Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

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Controversial NCN Berbice manager, P. 7

Friday Edition September 04, 2020 - Vol. 22 No. 34 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Donna Mathoo, resigns-interim management to be in place

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Online readership yesterday 120,456

IF ONLY WE COULD GET ONE CONTRACT RIGHT! We have riches and yet we make ourselves poor. We think small and so we make ourselves petty by our narrow outlook on life.

This is why people in the First World have such a poor opinion of us and why they exploit us time and time again, while leaving us

hand-to-mouth and divided.

When we, proud Guyanese citizens, should be rising to great heights, we cheat ourselves by the way we think.

Successive political leaders with their Third World mentality force us to ‘scratch out a living’.

We allow ourselves to barely exist when we give away our gold and get gooseberries in return. We do this again when we gift out our bauxite for a bag of bananas.

We allow ourselves to be treated like a Banana Republic; whether it is the

PPP/C or APNU+AFC in government. We take chump change for our timber from the Chinese and rejoice all the way to the shop in order to buy the basic necessities of life. We do the same when Russians, Canadians and the Americans cooked our goose with our gold,

bauxite and oil. The latter had the audacity to spit in our faces, when we demand the renegotiation and revision of that “choke-and-rob” oil contract.

When will our leaders bargain better rather than beg? When will our citizens hold their leaders

accountable? And when will both leaders and citizens be matured and wise in ensuring value for our immense wealth?

If we could only get ONE contract right, we could enjoy a higher standard of living.

Just one contract!

Report exposes... APNU+AFC knew of deadly effects of flaring but still allowed ExxonMobil to pollute Guyana’s airspace P. 13

Exxon spends US$186M to fix flaring at Scottish plant - but continues to flout regulations in Guyana P. 2

Former Business Minister says...

Without proper plan, reopening sugar estates would be throwing money away P. 12

Kaieteur News

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Friday September 04, 2020

Exxon spends US$186M to fix flaring at Scottish plant -but continues to flout regulations in Guyana TOXIC - ExxonMobil has been flaring gas at the Liza Destiny vessel for over eight months, despite the fact that the gas is supposed to be re-injected into the reservoir.

(Credit: Guyana Marine Conservation Society)

Flaring at the Fife Plant in Scotland

D

ue to concerns raised by S c o t t i s h residents over flaring at an Exxon controlled plant there, the oil major late last year announced a commitment of £140M (US$186M) to fix the issue.

Though it would commit so much to the European c o u n t r y, E x x o n M o b i l continues to flout the c o n c e r n s o f environmentalists here in Guyana as it exploits loopholes in its Liza-1 permit to flare billions of cubic feet

of natural gas.

It even expects those loopholes to be preserved in permits for its future projects, as it refuses to spend more to safeguard Guyana’s environment.

The Scottish situation The Mossmorran Natural Gas Liquids plant comprises two plants: the Fife NGL Plant operated by Shell and the Fife Ethylene Plant operated by ExxonMobil.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) had said last year that an “unprecedented” scale of

hundreds of complaints from nearby residents and other members of the public about rumbling noises and disturbing chemical smells.

Over the years, there have also been complaints about bright flames and black smoke emanating from the plant.

As with the Guyana situation, Exxon had blamed the issue on defective equipment.

Meanwhile, persons campaigning to end the flaring are reported as saying that residents are “living in

fear” wondering what the true impact of the plant’s operations could be on their livelihoods.

The issue of flaring is regarded by industry experts working with Scotland as an important issue, permitted only under certain conditions necessary to release pressure and maintain safety. In G u y a n a , h o w e v e r, t h e government does not want any flaring to occur.

One resident told BBC that when it happened, her eyes would burn and she wouldn’t be able to catch her

breath. She, like many others, was especially concerned about the longterm effect of the flaring on

children.

Another woman was horrified to know that her (Continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Friday September 04, 2020

PAGE 03

Patients quarantining at Diamond to remain as it closes for upgrade Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony recently announced that the Diamond Diagnostic Centre will be closing to facilitate its transformation into a SMART hospital, which will result in a halting of services from September 1 to October 16. However, all COVID-19 patients in the quarantine facility will remain there.

The Diamond Diagnostic Centre serves as the main provider of medical services on the East Bank of Demerara and was listed as one of the main quarantine facilities.

Nevertheless, it was stated that the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will handle all of the facility’s emergencies.

The GPHC has been facing issues in terms of accommodating patients.

An official assured that the patients being transferred will not be a burden. The

GHPC has also begun providing more space in the wards to cater for more patients and they have also started to transfer patients to the infectious facilities that have been constructed at the former Ocean View Hotel, Liliendaal.

The transformation of the facility into a SMART hospital is a part of a UKfunded project set to provide u p g r a d e d a n d environmentally friendly services to five hospitals- the Leonora Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Paramakatoi Health Centre, the Lethem Regional Hospital, the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, and the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

SMART hospitals are said to be safer, greener and environmentally friendly facilities.

The upgrade was supposed to occur since January 2019 and would

have concluded by May/June of this year, but Kaieteur News understands that the upgrade will be done in the next three months.

The project saw a total US$4.175M allocation where US$950,000 was allocated to the Leonora Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, US$910,000 at Lethem Regional Hospital, US$837,000 at Mabaruma Regional Hospital, US$515,000 at Paramakatoi Health Centre and US$920,000 at Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Additionally, in January 2019, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the United Kingdom (UK) and the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO unveiled a billboard for the Smart Healthcare Facilities Project which aimed to spread more awareness.

In attendance at the

US$10M credit line reprogrammed to reintroduce solar panel, laptop programme in Indigenous villages The PPP/C Government will be reintroducing the solar panel and the one laptop programmes in Indigenous villages across the country, which were halted by the APNU+AFC administration.

During his address on the launch of Amerindian Heritage Month on Tuesday, President Irfaan Ali revealed that US$10M from an Indian line of credit was reprogrammed towards recommencing these initiatives.

The One Laptop Per Family Programme goes back to 2011. The programme was launched by then President Bharrat Jagdeo, who envisaged at the time, the “enhancing of lives” for the beneficiaries of these laptops.

The Hinterland Electrification Project, which was launched in 2011, aims at expanding access to clean and affordable energy throughout Indigenous communities in the hinterland and was a component of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

The President also pledged to return to the groundbreaking partnership forged through the LCDS and to advance the innovative “OPT IN” feature, which allowed villages to benefit directly from the proceeds of Carbon Trading

Services.

The Community Development Programme (CDPs) which was also halted in 2015 will also be reintroduced.

“We will rehire those 2,000 Community Service Officers (CSOs) who were dismissed by the Coalition Government, and we will restore the School Grants which were taken away,” the President vowed.

President Irfaan Ali.

The Diamond Diagnostic Centre. unveiling were British High Commissioner Greg Quinn, former Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, PA H O / W H O C o u n t r y Representative, Dr. Williams

Adu-Krow, and the Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region Four, Dr. Quincy Jones.

Apart from making the f a c i l i t i e s m o r e

environmentally friendly, the project also aims to reduce deaths at facilities, morbidity, and economic losses a country can suffer as a result of natural disasters.

Clerk robbed by passengers, dumped on roadway

A

woman was on We d n e s d a y robbed at knifepoint in a taxi along the West Coast Demerara (WCD) Public Road by its driver and passengers.

According to police, the victim, Taliya Kamrudin, 22, a clerk of Uitvlugt Front, flogged down the short drop cab on the Uitvlugt Public Road. There were two passengers inside.

The car stopped and Kamrudin entered and told the driver that she will be dropping off at Tuschen.

However, while the car was passing De Kendren, the male passenger who sat next to Kamrudin, pulled out a ‘Rambo’ knife, pointed it at

the woman and threatened to kill her.

The man then relieved Kamrudin of her Galaxy Note 5 cell phone, gold earrings, a gold ring and $12,000 in cash.

As they were approaching Zeelugt, the driver turned the car around and shortly after dumped the woman out in along a roadway.

Persons who saw the woman being thrown out of the back seat of the car rushed to her assistance.

They loaned her a phone call and she made contact with relatives who reported the matter at the Leonora Police Station.

Multiple patrol units

were sent out to intercept the car.

A t Vr e e d - e n - H o o p junction, the car was intercepted and the suspects were arrested.

The driver of the car is said to be a taxi driver, 32, from D’Urban Street Georgetown, while the male passenger who held the woman at knife point is a labourer, 23, of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The other passenger arrested is a female vendor, 23, of Sophia Squatting Area.

T h e c a r w a s subsequently searched and the stolen items were recovered.

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Kaieteur News

Friday September 04, 2020

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

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

EDITORIAL

Guyana: Bigger by the Barrel The KN caption should delight many a Guyanese heart: “Guyana to surpass Venezuela’s current oil output by 2022" (KN August 18). That is an OPEC founder member being spoken of, and one which could be overtaken soon enough in terms of our own oil production. Venezuela was among the big oil dogs for the longest while. From a production high of two million barrels a day in 2017, the output currently is somewhere between 100,000 to 200,000 barrels a day.

In percentage terms, that is almost a 90% drop. It should convey the starkness of the social upheavals raging in that once-rich neighbour of ours, where political mismanagement and missteps have reduced many of its citizens to flight and beggary.

Even as our hearts go out to the plight of our stricken neighbours, there is a lesson to be learned there, many hard lessons from where Venezuela is today and what got it there.

On our part, production is scheduled to ramp up to around 340,000 barrels a day by 2022. If things hold as they are in Venezuela, Guyana would be in front of this nearby country producer within a span of less than two years.

That could be a noticeably short period where time flies by, but only if Guyana’s political leaders-all of them-work diligently, wisely, and courageously to get the most out of our oil wealth for the benefit of all our peoples. Remember those three words: diligently, wisely, and courageously.

They have significant depth of meaning relative to how we handle what has been gifted to us by nature, geography, and divine providence.

When we live and breathe those three words as they apply to our oil wealth, then we will be a force to be respected and dealt with on the fairest of terms. It is either that, or nothing doing. Those who come up against us, with pretty sales pitches and perfect plans, have one thing in mind: how to get as much as they can from what they bringmanpower, know-how, and sophisticated skills and resources-to exploit what is underfoot.

As the reality of their primary objective, profit maximization, registers and is considered, one thing should be powerfully clear. It is that the more the foreigner get for themselves, the less the locals (that would be us) would have left to share with each other.

The challenge and objective, therefore, is to band our bellies in determination and find ways, that is, creative ways, to turn the tables on those who would squeeze every penny from every drop of our oil produced for their own benefit.

When their income and profits soar, we lose. When their shareholders rejoice with rich quarterly dividend payouts, we Guyanese lament at the piddling nature of the portion left behind for us and coming our way for us to fight over.

Now there is another key that is an awakening and which should be a hard gut check. When the pickings, our take, are paltry, then we would be reduced to squabbling over the scraps tossed our way by rapacious foreign corporate partners. It is why we at this paper say and urge that we must stop the self-defeating arguing and endlessly embittering political and racial feuds and get on with properly managing our wealth and controlling our destiny in the most comprehensive way possible. It could be a way that is feared, which is why we take the opportunity to, once again, share those three words at which we must work tirelessly to manage our oil blessing. They are diligently, wisely, and courageously.

This means that partisan objectives must take second place to national dreams and visions. This could and would only occur when we work hand-in-hand and side-by-side.

Everything else we have tried over the decades have failed us and left us in the dust and raging at one another. We must have the courage to identify our demons and agree to combine energies to overcome them, if only for the upliftment of all our fellow citizens.

If we fail to do so, then from now to 2022 could be a long nightmare, with the internal feuding and fighting. Just look at Venezuela today.

For a new beginning in parliament DEAR EDITOR, The great scientist and humanist Albert Einstein warned humanity that “the world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything”.

Thankfully, in line with Einstein’s wise advice, an energized Guyanese citizenry, Diaspora and media, with significant international support, defeated the outrageous attempt to impose a “dressed up” dictatorship on the Guyanese nation.

Now, this energized citizenry and media are looking forward to a new way of doing politics in the 12th Parliament. What is very encouraging are the increased number of female and Indigenous (Amerindian) representatives. Parliament is becoming less and less a male coastal preserve that is distinct from the people “out there”.

But before outlining what we the people want all of our Members of Parliament (MPs) to do, we have to follow the advice of Mahatma Ghandi who implored people to “be the change they want to see” because, when we change, the world around us changes, including the leaders.

First of all, as ordinary

Guyanese, we have to change our mindset and learn that, in a diverse multicultural and multiethnic society, there is no one truth or one reality. We have to stop acting as victims and blaming each other, and avoid a rigid position that there is only one approach to any problem.

Instead, we Guyanese should be always engaging in dialogue by actively listening to each other, by respecting and understanding our different points of view, by asking hard questions, by complimenting each other and by staying positive. We have to follow the advice of Michelle Obama who said when competitors go low, we go high.

We know that separately our PPP/C and APNU+AFC parties could not successfully implement fundamental economic, social, political and constitutional reforms. There has to be collaboration to avoid the domination and exclusion of any political party in the governance of the country. Otherwise, there will be grave consequences with the widening of ethnic and class disparities.

As Guyanese, we have to change and work together for inclusive economic growth in all ethnic communities, for an end to corruption, for quality

public services, for worldclass education and healthcare, for enhanced public security, and for expanding quality infrastructure.

Then, as we change, we expect to see the new generation of political leaders, who make up a large part of the Members of Parliament (MPs), avoid talking about the past, blaming each other, passing judgment, demonizing others, or acting as victims instead of resolving the deep division in our country.

We want to see all MPs focus on the future of the society and the economy by putting forward their points of view in a respectful and civilized way, and by responding constructively to other ideas.

All Members of Parliament (MPs) are equal, and they are all equally responsible for bringing the nation together and for delivering positive results on the fundamental social and economic problems in every ethnic community.

As an MP, Cheddi Jagan’s focus was on taking Parliament to the communities and, at the same time, he championed the concerns and needs of the communities in Parliament.

As a

Parliamentarian, he paid equal attention to the big picture and the details. In parliamentary debates, he focused on policies and programmes, not personalities.

Like Cheddi Jagan, all MPs must practice power for the benefit of the people and not for personal gain.

One of the major problems in Guyana is persistent poverty in all ethnic communities. After 54 years of independence, Guyana is the 6th poorest of 32 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean! Today, at least 40% of Guyanese are living below the poverty line.

Dr. Cheddi Jagan always noted that politics is about “who gets what, when and how”.

This Parliament will be judged not by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones. Therefore, the priority of the MPs must be to represent the concerns and fulfill the needs of “working people, the unemployed, the underemployed, the dispossessed, the marginalized, the poor and the hungry” who are the overwhelming majority of the population.

The great transformational leaders, like (Continued on page 5)

Coalition let down Sugar Workers DEAR EDITOR, I thank Hajji Roshan Khan (KN Sept. 3) for that frank piece on errors of the APNU+AFC governance that cost it support after 2015 and defeat in 2020.

Regarding the marginalization and neglect of workers in the sugar industry, Ravi Dev and myself made repeated efforts with government engagement to save the sugar factories (estates) that would have not burdened the state with any money. In fact, the government would have earned foreign exchange plus a lot of revenues from taxes.

GDP would have been boosted and business booming.

Instead, the government opted to shut down the factories putting tens of thousands on the breadline and the economy in a tailspin.

Moses, Khemraj, and AFC let down sugar workers.

The sugar workers would never forget how they were mistreated by the regime; some of them, in addition to rice farmers, donated funds to and voted for the APNU+AFC making up that 10% that took APNU coalition from 41% to 51% of support and the government.

How they regretted after experiencing racism!

When the government announced its intention to close the estates, Dev and I held continuous discussion and analyses on the expected consequences that we concluded would devastate the families of sugar workers as well as communities. (At the urging of Dev and Sociologist Dr. Tara Singh, I visited the estates interviewing residents and penned articles on the impact of closures.

There was social dislocation, widespread poverty, and medical issues too many to describe).

Dev and I came up with ideas that led to a plan on why the estates didn’t have to be closed. Even after closure, we advised how to salvage them.

We were driven by an altruistic passion to help the workers and their families.

(Both of us being estate bred — Dev from Uitvlugt and me Port Mourant; we grew up among rice and cane that required tender loving care for productivity).

We approached investors in India querying their interest in sugar production. The investors have been managing profitable sugar estates in Africa. I made trips to India on my own expense.

We begged them to help the workers of Guyana. Would-be

investors from India asked for a cost benefit analysis that we prepared.

They asked for other information that we were able to obtain from sources within the industry and that we supplied to the potential investors.

We suggested a plan of action to them. They liked it and implemented it engaging in correspondences with GuySuCo and the government. They committed to pouring in tens of millions of American dollars into the economy.

Dev and I approached the government with our ideas on saving the sugar industry.

Dev penned a letter to President Granger seeking an appointment to discuss the plan.

Granger advised instead a meeting with Ministers Holder (Agriculture), Gaskin (Business), and Jordan (Finance) that his office set up. Dev met with them; Jordan was not present.

Dev convinced two nationally respected friends of his, very prominent former executive members of the AFC, to accompany him to the meeting hoping their presence would lead to a positive outcome. A strong case was made to convince the government to save the

sugar estates. The meeting did not yield any positive result.

Separately, I met with Moses Nagamootoo and pleaded for his intervention to stop the estate closure so as to save jobs. He assured me that investors from India were interested in acquiring the estates and retaining the workers.

He was upbeat on foreign investment to rescue sugar.

Media reports of his son-inlaw being among the investment group surfaced.

That investment never materialized.

The government was determined to close down the factories and put the workers out of a job. Even Moses could not stop it.

Separately, I met with Komal Chand and suggested the Dev-Bisram idea on how to save the estates and sought his assistance to raise it with GuySuCo or the government.

I also proposed an idea in which the workers would pool their money (gratuity, severance) due from the government and invest it to acquire the estates. Komal was of the view that the workers would not be interested in ownership; they simply wanted their jobs. He (Continued on page 5)

Friday September 04, 2020

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Foreign Affairs Minister should have full responsibility for his Ministry DEAR EDITOR, Dr. Irfaan Ali’s government must be commended for reducing Granger’s BLOATED Ministerial portfolios from some 30 Ministers of Ministries and substantively non- ministries – jobs for the boys and girls - to 19 Ministries/Ministers.

However, the recently created position of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, which was criticised by the then Opposition, now

Government, is convenient and useful to give one of the boys a cushy, nonsubstantial job, conflicting with the full responsibility of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The established, tried and tested structure of the Ministry with a Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Director General of Foreign Affairs must be restored/ maintained, along with newly appointed specialist Advisors.

Mr. President, please listen to the many voices of reason, and abolish the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs and allow the Minister his full responsibility along with that of Director General.

Mr. Robert Persaud, please tell the nation your qualifications, training, relevant experience, and suitability for such a position in international relations and diplomacy. Are you planted by the Government may be to

supplant, the real Minister?

The Minister of Foreign Affairs should demand this, and if refused, walk in protest for his own dignity and selfworth.

Mr. President, please in the national interest, send Robert Persaud to the Ministry of Agriculture to do some real, sustentative work in the sugar industry and rice sector to earn his keep, to the satisfaction of tax payers.

With thanks, Joshua Singh

A sickening situation that must be addressed DEAR EDITOR, The coronavirus crisis is getting worse on a daily basis and the Government has introduced a curfew from 6am to 6pm in an effort to turn the tide.

I am quite certain that the Government expects the Police Force to be the enforcer of this curfew.

Sadly in the township of Rose Hall they have been turning a blind eye to the situation.

A popular liquor and gambling shop which is less than two hundred yards from the Rose Hall Town Police outpost, every day breaks the curfew in full view of the lawmen.

Dozens of gamblers every day lock themselves in the shop to consume alcohol, play dominoes competition, play pool and indulge in their favourite past time of gambling on cricket, horse

racing, etc.

Dozens of cars from all over Berbice are parked on the roadway in front of the venue including those of law enforcement officers, late into the night.

It is common knowledge that the owners of the gambling shop have a close relationship with some senior officers who intervene on their behalf when the Outpost tries to implement the Government curfew.

What was very shocking is that while the police was about to raid another venue in Rose Hall, all the cars in the front of this particular shop, suddenly disappeared for a while and then returned afterward when the other raid was completed.

My friend who owns the raided venue stated that he was informed that the other party was informed of the raiding exercise and told to be

away for that time by their friends in the force.

A visit to the said venue found them still drinking and gambling two hours after the curfew time and at least a dozen cars on the road, in full view of the police.

It is my sincere hope that the Police Force high command in the city look into

this sickening situation and corrects it. With dozens of persons, gambling in a closed enclosed shop, it can make the COVID-19 problem worse as no one is following the mask and wash hands rules.

The Commissioner and the Home Affair Minister should also look into the (Continued on page 6)

...For a new beginning From page 4 Cheddi Jagan, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, emphasized that “the world has enough for everyone’s needs, but not for everyone’s greed”.

Significant growth of GDP from oil revenue will not be sufficient.

Throughout Guyana’s history, even when there were periods of GDP growth under PNC and PPP governments, unfair ethnic and class competition

continued.

The priority is for all of our leaders, beginning with the Members of Parliament (MPs), to successfully implement a n a t i o n a l programme to end persistent poverty by providing equal economic opportunities in all ethnic communities.

Geoffrey Da Silva former Minister, Chief Executive Officer and Ambassador

Proof should be provided immediately DEAR EDITOR, If he has the proof of renouncing dual citizenship then it should be provided/ produced immediately. Why until the weekend? After all, he now holds dual functions in that hallowed chamber.

It was publicly acknowledged the one person who promptly provided proof of renunciation of dual citizenship when requested to so do.

Shamshun Mohamed

...Coalition let down Sugar From page 4 suggested I meet various local investors since the government was not interested in foreign investors.

I met a few private investors but they wanted the estates virtually for free. Government came close to giving away an estate to a group that supported it financially in the 2015 campaign to defeat the PPP; the group recognized that racism played a role in it not getting an estate, and the group withdrew its support in the 2020 election. One private cane farmer from West Bank offered a hefty sum for one estate but government rejected his offer and instead gave away the land to its supporters and other political cronies but the lan d remained fallow as nothing was done to it. One farmer gave some $10M to AFC to defeat PPP and was so disappointed with closure of estates. The West Bank investor, as did almost all private peasant cane farmers, was very successful in cane farming earning huge profits. Private farmers are reported to produce

more than twice the yield of government owned estates.

The plan Dev and I suggested, and which had worked successfully for major corporations in India, was the farmers would be given plots of 15 acres on lease.

They would grow the cane and supply to the factories which would buy at going rates supervised by a neutral agreed upon appointee. Private farmers were interested in acquiring Wales but government did not want to give them the land nor the factory. The government wanted to kill sugar because it is the support base of PPP. The government did not assist Wales farmers with costly transportation of cane to Uitvlugt. The private farmers became bankrupt. Sugar workers became penniless facing very serious family and social problems at home and in the villages courtesy of the coalition regime that led to its own demise. Politics led to closure of the estates. Politics should lead to their rehabilitation including Wales.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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Kaieteur News

A Cat call and a Huge blow, Low for Mingo DEAR EDITOR, The long standing traditions of Parliament is to operate within the embodiment of the Constitution, the arms of the law and justice, the parameters of rules and regulations, the confines of dignity and integrity and the bosom of peace and goodwill.

Burnham absconded with that honour when he brokered with lies and deceits with external help to forge an alliance resulting in an unearned entrance to governance in 1964 and then, in 1978, to fraudulently enforce an unacceptable “Referendum” on to Parliament, the nation and the people because of an acclaimed two-third majority approval for constitutional changes. Burnham purported that there was a 70% voters’ turnout for the Referendum and 97% voted “yes” but in actuality, there was only a 1014% turnout. Since then, Parliament has been seeded with abomination, thanks to the diabolical mischief planted by the “bête noire” PNC Party and its apathetic members. In 2011, the PPP/C Party had a minority government and so the APNU and the AFC Parties were able to vetoe them and voted in a speaker and a deputy who were not PPP/C. In 2015, the APNU/AFC Party unconstitutionally appointed a Speaker of their choice and did not allow the appointment of a Deputy Speaker, thus, denying the PPP/C Party that “gentleman’s agreement” post. Still want to talk about atrocity and violation? On how many numerous occasions weren’t the members of the PPP/C party censored, expurgated and silenced in Parliament by PNC appointed Speakers?

The PPP/C government has reached out to the other side of the divide and has made “inclusive governance “a reality by nominating and electing Mr. Lenox Shuman as the new Deputy Speaker for the House.

M r.

Shuman, an O p p o s i t i o n M P, i s t h e leader of the Liberty and

Justice Party, he is not part of the PPP/C Party and in fact, he ran against the PPP/C Party in the election, contesting for the Presidential position.

President Ali just does not talk but puts words into a c t i o n . R e l i e v i n g D r.

Vincent Adams from his post as Director of EPA is not disabling him but enabling him for further and future consultation as per President Ali, thus, reflecting willingness to work across the board and with non PPP/C party alliance. Mr. Shuman’s appointment as a technical advisor is again inclusive governance and is not a conflict of interest as an opposition party. The narrow mindedness of the APNU+AFC party knows no boundary and their “short comings” continue to be reflected daily in words, deeds and actions.

Their comments about Mr. Shuman’s appointment should be challenged and analyzed by the ERC as material for racism.

It is the first time in the history of Guyana that a member of the Indigenous family has been anointed with a highest post so far and this was made possible by the PPP/C Party.

In the month of September that is declared “Amerindian Heritage Month,” all Guyanese are proud and happy that Mr. Lenox Shuman has been elevated to this honourable position, except of course, the envious and discriminative APNU+AFC Party and their convoluted members, led by no other than a forked-tongue.

Even their supporters in the street disagree with their comments and would want to disassociate themselves from such slanderous and cheap comments.

Is this what they meant by seeing “eye to eye?”

Remember the choice words of former ARC member, Asquith Rose, when denouncing Cathy Hughes propaganda about election rigging earlier in June as “pathetic, appalling and absurd?” How can you seriously purport to want to build strong relationship with members of all the communities when you deliberately sidelined one

member from the very inception by turning your back on him? Isn’t this a sure sign of refusing his entire community and widening the gap instead of bridging it?

But of course, we all know only too well that the PNC Party regards “truth” as the enemy and have made the elements of “lies, deceits, dishonesty, corruption, collusion and fraud” a culture that must be practised, propagated and preached by the Party. Incorporating all these dangerous and diabolical factors into a wicked witch’s cauldron, manufactures a distasteful medicine that must be consumed by each member in order to sanctify their sincerity and loyalty to such a devious, daring and devilish party. No wonder the truth can no longer be recognized when presented in any form or shape to them. The entire world had an “eyeball to eyeball’ view of Mingo’s election rigging and yet it is only the APNU/AFC Party who continues to deny its existence! The Lowenfield’s mathematical fiasco continues to be an international abhorrence, yet, it is only the APNU/AFC Party who concurs and accepts such audacious preposterousness.

Opposition MP, Cathy Hughes, threw Mingo and Lowenfield under the bus when she openly affirmed that the APNU/ AFC Party won 217,000 votes during her chastisement for Mr. Lenox Shuman as the Deputy Speaker of the House.

Guilty conscience does speak louder than words and as ole people say, “mouth open, story jump out.” There goes the election petition case, through the window.

Will Granger rap her like he did with the confessions blurted out by, Nagamottoo, Harmon and Ramjattan?

When you dig a hole for someone else, who first falls in? Ole people also say, give a long rope to anyone and soon, that person will hang him or herself! Time is longer than twine! Time will tell.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Friday September 04, 2020

Reforming the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

A sickening situation...

From page 5 conduct of some senior officials in Berbice, who are fully aware of the situation but are turning a blind eye.

My friend’s shop was raided because he had no connections.

Concerned Resident of Williamsburg, Rose Hall Town

DEAR EDITOR, With regard to the captioned subject the following extract may well be

of interest to decision- makers and those affected, particularly in the current mood of enquiry exhibited by

so many concerned citizens.

One looks forward to some reflections on the above.

E.B. John

Friday September 04, 2020

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

Controversial NCN Berbice manager, Donna Mathoo, resigns -interim management to be in place The Berbice branch manager of the stateowned National Communications Network (NCN), Donna Mathoo, has submitted her resignation from the company.

Kaieteur News was informed by the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCN, Michella AbrahamAli, that Mathoo submitted her resignation a month ago and her time at the entity

e x p i r e d y e s t e r d a y.

Abraham-Ali said that Mathoo is parting ways with t h e e n t i t y a m i c a b l y.

She disclosed that a Human Resources team visited the location today to ensure that there was a smooth handing over process and to thank her for her service.

Meanwhile, in the interim, the acting CEO disclosed that “we are exploring a management option of

The Berbice NCN operations. utilizing one of our team members while we explore capacity from within the area but for the short term we will be utilizing one of our officers at our head office who will double up as the

Free childcare assistance for frontline workers

- Human Services Minister

T

he Ministry of Human Services and Social Security will be expanding its childcare assistance programme to provide free child care to frontline workers who are providing an essential service to the public during the COVID19 pandemic.

During a virtual press conference on Monday, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, revealed that assistance will be available to the frontline workers in the both private and public sectors.

Dr. Persaud noted that in the first phase, the programme will be piloted to benefit healthcare workers, police officers, prison officers, fire service officers, security officers and army officers, with children who are below the age of seven.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud T h r o u g h t h e programme, the Ministry will make a direct payment for services to childcare facilities.

Minister Persaud was

emphatic that the “direct payment will only be made to licensed childcare facilities.”

F u r t h e r, M i n i s t e r Persaud highlighted how those workers mentioned can access this service.

“Forms will be sent to the employers of all of these essential workers and will be available on the Ministry web-page, which will be up very shortly,” Dr. Persaud explained.

Minister Persaud said the ministry will review the programme with a view of expanding it to other categories of workers before the end of the year.

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has been partnering with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and other Government agencies to offer COVID-19 relief packages to the public on a need’s basis.

supervisor just to oversee operations until we identify someone from that area who can suitably fill the position as Branch Manager or a Coordinator in the interim”.

She added they are currently in the process of advertising for the position.

Added to that, Ali also divulged that based on her visit with Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, a week ago, a few areas that are in need of improvements have been identified. ”We are looking in two areas of technological enhancement which is basically training the staff to utilize the technology, which we would have upgraded over the last year or so at the branch and also to do more team building, team enhancement and empowerment, training in technical skills,” she outlined.In addition, the management of the entity is also looking at shifting the branch from its present location (New Amsterdam Te c h n i c a l I n s t i t u t e Compound) since they are aware of “the current swampy conditions existing at the location and of course because we are also sharing the compound of another agency. If we want to increase our revenue, we have to ensure that we have a

location that our clients can easily access.”

She further pointed out that due to the current state of the facility that was already identified for the new location for the branch, “it would require significant capital investment that is not currently in the budget and so we will have to hold and we are going to put it in the capital budget for 2021 for upgrade and possible relocation of the Berbice branch.”Last week, Minister McCoy along with AbrahamAli had visited the Berbice location to meet with staff and assess the operations at the entity.

Yesterday, the Human Resources Department also visited the location.

Mathoo was employed at the entity as the Manager under t h e A P N U / A F C administration but had found herself in the hot seat when she was accused of misappropriating $3M over a period of three months at the entity.

She was sent on administrative leave to facilitate an investigation but was subsequently placed back on the job after it was reported that she was cleared of the allegations.

Sources then had revealed that the staff worked under instructions from the Branch

Resigned: Donna Mathoo Manager. There were alleged instructions provided by her to issue “fake” invoices, receipts and also use of “fake” log sheets.

The “fake” invoices were issued after a programme was aired and paid for.

However, the official NCN receipt would not be provided to the customer and the money collected from the aired programme would not be booked in the official NCN books.

False invoices were also allegedly issued to customers. Advertisements were also reportedly aired and not logged in the official NCN log sheet. Mathoo was also sworn in as a Member of Parliament under the previous administration.

Kaieteur News

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Friday September 04, 2020

Six released from COVID-19 IDB launches initiative to harness innovative ideas ICU after restorative in Guyana, other territories plasma treatment Six patients have been released from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) following their successful treatment using the plasma from patients who recovered from the deadly coronavirus/COVID-19 disease.

Head of Medical Services at GPHC, Dr. Mahendra Carpen, told Kaieteur News that the convalescent (recovered) plasma treatment remains a viable option for patients who are in extremely critical condition.

The doctor revealed that the patients have been administered and responded favourably to the treatment have all recovered fully.

Dr. Carpen explained, nonetheless, that the convalescent plasma treatment has been restrained by the compatibility issues.

“We have to ensure that the blood that is collected from the recovered patients is compatible and can be used on those who are critical.

That’s where we face a restraint because it’s not always a match.”

Under the treatment option, the convalescent plasma is collected from a recovered COVID-19 patient that contains the anti-bodies against the virus and then used to treat critical patients who are suffering from the infection with the intention for it to fight the same viral infection. The blood/plasma goes through a rigorous filtration process before it is administered to the patients.

The convalescent plasma is, however, not a substitute

for full treatment; rather it is a supplement to the other medications used to treat COVID-19 patients.

“What happens is that patients are given the treatment along with the oxygen, vitamins, hydroxychloroquine and other types of medications administered to COVID-19 patients,” the doctor had explained.

Guyana has been exploring the treatment options recommended for patients affected by the Coronavirus disease with the introduction to the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patients after the Ministry of Health (MOH) obtained approval from the Pan-American Health Organization World Health Organisation(PAHO/WHO) to administer the treatment to patients here.

Additionally, a group of doctors had applied to WHO to take part in solidarity trial for the clinical treatment of COVID-19 patients.

According to the WHO, the solidarity trial is an international clinical trial to help find an effective treatment for COVID-19, which was launched by the WHO and its partners.

Dr. Carpen confirmed that he is part of the team that is expected to participate in the solidarity trial programme, which compares options against standard of care, to assess their relative effectiveness against COVID-19.

WHO explained that by enrolling patients in multiple countries, the solidarity trial aims to rapidly discover

Head of Medical Services at GPHC, Dr. Mahendra Carpen whether any of the drugs slow disease progression or improve survival.

Until there is sufficient evidence, WHO has cautioned against physicians and medical associations recommending or administering these unproven treatments to patients with COVID-19 or people selfmedicating with them.

WHO also raised concerns by reports of individuals self-medicating with chloroquine which can cause them serious harm.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), one of Guyana’s crucial development partners, has launched the Pivot Movement to harness the most innovative ideas for Caribbean development and create a plan for the future of the region. The Movement includes a crowd-sourcing contest and an event.

Pivot Search is the crowd-sourcing platform to receive new development ideas. It runs from September 2 to September 18, with a US$5000 cash prize.Along with partners Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA), Singularity University and Destination Experience, Kaieteur News understands that the IDB will also host The Pivot Event, a virtual conference, between October 15 and 30, 2020.

General Manager of the IDB’s Country Department Caribbean Group (CCB), Therese Turner-Jones noted yesterday that the Pivot Movement is a vehicle for Caribbean transformation driven by ideas.

The IDB official said it gives anyone anywhere the opportunity to help shape the future of the region. “We are

creating an innovative space where pioneering minds will discuss moonshot ideas to drive a more resilient and secure future for all Caribbean people.”

Further to this, the financial institution was keen to note that the Pivot Search, which precedes the event, is a call for ideas from members of the public.

The bank explained that three ideas will be selected for the prize and will also secure a place at The Pivot Event. The ideas in the areas of electro-mobility, digital transformation and reimaging tourism can be submitted here: https://caribbeanpivot.com/ #search.Racquel Moses, CEO of Caribbean ClimateSmart Accelerator (CCSA) said: “In the Caribbean, we battle with the disastrous impacts of climate change.

Innovation is urgently needed to build our resilience to these impacts and the CCSA is delighted to be a partner in this movement. We are excited by the application of innovation to combat long standing challenges.”

Moonshot thinking is an approach entrenched by Singularity University,

which will facilitate sessions over the five days of the inaugural Pivot Event.

Thought leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs will be invited to plan a vision for the Caribbean in the next decade.It will explore three moonshot ideas under each of the three themes for a total of nine ideas.

Three of those ideas will come from the final winners of The Pivot Search who will be given the opportunity to attend the conference. The final outcomes of the event will be a plan for the nine moonshot ideas and a roadmap for access to funding.

Individuals can request an invitation to the Pivot Event and get further details about how to submit ideas for The Pivot Search via the websitewww.caribbeanpivo t.com .Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.

Cyclist killed in Dennis Street accident A pedal cyclist, yesterday, died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) while receiving treatment for injuries he sustained after he collided with a motorcar, on Tuesday last, along Dennis Street, Sophia, Georgetown.

The now dead cyclist was identified as Joseph Semple, 52, of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

According to police reports, Semple was hit down by the motorcar at around 18:30hrs that evening.

Investigators said that the car was heading in the western direction along the northern side of the road when Semple attempted to ride across the road at the said time.

As a result, the car collided with his bicycle and he was thrown some distance away on the paved road.

He was picked-up in a semi-conscious state by publicspirited citizens and rushed to GPHC where he was admitted in a critical condition.At around 16:05hrs, Semple succumbed to his injuries.

The motorcar involved in the accident

Kaieteur News

Friday September 04, 2020

PAGE 09

The President should be setting a better example

I

n o n e d a y, t h e following were seen around the country: persons could be seen in minibuses not wearing masks; food sellers were handling orders without gloves or masks. Some pavement vendors were close to each other and not wearing masks.

A minibus conductor had on a bandana which covered only his mouth. His bus was filled with passengers. Pedestrians could be seen walking the streets in the company of others without any face protection. A man had his mask pulled down under his chin so that he could smoke a cigarette. Across the road from him a vagrant, living on the streets, was well masked.

Meanwhile, the President continues on his wild excursions. He is sharing out hampers to groups of persons.

There is no social distancing during these distribution exercises even though persons are wearing mask. The President should be setting a better example.

O n We d n e s d a y 2 n d September, 2020, there were only nine confirmed cases of the coronavirus, down from the 67 the previous day.

However, testing was low compared to the previous day, with only 96 tests done as compared with a record 310 the previous day.

The steep decline in the number of cases on Wednesday, is therefore no cause for comfort. But what is important also is that the testing not be increased to the point where it takes more than 24 hours to obtain your result.

Early treatment is vital in preventing deaths. But late receipt of results of tests hampers early treatment. If someone has to wait seven days for their results, they can die without receiving treatment and this is the downside of doing too many

tests and having to wait a long time for results.

Right now, the country needs to be testing more than 200 persons per day but the results need to be returned in 24 hours. It was disappointing to learn that only one automatic machine is being used since the technicians are seeking to operationalize the other two. By now, new machines should have been flown in to address the problems with obtaining the tests results.

With patients now being moved to the new hospital at Liliendaal, it will take the strain off the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and hopefully allow for more lives to be saved. But with 14 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, the probability, unfortunately is that there will be more deaths.

The benefits of being a legitimate government are being felt. No help, other than humanitarian assistance had been forthcoming during the five months during which time the country was held hostage by electoral bandits who are now playing sanctimonious while they continue to lie to their supporters and to the nation.

Yesterday, news reports indicate a substantial donation of medical supplies and personal protective equipment from the government.

Included in the shipment were 29 ventilators. It is hoped that these will not be necessary but give the widespread incidence of the pandemic, this may be asking too much.

Meanwhile, the government’s announced restrictions have elements which are bizarre. The government is not allowing work-from home for public sector workers. But it is employing rotation. Would it not be better if those who could work from home do so

and those who cannot are placed on a system of rotation?

Internationally, there has been another breakthrough in treatment options. It is being reported that another drug, hydrocortisone, was found to significantly enhance recovery in severely-ill patients. Strangely, the local health authorities are extremely silent about another cheaply available drug dexamethasone which is now authorized for emergency use in the United Kingdom.

It was hoped that by this month, a vaccine would have become available. But the timeline is now pushed backwards to the end of the year.

However, it is now being reported that the Center for Diseases Control in the US is likely to start a limited roll out of a vaccine by 1st November.

And when they say limited, they mean limited, since only about one million stabs are going to be issued. But at least this will protect emergency workers first and then later the sick and aged.

The United States has 300 million persons of which it is expected that half of them may be interested in being inoculated. So the roll out time will be months not days.

The bad news for Guyana is that we are not likely to get any vaccines until next March 2021. By which time a great many more people are likely to die.

The people of Guyana therefore need to take concerted action to bend the curves of active cases and deaths. It should be clear by now that the government is not going to be able to enforce the very measures, which it announced.

The initiative therefore will have to be led by Regional Democratic Councils (when established), village councils,

Dem boys seh...

What happen to de Cabinet records?

Dem Boys nah interested in any review of a review of the ExxonMobil Field Development Plan for Payara. Dem boys dun know what dat review gan show. It gan use all kind of fancy jargon fuh justify why Guyana should accept since Exxon tekkin a lot of risks. Never mind de entire Basin done de-risk.

Dem boys believe Jagdeo was never keen on renegotiating any contract. He mouth bin twisting and turning more than a tornado when it comes to dat contract. He bin talk fuss about respecting de sanctity of contracts. Is only under pressure dat he talk about getting a better deal. But dem boys nah feel he gat de cojones fuh stand up to ExxonMobil.

Dat is why dem boys calling fuh a Commission of Inquiry into de signing of the Exxon contract. Somebody needs to get to de bottom of how dis contract sign and whether de

Cabinet or de Rig-adier bin know about it.

Dem boys seh dat by now de government should ah done combing through de Cabinet records fuh see if Cabinet bin ever consider de contract. Dem boys wan know too how de application fuh de environmental permit, which is 1500 pages long, could have been approved de same day it submit. De public entitled to an explanation about dat.

De public is also entitled to know who negotiate the signing bonus and why it was stashed away secretly in de Bank of Guyana and why somebody thought it was a gift.

Guyana sign de worst oil deal in history. De deal rob de people of dem entitlements and now people ah guh talk about review of review and sanctity of contracts.

Talk half and call pun Jagdeo fuh launch a COI into de Exxon contract.

community groups, other NGOs, businesses and private citizens. Unless urgent action is taken by the time that vaccine gets to Guyana, it would be useless if more than three quarters of the country

would have already been infected.

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

Kaieteur News

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Friday September 04, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Untergang: Granger in a crowd

T

oday, I continue where I left off y e s t e r d a y, i n looking at the factors that caused the APNU+AFC to lose the election. Yesterday, I argued that a crucial factor in the defeat was that a needed percentage of votes the PNC failed to get were from African Guyanese who in 2011 and 2015 voted for APNU because of the presence of the WPA. These were African Guyanese who felt the WPA would make a

difference in power.

After seeing how morally bankrupt the WPA became after its long wait for power, a few thousand African Guyanese enchanted with Walter Rodney either stayed home or took their ballots elsewhere.

A few more thousands of African Guyanese also were not impressed with the style and nature of the PNC leader David Granger.

Granger is attempting to lose himself among the

increasing protests by African Guyanese.

He spoke with the demonstrators outside State House when the CCJ ruled against APNU+AFC in the recount and this week he was in the crowd when the protesters were outside the court during the election petition hearing. But it is too little too late.

Granger can be partially blamed for the unexpected low turnout among Georgetowners and African

Guyanese in general. They see him as an aloof leader incapable of grounding and mixing.

They do not see him as a man of the people. The war room felt Granger was a winner in the 2015 poll because his character of cleanness would put him far ahead of his rival, Donald Ramotar.

When he won, they milked that feature thinking it would be productive again in the 2020 campaign. But the

incompetent PNC hierarchy knew nothing about West Indian politics. That is why they lost in 2020. Granger was seen as an honest alternative to Ramotar when Granger was the opposition leader.

Granger as president generated different expectations. Granger as president was clean alright but Guyanese people did not identify with him.

It is silly to think in a poor, underdeveloped economy with lack of modern infrastructure and services, people will vote for a president’s second term if they think all he has in him is integrity of character.

They are looking for deliverance and with each day when they didn’t see that deliverance, more and more Granger’s lack of leadership qualities appeared boldly in front of them.

For the five years he spent in office, Granger appeared as a distant president to Guyanese but more so African Guyanese. He did and said things that lacerated their expectations as the years went by. So banal and arid was the leadership of Granger that the PNC had to know that African Guyanese voters would now come out in tsunamic waves.

He barefacedly scuttled the amendment to Guyana’s draconian drug law.

He birthed commission after commission that directly concerned African Guyanese but no fruits appeared.

African public servants wanted an elevation in retirement age.

Granger held a commission of inquiry into the public service which recommended such an elevation. He did not implement it.

Another commission into land holding held against the backdrop of immense clamouring for ancestral lands.

N o t h i n g w a s implemented.

Another commission took place into the Lindo Creek massacre.

Today, despite that inquiry, the killings remain a mystery.

Frederick Kissoon Guyanese like to boast insanely. A drunk fellow said a man paid him to kill Granger, and suddenly there was another commission; this time into the police force.

African Guyanese, poor East Indians and especially the Indigenous folks have the ideology that the state will be their source of comfort because the state will find work for them. Granger boldly told Guyanese that they must not expect the state to provide employment. It was the neo-liberal expression of a president who didn’t understand anything about Third World economics and how the capitalist system operates in the industrial, developed world.

Sadly, Granger’s two economists – Carl Greenidge and Winston Jordan – did not inform him that in highly capitalist economies the state provides employment and also bankroll their farmers with subsidies.

As the years wore on, Granger appeared in the eyes of the Guyanese nation as the most defined failure of all the previous presidents and definitely the most lackluster and the only president Guyana ever had that was unsure of himself.

He took this uncertainty about who he should be to paranoid lengths.

He was scared of the press. He avoided journalists and in interactions with them was curt and abrasive.

He chalked up a record that will last forever – the only president to have held three press conferences during his five year tenure.

David Granger was one of the reasons, the PNC lost in 2020.

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

Friday September 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Friday September 04, 2020

Without proper plan, reopening sugar estates would be throwing money away -former Business Minister The Skeldon factory, East Berbice.

By Shikema Dey President Irfaan Ali recently announced that the new People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration has begun the process of reopening three of the four sugar estates that were shut down by the previous APNU+AFC coalition government.

Such a move would require a proper plan or else it would be an utter waste of taxpayers funds. That was the opinion shared by former Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin.

“If you reopen them without any sort of plan, that would be madness. It would be just throwing taxpayers money down the drain and putting at risk our future oil revenues,” he told Kaieteur News, during an exclusive interview.

Gaskin was part of the last administration who took the decision to shut the Rose Hall, Wales, Skeldon and Enmore sugar factories when they took office in 2015.

Sustaining the seven estates at the time was putting a major dent in the treasury, they said, and later,

those four estates were shut down and more than 7,000 workers were laid off.

The PPP/C vowed to resuscitate the sugar industry, providing hope for the thousands of workers who were left without jobs and struggled to maintain their families since the closures.

With President Ali’s announcement, that vow may soon become a reality, but according to the former Business Minister, a robust plan is needed as the sugar industry has many challenges.

“I’d love to see the plan, I’d love to get a better idea of how he expects to, where he intends to get the money to invest and what sort of investments he is likely to make into the estates and how he basically plans to reopen and resuscitate those estates. I would love to see a very comprehensive plan to do that and make is profitable, otherwise he is just throwing money away,” Gaskin said.

The sugar industry, Gaskin added, is not profitable. He asked: “…why

Former Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin would you want to reopen sugar estates that were not profitable when they were open.”

Instead of reopening the estates, the former Minister opined that focus should be placed on the three estates that are operable to turn them

into profitable ventures. “…Because, if you can’t make those three estates that are still open profitable, how are you going to make six sugar estates profitable, especially given the fact that the ones that were closed were the ones that were the least profitable of all…those were making more losses than the others.”

To make sugar profitable, Gaskin explained that a fairly comprehensive and longterm strategic plan is integral to restructure the industry to

make it viable.

At this point, he added: “I really don’t see how he can do that.”

“It is easy to talk, talk is

cheap, you know, if he has some great plan, to reopen the estates and make them profitable fine, I just know (Continued on page 16)

Friday September 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

APNU+AFC knew of deadly effects of flaring but still allowed ExxonMobil to pollute Guyana’s airspace Report exposes...

An image showing what flaring looks like

The mangled bicycle and the damaged fence and cars of Yokohama Trading

Speeding pickup damages cars at Yokohama, leaves cyclist dead

American multinational, ExxonMobil, has been flaring gas offshore Guyana for almost eight months due to mechanical issues it experienced with the Liza Destiny’s gas compressor system that is being fixed in Germany.

The oil giant had been burning gas while the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) regime was in office- since last December to be exact. Even though it was fully aware of the deadly effects of flaring, the APNU+AFC regime did absolutely nothing about it.

Kaieteur News was able to ascertain the former regime’s awareness of the effects of flaring by way of Annex A (4) of the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040.

This document was developed by the Granger regime.

Annex A (4) provided analytical evidence to support why the APNU+AFC is/was opposed to flaring. The document states that the negative impacts of gas flaring are well understood by the former regime, as such, Guyana would not undertake routine gas flaring for any excess associated gas produced from the offshore petroleum fields.

The Annex goes on to note that the option to release gas into the atmosphere by flaring and venting is an important practice in oil production for

safety reasons. It was noted, however, that such a practice generates a high level of hydrocarbons when oil-gaswater solutions are flared.

It was further noted by the coalition government at the time that the process of burning associated gas “has many negative impacts on the environment,” including the release of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), methane, and other greenhouse gas emissions.

The Annex also stated that studies in Nigeria, where gas flaring is not prohibited, demonstrated the l i n k s b e t w e e n environmental impacts such as acid rain. Other impacts the report said, included negative health impacts due to exposure to pollutants.

Kaieteur News, by way of extensive research, would have also shown how gas flaring contributes to climate change, which has serious implications for the world.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, was keen to note in one of its studies that gas flaring is actually a major source of greenhouse gases (GHG) contributing to global warming which could accelerate the problem of climatic change and harsh living conditions on earth, if not checked.

The Department also notes that there are over 250 toxins released from flaring including carcinogens such as benzopyrene, benzene, carbon disulphide (CS2),

carbonyl sulphide (COS) and toluene; metals such as m e r c u r y, a r s e n i c a n d chromium; sour gas with Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2); Nitrogen oxides (NOx); Carbon dioxide (CO2); and methane (CH4) which contributes to the greenhouse gases.

To date, ExxonMobil has polluted Guyana’s airspace with more than 10 billion cubic feet of gas. On a daily basis, it is burning 12 to 15 million cubic feet.

A pedal cyclist was yesterday killed after he was hit down by a Toyota Tacoma pick-up along the Rupert Craig Highway, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Navindra Doray, 42, of Block F, North Sophia, Georgetown The fatal accident took place at around 13:15hrs in the vicinity of Yokohama Trading Incorporated and Rubis Gas Station.

According to police (Continued on page 22)

The aftermath of the accident.

Kaieteur News

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Friday September 04, 2020

Stephen Thomas new MARAD Director - major overhaul announced General for entity for oil and gas

Minister Juan Edghill during the me

T

he state’s M a r i t i m e Administration Department (MARAD) is being realigned, repositioned and restructured to facilitate Guyana’s transformation and development; more particularly with the advent of oil and gas.

On Wednesday, at a meeting with the senior management, which was followed by meetings with the staffers at the head office and the boat house, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, announced the appointment of Stephen Thomas as the new DirectorGeneral and the “repositioning” Claudette Rogers, the former DirectorGeneral as Advisor on

Maritime Affairs.

The immediate task of the administration is to, within the next 10 days, conduct a review of all its systems, functions and to assess the capacity and skill sets of its employees.

The announcement of the new appointments as well as the policy directions that were given were warmly received by both the management and rank and file workers, the ministry said yesterday.

MARAD has been struggling with finances and capacity in recent years.

“Various members of staff expressed gratitude for the role Ms. Claudette Rogers played and wished her well in her new role as Advisor while remaining a

member of the Senior Management Division at the Administration.”

According to the ministry, which holds responsibility of MARAD, Edghill held separate meetings with senior management at his office, s t a ff e r s a t M A R A D ’s headquarters and the Boat House officers at Stabroek.

Thomas was said to be well experienced with over three decades in the ports and maritime sector, with the majority of it being as a senior officer with the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) and the Maritime Administration Department;He would have served as Cadet, Mate and Captain on T&HD and other companies’ vessels.

New head: Stephen Thomas

Reassigned: Claudette Rogers is new advisor on Maritime Affairs

Special team expected in Region 6 soon to investigate NA Hospital issues A team from the Ministry of Health is expected in Berbice in the near future to h a v e e x t e n s i v e investigations into issues currently affecting the institution. The team will comprise of Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, who has now been placed in a senior role at the Ministry of Health and other senior officials.

Mahadeo served as the CEO for the then (pre-2015) Berbice Regional Health A u t h o r i t y. T h e announcement was made on Wednesday by the President Irfaan Ali during his visit to E a s t C a n j e .

Ali had stated that he had read a few “nightmare stories” that occurred at the institution and as such has committed to “fixing it”.

He added that a special team of the health officials will be sent soon “to look into the operations there”.

He pointed out that when those issues arise people have to be held accountable since many of the stories he would have read were “heartbreaking”.

Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo The President stated that he has had discussions with the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who already assigned a team to visit the institution to investigate.

He said, “we can’t only build roads...we have to ensure that the systems of the government will work in the interest of people”.

Kaieteur News, a few days ago, reported that a newborn baby suffered a hole on his hands while he was admitted

in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The mother of the infant had told this publication that doctors informed her that while her baby was receiving treatment in the unit, the intravenous line was faulty and the needle caused the wound.

She stated that it wasn’t until her second visit to the hospital after she was discharged to request a report for her private practitioner that she was told that it was reportedly the antibiotics treatment that caused the large wound to his hand.

The baby also suffered a minor wound to the other hand.

It is understood that an internal investigation was launched into that matter.

In the past and up until to date, the New Amsterdam Hospital has been plagued with complaints from shortage of drugs, the distasteful treatment given to patients by some health professionals and maternal deaths, among other issues.

Kaieteur News

Friday September 04, 2020

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Over 80% of ERC complaints received are - police force, Bureau of Statistics from social media spats hiring practice under spotlight The Ethnic Relations Commission(ERC), conducting investigations into complaints received, says that a significant amount is coming about from social media.

The regulatory body, which says it has been adopting measures to bring amicable resolutions to racial and ethnic issues in the execution of its constitutional mandate, says a majority percentage; 87.2% of the complaints received, regards incidents

on social media, more specifically Facebook with a total of 89 complaints out of 102.

The Commission noted, however, in a statement this week, that the capacity of the ERC to productively investigate those complaints is limited by factors including the prevalent use of fake profiles to make racially insensitive posts or comments.

In the case of active profiles, the ERC said that there are challenges such as

private user profiles or the unavailability of the accused person’s legal name, address or contact information, or the accused residing out of Guyana, making jurisdiction an issue.

As a result of those limitations, the Commission has adopted two courses.

First, it has published the posts and faces of persons whom complaints have been made against through social media in the “Persons of Interest” initiative.

This has generated

positive feedback with the public’s assistance and in some cases the co-operation of the accused.

“Individuals such as Chaitram Goberdhan aka Bounty, Lucra Adams, Lashana Chester, Mollyann M o o n s a m m y, M a r c e l Haymer and Tifany Greene have contacted the Commission. The practice of publishing persons of interest will be done periodically and the Commission is relying on the p u b l i c ’s a s s i s t a n c e i n identifying offenders,” the Commission said in the statement Additionally, the

Commission met with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Cyber Crimes Unit and the two agencies are on a productive path of working together.

It was pointed out by the Ministry that a few of the complaints received by the Commission do not offend against the Racial Hostility Act or the Representation of the People Act but instead are criminal offences to be investigated by the police.

“Those complaints have been referred to the police for necessary action.

Approximately eight Facebook incidents fall in

that category. One complaint of an incident fell under the jurisdiction of the police and evoked summary court proceedings. Furthermore, another complaint fell outside of the ambit of the ERC – it was a matter to be investigated by the Women and Gender Equality Commission,” the ERC added in a statement.

Meanwhile, several anonymous complaints have been made to the Commission involving state entities.

In particular, an anonymous complaint was (Continued on page 16 )

Middle Road murder suspect remanded for shooting at cop Convicted rapist appeals Murder suspect, Wayne Castello called ‘Top cat’, was yesterday remanded to prison for allegedly discharging a loaded firearm at a police officer and being in the unlawful possession of a gun and ammunitions.

The 27-year-old defendant of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly.

Castello denied that charge which stated that on August 27, 2020, at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he discharged a loaded firearm at Police Officer, Kester Cosbert, with intent to maim, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.

The defendant also denied that on the same date and at the same location, he had in his possession one 9mm pistol together with six rounds of matching ammunition when he is not a licensed firearm holder.

After the charges were

Charged: Wayne ‘Top Cat’ Castello read to the defendant, Magistrate Daly remanded him to prison and the matter was adjourned to September 23, 2020, and transferred to Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty.

Castello was wanted for the murder of Navindra Samaroo, a marketing agent who was shot and killed on

Middle Road, La Penitence last month.

According to a police report, Castello was captured at Genip Lane, East Ruimveldt.

Police, acting on information, went to the location where they saw the defendant.

Castello immediately attempted to mount a black motorcycle and ride away but the ranks saw this, stopped and disembarked their patrol vehicle.

Realizing that he was trapped, Castello reportedly pulled a gun from his waist and began shooting at the lawmen.

The ranks returned fire and a bullet struck Castello on his foot. Castello fell to the ground and the ranks seized the opportunity to relieve him of the gun.

He was then transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for medical treatment.

23-year prison sentence Convicted rapist, Calvin Ramcharran, has moved to the Appeal Court in a bid to have 23-year prison sentence imposed on him, overturned.

Ramcharran also wants his conviction set aside, some five years after he was found guilty by a mixed 12member jury in the Georgetown High Court.

In 2015, Ramcharran was convicted of sexually penetrating a 20-year-old female without her consent.

He is also convicted of assaulting the woman and causing her actual bodily harm during the commission of the crime.

The incident occurred on July 22, 2012. Ramcharran

and the victim were at a dance in Soesdyke, when he followed her behind an old house and attacked her.

On the night of the incident, Ramcharran had asked the woman: “Whether she was doing business” and although she told him no, he pursued her and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.

Following a trial before Justice JoAnn Barlow at the High Court, Ramcharran was found guilty of both offences.

A mixed jury returned to the courtroom with guilty verdicts for both offences after just a few hours of deliberation.

Back then, his attorney,

Sonia Parag, subsequently implored the court for leniency on behalf of her client.

She noted that Ramcharran is still a young man, who can yet make valuable contributions to society.

However, Justice Barlow noted that the convict had violated and beaten his victim before raping her.

She, therefore, underscored that while society would consider that Ramcharran is young, society would hope that its voice is heard through t h e c o u r t .

As such, the Judge sentenced Ramcharran to 23 years for rape and four years for the assault charge.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Friday September 04, 2020

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From page 2 seven-year-old son’s asthma was triggered by the flaring.

Though he only used his inhaler about three times a year, she said it meant he had to use it every day when the company flared.

As Exxon has done for its environmental infractions in Guyana, it sought to deny the impact of the flaring.

BBC reported in August 2019 that the company said its plant is unlikely to have an impact on air quality and human health, and that the flaring poses no significant risk.

In the month after, as complaints continued to grow by the hundreds, ExxonMobil made the announcement that it would spend the £140M

From page 15 made citing racially prejudiced promotion practices of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and another was also made against the recruitment practices of the Bureau of Statistics.

The Commission has also investigated complaints made against public officials, for instance, the Mayor of Bartica is currently under investigation.

“Since the publication of his name in the” Persons of

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While some would think that Exxon’s expenditure in Scotland sets a precedent for its regard for the environment, its posturing in Guyana indicates otherwise.

...Over 80% of ERC complaints

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(US$186M) on work to mitigate the flaring - which included fitting flaring tips and other technology.

Scottish Energy Minister is quoted by BBC as saying, “Given community concerns, the Scottish government has been clear that the frequency of unplanned flaring at the site is unacceptable…”

The Guyana Situation ExxonMobil has flared over 10 billion cubic feet of natural gas at the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

It claims the issue persists due to defective equipment currently undergoing repairs in Germany. Head of the local Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent

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Interest”, he has undertaken to co-operate with us,” the Commission said.

Despite the many impediments, some beyond the control of the ERC, the Commission says it has been tirelessly working to promote harmony and good relations in the 10 administrative regions. The investigative team of the Commission worked closely with the Co-operative Development and Societies Department in addressing the concerns of the members.

This matter is currently still under investigation as the Commission awaits the submission of important documents in the case.

The Commission, through its Investigative Sub-Committee arm, also conducted mediation sessions touching and concerning adversities surrounding racism in the workforce and racial conflicts in land occupation and land allocation.

A mediation exercise was completed at the Fort Wellington Dental Depart-

ment, WCB, where accusations were made of racial partiality in the performance of professional duties and discriminatory discipline of staff on the basis of race.

During the mediation, the health officials gave an undertaking to work in unison and emotional apologies were made. Added to that, a team recently mediated in the community of Mon Repos, ECD, where land conflict evolved into racial tensions.

In addition to the mediation session, the Commission has been working in conjunction with the Lands and Surveys Commission to settle allegations of land encroachment, a matter in which the ERC expects an imminent resolution.

The Commission, through that exercise, has made recommendations for departmental changes which include effective systems of record-keeping and human and social development of staff through counselling and training.

...Without proper plan From page 12 that it is a lot more, it is not just as easy as going out there and making statements.”

The promised reopening of the closed estates comes with the prospect of new jobs for the thousands of Guyanese who were plunged into unemployment, and that was the selling point for the PPP/C on the campaign trail.

However, Gaskin was of the view that simply reopening the estates to employ “does not make sense.”

“I am all for jobs,” he said “but the problem is why are you tying people down to an industry that is not profitable, an industry where in which we are competing with other international players making sugar much more efficiently than we are.”

Such a move, Gaskin said would not be “logical.”

Further, Gaskin stated what he would also like to see is a comprehe n s i v e plan for job creation in the communities where those estates were shut – jobs that see Guyanese being engaged in activities that are profitable, globally competitive and those that can create sustainable industries.

And such a plan should be made public, he continued, citing that it would take billions of taxpayer dollars to fund the reopening bill.

“If you are going to take the taxpayers money to reopen the estates, just to create jobs, then I think the taxpayers are entitled to understand at least what the plan is and how long is it going to take before they see a return on the money that is going to be invested in those estates.”

Friday September 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

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PAGE 18

Two more COVID-19 deaths recorded The Ministry of Health yesterday announced two more COVID-19 related deaths, which brings the total number of deaths to 44.

The story, though, is that the authorities appear to be severely challenged with the emerging figures. Kaieteur News understands that based on the last record of deaths on Tuesday, 43 deaths were recorded, which means that the total number should have been 45.

However, the Ministry disclosed that a patient who was previously recorded as a COVID-19 fatality did not test positive for the virus and there was a mix-up.

The Ministry would have also previously been accused of publishing dashboards with incorrect numbers and also failing to include pre-

Friday September 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

recorded deaths.

According to the Ministry, the two dead are a 67 -year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and a 48year-old man from Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica).

The 67-year-old reportedly died while receiving care at a medical facility. They further stated that samples were collected from both men at the time of admission and they were tested positive for COVID-19.

The Ministry has not released any information on exactly where the persons died.

Additionally, 19 new COVID-19 cases were also recorded which brings the total number of confirmed cases to 1,401. Of the new cases, Region 1 has recorded

two, Region 3 - One, Region 4 - Fourteen, and Region 7 Two. There are currently 14 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 67 persons in institutional isolation, 471 in approved home isolation, and 98 in institutional quarantine. Of all the confirmed cases, 691 are male and 710 are female. A total of 9,040 tests were done.

As for the regional distribution; Region One has 290 cases; Region Two - 14 cases, Region Three - 82 cases; Region Four - 509 cases; Region Five - eight cases; Region Six -19 cases; Region Seven - 231 cases; Region Eight - 23 cases; Region Nine - 243 cases, and Region Ten -75 cases. There have been 805 recoveries thus far.

Paul Cheong also named to chair GuyOil board - Manniram Prashad back at Gaming Authority

Chairman of the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil), Paul Cheong

Chairman of the Guyana Gaming Authority, Manniram Prashad

Paul Cheong, who currently sits as the Chairman of the National Industrial Investors Limited (NICIL), has been presented with another appointment.

This time as the Chairman of the stateowned Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil).

According to a publication in the Official Gazette, the other members on GuyOil’s Board are Shameer Hussain, Abena Moore, Dr. Vishnu Bandhu, Akanni Blair, and Dru Bahadur.

Additionally, former Trade and Tourism Minister, Manniram Prashad, has also been re-appointed Chairman of the Guyana Gaming

Authority, which falls under the Tourism Industry and Commerce Sector.

The other Board members listed for the Gaming Authority are Abena Moore, Genevieve Blackman, Sase Gunraj, and Mark Conway.

Prashad had served as Chairman of the Gaming Authority back in 2012 and will replace Roysdale Forde while Cheong would be replacing Mark Bender at GuyOil. The appointments took effect on August 27, 2020 and will both run for a period of one year, until August 26, 2021.

Education Ministry cancels Grades 2, 4 and 9 assessments

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand The Ministry of Education has announced that there will be no sittings of the National Grades Two, Four, and Nine Assessments for the academic year of September 2019 - July 2020.

The announcement was made yesterday in a notice to parents, students, teachers, administrators, and the general public.

The Ministry did note, however, that the decision will not affect the academic records of students.

The decision to cancel the assessments was made in light of the COVID-19 virus that would have had students at home since the month of March this year.

The unavailability of physical class sessions would have been exacerbated by the fact that thousands of students still have no access to internet.

Additionally, the Ministry would have been requesting applications from teachers from Grades Nine to 11 to host programmes on the Guyana Learning Channel (GLC) that will feature educational materials being

presented from the Ministry’s syllabus.

This is one of the many initiatives, which the Ministry has proposed to promote learning despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The challenge will remain to get the lessons to the hinterlands.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, recently engaged with parents, teachers, and other stakeholders in a virtual meeting to present new ideas and hear their concerns. In the meeting, Manickchand stated that the Guyana Learning Channel will be seeing enhancements which will enable more access to learning material and it will also provide wider coverage to all regions across Guyana and “teachers, parents and students can also look out for print packages that will be distributed countrywide”.

She also stated that, “We’re looking at making sure that teachers can be trained…

So, very shortly you will see us rolling out mass teacher training, where we hope to ensure every single teacher in the system is trained presently.”

Friday September 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday September 04, 2020

Friday September 04, 2020

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Kaieteur News

...Warriors end tridents title defence Celebrating a Tridents wicket

Friday September 04, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) There may be some tension today as you try to stabilize your emotions, Aries. There could be a force at work out there that's rather impersonal and detached.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is a good day to follow through on projects. Leaving many unfinished matters in your life only creates clutter that keeps other things from entering the picture.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) The tricky things to balance today are your emotions and sense of duty, Taurus.

Try not to let the stress of having to complete a task leak into your state of mind.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There could be some restrictions on your emotions today. You'll find that a practical, grounded force is working against your intuitive understanding of whatever issue concerns you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) There's a practical grounding today that may cramp your style. More than likely you'll be aware of the time restrictions that point up your own limits. Maybe you aren't being realistic about certain areas of your life.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Feel free to take care of any restructuring in your life that needs to be done now.

Change may be a bit scary at first, but realize that it's a necessary variable in order to make progress.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your mood should be good today, although you should be careful not to rub it in others' faces. If people don't feel like being cheerful, don't force it on them.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your mood may be a bit detached and scattered today.

This attitude could get you into trouble if you aren't careful. Make sure you keep at least one foot on the ground.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) It isn't a good idea to talk behind other people's backs today, Leo. If you have an issue with someone in particular, bring it up to that person directly. This isn't a good time to gossip.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Seek the counsel of someone older and wiser today, Aquarius. Whether you want to or not, you may encounter someone with authority who's likely to tell you what he or she thinks.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Put some of your fantastic ideas to good use today. It's one thing to be a genius with plenty of masterpieces floating around in your head.

It's quite another to actually put things into motion.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Seek the counsel of someone older and wiser today, Aquarius. Whether you want to or not, you may encounter someone with authority who's likely to tell you what he or she thinks.

From page 22 nudged and guided the Amazon Warriors to 67/4 at halfway needing just 23 more to win.

Holder could have ended his spell with a third wicket, but Taylor’s edge flew wide of slip, and Rashid was nudged for six off two overs to leave just 12 to win.

Hetmyer finally hit his first boundary off Santner thanks to indifferent boundary fielding from the visibly injured Holder, Taylor had time to practice his forward defensive against his countryman, and Hetmyer for the second day in a row hit the winning runs.

The Tridents now hold the unwanted record of being the first Hero CPL defending champions not to make the knockouts, and with the Amazon Warriors now guaranteed to avoid the Trinbago Knight Riders in the semi-finals, a sixth final is very much on the cards.

Scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors 90/4 (Hetmyer 32*, Hemraj 29, Taylor 16*; Holder 2/10, Reifer 1/16, Santner 1/25) beat Barbados Tridents 89/9 (Young 18, Santner 18, Charles 10; Tahir 3/12, Shepherd 3/22, Green 1/17, Sinclair 1/23) by 6 wickets.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots knocked out of CPL 2020 after washout in Tarouba ESPNcricinfo - The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots made a healthy start, but after 5.4 overs, the rain came down over Tarouba to stop their innings, and their CPL campaign, in its tracks. With only three points - including one from the washed-out game today (yesterday) from nine matches, the Patriots have no hope of making the semi-finals.

The Jamaica Tallawahs, meanwhile, remain in the fourth place on the table, with seven points from their eight matches. Before the rain, Evin Lewis had struck two boundaries in the first over - bowled by Fidel Edwards - to get the Patriots on their way.

It was opening partner

Chris Lynn, however, who had the bigger impact on the powerplay. He pulled Mujeeb Ur Rehman for four, then launched him for two successive leg-side sixes to finish the fifth over, before Lewis blasted Veerasammy Permaul down the ground for six in the following over.

Just as it had begun raining boundaries, however, the clouds unleashed, and no further play was possible. So steady was the rain, that the groundstaff were unable to remove the covers at any stage to attempt a resumption.

No Result St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 46 for 0 (Lynn 23*, Lewis 21*) v Jamaica Tallawahs.

PAGE 22

Friday September 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

West Indies looking to bounce back in England after T20 World Cup disappointment ESPNcricinfo - West Indies will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing Women’s T20 World Cup campaign when they take on England in five T20Is later this month.

England prevented West Indies from reaching the knockout stages of the tournament in Australia earlier this year when they won their group clash by 46 runs to progress to the semi-finals.

Then-coach Gus Logie described West Indies’ performance throughout the global showcase, won by the hosts in convincing fashion in the final against India, as “timid” and possessing a “fear factor”.

That match, on March 1, was Deandra Dottin’s third international - fourth counting the World Cup warm-up match against India - after an absence of more than a year with a shoulder injury that required surgery and a lengthy rehab period.

Vice-captain to Stafanie Taylor for the tour of England, Dottin didn’t echo Logie’s assessment of the team’s mindset during the World Cup, but acknowledged that there were improvements to

be made, which they intended on showing in the forthcoming series.

“To me the girls were pretty good, but I will say that that time wasn’t our time,” Dottin said. “I just think that there are areas that we need to work on and it just so happened that the areas we needed to click didn’t.

“We just needed to go back to the drawing board and watch over footage, or where we went wrong, and just go from there. It’s okay to accept failure but it is how you bounce back.”

Dottin, one of the most explosive hitters in the women’s game and an accomplished fast bowler, scored just 12 runs in three T20 World Cup innings, so it could be argued that she is still looking to bounce back herself after such a long injury layoff not to mention, like everyone else in the series, nearly six months of no cricket due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dottin didn’t bowl at all during the T20 World Cup, although she said her shoulder had recovered enough for her to do so while in England. “I’m feeling pretty

good at this moment,” Dottin said. “It’s been a long time I’ve been out. I’ve been working on specific stuff, as in strengthening my injury, getting back out there. My form is there but there’s still more areas that I can improve on. But all in all I’m actually feeling pretty good, and glad to be here in England to play this series.”

Dottin also hoped the series, starting on September 21 with all matches to be played behind closed doors at Derby’s Incora County Ground, would encourage other teams to begin competing again too. The third match on September 26 will be televised live on freeto-air TV - a first for women’s international cricket since 1993 - on the BBC. “It’s very good getting some cricket with what’s going on with Covid-19 and stuff,” she said. “It’s a chance for both teams... it’ll be worldwide stuff, and more exposure. “But I think is a good step to actually encourage other teams or show them that we definitely have safety and they are well taking care of us in this Covid time, so you can actually not panic and just

Deandra Dottin and West Indies Women are looking to bounce back on the tour of England Getty Images make a move.”

West Indies arrived in Derby on Monday for the hastily arranged series, which will ensure internatational women’s cricket is played in England this summer, following the collapse of planned tours by India and South Africa. And while she stopped short of following

West Indies men’s captain Jason Holder in calling on England to return the favour by travelling to the Caribbean next year, Dottin said she would “like that to happen” if possible.

“It’s been an honour and a privilege,” she said of West Indies Women touring England. “We definitely take

the invitation from England because we were actually so excited. “Yeah, it is a lastminute thing that has been put in place, but we actually made it, and were open to travel. It’s very important. the games are televised so it will get people’s attention on the game and how women’s cricket is actually played.”

...Club team up with Mike’s Pharmacy to donate

RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster (left) with Dr. Sultan and a staff member of the Mibicuri Hospital.

From page 23 Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, his Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu and Vice President Mark Papannah made the presentations at the Hospitals.

Foster disclosed that the club was hosting a reduced list of programmes to mark the historic anniversary with special emphasis placed on assisting the less fortunate and public institutions including Hospitals, Police & Fire Stations and Schools.

RHTY&SC, Foster stated is very passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of residents in the county of Berbice. The Port Mourant Hospital received three electric fans while Mibicuri collected a variety of items including two electric fans, electric iron, stationery, water mugs, measuring tapes, children story books, large and small clocks, calculators and a small water pitcher.

The donation to the Port Mourant Hospital was the seventh of its kind since last March and the Club Secretary hailed the outstanding work of Dr. Sukhdeo of Port Mourant and Dr. Sultan of the Mibicuri Hospital for outstanding leadership and

service.

Foster further stated that they would continue to assist as much as possible and would also be making donations to other public institutions shortly as celebratory activities continue for the institution that was formed by three-time Commonwealth Youth Service Awardee, St Francis Community Developers.

From a humble beginning, the club is now widely considered Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation with an unmatched list of activities and achievements. It undertakes 700 activities each year under various areas including sports, charity, education, community development and youth development.

On the cricket field, it has won a total of 98 cricket tournaments, produced a combined 105 cricketers for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies and has Guyana’s only female cricket team.

Additionally, the RHTY&SC is the only sports and youth organisation in Guyana to have received a national award.

Among projects completed to date in the reduced 30th celebrations are restoration of

the club office, repairs to sanitary at the Area H Ground, distribution of sports gear to dozens of youths, sharing out of food hampers, donations to a wide range of public institutions, unveiling of all time male and female cricket teams along with the sharing out of school bags to less fortunate students.

The club would later in the month launch its anniversary magazine and host another twelve programmes including feeding of the elderly, senior citizens breakfast programme, spelling bee competition and donation of bicycles to students.

Under the joint RHTY&SC/ BCB Basil Butcher Memorial Project, a total of four million dollars worth of food hampers, stationery, office items, cricket gears, footwear, household utilities ,school bags ,educational materials, chicken products, score books and cleaning detergents were shared out across Berbice.

The ten cricket teams of the Club are Poonai Pharmacy Under-12, Under13, Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Indermediate, Metro Females and NAMILCO Thunderbolt Under-21 and First Division.

Friday September 04, 2020

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Rockets hang on to defeat Thunder, move on to West semis James Harden capped a miserable shooting performance with a timely defensive play, and the Houston Rockets held on for a 104-102 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Wednesday near Orlando.

Harden closed out on Thunder guard Luguentz Dort and recorded a blocked shot with 4.8 seconds left and Houston clinging to a onepoint lead. Following a Robert Covington free throw, the Rockets blew up an inbounds play from the Thunder with 1.1 seconds left to clinch the series and set a date opposite the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.

Game 1 of that series is set for Friday in the AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Dort produced a game-high 30 points on 6-for12 3-point shooting, the highest scoring total for an undrafted rookie in a Game 7.

But the Rockets clamped down elsewhere defensively, forcing Thunder guard Chris Paul into six turnovers while holding Dennis Schroder to 5-of-17 shooting.

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander matched

Paul with 19 points and hit a corner 3-pointer that gave the Thunder a 102-101 lead with 1:42 remaining. But those were the final points of the game for the Thunder, who committed 22 turnovers that Houston converted into 28 points.

Harden shot just 4 of 15 and had a series-low 17 points. But he added nine assists and received help from his teammates, with Covington posting 21 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Eric Gordon matched Covington with 21 points while Russell Westbrook chipped in 20 points and nine boards.

Paul added 11 rebounds and 12 assists to complete a triple-double. Neither team led by more than eight points in a contest that featured 13 ties and 15 lead changes. With Harden off to a woeful shooting start, missing 5 of 6 shot attempts, Covington, Gordon and Westbrook carried the Rockets offensively in the first quarter by recording six points apiece. But the Thunder led by just one point entering the second quarter despite shooting 11 of 20 from the floor by virtue of seven firstperiod turnovers that the Rockets converted into 10 points.

Game officials huddle as members of the Houston Rockets guard David Nwaba (0) and the Oklahoma City Thunder gather around them with 1.1 second left in game seven of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Dort caught fire in the second, pouring in a dozen points during one stretch before the Rockets wrestled away control. Gordon and Covington combined for 30 points as Houston led 61-59 at the intermission. (Field Level Media)

US Open 2020

Garbine Muguruza beaten

by Tsvetana Pironkova

Butler’s free throws give Heat 2-0 edge on Bucks Jimmy Butler made two free throws with no time remaining on the clock Wednesday night, capping a wild finish that featured two controversial calls by the referees and giving the fifthseeded Miami Heat a second straight win over the topseeded Milwaukee Bucks, 116-114 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at the Walt Disney World Complex near Orlando.

After posting a 115-104 win in Game 1, the Heat appeared to be in command Wednesday with a 113-107 advantage with less than 20 seconds to go. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo then threw down a dunk, and Brook Lopez stole Butler’s inbounds pass, converting a layup that trimmed the gap to two with 8.5 seconds left.

After Butler made just one of two free throws for a 114111 lead with 7.7 seconds left, Goran Dragic was called for a debated brush foul on a Khris Middleton 3-point attempt.

When Middleton made all three of his foul shots, the game shockingly was tied with 4.3 seconds remaining.

That was enough time for Butler to benefit from a similar touch foul at the other end on a corner jumper he got off just before the horn.

Antetokounmpo was whistled for putting a hand on Butler’s hip during the follow through, setting up the gamewinning free throws.

On a night when Butler followed up a 40-point explosion with just 13, the Heat used a 51-21 scoring advantage on 3-pointers to put the Bucks in a big hole.

After trailing by as many as 13 in the first half and 10 in the final period, the Bucks got within 105-102 on a short shot

by Antetokounmpo with 5:30 to play But Kelly Olynyk countered immediately with his third 3-pointer of the game to double the margin, and then the Heat defense took over. The Bucks didn’t score again until Antetokounmpo sank two free throws with 1:45 to go, which cut the deficit to 111-104. The nearly fourminute drought featured five missed shots and three turnovers.

Dragic scored 23 points

and Tyler Herro added 17 points for Miami. Jae Crowder had 16, Bam Adebayo had 15 to go with a team-high nine rebounds, Duncan Robinson 13 and Olynyk 11. Butler also found time for a team-high six assists and team-high three steals as the Heat forced 14 turnovers while only committing 10.

Antetokounmpo finished with a game-high 29 points and a game-high 14 rebounds after having been held to 18 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1. Middleton chipped in with 23 points and a gamehigh eight assists. Eric Bledsoe and Lopez added 16 points apiece and George Hill 14 for the Bucks, who shot 7-for25 on 3-point attempts (28 percent) as opposed to the Heat’s 17-for-45 (37.8 percent).

Riding the momentum of their Game 1 win, the Heat bombed in five 3-pointers, including two by Olynyk, in the first quarter, building as much as an 11-point advantage. The margin reached 13 in the second period before the Bucks scratched back. (Field Level Media)

Tsvetana Pironkova’s best performance at a Grand Slam was reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2010 BBCsport - Two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza has been knocked out of the US Open, losing in straight sets to Tsvetana Pironkova. The Spanish 10th seed, who reached this year’s Australian Open final, lost 75 6-3 at Flushing Meadows.

Pironkova, 32, is playing her first tournament since

Wimbledon 2017, after which she gave birth to her first child. “I didn’t expect my first tournament to be so good,” said Pironkova. “It’s welcome.

That’s why I came back, for these matches and these stages.”

The Bulgarian will play Croat 18th seed Donna Vekic next in New York. Elsewhere,

Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3. The 21-year-old American, seeded second, will face Tunisian 27th seed Ons Jabeur in the third round.

Amanda Anisimova, 19, came from behind to see off 16-year-old fellow American Katrina Scott 4-6 6-4 6-1.

PAGE 24

Friday September 04, 2020

Kaieteur News

Tour de France 2020

Alexey Lutsenko wins stage six as Adam Yates retains yellow jersey BBCsport - Astana’s Alexey Lutsenko claimed the biggest success of his career with victory in stage six of the Tour de France as Britain’s Adam Yates retained the leader ’s yellow jersey.

Lutsenko left the rest of the breakaway behind on a steep climb with 17km to go and finished alone on Mont Aigoual. Yates finished in the bunch, with the main favourites content to save their attacks for another day.

“We defended well and I get another day in yellow,” said Yates. “I got the jersey in a strange situation but hopefully we did it proud.”

France’s Julian Alaphilippe, who lost the yellow jersey to Yates on Wednesday after he was docked 20 seconds for taking a bottle inside the final 20km, sprinted late on to grab one second back in a show of defiance.

Mitchelton-Scott rider Yates, who said before the

Alexey Lutsenko won a stage of the Vuelta a Espana in 2017 @ Getty Images race he is targeting stage wins instead of the overall title this

year, leads Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic by three seconds. He

should keep the jersey after Friday’s stage seven, which

is one for the sprinters, before facing two tough days in the Pyrenees that lead into Monday’s first rest day.

“Those two stages are going to be really tough but we’ve got a super strong team so I’m looking forward to it,” added Yates. “I still want to win a stage but it’s hard to throw away time in the lead so I’ll play it day by day and set what happens.”

A strong eight-man breakaway, that included Olympic champion Greg van Avermaet and Ireland’s Nicolas Roche, built up a sixminute lead on the flat start to the 191km stage from Le Teil, suggesting the winner would emerge from that group.

Jumbo-Visma, Ineos Grenadiers and MitcheltonScott all worked on the front to cut that deficit to about three minutes after the first two climbs of the day to bring the main favourites back into contention, but Lutsenko proved too strong.

The Kazakh champion kept upping the pace on the Col de la Lusette, which features sections of 10% gradient, to shed riders until just he and American Neilson Powless were left. Lutsenko soon dropped him too to take the summit alone before comfortably riding up the final drag to Mont Aigoual for his first Tour stage win.

Cofidis’ Jesus Herrada, who fought back after being distanced earlier on the climb, finished second, while Van Avermaet sprinted away from Powless for third. “This victory is very important for me - I’ve worked so hard to get this win,” said Lutsenko. “I rode my tempo and gave it my all to create a gap big enough to win.”

Ireland’s Sam Bennett increased his lead over Peter Sagan in the green jersey points classification by beating the Slovakian at the intermediate sprint and will look to extend his advantage further today.

Warriors end tridents title defence The Barbados Tridents’ stuttering defence of their Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title finally ended as they again failed to make three figures against a well-balanced Guyana Amazon Warriors attack.

Early boundaries from Chandrapaul Hemraj meant Shimron Hetmyer and Ross Taylor could take the team home in cruise control, and the Amazon Warriors ended the league stage on a roll with four wins from four.

Romario Shepherd put paid to a promising start with two wickets in two balls.

Charles chipped tamely to Taylor at point, but there was nothing tame about the dismissal of pinch-hitter Rashid Khan, as a fierce pull was brilliantly caught by Brandon King who ran 20

yards to his left from deep square leg and dived fulllength.

Greaves survived the hattrick ball then closed the over with a four. Brooks hit a four off Imran Tahir but fell softly to Green, albeit with Taylor taking a good catch at short midwicket, and the Tridents reached the Powerplay at 28/ 3. That became 28/4 the very next ball when Tahir bowled Greaves, beating him all ends up with a googly.

Kyle Mayers launched a straight Hero Maximum off Sinclair, but was undone by wrist-spin again, skying a Tahir googly to give Hemraj an easy catch at mid-off. The implosion continued as Tridents captain Jason Holder gifted Green a catch at midwicket off the second ball after the drinks break,

Start times for Hero CPL 2020 knockout games confirmed The start times for the two semi-finals and final for the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have been confirmed. The start times are as follows: Semi-final 1 (1st vs 4th) – 10am, Tuesday 8 September 2020 Semi-final 2 (2nd v 3rd) – 5:30pm, Tuesday 8 September 2020

Final – 10am, Thursday 10 September 2020 There will be a reserve day available on Wednesday 9 September in order to complete the semi-finals if required. There will be three hours built into the schedule before overs start being lost in the final on Thursday 10 September in the case of any rain delays.

Shepherd the bowler, and a second poor batting effort in a row by the Tridents against the Amazon Warriors left them 39/6 after 11 overs.

Mitchell Santner and Nyeem Young milked Sinclair for eight, and while Naveen went for just one on his return, Young ended a 37 ball boundary drought with a classy Hero Maximum over off Green. Santner pulled Shepherd for four, and after 15 overs the Tridents were 65/ 6. Sinclair ended the minirecovery, bowling Santner with a quicker ball and celebrating by adding an extra flip or two to his post-wicket routine.

Young should have fallen to Naveen, King making good ground on the leg-side again but this time dropping the catch, but it mattered little as he soon missed a sweep off another Tahir googly and was bowled. Tahir ended his spell atop the Hero CPL wickettakers table, and the Tridents ended the 18th over at 78/8.

Raymon Reifer pulled a Naveen slower ball through midwicket, and although the young Afghan ended wicketless he will bowl far worse spells that look better on the scorecard. Shepherd once again showed off his effective slingy yorker in the 20th over that went for just five. The innings ended with a run-out, and for the third time in Hero CPL 2020 the Tridents had failed to make three figures as a team.

Santner struck second

ball of the chase, bowling King with an arm ball that in effect swung into the righthander. A tight over from Holder ensured Hemraj started slowly, but got himself going with a powerful slog swept Hero Maximum and a whipped four off Santner. He should have fallen to the New Zealander, the usually faultless Hayden Walsh Jr dropping a catch, but he continued his attack off Rashid with two fours and a six. After four overs, the Amazon Warriors were 34/1 and the required run rate was just three and a half an over.

Holder cleverly angled the ball across Hemraj, who couldn’t resist a pull shot and was well caught by Young at third man.

Sherfane Rutherford, in for the rested Keemo Paul, got a promotion to four, but lasted only three balls before edging Holder to Ashley Nurse at slip. Holder took a heavy fall but completed a wicket-maiden, leaving the Amazon Warriors 40/3 after seven overs.

Hetmyer started watchfully, his first boundary not coming till his 12th ball and that too off an edge past new keeper Charles. Pooran faced five dot balls and tried to get off the mark with a boundary, but toe-ended Reifer straight up in the air to give Brooks a simple catch at cover. Taylor joined Hetmyer with the score 49/4 and a brief to calm things down.

Young started with a chest-high full-toss that was

Chandrapaul Hemraj ©CPL T20/Getty Images rightly called a no-ball, and was lucky not to be called for another with the free hit, Taylor pulling a suspiciously

high delivery for four.

Hetmyer again edged past the keeper, and he and Taylor (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Friday September 04, 2020

RHTY&SC Club team up with 30th Anniversary Mike’s Pharmacy

to donate to two Hospitals

RHTY&SC Vice President Mark Papannah and an employee of the Port Mourant Hospital with the donated items.

T

he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), its ten cricket teams along with the support of Mike’s Pharmacy earlier

this week made donations to two Public Hospitals in Berbice as part of the club’s ongoing 30th anniversary celebrations.

The hospitals benefiting

were Port Mourant and Mibicuri, the donations were done under the joint RHTYSC/BCB Basil Butcher Memorial Project.

(Continued on page 20)

PAGE 25

Imran Tahir returned figures of 3-12 from his four overs.

rt Spo Shimron Hetmyer ŠRandy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty

Romario Shepherd took 3-22

Warriors end tridents title defence St Kitts and Nevis Patriots knocked out of CPL 2020 after washout in Tarouba Only 5.4 overs of play was possible before it started pouring down CPL T20 via Getty Images

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