed

Residents of the Circuit Area Timehri community appeal to government for improved roads

Soldier and female companion gunned down in Sophia 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

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Granger on leave of absence from PNC/R Leader of People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Head of the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) list, David Granger, has taken a leave of absence. This was confirmed last evening by a spokesperson attached to the party as well as Executive member, Aubrey Norton, who is also vying for the

Friday September 03, 2021

Kaieteur News

leadership of the PNCR. The official confirmed that the former President's leave of absence came into effect as of September 1, 2021.

Granger was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and has not fully recovered from the disease; Kaieteur News understands that Mr. Granger took leave to focus on his health.

The party spokesperson

also disclosed that Granger had written to PNCR Chairman, Volda Lawrence, as well as General Secretary, Amna Ally, to inform them of his leave. Norton, who has been contesting the party leadership in recent months, has disclosed that in accordance to the party's constitution, Chairman Lawrence will act on behalf of Granger in his absence.

Granger's absence calls into question his functions in two other capacities. The first is his role as leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition. APNU, which originally included the Working People's Alliance (WPA), the Justice For All Party (JFAP), National Front Alliance (NFA), and Guyana Action Party (GAP). The WPA and JFAP have left APNU since their loss at the March 2, 2020 Regional and General Elections. Neither the spokesperson nor Norton could say what implications Granger's absence would have on the APNU leadership and who will fill that critical role.

Granger's second capacity is as the head of the APNU+AFC list, the main

Despite daily reports of robberies...

Reg. 4 Commander says there is a reduction from last year

Commander, Simon McBean

Leader of the PNCR, David Granger parliamentary opposition.

As head of that list, Granger is the only person who can either appoint or remove A P N U + A F C parliamentarians.

S o f a r, t h e p a r t y spokesperson has confirmed that Granger has given no timeline for his return. “He said it has to do with his health but he did not say when he will be back,” the spokesperson stated. The PNCR internal elections for the leadership, long overdue, are expected to be held later this year.

Despite daily reports of robberies in Region Four, statistics given by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Regional Commander have shown a massive reduction in robberies for the year thus far as compared to last year.

When contacted by this publication for robbery stats, Commander, Simon McBean, stated that there has been a massive reduction compared to last year.

According to information provided by the Commander, from January 1, 2021 to August 30, 2021 has showed that there have been 206 robberies thus far compared to 408 for the same period last year 2020.

Robberies are divided into four categories: robbery under arms, which includes the use of firearms; robbery under arms using other instruments; robbery with aggravation; and robbery with violence.

For this year, there were 127 robberies using firearms, while for last year, there were 219. This year there were 45 robberies using other instruments compared to 132 for last year.

For this year, there were 13 robberies with violence, while for last year there were 23. For this year, there were 10 robberies with aggravation, while for last year there were 19.

Kaieteur News

Friday September 03, 2021

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Under coalition it was US$400M but now its US$900M - Patterson

Wales Gas-to-energy project …

A

s the PPP/C Government rushes ahead with plans to bring the controversial gas-to-energy project onboard by 2024, Opposition Member, David Patterson, has aired some reservations about the cost of the initiative to the nation.

In his most recent Facebook post on the matter, Patterson said, “My records indicate that in 2017, Exxon proposed to construct a pipeline for between US$400M – US$500M i n c l u s i v e o f o n s h o re processing and an LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas)

plant.”

He added, “Without any explanation, justification, or further studies, the cost for the exact same project by the exact same company has risen to US$900M.” Patterson expressed alarm that the project is already suffering from massive cost

Cop gets enamel cup to his head from woman

P

olice Constable, Travis Cort, on Wednesday night received a hit with an enamel cup to his head after he responded to a report that was made by a man alleging that a Berbice couple had threatened to kill him.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported that Constable Cort was hit to the head with an enamel cup by Bibi Jageshar, of Wi l l i a m s b u rg Vi l l a g e , Corentyne, Berbice – however, the woman and her husband are still to be apprehended.

According to the police, around 19:30hrs, on Wednesday last, Yujisteer Puran of Lot 50 Crawford

Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice, reported at the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost, that Bibi Jageshar and her husband, Dinesh Jageshar, allegedly abused and threatened to kill him.

As a result of the report, Constables Cort and Tyndall left to make enquires.

Around 19:49hrs, upon arrival at the home of Bibi and her husband Dinesh, the ranks made contact with the couple and the allegation was put to them.

However, after the ranks told them the allegation that was made against them, they quickly locked themselves into the house, while using a series of expletives towards

the officers.

It was reported that as the policemen called out to them to open the door, Bibi quickly open the door and pelted Constable Cort with an enamel cup to his face causing injuries.

This caused the officers to retreat and injured Cort was escorted to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor.

The officer was treated for his injuries and later sent away.

Efforts were made to arrest both Bibi Jageshar and Dinesh Jageshar but have proven futile. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.

overruns even before a single piece of work or study is completed for same.

However, Patterson is not the first to express such concerns on this front.

Just recently, International Energy Analyst and Co-Director of Americas Market Intelligence (AMI), Arthur Deakin, posited that the massive gap in costs u n d e r t h e t w o administrations is already a cause for concern while adding that there needs to be consensus on such a crucial matter before any work commences.

Echoing similar sentiments was independent United States think tank, the Centre for Public Integrity (CPI). In the cases the global watchdog examined, it found that cost overruns on Natural gas projects “are the norm rather than the exception, often by 45% or more.”

In one of its analytical papers on this subject, CPI noted that initial estimates of capital costs for large petroleum projects are almost never correct. It said this has happened in Australia, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea and Angola.

Taking the cases it

examined into account, the American think-tank urged countries, particularly new producers like Guyana to be wary of the costs for such projects as the evidence shows they are often times inflated.

In Guyana, the government says that the p l a n n e d g a s - t o - e n e rg y project is expected to cost US$900M. But there is no guarantee that this would be the final cost. The requisite geophysical and economic studies are still being done for the project. Be that as it may, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, previously gave assurances that the project costs would not exceed US$1B. Kaieteur News had previously reported that the gas-to-energy project is being designed to provide 250MW of power to the national grid, following its estimated operationalisation in late 2024. It is also estimated to create about 775 jobs. About 700 of these will be aggregate to the construction phase, while the remaining 75 are for the other aspects of the project's life cycle.

The proposed project

Opposition Member, David Patterson would bring associated gas from two ExxonMobil Guyana-operated projects offshore being the Liza Phase One and Two operations via pipelines to onshore gas processing facilities. The pipeline would transport up to 50 million standard cubic feet per day of Natural gas to the facilities. The maximum flow of the pipeline is approximately 120 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.

All of the gas will be transported to the Wales Development Site. It should be noted that ExxonMobil in collaboration with the government, is moving ahead with this project at a time when the world is moving away from fossil fuel-based projects.

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Kaieteur News

Friday September 03, 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

Coronavirus - we are going in the wrong direction The news is that Guyanese are dying daily from the deadly COVID-19 virus. Not a day passes, it seems, when many new infected cases are recorded. They are usually in the scores, sometimes over a hundred. Yet, we have the impression and come to the conclusion, that those involved have not worked in the wisest manner to get the most out of what is present to deliver what is best for all citizens.

Beginning with the positive, the Health Ministry has been a model of consistency and efficiency with the delivery of vaccines. Despite some hiccups over pricing and supply of urgently required vaccines, those hurdles are currently not the sharp concern that they were before. More vaccines are available, and more and more Guyanese have come forward to be vaccinated. What is deeply worrying, is that so many medical professionals, with nurses being foremost, have opted not to have the vaccine, even after all this time has passed, and all these experiences and knowledge have been gained firsthand by them. The reasonable thought is that they would be the first in line to get vaccinated, if only for selfish purposes. That is, to protect themselves better, and be assured of the same for their loved ones because of the tough choice they had to make, which they did.

The resistance to get vaccinated is now compounded by the Government’s decision to force the issue: vaccination must happen, with proof furnished, or there is no entry to the workplace. Our healthcare system was already under pressure in pre-pandemic days, and for this series of events to occur now, simply makes a testing set of circumstances worse. Our public health system does not have this luxury, cannot afford this, and this is regardless of what any politician or ministry or hospital authority offers to reassure the public. That is clutching at straws, which leaves us thinking that there must be other ways tried. What is happening in the health system reflect the same confrontational story in public education, too.

The unions have signalled court action, as a first step in combating the heavy-handed and unilateral actions of government. Their members are fearful and suspicious and, no matter how some may believe such to be without basis, and label as having ulterior motives, some appreciation must be given to those concerns. Also, though a few thousand parents have agreed to their children being vaccinated, the number of unvaccinated is still high. Thus, the battle lines are drawn, with nurses and teachers on one side of the confrontation. On the other, there are representatives of the related unions and government officers respectively in what shapes up to be a passionate clash, with much bitterness left in the wake of whatever decision the courts make. And caught in the middle, are patients and families, plus students and parents, all wondering if this could end well at all.

The problem in this country is that we are not sitting across the table and having the needed honest conversation with each other. It should be noted, what we said: honest conversations, and not coming with preset notions of what should be, and that nothing else is acceptable. Instead, what we are doing in this society, and getting too good for our good at all levels, is to rage at each other, and shout at each other.

This much is obvious, regardless of how skilled we have become at smoothing over the roughness and jaggedness for public consumption, and in studious observation of political correctness.

To repeat: we are dishonest with each other, and this is in what we say, and what we cleverly withhold. It is also noticeable in the hard and inflexible positions that we take in those areas, where dealings with each other cannot be avoided.

We delight in using phrases like ‘bad faith’ and ‘unprincipled position’ but somehow it is always the other side and the other people who are guilty of such doubletalk and double-dealing. The shoe is always on the other foot.

Our sick and our young are impacted, yet we approach challenges in the wrong way for the wrong objectives leading to the wrong outcomes. Meanwhile, Guyanese pay the price.

Deregistered from GOAL scholarship course due to no fault of mine Dear Editor, I was recently awarded a scholarship by GOAL to do a certificate in Wedding Planning and Decoration at the University of the West Indies Open Campus. I was very happy at what in my opinion was a life changing opportunity.

On July 23, 2021 I received an email from UWI with my student information including student ID and password and a Zoom link to attend a Virtual Orientation Exercise on Monday July 26, 2021. Using the student information provided by UWI I tried to access my student account but to no avail; an error message kept coming up saying that either my student ID or my password was wrong even though the University

was very specific as to how to log in to my account and the data to be used to complete same.

Anyway, I attended the Virtual Orientation Exercise as scheduled and apparently many of the students, like me, were not getting to access their student accounts. We were advised to contact the Technical Support Services of the University with our login issues to see if they could be resolved.

This I subsequently did on July 27, 2021 via email a copy of which I sent to the Programme, Registration and Course Queries branch of the university. I was informed that I would receive a response in 24 to 48 hours. No response was ever received. I sent a follow up email on August 12,

2021 but this time my email was never even acknowledged much less answered. As a result, I have never been able to access my student account and as such could not participate in virtual classes which commenced on July 28, 2021.

To add to my woes there was no one I could contact at GOAL for assistance; apparently GOAL does not have a student support department and even if there is one, we the students were not informed. I had planned to use the launch of the GOAL programme which was to be held on August 13, 2021 to ventilate my concerns but the launch was postponed indefinitely.

On August 27, 2021, I received an email from the

UWI Open Campus Student Support Team that I would be deregistered from my course on August 30, 2021 as I had not attended any of my virtual classes since the course commenced in July.

I have tried all avenues to have my issue resolved. I even contacted a number I saw on Facebook listed to be that of the office in charge of GOAL scholarship awardees in my region but that number rang out. And be advised that there are many other students like me who have been deregistered due to being unable to access their student accounts. I hope someone at GOAL or UWI Open Campus can offer some clarity on my situation.

Sincerely J. Williams

Medically certified recruitment Dear Editor, One does not have to be protagonist for any side of this non-productive DIVIDE. There are so many views regarding the morality or otherwise about being vaccinated at this time of a world-wide health crisis.

Some have disingenuously interpreted the protestations in Guyana as politically motivated; while ignoring similar situations in countries they profess to

admire – like the USA. It is not as if the very protesting unions involved are not parties to the wellestablished dereliction of the recruitment processes of the Public Service and the Teaching Service for example, whereby new employees are not required to be certified as medically fit for the respective jobs.

So that the current pandemonic debate hardly takes account of the record

of public employees not being accustomed to statutory medical examinations, even in the very hospitals where so many work.

So that ‘Personnel Officers’ have not the experiential authority, to advise on a ‘healthy’ recruitment process.

This is by no means a defence of what is now being treated as organisational indiscipline – in the absence

of any related policy.

It is but to invite some reflections on the nonexistence of a management policy which articulates concern for the health and safety of employees at all levels from the time of recruitment.

Hopefully, major private sector employers would empathise with this perspective.

Yours Fully Vaccinated

Agriculture is our future, not oil and gas Dear Editor, The government is placing almost all of its development eggs in one nest – oil and gas – to the neglect of other key sectors of the economy. Oil is short term and non-renewable.

Once it runs out, it can’t be replaced, and that industry dies as has happened in Trinidad. Agriculture is our future.

It is long term sustenance of this country. And we have abundance of fresh water and geographical location for farming success. Government should not neglect agriculture, which is sustainable and long term, unlike oil and gas.

Our development hinges on agriculture. And we need food for survival, but we are not meeting our farming potential. As I read your newspaper, serious questions have been posed and questionable activities exposed at Oil and Gas and Agriculture as well as several other Ministries. The gas to shore is a disaster in the making, twenty times the fold of Skeldon factory.

For development, agriculture is the future. The

Agriculture Ministry can be effectively managed to be the breadbasket of not only Guyana, but the region and the Guyanese diaspora at large.

However, agriculture is being run like a private cake shop. Things are not going in the right direction. Staff is disgruntled. Tendering rules and awards are not followed according to letter and spirit of rules.

Process for Tender evaluation and the granting of awards are highly contaminated. Many projects are re-tendered to get the right contractor. Is right contractor defined by the who can pay the required amount of draw back? Sheet piling fiasco is an illustration – it was tendered once and retendered four other times. Is it to get the contractor who will pay the hugest drawback?

And there are so many other cases of continuous attempts to award contracts to get the right contractor.

Are prices inflated? Pump station contracts have been tendered and re-tendered. Are evaluators coerced into recommending bidders (for the awards) who are aligned

to high officials rather than evaluate bids based on competence?

There are so many issues at Agriculture. Contractors who provided drainage services during the recent floods that resulted in untold damages (much of which caused by malpractice of the administration) have not been paid as yet. Machine operators and owners had to protest before they were paid for tractor pumps to assist with drainage.

Then there is the fiasco with the flood relief grants in which genuine victims were not adequately compensated, or not at all. There is the issue of the fishing trawler licence to the Windsor Forest recipient. This could have caused Guyana to lose its fishing accreditation.

Is it true that a mechanic from Bush Lot Corentyne who never built a simple sluice is being considered for an award of two huge pump stations in Corentyne amounting to some $1.5 billion? Isn’t the prospective contractor a wheeler-dealer, a political grasshopper, feeding politicians in the food chain without having to meet criteria

or even performing work and being paid? During the coalition, he spilled negatives and urged persecution and sanctions of businesses and individuals aligned with the then opposition. Victims included KP Jagdeo, Yunas, Tulsi, Ramotar, and so many others.

The mechanic was favoured under the coalition and is favoured now.

Wondering why! Could it be that his friend in the now opposition asks a top man on the government’s side for a political favour to grant the mechanic a contract?

Politicians from both sides talk to each other privately, while fighting publicly to fool the public.

Is awarding of contracts dependent on who pays the drawback with the recipient unconcerned about a contractor’s affiliation? Is it a case of paying to play regardless of political affiliation? I urge government to take actions to clean up what is happening in the Agriculture and other ministries and to redirect its focus away from gas and oil.

Yours truly, Samuel Gittens

Friday September 03, 2021

Amerindians benefit from development under successive PPP/C Governments Dear Editor, Amerindians of Guyana, our first people and their communities, have been major beneficiaries of the many transformational projects executed by successive PPP/ C administrations throughout the country.

Through the aegis of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, dozens of projects costing billions, increasing incrementally with each succeeding Budget, have been executed since PPP/C took office in 1992 and are continuing to be executed for the qualitative improvement of Amerindians and their communities under the current Irfaan Ali-led Government. These are the Hinterland Development projects programmed to make Amerindian communities selfsufficient, and finally integrating these welldeserving people into the mainstream of national life.

Amerindians and their communities have come a long way from those years of decades of criminal neglect, especially during the regime of the former People’s National Congress government. The improved lives that are currently the daily experience of Amerindians and their hinterland communities are a direct result of a genuine policy on the part of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic government to correct the historical wrongs that our Amerindian brethren had suffered for so long. One of the successes of the hinterland development programmes has been its electrification initiative, beginning in 2005, from which an initial 11,000 solar panels were distributed to over 135 communities, in Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine, and 10 before the coalition government

truncated the programme in 2015.

But Amerindian socioeconomic development is a continuous process under every PPP/C government; therefore, it should be of no surprise when the government recently restarted distribution of solar panels to augment those already provided to hinterland communities and riverine areas that are “offgrid”. Unsurprisingly, the political opposition, the “Cummingsburg Two”, had levelled the accusation that these interventions were “vote-buying”.

But successive PPP/C governments’ record on hinterland development is best manifested in the muchimproved lives and changes of Amerindians and their communities under their watch.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

What it means to be a Christian Dear Editor, We Christians believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and is the Son of God. Being Christian is not just about going to Church and praying.

It is also about being charitable, showing love and compassion. Being generous is also cherished.

Many of us professed Christians are not truly Christian when we avoid doing the above. Not because we are proud and arrogant, but because we just do not know how to be charitable and some of us are just fearful. The Good Book (The Christian Bible) teaches

Housing Ministry’s driver actions equivalent of road rage Dear Editor, The driver of a government agency, who assaulted a handicapped driver over an alleged minor incident, ought to be ashamed of himself. His

actions are tantamount to road rage.

Should the injured driver though, with arm in sling, have been driving and operating a vehicle?

Shamshun Mohamed

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us that love drives out fear.

Are we in danger of falling away especially when we are tempted by material wealth, power, knowledge, which is not true knowledge (true knowledge is knowledge of God and his will)? His will is that all humanity must love one another as He (God) loves us. Being a servant is very important in the Lord’s household as when we are in the service of each other we are in the service of our God. Finally, righteousness uplifts a nation not material wealth as God provides for our needs when we are faithful and obedient to HIM. Yours Faithfully, Sean Ori

Dr. Carpen’s media pronouncements off Dear Editor, Dr. Mahendra Carpen is doing a disservice to this nation by his media seeking pronouncements.

In September 2020, one year ago, he stated that COVID-19 cases will spike in that month.

His analyses were incorrect.

Now a year later, probably figuring that he is dealing with a backward population, he is now stating in September 2021, that Guyana must be prepared for an increase in COVID-19 cases.

Well, anyone can now see that clearly based on the

escalating numbers.

The media must always do some investigative journalism and question persons making public pronouncements. Not just accept it and publish it.

Sincerely, Harrish Singh

If our forests and rivers are destroyed there will be no Indigenous traditions and heritage to celebrate Dear Editor, I would like to wish all my Amerindian brothers and sisters and the entire Guyana happy heritage month, despite the Covid-19 pandemic that is creating havoc in the world.

This being said, we must remember all our loved ones who passed away caused by COVID-19.

Additionally, I salute the Government and the organisers for their hard work in making some of the heritage activities possible this year.

Kudos to all of them!

As we celebrate heritage month this September 2021, apart from remembering Mr. Stephen Campbell and his legacy, with dancing and other mediocre activities that reflect a one-sided exotic aspect of us, we must also try to ponder on the challenges and threat to our lands, the environment and, in general, the biodiversity that we protected for centuries, which is part of our common home in Guyana.

This important aspect of our culture is paramount to reflect upon, especially how to continue

sustaining it in the midst of so called ‘development’ triggered by neocolonialism which causes pollution of our rivers and creeks and the destruction of forest by logging and mining.

Editor, this month is ideal to highlight the sociocultural and environmental issues along with the traditional customs of our people, because if all our forests and rivers are destroyed there will be no Indigenous traditions and heritage to celebrate. As such , t h e r e i s n e e d t o highlight this crucial aspect through music and art that can depict these c o n c e r ns, which are downplayed during heritage celebrations annually.

On this note, I must say that I admire the singers for their initiative and talents, and I love their songs that are played for heritage observance every September.

However, I found some of the music boring with no ‘conscientious vibes’ that can awake social awareness of our reality at heritage celebrations.

If I had the talent in music, I would produce some

more to boost the variety, and to spice things up conscientiously.

This being said, I believe the musicians need to produce more songs, poems, arts, etc. to get the critical messages out there during this month about our forest destruction, the pollution of rivers and creeks; and also, to promote the languages and more demarcation of land and extensions.

To sing about the vulnerable education system and the skullduggery induced of Amerindians by politicians for votes, besides other social issues and challenges we face on a daily basis.

To show the critical aspects of Indigenous Amerindians experiences during this month, besides the exotic activities that reflect us during heritage celebrations.

Happy Heritage to all!

Indigenous critical thinker

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Use the same colour scheme for other state buildings Dear Editor, I am happy to learn State House is being restored to its National Trust colours, and apparently at no cost to the Treasury (News Room, Sept 1). Green is good, but white

with green edges is better.

Hopefully, a similar course of action would be considered for other public buildings which underwent the green transformation.

Shamshun Mohamed

The EPA is wrong about new Demerara Harbour Bridge Dear Editor, The recent publication by the Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana (EPA) that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not required for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge because it’s replacement is backward and stupid. The entire Guyana should demand the head of the EPA be replaced because of this.

Excepting the current government of Guyana that likely instructed the EPA to take this position. The PPP/C will take a serious backlash at the next general elections due to this return to a highhanded and roughshod governance style.

The EPA, Guyana must be mentally challenged to state that the new bridge is a replacement. The new bridge

is a completely different structure. The old bridge is a two-lane structure floating on pontoons in the river. The intended new bridge is a highrise four-lane structure that requires building a fixed structure four lane road ramp in a heavily populated area that is already constantly congested with traffic.

Construction of the new bridge will escalate this one issue into unimaginable proportions. Also, the noise, dust and other negative environmental impacts to citizens will be terrible not only during construction but beyond as well.

The new bridge should really be built further south somewhere beyond the Diamond/Grove area.

Sincerely, Harrish Singh

Friday September 03, 2021

Adumbrations of a leader Dear Editor, There is indeed an overall positive buzz in Guyana, and around the world too, and of course, I mean because of Guyana. However, we must not forget the man who is the driving force in all of this. I speak here of the young and energetic President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who was born April 25, 1980, in the little sugar estate village of Leonora, known for its bucolic ambience. He is the second son to Bibi Shariman and Mohamed Osman Ali, who diligently parented him and his older brother, the only other sibling in the family, in a simple but disciplined manner, ensuring for him love for education, reverence for God, and empathy for humanity. We are now seeing the fruition of these implants, and are starting to benefit from them.

Dr. Irfaan Ali provokes interest, and so I took my time and read carefully what is in the public domain, and I discovered many anecdotes, attesting to his filial nature even as a child, when he was known for being supportive of his parents. Steeped in a rich country life, with a proclivity for the adventurous, Dr. Ali always manifested traits of family fealty, as he proved to be an affectionate and responsible son, who even home-cared his father, after a bout of illness descended on the ‘old man’

who nurtured him.

Is it any wonder then, that at times, Dr. Ali, in addressing national issues, comes over as a Big Brother, interceding for those who are in pain?

One only has to revisit the devastation from the recent May-June floods, to get a peek into his bleeding heart.

I gleaned that during his formative years, he never lost track of his goal, that of becoming the Presidency of Guyana, even though many flippantly dismissed him and his lofty, yet noble ambition.

So fixated on his dream, Dr. Ali, as a young and growing prodigy, remained obdurate in his pursuit of education and training.

The records show that he is a past student of the Leonora Nursery and Primary schools and Cornelia Ida Primary. From these, he progressed to and completed his secondary education at the prestigious and citified St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown. From such a solid, almost stoic foundation, the determined erstwhile country boy reached academic excellence and zenith, when all things culminated in his successful reading for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the West Indies in October 2019.

The evidence is stark clear. He is worthy of his current role. But I gathered

more in this regard.

Dr. Ali’s actual preparation for the Presidency of Guyana goes well beyond what was adumbrated in his formative years as a Leonora lad, immersed in his educational development.

It is well known that he previously served as a member of the National Assembly of Guyana in 2006.

He then swiftly transitioned to the portfolios of Minister of Housing and Water and Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, positions that allowed him to hone his skills of human resource m a n a g e m e n t , entrepreneurship and motivation of people.

Boundless in energy and single-minded in purpose, Dr. Ali evinced very pronouncedly during these times, a sense of commitment, maturity and goalorientedness, traits that are already overt in his incipient days, a mere year, as a young president.

During all this time, the ‘building up’ really, Dr. Ali intermittently tasted the role for which he was seemingly predestined, as he had to perform the functions of President and Prime Minister on separate occasions. This eventuated to a most promissory event, when in 2015, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) went into opposition,

during which time, he served as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and CoChair of the Economic Services Committee of the Parliament of Guyana. Having now gone the full circle of being in Government to that of being hurled into the Opposition, the once precocious boy, now seasoned politician, was fully tested and set for his next stop, that is, becoming the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) for the March 2020 Guyana Elections.

Thus, in many ways, there was not a tincture of surprise, when he ascended presidential office on August 02, 2020. This was more like the culmination of a quest, divine in origin and recognised by all. In being officially declared as Guyana’s ninth Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali became the first Muslim President of Guyana, joining the late Noor Hassanali of Trinidad and Tobago, whose tenure was from March 19, 1987 to March 19, 1997, as only the second Muslim head of state in the Western Hemisphere.

A whole lot has been promised then.

His deportment effuses a new Guyana. “Cometh the hour, cometh the man?” Maybe, this is a case of “Cometh Dr. Irfaan, Cometh the Hour,” that of authentic prosperity.

Henry Singh

NO!!! to re-resettling Afghan refugees in Guyana Dear Editor, The Caribbean-American Coalition (CAC) has publicly issued a recommendation to resettle Afghan refugees in Guyana.

The names appended to this seemingly paper organisation based in Queens, New York, are Ashook Ramsaran and Dr. Dhanpaul Narine. These two elderly gentlemen, who no longer live in Guyana, should consider the following: In a society like Guyana, people show their faces, legs, bosoms and arms in public.

How are burkas, etc. going to pan out under a secular

government headed by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali? Would these refugees later persuade him to establish Sharia or Islamic law in Guyana? It has been noted that the King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, along with the Crown Prince, have been forging closer and stronger relations with Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Ramsaran and Narine wrote about an “Afghan city” in Guyana. Really? Do they know what is currently happening in Kabul? Do they want - looking down the road

- a Balkanisation of Guyana?

Balkanisation means the division of a place or country into several small political units, often unfriendly to one another. Ramsaran and Narine talk about $100k per family for settlement. Are they aware that the birth rate of each Afghan family? In 2019, Afghanistan’s fertility rate amounted to 4.32 children born per woman. Today, Afghanistan is among the countries with the highest fertility rate on the world fertility rate ranking.

Ramsaran and Narine should read the book, The

Islamic World in International Relations, edited by Sylvester Gardocki, Rafa³ O¿arowski and Rafa³ Ulatowski. The book examines the difficulties and challenges of ethnic and religious conflicts, as well as political and economic instability. The authors of the book address the topic from the perspectives of international security, foreign policy, economy, energy policy and regional studies in the Islamic World in the 21st century.

Ms. Farah Ali Trinidad and Tobago

Friday September 03, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Friday September 03, 2021

Kaieteur News

GPF to tackle high incidents of violence in Swan, in light of recent killings

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) is increasing its presence in the village of Swan in a bid to tackle the high incidence of violence, which often times take the lives of residents living there.

During the past five months, the small village – l o c a t e d o n t h e Linden/Soesdyke Highway, home to approximately 600 persons – has seen three young lives being taken due to violence.

This publication reported back in March, that a young mother lost her life after she intervened in a fight between one of her cousins and a man.

Before tragedy struck, the young woman, 19-year-old Cameel Calistro, was amongst her family and friends imbibing alcohol at a birthday party when a heated argument ensued between

her cousin and the suspect.

The suspect who was under the influence at the time had armed himself with a knife in a bid to stab Calistro's cousin, but instead she intervened and was stabbed to death.

We e k s f o l l o w i n g Calistro's killing, 23-yearold Roy Ross, another resident of Swan was killed by two men during an attack at his residence. Ross' lifeless body, which bore several stab wounds, was discovered on April 5, by his neighbour. Prior to his death, Kaieteur News was informed that the man on the night of April 4 was at a shop in the village consuming alcohol in the company of his attackers. One of the men involved in his killing had confessed to detectives that they went to the Ross' home with the intention to “commit an unlawful sexual

Fatally stabbed, Roy Ross

Fatally stabbed, Cameel Calistro act on one of the occupants of the house,” with the expectation that Ross would not be there.

Kaieteur News had reported that the man lived with his girlfriend but she was not there at the time.

Ewart Calistro, the suspect that confessed further stated

Fatally stabbed, Roy Boston that upon arrival at the house they were confronted by Ross and eventually a fight broke out during which Ross was stabbed and killed.

On August 21, 18-yearold Roy Boston, another resident was killed during a drunken brawl at a shop in the community.

His alleged attacker who is said to be his cousin, was trying to intervene after he (Boston) began to pick trouble with some persons at the shop.

Boston instead launched

his attack on his cousin who ended up stabbing him to death. His cousin after committing the act that night had escaped but later turned himself in to police the following day.

This matter has since been under investigation pending the Director of Public Prosecutions' advice on a way forward with the matter.

Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, Commander of Division '4' Senior Superintendent,

Mahendra Siwnarine, pointed out that the main issue behind these gruesome killings was alcohol consumption.

He added too that Swan is the only community in his jurisdiction where murders keep occurring.

When asked what steps his Division has taken or plan to take to tackle this problem, the Commander said, “Well we are targeting the shops that don't have the requisite licence and shut down at curfew.”

Friday September 03, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Where is my receipt?

Believe it or leave it!

There are persons in Guyana who when they leave home, travel with exact money to make their purchases and pay for their transportation.

Years ago, during a period when the price of petrol had increased at the pumps, a particular minibus owner, who was also the bus's c o n d u c t o r, d e c i d e d t o arbitrarily hike the fare by G$20. One commuter was neither aware nor prepared for that increase and therefore when he handed the conductor the old fare, he was told that he needed to pay $20 more.

He protested, saying that the amount he tendered was the regular fare that he paid.

The conductor was unsympathetic. He simply told the man that the price of gasoline had increased and that the bus fare on his bus had also increased.

The man protested. He argued that the government had not approved any increase. This rattled the conductor who indicated that the bus was registered in his name and not in the name of the government and therefore the government could not determine how much should be charged.

The exchange between the man and the conductor was lengthy, since neither

was budging. As such one of the other passengers offered to pay the $20, knowing that the man did not have the extra money. The man however was unmoved.

He decided that smart man was going to meet his match.

He took the $20 that was offered but told the conductor that he wanted a receipt.

Now this is the first time in history that any passenger on a minibus had demanded a receipt. Before the conductor could protest, the man indicated that he was not paying any fare unless he got a receipt.

The conductor obviously was caught off-guard but being a smart man himself he tore out a piece of paper, wrote a receipt and gave it to the man with outstretch hands waiting to collect his fare.

The man looked at the paper, turned it around and asked, “Where is the revenue stamp?”

At present, there is no regard for passengers. You enter a bus and before you can be seated, the bus pulls o f f . Yo u a r e t h r o w n backward by the momentum.

There is no concern for service and that is due to the lack of competition. And you have to pay the full fare!

If there was competition

between transport operators, the service would have been better and fares would have been more economical. But since passengers are prepared to accept whatever is given to them even though they are paying, they are forced to be price-takers.

It is the passengers who have to begin to assert their rights by demanding to know the fare before they enter a bus and by demanding better service. If you are paying for a seat, then there should be no overloading.

And no police rank should have to enforce this rule. Once it happens, passengers should protest.

But too often what we see at bus parks is a mad rush to get on board, so much so, that some passengers seem glad just to get inside the bus, even if the bus was overloaded.

In one instance, at the Stabroek Market Square, there was a mad scramble to board a bus. One man was desperately trying to get on the overcrowded bus.

But the more he tried the more he was pushed away by the many persons already inside and others trying to get on. After a while, somebody said, “There's no room. It's full!”

“But you must let me on!” shouted the man.

Too much boys drama going on! seh...

Dem

Dis is a different time!

People nah encouraging slackness. Nobody gat de right fuh blockade any public building or public facility such as a road, bridge or a river.

Dat is called obstruction and once it affects another person's access, it unlawful.

Deh gat some people nah vaccinated. Well, if dem nah vaccinated and dem know dat dem wuk place nah accepting unvaccinated persons inside, wah dem doing malingering outside de gate? Dem nah gat no right deh and dem certainly

nah gat no right fuh obstruct people from passing in? Is also nat dem business who getting let in or let out.

Any person who running a business gat a right fuh decide who come in and who got out, in de interest of safety.

Dem can't lock yuh out on certain grounds but dem can lock yuh out in de interest of public health and safety.

If yuh nah get vaccinated, stay home! Nah go and try fuh create a spectacle. By all means stand up fuh wah yuh

believe. Even if it means dismissal, stand up strang fuh wah yuh believe.

But don't try fuh prevent other people from going about dem lawful business.

Just like how you gat yuh beliefs other people gat theirs.

Nobody gat no right blocking other people from accessing a public place. Is against de law and de police should do de rightful thing and move dem wah forming human blockade.

Talk half and wait fuh see how much stamina dem protestors gat!

“Why, what's so special about you?” the people asked.

“I'm the driver,” replied the man.

(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

Friday September 03, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Just as half of 65 is 34, half of a roundabout is death

I

t is said that in a few years' time oil revenue should engender a positive enhancement of the economy. In other words, oil revenue should allow for economic growth. But do those dollars translate into commonsense?

The perfect example is the United States, a country whose production of wealth

is at times incredible and surreal. The US is a country whose production in science and technology is phenomenal. In the US, the number of newspapers, magazines and journals far exceed the combined number in 150 countries.

But do wealth and postmodern status lead to psychological stability and modern philosophical

thinking inside the soul of an individual? The US is the perfect example for the answer. The answer is no.

This is the land where there is a big fight against Covid-19 vaccination and Covid-19 restrictions. This is the country where it is perfectly normal for a protestor on the picket line to be seen carrying frightening machine guns tied to or strapped to the

body.

The enormous resources of a nation do not mean that the society will have enlightened people. Do you know the rural poor in India are far warmer humans than the urban elites in the US? Do you know in poor, undeveloped countries there is more love for family members and relatives than in the US? The creation of wealth has nothing to do with how people think philosophically.

The prediction in this country is that oil wealth will bring better things in general.

We may even have bridges that link the country including some major islands in the Essequibo like Wakenaam and Leguan, and people can drive into Region Two from Region Four. But will there be an expansion in commonsense?

Let's argue commonsense making reference to philosophy. Most philosophers, maybe with the exception of Karl Marx and Jean Jacques Rousseau, contend that there has to be some form of deterrence in ensuring that humans observe the rights of others.

No other philosopher has argued that point with persuasive elegance as Thomas Hobbes.

We a r e t a l k i n g commonsense here. If you are not punished for molesting a woman, then women have no rights.

Traffic signals is one of the most potent arguments for commonsense. Traffic lights p e r f o r m t w o commonsensical functions.

First, it deters bad behaviour thus instilling in people a sense of recognition Frederick Kissoon of the rights of others.

Strangely and most Secondly, it informs humans that there is a deadly mysteriously, our first price to pay for behaving in roundabout outside the Bank of Guyana still has traffic an uncivilised manner.

Even the insane, the lights. Can someone explain homeless, the idiot know that this eerie story outside the he/she will die if he/she goes Bank of Guyana?

Here is my point. Don't through a red light, because people that have the green drivers still face opposite traffic flow at these two will collide with them.

My question is: does it roundabouts? And what is the make sense to remove traffic difference with these two signals to widen a road with roundabouts and the one at the argument that the wider the Cenotaph at Avenue of the road, more space there is the Republic? Here is the difference. to drive?

The drivers that use the But how can that be sensible thinking when users roundabout in downtown of wider roads still face Georgetown by the Cenotaph traffic coming from the are not real humans. They are opposite direction? Someone dangerous maniacs whose has to regulate traffic no driving has to be regulated by matter how spacious the the signals.

The drivers that use the roadways are. That is the two new roundabouts at the traffic light.

If you take a poll among seawall road and at Sherriff the entire population of Street and the Railway Guyana as to which country Embankment are nice people has the worst drivers, Guyana who behave like babies. They will come on top of the list. are not part of Guyana's Which fool in Guyana will population of dangerous reckless drivers. I have a doubt that?

In such a territory where suggestion.

Remove water and people drive insanely, you replace traffic lights with an electricity meters and allow citizens to pay what they aesthetic roundabout.

But there is nothing think they have used.

They will be honest and inside the mind of reckless pay the right amount. drivers that is aesthetic.

So, Guyana removes Finally, do away with traffic traffic signals at the junction signals in the entire country. of Vlissengen Road and What purpose they serve?

(The views expressed in Carifesta Avenue and at the junction of Sherriff Street this article are those of the a n d t h e R a i l w a y author and do not Embankment, in place we necessarily reflect the have now two roundabouts. opinions of this newspaper.)

Friday September 03, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

CDC says substance at Kingston seashore not crude oil The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) said it responded yesterday to reports of crude oil witnessed at the Kingston Seashore, in Georgetown, only to discover that the substance was not crude oil.

The images were posted on social media and quickly circulated by concerned users, since ExxonMobil's local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is producing oil at the Liza Phase One Project.

“Initial assessments revealed that the substance was in fact animal fat that was dumped in the vicinity.

The assessment team witnessed no crude oil in the area, nor any slick or sheen,"

Friday September 03, 2021

Kaieteur News

the CDC said.

The Commission said experts expected the fat to be quickly dispersed by tidal action and waves, and degraded by bacteria and other organisms.The CDC

The animal fat that was suspected to be crude oil

encouraged persons to remain vigilant and report observations or impacts to local authorities or the Commission's National Emergency Monitoring System.

'Pastry Man' died from gunshot injuries to chest, concludes post mortem A post mortem exanimation yesterday concluded that 39-year-old pastry vendor, Shawn Albert, died as a result of gunshot injuries to the chest. Albert, died during an armed robbery on the Essequibo Coast last Sunday night. Police in an initial statement, said that there were no marks of violence on the man's body.

The Guyana Police Force Public Relations Department said that “the bullet went through his armpit almost by the shoulder so it wasn't easy to detect according to Doctor Nehaul Singh [pathologist].”

Police further stated that the medical personnel

'Pastry Man,' was employed at a bakery in Georgetown.

At the time of his demise, he was reportedly vending bread in the Onderneeming Sandpit, in the late evening.

Police said Albert and his salesman were approached by two masked men, who were armed with a handgun. When the salesman refused to surrender the cash to the bandits, Albert attempted to drive away, but crashed into a nearby fence. It is unclear at which point the man was shot.Police told Kaieteur News that the bandits made off with $60,000 to $70,000 in cash. Albert was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by a doctor.

Shawn Albert at the hospital did not provide such information to the police, when Albert was pronounced dead.

A resident of Diamond on the East Bank Demerara, Albert known popularly as

Soldier and female companion gunned down - one in custody

Dead, Sheniqua Hodge.

A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal and his 23-year-old Barbadosbased girlfriend were on Wednesday night killed in a hail of bullets in 'B' Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

The dead couple has been identified as Daniel Fraser, 26, of Lot 598 'A' Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, and Sheniqua Hodge, a mother of one.

According to Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, one suspect is presently in custody, as the police pursue a second suspect, for the killing of the young couple.

Kaieteur News understands that Hodge travelled from Barbados several months ago and have been residing with her

Dead, Daniel Fraser.

friend, Tashanna George, at Lot 633, South Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

The police reported that for the past two weeks, Hodge and Fraser have been sharing an intimate relationship.

Earlier on Wednesday night, the couple was imbibing alcohol at a shop at 'C' Field Sophia. Around 23:30 hrs., they then left for home on motorcycle CK 9296 owned by Fraser.

However, as they were heading west along Last Street in 'B' Field Sophia, they were confronted by the shooter who then approached them from a northern direction on a bicycle, and discharged six rounds at Fraser and Forde.

The police reported that

the suspect then rode away in a western direction and made good his escape.

Fraser and Hodge were picked up by Fraser's brother, Darrell Fraser and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in a taxi where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Doctors reported that Fraser received one gunshot wound to his chest while Hodge received three shots one to the chest, one to her right knee and one to the right side abdomen, which exited the left side abdomen.

The bodies are currently at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination.

The investigation into the double murder is ongoing.

Kaieteur News

Friday September 03, 2021

PAGE 13

Vagrants sleeping on the pavement alongside the market

Vagrants sitting on the pavement in front of the Bourda Post Office

Bourda Market vendors complain of stalls being robbed, vandalised by vagrants

A buildup of solid waste at Section 'K' Bourda Market

Vendors in the Bourda Market have been counting their losses for the past several months due to the influx of vagrants who have been reportedly robbing and vandalising their stalls at night.

Over the past two days this publication visited the market, and during an interview the vendors criticised City Mayor, Ubraj Narine, for his lack of intervention in the situation.

While speaking with this publication, the vendors bitterly complained about the distress and agony the vagrants are causing them.

They revealed that between 06:00hrs. and 19:00hrs. every day, the vagrants could be seen lining the pavement alongside the market, especially on the pavement in front of the Bourda Post Office.

Karen Haywood, a vendor, stated that she has been selling in the market for over 36 years and during those years she has been there, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) still have not managed to put a system in place to facilitate the homeless.

“So the time you does see these homeless people is from 6am to 7pm even throughout the entire night, no homeless person should be sitting on the pavement, because visitors — foreign and local — walk to the market; and we need to look at this issue because persons cannot enjoy free access to these pavements and there are Night Shelters. I hope that the M&CC can put a system in place,” Haywood related.

One vendor said that the M&CC should have dispatched a team of mental-health personnel to those areas, while another suggested that the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, and her team should assist the situation.

A citizen, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, told this publication that the market has been in this state for a number of years, and has, for at least a decade, reportedly become a home for the homeless.

“It is a disgrace!

This is a market. This is close to where nearby hotels, bars and restaurants are located,” said the citizen.

The vendors said that they had made several reports to the M&CC, but all in vain. They told this publication that the Mayor should visit to see the condition of the market. Kaieteur News tried but was unsuccessful in reaching Mayor Narine for a comment yesterday.

Scenes of the abandoned building located on Robb Street, which is now an illegal dumpsite

Garbage discarded in the drains and also on the walkway leading to the market

PAGE 14

Friday September 03, 2021

Kaieteur News

Residents of the Circuit Area Timehri community appeal to government for improved roads

R

esidents of the Circuit Area T i m e h r i Community are calling on the government to assist with the repairs to the deteriorating roads in their community.

According to persons living in the area, there are currently two roads that can be used to gain access to their community: one stretching from the South Dakota Circuit and the other which is

the main road, coming all the way from the East Bank Demerara road, past the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, all the way through to the South Dakota Circuit Area.

The main road, which is only fully developed up to a short distance after the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, is used primarily by residents to travel to and from their respective homes, is now filled with large

holes, which causes damages to vehicles when d r iv in g , e s p e cia lly in emergency situations.

'Deionne' a 38-year-old resident, told Kaieteur News that she has been living there for about 18 years now and no improvement has been made to the road. She stated that the community does not fall under a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and their concerns had therefore been brought to the

Sticks used to identify the deeper sections of a flooded depression in the road

Cars travelling along the corners of the road

attention of the Timehri North NDC multiple times; she then added that her husband even made calls to the Ministry of Infrastructure over the years but the situation is yet to change.

Deionne went on to elaborate that they are unable to access the road when it rains heavily, because the holes overflow with water and this makes it very difficult for them to identify where the holes are.

They are then forced to use the highway road, which is now under construction, and this proves to be very inconvenient for them.

Another resident 'Nadira'

told Kaieteur News it is inconvenient for her to travel because she does not have access to a vehicle of her own and public transportation does not go past the road ending behind the Cheddi Jagan Airport.

She stated that she usually has to hire taxis to get from the circuit area to the Airport, which requires an additional fee due to the drivers' demands because of the state of the road.

Her granddaughter who is a student pursuing her career in Civil Engineering at the Government Technical Institute added that it is problematic for her to use the Highway Road because it is

time-consuming and on average takes about 30 additional minutes to get from there to the East Bank Demerara road which for the most part causes her to be late for school.

Following a meeting held earlier this year with Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, and Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, who reportedly assured residents the repairs to the road will be done but it will be done in due course, with construction starting after the road to the highway is complete.

Campbellville fire victims seek help from public The remains of the house after fire

T

he victims of the fire that took place Tuesday, resulting in the death of Angold Thompson, are seeking help from the public.

During an interview with this publication, one of the family members stated that they have started cleaning the area where their house once stood and, in the meantime, they are staying at the home of a relative.

“Despite all these challenges we are trying to have the funeral held on Tuesday if the post mortem examination is conducted as

scheduled,” the relative mentioned.

That post mortem is expected to take place today.

The man stated that due to the fire damaging all their documents, it is quite difficult to get around as they prepare for the funeral.

He went on to say, that they are seeking any form of help from the public to assist in them getting back on their feet in this trying time.

The 77-year-old Thompson, who was former manager of Guyana National Printers and a well-known photographer, lost his life on Monday after he saved his family,

but turned back to retrieve his belongings during the fire at his home.

The house which was located at lot 73, John Street and Stone Avenue, Campbellville, burnt to the ground leaving eight persons homeless and without any belongings.

Kaieteur News had reported that the fire started at 01:57hrs at the victim's residence. Neighbours in the area who saw the smoke immediately called the police and reported what was happening.

Quick response by the Guyana

Police Force (GPF) saw an immediate summoning of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

Wa t e r t e n d e r s f r o m t h e Campbellville Fire Station and from the Central Fire Station responded to the incident, and immediately went to work to extinguish the fire.

While the GFS is yet to give an official cause of the fire, sources say it was started by an overheated fan motor which ignited and caught to nearby combustible materials.

Persons interested in assisting the family can contact 592-6769496.

Angold Thompson who died in the fire.

Kaieteur News

Friday September 03, 2021

GTT upgrades Blaze to Fibre Promises more internet speed for less The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) launched its latest cutting-edge broadband technology, with a promise to provide customers with more bandwidth over a greater distance and faster internet service overall. The major rebrand and service upgrade from GTT replaces the former Blaze service, and at no increased costs to customer.

The announcement was made at an intimate event hosted by GTT at the Pegasus Hotel yesterday.

The GTT Executive team w h o m a d e t h e announcement was welcomed by an audience including GTT customers and associates, and members of the business

community.

In his remarks at the launch, GTT's Chief Operations Officer for Home Solutions & Fixed Services, Eshwar Thakurdin, noted that GTT w a s t h e f i r s t telecommunications company to bring the Fibre technology to Guyana in the form of Blaze. Thakurdin noted however that the GTT Fibre, which cost $2B to implement, would bring major improvements to the service being offered.

According to him with GTT Fibre, the company will be bringing back the backup battery by popular demand.

“There can be no denying the increasingly important role that fast and

reliable “Internet” service plays in the lives of our people. From education, to gaming and entertainment, working from home, conducting business, or just keeping up with friends and loved ones the world over, the need for internet and broadband power and speed is undeniably vital,” Thakurdin said.

The Operations Officer said too, that the company is aware that trouble with its internet delivery service over the past year has caused some customers to leave the service, but with the new Fibre service, customers will be happy to return to GTT and stay.

In his presentation, GTT Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Damian

Seated from left, GTT's CEO, Damian Blackburn, and Chief Operations Officer for Home Solutions & Fixed Services, Eshwar Thakurdin, while the company's Head of Internal Communications, Jasmine Harris, takes the podium at the launch, its latest cutting-edge broadband technology, GTT Fibre

Blackburn, explained that the re-launch fits into their 18 months plan to GTT to become a 21st century customer-centric organisation.

“It is the main reason we do what we do every day to deliver the service we provide,” the CEO emphasised.

He noted that “Innovation is at the heart of what we do. We were the first to bring the innovative technology of Fibre to the Guyana market. We have made speed improvements to our already existing service and will continue to make improvements as we continue to pivot GTT to be a 21st century customer centric organisation… We are proud to play our part in continuing to strengthening and empowering communities through our CSR initiatives, and now those initiatives and communities that directly benefit from GTT Fibre.”

In response to questions from the press, the CEO said that the company has been in discussions with the government and developers for the rollout of its service in many of the unserved and new communities.

He said that GTT Fibre is just one way in which the company is working to deliver on its promise of reliable connectivity to its customers with the best (Continued on page 16)

PAGE 15

GTT's CEO, Damian Blackburn

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Friday September 03, 2021

Guyana records 8 COVID-19 deaths in just two days

VEHICLES FOR SALE 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.

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

Tel:696-1680.

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

2,3 & 1 bedroom for rent @ Vreed-en-hoop, Providence,Diamond & Herstelling. Contact:6826263/643-3170.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

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Yesterday, the Ministry of Health announced that eight more persons, who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died. As a result of this, the country’s COVID19 death toll has moved to 632.

The country’s latest fatalities are that of four men, a 76-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), a 57-year-old from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), an 85-year-old

from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and an 85-year-old from Region Two (PomeroonSupernaam), and that of four women, a 49-year-old from Region Three, a 58year-old and a 53-year-old both from Region Four and a 91-year-old from Region Seven.

Further, the Ministry via its daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 181 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 25,951. Out of the confirmed cases, 13,414 are women and 12,537 are men.

Presently, there are 33 persons admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 116 in institutional isolation, 1,832 in home isolation and six in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 23,338 persons who tested positive for the virus have recovered.

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

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1 live in maid.Tel:674-9114.

Males to work in the interior, ages 18-30. Call:687-7638/ 674-1767.

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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.

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

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

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

Parika Public Road measuring 46' X 500'Contact#6500402/652-0251.

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

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

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

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

LAND FOR SALE

VACANCY

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Apply:Bettencourt's Diner.

Call for information:2311368/223-1938.

One salesman,5 subject cxc.

Experience in writing bills,stocktaking & cashing.

Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom village.

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

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

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

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

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

Accounts clerk,Cashier with atleast 4 years experience.

Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St.

...GTT upgrades Blaze to fibre From page 15 available technology on Fibre optics.

He noted too, that the company has moved to provide a more secure telecommunications connection to its consumer base by minimising the use of Huawei equipment, a Chinese brand that the US has warned is highly susceptible to spying and censorship.

Meanwhile, GTT promises that while existing subscribers will be upgraded remotely

by GTT, new customers for both business and residential services can register with the Company to benefit from the new plans and increased speed and reliability of GTT Fibre.

The phone company noted in a release following yesterday's launch, that all current Blaze customers have already been upgraded to

GTT Fibre for free.

The new plans of Fibre50, Fibre100 and Fibre150, provides more than double the speed of the previous Blaze plans at the same or reduced cost. Those on the Ignite, Flaming and Inferno Blaze plans have been moved to the Fibre50, Fibre100 and Fibre150 plans, priced at $8,999, $10,999, and $12,999 respectively.

Included in this Fibre upgrade will be a voice line providing crystal clear call quality; optional Wi-Fi; Highspeed Fibre internet with a free modem; VIP Tech Support and troubleshooting; Video streams and video conferencing; and Static IPs to support networks, servers, and cameras.

Business Solutions customers on BizFibre have also benefited from new plans, which offer increased speeds

at no additional cost. The previous plans of Biz25, Biz50 and Biz300 have been upgraded to Biz50, Biz100 and Biz500, which means a speed increase of up to 200% for the small and medium business customers on BizFibre.

As GTT Fibre takes off, new residential areas will also be announced in the coming weeks.

According to the release, the new and existing customers can make the switch as soon as GTT Fibre is announced for their area.

The release noted GTT's DSL customers are not forgotten with this new improvement. Most DSL customers will receive a free speed upgrade to their area. Where these upgrades to the basic DSL service may not technically be possible, their monthly cost for this service will be reduced.

Friday September 03, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Friday September 03, 2021

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Kaieteur News

FIFA welcomes CAS decision on qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup

Saint Lucia Kings penalised for slow over rate

FIFA welcomes the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejecting the Spanish LaLiga’s request to set aside the decision by FIFA to extend the international window for the FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers in South America by two days. The compromise decision to add two additional days rather than three as requested by the South American confederation CONMEBOL was taken by the competent FIFA body after consulting all relevant stakeholders and after taking into account all relevant circumstances, in particular, the challenges created by the Covid pandemic and

CPL - The Saint Lucia Kings were charged with a breach of Article 2.4 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Code of Conduct – Minimum Over Rate Offences – at the end of Match 9 between themselves and the Trinbago Knight Riders on Tuesday 31 August 2021 at Warner Park, St Kitts.

The charge of being one (1) over down was laid by the

especially health considerations for players.

The CAS decision confirms the legality of FIFA’s decision and entirely rejects the arguments made by Spain’s LaLiga.

On Wednesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino called for a show of solidarity from all member associations, leagues, and clubs, to do what is right and fair for the global game. We now expect the release of players for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers in South America to occur in accordance with the recent FIFA decision, the legality and legitimacy of which has today been recognised in today’s CAS ruling.

Gianni Infantino

Friday September 03, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may need to deal with disapproval today. This will likely come from someone you see as a superior or authority figure, perhaps a parent or teacher.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Obsessive thinking may be something you need to look at today. Common areas for such behaviors are in the pursuit of money, power, success, and romance.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You may feel insecure about your appearance today.

This can be a vicious cycle, and the end result is almost always negative. Rather than picking yourself to pieces, find ways to accept your looks.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Don't act impulsively today, Scorpio. It can be easy to confuse this with spontaneity, but one has more thought in it than the other.

Look before you leap!

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Jealousy might rear its head today. The key to coping with it is to understand why you feel insecure. If you're jealous of a partner, why is this? Is trust an issue?

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Arts and crafts may hold your interest today, Cancer.

Even if you lean more toward sports, an artistic streak likely runs pretty strong in you.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Getting along with others may prove challenging today, Leo. The planetary aspects can have you isolating yourself. You might feel impatient and easily annoyed. If this is so, stay solo if you can.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Don't be surprised if you're a little weepy today, Virgo.

The day's planetary influences could enhance your sensitivity to everything, including your feelings. Let yourself cry if you need to it can be cleansing.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Is it time to take a more drastic approach to solving a problem, Sagittarius? If you've made several attempts to resolve your trouble to no avail, it might be something to consider.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Tap into your creativity to unblock your emotions today, Capricorn. This can be a more powerful tool than you realize. Creativity is a big part of you - almost as big as communication.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may need to deal with disapproval today. This will likely come from someone you see as a superior or authority figure, perhaps a parent or teacher.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Taking time alone is essential for everyone, Pisces, but recognize when you're isolating yourself to the point where it's unhealthy.

If you ask why you're taking this time and answer because you're avoiding something or someone, you need to reconsider.

Match Officials Team against the Captain of the Kings, Faf du Plessis, who accepted the charge.

As provided for at Appendix 2, Section 4.2 of the Code of Conduct, the applicable monetary fine was imposed on the captain, and the Saint L u c i a K i n g s team was penalised with a 0.05 reduction in their Net Run Rate.

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Kaieteur News

Friday September 03, 2021

Saint Lucia Kings celebrating a wicket.

Chase dominates with bat and ball to seal win for Kings

C

PL - Saint Lucia Kings earned their second victory of the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a dominant victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors by 51 runs, Roston Chase starring with both the bat (85), then the ball, as he took the valuable wicket of Warriors captain Nicholas Pooran.

Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss and opted to put Saint Lucia Kings in to bat, Chase lighting up the innings with 85 runs to take his side to 149/7. The Warriors faltered in their chase, bowled out for 98 despite the best efforts of captain Pooran, as the Saint Lucia Kings put in a clinical bowling performance.

Saint Lucia Kings lost the big early wickets of Andre Fletcher and Faf du Plessis before Chase came in and raced to his half century from just 27 balls.

He was supported by Mark Deyal and then Tim David before a flurry of late wickets restricted the team’s total, as Guyana Amazon Warriors utilised eight different bowlers

across the innings. Romario Shepherd and Odean Smith were the pick of the bowlers, as they both took three wickets each with economy rates under six.

Amazon Warrior’s response was stifled from the beginning, losing four wickets in the Powerplay overs as Alzarri Joseph and Obed McCoy caused havoc with their pace. A blistering knock from Pooran, 41 from 26 balls, was not enough, even with Odean Smith blasting four sixes towards the end of the innings. Jeavor Royal and Kesrick Williams were superb as the innings progressed and continually picked up wickets. Saint Lucia Kings now have four points and are firmly in contention for a playoff spot as the tournament league stage nears the halfway mark.

Saint Lucia Kings 149/7 (Chase 85, Deyal 20; Shepherd 3/21, Smith 3/22) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 98 all out (Pooran 41, Smith 31*; Royal 3/19, Williams 2/7) by 51 runs.

Joe Root wicket leaves Kia Oval Test poised

B

BCsport - England lost the key wicket of Joe Root late on a dramatic first day to leave the fourth Test with India finely balanced at the Kia Oval. Root was bowled by Umesh Yadav for 21 to leave the hosts 53-3 after they had bowled India out for 191.

Opting to bowl on winning the toss, England exploited the assistance on offer, Chris Woakes taking 4-55 in his first Test in more than a year and Ollie Robinson continuing a super start to his international career with 3-38.

Despite 50 from captain Virat Kohli, India found themselves 127-7, only for

Shardul Thakur to crash a 31-ball halfcentury, the fastest in Test cricket in England.

India lost their last three wickets in four balls, then reduced England to 6-2 - Rory Burns fell for five and Haseeb Hameed nought, both to Jasprit Bumrah.

Root and Dawid Malan looked to have weathered the storm, only for Umesh to trim the bails and send captain Root on his way for 21. It left nightwatchman Craig Overton to see England to the close alongside Malan, who is unbeaten on 26.

Scores: India 191: Thakur 57, Kohli 50, Woakes 4-55, Robinson 3-38. England 533. England trail by 138 runs.

Sherfane Rutherford’s 50 maintains Patriots unbeaten start

C

PL - St Kitts & Nevis Patriots carried on their unbeaten start in the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a six wicket victory over the Jamaica Tallawahs.

The Patriots won the toss and elected to field first and a disciplined bowling performance restricted the Tallawahs to 166/8, a total that appeared under par for the track.

In reply the Patriots proved that assessment to be accurate as they made it four wins from four with another dominant batting display led by the tournament’s top scorer Sherfane Rutherford.

The Tallawahs got their innings off to a lightning start with the hard-hitting duo of Chadwick Walton and

Kennar Lewis putting on a blistering partnership of 41 runs inside 3.3 overs.

However, once Paul Van Meekeren dismissed Kennar Lewis that led to a shift in the innings with the Patriots tightening the screws courtesy of some economical bowling by captain DJ Bravo.

Things were to go from bad to worse for the Tallawahs when Walton had to retire hurt, tweaking his hamstring after running a quick single.

It took an enterprising counter-attack by Rovman Powell and Carlos Brathwaite in the back end of the innings to revitalise the Tallawahs and this was further boosted by some late blows by the lower order to ensure they posted a

respectable total.

The Patriots made a similar start in their innings, with Evin Lewis bringing the early fireworks, but the wickets of Devon Thomas and Asif Ali in quick succession followed by Evin Lewis left the game in the balance.

If things were finely poised Sherfane Rutherford and Fabian Allen made light work of the equation, a fantastic display of power hitting saw the pair smash 55 runs from 20 balls to seal the win at a canter.

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 169/4 (Rutherford 50*, Lewis 39; Russell 1/31, Powell 1/34) beat Jamaica Ta l l a w a h s 1 6 6 / 8 (Brathwaite 27, Walton 26; Bravo 3/25, Van Meekeren 2/27) by six wickets.

Kaieteur News

Friday September 03, 2021

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Haiti score the double at CFU U-14 Challenge Series Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - Let’s hear it for Haiti, which lifted the boys’ and girls’ CFU Under-14 Challenge Series in the finals played at Feliz Sanchez Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2020. Puerto Rico went home runners-up in both competitions.

Haiti’s girls defeat Puerto Rico 1-0. The CFU 2021 Girls U14 Challenge Series Tier 1 final saw Haiti tackle Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico started the brighter of the two teams and created a few half chances in the first 15 minutes of the match.

Haiti began getting a foothold in the match through probing runs by star player Loudjina Etienne and Aslie Laguerre. Puerto Rico settled in and defended with great organization and looking to play on the counter attack. Haiti used their speed and athleticism to try unlock the Puerto Rican defense but to no avail, leading to a 0-0 half time score. Haiti began the second half on the front foot, and Etienne and Pierreline Nazon tried to put the Puerto Rican back line under pressure early.

Skipper Chesnaida Nicolas saw her left footed shot from distance sail agonizingly wide of goal. Haiti began moving the ball quickly and committing bodies forward, continuously raiding the Puerto Rican half, resulting

Haiti girls captured the Caribbean Football Union Girls’ Under 14 Challenge Series title. (Photo: CFU Media)

in the best chance of the match to that point in the 41st minute. Nazon ran onto a pass in the penalty area but shot directly at Adrienne Cardona to make a regulation save.

Etienne again popped up around the Puerto Rican penalty area, but shot wide a minute later.

Etienne was not to be denied and her goal came in the 45th minute. She slotted home from close range after some good running by Nehamie Sain-Vilus. SainVilus dribbled past two Puerto Rican defenders to set up Etienne to give Haiti a one goal lead.

The goal seemed to deflate the Puerto Rican team, and Haiti continued to apply the pressure looking to extend their lead. Etienne had a golden opportunity to

double her tally in the dying stages of the match with a 1v1 chance, but Cardona pulled of a great save with the Haitian forward bearing down on goal. The match ended 1-0 giving Haiti the 2021 CFU Girls Challenge Series title. Moments after watching their female counterparts do battle, Haiti faced off against Puerto Rico in the Tier 1 Final in the 2021 CFU u14 Boys Challenge Series. Haiti’s Boys defeat Puerto Rico 3-1.

Haiti began the more enterprising of the teams and made the opening minutes of the match uncomfortable for the young Puerto Ricans.

Much of the early running for Haiti came from Christerson Jean, Schneilorens Lebrun and Denickson Dajolly.

It was Dajolly who should have given Haiti the lead in the 9th minute, but he could not take advantage of an errant pass out of the back

by Puerto Rico. He hit his side-footed shot well wide of the target. Haiti continued to dominate the early possession with quick passing and continued to put their opponents under pressure. Dajolly’s pace and power proved to be unsettling and forced a reflex save from Sebastian Roman in goal for Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico dropped bodies behind the ball and started to play on the counter attack, but each attempt was handled comfortably by the Haitian defense.

Jean came close to giving his team the lead, using some neat footwork to create space

at the top of the penalty area, but his top corner effort narrowly missed the goal.

Haiti had a penalty appeal turned down in the closing moments of the second half, which should have yielded a spot kick for Haiti. The first half ended with team deadlocked nil all.

The half time break did little to diminish the appetite of the young Haitians, and they began the second stanza much the same way they ended the first. However, this time, Puerto Rico matched them for intensity and purpose in the early moments of the second half.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 42nd minute via a long-distance effort by Jean. Picking up the ball deep in the Puerto Rican half of the field, Jean shifted his

marker and sent a curling right footed effort to the left of a diving Roman.

Haiti’s second goal was not far behind. In what could easily be described as the goal of the tournament, Lebrun latched on to a deft back heal pass from Jean in the 45th minute and sent a powerful left-footed shot into the roof of the net from 18 yards out, beating Roman all ends up.

Puerto Rico came close to pulling a goal back in the 62nd minute, but a tip-save by GK from a Carlos Ayala free kick just outside the area kept Puerto Rico off the score board. Substitute Juan Agosto pulled Puerto Rico back in the match in the 65th minute, scoring from close range after Haiti failed to deal with a corner kick. Any ideas of Puerto Rico pressing for the win was short lived as only a minute later Lebrun returned the favor in setting up Jean for his second of the match to put Haiti up 3 goals to 1 and effectively putting the result beyond doubt. An injury time goal by Lebrun was the icing on the cake—this time with some excellent footwork to get the ball onto his favored left foot and again beating Roman from distance. The result meant that the Young Haitians completed the double in this edition of the CFU U14 Challenge Series following the girls 1-0 triumph of their Puerto Rican counterparts earlier in the day.

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Friday September 03, 2021

Cristiano Ronaldo breaks men’s international scoring record with 110th and 111th goals Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 28 headers for Portugal, including his two against the Irish. (GETTY IMAGES)

President of LGC Patanjilee Persaud (left) accepts the cheque from Procurement Officer of C&L Construction Inc. Lorenzo Gouveia in the presence of LGC Secretary, Chet Bowling.

Hallmark support return of golf to Lusignan

H

allmark and C & L Construction Inc. have stepped up to sponsor the first tournament in several months at the Lusignan Golf Club scheduled for tomorrow from 12:30hrs.

A prolonged rainy season had caused massive flooding at the Course in recent months causing the cessation of competitive golf and some financial hardship for the organisation.

However with an improvement in the weather

for the past two weeks, The Hallmark and C&L Construction Inc Invitational Golf Tournament is promising to usher in a series of exciting events leading up to the Guyana Open scheduled for October 30-31.

The course is in decent condition with all fairways firm and cut and the greens running smooth. The format is Medal Play over 18 holes.

Trophies are on offer in several categories as well as vouchers to be redeemed at the club bar. Registration

closes today at 12:00hrs.

Members are strongly encouraged to come out and participate for what is a new sponsor and to support the club as it looks to bounce back from the rains. All covid-19 protocols will be observed. Hallmark, located on Quamina Street is c e l e b r a t i n g i t s 11 t h anniversary this month as a full Franchise offering quality greeting cards and other gift items, its sister company is C&L Construction that has been around since 2014.

US Open 2021: Ashleigh Barty, Petra Kvitova & Iga Swiatek through to third round

Ashleigh Barty. (Getty Images)

B

BCsport - World number one Ashleigh Barty is through to the third round of the US Open following victory over Danish teenager C l a r a Ta u s o n . T h e Australian needed three match points before winning 6-1 7-5 on Arthur Ashe Stadium to pick up her 50th Grand Slam match victory.

The top seed raced through the first set but was unable to convert a match point at 5-3 in the second.

She was broken but responded to eventually serve out the match. Barty will face American Shelby Rogers or Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round.

Meanwhile, German three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber won 6-3 6-2 against Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina to set up an interesting thirdround encounter American 2017 champion Sloane Stephens.

The match was originally due to be played on We d n e s d a y b u t h e a v y rainfall and high winds led to it being postponed. The weather in New York was much better yesterday, less than 24 hours after rain poured on to Louis Armstrong Stadium despite the court having a retractable roof.

Elsewhere, Polish

seventh seed Iga Swiatek survived a scare to beat France’s Fiona Ferro 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0. She struggled on serve and had 35 unforced errors but won six of her 12 break points as she raced to victory in the deciding set.

Swiatek, the French Open champion in 2020, will face Estonian 28th seed Anett Kontaveit in the third round. In other action, Czech 10th seed Petra Kvitova saw off compatriot Kristyna Pliskova 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova will play 17th seed Maria Sakkari in the third round after the Greek beat Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-4 6-2.

B

BCsport Cristiano Ronaldo broke the world record for goals scored in men’s international football as he hit his 110th and 111th goals for Portugal in their dramatic 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over the Republic of Ireland.

The 36-year-old scored two late headers - to break and extend the record - after he had a penalty saved by Gavin Bazunu. Ali Daei, who scored 109 goals for Iran between 1993 and 2006, held the record which Ronaldo equalled with a double against France at Euro 2020.

The Manchester United forward has also equalled Sergio Ramos’ European record for men’s caps - with his 180th Portugal appearance. The world record - only ratified by Fifa this summer - is the 195

Malaysia caps won by Soh Chin Ann between 1969 and 1984.

Ronaldo, who rejoined United from Juventus on deadline day, and Daei are the only two male players to score 90 or more international goals.

“I’m so happy, not only because I beat the record, but for the special moment that we had,” he told RTE. “Two goals at the end of the game. I have to appreciate what the team did, we believed until the end. I’m so glad.”

This is the latest landmark to push the argument for the Portuguese to be considered an all-time great. He is already the top scorer in club football’s top tournament, the European Cup/Champions League, a trophy he has won five times.

The former Real Madrid forward is also the top scorer in European Championship

history (14) and in Euros and World Cups combined (21).

Almost half of Ronaldo’s goals have come in the final 30 minutes of games.

He has netted 33 times in the final 15 minutes including twice against the Irish - and 22 times between the 61st and 75th minute.

Ronaldo has scored 17 times between minutes 16-30 and 16 times between 31-45, with 11 in the opening 15 minutes of the first half and 12 in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.

Some 91 of his goals have been inside the box with 20 from outside. He has scored 14 penalties and nine free-kicks.

Lithuania and Sweden seven each - are the sides he has scored the most against.

He had not scored against the Republic of Ireland before Wednesday’s game in the Algarve.

Lee leads the way as Proteas take lead

A

solid half century from Lizelle Lee and some superb stroke play from Laura Wolvaardt powered South Africa Women to victory over We s t I n d i e s Wo m e n yesterday. Lee top scored with 75 off 52 balls with 12 fours a six, as the Proteas made 165-3 off their 20 overs.

The innings was given a late boost by Wolvaardt who smashed the last four balls for consecutive sixes as she

ended on 33 not out off just nine deliveries. It was a spectacular end to the innings, and she hit two down the ground, one over midwicket and the final one wide long-on.

In reply, West Indies got off to a flying start with Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin posting an opening stand of 21 off 2.4 overs. Matthews fell for 12 and then Dottin for 19.

Britney Cooper showed some enterprise as she hit a six and three fours in 26 off

15 balls, while Chadean Nation, also made 26 off 29 balls.

Marizanne Kapp proved to the South Africa’s matchwinner with 3-31 off her four overs as the West Indies lost three wickets for just four runs in four overs to close at 115-8 off their 20 overs.

The two teams will return to the same venue tomorrow for the third and final match of the series.

First ball is 2pm (1pm Jamaica Time).

Friday September 03, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

Team SI&C ready to return to Drag strip H

arold “Topgun’ Hopkinson, the principal of the Team Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc. (SI&C) and owner of ‘Kong’; the 1998 Supra that was previously owned by the late Deryck ‘Mad Dog’ Jaisingh, is eagerly awaiting the green-light for the return of Drag Racing at South Dakota Circuit.

Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, the long-serving patron of sport in Guyana, was tight-lipped about what is under the hood of the ‘Kong’ but was adamant that faster times can be expected since the machine has been undergoing works at S&D Performance’s Garage.

S&D Performance, owned and operated by former class champions Shawn Persaud and his son Damien, are well known for building and tuning some of the fastest street cars in Guyana with the Garage’ most popular vehicle being Shawn’s, Toyota Caldina.

‘Kong’, 8.20 Official, 7.4 Unofficial.

‘Kong’, a former Unlimited Class winner, will continue to be piloted by To p g u n J r. ; D e n z e l

Hopkinson, while the boss himself made the huge announcement that he will be returning to the 1320ft

Drag Strip in the S&D P e r f o r m a n c e To y o t a Caldina.

While the champion, a

competitive smallbore top shot is eager to return to the track, he continues to advocate for safety, not only

in terms of social distancing and other covid-19 measures but safety on the roadways and the race track. He is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated.

Among the upgrades to team SI&C Inc. will be fire a track preparation machine along with a fire suppression system that will be supplemented by high-end fire suits. Hopkinson also mentioned that the team will be switching tire brands.

Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC), Rameez Mohamed, has indicated that the executive of the club has sent a proposal to the National C o v i d - 1 9 Ta s k F o r c e (NCTF) seeking permission for a Meet soon and they are awaiting word.

Mohammed also mentioned that the GMR&SC is working on having all their members and competitors vaccinated which he believes will help the club’s bid to return to the drag strip.